Opinion ID: 2375256
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: The duty defendant owed plaintiff?

Text: Appellant points out that plaintiff was an employee of an independent contractor; that the work was in charge of the independent contractor; that appellant, the property owner, had no control over the details or manner in which the work should be accomplished, and on this basis contends that the contractor alone is responsible to any person in his employ injured in the course of the work, and that appellant is not liable; that appellant owed plaintiff no duty. Alternatively, appellant argues that at most the duty owed was that due to a bare licensee, since plaintiff did the work in the trailer shop, an unauthorized portion of the premises which plaintiff must be held to have taken in the condition he found there. Plaintiff's evidence, however, clearly showed that appellant positioned trailer 4513 in the trailer shop, called upon plaintiff's employer for a delivery of LPG and upon plaintiff's arrival on appellant's premises instructed plaintiff to fill the tank on trailer 4513 right away. Plaintiff's status was that of a business invitee, as to whom appellant owed the duty to exercise reasonable care for his safety. Szofran v. Century Electric Co., Mo.App., 255 S.W.2d 443, 450. Appellant's Points VII and VIII charge error in the giving of Instructions Nos. 3, 4 and 5. The errors now assigned on appeal were not the subject of definite objections or requests made during the trial in accordance with Civil Rule 79.01, V.A.M.R., nor were these allegations of error presented to the trial court in a motion for new trial. Accordingly, these allegations of error were not preserved for appellate review. Civil Rule 79.03.