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ÓÔ#†¼D…»XXáe#ÔÔ‡XáX»¼D…ÔThis€is€a€premises€liability€case€wherein€the€plaintiff€alleges€that€she€was€injured€when€she€slippedÐ ŠÚ Ðand€fell€on€spilled€baby€food€while€shopping€at€the€defendant's€store.€After€trial€of€the€case€beforeÐ vÆ Ða€jury,€the€trial€court€granted€the€defendant's€motion€for€a€directed€verdict€and€dismissed€the€caseÐ b² Ðupon€grounds€that€the€plaintiff€failed€to€present€proof€that€the€defendant€had€notice€of€anÐ Nž Ðunreasonably€dangerous€condition.€We€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€and€remand.€€€€€Ð :Š ÐÓ©ÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€Court€Affirmed;€CauseÐ b ÐRemandedó óÐ þN ÐÌòòÓ  ÓSharon€G.€Lee,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòCharles€D.€Susano,€Jr.óó€and€òòD.Ð Ö& ÐMichael€Swiney,€JJ.óó,€joined.Ð Â ÐÌJames€Lee€Ô_ÔMilliganÔ_Ô,€Jr.€and€Michael€S.€Ô_ÔShipwashÔ_Ô,€Knoxville,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellant,€BettyÐ šê ÐL.€Hampton.Ð †Ö ÐÌCharles€G.€Taylor,€III,€Knoxville,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellee,€Wal„Mart€Stores,€Inc.Ð ^!®  ÐÓæÓÌò òOPINIONó óÐ 6#†" ÐÌòòóóÓ  Óà  àThis€is€a€action€for€personal€injury€in€which€plaintiff/appellant,€Betty€L.€Hampton,€allegesÐ %^ $ Ðthat€she€slipped€and€fell€on€baby€food€which€had€spilled€from€a€broken€jar€onto€the€floor€of€the€storeÐ ú%J!% Ðof€defendant/appellee,€Wal„Mart€Stores,€Inc.(hereinafter€"Wal„Mart").€€In€her€complaint€Ms.Ð æ&6"& ÐHampton€specifically€alleges,€òòinter€aliaóó,€the€following:€€Ð Ò'"#' ÐÌÒ€°ÒÒ€°Òà Ø à4.€That€on€or€about€September€23,€2001,€the€plaintiff€Betty€Lowe€HamptonÐ ª)ú$) Ðwas€at€Wal„Mart,€for€the€purpose€of€purchasing€food.Ð –*æ%* ÐÌà Ø à5.€€That€while€the€plaintiff€was€walking€through€Wal„Mart€towards€theÐ n,¾', Ðcheck€out,€plaintiff€stepped€on€a€broken€jar€of€baby€food,€causing€plaintiff€toÐ Z-ª(-ý Ðtumble€to€the€floor.€€That€there€were€no€signs€and/or€any€type€of€warning€postedÐ ° Ðon€or€around€said€broken€jar€indicating€that€there€was€a€safety€hazard.Ð œì ÐÌà Ø à6.€€That€the€defendant€knew€or€should€have€known€that€said€broken€jar€wasÐ tÄ Ða€harmful€safety€hazard€therefore€had€actual€and/or€constructive€notice€of€suchÐ `° Ðhazard.Ð L œ ÐÌà Ø à7.€€The€plaintiff€would€aver€that€as€a€direct€and€proximate€result€of€theÐ $ t Ðnegligence€and/or€gross€negligence€of€the€defendant€Wal„Mart€Stores,€Inc.€in€notÐ  ` Ðmaintaining€the€aforementioned€premises€in€a€safe€and€suitable€condition€forÐ ü L  Ðwhich€they€were€intended,€in€not€posting€signs€or€other€types€of€warnings€as€toÐ è 8  Ðpossible€dangerous€conditions€existing€in€the€broken€jar€on€the€floor€and€failingÐ Ô$  Ðto€make€reasonable€inspections€for€said€safety€hazards,€the€plaintiff€has€sufferedÐ À  Ðserious€injuries€to€her€lower€back.€€Plaintiff€has€incurred€the€associated€costs€andÐ ¬ü  Ðexpenses€in€the€treatment€of€her€injuries.€€Plaintiff€has€endured€and€shall€continueÐ ˜è  Ðto€endure€much€pain€and€suffering€for€the€remainder€of€her€life.Ð „Ô  ÐÌÒ°€ÒÒ°€Òà  àBased€upon€these€allegations€the€complaint€demands€that€Ms.€Hampton€be€awarded€aÐ \¬ Ðjudgment€against€Wal„Mart€for€damages€in€the€amount€of€$74,000.00€and€prejudgment€interest.Ð H˜ ÐÌà  àMs.€Hampton's€case€was€subsequently€tried€before€a€jury.€€Ms.€Hampton€testified€on€behalfÐ  p Ðof€herself€and€called€no€other€witnesses.