The Augusta Country Club Inc. v. Blake

Ample evidence supported a finding that a country club had constructive knowledge of a magnolia seed pod on which the plaintiff stepped and fell on her way to the club's tennis courts.

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The Augusta Country Club, Inc., appeals a jury award in favor of Linda Blake for personal injuries suffered when she stepped on a magnolia seed pod and fell on the Club’s premises. The Club argues that the trial court should have directed a verdict in the Club’s favor and that the trial court erred in failing to give a requested jury charge. Holding that some evidence supported the verdict and that the requested charge was misleading, we affirm. Construed in favor of the verdict, R. O. C. v. Estate of Bryant ,1 the evidence shows that in November 2000 on a beautiful windless day, Blake was visiting the Club for her first time to participate in a tennis match against members of the Club. Walking on a bricked pathway towards the tennis courts at a few minutes before 9:00 a.m., she passed under a magnolia tree at the point where the pathway ended in two steps that opened onto a patio near the courts. In anticipation of the upcoming match, she focused on the tennis courts in the distance and not on the pathway. Speaking with her teammates, she stopped briefly at the top of the steps and then glanced downward as she descended the two steps. She noticed some magnolia seed pods on the patio generally but none under her feet, and she specifically did not see a pod lying at the base of the second step, since the step’s lip obscured her view of that area. When her right foot went over the second step and stepped onto the patio near the step’s base, her foot landed on the round seed pod and rolled, causing her to fall and to suffer serious injury.

Blake sued the Club, alleging that the Club negligently failed to maintain a safe walkway. Following the presentation of the evidence at trial, the court denied the Club’s motion for a directed verdict. The jury awarded Blake $78,000 in compensatory damages, and the court denied the Club’s motion for j.n.o.v. or for new trial. This appeal followed.

The Augusta Country Club Inc. v. Blake

Ample evidence supported a finding that a country club had constructive knowledge of a magnolia seed pod on which the plaintiff stepped and fell on her way to the club's tennis courts.

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