Kenneth Springer and Velma Springer v‪.‬

On the evening of June 9, 1970, the plaintiff-appellant, Velma Springer (hereinafter referred to as appellant), came to the home of the defendants-respondents, Pier and Gertie Mae Pearson (hereinafter referred to as respondents), to pick up her child who was attending a birthday party at the Pearson home. This was the first time appellant had ever been in the home of the respondents. While the appellant was standing in the back hall toward the back door, the children attending the party came into the house. The appellant stepped sideways to let them in and as she did so, she took hold of the doorknob on the cellar door to steady herself. As appellant took hold of the doorknob, the door swung open, causing the appellant to fall to the bottom of the cellar steps. The appellant sustained injuries for which hospitalization and other treatment was required. The trial court in its memorandum opinion found that the cellar door was situated so that it opened directly out over a stairway. There was no upper landing for the stairway and the top step of the stairway was located adjacent to the threshold of the doorway. That court also found that a hook and eye screw were on the door and a doorjamb to keep the door locked. The door was so latched at the time the appellant was in the Pearson residence.[Footnote 1]