Source: https://casetext.com/case/miree-v-united-states-6
Timestamp: 2019-11-19 06:20:18
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Miree v. United States, 242 Ga. 126 | Casetext
242 Ga. 126 (Ga. 1978)
Mireev.United States
Supreme Court of GeorgiaSep 7, 1978
Davis v. Phoebe Putney Health
" (Citations and punctuation omitted.) Miree v. United States, 242 Ga. 126, 135 (3) ( 249 SE2d 573) (1978). A…
" (Citations and punctuation omitted.) Miree v. United States 242 Ga. 126, 135 (3) ( 249 SE2d 573) (1978).…
In Miree v. United States, 242 Ga. 126, 249 S.E.2d 573 (1978), a jet crashed because it had ingested birds swarming over an airport and adjacent county garbage dump.
Summary of this case from Sellfors v. United States
In Miree v. United States, 242 Ga. 126 (1978), the Georgia Supreme Court held that survivors of passengers killed in an air crash at DeKalb Peachtree Airport could not maintain an action as third-party beneficiaries based upon alleged breach of contracts between DeKalb County and the Federal Aviation Administration that provided funding to the airport in return for DeKalb County's agreement "to maintain the airport in an adequate and safe condition for the benefit of aeronautical users thereof and for the benefit of the public."
In Miree, it was held that the plaintiffs, who were seeking to recover damages caused by a jet crash at the DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, could not maintain the action as third-party beneficiaries of a grant agreement between DeKalb County and the federal government. (It was alleged that maintenance of a garbage dump adjacent to the airport runway was in violation of this agreement and caused the crash.)
Summary of this case from Marta v. Wallace
DECIDED SEPTEMBER 7, 1978. REHEARING DENIED SEPTEMBER 26, 1978.
Johnston, Barton, Proctor, Sweldlaw Naff, Gilbert E. Johnston, Alan Heldman, Hansell, Post, Brandon Dorsey, Hugh M. Dorsey, Jr., Jule Felton, Jr., Ross Finch, A. Russell Blank, Baxter H. Finch, Ellis Ray Brown, Neely, Freeman Hawkins, Joe C. Freeman, Jr., Paul M. Hawkins, William Q. Bird, Phillips, Hart Mozley, J. Arthur Mozley, for appellants.
Long, Weinberg, Ansley Wheeler, Meade Burns, F. Clay Bush, George P. Dillard, Ronald R. Glancz, George M. Fleming, William D. Mallard, Jr., Assistant U.S. Attorney, Harvey, Rhodes Willard, Wendell K. Willard, Falk, Carruthers Roth, Herbert S. Falk, Jr., for appellees.
On February 26, 1973, a Lear jet crashed shortly after take-off from the DeKalb Peachtree Airport. The alleged cause of the crash was the ingestion of a large number of birds swarming over the airport and adjacent county garbage dump. Damage was substantial; all passengers were killed; the plane was destroyed; an individual on the ground was severely injured by burning jet fuel that fell from the disabled plane shortly before crashing; and property at the crash site was damaged. Separate actions were brought in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, by the survivors of occupants of the airplane, the burned victim, the insurer of the owner of the plane, and the owner of the property at the crash site. The various plaintiffs brought suit against DeKalb County, Georgia, and the United States of America, asserting theories of negligence, nuisance and breach of contract. Defendant DeKalb County moved to dismiss on the grounds that it was immune from suit under Georgia law. The county's motion was granted and the plaintiffs appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
The initial opinion of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals is reported at 526 F.2d 679 (affirming in part and reversing in part); the en banc opinion of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals is reported at 538 F.2d 643 (reversing the initial panel decision in part and affirming the district court); and the opinion of the United States Supreme Court is reported at 433 U.S. 25 ( 97 S.C. 2490, 53 L.Ed.2d 557) (vacating the en banc decision). On remand from the Supreme Court, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the questions involved certified to the Georgia Supreme Court.
"(1) ... These covenants shall remain in full force and effect throughout the useful life of the facilities developed under this Project, ...
"(2) The Sponsor will operate the Airport as such for the use and benefit of the public... That the Sponsor may prohibit or limit any given type, kind or class of aeronautical use of the Airport if such action is necessary for the safe operation of the Airport or necessary to serve the civil aviation needs of the public.
