Opinion
2021 CW 1606
06-08-2022
BONNIE GUIDRY v. ST. TAMMANY PARISH WATER WORKS DISTRICT NO. 3, THE PARISH OF ST. TAMMANY, AND JEFFREY SWIGER AND HETTIE SWIGER
St. Tammany Parish Water Works District No. 3, Jeffrey Swiger and Hettie Swiger, applying for supervisory writs, 22nd Judicial District Court, Parish of St. Tammany, No. 202014837.
BEFORE: McCLENDON, WELCH, THERIOT, PENZATO, AND LANIER, JJ.
WRIT GRANTED. The judgment of the district court signed on November 10, 2021, denying the motion for summary judgment filed by the defendants, St. Tammany Parish Water Works District No. 3, Jeffrey Swiger, and Hettie Swiger, is reversed. Under La. Civ. Code art. 2317.1, the plaintiff, Bonnie Guidry, failed to produce evidence sufficient to establish the existence of a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the alleged condition was open and obvious to all, thus, it did not present an unreasonable risk of harm, which is an essential element of her claim. See Broussard v. State ex rel. Office of State Buildings, 2012-1238 (La. 4/5/13), 113 So.3d 175, 184. Therefore, the motion for summary judgment filed by the defendants is granted, and the plaintiff's claims are dismissed.
PMc
MRT
AHP
WIL
Welch, J., dissents and would deny the writ. The credibility of a witness is a question of fact which the district court cannot determine on a motion for summary judgment, and the district court must assume that all affiants are credible. See Hutchinson v. Knights of Columbus, Council No. 5747, 2003-1533 (La. 2/20/04), 866 So.2d 228, 234. I find that the affidavit of Dennis Howard submitted by the plaintiff created a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the alleged condition was open and obvious to all.