Washington v. United States

Jurisdiction is conferred upon this court by Section 1346 of Title 28 U.S.C.A. Plaintiff slipped and fell sustaining personal injuries. A brief statement of the facts relating to the question of liability follows:

On November 8, 1954 at approximately 5:30 P. M. plaintiff, Hattie Washington, entered the United States substation Post Office located at 1355 7th Street, Oakland, California for the purpose of transacting business. It was stipulated at the trial that this was a rainy day and that it had been raining since approximately 6:00 A. M.

That portion of the premises set aside for use of customers consisted of a single room which had a floor covered by a composition of asphalt linoleum tiling. There was but one means of ingress, through a single wooden door which was kept closed on the date in question, requiring that persons entering should open the same.

The floor had become wet due to the fact that people entering the post office tracked in water on their wet shoes and clothing. As plaintiff entered the premises, after opening the door, she slipped on the wet surface and fell to the floor, suffering certain injuries as a result.

The burden was on the plaintiff to…