August 28 2012
DA 11-0336
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
2012 MT 185
CITY OF WHITEFISH,
Plaintiff and Appellee,
v.
RALPH JENTILE,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL FROM: District Court of the Eleventh Judicial District,
In and For the County of Flathead, Cause No. DC-10-407C
Honorable Stewart E. Stadler, Presiding Judge
COUNSEL OF RECORD:
For Appellant:
Wade M. Zolynski, Chief Appellate Defender, Sarah Chase Rosario,
Assistant Appellate Defender, Helena, Montana
For Appellee:
Steve Bullock, Montana Attorney General, Mardell Ployhar, Assistant
Attorney General, Helena, Montana
Caleb Simpson, Whitefish City Prosecutor, Whitefish, Montana
Submitted on Briefs: June 19, 2012
Decided: August 28, 2012
Filed:
__________________________________________
Clerk
Justice James C. Nelson delivered the Opinion of the Court.
¶1 Ralph Jentile appeals a decision of the District Court for the Eleventh Judicial
District, Flathead County, ordering Jentile to pay for the repairs to two Whitefish Police
Department patrol cars that collided with each other while pursuing Jentile. We reverse
and remand for further proceedings consistent with this Opinion.
¶2 Jentile raises two issues on appeal which we have restated as follows:
¶3 1. Whether the amount of restitution Jentile was ordered to pay should be reduced
because of the alleged comparative negligence of the officer involved in the accident.
¶4 2. In the alternative, whether Jentile’s trial counsel was ineffective for failing to
specifically argue that the amount of restitution Jentile was ordered to pay should be
reduced because of the alleged comparative negligence of the officer involved in the
accident.
¶5 Because we conclude that the first issue is dispositive, we do not address the
second issue.
Factual and Procedural Background
¶6 On October 28, 2009, the Helena Veteran’s Administration (the VA) contacted the
Whitefish Police Department (the Police) regarding concerns the VA’s medical staff had
for Jentile who was one of the VA’s clients. The VA medical staff reported that they
were concerned that Jentile might be suffering from suicidal thoughts based on a phone
inquiry Jentile had made regarding the lethality of lithium and the lack of an antidote.
¶7 In response to the VA’s call, the Police twice attempted to locate Jentile at his
Whitefish residence to conduct a welfare check, but he was not at home either time.
2
Consequently, Officer Ryan Zebro placed several calls to Jentile’s cellular phone. In the
first call, Jentile hung up on the officer. In the second call, Jentile explained to Officer
Zebro that he was not suicidal. In the third call, Officer Zebro informed Jentile that the
VA had ordered an evaluation for Jentile and that Jentile needed to turn himself in.
Jentile told Officer Zebro that he was not suicidal, that he wanted to be left alone, and
that he would not turn himself in. Jentile also threatened to retaliate if the police did not
leave him alone. After the third phone call, Officer Zebro put out an “attempt to locate”
for Jentile. A short time later, another officer responded that he had sighted Jentile’s
vehicle driving through town.
¶8 The Police used three patrol cars to stop Jentile. The first patrol car stopped traffic
while the second patrol car pulled alongside Jentile, and the third patrol car pulled in
behind him. All three patrol cars had activated their flashing lights.
¶9 Jentile initially pulled over, but before the officers could get out of their vehicles,
Jentile pulled back out into traffic and drove off with the patrol cars in pursuit. One
officer estimated that they were driving 45-50 miles per hour in a 25 mile-per-hour zone.
After winding through a residential section of Whitefish, Jentile turned left onto a side
street and made another immediate left into a driveway (which turned out to be his own).
The first patrol car was able to stop several feet behind Jentile’s vehicle. Officer Zebro,
who was driving immediately behind the first patrol car, rear-ended that car with his own
patrol car. When Jentile exited his vehicle, the officers tasered him, handcuffed him, and
transported him to the hospital for a mental evaluation.
3
¶10 The Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) investigated the crash. In its investigative
report, MHP concluded that the crash occurred because Officer Zebro was following too
closely. Officer Zebro was not cited for this infraction, but he did receive a letter of
reprimand in his file.
