Patterson v. Metropolitan Util. Dist. , 302 Neb. 442 ( 2019 )

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Nebraska Supreme Court A dvance Sheets
302 Nebraska R eports
PATTERSON v. METROPOLITAN UTIL. DIST.
Cite as 302 Neb. 442
Beverly Patterson, appellant,
v. M etropolitan Utilities
District, appellee.
___ N.W.2d ___
Filed March 8, 2019. No. S-18-158.
1. Motions to Dismiss: Pleadings: Appeal and Error. A district court’s
grant of a motion to dismiss on the pleadings is reviewed de novo,
accepting the allegations in the complaint as true and drawing all rea-
sonable inferences in favor of the nonmoving party.
2. Statutes: Appeal and Error. Statutory interpretation presents a ques-
tion of law, for which an appellate court has an obligation to reach
an independent conclusion irrespective of the decision made by the
court below.
3. Tort Claims Act: Actions: Time. If a claimant brings his or her claim
before a claims board under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 81-8,227(1) (Reissue
2014) of the State Tort Claims Act and elects to await final disposition
instead of withdrawing the claim to file suit, a 6-month extension from
the mailing of a denial applies regardless of whether final disposition
was made before or after the 2-year limitation for suits.
4. Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act: Actions: Time. There are only
two exceptions which extend the 2-year limitation for filing suit by 6
months under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 13-919(1) (Reissue 2012): (1) where
the governmental subdivision takes some action on the claim before the
2 years have expired but at a time when less than 6 months remain for
filing suit and (2) if the claimant withdraws the claim within the 2-year
period but at a time when less than 6 months to file suit remain.
Appeal from the District Court for Douglas County: J.
Michael Coffey, Judge. Affirmed.
Daniel Wasson, of High & Younes, L.L.C., for appellant.
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PATTERSON v. METROPOLITAN UTIL. DIST.
Cite as 302 Neb. 442
Joseph J. Kehm, of Metropolitan Utilities District of Omaha,
for appellee.
Heavican, C.J., Miller-Lerman, Cassel, Stacy, Funke,
Papik, and Freudenberg, JJ.
Funke, J.
Beverly Patterson appeals the district court’s order dismiss-
ing her claim against Metropolitan Utilities District (MUD)
with prejudice. Patterson challenges the court’s determination
that her claim is time barred under the Political Subdivisions
Tort Claims Act (PSTCA).1 Patterson contends that § 13-919(1)
provides a 6-month extension to the 2-year limitation for suits
arising under PSTCA if the claimant brings the claim before a
political subdivision and its governing body issues a final dis-
position denying the claim after the 2-year period has lapsed.
Because Patterson’s argument is contrary to long-settled prec-
edent and is based upon a flawed premise, we affirm.
BACKGROUND
On June 30, 2015, Patterson was visiting her sister in
Omaha, Nebraska. After parking across the street from her sis-
ter’s home, Patterson stepped onto the road verge and onto a
manhole cover. The cover slipped from underneath Patterson’s
feet, and she fell into the manhole injuring her right ankle and
knee. Patterson alleges this was caused by the negligence of an
MUD worker who had previously removed the cover for meter-
reading purposes and who failed to properly secure the cover
upon completion of his or her work.
On July 17, 2015, Patterson filed a notice of tort claim
with MUD. Patterson sent a demand to MUD pursuant to this
action in June 2016 and a revised demand in April 2017. On
September 13, MUD denied Patterson’s claim.
Patterson filed a complaint with the district court on
November 3, 2017. In the complaint, Patterson asserts MUD
1
Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 13-901 to 13-928 (Reissue 2012 & Cum. Supp. 2018).
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PATTERSON v. METROPOLITAN UTIL. DIST.
