Lessen v. City of Albuquerque

2008 NMCA 085, 187 P.3d 179, 144 N.M. 314
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedApril 1, 2008
Docket26,361
StatusPublished
Cited by34 cases

This text of 2008 NMCA 085 (Lessen v. City of Albuquerque) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lessen v. City of Albuquerque, 2008 NMCA 085, 187 P.3d 179, 144 N.M. 314 (N.M. Ct. App. 2008).

Opinion

OPINION

FRY, Judge.

{1} Plaintiff sued Defendants City of Albuquerque (the City) and Correctional Medical Services, Inc. (CMS) for the conduct of their employees at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC), which, according to Plaintiff, resulted in the death of her son (Decedent). Decedent was an inmate at MDC experiencing the effects of withdrawal from heroin when the metropolitan court ordered his release. Decedent was initially released to be transported by van to downtown Albuquerque, but he exited the van, re-entered MDC, and was released to the MDC parking lot. Decedent apparently wandered off into the nearby desert and died of hypothermia.

{2} The district court entered summary judgment in favor of the City on the ground that the Tort Claims Act does not waive immunity for the claims asserted by Plaintiff. The claims against CMS remain pending. Plaintiff appeals, and we affirm.

BACKGROUND

{3} Decedent was arrested on February 25, 2004, and booked into MDC. Decedent was subjected to a medical and mental health intake by CMS, which had contracted with the City to provide medical services at MDC. During the intake,' Decedent disclosed that he was a heroin user and that he had prescriptions for Valium and hydrocodone. Decedent was referred to the MDC detoxification unit, where his vital signs were regularly monitored and he received several medications. Over the ensuing eleven hours, medical personnel noted that Decedent exhibited tremors, nausea, vomiting, and muscle aches and that he complained of sleeplessness. These symptoms were consistent with heroin withdrawal. At 3:05 a.m. on February 26, personnel noted “bizarre behavior”.

{4} Also on February 26, the metropolitan court entered an order for the release of Decedent. The detoxification flow sheet establishes that Decedent was last examined at 2:15 p.m., at which time his vital signs were “fine,” according to the medical director at MDC. The medical director opined that at the time of his release, Decedent had no medical condition that required treatment.

{5} MDC released Decedent at approximately 5:30 p.m. on February 26. Videotapes taken from cameras located throughout MDC show Decedent being released, getting into a van, and then getting out of the van almost immediately thereafter. Decedent walked back into MDC’s sally port with three other inmates who were being released, whereupon the four inmates were released through another door to the parking lot.

{6} According to MDC policy, anyone released from the facility was required to take the van transportation provided unless he or she had alternate transportation and provided a signed waiver. Of the four inmates released to the parking lot on February 26, only one had a waiver. Decedent did not have a waiver.

{7} One of the inmates released with Decedent into the parking lot testified at his deposition that Decedent said his mother was going to pick him up. The witness saw Decedent looking through the rows of cars as the witness left the parking lot.

{8} Decedent’s body was found on February 28, 2004, in an arroyo near the Route 66 Casino on Interstate 40. The autopsy report concluded that Decedent had died of hypothermia. The detective who investigated the death concluded that Decedent apparently fell from a ditch bank and died where he landed.

DISCUSSION

{9} Plaintiff argues that the Tort Claims Act (TCA), NMSA 1978, §§ 41-4r-l to -29 (1976, as amended through 2007), waives immunity for the City under four provisions: (1) Section 41-4-5, concerning the operation or maintenance of a motor vehicle; (2) Section 41-4-6, relating to the operation or maintenance of a building; (3) Section 41-4-9, which concerns the operation or maintenance of a hospital, infirmary, clinic, or similar facility; and (4) Section 41-4-12, which waives the immunity of law enforcement officers under certain circumstances. Before addressing each provision in turn, we first consider the City’s argument that Plaintiff failed to preserve her arguments under Sections 41-4-6 and 41-4-9.

{10} The City argues that Plaintiff, in her response to the City’s motion for summary judgment, did not argue against dismissal on the basis of these two sections of the TCA, and, therefore, we should not consider Plaintiffs arguments. See Woolwine v. Furr’s, Inc., 106 N.M. 492, 496, 745 P.2d 717, 721 (Ct.App.1987) (“To preserve an issue for review on appeal, it must appear that appellant fairly invoked a ruling of the trial court on the same grounds argued in the appellate court.”).

{11} It is true that Plaintiff did not argue in her response to the City’s motion for summary judgment that immunity was waived under either Sections 41-4-6 or -9. However, Plaintiff alleged waiver under both provisions in her First Amended Complaint, and the City made arguments to the district court regarding both provisions in its motion for summary judgment. Therefore, we conclude that the parties invoked a ruling on these provisions below, and we will address them on appeal.

I. Standard of Review

{12} We review the district court’s entry of summary judgment de novo. Upton v. Clovis Mun. Sch. Dist., 2006-NMSC-040, ¶ 7, 140 N.M. 205, 141 P.3d 1259. Summary judgment is appropriate “where there are no genuine issues of material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Id. (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). “The movant need only make a prima facie showing that [it] is entitled to summary judgment.” Paragon Found., Inc. v. N.M. Livestock Bd., 2006-NMCA-004, ¶ 11, 138 N.M. 761, 126 P.3d 577 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). If the movant makes such a showing, “the burden shifts to the party opposing the motion to demonstrate the existence of specific evidentiary facts which would require trial on the merits.” Id. (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).

II. Section 41-4-5 — Operation of a Motor Vehicle

{13} Section 41-4-5 waives immunity for “liability for damages resulting from bodily injury, wrongful death or property damage caused by the negligence of public employees while acting within the scope of their duties in the operation or maintenance of any motor vehicle, aircraft or watercraft.” Plaintiff contends that MDC’s driver of the transport van negligently operated the van by driving the van away from MDC without Decedent aboard.

{14} In support of her contention, Plaintiff cites two cases having to do with the operation of school buses: Gallegos v. School District of West Las Vegas, 115 N.M. 779, 858 P.2d 867 (Ct.App.1993), and Chee Owens v. Leavitts Freight Service, Inc., 106 N.M. 512, 745 P.2d 1165 (Ct.App.1987). In Chee Owens, the school bus driver typically pulled the bus off the highway and stopped it on the shoulder without activating the flashers or the stop arm. 106 N.M. at 515, 745 P.2d at 1168.

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2008 NMCA 085, 187 P.3d 179, 144 N.M. 314, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lessen-v-city-of-albuquerque-nmctapp-2008.