RENDERED: MARCH 15, 2024; 10:00 A.M. NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
Commonwealth of Kentucky Court of Appeals NO. 2022-CA-0958-MR
WILLIAM WILLOUGHBY APPELLANT
APPEAL FROM JESSAMINE CIRCUIT COURT v. HONORABLE C. HUNTER DAUGHERTY, JUDGE ACTION NO. 21-CI-00349
TINA MOORE AND TINA HAMILTON MOORE, ADMINISTRATRIX OF THE ESTATE OF DANA E. MOORE APPELLEES
OPINION AFFIRMING
** ** ** ** **
BEFORE: EASTON, ECKERLE, AND JONES, JUDGES.
JONES, JUDGE: William Willoughby appeals from an order of the Jessamine
Circuit Court granting summary judgment in favor of defendants Tina and Dan
Moore in this personal injury case.1 We affirm.
1 Throughout the pendency of the underlying action, the defendant was referred to as Dan Moore. The notice of appeal also identifies him as “Dan Moore.” However, he passed away during the pendency of this appeal and probate documents identify him as “Dana E. Moore.” This Court entered an order substituting Tina Hamilton Moore, Administratrix of the Estate of I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
In the summer of 2020, Dan Moore contacted Willoughby about
painting his barn. Willoughby is an experienced painter of both barns and fences
in the central Kentucky area.2 Willoughby visited Moore’s farm and quoted him a
price of $1,500.00 to paint the barn, including the metal roof.3 Moore informed
Willoughby that he wanted to remove various items and farm implements that
were near the sides of the barn and that he would contact Willoughby when he was
ready for him to start the job. Willoughby informed Moore that he could “spray
through” the various items near the barn, as well as vines that were attached to the
barn, but Moore was not receptive to this idea. The parties also discussed that
Moore would trim some tree branches near the stripping shed attached to the barn.
No written agreement was ever executed between the men.
Willoughby arrived at Moore’s farm to paint the barn on or about
September 17, 2020. He testified that he noticed tree debris and rust on the roof of
the attached stripping shed, so he knew Willoughby had not cleared debris from
Dana E. Moore as a party appellee in place of Dan E. Moore. We refer to him as “Dan” in this Opinion for the sake of simplicity. 2 At the time of his deposition, Willoughby was forty-eight years old. He testified that he had been painting barns since he graduated from high school. However, he estimated that from 2012 until the time of his fall in September 2020, he had only painted a total of four or five barns. 3 It appears from the record before us that the initial quote to paint the barn and roof may have been $1,200.00, but it is undisputed that Moore paid Willoughby $1,500.00.
-2- the roof of the barn. After painting the sides of the barn, Willoughby climbed a
ladder to access the barn’s roof, which he estimated to be approximately twenty
feet off the ground. Willoughby claims he was on the roof for less than one minute
before he realized he was standing on debris and, as soon as he realized his footing
was unstable, he fell off the roof.
As a result of his fall, Willoughby sustained numerous injuries to his
arms, shoulders, spine, and neck. Nevertheless, he returned to Moore’s property
two days later to complete the job. Prior to returning, Willoughby rented a lift to
access the roof of the barn.
Willoughby filed a complaint against the Moores on June 21, 2021,
alleging negligence and premises liability, negligence per se, and gross negligence.
