Parvu v. Harrison Township Fire Department ( 1977 )

Bashara, J.

Plaintiffs brought a suit against several defendants concerning an automobile-motorcycle accident which caused injuries to the plaintiffs. As part of the suit plaintiff Sandra Lou Parvu, through her next friend Joseph Parvu, alleged that the defendant fire department was liable for aggravation of her injuries. She claimed this was due to the negligence and malpractice of the attendant of an emergency medical service (EMS) vehicle operated by the defendant.

Shortly after the accident the attendants had provided some on-the-scene treatment to the plaintiff’s injured leg and had subsequently transported the plaintiff to a hospital in the EMS unit. Plaintiff now appeals from a grant of accelerated judgment in favor of the defendant.¹

The sole issue on appeal is whether an EMS unit owned and operated by a municipality is shielded from liability in tort actions by the doctrine of governmental immunity. Recently the Michigan Supreme Court decided a number of cases dealing with this area of the law. In Pittman v City of Taylor, 398 Mich 41; 247 NW2d 512 (1976), the Supreme Court abrogated Michigan’s common law doctrine of governmental immunity. If immunity exists in the present case, it does so through statutory authority.

Statutory governmental immunity is governed by MCLA 691.1401 et seq.; MSA 3.996(101) et seq. Immunity is afforded to all governmental agencies as follows:

"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.” (Emphasis added.) MCLA 691.1407; MSA 3.996(107).

The statute does not define the term "governmental function”.

In Thomas v Department of State Highways, 398 Mich 1; 247 NW2d 530 (1976), the Supreme Court held that pre-existing common law interpretations of the term would have to be used to determine the scope of the statute.

"It is therefore reasonable to conclude that the Legislature, in choosing the precise terminology of 'governmental function’ to describe the limits of governmental immunity, intended that activities described as governmental functions at common law at the time of enactment of the new legislation would enjoy statutory immunity from tort liability.” 398 Mich at 10.

The Thomas Court further stated that in cases where the case law precedent is not clear, courts would have to use their "creative genius” in deciding whether a particular government activity is a governmental function. 398 Mich at 11.

A review of prior case law reveals no decision dealing directly with the operation of a municipally-owned EMS unit. The cases that are closest in comparison to the present matter are those regarding public hospitals. In Snow v Freeman, 55 Mich App 84; 222 NW2d 43 (1974), the Court stated Michigan law as well settled that the operation of a municipally-owned hospital is a governmental function, since a hospital is intended to benefit the health of the general community. The Snow Court based, its decision on the test for governmental functions set forth in Gunther v Cheboygan County Road Commissioners, 225 Mich 619, 621; 196 NW 386 (1923):

"The underlying test is whether the act is for the common good of all without the element of special corporate benefit or pecuniary profit.”

We believe that an EMS unit operates, as does a hospital, for the common good and in the interest of public health. That being the case statutory governmental immunity applies unless some special benefit or profit can be shown.

The plaintiff argues that an EMS unit is not like a hospital because the EMS vehicle operates in direct competition with private ambulance services at competitive rates. However, the corresponding fact is that public hospitals also compete directly with privately-owned facilities. This competition element has not precluded the application of immunity.

The plaintiff finally argues that since the defendant charges a $35 fee for the use of the EMS unit the operation of that unit must be a proprietary function. The charging of a fee does not in itself change the character of the operation. Snow v Freeman, supra, Lockaby v Wayne County, 63 Mich App 185, 190-191; 234 NW2d 444 (1975). The fact that the township attempts to recoup some of the taxpayers’ cost of maintaining the unit does not imply that the intent is to make a pecuniary profit. No evidence has been presented to this Court to show that the use fee actually results in any form of profit for the defendant.

Affirmed, costs to defendant.

W. F. Hood, J., concurred.

1 Defendant originally brought a motion for "accelerated and/or summary judgment” under GCR 1963, 116.1 and GCR 1963, 117.2(3). The defendant claimed that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case because of the doctrine of governmental immunity. The court granted accelerated judgment but did not specify the grounds for its decision. This Court feels that the proper procedure for bringing a pretrial motion on governmental immunity is through summary judgment under GCR 117.2(1), alleging failure to state a claim on which relief can be granted. See McCann v Michigan, 398 Mich 65; 247 NW2d 521 (1976) (Ryan, J. con.), Bush v Oscoda Area Schools, 72 Mich App 670; 250 NW2d 759 (1976) (Peterson, J. con.). We do not feel that accelerated judgment, either under GCR 116.1 or 116.5, is appropriate. See Stewart v Troutt, 73 Mich App 378; 251 NW2d 594 (1977). Even though the trial court granted accelerated judgment we may still consider whether summary judgment would be appropriate, since there is no prejudice to the appellant. Stewart v Troutt, supra.