Gibson v. City of Grand Rapids

• Decision Date: 01 October 1987
• Docket Number: Docket No. 89399
• Citation: 162 Mich.App. 100,412 N.W.2d 658
• Parties: Jimmy Lloyd GIBSON and Mitzi Gibson, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS, Defendant-Appellee.
• Court: Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US

Page 658

412 N.W.2d 658

162 Mich.App. 100

Jimmy Lloyd GIBSON and Mitzi Gibson, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS, Defendant-Appellee.

Docket No. 89399.

Court of Appeals of Michigan.

Submitted Jan. 6, 1987.

Decided Aug. 3, 1987.

Released for Publication Oct. 1, 1987.

Williams, Klukowski, Drew & Fotieo by Michael P. Szczytko, Grand Rapids, for plaintiffs-appellants.

Michael D. Tomich, Grand Rapids, for defendant-appellee.

Before MacKENZIE, P.J., and WEAVER and ROBERTS, ^* JJ.

WEAVER, Judge.

Plaintiffs appeal as of right from summary disposition entered by the Kent Circuit Court in favor of defendant on the basis of governmental immunity. MCR 2.116(C)(7).

Plaintiffs Mitzi and Jimmy Lloyd Gibson sued the City of Grand Rapids for damages resulting from Mr. Gibson's back injuries, sustained when the wooden chair upon which he was seated in the Branch West Side Library collapsed. Mr. Gibson alleged that the city was liable for negligently failing to exercise due care in the operation of the library, in that the city knew or should have known the chair to be in a potentially hazardous condition but failed to warn the public or to inspect the chair for structural integrity. Mrs. Gibson brought an additional claim for loss of consortium.

The city moved for summary disposition on the basis of governmental immunity under MCR 2.116(C)(7). Plaintiffs then sought to amend their complaint so that they could allege the "dangerous or defective" public building exception to governmental immunity under M.C.L. Sec. 691.1406; M.S.A. Sec. 3.996(106). Determining that the public building exception did not apply, on November 26, 1985, the court entered an order denying plaintiffs' amendment and granting summary disposition in favor of the defendant city. Plaintiffs appeal as of right.

Plaintiffs argue that the circuit court erred when applying the immunity exception only to injuries resulting from a defect in the building's actual structure or one of its fixtures. The city responds that the court's determination is based on a correct reading of the statute, which should not be judicially expanded to include nonstationary items in a public building. We agree with the city and affirm the circuit court's order.

Governmental agencies engaged in the exercise or discharge of a governmental function enjoy broad immunity from tort liability. M.C.L. Sec. 691.1401 et seq.; M.S.A. Sec. 3.996(101) et seq. Under the public building exception to governmental immunity, however, liability may still accrue to a governmental agency for the

"defective condition of a public building if the governmental agency had actual or constructive knowledge of the defect and, for a reasonable time after acquiring knowledge, failed to remedy the condition or to take action reasonably necessary to protect the public against the condition." M.C.L. Sec. 691.1406; M.S.A. Sec. 3.996(106).

"Immunity granted by law" is an affirmative defense which must be raised in the governmental agency's responsive pleading. MCR 2.116(C)(7), 2.116(D)(2), and 2.111(F)(3)(a). However, plaintiffs must also plead facts in the complaint which would justify applying an exception to governmental immunity. Ross v. Consumers Power Co. (On Rehearing), 420 Mich. 567, 621, n. 34, 363 N.W.2d 641 (1984). See also Hyde v. University of Michigan Bd. of Regents, 426 Mich. 223, 261, 393 N.W.2d 847 (1986). When reviewing a motion under MCR 2.116(C)(7), the court must consider the pleadings, depositions, admissions, and other documentary evidence filed in the action or submitted by the parties. MCR 2.116(G)(5). If the pleadings show a party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, or if the affidavits or other proofs reveal no genuine issue of material fact, the court must render judgment without delay. MCR 2.116(I)(1).

In this case, plaintiffs sought to amend their complaint in order to plead the immunity exception. Leave to amend should be freely given where justice so requires. MCR 2.118(A)(2). The city was already on notice as to the facts alleged in the complaint and would not have been prejudiced by the amendment. See Ben P. Fyke & Sons v. Gunter Co., 390 Mich. 649, 656-657, 213 N.W.2d 134 (1973). Therefore, denial of leave to amend was proper only if plaintiffs' amendment would have been futile because the public building exception could not apply. Id. Here, denial of leave to amend was not improper. Plaintiffs' amendment would have been futile, since the city was immune from suit.

The statute itself only excepts "bodily injury and property damage resulting from a dangerous or defective condition of a public building...." M.C.L. Sec. 691.1406; M.S.A. Sec. 3.996(106). This exception has been interpreted to include items permanently affixed to a public building. See Pichette v. Manistique Public Schools, 403 Mich. 268, 269 N.W.2d 143 (1978). See also Tilford v. Wayne Co. General Hospital, 403 Mich. 293, 269 N.W.2d 153 (1978); Velmer v. Baraga Area Schools, 157 Mich.App. 489, 403 N.W.2d 171 (1987). The exception does not include a stationary item located in a municipal park and not immediately adjacent to or a part of any public building. See Jolly v. City of St. Clair, 428 Mich. 860, 400 N.W.2d 597 (1987), reversing 153 Mich.App. 824, 396 N.W.2d 552 (1986). Further, when injury is caused by an intervening act or omission, the exception does not apply and immunity may be asserted. Vargo v. Svitchan, 100 Mich.App. 809, 301 N.W.2d 1 (1980), app. dis. 411 Mich. 1035 (1982). ¹ See also Belmont v. Forest Hills Public Schools, 114 Mich.App. 692, 319 N.W.2d 386 (1982), lv. den. 422 Mich. 891, 368 N.W.2d 234 (1985); Landry v. Detroit, 143 Mich.App. 16, 21-22, 371 N.W.2d 466 (1985), lv. gtd. 424 Mich. 876 (1986); Zawadzki v. Taylor, 70 Mich.App. 545, 246 N.W.2d 161 (1976), lv. den. 399 Mich. 875 (1977). Immunity may also be asserted when the injury is caused by a nonstationary item within a building. Lee v. Highland Park School Dist., 118 Mich.App. 305, 308-310, 324 N.W.2d 632 (1982), lv. den. 422 Mich. 902, 368 N.W.2d 245 (1985). See also Cody v. Southfield-Lathrup School Dist., 25 Mich.App. 33, 38-39, 181 N.W.2d 81 (1970).

Because governmental immunity was properly asserted, the trial court did not err in denying plaintiffs' motion to amend and in granting summary...