ÿWPC‘  à€Fh»8cjâà4¤ôâEj$So™¿¸Z °Ÿ…—üýGÔ§ŒOòØöoúfbs†rQÖ¯ó›Y+Ã!I4¢óQçŒ$ÞŒû9“q‹ÍúÍ ¢ytj8 u«åÅòȰ_ 甚}¤[S3‚•¿Áe\ïç’MšJ®©‹FšÚBÀY ˆƒµË-(N6¤:¥ÅÇ;Í0ó 1ÎÕ B–ÝŸ‚€" j‹Í~»½T‰£c™|h ôc2ÒS0Æå£çúrÇ[E²ß:Ñ'¶AGÍ©´Ò?ñë8Ç­‚Ò“Ë’Âà; ä#̱1ð³H ÛÂjª+TÖbçÆV&jüMº*/€Žìúƒ?_F™ÂþÄV˜Þ˜òíù7Žu*é– í »´ RÐKMh ýƘNá­]\.Ûía1üŸïv*0ëÅo{ÒQÀ¶ØÆ9Ã| n²kâ¥,³+/"„°4PCo á0mšõÓÜ‹üD= Ãc”úÞ™ÉãæFð‡’LÞ_±¬‘óØ-ïeqRÎ"ð;ÒPO½Ͳ…áe.u†´µÁ· bb3‰jÜI饺ˆù¹"¿MÏe•GJ ¶Ö† ?F›‡ñVì¡Ò·i_… 2ùÀW# ÂU NÍ % 0(! 0ÁIw@ 4J ^ bm u †} N ^   m A* 0Dk c¯ AUNSc¡UNARUN“cáUND’”U:œÖU:Ø AQÆc 0D) 0Dm 0D±± D/õõ B$ D3A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A Bt ˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLhÎ'í€"  Z 6Times New Roman Regular¼($¡¡(q(2µl$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝѰ°ÑÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÔ€X>‡X¼¼ÔÓ  Óà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó ‰ŠE‹ŒD+Ž+À‘Ó€›kDJ&3|x- ù-mangum v. golden gallon - opinion Î* ' IB011T10IB011T1 .   ”¨a&cÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ 7Ý ƒ±:$ÝÑ@°°ÑÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÔ€X®˜X»¼ÔÓ  Óà ` àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔòòMoon€v.€St.€Thomas€Hosp.óó,€No.€01S01„9710„CV„00218,€1998€WL€______,€at€*€___€€(Tenn.Ð ° ÐDec.€21,€1998)€(For€Publication).(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó YÝ ƒ±:$ÝÑ@°°ÑÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÔ€X®˜X»¼ÔÓ  Óà ` àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€record€contains€evidence€of€only€one€prior€incident€involving€a€patron€who€tripped€overÐ ° Ðthe€mat.€€The€marketððs€assistant€manager€testified€that€a€long€time€before€Mr.€Mangumððs€fall,€aÏfemale€patron€stumbled€but€did€not€fall€when€she€caught€the€edge€of€the€mat€with€her€foot€andÏð ðflipped€it€up.ðð€€The€assistant€manager€also€stated€that€it€was€not€easy€to€flip€up€the€edge€of€the€matÏbecause€of€the€ð ðreal€thick€rubberðð€on€the€bottom€of€the€mat.€€In€light€of€the€number€of€patronsÏentering€and€leaving€the€premises€on€a€daily€basis,€no€reasonable€person€would€conclude€that€thisÏsingle€incident€establishes€that€the€mat€creates€a€dangerous€condition. 7Ý ƒ±:$ÝÑ@°°ÑÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÔ€XN¯X»¼ÔÓ  Óà ` àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔòòMoon€v.€St.€Thomas€Hosp.óó,€No.€01S01„9710„CV„00218,€1998€WL€______,€at€*€___€€(Tenn.Ð ° ÐDec.€21,€1998)€(For€Publication).'í€"  Z 6Times New Roman Regular YÝ ƒ±:$ÝÑ@°°ÑÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÔ€XN¯X»¼ÔÓ  Óà ` àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€record€contains€evidence€of€only€one€prior€incident€involving€a€patron€who€tripped€overÐ ° Ðthe€mat.€€The€marketððs€assistant€manager€testified€that€a€long€time€before€Mr.€Mangumððs€fall,€aÏfemale€patron€stumbled€but€did€not€fall€when€she€caught€the€edge€of€the€mat€with€her€foot€andÏð ðflipped€it€up.ðð€€The€assistant€manager€also€stated€that€it€was€not€easy€to€flip€up€the€edge€of€the€matÏbecause€of€the€ð ðreal€thick€rubberðð€on€the€bottom€of€the€mat.€€In€light€of€the€number€of€patronsÏentering€and€leaving€the€premises€on€a€daily€basis,€no€reasonable€person€would€conclude€that€thisÏsingle€incident€establishes€that€the€mat€creates€a€dangerous€condition.'