Stenburg v. Neel ( 1980 )

No. 79-94
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
1980
ANDREW J. STENBERG,
Plaintiff and Appellant,
VS .
TODD WILLIAM NEEL,
Defendant and Respondent.
Appeal from: District Court of the Fourth Judicial District,
In and for the County of Missoula.
Honorable John Henson, Judge presiding.
Counsel of Record:
For Appellant:
Goldman and Goldman, Missoula, Montana
Jon Oldenburg argued, Missoula, Montana
For Respondent:
Garlington, Lohn and Robinson, Missoula, Montana
Candace Fetcher argued and Gary Graham argued,
Missoula, Montana
Submitted: May 29, 1980
Decided: July 14, 1980 J()L 14 19%
Mr. Chief J u s t i c e Frank I . H a s w e l l d e l i v e r e d t h e Opinion of
t h e Court.
P l a i n t i f f b r o u g h t t h i s a c t i o n t o r e c o v e r damages f o r
p e r s o n a l i n j u r i e s s u s t a i n e d i n an a u t o m o b i l e a c c i d e n t . Plaintiff
a p p e a l s from a judgment on j u r y v e r d i c t and t h e d e n i a l o f a
motion f o r a new t r i a l .
T h i s a c t i o n a r o s e o u t o f an A p r i l 1 4 , 1975, t r a f f i c
a c c i d e n t a t t h e i n t e r s e c t i o n o f North Orange S t r e e t and
W e s t Broadway i n M i s s o u l a , Montana. Stenberg, t h e p l a i n t i f f
and a p p e l l a n t , was a policeman o p e r a t i n g a p o l i c e p a t r o l c a r
a t t h e t i m e of t h e a c c i d e n t .
P r i o r t o t h e a c c i d e n t S t e n b e r g had been w r i t i n g a p a r k -
i n g t i c k e t a t a l o c a t i o n s o u t h of where t h e c o l l i s i o n o c c u r r e d .
A t t h a t t i m e h e r e c e i v e d a c a l l i n f o r m i n g him of a d i s t u r b a n c e
a t a l o c a l secondhand s t o r e . During t r i a l t h e p l a i n t i f f
d e s c r i b e d what happened n e x t , a s f o l l o w s :
"When I r e c e i v e d t h e c a l l , I l e f t t h e a r e a of
Second and Hickory and I t u r n e d on m p u r s u i t y
l i g h t s and m overhead l i g h t s and m s i r e n .
y y I
t u r n e d northbound on Orange S t r e e t o f f of Second
S t r e e t and proceeded a c r o s s t h e b r i d g e . The
t r a f f i c w a s q u i t e heavy d u r i n g t h e l u n c h hour and
I was p r e t t y much i n t h e flow of t r a f f i c going
across the bridge. I g o t t o t h e n o r t h end o f t h e
Orange S t r e e t b r i d g e and t h e t r a f f i c was heavy
a t a l l t h e i n t e r s e c t i o n s and on the s t r e e t s , s o I
had t o go on a c r o s s t h e c e n t e r l i n e t o g e t i n t o
the intersection. I entered the intersection, t h e
l i g h t was r e d b u t a l l t h e v e h i c l e s w e r e s t o p p e d . I
g o t a b o u t half-way t h r o u g h t h e n e x t b l o c k , t r a f f i c
was s t o p p e d a t t h e i n t e r s e c t i o n and a g a i n I had
t o go t o t h e l e f t b e c a u s e of t h e c a r s t h a t w e r e
stopped. A t t h e i n t e r s e c t i o n I e n t e r e d t h e i n t e r -
s e c t i o n and t h a t ' s when 1 was i n v o l v e d i n t h e
accident."
Neel, t h e d e f e n d a n t , was d r i v i n g h i s a u t o m o b i l e e a s t on
Broadway when t h e a c c i d e n t o c c u r r e d . H e had t h e g r e e n l i g h t
i n h i s favor. H i s testimony i n d i c a t e s t h a t he d i d n o t hear
t h e s i r e n o r s e e t h e emergency l i g h t s on t h e p a t r o l c a r .
