Opinion ID: 2632335
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Maria Hernandez

Text: [¶ 46] The plaintiffs challenge the district court's decision granting Ms. Hernandez's motion for summary judgment. Ms. Hernandez was the driver of the second vehicle that struck the cow, doing so immediately prior to the third vehicle. The basis of the plaintiffs' claim is that, after colliding with the cow, Ms. Hernandez sent her young son back along the road towards where the cow had been to warn oncoming traffic. The plaintiffs contend, as the third vehicle approached the scene, the young childAnthonywas in its lane of travel and, in order to avoid the boy, the vehicle moved into the other lane whereupon it collided with the cow. In opposition to the motion, the plaintiffs relied on the passenger's testimony that Anthony was in the third vehicle's lane of travel. In addition, the plaintiffs point to physical measurements taken at the scene indicating that their version of the events was possible. Ms. Hernandez countered with her own testimony that she did not send her son back to warn other travelers but, rather, Anthony and all her passengers were still in her vehicle when the third accident occurred. The district court ruled in favor of Ms. Hernandez and granted the motion. The district court reasoned: And I don't think that there's sufficient evidence in the record that a jury could reasonably conclude that he was in a position situated in relationship to the cow where his position would have been unreasonable in any respect. I don't think there's any evidence from which they can find exactly where he was in relation to the cow. The evidence indicates that Yates [driver of third car] swerved and hit the cow, but that still doesn't get us there, because we still don't know if he was farther-if he was east of the cow or if he was north of the cow. It's still a toss-up as to whether he was in the lane or at the side. And it's a toss-up as to exactly where the cow was, whether it was in the middle of the road or where. Considering what evidence there is, whyand knowing the locationthe one thing, actually, that we do know here is the location of the Hernandez vehicle. And if Yates [driver of third car] had stayed in the eastbound lane of traffic and veered to the right to avoid the cow, why, that would have increased the danger of a collision with the Hernandez vehicle, which was ahead of him and on his side of the road. So I can't say, considering all of that, that there is evidence from which a jury could reasonably conclude that the-any actions that were taken were unreasonable. [¶ 47] A person who voluntarily undertakes to render a service to another which he recognizes as necessary for the protection of a third person or his property is subject to liability to that person for physical harm resulting from the failure to exercise reasonable care if that failure increases the risk of harm to the third person or the harm was occasioned by reliance on the voluntary service. Kelly v. Roussalis, 776 P.2d 1016, 1019 (Wyo.1989); Beard v. Brown, 616 P.2d 726, 731-34 (Wyo.1980); Ellsworth Brothers, Inc. v. Crook, 406 P.2d 520, 524 (Wyo.1965); Restatement (Second) of Torts § 323 (1965 & Supp.1999). In order to hold Ms. Hernandez liable for injuries suffered, the plaintiffs must demonstrate that: (1) Ms. Hernandez voluntarily undertook to render a service she recognized as necessary for the protection of the third vehicle and its occupants; (2) she failed to exercise reasonable care in performing the service; and (3) failure to exercise reasonable care increased the risk of harm to the occupants of the third vehicle or the occupants' injuries resulted from the reliance of the driver of the third vehicle on Ms. Hernandez's actions. The district court's decision related to the second element: There was insufficient evidence upon which a jury could conclude Ms. Hernandez acted with unreasonable care. [¶ 48] We must disagree with the district court's decision. Our examination of the record discloses disputed material facts which, when viewed in the light most favorable to the plaintiffs' position, counsel against summary judgment and support sending the matter to a jury. First, there is eyewitness testimony that Anthony was in the third vehicle's lane of travel and, immediately after the vehicle moved into the other lane to avoid the child, the collision with the cow occurred. Furthermore, the notes taken by the investigating officer at the scene of the accident indicate the plaintiffs' version of the events is, at least, physically possible. This is sufficient evidence to raise a question for the jury as to whether or not Ms. Hernandez acted reasonably in attempting to warn the third vehicle's occupants. The district court's decision implicitly acknowledges this when it states that certain facts are a toss-up. It is when such questions are a toss-up that a jury trial is most appropriate. Whether or not Ms. Hernandez did, in fact, act unreasonably or whether her actions were the proximate cause of the injuries to the occupants of the third vehicle is a matter for a jury to determine. Therefore, we reverse the district court's order granting summary judgment in favor of Ms. Hernandez. [¶ 49] Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.