Markillie v. Board of County Road Commissioners

532 N.W.2d 878, 210 Mich. App. 16
CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedApril 21, 1995
DocketDocket No. 170070
StatusPublished
Cited by25 cases

This text of 532 N.W.2d 878 (Markillie v. Board of County Road Commissioners) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Markillie v. Board of County Road Commissioners, 532 N.W.2d 878, 210 Mich. App. 16 (Mich. Ct. App. 1995).

Opinion

Per Curiam.

Plaintiffs Larry and Sue Markillie, as personal representatives of the estate of Carrie Anne Markillie, deceased, appeal as of right from an order granting defendant’s motion for summary disposition pursuant to MCR 2.116(0(10). We affirm.

This case arises out of an automobile accident that occurred at the intersection of Latson Road, a Livingston County road, and M-59, a state highway. On August .16, 1990, seventeen-year-old Carrie Anne Markillie, traveling north on Latson Road, ran the stop sign at the intersection of Latson Road and M-59 and was killed when her [18]*18car was struck by a truck proceeding west on M-59.

Plaintiffs filed a complaint against defendant Board of County Road Commissioners of County of Livingston. Plaintiffs allege negligence in the design, construction, inspection, and maintenance of the intersection. Specifically, plaintiffs claim that a slope in Latson Road located six feet south of the stop bar blocked the stop bar from Carrie Anne Markillie’s view.

In its motion for summary disposition, defendant argued that the intersection is under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Michigan Department of Transportation (mdot). Defendant admitted that in 1986 it had paved Latson Road; however, defendant presented evidence that it had to obtain a permit from the mdot in order to perform construction on the intersection. Defendant had submitted drawings for its proposed project, which the mdot had approved. Plaintiffs responded by contending that defendant has jurisdiction over the Latson Road slope.

The trial court noted that the relevant statute, MCL 691.1402(1);. MSA 3.996(102X1), does not define the word "jurisdiction,” nor is there any case law addressing the question. The trial court then held that jurisdiction is equivalent to control and found that the mdot has control of both the intersection and the area six feet south of the stop bar. The trial court therefore granted defendant’s motion for summary disposition.

On appeal, an order granting or denying summary disposition is reviewed de novo. A motion for summary disposition may be granted pursuant to MCR 2.116(C)(10) when, except with regard to the amount of damages, there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Giving the benefit of [19]*19reasonable doubt to the nonmovant, the trial court must determine whether a record might be developed that would leave open an issue upon which reasonable minds might differ. Michigan Mutual Ins Co v Dowell, 204 Mich App 81, 85-86; 514 NW2d 185 (1994).

Governmental agencies are immune from any tort liability that would arise out of the operation and maintenance of public highways. MCL 691.1407; MSA 3.996(107). However, governmental immunity is not available to a governmental agency as a defense where the injuries arise out of the failure to maintain a public highway under its jurisdiction in reasonable repair so that it is reasonably safe for travel. The statutory provision is as follows:

Each governmental agency having jurisdiction over any highway shall maintain the highway in reasonable repair so that it is reasonably safe and convenient for public travel. Any person sustaining bodily injury or damage to his or her property by reason of failure of any governmental agency to keep any highway under its jurisdiction in reasonable repair, and in condition reasonably safe and fit for travel, may recover the damages suffered by him or her from the governmental agency. [MCL 691.1402(1); MSA 3.996(102)(1).]

No action may be maintained under the highway exception unless it is clearly within the scope and meaning of the statute. Scheurman v Dep’t of Transportation, 434 Mich 619, 630; 456 NW2d 66 (1990).

The governmental immunity act limits liability under the highway exception to the governmental agency having jurisdiction over the highway at the time of the injury. Fuller v Dep’t of Transportation, 168 Mich App 682, 684; 425 NW2d 693 (1988). [20]*20Only one governmental agency can have jurisdiction over a highway at any time; there is no concurrent jurisdiction. Mitchell v Steward Oldford & Sons, Inc, 163 Mich App 622, 632; 415 NW2d 224 (1987). Intersections of state highways and county roads are within the state’s jurisdiction. Lain v Beach, 177 Mich App 578, 582; 442 NW2d 650 (1989).

Plaintiffs argue that the term "intersection” is defined in the Vehicle Code, which provides that an intersection is an area where two highways join at right angles. See MCL 257.22; MSA 9.1822. Therefore, plaintiffs reason, because the curb lines of the northbound approach of Latson Road to M-59 do not intersect at right angles with the curb lines of M-59 until a point north of the stop bar, the stop bar is not located within the intersection.

We do not believe that the Vehicle Code is an appropriate guide to a governmental agency’s liability under the highway exception. The preamble to the Vehicle Code1 emphasizes the Legislature’s [21]*21specific concern with the regulation of vehicles upon the highways. People v Rogers, 438 Mich 602, 620; 475 NW2d 717 (1991) (Brickley, J., concurring). The Vehicle Code does not contain directives for the design, construction, and maintenance of roadways.

As the trial court recognized, the critical issue in this case is what is meant by the word "jurisdiction” in MCL 691.1402(1); MSA 3.996(102X1). The trial court related "jurisdiction” to "control.” It then held that the mdot has control over the Latson Road/M-59 intersection and therefore has jurisdiction over it.

Statutory interpretation is a question of law that is reviewed de novo on appeal. Smeets v Genesee Co Clerk, 193 Mich App 628, 633; 484 NW2d 770 (1992). Unless defined in the statute, every word or phrase of a statute should be accorded its plain and ordinary meaning. MCL 8.3a; MSA 2.212(1); Consumers Power Co v Lansing Bd of Water & Light, 200 Mich App 73, 76; 503 NW2d 680 (1993). When a term is not defined within a statute, a court may consult dictionary definitions. Nalepa v Plymouth-Canton Community School Dist, 207 Mich App 580, 586; 525 NW2d 897 (1994).

The Random House College Dictionary: Revised Edition (1988) defines "jurisdiction” as "1. the right, power, or authority to administer justice. 2. authority; control. 3. the extent or range of judicial or other authority. 4. the territory over which the authority of a person, court, etc., is exercised.” The Supreme Court has defined jurisdiction as "the power to act.” State Hwy Comm’r v Gulf Oil Corp, 377 Mich 309, 312; 140 NW2d 500 (1966); Campbell v Plymouth, 293 Mich 84, 86; 291 NW 231 (1940).

In light of the above definitions, we believe that the trial court properly equated "jurisdiction” with [22]*22"control.” This definition is consistent with the Legislature’s purpose in enacting the highway exception to governmental immunity. The Legislature’s goal was to keep public highways "reasonably safe and convenient for public travel.” MCL 691.1402(1); MSA 3.996(102X1). That objective will be served by limiting liability for a defective highway to the entity with the authority to construct, maintain, and repair it. We therefore hold that the word "jurisdiction” in MCL 691.1402(1); MSA 3.996(102)(1) is synonymous with "control.”

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Bluebook (online)
532 N.W.2d 878, 210 Mich. App. 16, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/markillie-v-board-of-county-road-commissioners-michctapp-1995.