Discovery commenced and, after the Moores deposed Willoughby on December
28, 2021, they filed a motion for summary judgment, arguing that Willoughby was
an independent contractor and the Moores did not breach the applicable duty of
care. In response, Willoughby argued he was an invitee and that the Moores had a
duty to discover and warn him about any defects or dangers in the roof. Following
a hearing on March 24, 2022, the circuit court agreed with the Moores and granted
summary judgment in their favor. The court entered two orders. One was
handwritten and contemporaneous with the hearing; the other was entered
approximately two weeks later. Willoughby filed a motion to reconsider, clarify,
-3- or alter, amend, or vacate, which was denied by the circuit court. This appeal
followed. Further facts will be developed as necessary.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
Summary judgment is appropriate where “the pleadings, depositions,
answers to interrogatories, stipulations, and admissions on file, together with the
affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and
that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Kentucky Rule
of Civil Procedure (CR) 56.03. The movants bear the initial burden of
demonstrating that there is no genuine issue of material fact in dispute. The party
opposing the motion then has the burden to present, “at least some affirmative
evidence showing that there is a genuine issue of material fact for trial.” Steelvest
Inc. v. Scansteel Service Center, Inc., 807 S.W.2d 476, 482 (Ky. 1991). When a
circuit court grants a motion for summary judgment, the standard of review for the
appellate court is de novo because only legal issues are involved. Hallahan v. The
Courier Journal, 138 S.W.3d 699, 705 (Ky. App. 2004). We must consider the
evidence of record in the light most favorable to the non-movant (i.e., Willoughby)
and determine whether the circuit court correctly found there was no genuine
issues as to any material fact and that the moving party was entitled to judgment as
a matter of law. Scifres v. Kraft, 916 S.W.2d 779, 780 (Ky. App. 1996).
-4- We review for abuse of discretion the circuit court’s implicit
determination that sufficient time had passed for discovery at the time it ruled on
the motion for summary judgment. Blankenship v. Collier, 302 S.W.3d 665, 668
(Ky. 2010).
III. ANALYSIS
On appeal, Willoughby’s arguments are often overlapping. He
generally argues the circuit court improperly granted summary judgment for
numerous reasons, including that there were questions of fact, and that discovery
was not complete. He also argues his general/ordinary negligence and premises
liability claims should move forward.
Despite Willoughby’s attempts to muddy the waters with various
theories of liability, the most significant facts of the case are undisputed and our
task on appeal is straightforward. The issue before us concerns the applicable duty
of care the Moores owed Willoughby and whether they breached that duty. A
court may appropriately dismiss a claim on a motion for summary judgment when
the plaintiff fails to show a breach of the applicable duty of care, resulting in no
negligence as a matter of law. Shelton v. Kentucky Easter Seals Soc., Inc., 413
S.W.3d 901, 904 (Ky. 2013). Further, “questions of breach may be properly
decided by summary judgment when a [hazard] cannot be corrected by any means
or when it is beyond dispute that the landowner had done all that was reasonable.”
-5- City of Barbourville v.
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RENDERED: MARCH 15, 2024; 10:00 A.M. NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
Commonwealth of Kentucky Court of Appeals NO. 2022-CA-0958-MR
WILLIAM WILLOUGHBY APPELLANT
APPEAL FROM JESSAMINE CIRCUIT COURT v. HONORABLE C. HUNTER DAUGHERTY, JUDGE ACTION NO. 21-CI-00349
TINA MOORE AND TINA HAMILTON MOORE, ADMINISTRATRIX OF THE ESTATE OF DANA E. MOORE APPELLEES
OPINION AFFIRMING
** ** ** ** **
BEFORE: EASTON, ECKERLE, AND JONES, JUDGES.
JONES, JUDGE: William Willoughby appeals from an order of the Jessamine
Circuit Court granting summary judgment in favor of defendants Tina and Dan
Moore in this personal injury case.1 We affirm.
1 Throughout the pendency of the underlying action, the defendant was referred to as Dan Moore. The notice of appeal also identifies him as “Dan Moore.” However, he passed away during the pendency of this appeal and probate documents identify him as “Dana E. Moore.” This Court entered an order substituting Tina Hamilton Moore, Administratrix of the Estate of I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
In the summer of 2020, Dan Moore contacted Willoughby about
painting his barn. Willoughby is an experienced painter of both barns and fences
in the central Kentucky area.2 Willoughby visited Moore’s farm and quoted him a
price of $1,500.00 to paint the barn, including the metal roof.3 Moore informed
Willoughby that he wanted to remove various items and farm implements that
were near the sides of the barn and that he would contact Willoughby when he was
ready for him to start the job. Willoughby informed Moore that he could “spray
through” the various items near the barn, as well as vines that were attached to the
barn, but Moore was not receptive to this idea. The parties also discussed that
Moore would trim some tree branches near the stripping shed attached to the barn.
No written agreement was ever executed between the men.
