McCarthy v. Ohio Dept. of Transp., Dist. 8 , 2010 Ohio 4789 ( 2010 )

[Cite as McCarthy v. Ohio Dept. of Transp., Dist. 8, 2010-Ohio-4789.]
Court of Claims of Ohio
The Ohio Judicial Center
65 South Front Street, Third Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
614.387.9800 or 1.800.824.8263
www.cco.state.oh.us
MICHAEL J. MCCARTHY
Plaintiff
v.
OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, DISTRICT 8
Defendant
Case No. 2010-02090-AD
Deputy Clerk Daniel R. Borchert
MEMORANDUM DECISION
{¶ 1} On January 15, 2010, at approximately 5:30 a.m., plaintiff, Michael J.
McCarthy, was traveling north on Interstate 75, “near Middletown, Oh” in a roadway
construction area, when his 2004 Honda Odyssey minivan struck a pothole causing tire
and wheel damage to the vehicle. Plaintiff contended his property damage was
proximately caused by negligence on the part of defendant, Department of
Transportation (ODOT), in maintaining a hazardous roadway condition in a working
construction area on Interstate 75 in Warren County. Plaintiff seeks damage recovery
in the amount of $574.78, the cost of replacement parts and related repair expenses.
The filing fee was paid.
{¶ 2} Defendant acknowledged the roadway area where plaintiff’s incident
occurred was located within the limits of a working construction project under the control
of ODOT contractor John R. Jurgensen Company (Jurgensen). Defendant explained
this particular project “dealt with grading, draining, paving with asphalt concrete on I-75,
interchange reconstruction of SR 122 and bridge replacements at several locations in
Warren County.” According to defendant, the construction project limits “corresponds to
state mileposts 32.10 to 40.50” on Interstate 75 and plaintiff’s incident occurred “around
milepost 32.30,” a location within the construction area limits. Defendant asserted that
this particular construction project was under the control of Jurgensen and consequently
ODOT had no responsibility for any damage or mishap on the roadway within the
construction project limits. Defendant argued that Jurgensen, by contractual
agreement, was responsible for maintaining the roadway within the construction zone.
Therefore, ODOT contended that Jurgensen is the proper party defendant in this action.
Defendant implied that all duties such as the duty to inspect, the duty to warn, the duty
to maintain, and the duty to repair defects were delegated when an independent
contractor takes control over a particular section of roadway. Furthermore, defendant
contended that plaintiff failed to introduce sufficient evidence to prove his damage was
proximately caused by roadway conditions created by ODOT or its contractors. All
construction work was to be performed in accordance with ODOT requirements and
specifications and subject to ODOT approval. Also evidence has been submitted to
establish that ODOT personnel were present on site conducting inspection activities.
{¶ 3} For plaintiff to prevail on a claim of negligence, he must prove, by a
preponderance of the evidence, that defendant owed him a duty, that it breached that
duty, and that the breach proximately caused his injuries. Armstrong v. Best Buy
Company, Inc., 99 Ohio St. 3d 79, 2003-Ohio-2573,¶8 citing Menifee v. Ohio Welding
Products, Inc. (1984), 15 Ohio St. 3d 75, 77, 15 OBR 179, 472 N.E. 2d 707. Plaintiff
has the burden of proving, by a preponderance of the evidence, that he suffered a loss
and that this loss was proximately caused by defendant’s negligence. Barnum v. Ohio
State University (1977), 76-0368-AD. However, “[i]t is the duty of a party on whom the
burden of proof rests to produce evidence which furnishes a reasonable basis for
sustaining his claim. If the evidence so produced furnishes only a basis for a choice
among different possibilities as to any issue in the case, he fails to sustain such
burden.” Paragraph three of the syllabus in Steven v. Indus. Comm. (1945), 145 Ohio
St. 198, 30 O.O. 415, 61 N.E. 2d 198, approved and followed. This court, as trier of
fact, determines questions of proximate causation. Shinaver v. Szymanski (1984), 14
Ohio St. 3d 51, 14 OBR 446, 471 N.E. 2d 477.
