Best v. United States Of America, No. 3:2014cv00018 - Document 31 (W.D. Va. 2015)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 5/29/15. (hnw)
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Best v. United States Of America Doc. 31 CL S OFFI U. DI .CO! ERK' CE S. ST AT ROANOKE, VA FI ED L I TH E UN I N TED STATES D I STRI CO UR T CT FOR THE W ESTERN DI STRI OF VI NI CT RGI A CH AR LOTTESV I LLE D I I ON V SI JL8 2! 2 1 25 J ULI C ' =RK Ci BY; DFPU- CL . W ERK M I I BEST, NN E Ci lActo N o.3: 4CV 0001 vi in 1 8 Pl ntf , ai if M EM O M N D UM O PI I N N O V. UN I TED STA TES O F AM ERI , CA H on.Gl n E. o 'd e C ma Chi Unied St t D i t i tJ ef t a es sr c udge Def nt enda . M i i B e ttl t sac i a i tt U nie St t s pur ua t t Fe r lTol Cl i s l e s i ed hi ton ga ns he t d a e m s nt o he de a ' am t Ac, 8U. C. j1 46b , 6 - 68 se n t rc ve f rij re t a s es tie wh ns e t 2 S. j 3 () 2 712 0, e kig o e o r o nu is h t h usan d e h w a sr k by a vehi l drve by D a sBr W ila s J . a r a m a lca e e pl d by t s tuc ce i n ni uce li m , r , ur l i ni r m oye he Unied St t PosalSe vi Theca ei pr e l be or t co ton t Unied St t s m o i n t aes t r ce. s s es nty f e he ur he t a e ' to f rs mmayj dg n . Fo tef lo ngr a o s t emoinwil eg a td o u r u me t r h olwi e s n ,h to lb r ne . Fact Backzround ual The ac i c denta i s oc ur e on t a t r t s ue c r d he f e noon ofO c obe 1 201 i A l m a l Co y, t r 9, 2 n be re unt V i gi a. The onl w ines e t t a i ntw e e Bes a W ila s Bes s f r f om r ni y t s s o he cc de r t nd li m . t uf e s r de enta a no l nge hasa r c l c i oft a ci nt m i nd o r ny e ole ton he c de . Att tmeoft a i t W ila wa he dnorhon Sc tvil Roa ( t 20) he i he ccden , lims s ade t ots le d Roue fom one a e ofhi mai r et a he . Hewa drvi aGr m man LongLieVe c e r ra s l out o not r s i ng u f hi l (i ',whihf t e adrve ' sa a ve cec r sont rg sdeoft ve ce,a a t LLV' ) c eaur s i rs e t nd hil ontol he iht i he hil nd potm ir t tpr r s f om t l ts de oft ve c e. r or ha otude r he ef i he hi l Bes , ho w as 8 yea s ol a t tm e oft a ci nt r s desa 1 Sc t vil Roa tw 3 r d t he i he c de , e i t 882 ots le d. Tha por i ofScots le Roa ha a s ngl l ne i e c die ton di de by a do e lne, nd a t ton t vil d s i e a n a h rci vi d ubl i a speed lm i of55 m ies perhour. i t l Dockets.Justia.com AsW ila sa oa he Bes' r i nc a a s d of45 m iesperhour W ila ss w lim ppr c d ts esde e t pee l , li m a Be ts a ng on t l f s de oft r d. Bes ' r i nc w asnoton W ila s m a lr t s t ndi he e t i he oa t s es de e li m ' i ou e. None hels , t e s upon s e ngBes,W ila ssowe hi ve c ebe us het ei t lim l d s hil ca e houghtt ts d i be ha he t ght m co sn t . . a d( i mal rs mehng' W i imsDe Tr 1 . Be th nû c e u it r s ig o . h n hml i o o t i . ' la l p. . 