NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION
STATE OF LOUISIANA
COURT OF APPEAL
FIRST CIRCUIT
NO. 2023 CA 0215
SUSAN ROBINSON AND DOUGLASS ROBINSON, III
VERSUS
POINTE COUPEE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD AND LOUISIANA CLAIMS ADMINISTRATOR (LOCA)
Judgment Rendered: FEB 2 1. 2024
Appealed from the 18th Judicial District Court In and for the Parish of Pointe Coupee State of Louisiana Docket No. 49987
The Honorable Elizabeth A. Engolio, Judge Presiding
James F. Beatty, Jr. Counsel for Plaintiff/Appellant, Baton Rouge, Louisiana Susan Robinson and Douglass Robinson, III
D. Scott Rainwater Counsel for Defendant/Appellee, Chris W. Caswell Pointe Coupee Parish School Board Claire E. Sauls Baton Rouge, Louisiana
BEFORE: THERIOT, PENZATO, AND MILLER, JJ. MILLER, J.
Susan Robinson and Douglass Robinson, III appeal a summary judgment
dismissing their claims against Pointe Coupee Parish School Board, with prejudice,
based on a finding that the complained -of condition is not unreasonably dangerous.
For the reasons that follow, we affirm.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Susan Robinson (" Ms. Robinson") and Douglass Robinson, III (" Mr.
Robinson") filed suit against Pointe Coupee Parish School Board (" School Board")
and Louisiana Claims Administrator, for injuries allegedly sustained in a trip and
fall incident at STEM Magnet Academy of Pointe Coupee (" STEM") on October
8, 2019. Ms. Robinson was attending an event at STEM when she allegedly tripped
on either an expansion joint in the sidewalk or where the sidewalk was broken by
an inclined area and fell.' The Robinsons alleged that, as a result of the fall, Ms.
Robinson suffered physical injuries, emotional distress, mental anguish, and
mental pain and suffering. Additionally, the Robinsons alleged that Mr. Robinson
sustained a loss of consortium, society, companionship, and services.
On February 23, 2022, the School Board filed a motion for summary
judgment, contending that the Robinsons could not prove that the condition of the
sidewalk was unreasonably dangerous. Further, it alleged that even if the
Robinsons could prove that the defect created an unreasonable risk of harm, they
would be unable to prove that the School Board had actual or constructive notice
of the defect. In support of its motion, the School Board attached a statement of
uncontested material facts; a list of essential legal elements; the petition for
damages; an excerpt of the deposition of Ms. Robinson; photographs of the
The location of the trip and fall incident is unclear. Ms, Robinson offers two possible locations. This uncertainty is central to our analysis.
2 sidewalk2;
and the affidavit of Lacey Bueche (" Ms. Bueche") with an incident
report and photographs of the sidewalk attached. The Robinsons opposed the
motion and attached the affidavit of Junior Stanley (" Mr. Stanley") with
photographs of the sidewalk attached.
The School Board filed a reply memorandum and an objection to Mr.
Stanley' s affidavit, asserting that it was not made on personal knowledge and
contained inadmissible hearsay. Thereafter, the Robinsons filed a response to the
School Board' s objection to Mr. Stanley' s affidavit and an objection to Ms.
Bueche' s affidavit.' The School Board filed a motion to strike the Robinsons'
response and objection.
At the hearing on the motion, the trial court indicated that the School Board
was able to show that the crack in the sidewalk —where the sidewalk was broken
near an inclined area — was under an inch and a half, so the complained -of
condition was not unreasonably dangerous. Based upon this showing, the trial
court granted the School Board' s motion for summary judgment and dismissed the
Robinsons' claims against the School Board, with prejudice. A judgment in
conformity with this ruling was signed on September 6, 2022, therein also granting
the School Board' s motion to strike and overruling the School Board' s objection to
Mr. Stanley' s affidavit. The Robinsons now appeal, contending that the trial court
erred in granting the School Board' s motion for summary judgment due to the
existence of genuine issues of material fact.
2 Photographs are not included in the list of documents that may be filed in support of or in opposition to a motion for summary judgment. See La. C. C. P. art. 966( A)(4). However, the court shall consider any documents to which no objection is made, See La. C. C. P. art. 966( D)( 2). Here, the Robinsons did not object to the photographs filed in support of the School Board' s motion for summary judgment, so the trial court properly considered them.
This objection is not contained in the record as the trial court struck the pleading.
