Burchard v. Gregory

No. 95-071
IN THE SUPREMECOURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
1996
JAMES R. BURCHARD,
Plaintiff and Appellant,
v.
MINNIE GREGORY, UNITED MATERIALS
OF GREAT FALLS, INC., and John
Does A through E,
Defendants and Respondents.
APPEAL FROM: District Court of the Eighth Judicial District,
In and for the County of Cascade,
The Honorable Thomas M. McKittrick, Judge presiding.
COUNSEL OF RECORD:
For Appellant:
James R. Burchard, Pro Se, Port Orchard, Washington
J. Mayo Ashley, Attorney at Law, Helena, Montana
For Respondents:
Lon T. Holden; Jardine, Stephenson, Blewett &
Weaver, Great Falls, Montana (for Minnie Gregory)
Paul R. Haffeman; Cure, Borer & Davis, Great Falls,
Montana (for United Materials of Great Falls)
Submitted on Briefs: September 28, 1995
/pFi 1 5 'i9Y6 Decided: April 15, 1996
Filed:
Justice Karla M. Gray delivered the Opinion of the Court.
Pursuant to Section I, Paragraph 3(c), Montana Supreme Court
1995 Internal Operating Rules, the following decision shall not be
cited as precedent and shall be published by its filing as a public
document with the Clerk of the Supreme Court and by a report of its
result to Montana Law Week, State Reporter and West Publishing
Company.
James Burchard appeals from the judgment entered by the Eighth
Judicial District Court, Cascade County, on its orders granting
defendants' motions for summary judgment. We affirm.
The sole issue on appeal is whether the District Court erred
in granting summary judgment in favor of Minnie Gregory and United
Materials of Great Falls, Inc.
At approximately 11:OO p.m. on July 12, 1989, appellant James
Burchard (Burchard) was driving his pickup truck and fifth-wheel
trailer eastbound in the inside lane of 10th Avenue South in Great
Falls, Montana. His wife and a young relative also were in the cab
of Burchard's pickup. The weather was rainy and windy, and the
portion of 10th Avenue South on which Burchard was driving recently
had been resurfaced by United Materials of Great Falls, Inc.
(United). Burchard lost control of his vehicle near the
intersection of 38th Street and 10th Avenue South. The fifth-wheel
trailer rode up on the median and Burchard's attempts to regain
control caused the pickup and trailer to "jackknife," coming to
rest partially on the median and partially on westbound 10th Avenue
2
South. Minnie Gregory (Gregory) was traveling in the inside
westbound lane of traffic on 10th Avenue South at the time and her
vehicle collided with Burchard's.
Great Falls Police Officer Keith Kercher (Kercher)
investigated the accident. Burchard told Kercher that he lost
control of his pickup because various fluids at the accident scene
had seeped out of the new pavement, creating a slippery road
surface. Kercher observed gasoline, oil, antifreeze and
transmission fluid on the pavement from the damaged vehicles and
disagreed with Burchard's characterization of the source of the
slippery road surface at the scene of the accident. He
subsequently performed skid tests, however, in order to investigate
Burchard's theory. Kercher cited Burchard for careless driving; he
did not cite Gregory.
Burchard's wife filed a negligence action against Burchard,
Gregory, United, and John Does A through E in July of 1992, seeking
recovery for injuries she sustained in the accident. Burchard
filed a separate negligence action against the other defendants
that same month. The District Court consolidated the actions and
Burchard's wife subsequently settled her case.
Burchard proceeded pro se after his attorney was permitted to
withdraw. Pursuant to the court's scheduling order, the plaintiff
and defendant were required to disclose expert witnesses by August
1, 1994, and August 15, 1994, respectively, and to complete
discovery by September 1, 1994. Trial was scheduled for October
31, 1994.
Gregory and United filed motions for summary judgment pursuant
to Rule 56, M.R.Civ.P., on September 8, 1994, and Burchard
responded. Following a hearing held on October 7, 1994, the trial
date apparently was vacated. The District Court granted both
motions for summary judgment on December 5, 1994, and entered
judgments accordingly. Burchard appeals.
Did the District Court err in granting summary judgment in
favor of Gregory and United?
Summary judgment is proper when no genuine issues of material
fact exist and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter
of law. Rule 56(c), M.R.Civ.P. The party moving for summary
judgment has the initial burden of establishing both the absence of
any genuine issue of material fact and its entitlement to judgment
as a matter of law. AgAmerica, FCB v. Robson (1995), 272 Mont.
413, 416-17, 901 P.2d 100, 102 (citation omitted). When reviewing
an order granting summary judgment, we apply the same criteria as
the district court. AsAmerica, 901 P.2d at 102 (citation omitted).
Ordinarily, negligence issues involve "questions of fact not
susceptible to summary adjudication." Hatch v. State Dep't of
Highways (1994), 269 Mont. 188, 192-93, 887 P.2d 729, 732 (citation
omitted). Notwithstanding this general rule, a negligence action
properly may be resolved on a motion for summary judgment under
limited circumstances. If a moving defendant establishes the
absence of a genuine issue of material fact regarding any one of
the four elements constituting the negligence action, and the
plaintiff does not come forward with proof establishing the
existence of a genuine factual issue regarding that element,
4
summary judgment in the defendant's favor is proper. Hatch, 887
P.2d at 732 (citation omitted). The nonmoving party's proof must
be substantial and consist of specific facts; reliance on pleadings
or speculative, fanciful or conclusory statements is insufficient.