6 s te k k d p no ba t grs , c r ila )c i r a i c t t ts wasnot' 1 AsW ila got he a s whih W lims onsdeed n ndiaor ha he .' d. lims cl e ,how e r Bes ks i t d i o t r d ... ta di gona lke s ha t ge i f ontoft os r ve , t tpr n e nt he oa a a l i he d o t n r he vehi l ' 1 a 1 W ila ss a m ed o hi br ke a s e v d t t rghti a a t m ptt c e. d. t 7. ' li m l m n s a s nd w r e o he i n n te o avoi hitng Bes . H eha a m os c e t a c pl t s op w he Bes c os e i f ontoft LLV d ti t d l t om o om e e t n t r sd n r he and w a sr k by t potm ir on t l ts de. s tuc he r or he ef i ProceduralH i orv st Be tfl d t i t ntac i a i tt Unied Stt onM a 5, 4, s ri ac am f s ie he nsa ton ga ns he t a es y 201 as e tng l i or ne i nceunde t Fe r lTol Cl i sAc . Folo i t c glge r he de a 4 am t lw ng he ompl ton ofdic r t ei s ove y, he UntdS ae mo e f rs mmayj d me t Th c u t edahe rngo t emoino M a 2 , ie tts v d o u r u g n . e o r h l ai n h to n y 6 201 The moton ha be n f l b if a i rpe f rr vi 5. i s e uly re ed nd s i o e ew. Standard ofRevi ew An a r o s wad f ummayj d me ti a prpraetftemo a ts wst tte ei n r u g n s p o it s h v n ho ha h r s o i g n i ds uea t a ymae ilfc a dtemo a ti e tte t j g n a amatro lw. e une ip t s o n tra a t n h v n s n i d o ud me t s te f a ' l ' Fe R. v. 5 () I d tr nngwh te t g a t moinf rs mmayj dg n ,h c u t d. Ci P. 6 a . n eemii eh r o r n a to o u r u me tte o r m us vi w t r or i t lghtm os f vor bl t t non- ova . A nder o v.Li r y Lobby. t e he ec d n he i t a a e o he m nt sn be t l c, 7 U. 2 2, 5 ( 9 6 . Towih tn as mmayj d me tmo in,h n n- v n mus n .4 7 S. 4 2 5 1 8 ) t sa d u r u g n to te o mo a t t pr oduc s fc en e de f om w hi h a r s na e fnde off tcoul r ur a ve di ti her e uf i i t vi nce r c ea o bl i r ac d et n r c n f vor 1 a 248. Sconcl o y or s ul tve a l ga i do nots fce nordoesa S e e a . d. t i us r pec a i le tons uf i , m r s i il ofe de e'i s cntla vi nc n uppor ofghenon- nts ca e' Thomps v. oma Elc. t t mova 'j s .' on Pot c e Power Co.31 F. 6 649( h Ci.2002)( i Philpsv.CSX Trns ,l ,1 F. 285, , 2 3d 45, 4t r quotng li a p. nc. 90 3d 287 (t Ci.1 ). 4h r 999) D i cuss on s i I a tc f l d pur ua t t Fede alTor Cl i s Act f der lc t a y t n c ims ie s nt o he r t am , e a our s ppl he s t ntve 1 w oft sat i w hi h t a torom i son gi ng r s t t a ton occ r d. ubs a i a he t e n c he c si vi i e o he c i ur e M yrc v. td Stt ,723F. 11 11 ( h Ci.1 . UnderVigi alw, i nc ik Unie aes 2d 58, 59 4t r 983) r ni a neglge e S nnotbepr s t ca e umedfom t m e eha r he r ppeni ofa a ci nt' Col a M ot Fr ghtLi l ng n c de .' onil or ei ne, nc. v. nce 22lS. 2d 1 1 ( .1 . I ta t plitf beast bur ofpr ng(he Na , E. 32, 37 Va 976) nse d,he anif r he den ovi C t e s e e ofa l galdut a br ac oft d y,a pr xi a e ca a i n r s tng i dam ag . xi t nc e y, e h he ut nd o m t us t o e uli n es ' ' Ati Uni OwnesAs ' v. ng,585S. 2d 5 5 ( 2003) rum t r sn Ki E. 45, 48 Va. . Or na iy,ne i nce i a i s f rt fnde off c t dec de St utv. r hol çw , di rl glge s n s ue o he i r a t o i . o Ba t om 5 S. 2d653,659( 2001 . k- ve , nt r i no e de et s 44 E. Va. ) ll lowe r whe hee s vi nc o uppor aconrr t tay c l i a t , ea