[Cite as May v. Kroger Co., 2017-Ohio-7696.]
COURT OF APPEALS
LICKING COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
LISA MAY, et al. JUDGES:
Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P. J.
Plaintiffs-Appellants Hon. John W. Wise, J.
Hon. Earle E. Wise, Jr., J.
-vs-
Case No. 2017 CA 00013
THE KROGER COMPANY
Defendant-Appellee OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Civil Appeal from the Court of Common
Pleas, Case No. 15 CV 00547
JUDGMENT: Affirmed
DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: September 19, 2017
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiffs-Appellants For Defendant-Appellee
JOSEPH A. FRALEY MARY BARLEY-MCBRIDE
JOSHUA M. FRALEY 250 Civic Center Drive
MITCHELL + PENCHEFF, FRALEY, Suite 280
CATALANO & BODA CO. Columbus, Ohio 43215
580 South High Street, Suite 200
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Licking County, Case No. 2017 CA 00013 2
Wise, John, J.
{¶1} Plaintiffs-Appellants, Lisa May and Jack May, appeal the January 25, 2016,
decision of the Licking County Court of Common Pleas granting summary judgment in
favor of Appellee The Kroger Company.
STATEMENT OF THE CASE AND FACTS
{¶2} On June 30, 2013, Plaintiff-Appellant Lisa May entered the Kroger store
#591, located on East Broad Street in Pataskala, Ohio, with her husband Jack and
daughter Caitlyn. (Lisa May Depo. at 47). The weather was rainy that day. (Id. at 47).
Mrs. May turned right upon entering and was making her way toward the deli area when
she slipped on a puddle of water and fell to the floor (ld. at 60-63). Mrs. May was pushing
a shopping cart at the time she slipped on the puddle (Id. at p. 68). There were no yellow
caution cones near the puddle. (ld. at 60). Mrs. May did not see the water puddle until
after she fell. (Id). Mr. May stated that he was also unable to see the puddle of water,
and could only see it when he moved several feet away from the area and had to bend
down to be able to see it. (ld. at 19).
{¶3} Mr. May testified that the puddle of water was a result of water he observed
leaking from the tiles in the ceiling. (ld. at 66- 67; Jack May Depo. at 20-21). He stated
that the puddle of water was somewhere between 15 inches and 24 inches in diameter.
(Id. at 19; Lisa May Dep. at 68). He further stated that at the time of the incident he
observed a drop of water falling every 3-5 seconds. (Jack May Depo. at 20). He further
observed discoloration on the ceiling tile from where the water was dripping. (ld. at 22-
24).
Licking County, Case No. 2017 CA 00013 3
{¶4} William O'Connell, a co-manager of Kroger store #591, was called over to
the area where Mrs. May fell. (O'Connell Depo. at 29-30). Mr. O'Connell stated that he
did not see any water on the floor where Mrs. May fell. (ld. at 34:5-21). Mr. O'Connell
testified at deposition that there is a history of water-stained tiles on the ceiling of the
Kroger store. (ld. at 65). He acknowledged that he has to "get them repaired all the time."
(Id. at 65). He further stated that there are various water spots on the ceiling tiles and
that one of the ceiling tiles which was near the produce department appeared to be
holding more water than other. (Id. at 52-54).
{¶5} On June 26, 2015, Appellants Lisa May and Jack May filed a Complaint
against Appellee the Kroger Company alleging one count of negligence and one count
of loss of consortium.
{¶6} On October 24, 2016, Appellee Kroger filed a Motion for Summary
Judgment.
{¶7} On December 14, 2016, Appellants filed their Memorandum in Opposition
to Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment.
{¶8} By Judgment Entry filed January 25, 2017, the trial court granted
Appellee’s Motion for Summary Judgment.
{¶9} Appellants now appeal, assigning the following errors for review:
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
{¶10} “I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN GRANTING SUMMARY JUDGMENT
IN FAVOR OF DEFENDANT-APPELLEE THE KROGER COMPANY REGARDING
DEFENDANT'S NEGLIGENCE AS THERE ARE GENUINE ISSUES OF MATERIAL
FACT WHICH PRECLUDES SUMMARY JUDGMENT.
