Sylvester v. Chicago Park District

689 N.E.2d 1119, 179 Ill. 2d 500, 228 Ill. Dec. 698, 1997 Ill. LEXIS 475

• Court: Illinois Supreme Court
• Decided: December 4, 1997
• Docket: 81138
• Status: Published

Opinions

JUSTICE MILLER

delivered the opinion of the court:

- Plaintiff, Alice Sylvester, filed a complaint against defendant, the Chicago Park District, to recover damages for injuries she sustained as a result of a fall on Park District property. The complaint alleged the Park District was negligent in allowing a concrete parking abutment to block a walkway adjacent to a parking lot exit located south of Soldier Field.

The Park District moved to dismiss the complaint pursuant to section 3 — 106 of the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act (Tort Immunity Act) (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 85, par. 3 — 106). Section 3 — 106 provides:

"Neither a local public entity nor a public employee is liable for an injury where the liability is based on the existence of a condition of any public property intended or permitted to be used for recreational purposes, including but not limited to parks, playgrounds, open areas, buildings or other enclosed recreational facilities, unless such local entity or public employee is guilty of willful and wanton conduct proximately causing such injury.” Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 85, par. 3 — 106.

The trial judge denied the Park District’s motion to dismiss.

Following a bench trial, the judge ruled in favor of plaintiff. However, the judge reduced plaintiffs damages by 10% due to her comparative negligence. The Park District appealed. The appellate court affirmed. No. 1 — 93—3639 (unpublished order under Supreme Court Rule 23).

The Park District filed a petition for leave to appeal. 155 Ill. 2d R. 315(a). We allowed the Park District’s petition. We also allowed the Illinois Association of Park Districts, the Illinois Municipal League, and the Illinois Governmental Association of Pools to file a joint amici curiae brief. 155 Ill. 2d R. 345(a). While the appeal was pending here, plaintiff filed a motion in this court seeking leave to file a first amended complaint in the trial court. Plaintiffs motion has been taken with the case.

BACKGROUND

On September 23, 1991, plaintiff and her husband parked their car at a McCormick Place parking lot and walked toward Soldier Field in order to meet their daughters for a Monday evening Chicago Bears football game. While walking to Soldier Field, plaintiff tripped over a concrete parking abutment (a "car stop”) and fell. Employees of the Park District admitted that the car stop was improperly blocking a walkway.

The record reveals that at the time of plaintiffs fall, the car stop was located on a walkway adjacent to a parking lot exit at the northeast corner of Soldier Field’s south parking lot. In her complaint, plaintiff alleged that this location was owned, operated, possessed, and maintained by the Park District. The Park District admitted this allegation.

Plaintiff stated in her complaint that she was walking on Park District property in order to reach Soldier Field to attend a football game. Plaintiff has not alleged and the record does not reveal whether plaintiffs fall occurred within the confines of a park. Evidence was introduced, however, to show that the Burnham Park maintenance department cleans the south lot after events occurring at Soldier Field.

Plaintiff allegedly sustained a number of injuries as a result of her fall. Plaintiff sued the Park District under a theory of negligence. Plaintiff alleged that the Park District was negligent in either placing the car stop on the walkway or in failing to remove the car stop from the walkway. Plaintiff also alleged that the Park District was negligent in failing to warn pedestrians of the car stop’s location and in failing to illuminate adequately the area in which the car stop was located. Plaintiff did not allege any willful or wanton misconduct on the part of the Park District.

Relying on section 3 — 106 of the Tort Immunity Act, the Park District filed a motion to dismiss plaintiff’s complaint under section 2 — 619(a)(9) of the Code of Civil Procedure. Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 110, par. 2 — 619(a)(9). The Park District claimed in its motion that plaintiff’s use of its property was for the recreational purpose of attending a football game. The Park District stated that this use was intended and permitted by the Park District. Thus, the Park District argued that plaintiff’s allegations of negligence were barred by section 3 — 106.

In support of its motion to dismiss, the Park District stated that the parking lot and walkway were recreational property because they allowed patrons of Soldier Field to park in close proximity to the stadium. The Park District stated that parking in proximity to the stadium furthers a patron’s recreational activity of attending a Chicago Bears football game. The Park District’s motion to dismiss was denied.

In its answer to plaintiff’s complaint, the Park District asserted several affirmative defenses. The Park District again relied on section 3 — 106. The Park District claimed that it was not liable for the negligence alleged by plaintiff because plaintiff’s fall occurred on public property used for recreational purposes.

In a further affirmative defense, the Park District also relied on section 3 — 102(a) of the Tort Immunity-Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 85, par. 3 — 102(a)). Section 3 — 102(a) provides that a local public entity shall not be liable for injury occurring on public property unless it is proven that the local public entity has actual or constructive notice of the injury causing condition. The Park District stated it had neither actual nor constructive notice of the car stop’s improper placement on the walkway. Lacking notice, the Park District alleged that it was immune from liability.

