238 Conn. 687 | Conn. | 1996
Lead Opinion
The plaintiff, Matthew Luce, brought this action against the defendants, Barbara Barry, director of the West Haven department of parks and recreation (department), and the city of West Haven (city), for personal injuries he allegedly sustained while playing in a softball game. The trial court granted the defendants’ motion for summary judgment, ruling that they were immune from liability pursuant to the Connecticut Recreational Land Use Act (act), General Statutes § 52-557f et seq.
The facts, as viewed in the light most favorable to the plaintiff; Strada v. Connecticut Newspapers, Inc., 193 Conn. 313, 317, 477 A.2d 1005 (1984); are as follows. The plaintiff had been a member of the West Haven Adult Softball Association League (league), a division of the department, when his injury occurred. The league activities were organized and controlled by the department. The plaintiffs softball team paid a $295 league entry fee to the city for the opportunity to participate in league activities. That fee included an unspecified amount from each of the team’s players, and was used
Although this appeal raised solely the issues of what constitutes a “fee” and a “charge” within the meaning of the act, in accordance with our decision in Conway v. Wilton, 238 Conn. 653, 680 A.2d 242 (1996), in which we held that a municipality is not an “owner” within the meaning of the act, the defendants are not entitled to immunity regardless of whether the money paid constituted a “fee” or a “charge” under the act. Id., 680.
In this opinion BORDEN, NORCOTT and PALMER, Js., concurred.
General Statutes § 52-557Í provides: “Landowner liability for recreational use of land. Definitions. As used in sections 52-557Í to 52-557f, inclusive:
“(1) ‘Charge’ means the admission price or fee asked in return for invitation or permission to enter or go upon the land;
“(2) ‘Land’ means land, roads, water, watercourses, private ways and buildings, structures, and machinery or equipment when attached to the realty;
“(3) ‘Owner’ means the possessor of a fee interest, a tenant, lessee, occupant or person in control of the premises;
“(4) ‘Recreational purpose’ includes, but is not limited to, any of the following, or any combination thereof: Hunting, fishing, swimming, boating, camping, picnicking, hiking, pleasure driving, nature study, water siding, snow skiing, ice skating, sledding, hang gliding, sport parachuting, hot air ballooning and viewing or er\joying historical, archaeological, scenic or scientific sites.”
General Statutes § 52-557g provides: “Liability of owner of land available to public for recreation; exceptions, (a) Except as provided in section 52-557h, an owner of land who makes all or any part of the land available to the public without charge, rent, fee or other commercial service for recreational purposes owes no duty of care to keep the land, or the part
“(b) Except as provided in section 52-557h, an owner of land who, either directly or indirectly, invites or permits without charge, rent, fee or other commercial service any person to use the land, or part thereof, for recreational purposes does not thereby: (1) Make any representation that the premises are safe for any purpose; (2) confer upon the person who enters or uses the land for recreational purposes the legal status of an invitee or licensee to whom a duty of care is owed; or (3) assume responsibility for or incur liability for any injury to person or property caused by an act or omission of the owner.
“(c) Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall be deemed applicable to the duties and liability of an owner of land leased to the state or any subdivision thereof for recreational purposes.”
General Statutes § 52-557h provides: “Owner liable, when. Nothing in sections 52-557Í to 52-557Í, inclusive, limits in any way the liability of any owner of land which otherwise exists: (1) For wilful or malicious failure to guard or warn against a dangerous condition, use, structure or activity; (2) for injury suffered in any case where the owner of land charges the person or persons who enter or go on the land for the recreational use thereof, except that, in the case of land leased to the state or a subdivision thereof, any consideration received by the owner for the lease shall not be deemed a charge within the meaning of this section.”
This appeal was originally argued on October 25, 1995. On December 11, 1995, we granted certification from the Appellate Court in Conway v. Wilton, 39 Conn. App. 280, 664 A.2d 327 (1995). Conway v. Wilton, 235 Conn. 934, 667 A.2d 1271 (1995). Because the certified issue in Conway involved the act, we ordered that this appeal be reargued, en banc, on the same day as the appeal in Conway. We today reaffirm our reasoning and holding in Conway.
Concurrence Opinion
concurring. I concur that the judgment of the trial court granting the defendants’ motion for summary judgment should be reversed based upon this court’s decision today in Conway v. Wilton, 238 Conn. 653, 680 A.2d 242 (1996). Although I was not a member of the panels that decided Scrapchansky v. Plainfield, 226 Conn. 446, 627 A.2d 1329 (1993), and Manning v. Barenz, 221 Conn. 256, 603 A.2d 399 (1992), which are reversed by Conway, I believe that both cases were wrongly decided. It is clear to me that by enacting the Connecticut Recreational Land Use Act (act); General Statutes § 52-557f et seq.; the legislature sought to encourage private landowners to make their property available to the public for recreational purposes. As the majority in Conway observes, municipal property is part of the public domain and as such, members of the public generally have access to use and enjoy such land. Consequently, it is unreasonable to believe that the legislature intended to extend the protective umbrella of the act to municipal property.
Dissenting Opinion
joins, dissenting. In accordance with my dissenting opinion in Conway v. Wilton, 238 Conn. 653, 680 A.2d 242 (1996), I dissent in this case as well.
