Dora O. Alvarado and Lenny Gonzales v. Peter Sersch
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2003 WI 55 SUPREME COURT CASE NO.: OF WISCONSIN 01-1715 COMPLETE TITLE: Dora O. Alvarado and Lenny Gonzales, Jessica Gonzales, Billy Gonzales, Roberto Gonzales, by their Guardian ad Litem, Donald J. Murphy, Plaintiffs-Appellants-Petitioners, Partners Mutual Insurance, Subrogated Party-Plaintiff, v. Peter Sersch d/b/a D.P. Painters and Hastings Mutual Insurance, Defendants-Intervenors, Oakbrook Corporation, ABC Unidentified Insurance Company, Meriter Retirement Services, Inc., and OHIC Insurance Company, Defendants-Respondents. REVIEW OF A DECISION OF THE COURT OF APPEALS 2002 WI App 227 Reported at: 257 Wis. 2d 752, 652 N.W.2d 109 (Ct. App. 2002-Published) OPINION FILED: SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS: ORAL ARGUMENT: March 18, 2003 SOURCE OF APPEAL: COURT: COUNTY: JUDGE: Circuit Dane Angela B. Bartell JUSTICES: CONCURRED: DISSENTED: NOT PARTICIPATING: June 5, 2003 SYKES, J., dissents (opinion filed) PROSSER, J., joins dissent. WILCOX, J., did not participate. ATTORNEYS: For the plaintiffs-appellants-petitioners there were briefs by Daniel W. Hildebrand and DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C., Madison, and Donald J. Murphy and Murphy Vaughn & Pressentin LLC, Monona, and oral argument by Daniel W. Hildebrand. For the defendants-respondents there was a brief by John A. Nelson, Timothy W. Feeley, and von Briesen & Roper, S.C., Milwaukee, and oral argument by John A. Nelson. 2 2003 WI 55 NOTICE This opinion is subject to further editing and modification. The final version will appear in the bound volume of the official reports. No. 01-1715 (L.C. No. 99 CV 1545) STATE OF WISCONSIN : IN SUPREME COURT Dora O. Alvarado and Lenny Gonzales, Jessica Gonzales, Billy Gonzales, Roberto Gonzales, by their Guardian ad Litem, Donald J. Murphy, Plaintiffs-AppellantsPetitioners, Partners Mutual Insurance, FILED Subrogated Party-Plaintiff, JUN 5, 2003 v. Peter Sersch d/b/a D.P. Painters and Hastings Mutual Insurance, Cornelia G. Clark Clerk of Supreme Court Defendants-Intervenors, Oakbrook Corporation, ABC Unidentified Insurance Company, Meriter Retirement Services, Inc., and OHIC Insurance Company, Defendants-Respondents. REVIEW of a decision of the Court of Appeals. cause remanded. Reversed and No. ¶1 ANN WALSH BRADLEY, J. 01-1715 The petitioners, Dora Alvarado and her four minor children, seek review of a published court of appeals decision judgment in Meriter affirming favor of a circuit court respondents, Services, Retirement the Inc., grant Oakbrook and of summary Corporation, insurer.1 Meriter's Alvarado asserts that the court of appeals erred in using public policy factors to limit considered. liability before all the facts were Because we conclude that there are genuine issues of material fact, we determine that the court of appeals erred when it affirmed liability reverse based the the on court grant public of of policy appeals summary judgment factors. and remand limiting Accordingly, the action to we the circuit court for further proceedings. I ¶2 student Meriter Retirement apartments in Madison Corporation (Oakbrook). student turnover Services, period, that are Inc. (Meriter) managed by owns Oakbrook On August 12, 1998, during the busy Oakbrook's property manager through a vacated apartment to inspect the premises. walked In his deposition he testified that "cabinets" were on his checklist, but he did not remember checking them. ¶3 On apartment. be a August 13, 1998, a painting crew entered the One of the painters discovered what he believed to "candle" in the kitchen 1 cabinet. Another painter Alvarado v. Sersch, 2002 WI App 227, 257 Wis. 2d 752, 652 N.W.2d 109 (affirming a judgment of the circuit court for Dane County, Angela B. Bartell, Judge). 2 No. recognized it as a firework device. the way and continued working. 01-1715 They moved the item out of No one in the crew informed Oakbrook or Meriter about the firework. ¶4 On August 14, 1998, Dora Alvarado and Ron Boehm, the owner of the janitorial service retained by Oakbrook, entered the apartment to clean it. Alvarado had already completed a ten- to eleven-hour shift that day, but had been called back to work. Boehm noticed what he thought to be a candle on the windowsill. He commented to Alvarado that it was a "strange looking candle." It was described as a wax candle with red, white, and blue colors, about six inches tall, and an inch in diameter. ¶5 After Boehm left the apartment, cleaning the interior of the gas stove. to preserve the flame of the Alvarado knew it was pilot light, occasionally extinguished during the cleaning process. she had forgotten to bring matches, began She opened the stovetop to