Thornton v. Songstad (1994), 263 Mont. 390, 397-98, 868 P.2d 633,
638 (citation omitted).
a. Summary judgment in favor of Minnie Gregory
Burchard's complaint alleged that he lost control of his
vehicle and that it came to rest partly on the raised median
separating eastbound and westbound 10th Avenue South, and partly
"in the left lane of westbound traffic." His sole allegation
against Gregory was that she negligently operated her vehicle at an
excessive speed and, as a result, collided with his pickup in the
left lane of westbound traffic, thus causing the accident and his
injuries and other damages. Gregory moved for summary judgment.
Gregory supported her motion with affidavits and a drawing of
the accident scene from Kercher, who had received formal accident
investigation training and investigated more than 700 accidents
during his law enforcement career. According to Kercher, Gregory
was travelling at approximately the speed limit when Burchard's
vehicle suddenly appeared in and obstructed her inside westbound
lane of travel. Kercher's opinion that Burchard's pickup
obstructed Gregory's lane of travel resulted from his investigation
and reconstruction of the accident and was reflected on a diagram
showing Burchard's pickup blocking Gregory's westbound lane at the
point of impact. Kercher stated that Gregory could not have
5
avoided the accident even if she had been going slower, given the
sudden obstruction of her lane of travel by Burchard's pickup. In
his opinion, the accident was caused by Burchard's failure to
maintain control of his vehicle.
The District Court concluded that Gregory met her initial
burden of establishing the absence of any genuine issue of material
fact with regard to Burchard's negligence claim against her. The
court further concluded that Burchard's submissions in opposition
to Gregory's motion were insufficient to raise a genuine issue of
material fact as to Gregory's negligence or the cause of the
accident. On that basis, the District Court granted Gregory's
motion.
A law enforcement officer with years of experience in accident
investigation may render opinions on whether a party was driving
too fast and on the cause of an automobile accident. Hart-Anderson
v. Hauck (1989), 239 Mont. 444, 448-49, 781 P.2d 1116, 1118-19.
Indeed, this has been well-settled law in Montana since at least
1974. & Rude v. Neal (1974), 165 Mont. 520, 526, 530 P.2d 428,
432. Moreover, an experienced investigating officer's opinion
regarding the cause of an automobile accident is sufficient to meet
a moving party's initial burden of establishing the absence of a
genuine issue of material fact on that element of an accident-based
negligence claim. White v. Murdock (1994), 265 Mont. 386, 391, 877
P.2d 474, 477.
Here, Kercher's opinions that Gregory was not driving too fast
and that Burchard caused the accident were based on his
6
investigation and experience. Thus, Kercher's opinions were
sufficient to establish the absence of any genuine issue of
material fact regarding her alleged negligence and the cause of the
accident. See White, 877 P.2d at 477. We conclude, therefore,
that Gregory met her initial burden on summary judgment.
Gregory having met her burden as the party moving for summary
judgment, the burden shifted to Burchard to establish the existence
of genuine issues of material fact. He contends that he raised
several such issues.
Burchard relies on his own affidavit in contending, first,
that a factual dispute exists regarding Gregory's speed at the time
of the accident. In his affidavit, he stated that Gregory's
vehicle was "negligently driven at the time . . [and was1
travelling at an excessive rate of speed. .'I
Once the party moving for summary judgment has satisfied its
initial burden, the nonmoving party may not rest on the mere
allegations in its pleadings. Rule 56(e), M.R.Civ.P. By affidavit
or as otherwise provided by Rule 56, the nonmoving party's response
"must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine
issue for trial." Rule 56(e), M.R.Civ.P. Burchard's statement
regarding Gregory's speed simply reiterates the speed-related
allegation in his complaint.
Moreover, speculative and conclusory statements are
insufficient to raise a genuine issue of material fact; they do not
constitute the substantial proof consisting of specific facts which
is necessary to withstand a properly supported motion for summary
7
judgment. Thornton, 868 P.2d at 638. Here, Burchard's affidavit
includes only his own speculative and conclusory statement
regarding Gregory's speed. In light of Kercher's investigation-
based opinion that Gregory was not driving at an excessive rate of
speed, we conclude that Burchard's affidavit is insufficient to
establish the existence of a genuine issue of material fact
regarding Gregory's alleged excessive speed.
In disclosing his witnesses and again at the summary judgment
hearing, Burchard indicated that Ralph Ward (Ward), a wrecking yard
operator he identified as a trial witness, estimated Gregory's
speed at 55 miles per hour, which exceeds the speed limit at the
location of the accident. He submitted no affidavit or other
evidence from Ward. Moreover, when questioned by the District
Court about whether Ward was qualified to give an opinion regarding
the speed at which Gregory was driving, Burchard responded that
Ward was not an engineer and that he guessed that he "can go find
another guy and see if he'll talk."
Once the burden on summary judgment has shifted, the nonmoving
party must affirmatively respond by affidavit or other sworn
testimony containing material facts raising genuine issues.
