Opinion ID: 848632
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Subcontractor Liability

Text: The question remains regarding the liability of the defendant subcontractors, Hoyt and Guideline. Plaintiff argues that summary disposition should not have been granted because a question of fact existed with regard to whether defendants negligently performed their contractual obligations to clean up and remove safety hazards. Plaintiff and defendant Hoyt disagree regarding the relevance of our decision in Fultz v. Union-Commerce Assoc., 470 Mich. 460, 683 N.W.2d 587 (2004). Moreover, with respect to defendant Guideline, besides granting summary disposition because the condition was open and obvious, the trial court granted summary disposition on the additional ground that no evidence was presented to indicate that the pipes in question belonged to Guideline. Plaintiff argues to this Court, as he did to the Court of Appeals, that summary disposition was inappropriate with regard to Guideline, because a genuine issue of material fact was presented concerning whether it owned the pipes that caused plaintiff's fall. However, in light of its conclusion that the open and obvious doctrine barred plaintiff's claim, the Court of Appeals never addressed this alternate ground for summary disposition. Because our decision in Fultz was released nine months after the Court of Appeals decision in this case, and because the Court did not address the matter of Guideline's ownership of the pipes, remand to the Court of Appeals is necessary for resolution of these issues. On remand, the Court shall first consider whether a genuine issue of material fact exists regarding Guideline's ownership of the pipes. If it concludes that no such issue exists, then it shall affirm the trial court's grant of summary disposition for Guideline on that ground. Should the Court conclude that an issue of fact does exist, then the Court shall consider if Guideline, along with Hoyt, owed plaintiff any duty under Fultz. If the Court concludes that Hoyt, Guideline, or both owed plaintiff a duty under Fultz, the Court shall then remand to the trial court for further proceedings against the relevant subcontractor(s) and Turner. However, should the Court conclude that the subcontractor(s) owed plaintiff no contractual duty, then it shall dismiss Hoyt and Guideline from the suit and remand for further proceedings against Turner only. [7]