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Timestamp: 2019-01-20 00:33:33
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Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 16', '§ 9', '§ 65', '§ 44']

Carriage operators not protected by equine statute
___ S.W.3d ___, 2001 WL 177184
Plaintiffs Friedli were injured when the horse pulling defendant Kerr’s carriage, in which they were paying passengers, spooked and ran, overturning the carriage. The trial court held that the defendant was not entitled to the protection of the Tennessee equine activity statute and that he is held to the higher standard of care to which an operator of a common carrier or an amusement ride is held.
The Court of Appeals agreed with the trial court that the defendant was not entitled to protection of the equine activity statute, but disagreed with the trial court on the standard of care. Defendant’s carriage business is neither a common carrier nor an amusement ride as defined by Tennessee law. Therefore, defendant owed only an ordinary duty of care to the plaintiffs. The Court of Appeals sent the case back to the trial court for trial.
This appeal involves two passengers in a horse-drawn carriage who were injured after the driver lost control of the horse on the streets of downtown Nashville. The passengers filed a negligence action in the Circuit Court for Davidson County against the owner of the carriage business and the driver of the carriage. They asserted that the carriage business owed them the same heightened duty of care that common carriers and amusement ride operators owe to their passengers. The owner of the carriage business responded that he was immune from suit under Tennessee's equine liability statutes. Following a hearing on the parties' respective motions for partial summary judgment, the trial court held that the carriage business was not immune from suit and that it owed its passengers the same heightened duty of care expected of common carriers and operators of amusement rides. The owner of the carriage business sought and received the trial court's and this court's permission to pursue an interlocutory appeal. We have determined that the trial court correctly decided that the carriage business was not immune from suit under Tennessee equine liability statutes but that the trial court erred by holding that the carriage business owed the same heightened duty to its passengers that common carriers and amusement ride operators owe to their passengers.
On the evening of December 13, 1996, Judy and David Friedli celebrated their wedding anniversary by dining with two friends at the Wildhorse Saloon on Second Avenue in Nashville. After dinner, the Friedlis and their friends decided to tour downtown Nashville in a horse-drawn carriage. They chose a carriage owned by Henry F. Kerr who was doing business as Nashville Carriage Service II. Christopher Edwards was at the reins, and the carriage was being drawn by a horse named Talon that Mr. Kerr had purchased in July 1996.
The passengers boarded the carriage in front of the Hard Rock Cafe at the corner of Broadway and Second Avenue. During the carriage ride, a noise sounding like a loud "pop" or "crack" frightened Talon. He lunged forward, broke his singletree, [FN1] and jumped out of the carriage's shafts. Talon continued to gallop along, pulling the carriage behind him because he was still attached to the carriage by its corner straps. The noise created by the carriage shafts dragging along the pavement frightened the horse even more. Despite Mr. Edwards' best efforts, he was unable to bring Talon under control. The carriage eventually overturned, spilling its occupants onto the ground. When the carriage overturned, Talon broke free and continued galloping along his customary route.
FN1. A singletree is a horizontal crossbar, pivoted at the middle, to which the traces are fastened, giving freedom of movement to the shoulders of the horse or other draught-animal.
On December 1, 1997, the Friedlis filed suit in the Circuit Court for Davidson County seeking damages from Mr. Kerr and Mr. Edwards. They asserted that the carriage service was a common carrier or an amusement ride and, therefore, that Mr. Kerr owed them a heightened duty of care. Mr. Kerr responded that he was entitled to immunity from the Friedlis' claims under Tennessee's equine liability statutes, Tenn.Code Ann. §§ 44-20-101, -105 (1993). Both the Friedlis and Mr. Kerr filed motions for partial summary judgment. Following a hearing on these motions, the trial court determined that Mr. Kerr was not entitled to immunity and that Mr. Kerr owed the Friedlis the same heightened duty of care that common carriers and operators of amusement rides owed to their passengers. The trial court later granted Mr. Kerr's application for permission to pursue a Tenn.R.App.P. 9 interlocutory appeal, and, on May 10, 1999, we granted Mr. Kerr permission to appeal.