expose the burner trays for vacuuming. necessary Alvarado she decided to which Because use the "candle" to preserve the flame, and lit the device with the pilot flame. The firework exploded as she was setting it down, blowing off most of her right hand. ¶6 County Alvarado and her children filed a complaint in Dane circuit court against Meriter, contractor, and each of their insurers. Oakbrook, the painting The plaintiffs sought damages as a result of Alvarado's personal injuries. ¶7 The circuit court motion for summary judgment. granted Oakbrook and Meriter's It concluded that Oakbrook and 3 No. 01-1715 Meriter did not have a duty of care to protect Alvarado from a potential harm they neither knew nor reasonably could have foreseen. ¶8 The court of appeals affirmed the circuit court's grant of summary judgment for Oakbrook and Meriter, but employed a different rationale. Rather than focusing on negligence, the court of appeals considered public policy factors that limit a defendant's liability. It concluded that the injury was too remote from the negligence, and in retrospect it appeared too highly extraordinary that the negligence should have resulted in the harm. that Under this analysis, the court of appeals determined public therefore it policy barred affirmed any the imposition circuit court's of liability, grant of and summary judgment. II ¶9 Alvarado seeks a reversal of the court of appeals' decision, and a remand for a jury trial. improper for the court of appeals She argues that it was to use public policy considerations to limit liability before all the facts had been presented to a jury for a determination of negligence. She asserts that the grant of summary judgment was error because there remain genuine issues of material fact. ¶10 Summary judgments are reviewed applying the same methodology a circuit court uses under Wis. Stat. § 802.08(2). Green Spring Farms v. Kersten, 136 Wis. 2d 304, 315, 401 N.W.2d 816 (1987). If there are no genuine issues of material fact 4 No. 01-1715 then the moving party is entitled to a summary judgment as a matter of law. ¶11 Id.; Wis. Stat. § 802.08(2) (2001-02). Whether it was proper for the court of appeals to use public policy considerations to limit liability before all the facts had been presented question of law in subject a negligence to independent determination appellate is a review. Gritzner v. Michael R., 2000 WI 68, ¶27, 235 Wis. 2d 781, 611 N.W.2d 906. ¶12 In addressing the court of appeals' reliance on public policy to affirm the circuit court's grant of summary judgment, we first briefly summarize the laws of negligence and liability that are relevant to this case. We then apply the law and conclude that the court of appeals erred when it affirmed the grant of summary judgment, limiting liability based on public policy factors prior to trial. III ¶13 Wisconsin has long followed the minority view of duty set forth in the dissent of Palsgraf v. Long Island Railroad. Rockweit v. Senecal, 197 Wis. 2d 409, 419-20, 541 N.W.2d 742 (1995). In that dissent, Judge Andrews explained that "[e]veryone owes to the world at large the duty of refraining from those acts that may unreasonably threaten the safety of others." Palsgraf v. Long Island R.R. Co., 162 N.E. 99, 103 (N.Y. 1928) (Andrews, J., dissenting). ¶14 his or Every person has a duty to use ordinary care in all of her activities, and a person person fails to exercise ordinary care. 5 is negligent when that Gritzner, 235 Wis. 2d No. 781, ¶¶20 & 22. 01-1715 In Wisconsin a duty to use ordinary care is established whenever it is foreseeable that a person's act or failure to act might cause harm to some other person. Under the general framework governing the duty Id., ¶20. of care, a "'person is not using ordinary care and is negligent, if the person, without intending to do harm does something (or fails to do something) that a reasonable person would recognize as creating an unreasonable risk of injury or damage to a person or property.'" ¶15 Id., ¶22 (quoting Wis JI Civil 1005). The "ingredient in question the of duty is determination nothing of more than negligence." an A.E. Investment Corp. v. Link Builders, 62 Wis. 2d 479, 484, 214 N.W.2d 764 (1974). Once it has been determined that a negligent act caused the harm, "the question of duty is irrelevant and a finding of nonliability can be made only in terms of public policy." ¶16 Id. at 485. The "duty" ingredient of negligence should confused with public policy limitations on liability.2 2 In follows: Gritzner this court aptly noted the not "[T]he confusion As the defendant notes, some Wisconsin cases have examined liability limitations in terms of duty. See Estate of Becker v. Olson, 218 Wis. 2d 12, 579 N.W.2d 810 (Ct. App. 1998); Zelco v. Integrity