Court Opinion

ID: 9663847
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 23:53:20.066818+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:44:34.002181
License: Public Domain

MILLER, Chief Justice
(dissenting).
I respectfully dissent. I would reverse the trial court’s summary judgment and remand for trial.
The majority affirms, relying in large part upon selected sections in the Restatement (Second) of Torts, and authorities supporting the same. It then proceeds to identify, and then ignore, one section of the Restatement and supporting authority which is particularly relevant to this appeal.
Restatement (Second) of Torts § 379A provides:
A lessor of land is subject to liability for physical harm to persons outside of the land caused by activities of the lessee or others on the land after the lessor transfers possession, if, but only if,
(a) the lessor at the time of the lease consented to such activity or knew that it would be carried on, and
(b) the lessor knew or had reason to know that it would unavoidably involve such an unreasonable risk or that special precautions necessary for safety would not be taken.
In addition to the cases cited by the majority adopting and upholding the § 379A language, several other jurisdictions follow its principle. Gonzales v. Bierman, 773 P.2d 629 (Colo.App.1989) (summary judgment in favor of landowner reversed because evidence supported allegation that landowner knew tenant kept horses on the land and that fences were in poor condition); Bober v. New Mexico State Fair, 111 N.M. 644, 808 P.2d 614 (1991) (summary judgment in favor of landowner reversed because genuine issue of material fact existed as to whether landowner parted with possession and control of premises by its lease agreement with third party).
It is for the jury, and not the judges or justices, to ascertain whether the lessor “consented to the activity,” “knew it would be carried on,” “knew or had reason to know that it would unavoidably involve such an unreasonable risk or that special precautions necessary for safety would not be taken.”
There are several genuine issues of material fact for the jury to consider. For example: (1) whether lessor advised lessees of the use of the road by the public; (2) the assertion that lessor was involved in the planning of the fence and gate and gave certain directions as to its construction; (3) lessor knew there would be some gate installed across the road; (4) lessor knew that the fence and gate would be placed there because of his insistence that lessees’ horse be kept within the property boundaries; (5) lessor admitted that the fence *262was for his benefit; (6) lessor imposed no standards as to be assured that the fence and gate would be built in a safe manner; (7) lessor made no notification to neighbors that the fence and gate would be constructed; and, (8) lessor knew that the road was traveled by the neighbors, and the injured boy on his motorcycle, in particular.
There being genuine issues of fact, summary judgment should have been denied and the issues presented to a jury.