May v. Kroger Co.

[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