152 Ga. App. 226 | Ga. Ct. App. | 1979
Lead Opinion
We consider this appeal taken from the grant of defendant’s motion for summary judgment. The plaintiff brought a complaint seeking recovery for personal injuries she sustained. The complaint alleged that defendants were owners of an office building with parking decks located in Fulton County; that connecting the parking decks and office buildings was an enclosed and improperly lit stairwell composed of several flights of smoothly finished steel-edged concrete steps; that while descending the steps on February 20,1976 en route to the office in the building where she was then employed, the plaintiff slipped and fell on the steps which were at that
The defendant denied the material allegations of the plaintiffs complaint and after discovery moved for summary judgment. The primary proof considered by the trial judge on motion for summary judgment was the deposition of the plaintiff taken by the defendant. The plaintiff related that on that day in question she parked as usual on the second deck because that was her assigned area and that the only access to the building is through the stairwell, "back into a stairwell. You go down and then up into the building and get on the elevator and go to your floor.” It had rained the day before and it rained in the stairwell. There was a big puddle of water there; when the plaintiff tried to step over it she slipped and fell.
The plaintiff further testified on deposition as follows: "A I think I parked on the second deck. You come in the door, and you are on a landing. You go down some stairs, and you are on another landing, and you turn to go down these other stairs (indicating). Q Do you turn to your right? A To your left, and there’s a rail there. And when I went downstairs to that second landing, that’s where the puddle of water was. And when I say a puddle, well, it wasn’t a little puddle, because I could have just stepped over that, which I thought I had. But my foot must have gotten in the water, because when I went to make this turn to go down these stairs, this right foot — because I had on rubber-soled shoes — touched the edge of the . step and just went out from under me. I knew then that it was wet, because ordinarily rubber-soled shoes just will not do that... I had been going up and down those steps for over
On motion for summary judgment the defendant has the onerous burden of establishing that the plaintiff had no basis for recovery. In the case sub judice the plaintiffs testimony did not establish specifically that there was a defect on the stairwell causing the water to puddle. However, it did not reveal that there was no defect but was merely silent as to this matter. The fact that water did puddle on the stairwell when it rained would raise an inference that something was wrong. Nevertheless, since we are considering this case on motion for summary judgment the crucial issue is did the defendant establish as a matter of law there was no defect. The answer is the defendant did not.
It is also urged that the trial judge was correct in granting the motion for summary judgment since the evidence shows that the plaintiff had used the stairs, the landing, and was familiar with the premises for a period of two years. The defendant therefore argues that the plaintiff assumed the risk and failed to exercise ordinary care for her own safety. Here the plaintiff testified that she knew the water puddled in the area when it rained. As the cases have pointed out "there is a difference between mere knowledge of a defect and full appreciation of the risk involved.” Burns v. Great A & P Tea Co., 105 Ga. App. 823, 825 (125 SE2d 687). Accord, Wasserman v. Southland Invest. Corp., 105 Ga. App. 420 (124 SE2d 674): Clayton v. Steve-Cathey, Inc., 105 Ga. App. 570, 573 (125 SE2d 118): Yale & Towne, Inc. v. Sharpe, 118 Ga. App. 480, 492 (164 SE2d 318). In the Burns case, 105 Ga. App. 823, 825, supra, the court pointed out "Although the deposition of the plaintiff showed that she was aware of the fact that the area on which she fell had just been mopped or waxed a few minutes prior to her fall, it was a question for the jury as to whether such knowledge constituted knowledge of the danger involved in walking
The trial judge erred granting the defendants’ motion for summary judgment.
Judgment reversed.
Concurrence Opinion
concurring specially.
I concur in the reversal of the grant of defendant’s motion for summary judgment and I agree with all that is said in the majority opinion. However, I feel compelled to concur specially so as to express my belief that Tanner v. Ayer, 150 Ga. App. 709 (258 SE2d 545) (1979) cited in Judge Birdsong’s dissent is distinguishable from, and does not require affirmance of, the trial court’s order in the case at bar. It is hoped that the explanatory verbiage of this special concurrence — which otherwise appears unnecessary — will be excused in view of the fact that this writer also wrote the opinion of this court in Tanner in which opinion the author of the majority opinion in the instant case concurred. In Tanner, as in this case, the plaintiff was not a stranger to the premises and was aware or should have been aware of circumstances similar to that resulting in the injury incurred. However, the record in the case sub judice shows
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting.
Under the facts and applicable law, I am compelled to dissent from the position advocated by my brothers. The facts of this case, in effect, establish a patent defect. The evidence shows that every time a hard blowing rain occurred, water would accumulate on the landings of the stairwell. It was shown that the stairwell was enclosed but apparently the water seeped through the cinder block wall. This condition had manifested itself on numerous occasions over the two or three years preceding the accident. Ms. Pippins testified that this accumulation of water occurred "all the time.” She had negotiated the steps almost daily for over two years and found the puddle of water to be a condition "which was usual.” This standing, water condition, under this evidence, created a situation, which I will assume was readily discernible to both Ms. Pippins and the appellees.
My brothers seek to avoid the consequences of this rule of law by observing that there is a difference between mere knowledge of a defect and a full appreciation of the risk involved. Burns v. Great A & P Tea Co., 105 Ga. App. 823, 825 (125 SE2d 687). They assert that it is a jury question whether Ms. Pippins’ own negligence was the proximate cause of her injuries in the absence of proof that she appreciated the consequences-of her actions in attempting to step over the accumulated water. However, Ms. Pippins admitted that she had seen water on the landing many times before and apparently had safely negotiated passage. She indicated that she was aware that if her rubber soled shoes got wet, they would slip on the steel facing of the steps. Notwithstanding this apparent danger, she took a much larger step than usual just to avoid the consequences of getting her shoe soles wet. She admitted that apparently she was unsuccessful in her effort and slipped on the first step. See Tanner v. Ayer, 150 Ga. App. 709 (258 SE2d 545).
Restatement of the Law, Torts 2d, § 343A (e), p. 219 in substance states that the basis of the proprietor’s liability is his superior knowledge, and if his invitee knóws of the condition or hazard, there is no duty on the part of the proprietor to warn him and there is no liability for resulting harm because the invitee has as much knowledge as the proprietor does and then by voluntarily acting in view of his knowledge, assumes the risk and dangers instant to the known condition.
Under the facts of this case, by her own admissions, Ms. Pippins acknowledged great familiarity with a recurring problem of dampness, what risk that involved, and notwithstanding that risk, undertook continued passage. To me, there could be no clearer case of assumed risk. In my opinion, there being no issue of fact remaining
I respectfully dissent.