Willoughby arrived at Moore’s farm to paint the barn on or about
September 17, 2020. He testified that he noticed tree debris and rust on the roof of
the attached stripping shed, so he knew Willoughby had not cleared debris from
Dana E. Moore as a party appellee in place of Dan E. Moore. We refer to him as “Dan” in this Opinion for the sake of simplicity. 2 At the time of his deposition, Willoughby was forty-eight years old. He testified that he had been painting barns since he graduated from high school. However, he estimated that from 2012 until the time of his fall in September 2020, he had only painted a total of four or five barns. 3 It appears from the record before us that the initial quote to paint the barn and roof may have been $1,200.00, but it is undisputed that Moore paid Willoughby $1,500.00.
-2- the roof of the barn. After painting the sides of the barn, Willoughby climbed a
ladder to access the barn’s roof, which he estimated to be approximately twenty
feet off the ground. Willoughby claims he was on the roof for less than one minute
before he realized he was standing on debris and, as soon as he realized his footing
was unstable, he fell off the roof.
As a result of his fall, Willoughby sustained numerous injuries to his
arms, shoulders, spine, and neck. Nevertheless, he returned to Moore’s property
two days later to complete the job. Prior to returning, Willoughby rented a lift to
access the roof of the barn.
Willoughby filed a complaint against the Moores on June 21, 2021,
alleging negligence and premises liability, negligence per se, and gross negligence.
Discovery commenced and, after the Moores deposed Willoughby on December
28, 2021, they filed a motion for summary judgment, arguing that Willoughby was
an independent contractor and the Moores did not breach the applicable duty of
care. In response, Willoughby argued he was an invitee and that the Moores had a
duty to discover and warn him about any defects or dangers in the roof. Following
a hearing on March 24, 2022, the circuit court agreed with the Moores and granted
summary judgment in their favor. The court entered two orders. One was
handwritten and contemporaneous with the hearing; the other was entered
approximately two weeks later. Willoughby filed a motion to reconsider, clarify,
-3- or alter, amend, or vacate, which was denied by the circuit court. This appeal
followed. Further facts will be developed as necessary.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
Summary judgment is appropriate where “the pleadings, depositions,
answers to interrogatories, stipulations, and admissions on file, together with the
affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and
that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Kentucky Rule
of Civil Procedure (CR) 56.03. The movants bear the initial burden of
demonstrating that there is no genuine issue of material fact in dispute. The party
opposing the motion then has the burden to present, “at least some affirmative
evidence showing that there is a genuine issue of material fact for trial.” Steelvest
Inc. v. Scansteel Service Center, Inc., 807 S.W.2d 476, 482 (Ky. 1991). When a
circuit court grants a motion for summary judgment, the standard of review for the
appellate court is de novo because only legal issues are involved. Hallahan v. The
Courier Journal, 138 S.W.3d 699, 705 (Ky. App. 2004). We must consider the
evidence of record in the light most favorable to the non-movant (i.e., Willoughby)
and determine whether the circuit court correctly found there was no genuine
issues as to any material fact and that the moving party was entitled to judgment as
a matter of law. Scifres v. Kraft, 916 S.W.2d 779, 780 (Ky. App. 1996).
-4- We review for abuse of discretion the circuit court’s implicit
determination that sufficient time had passed for discovery at the time it ruled on
the motion for summary judgment. Blankenship v. Collier, 302 S.W.3d 665, 668
(Ky. 2010).
III. ANALYSIS
On appeal, Willoughby’s arguments are often overlapping. He
generally argues the circuit court improperly granted summary judgment for
numerous reasons, including that there were questions of fact, and that discovery
was not complete. He also argues his general/ordinary negligence and premises
liability claims should move forward.
Despite Willoughby’s attempts to muddy the waters with various
theories of liability, the most significant facts of the case are undisputed and our
task on appeal is straightforward. The issue before us concerns the applicable duty
of care the Moores owed Willoughby and whether they breached that duty. A
court may appropriately dismiss a claim on a motion for summary judgment when
the plaintiff fails to show a breach of the applicable duty of care, resulting in no
negligence as a matter of law. Shelton v. Kentucky Easter Seals Soc., Inc., 413
S.W.3d 901, 904 (Ky. 2013). Further, “questions of breach may be properly
decided by summary judgment when a [hazard] cannot be corrected by any means
or when it is beyond dispute that the landowner had done all that was reasonable.”
