Springfield v. Mendi Co II, LLC CA2/7

INTRODUCTION

In 2019, Latonya Dawson-Springfield tripped and fell on loose gravel in a landscaped planter bed located in a parking lot in Palmdale. She sued the owner of the parking lot, Mendi Co II, LLC (Mendi Co), for negligence and premises liability. She alleged Mendi Co failed to remedy or warn of a dangerous condition on its property. After discovery, including Dawson-Springfield’s deposition, Mendi Co moved for summary judgment. As relevant here, it argued Dawson-Springfield failed to establish Mendi Co owed her a duty of care because the planter was not a dangerous condition or alternatively the dangerous condition was open and obvious. Dawson-Springfield opposed and, among other things, presented evidence she argued raised a triable issue of fact that the planter was dangerous and that the danger was not open and obvious. Her summary judgment papers conceded she saw the loose gravel in the planter but chose to walk through the planter because it was “the shortest route” back to her vehicle. The trial court granted summary judgment to Mendi Co. The court ruled Dawson-Springfield had not met her burden to show a triable issue of material fact because “any danger posed by…