Court Opinion

ID: 9609244
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 03:24:21.024968+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:02:49.668117
License: Public Domain

TYSON, Judge,
dissenting.
I would hold that the trial court erred in denying Carolco’s motions for directed verdict and/or judgment notwithstanding the verdict and will address the following issues: (1) the duty Carolco owed to plaintiff; (2) whether Carolco breached its duty owed; (3) the obvious nature of the dangerous condition, and plaintiff’s knowledge thereof; and (4) plaintiff’s contributory negligence.
Facts
In addition to the majority’s factual background, I add the following. Plaintiff worked for Crowvision, licensee of Carolco. Crowvision’s representatives inspected Carolco’s facilities on several occasions prior to executing the license agreement. Carolco representatives toured the facilities with Crowvision, explaining to Crowvision the layout of the studio, and the area in which Crowvision would be working. Gerald Waller, a licensed electrician and Carolco’s Facility Manager, showed Crowvision employees, including Crowvision’s Construction Coordinator Jeff Schlatter, the backlot of the studio.
Waller informed Schlatter and other Crowvision representatives about the presence of an easement on the backlot owned by Carolina Power & Light Company (“CP&L”). CP&L’s easement was thirty feet wide and contained three overhead power lines, installed in 1984. The lines ran five feet apart and parallel. The easement extended fifteen feet from the center line, and ten feet beyond the outer power lines. The center line was a neutral line hanging twenty feet from the *227ground. Both outer lines were energized and were installed 27.8 feet above ground. The energized lines were buffered on both sides by ten feet of CP&L’s easement.
Schlatter testified that Waller made “very clear” to Crowvision the presence of the easement, and that Waller stressed that the ten-foot easement boundary beyond the energized lines must not be invaded. Crowvision’s Production Designer, Alex McDowell, expressed a desire to construct sets within CP&L’s easement for the film’s “artistic needs” and the need to obtain long, in-depth shots of the set. Schlatter testified that Waller again stressed that CP&L’s easement and the boundary beyond the energized lines must not be violated.
Crowvision executed the license agreement with Carolco following repeated inspection of the premises, with notice of CP&L’s easement and power lines thereon, and with explicit instruction from Carolco’s Facility Manager not to violate the easement. Crowvision acknowledged in the license agreement that it “had full and fair opportunity to inspect the premises and facilities and that the licensed premises and facilities hereunder are satisfactory and in a safe condition.” Crowvision further warranted under the agreement that it agreed to comply, “and will cause its agents, employees and invitees to comply, with all reasonable rules, regulations and procedures established by Studio for studio-wide operations and made known to Licensee.”
Plaintiff testified that he first worked at Carolco’s studio in October 1992 during the filming of the movie “Hudsucker Proxy”. Plaintiff began work on the set of “The Crow” during late November 1992. Plaintiff was working on the backlot on 1 February 1993 in his capacity as a carpenter, employed by Crowvision. On that day, Crowvision constructed a twelve-foot high back wall of a church facade. The top of this new wall was 15.8 feet below the energized lines. Crowvision built the wall four feet into CP&L’s easement, and only six horizontal feet from the energized power lines. Schlatter testified that the wall was built so far into the backlot because McDowell, Crowvision’s Production Designer, wanted additional depth for a long-shot of the church and cemetery scene.
Crowvision’s Construction Foreman, Ralph Woollaston, directed plaintiff to pick up a large church door and place it at the front of the church facade that Crowvision had constructed on CP&L’s easement. Plaintiff, using an ariel lift bucket (a “JLG”), approached an opening *228in the back of the church facade and positioned the JLG so that he could extend the bucket into the front churchyard and place the door. Chris Crowder, another Crowvision carpenter, was working nearby and saw plaintiff raise the JLG bucket in an attempt to reach and pick up the church door. Crowder briefly turned his back, and then “heard the spark and the explosion.” Crowder turned to see plaintiff slumped over the controls of his JLG. Plaintiffs bucket had contacted the power lines on CP&L’s easement. Plaintiff sustained serious and permanent injuries.
