Trujillo v. TK Martial Arts Academy, LLC

Cite as 2015 Ark. App. 606
ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
DIVISION III
No. CV-15-191
Opinion Delivered October 28, 2015
SERGIO TRUJILLO, SPECIAL
ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE APPEAL FROM THE BENTON
OF PEDRO TRUJILLO COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
APPELLANT [NO. CV-2012-2489-3]
V. HONORABLE THOMAS SMITH,
JUDGE
TK MARTIAL ARTS ACADEMY, LLC,
TIM KUTH, KEVIN BEARDEN,
JERRED ROLLER, and JERRY KURT
APPELLEES AFFIRMED
M. MICHAEL KINARD, Judge
Sergio Trujillo, Special Administrator of the Estate of Pedro Trujillo, filed suit against
appellees TK Martial Arts Academy, LLC, Tim Kuth, Kevin Bearden, Jerred Roller, and
Jerry Kurt1 asserting causes of action for negligence and gross negligence resulting in the
death of Pedro Trujillo. The trial court entered summary judgment in favor of all appellees.
Appellant now argues that it was error to enter summary judgment on the basis of an
exculpatory contract. We affirm.
Pedro suffered an injury while training at TK Martial Arts Academy on October 6,
2011, and died two days later. In December 2012, appellant sued the academy and the
individual appellees, who were all present at the time of Pedro’s injury. Appellant alleged
1
It was determined below that Jerry Kurt’s name was actually Gerald Kirk, but his
name was never corrected in the caption of the case.
Cite as 2015 Ark. App. 606
that Pedro was injured when Roller and Bearden threw him to the ground numerous times
under Kurt’s supervision despite appellees’ knowledge that Pedro’s head was hitting the floor.
Appellant alleged that appellees breached their duty of ordinary care in various ways,
including failure to adequately instruct Pedro on how to be knocked to the floor without
contacting his head, failure to cease the training after Pedro voiced complaints, failure to
provide adequate floor padding and protective headgear, failure to warn of risks, and failure
to adequately supervise the training.
Appellees answered, denying any negligence. On September 5, 2014, appellees filed
a motion for summary judgment based on an exculpatory contract signed by Pedro releasing
the academy and its officers, agents, and employees from liability for injuries.2 Appellant filed
a motion to strike the motion for summary judgment, arguing that appellees had not raised
the affirmative defenses of waiver and release in their answer. Appellees then filed amended
answers asserting affirmative defenses, including waiver and release. Appellant filed a motion
to strike appellees’ amended answers and a response to the motions for summary judgment.
After a hearing on November 17, 2014, the trial court denied appellant’s motion to strike
and granted the motions for summary judgment based on the exculpatory contract.
For his first point on appeal, appellant argues that appellees’ failure to plead the
affirmative defense of release in their original answer should have precluded reliance on the
exculpatory contract. Arkansas Rule of Civil Procedure 8(c) provides, in pertinent part, as
2
Appellee Bearden later retained separate counsel and filed a separate answer and
motion for summary judgment joining the motion filed by the other appellees.
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follows:
Affirmative Defenses. In responding to a complaint, counterclaim, cross-claim or third
party claim, a party shall set forth affirmatively . . . release . . . waiver, and any other
matter constituting an avoidance or affirmative defense.
Rule 8, thus, does require that affirmative defenses be pled in responding to a complaint, but
there is no requirement that the affirmative defense of release be pled in the original answer.
Arkansas Rule of Civil Procedure 15(a) states, in part, as follows:
Amendments. With the exception of pleading the defenses mentioned in Rule
12(h)(1), a party may amend his pleadings at any time without leave of the court.
Where, however, upon motion of an opposing party, the court determines that
prejudice would result or the disposition of the cause would be unduly delayed
because of the filing of an amendment, the court may strike such amended pleading
or grant a continuance of the proceeding.
Release is not a defense mentioned in Rule 12(h)(1). Appellant moved to strike the
amended answers, but the trial court found that no prejudice would result and allowed the
amended answers.
We will not reverse a trial court’s decision allowing or denying amendments to
pleadings absent a manifest abuse of discretion. Neal v. Sparks Regional Medical Center, 375
Ark. 46, 289 S.W.3d 8 (2008). In his brief, appellant asserts only that the amended answers
were barred by the rules of civil procedure; he makes no argument that he was prejudiced.
