Nelson v. Ohio Dept. of Transp.

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[Cite as Nelson v. Ohio Dept. of Transp., 2006-Ohio-7294.] Court of Claims of Ohio The Ohio Judicial Center 65 South Front Street, Third Floor Columbus, OH 43215 614.387.9800 or 1.800.824.8263 www.cco.state.oh.us Plaintiff Case No. 2006-03923-AD Daniel R. Borchert Deputy Clerk v. MEMORANDUM DECISION SIRATWENA NELSON OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Defendant FINDINGS OF FACT {¶ 1} 1) On May 19, 2006, at approximately 6:30 p.m., plaintiff, Siratwena Nelson, was traveling north on Interstate 71, prior to the Frank Rd exit, through a construction zone in Franklin County, when her automobile struck a pothole causing damage to the vehicle. {¶ 2} 2) Consequently, plaintiff filed this complaint seeking to recover $130.00, the approximate cost of a four wheel alignment repair. Plaintiff asserted she incurred this cost as a result of negligence on the part of defendant, Department of Transportation ( DOT ), in maintaining the roadway in a construction zone in Franklin County. The filing fee was paid. {¶ 3} 3) Defendant explained the area where plaintiff s damage occurred was located within a construction area under the control of DOT contractor, Shelly Company ( Shelly ). Additionally, defendant denied liability in this matter based on the allegation that neither DOT nor Shelly had any knowledge of the roadway defect plaintiff s vehicle struck. {¶ 4} 4) Plaintiff did not submit any evidence to establish the length of time the defect was on the roadway prior to her property damage incident. {¶ 5} 5) Defendant asserted Shelly, by contractual agreement, was responsible for maintaining the roadway within the construction area. Therefore, DOT argued Shelly is the proper party defendant in this action. Defendant implied all duties, such as the duty to inspect, the duty to warn, the duty to maintain, and the duty to repair defects, were delegated when an independent contractor takes control over a particular section of roadway. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW {¶ 6} 1) The duty of DOT to maintain the roadway in a safe drivable condition is not delegable to an independent contractor involved in roadway construction. DOT may bear liability for the negligent acts of an independent contractor charged with roadway construction. Cowell v. Ohio Department of Transportation (2004), 2003-09343-AD, jud, 2004-Ohio-151. {¶ 7} 2) Defendant has the duty to maintain its highway in a reasonably safe condition for the motoring public. Knickel v. Ohio Department of Transportation (1976), 49 Ohio App. 2d 335. However, defendant is not an insurer of the safety of its highways. See Kniskern v. Township of Somerford (1996), 112 Ohio App. 3d 189; Rhodus v. Ohio Dept. of Transp. (1990), 67 Ohio App. 3d 723. {¶ 8} 3) In order to recover in any suit involving injury proximately caused by roadway conditions plaintiff must prove either: 1) defendant had actual or constructive notice of the defective condition and failed to respond in a reasonable time or responded in a negligent manner, or 2) that defendant, in a general sense, maintains its highways negligently. Denis v. Department of Transportation (1976), 75-0287-AD. {¶ 9} 4) Defendant is only liable for roadway conditions of which it has notice, but fails to reasonably correct. Bussard v. Dept. of Transp. (1986), 31 Ohio Misc. 2d 1. {¶ 10} 5) Plaintiff has not produced any evidence to indicate the length of time the defective condition was present on the roadway prior to the incident forming the basis of this claim. No evidence has been submitted to show defendant had actual notice of the roadway defect. Additionally, the trier of fact is precluded from making an inference of defendant s constructive notice, unless evidence is presented in respect to the time the condition appeared on the roadway. Spires v. Ohio Highway Department (1988), 61 Ohio Misc. 2d 262. There is no indication defendant had constructive notice of the defect. Plaintiff has not produced any evidence to infer defendant, in a general sense, maintains its highways negligently or that defendant s acts caused the defective condition. Herlihy v. Ohio Department of Transportation (1999), 99-07011-AD. Therefore, defendant is not liable for any damage plaintiff may have suffered from the roadway defect. {¶ 11} 6) Plaintiff has not shown, by a preponderance of the evidence, that defendant failed to discharge a duty owed to plaintiff, or that plaintiff s injury was proximately caused by defendant s negligence. Plaintiff failed to show that the damage-causing condition was connected to any conduct under the control of defendant, that defendant was negligent in maintaining the construction area, or that there was any negligence on the part of defendant or its agents. Taylor v. Transportation Dept. (1998), 97-10898-AD; Weininger v. Department of Transportation (1999), 99-10909-AD; Witherell v. Ohio Dept. of Transportation (2000), 2000-04758-AD. Consequently, plaintiff s claim is denied. Court of Claims of Ohio The Ohio Judicial Center 65 South Front Street, Third Floor Columbus, OH 43215 614.387.9800 or 1.800.824.8263 www.cco.state.oh.us SIRATWENA NELSON Plaintiff v. Case No. 2006-03923-AD Daniel R. Borchert Deputy Clerk ENTRY OF ADMINISTRATIVE DETERMINATION OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Defendant Having considered all the evidence in the claim file and, for the reasons set forth in the memorandum decision filed concurrently herewith, judgment is rendered in favor of defendant. Court costs are assessed against plaintiff. The clerk shall serve upon all parties notice of this judgment and its date of entry upon the journal. ________________________________ DANIEL R. BORCHERT Deputy Clerk Entry cc: Siratwena Nelson 825 S. 10th Street Ironton, Ohio 45638 Plaintiff, Pro se Gordon Proctor, Director Department of Transportation 1980 West Broad Street Columbus, Ohio 43223 For Defendant RDK/laa 9/6 Filed 9/29/06 Sent to S.C. reporter 6/21/07

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