CLERK OF COURTS Cumberland County 205 Newbury Street, Ground Floor Portland, ME04101
ELIZABETH GERMANI ESQ GERMANI MARTEMUCCI & HILL (C::lv"se\ ~f" ~r0(>A> 43 DEERING STREET ~~~~~ -rho~~~ PORTLAND ME 04101 ENTERED FEB 2 0 2015 ~-
STATE OF MAINE SUPERIOR COURT CUMBERLAND, ss CIVIL ACTION DOCKET NO. CV -13-534 11J\V- CM-f11- '0~-13-M715 ARTHUR MURDOCK,
Plaintiff
V. ORDER
STATE OF MAiNE ANGELO CASTIGLIOLA III, Ct~. st, eta«sOib et al fEB 13 20U5 Defendants rRECE~VfED Before the court is a motion for summary judgment filed by defendant Angelo
Castigliola. The court has previously ruled on motions for summary judgment filed by
defendants Martin Thorne and Maine Department of Public Safety in a January 22, 2015 order.
Summary Judgment
As noted in the January 22, 2015 order, summary judgment should be granted ifthere is
no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of
law. In considering a motion for summary judgment, the court is required to consider only the
portions of the record referred to and the material facts set forth in the parties' Rule 56(h)
statements. y., Johnson v. McNeil, 2002 ME 99 ~ 8, 800 A.2d 702. The facts must be
considered in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Id. Thus, for purposes of
summary judgment, any factual disputes must be resolved against the movant. Nevertheless,
when the facts offered by a party in opposition to summary judgment would not, if offered at trial, be sufficient to withstand a motion for judgment as a matter of law, summary judgment
should be granted. Rodrigue v. Rodrigue, 1997 ME 99 ~ 8, 694 A.2d 924.
Factual Record
Certain facts are undisputed. To the extent that there is any difference between the
version of the facts presented by Castigliola and that presented by Murdock, the court will rely
on Murdock's version of events because the record on summary judgment must be considered in
the light most favorable to the party opposing summary judgment.
Castigliola was the driver of a vehicle that collided with Murdock's vehicle on Skyway
Drive in Portland on January 26, 2010. At the time of the accident Murdock was a Lieutenant in
the State Police driving a state police cruiser.
Before the collision Murdock was traveling westbound on Skyway Drive preparing to
turn left across Skyway Drive into the entrance of the State Police Barracks. His lights and siren
were not activated. There are two eastbound lanes on Skyway Drive at that location. Castigliola \ SMF ~ 2, as qualified in Murdock's opposing SMF.
Martin Thome was traveling in the innermost of the two eastbound lanes, approaching
the location where Murdock was preparing to turn. Thome stopped and, after checking his side
view mirror to ascertain whether the outside eastbound lane was clear, gestured to Murdock that
Murdock could turn in front of Thome. Castigliola SMF ~~ 3-4, as qualified in Murdock's SMF.
Murdock, in response to Thome's gesture, inched forward to see if the outside lane was
clear. Murdock had a clear line of sight for about 100 feet down Skyway Drive. Determining that
the outside lane was clear, he proceeded across Skyway Drive. Castigliola SMF ~~ 5-7
(admitted).
2 Murdock's vehicle collided with Castigliola's vehicle, travelling in the outer eastbound
lane, after Murdock had proceeded across less than the width of that lane. Before Murdock had
begun crossing into the outer eastbound lane, Thorne saw the Castigliola vehicle approaching in
the outer eastbound lane. Castigliola SMF ~1 8-9 (admitted). Specifically, Thorne had previously
seen a clear lane but just as Murdock's vehicle started to proceed, Thorne saw movement in his
right hand side mirror. Thorne Dep. 14 and Thorne Interrogatory Answer 7, cited in Murdock
SAMF 11.
Discussion
On the existing record, the court finds that there are factual disputes that preclude
summary judgment for Castigliola. First, the summary judgment record does not rule out that
excessive speed by Castigliola caused or contributed to the collision. Although Castigliola's past
driving record may not be admissible, a jury would not be obliged to accept Castigliola's
testimony that he was driving within the speed limit, particularly if it accepted Murdock's
testimony that he looked to see if the outside lane was clear and saw nothing before he
proceeded. A jury would not be compelled to find that Murdock negligently failed to see "what
was there to be seen" -Castigliola's oncoming vehicle - if Castigliola was approaching at an
unsafe speed.
Moreover, while the court agrees with Castigliola that under the rules of the road, his
vehicle had the right of way, 29-A M.R.S. § 2053(5), a violation of the rules of the road is
evidence of negligence but is not conclusive. Even if Castigliola was not speeding, a jury could
find that Castigliola was negligent if he had the opportunity to stop in time or otherwise avoid a
collision with Murdock and negligently failed to do so. This would be true even though
3 Castigliola had the right of way. In fact, one of the cases relied upon by Castigliola also states
that a driver who has the right of way may assume that other drivers will yield "until
circumstances develop which show that assumption to be unwarranted." Blaisdell v. Reid, 352
A.2d 756, 758 (Me. 1976) (emphasis in original).
