Dowty v. Riggs

• Decision Date: 02 December 2010
• Docket Number: No. 10–32.,10–32.
• Parties: Karen DOWTY and Alvis Eugene Dowty, Sr., and Karen Dowty as next friends of Riggs Dowty, a Minor, Appellants v. Evelyn RIGGS, Appellee.
• Court: Arkansas Supreme Court

2010 Ark. 465

385 S.W.3d 117

Karen DOWTY and Alvis Eugene Dowty, Sr., and Karen Dowty as next friends of Riggs Dowty, a Minor, Appellants

v.Evelyn RIGGS, Appellee.

No. 10–32.

Supreme Court of Arkansas.

Dec. 2, 2010.

Grider Law Firm, PLC, Pocahontas, by: M. Joseph Grider, Murphy, Thompson, Arnold, Skinner & Castleberry, by Casey Castleberry, and Peel Law Firm, by David B. Peel, for appellants.

Cahoon & Smith, Jonesboro, by T. Benton Smith, and Fridal, Eldredge & Clark, LLP, Little Rock, by: William A. Waddell, Jr., for appellee.

Brian G. Brooks, Attorney at Law, PLLC, by: Brian G. Brooks, for amicus curiae Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association.

JIM HANNAH, Chief Justice.

Appellants Karen Dowty and Karen Dowty and Alvis Eugene Dowty, Sr. (“Gene”), as next friends of Riggs Dowty, a minor, appeal from an order of summary judgment entered against them in their suit against appellee Evelyn Riggs to recover damages for negligence and for negligent infliction of emotional distress. On appeal, appellants contend that the circuit court erred in granting Evelyn's motion for summary judgment because a genuine issue of fact remains as to whether her conduct was willful or wanton. Additionally, appellants assert that the circuit court erred in granting the motion because the facts of this case demonstrate that Arkansas should recognize the tort of negligent infliction of emotional distress; therefore, they urge this court to overrule precedent and recognize a new tort. We assumed jurisdiction of this case pursuant to Arkansas Supreme Court Rule 1–2(b)(5) (2010), as the appellants have requested that this court overrule precedent. Although there are claims still pending in this matter, the circuit court issued a certificate pursuant to Arkansas Rule of Civil Procedure 54(b) (2009) to permit an immediate appeal. We affirm the circuit court.

The claims in this case arose from an incident that occurred on October 29, 2004, at the home of Evelyn, who is Karen's mother. That day, Karen, Gene, and Riggs traveled to Evelyn's residence to help her with some yard work. When they arrived, Evelyn's adult son, Perry Riggs, approached the vehicle and displayed a .25–caliber pistol. When Gene got out of the vehicle, Perry shot him in the arm. Karen exited the vehicle, and Perry continued to fire the gun. Thereafter, Karen removed Riggs from the vehicle and left the scene. Neither Karen nor Riggs was physically injured. Perry was charged with one count of battery, one count of aggravated assault on a family or household member, one count of terroristic threatening, and one count of endangering the welfare of a minor, but he was acquitted because of mental disease or defect.

On October 12, 2007, Karen, Gene, and Riggs filed a complaint against Evelyn, alleging claims for negligence, based upon the grounds of premises liability and negligent entrustment. Additionally, Karen and Riggs alleged claims for negligent infliction of emotional distress. Evelyn moved for summary judgment on the claims of Karen and Riggs, contending that Arkansas does not recognize the tort of negligent infliction of emotional distress and that Karen and Riggs admitted that they had suffered no physical injury. Karen and Riggs responded, and while they agreed that Arkansas does not recognize a claim for negligent infliction of emotional distress, they contended that the facts of their case demonstrate that the claim should be recognized. The circuit court granted summary judgment in favor of Evelyn, and appellants now bring this appeal.

I. Jurisdiction—Rule 54(b)

As a preliminary matter, we must address Evelyn's contention that this court lacks jurisdiction of this appeal due to the lack of a final, appealable order. In this case, the three plaintiffs, Gene, Karen, and Riggs, asserted claims against Evelyn. The order appealed from granted summary judgment in favor of Evelyn as to the claims of two plaintiffs, Karen and Riggs, and contained a certificate pursuant to Arkansas Rule of Civil Procedure 54(b) that the order was a final judgment. The circuit court made the certification at Karen and Riggs's request, over Evelyn's objection.