¶11 The Police initially presented felony charges to the County Attorney, but after
reviewing the police video and reading the charging documents, the County Attorney
declined felony prosecution. Instead, Jentile was charged with three misdemeanors:
Resisting Arrest in violation of § 45-7-301, MCA; Reckless Driving in violation of
§ 61-8-301(1), MCA; and Eluding a Peace Officer in violation of § 61-8-316, MCA. In
addition, the City of Whitefish (the City) requested restitution for the damage to the two
patrol cars.
¶12 Pursuant to a plea agreement, the charges of Resisting Arrest and Reckless
Driving were dismissed, and Jentile pled guilty to the remaining charge of Eluding a
Peace Officer. In addition, the plea agreement specified that a hearing regarding
restitution would be held separate from sentencing, and that Jentile would receive a
two-year deferred imposition of sentence.
¶13 Jentile moved to dismiss the restitution hearing arguing that because he did not
cause the collision, he should not have to pay for the damage to the patrol cars. Instead,
he pointed out that the MHP investigative report indicated that Officer Zebro caused the
collision by following too closely. In addition, Jentile asserted that he should not be
liable for restitution because the City wrongfully involved itself in a civil matter, and it
violated its own policies when it initiated the pursuit of Jentile’s vehicle.
4
¶14 The Whitefish Municipal Court denied Jentile’s motion to dismiss and held a
hearing regarding restitution. At the hearing, Jentile argued that the officers were
negligent per se: for initiating the pursuit when Jentile was not under arrest; by not
controlling the pursuit in a safe manner; and by not discontinuing the pursuit. Jentile also
argued that the City was negligent per se “for not adopting policies regarding persons
with mental disorders as suggested by the Montana Law Enforcement Training Center.”
Additionally, Jentile pointed out that the MHP investigation concluded that Officer Zebro
caused the accident, and that Officer Zebro had been officially reprimanded in writing
over this incident.
¶15 Nevertheless, the Municipal Court awarded the City its requested damages and
ordered Jentile to pay $7,327.81 in restitution. The Municipal Court found that the patrol
cars collided “as a direct consequence of Jentile’s erratic unlawful driving that required
defensive, reactive, emergency maneuvering by police in visual pursuit.”
¶16 Jentile appealed to the Eleventh Judicial District Court, but the District Court
rejected all of his claims and affirmed the decision of the Municipal Court. Jentile now
appeals to this Court from the decisions of the District and Municipal Courts regarding
restitution. Notably, Jentile points out in his appeal brief that, after the conclusion of the
lower court proceedings, his insurance company determined in its investigation of the
accident that Officer Zebro was 100 percent liable, thus it declined to pay Jentile’s claim.
Standard of Review
¶17 We review sentences that are not eligible for sentence review—i.e., sentences that
impose less than one year of actual incarceration—for both legality and abuse of
5
discretion. State v. Herd, 2004 MT 85, ¶ 22, 320 Mont. 490, 87 P.3d 1017. A sentence is
legal if it falls within statutory parameters. State v. Hernandez, 2009 MT 341, ¶ 3, 353
Mont. 111, 220 P.3d 25 (citing State v. Kotwicki, 2007 MT 17, ¶ 5, 335 Mont. 344, 151
P.3d 892). In this case, Jentile’s sentence was deferred, thus he was not subject to actual
incarceration, and we review his sentence for both legality and abuse of discretion. See
State ex rel. Holt v. District Court, 2000 MT 142, 300 Mont. 35, 3 P.3d 608.
¶18 In addition, we review for clear error a lower court’s factual findings regarding the
amount of restitution assessed against a defendant. State v. Johnson, 2011 MT 286, ¶ 8,
362 Mont. 473, 265 P.3d 638 (citing State v. Essig, 2009 MT 340, ¶ 12, 353 Mont. 99,
218 P.3d 838).
Discussion
¶19 Whether the amount of restitution Jentile was ordered to pay should be reduced
because of the alleged comparative negligence of the officer involved in the
accident.
