REL:

1/21/11

Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o formal r e v i s i o n b e f o r e p u b l i c a t i o n i n t h e advance s h e e t s o f Southern R e p o r t e r . R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e R e p o r t e r o f D e c i s i o n s , Alabama A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r A v e n u e , M o n t g o m e r y , A l a b a m a 3 6 1 0 4 - 3 7 4 1 ((334) 2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f a n y t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may b e made b e f o r e t h e o p i n i o n i s p r i n t e d i n Southern R e p o r t e r .

ALABAMA COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS

OCTOBER TERM, 2010-2011

2090881

Susie M. P r i c e v. Macon County Greyhound Park, Inc. Appeal from Macon C i r c u i t (CV-07-151) BRYAN, J u d g e . Susie M. Price, the p l a i n t i f f below, appeals from a Court

summary j u d g m e n t i n f a v o r o f Macon C o u n t y G r e y h o u n d P a r k , I n c . ("the P a r k " ) , t h e d e f e n d a n t b e l o w . We a f f i r m . On November 29, 2 0 0 7 , P r i c e s u e d t h e P a r k , a l l e g i n g t h a t ,

2090881 on April 9, 2007, while she was an i n v i t e e on t h e P a r k ' s on t h e

premises,

she h a d f a l l e n

as a r e s u l t o f some d e b r i s injuries. of

Park's asphalt those

d r i v e w a y and had s u f f e r e d she stated claims

B a s e d on and

allegations,

negligence

wantonness. Answering, t h e Park d e n i e d l i a b i l i t y and a s s e r t e d as an a f f i r m a t i v e d e f e n s e that the debris that had caused

Price to f a l l

was open a n d o b v i o u s .

On J u l y 17, 2009, t h e P a r k moved f o r a summary j u d g m e n t . The with said, actual that Park a s s e r t e d respect t h a t i t was e n t i t l e d t o a summary j u d g m e n t negligence claim because, the Park

to Price's

( 1 ) the evidence or constructive Price

d i d not e s t a b l i s h that notice to f a l l

t h e Park had

of the presence of the debris before she f e l l and ( 2 ) t h e

had caused

e v i d e n c e e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e d e b r i s was open and obvious. The Park with asserted respect that i t was entitled to a claim that

summary

judgment

to Price's

wantonness

because, the Park s a i d , the evidence d i d not e s t a b l i s h the Park had a c t e d or f a i l e d to act with knowledge

of the

c o n d i t i o n s and w i t h a c o n s c i o u s n e s s t h a t i t s a c t i n g o r f a i l i n g to a c t would l i k e l y or probably r e s u l t i n Price's i n j u r y .

O p p o s i n g t h e summary-judgment m o t i o n , P r i c e a s s e r t e d ( 1 )

2090881 that the evidence d i d e s t a b l i s h t h a t the Park had actual or she the the to

c o n s t r u c t i v e n o t i c e of the presence fell, (2) that the evidence did

of the debris before not establish that

p r e s e n c e o f t h e d e b r i s was

open and o b v i o u s , and ( 3 ) t h a t t h e Park had acted or f a i l e d

evidence d i d e s t a b l i s h that

a c t w i t h k n o w l e d g e o f t h e c o n d i t i o n s and w i t h a c o n s c i o u s n e s s that i t s acting in or failing to act would l i k e l y evidentiary Price or probably for on her her

result

Price's to the

i n j u r y . As Park's

support relied

opposition deposition Price,

motion,

t e s t i m o n y and t h e a f f i d a v i t o f h e r h u s b a n d . who was approximately 57 years old when the April On

a c c i d e n t o c c u r r e d , t e s t i f i e d as f o l l o w s . From 2004 u n t i l 9,

2007, she p l a y e d b i n g o a t t h e P a r k s e v e n d a y s a week. 9, 2007, she drove herself and two friends,

April

Patrice

Satterwhite at the Park

and P a t r i c i a R u s h i n g , i n the daytime. a r e a , and

t o the Park.

They a r r i v e d in of

P r i c e stopped her automobile she and her f r i e n d s got out

the v a l e t - p a r k i n g

P r i c e ' s a u t o m o b i l e and w a l k e d f r o m h e r a u t o m o b i l e t o t h e f r o n t e n t r a n c e o f t h e P a r k ' s b u i l d i n g . The area outside the front

entrance of the Park's b u i l d i n g i s not w e l l l i g h t e d . Moreover, Price was aware that a portion of the Park's building was

2090881 being remodeled or constructed. Consequently, Price was

c a r e f u l t o l o o k a t t h e g r o u n d t o make s u r e she d i d n o t s t e p on anything as she w a l k e d from her automobile to the front

entrance. Walking she

from h e r automobile t o t h e f r o n t e n t r a n c e , on t h e ground that would cause Price,

d i d n o t see a n y t h i n g

someone t o t r i p a n d f a l l .

