Michelle Eickhoff v. Douglas Gelbach ( 2020 )

In the
Missouri Court of Appeals
Western District
MICHELLE EICKHOFF, ET AL., )
)
Appellants, ) WD83433
)
v. ) OPINION FILED:
) September 15, 2020
DOUGLAS GELBACH, ET AL., )
)
Respondents. )
Appeal from the Circuit Court of Johnson County, Missouri
The Honorable R. Michael Wagner, Judge
Before Division Three: Gary D. Witt, Presiding Judge, Lisa White Hardwick, Judge and
Thomas N. Chapman, Judge
Michelle Eickhoff and John Eickhoff1 (collectively "the Eickhoffs") appeal from the
judgment of the Circuit Court of Johnson County entering summary judgment in favor of
Douglas Gelbach and Rhonda Gelbach2 (collectively "the Gelbachs") against the Eickhoffs
on claims of general negligence, negligence per se, premises liability, and loss of
consortium. We reverse and remand.
1
Because the Eickhoffs share a last name, we refer to them by their first name. The Eickhoffs' son, Tyler
Eickhoff, will likewise be referred to by his first name. No familiarity or disrespect is intended.
2
Similarly, the Gelbachs share a last name, and we refer to them individually by first name. No familiarity
or disrespect is intended.
Factual and Procedural Background3
The Gelbachs own a significant number of residential rental properties, both homes
and apartments, including the house that is the subject of this litigation, located at 117 West
Russell in Warrensburg, Missouri ("Property"). On February 18, 2016, Tyler Eickhoff,
Charles Bollmeyer, Austin May, and Calvin Rucker (collectively "the Tenants") entered
into a lease of the Property for a term of August 1, 2016, through July 31, 2017. Between
2014 and 2016, the Gelbachs made extensive repairs, modifications, and improvements to
the Property, which were completed before the lease term began. The Tenants took
possession of the Property on August 1, 2016. On October 30, 2016, Michelle was visiting
her son, Tyler, at the Property and fell down a flight of stairs located inside the Property
causing injury.
The lease provided in relevant part:
10. Acceptance and Return of Premises: The Tenant's entry into
possession of the premises shall be considered conclusive evidence that the
premises and the building of which it forms a part are in good and satisfactory
order and repair at such time. It is agreed that there have been no promises
to decorate, alter, repair, or improve the premises, or representations as to the
condition and repair of this premises, except as are set forth herein, and that
the Tenant agrees unless otherwise stated herein to occupy the premises in
its "as-is and clean" condition. The Tenant agrees that the premises are in a
tenantable condition . . . .
11. Entry of Premises: Landlord reserves the right to enter upon the leased
premises at all reasonable hours for the purpose of inspecting the same, or of
making repairs, additions or alterations to the building in which the leased
premises are located . . . .
3
"When considering appeals from summary judgments, the Court will review the record in the light most
favorable to the party against whom judgment was entered." ITT Commercial Fin. Corp. v. Mid-Am. Marine Supply
Corp., 854 S.W.2d 371, 376 (Mo. banc 1993). The facts contained in affidavits or otherwise in support of a party's
motion are accepted "as true unless contradicted by the non-moving party's response to the summary judgment
motion." Id.
2
12. Locks: Tenant understands and agrees that he shall not, in any event or
circumstance, install or cause to be installed on the premises additional locks
of whatever kind, nor make or cause to be made, any changes in or to the
existing locks.
13. Rules and Regulations:
(b) Tenant … shall not decorate, make repairs, structural alterations in or
additions to the buildings or equipment on the leased premised [sic] without
the prior, express and written consent of Landlord. Decorations include, but
are not limited to painting, wallpapering, and hanging of murals or posters.
(c) Will give to the Landlord prompt written notice of … any defects …
which come to Tenants notice in connection with said premises, so that such
defects may be corrected and the Landlord shall have a reasonable time
thereafter to make repairs.
