Source: https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/2d/65/114.html
Timestamp: 2019-12-11 08:57:43
Document Index: 589185206

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 125', '§ 45', '§ 27', '§ 344', '§ 344', '§ 27', '§ 61', '§ 148', '§ 1832', '§ 1789', '§ 1953', '§ 286']

Taylor v. Centennial Bowl, Inc. :: :: Supreme Court of California Decisions :: California Case Law :: California Law :: US Law :: Justia
Justia › US Law › Case Law › California Case Law › Cal. 2d › Volume 65 › Taylor v. Centennial Bowl, Inc.
When plaintiff arrived at the bowling center about 10 p.m., she parked her car in the lot at the rear of the building and locked it. She then went into the cocktail lounge where she spent most of the next four hours having two or three drinks with Mabel Evans, a friend whom she had previously arranged to meet there, and Danny Porter, a friend of Miss Evans. While plaintiff was at the bar, John Charles Walters, a man [65 Cal. 2d 118] whom she had never seen before, approached her and said without encouragement from her, "Hi, babe. Let me go home and go to bed with you."plaintiff rebuffed him and Walters left. About two hours later he again approached her and again requested her to go to bed with him.plaintiff told him that she did not go to bed with men, and Walters walked away. At the time of her first confrontation in the bar with Walters, Don Bishop, a professional football player employed by defendant as a "bouncer," was "About four or five bar seats away." She stated that at the time of the second confrontation Bishop was "in the immediate proximity" within "hearing distance."plaintiff testified that Walters did nothing to indicate that he intended to harm her, and that she felt no reason to be afraid of him, although she did report to Don Bishop that someone had acted offensively toward her.
As a result of this attack, plaintiff was taken to the hospital where she remained unconscious for six weeks. After regaining consciousness, her right arm became paralyzed, she could not move her legs, and she could not see. Plaintiff remained in various California hospitals until December 1962. From the time of the assault until the time of trial she was a ward of Los Angeles County. After trial plaintiff returned with her mother to Ohio, and it appears that she is now receiving care and aid from the State of Ohio. While plaintiff has partially recovered her sight, expert medical testimony, which is undisputed, [65 Cal. 2d 119] established that the spastic condition of her extremities will remain permanent.
"And the witness would testify that of the balance of the 273 calls that were made and the balance of the 160 arrests that were made they were for ... miscellaneous offenses which included traffic warrants, curfew violations, drug law violations, robbery, loitering and vagrancy, driving while intoxicated, hit and run accidents, gambling and possession of miscellaneous weapons." Counsel stated that he was offering this testimony "for the purpose of showing notice on the part of the defendant Woodley Lewis and the Centennial Bowl [65 Cal. 2d 120] Corporation of many ... law violations, including particularly assaults, disturbances, larcenies, [and] drunk violations ..." that were taking place on their business premises.
The directed verdict was based on the theory that there was no evidence that defendant had violated any duty owed to plaintiff. It is the correctness of that determination that is here under attack. [3] Such a verdict may be properly granted if and only if, after disregarding conflicting evidence, and indulging every legitimate inference which may be drawn from the evidence in plaintiff's favor, it can be said that there [65 Cal. 2d 121] is no evidence of sufficient substantiality to support a jury verdict in her favor. (Blumberg v. M. & T. Incorporated, 34 Cal. 2d 226, 229 [209 P.2d 1]; Walters v. Bank of America etc. Assn., 9 Cal. 2d 46, 49 [69 P.2d 839, 110 A.L.R. 1259]; Estate of Flood, 217 Cal. 763, 769 [21 P.2d 579]; Estate of Lances, 216 Cal. 397, 400 [14 P.2d 768]; Shaw v. Colonial Room, 175 Cal. App. 2d 845, 847-848 [1 Cal. Rptr. 28]; 31 Cal.L.Rev. 461; 2 Witkin, Cal. Procedure (1954) Trial, § 125, pp. 1857-1858.)
