Annette Dubose v. Debbie Ramey

• Court: Court of Appeals of Tennessee
• Decided: December 2, 1997
• Docket: 02A01-9705-CV-00096
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE WESTERN SECTION AT JACKSON

ANNETTE DUBOSE, ) ) Plaintiff/Appellant, ) Madison Circuit No. C-94-321

VS. ) ) Appeal No. 02A01-9705-CV-00096 FILED ) DEBBIE RAMEY, ) December 2, 1997 ) Defendant/Appellee. ) Cecil Crowson, Jr. Appellate C ourt Clerk

APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF MADISON COUNTY AT JACKSON, TENNESSEE THE HONORABLE FRANKLIN MURCHISON, JUDGE

THOMAS K. McALEXANDER HILL BOREN, P.C. Jackson, Tennessee Attorney for Appellant

JONATHAN O. STEEN SPRAGINS, BARNETT, COBB & BUTLER Jackson, Tennessee Attorney for Appellee

AFFIRMED

ALAN E. HIGHERS, J.

CONCUR:

DAVID R. FARMER, J.

HOLLY KIRBY LILLARD, J. Plaintiff/Appellant, Annette Dubose (“Dubose”), appeals the judgment of the trial court denying her motion for a new trial and specifically finding that the jury verdict and the

judgment previously entered in this case were proper and correct. For reasons hereinafter

stated, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Procedural History

Dubose filed this lawsuit in the Madison County Circuit Court alleging that Debbie

Ramey (“Ramey”) was negligent (1) in keeping and maintaining a mix breed Chow which

she knew or had reason to know had a propensity for biting and (2) in keeping an animal

in an area where persons lawfully upon Ramey’s property would come into contact with the

dog. Dubose further alleged that Ramey was negligent in maintaining her garage in such

a manner as to present a hazard to persons lawfully upon her property. Ramey filed an

answer denying liability or negligence in any way and claiming that Dubose was barred

from recovery under the legal doctrines of comparative fault, assumption of the risk,

sudden emergency, and unavoidable accident. This case came to trial by jury on

November 18, 1996, with the Honorable Franklin Murchison presiding.

At the conclusion of the trial, the jury announced a verdict finding Dubose 100% at

fault. The trial court approved the verdict and entered a judgment accordingly.

Thereafter, Dubose filed a motion for a new trial on the grounds that there was no

legal or material evidence to support the jury’s verdict, and that the jury’s verdict in the

matter was contrary to the weight of the evidence presented at trial. Following a hearing

on the motion for a new trial, the trial court denied Dubose’s motion, finding that the jury

verdict and the judgment previously entered in this case were proper and correct. This

appeal ensued.

The issues on appeal are as follows: (1) Whether the trial court abused its discretion

in overruling Dubose’s motion for a new trial which requested relief on the basis that the

jury’s verdict was contrary to the weight of the evidence; and (2) whether there is material

evidence to support the jury’s verdict.

2 Facts

On November 29, 1993, Dubose, along with her sister-in-law, Mrs. Dorothy Johnson

(“Johnson”), came to the home of Ramey in order to present a Christmas Around the World

party. This was a sales presentation whereby Dubose and Johnson displayed Christmas

decorations and other merchandise to Ramey and her guests.

Dubose and Johnson rode together and arrived at Ramey’s home between 6:15 and

6:30 p.m. on this day. Johnson pulled the car into Ramey’s driveway without entering her

garage. When Dubose arrived, Ramey’s dog, Bo-Bo, began barking, and Ramey came

out of her home into the garage. After quieting Bo-Bo, Ramey came to the car where

Dubose and Johnson were unloading their merchandise for the party. She helped them

carry the merchandise into the house. Bo-Bo was tied to the garage wall to prevent him

from escaping outside into the weather, which was rainy and cold. Bo-Bo was wearing a

cast on his leg from the shoulder down because he had been shot.

Ramey led Dubose and Johnson through the garage past Bo-Bo and through the

door that led into Ramey’s home. Ramey stopped and held Bo-Bo as Dubose and

Johnson entered the house.

