ÿWPCÌ  …# VUNa %¯ 0(µU<Ýw@ 4Y m | 0§„ 0D+ 0Jo 0T¹ 0^ 0hk 0rÓ 0|E 0†Á 0G 1u× U,L 0dx BÜU,ùU>%B)cDCŒ AMÏU*.F D3t(§ÇÏ 0@–v~ÖvÓT AO'Æv 0D< D/€ B¯ ˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÀÌÀääÀÀÌ0 (ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡-šBu Z‹$Arrus BT Roman [UUUîÓ€+}B!ŒÂÛ3|x+(W(2L’$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÔ€XDWXXXÔà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)< Œ 9p`(ModernP ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ d< Œ 9p`(Monaco< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d%%%%7Border 1dd€-&Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial $Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€$ÔÝ  ÝÔ€(ÔÔ€(ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€(XÔÌÌò òAugust€27,€1996ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€(ôÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó""""'ÿÿdxd Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€$ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€Ôà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝWe€disagree€with€appellantððs€argument€that€ò òòòEatonó óóó€is€notÏapplicable€to€the€instant€case.€€Although€ò òòòEatonó óóó€dealt€with€what€wasÏformerly€known€as€a€social€guest,€or€licensee,€and€the€present€caseÏinvolves€an€invitee,€any€distinction€between€licensees€€and€inviteesÏwas€abandoned€in€ò òòòHudson€v.€Gaitanó óóó,€675€S.W.2d€699,€703€(Tenn.€1984).€Ïò òòòHudsonó óóó€held€that€a€premises€owner€owes€a€duty€of€reasonable€care€ð ðtoÏall€persons€who€come€upon€the€defendantððs€property€with€his€consent,Ïexpress€or€implied.ðð€€ò òòòId.ó óóó,€675€S.W.2d€at€702.Ì ½Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€$ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€Ôà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝThis€case€does€not€involve€a€latent€dangerous€condition€on€theÏpremises.€€In€fact,€the€record€shows€that€Exxon€had€the€concrete€area€atÏthe€Exxon€Shop€at€186€Danny€Thomas€pressure€washed€every€week,€andÏthat€the€lot€was€washed€shortly€€before€Mrs.€Jonesððs€fall.€€Additionally,Ïthe€gas€pumps€at€the€store€had€been€altered€so€that€it€was€not€possibleÏto€pump€gas€without€manually€holding€up€the€trigger€handle,€unless€aÏcustomer€ð ðjerry›„rigsðð€a€device€to€keep€the€trigger€in€place.€Ì("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  ÒPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'@Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑMonacoÑÑ ÑÒ  BA Op Monaco ÒÒ  BA Op Monaco Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÓ&€##X„d&ÓÑ#€##Xd#ÑÔ€$ÔÝ  ÝÑ7€UvXXdìdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÒ  ÒÒ „ Òà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àWESTERN€SECTION€AT€JACKSONÌà àà à€€Ï________________________________________________ÌÌò òEMMA€JONES€and€EDWARD€JONES,€ó óÌÌà àPlaintiffs„Appellants,€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àShelby€Circuit€No.€50593€T.D.ÌÙ€€ÙÙ€€ÙßL€')&;+'h|`ç` Å `€€LßVs.à àà àà àà àà àà àà àC.A.€No.Ï02A01„9507„CV„00159ÌÌò òEXXON€CORPORATION€d/b/aÌEXXON€SHOP,€ó óÌÌà àDefendant„Appellee.