The Storm In Progress Doctrine

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Whole Foods and the other defendants likely have a strong argument that the storm in progress doctrine shields them from liability in our client’s slip and fall case. The storm in progress doctrine holds that a business does not have to remove snow or ice from their property while a storm is on-going. Once a storm ends then a business has a reasonable amount of time to remove the snow or ice before they risk liability from slip and falls. Kansas adopted the storm in progress doctrine in 1991, but has only revisited the doctrine a few times. Therefore this memorandum notes other jurisdictions view of the doctrine when Kansas has not yet addressed a particular question.
Our Plaintiff has several arguments available to her to show why the …show more content…

The storm in progress doctrine holds that a business does not “breach the duty of ordinary care by not removing snow or ice from outdoor surfaces during a storm and a reasonable time thereafter.” Agnew v. Dillons, Inc., 822 P.2d 1049, 1054 (Kan. App. 1991). While a business may normally have to remove snow or ice, it is not expected to do so if the storm continues. Id. In Jones, the Kansas Supreme Court affirmed that Kansas followed the storm in progress doctrine and found that it was good public policy. Jones v. Hansen, 867 P.2d 303, 311 (Kan. …show more content…

Role of Plaintiff’s Knowledge
A final issue to consider is the role of the plaintiff’s knowledge. Kansas courts have not been clear whether a plaintiff’s knowledge of icy conditions matters for slip and fall cases. Several Kansas courts have noted when a plaintiff had knowledge of icy conditions before they fell. Agnew, 822 P.2d at 1054; Childs v. Goodland Econ. Lodging, Inc., 277 P.3d 1193 (Kan. Ct. App. 2013); Hayes v. Kit Mfg. Co., 198 F.3d 528 (10th Cir. 1999) (applying Kansas law). For example, in Agnew, the Kansas Court of Appeals based the storm in progress doctrine partly on the fact that plaintiffs should be aware of the weather and its effects before they venture outside. Agnew, 822 P.2d at 1054.
Courts have largely not framed plaintiff’s knowledge in terms of either comparative negligence or assumption of risk. But it may be possible that Whole Foods could use these arguments as defenses. One Kansas court has recognized that comparative negligence is a valid defense in a slip and fall case. Hardesty v. Coastal Mart, Inc., 915 P.2d 41, 48–49 (Kan. 1996). Therefore, it is possible that Whole Foods could argue that our client is responsible for her own injuries because of her knowledge of the weather.
III. Duty to

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