S. Hoover v. S.A. Stine, PennDOT and the Borough of Waynesboro

IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Sara Hoover, :
Appellant :
:
v. : No. 532 C.D. 2016
: Argued: October 20, 2016
Seth Allen Stine, Commonwealth of :
Pennsylvania Department of :
Transportation and the Borough of :
Waynesboro :
BEFORE: HONORABLE MARY HANNAH LEAVITT, President Judge
HONORABLE P. KEVIN BROBSON, Judge
HONORABLE DAN PELLEGRINI, Senior Judge
OPINION NOT REPORTED
MEMORANDUM OPINION BY
SENIOR JUDGE PELLEGRINI FILED: November 15, 2016
Sara Hoover (Hoover) appeals the order of the Court of Common
Pleas of the 39th Judicial District, Franklin County branch (trial court) granting the
Borough of Waynesboro (Waynesboro) and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
Department of Transportation’s (PennDOT) motions for summary judgment. For
the reasons that follow, we affirm.
I.
A.
On the morning of May 20, 2013, Hoover was walking in the
crosswalk at the T-intersection of West Main Street, a state highway, and Fairway
Avenue in Waynesboro, Franklin County. When Hoover reached the intersection,
she pressed a button at the crosswalk activating the Rectangular Rapid Flashing
Beacons (RRFBs) which are “user-actuated amber LEDs that supplement warning
signs at unsignalized intersections or mid-block crosswalks”1 to signal that she was
crossing the intersection. As the RRFBs were flashing, Hoover began crossing the
street southbound when a westbound pick-up truck driven by Seth Allen Stine
(Stine)2 approached the intersection, travelling at or below the posted speed limit
of 35 miles per hour. Failing to notice the RRFBs or Hoover, Stine hit Hoover,
causing her to become air bound and thrown against a utility pole.
Immediately after the accident, Hoover was found unconscious,
bleeding from her mouth and nose, with a deep laceration to her forehead,
abrasions throughout her body and several chipped teeth. She was airlifted to the
University of Maryland Shock Trauma center where she was diagnosed with a left
kidney laceration, a grade 3 splenic laceration, a left femur fracture, a renal
hematoma, tears of the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, and tears of the
collateral ligament with avulsion of a large fracture fragment from the anterior
lateral plateau.
1
Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacon (RRFB), U.S. Department of Transportation Federal
Highway Administration, found at
http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersection/conventional/unsignalized/tech_sum/fhwasa09009/ (last
visited October 3, 2016).
2
Stine reached a settlement with Hoover and is not a party to this matter. He was
precluded from filing a brief with this Court.
2
After the accident, the investigating Waynesboro detectives tested the
RRFBs and found that the lights were operating correctly, stating that “[a]s soon as
the button is pushed, the lights are activated and they continue to flash for
approximately thirty seconds.” (Reproduced Record (R.R.) at 716b.)3 They also
took measurements to determine the distance between the relevant RRFBs and the
point at which drivers travelling westbound on West Main Street can initially see
the RRFBs’ flashing lights. (Id. at 719b.) The detectives found that “while
operating a motor vehicle, both lights for the crosswalk on the north side of West
Main Street could not be seen until you were 256.8 feet from the sign.” (Id.) The
detectives also “discovered that there were numerous other signs and foliage
blocking the view of the crosswalk sign … [and] that you could not see a
pedestrian standing at the crosswalk because of the actual crosswalk sign itself.”
(Id.) The detectives noted that the “sign was blocking the view of a pedestrian
waiting to cross from the motor vehicle operators [sic] point of view.” (Id.)
B.
The Vehicle Code4 grants PennDOT and local municipalities the
authority to install traffic signals and other traffic control devices on state roads.
75 Pa.C.S. § 6122(a). Before installing a traffic control device on a state highway,
however, a municipality must first obtain approval from PennDOT. 75 Pa.C.S. §
6122(a)(1). In turn, PennDOT must establish rules and regulations that set forth
3
Hoover filed two volumes of reproduced record and designated the pagination of
Volume 1 with an “a” and that of Volume 2 with a “b.” In this opinion, we will use Hoover’s
reproduced record pagination.
4
75 Pa.C.S. §§ 101-9805.
3
minimum standards and factors to be considered in determining whether a local
authority shall be given approval for the installation and maintenance of official
traffic control devices. 75 Pa.C.S. § 6122(b).5 PennDOT’s regulations must
comply with the standards endorsed by the United States Department of
Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and by the FHWA’s
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).
In July 2008, the FHWA published a memorandum providing interim
approval for the use of the RRFBs, noting that the interim approval would be
granted:
[F]or the optional use of the RRFB[s] as a warning
beacon to supplement standard pedestrian crossing or
school crossing signs or crosswalks across uncontrolled
approaches to any jurisdiction that submits a written
request to the office of transportation operations.
