Curtis v. City of Flint

655 N.W.2d 791, 253 Mich. App. 555

• Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
• Decided: January 23, 2003
• Docket: Docket 233576
• Status: Published

Opinions

Bandstra, J.

In this action alleging governmental agency and employee liability for negligent operation of an emergency medical vehicle, plaintiff asserts that the trial court erred in granting summary disposition in favor of defendants on the basis of Robinson v Detroit, 462 Mich 439; 613 NW2d 307 (2000). Plaintiff argues that Robinson, which involved governmental agency and employee liability for injuries stemming from a police chase, is factually distinguishable from the present case. Plaintiff further argues that, even if applicable on the facts presented here, Robinson should only be applied prospectively and, therefore, should have no effect on this case. We disagree and affirm the trial court’s grant of summary disposition in favor of defendants.

On June 18, 1999, Jonathan Kells was traveling south on Hammerberg Road in Genesee County when he observed a city of Flint Fire Department paramedic unit approaching Hammerberg Road from the exit ramp of westbound 1-69. Noting that the paramedic unit was operating in an emergency capacity, Kells abruptly moved his vehicle to the curb lane and stopped in order to allow the paramedic unit onto Hammerberg Road against a red traffic signal. After stopping, Kells was struck from behind by plaintiff, who had been traveling in the curb lane only a short distance behind Kells’ vehicle. Plaintiff suffered severe injuries as a result of the collision with Kells. Although it is disputed whether the driver of the paramedic vehicle, Flint fire fighter and paramedic Patrick Lawson, followed standard emergency vehicle protocol in approaching and entering the intersection, it is undisputed that the emergency vehicle being driven by Lawson was not physically involved in the collision between plaintiff and Kells.

In April 2000, plaintiff filed this lawsuit against both Lawson and the city of Flint, alleging that Lawson’s gross negligence in operating the city’s emergency vehicle was a proximate cause of the accident. Before trial, defendants moved for summary disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(7), (8), and (10). After oral argument on defendants’ motion, the trial court granted summary disposition in favor of defendants, relying primarily on our Supreme Court’s interpretation of the statutory immunity afforded governmental agencies and their employees in Robinson, supra. This appeal ensued.

Because the trial court dismissed plaintiff’s claims on the basis of statutory governmental immunity, we review the motion as granted under MCR 2.116(C)(7). An order granting summary disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(7) is reviewed de novo on appeal. Pusakulich v Ironwood, 247 Mich App 80, 82-83; 635 NW2d 323 (2001). In reviewing the order, we must give consideration to the affidavits, depositions, admissions, and other documentary evidence filed by the parties, and determine whether they indicate that defendants are in fact entitled to immunity. Id.

As a general rule, a governmental agency is immune from tort liability when it is engaged in the exercise or discharge of a governmental function.¹ MCL 691.1407(1). However, a governmental agency is liable for bodily injury “resulting from the negligent operation by any officer, agent, or employee of the governmental agency, of a motor vehicle” owned by the governmental agency. MCL 691.1405.

In Robinson, supra, the Supreme Court addressed this motor vehicle exception in the context of injuries suffered during a police chase. The Court held that the “resulting from” language of the statute required proof that the pursuing police vehicle hit the fleeing vehicle or otherwise physically forced it off the road or into another vehicle or object. Id. at 457. In so holding, the Court overruled Fiser v Ann Arbor, 417 Mich 461; 339 NW2d 413 (1983), which had employed a broad reading of the motor vehicle exception to conclude that the excessive speed of a fleeing vehicle “resulted from” the police pursuit, and that it was this high speed that caused the fleeing driver to lose control and collide with the plaintiff’s vehicle. Id. at 475.

Noting that Robinson and Fiser both involved injuries stemming from police pursuit of a fleeing vehicle, plaintiff here argues that the Robinson Court’s holding that the motor vehicle exception requires some form of physical involvement by the government-owned vehicle is limited to cases involving damage or injury stemming from a police chase and, therefore, does not apply under the facts of this case. For the reasons that follow, we disagree.

