Opinion ID: 2408411
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: premises defect the jury charge

Text: The court of appeals correctly recognized that this case fits in the second category we have discussed and involves a premises defect that the independent contractor allegedly created rather than a negligent activity. However, the court of appeals erred in holding that the Olivos could recover from Williams for negligent control without establishing the premises defect elements. To recover against a general contractor for a premises defect, the injured plaintiff must establish both the general contractor's right to control the defect-producing work and a breach of that duty according to the traditional premises defect elements. See Corbin v. Safeway Stores, Inc., 648 S.W.2d 292, 296 (Tex.1983) (setting forth traditional elements of premises liability claim); Restatement (Second) of Torts § 414 cmt. b (incorporating premises liability elements into right-to-control liability). The plaintiff may submit this cause of action to the jury through a question about the general contractor's right to control the defect-producing work, to establish a duty, and a broad-form negligence question. However, instructions that incorporate the Corbin premises defect elements must accompany the questions. See Tidwell, 867 S.W.2d at 23; Keetch, 845 S.W.2d at 266-67; Barham, 803 S.W.2d at 736-37. Because premises defect cases and negligent activity cases are based on independent theories of recovery, a simple negligence question, unaccompanied by the Corbin elements as instructions or definitions, cannot support a recovery in a premises defect case. See Keetch, 845 S.W.2d at 266-67; Warner, 845 S.W.2d at 259-60. Because premises defect cases and negligent activity cases are based on independent theories of recovery, a simple negligence question, unaccompanied by the Corbin elements as instructions or definintions, cannot support a recovery in a premises defect case. See Keetch, 845 S.W.2d at 266-67; Warner, 845 S.W.2d at 259-60. Here, the Olivos did not request that the trial court submit a control question, the premises defect elements, or a negligence question against Williams. Therefore, there are no jury findings against Williams on any of these issues. Instead, the trial court submitted a single simple negligence question about Graham's alleged negligence. Under the trial court's charge the jury found that Graham was Williams' employee and that Graham was negligent and proximately caused Olivo's injuries. Initially, the Olivos requested a question asking whether Graham was negligent in failing to provide Olivo a safe place to work. Their proposed question defined negligence according to the Corbin factors. However, the trial court did not rule on the Olivos' request nor did it submit their proposed question. Thus, the trial court's charge omitted essential elements of a premises defects claim. On appeal, the Olivos do not complain, even conditionally, that the trial court should have submitted their proposed question that included the Corbin elements. Instead, they assert that Corbin and Keetch do not apply here. We disagree. We have explicitly required that the trial court submit the Corbin elements in a premises defect case. Keetch, 845 S.W.2d at 266-67; Warner, 845 S.W.2d at 259-60; Hernandez v. Kroger Co., 711 S.W.2d 3, 4-5 (Tex.1986). Alternatively, the Olivos contend that the Corbin elements should be deemed found to support the trial court's judgment. The premises defect elements cannot be deemed found against Graham. The simple negligence question submitted to the jury relates only to the theory that Graham was liable for control over any negligent activities. Keetch, 845 S.W.2d at 264. However, as we have explained, this is not a negligent activity case. It is a premises defect case. The missing Corbin premises defect elements about knowledge and risk of harm are not necessarily referable to the negligent activity question submitted to the jury. See Stanley Stores, Inc. v. Veazey, 838 S.W.2d 884, 886 (Tex.App.Beaumont 1992, writ denied); Physicians & Surgeons Gen. Hosp. v. Koblizek, 752 S.W.2d 657, 659-60 (Tex.App.Corpus Christi 1988, writ denied); Tex.R. Civ. P. 279. Because the Olivos did not obtain a jury finding that included essential elements of their premises defect claim, they cannot recover against Graham. Tex.R. Civ. P. 279. Because the Olivos did not secure a jury finding about Williams' negligence but did obtain a finding that Graham was Williams' employee, their only liability theory against Williams was respondeat superior for Graham's negligence. We need not decide whether, under these facts, Graham could incur individual liability. See Leitch v. Hornsby, 935 S.W.2d 114, 117 (Tex.1996) (corporate agent can assume individual liability for breach of duty to provide safe workplace if agent owes independent duty of care); Werner v. Colwell, 909 S.W.2d 866, 868 (Tex.1995)(same). Because the Olivos did not obtain findings to support premises defect liability against Graham, however, they have not established respondeat superior liability against Williams through Graham.