Opinion ID: 584172
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Ultrahazardous Activity

Text: 17 The government can also violate Missouri's Recreational Use Statute if it negligently failed to warn of an ultrahazardous activity. See Mo.Ann.Stat. § 537.348(1) (Vernon 1988). To ascertain whether Henderson has an action under this provision of the Recreational Use Statute, we must determine whether the operation of the dam could qualify as an ultrahazardous condition. No Missouri case law has examined whether the operation of a dam is an ultrahazardous activity. Both parties therefore urge us to apply section 520 of the Restatement (Second) of Torts for determining whether the release of water through the dam was an ultrahazardous activity. We accept this invitation. Section 520 provides: 18 § 520. Abnormally Dangerous Activities 19 In determining whether an activity is abnormally dangerous, the following factors are to be considered: 20 (a) existence of a high degree of risk of some harm to the person, land or chattels of others; 21 (b) likelihood that the harm that results from it will be great; 22 (c) inability to eliminate the risk by the exercise of reasonable care; 23 (d) extent to which the activity is not a matter of common usage; 24 (e) inappropriateness of the activity to the place where it is carried on; and 25 (f) extent to which its value to the community is outweighed by its dangerous attributes. 26 Restatement (Second) of Torts § 520 (1977). 27 Earlier, we reviewed Henderson's claim that the government acted maliciously and negligently by not improving the dam warning system, which the government knew was inadequate. Under Henderson's theory, had the government acted responsibly, the tragedy underlying this case would not have occurred. In other words, Henderson contends that the government could have eliminated the risk [of harm] by the exercise of reasonable care. 28 Now, however, Henderson urges that the release of waters through the dam was an ultrahazardous activity. By definition, the risk intrinsic in an ultrahazardous activity cannot be eliminated (thus justifying the customary imposition of strict liability). Therefore, Henderson cannot successfully claim that the government acted maliciously or practiced gross negligence in operating the dam and then turn around and successfully claim that operating the dam was an ultrahazardous activity. At this juncture in the life of the case, however, we are not reviewing the ultimate success of Henderson's respective claims. Instead, we are determining whether Henderson's claim that the dam operation was an ultrahazardous activity can survive summary judgment. 29 In light of the considerations outlined by the Restatement, a genuine issue of material fact exists as to whether the release of water through the dam was an ultrahazardous activity. Rapidly releasing water through a dam creates a sudden surge of water and a rising water level, which together result in a high degree of risk of harm, as evidenced by Robert Henderson's death and the near accidents that preceded his tragedy. See Restatement (Second) of Torts, § 520(a) (1977). That the harm resulting from this risk will be great is obvious: rushing and rising water can leave substantial, and oftentimes tragic, damage in its wake. See Restatement (Second) of Torts, § 520(b) (1977). Whether reasonable care could have eliminated the risk of harm here is not so easily determined. At this juncture in the proceedings, the record has not been developed regarding whether a warning system could have been reasonably installed which would have overcome the factors, such as weather, high wind, and the location of downstream fishermen, which resulted in the warning system failing to alert persons below the dam that water was being released through the dam. See Restatement (Second) of Torts § 520(c). 8 30 This latter consideration of whether the risk created by the operation of the dam can be eliminated by reasonable care is the crucial factor in determining whether the operation of the dam is an ultrahazardous activity. The government's failure to respond to the complaints concerning the dam warning system suggest that an adequate warning system could not reasonably be installed and support Henderson's claim that the operation of the dam was an ultrahazardous activity. This factual issue cannot be resolved on summary judgment. See Mandel v. United States, 719 F.2d at 968 ([A] case is not suitable for summary judgment where there are undisputed facts from which different ultimate inferences might reasonably be drawn and as to which reasonable persons might disagree.) (citing United States v. Diebold, 369 U.S. 654, 655, 82 S.Ct. 993, 994, 8 L.Ed.2d 176 (1962)); see also Hendricks v. Missouri-Kansas-Texas R.R. Co., 709 S.W.2d 483, 493-94 (Mo.Ct.App.1986) (ruling that trial court inappropriately permitted an expert witness to express an opinion regarding whether a railroad crossing was unusually dangerous because none of the factors relied on by the expert in framing his opinion exceeded the understanding of the jurors who could determine for themselves whether the crossing was unusually dangerous).