3 SUMMARY JUDGMENT
An appellate court reviews the grant or denial of summary judgment de novo
under the same criteria governing the trial court' s determination of whether
summary judgment is appropriate. MN Resources LLC v. Louisiana Hardwood
Products LLC, 2016- 0758 ( La. App, 1st Cir. 7126117), 225 So. 3d 1104, 1109, writ
denied, 2017- 1748 ( La. 1215117), 231 So. 3d 624. Because this court reviews
summary judgments de novo, we afford no deference to the trial court' s underlying
reasoning for its judgment. John River Cartage, Inc. v. Louisiana Generating, LLC,
2020- 0162 ( La. App. 1st Cir. 314120), 300 So. 3d 437, 453 n. 12. On de novo review,
we also afford no deference to the legal standard or analysis applied by the trial
court. Tucker v. Chatfield, 2023- 0343 ( La. App. 1st Cir. 1119123), --- So. 3d ----, ----
2023 WL 7410052, * 4.
After an opportunity for adequate discovery, a motion for summary
judgment shall be granted if the motion, memorandum, and supporting documents
show that there is no genuine issue as to material fact and that the mover is entitled
to judgment as a matter of law. La. C. C. P. art. 966( A)( 3). The summary judgment
movant maintains the burden of proof. La. C. C. P. art. 966(D)( 1). Nevertheless, if
the movant will not bear the burden of proof at trial on the issue before the court on
the motion, his burden is satisfied by pointing out an absence of factual support for
one or more elements essential to the adverse party' s claim, action, or defense.
Thereafter, the adverse party must produce factual support sufficient to establish he
will be able to satisfy his evidentiary burden of proof at trial. If the adverse party
a Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure article 966 was subsequently amended by La. Acts 2023, No. 317, § l; La. Acts 2023, No. 368, § 1, effective August 1, 2023. This court has determined that the amendments are substantive and cannot be applied retroactively. See La. C. C. P. art. 966, Comments — 2023, Comment ( f); Ricketson v. McKenzie, 2023- 0314 ( La. App. 1 ' t Cir. 1014123), _ So. 3d _, _, 2023 WL 7037495, * 4.Accordingly, in the instant matter, we apply the version of La. C.C. P. art. 966 in effect at the time the motions for summary judgment were submitted and heard.
4 fails to meet this burden, the mover is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. La.
C. C.P. arts. 966( D)( 1).
OBJECTIONS
Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure article 966( D)(2) states that any
objection to a document shall be raised in a timely filed opposition or reply
memorandum. The court shall consider all objections prior to rendering judgment.
The court shall specifically state on the record or in writing which documents, if
any, it held to be inadmissible or declined to consider. La. C. C. P. art. 966( D)(2).
The abuse of discretion standard applies to the trial court' s ruling.5 Pottinger v.
Price, 2019- 0183 ( La. App. I" Cir. 10123119), 289 So. 3d 1047, 1053.
The School Board filed a timely objection to Mr. Stanley' s affidavit, which
was overruled by the trial court. The trial court found that Mr. Stanley' s lay
witness measurements and the janitor' s statements contained in Mr. Stanley' s
affidavit were admissible. We note that the janitor' s statements were improper,
imbedded hearsay within an otherwise appropriate affidavit. Even when no
objection is made to summary judgment evidence, the court must still decide de
novo whether we should give the documents any evidentiary value. See La. C. C.P.
art. 966( D)( 2).
Next, the Robinsons filed a response to the School Board' s objection to Mr.
Stanley' s affidavit and an objection to Ms. Bueche' s affidavit. This document is
not contained in the record. The School Board filed a motion to strike' the
Robinsons' response and objection. However, we note that the objection to Ms.
5 Although we review the grant or denial of summary judgment de novo, this court has applied the abuse of discretion standard when considering the trial court' s ruling on an objection contained in a timely filed opposition or reply memorandum in accordance with La. C. C. P. art. 966( D)( 2). See Loupe v. Roman Catholic Church of Diocese of Baton Rouge, 2022- 1151 ( La. App. 1" Cir. 5/ 9/ 23), 368 So. 3d 583, 586- 587.
The amendments to La. C. C. P. art. 966( D)( 2) by La. Acts 2015, No. 422, § 1, effective January 1, 2016, specifically removed the motion to strike as a means of raising an objection to a document offered by an adverse party in support of or in opposition to a motion for summary judgment. See La. C. C. P. art. 966, Comments —2015, Comment ( k).