In deciding Robinson, the Court began by noting the well-settled principle that the grant of immunity afforded governmental agencies in MCL 691.1407(1) is broad, and that the statutory exceptions to that immunity are to be narrowly construed. Robinson, supra at 455. With that in mind, the Court went on to construe the motor vehicle exception to governmental immunity in the context of the claims brought against the city of Detroit. The plaintiffs in that case alleged that the city, through the conduct of its police officers, was negligent in failing to operate its police vehicles in a manner that would avoid placing the general public in danger. Id. at 456. The Court found it significant, however, that within these allegations the plaintiffs did not assert that the city-owned vehicle had itself hit the fleeing vehicle or otherwise physically forced that vehicle off the road or into another vehicle or object, and held:

Given the fact that the motor vehicle exception must be narrowly construed, we conclude that plaintiffs cannot satisfy the “resulting from” language of the statute where the pursuing police vehicle did not hit the fleeing car or otherwise physically force it off the road or into another vehicle or object. [Id. at 456-457.]

In so holding, the majority emphasized that a narrow reading of the phrase “resulting from,” as used in MCL 691.1405, requires a more direct causal connection than the proximate cause “but for” analysis generally employed in cases alleging liability based on negligent conduct:

The dissent suggests that there should be liability where a police vehicle forces an innocent intervening car to hit the fleeing vehicle causing injury to an innocent person in the fleeing vehicle. However, we do not believe such a scenario would fit within a narrow reading of the statutory requirement of “resulting from.” The dissent’s position would be more in accord with a proximate cause “but for” analysis. However, the statute does not say that governmental agencies are liable for injuries or property damage “proximately caused” by the negligent operation of a motor vehicle. Rather, the statute says the injuries or property damage must result from the negligent operation of a motor vehicle. Because the Legislature did not utilize proximate cause language, we will not import such analysis here. [Robinson, supra at 457, n 14.]

While there is no question that the facts of Robinson involved a police chase, or that the Court referenced those facts as well as the facts of other similar cases at several points in its opinion, there is nothing in the analysis employed in Robinson to suggest that its holding is to be limited to cases involving police pursuit of a fleeing vehicle. Although other aspects of the Court’s opinion hinged on policy considerations exclusive to police pursuits, i.e., whether the police owe a duty to passengers in a fleeing vehicle, see id. at 450-453, the holding of the Court on the question at issue here is broader. Because the statute allows liability only for injuries “resulting from” the negligent operation of a government-owned vehicle, as opposed to a lesser “but for” standard, the motor vehicle exception will not apply unless there is physical contact between the government-owned vehicle and that of the plaintiff, or the government-owned vehicle physically forced the plaintiff’s vehicle off the road or into another vehicle or object. This interpretation of the language used by the Legislature in drafting the motor vehicle exception is not limited to police chases. Under the narrow reading given the exception by the Court in Robinson, the nature of the governmental vehicle’s use is immaterial.

Accordingly, we conclude that the trial court correctly read Robinson to require that the emergency vehicle at issue here be physically involved in the collision that caused plaintiff’s injuries, either by hitting plaintiff’s vehicle or by physically forcing that vehicle off the road or into another vehicle or object. There was no evidence of such involvement in this case. Even when viewed in a light most favorable to plaintiff, the evidence indicates that Kells moved his vehicle into plaintiff’s lane and stopped, not because he was physically forced to do so by Lawson, but because he wished to leave the intersection open for the approaching emergency vehicle. Moreover, even assuming that Kells was forced to stop in order to avoid colliding with the paramedic unit, there is nothing in the evidence offered below to indicate that Kells was required to enter plaintiff’s lane in order to do so. In other words, Kells’ decision to abruptly change lanes and stop was one of many options available to him; it was not physically required by the alleged negligent operation of the emergency vehicle. Cf. Regan v Washtenaw Co Bd of Co Rd Comm’rs, 249 Mich App 153, 161; 641 NW2d 285 (2002) (operation of a county vehicle caused the plaintiff’s vehicle to swerve and ultimately collide with the county vehicle). Summary disposition of plaintiff’s claims against the city was proper.