Under the principle that a driver is not required to anticipate negligence by another driver
until a contrary situation becomes apparent, the summary judgment record does not foreclose the
possibility that a contrary situation became apparent here in time for Castigliola to avoid the
collision, that Castigliola was negligent if failing to do so, and that such negligence caused or
contributed to the accident. Assuming negligence on the part of both Murdock and Castigliola,
there would be a factual dispute for trial as to whether Murdock's negligence was greater than or
equal to the negligence of Castigliola.
Defendant Angelo Castigliola's motion for summary judgment is denied. The clerk is directed to incorporate this order in the docket by reference pursuant to Rule 79(a).
Dated: February /;3, 2015
Thomas D. Warren Justice, Superior Court
4 Portland, ME 041 01
CHRISTOPHER DINAN ESQ \'\.£" _ \ / ' . __ , \ , \ MONAGHAN LEAHY ~~( i\e '1 ~\ ~\e (\C) G,..(\-\- \...,GS,\"\1 \ 0 lA PO BOX 7046 I ~ . PORTLAND ME 04112-7046
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PHILIP MANCINI ESQ DRUMMOND & DRUMMOND ONE MONUMENT WAY ~mrf'e.j ~ cr~\n1-l~;:- PORTLAND ME 04101
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STATE OF MAINE SUPERIOR COURT CUMBERLAND, ss CIVIL ACTION DOCKET NO. CV-13-534
ARTHUR MURDOCK,
ANGELO CASTIGLIOLA III, et al
Defendants
Before the court are motions for summary judgment filed by defendants Martin Thorne
and the Maine Department of Public Safety. Thorne and the Department of Public Safety (DPS)
are two of the four defendants who have been sued in this action by plaintiff Arthur Murdock.
Murdock alleges in count I of the complaint that defendant Angelo Castigliola is liable as
the driver of a vehicle that collided with Murdock's vehicle on Skyway Drive in Portland on
January 26, 201 0. At the time of the accident Murdock was a Lieutenant in the State Police
driving a state police cruiser.
In count II of the complaint Murdock alleges that defendant Thorne is liable based on his
alleged negligence in signaling that Murdock could make a left turn in front of Thorne's vehicle
before the collision.
In count III of the complaint Murdock makes an under-insured motorist claim against
DPS, alleging that the liability of Castigliola and Thorne is likely to exceed their coverage limits
and.that DPS, which self-insures its employees, is required to provide under-insured motorist
coverage as part of its self-insurance. In count IV of the complaint Murdock makes a second under-insured motorist claim
against defendant Patrons Oxford Insurance Company, his own insurance carrier.
The motions before the court address only counts II and III of the complaint. 1
Summary judgment should be granted if there is no genuine dispute as to any material
fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. In considering a motion for
summary judgment, the court is required to consider only the portions of the record referred to
and the material facts set forth in the parties' Rule 56(h) statements. ~., Johnson v. McNeil,
2002 ME 99 ~ 8, 800 A.2d 702. The facts must be considered in the light most favorable to the
non-moving party. Id. Thus, for purposes of summary judgment, any factual disputes must be
resolved against the movant. Nevertheless, when the facts offered by a party in opposition to
summary judgment would not, if offered at trial, be sufficient to withstand a motion for judgment
as a matter of law, summary judgment should be granted. Rodrigue v. Rodrigue, 1997 ME 99 ~
8, 694 A.2d 924.
I. MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT BY DEFENDANT THORNE
Undisputed Facts
1. The following facts are undisputed. See Thome SMF dated September 24, 2014 ~~ 2-
10 (admitted):
On January 26, 2010 Lt. Murdock was driving west on Skyway Drive. At the location
where the accident occurred, Skyway Drive has two westbound lanes and two eastbound lanes.
1 Defendant Castigliola has since filed a separate summary judgment motion, but that motion has not been fu1ly briefed.
2· Lt. Murdock was in the inner westbound lane, intending to make a left tum across the two
eastbound lanes into the entrance of the State Police Barracks. His lights and siren were not
activated.
Coming in the other direction in the inner eastbound land was Thome, who saw that the
traffic ahead of him was stopping. Thome made eye contact with Murdock and stopped his
vehicle, leaving enough space for Murdock to make a left turn in front of him. Thorne then
waved Murdock across his lane of travel.
With Thome stopped in the inner eastbound lane, Murdock inched forward to check for
oncoming traffic in the outer eastbound lane, saw no vehicles, and proceeded across the outside
lane. However, Castigliola's vehicle was approaching in the outer eastbound lane and collided
with Murdock's vehicle.
