Title: Northwestern Nat. Ins. v. Raid Quarries Corp.

State: iowa

Issuer: Iowa Supreme Court

Document:

249 N.W.2d 640 (1977) NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY and Cady Insurance Agency, Appellants, v. RAID QUARRIES CORPORATION et al., Appellees. No. 2-57449. Supreme Court of Iowa. January 19, 1977. *641 Hirsch, Wright, Link & Adams, by Gene R. Krekel, Burlington, for appellants. Dailey, Dailey, Ruther, Bauer & Schulte, by John Dailey and David A. Hirsch, Burlington, for appellees Raid Quarries Corp. and Jack A. Schroder Co., Inc. C. R. S. Anderson, Centerville, Herrick, Langdon, Belin, Harris, Langdon & Helmick by Herschel G. Langdon, Des Moines, and Cray, Walter, Cray & Loeschen, Burlington, for appellee Iowa Southern Utilities Co. Heard by MOORE, C.J., and RAWLINGS, LeGRAND, UHLENHOPP, and REYNOLDSON, JJ. RAWLINGS, Justice. Law action by plaintiffs, Cady Insurance Agency (Cady) and its insurer, Northwestern National Insurance Company (Northwestern), against defendants, Iowa Southern Utilities Company (ISU), Raid Quarries Corporation and Jack A. Schroder Company, Inc. (Raid-Schroder), for damages caused by a building fire allegedly resulting from defendants' negligence. Trial to the court resulted in an adjudication adverse to plaintiffs and they appeal. We affirm. In October, 1969, Raid-Schroder entered into an agreement with the State of Iowa for excavation and grading work by the former in connection with a Highway 534 construction project. November 6, 1969, Raid-Schroder's employee drove a bulldozer over a primary gas regulator pit in Burlington thereby damaging the mechanism and causing an overpressure *642 condition in the low pressure distribution system there operated by ISU. Cady was thereby served. Within a few hours the Burlington Fire Department received a total of 77 alarms. Fire Chief Mark Zaiser opined all alarm-related fires were caused by the aforementioned overpressure condition. No fire immediately ensued at the Cady building. However, Charles Rucker and Louis Fischer, working at the Cady office, testified they then heard a "hissing noise" in an overhead furnace. In response to cautionary instructions aired over local radio they turned off the gas at a downstairs meter. As stated by these witnesses, the hissing stopped immediately. November 7, 1969, two employees from ISU turned on the gas and relit the furnace. Rucker and Fischer testified it was thereafter unusually warm in the Cady office, but both also conceded it was warm outside. Fischer said the office cooled down after he readjusted the thermostat. November 8, 1969, an early morning fire substantially damaged Cady's building. Plaintiffs and 48 other parties brought action against these defendants. In all other cases the damage-causing fires occurred November 6, 1969. In count one of all petitions, the parties alleged specific negligence on the part of both defendants. In addition plaintiffs Cady and Northwestern pled these specifications of negligence against ISU: These plaintiffs also sought relief under the res ipsa loquitur and strict liability doctrines. Trial court concluded defendants' concurrent negligence proximately caused all the November 6 fires. Significantly, however, the court found plaintiffs Cady and Northwestern failed to establish a requisite causal connection between defendants' alleged negligent acts and the November 8 Cady fire. Trial court also denied plaintiffs recovery under res ipsa loquitur and strict liability. As aforesaid, plaintiffs' appeal followed. They here contend trial court erred in (1) finding plaintiffs failed to establish specific negligence-related proximate cause; (2) concluding plaintiffs were not entitled to recover under the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur; and (3) holding the strict liability theory inapplicable. I. SPECIFIC NEGLIGENCEPROXIMATE CAUSE. This