The problem requires a determination of the duty owed by the proprietor of a business establishment to his business invitees. [4] Such a proprietor is, of course, not an insurer of the safety of his invitees, but he is required to exercise reasonable care for their safety and is liable for injuries resulting from a breach of this duty. (Edwards v. Hollywood Canteen, 27 Cal. 2d 802, 809 [167 P.2d 729]; Hinds v. Wheadon, 19 Cal. 2d 458, 460 [121 P.2d 724]; Winn v. Holmes, 143 Cal. App. 2d 501, 503 [299 P.2d 994]; Vaughn v. Montgomery Ward & Co., 95 Cal. App. 2d 553, 556 [213 P.2d 417]; 65 C.J.S. § 45, p. 521 et seq.; 2 Harper and James, The Law of Torts, § 27.12, pp. 1478-1488.) [5] The general duty includes not only the duty to inspect the premises in order to uncover dangerous conditions (Sexton v. Brooks, 39 Cal. 2d 153, 156 [245 P.2d 496]; Rest.2d Torts, § 344, com. f; 156 A.L.R. 1221), but, as well, the duty to take affirmative action to control the wrongful acts of third persons which threaten invitees where the occupant has reasonable cause to anticipate such acts and the probability of injury resulting therefrom. (Edwards v. Hollywood Canteen, supra, 27 Cal. 2d 802, 809-810; Winn v. Holmes, supra, 143 Cal. App. 2d 501, 503-504; Thomas v. Studio Amusements, Inc., 50 Cal. App. 2d 538, 543 [123 P.2d 552]; Rest.2d Torts, § 344; 70 A.L.R.2d 628, 651-653; Harper and Kime, The Duty to Control the Conduct of Another, 43 Yale L.J. 886; Note, 35 Mich.L.Rev. 843.) fn. 1
[6] Defendant argues that it fulfilled whatever duty of [65 Cal. 2d 122] care it owed to plaintiff by the warning given by its employee, Don Bishop, advising plaintiff not to go outside "because that goofball is out there." It is contended by defendant that plaintiff eliminated any material factual dispute on the duty issue by conceding that she received this warning, and that therefore the directed verdict was, as a matter of law, proper. It is urged that the duty of care owed by a proprietor of a business establishment to his business invitees is fully performed by a warning such as was given here. In support of that contention, defendant relies upon section 348 of the first Restatement of Torts, as approved in 1959 by the decision of this court in Hunter v. Mohawk Petroleum Corp., 51 Cal. 2d 439 [334 P.2d 193]. Defendant argues that the rule of that case is controlling here.
"A ... possessor of land who holds it out to the public for entry for his business purposes, is subject to liability to members of the public while upon the land for such a purpose for bodily harm caused to them by the accidental, negligent or intentionally harmful acts of third persons or animals if the possessor by the exercise of reasonable care could have (a) discovered that such acts were being done or were about to be [65 Cal. 2d 123] done, and (b) protected the members of the public by (i) controlling the conduct of third persons, or (ii) giving a warning adequate to enable them to avoid the harm without relinquishing any of the services which they are entitled to receive from ... [him]."
