STATE OF MAINE SUPERIOR COURT YORK, ss. Civil Action Docket No. CV-16-0193
NORMA BENNETT, Personal Representative of the ESTATE OF ELAINE BENNETT,
Plaintiff,
V. ORDER DENYING SUMMARY JUDGMENT
MELISSA PAQUETTE d/b/a MELISSA'S MIGHTY FINDS,
and
SUZANNE MADORE,
Defendants.
Norma Bennett, Personal Representative of the Estate of Elaine Bennett,
brings this action against Suzanne Madore and Melissa Paquette, d/b / a
Melissa's Mighty Finds for damages allegedly caused when Elaine Bennett fell
down steps in Paquette's store. Before the court is Madore's motion for summary
judgment. For the reasons that follow, the motion is denied.
Summary Judgment Factual Record
On November 7, 2014, Elaine Bennett and her daughter, Norma, were
shopping in Melissa's Mighty Finds (Melissa's) in Arundel. (Defendant's
Statement of Material Facts "DSMF" ,r,r 1, 2, 4, 6.) Elaine Bennett fell and was
1 injured. (DSMF ,r 4.) Although present at the time, Norma Bennett did not
witness the fall. (DSMF ,r 6.)
Paquette operates Melissa's as a sole proprietorship. She leases ground
floor space in a building owned by Madore that is located at 1479 Portland Road
in Arundel. (DSMF ,r 1.) There is no written lease. (DSMF ,r,r 2, 8.) Madore
carried an insurance policy for the premises and did not ask Paquette to obtain
additional insurance. (Plaintiffs Statement of Additional Material Facts "PSAMF"
,i,r 3-4.)
Prior to Paquette taking possession of the premises, Madore had not made
any changes or improvements to it. (DSMF ,i 11.) Inside there is parquet flooring
on the entry level and an additional lower level accessed by descending one step
onto a platform and another step onto the lower level. (DSMF ,i 3.) The stairs
did not have a handrail on either side. (DSMF ,i 3.) Previous tenants, not Madore
herself, installed the flooring and interior steps. (DSMF ,i 10.)
After Paquette took possession, she placed pieces of colored tape on the
top step as well as on the middle step as a warning to customers that there were
steps down to the lower level. (DSMF ,i 15; Paquette Dep. 23:1-3, 21:15-18,
22: 11-15, 11: 11-14.) Paquette "always make[s] sure the common areas are
cleaned" and when customers enter the store she "give[s] them a lay of the land
of the rooms." (DSMF ,r 14; Paquette Dep. 57:11-12, 60:5.)
Paquette had not considered installing a railing on the steps because she
did not see the need for one. (DSMF ,r 16; Paquette Dep. 12: 16-20.) Paquette did
not do anything to the premises other than placing the tape on the steps because
2 she was unsure whether she had full control over the leased space to do so.
(Plaintiffs Opposing Statement of Material Facts "POSMF" ,r,r 13, 17.)
Madore believes that her only ongoing responsibilities for the leased
premises were plowing the parking lot and providing water; and that Paquette
was responsible for everything else. (DSMF ,r 9.) Madore acknowledged in her
deposition that, to the extent that she was the owner of the property, she
"controlled things like where railings and other safety devices might be." (PSAMF
,r 7; Madore Dep. 22:21-23:6.) Madore was aware that there were no railings on the stairs leading to the lower rooms in the building and had not considered
installing them. (PSAMF ,r 9; Madore Dep. 7:25-8:4.) Madore testified that she
had not investigated the relevant building codes to determine if railings were
required. (PSAMF ,r 10; Madore Dep. 8:8-10.) Madore further stated, "[Paquette]
has the right to do whatever she wants in that lease but if it came to fixtures, I
would presume she would ask me [for permission]." (PSAMF ,r 6; Madore Dep.
21:5-7.) Madore would expect Paquette to ask permission to install a handrail.
(PSAMF ,r 6; Madore Dep. 21:18-21.) Madore also acknowledged that Paquette
may not want to improve a fixture on the property because she does not have a
long-term lease. (Madore Dep. 21:15-17.) Paquette additionally noted in her
deposition that she did not install any safety measures because she believed "the
landlord has control over them." (PSAMF ,r 13.)
Madore has moved for summary judgment on the basis that, as a matter
of law, she owed no duty of care to Bennett because Paquette, as lessee of the
3 premises, had exclusive control and responsibility and there was no duty to
remedy or warn of any danger that was open and obvious at the time. 1
Summary Judgment Standard
Summary judgment is appropriate if, based on the parties' statements of
material fact and the cited record, there is no genuine issue of material fact and
the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. M.R. Civ. P.