Without establishing any prejudice as the basis for his motion to strike, we cannot say that
the trial court abused its discretion in denying the motion. Grinnell v. Garnet Real Estate
LLC, 2013 Ark. App. 273, 427 S.W.3d 717.
Appellant next argues that summary judgment was improper because the release was
ambiguous, there was no mutual assent, and the intent of the parties was not considered.
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Our court has set forth the standard of review for summary-judgment cases as follows:
[S]ummary judgment is to be granted by a trial court only when it is clear that there
are no genuine issues of material fact to be litigated and the moving party is entitled
to judgment as a matter of law. Once a moving party has established a prima facie
entitlement to summary judgment, the opposing party must meet proof with proof
and demonstrate the existence of a material issue of fact. On appellate review, we
determine if summary judgment was appropriate based on whether the evidentiary
items presented by the moving party in support of its motion leave a material fact
unanswered. This court views the evidence in a light most favorable to the party
against whom the motion was filed, resolving all doubts and inferences against the
moving party. Our review is not limited to the pleadings, as we also focus on the
affidavits and other documents filed by the parties. We have also stated that summary
judgment is inappropriate where, although there may not be facts in dispute, the facts
could result in differing conclusions as to whether the moving party is entitled to
judgment as a matter of law.
Miller v. Pro-Transportation, 78 Ark. App. 52, 54, 77 S.W.3d 551, 553 (2002).
The release signed by Pedro provided in part as follows:
TK Martial Arts Academy is committed to conducting its programs and
activities in the safest possible manner and holds the safety of its participants in the
highest possible regard. Participants registering in recreational programs and activities
however, must recognize the inherent risks of injury associated with such activities
or programs. Therefore, TK Martial Arts continually strives to reduce risks and insists
that all participants follow safety rules and instructions which have been designed to
protect participants’ safety. TK Martial Arts further urges that all participants consult
a medical professional before engaging in any programs or activities offered at the
school.
Each person registering themselves or family members for a recreation
program/activity should review their own health insurance policy for coverage. It
must be noted that the absence of health insurance coverage does not make the TK
Martial Arts automatically responsible for payment of medical expenses.
Due to the difficulty and high cost of obtaining liability insurance, the agency
providing liability coverage for the TK Martial Arts REQUIRES the execution of the
following Waiver and Release. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
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WAIVER AND RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS
Please read this form carefully and be aware that in participating in any
program(s) or activities at TK Martial Arts, you will be waiving and releasing all claims
for injuries you might sustain arising out of the activities or program(s).
As a participant in the program(s) at TK Martial Arts, I recognize and
acknowledge that there are certain risks of physical injury and I agree to assume the
full risk of any injuries, including death, damages or loss regardless of severity which
I may sustain as a result of participating in any and all activities connected with or
associated with the program.
I agree to waive and relinquish all claims I may have as a result of participating
in the program against the TK Martial Arts and its officers, agents, servants and
employees.
I fully release and discharge TK Martial Arts and its officers, agents, servants
and employees from any and all claims of injuries, including death, damage or loss
including loss of or damage to personal property which I may have or which may
accrue to me on account of my participation.
I further agree to indemnify and hold harmless and defend TK Martial Arts and
its officers, agents, servants and employees from any and all claims from injuries,
including death, damages, and losses sustained by me or arising out of, or in any way
associated with the activities of the program.
In the event of emergency, I authorize TK Martial Arts officials to secure from
any licensed hospital, physician, and/or medical personnel any treatment deemed
necessary for my immediate care and I agree that I will be responsible for payment of
any and all medical services required.
Appellant contends that the following aspects of the release are ambiguous: the
meaning of words such as “activities” and “programs,” the parties released under the
contract, and the liability released under the contract. As appellees note, appellant’s
arguments regarding contract interpretation, mutual assent, and ambiguity of the release were
not raised below. It is well settled that when the abstract does not reflect that the argument,
or any similar argument, was made in the trial court, we will not reach the merits of the
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argument on appeal. Plant v. Wilbur, 345 Ark. 487, 47 S.W.3d 889 (2001). Accordingly, we
decline to address these arguments.