After entering the b u i l d i n g ,

S a t t e r w h i t e , and Rushing p l a y e d b i n g o f o r a p p r o x i m a t e l y t h r e e hours and then exited the front entrance of the Park's

b u i l d i n g a t a p p r o x i m a t e l y 8:30 p.m. when i t was d a r k

outside.

They w a l k e d f r o m t h e f r o n t e n t r a n c e t o t h e v a l e t - p a r k i n g a r e a , a l o n g t h e same r o u t e t h e y h a d e a r l i e r w a l k e d when t h e y e n t e r e d the f r o n t e n t r a n c e from t h e v a l e t - p a r k i n g a r e a , and g o t i n t o Price's automobile. Price d i d n o t have any p r o b l e m walking

from t h e f r o n t e n t r a n c e t o h e r automobile i n t h e v a l e t - p a r k i n g area. After getting inside her automobile, Price could not inside

f i n d h e r c e l l u l a r t e l e p h o n e , a n d S a t t e r w h i t e went b a c k the Park's b u i l d i n g parking distance t o s e e i f she c o u l d f i n d Price wait

i t . The v a l e t a short her

attendant t o l d forward to

t o move h e r a u t o m o b i l e f o r Satterwhite so

that

automobile would not b l o c k t r a f f i c . P r i c e drove her automobile a short distance forward, parked, and found her cellular

2090881 telephone her before Satterwhite r e t u r n e d . P r i c e then got out o f Satterwhite t h a t she h a d

a u t o m o b i l e t o go i n s i d e t o t e l l

found her c e l l u l a r telephone. P r i c e walked from her automobile toward the f r o n t entrance; the a s p h a l t driveway b e f o r e of the f r o n t entrance. some debris that
1

h o w e v e r , she t r i p p e d a n d f e l l she r e a c h e d t h e s i d e w a l k

on

i n front

W h i l e she was on t h e g r o u n d , she saw consisted of gravel or loose

she t h o u g h t

p i e c e s o f a s p h a l t . The r o u t e she was w a l k i n g when she f e l l was a few f e e t from the route day between she h a d a l r e a d y w a l k e d t w i c e and t h e f r o n t when she f e l l that

the v a l e t - p a r k i n g area s h e was w a l k i n g lighted,

entrance. was i n an normally

Although area

the route

t h a t was n o t w e l l

P r i c e was w a l k i n g

when she f e l l had already

i n s t e a d o f l o o k i n g a t t h e ground "because [ s h e ] done that one time already ... the same

a f t e r n o o n , " " [ s ] o I w o u l d n ' t be e x p e c t i n g the ground." F i n a l l y ,

anything

t o be on

P r i c e t e s t i f i e d as f o l l o w s :

Price's principal brief states: t h a t Ms. S a t t e r w h i t e noted t h a t around the entrance when they t h e main e n t r a n c e f r o m t h e v a l e t was n o t t h e same p l a c e where Ms. a l i t t l e f u r t h e r down."

"While i t i s true t h e r e was t r a s h a r r i v e d and e x i t e d parking area, t h i s P r i c e f e l l a n d was (Emphasis added.)

2090881 "Q. [BY THE PARK'S COUNSEL:] A l l r i g h t . Do you know w h e t h e r o r n o t Macon C o u n t y G r e y h o u n d P a r k knew t h a t t h i s p i e c e o f g r a v e l t h a t you f e l l on was o u t t h e r e p r i o r t o t h e t i m e t h a t you f e l l on i t ? "A. "Q. I don't t h i n k Okay. p e o p l e out there cleaning that so.

"A. They u s u a l l y had off.

"Q. A l l r i g h t . And so do you b e l i e v e t h a t i f Macon C o u n t y G r e y h o u n d P a r k knew t h a t t h i s g r a v e l was out t h e r e t h a t t h e y w o u l d have c l e a n e d i t up? "A. The Yes, s i r . " a f f i d a v i t of P r i c e ' s husband s t a t e d :