Licking County, Case No. 2017 CA 00013 4
{¶11} “II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN GRANTING SUMMARY JUDGMENT
IN FAVOR OF DEFENDANT-APPELLEE THE KROGER COMPANY ON PLAINTIFF’S
LOSS OF CONSORTIUM CLAIM.”
STANDARD OF REVIEW
{¶12} Summary judgment proceedings present the appellate court with the
unique opportunity of reviewing the evidence in the same manner as the trial court.
Smiddy v. The Wedding Party, Inc., 30 Ohio St.3d 35, 36, 506 N.E.2d 212, (1987). As
such, we must refer to Civ.R. 56(C) which provides, in pertinent part: “Summary
judgment shall be rendered forthwith if the pleading, depositions, answers to
interrogatories, written admissions, affidavits, transcripts of evidence in the pending case
and written stipulations of fact, if any, timely filed in the action, show that there is no
genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment
as a matter of law. * * * A summary judgment shall not be rendered unless it appears
from such evidence or stipulation and only from the evidence or stipulation, that
reasonable minds can come to but one conclusion and that conclusion is adverse to the
party against whom the motion for summary judgment is made, such party being entitled
to have the evidence or stipulation construed most strongly in the party's favor.”
{¶13} Pursuant to the above rule, a trial court may not enter summary judgment
if it appears a material fact is genuinely disputed. Vahila v. Hall, 77 Ohio St.3d 421, 429,
1997–Ohio–259, 674 N.E.2d 1164, citing Dresher v. Burt, 75 Ohio St.3d 280, 662 N.E.2d
264, (1996).
{¶14} It is subject to this standard of review that we address appellants'
assignments of error.
Licking County, Case No. 2017 CA 00013 5
I., II.
{¶15} Appellants, in their Two Assignments of Error, argue that the trial court
erred in granting summary judgment in favor of Appellee. We disagree.
Negligence Claim
{¶16} In order to establish actionable negligence, a plaintiff must prove (1) the
defendant owed him a duty of care; (2) the defendant breached that duty of care; and (3)
as a direct and proximate result of the defendant's breach, the plaintiff suffered injury.
Menifee v. Ohio Welding Products, Inc., 15 Ohio St.3d 75, 77, 472 N.E.2d 707, (1984).
{¶17} The parties agree that Appellant Lisa May was a business invitee of
Appellee Kroger. Store owners owe business invitees a duty of ordinary care in
maintaining the premises in a reasonably safe condition so that its customers are not
unnecessarily and unreasonably exposed to danger. Paschal v. Rite Aid Pharmacy, Inc.
(1985), 18 Ohio St.3d 203, citing Campbell v. Hughes Provision Co. (1950), 153 Ohio
St. 9. The store's duty includes a duty to provide reasonably safe aisles for its customers.
Dickerson v. Food World (Dec. 17, 1998), Franklin App. No. 98AP-287, unreported.
However, a business owner is not an insurer of a customer's safety or against all types
of accidents that may occur on its premises. Paschal, supra; Johnson v. Wagner
Provision Co. (1943), 141 Ohio St. 584, 589. No presumption or inference of negligence
arises from the mere happening of an accident or from the mere fact that an injury
occurred. Dickerson, supra, citing Green v. Castronova (1966), 9 Ohio App.2d 156. See,
also, J.C. Penny Co. v. Robison (1934), 128 Ohio St. 626, paragraph four of the syllabus
(concluding the fact that a customer slipped and fell on a floor does not, standing alone,
create an inference that the floor was unsafe; there must be testimony tending to show
Licking County, Case No. 2017 CA 00013 6
that some negligent act or omission of the business owner caused the customer to slip
and fall).
{¶18} For a business invitee to recover in a “slip-and-fall” negligence action
against the owner of the premises, the plaintiff must show:
1. That the defendant through its officers or employees was
responsible for the hazard complained of; or
2. That at least one of such persons had actual knowledge of the
hazard and neglected to give adequate notice of its presence or remove it
promptly; or
3. That such danger had existed for a sufficient length of time
reasonably to justify the inference that the failure to warn against it or
remove it was attributable to a want of ordinary care.
{¶19} Johnson v. Wagner Provision Co. (1943), 141 Ohio St. 584, 589, 49 N.E.2d
925.
