Jones v. Keetch

200 N.W.2d 227, 388 Mich. 164, 91 A.L.R. 3d 471, 1972 Mich. LEXIS 119

• Court: Michigan Supreme Court
• Decided: August 30, 1972
• Docket: 6 May Term 1972, Docket No. 52,281
• Status: Published

Opinions

Black, J.

This case involves what is claimed to have been a defective chair. The chair was owned and provided for their patrons by the defendant motel operators. With several fellow-workers plaintiff Carroll E. Jones was staying at the motel. At end of the workday four of the crew started to play pinochle in one of the rented rooms. They sat around "something like a tea table”. After some 20 to 30 minutes of playing the rear legs of Mr. Jones’ chair collapsed, causing him to fall on his fundament and suffer a ruptured disc. The injury necessitated a spinal fusion.

Plaintiffs, husband and wife, sued the defendants on two theories: (a) negligence and (b) breach of an implied warranty of fitness for intended use. The first trial resulted in a directed verdict and entry of judgment for defendants. Plaintiffs reviewed, with result shown by an opinion of Division 3 (23 Mich App 338 [1970]); that of retrial of plaintiffs’ claim of negligence and denial of plaintiffs’ claimed right to recover upon their charge of breach of an implied warranty.

The second trial resulted in a no cause verdict and entry of a second judgment for defendants. Upon second review plaintiffs successfully applied for bypass, pursuant to GCR 1963, 852 (384 Mich 837).

The sole reviewable question readily appears in the opinion of Division 3. It is whether upon due pleading and submission of supporting proof plaintiffs may recover for breach of an implied warranty of fitness, such as they contended for during and since the first trial. Division 3 rightly found that no Michigan case has extended, directly at least, "warranty of fitness into this area”. The Judges concluded that "we choose not to so extend it at this time.” (23 Mich App 340.) However, upon present review, we have decided that this is an appropriate case for alignment of Michigan with the general rule of the common law, set forth in 8 Am Jur 2d, Bailments, "§ 144. Implied warranty of fitness.”, pp 1039-1040:

"It is the general rule that, in the absence of an agreement to the contrary, the bailor of a chattel to be used by the bailee for a particular purpose known to the bailor, impliedly warrants the reasonable suitability of the chattel for the bailee’s known intended use of it. The rule of implied warranty has been adopted by statute in some jurisdictions. The implied warranty is said to be raised by the delivery of the chattel to the bailee, where the quality or fitness of the article for the use specified is not visible and the defect is not discernible by an ordinary observer. As a warranty against defects it has been said to extend to such faults and defects as would entirely prevent the contemplated use and enjoyment of the bailment, or render it dangerous, but not to those which would merely diminish its convenience and appropriateness for the use designed.” ¹

The quoted text lists a number of decisions and ALR annotations which, upon examination, tend clearly to support the stated general rule. The latest of these annotations appears in 68 ALR2d, pp 850 et seq.:

"§ 4. Implied warranty of suitability for known intended use.

"It appears to be the general rule that, in the absence of an agreement to the contrary, the lessor of a chattel to be used by the lessee for a particular purpose known to the lessor impliedly warrants the reasonable suitability of the chattel for the lessee’s known intended use of it.” (p 854.)

Plaintiffs’ counsel call attention to Schnitzer v Nixon and Heath, d/b/a Cavalier Manor Motel, 439 F2d 940 (CA 4, 1971) saying that its facts and reasoning are on all fours. We agree, adding only that in the specific circumstances presented both here and in Schnitzer, it matters not that the chattel comes to the possession of the plaintiff either as lessee or bailee. The general rule to be applied is the same, absent any one of its known exceptions. Schnitzer concludes (p 942):

"These antecedents considered, we have no hesitancy in declaring the plaintiff entitled to succeed in Virginia on an implied warranty, negligence aside. It is but a fair placement of the innkeeper’s responsibility to a guest under his roof.”

Upon strength of the stated general rule and the reasoning of the Fourth Circuit. I vote to reverse and remand for trial of plaintiffs’ theory of recovery upon warranty.

I would so order, with award of costs of all courts to plaintiffs.

SUPPLEMENT (August 24, 1972).

