Premises Liability Cases: Know The Evidentiary Issues

April 22, 2019

Recently, in Melendez v. Spin Cycle Laundromat, LLC, 188 Conn. App. 807 (2019), the Connecticut Appellate Court affirmed a trial court's decision to deny a plaintiff's motion to set aside a jury verdict rendered in favor of a laundromat defendant in a premises liability case.

Harford, Conn. (April 22, 2019) - Recently, in Melendez v. Spin Cycle Laundromat, LLC, 188 Conn. App. 807 (2019), the Connecticut Appellate Court affirmed a trial court's decision to deny a plaintiff's motion to set aside a jury verdict rendered in favor of a laundromat defendant in a premises liability case.

The Underlying Case

Plaintiff Zaida Melendez's claims arose from an incident that occurred while she was folding laundry at the defendant’s laundromat. As Melendez was picking up clothes from a table at the laundromat, the table fell on her foot, resulting in a broken toe. Melendez alleged that the defendant was responsible for her injuries due to its negligence and carelessness. More specifically, Melendez claimed, that the defendant knew or should have known that the table legs were loose and/or broken and likely to fall, and/or that the condition existed for such a period of time that Defendant had actual or constructive notice of the dangerous condition of the table.

At trial, evidence was submitted by the defendant that there were no prior similar incidents of tables falling or collapsing at the subject laundromat. Also, and in an attempt to minimize Melendez’s claimed damages, the defendant submitted evidence that Melendez had been out of work for nine years before her toe injury. Ultimately, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the defendant.

In her motion to set aside the verdict, Melendez argued that it was improper for the court to allow the defendant to introduce evidence that the tables at the laundromat had not previously collapsed. Specifically, and over Melendez’s objection, employees of the defendant testified that the tables had never collapsed at the laundromat before Melendez’s subject incident and that there had been no issues with the tables after the incident.

In her motion to set aside, Melendez argued that the evidence regarding the tables was inadmissible on the basis that they were not in substantially the same condition as when the subject table collapsed on Melendez, a standard for the admissibility of similar evidence which was established in Zheutlin v. Sperry & Hutchinson Co., 149 Conn. 364 (1962). As a result, Melendez argued that the evidence was inadmissible and prejudicial. The defendant, however, countered that although the tables were not in the exact same condition as they were when purchased eleven years ago, the evidence supported that although the tables required maintenance, the tables remained in the same locations at the laundromat. Based on this evidence, the defendant argued that the tables were in substantially the same condition; therefore, evidence that the tables had not previously collapsed was admissible and important in proving the issue of notice.

Further, Melendez argued that the court improperly allowed the defendant to admit evidence that Melendez was out of work on disability for nine years before the subject incident. Melendez argued that the evidence was not relevant and specifically prejudiced Melendez due to the stigma attached to people who collect disability benefits. The defendant argued that the evidence was directly relevant to Melendez’ alleged damages, since she testified that she was able to perform all of her daily activities prior to the laundromat incident. The defendant further argued that the evidence regarding her disability was admitted for the purpose of impeaching Melendez, who testified that she did not have any significant health problems before her toe injury.

Trial Court Decision & Appeal

The trial court agreed with the defendant. In denying Melendez's motion to set aside, the judge opined that the issue regarding the defendant's prior experience with the safety of the tables was directly relevant to the issue of liability. The trial court judge further agreed with the defendant regarding the admissibility of the Melendez’s work history and the fact that she was on disability at the time of the subject incident. The judge opined that Melendez’s work history was relevant regarding the issue of damages.

Melendez primarily appealed on the same grounds raised in the motion to set aside, arguing that the evidence regarding the prior condition of the tables and the evidence regarding Melendez’s disability should not have been admitted at trial. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's decision, adopting the court's reasoning that the evidence being challenged by Melendez was relevant to the issues of liability and damages.

Impact

This case highlights the fundamental importance for any defendant business to be able to demonstrate the lack of prior similar issues or problems as evidence to support lack of notice of a defective condition in premises liability case. Keeping track of all complaints and incidents remains crucial to being able to prove lack of prior notice.

The court's ruling regarding the admissibility of Melendez’s work history also provides guidance as to what the court will allow a defendant to introduce to dispute the nature and extent of claimed injuries. In the instance case, and although Melendez was not claiming lost wages or that the incident caused her to not be able to work, the court still held that her work history was relevant to the issue of the extent of her claimed damages. Accordingly, defendant businesses should fully discover a claimant’s work history as a whole and determine what can be used to defend claims, including but not limited to impact on daily activity.

Author:

Christy Centeno, Partner

Editor:

Joelle Nelson, Partner