AMBROGINI v TODD
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I N THE SUPREME COURT O T E STATE O MONTANA F H F No. 81-266 JAMES V. AMBROGINI and ROBERT D. FLINT, P l a i n t i f f s and A p p e l l a n t s , S N Y TODD, THE STATE O MONTANA O N F and MONTANA STATE DEPARTMENT O F HIGHWAYS, D e f e n d a n t s and Respondents. O R D E R PER CURIAM: I T I S ORDERED t h a t t h e f o u r t h s e n t e n c e of t h e t h i r d p a r a g r a p h of t h e F e b r u a r y 2 5 , 1981, o p i n i o n i n t h i s m a t t e r b e amended t o s t a t e : " A f e n c e was c o n s t r u c t e d and a r o p e g a t e i n s t a l l e d a p p r o x i m a t e l y mid-way up t h e l a n e t o t h e Todd ranch. " I T I S FURTHER ORDERED t h a t t h e second s e n t e n c e o f t h e f o u r t h p a r a g r a p h o f t h e same o p i n i o n b e amended t o s t a t e : "The r o p e g a t e mid-way up t h e l a n e w a s a n u i s a n c e t o h i s customers." W I T H THIS AMENDMENT o f t h e f a c t s , t h e P e t i t i o n f o r a R e h e a r i n g of t h i s m a t t e r i s d e n i e d . DATED t h i s 1 5 t h day o f A p r i l , 1982. g,-$& Chief J u s t i c e .. - No. 81-266 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA JAMES V. AMBROGINI and ROBERT D. FLINT, Plaintiffs and Appellants, SONNY TODD, THE STATE OF MONTANA and MONTANA STATE DEPARTmNT OF HIGHWAYS, Defendants and Respondents. Appeal from: District Court of the Sixth Judicial District, In and for the County of Sweet Grass Honorable Jack D. Shanstrom, Judge presiding. Counsel of Record: For Appellants: Gregory 0 Morgan, Bozeman, Montana . For Respondents: Landoe, Brown, Planalp, Kommers and Lineberger, Bozeman, Montana J. Daniel Hoven, Office of Attorney General, Helena, Montana Submitted on briefs: November 18, 1981 ~ecided: February 25, 1982 J u s t i c e Frank B. M o r r i s o n , J r . , d e l i v e r e d t h e Opinion of t h e C o u r t . Mr. The p l a i n t i f f s , James Ambrogini and R o b e r t F l i n t , a p p e a l from summary judgment e n t e r e d by t h e S i x t h J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t C o u r t i n f a v o r of b o t h d e f e n d a n t s , Sonny Todd and t h e Montana Department of Highways. On May 3, 1979, F l i n t was d r i v i n g a t r u c k owned by Ambrogini when i t c o l l i d e d w i t h two angus h e i f e r c a l v e s on Highway 10. The c a l v e s were owned by Todd. I n November of 1979, t h e p l a i n t i f f s f i l e d s e p a r a t e a c t i o n s a g a i n s t d e f e n d a n t Todd a l l e g i n g t h a t Todd's n e g l i g e n c e had caused t h e c o l l i s i o n . The c o m p l a i n t s w e r e amended i n A p r i l , 1980, t o i n c l u d e t h e S t a t e of Montana and t h e Montana Department of Highways as defendants. These c l a i m s have s i n c e been c o n s o l i d a t e d . The f a c t s a r e u n d i s p u t e d . a c q u i r e d a highway right-of-way owners of t h e Todd r a n c h . I n 1936, t h e S t a t e of Montana easement from t h e p r i o r The S t a t e p a i d t h e p r i o r owners $323.75 t o c o n s t r u c t a f e n c e a l o n g Highway 1 0 . A f e n c e was c o n s t r u c t e d and a s t o c k g a t e i n s t a l l e d a t t h e l a n e e n t r a n c e . Through t h e y e a r s , t h e f e n c e h a s been m a i n t a i n e d