Dodge v. Parish of the Church of the Transfiguration

This is a negligence action to recover damages resulting from the plaintiff’s fall on the defendant church’s property. A jury trial was held in the Superior Court. At the conclusion of the plaintiff’s evidence, the trial justice granted the defendant’s motion that a verdict be directed in its favor. Thereafter, judgment was entered for the defendant and the plaintiff’s appeal followed.

The defendant church is located in Cranston at the northwesterly corner of Broad Street and Wheeler Avenue. The plaintiff, a lady in her late fifties, is a widow. At approximately 5:30 p.m. on May 12, 1967, she,…