Mozier v. Parsons

852 F. Supp. 925, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5750, 1994 WL 194580
CourtDistrict Court, D. Kansas
DecidedApril 7, 1994
DocketCiv. A. Nos. 93-2158-GTV, 93-2159-GTV
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 852 F. Supp. 925 (Mozier v. Parsons) 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
Mozier v. Parsons, 852 F. Supp. 925, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5750, 1994 WL 194580 (D. Kan. 1994).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

VAN BEBBER, District Judge.

These are wrongful death and survival actions in which plaintiffs seek recovery for the injury and death of three-and-one-half-year old Emily Mozier, who drowned in defendants’ swimming pool. These consolidated eases are before the court on defendants’ motion for summary judgment (Doc. 48). For the reasons set forth below, the motion is denied.

I. Relevant Facts

Plaintiffs John 0. Mozier, Jr. and Nancy G. Mozier are the parents of the decedent, Emily Mozier. They are Missouri citizens, as was Emily at the time of her death. Nancy G. Mozier is the sister of defendant Charles Parsons. John 0. Mozier, Sr. is the duly appointed and acting Special Administrator of Emily’s estate by reason of Letters of Administration issued by the District Court of Johnson County, Kansas. Defendants are citizens and residents of Kansas, and this court has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332.

This accident occurred at the Parsons’ home near Fort Scott, Kansas, and the parties agree that Kansas substantive law is to be applied. Emily’s parents have brought their action for wrongful death pursuant to K.S.A. § 60-1901, et seq. The administrator seeks to recover for Emily’s estate damages related to conscious pain and suffering experienced by Emily prior to her death, pursuant to K.S.A. § 60-1801.

Following is a summary of the material uncontroverted facts established by the parties in accordance with the requirements of Fed.R.Civ.P. 56 and D.Kan.Rule 206(c). The court notes that plaintiffs, in their memorandum in opposition to the motion for summary judgment, apparently attempt to controvert some or all of defendants’ statement of uncontroverted facts. Plaintiffs, however, failed to set forth “a concise statement of material facts as to which [plaintiff contend] a genuine issue exists.” D.Kan.Rule 206(c). In general, plaintiffs’ statement does not contradict the facts presented by defendants, but rather serve as a statement of additional facts, and the court will treat it as such.

On April 21, 1991, the Moziers were social guests at the home of defendants Charles and Brenda Parsons. The Parsons had completed installation of a swimming pool on their property just two weeks earlier. Those present had been swimming in the pool during the afternoon and then returned to the house for supper. Some time after supper Emily left the house. She was later found floating in the pool. She was not breathing and had no heart beat. Resuscitation efforts at the pool side and the hospital served only to restore breathing with the aid of a respirator. Heart beat was restored after emergency treatment at the hospital. Emily never [928]*928regained consciousness, but did Mink her eyes and make some slight movement.. She died two days later.

Emily was a generally well-behaved 3& year old girl who listened to her parents and other adults. On the day of the accident, Emily was told by her parents and Brenda Parsons not to go near the pool without an adult. Emily was old enough to understand what that meant. Emily’s parents were present at the Parsons’ home at all times that day with Emily, and had not specifically entrusted the supervision of Emily to the Parsons. At the same time, both families informally shared responsibility for supervising each other’s children.

The Parsons’ home is located on a 60 acre tract in rural Bourbon County, just outside of Fort Scott, Kansas. The nearest house is approximately a quarter of a mile away, and their pool is shielded from public view by the house. The Parsons did not install a fence or any other safety devices at the time their pool was completed. The doors leading from the house to the pool area had latches that were out of Emily’s reach, but they were not locked or latched at the time of the accident. There had been no injuries at the pool prior to this accident.

Prior to installing the pool, the Parsons discussed the desirability of a fence as a safety measure with Kendall Baumann, the pool salesman and installer. The Parsons ultimately decided against installing a fence because of the cost, the fact that there were no neighbors nearby, and information that they had received indicating that a fence was not required by their insurer. Baumann supplied the pool, but Charles Parsons acted as owner-contractor. Baumann also described other safety devices such as door locks and alarms which would alert residents when someone left the house. Baumann furnished the Parsons with safety pamphlets which contained information regarding the propensity of children to be attracted to pools. The Parsons finally did install a fence in 1993 after the birth of their youngest child, at a cost of $800.00.

II. Summary Judgment Standards

Summary judgment is appropriate when “the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with affidavits, if any, 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.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). The court considers all evidence and reasonable inferences therefrom in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587-88, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 1356-57, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986). The non-moving party, however, “may not rest on its pleadings but must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial as to those dispositive matters for wMch it carries the burden of proof.” Applied Genetics Int'l v. First Affiliated Sec., Inc., 912 F.2d 1238, 1241 (10th Cir.1990). Thus, summary judgment may be entered “against a party who fails to make a sufficient showing to establish the existence of an element essential to that party’s case.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2552, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).

III. Discussion

Defendants have moved for summary judgment based on two grounds. First, defendants argue that plaintiffs cannot establish willful or wanton negligence on the part of defendants, as is required in cases involving injuries to licensees. Second, defendants contend that summary judgment is appropriate in the survival action filed by the Administrator of Emily’s estate because plaintiffs have produced no evidence of conscious pain and suffering.

A. Standard of Care

While plaintiffs contend they can establish that defendants’ conduct constituted willful and wanton negligence, plaintiffs also argue that the proper standard to be applied in this case is one of ordinary negligence. The duty owed to a plaintiff under Kansas premises liability law depends upon the status of the plaintiff at the time of the injury.

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Bluebook (online)
852 F. Supp. 925, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5750, 1994 WL 194580, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mozier-v-parsons-ksd-1994.