Cite as 302 Neb. 442
owed Patterson a nondelegable duty to exercise due care
in maintaining the manhole covers which MUD’s workers
access. Patterson contends that the meter reader’s actions
created an unreasonable risk of harm in failing to secure the
cover. Specifically, Patterson alleges MUD was negligent in
the following actions: (1) failure to use due care to inspect,
discover, and cure the dangerous conditions of a loose man-
hole cover when MUD had actual or constructive knowledge
of the cover’s being loose in that MUD’s employee created the
condition; (2) failure to keep the road verge safe for pedes-
trians on a public walkway; (3) failure to train and instruct
employees to regularly monitor and maintain the manhole
covers they access to perform their duties; and (4) failure to
warn pedestrians of the dangerous condition, or guard or cor-
don off the area. Due to this negligence, Patterson alleges she
sustained injuries.
MUD filed a motion to dismiss Patterson’s complaint for
failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. In
its motion, MUD contends the complaint was not filed within
the statute of limitations proscribed by PSTCA. MUD argues
§ 13-919(1) requires that a suit be filed under PSTCA within
2 years of the accrual of the claim unless, before the expira-
tion of that 2-year period, the governing body which hears the
initial claim issues its final disposition or the claimant files a
written withdrawal of the claim before the governing body. In
that case, MUD argues, the claimant would have 6 additional
months in which to file suit. Here, because Patterson did not
voluntarily withdraw her claim before MUD and because MUD
did not issue a final disposition until after the running of the
2-year period, MUD asserts Patterson’s claim is time barred as
outside the statute of limitations without satisfying the condi-
tions precedent necessary for the 6-month extension.
The district court granted MUD’s motion. The court’s order
notes that § 13-906 allows a claimant to withdraw his or her
claim if the governing body has not made a final disposition of
the claim within 6 months after it is filed and that § 13-919(1)
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PATTERSON v. METROPOLITAN UTIL. DIST.
Cite as 302 Neb. 442
bars any lawsuit arising out of a tort claim unless it is begun
within 2 years after such claim accrued. Applying these statutes
to Patterson’s claim, the court stated its findings that “[t]here
is no evidence nor is there an allegation that [Patterson] ever
withdrew her claim in writing which is a condition precedent
to filing suit. In addition, suit was filed more than two years
after [Patterson’s] claim accrued and therefore is barred pursu-
ant to . . . § 13-919 (1).” The court dismissed Patterson’s claim
with prejudice.
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
Patterson assigns, restated, that the district court erred in
dismissing Patterson’s claim and determining that Patterson’s
complaint was time barred under § 13-919(1) and that Patterson
failed to satisfy a condition precedent to filing suit when she
did not voluntarily withdraw her claim.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
[1] A district court’s grant of a motion to dismiss on the
pleadings is reviewed de novo, accepting the allegations in
the complaint as true and drawing all reasonable inferences in
favor of the nonmoving party.2
[2] Statutory interpretation presents a question of law, for
which an appellate court has an obligation to reach an inde-
pendent conclusion irrespective of the decision made by the
court below.3
ANALYSIS
Patterson’s assignments center on the question of whether
§ 13-919(1) provides an additional 6-month period in which
to file suit if the claimant does not withdraw his or her claim
from the political subdivision’s governing board before the
expiration of the 2-year limitation on commencement of a suit
2
Salem Grain Co. v. Consolidated Grain & Barge Co., 297 Neb. 682, 900
N.W.2d 909 (2017).
3
Id.
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PATTERSON v. METROPOLITAN UTIL. DIST.
Cite as 302 Neb. 442
and the governing board thereafter issues a denial of the claim.
Long ago, we settled the meaning of § 13-919(1). But before
turning to that case law, we recall basic claim filing procedures
and consequences under PSTCA.
Before filing suit under PSTCA, a claimant is required to
first bring his or her claim before the governing body of the
political subdivision at issue.4 The claim must be in writing and
must set forth the time and place of the occurrence giving rise
to the claim and other known facts pertinent to the claim.5 The
primary purpose of notice provisions in connection with actions
against political subdivisions is to afford municipal authorities
prompt notice of the accident and injury in order that an inves-
tigation may be made while the occurrence is still fresh and the
municipal authorities are in a position to intelligently consider
the claim and to allow it if deemed just or, in the alternative, to
adequately protect and defend the public interest.6
After the filing of a claim with the governing body, PSTCA
prohibits filing suit unless (1) the governing body has finally
disposed of the claim or (2) the governing body has not taken
final action within 6 months after the claim was filed and the
claimant thereafter gives notice to withdraw the claim in order
to commence suit.7 The statute specifically states that “if the
governing body does not make final disposition of a claim
within six months after it is filed, the claimant may, by notice
in writing, withdraw the claim from consideration of the gov-
erning body and begin suit.”8 PSTCA does not impose a time
limit on the governing body’s opportunity to take action on a
claim, other than by allowing a claimant to withdraw the claim
if not disposed of within 6 months after it was filed. With this
4
§§ 13-905 and 13-906.
