Ellsworth v. Hotel Corp. of America , 236 Mich. App. 185 ( 1999 )

600 N.W.2d 129 (1999) 236 Mich. App. 185

Elaine ELLSWORTH, Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
HOTEL CORPORATION OF AMERICA, d/b/a Livonia-West Holiday Inn, Defendant-Appellee.

Docket No. 203893.

Court of Appeals of Michigan.

Submitted November 18, 1998, at Lansing. Decided June 11, 1999, at 9:15 a.m. Released for Publication October 1, 1999.

Patrick, Johnson & King, P.C. (by Paul H. Johnson, Jr., Patrick A. King, and Thomas T. Bearse), Southfield, for the plaintiff.

O'Connor, DeGrazia & Tamm, P.C. (by Julie McCann O'Connor and Richard M. O'Connor), Bloomfield Hills, for the defendant.

Before: SAAD, P.J., and MICHAEL J. KELLY and BANDSTRA, JJ.

SAAD, P.J.

Plaintiff filed this premise liability action against defendant, alleging that she was injured as a result of defendant's negligence. A jury returned a verdict of no cause of action, and the trial court dismissed plaintiff's case. Plaintiff now appeals, and we affirm.

FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS

In October 1994, plaintiff went to the Livonia-West Holiday Inn to attend a miniature show. She says that she fell and injured her hand after she tripped on an uneven portion of sidewalk on the hotel premises. Plaintiff sued on a negligence theory. The case proceeded to trial, and a jury returned a verdict of no cause of action.

I

Plaintiff's first issue involves the impeachment exception to the bar in MRE 407 on evidence of subsequent remedial measures. Plaintiff claims that the trial court should have allowed her to impeach defendant's witness with evidence that defendant renovated the hotel's sidewalks after plaintiff's fall. We disagree, because the sidewalk renovation was not actually a subsequent remedial measure and would have been irrelevant as impeachment.

Because Kevin McAndrew, the chief engineer of the Livonia-West Holiday Inn, was unavailable to testify at trial, plaintiff read excerpts from his deposition into the record. After plaintiff completed the reading, defendant read into the record another part of the deposition in which McAndrew was asked whether "the area that you were discussing in particular [i.e., where plaintiff fell] has not had any repair work done either before or after the time we're talking about, October of '94." McAndrew responded "No." Plaintiff later tried to introduce as impeachment the deposition testimony of Steve Carter, the hotel manager, who testified that there had been work on the sidewalks in 1995 and 1996. The trial court excluded this evidence because plaintiff failed to object to McAndrew's testimony. Plaintiff claims this decision was in error.

A trial court's decision to admit or exclude evidence is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. Szymanski v. Brown, 221 Mich.App. 423, 435, 562 N.W.2d 212 (1997). An abuse of discretion is found only if an unprejudiced person, considering the facts on which the trial court acted, would say there is no justification or excuse for the ruling made. Id., at 431, 562 N.W.2d 212; Gore v. Rains & Block, 189 Mich.App. 729, 737, 473 N.W.2d 813 (1991). Any error in the admission or exclusion of evidence does not require reversal unless a substantial right of the party is affected. MCR 2.613(A); MRE 103(a); Chmielewski v. Xermac, Inc., 216 Mich.App. 707, 710-711, 550 N.W.2d 797 (1996), aff'd. 457 Mich. 593, 580 N.W.2d 817 (1998).

"Relevant evidence" is defined as "evidence having any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence." MRE 401. Generally, all relevant evidence is admissible, and irrelevant evidence is not admissible. MRE 402; Szymanski, supra, at 435, 562 N.W.2d 212. Furthermore, MRE 407 provides:

When, after an event, measures are taken which, if taken previously would have made the event less likely to occur, evidence of the subsequent measures is not admissible to prove negligence or culpable conduct in connection with the event. This rule does not require the exclusion of evidence of subsequent measures when offered for another purpose, such as proving ownership, control, or feasibility of precautionary measures, if controverted, or impeachment.

The purpose of MRE 407 is to encourage, or at least not to discourage, people from taking steps in furtherance of added safety. Palmiter v. Monroe Co. Bd. of Road Comm'rs, 149 Mich.App. 678, 685-686, 387 N.W.2d 388 (1986).

Plaintiff argues that Carter's testimony should have been permitted under the impeachment exception of MRE 407. It is well established that evidence of a subsequent remedial measure is admissible as impeachment when the opposing party has denied making a repair. Id., at 690, 387 N.W.2d 388; Cody v. Marcel Electric Co., 71 Mich.App. 714, 722-723, 248 N.W.2d 663 (1976); Little v. Borman Food Stores, Inc., 33 Mich.App. 609, 611-614, 190 N.W.2d 269 (1971). The contradictory evidence may be either direct or circumstantial. Palmiter, supra, at 690, 387 N.W.2d 388.

