I N THE SUPREME COURT O T E STATE O MONTANA
F H F
No. 81-266
JAMES V. AMBROGINI and
ROBERT D. FLINT,
P l a i n t i f f s and A p p e l l a n t s ,
S N Y TODD, THE STATE O MONTANA
O N F
and MONTANA STATE DEPARTMENT OF
HIGHWAYS,
D e f e n d a n t s and Respondents.
O R D E R
PER CURIAM:
I T I S ORDERED t h a t t h e f o u r t h s e n t e n c e of t h e t h i r d
p a r a g r a p h of t h e F e b r u a r y 2 5 , 1981, o p i n i o n i n t h i s m a t t e r
b e amended t o s t a t e : " A f e n c e was c o n s t r u c t e d and a r o p e
g a t e i n s t a l l e d a p p r o x i m a t e l y mid-way up t h e l a n e t o t h e Todd
ranch. "
I T I S FURTHER ORDERED t h a t t h e second s e n t e n c e o f t h e
f o u r t h p a r a g r a p h o f t h e same o p i n i o n b e amended t o s t a t e :
"The r o p e g a t e mid-way up t h e l a n e w a s a n u i s a n c e t o h i s
customers."
W I T H THIS AMENDMENT o f t h e f a c t s , t h e P e t i t i o n f o r a
R e h e a r i n g of t h i s m a t t e r i s d e n i e d .
DATED t h i s 1 5 t h day o f A p r i l , 1982.
Chief J u s t i c e
g,-$& .. -
No. 81-266
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
JAMES V. AMBROGINI and
ROBERT D. FLINT,
Plaintiffs and Appellants,
SONNY TODD, THE STATE OF MONTANA
and MONTANA STATE DEPARTmNT OF
HIGHWAYS,
Defendants and Respondents.
Appeal from: District Court of the Sixth Judicial District,
In and for the County of Sweet Grass
Honorable Jack D. Shanstrom, Judge presiding.
Counsel of Record:
For Appellants:
Gregory 0 Morgan, Bozeman, Montana
.
For Respondents:
Landoe, Brown, Planalp, Kommers and Lineberger,
Bozeman, Montana
J. Daniel Hoven, Office of Attorney General, Helena,
Montana
Submitted on briefs: November 18, 1981
~ecided: February 25, 1982
Mr. J u s t i c e Frank B. M o r r i s o n , J r . , d e l i v e r e d t h e Opinion
of t h e C o u r t .
The p l a i n t i f f s , James Ambrogini and R o b e r t F l i n t , a p p e a l
from summary judgment e n t e r e d by t h e S i x t h J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t
C o u r t i n f a v o r of b o t h d e f e n d a n t s , Sonny Todd and t h e Montana
Department of Highways.
On May 3, 1979, F l i n t was d r i v i n g a t r u c k owned by
Ambrogini when i t c o l l i d e d w i t h two angus h e i f e r c a l v e s on
Highway 10. The c a l v e s were owned by Todd. I n November of
1979, t h e p l a i n t i f f s f i l e d s e p a r a t e a c t i o n s a g a i n s t d e f e n d a n t
Todd a l l e g i n g t h a t Todd's n e g l i g e n c e had caused t h e c o l l i s i o n .
The c o m p l a i n t s w e r e amended i n A p r i l , 1980, t o i n c l u d e t h e
S t a t e of Montana and t h e Montana Department of Highways as
defendants. These c l a i m s have s i n c e been c o n s o l i d a t e d .
The f a c t s a r e u n d i s p u t e d . I n 1936, t h e S t a t e of Montana
a c q u i r e d a highway right-of-way easement from t h e p r i o r
owners of t h e Todd r a n c h . The S t a t e p a i d t h e p r i o r owners
$323.75 t o c o n s t r u c t a f e n c e a l o n g Highway 1 0 . A f e n c e was
c o n s t r u c t e d and a s t o c k g a t e i n s t a l l e d a t t h e l a n e e n t r a n c e .
Through t h e y e a r s , t h e f e n c e h a s been m a i n t a i n e d by t h e
owners of what i s now known a s t h e Todd r a n c h .