When the Tenants took possession of the property from the Gelbachs, the staircase
where Michelle fell did not have a handrail installed. Douglas and the Tenants had a
conversation regarding the lack of a handrail and the installation of one, and it was agreed
between them that a handrail would not be installed.
Prior to the lease between the Gelbachs and the Tenants, the City of Warrensburg
adopted the 2012 International Residential Code ("Code"), which, regarding stairways,
provided that "[h]andrails shall be provided on at least one side of each continuous run of
treads or flight with four or more risers." INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE, R311.7.8
(2012); See Warrensburg Code of Ordinances Sec. 6-19 (2016) (adopting the Code).
Michelle's fall occurred on a flight of stairs with more than four risers, on which no handrail
had been installed on either side. Subsequent to the fall, on or about March 2018, Douglas
installed a handrail on those stairs.
3
On March 5, 2018, the Eickhoffs filed a petition asserting four claims against the
Gelbachs: (Count I) general negligence, (Count II) negligence per se, (Count III) premises
liability, and (Count IV) loss of consortium. On March 1, 2019, the Gelbachs moved for
summary judgment on all counts. After substantial briefing, the circuit court heard
argument on September 3, 2019, and subsequently entered summary judgment in favor of
the Gelbachs on December 12, 2019, dismissing the case with prejudice. This appeal
followed.
Standard of Review
The Missouri Supreme Court has outlined our applicable standard of review for
summary judgment:
The trial court makes its decision to grant summary judgment based on the
pleadings, record submitted, and the law; therefore, this Court need not defer
to the trial court's determination and reviews the grant of summary judgment
de novo. ITT Commercial Fin. Corp. v. Mid-Am. Marine Supply Corp., 854
S.W.2d 371, 376 (Mo. banc 1993); Rule 74.04. In reviewing the decision to
grant summary judgment, this Court applies the same criteria as the trial court
in determining whether summary judgment was proper. Id. Summary
judgment is only proper if the moving party establishes that there is no
genuine issue as to the material facts and that the movant is entitled to
judgment as a matter of law. Id. The facts contained in affidavits or
otherwise in support of a party's motion are accepted "as true unless
contradicted by the non-moving party's response to the summary judgment
motion." Id. Only genuine disputes as to material facts preclude summary
judgment. Id. at 378. A material fact in the context of summary judgment is
one from which the right to judgment flows. Id.
A defending party . . . may establish a right to summary judgment by
demonstrating: (1) facts negating any one of the elements of the non-
movant's claim; (2) "that the non-movant, after an adequate period for
discovery, has not been able and will not be able to produce sufficient
evidence to allow the trier of fact to find the existence of any one" of the
elements of the non-movant's claim; or (3) "that there is no genuine dispute
as to the existence of the facts necessary to support movant's properly
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pleaded affirmative defense." Id. at 381. Each of these three methods
individually "establishes the right to judgment as a matter of law." Id.
Goerlitz v. City of Maryville, 333 S.W.3d 450, 452-53 (Mo. banc 2011).
Discussion
The Eickhoffs raise two points on appeal. First, the Eickhoffs assert the circuit court
erred in granting summary judgment to the Gelbachs because there was a material issue of
fact regarding whether the Gelbachs retained partial or shared control of the house. Second,
the Eickhoffs argue the circuit court erred in granting summary judgment because there
was a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the Gelbachs had knowledge of the
dangerous condition created by the handrail in that the Gelbachs "are held to have
knowledge of a dangerous condition that is a violation of an ordinance, and that the
[T]enants had no knowledge of the ordinance or the dangerous condition." We address
each in turn.