Here, the trial court concluded that plaintiff was required to object to McAndrew's testimony as a prerequisite to introduce evidence to impeach that testimony. We have not found any authority to support this ruling, nor do we see any ground plaintiff would have had for objecting. The rule prohibits introduction of evidence that a repair was made after an accident; it does not bar evidence that no repair was made. Accordingly, we do not believe that objection to this portion of the deposition was a prerequisite to the introduction of impeachment evidence.

However, we will not reverse the decision of a trial court if it reached the right result, albeit for the wrong reason. Yerkovich v. AAA, 231 Mich.App. 54, 68, 585 N.W.2d 318 (1998). Here, plaintiff's evidence of postaccident repairs to the sidewalks should have been excluded because the renovation does not qualify as a subsequent remedial measure. Consequently, it was irrelevant as impeachment of McAndrew's testimony that the hotel made no postaccident repairs. As part of an extensive renovation project, defendant replaced three thousand feet of sidewalk, which necessarily included the area where plaintiff fell. At the earliest, the work began in May 1995, seven months after plaintiff's accident, and continued into 1996. This was not a "subsequent remedial repair" as described in MRE 407. The construction was too remote in time from plaintiff's accident and covered too large a territory to be considered a "repair" to the accident site. Any "repair" to the sidewalk where plaintiff fell was simply incidental to this construction project. There was no evidence to suggest that this large-scale construction project was prompted by or otherwise related to plaintiff's fall. Accordingly, this is not the sort of "repair" that may be used to impeach testimony that no repair was made after the plaintiff's accident.^[1] Because this major renovation cannot realistically be considered a repair to the sidewalk where plaintiff was injured, Carter's testimony was not actually in conflict with McAndrew's testimony. Consequently, Carter's testimony did not qualify as relevant impeachment, either direct or circumstantial, and was properly excluded.

II

Plaintiff contends that the cumulative effect of alleged trial errors denied her a fair trial. We disagree.

First, plaintiff argues that her right to a fair trial was violated by the trial court's exclusion of the evidence of repairs to the sidewalk after plaintiff's fall. However, as already discussed, the evidence was properly excluded.

Second, plaintiff asserts that she was prejudiced by defense counsel's reference to the "two-inch rule" during his closing argument. Defense counsel commented that "in the old days a generation ago," the court would find negligence if the sidewalk elevation was two inches or greater and not find negligence if the elevation was less. He explained that the rule was thrown out in favor of allowing jurors to decide the question of negligence based on the particular circumstances.

When reviewing claims of improper conduct by a party's lawyer, this Court must first determine whether the lawyer's action was error and, if so, whether the error requires reversal. Hunt v. Freeman, 217 Mich.App. 92, 95, 550 N.W.2d 817 (1996). A lawyer's comments will usually not be cause for reversal unless they indicate a deliberate course of conduct aimed at preventing a fair and impartial trial or where counsel's remarks were such as to deflect the jury's attention from the issues involved and had a controlling influence on the verdict. Id. This issue has not been preserved for review because plaintiff did not object to defense counsel's reference to the "two-inch rule" during his closing argument. King v. Taylor Chrysler-Plymouth, Inc., 184 Mich. App. 204, 217, 457 N.W.2d 42 (1990). However, even if not preserved, this Court will review the issue to determine whether defense counsel's comments "``may have caused the result or played too large a part and may have denied the party a fair trial.'" Id., quoting Reetz v. Kinsman Marine Transit Co., 416 Mich. 97, 103, 330 N.W.2d 638 (1982).

The "two-inch rule" refers to the now-defunct doctrine that a municipality cannot be held liable for negligence because of a discontinuity of two inches or less in a sidewalk. Rule v. Bay City, 387 Mich. 281, 283, 195 N.W.2d 849 (1972). Our Supreme Court abolished the "two-inch rule" in 1972. Id. In any event, the two-inch rule would have been irrelevant here because defendant is not a municipality. Nonetheless, defense counsel's comments regarding the rule accurately stated the current law. Furthermore, defense counsel explained to the jury the reasons for the abolition of the rule, noting that "two inches in one case might have meant nothing whereas a half inch in another case would have been very significant." Defense counsel went on to explain, correctly, that whether the uneven sidewalk was unreasonably dangerous was a question of fact for the jury to decide. Under these circumstances, defense counsel's comments were not improper.

III

Plaintiff asserts that the trial court erred in refusing to give SJI 6.01 with respect to defendant's failure to produce its management service contract with the owner of the hotel. We review claims of instructional error for an abuse of discretion. Joerger v. Gordon Food Service, Inc., 224 Mich.App. 167, 173, 568 N.W.2d 365 (1997).

