Farnworth v. Ratliff

999 P.2d 892, 134 Idaho 237, 2000 Ida. LEXIS 44
CourtIdaho Supreme Court
DecidedApril 28, 2000
Docket24999
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 999 P.2d 892 (Farnworth v. Ratliff) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Idaho Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Farnworth v. Ratliff, 999 P.2d 892, 134 Idaho 237, 2000 Ida. LEXIS 44 (Idaho 2000).

Opinion

TROUT, Chief Justice.

This is an appeal from a grant of summary judgment in an attorney malpractice ease. Neal Famworth argues the district judge improperly issued summary judgment for the defendants, Terry Ratliff and Lawrence Kirkendall, because genuine issues of material fact existed.concerning the nature of the conduct by Canyon County jail employees.

I.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

On April 6, 1994, while Farnworth was an inmate at the Canyon County jail, he was attacked by a fellow inmate, Shawn Sehwin. Schwin knocked Famworth down a flight of concrete stairs and Farnworth suffered serious injuries as a result of this fall. Following his release from jail, Famworth contacted Ratliff, who at that time was an associate with Kirkendall Law Offices, to discuss a potential suit against Canyon County. On August 15,1994, Ratliff filed a Notice of Tort Claim with Canyon County as is required by I.C. § 6-906. On September 15,1995, Ratliff left Kirkendall Law Offices and opened his own practice, taking the Famworth file with him. No suit was filed against Canyon County prior to the running of the statute of limitations. 1

On March 21, 1997, Famworth filed suit, alleging malpractice against both Ratliff and Kirkendall for allowing the statute of limitations to run without filing suit. Kirkendall responded by filing a motion for summary judgment arguing that, because the statute of limitations did not run until some seven months after Ratliff left Kirkendall’s office, Famworth’s claim against Kirkendall should be summarily dismissed. That motion was denied. Famworth then filed a motion for summary judgment, to which Kirkendall responded by filing a cross-motion for summary judgment in which Ratliff joined.

On September 11, 1998, the district judge denied Famworth’s motion for summary judgment and granted summary judgment to both Ratliff and Kirkendall. The district judge first noted Farnworth must establish he would have had some chance at success in the underlying case in order to recover in a malpractice action. Next, the district judge found that, under I.C. §§ 6-904A and 6-904C(2), in order to recover on the underlying case, Famworth would have to prove Canyon County officials engaged in reckless, willful, and wanton conduct. Finally, the district judge held as a matter of law, after construing all inferences in favor of Farnworth, the undisputed facts in the record disclosed no conduct on the part of Canyon Comity officials arising to the level required by the statutes. This appeal followed.

II.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

When this Court reviews a trial court’s decision on a motion for summary judgment, it employs the same standard as that employed by the trial court. McKay v. Owens, 130 Idaho 148, 152, 937 P.2d 1222, 1226 (1997). Summary judgment is proper “if the pleadings, depositions, and admissions *239 on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” I.R.C.P. 56(e). In applying this standard, this Court liberally construes all facts in favor of the non-moving party, and will draw all reasonable inferences and conclusions supported by the record in favor of the party opposing the motion. McKay, 130 Idaho at 152, 937 P.2d at 1226.

III.

DISCUSSION

1. The district judge did not err in granting summary judgment to the defendants.

The district judge held, and both parties agree, that in order for Famworth to recover in his malpractice action, he must first demonstrate he would have some chance of success in the underlying action against Canyon County. See Lamb v. Manweiler, 129 Idaho 269, 272, 923 P.2d 976, 979 (1996). Because Famworth’s claim against Canyon County arose out of injuries inflicted by a person under the supervision and custody of Canyon County, I.C. § 6-904A applies. Idaho Code Section 6-904A provides in relevant part:

A governmental entity and its employees while acting within the course and scope of their employment and without malice or criminal intent and without reckless, willful and wanton conduct as defined in section 6-904C, Idaho Code, shall not be liable for any claim which:
2. Arises out of injury to a person or property by a person under supervision, custody or care of a governmental entity or by or to a person who is on probation or parole or any work-release program, or by or to a person receiving services from a mental health center, hospital or similar facility.

I.C. § 6-904A. Additionally, I.C. § 6-904C defines “reckless, willful and wanton conduct” as present “only when a person intentionally and knowingly does or fails to do an act creating unreasonable risk of harm to another, and which involves a high degree of probability that such harm will result.” I.C. § 6-904C.

In Harris v. State, Dept. of Health and Welfare, 123 Idaho 295, 847 P.2d 1156 (1992), we stated the applicable test for “reckless, willful and wanton conduct” as whether the person ‘“intentionally does or fails to do an act, knowing or having a reason to know facts that would lead a reasonable man to realize that his conduct not only creates unreasonable risk of harm to another, but involves a high degree of probability that such harm would result.’” Id. at 299, 847 P.2d at 1160 (quoting Jacobsen v. City of Rathdrum, 115 Idaho 266, 270, 766 P.2d 736, 740 (1988)). Additionally, we held the key element of this definition is a type of knowledge that implies an element of foreseeability. Under this standard, the type of harm incurred must be manifest or ostensible, and highly likely to occur. Id. As we noted, “[t]o hold otherwise would impose a debilitating burden on the state, requiring it to infer the highest social risk from a ward’s minimal antisocial behavior....” Id.

Applying this standard to the facts of this case, we hold the district judge properly granted summary judgment to Ratliff and Kirkendall. Drawing all inferences in favor of Famworth, the record reflects the officers knew Schwin had been involved in at least one altercation with another inmate, but that Schwin had been the victim, not the aggressor. Although Famworth testified he witnessed this altercation, he never identified Schwin as the aggressor or gave any details as to previous confrontations in which he claims Schwin was involved. Famworth has therefore failed to contradict the officers testimony that Schwin was always the victim, not the aggressor, in any prior altercations with inmates. The deposition testimony of the officers reveals Schwin had been moved out of several different units at the jail because of his inability to get along with other inmates. However, each of these moves had apparently been made at Schwin’s request due to his fear of the other inmates.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Suits v. Idaho Board of Professional Discipline
64 P.3d 323 (Idaho Supreme Court, 2003)
Inama v. Boise County Ex Rel. Board of Commissioners
63 P.3d 450 (Idaho Supreme Court, 2003)
Alexandru v. Strong, No. Cv 99-0593871 S (Jan. 21, 2003)
2003 Conn. Super. Ct. 1133 (Connecticut Superior Court, 2003)
Hunter v. State, Dept. of Corrections
57 P.3d 755 (Idaho Supreme Court, 2002)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
999 P.2d 892, 134 Idaho 237, 2000 Ida. LEXIS 44, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/farnworth-v-ratliff-idaho-2000.