Scott v. Milosevic

372 F. Supp. 3d 758
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Iowa
DecidedFebruary 12, 2019
DocketNo. C17-4004-LTS (lead case); No. C17-4022-LTS
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 372 F. Supp. 3d 758 (Scott v. Milosevic) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Scott v. Milosevic, 372 F. Supp. 3d 758 (N.D. Iowa 2019).

Opinion

Leonard T. Strand, Chief Judge

I. INTRODUCTION

This matter is before me on a motion (Doc. No. 91) for summary judgment filed by defendant Forward Air, Inc. (Forward). Plaintiffs Gary, Nicholas and Ryan Rohlfs (the Rohlfs) have filed a resistance (Doc. No. 102) and Forward has filed a reply. Doc. No. 110. The Rohlfs' also filed a notice (Doc. No. 112) of supplemental authority. I find that oral argument is not necessary.1 See N.D. Iowa L.R. 7(c).

II. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

This case arises out of a fatal three-vehicle crash on Highway 175 west of Lake View, Iowa, on December 24, 2016. Ivan Milosevic was driving a semi-truck westbound when he crossed the center line into oncoming traffic, striking an eastbound vehicle occupied by Gary and Sharon Rohlf. This collision caused a second collision between the Rohlf vehicle and a vehicle occupied by Barbara Scott and Jeanette Fertig. Sharon Rohlf died as a result of the collision, while Gary Rohlf and Barbara Scott sustained injuries. On January 13, 2017, Barbara and Everett Scott (the Scotts) filed a complaint (Doc. No. 1) alleging negligence and vicarious liability against defendants Milosevic and U.S. Expediters, Inc. (Expediters).

On April 6, 2017, the Rohlfs filed a complaint alleging negligence, vicarious liability and negligent hiring, training and supervision against Milosevic and Expediters. Doc. No. 1 in C17-4022-LTS. The two cases were consolidated on June 8, 2017. Doc. No. 10. Subsequently, the Scotts and the Rohlfs amended their complaints to add defendants Sirius Air Logistics (Sirius) and Forward.2 Doc. Nos. 60, 61. In Division V of the Rohlfs' Second Amended *761Complaint, they list various theories of alleged negligence on Forward's part. Doc. No. 61 at 11.

Milosevic and Expediters answered (Doc. Nos. 62, 63) the amended complaints while Sirius and Forward filed motions to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction, which were denied. Doc. No. 78. Sirius and Forward answered on May 30, 2018. Doc. Nos. 81, 82. The present motion for summary judgment was filed November 23, 2018. This matter is scheduled for a jury trial beginning April 22, 2019.

III. SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARDS

Any party may move for summary judgment regarding all or any part of the claims asserted in a case. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). Summary judgment is appropriate when "the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law." Celotex Corp. v. Catrett , 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).

A material fact is one "that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law." Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc. , 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). Thus, "the substantive law will identify which facts are material." Id. Facts that are "critical" under the substantive law are material, while facts that are "irrelevant or unnecessary" are not. Id. "An issue of material fact is genuine if it has a real basis in the record," Hartnagel v. Norman , 953 F.2d 394, 395 (8th Cir. 1992) (citing Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp. , 475 U.S. 574, 586-87, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986) ), or "when 'a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party' on the question," Woods v. DaimlerChrysler Corp. , 409 F.3d 984, 990 (8th Cir. 2005) (quoting Anderson , 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505 ). Evidence that only provides "some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts," Matsushita , 475 U.S. at 586, 106 S.Ct. 1348, or evidence that is "merely colorable" or "not significantly probative," Anderson , 477 U.S. at 249-50, 106 S.Ct. 2505, does not make an issue of material fact genuine. Put another way, "[e]vidence, not contentions, avoids summary judgment." Reasonover v. St. Louis Cnty. , 447 F.3d 569, 578 (8th Cir. 2006) (citation omitted). The parties "may not merely point to unsupported self-serving allegations." Anda v. Wickes Furniture Co. , 517 F.3d 526, 531 (8th Cir. 2008).

As such, a genuine issue of material fact requires "sufficient evidence supporting the claimed factual dispute" so as to "require a jury or judge to resolve the parties' differing versions of the truth at trial." Anderson , 477 U.S. at 249, 106 S.Ct. 2505 (quotations omitted).

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372 F. Supp. 3d 758, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/scott-v-milosevic-iand-2019.