Opinion ID: 1807187
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Refusal to instruct on negligent construction.

Text: The trial court was of the opinion that, under the facts of this case, the piece of marble on the step did not present an issue of improper materials used in construction, or of a structural defect in the building, and therefore confined its instructions to the issue of the defendant's negligence as to maintenance. It is undisputed that the premises on which the injury occurred was a public building and, therefore, the defendant,  as owner, was subject to the standards of care set forth in sec. 101.06, Stats. A public building does not meet that standard of care if it is constructed of materials which render the structure unsafe. Holcomb v. Szymczyk (1925), 186 Wis. 99, 104, 202 N. W. 188. Baldwin v. St. Peter's Congregation (1953), 264 Wis. 626, 629, 60 N. W. 2d 349. It is not disputed that the piece of marble on which appellant allegedly fell was similar to the marble in the lobby area which surrounds the stairway. Appellant contends that, since the piece of marble must have come from one of the marble facades in the lobby area, it is reasonable to infer a defect in the materials and, therefore, in the structure. The trial court correctly determined that finding the piece of marble on the steps did not give rise to an inference that improper or defective materials were used in construction. There was no evidence presented at the trial that the materials composing the structure were improper or defective, or from which it can be inferred that marble is an unsafe material for use in the construction of facades in public buildings. Also, we are unable to accept plaintiff's suggestion that this court take judicial notice of the fact that marble is unsafe for such use, and therefore the building was not safely constructed. Judicial notice may be taken of matters of common knowledge. Heckendorf v. J. C. Penney Co. (1966), 31 Wis. 2d 346, 142 N. W. 2d 801. Appellant admits that use of marble facades in public buildings is a common practice. In Raim v. Ventura (1962), 16 Wis. 2d 67, 72, 73, 113 N. W. 2d 827, this court stated that custom and usage may be persuasive as to what is reasonably safe: A usage which is patently unsafe (as in the Johannsen Case) or a custom which is contrary to law cannot be given credence by the court. Molaske v. Ohio Coal Co. (1893), 86 Wis. 220, 56 N. W. 475; Minaghan v. State (1890), 77 Wis. 643, 46 N. W. 894.  However, where there is an avalanche of acceptability of a custom or usage, and where such general practice contravenes no established law, public policy, or common sense, it may be persuasive as to what is a rule of reason in a safeplace case.... There was no evidence at the trial that the marble in question was defective. The issue of negligent construction was properly excluded from the jury; therefore, it is not necessary to consider whether the failure to submit the issue was prejudicial.