Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority v. Fife

469 S.E.2d 420, 220 Ga. App. 298, 96 Fulton County D. Rep. 787, 1996 Ga. App. LEXIS 178

• Court: Court of Appeals of Georgia
• Decided: February 21, 1996
• Docket: A95A2652
• Status: Published

Opinions

Andrews, Judge.

We granted Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority’s (MARTA) request for an interlocutory appeal to determine whether the trial court erred in denying MARTA’s motion for summary judgment on Sharon Fife’s slip and fall claim. Fife’s complaint alleged MARTA was negligent in failing to warn of a hazardous condition because she twisted her ankle in front of the College Park MARTA station as she stepped off the curb into a drainage culvert underneath a manhole cover.

In the order denying MARTA’s motion for summary judgment, the trial court found that Fife was familiar with the MARTA station where the accident occurred, had an unrestricted view of the manhole cover, and the manhole cover was the same size and appearance as manhole covers found in the Atlanta area and elsewhere. But, the trial court held there was an issue of material fact as to whether MARTA was negligent in not posting a warning near the culvert.

“To prevail at summary judgment under OCGA § 9-11-56, the moving party must demonstrate that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that the undisputed facts, viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, warrant judgment as a matter of law. [Cit.] A defendant may do this by showing the court that the documents, affidavits, depositions and other evidence in the record reveal that there is no evidence sufficient to create a [genuine] jury issue on at least one essential element of plaintiffs case. . . . [Cit.] A defendant who will not bear the burden of proof at trial need not affirmatively disprove the nonmoving party’s case; instead, the burden on the moving party may be discharged by pointing out by reference to the affidavits, depositions and other documents in the record that there is an absence of evidence to support the nonmoving party’s case.” Lau’s Corp. v. Haskins, 261 Ga. 491 (405 SE2d 474) (1991).

Construing the evidence, as we must, in favor of Fife as non-movant on summary judgment, the record shows that on October 6, 1992, Fife walked out of the College Park MARTA station at around 7:15 in the evening. It was not quite dark yet and she saw her sister, who was picking her up, pull over to the curb in front of the station. Fife was “very familiar” with the College Park MARTA station. She testified that previously she had been picked up in this same spot. Fife agreed that her sister was not parked in the “kiss and ride” area designated for picking up and dropping off passengers at the MARTA station. When shown a picture of the curb at her deposition, Fife stated the culvert appeared to be in plain view in the picture; however, she could not see it as she was walking toward it. But, Fife admitted in her deposition that she was aware that a manhole cover indicated a drainage space.

1. MARTA contends this is a static condition which is open and obvious and, therefore, it had no duty to warn. Fife claims the plain view doctrine does not apply in this instance because she could not see the drainage culvert as she was walking toward it or before she fell.

“Q. When you first looked after the fall, was it easy to see? A. No. Q. Why not? A. I just couldn’t see it. Had I saw it then I wouldn’t have fallen into it. I just couldn’t see it. . . . Q. Could you see it before you fell? A. No.”

When asked what she was looking at as she stepped off the curb, Fife replied: “A. I was looking at the handle on the door to open the door. Q. You were not looking where you were stepping? A. I guess I was focusing on the door.”

Also, when asked if there was anything to prevent her from seeing where she was stepping, Fife responded, “Yes. . . . The car door.”

Thus, Fife has not introduced any evidence which would show that the hazard was not in plain view, but, rather that she did not look down and see the hazard because she was looking at the car door. Indeed, the picture of the curb in question shows the depression to be plainly visible to anyone standing at the curb. Accordingly, Fife’s contention that the plain view doctrine does not apply is without merit.

2. Since the drainage depression was open and obvious, MARTA was under no duty to warn. An owner or occupier of land has a duty of exercising ordinary care to keep the premises and approaches safe for invitees. OCGA § 51-3-1. The basis of the owner’s liability is a superior knowledge of the condition that subjected the invitee to an unreasonable risk of harm. Pound v. Augusta Nat., 158 Ga. App. 166 (279 SE2d 342) (1981). The hazard in this case is a “static” condition which is not dangerous unless someone fails to observe it and steps into it. Gaydos v. Grupe Real Estate Investors, 211 Ga. App. 811, 813 (440 SE2d 545) (1994). In cases involving static conditions, “if the invitee knows 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 injury because the invitee has as much knowledge as the proprietor does and then by voluntarily acting in view of his knowledge, assumes the risks and dangers incident to the known condition.” (Citation and punctuation omitted.) Rose v. Kennesaw House, 203 Ga. App. 648, 649 (417 SE2d 379) (1992). Also, we have held that where there is nothing to obstruct or interfere with the invitee’s ability to see the static defect, the owner is justified in assuming that the visitor will see it and realize the risks involved. Crenshaw v. Hogan, 203 Ga. App. 104, 105 (416 SE2d 147) (1992). A claim involving a static defect differs from other slip and fall cases in that when a person has successfully negotiated an alleged dangerous condition on a previous occasion, that person is presumed to have knowledge of it and cannot recover for a subsequent injury resulting therefrom. Brown v. Carlisle, 214 Ga. App. 483, 484 (448 SE2d 256) (1994). See also Thomas v. Southwest Ga. Community Action Council, 215 Ga. App. 638 (451 SE2d 800) (1994) (an elderly lady who elected to exit the building by slippery brick landing and who had done so one or two times previously was presumed to have knowledge of this dangerous static condition).

Here, the hazard was in plain view and Fife testified that she was very familiar with this MARTA station and had been picked up at that same spot in the past. Therefore, Fife is presumed to have knowledge of any hazard associated with the area.

Further, where an invitee departs from the route designated and maintained by the owner for the invitee’s safety, then “the degree of caution required by the invitee’s duty to exercise ordinary care for her own safety is heightened by any increased risk resulting from that choice.” Gaydos, supra at 813. In Gaydos, the plaintiff cut across the lawn to the parking lot instead of using the walkway provided, and tripped and fell when stepping off the sloping concrete curb. We rejected plaintiff’s contention that the rule regarding static defects was inapplicable because the defect, a crack in the concrete, was not visible to a person walking toward it, and found plaintiff should have been aware of any lack of visibility and exercised greater caution. Id. at 813.

In the instant case, MARTA provided an area for picking up passengers so that they would not have to enter and exit on the street. But, Fife chose to use the street instead. Accordingly, when an unauthorized route is being used improperly, the invitee assumes the risk and must use greater caution for her safety. Gaydos, supra at 813.

Therefore, for the reasons discussed above, we find MARTA was under no duty to warn of this static condition and Fife failed to exercise ordinary care for her own safety. Thus, the trial court erred in denying MARTA’s motion for summary judgment.

Judgment reversed.

Beasley, C. J., Birdsong, P. J., Pope, P. J., Johnson, Blackburn and Smith, JJ., concur. Ruffin, J., concurs in the judgment only. McMurray, P. J., dissents.