IMMUNITY UNDER TENNESSEE'S EQUINE LIABILITY STATUTES
We turn first to Mr. Kerr's affirmative defense based on Tennessee's equine liability statutes. Mr. Kerr asserts that he is an "equine activity sponsor" and is, therefore, entitled to the immunity from suit provided in Tenn.Code Ann. § 44-20-103. Based on the undisputed evidence regarding Mr. Kerr's business and the circumstances surrounding the Friedlis' injuries, we have determined, as a matter of law, that Mr. Kerr cannot claim the benefit of Tenn.Code Ann. § 44-20-103 for three reasons. First, he is not an "equine activity sponsor." Second, Mr. Kerr's business is not an "equine activity." Finally, the Friedlis were not "participants" engaging in an "equine activity" when they were injured.
Mr. Kerr's immunity defense is entirely statutory. Thus, in order to take advantage of the defense, he must demonstrate that he should be included among the class of persons that the General Assembly intended to benefit when it enacted the equine liability statutes. As we consider the equine liability statutes in light of Mr. Kerr's arguments, we must keep in mind that our role is to ascertain and to give effect to the General Assembly's intent as reflected in the statute's language. * * * unless the General Assembly used them in a specialized or technical sense. Cordis Corp. v. Taylor, 762 S.W.2d 138, 139-40 (Tenn.1988); Hawks v. City of Westmoreland, 960 S.W.2d 10, 16 (Tenn.1997); United Steelworkers of Am. v. Tennessee Air Pollution Control Bd., 3 S.W.3d 468, 472 (Tenn.Ct.App.1998).
Tennessee's equine liability statutes are the product of a nationwide effort beginning in the late 1980s to insulate the providers or sponsors of equine activities from liability. They are the equine industry's response to the growing amount of litigation arising out of injuries or deaths of persons participating in equine activities and to the concomitant increases in the cost of insurance. Terence J. Centner, The New Equine Liability Statutes, 62 Tenn .L.Rev. 997, 1002-05 (1995); The Rise of Equine Activity Liability Acts, 3 Animal L. 201, 214 (1997); The Equine Activity Liability Acts: A Discussion of Those in Existence and Suggestions for a Model Act, 83 Ky. L.J. 157, 166 (1995). Legislative debates reveal an alarmingly cavalier attitude about the impact of the statutes; the statutes themselves reflect the General Assembly's awareness that "the state and its citizens derive numerous economic and personal benefits" from equine activities. Tenn.Code Ann. § 44-20-101. Accordingly, despite its awareness of "risks involved in [equine] activities," the General Assembly deemed it expedient to "encourage equine activities by limiting the civil liability of those involved in such activities." Tenn.Code Ann. § 44- 20-101. Thus, from and after July 1, 1992, "equine activity sponsors," "equine professionals," and others have enjoyed qualified immunity from suit in Tennessee.
The immunity provision operates in a straightforward manner. With certain statutory exceptions not relevant to this appeal, Tenn.Code Ann. § 44-20-103 provides that an "equine activity sponsor" or an "equine professional" shall not be liable for the injury or death of a "participant" resulting from the inherent risks of "equine activities." Thus, determining whether a particular person is entitled to the qualified immunity afforded by Tenn.Code Ann. § 44-20-103 requires answering the following three questions: (1) Is the person seeking immunity as an "equine activity sponsor" or an "equine professional"? (2) Was the activity that caused the injury or death an "equine activity"? and (3) Was the injured person a "participant" in an equine activity? Immunity under Tenn.Code Ann. § 44-20-103 will not attach unless the answer to each of these questions is yes.
