Smith v. McBrideSmith v. McBride
Rendered on March 25, 2010
Brian G. Miller Co., L.P.A., and Brian G. Miller; Scott Schiff & Associates and Craig T. Smith, for appellant.
Surdyk Dowd & Turner Co., L.P.A., Boyd W. Gentry and Joshua R. Schierloch, for appellees.
APPEAL from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas.
McGRATH, J.
{¶1} Plaintiff-appellant, Lea D. Smith (“appellant“), appeals from the judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas granting summary judgment in favor of defendants-appellees, Clinton Township and Clinton Township Police Sergeant Travis Carpenter (“appellees“).
{¶2} This matter arises out of an automobile accident that occurred on March 14, 2006, at approximately 11:45 p.m., when Sergeant Carpenter‘s police cruiser collided with a vehicle driven by defendant Vashawn L. McBride (“McBride“). Appellant was a sleeping passenger in McBride‘s vehicle at the time of the accident.
{¶3} Sergeant Carpenter, a 16-year member of the Clinton Township Police Department, was at police headquarters when he heard a dispatch call from a Franklin County Sheriff‘s Deputy who was involved in a foot chase with a fleeing suspect. Upon hearing the dispatch, Sergeant Carpentеr immediately proceeded to the deputy‘s location. As Sergeant Carpenter was traveling eastbound on Morse Road, however, he collided with McBride, who was attempting to turn left from westbound Morse Road onto southbound Chesford Road.
{¶4} A personal injury complaint was filed on March 13, 2008, naming McBride, Sergeant Carpenter, the Clinton Township Police Department and Safeco Insurance Company as defendants. On December 7, 2008, Sergeant Carpenter and the police department filed motions for summary judgment. The police department argued that it was not sui juris, and even if appellant‘s complaint could be construed as a complaint against Clinton Township, it was entitled to immunity under
{¶5} On appeal, appellant brings three assignments of error for our review:
- The trial court erred by sustaining Defendants-Appellees’ motion for summary judgment based upon the determination that Defendant-Appellee Sgt. Travis D. Carpenter was on an emergency call, as defined under
R.C. 2744.01(A) , when he collided with Appellant‘s vehicle. - The trial court erred by sustaining Defendants-Appellees’ motion for summary judgment, pursuant to
R.C. 2744.02 , based upon the determination that there is no evidence to support a finding that Defendant-Appellee Sgt. Travis D. Carpenter‘s actions constituted wanton misconduct. - The trial court erred by sustaining Defendants-Appellees’ motion for summary judgment, pursuant to
R.C. 2744.03 , based upon the determination that there is no evidence to support a finding that Defendant-Appellee Sgt. Travis D. Carpenter‘s actiоns rose to the level of recklessness.
{¶6} This matter was decided in the trial court by summary judgment, which under
{¶7} An appellate court‘s review of summary judgment is de novo. Koos v. Cent. Ohio Cellular, Inc. (1994), 94 Ohio App.3d 579, 588; Bard v. Society Natl. Bank, nka KeyBank (Sept. 10, 1998), 10th Dist. No. 97APE11-1497. Thus, we conduct an
{¶8} In the interest of clarity, we first address a portion of this matter‘s procedural history. Thе complaint before us named Sergeant Carpenter and the Clinton Township Police Department as defendants. As raised in their motion for summary judgment, however, as a department of Clinton Township, the police department is not sui juris and cannot sue or be sued as a separate entity. Though the trial court recognized this, it continued to review the summary judgment motion and construed the claims as if they had been made against Clinton Township and granted summary judgment in appellees’ favor. Thereafter, appellant moved the trial court to amend the complaint to substitute Clinton Township for the police department. Prior to that motion being granted, however, appellant filed a notice of appeal.
