Stephen W., next friend of J.W., an infant v. Timberline Four Seasons Resort Management ( 2015 )

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
Stephen W., individually and as next friend of J.W., an infant,
FILED
Plaintiff Below, Petitioner August 31, 2015
RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK
SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
vs) Nos. 14-1158 and 14-1217 (Tucker County 12-C-43) OF WEST VIRGINIA
Timberline Four Seasons Resort Management Co.,
Defendant Below, Respondent
MEMORANDUM DECISION
Petitioner, Stephen W., individually and as next friend of J.W.,1 an infant, by counsel
Kenneth P. Hicks and Debra A. Nelson, appeals the Circuit Court of Tucker County’s September
30, 2014, order that granted respondent summary judgment. Respondent, Timberline Four
Seasons Resort Management Co., Inc., by counsel John R. Merinar, Jr. and Kaitlin L.
Hillenbrand, filed a response. On appeal, Stephen W. argues that the circuit court erred in
granting summary judgment in Timberline’s favor.
This Court has considered the parties’ briefs and the record on appeal. The facts and
legal arguments are adequately presented, and the decisional process would not be significantly
aided by oral argument. Upon consideration of the standard of review, the briefs, and the record
presented, the Court finds no substantial question of law and no prejudicial error. For these
reasons, a memorandum decision affirming the circuit court’s order is appropriate under Rule 21
of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
On December 22, 2014, J.W., age 12, was injured while skiing at Timberline. As she
was going down Salamander trail, a “beginner” slope, she skied off the trail to avoid hitting
another skier who cut in front of her. However, she collided with an electrical box used for
snowmaking purposes (“the electrical box”), which was located six to eight feet off the trail.
J.W. fractured her left tibia in the collision.
Stephen W. filed suit in the circuit court alleging that Timberline violated the West
Virginia Skiing Responsibility Act (“WVSRA”) by (1) failing to mark the electrical box with a
“visible sign or other warning implement” and (2) by failing to maintain the ski slope in a
“reasonably safe condition”. He further asserted that J.W. did not assume the risk of skiing
1
Because J.W. is a minor, we follow our traditional practice in cases involving sensitive
facts and use only her initials. See Shelby J.S. v. George L.H., 181 W.Va. 154, 155 n.1, 381,
S.E.2d 269, 270 n.1 (1989). See also W.VA. R.APP. P. 40(e)(1).
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because our law presumes that children between the ages of seven and fourteen are incapable of
negligence.2 Timberline filed a motion for summary judgment on both issues.
Timberline supported its motion by providing deposition testimony from a Timberline ski
patroller that a caution sign marked the electrical box at the time of J.W.’s accident. The
patroller’s testimony is accompanied by pictures he took of the accident scene, showing a
caution sign marking the electrical box in the foreground, with J.W. being treated for her injuries
in the background. Timberline also included the deposition testimony of J.W. and her father
showing that they were not absolutely sure whether a caution sign marked the electrical box.
Lastly, Timberline included deposition testimony from another ski patroller that the electrical
box was not located on a ski trail. Timberline argues that all of the evidence of record
established it complied with the WVSRA. Timberline further asserts it had kept its ski area in a
reasonably safe condition by placing the electrical box off the trial, visibly marked with a caution
sign.
Stephen W. argued that a reasonable jury could find that there was no caution sign
marking the electrical box because his memory contradicts the picture provided by Timberline.
According to him, he and J.W. skied down Salamander trail multiple times on the day of the
accident. Neither one of them remember a caution sign marking the electrical box at the site of
the collision. He also asserted that, even if the electrical box was marked by a caution sign,
Timberline’s failure to pad the electrical box violated its duty to keep Salamander trail in a
reasonably safe condition.
The circuit court found that there was no genuine issue as to whether the electrical box
was marked with a caution sign. Stephen W.’s self-serving testimony otherwise was merely
“speculation and conjecture.” Furthermore, the electrical box was located off the ski trail.
Therefore, Timberline had no duty to pad the electrical box. Accordingly, Timberline breached
no duty under the WVSRA. The mere fact that J.W. was twelve years old at the time of her
accident makes no difference as to whether Timberline is liable under the WVSRA.
