Heldman v. Uniroyal, Inc.

371 N.E.2d 557, 53 Ohio App. 2d 21, 7 Ohio Op. 3d 20, 1977 Ohio App. LEXIS 6972
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 20, 1977
Docket35498
StatusPublished
Cited by28 cases

This text of 371 N.E.2d 557 (Heldman v. Uniroyal, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Heldman v. Uniroyal, Inc., 371 N.E.2d 557, 53 Ohio App. 2d 21, 7 Ohio Op. 3d 20, 1977 Ohio App. LEXIS 6972 (Ohio Ct. App. 1977).

Opinion

Krbnzler, J.

On March 21, 1973, plaintiff-appellee, Julie M. Heldman, hereinafter referred to as the appellee, filed a complaint against the defendant-appellant, Uniroyal, Inc., hereinafter referred to as the appellant.

In her principal claim for relief she alleged that one of the appellant’s divisions marketed and sold a special synthetic rubber material which was claimed to be suitable for use as an outdoor tennis court surface and that this surface is known as the “Uniroyal Roll-A-Way Tennis Court.” She alleged that the appellant made certain representations and warranties, both express and implied, that its Roll-A-Way tennis court was free of dents, hollows, soft or rough spots and was safe and fit for its intended use as a tennis court playing surface; that the appellant contracted to supply, install and maintain one of its Roll-A-Way tennis courts for use during the August, 1971, Wightman Cup tennis championships between the United State and Great Britain and that as a tennis professional and a member of the United States team in its match against Great Britain and in the course of early play the RplUAWay, contrary to the .appellant’s representations *23 and warranties, began to blister and come loose at the seams, making footing uncertain and play unreasonably hazardous. She further alleged that the Roll-A-Way tennis court was defective and not reasonably fit for its intended use by professionals; that while engaged in a singles match against Virginia Wade of Great Britain she was •caused to suffer severe injury to her left knee and that this injury came about as a direct and proximate result of the defective condition of the playing surface and the breach of representations and warranties, of the appellant.

Her second claim for relief is in the form of a negligence action. The balance of the complaint is concerned with the alleged injuries and damages and the prayer for relief which are not issues in this appeal.

The appellant filed an answer in the form of a general denial and also alleged that any injury of the appellee was proximately caused or contributed to by her own negligence and also was the result of the appellee assuming the consequences of a known risk.

The appellant filed a motion for summary judgment pursuant to Civil Rule 56(B), and this motion was overruled. The case was subsequently tried to a jury.

Testifying for the appellee relevant to the issues in this appeal were Carole Graebner, Virginia Wade, Sheldon Westervelt, Julie Heldman, and Sandra Hosak. Reference was made in the briefs to the testimony of Christine Sue Pigeon, a teammate of the appellee, but her testimony does not appear in the transcript of testimony and will not be considered. The appellant relied on the cross-examination of the appellee’s witnesses and the testimony of Andrew J. Lee, who was the National Sales Manager for Uniroyal Recreational Surfaces at the time of the accident.

Testimony introduced at trial concerned events which occurred between August 18, 1971, and August 23, 1971, which included three periods: (1) the practice period from August 18 to August 21; (2) the date of the Wade-Held-man match on August 21; and (3) the period after the Wade-Heldman match to August 23, the date of the Wade-Evert match.

*24 Carole Graebner testified that she was the captain of the United States tennis team in the Wightman matches-with Great Britain. She stated that there were air pockets-underneath the tennis court; that the ball was taking bad bounces; that she observed gaps or spaces between the-sections of the tennis court; that the surface was a little tacky and that she told all her team members to watch, out for these things. She stated that the problem continued all week and that this could be observed when walking on the court. She further testified that they had to practice indoors during the week because rain seeped underneath the tennis court.

She was asked her opinion as an expert as to whether the condition of the court rendered it unsafe to play. She-stated that it was hazardous and there were constant problems. Whenever they fixed one section, a new problem arose. The tape was not sticldng to hold the tennis court-down; there were gaps or spaces in the court; there were air pockets; and there were problems with water. She told Uniroyal to fix the court to prevent anyone from getting hurt. Eventually, she let her team play because she was assured that the court was fixed. She testified that the people from Uniroyal were “squeegeeing” water from under the court on Friday, August 21, after the rain and before the Wade-Heldman tennis match.

Virginia Wade, a member of the British Wightman Cup team and the appellee’s opponent at the time of the injury, testified by way of deposition. Defense counsel objected to the introduction of Virginia Wade’s testimony because it related to events occurring two days subsequent to the accident and that conditions had changed so dramatically between the date of the accident and August 23 as to make it irrelevant and highly prejudicial. There is no testimony in the record that the conditions of the tennis court on August 23 were the same as the conditions of the court on August 21. The trial court overruled the objection on the ground that the dramatic changes referred to were issues for the jury to decide and that the condition of the court two days subsequent to the event upon which *25 the case was brought was relevant in that it tended to show what the condition was on the date of the accident.

Virginia Wade testified that she did not like syn-' thetic surfaces or concrete tennis courts because they cause bad bounces. She discussed the condition of the court several times with her team. She did not expressly testify in regard to the conditions on August 21 other than to state that there were bubbles and bad bounces. Most of her testimony was concerned with conditions of the court on August 23 and her actions on that date. She stated that there had been a thunderstorm the night before and that on August 23 the ball was taking bad bounces, the seams were loose, and there was water on the court. Consequently, she ripped up part of the tennis court, lifting it by the seam. Workmen then, had to lay it back down and tape it. She testified that she could feel the water splurge under the surface. She further stated that when a tennis court is in such a condition the players are somewhat afraid to run because there is always a chance that one will get hurt but that they continue to play because they are professionals.

Sheldon Westervelt, the expert witness of the appellee, testified that total adhesion is necessary to prevent water from getting under the tennis court which upon vaporizing causes bubbles creating a dangerous condition. He stated that the bubbles cannot be seen by the eye.

He testified that the .04 inch of rain before the WadeHeldman match was sufficient to put water under the tennis court and that sidewise movement of the tennis shoes causes the rubber of the court to pucker and impede the motion of a player. He also testified that it rained .33 of an inch after the Wade-Heldman match.

Julie Heldman testified that she practiced on the court for one hour on August 19, 20 and 21 and for twenty minutes before the match with Virginia Wade.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
371 N.E.2d 557, 53 Ohio App. 2d 21, 7 Ohio Op. 3d 20, 1977 Ohio App. LEXIS 6972, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/heldman-v-uniroyal-inc-ohioctapp-1977.