file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
No. 98-014
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
2000 MT 111
299 Mont. 348
999 P. 2d 985
JAMES A. MICKELSON, Individually,
and VICKIE MICKELSON, Individually,
and on Behalf of Her Minor Children,
ANDREW JAMES MICKELSON,
SCOTT ALLEN MICKELSON, and
TYLER JAMES MICKELSON,
Plaintiffs and Appellants,
v.
MONTANA RAIL LINK, INC.,
Defendant and Respondent.
APPEAL FROM: District Court of the Fourth Judicial District,
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (1 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
In and for the County of Missoula,
The Honorable Douglas G. Harkin, Judge presiding.
COUNSEL OF RECORD:
For Appellant:
John C. Hoyt (argued), Kurt M. Jackson (argued), Hoyt & Blewett, Great Falls, Montana
For Respondent:
Ronald B. MacDonald (argued), Darla J. Keck (argued), Datsopoulos, MacDonald &
Lind, Missoula, Montana
For Amici:
Peter F. Habein, Crowley, Haughey, Hanson, Toole & Dietrich, Billings, Montana
(Montana Defense Trial Lawyers); Patricia O'Brien Cotter, Cotter & Cotter, Great Falls,
Montana (Montana Trial Lawyers Association)
Heard: January 28, 1999
Submitted: February 1, 1999
Decided: April 28, 2000
Filed:
_________________________________________
Clerk
Justice James C. Nelson delivered the Opinion of the Court.
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (2 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
¶1 Jim and Vickie Mickelson along with their minor children (collectively referred to as
"the Mickelsons") brought this action against Montana Rail Link, Inc. (MRL) to recover
personal injury damages for the injuries Jim Mickelson (Jim) suffered in a railroad grade
crossing accident and for loss of consortium damages suffered by Vickie Mickelson
(Vickie) and their three minor children. The case went to trial in the District Court for the
Fourth Judicial District, Missoula County, and the jury found in favor of MRL. The
Mickelsons appeal. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for further proceedings
consistent with this opinion
¶2 The issues on appeal are:
¶ 3 1. Did the District Court err in allowing MRL to present evidence that Jim received
workers' compensation benefits
¶4 2. Did the District Court err in instructing the jury as to the speed of trains?
¶5 3. Did the District Court err in granting partial summary judgment regarding whether
the train crew gave an adequate auditory warning?
¶6 4. Did the District Court err in precluding the Mickelsons' presentation of claims for
relief which were not pled in their complaint or in their pretrial order?
¶7 5. Did the District Court err in precluding the presentation of the Mickelsons' claim that
MRL had a duty to operate a train that was "plainly visible?"
¶8.6 Did the District Court err in excluding the testimony of the Mickelsons' medical
expert witnesses?
¶9 7. Did the District Court err in allowing rebuttal witnesses to testify to issues raised for
the first time at trial and in excluding a rebuttal exhibit?
¶10 8. Did the District Court err in allowing certain expert opinion testimony as to a train
crew's obligations as they approach a crossing?
¶11 9. Did the District Court err in concluding that the loss of consortium claims of Vickie
and the three minor children should be reduced by the percentage of negligence
attributable to Jim?
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (3 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
¶12 Because we reverse and remand for a new trial, we do not address issues 4, 6 and 7.
Factual and Procedural Background
¶13 Jim was severely injured when the vehicle he was operating collided with an MRL
freight train at a railroad crossing near the Momont industrial area north of Missoula. The
accident occurred on July 10, 1991, at approximately 4 a.m.
¶14 Earlier that same morning, a fire had broken out at the Gallagher Cedar Products Mill
west of Missoula. The Missoula Rural Fire Department (MRFD) responded. Jim had been
a paid firefighter for MRFD since March 4, 1982. Prior to that time, he had worked as a
volunteer for MRFD for several years.
¶15At first, Jim videotaped the fire for fire investigation purposes, but because MRFD was
short handed, Jim was re-assigned to fire suppression duties. There were no water
hydrants near the fire, consequently, fire trucks known as "water tenders" had to be used to
transport water from a remote water hydrant to the fire site. The Gallagher fire was so
large that MRFD had to use four or five water tenders. Because Jim was an experienced
water tender driver, he was assigned to Water Tender 20 (WT 20), one of MRFD's largest
water tenders.
¶16WT 20 held approximately 4,000 gallons of water and weighed close to 60,000 pounds
when loaded. WT 20, like all of MRFD's emergency vehicles, was equipped with red
overhead flashing emergency lights and a siren. The red flashing lights were highly visible
at night and, when flashing, meant that WT 20 was responding to an emergency.
¶17 A quick-fill site was established for the water tenders at a high pressure water hydrant
located north of the MRL railroad tracks in the Momont industrial area approximately 2½
miles east of the fire. The entrance to this area is located directly across from the entrance
to the Missoula airport. This location was selected because of the high flow of water
coming out of that hydrant.
¶18 Jim and the other MRFD firefighters were familiar with the Momont hydrant and
specific procedures had been developed over the years for loading water tenders at that
hydrant. Jim, along with several other firefighters, testified at trial that they had been
trained to fill the water tenders by crossing the railroad tracks and proceeding north on
Momont Road, past the hydrant, while the water tenders were empty. They would then
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (4 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
turn around at the paved Federal Express parking lot, proceed to the hydrant to fill the
water tenders, and then travel the 261 feet to the railroad crossing. The firefighters all
testified that they used this procedure because the water tenders were extremely difficult
to turn while loaded and the weight of the loaded water tenders would tear up the asphalt
in the Federal Express parking lot. Jim has no specific memory of the accident or the
events surrounding it, but he testified that he is sure that he would have positioned WT 20
as he had hundreds of times in the past by turning WT 20 around prior to filling it.
¶19 The MRL train that struck WT 20 was traveling from Charlo to Missoula where the
crew, engineer Dale Bettisworth and assistant engineer James Puyear, planned to
disembark and go home for the night. The train had two locomotives, four loaded cars, and
nine empty cars. The train was not carrying any perishable items, it was not on a schedule,
and there was no hurry for it to reach Missoula. The train was equipped with a narrow
beam headlight. The lead locomotive was also equipped with a standard whistle and bell
and a single revolving yellow or amber light, located directly behind the headlight.
¶20 Bettisworth testified that, as the train traveled down Evaro Hill towards Missoula, he
saw the fire raging at the Gallagher Mill. He also testified that he saw red flashing
emergency lights in the area of the fire and traveling on Highway 10 to the south parallel
to the railroad tracks.
¶21 William Brodsky, the president of MRL, testified that there were procedures in place
to stop train traffic in emergency situations when notified by 9-1-1 or law enforcement
personnel. MRFD, however, did not request that 9-1-1 inform MRL dispatch of the fire or
the use of the hydrant across the tracks from the fire. Moreover, Paul Laisey, operations
chief of MRFD, testified that, contrary to Brodsky's assertions of cooperation, in a
situation sometime prior to the Gallagher fire when MRFD notified MRL that it would be
necessary for MRFD to place fire hoses across MRL's tracks to get at a fire, MRL
threatened to run over the hoses if they were not immediately removed.
¶22 The Momont crossing is regulated by crossbucks and a stop sign located
approximately 17 feet and 26 feet respectively from the crossing. MRL has owned the
railroad tracks at this crossing since 1987, thus it is MRL's responsibility to maintain the
tracks. Testimony showed that MRL had not done any work on the tracks since July 1988.
While some individuals testified at trial that the crossing was extremely rough and that
heavy vehicles like WT 20 were required to proceed very slowly over the crossing so as
not to incur damage, others testified that this was not the case.
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (5 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
¶23 Bettisworth testified that as the train traveled east towards the Momont crossing, he
could see the red flashing emergency lights on WT 20 from over a mile away and that he
recognized that it was probably an emergency vehicle. He testified that when he first saw
the red flashing lights they were approximately 1140 feet north of the crossing and that
they were slowly moving south on Momont Road towards the crossing.
¶24 Nevertheless, the train continued to approach the crossing at a speed of 35 miles per
hour, while WT 20 slowly approached the crossing on a collision course. Bettisworth
testified that he sounded the train's bell and whistle from a quarter mile west of the
crossing and that he assumed the vehicle would yield to the train. Thus, he did not attempt
to slow or to stop the train until he realized the vehicle was not going to yield, but by then,
it was too late to avoid the accident.
¶25 Jim suffered a severe traumatic brain injury as a result of the accident. His treating
physician, Dr. Dean Ross, testified that Jim has numerous, severe and permanent
limitations and disabilities as a result of his injuries. He has significant problems with
memory, balance and coordination. And, he has severe problems with higher cognitive
functioning in the area of abstract reasoning. Dr. Ross testified that, as a result of his
disabilities, Jim will never be capable of driving a car or being competitively employed.
26 The Mickelsons brought this action on August 17, 1992, to recover personal injury
damages for the injuries suffered by Jim and for loss of consortium damages suffered by
Vickie and their three minor children. They contended in their complaint that the accident
was caused by MRL's failure to operate its train at a reasonable and safe speed under the
circumstances; failure to keep a proper lookout for persons exposed to danger upon its
tracks; failure to give a proper warning of the approach of the train; and failure to take
appropriate measures to avoid inflicting injury to Jim. The Mickelsons did not assert any
claims against MRL in their complaint based on the condition of the Momont crossing or
for any alleged obstructions at the crossing that would impair a motorist's view of an
oncoming train.
¶27 On November 4, 1993, MRL filed a motion seeking summary judgment as to all
allegations of excessive speed or failure to slow, use of strobe or oscillating lights or other
attachments, and any allegations regarding the failure to use appropriate auditory warnings
prior to impact. After reviewing the arguments made by the parties, the District Court
granted partial summary judgment in favor of MRL as to the allegations relating to
inadequate lighting and to inadequate auditory warnings, but allowed the Mickelsons to
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (6 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
proceed to trial on their claims of excessive speed or failure to slow.
¶28 On August 2, 1995, the Mickelsons filed a motion in limine to preclude MRL from
mentioning or arguing at trial that Jim and Vickie were receiving workers' compensation
benefits as a result of the injuries Jim received in the accident. The District Court, in a
Memorandum and Order filed February 14, 1996, denied the Mickelsons' motion
concluding that MRL should be allowed to show that Jim did not take reasonable steps to
mitigate his damages by accepting a re-training employment position because he feared
losing his workers' compensation benefits.