ona em i c d no dif ra onc us on nd, hus r s bl nds oul t f e boutt i s .. ,i i am a t rofl w f r he s ue . t s te a o acour t de i ' l ;s as Paham v. be t41 S. 2d 8 8 ( 1 2) t o cde. d. ee lo r ' Al r, 8 E. 66, 68 Va. 99 . Sn eatndn o n gie c mu t b s do fcss fce t oj siyt ec ncuso t a ic i ig f e l n e s be a e n a t ufiin t u tf h o l in h t g W ila svi a e s e l ldut owed t Be t k ti ne s a y att out e t di c st na u e li m ol t d om ega y o s , s s ce s r i he s t o s us he t r a e e oft tdut ' Relyv.Dunna nt200F. 21 21 ( hCi.1 . I Vigni i nd xtnt ha y. il ' va , 2d 3, 5 4t r 952) n r i a,t i wel ete ta ithed ie o amo o v hceh sad t t us o dn r c r t manana s ls tld h t k q rv r f tr e il a uy o e r iay ae o it i g pr operl ookout a t k p hi vehi l unde pr r c r . Lic or v. a , nd o ce s ce r ope ontol' t hf d H ncoc 352 S. 2d ' k, E. 335,337( 1 . l dic r ngt ed i ,ad i ri r uie t us or nayc r t Va. 987) n s ha gi hes utes rve s eq rd o e di r a e o obs r ot ve cl and pe ti ns on t hi a t s e w ha a r as bl pe s w oul e ve her hi es desr a he ghw y, o e t e ona e r on d ha s n,a t r c asar a ona eper on w oul haver ct d unde t c r um s a est avoi ve ee nd o ea t e s bl s d ea e r he i c t nc o d a a i . I ;seas Reil 200F. a 21 (xpli ngt tadrve ofamotrve cl ti n ccdent d. e lo ly, 2d t 5 e ani ha i r o hi e is bound t us r as bl ca e f t pr ec i ofpede t i nson t hi hw a a t pr ee w ih o e e ona e r or he ot ton s ra he g y, nd o oc d t s hca i a t cr umsa esma rquiet avoi e uc uton s he ic tnc y e r o d ndangei t m' . dti as tuet t rng he ' ' s lo r ha ) I t pedetin i rquiedt e r s ras bl caef g r o s ey, t mot itha a he sra s e r o xecie e ona e r or he ) wn aft and he ors s r ghtt a s e t ts h c r w ilbe e pl d. Reil 200 F. a 215. i o s um ha uc a e l m oye ' ' ly, 2d t I t i t ntca e W ila s undiput dt si on i caest thewasdrvi unde t n he nsa s , li m ' s e e tm y ndi t ha i ng r he pose s ed lm i whe hea oac d Be tsr sde ,t hesowed hi ve ce u s i t d pe i t n ppr he s ' e i nce hat l s hi l pon eeng Be ts andi on t l ts de oft r d,a t tBes t n pr e d t bac up i t t gr s , s t ng he ef i he oa nd ha t he oce de o k n o he a s w hi h i ca ed t W ila st ts w asnotgoi t c os t r d. W hen Be ts c ndi t o li m ha he ng o r s he oa s udde y nl s i e a os t r d m om en s l t r W ila ss a m ed on hi br kesand s e ved hi ve c e prnt d cr s he oa t a e , li m l m s a w r s hi l i s a m a rt ti m i s hitng Bes ,s ve f t po m ir r n uch nne ha t s ed ti t a or he t r o . On t s r c d, he c tco l hi e or t our nc udest tno r s na e fnde off c c d c ude t t ha ea o bl i r a t oul oncl ha W ilam s f ie t us or na y c r t ke a pr rl li a l d o e di r a e o ep ope ookoutort r a tasa r a ona e pe s o ec e s bl r on wo d ha r a t d unde t cr ul ve e c e r he icumsa e W hieBe ta g st tW ila sco d ha tnc s. l s r ue ha lim ul ve c pl t l soppe hi ve cl a t rhe s w he sandi on t s de oft r om e e y t d s hi e f e a r t ng he i he oad,W ila sw a li m s unde no