Stephen W. appeals the circuit court’s motion granting summary judgment and requests
that we reverse and remand for a jury trial. Our standard of review in regards to summary
judgment is set forth in Syllabus Point 1 of Painter v. Peavy, 192 W. Va. 189, 451 S.E2d 755
(1994), which provides: “[a] circuit’s count’s entry of summary judgment is reviewed de novo.”
On appeal, Stephen W. argues that Timberline breached its duties under West Virginia
Code Sections 20-3A-3(2) and (8) [1984] and that it did not rebut the presumption that, as a
child, J.W. is incapable of negligence.
West Virginia Code Sections 20-3A-3(2) and (8) require ski area operators to “mark with
a visible sign or other warning implementation the location of any hydrant or similar equipment
used in snowmaking operations and located on ski slopes or trails[;]” and to “maintain the ski
2
The West Virginia Skiing Responsibility Act is codified in West Virginia Code Section
20-3A-1 et seq., which defines areas of responsibility and affirmative acts for which ski area
operators shall be liable for loss, damage, or injury.
2
areas in a reasonable safe condition, except that such operator shall not be responsible for any
injury . . . with snowmaking equipment which is marked by a visible sign or other warning
implement in compliance with subdivision two of this section.”
Stephen W. contends that the circuit court should have considered that his memory
contradicts Timberline’s evidence regarding the electrical box. Prior to J.W.’s accident, she and
her father had skied down Salamander trail multiple times, but neither recalled seeing a caution
sign marking the electrical box. Stephen W. also argues that there is a genuine issue of material
fact as to whether Timberline maintained Salamander trail and/or slope in a reasonably safe
condition. Stephen W. claims West Virginia Code Section 20-3A-3(8) imposes an additional
duty on a ski operator to go further than merely marking an electrical box with a caution sign
when it is not in a reasonably safe condition and located on a ski slope or trail. He argues that
while the electrical box may not have been located on the Salamander ski “trail,” the WVSRA
requires that it be kept in a reasonably safe condition because it was on a ski “slope” or “area.”
W.VA. CODE § 20-3A-3(8). Thus, Timberline was required by the WVSRA to maintain the
electrical box in a reasonably safe condition by padding it. We disagree.
There is no genuine issue as to whether respondent marked the electrical box with a
visible caution sign. The record contains positive evidence, in the form of deposition testimony
and pictures, that a caution sign marked the electrical box. This evidence must prevail over
petitioner’s mere conjecture and speculation regarding the “Caution” sign’s presence. Without
factual support, Stephen W. and J.W.’s lack of memory as to the presence of the caution sign
provides only a scintilla of conjectural evidence. See W.VA. R. CIV. P. 56(e) [1998] (Party
opposing a motion for summary judgment must “set forth specific facts showing that there is a
genuine issue for trial.”).
Furthermore, the WVSRA did not require Timberline to pad the electrical box. The
WVSRA states that ski operators are not liable for “collisions with snowmaking equipment
which is marked by a visible sign[.]” W.VA. CODE § 20-3A-3(8). (emphasis added). This
provision does not contain an exception for when an electrical box is unpadded. Therefore,
Timberline did not breach a duty by failing to pad the electrical box.
Stephen W. also cites Pino v. Szuch, which states: “there is a rebuttable presumption that
a child between the ages of seven and fourteen is not guilty of contributory negligence.” 185 W.
Va. 476, 477, 408 S.E.2d 55, 56 (1991); Syl. Pt. 2, Jordan v. Bero, 158 W. Va. 28, 210 S.E.2d
618 (1974). According to Stephen W., the fact that J.W. was twelve years old at the time of her
accident means that Timberline was required to rebut a presumption that she could not have
assumed the risk of skiing.
However, Stephen W.’s argument ignores the WVSRA’s clear provision that all skiers
assume the inherent risks of skiing. See W.VA. CODE § 20-3A-5 (“Each skier expressly assumes
the risk of and legal responsibility for any injury . . . which results from participation in the sport
of skiing.”). “Skier” is defined as “any person present at a skiing area under the control of a ski
area operator for the purpose of engaging in the sport of skiing[.]” W.VA. CODE § 20-3A-2(h).
