Pembroke Lakes Mall Ltd. v. McGruder
137 So. 3d 418
| Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | 2014Background
- McGruder slipped on a foreign substance at a Pembroke Lakes mall maintained by Millard; she sued for negligence.
- Trial occurred in 2011; liability theory included failure to warn, failure to prevent spill, and maintenance plan issues.
- Two statutes governed: 768.0710 (2008) and 768.0755 (2010), with question whether 768.0755 applies retroactively.
- The court applied 768.0710 at trial; verdict apportioned 50/50 liability between Pembroke Lakes and Millard.
- Post-verdict motions challenged directed verdict, retroactivity, mistrial, and juror-nondisclosure concerns; cross-appeal sought joint and several liability against Pembroke Lakes.
- The appellate court affirmed some rulings, reversed others, and remanded to conduct juror interviews before reconciling liability.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Directed verdict sufficiency | McGruder | Pembroke Lakes and Millard | Denied; jury findings supported by the record |
| retroactivity of 768.0755 | McGruder | Pembroke Lakes and Millard | Affirmed trial court’s choice to apply 768.0710; conflict certified |
| Mistrial denial | McGruder | Pembroke Lakes and Millard | Not abused; no new trial required |
| Post-verdict juror interviews | McGruder | Pembroke Lakes and Millard | Abused discretion; remand for juror interviews |
| Cross-appeal for joint liability | McGruder | Pembroke Lakes | Remanded; Pembroke Lakes potentially liable for Millard’s negligence after juror interviews |
Key Cases Cited
- Owens v. Publix Supermarkets, Inc., 802 So.2d 315 (Fla.2001) (premises liability duty and knowledge burden in slip-and-fall)
- Smiley v. State, 966 So.2d 330 (Fla.2007) (retroactivity framework for statutes)
- American Optical Corp. v. Spiewak, 73 So.3d 120 (Fla.2011) (vested rights and retroactivity limits)
- Kenz v. Miami-Dade County, 116 So.3d 461 (Fla.3d DCA 2013) (retroactivity and knowledge element in 768.0755)
- Sterling v. Feldbaum, 980 So.2d 596 (Fla.4th DCA 2008) (juror interviews and voir dire—records as basis for inquiry)
- Hillsboro Mgmt., LLC v. Pagono, 112 So.3d 620 (Fla.4th DCA 2013) (post-verdict juror interviews and De La Rosa framework)
- Roberts v. Tejada, 814 So.2d 334 (Fla.2002) (materiality of juror nondisclosure and voir dire questions)
- Rodgers v. After Seh. Programs, Inc., 78 So.3d 42 (Fla.4th DCA 2012) (De La Rosa three-part test for juror interviews)
- Taylor v. Magana, 911 So.2d 1263 (Fla.4th DCA 2005) (concealment prong and voir dire follow-up necessity)