¶29 In May 1996, the Mickelsons filed an Application for Writ of Supervisory Control
with this Court seeking to rectify certain alleged errors made by the District Court in its
rulings on various pretrial motions. These rulings included permitting MRL to introduce
evidence of workers' compensation benefits; instructing the jury that the train crew had
properly sounded the whistle and bell in compliance with Montana statutes; instructing the
jury that any contributory negligence on the part of Jim would be imputed to reduce any
loss of consortium damages awarded to Vickie and the children; and disallowing the
introduction of any evidence concerning the locomotive's lights to rebut MRL's claim that
the train was "plainly visible" to Jim. This Court entered an Order on July 9, 1996,
denying the Mickelsons' application on the grounds that the petition failed to meet the
appropriate standard for supervisory control.
¶30 In March 1997, the Mickelsons filed a "Reapplication" for Supervisory Control urging
this Court to correct the District Court's rulings on the same four grounds as in the earlier
application. The Mickelsons based their application on the revised standard for
supervisory control which had been adopted subsequent to this Court's denial of their
earlier application. See Plumb v. Fourth Jud. Dist. Court (1996), 279 Mont. 363, 927 P.2d
1011. However, on May 29, 1997, this Court again denied the Mickelsons' application on
the basis that the revised standard was the same as that employed to deny their earlier
application.
¶31 The case proceeded to trial on September 2, 1997, before a twelve-person jury. At
trial, counsel for MRL asked Dr. Jonathan Stone, one of the doctors that had examined
Jim, whether it was his understanding that Jim was resisting supported employment as a
result of his fear that he might jeopardize his workers' compensation benefits. Counsel for
the Mickelsons objected to the reference to workers' compensation benefits, but that
objection was overruled by the District Court.
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (7 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
¶32 Thereafter, in an in-chambers conference, counsel for the Mickelsons moved for a
mistrial because of the introduction of workers' compensation benefits into the trial. MRL
argued that this evidence was admissible to show that Jim chose not to mitigate his
damages and that he was actually malingering by not accepting a supported employment
position. The District Court again concluded that MRL could show that Jim did not take
reasonable steps to mitigate his damages by accepting a re-training employment position
because he feared losing his workers' compensation benefits. Hence, the court denied the
Mickelsons' motion for a mistrial and trial resumed with MRL making reference to
workers' compensation benefits throughout the proceedings.
¶33 On September 25, 1997, the jury returned a verdict in favor of MRL. This appeal
followed.
Issue 1.
¶34 Did the District Court err in allowing MRL to present evidence that Jim received
workers' compensation benefits?
¶35 This Court reviews evidentiary rulings for an abuse of discretion. A trial court has
broad discretion to determine whether evidence is relevant and admissible. Absent a
showing of an abuse of discretion, the trial court's determination will not be overturned.
Baldauf v. Arrow Tank and Engineering, 1999 MT 81, ¶ 41, 294 Mont. 107, ¶ 41, 979
P.2d 166, ¶ 41 (citing Vincelette v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 1998 MT 259, ¶ 12, 291
Mont. 261, ¶ 12, 968 P.2d 275, ¶ 12).
¶36 We have repeatedly held that the introduction of evidence of workers' compensation
benefits or other collateral source benefits constitutes prejudicial and reversible error
requiring a new trial. Mydlarz v. Palmer/Duncan Construction Co. (1984), 209 Mont. 325,
341, 682 P.2d 695, 703. See also Thomsen v. State, Dept. of Highways (1992), 253 Mont.
460, 833 P.2d 1076 (in a personal injury action, admission of evidence concerning
availability of medical and rehabilitation services for plaintiff from the Veterans
Administration was error); Allers v. Willis (1982), 197 Mont. 499, 643 P.2d 592 (the fact
that plaintiff, who was injured in an automobile accident, had a pending workers'
compensation claim was inadmissible); Goggans v. Winkley (1972), 159 Mont. 85, 91, 495
P.2d 594, 598 ("Injection of collateral matters involving transactions between others,
which are in this case conjectural, is collateral inadmissible evidence under the collateral
source doctrine.").
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (8 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
¶37 MRL argues that while collateral sources are generally excluded from evidence, the
prohibition against collateral source evidence is not absolute. MRL contends that in
Thomsen, this Court followed the California Supreme Court's reasoning that collateral
source evidence is admissible if there is a persuasive showing that the evidence sought to
be introduced is of substantial probative value. MRL claims that there was substantial
probative value in this case to show that Jim failed to mitigate his damages and that the
probative value of this evidence outweighed the prejudicial effect.
¶38 In Thomsen, this Court did note the California Supreme Court's statement regarding
admissibility of collateral source evidence, however, contrary to MRL's contention, we did
not follow that reasoning in Thomsen. Instead, we determined that the District Court in
Thomsen erred in allowing the admission of the collateral source evidence and we
remanded for a new trial. Furthermore, the California Supreme Court's statement
regarding admissibility of collateral source evidence was worded far more strongly against
the admission of that evidence than MRL suggests:
The potentially prejudicial impact of evidence that a personal injury plaintiff
received collateral insurance payments varies little from case to case. Even with
cautionary instructions, there is substantial danger that the jurors will take the
evidence into account in assessing the damages to be awarded to an injured plaintiff.
Thus, introduction of the evidence on a limited admissibility theory creates the
danger of circumventing the salutary policies underlying the collateral source rule.
Admission despite such ominous potential should be permitted only upon such
persuasive showing that the evidence sought to be introduced is of substantial
probative value. [Emphasis added.]
Thomsen, 253 Mont. at 463, 833 P.2d at 1078 (quoting Hrnjak v. Graymar, Inc. (Cal.
1971), 484 P.2d 599, 604).
¶39 Additionally, this Court held in Mydlarz that it was reversible error for a district court
to admit evidence that a plaintiff had received workers' compensation benefits. Mydlarz,
209 Mont at 341, 682 P.2d at 703. The plaintiff in Mydlarz had filed a motion in limine to
prevent the defendant from admitting such evidence. The District Court denied the motion
and admitted the evidence, but instructed the jury not to use the evidence of workers'
compensation benefits to reduce plaintiff's damages. Mydlarz, 209 Mont. at 333, 682 P.2d
at 699.
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (9 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
¶40 On appeal, the defendants in Mydlarz argued that the evidence of workers'
compensation benefits was admissible to show the plaintiff's lack of motive to return to
work. Mydlarz, 209 Mont. at 340, 682 P.2d at 703. We disagreed and held that "the
prejudicial impact of allowing a jury to receive evidence of plaintiff's pending workers'
compensation claim vastly outweighs the probative value of such evidence." Mydlarz, 209
Mont. at 340-41, 682 P.2d at 703.
¶41 Citing our prior decision in Allers v. Willis (1982), 197 Mont. 499, 643 P.2d 592, we
ruled in Mydlarz that evidence of a workers' compensation claim is clearly inadmissible,
and that admission of such evidence was reversible error and would require a new trial.
Mydlarz, 209 Mont. at 341, 682 P.2d at 703. In reaching that conclusion, we quoted the
following passage from Allers:
Generally, it has been held to constitute error, requiring a reversal or new trial, to
bring to the jury's attention the fact that the plaintiff in a personal injury or death
action is entitled to workmen's compensation benefits. The courts have reasoned that
such information would tend to prejudice the jury and influence their verdict, either
as to liability or damages, as such information is ordinarily immaterial and
irrelevant.
Mydlarz, 209 Mont. at 341, 682 P.2d at 703 (quoting Allers, 197 Mont. at 503, 643 P.2d
at 594-95; 77 A.L.R.2d 1156).
¶42 MRL contends that evidence of Jim's receipt of workers' compensation benefits was
offered for the purpose of providing the jury with an understanding of why Jim chose not
to return to work. MRL claims that Jim refused to mitigate his damages by obtaining
gainful employment in order to preserve his workers' compensation benefits and that Jim
was actually malingering by not accepting a supported employment position.
¶43 The Mickelsons argue on appeal that the District Court abused its discretion when it
permitted MRL to introduce evidence that Jim was receiving workers' compensation
benefits because there was no proof that the concepts of malingering or secondary gain
applied to Jim. Thus, they argue that "the very premise for MRL's entire argument is
erroneous and misleading."
¶44 Dr. Stone, a board certified physical medicine rehabilitation specialist and Dr. Ross, a
board certified physiatrist, each testified at trial that due to the injuries Jim sustained in the
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (10 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
accident, he is not capable of being gainfully or competitively employed. Dr. Ross had at
one time suggested that Jim enter a supported employment program, however, Jim and
Vickie decided against it. Contrary to MRL's contention that this was evidence of Jim's
failure to take reasonable steps to mitigate his damages, Dr. Ross testified that the
supported employment program was merely therapeutic and was not intended as a means
for Jim to earn money.
¶45 Moreover, the potential loss of workers' compensation benefits was only one of the
reasons Jim chose not accept supported employment. Dr. Ross testified that the
Mickelsons had legitimate concerns about the benefit of supported employment for Jim
because of his problems with incontinence and depression as well as concerns for Jim's
safety. Dr. Ross testified that he was concerned that supported employment would have a
negative effect on Jim's pride and self-esteem which would lead to further depression and
problems. Since Vickie was able to accomplish in the home setting all of the therapeutic
goals that supported employment was intended to achieve, the Mickelsons were able to
avoid the problems and concerns associated with a supported employment program.
¶46 MRL contends that even if it was error to allow the evidence of workers'
compensation benefits, that error was harmless since the jury did not find MRL negligent
and thus that evidence did not impact on the amount of damages awarded. On the
contrary, as we stated in Thomsen,
introduction of collateral source evidence may be much more damaging to a
plaintiff's case than just affecting the jury's judgment regarding damages. We
agree . . . that such evidence can have an impact upon a jury's verdict on the issue of
liability, as well as damages.
Thomsen, 253 Mont. at 464, 833 P.2d at 1078.
¶47 Accordingly, we hold that the District Court erred in allowing MRL to present
evidence that Jim was receiving workers' compensation benefits and we reverse and
remand for a new trial.
Issue 2.
¶48 Did the District Court err in instructing the jury as to the speed of trains?
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (11 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
¶49 MRL first raised the issue of train speed when it submitted a motion for summary
judgment arguing that the subject of train speed had been preempted by the United States
Supreme Court's decision in CSX Transportation Inc. v. Easterwood (1993), 507 U.S. 658,
113 S.Ct. 1732, 123 L.Ed.2d 387. However, the District Court denied MRL's motion on
the basis that the holding in Easterwood provides that under the Federal Railroad Safety
Act (FRSA), federal regulations adopted by the Secretary of Transportation preempt
negligence claims only insofar as they assert that the train was traveling at excessive
speed. The District Court determined that Easterwood did not bar suit for breach of related
tort law duties, such as a duty to slow or stop a train to avoid a specific individual hazard.