5 Bueche' s affidavit was not contained in an opposition memorandum that was
timely filed in accordance with La. C. C.P. art. 966( D)(2). The court may consider
only those documents filed in support of or in opposition to the motion for
summary judgment and shall consider any documents to which no objection is
made. Id. Therefore, the affidavit of Ms. Bueche may be considered.
LIABILITY
The Robinsons' claims against the School Board are based on La. C.C. arts.
2317 and 2317. 17, as limited to public entities by La. R.S. 9: 2800. Louisiana Civil
Code article 2317 provides that we are responsible, not only for the damage
occasioned by our own act, but for that which is caused by the act of persons for
whom we are answerable, or of the things which we have in our custody. However,
La. C. C. art. 2317. 1 modifies La. C. C. art. 2317 to further require proof that ( 1) the
owner or custodian of a defective thing has knowledge of the defect, ( 2) the
damage could have been prevented by the exercise of reasonable care, and ( 3) the
failure to exercise reasonable care. Garrett v. Department of Children and Family
Services, 2023- 0412 ( La. App. 1st Cir. 1119123), --- So. 3d ----, ----, 2023 WL
7403596, * 2.
Custodial liability under La. C. C. art. 2317 is further limited as to public
entities' by La. R.S. 9: 2800, which requires additional proof that the public entity
Pursuant to La. C. C. art. 2317, 1,
The owner or custodian of a thing is answerable for damage occasioned by its ruin, vice, or defect, only upon, a showing that he knew or, in the exercise of reasonable care, should have known of the ruin, vice, or defect which caused the damage, that the damage could have been prevented by the exercise of reasonable care, and that he failed to exercise such reasonable care. Nothing in this Article shall preclude the court from the application of the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur in an appropriate case.
s Louisiana Revised Statutes 9: 2800( G)( 1) states:
Public entity" means and includes the state and any of its branches, departments, offices, agencies, boards, commissions, instrumentalities, officers, officials,
employees, and political subdivisions and the departments, offices, agencies,
boards, commissions, instrumentalities, officers, officials, and employees of such political subdivisions. Public entity also includes housing authorities, as defined
511 had notice and opportunity to repair the defect. Garrett, --- So. 3d at ----, 2023 WL
7403596 at * 2. Specifically, La. R.S. 9: 2800( C) provides, in pertinent part:
Except as provided for in Subsections A and B of this Section, no person shall have a cause of action based solely upon liability imposed under [ La. C. C. art.] 2317 against a public entity for damages caused by the condition of things within its care and custody unless the public entity had actual or constructive notice of the particular vice or defect which caused the damage prior to the occurrence, and the public entity has had a reasonable opportunity to remedy the defect and has failed to do so.
As such, in order to prove a public entity is liable for damages caused by a
thing, the plaintiff must establish:
1) custody or ownership of the defective thing by the public entity; 2) the defect created an unreasonable risk of harm; 3) the public entity had actual or constructive notice of the defect; 4) the public entity failed to take corrective action within a
reasonable time; and 5) causation.
Jefferson v. Nichols State University, 2019- 1137 ( La. App. l' Cir. 5111/ 20), 311
So. 3d 1083, 1085, writ denied, 2020- 00779 ( La. 1114/ 20), 303 So. 3d 623. 9 Failure
to meet any one of these statutory requirements will defeat a claim against a public
entity. Id. at 1086. The School Board is a public entity under La. R. S.
9: 2800( G)( 1).
In her deposition testimony, Ms. Robinson indicated that Mr. Stanley was
with her at the time of the incident and that the day after the incident he took
pictures of the location where Ms. Robinson tripped. Ms. Robinson recognized that
there were two cracks in the sidewalk and stated that she tripped on the expansion
joint because there was a " little lip up." Ms. Robinson indicated that she did not
trip where the sidewalk was broken near an inclined area. She further stated that
in R.S. 40: 384( 15), and their commissioners and other officers and employees and sewerage and water boards and their employees, servants, agents, or
subcontractors.
9 We note that the defendant in this case is Nicholls State University and not Nichols State University. In the caption of the case, " Nicholls" is misspelled.
7 she had walked on that sidewalk several times before and did not notice any cracks
or breaks in the sidewalk before the incident. °
Photographs of the sidewalk showed that there were two so- called " cracks"
an expansion joint and a location where the sidewalk connected to an inclined
area. A photograph of the expansion joint referenced by Ms. Robinson at her
deposition is included in the group of photographs submitted in support by the
School Board. On that photograph, the attorney circled the crack at the location
where Ms. Robinson indicated that she tripped —the expansion joint.
