Ashley Gill v. Thomas Haggerty and Cathy Haggerty (mem. dec.)

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), FILED
this Memorandum Decision shall not be Mar 28 2019, 7:36 am
regarded as precedent or cited before any CLERK
court except for the purpose of establishing Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
the defense of res judicata, collateral and Tax Court
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEES
Bryan H. Babb William J. Beggs
Bose McKinney & Evans LLP Ryan M. Heeb
Indianapolis, Indiana Bunger & Robertson
Bloomington, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Ashley Gill, March 28, 2019
Appellant-Plaintiff, Court of Appeals Case No.
18A-CT-953
v. Appeal from the Monroe Circuit
Thomas Haggerty and Cathy Court
Haggerty, The Honorable Dena A. Martin,
Special Judge
Appellee-Defendants
Trial Court Cause No.
53C06-1612-CT-2648
May, Judge.
[1] Ashley Gill appeals summary judgment in favor of Thomas (“Thomas”) and
Cathy (“Cathy”) Haggerty (collectively, “the Haggertys”). As genuine issues of
material fact exist, we reverse and remand.
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Facts and Procedural History
[2] On April 9, 2016, Gill and several friends decided to visit a well-known
treehouse located at the Haggertys’ residence. This multi-storied treehouse had
been featured in a local paper and was, at one point, a focal point for a high
school folklore class. However, it had not been in use for many years. Neither
Gill nor her friends personally knew the Haggertys.
[3] Two of Gill’s friends, Griffin Meved and Chance Boney, approached the
Haggerty residence to request permission to explore the treehouse. Thomas
answered the door but told the group he “just wasn’t prepared for anything . . .
and come back in an hour or so[.]” (App. Vol. II at 93.) The group left and
returned about an hour later. Thomas provided a ladder for the group. 1
Thomas held the ladder so the group could ascend. Thomas warned them
against going to the very top of the treehouse. (See id. at 57.)
[4] Neither Thomas nor Cathy had been up in the treehouse for several years.
They were unaware of any structural damage to the treehouse. Gill did not
observe any damage to the treehouse. However, after about ten minutes, Gill
fell through the floor of the treehouse down to the ground, a distance of
approximately fifteen feet. Gill broke her right leg and left ankle.
[5] On December 23, 2016, Gill filed a complaint against the Haggertys alleging
they had been negligent and were the cause of her injuries. The Haggertys
1
There are inconsistencies in the designated evidence as to whether Thomas told the group where to locate
the ladder or got the ladder for them and whether he or they placed the ladder against the tree.
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answered the complaint, denying the negligence allegations. On October 17,
2017, the Haggertys filed a motion for summary judgment, arguing Gill had not
been an invitee but rather a licensee and, therefore, they did not breach any
duty owed to Gill as they had not acted willfully or wantonly in a fashion to
harm Gill and they had not failed to warn Gill of any known dangers in the
treehouse. On December 18, 2017, Gill responded to the motion for summary
judgment, claiming she was an invitee and the Haggertys owed her a reasonable
duty of care. Alternatively, Gill argued even if she had been only a licensee, the
Haggertys had acted negligently in allowing her access to the treehouse when it
had not been inspected in several years. Gill argued, at the very least, a genuine
issue of material fact existed as to her status as an invitee or licensee.
[6] On February 16, 2018, the trial court held a hearing on the motion for summary
judgment. The hearing consisted of only argument by the parties’ counsel. On
February 20, 2018, the trial court granted the Haggertys’ motion for summary
judgment without entering any findings of fact or conclusions of law. On
March 20, 2018, Gill filed a motion to correct error, which the trial court
denied.
Discussion and Decision
[7] When reviewing the grant of summary judgment, we apply the same standard
the trial court does. Rogier v. Am. Testing & Eng'g Corp., 734 N.E.2d 606, 613
(Ind. Ct. App. 2000), trans. denied. Summary judgment is appropriate when
there are no genuine issues of material fact and the moving party is entitled to
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judgment as a matter of law. Ind. Trial Rule 56(C). We do not weigh the
evidence; rather, we consider the facts in the light most favorable to the
nonmovant. Rogier, 734 N.E.2d at 613.
[8] The tort of negligence is composed of three elements: “(1) a duty owed by the
defendant to conform its conduct to a standard of care necessitated by its
relationship with the [plaintiff]; (2) a breach of that duty; and (3) an injury
proximately caused by the breach.” McCormick v. State, 673 N.E.2d 829, 837
(Ind. Ct. App. 1996). Summary judgment is rarely appropriate in negligence
actions. Id. at 832. However, issues of duty are questions of law for the court
and may be appropriate for disposition by summary judgment. Id.