Point One
In their first point on appeal, the Eickhoffs assert there is a genuine issue of material
fact as to whether the Gelbachs retained partial or shared control of the property. "The
general rule, pursuant to Missouri case law, is that a landlord does not owe a duty to his
tenant, and is not liable for personal injuries, received by a tenant or by a tenant's invitee,
caused by the dangerous conditions of the premises." Dean v. Gruber, 978 S.W.2d 501,
503 (Mo. App. W.D. 1998). There are three recognized exceptions to the general rule,
which include: "(1) when the landlord had knowledge of a dangerous condition, which
condition is not discoverable by the tenant, and the landlord fails to make disclosure; (2)
5
when the injury occurs in a common area; and (3) when a landlord is responsible for making
repairs, but negligently fails to do so." Id. (citing Newcomb v. St. Louis Office for Mental
Retardation & Developmental Disabilities Res., 871 S.W.2d 71, 74 (Mo. App. E.D.
1994)).4 The Eickhoffs allege that the third exception is applicable to the first point in that
the Gelbachs as landlord were responsible for making repairs and the Gelbachs had retained
some level of control over the Property.
"[A] landlord is under no obligation to a tenant to repair unless there is a contract
which creates a duty to repair[,]" but when the landlord retains partial control of the
property to make repairs, then the landlord is obligated to make such repairs and keep the
property in a reasonably safe condition for its intended use. Dean, 978 S.W.2d at 503. The
dispositive issue in cases where tenants allege the landlord assumed a duty to make repairs
is "whether the landlord did retain control of the particular portion of the premises under
consideration. This is because the foundation of the landlord's duty is based upon his
retention of control." Id. at 504. However, "[t]here must be something more—some
additional fact or facts from which a jury could infer that under the agreement the tenant
gave up and surrendered his right to exclusive possession and control and yielded to the
landlord some degree or measure of control and dominion over the premises; some
substantial evidence of a sharing of control as between landlord and tenant." Lemm v.
Gould, 425 S.W.2d 190, 195 (Mo. 1968).5 A landlord is liable for damages if "he retained
4
The Eickhoffs and the Gelbachs agree that the stairwell is not a common area.
5
The Eickhoffs argue that because the Gelbachs installed a handrail on their own initiative in 2018, this
demonstrates the Gelbachs had control of the Property. However, this is irrelevant as the issue is not whether the
Gelbachs had control over the Property in 2018, which was more than one year after the tenants' lease expired, the
issue is whether the Gelbachs had control over the Property during the tenants' lease term.
6
a general supervision over the premises for a limited purpose such as the making of repairs
or alterations, and the right to enter the premises and make repairs upon his own initiative
. . . ." Id.
In Lemm, a child, Michael Lemm, fell from a porch located on the fourth floor of an
apartment building when he climbed through an opening between a baluster and a wooden
column. Id. at 191. He brought suit against his landlord, Gould, alleging that the landlord
had a duty to limit the opening so that the child could not have fallen through. Id. at 192-
93. The agreement between Gould and the Lemms provided that the landlord would
provide, furniture, utilities, and repairs. Id. at 194. Gould retained a key for emergencies
and advised the Lemms that the landlord "would use this key to enter the apartment 'to do
any repairs [Gould] might think necessary.'" Id. Gould accessed the Lemms' apartment to
make repairs at the request of the Lemms, but Gould also made repairs of his own initiative
without consulting the Lemms. Id.at 194. Thus, evidence of Gould's "free access to the
premises" for the purpose of making repairs established "a duty to maintain the porch in a
reasonably safe condition for the use intended." Id. at 195, 197.
In Stephenson v. Countryside Townhomes, LLC, 437 S.W.3d 380, 389 (Mo. App.
E.D. 2014), the court held that the issue of control was in dispute, and thus, properly placed
before the jury. In a leased apartment, J.S. fell from a second-story bedroom window
resulting in injury. Id. at 382. The window was missing a lock, and the screen and storm
window had been removed. Id. at 382-83. The landlord did not inspect the property or
initiate repairs. Id. at 389. The tenants were responsible for contacting the landlord about
any repairs, and when the maintenance crew arrived the tenants would let them into the
7
apartment. Id. The lease prohibited tenants from making any "alterations, additions, or
modifications." Id. at 386. The landlord retained a key for emergencies and inspections,
but access was limited to certain hours of the day and "by agreement with tenant" or "after
notifying tenant." Id. Based on these factors, the Eastern District of the Court held that
the issue of control was in dispute. Id.