Mut. Ins. Co., 190 Wis. 2d 74, 527 N.W.2d 357 (Ct. App. 1994); Erickson v. Prudential Property and Cas. Ins. Co., 166 Wis. 2d 82, 479 N.W.2d 552 (Ct. App. 1991). This formulation of the analysis is incorrect under Wisconsin law. In Wisconsin, everyone has a duty to act with reasonable care. Liability for breach of that duty is limited on public policy grounds. See 6 be as No. 01-1715 doctrine of public policy, not the doctrine of duty, limits the scope of the defendant's liability." Bowen v. Lumbermens Mut. Cas. Co., 183 Wis. 2d 627, 644, 517 N.W.2d 432 (1994). "In Wisconsin, one always owes a duty of care to the world at large, which is why '[t]he consistent analyses of this court reveal that the question of duty is not an element of the court's policy determination." Rockweit, 197 Wis. 2d at 433 (Abrahamson, J. concurring) (quoting A.E. Investment, 62 Wis. 2d at 484). Rockweit v. Senecal, 197 Wis. 2d 409, 425, 541 N.W.2d 742 (1995) (explaining that although some cases have denied liability on the basis that an actor had no "duty" to the injured party, the decision to deny liability is essentially one of public policy and not duty or causation). See also Bowen v. Lumbermens Mut. Cas. Co., 183 Wis. 2d 627, 644-45, 517 N.W.2d 432 (1994)(explaining that in deciding whether to impose liability for negligence, Wisconsin courts use a public policy formulation rather than a foreseeability or duty formulation)(citing Klassa v. Milwaukee Gas Light Co., 273 Wis. 176, 183, 77 N.W.2d 397 (1956)); Schuster v. Altenberg, 144 Wis. 2d 223, 266, 424 N.W.2d 159 (1988) (Steinmetz, J., concurring)(noting that Wisconsin has a distinct approach to negligence under which liability is limited through policy considerations after the elements of duty and causation have been established); Klassa, 273 Wis. at 183 ("Whenever a court holds that a certain act does not constitute negligence because there was no duty owed by the actor to the injured party, although the act complained of caused the injury, such court is making a policy determination."). Gritzner v. Michael R., 2000 WI 68, ¶24 n.4, 235 Wis. 2d 781, 611 N.W.2d 906. 7 No. ¶17 01-1715 Thus, negligence and liability are distinct concepts. A.E. Investment, 62 Wis. 2d at 484-85. After negligence has been found, a court may nevertheless limit liability for public policy reasons. Gritzner, 235 Wis. 2d 781, ¶24; Rockweit, 197 Wis. 2d at 421; A.E. Investment, 62 Wis. 2d at 484. The public policy considerations that may preclude liability are: (1) the injury is too remote from the negligence; (2) the injury is too wholly out of proportion to the tortfeasor's culpability; (3) in retrospect it appears too highly extraordinary that the negligence should have resulted in the harm; (4) allowing recovery would place too unreasonable a burden on the tortfeasor; (5) allowing recovery would be too likely to open the way for fraudulent claims; [or] (6) allowing recovery would enter a field that has no sensible or just stopping point. Gritzner, 235 Wis. 2d 781, ¶27. ¶18 In most cases, the better practice is to submit the case to the jury before determining whether the public policy considerations preclude liability. the facts are simple to Only in those cases where ascertain and the public policy questions have been fully presented may a court review public policy and preclude liability before trial. Gritzner, 235 Wis. 2d 781, ¶26; Sawyer v. Midelfort, 227 Wis. 2d 124, 141, 595 N.W.2d 423 (1999); Bowen, 183 Wis. 2d at 655; Schuster v. Altenberg, 144 Wis. 2d 223, 241, 424 N.W.2d 159 (1988); Coffey v. City of Milwaukee, A jury's 74 Wis. 2d 526, 542, 247 N.W.2d 132 includes an (1976). ¶19 examination of determination whether the of negligence defendant's 8 exercise of care No. foreseeably created an unreasonable Rockweit, 197 Wis. 2d at 423. risk of to harm 01-1715 others. Public policy factors can also implicate the concept of foreseeability. In a sense, evidence regarding foreseeability can play a dual role. Besides having the aid of the jury's opinion when assessing liability, a judge will also be aided by the facts that were brought to light during the jury trial. Having examined the law, we next apply those principles to the facts in this case. IV ¶20 The court of appeals erred in affirming the summary judgment on public policy grounds. factual resolution analysis. before This case requires a full application of a public policy It is not one of those simple cases where public policy can be used to limit liability before finding negligence. Here, there remain genuine issues of material fact, and public policy factors limiting liability should be considered only after a full resolution of the facts at trial. ¶21 court's It is desirable to have a full trial to precede the determination because the issues in complex and the factual connections attenuated. 