Van Meter v. City of Wells

958 F. Supp. 2d 1178, 2013 WL 3947143, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 106491

• Court: District Court, D. Nevada
• Decided: July 30, 2013
• Docket: No. 3:12-cv-00282-RCJ-WGC
• Status: Published

Opinion

ORDER

ROBERT C. JONES, District Judge.

This case arises out of sewage backup up into a residence. Before the Court is a Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 21) and a Motion to Reconsider (ECF No. 22) . For the following reasons, the Court grants the Motion for Summary Judgment and denies the Motion to Reconsider.

I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Plaintiffs Ron and Jody Van Meter have owned and resided at a house located at 356 Castle Street in Wells, Nevada since 1989. (Compl. 4, ECF No. 1). On October 19, 2011, Defendant City of Wells’s (the “City”) sewer line “failed to function as intended,” and raw sewage “invaded” Plaintiffs’ basement (the “first incident”). (Id. at 4-5). Plaintiffs contacted Trail 40 Corp., a plumbing company, to inquire into the reason for the sewage. (Id. at 5). Trail Corp. advised that “a defective City of Wells sewer line caused the sewage to backup into Plaintiffs’ basement.” (Id. (emphasis omitted)). On October 24, 2011, Plaintiffs contacted Defendant Jolene M. Supp, the City Manager, and requested that the City clean up the mess and compensate Plaintiffs for the damage to their residence and personal belongings. (Id.). Supp declined both requests, so Plaintiffs cleaned up the raw sewage in their basement. (Id.). Defendants also did not take action to fix the defective sewer. (Id.).

On November 3, 2011, more raw sewage “physically invaded” Plaintiffs’ basement from the same defective sewage line (the “second incident”). (Id. at 6). Plaintiffs contacted Supp and she again declined to compensate Plaintiffs and clean up the sewage. (Id.). The City still has not corrected the problem with the sewer. (Id.). As a result of the incident, and because the ventilation lines for the house are drawn from the basement, Plaintiffs’ entire house smells like sewage. (Id.). Plaintiffs are deterred from cleaning up the sewage themselves because they are worried the sewer will just leak again. (Id. at 7). They also allege that the sewer is a public improvement, and “[t]he disposing, transporting, and treating of raw sewage” concerns the whole community. (Id.). They allege that Plaintiffs have contributed more than their share to the public undertaking, and the City should compensate Plaintiffs for their trouble. (Id.).

Plaintiffs sued the City and Supp on nine nominal causes of action: (1) declaratory relief under 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201 and 2202; (2) civil constitutional claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983; (3) inverse condemnation under Article I § 8(6) of the Nevada Constitution (against the City); (4) negligence; (5) intentional infliction of emotional distress; (6) trespass; (7) breach of implied contract (against the City); (8) private nuisance (against the City); and (9) respondeat superior (against the City). (See id. at 9-14). Defendants moved to dismiss. The Court dismissed the first and ninth claims, as well as the second through eighth claims insofar as they arose out of Defendants’ failure to inspect the sewage pipes before the first incident, without leave to amend. The Court refused to dismiss the second through eighth claims insofar as they arose out of Defendants’ failure to clean up the sewage, compensate Plaintiffs, and repair the sewage pipe after the first incident. Defendants have now moved for summary judgment, and Plaintiffs have asked the Court to reconsider the earlier dismissals.

II. LEGAL STANDARDS

A court must grant summary judgment when “the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a). Material facts are those which may affect the outcome of the case. See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). A dispute as to a material fact is genuine if there is sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to return a verdict for the non-moving party. See id. A principal purpose of summary judgment is “to isolate and dispose of factually unsupported claims.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323-24, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). In determining summary judgment, a court uses a burden-shifting scheme:

When the party moving for summary judgment would bear the burden of proof at trial, it must come forward with evidence which would entitle it to a directed verdict if the evidence went uncontroverted at trial. In such a case, the moving party has the initial burden of establishing the absence of a genuine issue of fact on each issue material to its case.

C.A.R. Transp. Brokerage Co. v. Darden Rests., Inc., 213 F.3d 474, 480 (9th Cir. 2000) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). In contrast, when the nonmoving party bears the burden of proving the claim or defense, the moving party can meet its burden in two ways: (1) by presenting evidence to negate an essential element of the nonmoving party’s case; or (2) by demonstrating that the nonmoving party failed to make a showing sufficient to establish an element essential to that party’s case on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial. See Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 323-24, 106 S.Ct. 2548. If the moving party fails to meet its initial burden, summary judgment must be denied and the court need not consider the nonmoving party’s evidence. See Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co., 398 U.S. 144, 159-60, 90 S.Ct. 1598, 26 L.Ed.2d 142 (1970).