Unlike in Lemm, the record demonstrates that the Gelbachs never entered the
Property to make repairs on their own initiative. But just as in Stephenson, the Gelbachs
required tenants to make maintenance requests to the landlord and Gelbachs never entered
the Property without notice or by express permission of the tenants. Further, they retained
a key and prevented their tenants from making alterations or repairs themselves. Also, the
tenants and the Gelbachs had a discussion regarding the installation of a handrail. The
Eickhoffs characterize this discussion as an exercise of "joint control," but the Gelbachs
insist this decision demonstrates that the Gelbachs deferred entirely to the tenants on the
installation of the handrail.
The Gelbachs rely on Dean, where we held that there were not facts alleged from
which a juror could infer the landlord's control of the premises. 978 S.W.2d at 505.
However, the instant case is readily distinguishable. In Dean, the landlord "did not retain
a key, or reserve the right to inspect the premises, except with the permission of the tenant."
Id. Because the Gelbachs retained a key to the Property and "reserve[d] the right to enter
upon the leased premises at all reasonable hours for the purpose of inspecting the
[Property], or of making repairs, additions or alterations to the building in which the leased
8
premises are located," the Gelbachs reserved the legal right to enter the apartment at all
reasonable hours without permission, even if in practice they never exercised this right.
We conclude, just as the Eastern District of this Court did in Stephenson, that a
genuine issue of material fact exists as to whether the Gelbachs exercised control over the
Property.
However, we will affirm a grant of summary judgment if it can be sustained on any
theory as a matter of law. Guy v. City of St. Louis, 829 S.W.2d 66, 69 (Mo. App. E.D.
1992) ("We will not reverse a correct result even where granted for the wrong reasons, and
will sustain the trial court's entry of summary judgment even if the theory on which we
dispose of this case was not presented to the court."). Therefore, we must determine if the
Eickhoffs' claims fail as a matter of law.
The circuit court, relying on Thomas v. Barnes, 634 S.W.2d 554 (Mo. App. E.D.
1982), concluded that the common law duties and liabilities of a landlord cannot be altered
by city ordinances, which would foreclose Michelle's claim of negligence per se. Indeed,
local governments may adopt ordinances, but those ordinances must be in accordance with
the Constitution, statutes, and the common law. Id. at 555. While a statutory change is
sufficient to change the common law, an ordinance generally has no such effect. McKinney
v. H.M.K.G. & C., Inc., 123 S.W.3d 274, 278 (Mo. App. W.D. 2003). However, in
Martinez v. Kilroy Was Here LLC, 551 S.W.3d 491, 496 (Mo. App. E.D. 2018), the court
recognized that "[o]rdinances enacted to protect persons or property, conserve public
health, or promote public safety are not considered as creating a new liability, but merely
as defining the duty already owed at common law to the public or the person injured." Id.
9
To establish a claim of negligence per se, the plaintiff must plead and prove the following
four elements: "(1) . . . a violation of the ordinance; (2) the injured plaintiff was a member
of the class of persons intended to be protected by the ordinance; (3) the plaintiff's injury
is of the type the ordinance was designed to prevent; and (4) the violation of the ordinance
was the proximate cause of the injury." Blackwell v. CSF Properties 2 LLC, 443 S.W.3d
711, 716 (Mo. App. E.D. 2014).
