Court Opinion

ID: 2824117
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-08-11 04:27:23.951567+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:31:12.353014
License: Public Domain

MEMORANDUM DECISION
                                                               Aug 04 2015, 8:49 am
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this
Memorandum Decision shall not be regarded as
precedent or cited before any court except for the
purpose of establishing the defense of res judicata,
collateral estoppel, or the law of the case.

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT                                    ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Stacy K. Newton                                           SOUTH SPENCER SCHOOL
Jackson Kelly PLLC                                        CORPORATION
Evansville, Indiana                                       Crystal G. Rowe
                                                          Kightlinger & Gray, LLP
                                                          New Albany, Indiana
                                                          Krystal Lechner
                                                          Kightlinger & Gray, LLP
                                                          Evansville, Indiana
                                                          ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
                                                          CLIFF HAGAN’S BOYS’ CLUB
                                                          Danny E. Glass
                                                          John J. Kreighbaum
                                                          Fine & Hatfield
                                                          Evansville, Indiana

                                             IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Grant Johnson, Minor Child, by                           August 4, 2015
his Mother and Father, Don                               Court of Appeals Case No.
Johnson and Janice Johnson,                              74A04-1501-PL-16
                                                         Appeal from the Spencer Circuit
Appellants-Plaintiffs,
                                                         Court
        v.                                               The Honorable Jonathan A. Dartt,
                                                         Judge

South Spencer School                                     Cause No. 74C01-1205-PL-284
Corporation and Cliff Hagan’s

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1501-PL-16 | August 4, 2015    Page 1 of 13
      Boys’ Club of Owensboro,
      Kentucky, Inc.,
      Appellees-Defendants

      Baker, Judge.

[1]   Grant Johnson (Grant), by his mother, Janice Johnson (Janice), and his father,

      Don Johnson (Don), appeals the trial court’s order granting summary judgment

      in favor of South Spencer School Corporation (the School) and Cliff Hagan’s

      Boys’ Club of Owensboro, Kentucky (Boys’ Club). The Johnsons filed a

      complaint against the School and the Boys’ Club for negligence stemming from

      multiple instances of verbal and physical bullying by other students against

      Grant. The trial court found that there were no genuine issues of material fact

      and that the School and the Boys’ Club were entitled to judgment as a matter of

      law. We disagree, finding issues of material fact rendering summary judgment

      inappropriate. We reverse and remand for further proceedings.

                                                     Facts
[2]   Grant was a second grade student at Rockport Elementary School during the

      2010-11 school year and a third grade student during the 2011-12 school year.

      During recess times at school, one teacher and one teacher’s aide were assigned

      to monitor three classes of students on the playground, which generally equated

      to approximately 60 students.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1501-PL-16 | August 4, 2015   Page 2 of 13
                                  Second Grade: At School
[3]   From August 2010 through February 2011, Grant was allegedly bullied by

      Preston, a classmate. Specifically, Preston frequently called Grant names and

      hit him. Janice and Don spoke with Grant’s teacher and Scot French, the

      school principal, regarding these incidents. The Johnsons allege that Preston

      picked on Grant on a daily basis.

[4]   In February 2011, as Grant’s class was lining up to go inside after recess,

      Preston turned around and scratched Grant on the face. Grant has a scar on his

      face as a result of the incident. Grant reported the incident to his teacher, who

      told him he should have reported it to the recess teacher. Janice also spoke

      with French about the altercation.

[5]   In March 2011, Preston grabbed Grant’s arm and squeezed his fingernails into

      Grant. Janice reported the incident to French, who followed up with the boys.

      Preston admitted to the allegation. French made Preston apologize to Grant,

      took away Preston’s recess for a week, and told the boys they were not allowed

      to play together for the remainder of the school year. The boys were also

      physically separated in their classroom and were not permitted to stand in line

      together.

[6]   During that same period of time, Sebastien, another classmate, frequently stole

      items out of Grant’s backpack. When Grant reported the thefts to his teacher,

      she demanded proof of the theft. Grant subsequently felt that his teacher did

      not trust him, so he stopped telling her when things happened to him.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1501-PL-16 | August 4, 2015   Page 3 of 13
                               Second Grade: At Boys’ Club
[7]    The Boys’ Club, an entity entirely separate from the School, ran the after school

       care program that Grant attended. During the after school program, multiple

       kids frequently called Grant “fat” and “gay.” Grant reported the harassment to

       employees of the Boys’ Club, who advised Grant to ignore the name-calling.

[8]    At some point during second grade, Jarron, a fifth grade student, picked up

       Grant’s handheld Nintendo DS and refused to give it back to Grant. The boys

       argued over the DS, Jarron continued to refuse to return the DS to grant, and

       the DS got broken during the struggle. Grant began crying and reported the

       incident to Boys’ Club employees, who made Jarron sit in time out.

