Wadkins v. Smallwood

Johnson, Chief Judge.

Katina Wadkins claimed the owners of a duplex apartment, Michael and Josie Smallwood, were responsible for her injuries and her child’s death in a fire because they failed to maintain and inspect the “hard-wired” smoke detector in the apartment and failed to install an additional battery-operated smoke detector. Her claims were tried before a jury, which found for the Smallwoods. Wadkins appeals from the judgment entered upon the jury’s verdict. For reasons which follow, we affirm.

The evidence showed that in 1988 the Smallwoods agreed to offer their duplex to low-income…