{¶20} Here, Appellants do not claim that Appellee created the hazard by placing
the water on the floor, or even that it had actual knowledge of the puddle of water. Rather,
Appellants assert Appellee Kroger had constructive knowledge that the hazard (leaking
water from the ceiling tile) was or could be on the floor and negligently failed to protect
Appellant or warn Appellant of its existence.
{¶21} In the case sub judice, the trial court stated in its January 25, 2017,
Judgment Entry, in relevant part, as follows:
Plaintiffs have come forth with no evidence that defendant’s officers
or employees placed the water on the floor or that any officer or employee
Licking County, Case No. 2017 CA 00013 7
had actual knowledge of the water. *** Plaintiffs have offered no evidence
that a roof leak was the cause of the water dripping from the ceiling or that
roof leaks were the cause of any of the previous stained ceiling tiles. There
is no evidence in the record that defendant’s officers or employees were
aware of any roof leaks. Plaintiffs have offered no evidence that any of the
previously repaired tiles were in the same area as the ceiling tile that was
dripping on the day of the injury or that defendant had any reason to believe
water might drip on the floor apart from the fact that it had previously
repaired ceiling tiles.
***
There was no evidence offered concerning how long the water had
been dripping, nor any other evidence that would suggest the water had
been on the floor long enough that defendant’s officers or employees should
have known of its presence. (January 25, 2017, Judgment Entry at 3-4).
{¶22} Here, Appellant stated that she did not see anything on the floor before she
fell. Id. at 60-61. No debris, kiosks, or advertisements were blocking her view. Id. Nothing
impaired or impeded her vision of the area. Id. The lighting in the store was good. Id. at
61. Appellant stated that she does not know how long the water had been dripping from
the ceiling tile. Id. at 67. Appellant also stated that she had never seen a leak in that area
at any other time. Id. at 77. She acknowledged that she had no evidence to demonstrate
that Kroger knew if there was a roof leak or that there was water on the floor. Id. at 69-
Licking County, Case No. 2017 CA 00013 8
70. No one from Kroger, Sedgwick,1 or anyone else told her that Kroger knew the ceiling
had been leaking. Id. at 70-71.
{¶23} Upon review, we agree with the trial court's determination that Appellants
failed to present evidence that Appellee breached a duty to Lisa May. Appellants have
not presented evidence that a genuine issue of material fact exists about whether
Appellee Kroger had actual or constructive knowledge of the accumulation of water on
the floor prior to Appellant’s fall. Appellant presented no evidence that anyone from
Kroger knew the water was on the floor before she fell, nor did she present any evidence,
other than conjecture, of what caused the water to leak from the ceiling onto the floor.
See Cooper v. Red Roof Inns, Inc. (Mar. 30, 2001), Franklin App. No. 00AP-876,
(concluding defendant did not demonstrate defendant's actual knowledge of hazard
where there was no evidence that any of defendant's employees knew that clear liquid
spots were on the floor before plaintiff slipped and fell); Kilburn v. Acme-Click (June 8,
1995), Cuyahoga App. No. 67752, unreported (determining no actual knowledge of
hazard demonstrated where no evidence that, before plaintiff slipped on a piece of
candle that had fallen from a display onto the floor, anyone saw the candle in the aisle
or knew the length of time the candle was in the aisle before the plaintiff fell); Liebenauer
v. Glassman, Inc. (Jan. 19, 1995), Cuyahoga App. No. 67690, unreported (concluding
summary judgment appropriately granted for defendant where plaintiff presented no
evidence that store employees had actual or constructive knowledge of a broken jar of
salad dressing).
1 Sedgwick is the third party administrator for claims for The Kroger Company.
Licking County, Case No. 2017 CA 00013 9
{¶24} We further find that Appellants failed to put forth evidence as to how long
the water had been on the floor prior to Appellant Lisa May’s slip and fall to support an
inference that the failure to warn against it or remove it was attributable to a want of
ordinary care. Appellants testimony that the puddle was “up to 24 inches in diameter”
and the water dripping from the ceiling was observed to be falling at a rate of one drop
every 3-5 seconds, does not provide the court with enough data to extrapolate how long
it took the water to accumulate on the floor prior to the fall in question.