Koepplin v. Zortman Mining, Inc. (1994), 267 Mont. 53, 58-59, 881
P.2d 1306, 1309 (citation omitted). Even assuming Ward's
qualifications to offer an opinion regarding Gregory's speed,
Burchard's statements about Ward's alleged opinions were
insufficient to meet his burden. Substantial evidence raising a
genuine issue of material fact must be in proper form; a party's
8
statements regarding anticipated future testimony or proof are
insufficient. Morales v. Tuomi (1985), 214 Mont. 419, 424, 693
P.2d 532, 534-35 (citation omitted).
Burchard argues on appeal that he should be granted more time
to find an expert to render an opinion relating to Gregory's speed.
We disagree. Rule 56(f), M.R.Civ.P., allows the nonmoving party in
a summary judgment proceeding to request a continuance to obtain
affidavits or discovery necessary to present facts in opposition to
the motion. This salutary procedure requires only that the party
satisfy the court, via affidavit, that sufficient reasons exist why
it is as yet unable to present facts essential to support its case
in opposition to summary judgment. Rule 56(f), M.R.Civ.P.
Burchard did not avail himself of the Rule 56(f) procedure.
In addition, Burchard had more than two years between the
filing of his complaint and the summary judgment hearing to acquire
evidence in support of his case or, at least, to offer a reasonable
explanation of why he was unable to do so. Burchard conceded that
he had retained an accident reconstructionist and, indeed, he
listed the expert in his witness disclosure statement filed on July
29, 1994. Burchard did not provide any information from this
expert and merely stated at the summary judgment hearing that his
expert "didn't want to report."
Gregory filed her motion for summary judgment early in
September of 1994, a mere seven weeks before the scheduled trial.
In addition, nearly three months passed between the time Gregory
filed her motion and the court's order granting it on December 5,
9
1994. Burchard did not submit expert or, indeed, any support for
his opposition to Gregory's motion during those three months and
also did not request additional time in which to do so. For these
reasons, we deny Burchard's request for additional time to locate
an expert to establish the existence of a genuine issue of material
fact regarding the speed at which Gregory was operating her
vehicle.
Burchard next contends that, notwithstanding Kercher's
affidavits and diagram establishing that his pickup was blocking
Gregory's lane of travel immediately prior to the accident, he
raised a genuine issue of material fact that his pickup blocked
only the left-turn lane of westbound traffic, rather than Gregory's
lane of travel. He apparently argues that Gregory caused the
accident by negligently not remaining in her clear lane of travel.
There are two problems with Burchard's position.
As set forth above, the sole allegation of negligence against
Gregory contained in Burchard's complaint is that she was operating
her vehicle at an excessive speed. His contention that Gregory's
negligence was her failure to remain in her own lane of travel is
an attempt to oppose summary judgment advancing a new theory of
negligence. Burchard cites no authority--and we know of none--
under which such a substitution of a new cause of action can be
utilized to raise a genuine issue of material fact in opposition to
a motion for summary judgment. Burchard could have pleaded this
theory about Gregory's negligence in his original complaint, either
alternatively or in addition to the "speeding" allegation. &
10
Rule 8(e) (2), M.R.Civ.P. He did not do so. He could have amended
his complaint to add such a claim as a matter of right, under Rule
15(a), M.R.Civ.P., at any time prior to the filing of a responsive
pleading; he did not do so. Nor did Burchard seek leave of court
to amend his pleading at a later time, pursuant to Rule 15(a),
M.R.Civ.P. To allow the nonmoving party to add a new theory in
opposition to summary judgment after the moving party has met its
initial burden, and to raise an issue of fact about that theory,
would make every case a "moving target" and effectively preclude
the use of summary judgment to resolve cases which present no
genuine factual issue for trial. While summary adjudication cannot
be used as a substitute for a trial on the merits of contested
issues of fact (Roe v. Corbin Water Users' Ass'n (1994), 267 Mont.
503, 507, 885 P.2d 419, 421 (citations omitted)), it is an
appropriate means of disposing of cases which contain no such
issues.
The problem with Burchard's related contention--that he raised
a genuine issue of material fact regarding the location of his
pickup when Gregory collided with it--is similar. The location-
related allegation in Burchard's complaint was that his pickup came
to rest, in part, "in the left lane of westbound travel." Indeed,
Kercher's evidence established that Gregory was traveling in the
left--that is, the inside--westbound lane of travel at the time she
collided with Burchard's vehicle partially occupying that lane.
In opposing summary judgment, Burchard attempted to raise an
issue of fact that his pickup came to rest in the left-turn lane
11
rather than in the left lane of westbound travel. This variance
from the allegations of his complaint was advanced for the first
time in opposition to Gregory's motion for summary judgment. For
the reasons discussed immediately above, Burchard may not oppose
summary judgment by creating a moving target. On that basis, we
decline to address these contentions further.
Finally, Burchard contends that he established a genuine issue
of material fact regarding whether Gregory should have seen his
pickup in time to avoid the accident, even if he were occupying her
lane of travel. While this contention arguably varies the
allegations in Burchard's complaint in a manner similar to the
contentions discussed above, it is at least arguably related to the
excessive speed allegation in his complaint. In this regard,
however, Burchard provided no evidence, substantial or otherwise,
in response to Kercher's affidavit stating that Burchard suddenly
appeared in Gregory's lane of travel and that Gregory could not
reasonably have avoided the accident. We conclude, therefore, that
Burchard's bare contention is insufficient to raise a genuine issue
of material fact.