2d at 655. care that was case are Bowen, 183 Wis. A jury will hear testimony about the standard of a reasonable property inspecting a vacated apartment. there this no negligence on manager would exercise in Oakbrook and Meriter claim that their part. Alvarado, however, claims that if Oakbrook had performed a thorough inspection of the apartment, as it should have, then the firework would have been found. In his deposition, Alvarado's expert opines that 9 No. 01-1715 industry practice is to conduct an adequate inspection before allowing employees and contractors onto the premises. He asserts that ordinary care requires a property manager to have a safety program which anticipates and addresses potential hazards: Well, they have a big responsibility in their capacity of managing residential housing. . . . There's all kinds of things to be considered by a company that that's in charge of managing property. . . . I could talk about that for hours, but the main idea is that you have to anticipate potential hazards and deal with them in some way. And having a hazardous material or hazardous item in an apartment is something that they're required to anticipate and have a plan and a program to deal with.3 ¶22 This case is similar to Coffey, in which this court concluded that a full trial should precede a determination that policy considerations preclude liability based on a negligent inspection. Coffey, 74 Wis. 2d at 543. In that case, a tenant suffered losses as the result of a fire at its leased premises. The tenant sued a building inspector and the City of Milwaukee claiming that necessary to they were furnish the negligent water to because fight the fire at standpipes the leased premises were defective and had not been properly inspected. ¶23 In examining whether public policy considerations should preclude liability, the Coffey court determined that a full factual resolution was necessary for a fair and complete evaluation of the policy considerations. 3 Id. The court Deposition testimony of Frank Burg, P.E., September 29, 2000, p. 34. 10 No. 01-1715 explained that the case involved the complex issue of municipal tort liability arising out of the alleged negligence building inspector in carrying out fire inspections. ¶24 The negligence, court damage, concluded and the that causal findings of a Id. as relationship to actual between them would be material and helpful in evaluating the public policy considerations. liability on Id. public Accordingly, policy it grounds refused prior to preclude full a to factual resolution. ¶25 Analogous to Coffey, this case involves facts that are not simple to ascertain. It addresses the tort liability of property managers arising out of the alleged negligence of an inspector in carrying out apartment inspections. Like Coffey, a sufficient factual basis is not presented here for considering, evaluating, Findings and as to relationship resolving actual between the public policy negligence, them would issues involved. damages the material be and causal and helpful in evaluating the public policy considerations. ¶26 The inspection. parties dispute the purpose of Oakbrook's Alvarado claims part of the inspection's purpose was safety, while Oakbrook contends the inspection was only to note needed withholdings. constitutes repairs, A a jury proper cleaning, would and hear inspection, inspection satisfied that obligation. security-deposit testimony and whether about what Oakbrook's Ultimately, a jury would have determined whether Oakbrook had instituted adequate safety measures, and whether Oakbrook 11 was negligent for failing to No. instruct contractors about what procedure to 01-1715 follow when a dangerous object is found. ¶27 When the circuit court granted summary judgment in favor of Oakbrook and Meriter, it concluded that Oakbrook and Meriter did not owe Alvarado a duty to exercise ordinary care. However, everyone owes a duty of ordinary care to all persons. The effect of the circuit court's summary judgment was to limit the imposition of liability. Bowen, 183 Wis. 2d at 645; Klassa v. Milwaukee Gas Light Co., 273 Wis. 176, 183, 77 N.W.2d 397 (1956) ("whenever a court holds that a certain act does not constitute negligence because there actor although to caused the party, injury, the injured such was court no the is duty act owed by the complained making a of policy determination"). ¶28 Likewise, albeit with a different rationale, the court of appeals limited liability by applying public policy factors. Neither the court of appeals nor the circuit court had the benefit of a full presentation of facts or a jury's verdict on negligence genuine before issues limiting of liability. material fact, Because there summary remain judgment was erroneously granted. ¶29 "because Summary judgment is uncommon the be able instructed, presented, care.'" court 'must reasonable that [the jury could defendants] in negligence to say find, failed that based to no on actions, properly the exercise facts ordinary Lambrecht v. Estate of Kaczmarczyk, 2001 WI 25, ¶2, 241 Wis. 2d 804, 623 N.W.2d 751 (citations omitted). 