Case Name: JOHNSON v. COLLINS
Court: Supreme Court of Georgia
Jurisdiction: Georgia
Decision Date: 1896-03-30
Citations: 98 Ga. 271
Docket Number: 
Parties: JOHNSON v. COLLINS.
Judges: 
Reporter: Georgia Reports
Volume: 98
Pages: 271–274

Head Matter:
JOHNSON v. COLLINS.
The plaintiff’s declaration showing that she received personal injuries in consequence of her landlord’s negligence in failing to repair the rented premises, and it not appearing from the allegations of the declaration that she herself was guilty of such negligence (if any) as would entirely defeat her'right to recover, it was error to sustain a general demurrer to the declaration. The question whether or not, under the circumstances stated in the declaration, she could, by the exercise of ordinary care, have avoided the injuries complained of, was one of fact for the jury, and not one for determination by the court.
Lumpkin, J., dissenting.
March 30, 1896. Argued at tbe last term.
Action for damages. Before Judge Boss. City court of Macon. March term, 1895.
Sarah Johnson sued Mrs Appleton Collins for damages, and her petition was dismissed on general demurrer. She alleged, that several years ago she entered into a contract with the agent of defendant for the rent of a room in a house in Macon, the property of defendant. She continued to occupy a room in the house, paying rent constantly and promptly, without special cause for complaint, though the same was frequently in need of repairs, until the latter part of 1893, when the steps leading into said room'became so badly decayed and broken, that she requested R. S. Collins, rental agent of defendant, through himself or his employees, to repair said steps, notifying him that they were badly decayed and sadly in need of repairs. She was thereupon informed by him, or one of his employees, that the needed repairs would be made; but they were not made; and after-wards she gave frequent notice to him of the condition of the steps, requesting almost every month, for several months, that the repairs be made, but though promises were constantly made that it should be done immediately, yet on only one occasion was any attempt made to' repair the steps, by authority either of defendant or her1 agent. On this occasion a negro man, whom she supposed to have been employed by defendant, was engaged in doing some work on a building near by, and on his attention being called to the condition of the steps, he stated that he had been ordered to make general repairs on the buildings in that locality. He then insecurely nailed said steps to tire door-sill, the same being entirely insufficient to hold them, and only keeping them in position for a short while. Shortly after this, by reason of continued and necessary use of the steps in going to and from the room, they again became insecure, and finally, one of the steps becoming inadequate by reason of decay, plaintiff was compelled to have her son provide a support for the steps by nailing them to a stick of wood placed upright beneath them. From that time on she continued to give frequent notice of their condition, requesting each time that they be properly repaired, and was constantly led to believe, by promises held out to her, that the work should be done. These promises were never fulfilled, and no further repairs were made upon the steps. In July, 1894, while she was descending them, they suddenly gave way beneath her and threw her violently to the ground, producing certain •described injuries. Said steps were the only available means of going in or out of the room, and she used all possible care in endeavoring to keep the same safe and useful, by using temporary supports and otherwise, constantly expecting that the promises to repair would be fulfilled. Although she knew the steps had been out of repair for some time, she had no- reason to believe them dangerous, supposing that the props which she and her son had used to support them would be sufficient. Then followed allegations as to the damages sustained by reason of the injuries.
J?. L. Anderson, for plaintiff.
J. R. L. Smith, for defendant.

Opinion:
Atkinson, Justice.
The official report states the facts.
1. It will be observed that the plaintiff alleges in her declaration, that although the steps were out of repair and she had known this for some time, she had no reason to suppose their use would be dangerous, but did suppose that the props which she and her son had used would be sufficient. The negligence of the landlord was alleged, and the tenant rests her case upon the theory that though she was advised that the premises were in need of repair, and that although she knew they were out of repair, she did not know their use would be dangerous. The question as to whether or not she was in the exercise of ordinary care in the use of the steps, was a question of fact to be passed upon by a jury; and to convict her of negligence, it was necessary to appear, not only that the steps, which were the cause of her injury, were defective, but that she likewise [knew of the danger. If they were out of repair, but not so obviously so as that a person of ordinary prudence must have known they were dangerous, then she was entitled to go to the jury upon the question as to whether there was .an apparent danger in their use. As long as she did not know they were dangerous, or had no reasonáble ground to-suspect such to be the fact, her use of them could not be legally considered negligent. She alleges that she. did not. know they were dangerous. There is no allegation from which the inference can be drawn as matter of law that they were so obviously dangerous as to have put a prudent person upon notice of any danger which might result from their use; and the demurrer to the declaration admitting the facts, it should have been overruled, and the questions of faGt made in the case submitted to the jury.
Judgment reversed.