Approximately five guests attended the party, excluding Dubose and Johnson.

Each of the guests was advised to use the front door because of Bo-Bo’s ill temperament.

That night, the guests at the party had numerous conversations about Bo-Bo. These

conversations centered around the fact that Bo-Bo had been shot and that the guests

needed to use caution around Bo-Bo. However, Dubose and Johnson contend that they

heard no such conversations concerning the dog or his tendencies to be temperamental.

After the presentation was completed, Ramey helped Dubose and Johnson carry

the merchandise to their car. After loading the car, Dubose realized that she had left her

sweater in Ramey’s home. Ramey contends that she told Dubose to stay in the car while

3 she went to retrieve the sweater. Dubose, however, insists that she heard no such

utterance from Ramey. The testimony of Mrs. Betty Jones indicated that Ramey was,

indeed, coming in from the garage to retrieve Dubose’s sweater when the incident

occurred.

Dubose entered the garage and stepped over Ramey’s weed eater that was lying

on the garage floor. As Dubose stepped over the weed eater, Bo-Bo growled and lunged

at her. Dubose proceeded to back away from Bo-Bo, whereupon she fell over the weed

eater and broke her wrist. As her left leg swung into the air, Bo-Bo bit Dubose on the leg.

Dubose was taken to the emergency room where the injury to her wrist was

temporarily treated by Dr. Kelly Ballard. Thereafter, Dubose sought the advice and

treatment of Dr. James Craig at The Jackson Clinic.

Discussion

In reviewing a judgment based upon a jury verdict, this Court is not authorized to re-

examine the weight of the evidence, but may set aside a jury verdict only if there is no

material evidence to support the verdict. T.R.A.P. 13(d); Bynum v. Hollowell, 656 S.W.2d

400, 402 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1983); Cohen v. Cook, 462 S.W.2d 502 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1969).

In determining whether there is material evidence to support the verdict, we are required

to take the strongest legitimate view of all the evidence in favor of the verdict, to assume

the truth of all that tends to support it, to disregard all to the contrary, and to allow all

reasonable inferences to sustain the verdict. Bynum v. Hollowell, 656 S.W.2d at 402;

Budiselich v. Rigsby, 639 S.W.2d 663 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1982). If there is any material

evidence to support the verdict, it must be affirmed. City of Chattanooga v. Ballew, 354

S.W.2d 806, 809 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1961); Bynum v. Hollowell, 656 S.W.2d at 402.

We will first address Dubose’s contention regarding the apportionment of fault

concerning her claims of negligence against Ramey as we find such issue to be dispositive

of this appeal. In order to affirm the jury’s verdict in favor of Ramey, the question that we

must resolve is whether there is material evidence to support the jury’s verdict that the fault

4 attributable to Dubose was equal to or greater than the fault attributable to Ramey. Eaton

v. McClain, 891 S.W.2d 587 (Tenn. 1994). If so, Dubose is precluded from recovery.

McIntyre v. Balentine, 833 S.W.2d 52 (1992). In Eaton, our Supreme Court set forth the

following nonexhaustive list of pertinent factors to evaluate in assigning percentages of

fault to each party:

(1) The relative closeness of the causal relationship between the conduct of the defendant and the injury to the plaintiff; (2) the reasonableness of the party’s conduct in confronting a risk, such as whether the party knew of the risk, or should have known of it; (3) the extent to which the defendant failed to reasonably utilize an existing opportunity to avoid the injury to the plaintiff; (4) the existence of a sudden emergency requiring a hasty decision; (5) the significance of what the party was attempting to accomplish by the conduct, such as an attempt to save another’s life; and (6) the party’s particular capacities, such as age, maturity, training, education, and so forth.

Id. at 592.

Based on the evidence presented, we conclude that the most important factor to

consider is number two--whether Dubose was or should have been aware of the risk

involved in entering the garage without the accompaniment of Ramey and whether such

a risk was reasonable.