Moreover, although not specifically challenged by defendant Lawson on appeal, we similarly conclude that the trial court correctly applied Robinson to dismiss plaintiff’s claims against defendant Lawson. Pursuant to MCL 691.1407(2), a governmental employee may be liable for grossly negligent conduct if that conduct is “the proximate cause of the injury or damage.” MCL 691.1407(2)(c). In Robinson, supra at 458-459, 462, the Court held that the phrase “the proximate cause,” as used in MCL 691.1407(2)(c), is not synonymous with “a proximate cause,” and that to impose liability on a governmental employee for gross negligence, the employee’s conduct must be “the one most immediate, efficient, and direct cause preceding an injury.” As with the Court’s holding regarding the motor vehicle exception, there is no indication that its holding regarding the proximate cause necessary to impose tort liability on a governmental employee applies only to cases involving police chases:

As to [MCL 691.1407(2)](c), in Dedes [v Asch, 446 Mich 99, 107; 521 NW2d 488 (1994)], this Court effectively interpreted “the proximate cause" in subsection (c) to mean “a proximate cause.” The Court further explained that “the” proximate cause does not mean “sole” proximate cause. Id. We overrule Dedes to the extent that it interpreted the phrase “the proximate cause” in subdivision (c) to mean “a proximate cause.” The Legislature’s use of the definite article “the” clearly evinces an intent to focus on one cause. The phrase “the proximate cause” is best understood as meaning the one most immediate, efficient, and direct cause preceding an injury. [Id. at 458-459.]

On the record before us, the most immediate, efficient, and direct cause of plaintiff’s injuries was Kells’ abrupt movement and stopping of his vehicle. Accordingly, summary disposition of plaintiff’s claims against Lawson was required under Robinson, supra.

Plaintiff also argues Robinson should not be applied retroactively, and therefore, should have no effect on this case. Again, we disagree. Whether the decision in Robinson should be applied retroactively or prospectively is a question of law that we review de novo. Sturak v Ozomaro, 238 Mich App 549, 559; 606 NW2d 411 (1999).

Generally, , judicial decisions are applied retroactively. Lincoln v Gen Motors Corp, 461 Mich 483, 491; 607 NW2d 73 (2000). Only where a decision is “unexpected” or “indefensible” in light of the law existing at the time that the underlying facts developed is there a question about whether to afford the decision complete retroactivity. MEEMIC v Morris, 460 Mich 180, 195; 596 NW2d 142 (1999). Thus, prospective application is generally limited to those decisions that overrule clear and settled precedent. Id. at 189.

Initially, we note that by applying its holdings to the plaintiffs in the case before it, the Robinson Court has already indicated that the decision is to be applied retroactively. In support of this conclusion, we further note that the Court has since remanded at least one case to this Court for reconsideration in light of Robinson. See Nazario v Hull, 463 Mich 980 (2001). Also, in Regan, supra at 160-162, our Court applied the Robinson “resulting from” analysis without any suggestion that the decision might only be applied prospectively. Even apart from those facts, we find that the Court’s decision in Robinson does not meet the threshold criterion for prospective application because it did not overrule clear and settled precedent.

In arguing against retroactive application, plaintiff relies on Tebo v Havlik, 418 Mich 350; 343 NW2d 181 (1984), where our Supreme Court declined to apply retroactively its decision in Putney v Haskins, 414 ; 324 NW2d 729 (1982). However, the precedent relied on by the plaintiffs in Tebo was “unquestioned” at the time the plaintiffs took action in reliance on that precedent. See Tebo, supra at 362-363. Here, however, the viability of the prior interpretations of MCL 691.1405 and MCL 601.1407(2), both at the time of plaintiffs accident and at the time plaintiff filed suit, was questionable.

With respect to MCL 691.1405, the broad construction of the statutory exceptions to governmental immunity employed in Fiser became suspect when the Court issued Ross v Consumers Power Co (On Rehearing), 420 Mich 567; 363 NW2d 641 (1984). As the Robinson Court observed:

. . . Fiser was decided before this Court’s seminal governmental immunity opinion in [Ross] where we held that statutory exceptions to governmental immunity are to be narrowly construed. Previously, of course, this Court had given the exceptions broad readings. . . . Fiser may have been proper when decided, but it is no longer “good law” after Ross. [Robinson, supra at 455.]

Thus, after the decision in Ross, the law governing application of the motor vehicle exception became unsettled, as indicated by this Court’s reluctance on several occasions to apply the precedent established in Fiser, but for its precedential value. See id. at 450, n 9, citing Frohman v Detroit, 181 Mich App 400, 413-415; 450 NW2d (1989), Ewing v Detroit (On Remand), 214 Mich App 495, 499-500; 543 NW2d 1 (1995), and Cooper v Wade, 218 Mich App 649, 663; 554 NW2d 919 (1996).

Moreover, with respect to MCL 691.1407(2), in overruling the Dedes Court’s interpretation of MCL 691.1407(2)(c) the Robinson Court noted that Dedes “misconstrued a plainly worded statute.” Robinson, supra at 465. It can hardly be considered “unexpected” or “indefensible” that the Court would reverse a decision that was contrary to the clear and unambiguous language of the statute. Indeed, in July 1999, the Court itself issued an order announcing its intent to revisit and potentially overrule its decisions in Fiser and Dedes, thereby foreshadowing their ultimate demise. See Robinson v Detroit, 461 Mich 1201 (1999).

Thus, we agree with Judge Kelly’s dissent in Ewing v Detroit, 252 Mich App 149; 651 NW2d 780 (2002), that “it cannot be seriously maintained that the precedent established by [these cases interpreting the statutory grant of and exceptions to governmental immunity] was clear and uncontroverted, ... to such an extent that our Supreme Court’s decision in Robinson had the effect of ‘changing the law’ in this area.” Id. at 181, citing MEEMIC, supra at 191.² As observed by the Court in Robinson:

[T]he lawmaking power is reposed in the people as reflected in the work of the Legislature, and, absent a constitutional violation, the courts have no legitimacy in overruling or nullifying the people’s representatives. . . .

* * *

We return the law, as is our duty, to what we believe the citizens of this state reading these statutes at the time of enactment would have understood the motor vehicle exception to governmental immunity and the . . . governmental immunity act to mean. [Robinson, supra at 467-468 (emphasis added).]

Accordingly, because Robinson did not overrule clear and uncontroverted precedent, but by the Court’s own words rather reaffirmed the law as it existed before its misinterpretation in Fiser and Dedes, it does not satisfy the threshold criterion for prospective application. See MEEMIC, supra at 189. The decision in Robinson, when it was rendered, was neither “unexpected” nor “indefensible” in light of the state of the law. In the absence of a clear directive from our Supreme Court indicating that Robinson should be applied prospectively, see, e.g., Pohutski v Allen Park, 465 Mich 675, 696-697; 641 NW2d 219 (2002), we follow the general rule providing for retroactive application and find that Robinson governs this matter.

We affirm.

Gage, J., concurred.

1 Our Supreme Court recently recognized that the operation of a fire department, including the provision of emergency medical services, is clearly a governmental function. See Omelenchuk v Warren, 466 Mich 524; 647 NW2d 493 (2002).

2 Although concluding that Robinson should not be applied retroactively to the case before it, the majority in Ewing specifically declined to address the question whether Robinson should be applied retroactively “outside the context” of that case. Id. at 166.