Nagel v. Landels

530 P.2d 1239, 271 Or. 122, 1975 Ore. LEXIS 495
CourtOregon Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 30, 1975
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 530 P.2d 1239 (Nagel v. Landels) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Oregon Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Nagel v. Landels, 530 P.2d 1239, 271 Or. 122, 1975 Ore. LEXIS 495 (Or. 1975).

Opinion

BRYSON, J.

Plaintiff brought this action to recover for injuries sustained when she fell on the back stairway of property owned by defendants but rented to tenants, Littlefields. The trial court granted defendants’ motion for judgment of involuntary nonsuit at the close of plaintiff’s case. Plaintiff appeals.

[124]*124Plaintiff assigns as error the trial court’s granting judgment of involuntary nonsuit, contending that

“[u]nder the evidence, the jury could find that the condition of the back steps of defendants’ rental house, when let, was
“ (1) a nuisance; or
“(2) ruinous; or
“(3) dangerous; or
“ (4) unreasonably dangerous; or
“ (5) in violation of Portland ordinances.”

We view the evidence in a light most favorable to the plaintiff. The facts leading up to plaintiff’s fall are as follows. Defendants rented the premises involved to Mr. and Mrs. Littlefield some two and one-half years prior to the time of plaintiff’s fall. The back of plaintiff’s house abutted the back of the Little-field residence. Plaintiff and the Littlefields had been neighbors over two years. In the early afternoon of Saturday, December 7, 1968, Mr. and Mrs. Littlefield visited in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Nagel. There is evidence that the parties drank intoxicating liquor at both the Nagel and Littlefield homes just prior to the accident, but there is no evidence that plaintiff was intoxicated. The Nagel automobile was being repaired at a garage. Mr. Nagel and Mr. and Mrs. Littlefield had returned to the Littlefield house and Mr. Nagel was going to pick up the car. Plaintiff did not want her husband to go after their car as he was “under the influence” and “did not have a driver’s license.” Plaintiff entered the Littlefields’ house via the back steps to “call the garage to get the car before my husband could.” She fell when going down the [125]*125back steps to return to her home. On direct examination she testified as follows:

“Q Is it fair to say you were in a hurry to get over to the Littlefields’ house?
“A Yes.
“Q And when you called the garage were they getting ready to close?
“A Yes.”

Plaintiff entered the house via the back steps so her husband could, not see her. She testified:

“Q Had anyone ever warned you—anyone at all—had anyone at all ever warned you about the condition of that step, slanting the way it did?
“A They did not have to; I could see.”

She also testified that she had not used the back steps before but she “had seen them and had seen the slant.” Plaintiff gave several versions as to how she fell. She testified :

“Q You started to leave by the back door, tell me what happened.
“A I stepped down off the platform, and it just seemed like there was nothing there. It all just gave way.
“Q Why did you fall ?
“A Because of the slanting step.
“Q * * * Would you tell us where you were looking as you started down the stairs?
“A As I started down I was just going to step down on this first step, and that’s when I took my tumble.”

At the time of plaintiff’s deposition, on January 6, 1971, she testified as follows:

“ ‘Question. Tell me what happened. How did it happen?
[126]*126“ ‘Answer: I came out that back door and stepped down about the third step and it just gave way.
“ ‘Question: You mean it broke?
“ ‘Answer: Yes, I fell.
“ ‘Question: well, you say it just gave away. Now, what do you mean by that?
“ ‘Answer: There just wasn’t nothing there to stand on.
“ ‘Question: Had you gone in that same way when you went in the house?
“‘Answer: Yes.
“‘Question: Were the steps all intact at that time or not?
“‘Answer: Yes.
“ ‘Question: But when you came out there wasn’t anything there on one of the steps?
“ ‘Answer: It just seemed to give away when I stepped down on it.
“ ‘Question: Which step was it, counting from the top?
“ ‘Answer: The third or fourth.
“ ‘Question: Along in the middle of the stairway?
“ ‘Answer: Yes.
“Do you recall giving those answers to those questions in January of 1971 in your attorney’s office in the deposition?
“A Yes.”

Mrs. Littlefield was at her back door and observed the plaintiff’s fall. She testified:

“Q Tell us what happened when she stepped off the landing.
“A She went to step on the first step and she lost her balance and went to the left, and then down [127]*127to the right, and then back to the left again, and fell.”

On cross-examination Mrs, Littlefield testified:

“Q Did you also testify that you saw her as she stepped on to the first step and saw her lose her balance?
# * # *
“Q Kind of balanced and then fell; is that correct ?
“A Yes.
* * * *
“Q Do you remember when we took your deposition in April of 1971?
“A Yes.
“Q Do you remember being asked these questions and giving these answers?
“Question: Did you see her fall?
“Answer: Yes.
“Question: Where were you at that time?
“Answer: Well, I was in the doorway, and she was on the porch.
“Question: How did she fall?
“Answer: She stepped off the step, and she just went forward. I mean, she kinda went headlong down into the steps and sprawled in the mud below”

Plaintiff’s fall occurred at 3 p.m. The steps were covered and were dry. Several pictures of the back porch and steps were received in evidence.

During lengthy arguments and meticulous consideration by the court regarding defendants’ motion for judgment of involuntary nonsuit, the following [128]*128colloquy occurred between tbe court and plaintiff’s counsel:

“THE COURT: * * * Your client does not contend she slipped. She has not said one word in her testimony about having slipped. Your whole ease, in so far as her testimony, is grounded on the fact the steps were slanted.* * * .

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
530 P.2d 1239, 271 Or. 122, 1975 Ore. LEXIS 495, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/nagel-v-landels-or-1975.