(R.R. at 328a.) In July 2009, PennDOT issued an Interim Approval for the use of
the RRFBs to reduce pedestrian-vehicle collisions as part of a pilot program. The
Interim Approval for the use of those flashing beacons required a municipality to,
inter alia, obtain written approval to install the RRFBs from PennDOT. PennDOT
also promulgated certain physical requirements concerning the design and
installation of the RRFBs, including that the RRFBs must be installed in a location
where they are clearly visible to approaching traffic from at least 200 feet away.
5
Such factors “shall include, but not be limited to, the volume of traffic and the number
of accidents that occurred in each of the three preceding years.” 75 Pa.C.S. § 6122(b).
4
PennDOT invited Waynesboro to apply to install the RRFBs at
crosswalks as part of its pilot program and also offered to finance the costs of the
project. Waynesboro and PennDOT entered into a contract regarding the
installation of the RRFBs and associated signage and poles on West Main Street,
under which Waynesboro agreed to install the RRFBs and associated poles and
signage, the design and installation of which would all be subject to the ultimate
approval of PennDOT. Upon completion of installation, Waynesboro would also
operate and maintain, at its sole cost and expense, all necessary improvements.
Waynesboro applied for permission to install the RRFBs at four locations in
Waynesboro, including the crosswalk at issue, and PennDOT granted Waynesboro
permission to proceed in January 2012. Waynesboro submitted a design plan for
the installation of the RRFBs at the subject crosswalk with associated poles and
signage and PennDOT, after approving those plans, issued a permit for
Waynesboro to install the beacons and the associated poles and signage.
Waynesboro installed the RRFBs and associated poles and signage at the
intersection of West Main Street and Fairview Avenue on January 18, 2013, and
the RRFBs were fully operational within one to two days of installation.
II.
A.
In November 2013, Hoover filed suit against Stine,6 Waynesboro and
PennDOT, alleging generally that she sustained severe damages and injuries as a
result of the parties’ negligence and carelessness.
6
Against Stine, Hoover alleged that as a direct and proximate result of Stine’s negligence
and carelessness, she suffered extensive and severe injuries which “resulted in pain, suffering,
(Footnote continued on next page…)
5
With respect to Waynesboro, Hoover contended that it was liable
because the RRFBs located at the crosswalk were improperly obstructed by a tree
on the right side of the road and a utility pole on the left side of the road, thereby
resulting in inadequate sight distance. She argued that that conduct falls within the
“trees and traffic control exception” of the Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act
(Tort Claims Act)7 which imposes liability on a local government or agency for:
A dangerous condition of trees, traffic signs, lights or
other traffic controls, street lights or street lighting
systems under the care, custody or control of the local
agency, except that the claimant to recover must establish
that the dangerous condition created a reasonably
foreseeable risk of the kind of injury which was incurred
and that the local agency had actual notice or could
reasonably be charged with notice under the
circumstances of the dangerous condition at a sufficient
time prior to the event to have taken measures to protect
against the dangerous condition.
42 Pa.C.S. § 8542(b)(4) (emphasis added).
(continued…)
inconvenience, embarrassment, humiliation, mental anguish and the loss of enjoyment of life and
life’s pleasures both past and into the future.” (R.R. at 12a, ¶14.) She claimed that for the
aforementioned injuries, she was required to undergo hospital, medical surgical, nursing care and
treatment and may continue to need such care into the future. Hoover also claimed that due to
Stine’s negligent and careless actions, she “has in the past and may in the future be unable to
attend to and perform the duties of her vocation.” (Id. at 13a, ¶16.)
7
42 Pa.C.S. §§ 8541–8542.
6
As to PennDOT, she alleged that it was negligent in approving the
installation of the RRFBs by Waynesboro in violation of the sight line standards
with which PennDOT was responsible for ensuring compliance. She argued that
PennDOT should have discovered the obstructions which created dangerous
conditions at the intersection either during a site inspection or upon review of
Waynesboro’s flawed design documents. Hoover alleged that the dangerous
conditions at the intersection were caused by PennDOT’s faulty and negligent
approval of traffic controls in violation of its own mandatory minimum sight
distances and because of Waynesboro’s negligent and careless installation of the
RRFBs by failing to achieve the minimum proper sight line of 325 feet.8
8
Hoover alleged that both Waynesboro and PennDOT’s negligence and carelessness
consisted of the following:
(a) failure to properly design, construct, locate and place traffic
signals including the pedestrian crosswalk signs as set forth above;
(b) failure to provide adequate set back from the roadway, the
placement and location of the pedestrian crosswalk sign;
(c) failure to adhere to applicable PennDOT and applicable
minimal industry standards and the placement and location of the
pedestrian crosswalk sign;
(d) placing a pedestrian crosswalk sign in an area where it may
have been obstructed by foliage including a tree directly in front of
the traffic crosswalk signs for those operating vehicles in a
westbound direction;
(e) failing to provide a safe roadway at the intersection of Fairview
Avenue and Main Street in the borough of Waynesboro;
(f) failure to take proper and necessary measures to provide the
safety of pedestrians within the crosswalk on Fairview Avenue as
set forth above;
(Footnote continued on next page…)
7
B.
