Case Name: Blanche GATES, Appellant, v. STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1987-10-27
Citations: 513 So. 2d 1386
Docket Number: No. 87-440
Parties: Blanche GATES, Appellant, v. STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, Appellee.
Judges: Before SCHWARTZ, C.J., and BASKIN and FERGUSON, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 513
Pages: 1386–1386

Head Matter:
Blanche GATES, Appellant, v. STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, Appellee.
No. 87-440.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District.
Oct. 27, 1987.
Hessen, Schimmel & De Castro, Joel V. Lumer, Miami, for appellant.
Sparber, Shevin, Shapo & Heilbronner and Glenn J. Waldman, Miami, for appellee.
Before SCHWARTZ, C.J., and BASKIN and FERGUSON, JJ.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
The judgment entered on a directed verdict for the defendant-appellee Department of Transportation in. a sidewalk trip and fall case is reversed. We conclude that the trial court abused its discretion in denying the plaintiff's motion to reopen her case to introduce evidence that the statutory notice had been given, Sobel v. Jefferson Stores, Inc., 459 So.2d 433 (Fla. 3d DCA 1984); Adkins v. Taylor, 314 So.2d 13 (Fla. 1st DCA 1975),. and that jury questions were presented as to the defendant's negligent maintenance of the area, comparative negligence and legal causation, Mullis v. City of Miami, 60 So.2d 174 (Fla.1952); Martin v. Consolidated City of Jacksonville, 483 So.2d 804 (Fla. 1st DCA 1986); Leon v. City of Miami, 312 So.2d 518 (Fla. 3d DCA 1975); Miami Shores Village v. Lingler, 157 So.2d 716 (Fla. 3d DCA 1963); Metropolitan Dade County v. Yelvington, 392 So.2d 911 (Fla. 3d DCA 1980).