O t h e r e y e w i t n e s s e s gave c o n f l i c t i n g t e s t i m o n y a s t o t h e
a u d i b i l i t y and v i s i b i l i t y o f t h e p a t r o l c a r ' s emergency
equipment. A s t h e N e e 1 automobile e n t e r e d t h e i n t e r s e c t i o n
i t was h i t midway on t h e p a s s e n g e r s i d e by t h e f r o n t o f t h e
patrol car. A s a r e s u l t o f t h e accident Stenberg s u f f e r e d a
p i n c h e d n e r v e i n t h e neck. This has r e s u l t e d i n s e v e r e ,
incapacitating, i n t e r m i t t e n t pain.
S t e n b e r g b r o u g h t t h i s s u i t t o r e c o v e r h i s damages a r i s i n g
from t h e a c c i d e n t . The j u r y r e t u r n e d a v e r d i c t i n d e f e n d a n t ' s
favor .
S t e n b e r g raises f o u r i s s u e s on a p p e a l :
1. Whether t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t e r r e d i n i n s t r u c t i n g t h e
j u r y on t h e s t a n d a r d o f c a r e a p p l i c a b l e t o t h e p l a i n t i f f ?
2. Whether t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t e r r e d i n i n s t r u c t i n g t h e
j u r y t o a p p l y t h e law o f c o n t r i b u t o r y n e g l i g e n c e r a t h e r t h a n
t h e law o f c o m p a r a t i v e n e g l i g e n c e ?
3. Whether t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t e r r e d i n r e f u s i n g t o g i v e
two of p l a i n t i f f ' s proposed i n s t r u c t i o n s ?
4. Whether t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t e r r e d i n n o t g r a n t i n g t h e
p l a i n t i f f ' s motion f o r a new t r i a l ?
S t e n b e r g c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t e r r e d by g i v i n g
c o u r t ' s i n s t r u c t i o n no. 1 5 which i n s t r u c t e d t h e j u r y a s t o
s t a n d a r d of c a r e a p p l i c a b l e t o b o t h p a r t i e s . This i n s t r u c t i o n
reads :
"The l e g a l s t a n d a r d o f c a r e g o v e r n i n g t h e c o n d u c t
o f motor v e h i c l e o p e r a t o r s i s u n v a r y i n g , and rests
a l i k e upon a l l d r i v e r s a t a l l t i m e s . The s t a n d a r d
o f -r-i-t h e c o n d u c t - - o r d i n a r i l y p r u d e n t
- ca e s of a n
p e r s o n - -e same o r s i m i l a r c i r c u m s t a n c e s ; i n
i n th --
o t h e r words, o r d i n a r y c a r e . Ordinary c a r e , a s t h e
t e r m i s used i n t h e s e i n s t r u c t i o n s means t h a t d e g r e e
-- -which a r e a s o n a b l e p r u d e n t p e r s o n would -
of c a r e -- use
o r e x e r c i s e unaer - - - s i m i l a r circumstances,
- t h e same o r
i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e same o r s i m i l a r m a t t e r s t o a v o i d
i n j u r y , and it i m p l i e s t h e u s e o f such c a r e a s i s
f a i r l y commensurate w i t h t h e danger t o be a v o i d e d
when measured by t h e s t a n d a r d s o f common prudence
and e x p e r i e n c e .
"And, g e n e r a l l y s p e a k i n g , n e g l i g e n c e i s , t h e r e f o r e ,
- - of
t h e want -- o r d i n a r y c a r e , t h e f a i l u r e t o do what
a r e a s o n a b l e and p r u d e n t p e r s o n would o r d i n a r i l y
have done under - c i r c u m s t a n c e s - -e s i t u a t i o n ,
the of t h
o r t h e d o i n g what s u c h a p e r s o n under t h e e x i s t i n g
c i r c u m s t a n c e s would n o t have done.
