Athas v. United States

Bownes, Senior Judge. This appeal by the United States arises from a negligence action brought by plaintiff Jennie Athas under the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2671 et seq. Athas fell and fractured her shoulder as she left the Lynn, Massachusetts, Post Office. She sued the Postal Service claiming she slipped because its employees negligently failed to remove a number of wet spots from the stone entrance platform outside the main door of the building. The district court entered judgment for the plaintiff in the amount of $31,358.45. The government appeals. We reverse.