Willis v. Nienow

317 N.W.2d 273, 113 Mich. App. 30

• Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
• Decided: February 2, 1982
• Docket: Docket 50894, 52848
• Status: Published

Opinion

Mackenzie, J.

These cases arose out of the same incident and were consolidated on appeal. Plaintiff is the administratrix of the estate of Jeffrey Willis. On August 16, 1978, 16-year-old Jeffrey was a resident of Harbor House, a juvenile care facility for delinquent and neglected youths operated by defendant Department of Social Services. At Harbor House, defendant Dennis Nienow was the director, defendant Erma Knox was a counselor, and defendant Cindy Hunt was a student-intern. Jeffrey and other Harbor House residents were taken for a swimming outing on Lake Michigan under the supervision of Knox and Hunt. Jeffrey drowned in the course of the outing.

Plaintiff brought actions against defendants State of Michigan and Department of Social Services in the Court of Claims and against defendants Nienow, Knox, and Hunt in circuit court. Plaintiff’s complaints alleged that Jeffrey and Knox could not swim or were of marginal swimming ability, that neither Knox nor Hunt had lifesaving training, that there were no lifeguards on duty at the time in question, that Jeffrey and other Harbor House residents were allowed to swim in areas not designated as swimming areas, and that Jeffrey and the other residents were allowed to swim under dangerous weather conditions. In each case the trial court granted summary judgment for defendants based on governmental immunity, and plaintiff appeals by right.

I

Plaintiff argues that the defendants were not engaged in a governmental function by operating Harbor House, or alternatively, by conducting a swimming outing for Harbor House residents. Plaintiff’s argument requires us once again to interpret the decisions of the Supreme Court in Parker v Highland Park, 404 Mich 183; 273 NW2d 413 (1978), and Perry v Kalamazoo State Hospital, 404 Mich 205; 273 NW2d 421 (1978). Those cases considered the meaning of the term "governmental function” in MCL 691.1407; MSA 3.996(107), which provides:

"Except as in this act otherwise provided, all governmental agencies shall be immune from tort liability in all cases wherein the government agency is engaged in the exercise or discharge of a governmental function. Except as otherwise provided herein, this act shall not be construed as modifying or restricting the immunity of the state from tort liability as it existed heretofore, which immunity is affirmed.”

No clear majority position emerged in Parker and Perry, but this Court has consistently applied the test formulated by Justice Moody who emerged as the "swing vote” in those cases. See, for example, Cronin v Hazel Park, 88 Mich App 488; 276 NW2d 922 (1979), Ross v Consumers Power Co, 93 Mich App 687; 287 NW2d 319 (1979), Rubino v Sterling Heights, 94 Mich App 494; 290 NW2d 43 (1979), and Davis v Detroit, 98 Mich App 705; 296 NW2d 341 (1980). Justice Moody agreed with Justices Fitzgerald, Kavanagh, and Levin that the statutory term "governmental function” is subject to judicial refinement and that the term is limited to those activities which are of essence to governing. However, Justice Moody’s view of that test differs from that of his colleagues. See Parker, supra, 200:

"To delineate a complete and balanced definition of governmental function within a simplistic format would be presumptuous. However, as a basic guideline, the crux of the governmental essence test should be founded upon the inquiry whether the purpose, planning and carrying out of the activity, due to its unique character or governmental mandate, can be effectively accomplished only by the government. Unless liability would be an unacceptable interference with government’s ability to govern, activities that fall outside this perimeter, although performed by a government agency, are not governmental functions and therefore not immune.”

In Parker, Justice Moody found five factors which indicated that the operation of a general hospital is not a governmental function: (1) the number of private general hospitals is far greater than the number of governmental hospitals; (2) the fiscal involvement of government in the operation of general hospitals is significantly displaced by private payment; (3) government has little direct responsibility for placing patients in general hospitals; (4) the day-to-day care afforded most patients in general hospitals is not of a unique governmental character or precipitated by governmental mandate; and (5) liability would not be an unacceptable interference with government’s ability to govern. In Perry, Justice Moody discussed four factors which indicated that the operation of a mental hospital was a governmental function: (1) the capacity of private mental hospitals available is insufficient to meet the substantial institutional needs of the public; (2) government plays a pervasive role in the area of mental health, including a substantial financial appropriation; (3) government has considerable direct responsibility for placing patients in mental hospitals through civil and criminal disposition of persons with serious mental diseases; and (4) the day-to-day care afforded patients in mental hospitals bears a uniquely governmental character since it furthers the public need to segregate, treat, and rehabilitate citizens suffering from mental diseases who cannot care for themselves and who are often committed voluntarily or involuntarily through government action.