56(c); Dyer v. Dep't of Transp., 2008 ME 106, ,r 14, 951 A.2d 821. "A material
fact is one that can affect the outcome of the case. A genuine issue of material
fact exists when the fact finder must choose between competing versions of the
truth." Dyer, 2008 ME 106, ,r 14, 951 A.2d 821 (internal citation and quotation
marks omitted). When deciding a motion for summary judgment, the court
reviews the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Id.
Discussion
Although the question of whether a party owes a duty of care is a question
of law to be determined by the court, "the inquiry as to the existence of a duty is
fact-intensive" and requires analysis of "facts relevant to foreseeability, control,
and the relationship of the parties." Brown v. Delta Tau Delta, 2015 ME 75, ,r,r
9, 14, 118 A.3d 789; Davis, 2011 ME 88, ,r 11, 26 A.3d 787.
1 The motion also asserts that none of the landlord exceptions for dangerous conditions under Steward v. Aldrich, 2002 ME 16, ,r 10, apply here. These exceptions come into play when a lessor successfully raises a lack-of-control defense to liability. In light of the court's conclusion that the motion fails due to a genuine issue of material fact on the question of control, it is unnecessary to address this point.
4 1. Control of Premises
A landowner who leases property to another is not liable for injuries
caused by defective condition of the premises "that are within the exclusive
possession and control of a lessee." Rodrigue v. Rodrigue, 1997 ME 99, ,r 9, 694
A.2d 924. See Benham v. Morton & Furbish Agency, 2007 ME 83, ,r 15,929 A.2d
471, quoting Cole v. Lord, 160 Me. 223, 226, 202 A.2d 560, 562 (1964) (tenant
takes property for better or worse). See also Stewart v. Aldrich, 2002 ME 16, ,r
14, 788 A.2d 603 ("lease is equivalent to conveyance, and tenant who "assumes
exclusive control and possession of the premises" is like an owner for most
purposes.)
"Control" means "power over the premises that the landlord reserves
pursuant to the terms of the lease or tenancy, whether express or implied ...."
Stewart v. Aldrich, 2002 ME 16, ,r 13, 788 A.2d 603. The degree of control
retained, if any, is a question of fact that must be determined in resolving the
legal determination of whether or not a duty exists. See Brown, 2015 ME 75, ,r
14, 118 A.3d 789. If a lessor does retain a degree of control, either with respect
to common areas or within the leased premises themselves, there may be an
ongoing duty toward invitees. Rodrigue, 1997 ME 99, ,r 11, 694 A.2d 924;
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STATE OF MAINE SUPERIOR COURT YORK, ss. Civil Action Docket No. CV-16-0193
NORMA BENNETT, Personal Representative of the ESTATE OF ELAINE BENNETT,
Plaintiff,
V. ORDER DENYING SUMMARY JUDGMENT
MELISSA PAQUETTE d/b/a MELISSA'S MIGHTY FINDS,
and
SUZANNE MADORE,
Defendants.
Norma Bennett, Personal Representative of the Estate of Elaine Bennett,
brings this action against Suzanne Madore and Melissa Paquette, d/b / a
Melissa's Mighty Finds for damages allegedly caused when Elaine Bennett fell
down steps in Paquette's store. Before the court is Madore's motion for summary
judgment. For the reasons that follow, the motion is denied.
Summary Judgment Factual Record
On November 7, 2014, Elaine Bennett and her daughter, Norma, were
shopping in Melissa's Mighty Finds (Melissa's) in Arundel. (Defendant's
Statement of Material Facts "DSMF" ,r,r 1, 2, 4, 6.) Elaine Bennett fell and was
1 injured. (DSMF ,r 4.) Although present at the time, Norma Bennett did not
witness the fall. (DSMF ,r 6.)
Paquette operates Melissa's as a sole proprietorship. She leases ground
floor space in a building owned by Madore that is located at 1479 Portland Road
in Arundel. (DSMF ,r 1.) There is no written lease. (DSMF ,r,r 2, 8.) Madore
carried an insurance policy for the premises and did not ask Paquette to obtain
additional insurance. (Plaintiffs Statement of Additional Material Facts "PSAMF"
,i,r 3-4.)
Prior to Paquette taking possession of the premises, Madore had not made
any changes or improvements to it. (DSMF ,i 11.) Inside there is parquet flooring
on the entry level and an additional lower level accessed by descending one step
onto a platform and another step onto the lower level. (DSMF ,i 3.) The stairs
did not have a handrail on either side. (DSMF ,i 3.) Previous tenants, not Madore
herself, installed the flooring and interior steps. (DSMF ,i 10.)
