Cater v. City of Cleveland

83 Ohio St. 3d 24

• Court: Ohio Supreme Court
• Decided: August 19, 1998
• Docket: Nos. 97-1261 and 97-1488
• Status: Published

Opinions

Francis E. Sweeney, Sr., J.

The certified issue is “whether a governmental function and the absolute immunity provided it under R.C. 2744.01(C)(2)(u) [are] still subject to the exceptions to immunity provided in R.C. 2744.02(B)(3) and (4).” We find that the operation of an indoor municipal swimming pool, although defined as a governmental function under R.C. 2744.01(C)(2)(u), is still subject to the exception to immunity found in former R.C. 2744.02(B)(3), but not to the exception contained in former R.C. 2744.02(B)(4).

We also find that a directed verdict was improper in this case, since reasonable minds can differ as to whether the city acted in a wanton or reckless manner under R.C. 2744.03(A)(5), by failing to institute policies or training regarding the use of 911.² Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the court of appeals and remand the cause to the trial court for a new trial.

The Political Subdivision Tort Liability Act, as codified in R.C. Chapter 2744, sets forth a three-tiered analysis for determining whether a political subdivision is immune from liability. First, R.C. 2744.02(A) sets forth the general rule of immunity, that political subdivisions are not liable in damages for the personal injuries or death of a person. R.C. 2744.02(A)(1) provides:

“For purposes of this chapter, the functions of political subdivisions are hereby classified as governmental functions and proprietary functions. Except as provided in division (B) of this section, a political subdivision is not liable in damages in a civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property allegedly caused by any act or omission of the political subdivision or an employee of the political subdivision in connection with a governmental or proprietary function.” (Emphasis added.)

The immunity afforded a political subdivision in R.C. 2744.02(A)(1) is not absolute, but is, by its express terms, subject to the five exceptions to immunity listed in former R.C. 2744.02(B). Hill v. Urbana (1997), 79 Ohio St.3d 130, 679 N.E.2d 1109. Thus, once immunity is established under R.C. 2744.02(A)(1), the second tier of analysis is whether any of the five exceptions to immunity in subsection (B) apply. Former R.C. 2744.02(B)(1) through (5). Finally, under the third tier of analysis, immunity can be reinstated if the political subdivision can successfully argue that one of the defenses contained in R.C. 2744.03 applies.

Despite the structure of the Act, appellee, city of Cleveland, maintained below that it had absolute immunity in this case, and that it was not responsible for the negligent acts arising out of the operation of a municipal swimming pool. Since the General Assembly has already classified the operation of a municipal swimming pool as a governmental function under R.C. 2744.01(C)(2)(u), the city asserted that no consideration be given to the Act’s exceptions. The court of appeals agreed with appellee and refused to apply the potential exceptions to immunity. The court reasoned that the statutory provisions conflict and that, pursuant to R.C. 1.51, the specific provision (R.C. 2744.01[C][2][u]) prevails over the general provisions (former R.C. 2744.02[B][3] and [4]), which are exceptions to the general grant of immunity.

The court of appeals mistakenly relied on R.C. 1.51 to reach its result. R.C. 1.51 provides that if there are conflicting statutory provisions, effect should be given to both the general provision and special or local provision, if possible. Thus, under the cardinal rule of statutory construction, “all statutes which relate to the same general subject matter must be read in pari materia.” Johnson’s Markets, Inc. v. New Carlisle Dept. of Health (1991), 58 Ohio St.3d 28, 35, 567 N.E.2d 1018, 1025. In construing statutes together, this court must give full application to both statutes unless they are irreconcilable and in hopeless conflict. Id., citing Couts v. Rose (1950), 152 Ohio St. 458, 40 O.O. 482, 90 N.E.2d 139.