€At€the€close€of€the€Plaintiffððs€€proof,€Wal„Mart€made€an€oralÐ  \ Ðmotion€for€a€directed€verdict€upon€grounds€that€the€Plaintiff€€had€failed€to€present€proof€that€Wal„Ð øH ÐMart€created€the€condition€which€allegedly€caused€her€injury€or€that€the€condition€had€been€ofÐ ä4 Ðsufficient€duration€to€present€Wal„Mart€with€notice€of€its€existence.€€The€trial€court€entered€itsÐ Ð  Ðjudgment€granting€this€motion€and€dismissing€Ms.€Hampton's€case€with€full€prejudice.€€Thereafter,Ð ¼  ÐMs.€Hampton€filed€the€instant€appeal.Ð ¨ø ÐÌà  àThe€sole€issue€we€address€is€whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€granting€a€directed€verdict€in€thisÐ €Ð Ðcase.Ð l¼ ÐÌà  àIn€òòÔ_ÔSpannÔ_Ô€v.€Abrahamóó,€36€S.W.3d€452,€462€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1999)€we€recognized€the€well„Ð D!” ÐsetÔ_ÔtledÔ_Ô€standard€appropriate€to€the€review€of€a€motion€for€directed€verdict:Ð 0"€  ÐÌÒ€°ÒÒ€°Ò[Ô_ÔO]urÔ_Ô€task€is€to€review€the€record€to€determine€whether€[the€plaintiffððs]€evidenceÐ $X" Ðwas€sufficient€to€create€an€issue€for€the€jury€to€decide.€€In€conducting€this€review,Ð ô$D # Ðwe€do€not€weigh€the€evidence€or€evaluate€the€credibility€of€the€witnesses.€€Rather,Ð à%0!$ Ðwe€review€the€evidence€most€favorably€to€the€party€opposing€the€motion,€give€thatÐ Ì&"% Ðparty€the€benefit€of€all€reasonable€inferences€from€the€evidence,€and€also€disregardÐ ¸'#& Ðall€evidence€contrary€to€that€partyððs€position.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌà Ø àDirected€verdicts€are€appropriate€only€when€reasonable€minds€can€reachÐ |*Ì%) Ðone€conclusion.€€A€case€should€go€to€the€jury,€even€if€the€facts€are€undisputed,Ð h+¸&* Ðwhen€reasonable€persons€could€draw€conflicting€conclusions€from€the€facts.€Ð ° ÐThese€conclusions,€however,€must€be€based€on€more€than€speculation,€conjecture,Ð œì Ðand€guesswork.€€A€trial€court€may€direct€a€verdict€where€the€plaintiffððs€evidenceÐ ˆØ Ðfails€to€establish€a€prima€facie€case.Ð tÄ ÐÌ(Citations€omitted.)Ð L œ ÐÌÒ°€ÒÒ°€Òà  àIn€òòJones€v.€Ô_ÔZayreÔ_Ôóó,€600€S.W.3d€730,€732€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1980)€we€noted€the€followingÐ $ t Ðprerequisites€to€holding€a€business€owner€liable€for€an€injury€sustained€on€its€premises:Ð  ` ÐÌÒ€°ÒÒ€°Òà Ø àBefore€an€owner€or€operator€of€premises€can€be€held€liable€for€negligenceÐ è 8  Ðin€allowing€a€dangerous€or€defective€condition€to€exist€on€its€premises,€it€mustÐ Ô$  Ðhave€(1)€been€created€by€the€owner€or€operator€or€his€agent€or,€(2)€if€the€conditionÐ À  Ðwas€created€by€someone€other€that€the€owner€or€operator€or€his€agent,€there€mustÐ ¬ü  Ðbe€actual€or€constructive€notice€on€the€part€of€the€owner€or€operator€that€theÐ ˜è  Ðcondition€existed€prior€to€the€accident.Ð „Ô  ÐÌà Ø àIf€liability€is€to€be€predicated€on€constructive€knowledge€by€the€Defendant,Ð \¬ Ðthe€proof€must€show€the€dangerous€or€defective€condition€existed€for€such€lengthÐ H˜ Ðof€time€that€the€Defendant€knew,€or€in€the€exercise€of€ordinary€care€should€haveÐ 4„ Ðknown€of€its€existence.€€€Ð  p ÐÌÌÒ°€ÒÒ°€Òà  àMs.€Hampton€presented€no€direct€proof€that€Wal„Mart€had€actual€notice€of€the€dangerousÐ ä4 Ðcondition€alleged€and€does€not€contend€otherwise.€€We€are€compelled€to€the€conclusion€that€she€alsoÐ Ð  Ðfailed€to€present€circumstantial€evidence€which€would€allow€a€jury€to€decide€if€the€substance€whichÐ ¼  Ðallegedly€caused€Ms.€Hampton€to€fall€had€been€on€the€floor€ð ðfor€such€length€of€time€that€[Wal„Mart]Ð ¨ø Ðknew,€or€in€the€exercise€of€ordinary€care€should€have€known€of€its€existence.ðð€Ð ”ä ÐÌà  àIn€support€of€her€argument€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€granting€the€motion€for€a€directedÐ l¼ Ðverdict,€Ms.€Hampton€first€references€her€testimony€at€trial€that,€immediately€after€she€fell,€sheÐ X ¨ Ðobserved€the€approach€of€a€man€with€a€mop:Ð D!” ÐÌÒ€°ÒÒ€°ÒQ€€After€the€fall€but€prior€to€the€manager€coming€did€any€other€employees€comeÐ #l! Ðup€to€you?Ð $X" ÐÌA€There€was€an€older€gentleman€that€came€from€this€direction€over€here€that€hadÐ à%0!$ Ða€mop€in€his€hand.€€He€was€an€older€gentleman,€thin,€had€thin€hair€on€top€is€all€IÐ Ì&"% Ðcan€remember.Ð ¸'#& ÐÌQ€And€this€was€right€after€you€fell€he€came€with€a€mop?Ð )à$( ÐÌA€Yes.Ð h+¸&* ЇÒ°€ÒÒ°€Òà  àMs.€Hampton€indicates€that€this€testimony€constitutes€circumstantial€evidence€from€which€Ð ° Ðð ðthe€jury€could€infer€that€someone€reported€the€spill€and€this€gentleman€was€on€his€[way]€to€cleanÐ œì Ðit€up.ðð€Ð ˆØ ÐÌà  àThis€testimony€is€certainly€not€sufficient€to€establish€that€the€baby€food€on€the€floor€had€beenÐ `° Ðthere€so€long€that€Wal„Mart€knew,€or€should€have€known,€of€its€existence€prior€to€the€time€of€Ms.Ð L œ ÐHamptonððs€fall.€€A€jury€could€€not€determine€from€this€testimony€whether€the€employee€with€the€mopÐ 8 ˆ Ðwas€aware€of€the€spilled€baby€food€prior€to€Ms.€Hamptonððs€fall€or€whether€he€only€learned€of€itsÐ $ t Ðexistence€after€Ms.€Hampton€fell.€€Any€conclusion€a€jury€might€reach€based€upon€this€evidenceÐ  ` Ðwould€necessarily€be€based€on€ð ðspeculation,€guesswork€and€conjecture.ððÐ ü L  ÐÌà  àIn€further€support€of€her€argument€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€its€grant€of€a€directed€verdict,€Ð Ô$  ÐMs.€Hampton€€references€her€additional€testimony€regarding€the€appearance€of€the€spilled€baby€food€Ð À  Ðat€the€time€of€her€fall.€€Apparently€the€testimony€to€which€Ms.€Hampton€refers€in€this€regard€was€asÐ ¬ü  Ðfollows:Ð ˜è  ÐÌÒ€°ÒÒ€°ÒQ€And€once€you€were€up€did€you€ever€figure€out€what€you€slipped€on?Ð pÀ ÐÌA€Yeah,€it€was€baby€food.€€It€looked€like€apple€sauce,€ground€up€apple€sauce.€€ItÐ H˜ Ðwas€in€the€floor€and€it€had€splattered€all€the€way€across€the€aisle€and€had€skimmedÐ 4„ Ðover.€€It€was€dry€on€top€and€the€thicker€parts€were€still€wet€on€the€bottom.€€€€€€€€Ð  p ÐÒ°€ÒÒ°€ÒÌà  àMs.€Hamptonððs€apparent€contention€is€that€this€testimony€that€the€baby€food€ð ðhad€skimmedÐ øH Ðoverðð€constitutes€circumstantial€evidence€from€which€the€jury€could€reasonably€infer€that€the€babyÐ ä4 Ðfood€had€been€on€the€floor€long€enough€for€€Wal„Mart€to€have€constructive€notice€of€its€existenceÐ Ð  Ðprior€to€her€fall.€€Again,€it€is€our€determination€that€a€jury€considering€this€evidence€could€do€noÐ ¼  Ðmore€than€guess,€conjecture€or€speculate€as€to€its€import€with€respect€to€the€question€of€€the€extentÐ ¨ø Ðof€time€the€baby€food€had€been€on€the€floor.€€Ms.€Hampton€presented€no€evidence€regarding€howÐ ”ä Ðlong€it€would€have€taken€the€baby€food€to€assume€a€ð ðskimmed€overðð€appearance€€and€under€€crossÐ €Ð Ðexamination€Ms.€Hampton€admitted€that€she€herself€does€not€know€how€long€it€takes€baby€food€toÐ l¼ Ðskim€over.€Ð X ¨ ÐÌà  àFor€the€foregoing€reasons,€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed€and€the€cause€isÐ 0"€  Ðremanded€for€further€action€consistent€with€this€opinion.€€Costs€of€appeal€are€adjudged€against€BettyÐ #l! ÐL.€Hampton€and€her€surety.Ð $X" ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à_____________________________________Ð ¸'#& Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àò òÔ#†¼D…»XXáØ#ÔÔ‡XáX»¼D…ÔSHARON€G.€LEE,€€JUDGEÔ#†¼D…»XXá#5#ÔÔ‡XáX»¼D…Ôó óÐ ¤(ô#' ÐÒe°Ò€€€€€€€€€€Ð )à$( ÐÔ#†¼D…»XXáz5#Ô