Opinion ID: 1995010
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The defense of release.

Text: The adult plaintiff entered into a lease with the Authority for the occupancy of 759 Townsend Place, a dwelling located in the Authority's housing project. At the time the adult plaintiff applied for housing, she signed the usual lease prepared by the Authority. This lease, which she testified she did not read, contained a provision by which she agreed to release the Authority from liability for any injury to the tenant or the members of his household, resulting from any cause whatsoever, except for injury resulting from the willful acts of the Authority's employees. Upon the basis of this release provision, the Authority argues that the claim of the adult plaintiff for medical expenses caused by the injury to her son has been barred. No defense based upon the release provision is asserted with respect to the claim for damages by the minor plaintiff. The plaintiff argues that the release provision is null and void since the Authority engages in a public purpose, viz., the furnishing of low-cost housing. Under this circumstance, it is argued, public policy forbids that such a corporation contract for immunity from negligent injury caused by its employees in performing the public service for which the corporation was formed. Cited in support of the argument are Housing Authority of Birmingham Dist. v. Morris, 244 Ala. 557, 145 So.2d 527, and Restatement of Contracts, § 575. To the contrary, the Authority relies upon Marshall v. Maryland D. & V. Ry. Co., 1 W.W.Harr. 170, 112 A. 526; Pan American World Airways, Inc. v. United Aircraft Corp., 3 Storey 7, 163 A.2d 582, and Smoke v. Turner Construction Co., D.C., 54 F.Supp. 369. We do not reach the question because we think it clear that, assuming the validity of the release provision, nevertheless its effect must be confined to the physical premises actually leased to the adult plaintiff. This conclusion flows from the general rule that contracts to relieve one from the consequences of his own negligence are not favored in the law and, if possible, will be construed not to confer immunity from liability. We recognized this rule as being the law of Delaware in Pan American v. United Aircraft Corp., supra. If such is the rule with respect to contracts between parties not performing a public service, it applies even more forcibly to contracts between parties, one of whom is charged by law with the performance of a public service. Prosser on Torts (3rd Ed.), p. 456, et seq. Since the minor plaintiff's injuries, creating the medical expenses for which the adult plaintiff seeks damages, did not occur on the premises leased, it follows that the release provision does not bar recovery.