{¶9} While the filing of a notice of appeal generally divests the trial court of jurisdiction to act except over issues not inconsistent with the appellate court‘s jurisdiction, appellate jurisdiction is limited to review of final orders or judgments that are appealable. Klein v. Bendix-Westinghouse Automotive Air Brake Co. (1968), 13 Ohio St.2d 85, 86; Ford Motor Credit Co. v. Ryan & Ryan, Inc., 10th Dist. No. 06AP-1239, 2007-Ohio-5658, ¶5. To be final and appealable, a court order must satisfy the requirements of
{¶10} Here, the entry granting summary judgment did not dispose of all claims pending before the trial court, hence appellant‘s moving the trial court for
{¶11} We now proceed with the merits of this appeal in which appellant contends the trial court erred in finding appellees were entitled to immunity pursuant to Ohio‘s Political Subdivision Tort Liability Act.
{¶12} Pursuant to the Political Subdivision Tort Liability Act, codified in
{¶13} As is provided in
{¶14} In her first assignment of error, appellant contends the trial court erred in finding Sergeant Carpenter was on an emergеncy call at the time of the collision thereby
{¶15} While generally the question of whether particular situations constitute an emergency call is a question of fact, a court may determine whether a police officer is on an emergency call as a matter of law where triable questions of fact are not present. Hewitt v. City of Columbus, 10th Dist. No. 08AP-1087, 2009-Ohio-4486, ¶10, citing Longley v. Thailing, 8th Dist. No. 91661, 2009-Ohio-1252, ¶20 (summary judgment appropriate for defendants where trial court properly found the police officer was responding to an emergency call at the time of the collision); see also VanDyke v. City of Columbus, 10th Dist. No. 07AP-918, 2008-Ohio-2652, appeal not allowed by 2008-Ohio-5273 (affirming trial court‘s entry of summary judgment concluding in part that the trial court properly determined the officer was responding to an emergency call at the time of the collision).
{¶16} Relying on Sawicki v. Village of Ottawa Hills (1988), 37 Ohio St.3d 222, appellant argues Sergeant Carpenter‘s actions could not constitute an emergency call because he was acting outsidе of his jurisdiction at the time of the accident and,
Chapter 2744. of the Revised Code , insofar as it applies to the operation of police departments, shall apply to the contracting political subdivisions and to the police department members when they are rendering service outside their own subdivisions pursuant to the contracts.
{¶17} It is undisputed in the matter before us that the dispatched location of the Franklin County deputy sheriff was outside the jurisdiction of Clinton Township. However, Sergeant Carpenter testified that pursuant to mutual aid, he has a duty to respond to incidents outside of his jurisdiction. Specifically, with respect to the dispatching agency here, Sergeant Carpenter testified, “[w]e have mutual aid with the sheriff‘s office if they
{¶18} Appellant next contends there was no professional obligation to respond because Sergeant Carpenter did not actually observe a situation to trigger such response, the dispatch did not require an immediate response, and he was not personally called to duty. Based on priоr precedent from this court, we do not find appellant‘s position well-taken.
{¶19} In Hewitt, supra, Columbus Police Officer Baughman heard a dispatch over the police radio of a request for assistance by an officer pursuing a vehicle that fled from an attempted traffic stop. The plaintiff argued that because the officer did not report that he was responding to a call for assistance and because police protocol did not authorize activation of lights and sirens in response to such call, there wаs a genuine issue of material fact regarding whether or not the matter constituted an emergency call. This court disagreed, finding that based on unrebutted evidence in the record, Officer Baughman was involved in a situation to which his professional obligation required a response and that he was responding to an emergency call as defined by
{¶20} Likewise in VanDyke, supra, the plaintiff was injured when his car was struck by a police cruiser driven by Columbus Police Officer Shannon who was responding to a call for assistance by a fellow officer pursuing a suspeсted felon on foot.
{¶21} The evidence before us indicates Sergeant Carpenter was on duty and responding to a radio dispatch of a deputy sheriff in a foot chase with a susрect who had fled the scene of a traffic stop. Because Sergeant Carpenter knew the area in which the deputy was located is known for crimes involving guns and drugs, and because Sergeant Carpenter was within just a few miles of said location, he responded. Pursuant to department procedures, Sergeant Carpenter was required to proceed without lights and sirens. Consistent with this court‘s precedent, we find the trial court correctly concluded Sergeant Carpenter was on an emergency call as he was involved in a situation in which his professional obligation required a response. Accordingly, we overrule appellant‘s first assignment of error.
