Matthews v. Mountain Lodge Apartments, Inc.

This is a suit by residential tenants against a landlord for damage to personal property allegedly caused by the landlord's negligent and wanton maintenance of the apartment. Specifically, plaintiffs claim that the landlord negligently repaired or failed to repair a ceiling light in the common breezeway that later caused a fire that destroyed their property. Defendants Mountain Lodge Apartments and Great American Management and Investors Company moved for summary judgment based upon an exculpatory clause in the leases signed by the plaintiffs. The trial court granted the motion, and…