[9] A person entering the land of another comes onto the land as an invitee, a
licensee, or a trespasser. Rhoades v. Heritage Investments, LLC, 839 N.E.2d 788,
791 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005), reh’g denied, trans. denied. The person’s status on the
land defines the nature of the duty the landowner owes to the visitor. Id.
A landowner owes the highest duty of care to an invitee, that
duty being to exercise reasonable care for the invitee’s protection
while he is on the premises. Landowners owe a licensee the duty
to refrain from willfully or wantonly injuring him or acting in a
manner to increase his peril. This includes the duty to warn a
licensee of any latent danger on the premises of which the
landowner has knowledge. Finally, the duty owed to a trespasser
is the duty to merely refrain from wantonly or willfully injuring
him after discovering his presence.
Id. (internal citations omitted). Thus, the first step in resolving a premises
liability case is to determine the plaintiff’s status as a visitor. Id. The visitor
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status then defines the duty owed from the landowner to the visitor. Id.
Generally, “[a] person’s status on the land, along with the duty owed, is a
matter left for determination by the trial court, not the jury.” Id. However, that
status may “turn on factual issues the must be resolved by the trier of fact.”
Kopczynski v. Barger, 887 N.E.2d 928, 931 (Ind. 2008).
[10] Here, the uncontroverted, designated evidence shows Gill and her group of
friends wished to visit the treehouse. Without invitation, at least two of the
friends approached the Haggertys’ door and requested permission to see the
treehouse. Thomas told them he “just wasn’t prepared for anything . . . and
come back in an hour or so[.]” (App. Vol. II at 93.) The group did so. At that
time, Thomas assisted with the ladder by holding it for the group to climb.
Thomas directed the group to avoid the third floor.
[11] On appeal, Gill argues Thomas’ actions constituted an implied invitation, such
that Gill’s status was that of an invitee. The Haggertys argue Gill and her
friends were there merely to satisfy their curiosity and were only permitted on
the property, such that Gill was a licensee. The Haggertys claim Gill’s
deposition, wherein she states she had not received an invitation, proves she
was not an invitee. The parties, substantially, cite the same cases to support
their divergent arguments.
[12] In Burrell v. Meads, 569 N.E.2d 637 (Ind. 1991), reh’g denied, Meads asked
Burrell to help him in his garage with a project. Id. at 638. The two commonly
did this together. Id. While there, Burrell was injured. Id. at 639. The Court
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held that when “a landowner induces a social guest to enter his land by express
or reasonably implied invitation . . . the landowner leads that guest . . . to
believe that the land has been prepared for his safety.” Id. at 643. The Court
held Burrell was a social guest, a type of invitee, and was owed a reasonable
duty of care. Id. at 643-44. Unlike Burrell, Gill did not have a prior
relationship with the Haggertys and did not receive an express invitation to be
on the property.
[13] In Dunifon v. Iovino, 665 N.E.2d 51 (Ind. Ct. App. 1996), reh’g denied, trans.
denied, the grand-daughter of the landowner, Dunifon, invited several of her
high school friends to the family-owned lake house for the weekend. Id. at 54.
Iovino was not specifically invited but came with other invitees. Id. Iovino was
given food and drink and included in the activities on the lake. Id. Later that
day, Iovino dove from the pier into shallow water and broke his neck. Id.
Iovino was paralyzed and sued the Dunifons for negligence in not warning him
about the shallow water. Id. The Dunifons argued the trial court erred in
determining Iovino was an invitee but that, regardless, they had not breached
their duty to him. Id. at 55. A panel of this court held that the facts
surrounding Iovino’s presence at the lake house -- i.e., the grand-daughter did
not request Iovino leave and did not confront him about his lack of invitation,
she engaged in pleasantries, and she treated Iovino as a social guest -- indicated
a “reasonably implied invitation” had been given to Iovino; thus, Iovino was an
invitee, and the Dunifons owed a reasonable duty of care. Id. at 56. Like
Iovino, Gill was not issued an express invitation, but she was treated cordially
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and was interacted with while on the Haggerty property. However, the
interaction was not as extensive as that extended to Iovino.
[14] In Moore v. Greensburg High School, 773 N.E.2d 367 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002), Moore,
a parent, volunteered to decorate the school for the after-prom party. Id. at 368.
He was injured while decorating. Id. at 369. A panel of this court held that
while the school permitted the parents to come onto the property and decorate,
the school had merely permitted them entry and had not invited them to do so;
therefore, the parents’ status was that of licensees. Id. at 370-71. While the
school provided the keys, it did not supervise the usage of them. Id. at 369.
Here, Thomas provided the ladder, supervised the usage of it, and supervised
the group while they were on the property.
[15] In Rhoades, Rhoades and his friend Maier were mall-walkers. Rhoades, 839
N.E.2d at 790. Maier had a friend, Moll, who was renovating a nearby
building that Maier wished to visit. Id. As Rhoades had driven that day, Maier
asked Rhoades to take him to the building site. Id. When they reached the
building, except a brief introduction, Moll and Rhoades did not interact. Id.