Operation of the juvenile care facility here closely resembles operation of the mental hospital at issue in Perry and thus constitutes a governmental function. An affidavit submitted by the director of the Bureau of Regulatory Services of the Department of Social Services, relied upon by both plaintiff and defendants in the trial court, indicated in part:

"4. That there are 189 regulated (licensed non-governmental or approved governmental) child caring institutions in the State of Michigan for the care and custody of non-mentally retarded juvenile delinquent or neglected children.

”5. That the total maximum licensed or approved population for such institutions is 5,110 individuals.

"6. That 70 of such 189 regulated child caring institutions are operated by state or local governments, including the probate courts and that such institutions have a total licensed maximum population of 2,519 individuals.

"7. That 116 of such 189 child caring institutions are nón-governmental facilities and have a total maximum licensed population of 2,591 individuals.”

Since nearly half of the total population of institutionalized delinquent or neglected children are in public facilities, it appears that the capacity of private facilities is insufficient to meet the needs of the public.

Government plays a pervasive role in the care of delinquent or neglected children. For recognition of the historical basis of this role, see Hunt v Wayne Circuit Judges, 142 Mich 93, 113; 105 NW 531 (1905). Examination of state appropriations for any recent , year shows that government’s role in this area has included the appropriation of substantial sums for the care of delinquent or neglected children. See, for example, 1979 PA 110, which contains appropriations for the Department of Social Services for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1980.

MCL 400.115; MSA 16.490(25) provides in part:

"Services to children and youth shall include: (a) Operating training schools, the children’s institute, halfway houses, youth camps, diagnostic centers, state operated regional detention facilities, regional short-term treatment centers, group homes, and other facilities and programs established with the approval of the legislature to provide an effective program of out-of-home care for delinquent or neglected children committed to or placed in the care and custody of the department by probate courts or, where provided by law, the voluntary action of parents or guardians.”

The statute demonstrates that government has considerable direct responsibility for placement of delinquent or neglected children in facilities such as Harbor House. Like the day-to-day care fur nished patients in mental hospitals, the day-to-day care furnished children in these facilities bears a uniquely governmental character. The statute recognizes a public need for a program of out-of-home care for delinquent and neglected children analogous to the public need to segregate, treat, and rehabilitate citizens suffering from mental disease discussed by Justice Moody in Perry.

Plaintiff suggests that even if defendants were engaged in a governmental function by operating Harbor House, defendants were not engaged in a governmental function by conducting a swimming outing for Harbor House residents. We cannot agree. This is not a case like Galli v Kirkeby, 398 Mich 527; 248 NW2d 149 (1976), which involved a governmental agency whose normal operations were the exercise of a governmental function, but in which the specific tortious activity alleged bore no arguable relationship to the agency’s function. Recreational activities such as a swimming outing are directly related to "an effective program of out-of-home care for delinquent or neglected children”.

II

Plaintiff also argues that, even if defendants were engaged in a governmental function, defendants were liable for intentional torts, and thus the trial court erred in granting summary judgment on Count III of her complaint. Count III in both actions alleged in relevant part:

"That at all times relevant herein, the defendant acted in a willful, wanton and reckless manner, and as a direct and proximate result of the defendant’s willful, wanton and reckless behavior, the plaintiffs decedent died from drowning.”

As plaintiff failed to allege an intentional act and did not allege that defendants had actual knowledge of the dangers and acted in intentional disregard of them, plaintiff failed to state a cause of action for an intentional tort. See Hoeppner v Dep’t of Labor, 104 Mich App 334, 338-339; 304 NW2d 841 (1981).

Ill

Plaintiff also argues that, even if the activities complained of amounted to the discharge of a governmental function, governmental immunity did not extend to defendants Nienow, Knox, and Hunt. No clear majority has yet emerged in the Supreme Court as to the proper test for determining when public employees are protected by governmental immunity. In Bush v Oscoda Area Schools, 405 Mich 716; 275 NW2d 268 (1979), Justice Moody stated that public employees performing discretionary activities of essence to government were immune. Chief Justice Coleman agreed with Justice Moody. Justice Williams stated that only ultra vires activities of public employees performing a governmental function are not protected by governmental immunity. Justices Levin, Kavanagh, and Fitzgerald held that the complaint stated causes of action against the individual defendants, but did not explain their reasoning. Justice Ryan did not address the question.

Defendants argue that in Lockaby v Wayne County, 406 Mich 65, 84; 276 NW2d 1 (1979), a majority emerged for the position taken by Justice Williams in Bush. We cannot agree. In Lockaby, Justices Levin, Kavanagh, and Fitzgerald declined to express an opinion on the liability of the individual officials. Justice Williams restated his view that only ultra vires activities of public employees performing a governmental function aré not protected by immunity. Chief Justice Coleman and Justice Ryan stated their agreement with the position taken by Justice Moody. Justice Moody stated:

"In addition, the officers and employees of the county, while acting within the scope of their employment maintaining a jail, primarily are performing essential public duties. Thus, they are immune from alleged negligent actions or selection of personnel. See Bush v Oscoda Area Schools, 405 Mich 716; 275 NW2d 268 (1979).”