This Rule 852 appeal was duly assigned to the writer in accordance with our practice. It was submitted May 2, 1972. The foregoing opinion dealing with the reviewed merits, was delivered to the other Justices June 7. July 11 Justice Adams submitted his opinion (post 177) for affirmance. July 20 Justice T. G. Kavanagh submitted his opinion (post 180) for dismissal of the appeal. July 26, being judgment day for and upon submitted opinions, Justice T. E. Brennan held up the Court’s decision for study and possible further writing. There being no such additional writing to date, I have decided by this supplement to respond to the opinions submitted July 11 and July 20.

The two opinions turn upon dual allegation (a) that plaintiffs’ appeal to this Court came too late under GCR 1963, 853.2(3); upon dual allegation (b) that the opinion and judgment of the Court of Appeals on first appeal to that Court (23 Mich App 338) became "the law of the case”,² and (c) upon allegation (Justice Adams only) that plaintiffs, by election not to apply for leave to review the cited judgment of the Court of Appeals, thereby chose "to accept the decision of the Court of Appeals”. The Justice writes that that choice "estopped the plaintiffs from raising the issue of implied warranty * * * .” (Let this last stand, naked and innocently shameless before all counsel who now must decide — at pain of estoppel — whether they should make prompt application for leave to review every aggrieving interlocutory order or judgment of the circuit court or of the Court of Appeals.)

First: Just how may GCR 1963, 853.2(3) be applied in bar of the instant appeal? No application under that rule, delayed or otherwise, has been made by any party throughout the history of this case. Plaintiffs have sought instead, properly and successfully thus far, leave for bypass of the Court of Appeals under preceding GCR 1963, 852. That rule sets forth no time limit for filing of application thereunder except that same must be filed "within 30 days after filing of the claim of appeal” (GCR 1963, 852.2[1]). Plaintiffs certainly did so ñle, on time.

May 7, 1971 our order granting plaintiffs’ application for bypass was entered (384 Mich 837). The Court’s action was unanimous and done in the face of defendants’ unsupported objection that plaintiffs should have attempted to appeal the first time and, having failed so to do, were estopped to apply for bypass. Our conferential minutes read (May 3, 1971; Re Jones v Keetch):

"Motion by Justice Black, supported by Justice Williams, that application for leave to appeal to this Court prior to decision by the Court of Appeals be granted. Motion carried.”

Although the purely procedural question Justices Adams and T. G. Kavanagh have considered in bar of the meritorious question was raised by the defendants in opposition to plaintiffs’ application for bypass, the Court thought so little of it that no discussion thereof took place during the Court’s conference on May 3, 1971. Instead, we concerned ourselves with the advisability of reviewing the warranty question presently, rather than holding a much delayed case over for — possibly or probably — another "we choose not to so extend it at this time”3 provisional opinion by the Court of Appeals. Further, in the precedently submitted report to us by the assigned Supreme Court Commissioner, the question thus advanced was disposed of as follows:

"It by no means follows that our Court of Appeals would again come to the same conclusion in view of the growing body of cases. Defendants point out that the plaintiffs could have appealed from 23 Mich App 338 instead of accepting another trial based on negligence theory only. That does not count against them now. I see no need for by-pass.”

My memorandum to the Court dated March 26, 1971, and notes made upon return to the office from that May 1971 session of the Court, show that we disagreed only with Commissioner Planck’s view that the Court of Appeals, should it be left in charge of the then pending appeal thereto, probably would conclude differently upon further consideration of the meritorious question. In opposition to that view I suggested by memo to the Court that "[t]wo trials of a case like this really ought to be enough without having had the controlling question definitely settled” and that "[ajnother panel probably would conclude as before, * * * .” The result was our unitary order for grant of bypass. Nonetheless, two Justices voting to enter that order say now, more than a year later, that we had no power so to do, GCR 1963, 853 considered. This surely means "no jurisdiction”, as "jurisdiction” is known here moderne by People v Holbrook, 373 Mich 94 (1964) and Holbrook’s painful explainer, People v Carter, 379 Mich 24 (1967), both per Adams, J.

Second: The named Brethren aver that the Court of Appeals, having ruled that "[w]e know of no Michigan case which has extended warranty of fitness into this area, and we choose not to so extend it at this time” (23 Mich App 338, 340), has thereby written "the law of the case”. They offer no authority for this newfound vagary, that the "law of the case” can be made by a subordinate court of Michigan in bar of review of that "law” by this Court; a Court which may — and in this case has — granted review thereof. Right here, with utmost respect and deference, I frame square issue with the Brethren in twinship.