{¶25} If a plaintiff cannot establish that the owner or its agents created the hazard
or possessed actual knowledge of the hazard, evidence showing the length of time
during which the hazard existed is necessary to support an inference that the owner had
constructive knowledge of the hazard such that the failure to remove or warn of the
hazard was a breach of ordinary care. Presley v. Norwood (1973), 36 Ohio St.2d 29, 303
N.E.2d 81; Combs v. First Natl. Supermarkets, Inc. (1995), 105 Ohio App.3d 27, 30, 663
N.E.2d 669; Newkirk v. Eavey Quality Foods, Inc. (Sept. 8, 1997), Butler App. No. CA97-
01-013.
{¶26} Summary judgment in favor of the defendant has been affirmed in
numerous Ohio appellate courts where plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate the length of
time a hazard existed prior to their fall. See Swackhammer v. Kroger Co., 10th Dist.
Franklin App. No. 03AP-479, 2003-Ohio-6191 (summary judgment was appropriate
when there was no evidence that store or janitorial service knew of cooking oil spill prior
to shopper's fall or that oil had been on floor long enough to infer constructive
knowledge); Price v. United Dairy Farmers, Inc., 10th Dist. Franklin App;. No. 04AP-83,
2004-Ohio-3392 (Business invitee who slipped and fell on liquid substance on store's
Licking County, Case No. 2017 CA 00013 10
floor did not present any evidence as to length of time substance had been on store's
floor before he fell); Peterson v. Giant Eagle, Inc., 9th Dist. Summit App. No. 21772, 2004-
Ohio-1611 (grocery store patron, who slipped and fell after she stepped on two grapes,
failed to present any evidence that grapes were on floor for sufficient period of time for
store to become aware of and clean up grapes in its exercise of ordinary care, and thus,
grocery store was not liable in negligence for patron's injuries from falling on floor);
Dodson v. Ohio State Univ. Med. Ctr., 10th Dist. Franklin App. No. 03AP-54, 2003-Ohio-
4410 (hospital did not have constructive knowledge of coffee that had spilled on its floor,
for purposes of determining whether hospital breached duty to business invitee who
slipped and fell on coffee which had been on floor for 10 to 15 minutes, and dried rings
observed on floor indicated that coffee was on floor for a sufficient amount of time for a
least some coffee to evaporate); Tholen v. Wal-Mart, 12th Dist. Butler App. No. CA2009-
03-090, 2010-Ohio-3256 (customer failed to establish store breached any duty in
personal injury action arising from customer's slip and fall on french fries while shopping
when there was no evidence to establish the length of time the french fries had been on
the floor before customer's fall); Caravella v. W.-WHI Columbus Northwest Partners,
10th Dist. Franklin App. No. 05AP-499, 2005-Ohio-6762 (evidence was insufficient to
establish wet floor in hotel existed for a sufficient amount of time to justify the inference
that the failure of owners and operators to warn business invitee was attributable to want
of ordinary care; record contained no evidence as to how long the water existed on floor
before invitee slipped and fell). Sulier v. Kroger Co. (1995), 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-94-179,
(we conclude that there is no evidence from which a reasonable jury could determine the
length of time the cleaning fluid was on the floor prior to plaintiff’s fall. Accordingly, the
Licking County, Case No. 2017 CA 00013 11
theory by which Appellant wishes to establish Kroger's negligence is dependent on an
inference upon an inference and is impermissible).
{¶27} Appellants further argue that the existence of stained ceiling tiles in other
areas of the ceiling constituted evidence that Appellee Kroger knew that the ceiling
leaked, and that this alone should put Appellee on notice that it had a problem and
impose upon it a higher duty to inspect the premises, especially when it rained. Initially,
we do not find that the fact that ceiling tiles show water staining, in and of itself, is direct
evidence of a leaky roof. There could be many explanations for such staining to occur.
Further, we find that the only evidence presented herein was that the stained tiles and/or
repaired tiles were located in other areas of the store, not where Appellant fell. There
was no evidence presented that the roof was leaking or that a leaky roof was the source
of the water dripping from the ceiling in the area where Appellant Lisa May slipped and
fell.
{¶28} Based on the foregoing, we find the trial court correctly determined
Appellants presented no evidence that Appellee had actual or constructive knowledge
of the water on the floor.