In making this determination, the District Court pointed to the Easterwood court's notation
that "this case does not present, and [does] not address, the question of FRSA's pre-
emptive effect on such related claims." Easterwood, 507 U.S. at 675 n.15, 113 S.Ct. at
1743 n.15.
¶50 MRL renewed its motion for summary judgment again arguing federal preemption
and that Montana law does not require trains to slow in order to avoid an accident. The
District Court once again denied MRL's motion ruling that a negligence action based upon
a state law duty to slow or stop a train to avoid a specific individual hazard is not
preempted. Even so, when it was time to instruct the jury, the District Court instructed
them as follows:
Under the laws governing the speed of trains, a train crew has no duty to slow a
train until a reasonable and prudent train operator has reason to believe, based upon
the circumstances present, that the operator of the motor vehicle will not yield to the
train and there is a substantial risk of a collision.
Instruction No. 21.
Montana law does not provide the driver of an emergency vehicle any special
privilege in relation to railroad crossings. Emergency vehicle drivers must follow
the requirements when approaching and crossing railroad crossing as any other
vehicle driver.
Instruction No. 32.
¶51 A district court has discretion regarding the instructions it gives or refuses to give to a
jury and we will not reverse a district court on the basis of its instructions absent an abuse
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (12 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
of discretion. Federated Mut. Ins. Co. v. Anderson, 1999 MT 288, ¶ 44, 297 Mont. 33 ¶
44, 991 P.2d 915, ¶ 44 (citing Fillinger v. Northwestern (1997), 283 Mont. 71, 76, 938
P.2d 1347, 1350-51). In reviewing whether a particular jury instruction was properly given
or refused, we consider the instruction in its entirety, as well as in connection with the
other instructions given and with the evidence introduced at trial. Federated, ¶ 44. The
party assigning error to a district court's instruction must show prejudice in order to
prevail. Prejudice will not be found if the jury instructions in their entirety state the
applicable law of the case. Federated, ¶ 44.
¶52 The Mickelsons argue that the District Court erred in giving this instruction on the
speed of trains as the law in Montana has never been that a train can simply ignore a
potential hazard at a railroad crossing. The Mickelsons contend that this is not only bad
law, but bad public policy and that by giving this instruction the District Court effectively
entered a directed verdict in favor of MRL.
¶53 In Runkle v. Burlington Northern (1980), 188 Mont. 286, 613 P.2d 982, this Court
held that it was a jury question whether, under the circumstances known to the railroad
before and at the time of the accident, the railroad itself should have reduced the speed of
its trains over the crossing where the accident occurred. Runkle, 188 Mont. at 299-300,
613 P.2d at 990.
Thus it may not be enough for the railroad to protect its crossing with a standard
crossbuck, to operate a train within a speed limit or to blow the whistle and ring the
bell. The jury is still permitted to determine whether the railroad exercised
reasonable care and caution under the circumstances and conditions existing at the
time of the accident. Whether a railroad is negligent in a particular manner, such as
in failing to provide automatic crossing gates, oscillating headlights, flasher lights,
or in failing to reduce its speed is a question of fact for the jury. [Emphasis added.]
Runkle, 188 Mont. at 300, 613 P.2d at 991 (citing De Elena v. Southern Pac. Co. (Ariz.
1979), 592 P.2d 759, 762; Seaboard Coast Line R. Co. v. Buchman (Fla.Dist.Ct.App.2d
Dist. 1978), 358 So.2d 836, 839-40).
¶54 MRL contends that all motor vehicles, including emergency vehicles, have a statutory
obligation to stop at a railroad crossing:
(1) Whenever any person driving a vehicle approaches a railroad grade crossing
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (13 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
under any of the circumstances stated in this section, the driver of such vehicle shall
stop within 50 feet but not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail of such railroad,
and shall not proceed until he can do so safely. The foregoing requirements shall
apply when:
(a) a clearly visible electric or mechanical signal device gives warning of the
immediate approach of a railroad train;
(b) a crossing gate is lowered or when a human flagman gives or continues to give a
signal of the approach or passage of a railroad train;
(c) a railroad train approaching within approximately 1,500 feet of the highway
crossing emits a signal audible from such distance and such railroad train, by reason
of its speed or nearness to such crossing, is an immediate hazard;
(d) an approaching railroad train is plainly visible and is in hazardous proximity to
such crossing.
Section 61-8-347, MCA. In addition, § 61-8-348, MCA, provides:
All vehicles to stop at certain railroad grade crossings. The department of
transportation and local authorities may designate particularly dangerous highway
grade crossings of railroads and erect stop signs at these crossings. When these stop
signs are erected, the driver of a vehicle shall stop within 50 feet but not less than 15
feet from the nearest rail of the railroad and shall proceed only upon exercising due
care. [Emphasis added.]
MRL further contends that, while the driver of a vehicle is required to yield the right of
way to authorized emergency vehicles under § 61-8-346, MCA, a train is not a vehicle as
defined by § 61-1-103, MCA, thus the train crew had no obligation to yield the right of
way to Jim. Instead, MRL argues that Jim should have yielded to the train pursuant to §§
61-8-347 and 348, MCA.
¶55 MRL further argues that accepting the Mickelsons' position that trains should slow or
stop for emergency vehicles approaching railroad grade crossings would destroy the
predictability necessary for the safe operation of trains and motor vehicles at railroad
crossings. Emergency vehicle operators cannot be assumed to have the skill and training to
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (14 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
judge the speed, weight, length and stopping distance of trains. Trains cannot swerve out
of the way, and even under the best of circumstances, certain trains may take over 4000
feet to stop with full emergency braking. Consequently, MRL maintains that establishing a
law that would abrogate the duty of an emergency vehicle to yield to a train "would invite
compounded tragedy."
¶56 The Mickelsons argue that the existence of statutes governing the actions of motorists
at railroad crossings does not eliminate a railroad's obligation, under Runkle, to operate its
trains at a reasonable and prudent speed under the circumstances. The statutes quoted
above were in effect in 1980 when Runkle was decided and they in no way dispense with a
railroad's duties and obligations at a railroad crossing as set forth in Runkle.
¶57 The Mickelsons point out that the undisputed proof at trial showed that this train could
have easily slowed or stopped to avoid the accident. Furthermore, the train carried no
perishables and it was going to stop for the night in Missoula, only two miles away. The
train had slowed to 20 miles per hour for the DeSmet crossing, and if it had remained at
that speed rather than accelerating to 35 miles per hour, it would have arrived in Missoula
only three minutes later. The Mickelsons maintain that the District Court's instruction
regarding the speed of trains removed all of these circumstances as well as the
circumstances of the emergency created by the fire, from the jury's consideration.
¶58 The Mickelsons' proposed instructions regarding the speed of trains stated that,
pursuant to Montana law, as set forth in Runkle, MRL had a duty to slow or reduce the
speed of its train if a reasonable and prudent person would have done so under the
circumstances. The instructions given by the District Court in this case improperly
removed the question of train speed from the jury's consideration. Instead of being
permitted to deliberate on whether, given the circumstances, the train crew should have
reduced speed to avoid a collision as required by Runkle, the jury was compelled to
conclude that the crew did not have a duty to do anything more than they did. The District
Court's instructions prevented the jury from deciding whether the facts and circumstances
of this case constituted a "specific individual hazard."
¶59 Accordingly, we hold that the District Court abused its discretion in instructing the
jury on the speed of trains as the instruction did not state the applicable law of the case.
Issue 3.
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (15 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
¶60 Did the District Court err in granting partial summary judgment regarding whether
the train crew gave an adequate auditory warning?
¶61 Our standard of review in appeals from summary judgment rulings is de novo. Oliver
v. Stimson Lumber Co., 1999 MT 328, ¶ 21, 297 Mont. 336, ¶ 21, 993 P.2d 11, ¶ 21 (citing
Motarie v. N. Mont. Joint Refuse Disposal (1995), 274 Mont. 239, 242, 907 P.2d 154, 156;
Mead v. M.S.B., Inc. (1994), 264 Mont. 465, 470, 872 P.2d 782, 785). When we review a
district court's grant of summary judgment, we apply the same evaluation as the district
court based on Rule 56, M.R.Civ.P. Oliver, ¶ 21 (citing Bruner v. Yellowstone County
(1995), 272 Mont. 261, 264, 900 P.2d 901, 903). We set forth our inquiry in Bruner as
follows:
The movant must demonstrate that no genuine issues of material fact exist. Once
this has been accomplished, the burden then shifts to the non-moving party to prove,
by more than mere denial and speculation, that a genuine issue does exist. Having
determined that genuine issues of fact do not exist, the court must then determine
whether the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. We review the
legal determinations made by a district court as to whether the court erred.
Oliver, ¶ 21 (quoting Bruner, 272 Mont. at 264-65, 900 P.2d at 903).
¶62 Moreover, in a summary judgment proceeding, the evidence must be viewed in the
light most favorable to the nonmoving party, and all reasonable inferences will be drawn
therefrom in favor of the party opposing summary judgment. Oliver, ¶ 22 (citing Joyce v.
Garnaas, 1999 MT, 170, ¶ 8, 295 Mont. 198, ¶ 8, 983 P.2d 369, ¶ 8). Consequently, we
will view the evidence in the light most favorable to the Mickelsons and all reasonable
inferences will be drawn in their favor.
¶63 In its order granting MRL's motion for summary judgment, the District Court ruled, as
a matter of law, that the MRL train crew had properly sounded the train whistle and bell in
accordance with Montana law, specifically § 69-14-562(7), MCA. Because Jim had no
memory of the accident, the District Court held that the Mickelsons could not produce any
specific facts that present a genuine issue worthy of trial.
¶64 The Mickelsons argue that summary judgment is inappropriate here because there
were too many inconsistencies and credibility problems with the crew's version of the
accident. See Morrow v. FBS Ins. Montana-Hoiness Labar (1988), 230 Mont. 262, 265,
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (16 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
749 P.2d 1073, 1075 ("where, as here, credibility, including that of the defendant, is
crucial, summary judgment becomes improper and a trial indispensable."). The
Mickelsons argue, in effect, that MRL never met its burden of proving that no genuine
issues of material fact exist, thus the burden to prove otherwise never shifted to the
Mickelsons.
¶65 In their brief opposing summary judgment, the Mickelsons point out that the train
crew's version of events immediately preceding the accident is entirely inconsistent with
Jim's version. Bettisworth and Puyear each testified in their depositions that they first
noticed the flashing lights of the water tender when they were about two miles from the
crossing. Puyear also testified that the flashing lights were amber, rather than red.
Additionally, both Puyear and Bettisworth first identified the water tender as a fuel truck
from the airport or a street sweeper. Puyear testified that he saw the vehicle pull away
from where it was parked, travel north away from the crossing, make a u-turn, and then
head south and proceed all the way down Momont road to the crossing.