In her deposition taken as part of discovery, Hoover testified that on
the day of the accident, she arrived at the pedestrian crossing and she pressed the
button to activate the RRFBs. While she saw at least one person on her right stop
for her, she could not see anyone to her left, the direction from which Stine hit her.
She testified that once she made sure that the traffic was either a safe distance
away or had stopped, she walked maybe three or four steps into the crosswalk
when she heard the sound of an oncoming car to her left. When she turned her
head, she saw a blur of red because of how fast the vehicle was going, and then she
blacked out.
In his deposition, Stine testified that he never noticed the flashing
RRFBs or Hoover at any point prior to the impact, and he stated that he did not
know why he did not see the flashing lights at the crosswalk. In fact, Stine stated
that he did not realize he hit a pedestrian until after he stopped his vehicle to check
(continued…)
(g) improperly locating, constructing and/or maintaining a
pedestrian crosswalk sign with a flashing signal in a location along
the roadway that substantially increased the risk of harm to
pedestrians attempting to cross W. Main Street; [and]
(h) failing to properly and effectively review and/or inspect the
design, construction and/or maintenance of the traffic control
devices and roadway appurtenances on W. Main Street in the
vicinity of Fairview Avenue[.]
(R.R. at 14a-15a, ¶25; R.R. at 16a-17a, ¶32.)
8
on what he thought to be a mechanical failure. He stated that his pickup truck was
equipped with daytime running lights, and he had no reason to believe that the
lights were not operating properly as he approached the intersection on the day of
the accident. Stine acknowledged that he has lived in Waynesboro for over 50
years, knew there was a crosswalk at that location, had seen people cross at that
location before the accident, and had previously stopped for pedestrians at that
crosswalk when the lights were flashing.
In a deposition of an eyewitness who was the driver of the vehicle
driving a car length behind Stine’s, the eyewitness testified that Stine did not slow
down or brake even though the RRFBs were flashing. The eyewitness testified
that she saw the flashing lights of the crosswalk light up on both sides of the street
and that she had no problem seeing the lights flashing. She stated that she was
horrified because she could see that Stine was driving towards Hoover with no sign
of slowing down or stopping.
Hoover also submitted an expert report of Russel J. Kolmus, III, PE,
which claimed that at a posted speed of 35 miles per hour, as on West Main Street,
the sight distance required by the MUTCD is 325 feet. Mr. Kolmus opined in his
report that the sight distances and the RRFBs did not meet engineering standards
and practice; that Waynesboro’s Engineering Department failed to design the
accident location or construct the signs and the RRFBs in accordance with
PennDOT’s and the FHWA’s standards; that PennDOT failed to effectively review
and critique the design provided to it by Waynesboro because it allowed sight
distances that failed to meet engineering standards and practice; and that PennDOT
9
failed to adequately inspect the accident location after its construction because it
failed to identify sight lines and sight distances from the pedestrian crossing sign
and the RRFBs to approaching westbound motorists that failed to meet engineering
standards and practice.
Waynesboro’s expert, Steven M. Schorr, PE, pointed out that the
RRFBs are optional and supplemental to the existing traffic controls and, thus, the
325 feet sight distance would not be applicable. In his report, Mr. Schorr stated,
“The [RRFBs] per the [Federal Highway Administration] memorandum, can be
considered supplementary to the warning signs, not ‘the’ warning signs. Therefore
the 325 feet ‘warning sign’ sight distance referred to by Mr. Kolmus would not be
applicable.” (R.R. at 959b, ¶3.) Mr. Schorr added:
Even if one accepts Mr. Kolmus’ conclusion that the
required sight distance would be 325 feet and his
acceptance of the police-noted 256.8 feet sight distance, a
review of the approach to the intersection indicates that at
the time of the collision, in addition to the north-side
pedestrian crossing sign and RRFB’s, a westbound
vehicle operator had a view of the south-side pedestrian
crossing sign and RRFB’s, as well as a view of the “old”
pedestrian crossing sign located over 100 feet east of the
intersection, and a view of the painted pedestrian
crossing warnings on the roadway also located east of the
intersection in question. That is, a review of the site
establishes that there were pedestrian warning signs and
markings, independent of the RRFB’s, which would have
been visible to reasonable prudent westbound vehicle
operators approaching the intersection in question.