{¶22} We must now consider the trial court‘s determination that Sergeant Carpenter‘s operation of the police cruiser in this instance did not constitute willful or wanton misconduct as a matter of law, which is the basis of appellant‘s second assignment of error.
{¶23} “The term ‘willful and wanton misconduct’ connotes behavior demonstrating a deliberate or reckless disregard for the safety of others.” Moore v. City of Columbus (1994), 98 Ohio App.3d 701, 708. This court has defined willful misconduct to mean conduct involving ” ‘the intent, purpose, or design to injure.’ ” Robertson v. Dept. of Pub. Safety, 10th Dist. No. 06AP-1064, 2007-Ohio-5080, ¶14, quoting Byrd v. Kirby, 10th Dist. No. 04AP-451, 2005-Ohio-1261. “Wanton misconduct is the failure to exercise any care toward one to whom a duty of care is owed under circumstances in which there is a great probability that harm will result and the tortfeasor knows of that probability.” Robertson at ¶18, citing Hunter v. Columbus (2000), 139 Ohio App.3d 962, 969. “A wanton act is an act done in reckless disregard of the rights of others, which reflects a reckless indifference on the consequences to the life, limb, health, reputation, or property of others.” Byrd at ¶23, citing State v. Earlenbaugh (1985), 18 Ohio St.3d 19, 21. ” ‘[M]ere negligence is not converted into wanton misconduct unless the evidence establishes a disposition to perversity on the part of the tortfeasor.’ Such perversity must be under such conditions that the actor must be conscious that his conduct will in all probability result in injury.” Fabrey v. McDonald Village Police Dept., 70 Ohio St.3d 351, 356, 1994-Ohio-368, quoting Roszman v. Sammett (1971), 26 Ohio St.2d 94, 96-97.
{¶24} Under this assigned error, appellant contends Sergeant Carpenter‘s actions constituted wanton conduct1 because he was operating his vehicle at night at excessive speeds, failed to use evasive maneuvers, had reduced reaction time and had an obstructed view of the intersection. In support of her position, appellant relies on Robertson and Hunter.
{¶25} In Robertson, this court was asked to review a judgment rendered against the Ohio State Highway Patrol after a trial in the Court of Claims of Ohio. Upon such review, we found there was competent, credible evidence in the record to support the trial court‘s finding that the trooper failed to show any care for the decedent in the operation of
{¶26} In Hunter, this court reversed a trial court‘s grant of summary judgment in favor of the city of Columbus, whose fire truck hit the decedent‘s vehicle resulting in her death. We found there were genuine issues of material fact relating to whether the truck‘s operator exhibited willful or wanton misconduct because the evidence established the truck was traveling 61 m.p.h. in a 35 m.p.h. zone, was left of center, and was in violation of a Columbus Fire Department rule that stated a vehicle operator should not travel more than 20 m.p.h. when in the wrong lane.
{¶27} As will be established, however, the facts before us are easily distinguishable from both Robertson and Hunter and, in contrast, are analogous to Hewitt and VanDyke, the cases upon which appellees rely.
{¶28} In VanDyke, the plaintiff was injured when he pulled from a side street onto West Broad Street and his car was struck by a police cruiser responding to an emergency call. The city conceded the officer was traveling in excess of the speed limit at night without lights and sirens, but with headlights. The area of travel was a well-lit six-lane roadway with sparse traffic at the time. The officer had the right-of-way, and the plaintiff faced a stop sign and obligation to yield. Though there was testimony the officer‘s speed was between 47 and 50 m.p.h., the plaintiff‘s affidavit indicated the officer‘s speed was
{¶29} Similarly, in Hewitt, the plaintiff was injured when he turned left from a driveway into the path of an officer responding to an emergency call. On appeal, the plaintiff argued summary judgment was not appropriate because genuine issues of material fact remained as to whether the officer‘s conduct of exceeding the speed limit without lights or sirens was willful or wanton. In rejecting the plaintiff‘s argument, this court noted the facts were “nearly identical” to those of VanDyke in that though it was dark, the five-lane road was in good, dry condition with light traffic. Additionally, the officer had the right-of-way, had his headlights illuminated, and was traveling between 55 and 60 m.p.h. in a 45 m.p.h. zone.