"My name i s J . V i c t o r P r i c e and I am o v e r t h e age o f 19 y e a r s and a r e s i d e n t c i t i z e n o f t h e S t a t e o f A l a b a m a . Over t h e p a s t s e v e r a l y e a r s , I have b e e n a f r e q u e n t v i s i t o r t o Macon C o u n t y G r e y h o u n d P a r k i n Shorter, Alabama. I know o f my own personal k n o w l e d g e t h a t t h e c a s i n o a t Macon C o u n t y G r e y h o u n d P a r k was undergoing extensive construction and r e n o v a t i o n i n 2007, i n c l u d i n g t h e d a t e o f A p r i l 9, 2007. D u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d o f t i m e , i t was n o t u n u s u a l t o see l o o s e g r a v e l , r o c k s and c l u m p e d a s p h a l t i n t h e a r e a where t h e a s p h a l t p a r k i n g l o t a b u t s t h e concrete apron near the main e n t r a n c e to the casino." Following granting without the a hearing, the trial court on entered an 18, order 2010, timely

summary-judgment m o t i o n

February ruling.

stating

i t s rationale for that

Price

a p p e a l e d t o t h e supreme c o u r t , w h i c h t r a n s f e r r e d t h e a p p e a l t o

2090881 this c o u r t p u r s u a n t t o 1 2 - 2 - 7 ( 6 ) , A l a . Code 1975.

"We r e v i e w a summary j u d g m e n t de novo. A m e r i c a n L i b e r t y I n s . Co. v. AmSouth Bank, 825 So. 2d 786 (Ala. 2002). "'We a p p l y t h e same s t a n d a r d o f r e v i e w t h e t r i a l c o u r t used i n d e t e r m i n i n g whether the evidence p r e s e n t e d to the trial court c r e a t e d a genuine i s s u e of m a t e r i a l f a c t . Once a p a r t y m o v i n g f o r a summary j u d g m e n t establishes that no genuine issue of m a t e r i a l f a c t e x i s t s , the burden s h i f t s t o the nonmovant to present substantial evidence creating a genuine issue of material f a c t . "Substantial evidence" i s " e v i d e n c e o f s u c h w e i g h t and q u a l i t y t h a t fair-minded persons i n the e x e r c i s e of i m p a r t i a l j u d g m e n t can r e a s o n a b l y i n f e r t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t h e f a c t s o u g h t t o be p r o v e d . " I n r e v i e w i n g a summary j u d g m e n t , we v i e w t h e e v i d e n c e i n t h e l i g h t most f a v o r a b l e t o t h e nonmovant and e n t e r t a i n s u c h r e a s o n a b l e i n f e r e n c e s as t h e j u r y w o u l d have b e e n f r e e t o draw.' "Nationwide Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co.[ v. DPF A r c h i t e c t s , P . C . ] , 792 So. 2d [369] a t 372 [ ( A l a . 2001)] (citations omitted), quoted i n American L i b e r t y I n s . Co., 825 So. 2d a t 790." Potter 2002). P r i c e f i r s t argues t h a t the t r i a l c o u r t e r r e d i n g r a n t i n g the Park's summary-judgment claim because, motion she with (1) respect the to her v. First Real Estate Co., 844 So. 2d 540, 545 (Ala.

negligence

says,

evidence of

e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t t h e P a r k had a c t u a l o r c o n s t r u c t i v e n o t i c e 7

2090881 the presence o f the d e b r i s t h a t caused her to f a l l b e f o r e fell of and (2) t h e e v i d e n c e d i d n o t e s t a b l i s h t h a t t h e open and obvious. Price Macon was an invitee Greyhound on the Park, she

presence

t h a t d e b r i s was There i s no

dispute that In P e r r y v.

