Matthews v. United States

756 F. Supp. 511, 1991 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1236, 1991 WL 10329
CourtDistrict Court, D. Kansas
DecidedJanuary 25, 1991
DocketNo. 87-1731-C
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 756 F. Supp. 511 (Matthews v. United States) 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
Matthews v. United States, 756 F. Supp. 511, 1991 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1236, 1991 WL 10329 (D. Kan. 1991).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

CROW, District Judge.

The case comes before the court on two motions. First, the defendant moves for summary judgment.1 Second, the plaintiff moves to compel the defendant’s payment of fees and expenses incurred in the defendant taking the deposition of plaintiffs expert witness. Plaintiff, Anthony L. Matthews, brings this Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) action against defendant, the United States of America, for personal injuries sustained in the course of his employment with Day & Zimmerman Co., Inc. Defendant seeks summary judgment arguing it is a statutory employer to the plaintiff and, therefore, is entitled to the exclusive remedy defense under the Kansas Workers’ Compensation law.

On a motion for summary judgment, the trial court inquires into the need for a trial. Without weighing the evidence or determining credibility, the court grants summary judgment when no genuine issue of material fact exists and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 250, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2511, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). The inquiry is basically “whether the evidence presents a sufficient disagreement to require submission to a jury or whether it is so one-sided that one party must prevail as a matter of law.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 251-252, 106 S.Ct. at 2512.

An issue of fact is “genuine” if the evidence is significantly probative or more than merely colorable such that a jury could reasonably return a verdict for the nonmoving party. Id. at 248, 106 S.Ct. at 2510. An issue of fact is “material” if proof of it might affect the outcome of the lawsuit as assessed from the controlling substantive law. 477 U.S. at 249, 106 S.Ct. at 2510. Factual inferences are drawn to favor the existence of triable issues, and where reasonable minds could ultimately reach different conclusions, summary judgment is inappropriate. See Riley v. Brown & Root, Inc., 896 F.2d 474, 476-77 (10th Cir.1990).

The movant’s initial burden under Fed.R.Civ.P. 56 is to show the absence of evidence to support the nonmoving party’s case. Windon Third Oil and Gas v. Federal Deposit Ins., 805 F.2d 342, 345 (10th Cir.1986), cert. denied, 480 U.S. 947, 107 S.Ct. 1605, 94 L.Ed.2d 791 (1987). The movant must specify those portions of [513]*513“ ‘the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories and admissions on file, together with affidavits if any,’ ” which demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of fact. Windon, 805 F.2d at 345 (quoting Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c)). It may be sufficient for the movant to establish that the alleged factual issues are without legal significance. Dayton Hudson Corp. v. Macerich Real Estate Co., 812 F.2d 1319, 1323 (10th Cir.1987).

The opposing party may not rest upon mere allegations or denials in the pleadings but must set forth specific facts supported by the kinds of evidentiary materials listed in Rule 56(c). Anderson, 477 U.S. at 250, 106 S.Ct. at 2511. The nonmoving party’s evidence is deemed true and all reasonable inferences are drawn in his favor. Win-don, 805 F.2d at 346. More than a “disfavored procedural shortcut,” summary judgment is an important procedure “designed ‘to secure the just, speedy and inexpensive determination of every action.’ Fed.R.Civ.P. 1.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 327, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2555, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).

The following facts are uncontroverted. Day & Zimmerman Co., Inc., Philadelphia Pennsylvania (“Day & Zimmerman”) is a private corporation which has operated the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant at Parsons, Kansas (“KAAP”) since 1970 in accordance with a series of contracts with the Department of the Army, U.S. Army Armament Command (“Army”). The contract applicable in 1986 specified that the contractor, Day & Zimmerman, would procure and maintain workers’ compensation insurance and that the government would reimburse the contractor for the reasonable cost of that insurance required by the contract.

On January 2, 1986, plaintiff was an employee of Day & Zimmerman and was doing his job at KAAP, blending an explosive gunpowder mixture, when an explosion occurred injuring him. Plaintiff received Kansas workers' compensation benefits for this injury.

The Government contends it is plaintiff’s statutory employer and, therefore, may assert the exclusive remedy provision under the Kansas Worker’s Compensation laws as an absolute defense to liability. Plaintiff responds that “no evidence has been taken in this case” making it impossible to determine whether the statutory employer test is satisfied. Plaintiff’s bare allegations of incomplete discovery do not comport with Rule 56(f). See Pizza Management, Inc. v. Pizza Hut, Inc., 737 F.Supp. 1154, 1169 (D.Kan.1990). A party is not protected by Rule 56(f) unless an affidavit is filed. Dreiling v. Peugeot Motors of America, Inc., 850 F.2d 1373, 1376-77 (10th Cir.1988). In its discretion, the court may proceed to decide the motion for summary judgment when no affidavit has been filed. Id. In this case, the pretrial order also reflects that all discovery is complete except for taking the deposition of plaintiff’s expert witness. Plaintiff’s argument on the need for discovery is rejected.

The United States is liable for money damages for personal injuries caused by a governmental employee acting within the scope of his employment “under circumstances where the United States, if a private person, would be liable to the claimant in accordance with the law of the place where the act or omission occurred.” 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b). The FTCA creates an exception to governmental immunity for tort claims “in the same manner and to the same extent as a private individual under like circumstances_” 28 U.S.C. § 2674. Liability of the government is determined under the law of the place where the alleged negligence occurred. Ewell v. United States, 776 F.2d 246, 248 (10th Cir.1985). The parties have stipulated in the pretrial order that the substantive law of Kansas is applicable. Consequently, the exclusive remedy defense available to a private employer under the Kansas Workers’ Compensation Act, 44-501 et seq., is also available to the United States under like circumstances. Griffin v. United States, 644 F.2d 846, 847 (10th Cir.1981).

As a result of the exclusive remedy provision in the Kansas Workers’ Compensation Act, K.S.A.

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756 F. Supp. 511, 1991 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1236, 1991 WL 10329, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/matthews-v-united-states-ksd-1991.