Appellant did argue below that the release did not contain the word negligence and
did not cover his claims. Exculpatory contracts are to be strictly construed against the party
relying on them. Finagin v. Arkansas Development Finance Authority, 355 Ark. 440, 455, 139
S.W.3d 797, 806 (2003). To be enforceable, the contract must clearly set out what negligent
liability is to be avoided. Id. When we are reviewing such a contract, we are not restricted
to the literal language of the contract, and we will also consider the facts and circumstances
surrounding the execution of the release in order to determine the intent of the parties. Id.
In Miller, 78 Ark. App. 52, 77 S.W.3d 551, the appellant argued that the exculpatory
contract was invalid because it did not clearly set out what negligent liability was to be
avoided. The exculpatory clause provided in part that “I will hold Pro-Transportation
harmless from any liability for any damage or injury which I may receive while riding in said
motor vehicle.” This court held that the language clearly and specifically set out the
negligent liability to be avoided—liability for any injuries that the applicant may suffer while
riding as a passenger in appellee’s motor vehicle. As in Miller, the release here did not
contain the word “negligence,” but it similarly released liability for “all claims from injuries,
including death, damages, and losses” arising out of participation in the academy’s programs
or activities. In a case involving a release executed in the context of a dangerous recreational
activity, we held that the protection from liability as contemplated by such a release must be
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limited to injuries that are rationally associated with the dangerous nature of the activity. Ver
Weire v. Styles, 2013 Ark. App. 208, 427 S.W.3d 112. Here, the release specifically
recognized that there were “inherent risks of injury” associated with participation in martial-
arts activities. Appellant’s claims are related to the unique and obvious dangers associated
with martial-arts training. Therefore, we agree with the trial court that the release was valid
and that summary judgment was appropriate.
For his last point, appellant argues that, even if the release absolves the academy from
liability, it should not extend to the individual appellees. He argues that, although the release
protects “agents, servants, and employees,” there was no proof to establish that the individual
appellees were agents. As appellees note, however, appellant’s position is in direct
contradiction to his assertions in his complaint. A party is bound by his own pleadings and
cannot maintain a position inconsistent therewith. Culpepper v. Smith, 302 Ark. 558, 792
S.W.2d 293 (1990). In his complaint, appellant alleged that Kurt was employed as a teaching
coach by TK Martial Arts and was an employee, agent, representative, and/or servant of the
academy. He alleged that Bearden and Roller were each “a participant in training at, and/or
agent, employee, and/or representative of, TK Martial Arts.” In a separate paragraph of his
complaint, appellant alleged that
[a]t all times herein mentioned, Defendants Kuth, Bearden, Roller, and/or Kurt were
the employees, agents and/or servants of TK Martial Arts, and were acting within the
course and scope of such employment, agency and/or servitude. Defendant TK
Martial Arts is therefore vicariously liable for the wrongful acts of Defendants Kuth,
Bearden, Roller, and/or Kurt, its agents, employees, and/or servants under the
doctrine of respondeat superior.
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Appellant argued in his response to the motion for summary judgment that the release
was not applicable to Bearden, Roller, and Kurt because they were not employees and were
not specifically named in the release. In Culpepper, the supreme court established a condition
for immunity by looking to the plaintiff’s complaint, which asserted that individuals were
acting within the course and scope of their duties and employment. In Parsons Dispatch, Inc.
v. John J. Jerue Truck Broker, Inc., 89 Ark. App. 25, 199 S.W.3d 686 (2004), this court held
that the position adopted by the appellant at the summary-judgment stage and on appeal that
there was no enforceable contract was inconsistent with its complaint and could not be
maintained. As in those cases, we conclude that appellant is bound by his complaint and
cannot now maintain that appellees were not agents or employees.
Affirmed.
VIRDEN and HOOFMAN, JJ., agree.
Robert S. Tschiemer, for appellant.
Keith, Miller, Butler, Schneider & Pawlik, PLLC, by: George M. Rozzell IV, for appellees
TK Martial Arts Academy, LLC; Tim Kuth; Jerred Roller; and Gerald Kirk.
Roy, Lambert, Lovelace, Bingham & Wood, LLP, by: Jerry L. Lovelace and James Bingham,
for appellee Kevin Bearden.
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