St. Germain v. Newell , 2015 Ohio 3713 ( 2015 )

[Cite as St. Germain v. Newell, 2015-Ohio-3713.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
MARION COUNTY
THOMAS ST. GERMAIN,
PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT, CASE NO. 9-15-14
v.
GLEN NEWELL, OPINION
DEFENDANT-APPELLEE.
Appeal from Marion County Common Pleas Court
Trial Court No. 2013 CV 0679
Judgment Affirmed
Date of Decision: September 14, 2015
APPEARANCES:
Jeff Ratliff for Appellant
Bruce A. Curry for Appellee
Case No. 9-15-14
SHAW, J.
{¶1} Plaintiff-appellant, Thomas St. Germain (“St. Germain”) appeals the
February 24, 2015, judgment of the Marion County Common Pleas Court granting
summary judgment to defendant-appellee, Glen Newell (“Newell”) on the issues
of whether Newell, as landlord, was negligent or negligent per se in failing to
repair a loose handrail in St. Germain’s stairway.
{¶2} The facts relevant to this appeal are as follows. On January 29, 2013,
St. Germain allegedly was walking down a stairway at the apartment he was
staying in when the handrail he was using broke causing him to fall down the
stairway and sustain injuries. (Doc. No. 1).
{¶3} On November 15, 2013, St. Germain filed a complaint against Glen
Newell, the landlord who owned the residence where the alleged incident
occurred, 843 ½ Uncapher in Marion, Ohio. (Doc. No. 1). St. Germain alleged
that Newell had been previously made aware that the handrail was in an “unsafe
condition” numerous times, and that Newell was negligent for failing to fix the
railing. (Id.)
{¶4} Attached to St. Germain’s complaint were two affidavits, the first by
Jennifer Smith, who was the tenant on the lease at 843 ½ Uncapher. Smith’s
affidavit stated that she witnessed St. Germain fall down the stairs, and that she
had previously requested that Newell fix the railing. (Doc. No. 1). The second
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affidavit was made by Kathy Pitchford, who stated that she nearly fell one time
when leaving Smith and St. Germain’s residence while using the handrail when
the handrail pulled away from the wall. (Id.)
{¶5} On March 25, 2014, Newell filed an answer denying negligence and
asserting a number of affirmative defenses. (Doc. No. 6).
{¶6} On October 17, 2014, a deposition was taken of St. Germain. At his
deposition St. Germain testified that Jennifer Smith leased the apartment at 843 ½
Uncapher from Newell, and that St. Germain was not on the lease but was staying
with Smith. St. Germain testified that Newell was aware St. Germain was residing
with Smith.
{¶7} Regarding the incident in question, St. Germain testified that
sometime between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on January 29, 2013, he was going down a
stairway at the apartment using the upper handrail when the handrail came out and
he fell down the stairs. (St. Germain Depo. at 38-39). As a result of the fall, St.
Germain was taken to the hospital. St. Germain testified that he broke his tibia
and suffered a concussion, but was ultimately released from the hospital later that
night.1 (Id. at 14, 65).
1
When questioned about whether the fall down the stairs resulted in any long-term injuries other than the
broken tibia, St. Germain’s deposition testimony was rather unclear. St. Germain testified to a number of
lingering maladies from multiple, serious, prior vehicle accidents and lasting injuries from his military
service. One injury St. Germain mentioned was a traumatic brain injury that left him with frequent
headaches.
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{¶8} St. Germain testified that the apartment he shared with Smith was the
upper unit in a house that had been subdivided into two apartments, a lower unit
and an upper unit. St. Germain testified that the stairway where he fell led up to
the apartment he shared with Smith, but it was not a common entrance; it only led
to their upstairs apartment. (Id. at 45). St. Germain testified that the set of stairs
was the only way to get to and from his apartment. (Id.) Photographs used at the
deposition show that the stairway was carpeted and led to a door at the bottom of
the stairs that contained a lock. (St. Germain Depo. Def.’s Exs. A, B).