í€"  Z 6Times New Roman Regular 7Ý ƒ±:$ÝÑ@°°ÑÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÔ€X®éX»¼ÔÓ  Óà ` àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔòòMoon€v.€St.€Thomas€Hosp.óó,€No.€01S01„9710„CV„00218,€1998€WL€______,€at€*€___€€(Tenn.Ð ° ÐDec.€21,€1998)€(For€Publication).'í€"  Z 6Times New Roman Regular YÝ ƒ±:$ÝÑ@°°ÑÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÔ€X®éX»¼ÔÓ  Óà ` àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€record€contains€evidence€of€only€one€prior€incident€involving€a€patron€who€tripped€overÐ ° Ðthe€mat.€€The€marketððs€assistant€manager€testified€that€a€long€time€before€Mr.€Mangumððs€fall,€aÏfemale€patron€stumbled€but€did€not€fall€when€she€caught€the€edge€of€the€mat€with€her€foot€andÏð ðflipped€it€up.ðð€€The€assistant€manager€also€stated€that€it€was€not€easy€to€flip€up€the€edge€of€the€matÏbecause€of€the€ð ðreal€thick€rubberðð€on€the€bottom€of€the€mat.€€In€light€of€the€number€of€patronsÏentering€and€leaving€the€premises€on€a€daily€basis,€no€reasonable€person€would€conclude€that€thisÏsingle€incident€establishes€that€the€mat€creates€a€dangerous€condition.'í€"  Z 6Times New Roman Regular øÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€¼Á ¼¼¼ÔÔ€æÍ  ¼¼ÁÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€Xö X æÍÔÐ  ÐÌMarch€8,€1999ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó ,@ÓÐAZ‹"Arial Regular øÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€¼Á ¼¼¼ÔÔ€æÍ  ¼¼ÁÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€Xö X æÍÔÐ  ÐÌMarch€5,€1999ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,@ÓÐAZ‹"Arial Regular!"#$&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó(('÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdVVVV'ÿÿdxd dÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑܰÑÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÔ€„­¼„¼¼ÔÑ7€Öœ¼¼ddÈ7Ññ›ññ‘ñßr€ )<,(j 8` `€€@E Ý` 8ttxPXÜð  rßñ‘ññ›ññ›ññ›ñÌà@¡ ¡ Dàò òIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ Dh Ðñ›ñßt€ )>.*jx´ÿ` `€€@EÔ°` 8ttxP ¬ð  tßñ›ñà@ÜÜ)DàAT€NASHVILLEˆÌÔ€¼Öœ¼„„­¼Ôó óÌÌÌÌÌKENNETH€LARRY€MANGUM,à  àà p à)Ð ‚¦  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)Ìà ` àPlaintiff/Appellant,à À àà  àà p à)Ð ®Ò  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)à È àFranklin€CircuitÐ Äè  ÐVS.à ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)à È àNo.€9739„CIVÐ Úþ  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)à È àAppeal€No.Ð * ÐGOLDEN€GALLON€CORPORATION,à p à)à È à01A01„9709„CV„00459Ð @ Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)Ìà ` àDefendant/Appellee.à À àà  àà p à)Ð Hl ÐÌÌÌà@! ! DàAPPEAL€FROM€THE€CIRCUIT€COURT€FOR€FRANKLIN€COUNTYˆÌà@ÖÖ#DàAT€WINCHESTER,€TENNESSEEˆÌÌÌà@| | DàTHE€HONORABLE€BUDDY€PERRY,€JUDGEˆÌÌÌÌòòFor€the€Plaintiff/Appellantóó:à À àà  àà p àòòFor€the€Defendant/Appelleeóó:Ð P&t  ÐÌJames€D.€Lane,€IIà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àH.€Richard€MarcusÐ |( " ÐRay,€VanCleave€&€Jacksonà À àà  àà p àFleissner,€Cooper,€Marcus€&€QuinnÐ ’)¶#  ÐTullahoma,€Tennesseeà h àà À àà  àà p àChattanooga,€TennesseeÐ ¨*Ì$! ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌà@%Dàò òÔ€„­¼„¼¼ÖœÔAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDó óˆÐ B2f,( ÐÌÔ€¼Öœ¼„„­¼ÔÌÌÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGEÐ  j9Ž3. ÐѰÜÑÑ„°ÑÔ€„­¼„¼¼ÖœÔò òòòÑ€ ÑÓ€ÓÑ7€>‡XXdð¼¼d7ÑÑ  Ñà@ÎÎ)DàO€P€I€N€I€O€Nóóó óˆÐ ° ÐÔ€¼Öœ¼„„­¼ÔÌÓ  ÓÔ€Š’Rм¼ÖœÔà ` àThis€premises€liability€action€involves€a€disabled€person€who€was€injured€when€heÐ m½ Ðtripped€on€a€floor€mat€while€entering€a€convenience€market€in€Decherd.€€The€patronððs€suitÏagainst€the€market,€originally€filed€in€the€Chancery€Court€for€Franklin€County€but€laterÏtransferred€to€the€Circuit€Court€for€Franklin€County,€alleged€that€the€market€had€created€aÏdangerous€condition,€especially€for€patrons€using€crutches,€by€placing€the€floor€mat€at€itsÏentrance.€€The€market€moved€for€summary€judgment,€relying€on€the€deposition€testimony€ofÏthe€patron,€two€employees€of€the€market,€and€the€market's€surveillance€camera€videotape€ofÏthe€patronððs€fall.€€The€trial€court€granted€the€motion,€and€the€patron€has€appealed.€€We€haveÏdetermined€that€the€market€is€entitled€to€a€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law€and,€accordingly,Ïaffirm€the€summary€judgment.ÌÌà@ää.Dàò òI.€ó óˆÐ / ÐÌà ` àMr.€Mangum€is€an€accountant€employed€by€Aerospace€Center€Support€at€the€ArnoldÏEngineering€Development€Center€near€Tullahoma.€€For€many€years,€he€has€been€required€toÏwear€leg€braces€and€to€use€Loftstrand€crutches€because€of€a€congenital€birth€defect€thatÏcaused€deformity€and€muscle€weakness€in€his€legs.€€Mr.€Mangumððs€disability€makes€itÏdifficult€for€him€to€lift€up€his€legs€when€he€walks,€and€he€must€carefully€negotiate€steps,Ïdoorways,€and€other€obstacles€to€avoid€falling.€€He€has,€however,€become€adept€at€using€hisÏcrutches.€€He€is€also€aware€of€his€limitations€and€tries€to€avoid€situations€that€might€causeÏhim€to€fall.ÌÌà ` àIn€addition€to€his€regular€employment,€Mr.€Mangum€performs€€accounting€work€forÏprivate€clients.€€He€took€a€vacation€day€from€work€on€November€10,€1995,€to€meet€with€oneÏof€these€clients.€€After€concluding€his€meeting€around€mid„day,€he€stopped€at€the€GoldenÏGallon€Market€on€Highway€41A€in€Decherd€to€use€the€restroom€and€to€purchase€a€beer€thatÏhe€planned€to€drink€later€with€his€lunch.ÌÌà ` àPatrons€enter€the€Golden€Gallon€Market€through€double€glass€doors€that€open€only€toÏthe€outside.€€Just€inside€the€doors€is€a€heavy,€rubber„backed€red€floor€mat€with€a€black€rubberÏborder€that€is€plainly€visible€through€the€glass€doors.€€The€mat,€which€is€approximately€sixÏfeet€long€and€four€feet€wide,€is€supplied€by€National€Dust€Control€Service.€€It€is€placed€at€theÏfront€door€to€protect€the€tile€floor€from€heavy€foot€traffic€and€to€provide€the€patrons€withÏsomewhere€to€wipe€their€shoes€in€Ô_ÔñŒñofñŒñÔ_ÔÔ_ÔñŒñ€ñŒñinclementÔ_Ô€weather.€€The€edge€of€the€mat€is€approximatelyÐ ³:6F Ðone€inch€from€the€metal€door€jam€of€the€front€doors.€€The€mat€itself€consists€of€industrialÏgrade€carpet€with€little€or€no€nap.€€The€marketððs€employees€are€responsible€for€keeping€theÏmat€clean€and€for€making€sure€that€it€is€lying€flat€on€the€floor€without€wrinkles€or€creases€thatÏmight€cause€patrons€to€fall.€€ÌÌà ` àMr.€Mangum€parked€his€automobile€close€to€the€marketððs€front€doors.€€AfterÏdiscarding€some€trash€in€an€outside€container,€he€entered€the€market€through€the€right€handÏglass€door.€€Mr.€Mangum€pulled€the€door€toward€him,€held€the€door€open€with€this€rightÏcrutch,€and€then€placed€his€left€crutch€inside€the€store.