(Id. at ¶4.)
10
After the pleadings were closed, Waynesboro and PennDOT both
filed motions for summary judgment.
C.
In its motion for summary judgment, Waynesboro contended that
there was no evidence of it having actual or constructive notice of any dangerous
condition at the site of the accident which is a prerequisite for a plaintiff to be able
to recover under the “trees and traffic control exception” contained in the Tort
Claims Act. It also argued that no evidence suggests that the tree or traffic control
signals at or near the crosswalk were causal factors in Hoover’s injury because
Stine never noticed the RRFBs or Hoover. Waynesboro also maintained that it did
not negligently or intentionally deviate from the design plans approved by
PennDOT under their contract, which required Waynesboro to install the RRFBs
and associated poles and signage pursuant to PennDOT-approved design
specifications. See 42 Pa.C.S. § 8542(b)(4).
PennDOT also moved for summary judgment, arguing that it was
immune from suit under the Sovereign Immunity Act, 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 8521-8528,
because Hoover could not prove the requisite elements of negligence, her
allegations did not fall within any exceptions to sovereign immunity, particularly
the “real estate exception,” 42 Pa.C.S. § 8522(b)(4), and because PennDOT did not
have any actual or constructive notice of any defect. PennDOT also argued that
“[b]ecause [Stine] did not see [Hoover] when she was in front of him, reasonable
minds could not differ that a condition of the Commonwealth realty could not have
11
been the cause of the accident” and, thus, Hoover did not meet her burden of
establishing the elements of negligence. (Id. at 476b, ¶66.)
The trial court granted Waynesboro and PennDOT’s motions for
summary judgment. With respect to Waynesboro, the trial court reasoned that the
record showed that, at a minimum, the RRFBs and a pedestrian standing in the
crosswalk were visible from at least 256.8 feet, and that in installing the RRFBs,
Waynesboro relied on PennDOT’s Interim Approval’s requirements, which
specifically called for a sight distance of 200 feet. As to PennDOT, the trial court
found that Hoover had not established that the issue of sight distance and the
location of the RRFBs resulted in dangerous conditions of Commonwealth real
estate because the crosswalk is not Commonwealth real estate, but rather, the
crosswalk and the RRFBs are Waynesboro’s responsibility to maintain.
Finding there was no evidence to suggest that either Waynesboro or
PennDOT had actual or constructive notice of any dangerous conditions of the real
estate or the traffic control devices, the trial court concluded that both PennDOT
and Waynesboro were immune from suit for tort liability. In coming to this
conclusion, the trial court noted that there was no evidence that there were similar
occurrences at the crosswalk in the period of months between the installation of the
RRFBs and Hoover’s accident.
It further reasoned that there was no evidence of complaints or reports
of problems or concerns that could be deemed “notice” under the law. Finally, the
trial court found that Hoover offered no evidence, just mere speculation, as to why
12
Stine did not see the RRFBs or her crossing the street, thereby not establishing the
element of causation required for a negligence action. In summary, the trial court
explained:
Even if the Court were to conclude that there is a genuine
issue of material fact with respect to the required sight
distance for RRFB[s] resulting in a dangerous condition
of the Commonwealth realty and/or traffic-control device
and requisite notice thereof thereby overcoming a
defense of sovereign immunity, the uncontested facts of
record render any debate over the regulatory
requirements moot. Certainly, an additional 125 feet of
sight distance could have permitted Stine additional time
[to] react, to brake, and to ultimately avoid collision with
[Hoover]. However, there is no evidence of record to
permit this Court to find that it would have made any
difference in this case. There is no evidence that
additional time or distance within which to react or apply
the brakes would have changed the unfortunate outcome.
No matter the required sight distance, Stine’s deposition
testimony was clear that he did not see the RRFB[s] at
any distance – 325 feet, 256.8 feet or 200 feet or fewer.
Based on Stine’s testimony, reasonable minds cannot
conclude that an additional 125 feet of sight distance
would have altered the outcome in this case. Reasonable
minds cannot conclude that the placement of the
RRFB[s], whether consistent with MUTCD requirements
or not, was the cause of this tragic event. It is clear that
Stine did not see the RRFB, and more importantly, he did
not see [Hoover] crossing the road at any point in his
approach to the crosswalk prior to striking her.
(Trial Court’s Opinion dated February 12, 2016 at 12) (emphasis in original).
Hoover filed the instant appeal.9
9
Our review of a trial court order granting summary judgment is limited to determining
whether the trial court abused its discretion or committed an error of law. Manley v. Fitzgerald,
(Footnote continued on next page…)
13
III.
Hoover argues that the trial court erred in determining that the
diminished sight distance was not a substantial contributing factor to the cause of
her accident.