Ì___________________________________________________________________________ÌÌà@ àFROM€THE€SHELBY€COUNTY€CIRCUIT€COURTÌà@ àTHE€HONORABLE€GEORGE€H.€BROWN,€JR.,€JUDGEÌÌÌÌà@ àLewis€K.€Garrison€and€Teresa€M.€Hite€of€MemphisÌà@ àFor€AppellantsÌÌà@ àJohn€J.€Heflin,€III,€Bourland,€Heflin,Ìà@ àAlvarez,€Holley€&€Minor,€PLC,€of€MemphisÌà@ àFor€AppelleeÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ àò òòòAFFIRMEDó óóóÌÌà@ àOpinion€filed:€€ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àò òW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.ÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€JUDGEÌÌHOLLY€KIRBY€LILLARD,€JUDGEÌó óÌ›Ñ7€UvXXdìXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÓÓà àThis€is€a€premises€liability€case.€€Plaintiffs,€Emma€Jones€andÏEdward€Jones,€appeal€from€the€order€of€the€trial€court€grantingÏdefendant€Exxon€Corporationððs€motion€for€summary€judgment.Ìà àThe€material€facts€are€undisputed.€€After€leaving€work€onÏDecember€17,€1991,€Emma€Jones€stopped€to€purchase€gas€at€the€ExxonÏstation€at€186€Danny€Thomas€Boulevard€in€Memphis.€€Mrs.€€Jones€parkedÏat€a€concrete€pumping€island,€got€out€of€her€vehicle€and€walked€towardÏthe€Exxon€shop€to€pay€for€her€gasoline€prior€to€pumping€it.€€When€sheÏstepped€out€of€her€vehicle,€she€noticed€that€gas€was€spilling€rapidly€outÏof€a€jeep„like€vehicle€on€the€opposite€side€of€the€concrete€pumpingÍisland.€€In€the€Exxon€shop€she€announced€that€gasoline€was€spilling€outÏof€someoneððs€vehicle,€but€apparently€neither€the€cashier€nor€any€of€theÏcustomers€in€the€Exxon€shop€reacted€to€Mrs.€€Jonesððs€announcement.€ÏMrs.€€Jones€testified€that€there€were€four€or€five€customers€in€front€ofÏher€in€the€line.€€When€she€reached€the€cashier,€Mrs.€Jones€repeated€thatÏgasoline€was€spilling€out€of€someoneððs€œcar.€€She›€also€testified€that€œnoÏone,›€including€the€Exxon€cashier,€reacted€to€her€statement.Ìà àAfter€paying€for€her€gasoline,€Mrs.€Jones€left€the€Exxon€shop€and,Ïusing€the€same€route€she€had€used€to€enter€the€shop,€walked€back€to€herÏcar.€€She€then€pumped€her€gas€and,€as€she€was€walking€to€the€driverððsÏside€door€of€her€automobile,€slipped€and€fell€on€the€concrete€which€wasÏwet€due€to€the€overflowing€gasoline.€€After€she€fell,€Mrs.€Jones€wentÏinside€and€told€the€cashier€that€she€had€fallen.€€The€store€managerÏappeared€and€told€Mrs.€Jones€the€name€of€a€dry€cleaner€where€she€couldÏtake€her€soiled€clothing.€€Ìà àMrs.€€Jonesððs€complaint€alleges€that€she€suffered€severe€pain€andÏinjury,€incurred€medical€expenses,€loss€of€time€from€work€andÏdisability€as€a€result€of€the€defendantððs€negligence.€€Plaintiff€EdwardÏJones€alleges€that€he€suffered€a€loss€of€services€and€a€loss€ofÍconsortium€due€to€his€wifeððs€injuries.€€Ìà àPlaintiffs€present€two€issues€on€appeal;€however,€we€perceive€theÏdispositive€issue€to€be€whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€grantingÏdefendantððs€motion€for€summary€judgment.€ÓÓÌÌÓÓà àA€trial€court€should€grant€a€motion€for€summary€judgment€whenÏthe€movant€demonstrates€that€there€are€no€genuine€issues€of€materialÏfact€and€that€the€moving€party€is€entitled€to€a€judgment€as€a€matter€ofÏlaw.€€Tenn.R.Civ.P.€56.03.