-5- City of Barbourville v. Hoskins, 655 S.W.3d 137, 142-43 (Ky. 2022) (internal
quotation marks and footnote omitted).
“Kentucky law remains steadfast in its adherence to the traditional
notion that duty is associated with the status of the injured party as an invitee,
licensee, or trespasser.” Shelton, 413 S.W.3d at 909. However, “premises
liability claims are treated differently when the plaintiff is an independent
contractor as opposed to an ordinary business invitee.” Dexter v. Hanks, 577
S.W.3d 789, 795 (Ky. App. 2019) (emphasis added); Auslander Properties, LLC v.
Nalley, 558 S.W.3d 457, 467 (Ky. 2018) (“In the context of a premises liability
claim, a landowner is not liable to an independent contractor for injuries sustained
from defects or dangers that the independent contractor knows or ought to know
of.”).
“An individual is the agent of another if the principal has the power or
responsibility to control the method, manner, and details of the agent’s work.”
Nazar v. Branham, 291 S.W.3d 599, 606-07 (Ky. 2009). “If, however, an
individual is free to determine how work is done and the principal cares only about
the end result, then that individual is an independent contractor.” Id. Whether
Willoughby was an independent contractor is a question of law. Uninsured
Employers’ Fund v. Garland, 805 S.W.2d 116, 117 (Ky. 1991).
-6- Moore contacted Willoughby about painting his barn.4 Willoughby
visited the barn and quoted Moore a price for the job. He was an experienced
painter and had his own painting equipment, including sprayers. Moore did not
direct the work in any way except to specify that he wanted the barn painted black
and the roof painted chrome. Willoughby was free to determine how best to paint
the barn, including what equipment to use. Moore was concerned only that the
barn and roof were painted, and he did not supervise the work. In fact, he left to
attend a baseball game on the second day of the painting. In other words, Moore
cared only about the result and did not interfere in Willoughby’s process of
painting the barn.5 We agree with the circuit court’s determination that
Willoughby was an independent contractor. See Everett v. Edelen, 672 S.W.3d
196 (Ky. App. 2023).
We now turn to the duty of care Moore owed to Willoughby.
In the context of a premises liability claim, a landowner is not liable to an independent contractor for injuries sustained from defects or dangers that the independent contractor knows or ought to know of. Only when the defect or danger is hidden and known to the owner, and neither known to the contractor, nor such as he ought to
4 It is undisputed that Willoughby had no contact whatsoever with Moore’s wife, Tina. 5 Willoughby repeatedly points out that Moore should have informed him that he needed to use a lift to access the roof of the barn. This argument has no basis in the law. Willoughby admitted that he rented lifts to paint other barns in the past. Moore was under no obligation to furnish Willoughby with any safety equipment. Auslander, 558 S.W.3d at 467.
-7- know, is the landowner liable for the contractor’s injuries absent a warning.
Dexter, 577 S.W.3d at 795 (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).
In other words, Moore had a duty to warn Willoughby of (1) hidden or
latent defects; (2) that Moore knew about; and (3) Willoughby did not or could not
discover himself. In contrast, if we accepted Willoughby’s argument that he was a
business invitee, Moore would have owed Willoughby a much more stringent duty
“to discover unreasonably dangerous conditions on the land and either eliminate or
warn of them.” Shelton, 413 S.W.3d at 909 (emphasis added).
There were no hidden or latent defects on the roof. Willoughby
blamed his fall on unstable footing due to debris on the roof. Debris is not a
hidden or latent defect. There is no evidence that Moore knew any more about
possible debris on the roof than Willoughby could have discovered for himself
when he climbed the ladder. Moreover, it is undisputed that Moore had never been
on the roof of the barn. Although he agreed to remove items from the side of the
barn that would impede Willoughby’s sprayers, Willoughby only assumed Moore
would also inspect the roof of the barn and remove any debris.6 There is no
indication in the record that Moore agreed to do so. Willoughby admitted that
when he arrived to paint the barn, he believed Moore only completed
6 See page 37 of Willoughby’s deposition.
-8- approximately half of the preparation work he had anticipated. Nevertheless,
Willoughby chose to move forward with painting the barn and roof. Willoughby
also admitted he had better knowledge than anyone about the condition of the roof
once he accessed it from a ladder. Accordingly, Willoughby failed to show a
breach of the applicable duty of care and there was no negligence as a matter of
law.