In order to maintain an action against a Commonwealth party or a local
agency, a plaintiff must establish that he or she has a statutory cause of action or that
it was one maintainable at common law and that conduct falls within one of the
exceptions to immunity. Peak v. Petrovich, 636 A.2d 1248, 1252 (Pa. Cmwlth.
1994). Hoover brought a common law negligence action contending that both
Waynesboro and PennDot were negligent in installing the RRFBs. In establishing
common law negligence, the following elements must be generally met:
1. A duty or obligation recognized by the law, requiring
the actor to conform to a certain standard of conduct, for
the protection of others against unreasonable risks;
2. A failure on his part to conform to the standard
required;
3. A reasonably close causal connection between the
conduct and the resulting injury;
4. Actual loss or damage resulting to the interests of
another.
(continued…)
997 A.2d 1235, 1238 n. 2 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2010). Summary judgment may only be granted when,
after examining the record in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, the record clearly
demonstrates that there are no genuine issues of material fact and the moving party is entitled to
judgment as a matter of law. Id.
14
Farber v. Engle, 525 A.2d 864, 867 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1987) (emphasis added).
PennDOT’s Interim Approval required that the minimum sight
distance be 200 feet, and the police-noted 256.8 foot sight distance at the
intersection is greater than that. Although Hoover’s expert opined that at 35 miles
per hour the sight distance should be 325 feet, because the RRFBs are optional,
supplemental safety measures in an area where there were already pedestrian
warning signs and markings, independent of the RRFBs visible to vehicle
operators, vehicle operators would have had sufficient warning even without the
RRFBs.
Not only were the RRFBs supplemental to other pedestrian warning
signs, but Stine admitted that despite being familiar with the intersection, he never
saw the RRFBs or even Hoover until after he hit her. He also stated that he did not
know why he did not see the RRFBs or Hoover, just that he did not. Meanwhile,
the eyewitness driving behind Stine testified to never seeing him slow down or
brake as he approached the intersection, even though she herself could see Hoover.
As the trial court aptly noted:
There is no evidence that additional time or distance
within which to react or apply the brakes would have
changed the unfortunate outcome. No matter the
required sight distance, Stine’s deposition testimony was
clear that he did not see the RRFB[s] at any distance –
325 feet, 256.8 feet or 200 feet or fewer.
(Trial Court’s Opinion dated February 12, 2016 at 12) (emphasis in original).
Even if Hoover could make out a duty or that there was failure to conform to the
15
standard, all the evidence shows that there was not a reasonably close causal
connection between Waynesboro or PennDOT’s conduct and the resulting injury,
even if the sight distance should have been 325 feet.
IV.
A.
Not only has Hoover failed to establish that Waynesboro or
PennDOT’s purported negligence caused her injuries, she has failed to establish
that the alleged negligence fell within any exception to immunity. Relying on Tate
v. Commonwealth, 84 A.3d 762 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2014)10 and Bendas v. Township of
10
In Tate v. Commonwealth, 84 A.3d 762 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2014), a motor vehicle collision
occurred at the intersection of two state roads, only one of which had stop signs. The drivers and
passengers of the vehicles sued PennDOT, arguing that the absence of a traffic signal at the
intersection was a substantial factor in causing the accident and that PennDOT failed to maintain
its roads in a safe manner. PennDOT moved for summary judgment, claiming it had no duty to
install a traffic signal, but rather, one driver’s high speed was the superseding cause of the
accident. The trial court denied summary judgment and a jury found the high speed driver to be
67 percent liable and PennDOT to be 33 percent liable. PennDOT filed a motion for post-trial
relief, which the trial court denied.
On appeal to this Court, PennDOT argued that: first, it has adopted a regulation that
transferred the duty to install traffic signals on state roads to local municipalities, and second, the
high speed driver’s excessive speed was the superseding cause of the accident. Although we
agreed that under the Vehicle Code, PennDOT is not required to install traffic control devices,
we found that PennDOT still has “a duty to ensure that its highways are safe for their reasonably
foreseen uses,” and that “no agency can, by regulation, relieve itself of a duty of care or expand
its own sovereign immunity beyond the scope allowed by the legislature.” Tate, 84 A.3d at 767.
Reasoning that “the failure to remedy a dangerous condition amounts to a breach of PennDOT’s
duty of care” and that a jury is charged with determining what constitutes a dangerous condition,
we held that the trial court did not err in denying PennDOT’s motion for judgment
notwithstanding the verdict. Id.
With regard to whether the high speed driver’s operation of the vehicle was reckless and
constituted an unforeseeable use of the highway, we found that because expert testimony
(Footnote continued on next page…)
16
White Deer, 611 A.2d 1184 (Pa. 1992),11 Hoover argues that the “real estate
exception” to sovereign immunity, 42 Pa.C.S. § 8522(b)(4), applies because the
violation of the minimum sight line requirement created a dangerous condition of a
highway and not, as the trial court incorrectly referred to it, a crosswalk.
