Marlin v. City of Detroit

• Decision Date: 26 June 1989
• Docket Number: Docket No. 102357
• Parties: Constance F. MARLIN, Individually and as Conservator of the Estate of John E. Marlin, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. CITY OF DETROIT, Defendant-Appellee, and Wayne County, Defendant. 177 Mich.App. 108, 441 N.W.2d 45
• Court: Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US

Page 45

441 N.W.2d 45

Constance F. MARLIN, Individually and as Conservator of the Estate of John E. Marlin, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. CITY OF DETROIT, Defendant-Appellee, and Wayne County, Defendant.

Docket No. 102357.

177 Mich.App. 108, 441 N.W.2d 45

Court of Appeals of Michigan.

Submitted Dec. 7, 1988.

Decided May 15, 1989.

Released for Publication June 26, 1989.

[177 MICHAPP 109] Fieger & Fieger, P.C. by William C. Harsha and Geoffrey N. Fieger, Southfield, for plaintiff-appellant.

Donald Pailen, Corp. Counsel, and Leona L. Lloyd, Asst. Corp. Counsel, Detroit, for defendant-appellee.

Before WAHLS, P.J., and McDONALD and SIMON, ^* JJ.

SIMON, Judge.

Plaintiff appeals as of right from the Wayne Circuit Court's order granting defendant's motion for summary disposition pursuant to MCR 2.116(C)(7) on the basis of governmental immunity under Ross v. Consumers Power Co. [177 MICHAPP 110] (On Rehearing), 420 Mich. 567, 363 N.W.2d 641 (1984), reh. den., 421 Mich. 1202 (1985).

On September 22, 1980, police officers arrived at the Prudential Health Club where John E. Marlin's body had been discovered. Although there was no identification on the decedent's clothing, the police discovered decedent's car located outside of the club. Decedent's wallet and miscellaneous identification were found inside the car. The police confiscated decedent's personal effects, including identification, and his body was taken to the county morgue. Although the police were aware of decedent's name and address, they failed to notify Constance F. Marlin, decedent's wife, about her husband's death.

Mrs. Marlin, concerned about her husband's absence, filed a missing persons report with the Birmingham Police Department. After conducting an extensive search, the Birmingham police issued a press release concerning decedent's disappearance. On October 15, 1980, the Detroit Police Department informed the Birmingham Police Department that decedent had been in the morgue since September 22, 1980.

Mrs. Marlin brought suit against Detroit Police Officers Robert Hislop, Barbara Weide, William Dildy, and Moses Skelton, as well as Harold Oakley, chief investigator of the Wayne County Morgue, and Werner Spitz, Wayne County Medical Examiner, alleging negligence and gross negligence in failing to inform her of her deceased husband's whereabouts. The trial court denied plaintiff's motion to amend to add the City of Detroit and the County of Wayne as defendants. The claims against Oakley and Spitz were dismissed by an order granting summary disposition on the basis of governmental immunity. A jury [177 MICHAPP 111] returned a verdict of no cause of action in favor of the remaining four defendants.

On October 14, 1983, plaintiff filed a suit in federal court against the six defendants named in the original state court action as well as the City of Detroit, Wayne County, Detroit Police Department, and the Wayne County Medical Examiner's office. Plaintiff's federal suit alleged negligence, gross negligence, intentional misconduct, violation of statute, and violation of both the state and federal constitutions. However, all the federal and state law claims were abandoned except for those under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1983. By order dated December 12, 1984, plaintiff's federal complaint under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1983 was dismissed.

On October 13, 1983, plaintiff filed the present suit against Oakley, Spitz, the City of Detroit, and Wayne County, raising the same tort and constitutional violation claims raised in the prior suit. On March 24, 1986, the trial court dismissed the action as against defendants Oakley, Spitz, and Wayne County.

On January 23, 1987, defendant City of Detroit moved for summary disposition pursuant to MCR 2.116(C)(7) on the basis that plaintiff failed to plead facts in avoidance of governmental immunity. The trial court granted defendant's motion, and plaintiff now appeals.

Plaintiff first argues that defendant City of Detroit should be held vicariously liable for the actions of its police officers because those acts were ultra vires. Plaintiff contends that, since the acts were contrary to M.C.L. Sec. 52.208; M.S.A. Sec. 5.953(8), the acts did not constitute the exercise or discharge of a governmental function. Plaintiff claims that the officers violated this statute by failing to deliver decedent's personal effects to plaintiff, decedent's [177 MICHAPP 112] next of kin, and, therefore, they were acting outside of their statutory authority. We disagree.

M.C.L. Sec. 52.208; M.S.A. Sec. 5.953(8) provides:

In all cases arising under the provisions of this act, in the absence of next of kin of the deceased person, the senior police officer being concerned with the matter, and in the absence of police, the county medical examiner or his deputy, shall take possession of all property of value found upon the person of the deceased, make an exact inventory report thereof and shall deliver the property, unless required as evidence, to the person entitled to the custody or possession of the body. If the personal property of value is not claimed by the person entitled to the custody or possession of the body of the decedent within 60 days, the property shall be turned over to an administrator or other personal representatives of the decedent's estate to be disposed of according to law; or, if required as evidence, the property within 60 days after the termination of any proceeding or appeal period therefrom permitted by law shall be turned over to the person entitled to the custody or possession of the body, or to an administrator or other personal representative of the decedent's estate. Nothing in this section shall affect the powers and duties of a public administrator.

Defendant is immune from tort liability for injuries arising out of the exercise or discharge of a governmental function. Ross, supra, p. 591, 363 N.W.2d 641. A governmental function is an activity which is expressly or impliedly mandated or authorized by constitution, statute, or other law. Id., p. 620, 363 N.W.2d 641. Conversely, an agency is liable for injuries resulting from its ultra vires activity, or activity which is not expressly or impliedly mandated or authorized by constitution, statute, or other law. Id.

In analyzing whether an agency is performing a governmental function, this Court focuses on the [177 MICHAPP 113] general activity rather than the specific conduct involved at the time the alleged tort occurred. Id., p. 625, 363 N.W.2d 641; Smith v. Dep't of Public Health, 428 Mich. 540, 608, 410 N.W.2d 749 (1987), reh. den., 429 Mich. 1207 (1987), cert. gtd sub nom., Will v. Michigan Dep't of State Police, --- U.S. ----, 108 S.Ct. 1466, 99 L.Ed.2d 696 (1988).

Generally, the omission of an act is not sufficient to elevate even intentional omissions of a duty, i.e., negligence, to an ultra vires intentional tort. The commission of an act, rather than an omission, is required. Richardson v. Jackson Co., 159 Mich.App. 766, 772, 407 N.W.2d 74 (1987), lv. gtd, 430 Mich. 857 (1988). In Richardson, the plaintiff brought suit against Jackson County for failure to properly install buoys at a public swimming area. This Court held that defendant's failure to obtain a permit for the placement of the buoys, as required by statute, constituted an ultra vires act. The Richardson decision was premised on the legislative mandate that no person shall permit bathing at a public swimming area absent compliance with the...