Louisiana Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
Generally, when an accident occurs on a property that is the result of the property owner’s negligence, it is presumed that the property owner is liable for the person’s injury. However, when liability does not exist, a motion for summary judgment is a procedural device that the defendant in a lawsuit can use to dismiss the plaintiff’s claim. Under Louisiana law, a motion for summary judgment will be granted if the pleadings and discovery show there is no genuine issue of material fact and that the party seeking summary judgment is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See La. C.C.P. art. 966.
A trip-and-fall case offers an example of a defendant’s successful use of summary judgment. On October 11, 2007, James Dawson tripped and fell on the sidewalk near the entrance to Charity Hospital in New Orleans. He tripped on a crack in the sidewalk and suffered injuries as a result. Contending the State of Louisiana, as the owner of the hospital, was liable for failing to maintain the sidewalk, Dawson filed a lawsuit.
The State moved for a motion for summary judgment. In its motion, the State disputed Dawson’s allegation that it had authority over the sidewalk where his injuries occurred, arguing that without proof of authority, it could not be liable for Dawson’s injuries. See La. R.S. 9:2800. The State supported its motion with affidavits from Frederick L. Wetekamm, an engineer for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and Robert J. Arnould, a maintenance supervisor for Charity Hospital. Wetekamm explained that the State was only responsible for maintaining its right-of-way on Tulane Avenue which began two blocks beyond the hospital. Arnold stated that Charity Hospital maintenance staff conducted no activities affecting the condition of the sidewalk in front of the hospital.
Dawson filed an opposition memorandum to the State’s motion for summary judgment. He argued Wetekamm and Arnold’s affidavits lacked material evidence and relevance. Dawson referred to depositions of Wetekamm and Arnold, as well as photographs of the scene of the accident in support of his argument that he should be permitted to go to trial. The trial court granted the State’s motion for summary judgment and dismissed Dawson’s claim with prejudice. Dawson appealed the judgment.
On review, the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal noted that Dawson misunderstood the shifting burden of proof in the operation of summary judgment. To prevail, the State was not obligated to deny every element of Dawson’s claim or present witnesses with firsthand information; instead, the State only needed to show the absence of factual support for one element of Dawson’s claim. The State, through the affidavits of Wetekamm and Arnold, asserted that it did not have custody or authority over the hospital sidewalk. Thus, the burden then shifted to Dawson to produce evidence showing that the State did, in fact, have custody or authority over the sidewalk where his fall occurred. Dawson did not offer any evidence of the State’s authority, thereby failing to meet his burden of proof. Therefore, the Court affirmed the trial court’s judgment.
This case illustrates the importance of retaining an experienced attorney who understands the rules of trial procedure in Louisiana. James Dawson never had his day in court but was defeated by the State’s motion for summary judgment before the trial could even begin.
Additional Sources: DAWSON v. LOUISIANA
Written by Berniard Law Firm Blog Writer: Needum Lekia
Additional Berniard Law Firm Articles on Louisiana Summary Judgement: Louisiana First Circuit Highlights Burdens of Proof in Bringing or Opposing a Motion for Summary Judgment In Ascension Parish Lawsuit