tennie-martin-and-roya-mitchell-co-personal-representatives-of-the-estate ( 2007 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT KNOXVILLE
March 19, 2007 Session
TENNIE MARTIN and ROYA MITCHELL, Co-Personal Representatives of
the Estate of KATHRYN L. MARTIN, deceased, and TENNIE MARTIN and
ROYA MITCHELL, Individually, as next-of-kin and heirs-at-law of
KATHRYN L. MARTIN, deceased, et al., v. NORFOLK SOUTHERN
RAILWAY COMPANY and ANTHONY D. WORLEY
Direct Appeal from the Circuit Court for Anderson County
No. A2LA0325 Hon. Donald R. Elledge, Circuit Judge
No. E2006-01021-COA-R3-CV - FILED JULY 6, 2007
Decedent’s vehicle was struck by defendants’ train at a railroad crossing, resulting in decedent’s
death. The Trial Court granted Defendants’ Summary Judgment. The Estate has appealed. We
affirm the Trial Court’s Judgment.
Tenn. R. App. P.3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Circuit Court Affirmed.
HERSCHEL PICKENS FRANKS, P.J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which D. MICHAEL SWINEY ,
J., joined, and CHARLES D. SUSANO , JR., J., dissented and filed an opinion.
Donald Capparella and Amy J. Jarrar, Nashville, Tennessee, and J.D. Lee, Knoxville, Tennessee,
for appellants.
John W. Baker, Jr., and Emily H. Thompson, Knoxville, Tennessee, for appellees.
OPINION
In this wrongful death action, plaintiffs alleged, that on May 12, 2002, the deceased
came to a railroad crossing on Marlow Circle in Clinton and stopped to look, then proceeded across,
when her vehicle was struck by a train operated by Anthony Worley. Plaintiffs charged that Worley
failed to travel at a safe speed, failed to sound adequate warning upon approaching the crossing, and
failed to stop the train when he knew a collision was imminent.
Plaintiffs asserted that Norfolk Southern (“NSR”) was guilty of failing to install lights
and gates at the crossing, allowing brush and trees to grow in the right-of-way, obstructing visibility,
and allowing its employees to fail to give whistle warnings, allowing its trains to be operated at
excessive speeds, failing to train its employees regarding safety, etc. Defendants filed an Answer
denying all liability, and asserting that decedent was completely at fault because she drove her
vehicle directly into the path of the train, which they asserted was highly visible if she had only
looked, and that decedent’s negligence was the sole cause of the accident.
Ultimately, a Motion for Summary Judgment was filed by defendants, charging that
deceased was at least 50% at fault for the accident, as she failed “to take the opportunity to observe
the obvious presence of the train”.
Attached to the Motion were excerpts from the deposition of Danny Martin, the
conductor of the train, who testified that when approaching the crossing in question from the south,
in the train, one could see the crossing for a good distance, and definitely one could see it from the
whistle board. He testified that he went to the crossing after the accident and observed that a
motorist could see down the track, probably as far as the operator of the train could. He testified that
he saw decedent’s truck bumper and hood before the collision, from about 400 feet away, and it was
stopped. He said he saw the vehicle just as he came around the curve and entered the straightaway,
and there were no obstructions to his visibility of the vehicle. He concluded that a motorist would
have at least 1000 feet of sight distance from the crossing.
He testified that when he first saw decedent’s vehicle, she had stopped short of the
storage track, and he could see her hood and bumper from about 400 feet away, and that he told
Worley there was a vehicle at the crossing, but he saw no danger in that she had stopped before the
track. He saw her vehicle move and then stop again, just across the storage track, and that just as
they got to the crossing, he saw the vehicle start to move again, but “by that time we were already
at impact.” Further that the train, at the time of impact, was traveling 32-33 miles per hour.
Defendant also attached excerpts from the deposition of Charles Manning, Ph.D., who
testified that he had gone to the crossing in question, and that when one got to within 15-20 feet of
the main rail, there was “tremendous” visibility, and one could see 900-1000 feet down the track.
He testified that he could hear a train coming for 29 seconds, and could hear the whistle blow from
beyond the whistle post. Further, that the decedent would have had 9 1/4 seconds of clear visibility
of the train within which to react.