In the alternative, the Park District relied on section 3 — 102(b) of the Tort Immunity Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 85, par. 3 — 102(b)). Section 3 — 102(b) provides that a local public entity does not have constructive notice of an injury causing condition located on public property if the local public entity operates a reasonably adequate inspection system. The Park District alleged that its pregame traffic control and parking lot setup routine around Soldier Field qualified as an "inspection system” under section 3 — 102(b). The Park District claimed that its inspection system provided a defense to any finding of constructive notice.

Following a bench trial, the judge ruled in favor of plaintiff. In reaching this result, the judge found that the Park District was negligent in failing to provide reasonably safe access to Soldier Field. The judge then addressed, and rejected, the Park District’s defenses under sections 3 — 106 and 3 — 102.

The judge found that the Park District’s section 3 — 106 defense did not apply. The judge stated: "As I previously said, the Park District can’t rely on Section 3 — 106, which grants immunity for recreational facilities, because this parking lot that is access to Soldier Field is not a recreational facility.”

The judge also found that there was no evidence to indicate that the Park District had actual notice of the car stop’s location on the walkway. However, the judge did find that the Park District had constructive notice of the car stop’s location. The car stop was conspicuous because it weighed approximately 100 pounds and took several men or a forklift to move. Also, based on the photographs entered into evidence, the judge stated, "this conspicuous obstacle did exist, and it must have been there, I found, for enough time for the Park District to become aware of it.” Because the Park District had constructive notice of the car stop’s improper placement on the walkway, the judge found that the Park District was not immune from liability under section 3 — 102(a).

The judge further found no evidence to support the Park District’s claim that its pregame traffic control and parking lot setup routine qualified as an inspection system that would have led to the discovery of the improperly positioned car stop. Thus, section 3 — 102(b) did not provide a defense to the Park District’s constructive notice of the car stop’s improper location on the walkway.

The appellate court affirmed. No. 1 — 93—3639 (unpublished order under Supreme Court Rule 23). The appellate court examined the Park District’s section 3 — 106 defense in light of Bubb v. Springfield School District 186, 167 Ill. 2d 372 (1995). In Bubb, we addressed whether a school district is immune from liability for negligence under section 3 — 106 when a student is injured on a sidewalk surrounding a school when that sidewalk is used for recreation.

Relying on Bubb, the appellate court attempted to determine whether the location of plaintiffs fall was a recreational area under section 3 — 106. The court stated that the Park District failed to present evidence regarding the recreational character of the location of plaintiffs fall. Lacking this evidence, the court concluded the trial judge was correct to find that section 3 — 106 did not provide immunity for the Park District.

During its appeal to the appellate court, the Park District, for the first time in its reply brief, asked the appellate court to take judicial notice of the fact that plaintiffs fall occurred within Burnham Park. The court declined to do so. The court stated that even if it were to take judicial notice of the location of Burnham Park, the Park District still failed to carry its burden of establishing a section 3 — 106 affirmative defense. The court found that the Park District did not introduce any evidence that plaintiffs fall occurred in an area traditionally used for recreational purposes.

The appellate court also reviewed the trial judge’s two section 3 — 102 findings. Because the car stop was conspicuous and improperly positioned long enough for the Park District to become aware of it, the court concluded that a finding of constructive notice under section 3 — 102(a) was not against the manifest weight of the evidence.

In addition, the appellate court agreed with the trial judge that there was no evidence to demonstrate that the Park District operated a reasonably adequate inspection system. Thus, the trial judge’s section 3 — 102(b) finding was not against the manifest weight of the evidence.

DISCUSSION

The Park District asks this court to take judicial notice of the fact that plaintiffs fall occurred within Burn-ham Park. Assuming we take judicial notice of this fact, the Park District argues that it is automatically entitled to immunity under section 3 — 106 because parks are by definition "property intended or permitted to be used for recreational purposes.” Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 85, par. 3 — 106. For the reasons that follow, we decline to take judicial notice of the location of plaintiffs fall.

Prior to trial, the Park District did not claim in its motion to dismiss or in its answer to plaintiffs complaint that plaintiffs fall occurred within Burnham Park. During trial, the Park District did not claim or introduce evidence to demonstrate that plaintiff was injured in a park. In fact, the Park District concedes in its brief that "no evidence was presented at trial technically fixing the situs of plaintiff’s injury as a sidewalk located in Burnham Park.” Furthermore, the Park District never asked the trial judge to take judicial notice of the fact that plaintiff was injured in Burnham Park.