¶20 Jentile argues on appeal that violating the law by eluding the police does not
preclude the required comparative negligence analysis regarding Officer Zebro’s
purported negligence. Thus, Jentile contends that the Municipal Court erred when it did
not apply a comparative negligence analysis to the restitution determination despite
evidence of negligence by the party claiming restitution.
¶21 The City argues that the damage to the patrol cars was caused by Jentile’s illegal
conduct, and not by any negligence on the part of its officers. Moreover, the City claims
that even if the defense of comparative negligence could be applied to a criminal
restitution proceeding, Jentile did not assert that defense in this case. Thus, according to
6
the City, Jentile waived that defense, and the Municipal Court was correct in not
considering it.
¶22 When a criminal defendant pleads guilty to a criminal offense, the sentencing
court must impose restitution if the offender’s criminal conduct resulted in pecuniary loss
to a victim. State v. Brownback, 2010 MT 96, ¶ 19, 356 Mont. 190, 232 P.3d 385 (citing
§§ 46-18-201(5), -241(1), -243(1) and (2), MCA). Moreover, we stated in Brownback
that restitution “ ‘engraft[s] a civil remedy onto a criminal statute,’ creating a procedural
shortcut for crime victims who would be entitled to a civil recovery against the offender.”
Brownback, ¶ 19 (quoting United States v. Martin, 195 F.3d 961, 968 (7th Cir. 1999).
¶23 In assessing restitution in this case, the Municipal Court found that the patrol cars
collided “as a direct consequence of Jentile’s erratic unlawful driving that required
defensive, reactive, emergency maneuvering by police in visual pursuit.” The court
dismissed Jentile’s claim that Officer Zebro caused the accident by following too closely.
¶24 We disagree with the Municipal Court’s hasty determination in this case. At the
very least, the court should have examined Jentile’s arguments in light of Montana’s
statutes and case law regarding emergency responders.
¶25 Section 61-8-329, MCA, provides that the driver of a motor vehicle may not
follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent. Nevertheless,
§ 61-8-107, MCA, provides that while a police officer may exceed the speed limit and
disregard certain other traffic laws when responding to an emergency call or when in
pursuit, this statute does not relieve the officer from the duty to drive with due regard for
7
the safety of all persons, nor does it protect the officer from the consequences of the
officer’s reckless disregard for the safety of others.
¶26 In Stenberg v. Neel, 188 Mont. 333, 338, 613 P.2d 1007, 1010 (1980), we stated
that the “driver of an authorized emergency vehicle is charged with a duty of due care
under the circumstances, and the circumstances include the privileges granted by section
61-8-107(2), MCA.” In that case, defendant Neel was proceeding through an intersection
under a green light when a patrol car driven by Officer Stenberg ran into him. Neel
testified that he did not hear the siren or see the emergency lights on the patrol car prior
to the accident. Officer Stenberg suffered a pinched nerve in his neck, and he brought
suit against Neel to recover damages arising from the accident. The jury returned a
verdict in Neel’s favor, and we affirmed concluding that there was sufficient evidence
from which a jury could find that Officer Stenberg failed to exercise the required standard
of care. Stenberg, 188 Mont. at 340, 613 P.2d at 1011.
¶27 Similarly, in Eklund v. Trost, 2006 MT 333, ¶ 35, 335 Mont. 112, 151 P.3d 870,
we held that under § 61-8-107, MCA, while police officers and authorized emergency
personnel may, under limited circumstances, have authority to ignore certain laws of the
road, they nevertheless have a duty to drive safely under the circumstances of a pursuit.
They are not relieved from liability for driving in reckless disregard for the safety of
others. Eklund, ¶ 36.
¶28 In this case, Jentile argued at the restitution hearing that the officers were
negligent per se for initiating the pursuit when Jentile was not under arrest; by not
controlling the pursuit in a safe manner; and by not discontinuing the pursuit. In making
8
these arguments, however, Jentile did not use the phrase “comparative negligence.” Now
on appeal, the City, citing M. R. Civ. P. 8(c), argues that comparative negligence is an
affirmative defense that must be raised in the answer or it is deemed waived.
