Opinion ID: 1449306
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Unsafe Equipment

Text: The superior court found that the drill provided by Grothe had a defectively weak hydraulic system which prevented the operator from using the normal procedure to change the position of the connecting pins. Two witnesses testified that the hydraulics on the drilling machine used by Olafson were weak and would sometimes be unable to lift the boom. Olafson testified that he had previously warned Grothe that the hydraulic system was not working properly and that Grothe had promised to have it repaired. Olafson stated that if the hydraulics had been working properly, he would have been able to use the normal method and thus would not have been injured. Grothe claimed that the hydraulics were strong enough to raise the boom and that he had been able to change the position of the pins using the normal method. He testified that after the accident the machine had been used in other jobs and that there had been no problems with the hydraulics. On the other hand, Grothe admitted that Olafson had told him about a problem with the hydraulics and that Grothe had thought that the weakness was due to an air leak in the motor. Grothe stated that he had tried to repair the system but that his repairs did not seem to have made very much difference. Grothe also admitted that the drive chain on the drill had not broken during subsequent jobs. Thus, the problem Olafson had faced may simply not have arisen on these later jobs. We think there was sufficient evidence in the record to support the superior court's finding that the drill's hydraulic system was defective and that Grothe had notice of this problem. Grothe's failure to repair the drill adequately (or to provide a replacement) constituted a breach of his common law and statutory duty to provide Olafson with safe equipment. [13]
Grothe claims that the chain of proximate causation was broken because: 1) he was not aware of any defect in the machinery; 2) he was not aware that the chain had broken so he could not have known Olafson needed assistance; 3) Olafson's method of inserting the pin (driving the drill forward with the mast braced against the rock) was unforeseeable. We find all of these arguments devoid of merit, and therefore affirm the superior court's ruling that Olafson's injuries were a foreseeable result of the defect in the drill and the lack of assistance given to Olafson. [14]
In its final decision, the trial court ruled that under AS 23.30.055 and AS 23.30.080, Grothe was not entitled to assert the defense of comparative negligence to reduce Olafson's recovery. In the initial decision, the court had found Olafson to be twenty percent negligent and had reduced the award accordingly. Grothe argues that the defense of comparative negligence is available under AS 23.25.020. AS 23.30.055 provides that when an employer fails to secure payment of compensation, an injured employee may elect to claim compensation or to maintain an action at law for damages. In such an action, the employer may not plead as a defense that ... the injury was due to the contributory negligence of the employee. Further, AS 23.30.080 states that if the employer failed to carry insurance, the employer may not escape liability for personal injury ... sustained by an employee when the injury sustained arises out of and in the usual course of the employment because ... (3) the employee was negligent... . In contrast, AS 23.25.020 provides that in an action brought by the employee against the employer, the fact that the employee may have been guilty of contributory negligence does not bar a recovery where his contributory negligence was slight and the negligence of the employer was gross in comparison, but the damages shall be diminished by the jury in proportion to the amount of negligence attributable to the employee. Olafson relies heavily on Carroll v. Universal Irrigation, Inc., 18 Wash. App. 854, 573 P.2d 373 (Wash. App. 1977), to support his argument that AS 23.30.055 and AS 23.30.080 override AS 23.25.020 and deny Grothe any comparative negligence defense. In Carroll, a Washington appellate court held that an employer who fails to secure worker's compensation insurance is barred from asserting the employee's negligence as a defense. Id. at 377. The court reasoned that the statutory provisions which deprive a non-complying employer of certain common law defenses were intended to induce employers to comply with the worker's compensation system. Id. at 376. [16] The court specifically rejected the defendant's argument that AS 23.25.020 preserved the defense of comparative negligence for the employer. Id. at 377 n. 4. We think the Carroll decision is correct and note with approval the following statement from that decision: A showing of comparative negligence to diminish plaintiff's award would allow the employer to escape liability for a portion of plaintiff's injuries. This would be inconsistent with the above noted policy and purpose of the workmen's compensation laws. Id. at 377. Thus, we hold that the superior court did not err in its conclusion that comparative negligence was inapplicable in the context of this litigation. [17]