The view taken in this section, that once an occupier of land has learned of dangerous conditions on his premises he may discharge all further duty to his invitees by simply giving them "a warning adequate to avoid the harm," was widely criticized by many leading authorities. (See, e.g., 2 Harper and James, The Law of Torts (1956) § 27.13, pp. 1489-1498; James, Tort Liability of Occupiers of Land: Duties Owed to Licensees and Invitees, 63 Yale L.J. 605, 628-629; Prosser on Torts (3d ed. 1964) § 61, at pp. 404-405. See also Fleming, The Law of Torts (1957) pp. 448- 450.) fn. 3 In the instant case the warning given plaintiff does not satisfy even the criteria of the superseded rule of section 348. Bishop's warning to plaintiff did not inform her of the specific nature of any possible harm that she might expect upon entering the parking lot. On the basis of the evidence introduced, the "bouncer" must have been apprised of the potential danger to plaintiff of assault by "the goofball," as he described Walters, or by other persons. There is no evidence to show that plaintiff was put on similar notice of this specific danger. fn. 4 Moreover, it must also be remembered that at the time she left the cocktail lounge it was 2 a.m., the cocktail lounge was closing, and she had asserted her need to go home in order to prepare for work the next day. Had the warning adequately informed plaintiff of the danger, which it did not, the warning would not have enabled her to avoid the harm without relinquishing the right to enter the parking lot and obtain her car. This is a right which, as its invitee, plaintiff was entitled to receive from defendant. Defendant's failure to secure this right is, in and of itself, a breach of the duty which is defined in section 348. Under such [65 Cal. 2d 124] circumstances, including the fact that Bishop could have easily protected her from the danger he apparently anticipated by simply accompanying plaintiff to her car, it cannot be held that the mere admonition not to enter the parking lot because "that goofball is out there" satisfied the duty owed plaintiff. [7] A warning will not be sufficient where it is apparent that, "because of lack of time or the character of the conduct to be expected, it will not be effective to give protection." (Winn v. Holmes, supra, 143 Cal. App. 2d 501, 504-505, quoting Prosser on Torts (1st ed. 1941) pp. 643-644; see also McFadden v. Bancroft Hotel Corp., supra, (Mass.) 46 N.E.2d 573, 575, and Prosser on Torts (3d ed. 1964) p. 405 and cases cited at fn. 65.)
[2b] If we disregard, as we must, the evidence in conflict with plaintiff's evidence (Estate of Flood, supra, 217 Cal. 763, 769; People v. Mahoney, 13 Cal. 2d 729, 736 [91 P.2d 1029]; 48 Cal.Jur.2d, § 148, p. 187), and if we give to the evidence [65 Cal. 2d 125] tending to establish negligence all the value to which it is legally entitled, there is in this case evidence of sufficient substantiality to support a verdict in favor of plaintiff. It must be held, therefore, that it was error for the trial court to grant defendant's motion for a directed verdict and thereby to take from the jury the resolution of the factual issues presented. (Golceff v. Sugarman, 36 Cal. 2d 152-153 [222 P.2d 665]; Estate of Flood, supra, 217 Cal. 763, 768-769; see also Windorski v. Doyle, supra (Minn.) 18 N.W.2d 142; and Mastad v. Swedish Brethren, supra (Minn.) 85 N.W. 913.)
Evidence which tends logically, naturally, and by reasonable inference to prove a material issue is admissible as to relevance. (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 1832, 1870, subd. 15; People v. Jones, 42 Cal. 2d 219, 222 [266 P.2d 38].) [12] Officer Ryer was competent to testify to the facts alleged in plaintiff's offer of proof since he claimed that he personally responded to the summons by defendant, investigated the alleged disturbances, and transported various law violators to police headquarters.
[13] Ryer's proposed testimony that defendant sought police assistance was offered as evidence that disturbances had occurred and that defendant knew of them in order to show defendant's state of mind. Thus this evidence was not objectionable as hearsay, since the hearsay rule does not forbid the introduction of evidence that a request has been made when the making of the request is significant irrespective of the truth or falsity of its content. (Werner v. State Bar, 24 Cal. 2d 611, 621 [150 P.2d 892]; Johnson v. Nicholson, 159 Cal.App.2d [65 Cal. 2d 126] 395, 411 [324 P.2d 307]; see 6 Wigmore on Evidence (3d ed. 1940) §§ 1789, 1790.)
As to Officer Black's proffered testimony the record is not clear as to whether the evidence was properly excluded. The hearsay objection was not valid if the police reports were admissible under the Uniform Business Records as Evidence Act. (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 1953e to 1953g.) fn. 5 [14] In a proper case the business records exemption to the hearsay rule is applicable to public documents, such as police reports. (Nichols v. McCoy, 38 Cal. 2d 447, 449 [240 P.2d 569]; Loper v. Morrison, 23 Cal. 2d 600, 608-609 [145 P.2d 1]; MacLean v. City & County of San Francisco, 151 Cal. App. 2d 133, 142 [311 P.2d 158].) The problem arises, however, because business records are not admissible under this exception when they are "not based upon the report of an informant having the business duty to observe and report." (MacLean v. City & County of San Francisco, supra, at p. 143; McCormick on Evidence (1954) § 286, p. 602.) The admissibility of the instant report, therefore, depends first upon whether its contents are based on Officer Black's own observations, or the observations of other police officers or public officials whose job it is to know the facts recorded; if so, but only if so, is it then admissible under the business records exception. (MacLean v. City & County of San Francisco, supra, at p. 143; see also Hoel v. City of Los Angeles, 136 Cal. App. 2d 295, 309 [288 P.2d 989]; 48 Colum.L.Rev. 920; 144 A.L.R. 727, 729-781.) This point may be clarified on the retrial.
