Court Opinion

ID: 9637139
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 14:58:40.216201+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:09:53.867143
License: Public Domain

SILVER, J.,
dissenting.
[¶ 35] I agree with the Court’s analysis surrounding Clayton and Waste Management, but I respectfully dissent from the Court’s decision to affirm summary judgment in favor of the Town. Today’s decision by the Court moves us further away from what the Legislature intended and leads to inconsistent and illogical applications of the statute. See 14 M.R.S. § 8104-A(2) (2006).1
[¶ 36] In Adriance v. Town of Standish, 687 A.2d 238-40 (Me.1996), we held that a town may be held liable pursuant to the public building exception for its negligent *548failure to properly construct, operate or maintain a waste transfer station. In Adriance, much like in the instant case, an individual suffered injuries after falling into a trash hopper at the town’s waste transfer station. Id. at 239. We concluded that the transfer station was a public building for the purposes of the Maine Tort Claims Act, and therefore, fell within an exception to sovereign immunity. Id. at 240.
[¶ 37] In Adriance, the claimant suffered injuries after falling into a trash hopper at the Town of Standish waste transfer station. Id. at 239. The station was a large garage-type structure containing an office and a trash hopper. Id. The trash hopper was surrounded by a concrete wall, except on the side of the back-up area. Id.
[¶ 38] The Court’s holding today thus creates an anomalous result. If James Reid had fallen into a dumpster in Standish, for example, Priscilla would have been allowed to recover damages for the town’s negligent failure to maintain a protective barrier around the dumpster. We should not construe the Legislature’s words to produce absurd and manifestly unjust results. A patchwork of liability and immunity is simply not endorsed by the text and spirit of 14 M.R.S. § 8104-A.
[¶ 39] In the instant case, Reid fell into a dumpster flush with the ground. It does not make sense to have a policy allowing suit to proceed as a result of a fall into a partially open dumpster and not allow a suit to proceed when the dumpster is totally open. This distinction does not come from the statute, see 14 M.R.S. § 8104-A(2), but comes instead from this Court’s interpretation of the statute. The Legislature did not intend for such inconsistent results, and it is the Court’s duty to prevent illogical and absurd results as a result of our interpretation. See Carroll v. Town of Rockport, 2003 ME 135, ¶ 23, 837 A.2d 148, 155; Brent Leasing Co. v. State Tax Assessor, 2001 ME 90, ¶ 6, 773 A.2d 457, 459.
[¶ 40] By this decision, the Court is further confusing an already confusing area. The Town of Mount Vernon allowed a dangerous situation to continue for a significant period of time. However, if. the same accident occurred with a partial concrete wall surrounding three sides of the dumpster area, this Court may have reached a different decision. This decision is not good public policy.
[¶41] Accordingly, I would vacate the trial court’s grant of a summary judgment for the Town.

. Title 14 M.R.S. § 8104-A(2) provides:
2. Public Buildings. A governmental entity *548is liable for its negligent acts or omissions in the construction, operation or maintenance of any public building or the appurtenances to any public building. Notwithstanding this subsection, a governmental entity is not liable for any claim which results from:
A.The construction, ownership, maintenance or use of:
(1) Unimproved land;
(2) Historic sites, including, but not limited to, memorials, as defined in Title 12, section 1801, subsection 5;
(3) Land, buildings, structures, facilities or equipment designed for use primarily by the public in connection with public outdoor recreation; or
(4)Dams;
B. The ownership, maintenance or use of any building acquired by a governmental entity for reasons of tax delinquency, from the date of foreclosure and until actual possession by the delinquent taxpayer or the taxpayer’s lessee or licensee has ceased for a period of 60 days; or
C. The ownership, maintenance or use of any building acquired by a governmental entity by eminent domain or by condemnation until actual possession by the former owner or the owner’s lessee or licensee has ceased for a period of 60 days.
14 M.R.S. § 8104-A(2)(2006).