5
See § 13-905.
6
Keller v. Tavarone, 265 Neb. 236, 655 N.W.2d 899 (2003).
7
See § 13-906.
8
Id.
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PATTERSON v. METROPOLITAN UTIL. DIST.
Cite as 302 Neb. 442
claim processing framework in mind, we turn to the specific
statute at issue.
Section 13-919 outlines the timing requirements for claims
under PSTCA and states, in relevant part:
(1) Every claim against a political subdivision permit-
ted under [PSTCA] shall be forever barred unless within
one year after such claim accrued the claim is made
in writing to the governing body. Except as otherwise
provided in this section, all suits permitted by the act
shall be forever barred unless begun within two years
after such claim accrued. The time to begin a suit shall
be extended for a period of six months from the date of
mailing of notice to the claimant by the governing body
as to the final disposition of the claim or from the date of
withdrawal of the claim from the governing body under
section 13-906 if the time to begin suit would otherwise
expire before the end of such period.
(Emphasis supplied.) Although Patterson focuses on the last
quoted sentence, the two preceding sentences are critical to
our analysis.
The first sentence of § 13-919(1) “forever bar[s]” a claim
unless the written claim has been submitted to the governing
body within 1 year after the claim accrued. Here, the claim
accrued on June 30, 2015—the date the accident occurred.
Patterson filed the claim with MUD on July 17, 2015. The
claim satisfied the first sentence of § 13-919(1). With the filing
of Patterson’s claim, the 6-month period before Patterson could
have withdrawn her claim began to run.9
But the second sentence of § 13-919(1) is even more sig-
nificant to the situation here. It “forever bar[s]” all suits under
PSTCA unless a suit is begun within 2 years “after such claim
accrued.”10 Here, because the claim accrued on June 30, 2015,
the second sentence of § 13-919(1) required that Patterson file
9
See § 13-906.
10
§ 13-919(1).
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PATTERSON v. METROPOLITAN UTIL. DIST.
Cite as 302 Neb. 442
suit by June 30, 2017. Because Patterson did not file her suit
until November 3, the second sentence of § 13-919(1) barred
her action.
Patterson, however, points to the third sentence of § 13-919(1),
which she claims extended the time for her to commence suit
until March 13, 2018—6 months after MUD denied her claim
on September 13, 2017. According to Patterson, a claimant
would have an additional 6 months after mailing of the final
disposition even if the disposition occurs after the 2-year date
barring all suits.
Such an interpretation of § 13-919(1) is at odds with our
holding in Ragland v. Norris P. P. Dist.11 In that case, we
considered the parameters of the 6-month extension under
§ 13-919(1), formerly codified as Neb. Rev. Stat. § 23-2416
(Reissue 1977).12 Specifically, we explained that there are only
two exceptions to the 2-year limitation on suits and stated:
One is where the governmental subdivision takes some
action on the claim before the 2 years has expired but at a
time when less than 6 months remains for filing suit. The
second occurs if the claimant withdraws his claim within
the 2-year period but at a time when less than 6 months
to file suit remains.13
The claimant in Ragland argued the language of § 13-919(1)
should be construed so that failure to withdraw a claim and
failure of the governmental subdivision to deny the claim
within the 2-year period constitute an action which would trig-
ger the 6-month extension.14 In contrast, we held that the lan-
guage in § 13-919(1) is clear and that the inaction of the parties
does not amount to the conditions statutorily required for the
6-month extension.15 Again, we stated:
11
Ragland v. Norris P. P. Dist., 208 Neb. 492, 304 N.W.2d 55 (1981).