For a hazard to be considered open and obvious, it must be one that is open and obvious to all who may encounter it. Farrell v. Circle K Stores, Inc., 2022- 00849 ( La. 3/ 17/ 23), 359 So. 3d 467, 478. The open and obvious concept asks whether the complained -of condition would be apparent to any reasonable person who might encounter it. if so, that reasonable person would avoid it, and the factor will weigh in favor of finding the condition not unreasonably dangerous. Id. Whether the plaintiff has knowledge of the condition is irrelevant in determining whether the thing is defective. Otherwise, the analysis resurrects the long ago abolished doctrines of assumption of the risk and contributory negligence, both of which focus on the knowledge and acts of the plaintiff. The plaintiff' s knowledge is appropriately considered in assessing fault, but is not appropriate for summary judgment proceedings. Id.
8 Additionally, the School Board submitted the affidavit of Ms. Bueche, the
principal of STEM, who stated that she completed an accident report based on
information given to her by Mr. Stanley." Ms. Bueche indicated that she did not
see the incident occur and had no reports of anyone falling on this sidewalk prior to
Ms. Robinson. Ms. Bueche attached photographs of the area where Ms. Robinson
reportedly fell, which were photographs of the area where the sidewalk was broken
by the incline. 12
Based on our de novo review of the documents offered by the School Board
in support of its motion for summary judgment, we find the School Board
presented sufficient evidence to establish that there was an absence of factual
support for two elements necessary to the Robinsons' claims — that the defect
created an unreasonable risk of harm or that the School Board had actual or
constructive notice of the defect. Consequently, the burden shifted to the
Robinsons to produce factual support sufficient to establish that they would be able
to satisfy their burden of proof at trial or that a genuine issue of material fact
existed and that the School Board was not entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
In opposition to the School Board' s motion, the Robinsons submitted the
affidavit of Mr. Stanley, the individual who was with Ms. Robinson at the time of
the accident. Mr. Stanley stated that he witnessed the incident, that he took
photographs of the area where the incident occurred, that Ms. Robinson tripped
where the sidewalk connected to the inclined area, and that he would estimate the
change in elevation to be two to three inches. 'I He further indicated that, after Ms.
I i The accident report was attached to Ms. Bueche' s affidavit.
12 Ms. Bueche indicated that she accompanied Neil Covington of Louisiana Claims Administrators when he viewed and took measurements of the area. Since Mr. Stanley claimed that Ms. Robinson did not trip over the expansion joint, no measurements were taken at that location.
Mr. Stanley stated that there appeared to be a pour of concrete on top of the sidewalk, which was formed into a ramp. Then, the bottom portions of that ramp were broken off and created an elevation change.
6 Robinson fell, a gentleman who identified himself as the janitor stated that " it' s
been like that for a long time" and " another person had fallen ... in the very same
spot where [ Ms. Robinson] fell." Mr. Stanley attached three photographs, which
indicated that the location of the incident was where the sidewalk connected to the
inclined area.
It is not clear from the record whether Ms. Robinson tripped on an
expansion joint as indicated in her deposition or where the sidewalk was broken
near an inclined area as claimed by Mr. Stanley in his affidavit. Because the
location of the incident is not established, it is difficult to determine whether a
defect created an unreasonable risk of harm and caused the accident.
Courts have adopted a risk -utility balancing test to determine whether a
condition is unreasonably dangerous. The likelihood of the harm factor asks the
degree to which the condition will likely cause harm. If it is likely to cause harm,
that weighs in favor of finding it unreasonably dangerous. If it is unlikely to cause
harm, that weighs in favor of it not being unreasonably dangerous. Farrell v. Circle
K Stores, Inc., 2022- 00849 ( La. 3/ 17123), 359 So. 3d 467, 474. This Court has
applied the risk -utility balancing test to determine whether a defect in a sidewalk
creates an unreasonable risk of harm, and determined there is no fixed rule to
determine whether a defect in a sidewalk is unreasonably dangerous. Chambers v.
Village of Moreauville, 2011- 898 ( La. 1124112), 85 So. 3d 593, 598. Whether a
risk is unreasonable is a factual matter that must be determined in light of each
particular case' s facts and circumstances, not a simple rule of law which can be
applied mechanically to the facts of the case. See Manchester v. ANPAC Louisiana
Ins. Co., 2018- 1379 ( La. App. 1st Cir. 5131119), 278 So. 3d 993, 997. Even so,
summary judgment may be appropriate to resolve the issue of whether a condition
presented an unreasonable risk of harm when the facts are undisputed. See Prince
to v. Rouse' s Enterprises, L.L.C., 2020--150 ( La. App. 5th Cir. 1212/ 20), 305 So. 3d
1078, 1086.
