Court Opinion

ID: 9861700
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-25 00:20:22.305557+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:28:50.284899
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE LUND, dissenting: As stated in the majority opinion when referring to section 343A of Restatement (Second) of Torts, K mart was not liable to plaintiff, invitee, from the danger known to him or obvious to him unless K mart should anticipate the harm, despite the knowledge or obviousness. The plaintiff entered the same door he exited, the location of the accident. Customers regularly used the exit, and there was no warning on the exit side of the entrance of the posts located immediately outside the door. The two posts were close to the door and could easily block a person carrying a large box or package. If plaintiff had entered the main door, never having been near the service exit door, liability for creation of a dangerous situation would certainly have been upheld. Plaintiff’s own testimony indicated his knowledge of the posts was based upon his belief that he must have seen them when he entered the door. I challenge the majority to say, after they have entered a retail establishment, that they remember the nature of the entry construction, as well as possible obstructions. In Allgauer v. Le Bastille, Inc. (1981), 101 Ill. App. 3d 978, 428 N.E.2d 1146, the plaintiff fell on steps when leaving the restaurant. The court rejected defendant’s argument that knowledge based on the fact she had entered the same entrance, as a matter of law, barred recovery. The court held this matter had no bearing on whether the defendant had a duty to give warnings, and was only relevant as to the issue of contributory negligence. The defendant was a retailer and sold large items, carried out of the store by customers. It was within the realm of the jury’s discretion to hold K mart should have anticipated harm despite plaintiff’s having entered the obstructed doorway. We should reverse, mandating reinstatement of the jury verdict.