12 The concept of No. 01-1715 negligence is peculiarly elusive, and requires the trier of fact to pass upon the reasonableness of the conduct in light of all the circumstances, "'even where historical facts are concededly undisputed.'" Id. Ordinarily, this is not a decision for the court. ¶30 of In sum, we determine that there remain genuine issues material fact. Here, public policy factors limiting liability should be considered only after a full resolution of the facts at trial. The court of appeals erred when it affirmed the grant of summary judgment limiting liability based on public policy factors. Accordingly, we reverse the court of appeals and action remand the to the circuit court for further proceedings. By the Court. The decision of the court of appeals reversed and the cause is remanded to the circuit court. ¶31 JON P. WILCOX, J. did not participate. 13 is No. ¶32 DIANE dissent. The S. SYKES, majority J. I (dissenting). concludes that "the 01-1715.dss respectfully court of appeals erred when it affirmed the grant of summary judgment limiting liability based on public policy factors." 30. I disagree. public policy properly did The court of appeals properly evaluated the limitations so Majority op., ¶¶1, in advance on liability of trial, in this affirming case, the and circuit court's order of summary judgment. ¶33 As the majority notes, negligence law in Wisconsin is based on the dissent in Palsgraf v. Long Island R.R. Co., 162 N.E. 99, 101-05 (N.Y. 1928)(Andrews, J., dissenting), in which Judge Andrews of the New York Court of Appeals described negligence as a breach of the duty shared by all members of society to "refrain[] from those threaten the safety of others." acts that may unreasonably Majority op., ¶13; see also A.E. Investment Corp. v. Link Builders, Inc., 62 Wis. 2d 479, 483-84, 214 N.W.2d 764 (1974)(describing Wisconsin's adoption of the Palsgraf dissent). This is the duty of ordinary care, and it is measured by reference to a "reasonable person" standard, which is applied to evaluate the nature and foreseeability of the risk of harm associated with the conduct in question in order to determine whether a defendant was negligent. Majority op., ¶¶14, 19; see also Wis JI Civil 1005. ¶34 The duty of ordinary care can be breached (that is, a person can be negligent) by either an act or an omission, if a reasonable person under similar circumstances 1 would recognize No. 01-1715.dss that the act or omission creates an unreasonable risk of injury or damage to another.4 The determination of negligence followed by a determination of causation and damages.5 is Although these are generally factual questions for the jury, there are some circumstances, not implicated here, under which the determination of negligence involves a mixed question of fact and law. Rockweit v. Senecal, 197 Wis. 2d 409, 418-19, 541 N.W.2d 742 (1995). ¶35 causation However, + damages it = is not always liability. true that negligence Considerations of + public policy may preclude the imposition of liability even where the facts establish that a negligent act or omission on the part of the defendant was a cause of the plaintiff's damages. purely a question of law for the court. 1 This is Stephenson v. Universal Wisconsin juries are instructed on negligence as follows: A person is negligent when [he or she] fails to exercise ordinary care. Ordinary care is the care which a reasonable person would use in similar circumstances. A person is not using ordinary care and is negligent, if the person, without intending to do harm, does something (or fails to do something) that a reasonable person would recognize as creating an unreasonable risk of injury or damage to a person or property. Wis JI Civil 1005. 