Estate of Oswald v. Dubuque County

511 N.W.2d 637, 1993 Iowa App. LEXIS 162, 1993 WL 580921
CourtCourt of Appeals of Iowa
DecidedNovember 29, 1993
Docket93-298
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 511 N.W.2d 637 (Estate of Oswald v. Dubuque County) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Estate of Oswald v. Dubuque County, 511 N.W.2d 637, 1993 Iowa App. LEXIS 162, 1993 WL 580921 (iowactapp 1993).

Opinions

SCHLEGEL, Presiding Judge.

In this consolidated appeal seeking damages for personal injury and resulting death, the plaintiff estates of Judith and LeRoy Oswald appeal the district court’s judgment granting defendant Dubuque County’s motion for summary judgment. The plaintiffs contend the district court erred in: (1) treating the county’s motion as a supported motion for summary judgment; (2) finding that the facts were insufficient to support a theory of recovery; and (3) ruling that evidence supplied after the ruling on summary judgment could not be considered.

On September 11, 1991, employees of Du-buque County were repairing a bridge on Massey Marina Drive. Around noon that day, the employees had removed the steel decking and beams which formed the road surface on the bridge. Between noon and one o’clock, the employees were directed to activities away from the bridge site. During this time period Leroy and Judith Oswald were traveling on Massey Marina Drive; they drove up the bridge ramp and fell through the space where the decking had been removed. The Oswalds’ vehicle hit the ground beneath the bridge with its front bumper and flipped over on its top, coming to rest in a small stream. Both Leroy and Judith drowned.

According to the sheriffs report, the Oswald vehicle was traveling less than five miles per hour when the car fell through the bridge. The sheriff also determined there was no alcohol in the Oswalds’ blood, and that both were wearing se.at belts at the time of the accident. The report also noted that at the time of the accident, an orange barrier fence which had been across the approach to the bridge had been moved to one side. A sign which stated “Road Closed” had also been removed to the side of the road.

On January 2, 1992, the estates of Judith and Leroy Oswald filed a petition at law seeking damages from Dubuque County for their injuries and deaths. These cases were consolidated on April 10, 1992. On December 16, 1992, Dubuque County filed a motion for summary judgment based on the premise that it was immune to suit for failure to erect signs pursuant to Iowa Code section 668.10 (1991). On January 21, 1993, the district court granted the motion for summary judgment on all issues. The estate of Judith Oswald thereafter filed a rule 179(b) motion, which the district court subsequently denied. The estates of Leroy and Judith Oswald filed a joint notice of appeal. We reverse and remand.

Summary judgment is appropriate “if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that the party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Iowa R.Civ.P. 237(c); Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co. v. Milne, 424 N.W.2d 422, 423 (Iowa 1988). Summary judgment is appropriate only if there exists no genuine issue of material fact. Id. The moving party has the burden to show the nonexistence of a material fact. Id. The evidence must be viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Thorp Credit, Inc. v. Gott, 387 N.W.2d 342, 343 (Iowa 1986). This procedure is functionally akin to a directed verdict, [639]*639and every legitimate inference that reasonably can be deduced from the evidence should be afforded the nonmoving party. Id. A fact issue is generated if reasonable minds can differ on how the issue should be resolved. Id. If the conflict in the record consists only of legal consequences flowing from undisputed facts, entry of summary judgment is proper. Milne, 424 N.W.2d at 423.

However, the nonmoving party may not simply rest on its pleadings and allegations once a motion for summary judgment is filed.

When a motion for summary judgment is made and supported as provided in [Iowa R.Civ.P. 237], an adverse party may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of his pleading, but his response, by affidavits or as otherwise provided in this rule, must set forth specific facts showing there is a genuine issue for trial. If he does not so respond, summary judgment, if appropriate, shall be entered against him.

Iowa R.Civ.P. 237(e).

The defendani/appellee, Dubuque County, argues the plaintiffs failed to support their resistance to the motion for summary judgment with specific facts and failed to file any supporting affidavits or to request the opportunity to present oral testimony. The district court noted the plaintiffs’ resistance set forth a statement of disputed facts and a memorandum of authorities supporting the resistance as required by Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 237(e). The district court, in support of its decision to grant defendant’s motion for summary judgment, further noted:

Plaintiffs have not filed any affidavits, any reference to depositions or interrogatories in support of its Resistance, and did not ask to present oral testimony. Answers by Mr. Oswald’s estate to Interrogatories do not help.

In determining whether a genuine issue exists as to any material fact and whether the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law, the court must consider the entire record. See Iowa R.Civ.P. 237(c); Sandbulte v. Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co., 343 N.W.2d 457, 464 (Iowa 1984). When considering all of the pleadings and discovery responses contained in the record at the time the plaintiffs resistance was being considered, the district court specifically stated in its ruling on the motion for summary judgment:

Photographs attached to the answers by Defendant to interrogatories indicate a “ROAD CLOSED” sign was on the barricade. There is a considerable difference between this and a “BRIDGE OUT” sign.... The Road Closed sign in this ease would have been misleading — had it been in place. The language on the sign is academic, however, because it was not in place; and therefore, the choice of words did not mislead Plaintiffs’ decedents and contribute to the accident.
* * * * * *
The only facts the Court can recognize are the photographs of the bridge and bridge scene attached to Answers by Defendant to interrogatories. The Court cannot determine when the photographs were taken. The record, when viewed in the light most favorable to Plaintiffs, indicates the barricade and warning sign were gone at the time of the accident.

These determinations by the district court, standing alone, support the conclusion that genuine issues of material fact exist in the instant case. In one breath the district court states that it cannot determine when the photographs of the bridge and bridge scene were taken which show a “Road Closed” sign located on the barricade. In the next breath, the district court concludes the sign was not in place at the time of the accident. Similarly, the district court concludes that the “Road Closed” sign was misleading. These excerpts from the district court’s ruling undeniably illustrate that the district court itself made determinations about disputed facts which should be left for the fact finder’s determination (i.e. whether the sign was visible and misleading to the driver of the vehicle).

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Related

Hunt v. State
538 N.W.2d 659 (Court of Appeals of Iowa, 1995)
Estate of Oswald v. Dubuque County
511 N.W.2d 637 (Court of Appeals of Iowa, 1993)

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511 N.W.2d 637, 1993 Iowa App. LEXIS 162, 1993 WL 580921, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/estate-of-oswald-v-dubuque-county-iowactapp-1993.