New v. Kohl's Department Stores, Inc.
Filing
124
OPINION & ORDER granting in part and denying in part Defendant's 81 Amended Motion for Summary Judgment. The Court GRANTS the motion as to Plaintiff's arguments about a Kohl's cart but DENIES the motion as to Plaintiff's argument about a non-Kohl's cart and Plaintiff's claim for negligence. Signed by Judge Michael L. Brown on 3/30/21. (bjh) Modified on 3/30/2021 (bgt).
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
ATLANTA DIVISION
Dorothy Linda New,
Plaintiff,
Case No. 1:18-cv-2529-MLB
v.
Kohl’s Department Stores, Inc.,
Defendant.
________________________________/
OPINION & ORDER
Defendant Kohl’s Department Stores, Inc. (“Kohl’s”) moves for
summary judgment on Plaintiff Dorothy Linda New’s claims for damages
related to a trip-and-fall at one of its stores.1 (Dkt. 81.) The Court grants
that motion in part and denies it in part.
The Court acknowledges that Defendant states “Plaintiff’s claims fail
as a matter of law.” (Dkts. 81 at 1; 81-2 at 1 (emphasis added).) Plaintiff
asserts claims for negligence and premises liability. (Dkt. 1-1 at 5–7.)
But Defendant only addresses Plaintiff’s claim for premises liability.
Because it does not appear that Defendant addresses Plaintiff’s claim for
negligence, except in relation to her claim for premises liability, the Court
denies Defendant’s motion for summary judgment as to Plaintiff’s claim
for negligence. If Defendant believes it addressed Plaintiff’s claim for
negligence, it should inform the Court.
1
I.
Background2
On February 21, 2017, Plaintiff was shopping at the Kohl’s store in
Acworth, Georgia when she fell. (Dkt. 1-1 ¶¶ 2, 7.) She says she was
using a shopping cart that had a canvas (not mesh) bag with a black jigjag/zig-zag design on it. (Dkt. 38 at 32:25–36:1, 39:1–5.) It was different
from all the other shopping carts at the store. (Id.) Plaintiff had no
problems or issues with the cart she was using at first. (Id. at 37:5–18;
51:1–4.)
After shopping for five to seven minutes and placing some
slippers into the canvas bag, she took an orange candle from a display
shelf and began placing it in the cart. (Id. at 51:17–25, 52:1–3, 52:13–15,
53:1–24.) She realized that, if she dropped the candle in the canvas bag,
the candle would hit the floor. (Id.) She thus returned the candle to the
display rack. (Id.)
Plaintiff stood on the right side of the cart. (Id. at 57:12–58:24.)
Rather than walking around the cart to get to the handle, she reached
across the cart and tried to spin it around. (Id. at 59:7–61:23, 62:3–13.)
She placed her left hand on the center of the handle (which is on the back
The page numbers on deposition transcripts do not match the page
numbers applied by the CM/ECF system. The Court cites to the CM/ECF
page numbers for the transcripts.
2
2
of the cart) and her right hand on the side of the cart. (Id.) When Plaintiff
placed her right hand on the right side of the frame to turn the cart
around, she fell. (Id. at 67:14–68:25.) Plaintiff does not recall if either of
her feet were under the cart before she fell. (Id. at 68:15–23.) She
explained that she “put [her] left hand on the handle and . . . put [her]
right hand on the side of the buggy. And within two seconds something
happened to the right side of that buggy. And all [she] could think was
‘oh, no’ and [she] went down . . . it was a two second thing.” (Id. at 52:7–
11.) She testified that she believes something on the frame of the cart
broke as she placed force on it with her right hand. She said she knows
something “gave under the fabric” bag. (Id. at 70:8–10.) “[E]ither a joint
or it was already broken and [she] couldn’t tell . . . . [She doesn’t] know
what it was, but something gave because . . . the buggy gave.” (Id. at
70:13–20.) She reiterated that she believes the cart broke because she
“felt [the frame] move in [her] hand.” (Id.)
Christina Logan was the first Kohl’s associate to arrive at the scene.
(Dkt. 81-4 ¶ 4.) When she saw Plaintiff on the ground, she called for the
manager on duty, Chan Miller-Scelsa, who came to the scene and (later)
completed an incident report.
(Id.; Dkt. 81-5 at 15:1–13.)
3
Patricia
Donaldson also came to the scene shortly thereafter. (Dkt. 81-6 ¶ 5.) Ms.
Donaldson took a photograph of the cart that Mr. Miller-Scelsa said
Plaintiff had been using before she fell. (Id.; Dkt. 81-5 at 13:8–14:18.)