Plaintiffs filed suit against Carolco, CP&L, Crowvision, Edward R. Pressman Film Corporation, and Hertz Equipment Rental Corporation on 20 April 1994. Plaintiffs’ claims against Carolco’s co-defendants were either settled or dismissed, and the matter proceeded to trial solely against Carolco. Carolco moved for a directed verdict both at the close of plaintiffs’ evidence and at the close of all evidence. Carolco argued that the evidence failed to establish its negligent breach of a duty, and that plaintiff was con-tributorily negligent.
I would hold that plaintiff’s evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to plaintiff, fails to show plaintiff has a right to recover. Carolco was entitled to a directed verdict or judgment notwithstanding the verdict.
“A motion for directed verdict tests the sufficiency of the evidence to take the case to the jury.” Abels v. Renfro Corp., 335 N.C. 209, 214, 436 S.E.2d 822, 825 (1993) (citations omitted). In reviewing the grant of such motion, the evidence must be considered in the light most favorable to the non-movant, giving the non-movant the benefit of every reasonable inference. Id. at 215, 436 S.E.2d 822. A defendant is entitled to a directed verdict or judgment notwithstanding the verdict where the plaintiff cannot forecast evidence sufficient to establish an essential element of the claim for relief. Williamson v. Liptzin, 141 N.C. App. 1,-S.E.2d-(COA99-813) (19 December 2000).
Carolco’s Duty
Plaintiff was a lawful visitor on Carolco’s property as an employee of the licensee, Crowvision. Carolco owed a duty of reasonable care to provide for plaintiff’s safety. Nelson v. Freeland, 349 N.C. 615, 631-32, 507 S.E.2d 882, 892 (1998), reh’g denied, 350 N.C. 108, 533 S.E.2d 467 (1999). This duty has been defined as a duty of *229ordinary care to maintain the premises in a safe condition and to warn of hidden dangers that had been or could have been discovered by reasonable inspection. Husketh v. Convenient Systems, 295 N.C. 459, 462, 245 S.E.2d 507, 509 (1978). Carolco is not an insurer of its premises, nor must it “undergo unwarranted burdens in maintaining [its] premises.” Nelson, 349 N.C. at 632, 507 S.E.2d at 892.
North Carolina law does not support a theory that the mere presence of power lines within the boundaries of the CP&L easement on Carolco’s property created an unreasonably dangerous condition, resulting in liability to Carolco. Our Supreme Court has consistently held that the mere maintenance of overhead power lines on one’s property is not wrongful or negligence per se. Floyd v. Nash, 268 N.C. 547, 151 S.E.2d 1 (1966); Philyaw v. City of Kinston, 246 N.C. 534, 98 S.E.2d 791 (1957); Mintz v. Town of Murphy, 235 N.C. 304, 69 S.E.2d 849 (1952).
The lines at issue were well within CP&L’s thirty-foot easement. A ten-foot buffer zone surrounded the lines on both sides. Maintaining power lines within a few feet of buildings or construction is also not negligence per se. See Philyaw, 246 N.C. at 535, 98 S.E.2d at 792 (defendant not negligent despite maintaining energized power lines within four feet of building on which plaintiff performed construction); Brown v. Duke Power Co., 45 N.C. App. 384, 263 S.E.2d 366, disc, review denied, 300 N.C. 194, 260 S.E.2d 615 (1980) (defendant not negligent for maintaining 7200-volt power lines approximately 12 feet from decedent’s house). Plaintiff did not present evidence that the lines were sagging, had eroded, or were in any state of disrepair. Even so, the burden of maintenance of such lines lies with CP&L, not Carolco. See Green v. Duke Power Co., 305 N.C. 603, 611, 290 S.E.2d 593, 598 (1982) (owner of easement is party charged with duty to keep easement and improvements thereon in repair).
The mere presence of the lines within the boundaries of CP&L’s easement on Carolco’s backlot does not alone forecast evidence sufficient to establish defendant’s breach of any duty of reasonable care. “The mere maintenance of high tension transmission line is not wrongful, and in order to hold the owner negligent, where an injury occurs, he must be shown to have omitted some precaution which he should have taken.” Philyaw, 246 N.C. at 537, 98 S.E.2d at 794; Mints, 235 N.C. at 314, 69 S.E.2d at 857-58.
