Opinion ID: 1916424
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: israel couture post realty, inc.

Text: The plaintiff appeals from the judgment of the trial justice granting a motion by Realty, Inc. for a directed verdict. We hold that the trial justice did not commit reversible error in granting said motion. As previously stated, Realty, Inc. is the owner of the premises at which the injury complained of occurred. It is the landlord of the VFW under an oral lease. The plaintiff was unable to adduce any evidence at trial that Realty, Inc. covenanted to repair the meeting hall. Indeed, the evidence shows that the maintenance and repair of the building was the responsibility of the VFW, and more specifically the committee of which plaintiff was a member. We also note that the defect in the rail that gave way, resulting in plaintiff's injury, was not a latent defect, existing at the time the parties entered into the leasehold agreement. Maggi v. De Fusco, 107 R.I. 278, 267 A.2d 424 (1970). Rather the damage occurred subsequent to the commencement of the landlord-tenant agreement, and the damage to the railing was apparent upon visual inspection. Nor was the area where the injury occurred a common area over which Realty, Inc. retained control. Gormley v. Vartian, 121 R.I. 770, 780, 403 A.2d 256, 261 (1979). This court has consistently held that a landlord who has leased an entire building to a tenant and has not expressly covenanted to make repairs has no duty to keep any part of the building in good repair. Such landlord may not be held liable to the tenant or a licensee or invitee of said tenant for any injury or damages caused by a supervening dangerous condition of the premises, resulting from a failure to repair said premises. See Leonick v. Manville Jenckes Corp., 60 R.I. 247, 249-50, 198 A. 245, 246-47 (1938). Realty, Inc. clearly falls within the ambit of our holding in Leonick. Thus the trial justice correctly granted Realty, Inc.'s motion for a directed verdict. We have considered the other assertions of error by the parties and find them to be without merit. Accordingly the judgment of the trial justice is affirmed in part and reversed in part. The case is remanded for the entry of judgment in accordance with this opinion.