As mentioned above, Dubose claims that Ramey was negligent (1) in keeping and

maintaining Bo-Bo, which she knew or had reason to know had a propensity for biting, and

(2) in keeping Bo-Bo in an area where persons lawfully upon her property would come into

contact with him. Ramey asserts comparative fault and assumption of the risk as

defenses to these claims.

The doctrine of assumption of the risk, also known as volenti non fit injuria, is one

in which a plaintiff may not recover for an injury to which he or she assents, i.e., that a

person may not recover from an injury received when he or she voluntarily exposes himself

or herself to a known and appreciated danger. See Perez v. McConkey, 872 S.W.2d 897

(Tenn. 1994). Historically, the requirements for the defense of volenti non fit injuria have

been that: (1) the plaintiff has knowledge of the facts constituting a dangerous condition;

5 (2) he or she knows the condition is dangerous; (3) he or she appreciates the nature or

extent of the danger; and (4) he or she voluntarily exposes himself or herself to the danger.

Id. With the onset of our supreme court’s decision in Perez, the doctrine of implied

assumption of the risk has been abrogated and maintains no independent existence.

However, under the scheme of comparative fault adopted in McIntyre, the principles

contained within assumption of the risk survive as factors to be considered by the jury in

apportioning degrees of fault between the parties. Eaton v. McClain, 891 S.W.2d 587, 592

(Tenn. 1994).

After having stepped over the weed eater, having had Bo-Bo bark at Johnson and

her when they drove up to Ramey’s house, having observed Bo-Bo’s size and the fact that

he was placed on a cable in the garage, having seen the cast on Bo-Bo’s leg and being

told that he had been shot, having watched as Ramey quieted and held Bo-Bo by his collar

while Dubose and Johnson passed through the garage, and having been present when Bo-

Bo’s ill temperament was the topic of a variety of conversations at the party, Dubose

proceeded into the garage unattended by Ramey. Under the circumstances, we conclude

that there was material evidence to support the jury’s verdict that Dubose was equal to or

greater than 50% at fault by confronting the risk of entering the garage unattended by

Ramey. In view of the fact that Tennessee has adopted the doctrine of comparative fault,

whether the jury found Dubose to be 100% or 50% at fault is inconsequential. There was

material evidence to support the finding that Dubose, by assuming a known risk, was equal

to or greater than 50% at fault and, thereby, to bar her claim for relief.

Dubose also claims that Ramey was negligent in maintaining her garage in such a

manner as to present a hazard to persons lawfully upon the Defendant’s property by

leaving her weed eater on the garage floor. This is a claim based on premises liability.

Under premises liability, a premises owner has a duty to maintain his or her

premises in a reasonably safe and suitable condition; this general duty includes the

responsibility of either removing or warning against any latent dangerous conditions on the

6 premises of which the owner is aware or should have been aware through the exercise of

reasonable care. Eaton v. McClain, 891 S.W.2d 587, 593-94 (Tenn. 1994); Chambliss v.

Shoney’s Inc., 742 S.W.2d 271 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1987); Teal v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours and

Co., 728 F.2d 799 (6th Cir. 1984). The open and obvious rule is one that has been utilized

in cases dealing primarily with premises liability. Historically, the open and obvious rule is

one whereby an invitee can be barred from recovery for injuries resulting from a danger as

readily apparent to the invitee as to the owner of the premises. With the adoption of

comparative fault principles, the law concerning the effects of the open and obvious rule

on a plaintiff’s claim for recovery is somewhat unsettled in Tennessee. One line of cases

deals with the open and obvious rule as a factor to be considered within the scheme of

comparative fault. See Cooperwood v. Kroger Food Stores, Inc., No. 02A01-9308-CV-

00182, 1994 WL 725217, at *2-3 (Tenn. Ct. App. Dec. 30, 1994); Broyles v. City of

Knoxville, No. 03A01-9505-CV-00166, 1995 WL 511904, at *3-4 (Tenn. Ct. App. Aug. 30,

1995); Shope v. Radio Shack, No. 03A01-9508-CV-00288, 1995 WL 733885, at *2-3

(Tenn. Ct. App. Dec. 7, 1995). A separate line of cases adheres to the principle that the

open and obvious rule is a complete bar to a plaintiff’s claim for relief. See Jones v. Exxon