dut t tket spa tculrc s ofaci ort ot r s a i pa et tBes woul r r y o a hi ri a our e ton, o he wie ntci t ha t d un ac os t r d,o e he s w he r t e ti o t gr s l t a W ila s ha t rghtt a s e r s he oa nc a r e r a nt he as . ns e d, li m d he i o s um t tBe twasa r ofhi a oa ng ve cl a woul nots nl r a r st r d i fo ha s wa e s ppr chi hi e nd d udde y un c os he oa n r nt of m. Se Rely 2 0F.da 21 ( ligt t d ie o amo o v hcewa du tfe i hi e il, 0 2 t 6 hodn ha a rv r f t r e il s j siid n as um i t tt pl i i fwas a a e ofhi a oa h a w oul nota t ptt c os de e n ' s ng ha he a ntf w r s ppr c nd d tem o r s f nda t s lneofta i cos pr miyt hi a t bie' ;seas She hvv.M uphy,380P. l 2, i rvel n l e oxi t o s uomo l ' e lo e l 2d 5 1 54( i 1963 Ck r l s ki amoors mus e cs r a ona ec r twa d 53- Arz. ) Genealy pea ng, t it t xerie e s bl a e o r pedesri t ans. Butw her a pedes ran i s andi i a pl ofcom par i s et and appar l e t i s t ng n ace atve af y enty sees an appr oachi aut obie,t drverhast r ghtt ass et t pedes ran w ilr ai ng om l he i he i o um hat he ti l em n i t tpl eofsft a wilnots nl se it t pahofhi a omobie.)(ntr l n ha ac aey nd l udde y tp no he t s ut l ' i ena ' ciai omitd) ttons te . l i unf t et W ila i u bl t ofe a i i a t wha tans r d a t tm e t s orunat hat li ms s na e o f r ny nsght s o t r pie t he i oft ac i nt H ow e r V i gi a 1 w m a s c ea t tneg i nc Tc l o be pr um e f om he c de . ve , r ni a ke l r ha lge e t a m t es d r t m e e ha ni ofa ac i nt' a t tt f de i on t pl i ift pr he r ppe ng n c de , nd ha he s ' bur n s he a ntf o oduc e de e of e vi nc pr ponde a i wei htf om w hi h t t i rof f tca fnd t tt def nda w a guit of e r tng g r c he r e ac n i ha he e nt s ly ne i ncewhih wa apr m ae c us oft a i nt' Fa r n v. l r, S. 2d 668, glge c s oxi t a e he cc de . ' re Gibe t297 E. 670 ( 1 2)(ntr lciain o te . Ba e ont c rntrcor t c tsc nce t t Va. 98 i ena tto mitd) s d he ure e d,he our i onvi d ha r s na e m i coul notdif rast t i s ofneglgenc a t tt U nie St t s i ea o bl nds d fe o he s ue i e, nd ha he t d a e s e tte t j d me t samatro 1w. n ild o u g n a te f a * Concl i uson Fort r as nssa e t co twilg a t Unied St t s moton f s he e o tt d, he ur l r nt he t a e ' i or umm a y r j d me t Th Clr i dr ce t s n c p e o t i me rnd m o i o a dt e u g n . e ek s ie td o e d o is f h s mo a u pnin n h a om pa ng or rt a1 couns lofr or cc nyi de o l e ec d. ENTER: s 29 N da ofMay, 2015. Thi y Chi Unie St t sDiti tJ ef t d a e src udge # Havi r ached t sdecii t c tfndsi unne s r t a es t is ofconti or ng e hi son, he our i t ces a y o ddr s he s ue rbut y neglgence. None hel s,hecour not t apedesran who çf l t s e orhee tafi t ti obvi and i i t es t t es hat ti tais o e d r fc ha s ous n danger pr miyand contnue i o ispah'i gener l guit ofneglgenceasamaterofIw. Hops v. ous oxi t i s nt t t ' s aly ly i t a on Go lb 8 S. 2 l ,1 3( .1 5 . os y, 6 E.d 49 5 Va 95 )
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