by t h e owners of what i s now known a s t h e Todd r a n c h . Todd s e l l s c a t t l e and h o r s e s . The s t o c k g a t e a t t h e l a n e entrance w a s a nuisance t o h i s customers. Todd d i d n o t wish t o r e p l a c e t h e s t o c k g a t e w i t h a c a t t l e g u a r d due t o h a z a r d s posed t o h o r s e s . T h e r e f o r e , h e removed t h e s t o c k g a t e and l i n e d t h e e n t i r e one hundred y a r d l o n g l a n e w i t h a mesh f e n c e topped w i t h barbed w i r e and wooden p o s t s . Todd a l s o i n s t a l l e d a g a t e l e a d i n g from t h e l a n e i n t o t h e p a r k i n g l o t and turn-around a r e a used by h i s c u s t o m e r s . Todd t e s t i - f i e d t h a t s i n c e t h e e n t i r e l a n d and l a n e were f e n c e d , h e f e l t t h e r e t o b e no need t o i n s t a l l a s t o c k c o n t r o l l i n g d e v i c e a t t h e highway e n t r a n c e t o t h e l a n e . In fact, the l a n e was f e n c e d i n o r d e r t o a v o i d t h e n e c e s s i t y of having a stock controlling device a t the lane entrance. On t h e n i g h t of May 2 , 1979, a p p r o x i m a t e l y 50 head of angus h e i f e r s were c o n t a i n e d i n t h e i r pen on t h e Todd r a n c h . The pen was e n c l o s e d by mesh f e n c e v e r y s i m i l a r t o t h a t described a s l i n i n g the lane. The c a t t l e , some of which were i n h e a t , b r o k e t h r o u g h t h i s f e n c e and e n t e r e d a s h e l t e r b e l t a r e a surrounded by f o u r - s t r a n d b a r b e d w i r e f e n c e . A f t e r g r a z i n g i n t h e s h e l t e r a r e a f o r some t i m e , t h e c a t t l e c r a w l e d t h r o u g h t h a t f e n c e w i t h o u t d i s t u r b i n g it and e n t e r e d t h e p a r k i n g l o t and turn-around a r e a used by Todd's c u s t o m e r s f o r l o a d i n g and u n l o a d i n g s t o c k . a r e a t o t h e l a n e was open. The g a t e l e a d i n g from t h a t The c a l v e s walked t h r o u g h t h e open g a t e , down t h e l a n e and o n t o Highway 1 0 . The t r u c k d r i v e n by F l i n t c o l l i d e d w i t h two of t h e h e i f e r s w h i l e t h e y were on t h e highway. t h e borrow p i t and u p s e t . The t r u c k went i n t o F l i n t was i n j u r e d . On J a n u a r y 1 2 , 1981, d e f e n d a n t Montana Department o f Highways moved f o r summary judgment p u r s u a n t t o Rule 56 of t h e Montana Rules of C i v i l P r o c e d u r e . On March 1 0 , 1981, a f t e r c o n s i d e r i n g t h e b r i e f s , d e p o s i t i o n s , s t i p u l a t i o n s and arguments of t h e p a r t i e s , t h e c o u r t g r a n t e d summary judgment f o r t h e following reasons: (1) t h e S t a t e had no s t a t u t o r y d u t y t o e r e c t a c a t t l e g u a r d , g a t e o r s t o c k c o n t r o l d e v i c e a t t h e Highway 10 e n t r a n c e t o Todd' s l a n e ; ( 2 ) t h e f a i l u r e t o c o n s t r u c t such a device r e s u l t e d i n no u n r e a s o n a b l e r i s k of harm t o t h e t r a v e l l i n g p u b l i c ; and ( 3 ) t h e l a c k of a s t o c k c o n t r o l d e v i c e a t t h e e n t r y way t o t h e r a n c h was n o t , a s a m a t t e r of law, t h e p r o x i m a t e c a u s e of t h e a c c i d e n t . ~efendant Sonny