Depending upon the distinctives of constitutional provisions and procedural laws and rules in effect elsewhere, authority can be found both ways for holding that the "law of the case”, declared once by a subordinate court on first appeal thereto, is (or is not) upon second or additional review binding upon the highest Court of the given state. See annotation, First decision of intermediate court as law of case on appeal to court of last resort from subsequent decision, 118 ALR 1286, annotating what to me is (if indeed authority is needed) the decisive precedent for Michigan; our judicial article (Const 1963, art 6) considered along with RJA 212, 215, 217, 219, 223 (MCLA 600.212 et seq.; MSA 27A.212 et seq.) and our established rules of Court, particularly GCR 1963, 865.⁴

The case annotated in ALR, cited above, is New York Life Ins Co v Hosbrook, 130 Ohio St 101; 196 NE 888 (1935), overruling the Gohman case, cited by quotation below.⁵ The Supreme Court of Ohio, paralleling in particular this Court’s constitutional authority as regards the adjective law of our state, ruled:

"Counsel for both sides have presented and at some length have argued to this court the doctrine commonly known as 'the law of the case.’ Plaintiff in error contends that the first and second propositions of the syllabus in Gohman v City of St Bernard, 111 Ohio St 726, 146 NE 291, 41 ALR 1057 [1924], are not sound law and should be overruled. With equal vigor, counsel for defendant in error insists that those paragraphs should be sustained. The question is thus presented. On the second rehearing, the appellate court, in affirming the second verdict and judgment, in its opinion, said: 'The second trial was had in substantial conformity with the former decision of this court. The doctrine of the law of the case is therefore applicable, and pursuant to it the judgment will not be disturbed. Gohman v City of St Bernard, 111 Ohio St 726 [146 NE 291; 41 ALR 1057].’ The procedural doctrine announced in Gohman v City of St Bernard, supra, is not consonant with the principles of judicial procedure upheld not only in Ohio, but by the United States Supreme Court, as shown by those cases reported on pages 760 and 769 of the dissenting opinion in 111 Ohio St, 146 NE on pages 301 and 303. The claim that an erroneous declaration of the law pronounced by an inferior court can forestall review by our state Supreme Court rests upon a doctrine which is repugnant not only to our established judicial system providing for a Supreme Court as the last court of review, but also to section 2, article IV, of our State Constitution, which expressly empowers the Supreme Court with authority to 'review, and affirm, modify or reverse the judgment of the court of appeals.’ The propositions of law announced in the first and second paragraphs of the syllabus in Gohman v City of St Bernard, supra, are overruled.” (Quotation from Northeastern Reporter.)

This is the rule in New York State. See discussion and citation with respect to that state’s view in the first mentioned ALR annotation (118 ALR at 1288), and Walker v Gerli, 257 App Div 249; 12 NYS2d 942, 945 (1939) from which last the following is taken:

"The law of the case, like the principle of stare decisis, is a rule of comity or convenience. Luminous Unit Co v Freeman-Sweet Co, 7 Cir, 3 F2d 577 [1924]. Since from its very nature, it involves the effect of orders which are interlocutory, it must be distinguished from res adjudicata. Bannon v Bannon, 270 NY 484; 1 NE2d 975; 105 ALR 1401 [1936]. Accordingly, its effect is limited to a court of coordinate jurisdiction which ordinarily should not disregard an earlier decision on the same question in the same case. Compare, Cluff v Day, 141 NY 580; 36 NE 182 [1894]. The rule does not apply in a court which is required to review the later order on appeal and which, therefore, ought not to be concluded by an earlier decision, interlocutory in character, made by a court of subordinate jurisdiction from which no appeal was taken. Messinger v Anderson, 225 US 436; 32 S Ct 739; 56 L Ed 1152 [1912]; Brown v Tourtelotte, 24 Colo 204; 50 P 195 [1897]. No decision of the Court of Appeals to which our attention is directed holds otherwise.

"To hold otherwise would preclude a plaintiff, who has stated a complete cause of action against the individual defendants which he may be able to sustain by proof, from ever recovering from them. This would inevitably follow if an earlier order of the Special Term dismissing the complaint were binding even in an appellate court whenever thereafter the question of its sufficiency was presented. Since the Special Term would always be required to adhere to the earlier decision, however erroneous it might be, and since every appellate court would likewise be precluded from consideration of that question, such a plaintiff would suffer all the consequences of a final judgment in favor of the defendant. See Note, 'The Law of the Case,’ XLII Harvard Law Review, page 938; United States Annuity & Life Ins Co v Peak, 129 Ark 43; 195 SW 392; 1 ALR 1267 [1917]; McGovern v Kraus, 200 Wis 64; 227 NW 300, 67 ALR 1390 [1929].” (Emphasis supplied by present writer.)