Todd s e l l s c a t t l e and h o r s e s . The s t o c k g a t e a t t h e
l a n e entrance w a s a nuisance t o h i s customers. Todd d i d n o t
wish t o r e p l a c e t h e s t o c k g a t e w i t h a c a t t l e g u a r d due t o
h a z a r d s posed t o h o r s e s . T h e r e f o r e , h e removed t h e s t o c k
g a t e and l i n e d t h e e n t i r e one hundred y a r d l o n g l a n e w i t h a
mesh f e n c e topped w i t h barbed w i r e and wooden p o s t s . Todd
a l s o i n s t a l l e d a g a t e l e a d i n g from t h e l a n e i n t o t h e p a r k i n g
l o t and turn-around a r e a used by h i s c u s t o m e r s . Todd t e s t i -
f i e d t h a t s i n c e t h e e n t i r e l a n d and l a n e were f e n c e d , h e
f e l t t h e r e t o b e no need t o i n s t a l l a s t o c k c o n t r o l l i n g
d e v i c e a t t h e highway e n t r a n c e t o t h e l a n e . In fact, the
l a n e was f e n c e d i n o r d e r t o a v o i d t h e n e c e s s i t y of having a
stock controlling device a t the lane entrance.
On t h e n i g h t of May 2 , 1979, a p p r o x i m a t e l y 50 head of
angus h e i f e r s were c o n t a i n e d i n t h e i r pen on t h e Todd r a n c h .
The pen was e n c l o s e d by mesh f e n c e v e r y s i m i l a r t o t h a t
described a s l i n i n g the lane. The c a t t l e , some of which
were i n h e a t , b r o k e t h r o u g h t h i s f e n c e and e n t e r e d a s h e l t e r
b e l t a r e a surrounded by f o u r - s t r a n d b a r b e d w i r e f e n c e .
A f t e r g r a z i n g i n t h e s h e l t e r a r e a f o r some t i m e , t h e c a t t l e
c r a w l e d t h r o u g h t h a t f e n c e w i t h o u t d i s t u r b i n g it and e n t e r e d
t h e p a r k i n g l o t and turn-around a r e a used by Todd's c u s t o m e r s
f o r l o a d i n g and u n l o a d i n g s t o c k . The g a t e l e a d i n g from t h a t
a r e a t o t h e l a n e was open. The c a l v e s walked t h r o u g h t h e
open g a t e , down t h e l a n e and o n t o Highway 1 0 .
The t r u c k d r i v e n by F l i n t c o l l i d e d w i t h two of t h e
h e i f e r s w h i l e t h e y were on t h e highway. The t r u c k went i n t o
t h e borrow p i t and u p s e t . F l i n t was i n j u r e d .
On J a n u a r y 1 2 , 1981, d e f e n d a n t Montana Department o f
Highways moved f o r summary judgment p u r s u a n t t o Rule 56 of
t h e Montana Rules of C i v i l P r o c e d u r e . On March 1 0 , 1981,
a f t e r c o n s i d e r i n g t h e b r i e f s , d e p o s i t i o n s , s t i p u l a t i o n s and
arguments of t h e p a r t i e s , t h e c o u r t g r a n t e d summary judgment
f o r t h e following reasons:
(1) t h e S t a t e had no s t a t u t o r y d u t y t o e r e c t a c a t t l e
g u a r d , g a t e o r s t o c k c o n t r o l d e v i c e a t t h e Highway 10 e n t r a n c e
t o Todd' s l a n e ;
( 2 ) t h e f a i l u r e t o c o n s t r u c t such a device r e s u l t e d i n
no u n r e a s o n a b l e r i s k of harm t o t h e t r a v e l l i n g p u b l i c ; and
( 3 ) t h e l a c k of a s t o c k c o n t r o l d e v i c e a t t h e e n t r y way
t o t h e r a n c h was n o t , a s a m a t t e r of law, t h e p r o x i m a t e
c a u s e of t h e a c c i d e n t .