Todd moved f o r summary judgment on March 23, 1981. The c o u r t g r a n t e d h i s motion on May 6 , 1981, f o r t h e f o l l o w i n g r e a s o n s : (1) S e c t i o n 60-7-201, MCA, imposes l i a b i l i t y on a l i v e s t o c k owner o n l y f o r n e g l i q e n t c o n d u c t which r e s u l t s i n h i s l i v e s t o c k occupying a highway and c a u s i n g i n j u r y ; ( 2 ) t h e r e was no e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d a t t r i a l showing d e f e n d a n t ' s f e n c e t o be c o n s t r u c t e d o r m a i n t a i n e d i n a n e g l i g e n t manner; and ( 3 ) t h e r a n c h owner, a s a m a t t e r of law, had no d u t y t o a n t i c i p a t e t h a t t h e c a t t l e would e s c a p e t h r o u g h two f e n c e l i n e s and e n t e r a t u r n - a r o u n d a r e a , t h e r e f o r e , making i t n e c e s s a r y f o r Todd t o e i t h e r keep t h e g a t e between t h e a r e a and t h e l a n e s h u t when n o t i n u s e o r c o n s t r u c t a s t o c k control device a t the entrance t o the lane. The i s s u e s p r e s e n t e d t o t h i s C o u r t on a p p e a l a r e : (1) Did t h e d e f e n d a n t , Montana Department of Highways, have a d u t y t o r e q u i r e and m a i n t a i n a c a t t l e g u a r d o r g a t e a t t h e ranch entrance? (2) Did t h e d e f e n d a n t , Sonny Todd, have a l e g a l d u t y t o c o n s t r u c t and m a i n t a i n a f e n c e t o p r e v e n t l i v e s t o c k from e n t e r i n g t h e highway? (3) Is t h e r e s u f f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e upon which r e a s o n a b l e men c o u l d c o n c l u d e t h a t Todd was n e g l i g e n t i n e i t h e r m a i n t a i n i n g o r c o n s t r u c t i n g t h e f e n c e t h r o u g h which t h e c a t t l e p a s s e d ? W e uphold summary judgment f o r t h e Montana Department of Highways and r e v e r s e summary judgment f o r t h e d e f e n d a n t , Sonny Todd. W remand t h i s c a s e f o r a d e t e r m i n a t i o n of e whether o r n o t Todd was n e g l i g e n t f o r n o t c o n s t r u c t i n g a s t o c k c o n t r o l device a t t h e l a n e e n t r a n c e o r keeping t h e g a t e from t h e l a n e t o t h e turn-around a r e a s h u t a t a l l t i m e s d u r i n g which i t w a s n o t i n u s e . I f t h e t r i e r of f a c t f i n d s Todd n e g l i g e n t , it must t h e n d e t e r m i n e whether h i s n e g l i g e n c e was t h e p r o x i m a t e c a u s e of t h e c o l l i s i o n on May 3 , 1979. B r i e f s , d e p o s i t i o n s and t e s t i m o n y a t h e a r i n g s e s t a b l i s h e d s e v e r a l undisputed, p e r t i n e n t f a c t s . The Todd r a n c h i s l o c a t e d o f f Highway 10 a p p r o x i m a t e l y 6.5 m i l e s e a s t of Big Timber. T h i s i s a n open r a n g e a r e a . Highway 1 0 i s c l a s s i f i e d by t h e Montana Department of Highways as b e i n g p a r t of t h e I t is not a controlled access f e d e r a l - a i d primary system. highway. The s e c t i o n of t h e highway n e a r t h e Todd r a n c h w a s c o n s t r u c t e d p r i o r t o J u l y 1, 1969, and h a s n o t been r e c o n s t r u c t e d since t h a t date. T h i s s e c t i o n h a s n e v e r been d e s i g n a t e d a " h i g h - h a z a r d a r