Court Opinion

ID: 9595612
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 00:42:08.584623+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:01:29.282076
License: Public Domain

HERNANDEZ, Judge (dissenting). Defendant, in support of its motion for summary judgment, filed the affidavit of Henry L. Jacobson, a professional meteorologist with 45 years experience, who during 7 of those years was the Chief Forecaster of the United States Weather Bureau for Arizona and New Mexico. By affidavit Mr. Jacobson stated that United States climatological data showed that the velocity of the wind had never been exceeded from 1968, the year in which the building was built to noon on October 29, 1971, the date and approximate time of the accident. He further stated that weather conditions on that day and at that time could cause wind in excess of 75 to 80 miles per hour. Since the lot across the street from defendant’s business was vacant, gusts of wind “could strike the front windows of Vip’s at extremely high speeds without impedance [sic].” A second affidavit from Mr. Jerry Whalen, supervisor of defendant’s restaurants in New Mexico and the individual responsible for the restaurant in question, stated that he made a daily inspection of the windows for defects and cleanliness, and that, in addition, a weekly inspection was made of the windows. He reported he checked the window that broke on the Monday before the accident as required by the weekly check list; it appeared to be in perfectly good condition. He also checked it on the day of the accident and he saw no defects. The plaintiff offered nothing in response to those affidavits. I am of the opinion that with these affidavits defendants made a prima facie showing that there was no genuine issue of fact on the question of negligence on the part of the defendant. As our Supreme Court stated in Goodman v. Brock, 83 N. M. 789, 498 P.2d 676 (1972): “Unquestionably the burden was on the defendants to show an absence of a genuine issue of fact, or that they were entitled as a matter of law for some other reason to a summary judgment in their favor. [citations omitted] However, once defendants had made a prima facie showing that they were entitled to summary judgment, the burden was on plaintiff to show that there was a genuine factual issue and that defendants were not entitled as a matter of law to summary judgment. . . . By a prima facie showing is meant such evidence as is sufficient in law to raise a presumption of fact or establish the fact in question unless rebutted. . ... . The burden on the movant does not require him to show or demonstrate beyond all possibility that no genuine issue of fact exists.” It is my opinion that the defendant met his burden and the plaintiff did not. For these reasons I respectfully dissent.