Myron Ray Ely v. Earl Blevins, Cora Blevins, and R.F. Sturgill, Joe Anderson

Plaintiff Ely and wife spent a night in July, 1979 at the Empire Motor Lodge, owned by defendants Blevins. After his wife had used the tub, plaintiff showered in the combination shower and bath. Finishing, he turned off the cold water, and immediately sought to turn off the hot. The handle, however, “just spun ... around without meshing.” Apparently the cap screw had loosened, and the splines were worn, and had disengaged. The water became extremely hot and, perhaps because of the temperature, or because he was 69 years old, plaintiff was not agile enough to avoid suffering second degree…