Willoughby also argues his premises liability claim should move
forward independently. This argument is both baffling and without merit as this is
a premises liability case. See Dexter, 577 S.W.3d at 795. As far as Willoughby’s
argument that his general negligence claim should move forward, we are
unpersuaded. To recover, Willoughby would have to be something other than an
independent contractor and it would also necessarily mean Moore owed
Willoughby a different duty under the same set of undisputed facts.7 Willoughby’s
argument must fail.
Finally, Willoughby argues that discovery was not yet complete. We
note the circuit court did not enter a discovery order. At the time the Moores filed
their motion for summary judgment on January 31, 2022, they had deposed
Willoughby and Willoughby had deposed Dan Moore. The parties had also
7 Willoughby briefly states that his negligence per se claim should also move forward, but does not provide any applicable statute as the basis for this claim, nor did he provide it to the circuit court. Because he does not expand on this argument, we decline to address it.
-9- answered interrogatories, requests for production of documents, and requests for
admissions. When Willoughby filed his response to the motion for summary
judgment on March 22, 2022, he also submitted additional discovery requests to
the Moores on the same date. Specifically, Willoughby requested to inspect the
barn and asked for additional documentation pertaining to repairs and maintenance
of the barn in the last ten years. Willoughby submitted additional discovery
requests after the circuit court granted the motion for summary judgment. The
circuit court entered summary judgment despite Willoughby’s outstanding
discovery requests and denied his motion to alter, amend, or vacate based, in part,
on outstanding discovery. We discern no error.
Although a defendant is permitted to move for a summary judgment at any time, this Court has cautioned trial courts not to take up these motions prematurely and to consider summary judgment motions “only after the opposing party has been given ample opportunity to complete discovery.” Pendleton Bros. Vending, Inc. v. Commonwealth Finance and Admin. Cabinet, 758 S.W.2d 24, 29 (Ky. 1988). Thus, even though an appellate court always reviews the substance of a trial court’s summary judgment ruling de novo, i.e., to determine whether the record reflects a genuine issue of material fact, a reviewing court must also consider whether the trial court gave the party opposing the motion an ample opportunity to respond and complete discovery before the court entered its ruling.
Blankenship, 302 S.W.3d at 668.
Further,
-10- [w]hether a summary judgment was prematurely granted must be determined within the context of the individual case. In the absence of a pretrial discovery order, there are no time limitations within which a party is required to commence or complete discovery. As a practical matter, complex factual cases necessarily require more discovery than those where the facts are straightforward and readily accessible to all parties.
Suter v. Mazyck, 226 S.W.3d 837, 842 (Ky. App. 2007).
This is not a complex case. Willoughby claims he fell off the roof of
Moore’s barn due to debris that caused him to have unstable footing. This is
unrelated to any structural or maintenance issue and was not a hidden or latent
defect of the barn. Willoughby fails to explain what evidence he hoped to glean
from inspection of the barn nearly two years after the accident. After the circuit
court granted the motion for summary judgment, Willoughby noticed numerous
depositions, including Tina Moore and various individuals who worked on or in
the barn in the past. However, Willoughby fails to articulate how any of these
people could offer controverting evidence to his own assertion that he fell due to
debris on the roof. The circuit court did not abuse its discretion when it implicitly
determined sufficient time for discovery had passed when it granted the motion for
summary judgment.
IV. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Jessamine Circuit
Court is affirmed.
-11- ALL CONCUR.
BRIEFS FOR APPELLANT: BRIEF FOR APPELLEES:
Sandra M. Varellas R. Craig Reinhardt D. Todd Varellas Neal J. Manor Lexington, Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky
-12-