¶66 Jim, on the other hand, testified in his deposition that this version of events could not
possibly be true. While Jim does not remember any specifics of the accident, he testified
that as was his habit and training and contrary to the crew's testimony, he would have
turned the water tender around prior to filling at the hydrant. Jim testified that he would
have driven the water tender north over the crossing, past the hydrant to the Federal
Express lot at the end of Momont road. He would then have turned the truck around,
proceeded south on Momont road and parked the water tender next to the hydrant so that it
was facing south toward the crossing while he filled it. Jim testified that, after filling the
water tender, he would then have proceeded south a short distance to the crossing.
¶67 At trial, the District Court denied the Mickelsons' offered Instruction No. 17--failure
to sound the whistle and bell constitutes negligence as a matter of law--and Instruction No.
18--pursuant to Runkle, the whistle and bell must be able to be heard at the crossing. The
court then instructed the jury that MRL had properly sounded the whistle and bell "in
conformity with Montana law" and admonished counsel not to argue to the contrary.
¶68 The Mickelsons argue on appeal that the District Court's ruling on the whistle and bell
issue compelled the jury to believe Bettisworth's and Puyear's versions of the accident
even though Jim's testimony and the testimony of various MRFD firefighters provided the
jury with credible evidence that MRL's version of the events leading up to the accident
could not be true. The Mickelsons claim that MRL admits that there were factual and
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (17 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
credibility issues concerning the crew's story about how the accident occurred.
¶69 Since a witness false in one part of his or her testimony is to be distrusted in others, §
26-1-303(3), MCA, the jury should have been allowed to disbelieve the crew's testimony
that WT 20 must have turned around after filling at the hydrant rather than before, as was
Jim's habit as testified to by Jim and by various MRFD firefighters. The jury then should
have been allowed to distrust and reject the crew's story that the whistle and bell were
properly sounded. Instead, the District Court's ruling compelled the jury to believe MRL's
version of events, even though there was compelling evidence to the contrary.
¶70 The District Court committed reversible error by preventing the jury from deciding
crucial factual and credibility issues. See Easterwood v. CSX Transportation, Inc. (11th
Cir. 1991), 933 F.2d 1548, 1560 n.14 (credibility determinations concerning whistle
testimony are not to be made on a motion for summary judgment). See also Borden v. CSX
Transportation, Inc. (M.D. Ala. 1993), 843 F.Supp. 1410, 1418 (issues of credibility
concerning train whistle are properly left for the jury); Bowman v. Norfolk Southern
Railway Co. (D.S.C. 1993), 832 F.Supp. 1014, 1021 (summary judgment on whistle issue
denied because of disputed facts).
¶71 Consequently, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the party opposing
summary judgment, the Mickelsons, and drawing all reasonable inferences in their favor
as we are constrained to do, Oliver, ¶ 22, we cannot conclude that MRL met its burden of
proving that no genuine issues of material fact existed.
¶72 Accordingly, we hold that the District Court erred in granting partial summary
judgment regarding whether the train crew gave an adequate auditory warning and we
reverse and remand for a new trial.
Issue 5.
¶73Did the District Court err in precluding the presentation of the Mickelsons' claim that
MRL had a duty to operate a train that was "plainly visible?"
¶74 It is undisputed that the MRL locomotive involved in this accident was equipped with
a headlight consisting of two 200,000 candela white lights in compliance with 49 CFR §
229.125(a) (1991). The lights were placed next to each other on the front of the
locomotive so that they emitted a single narrow beam designed to illuminate a person at
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (18 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
least 800 feet ahead and in front of the headlight. 49 CFR § 229.125(a) (1991). In addition,
the locomotive had a yellow or amber blinking light located directly behind the headlight.
¶75 In their complaint, the Mickelsons alleged that MRL was liable for Jim's injuries for,
among other things, failing to give a proper warning of the approach of the train. The
Mickelsons argued that a single beam headlight, although not inadequate, is an ineffective
warning device to motorists.
¶76 MRL moved for summary judgment on the issue of inadequacy of the headlight based
upon the preemptive effect of the FRSA. The District Court granted MRL's motion ruling
that if the light was in compliance with the FRSA, then the railroad complied with its duty
to provide locomotive warning devices as a matter of law, regardless of the fact that the
Mickelsons believe that this type of lighting is ineffective.
¶77 In addition, MRL filed a motion in limine requesting that the District Court preclude
the mention at trial of additional lighting alternatives for the train. The District Court
granted MRL's motion, ruling that the Mickelsons' arguments relating to additional
lighting or alternative lighting is preempted by federal statute.
¶78 At trial, in the Mickelsons' case-in-chief, Dr. Bernard Abrams, the Mickelsons' expert
witness on conspicuity, was allowed to testify that the locomotive headlight is an
ineffective warning device for motorists and that a motorist would have a difficult time
identifying a locomotive headlight from the clutter of background lights as in this case.
Virginia Tipton, the Mickelsons' expert on railroad operations, was also allowed to testify
that the locomotive headlight is not an adequate warning device for motorists.
¶79 During MRL's case-in-chief, Gary Wolf, MRL's expert on railway operations, testified
that the locomotive would have been plainly visible to a motorist by "virtue of its speed,
by virtue of its headlights and its yellow strobe light." Thereafter, when the Mickelsons'
counsel attempted to question Jerry Purswell, MRL's expert specializing in illumination,
on the effectiveness of the yellow light, MRL's counsel objected and an in-chambers
conference was conducted. After listening to the arguments of counsel, the District Court
sustained the objection. The court subsequently instructed the jury that:
Under Federal law all railroads are required to have one 200,000 candela headlamp
on all locomotives. On July 10, 1991, Montana Rail Link locomotive # 116 was
equipped with two 200,000 candela headlamps. You are instructed that as a matter
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (19 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
of law, Montana Rail Link met all of its Federal obligations as to locomotive
lighting and may not be found negligent as a result of its locomotive lighting
configuration.
Instruction No. 27.
¶80 On appeal, the Mickelsons argue that the District Court erred in precluding them from
presenting testimony on the effectiveness of the locomotive's yellow blinking light.
Relying on Herold v. Burlington Northern, Inc. (8th Cir. 1985), 761 F.2d 1241, the
Mickelsons argue that since MRL voluntarily equipped the locomotive with the yellow
blinking light, the Mickelsons should have been allowed to show that a pair of such lights,
situated lower on the front of the locomotive, would have been more effective in providing
a warning. The Mickelsons' reliance on Herold for this proposition is misplaced.
¶81 In Herold, the driver of a motor vehicle and his wife, a passenger in the vehicle, sued
the railroad for injuries suffered in a collision with one of their trains. The locomotive in
that case had been equipped with an amber rotating beacon, but it had been removed for
repairs. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals held that the state, through statute or
common law, may not require the railroad to install or maintain amber beacons. However,
"once any part or appurtenance is attached to a locomotive, the Boiler Inspection Act
requires it be maintained in good repair at all times." Herold, 761 F.2d at 1246 (citing 45
U.S.C. § 23).
¶82 The Mickelsons claim that, based on Herold, MRL had an obligation to make such
additional lights "effective," and that once MRL made the decision to equip its locomotive
with an additional warning light, it had the obligation to do so effectively and with due
care. On the contrary, rather than requiring that the light be "effective," Herold mandates
that the additional lights simply be maintained "in good operating condition." Herold, 761
F.2d at 1246.
¶83 In Marshall v. Burlington Northern, Inc. (9th Cir. 1983), 720 F.2d 1149, 1152, the
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that
under the Boiler Inspection Act [45 U.S.C. § 23] the state may not impose liability
for failure to install a part or attachment of a locomotive if it is "within the scope of
the authority delegated to the [Secretary of Transportation]" to prescribe the same
part or attachment.
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (20 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
Moreover, the "failure to maintain" claim in Herold is entirely different from the claim
that MRL is liable for failing to install a second yellow blinking light which the Secretary
of Transportation has not seen fit to require. King v. Southern Pacific Transp. Co. (10th
Cir. 1988), 855 F.2d 1485, 1489 (citing Marshall, 720 F.2d at 1152). The King court held
that such "failure to install" claims have been rejected. King, 855 F.2d at 1489 (citations
omitted). Thus, MRL may not be held liable to the Mickelsons for failing to install or
reposition blinking lights on its locomotive so as to better alert motorists approaching a
crossing of the train's presence.
¶84 While the District Court was correct in precluding the Mickelsons from presenting
evidence relating to additional lighting or alternative lighting for the purpose of
establishing liability on MRL's part because of Marshall and the preemptive effect of the
FRSA, that is not to say that such evidence may not be introduced for other purposes.
¶85 The Montana Rules of Evidence demonstrate that in many different instances,
evidence which may not be admissible for all purposes may nonetheless be admissible for
some. See, for example, Rule 408, M.R.Evid. (evidence of offers of compromise must be
excluded to prove liability, but may be offered for another purpose); Rule 410, M.R.Evid.
(evidence of guilty pleas not admissible against the person who made the offer, but may be
admissible for other purposes); Rule 411, M.R.Evid. (evidence that a person is insured
against liability is not admissible on the issue of negligence, but may be admissible for
other purposes).
¶86 Additionally, Rule 407, M.R.Evid., generally states that subsequent remedial
measures are not admissible to prove negligence or culpable conduct, but may be admitted
when offered for another purpose. This rule was applied in Runkle v. Burlington Northern
(1980), 188 Mont. 286, 613 P.2d 982, wherein plaintiffs sought to introduce evidence that
after the crossing accident in question, the railroad installed automatic signals at the scene
of the collision. In holding that evidence of subsequent remedial measures may be offered
for purposes other than establishing liability, we noted:
In this case, experts testified for the railroad that the crossing was not extra-
hazardous. The fact that automatic signals were installed on the crossing after the
accident would have been relevant for the purpose of impeachment as well as to
show feasibility. It was prejudicial error to exclude this evidence.
Runkle, 188 Mont. at 294, 613 P.2d at 987.
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (21 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
¶87 Section 61-8-347, MCA, imposes certain requirements on drivers approaching a
railroad grade crossing when "an approaching railroad train is plainly visible and is in
hazardous proximity to such crossing." Based on this statute, MRL argues that Jim was
negligent in failing to see the train which MRL asserts was "plainly visible." To support
this affirmative defense, MRL offered the testimony of Wolf and Purswell who told the
jury that the train was indeed plainly visible to Jim, in part because of its headlight and
yellow blinking light. In particular, Wolf testified that the approaching train was "plainly
visible" because of "its speed, by virtue of its headlights and its yellow strobe light."