Consortium Claim
{¶29} We now turn to Appellants’ argument the trial court erred in granting
summary judgment in favor of Appellee on Appellant Jack May's loss of consortium
claim. “[A] claim for loss of consortium is derivative in that the claim is dependent upon
the defendants having committed a legally cognizable tort upon the spouse who suffers
bodily injury.” Donnelly v. Herron, Cuyahoga App. No. 74324, 1999 WL 35345, at *7
(Jan. 21, 1999) citing Bowen v. Kil–Kare, Inc. (1992), 63 Ohio St.3d 84, 585 N.E.2d 384.
Licking County, Case No. 2017 CA 00013 12
Because Appellee is not liable to Appellant Lisa May for her injuries, there is no legally
cognizable tort against Appellee; therefore, Appellant Jack May has no derivative claim
to loss of consortium.
{¶30} Appellants’ Two Assignments of Error are overruled.
{¶31} For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of
Licking County, Ohio, is affirmed.
By: Wise, John, J.
Gwin, P. J., concurs.
Wise, Earle, J., dissents.
__________________________________
HON. JOHN W. WISE
__________________________________
HON. W. SCOTT GWIN
__________________________________
HON. EARLE E. WISE, JR.
JWW/d 0807
Licking County, Case No. 2017 CA 00013 13
Wise, Earle, J., dissents.
{¶32} I respectfully dissent from the majority's opinion.
{¶33} The majority finds at ¶ 23 that "Appellants have not presented evidence
that a genuine issue of material fact exists about whether Appellee Kroger had actual or
constructive knowledge of the accumulation of water on the floor prior to Appellant's fall."
I disagree.
{¶34} Once the burden shifted to Appellants to set forth specific facts showing
there was a genuine issue of material fact for trial, Appellants presented evidence via
their depositions and that of Mr. O'Connell. Mrs. May testified she slipped and fell on a
puddle of water on the floor that came from the ceiling because she could see it dripping.
Lisa May Depo. at 66. A lot of ceiling tiles had water marks on them. Id. at 69. The
weather was rainy that day. Id. at 47. Mr. May confirmed it was raining that day, and
testified the water was a puddle between 15 and 24 inches in diameter and when he
looked up, he observed a drop of water falling every 3-5 seconds from a discolored
ceiling tile. Jack May Depo. at 15, 20. Mr. O'Connell did not see any water on the floor.
O'Connell Depo. at 34. He acknowledged he needed to repair water-stained ceiling tiles
in the store all the time. Id. at 64-65. Appellants presented a work order of Phinney
Industrial Roofing, Inc., dated three days after the incident, indicating a leak had occurred
and "another ceiling tile looks to be holding water (much worse than the others) in front
of the produce department." Id. at 53-56. The work order noted "[m]oved ballast to find
and repair 1 hole in between rtu 3 and 5" and "[h]ole in field membrane. Repaired with a
compatible quickseam patch."
Licking County, Case No. 2017 CA 00013 14
{¶35} Contrary to what the trial court found, based on the evidence presented
during the summary judgment phase, reasonable inferences could be made that a leak
caused the water dripping from the ceiling and leaks were commonplace since water-
stained ceiling tiles needed repaired all the time.
{¶36} The trial court also determined there was no evidence that would suggest
the water had been on the floor long enough for Appellee to have known of its existence.
The majority at ¶ 24 finds Mr. May's testimony regarding the size of the puddle in relation
to the drops falling every 3 to 5 seconds "does not provide the court with enough data to
extrapolate how long it took the water to accumulate on the floor prior to the fall in
question." I find this is an issue to be proven at trial and to be determined by a factfinder.
See Youngerman v. Meijer, Inc. 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 15732, 1996 WL 531628 (Sept.
20, 1996).
{¶37} I believe Appellants' evidence of Mr. O'Connell's admission of numerous
repairs for water-stained ceiling tiles, coupled with the observation of dripping water from
the ceiling, was sufficient to meet their reciprocal burden pursuant to Dresher, supra. I
find the issues of constructive notice and whether the danger existed for a sufficient
length of time are genuine issues of material fact. See Jordan v. Simon Property Group,
11th Dist. Lake No. 2004-L-060, 2005-Ohio-4480.
{¶38} In construing the evidence in a light most favorable to the nonmoving party,
I would find reasonable minds could reach different conclusions as to whether Appellee
had constructive notice of the hazard. Therefore, I would reverse the trial court's granting
of summary judgment to Appellee on Appellants' claims.
Licking County, Case No. 2017 CA 00013 15