Turner v. Staker & Parson Companies
2012 UT 30
| Utah | 2012Background
- Staker & Parson contracted with UDOT for a two-week I-15 improvement near Spanish Fork in 2006.
- Turner sustained serious injuries in a July 2006 car crash near the work site.
- Turner filed negligence suit against Staker (and Atlas) on July 13, 2010, about four years after the accident.
- The district court dismissed under Utah Code § 78B-2-225(8)(b)’s two-year tort-limitations against providers.
- Turner argued the claim falls under the four-year exception in § 78B-2-225(8).
- The court ultimately held Turner pled facts to support subsection (8)’s applicability to a provider in actual possession or control.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether subsection (8) applies to a provider lacking a possessory interest. | Turner argues subsection (8) broadly covers actual possession or control, not ownership. | Staker contends (8) requires a possessory interest akin to owner/tenant, so it should not apply. | Yes; subsection (8) can apply to a provider with actual possession or control, even without ownership. |
| How to interpret the term 'otherwise' in subsection (8). | Plain meaning expands possession/control beyond owner/tenant. | 'Otherwise' connotes a possessory interest akin to ownership or tenancy. | 'Otherwise' is broad; it does not require an ownership-like interest. |
Key Cases Cited
- State v. Arave, 268 P.3d 163 (Utah 2011) (strict correctness review of motions; statutory interpretation)
- State v. Parduhn, 266 P.3d 765 (Utah 2011) (statutory interpretation standard)
- Boyle v. Christensen, 251 P.3d 810 (Utah 2011) (read statutory terms with ordinary meaning)
- Salt Lake City v. Salt Lake Cnty., 568 P.2d 738 (Utah 1977) (statutory canon applying general terms to preceding specifics)
- Nephi City v. Hansen, 779 P.2d 673 (Utah 1989) (canon restricting general terms after specific terms)
- State ex rel. A.T., 2001 UT 82 (Utah 2001) (example of ejusdem generis analysis in statutes)
- State ex rel. J.L.S., 610 P.2d 1294 (Utah 1980) (limits of ejusdem generis and broad statutory interpretation)
- Osguthorpe v. Wolf Mountain Resorts, LC., 2010 UT 29 (Utah 2010) (assumption of facts for motion-to-dismiss standard)