€€Then€he€pulled€his€feet€inside€theÏstore€and€brought€his€right€crutch€into€the€market.€€Immediately€after€Mr.€Mangum€began€toÏmove€forward,€the€toe€of€his€left€shoe€caught€the€edge€of€the€mat€and€he€fell€forward€into€theÏmarket.€€He€fractured€his€left€shoulder€in€the€fall.€€The€entire€incident€was€videotaped€by€theÏmarketððs€surveillance€camera.€€ÌÌà ` àThe€employees€of€the€market€came€to€Mr.€Mangumððs€assistance.€€He€declined€theirÏoffer€to€summon€an€ambulance.€€After€collecting€himself€on€the€floor€for€several€minutes,ÏMr.€Mangum€asked€the€employees€to€assist€him€to€arise€from€the€floor,€to€bring€him€the€beerÏhe€had€originally€stopped€to€purchase,€and€to€return€to€his€automobile.€€Although€shaken,€Mr.ÏMangum€did€not€leave€the€market€until€he€paid€for€the€beer.€€After€briefly€resting€in€hisÏautomobile,€Mr.€Mangum€drove€himself€back€to€Murfeesboro.€€Upon€arriving€home,€Mr.ÏMangum€realized€that€he€was€injured€and€drove€himself€to€the€emergency€room€inÏMurfreesboro.€€€ÌÌà ` àIn€April€1996,€Mr.€Mangum€filed€suit€against€the€Golden€Gallon€CorporationÏ(ð ðGolden€Gallonðð)€in€the€Chancery€Court€for€Franklin€County.€€After€the€suit€was€transferredÏto€the€Circuit€Court€for€Franklin€County,€Golden€Gallon€moved€for€summary€judgmentÏasserting€that€Mr.€Mangum€could€not€prove€the€existence€of€a€dangerous€condition,€that€it€didÏnot€owe€a€duty€to€warn€Mr.€Mangum€of€the€condition€of€the€mat,€and€that€Mr.€MangumððsÏequal€or€superior€knowledge€of€the€matððs€condition€barred€his€recovery.€€Golden€GallonÏsupported€its€motion€with€Mr.€Mangumððs€deposition,€the€depositions€of€the€marketððs€managerÏand€assistant€manager,€and€the€videotape€of€Mr.€Mangumððs€fall.€€The€trial€court€granted€theÏsummary€judgment,€and€Mr.€Mangum€has€perfected€this€appeal.ÌÌÌÌÐ k:»5F Ðà@ÕÕ.Dàò òII.ó óˆÐ ° ÐÌà ` àWe€turn€first€to€the€standard€by€which€we€review€a€trial€courtððs€decision€to€grant€aÏsummary€judgment.€€Summary€judgments€enjoy€no€presumption€of€correctness€on€appeal.€ÏòòSeeóó€òòCity€of€Tullahoma€v.€Bedford€Countyóó,€938€S.W.2d€408,€412€(Tenn.€1997);€òòMcClung€v.Ð Ô $ ÐDelta€Square€Ltd.€Partnershipóó,€937€S.W.2d€891,€894€(Tenn.€1996).€€Accordingly,€we€mustÐ ] ­  Ðmake€a€fresh€determination€concerning€whether€the€requirements€of€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€56€haveÏbeen€satisfied.€€òòSeeóó€òòHunter€v.€Brownóó,€955€S.W.2d€49,€50„51€(Tenn.€1997);€òòMason€v.€Seatonóó,Ð o¿  Ð942€S.W.2d€470,€472€(Tenn.€1997).€€Summary€judgments€are€appropriate€only€when€thereÏare€no€genuine€factual€disputes€with€regard€to€the€claim€or€defense€embodied€in€the€motionÏand€when€the€moving€party€is€entitled€to€a€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€R.€Civ.Ð  Z ÐP.€56.04;€òòMoon€v.€St.€Thomas€Hosp.óó,€___€S.W.2d€___,€___€(Tenn.€1998)ñññŽñ׃×ñŽññŽñ׃×ñŽñññññ׃×ññÝ ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×;€òòBain€v.€Wellsóó,€936Ð “ã ÐS.W.2d€618,€622€(Tenn.€1997);€òòCarvell€v.€Bottomsóó,€900€S.W.2d€23,€26€(Tenn.€1995).Ð l ÐÌà ` àCourts€presented€with€a€summary€judgment€motion€must€view€the€evidence€in€theÏlight€most€favorable€to€the€nonmoving€party€and€must€also€draw€all€reasonable€inferences€inÏthe€nonmoving€partyððs€favor.€€òòSeeóó€òòRobinson€v.€Omeróó,€952€S.W.2d€423,€426€(Tenn.€1997);Ð @  ÐòòMike€v.€Po€Group,€Inc.óó,€937€S.W.2d€790,€792€(Tenn.€1996).€€Thus,€a€summary€judgmentÐ É" Ðshould€be€granted€only€when€the€undisputed€facts€reasonably€support€one€conclusion€ð!ð€thatÐ R ¢$ Ðthe€moving€party€is€entitled€to€a€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law.€€òòSeeóó€òòMcCall€v.€Wilderóó,€913Ð Û!+& ÐS.W.2d€150,€153€(Tenn.€1995);€òòCarvell€v.€Bottomsóó,€900€S.W.2d€at€26.€€A€party€may€obtainÐ d#´( Ða€summary€judgment€by€demonstrating€that€the€nonmoving€party€will€be€unable€to€prove€anÏessential€element€of€its€case,€òòseeóó€òòByrd€v.€Hallóó,€847€S.W.2d€208,€212„13€(Tenn.€1993),Ð v&Æ!, Ðbecause€the€inability€to€prove€an€essential€element€of€a€claim€necessarily€renders€all€otherÏfacts€immaterial.€€òòSeeóó€òòAlexander€v.€Memphis€Individual€Practice€Assððnóó,€870€S.W.2d€278,€280Ð ˆ)Ø$0 Ð(Tenn.€1993);€òòStrauss€v.€Wyatt,€Tarrant,€Combs,€Gilbert€&€Milomóó,€911€S.W.2d€727,€729Ð +a&2 Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1995).ÌÌà@««-Dàò òIII.ó óˆÐ ¬/ü*8 ÐÌà ` àMr.€Mangum€will€recover€in€this€premises€liability€action€only€if€he€proves€(1)€thatÏGolden€Gallon€owed€him€a€duty€of€care,€(2)€that€Golden€Gallonððs€conduct€fell€below€theÏapplicable€standard€of€care€and€amounted€to€a€breach€of€its€duty,€(3)€that€he€suffered€anÏinjury,€(4)€that€Golden€Gallonððs€conduct€was€the€cause„in„fact€of€his€injury,€and€(5)€thatÐ Y7©2B ÐGolden€Gallonððs€conduct€was€the€proximate€or€legal€cause€of€his€injury.€€òòSee€Coln€v.€City€ofÐ ° ÐSavannahóó,€966€S.W.2d€34,€39€(Tenn.€1998).€€Mr.€Mangumððs€failure€to€demonstrate€that€heÐ 9‰ Ðwill€be€able€to€prove€each€of€these€elements€at€trial€will€entitle€Golden€Gallon€to€a€summaryÏjudgment.€€òòSee€Byrd€v.€Hallóó,€847€S.W.2d€at€215„16.€€Ð K › ÐÌà ` àAs€in€other€premises€liability€cases,€our€inquiry€begins€with€determining€the€existenceÏand€nature€of€Golden€Gallonððs€duty.€As€a€general€matter,€the€owner€or€possessor€of€theÏpremises€owes€a€general€duty€to€its€customers€to€exercise€reasonable€care€to€make€theÏpremises€safe.€€òòSee€Hudson€v.€Gaitanóó,€675€S.W.2d€699,€703€(Tenn.€1984).€€More€specifically,Ð øH  Ðthe€owner€or€possessor€has€a€duty€to€remove€or€to€warn€customers€of€any€latent€or€hiddenÏdangerous€condition€that€the€owner€knows€or€should€reasonably€know€about.€€òòSeeóó€òòSmith€v.Ð  Z ÐInman€Realty€Co.óó,€846€S.W.2d€819,€823€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1992).€€Whether€the€ownerððs€orÐ “ã Ðpossessorððs€duty€encompasses€the€duty€to€guard€against€the€acts€set€forth€in€the€complaintÏinvolves€an€analysis€of€the€foreseeablity€of€the€risk€to€which€the€customer€was€exposed.€€òòSeeÐ ¥õ ÐColn€v.€City€of€Savannahóó,€966€S.W.2d€at€43;€òòEaton€v.€McClainóó,€891€S.W.2d€587,€594€(Tenn.Ð .~ Ð1994).ÌÌà ` àIt€is€axiomatic€that€no€duty€can€arise€in€cases€of€this€sort€unless€a€dangerous€conditionÏexists.€€Mr.€Mangumððs€complaint,€as€we€understand€it,€contains€alternative€allegationsÏconcerning€the€existence€of€a€dangerous€condition.€€First,€Mr.€Mangum€asserts€that€placingÏthe€mat€at€the€marketððs€front€door€created€a€dangerous€condition€for€the€marketððs€patrons,Ïespecially€for€its€disabled€patrons.€€Second,€he€asserts€that€the€market€employees€hadÏpermitted€the€mat€to€bunch€up€or€wrinkle€and,€therefore,€that€a€wrinkled€mat€was€a€dangerousÏcondition€for€all€the€marketððs€patrons.ÌÌà@ww#Dàòòò òThe€Floor€Mats€Themselvesó óóóˆÐ +a&2 ÐÌà ` àWe€can€quickly€dispose€of€Mr.€Mangumððs€first€theory.€€Placing€a€mat€at€the€entranceÏof€a€business€establishment€does€not€create€a€dangerous€condition€as€a€matter€of€law.€€TheÏproof€in€this€record,€like€common€experience,€demonstrates€that€mats€like€the€one€involvedÏin€this€case€are€ubiquitous.€€They€are€frequently€placed€in€commercial€and€businessÏestablishments€in€high€traffic€areas€to€protect€the€floor€and€to€provide€persons€entering€theÏpremises€with€somewhere€to€wipe€their€shoes.€€Mr.€Mangum€himself€concedes€that€heÏencounters€these€mats€daily€at€his€place€of€employment€and€elsewhere.€€Accordingly,€withoutÏâ âsome€evidence€that€these€large,€rubber„backed€floor€mats,€even€when€properly€placed,€areÐ â824D Ðinherently€dangerous,€Mr.€Mangumððs€claim€that€their€use€creates€a€dangerous€condition€mustÏfail€as€a€matter€of€law.ñññŽñ׃×ñŽññŽñ׃×ñŽñññññ׃×ññÝ ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð 9‰ Ðâ âÌà ` àEven€if€these€mats€are€not€dangerous€to€the€general€public,€Mr.€Mangum€asserts€thatÏthey€are€dangerous€conditions€for€persons€with€disabilities.€€However,€Mr.€Mangum€hasÏfailed€to€demonstrate€that€he€will€be€able€to€substantiate€this€assertion€at€trial.€€He€concededÏin€his€deposition€that€he€encounters€these€mats€on€a€daily€basis€and€that€he€navigates€acrossÏthem€without€incident.€€In€addition,€he€has€not€proffered€any€evidence€regarding€theÏfrequency€of€incidents€in€which€mats€of€this€sort€cause€persons€with€disabilities€to€fall€or€thatÏthe€use€of€mats€such€as€the€one€involved€in€this€case€is€contrary€to€any€state€or€federalÏaccessibility€requirement€or€building€code.€€Thus,€we€conclude€that€Mr.€Mangum€hasÏlikewise€failed€to€demonstrate€that€he€will€be€able€to€prove€at€trial€that€properly€placed€floorÏmats€create€a€dangerous€condition€for€persons€with€disabilities.ÌÌà@/ / Dàòòò òGolden€Gallonððs€Maintenance€of€Its€Floor€Matsó óóóˆÐ .~ ÐÌà ` àMr.€Mangumððs€second€theory€is€that€Golden€Gallonððs€employees€did€not€properlyÏmaintain€the€mat€because€they€permitted€it€to€bunch€up€or€wrinkle€and€that€their€failure€toÏmaintain€the€mat€created€a€dangerous€condition.€€For€the€purposes€of€this€claim,€we€find€thatÏowners€and€possessors€of€property€who€place€floor€mats€at€the€entrance€to€their€buildingsÏhave€a€duty€to€maintain€these€mats€in€a€reasonably€safe€condition.€€We€also€find€that€anÏimproperly€maintained€floor€mat€ð!ð€one€that€is€wrinkled,€bunched€up,€worn€through,€or€tornÐ í$= * Ðð!ð€could€foreseeably€cause€persons,€especially€disabled€persons€with€limited€mobility,Ð v&Æ!, Ðentering€or€leaving€the€building€to€fall.€€Therefore,€an€improperly€maintained€mat€could€beÏa€dangerous€condition€that€could€expose€the€owner€or€possessor€of€the€premises€to€liability.ÌÌà ` àThe€mere€fact€that€Mr.€Mangum€tripped€and€fell€when€he€entered€the€market€is€notÏproof€that€Golden€Gallon€was€negligent.€€òòSee€Williams€v.€Jordanóó,€208€Tenn.€456,€464,€346Ð #.s)6 ÐS.W.2d€583,€586€(1961);€òòUnderwood€v.€HCA€Health€Servs.€of€Tenn.,€Incóó.,€892€S.W.2d€423,Ð ¬/ü*8 Ð426€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1994)€(stating€that€evidence€of€injury€alone€is€not€sufficient€to€prove€thatÏthe€injury€was€caused€by€someoneððs€negligence).€€Thus,€even€if€an€improperly€maintainedÐ ¾2.< Ðfloor€mat€could€be€a€dangerous€condition,€Mr.€Mangum€cannot€succeed€without€proof€thatÏthe€Golden€Gallon€employees€did€not€properly€maintain€the€floor€mat€and€that€the€floor€matÏwas€in€a€dangerous€condition€when€he€entered€the€market.€€As€we€view€this€record,€Mr.ÏMangum€failed€to€demonstrate€that€he€will€be€able€to€carry€his€burden€of€proof€with€regardÏto€either€issue.ÌÌà ` àBoth€Golden€Gallon€employees€who€were€at€the€market€when€Mr.€Mangum€fell€statedÏin€their€depositions€that€they€have€a€policy€of€making€sure€that€the€floor€mat€is€clean,€that€itÏis€in€the€proper€location,€€and€that€it€is€lying€flat€on€the€floor.€€The€manager€testified€that€theÏpolicy€is€to€keep€the€mat€inside€the€store€and€to€make€sure€that€it€ð ðstays€sweptðð€and€ð ðflat.ðð€ÏThe€assistant€manager€testified€that€she€had€the€responsibility€on€a€daily€basis€to€inspect€theÏmat,€to€sweep€it,€and€to€ð ðmake€sure€.€.€.€it's€in€position.ðð€€She€also€testified€that€she€could€seeÏthe€mat€from€her€position€at€the€cash€register€and€that€it€had€not€bunched€up€against€the€doorÏwhen€Mr.€Mangum€entered€the€market.ÌÌà ` àThe€videotape€of€Mr.€Mangumððs€fall€buttresses€the€employeesðð€testimony.€€It€beginsÏfive€minutes€before€Mr.€Mangum€entered€the€market€and€contains€a€clear€view€of€the€mat€onÏthe€floor€adjacent€to€the€door.€€The€mat€is€lying€flat€on€the€floor€without€any€apparentÏwrinkles€or€creases€and€without€being€bunched€up€against€the€door€jam.€€Prior€to€Mr.ÏMangumððs€arrival€at€the€market,€four€customers€entered€or€exited€the€market€withoutÏdifficulty€and€without€disturbing€the€mat.ÌÌà ` àMr.€Mangum€entered€the€market€through€the€right€hand€door.€€He€held€the€door€openÏwith€this€right€crutch€and€then€moved€his€left€crutch€inside€the€door.€€As€he€brought€his€feetÏinto€the€market,€the€toe€of€his€left€shoe€dragged€under€the€front€edge€of€the€mat.€€When€Mr.ÏMangum€moved€his€weight€forward,€both€of€his€feet€became€entangled€in€the€mat,€causingÏhim€to€lose€his€footing€and€to€fall€on€his€left€shoulder.€€The€videotape€shows€that€the€matÏreturned€to€its€original€position€after€Mr.€Mangum€fell.€€Mr.€Mangum€remained€in€the€marketÏfor€approximately€eleven€minutes€following€his€fall.€€After€paying€for€his€beer,€he€left€theÏstore€unaided€by€walking€across€the€mat€where€he€had€tripped€and€out€the€same€door€throughÏwhich€he€had€entered.ÌÌà ` àMr.€Mangum€could€not€refute€the€testimony€of€the€marketððs€employees€that€the€matÏwas€lying€flat€on€the€floor.€€He€admitted€that€he€could€not€state€under€oath€whether€the€matÏwas€flat€or€not.€€However,€he€believes€that€the€mat€ð ðmust€have€been€up€someðð€because,€as€heÏexplained,€ð ðI€walk€over€those€mats€every€day€in€going€in€and€out€of€stores€of€this€type,€goingÐ k:»5F Ðin€and€out€of€my€office,€any€kind€of€department€stores,€and€Iððve€never€pushed€one€of€themÏ[the€mats]€up€before.ðð€€Mr.€Mangum€also€conceded€that€if€there€were€no€wrinkles€or€creasesÏin€the€mat,€Golden€Gallon€did€not€do€anything€that€would€have€caused€him€to€fall.€€ÌÌà ` àWe€have€considered€the€undisputed€facts€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€Mr.€MangumÏand€have€determined€that€reasonable€minds€can€only€conclude,€based€on€these€facts,€thatÏGolden€Gallonððs€placement€and€maintenance€of€the€floor€mat€at€the€entrance€to€its€market€didÏnot€create€a€dangerous€condition.€€In€the€absence€of€proof€of€a€dangerous€condition€on€itsÏpremises,€Golden€Gallon€is€entitled€to€a€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law€because€Mr.€MangumÏhas€failed€to€demonstrate€that€he€will€be€able€to€prove€one€of€the€essential€elements€of€hisÏclaim€on€which€he€will€bear€the€burden€of€proof€at€trial.€€€€à  àà x àÐ  Z ÐÌà@±±.Dàò òIV.ó óˆÐ l ÐÌà ` àWe€affirm€the€summary€judgment€and€remand€the€case€to€the€trial€court€for€furtherÏproceedings€consistent€with€this€opinion.€€We€tax€the€costs€of€this€appeal€to€Kenneth€LarryÏMangum€and€his€surety€for€which€execution,€if€necessary,€may€issue.ÌÌÌÌÓ€Óà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à_____________________________Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGEÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌ____________________________________ÌHENRY€F.€TODD,€PRESIDING€JUDGEÌMIDDLE€SECTION€ÌÌÌÌ____________________________________ÌWALTER€W.€BUSSART,€SPECIAL€JUDGEññ€ÌÌÐ  Ä3/8 ÐÔ‡„ýµ„‹Š±Ôà@¡ ¡ Dàò òIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@ÜÜ)DàAT€NASHVILLEˆÌÔ#†Š±‹„„ýµ‚R#Ôó óÌÔ€¼:´»‹Š±ÔÌKENNETH€LARRY€MANGUM,à  àà p à)Ð ž î Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)Ìà ` àPlaintiff/Appellant,à À àà  àà p à)Ð Î  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)à È àFranklin€CircuitÐ æ 6 ÐVS.à ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)à È àNo.€9739„CIVÐ þ N  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)à È àAppeal€No.Ð .~  ÐGOLDEN€GALLON€CORPORATION,à p à)à È à01A01„9709„CV„00459Ð F–  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)Ìà ` àDefendant/Appellee.à À àà  àà p à)Ð vÆ  ÐÌÑ8€:´¼»dXXdð8ÑÌÔ€ Fz!»¼:´Ôò òòòà@cc(DàJ€U€D€G€M€E€N€Tóóó óˆÐ ¾ ÐÌÔ€¼:´»! FzÔÓ€ÓÔ‡Š±‹‹Š±Ôà ` àThis€cause€came€on€to€be€heard€upon€the€record€on€appeal€from€the€Franklin€CountyÐ B’ ÐCircuit€Court,€the€briefs€of€the€parties,€and€the€arguments€of€counsel.€€Upon€consideration€ofÏthe€entire€record,€this€court€finds€and€concludes€that€the€trial€courtððs€judgment€should€beÏaffirmed.ÌÌà ` àIn€accordance€with€the€opinion€filed€contemporaneously€with€this€judgment,€it€is,Ïtherefore,€ordered,€adjudged,€and€decreed€that€the€trial€courtððs€judgment€be€and€is€herebyÏñ‡ñaffirmedñ‡ñ,€and€that€the€cause€be€remanded€to€the€trial€court€for€further€proceedings€consistentÏwith€this€courtððs€opinion.ÌÌà ` àIt€is€further€ordered€that€the€costs€of€this€appeal€be€taxed€ñˆñto€Kenneth€Larry€Mangumñˆñ,Ïprincipal,€and€ñ‰ñRay,€VanCleave€&€Jacksonñ‰ññññŠññ‰ñ€ñ‰ññŠñññ,ñ‹ñ€ñ‹ñsurety,€for€which€execution€may€issue€ifÏnecessary.ÌññÔ#†¼:´»‹Š±X#ÔÔ‡Š±‹‹Š±ÔññÌññññÔ#†¼ú£»‹Š‘X#ÔññññÌÓ€Óà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à_____________________________________Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àHENRY€F.€TODD,€PRESIDING€JUDGEÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àMIDDLE€SECTION€ÌÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à____________________________________Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGE€ÌÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à____________________________________Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àWALTER€W.€BUSSART,€SPECIAL€JUDGEññÔ#†¼:´»‹Š±Å[#Ôññññ