{¶30} In the matter before us, the area in which the accident occurred is described as a “flat open stretch of road” consisting of seven lanes. (Carpenter Depo. at 40.) Traffic conditions were described as light, and Sergeant Carpenter was traveling between 55 and 58 m.p.h. in a 45 m.p.h. zone. There is no evidence in the record of inclement weather. Though it was night and lights and sirens were not activated, Sergеant Carpenter‘s headlights were illuminated. According to Sergeant Carpenter, he had the green light indicating his right-of-way, and as he approached the intersection he observed
{¶31} Based on the unrefuted evidence in the record, we find appellees met their burden of identifying those portions of the record that demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Sergeant Carpenter‘s operation of his cruiser amounted to willful or wanton misconduct, and that appellant failed to meet her reciprocal burden as outlined by
{¶32} In her final assignment of error, appellant contends the trial court erred in finding that Sergeant Carpenter was entitled to personal immunity under
{¶33} Appellant does not allege that Sergeant Carpenter acted with malicious purpose or in bad faith, and we have already determined that he did not act in a wanton
{¶34} One acts recklessly ” ‘if he doesn‘t act or intentionally fails to do an act which it is his duty to the other to do, knowing or having reason to know of facts which would lead a reasonable man to realize, not only that his conduct creates an unreasonable risk of physical harm to another, but also that such risk is substantially greater than that which is necessary to make his conduct negligent.’ ” VanDyke at ¶13, quoting Thompson v. McNeill (1990), 53 Ohio St.3d 102, 104-05. For purposes of
{¶35} As we have already discussed under appellant‘s second assignment of error, Sergeant Carpenter was responding to an emergency call at the time of the collision. Sergeant Carpenter was traveling with the right-of-way and headlights illuminated on an unobstructed flat stretch of roadway with light traffic. Sergeant Carpenter‘s speed and lack of lights and sirens were consistent with his directives. As reiterated by this court in Hewitt, ” ‘[b]ecause the law and current police and emergency practice clearly contemplate the necessity in some circumstances of * * * emergency runs, a responding officer does not create an “unreasonable” risk of harm by engaging in an emergency run merely because such a response creates a greater risk than would be incurred by traveling at normal speed.’ ” Id. at ¶33, quoting Byrd at ¶28. Based on precedent from this court, the evidence here does not demonstrate a genuine issue of
{¶36} Based on the foregoing, appellant‘s three assignments of error are overruled, and the judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas is hereby affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.
KLATT, J., concurs.
TYACK, P.J., dissents.
TYACK, P.J., dissenting.
{¶1} I respectfully dissent.
{¶2} I do not see a call to help apprehend someone who has run away from a deputy sheriff after a traffic stop as a call to respond to an inherently dangerous situation. I also do not see such a call as involving a situation where a response is required. Sergeant Carpenter did not need to leave his office and respond to a separate jurisdiction where a deputy was pursuing a suspect and other police officers were already responding. Sergeant Carpenter especially did not need to respond without lights and siren at speeds 10 to 15 m.p.h. over the posted speed limit.
{¶3} I do not feel that Sergeant Carpenter had the right-of-way due to his excessive speed.
{¶4} For similar reasons, I believe a trier of fact could find that Sergeant Carpenter was acting recklessly.
{¶5} I believe that there are genuine issues of material fact both as to immunity and as to recklessness. I would therefore reverse the summary judgment granted by the
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