Victoria Thi Ngo Versus Walmart Inc.

• Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
• Decided: October 5, 2020
• Docket: 20-CA-71
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

VICTORIA THI NGO NO. 20-CA-71

VERSUS FIFTH CIRCUIT

WALMART INC. COURT OF APPEAL

STATE OF LOUISIANA

ON APPEAL FROM THE TWENTY-FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA NO. 786-135, DIVISION "I" HONORABLE NANCY A. MILLER, JUDGE PRESIDING

October 05, 2020

SUSAN M. CHEHARDY CHIEF JUDGE

Panel composed of Judges Susan M. Chehardy, Fredericka Homberg Wicker, and Stephen J. Windhorst

AFFIRMED SMC SJW

WICKER, J., CONCURS AND ASSIGNS REASONS. FHW COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT, VICTORIA THI NGO Brian P. Marcelle Ashley L. F. Barriere

COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLEE, WALMART, INC. AND SAM'S EAST, INC. Roy C. Beard Christopher James-Lomax CHEHARDY, C.J.

In this falling merchandise case, the plaintiff, Victoria Thi Ngo, appeals the

summary judgment dismissing with prejudice her claims against defendants

Walmart, Inc. and Sam’s Club East Inc. (collectively “Walmart”). For the reasons

that follow, we affirm the district court’s judgment.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Ms. Ngo visited Sam’s Club on Airline Drive in Metairie with other family

members on June 17, 2018. While traversing the aisles, two customers removed a

rolled-up 8-by-10 or 10-by-12 foot rug1 from the upright rack in which Sam’s Club

displayed the rugs, positioning the chosen rug against the outside of the display. A

few seconds later, the rug fell and hit Ms. Ngo in the head causing injuries. Ms. Ngo

filed a lawsuit for damages against defendants. During her deposition, Ms. Ngo

admitted she does not remember the incident.

Walmart filed a motion for summary judgment arguing that Ms. Ngo could

not meet her burden of proof to succeed in a negligence claim under La. R.S.

9:2800.6(A), the statute recognizing potential “falling merchandise” claims against

a merchant. Walmart produced authenticated video surveillance of the incident

showing two customers removing the rug that fell on Ms. Ngo from the display and

standing it vertically against the display only a few seconds before the accident. The

trial court granted Walmart’s motion for summary judgment, determining that Ms.

Ngo could not prove that another customer was not responsible for the falling

merchandise—a necessary prerequisite for succeeding in a claim against a merchant.

In a single assignment of error, Ms. Ngo argues the district court erred in

granting Walmart’s summary judgment motion because disputed issues of fact exist

1 Sam’s Club contends the rug was 8’ x 10’ while Ms. Ngo contends it was “more like” 10’ x 12’, but the exact size is immaterial to the present claims.

20-CA-71 1 as to whether the display of the rug that caused Ms. Ngo’s injuries was unreasonably

dangerous.

DISCUSSION

Summary Judgment Standard

We review a judgment granting a motion for summary judgment de novo

using the same criteria as the trial court: whether there is a genuine issue of material

fact and whether the mover is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Richthofen v.

Medina, 14-294 (La. App. 5 Cir. 10/29/14), 164 So.3d 231, 234, writ denied, 14-

2514 (La. 3/13/15), 161 So.3d 639.

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). “[I]f the mover will not bear the burden of proof at trial on the

issue that is before the court on the motion for summary judgment, the mover’s

burden on the motion does not require him to negate all essential elements of the

adverse party’s claim, action, or defense, but rather to point out to the court the

absence of factual support for one or more elements essential to the adverse party’s

claim, action, or defense.” La. C.C.P. art. 966(D)(1). “The burden is on the adverse

party to produce factual support sufficient to establish the existence of a genuine

issue of material fact or that the mover is not entitled to judgment as a matter of

law.” Id.; Luft v. Winn Dixie Montgomery, LLC, 16-559 (La. App. 5 Cir. 2/8/17),

228 So.3d 1269, 1272.

Falling Merchandise

La. R.S. 9:2800.6 governs negligence claims against a merchant. La. R.S.

9:2800.6(A) provides:

A merchant owes a duty to persons who use his premises to exercise reasonable care to keep his aisles, passageways, and floors in a reasonably safe condition.

20-CA-71 2 This duty includes a reasonable effort to keep the premises free of any hazardous conditions which reasonably might give rise to damage.

The Louisiana Supreme Court established a three-part test for evaluating

whether a plaintiff prevails in a falling merchandise case under La. R.S. 9:2800.6(A):

To prevail in a falling merchandise case, the customer must demonstrate that (1) he or she did not cause the merchandise to fall, (2) that another customer in the aisle at that moment did not cause the merchandise to fall, and (3) that the merchant's negligence was the cause of the accident: the customer must show that either a store employee or another customer placed the merchandise in an unsafe position on the shelf or otherwise caused the merchandise to be in such a precarious position that eventually, it does fall. Only when the customer has negated the first two possibilities and demonstrated the last will he or she have proved the existence of an “unreasonably dangerous” condition on the merchant's premises.