The Sovereign Immunity Act protects the Commonwealth from civil
suit for tort liability unless the General Assembly specifically waives immunity. 1
Pa.C.S. § 2310.12 See also 42 Pa.C.S. § 8521(a).13 “Sovereign immunity is only
(continued…)
established that speeding was a common problem and that there had been 45 motor vehicle
accidents at the intersection over a ten-year period, the speeding vehicle was foreseeable.
11
In Bendas v. Township of White Deer, 611 A.2d 1184 (Pa. 1992), a motor vehicle
accident occurred at the intersection of a state highway and a township road and both roads
lacked traffic control devices or signs. The drivers sued PennDOT, alleging that it had either
negligently failed to erect traffic control devices at the intersection or failed to correct a
dangerous condition. PennDOT moved for summary judgment, arguing that it did not owe a
duty of care to the plaintiffs. The trial court denied the motion, and we affirmed.
On appeal, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court identified two issues: first, whether
PennDOT had a duty to make state roads safe for their intended purpose and, second, whether
PennDOT's failure to satisfy that duty was actionable under an exception to sovereign immunity.
Citing to Snyder v. Harmon, 562 A.2d 307, 312 (Pa.1989), a case in which the Court construed
Section 8522(b)(4) of the Sovereign Immunity Act to mean that PennDOT must maintain a state
highway in a condition that is “safe for the activities for which it is regularly used, intended to be
used or reasonably foreseen to be used,” the Court found that PennDOT owed a duty of care. As
to the “real estate exception,” the Supreme Court held that the question of what is or is not a
“dangerous condition” of a highway is one of fact that “must be answered by the jury.” Bendas,
611 A.2d at 1187. Accordingly, the Court affirmed the trial court's refusal to grant summary
judgment to PennDOT.
12
1 Pa.C.S. § 2310 provides:
(Footnote continued on next page…)
17
waived for damages arising out of a negligent act where the common law or a
statute would permit recovery if the injury were caused by a person not protected
by sovereign immunity and the cause of action falls under one of the specifically
(continued…)
Pursuant to section 11 of Article 1 of the Constitution of
Pennsylvania, it is hereby declared to be the intent of the General
Assembly that the Commonwealth, and its officials and employees
acting within the scope of their duties, shall continue to enjoy
sovereign immunity and official immunity and remain immune
from suit except as the General Assembly shall specifically waive
the immunity. When the General Assembly specifically waives
sovereign immunity, a claim against the Commonwealth and its
officials and employees shall be brought only in such manner and
in such courts and in such cases as directed by the provisions of
Title 42 (relating to judiciary and judicial procedure) or 62
(relating to procurement) unless otherwise specifically authorized
by statute.
13
Section 8521(a) of the Sovereign Immunity Act, 42 Pa.C.S. § 8521(a), states:
Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, no provision of
this title shall constitute a waiver of sovereign immunity for the
purpose of 1 Pa.C.S. § 2310 (relating to sovereign immunity
reaffirmed; specific waiver) or otherwise.
Section 8522(a), 42 Pa.C.S. § 8522(a), states:
The General Assembly, pursuant to section 11 of Article I of the
Constitution of Pennsylvania, does hereby waive, in the instances
set forth in subsection (b) only and only to the extent set forth in
this subchapter and within the limits set forth in section 8528
(relating to limitations on damages), sovereign immunity as a bar
to an action against Commonwealth parties, for damages arising
out of a negligent act where the damages would be recoverable
under the common law or a statute creating a cause of action if the
injury were caused by a person not having available the defense of
sovereign immunity.
18
enumerated exceptions to immunity.” Page v. City of Philadelphia, 25 A.3d 471,
475 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2011) (emphasis added). The exceptions to sovereign immunity
must be strictly construed because “the clear intent of the legislature is to insulate
the government from exposure to tort liability.” Clark v. Pennsylvania Department
of Transportation, 962 A.2d 692, 694 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2008).
Here, as acknowledged by Hoover, the only possible exception under
the Sovereign Immunity Act is the “real estate exception” which allows the
imposition of liability on a Commonwealth party and precludes it from raising a
defense of sovereign immunity when a claim for damages is caused by:
A dangerous condition of Commonwealth agency real
estate and sidewalks, including Commonwealth-owned
real property, leaseholds in the possession of a
Commonwealth agency and Commonwealth-owned real
property leased by a Commonwealth agency to private
persons, and highways under the jurisdiction of a
Commonwealth agency, except [a dangerous condition of
highways under the jurisdiction of a Commonwealth
agency created by potholes or sinkholes or other similar
conditions created by natural elements].
