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Rodriguez v. Dolgencorp, LLC

Supreme Court of Louisiana.
Nov 14, 2014
152 So. 3d 871 (La. 2014)

Summary

finding that a shopping cart wheel in a parking lot was not an unreasonably dangerous condition because the plaintiff "failed to produce any evidence showing she could meet her burden at trial"

Summary of this case from Sheffield v. Int'l Paper Co.

Opinion

No. 2014–CC–1725.

11-14-2014

Melinda Gregoire RODRIGUEZ v. DOLGENCORP, LLC, et al.


Opinion

Plaintiff filed suit against defendant alleging she was injured when she “attempted to thread her way through a maze” of shopping carts, and her left foot came in contact with a shopping cart wheel, which caused her to step back and fall. Defendant moved for summary judgment, arguing plaintiff was unable to establish presence of the shopping cart in the parking area presented an unreasonably dangerous condition. In support, defendant relied on plaintiff's deposition in which she admitted to seeing the shopping cart which caused her fall.

The district court denied defendant's motion for summary judgment, and the court of appeal denied supervisory review. This application followed.

Courts have recognized that the mere presence of obstacles in a store, such as shopping carts, does not create an unreasonable risk of harm when the condition is open and obvious. See Russell v. Morgan's Bestway of Louisiana, LLC, 47,914 at p. 8 (La.App. 2 Cir. 4/10/13), 113 So.3d 448, 453 (holding “[e]ven though there were multiple stocking carts involved, we find this situation so open and obvious that [the plaintiff] was able to observe the carts and easily avoid any risk of harm”). In the instant case, defendant established plaintiff was aware of the presence of the shopping cart and could have avoided any harm through the exercise of ordinary care. The burden then shifted to the plaintiff to come forward with evidence (by affidavit, deposition, discovery response, or other form sanctioned by La.Code Civ. P. arts. 966 and 967 ) to demonstrate that she would be able to meet her burden at trial to show a duty on the part of defendant. Plaintiff failed to produce any evidence showing she could meet her burden at trial. Therefore, summary judgment in favor of defendant is mandated. See Bufkin v. Felipe's Louisiana, LLC, 14–0288 (La.10/15/14), ––– So.3d ––– –.

Accordingly, the writ is granted. The judgment of the district court is reversed, and summary judgment is granted in favor of defendant.


Summaries of

Rodriguez v. Dolgencorp, LLC

Supreme Court of Louisiana.
Nov 14, 2014
152 So. 3d 871 (La. 2014)

finding that a shopping cart wheel in a parking lot was not an unreasonably dangerous condition because the plaintiff "failed to produce any evidence showing she could meet her burden at trial"

Summary of this case from Sheffield v. Int'l Paper Co.

finding a "maze of shopping carts," when plaintiff saw the cart which caused her to fall, was open and obvious

Summary of this case from Kelly v. Circle K Stores, Inc.

concluding that summary judgment was appropriate solely because the "risk of harm" was "open and obvious"

Summary of this case from Butler v. Int'l Paper Co.

granting summary judgment in favor of defendant and stating "that the mere presence of obstacles in a store, such as shopping carts, does not create an unreasonable risk of harm when the condition is open and obvious"

Summary of this case from Plunkett v. Best Buy Co.

granting summary judgment in favor of defendant because the presence of a shopping cart in the parking lot was open and obvious, and did not create an unreasonable risk of harm where the customer who fell "was aware of the presence of the shopping cart and could have avoided harm through the exercise of ordinary care"

Summary of this case from James v. Hilton New Orleans Corp.

observing that summary judgment was proper in defendant's favor given a shopping cart located in a grocery store parking lot was an open and obvious condition

Summary of this case from Lomax v. Transdev Servs.

shopping carts in parking lot were open and obvious and plaintiff failed to produce evidence she could meet her burden of proof at trial that defendant owed a duty

Summary of this case from Robertson v. Kearney Cos.

shopping cart that patron tripped over was open and obvious

Summary of this case from Marks v. Schultz

shopping cart that patron tripped over was open and obvious

Summary of this case from Primeaux v. Best W. Plus Houma Inn

shopping cart that patron tripped over was open and obvious

Summary of this case from Williams v. Liberty Mut. Fire Ins. Co.

In Rodriguez v. Dolgencorp, the Louisiana Supreme Court held that where a defendant establishes a plaintiff was aware of the presence of a defect and could have avoided harm through the exercise of reasonable care, the burden then shifts to the plaintiff to produce evidence to demonstrate that he could meet his burden at trial to establish a duty on the part of the defendant.

Summary of this case from Jones v. Stewart

shopping cart that patron tripped over was open and obvious

Summary of this case from Temple v. Morgan
Case details for

Rodriguez v. Dolgencorp, LLC

Case Details

Full title:Melinda Gregoire RODRIGUEZ v. DOLGENCORP, LLC, et al.

Court:Supreme Court of Louisiana.

Date published: Nov 14, 2014

Citations

152 So. 3d 871 (La. 2014)

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