Garcia v. Wal-Mart Stores Texas, LLC

Filing 41

ORDER granting 21 MOTION for Summary Judgment . (Signed by Judge Vanessa D Gilmore) Parties notified.(gclair, 4)

United States District Court
Southern District of Texas

ENTERED
I TH E UNI
N
TED STA TES DI
STRI COURT
CT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DI
STRI OF TEM S
CT
HOUSTON DI SI
VI ON

June 09, 2017
David J. Bradley, Clerk

LEONCI GA RCI
O
A,
Pl nt f ,
ai i f

CASE NO .4: CV- 4
16- 0051
W AL. ART STORES TEXAS LLC,
M
Def
endant
.

O R DER

Pendi bef et Cour i Dee
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u g n s e u rd o d ni pe ii vd n e n h e o d n o riult h r cs
f
m a r i w hi h t te de s
nne n
c ha vi nce uppors hi or he c ai , Ragas v Te s e G asPi i Co.
t s
r lm '
'
. nne s e
pelne ,

1 6 F.d 4 7 4 8 ( t Ci.1 9 ) Ba a o k v Ha t 4 6 F.d 1 2 1 9 ( t Ci.2 0 )
3 3 5 , 5 5 h r 9 8 ; r n ws i . r, 8 3 1 , 1 5 h r 0 7 .
Alhough t cour dr sa1 r
t
he
t aw 1 easonabl i er
e nf ences i t lghtm ostfavor e t t nonm ovi
n he i
abl o he
ng

pat Co sv Gr e 538F. 373,376( t Ci.2008 ,t no
ry, nnor . av s,
3d
5h r
) he mnova ' ' denwilno
nts t
bur
l t
be satsfed by s e m et
ii
om
aphysi doubtas t t m at i f s,by concl y alegatons,by
cal
o he
eral act
usor l i

uns t ntaed as e tons or b onl a s i il of e de e. Bou eau 402 F. a 540
ubsa i t
s ri ,
y
y cntla
vi nc '
' dr x,
3d t

( t i Lite,37 F. a 1 ) Si l l û uppore alegai orafdavi orde ii
qlotng tl
3d t 075 . miary, i
uns
td l tons fi t
poston
t i ony seti f t uli at or concl or f s and concl ons of l ar i uf i entt
estm
tng orh tm e
us y act
usi
aw e ns f ci o

d t t mo inf rs mmayj dg n . Clr v Am 'Fa o i Chc e ,1 0F.d2 5 2 7( h
eka a to o u r u me t' a k . s v rt ik n 1 3 9 , 9 5t
'
e
Ci. 9 7 .
r1 9 )
l d cdn a s mmay j d me tmo in te d src c u td e n tma e ce i ii
n e iig u r u g n to , h itit o r o s o k r dblt
y
d tr n to so weg e ie c . e r nPhli , 0 F. 6 , 2n. ( hCi. 0 9 . No
eemi ai n r ih vd n e Ch v o il 57 3d 06 61 3 5t r 2 0 ) r
ps
doe t c tS i tt ough t r c d i s a ch of e de t s
s he our t f hr
s
he e or n e r
vi nce o uppor a pa t s oppos to t
t
r y'
ii n o

s mmayj d me t' c s n v Ca - se nPa k gig Cop. 6 2F. 3 4,3 9 8 ( h Ci.
u r u g n . Ja k o . lWe tr c a n r , 0 3d 7 7 - 0 5t r
'
2 1 ) Ma a a av Ga b r 3 3F.d39 4 5 (t Ci. 0 3 ; g s 1 6F.d a 4 8 Nis o
0 0 ; l c r . r e , 5 3 3, 0 5 h r 2 0 ) Ra a , 3 3 t 5 ; sh I Amerc Cor v Klne 845 F. 1
wai
ian p. . i ,
2d 300,1 (t Ci.988)(ti notne sar tha t
307 5h r1
is
ce s y û t he
t
entr r d i t cas ..be sear
ie ecor n he e .
ched and f
ound ber tofa genui i ue ofm at alfactbef e
ef
ne ss
eri
or

s mmay j dg n ma be p o e l e trd'.Theeo e iwj e e ie c e it i te
u r u me t y
r p ry ne e '
)
rf r , ç h n vd n e x ss n h
g
s mmay j d e trc d b te n n v n fis e e t rfr t i i te r s o s t te
u r u pn n e or ut h o mo a t al v n o ee o t n h e p n e o h
mo inf rs mmayj d me t ta e ie ei n t r p ryb f r t edititc u t' l c r
to o u r u g n ,h t vd nc s o p o e l eo e h src o r. Ma a a a,
'
353 F. a 405.
3d t
111.

