Court Opinion

ID: 9529006
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 03:46:18.034538+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:27:34.902077
License: Public Domain

SHINN, J.
I dissent. In defendant’s public bathhouse were a plunge, tub and shower bath. When patrons bought bath tickets they were furnished soap if they requested it. The floor of the women’s shower room was of concrete. It had a “float finish” which gave it a porous texture and it was not slick; it had 33 per cent greater friction resistance when wet than when dry. It was admitted by plaintiff at the trial that the floor was properly and safely constructed. The court found that “. . . defendant negligently and carelessly permitted the floor of the shower room to have deposited on it a soapy substance consisting of soap in its dissolved and liquid form, the presence of which the plaintiff did not know and comprehend; that the said soapy substance caused the floor of the said shower room to become slick and slippery.” This is the only finding of negligence.
Plaintiff testified as follows: “Q. By Mr. Tilson: Did you actually see any soap on that floor before you fell? A. I would say that there was soap on there. Q. I mean could you see it as you were walking along? A. Well, you know, it looks like a flem. Q. The only question I asked was, you said you could see soap on the floor, I am asking you when you walked this three feet to where you fell, could you see *904this soap on the floor? A. Well, it was soap. Q. Did you see it as you were walking this six feet ? A. A grayish white soap which appeared on top of the drain. Q. Did you see it as you were walking that three feet? A. Yes, I saw there was that soapy flem. ...”
There was evidence from which the court could have concluded that defendant’s employees and assistant manager had knowledge that women patrons washed their hair in the soft water of the showers and that they occasionally used soap. The effect of the judgment is to impose upon the proprietor of a public bathhouse the duty of seeing that the patrons do not use soap in bathing themselves. If liability is to be imposed in such cases it could readily be extended to apply to club buildings, hotels and other establishments where bathing facilities are provided for the common use of members and patrons. I do not think it is a sound rule which imposes such restriction upon the ancient and respected custom of the use of soap and water in the bath. The proprietor of a public bathhouse is furnishing a public service and he has a right to conduct his business so as to meet the reasonable demands of his patrons. Every business has its own natural characteristics; it is not to be expected that the floor of a bathhouse or a ballroom or a skating rink will be kept in the same condition as to safety as the floors of storerooms and hotel lobbies are kept. There are certain peculiar hazards attached to the use of the former. If the premises, although of such a nature as to render their use somewhat hazardous, are nevertheless maintained in a condition such as is commonly found and is to be expected in similar establishments and in a condition essential to their proper use for the purposes to which they are devoted, there is no negligence. Defendant was not negligent in failing to police the women’s showers to see that no soap was used.
The responsibility of using care is not entirely upon the proprietor. The customer or patron is under the duty to anticipate those hazards, which inherently and commonly attend the use of premises for particular purposes. Plaintiff not only should have anticipated that there might be some soapy substance on the floor of the shower room but she actually saw it. I cannot help believing that if she had exercised the care which her knowledge of the facts demanded, she would not have had her regrettable accident. The evi*905dence, in my opinion, failed to establish liability of defendant for negligence, and the judgment should be reversed.
A petition for a rehearing was denied February 26, 1943. Shinn, J., voted for a rehearing.
Appellant’s petition for a hearing by the Supreme Court was denied March 29, 1943. Traynor, J., voted for a hearing.