86 F. 3d 210 - Colonial Properties Inc v. Vogue Cleaners Inc

In a previous opinion, we certified the following question to the Alabama Supreme Court:Whether, under the facts of this case, Alabama law allows a landlord to maintain a cause of action for trespass against a tenant for damage to a common area.

Colonial Properties, Inc. v. Vogue Cleaners, Inc., 77 F.3d 384, 387 (11th Cir.1996) (Vogue Cleaners I ). On May 13, 1996, we received notice from the Alabama Supreme Court that it has declined to answer the certified question. Accordingly, we proceed to dispose of this case. See Wammock v. Celotex Corp., 835 F.2d 818, 820 (11th Cir.1988) ("The Georgia Supreme Court declined to answer [our] certified question.... Consequently, the case is back before us for resolution."); Wood v. Old Sec. Life Ins. Co., 643 F.2d 1209, 1216 (5th Cir. Unit A May 1981)1 ("This question was certified to the Alabama Supreme Court ..., but that court declined to answer it. Accordingly, we must attempt to decide the question as we believe the Alabama Supreme Court would if the question were raised in a state court proceeding.").

In light of our opinion in Vogue Cleaners I, the only remaining issue in this appeal is whether the district court correctly held that Alabama law recognizes a cause of action by a landlord against his or her tenant for trespass to common areas. Unable to find an Alabama or Eleventh Circuit case on point, the district court referred to Missouri law for guidance. Under Missouri law, a landlord may be held liable for injuries occurring in common areas. See Motchan v. STL Cablevision, Inc., 796 S.W.2d 896, 899 (Mo.Ct.App.1990). As the Motchan court explained, the landlord's liability in such cases is predicated on the landlord's retention, vis-a-vis the tenants, of a degree of control and possession over the common areas. See id. The Motchan court reasoned that if a landlord retains sufficient possession over common areas to be held liable for injuries occurring in those common areas, then the landlord also retains sufficient possession over common areas to maintain an action for trespass.

We agree with the district court that the decision in Motchan is well reasoned. As in Missouri, Alabama law assigns liability to landlords for injuries that occur in common areas. See Gentle v. Pine Valley Apartments, 631 So.2d 928, 932 (Ala.1994) ("Our cases have long recognized the rule that a landlord has the duty to maintain common areas in a reasonably safe condition in order to avoid liability for injury to a tenant or a guest.") (citations omitted) (emphasis added). It would be illogical to hold that the landlord's possession of common areas is sufficient to enable the landlord to be sued for injuries to tenants occurring therein, but insufficient to enable the landlord to sue the tenants for trespass to the common areas. Thus, we hold that, under the facts of this case, a landlord may maintain a cause of action for trespass against a tenant for damage to a common area. Accordingly, we affirm that portion of the district court's order granting partial summary judgment in favor of the Plaintiffs on the issue of the Defendants' liability to them for trespass.

AFFIRMED.