The evidence presented at trial established that Carolco satisfied any duty it had, when it made known to Crowvision, plaintiff’s *230employer: (1) the layout of the backlot, (2) the location and specific dimensions of CP&L’s easement, and (3) the presence of the power lines. The evidence is undisputed that Carolco warned Crowvision repeatedly to maintain the ten-foot buffer surrounding both outer power lines on the easement, and not to encroach on CP&L’s easement.
Carolco took several Crowvision employees on numerous “walk-arounds” throughout the Carolco property to examine the facilities prior to signing the license agreement. Waller testified that he was present on one such walk-around with Ken Swaim, Carolco’s Studio Manager, where Schlatter and Crowvision’s Production Design and Production Management Teams examined the facility. The purpose of the walk-around was to make Crowvision aware of the work environment and conditions on Carolco’s backlot.
Waller also testified that during this meeting with Crowvision representatives, the power lines in CP&L’s easement were “discussed at length,” and Crowvision was specifically told that right-of-way distances around the power lines must not be invaded. When McDowell, Crowvision’s Production Designer, expressed a desire to build as far back on the lot as possible, Carolco “made very clear” that the right-of-way surrounding the power lines must not be encroached upon. This evidence is undisputed.
Schlatter confirmed that Carolco discussed the presence of the power lines and the easement during walk-arounds with Crowvision employees, and that Waller had warned McDowell about the easement. Schlatter testified that Waller specifically stated that there was “a thirty-foot right-of-way” and that Crowvision was limited to build no closer than fifteen feet of the center line, or ten feet from the outer lines. The evidence is unchallenged that, (1) Carolco showed Crowvision the property, (2) informed it about the specifics of the CP&L easement, and (3) warned Crowvision not to encroach on the buffer surrounding the lines.
Crowvision signed the license agreement with Carolco after the various walk-arounds and with notice of the power lines, the dimensions of the easement, and being warned not to encroach on the buffer. Crowvision acknowledged in the license agreement that the facilities were in safe condition, and that Crowvision and its agents and employees would comply with all studio regulations made known to them.
*231Proximate Cause
In order to establish a claim of negligence sufficient to survive a motion for directed verdict or judgment notwithstanding the verdict, a plaintiff must introduce evidence tending to establish that, “(1) defendant failed to exercise proper care in the performance of a duty owed to plaintiff; (2) the negligent breach of that duty was a proximate cause of plaintiffs injury; and (3) a person of ordinary prudence should have foreseen that plaintiff’s injury was probable under the circumstances as they existed.” Sheppard v. Zep Mfg. Co., 114 N.C. App. 25, 30, 441 S.E.2d 161, 164 (1994) (citing Jordan v. Jones, 314 N.C. 106, 331 S.E.2d 662 (1985)). “The element of foreseeability is a requisite of proximate cause.” Williamson, supra (citing Hairston v. Alexander Tank & Equipment Co., 310 N.C. 227, 233, 311 S.E.2d 559, 565 (1984)).
In Bogle v. Duke Power Co., 27 N.C. App. 318, 219 S.E.2d 308 (1975), disc. review denied, 289 N.C. 296, 222 S.E.2d 695 (1976), the plaintiff alleged that the electrocution death of her intestate resulted from the defendant’s negligence in allowing its power line to remain near a school building where the defendant knew or should have known it posed a danger to maintenance personnel required to work around the building. Rejecting the plaintiff’s argument, this Court determined that defendant complied with its duty to exercise reasonable care: “[i]t is unreasonable to call on the defendant to foresee that plaintiff’s intestate would ignore the warning of his supervisor and cause a metal ladder to fall against the line....” Id. at 322, 219 S.E.2d at 311; see also, Sweat v. Brunswick Electric Membership Corp., 133 N.C. App. 63, 67, 514 S.E.2d 526, 529 (1999) (“defendant was not required to foresee that plaintiffs, for unexplained reasons, would permit the ladder to come in contact with the power lines. . . .”).
