Marjorie N. Gray, App. v. Broadview Development Associates Ii, Res. ( 2015 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
MARJORIE N. GRAY, by and through her
durable power of attorney agent, JAMES No. 72715-0-1
S. GRAY,
DIVISION ONE
Appellant,
UNPUBLISHED OPINION
v.
BROADVIEW DEVELOPMENT
ASSOCIATES II, a Washington limited
partnership, d/b/a IDA CULVER HOUSE
BROADVIEW; BROADVIEW
DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC., a
Washington corporation; and ERA LIVING CD
LLC, a Washington corporation; jointly and
severally liable,
Respondents. FILED: August 10, 2015
Appelwick, J. — Gray appeals the summary judgment dismissal of her negligence
claims against ICHB. Gray fell while ascending an ICHB bus stairway. The trial court
found that as a matter of law the doctrine of implied primary assumption of the risk barred
Gray's claims. However, a genuine issue of material fact exists as to whether any
assumption of risk was voluntary. Application of the doctrine of implied primary
assumption of the risk was error. We reverse and remand.
FACTS
Ida Culver House Broadview (ICHB) is a retirement community in the Seattle area.
ICHB provides a "full continuum of care, including Independent Living, Assisted Living,
Memory Care, and Skilled Nursing." To participate in the independent living program,
ICHB requires a resident to be "able to participate, physically and mentally, in the activities
of daily living" and be "independently mobile within the apartment and physically and
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mentally capable of traversing a normal path to safety without the physical assistance of
another person."
Marjorie Gray participated in the independent living program at ICHB. In October
2010, Gray was 84 years old. She used a wheeled walker when moving around her room
or the facility. At the time, Gray's monthly fees at ICHB were $4,435, which covered room,
board, amenities, and services.
The services provided by ICHB included scenic bus tours, which Gray and her
husband, Paul,1 enjoyed. Paul was also an ICHB resident, but was in a wheelchair and
participated in the assisted living program. The couple spent time together by taking
weekly or biweekly bus tours around the Seattle area. The tours were operated by ICHB
staff and the residents were transported on an ICHB community bus.
In 2010, ICHB had two buses. One bus had a single passenger entrance that was
a flat platform slightly above ground level. The other bus had two entrances: a lift in the
back and a stairway in the front. The stairway had four steep steps.2 The lift was used
for residents in wheelchairs and some residents with walkers. It could raise only one
resident at a time. For residents in wheelchairs, the process took about five to seven
minutes:
[T]he operator had to retrieve the remote, unlock the lift from inside the bus,
lock the resident in a wheelchair into place on the lift, and accompany the
resident on the lift. Then the operator had to unstrap the resident's
wheelchair, take the resident into the bus, secure the wheelchair into place
by locking down the wheels, and then lower the lift and assist the next
resident.
1 We refer to Gray's family members by their first names for clarity's sake. No
disrespect is intended.
2 Gray does not allege that the stairs were defective.
No. 72715-0-1/3
For residents in walkers, the process took about two to four minutes:
With those residents, the process was to set the walker aside, get on the
lift, the operator then closed it on all four sides, and while the resident held
onto the siderails [sic], the lift was slowly raised. The operator then opened
the rails, assisted the resident to a seat, then returned and lowered the lift.
Typically, between six and ten residents would participate in the scenic tours. Gray's
daughter, Paula, witnessed residents boarding the bus many times and rarely saw more
than one staff member coordinating the bus loading. Paula never saw a second staff
member assisting residents with the stairs while the driver was busy at the lift. According
to Paula, the "other residents would be told or motioned to line up by the front entry.
Residents with walkers had to set them by the bus doors, and then climb the steps and
pull themselves up with the railings without any assistance."
On April 1, 2009, Gray fell and scraped her knees while climbing the stairs of the
ICHB bus. Although an ICHB staff member assisted Gray to the bus, Gray did not have
assistance climbing the stairs. After Paula was notified of the fall, she spoke to Joanne
Kramer, the main nurse in the ICHB Wellness Clinic. Paula asked that the staff use the
lift for Gray on future bus outings. Nurse Kramer "assured [Paula] thatshe would e[-]mail
and communicate this to all the recreation staff and bus drivers."3
3 Nurse Kramer did not recall speaking to Paula about Gray boarding the bus via
the lift. Her statements were presented only in Paula's declaration. Below, ICHB
challenged Nurse Kramer's statements to Paula as hearsay. At oral argument on appeal,
ICHB asserted that the trial court excluded Nurse Kramer's statements as hearsay. The
record does not support this assertion. Nonetheless, we appreciate that, for the purpose
of summary judgment review, we may consider only admissible evidence. See Grimwood
v. Univ. of Puaet Sound. Inc.. 110 Wash. 2d 355, 359, 753, P.2d 517 (1988); CR 56(e). Gray
offered Nurse Kramer's statements under ER 801(d)(2)(iv), that provides that a statement
is not hearsay if it is offered against a party and was made by the party's agent acting
within the scope ofthe authority to make the statement for the party. Paula's declaration
included two promises by Nurse Kramer: that she would e-mail staff about using the lift
and that Gray would board the bus only via the lift. Nurse Kramer offered health-related
No. 72715-0-1/4
On July 7, 2010, Gray fell a second time on the ICHB bus stairs. She suffered an
abrasion to her right shin, causing a large skin laceration. After the fall, Paula again spoke
with Nurse Kramer. According to Paula, Nurse Kramer "put her head in her hands, shook
it in frustration, and said: 'I told them to use the lift. I emailed everyone! I'll email them
again.'"