42 Pa.C.S. § 8522(b)(4). This “dangerous condition must derive, originate from or
have as its source the Commonwealth realty.” Clark, 962 A.2d at 694 (quoting
Snyder v. Harmon, 562 A.2d 307, 311 (Pa. 1989)) (emphasis in Clark).14
14
Similar to the Sovereign Immunity Act’s application to the Commonwealth, the Tort
Claims Act provides that local agencies are generally immune from tort liability unless immunity
is expressly waived. 42 Pa.C.S. § 8541. Under Section 8542(a) of the Tort Claims Act, 42
Pa.C.S. § 8542(a), immunity is waived where the following conditions are satisfied: (1) damages
would be recoverable under statutory or common law if the injury were caused by a person not
(Footnote continued on next page…)
19
PennDOT argues that although West Main Street is a highway, the
crosswalk and the RRFBs at the intersection are not part of Commonwealth realty
because they are installed, owned and maintained by Waynesboro, for which it
cannot be liable under the “real estate exception.” PennDOT further argues that it
cannot be held liable under the “real estate exception” for an alleged failure to
inspect, thereby allowing the sight distance to be less than the 325 feet that
Hoover’s expert believed was appropriate as that is not a condition of the
exception.
(continued…)
protected by governmental immunity; (2) the local agency’s negligent act caused the injury; and
(3) the local agency’s alleged negligence falls within one of the eight enumerated exceptions to
governmental immunity listed in 42 Pa.C.S. § 8542(b).
The sole exception that could be applied to Waynesboro’s defense of immunity is the one
entitled “Trees, traffic controls and street lighting” which permits the imposition of liability on a
local agency with the following act:
A dangerous condition of trees, traffic signs, lights or other traffic
controls, street lights or street lighting systems under the care,
custody or control of the local agency, except that the claimant to
recover must establish that the dangerous condition created a
reasonably foreseeable risk of the kind of injury which was
incurred and that the local agency had actual notice or could
reasonably be charged with notice under the circumstances of the
dangerous condition at a sufficient time prior to the event to have
taken measures to protect against the dangerous condition.
42 Pa. C.S. § 8542(b)(4).
Although Waynesboro raises the defense of governmental immunity and the trial court
addresses it in its opinion, Hoover does not mention immunity as applied to Waynesboro in her
1925(b) Statement or her brief. Accordingly, we will not examine the application of
governmental immunity as applied to Waynesboro in this opinion.
20
In Ryles v. City of Philadelphia, 848 A.2d 1101 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2004),
this Court addressed a claim of sovereign immunity where the City of Philadelphia
and PennDOT argued over which had jurisdiction over a crosswalk at an
intersection. Concluding that the alleged dangerous conditions of the crosswalk
did not overcome PennDOT’s claim of sovereign immunity, we explained that:
We find Glenn [v. Horan, 765 A.2d 426 (Pa. Cmwlth.
2001)] instructive here. As stated by the court in Glenn,
a traffic control has as its central role the regulation of
traffic, whether pedestrian, vehicular or both. In this
case, the z-bricks and concrete headers clearly
established the path for pedestrian egress across the
highway, just as the painted crosswalk did in Glenn,
thereby serving the express dual purposes, of “guiding
pedestrians” and “warning motorists” of pedestrian
traffic across the road…. The crosswalk in question falls
within this language and clearly acts to regulate traffic.
Because the crosswalk regulates traffic, it is
distinguishable from the median in Slough [v. City of
Philadelphia, 686 A.2d 62 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1996)], which
we found served only a negligible traffic control
function. Under our analysis in Slough, although the
crosswalk does form the surface of the roadway, given its
traffic control function, it is the City's responsibility to
maintain.
Our conclusion is buttressed by other facts in this case.
For example, the Philadelphia Code provides for the City
to maintain crosswalks. In fact, the Philadelphia Code
uses similar language to 67 Pa. Code § 211.1 to provide
that, “The [City Department of Streets] may designate
and maintain, by appropriate devices, markings, or lines
upon the surface of the roadway, crosswalks at
intersections.” Philadelphia Code § 12-1205. It further
provides that the Department “shall place and maintain
all necessary traffic-control signs, signals, devices and
markings.”
***
21
Further, under the contract pertaining to the Market
Street improvements, the City agreed to maintain signage
and traffic controls at the intersection involved.
Although the agreement did not specifically include the
word “crosswalk,” it clearly did provide for the City to
maintain signalized intersections at several intersections,
including the one involved in this case. [Penn]DOT
correctly notes that crosswalks are a component of
signalized intersections. See 67 Pa. Code § 211.1174(a).
Ryles, 848 A.2d at 1106-07.