The WVSRA makes no reference to a skier’s age. “It is not for this Court arbitrarily to read into
[a statute] that which it does not say. Just as courts are not to eliminate through judicial
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interpretation words that were purposely included, we are obliged not to add to statutes
something the Legislature purposely omitted.” Phillips v. Larry’s Drive-In Pharmacy, Inc., 220
W.Va. 484, 491, 647 S.E.2d 920, 927 (2007). Therefore, we decline to read into the statute that
which it does not expressly say, especially in this case where Timberline breached no duty under
the WVSRA.
For the foregoing reasons, the September 30th, 2014, order by the Circuit Court of
Tucker County, granting summary judgment in favor of respondent, is hereby affirmed.
Affirmed.
ISSUED: August 31, 2015
CONCURRED IN BY:
Justice Brent D. Benjamin
Justice Menis E. Ketchum
Justice Allen H. Loughry II
DISSENTING AND WRITING SEPARATELY:
Justice Robin Jean Davis, with Chief Justice Workman joining:
In this proceeding, Stephen W. asked this Court to reverse and remand the circuit court’s
order granting summary judgment in favor of Timberline. The majority opinion found that there
was no genuine issue of material fact as to whether Timberline fulfilled its duties under West
Virginia Code Sections 20-3A-3(2) and (8) and that J.W.’s age (twelve years old) had no bearing
on the whether she assumed the risk of injury under the WVSRA. For the reasons set out below,
I respectfully dissent.
There Is a Genuine Issue of Material Fact as to Whether Timberline Fulfilled its
Duties Under the West Virginia Skiing Responsibility Act.
By granting Timberline’s motion for summary judgment, the circuit court ignored
unresolved disputes of material fact. Rule 56(c) of the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure
allows courts to grant summary judgment only when “there is no genuine issue as to any material
fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Motions for summary
judgment impose a difficult standard on the moving party, as it must be obvious that no rational
trier of fact could find for the nonmoving party. Miller v. Federal Deposit Ins. Corp., 906 F.2d
972, 974 (4th Cir.1990).3
3
“Because the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure are patterned after the Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure, we often refer to interpretations of the Federal Rules when discussing
4
Likewise, for the non-moving party to withstand such a motion, it is not required for
him/her to prove that he/she will ultimately prevail at trial. Rather, the nonmoving party must
only offer evidence from which “a fair-minded jury could return a verdict for the [party].”
Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 252, 106 S. Ct. 2505, 2512, 91 L. Ed. 2d 202
(1986) (emphasis added). Accordingly, any permissible inferences to be drawn from the
underlying facts must be viewed in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Matsushita
Elec. Industrial Co. v. Zenith Radio, 475 U.S. 574, 587–88, 106 S. Ct. 1348, 1356–57, 89
L. Ed. 2d 538 (1986).
A court should not take its duty to draw all permissible inferences in the non-moving
party’s favor lightly. By failing to do so, it is possible for the circuit court to infringe on the
parties’ constitutional right to a jury trial.4 See Robertson v. White, 635 F. Supp 851, 870 (W.D.
Ark. 1986) (“Summary judgment should be ‘cautiously invoked’ so that no person will be
improperly deprived of his Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial where there is no genuine
issue as to any material fact.”). Accord Baughman v. Cooper-Jarrett, Inc., 530 F.2d 529, 532 (3d
Cir. 1976) (“[T]he seventh amendment might impose an obstacle [to summary judgment] where,
as here, there is sufficient evidence in the record for the case to have gone to the jury.”)
overruled on other grounds by Croker v. Boeing Co., 662 F.2d 975 (3d Cir. 1981). Accordingly,
“summary judgment is an extreme remedy which may not be granted unless the movant has
established his right to the judgment beyond controversy and . . . is not appropriate where
material facts remain in dispute.” Inland Oil & Transp. Co. v. U.S., 600 F.2d 725, 727 (8th Cir.
1979). See also FRANKLIN D. CLECKLEY, ROBIN JEAN DAVIS & LOUIS J. PALMER, JR.,
LITIGATION HANDBOOK ON WEST VIRGINIA RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE § 56, at 1112 (3d ed.
2008) (“Summary judgment is not a substitute for a trial either by a jury, or by the court of an
issue of fact.”).