After Paquette took possession, she placed pieces of colored tape on the
top step as well as on the middle step as a warning to customers that there were
steps down to the lower level. (DSMF ,i 15; Paquette Dep. 23:1-3, 21:15-18,
22: 11-15, 11: 11-14.) Paquette "always make[s] sure the common areas are
cleaned" and when customers enter the store she "give[s] them a lay of the land
of the rooms." (DSMF ,r 14; Paquette Dep. 57:11-12, 60:5.)
Paquette had not considered installing a railing on the steps because she
did not see the need for one. (DSMF ,r 16; Paquette Dep. 12: 16-20.) Paquette did
not do anything to the premises other than placing the tape on the steps because
2 she was unsure whether she had full control over the leased space to do so.
(Plaintiffs Opposing Statement of Material Facts "POSMF" ,r,r 13, 17.)
Madore believes that her only ongoing responsibilities for the leased
premises were plowing the parking lot and providing water; and that Paquette
was responsible for everything else. (DSMF ,r 9.) Madore acknowledged in her
deposition that, to the extent that she was the owner of the property, she
"controlled things like where railings and other safety devices might be." (PSAMF
,r 7; Madore Dep. 22:21-23:6.) Madore was aware that there were no railings on the stairs leading to the lower rooms in the building and had not considered
installing them. (PSAMF ,r 9; Madore Dep. 7:25-8:4.) Madore testified that she
had not investigated the relevant building codes to determine if railings were
required. (PSAMF ,r 10; Madore Dep. 8:8-10.) Madore further stated, "[Paquette]
has the right to do whatever she wants in that lease but if it came to fixtures, I
would presume she would ask me [for permission]." (PSAMF ,r 6; Madore Dep.
21:5-7.) Madore would expect Paquette to ask permission to install a handrail.
(PSAMF ,r 6; Madore Dep. 21:18-21.) Madore also acknowledged that Paquette
may not want to improve a fixture on the property because she does not have a
long-term lease. (Madore Dep. 21:15-17.) Paquette additionally noted in her
deposition that she did not install any safety measures because she believed "the
landlord has control over them." (PSAMF ,r 13.)
Madore has moved for summary judgment on the basis that, as a matter
of law, she owed no duty of care to Bennett because Paquette, as lessee of the
3 premises, had exclusive control and responsibility and there was no duty to
remedy or warn of any danger that was open and obvious at the time. 1
Summary Judgment Standard
Summary judgment is appropriate if, based on the parties' statements of
material fact and the cited record, there is no genuine issue of material fact and
the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. M.R. Civ. P.
56(c); Dyer v. Dep't of Transp., 2008 ME 106, ,r 14, 951 A.2d 821. "A material
fact is one that can affect the outcome of the case. A genuine issue of material
fact exists when the fact finder must choose between competing versions of the
truth." Dyer, 2008 ME 106, ,r 14, 951 A.2d 821 (internal citation and quotation
marks omitted). When deciding a motion for summary judgment, the court
reviews the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Id.
Discussion
Although the question of whether a party owes a duty of care is a question
of law to be determined by the court, "the inquiry as to the existence of a duty is
fact-intensive" and requires analysis of "facts relevant to foreseeability, control,
and the relationship of the parties." Brown v. Delta Tau Delta, 2015 ME 75, ,r,r
9, 14, 118 A.3d 789; Davis, 2011 ME 88, ,r 11, 26 A.3d 787.
1 The motion also asserts that none of the landlord exceptions for dangerous conditions under Steward v. Aldrich, 2002 ME 16, ,r 10, apply here. These exceptions come into play when a lessor successfully raises a lack-of-control defense to liability. In light of the court's conclusion that the motion fails due to a genuine issue of material fact on the question of control, it is unnecessary to address this point.
4 1. Control of Premises
A landowner who leases property to another is not liable for injuries
caused by defective condition of the premises "that are within the exclusive
possession and control of a lessee." Rodrigue v. Rodrigue, 1997 ME 99, ,r 9, 694
A.2d 924. See Benham v. Morton & Furbish Agency, 2007 ME 83, ,r 15,929 A.2d
471, quoting Cole v. Lord, 160 Me. 223, 226, 202 A.2d 560, 562 (1964) (tenant
takes property for better or worse). See also Stewart v. Aldrich, 2002 ME 16, ,r
14, 788 A.2d 603 ("lease is equivalent to conveyance, and tenant who "assumes
exclusive control and possession of the premises" is like an owner for most
purposes.)
