Opinion ID: 2518471
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: [¶ 6] Mr. Landsiedel contends he presented sufficient evidence to meet his burden of proving that Buffalo Properties was negligent. He contends the jury's verdict in favor of Buffalo Properties was not supported by substantial evidence. He cites the following evidence supporting a verdict in his favor: the door was glazed with plate glass; the use of plate glass in this location was hazardous; the applicable building code required the use of safety glass in this location; safety glass was commonly used in Buffalo since the early 1970s; Buffalo Properties never inspected to ensure its glass complied with applicable building codes and industry standards; Buffalo Properties remodeled the premises in 1998 and, although a glass man was on the premises and involved in the remodel, did nothing to determine whether the glass used in the doors was adequate; and Buffalo Properties failed to replace the glass in the door Mr. Landsiedel fell through even when it replaced the glass in the adjacent door with safety glass in 1999. Given this evidence, Mr. Landsiedel contends the jury's verdict was erroneous. [¶ 7] Buffalo Properties responds generally that under the applicable standard of review substantial evidence supported the verdict. Buffalo Properties asserts evidence was presented showing that: the area in front of the doors was fully carpeted, not covered with loose rugs or mats; both the owner of and the head of maintenance for Cross Roads Inn inspected the premises on a daily basis; Buffalo Properties had no knowledge safety glass was required in the location of the accident; no applicable building code or standards required safety glass; and, in any event, earlier in the year safety glass in fact had been installed in the door through which Mr. Landsiedel fell. [¶ 8] Assuming the evidence in favor of Buffalo Properties to be true, leaving out of consideration entirely conflicting evidence presented by Mr. Landsiedel, and affording Buffalo Properties' evidence every favorable inference that may be reasonably and fairly drawn from it, we hold there was sufficient evidence from which the jury could have found in favor of Buffalo Properties. On cross-examination, Mr. Landsiedel's expert testified that glass industry standards generally are directed to glass manufacturers and premises owners are not ordinarily aware of them; he could not offer any opinion about whether any particular building code applied to the Cross Roads Inn; safety glass is not used in most openings of most buildings; tempered glass does not prevent a person from being cut; and gravel size glass such as one witness testified he cleaned up after Mr. Landsiedel's accident is consistent with tempered glass breakage. Bill Nelson, who performed the glasswork at the Cross Roads Inn, testified that he replaced the glass in one of the doors with laminated safety glass a few months before Mr. Landsiedel's accident and thought it was the same door Mr. Landsiedel fell through. Rex Paulson, a registered professional engineer with thirty-two years experience in forensic engineering, testified that in his opinion no building code applied to the Cross Roads Inn when it was constructed and renovated; even if the UBC did apply, there was no requirement that safety glass be used on doors having a metal push bar like this door had; and the ANSI standards apply only if adopted by city officials and there was nothing indicating Buffalo officials had adopted them. The owner of the Cross Roads Inn testified he checked the premises for safety hazards on a daily basis and employed a property manager who also was required to check for safety hazards. The head of maintenance testified the door Mr. Landsiedel fell through was previously broken, he called the glass company to come and fix it, and no one from the glass company talked to him about safety glass. Assuming this evidence to be true, sufficient evidence was presented from which the jury could find Mr. Landsiedel did not meet his burden of proving Buffalo Properties was negligent.