Opinion ID: 1711317
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Claim Against Millstone

Text: The Fishers contend that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment for Millstone. This Court reviews the record in the light most favorable to the party against whom summary judgment was entered. ITT Commercial Finance Corp. v. Mid-America Marine Supply Corp., 854 S.W.2d 371, 376 (Mo. banc 1993). Review is essentially de novo, and the propriety of summary judgment is purely an issue of law. Id. Summary judgment is proper when no genuine issue of material fact exists and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Rule 74.04(c); Krause v. U.S. Truck Co., 787 S.W.2d 708, 709 (Mo. banc 1990). Millstone was the general contractor for the bridge project. The Commission provided all specifications, plans, and drawings for the project. The Commission accepted the project when completed. The trial court granted summary judgment based on the acceptance doctrine, which relieves contractors of liability to those not parties to the contract after the owner accepts the contractor's work. Gast v. Shell Oil Co., 819 S.W.2d 367, 370 (Mo. banc 1991). The Fishers concede that the work was accepted by the Commission and that this would normally preclude recovery. However, they invoke the exception that a contractor is liable for a defect essentially and imminently dangerous to others that is so hidden and concealed that a reasonably careful inspection would not disclose it, and which was known to the contractor but not the owner. Id., citing Begley v. Adaber Realty and Inv. Co., 358 S.W.2d 785, 791 (Mo. 1962). Here, there was no such defect. Millstone filled the gap in the expansion joint with a sealant, as directed by the Commission. The expansion joint only became dangerous years later after the Commission failed to maintain the sealant. The defect was not hidden or concealed, as demonstrated by the communications between Millstone and the Commission. The exception does not apply in this case. The Fishers also claim genuine issues of material fact as to (1) whether Millstone complied with the specifications, and (2) whether the specifications were so obviously bad that a competent contractor would recognize a grave chance that its product would be dangerously unsafe. See Bloemer v. Art Welding Co., 884 S.W.2d 55, 59 (Mo.App. 1994). The record contains nothing to support the Fishers. The undisputed fact that the Commission accepted the project shows that Millstone complied with the specifications. The Fishers' damages were not caused by obviously bad specifications, but by the Commission's failure to maintain or replace the sealant. The Fishers have not established any disputed issues of material fact with respect to Millstone. Accordingly, the circuit court did not err in granting summary judgment.