The facts of the present case are similar to that of Philyaw, supra. In that case, the plaintiff’s intestate was killed when he touched power lines that were in close proximity to a building he was helping to construct. Philyaw, 246 N.C. at 535, 98 S.E.2d at 792. The decedent was standing on a wall of the building when he arose and touched the power lines that were hanging approximately four to five feet above the building. Id. The Court noted that the wires were uninsulated, and that the defendant had not posted any warning signs on or near the premises. Id. at 535-36, 98 S.E.2d at 792. The Court further observed that the plaintiff’s employer failed to request that the defendant relocate or de-energize the lines while construction was taking place. Id.
*232The Supreme Court affirmed the grant of the defendant’s motion for judgment as of nonsuit. Id. at 538, 98 S.E.2d at 794. The Court stated that, regardless of any negligence of the defendant in maintaining the uninsulated power lines, “it is apparent from the evidence that the injury to and death of plaintiffs intestate was independently and proximately produced by the wrongful act, neglect, or default of an outside agency or responsible third person.” Id. at 537, 98 S.E.2d at 793. The Court concluded that the decedent’s injuries occurred because the decedent’s employer chose to construct the building too close to the energized wires, and the defendant “was not charged with the duty of foreseeing that such would be done.” Id. at 537-38, 98 S.E.2d at 794.
In Mintz, supra, our Supreme Court held the evidence insufficient to submit to the jury on the plaintiff’s claim that the defendant breached a duty in maintaining its power lines:
And applying the principles of law here stated to the evidence offered by plaintiff, such evidence fails to make out a case of actionable negligence. If it should be conceded that the evidence tends to show that defendant failed to maintain its transmission line in accordance with its legal duty, the evidence fails to show that such failure was the proximate cause of the injury to plaintiff. On the other hand, it clearly appears from the evidence that the injury of which plaintiff complains was ‘independently and proximately produced by the wrongful act, neglect, or default of an outside agency or responsible third person.’
Mintz, 235 N.C. at 315, 69 S.E.2d at 858; see also, Brown at 390, 263 S.E.2d at 370. In Brown, the Court held that the defendant was not required to foresee that the decedent, who was aware of the presence of power lines crossing his property pursuant to a valid easement, and who appreciated the danger posed, would hold a metal antenna in a manner that it would contact the power lines. Id.
In the present case, the dangerous condition which proximately caused plaintiff’s injuries was created when Crowvision directed plaintiff to maneuver the church door around the twelve-foot wall, that encroached four feet into the CP&L easement, and only six horizontal feet from the energized power lines. This direction to plaintiff was in flagrant disregard for both Carolco’s express warnings and regulations of the license agreement. The danger of working in such close proximity to the energized lines was obvious and known.
*233Schlatter testified that he understood that proper protocol at Carolco required that Waller be consulted about any electrical issue that arose in the course of production. Waller had previously assisted Schlatter with relocation of an electrical distribution box that interfered with a particular camera shot. However, no one from Crowvision ever consulted with Waller or requested that anyone at Carolco arrange to have the power lines relocated or de-energized on the day of the accident. Waller testified that no one from Crowvision submitted to Carolco a construction site plan indicating Crowvision would construct the church facade within CP&L’s easement. A site plan was submitted by Crowvision to Carolco required by the license agreement. The site plan Crowvision furnished to Carolco did not show anv construction within CP&L’s easement.
Applying the principles set forth by our Supreme Court, I would hold that plaintiff’s injuries were not proximately caused by any breach of legal duty owed plaintiff by Carolco. Crowvision violated the ten-foot buffer zone and constructed the church set facade only six feet from the overhead wires with full knowledge and warning of the existence of the energized wires. Crowvision then directed plaintiff to assist in the construction of the church facade. Plaintiff did so, using a JLG lift within the CP&L easement. Schlatter admitted that Crowvision “had no safety programs at all” for its employees working around power lines and with JLGs.
In accordance with Philyaw and Mints, Carolco should not be held to the duty to foresee that Crowvision and plaintiff would, for unknown reasons, ignore explicit instructions and its written agreement to maintain the easement buffer zone surrounding the wires.