A.
Def
endant owed Pl ntf ,is i t a dut t exerci r
ai if t nviee,
y o
se easonabl car t pr ect hi
e e o ot
m

f o da
r m nger c tons i t s or t twer kno n orr as bl di c r bl buti nott
ous ondii n he t e ha
e w
e ona y s e na e,
s
he
ulinat i er of hi saf y. See W alM art St es,Inc. v G onzal 968 S. .2d 934, 936
tr e nsur
s et
or
.
ez,
W

( x.1 9 ) Un e Te a lw,Plit fmu ts o mo g oh rt ig ,ta Dee d n h d
Te 9 8 . d r x s a
ani
f s h w,a n te hn s h t f n a t a
a t lor c tuctve kno l dge of a c
c ua
ons r i
w e
ondii on t pr m i e . e K e c v K r ge Co. 845
ton
he e s s Se
et h . o r ,

S. .d 2 2,2 4 ( x.1 9 ) To prv s c k o e g ,Pli t f mus e tb ih ( )t e
W 2 6 6 Te 9 4 .
o e u h n wld e ani
f
t sa ls : 1 h
dee ntc usd t c ton;( t dee nta t ly kne oft c ton;o ( ti i
fnda a e he ondii 2) he fnda cual
w
he ondii r 3) ût s
m or lke y t n not t t c
e i l ha
hat he ondii e s ed l
ton xi t ong enough t gi t pr m i e ow ne a
o ve he e s s
r
r a ona e oppor uniy t di c r i.' W alM ar St e , I . v Sc cc 81 S. . 81 81
e s bl
t t o s ove t'
- t or s nc . c ,
W 3d 2, 4

( x20)
Te . 0 2 .
He e,Pl i if c nnot d ons r t t D e e
r
a ntf a
em ta e hat f ndantor a of is as oc a es a t ly kne
ny
t s i t c ua l
w

a o t a y p de o ce r l ud p ir t Plitf s icd n .(n tu n No 212 a 6
b u n ud l f la i i ro o an if n ie t Isr me t . - t ;
q
lsr me tNo. 3 1a 12 . Pli t fa mist a i i u ce rwh te te a t s rb rc u e
n tu n
3 - t - ) ani d t h t t s n la eh r h uo cu be a s d
f
te p de o ce r l ui. (n tu n No 2 a
h ud l f la i d Isr me t . 6 t
q

Furhe
t nnor , D ef nt s vi o
e
enda ' de

s ve la s s t t t pudd e of cl a lq d coul ha be c ea ed e t r by c t e s
ur il nce how ha he
l
e r i ui
d ve en r t ihe
us om r
who w al
ked diecty over t ar w her Pl ntf subs
r l
he ea
e ai if
equenty f l or by t M cD onal
l el
he
ds

e l e spuln ta hb n o e t es meae p i r oPlitf si ie t (n t me tNo. mpoy e lig rs i s v r h a r a ro t anif ncd n . I snl n
21

3 . P an ifs alg to ta t c n iin wa c e td b t e a t s r b e i meey a
) litf le ain h t he o d t
o
s r ae y h u o c u b r s rl
pos biiy,an i er
si lt
nf ence am ong m any ot equaly pl bl but opposie i erences. W hen
her
l ausi e,
t nf

c r um s anta e d e i c i t ntwih eihe oft o f ct ,a not ng s s t tone i m or
ic t i l vi enc s ons s e
t t r w a s nd hi how ha
s
e
p oba e t n t ot r neiher f ctca be i e r d. Fl k v Sc i o- r bl ha he he , t
a
n
nf r e
oc . rpt lokaiC or ,319 F.
p.
3d

2 1 2 7( t Ci. 0 3 .Ass c ,teei n e ie c ta Dee d n h d a t a k o e g o
3 , 3 5h r 2 0 )
u h h r s o v d n e h t f n a t a cu l n wld e f
t condii
he
ton.