"Negligence may a l s o c o n s i s t i n t h e d o i n g of some
a c t which t h e law f o r b i d s , o r i n t h e f a i l u r e t o do
t h a t which t h e law commands.
" I n t h i s a c t i o n any n e g l i g e n c e i s of no consequence
u n l e s s i t was a p r o x i m a t e c a u s e of t h e i n j u r i e s and
damages complained by t h e p l a i n t i f f ."
(Emphasis
added. )
S t e n b e r g c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e i n s t r u c t i o n was i n c o r r e c t ,
b e c a u s e of c e r t a i n language which a p p e a r s i n s e c t i o n 61-8-107,
MCA. This s t a t u t e g r a n t s c e r t a i n p r i v i l e g e s t o t h e o p e r a t o r s
o f a u t h o r i z e d emergency v e h i c l e s . S e c t i o n 61-8-107, MCA, w a s
s e t f o r t h i n s u b s t a n t i a l p a r t i n t h e c o u r t ' s i n s t r u c t i o n no.
16. The i n s t r u c t i o n r e a d s i n p a r t :
"(b) The d r i v e r o f a n a u t h o r i z e d emergency v e h i c l e
may :
"1. Park o r s t a n d , i r r e s p e c t i v e of t h e p r o v i s i o n s
of t h i s a c t ;
"2. Proceed p a s t a r e d o r s t o p s i g n a l o r s t o p s i g n ,
b u t o n l y a f t e r s l o w i n g down a s may b e n e c e s s a r y f o r
safe operation;
"3. Exceed t h e speed l i m i t s s o l o n g a s he does n o t
endanger l i f e o r p r o p e r t y ;
"4. D i s r e g a r d r e g u l a t i o n s g o v e r n i n g d i r e c t i o n of
movement o r t u r n i n g i n s p e c i f i e d d i r e c t i o n s .
" ( c ) The exemptions h e r e i n g r a n t e d t o an a u t h o r i z e d
emergency v e h i c l e s h a l l a p p l y o n l y when such v e h i c l e
i s making u s e of a u d i b l e and v i s u a l s i g n a l s meeting
t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s of 532-21-132, e x c e p t t h a t an
a u t h o r i z e d emergency v e h i c l e o p e r a t e d a s a p o l i c e
v e h i c l e need n o t b e equipped w i t h o r d i s p l a y a r e d
l i g h t v i s i b l e from i n f r o n t o f t h e v e h i c l e .
" ( d ) The f o r e g o i n g p r o v i s i o n s s h a l l n o t r e l i e v e
t h e d r i v e r of an a u t h o r i z e d emergency v e h i c l e from
--
t h e -t-t o d r i v e w i t h due r e g a r d f o r t h e s a f e t y of
du y
a l l Persons, nor s h a l l such provisions p r o t e c t t h e
d r i v e r from. t h e consequences- of h i s r e c k l e s s d i s -
r e g a r d f o r t h e s a f e t y of o t h e r s . " (Emphasis a d d e d . )
Stenberg contends t h a t t h e s t a t u t e r e l i e v e s t h e d r i v e r
of an a u t h o r i z e d emergency v e h i c l e from t h e d u t y o f e x e r c i s i n g
o r d i n a r y c a r e , and, i n s t e a d , imposes a lesser d u t y .
T h e r e f o r e , S t e n b e r g a r g u e s , i n s t r u c t i o n no. 15 c o n s t i t u t e d
r e v e r s i b l e e r r o r , b e c a u s e i t imposes a d u t y of o r d i n a r y c a r e
upon b o t h p a r t i e s .
S e c t i o n 61-8-107, MCA, h a s n o t been c o n s t r u e d by t h i s
Court. O t h e r j u r i s d i c t i o n s have, however, had o c c a s i o n t o
c o n s t r u e and a p p l y n e a r l y i d e n t i c a l s t a t u t e s . S c h a t z v.
