Bright v. Sandstone Hospitality LLC

Genuine issues of material fact remained in the plaintiff's premise liability suit against a hotel arising from injuries he suffered when he attempted to pull himself up in his hotel room's bathtub and the grab bar came loose from the wall.

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This appeal arises from a premises liability claim filed by Joe Wayne Bright1 against Sandstone Hospitality, LLC, and Wingate International Inns, Inc. Bright sued after he sustained injuries from a fall that occurred while he was a guest at a hotel owned by Sandstone and franchised by Wingate. The trial court, in two orders, granted Sandstone and Wingate’s respective motions for summary judgment. Bright appeals, raising 11 enumerations of error. For the reasons that follow, we affirm as to Wingate, and reverse as to Sandstone.

To prevail at summary judgment, the moving party must demonstrate that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that the undisputed facts, viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, warrant judgment as a matter of law. A defendant may do this by showing the court that the documents, affidavits, depositions and other evidence in the record reveal that there is no evidence sufficient to create a jury issue on at least one essential element of plaintiff’s case. If there is no evidence sufficient to create a genuine issue as to any essential element of plaintiff’s claim, that claim tumbles like a house of cards. All of the other disputes of fact are rendered immaterial. If the moving party discharges this burden, the nonmoving party cannot rest on its pleadings, but rather must point to specific evidence giving rise to a triable issue.

Bright v. Sandstone Hospitality LLC

Genuine issues of material fact remained in the plaintiff's premise liability suit against a hotel arising from injuries he suffered when he attempted to pull himself up in his hotel room's bathtub and the grab bar came loose from the wall.

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