Opinion ID: 852456
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Count II Attractive Nuisance

Text: The plaintiffs argue that even if Alisha was a trespasser, they may recover under the attractive nuisance doctrine, which imposes on a landowner a duty of care for a child trespasser if the following elements are met: 1) the structure or condition complained of is maintained or permitted on the property by the owner or renter; 2) the structure or condition is particularly dangerous to children and unlikely to be comprehended by children; 3) the structure or condition is especially attractive to children; 4) the owner or renter has actual or constructive knowledge of both the structure or condition and the likelihood that children will trespass and be injured; and 5) the injury is a natural, probable, and foreseeable result of the wrong. Pier v. Schultz, 243 Ind. 200, 205, 182 N.E.2d 255, 258 (Ind.1962); Morningstar v. Maynard, 798 N.E.2d 920, 922-23 (Ind.Ct.App.2003). An unenclosed junkyard is an example of a condition that may constitute an attractive nuisance. See Borinstein v. Hansbrough, 119 Ind.App. 134, 82 N.E.2d 266 (1948). The purpose of the attractive nuisance doctrine is to protect children from dangers which they do not appreciate. Restatement (Second) of Torts § 339 cmt. m (1965). However, because the attractive nuisance doctrine imposes a substantial burden on the property owner, it is narrowly construed and does not, for example, generally apply to common or ordinary objects or conditions such as walls, fences, or gates. 62 Am. Jur.2d Premises Liability §§ 290, 366, 368 (2005). The Bargers argue that Count II of the plaintiffs' complaint is deficient for several reasons. They contend that a moving landing surface is a danger that can be comprehended by a twelve year old; trampolines pose no particular attraction to children; the Bargers had no reason to suspect that Alisha would trespass; and Alisha's injury was not the natural, probable, and foreseeable result of Alisha's use and trespass. The Court of Appeals held that the attractive nuisance doctrine does not apply because in general the dangers of jumping on a trampoline should be as obvious to children as the dangers of falling from heights. The Court of Appeals also found that the plaintiffs failed to designate evidence establishing the latent danger of jumping on a trampoline. Kopczynski v. Barger, 870 N.E.2d 1, 10 (Ind. Ct.App.2007). We agree with the Court of Appeals that the risks associated with trampolines may be obvious, particularly to an adult. See Liccione v. Gearing, 252 A.D.2d 956, 675 N.Y.S.2d 728, 729 (N.Y.App.Div.1998) (holding that the defendant established as a matter of law that nineteen year old was of sufficient age, education and experience to assume the risks of jumping on a trampoline). But the particular risks associated with jumping on a trampoline are not necessarily open and obvious to children, particularly those who have never jumped before. Cf. Bryant v. Adams, 116 N.C.App. 448, 448 S.E.2d 832, 841-42 (1994) (holding that whether or not jumping on a trampoline was an open and obvious danger to a fourteen year old in a products liability case was a disputed fact question for the jury). We agree with the Court of Appeals majority that the harm from falling down is obvious to most. But the dangers of falling onto the ground are very different from the dangers of falling onto a trampoline, particularly one with other jumpers whose presence may unexpectedly change the tension of the trampoline's surface. See Lykins v. Fun Spot Trampolines, 172 Ohio App.3d 226, 874 N.E.2d 811, 818-19 (2007) (holding that while jumping on a trampoline involves the obvious risks of losing balance, falling down, falling off the apparatus altogether, and colliding with other individuals if more than one is present on the trampoline, the court could not find as a matter of law that the particular risks associated with multiple jumpers were open and obvious). And a child may be lulled into thinking a trampoline is safe by watching others jump without incident or injury. See Am.Jur.2d Premises Liability § 342 ([A] child may not realize the danger of his or her action where he or she has seen other children engaging in the act without injury.). In this case the designated evidence conflicts regarding whether Alisha could have appreciated the dangers of jumping on a trampoline, particularly with multiple jumpers. The plaintiffs designated the affidavit of Alan R. Caskey, Ph.D, who testified: It is my experience that children under the age of sixteen do not appreciate or understand the dangers of using a trampoline without adult supervision and with multiple jumpers and that the dangers of trampolines are not readily apparent to such children. Further, the designated evidence reveals that in 1998 about 75 percent of the roughly 95,000 emergency room treatments for trampoline-related injuries involved patients under fifteen. Although Alisha admits she had watched Bryan jump prior to her accident, there is no evidence that Alisha witnessed any injuries or had seen multiple jumpers on the trampoline. Further, Alisha testified that she had never been on a trampoline, was unsupervised, and was not warned of the dangers of jumping in general or multiple jumpers in particular. Accordingly, the Bargers have not established a lack of disputed material facts with regard to the open and obvious nature to Alisha of the dangers of trampolines. The Bargers next argue that they had no reason to know that Alisha might trespass. Specifically, the Bargers point to designated evidence that the Bargers and Palmers did not know each other, Alisha's mother told her not to leave the house, and the Bargers allowed children to jump only with their permission. However, the plaintiffs have to show only the likelihood that some child would trespass and be injured, not a particular child. Dr. Caskey testified that research indicates that trampolines left unattended are particularly attractive to children and that injuries are more likely to occur when the trampoline is left unsupervised. The Bargers have not shown that it is unreasonable to assume that children would be attracted to a large trampoline that sits in the middle of an open yard, particularly when there is an unsupervised child regularly jumping on it. Indeed, the Bargers admit that other children have trespassed and used their trampoline without permission. Moreover, as explained in Part I, it is an issue for the trier of fact whether another child might reasonably regard Bryan as an authorized host. If so, by leaving Bryan alone in the yard, the Bargers increased the risk of unauthorized use of the trampoline by another child. Finally, the Bargers claim that Alisha's knee injury was not a natural, probable, or foreseeable consequence of her trespass and jumping. The designated evidence reveals, however, that the trampoline's warning labels cautioned that multiple jumpers on a trampoline increase[] the chance of serious injury and can result in broken head, neck, back or legs. Dr. Caskey testified that research and databases also indicate that the type of knee injury sustained by Alisha Palmer is a type of injury that is seen from multiple jumpers on a trampoline. Thus, the Bargers have failed to establish a lack of disputed material facts as to the foreseeability of Alisha's injury.