Marchant v. Gouge

932 N.E.2d 960, 187 Ohio App. 3d 551
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedMay 19, 2010
DocketNo. 2009-CA-0143
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 932 N.E.2d 960 (Marchant v. Gouge) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Marchant v. Gouge, 932 N.E.2d 960, 187 Ohio App. 3d 551 (Ohio Ct. App. 2010).

Opinion

Gwin, Presiding Judge.

{¶ 1} Gay Marchant, individually and as the administrator of the estate of Adam Marchant, appeals a summary judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Richland County, Ohio, entered in favor of defendants-appellees Richland County [553]*553and Michael Gouge, which dismissed her complaint for wrongful death. Appellant assigns three errors to the trial court:

{¶ 2} “I. The trial court erred when it granted summary judgment to moving parties Richland County and Richland County Sheriffs Deputy Michael Gouge because disputed issues of material fact exist regarding whether Deputy Gouge was on an emergency call and whether he operated his cruiser in a willful, wanton, or reckless manner such that Richland County and Deputy Gouge are not entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
{¶ 3} “The trial court erred when it granted summary judgment to Richland County as a matter of law because it applied incorrect law regarding what constitutes an emergency call under R.C. 2744.
{¶ 4} “The trial court erred when it granted summary judgment to Richland County and Deputy Gouge as a matter of law because it applied incorrect law regarding what constitutes willful, wanton, and reckless conduct under R.C. 2744.”

{¶ 5} The trial court’s eight-page decision and judgment entry sets out the facts it found to be material. On July 14, 2007, Richland County Sheriffs Deputy Michael Gouge was driving to what had been dispatched as an assault in progress at the Twin Lakes Golf Course. Gouge’s police cruiser had its lights and sirens activated as it traveled down Lexington Avenue. The decedent, Adam Marchant, crossed Lexington Avenue in front of the police cruiser, was struck by the vehicle, and died shortly thereafter. Appellant is the mother and administrator of the decedent’s estate. The trial court found that both the county and Deputy Gouge were entitled to political-subdivision immunity pursuant to R.C. Chapter 2744.

{¶ 6} It appears that Lexington Avenue in the area where the accident occurred has four lanes. It runs north-south and is flat and straight. The accident occurred at night, but the area was well lit. There was little traffic.

{¶ 7} Just before the accident, Adam Marchant was on the west side of Lexington, at the Circle K grocery store, in line at a carry-out window waiting to purchase beer. When his turn came, the cashier took a long time, and he left without his purchase and crossed Lexington. One of the other patrons called him back when the cashier returned with his purchase. Adam Marchant stepped back into the roadway and was struck by Gouge’s cruiser. Marchant attempted to dodge the cruiser, but unfortunately Gouge swerved in the same direction and was unable to avoid striking him. Some of the eyewitnesses testified that Marchant appeared to be under the influence, and later tests confirmed that he had alcohol, THC, and a trace of cocaine in his blood.

[554]*554(¶ 8} The trial court accurately found that a claim of political-subdivision immunity requires a three-tiered analysis. R.C. 2744.02(A)(1) sets forth a general rule that a political subdivision is not liable for damages in a civil action for injury, theft, or loss to person or property allegedly caused by an act or omission of the political subdivision or an employee of the political subdivision in connection with the governmental or proprietary function. R.C. 2744.02(B)(1) through (5) set out exceptions to this general rule. Even if one of the exceptions might apply, there are still affirmative defenses available to the political subdivision. R.C. 2744.03(A); Colbert v. Cleveland, 99 Ohio St.3d 215, 2003-Ohio-3319, 790 N.E.2d 781.

{¶ 9} R.C. 2744.02(B) enumerates the five exceptions to the general grant of immunity. Of the five exceptions, only (B)(1) is applicable in the instant case. Pursuant to R.C. 2744.02(B)(1), although a political subdivision generally enjoys immunity from civil tort liability, it is nonetheless held liable for its employees’ negligent operation of a motor vehicle, with certain exceptions. R.C. 2744.02(B) provides:

{¶ 10} “Subject to sections 2744.03 and 2744.05 of the Revised Code, a political subdivision is liable in damages in a civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property allegedly caused by an act or omission of the political subdivision or of any of its employees in connection with a governmental or proprietary function, as follows:
{¶ 11} “(1) Except as otherwise provided in this division, political subdivisions are liable for injury, death, or loss to person or property caused by the negligent operation of any motor vehicle by their employees when the employees are engaged within the scope of their employment and authority.”

{¶ 12} R.C. 2744.02(B)(1) goes on to enumerate three full defenses to liability for the negligent operation of a motor vehicle. Of the three defenses, only section (a) is applicable in the instant case. R.C. 2744.02(B)(1)(a) states:

{¶ 13}“A member of a municipal corporation police department or any other police agency was operating a motor vehicle while responding to an emergency call and the operation of the vehicle did not constitute willful or wanton misconduct.”

{¶ 14} Civ.R. 56 states:

{¶ 15} “Summary judgment shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, written admissions, affidavits, transcripts of evidence, and written stipulations of fact, if any, timely filed in the action, 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. No evidence or stipulation may be considered except as stated in this rule. A summary judgment shall not be [555]*555rendered unless it appears from the evidence or stipulation, and only from the evidence or stipulation, that reasonable minds can come to but one conclusion and that conclusion is adverse to the party against whom the motion for summary judgment is made, that party being entitled to have the evidence or stipulation construed most strongly in the party’s favor. A summary judgment, interlocutory in character, may be rendered on the issue of liability alone although there is a genuine issue as to the amount of damages.”

{¶ 16} A trial court should not enter a summary judgment if it appears that a material fact is genuinely disputed, nor if, construing the allegations most favorably towards the nonmoving party, reasonable minds could draw different conclusions from the undisputed facts, Hounshell v. Am. States Ins. Co. (1981), 67 Ohio St.2d 427, 424 N.E.2d 311. The court may not resolve ambiguities in the evidence presented, Inland Refuse Transfer Co. v. Browning-Ferris Industries of Ohio, Inc. (1984), 15 Ohio St.3d 321, 15 OBR 448, 474 N.E.2d 271. A fact is material if it affects the outcome of the case under the applicable substantive law, Russell v. Interim Personnel, Inc. (1999), 135 Ohio App.3d 301, 733 N.E.2d 1186.

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Bluebook (online)
932 N.E.2d 960, 187 Ohio App. 3d 551, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/marchant-v-gouge-ohioctapp-2010.