Opinion ID: 2217907
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Contribution Claim Against Smith.

Text: Allied's contribution claim against Smith was based on the ground that he was grossly negligent and thus liable for Lund's injuries along with Allied's insureds. Because Smith and Lund were co-employees, Smith is afforded the protection from liability contained in Iowa Code section 85.20(2) (1989). Consequently, the element of gross negligence on the part of Smith is necessary to establish a common liability which Allied must establish in seeking contribution. Although Allied argues that a genuine issue of material fact existed with respect to the alleged gross negligence of Smith, the motion papers belie this claim. Viewed most favorably to the nonmoving party, the motion papers show that prior to the collision Smith was driving south on Black Hawk County Road V51 and came to the intersection of Iowa Highway 939. He noticed at that time that Highway 939 was under construction and that there were road closed signs prohibiting traffic from turning onto that highway in either direction. Smith slowed his vehicle but failed to make a complete stop at the stop sign governing traffic on County Road V51 at this intersection. After slowing, Smith proceeded into the intersection. Sailor, who was driving a dump truck on the Highway 939 construction project, was at this time passing through the intersection from west to east. He struck the state-owned vehicle on the passenger side. The motion papers indicate that the speed of the truck at this time was approximately forty miles per hour. We are convinced that there was an insufficient showing of a conscious failure to avoid the peril by Smith to establish gross negligence in accordance with the standard set forth in Thompson v. Bohlken, 312 N.W.2d 501, 505 (Iowa 1981). The peril to which we refer is the approaching truck. Witness statements included in the motion papers suggest Smith did not see the truck, and the circumstances strongly reenforce this view. Failure to stop at a stop sign or to maintain a proper lookout does not indicate an enhanced state of negligence. Vipond v. Jergensen, 260 Iowa 646, 655, 148 N.W.2d 598, 602 (1967). The present case is somewhat similar to Konz v. Ehly, 451 N.W.2d 504 (Iowa App.1989), in which summary judgment for the co-employee was upheld in an action growing out of an automobile accident. The district court did not err in granting summary judgment on the contribution claim against Smith growing out of the Lund settlement.