Lowe v. City of Gastonia

CoNNOR, J. The evidence at the trial of this action, considered in the light most favorable to the contentions of the plaintiff, was sufficient to show facts on which the defendant is liable to the plaintiff for the damages which the plaintiff sustained from the injuries which he suffered, when he fell from the small bridge across the creek on the golf course which the defendant owns and maintains in Gaston County. The plaintiff at the time he was injured was on defendant’s golf course as a caddy, offering his services to the players on said golf course. He was at least an invitee. Brigman v. Fiske-Carter Const. Co., 192 N. C., 791, 136 S. E., 125. For this reason the defendant owed the plaintiff the duty to exercise reasonable care for his safety, while the plaintiff was on its premises as a caddy. Everett v. Goodwin, 201 N. C., 734, 161 S. E., 317. The evidence was sufficient to show that the small bridge across the creek on defendant’s golf course, near the first fairway, was *566 defective, as alleged in the complaint, and that as plaintiff was in the act of walking across the bridge he fell into the creek. His fall and resulting injuries were caused by the defects on the bridge. These defects were the result of the negligence of the defendant in the construction and maintenance of the bridge. Defendant’s contention on its appeal to this Court that it is not liable to the plaintiff in this action because it owned and maintained the golf course in the exercise of a governmental function, cannot be sustained. See White v. City of Charlotte, ante, 186, 189 S. E., 492. There was no error in the refusal of the trial court to allow defendant’s motion at the close of all the evidence, that the action be dismissed. The judgment is affirmed. No error.