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  "name": "WILLARD SOUTHERLAND and wife, BEULAH VANDETTA SOUTHERLAND v. ARTIS K. KAPP and wife, BRENDA KAPP, Individually and d/b/a RIBBONS AND CURLS BEAUTY SALON",
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    "judges": [
      "Chief Judge MORRIS and Judge JOHNSON concur."
    ],
    "parties": [
      "WILLARD SOUTHERLAND and wife, BEULAH VANDETTA SOUTHERLAND v. ARTIS K. KAPP and wife, BRENDA KAPP, Individually and d/b/a RIBBONS AND CURLS BEAUTY SALON"
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "BECTON, Judge.\nIt is undisputed that the weather was inclement on the day of the mishap. Rain mixed with sleet and snow had been falling all during the morning prior to plaintiffs fall, continued to fall during her visit to the beauty shop, and was falling when she fell. The parties also agree that ice had accumulated at the entrance to the beauty shop; that ice was present on the steps and patio; and that plaintiff was aware of the ice when she arrived at defendants\u2019 beauty shop. The defendants argue that they are not liable for plaintiffs injury because she was aware of the dangerous conditions. For the reasons set forth below, we agree.\nThe purpose of the summary judgment rule is to provide an efficient method for determining whether a material issue of fact actually exists. Durham v. Vine, 40 N.C. App. 564, 253 S.E. 2d 316 (1979). In order to prevail, a movant must establish the absence of any material issue of fact. One way he can meet this burden is by showing the non-existence of an essential element of the plaintiff\u2019s claim for relief. Id., at 566, 253 S.E. 2d at 318.\nA prima facie case of negligence liability is alleged when a plaintiff shows that: defendant owed him a duty of care; defendant\u2019s conduct breached that duty; the breach was the actual and proximate cause of plaintiff\u2019s injury; and damages resulted from the injury. Coltraine v. Hospital, 35 N.C. App. 755, 757-58, 242 S.E. 2d 538, 540 (1978). In the case sub judice, plaintiffs have failed to establish that the defendants breached any duty owed them, and that flaw subjects this case to disposition by summary judgment.\nA landowner is not an insurer of his invitee\u2019s safety. Rather, the duty owed business invitees is described as the duty to warn of or make safe concealed, dangerous conditions, the presence of which the landowner has express or implied knowledge. Norwood v. Sherwin-Williams Co., 303 N.C. 462, 467, 279 S.E. 2d 559, 562 (1981). A landowner is under no duty to warn invitees of obvious dangers of which they have equal or superior knowledge. Wrenn v. Convalescent Home, 270 N.C. 447, 154 S.E. 2d 483 (1967); Stansfield v. Mahowsky, 46 N.C. App. 829, 266 S.E. 2d 28, cert. denied 301 N.C. 96 (1980).\nPlaintiff Beulah Southerland\u2019s testimony shows that she knew the steps were covered with ice as she entered defendants\u2019 shop; that she knew rain and sleet had continued to fall while she was inside; and that she knew conditions were at least as bad if not worse when she emerged from the shop to leave. Since the fact that the steps and patio were icy was obvious to plaintiff Beulah Southerland, defendants committed no breach of duty of care owed to her.\nPlaintiff Willard Southerland\u2019s consortium claim is derivative. See 41 Am. Jur. 2d Husband and Wife \u00a7 452 (1968). See also Logullo v. Joannides, 301 F. Supp. 722, 726 (D. Delaware 1969). (A claim for consortium is non-existent in the absence of a valid claim by the injured spouse.) Because we find no negligent conduct by defendants, we summarily reject Willard Southerland\u2019s argument.\nDefendants bear no liability in tort for Mrs. Southerland\u2019s injuries, and there exists no material issue of fact to be determined as a matter of law. The order below allowing defendants\u2019 motion for summary judgment was proper.\nAffirmed.\nChief Judge MORRIS and Judge JOHNSON concur.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "BECTON, Judge."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Wade H. Leonard, Jr., for plaintiff appellants.",
      "Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice, by Daniel W. Donahue and Keith A. Clinard, for defendant appellees."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "WILLARD SOUTHERLAND and wife, BEULAH VANDETTA SOUTHERLAND v. ARTIS K. KAPP and wife, BRENDA KAPP, Individually and d/b/a RIBBONS AND CURLS BEAUTY SALON\nNo. 8121SC1246\n(Filed 5 October 1982)\nNegligence \u00a7 57.7\u2014 fall on ice on sidewalk \u2014 invitee\u2014summary judgment for defendant proper\nIn a negligence action where plaintiffs testimony showed that she knew the steps were covered with ice as she entered defendant\u2019s shop; that she knew rain and sleet had continued to fall while she was inside; and that she knew conditions were at least as bad if not worse when she emerged from the shop to leave, defendant committed no breach of duty of care owed to her since the fact that the steps and patio were icy was obvious to plaintiff.\nAPPEAL by plaintiffs from Walker, Judge. Judgment entered 8 September 1981 in Superior Court, Forsyth County. Heard in the Court of Appeals 13 September 1982.\nPlaintiff Beulah Southerland sued to recover damages for personal injuries she sustained on 13 January 1978 when she slipped and fell on the steps at the entrance to defendants\u2019 business, a beauty shop, located at their home. Plaintiff Willard Southerland sued for loss of consortium. The defendants denied any negligence liability and pleaded contributory negligence on the part of both plaintiffs as a bar to any recovery.\nWade H. Leonard, Jr., for plaintiff appellants.\nWomble, Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice, by Daniel W. Donahue and Keith A. Clinard, for defendant appellees."
  },
  "file_name": "0094-01",
  "first_page_order": 126,
  "last_page_order": 128
}