Pl i if a t m pt t de ons r t consnz tve knowl dge w ih e de e of t pr m iy
a ntf te s o m t a e
t ci
e
t vi nc
he oxi t
ofD e e nt sas oci t t t a e w he e Pl i if s i de oc ur ed a alege vi a i of
f nda ' s a es o he r a
r a ntf nci nt c r nd l d ol tons

Dee d n ' itr a s ft p lce a dp o e u e . I sr me tNo. 2 a 1 - 2 . r , an i
fn a ts ne n l aey o iis n r c d rs (n tu n
3 t 1 1 ) Hee Plitf
f
sats t tprort t tm e oft ac i ent ot e oye a /orc r t s waked by a
t e ha i o he i
he c d , her mpl es nd
ontacor l
nd
near t acci
he
dent scene, but none l
ooked down t i pect t foor f w et s s or s ls.
o ns
he l
or
pot
pil

(n t n No 3 a 4 1 ) l a d t n, anifalg sta te e l y eo e ai gt ea t
I sr t . 2 t , 2 . n d ii Plitf l e h t h mp o e p rtn h uo
ume
o
e
scr
ubber di not check t foor f w et spot pror t l ng t ar nor pl any r ,
d
he l
or
s i o eavi he ea,
ace
opes
cones orw ar ng si i t ar Id at3 and 13. Furher or Pl ntf cont
ni
gns n he ea.
t m e, ai if
ends t ar
hat ound

or pror t t tm e of t i i nt none of t Def nda ' e pl es conduc ed r gul r
i o he i
he nc de ,
he
e nt s m oye
t e a

i pe tons(twee ' i c rve i ofDee n ' itr polce andpr edursma l
ns ci ds ps' n onta nton
)
fnda ts nenal iis
oc e nua.
1
d.

I Re e t Te SuprmeCou te
n ec, he xas e
r mphasz t tçg ihouts tmporle de e
ied ha çwlt
ome e a vi nc ,
t er i no ba i upon whi h t f cti
h e s
ss
c he a fnder c n r as bl as e s t o
a e ona y s s he pporuniy t e pr m i e
t t h e ss
owner ha t di c
d o s over t da r condii ' I at 81 The Re e d i i e e s y
he nge ous
ton.' d
6.
ec ec son xpr s l
di a ove ofa l i a e pl ee' pr m iy t a dange ous c
s ppr d
low ng n m oy s oxi t o
r
ondii t s
ton o how cons r tve
tuc i
notc I a 81 16. A n em pl e' pr m iy or a c ton' c pi uiy w oul ofen be
i e. d t 5oye s oxi t
ondii s ons c t
d t
i e e nt't t ana ys s of how l a condii c d e s be or a pr i es o ner s d
t l va ' o he l i
r
ong
ton oul xi t f e
em s w
houl

r s bl ha di c
ea ona y ve s over d i. d a 816. Pr m iy or c pi uiy on t i o n,ho eve ,a e
e tI t
oxi t
ons c t
he r w
w r r
i uf i e t s
ns fci nt o how c tuc i notce und Ree e I Folow i R e ce Te s cours ha
ons r tve i
er c . d.
l ng e , xa
t ve

g a tds mmayj d me t t n wh nt ep anifddn to frs fiin tmp r l vie c
r ne u r u g n moi s e h l it i o fe u fce t e o a e d n e
o
f
t e tbl h c n tu tv n t e Se Wa- tS o e ,I c v S ts 1 6 S. .d 5 6 ( x
o sa i o sr cie oi . e lMar t rs n . . pae, 8 W 3 6 Te .
s
c

2 0 ) Giepi v Kr g rTe a ,L. , 5 S. .d 5 9 ( x. p.2 3 ; n z v Fisa
0 6 , l s e . o e x s P.41 W 3 8 Te Ap 01 ) Me do a . e t
' l
Ma tI .2 6S. .d6 3( x. p. 0 8 .
r, nc, 7 W 3 5 Te Ap 2 0 )
A s veil nce vi f om t e tm e of t i i nt de ons r e t t t a o s ubbe
ur la
deo r
h i
he nc de
m tat s ha he ut cr r

ta es t r u h t e ae t nt-i miue b f r Plitf s icd n .(n tu n No.13;
rv l h o g h ra we y sx n ts eo e anif n i e t l sr me t 2 l sr me tNo 2 -) litf s e ultst ttep d l o ce rl u dma h v b e ce td
n tu n . 65 .P an if p c ae ha h u d e f la i i y a e e n r ae
q
by t aut s ubber whi suppors an i er
he o cr
, ch
t
nf ence t t danger condii coul have been
hat he
ous
ton
d

