Court Opinion

ID: 9850195
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 04:53:17.133468+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:20:32.933246
License: Public Domain

MR. JUSTICE MORRISON
concurs in part and dissents in part as follows:
I concur in the resolution of all issues discussed in the majority opinion with the exception of the first issue. I do agree that the Montana Scaffolding Act applies to the facts of this case. This dissent addresses the question of “control”; discusses the relative position of Palmer/Duncan and Rice Motors; comes to a different conclusion regarding disposition of the first issue.
The majority opinion states:
“Finding the Act applies, we reverse and remand to the District Court to determine proximate cause and liability under rules set forth in State ex rel. Great Falls Nat’l Bank v. District Court (1969), 154 Mont. 336, 463 P.2d 326.”
The holding of Great Falls National Bank insulates the owner from liability absent evidence of actual control. This holding in the Great Falls Bank case was modified in Stepanek v. Kober Construction (1981), 38 St.Rep. 385, 625 P.2d 51. The modification in Stepanek changes the resolution of this issue.
In Ulman v. Schwieger, (1932) 92 Mont. 331, 12 P.2d 856 we held that one who undertakes to perform an inherently dangerous activity has a nondelegable duty and cannot be *348immunized by engaging the services of an independent contractor. The Great Falls Bank case addressed the subject of nondelegable duty but stated that an owner did not have a nondelegable duty running to employees of a subcontractor. If that rule were applied in this case, Rice Motors would not have a nondelegable duty that ran to the plaintiff here. However, in Stepanek we held that the 1972 constitution mandated that employees of subcontractors be treated equally with others. Therefore, we held that nondelegable duties do, in fact, run to employees of subcontractors. If Rice has a nondelegable duty arising out of the performance of inherently dangerous work activities, then that nondelegable duty runs to Mydlarz, the plaintiff in this case.
I agree with the majority opinion that Palmer/Duncan has a nondelegable duty on the basis of the responsibility assumed by contract. This is in line with our holding in the Stepanek case. I would further hold that Rice Motors, although it assumed no duty by contract, nevertheless has a nondelegable duty to see that inherently dangerous work-related activities are safely performed and that such a duty cannot be delegated to Palmer/Duncan so as to insulate Rice from liability. I believe such a holding comports with the law of Ulman v. Schwieger, supra.
The Scaffolding Act does not identify those who have the duties imposed by the Act. I would hold that the duty is first imposed upon the owner. If the owner engages a general contractor, that contractor also assumes the responsibilities imposed by the Act. For the reasons previously mentioned, neither of these two parties can effectively delegate their responsibilities and thereby escape liability for violation of the provisions of the Act.
Once the Scaffolding Act is applied to the facts of this case, liability necessarily attaches. There unquestionably was a failure causing the plaintiff’s injury. Under the Act, contributory negligence is not a defense. Therefore, I would direct a verdict on liability in favor of plaintiff and remand for a new trial on damages.