law action is reviewed on errors assigned. Trial court's findings have the effect of a jury verdict. If supported by substantial evidence they are binding on us and will not be disturbed. Furthermore, the evidence is viewed in a light most favorable to the judgment and in case of ambiguity we construe to uphold rather than defeat it. See Nora Springs Cooperative Company v. Brandau, 247 N.W.2d 744 (Iowa 1976); Hayes v. Hettinga, 228 N.W.2d 181, 182 (Iowa 1975); Iowa R.Civ.P. 344(f)(1). But we are not bound by trial court's determinations of law. See Nora Springs Cooperative Company v. Brandau, supra; Sand Seed Service, Inc. v. Bainbridge, 246 N.W.2d 911 (Iowa 1976); Whewell v. Dobson, 227 N.W.2d 115, 117 (Iowa 1975). And this court will neither weigh the evidence nor pass on credibility of witnesses. See Whewell v. Dobson, supra; DeYarman v. State, 226 N.W.2d 26, 27 (Iowa 1975). Referring to proximate cause: "The actor's negligent conduct is a legal cause of *643 harm to another if (a) his conduct is a substantial factor in bringing about the harm, and (b) there is no rule of law relieving the actor from liability because of the manner in which his negligence has resulted in the harm." McCleeary v. Wirtz, 222 N.W.2d 409, 413 (Iowa 1974). See also 57 Am.Jur.2d, Negligence, § 147. Furthermore, the instrumentality which caused the involved fire must be established before a causal connection can be made regarding any alleged negligent act and in this the burden of proof was upon plaintiffs. See Grings v. Great Plains Gas Co., 260 Iowa 1309, 1315, 152 N.W.2d 540 (1967); Rauch v. Des Moines Elec. Co., 206 Iowa 309, 312, 218 N.W. 340 (1928); Iowa R.Civ.P. 344(f)(5); 1 Jones on Evidence, § 5:6 (Gard 6th ed. 1972); 57 Am.Jur.2d, Negligence, § 147; 38 C.J.S. Gas § 47c(1), at 745. As summarized by Prosser, The Law of Torts, § 41 at 241 (4th ed. 1971): It is also understood that even though negligence be established the existence of proximate cause does not necessarily follow. See DeYarman v. State, 226 N.W.2d at 28. Of course, proof of causal connection may be by either direct or circumstantial evidence but in event the latter is, as here, solely relied upon, "it must be sufficient to make the theory asserted reasonably probable, not merely possible, and more probable than any other theory based on such evidence; however, it is generally for the trier of fact to say whether circumstantial evidence meets this test." Wiley v. United Fire & Casualty Company, 220 N.W.2d 635 (Iowa 1974). See also Rauch v. Des Moines Elec. Co., 206 Iowa at 312-313, 218 N.W. 340. Noticeably, expert testimony establishing a requisite causal connection is here absent. Had such evidence been presented it could have been particularly helpful in supplying the negligence factor and necessary causation link. In fact, this is probably a case in which both tort and causal connection essentially required foundational proof by presentation of expert opinion testimony. See 2 Harper and James, The Law of Torts, § 20.2, at 1116-1119 (1956); cf. McCleeary v. Wirtz, supra. Compare Winter v. Honeggers' & Co., Inc., 215 N.W.2d 316, 323 (Iowa 1974). Plaintiffs assert, however, the testimony with respect to origin of the fire, though circumstantial, sufficed to remove such issue from the realm of speculation and amply supported a finding that defendants' negligence was a proximate cause of the fire. We are not so persuaded. In essence, trial court correctly held proximate cause could not be inferred from mere happening of the fire. See Ellingson v. Kramer, 255 Iowa 1257, 1262-1263, 125 N.W.2d 777 (1964). See generally Trimbo v. Minnesota Valley National Gas Company, 260 Minn. 386, 110 N.W.2d 168 (1961); 26 Am.Jur.2d, Electricity, Gas, and Steam, §§ 224-225. Trial court also found: This finding is adequately supported by the record. Under existing circumstances, we now