SJI2d 6.01 states that where a party fails to produce evidence under its control, and gives no reasonable excuse for the failure to produce the evidence, a jury may infer that the evidence would have been adverse to that party. SJI2d 6.01 should be given only where (1) the evidence was under the control of the party who failed to produce it and could have been produced by that party, (2) no reasonable excuse for the failure to produce the evidence has been given, and (3) the evidence would have been material, not merely cumulative, and not equally available to the opposite party. See Note on Use of SJI2d 6.01.

Here, the management contract was not material to a determination of defendant's negligence. Because plaintiff was visiting the hotel in response to a public invitation to a show, she was a "public invitee" and entitled to the duty of care an invitor owes to invitees. Stitt v. Holland Abundant Life Fellowship, 229 Mich.App. 504, 506-509, 582 N.W.2d 849 (1998). As an invitor, defendant owed a duty to plaintiff to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition and to exercise ordinary care to keep the premises safe. Anderson v. Wiegand, 223 Mich. App. 549, 553, 567 N.W.2d 452 (1997); Schuster v. Sallay, 181 Mich.App. 558, 565, 450 N.W.2d 81 (1989). Any specific duties defendant owed to the hotel owner pursuant to the management contract would not be material to determining defendant's liability to plaintiff for negligence. Therefore, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to read SJI2d 6.01 to the jury.

IV

Finally, plaintiff argues that the trial court should have granted her motion for a new trial because the jury's verdict of no cause of action was against the great weight of the evidence. We disagree.

When a party claims that a jury's verdict was against the great weight of the evidence, we may overturn that verdict "only when it was manifestly against the clear weight of the evidence." Watkins v. Manchester, 220 Mich.App. 337, 340, 559 N.W.2d 81 (1996). This Court will give substantial deference to a trial court's determination that the verdict is not against the great weight of the evidence. Id. The trial court cannot substitute its judgment for that of the factfinder, and the jury's verdict should not be set aside if there is competent evidence to support it. King, supra, at 210, 457 N.W.2d 42. This Court gives deference to the trial court's unique ability to judge the weight and credibility of the testimony and should not substitute its judgment for that of the jury unless the record reveals a miscarriage of justice. Heshelman v. Lombardi, 183 Mich.App. 72, 76, 454 N.W.2d 603 (1990).

To prove negligence, plaintiff was required to prove (1) that defendant owed a duty to plaintiff, (2) that defendant breached that duty, (3) causation, and (4) damages. Schultz v. Consumers Power Co., 443 Mich. 445, 449, 506 N.W.2d 175 (1993). Generally, a business invitor owes a duty to its customers to maintain its premises in a reasonably safe condition and to exercise ordinary care and prudence to keep the premises reasonably safe. Anderson, supra, at 553, 567 N.W.2d 452; Schuster, supra, at 565, 450 N.W.2d 81. This duty does not extend to conditions from which an unreasonable risk cannot be anticipated or to dangers so obvious and apparent that an invitee can be expected to discover them himself. Williams v. Cunningham Drug Stores, Inc., 429 Mich. 495, 500, 418 N.W.2d 381 (1988).

Plaintiff testified that she fell because her toe hit a raised portion of the sidewalk. Plaintiff presented the testimony of Duane Van Camp and Nancy Van Camp that there was a 1- to 1 1/2-inch height difference between two concrete sections of the sidewalk at the site of plaintiff's fall. In addition, the jury viewed photographs of the sidewalk admitted into evidence by plaintiff. Defendant did not dispute that the sidewalk was uneven and presented no evidence that the height variation was not 1 to 1½ inches. However, defendant presented McAndrew's testimony that he inspected the sidewalks on a weekly basis and had not noticed a dangerous condition at the site of plaintiff's fall at any time before her fall. Furthermore, Carter testified that he did not believe the uneven sidewalk was a hazard and noted that there was no indication in defendant's records that anyone else had ever fallen on the sidewalk.

Whether the uneven sidewalk presented an unreasonable danger was a factual question for the jury to decide. The jury's verdict was supported by competent testimony of defendant's employees that they knew of the height variation and did not believe it to be a hazard and that there were no reports of anyone else ever having fallen on the sidewalk. Furthermore, the jury viewed photographs of the sidewalk. On the basis of this evidence, we cannot conclude that the trial court abused its discretion in denying plaintiff's motion for a new trial on the ground that the jury's verdict was against the great weight of the evidence.

The jury's verdict is affirmed.

NOTES

[1] For example, in Little, supra, at 613-614, 190 N.W.2d 269, testimony that a witness saw rock salt on an entranceway two hours after the plaintiff had fallen on the entranceway was permitted to impeach defense witness testimony that no salt had been applied to the entranceway where the plaintiff had fallen.