Winnisquam Reg'l Sch. Dist. v. Levine

• Citation: 880 A.2d 369,152 N.H. 537
• Decision Date: 18 August 2005
• Docket Number: No. 2004–079.,2004–079.
• Court: Supreme Court of New Hampshire
• Parties: WINNISQUAM REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT v. Daniel J. LEVINE and another. Winnisquam Regional School District v. Butler Manufacturing Company and another.

152 N.H. 537

880 A.2d 369

WINNISQUAM REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

v.Daniel J. LEVINE and another.

Winnisquam Regional School District

v.Butler Manufacturing Company and another.

No. 2004–079.

Supreme Court of New Hampshire.

Argued: April 5, 2005.

Opinion Issued: Aug. 18, 2005.

Devine, Millimet & Branch, P.A., of Manchester (Andrew D. Dunn and Donald L. Smith on the brief, and Mr. Dunn orally), for the plaintiff.

D'Amante Couser Steiner Pellerin, P.A., of Concord (R. James Steiner and Gayle M. Braley on the brief, and Mr. Steiner orally), for defendant Dutton & Garfield, Inc.

Donovan Hatem LLP, of Boston, Massachusetts (Jeffrey L. Alitz on the brief), for American Institute of Architects (New Hampshire Chapter), Structural Engineers of New Hampshire, American Council of Engineering Companies of New Hampshire, Board of Associated Builders and Contractors (New Hampshire/Vermont Chapter), and Associated General Contractors of New Hampshire, as amici curiae.

NADEAU, J.

Defendant Dutton & Garfield, Inc. (D & G) appeals an order of the Superior Court (Perkins , J.) arguing that the court erred by: (1) holding that the statute of repose found in RSA 508:4–b (1997) was unconstitutional and denying the motion to dismiss; and (2) denying its motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. We reverse.

This appeal follows a jury verdict awarding the plaintiff, Winnisquam Regional School District (Winnisquam), damages in the amount of $136,500 resulting from D & G's alleged negligent construction of a replacement roof on a middle school in Winnisquam. D & G began the roof replacement in the summer of 1991 and it was substantially completed by the spring of 1992. Structural problems with the roof were discovered in the spring of 2001. Winnisquam filed suit against D & G seeking damages for negligent construction and design of the replacement roof. D & G filed a motion to dismiss based upon the eight-year statute of repose found in RSA 508:4–b, II. In its objection, Winnisquam argued that RSA 508:4–b was unconstitutional. The trial court denied D & G's motion to dismiss and held that RSA 508:4–b was unconstitutional because it violated equal protection. This appeal followed.

On appeal, D & G argues that the trial court erred: (1) by holding that the statute of repose was unconstitutional; and (2) by refusing to grant its motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. In response, Winnisquam argues that: (1) the statute of repose is unconstitutional because it creates unreasonable and arbitrary distinctions between classes of plaintiffs and classes of defendants; (2) the eight-year period in the statute is "inherently unreasonable because it eliminates a cause of action before the wrong giving rise to the action can be discovered"; and (3) the statute is unconstitutional because it "creates an unreasonable and arbitrary distinctions [sic ] between the classes of defendant's [sic ] involved in the building industry who are entitled to protection."

We first note that the right to recover for one's injuries is not a fundamental right, but rather "an important substantive right." Carson v. Maurer, 120 N.H. 925, 931, 424 A.2d 825 (1980). We turn then to the issue of whether the statute violates State equal protection rights.

RSA 508:4–b, I, provides:

Except as otherwise provided in this section, all actions to recover damages for injury to property, injury to the person, wrongful death or economic loss arising out of any deficiency in the creation of an improvement to real property, including without limitation the design, labor, materials, engineering, planning, surveying, construction, observation, supervision or inspection of that improvement, shall be brought within 8 years from the date of substantial completion of the improvement, and not thereafter.

In defending the trial court's ruling, Winnisquam argues that RSA 508:4–b creates distinctions between plaintiffs and defendants depending upon "whether the injury giving rise to the claim involves an improvement to real property." It argues that:

[A] plaintiff injured by an undiscoverable defect in a building that was substantially completed nine years ago is prohibited from suing those involved in creating the unsafe condition, while a plaintiff injured by a undiscoverable defect in the design of an automobile that was placed in the stream of commerce nine years ago is free to sue those involved in placing the unsafe automobile in the stream of commerce. Similarly, an architect who negligently designs a building is relieved of all liability after eight years, while a doctor who negligently performs an operation is subject to an "almost infinite period of liability."

Winnisquam contends these are arbitrary and unreasonable classifications under the statute and thus violate the equal protection provisions of Part I, Articles 1 and 14 of the New Hampshire Constitution. Cf . State v. Basinow, 117 N.H. 176, 177, 371 A.2d 458 (1977). In addition, it argues that the eight-year statute of repose period is "inherently unreasonable because it eliminates a cause of action before the wrong may reasonably be discovered." We disagree. For ease of analysis we will address both arguments together.

We have held that the equal protection guarantee of the New Hampshire Constitution does not forbid classifications, but requires us to examine the rights affected and the purpose and scope of the classification. LeClair v. LeClair, 137 N.H. 213, 222, 624 A.2d 1350 (1993) ; see In re Sandra H., 150 N.H. 634, 638, 846 A.2d 513 (2004). The issue is whether a difference in treatment is constitutionally permissible.

In determining whether RSA 508:4–b denies Winnisquam equal protection of the laws, the test is whether the challenged classifications are reasonable and have a fair and substantial relation to the object of the legislation. Carson, 120 N.H. at 932–33, 424 A.2d 825. In applying this test, however, we will not examine the factual basis relied upon by the legislature as justification for the statute. "In the absence of a suspect classification or a fundamental right, courts will not second-guess the legislature as to the wisdom of or necessity for legislation. Our sole inquiry is whether the legislature could reasonably conceive to be true the facts on which the challenged legislative classifications are based." Id. at 933, 424 A.2d 825 (quotations and citations omitted).

In Big League Entertainment, Inc. v. Brox Industries, Inc., 149 N.H. 480, 821 A.2d 1054 (2003), we held that RSA 508:4–b acts as a statute of repose. In reaching that conclusion we...