conclude no evidence was adduced disclosing (1) the November 6, 1969, bulldozer incident was a proximate cause of the Cady fire two days later or (2) relighting of the furnace was a proximate cause of such conflagration. Proximate cause was not established as a matter of law. *644 Plaintiffs' first assigned issue is without merit. II. RES IPSA LOQUITUR. In an apparent effort to bridge the causation gap, plaintiffs invoke the res ipsa loquitur doctrine. At the outset it is well settled this precept may not be applied in aid of asserted specific negligence. See Eaves v. City of Ottumwa, 240 Iowa 956, 972, 38 N.W.2d 761 (1949). Also, as articulated in Palleson v. Jewell Cooperative Elevator, 219 N.W.2d 8, 13 (Iowa 1974): See generally Cronin v. Hagan, 221 N.W.2d 748, 751-753 (Iowa 1974); Mickelson v. Forney, 259 Iowa 91, 94-95, 143 N.W.2d 390 (1966). Even more to the point regarding causation is this statement in Wilson v. Paul, 176 N.W.2d at 809: Referring now to Tedrow v. Des Moines Housing Corp., 249 Iowa 766, 769, 87 N.W.2d 463, 465 (1958), we find this cogent observation: Because of its pertinency this from A. Loth, Res Ipsa Loquitur in Iowa, 18 Drake L.Rev. 1, 7 (1968) is also noted: In the present case trial court determined: It is to us apparent trial court effected a factual determination and attendantly considered but refused to apply the aforesaid doctrine. In brief, we now hold Cady and Northwestern did not establish res ipsa loquitur as a matter of law. See Clippinger v. Becker, 220 N.W.2d 879, 881 (Iowa 1974). Plaintiffs' second assignment provides no basis for a reversal. III. STRICT LIABILITY. Finally entertained is the claim of error that trial court determined strict liability in tort was instantly inapplicable. At the outset plaintiffs' reliance on Davis v. L & W Construction Company, 176 N.W.2d 223 (Iowa 1970) and Blackman v. Iowa Union Elec. Co., 234 Iowa 859, 14 N.W.2d 721 (1944), is misplaced. Davis involved liability absolute or without fault (blasting). Parenthetically, it has been said that concept is not to be confused with strict liability in tort. See Passwaters v. General Motors Corporation, 454 F.2d 1270, 1277, n.7 (8th Cir. 1972); E. Davis, Relationship of Contribution and Indemnity to Strict Liability in Tort, 15th Annual Fall Symposium, Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers (1976). And, in Blackman, this court distinguishably held specific negligence and res ipsa loquitur were applicable where the source of a damage causing gas leakage was specifically identified. We also there stated, 234 Iowa at 862, 14 N.W.2d at 723: "[A] gas company is not liable as an insurer for injuries sustained as the result of the escape of gas. It can only be held liable for its own negligence." See also 26 Am.Jur.2d, Electricity, Gas, and Steam, § 195. Additionally, no authority has been cited which can be deemed to support application of strict liability to the problematic factual situation here presented. See generally Prosser, The Law of Torts, ch. 13 at 492-505. Compare Restatement, Second, Torts, §§ 519-524 (Tentative Draft, 1964). However, that question need not be instantly resolved because plaintiffs, in any event, again fall short of essential proof (1) as to existence of a reasonably certain fire-causing defect or conduct, or (2) that any such defect or conduct was a proximate cause of the involved injury. See generally Tedrow v. Des Moines Housing Corp., 249 Iowa at 769-771, 87 N.W.2d 463; W. Carmichael, Strict Liability in TortAn Explosion *646 in Products Liability Law, 20 Drake L.Rev. 528, 543-547 (1971); F. Harper, Liability Without Fault and Proximate Cause, 30 Mich.L.Rev. 1001, 1009-1013 (1932); 63 Am.Jur.2d, Products Liability, § 135; 72 C.J.S. Supp. Products Liability § 30; Annot., 13 A.L.R.2d 1057, 1066, 1075. The third issue raised by plaintiffs is devoid of substance. AFFIRMED.