{¶9} As to the railing specifically, St. Germain testified that there were
actually two separate railings that each covered approximately half of the
staircase, and that it was the upper half of the railing that broke, causing him to
fall. St. Germain testified that the lower railing—closer to the bottom of the
stairs—was metal, and the upper railing—closer to the top of the stairs—was
wooden and had been loose prior to this incident. (St. Germain Depo. at 45, 47).
St. Germain testified that prior to the incident the wooden handrail would come off
the wall slightly and then slide back on when it was used. He testified that he
himself and others had told Newell about the loose railing. (Tr. at 47).
{¶10} On December 11, 2014, a deposition was taken of Kathleen Pitchford
who testified that she was friends with St. Germain and Smith and that she
regularly stopped at their apartment. Pitchford testified that on one such occasion
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when she was leaving the wooden part of the handrail came loose while she was
using it and she almost fell, but was caught by her husband who was also
descending the stairs. Pitchford testified that she told St. Germain and Smith of
the incident, and that she believed they had told Newell about the handrail.
{¶11} Also on December 11, 2014, Newell was deposed. Newell testified
that the stairway where St. Germain allegedly fell was an interior stairway that had
two separate handrails that did not connect. Newell testified that he had never
been informed of any problem with the railings. Newell also testified that the first
he had heard of St. Germain falling was a couple of weeks into February when
Newell stopped to collect rent and Smith informed Newell that St. Germain was in
jail and he had the rent money so Smith could not pay. Newell indicated that it
was at that time Smith informed him of St. Germain falling on the stairs. Newell
testified that from what he understood Smith and St. Germain had a fight and St.
Germain “chased her down the steps and fell and broke his leg.” (Newell Depo. at
13). Newell testified that he checked the railing at that time and it was “tight” and
there was nothing wrong with it. (Id. at 14).
{¶12} On January 16, 2015, Newell filed a motion for summary judgment
arguing that St. Germain was on notice of any defect with the railing and that any
issue with the railing was open and obvious, removing any potential liability for
negligence. (Doc. No. 18).
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{¶13} On February 3, 2015, St. Germain filed a memorandum contra to
Newell’s motion for summary judgment. In the memorandum, St. Germain
argued that the loose railing was not open and obvious despite St. Germain’s
knowledge of it, and further that Newell had violated Revised Code provisions
5321.04(A)(2) and (A)(3), which read,
(A) A landlord who is a party to a rental agreement shall do all
of the following:
***
(2) Make all repairs and do whatever is reasonably necessary
to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition;
(3) Keep all common areas of the premises in a safe and
sanitary condition[.]
{¶14} St. Germain argued that Newell’s violation of R.C. 5321.04(A)(2)
and (A)(3) made Newell liable for Negligence per se and thus the open and
obvious doctrine would not apply.2 (Doc. 21).
{¶15} On February 13, 2015, Newell filed his reply brief in support of
summary judgment. In the reply, Newell argued that the open and obvious
doctrine applied if there was no breach of R.C. 5321.04. Newell argued there was
2
We would note that the first time Negligence per se based on a violation of R.C. 5321.04 was mentioned
was in St. Germain’s memorandum contra to Newell’s summary judgment motion. Prior to that point there
was no amendment to the complaint made to add a claim of negligence per se. At least two courts have
stated that since Civ.R. 8 does not require particularity in pleadings and since “‘negligence and negligence
per se are so closely intertwined’” a separate pleading for negligence per se is not necessary. Collier v.
Libations Lounge, L.L.C., 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 97504, 2012-Ohio-2390, ¶ 24, quoting Lone Star
Steakhouse & Saloon of Ohio, Inc. v. Quaranta, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 01 CA 60, 2002–Ohio–1540, ¶ 42.
We make no formal endorsement of the findings in Collier and Lone Star because the issue is not before
this Court, and Newell did not object. Similarly the trial court treated the negligence per se argument as
though it had been properly alleged and therefore we will as well.
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no breach of R.C. 5321.04(A)(2) because a loose railing does not render an
apartment unfit or uninhabitable. (Doc. No. 24). Newell argued that there was no
breach of R.C. 5321.04(A)(3) because the stairway was not a “common area” as it
was only used and accessed by Smith and St. Germain and their guests. (Id.)
