Ike v. Kroger Co.

546 S.E.2d 903, 248 Ga. App. 531, 2001 Fulton County D. Rep. 1184, 2001 Ga. App. LEXIS 345
CourtCourt of Appeals of Georgia
DecidedMarch 9, 2001
DocketA00A2258
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 546 S.E.2d 903 (Ike v. Kroger Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ike v. Kroger Co., 546 S.E.2d 903, 248 Ga. App. 531, 2001 Fulton County D. Rep. 1184, 2001 Ga. App. LEXIS 345 (Ga. Ct. App. 2001).

Opinion

Barnes, Judge.

Angela Ike appeals a judgment, based on a jury verdict, in favor of the Kroger Company in a rainy day slip and fall case. She contends the trial court erred by refusing to give her requested jury charge on the admissibility of admissions made by Kroger employees; by giving Kroger’s charge on expecting to find water on the floor on a rainy day; by giving Kroger’s charge on her obligation to exercise ordinary care for her own safety; by giving Kroger’s charge on equal or greater negligence; by refusing to give her charge on future earnings; by allegedly commenting upon the evidence during the charge; and by denying her motion for a new trial. Ike also contends the verdict is contrary to the evidence, without evidence to support it, decidedly and strongly against the weight of the evidence, and contrary to law and the principles of justice and equity. Finding no error, we affirm.

1. Ike contends the trial court erred by denying her motion for a new trial because the verdict was contrary to the evidence and without evidence to support it, is decidedly and strongly against the weight of the evidence, and is contrary to law and principles of justice. In her recitation of the facts and in her arguments regarding her motion for a new trial, Ike, quite naturally, has stated the facts from her point of view. However, rearguing the evidence,

upon which the jury has already passed, provides no basis for an appeal. The entire question of fact, and particularly the weight and preponderance of the evidence, are for the jury. On appeal, we construe all evidence most strongly in support of the verdict, for that is what we must presume the jury did; and if there is evidence to sustain the verdict, we cannot disturb it. McLarty v. Kushner, 173 Ga. App. 432 (326 SE2d 777).

J C. Penney Cas. Ins. Co. v. Woodard, 190 Ga. App. 727, 730 (2) (380 SE2d 282) (1989).

Therefore, construing the evidence most strongly in support of the verdict, the evidence shows that on a rainy day Ike entered a Kroger store to do some shopping. According to Ike’s testimony, the *532 rain had stopped before she entered the store, and there was a puddle of water inside the store that she slipped and fell in because she did not see the puddle. She also testified that when she entered the store, she saw a large puddle just inside the first door, which she avoided. The puddle she slipped in was of similar size. Kroger’s employees, however, testified that it was still raining when Ike fell. The parking lot was wet.

Contrary to Ike’s testimony, three Kroger employees testified that caution signs were posted at the entrance to the store, carpeted mats were just inside the entrance, and the area was being mopped frequently. These witnesses also testified that Ike did not fall to the floor. She just slipped and caught herself on a shoplifting detection device near the door. Further, Ike continued her shopping after the incident. The witnesses testified that no large puddle was on the floor, only moisture that had been tracked in by customers.

The standard of appellate review of a motion for new trial is that, when a jury returns a verdict and the trial court has approved it, the ruling must be affirmed on appeal if there is any evidence to support it, because the jurors are the sole and exclusive judges of the weight and credit given the evidence. An appellate court must construe the evidence with every inference and presumption in favor of upholding the verdict, even when the evidence is in conflict. As long as some evidence supports the verdict, we will not disturb the denial of a motion for new trial. Southeastern Security Ins. Co. v. Hotle, 222 Ga. App. 161, 162 (1) (473 SE2d 256) (1996). Further, Ike’s enumerations contending that the trial court erred by denying her motion for new trial because the verdict was decidedly and strongly against the weight of the evidence and contrary to law and principles of justice do not present an issue for appellate review.

The discretion to set aside a verdict on the ground that it is decidedly and strongly against the weight of the evidence or is contrary to the principles of justice and equity rests solely with the trial judge, and the appellate courts are not vested with such discretion. See generally OCGA §§ 5-5-20; 5-5-21.

(Citations omitted.) Perfect Image v. M & M Electrical Constructors, 191 Ga. App. 605, 608 (5) (382 SE2d 405) (1989).

Accordingly, these enumerations of error are without merit.

2. Ike contends the trial court erred by refusing to give a charge she requested that certain statements made to her by Kroger employees on the day of her alleged fall were admissible in evidence. The charge states: “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I charge you that a statement made by an employee within the scope of his employment is admissible as an admission against the interest of the *533 employer and not hearsay.” Ike cites Watson v. Kroger Co., 231 Ga. App. 741 (500 SE2d 631) (1998), as authority for giving the charge. Review of Watson, however, shows that the issue was whether certain statements were admissible, not whether this jury charge was appropriate. Therefore, Watson is not authority for giving this charge. Further, because these statements were, in fact, admitted in evidence, without limitation, the charge was unnecessary. Under the circumstances, the jury had no need to be instructed that the statements were admissible. Language used in appellate court decisions may embody sound law, but it is not always proper to include such language in the jury charge. Dept. of Transp. v. Hillside Motors, 192 Ga. App. 637, 640 (3) (385 SE2d 746) (1989).

As Ike’s arguments regarding the trial court’s failing to charge on res gestae were not raised in the trial court and were not enumerated as error, they present nothing for appellate review. Only those issues properly raised in the trial court will be considered on appeal. Dept. of Transp. v. Hillside Motors, supra, 192 Ga. App. at 638.

3. Ike contends the trial court erred by giving the following charge to the jury:

The risk of harm imposed by some accumulation of water on the floor of a business premises during rainy days is not unusual or unreasonable in and of itself but is one to which all who go out on a rainy day may be exposed and which all may expect or anticipate. Until such time as one who enters might reasonably expect to find the floor free of water, he or she should expect to find water present.

We find no error. This charge accurately states the law in this state. Roby v. Kroger Co., 219 Ga. App. 459, 460 (465 SE2d 496) (1995); Chafin v. Winn-Dixie Atlanta, 201 Ga. App. 209 (411 SE2d 64) (1991). See also Cleveland v. Snowdrop Properties, 232 Ga. App. 447, 448 (501 SE2d 546) (1998). Additionally, the charge was properly adjusted to the evidence presented by Kroger’s employees that it was raining when Ike entered the store.

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546 S.E.2d 903, 248 Ga. App. 531, 2001 Fulton County D. Rep. 1184, 2001 Ga. App. LEXIS 345, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ike-v-kroger-co-gactapp-2001.