Royce v. Chatwell Club Apartments

740 N.W.2d 547, 276 Mich. App. 389
CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedAugust 7, 2007
DocketDocket No. 266682
StatusPublished
Cited by30 cases

This text of 740 N.W.2d 547 (Royce v. Chatwell Club Apartments) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Royce v. Chatwell Club Apartments, 740 N.W.2d 547, 276 Mich. App. 389 (Mich. Ct. App. 2007).

Opinions

SERVITTO, EJ.

Defendant appeals by leave granted the circuit court’s order denying in part its motion for summary disposition in this premises liability action involving a slip and fall. Flaintiffs cross-appeal as of right the same order granting in part defendant’s motion for summary disposition under MCR 2.116(0(10). Because the slippery condition of the parking lot where the fall occurred was open and obvious and no special aspect making the condition unreasonably dangerous existed, and because defendant could not rely on the open and obvious danger doctrine to avoid its statutory duty under MCL 554.139, we reverse and remand for further proceedings.

This case arises out of a slip and fall that occurred in defendant’s parking lot on February 5, 2003, while plaintiffs resided at defendant’s apartment complex. Flaintiff Theresa Royce1 left her apartment at approximately 7:00 that evening intending to get into her vehicle, which was parked in front of her apartment. It was dark outside and snow covered the ground. As she stepped off the sidewalk into the parking lot, she slipped on snow-covered black ice and slid underneath her car. She did not see the ice before she fell and discovered it only after she tried to get up. She was [391]*391seriously injured and ultimately underwent surgery on her left knee.

Defendant moved for summary disposition, arguing that the black ice in the parking lot was an open and obvious condition and that a lessor’s duty under MCL 554.139 does not extend to snow and ice removal. The trial court denied defendant’s motion for summary disposition as it pertained to plaintiffs common-law premises liability claim, but granted summary disposition to defendant on plaintiffs statutory duty claim. This appeal followed.

We review de novo a trial court’s decision on a motion for summary disposition. Spiek v Dep’t of Transportation, 456 Mich 331, 337; 572 NW2d 201 (1998); Willis v Deerfield Twp, 257 Mich App 541, 548; 669 NW2d 279 (2003). A motion for summary disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(10) is properly granted if no factual dispute exists, thus entitling the moving party to judgment as a matter of law. Rice v Auto Club Ins Ass’n, 252 Mich App 25, 31; 651 NW2d 188 (2002). In deciding a motion brought under subrule C(10), a court considers all the evidence, affidavits, pleadings, and admissions in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Id. at 30-31.

Defendant argues that the trial court erred by denying its motion for summary disposition regarding plaintiffs common-law claim because the dangerous condition of its premises was open and obvious and there existed no special aspects making the condition unreasonably dangerous. “In general, a premises possessor owes a duty to an invitee

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
740 N.W.2d 547, 276 Mich. App. 389, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/royce-v-chatwell-club-apartments-michctapp-2007.