Court Opinion

ID: 4127869
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-02-18 00:33:59.426965+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:31:26.613893
License: Public Domain

TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS

                                    OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

                                              State of California

                                                DANIEL E. LUNGREN

                                                  Attorney General

                                  ______________________________________

                       OPINION          :
                                        :          No. 95-305
                   of                   :
                                        :          July 27, 1995
          DANIEL E. LUNGREN             :
            Attorney General            :
                                        :
           GREGORY GONOT                :
         Deputy Attorney General        :
                                        :
______________________________________________________________________________

           THE HONORABLE DOMINIC CORTESE, MEMBER OF THE CALIFORNIA
STATE ASSEMBLY, has requested an opinion on the following question:

                In order to acquire land for a county-wide recreational trail system, may a county agree
to indemnify private landowners from liability for injuries sustained by persons using the trails
adjoining or traversing the landowners' properties?

                                                     CONCLUSION

                In order to acquire land for a county-wide recreational trail system, a county may agree
to indemnify private landowners from liability for injuries sustained by persons using the trails
adjoining or traversing the landowners' properties.

                                                       ANALYSIS

               The question presented concerns a county-wide recreational trails master plan which a
county seeks to implement as part of its general plan (Gov. Code, ' 65300-65403).1 The aim of the

    1
      A county is required to adopt a general plan for its physical development that includes a designation of "the proposed
general distribution and general location and extent of the uses of the land for housing, business, industry, open space,
including agriculture, natural resources, recreation, and enjoyment of scenic beauty . . . ." (Gov. Code, ' 65302, subd. (a).)
A general plan may also contain "[a] recreation element showing a comprehensive system of areas and public sites for

                                                             1.                                                     95-305

master plan is to provide a network of recreational trails that connects cities to one another and
connects the cities to the county's regional open space areas. In order to implement the program, the
county must acquire property from private landowners for the trail system. Such acquisitions would be
in the form of easements or outright purchases of property. It is expected that the landowners will not
agree to convey property or grant easements for the trails unless the county agrees to indemnify them
from liability for injuries sustained by users of the trails.2 The indemnity3 would apply to liability for
all injuries except those caused by a landowner's willful or malicious conduct. We are asked to
determine whether a county may legally provide such indemnification when acquiring the property or
rights thereto.

               Preliminarily we note that the Legislature has granted immunity from liability to private
property owners in specific circumstances. Government Code section 831.4 provides:

                   "A public entity, public employee, or a grantor of a public easement to a public
          entity for any of the following purposes, is not liable for an injury caused by a condition
          of:

                  "(a) Any unpaved road which provides access to fishing, hunting, camping,
          hiking, riding, including animal and all types of vehicular riding, water sports,
          recreational or scenic areas and which is not a (1) city street or highway or (2) county,
          state or federal highway or (3) public street or highway of a joint highway district,
          boulevard district, bridge and highway district or similar district formed for the
          improvement or building of public streets or highways.

                    "(b) Any trail used for the above purposes.

                  "(c) Any paved trail, walkway, path, or sidewalk on an easement of way which
          has been granted to a public entity, which easement provides access to any unimproved
          property, so long a such public entity shall reasonably attempt to provide adequate
          warnings of the existence of any condition of the paved trail, walkway, path, or
          sidewalk which constitutes a hazard or safety. Warnings required by this subdivision
          shall only be required where pathways are paved, and such requirement shall not be
          construed to be a standard of care for any unpaved pathways or roads."

Under Government Code section 831.4, a public entity enjoys absolute immunity from liability for
injuries caused by a physical defect of a trail used for hiking, riding, or access to recreational or scenic
areas. (State of California v. Superior Court (1995) 32 Cal. App. 4th 325, 328; Armenio v. County of

recreation . . . ." (Gov. Code, ' 65303, subd. (a).)

     2
      Users of the trails would include those who, in connection with their use of the trails, are injured while trespassing on
adjoining private property.

     3
      "Indemnity is a contract by which one engages to save another from a legal consequence of the conduct of one of the
parties, or of some other person." (Civ. Code, ' 2772.)

                                                              2.                                                     95-305

San Mateo (1994) 28 Cal. App. 4th 413, 416-417; Grannuzzi v. State of California (1993) 17
Cal. App. 4th 462, 466.) This immunity is also extended under the terms of the statute to a private
property owner who grants a public easement to a public entity for trail purposes.

               An even broader grant of immunity is contained in Civil Code section 846,4
which provides:

                "An owner of any estate or any other interest in real property, whether
        possessory or nonpossessory, owes no duty of care to keep the premises safe for entry
        or use by others for any recreational purpose or to give any warning of hazardous
        conditions, uses of, structures, or activities on such premises to persons entering for
        such purpose, except as provided in this section.