Obvious Nature of the Danger
Plaintiff argues that the evidence shows Carolco should have known of the close proximity to the power lines in which plaintiff was attempting to place the church door. However, evidence shows that Crowvision did not submit to Carolco any construction site plan showing that the twelve-foot church facade would be constructed within the easement. The wall was constructed at the direction of McDowell, Crowvision’s Production Designer, who desired a “long shot looking through the gates of the church back towards the church.” Contrary to the majority’s statement that “Waller was aware the poles were within a foot or two of the power lines,” Waller testified as follows:
*234I was never aware of anything that actually encroached into the right-of-way, the recognized right-of-way, but we recognized that the right-of-way would be ten feet away from the power lines. I was never asked or presented with anything that would have informed the Studio of an encroachment into the right-of-way.
In any event, our Supreme Court has consistently held that a landowner is not obligated to protect a lawful visitor from obvious and known dangers. See, e.g., Revis v. Orr, 234 N.C. 158, 160-61, 66 S.E.2d 652, 654 (1951) (recovery permitted only where dangerous condition is known to landowner and not known to invitee); Harris v. Nachamson Dept. Stores Co., 247 N.C. 195, 198-99, 100 S.E.2d 323, 326 (1957) (law does not impose duty on landowner to protect from dangers known or which should be anticipated by invitee); Wrenn v. Hillcrest Convalescent Home, Inc., 270 N.C. 447, 448, 154 S.E.2d 483, 484 (1967) (defendant landowner under “under no duty to warn plaintiff, as an invitee, of an obvious condition or of a condition of which the plaintiff had equal or superior knowledge.”).
The majority of decisions from this Court adhere to the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the general rule. See, e.g., Von Viczay v. Thoms, 140 N.C. App. 737, 538 S.E.2d 629 (2000); Jenkins v. Lake Montonia Club, Inc., 125 N.C. App. 102, 479 S.E.2d 259 (1997); Farrelly v. Hamilton Square, 119 N.C. App. 541, 459 S.E.2d 23 (1995).
In Von Viczay, this Court recently held that the defendant landowner could not be responsible for injuries sustained by the plaintiff when she fell on the defendant’s icy walkway. Judge Smith stated,
Plaintiff expends considerable effort in her brief to this Court focusing on defendant’s knowledge of the dangerous condition. Indeed, defendant’s own testimony that she had the driveway plowed and walkways surrounding the house salted evidences her knowledge of the potential danger. However, the pivotal issue in this case is not defendant’s knowledge of the condition, but is plaintiff’s knowledge.
Von Viczay, 140 N.C. App. at 739, 538 S.E.2d at 631 (emphasis supplied). Our Court noted the principles set forth by the Supreme Court in Wrenn, supra, and concluded that summary judgment for the defendant was proper where the “ ‘evidence presents no facts from which it can be inferred that defendant had more knowledge than *235plaintiff of the alleged dangerous or unsafe condition.’ ” Id at 740, 538 S.E.2d at 632; see also, James v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 141 N.C. App. 721,_S.E.2d-(COA99-1465) (16 January 2001) (Edmunds, J., dissenting).
I am cognizant of the few decisions of this Court, upon which the majority relies, which appear to hold that a landowner has a duty to take precautions against obvious dangers where a reasonable person would “ ‘anticipate an unreasonable risk of harm to the [visitor] notwithstanding [the visitor’s] knowledge, warning, or the obvious nature of the condition.’” James, supra (emphasis in original) (quoting Southern Railway Co. v. ADM Milling Co., 58 N.C. App. 667, 673, 294 S.E.2d 750, 755, disc. review denied, 307 N.C. 270, 299 S.E.2d 215 (1982)); see also, Lorinovich v. K Mart Corp., 134 N.C. App. 158, 516 S.E.2d 643, cert. denied, 351 N.C. 107,-S.E.2d-(1999); Williams v. Walnut Creek Amphitheater Partnership, 121 N.C. App. 649, 468 S.E.2d 501, disc. review denied, 343 N.C. 312, 471 S.E.2d 82 (1996).