Ms. Donaldson inspected the cart, confirmed nothing was broken,
damaged, or out of place, and placed it back in circulation with other
Kohl’s carts. (Dkt. 81-6 ¶ 6.) As explained below, the cart Ms. Donaldson
photographed, inspected, and placed back into circulation was the
standard black Kohl’s shopping cart and looked nothing like the cart
Plaintiff described. (Dkts. 38 at 107:11–18; 81-8 at 5.)
The sole provider of shopping carts to Kohl’s between 2001 and 2004
was All Tool Manufacturing (“All Tool”). (Dkt. 81-8 ¶ 3.) Gary Ebling
was in charge of the Kohl’s account for All Tool. (Id.) Mr. Ebling is now
the owner and Chief Executive Officer of Retail Design Services (“RDS”).
(Id. ¶ 2.) RDS has been the sole provider of carts to Kohl’s since 2004.
(Id.)
II.
Standard of Review
Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that a court
“shall grant summary judgment if the movant shows that there is no
genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to
4
judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). A fact is material if
it “might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law.” W. Grp.
Nurseries, Inc. v. Ergas, 167 F.3d 1354, 1360 (11th Cir. 1999) (citing
Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986)). A factual
dispute is genuine “if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could
return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Id. at 1361 (citing Anderson,
477 U.S. at 248).
The party moving for summary judgment bears the initial burden
of showing a court, by reference to materials in the record, that there is
no genuine dispute as to any material fact. Hickson Corp. v. N. Crossarm
Co., 357 F.3d 1256, 1260 (11th Cir. 2004). The nonmoving party then has
the burden of showing that summary judgment is improper by coming
forward with “specific facts” showing a genuine dispute. Matsushita Elec.
Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587 (1986) (citing Fed. R.
Civ. P. 56(e)). Ultimately, there is no “genuine issue for trial” when “the
record taken as a whole could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for
the non-moving party.” Id. “[T]he mere existence of some alleged factual
dispute between the parties will not defeat an otherwise properly
5
supported motion for summary judgment; the requirement is that there
be no genuine issue of material fact.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 247–48.
Throughout its analysis, the Court must “resolve all reasonable
doubts about the facts in favor of the non-movant[] and draw all
justifiable inferences in his or her favor.” Fitzpatrick v. City of Atlanta,
2 F.3d 1112, 1115 (11th Cir. 1993) (citing United States v. Four Parcels
of Real Prop., 941 F.2d 1428, 1437 (11th Cir. 1991) (en banc)). “It is not
the court’s role to weigh conflicting evidence or to make credibility
determinations; the non-movant’s evidence is to be accepted for purposes
of summary judgment.” Mize v. Jefferson City Bd. of Educ., 93 F.3d 739,
742 (11th Cir. 1996).
III. Discussion
“To recover on a theory of premises liability, a plaintiff must show
injury caused by a hazard on an owner or occupier of land’s premises or
approaches that the owner or occupier should have removed in the
exercise of ordinary care for the safety of the invited public.” Am. MultiCinema, Inc. v. Brown, 679 S.E.2d 25, 27 (Ga. 2009). When a premises
liability cause of action is based on a “trip and fall” claim, this test is
refined to two specific elements. Id. at 27–28. The plaintiff must “prove
6
that: (1) the defendant had actual or constructive knowledge of the
hazard; and (2) the plaintiff, despite exercising ordinary care for his or
her own personal safety, lacked knowledge of the hazard due to the
defendant’s actions or to conditions under the defendant’s control.”3 Id.
at 28.
A.
Hazardous Condition and Knowledge
“Whether a hazardous condition exists is the threshold question in
a slip and fall case.” Drew v. Istar Fin., Inc., 661 S.E.2d 686, 689 (Ga. Ct.
App. 2008). “Under Georgia law, a ‘hazard is defined as a danger or risk
lurking in a situation which by chance or fortuity develops into an active
agency of harm.’ ” Carter v. Wal-Mart Stores E., L.P., No. 1:13-CV-1467,
2014 WL 11930619, at *2 (N.D. Ga. June 26, 2014) (quoting Gresham
v. Bell’s Food Mkt., Inc., 534 S.E.2d 537, 537 (Ga. Ct. App. 2000)). But
“[m]erely stating that a condition is dangerous does not constitute
evidence it is so.” Ford v. Bank of Am. Corp., 627 S.E.2d 376, 378 (Ga.
Ct. App. 2006).
“And although [a plaintiff] suffer[s] an unfortunate
injury, the occurrence of her injury, without more, does not itself show
“The true ground of liability is the owner or occupier’s superior
knowledge of the hazard and the danger therefrom.” McCoy v. W. Bldg.
Materials of Ga., Inc., 502 S.E.2d 559, 561 (Ga. Ct. App. 1998).