{¶16} On February 24, 2015, the trial court filed its entry ruling on
summary judgment. The trial court determined that St. Germain was aware of the
loose railing prior to falling, making it open and obvious. As to the negligence per
se issues, the trial court held as follows.
In the case of Taylor v Alexander, 86-LW-2151 (Trumbull Cty.
Of App. 1986), [sic] the Trumbull County Court of Appeals held
that while R.C. 5321.04(A)(2) speaks in terms of “fitness and
habitability”, the appellant did not contend that the absence of a
handrail made the premises unfit for human habitation. Rather,
the common law warranty of habitability deals with situations
where the premises contained defective wiring, heat or water
shortages, vermin infestations, etc. It cannot seriously be
contended that the lack of a handrail, in and of itself, renders the
premises substantially or wholly uninhabitable. Consequently,
R.C. 5321.04(A)(2) cannot be used as a basis for imposing
liability on appellee.
***
After construing the evidence most strongly in favor of the
Plaintiff, as this Court is required to do, the Court finds that
reasonable minds can only come to the conclusion that a loose
handrail on the stairway did not render the rental premises unfit
and uninhabitable, at the time the Plaintiff suffered his injury.
Thus, R.C. Section 5321.04(A)(2) is not available to impose per
se negligence liability on the Defendant.
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Turning next to * * * 5321.04(A)(3) * * * [a] review of the
record reveals that the stairway on which the Plaintiff was
injured, was not in a common area, but was, rather, an interior
stairway separate from any entrance to the downstairs
apartment.
As the stairway on which the Plaintiff was injured was not a
common area, the Plaintiff cannot use R.C. 5321.04(A)(3) as a
basis upon which to impose [per] se negligence liability upon the
Defendant.
(Doc. No. 25).
{¶17} The trial court thus granted summary judgment to Newell. On
February 24, 2015, the trial court filed a judgment entry dismissing St. Germain’s
complaint with prejudice. (Doc. No. 26). It is from this judgment that St.
Germain appeals, asserting the following assignment of error for our review.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN GRANTING DEFENDANT-
APPELLEE’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AS
THERE REMAINED A DISPUTED ISSUE OF MATERIAL
FACT AND DEFENDANT-APPELLEE WAS NOT ENTITLED
TO JUDGMENT AS A MATTER OF LAW.
{¶18} In his assignment of error, St. Germain argues that the trial court
erred in granting Newell’s motion for summary judgment. Specifically, St.
Germain contends that the railing was not objectively open and obvious, making
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Newell potentially liable under common law negligence, and that Newell violated
R.C. 5321.04(A)(2) and (A)(3), making him liable for negligence per se.3
Summary Judgment Standard
{¶19} An appellate court reviews a grant of summary judgment de novo,
without any deference to the trial court. Mercer Health v. Welling, 3d Dist.
Mercer No. 10-14-05, 2014-Ohio-5626, ¶ 16, citing Conley–Slowinski v. Superior
Spinning & Stamping Co., 128 Ohio App. 3d 360, 363 (6th Dist.1998). A grant of
summary judgment will be affirmed only when the requirements of Civ.R. 56(C)
are met. This requires the moving party to establish: (1) that there are no genuine
issues of material fact, (2) that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter
of law, and (3) that reasonable minds can come to but one conclusion and that
conclusion is adverse to the non-moving party, said party being entitled to have
the evidence construed most strongly in his favor. Civ.R. 56(C); M.H. v.
Cuyahoga Falls, 134 Ohio St. 3d 65, 2012-Ohio-5336, ¶ 12 (Citation omitted).
{¶20} The party moving for summary judgment bears the initial burden of
identifying the basis for its motion in order to allow the opposing party a
“meaningful opportunity to respond.” Mitseff v. Wheeler, 38 Ohio St. 3d 112,
syllabus (1988). The moving party also bears the burden of demonstrating the
absence of a genuine issue of material fact as to an essential element of the case.
3
We would note initially that while St. Germain was not the tenant on the lease, in Mann v. Northgate
Investors, L.L.C., 138 Ohio St. 3d 175, 178, 2014-Ohio-455 (2014), the Ohio Supreme Court determined
that a landlord owes a tenant’s guest the same duty he or she owes to the tenant. Mann at ¶ 33.
