Court Opinion

ID: 9579853
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:59:18.057871+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:35:50.234751
License: Public Domain

R. J. Danhof, J.
Plaintiffs Ethel and Raymond Listanski appeal as of right from the circuit court’s orders granting defendant Canton Township’s motion for summary disposition pursuant to MCR 2.116(C)(7). We affirm.
On August 25, 1989, Ethel Listanski slipped and fell on a public sidewalk adjacent to a county road in front of a residence in Canton Township. The plaintiffs brought suit against the township and George Gornell, the owner of the residence, alleging that the sidewalk was not in reasonable repair. The trial court summarily dismissed the township, finding that the highway exception to governmental immunity did not apply because the township did not have jurisdiction over the sidewalk upon which Ethel fell.
On appeal, plaintiffs contend that the township *358has jurisdiction over the sidewalk and that the highway exception to governmental immunity therefore applied. We disagree.
The defective highway exception to governmental immunity applies where a governmental agency’s failure to maintain in reasonable repair a highway under its jurisdiction causes bodily injury. MCL 691.1402; MSA 3.996(102). This exception applies to municipal corporations. MCL 691.1401(a) and (d); MSA 3.996(lÓl)(a) and (d). The term "highway” includes sidewalks. MCL 691.1401(e); MSA 3.996(101)(e). .
Defendant asserted that the county had jurisdiction over the road adjacent to the sidewalk and that it did not have jurisdiction to repair the sidewalk without the county’s permission. In support of this allegation, defendant submitted the affidavit of Tom Casari, the engineer for Canton Township. Plaintiffs rely upon Jones v Ypsilanti, 26 Mich App 574; 182 NW2d 795 (1970), in asserting that the township and the county had concurrent jurisdiction over the sidewalk. Jones involved a plaintiff who fell on a sidewalk along a state trunk line highway in a city. This Court construed Const 1963, art 5, § 28 and art 7, § 29 in finding that the city retained reasonable control over state trunk line highways within its boundaries. Art 5, § 28 established a state highway commission to obtain jurisdiction and control over trunk line highways. Art 7, § 29 provides in relevant part:
Except as otherwise provided in this constitution the right of all counties, townships, cities and villages to the reasonable control of their highways, streets, alleys and public places is hereby reserved to such local units of government.
There were no statutory provisions. limiting the *359city’s control over the sidewalks within its boundaries. Thus, this Court rejected the city’s claim that it did not have jurisdiction over the sidewalk.
This case is distinguishable because a township is involved. MCL 41.288(1); MSA 9.585(3)(1) authorizes a township, through its board, to install sidewalks along a highway, but contains the following limitation:
A highway under the jurisdiction of the director of the state transportation department or the board of county road commissioners shall not be improved under this act without the written approval of the director of the state transportation department or the board of county road commissioners.
Further, MCL 41.288a; MSA 9.585(4) authorizes a township to enact ordinances relating to sidewalk maintenance and repairs along county roads, but further requires the approval of the county. Therefore, the Legislature has limited a township’s jurisdiction over the sidewalks within its boundaries by requiring the county road commissioners’ approval of repairs. There also is no provision imposing a duty upon the township to repair sidewalks adjacent to county or state roads. See Court v Clark, 19 Mich App 261, 263; 172 NW2d 545 (1969). Accordingly, this Court finds that Canton Township did not have jurisdiction to repair the sidewalk upon which plaintiff Ethel Listanski fell, and that the court did not err in summarily dismissing plaintiffs’ claims.
Affirmed.
Hood, P.J., concurred.