C u t l e r ( D . V t 1 9 7 5 ) , 395 F. Supp. 271. Shawnee T.P. Fire
D i s t . No. 1 v. Morgan ( 1 9 7 7 ) , 2 2 1 Kan. 271, 559 P.2d 1 1 4 1 .
I n Shawnee t h e c o u r t was f a c e d w i t h a f a c t u a l s i t u a t i o n
v e r y much l i k e t h a t p r e s e n t e d by t h e i n s t a n t c a s e . The c o u r t
had t o d e t e r m i n e t h e d u t y imposed by a Kansas s t a t u t e which
i s i d e n t i c a l t o s e c t i o n 61-8-107(4), MCA, i n a l l m a t e r i a l
respects. The c o u r t s a i d :
"Even though t h e u s e o f t h e word ' r e c k l e s s ' s u g g e s t s
an element o f wantonness, w e b e l i e v e - -s- e it w a t h
i n t e n t of -e l e g i s l a t u r e to c h a r g e - d r i v e r of
- th the
- emergency v e h i c l e w i t h due c a r e under t h e e x s t -
an ---
i n g f a c t s and c i r c u m s t a n c e s . The f a c t s and c i r c u m s t a n c e s
i n c l u d e t h e p r i v i l e g e s and immunities g r a n t e d by
statute. The t e s t f o r due c a
-----r e ( o r due r e g a r d a s
u s e d i n t h e s t a t u t e ) , - a p p l i e d - -e d r i v e r o f
as t o th
a n emergency v e h i c l e , i s whether w i t h- p r i v i l e g e s
- - the
and immunities p r o v i d e d b y s t a t u t e h e a c t e d a s a
--
reasonably c a r e f u l driver." 559 P.2d a t 1 1 4 7 . -
(Emphasis added.)
W e agree. The d r i v e r of a n a u t h o r i z e d emergency v e h i c l e
i s c h a r g e d w i t h a d u t y o f due c a r e under t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s ,
and t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s i n c l u d e t h e p r i v i l e g e s g r a n t e d by
s e c t i o n 61-8-107(2), MCA. In the present case, instruction
no. 1 5 s t a t e d , i n e s s e n c e , t h a t a l l d r i v e r s must u s e o r d i n a r y
c a r e under t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s . I n s t r u c t i o n no. 16 gave t h e
p r i v i l e g e s p r o v i d e d t o S t e n b e r g under t h e t e r m s of s e c t i o n
61-8-107. Consequently, t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s c o r r e c t l y presented
t h e law t o t h e j u r y . The s t a t u t e may w e l l have been i n t e n d e d
t o p r o t e c t t h e d r i v e r o f a n emergency v e h i c l e , b u t i t d o e s
-5-
n o t r e l i e v e him of e x e r c i s i n g o r d i n a r y c a r e . N error
o
was committed by g i v i n g i n s t r u c t i o n no. 1 5 .
Stenberg next contends t h a t t h e D i s t r i c t Court e r r e d
i n i n s t r u c t i n g t h e j u r y t o a p p l y t h e law of c o n t r i b u t o r y
n e g l i g e n c e r a t h e r t h a n t h e law of c o m p a r a t i v e n e g l i g e n c e .
S e c t i o n 27-1-702, MCA, sets f o r t h Montana's law o f
comparative negligence. The e f f e c t i v e d a t e of t h i s s t a t u t e
was J u l y 1, 1975, a l t h o u g h i t was p a s s e d by t h e l e g i s l a t u r e
on March 1 7 , 1975. S e c t i o n 1 - 2 - 2 0 1 ( 1 ) , MCA, p r o v i d e s t h a t
"Every s t a t u t e , u n l e s s a d i f f e r e n t t i m e i s p r e s c r i b e d t h e r e i n ,
t a k e s e f f e c t on t h e f i r s t day of J u l y f o l l o w i n g i t s p a s s a g e
and a p p r o v a l . " A d i f f e r e n t t i m e i s n o t p r e s c r i b e d by s e c t i o n
27-1-702, MCA.