[9]    In May 2011, Grant and Myah, a fifth-grade student, were playing jump rope

       together. A Boys’ Club employee observed Myah “pull the rope around

       [Grant’s] neck maliciously.” Appellants’ App. p. 247. Grant was left with a

       rope burn around his neck, and received medical treatment as a result of the

       incident.

                                     Third Grade: At School
[10]   In August 2011, during recess, Grant had given a Pokemon card to a friend to

       hold. Preston took the card and refused to return it. Grant and another student

       approached Preston to retrieve the card. Preston grabbed Grant on the wrist,

       causing bruising, and Grant pushed Preston. Janice reported the incident to

       Grant’s teacher. Grant and Preston had been deliberately assigned to different

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1501-PL-16 | August 4, 2015   Page 4 of 13
       third grade classrooms; after this incident, they were instructed to stay away

       from each other during recess.

                                 Third Grade: At Boys’ Club
[11]   In September 2011, at the after school program, Grant was swinging on a

       swingset when Desmond, a fifth grade student, pulled Grant’s leg. This action

       caused Grant to spin and repeatedly hit the poles, causing severe bruising to his

       legs. Desmond was one of the students who repeatedly called Grant “fat” and

       “gay” on a near-daily basis.

[12]   After the incident on the swings, the Johnsons decided that the School was no

       longer a safe place for Grant. They transferred him to a private school in the

       middle of his third grade year.

[13]   On May 24, 2012, the Johnsons filed a complaint against the School and the

       Boys’ Club for negligence. On December 12, 2013, the School filed a motion

       for summary judgment, and on August 12, 2014, the Boys’ Club filed a motion

       for summary judgment. The trial court summarily granted both motions on

       December 16, 2014. The Johnsons now appeal.

                                    Discussion and Decision

                                      I. Standard of Review
[14]   Our standard of review on summary judgment is well established:

               We review summary judgment de novo, applying the same standard as
               the trial court: “Drawing all reasonable inferences in favor of . . . the

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1501-PL-16 | August 4, 2015   Page 5 of 13
               non-moving parties, summary judgment is appropriate ‘if the
               designated evidentiary matter shows that there is no genuine issue as
               to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment
               as a matter of law.’ ” Williams v. Tharp, 914 N.E.2d 756, 761 (Ind.
               2009) (quoting T.R. 56(C)). “A fact is ‘material’ if its resolution would
               affect the outcome of the case, and an issue is ‘genuine’ if a trier of fact
               is required to resolve the parties’ differing accounts of the truth, or if
               the undisputed material facts support conflicting reasonable
               inferences.” Id. (internal citations omitted).
               The initial burden is on the summary-judgment movant to
               “demonstrate [ ] the absence of any genuine issue of fact as to a
               determinative issue,” at which point the burden shifts to the non-
               movant to “come forward with contrary evidence” showing an issue
               for the trier of fact. Id. at 761–62 (internal quotation marks and
               substitution omitted). And “[a]lthough the non-moving party has the
               burden on appeal of persuading us that the grant of summary
               judgment was erroneous, we carefully assess the trial court’s decision
               to ensure that he was not improperly denied his day in
               court.” McSwane v. Bloomington Hosp. & Healthcare Sys., 916 N.E.2d
               906, 909–10 (Ind. 2009) (internal quotation marks omitted).
       Hughley v. State, 15 N.E.3d 1000, 1003 (Ind. 2014).

[15]   Our Supreme Court has very recently cautioned that “[a]s long as competent

       evidence has been designated in response to a summary judgment motion, . . .

       ‘weighing [the evidence]—no matter how decisively the scales may seem to

       tip—[is] a matter for trial, not summary judgment.’” Stafford v. Szymanowski, 31

       N.E.3d 959, 963 (Ind. 2015) (quoting Hughley, 15 N.E.3d at 1005-06). In other

       words, if any weighing of evidence—of the facts—is required, then summary

       judgment is inappropriate.

[16]   It is well accepted that “[u]nder Indiana summary judgment procedure, a

       nonmovant is not required to come forward with contrary evidence until the

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1501-PL-16 | August 4, 2015   Page 6 of 13
       party seeking summary judgment demonstrates the absence of a genuine issue

       of material fact.” Kennedy v. Murphy, 659 N.E.2d 506, 508 (Ind. 1995). In other

       words, “[m]erely alleging that the plaintiff has failed to produce evidence on

       each element [of a cause of action] is insufficient to entitle the defendant to

       summary judgment under Indiana law.” Deuitch v. Fleming, 746 N.E.2d 993

       (Ind. Ct. App. 2001).