e a " p u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n 60-7-102(2), Montana Code Annotated. The above f a c t s a r e r e l e v a n t t o s e c t i o n s 60-7-101 t h r o u g h 60-7-103, MCA, g o v e r n i n g when t h e Montana Department of Highways i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e f e n c i n g of highways, as w e l l a s t o s e c t i o n s 60-7-201 t h r o u g h 60-7-203, MCA, governing when a r a n c h e r i s l i a b l e f o r damages c a u s e d by t h e p r e s e n c e of h i s c a t t l e on a highway. These s t a t u t e s a r e c o n t r o l l i n g i n t h i s s i t u a t i o n and we f o c u s on them a s t h e b a s i s f o r t h i s decision. THE L I A B I L I T Y O F THE DEPARTMENT O F HIGHWAYS S e c t i o n 60-7-101, MCA, and i t s l e g i s l a t i v e h i s t o r y i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e 1974 l e g i s l a t u r e i n t e n d e d t o i n c r e a s e t h e s a f e t y of t h e m o t o r i s t t r a v e l l i n g t h r o u g h t h e r a n c h i n g a r e a s of Montana. S e c t i o n 60-7-103, MCA, delegates the responsibility f o r t h e m o t o r i s t s ' s a f e t y t o t h e Montana Department of Highways. It states: "60-7-103. Department t o f e n c e right-of-way (1) The d e p a r t m e n t s h a l l t h r o u g h open r a n g e . f e n c e t h e right-of-way of any p a r t of t h e s t a t e highway system t h a t i s c o n s t r u c t e d o r r e c o n s t r u c t e d a f t e r J u l y 1, 1969, t h r o u g h open r a n g e where l i v e s t o c k p r e s e n t a h a z a r d t o t h e s a f e t y o f t h e m o t o r i s t . Where a f e n c e i s constructed, adequate stock g a t e s o r stock p a s s e s , as n e c e s s a r y , s h a l l be p r o v i d e d t o make l a n d on e i t h e r s i d e of t h e highway u s a b l e f o r l i v e s t o c k purposes. " ( 2 ) The d e p a r t m e n t s h a l l e r e c t a f e n c e i n e v e r y high-hazard a r e a a s promptly a s p o s s i b l e , and t h e c o s t of such c o n s t r u c t i o n i s a n e x p e n d i t u r e f o r t h e enforcement of f e d e r a l a i d highway s a f e t y programs. Gates, stock u n d e r p a s s e s , w a t e r f a c i l i t i e s , and c a t t l e g u a r d s may b e i n s t a l l e d where n e c e s s a r y t o make t h e l a n d on e i t h e r s i d e of t h e highway u s a b l e f o r l i v e s t o c k p u r p o s e s o r where a p u b l i c right-of-way i n t e r s e c t s t h e s t a t e highway. " S e c t i o n 60-7-102 (1) and ( 2 ) , MCA, d e f i n e s "open r a n g e " and " h i g h - h a z a r d a r e a " as f o l l o w s : " (1) 'Open r a n g e 1 means t h o s e a r e a s of t h e s t a t e where l i v e s t o c k i s r a i s e d and m a i n t a i n ed i n s u f f i c i e n t numbers as t o c o n s t i t u t e a s i g n i f i c a n t p a r t of t h e l o c a l o r c o u n t y economy and where s u c h a n i m a l s g r a z e and move a b o u t g e n e r a l l y u n r e s t r a i n e d by f e n c e s . " ( 2 ) A ' h i g h - h a z a r d a r e a 1 i s a segment of t h e p r i m a r y highway system p a s s i n g t h r o u g h open r a n g e where l i v e s t o c k moves on o r a c r o s s t h e highway o f t e n enough, i n enough numbers, and w i t h enough e a s e of a c c e s s t h a t such a n i mals c r e a t e a s