Court Opinion

ID: 9719211
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 07:45:52.308276+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:24:05.212624
License: Public Domain

Danhof, C.J.
(dissenting). I respectfully dissent from the majority’s conclusion that the magistrate abused his discretion in binding over defendant on the charge of involuntary manslaughter.
If it appears that a felony has been committed for which there is probable cause to charge the defendant, it is the statutory duty of the magistrate to bind the defendant over for trial. MCL 766.13; MSA 28.931; People v Hill, 433 Mich 464, 469; 446 NW2d 140 (1989). On review, the magistrate’s findings will not be disturbed unless there has been an abuse of discretion. People v Talley, 410 Mich 378, 385; 301 NW2d 809 (1981). Part of the magistrate’s duty is to judge the credibility of witnesses. Id. Regard is to be given to the special opportunity of the magistrate to judge the credibility of the witnesses who appear before him. See In re Miller, 433 Mich 331, 337; 445 NW2d 161 (1989).
*26I dissent because the evidence in this case clearly shows that at common law and under osha or miosha a duty was owed to the decedent to prevent him from being the victim of carbon monoxide intoxication. Careful reading of the preliminary examination transcript reveals that although defendant was not the deceased’s employer, he was delegated the responsibility for assigning trucks and work areas to the employees. As supervisor, defendant was also responsible for gathering and reporting maintenance problems with the trucks to the company’s mechanics. Although defendant may not have had a duty to repair the vehicle himself, since he was not a mechanic, he clearly had a duty to remove from service trucks which were in a dangerous condition. Since defendant was the supervisor over the employees, he also had the capacity, means and ability to prevent the decedent from going out in the defective truck. In addition, there was conflicting evidence that the condition of the decedent’s truck had been addressed to defendant prior to decedent’s death. Nevertheless, a magistrate should not discharge a defendant when the evidence conflicts or raises a reasonable doubt as to guilt. Hill, supra at 469. Such questions are for the trier of fact. Id.
Because there was no abuse of discretion in this case on the part of the magistrate in binding over defendant on the charge of involuntary manslaughter, the trial court should not have substituted its judgment for that of the magistrate. I would reverse the judgment of the trial court and reinstate the information.