While a final, appealable order must dismiss all parties from the court, discharge them from the action, or conclude their rights to the subject matter in controversy, Rule 54(b) provides that a circuit court may direct the entry of final judgment with regard to fewer than all of the claims or parties by an express determination that there is no just reason for delay. Bayird v. Floyd, 2009 Ark. 455, 344 S.W.3d 80. When an appropriate certification is made by the circuit court pursuant to Rule 54(b), this court considers the judgment final for purposes of appeal. Id. We review the circuit court's findings and certification for an abuse of discretion. Id.

Evelyn asserts that the appeal should be dismissed because the circuit court failed to set forth sufficient reasons, pursuant to Rule 54(b), to allow for an immediate appeal. In this case, the circuit court made the following findings:

1. All three (3) Plaintiffs filed identical lawsuits against the Defendant with the Plaintiffs, Karen and Riggs Dowty, filing the additional count of negligent infliction of emotional distress against the Defendant.

2. That without an immediate appeal, two identical lawsuits arising out of the same operative facts would be held. The first would involve the remaining allegations by the Plaintiff, Gene Dowty, against the Defendant while the remaining allegations by the Plaintiffs, Karen and Riggs Dowty, would be unresolved until appeal.

3. The specific factual findings of this case more starkly represent an issue for the appellate courts to decide whether or not negligent infliction of emotional distress is an appropriate cause of action in Arkansas.

4. In the event that the court's decision to grant the Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment is overturned on appeal, without an immediate appeal at this stage, valuable resources and a substantial amount of time and money on behalf of all the litigants would be needlessly exhausted by the prosecution of what could be two separate trials with identical facts.

5. In addition, the parties are family and the decision to grant the appeal is not going to slow down the resolution of any issue between them. In the event this court denied the request for an immediate appeal, the issues would still be hanging out there, regardless of whether or not this matter proceeded to trial. The court finds that any delay in its decision to grant the Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment would be a delay in the final resolution of the issues between the parties.

6. Therefore, an immediate appeal is necessary to prevent the danger of hardship or injustice to all the parties in this action as set forth above.

We find that the certification order states facts sufficient to justify the entry of a final, appealable order. See, e.g., Howard v. Dallas Morning News, Inc., 324 Ark. 91, 918 S.W.2d 178 (1996). The circuit court did not abuse is discretion in certifying this case for an immediate appeal.

II. Willful and Wanton Conduct

The appellants contend that the circuit court erred in granting summary judgment because there is a genuine issue of material fact regarding whether Evelyn's conduct was willful and wanton. They state that, prior to the incident, Evelyn knew that Perry posed a danger to others, as evidenced by “his history of violence, shooting his gun at random, illegal drug use, and psychiatric episodes.” Pointing to case law where this court has stated that a landowner owes a licensee the duty to refrain from injuring him or her through willful or wanton conduct, see, e.g., Bader v. Lawson, 320 Ark. 561, 898 S.W.2d 40 (1995), the appellants contend that Evelyn injured them through her willful or wanton conduct because even though she knew about Perry's aberrant behavior, she failed to warn them of the danger he posed.

We decline to reach this argument, as a review of the circuit court's order granting summary judgment reveals no ruling on the issue of whether Evelyn injured the appellants through her willful or wanton conduct. This court will not consider arguments on appeal when the party has failed to obtain a ruling from the circuit court. See, e.g., Johnson v. Cincinnati Ins. Co., 375 Ark. 164, 289 S.W.3d 407 (2008).

III. Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress

Finally, we turn to the appellants' contention that the circuit court erred in granting summary judgment on their claims of negligent infliction of emotional distress. The appellants acknowledge that a claim of negligent infliction of emotional distress is not recognized in Arkansas; however, they contend that the facts of this case demonstrate that this court should now recognize this cause of action. The question before us is whether we should overrule precedent and recognize a new tort.

There is a strong presumption of the validity of prior decisions. Cochran v. Bentley, 369 Ark. 159, 251 S.W.3d 253 (2007). This court has held that it is necessary, as a matter of public policy, to uphold prior decisions unless great injury or injustice would result. Id. In matters of practice, adherence by a court to its own decisions is necessary and proper for the regularity and uniformity of practice, so that litigants may know with certainty the rules by which they must be governed in the conducting of their cases. Id. Precedent governs until it gives a result so patently wrong, so manifestly unjust, that a break becomes unavoidable. Id.

In addition to urging us to overrule precedent, the appellants also implore this court to recognize a new tort. This court treads cautiously when deciding whether to recognize a new tort. Rees v. Smith, 2009 Ark. 169, 301 S.W.3d 467. While the law must adjust to meet society's changing needs, we must balance that adjustment against boundless claims in an already crowded judicial system. Id. We will decline to recognize a...