Ann Powell and Mabel P. Lanyon v. Safeway Trails, Inc., and Trailways Terminal of Washington, Inc.

The plaintiffs appeal from a directed verdict for the defendants in a suit for personal injuries by negligence. There is no material dispute about the facts.

A passenger 74 years old, with good eyesight, got off a bus in a terminal. Walking among a number of people, she did not see that she was on a ramp. She stepped off the ramp into an unoccupied bus bay or “well”. The ramp varied in width from S' 9" to 6' 6", and at its highest point was 8" above the ground. A yellow line was painted along the edge of the ramp, but there was no guard rail or chain, and no employee or lettered sign warned…