But I do not and need not rest decision upon views held elsewhere. Here in Michigan we have settled — procedurally upon the very nub of present discussion — that this really is a Supreme Court; one that may review any decision of a subordinate Michigan court which, final adjudication being absent, a party seeks to review upon application submitted in accordance with our established rules. That has been done here. All here have voted to review the question of recovery upon warranty. Authority so to do has been supplied by the judicial article. Pursuant thereto we have adopted a rule providing that this Court may at any time give any judgment and make any order which ought to have been given or made. To say in the face of all this that the first appeal to the Court of Appeals resulted finally in "law of the case” — that plaintiffs may not recover in warranty —is to say that this constitutionally assigned Supreme Court is powerless to review such "law”; hence is powerless to affirm or reverse any judgment below that is based thereon.

By their opinions aforesaid, and unless those opinions are amended, adjusted, or withdrawn hereafter rather than supplemented, Justices Adams and T. G. Kavanagh will have recognized expressly — of record — that recovery upon plaintiffs’ theory of breach of warranty should have been permitted by the Court of Appeals when that Court reversed and remanded for retrial on April 27, 1970. Our conclusion should be, but per 1971-72 cozy custom probably will not be, that this is enough to call for judgment of reversal and remand for trial of the stated issue.

To Conclude:

What Justices T. G. Kavanagh and Adams stand for, as above, deserves firm majority support or firm majority disavowal. The Court owes to the profession, and most certainly to the trial bench, a clear declaration either:

(a) That failure to make timely application for review of an interlocutory determination, made by order or judgment filed or entered either by the circuit court or the Court of Appeals, renders that determination the law of the case, or

(b) That the constitutional power of this Court to review, what it has decided to review under GCR 1963, 852, remains intact and undisturbed by any of the limitational periods that are set forth in any of our rules of Court.

Authors Honigman and Hawkins under GCR 1963, 820 ("Miscellaneous Relief Obtainable in Court of Appeals”) have summed up appropriately that which characterizes this Court’s position in present regard (6 Michigan Court Rules Annotated [2d ed] p 213):

"Notwithstanding the constraints of rules and practices otherwise applicable, the Michigan Supreme Court has generally maintained its power to do whatever needs to be done in a particular case in order to achieve ultimate justice. Remedial powers reflecting this attitude were set forth in former Rule 72 and now have been made applicable to appellate proceedings in the Court of Appeals by Rule 820, as amended, effective January 1, 1965.” ⁶

T. M. Kavanagh, C. J., and Swainson and Williams, JJ., concurred in original opinion and the result of the supplement by Black, J.

1 The earlier rule reported by American Jurisprudence appears in 6 Am Jur, Bailments, p 308: "§ 192. Bailor’s Liability in Tort, Arising from Defects in Chattel. ”

2 No authority for this curious proposition is cited in either opinion. If there is any such authority in Michigan now that we have two appellate Courts rather than one, it seems to have escaped all of us; including that great retinue of full time and altogether able research clerks our majority has hired.

3 "[A]t this time” was April 27, 1970 (rehearing denied June 8, 1970). Schnitzer v Nixon, supra, was decided March 19,1971. Commissioner Planck may have been right, after all, when he said that "fi]t by no means follows that our Court of Appeals would again come to the same conclusion in view of the growing body of eases. ”

4 This rule dates back 41 years. It entered by the 1931 revision of Michigan Court Rules as No 79. Then, by the revision of 1945, it became Court Rule 72. Now it is cited as GCR 1963, 865.

5 Hosbrook was followed most recently in Ohio by Ross v Cincinnati Transit Co, 105 Ohio App 327; 148 NE2d 84 (1957). For those desiring research in depth, outside Michigan, reference is made to the subsequent annotation, Erroneous decision as law of the case on subsequent appellate review (87 ALR2d 271), plus cases found in ALR 2d Later Case Service, Vol 6, pp 666-668. The weight of authority, naturally, lies with the manifest sense of Ohio’s view.

6 Direct reference by the same authors was made to this under GCR 1963, 865 ("Miscellaneous Relief Obtainable in Supreme Court”), 6 Michigan Court Rules Annotated (2d ed), pp 297-298.