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Dresher v. Burt, 75 Ohio St. 3d 280, 292, 1996–Ohio–107. Once the moving party
demonstrates that he is entitled to summary judgment, the burden shifts to the
nonmoving party to produce evidence on any issue which that party bears the
burden of production at trial. See Civ.R. 56(E); Mercer Health, supra, at ¶ 17.
Common Law Negligence Claim
{¶21} In this case, St. Germain first argues that summary judgment was
improper because the loose railing was not open and obvious, making Newell
liable for common law negligence. St. Germain claims that while he admittedly
knew of the loose railing prior to falling, the question was not whether he knew
about the railing, but rather whether it would have been discernable to a
reasonable person.
{¶22} Under the open and obvious doctrine, “a premises-owner owes no
duty to persons entering those premises regarding dangers that are open and
obvious.” Armstrong v. Best Buy Co., 99 Ohio St. 3d 79, 80, 2003-Ohio-2573, ¶ 5
(2003), citing Sidle v. Humphrey, 13 Ohio St. 2d 45 (1968), paragraph one of the
syllabus.
{¶23} “ ‘[T]he open and obvious nature of the hazard itself serves as a
warning. Thus, the owner or occupier may reasonably expect that persons entering
the premises will discover those dangers and take appropriate measures to protect
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themselves.’ ” (Emphasis added.) Armstrong, supra, at ¶ 5, quoting Simmers v.
Bentley Constr. Co., 64 Ohio St. 3d 642, 644 (1992).
{¶24} The open and obvious doctrine has not only been applied where a
person would reasonably be expected to discover a hazard, but also where the
tenant had actual knowledge of a particular hazard or condition. Mounts v.
Ravotti, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 07MA182, 2008-Ohio-5045, ¶ 51 (where tenant
was aware of water on steps prior to fall and he had slipped numerous times in the
past, condition was open and obvious); Stewart v. AMF Bowling Ctrs., Inc., 3d
Dist. Hancock No. 5-10-16, 2010-Ohio-5671, ¶¶ 16-17 (where plaintiff was aware
of step-down leading to bowling lanes, had previously been to bowling center and
was aware of its set-up, hazard was open and obvious); see also Hayes v. Murtha,
10th Dist. Franklin No. 96APE04-512, (Oct. 1996) 1996 WL 589268 (summary
judgment properly awarded where plaintiff knew “that the sidewalks were uneven
and over-grown with shrubbery and that the weather conditions overnight had
cause the sidewalks to be ice-covered.”).
{¶25} Moreover, “[a] plaintiff’s failure to avoid a known peril is not
excused by the fact that he ‘did not think,’ or ‘forgot.’ ” Raflo v. Losantiville
Country Club, 34 Ohio St. 2d 1, 3 (1973) (citations omitted). Here, St. Germain
readily admitted that he was aware that the railing was loose and that it had been
loose for some time. That St. Germain ignored that “known peril” or “forgot,”
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does not alter the fact that St. Germain was completely aware of the loose railing.
Accordingly, St. Germain’s argument that we should ignore his knowledge of the
loose railing in favor of applying an objective standard as though he had never
been aware of the railing is not well-taken.
Negligence Per Se Claims
{¶26} St. Germain next argues that Newell was liable for negligence per se
for violating R.C. 5321.04(A)(2) and (A)(3). In Mann v. Northgate Investors,
L.L.C., 138 Ohio St. 3d 175, 178, 2014-Ohio-455 (2014), the Ohio Supreme Court
stated that if a violation of a statutory duty under R.C. 5321.04(A)(2) or (A)(3)
“constitutes negligence per se and obviates the open-and-obvious-danger
doctrine.” Mann at ¶ 33. Thus if St. Germain could establish that Newell violated
R.C. 5321.04(A)(2) or (A)(3), he would have a valid negligence per se claim
notwithstanding the open and obvious doctrine.
{¶27} Revised Code 5321.04(A)(2) states that, “A landlord who is a party
to a rental agreement shall * * * [m]ake all repairs and do whatever is reasonably
necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition[.]