i g n i f i c a n t t r a f f i c s a f e t y hazard. Evidence b e a r i n g on whether a n i m a l s on t h e highway p o s e a s i g n i f i c a n t h a z a r d i n cludes, without l i m i t a t i o n , p a s t accident r e c o r d s , t h e o p i n i o n s of p e r s o n s q u a l i f i e d by e x p e r i e n c e t o e v a l u a t e t h e r e l a t i v e s a f e t y of r o a d c o n d i t i o n s , and t h e t e r r a i n around t h e r o a d . I' S i n c e t h e p a s s a g e of s e c t i o n 60-7-103, MCA, t h e Montana Department of Highways i s o b l i g a t e d t o f e n c e any r i g h t - o f way c o n s t r u c t e d o r r e c o n s t r u c t e d a f t e r J u l y 1, 1969, t h r o u g h a hazardous open r a n g e a r e a . I n a d d i t i o n , t h e Department must a l s o f e n c e any e x i s t i n g right-of-way which it c l a s s i f i e s a s b e i n g i n a n open r a n g e area c o n t a i n i n g a s u f f i c i e n t number of roaming l i v e s t o c k t o c o n s t i t u t e a s i g n i f i c a n t t r a f f i c s a f e t y hazard. These f e n c e s must i n c l u d e s t o c k g a t e s , s t o c k p a s s e s and c a t t l e g u a r d s wherever n e c e s s a r y . The i n s t a n t s i t u a t i o n i s n o t c o v e r e d by t h e s e s t a t u t e s . D e p o s i t i o n s of two employees of t h e Department of Highways e s t a b l i s h t h a t no c o n s t r u c t i o n o r r e c o n s t r u c t i o n h a s been completed on t h e r e l e v a n t highway s e c t i o n s i n c e J u l y 1, 1969. I n a d d i t i o n , t h e Montana Department of Highways h a s n o t c l a s s i f i e d t h i s segment of highways a s a "high-hazard area." T h e r e f o r e , p u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n 60-7-103, MCA, the Department o f Highways h a s no s t a t u t o r y d u t y t o c o n s t r u c t a f e n c e and t h u s no d u t y t o c o n s t r u c t a s t o c k c o n t r o l d e v i c e . P l a i n t i f f s a l s o r e l y on s e c t i o n 81-4-103, MCA, as a b a s i s f o r e s t a b l i s h i n g n e g l i g e n c e on t h e p a r t of t h e Department of Highways. That s e c t i o n s t a t e s : "Civil Liability. Any p e r s o n c o n s t r u c t i n g o r m a i n t a i n i n g any f e n c e of any k i n d n o t d e s c r i b e d i n 81-4-101 i s l i a b l e i n a c i v i l a c t i o n f o r a l l damages c a u s e d by r e a s o n of i n j u r y t o s t o c k r e s u l t i n g from s u c h d e f e c t i v e fence." S e c t i o n 81-4-101, MCA, defines a l e g a l fence. a r e based on h e i g h t and f e n c i n g m a t e r i a l . The d e f i n i t i o n s P l a i n t i f f s present no f a c t s a l l e g i n g t h a t t h e Todd r a n c h f e n c e f a i l s t o conform t o t h e d e f i n i t i o n of a l e g a l f e n c e . a l l e g e t h a t s e c t i o n 81-4-102, MCA, Rather, p l a i n t i f f s r e q u i r e s t h e p r e s e n c e of an a u t o pass i n order t o c r e a t e a l e g a l fence. This a l l e g a t i o n i s n o t w e l l founded. S e c t i o n 81-4-102, MCA, s t a t e s merely t h a t t h e p r e s e n c e of a n a u t o p a s s w i l l n o t make a n o t h e r w i s e l e g a l f e n c e illegal. T h i s s e c t i o n e n s u r e s t h a t a f e n c e need n o t be a c e r t a i n h e i g h t where v e h i c l e s