S. S. Kresge Co. v. Port of Longview

The Port of Longview appeals from a directed verdict in favor of S. S. Kresge Company in Kresge's tort action based on the collapse of the roof of the Port's warehouse and resulting damage to goods consigned to Kresge. The major issue concerning liability is whether the Superior Court erred in applying the vicarious liability of a possessor of land for construction work by an independent contractor, as expressed in section 422 of the Restatement (Second) of Torts (1965), or whether the court should have allowed the jury to apply the common-law principles of negligence to conduct of a…