The objection that the evidence was immaterial is unsound if defendant knew, actually or impliedly, that violent and unlawful acts were occurring on the premises. The evidence was proffered for this purpose. [15] Such notice, however, is not shown by the mere fact that such arrests and convictions occurred. It must also be shown that they occurred under such circumstances or with such frequency that defendant must have known, or be deemed to have known, of them. The record here would seem to be sufficient in this regard. Certainly the numerous arrests and disturbances involved could not have occurred without employees of the defendant knowing of them. [65 Cal. 2d 127] At any rate this problem can be settled on the retrial. [16] It should be noted that, if admissible under the rules here laid down, such testimony would be relevant not only to show knowledge of the danger on the part of the defendant but also to show the extent of the danger.
FN 1. These rules have been applied by reviewing courts in other jurisdictions to allow recovery by plaintiffs in cases factually similar to the one under consideration. (See, e.g., Corcoran v. McNeal, 400 Pa. 14 [161 A.2d 367]; Rommel v. Schambacher, 120 Pa. 579 [11 A. 779]; Peck v. Gerber, 154 Ore. 126 [59 P.2d 675, 106 A.L.R. 996]; Exton v. Central R. Co., 62 N.J.Law 7 [42 A. 486]; Molloy v. Coletti, 114 Misc. 177 [186 N.Y.S. 730]; Moone v. Smith, 6 Ga.App. 649 [65 S.E. 712], later app., 7 Ga.App. 675 [67 S.E. 836]; Reilly v. 180 Club, 14 N.J. Super. 420 [82 A2.d 210]; Miller v. Derusa (La.App.) 77 So. 2d 748; Greco v. Sumner Tavern, Inc., 333 Mass. 144 [128 N.E.2d 788]; McFadden v. Bancroft Hotel Corp., 313 Mass. 56 [46 N.E.2d 573]; Windorski v. Doyle, 219 Minn. 402 [18 N.W.2d 142]; DeHart v. Travelers Ins. Co. (La.App.) 10 So. 2d 597; Mastad v. Swedish Brethren, 85 Minn. 40 [85 N.W. 913]; Klingbeil v. Truesdell, 256 Minn. 360 [98 N.W.2d 134].)
FN 2. In Hunter, unlike the present case, the third person who caused injury to the plaintiff was acting lawfully. Further, as noted in our opinion, there was no evidence in Hunter that the third person was acting negligently, nor was there any evidence of facts which could possibly have put the defendant on notice that the third person might act negligently. (51 Cal.2d at pp. 441-442.)
FN 3. Professor James, for example, maintains that the position taken in section 348 "is a highly doubtful [proposition] both on principle and authority." He has written that "the invitee expects the premises to be prepared for him only up to the point where he knows they are not. But this should not be conclusive. Reasonable expectations may raise duties, but they should not always limit them. The gist of the matter is unreasonable probability of harm in fact. And when that is great enough in spite of full disclosure, it is carrying the quasi-sovereignty of the landowner pretty far to let him ignore it to the risk of life and limb." (Id., 63 Yale L.J. 605, 623, 628.)
FN 4. It should be noted, in this connection, that defendant moved at trial to amend the answer to include defenses of contributory negligence and assumption of risk.
FN 5. Section 1953f of the Code of Civil Procedure provides that "A record of an act, condition or event, shall, in so far as relevant, be competent evidence if the custodian or other qualified witness testifies to its identity and the mode of its preparation, and if it was made in the regular course of business, at or near the time of the act, condition or event, and if, in the opinion of the court, the sources of information, method and time of preparation were such as to justify its admission."