R.C. 1.51 is inapplicable here because there is no conflict between R.C. 2744.01(C)(2)(u) and former R.C. 2744.02(B)(3) or (4). R.C. 2744.01(C) is simply a section of the Act that defines which activities are governmental and which are proprietary. In that context, a municipal swimming pool is included within the definition of governmental functions. The operation of a municipal swimming pool,' although defined as a governmental function in R.C. 2744.01(C)(2)(u), is subject to the exceptions to immunity set forth in former R.C. 2744.02(B) and to the available defenses enumerated in R.C. 2744.03. Thus, the city’s assertion that it has absolute immunity runs contrary to the express language of the Act. By structuring the Act in the manner that it did, the General Assembly clearly did not intend to immunize political subdivisions for all negligent actions that arise out of a governmental function. Rather than absolve a municipality from all responsibility, the General Assembly recognized that political subdivisions must be held accountable for some of their actions. This case exemplifies one such situation.

Therefore, we agree with those appellate decisions certified as being in conflict with this case that have held that even if an activity is defined as a governmental function, it is still subject to the five exceptions of former R.C. 2744.02(B)(1) through (5). See Siebenaler v. Montpelier (1996), 113 Ohio App.3d 120, 680 N.E.2d 654; Hall v. Ft. Frye Local School Disk Bd. of Edn. (1996), 111 Ohio App.3d 690, 676 N.E.2d 1241.³

• In this case, appellants argue that two exceptions to immunity apply, former R.C. 2744.02(B)(3) and (B)(4). Former R.C. 2744.02(B)(3) provided:

“Political subdivisions are liable for injury, death, or loss to persons or property caused by their failure to keep public roads, highways, streets, avenues, alleys, sidewalks, bridges, viaducts, or public grounds within the subdivisions open, in repair, and free from nuisance * * ⁴

Appellants contend that under former R.C. 2744.02(B)(3), a fact issue is presented as to whether the glare conditions at the pool constitute a nuisance on public grounds. Pursuant to this exception to immunity, a political subdivision is obligated to keep its public grounds free from nuisance. The phrase “public grounds” has been interpreted to include such areas as municipally owned and controlled parks that are established and maintained for the general public. Cleveland v. Ferrando (1926), 114 Ohio St. 207, 150 N.E. 747. We find that an indoor municipal swimming pool, which is open to the general public, also falls within the definition of “public grounds.” We must next decide whether there was sufficient evidence presented of a nuisance to overcome the city’s motion for a directed verdict.

The phrase “free from nuisance” in former R.C. 2744.02(B)(3) has been interpreted most often by this court in the context of an alleged failure by a political subdivision to keep its roads and highways free from physical obstructions that interfere with visibility and create an unsafe condition. Classic examples of nuisances include a malfunctioning traffic light, a pothole in the roadway, or an overhanging tree limb. See Franks v. Lopez (1994), 69 Ohio St.3d 345, 632 N.E .2d 502.

In Manufacturer’s Natl. Bank of Detroit v. Erie Cty. Rd. Comm. (1992), 63 Ohio St.3d 318, 587 N.E.2d 819, we held that a fact issue remained as to whether corn growing in the road’s right-of-way was a nuisance, since it obstructed the visibility of drivers on the roadway, making the roadway unsafe for travel. Although factually distinguishable from the case at hand, we think that it is pertinent since, in this case, we are also presented with the issue of an obstruction to visibility. Here, there was evidence presented that glare emanating from the wall of glass panels obstructed the lifeguard’s view and prevented him from seeing Darrall struggling in the water and ultimately lying at the bottom of the pool. Furthermore, had the court allowed appellants’ expert to testify, he would have stated that the glare in this case was a nuisance. This expert testimony is relevant, and the trial court improperly excluded it from the jury.

Not only was there testimony that the glare obstructed the lifeguards’ view, but there was also evidence that the city was aware that glare was a problem at the pool. Both the aquatics manager for the city of Cleveland and the recreation center manager testified that they knew that glare was a problem and conceded that lifeguards had not been instructed on how to deal with the glare. They also acknowledged that there were no pool policies addressing this concern. For liability to be imposed on a political subdivision for a nuisance, the political subdivision must have had “ ‘either' actual or constructive knowledge of the nuisance.’ ” Franks v. Lopez, 69 Ohio St.3d at 349, 632 N.E.2d at 505, quoting Vogel v. Wells (1991), 57 Ohio St.3d 91, 97, 566 N.E.2d 154, 160. There was sufficient evidence presented to satisfy this notice requirement.