I n Dunham v. S o u t h s i d e N a t i o n a l Bank o f Missoula ( 1 9 7 6 ) ,
L g.3
3
169 Mont. 466, 548 P.2d M , t h i s C o u r t a f f i r m e d a D i s t r i c t
C o u r t ' s g r a n t o f summary judgment i n d e f e n d a n t ' s f a v o r . The
h o l d i n g was based on t h e d e f e n d a n t ' s l a c k o f d u t y t o t h e
plaintiff. T h i s C o u r t went on, however, t o c o n s i d e r whether
t h e new c o m p a r a t i v e n e g l i g e n c e s t a t u t e was t o b e r e t r o a c t i v e l y
applied. This Court s a i d :
"The o r d e r of t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t g r a n t i n g summary
judqment i s a f f i r m e d , a s i s t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ' s
c o n c l u s i o n t h a t t h e Montana c o m p a r a t i v e n e g l i g e n c e
.. .- ~.
l a w S e c t i o n 58-607.1. R.C.M. 1947 [now 527-1-702,
m]
- -- - - - -
, s h a l l n o t a p p l y -o- a -a u s e o f a c t i o n a r i s i n g
t -c
p r i o r - o -J u l y 1, 1975." 169 Mont. a t 475-76.
t - --
(Emphasis added. )
These o b s e r v a t i o n s from t h e Dunham c a s e c o n t r o l t h e
present case. The D i s t r i c t Court d i d n o t e r r i n i n s t r u c t i n g
t h e j u r y t o a p p l y t h e law o f c o n t r i b u t o r y n e g l i g e n c e r a t h e r
t h a n t h e law of c o m p a r a t i v e n e g l i g e n c e .
Stenberg next contends t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t e r r e d i n
r e f u s i n g t o g r a n t p l a i n t i f f ' s proposed i n s t r u c t i o n no. 1 2 .
T h i s i n s t r u c t i o n r e a d , "You a r e i n s t r u c t e d t h a t when i n t e r p r e t i n g
-6-
s t a t u t e s p a r t i c u l a r e x p r e s s i o n s q u a l i f y t h o s e which are
general." T h i s was t a k e n from s e c t i o n 1-3-225, MCA. According
t o p l a i n t i f f ' s c o n t e n t i o n , t h e i n s t r u c t i o n was n e c e s s a r y i n
order t h a t t h e jury could properly i n t e r p r e t t h e c o u r t ' s
i n s t r u c t i o n s no. 1 6 and no. 1 8 , which were b o t h t a k e n from
two o t h e r Montana s t a t u t e s .
S e c t i o n 26-1-201, MCA, s t a t e s t h a t a l l questions of l a w ,
i n c l u d i n g t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of s t a t u t e s , are t o be d e c i d e d by
the court. S e c t i o n 26-1-202, MCA, s t a t e s t h a t questions of
f a c t a r e t o be d e c i d e d by t h e j u r y , where t h e t r i a l i s by
jury. Consequently, i t was n o t t h e j u r y ' s f u n c t i o n t o i n t e r p r e t
any s t a t u t e s , and i t was n o t e r r o r t o r e f u s e p l a i n t i f f ' s
proposed i n s t r u c t i o n no. 1 2 .
Stenberg a l s o contends t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t e r r e d i n
r e f u s i n g t o g r a n t p l a i n t i f f ' s proposed i n s t r u c t i o n no. 22.
