WPCq U"F ɢFy0x wuh1rڒa_7Q˅a dg] ͅO 쾌 0V U@䌃_p袭^gnyaoIn_M`2 (s]Эg3Gď]LJV"Fg~~y;,I}a8qN8rlC$(6֡?xPg'j4mW#+y^s~rbP>!ϋ+`5(u-$ͷP@%ᄊ˸ܓD'/zZ - Cxzɸ0&vj3X .{qzSqЖ#a Ŗ\V aʣ"]H2oZǃ4rq䵑~mʅVțyIYU[}M9~Y a#NU N %] 0:c c 9 ^ w 4   0~ 0D" f ; m================================================================================ BTHP LaserJet 4050 Series PCL 6,,,,0(9 Z6Times New Roman RegularX($USUS., /#CXd# ` ;-s `d-\8%3|x   ($USUS.,    1    _ԀThetrialjudgedidnottechnicallyruletheopinioninadmissable.Instead,hechoseto   accordnoweighttotheexpertopinion.Wewilladdressbelowthequestionofwhetherthe  trialjudgemay weighevidenceonmotionforsummaryjudgment.(.(3($ !USUS.,      0  (#$  0     ($USUS.,    2    _ԀNoobjectionto,motiontoquash,ormotiontostriketheexpertaffidavitoranyportion  ofitwasfiledbythedefendant.Thetrialjudgehastheinherentauthorityto_sua__sponte_ruleon  theadmissibilityofevidence,withoutanobjectionbeingraised.Itis,however,goodpracticeto  closelyreviewanexpertopinionaffidavitandmakeappropriateobjectionssincetrialjudgesare t notallproactiveininitiatingadmissibilityinquires. U d !USUS.,  _XX  INTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  ATNASHVILLE  October10,2002Session $ \   LEEKRAFT,asExecutoroftheLastWillandTestament H ofMs.Helen_Bergida_,deceasedv._EZO_Ԅ_GOTEN_,USA,INC.   \ ADirectAppealfromtheCircuitCourtofDavidsonCounty 2  No.00696TheHonorableWalterKurtz,Judge D  ___________________________ h  No.M200103137_COA_ԄR3CVFiledDecember11,_2002_   ___________________________#X`X=#/XX`     Personalrepresentativeofdeceasedpatronbroughtthispremisesliabilitysuitagainst  restaurantowner/occupierallegingthatpatrontrippedandfellfromdangeroustopstepof  frontstairstorestaurant.Ondefendantsmotionforsummaryjudgment,thetrialjudge  accordednoweighttotheopinionofplaintiffsexpertarchitect,ruledthattherewasnoproof  ofcausation,andgrantedsummaryjudgment.Wefindthatareasonablejurorcouldconclude  fromthecircumstantialevidenceintherecordthatpatronfellduetotrippingonthe  dangeroustopstep.Becausethecircumstantialevidencecreatesadisputeastoagenuine  issueofmaterialfact,weholdthatsummaryjudgmentwasinappropriate,reversethetrial  court,andremandthecase.     Tenn.R.App.P.3;AppealasofRight:JudgmentoftheCircuitCourt   ReversedandRemanded  ! JOHNA._TURNBULL_,Sp.J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourtinwhichPATRICIAJ. # COTTRELL,J.andWILLIAMBRYANCAIN,J.,concurred. $ JohnW.NolanandStanleyA.Davis,Nashville,counselforAppellant &!! GordonC._Aulgur_,Nashville,counselforAppellee#X`X/#XX` (##  ,2('  8`XXdd8`    #X`X #/XX`  FactsandBackground      OnMarch7,1999,Ms.Helen_Bergida_Ԁwasgoing,alongwithagroupoffamilyand  friends,toabirthdaypartyatthe_Goten_ԀRestaurantintheBakerBuildingattheintersection  ofWestEndAvenueand21stAvenueSouthinNashville.Thefrontstepsattheentranceto   the_Goten_ԀRestaurantconsistedofsevenconcreterisers.Thefirstsixrisersonthesesteps   wereeachsixincheshigh.However,theseventhrisermeasuredseveninchesinheight.It   wasonthistopstepthatMs._Bergida_Ԁallegedshetripped,causinghertofalldownthesteps   andsufferseriousinjury.Unfortunately,Ms._Bergida_Ԁdiedofothercausesaftershefiledsuit,   butbeforemakinganaffidavitorgivingothersworntestimonyinthiscause.     March7,1999,wasaclear,dryday.Ms._Bergida_Ԁwasholdingthehandrailasshe   walkedupthestepstothe_Goten_ԀRestaurant,andclimbedthefirstsixstepswithoutdifficulty.   