3
7
the existence of a hazardous condition or instrumentality.” Aubain-Gray
v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., 747 S.E.2d 684, 686 (Ga. Ct. App. 2013). In
other words, “[p]roof of a fall, without more, does not create liability on
the part of a proprietor or landowner[, because] [i]t is common knowledge
that people fall on the best of sidewalks and floors.” Flagstar Enters. v.
Burch, 600 S.E.2d 834, 835 (Ga. Ct. App. 2004) (internal citation and
quotation marks omitted); see also Henson v. Ga.-Pac. Corp., 658 S.E.2d
391, 394 (Ga. Ct. App. 2008) (“It is not sufficient to simply show that an
unfortunate event occurred and the plaintiff was injured.”); Dixon
v. Infinity Broad. E., 656 S.E.2d 211, 213 (Ga. Ct. App. 2007) (“The mere
showing of the occurrence of an injury does not create a presumption of
negligence.”). “The true basis of a proprietor’s liability for personal injury
to an invitee is the proprietor’s superior knowledge of a condition that
may expose the invitees to an unreasonable risk of harm.” Christensen
v. Overseas Partners Cap., 549 S.E.2d 784, 785–86 (Ga. Ct. App. 2001)
(citations, punctuation, and footnote omitted).
“Where the plaintiff cannot show the existence of a hazardous
condition, she cannot prove the cause of her injuries and there can be no
recovery because an essential element of negligence cannot be proven.”
8
Glynn-Brunswick Mem. Hosp. Auth. v. Benton, 693 S.E.2d 566, 307 (Ga.
Ct. App. 2010) (internal quotation marks omitted). To create a question
of fact as to the existence of a hazardous condition, a “plaintiff cannot rely
upon speculation.” Flagstar Enters., 600 S.E.2d at 836. “Guesses or
speculation which raise merely a conjecture or possibility [of a hazardous
condition] are not sufficient to create even an inference of fact for
consideration on summary judgment.” Brown v. Amerson, 469 S.E.2d
723, 725 (Ga. Ct. App. 1996) (citation omitted).
Plaintiff claims the cart she was using created a hazardous
condition. (Dkt. 89 at 2.) Of course, there is a dispute over which cart
Plaintiff was actually using when she fell.
Plaintiff’s deposition
testimony suggests she was not using a Kohl’s cart. She testified her cart
was a “mostly” beige cart with a canvas bag and a black jig-jag/zig-zag
design, whereas Kohl’s carts are almost entirely black, include a mesh
bag, and have the name “Kohl’s” in white lettering. (Compare Dkt. 38 at
31:2–32:8, 38:1–15 with Dkts. 81-1 ¶¶ 41, 53–55; 81-6 at 7.)
Defendant says the evidence shows Plaintiff was likely using one of
their standard carts, specifically the cart Ms. Donaldson photographed.
Defendant notes that, during her deposition, Plaintiff testified that she
9
picked out a pair of bedroom slippers and put them in the cart. (Dkt. 38
at 44–45.) She also testified that she took an orange candle from a
display but realized she could not put it in the cart, so she put it back on
the display. (Id. at 51.) The cart Ms. Donaldson photographed (which
Mr. Miller-Scelsa said Plaintiff had been using before she fell) contained
bedroom slippers and a candle. (Dkts. 81-6 at 3–4, 7; 81-5 at 13:8–14:18.)
They are visible in the photograph. (Dkt. 81-6 at 7.) But, when Plaintiff
saw the photograph during her deposition, she testified that was not the
cart she had been using, was nothing like the cart she was using at the
time of the incident, was not even close to the cart she was using at the
time of the incident, and the slippers in the cart in the photograph were
not the slippers she put in the cart she was using. (Dkt. 38 at 106–07.)
She also noted that her cart was smaller than the black mesh cart
depicted in Ms. Donaldson’s photograph.
(Dkts. 38 at 108:6–8; 81-6
¶¶ 4,7; 81-4 ¶ 8; 81-7 ¶¶ 3, 4; 81-8 ¶¶ 4, 5.) Plaintiff testified that she
grabbed the cart from the front of the store. (Dkt. 38 at 31:4–12, 32:2–7.)
From Plaintiff’s testimony, a jury could conclude there was a
non-Kohl’s cart in the store and that she grabbed it when she began
shopping.
On the other hand, a jury could also conclude she was
10
mistaken and was using the standard Kohl’s cart. Plaintiff is not so clear
anymore as to what she says happened. Her opposition to summary
judgment seems to move away from her definitive deposition statements
by arguing throughout her brief that she was using the typical Kohl’s
“single bag cart” and that “the Kohl’s single bag cart . . . caused her to
fall.” (Dkt. 89 at 3.) She refers to it as the “Kohl’s shopping cart”
throughout her response to summary judgment, discusses Kohl’s efforts
to design its standard cart, argues Kohl’s involvement in that design
provided it knowledge of a hazard that caused Plaintiff’s fall, and refers
to Kohl’s single-bag cart as unique in the industry. (Id. at 6, 7, 12.)