The School Board contends that summary judgment is appropriate in this
case despite the dispute as to whether Ms. Robinson tripped on an expansion joint
or where the sidewalk was broken near an inclined area due to the height variations
of both locations." However, while there may be a dispute regarding the deviation
of the area where the sidewalk was broken near the incline, Ms. Robinson denies
tripping at this location. Further, no one submitted any measurements of the
expansion joint area, and it is not possible to tell whether there is a deviation from
the angle of the photographs submitted. Thus, we are unable to conclude that either
the expansion joint or the inclined area is defective and presents an unreasonable
risk of harm.
Additionally, the Robinsons failed to present factual support to establish the
School Board had either actual or constructive knowledge of a defect in the
expansion joint, which is also an essential element of the Robinsons' claim. See
La. R.S. 9: 2800( C). Actual knowledge has been defined as knowledge of
dangerous defects or conditions by a corporate officer or employee of the public
entity having a duty either to keep the property involved in good repair or to report
defects and dangerous conditions to the proper authorities. Davis v. City of Baton
In support of its argument, the School Board contended that there was no unreasonable risk of harm since the crack had a deviation of less than one -and -one- half inch and that there is no unreasonable risk of harm in expansion joints. Louisiana jurisprudence has consistently held that a one -and -one-half inch deviation does not generally present an unreasonable risk of harm. Chambers v. Village of Moreauville, 2011- 898 ( La. 1124112), 85 So. 3d 593, 598. Further, the Louisiana Supreme Court has found that the utility of expansion joints is clearly apparent. Reed v Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 1997- 1174 ( La. 3141 98), 708 So. 2d 362, 366. As to the specific utility of expansion joints, the Reed court noted that the joints are necessary for the safety and maintenance of larger paved surfaces, because they allow for the concrete to expand and contract as it heats and cools due to weather. Id. Absent the expansion joints, the concrete blocks would contract and later crack and split in the cold. Id. Subjected to heat, the concrete blocks would press against each other, cracking, shifting and buckling, which would produce hazardous deviations in elevation. Id. Further, the cost of maintaining such an area would be prohibitive as it would necessitate frequent replacement of the fragmented concrete blocks. Id. Although decided over 25 years ago, the Reed court' s reasoning on the utility of paved surfaces remains valid. See Prince v. Rouse' s Enterprises, L.L.C_, 2020- 150 ( La. App. 5"' Cir. 1212120), 305 So. 3d 1078, 1084.
11 Rouge, 2017- 1473 ( La. App. 1st Cir. 419118), 2018 WL 1704095, * 5 ( unpublished).
Constructive notice is defined as the existence of facts which infer actual
knowledge. La. R.S. 9: 2800( D). Mr. Stanley' s affidavit contended that an unnamed
janitor told him that the crack was there for a long time and someone had fallen at
the location before. However, there is nothing in the record that indicates that the
janitor is an employee that has the duty to keep the property in good repair or to
report defects and dangerous conditions to property authorities. Further, there is no
evidence of the existence of facts which would infer actual knowledge. Further,
while the janitor indicated that the crack was there for a " long time," there is no
indication of what period of time he considered to be a long time. Therefore, no
evidence was presented to show how long either condition existed prior to Ms.
Robinson' s accident or whether the School Board was put on notice.
To defeat summary judgment after the School Board presented its evidence
regarding lack of notice, the Robinsons were required to produce factual support
establishing they would be able to satisfy their burden of proving at trial that the
School Board had actual or constructive notice of a defect and failed to remedy the
defect with reasonable diligence. The Robinsons failed to present any such
evidence. The Robinsons' contentions do not in themselves constitute factual
support to establish the required element of either actual or constructive
knowledge. Thus, the School Board is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
Accordingly, we find that the trial court did not err in granting the School Board' s
motion for summary judgment.
CONCLUSION
For the above and foregoing reasons, the September 6, 2022 judgment of the
trial court granting Pointe Coupee Parish School Board' s motion for summary
judgment and dismissing Susan Robinson' s and Douglass Robinson, III' s claims is
12 affirmed. Costs of this appeal, in the amount of $1, 140. 00, are assessed to Susan
Robinson and Douglass Robinson, III.
AFFIRMED.