Crenshaw v. Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority

10 Am. Tribal Law 164
CourtMohegan Gaming Disputes Trial Court
DecidedFebruary 3, 2010
DocketNo. GDTC-T-07-121-FOE
StatusPublished

This text of 10 Am. Tribal Law 164 (Crenshaw v. Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Mohegan Gaming Disputes Trial Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Crenshaw v. Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, 10 Am. Tribal Law 164 (Mo. 2010).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION

EAGAN, J.

INTRODUCTION

The plaintiff, Reginald Crenshaw, alleges that he sustained personal injuries and property damage as the result of a one-car accident in March 2007 on the level two exit of the Riverview Garage at the Mohegan Sun Casino. There is no dispute that the accident occurred when the plaintiffs 2007 Buick Lucerne CXL (Buick Lucerne) slid on black ice on the exit ramp into a light pole. Plaintiffs Amended Complaint seeks relief from three defendants, the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority (MTGA); the General Motors Corporation; and Tony March Buick Company (Tony March).

Plaintiffs claim against the MTGA is that it breached the duty of care owed to patrons of the Casino parking garages by allowing the icy conditions to form and to go untreated. Plaintiff seeks $111,110.95 in damages from the MTGA.

In addition to icy conditions, plaintiff also claims the accident was caused by the failure of the defendant lessor, Tony March, to remedy problems with the low7 tire indicator gauge traction control system and stable track system in the Buick Lucerne that rendered the car defective and unreasonably dangerous to drive. Plaintiff seeks $54,000.00 in damages from Tony March as a result of the accident.

Plaintiffs claims against the defendant General Motors were automatically stayed pursuant to Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. § 101 et seq., following General Motors’ filing a voluntary petition seeking bankruptcy protection.

On August 13, 2009, a one day trial wras held as to the plaintiffs claims against the MTGA and Tony March.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. On March 1 and March 2, 2007, the plaintiff and a friend were patrons of the Mohegan Sun Casino.

2. Some time after 11:00 p.m. on March 2, 2007, the plaintiff retrieved from valet parking his 2007 Buick Lucerne leased from the defendant Tony March Buick.

[166]*1663. Accompanied by his friend and driving at approximately five to ten miles per hour, plaintiff proceeded to the east exit ramp, level two, of the Riverview Garage. As he ascended the exit ramp, he lost control of the car, and hit an overhead light pole. Plaintiff was wearing his seat belt. No airbag was deployed.

4. When the accident occurred, the ramp was covered with black ice which caused the plaintiff to lose control of the car as he traveled up grade and to slide into the overhead light pole. At the place of the accident, the exit ramp curved with an uphill protectory.

5. The Mohegan Sun Casino’s accident report indicated that the accident occurred at 11:27 (23:27) on March 2, 2007 and that the plaintiff, as well as his passenger, were both reported to have sustained injuries in the crash, with the plaintiff complaining of pain on the right side rib area. Both were initially treated by the Mohegan Tribal Fire Department.

6. The plaintiff was strapped to a gurney, placed in a neck brace, and transported by the Mohegan Fire Department ambulance to the Backus Memorial Hospital, which discharged him approximately two hours after his arrival.

7. The Backus Hospital’s report shows that plaintiff suffered injuries to his head, neck, right leg and left arm and that he was suffering from headaches and neck pain as well as trouble breathing and chest pain. The hospital report further states that there was no evidence of head trauma and muscle spasms of the neck. X-rays taken were negative for traumatic injury.

8. On March 3, 2007, the day after the accident, the plaintiff left work, which required heavy lifting, and visited Hartford Hospital because he was experiencing back pain.

9. Plaintiff also sought treatment at St. Francis Hospital for neck and back pain and was primarily prescribed physical therapy. A St. Francis Hospital report of January 2, 2009 indicates no evidence of acute traumatic injury.

10. Additionally, on November 24, 26 and December 1, 2008, the plaintiff visited Dr. William McEvoy for chiropractic services. Dr. McEvoy treated the plaintiff with spinal adjustment to restore joint bio-mechanics, physical therapy, and a rehabilitative exercise program.

11. Plaintiff claims he still experiences back spasms and neck spasms that come and go which have prevented him from working for more than two years.

12. There is no evidence of any degree of permanency of injury to the neck or back or that plaintiff was unable to return to work after his December 1, 2008 visit to Dr. McEvoy.

13. There is no evidence that plaintiff was driving in a negligent manner at the time of the accident.

14. When Mohegan Officer Kenneth Smith arrived at the scene to investigate plaintiffs accident the exit ramp was coated with black ice at the time of the accident (23:27) 11:27 p.m. and at (23:30) 11:30 p.m. Officer Smith immediately notified the Mohegan grounds people to salt the icy roadway and the Engineering Department to check the stability of the light pole. There was minor damage to both plaintiffs vehicle and the light pole.

15. The temperature in the area, according to the National Weather Service record for March 2, 2007, showed there was 4.02 inches of precipitation in the region and that temperatures had dropped below freezing by 10:17 p.m. Temperatures were below 34 degrees since 9:16 p.m. The weather reports preceding and includ[167]*167ing the date of the accident predicted cold, wet weather conditions.

16. The exit ramp at the time of the accident was coated with black ice. This ramp was known to the defendant and its employees as being prone to slippery conditions when the weather became cold and was very heavily traveled. In the past, there had been at least five prior accidents at the same location where plaintiffs accident took place.

17. The defendant MTGA had no policies in place regarding the inspection of the premises for ice and snow on the night in question and only two employees were patrolling the entire grounds of the Sun Casino with the primary responsibility of collecting rubbish and a secondary responsibility of sanding where they deemed appropriate.

18. The Connecticut State Police at the time of the accident had reported frequent ice related accidents on the highway.

19. There was no expert testimony or other credible evidence that the accident was caused by problems with the low tire indicator gauge, traction control system or stable track system in the Buick Lucerne.

20. Plaintiff brought his Buick Lucerne to Tony March on various dates for services wholly unrelated to the defects he alleges caused the car to slide into the telephone pole on the night of the accident.

21. There is no evidence that the reasons plaintiff sought servicing of the Buick Lucerne from Tony March caused or contributed to the accident.

22. There was damage to the plaintiffs Buick Lucerne, but there was no proof of the extent of the damage or the repair cost. Tony March subsequently repossessed the vehicle.

23. Plaintiff suffered injuries to his neck and back as a result of the accident on March 2, 2007 and was unable to return to his line of work, which required heavy lifting, as well as physical exertion until December 2, 2008. There is no credible evidence that plaintiff was unable to return to work after that date.

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Related

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Tipton v. Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority
1 Am. Tribal Law 408 (Mohegan Gaming Disputes Trial Court, 1998)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
10 Am. Tribal Law 164, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/crenshaw-v-mohegan-tribal-gaming-authority-mohegangct-2010.