The equine liability statutes undertake to define the operative terms in each of these questions. With regard to the terms relevant to this appeal, [FN4] Tenn.Code Ann. § 44-20-102(4) defines an "equine activity sponsor" as an "individual ... which sponsors, organizes, or provides the facilities for an equine activity ... and operators, instructors, and promoters of equine facilities." Tenn.Code Ann. § 44-20-102(3) defines "equine activity" broadly. The definition contains a listing of specific activities included within the terms "equine activity." Included among this list are "[r]ides, trips, hunts, or other equine activities of any type, however informal or impromptu, that are sponsored by an equine activity sponsor." Tenn.Code Ann. § 44-20-102(3)(E).
FN4. We need not parse the statutory definition of "equine professional" because Mr. Kerr insists in his brief that he is not "engaged in such a business."
Tenn.Code Ann. § 44-20-102(7) defines a "participant" as "any person ... who engages in an equine activity." Finally, Tenn.Code Ann. § 44- 20-102(1)(A) defines "engages in an equine activity" as "riding, training, assisting in medical treatment of, driving, or being a passenger upon an equine, whether mounted or unmounted or any person assisting a participant or show management." As we understand the definition of "participant," being a participant requires actually riding on the equine or, at least, having some control over the equine. Apart from participants who are "upon" an equine, all the activities included in the statutory definition of "engages in an equine activity" appear to require some ability to control the animal. From a policy perspective, coupling proximity [FN6] and ability to control in the definition of "engages in an equine activity" is consistent with the principle that it would be unfair to truncate negligence claims by persons with no ability to protect themselves from injury. Bothell v. Two Point Acres, Inc., 965 P.2d 47, 53-54 (Ariz.Ct.App.1998).
FN6. Tenn.Code Ann. § 44-20-102(1)(B) excludes spectators from the scope of "engages in an equine activity" as long as the spectators are not in an "unauthorized area" or "in immediate proximity to the equine activity."
There are no Tennessee cases to guide our determination of whether a business that provides pleasure rides in a horse-drawn carriage on a public street is entitled to qualified immunity from negligence claims under Tenn.Code Ann. § 44-20-103. [FN7] Moreover, even though approximately forty states have enacted equine liability statutes, our research has produced no case directly addressing the issue. Nevertheless, a textual reading of the plain meaning of Tennessee's equine liability statutes permits only one conclusion. Mr. Kerr is not entitled to immunity from the Friedlis' negligence claims.
FN7. We have found only one Tennessee case interpreting the Tennessee Equine Activities Liability Act. In that case, an Eastern Section panel of this court upheld the trial court's determination that a summer camp, its riding instructors, and the stable that provided the horses were immune from a negligence action brought on behalf of a child who was injured while riding a horse at summer camp. Cave v. Davey Crockett Stables, No.03A01-9504-CV-00131, 1995 WL 507760, at *1, 4 (Tenn.Ct.App. Aug. 29, 1995) (No Tenn.R.App .P. 11 application filed).
Our conclusion that Mr. Kerr is not entitled to Tenn.Code Ann. § 44-20-103' s qualified immunity rests on three grounds. First, the Friedlis were not "engag[ing] in an equine activity" and, consequently were not "participants" as defined in Tenn.Code Ann. § 44-20-102(7). The undisputed facts show that they were only riding as passengers in the horse-drawn carriage while Mr. Edwards was driving it. Thus, the Friedlis were not "riding, training, assisting in medical treatment of, driving, or being a passenger upon an equine, whether mounted or unmounted" [FN8] when they were injured.
FN8. In this context, the only sensible construction of the words "mounted or unmounted" in Tenn.Code Ann. § 44-20-102(1)(A) is that they modify the preceding phrase "being a passenger upon an equine." They cannot reasonably be construed to create a separate category of activities that constitute engaging in an equestrian activity.
