Howat v. Donelson

Plaintiff, Amy Howat, filed a premises-liability action seeking damages for injuries she sustained when she fell down a flight of stairs while patronizing a beauty shop owned by defendant, David Donelson, doing business as Mr. David’s Hair Designs. After a two-day trial, the jury found in favor of defendant. Plaintiff appeals, alleging that the trial court erred in giving an improper issues instruction, in refusing to give a non-pattern instruction, and in failing to find that plaintiff was not guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law.

The pertinent facts follow. Plaintiff, Amy…