                                           II. Cross-Appeal
[17]   The School raises one argument on cross-appeal, which is that the trial court

       improperly considered certain supplemental evidence designated by the

       Johnsons in response to the School’s summary judgment motion. In

       responding to the School’s summary judgment motion, the Johnsons timely

       filed a brief and a volume of exhibits. A designation of specific facts that the

       Johnsons believed supported a denial of summary judgment was included in

       their brief. Specifically, the brief referred to specific pages contained in multiple

       depositions. The volume of exhibits inadvertently omitted some of those

       depositions, as the first draft of the document was completed before all

       depositions were complete. When the Johnsons became aware of the omission,

       they filed a supplemental volume of exhibits. The School had copies of all of

       the depositions before the brief was filed, and no new testimony from those

       depositions was designated other than that already cited in the brief.

[18]   We see no reason to conclude that the trial court should have declined to

       consider the Johnsons’ supplemental designation of evidence. The error was

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1501-PL-16 | August 4, 2015   Page 7 of 13
       inadvertent and the School suffered no prejudice as a result. Therefore, we

       move on to consider the appeal.

                                             III. Negligence
[19]   To prove a negligence claim, a plaintiff must show that (1) the defendant owed

       plaintiff a duty, (2) the defendant breached that duty, and (3) plaintiff’s injury

       was proximately caused by the breach. Winfrey v. NLMP, Inc., 963 N.E.2d 609,

       612 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012). Whether a defendant owes a duty of care to a

       plaintiff is a question of law for the court to decide. Id. To determine whether a

       duty exists, we must consider the relationship between the parties, the

       reasonable foreseeability of harm to the person injured, and public policy

       concerns. Yost v. Wabash College, 3 N.E.3d 509, 515 (Ind. 2014). “Summary

       judgment is rarely appropriate in negligence cases because they are particularly

       fact-sensitive and are governed by a standard of the objective reasonable person,

       which is best applied by a jury after hearing all the evidence.” Kramer v. Catholic

       Charities of Diocese of Fort Wayne-S. Bend, Inc., 32 N.E.3d 227, 231 (Ind. 2015).

                                                   A. Duty
[20]   The School and the Boys’ Club both concede that they owed Grant a duty of

       care during school hours and after-school hours, respectively. All parties agree

       that Miller v. Griesel, 261 Ind. 604, 308 N.E.2d 701 (Ind. 1974), controls. The

       Miller Court held that there is “a duty for school authorities to exercise

       reasonable care and supervision for the safety of the children under their

       control. . . . [T]he relationship of school pupils and school authorities should

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1501-PL-16 | August 4, 2015   Page 8 of 13
       call into play the well recognized duty in tort law that persons entrusted with

       children . . . have a special responsibility recognized by the common law to

       supervise their charges.” Id. at 611, 308 N.E.2d at 706. This duty may, in some

       instances, require the school “to anticipate and guard against conduct of

       children by which they may harm themselves or others.” Id. at 612, 308 N.E.2d

       at 706. The Miller Court also cautioned, however, that “schools are not

       intended to be insurers of the safety of their pupils, nor are they strictly liable for

       any injuries that may occur to them.” Id.

[21]   In this case, therefore, it can be held as a matter of law that the School and the

       Boys’ Club owed a duty “to exercise ordinary and reasonable care for the safety

       of” Grant while he was in their care. Id.

                                                 B. Breach
[22]   Next, we turn to the issue of breach of duty. Whether there has been a breach

       of duty in a negligence action is generally a question of fact that is inappropriate

       for resolution by summary judgment. Henderson v. Reid Hosp. and Healthcare

       Servs., 17 N.E.3d 311, 320 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014), trans. denied. Only if all facts

       are undisputed and only one inference can be drawn from those facts can the

       issue of breach of duty be decided on summary judgment as a matter of law. Id.

[23]   In this case, there are a number of incidents and ongoing behaviors that form

       the basis of the Johnsons’ complaint, as well as actions taken by School officials

       and Boys’ Club employees in response:

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1501-PL-16 | August 4, 2015   Page 9 of 13
     Ongoing name-calling during both school and after-school hours.
       Janice states that she reported the name-calling to School and Boys’
          Club officials. They deny receiving any such information, so no
          action was taken.
     At school in February 2011, Preston scratched Grant in the face, leaving
      a scar.
       In response, Grant’s second grade teacher spoke to the class about
          getting along and being nice to one another. She spoke with Preston
          and Grant about proper behavior, reviewed the school behavior plan,
          and took one recess away from Preston.
     At school in March 2011, Preston grabbed Grant’s arm and squeezed
      with his fingernails.
       In response, French followed up with the students. Preston admitted
          the allegations. French made Preston apologize, took away one week
          of recess, and told the boys they could not play together for the rest of
          the school year.
       Grant and Preston were also separated in the classroom and were not
          permitted to stand in line together. Their teacher worked with the
          class on thinking before reacting.
     After school in May 2011, Myah pulled a jump rope around Grant’s neck
      in a malicious manner.
       In response, the Boys’ Club supervisor who observed the incident
          notified Janice.
     During the 2010-11 school year, Sebastien stole items out of Grant’s
      backpack.
       In response, Grant’s teacher demanded proof before searching a
          particular backpack. She would tell the whole class that if the missing
          item showed up, the class would get to have its last recess period.
          Frequently, the item would then be “found.” The teacher instructed
          the children not to steal from each other.
       Eventually, the teacher forbade the children from bringing outside
          toys to school.
     After school during the 2010-11 school year, Jarron broke Grant’s
      Nintendo DS.
       In response, Boys’ Club employees made Jarron sit in time out.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1501-PL-16 | August 4, 2015   Page 10 of 13
            During school in August 2011, Preston refused to return a Pokemon card
             to Grant and grabbed Grant on the wrist, causing bruising.
              In response, French spoke with the boys, who admitted to the
                altercation. French stated that the boys could not play together
                during the new school year.
            After school in September 2011, Desmond pulled Grant’s legs while
             Grant was swinging, causing severe bruising to Grant’s legs.
              In response, the Boys’ Club director spoke to his staff, but they had
                not written up the incident because Grant did not report it at the time
                it occurred.

       Neither the School nor the Boys’ Club took any remedial action with respect to

       the student to teacher ratio during recess time or after-school hours.

       Additionally, neither entity took any steps with respect to the verbal abuse

       Grant was allegedly receiving on an ongoing basis.

[24]   There is a genuine issue of material fact regarding whether the School and the

       Boys’ Club were aware of the ongoing name-calling. Moreover, while the

       School and the Boys’ Club addressed issues as they occurred, reasonable

       factfinders could differ as to whether the actions they took went far enough to

       meet a standard of reasonable and ordinary care. In other words, we believe

       that the factfinder should resolve the question of whether the School and the

       Boys’ Club breached their duty of care to Grant by failing to take additional,

       remedial actions when it became apparent that there was an ongoing problem,

       and/or by failing to provide adequate supervision. We express no opinion

       about whether a breach actually occurred; instead, we merely find that issues of

       fact remain that render this case inappropriate for resolution by summary

       judgment.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1501-PL-16 | August 4, 2015   Page 11 of 13
                                                C. Causation
[25]   The final element of a negligence claim is causation. The defendant’s conduct

       is the proximate cause of a plaintiff’s injury when the injury is “the natural and

       probable consequence of the negligent act which, in light of the attending

       circumstances, could have been reasonably foreseen or anticipated.” Arnold v.

       F.J. Hab, Inc., 745 N.E.2d 912, 917 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001). Summary judgment is

       almost always inappropriate on the issue of proximate cause. Florio v. Tilley,

       875 N.E.2d 253, 255 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007). If, however, a case is plain and

       undisputable, and only a single inference or conclusion may be drawn from the

       evidence, the question of proximate cause may be determined as a matter of

       law. Miller v. Bernard, 957 N.E.2d 685, 697 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011).

[26]   Similar to the element of breach of duty, we find that whether the injuries

       suffered by Grant were the natural and probable consequences of the School’s

       and Boys’ Club’s failure to take further, remedial actions, and/or by failure to

       provide adequate supervision, is best answered by a trier of fact. We cannot

       find that there is only a single inference or conclusion to be drawn from the

       evidence in this record.1

[27]   We emphasize, again, our Supreme Court’s recent reminder “[a]s long as

       competent evidence has been designated in response to a summary judgment

       1
        As with the element of breach, we express no opinion on whether any alleged breach of duty was the
       proximate cause of Grant’s injuries. We merely find that the issue should be resolved by a factfinder.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1501-PL-16 | August 4, 2015             Page 12 of 13
       motion, . . . ‘weighing [the evidence]—no matter how decisively the scales may

       seem to tip—[is] a matter for trial, not summary judgment.’” Stafford, 31

       N.E.3d at 963 (quoting Hughley, 15 N.E.3d at 1005-06). Bearing that in mind,

       we can only find in this case that the trial court erred by granting summary

       judgment in favor of the School and the Boys’ Club on the Johnsons’

       complaint.

[28]   The judgment of the trial court is reversed and remanded for further

       proceedings.

       Najam, J., and Robb, J., concur.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1501-PL-16 | August 4, 2015   Page 13 of 13