We recognize that glare can exist at all pools (as the aquatics manager testified). Nevertheless, we are not testing the merits of the underlying claim here. Instead, we are deciding whether the trial court erred in directing a verdict for the city, which we believe it did. Consequently, we find that former R.C. 2744.02(B)(3) is applicable here, and that it is for the trier of fact to determine whether the city created an unreasonable risk of harm by maintaining hazardous glare conditions in the pool.

Appellants also argue that former R.C. 2744.02(B)(4) is applicable to this case. This exception to immunity provides:

“Political subdivisions are liable for injury, death, or loss to persons or property that is caused by the negligence of their employees and that occurs within or on the grounds of buildings that are used in connection with the performance of a governmental function, including, but not limited to, office buildings and courthouses, but not including jails, places of juvenile detention, workhouses, or any other detention facility, as defined in section 2921.01 of the Revised Code.”

Although former R.C. 2744.02(B)(4) may be applicable to other governmental functions not specifically listed in the statute, we believe that it does not apply to an indoor swimming pool. (See, also, Mattox v. Bradner [Mar. 21, 1997], Wood App. No. WD-96-038, unreported, 1997 WL 133330, which held that the exception enumerated in R.C. 2744.02[B][4] is inapplicable to injuries sustained in a municipal swimming pool.) Unlike a courthouse or office building where government business is conducted, a city recreation center houses recreational activities. Furthermore, if we applied former R.C. 2744.02(B)(4) to an indoor swimming pool, liability could be imposed upon the political subdivision. However, there would be no liability if the injury occurred at an outdoor municipal swimming pool, since the injury did not occur in a building. We do not believe that the General Assembly intended to insulate political subdivisions from liability based on this distinction. Therefore, we reject appellants’ contention that former R.C. 2744.02(B)(4) applies to an indoor municipal swimming pool.

Appellants further contend that R.C. 2744.03(A)(5) provides an independent basis for imposing liability on the city. We reject this contention. In Hill v. Urbana, supra, 79 Ohio St.3d 130, 679 N.E.2d 1109, a similar argument was made. However, R.C. 2744.03(A)(5) is a defense to liability; it cannot be used to establish liability. Id. at 135, 679 N.E.2d at 1113, fn. 2 (Lundberg Stratton, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part); id. at 138-139, 679 N.E.2d at 1116 (Moyer, C.J., dissenting). Therefore, appellants can only argue that the city is not entitled to the defense of R.C. 2744.03(A)(5) because the city acted in a reckless or wanton manner. Appellants do, in fact, contend that a jury question arises as to whether the city acted recklessly in its use of its facility and equipment, in its failure regarding the use of 911 on its emergency phone system.⁵

R.C. 2744.03(A)(5) provides:

“The political subdivision is immune from liability if the injury [or] death * * * resulted from the exercise of judgment or discretion in determining whether to acquire, or how to use, equipment, supplies, materials, personnel, facilities, and other resources unless the judgment or discretion was exercised with malicious purpose, in bad faith, or in a wanton or reckless manner.”

The evidence overwhelmingly established that three city employees were unable to contact 911, despite several attempts to do so. It was further shown that these employees were never trained on the use of the phone system. As a result of their failure to contact 911, there was about a thirty-minute delay in Darrall’s treatment.

The fact that the city had no policy in place or training regarding 911 is appalling. The seriousness of these omissions is highlighted by the fact that more than one hundred swimmers, mostly children unaccompanied by adults, frequented the city pool that day. However, something as basic and important as dialing 911 was not within the city employees’ grasp. Not only did two of the senior lifeguards create a dangerous situation by leaving the pool area during an open swim session, but the city, in its admitted failure to train its employees on the use of 911, left them without the knowledge necessary to handle the emergency as it arose. We are unwilling to grant immunity to the city under this provision, and to find, as argued, that the city did nothing wrong on the day Darrall suffered a near drowning.