{¶ 4} Defendant had the duty to maintain its highways in a reasonably safe
condition for the motoring public. Knickel v. Ohio Department of Transportation (1976),
49 Ohio App. 2d 335, 3 O.O. 3d 413, 361 N.E. 2d 486. However, defendant is not an
insurer of the safety of its highways. See Kniskern v. Township of Somerford (1996),
112 Ohio App. 3d 189, 678 N.E. 2d 273; Rhodus v. Ohio Dept. of Transp. (1990), 67
Ohio App. 3d 723, 588 N.E. 2d 864. The duty of ODOT to maintain the roadway in a
safe drivable condition is not delegable to an independent contractor involved in
roadway construction. ODOT may bear liability for the negligent acts of an independent
contractor charged with roadway construction. Cowell v. Ohio Department of
Transportation, Ct. of Cl. No. 2003-09343-AD, jud, 2004-Ohio-151. Despite defendant’s
contentions that ODOT did not owe any duty in regard to the construction project,
defendant was charged with duties to inspect the construction site and correct any
known deficiencies in connection with the particular construction work. See Roadway
Express, Inc. v. Ohio Dept. of Transp. (June 28, 2001), Franklin App. 00AP-1119.
{¶ 5} Alternatively, defendant denied that neither ODOT nor Jurgensen had any
notice of the particular pothole prior to plaintiff’s property damage event. Defendant
pointed out that ODOT records “indicate no calls or complaints were received regarding
the pothole in question prior to Plaintiff McCarthy’s incident.” Defendant advised, “[i]t
should be noted that this portion of I-75 has an average daily traffic volume of 72,000,
however, no complaints were received (regarding a roadway defect) prior to plaintiff’s
alleged incident.”
Defendant contended plaintiff failed to offer any evidence of negligent roadway
maintenance on the part of ODOT and failed to produce evidence to establish his
property damage was attributable to conduct on either the part of ODOT or Jurgensen.
{¶ 6} Defendant submitted a copy of an e-mail from Jurgensen Project
Manager, Jason Mudd, who recorded Jurgensen was notified of a pothole “on NB I-75
near SR-122” by the Ohio State Highway Patrol at approximately 9:00 p.m. on January
14, 2010. According to Mudd, that pothole was promptly patched by Jurgensen
personnel, including himself, beginning at 9:45 p.m. Mudd noted that when the pothole
was patched at 9:45 p.m. two lanes of traffic were closed “since the pothole was in the
middle lane.” Mudd stated, “[t]he hole was rather large, approximately 3.5 ft. x 28 ft.”
According to Mudd, the massive pothole “was excavated and cleaned out with a
backhoe and cold patch material was put in so the road could be reopened.” Mudd
related the pothole had formed in an existing area of pavement not presently under
construction, and was completely repaired by 2:00 a.m. on January 15, 2010. Mudd
pointed out Jurgensen employee “Ken Bolser was called at 6:00 a.m. informing him that
the pothole (recurred)” and this time repairs were made by ODOT personnel using cold
patch material. Mudd observed ODOT subsequently directed Jurgensen to close two
lanes of traffic and repair the pothole with hot mix asphalt and these repairs were
completed by 7:30 p.m. on January 15, 2010. Submitted time sheets for work
performed in patching the pothole on the night of January 14, 2010 reflect that four tons
of cold mix material were used to implement repairs.
{¶ 7} In order to find liability for a damage claim occurring in a construction
area, the court must look at the totality of the circumstances to determine whether
ODOT acted in a manner to render the highway free from an unreasonable risk of harm
for the traveling public. Feichtner v. Ohio Dept. of Transp. (1995), 114 Ohio App. 3d
346, 683 N.E. 2d 112. In fact, the duty to render the highway free from an
unreasonable risk of harm is the precise duty owed by ODOT to the traveling public
under both normal traffic and during highway construction projects. See e.g. White v.
Ohio Dept. of Transp. (1990), 56 Ohio St. 3d 39, 42, 564 N.E. 2d 462.
{¶ 8} In order to prove a breach of the duty to maintain the highways, plaintiff
must prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that defendant had actual or
constructive notice of the precise condition or defect alleged to have caused the
accident. McClellan v. ODOT (1986), 34 Ohio App. 3d 247, 517 N.E. 2d 1388.
Defendant is only liable for roadway conditions of which it has notice but fails to
reasonably correct. Bussard v. Dept. of Transp. (1986), 31 Ohio Misc. 2d 1, 31 OBR
64, 507 N.E. 2d 1179.
