DeCormier v. Harley-Davidson Motor Co.

• Citation: 446 S.W.3d 668
• Decision Date: 12 November 2014
• Docket Number: No. SC 93702,SC 93702
• Parties: Cynthia DeCormier, Appellant, v. Harley–Davidson Motor Company Group, Inc. and St. Louis Motorcycle, Inc. d/b/a Gateway Harley–Davidson, Respondents.
• Court: United States State Supreme Court of Missouri

446 S.W.3d 668

Cynthia DeCormier, Appellant

v.Harley–Davidson Motor Company Group, Inc. and St. Louis Motorcycle, Inc. d/b/a Gateway Harley–Davidson, Respondents.

No. SC 93702

SUPREME COURT OF MISSOURI en banc

Opinion issued November 12, 2014

Matthew R. Davis and Timothy J. Gallagher of Heller, Gallagher & Finley LLP in St. Louis, for DeCormier.

Terese A. Drew and Timothy M. Etzkorn of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in St. Louis, for the companies.

Opinion

PATRICIA BRECKENRIDGE, JUDGE

Cynthia DeCormier filed a personal injury action against Harley–Davidson Motor Company Group, Inc., (Harley–Davidson) and St. Louis Motorcycle, Inc., d/b/a Gateway Harley–Davidson (Gateway), after sustaining injuries while participating in a motorcycle training course. Harley–Davidson and Gateway filed a motion for summary judgment on the basis of a liability release Ms. DeCormier signed before participating in the course. The circuit court sustained the motion and granted summary judgment in favor of Harley–Davidson and Gateway. On appeal of the circuit court's judgment, Ms. DeCormier claims the circuit court erred in granting summary judgment because the liability release she signed is unenforceable against claims of gross negligence or recklessness and there is a genuine dispute as to whether the defendants were grossly negligent or reckless. Even if Ms. DeCormier pleaded the type of claim against which a release of liability is unenforceable, Ms. DeCormier failed to demonstrate that a genuine dispute exists regarding whether Harley–Davidson and Gateway acted in reckless disregard for her safety and, therefore, whether the release is unenforceable. Accordingly, this Court affirms the circuit court's judgment.

Facts and Procedural Background

On April 13, 2008, Ms. DeCormier participated in the Rider's Edge New Rider's Course, an instructional course for new motorcycle riders sponsored by Harley–Davidson and conducted by employees of Gateway at Gateway's place of business in St. Louis. The Gateway employees instructing the course were certified by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF), and MSF supplied the curriculum for the course.

Before participating in the course, Ms. DeCormier signed a “Release and Waiver,” which provided in pertinent part:

I hereby RELEASE AND FOREVER DISCHARGE (i) Harley–Davidson Motor Company, Inc., Harley–Davidson, Inc., ... each of their respective parent, subsidiary, and affiliated companies ...; [and] (ii) all authorized dealers of Harley–Davidson Motor Company ... who are sponsoring or conducting the [New Rider Course] ... (hereinafter all collectively referred to as “Released Parties”) from ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, DEMANDS, RIGHTS, CAUSES OF ACTION AND LOSSES (collectively, “CLAIMS”) OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER THAT I ... NOW HAVE OR LATER MAY HAVE AGAINST ANY RELEASED PARTY IN ANY WAY RESULTING FROM, OR ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH, MY PARTICIPATION IN THE [NEW RIDER COURSE] ....

I acknowledge and understand that this Release EXTENDS TO AND RELEASES AND DISCHARGES ANY AND ALL CLAIMS I ... have or may have against the Released Parties arising out of my participation in the [New Rider Course], including without limitation all such Claims resulting from the NEGLIGENCE of any Released Party....

While riding her motorcycle during the course, Ms. DeCormier sustained injuries.