Park's Inc.,

premises. 514

County

So. 2d 1280,

1281-82 ( A l a . 1 9 8 7 ) , t h e supreme c o u r t

stated: "As an i n v i t e e on t h e p r e m i s e s , t h e p l a i n t i f f i s owed by t h e d e f e n d a n t s a d u t y t o e x e r c i s e o r d i n a r y and r e a s o n a b l e c a r e t o keep t h e p r e m i s e s in a r e a s o n a b l y s a f e c o n d i t i o n . G r a y v. M o b i l e G r e y h o u n d P a r k , L t d . , 370 So. 2d 1384 ( A l a . 1979) ( q u o t i n g , T i c e v. T i c e , 361 So. 2d 1051, 1052 ( A l a . 1 9 7 8 ) ) . The owner o f t h e p r e m i s e s , h o w e v e r , i s n o t an i n s u r e r o f t h e s a f e t y o f h i s i n v i t e e s , and t h e f a c t t h a t t h e p l a i n t i f f f e l l and was i n j u r e d r a i s e s no presumption of n e g l i g e n c e . Delchamps, Inc. v. S t e w a r t , 47 A l a . App. 406, 255 So. 2d 586, c e r t . den., 287 A l a . 729, 255 So. 2d 592 ( 1 9 7 1 ) ; G r e a t A t l a n t i c & P a c i f i c Tea Co. v. B e n n e t t , 267 A l a . 538, 103 So. 2d 177 ( 1 9 5 8 ) . The p l a i n t i f f has t h e b u r d e n of p r o v i n g t h a t the d e f e n d a n t b r e a c h e d i t s d u t y t o e x e r c i s e o r d i n a r y and r e a s o n a b l e c a r e and f a i l e d t o keep i t s p r e m i s e s i n a r e a s o n a b l y good c o n d i t i o n . The l a w d o e s n o t p l a c e upon t h e d e f e n d a n t t h e d u t y to take extraordinary care to keep a floor c o m p l e t e l y d r y or f r e e from d e b r i s . Wal-Mart S t o r e s , I n c . v. W h i t e , 476 So. 2d 614 ( A l a . 1 9 8 5 ) ; T e r r e l l v. Warehouse G r o c e r i e s , 364 So. 2d 675 ( A l a . 1 9 7 8 ) . As stated i n Mobile Greyhound Park, Ltd., a racetrack i s under no duty to keep a floor c o m p l e t e l y dry or c o m p l e t e l y f r e e of l i t t e r or other o b s t r u c t i o n s . 370 So. 2d a t 1388-89. As t h e C o u r t s t a t e d i n t h a t case:

2090881 " ' A t s u c h p l a c e s o f amusement as r a c e t r a c k s , dog t r a c k s , b a l l p a r k s , s t a d i u m s and t h e l i k e , an a c c u m u l a t i o n o f d e b r i s upon t h e w a l k w a y s d u r i n g t h e c o u r s e o f an event i s not u n l i k e the b u i l d - u p of r a i n water on a storekeeper's floor during s t o r m s . I n b o t h c a s e s , t h e a c c u m u l a t i o n may a d v e r s e l y a f f e c t f o o t t r a f f i c -- a f a c t w i t h w h i c h t h e i n v i t e e i s o r s h o u l d be aware.' "370 So. 2d a t 1388-89. The C o u r t f u r t h e r s t a t e d t h a t a s t o r e k e e p e r i s u n d e r no d u t y t o keep h i s f l o o r c o m p l e t e l y d r y , and, i n a l i k e manner t h e owners and o p e r a t o r s o f p u b l i c amusement f a c i l i t i e s a r e n o t u n d e r a d u t y t o keep t h e i r f l o o r s c o m p l e t e l y clean. Id. "The p l a i n t i f f ' s b u r d e n o f p r o o f i n a p r e m i s e s l i a b i l i t y c a s e i s t o p r o v e t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t knew t h e r e was some d e f e c t i n t h e c o n d i t i o n o f t h e p r e m i s e s , w h i c h can be p r o v e d i n one o f two ways. The f i r s t i s by s h o w i n g t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t had a c t u a l k n o w l e d g e o f t h e d e f e c t and t h e s e c o n d i s by showing the d e f e n d a n t had i m p l i e d knowledge o f i t .
"

"In o r d e r t o p r o v e the d e f e n d a n t had i m p l i e d k n o w l e d g e , t h e p l a i n t i f f must p r e s e n t e v i d e n c e t h a t the f o r e i g n s u b s t a n c e , r e g a r d l e s s of i t s n a t u r e , had b e e n on t h e f l o o r f o r a s u f f i c i e n t p e r i o d o f t i m e t o r a i s e the p r e s u m p t i o n t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t had n o t i c e o f i t s p r e s e n c e . See, e.g., M a y - B i l t , I n c . v. Deese, 281 A l a . 579, 206 So. 2d 590 (1968) ( h o l d i n g t h a t t h e p r e s e n c e o f a b e a n t h a t was g r e e n , h a r d and f r e s h d i d n o t s u p p o r t a r e a s o n a b l e i n f e r e n c e as t o t h e l e n g t h o f t i m e t h e b e a n h a d b e e n on t h e f l o o r ) ; W i n n - D i x i e S t o r e No. 1501 v. Brown, 394 So. 2d 49 ( A l a . C i v . App. 1981) ( i n w h i c h t h e c o u r t h e l d t h a t t h e p l a i n t i f f o f f e r e d no e v i d e n c e t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t h a d a c t u a l n o t i c e o f t h e f o r e i g n s u b s t a n c e on t h e 9

2090881 f l o o r , o r t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t had i m p l i e d k n o w l e d g e b e c a u s e i t was t h e p l a i n t i f f ' s own t e s t i m o n y that t h e v e g e t a b l e m a t t e r on t h e f l o o r ' a p p e a r e d f r e s h and green')." In evidence fell, the the case now before i t can actual us, be Price did not present before of any Price the

from

which had

inferred that, of the

Park

notice

presence

p a r t i c u l a r d e b r i s t h a t caused P r i c e to f a l l . did that not present any evidence debris fell for from which

Moreover, P r i c e be inferred had been to

i t can to

the p a r t i c u l a r where she

that a

caused her

fall of

present

sufficient

length

time

r a i s e t h e p r e s u m p t i o n t h a t t h e P a r k had n o t i c e o f i t s p r e s e n c e t h e r e . N e i t h e r P r i c e n o r any o t h e r w i t n e s s particular fell.

