Stevenson v. ReeseStevenson v. Reese
- Reporters:
- ,
- Before:
- Doctoroff
Plaintiff Anita V. Stevenson
1
appeals as of right from the trial court’s order granting defendant’s motion for summary disposition pursuant to MCR 2.116(C)(5) and (10) and dismissing her negligence claim under § 3135 of Michigan’s no-fault act,
Plaintiff was driving her vehicle through an intersection when it was struck by a vehicle driven by defendant. Plaintiff’s vehicle was not insured at the time of the collision. A police officer arrived at the scene and issued a citation to defendant for failing to yield the right of way. Plaintiff was transported to the hospital by an ambulance. She was treated in the emergency room for a minor abrasion to her
Plaintiff thereafter filed the present action, alleging that defendant’s negligent operation of her vehicle caused injuries to plaintiff that amounted to serious impairments of body functions and permanent and serious disfigurements. Defendant filed a motion for summary disposition pursuant to MCR 2.116(C)(5) and (10), arguing that plaintiffs lawsuit was precluded by
This Court reviews decisions regarding motions for summary disposition de novo. Spiek v Dep’t of Transportation, 456 Mich 331, 337; 572 NW2d 201 (1998). When reviewing a motion for summary disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(5), we review the record to determine whether the movant was entitled to judgment as a matter of law because the party asserting the claim did not have legal capacity to sue. Kuhn v Secretary of State, 228 Mich App 319, 332-333; 579 NW2d 101 (1998). We consider affidavits, pleadings, depositions, and any other documentary evidence submitted by the parties. Id. at 333. A motion under MCR 2.116(C)(10) tests whether there is factual support for a claim. Spiek, supra at 337. When reviewing a motion for summary disposition brought under MCR 2.116(C)(10), the trial court must consider the affidavits, pleadings, depositions, admissions, and documentary evidence submitted by the parties in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion. Quinto v Cross & Peters Co, 451 Mich 358, 362; 547 NW2d 314 (1996). The motion should be granted if the affidavits or other documentary evidence show that there is no genuine issue with respect to any material fact, and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Id.
Plaintiff argues that the trial court erred in granting summary disposition because
Statutes are presumed to be constitutional, and courts have a duty to construe a statute as constitutional unless its unconstitutionality is clearly apparent. Caterpillar, Inc v Dep’t of Treasury, 440 Mich 400, 413; 488 NW2d 182 (1992); Mahaffey v Attorney General, 222 Mich App 325, 344; 564 NW2d 104 (1997). The party asserting the constitutional challenge has the burden of proving the law’s invalidity. In re Hamlet (After Remand), 225 Mich App 505, 521-522; 571 NW2d 750 (1997). A party challenging the facial constitutionality of a statute must establish that no circumstances exist under which it would be valid. Council of Organizations & Others For Ed About Parochiaid, Inc v Governor, 455 Mich 557, 568; 566 NW2d 208 (1997).
The equal protection guarantee in the Michigan Constitution, Const 1963, art 1, § 2, requires that persons under similar circumstances be treated alike.
El Souri v Dep’t of Social Services,
429 Mich 203, 207; 414 NW2d 679 (1987);
Crego v Coleman,
232 Mich App 284, 292; 591 NW2d 277 (1998). Here, plaintiff claims that the constitutionality of
We refuse to deem uninsured motorists a semisuspect class that demands intermediate scrutiny. See
Dep’t of Civil Rights ex rel Forton v Waterford Twp Dep’t of Parks & Recreation,
425 Mich 173, 191; 387 NW2d 821 (1986);
Neal, supra.
The class of uninsured motorists is incomparable to classes of women, mentally incompetent individuals, and illegitimate individuals that have been deemed semisuspect. See
North Ottawa Community Hosp v Kieft,
457 Mich 394, 405-406; 578 NW2d 267 (1998);
Doe v Dep’t of Social Services,
439 Mich 650, 662-663, n 19; 487 NW2d 166 (1992);
In re Jones Estate,
207 Mich App 544, 549; 525 NW2d 493 (1994). Furthermore, while the right of access to the court system is a fundamental right,
Neal, supra
at 717,
A primary goal of the no-fault act is to provide an efficient, affordable system of automobile insurance. Marquis v Hartford Accident & Indemnity (After Remand), 444 Mich 638, 654-655; 513 NW2d 799 (1994); Shavers, supra at 578-579. Section 3135 was enacted under the belief that it would decrease the number of suits filed and the amount of money paid for pain and suffering and, thus, help to decrease or restrain insurance premiums. House Legislative Analysis, HB 4341, December 18, 1995. The specific purpose of subsection 3135(2) (c) was to correct the injustice of allowing drivers who do not contribute to the no-fault system to recover damages from persons that do contribute to the system, and to provide an incentive for uninsured motorists to comply with the requirement that they maintain no-fault automobile insurance. House Legislative Analysis, HB 4341, December 18, 1995. Classifications made by the Legislature do not have to operate perfectly. O’Donnell, supra at 542.
“If the classification has some ‘reasonable basis,’ it does not offend the Constitution simply because the classification ‘is not made with mathematical nicety or because in practice it results in some inequality.’. . . ‘The problems of government are practical ones and may justify,if they do not require, rough accommodations . . . ”
[W]e do not sit “as a superlegislature to judge the wisdom or desirability of legislative policy determinations.” We sit as a court to determine whether there is a rational basis for the Legislature’s judgment. If there is, then that judgment must be sustained. [Id. at 542-543 (citations omitted).]
We conclude that the state government has a legitimate interest in maintaining a fair, affordable system of automobile insurance and the preclusion of uninsured motorists’ recovery of noneconomic damages is rationally related to that legitimate governmental objective. Accordingly,
We further conclude that
Accordingly, we hold that
Affirmed.
Notes
Plaintiff Yamell M. Stevenson’s claim was dismissed below and is not at issue on this appeal.
(1) A person remains subject to tort liability for noneconomic loss caused by his or her ownership, maintenance, or use of a motor vehicle only if the injured person has suffered death, serious impairment of body function, or permanent serious disfigurement.
(2) For a cause of action for damages pursuant to subsection (1) filed on or after 120 days after the effective date of this subsection, all of the following apply:
(c) Damages shall not be assessed in favor of a party who was operating his or her own vehicle at the time the injury occurred and did not have in effect for that motor vehicle the security required by section 3101 at the time the injury occurred.