Gibson v. Merrifield
Gibson v. Merrifield
Concurring Opinion
Insofar as the main opinion reverses the summary judgment on the negligence claim, I concur in the result. Insofar as the main opinion affirms the summary judgment with respect to all other claims, I concur.
PITTMAN and MOORE, JJ., concur.
Opinion of the Court
Lucille A. Gibson ("Gibson") appeals from a summary judgment in favor of Janet L. Merrifield, Britt A. Merrifield, and Landell, Inc. (hereinafter collectively referred to as "the Merrifields"), regarding her claims against them for damages resulting from alleged injuries Gibson sustained to her back and spine when she tripped and fell in a residence that she had leased from the Merrifields.
In August 2002, Gibson and her husband, Jimmie L. Gibson Sr., leased a residence in Mobile from the Merrifields. The Gibsons' monthly payments to the Merrifields were $1,874.43, and the term of the lease was for five years. At the same time the Gibsons entered into the lease, they also entered into an option agreement with the Merrifields, whereby the Gibsons paid $25,000 for an option to purchase the leased property. Although the $25,000 was not refundable to the Gibsons, the amount was to be applied against the purchase price of the leased property if they decided to purchase it. The Gibsons also signed a purchase agreement stating that *Page 431 they had examined the residence and agreed to accept it in its present condition, aside from a few stipulations that were fulfilled by the Merrifields — such as changing the paint on the walls and installing a double wall oven.
Shortly after moving into the residence, Gibson notified the Merrifields that there were several significant problems with the construction of the house. One problem was that a piece of flooring in the dining room had come loose and had risen above the level of the adjacent flooring. Gibson notified the Merrifields of the problem in September 2002, and the Merrifields' contractor, David Payne, repaired the piece of loose flooring. The same piece of flooring came loose again in October 2002, and David Payne, or one of his employees, again repaired the flooring. The Gibsons subsequently stopped making lease payments, 1 and on March 26, 2003, the Merrifields commenced eviction proceedings against the Gibsons.2 The Mobile County Sheriffs Department finally evicted the Gibsons from the residence on April 17, 2003.
On October 14, 2003, Gibson sued the Merrifields, alleging that, on or about March 9, 2003, while she was removing some of her personal property from the residence in contemplation of eviction proceedings, she tripped and fell over the piece of flooring in the dining room that had, for the third time, come loose and risen above the level of the surrounding flooring and that she incurred bodily injury as a result of the fall. Gibson's complaint included the following counts: (1) negligence; (2) wantonness; (3) conversion; (4) breach of the implied covenant of quiet enjoyment; (5) unjust enrichment; and (6) constructive eviction.
The Merrifields answered Gibson's complaint and filed a third-party complaint against David Payne. Later, the Merrifields moved for a summary judgment on Gibson's claims. Gibson filed a response in opposition to the motion, after which the trial court heard oral argument on the motion and entered a summary judgment in favor of the Merrifields as to all of Gibson's claims. The trial court certified the judgment as final pursuant to Rule 54(b), Ala. R. Civ. P.
The trial court specifically held that Gibson had presented no evidence or argument as to counts (2) through (6) of her complaint. Therefore, the court held, the Merrifields were entitled to a summary judgment because, as to those counts, there was no genuine issue of material fact and the Merrifields were entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.
Regarding Gibson's negligence claim, the trial court held that, as a result of Gibson's eviction from the leased premises, she had been a trespasser on the property at the time of the injury. Citing Raney v. Roger Downs Insurance Agency,
Gibson timely appealed to the Alabama Supreme Court, which transferred the appeal to this court pursuant to §
"`The principles of law applicable to a motion for summary judgment are well settled. To grant such a motion, the trial court must determine that the evidence does not create a genuine issue of material fact and that the movant is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. Rule 56(c)(3), Ala. R. Civ. P. When the movant makes a prima facie showing that those two conditions are satisfied, the burden shifts to the nonmovant to present "substantial evidence" creating a genuine issue of material fact. Evidence is "substantial" if it is of "such weight and quality that fair-minded persons in the exercise of impartial judgment can reasonably infer the existence of the fact sought to be proved."
"`In our review of a summary judgment, we apply the same standard as the trial court. Our review is subject to the caveat that we must review the record in a light most favorable to the nonmovant and must resolve all reasonable doubts against the movant.'"
(Quoting Ex parte Alfa Mut. Gen. Ins. Co.,
"`[I]n the absence of a covenant to repair the defect that caused the injury, a lessor is liable only for injuries resulting from latent defects known to the lessor at the time of the leasing and which the lessor concealed from the lessee. A landlord has no duty to inspect for latent defects, i.e., defects that are hidden or concealed, or which can not be discovered by a reasonable inspection.
"`. . . .
"`. . . [A]lthough a landlord is under no duty to inspect for and repair latent defects, a landlord who voluntarily undertakes such a duty is liable for injuries *Page 433 proximately caused by the landlord's negligence in inspecting and repairing. . . . Moreover, the exception to the general rule of no duty applies only to repairs made after the relationship of landlord and tenant begins.'"
(Quoting Casey v. Estes,
In support of their motion for a summary judgment, the Merrifields made two different assertions. First, the Merrifields asserted that, according to Ex parteColeman, supra, a lessor is liable, absent a covenant to repair, only for injuries to a lessee resulting from latent defects known to the lessor at the time of the leasing and concealed from the lessee. Therefore, the Merrifields argued, because Gibson had presented no evidence indicating that the alleged defect was either known by the Merrifields or hidden from Gibson at the time the parties entered into the lease, the Merrifields were entitled to a summary judgment.
Second, the Merrifields asserted that, even if Gibson, the lessee, could be deemed an invitee — a status that triggers the highest duty imposed upon a landowner — the Merrifields were responsible only to warn Gibson of hidden defects and dangers, and, the Merrifields asserted, Gibson had presented no evidence indicating that the Merrifields had superior knowledge of the alleged defect or that the defect was not open and obvious.
Citing Dunson v. Friedlander Realty,
The Merrifields responded by referring to Payne's affidavit, which stated that he had been contacted in early March 2003 about the piece of flooring coming loose again, that he had gone to the residence to repair the flooring, but that Gibson's husband had refused to let him make the repair. Gibson, in turn, submitted the affidavit of her husband, who denied that he had told Payne or any of Payne's employees that they could not repair the flooring.
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to Gibson and resolving all reasonable doubts against the Merrifields,Payton v. Monsanto,
We question the trial court's determination that Gibson was a trespasser at the time of her injury on March 9, 2003. According to the record, the Merrifields did not commence the eviction action until March 26, 2003. However, we need not address that issue because, under well-settled principles of Alabama law, "one who volunteers to act, though under noduty to do so, is thereafter charged with the duty of acting with due care and is liable for negligence in connection therewith." Dailey v. City of Birmingham, *Page 434
It is apparent from the record that Gibson presented substantial evidence indicating that there were genuine issues of material fact to be resolved by a fact-finder. Therefore, the trial court erred in entering a summary judgment for the Merrifields on Gibson's negligence claim, and the judgment is due to be reversed and the cause remanded for further proceedings. See Hollis v. City of Brighton,
AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED IN PART; AND REMANDED.
THOMPSON, P.J., concurs.
BRYAN, J., concurs in part and concurs in the result, with writing, which PITTMAN and MOORE, JJ., join.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.