¶88 The Mickelsons sought to present contrary evidence that the single yellow blinking
light on the locomotive was masked behind the headlight and that if MRL wanted to make
its train "plainly visible" at a railroad crossing at night, it should have placed two
revolving yellow lights spaced some distance apart lower on the locomotive. While we
disagree with the Mickelsons that alternative placement of the lighting has any relevance
to whether the train was "plainly visible" to Jim on the night of the accident, we do agree
that since MRL was permitted to allege and represent to the jury that its train was "plainly
visible," in part because of its yellow blinking light, thereby triggering Jim's alleged duty
to stop for the train, the Mickelsons were entitled to rebut and contradict MRL's position
by showing that the single yellow blinking light located behind the locomotive's headlight
was ineffective as a warning light.
¶89 The District Court erred in prohibiting the Mickelsons from presenting such testimony
based on Marshall because the Ninth Circuit Court's pronouncements in Marshall are not
violated by such an argument. Marshall provides that the state may not impose liability
upon the railroad for failure to install particular lighting devices on a train. Marshall, 720
F.2d at 1152. In the case sub judice, the Mickelsons are not attempting to impose liability
based on the effectiveness of the lighting configuration, rather, they are attempting to
mitigate Jim's contributory negligence by rebutting MRL's contention that the train was
plainly visible. Thus, the proscriptions of the Boiler Inspection Act and Marshall are not
applicable. And, once experts were allowed to testify that the train was plainly visible,
evidence to contradict that contention should have been admissible to rebut the contention
that the train was so visible to Jim that he was negligent in failing to see it.
¶90 In Pitasi v. Stratton Corp. (2nd Cir. 1992), 968 F.2d 1558, the Second Circuit Court
of Appeals determined that evidence which is not admissible to prove culpability may
nonetheless be introduced to rebut an affirmative defense. The plaintiff in Pitasi was
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (22 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
rendered a quadriplegic when he fell while skiing on a slope that had been only partially
closed off due to dangerous conditions. Subsequent to plaintiff's fall, the defendant ski
area ordered its employees to place warning signs and ropes across all side entrances to
that slope. Pitasi, 968 F.2d at 1560.
¶91 At trial, the defendant sought to prove that plaintiff was contributorily negligent and
offered evidence to the effect that the dangerous conditions on the slope were so obvious
and apparent, that warning signs or ropes were unnecessary. To rebut the contributory
negligence evidence, plaintiff sought to introduce evidence of subsequent remedial
measures. The court below refused to admit plaintiff's evidence and the jury returned a
verdict for the defendant. Pitasi, 968 F.2d at 1560.
¶92 The Court of Appeals held that because plaintiff was unable to introduce evidence of
subsequent remedial measures, it was impossible for him to rebut the defense of
contributory negligence. The Court determined that the trial court's preclusion of this
evidence effectively destroyed plaintiff's ability to impeach defendant's employees, who
said that the danger was open and obvious. The Court concluded that the probative value
of the evidence outweighed its prejudicial effect and that its exclusion constituted an abuse
of discretion. Pitasi, 968 F.2d at 1561.
¶93 Similarly, in the case before us on appeal, MRL based its defense of comparative
negligence on Jim's failure to see MRL's "plainly visible" train. MRL was permitted to
offer testimony that the train was highly visible, in part because of its lighting
configuration. The Mickelsons sought to refute that contention by offering testimony that
the lighting configuration did not make the train plainly visible to approaching motorists.
This evidence was not offered to impose liability upon MRL for failing to change its
lighting configuration, but rather, to demonstrate that, contrary to MRL's experts, the
lighting configuration did not make the train so "plainly visible" that Jim was
comparatively negligent for failing to see it.
¶94 In denying the Mickelsons the right to rebut the evidence offered by MRL in support
of its contention that Jim was comparatively negligent, the District Court essentially
directed a verdict in favor of MRL on the issue of Jim's comparative negligence.
Precluding the Mickelsons from rebutting the comparative negligence defense constituted
an abuse of discretion, requiring remand and a new trial.
¶95 On remand, the jury should be instructed that while it may not consider MRL's failure
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (23 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
to equip its train with a particular lighting configuration as evidence of MRL's negligence
or culpability, it may nonetheless consider such evidence in determining whether the
plaintiff was comparatively negligent for failing to see a train which MRL contends was
"plainly visible."
¶96 Accordingly, we hold that the District Court did not err in precluding the Mickelsons
from presenting evidence to show that MRL was liable for failing to equip its train with a
particular lighting configuration. However, we also hold that the District Court did err in
precluding the Mickelsons from presenting evidence to refute MRL's contention that Jim
was comparatively negligent in failing to see the train which MRL contends was "plainly
visible."
Issue 8.
¶97 Did the District Court err in allowing certain expert opinion testimony as to a train
crew's obligations as they approach a crossing?
¶98 As we stated earlier in this opinion, this Court reviews evidentiary rulings for an abuse
of discretion. A trial court has broad discretion to determine whether evidence is relevant
and admissible. Absent a showing of an abuse of discretion, the trial court's determination
will not be overturned. Baldauf v. Arrow Tank and Engineering, 1999 MT 81, ¶ 41, 294
Mont. 107, ¶ 41, 979 P.2d 166, ¶ 41 (citing Vincelette v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 1998
MT 259, ¶ 12, 291 Mont. 261, ¶ 12, 968 P.2d 275, ¶ 12).
¶99 Prior to trial, the Mickelsons filed a motion in limine seeking to prevent MRL's
witnesses from testifying as to "what the law is or should be or what the duties of
motorists or railroads are at a railroad crossing in the state of Montana or that any such
duties were violated or not violated." The District Court, relying on Heltborg v. Modern
Machinery (1990), 244 Mont. 24, 795 P.2d 954, entered an order granting the Mickelsons'
motion to the extent that "opinions about statutory or regulatory violations" would be
excluded.
¶100 At trial, Bettisworth was permitted to testify that the responsibility of WT 20 was to
stop at the Momont crossing and that because of that responsibility, Bettisworth felt he
had no reciprocal responsibility, obligation or duty to slow or stop the train to avoid an
accident. In addition, MRL's expert, Wolf, was allowed to testify as to how railroads
"across the country" operate trains at railroad crossings and as to the obligations of
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (24 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
motorists at railroad crossings. The Mickelsons argue on appeal that by allowing such
testimony, the District Court committed prejudicial, reversible error when it had already
granted the Mickelsons' pretrial motion in limine on that subject.
¶101 The issue in Heltborg was whether the plaintiff's expert testimony invaded the
province of the jury by making legal conclusions. The court in Heltborg considered Rule
704, M.R.Evid., which provides:
Testimony in the form of an opinion or inference otherwise admissible is not
objectionable because it embraces an ultimate issue to be decided by the trier of fact.
The court clarified the distinction between testimony on the ultimate factual issue and
testimony on the ultimate legal issue in holding that "[c]learly an expert may testify to an
ultimate issue of fact. . . ." Heltborg, 244 Mont. at 30-31, 795 P.2d at 958. Thus, although
an expert may not state a legal conclusion or apply the law to the facts in an answer, an
expert may properly testify to an ultimate issue of fact.
¶102 In Scofield v. Estate of Wood (1984), 211 Mont. 59, 62, 683 P.2d 1300, 1301-02, this
Court held that a highway patrolman may testify as to the cause of an accident. Similarly,
MRL's expert witnesses properly expressed opinions as to the cause of the accident in this
case, including the obligations and duties Jim and the train crew had at the Momont
crossing. MRL's expert, Wolf, testified that he was familiar with Montana law, although
he did not discuss what the law was, and that the training of train crews included an
expectation that vehicles had obligations to yield at regulated crossings. Wolf did not give
an opinion on whether Jim or MRL violated a standard of practice. His testimony was
directed to training and the interrelationship between regulation of vehicles at crossings
and a train crew's expectations.
¶103 Accordingly, we hold that the District Court did not err in allowing certain expert
opinion testimony as to a train crew's obligations as they approach a crossing.
Issue 9.
¶104 Did the District Court err in concluding that the loss of consortium claims of Vickie
and the three minor children should be reduced by the percentage of negligence
attributable to Jim?
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (25 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
¶105 The District Court ordered early in this case that any contributory negligence on the
part of Jim could not be imputed to Vickie and the children in order to reduce their claims
for loss of consortium. The court later reconsidered its order and held that the consortium
claims could be reduced by the percentage of any contributory negligence attributable to
Jim.
¶106 At trial, the Mickelsons proposed a jury instruction advising the jury that the
consortium claims would not be reduced by any contributory negligence. The District
Court refused this instruction and, instead, instructed the jury as follows:
Negligence on the part of plaintiff Jim Mickelson does not bar his recovery unless
such negligence was greater than the negligence of the defendant MRL. However,
the total amount of damages that plaintiff Jim Mickelson would otherwise be
entitled to recover will be reduced by the court in proportion to the amount of
negligence you attribute to plaintiff Jim Mickelson.
Any damages awarded to plaintiff Vickie Mickelson and any damages awarded to
the Mickelson children will also be reduced by any negligence attributable to
plaintiff Jim Mickelson.
Instruction No. 41.
¶107 Nevertheless, the jury never reached the damages issue in their verdict because they
found that MRL was not liable for Jim's injuries. Thus, the jury never attempted to
apportion damages for any contributory negligence attributed to Jim either on Jim's
personal injury claim or on the loss of consortium claim of Vickie and the children.
¶108 The Mickelsons argue on appeal that it was error for the District Court to instruct the
jury to reduce the consortium claim based on any negligence attributable to Jim because
the law applicable at the time of this accident provided that any damages allowed shall be
diminished "in the proportion to the amount of negligence attributable to the person
recovering." Section 27-1-702, MCA (1987) (emphasis added). It is undisputed that
Vickie and the children did not cause Jim's accident or injuries. Hence, the Mickelsons
argue that under this statute, since negligence cannot be attributed to Vickie or the
children, their awards for loss of consortium cannot be diminished.
¶109 The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals came to the same conclusion in a case
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (26 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
interpreting a nearly identical provision of North Dakota law. In Herold v. Burlington
Northern, Inc. (8th Cir. 1985), 761 F.2d 1241, 1249, the Court of Appeals determined that
under North Dakota law "it is clear that a wife's claim for loss of consortium is an
independent right, not contingent upon the rights or liabilities of her husband." Thus, the
Court of Appeals concluded that the Supreme Court of North Dakota would not allow a
loss of consortium award to be reduced by the other spouse's negligence. Herold, 761 F.2d
at 1249.
¶110 MRL argues that Herold is distinguishable because Montana case law does not hold
that a loss of consortium claim is an independent right. MRL, relying in part on Priest v.
