Maureen George, App. v. Property Development Corp., Et Ano., Resps. ( 2013 )

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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
MAUREEN GEORGE, individually, No. 68909-6-
Appellant, DIVISION ONE
PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT UNPUBLISHED OPINION
CORPORATION, a Washington
corporation, and WALLACE
PROPERTIES, INC., a Washington
corporation,
Respondents. FILED: August 12, 2013
Schindler, J. — Maureen George appeals summary judgment dismissal of her
personal injury lawsuit against Property Development Corporation and Wallace
Properties, Inc. We affirm.
Maureen George moved to the Le Chateau apartment complex in Bellevue in
2002. Wallace Properties, Inc. was the property manager for the apartment complex.
In May 2004, Wallace Properties purchased new outdoor furniture for use on the patio
at the apartment complex swimming pool. The outdoor furniture consisted of four or five
tables with matching chairs. As part of routine maintenance, Wallace Properties
inspected and cleaned the tables and chairs during the summer on a daily basis.
No. 68909-6-1/2
In July 2008, when George sat in one of the outdoor chairs, the chair broke, and
George fell backwards, striking her head on a concrete wall. Assistant property
manager Ron Coyle took photographs of the broken chair from several different angles.
Coyle secured the broken chair in a locked utility room for safekeeping with a note that
stated, "Do Not Remove." In early 2009, Coyle sent an e-mail to his supervisor
emphasizing the importance of preserving the chair "if this became a litigation case."
In February 2009, the owner of Le Chateau replaced Wallace Properties and
hired a new property management company, Sherron Associates, Inc. In mid-March,
Coyle sent an e-mail to Sherron Associates explaining the significance of retaining the
chair.
On July 22, 2009, the attorney representing George sent a letter to the property
manager for the Le Chateau apartment complex asking to inspect the broken chair. An
insurance adjuster told the attorney that the chair could not be located, but provided the
photographs of the broken chair.
On May 25, 2011, George filed a personal injury lawsuit against Property
Development Corporation and Wallace Properties, Inc. George alleged Property
Development owned and operated the Le Chateau apartment complex and Wallace
Properties managed, supervised, and maintained the apartment complex. George
asserted Property Development and Wallace Properties negligently maintained,
inspected, and failed to repair the outdoor furniture used by the residents. George also
No. 68909-6-1/3
alleged Property Development and Wallace Properties negligently failed to preserve the
broken chair.
Wallace Properties filed a motion for summary judgment dismissal. Wallace
Properties argued that the uncontroverted evidence established that it had no actual or
constructive notice about the condition of the chair that broke. Property Development
joined the motion for summary judgment dismissal, and presented evidence showing
that Monte Villa Properties, LLC owned the apartment complex.
In opposition, George argued that the failure to preserve the broken chair created
a material issue of fact. The trial court granted summary judgment and dismissed the
lawsuit against Wallace Properties and Property Development. George appeals.
We review summary judgment de novo and engage in the same inquiry as the
trial court. Kruse v. Hemp, 121 Wn.2d 715, 722, 853 P.2d 1373 (1993). Summary
judgment is appropriate when there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving
party is entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law. CR 56(c).
A defendant can move for summary judgment by showing that" 'there is an
absence of evidence to support the [plaintiff]'s case.'" Young v. Key Pharm., Inc., 112
Wn.2d 216, 225 n.1, 770 P.2d 182 (1989) (quoting Celotex Corp. v. Catrett. 477 U.S.
317, 325, 106 S. Ct. 2548, 91 L. Ed. 2d 265 (1986)). If the defendant shows an
absence of evidence to establish the plaintiff's case, the burden then shifts to the
plaintiff to set forth specific facts showing a genuine issue of material fact for trial.
Young, 112 Wn.2d at 225. While we construe all evidence and reasonable inferences
No. 68909-6-1/4
in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, if the plaintiff" 'fails to make a
showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party's case,
and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial,'" summary judgment is
proper. Jones v. Allstate Ins. Co., 146 Wn.2d 291, 300, 45 P.3d 1068 (2002); Young.
112 Wn.2d at 225 (quoting Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322).
In a negligence action, a plaintiff must prove (1) the existence of a duty, (2)
breach of that duty, (3) resulting injury, and (4) proximate cause. Degel v. Majestic
Mobile Manor, Inc.. 129 Wn.2d 43, 48, 914 P.2d 728 (1996).
A landowner has a duty to maintain common areas in a reasonably safe
condition. Iwai v. State, 129 Wn.2d 84, 91-92, 915 P.2d 1089 (1996).
A landowner is liable for harm caused to a tenant by a condition on the land ifthe
landowner "knows or by the exercise of reasonable care would discover the condition,
and should realize that it involves an unreasonable risk of harm to tenants." Mucsi v.
Graoch Assocs. Ltd. P'ship No. 12, 144 Wn.2d 847, 855, 31 P.3d 684 (2001) (citing
Restatement (Second) of Torts § 343 (1965)). In applying the knowledge
requirement, "Washington law requires plaintiffs to show the landowner had actual or
constructive notice of the unsafe condition." Iwai, 129 Wn.2d at 96.
Here, because the uncontroverted evidence established that Property
Development did not own the property, Property Development did not owe a duty to
George. And because the uncontroverted evidence also established that Wallace
No. 68909-6-1/5
Properties had no actual or constructive notice that the chair presented an unsafe
condition, Wallace Properties did not owe a duty to George.
We affirm summary judgment dismissal of the lawsuit against Property
Development and Wallace Properties.
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WE CONCUR: