{ "id": 8549186, "name": "HARRY LANIER, Administrator of the Estate of THEODOCIA LANIER v. NORTH CAROLINA STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION", "name_abbreviation": "Lanier v. North Carolina State Highway Commission", "decision_date": "1976-11-03", "docket_number": "No. 762IC384", "first_page": "304", "last_page": "312", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "31 N.C. App. 304" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C. Ct. App.", "id": 14983, "name": "North Carolina Court of Appeals" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "1 N.C. App. 572", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8554683 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/1/0572-01" ] }, { "cite": "244 N.C. 602", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2219565 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/244/0602-01" ] }, { "cite": "62 S.E. 600", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "year": 1908, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "148 N.C. 396", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11270222 ], "year": 1908, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "414" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/148/0396-01" ] }, { "cite": "68 S.E. 2d 255", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1951, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "234 N.C. 632", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8625314 ], "year": 1951, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/234/0632-01" ] }, { "cite": "80 S.E. 2d 270", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1954, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "239 N.C. 529", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8627641 ], "year": 1954, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/239/0529-01" ] }, { "cite": "107 S.E. 2d 143", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1959, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "249 N.C. 575", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8619262 ], "year": 1959, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/249/0575-01" ] }, { "cite": "170 S.E. 2d 169", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1969, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "6 N.C. App. 234", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8547618 ], "year": 1969, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "242-43" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/6/0234-01" ] }, { "cite": "209 S.E. 2d 854", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1974, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "23 N.C. App. 670", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8553494 ], "year": 1974, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/23/0670-01" ] }, { "cite": "111 S.E. 2d 827", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1960, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "251 N.C. 581", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8626593 ], "year": 1960, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/251/0581-01" ] }, { "cite": "200 S.E. 2d 350", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1973, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "19 N.C. App. 689", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8555580 ], "year": 1973, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/19/0689-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 816, "char_count": 17741, "ocr_confidence": 0.68, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.4643845177263656e-07, "percentile": 0.6579731096291714 }, "sha256": "d08f9844a18ae9b0b01d406951f506d4bc198bbd4f349459e3b46459f9974967", "simhash": "1:be253703fc642c6f", "word_count": 2986 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T16:36:26.493722+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Judges Hedrick and Arnold concur." ], "parties": [ "HARRY LANIER, Administrator of the Estate of THEODOCIA LANIER v. NORTH CAROLINA STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "MORRIS, Judge.\nIn his sole assignment of error, claimant contends that the Commission erred in its failure to find, as a matter of law, that the pit in question was an attractive nuisance. In reviewing an order of the Industrial Commission, we are guided by the principle that the order will stand if its findings of fact are supported by competent evidence and if its conclusions of law are supported by the findings of fact. Tanner v. Dept. of Correction, 19 N.C. App. 689, 200 S.E. 2d 350 (1973).\nAt the time of the drowning, deceased was at the excavation site without invitation or license from the Commission. As such, she was a trespasser, to whom the Commission owed only the duty not to injure her willfully or wantonly. Dean v. Construction Co., 251 N.C. 581, 111 S.E. 2d 827 (1960); McLamb v. Jones, 23 N.C. App. 670, 209 S.E. 2d 854 (1974). The attractive nuisance doctrine, however, represents an exception to the general rule regarding the liability of landowners for injuries sustained on the premises by trespassers. This Court has stated:\n\u201cGenerally, the attractive nuisance doctrine is applicable when, and only when, the following elements are present: (1) The instrumentality or condition must be dangerous in itself, that is, it must be an agency which is likely to, or probably will, result in injury to those attracted by, and coming into contact with, it. (2) It must be attractive and alluring, or enticing, to young children. (3) The children must have been incapable, by reason of their youth, of comprehending the danger involved. (4) The instrumentality or condition must have been left unguarded and exposed at a place where children of tender years are accustomed to resort, or where it is reasonably to be expected that they will resort for play or amusement, or for the gratification of youthful curiosity. (5) It must have been reasonably practicable and feasible either to prevent access to the instrumentality or condition, or else to render it innocuous, without obstructing any reasonable purpose or use for which it was intended.\u201d McCombs v. City of Asheboro, 6 N.C. App. 234, 242-43, 170 S.E. 2d 169 (1969), citing 65 C.J.S., Negligence, \u00a7 63(76), p. 815.\nNorth Carolina has consistently ruled that ponds, pools, lakes, streams, reservoirs, and other bodies of water do not per se constitute attractive nuisances. Matheny v. Mills Corp., 249 N.C. 575, 107 S.E. 2d 143 (1959) ; Stribbling v. Lamm, 239 N.C. 529, 80 S.E. 2d 270 (1954) ; Fitch v. Selwyn Village, 234 N.C. 632, 68 S.E. 2d 255 (1951). Claimant recognizes the general rule but argues that the presence of the sharp drops and deep holes in the pit bring this case within an exception to the rule. We cannot agree. Every body of water is potentially subject to sharp drops and deep holes such as existed in this case. This possible danger was, or should have been, known to claimant\u2019s intestate.\nThere is an additional reason that the attractive nuisance doctrine is not applicable in this case. In Dean v. Construction Co., supra, at 588, Bobbitt, Judge, stated:\n\u201c[T]he attractive nuisance doctrine is designed to protect \u2018small children\u2019 or \u2018children of tender age\u2019. 38 Am. Jur., Negligence \u00a7 157. It applies to children who, \u2018because of their youth do not discover the condition or realize the risk involved in intermeddling in it or coming within the area made dangerous by it.\u2019 Restatement of the Law of Torts, \u00a7 339(c). \u2018It does not extend to those conditions the existence of which is obvious even to children and the risk of which is fully realized by them.\u2019 Restatement of the Law of Torts, \u00a7 339, Comment, p. 922.\u201d (Emphasis supplied.)\nAnd in Briscoe v. Lighting & Power Co., 148 N.C. 396, 414, 62 S.E. 600 (1908), it was said that \u201c ... in the numerous cases which we have examined we do not find any in which a boy of thirteen years, \u2018with the usual intelligence of boys of that age,\u2019 has been permitted to rely upon the attractive allurement of machinery to children.\u201d Here, the testimony indicated that claimants\u2019 intestate was 13 or 14 years old and that she possessed at least average intelligence. Accordingly, the doctrine of attractive nuisance is inappropriate in this case.\nHaving reviewed the entire record we hold that the Industrial Commission\u2019s findings of fact were supported by competent evidence and th\u00e1t its conclusions are supported by its findings and by sound legal principles. Therefore, the order of the Full Commission is\nAffirmed.\nJudges Hedrick and Arnold concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "MORRIS, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Attorney General Edmisten, by Assistant Attorney General Ralf F. Haskell, for the State.", "Milton E. Moore for claimant appellant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "HARRY LANIER, Administrator of the Estate of THEODOCIA LANIER v. NORTH CAROLINA STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION\nNo. 762IC384\n(Filed 3 November 1976)\n1. Negligence \u00a7 60\u2014 deceased as trespasser \u2014 defendant\u2019s duty toward\nIn a wrongful death action where plaintiff claimed that his intestate drowned in a pit negligently maintained by defendant, deceased, who was at the site without invitation or license from defendant, was a trespasser to whom the defendant owed the duty not to injure wilfully or wantonly.\n2. Negligence \u00a7 51\u2014 attractive nuisance \u2014 required elements\nGenerally, the attractive nuisance doctrine is applicable when, and only when, the following elements are present: (1) the instrumentality or condition must be dangerous in itself; (2) it must be attractive and enticing to young children; (3) the children must be incapable, by reason of their youth, of comprehending the danger involved; (4) the instrumentality or condition must be left unguarded and exposed at a place where children of tender years are accustomed to resort or where it is reasonably to be expected that they will resort; (5) it must be reasonably practical either to prevent access to the instrumentality or else render it innocuous without obstructing any reasonable purpose or use for which it was intended.\n3. Negligence \u00a7 51\u2014 body of water \u2014 no attractive nuisance per se \u2014 presence of sharp drops and holes \u2014 no exception to rule\nIn a wrongful death action where plaintiff claimed that his intestate drowned when she stepped from shallow water into deep water in a pit maintained by defendant, the presence of sharp drops and deep holes in the pit did not bring this case within an exception to the rule that bodies of water do not per se constitute attractive nuisances, since every body of water is potentially subject to sharp drops and deep holes; moreover, the possible danger of drop offs and holes was, or should have been, known to claimant\u2019s intestate.\n4. Negligence \u00a7 51\u2014 14 year old drowning in pit \u2014 attractive nuisance doctrine inapplicable\nIn an action for wrongful death where plaintiff\u2019s intestate, a 13 or 14 year old of at least average intelligence, drowned in a pit maintained by defendant, the doctrine of attractive nuisance was inapplicable, since that doctrine applies only to children who, because of their youth, do not discover the condition or realize the risk involved in intermeddling with it. The doctrine does not extend to those conditions the existence of which is obvious even to children and the risk of which is . fully realized by them.