Stapleman v. St. Joseph the Worker

Defendant appeals from the judgment entered following denial of its motion for judgment notwithstanding a special verdict or for a new trial.

Plaintiff, while on defendant’s premises as a licensee, tripped and fell over the base of a coatrack. The jury awarded her damages and apportioned the negligence 80 percent to defendant and 20 percent to plaintiff. We reverse and hold that plaintiff’s negligence was at least equal to, if not greater than, that of defendant.

On May 1,1966, plaintiff, in the company of two friends, drove to defendant’s premises to attend a senior citizens’ party to be held…