The superior court concluded that Olafson was disabled due to the recurrent pain associated with his injured ribs. Dr. Loren Halter's testimony supports this determination. [19] However, other physicians testified that Olafson was not disabled or that his inability to work was caused by his pre-existing bronchial condition or his obesity. Under Civil Rule 52(a), the superior court's findings shall not be set aside unless clearly erroneous. [20] On this record, we are not persuaded that the superior court's findings relating to Olafson's disability are clearly erroneous. [21]
Grothe filed a Rule 60(b) motion for relief from judgment on the grounds of newly discovered evidence. Specifically, Grothe sought to reopen the trial in order to present the testimony of Dr. George Stewart on the issue of Olafson's alleged disability. The superior court summarily denied the motion. Montgomery Ward v. Thomas, 394 P.2d 774 (Alaska 1964), sets out the standard for granting a new trial on the basis of newly discovered evidence: These requirements are that the evidence (1) must be such as would probably change the result on a new trial; (2) must have been discovered since the trial; (3) must be of such a nature that it could not have been discovered before trial by due diligence; (4) must be material; (5) must not be merely cumulative or impeaching. Id. at 776. Although Grothe filed a Rule 60(b) motion for relief from judgment rather than a Rule 59 motion for a new trial, we have indicated that when the underlying ground is new evidence the analysis is similar. Patrick v. Sedwick, 413 P.2d 169, 178 (Alaska 1966). [22] The new evidence in this case consists of the testimony of Dr. Stewart, who prepared one of the reports admitted in evidence at trial. Dr. Stewart indicated in his affidavit that if permitted he would testify that in his opinion: 1) Olafson's ribs were substantially healed by the time of trial, June 1980, and perhaps as early as April 1979; 2) that Olafson had not exhibited any signs of pain or rib fractures during his preliminary testing in May 1980; and 3) that there was no indication of any lung damage or defect. This testimony would be based on his review of the X-rays and prior lab reports. Olafson asserts that this testimony does not contradict the testimony of Dr. Halter and would therefore not alter the result. If believed, Dr. Stewart's testimony would indicate that Olafson was fully recovered, with little or no pain and normal mobility. Olafson asserts that Dr. Stewart's testimony does not qualify as new evidence, since his identity was known to Grothe's counsel well before the trial and all parties were aware that his report was to be admitted at trial. Grothe argues that he only became aware of the need for Dr. Stewart's testimony after Dr. Halter presented his opinion that Olafson's ribs had never healed and were the main source of Olafson's continuing disability. Grothe claims he was surprised by Dr. Halter's testimony and by the admission of the X-rays which were taken the day before trial. Olafson responds that Grothe's claims of surprise are unjustified and that he has failed to satisfy the due diligence requirement for the following reasons: 1) Grothe's counsel gave no indication of surprise at trial and made no motion for a continuance to attempt to ascertain if Dr. Stewart could testify; 2) prior to trial, Grothe's counsel was provided with a copy of Dr. Halter's report which contained the same conclusions Dr. Halter presented in his testimony; 3) Grothe's counsel had ample opportunity to depose Dr. Halter or Dr. Stewart but neglected to do so; and 4) Grothe's counsel made no attempt to submit this new evidence in the six-week period in which the court had the matter under advisement. On the basis of the foregoing, we would conclude that Grothe failed to demonstrate that the evidence could not have been obtained upon diligent investigation. Finally, Olafson argues that Dr. Stewart's testimony was cumulative to the testimony of Dr. Eufemio and Dr. Johnson. Both physicians testified that Olafson's rib injuries from the accident were healed and would not restrict his present or future working ability. Grothe admits that Dr. Stewart's testimony would be similar to the other physicians, but claims that it would not be cumulative because of Dr. Stewart's expertise in this area. The standard for review of an order denying a Rule 60(b) motion is whether the superior court abused its discretion. Reversal is justified only if this court concludes the trial court was clearly mistaken. McCracken v. Davis, 560 P.2d 771 (Alaska 1977). We hold that the superior court's denial was well within its discretion. AFFIRMED.