5 Causation is determined by reference to a "substantial factor" test. The jury determines whether the defendant's negligence was "a cause" not "the cause" of injury or damage to the plaintiff, because there can be more than one cause of a plaintiff's injury or damage. Wis JI Civil 1500 (emphasis in original). A defendant's negligence is "a cause" of a plaintiff's injury or damage if it was a substantial factor in producing the injury or damage. Id. 2 No. 01-1715.dss Metrics, Inc., 2002 WI 30, ¶42, 251 Wis. 2d 171, 197, 641 N.W.2d 158 ("The function application of the of public court."); policy Rockweit, 197 considerations Wis. 2d at is 425 a ("A finding of nonliability made in terms of public policy is a question of law which the court alone decides."). ¶36 common Accordingly, we observed last term that "in Wisconsin, law limitations on liability are determined not by reference to the absence of a duty, but as a matter of public policy." Stehlik v. Rhoads, 2002 WI 73, ¶52, 253 Wis. 2d 477, 645 N.W.2d 889. This is because "[a]ll members of society are 'held, at the very least, to a standard of ordinary care in all activities.'" ¶22, 235 Wis. Id. (quoting Gritzner v. Michael R., 2000 WI 68, 2d 781, 611 N.W.2d 906). The public policy limitations on liability are as follows: When determining whether or not to limit a defendant's tort liability on public policy grounds, this court has identified a number of factors that must be considered. Recovery against a negligent tortfeasor can be denied on the grounds of public policy when (1) the injury is too remote from the negligence; (2) the injury is too wholly out of proportion to the tortfeasor's culpability; (3) in retrospect it appears too highly extraordinary that the negligence should have brought about the harm; (4) allowing recovery would place too unreasonable a burden on the tortfeasor; (5) allowing recovery would be too likely to open the way to fraudulent claims; or (6) allowing recovery would have no sensible or just stopping point. Stephenson, 251 Wis. 2d 171, ¶43 (citing Rockweit, 197 Wis. 2d at 426). ¶37 This distinction between the determination of negligence and the imposition of liability is consistent with 3 No. 01-1715.dss the Palsgraf dissent: "As was said by Mr. Justice Holmes many years ago, '[t]he measure of the defendant's duty in determining whether a wrong has been committed is one thing, the measure of liability when a wrong has been committed is another.'" Palsgraf, 162 N.E. at 102 (quoting Spade v. Lynn & Boston R.R. Co., 52 N.E. 747, 748 (Mass. 1899)). ¶38 The majority recites the public policy limitations on liability but refuses to apply them, concluding that "[t]his case requires a full factual resolution before application of a public policy analysis." Majority op., ¶¶17, 20. In this regard, the majority asserts that "[i]t is desirable to have a full trial to precede the court's determination [of public policy] because the issues in this case are complex and the factual connections attenuated." Majority op., ¶21. I disagree. ¶39 I recognize that we have said it is usually "better practice" or "generally better procedure" to await resolution of the factual issues in a negligence case before submitting it to public policy analysis. opinion); id., ¶83 Gritzner, 235 Wis. 2d 781, ¶26 (lead (Abrahamson, C.J., concurring)(majority opinion on this issue); Miller v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 219 Wis. 2d 250, 265, 580 N.W.2d 233 (1998). said that "[t]he assessment of However, we have also public policy does not necessarily require a full factual resolution of the cause of action by trial." Stephenson, 251 Wis. 2d 171, ¶42; see also Miller, 219 Wis. 2d at 265; Hass v. Chicago and N. W. Ry. Co., 4 No. 48 Wis. 2d 321, 326-27, 179 N.W.2d 885 01-1715.dss (1970). More specifically: The application of public policy considerations is solely a function of the court . . . and does not in all cases require a full factual resolution of the cause of action by trial before policy factors will be applied by the court. There may well be cases, of course, where the issues are so complex, or factual connections so attenuated, that a full trial must precede the court's determination. Here, however, the question of public policy is fully presented by the complaint and demurrer. Hass, 48 Wis. 2d at 326-27. As a further example, in our seminal case on the tort of negligent infliction of emotional distress, we held: The application of public policy considerations is a function solely of the court. While it is generally better procedure to submit negligence and cause-in-fact issues to the jury before addressing legal cause, that is, public policy issues, . . . the circuit court or this court may grant summary judgment on public policy grounds before a trial or a court may bar liability on public policy considerations after trial. When the pleadings present a question of public policy, the court may make its determination on public policy grounds before trial. In contrast, when the issues are complex or the factual connections attenuated, it may be desirable for a full trial to precede the court's determination. In this case this court is determining public policy considerations before trial because the facts presented are simple, and because the question of public policy is fully presented by the complaint and the motion to dismiss. Bowen v. Lumbermens