Fickling v. City of Charleston

GOOLSBY, J.:

Patricia Fickling brought this negligence action against the City of Charleston after she stepped into a hole in a sidewalk and fell, sustaining injuries. The sidewalk was located within the municipal limits, but on a right-of-way owned by the State of South Carolina. The trial court, sitting without a jury, granted the City’s motion for a “directed verdict,” 1 finding as a matter of law the City had no duty to inspect and repair the sidewalk under South Carolina statutory law, general common law, or the theory of a voluntary undertaking. The trial court further found the City had…