In Martinez, the city of St. Louis passed an ordinance that provided: "Tents must
be supported to withstand a wind speed of ninety (90) miles per hour (mph) . . . ." 551
S.W.3d at 496 (quoting St. Louis City Ordinance 68788, § 109.3.1, Note A). Kilroy hosted
customers following a St. Louis Cardinals professional baseball game when high winds
resulting from a severe thunderstorm caused a tent to break free from its moorings. Id. at
494. The incident resulted in serious injuries to some and killed one customer. Id.
Following a jury trial, the jury rendered a verdict in favor of the plaintiffs and against the
defendants. Id. at 493. The court held that the jury's verdict was supported by the evidence,
because the plaintiffs met their burden to demonstrate that (1) Kilroy violated an ordinance;
(2) the victims were members of the class of persons intended to be protected by that
ordinance; (3) the injuries complained of were of the kind the ordinance was designed to
prevent; and (4) the ordinance violation was the proximate cause of the injury. Id. at 497.
Just as in Martinez, the Eickhoffs assert that the Warrensburg Municipal Code
required the installation of a handrail and that the Gelbachs violated that ordinance by
leasing the premises to them without a handrail on that stairway and by not installing a
handrail prior to the fall. They similarly contend the ordinance was intended to protect
10
tenants and their invitees, and that the ordinance was designed to prevent injuries sustained
from falls. Furthermore, the Eickhoffs contend that the lack of a handrail was the
proximate cause of the injury and that Michelle, an invitee of the tenants, was an intended
beneficiary of the ordinance. Therefore, we find that the Eickhoffs have alleged sufficient
facts to raise a prima facie case of negligence per se. The Eickhoffs also raised claims of
premises liability and general negligence, and because the ordinances define the duty owed
by a landlord to a tenant, the circuit court erred in finding under these facts that those claims
fail as a matter of law.6 The lease provisions which not only give Gelbachs the right to
enter the premises to make repairs but also specifically prohibit the tenants from making
repairs, raises a genuine issue of material fact as to the requisite control of the premises.
There are genuine issues of material fact as to whether the Gelbachs had sufficient
control of the premises to owe a duty to the Tenants' invitee, Michelle Eickhoff, giving rise
to liability for the dangerous condition of the property. Point One is granted.
Point Two
In their second point on appeal, the Eickhoffs argue the first exception to the general
rule of landlord liability: "(1) when the landlord had knowledge of a dangerous condition,
which condition is not discoverable by the tenant, and the landlord fails to make
disclosure," Dean, 978 S.W.2d at 503, applies in the instant case asserting that the
Gelbachs knew or should have known the Warrensburg Municipal Code required the
Gelbachs to install a handrail but did not disclose the Code's requirement to the Tenants.
6
Because the Eickhoff's claim for loss of consortium rises and falls with the claims of general negligence,
negligence per se, and premises liability, we need not address that claim.
11
Essentially, the Eickhoffs argue that the Gelbachs had a duty to inform the Tenants that the
Warrensburg Municipal Code imposed a duty on property owners to install handrails on
stairways consisting of four or more risers. There is no authority for such a proposition
and the argument cannot withstand scrutiny. First, the question is the knowledge of the
dangerous condition, not the knowledge of the ordinance that required a handrail to be
installed. Second, tenants, like landlords, are responsible for knowing the law. See
generally, Reeder v. Bd. of Police Comm'rs. of Kan. City, Mo., 800 S.W.2d 5, 6 (Mo. App.
W.D. 1990) (for the proposition that ignorance or mistake of the law is no excuse for its
violation.).
Furthermore, the first exception to the general rule regarding a landlord's liability
for tenants' or invitees' injuries applies when the landlord has knowledge of a dangerous
condition, which is not discoverable by the tenant, and the landlord fails to disclose that
dangerous condition. The Eickhoffs assert that Gelbachs' knowledge of the municipal
code's requirement for the installation of a handrail constitutes a dangerous condition in
and of itself. However, the provisions of the code were not the dangerous condition, the
lack of a handrail constitutes the dangerous condition at issue. Because the Tenants had
actual knowledge that the stairway lacked a handrail and discussed this with Douglas when
they were moving into the Property, they cannot claim that the dangerous condition was
not discoverable by them. The first exception is inapplicable, and Point Two is denied.
12
Conclusion
We reverse and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
__________________________________
Gary D. Witt, Judge
All concur
13