The Park District in its reply brief in the appellate court asked that court to take judicial notice that plaintiff was injured in Burnham Park. The appellate court declined to do so. The court stated that even if it were to take judicial notice of the location of plaintiffs fall, the Park District failed to establish that plaintiffs fall occurred in an area traditionally used for recreational purposes.

The Park District has waived its contention that plaintiff was injured in a park by failing to present evidence or seek judicial notice of this fact in the trial court. "[I]t is axiomatic that where evidence was not offered during the trial of a matter, it cannot be introduced for the first time on appeal.” H.J. Tobler Trucking Co. v. Industrial Comm’n, 37 Ill. 2d 341, 344 (1967). Also, "[i]t is required that the points argued on appeal be commensurate with the issues presented at trial.” Kravis v. Smith Marine, Inc., 60 Ill. 2d 141, 147 (1975). Moreover, the Park District’s contention that plaintiff was injured in a park was raised for the first time in its reply brief in the appellate court. Under Supreme Court Rule 341(e)(7), points not argued in an appellant’s brief are waived and shall not be raised in the reply brief. 155 Ill. 2d R. 341(e)(7).

In the alternative, the Park District argues that plaintiffs fall occurred on "property intended or permitted to be used for recreational purposes.” Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 85, par. 3 — 106. The evidence shows that plaintiff’s fall occurred on the walkway of a Park District parking lot serving Soldier Field. The Park District intended for and permitted football fans to park in the lots adjacent to Soldier Field and use the walkways to gain access to the stadium. Plaintiff possessed a ticket to attend the football game and was injured while walking to the game. Thus, the Park District argues that the location of plaintiff’s fall was part of the recreational purpose of Soldier Field. We agree.

In Bubb, we found that section 3 — 106 "applies if public property is intended or permitted to be used for recreational purposes, regardless of the primary purpose of the property.” Bubb, 167 Ill. 2d at 384. Application of a section 3 — 106 defense does not depend only on a plaintiffs active engagement in a recreational activity at the time of injury. See J. DeAno, Governmental Immunities for Recreational Injuries, 82 Ill. B.J. 28, 28-29 (1994).

In addition, section 3 — 106 may apply to facilities or structures that increase the usefulness of public property intended or permitted to be used for recreational purposes. These facilities or structures need not be recreational in character for section 3 — 106 to apply. See S. Puiszis, Illinois Municipal Tort Liability § 4 — 10, at 183 (1996). Although the walkways and parking lots adjacent to Soldier Field may not be primarily recreational, Soldier Field itself is certainly recreational and these facilities increase its usefulness. Taken as a whole, we find that Soldier Field and its adjacent walkways and parking lots are intended or permitted to be used for recreational purposes.

A review of the legislative history supports our conclusion. Prior to 1986, local public entities were faced with difficulties affording liability insurance. As stated by Senator Rock, legislators were "somewhat appalled that counties and park districts and municipalities were confronted with the fact that they were uninsurable or that the insurance that was offered to them was unaffordable.” 84th Ill. Gen. Assem., Senate Proceedings, June 30, 1986, at 78 (statements of Senator Rock).

The legislature responded to these difficulties by enacting Public Act 84 — 1431 which, among other things, amended portions of the Tort Immunity Act. In order to decrease the costs of liability insurance, the legislature expanded the scope of immunity provided to local public entities under section 3 — 106. The legislature accomplished this expansion of immunity by abandoning the focus on specific types of public property and instead focusing on the intended or permitted use of the property.

Prior to its amendment in 1986, "section 3 — 106 immunity was specifically limited to parks, playgrounds, and open areas used for recreational purposes.” Bubb, 167 Ill. 2d at 378. Following its amendment, immunity was expanded by including "public property intended or permitted to be used for recreational purposes, including but not limited to parks, playgrounds, open areas, buildings or other enclosed recreational facilities.” Pub. Act 84 — 1431, art. 1, § 2, eff. November 25, 1986 (amending Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 85, par. 3 — 106).

Thus, under section 3 — 106 as amended, it is the character of the property as a whole that determines whether immunity applies. See Bubb, 167 Ill. 2d at 379, 381 (agreeing with the reasoning of courts that examine "the nature of the property as a whole”). In this case, an examination of the property as a whole indicates that the parking lot in which plaintiff fell was an integral part of the Soldier Field recreational facility. We therefore believe that the trial judge erred in narrowly focusing on only whether the parking lot by itself was being used for recreational purposes.

We note that our conclusion is consistent with the Seventh Circuit’s decision in Diamond v. Springfield Metropolitan Exposition Auditorium Authority, 44 F.3d 599 (7th Cir. 1995). In Diamond, the plaintiff was on her way to a career related conference when she was injured in the doorway of an underground tunnel leading to a facility used for conventions, shows, and sporting events.