c usd b Dee d n a e se t ny sx miu e p irt teicd n .(nsr me t 2 a 4 .
a e y f n a t nd xitd we t-i n ts ro o h n i e t I tu n 3 t )
Eve i t Cour a s e t t aut s r
n f he
t s um s hat he o c ubbe m a hi c e t t puddl w ih c e r lqui
r c ne r a ed he
e t l a i d,

te Co r fn st a i i u fce ta amatro lw t c e t la iiy ( d n eo c n i o
h u t i d h t s ns fiin s
te f a o rae ib l a a g r us o dt n
t
i
exitng f f t fve m i es or l s has be n c i e l ga l i uf i i nt t s
s i or ory- i
nut
es
e ons der d e ly ns f c e o how

c sr cie k o e g ) Ga ca v Ro sStr s I c,8 6 F.S p 2d 5 5 5 0 81 ( D.Te
on tu tv n wld e . r i . s o e, n 9
u p. 7 , 8 - S. x.

2 2 (iigT r led v Toa Per lu I c, 1F.d 8 7 8 4 ( t Ci. 0 0 ; o k hie
01 ) ctn h ek l . tl toe m, n 21 3 8 , 9 5h r 2 0 ) Br o s r
Fo dS o e , L. p Ale , 3S. .d 8 7 9 0 01( x Ap 2 0 ) Wa- r Str s I c v
o t rs L. C. . ln 9 W 3 9 , 0 - Te . p. 0 2 ; lMa t o e, n . .
Lo z 2 0 W L 31 71 ( x Ap 2 0 ) S ryv Wa- a t tr sTe a ,
pe , 0 0
9 , Te . p. 0 0 ; hie . l r So e x s LLC, . H-5M
No CV 1

3 6 , 01 W L 1 7 9 7, t* ( D. x. a. 0, 01 ) Th r i n e d n ea t h w a d
382 7
1 7 6 a 2 S. Te M r 3 2 7 . ee s o vie c s o o n
w h t s t nc w a cr t t er f e,t r i no e de t tt c ton w a pr s nton
en he ubs a e s ea ed; h e or he e s
vi nce ha he ondii
s ee
t e fo l e
h l or ong nough t i put c t u tve know l
o m e ons r c i
edge t D e enda .
o f
nt

1
0

Furher or a l ga i of a vi a i of a c pa y' polc e a pr e es ha
t m e, le tons
ny ol ton
om n s i i s nd oc dur
ve
be n he d t be i m a era t t c tuc i notc i s
e l o
m t i l o he ons r tve i e s ue. W alM ar St e ,I .v Ree e 81
- t or s nc . s ,

S. .3 8 2 81 ( x. 0 2 . Plitf c n o p o ie a y e d n eo h w te p d l wi
W d 1 , 7 Te 2 0 ) an if a n t r vd n vie c f o h u de t
h

ce rl i a p ae o te fo r (n tu n No 3 - a 12 . I a d t n, an ifc n o
la i d p e r d n h lo . l srme t . 3 1 t -) n d ii Plitf a n t
qu
o
pr d a e de e t a ofDe e
ovi e ny vi nc hat ny
f ndan ' as oc aespr de hi wih any i or ai n t
ts s i t ovi d m t
nf m to o
s
how t tD e e
ha f ndantor a ofis a s i t a ua l kne a
ny
t s oc a es ct ly
w boutpuddl of c ea lq d pror t
e
l r i ui i o

Pl ntf s i i t 1 The e or t ha r was no known a De e nts polce a
ai if ncden . d. r f e, he za d
t
nd f nda '
i is nd
pr ed e m a
oc ur s nualw a noti plca ed.
s
m i t

Ac o dn y Dee d n ' Mo in f rSu r j d me ti GRANTED o Plitf'
c r igl, f n a ts to o mmay u g n s
n anifs
pr i labiiy cl m .
em ses i lt ai
IV .
Based on t f egoi anal s D ef
he or ng
ysi ,
endants M oton f Sum m ary Judgm ent i
'
i
or
s

GRANTED (nsr ntNo.21.
I tume
)
The Cl r s l e ert s O r era pr d a co t a lpa te .
e k ha l nt hi d nd ovi e
py o l r i s
SI NED on t s t
G
hi he

da ofJ
y une,2017.

VANESSA D.GI ORE
LM
UNI
TED STATES DI
STRI JUDGE
CT

11