p a s s t h r o u g h it i n o r d e r t o retain i t s legal characterization. I t d o e s n o t imply t h a t a fence without an auto pass i s i l l e g a l . A s t h e r e a r e no o t h e r a l l e g a t i o n s by p l a i n t i f f s t h a t t h e Todd f e n c e i s i l l e g a l , t h e Department of Highways i s n o t l i a b l e t o p l a i n t i f f s f o r c o n s t r u c t i o n of a n i l l e g a l f e n c e p u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n 814-103, MCA. in ally, p l a i n t i f f s a s s e r t a g e n e r a l d u t y on t h e p a r t of t h e S t a t e t o b u i l d and m a i n t a i n highways i n a s a f e manner, S t a t e ex. r e l . Byorth v . D i s t r i c t C o u r t , 1 4 t h J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t ( 1 9 7 7 ) , 175 Mont. 63, 572 P.2d 201, and t o e n s u r e t h a t t h e roads a r e not constructed negligently. Negligent c o n d u c t i s t h a t which f a l l s below t h e s t a n d a r d e s t a b l i s h e d by law f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n of o t h e r s a g a i n s t u n r e a s o n a b l e r i s k and n e c e s s a r i l y i n v o l v e s t h e c o n c e p t s of r e a s o n a b l e n e s s and f o r e s e e a b i l i t y . Mang v . E l i a s s o n ( 1 9 6 9 ) , 153 Mont. 431, 435, 458 P . 2d 777. The S t a t e p a i d i n 1936 f o r t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of a r i g h t of-way f e n c e on t h e Todd r a n c h . Undisputed e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e r a n c h owners have s i n c e m a i n t a i n e d t h e f e n c e and t h a t t h e f e n c e h a s been, and c u r r e n t l y i s , i n e x c e l l e n t condition. The l a n e l e a d i n g from t h e Todd r a n c h t o Highway 1 0 i s t o t a l l y fenced. latch. I t c o n t a i n s a g a t e w i t h an a d e q u a t e These f a c t s made it r e a s o n a b l e f o r t h e Department of Highways t o b e l i e v e t h e r o a d t o b e s a f e from t h e i n t r u s i o n of l i v e s t o c k from t h e Todd ranch. The a c t i o n s of t h e c a t t l e i n t h i s p a r t i c u l a r i n s t a n c e were n o t f o r e s e e a b l e by t h e Department of Highways. A s t h e S t a t e h a s no s t a t u t o r y o r g e n e r a l d u t y t o r e q u i r e a c a t t l e guard o r s t o c k g a t e a t t h e l a n e e n t r a n c e t o t h e Todd r a n c h , f a i l u r e t o c o n s t r u c t such a d e v i c e w a s n o t n e g l i g e n c e on t h e p a r t of t h e S t a t e . I t i s fundamental t o t h e law of t o r t s t h a t t h e r e can be no n e g l i g e n c e i f no d u t y exists. P r o s s e r on t h e Law of T o r t s S30 ( 1 9 7 1 ) . W e uphold t h e summary judgment d e t e r m i n a t i o n f o r d e f e n d a n t Department o f Highways as p l a i n t i f f s f a i l e d t o e s t a b l i s h any d u t y , a m a t e r i a l e l e m e n t of t h e n e g l i g e n c e c l a i m . THE L I A B I L I T Y O F S N Y TODD O N The D i s t r i c t C o u r t found t h e segment of Highway 1 0 i n v o l v e d i n t h i s c a s e t o be l o c a t e d i n a n open r a n g e a r e a . G e n e r a l l y , a n open r a n g e d e s i g n a t i o n i m p l i e s t h a t a n owner i s n o t l i a b l e f o r h i s wandering l i v e s t o c k . Griswold ( 1 9 0 2 ) , 27 E4ont. 79, 90, 69 P . Beinhorn v . 