In mid-September 2010, Gray suffered a heart attack. ICHB contacted Paula
about the incident. Gray was hospitalized for a week.
On October 27, 2010, Gray fell a third time while attempting to climb the ICHB bus
stairs unassisted. Gray's skin was fragile, and the fall caused several hematomas on her
lower leg. One of the hematomas, which extended from her mid-calf to her ankle,
subsequently burst. Gray was in severe pain and her leg required frequent medical
treatment over the next three months.
The bus driver that day was ICHB staff member Roseann Tousley. Paula, who
watched several bus drivers interact with the residents over the years, observed that
Tousley was often brusque and rushed with the residents. Tousley was assisting Paul at
the lift when Gray's third fall occurred.
Paula again confronted Nurse Kramer about why Gray had not been boarded onto
the bus with the lift. Nurse Kramer "again shook her head and told [Paula] 'I don't know,
I don't know. I'd e[-]mailed everyone again after the last fall.'"
services to the residents and described herself as a "resource person." However, she did
not have authority over the staff members who operated the bus tours. Therefore, the
record supports that Nurse Kramer had the authority to promise Paula that she would e-
mail staff members about an issue concerning a resident's health, but not to promise
Paula that Gray would be boarded using only the lift. Accordingly, Nurse Kramer's
promises about e-mailing staff are admissible as statements by the agent of a party
opponent.
No. 72715-0-1/5
Regarding the incident, Gray stated that she "would NEVER refuse a ride on the
lift over taking the stairs." She further stated that sometimes she "would not want to bother
the driver to take me on the lift and if they didn't offer, then I just tried taking the stairs.
Many times the driver would not offer the lift and I would have to ask, which made me feel
like Iwas imposing." After the third fall, Gray became too afraid to participate in the scenic
bus rides with her husband.
On October 23, 2013, Gray sued ICHB for negligence, asserting that ICHB failed
to exercise reasonable care in protecting her against the danger posed by the stairs. Gray
brought two causes of action: premises liability and common law negligence.
On June 27, 2014, ICHB moved for summary judgment, arguing that Gray
assumed the risk of using the stairs. Gray opposed summary judgment, in part because
she maintained that there was an issue of material fact as to whether she voluntarily
chose to assume the risk of the stairs.
The trial court found that there was evidence to support Gray's argument that ICHB
owed a duty to Gray, as a business invitee, to protect her from the stairs. However, it
also found as a matter of law that Gray knowingly and voluntarily assumed the risk of the
stairs, thus barring any recovery. The trial court granted ICHB's motion for summary
judgment on September 4, 2014.
Gray appeals.
DISCUSSION
Gray argues that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment. She alleges
that the trial court erred in applying the doctrine of implied primary assumption of risk as
a total bar to recovery.
No. 72715-0-1/6
We review summary judgment orders de novo. Hadley v. Maxwell, 144 Wash. 2d
306, 310-11, 27 P.3d 600 (2001). Summary judgment is appropriate only where there
are no genuine issues of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a
matter of law. CR 56(c); Peterson v. Groves, 111 Wash. App. 306, 310,44 P.3d 894 (2002).
We consider the evidence and reasonable inferences therefrom in the light most favorable
to the nonmoving party. Schaafv. Hiqhfield, 127 Wash. 2d 17, 21, 896 P.2d 665 (1995).
To establish a cause of action for negligence, a plaintiff must demonstrate that
(1) the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty, (2) the defendant breached that duty,
(3) damages resulted, and (4) the defendant's breach proximately caused the damages.
Tincani v. Inland Empire Zoological Soc'v. 124 Wash. 2d 121, 127-28, 875 P.2d 621 (1994).
The assumption of risk doctrine traditionally had four classifications: (1) express,
(2) implied primary, (3) implied reasonable, and (4) implied unreasonable. Scott v. Pac.
