Summary
granting summary judgment to Defendant because there was no actual or constructive notice of the grape on the floor
Summary of this case from Lucas v. Sysco Columbia LLCOpinion
24241
Heard March 21, 1995
Decided May 1, 1995
Appeal from Circuit Court, Pickens County, Henry Floyd, Judge.
Douglas F. Patrick and Stephen R. H. Lewis, Greenville, for appellant. David L. Moore, Jr., of Love, Thornton, Arnold Thomason, Greenville, for respondent. Dana C. Mitchell, III and Keith C. McCook, both of Mitchell, Bouton, Yokel McCall, Greenville, for amicus curiae S.C. Retail Merchants.
Patricia A. Simmons (Simmons) appeals Circuit Court's grant of Summary Judgment to Respondent (Winn-Dixie) in her action alleging Winn-Dixie's negligent maintenance of its grocery store.
FACTS
Simmons sustained injuries after slipping and falling on a grape in the check-out area of Winn-Dixie's grocery store. Winn-Dixie markets its grapes by two methods: (1) the grapes are pre-packaged, or (2) the grapes are displayed openly, allowing customers to hand-select and place the grapes in plastic bags. The record failed to establish (1) which method of marketing was used on the day of the accident, (2) what caused the grape in question to be on the floor, (3) whether any employee was aware of the grape, or (4) how long the grape had been on the floor prior to the accident.
Circuit Court relied upon the long-established standard for premises liability and granted Summary Judgment, holding that Winn-Dixie lacked actual or constructive notice that the grape was on its floor.
ISSUE
Was Circuit Court correct in applying the precedent standard for premises liability?
DISCUSSION
Simmons does not challenge the rule established long ago by this Court that one seeking recovery for injuries sustained in a fall caused by a foreign substance on a storekeeper's floor must establish that the storekeeper had actual or constructive notice that the substance was on the floor. Rather, she contends that Winn-Dixie, on the strength of slip and fall incidents involving grapes in many of its retail stores, creates a question of liability based upon an inherently dangerous condition and foreseeable risk of harm.
Wimberly v. Winn-Dixie Greenville, Inc., 252 S.C. 117, 165 S.E.2d 627 (1969); Anderson Memorial Hospital, Inc. v. Hagen, 313 S.C. 497, 443 S.E.2d 399 (Ct.App. 1994).
We decline to expand the established standard requiring notice, either actual or constructive, by a store owner in slip and fall cases.
From the record here it is clear that Simmons has failed to present any evidence establishing a genuine issue of fact for trial.
Affirmed.
FINNEY, C.J., and TOAL, MOORE and WALLER, JJ., concur.