2. In response to Thome's SMF, Murdock submits the following additional facts, which
the court accepts for purposes of summary judgment:
Thome's vehicle obstructed Murdock's ability to have a good view of the outer
eastbound lane. Plaintiffs SAMF dated October 15, 2014 ~ 2. Before waving Murdock on,
Thorne gestured with his finger to Murdock to communicate that Murdock should wait a moment
before initiating a left turn, and Thorne then checked his side view mirror to ascertain whether
the outer eastbound lane was clear. Plaintiffs October 15, 2014 SAMF ~~ 3-4. Construed in the
light most favorable to Murdock, Thorne intencfed to communicate to Murdock that it was safe to
execute a left turn across both lanes. Plaintiffs October 15, 2014 SAMF ~ 6.
Murdock contends that when Thorne waved him on, he "immediately" began to execute a
left turn, Plaintiffs Ootober 15, 2014 SAMF ~ 7, but the record does not support that assertion.
3 Instead Murdock consistently testified that after Thorne waved him on, Murdock initially
"inched forward" to see if anyone was coming. Murdock Dep. 85-86. Accord, Murdock Dep. 16,
18.
It is undisputed that when Murdock began his turn, Thorne saw the Castigliola vehicle
approaching in the outer eastbound lane and sounded his horn in a futile attempt to warn
Murdock. Plaintiff's October 15, 2014 SAMF ~~ 8-9. 2
3. Although Murdock's SMF qualifies and denies paragraphs 14-16 of Thorne's
statement of material facts, the court finds that those paragraphs are undisputed:
Specifically, Murdock unequivocally testified at his deposition that once he turned in
front of Thorne, he stopped and inched forward to where he could see the outer eastbound lane
"and then I pulled out." He further testified that he did that because he knew he could not rely on
someone who was letting him turn left in front of them and that he had to make his own
determination of whether a lane was clear before he could cross that lane. Murdock Dep. 86-87,
cited in Thorne SMF ~~ 14-16.
The Law Court has not ruled on the issue of whether a driver who signals to another
driver that the latter can make a left turn can be found negligent if a collision with a third vehicle
results. Two Maine Superior Court decisions have concluded that while the signaling driver has
yielded his own right Qf way, the signaling driver has not undertaken any duty to assure that it is· ·
2 Murdock suggests that when Thorne saw the Castigliola vehicle, Thorne saw that he was "mistaken" in signaling to Murdock that the lane was clear. Plaintiff's October 15, 2014 SAMF ~ 8. To the extent that this suggests that Thorne acknowledged any mistake on his part, there is no support on the record for any such acknowledgment.
4 all clear to proceed. Bolduc v. Hayvvood, order dated July 18, 2001 in CV -000-18 (Superior Ct.
Kennebec) (Marden, J.), reported at 2001 WL 1712679; Dionne v. Progressive Insurance Co.,
order dated April 13, 2000 in CV-99-38 (Superior Ct. Androscoggin) (Cole, J.), reported at 2000
WL 33672928.
There is a split of authority in other jurisdictions on this issue. See, e.g., Gilmer v.
Ellington, 70 Cal. Rptr. 3d 893, 900 n.6 (Cal. App. 2008). Another Maine Superior Court
decision appears to have followed the New Hampshire Supreme Court in concluding that a
signaling driver can be liable if the signaling driver knows or should know that special
circumstances create a foreseeable risk of harm to third parties. Frechette v. Cobb, order dated
January 9, 1997 in CV -96-86 (Superior Ct. Androscoggin) (Delahanty, J.), reported at 1997 Me.
Super. LEXIS 9, citing Williams v. 0 'Brien, 669 A.2d 810, 811 (N.H. 1995).
Murdock argues that special circumstances exist here based on his assertion that Thorne's
vehicle obstructed Murdock's view of the outer eastbound lane. Thorne disagrees that the special
circumstances rule should be adopted in Maine and also disagrees that there any special
circumstances in this case.
Ultimately the court does not need to decide whether New Hampshire's special
circumstances rule should be adopted in Maine and whether this would result in a disputed issue
of fact because the undisputed record establishes that Murdock did not rely on Thorne's signal.
Murdock instead testified that after he turned in front of Thorne's vehicle, he inched forward to
see ifthere was any traffic in the next lane, saw none, and then proceeded. Murdock Dep. 16, 18,
86:.87.
Q. And the reason that you stopped and inched forward is because you know you can't rely on someone who's letting you turn left in front of them, correct?
5 A. That's correct.
Q. You have to make your own determination of whether or not a lane is clear before you can cross that lane. True?
A. That's true.
Murdock Dep. 87.
