Opinion ID: 1671125
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: This Court recognizes:

Text: `The standard of review applicable to a directed verdict or to a denial of a motion for a directed verdict is whether the nonmoving party has presented substantial evidence in support of his position. If he has not, then a directed verdict is proper. A verdict is properly directed only where there is a complete absence of proof on a material issue or where there are no disputed questions of fact for the jury to determine. Moreover, whether to direct a verdict is not a matter within the discretion of the trial court; on review no presumption of correctness attaches to such a ruling.' Ricketts v. Norfolk Southern Ry., 686 So.2d 1100, 1103 (Ala.1996) (quoting K.S. v. Carr, 618 So.2d 707, 713 (Ala.1993)) (citations omitted). In determining whether Steen presented substantial evidence to establish that she was a licensee on Central Parking's property, this Court must view all the evidence in a light most favorable to [Steen] and must entertain such reasonable evidentiary inferences as the jury would be free to draw. Carter v. Henderson, 598 So.2d 1350, 1353 (Ala.1992). Steen began working for the Adam's Mark Hotel in May 1995 as a grounds-maintenance employee. Her duties included picking up trash, turning on the sprinkler systems in various places on the grounds, planting flowers, changing the flower beds, etc. The Adam's Mark Hotel building is located directly along the hotel owner's property line; the parcel of land beside the hotel property is owned by the City of Mobile. Located on that land is a parking garage managed by Central Parking. The area between the hotel building and the neighboring parking garage is an alleyway; the alleyway is on the land owned by the City of Mobile and controlled by Central Parking. The Adam's Mark Hotel building services division had built a gate in front of the alleyway three or four months before this accident occurred. Steen had the only key to the gate, and she went back and forth through the gate four or five times a day, as part of her job. Steen used this area to store her plants, soil bags, and tools, including her wheelbarrow. Many of the flowers were brightly colored, and the materials were otherwise clearly visible. The accident occurred on November 28, 1995, in the alleyway. Moody's supervisor at Central Parking asked him to remove and disassemble the wooden object, which was located on the third floor of the parking garage. Moody lifted the object and placed one end of it on the rail of the parking garage. Moody then took a step forward; his stepping shifted the weight of the object and caused him to lose control of it. The object fell off the rail. Moody yelled, then looked down and saw Steen lying on the ground; she had been hit by the falling object. As a result of this accident, Steen suffered multiple injuries, including dental problems, recurring headaches, a 50% vocational loss, a 10% impairment in the right shoulder, and a 5% neck impairment. Moody had never previously seen anyone in the area where the object landed and had no knowledge that it was open to the public. The only issue before the jury was whether Steen had Central Parking's implied permission to be in the alleyway when she was injured; if so, then she was a licensee rather than a trespasser. Central Parking contends that the trial court committed reversible error in failing to rule that Steen was a trespasser, as a matter of law, and in denying its motions for a directed verdict and a judgment notwithstanding the verdict based on that argument.