\nAppeal by claimant from order of North Carolina Industrial Commission. Order entered by Commission, sitting in full, on 3 November 1975. Heard in the Court of Appeals 16 September 1976.\nThis action arose as a wrongful death claim filed on 4 May 1973 by Harry Lanier (hereinafter called \u201cclaimant\u201d) as administrator of the estate of Theodocia Lanier against the North Carolina State Highway Commission (hereinafter called \u201cCommission\u201d) for the negligence of D. W. Patrick, a Division Engineer for the Commission. In the affidavit that formed the basis of his claim, claimant stated under oath that\n\u201cThe death of Theodocia Lanier upon which this claim is based occurred on July 9, 1971, in Martin County, North Carolina. The claim arises out of the death by drowning of Theodocia Lanier, age 14, on the above-mentioned date at a sand pit located about one mile off U. S. 64, three and one-half miles east of Williamston in Martin County.\nThe pit in question was constructed by the State Highway Commission (Project No. 6.092073) pursuant to an agreement entered into between the Commission and Harry Lanier and wife, Thelma M. Lanier; Rose Bolden; Cheldon Lanier and wife, Frances Lanier, which provided that the Highway Commission could enter on the lands of the above-named persons for the purpose of excavating and removing such material therefrom as it may find suitable for the construction and for maintenance of public roads.\nPursuant to the agreement, large quantities of sand were removed from the land in question. Ultimately, a large pit filled with water. The pond was, on the date in question, L-shaped, and approximately 500 feet long and 50 feet in width. The pond ranged in depth from shallow to some 12 feet in depth at other points.\nOn July 9, 1971, Theodocia Lanier, in the company of Emma Scott, age 11, and Leslye (sic) King, then age 11, were wading in a shallow portion of the pond on a sandbar just off the point of the instep of the \u201cL\u201d in the. pond. Theodocia Lanier and Emma Scott slipped off the sandbar and into water approximately 10-12 feet in depth; As a result, both girls lost their lives by accidental drowning.\nThe pit in question was open, unguarded in any manner \u25a0and near the road. For a substantial period of time children of all ages had frequented the pit playing in and near the water. As such, the pond constituted and was known to the employees of respondent to constitute an attractive nuisance to children. Respondent was negligent in constructing the pit with an extremely uneven bottom which greatly increased the possibility of an accidental death by drowning should a child playing in the pit step off into a deep area. It was foreseeable at the time of construction that the pit, being located over an underground natural spring, would rapidly fill'with water.\u201d\nThe Commission filed an \u201cAnswer, Demurrer or Other Pleading of Defendant to Plaintiff\u2019s Affidavit,\u201d in which it raised a number of defenses. The defense pertinent to this appeal is as follows:\n\u201cAs a Sixth Further Answer and Defense, the defendant says and alleges that the deceased, as a trespasser to the defendant, was only owed a duty not to be willfully or wantonly injured, which is not alleged, and that the attractive nuisance doctrine would not apply to the dec\u00e9ased.\u201d\nOn 4 March 1975, the claim was heard before Deputy Commissioner W. C. Delbridge. Claimant\u2019s evidence tended to show that the pit in question was located on land in Martin County leased by the Commission which had permission to excavate and remove sand, gravel and other materials from the land. Beginning in 1969, the Commission extracted soil from the land which resulted in water collecting in the pit. Local residents, including deceased\u2019s father, saw area children swimming in the pit in the summer of 1971, although her father testified that he was not aware his daughter swam there and that he had never warned his children to stay away from the pit. Deceased\u2019s father constructed a cable across the road which led to the pit while his family conducted negotiations for compensation by the Commission, but he never erected warning, signs near the entranceway. Three witnesses testified that there' were no warning signs near the pit prior to the date of the' .drowning.\nOn 9 July 1971, Theodocia Lanier and Emma Scott suggested to their companion, Leslie Lane King, that they go swimming in the pit. They waded in the shallow end of the pit where the water came up to their knees. Theodocia said, \u201cThis is the way my brother and them used to ride piggy-back, like this,\u201d whereupon one began to \u201cride\u201d on the other\u2019s back. While in this position, they apparently walked off the shallow sandbar and fell into the. deep water. Both girls drowned. Theodocia was 13 years old at the time of her death. Her father testified that \u201c[s]he was average. She appeared to be intelligent.\u201d Her mother stated that \u201c. . . she was intelligent. Just like an ordinary child was her understanding of right and wrong and the thing around her\u201d while her brother testified \u201c[s]he was intelligent. She was average in school.\u201d\nThe Commission introduced evidence which tended to show that the Commission had entered into an agreement in May 1969, which provided for a 15-year lease of the property in question. A dispute over the compensation arose, and the final lease was not completed until December 1975. Pursuant to the preliminary agreement of May 1969, the Commission began excavating soil from the property. In\u2019 accordance with its standard procedure, the Commission placed signs reading \u201cState Highway, Commission Leased Property \u2014 Keep Off\u201d near the pit in question in May, 1969. From time to time, the signs were taken, whereupon the Commission replaced them. William Ses-soms, a District Engineer with the Commission at the time of the drowning, testified that he visited the pit on the Monday following the accident and that he saw \u201cKeep Off\u201d signs on each side of the driveway leading to the pit. W. E. Moore, then a District Engineer - for the Commission, testified on cross-examination that \u201cIt never occurred to me people were using the pit. We have built many pits similar to this. I have heard that others have been used as swimming pools. ... I am familiar with the fact that people use pits as swimming holes.\u201d M. S. Raynor, an Area Foreman for the Commission, testified he was aware that children \u201cuse \u2019em for swimming holes. I have heard of this before.\u201d\nOn 19 June 1975, the Deputy Commissioner filed a \u201cDecision and Order\u201d in the matter which contained the following findings of fact and conclusions of law:\n\u201cFindings of Fact\n1. This action was filed on May 4, 1973, by the plaintiff, Harry Lanier, as the Administrator of the Estate of Theo-docia Lanier, against the State Highway Commission for damages as a result of the death of plaintiff\u2019s intestate by drowning.\n2. D. W. Patrick was the Division Engineer of this area of the State and a regular employee of the State Highway Commission.\n3. On July 9, 1971, Theodocia Lanier, age 14; Emma Scott, age 11, and Leslie Lane King, age 11, went wading in an excavation area with standing water. Both Theodocia Lanier and Emma Scott waded a few yards into the water, slipped off a sandbar into a drop-off, and drowned.\n4. The land on which the excavation was located was owned by several brothers and sisters including plaintiff. It was leased on May 3, 1969, by the State Highway Commission for fifteen years for the purpose of excavating sand for use by the defendant. The defendant had erected poles at the entrance with a sign on each pole which read: \u2018State Highway Commission Leased Property \u2014 Keep Off.\u2019\n5. The defendant began the excavation of the land in May 1969, but was not working the area for the few months surrounding the unfortunate drownings since there was a disagreement about payment, and the area foreman advised his workmen that they were denied entry.\n6. Nevertheless during this entire period of time from the lease of the property until at least Monday after the accident on Friday various Highway Commission personnel including M. S. Raynor, the area foreman; and William Sessoms, then District Engineer, rode by the excavation site on numerous occasions and never saw children playing in the water, nor did any Highway Commission personnel receive complaints of children using the area for swimming.\n7. Children did on occasions use the area for swimming, but there is no evidence that anyone ever advised the Highway Commission of this, nor is th\u00e9re any evidence that Highway Commission personnel traveled the area when children were swimming.\n8. The plaintiff had seen one of his sons using the excavation site for swimming but had not told that son, his deceased daughter, or other of his children not to swim at the site.\n9. The defendant Highway Commission had no notice either actual or constructive that children were swimming at the excavation site.\nThe foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of law engender the following additional\nConclusions of Law\n1. There was no negligence on the part of employees of the defendant which led to the unfortunate death of plaintiff\u2019s intestate. G.S. 143-291, et seq.\n2. As stated by the Supreme Court in a per curiam opinion, \u2018A person has the right to maintain an unenclosed pond or pool on his premises. It is not an act of negligence to do so.\u2019 Burns v. Gardner, 244 N.C. 602. As in McLean v. Ward, 1 N.C. App. 572, there is evidence that the lessor, Highway Commission, through its agents, was at the site, and there is evidence that the children used the area for swimming. These did not occur simultaneously, and there is insufficient evidence therefore to put the defendant on notice of a potential attractive nuisance.\nBased upon the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of law, the undersigned enters the following\nOrder\n1. Plaintiff\u2019s claim is hereby Denied, and the action is Dismissed.\u201d\nOn 8 July 1975, claimant filed an application for review of the case by the North Carolina Industrial Commission sitting in full. On 3 November 1975, the Full Commission entered a \u201cDecision and Order\u201d which stated, inter alia, that\n\u201cBased upon the evidence of record, the Full Commission hereby Affirms and adopts as its own the Decision and Order of Deputy; Commissioner W. C. Delbridge in its entirety.\nThere is no evidence of any overtly negligent conduct on the part of employees of the defendant. Nor is the doctrine of attractive nuisance, applicable to the facts of this case. . . . \u201d\nClaimant appeals from this order.\nAttorney General Edmisten, by Assistant Attorney General Ralf F. Haskell, for the State.\nMilton E. Moore for claimant appellant." }, "file_name": "0304-01", "first_page_order": 332, "last_page_order": 340 }