Rone v. Byrd Food Stores, Inc.

JOHNSON, Judge.

Plaintiff’s evidence tended to show the following: On 10 September 1989, immediately following church on a Sunday evening, Mrs. Rone came into Byrd’s grocery store right before closing time to purchase a small number of grocery items, and was still in the store when the store was closed and the front doors were locked. At the time Mrs. Rone was in the store, there were just three employees there: Mr. McManus, the manager; Mr. Michael Riddle, the bagger; and Ms. Kathy Gilliam, the check-out lady.

The store closed at 8:00 p.m. sharp so that the floors could immediately be mopped.…