¶29 The first problem with the City’s argument is that there is no “answer” here as it is
a criminal case. The second problem is that in a proceeding for the determination of the
amount of restitution, § 46-18-244(2), MCA, allows a criminal defendant to “assert any
defense that the offender could raise in a civil action for the loss for which the victim
seeks compensation.”
¶30 We conclude here that Jentile’s statements at the restitution hearing regarding
negligence per se were sufficient to raise the defense of comparative negligence.
Negligence per se is simply negligence established as a matter of law, which usually
arises from a statutory violation. Giambra v. Kelsey, 2007 MT 158, ¶ 46, 338 Mont. 19,
162 P.3d 134 (citing Black’s Law Dictionary 1057 (Bryan A. Garner ed., 7th ed., West
1999)). Moreover, we held in Giambra that the violation of a traffic statute which
constitutes negligence per se does not bar the defense of contributory negligence.
Giambra, ¶ 49.
¶31 Comparative negligence, on the other hand, “compares the conduct of the parties
‘based on evidence and contributory negligence, as established by reasonable and prudent
person standards.’ ” Giambra, ¶ 44 (quoting Faulconbridge v. State, 2006 MT 198, ¶ 99,
333 Mont. 186, 142 P.3d 777). Montana’s comparative negligence scheme employs a
“greater than” version of comparative negligence. Section 27-1-702, MCA. In other
9
words, a plaintiff may not recover if the plaintiff is found to be greater than fifty percent
negligent.
¶32 We explained in Giambra that the “ ‘fact that both parties may well have been
guilty of statutory violations is a further reason for leaving the comparison of the
negligence to the jury . . . .’ ” Giambra, ¶ 48 (quoting Reed v. Little, 209 Mont. 199, 207,
680 P.2d 937, 941 (1984)). Thus, we concluded that
under Montana’s comparative negligence scheme, “the jury must consider
evidence of negligence from violation of a highway traffic statute, which
was a proximate cause of the accident, with other evidence of negligence on
the part of both parties. The jury must then weigh or compare the
negligence of both parties in reaching its verdict.”
Giambra, ¶ 49 (emphasis added) (quoting Reed, 209 Mont. at 207, 680 P.2d at 941).
¶33 We declared in Reed that even in negligence per se cases, the fact finder must
apportion negligence between the two parties in reaching its verdict. Reed, 209 Mont. at
206-07, 680 P.2d at 940-41; see also Edie v. Gray, 2005 MT 224, ¶ 19, 328 Mont. 354,
121 P.3d 516. Moreover, we explained in Giambra that Montana’s comparative
negligence scheme set forth in §§ 27-1-702 and -703, MCA,
requires the fact-finder to consider the negligence of the claimant, injured
person, defendants, and third-party defendants, even if a party proceeds
under a claim of negligence per se or if the fact-finder determines that one
or more persons was negligent per se. In the absence of an express
statutory provision to the contrary, a claim of negligence per se or a
determination that a person was negligent per se does not preclude the
defense of contributory negligence or bar the apportionment of negligence
liability based on a comparative negligence scheme.
Giambra, ¶ 51 (emphasis added).
10
¶34 Based on the foregoing, we conclude that the Municipal Court was obligated to
consider any possible negligence on the part of Officer Zebro in making its restitution
assessment. In a restitution hearing, the sentencing court is the finder of fact. Jentile’s
assertion of the officer’s negligence was sufficient to apprise the court of his defense
against the City’s claimed loss for vehicle damage. We presume that laypeople “know
the law,”1 why then should we presume less of judges—i.e., that they “don’t know the
law.” Presuming that the Municipal Court judge in this case knew the law, and
presuming that he was aware of his obligation to sentence according to the law, at the
very least the judge should have compared Officer Zebro’s negligence with that of
Jentile’s negligence, if any, based on evidence presented at the restitution hearing.
¶35 With that said, we make the following observations regarding the Dissent.
1
Indeed we went on at length about that presumption in State v. Payne, 2011 MT
35, ¶ 22, 359 Mont. 270, 248 P.3d 842, when we stated:
We are persuaded by the State’s argument that Payne is presumed to
know the law of Montana. For at least a century, it has been the law in
Montana that “ignorance of the law is no defense.” State ex rel. Rowe v.
District Court, 44 Mont. 318, 324, 119 P. 1103, 1106 (1911), superseded
by statute on other grounds in State ex rel Shea v. Judicial Standards
Comm., 198 Mont. 15, 643 P.2d 210 (1982) (“If a person accused of a
crime could shield himself behind the defense that he was ignorant of the
law which he violated, immunity from punishment would in most cases
result. No system of criminal justice could be sustained with such an
element in it to obstruct the course of its administration.”). We reiterated
this rule in State v. Trujillo, 2008 MT 101, ¶ 15, 342 Mont. 319, 180 P.3d
1153, when we held that Trujillo unlawfully trespassed onto another’s land
despite his assertions that he had not passed through any gates or barriers
intended to bar access. Similarly, in State v. G’Stohl, 2010 MT 7, ¶ 14, 355
Mont. 43, 223 P.3d 926, we noted that “people are presumed to know the
law” and will not be relieved of criminal liability for their failure to comply
with it.
11
¶36 First, were the facts such that the first patrol car collided with or even nearly
collided with Jentile’s vehicle, we may be more inclined to follow the Municipal Court’s
pronouncement that Jentile was entirely at fault for the collision. However, the video
from Officer Zebro’s patrol car clearly indicates that the officer driving the first patrol car
had no problem stopping several feet behind Jentile’s vehicle notwithstanding Jentile’s
“erratic unlawful driving.” While the video shows that Jentile was speeding, the video
also shows that Jentile applied his brakes to slow down prior to turning, and on at least
one of the four turns he made while being pursued, he applied his turn signals. In
addition, the “abrupt stop with no prior warning” that the Municipal Court referred to,
was actually made by the driver of the first patrol car. The video does not even show
Jentile’s vehicle at that point because of the angle of the camera.
¶37 Second, if we were to follow the Dissent’s logic, it would be Jentile’s fault as well
if Officer Zebro had struck a pedestrian in his pursuit of Jentile. However, as we noted
earlier in this Opinion, while police officers and authorized emergency personnel may,
under limited circumstances, have authority to ignore certain laws of the road, they
nevertheless have a duty to drive safely under the circumstances of a pursuit. Section
61-8-107, MCA. They are not relieved from liability for driving in reckless disregard for
the safety of others.
¶38 Third, the Dissent “presumes” that the Municipal Court Judge gave the briefs filed
before it by the parties “a close review” because those briefs “are blanketed with
highlighting and handwritten notes from start to finish.” Dissent, ¶ 45 n.2. Actually, it is
12
impossible to tell whether the Municipal Court Judge, the District Court Judge, or
counsel on appeal from either the State or the defense chose to highlight the briefs.
¶39 Fourth, in its decision to hold Jentile responsible for the entire amount of
restitution, the Municipal Court does not even mention the MHP investigative report that
found Officer Zebro negligent for following too closely. It appears the Municipal Court
disregarded that evidence entirely.
¶40 Fifth, and finally, while the Dissent criticizes this Court for changing the issue, the
issue is and always has been one of comparative negligence. Here, the Municipal Court
treated this as an either/or proposition—either Jentile was 100% negligent or Officer
Zebro was 100% negligent. The Municipal Court did not conduct any sort of
comparative negligence analysis.
¶41 Accordingly, we hold that the Municipal Court erred in failing to consider
Jentile’s argument that Officer Zebro was contributorily negligent, and in failing to use a
comparative negligence analysis in determining restitution. Furthermore, the District
Court, in considering Jentile’s appeal from the Municipal Court, should have reversed
and remanded for further proceedings consistent with the law which we have set out in
this Opinion.
¶42 We reverse and remand this cause to the District Court with instructions that it
issue an order vacating Jentile’s restitution judgment, and directing that the Municipal
Court conduct a new restitution hearing consistent with this Opinion.
/S/ JAMES C. NELSON
13
We Concur:
/S/ MIKE McGRATH
/S/ MICHAEL E WHEAT
/S/ PATRICIA COTTER
/S/ BETH BAKER
/S/ BRIAN MORRIS
Justice Jim Rice, dissenting.
¶43 I agree with the Court’s determination that “Jentile’s assertion of the officer’s
negligence was sufficient to apprise the [Municipal] court of his defense against the
City’s claimed loss for vehicle damage.” Opinion, ¶ 34. Indeed, Jentile’s assertion that
officer negligence caused the accident and the associated vehicle damage was the central
focus of the restitution proceeding. My disagreement lies with the Court’s conclusion
that the Municipal Court made a “hasty determination” that failed to “examine[] Jentile’s
arguments in light of Montana’s statutes and case law regarding emergency responders.”
Opinion, ¶ 24. I believe the record demonstrates that the Municipal Court carefully
considered Montana law and Jentile’s arguments. After conducting its review and
hearing the evidence, the Municipal Court found that Jentile failed to stop in response to
police direction, led police on a high speed chase through a residential neighborhood
14
when officers believed Jentile was a risk to public safety, and then “elected to make an
abrupt stop with no prior warning.” The Municipal Court determined that “police acted
reasonably with respect to their measured response to an unknown and perilous
situation,” and that the vehicle collision was the “direct consequence of Jentile’s erratic
unlawful driving that required defensive, reactive, emergency maneuvering by police.”
The court found that the entire pursuit “was an unbroken course of events that was caused
by Jentile’s unlawful conduct.” The Municipal Court noted Jentile’s “civil law
defenses,” but concluded that none of them relieved his responsibility for the “full
measure” of the damages. Reviewing the matter on appeal, the District Court held that
“the Municipal Court correctly concluded . . . that the cause of the City’s claimed
damages was Defendant’s fleeing from a legal traffic stop, not officer negligence.” I
believe the Court is remanding for work that has already been done by the Municipal
Court and the District Court. I would affirm.
¶44 The method and extent of the Municipal Court’s consideration of these issues is
demonstrated by a close review of the record. Prior to the restitution hearing, Jentile
moved to “dismiss the Restitution amount,” asserting that the accident “was a direct
result of the officer[’]s negligence.” He argued that the officers followed too closely and
drove in a manner unsafe under the wet road conditions, and noted that he was entitled to
raise “defenses that could be raised in a civil action.” In his response brief, the
prosecutor set forth an analysis that virtually mirrors the analysis the Court provides in
¶¶ 25-26 of the Opinion. He quoted the entirety of § 61-8-107, MCA, governing the
duties of police vehicles and authorized emergency vehicles when in pursuit. He quoted,
15
as the Court does, from Stenberg that “[t]he driver of an authorized emergency vehicle is
charged with a duty of care under the circumstances.” The prosecutor explained that
“[t]he issues before the Court at this stage of the sentencing hearing are whether there is a
causal relation between Jentile’s criminal conduct and the loss and the amount of said
loss,” including “whether WPD 1 was contributorily negligent, and whether such
negligence was an intervening superceding act causing the collision” (emphasis added).
He concluded by arguing that the officer “did not breach [h]is duty to operate his vehicle
with due regard of the safety of others” and that “but for Jentile[’s] criminal behavior and
the circumstances created thereby, a pursuit and eventual collision between the pursuit
vehicle[s] would not have occurred.”
¶45 At the beginning of the restitution hearing, the Municipal Court gave the parties an
opportunity to orally outline their legal positions prior to the taking of evidence. The
Municipal Court noted that the prosecutor bore “the initial burden” and thus invited him
to begin. The prosecutor did so, as follows:
[Prosecutor]: According to case law the State, or the City here, will need to
have proven a causal relation between the offender’s criminal conduct and
the loss. Your Honor, as set forth in our briefs, I would first like to point
out that the defendant’s negligence per se, defense/counter claim is
misplaced. . . . As set forth in the brief Your Honor, I point your attention
to Ray versus Green, which is a Colorado case—
Judge: Which page number?
