Bucki v. Hawkins

OPINION

Chief Justice WILLIAMS,

for the Court.

A late-night eampout on waterfront property and nighttime swimming on a northern Rhode Island lake ended tragically when the plaintiff, Richard P. Bucki (plaintiff), dived off a dock into the dark water, striking his head on the sandy lake bottom. The plaintiffs resulting neck fracture prompted him to file this premises liability action against the defendant landowner, Carol J. Hawkins (defendant). After a jury ultimately awarded the plaintiff $60,300 plus interest, the trial justice granted the defendant’s renewed motion for judgment as a matter of…