Paterek v. 6600 Ltd.

• Decision Date: 05 December 1990
• Docket Number: Docket No. 115665
• Citation: 186 Mich.App. 445,465 N.W.2d 342
• Parties: Daniel B. PATEREK and Elise A. Paterek, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. 6600 LIMITED, d/b/a Liberty Park of America, Defendant-Appellee. 186 Mich.App. 445, 465 N.W.2d 342
• Court: Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US

Page 342

465 N.W.2d 342

Daniel B. PATEREK and Elise A. Paterek, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. 6600 LIMITED, d/b/a Liberty Park of America,

Defendant-Appellee.

Docket No. 115665.

186 Mich.App. 445, 465 N.W.2d 342

Court of Appeals of Michigan.

Submitted Oct. 4, 1990, at Detroit.

Decided Dec. 5, 1990, at 9:10 a.m.

Released for Publication Feb. 11, 1991.

[186 MICHAPP 446] Clark & Knight, P.C. by William E. Clark, Southfield, for plaintiffs-appellants.

Goulding & Lucas, P.C. by Charles R. Wesserling, Detroit, for the defendant-appellee.

Before DANHOF, C.J., and CAVANAGH and BEASLEY, ^* JJ.

PER CURIAM.

Daniel Paterek injured his knee while running to catch a fly ball during a softball game at defendant's recreational field. He sued on a premises liability theory, claiming that the field was improperly maintained. The complaint included a loss of consortium claim for Paterek's wife, Elise Paterek. The circuit court granted summary disposition to defendant under MCR 2.116(C)(7) and (10), on the basis that Daniel Paterek had [186 MICHAPP 447] signed an official team roster and contract which purported to release defendant from liability for injuries occurring on defendant's premises. Plaintiffs appeal as of right, raising three related issues concerning the release contract. We affirm.

Plaintiffs first claim that summary disposition was improperly granted because there was a material issue of fact concerning Daniel Paterek's state of mind while signing the release. We disagree.

Under MCR 2.116(C)(7), a party may bring a motion for summary disposition on the ground that a claim is barred by some disposition of the claim before commencement of the action, including release. The motion may be supported or opposed by affidavits, depositions, admissions, or other documentary evidence. Fuller v. Integrated Metal, 154 Mich.App. 601, 606-607, 397 N.W.2d 846 (1986), lv. den. 427 Mich. 851 (1986). If the pleadings show that a party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, or if the affidavits or other proofs show that there is no genuine issue of material fact, the trial court must render judgment without delay. Id.; MCR 2.116(I)(1).

A motion for summary disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(10) must also be decided on all available documentary evidence. Osner v. Boughner, 180 Mich.App. 248, 262, 446 N.W.2d 873 (1989). A motion under this subrule tests whether there is factual support for a claim. Id. Summary disposition should be granted under MCR 2.116(C)(10) if it is determined that, upon giving the nonmoving party the benefit of every reasonable doubt, it is impossible for the claim to be supported at trial because of some deficiency that cannot be overcome. Shellenberger v. Ins. Co. of North America, 182 Mich.App. 601, 603, 452 N.W.2d 892 (1990).

In this case, summary disposition was proper under either MCR 2.116(C)(7) or (C)(10).

[186 MICHAPP 448] Before the start of the 1986 softball season, Daniel Paterek printed his name on and signed a document entitled "1986 OFFICIAL TEAM ROSTER AND CONTRACT." Among the relevant provisions of the document were the following:

Each of us, the undersigned players, acknowledge, agree and understand that:

* * * * * *

2. Playing softball is hazardous and may result in injury; and

3. Sliding is dangerous to myself and other players; and

4. Other aspects of softball are dangerous and may result in injury to me or other players; and

* * * * * *

Further, each of us agree that in consideration for permission to play at Liberty Park of America:

1. I assume all risks of injury incurred or suffered while on and/or upon the premises of Liberty Park of America; and

2. I release and agree not to sue Liberty Park of America, its agents, servants, associations, employees or anyone connected with Liberty Park of America for any claim, damages, costs or cause of action which I have or may in the future have as a result of injuries or damages sustained or incurred while on and/or upon the premises of Liberty Park of America; and

* * * * * *

I have read the above terms of this contract, understand them and agree to abide by them.

I, the undersigned player, acknowledge that I have read and understand the above contract.

We note initially that it is not contrary to this state's public policy for a party to contract against liability for damages caused by ordinary negligence. See St. Paul Ins. v. Guardian Alarm, 115 Mich.App. 278, 283, 320 N.W.2d 244 (1982), and [186 MICHAPP 449] cases cited therein. As with other contracts, the validity of a contract of release turns on the intent of the parties. Trongo v. Trongo, 124 Mich.App. 432, 435, 335 N.W.2d 60 (1983), lv. den. 417 Mich. 1100.32 (1983). To be valid, a release must be fairly and knowingly made. Denton v. Utley, 350 Mich. 332, 86 N.W.2d 537 (1957); Binard v. Carrington, 163 Mich.App. 599, 603, 414 N.W.2d 900 (1987); Trongo, supra. A release is not fairly made and is invalid if (1) the releasor was dazed, in shock, or under the influence of drugs, (2) the nature of the instrument was misrepresented, or (3) there was other fraudulent or overreaching conduct. Theisen v. Kroger Co., 107 Mich.App. 580, 582-583, 309 N.W.2d 676 (1981).

Daniel Paterek alleges that at no time was it explained to him that the document was a release or waiver of his rights. He claims that he was simply told that the document was an official team roster which he had to sign before playing in the softball league. He claims that there was an issue of material fact regarding whether the nature of the document which he signed was misrepresented as a roster, as opposed to a release.

We believe, however, that plaintiffs have misconstrued the meaning of "misrepresent" in this context. A fair reading of the cases cited above which have addressed the validity of releases leads to the conclusion that to warrant rescission or invalidation of a contract of release, a misrepresentation must be made with the intent to mislead or deceive. In the instant case, none of the documentary evidence available to the trial court raised a reasonable inference that defendant or its agents intentionally or fraudulently misrepresented the nature of the roster/contract. At the most, the document may have been innocently misrepresented, which would not have been sufficient to invalidate the release. Therefore, there was no [186 MICHAPP 450] genuine issue of material fact and plaintiffs' claim was barred by the release.

This conclusion is also supported by the principle that one who signs a contract cannot seek to invalidate it on the basis that he or she did not read it or thought that its terms were different, absent a showing of fraud or mutual mistake. As we stated in Moffit v. Sederlund, 145 Mich.App. 1, 8, 378 N.W.2d 491 (1985), lv. den. 425 Mich. 860 (19...