€€The€party€moving€for€summary€judgmentÏbears€the€burden€of€demonstrating€that€no€genuine€issue€of€materialÏfacts€exists.€€ò òòòByrd€v.€Halló óóó,€847€S.W.2d€208,€210€(Tenn.€1993).€€On€aÏmotion€for€summary€judgment,€the€trial€court€and€the€appellate€courtÏmust€consider€the€motion€in€the€same€manner€as€a€motion€for€directedÏverdict€made€at€the€close€of€plaintiffððs€proof;€that€is,€the€trial€courtÏmust€take€the€strongest€legitimate€view€of€the€evidence€in€favor€of€theÏnonmoving€party,€allow€all€reasonable€inferences€in€favor€of€that€party,Ïand€discard€all€countervailing€evidence.€€ò òòòByrdó óóó,€847€S.W.2d€at€210„11.€ÏThe€phrase€ð ðgenuine€issueðð€as€stated€in€Tenn.R.Civ.P.€56.03€refers€toÏgenuine,€factual€issues,€and€does€not€include€issues€involving€legalÏconclusions€to€be€drawn€from€the€facts.€€ò òòòId.ó óóó€at€211€(citing€ò òòòPrice€v.ÍMercury€Supply€Co.,ó óóó€682€S.W.2d€924,€929€(Tenn.€App.€1984)).€€InÏò òòòByrdó óóó,€the€Court€said:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àOnce€it€is€shown€by€a€moving€party€that€there€isÏno€genuine€issue€of€material€fact,€the€nonmovingÏparty€must€then€demonstrate,€by€affidavit€orÏdiscovery€materials,€that€there€is€a€genuine,Ïmaterial€fact€dispute€to€warrant€a€trial.€Ïò òòòFowler€v.€Happy€Goodman€Familyó óóó,€575ÏS.W.2d€496,€498€(Tenn.€1978);€ò òòòMerritt€v.ÏWilson€Cty.€Bd.€Zoning€Appeals,ó óóó€656€S.W.2dÏ846,€859€(Tenn.€App.€1983).€€In€this€regard€RuleÏ56.05€provides€that€a€nonmoving€party€cannotÏsimply€rely€upon€his€pleadings,€but€must€setÏforth€ò òspecific€factsó ó€showing€that€there€is€aÏgenuine€issue€of€material€fact€for€trial.€€ð ðIf€heÏdoes€not€so€respond€summary€judgment€.€.€.€shallÏbe€entered€against€him.ðð€€Rule€56.05€(EmphasisÏin€original).ÌÌÓÓà àIn€order€to€bring€a€successful€suit€based€on€a€claim€of€negligence,Ïthe€plaintiff€must€establish:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 à(1)€a€duty€of€care€owed€by€the€defendant€to€theÏplaintiff;€(2)€conduct€falling€below€theÏapplicable€standard€of€care€amounting€to€aÏbreach€of€that€duty;€(3)€an€injury€or€loss;€(4)Ïcausation€in€fact;€and€(5)€proximate,€or€legalÏcause.ÌÌÓÓòòò òBradshaw€v.€Danieló óóó,€854€S.W.2d€865,€869€(Tenn.€1993)€(citingÏò òòòMcClenahan€v.€Cooleyó óóó,€806€S.W.2d€767,€774€(Tenn.€1991);€ò òòòLindsey€v.ÍMiami€Dev.€Corp.ó óóó,€689€S.W.2d€856,€858€(Tenn.€1985)).Ìà àWhether€a€plaintiff€owes€a€duty€to€a€defendant€in€any€givenÏsituation€is€a€question€of€law€for€the€court.€€€ò òòòBradshawó óóó,€854€S.W.2d€atÏ869.€€In€determining€whether€a€duty€exists,€the€court€should€consider:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 à[W]hether,€upon€the€facts€in€evidence,€such€aÏrelation€exists€between€the€parties€that€theÏcommunity€will€impose€a€legal€obligation€uponÏone€for€the€benefit€of€others„„or,€more€simply,Ïwhether€the€interest€of€the€plaintiff€which€hasÏsuffered€invasion€was€entitled€to€legalÏprotection€at€the€hands€of€the€defendant.€€This€isÏentirely€a€question€of€law€to€be€determined€byÏreference€to€the€body€of€statutes,€rules,Ïprinciples,€and€precedents€which€make€up€theÏlaw;€and€it€must€be€determined€only€by€the€courtÏ.€.€.€.€A€decision€by€the€court€that,€upon€anyÏversion€of€the€facts,€there€is€no€duty,€mustÏnecessarily€result€in€judgment€for€theÏdefendant.