~efendant
Sonny Todd moved f o r summary judgment on
March 23, 1981. The c o u r t g r a n t e d h i s motion on May 6 ,
1981, f o r t h e f o l l o w i n g r e a s o n s :
(1) S e c t i o n 60-7-201, MCA, imposes l i a b i l i t y on a
l i v e s t o c k owner o n l y f o r n e g l i q e n t c o n d u c t which r e s u l t s i n
h i s l i v e s t o c k occupying a highway and c a u s i n g i n j u r y ;
( 2 ) t h e r e was no e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d a t t r i a l showing
d e f e n d a n t ' s f e n c e t o be c o n s t r u c t e d o r m a i n t a i n e d i n a
n e g l i g e n t manner; and
( 3 ) t h e r a n c h owner, a s a m a t t e r of law, had no d u t y t o
a n t i c i p a t e t h a t t h e c a t t l e would e s c a p e t h r o u g h two f e n c e
l i n e s and e n t e r a t u r n - a r o u n d a r e a , t h e r e f o r e , making i t
n e c e s s a r y f o r Todd t o e i t h e r keep t h e g a t e between t h e a r e a
and t h e l a n e s h u t when n o t i n u s e o r c o n s t r u c t a s t o c k
control device a t the entrance t o the lane.
The i s s u e s p r e s e n t e d t o t h i s C o u r t on a p p e a l a r e :
(1) Did t h e d e f e n d a n t , Montana Department of Highways,
have a d u t y t o r e q u i r e and m a i n t a i n a c a t t l e g u a r d o r g a t e
a t t h e ranch entrance?
(2) Did t h e d e f e n d a n t , Sonny Todd, have a l e g a l d u t y
t o c o n s t r u c t and m a i n t a i n a f e n c e t o p r e v e n t l i v e s t o c k from
e n t e r i n g t h e highway?
(3) Is t h e r e s u f f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e upon which r e a s o n a b l e
men c o u l d c o n c l u d e t h a t Todd was n e g l i g e n t i n e i t h e r m a i n t a i n i n g
o r c o n s t r u c t i n g t h e f e n c e t h r o u g h which t h e c a t t l e p a s s e d ?
W e uphold summary judgment f o r t h e Montana Department
of Highways and r e v e r s e summary judgment f o r t h e d e f e n d a n t ,
Sonny Todd. W remand t h i s c a s e f o r a d e t e r m i n a t i o n of
e
whether o r n o t Todd was n e g l i g e n t f o r n o t c o n s t r u c t i n g a
s t o c k c o n t r o l device a t t h e l a n e e n t r a n c e o r keeping t h e
g a t e from t h e l a n e t o t h e turn-around a r e a s h u t a t a l l t i m e s
d u r i n g which i t w a s n o t i n u s e . I f t h e t r i e r of f a c t f i n d s
Todd n e g l i g e n t , it must t h e n d e t e r m i n e whether h i s n e g l i g e n c e
was t h e p r o x i m a t e c a u s e of t h e c o l l i s i o n on May 3 , 1979.
B r i e f s , d e p o s i t i o n s and t e s t i m o n y a t h e a r i n g s e s t a b l i s h e d
s e v e r a l undisputed, p e r t i n e n t f a c t s . The Todd r a n c h i s
l o c a t e d o f f Highway 10 a p p r o x i m a t e l y 6.5 m i l e s e a s t of Big
Timber. T h i s i s a n open r a n g e a r e a . Highway 1 0 i s c l a s s i f i e d
by t h e Montana Department of Highways as b e i n g p a r t of t h e
f e d e r a l - a i d primary system. I t is not a controlled access
highway. The s e c t i o n of t h e highway n e a r t h e Todd r a n c h w a s
c o n s t r u c t e d p r i o r t o J u l y 1, 1969, and h a s n o t been r e c o n s t r u c t e d
since t h a t date. T h i s s e c t i o n h a s n e v e r been d e s i g n a t e d a
" h i g h - h a z a r d a r e a " p u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n 60-7-102(2), Montana
Code Annotated.