Taylor (1987), 227 Mont. 370, 379, 740 P.2d 648, 653, wherein we stated that a loss of
consortium claim is "completely derivative" from the other spouse's claim, maintains that
the separate and distinctive nature of consortium is that consortium is a cause of action for
separate damages arising out of the spouse's or parent's injury. Thus, MRL argues that a
loss of consortium claim is derivative in the sense that it arises out of the injury of the
spouse and thus the comparative negligence of an injured spouse or child should likewise
act to reduce or bar the loss of consortium claim.
¶111 MRL maintains that the District Court's jury instruction in this case is a logical
progression of Montana case law. MRL notes that in Bain v. Gleason (1986), 223 Mont.
442, 726 P.2d 1153, this Court made an extensive analysis of how consortium claims were
to be handled in insurance cases under limits for "each person." We determined there that
"a cause of action for consortium of the deprived spouse is separate and distinct from the
claim of the injured spouse. . . ." Bain, 223 Mont. at 445, 726 P.2d at 1155. However, in
addressing § 61-6-103, MCA, of the motor vehicle statutes, requiring coverage "against
loss from the liability imposed by law for damages . . . subject to limits . . . [of] $25,000
because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident," we determined
that the separate and distinct claim becomes one with the spouse's injury. Bain, 223 Mont.
at 449-50, 726 P.2d at 1157.
¶112 Nevertheless, we do not find Bain helpful in resolving this issue as our decision in
Bain turned on the language of the insurance policy regarding the definition of "bodily
injury." Furthermore, as the Mickelsons' attorney suggested in oral argument before this
Court, labeling a consortium claim "independent" or "derivative" does little to help decide
the issue of whether the injured spouse's or parent's alleged contributory negligence should
be imputed to the innocent child or spouse.
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (27 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
¶113 Montana case law on this subject uses the terms "independent" and "derivative"
almost interchangeably. In Johnson v. United States (D.Mont. 1980), 496 F.Supp. 597,
601, the federal district court determined that "under Montana law, a husband or wife may
bring an action for loss of consortium, which is a derivative claim, separate and distinct
from the spouse's claim for injuries." See also Gunning v. General Motors Corp. (1989),
239 Mont. 104, 107, 779 P.2d 64, 66 ("separate and distinct"); Priest, 227 Mont. at 379,
740 P.2d at 653 ("independent and distinct" yet "completely derivative"); Bain, 223 Mont
at 445, 726 P.2d at 1155 ("separate and distinct"); Keele v. St. Vincent Hospital & Health
Care (1993), 258 Mont. 158, 162, 852 P.2d 574, 577 ("wholly derivative").
¶114 Consequently, the Mickelsons contend that the term "derivative" should be used only
to describe the origin of a loss of consortium claim, whereas the terms "separate,"
"distinct," and "independent" should be used to characterize the nature and extent of the
legal rights attendant to the claim. In other words, a loss of consortium claim is derivative
to the extent that there has to be a cause of action against the defendant for liability before
there can be any recovery on a loss of consortium claim. And, a loss of consortium claim
is separate, distinct and independent because it can be brought by a wife without her
husband and by children without their parents.
¶115 Other courts have ruled that for a variety of reasons, loss of consortium claims
should not be reduced by a spouse's or parent's negligence. See Macon v. Seaward
Construction Co., Inc. (1st Cir. 1977), 555 F.2d 1; Huber v. Hovey (Iowa 1993), 501 N.
W.2d 53; Brann v. Exeter Clinic, Inc. (N.H. 1985), 498 A.2d 334; Feltch v. General
Rental Co. (Mass. 1981), 421 N.E.2d 67; Fuller v. Buhrow (Iowa 1989), 292 N.W.2d 672;
Morgan v. Lalumiere (Mass. App. Ct. 1986), 493 N.E.2d 206; Christie v. Maxwell (Wash.
App.Ct. 1985), 696 P.2d 1256; Lantis v. Condon (Cal.App.Ct.1979) 157 Cal.Rptr. 22.
¶116 In Lantis, the court determined that reducing the wife's award for loss of consortium
by the percentage her husband was determined to be contributorily negligent,
force[s] a plaintiff, who was herself free from fault, to pay a penalty for the
negligence of another. Reduced to its bare essentials, the only real effect of holding
that [the wife's] action is "derivative" would be to resurrect under a different name
the doctrine of imputed negligence a doctrine which has been thoroughly discredited
by modern courts . . . and by legal scholars.
Lantis, 157 Cal.Rptr. at 26. Similarly, Montana law does not penalize innocent parties by
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (28 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
imputation of another's negligence. See Sumner v. Amacher (1968), 150 Mont. 544, 437
P.2d 630 (holding that the negligence of a motor vehicle driver cannot be imputed to a
passenger, even if the driver and passenger are married). Montana law further provides
that neither a husband nor a wife is "answerable" for the acts of the other or liable for the
debts contracted by the other. Section 40-2-106, MCA.
¶117 Under Montana's comparative negligence statute in effect at the time of this accident,
any damages allowed "shall be diminished in the proportion to the amount of negligence
attributable to the person recovering." Section 27-1-702, MCA (1987). As we noted
earlier, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals interpreted a nearly identical provision of
North Dakota law and concluded that a loss of consortium award could not be reduced by
the other spouse's negligence. Herold, 761 F.2d at 1249. Based partly upon North Dakota
judicial decisions holding that, among other things, the negligence of a driver cannot be
imputed to his passenger, the Court of Appeals reasoned that under North Dakota law "it
is clear that a wife's claim for loss of consortium is an independent right, not contingent
upon the rights or liabilities of her husband." Herold, 761 F.2d at 1249.
¶118 However, because Herold's negligence was not greater than that of the railroad's, the
appellate court did not decide, in light of the statute, the effect on the consortium claim
had the fact-finder determined that the plaintiff's negligence in causing his injuries
exceeded that of the tortfeasor's. Presuming, on retrial, that MRL will again make the
same claims of contributory negligence on Jim's part, this further question not resolved in
Herold, may become an issue. Accordingly, we deem it appropriate to address that issue
here.
¶119 With nearly identical statutory language in Montana regarding comparative
negligence and similar judicial decisions regarding non-imputation of negligence, we
agree with the Court of Appeals' determination in Herold that, where, as in Herold, the
plaintiff's contributory negligence is determined to be not greater than the negligence of
the tortfeasor's, then damages for loss of consortium being independent and, therefore, not
contingent upon the rights or liabilities of a parent or spouse, such damages may not be
reduced by the other spouse's negligence. But, since our comparative negligence statute
states that "any damages allowed shall be diminished . . . ," we conclude that while a loss
of consortium claim is independent as to damages, it is derivative as to liability. In other
words, a defendant must be more liable for a plaintiff's injuries than the plaintiff before
there can be any recovery whether it is on the plaintiff's personal injury claim or on a loss
of consortium claim stemming from those injuries.
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (29 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
¶120 For example, if plaintiff is determined to be 50% or less contributorily negligent for
plaintiff's injuries, then, under our comparative negligence statute, a spouse or child could
recover 100% of a loss of consortium claim. If, however, plaintiff is determined to be 51%
or more contributorily negligent for plaintiff's injuries, then a spouse or child would
recover nothing on a loss of consortium claim.
¶121 We believe this approach--i.e., that liability for a consortium claim is derivative,
whereas the right to damages for loss of consortium, once the claim is established, is
independent--is not only compatible with (although a refinement of) our prior
jurisprudence, but is, as well, consistent with the plain language of § 27-1-702, MCA.
Moreover, we conclude that requiring a defendant to pay damages to a consortium
claimant where the injured spouse's or child's recovery is barred under our comparative
negligence statute, would create an anomaly in the area of tort law and that the legislature
could not have intended such a result.
¶122 Accordingly, we hold that the District Court erred in concluding that the loss of
consortium claims of Vickie and the three minor children should be reduced by the
percentage of negligence attributable to Jim. Therefore, on retrial of this matter, any
contributory negligence attributable to Jim cannot be imputed to Vickie and the children to
reduce a loss of consortium award. However, if Jim is determined to be more liable than
MRL, there can be no recovery for loss of consortium.
¶123 Affirmed in part, reversed in part and remanded for further proceedings consistent
with this opinion.
/S/ JAMES C. NELSON
We Concur:
/S/ WILLIAM E. HUNT, SR.
/S/ JIM REGNIER
Justice W. William Leaphart, dissenting in part and concurring in part..
¶124 I dissent on issue number three--the grant of partial summary judgment to MRL
regarding whether the train crew gave an adequate auditory warning.
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (30 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
¶125 Citing Morrow v. FBS Ins. Montana-Hoiness Labar (1988), 230 Mont. 262, 749 P.2d
1073, the Court reasons that when credibility is crucial, summary judgment is
inappropriate. In Morrow, the plaintiff claimed that FBS, a construction bonding agent,
used its influence to prevent Fisher, a general contractor, from accepting Morrow's bid.
Fisher argued that it denied Morrow's bid because another subcontractor, Star, made a
lower bid than the other subcontractors, including Morrow. However, the Court in
Morrow concluded that there was conflicting testimony regarding Fisher's reasons for
accepting Star's bid and that "[t]he question presented by the contradictory statements goes
to the heart of Morrow's claim, i.e., did FBS pressure Fisher into awarding the subcontract
to Star?" Morrow, 230 Mont. at 266, 749 P.2d at 1075. Further, the Court determined that
the "issues presented by the offered proof generally involve witness credibility." Morrow,
230 Mont. at 266, 749 P.2d at 1075.
¶126 Morrow relied on two decisions, Durant v. Stahlin (Mich. 1965), 135 N.W.2d 392,
and Arnstein v. Porter (2nd Cir. 1946), 154 F.2d 464, for the proposition that summary
judgment is improper "where the credibility of an affiant may be crucial to decision of a
material fact." Morrow, 230 Mont. at 265, 749 P.2d at 1075. The reliance of the Court
both in Morrow and in the present case on Durant is misplaced. First, the Durant court
affirmed the trial court's grant of summary judgment, determining that there was "no issue
of fact." Durant, 135 N.W.2d at 395. Second, the Court in Morrow cited not to the
majority opinion in Durant but rather to a concurring opinion that opined that "when
resolution of a disputed fact, presented by conflicting affidavits or other proofs, depends
upon the credibility of an affiant or witness, the trial judge engaged in an inquiry on
motion for summary judgment must not usurp a trial jury's right . . . to determine the
affiant's credibility." Durant, 135 N.W.2d at 398 (Souris, J. concurring). In Arnstein, the
court reviewed a grant of summary judgment on a claim of copyright infringement. The
trial court had depositions by the plaintiff and the defendant concerning whether the
defendant had access to plaintiff's musical compositions. The trial court concluded that
plaintiff's account was "fantastic" and not credible. Arnstein, 154 F.2d at 469. The
Arnstein court concluded that on the critical question of access, plaintiff's credibility, even
as to the improbable parts of his account, was for the jury to decide. The court in Arnstein
reasoned that if the jury disbelieves the defendant, the jury could infer that the defendant
had access to the plaintiff's compositions and that "[i]t follows that, as credibility is
unavoidably involved, a genuine issue of material fact presents itself." Arnstein, 154 F.2d
at 469. Thus, in Arnstein and Morrow, there was conflicting evidence on material
questions of fact. Compare Miller v. Herbert (1995), 272 Mont. 132, 138, 900 P.2d 273,
276 (rejecting plaintiff's reliance on Morrow and concluding in Morrow that "the record
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (31 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
contained specific statements of fact contradicted by specific statements of fact of other
witnesses").