Since the activities involved in Lockaby were arguably discretionary and since Justice Moody expressly relied upon Bush in holding the officers and employees immune, it does not appear to us that Justice Moody’s Lockaby opinion was intended to alter the position he took in Bush. In the absence of any clear guidance from the Supreme Court on this question, this Court has taken the position that discretionary acts performed by a public employee in carrying out a governmental function are within the scope of immunity, while ministerial acts are not. See Antkiewicz v Motorists Mutual Ins Co, 91 Mich App 389, 397; 283 NW2d 749 (1979), vacated on other grounds 407 Mich 936 (1979), Cook v Bennett, 94 Mich App 93; 288 NW2d 609 (1979), and Vargo v Svitchan, 100 Mich App 809; 301 NW2d 1 (1980).

In Antkiewicz, this Court explained:

"The difference between discretionary and ministerial acts is one of degree. Discretionary acts are those of a legislative, executive, or judicial character. Sherbutte v Marine City, 374 Mich 48, 54; 130 NW2d 920 (1964), Armstrong v Ross Twp [82 Mich App 77, 81; 266 NW2d 674 (1978)]. Such acts have been held to include disapproval of liquor bonds of private citizens, Amperse v Winslow, 75 Mich 234; 42 NW 823 (1889), and control over the operation of a particular law enforcement system, Walkowski v Macomb County Sheriff, 64 Mich App 460; 236 NW2d 516 (1975).

"Ministerial acts are those where the public officer has little decision-making power during the course of performance; the officer’s acts are primarily in response to orders. See Prosser [Torts (4th ed), § 132, p 990]. Prior Michigan decisions have deemed ministerial acts to include the issuance by a county drain commissioner of partial payments for a drain construction, People, for Use of Lapeer County Bank v O’Connell, 214 Mich 410; 183 NW 195 (1921); seizure of property for delinquent taxes, Raynsford v Phelps, 43 Mich 342; 5 NW 403 (1880); an arrest by a police officer, Sherbutte v Marine City, supra; and the denial of a building permit by a building inspector, Armstrong v Ross Twp, supra. The actions of members of the police and fire departments in conducting an arson investigation resemble the aforementioned acts previously determined by Michigan courts to be ministerial. These actions, therefore, are not covered by the protective cloak of governmental immunity.”

Plaintiffs complaint in the circuit court action against defendants Nienow, Knox, and Hunt states the acts at issue here as follows:

"9. That the plaintiffs decedent’s death was a direct and proximate result of the negligence of the defendants, which consisted of the following:

"a. In allowing the plaintiffs decedent to go to a swimming area and to participate in water activities, when he was unable to swim or was of marginal swimming ability;

"b. In generally failing to provide adequate care and supervision to the plaintiffs decedent during the course of the aforesaid swimming activities;

"c. In failing to have properly trained individuals in the techniques of lifesaving and who were certified in life saving to supervise the plaintiff’s decedent in respect to the swimming activities;

"d. In allowing the plaintiff’s decedent to participate in swimming activities in a beach area where there were no lifeguards on duty;

"e. In taking the plaintiff’s decedent to a swimming area where the weather and water conditions were not conducive to swimming activities;

"f. In allowing the plaintiff’s decedent to swim outside of designated swimming areas;

"g. In generally failing to act as a reasonable and prudent persons would have acted under the same or similar circumstances.

"10. That in addition, defendant, Nienow, was negligent in failing to supervise defendants, Knox and Hunt, and in negligently failing to hire persons with suitable training and experience to provide the care, training and other services required for the plaintiff’s decedent and other minor children who were residents of Harbor House.”

MCL 400.115; MSA 16.490(25) directs the Department of Social Services to operate facilities such as Harbor House "to provide an effective program of out-of-home care for delinquent or neglected children”. In our view, a decision that such a program should include swimming outings such as that at issue here is a discretionary act. However, plaintiff’s complaint does not claim that the underlying policy decision to have swimming outings was negligent; rather, plaintiff charges negligence in the manner in which the particular swimming outing at issue here was conducted. The acts which plaintiff alleges to have been negligent are for the most part analogous to the ministerial acts discussed in Antkiewicz. We note, however, that the allegation contained in ¶ 10 of the complaint concerning defendant Nienow’s exercise of his hiring powers involves discretionary acts. The trial court’s disposition of that allegation was correct.

The decision of the Court of Claims in the action against defendants State of Michigan and Department of Social Services is affirmed. The decision of the circuit court in the action against defendants Nienow, Knox, and Hunt is reversed except for the circuit court’s disposition of the allegation in ¶ 10 of the complaint concerning defendant Nienow’s exercise of his hiring powers. With respect to the disposition of that allegation, the circuit court is affirmed. The case is remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.