Opinion ID: 1103916
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Broadmoor's Negligence

Text: Since this action has not prescribed against Broadmoor, it must be determined whether the jury erred in finding Broadmoor to be at fault. Although the court of appeal has never reviewed this issue, we will consider it due to the confusion which has resulted in this case on the issue of liability. As previously stated, we find that the emotional distress and energy expended by Beverly Vicknair due to the false fire alarm was a cause-in-fact of the premature birth of her child. Next, we must determine whether Broadmoor owed a duty under the facts herein to know where the fire alarm wires were located and to avoid their being broken. Under Richard Allen's version of the facts, Broadmoor workmen intentionally cut an exposed wire for purposes of re-routing it above a duct in the ceiling, without first determining whether it was a fire alarm wire. Under Milton Dudenhefer's version, Broadmoor did not investigate where the fire alarm wires ran before pulling out a stud. Dudenhefer acknowledged that he knew there were fire alarm wires running throughout the building, and despite the fact that he had contact on three or four occasions with the company responsible for the alarm system, he never inquired where the fire alarm wires were located. Considering that the work was being performed in a major office building occupied at the time, and that Broadmoor had knowledge of the existence of the fire alarm system, under either version of the facts, we find that Broadmoor had a duty to know where the fire alarm wires were located and to avoid their being broken. Such a duty encompasses within its scope the risk that a pregnant woman would experience emotional distress and descend many flights of stairs, causing a premature delivery. Broadmoor breached its duty. Therefore, we consider that Broadmoor was negligent under La.Civ.Code arts. 2315 and 2316, and that the jury was not clearly wrong in this determination. Arceneaux, supra .