¶127 Finally, the Court cites three decisions for the proposition that credibility
determinations about train whistle blowing are not appropriate for summary judgment. See
Easterwood v. CSX Transp., Inc. (11th Cir. 1991), 933 F.2d 1548, 1560, n.14; Borden v.
CSX Transp., Inc. (D. Ala. N.D. 1993), 843 F.Supp. 1410, 1418; and Bowman v. Norfolk
Southern Ry. Co. (D. S.C. 1993), 832 F.Supp. 1014. In each one of these decisions, much
like Arnstein and Morrow, there again was conflicting testimony on material questions of
fact, that is, questions as to whether auditory warnings were given. For example, in
Bowman, both parties moved for summary judgment on the plaintiff's claim for failure to
sound the warning signals as required by law. The court denied plaintiff's motion because
there was evidence that the bell was ringing continuously from the start of the train's trip
that morning. Bowman, 832 F.Supp. at 1021. Similarly, defendant's motion for summary
judgment on this issue was denied because a jury could conclude that the bell was in fact
not operating at the time of the accident. "Whether the appropriate signal was given in this
case is disputed and is, therefore, a question for the jury." Bowman, 832 F.2d at 1021. In
denying summary judgment, the court was not relying upon lack of credibility as to an
extraneous issue of fact. Rather it found that there was a dispute as to the material fact at
issue in the motion; in other words, was the bell sounded. This is in contrast to the present
case where the Mickelsons appear to have offered no evidence to controvert the crew's
testimony that it gave a proper warning at the time of the accident.
¶128 The Court cites the principle, under § 26-1-303(3), MCA, that a witness false in one
part of his or her testimony may be distrusted in others. The Court then notes that there
were inconsistencies between the crew's testimony and Mickelson's deposition testimony
regarding whether he turned around on Momont Road before he reloaded the truck and
from this concludes that the jury should therefore be allowed to disbelieve the crew's
testimony as to whether the whistle and bell were sounded. In doing so, the Court
abandons the criterion of materiality. The sole issue before the Court on MRL's motion for
partial summary judgment was whether the auditory warnings were given. There was no
dispute in the evidence on that material fact.
¶129 The conflicting evidence regarding whether Mickelson filled the firetruck's water
tank before or after he turned around on Momont Road is not probative of whether the
train crew gave adequate warning of its approach. Assuming that the crew's version of the
turn around was not credible, it does not raise a dispute as to a fact material to the issue of
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (32 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
whether the whistle and bell were sounded. Moreover, neither Mickelson nor the Court
has suggested any reason why the train crew might lie regarding when Mickelson filled
the firetruck's water tank. As MRL did not deny having seen Mickelson's vehicle
approaching the track, what he did prior to that juncture is irrelevant to the question of
whether the crew sounded the whistle.
¶130 In Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc. (1986), 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2510,
91 L.Ed.2d 202, 211 (emphasis added) (citation omitted), the Court concluded:
substantive law will identify which facts are material. Only disputes over facts that
might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law will properly preclude
the entry of summary judgment. Factual disputes that are irrelevant or unnecessary
will not be counted.
¶131 The Court's holding could substantially diminish the burden of nonmoving parties in
summary judgment proceedings. For a nonmoving party to defeat a motion for summary
judgment when it offers no evidence on a material question of fact, that party would
apparently need only to present evidence raising doubt about the credibility of a moving
party's witness on a nonmaterial question of fact. For example, assume that a plaintiff
injured in an intersection collision moves for summary judgment on liability and presents
an uncontroverted affidavit that the defendant was speeding and did not have the right of
way. Under the Court's approach in the present case, the defendant could avoid summary
judgment by arguing that plaintiff was inconsistent in his testimony as to whether another
vehicle went through the intersection ahead of defendant's. Thus, despite the fact that the
existence of a third vehicle is totally immaterial to the question of defendant's liability,
summary judgment would be properly denied because the defendant raised an issue as to
the plaintiff's credibility on an extraneous fact.
¶132 Since there was no dispute as to the material fact at issue (whether, in the present
case, the whistle and bell were sounded), I would affirm the District Court's grant of
partial summary judgment.
¶133 I specially concur as to issue number five--did the court err in granting summary
judgment on the question of whether the train was "plainly visible." The Mickelsons,
relying on Herold v. Burlington Northern, Inc. (8th Cir. 1985), 761 F.2d 1241, contended
that they should have been allowed to show that MRL was liable to the Mickelsons for not
having equipped the train with a configuration of lights that would have been more
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (33 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
effective than the configuration that the train in fact had. The MRL train in question had a
headlight consisting of two 200,000 candela white lights and, in addition to what the law
requires, a single blinking yellow light located directly behind the headlight. In particular,
the Mickelsons sought to present evidence that a configuration with two yellow (amber)
lights would have been more effective.
¶134 The Court rejects the Mickelsons' interpretation of Herold and holds, correctly so,
that Herold merely requires that such equipment be properly maintained, not that it be
effective. Having so held, the Court goes on to hold that, if MRL met all of its federally
imposed lighting obligations, evidence of other more effective configurations is not
admissible for purposes of establishing railroad liability. However, since the MRL
contended that Mickelson was contributorily negligent under § 61-8-347, MCA, for
having not seen a "plainly visible" train, the Court concludes that the Mickelsons should
have been allowed to rebut that contention. The Court states:
While we disagree with the Mickelsons that alternative placement of the lighting has
any relevance to whether the train was "plainly visible" to Jim on the night of the
accident, we do agree that since MRL was permitted to allege and represent to the
jury that its train was "plainly visible," in part because of its yellow blinking light,
thereby triggering Jim's alleged duty to stop for the train, the Mickelsons were
entitled to rebut and contradict MRL's position by showing that the single yellow
blinking light located behind the locomotive's headlight was ineffective as a
warning light.
....
On remand, the jury should be instructed that while it may not consider MRL's
failure to equip its train with a particular lighting configuration as evidence of
MRL's negligence or culpability, it may nonetheless consider such evidence in
determining whether the plaintiff was comparatively negligent for failing to see a
train which MRL contends was "plainly visible."
Accordingly, we hold that the District Court did not err in precluding the
Mickelsons from presenting evidence to show that MRL was liable for failing to
equip its train with a particular lighting configuration. However, we also hold that
the District Court did err in precluding the Mickelsons from presenting evidence to
refute MRL's contention that Jim was comparatively negligent in failing to see the
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (34 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
train which MRL contends was "plainly visible." [Emphasis added.]
¶135 It is unclear to me whether the Court, in allowing the Mickelsons to rebut with
"such evidence," is saying that the Mickelsons can rebut with evidence of the
ineffectiveness of the configuration in question, or whether our decision allows the
Mickelsons to go further and present evidence as to what other configurations would
have been more effective than the one used. I concur with the proposition that the
Mickelsons be allowed an opportunity to rebut the testimony as to the "visibility" of
the configuration used on the train in question. This can be accomplished through
testimony from witnesses, either expert or lay, that the yellow light configured with
the two white lights was not plainly visible. I do not agree that they should be able
to rebut the visibility question with evidence of other alternative configurations that
might have been more effective. The only configuration at issue is the one on the
train in question in July of 1991. As the Court concedes, evidence of other
configurations is not relevant as to whether the configuration at issue was plainly
visible to Jim on the night in question. Furthermore, if the Mickelsons are allowed
to present evidence of other configurations, the jury would assume, since such
evidence has nothing to do with rebutting Jim's alleged comparative negligence, that
it relates to the question of liability. In other words, in oblique fashion, we would be
allowing the Mickelsons to circumvent the court's ruling in Herold and suggest to
the jury that MRL is liable for not having equipped the train with a different lighting
configuration than it did.
¶136 In conclusion, I concur with the holding that the Herold case does not stand for the
proposition that when a railroad equips a train with extra equipment beyond that required
by law, it must assure that that equipment is not only maintained, but effective. I concur
that the Mickelsons can rebut the "visibility" issue with evidence that the lighting
configuration on this train was not "plainly visible." In doing so, however, they may not
present evidence of other configurations that might have been more effective.
/S/ W. WILLIAM LEAPHART
Justice Karla M. Gray, concurring in part and dissenting in part.
¶137 Except as specifically set forth herein, I agree with and join the Court's opinion.
¶138 I join Justice Leaphart's dissent on issue 3, relating to the District Court's grant of
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (35 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
partial summary judgment on the "adequate auditory warning" issue. Our standards
regarding summary judgment have long been established and, in this regard, include a
burden on the nonmoving part to raise a genuine issue of material fact once the moving
party has established the absence of any such issue. As Justice Leaphart so cogently points
out, the Court's opinion on this issue largely negates that burden traditionally borne by the
nonmoving party by allowing the Mickelsons to avoid summary judgment via the raising
of credibility issues on nonmaterial, nonrelevant matters.
¶139 On issue 5, I join in the Court's conclusion that the Mickelsons' reliance on Herold is
misplaced. However, I dissent from the remainder of the Court's discussion of issue 5 and
from its conclusion that, while the Mickelsons are precluded from presenting evidence
relating to additional lighting or alternative lighting for the purposes of establishing
MRL's liability, they may introduce such evidence for other purposes. My dissent is based
on our long-established rule that we will not address either a matter raised for the first time
on appeal or a party's change in legal theory. See, e.g., Unified Industries, Inc. v. Easley,
1998 MT 145, ¶ 15, 289 Mont. 255, ¶ 15, 961 P.2d 100, ¶ 15 (citation omitted). The
underlying rationale for our rule is that it is unfair to hold a district court in error on a
basis never presented to it. Easley, at ¶ 15. Here, Herold was the Mickelsons' sole
argument on this issue before the District Court and, indeed, in its opening brief on appeal
to this Court. I would resolve this issue on that basis alone and affirm the District Court.