{¶ 9} Generally, in order to recover in a suit involving damage proximately
caused by roadway conditions including potholes, plaintiff must prove that either: 1)
defendant had actual or constructive notice of the pothole and failed to respond in a
reasonable time or responded in a negligent manner, or 2) that defendant, in a general
sense, maintains its highways negligently. Denis v. Department of Transportation
(1976), 75-0287-AD. There is insufficient evidence ODOT or Jurgensen had actual
notice the pothole had reformed prior to plaintiff’s incident at 5:30 am. on January 15,
2010. Therefore, in order to recover plaintiff must produce evidence to prove
constructive notice of the defect or negligent maintenance.
{¶ 10} “[C]onstructive notice is that which the law regards as sufficient to give
notice and is regarded as a substitute for actual notice or knowledge.” In re Estate of
Fahle (1950), 90 Ohio App. 195, 197-198, 48 O.O. 231, 105 N.E. 2d 429. “A finding of
constructive notice is a determination the court must make on the facts of each case not
simply by applying a pre-set time standard for the discovery of certain road hazards.”
Bussard.
{¶ 11} Generally, the trier of fact is precluded from making an inference of
defendant’s constructive notice, unless evidence is presented in respect to the time the
defective condition developed. Spires v. Ohio Highway Department (1988), 61 Ohio
Misc. 2d 262, 577 N.E. 2d 458.
{¶ 12} In order for there to be constructive notice, plaintiff must show sufficient
time has elapsed after the dangerous condition appears, so that under the
circumstances defendant should have acquired knowledge of its existence. Guiher v.
Dept. of Transportation (1978), 78-0126-AD . Ordinarily size of a defect (pothole) is
insufficient to show notice or duration of existence. O’Neil v. Department of
Transportation (1988), 61 Ohio Misc. 2d 287, 587 N.E. 2d 891. However, the massive
size of a defect coupled with knowledge that the pothole presented a recurring problem
is sufficient to prove constructive notice. Fite v. Ohio Dept. of Transp., Ct. of Cl. No.
2009-05757-AD, 2009-Ohio-7124.
{¶ 13} Additionally, plaintiff has produced evidence to infer defendant maintains
the roadway negligently. Denis. Plaintiff’s evidence submitted shows that the particular
damage-causing pothole was formed when an existing patch deteriorated. This fact
alone does not provide conclusive proof of negligent maintenance. A pothole patch that
deteriorates in less than ten days is prima facie evidence of negligent maintenance.
Matala v. Ohio Department of Transportation, 2003-01270-AD, 2003-Ohio-2618;
Schrock v. Ohio Dept. of Transp., Ct. of Cl. No. 2005-02460-AD, 2005-Ohio-2479.
Evidence has shown plaintiff’s vehicle was damaged by a pothole that had been
patched at 9.45 p.m. on January 14, 2010 and the repair patch had failed by 5:30 a.m.
on January 15, 2010. The fact that the pothole plaintiff’s car struck deteriorated in a
time frame of less than five hours warrants application of the standard expressed in
Matala; Fisher v. Ohio Dept. of Transp., Ct. of Cl. No. 2007-04869-AD, 2007-Ohio-5288;
Romes v. Ohio Dept. of Transp., Ct. of Cl. No. 2008-01826-AD, 2008-Ohio-4624.
Defendant is liable to plaintiff for the damage claimed $574.78, plus the $25.00 filing fee
which may be awarded as compensable costs pursuant to R.C. 2335.19. Bailey v. Ohio
Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (1990), 62 Ohio Misc. 2d 19, 587 N.E. 2d
990.
Court of Claims of Ohio
The Ohio Judicial Center
65 South Front Street, Third Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
614.387.9800 or 1.800.824.8263
www.cco.state.oh.us
MICHAEL J. MCCARTHY
Plaintiff
v.
OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, DISTRICT 8
Defendant
Case No. 2010-02090-AD
Deputy Clerk Daniel R. Borchert
ENTRY OF ADMINISTRATIVE
DETERMINATION
Having considered all the evidence in the claim file and, for the reasons set forth
in the memorandum decision filed concurrently herewith, judgment is rendered in favor
of plaintiff in the amount of $599.78, which includes the filing fee. Court costs are
assessed against defendant.
DANIEL R. BORCHERT
Deputy Clerk
Entry cc:
Michael J. McCarthy Jolene M. Molitoris, Director
6468 Willow Bend Drive Department of Transportation
Liberty Twp., Ohio 45011 1980 West Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43223
RDK/laa
Filed 6/8/10
Sent to S.C. reporter 10/1/10