Opinion ID: 1117922
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Evidence and Arguments Presented by Terex

Text: In its motion for a summary judgment, Terex argued, among other things, that Zeigler was contributorily negligent and that he assumed the risk of injury when he put himself underneath the bed of the dumptruck, and particularly when he put himself underneath the bed of the dumptruck without first putting in place the body-safety prop. In support of that motion, Terex presented the following evidence: Terex offered into evidence a copy of a safety-and-maintenance manual that, Terex asserted, was provided with the dumptruck. This manual instructed the user: Do not work under or near an unblocked or unsupported body. Always use the body safety prop. Terex offered the deposition testimony and affidavit testimony of David Gaddy, the general manager of Elmore Sand & Gravel during the time that Zeigler was employed there. Gaddy testified that he had orally instructed the employees at Elmore Sand & Gravel, among other things, to not get up under a dump body. Gaddy also testified that during some of those conversations with employees he discussed the use of the body-safety prop. Gaddy testified that drivers had no need to use the body-safety prop because they had no reason to be under the bed of a dumptruck; according to Gaddy, drivers were not allowed to work on the trucks and were instructed to contact a mechanic if they had any mechanical problem with the truck. However, Gaddy admitted that, after Zeigler's death, he learned that the mechanics had allowed the drivers to add brake fluid to the reservoir of the dumptruck, if necessary. Gaddy also testified that he discussed with the drivers how to raise the body-safety prop; Gaddy testified that it takes less than 2 seconds to employ the body-safety prop. Additionally, Terex offered the deposition testimony of Billy Joe Gibbons, an employee of Cowin Equipment Company, the company responsible for servicing and repairing the dumptruck. Gibbons testified that the body-safety prop could be raised with one hand and that once the body-safety prop was in place, the bed of the dumptruck could not be lowered. Gibbons also testified that brake fluid could be added to the brake-fluid reservoir without being beneath the bed of the dumptruck, i.e., that it was possible to stand on the ground next to the dumptruck to add brake fluid to the reservoir. Terex also offered the deposition and affidavit testimony of Mark Montgomery, who worked as the safety director for Elmore Sand & Gravel. Montgomery also testified that the drivers or operators are instructed not to attempt to repair or to work on the dumptrucks; they are instructed to call a mechanic immediately if there are problems with the dumptrucks. Montgomery also testified that as Zeigler was leaving for the day on the day before his accident, Montgomery asked him if everything was okay with Zeigler's truck, to which Zeigler replied yeah, yeah, yeah. Montgomery testified that he regularly asked the operators this question as they were leaving for the day. Terex also offered the deposition testimony of Billy Stanley, the president of Elmore Sand & Gravel. Stanley testified that the drivers of the dumptrucks were required to perform an inspection of their trucks both before and after their shifts and to complete a corresponding inspection report. After the accident, Stanley reviewed the reports that had been completed by Zeigler in the days preceding his accident and noted that Zeigler had not reported any problems with the brakes on the dumptruck. Stanley also testified that the drivers are trained to contact the maintenance department at Elmore Sand & Gravel immediately if they discover a problem with the trucks or if a problem develops during their shift. In support of its motion for a summary judgment, Terex also submitted the deposition testimony of Dupree Harvey, the vice president of Elmore Sand & Gravel. Harvey testified that he had a conversation with Zeigler in May 2003  when Zeigler was still a relatively new employee  concerning the dangers of getting under the raised bed of a dumptruck. Harvey testified that he specifically asked Zeigler how he would check his brake fluid on the dumptruck. Harvey testified: I don't know why but something just told me to stop and talk to him about  because he was a new hire  about telling him how to check his brake fluid. So I went up to [Zeigler] and I said, `[Zeigler,] . . . show me how you check your brake fluid.' So he went around on the passenger side and took off the cap, pointed to it or he took it off. . . . and so I said to [Zeigler], I said, `So you're telling me you don't have to get underneath the bed of the truck to check your brake fluid.' He says, `No, you just stand right here on the ground. It's about chest high. And you can reach it right here and check the brake fluid.' And I said, `Well, good answer. That's what I was looking for.' And I said, `So tell me again, you don't have to get underneath the bed of the truck to check the brake fluid.' And he said, `That's correct.' Harvey also testified that he told Zeigler don't ever get underneath the bed of the truck. . . . period, no questions asked. Harvey did not know if Zeigler had ever received training on how to use the body-safety prop because I just know he was told never to get underneath the bed of a truck, under no circumstances. Harvey added that it was unnecessary to raise the bed of the dumptruck to check the brake fluid or to do any of the items on the inspection checklist Zeigler was required to do. Harvey testified that if Zeigler had any problems with his truck, Zeigler was supposed to report them to Harvey; according to Harvey, Zeigler had not reported any problems to him. Terex argued that, based on this evidence, Zeigler was contributorily negligent and that, therefore, Terex was entitled to a summary judgment as to Tell's AEMLD claims asserted against it.