¶140 Finally, I respectfully dissent from the Court's opinion on issue 2, which is whether
the District Court erred in instructing the jury as to the speed of trains. My disagreements
and concerns about the Court's analysis of this issue are several.
¶141 First, the Court does not specifically address whether the District Court's Instruction
No. 32 was improper. That instruction essentially stated that the driver of any emergency
vehicle has no special privilege with regard to railroad crossings under Montana law.
Given the language of §§ 61-8-347 and 61-8-348, MCA, as set forth in the Court's
opinion, I conclude that Instruction No. 32 is a proper statement of the law and that the
District Court did not abuse its discretion in so instructing the jury.
¶142 In addition, it is my view that the Court's discussion of the trial court's Instruction
No. 21 and Runkle is, at best, confusing. Indeed, I am unable to ascertain from the Court's
opinion whether the District Court should have instructed on a purported duty by MRL to
slow for this particular crossing even absent the existence of a specific, individual hazard
at the time of the accident at issue in this case, or whether it should have instructed with
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (36 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
regard to a duty to slow only when faced with the specific conditions relating to the fire
and the existence of emergency vehicles in the area of the railroad crossing at the time the
train started down Evaro Hill.
¶143 This issue is more easily understood by addressing not just the instruction given by
the District Court, but one of the Mickelsons' proposed instructions, which was refused,
and about which the Mickelsons also assert error. The Mickelsons' Proposed Instruction
#29 read as follows:
If, under the standard of ordinary care, a reasonable and prudent railroad would have
braked the train to slow or reduce the speed of its train under the circumstances
existing here, failure to do so may constitute negligence, although no ordinance or
statute exists requiring such braking or slowing or reduction in speed. The railroad
also has a duty to slow or stop its train to avoid a specific individualized hazard at a
crossing if an ordinarily prudent railroad would have done so under the same or
similar circumstances.
This proposed instruction contains two separate duties: the first, one of ordinary care
relating to the circumstances existing at the time of the accident in question; and the
second, one of ordinary care relating to a duty to avoid a specific, individualized hazard at
a crossing.
¶144 With regard to the first duty set forth in the proposed instruction, I agree with the
Court that, under Runkle, the instruction would have been appropriate. The problem,
however, is that Easterwood--decided by the United States Supreme Court some 13 years
after Runkle--effectively nullified the availability of a state tort general negligence claim
regarding train speed by concluding that regulations adopted under the Federal Railroad
Safety Act preempted such claims.
¶145 With regard to the second duty set forth in the Mickelsons' Proposed Instruction #29,
namely, that MRL had a duty to slow or stop the train to avoid a specific individualized
hazard at a crossing if an ordinarily prudent railroad would have done so under the
circumstances, and the Court's related discussion of the "specific, individual hazard"
portion of Easterwood, my concern is that neither the Court's opinion nor the Mickelsons'
arguments are sufficiently clear to ascertain precisely what specific, individual hazard
purportedly is at issue here. To the extent the Court is holding that the mere presence of
emergency vehicles in the area near a crossing is sufficient to impose a duty on railroads
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (37 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
to slow their trains, I disagree. Such a state tort law general duty to slow is precluded by
Easterwood and also fails to meet the "specific, individual hazard" standard as determined
in post-Easterwood cases. The cases determining that such a hazard exists so as to avoid
federal preemption relate to the avoidance of a specific collision, slowing to avoid striking
a child on the railway and the like. See, e.g., Armstrong v. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
Ry. Co. (W.D. Tex. 1994), 844 F.Supp. 1152, 1153; Bashir v. National R.R. Passenger
Corp. (S.D. Fla. 1996), 929 F.Supp. 404, 412. Indeed, the contention that the mere
presence of emergency vehicles in the area is a specific, individual hazard sufficient to
impose a duty to slow is similar to the "presence of fog and the nearby brick facility"
contention rejected as constituting specific, individual hazards in Williams v. Alabama
Great Southern Railroad Co. (E.D. La. 1994), WL 419863. As the Williams court stated,
Easterwood's "footnote [15] means what it says--namely, if possible, a train should reduce
its speed in order to avoid an imminent collision."
¶146 Finally, the Court's discussion regarding proof that the train "could have easily
slowed or stopped to avoid the accident" is of no legal relevance. The issue is whether
there was a duty to slow. I would conclude that the duty set forth in the District Court's
Instruction No. 21--namely, that there was a duty to slow when it was reasonable to
believe that the emergency vehicle would not yield and there was a substantial risk of
collision--was a proper statement of the law under the Easterwood progeny addressing
specific, individual hazards. See O'Bannon v. Union Pacific R. Co. (W.D. Mo. 1997), 960
F.Supp. 1411, 1420 (citations omitted). Accordingly, I would affirm the District Court on
issue 2.
/S/ KARLA M. GRAY
Chief Justice J. A. Turnage joins in the concurring and dissenting opinions of Justice
Leaphart and Justice Gray.
/S/ J. A. TURNAGE
Justice Terry N. Trieweiler specially concurring and dissenting.
¶147 I concur with the majority's resolution of Issues numbered 1, 2, 3, and 8. I agree with
the majority's decision not to address Issues numbered 4, 6, and 7. I specially concur with
the majority's resolution of Issue No. 5; and I dissent from the majority's disposition of
Issue No. 9.
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (38 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
¶148 I concur with the majority's conclusion in part 5 of its opinion that the District Court
erred by excluding evidence that the locomotive's lighting configuration was inadequate to
make it "plainly visible." However, I disagree with and, therefore, dissent from the
majority's conclusion that this case is distinguishable from Herold v. Burlington Northern,
Inc. (8th Cir. 1985), 761 F.2d 1241, simply because the allegation in this case was that the
amber rotating beacon was "ineffective," whereas in Herold the plaintiffs complained that
a beacon, which had been installed but then removed, was not in "good operating
condition." That distinction, in my opinion, makes no difference to the court's holding in
Herold. In Herold, the plaintiffs were also struck at a railroad crossing. The court noted
that Burlington Northern equipped its locomotives with amber rotating beacons even
though it was not required to do so by federal law. Plaintiffs were allowed to prove in the
district court that the amber rotating beacon had been removed for repairs. On appeal, the
railroad contended that because it was not required to install an amber rotating beacon, it
was error for the district court to allow evidence that it had been removed.
¶149 The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed and observed:
[T]here is no issue whether Burlington Northern can be required to install additional
warning lights. Burlington Northern had already made the decision to use a beacon
and had, in fact, installed one on the locomotive involved in this collision. The
district court ruled the beacon was an "appurtenance" of the locomotive within the
meaning of the Boiler Inspection Act, 45 U.S.C. § 23. The Act "imposes upon the
carrier an absolute and continuing duty to maintain the locomotive, and all parts and
appurtenances thereof, in proper condition, and safe to operate in active service
without unnecessary peril to life or limb. Southern Railway. Co. v. Lunsford, 297 U.
S. 398, 401, 56 S. Ct. 504, 506, 80 L. Ed. 740 (1936).
Herold, 761 F.2d at 1245 (citations omitted). In other words, the Eighth Circuit did not
distinguish between an "appurtenance" which was "ineffective" and one which was simply
not in "good operating condition" as the majority does. The Eighth Circuit simply held
that once an appurtenance is installed on a locomotive, the Boiler Inspection Act requires
that it be maintained in a manner that it does not cause "unnecessary peril to life or limb."
¶150 In this case the Plaintiffs alleged that the amber rotating light was not maintained in
such a way as to avoid unnecessary peril to life or limb because of its placement. I see no
practical difference between the allegation in this case and the allegation in Herold that a
light which was not required in the first place had been removed.
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (39 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
¶151 For these reasons, I dissent from the majority's conclusion that Herold is not
applicable. Furthermore, I disagree with the majority's statement in ¶ 88 of its opinion that,
" . . . we disagree with the Mickelsons that alternative placement of the lighting has any
relevance to whether the train was "plainly visible" to Jim on the night of the
accident, . . . ." That statement is inconsistent with the majority's conclusion in ¶ 96 that
the District Court erred by precluding Mickelsons from refuting MRL's contention that the
train was "plainly visible" in part because of the presence of a rotating yellow light. The
only way to rebut the railroad's contention was to prove that the rotating yellow light
contributed nothing to the train's conspicuity because of its placement. I do believe that the
majority's ultimate conclusion is correct, but that the unnecessary and incorrect language
in ¶ 88 will be confusing to the parties and possibly the District Court.
¶152 I also dissent from the majority's conclusion that the consortium claims of Vickie
and Jim's children are barred if Jim was 50 percent or more negligent. That conclusion is
totally inconsistent with the majority's first conclusion that the claims are not reduced by
Jim's contributory negligence based on the language of the contributory negligence statute
found at § 27-1-702, MCA.
¶153 It makes no difference whether the consortium claims are derivative or independent,
and it makes no difference whether other courts have held that a loss of consortium claim
should be reduced by a spouse's or parent's negligence. In Montana, the language of the
contributory negligence statute is dispositive. It simply provides that "damages allowed
must be diminished in proportion to the percentage of fault attributable to the person
recovering." Section 27-1-702, MCA (emphasis added.) In this case, the persons
recovering damages for loss of consortium are Vickie and Jim's children. Both parties
concede that they were not in any way at fault for Jim's injuries. Therefore, based on the
plain language of § 27-1-702, MCA, their recovery, if any, cannot be diminished based on
contributory fault.
¶154 The majority avoids the application of the plain language of the statute by creating
an artificial distinction where none has previously existed. It concludes out of whole cloth
that the consortium claims are independent as to damages but derivative as to liability. In
doing so, the majority picks and chooses that part of the contributory negligence statute
that it chooses to apply. It concludes that if Jim was not more than 50 percent at fault there
can be no reduction but that if Jim was more than 50 percent at fault there can be no
recovery. There is no basis in the plain language of the statute for making this artificial
distinction. Courts may not rewrite statutes to achieve what the majority of the court
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (40 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm
considers a more satisfactory result. See § 1-2-101, MCA.
¶155 The majority's response is that if we apply the plain language of § 27-1-702, MCA,
there would be "an anomaly in the area of tort law." Because the majority concludes the
legislature could not have intended to do that which it plainly did, the majority has simply
rewritten the statute to its satisfaction. I would not do so. If § 27-1-702, MCA creates an
anomaly in the area of tort law, it is up to those interest groups who are adversely affected
to bring it to the legislature's attention and it is up to the legislature to change the law
accordingly.
¶156 For these reasons, I concur in part and dissent in part from the majority decision.
/S/ TERRY N. TRIEWEILER
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/cu1046/Desktop/opinions/98-014%20Opinion.htm (41 of 41)3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM