Court Opinion

ID: 9582950
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 22:33:04.851255+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:38:47.019290
License: Public Domain

FOSHIEM, Chief Justice
(concurring specially).
The majority properly concludes that summary judgment on Zens’ negligence, nuisance, and strict liability was appropriate but that a material issue of fact exists precluding summary judgment as to the “out-of-repair” allegations. However, the majority finds the material issue of fact to be whether the Country Club Road “came out of repair” because of the widening and deepening of the ditch. The record reveals the real question of fact to be whether the proximate cause of the accident was the widening and deepening of the ditch or a rough road surface, if either. Plaintiff and another passenger in the bus affy that the bumpy road surface caused the bus to go into the ditch. Conversely, one of the investigating officers found the surface to be dry, smooth, and recently bladed. Therefore, it appears a material issue of fact does exist. It follows that a summary judgment on all counts was improvidently granted.
A finding that widening and deepening the ditch caused the accident is not conclusive of liability, however, because that determination could be considered either an act of repair or a reconstruction and redesign of the road. Since finding the latter would preclude liability, it may become a question of law for the trial court to apply SDCL §§ 31-32-10, and -11 and determine whether a widening and deepening of the ditch in 1978 was an act of construction protected by sovereign immunity or an act causing the road to come out of repair which subjects the Township to liability.