Rhoades followed the other two men around the building, noticing it was under
construction and not well-lit. Id. When they went upstairs, Rhoades became
apprehensive and decided to go back downstairs. Id. On his way down, he
missed a step, fell, and suffered injury. Id. at 791. Because Rhoades was not
invited to the property and had no other reason to be there except to
accompany Maier, a panel of this court held that Rhoades was only a licensee.
Id. at 794. While Gill did not approach the front door and receive an invitation
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to return from Thomas, the designated evidence does not indicate Thomas
interacted more or less with any one member of the group when they returned
after an hour.
[16] In Mohr v. Virginia B. Smith Revocable Tr., 2 N.E.3d 50 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014),
trans. denied, the landowner, Smith, had a hammock hanging on her property.
Id. at 53. Mohr and his friend, late at night, came to her property, without
knowing her and without her invitation or permission, and sat in the hammock.
Id. One of the trees supporting the hammock broke and fell on Mohr and his
friend. Id. The friend died and Mohr suffered injury. Id. Mohr argued he and
his friend were public invitees because Smith had allowed the public to use the
hammock. Id. at 56. A panel of this court held that although the hammock
was not made inaccessible to passers-by, Smith did not encourage strangers to
use the hammock, did not expect people to make use of her hammock, and “did
not invite the public to enter her land.” Id. Therefore, “Mohr was, at most, a
licensee on Smith’s property.” Id. at 57. Mohr is distinguishable from the case
herein because Mohr used Smith’s hammock without her knowledge. Thomas
not only knew Gill was going to be in the treehouse, but he also had time to
make it ready for guests by requesting the group return in an hour.
Additionally, Thomas assisted with the ladder.
[17] The Haggertys argue Gill was only a licensee. In support of their contention,
the Haggertys argue Thomas did not desire Gill or her friends to be on the
property but only permitted them entrance. They contend Thomas’ assistance
with the ladder did not constitute an invitation, citing it was no more than
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“provision of the door . . . used by the plaintiff in Rhoades . . ., or the placing a
hammock on the property as in Mohr, or the provision of keys and scaffolding
in Moore.” 2 (Br. of Appellees at 17.)
[18] Gill argues that, notwithstanding her deposition testimony wherein she asserted
she was not invited to the property, her status is that of an invitee because a
reasonable person would interpret Thomas’ actions and words as an implied
invitation. Gill argues that Thomas did not just permit the group to go to the
treehouse unattended; rather, Thomas requested they return after an hour,
assisted the group with the ladder, and told them where to go in the treehouse.
Gill argues Thomas gave the impression that he “desired her to enter onto the
premises for the purpose of going up into his well-known treehouse[.]” (Br. of
Appellant at 14.) At the very least, Gill argues her status on the land is a
genuine issue of material fact to be determined by the fact-finder.
[19] The record presented to us, viewed de novo, demonstrates a genuine issue of
material fact exists as to Gill’s status on the land. She did not have an
invitation issued to her—prior to her arrival at the property nor explicitly upon
arrival. However, Thomas’ actions after her arrival may have given a
2
The Haggertys also cite Gilpin v. Ivy Tech State College, 864 N.E.2d 399 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007), but that case
presented a different issue than we have herein. In Gilpin, the school was held open to the public and the
issue was whether Gilpin’s use or desired use of the land was the reason for which the land was held open. If
Gilpin’s use had been for that reason, he would have been a public invitee. Here, it has not been determined
that the treehouse was held open to the public. Nevertheless, even if that determination were made, Gill’s
use of the land would have been for the reason it was being held open and she would have been a public
invitee. Thus, Gilpin is not applicable here.
The Haggertys also cite Androusky v. Walter, 970 N.E.2d 687 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012), but it dealt with a
landowner who initially forbade entry and then granted only limited access. At the time of the injury, the
visitor’s status was definitively no more than a licensee. That is not the case here.
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reasonable indication he desired Gill’s presence on his land to see his treehouse.
See Dunifon, 665 N.E.2d at 56 (a visitor “under a reasonably implied invitation”
denotes a status of social guest the same as a visitor with an express invitation).
The group’s purported reason for visiting the treehouse was for their own
amusement, but on their arrival, Thomas requested and was given time to
prepare for their presence. Thomas continued the interaction by holding the
ladder and directing the group’s actions while in the treehouse. Nevertheless,
Gill acknowledges she was not invited onto the property. Accordingly, we
reverse the trial court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of the Haggertys
and remand for further proceedings.
Conclusion
[20] As a genuine issue of material fact exists as to Gill’s status on the Haggertys’
land, we reverse the summary judgment and remand for further proceedings.
[21] Reversed and remanded.
Baker, J., and Robb, J., concur.
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