The nature of the danger involved in those cases is easily distinguishable from the openness and obviousness of “the danger inherent in an electric power line,” the knowledge of such “is generally possessed by adults of normal intelligence.” Floyd, 268 N.C. at 551, 151 S.E.2d at 4. In James, the plaintiff was injured when she slipped and fell on a puddle of water near the entrance of a store. James, 141 N.C. App. at-,-S.E.2d at-. The plaintiff in Lorinovich was hit by a falling can of salsa which dislodged as she reached for another can that had been stacked too high by the defendant store. Lorinovich at 160, 516 S.E.2d at —. In Williams, the plaintiff was injured when she fell down a steep hill while exiting an open air theater in a crowd and with inadequate lighting. Williams at 652, 468 S.E.2d at 502-03; see also, Southern Railway Co. at 674, 294 S.E.2d at 755 (plaintiff injured when slipped on feed from defendant’s mill).
We are required to follow the unchanged Supreme Court precedent enumerated in this dissent. See, e.g., Brundage v. Foye, 118 N.C. App. 138, 141, 454 S.E.2d 669, 671 (1995) (“our responsibility is to follow established precedent set forth by our Supreme Court.”). The majority, in relying upon two decisions of this Court, wholly ignores the consistent precedent of our Supreme Court that a plaintiff cannot recover where he ignores the obvious danger of an energized power line when in close proximity thereto. See, e.g., Gibbs v. Carolina Power & Light Co., 268 N.C. 186, 192, 150 S.E.2d 207, 212 (1966) *236(plaintiff who sustained electrical burns while working in close proximity to power lines could not recover where “in the face of obvious and recognized danger he turned his back on a known safe course of conduct and embraced a course of danger. . .”); Mintz, 235 N.C. at 315, 69 S.E.2d at 858 (“Where a person seeing [an uninsulated power line] knows that it is, or may be highly dangerous, it is his duty to avoid coming in contact therewith.”); Deaton v. Board of Trustees of Elon College, 226 N.C. 433, 440, 38 S.E.2d 561, 566 (1946) (no recovery for electrocuted plaintiff where plaintiff, knowing dangers involved in working with power lines, chose to proceed with lines in unsafe manner); Brown, 45 N.C. App. at 390, 263 S.E.2d at 370 (citations omitted) (“With respect to power lines in particular, ‘a person has a legal duty to avoid contact with an electrical wire of which he is aware and which he knows may be very dangerous.’ ”).
In Lambert v. Duke Power Co., 32 N.C. App. 169, 231 S.E.2d 31, disc. review denied, 292 N.C. 265, 233 S.E.2d 392 (1977), the plaintiff sought to recover for injuries sustained when he touched a power line while working on a billboard. The evidence showed that the plaintiff had previously worked on the same billboard and had been warned about the presence of the wire by a co-worker. Id. at 171, 231 S.E.2d at 33. This Court held that the injuries did not result from the defendant’s negligence, but from the plaintiff’s “ ‘tragic lapse of attention to a known danger....’ ” Id. (citation omitted). In Floyd, 268 N.C. at 551, 151 S.E.2d at 4, the court stated the mere fact that the defendant had knowledge of the danger posed did not support a theory of negligence in the absence of an indication that “deceased did not have an awareness of the danger inherent in an electric power line, such as is generally possessed by adults of normal intelligence.” The majority has failed to cite any contrary precedent whatsoever in the context of power lines which would justify its position. Nor has the majority attempted to distinguish these Supreme Court cases from the present case.
Here, the evidence is undisputed that Crowvision employees, including Schlatter and plaintiff, knew of the dangers that the power lines presented. Evidence showed that plaintiff had been working on Carolco’s property since October 1992. Plaintiff had worked on Carolco’s backlot, and specifically the CP&L easement, prior to the accident. Plaintiff was given notice by Crowvision, his employer, of the power lines on the easement, and had been warned to be careful when working in the vicinity. Plaintiff testified that he knew the power lines were dangerous and could cause serious injury or death, *237and he knew to avoid the lines when operating machinery, and specifically, a JLG.
