Case Name: Claire and Frederick SPRINGER v. ST. BERNARD PARISH SCHOOL BOARD, St. Bernard Parish Police Jury and National Union Fire Insurance Company
Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1988-02-10
Citations: 521 So. 2d 461
Docket Number: No. CA-8073
Parties: Claire and Frederick SPRINGER v. ST. BERNARD PARISH SCHOOL BOARD, St. Bernard Parish Police Jury and National Union Fire Insurance Company.
Judges: Before SCHOTT, GARRISON and CIACCIO, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 521
Pages: 461–462

Head Matter:
Claire and Frederick SPRINGER v. ST. BERNARD PARISH SCHOOL BOARD, St. Bernard Parish Police Jury and National Union Fire Insurance Company.
No. CA-8073.
Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fourth Circuit.
Feb. 10, 1988.
Ronald L. Ronzello, Metairie, for plaintiffs-appellants.
Peter C. Matheme, New Orleans, for defendants-appellees St. Bernard Parish School Bd. and Nat. Union Fire Ins. Co.
Edward A. Rodrigue, Jr., Terry Defies, New Orleans, for defendant-appellee St. Bernard Police Jury.
Before SCHOTT, GARRISON and CIACCIO, JJ.

Opinion:
GARRISON, Judge.
This is an appeal from a judgment of the 34th Judicial District Court in favor of defendants, St. Bernard Parish School Board, St. Bernard Parish Police Jury, and National Union Fire Insurance Co. and against the plaintiffs Claire Baiamonte, wife of/and Frederick Springer, dismissing their suit at their cost. From that judgment, plaintiffs appeal.
On July 24, 1985 at approximately 10:30 p.m. Frederick Springer, a 35 year old male, injured himself while jumping over an approximately 5 foot high chain link fence separating an asphalt playground from a grass lawn area. The lawn and playground both adjoined the Meraux Elementary School gymnasium. Next to the lawn area was a parking lot.
Plaintiffs oldest daughter's softball game was originally set for 6 p.m. on July 24th, however, there had been heavy rain commencing at 4 or 5 p.m. such that the outdoor playing field was too wet to be used. Accordingly, the game was rescheduled for 9 or 9:30 p.m. inside of the gym. Plaintiff served in a voluntary position as assistant coach of his daughter's team. Mr. Springer was a very athletic individual. He played football, volleyball, jogged a little and was a member of the Buccaneer Villa swim team.
Mr. & Mrs. Springer and their two daughters left the gym, had dinner and returned in time for the rescheduled game. Mrs. Springer sat in the bleachers watching the game, while the youngest daughter played catch with another little girl near the gym door. The ball used by the youngest daughter went over the fence and she asked her father to retrieve it for her.
After the inning was over, Mr. Springer went out of the side door of the gym and saw the ball on the other side of the chain link fence. Standing atop a desk which had been left near the fence, he jumped over the fence and retrieved the ball. On the return trip, Stringer moved further down the fence to avoid the desk. He testified: "I climbed up halfway over the fence. I put my hand on the railing, and just lunged my body over . I pushed and just catapulted my legs over . like a broad jump." He successfully cleared the top of the fence, but on the way down he slipped on the wet grass, mud and gravel constituting the earthen surface, injuring his left leg and knee, resulting in surgery and some residual permanent disability.
The instant case is not one of a defect, hidden or apparent, on the premises, nor is it one of unmopped or negligently mopped puddles in a store or unfilled holes hidden under standing water. The instant case involves only one jumping onto normal and reasonably soaked earth.
An alternative route was within a few feet of Mr. Springer. He failed to choose the safer, easily accessible, close alternative route.
For the reasons discussed, the judgment below is affirmed.
AFFIRMED.