Lopresto v. ANR Pipeline Co.

983 F. Supp. 1041, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19709, 1997 WL 749501
CourtDistrict Court, D. Kansas
DecidedNovember 4, 1997
DocketNos. 96-1265-JTM, 96-1359-JTM
StatusPublished

This text of 983 F. Supp. 1041 (Lopresto v. ANR Pipeline Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Kansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lopresto v. ANR Pipeline Co., 983 F. Supp. 1041, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19709, 1997 WL 749501 (D. Kan. 1997).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM ORDER

MARTEN, District Judge.

. On July 28, 1994, Kim Myers was driving one of three vans which was returning to the New York area from a church mission trip in New Mexico. Inside the van driven by Myers, which had been leased from Lansdale Chrysler Plymouth, were two minor children, Deborah Lopresto and Emilie Jansen. At approximately 5:45 p.m., as Myers was driving east on U.S. Highway 54 through Mullinville, Kansas, her vehicle was struck by a Ford Bronco driven by Mackie Ross and owned by Ross’s employer, ANR Pipeline Co.

Lopresto and Jansen, along with their respective next friends and guardians, have brought the present action against Ross and ANR. When ANR and Ross raised claims of fault against Myers, the plaintiffs also advanced a residual claim for relief against her, in the event the defendants were able to persuade, a jury of Myers’ fault. A claim against Lansdale Chrysler Plymouth has been dismissed on stipulation of all parties.

The court has previously addressed the matter as it relates to personal jurisdiction over the parties. The case is currently before the court with three motions pending, all of which relate to the. same underlying issue — whether there is any evidence of negligence on the part of Myers. First, Myers has herself moved for summary judgment on this basis. Second, the plaintiffs have moved to strike the comparative fault claims which ANR and Ross have advanced against Myers. Finally, the plaintiffs have also moved to consolidate the two motions.

Summary judgment is proper where the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with affidavits, if any, show there is no genuine issue as to any material fact, and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). In considering a motion for summary judgment, the court must examine all evidence in a light most favorable to the opposing party. McKenzie v. Mercy Hospital, 854 F.2d 365, [1043]*1043367 (10th Cir.1988). The party moving for summary judgment must demonstrate its entitlement to summary judgment beyond a reasonable doubt. Ellis v. El Paso Natural Gas Co., 754 F.2d 884, 885 (10th Cir.1985). The moving party need not disprove plaintiffs claim; it need only establish that the factual allegations have no legal significance. Dayton Hudson Corp. v. Macerich Real Estate Co., 812 F.2d 1319, 1323 (10th Cir.1987).

In resisting a motion for summary judgment, the opposing party may not rely upon mere allegations or denials contained in its pleadings or briefs. Rather,' the nonmoving party must come forward with specific facts showing the presence of a genuine issue of material fact for trial and significant probative evidence supporting the allegation. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 256, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2514, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). Once the moving party has carried its burden under Rule 56(c), the party opposing summary judgment must do more than simply show there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts. “In the language of the Rule, the nonmoving party must come forward with ‘specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.’” Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co., Ltd. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 1356, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986) (quoting Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e)) (emphasis in Matsushita). .One of the principal purposes of the summary judgment rule is to isolate and dispose of factually unsupported claims or defenses, and the rule should be interpreted in a way that allows it to accomplish this purpose. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).

The collision occurred at the intersection of Highway 54 and Main Street in Mullinville. At this point, the eastbound and westbound lanes of Highway 54 are divided by a grass median. At .the time of the accident, Ross was travelling south on Main. As traffic on Main approaches Highway 54, it first meets a stop sign located immediately north of the westbound lane, and subsequently a yield sign located in the grass median.

Deborah Lopresto and Emilie Jansen were apparently asleep at the time of the accident. They have testified they have no memory of the events leading up to it.

Myers first saw the Bronco as it was just entering the westbound lane of Highway 54 and had not yet reached the yield sign at the grass median. Myers then turned her attention back to the road, and did not see the Bronco again until it pulled out in front of her. Myers’s vehicle did not leave any skid marks prior to the collision.

There is conflicting evidence as to Ross’s conduct. Ross now testifies that he stopped at the stop sign and slowed down at the yield sign. An independent witness, Fernando Perez, has testified that he saw Ross’s Bronco when it was “a couple of car lengths” north of the stop sign and travelling approximately 40-45 miles per hour. (Perez dep. at 8). Perez testified Ross “bypassed” the stop and yield signs. (Id.) After the accident, Ross was ticketed for failure to yield and subsequently pled guilty to this charge. Ross has admitted he did not believe Myers had a duty to stop or slow down at the intersection.

It is uncontroverted that there was nothing in the area of the intersection which would have obstructed the view of either driver.

Conclusions of Law

Ross and ANR have raised several allegations against Myers, including that she was driving too fast, that she failed to maintain a lookout, and that she failed to brake her vehicle. There appears to be no evidence to support any of these allegations. There is no evidence Myers was travelling at an illegal or an unsafe speed prior to the accident. There is no evidence Myers had time to apply her brakes so as to successfully avoid the accident.

The key dispute between the parties is focused on the effect of the yield sign which protected eastbound traffic on Highway 54. Ross and ANR argue the presence of the sign does not reduce or eliminate Myers’s duty to maintain a lookout for traffic entering the intersection. In support of this argument, the defendants cite a number of Kansas decisions which have found fault to be a jury question under various circum[1044]*1044stances. See Morris v. Hoesch, 204 Kan. 735, 466 P.2d 272 (1970); Prior v. Best Cabs, 199 Kan. 77, 427 P.2d 481 (1967); Jarboe v. Pine, 189 Kan. 44, 50, 366 P.2d 783 (1961); Putter v. Bowman,

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

Related

Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc.
477 U.S. 242 (Supreme Court, 1986)
Richard D. Ellis v. El Paso Natural Gas Company
754 F.2d 884 (Tenth Circuit, 1985)
Morris v. Hoesch
466 P.2d 272 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 1970)
Harbaugh v. Darr
438 P.2d 74 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 1968)
Prior v. Best Cabs, Inc.
427 P.2d 481 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 1967)
Putter v. Bowman
641 P.2d 411 (Court of Appeals of Kansas, 1982)
Jarboe v. Pine
366 P.2d 783 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 1961)
Hudson v. Yellow Cab & Baggage Co.
64 P.2d 43 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 1937)
Dayton Hudson Corp. v. Macerich Real Estate Co.
812 F.2d 1319 (Tenth Circuit, 1987)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
983 F. Supp. 1041, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19709, 1997 WL 749501, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lopresto-v-anr-pipeline-co-ksd-1997.