Ms. DeCormier filed a two-count petition against Harley–Davidson and Gateway, alleging that the course instructors directed her to perform motorcycle exercises while the range was icy and slippery. In the first count, labeled “Negligence,” Ms. DeCormier alleged that the instructors “instructed [Ms. DeCormier] to perform motorcycle exercises on the training course,” “knew or should have known that the icy conditions of the course created an unreasonable risk of bodily harm,” and “knew or should have known that an inexperienced rider on icy or slippery conditions created an unreasonable risk of bodily harm.” In the second count, labeled “Premises Liability,” Ms. DeCormier stated that Harley–Davidson's and Gateway's negligence and recklessness directly caused the accident in that the instructors “knew or should have known that the motorcycle track [had] become wet and icy, therefore creating a dangerous condition;” and “knew, or by the use of ordinary care, could have known that the existence of the wet and icy conditions posed a substantial risk of bodily harm to its students, but continued to instruct students to ride on the motorcycle track.”

Harley–Davidson and Gateway jointly moved for summary judgment on the basis of the affirmative defense of release. They asserted that, prior to taking the course, Ms. DeCormier signed an agreement releasing them from any future claim of negligence arising out of Ms. DeCormier's participation in the program. Harley–Davidson and Gateway claimed the release barred Ms. DeCormier's action.

In her response to the summary judgment motion, Ms. DeCormier admitted to signing the release but asserted that Harley–Davidson and Gateway were not entitled to judgment because the release could not, as a matter of law, waive liability for gross negligence or recklessness and there is a genuine dispute of material fact whether Harley–Davidson's and Gateway's negligence rose to the level of recklessness or gross negligence. Ms. DeCormier alleged in her “statement of additional facts” that: (1) the MSF has promulgated rules for instructors conducting courses for new riders; (2) in the instructor's guide, MSF “takes the position that training not be conducted during a thunderstorm, snowstorm, windstorm, with ice on the range, or if the [instructors] determine the safety of the students is at risk;” and (3) “there was rain, drizzle, snow, and mist on the day of the course, as indicated by the certified record of river and climatological observations.” The reference to evidentiary support for these statements was to the MSF Basic RidersCourse Rider Coach Guide and the Certified Records of River and Climatological Observations. Harley–Davidson and Gateway admitted these additional facts. Ms. DeCormier further stated that, despite the weather conditions, the instructors continued to send riders out on the range to perform motorcycle exercises and instructed her to perform an exercise when her bike slipped and landed on her leg. The reference to evidentiary support for these statements was to paragraphs of the defendants' Exhibit A, which was Ms. DeCormier's petition. Harley–Davidson and Gateway denied these facts.

The circuit court sustained the motion for summary judgment and entered judgment in favor of Harley–Davidson and Gateway. Thereafter, Ms. DeCormier appealed. After an opinion by the court of appeals, the case was transferred to this Court. Mo. Const. art. V, sec. 10.

Standard of Review

Summary judgment is appropriate only when the moving party demonstrates there is no genuine dispute about material facts and, under the undisputed facts, the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Rule 74.04(c)(6); ITT Commercial Fin. Corp. v. Mid–Am. Marine Supply Corp., 854 S.W.2d 371, 380 (Mo. banc 1993). One way a defending party may establish a right to summary judgment is to show there is no genuine dispute as to the existence of each of the facts necessary to support a properly pleaded affirmative defense. ITT Commercial Fin. Corp., 854 S.W.2d at 381. “Facts set forth by affidavit or otherwise in support of a party's motion are taken as true unless contradicted by the non-moving party's response to the summary judgment motion.” Id. The non-moving party's “denial may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of the party's pleading. Rather, the response shall support each denial with specific references to the discovery, exhibits or affidavits that demonstrate specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.” Rule 74.04(c)(2). The non-moving party must attach to its response copies of all discovery, exhibits, or affidavits on which the non-moving party relies. Id. This Court's review of summary judgment is de novo. Roe v. Replogle, 408 S.W.3d 759, 763 (Mo. banc 2013).

Release Cannot Exempt Liability for Reckless Conduct

On appeal, Ms. DeCormier asserts the circuit court erred in entering judgment in favor of Harley–Davidson and Gateway on the basis of the release because a party cannot exonerate oneself from future liability for gross...