Opinion ID: 1095990
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Court Erred in Granting Summary Judgment in Favor of Miri

Text: Summary judgment in favor of Miri was based on foreseeability. Swan's claim against Miri was on negligence. A defendant is not liable for negligence if he could not have reasonably foreseen any injury as a result of his actions. Marshall Durbin, Inc. v. Tew, 362 So.2d 601, 603 (Miss. 1978); Pargas of Taylorsville, Inc. v. Craft, 249 So.2d 403, 407-08 (Miss. 1971). Miri contends that the evidence clearly demonstrates that it could not have reasonably foreseen any injury to Swan. In support of this argument, Miri points to James English's testimony that the company had never received any prior complaints from bystanders concerning injuries received as a result of Miri's spraying. Also, representatives of Carboline and I.P. visited the work site and observed Miri spraying the foam and coating during school hours, but never instructed Miri to discontinue the spraying while school was in session. Jay Venable, a roofing contractor experienced with the application of polyurethane roofing products and hired as an expert by Miri, testified that in his opinion there were no health hazards associated with the application of the products used by Miri. He did state that the overspray could cause some slight eye irritation. Id. Id. at 182. According to Venable, the main concern the roofing contractor has when applying these products is preventing the overspray from causing damage to car windshields, eyeglasses and other property. Id. at 120. Venable testified that the best procedure was to avoid spraying when anyone was outside the building and downstream from the operations. There was evidence that Miri should have foreseen that the spraying could injure a bystander as Swan: Miri was aware that there was some danger presented by the spraying; its sprayers wore respirators during the spraying operations. James and Robert English also took precautions to make sure that the teachers closed their classroom windows during spraying operations. They also placed rope barricades around their work areas, although this was mainly done for the purpose of keeping the children away from the equipment. Also, Jay Venable testified that he would always ask the manufacturer's representative for the product's material data safety sheet and technical information before beginning a spraying project. Miri apparently did not request any information from the manufacturers. Also the principal of the school informed either James English or one of Miri's employees that several children had complained that the spray was irritating their eyes. Swan testified that on one occasion she and her students were enveloped by a cloud of particles from the roof while on their way to lunch. Miri could reasonably have foreseen that spraying the materials while people were walking to lunch could lead to injuries. The trial court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of Miri.