557, 558; Thompson v . Mattuschek ( 1 9 5 9 ) , 134 Mont. 500, 506, 333 P.2d 1022, 1025; B a r t s c h v. I r v i n e ( 1 9 6 7 ) , 149 Mont. 405, 427 P.2d 302. The open r a n g e t r a d i t i o n h a s become i n c r e a s i n g l y e r o d e d o v e r t h e y e a r s a s a g r e a t e r number of m o t o r i s t s have a p p e a r e d on Montana's r o a d s and highways. S e c t i o n s 60-7-201 and 60-7- 202, MCA, a r e t h e s t a t u t o r y embodiments of t h i s e r o s i o n . P r i o r t o 1974 t h e s t a t u t e s made it u n l a w f u l f o r t h e owner of l i v e s t o c k t o w i l f u l l y a l l o w them t o g r a z e on t h e right-of-way of f e n c e d f e d e r a l and s t a t e highways. s e c t i o n 32-21-178, R.C.M., 1947. See The s p e c i f i c l a n g u a g e employed was " s h a l l n o t w i l f u l l y p e r m i t . " I n 1974, t h e s u c c e s s o r of t h a t s e c t i o n was amended t o s t a t e , i n r e l e v a n t part: "60-7-201. Grazing l i v e s t o c k on highway unl a w f u l . A p e r s o n who owns o r p o s s e s s e s l i v e s t o c k may n o t p e r m i t t h e l i v e s t o c k t o g r a z e , remain upon, o r occupy a p a r t of t h e r i g h t of-way o f : " ( 2 ) a s t a t e highway d e s i g n a t e d by agreement between t h e highway commission and t h e s e c r e t a r y of t r a n s p o r t a t i o n a s a p a r t of t h e f e d e r a l - a i d p r i m a r y system, e x c e p t a s p r o v i d e d i n 60-7-202." P l a i n t i f f s a s s e r t t h a t t h e 1974 amendment r e s u l t e d i n a s t a n d a r d o f a b s o l u t e l i a b i l i t y f o r c o n d u c t by a r a n c h e r r e s u l t i n g i n a f a i l u r e t o keep h i s l i v e s t o c k o f f a highway. W cannot agree. e P r i o r t o 1974, a r a n c h e r was l i a b l e o n l y when he w i l f u l l y a l l o w e d h i s l i v e s t o c k t o roam on a highway. The l e g i s l a t u r e ' s c h o i c e of t h e t e r m "may n o t p e r m i t " i m p l i e s t h e r e d u c t i o n of t h e w i l f u l l n e s s s t a n d a r d t o one of n e g l i g e n c e . P r a c t i c a l l y e v e r y s t a t e which h a s c o n s i d e r e d t h e i s s u e a g r e e s t h a t t h e u s e of words such a s " p e r m i t , " " a l l o w " o r " s u f f e r " i m p l i e s l i a b i l i t y f o r n e g l i g e n t c o n d u c t a s opposed t o absolute l i a b i l i t y . See, e.g., ( A r i z . 1 9 7 0 ) , 106 A r i z . 262, 475 P.2d 246; P o r i e r v . Spivey S a n t a n e l l o v . Cooper (Ga. 1 9 5 8 ) , 97 Ga. App. 209, 1 0 2 S.E.2d 706; Kupper v. Connolly ( L a . App. 1 9 6 3 ) , 153 So.2d 915; S u t t o n v . Duke 1 9 6 9 ) , 7 N.C. (N.c. 277 N.C. App. 1 0 0 , 1 7 1 S.E.2d 94, 176 S.E.2d 343, a f f ' d . (1970), 161; Burback v . Bucher (Wa. 1 9 6 0 ) , 56 Wash. 2d 875, 355 P. 2d 981; S p a r k s v . Doe ( ~ y .1 9 6 4 ) , 379 S.W.2d 252; D o l l a r h i d e v. Knight ( M i s s . 