12
Id.
13
Id. at 495, 304 N.W.2d at 57.
14
Id.
15
Id.
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PATTERSON v. METROPOLITAN UTIL. DIST.
Cite as 302 Neb. 442
Where the governmental subdivision does not act on
a claim within 2 years after the claim accrued and the
claimant does not withdraw the claim within 2 years after
the claim accrued, all suits permitted by [PSTCA] are
barred and the additional 6-month period granted under
particular circumstances does not apply.16
Explicit in our opinion in Ragland is the requirement that the
governing body act on the claims before it within the 2-year
period in order for its action to trigger the 6-month extension.17
Three important principles underlie the Ragland court’s
reasoning. First, as we have repeatedly proclaimed, statutory
language is to be given its plain and ordinary meaning, and
an appellate court will not resort to interpretation to ascertain
the meaning of statutory words which are plain, direct, and
unambiguous.18 Second, in determining the meaning of statu-
tory language, its ordinary and grammatical construction is to
be followed, unless an intent appears to the contrary or unless,
by following such construction, the intended effect of the pro-
visions would apparently be impaired.19 Finally, a court must
attempt to give effect to all parts of a statute, and if it can be
avoided, no word, clause, or sentence will be rejected as super-
fluous or meaningless.20
Patterson’s interpretation violates two of those principles.
First, the condition specified in the third sentence (“if the time
to begin suit would otherwise expire before the end of such
period”) is stated in the future tense.21 But by the date MUD
denied the claim, the 2-year period to begin suit had already
expired. Thus, the 2-year period to begin suit did not expire at
any time during the 6-month period following MUD’s denial.
16
Id. at 497-98, 304 N.W.2d at 58.
17
Id.
18
Mays v. Midnite Dreams, 300 Neb. 485, 915 N.W.2d 71 (2018).
19
State v. Swindle, 300 Neb. 734, 915 N.W.2d 795 (2018).
20
Wisner v. Vandelay Investments, 300 Neb. 825, 916 N.W.2d 698 (2018).
21
§ 13-919(1).
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PATTERSON v. METROPOLITAN UTIL. DIST.
Cite as 302 Neb. 442
Second, and perhaps more important, Patterson’s interpreta-
tion fails to give any meaning to the word “otherwise.” Here,
the time to begin suit had already expired; thus, it would not
“otherwise” expire after MUD’s denial. Our ordinary rules of
statutory interpretation dictate that the Ragland court’s inter-
pretation of § 13-919(1) was correct and compelled by the
statutory language. And Ragland did not prompt any legisla-
tive response, which raises the presumption that we correctly
discerned the Legislature’s intent.22
Instead of following our precedent from Ragland, Patterson
asks this court to adopt an alternative interpretation in line with
a similar provision under the State Tort Claims Act (STCA).23
Before addressing the merits of her argument, we explain her
reasoning.
Patterson focuses on the second sentence of § 81-8,227(1),
in which STCA uses language essentially identical to the third
sentence of § 13-919(1) under PSTCA. Section 81-8,227(1)
states, in relevant part:
Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section,
every tort claim permitted under [STCA] shall be forever
barred unless within two years after such claim accrued
the claim is made in writing to the Risk Manager in the
manner provided by such act. The time to begin suit under
such act shall be extended for a period of six months from
the date of mailing of notice to the claimant by the Risk
Manager or State Claims Board as to the final disposition
of the claim or from the date of withdrawal of the claim
under section 81-8,213 if the time to begin suit would
otherwise expire before the end of such period.
(Emphasis supplied.) She relies upon our interpretation of this
language in the context of STCA and argues that we should
import the same interpretation into PSTCA.
22
See Estate of Schluntz v. Lower Republican NRD, 300 Neb. 582, 915
N.W.2d 427 (2018).
23
Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 81-8,209 to 81-8,235 (Reissue 2014). See Komar v.
State, 299 Neb. 301, 908 N.W.2d 610 (2018).
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PATTERSON v. METROPOLITAN UTIL. DIST.
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[3] In Collins v. State,24 we interpreted this language and
held that if a claimant brings his or her claim before a claims
board under STCA and elects to await final disposition instead
of withdrawing the claim to file suit, a 6-month extension
from the mailing of a denial applies regardless of whether
final disposition was made before or after the 2-year limitation
for suits.
While similar, § 81-8,227(1) is distinguishable from
§ 13-919(1). As we noted in Collins 25 and the cases preceding
it,26 there is a possibility under § 81-8,227(1) that a claim-
ant could bring a claim before the claims board under STCA
within the 2-year period but with less than 6-months before
the running of that period. As such, there is a chance that the
claims board could retain a claim under STCA until after the 2
years and the claimant would be unable to withdraw the claim
prior to the end of the 2 years to bring suit.
However, under § 13-919(1), the period to bring a claim
before the governing board is 1 year and the period to file suit
is 2 years after accrual of the claim. Unlike § 81-8,227, there
is no possibility that a claim could be appropriately brought
within the 1-year period before the governing board, the gov-
erning board could wait until after the end of the 2-year period
to issue its final disposition, and the claimant would be unable
to withdraw the claim prior to the end of the 2-year period.
Accordingly, the reasoning of our interpretation of § 81-8,227
is inapplicable to the timing requirements of § 13-919(1) and
we decline to modify our holding in Ragland.27
24
Collins v. State, 264 Neb. 267, 646 N.W.2d 618 (2002), disapproved on
other grounds, Geddes v. York County, 273 Neb. 271, 729 N.W.2d 661
(2007).
25
Id.
26
See, Hullinger v. Board of Regents, 249 Neb. 868, 546 N.W.2d 779 (1996),
overruled, Collins, supra note 24; Coleman v. Chadron State College, 237
Neb. 491, 466 N.W.2d 526 (1991), overruled, Collins, supra note 24. See,
also, Komar, supra note 23.
27
Ragland, supra note 11.
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PATTERSON v. METROPOLITAN UTIL. DIST.
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In essence, Patterson argues that PSTCA and STCA must
be read in pari materia. But PSTCA was initially created
by one act28 of the Legislature, and STCA was created by a
totally separate act.29 Patterson’s argument exceeds the limits
of the in pari materia canon. Here, this canon must be applied
only to the statutes within PSTCA. More significantly, her
argument violates an important rule of construction applicable
to PSTCA: Statutes that purport to waive the protection of
sovereign immunity of the State or its subdivisions are strictly
construed in favor of the sovereign and against the waiver.30
While her argument seems attractive at first blush, because
a snippet of nearly identical language must be applied one
way under PSTCA and a different way under STCA, that
outcome is dictated by the overall language chosen by the
Legislature in each respective act. If the Legislature believes
that the time limitations and procedures of PSTCA and STCA
should be identical, it can establish a uniform procedure.
It is not this court’s function to do so in the guise of statu-
tory interpretation.
[4] As detailed above, § 13-919(1) requires that a claim-
ant bring a claim before the governing board of a political
subdivision prior to filing suit and that suits be filed within
2 years of the date the claim accrued. There are only two
exceptions which extend the 2-year limitation for filing suit
by 6 months under § 13-919(1): (1) where the governmental
subdivision takes some action on the claim before the 2 years
have expired but at a time when less than 6 months remain
for filing suit and (2) if the claimant withdraws the claim
within the 2-year period but at a time when less than 6 months
to file suit remain.31 Neither ground for exception occurred
here. The board did not deny Patterson’s claim until after the
28
1969 Neb. Laws, ch. 138, § 20, p. 634.
29
1969 Neb. Laws, ch. 756, § 1, p. 2845.
30
Geddes, supra note 24.
31
Id.
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2-year period, and Patterson did not withdraw her claim. Thus,
the district court did not err in dismissing Patterson’s claim
against MUD with prejudice.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, we conclude Patterson’s
petition was filed outside of the timing requirements of
§ 13-919(1). Accordingly, the district court did not err in dis-
missing Patterson’s claim.
A ffirmed.