Court Opinion

ID: 9711702
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 04:37:14.158425+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:06.902382
License: Public Domain

Dissenting Opinion.
Hoffman, C.J.
I dissent from the majority opinion.
The decision in this case rests upon knowledge of the defect in question by the appellee-City of Logansport.
In City of New Albany v. Slattery (1919), 72 Ind. App. 503, at 508, 124 N. E. 755, at 756, the rule was well stated,
“In cases like the one before us, it is well settled in this state that the complaining party must not only prove that the alleged defective condition existed, but that the city had knowledge thereof, actual or constructive, long enough before the accident to repair the defect, and failed to do so. The rule of constructive knowledge applies only to such defects as might have been discovered by the exercise of ordinary care and diligence.”
The evidence here shows that a defect existed. However, there is no evidence in the record to show how long such *299defect, which caused the fall of appellant, was in existence. The photographs and testimony of witnesses established the exact defect in the sidewalk which caused the fall and it is not disputed that such existed. To hold the City liable evidence must be presented to establish that such defect existed a sufficient length of time so that the City knew, or should have known, of its existence and had enough time to repair such defect. There is testimony that the general poor condition of the sidewalk existed “for some time prior to her (appellant’s) fall.” There was no testimony that the particular defect which caused the fall was in existence for any length of time prior thereto.
From the evidence and reasonable inferences most favorable to plaintiff-appellant the trial court was correct in granting the motion for judgment on the evidence in favor of defendantappellee.
The judgment of the trial court should be affirmed.
Note. — Reported in 279 N. E. 2d 578.