DIANE CONMY V DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
DIANE CONMY and MICHAEL B. REITH,
Personal Representatives of the Estate of Erica
Reith,
UNPUBLISHED
June 22, 2006
APPROVED FOR
PUBLICATION
August 24, 2006
9:00 a.m.
Plaintiffs-Appellees,
v
No. 266943
Court of Claims
LC No. 05-000121-MZ
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
Defendant-Appellant.
Official Reported Version
Before: Kelly, P.J., and Markey and Meter, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Defendant appeals as of right from the order of the Court of Claims denying its motion
for summary disposition based on governmental immunity. We reverse and remand this matter
for entry of an order granting summary disposition in favor of defendant. This appeal is being
decided without oral argument pursuant to MCR 7.214(E).
Plaintiffs' decedent was struck and killed by an oncoming train at an intersection with an
inoperative railway crossing safety signal. Plaintiffs sued defendant, claiming that after
defendant had determined that a signal at the intersection was necessary, defendant failed to
issue an actual order directing installation of the signal. Nevertheless, the signal had been
installed. However, when the signal stopped operating, Amtrak did not repair the signal.
Plaintiffs allege that, because defendant did not issue an actual order to install the signal, Amtrak
did not have a duty to maintain and repair the signal and could not be held liable for decedent's
injury under MCL 257.668(2).
Defendant moved to dismiss plaintiffs' claim, arguing that it was entitled to governmental
immunity under MCR 2.116(C)(7) and that plaintiffs, therefore, failed to state a claim upon
which relief could granted under MCR 2.116(C)(8). The Court of Claims denied defendant's
motion, ruling that it was "premature."
Before determining whether the court erred in denying summary disposition, we must
first address plaintiffs' contention that this Court lacks jurisdiction over this appeal. Under MCR
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7.203(A)(1), this Court "has jurisdiction of an appeal of right filed by an aggrieved party from . .
. [a] final judgment or final order of the circuit court, or court of claims, as defined in MCR
7.202(6)." Under MCR 7.202(6)(a)(v), in a civil case, an "order denying governmental
immunity to a governmental party, including a governmental agency, official, or employee" is a
final judgment or final order. Although the reasons stated on the record as the basis for the
November 16, 2005, order did not address the merits of plaintiffs' claim or defendant's defense,
the order facially denied defendant's motion for summary disposition based on governmental
immunity under MCR 2.116(C)(7). Therefore, the order is a final order under MCR
7.202(6)(a)(v), and this Court has jurisdiction under MCR 7.203(A)(1).
Turning to the merits of defendant's argument on appeal, we agree with defendant that the
trial court erred in denying its motion for summary disposition. We review a trial court's
decision on a motion for summary disposition de novo. Auto Club Group Ins Co v Burchell, 249
Mich App 468, 479; 642 NW2d 406 (2002).
The governmental tort liability act (GTLA), MCL 691.1401 et seq., grants immunity
from tort liability to the state, its agencies, and its agents when they are engaged in the exercise
of a governmental function, except where the Legislature has expressly granted an exception to
liability. MCL 691.1407(1). Accordingly, defendant is immune from plaintiffs' claim asserting
tort liability, unless plaintiffs can plead their claim under an exception to governmental
immunity. Mack v Detroit, 467 Mich 186, 203; 649 NW2d 47 (2002). The GTLA provides only
five exceptions to governmental immunity: the "highway exception," MCL 691.1402; the "motor
vehicle exception," MCL 691.1405; the "public building exception," MCL 691.1406; the
"proprietary function exception," MCL 691.1413; and the "governmental hospital exception,"
MCL 691.1407(4).
Plaintiffs failed to plead their claim under any exception to governmental immunity. The
highway exception does not apply because defendant does not have jurisdiction over the
intersection, the city of Kalamazoo does. Moreover, the highway exception does not apply to
signage. MCL 691.1402(1); Evens v Shiawassee Co Rd Comm'rs, 463 Mich 143, 183-184; 615
NW2d 702 (2000). Similarly, none of the other exceptions apply to defendant's alleged failure to
issue an order directing the installation of the railroad crossing safety signal. The trial court
should have granted defendant's motion for summary disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(7).
Reversed and remanded for entry of an order granting summary disposition in favor of
defendant. We do not retain jurisdiction.
/s/ Kirsten Frank Kelly
/s/ Jane E. Markey
/s/ Patrick M. Meter
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