The above f a c t s a r e r e l e v a n t t o s e c t i o n s 60-7-101
t h r o u g h 60-7-103, MCA, g o v e r n i n g when t h e Montana Department
of Highways i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e f e n c i n g of highways, as
w e l l a s t o s e c t i o n s 60-7-201 t h r o u g h 60-7-203, MCA, governing
when a r a n c h e r i s l i a b l e f o r damages c a u s e d by t h e p r e s e n c e
of h i s c a t t l e on a highway. These s t a t u t e s a r e c o n t r o l l i n g
i n t h i s s i t u a t i o n and we f o c u s on them a s t h e b a s i s f o r t h i s
decision.
THE L I A B I L I T Y O F THE DEPARTMENT O F HIGHWAYS
S e c t i o n 60-7-101, MCA, and i t s l e g i s l a t i v e h i s t o r y
i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e 1974 l e g i s l a t u r e i n t e n d e d t o i n c r e a s e t h e
s a f e t y of t h e m o t o r i s t t r a v e l l i n g t h r o u g h t h e r a n c h i n g a r e a s
of Montana. S e c t i o n 60-7-103, MCA, delegates the responsibility
f o r t h e m o t o r i s t s ' s a f e t y t o t h e Montana Department of
Highways. It states:
"60-7-103. Department t o f e n c e right-of-way
t h r o u g h open r a n g e . (1) The d e p a r t m e n t s h a l l
f e n c e t h e right-of-way of any p a r t of t h e
s t a t e highway system t h a t i s c o n s t r u c t e d o r
r e c o n s t r u c t e d a f t e r J u l y 1, 1969, t h r o u g h open
r a n g e where l i v e s t o c k p r e s e n t a h a z a r d t o t h e
s a f e t y o f t h e m o t o r i s t . Where a f e n c e i s
constructed, adequate stock g a t e s o r stock
p a s s e s , as n e c e s s a r y , s h a l l be p r o v i d e d t o
make l a n d on e i t h e r s i d e of t h e highway u s a b l e
f o r l i v e s t o c k purposes.
" ( 2 ) The d e p a r t m e n t s h a l l e r e c t a f e n c e i n
e v e r y high-hazard a r e a a s promptly a s p o s s i -
b l e , and t h e c o s t of such c o n s t r u c t i o n i s a n
e x p e n d i t u r e f o r t h e enforcement of f e d e r a l -
a i d highway s a f e t y programs. Gates, stock
u n d e r p a s s e s , w a t e r f a c i l i t i e s , and c a t t l e
g u a r d s may b e i n s t a l l e d where n e c e s s a r y t o
make t h e l a n d on e i t h e r s i d e of t h e highway
u s a b l e f o r l i v e s t o c k p u r p o s e s o r where a
p u b l i c right-of-way i n t e r s e c t s t h e s t a t e high-
way. "
S e c t i o n 60-7-102 (1) and ( 2 ) , MCA, d e f i n e s "open r a n g e "
and " h i g h - h a z a r d a r e a " as f o l l o w s :
" (1) 'Open r a n g e 1 means t h o s e a r e a s of t h e
s t a t e where l i v e s t o c k i s r a i s e d and m a i n t a i n -
ed i n s u f f i c i e n t numbers as t o c o n s t i t u t e a
s i g n i f i c a n t p a r t of t h e l o c a l o r c o u n t y econ-
omy and where s u c h a n i m a l s g r a z e and move
a b o u t g e n e r a l l y u n r e s t r a i n e d by f e n c e s .
" ( 2 ) A ' h i g h - h a z a r d a r e a 1 i s a segment of
t h e p r i m a r y highway system p a s s i n g t h r o u g h
open r a n g e where l i v e s t o c k moves on o r a c r o s s
t h e highway o f t e n enough, i n enough numbers,
and w i t h enough e a s e of a c c e s s t h a t such a n i -
mals c r e a t e a s i g n i f i c a n t t r a f f i c s a f e t y
hazard. Evidence b e a r i n g on whether a n i m a l s
on t h e highway p o s e a s i g n i f i c a n t h a z a r d i n -
cludes, without l i m i t a t i o n , p a s t accident
r e c o r d s , t h e o p i n i o n s of p e r s o n s q u a l i f i e d
by e x p e r i e n c e t o e v a l u a t e t h e r e l a t i v e s a f e t y
of r o a d c o n d i t i o n s , and t h e t e r r a i n around
t h e r o a d . I'
S i n c e t h e p a s s a g e of s e c t i o n 60-7-103, MCA, t h e Montana
Department of Highways i s o b l i g a t e d t o f e n c e any r i g h t - o f -
way c o n s t r u c t e d o r r e c o n s t r u c t e d a f t e r J u l y 1, 1969, t h r o u g h
a hazardous open r a n g e a r e a . I n a d d i t i o n , t h e Department
must a l s o f e n c e any e x i s t i n g right-of-way which it c l a s s i f i e s
a s b e i n g i n a n open r a n g e area c o n t a i n i n g a s u f f i c i e n t
number of roaming l i v e s t o c k t o c o n s t i t u t e a s i g n i f i c a n t
t r a f f i c s a f e t y hazard. These f e n c e s must i n c l u d e s t o c k
g a t e s , s t o c k p a s s e s and c a t t l e g u a r d s wherever n e c e s s a r y .
The i n s t a n t s i t u a t i o n i s n o t c o v e r e d by t h e s e s t a t u t e s .
D e p o s i t i o n s of two employees of t h e Department of Highways
e s t a b l i s h t h a t no c o n s t r u c t i o n o r r e c o n s t r u c t i o n h a s been
completed on t h e r e l e v a n t highway s e c t i o n s i n c e J u l y 1,
1969. I n a d d i t i o n , t h e Montana Department of Highways h a s
n o t c l a s s i f i e d t h i s segment of highways a s a "high-hazard
area." T h e r e f o r e , p u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n 60-7-103, MCA, the
Department o f Highways h a s no s t a t u t o r y d u t y t o c o n s t r u c t a
f e n c e and t h u s no d u t y t o c o n s t r u c t a s t o c k c o n t r o l d e v i c e .
P l a i n t i f f s a l s o r e l y on s e c t i o n 81-4-103, MCA, as a
b a s i s f o r e s t a b l i s h i n g n e g l i g e n c e on t h e p a r t of t h e Department
of Highways. That s e c t i o n s t a t e s :
"Civil Liability. Any p e r s o n c o n s t r u c t i n g
o r m a i n t a i n i n g any f e n c e of any k i n d n o t
d e s c r i b e d i n 81-4-101 i s l i a b l e i n a c i v i l
a c t i o n f o r a l l damages c a u s e d by r e a s o n of
i n j u r y t o s t o c k r e s u l t i n g from s u c h d e f e c -
t i v e fence."
S e c t i o n 81-4-101, MCA, defines a l e g a l fence. The d e f i n i t i o n s
a r e based on h e i g h t and f e n c i n g m a t e r i a l . P l a i n t i f f s present
no f a c t s a l l e g i n g t h a t t h e Todd r a n c h f e n c e f a i l s t o conform
t o t h e d e f i n i t i o n of a l e g a l f e n c e . Rather, p l a i n t i f f s
a l l e g e t h a t s e c t i o n 81-4-102, MCA, r e q u i r e s t h e p r e s e n c e of
an a u t o pass i n order t o c r e a t e a l e g a l fence. This a l l e g a t i o n
i s n o t w e l l founded.
S e c t i o n 81-4-102, MCA, s t a t e s merely t h a t t h e p r e s e n c e
of a n a u t o p a s s w i l l n o t make a n o t h e r w i s e l e g a l f e n c e
illegal. T h i s s e c t i o n e n s u r e s t h a t a f e n c e need n o t be a
c e r t a i n h e i g h t where v e h i c l e s p a s s t h r o u g h it i n o r d e r t o
retain i t s legal characterization. I t d o e s n o t imply t h a t a
fence without an auto pass i s i l l e g a l . A s t h e r e a r e no
o t h e r a l l e g a t i o n s by p l a i n t i f f s t h a t t h e Todd f e n c e i s
i l l e g a l , t h e Department of Highways i s n o t l i a b l e t o p l a i n t i f f s
f o r c o n s t r u c t i o n of a n i l l e g a l f e n c e p u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n 81-
4-103, MCA.
in ally, p l a i n t i f f s a s s e r t a g e n e r a l d u t y on t h e p a r t
of t h e S t a t e t o b u i l d and m a i n t a i n highways i n a s a f e manner,
S t a t e ex. r e l . Byorth v . D i s t r i c t C o u r t , 1 4 t h J u d i c i a l
D i s t r i c t ( 1 9 7 7 ) , 175 Mont. 63, 572 P.2d 201, and t o e n s u r e
t h a t t h e roads a r e not constructed negligently. Negligent
c o n d u c t i s t h a t which f a l l s below t h e s t a n d a r d e s t a b l i s h e d
by law f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n of o t h e r s a g a i n s t u n r e a s o n a b l e
r i s k and n e c e s s a r i l y i n v o l v e s t h e c o n c e p t s of r e a s o n a b l e n e s s
and f o r e s e e a b i l i t y . Mang v . E l i a s s o n ( 1 9 6 9 ) , 153 Mont. 431,
435, 458 P . 2d 777.
The S t a t e p a i d i n 1936 f o r t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of a r i g h t -
of-way f e n c e on t h e Todd r a n c h . Undisputed e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t e s
t h a t t h e r a n c h owners have s i n c e m a i n t a i n e d t h e f e n c e and
t h a t t h e f e n c e h a s been, and c u r r e n t l y i s , i n e x c e l l e n t
condition. The l a n e l e a d i n g from t h e Todd r a n c h t o Highway
1 0 i s t o t a l l y fenced. I t c o n t a i n s a g a t e w i t h an a d e q u a t e
latch. These f a c t s made it r e a s o n a b l e f o r t h e Department of
Highways t o b e l i e v e t h e r o a d t o b e s a f e from t h e i n t r u s i o n
of l i v e s t o c k from t h e Todd ranch. The a c t i o n s of t h e c a t t l e
i n t h i s p a r t i c u l a r i n s t a n c e were n o t f o r e s e e a b l e by t h e
Department of Highways.
A s t h e S t a t e h a s no s t a t u t o r y o r g e n e r a l d u t y t o r e q u i r e
a c a t t l e guard o r s t o c k g a t e a t t h e l a n e e n t r a n c e t o t h e
Todd r a n c h , f a i l u r e t o c o n s t r u c t such a d e v i c e w a s n o t
n e g l i g e n c e on t h e p a r t of t h e S t a t e . I t i s fundamental t o
t h e law of t o r t s t h a t t h e r e can be no n e g l i g e n c e i f no d u t y
exists. P r o s s e r on t h e Law of T o r t s S30 ( 1 9 7 1 ) . W e uphold
t h e summary judgment d e t e r m i n a t i o n f o r d e f e n d a n t Department
o f Highways as p l a i n t i f f s f a i l e d t o e s t a b l i s h any d u t y , a
m a t e r i a l e l e m e n t of t h e n e g l i g e n c e c l a i m .
THE L I A B I L I T Y O F S N Y TODD
O N
The D i s t r i c t C o u r t found t h e segment of Highway 1 0
i n v o l v e d i n t h i s c a s e t o be l o c a t e d i n a n open r a n g e a r e a .
G e n e r a l l y , a n open r a n g e d e s i g n a t i o n i m p l i e s t h a t a n owner
i s n o t l i a b l e f o r h i s wandering l i v e s t o c k . Beinhorn v .
Griswold ( 1 9 0 2 ) , 27 E4ont. 79, 90, 69 P . 557, 558; Thompson
v . Mattuschek ( 1 9 5 9 ) , 134 Mont. 500, 506, 333 P.2d 1022,
1025; B a r t s c h v. I r v i n e ( 1 9 6 7 ) , 149 Mont. 405, 427 P.2d 302.
The open r a n g e t r a d i t i o n h a s become i n c r e a s i n g l y e r o d e d o v e r
t h e y e a r s a s a g r e a t e r number of m o t o r i s t s have a p p e a r e d on
Montana's r o a d s and highways. S e c t i o n s 60-7-201 and 60-7-
202, MCA, a r e t h e s t a t u t o r y embodiments of t h i s e r o s i o n .
P r i o r t o 1974 t h e s t a t u t e s made it u n l a w f u l f o r t h e
owner of l i v e s t o c k t o w i l f u l l y a l l o w them t o g r a z e on t h e
right-of-way of f e n c e d f e d e r a l and s t a t e highways. See
s e c t i o n 32-21-178, R.C.M., 1947. The s p e c i f i c l a n g u a g e
employed was " s h a l l n o t w i l f u l l y p e r m i t . " I n 1974, t h e
s u c c e s s o r of t h a t s e c t i o n was amended t o s t a t e , i n r e l e v a n t
part:
"60-7-201. Grazing l i v e s t o c k on highway un-
l a w f u l . A p e r s o n who owns o r p o s s e s s e s l i v e -
s t o c k may n o t p e r m i t t h e l i v e s t o c k t o g r a z e ,
remain upon, o r occupy a p a r t of t h e r i g h t -
of-way o f :
" ( 2 ) a s t a t e highway d e s i g n a t e d by agreement
between t h e highway commission and t h e s e c r e -
t a r y of t r a n s p o r t a t i o n a s a p a r t of t h e f e d e r -
a l - a i d p r i m a r y system, e x c e p t a s p r o v i d e d i n
60-7-202."
P l a i n t i f f s a s s e r t t h a t t h e 1974 amendment r e s u l t e d i n a
s t a n d a r d o f a b s o l u t e l i a b i l i t y f o r c o n d u c t by a r a n c h e r
r e s u l t i n g i n a f a i l u r e t o keep h i s l i v e s t o c k o f f a highway.
W cannot agree.
e P r i o r t o 1974, a r a n c h e r was l i a b l e o n l y
when he w i l f u l l y a l l o w e d h i s l i v e s t o c k t o roam on a highway.
The l e g i s l a t u r e ' s c h o i c e of t h e t e r m "may n o t p e r m i t " i m p l i e s
t h e r e d u c t i o n of t h e w i l f u l l n e s s s t a n d a r d t o one of n e g l i g e n c e .
P r a c t i c a l l y e v e r y s t a t e which h a s c o n s i d e r e d t h e i s s u e
a g r e e s t h a t t h e u s e of words such a s " p e r m i t , " " a l l o w " o r
" s u f f e r " i m p l i e s l i a b i l i t y f o r n e g l i g e n t c o n d u c t a s opposed
t o absolute l i a b i l i t y . See, e.g., S a n t a n e l l o v . Cooper
( A r i z . 1 9 7 0 ) , 106 A r i z . 262, 475 P.2d 246; P o r i e r v . Spivey
(Ga. 1 9 5 8 ) , 97 Ga. App. 209, 1 0 2 S.E.2d 706; Kupper v.
Connolly ( L a . App. 1 9 6 3 ) , 153 So.2d 915; S u t t o n v . Duke
(N.c. 1 9 6 9 ) , 7 N.C. App. 1 0 0 , 1 7 1 S.E.2d 343, a f f ' d . (1970),
277 N.C. 94, 176 S.E.2d 161; Burback v . Bucher (Wa. 1 9 6 0 ) ,
56 Wash. 2d 875, 355 P. 2d 981; S p a r k s v . Doe ( ~ y .1 9 6 4 ) , 379
S.W.2d 252; D o l l a r h i d e v. Knight ( M i s s . 1 9 5 3 ) , 216 M i s s .
Ranchers i n Montana a r e now l i a b l e f o r n e g l i g e n t r a t h e r
t h a n w i l f u l 1 c o n d u c t which r e s u l t s i n t h e p r e s e n c e of t h e i r
c a t t l e on t h e r i g h t - o f -ways.