1 9 5 3 ) , 216 M i s s . Ranchers i n Montana a r e now l i a b l e f o r n e g l i g e n t r a t h e r t h a n w i l f u l 1 c o n d u c t which r e s u l t s i n t h e p r e s e n c e of t h e i r c a t t l e on t h e r i g h t - o f -ways. S e c t i o n 60-7-202, s e c t i o n 60-7-201, MCA, MCA, contains the exclusions t o and s t a t e s : "60-7-202. Exclusions. S e c t i o n 60-7-201 does n o t apply t o t h e following: " ( 1 ) l i v e s t o c k on s t a t e highways under t h e c h a r g e o f one o r more h e r d e r s ; " ( 2 ) t h e p a r t s of f e n c e d highways a d j a c e n t t o open r a n g e where a highway d e v i c e h a s n o t been i n s t a l l e d t o e x c l u d e r a n g e l i v e s t o c k ; " ( 3 ) t h e p a r t s of a s t a t e highway o r a p a r t of t h e f e d e r a l - a i d primary system which t h e d e p a r t m e n t o f highways d e s i g n a t e s a s b e i n g impracticable t o exclude livestock. These p o r t i o n s of t h e highway s h a l l be marked by proper s i g n s i n accordance with t h e departm e n t ' s manual and s p e c i f i c a t i o n s f o r a u n i form system of t r a f f i c - c o n t r o l d e v i c e s . " The u n d i s p u t e d e v i d e n c e c l e a r l y i n d i c a t e s t h a t T o d d ' s h e i f e r s were n o t i n t h e c h a r g e of one o r more h e r d e r s on t h e n i g h t of May 2 , 1979. T h e r e f o r e , e x c l u s i o n number o n e d o e s n o t apply. W e f i n d t h a t e x c l u s i o n number two a p p l i e s o n l y t o l i v e s t o c k which wander from open r a n g e o n t o a d j a c e n t f e n c e d highway. Open r a n g e i s d e f i n e d i n s e c t i o n 60-7-102, MCA, as b e i n g an a r e a where a n i m a l s g r a z e and move a b o u t g e n e r a l l y u n r e s t r a i n e d by f e n c e s . Todd's h e i f e r s were r e s t r a i n e d by f e n c e s p r i o r t o b r e a k i n g f r e e and roaming o n t o Highway 1 0 . T h e r e f o r e , e x c l u s i o n number two i s i n a p p l i c a b l e . F i n a l l y , no e v i d e n c e was p r e s e n t e d t o i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e Department of Highways d e s i g n a t e d t h e r e l e v a n t s e c t i o n of Highway 10 a s i m p r a c t i c a b l e f o r e x c l u d i n g l i v e s t o c k . Exclusion number t h r e e i s a l s o i n a p p l i c a b l e . A s Todd d o e s n o t q u a l i f y f o r any of t h e e x c l u s i o n s found i n s e c t i o n 60-7-202, s e c t i o n 60-7-201, MCA. MCA, w e f i n d him s u b j e c t t o W h o l d t h a t Todd h a s a l e g a l d u t y e t o e x e r c i s e due c a r e i n p r e v e n t i n g h i s l i v e s t o c k from wandering on Highway 1 0 . The f e n c e s u r r o u n d i n g t h e Todd r a n c h was i n e x c e l l e n t condition. However, h e d i d n o t c o n s t r u c t a s t o c k c o n t r o l d e v i c e a t t h e e n t r a n c e t o h i s l a n e b e c a u s e h e had c o n s t r u c t e d f e n c e a l o n g t h e e n t i r e l e n g t h of t h e l a n e and had i n s t a l l e d a g a t e f u r t h e r up t h e l a n e toward t h e farm i t s e l f . Through some i n a d v e r t e n t a c t i o n , t h e g a t e t o t h e l a n e w a s open on t h e n i g h t of May 2 , 1979, and e a r l y morning of May 3 , 1979. The r e a s o n a b l e n e s s of Todd's c o n d u c t i s f o r a j u r y t o d e c i d e . W e remand t h i s case t o t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t f o r t r i a l a s t o d e f e n d a n t Todd. the State. W e a f f i r m summary judgment i n f a v o r of We Concur: LJ 6- XL-~~L~,, ydoL J tic s 2-
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