Plaintiff clearly took the position at summary judgment (at least in part)
that—despite her deposition testimony—she was using a standard Kohl’s
cart at the time she fell.4 She even referred to the differences between
the cart she described and the standard Kohl’s cart as only “cosmetic.”
(Id. at 24.) Whether Plaintiff completely abandoned her claim that she
was using a non-Kohl’s cart that someone put at the front of the store is
At another point in her briefing, Plaintiff says she was using a cart
“supplied by Kohl’s for customer use,” (Dkt. 89 at 3), which may have
been an attempt to hedge away from saying whether she believes she was
using a non-Kohl’s cart left in the Kohl’s store or a Kohl’s standard cart.
4
11
unclear.
(Dkt. 90 ¶¶ 39–41 (noting Plaintiff described using a cart
different from the standard Kohl’s cart).)
That Plaintiff seems to hedge on the key issue of whether she was
using a Kohl’s cart or a non-Kohl’s cart that was in the store makes
assessment of summary judgment more difficult. Having considered both
possibilities, the Court grants in part and denies in part Defendant’s
motion for summary judgment. While there is a dispute as to Defendant’s
constructive knowledge of some break in the non-Kohl’s cart, a
reasonable jury could not hold Defendant liable on Plaintiff’s argument
about the Kohl’s single-bag cart.
1.
The Non-Kohl’s Cart
As explained above, Plaintiff has presented testimony (mostly her
own deposition) from which a jury could conclude she was using a
non-Kohl’s cart. She has also presented evidence from which a jury could
conclude such a cart had a broken frame—that is, a hazardous
condition—and that the break caused Plaintiff to fall.5
Again, she
The Court believes Plaintiff may have abandoned her claim that she
was injured while using a non-Kohl’s cart that had some physical
damage. In Plaintiff’s response to Defendant’s motion for summary
judgment, she contends that she has
5
12
provided this evidence in her deposition testimony, testifying that
something in the frame broke (or was already broken) when she placed
her right hand on the frame and that the downward flex caused her to
fall. (Id. at 70–71.)6 To make it to a jury, however, Plaintiff must also
present evidence from which a jury could conclude Kohl’s was aware of
clarified on multiple occasions that her references to a ‘joint’
that ‘gave way’ or ‘broke’ were simply her effort to
characterize the sensation she felt of the top edge of the cart
giving way when ‘it went down’ under pressure from her right
hand, since she could not actually see what was under her
hand inside the fabric pocket that covered the metal rim
hanger for the merchandise bag.
(Dkt. 89 at 6.) Plaintiff’s failure to address the argument about a broken
non-Kohl’s cart may constitute a waiver of that argument. See Files
v. DeKalb Cnty. Sch. Dist., No. 1:11-cv-1798, 2012 WL 716055, at *5 (N.D.
Ga. Mar. 5, 2012) (holding that the failure to respond to arguments on a
particular claim constitutes abandonment of that claim); Burnette
v. Northside Hosp., 342 F. Supp. 2d 1128, 1140 (N.D. Ga. 2004) (“Failure
to respond to the opposing party’s summary judgment arguments
regarding a claim constitutes an abandonment of that claim and
warrants the entry of summary judgment for the opposing party.”)
Because the Court cannot determine whether Plaintiff abandoned this
argument, the Court will err on the side of caution and evaluate it.
6 Defendant argues that there is no evidence of a defect with the beige
non-Kohl’s cart because Kohl’s has never had any such cart in its stores.
(Dkt. 104 at 5; see generally Dkt. 38.) But that ignores Plaintiff’s
testimony that (1) she was using a beige cart that she found at the front
of the store and (2) the cart had some problem on the frame that caused
her to fall. Defendant also argues that nothing is known about the beige
cart, but that is the cart Plaintiff discussed during her deposition. (See
generally Dkt. 38.)
13
such problem with a non-Kohl’s cart. See Yasinsac v. Colonial Oil Props.,
541 S.E.2d 109, 110 (Ga. Ct. App. 2000) (finding that a plaintiff must
show that the defendant had actual or constructive knowledge of a
hazard to survive summary judgment). Plaintiff can satisfy this burden
by presenting evidence of Kohl’s actual or constructive knowledge. Id.;
see also Carter, 2014 WL 11930619, at *4 (“Even assuming a plaintiff did
not know of a hazard, a defendant is still entitled to summary judgment
if the plaintiff cannot also demonstrate that the defendant had actual or
constructive knowledge of the hazard.” (internal quotation omitted)).
Actual knowledge is defined as “[d]irect and clear knowledge.”
Knowledge, Black’s Law Dictionary (11th ed. 2019). Plaintiff provides no
evidence Defendant had actual knowledge of a non-Kohl’s cart, let alone
some hazardous condition with such a cart.
Constructive knowledge is “[k]nowledge that one using reasonable
care or diligence should have, and therefore that is attributed by law to
a given person.” Id.
Constructive knowledge of a hazard may be established by
“showing that an employee of the defendant was present in
the immediate area and could easily have seen the [hazard]
and removed it[,]” or by showing that the hazard was on the
premises “for such a time that it would have been discovered
14
and removed had the proprietor exercised reasonable care in
inspecting the premises.”
Escobar v. Meadows & Ohly, LLC, 819 S.E.2d 301, 303 (Ga. Ct. App.
2018) (quoting Roberson v. Winn-Dixie Atlanta, Inc., 544 S.E.2d 494, 495
(Ga. Ct. App. 2001)).
Plaintiff presented no evidence any Kohl’s employee was in the
vicinity of the non-Kohl’s cart. Indeed, she does not dispute Defendant’s
evidence that no Kohl’s employee was aware of a non-Kohl’s cart in the
store. Moreover, Plaintiff testified that the alleged hazardous condition
on the non-Kohl’s cart (that is, some break in the frame) was covered up
by the canvas bag, meaning it was not visible. Indeed, Plaintiff was not
even aware of the condition while using the cart for five to seven minutes
before placing her hand on the right side of the frame and attempting to
turn the cart. Plaintiff has thus presented no evidence from which a jury
could conclude that a Kohl’s employee “was present in the immediate
area and could easily have seen the [hazard] and removed it.” Id. She
cannot move forward under the first method of establishing constructive
knowledge.
The second method requires Plaintiff to present evidence the
“hazard was on the premises for such a time that it would have been
15
discovered and removed had the proprietor exercised reasonable care in
inspecting the premises.” Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). Under
this method, constructive knowledge may be inferred from evidence an
owner lacked a “reasonable inspection procedure.” Shepard v. Winn Dixie
Stores, Inc., 527 S.E.2d 36, 38 (Ga. Ct. App. 1999).
Nevertheless, under
Georgia law, “[i]t is well settled that a proprietor is under no duty to
patrol the premises continuously in the absence of facts showing that the
premises are unusually dangerous.” Mazur v. Food Giant, Inc., 359
S.E.2d 178, 179 (Ga. Ct. App. 1987).
“To survive summary judgment under the second method of proving
constructive knowledge, a plaintiff must prove the period of time that the
hazardous condition existed.” Brown v. Publix Super Mkts., Inc., 626 F.
App’x 793, 796 (11th Cir. 2015). “Without such (proof) it would not be
possible to determine whether the defendant had been afforded a
reasonable time within which to inspect and remove the hazard.” Ginn
v. Grothere, 469 S.E.2d 876, 878 (Ga. Ct. App. 1996) (internal quotation
marks omitted).
In other words, the length of time the hazardous
condition existed sheds some light on whether the owner’s inspection
procedure was “reasonable.” But a plaintiff is not required to show how
16
long the hazard existed unless the owner first shows that it had
inspection procedures in place at the time of the accident and followed
those procedures. Shepard, 527 S.E.2d at 38. Only then can someone
(typically a jury) determine whether the owner of the location should
have discovered the hazard through the use of ordinary diligence. So, to
prevail at summary judgment based on lack of constructive knowledge,
“the owner must demonstrate not only that it had a reasonable inspection
program in place, but that such program was actually carried out at the
time of the incident.” Id. (reversing summary judgment for premises
owner when owner failed to present evidence employees followed
inspection procedures on day of slip-and-fall incident).
Plaintiff has presented no evidence as to how long the allegedly
hazardous, non-Kohl’s cart was in the store. Plaintiff testified that, when
she walked into the store, it was sitting near the black Kohl’s carts and
she just grabbed it.
(Dkt. 38 at 31:4–32:19.)
But Defendant also
presented no evidence that it carried out a reasonable inspection program
on the day of the injury. Ms. Donaldson testified that all of the carts at
the Acworth store are inspected every time an associate touches the cart
as they are looking inside the cart, moving the cart, and making sure it
17
is in good working order. (Dkt. 91-1 at 52–53, 89–90, 109–10.) She
explained that Kohl’s associates and managers are looking at the carts
all day long and managers are reaching in to obtain merchandise, trash,
and debris. (Id. at 89.) “All associates are responsible for inspecting the
carts . . . every time [they] touch [them].” (Id. at 52.) Although there is
no formal cart-specific training, there is a culture to make sure carts are
in good repair every time they are touched by an employee. (Id. at 53.)
She testified that “there is a natural culture.” (Id. at 90.) There are no
documents of inspections, but because customers leave carts throughout
the store, employees touch and look at carts all the time. (Id.) Ms.
Donaldson’s testimony shows Defendant had reasonable inspection
procedures. Defendant, however, has presented no evidence to suggest
inspections were carried out on the day of the incident. This was the
same flaw at issue in Shepard. Following that case, the Court concludes
Plaintiff has raised an issue of material fact as to Defendant’s
constructive knowledge of some break in the non-Kohl’s cart. The Court
thus denies Defendant’s motion for summary judgment as to Plaintiff’s
arguments based on a non-Kohl’s cart.
18
2.
The Kohl’s Cart
As explained above, Plaintiff also argues in response to summary
judgment that the Kohl’s cart Defendant claims she was using created a
hazardous condition, specifically downward flexibility or deflection in the
frame. (Dkt. 89 at 8.) She argues this deflection caused her to fall.7
Plaintiff has not, however, presented evidence from which a jury could
conclude Defendant had actual or constructive knowledge of any hazard
in the Kohl’s cart from downward flexibility in the frame.8 Plaintiff
contends that Defendant had superior knowledge for four reasons:
(1) Kohl’s participated in the design of the single bag cart; (2) Kohl’s had
Plaintiff does not claim the Kohl’s cart had a broken frame. She made
that allegation in her deposition in regard to the non-Kohl’s cart. At
summary judgment while discussing the Kohl’s cart, she says her
reference to a joint breaking was simply her attempt to characterize the
sensation she felt when the cart moved downward unexpectedly. (Dkts.
38 at 70–71; 89 at 6.) Ms. Donaldson inspected the Kohl’s cart she
believed Plaintiff was using and confirmed nothing was broken,
damaged, or otherwise out of place. (Dkt. 81-6 ¶ 6.) Defendant provided
no evidence to the contrary. The Court thus only considers her claim that
the Kohl’s cart posed a hazardous condition because of inherent flexibility
in its frame.
8 The alleged flexibility in the cart was not a temporary hazardous
condition that could have been seen by employees in the area or
discovered with ordinary diligence. If it existed, it was inherent to the
design and not visible to the eye. As a result, the Court does not apply
the test for constructive knowledge set forth in Escobar.
7
19
knowledge of prior incidents in which customers fell because of instability
in single bag carts when leaned upon; (3) Kohl’s had superior knowledge
to Plaintiff of the condition of all carts in the store; and (4) Kohl’s was
using a different cart design for several years that contained a warning
not to use it as a walking aid. (Dkt. 89 at 12–17.)
First, Plaintiff contends Defendant performed design work on the
single bag cart, setting the original design parameters that made the cart
what it is today. (Id. at 12.) She argues Defendant’s participation in this
iterative design process demonstrates it had knowledge of the design and
fabrication characteristics of the cart. (Id. at 14.) Plaintiff uses Mr.
Ebling’s testimony that the design process was “probably a collaborative
event” to support her contention.9 (Dkt. 94-1 at 55.) Plaintiff, however,
misses a step. Dialogue between RDS and Defendant does not mean
Defendant knew or should have known about the cart’s downward
Plaintiff makes other generalized statements to support her argument
that Defendant performed design work, but she either cites no evidence
or mischaracterizes the evidence she cites.
9
20
flexibility or any defect.10 Plaintiff provides no information to close this
gap.
Second, Plaintiff argues Defendant had knowledge of prior
incidents in which customers fell because of instability in the carts when
leaned upon. (Dkt. 89 at 16.) Between October 2009 and December 2016,
there were eighteen incidents reported to Kohl’s. (Id.) These customers
reported they fell when using the Kohl’s single bag carts. (Dkt. 69 at 6–
7.) Only one description included any indication that the cart “went
down.” (Id. at 7.) The Eleventh Circuit has instructed that evidence of
prior incidents is admissible “so long as the conditions of the prior
incidents are substantially similar to the occurrence in question and are
not too remote in time.” Wyatt v. Otis Elevator Co., 921 F.2d 1224, 1227
(11th Cir. 1991). This evidentiary doctrine applies when one party seeks
to admit prior accidents or occurrences involving the opposing party, in
order to show, for example, “notice, magnitude of the danger involved,
the [party’s] ability to correct a known defect, the lack of safety for
intended uses, strength of a product, the standard of care, and causation.”
Even if there was back and forth conversation, Mr. Ebling testified that
he did not recall exchanges about size of tubing, plastic versus metal, or
similar topics. (Dkt. 94-1 at 55.)
10
21
Jones v. Otis Elevator Co., 861 F.2d 655, 661 (11th Cir. 1988). “[T]he
proponent of such evidence must show that ‘conditions substantially
similar to the occurrence caused the prior accidents.’ ” Heath v. Suzuki
Motor Corp., 126 F.3d 1391, 1396 n.12 (11th Cir. 1997) (quoting Hessen
v. Jaguar Cars, 915 F.2d 641, 649 (11th Cir. 1990)). Plaintiff asserts all
of the prior incidents are substantially similar because someone leaned
on the cart, but only one incident description states the cart went down.11
There is no evidence showing any of the other incidents involved a
customer falling because of deflection.
Third, Plaintiff contends that taking Mr. Ebling’s and Ms.
Donaldson’s testimony together, the evidence supports an inference that
the specific cart Plaintiff was using when she fell had been through
multiple cart counts and safety inspections over seven years. (Dkt. 89 at
15.) Ms. Donaldson testified that the carts are inspected every time an
associate touches the cart. (Dkt. 91-1 at 52–53, 109–10.) Mr. Ebling
testified that Defendant replaced all the single bag carts at the Acworth
store in 2010. (Dkt. 94-1 at 107–08.) Plaintiff contends that the sheer
The Court notes that even that incident description does not suggest
the customer fell because of deflection while turning or pushing a cart in
a different direction.
11
22
passage of time and frequency of employee inspections of the store’s carts
gives rise to an inference Defendant had actual or constructive
knowledge of the flexibility of the rim of the cart. (Dkt. 89 at 15.) Plaintiff
points to no evidence Defendant had actual knowledge of the hazard.
Regardless of the passage of time or frequency of inspections, there is no
indication Defendant knew of the cart’s downward flexibility. Plaintiff
also has not shown that the mere passage of time and inspection
procedure is enough to establish constructive knowledge.
Between
October 2009 and December 2016, there was only one similar incident
with a single bag cart. The Court notes that the only indication it was
even similar is because the incident description states “it went down.”
(Dkt. 69 at 7.) That, of course, does not mean it involved flexibility in the
frame as alleged here. And, even if it did, one incident over eight years
does not establish constructive knowledge.12 Indeed, it seems to indicate
the opposite. It can be inferred from the absence of similar incidents that
there was no constructive knowledge.
The Court notes that this rate of incident seems to indicate the
downward flexibility may not even be a hazard.
12
23
Fourth, Plaintiff argues Defendant had knowledge that putting
weight on its carts is dangerous because it had a warning on a different,
more stable cart model that stated not to use it as a walking aid. (Dkt.
89 at 17.) She contends that the presence of this warning is evidence
from which a jury could infer Defendant was aware of the danger of injury
to a user who leans on its carts. (Id. at 19.) She claims Defendant knew
of the danger of an alternative use of shopping carts as a walking aid,
which is why it was required to give adequate warning of the danger. (Id.
(quoting Hunter v. Werner Co., 574 S.E.2d 426, 432 (Ga. Ct. App. 2002)).)
Plaintiff, however, never argued that she was using the cart as a walking
aid. She suggests this warning is the same as a warning to not put weight
on or lean on the cart, but there is nothing to support these statements.
Plaintiff was turning the cart when she fell. There is no indication she
would not have fallen while turning any other cart.
For the foregoing reasons, the Court concludes there is no evidence
from which a jury could reasonably conclude Defendant had actual or
constructive knowledge that its cart’s downward flexibility was a hazard.
Since Plaintiff bears the burden of coming forward with specific evidence
to show there is a genuine dispute of material fact as to Defendant’s
24
knowledge of the alleged hazard being superior to hers and she has failed
to do so, Defendant is entitled to summary judgment as to Plaintiff’s
argument about a Kohl’s cart being a hazard. See Sams v. Wal-Mart
Stores, Inc., 491 S.E.2d 517, 519 (Ga. Ct. App. 1997); Green v. Home Depot
U.S.A., Inc., 627 S.E.2d 836, 838 (Ga. Ct. App. 2006).
B.
Spoliation
Spoliation is the “destruction or significant alteration of evidence,
or the failure to preserve property for another’s use as evidence in
pending or reasonably foreseeable litigation.”
Graff v. Baja Marine
Corp., 310 F. App’x 298, 301 (11th Cir. 2009) (internal quotations and
citation omitted). As an evidentiary matter, the imposition of spoliation
sanctions is governed by federal law in diversity suits. Flury v. Daimler
Chrysler Corp., 427 F.3d 939, 944 (11th Cir. 2005). Federal law in the
Eleventh Circuit, however, does not set forth specific guidelines in
determining whether sanctions for spoliation are appropriate. Id. As a
result, the spoliation analysis is “informed by Georgia law,” which the
Eleventh Circuit has found to be “wholly consistent with federal
spoliation principles.” Id.
25
A party seeking to impose sanctions for spoliation must show:
(1) the missing evidence existed at one time; (2) the opposing party had a
duty to preserve the evidence; and (3) the evidence was crucial or
necessary to the litigation. In re Delta/AirTran Baggage Fee Antitrust
Litig., 770 F. Supp. 2d 1299, 1305 (N.D. Ga. 2011). If spoliation has
occurred, Georgia courts further evaluate the following five factors in
determining whether spoliation sanctions are warranted: (1) whether the
movant was prejudiced as a result of the destruction of evidence;
(2) whether any prejudice can be cured; (3) the importance of the
evidence; (4) whether the spoliator acted in good or bad faith; and (5) the
potential for abuse if expert testimony about the evidence is not excluded.
Flury, 427 F.3d at 945 (citing Chapman v. Auto Owners Ins. Co., 469
S.E.2d 783, 784 (Ga. Ct. App. 1996)). The Eleventh Circuit has held that
a showing of bad faith is required to impose sanctions. See, e.g., Bashir
v. Amtrak, 119 F.3d 929, 931 (11th Cir. 1997) (“[A]n adverse inference is
drawn from a party’s failure to preserve evidence only when the absence
of that evidence is predicated on bad faith.”); Tesoriero v. Carnival Corp.,
965 F.3d 1170, 1184 (11th Cir. 2020) (“[T]he party’s reason for destroying
evidence is what justifies sanctions (or a lack thereof).”).
26
As sanctions for spoliation, the court may impose any of the
following: (1) dismissal of the action, (2) exclusion of testimony, or (3) a
jury instruction on spoliation evidence that raises a presumption that the
evidence was non-favorable to the spoliator. Flury, 427 F.3d at 944. The
court may also award fees and costs incurred by the injured party as a
result of the spoliation. Swofford v. Eslinger, 671 F. Supp. 2d 1274, 1280
(M.D. Fla. 2009) (citing Flury, 427 F.3d at 945). When spoliation has
occurred, the district court has wide discretion to impose sanctions.
Flury, 427 F.3d at 944.
Plaintiff moved for spoliation sanctions on the grounds Defendant
did not preserve the specific cart Plaintiff was using when she fell and
destroyed the video surveillance footage. (Dkt. 93 at 23.) Plaintiff has
not met her burden of showing spoliation occurred, so the Court denies
Plaintiff’s request for sanctions.13
1.
Shopping Cart
Plaintiff argues that Defendant failed to preserve the cart “even
though it was immediately clear she had been injured and the cart was
The Court notes that Plaintiff makes no attempt to address the issue
of bad faith.
13
27
still nearby to identify and segregate.” (Id.) “An injury ‘without more, is
not notice that the injured party is contemplating litigation sufficient to
automatically trigger the rules of spoliation.’ ” Canales v. Pilot Travel
Ctrs., LLC, No. 7:19-CV-100, 2020 WL 8093583, at *10 (M.D. Ga. Nov.
30, 2020) (quoting Aubain-Gray, 747 S.E.2d. at 687). Defendant contends
that it had no duty to preserve the cart because it took a photo of the cart,
inspected it right after the incident, and then placed it back in circulation
as it was found to be in perfect working order.
(Dkt. 104 at 14.)
Defendant did not have notice of Plaintiff’s pending litigation until her
attorney sent a preservation letter seventeen days after Plaintiff’s fall.
(Dkt. 93-1.) This was seventeen days after Defendant had placed the cart
back in circulation. Plaintiff does not provide any evidence or argument
that shows Defendant received express notice of actual litigation before
her attorney’s letter.
2.
Surveillance Video
Plaintiff is also seeking spoliation sanctions for destruction of
Defendant’s surveillance video footage.
(Dkt. 93 at 23.)
Defendant
contends, and Plaintiff does not disagree, that the area where the
incident occurred is not captured by video. (Dkt. 95-1 at 60:13–16, 68:21–
28
69:7.) Plaintiff argues that “[e]ven camera angles away from the area of
the fall could have captured Ms. New using a shopping cart.” (Dkt. 93 at
23–24 (emphasis added).) Plaintiff, however, only speculates that, before
her lawyer sent the letter, there may have been video of herself in other
areas of the store. “Simply put, there is no evidence whatsoever of any
additional footage that existed, and Plaintiff's speculation is insufficient
to establish a spoliation claim.” Wright v. Wal-Mart Stores E., L.P., No.
1:18-CV-1006, 2021 WL 86836, at *7 (N.D. Ga. Jan. 11, 2021) (citing In
re Delta/AirTran, 770 F. Supp. 2d at 1309).
IV.
Conclusion
The Court GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART
Defendant’s Amended Motion for Summary Judgment (Dkt. 81). The
Court GRANTS the motion as to Plaintiff’s arguments about a Kohl’s
cart but DENIES the motion as to Plaintiff’s argument about a
non-Kohl’s cart and Plaintiff’s claim for negligence.
SO ORDERED this 30th day of March, 2021.
29
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?