ÌÌò òòòÓÓIdó óóó.,€854€S.W.2d€at€870.€€Ìà àIn€cases€involving€premises€liability,€the€duty€owed€by€theÏpremises€owner€to€an€invitee€is€ð ða€duty€of€reasonable€care€under€all€theÏcircumstances.ðð€€ò òòòEaton€v.€€McLainó óóó,€891€S.W.2d€587,€593„94€(Tenn.Ï1994).€€This€duty€is€based€upon€the€assumption€that€the€owner€hasÏsuperior€knowledge€of€any€perilous€condition€that€may€exist€on€theÍproperty,€ò òòòKendall€Oil€Co.€v.€Payneó óóó,€41€Tenn.€App.€201,€293€S.W.2d€40,Ï42€(Tenn.€App.€1955)€and€includes€the€obligation€of€the€owner€to€eitherÏremove€or€warn€against€any€latent€dangerous€condition€of€€which€theÏowner€is€aware€or€should€be€aware€through€the€exercise€of€reasonableÏdiligence.€ò òòò€Eatonó óóó,€891€S.W.2d€at€594.€€The€scope€of€a€premises€ownerððsÏduty€is€grounded€upon€the€foreseeability€of€the€risk€involved.€€In€ò òòòEatonó óóó,Ïthe€Court€said:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àThe€term€reasonable€care€must€be€given€meaningÏin€relation€to€the€circumstances.€.€.€.€Ordinary,€orÏreasonable,€care€is€to€be€estimated€by€the€riskÏentailed€through€probable€dangers€attending€theÏparticular€situation€and€is€to€be€commensurateÏwith€the€risk€of€injury€.€.€.€.€The€risk€involved€isÏthat€which€is€foreseeable;€a€risk€is€foreseeableÏif€a€reasonable€person€could€foresee€theÏprobability€of€its€occurrence€or€if€the€personÏwas€on€notice€that€the€likelihood€of€danger€toÏthe€party€to€whom€it€owed€a€duty€is€probable.€ÏForeseeability€is€the€test€of€negligence.€€If€theÏinjury€which€occurred€could€not€have€beenÏreasonably€foreseen,€the€duty€of€care€does€notÏarise,€and€even€though€the€act€of€the€€defendantÏin€fact€caused€the€injury,€there€is€no€negligenceÏand€no€liability.€€ððThe€plaintiff€must€show€thatÏthe€injury€was€a€reasonably€foreseeableÏprobability,€not€just€a€remote€possibility,€andÏthat€some€action€within€the€[defendantððs]€powerÏmore€probably€than€not€would€have€prevented€theÏinjury.ðð€(citations€omitted).ÌÌò òòòÓÓIdó óóó.,€891€S.W.2d€at€594.€€(quoting€ò òòòDoe€v.€Linder€Const.€Co.ó óóó,€845€S.W.2dÏ173,€178€(Tenn.€1992).Ìà àIn€her€deposition,€Mrs.€Jones€testified€as€follows:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àQ:€€à8 àWhat€did€you€do€after€you€paid€yourÏ$5€for€the€gas?€ÌÌà àà àA:à àI€went€back€and€pumped€by€gas.ÌÌà àà àQ:à àDid€you€take€the€same€route€.€.€.€ÌÌà àà àA:à àYes,€I€did.ÌÌà àà àQ:à8 àDid€you€look€and€see€whether€thereÏwas€gasoline€spilled€all€over€theÏpavement?ÌÌà àà àA:à àI€didnððt€ÌÌà àà àQ:à àYou€did€not?ÌÌà àà àA:à àIt€wasnððt€running€any€more.€€I€didnððt€look.€€ÌÌà àà àà à*à àà à*à àà à*à àà à*€ÌÌà àà àQ:à8 àAll€right.€€So€you€walked€back€out€ofÏthe€shop€and€you€did€not€look€to€seeÏwhere€that€gasoline€had€spilled;€isÏthat€correct?ÌÌà àà àA:à àRight.ÌÌà àà àQ:à àAnd€you€did€not€look€to€see€how€large€a€spill€it€hadÍmade€„„€ÌÌà àà àA:à àRight.ÌÌà àà àQ:à8 à„„€Even€though€you€had€been€veryÏconcerned€about€how€dangerous€itÏwas€a€few€minutes€before?ÌÌà àà àA:à àYes.€€ÌÌÓÓà àAppellant€contends€that€the€open€and€obvious€rule€is€no€longer€theÏlaw€in€Tennessee,€citing€ò òòòCooperwood€v.€Kroger€Food€Stores,€Inc.ó óóó,ÏNo.€02A01„9308„CV„00182,€1994€WL€725217€(Tenn.€App.€W.S.€Dec.€30,Ï1994).€€In€ò òòòCooperwoodó óóó,€we€held€that,€following€the€decisions€of€theÏSupreme€Court€in€ò òòòMcIntyre€v.€Balentineó óóó,€833€S.W.2d€52€(Tenn.€1992)Ïand€its€progeny,€ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àwhen€an€invitee€is€injured€because€of€dangersÏthat€are€obvious,€reasonably€apparent,€or€as€wellÏknown€to€the€injured€party€as€to€the€owner€orÏoperator€of€the€premises,€liability,€if€any,Ïshould€be€determined€in€accordance€with€theÏprinciples€of€comparative€fault€analysis€and€theÏgeneral€negligence€law€of€this€state.ÌÌÓÓò òòòCooperwoodó óóó,€slip€op.€at€5.€€The€Supreme€Court€granted€permission€toÏappeal€in€the€ò òòòCooperwoodó óóó€case;€however,€the€case€was€settled€and€theÏappeal€dismissed€before€œoral›€€œargument.›€€Following€our€opinion€inÍò òòòCooperwoodó óóó,€the€Supreme€Court€decided€òòò òEaton€v.€McLainó óóó,€891€S.W.2dÏ587€(Tenn.€1994),€which€held€that€the€ð ðopen€and€obviousðð€rule€was€stillÏapplicable,€and€a€premises€owner€has€no€duty€to€warn€an€invitee€of€aÏdanger€that€is€ð ðopen€and€obvious.ðð€€ò òòòIdó óóó.€891€S.W.2d€at€595,€ò òòòsee€alsoÏShope€v.€Radio€Shackó óóó,€No.€03A01„9508„CV„00288,€1995€WL€733885Ï(Tenn.€App.€E.S.€Dec.€7,€1995).× ƒ+ ××  ×€€Ìà àUnder€the€circumstances€presented€in€this€case,€we€hold€that€theÏdefendant€owed€no€duty€to€the€plaintiff.€€Where€there€is€no€duty,€thereÏis€no€negligence.€€ò òòòSee€Doe€v.€Linder€Const.€Co.,€Inc.ó óóó,€845€S.W.2dÏ173,€178€(Tenn.€1992).Ìà àThe€record€is€clear€that€Mrs.€Jones€saw€the€gasoline€which€causedÏher€fall.€€We€do€not€believe€that€Exxon€could€or€should€have€foreseenÏthat€Mrs.€Jones€would€fall€into€the€very€gasoline€spill€of€which€sheÍmade€Exxon€aware.× ƒ, ××  ×€€The€fact€that€she€did€fall€was€a€ð ðremoteÏpossibility,ðð€not€a€ð ðreasonably€foreseeable€probability.ððò òòò€Eatonó óóó,€891ÏS.W.2d€at€594.€€€Appellant€argues€that€Exxon€had€superior€knowledge€ofÏthe€dangers€associated€with€a€gasoline€spill€than€did€Mrs.€Jones.€€Mrs.ÏJones€testified€that€she€knew€gasoline€was€potentially€explosive€butÏdid€not€know€it€was€slippery.€€However,€regardless€of€the€fact€that€Mrs.ÏJones€did€not€know€that€gasoline€could€be€slippery,€persons€usingÏordinary€prudence€would€not€step€in€gasoline€and,€knowing€that€gasolineÏhad€been€spilled€onto€the€pavement,€would€have€been€on€the€lookout€forÏthe€spill.€ò òòòSee,€e.g.€Sudduth€v.€Parksó óóó,€914€S.W.2d€910,€914€(Tenn.€App.Ï1995)€(holding€that€it€is€obvious€to€persons€of€ordinary€prudence€that€aÏbull€may€butt€a€human;€premises€owner€had€no€duty€to€warn€employee€ofÏthat€obvious€danger).Ì€à àThe€œorder€of€the€trial›€court€granting€defendantððs€motion€forÍsummary€judgment€is€affirmed.€€Costs€of€appeal€are€assessed€againstÏthe€appellants.€ÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà àà à_________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àò òW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.ó óÌò òCONCUR:ÌÌó ó_________________________________Ìò òALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€JUDGEó óÌÌ_________________________________Ìò òHOLLY€KIRBY€LILLARD,€JUDGEó ó̜ԀÔÔ€Ô