Renswick v. Wenzel

OPINION

ROSS, Judge.

New Year’s Eve party guest Kari Ren-swick tumbled down the stairs into Jason Wenzel’s basement, breaking both her wrists. She sued Wenzel for negligence. The question at trial was the reason for Renswick’s fall; Wenzel asserted that the fall resulted from Renswick’s being under the influence of drugs and alcohol, while Renswick asserted that it resulted from Wenzel’s negligent failure to adequately light the stairway landing or to warn her about its dangerous design. The jury found them equally negligent and the district court awarded Renswick damages accordingly. Wenzel…