Opinion ID: 2604317
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Plaintiffs' Property Damages Claim

Text: Relying upon Schoof v. Byrd, 197 Kan. 38, 415 P.2d 384 (1966), the trial court found that the defense of assumption of risk applies to property damages. The Schoof court stated: Under the doctrine of assumed risk, one who voluntarily exposes himself or his property to a known or appreciated danger due to the negligence of another may not recover [for] the injury sustained thereby. 197 Kan. at 52-53. The plaintiffs contend the trial court erred in relying upon this statement in Schoof in that the statement was dictum because the damages claimed in Schoof were for personal injuries, not property damages. The plaintiffs, however, do not cite any authority from Kansas, other jurisdictions, or secondary sources to support their proposition that assumption of risk cannot be raised in a case involving only property damages. KCPL cites three cases from other jurisdictions to refute the plaintiffs' proposition. See Wilder v. DiPiazza, 481 So.2d 1091 (Ala. 1985); Reckart v. Avra Valley Air, Inc., 19 Ariz. App. 538, 509 P.2d 231 (1973); Commonwealth v. Millsaps, 232 Va. 502, 352 S.E.2d 311 (1987). Although none of the cases cited involved an employer-employee relationship, assumption of risk was applied as a defense. Millsaps and Reckart involved only property damages. Wilder involved both property damages and personal injury. None of the courts expressly addressed the issue that is before this court. KCPL also directs this court's attention to a C.J.S. discussion in which the doctrine of assumption of risk is described as being applicable to both personal injury and property damage. See 65A C.J.S., Negligence § 174(1), (4), pp. 289, 299; and see 57A Am.Jur.2d, Negligence § 804. The general rule is that assumption of risk can be raised as a defense to a claim involving property damages. We are cited no valid reason why Kansas should not follow the general rule. Kansas has assumed that to be the law in this state as evidenced by Schoof v. Byrd . According to the plaintiffs, the trial court also erred in deciding this issue as a matter of law. Again, without citing any authority, the plaintiffs argue it is a question of fact whether assumption of risk applies to property damages. The Jackson court restated that assumption of the usual risk of employment is a question of law, but a jury question can arise if the risks of employment are unusual. 235 Kan. at 294. The plaintiffs' proposition does not fit within the Jackson court's discussion concerning questions of law and fact. The trial court did not err in holding as a matter of law that assumption of risk applies to the property damages claimed in this case.