"(3) The Sponsor will operate and maintain in a safe and serviceable condition the Airport and all facilities thereon and connected therewith which are necessary to serve the aeronautical users of the Airport other than facilities owned or controlled by the United States, and will not permit any activity thereon which would interfere with its use for airport purposes.
"(5) ... The Sponsor will not make or permit the making of any changes or alterations in the Airport or any of its facilities other than in conformity with the airport layout plan as so approved by the F. A. A., if such changes or alterations might adversely affect the safety, utility, or efficiency of the Airport.
"(g) Carry out such sanctions and penalties for violation of the equal opportunity clause as may be imposed upon contractors and subcontractors by the F. A. A. and the Secretary of Labor pursuant to Part II. Subpart D of Executive Order No. 11246; and in the event that the sponsor fails or refuses to comply with its undertakings, the F. A. A. may cancel, terminate or suspend in whole or in part any contractual arrangement it may have with the sponsor, may refrain from extending any further assistance under any of its programs subject to Executive Order 11246 until satisfactory assurance of future compliance has been received from such applicant, or may refer the case to the Department of Justice for appropriate legal proceedings."...
Following docketing in this court, appellants Southeast Machinery, Inc. and Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, and appellee Machinery Buyers Corporation, moved for an order dismissing this proceeding for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, and requesting return of the certified questions unanswered to the certifying court.
Without addressing the question directly, we have heretofore impliedly concluded that we have jurisdiction of matters presented by certified questions by adopting appropriate rules; (See Supreme Court of Georgia Rules, § XXIII, Federal Appellate Courts, Rule 42, adopted September 20, 1977, 239 Ga. 878); and by answering certified question(s) in McClintock v. General Motors Acceptance Corp., 240 Ga. 606 ( 241 S.E.2d 831) (1978).
Once it is agreed that on a particular issue in a particular case the federal court is to apply a state law, the problem arises of determining what the state law is that is to be applied. In Erie R. Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64 ( 58 S.C. 817, 82 L.Ed.2d 1188) (1938), Justice Brandeis said that the federal court was to apply state law whether "declared by its legislature in a statute or by its highest court." The test has proven to be not quite that simple. The federal court cannot decline jurisdiction of a case simply because it is difficult to ascertain what the state courts may thereafter determine the state law to be. Meredith v. City of Winter Haven, 320 U.S. 228 ( 64 S.C. 7, 88 LE 9) (1943). The highest state court may not have addressed the issue or the last expression of a state's highest court is oftentimes difficult to ascertain. In such cases, the federal courts may look to such sources as the restatement of law, treatises and law review commentary, and the "majority rule." Venuto v. Robinson, 118 F.2d 679, 682 (3d Cir. 1941), cert. den. 314 U.S. 627 ( 62 S.C. 58, 86 LE 504) (1941). They may even guess what the high court's probable disposition might be. See Higginbotham v. Ford Motor Co., 540 F.2d 762 (5th Cir. 1976). Another approach is to certify the question to the highest state court.
See Rosenfield, Administrative Determinations as State Law under Erie v. Tompkins, 24 N.Y. U. Law Quarterly Review 319 (1949).
The recent burgeoning of the abstention doctrines cast some doubt on whether the Meredith case still represents an absolute rule. See Wright, Law of Federal Court, 52 (2d Ed. 1970) and McNeese v. Board of Education, 373 U.S. 668 ( 83 S.C. 1433, 10 L.Ed.2d 622) (1963) fn. 5.
Their guess proved accurate in this instance. See Ford Motor Co. v. Carter, 239 Ga. 657 ( 238 S.E.2d 361) (1977).
No federal rule requires use of certification. Lehman Brothers v. Schein, 416 U.S. 386 ( 94 S.C. 1741, 40 L.Ed.2d 215) (1974). Our answers to the questions involved merely present a view of the majority of the members of this court of what we conclude the law of Georgia on a given question to be.
Where the use of authority will further our judicial processes, improve and stabilize the administration of justice, and render a basic service to our people, we feel that we have a duty to serve. Our powers are equal to our duties. In so doing, we do not encroach upon any other branch of government. But for diversity the exact questions presented would be before us for decision. Interpretation of law questions for the benefit of the overall judicial system deprives no citizen of any right.
As of recent date sixteen states or more allow federal courts to certify cases to their courts. Only one of these appears to result from constitutional amendment. The others resulted from court rule or statute. Memorandum, National Center for State Courts, April 27, 1978. Ref. No. RIS 78.103.
