Court Opinion

ID: 9590483
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 23:55:20.540272+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:18:13.330454
License: Public Domain

Johnson, Judge,
concurring specially.
I fully agree with the majority that fact questions were presented as to whether the use of railroad ties in the construction of the steps created a particularly dangerous condition and whether Tassen had superior knowledge of that hazard. I agree, therefore, that summary judgment was not appropriate in this case. I write separately to call attention to two of Tassen’s enumerations not addressed in the majority opinion.
Tassen contends that the trial court erred in holding that: (1) whether Waffle House’s failure to provide handrails constituted negligence was not a jury question; and (2) Waffle House’s failure to provide handrails and to provide stair treads and risers of particular height and width in violation of building code regulations did not amount to negligence per se. Both of these issues should have been resolved by a jury.
This Court has held that whether the failure to provide a handrail constitutes negligence is a jury question. Spencer v. Little Brownie Properties, 203 Ga. App. 324, 325 (416 SE2d 851) (1992). We have also held that a landlord’s failure to provide a handrail where a city code requires one is negligence per se, and that a jury must decide whether the code was violated. See Watts v. Jaffs, 216 Ga. App. 565 (455 SE2d 328) (1995). In her affidavit, Tassen’s expert stated that there was no handrail, that the treads and risers were of irregular dimensions, and that these conditions were in violation of the building code. Therefore, as to these issues as well as those specifically addressed in the majority opinion, questions of Waffle House’s negligence, including negligence per se, are for the jury to resolve.
I am authorized to state that Judge Ruffin joins in this special concurrence.