Kallembach v. State

385 N.W.2d 215, 129 Wis. 2d 402, 1986 Wisc. App. LEXIS 3269
CourtCourt of Appeals of Wisconsin
DecidedFebruary 20, 1986
Docket84-1472
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 385 N.W.2d 215 (Kallembach v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Wisconsin primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kallembach v. State, 385 N.W.2d 215, 129 Wis. 2d 402, 1986 Wisc. App. LEXIS 3269 (Wis. Ct. App. 1986).

Opinion

GARTZKE, P.J.

The state appeals from a judgment on a verdict awarding Leonard Kallembach damages for the state's failure to construct a suitable driveway entrance to his property pursuant to sec. 86.05, Stats., as part of a highway improvement. The state argues that Kallembach's action is barred by sovereign immunity. Wis. Const, art. IV, sec. 27. The state contends that its motion for summary judgment raising this defense should have been granted and the case was improperly tried. We conclude that because the state has not consented to suit under sec. 86.05, the complaint should have been dismissed. 1 We reverse the judgment and remand with directions to dismiss the complaint.

Summary judgment is purely statutory. Section 802.08, Stats. The methodology employed when sec. 802.08 is invoked has been reviewed many times. See, e.g., In re Cherokee Park Plat, 113 Wis.2d 112, 115-16, 334 N.W.2d 580, 582-83 (Ct.App. 1983). That methodology requires an examination of the pleadings and the affidavits or other proof submitted in support of the motion for summary judgment to determine whether *405 an issue of fact exists and a trial is necessary. The same methodology binds both an appellate court and the trial court. Id.

Kallembach's complaint alleges that he owns a farm located along State Highway 81. In 1981 and 1982 the state improved the highway. As part of the improvement, the state condemned a portion of his property. As a result of the improvement, the highway grade was changed and the entrance to his property was removed. The complaint further alleges that the state failed to provide a suitable entrance to his property. We conclude that the complaint states a claim based on sec. 86.05, Stats. 2

The state's answer denies that it removed the entrance and failed to provide a suitable entrance. It alleges that Kallembach was provided just compensation by the condemnation award for damages to his land resulting from any change of grade or failure to provide a suitable entrance and that he has not appealed from the award. The answer states a factual defense and a defense of mixed fact and law.

As grounds for its motion for summary judgment, the state asserted that sec. 86.05, Stats., provides no right of action against the state separate from the remedies prescribed by the condemnation statutes, that Kallembach has not appealed from the condemnation *406 award, and that his complaint in this action is barred by the sovereign immunity doctrine. 3

Three affidavits support the state's motion. An assistant attorney general's affidavit quotes from Kal-lembach's deposition. Kallembach testified that before the improvement he had a cement driveway. The state built a new driveway over the old one. The new driveway was unsatisfactory. He had to modify it in February or March 1981. A Department of Transportation employee avers that the condemnation award was filed November 19,1979. Kallembach made no claim in the condemnation proceeding for damages caused by a change of grade and did not appeal the award. The highway project engineer avers that as part of the project the roadbed was shifted closer to Kallembach's land and the roadbed grade was raised. This made the slope of plaintiff's driveway steeper than it had been. Construction of the highway project was completed October 21, 1981.

At this point we consider a proposed variation from the standard summary judgment methodology. Kallembach submitted no affidavit in opposition to the state's motion for summary judgment. Because the case went to trial, and resulted in judgment in his favor, he assumes that our review extends beyond the affidavits. He relies partly on facts developed at the trial and on the jurisdictional award in the previous condemnation proceedings. He urges that we should judicially notice the jurisdictional offer and consider its contents. The proposed variation has not been briefed. *407 The state simply relies on the usual methodology when arguing that we cannot consider such evidence.

Because this appeal can be disposed of on the narrow ground of sovereign immunity, we conclude that we need not decide whether the proposed variation is acceptable. Kallembach does not suggest that evidence developed at the trial bears on the sovereign immunity issue. The affidavits submitted by the state do not affect that issue.

We note, however, that the state properly insists that we review only the order denying the state's motion for summary judgment. The order does not dispose of the entire matter in litigation as to one or more of the parties. It therefore could not have been appealed as of right. Section 808.03(1), Stats. The appeal from the final judgment brings with it all prior nonfinal orders adverse to the appellant. Section (Rule) 809.10(4), Stats. The propriety of the order is therefore before us.

We also note that this is not the first time that a plaintiff successful before a jury risks ultimate defeat for the trial court's failure to grant summary judgment to the defendant. In Gross v. Midwest Speedways, Inc., 81 Wis.2d 129, 260 N.W.2d 36 (1977), the plaintiff obtained a favorable judgment following a jury trial. The defendant appealed from the judgment on the ground that its motion for summary judgment should have been granted. The Gross court held that the defendant had not waived the right of review and that summary judgment should have been granted. The court reversed and remanded with instructions to grant summary judgment dismissing the complaint. 4

*408 We therefore turn to the sovereign immunity issue. Wisconsin Const, art. IV, sec. 27, provides, "The legislature shall direct by law in what manner and in what courts suits may be brought against the state." A procedural immunity rule that the state cannot be sued without its consent has developed from this constitutional provision. Lister v. Board of Regents, 72 Wis.2d 282, 291, 240 N.W.2d 610, 617 (1976). This constitutional provision is not self-executing, and has been repeatedly construed to mean that the legislature has the exclusive right to consent to a suit against the state. St. ex rel. Teach. Assts. v. Wis.-Madison Univ., 96 Wis.2d 492, 509, 292 N.W.2d 657, 665 (Ct.App. 1980). "[T]here must exist express legislative authorization in order for the state to be sued." Fiala v. Voight, 93 Wis.2d 337, 342, 286 N.W.2d 824, 827 (1980) (emphasis in original).

No statutory authorization exists for a suit based on sec. 86.05, Stats., nor has the state consented to suit by enacting sec. 86.05. Granted, by adopting sec. 86.05 the legislature imposed a statutory duty on the state, and the duty is toothless if the state cannot be held to this duty.

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385 N.W.2d 215, 129 Wis. 2d 402, 1986 Wisc. App. LEXIS 3269, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kallembach-v-state-wisctapp-1986.