If the moving party meets its initial burden, the burden then shifts to the opposing party to establish a genuine issue of material fact. See Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986). To establish the existence of a factual dispute, the opposing party need not establish a material issue of fact conclusively in its favor. It is sufficient that “the claimed factual dispute be shown to require a jury or judge to resolve the parties’ differing versions of the truth at trial.” T.W. Elec. Serv., Inc. v. Pac. Elec. Contractors Ass’n, 809 F.2d 626, 631 (9th Cir.1987). In other words, the nonmoving party cannot avoid summary judgment by relying solely on conclusory allegations unsupported by facts. See Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th Cir.1989). Instead, the opposition must go beyond the assertions and allegations of the pleadings and set forth specific facts by producing competent evidence that shows a genuine issue for trial. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e); Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548.

At the summary judgment stage, a court’s function is not to weigh the evidence and determine the truth, but to determine whether there is a genuine issue for trial. See Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249, 106 S.Ct. 2505. The evidence of the nonmovant is “to be believed, and all justifiable inferences are to be drawn in his favor.” Id. at 255, 106 S.Ct. 2505. But if the evidence of the nonmoving party is merely colorable or is not significantly probative, summary judgment may be granted. See id. at 249-50, 106 S.Ct. 2505.

III. ANALYSIS

Defendants adduce the affidavit of Dennis Calton, a public works employee with the City. Calton responded to the first incident with fellow employee Gus Villalobos. (See Calton Dep. 11-13, Apr. 10, 2013, ECF No. 21-1, at 52). Upon using a “jet rooter” to clear the line downstream from Plaintiffs’ house, Calton discovered that “some shop towels and a rag like a T-shirt or something” had been causing the blockage. (See id. 13, 16). Calton indicated that there were twelve residences upstream from the blockage (seven single-family homes and one five-residence apartment building), and there was no way to know which residence was the source of the items simply from inspecting the blockage itself. (See id. 18, 26). Calton told Jody Van Meter she could “put a back check in the system” and that “[t]hey are not a complete failsafe, but a lot of times they will keep something from coming back in when the line does plug up.” (Id. 19, 21).

Defendants also adduce the affidavit of Jason Pengelly, the public works supervisor for the City. (See Pengelly Dep. 12, Apr. 10, 2013, ECF No. 21-1, at 62). Pengelly was on leave during the first incident, but Calton had verbally reported it to him. (Id. 20-21). Pengelly responded to the second incident himself and found a blockage similar to the blockage Calton had reported from the first incident, i.e., “[h]eavy duty paper shop towels, like the ones you can’t even tear.” (Id. 21, 24). The blockage was not a remnant of the first incident, but rather new material, because no foreign material from the first incident could have survived the jet rooter, which creates pressure of 1500-2000 pounds per square inch. (Id. 22). The foreign material would have caused a blockage even if the pipe had been bigger; it would simply have taken a bit longer to clog. (Id.). There were only three houses and one apartment complex upstream from the blockage, so the culprit must have put the material into the line from one of those residences. (Id. 25).

Defendants have satisfied their initial burden on summary judgment to show that there was no deliberate indifference or negligence on their part, negating any constitutional, IIED, or negligence claim. Nor was there any intent to invade Plaintiff’s property, negating a trespass, takings, or condemnation claim. Nor was the sewage backup the result of any voluntary action by the City on its own land adjacent to Plaintiffs’, negating a nuisance theory. Defendants have provided evidence negating any intentional act by them causing any damage. The evidence shows that the second incident was caused by one of Plaintiffs neighbors, or perhaps even by Plaintiffs, but there is no evidence it was caused by Defendants. At most, Plaintiffs can accuse Defendants of negligence in failing to continuously inspect and maintain the sewer lines, but, as Defendants have noted, they are immune from claims based upon such allegations pursuant to Nevada Revised Statutes section 41.033. A person may not sue a municipality or its employees for:

(a) [f]ailure to inspect any building, structure, vehicle, street, public highway or other public work, facility or improvement to determine any hazards, deficiencies or other matters, whether or not there is a duty to inspect; or

(b) [fjailure to discover such a hazard, deficiency or other matter, whether or not an inspection is made.

