Opinion ID: 1858507
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Whether the plaintiffs have alleged sufficient facts to hold MDOT liable for its own conduct.

Text: ¶ 18. We must determine whether the plaintiffs have presented any triable issue of fact which would establish liability for MDOT's own conduct. Unless the plaintiffs can produce some evidence that MDOT or its employees committed some negligent act, MDOT cannot be held liable. ¶ 19. The elements of a negligence claim are duty, breach of that duty, proximate cause, and damages. May v. V.F.W. Post # 2539, 577 So.2d 372, 375 (Miss.1991). However, none of the plaintiffs' allegations arise from any duty or breach of duty by MDOT. MDOT was responsible for developing the Traffic Control Plan, and Great River was responsible for implementing it. We agree with the Court of Appeals that there is no genuine issue of material fact whether the Traffic Control Plan met the accepted engineering or design standards at that time. Despite their claim that Lieutenant David Beard's testimony on accident reconstruction would show otherwise, the plaintiffs have not produced evidence that actually contradicts MDOT's evidence that the plan conformed to accepted engineering or design standard when it was approved. ¶ 20. By contract, Great River was required to faithfully implement the provisions of the Traffic Control Plan. Additionally, MDOT's inspectors could not act as foremen on these projects. Instead, they reported the project's progress to the MDOT project engineer. The plaintiffs rely on a report by MDOT inspector George Germain from March 18, 1999, where he noted the need for additional lights and barrels at the construction area. However, according to Germain's testimony, this information was relayed to MDOT's independent contractor, Great River, the entity who was responsible for complying with the requirements of the traffic control plan. While subsequent reports did not specifically note the addition of the lights and barrels, every report from Germain until Friday, April 9, 1999, and after the accident on April 12, 1999, and from resident engineer Wes Stafford after the accident on April 14, 1999, stated that the construction site complied with the Traffic Control Plan. ¶ 21. All of the evidence points to negligence by Great River, MDOT's independent contractor. Great River was responsible for the installation and maintenance of signage and warning devices and for debris removal from areas traveled by the public. This construction project was executed by Great River's employees, and the plaintiffs have presented no evidence that MDOT's employees committed any act or omission that led to the accident. We cannot look to apply the immunity provisions of the MTCA unless some wrong by the government is first established, and the requisite negligence cannot be established here. The Court of Appeals erred in automatically analyzing this case under the MTCA without first determining whether MDOT's conduct could lead to liability in the first place. Therefore, the Court of Appeals's judgment reversing the trial courts' grants of summary judgment in favor of MDOT is, itself, reversed.