W. Mountain Resort, 119 Wash. 2d 484, 496, 834 P.2d 6 (1992). Express assumption of
risk is not at issue here. Implied primary assumption of risk—the doctrine applied by the
trial court—arises when a plaintiff "impliedly consents] ... to relieve [a] defendant of a
duty to [the] plaintiff regarding specific known and appreciated risks." Jd. at 497 (emphasis
omitted). Implied primary assumption of risk operates as a complete bar to recovery, jd.
at 499. The two remaining assumption of risk classifications—implied reasonable and
implied unreasonable—have been subsumed by comparative negligence, which merely
reduces a plaintiff's damages. \± at 497; Dorr v. Big Creek Wood Prods.. Inc.. 84 Wn.
App. 420, 425, 927 P.2d 1148 (1996).
Because implied primary assumption of risk acts as a complete bar to recovery,
courts construe it narrowly. Lascheid v. City of Kennewick. 137 Wash. App. 633, 641, 154
No. 72715-0-1/7
P.3d 307 (2007). "Assumption of the risk has experienced a slow but steady fall from
grace." ITT Ravonier. Inc. v. Puget Sound Freight Lines. 44 Wash. App. 368, 374-75, 722
P.2d 1310 (1986). For implied primary assumption of risk to apply, a plaintiff must have
knowledge of the risk, appreciate and understand its nature, and voluntarily choose to
incur it. Erie v. White. 92 Wash. App. 297, 303, 966 P.2d 342 (1998). The plaintiff must
have subjective knowledge of not only the risk, but also of an opportunity to act differently,
prevent the risk, or proceed on an alternative course. k± at 304-05. Whether a plaintiff
voluntarily encountered the risk turns on whether he or she elected to encounter it despite
knowing of a reasonable alternative course of action, jd. at 304. Knowledge and
voluntariness are questions of fact for the jury, except if reasonable minds could not differ,
jd, at 303. Here, it is clear that Gray had knowledge of the risk. However, the parties
dispute whether Gray's choice was truly voluntary.4
We view the evidence and reasonable inferences therefrom in a light most
favorable to Gray. See Schaaf, 127 Wash. 2d at 21. Fairly considered, the evidence
demonstrates that using the lift to board a resident was an inconvenient and time-
consuming process. Only one resident could be lifted at a time, and the process took two
to seven minutes per resident. Usually, between six and ten residents would have to be
loaded onto the bus. Rarely did more than one staff member, the bus driver, coordinate
the bus loading.
4Gray pleaded premises liability and ordinary negligence. The trial court's order
addressed ICHB's duty to Gray for conditions on the premises. Not addressed is whether
the scope of ICHB's duty in providing a transportation service was broader. Given the
evidence of Gray's age, physical condition, and history of falls boarding the bus, the scope
of duty owed to Gray might have encompassed affirmatively preventing her from
accessing the stairs to the bus unattended. Under such a scope of duty, the implied
primary assumption of risk doctrine would have no application.
No. 72715-0-1/8
This inconvenience was exacerbated by Tousley's brusque, impatient manner.
According to Paula, Tousley appeared exasperated when she had to use the lift, seemed
always in a rush, and "would load only 1 or at most 2 residents via the lift." Once, Paula
observed Tousley push and lift Paul up the bus stairs, rather than keep him in his
wheelchair and use the lift. When Paula questioned Tousley about it, Tousley replied,
" 'he's fine'" and continued with what she was doing. Paula described Tousley as a "very
intimidating person."
Gray herself stated that she sometimes felt like she was imposing if she asked to
use the lift. As a result, if she was not offered the lift, she "just tried taking" the stairs so
as not to bother the driver.
Gray also proffered expert testimony to support the assertion that a person in
Gray's position would feel too intimidated to ask to use the lift. This testimony came from
Alice Semingson, a registered nurse with over 30 years of experience caring for elders.
Semingson, who is board certified in gerontological5 nursing, opined that "Gray's
statement is completely consistent with my knowledge of women of her generation, who
were often taught to be rule followers. . . . Gray's statement is also, unfortunately,
consistent with the feeling many residents in care facilities have about the fear of being a
bother and possible retaliation." Semingson stated that "this dynamic [is] well known by
those who provide care and services to the elderly."
In sum, Gray, an elderly woman who was hesitant to cause inconvenience, was
faced with an intimidating driver who had demonstrated gruffness towards residents and
5 "Gerontology" is the study of the phenomena of, and problems associated with,
aging. Webster's Third New International Dictionary 952 (2002).
8
No. 72715-0-1/9
distaste for using the lift. On this record, the court could not say as a matter of law that
Gray voluntarily assumed the risk of using the stairs. We reverse and remand for further
proceedings.
WE CONCUR:
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