Corp., 940 S.W.2d 69, 71-72 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1996); Valentine v. Weatherford, No. 02A01-

9511-CV-00264, 1996 WL 741878, at *3 (Tenn. Ct. App. Dec. 31, 1996); Tracy v. Exxon

Corp., No. 02A01-9512-CV-00277, 1996 WL 741876, at 2 (Tenn. Ct. App. Dec. 31. 1996);

Suddath v. Parks, 914 S.W.2d 910, 914 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1995).1

In this case, it is undisputed that Dubose saw the weed eater when she entered the

garage, and therefore, encountered an open and obvious danger.

Question: After you got your sister-in-law’s car loaded, what happened after that?

Answer: [I] realized then that I did not have my sweater. And I said, “I’m going back and get my sweater.” And I stepped across the weed eater. And as I stepped across, I looked up, the dog growled, and this--and I stopped. . .

Question: Now, when you went back in (to the garage), you stepped over the weed eater; is that right?

1 W e note that our supreme court has granted permission to appeal concerning the issue of the interpretation of the open and obvious rule in Tennessee in Coln v. City of Savannah, No. 02A01-9507- CV-00 152, 1996 W L 54465 2 (Ten n. Ct. App. Sept. 25, 1996) perm . app. granted (Feb. 3, 1997).

7 Answer: Yes, sir.

Which line of cases we follow concerning the interpretation of the open and obvious rule

is of no consequence. The end result is the same. Regardless of whether the open and

obvious rule is a factor to be considered under comparative fault or a complete bar to

plaintiff’s recovery, Dubose is barred from recovery because there was material evidence

from which the jury could reasonably find Dubose equal to or greater than 50% at fault in

this matter.

The trial court entered a judgment in favor of Ramey because the jury found Dubose

to be equal to or greater than 50% at fault in this incident. In fact, the jury found Dubose

to be 100% at fault. We affirm the judgment of the trial court denying Dubose’s motion for

a new trial and affirming the jury verdict because the record contains material evidence to

support a verdict of equal to or greater than 50% fault on the part of Dubose. As

mentioned above, in view of the fact that Tennessee has adopted the doctrine of modified

comparative fault, it is of no consequence whether the jury found Dubose to be 100% at

fault or 50% at fault. In any event, there was material evidence to support the jury’s verdict

that Dubose was 50% at fault or greater and, thereby, to bar her claim for relief.

Denial of Motion for a New Trial

Trial courts are afforded broad discretion in procedural matters in order to expedite

litigation and to preserve fundamental rights of the parties. This Court will not reverse a

discretionary judgment of the trial court unless it affirmatively appears that such discretion

has been explicitly abused to great injustice and injury of the party complaining. See

T.R.A.P. 36(b); Douglas v. Estate of Robertson, 876 S.W.2d 95, 97 (Tenn. 1994); Bruce

v. Bruce, 801 S.W.2d 102, 107 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1990); Esstman v. Boyd, 605 S.W.2d 237,

240-41 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1980).

After an examination of the record, we find no abuse of discretion by the trial court

in denying Dubose’s motion for a new trial. Dubose has made no showing that the trial

court abused its discretion in denying her motion for a new trial, much less an abuse that

8 rises to the level of a great injustice or injury to her. The record evinces sufficient evidence

for the trial judge to deny the motion for a new trial. We affirm the action of the trial court

in overruling Dubose’s motion for a new trial.

Frivolous Appeal

Ramey asserts that Dubose’s appeal is frivolous and that she should be awarded

damages in accordance with T.C.A. § 27-1-122 (1980). We are not persuaded and do not

find this appeal to be wholly insubstantial or brought solely for the purpose of delay.

Accordingly, we decline to award Ramey damages for frivolous appeal.

Conclusion

The trial court’s judgment affirming the verdict of the jury and denying Dubose’s

motion for a new trial is affirmed. Costs are taxed to the Appellant, for which execution

may issue if necessary.

HIGHERS, J.

FARMER, J.

LILLARD, J.