The court stated that section 3 — 106 immunity depends on "the character of the property as a whole, rather than whether the injured person was engaged in a nonrecreational activity.” Diamond, 44 F.3d at 604. Because both participants in and spectators of sporting events are engaged in recreation (see Diamond, 44 F.3d at 603), the court found that the facility was permitted to be used for recreational purposes (see Diamond, 44 F.3d at 604-05). Accordingly, the court concluded that plaintiff’s negligence action was barred by section 3 — 106.

Our appellate court has reached similar results. In Annen v. Village of McNabb, 192 Ill. App. 3d 711 (1990), plaintiff was injured in a restroom located in a park. Under section 3 — 106, the appellate court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiffs negligence claim. The court stated that "[wjhile a restroom building itself is not intended to be used for recreational purposes, it allows a park user to continue using the park ***. This increases the usefulness of the park and advances the legislative purpose.” Annen, 192 Ill. App. 3d at 713.

In Lewis v. Jasper County Community Unit School District No. 1, 258 Ill. App. 3d 419 (1994), plaintiff was injured by falling against a pumphouse located on a school playground. Relying on section 3 — 106, the appellate court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiffs negligence claims. The court stated that the "immunity provisions of section 3 — 106 have been held to apply to nonrecreational equipment and structures located on premises used for recreational activities.” Lewis, 258 Ill. App. 3d at 423.

Similar results may be found in additional cases. See, e.g., Conoway v. Hanover Park Park District, 277 Ill. App. 3d 896 (1996) (plaintiff was barred from recovery when injured by falling into a drainage ditch in a park); Hanover Insurance Co. v. Board of Education of the City of Chicago, 240 Ill. App. 3d 173 (1992) (worker was barred from recovery when injured by slipping on cracked concrete in a school playground while performing masonry repairs); Kirnbauer v. Cook County Forest Preserve District, 215 Ill. App. 3d 1013 (1991) (plaintiff was barred from recovery when injured by a cable barricade restricting entry to a forest preserve access road).

Because we find that the Park District is not liable in actions for negligence in the circumstances presented here, we do not address the Park District’s additional immunity arguments regarding constructive notice under section 3 — 102 nor do we address the Park District’s argument that parks are automatically entitled to immunity under section 3 — 106.

We must still dispose of plaintiffs pending motion seeking leave to file a first amended complaint under Supreme Court Rule 362. 155 Ill. 2d R. 362. The purpose of Rule 362 is to amend the pleadings to conform to the evidence presented at trial. A movant "must show the amendment to be necessary, that no prejudice will result to the adverse party if the amendment sought is permitted, and that the issues sought to be raised by the amendment are supported by the facts in the record on appeal.” 155 Ill. R. 362(b). "Rule 362 is not a vehicle to raise wholly new issues on appeal.” Local 165 v. Bradley, 149 Ill. App. 3d 193, 213 (1986).

In plaintiff s motion, she seeks leave to add a second count to her complaint alleging that the Park District engaged in willful and wanton misconduct. The trial had proceeded only on a theory of negligence. In fact, plaintiffs attorney stated to the trial court: "First of all, I would just like to state again for the record this case is based upon [a] theory of negligence, and it is not incumbent upon my client in this action to prove any willful and wanton conduct on the part of the Park District.”

In Griffin v. Darda, 28 Ill. App. 3d 693 (1975), plaintiff was a passenger in an automobile that collided with another vehicle. Plaintiff filed suit against the driver of the automobile in which she was riding. Plaintiff alleged the driver was guilty of willful and wanton misconduct. Following a bench trial, judgment was entered in the driver’s favor. On appeal, plaintiff sought to amend her complaint to add a count alleging negligence against the driver. After citing Rule 362, the appellate court stated that the trial below had:

"proceeded on the theory that when [plaintiff] was injured, [the driver] was guilty of willful and wanton misconduct. Witnesses were called, cross-examination was conducted, and evidence was presented in accordance with this theory. There is no fact in the record to support the notion that negligence was a theory of the case.” Griffin, 28 Ill. App. 3d at 696-97.

The appellate court denied plaintiffs motion seeking leave to file an amended complaint.

In this case, plaintiff proceeded on a theory of negligence and specifically stressed that point in the trial court. There are no facts in the record which indicate that a theory of willful and wanton misconduct on the part of the Park District was a theory at trial. Like the Park District’s request that we take judicial notice of the parking lot’s location within Burnham Park to which the plaintiff objected, plaintiffs attempt to amend her complaint comes too late. Plaintiffs motion seeking leave to file a first amended complaint is denied.

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, we find that the Park District is entitled to immunity under section 3 — 106 of the Tort Immunity Act. Accordingly, we reverse the judgments of the appellate and trial courts. In addition, we deny plaintiffs motion seeking leave to file a first amended complaint.

Judgments reversed.