Although Timberline contends that it complied with all its duties under West Virginia
Code Section 20-3A-3, this contention is subject to factual development. Likewise, a factual
dispute exists concerning whether Timberline maintained the ski area in a reasonably safe
condition. The majority ignores the deposition testimony of a winter sports safety expert that he
believed to a reasonable degree of probability that Timberline failed to “meet the WVSRA’s
minimal requirements” on the day of J.W.’s accident. Further, a Timberline ski patroller stated
in his deposition that some dangerous obstacles to skiers are padded, which indicates that
Timberline viewed such obstacles as objects they needed to maintain in a reasonably safe
condition, rather than an inherent risk of skiing. Thus, the circuit court’s grant of summary
judgment in Timberline’s favor was premature, as there were factual disputes that should have
been presented to the jury.
our own rules.” See Hardwood Group v. Larocco, 219 W.Va. 56, 61 n.6, 631 S.E.2d 614, 619
n.6 (2006).
4
Article 3, Section 13 of the West Virginia Constitution provides: “In suits at common
law . . . the right of trial by jury, if required by either party, shall be preserved.” W.VA. CONST.
ART III, § 13. The Seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution contains almost
identical language. U.S. CONST. AMEND VII.
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This court has determined that the West Virginia Legislature did not intend to immunize
ski area operators from liability for negligence where it involves a violation of an operator's duty
to maintain the ski areas in a reasonably safe condition. Lewis v. Canaan Valley Resorts, Inc.,
185 W.Va. 684, 693, 408 S.E.2d 634, 643 (1991). Rather, the Legislature intended to immunize
ski area operators for inherent risks that are essentially impossible to eliminate. In this matter, a
factual dispute potentially exists whether the condition, urged unsafe by Stephen W., could have
been eliminated.
There Is a Rebuttable Presumption That a Minor Is Incapable of Negligence Under
West Virginia Law.
The majority finds that J.W., who was twelve years old when she was injured, assumed
the risk of skiing as a matter of law. However, “assumption of risk . . . does not operate as a
complete bar to recovery unless the plaintiff’s degree of fault equals or exceeds the combined
fault or negligence of the other parties to the accident.” Hardin v. Ski Venture, Inc. 848 F. Supp.
58, 61 (N.D. W.Va. 1994) (emphasis added) (interpreting the WVSRA). According to Pino v.
Szuch, “there is a rebuttable presumption that a child between the ages of seven and fourteen is
not guilty of contributory negligence. To overcome this presumption, the burden is upon a
defendant to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that a child of such age has the capacity
to be guilty of contributory negligence.” 185 W. Va. 476, 479, 408 S.E.2d 55, 58 (1991)
(quoting Syl. Pt. 2, Jordan v. Bero, 158 W. Va. 28, 210 S.E.2d 618 (1974)). “The rationale for
the rebuttable presumption for children between the ages of seven and fourteen is that these
children usually lack the intelligence, maturity, and judgmental capacity to be held accountable
for their actions.” Pino, 185 W. Va. at 479, 408 S.E.2d at 58. Timberline did not show that
J.W.’s maturity, intelligence, experience, and judgmental capacity are significantly beyond that
of an average twelve-year-old to overcome the presumption.
Several courts use similar age groupings when assessing a child’s capacity to be
negligent. See, e.g., Fletcher v. Hale, 548 So. 2d 135 (Ala.1989); Friedman v. Park Dist. of
Highland Park, 151 Ill.App.3d 374, 104 Ill. Dec. 329, 502 N.E.2d 826 (1986); Hoots v. Beeson,
272 N.C. 644, 159 S.E.2d 16 (1968); Hunter v. City of Cleveland, 46 Ohio St. 2d 91, 75 O.O.2d
160, 346 N.E.2d 303 (1976); Berman v. Philadelphia Bd. of Educ., 310 Pa.Super. 153, 456 A.2d
545 (1983); Prater v. Burns, 525 S.W.2d 846 (Tenn.App.1975); Grant v. Mays, 204 Va. 41, 129
S.E.2d 10 (1963).
Therefore, there is a rebuttable presumption that J.W. was incapable of negligence
because she was twelve years old at the time of her accident, and Timberline did not rebut this
presumption. Without some showing that J.W. was at fault in causing her injuries, she is not
barred from recovering under the WVSRA. See Hardin, 848 F. Supp. at 861. Thus, the circuit
court erred by granting Timberline’s motion for summary judgment.
For the foregoing reasons, I dissent. I am authorized to say that Chief Justice Workman
joins me in this dissent
.
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