Burchard has failed to establish the existence of any genuine
issue of material fact regarding any breach of duty by Gregory
which caused the collision between the Gregory and Burchard
vehicles. We hold, therefore, that the District Court did not err
in granting Gregory's motion for summary judgment.
b. Summary judgment in favor of United Materials of Great
Falls, Inc.
A negligence action involves four elements, each of which must
12
be established by the plaintiff: 1) duty; 2) breach of duty; 3)
causation; and 4) damages. Hatch, 887 P.2d at 732. Burchard's
complaint alleged negligent road construction and negligent
supervision of the road construction project by United and that
United's negligence was a cause of the accident and his damages.
More specifically, he alleged that he encountered wet, slippery
roadway which had recently been oiled and which caused his vehicle
to travel up over the raised median. In addition, Burchard alleged
that there "appeared to be" an oily or otherwise hazardous surface,
"as if" the road had been recently oiled or otherwise coated with
a material which caused the roadway to be hazardous and slippery.
He alleged on information and belief that the roadway in the area
of the accident had recently been under construction by United.
United moved for summary judgment.
In support of its motion, United submitted Kercher's
affidavits stating that he investigated the scene and performed
skid tests on the pavement. The skid tests produced a "drag
factor" of .77 which, in Kercher's opinion, demonstrated that the
pavement was less slippery than normal wet pavement. Kercher
further opined that the condition of the road was not a factor in
the accident and that Burchard's failure to control his vehicle
caused the accident.
The District Court concluded that United established the
absence of genuine issues of material fact regarding Burchard's
allegations that the roadway was "hazardous and slippery" as a
result of any negligence by United and that the condition of the
13
roadway caused the accident. The burden having thereby shifted to
Burchard, the court concluded that Burchard's submissions in
opposition to United's motion were legally insufficient to
establish a genuine issue of material fact regarding United's
liability.
Expert testimony generally is required to establish both the
applicable standard of care and a breach of that standard in
negligence actions against professionals and those involved in
skilled trades. See Newville v. State (1994), 267 Mont. 237, 257,
883 P.2d 793, 805 (citations omitted). Burchard concedes on appeal
that expert testimony is required to establish the applicable
standard of care and United's breach in this case, as well as to
establish that the condition of the roadway caused the accident.
Because of that concession, this case does not present--and we do
not address--the issue of whether expert testimony was required as
a matter of law regarding United's duty, any breach of that duty,
or the causal connection between any breach of duty and Burchard's
accident. Also conceding that he did not present the requisite
expert testimony, Burchard contends that he should be allowed more
time to obtain an expert's opinion because, as a pro se litigant,
he did not recognize the necessity of expert testimony.
The record does not support Burchard's claim that he did not
recognize the need for expert testimony to support his negligence
action against United. In disclosing his witnesses on July 29,
1994, Burchard listed the name of an accident reconstructionist
whose report was to be forthcoming; he never provided the expert's
14
opinion or report in response to United's Rule 26(b) (4),
M.R.Civ.??., request. Furthermore, in response to the court's
question as to whether he had an expert, Burchard stated that he
had paid an expert but that the expert did not provide a report.
Based on this record, we are unpersuaded by Burchard's assertion on
appeal that he did not recognize the need for expert testimony.
Burchard also asserts that he indicated his need for more time
to bring in an expert to the District Court, but that the court
refused to grant a continuance. In essence, he argues that the
court abused its discretion in failing to continue the proceedings
and order Burchard to obtain an expert.
Burchard filed his complaint on July 9, 1992. The scheduling
order in this case was entered on January 24, 1994, with a jury
trial scheduled for October 31, 1994. Burchard's expert witness
disclosure was due by August 1, 1994, a discovery deadline of
September 1, 1994, was established and witness lists were due by
September 26, 1994. As noted above, Burchard timely disclosed the
name of his accident reconstruction expert; he simply did not
provide any affidavit, testimony or report from that expert.
United filed its motion for summary judgment on September 8, 1994.
Burchard had approximately eight months between entry of the
scheduling order and the summary judgment hearing, not to mention
the more than two years after filing his complaint, to procure
expert witness testimony for his claim against United. Moreover,
even aside from his failure to utilize the formal procedure
provided by Rule 56(f), M.R.Civ.P., for requesting a continuance of
15
the summary judgment proceeding, Burchard did not make a sufficient
showing under the rule to require the court to exercise its
discretion regarding a continuance in his favor. Finally, even
Burchard's post-hearing document, filed a month before the District
Court's ruling and entitled "Request Motion for Summary Judgment Be
Denied Defendant['ls," was not accompanied by any expert opinion as
to the applicable standard of care in this negligent road
construction action against United or any breach of such a standard
by United. We cannot conclude, on the record before us, that the
court abused its discretion in refusing to continue the
proceedings.
Notwithstanding his concession that expert testimony was
needed to successfully oppose United's motion, Burchard advances
other arguments relating to his action against United. First, he
contends that he presented substantial evidence that the road was
oily and slick and, therefore, that he raised a genuine issue of
material fact as to the cause of the accident. In light of
Burchard's concession that expert testimony was required "regarding
the cause of the accident most specifically, the road surface" and
his failure to provide such testimony, we do not address this
contention.
