Court Opinion

ID: 9685671
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 14:56:40.295699+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:09.222860
License: Public Domain

ON REHEARING
On application for rehearing, appellant argues that our original opinion misstates the respective roles of the court and the jury as to defendant Kingsberry’s duty to the plaintiff. Appellant says the opinion leaves it to the jury to determine what is the defendant’s duty.
The criticism seems to be directed at our choice of words in two instances when we wrote: “It would then be for the jury to say what was the extent of Kingsberry’s duty and whether it violated its duty”; and, “The question here is not whether Kingsberry can avoid liability only by altering or reconstructing its premises, but what is the extent of the common law duty which Kingsberry owes * *
If our opinion is subject to this interpretation, we certainly did not intend it. We adhere to the long-established common law tradition that it is for the court to define the duty owed, and for the jury to say whether there has been a breach of that duty. This duty, as we pointed out in this case, is to keep the premises reasonably safe for invitees such as plaintiff. What we said in the original opinion, and we reiterate it here, is that the jury could consider the contractual obligation in determining as a matter of fact whether Kings-berry breached this common law duty, that is, what is the extent of this duty under the evidence.
Counsel also indicates that our statement in the opinion: “The consent judgment against AGS is subject to deduction for any recovery from Kingsberry Homes,” may reflect a misunderstanding of the facts. We do not think so. Whether our statement is correct or not is immaterial since it is neither an issue nor a relevant fact in the case. Therefore, we withdraw it from the original opinion.
In conclusion, we do not consider “the Court’s opinion marks a revolutionary' departure from established common law concepts” as appellant suggests. We see no need to discuss any other contentions made in support of application for rehearing since we consider they were fully and amply developed in the original opinion.
Opinion corrected and extended. Application overruled.
LIVINGSTON, C. J., and SIMPSON, COLEMAN and McCALL, JJ., concur.