Also attached to the Motion was the deposition of Andrew Worley, and he testified
that it was his duty to watch for obstructions on the track, but a vehicle sitting at a crossing but not
on the track would not be considered an obstruction. He testified that the train was traveling at 32-33
miles per hour when the accident occurred, and that he had the train in idle. He was of the opinion
that one in the train could see the crossing from 900-1000 feet back. Worley explained that the train
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had 101 loaded cars, three engines on the head end, and two “pusher” engines. He testified he could
not see decedent’s vehicle from where he was sitting, because he could only see the left side of the
engine, and that he blew the whistle upon approach to the crossing, and that the train’s headlights
were on bright, and the ditch lights were on as well. Defendants also attached excerpts from the
deposition of Teddy Martin, decedent’s husband, and he testified that he had conversations with his
wife about the crossing being unsafe, and that he had also heard people talk about the fact that the
train did not blow its whistle when approaching the crossing on occasions before the accident. He
testified that when he rode with his wife and she crossed this crossing, she would stop, look both
ways, and roll down the window to look for a train, and that she had no problems with her hearing
he was aware of, and she was 45 years old when the accident occurred.
Excerpts from other depositions, as well as affidavits were attached to the Motion..
Among the affidavits was one of Dr. Charles Manning, who stated that for the train to have arrived
at the crossing less than one second later, the crew would have had to perceive the obstruction and
reacted 16 seconds earlier, and that decedent’s vehicle would not have been at the crossing, so it
could not have been perceived as a hazard.
Plaintiffs Responded to the Motion and filed an excerpt from the deposition of Cecil
Smith, the eyewitness, wherein he stated he did not hear the train blow its whistle on the day in
question. Plaintiffs attached certain corporate policies of the defendant railroad, and attached
excerpts from the deposition of Danny Martin, who testified he first saw decedent’s vehicle when
the train was about 400 feet away from the crossing. He testified he was sitting in the back seat so
that he could talk to the engineer because of the way the console was made, and the emergency brake
was closer to the engineer. He testified that if he were sitting in the front seat, he could have reached
the emergency brake more easily, but he would not have been able to see or talk to the engineer.
He testified that when he first saw decedent’s vehicle, she was stopped before the spur
track, then she moved forward and stopped before the main track. Martin testified that he “barely
caught” movement from decedent’s vehicle right before the collision. He testified there were no
obstructions that would have prevented the decedent from seeing the oncoming train. Plaintiffs also
attached the Statement of Train and Engine Crews which was completed by Martin on the day of the
accident, wherein he marked that decedent had “stopped, then proceeded” through the crossing. Also
attached was the drawing made by Martin, which shows where the decedent stopped her vehicle.
Other excerpts from depositions were also attached by the plaintiffs, as well as the
deposition of the plaintiffs’ expert, Dr. Kenneth Heathington, who testified that if a person stopped
15 feet from the main rail, they would have a good view down the track for a long distance, but that
no one should stop there because it would be illegal to do so. He testified that if a person stopped
their vehicle 15 feet from the storage track, they could only see 235 feet down the track. Dr.
Heathington said that at that point, the train would be about 4.9 seconds away. Dr. Heathington’s
affidavit was also attached, which that a motorist approaching from the direction of decedent would
be “essentially blind” in attempting to cross the track, and that trees and vegetation within the
railroad right-of-way obstructed the motorist’s vision such that the motorist would not have time to
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react and stop. He said that when decedent stopped short of the storage track, she could see for 300
feet, but the train was 400 feet away, and that once she left that position and moved forward, “the
time and space for Ms. Martin to perceive, interpret, evaluate, and perform relative to the
approaching train was not sufficient to avoid the collision. This is why it is so critical that an
adequate warning is provided the motor vehicle operator.”
The Trial Court entered an Order Granting the Motion for Summary Judgment, and
incorporated its Memorandum Opinion by reference.
In its Memorandum Opinion, the Trial Court found that Martin saw the deceased from
at least 400 feet away, and that deceased had the opportunity to see the train from at least 300 feet
away. The Trial Court stated that “as an old football player, that is the length of a football field.”
The Court said that the Gibbs and Worley testified that the train horn was blown, but whether it was
blown or not, the headlights and ditch lights were on and operating. The Court found the train was
traveling no more than 33 miles per hour, which was less than the speed limit for that area, and that
the proof showed the decedent stopped twice, and that it took it over a minute to stop the train once
the emergency brake was applied.
The court further noted that “some alleged factual disputes” would not defeat an
otherwise properly supported motion for summary judgment, that the evidence was undisputed that
decedent had the opportunity to see the train from at least a football field away, and that under Eaton
v. McLain, decedent would be found at least 50% at fault, because if she had remained stopped and
had looked, there was no question that she reasonably could have seen the train. The Court found
that decedent was familiar with the crossing, and knew she should stop and look and listen, but failed
to do so. Further the Court found the vegetation did not cause the accident, but the cause was
decedent’s failure to reasonably utilize her stop.
These issues are raised on appeal:
1. Whether the Trial Court erred in granting summary judgment to defendants,
when there were issues of fact regarding where and how many times Ms.
Martin stopped her vehicle, whether the train blew its whistle, whether her
sight was obstructed by trees/vegetation, and whether a sight line of 300 feet
was enough?
2. Whether the Trial Court erred in granting defendants’ motion in limine
regarding subsequent remedial measures?
The Supreme Court has set forth standards applicable when appellate courts are
reviewing a motion for summary judgment. See Blair v. West Town Mall, 130 S.W.3d 761 (Tenn.
2004). In Blair, the Court said:
The standards governing an appellate court's review of a motion for summary
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judgment are well settled. Since our inquiry involves purely a question of law, no
presumption of correctness attaches to the lower court's judgment, and our task is
confined to reviewing the record to determine whether the requirements of Tennessee
Rule of Civil Procedure 56 have been met. Tennessee Rule of Civil Procedure 56.04
provides that summary judgment is appropriate where: 1) there is no genuine issue
with regard to the material facts relevant to the claim or defense contained in the
motion, and 2) the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law on the
undisputed facts.
***
When the party seeking summary judgment makes a properly supported motion, the
burden shifts to the nonmoving party to set forth specific facts establishing the
existence of disputed, material facts which must be resolved by the trier of fact.
To properly support its motion, the moving party must either affirmatively negate an
essential element of the non-moving party's claim or conclusively establish an
affirmative defense. If the moving party fails to negate a claimed basis for the suit,
the non-moving party's burden to produce evidence establishing the existence of a
genuine issue for trial is not triggered and the motion for summary judgment must
fail. If the moving party successfully negates a claimed basis for the action, the
non-moving party may not simply rest upon the pleadings, but must offer proof to
establish the existence of the essential elements of the claim.
Blair, 130 S.W.3d at 763-764, 767 (citations omitted).
The Supreme Court has also instructed regarding assessing the evidence when dealing
with a motion for summary judgment:
The standards governing the assessment of evidence in the summary judgment
context are also well established. Courts must view the evidence in the light most
favorable to the nonmoving party and must also draw all reasonable inferences in the
nonmoving party's favor. Courts should grant a summary judgment only when both
the facts and the inferences to be drawn from the facts permit a reasonable person to
reach only one conclusion.
Staples v. CBL & Assocs., Inc., 15 S.W.3d 83, 89 (Tenn. 2000)(citations omitted).
We have also recognized:
The summary judgment process is designed to promote efficiency in the judicial
system, to enable the trial court to "pierce the pleadings to determine whether the
case justifies the time and expense of a trial." Courts at every level must exercise
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great care to not allow summary judgment to substitute for the trial of material
factual issues.
***
The concept of materiality is pivotal; the focus should be limited to only those
facts that are material. Material facts are those which are indispensable to the
resolution of a claim or defense.
Shearon v. Seaman, 198 S.W.3d 209, 213-214 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2005)(citations omitted).
On the facts of the issues raised by plaintiffs, they argue that the facts were disputed
and material, and thus precluded summary judgment.
As to materiality, the Supreme Court has explained:
A disputed fact is material if it must be decided in order to resolve the substantive
claim or defense at which the motion is directed. Therefore, when confronted with
a disputed fact, the court must examine the elements of the claim or defense at issue
in the motion to determine whether the resolution of that fact will effect the
disposition of any of those claims or defenses. By this process, courts and litigants
can ascertain which issues are dispositive of the case, thus rendering other disputed
facts immaterial.
Third, when the evidence or proof in support of or in opposition to a summary
judgment motion establishes a disputed fact, and the fact is material, as we have
defined that term, the court must then determine whether the disputed material fact
creates a genuine issue within the meaning of Rule 56.03. Proceeding from the
premise that Rule 56 is intended to avoid unnecessary trials, the test for a "genuine
issue" is whether a reasonable jury could legitimately resolve that fact in favor of one
side or the other. If the answer is yes, summary judgment is inappropriate; if the
answer is no, summary judgment is proper because a trial would be pointless as there
would be nothing for the jury to do and the judge need only apply the law to resolve
the case. In making this determination, the court is to view the evidence in a light
favorable to the nonmoving party and allow all reasonable inferences in his favor.
And, again, "genuine issue" as used in Rule 56.03 refers to disputed, material facts
and does not include mere legal conclusions to be drawn from those facts.
Byrd v. Hall, 847 S.W.2d 208, 215 (Tenn. 1993).
In this case, there are disputed facts, and in order to create a genuine issue for trial,
such facts must be material. Plaintiffs argue that these disputed facts are material because, for
example, if, where, and how many times decedent stopped would affect how far she could ultimately
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see down the track, and how far decedent could see the train is material to the outcome of the case.
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to plaintiffs, however, even if decedent only
stopped once, or was “creeping” over the crossing, the undisputed evidence shows she would still
have had an unobstructed sight distance of at least 300 feet, as concluded by the plaintiffs’ expert,
Dr. Heathington. Dr. Heathington repeatedly testified via his deposition and his affidavit that
decedent would have a distance of at least 300 feet (a football field as he characterized it) within
which to see the train if she stopped at the storage track.1 While defendants’ expert and others
testified that decedent would have considerably greater sight distance, especially if she had stopped
between the storage track and the main track, as Conductor Martin testified she did, the undisputed
proof in the light most favorable to plaintiffs was that decedent’s sight distance would have been at
least 300 feet, and this is the basis of the Trial Court’s determination. Accordingly, there is no
genuine dispute of material fact regarding the decedent’s sight distance, nor how many times she
stopped, as the proof is undisputed that she could see for at least 300 feet down the track even if she
had only stopped at the storage track.
Plaintiffs also argue there is a genuine dispute of material fact regarding whether the
train blew its whistle. Plaintiffs correctly note that while the train engineer testified that he blew the
whistle, and two residents who lived nearby testified they heard it blow, there was a witness to the
accident, Cecil Smith, who testified that he did not hear it. Plaintiffs argue this fact is material
because if the train whistle did not blow, it is a violation of statute and shows that NSR is guilty of
negligence per se. Tenn. Code Ann. § 65-12-108, states:
In order to prevent accidents upon railroads, the following precautions shall be
observed:
(1) The officials having jurisdiction over every public road crossed by a railroad shall
place at each crossing a sign, marked as provided by § 65-11-105. The county
legislative body shall appropriate money to defray the expenses of the signs. The
failure of any engine driver to blow the whistle or ring the bell at any public crossing
so designated by either the railroad company or the public official shall constitute
negligence with the effect and all as set forth in § 65-12-109;
(2) On approaching every crossing so distinguished, the whistle or bell of the
locomotive shall be sounded at the distance of one fourth ( 1/4) of a mile from the
crossing, and at short intervals until the train has passed the crossing;
(3) Every railroad company shall keep the engineer, fireman, or some other person
upon the locomotive, always upon the lookout ahead; and when any person, animal,
or other obstruction appears upon the road, the alarm whistle shall be sounded, the
1
Dr. Heathington conceded that decedent would have a much greater sight distance had she
stopped past the storage track but short of the main track, but argued that to do so was unreasonably
dangerous.
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brakes put down, and every possible means employed to stop the train and prevent
an accident; and
(4) It is unlawful for any person operating a railroad to use road engines without
having them equipped with an electric light placed on the rear of the engine, tank, or
tender, which light shall be a bull's eye lens of not less than four inches (4"') in
diameter with a bulb of not less than sixty (60) watts power, so that such road engine
can be operated with safety when backing and the light so placed shall be burning
while any such engine may be used in any backing movement. Such lights shall be
operated at night; and any person violating any of these provisions shall be fined the
sum of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00), and not more than one hundred
dollars ($100), for each offense.
Plaintiffs contend that if the train did not blow its whistle upon approaching the
crossing, it would be a violation of this statute and negligence per se. Tenn. Code Ann. §65-12-109
states, however, “A violation of any of the provisions of § 65-12-108 by any railroad company
constitutes negligence per se and in the trial of any causes involving § 65-12-108, the burden of
proof, the issue of proximate cause, and the issue of contributory negligence shall be tried and be
applied in the same manner and with the same effect as in the trial of other negligence actions under
the common law in Tennessee.” Thus, even if the train’s whistle did not blow and there was a
violation of the statute, constituting negligence per se, this would not change plaintiffs’ burden of
proof, nor the issue of proximate cause, nor does it affect decedent’s comparative fault. Since the
Trial Court decided this case based upon the determination that decedent’s sight distance was
sufficient and that she failed to reasonably avoid the accident by looking for the train, the issue of
whether the train whistle blew or not is ultimately not material, and does not create a genuine issue
for trial.
It is undisputed that decedent had a duty to stop at the crossing, and yield to any
oncoming trains. This duty has been established both by case law and statute. Tenn. Code Ann.
§55-8-145 states:
(a) Whenever any person driving a vehicle approaches a railroad grade crossing under
any of the circumstances stated in this section, the driver of such vehicle shall stop
within fifty feet (50') but not less than fifteen feet (15') from the nearest rail of such
railroad, and shall not proceed until that driver can do so safely. The foregoing
requirements shall apply when:
(1) A clearly visible electric or mechanical signal device gives warning of the
immediate approach of a railroad train;
(2) A crossing gate is lowered or when a human flagger gives or continues to give a
signal of the approach or passage of a railroad train;
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(3) A railroad train approaching within approximately one thousand five hundred feet
(1,500') of the highway crossing emits a signal audible from such distance and such
railroad train, by reason of its speed or nearness to such crossing, is an immediate
hazard; and
(4) An approaching railroad train is plainly visible and is in hazardous proximity to
such crossing.
(b) No person shall drive any vehicle through, around or under any crossing gate or
barrier at a railroad crossing while such gate or barrier is closed or is being opened
or closed.
(c) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
The undisputed facts establish that the train was plainly visible and in hazardous
proximity to the crossing when decedent proceeded to cross the railroad track, or it would not have
struck her vehicle. Decedent should not have proceeded across the track until ensuring that it was
safe to do so.
Pre-comparative negligence cases have observed:
The rule that it is negligence per se to enter upon a railroad track without looking or
listening has been applied to the ordinary case in which the plaintiff, or the deceased,
was not prevented from seeing or hearing by any other circumstances, and had the
use of his faculties. In such case an ordinarily prudent man is deemed, under the law,
to be guilty of such negligence as would bar a recovery if he entered upon the track
without doing so.
Hurt v. Yazoo & M.V.R. Co., 205 S.W. 437, 442 (Tenn. 1918). In Cincinnati, N.O. & T.P. RY. v.
Garrett, 154 S.W.2d 435 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1941), we observed that where the decedent was familiar
with the crossing, yet proceeded across when a train was too close and was hit:
[Decedent] was absorbed in thought apparently, and took no precautions whatever
for his own safety; he left an island of safety and drove upon the track immediately
in front of a fast approaching train, without looking or attempting to stop before he
entered upon the track, seemingly unaware of the danger. What facts are there to
excuse him from this negligent conduct, making the question of his contributory
negligence one for the jury? . . . It is negligence for one to rely absolutely upon a
warning given by the approaching train as a means of protection when entering upon
a track, and if he relied upon the absence of a warning without using his faculty of
sight and of due caution before entering upon the track, he was negligent,
notwithstanding no warning was given.
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Id. at 442. Similarly, in Maxwell v. Western-Atlantic Railroad Company, 295 F. Supp. 740 (E. D.
Tenn. 1967), the District Court observed:
When viewing the evidence in the present case in its most favorable light unto the
plaintiff, the Court is of the opinion that, in accordance with Tennessee law as set
forth in the foregoing opinions, the plaintiffs’ decedent must be found to have been
guilty of proximate contributory negligence as a matter of law. Reasonable minds
could reach no other conclusion but that Mr. Maxwell had ample opportunity to
observe the approaching train and either failed to look, or having looked failed to see
the imminent danger.
Id. at 747. The District Court went on to note that decedent was familiar with the crossing, that the
accident occurred during daylight hours, that there was no obstruction of his view of the track, and
that the train was obviously in close proximity when he pulled in front of it or it would not have hit
him, thus demonstrating that he could clearly have seen it if he had looked. Id., see also Newport
v. Cincinnati, N.O. & T.P. RY., 509 F.2d 1246 (6th Cir. 1975); Cox v. CSX Trans., Inc., 1989 WL
119375 (6th Cir. 1989).
In sum, it is undisputed that decedent herein was familiar with the crossing at issue,
that the accident occurred during daylight hours on a clear and sunny day, that she had an
unobstructed view up the track for at least 300 feet, and that the train was dangerously close when
she crossed, thereby showing that she could have easily seen the train had she looked. As the
aforementioned cases demonstrate, reasonable minds could not differ as to decedent’s obvious
negligence in proceeding across the train track when the train was close enough to hit her, and the
Trial Court properly granted summary judgment on this issue. As to comparative fault, decedent was
the only person in a position to avoid the accident, as the undisputed evidence was the train could
not have slowed enough or stopped in sufficient time to avoid the decedent’s vehicle when she
pulled upon the crossing in the conductor’s line of vision. She had a duty to yield to the clearly
visible train, and her negligence was the proximate cause of the accident, thereby establishing a
proper basis for the Trial Court’s Summary Judgment, which we affirm..
Finally, plaintiffs’ issue regarding its Motion in Limine is moot, because the
Summary Judgment was properly granted.
The cost of the appeal is assessed to plaintiffs.
______________________________
HERSCHEL PICKENS FRANKS, P.J.
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