Davis v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 2000-0445 (La. 11/28/00), 774 So.2d 84, 90

(emphasis added) (citing Smith v. Toys “R” Us, Inc., 98-2085 (La. 11/30/99), 754

So.2d 209); see also Hodges v. J.C. Penney Corp., Inc., 04-1333 (La. App. 5 Cir.

3/29/05), 900 So.2d 966, 968.

Ms. Ngo acknowledges that other customers removed the rolled rug from its

display and propped it up against the display, but she contends this does not absolve

defendants of liability under La. R.S. 9:2800.6(A). According to Ms. Ngo, it was

foreseeable that a customer would not return a rug to the display rack, thereby

rendering the display unreasonably dangerous. Ms. Ngo argues the trial court erred

in granting defendants’ motion for summary judgment in light of this disputed issue

of fact. She points to evidence submitted by her expert indicating that Walmart’s

method of storing these rugs was unreasonably dangerous.

Ms. Ngo also argues the trial court incorrectly distinguished other cases

addressing a merchant’s negligent storage procedures, citing, for example,

Stepherson v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 34,547 (La. App. 2 Cir. 4/4/01), 785 So.2d 950,

20-CA-71 3 954 (affirming judgment against merchant after finding that displaying dumbbells at

chest level on unsecured shelf without any restraining device created an

unreasonable risk of harm); and Bazar v. Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., 2010 WL

11575046, at *2 (M.D. La. June 9, 2010) (denying summary judgment after finding

material issue of fact existed regarding defendant’s negligence because the way

roofing tar paper was stacked could have caused second roll to fall when plaintiff

removed first roll). Ms. Ngo further contends the case is not ripe for summary

judgment because there has been insufficient discovery, and Walmart is not entitled

to summary judgment because its investigation of the incident was inadequate and/or

incomplete.

We disagree with Ms. Ngo’s primary argument that an issue of fact exists

regarding whether the rug display at Sam’s Club was unreasonably dangerous.

Unlike the cases Ms. Ngo cites, the method of displaying the rugs, and the display

rack itself, had nothing to do with this particular incident. The surveillance video

plainly shows two customers standing up the rug vertically and seeing it fall only

two or three seconds later. The customers had not returned the rug to the display and

had not even left the scene before the incident occurred. Under Davis, 774 So.2d at

90, Ms. Ngo cannot meet her burden of proving that another customer did not cause

the accident. As such, we need not reach the “unreasonably dangerous” third prong

of the Davis test because Ms. Ngo is unable to satisfy the second prong. Davis, 774

So.2d at 90.

If the facts had shown that removal of one rug caused some other rug in the

display to fall on Ms. Ngo, our analysis might be different, but those are not the facts

before us, and additional discovery cannot refute what is plainly apparent in the

surveillance video. Finally, Ms. Ngo’s allegations that Walmart’s post-accident

investigation was incomplete do not absolve her burden of proof under Davis and

20-CA-71 4 La. R.S. 9:2800.6, nor do they create a material issue of fact under these

circumstances.

DECREE

Because Ms. Ngo failed to prove that another customer did not cause the rug

to fall—a necessary element of proof for succeeding in a falling merchandise case—

we affirm the district court’s judgment in favor of Walmart, Inc. and Sam’s East

Inc., dismissing with prejudice Ms. Ngo’s claims against them.

AFFIRMED

20-CA-71 5 VICTORIA THI NGO NO. 20-CA-71

WICKER, J., CONCURS AND ASSIGNS REASONS. I agree with the outcome reached by the majority, but not entirely with the

reasons stated in its opinion.

In its brief, Walmart asserts that only after a Plaintiff satisfies her burden as

to the first and second elements set forth in Davis v Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 00-

0445, 774 So.2d 84 (La. 11/28/00) may a court consider the negligence of the

Defendant per the third element. The majority appears to adopt Walmart’s

interpretation of the Davis test, stating that because Ms. Ngo is unable to satisfy

the second prong of the Davis test, the court need not consider the third prong and

thus the question of whether the display was unreasonably dangerous is rendered

moot. Respectfully, in my opinion the majority is not entirely correct in its

interpretation of the weight the Louisiana Supreme Court gave to each of the Davis

test three prongs.

In Davis the Louisiana Supreme Court stated in full:

In a “falling merchandise” case under R.S. 9:2800.6(A), as in the present case, the standard is that the merchant must use reasonable care to keep its aisles, passageways and floors in a reasonably safe condition and free of hazards which may cause injury. Further, a plaintiff who is injured by falling merchandise must prove, even by circumstantial evidence that a premise hazard existed. Once a plaintiff proves a prima facie premise hazard, the defendant has the burden to exculpate itself from fault by showing that it used reasonable care to avoid such hazards by means such as periodic clean up and inspection procedures.