We do not decide here whether or not Code Ann. § 24-3902 is constitutional, but merely note that in adopting that Act, which was approved by the Governor, both other branches of state government have called upon this court to serve in such instances.
If our constitutional authority is as limited as movants suggest we could not decide the question because it has not been expressly ruled upon by a lower court.
1. Yes. "A county is not liable to suit for any cause of action unless made so by statute." Code Ann. § 23-1502. The doctrine of sovereign immunity has continued in force in this state throughout most of its history. Crowder v. Dept. of State Parks, 228 Ga. 436 ( 185 S.E.2d 908) (1971), cert. den. 406 U.S. 914 ( 92 S.C. 1768, 32 L.Ed.2d 113). What was the sovereign immunity rule prior to 1973 has now been made a part of our Constitution, Code Ann. § 2-3401. Sheley v. Bd. of Public Ed., 233 Ga. 487 ( 212 S.E.2d 627) (1975). See Revels v. Tift County, 235 Ga. 333 ( 219 S.E.2d 445) (1975).
"Counties are subdivisions of the state government to which the state parcels its duty of governing the people. [Cits.] They are local, legal, political subdivisions of the state, created out of its territory, and are arms of the state, created, organized, and existing for civil and political purposes, particularly for the purpose of administering locally the general powers and policies of the state. [Cits.]... On the other hand, municipalities are creatures of the legislature and their existence may be established, altered, amended, enlarged or diminished, or utterly abolished by the legislature. [Cits.]" Troup County Elec. Membership Corp. v. Ga. Power Co., 229 Ga. 348, 352 ( 191 S.E.2d 33) (1972).
The county does not waive this immunity in the purchase of a contract of liability insurance, even though the policy of insurance may include a clause allegedly waiving immunity. Arnold v. Walton, 205 Ga. 606 ( 54 S.E.2d 424) (1949); Revels v. Tift County, 235 Ga. 333, supra.
1. (a) Yes. In Purser v. Dodge County, 188 Ga. 250 ( 3 S.E.2d 574) (1939), we said, "A county is not liable to suit for any cause of action unless made so by statute. [Cit.]" "It is the general rule that a county when exercising governmental functions and acting as an agency of the state, is not liable, in the absence of statute imposing liability, for its failure to perform a duty or for its negligent performance of the duty, not even when the duty is imposed by statute; and there is no distinction in the application of this rule between the neglect to perform an act which ought to have been performed, and the performance of the duty in a negligent manner." Bates v. Madison County, 32 Ga. App. 370 ( 123 S.E. 158) (1924). In this connection see Millwood v. DeKalb County, 106 Ga. 743 ( 32 S.E. 577) (1899).
2. Yes, under the circumstances as stipulated. We have recognized in a number of cases that where a county causes a nuisance to exist which amounts to a taking of property of one of its citizens for public purposes, the county is liable. Nalley v. Carroll County, 135] Ga. 835 (70 S.E. 788) (1910); DeKalb County v. McFarland, 223 Ga. 196 ( 154 S.E.2d 203) (1967); Baranan v. Fulton County, 232 Ga. 852 ( 209 S.E.2d 188) (1974); Fulton County v. Baranan, 240 Ga. 837 ( 242 S.E.2d 617) (1978). However, when the nuisance does not amount to a taking for public purposes the county is not liable. Williams v. Ga. Power Co., 233 Ga. 517 ( 212 S.E.2d 348) (1975); Howard v. County of Bibb, 127 Ga. 291 ( 56 S.E. 418) (1906).
3. No. We have again reviewed the record and the assignments of error in the case of Hancock County v. Williams, 230 Ga. 723 ( 198 S.E.2d 659) (1973). The subsequent decision of this court in that same case, Williams v. Ga. Power Co., 233 Ga. 517, supra, limiting the holding in the earlier decision, is a correct pronouncement of the law, and anything that was said in the first decision contrary to the pronouncement made in the second decision will not be followed. Code Ann. § 3-108 provides: "As a general rule, the action on a contract, whether expressed or implied, or whether by parol or under seal, or of record, shall be brought in the name of the party in whom the legal interest in such contract is vested, and against the party who made it in person or by agent. The beneficiary of a contract made between other parties for his benefit may maintain an action against the promisor on said contract." This court said in Backus v. Chilivis, 236 Ga. 500, 502 ( 224 S.E.2d 370) (1976): "In order for a third party to have standing to enforce a contract under Code Ann. § 3-108 it must clearly appear from the contract that it was intended for his benefit. The mere fact that he would benefit from performance of the agreement is not alone sufficient. Stewart v. Gainesville Glass Co., 131 Ga. App. 747, 752 ( 206 S.E.2d 857) (1974), affirmed 233 Ga. 578 ( 212 S.E.2d 377) (1975); McWhirter Material c. Co. v. Ga. Paper Stock Co., 118 Ga. App. 582, 583 (1) ( 164 S.E.2d 852) (1968)."