"Control" means "power over the premises that the landlord reserves
pursuant to the terms of the lease or tenancy, whether express or implied ...."
Stewart v. Aldrich, 2002 ME 16, ,r 13, 788 A.2d 603. The degree of control
retained, if any, is a question of fact that must be determined in resolving the
legal determination of whether or not a duty exists. See Brown, 2015 ME 75, ,r
14, 118 A.3d 789. If a lessor does retain a degree of control, either with respect
to common areas or within the leased premises themselves, there may be an
ongoing duty toward invitees. Rodrigue, 1997 ME 99, ,r 11, 694 A.2d 924;
Hankard, 543 A.2d at 1377.
Generally, it is through a written lease that a lessor reserves control or
specifies ongoing responsibilities for the leased premises. Here, there was no
written lease; there was only an oral rental agreement that effectively created a
commercial tenancy at will. There are material facts in dispute concerning the
5 parties' relationship, expectations, and degree of control over the premises to
make alterations relevant to the issue in this case.
Madore believed that she was only responsible for snow removal and
providing water for the premises, and that she and Paquette agreed to that
arrangement. Paquette undertook some remedial measures to warn customers
about the step-down into the lower level of the store, but was not sure whether
she had authority to install a railing on the stairs. Madore herself stated that
she "controlled things like where railings and other safety devices might be;" that
if it came to installing fixtures, she assumed Paquette would ask permission;
and that she may have expected Paquette to ask permission to install a handrail.
On this record, the court cannot conclude there is no genuine issue of material
fact as to the issue of control.
This is not a case where the alleged dangerous condition arose after the
tenancy was created, see Hankard v. Beal, 543 A.2d 1376, 1378 (Me. 1988) (slip
and fall on ice in parking lot), or was unrelated to the condition of the premises
themselves, see Stewart, 2002 ME 16 (tenant's dog bites an invitee). The
principal alleged defective condition in this case (absence of a handrail) existed
prior to the tenancy and was a condition Madore knew about.
2. Open and Obvious Danger
Madore also contends that she is entitled to summary judgment because
a landlord has no duty to warn business invitees of dangerous conditions in
leased premises that are "open and obvious." The main thrust of her argument
again centers upon the issue of control, and not upon the characteristics of an
6 "open and obvious danger." See Defendant Suzanne Madore's Motion for
Summary Judgment and Incorporated Memorandum of Law, at 8-9 ("landlord
has no duty to modify and open and obvious danger on leased premises under
the exclusive control of tenant"). See Miller v. Hooper, 112 A. 256, 257 (Me.
1921); Cole, 202 A.2d 560, 562 (Me. 1964) (tenant takes property with obvious
defects "for better or worse").2 For the same reasons discussed above, summary
judgment on this record is not warranted.
Conclusion and Order
For the reasons set forth above, Suzanne Madore's motion for summary
judgment is hereby denied.
The entry shall be: "Motion for summary judgment denied."
SO ORDERED.
Dated: December 29, 2017
ENTERED ON THE DOCKET ON:
2 But see Section Restatement (Second) of Torts, § 539 (1972) (lessor may be liable to business invitee where lessor knows or by the exercise of reasonable care could discover a condition posing an unreasonable risk of harm; has reason to expect that the lessee will admit them before the condition can be corrected; and fails to exercise reasonable care to discover or remedy the condition); Prodigy Servs. Co. v. S. BroadAssocs., 64 F.3d 48, 49 n.2 (2d Cir. 1995) ("landlord may be liable to a business invitee if the landlord knows or should know of a defective condition on the property that existed at the time the lessee takes possession, and the land is leased for purposes involving the admission of the general public.") Although the Law Court has not yet considered Section 539, the Court has on other occasions looked to the Restatement for guidance on the law, including specifically in the area of premises liability. See Williams v. Boise Cascade Corp., 507 A.2d 576, 577 (Me. 1986) (Adopting Section 343A of the Restatement).
7 ALFSC-CV-16-193
ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF:
PETER CLIFORD, ESQ. CLIFFORD & CLIFFORD LLC 62 PORTLAND ROAD, SUITE 37 KENNEBUNK ME 04043
ATTORNEY FOR DEFENDANT SUZANNE MADORE:
WENDELL LARGE, ESQ. BETSY WAKEFIELD, ESQ. RICHARDSON WHITMAN LARGE & BADGER PO BOX 9545 PORTLAND ME 04112-9545
ATTORNEY FOR DEFENDANT MELISSA PAQUETTE:
ROBERT GUILLORY, ESQ. GUILLORY LAW OFFICE PO BOX 57 SACO ME 04072-0057