S e c t i o n 60-7-202, MCA, contains the exclusions t o
s e c t i o n 60-7-201, MCA, and s t a t e s :
"60-7-202. Exclusions. S e c t i o n 60-7-201
does n o t apply t o t h e following:
" ( 1 ) l i v e s t o c k on s t a t e highways under t h e
c h a r g e o f one o r more h e r d e r s ;
" ( 2 ) t h e p a r t s of f e n c e d highways a d j a c e n t
t o open r a n g e where a highway d e v i c e h a s n o t
been i n s t a l l e d t o e x c l u d e r a n g e l i v e s t o c k ;
" ( 3 ) t h e p a r t s of a s t a t e highway o r a p a r t
of t h e f e d e r a l - a i d primary system which t h e
d e p a r t m e n t o f highways d e s i g n a t e s a s b e i n g
impracticable t o exclude livestock. These
p o r t i o n s of t h e highway s h a l l be marked by
proper s i g n s i n accordance with t h e depart-
m e n t ' s manual and s p e c i f i c a t i o n s f o r a u n i -
form system of t r a f f i c - c o n t r o l d e v i c e s . "
The u n d i s p u t e d e v i d e n c e c l e a r l y i n d i c a t e s t h a t T o d d ' s
h e i f e r s were n o t i n t h e c h a r g e of one o r more h e r d e r s on t h e
n i g h t of May 2 , 1979. T h e r e f o r e , e x c l u s i o n number o n e d o e s
n o t apply.
W e f i n d t h a t e x c l u s i o n number two a p p l i e s o n l y t o
l i v e s t o c k which wander from open r a n g e o n t o a d j a c e n t f e n c e d
highway. Open r a n g e i s d e f i n e d i n s e c t i o n 60-7-102, MCA, as
b e i n g an a r e a where a n i m a l s g r a z e and move a b o u t g e n e r a l l y
u n r e s t r a i n e d by f e n c e s . Todd's h e i f e r s were r e s t r a i n e d by
f e n c e s p r i o r t o b r e a k i n g f r e e and roaming o n t o Highway 1 0 .
T h e r e f o r e , e x c l u s i o n number two i s i n a p p l i c a b l e .
F i n a l l y , no e v i d e n c e was p r e s e n t e d t o i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e
Department of Highways d e s i g n a t e d t h e r e l e v a n t s e c t i o n of
Highway 10 a s i m p r a c t i c a b l e f o r e x c l u d i n g l i v e s t o c k . Exclusion
number t h r e e i s a l s o i n a p p l i c a b l e .
A s Todd d o e s n o t q u a l i f y f o r any of t h e e x c l u s i o n s
found i n s e c t i o n 60-7-202, MCA, w e f i n d him s u b j e c t t o
s e c t i o n 60-7-201, MCA. W h o l d t h a t Todd h a s a l e g a l d u t y
e
t o e x e r c i s e due c a r e i n p r e v e n t i n g h i s l i v e s t o c k from wandering
on Highway 1 0 .
The f e n c e s u r r o u n d i n g t h e Todd r a n c h was i n e x c e l l e n t
condition. However, h e d i d n o t c o n s t r u c t a s t o c k c o n t r o l
d e v i c e a t t h e e n t r a n c e t o h i s l a n e b e c a u s e h e had c o n s t r u c t e d
f e n c e a l o n g t h e e n t i r e l e n g t h of t h e l a n e and had i n s t a l l e d
a g a t e f u r t h e r up t h e l a n e toward t h e farm i t s e l f . Through
some i n a d v e r t e n t a c t i o n , t h e g a t e t o t h e l a n e w a s open on
t h e n i g h t of May 2 , 1979, and e a r l y morning of May 3 , 1979.
The r e a s o n a b l e n e s s of Todd's c o n d u c t i s f o r a j u r y t o d e c i d e .
W e remand t h i s case t o t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t f o r t r i a l a s
t o d e f e n d a n t Todd. W e a f f i r m summary judgment i n f a v o r of
the State.
We Concur:
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