Backus v. Chilivis, supra, distinguishes the cases of Smith v. Ledbetter Bros., 111 Ga. App. 238 ( 141 S.E.2d 322) (1965) and Columbus R. Co. v. Moore, 29 Ga. App. 79 ( 113 S.E.2d 820) (1922) and points out that these cases did not involve the question of sovereign immunity but were negligence actions involving tort liability of non governmental parties. The argument is made that the execution of the contract between the Federal Aviation Administration and DeKalb County, and the inclusion therein of substantial obligations on the part of the county to maintain the airport and any adjacent property in a substantial manner created a contractual duty for the benefit of the plaintiffs who were members of the public affected thereby. Practically, every contract entered into by a county is for some public benefit because the only business of the county is public business. The duties assumed by Dodge County in entering into a contract with the State of Georgia to develop a highway in that county was a contract indisputedly for the benefit of the public. Though highways may be more accepted and more widely used than airports, they are no less dangerous, and the duty to construct and maintain one is no less important than the duty to construct and maintain the other. Yet this court squarely held in Purser v. Dodge County, supra, that the contract involved added nothing to the county's liability. We think that Backus v. Chilivis, supra, controls our opinion in this case. The county's exposure of liability to every member of the flying public, their associates, the adjoining property owners, and any other person who may happen to be in the area, is too broad to permit a contention that every injured party was an intended beneficiary under the public contract in this case. There is no intention manifested in the contract that the county compensate any member of the public for injurious consequences. Each plaintiff in these cases had no more standing than any other member of the public, and we cannot conclude that the contract was intended for the individual benefit of any claimant. See Restatement of Contracts, § 145. Also Atlanta Gas Light Co. v. Jennings, 86 Ga. App. 868 ( 72 S.E.2d 735) (1952), citing German Alliance Insurance Co. v. Home Water Supply Co., 226 U.S. 220 ( 33 S.C. 32, 57 LE 195); Fowler v. Athens City Water Works Co., 83 Ga. 219 ( 9 S.E. 673) (1889); Holloway v. Macon Gas Light c. Co., 132 Ga. 387 ( 64 S.E. 330) (1909). The mere fact that a member of the public would have benefited from the performance does not create third party intended beneficiary status under Georgia law. Stewart v. Gainesville Glass Co., 131 Ga. App. 747, 752 ( 206 S.E.2d 857) (1974), affd., 233 Ga. 578 ( 212 S.E.2d 377) (1975).
ARGUED APRIL 11, 1978 — DECIDED SEPTEMBER 7, 1978 — REHEARING DENIED SEPTEMBER 26, 1978.
Also, at the time of this crash, plaintiff Fields was at a nearby apartment complex about to get into his car. He alleges that as the disabled aircraft passed overhead it was spewing burning fuel which burned him over 50% of his body and destroyed his car as well as his personal belongings and business supplies. He seeks $5,500 for his car, $4,687 for his personal property, and $35,000 in medical expenses, plus unspecified damages for loss of earnings, pain and suffering and permanent disfigurement. Pursuant to the cases cited by the majority, the county is not immune to suit where a county causes a nuisance which results in a taking of property. Thus plaintiff Field would be entitled, at a minimum, to damages for his car and other personal property. I fail to understand why the majority find that this plaintiff cannot recover property damage from DeKalb County just as Mr. Baranan did against Fulton County in Fulton County v. Baranan, supra.
For damaging private property the county is liable pursuant to the Constitution. Code Ann. § 2-301. For damages to people I would hold the county liable pursuant to the prohibition that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property except by due process of law. In a case such as this, the only due process available would be damages. In my view the doctrine of sovereign immunity deprives the Mirees and Mrs. Phillips (and Mr. Fields in part) of due process of law and therefore that doctrine of deprival should not be retained.