NoonehastestifiedtheysawMs._Bergida_Ԁtriponthetopstep,butawitness,MortonCooper,  lookedupintimetoseeherfallingfromthesixthstepasheindicatedonadiagramexhibit  tohisdeposition.Therewasnowarningthatthetopriserwasaninchormorehigherthan  thefirstsixrisers,anditwasnotpaintedyellow.Thedifferenceintheheightofthetopriser  wasnoteasilyobservabletooneapproachingorclimbingthesteps.    Ms._Bergida_Ԁhadachievedthegoldenageof80yearsofageatthetimeofherfall.  Shewasingoodhealth,livingalone,abletocareforherself,andfunctioningindependently.  Shehadnohistoryofdifficultywalkingorclimbingstairs.Infact,shewalkedtoanearby  grocerystore,exercisedregularly,anddidvolunteerworkatSt.ThomasHospital.Inspite  ofherage,Ms._Bergida_Ԁwasabletoclimbstairswithoutassistance.Shebakedbreadweekly  andpreparedmealsandprovidedbabysittingforherfamilyandfriends.    Mr.Henry_Bledsoe_,anarchitectwiththirtyyearsexperience,andanimpressive  curriculumvitae,measuredandphotographedthestepsandconfirmedthat theriseratthe   seventhandfinalstepisaninchormorehigherthantheriserforthesixthstep.Inhis ! affidavit,Mr._Bledsow_Ԁcitedthetopriserasaviolationofthestandardbuildingcode " provision1112.3.2: # ` ` Thereshallbenovariationexceeding3/16inchinthedepthof %!! adjacenttreadsorintheheightofadjacentrisersandthe &"" tolerancebetweenthelargestandsmallestriserorbetweenthe  largestandsmallesttreadshallnotexceed3/8inchinanyflight.  ` `   Afterdescribingthelackofuniformityinthetreadsandrisersinthestairstothe  _Goten_ԀRestaurant,Mr._Bledsoe_Ԁnotedtherewerefourplacesinthestairswhichcouldcause  afall: Atthetopriser,atthesecondtreadfromthetop,atthesecondtreadfromthebottom,   andatthebottomriser.Heexpressedtheopinioninparagraph10ofhisaffidavit: Walking   upordownthesestairs,becauseoftheinconsistencies,apersoncannotestablisharhythm   fromoneriserortreadtothenextandmorelikelythannotcausedMs._Bergida_sfalland   resultinginjuries.Mr._Bledsoe_Ԁwentfurtherandlistenedtoataperecordedstatementgiven   byMs._Bergida_Ԁtoaninvestigatorfromtherestaurantandreadthedepositionsoffive   companionwitnesses.Mr._Bledsoe_Ԁsworeinhisaffidavitinparagraph12: Theyallindicate   thatMs._Bergida_Ԁwastraversingthetoptwostepsatthetimeofherfall.(emphasisadded)   Therefore,itismyfirmopinionthatthecauseofherfallwasthevariantintheheightofthe   risers,whichviolatedthestandardbuildingcode.    Thetrialjudge,aftertakingdefendantsmotionforsummaryjudgmentunder  advisement,accordedthearchitectsaffidavitnoweight.Wrotethetrialjudge:  ` ` Theplaintiffhasusedthearchitectsaffidavitasaconduitinan  attempttogetintoevidenceahearsaystatementmadebyMs.  _Bergida_Ԁabouthermemoryofthefall.Thisisimpermissible.  SeeBensonv.TennesseeValleyElectricCooperative,868  SW2d630,641(Tenn.App.1993).Moreimportantly,however,  thecourtfindsthattheaffidavitshouldbegivennoweight.  Thisaffidavitsimplyattemptstotellthefactfinderhowpeople  mighttriponthestairsandthenpostulatesastohowthisfall  tookplace.Thecourtisoftheopinionthatjurorsarewell  equippedtomakejudgmentsaboutfallsonstairs.Thisaffidavit   willnot substantiallyassistthetrieroffactinresolvingthe ! factualissueinthiscase.See,_T.R.E._Ԁ7.02. "  &"" ` ` Thetrialjudgegrantedsummaryjudgmenttothedefendantconcludinghisreasoningas  follows:  ` ` Thecountertothepopulistargumentthatallcasesshouldgoto  thejuryistheobservationthatajurytrialisanexpensiveand  timeconsumingwaytoresolveissuesinvolvinginterpretations   oflawandthatthecherishedrighttoajurytrialshouldbe   reservedforthosecasesinwhichthereisaviabledisputeforthe   jurytoresolve.Wealloweanobligationtothejusticesystem   andtothejurorsthatserveittoinsurethatcasesunsupportedby   appropriatefactsareculledout.Itisalltooeasytosubmitthe   casetoajurywherethelawdisfavorstheclaimbutthe   emotionaldynamicofthecasemightcausethejurytodisregard   thelaw.Onlyforthosecaseswherethelackoffactualdispute   maketheapplicationofthelawacertaintydowereserve  summaryjudgment.Thiscaseisoneofthose.  ` `   Thecasepresentstwoissuesforresolutionbythiscourt:    1.Didthetrialcourterrinaccordingnoweighttotheexpertopinion?    2.Didthetrialcourterrinfindingnodisputeofmaterialfactastotheissueof  causation?    ExpertOpinion  =+  Thestandardofreviewtobeappliedtoatrialjudgesdeterminationofthe  admissibilityofexperttestimonyiswhethertherulingamountedtoanabuseofdiscretion.  Beforereversal,therecordmustshowthatajudgeappliedanincorrectlegalstandardor   reachedadecisionwhichisagainstlogicorreasoningandcausedaninjusticetotheparty ! complaining.SeeStatev._Coley_,32S.W.3d831,833(Tenn.2000). "   Indeterminingwhethertoadmitorexcludeexpertopinion,thetrialcourtmustfirst $  looktothelegalstandardssetforthinTennesseeRuleofEvidence702,whichprovides: %!!  &"" _` ` Ifscientific,technical,orotherspecializedknowledgewill  substantiallyassistthetrieroffacttounderstandtheevidenceor  todetermineafactinissue,awitnessqualifiedasanexpertby  knowledge,skill,experience,training,oreducationmaytestify  intheformofanopinionorotherwise.  ` `   ItisnotdisputedthatMr._Bledsoe_,asanexperiencedarchitect,possessedthe   knowledge,skill,experience,training,andeducationtoaccuratelyphotographandmeasure   thestepsinquestion.Neitherisitdisputedthat_Bledsoe_Ԁwasqualifiedtorecognizeandcite   theapplicablebuildingcodeanddemonstrateaviolationofthecode.Instead,itishis   opiniononcausationwhichischallenged.Mr._Bledsoe_sfirstexpressedopinionon   causationis: Walkingupordownthesestairs,becauseoftheinconsistencies,aperson   cannotestablisharhythmfromonerisertotreadtothenext,andmorelikelythannotcaused   Ms._Bergida_sfallandresultinginjuries.Thefirstclauseofthisopinion becauseofthe   inconsistencies,apersoncannotestablisharhythmfromoneriserortreadtothenextis,we  believe,withintheexpertiseofthisexperiencedarchitect.Mr._Bledsoe_Ԁhaddesignedhotels,  restaurants,officebuildings,manufacturingfacilities,shoppingcenters,andretirement  centers.Appropriatepedestriantrafficflowisanessentialpartandfocusofthedesignof  suchbuildings,asisaknowledgeofbuildingsandaccessabilitycodes.Thus,itcannotbe  saidthatMr._Bledsoe_Ԁdidnothavesufficientexpertisetorenderthisportionofhisopinion.  CertainlyMr._Bledsoe_Ԁhadspecializedknowledgesuperiortothatofthecommon  understandingofatrieroffactregardingthenecessaryrhythmforsafepedestriantrafficon  stairs.Accordingly,wefindthatthefirstclauseofthisopinionnotonlyconstitutes  circumstantialevidenceitself,butitwouldalsosubstantiallyassistthetrieroffactin  assessinganddrawinginferencesfromothercircumstantialevidenceinthiscase.See  _Hamblen_Ԁv.Davidson,50S.W.3d433,440(Tenn.App.2000).    Insharpcontrast,thelastportionofthisopinion( andmorelikelythannotcaused  Ms._Berdiga_sfallandresultinginjuries)ishighlyproblematic.Becausewedonothave   beforeusadepositionorothercrossexaminationofMr._Bledsoe_,wedonotknowwhether ! hehadscientificorotherunderpinningsoutsidethecommonunderstandingofthejuryupon " whichtobasehisopinionofcausation.TherecordcontainsnoevidencethatMr._Bledsoe_ # hadeducationorexperienceinsafety,humanfactorsanalysis,orcauseandeffectofinjuries. $  Thetrialjudgeheldthattheopinionwouldnot substantiallyassistthetrieroffactin %!! resolvingthefactualissue(causation)inthatjurorsarewellequippedtomake_judgments &"" aboutfallsonstairs.Wecannotsay,onthisrecord,thatthisportionofMr._Bledsoe_s  opiniononcausationwasadmissible,orthatthetrialjudgewouldhaveabusedhisdiscretion  inexcludingit.   #  1      ׀    Inparagraph12ofhisaffidavit,Mr._Bledsoe_Ԁagainexpressedtheopinionthatthe  causeofMrs._Berdiga_sfallwasthevariationinheightoftherisers,whichviolatedthe   standardbuildingcode.Hebasedthisopinion,atleastinpart,ontheinadmissiblehearsay   statementgivenbyMrs._Berdiga_Ԁtotheinvestigator.Thetrialjudgefoundimpermissiblethis   useofthearchitectsaffidavit asaconduitinanattempttogetintoevidenceahearsay   statementmadebyMs._Bergida_Ԁabouthermemoryofthefall.Theaffidavitdoesnotreveal   thedetailsofMs._Bergida_smemoryexpressedtotheinvestigator,butdoesindicatethefive   witnessesandMs._Bergida_sstatementallindicatethatMs._Bergida_Ԁwastraversingthetwo   topstepsatthetimeofherfall.     _T.R.E._Ԁ703permitsanexperttobaseanopinionorinferenceonfactsordata   perceivedbyormadeknowntotheexpertatorbeforethehearing.Therulepointsoutthat  thefactsordatarelieduponbytheexpertneednotbeadmissibleinevidence ifofatype  reasonablyrelieduponbyexpertsinaparticularfieldinformingopinionsorinferenceson  thesubject.Thefactsordatamaynotstemfromanuntrustworthysource.Iftheexpert  basesanopiniononevidencethatisnotindependentlyadmissible thetrialjudgeshould  eitherprohibitthejuryfromhearingthefoundationforthetestimonyordeliveracautionary  instruction.Bensonv.TennesseeValleyElec.Coop.,868S.W.2d630,641(Tenn.Ct.App.  1993).Here,theappropriateactionofthetrialcourtwouldhavebeentoprohibittheexpert  fromrevealingtothejurythatMs._Bergida_Ԁhadevenmadeastatementiftheopinionwas  otherwiseadmissible.TorevealthatastatementhadbeenmadebyMrs._Bergida_Ԁorthe  contentsofsuchstatementwouldresultinunfairprejudicetothedefendantwhichwould  likelynotbecuredbyacautionaryinstruction.    Otherreasons,too,permittheexclusionoftheopinion.Thetrialjudgecanreadand   understandthewitnessestestimonycontainedinthedepositions.Anexpertsopinionabout ! whatotherwitnessessaydoesnotsubstantiallyassistthecourtortrieroffact.Additionally, " _wecannotsaythetrialjudgeabuseddiscretioninreasoningthat jurorsarewellequipped  tomakejudgmentsaboutfallsonstairsandthatthereforetheinferenceofcausation  containedintheopinionwouldnotsubstantiallyassistthejuryinresolvingthatissue.  #  2          SummaryJudgment      Summaryjudgmentsenjoynopresumptionofcorrectnessonappeal.Therefore,   reviewingcourtsmustdecideanewwhethertherequirementsofTenn.R.Civ.P.56have   beenmet.See_Baisley_Ԁv.Rain,29S.W.3d879,882(Tenn.Ct.App.2000).Wearerequired   toconsidertheevidenceinthelightmostfavorabletoMs._Bergida_,andwemustresolveall   inferencesinherfavor.Summaryjudgmentshouldnotbegrantedifanydoubtexistswith   regardtotheconclusionstobedrawnfromtheevidence.SeeByrdv.Hall,847S.W.2d208,   210(Tenn.1993). Ifthemindofthecourtentertainsanydoubtwhetherornotagenuine   issueexistsastoanymaterialfact,itisitsdutytooverrulethemotion(citationsomitted).   Thecourtisnottoweightheevidencewhenevaluatingamotionforsummaryjudgment.  Byrdv.Hall,supra,p.211.    Credibilitydeterminations,theweighingoftheevidence,andthedrawingof  legitimateinferencesfromthefactsarejuryfunctions,notthoseofthejudge.Theevidence  ofthenon_movant_Ԁistobebelieved,andalljustifiableinferencesaretobedrawninher  favor.Byrdv.Hall,supra,p.212. Thepurposeofsummaryproceedingisnotthefinding  offacts,orthedeterminationofconflictinginferencesreasonablytobedrawnfromthose  facts.Byrdv.Hall,supra,p.216(emphasisadded).Aninferenceisdefinedas theprocess  ofreasoningbywhichafactorpropositionsoughttobeestablishedisdeducedasalogical  consequencefromotherfacts,orastateoffacts,alreadyprovedoradmitted.SeeThompson  v._Adcox_,63S.W.3d783,790.(Tenn.Ct.App.2002);BlacksLawDictionary,778(6thEd.  1990).OurSupremeCourthasdefinedaninferenceas apermissibledeductionfrom  evidencewhichajurymayacceptorrejectoraccordsuchprobativevalueasitdesires.  Bentonv.Snyder,825S.W.2d409,414(Tenn.1992).Ajurymayinferacausal_connection   throughtheuseofcircumstantialevidence.See_Hamblen_Ԁv.Davidson,50_S.W._Ԁ3d433,440  (Tenn.App.2000).    Thecircumstantialevidenceinthiscasedoesnotexcludeeveryotherpossiblecause,  butitdoespresentasoundlogicalbasisfortheinferencethatthedefectivestepcausedor  contributedtothecauseofMs._Bergida_sfall.TheevidenceattrialmayshowthatMs.   _Bergida_Ԁsufferedministrokes;thatshenegligentlyfailedtoholdthehandrailasshe   approachedthetopstep;oreventhatsomeoneelsepushedorjostledherasshegottothetop   step.Someotherlogicalinferencemaybedrawnfromthefullydevelopedevidence.Itwill,   however,beforthejurytodeterminewhethertheunevenriseratthetopstepisthemore   likelycauseofherfallthananyotherexplanation.See_T.P.I._Ԁ3Civil2.02.Thetrialjudge,   onmotionforsummaryjudgment,doesnotweighthestrengthofcompetinginferences.     TakeninthelightmostfavorabletoMs._Bergida_,theevidenceshowsthatthesetof   stepsinquestionfailedtomeetcode,containedinconsistencieswhichdidnotpermitaperson  ascendingthemtoestablisharhythmfromoneriserortreadtothenext,andwasespecially  dangerousatthetopstepwheretheriserwasafullinchhigherthantheothers.Wehave  evidencethatMs._Bergida_Ԁfellfromthenexttotoptread,exactlywhereshecouldhave  trippedonthetoohighriser.WehaveevidencethatMs._Bergida_Ԁwasahealthy,active  elderlyladywhohadnotbeforehaddifficultyclimbingsteps.Sheascendedthestepsata  normalrateholdingthehandrail,andclimbedthefirstsixstepswithoutdifficulty.A  reasonablepersoncouldlogicallyconcludethattheunsafetoprisercausedorcontributedto  herfall.Inordertosurvivethismotionforsummaryjudgment,plaintiffdoesnotneedaneye  witnesswhoobservedMs._Bergida_Ԁcatchhertoeonthetoohightopriser.Sufficient  circumstantialevidenceexistsinthisrecordtocreateagenuineissueofmaterialfactfortrial  astocausation.    Conclusion  rc  Onsummaryjudgment,atrialjudgeisnottoweighevidenceorweightherelative ! strengthofcompetinglogicalinferenceswhichmaybedrawnfromtheevidence.Noristhe " trialjudgetobeconcernedonsummaryjudgmentwiththeemotionaldynamicofacase,or # beworriedthatthejurymightdisregardthelaw.Summaryjudgmentisnottheappropriate $  vehicletobeusedbythetrialcourttocullaweakorevenarazorthincase.Oncetheproof %!! isfullydeveloped,jurieshavelittledifficultyinthecullingprocess,andifthejuryfailsto &"" followthelaworreachesaconclusionwhichisnotsupportedbyapreponderanceofthe  evidence,thetrialjudgethenexercisesthirteenthjurorresponsibilities.    Wereversethegrantofsummaryjudgmentandremandthecasetothetrialcourtfor  furtherproceedingsconsistentwiththisopinion.Costsonappealshallbepaidbythe  defendant.      `    __________________________________      `     h JohnA._Turnbull_,Sp._Judge#X`X/ #_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________     8`XXdXXd8