The RRFBs were implemented to better regulate traffic, “a warning
beacon to supplement standard pedestrian crossing….” (R.R. at 328a.) Although
PennDOT had to approve Waynesboro’s installation plans and PennDOT dictated
certain physical requirements of the RRFBs, under the parties’ contract,
Waynesboro was responsible for installing, operating and maintaining the RRFBs.
Because the crosswalk is not PennDOT’s real estate, Hoover has not met her
burden of establishing that the “real estate exception” negates PennDOT’s
sovereign immunity.
B.
Hoover also argues that Waynesboro had actual and constructive
notice of the dangerous condition of the crosswalk on West Main Street and
Fairway Avenue that contributed to her serious accident and that the trial court
erred in concluding otherwise.
The Tort Claims Act provides that the plaintiff bears the burden of
establishing that the local agency that purportedly contributed to a dangerous
22
condition of trees or traffic controls “had actual notice or could reasonably be
charged with notice under the circumstances of the dangerous condition at a
sufficient time prior to the event to have taken measures to protect against the
dangerous condition.” 42 Pa.C.S. § 8542(b)(4).
Hoover contends that Waynesboro had notice of the dangerous
condition because when it installed the RRFBs at the intersection, it was required
to know and comply with the sight line standards. Because it did not adhere to the
correct standard of meeting a sight line of 325 feet, it “would have been aware that
the sight line that existed was well shy of the required minimum sight line due to
visual obstructions on both sides of the roadway.” (Hoover’s Brief at 22.)
Despite Hoover’s speculations that Waynesboro had notice through its
design, installation and approval of the RRFBs, there is no evidence of any notice.
After the warning lights had been installed, there were no accidents involving the
crosswalk until Hoover’s. There was no evidence of poor visibility of the RRFBs,
no evidence that the RRFBs were not working, that trees or utility poles obstructed
the RRFBS or other related complaints. In fact, the RRFBs were installed to
improve upon the safety measures already in place. Without evidence to the
contrary, the parties would have had absolutely no reason to believe, or have
notice, that the safety measures could actually be “dangerous conditions.”
Moreover, the sight distance being less than 325 feet is not a reason for
Waynesboro or PennDOT to have notice of a potential dangerous condition
23
because PennDOT’s Interim Approval required that the minimum sight distance be
200 feet, with which the RRFBs were in compliance.15
Given the lack of accidents at the crosswalk or any complaints with
the RRFBs or visibility issues or the like, there was no evidence to indicate that
Waynesboro had notice of any alleged dangerous condition. As such, the trial court
correctly determined the issue of notice.
15
Hoover also claims that PennDOT had notice of the dangerous condition of the
intersection through its responsibility of granting Waynesboro its permits to install the RRFBs,
which requires that PennDOT examine Waynesboro’s designs and then visit the actual site for
the purpose of ensuring compliance with sight line standards. Hoover explains, “Notably, here,
not only did the design documents received by [PennDOT] display the sight line obstructions
(the tree and utility pole), PennDOT, indeed, performed the site inspection, at which time it
actually had the opportunity to observe the obstructions and inadequate sight lines.” (Hoover’s
Brief at 23.)
Unlike the exception for local agencies, the Commonwealth agency highway exception
does not specifically provide for actual or constructive notice of the dangerous condition of the
highway. However, because it is a prerequisite that an action must be maintainable at common
law, and at common law the action required such notice, the Commonwealth agency must have
actual or constructive notice of the dangerous condition to maintain an action under the
exception. Under the common law formulation, apart from faulty construction work, the liability
of the governmental entity for injuries suffered as a result of defects in the highway arose only
when it had either actual or constructive notice of the dangerous condition. For the
governmental entity to be charged with constructive notice of the dangerous condition of a
roadway, that condition had to be apparent upon reasonable inspection. Patton v.
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 669 A.2d 1090 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1996); Fidanza v. Department of
Transportation, 655 A.2d 1076 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1995).
Even if we had not held that the conduct could fall within the highway exception at all,
the claimed negligence would not fall within this exception because, as explained above, there
was no reason to believe that the RRFBs were designed or installed negligently.
24
V.
Accordingly, for the foregoing reasons, we affirm the trial court’s
order.
________________________________
DAN PELLEGRINI, Senior Judge
25
IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Sara Hoover, :
Appellant :
:
v. : No. 532 C.D. 2016
:
Seth Allen Stine, Commonwealth of :
Pennsylvania Department of :
Transportation and the Borough of :
Waynesboro :
ORDER
AND NOW, this 15th day of November, 2016, the order of the Court
of Common Pleas of the 39th Judicial District, Franklin County branch, dated
February 12, 2016, at No. 2013-4467, is affirmed.
________________________________
DAN PELLEGRINI, Senior Judge