Burchard having failed to present expert affidavit or other
testimony he concedes was necessary to withstand summary judgment
on negligence action against United, we conclude that he did not
establish the existence of any genuine issue of material fact
regarding a breach of duty by United which caused the accident in
16
this case. We hold, therefore, that the District Court did not err
in granting United's motion for summary judgment.
Burchard also argues, as to both defendants, that the District
Court erred in failing to consider the allegations in his complaint
and affidavits from other witnesses which he submitted. As
discussed above, once the party moving for summary judgment
satisfies its initial burden, the nonmoving party cannot rest on
the allegations in its pleadings, but must come forward with
specific facts demonstrating the existence of a genuine issue of
material fact. Rule 56(e), M.R.Civ.P. Further, although Burchard
asserts that the court did not consider affidavits from other
witnesses, the only affidavit Burchard presented, other than his
own, was that of Patricia Bourne. The District Court addressed the
Bourne affidavit, which related to the location of Burchard's
pickup at the time the accident occurred and to the condition of
the roadway vis-a-vis whether United's negligence caused the
accident. Because we have determined that, on this record,
Burchard may not properly raise issues of fact regarding those
issues in an effort to defeat summary judgment, we need not address
the Bourne affidavit further.
Burchard's final arguments are that the District Court did not
consider his deposition and that he was not allowed to take the
defendants' depositions. In addressing motions for summary
judgment, district courts consider only pleadings and discovery "on
file." Rule 56(e), M.R.Civ.P. Depositions are not routinely
filed; if a party believes that a deposition should be filed, it
may make an ex parte request that it be filed under Rule 5(d),
M.R.Civ.P. Burchard did not request that his deposition be filed.
Therefore, because the deposition was not part of the record, the
District Court did not err in failing to consider it.
Burchard contends that the District Court granted the
defendants' motions based on inadequate information and, therefore,
that summary judgment was not appropriate. Burchard relies on
Rasmussen v. Bennett (1983), 207 Mont. 33, 672 P.2d 278, where we
set aside a summary judgment and returned the case to the district
court for further consideration because the district court did not
have the depositions of all four defendants before it and,
therefore, may not have been in possession of all the facts. In
Rasmussen, the action was a complicated libel and slander suit, the
disputed facts were fifteen years old by the time summary judgment
was granted, and both counsel proceeded under the belief that the
defendants' depositions were of record. Rasmussen, 672 P.2d at
279.
Rasmussen is inapplicable here. The facts in Burchard's case
are neither as old, nor as complicated, as those in Rasmussen.
Furthermore, at the time we decided Rasmussen, the parties were
required by Rule 30(f), M.R.Civ.P. (1983), to file depositions with
the court. As discussed above, depositions are no longer routinely
filed; indeed, a party seeking to file a deposition must obtain the
court's permission to do so. Rule 5(d), M.R.Civ.P. Burchard did
not.
Finally, Burchard's argument that summary judgment was
18
inappropriate because he "had not been allowed" to take the
defendants' depositions is unsupported by the record. Burchard
could have deposed the defendants at any time after filing his
action in July of 1992; that he failed to do so cannot be blamed on
the District Court. The record does not indicate that Burchard
ever served a notice of intent to depose anyone from United.
Moreover, while Burchard served notice of his intent to depose
Gregory on September 15, 1994, after the September 1, 1994,
discovery deadline, and Gregory and her counsel were available at
the Cascade County Courthouse on the date specified, Burchard did
not appear. We conclude that a litigant's total failure to conduct
discovery cannot constitute error by a district court.
Affirmed.
We concur.
Justices
19
Justice Terry N. Trieweiler dissenting.
I dissent from the majority's opinion in which it clearly
usurps the fact-finding role properly reserved to a jury after
consideration of and balancing all the evidence and which blatantly
disregards those rules which this Court has, in the past, applied
to motions for summary judgment.
Only when there are no issues of material fact and the moving
party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, is summary
judgment appropriate pursuant to Rule 56(c), M.R.Civ.P. Reeves v.
Reinhold (1980), 189 Mont. 284, 287, 615 P.2d 896, 898.
In the determination of whether there are issues of material
fact, "all reasonable inferences that might be drawn from the
offered evidence should be drawn in favor of the party who opposed
summary judgment." Heist v. Eastern Montana College (Mont . 19 96 ) , 53
St. Rep. 162, 163.
Furthermore, we have, for good reason, held that ordinarily
issues of negligence are questions of fact not susceptible to
summary adjudication. Duchesneau Y. Silver Bow County (19'71) , 158 Mont.
369, 377, 492 P.2d 926, 931. For the following reasons, this case
was clearly not susceptible to summary adjudication:
In the complaint filed by Burchard and prepared for him by the
attorney who represented him at that time, Burchard alleged that
his vehicle went out of control while approaching an intersection
on 10th Avenue South in Great Falls and that after coming to a stop
on the median, and while partially located in the westbound lane of
20
to establish Gregory's negligence. We held in Payne v. Sorenson (1979) ,
183 Mont. 323, 326, 599 P.2d 362, 364, that:
Under Montana law, a motorist has a duty to look not
only straight ahead but laterally ahead as well and to
see that which is in plain sight. Furthermore, a
motorist is presumed to see that which he could see by
looking, and he will not be permitted to escape the
penalty of his negligence by saying that he did not see
that which was in plain view.