T h i s proposed i n s t r u c t i o n s t a t e d :
"You are i n s t r u c t e d - - -i- - r t h e P l a i n t i f f
i f you f n d f o
on -e q u e s t i o n of l i a b i l i t y you may t h e n c o n s i d e r
- th
what damages, i f a n y , t h e P l a i n t i f f h a s s u s t a i n e d
i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e enjoyment o f h o b b i e s ; t o what
e x t e n t , i f any h i s s a i d i n j u r i e s d i s a b l e d t h e
P l a i n t i f f and p r e v e n t e d him from engaging i n h i s
u s u a l h o b b i e s such as f i s h i n g , p l a y i n g b a s e b a l l ,
h u n t i n g , and any o t h e r r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s . "
(Emphasis added. )
The f a i l u r e t o g i v e t h i s i n s t r u c t i o n does n o t c o n s t i t u t e
reversible error. "Reversible e r r o r i s e r r o r materially
a f f e c t i n g t h e s u b s t a n t i a l r i g h t s of t h e a g g r i e v e d p a r t y .
Rule 1 4 , M.R.App.Civ.P," Ehni v. N.P. and White P i n e Co.
( 1 9 6 9 ) , 152 Mont. 373, 381, 450 P.2d 882. In the present case
t h e j u r y found i n f a v o r o f t h e d e f e n d a n t . The j u r y d i d n o t
r e a c h t h e i s s u e of damages. Consequently, no r e v e r s i b l e e r r o r
can be p r e d i c a t e d on damage i n s t r u c t i o n s .
S t e n b e r g ' s f i n a l c o n t e n t i o n i s t h a t t h e D i s t r i c t Court
e r r e d i n denying h i s motion f o r a n e w t r i a l . In addition t o
t h e i s s u e s which have been d i s c u s s e d above, S t e n b e r g
a l l e g e d i n h i s motion f o r new t r i a l t h a t t h e r e was i n s u f f -
i c i e n t e v i d e n c e t o s u p p o r t a d e t e r m i n a t i o n by t h e j u r y t h a t
he was c o n t r i b u t o r i l y n e g l i g e n t .
Rule 59, M.R.Civ.P. p e r m i t s t h e t r i a l judge t o o r d e r a
new t r i a l p u r s u a n t t o motion. This i s a matter within t h e
t r i a l c o u r t ' s d i s c r e t i o n i f t h e r e i s an i n s u f f i c i e n c y of
evidence t o support a jury v e r d i c t . Campeau v. Lewis ( 1 9 6 5 ) ,
1 4 4 Mont. 543, 547, 398 P.2d 960. However, a new t r i a l may
n o t be g r a n t e d by t h e t r i a l c o u r t when t h e r e i s s u b s t a n t i a l
evidence t o support t h e v e r d i c t . "The c o u r t ' s d i s c r e t i o n
i s e x h a u s t e d when i t f i n d s s u b s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e i n t h e
record t o support t h e v e r d i c t . " Hinton v. P e t e r s o n ( 1 9 4 6 ) ,
118 Mont. 574, 578, 169 P.2d 3 3 3 .
I n t h e present case, various witnesses estimated t h a t
S t e n b e r g ' s s p e e d immediately p r i o r t o t h e a c c i d e n t w a s between
25 m i l e s p e r hour and 50 m i l e s p e r h o u r . There i s no d i s p u t e
t h a t t h e i n t e r s e c t i o n was busy, t h a t S t e n b e r g had t o d r i v e
the police car across the centerline t o get into the inter-
s e c t i o n , and t h a t S t e n b e r g e n t e r e d t h e i n t e r s e c t i o n a g a i n s t
a red l i g h t . While t h e s e a c t i o n s a r e a u t h o r i z e d f o r d r i v e r s
of a u t h o r i z e d emergency v e h i c l e s by s e c t i o n 61-8-107, MCA,
S t e n b e r g was s t i l l r e q u i r e d t o e x e r c i s e ". . . due r e g a r d
f o r t h e s a f e t y of a l l p e r s o n s . . ." There was s u f f i c i e n t
e v i d e n c e from which a j u r y c o u l d f i n d t h a t S t e n b e r g f a i l e d t o
e x e r c i s e t h e r e q u i r e d s t a n d a r d of c a r e . The t r i a l c o u r t d i d
not a b u s e i t s d i s c r e t i o n i n denying t h e motion f o r a new t r i a l .
Af f irmed.
Chief J u s t i c e
We Concur:
Justices