Mut. Cas. Co., 183 Wis. 2d 627, 654-55, 517 N.W.2d 432 (1994)(footnotes and citations omitted). ¶40 summary Thus, it is not uncommon for courts to decide on judgment that negligence 5 liability should be limited No. based upon considerations of public policy. Some 01-1715.dss cases are factually uncomplicated and fully conducive to a pre-trial legal determination on the applicability of public policy limitations on liability. ¶41 This is such a case. The majority's rejection of pre-trial public policy analysis in this case is unwarranted. discourages the lower courts from To the extent that it evaluating public policy liability limitations on motions for summary judgment, it will produce two divergent effects: 1) there will be an increase in unnecessary trials and appeals (where the circuit or appellate courts would otherwise have precluded liability pre-trial but now consider themselves constrained to do it only post-trial because of the majority's decision here); and 2) there will be an expansion of liability (where the circuit or appellate courts consider themselves constrained against precluding liability on public policy grounds because of the presence of a jury verdict on negligence). ¶42 While I have no quarrel with the "better practice" general rule noted above, I do not agree that the facts of this case are so limitations complex on that liability the must evaluation await negligence, cause-in-fact and damages. a of public jury policy verdict on Judicial gate-keeping on this potentially dispositive legal issue is extremely important given the breadth and potential negligence in this state. Palsgraf policy dissent. limitations What on reach of the definition of This was an important part of the we in liability, 6 Wisconsin Judge refer Andrews to as public catalogued as No. factors that govern the court's of determination 01-1715.dss legal or "proximate cause." ¶43 owed to Judge Andrews said that the duty of ordinary care is all who might be injured as a consequence of an unreasonably risky (i.e., negligent) act or omission, but he also said "there is one limitation. The damages must be so connected with the negligence that the latter may be said to be the proximate cause of the former." Palsgraf, 162 N.E. at 103. The "[a] negligence, proximate cause. he said, might be cause, but not the What we [] mean by the word 'proximate' is, that because of convenience, of public policy, of a rough sense of justice, the law arbitrarily declines to trace a series of events beyond a certain practical politics." point. Id. This is not logic. It is This judicial line-drawing relies upon "common sense" and "fair judgment," and "endeavor[s] to make a rule in each case that will be practical and in keeping with the general understanding of mankind." ¶44 Id. at 104. Public policy limitations on liability are decided by the court as a matter of law, but the majority nevertheless considers the "jury's opinion" to be an "aid" to the court in making that decision. Majority op., ¶19. In this regard, the majority seems to be suggesting that the jury should influence the court's assessment of whether public policy requires nonliability as a matter of law. Courts decide questions of law independently, without deference to the jury. As a practical matter, however, most judges find it difficult to throw out a jury verdict. 7 No. ¶45 01-1715.dss This case is amenable to a pre-trial application of the six-factor public policy analysis. The case is not complex, and the historical facts are undisputed. We do not need a jury verdict damages on determine negligence, whether matter of law. causation, public policy and requires in order nonliability to as a I agree with the court of appeals that the first public policy factor (remoteness) and the third (extraordinary result) preclude liability here, even if a jury were to find causal negligence manager. I on would the also part of the conclude apartment that the owner second and factor (disproportionality of culpability to injury) is implicated in this case. ¶46 Dora Alvarado's injury was unquestionably tragic and devastating. But the accident that caused it occurred because she mistook a firework for a candle, and lit that firework in the pilot light of an oven that she was cleaning, in an attempt to preserve the pilot light flame in case it went out while she was vacuuming the oven's interior. As a matter of law, such an injury is too remote from the alleged negligent inspection by the apartment owner and manager, as well as too extraordinary and too disproportionate to that alleged negligence. I would affirm the court of appeals. ¶47 I am authorized to state PROSSER, JR. joins this dissent. 8 that Justice DAVID T. No. 1 01-1715.dss
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