Furthermore, the fact that Burchard may have been placed in a
position of danger by his own negligence did not bar his claim
against Gregory. Restatement (Second) of Torts § 479 (1965),
provides as follows:
A plaintiff who has negligently subjected himself to a
risk of harm from the defendant's subsequent negligence
may recover for harm caused thereby if, immediately
preceding the harm,
(a) the plaintiff is unable to avoid it by the
exercise of reasonable vigilance and care, and
(b) the defendant is negligent in failing to
utilize with reasonable care and competence his then
existing opportunity to avoid the harm, when he
(i) knows of the plaintiff's situation and
realizes or has reason to realize the peril
involved in it or
(ii) would discover the situation and thus
have reason to realize the peril, if he were to
exercise the vigilance which it is then his duty to
the plaintiff to exercise.
We approved of the last clear chance doctrine set forth at
5 479 in Lambv.Page (19691, 153 Mont. 171, 455 P.2d 337.
Plainly, pursuant to the law in Montana, Burchard's affidavit
was sufficient to raise an issue of fact regarding Gregory's
negligence, regardless of any evidence to the contrary.
With regard to defendant United Materials, Burchard alleged in
his complaint that that defendant had recently done work at 10th
22
traffic, Minnie Gregory negligently collided with him and caused
him damage.
In support of his allegation that Gregory was negligent and in
opposition to her motion for summary judgment, Burchard filed an
affidavit in which he stated the following relevant facts:
10. That I was proceeding east on 10th Avenue South at
approximately 25 mph and attempted to brake,
because of the traffic light changing to amber as I
approached the intersection of 38th Street and 10th
Avenue South when my vehicle, pulling a fifth-wheel
trailer, jack-knifed and the two front wheels of
the towing vehicle crossed the raised median,
coming to rest partly in the left-hand turn lane of
the west bound traffic on 10th Avenue South;
11. That the towing vehicle came to a full-stop on the
median with its two front wheels protruding into
the left-hand turn lane of west-bound traffic on
10th Avenue South, leaving two full west-bound
lanes free for safe traffic;
12. That the east bound lanes of 10th Avenue South had
an oily appearing surface, as if the east bound
lanes of 10th Avenue South had been recently oiled
or otherwise coated with a material which caused
the roadway to be hazardous and slippery.
13. That approximatelv three (3) minutes after the
towins vehicle came to a full stop on the median
with its two front wheels protrudinq into the
left-hand turn lane of west-bound traffic on 10th
Avenue South, leaving two full west-bound lanes
free for safe traffic, a vehicle negligently driven
at the time bv the defendant, Minnie Greqorv,
traveling at an excessive rate of speed hit mv
stooped towinq vehicle at or about its riqht rear
wheel . . . .
(Emphasis added.)
The facts a lleged in Burchard's affidavit were admissible
pursuant to Rule 56, M.R.Civ.P., and if believed, were sufficient
21
Avenue South at the scene of his accident and that as a result of
its negligence, the road was left in an oily, hazardous, and
slippery condition which prevented him for controlling his vehicle
and caused the predicament in which he found himself at the time
that he was struck by Gregory. In support of that contention and
in opposition to United's motion for summary judgment, Burchard
produced his own affidavit testimony set forth above, in addition
to the following affidavit testimony from Patricia Lynn Bourne:
6. That on July 12, 1989 I managed the Sahara Motel
located at 3460 10th Avenue South in Great Falls,
Montana;
7. That the Sahara Motel is located on the southwest
corner of the intersection of 35th Street and 10th
Avenue South;
8. That on July 12, 1989 I lived with my husband Frank
Meyers and my family at the Sahara Motel in an
apartment connected to the motel;
9. That the office of the motel, in July of 1989, was
a box-like structure located in that portion of the
motel that was closest to 10th Avenue South.
Except for a fireplace chimney on the north side of
the office, it was covered with windows or glass
doors so that anyone in the office had a clear and
unobstructed view of 10th Avenue South to the east,
to the west and except for the chimney, to the
north;
. . .
12. That the construction company that was resurfacing
10th Avenue South in front of the Sahara Motel with
bituminous asphalt (black-top) had completed its
work during the last few days;
13. That the freshly laid black-top was oozing oil and
mixing with the rain;
14. That the "bleeding" made the surface slick and
slippery, like it was black ice;
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15. That as a result of the slick and slippery
condition on 10th Avenue South on July 12, 1989 I
observed several east bound vehicles fishtailing at
the traffic light located at the 38th Street
intersection. Most of the fishtailing occurred
when the traffic light went from Green to Yellow to
Red;
16. That my husband Frank remarked several times during
the day that . . . he knew that an accident was
going to happen before the day was over;
. . . .
19. That Frank and I watched the office T-V set for
perhaps a half an hour when we both heard a crash;
. . .
22. That I ran to the pick-up truck and saw that there
was no fire in or around the truck;
24. That the pick-up truck was straddling the center
divider (or median) with its front wheels
protruding into the left-hand turn lane of
west-bound traffic on 10th Avenue South:
. . . .