This court has defined the term “reckless” to mean that the conduct was committed “‘knowing or having reason to know of facts which would lead a reasonable man to realize, not only that his conduct creates an unreasonable risk of physical harm to another, but also that such risk is substantially greater than that which is necessary to make his conduct negligent.’ ” Marchetti v. Kalish (1990), 53 Ohio St.3d 95, 96, 559 N.E.2d 699, 700, fn. 2, quoting 2 Restatement of the Law 2d, Torts (1965) 587, Section 500. The conduct by the city regarding its lack of training on the use of 911 presents a question of fact for the jury to consider, which was improperly disposed of by granting the city’s motion for directed verdict.

The standard for directing a verdict is well established. Civ.R. 50(A)(4) provides:

“When a motion for a directed verdict has been properly made, and the trial court, after construing the evidence most strongly in favor of the party against whom the motion is directed, finds that upon any determinative issue reasonable minds could come to but one conclusion upon the evidence submitted and that conclusion is adverse to such party, the court shall sustain the motion and direct a verdict for the moving party as to that issue.”

In deciding a motion for a directed verdict, neither the weight of the evidence nor the credibility of the witnesses is to be considered. Strother v. Hutchinson (1981), 67 Ohio St.2d 282, 284, 21 O.O.3d 177, 179, 423 N.E.2d 467, 469. Instead, “[w]hen a motion for a directed verdict is entered, what is being tested is a question of law; that is, the legal sufficiency of the evidence to take the case to the jury.” Ruta v. Breckenridge-Remy Co. (1982), 69 Ohio St.2d 66, 68, 23 O.O.3d 115, 116, 430 N.E.2d 935, 938. The motion for directed verdict must be denied “if there is substantial competent evidence to support the party against whom the motion is made, upon which evidence reasonable minds might reach different conclusions.” Hawkins v. Ivy (1977), 50 Ohio St.2d 114, 115, 4 O.O.3d 243, 244, 363 N.E.2d 367, 368.

Since reasonable minds can differ as to whether the city allowed a nuisance to exist and as to whether the city acted in a wanton or reckless manner in its use of its facilities and equipment under R.C. 2744.03(A)(5), by failing to institute policies or training regarding the use of the 911 emergency number, we find that the trial court erred in directing a verdict for the city.

Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the court of appeals and remand the cause to the trial court for a new trial.

Judgment reversed and cause remanded.

Pfeifer, J., concurs and concurs separately. Moyer, C.J., Hadley and Lundberg Stratton, JJ., concur in syllabus and judgment. Douglas and Resnick, JJ., concur in judgment only. Ronald E. Hadley, J., of the Third Appellate District, sitting for Cook, J.

2 . Appellants and amicus curiae Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers also challenge the constitutionality of R.C. Chapter 2744. However, we need not address that issue based upon our disposition of the issues raised.

3 . The current version of R.C. 2744.02(B)(3), effective June 30,1997, omits any reference to nuisance, and no longer refers to “public grounds.” The newly enacted version of R.C. 2744.02(B)(4) is now applicable only to negligence that occurs within or on the grounds of “and is due to physical defects within or on the grounds of, buildings used in connection with the performance of a governmental function * * (Emphasis added.)

4 . In Siebenaler, a child lost his footing on the ladder of a high diving board and fell to the pool deck while taking swimming lessons in a village swimming pool. Although the court of appeals ultimately found that the village of Montpelier was immune from suit, due to a lack of evidence regarding the presence of a nuisance, the court acknowledged that the nuisance exception of former R.C. 2744.02(B)(3) was relevant.

5 . Appellants also argue that the city was reckless or wanton in the use of its lifeguard personnel. However, any negligence on the part of the lifeguards falls under R.C. 2744.03(A)(6), not 2744.03(A)(5). See Fabrey v. McDonald Village Police Dept. (1994), 70 Ohio St.3d 351, 356, 639 N.E.2d 31, 35. Appellants further argue that the city was reckless or wanton in its use of its facility, by failing to institute a policy concerning the recognition and monitoring of known glare spots. However, we find dispositive the issue of the city’s allegedly reckless or wanton use of its equipment, in failing to institute a training policy regarding the use of the 911 emergency phone system.