2

t e s t i f i e d that that fell before " i t was she not

debris

was

present of

where

Price

The

testimony

Price's

husband

that

u n u s u a l t o see l o o s e g r a v e l , r o c k s and area where t h e asphalt parking

clumped a s p h a l t i n the concrete apron the not fall of

l o t abuts the casino" while

near the main e n t r a n c e t o the P a r k ' s b u i l d i n g was being

a p o r t i o n of does

remodeled or

constructed

e s t a b l i s h t h a t the p a r t i c u l a r d e b r i s t h a t caused P r i c e to had been p r e s e n t where she fell for a sufficient length

S e e n o t e 1,

supra. 10

2090881 time before had not Price f e l l t o r a i s e the presumption t h a t the Park the t r i a l court d i d with

notice of i t s presence. Accordingly, e r r i n granting the Park's

summary-judgment m o t i o n

respect

to Price's negligence

claim. court erred i n granting with respect to her (Ala.

P r i c e next argues t h a t the t r i a l the Park's summary-judgment I n Ex p a r t e motion Essary,

wantonness c l a i m .

992 So. 2d 5, 9

2 0 0 7 ) , t h e supreme c o u r t

stated:

"'Wantonness' h a s b e e n d e f i n e d b y t h i s C o u r t as t h e c o n s c i o u s d o i n g o f some a c t o r t h e o m i s s i o n o f some d u t y w h i l e k n o w i n g o f t h e e x i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n s and b e i n g c o n s c i o u s t h a t , f r o m d o i n g o r o m i t t i n g t o do an a c t , i n j u r y w i l l l i k e l y o r p r o b a b l y result. Bozeman v . C e n t r a l Bank o f t h e S o u t h , 646 So. 2d 601 (Ala. 1 9 9 4 ) . To c o n s t i t u t e w a n t o n n e s s , i t i s n o t n e c e s s a r y t h a t t h e a c t o r know t h a t a p e r s o n i s w i t h i n t h e zone made d a n g e r o u s b y h i s c o n d u c t ; i t i s enough t h a t he knows t h a t a s t r o n g possibility e x i s t s t h a t o t h e r s may r i g h t f u l l y come w i t h i n t h a t z o n e . J o s e p h v. S t a g g s , 519 So. 2d 952, 954 ( A l a . 1988). A l s o , i t i s not e s s e n t i a l t h a t the a c t o r s h o u l d have e n t e r t a i n e d a s p e c i f i c d e s i g n o r i n t e n t to i n j u r e the p l a i n t i f f , only that the actor i s 'conscious' that i n j u r y w i l l l i k e l y or probably r e s u l t from h i s a c t i o n s . I d . 'Conscious' has been d e f i n e d as ' " p e r c e i v i n g , a p p r e h e n d i n g , o r n o t i c i n g w i t h a degree of c o n t r o l l e d thought or o b s e r v a t i o n : c a p a b l e o f o r marked by t h o u g h t , w i l l , d e s i g n , o r perception"'; '"having an a w a r e n e s s o f o n e ' s own e x i s t e n c e , s e n s a t i o n s , and t h o u g h t s , and o f one's environment; capable of complex response to e n v i r o n m e n t ; d e l i b e r a t e . " ' B e r r y v. F i f e , 590 So. 2d 884, 885 ( A l a . 1991) (quoting Webster's New C o l l e g i a t e D i c t i o n a r y 239 (1981) a n d The A m e r i c a n 11

2090881 Heritage Dictionary of (1969), r e s p e c t i v e l y ) . " In t h e case now before the English Language 2 83 any

us, P r i c e

d i d not present

evidence from which

i t c a n be i n f e r r e d t h a t t h e P a r k knew o f

the e x i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n s , i . e . , the presence of the p a r t i c u l a r debris fell. the that caused Price to f a l l i n t h e l o c a t i o n where she d i d not e r r i n granting with respect to Price's

Consequently, Park's

the t r i a l

court motion

summary-judgment claim.

wantonness

AFFIRMED. Thompson, concur. P . J . , and Pittman, Thomas, a n d Moore, J J . ,

12