32. That on July 12, 1989 there were no signs on, at or
near 10th Avenue South that indicated that the
roadway was hazardous, slippery, or dangerous;
33. That on July 12, 1989 there were no caution signs
and no drive with care signs on, at or near 10th
Avenue South . . .
It is reasonable to infer from the combined affidavits of
Burchard and Bourne that when Burchard attempted to bring his
vehicle to a stop at the intersection of 10th Avenue South and 38th
Street, he was unable to do so and jackknifed his vehicle as a
result of the hazardous, slippery surface of the street. Expert
testimony was not required for the proposition that when a road
24
contractor leaves a street in such a slippery and hazardous
condition that people operating their vehicles at less than the
lawful speed limit cannot bring their vehicles to a safe stop and
when no warning has been provided that such a dangerous condition
exists, the contractor had acted negligently. The fact that
contrary evidence was offered in the form of the investigating
officer's opinion did not eliminate the question of fact which was
raised by Burchard's and Bourne's affidavits. Officer Kercher's
affidavit, at most, created a clear question of fact regarding the
negligence of United.
The majority concludes that Gregory satisfied her initial
burden of establishing the absence of any genuine issue of material
fact when she submitted the affidavit of the investigating officer
who arrived after the collision and, based on his investigation,
concluded that she had not been traveling too fast and that the
accident was Burchard's fault. The first response that comes to
mind is that it was impossible for Officer Kercher to estimate
Gregory's speed prior to her impact with Burchard because there
were no skid marks at the point of impact. His opinion had to be
based solely on what he was told by Gregory.
Second, it makes no difference how fast Gregory was traveling
prior to the time at which she collided with Burchard. She had an
obligation, pursuant to the law previously cited, to keep a lookout
for hazards on the roadway and avoid them. If, as stated in
Burchard's affidavit, he was blocking the roadway for at least
three minutes prior to the collision, she should have seen him and
25
avoided him. There was no indication that the roadway was anything
but straight and level at the point of impact or that her view was
obstructed in any other way.
The majority cavalierly disregards Burchard's sworn statement
that he blocked only the westbound left-hand turn lane and not
Gregory's lane of travel based on the fact that that contention was
not made in his original complaint. There are several problems
with this basis for the majority's conclusion. First, Burchard did
not prepare the complaint. It was prepared by an attorney who
represented him at that time but did not represent him during the
summary judgment proceedings. At the same time he was also
represented by a second attorney who defended him in the action
brought by his wife. The two actions were later consolidated. In
the answer to June Burchard's complaint, which was filed on
September 28, 1992, Burchard specifically stated in paragraph two
of his second defense that:
Responding to paragraph II of the complaint,
defendant James Burchard admits that he was proceeding
east on 10th Avenue South at approximately 10 mph less
than the speed limit and attempted to brake as he
approached the intersection at 38th Street and 10th
Avenue South when his vehicle, pulling a fifth-wheel
trailer, jack-knifed and the two front wheels of the
towing vehicle crossed the raised median, coming to rest
partly in the left-hand turn lane of west-bound traffic
on 10th Avenue South.
(Emphasis added.) Therefore, there was nothing inconsistent about
the position taken by Burchard in his affidavit and the position
taken by Burchard in the early pleading stages of this litigation.
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There was no "new theory" advanced by Burchard in opposition to
summary judgment.
Second, whether Burchard's wheels came to rest in the left
westbound lane or the left westbound turn lane is irrelevant. A
change in the alleged location did not constitute "a substitution
of a new cause of action." Burchard's claim was that his vehicle
came to rest at a place where Minnie Gregory could have avoided it
had she kept a proper lookout and exercised reasonable care. His
point was that whether his vehicle was in the westbound lane or the
westbound turn lane, it had been there for at least three minutes
prior to the collision and there was no reason Gregory could not
have seen it and avoided it. There was no reason for him to amend
his complaint to allege that his wheels were in the westbound turn
lane, rather than the westbound lane. The purpose of the complaint
was to give general notice of the nature of his claim, not to state
with perfection every fact which formed the basis of that claim.
The suggestion that his affidavit filed in opposition to summary
judgment is somehow unworthy of consideration because it varied in
some insignificant detail from a general complaint prepared for him
by an attorney two years earlier, is preposterous. The suggestion
that his affidavit alleged material facts about which the
defendants had not been previously advised is not supported by the
record. The suggestion that Keith Kercher, a Great Falls Police
Officer who arrived at the scene of the accident sometime after
events had occurred, is in a better position to state what happened
27
at the time of the accident than the actual participants is strange
indeed.
The majority states in their opinion that "Burchard provided
no evidence, substantial or otherwise, in response to Officer
Kercher's affidavit stating that Burchard suddenly appeared in
Gregory's lane of travel and that Gregory could not reasonably have
avoided the accident." The majority's statement to that effect is
incorrect. For the purpose of putting it in context, I will again
recite that part of Burchard's affidavit which directly
contradicted the relied on part of Officer Kercher's affidavit.
Burchard stated:
13. That auuroximatelv three (3) minutes after the
towinq vehicle came to a full stop on the median
with its two front wheels orotrudins into the
left-hand turn lane of west-bound traffic on 10th
Avenue South, leaving two full west-bound lanes
free for safe traffic, a vehicle negligently driven
at the time by the defendant, Minnie Greqorv,
travelinq at an excessive rate of soeed hit my
stooped towins vehicle at or about its right rear
wheel . . . .