Second, Mr. Kerr's carriage business was not an "equine activity" as defined in Tenn.Code Ann. § 44-20-102(3). Equine activities include "[r]ides, trips, hunts, or other equine activities of any type, however informal or impromptu, that are sponsored by an equine activity sponsor." Tenn.Code Ann. § 44-20- 102(3)(E). [FN9] This rather circular [FN10] definition conveys more than one meaning. Arguably, it could include any activity involving an equine. It could also be construed less broadly because the General Assembly may not have intended to grant qualified immunity to a tortfeasor whenever the tortious activity somehow involves an equine.
FN9. Obviously, Mr. Kerr's carriage business does not involve an equine show, competition or parade; equine training or teaching; boarding equines; permitting any person to ride, inspect, or evaluate an equine; or placing or replacing horseshoes on an equine. Tenn.Code Ann. s 44-20- 102(3)(A)-(D), (F).
FN10. The term "equine activities" forms part of the definition of "equine activity."
Because of these two possible constructions of Tenn.Code Ann. § 44-20- 102(3)(E), we turn to other familiar canons of statutory construction. Legislative history and the legislative debates can on occasion provide insight into the purpose of a statute. McCoy v. T.T.C. Illinois Inc., 14 S.W.3d 734, 738 (Tenn.2000)Gragg v.. Gragg, 12 S.W.3d 412, 415 (Tenn.2000)McCoy v. T.T.C. Illinois Inc., 14 S.W.3d 734, 738 (Tenn.2000)Regrettably, reviewing the General Assembly's discussions regarding these statutes is of no practical assistance. [FN11]
FN11. The record contains transcripts of the committee and floor debates regarding the equine liability statutes. These transcripts contain scant discussion regarding the purpose or scope of these statutes. Instead the legislators' comments were often jocular in tone or betrayed confusion regarding the bill's contents or purposes. For example, during the floor debate of the House of Representatives, Representative Michael Kernell of Memphis wanted to know "[i]s there any liability if these people are just horsing around?" During the House Judiciary Committee's consideration of the bill, Chairman Frank Buck of Dowelltown commented "you're not exempting the negligent people, but any action of the horse, as horses be the ones assuming the risk, is that right?" The bill's sponsor, Representative Tommy Head of Clarksville, responded "[j]ust a negligent horse, Mr. Chairman." When the Senate initially debated the bill on the floor, Senator Randy McNally of Oak Ridge inquired whether the bill had anything "to do with immunity for the hackney ponies or robotic jockeys...." The bill's sponsor, Sen. Carl Koella of Maryville replied "[n]o, no, robotic senators, either." Although the Friedlis assert that this last exchange shows a legislative intent to exclude horse-drawn carriages from the bill, we cannot in good conscience take any of the legislators' comments seriously enough to affect our interpretation of the statutes.
We may also look to other statutory provisions for guidance under the time-honored rule that statutes relating to the same subject should be construed in pari materia for the purpose of advancing their common purpose and intent. Mandela v. Campbell, 978 S.W.2d 531, 534 (Tenn.1998)Carver v. Citizen Utils. Co., 954 S .W.2d 34, 35 (Tenn.1997)Mandela v. Campbell, 978 S.W.2d 531, 534 (Tenn.1998)the facilities for an equine activity. We recognize that the definitions of "equine activity" and "equine activity sponsor" are circular to the extent that the definition of each mentions the other. [FN12] Nevertheless, reading the statute as a whole we are satisfied that the General Assembly did not intend the definition of equine activity sponsor to cover businesses like Mr. Kerr's. Accordingly, we hold that the trial court correctly determined that Mr. Kerr cannot claim immunity under Tenn.Code Ann. § 44-20-103 from the Friedlis' negligence claim.
FN12. As mentioned previously, the definition of equine activities includes certain events sponsored by an "equine activity sponsor," Tenn.Code Ann. § 44-20-102(3)(E), and an "equine activity sponsor" "sponsors, organizes, or provides the facilities for an equine activity." Tenn.Code Ann. § 44-20-102(4).