In order to recover against Thorne, Murdock would have to show not only that Thorne
breached a duty of care but also that Thorne's conduct was a legal or proximate cause of the
accident. Crowe v. Shaw, 2000 ME 136 ~~ 9-10, 755 A.2d 509. Based on Murdock's deposition
testimony, Murdock cannot make that showing. Regardless of whether Thorne owed any duty to
Murdock and if so, whether Thorne was negligent, Thorne is entitled to summary judgment due
to the absence of any factual dispute as to causation.
II. MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT BY DEFENDANT DPS
The motion by DPS for summary judgment is based on two arguments. The first is that
the State, as a self-insurer, is not subject to claims under the uninsured and underinsured motorist
·provisions in the State's insurance code. The second is that Murdock's claim against DPS is
barred by the immunity and exclusivity provisions of the Workers Compensation Act, 39-A
M.R.S. §§ 104 and 408.
Murdock did not dispute any of the assertions in the statement of material facts submitted
by DPS, and the DPS's motion for summary judgment therefore turns on issues of law.
On the self-insurance issue, it is undisputed that the DPS had not procured any insurance
that provided coverage for Murdock or for the claim asserted against DPS by Murdock. State
departments and employees are self-insured by a fund administered by the State's Director of
6 Risk Management within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services pursuant to 5
M.R.S. § 1731. DPS SMF ~~ 51-54.
The applicable self-insurance policf·states that the Risk Management Division will pay
any sums that its insureds may be legally obligated to pay because of the exceptions to sovereign
immunity contained in the Maine Tort Claims Act. Exhibit A to Fitts Affidavit. 3
On the workers compensation issue, it is undisputed that the State has paid Murdock
approximately $ 165,000 in medical and indemnity workers compensation benefits. As of
September 1, 2014 the State was continuing to pay Murdock $ 479.72 per week in workers
compensation indemnity benefits. DPS SMF ~~ 49-50.
Murdock's argument that he is entitled to UM coverage from DPS is based on the
straightforward proposition that the Insurance Code requires that all motor vehicle insurance
policies delivered in Maine must include coverage for persons who are legally entitled to recover
damages from operators of uninsured, under-insured, and hit-and-run vehicles. 24-A M.R.S. §
2902(1 ). This requirement to provide UM coverage, argues Murdock, applies to the State as self-
insurer the same as it applies to any other entity.
The problem with Murdock's argument is that 5 M.R.S. ~ 1728-A(1)(H) expressly
provides that the State's self-insurance funds "are not subject to the provisions of Title 24-A."
Accordingly, the court cannot find that 24-A M.R.S. § 2902(1) is applicable here and cannot find
any other ·legal basis for the argument that DPS is obligated to provide UM coverage to
Murdock.
3 Under the Tort Claims Act, a governmental entity may be liable for "its negligent acts or omissions" in the use of any motor vehicle. 14 M.R.S. § 81 04-A(l)(A). The Tort Claims Act does not contain any provision forUM coverage when other parties are negligent.
7 Accordingly, DPS is entitled to summary judgment on Murdock's UM claim against
DPS. The court does not reach the State's alternative argument that Murdock's receipt of
worker's compensation benefits bars his claim against DPS under the immunity and exclusivity
provisions of the Workers Compensation Act.
The motions for summary judgment filed by defendants Martin Thorne and Maine Department of Public Service are granted and the complaint is dismissed as against those defendants. The case continues as against defendants Castigliola and Patrons Oxford Insurance Co.
The clerk is directed to incorporate this order in the docket by reference pursuant to Rule 79(a).
Dated: January $2015
,.. Sl·AH:.ur-~ uumhlflandlss.,t) JAfNJ 2 2 2015
RECBVED
8 CLERK OF COURTS Cumberland County 205 Newbury Street, Ground Floor Portland, ME 04101
~LIZABETH GERMANI ESQ GERMANI MARTEMUCCI & HILL Dt\e "d ll.."~., \='1'lb (\Q( ( Mc..r '\\ "' 1\.a<-ne) 43 DEERING STREET PORTLAND ME 04101
CLERK OF COURTS Cumberland County 205 Newbury Street, Ground Floor Portland, ME 04101
THOMAS KNOWLTON AAG OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ~~(\.duM·~ A\\-o~"ey {s~~ o1 ~~~) 6 STATE HOUSE STATION AUGUSTA ME 04333-0006 203 Newbury Street, Groulild Floor Portland, ME 04101
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PHILIP MANCINI ESQ ]J)c,..iti+'•*s f\1lo\
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CHRISTOPHER DINAN ESQ lft.~ ('\ cl CV\ ~ ·~ ~¥o\0<2.( (~\o Co.s\~\:o'~) MONAGHAN LEAHY PO BOX 7046 PORTLAND ~E 04112-704t