(Emphasis added.)
If Burchard had been in the left-hand westbound turn lane or
the westbound lane of travel for three minutes before the
collision, he could not have suddenly appeared in Gregory's lane of
travel.
We have never previously held that expert testimony is
necessary to prove that a roadway is hazardous or that a motorist
on that road is entitled to a warning of a sudden change in the
road's condition. This is a poor case in which to set that
28
precedent. It should not take a rocket scientist or someone with
an engineering degree to establish that a roadway on which vehicles
cannot come to a safe stop while traveling at a speed equal to or
less than the allowable speed is unsafe and requires a warning by
the contractor who creates that condition. However, without any
authority other than Burchard's concession, first made while
proceeding as a prose litigant, the majority has now made such a
requirement, and in the process, increased the complexity and cost
of all future litigation related to roadway conditions.
The majority opinion affirming summary judgment in favor of
United Materials completely overlooks the following proof submitted
by affidavit:
1. Burchard approached the intersection where United had
done surfacing work at a speed of about 25 miles per hour (10 miles
per hour under the speed limit), applied his brakes, and lost
control of his vehicle.
2. The lane on which he lost control had an oily appearing
surface which caused the roadway to be hazardous and slippery.
3. United had completed resurfacing of the area in the few
days prior to the accident.
4. The freshly laid surface was oozing oil which mixed with
the rain.
5. The combination of the oil and rain made the surface
slick and slippery like it was black ice.
6. No warning of the roadway's condition was erected.
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7. As a result of the slick and slippery condition of the
roadway at the scene of Burchard's accident, an independent third
party, who resided in the area, observed vehicles fishtailing at
the same location earlier in the day. Most of the fishtailing
occurred when those same motorists were trying to stop for the same
traffic light that caused Burchard to apply his brakes.
8. At least one resident in the area remarked prior to
Burchard's accident that an accident was going to happen at the
intersection before the day was over.
In light of this testimony and the inferences that can be
drawn from it, the majority's conclusion that summary judgment for
United should be affirmed based on Burchard's failure to produce an
expert witness presents a new and inappropriate dimension to the
litigation of simple automobile accidents.
In Heiatv. EasternMontana College (Mont. 1996), 53 St. Rep. 162, we
recently held that a female college professor who was hired for a
position comparable to her husband's, but at less pay, was entitled
to a trial on the merits of her claim that she had been
discriminated against in the face of uncontroverted affidavits to
the contrary simply because of inferences which arose from the pay
discrepancy. In this case, the plaintiff has produced sworn
affidavits providing facts in direct support of his allegations
that the defendants were negligent. The District Court ignored
those affidavits. The majority now ignores those affidavits in
favor of evidence that it finds more persuasive. Apparently the
message is that in Montana nonresident prose litigants who have been
30
injured in automobile collisions are not entitled to the same due
process as college professors claiming gender discrimination. I
find this Court's grossly disparate treatment of these litigants
inexplicable on any other basis.
For these reasons I dissent from the majority opinion.
Justice William E. Hunt, Sr., joins in the foregoing dissenting
opinion.
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Justice W. William Leaphart, specially concurring and dissenting.
I join in the dissent of Justice Trieweiler with regard to the
summary judgment granted to defendant Gregory. While there are
discrepancies between his complaint, his affidavit, and his answer
to his wife's complaint, the fact remains that Burchard's sworn
affidavit raises a question of fact as to where his vehicle came to
rest and, thus, a question as to whether Gregory should and could
have avoided colliding with him.
I concur with the Court in affirming the summary judgment for
United Materials of Great Falls. Officer Kercher's affidavit
established that, based upon his tests of the road surface, the
road was no more slippery than after a normal rain. Burchard
presented the affidavit of Bourne which established that the road
was oozing oil which was mixing with the rain and that the surface
was slippery like black ice and that, as a result of the slippery
condition, Bourne observed several vehicles fishtailing. Although
this affidavit establishes that the road was slippery, it does not
raise a question of fact with regard to whether United Materials
was the cause of that slippery condition. Furthermore, Bourne's
affidavit does not purport to make any causal connection between
the slippery condition and what happened to Burchard's vehicle as
opposed to other vehicles. That is, did Burchard lose control due
to the slippery condition or due to his driving too close to the
median as established by Officer Kercher?
Secondly, although the Bourne affidavit establishes that the
32
road was slippery due to rain and oil, it does not refute the fact
(established by Officer Kercher) that the road was no more slippery
than normal wet pavement in a rain storm. AS all drivers know,
after or during a rain storm, roads become "slippery when wet."
In light of the fact that this accident occurred while it was
raining, Burchard had to do more than establish that the road was
slippery. That is, he had to produce testimony (whether from a lay
person or an expert) to the effect that, due to the oil applied by
United Materials, the road was rendered more slippery than it would
be from a mere rain storm. The affidavit of Bourne does not do
this. It merely establishes that the road was slippery. A
slippery condition can be attributed to nature rather than any
negligence by United Materials.
Because Burchard did not raise a genuine issue of material
fact as to whether the road was more slippery than it would be from
a rain storm, summary judgment was properly granted to United
Materials.
33