MR. KERR'S STANDARD OF CARE
Mr. Kerr also asserts that the trial court erred by determining that he owes his customers the same heightened standard of care that common carriers and operators of amusement rides owe to their passengers. We agree and, therefore, hold that Mr. Kerr should be held only to the ordinary duty of care.
The existence of a duty owed to the plaintiff by the defendant is a necessary ingredient in every negligence action. * * * Because the legal concept of common carriers predates widespread mechanized transport, the original carriers relied upon animal, oar or wind power. 3 Fowler V. Harper et al., The Law of Torts § 16.14, at 506-07 (2d ed.1986); 2 American Law of Torts § 9:29, at 1181.
Tennessee also has a statutory definition of "common carrier." In a part of the Code entitled "Jitney [FN13] Service," the terms is defined, in part, as "[a]ny person operating for hire any public conveyance propelled by steam, gasoline, electricity, or other motive power, [FN14] for the purpose of affording a means of street transportation similar to that ordinarily afforded by street railways (but not operated upon fixed tracks) by indiscriminately accepting and discharging such persons as may offer themselves for transportation along the course of operation." Tenn.Code Ann. § 65-19-101 (1993). The statute's definition is somewhat narrower than that of the common law because it does not include carriers that use non-mechanical power, such as that of a horse. City of Memphis v. State, 133 Tenn. 83, 93, 179 S.W. 631, 634 (1915). Thus, we do not believe that this statute changes the common law definition of common carriers where it concerns negligence causes of action.
FN13. A jitney is "[a]n omnibus or other motor vehicle which carries passengers for a fare, orig. five cents." 8 Oxford English Dictionary 244 (2d ed.1989).
FN14. Motive power is "the power acting upon matter to move it," or "the mechanical energy (as steam, electricity, air, etc.) used to drive machinery." 9 Oxford English Dictionary 1132 (2d ed.1989).
Nevertheless, Mr. Kerr's carriage business in downtown Nashville is not a common carrier for two reasons. First, his carriages do not transport passengers from place to place. Rather, they take passengers on pleasure tours of the city. These tours are generally round-trips that return passengers to the place where they were originally picked up. Thus, the tours do not transport passengers from one place to another. Second, Mr. Kerr is not under a common-law or statutory obligation to transport all persons desiring to ride in one of his carriages. He may refuse to serve persons seeking carriage rides without penalty because they are not relying on his carriages to provide them with transportation from place to place. Accordingly, we have concluded that the trial court should not have imposed the same heightened duty on Mr. Kerr that the law imposes on common carriers.
THE APPLICABILITY OF AN AMUSEMENT OPERATOR'S DUTIES
Tennessee courts have held operators of amusement park rides to the same heightened duty applied to common carriers. These decisions, however, have invariably involved mechanical amusement rides. * * * We have determined that there are two reasons why the heightened duty of operators of mechanical amusement rides should not be imposed on operators of horse-drawn carriages. First, the conduct of horses, even when properly selected, trained, and handled, are inherently less controllable than properly maintained mechanical rides. Second, because of the unpredictability of domesticated animals even in the best of circumstances, no amount of diligence, skill, and foresight of a person handling a horse can minimize the risk of harm in the same way that inspection, maintenance, and repair can reduce the risk of harm to passengers on mechanical amusement devices. The conduct of domesticated animals is far less predictable than the operation of properly-maintained machinery. Accordingly, we have concluded that the trial court erred by holding that Mr. Kerr owed the same heightened duty to his passengers that operators of amusement rides owe to their customers.
We affirm the denial of Mr. Kerr's motion for partial summary judgment based on his claimed Tenn.Code Ann. § 44-20-103 immunity and reverse the partial summary judgment determining that Mr. Kerr should be held to the same heightened duty expected of common carriers and operators of amusement rides. We remand the case to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion, and we tax the costs of this appeal in equal proportions to David and Judy Friedli and Henry Frank Kerr and his surety for which execution, if necessary, may issue.