Thompson v. Clearview

273 So. 3d 555
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedMay 15, 2019
DocketNO. 18-CA-610
StatusPublished

This text of 273 So. 3d 555 (Thompson v. Clearview) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Thompson v. Clearview, 273 So. 3d 555 (La. Ct. App. 2019).

Opinion

JOHNSON, J.

Plaintiff/Appellant, Nicholas Thompson, appeals the summary judgment in favor of Defendant/Appellee, Richards Clearview, LLC d/b/a Clearview Mall (hereinafter referred to as "Clearview Mall"), that dismissed his slip-and-fall lawsuit filed in the 24th Judicial District Court, Division "E". For the following reasons, we reverse the trial court's judgment and remand the matter for further proceedings.

*557FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On March 15, 2016, Mr. Thompson visited Clearview Mall in Metairie, Louisiana, with his girlfriend. At approximately 7:00 p.m., as he was exiting the main entrance of the mall facing Veterans Boulevard and heading toward his vehicle, he stepped off of the red-painted curb leading to the parking lot. While stepping down from the curb, Mr. Thompson's ankles twisted, he lost his footing, and he fell into the parking lot, allegedly causing bodily injury.

Mr. Thompson filed a "Petition for Damages" against Clearview Mall, alleging that the mall exit was defective and unreasonably dangerous. He specifically alleged that Clearview Mall was negligent in violating the building code by having a curb 9 inches above the parking lot grade and only having a 36-inch walkway between the column and the edge of the sidewalk. Mr. Thompson further alleged that he sustained a right bimalleolar ankle fracture as a result of his fall, necessitating awards of general and special damages from Clearview Mall.

In opposition, Clearview Mall filed a "Motion for Summary Judgment." In the motion, it asserted there was no genuine issue of material fact that the bright red-painted curb at issue was open and obvious to all who encountered it and was not unreasonably dangerous. Clearview Mall argued that Mr. Thompson simply misjudged his step down from the curb and fell because his right and left ankles both twisted. Clearview Mall contended Mr. Thompson could not satisfy his burden of proof at trial that the curb presented an unreasonable risk of harm, and it was entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law.

The trial court held a hearing on Clearview Mall's motion on July 24, 2018. At the conclusion of the arguments, the trial judge orally found that the curb was well-marked and was open and obvious. The trial judge also found that it did not appear from the video footage of the incident that Mr. Thompson was paying attention to where he was walking. In its written judgment, the trial court granted summary judgment in favor of Clearview Mall and dismissed Mr. Thompson's claims with prejudice. The instant appeal followed.

LAW AND ANALYSIS

On appeal, Mr. Thompson solely alleges the trial court erred in finding that Clearview Mall met its burden of proving the curb in question was not unreasonably dangerous and was open and obvious to all. He argues that the affidavit and evaluation of his expert, Neil B. Hall, was sufficient evidence to raise a genuine issue of material fact and defeat summary judgment. Mr. Thompson contends that Mr. Hall's observations and measurements demonstrated that the curb was 9 inches high and exceeded the Jefferson Parish Building Code. He further contends that Mr. Hall opined that Mr. Thompson would not have anticipated the additional riser height and his fall would be categorized as a misstep or misjudged step due to the excessive height of the curb riser.

Mr. Thompson also argues that the risk-utility balancing test shows that the 9-inch curb height was unreasonably dangerous and was not open and obvious. He asserts that Clearview Mall failed to provide evidence that he was aware of the defective condition of the curb or that he was familiar with that particular curb; thus, Clearview Mall failed to prove that the defective curb was open and obvious. Mr. Thompson further asserts that the defective condition on Clearview Mall's premises caused him to misstep or misjudge his step, resulting in his injuries.

*558Clearview Mall avers that the trial court's determination that the subject curb was open and obvious was the correct finding based upon the facts and evidence presented, and the finding should not be disturbed on appeal. It maintains that the only evidence produced in support of Mr. Thompson's contentions was the expert report of Mr. Hall, and the report did not address whether the curb itself was unreasonably dangerous or whether the curb was open and obvious. Without any affirmative evidence to prove the subject curb was unreasonably dangerous, Clearview Mall argues that Mr. Thompson failed to refute the fact that the condition of the curb was open and obvious in nature.

The summary judgment procedure is designed to secure the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of every action and is favored. La. C.C.P. art. 966(A)(2). Appellate courts review summary judgments de novo under the same criteria that govern the trial court's consideration of whether summary judgment is appropriate. Stogner v. Ochsner Clinic Foundation , 18-96 (La. App. 5 Cir. 9/19/18), 254 So.3d 1254, 1257, citing Batiste v. United Fire & Casualty Co. , 17-485 (La. App. 5 Cir. 3/14/18), 241 So.3d 491, 496. Summary judgment shall be granted "if the motion, memorandum, and supporting documents shows that there is no genuine issue as to material fact and that the mover is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Id. , quoting La. C.C.P. art. 966(A)(3).

A material fact is one that potentially insures or prevents recovery, affects a litigant's ultimate success, or determines the outcome of the lawsuit. Populis v. State Department of Transportation and Development , 16-655 (La. App. 5 Cir. 5/31/17), 222 So.3d 975, 980, quoting Pouncy v. Winn-Dixie La., Inc. , 15-189 (La. App. 5 Cir. 10/28/15), 178 So.3d 603, 605. An issue is genuine if it is such that reasonable persons could disagree. If only one conclusion could be reached by reasonable persons, summary judgment is appropriate as there is no need for trial on that issue. Id.

The party moving for summary judgment bears the burden of proof. Stogner , supra , citing La. C.C.P. art. 966(D)(1). However, if the mover will not bear the burden of proof at trial, the moving party must only point out that there is an absence of factual support for one or more elements essential to the adverse party's claims. Id. Thereafter, the burden shifts to the adverse party to produce factual support sufficient to establish that he will be able to satisfy his evidentiary burden of proof at trial. Id. If the adverse party fails to meet this burden, there is no genuine issue of material fact, and the mover is entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law. Id.

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Related

Roy Bufkin, Jr. v. Felipe's Louisiana, LLC
171 So. 3d 851 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 2014)
Pouncy v. Winn-Dixie Louisiana, Inc.
178 So. 3d 603 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2015)
Populis v. State, Department of Transportation & Development
222 So. 3d 975 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2017)
Batiste v. United Fire & Cas. Co.
241 So. 3d 491 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2018)
Stogner v. Ochsner Clinic Found.
254 So. 3d 1254 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2018)

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Bluebook (online)
273 So. 3d 555, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/thompson-v-clearview-lactapp-2019.