Nev.Rev.Stat. § 41.033(l)(a, b). Municipalities in Nevada are immune from suit for a failure to inspect sewer systems in order to discover obstructions or other deficiencies. See Fischmann v. City of Henderson, 92 Nev. 659, 556 P.2d 923, 924 (1976) (holding that the City of Henderson was immune from suit for failing to inspect sewage lines after raw sewage leaked in to the plaintiffs house); Schroeder v. Ely City Mun. Water Dep’t, 112 Nev. 73, 910 P.2d 260, 261-62 (1996) (holding that the City of Ely was immune from suit for failing to maintain a sewer when sewage leaked into the plaintiffs’ businesses). The Court previously noted that in Fischmann and Schroeder, the plaintiffs sued after only a single incident of flooding, see Fischmann, 556 P.2d at 923; Schroeder, 910 P.2d at 261, but that here, Plaintiffs allege that Defendants did not fix the problem after the first flooding, thereby causing the second incident. The Court therefore permitted the second through eighth claims to proceed to discovery insofar as they were based upon the second incident, because it was possible Plaintiffs could show Defendants actually caused the second incident through actions for which they would not be immune, e.g., by causing a clog in the line itself or through some other affirmative action causing the second flooding. But the only evidence adduced indicates that Defendants fixed the problem after the first incident and that the second incident was not caused by any intentional act or even negligence on Defendants’ part, except insofar as Plaintiffs argue that Defendants were negligent in not inspecting the sewer lines to keep them free of obstructions, which claim is barred by section 41.033.

In response, Plaintiffs first argue that the Motion for Summary Judgment is untimely. They are correct. The Scheduling Order indicated May 27, 2013 as the deadline for filing dispositive motions, and Defendants filed the Motion for Summary Judgment on May 28, 2013. Defendants do not have the benefit of the holiday rule, because the Scheduling Order specified the date directly and did not require any computation. However, because the Motion is meritorious, an extension to consider it is much more in the interest of judicial economy than to strike it and require a trial. Accordingly, the Court grants a one-day extension.

As to the merits, Plaintiffs adduce several relevant pieces of evidence. First, Plaintiffs adduce City Manager Jolene Supp’s deposition transcript. (See J. Supp. Dep., Apr. 10, 2013, ECF No. 23-1, at 5). Supp confirmed Calton’s and Pengelly’s testimony as to the cause of the blockages and testified generally as to the sewer system but did not indicate any affirmative actions taken by the City that could have caused the blockage. (See generally id.). Although counsel questioned her repeatedly about the City’s inspection and maintenance policies and the sufficiency of the City’s efforts to discover the culprit(s) who flushed the foreign material and to inform residents not to flush foreign material, those questions were directed at discovering facts that might lead one to conclude that the City was negligent in the way it maintained and inspected the sewer lines. The City is immune from such claims.

Plaintiffs also adduce Calton’s and Pengelly’s deposition transcripts. They did not testify as to any affirmative act taken by any agent of the City causing the blockage but only that they failed to discover exactly who was flushing the foreign material. Jody and Ron Van Meter testified consistently with Calton and Pengelly and did not indicate any affirmative action taken by the City to cause the invasion. (See generally J. Van Meter Dep., Apr. 9, 2013, ECF No. 23-2, at 4; R. Van Meter Dep., Apr. 9, 2013, ECF No. 23-2, at 17).

Plaintiffs have not satisfied their shifted burden to show a genuine issue of material fact as to any of their claims. Plaintiffs adduce no evidence indicating that Defendants took any affirmative action indicating any intent to cause the invasion or that Defendants were negligent in any way for which they are not immune. At most, the evidence shows that Defendants failed to continuously inspect the sewer line to keep it free of debris, and, again, Defendants are immune from claims arising out of this kind of alleged negligence. The proper defendant in this case is the party that flushed the foreign material, as there is no genuine dispute of fact that this is what caused the blockage. There is no evidence adduced that the City or its agents flushed the material, there can be no res ipsa inference where it is clear that the occupants of twelve private residences had the ability to cause the blockage by flushing foreign material, and the City is immune from claims based upon its failure to discover the foreign material. See Fischmann, 556 P.2d at 924 (“It appears clear to this court that the legislative intent was that political subdivisions are not to be held hable to lawsuit for failure to inspect sewer systems in order to discover obstructions or other malfunctionings and deficiencies.”).

CONCLUSION

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 21) is GRANTED.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Motion to Reconsider (ECF No. 22) is DENIED.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk shall enter judgment and close the case.

IT IS SO ORDERED.