[Prosecutor]: Page seven Your Honor.
1
WPD refers to Whitefish Police Department.
16
Judge: I’ve read all the briefs, but for ease of reference from both the court
and also for the defendant, now referring to the prosecutor’s Response to
Jentiles’ Motion on Restitution Hearing, page seven, please continue.
[Emphasis added.]2
¶46 During defense counsel’s opening statement, the prosecutor twice objected to
defense counsel’s characterization of the negligence issue, but the Municipal Court
overruled the prosecutor’s objection both times and permitted defense counsel to fully
argue the issue as she pleased. The video of the pursuit and crash was then played,
followed by testimony by Officer Zebro for the City and by Jentile for the defense.
Counsel then gave closing arguments in which they again asserted that the other party
had acted negligently and caused the accident.
¶47 The Municipal Court then issued its order imposing restitution. It summarized the
legal authorities that had been provided by the parties:
Extensive briefs were submitted to the Court in advance that contained a
recital of law, supporting cases, legal contentions, and factual statements
with arguments. The Judge read all submitted documents in advance of the
hearing. . . . During the course of the hearing and by submitted briefs the
Court received many cites to legal authority to include Montana statutory
law, Montana and other states’ case law, various contentions about
causation, foreseeability, attenuation, intervening superseding acts, causal
relation, the “But-For” test, legal liability based upon tort claims, civil law
defenses, extenuating facts and circumstances, diminished mental capacity
or temporary mental disabilities both in fact and in law, and the possibility
of Federal law preclusions on monetary recovery for judgments/sentences
from certain Federal payments (VA disability and SSI benefits).
Applying these authorities to the evidence presented at the hearing, the Municipal Court
determined that Jentile had “created a dangerous situation,” that the accident was “a
2
I would note that the original set of briefs filed before the Municipal Court by the parties are
blanketed with highlighting and handwritten notes from start to finish. Someone indeed gave
them a close review, and I presume it was the Municipal Court Judge.
17
direct consequence of Jentile’s erratic unlawful driving,” that the officers had acted
reasonably and in a “controlled way,” and that “there was no affirmative defense pleaded
and supported by defendant’s counsel under the facts established at hearing that would
bar the imposition of a full measure of restitution. . . .” (emphasis added). In other
words, the Municipal Court determined that Jentile was 100% responsible for the
accident, despite his assertions of officer negligence.
¶48 I would conclude that the Municipal Court’s determinations are supported by
substantial evidence presented at the hearing. While not using the phrase “comparative
negligence,” the Municipal Court clearly considered and compared the respective
negligence of the parties and determined that the police had acted properly, while Jentile
was entirely responsible for the accident and for a “full measure” of the damages. The
Municipal Court gave long and careful consideration to these issues. I would affirm the
District Court’s conclusion that “the Municipal Court correctly concluded . . . that the
cause of the City’s claimed damages was Defendant’s fleeing from a legal traffic stop,
not officer negligence.”
¶49 In response to this Dissent, the Court changes the issue. In ¶ 34 of the Opinion,
the Court states its initial conclusion that “at the very least the [Municipal] judge should
have compared Officer Zebro’s negligence with that of Jentile’s negligence, if any.”
Now that this Dissent has established from the record that the Municipal Court indeed
compared the negligence of both parties, the Court changes horses in the middle of the
stream and proceeds to disagree with the factual determinations that the Municipal Court
entered about the negligence of the parties—a completely different issue. See Opinion,
18
¶ 36. The Court’s disagreement with the Municipal Court’s factual findings that Jentile
was 100% responsible for the accident essentially directs a “verdict” in favor of Jentile.
Having already determined that the Municipal Court’s factual findings are erroneous, the
Court has rendered a remand unnecessary except for entry of a new judgment.
/S/ JIM RICE
19
City of Whitefish v. Ralph Jentile
Court: Montana Supreme Court
Date filed: 2012-08-28
Citations: 2012 MT 185, 366 Mont. 94, 285 P.3d 515, 2012 Mont. LEXIS 241
Copy CitationsCombined Opinion