20-CA-71 1 To prevail in a falling merchandise case, the customer must demonstrate that (1) he or she did not cause the merchandise to fall, (2) that another customer in the aisle at that moment did not cause the merchandise to fall, and (3) that the merchant's negligence was the cause of the accident: the customer must show that either a store employee or another customer placed the merchandise in an unsafe position on the shelf or otherwise caused the merchandise to be in such a precarious position that eventually, it does fall. Id. Only when the customer has negated the first two possibilities and demonstrated the last will he or she have proved the existence of an “unreasonably dangerous” condition on the merchant's premises. Davis v. Wal–Mart Stores, Inc., 00–0445, 774 So.2d 84, 90 (La. 11/28/00) (internal citations omitted)(emphasis added).

On its face, Davis provides that “the customer must demonstrate that

(1)…(2)…, and (3).” Quite simply, the Supreme Court did not in Davis say “and

then (3).” In my opinion, each element of the three prong Davis test is intended to

be equally weighted and may be considered by the Court. Nevertheless, in this

case, even assuming Ms. Ngo has proved the first and third prongs of the Davis

test, I agree with the majority that she failed to meet her burden in proving the

second prong.

Ms. Ngo argued that the way Walmart displayed the rugs created an

unreasonable risk of harm such that the customer’s foreseeable handling of the rug

was only an intervening cause of the accident. An intervening cause is any action

that occurs between the negligent act and the injury, including the conduct of third

parties; superseding causes are those intervening causes that relieve the original

negligent actor from liability. Adams v. Rhodia, Inc., 07–2110, 938 So.2d 798 (La.

5/21/08)(citing Mendoza v. Mashburn, 99–499, 747 So.2d 1159, 1168, (La. App. 5

Cir. 11/10/99), writ denied, 00–0037, among others). Jurisprudence has clearly

established that acts of third parties which are foreseeable are intervening forces,

which are within the scope of the original risk, and hence of the original

tortfeasor's negligence. Id. (first citing Miller v. Louisiana Gas Service Co., 601

So.2d 700, 705 (La. App. 5 Cir. Year), writs denied, 604 So.2d 999 (La. 1992), 604

20-CA-71 2 So.2d 1001 (La. 1992) and then citing PROSSER AND KEETON, LAW OF TORTS (4th

ed. 1971) at 273–274, 288).

Ms. Ngo argues that the unreasonably dangerous display of the rugs made it

foreseeable that customers would remove the rugs to examine them and, upon

struggling to put them back into the display, would leave them about the store. To

Ms. Ngo’s point, La. R.S. 9:2800.6 does require a merchant to exercise reasonable

care to protect those who enter his establishment, keep his premises safe from

unreasonable risks of harm, and to warn persons of known dangers. Nevertheless,

based on the specific facts of this case, I cannot find that Walmart was liable for

Ms. Ngo’s injuries. The surveillance video produced clearly shows that the third-

party shopper removed the rug from the display and attempted to balance a rolled,

eight-to-ten foot rug vertically when it fell over onto Plaintiff. If the facts of this

case were different, for instance, had the third party shopper attempted to return the

rug to the display, evinced a struggle, given up, and then left it precariously

propped against other merchandise in the aisle, the outcome might have been

different, depending on an analysis of foreseeability. However, the particular

circumstances leading to this injury could have occurred at the register or

anywhere else in the store; the fact that the rug display was unreasonably

dangerous is wholly irrelevant to the specific harm suffered by Ms. Ngo. The

jurisprudence clearly states that even where the owner of a commercial

establishment has an affirmative duty to keep his premises in a safe condition, he is

not the insurer of the safety of his patrons. Upton v. Rouse's Enter., LLC, 15-484

(La. App. 5 Cir. 2/24/16), 186 So.3d 1195, 1199, writ denied, 16-0580 (La.

5/13/16), 191 So.3d 1057. A store owner is not liable every time an accident

happens. Id. (citing Richardson v. Louisiana–1 Gaming, 10–262 (La. App. 5 Cir.

12/14/10), 55 So.3d 893, 895–96).

20-CA-71 3 Thus, I agree with the majority’s result to affirm the trial court’s grant of

summary judgment because I believe, based on the specific facts of this case, there

is a clear absence of factual support for one or more elements essential to Ms. Ngo’s

claim.

20-CA-71 4 SUSAN M. CHEHARDY CURTIS B. PURSELL

CHIEF JUDGE CLERK OF COURT

MARY E. LEGNON FREDERICKA H. WICKER CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK JUDE G. GRAVOIS MARC E. JOHNSON ROBERT A. CHAISSON SUSAN BUCHHOLZ STEPHEN J. WINDHORST FIRST DEPUTY CLERK HANS J. LILJEBERG JOHN J. MOLAISON, JR. FIFTH CIRCUIT MELISSA C. LEDET JUDGES 101 DERBIGNY STREET (70053) DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL STAFF POST OFFICE BOX 489 GRETNA, LOUISIANA 70054 (504) 376-1400

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20-CA-71 E-NOTIFIED 24TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT (CLERK) HONORABLE NANCY A. MILLER (DISTRICT JUDGE) BRIAN P. MARCELLE (APPELLANT) ROY C. BEARD (APPELLEE)

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