Plaintiff’s accident on 1 February 1993 was a terrible tragedy, and plaintiff suffered severe and life-long injuries as a result. However, as a matter of law, plaintiff failed to forecast evidence that Carolco negligently breached its duty of reasonable care. The evidence, taken in the light most favorable to plaintiff, fails to establish Carolco was negligent or that it proximately caused plaintiffs injuries. I would hold that the trial court erred in failing to grant defendant’s motion for directed verdict and/or judgment notwithstanding the verdict. Williamson, supra (defendant entitled to directed verdict and judgment notwithstanding the verdict where plaintiff cannot produce evidence of foreseeability, and thus, proximate cause).
Contributory Negligence
In light of my previous conclusion that the trial court should have granted Carolco’s motion for directed verdict, the issue of contributory negligence would not be addressed. However, Carolco also assigns as error the trial court’s denial of its motions for directed verdict/judgment notwithstanding the verdict or a new trial on this ground. I would alternatively hold that the trial court should have granted either the directed verdict or judgment notwithstanding the verdict because plaintiff’s contributory negligence.
Our Supreme Court has consistently held that a plaintiff has a duty to avoid the open and obvious danger of an energized power line. That Court has also consistently held that a plaintiff’s failure to do so constitutes contributory negligence as a matter of law. See, e.g., Floyd, supra; Gibbs, supra; Deaton, supra.
In Deaton, the Supreme Court held that the deceased was contributorily negligent where “[a]t least two perfectly safe courses were open to the deceased, and yet he chose to handle a live wire with his bare hands while he was standing on wet ground. He discarded the safe and chose instead the patently dangerous and unsafe method. . . .” Deaton, 226 N.C. at 440, 38 S.E.2d at 566.
This Court has also decided other cases with similar facts to this case and unanimously reached the opposite result. See, e.g., Brown, supra. In Brown, this Court acknowledged that a plaintiff is not per se contributorily negligent if he contacts an energized power line. Brown, 45 N.C. App. at 390, 263 S.E.2d at 370. However, we noted that a court must find contributory negligence as a matter of law “where *238the undisputed evidence reveals that plaintiff has failed to exercise due care while approaching or working around electric lines despite being explicitly warned about the electric lines which subsequently injured him." Id. (citations omitted) (emphasis supplied). We concluded that the plaintiff’s “lapse of attention to a known danger [of the power lines] constituted contributory negligence.” Id. at 391, 263 S.E.2d at 370.
The law of contributory negligence regarding contact with power lines is set forth by well-established North Carolina law. See Floyd, supra, (deceased’s “tragic lapse of attention to a known danger in the immediate vicinity must be deemed negligence by the deceased”); Williams v. Power & Light Co., 296 N.C. 400, 404, 250 S.E.2d 255, 258 (1979) (“ [i]t is well settled that when a person is aware of an electrical wire and knows that it is or may be highly dangerous, he has a duty to avoid coming in contact with it”).
I cannot agree with the majority’s statement that plaintiff was not contributorily negligent as a matter of law because “we cannot say a person using ordinary care would have recognized the danger of operating a JLG at or near the power lines.” Not only is this statement in contravention to the precedent cited herein, but plaintiff affirmatively testified that he knew of the propensity for danger when working around the power lines, and that the lines must be avoided when working with machinery such as a JLG. The evidence is undisputed that both Crowvision and plaintiff knew of the easement and its dimensions. Plaintiff had worked on Carolco’s property since October 1992, and knew of the presence of the power lines. Plaintiff had been warned about the easement and the power lines.
Nevertheless, plaintiff operated the JLG within the CP&L easement and in close proximity to the power lines, without requesting that the lines be de-energized or moved. There is evidence that plaintiff could have accomplished his task by moving the door from the other side of the wall, or by using other non-elevating equipment. Plaintiff had “[a]t least two perfectly safe courses . . . open to [him],” but “discarded the safe and chose instead the patently dangerous and unsafe method.” Deaton, 226 N.C. at 440, 38 S.E.2d at 566.
Both the Supreme Court’s and this Court’s precedent supports the conclusion that plaintiff failed to exercise due care while approaching and working around power lines which he knew to be dangerous. Plaintiff was contributorily negligent as a matter of law for his disre*239gard for the obvious and known danger the energized power lines presented.
I conclude that the trial court erred by not granting Carolco’s motions for directed verdict or judgment notwithstanding the verdict for the reasons set out above. Accordingly, I respectfully dissent.