(Emphasis added.) In the trial court’s decision, the trial court found that a loose
railing does not render a premises unfit or uninhabitable such that liability under
R.C. 5321.04(A)(2) would be invoked. We agree.
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{¶28} In Avila v. Gerdenich Realty Co., 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-07-1098,
2007-Ohio-6356, ¶ 9, the Sixth District Court of Appeals held that, “‘The meaning
and interpretation of the statutory phrase ‘fit and habitable’ will not be liberally
construed to include that which does not clearly fall within the import of the
statute.’” Avila at ¶ 9 quoting Parks v. Menyhart Plumbing and Heating Supply
Co., Inc., 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 75424 1999 WL 1129591 (Dec. 9, 1999), citing
LaCourse v. Fleitz, 28 Ohio St. 3d 209 (1986). The Sixth District continued,
adding, “ ‘Fitness and habitability entails such defects as lack of water or heat,
faulty wiring, or vermin infestation,’ and does not include items such as missing
handrails.” Avila quoting Parks, citing Taylor v. Alexander, 11th Dist. No. 3550,
1986 WL 7800 (July 11, 1986). The Sixth District’s definition of fitness and
habitability has been similarly utilized by multiple other Ohio Appellate Courts.
See Aldridge v. Englewood Village, Ltd., 2d Dist. No. 10251, 1987 WL 15015
(July 22, 1987); Mullins v. Grosz, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 10AP-23, 2010-Ohio-
3844, ¶ 33; Parks (8th Dist.), supra, and Taylor (11th Dist.), supra.
{¶29} Based on what these courts have determined renders a premises unfit
or uninhabitable, the bar for finding that a landlord has violated R.C.
5321.04(A)(2) is high and would not include a loose handrail. In fact, multiple
courts have determined that the complete lack of a handrail does not render a
premises unfit or uninhabitable, so we fail to see how a defective handrail would
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render an entire premises unfit or uninhabitable. See Mullins; Taylor, supra. Thus
we cannot find that the trial court erred in determining that a loose handrail did not
make the apartment unfit or uninhabitable to invoke liability under R.C.
5321.04(A)(2).
{¶30} Next, St. Germain argues that Newell should be liable for negligence
per se under R.C. 5321.04(A)(3), which states that a landlord must, “[k]eep all
common areas of the premises in a safe and sanitary condition[.]” The trial court
granted Newell summary judgment on this issue, finding that the handrail and
staircase in question were not in “common areas.” We agree.
{¶31} First, St. Germain specifically testified in his deposition that the
stairway into his apartment was not a common stairway in the following exchange.
Q: The stairway in these photographs is that a common
entrance [the neighbors] would also use?
A: No, that was to the upstairs apartment and then their
apartment was downstairs.
(Tr. at 45). Notwithstanding St. Germain’s direct testimony, photographs of the
stairway in question make clear that the stairway was not a common stairway.
The stairway was a carpeted interior stairway that led up into St. Germain’s
apartment, and the door at the bottom of the stairway had a locking mechanism.
(Def’s Depo Exs. A, B). The door at the top of the stairs also appears to be a
sliding door. (Def’s Depo Ex. D).
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{¶32} Furthermore, in Newell’s deposition, he testified that the downstairs
apartment had its own separate stairway leading into that apartment. (Newell
Depo. at 7). In addition, Newell also testified to an instance in his deposition
where he was standing outside the residence talking to Smith asking her if she
would allow him inside to inspect the stairway, further implying that Smith (and
thus St. Germain) held exclusive control over the stairway. (Newell Depo. at 14).
While the stairway may have been used by guests of St. Germain and Jennifer
Smith (the tenant on the lease), the only indication in the record was that the
stairway was not “common.” Therefore, we cannot find that the trial court erred in
granting Newell summary judgment on this issue.
{¶33} Accordingly, having found no error prejudicial to St. Germain in the
particulars assigned, St. Germain’s assignment of error is overruled and the
judgment of the Marion County Common Pleas Court is affirmed.
Judgment Affirmed
ROGERS, P.J. and PRESTON, J., concur.
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