Smith v. Mosier

29 Pa. D. & C.3d 660, 1984 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 470
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Monroe County
DecidedApril 2, 1984
Docketno. 1343 Civil 1982
StatusPublished

This text of 29 Pa. D. & C.3d 660 (Smith v. Mosier) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Monroe County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Smith v. Mosier, 29 Pa. D. & C.3d 660, 1984 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 470 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1984).

Opinion

WILLIAMS, S.J.,

Plaintiff seeks to recover damages which he alleges he sustained while a gratuitous invitee on the premises of defendants. His complaint alleges that defendants own land, a portion of which boarders on Brodhead Creek. That he was swimming in the creek. That he observed a rope fastened to a tree. That he swung out over the stream on the rope and then dove head first into the water. He alleges that the water was shallow due to a drought. That he struck rocks on the bottom of the stream and broke his neck.

The complaint alleges that defendants had, for many years, permitted the area to be used for swimming. That defendants knew that the rope was tied to the tree located along the shore line for the purpose of swinging and diving into the stream. That defendants failed to give notice to him that the water had become shallow by reason of the drought. That they did not post trespass or warning notices despite the fact that they knew that the area was used by the general public for swimming.

Defendants, in their answer, allege that prior to the accident they posted notices against trespassing on the premises. Under new matter they allege that plaintiff was using their land for recreational purposes without the payment of an admission price or fee to enter the land.

Depositions of all parties to the litigation have been taken and filed.

The matter is now before us on a motion by defendants for summary judgment. They assert in their [662]*662motion that “any liability of the Defendants is limited by the Pennsylvania Recreational Use of Land and Water Act, 68 Purdons, Section 477-1”.

DISCUSSION

Plaintiff asserts (1) that the Recreational Use of Land and Water Act does not apply to this case because the husband-owner, in his deposition, testified that he did various acts to keep people from using his property for swimming purpose. He testified that he posted trespass notices on the property; that he shot down the rope with a shotgun and that he placed a barrier across the road to prevent vehicle traffic from entering his property. That the immunity granted by the aforesaid act only is granted one who permits the use of his land for recreational purposes.

Secondly, he contends that the Act is unconstitutional.

Under Section 2 of the Act, swimming is defined as a recreational purpose.

Section 477-3 of the Act provides:

“§477-3. Duty to keep premises safe; warning

Except as specifically recognized or provided in section 6 of this act,1 (Footnote omitted.) an owner of land owes no duty of care to keep the premises safe for entry or use by others for recreational purpose, or to give any warning of a dangerous condition, use, structure, or activity on such premises to persons entering for such purposes.”

Section 477-4 of the Act provides:

“§477-4. Assurance of safe premises; duty of care; responsibility, liability

Except as specifically recognized by or provided in section 6 of this act, (Footnote omitted.) an owner of land who either directly or indirectly invites or permits without charge any person to use such [663]*663property for recreational purposes does not thereby:

(1) Extend any assurance that the premises are safe for any purpose.

(2) Confer upon such person the legal status of an invitee or licensee to whom a duty of care is owed.

(3) Assume responsibility for or incur liability for any injury to persons or property caused by an act of omissions of such persons.”

The provisions of §477-6 of the Act have no application to the instant case.

It is clear from the allegations in the complaint and the deposition of plaintiff that he was using defendants’ land for recreational purposes without paying a charge therefor. He testified that on July 13, 1980, he gained access to the stream by walking through a corn field. That he saw a person there whom he could neither describe or identify who asked him what he was doing and he replied that he was going swimming. The man asked him not to step on his corn and he did not. That there were no trespass notices posted and that others were swimming in the area. That his two cousins, who took him to the area, swung on the rope and dropped feet first in the water and were not injured. He then swung on the rope, dove head first into the water, struck his head on a rock in the bottom of the stream, causing his injuries.

We have difficulty in adopting plaintiffs position that the immunity granted by the Recreational Use Act is not applicable to this case, because defendants did not permit the use of the stream for swimming by the public. Plaintiff avers the contrary in his complaint. See Paragraph Four of the complaint. To the same tenor is the deposition of plaintiff. Plaintiff asserts that he was an invitee on the premises. Plaintiffs case, as set forth in the complaint, as well as his deposition, is that he was either directly [664]*664or indirectly invited by defendants to use the premises for swimming. Under this theory of the case, the Recreational Use Act is applicable to the instant case.

This case is ruled by Wiegand v. Mars National Bank, Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 308 Pa. Super. 218; 454 A.2d 99 (1982). In that case, a 16 year old boy was injured playing football on a vacant lot owned by defendant bank. At trial a compulsory non-suit was granted. For some years the bank had permitted the use of the land for community recreational purposes. Plaintiff was injured when he tripped over a stake while playing on the lot. The stake had been driven under ground level in the winter time, but a portion of it protruded above ground level when the ground was no longer frozen.

The Superior Court held that plaintiffs was a licensee of the premises, not an invitee, and as a licensee, the bank’s duty to use reasonable care to warn plaintiff of conditions known to the possessor of the land.

The court held that plaintiffs claim for damage was barred by the Recreational Use Act, saying:

“Finally, the bank is further insulated from liability by 68 Pa.S.A. §477-1 et seq., ‘Recreation Use of Land and Water’, enacted in 1966 to encourage land owners to make land and water areas available to the public for recreational purposes. The Act provides (§477-3, 477-6) that an owner of donated land has no duty of care to keep premises safe for entry or use by others, or to warn of dangerous conditions, and is liable only for malicious failure to guard or warn.

“We therefore conclude that viewing all the evidence in the light most favorable to appellant Wiegand, that he has not established liability on the part of the bank.”

[665]*665Plaintiff asserts that the Act does not bar his recovery since defendant denies that he permitted the public to use his land for recreational purposes. That he took steps to avoid such use, such as posting trespass signs and shooting down the rope. We find this argument faulty since Defendant under Pa. R.C.P. 1020(c) has the right to plead in the alternative.

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323 A.2d 730 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1974)
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454 A.2d 99 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1982)
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Bluebook (online)
29 Pa. D. & C.3d 660, 1984 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 470, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/smith-v-mosier-pactcomplmonroe-1984.