                 "A `recreational purpose,' as used in this section, includes such activities as
        fishing, hunting, camping, water sports, hiking, spelunking, sport parachuting, riding,
        including animal riding, snowmobiling, and all other types of vehicular riding, rock
        collecting, sightseeing, picnicking, nature study, nature contacting, recreational
        gardening, gleaning, hang gliding, winter sports, and viewing or enjoying historical,
        archaeological, scenic, natural, or scientific sites.

                "An owner of any estate or any other interest in real property, whether
        possessory or nonpossessory, who gives permission to another for entry or use for the
        above purpose upon the premises does not thereby (a) extend any assurance that the
        premises are safe for such purpose, or (b) constitute the person to whom permission has
        been granted the legal status of an invitee or licensee to whom a duty of care is owed,
        or (c) assume responsibility for or incur liability for any injury to person or property
        caused by any act of such person to whom permission has been granted except as
        provided in this section.

                 "This section does not limit the liability which otherwise exists (a) for willful or
        malicious failure to guard or warn against a dangerous condition, use, structure or
        activity; or (b) for injury suffered in any case where permission to enter for the above
        purpose was granted for a consideration other than the consideration, if any, paid to said
        landowner by the state, or where consideration has been received from others for the
        same purpose; or (c) to any persons who are expressly invited rather than merely
        permitted to come upon the premises by the landowner.

                "Nothing in this section creates a duty of care or ground of liability for injury to
        person or property."

Section 846 eliminates the property owner's duty of care to keep the premises safe for entry or use by
others for any recreational purpose. It also eliminates any duty of the owner to warn recreational users

   4
    All references hereafter to the Civil Code are by section number only.

                                                            3.                                          95-305

of "hazardous conditions, uses of, structures or activities on such premises." The purpose of the
section 846 is to "`constrain the growing tendency of private landowners to bar public access to their
land for recreational uses out of fear of incurring tort liability.'" (Johnson v. Unocal Corp. (1993) 21
Cal. App. 4th 310, 315.)

                 A "recreational purpose," as that term is used in section 846, is defined to include a
wide variety of recreational pursuits, such as hiking, fishing, cave exploring, hang gliding, picnicking,
and sightseeing. This statutory immunity has also been held to apply to various activities which are
not expressly specified in the statute, such as tree climbing (Valladares v. Stone (1990) 218 Cal. App. 3d
362) and playing on abandoned farm equipment (Ornelas v. Randolph (1993) 4 Cal. 4th 1095).
However, section 846 specifically removes immunity when the owner invites the trespasser onto the
property, receives consideration for permission to enter onto the property,5 or willfully or maliciously
fails to guard against the condition that causes the injury.

               Under the California Recreational Trails Act (Pub. Resources Code, '' 5070-5077.8),
counties and other public agencies are encouraged to develop a system of recreational trails in their
areas. (Pub. Resources Code, '' 5074, 5074.1.) Public Resources Code section 5070.5 states:

                   "The Legislature hereby declares that it is the policy of the state to:

                 "(a) Increase accessibility and enhance the use, enjoyment, and understanding
         of California's scenic, natural, historic, and cultural resources.

                 "(b) Encourage hiking, horseback riding, and bicycling as important
         contributions to the health and welfare of the state's population.

                  "(c) Provide for the use of recreational trails by physically disabled persons, the
         elderly, and others in need of graduated trails with special safety features, particularly
         in conjunction with heritage corridors.

                   "(d) Increase opportunities for recreational boating on designated waterways.

                  "(e) Increase opportunities for use of recreational vehicles in designated areas
         and trail corridors pursuant to Chapter 1.25 (commencing with Section 5090.01.)

                 "(f) Provide for the development and maintenance of a statewide system of
         recreational and interpretive trails, including heritage corridors.

    5
      Execution of a hold harmless agreement which requires a user to indemnify the owner from claims that might arise from
its use of the property has been held insufficient to constitute consideration that would remove the immunity granted by
section 846. (Johnson v. Unocal Corp., supra, 21 Cal. App. 4th 310.) "A landowner must gain some immediate and
reasonably direct advantage, usually in the form of an entrance fee, before the exception to immunity for consideration comes
into play." (Id., at p. 317.)

                                                             4.                                                     95-305

               "(g) Increase the recreational and educational use of public roads by developing
       guides, maps, and other interpretive materials concerning significant historical,
       agricultural, scenic, and other resource areas.

               "(h) Encourage the development by cities, counties, district, and private groups
       of recreational and interpretive trails, including heritage corridors."

State funds are available to counties and other public agencies to acquire and develop recreational
trails. (Pub. Resources Code, ' 5072.8.) Contracts may be executed by the state with private
landowners under this program (Pub. Resources Code, ' 5074.7), as well as with other governmental
agencies (Pub. Resources Code, ' 5074.5). Significantly Public Resources Code section 5075.4
provides:

               "No adjoining property owner is liable for any actions of any type resulting
       from, or caused by, trail users trespassing on adjoining property, and no adjoining
       property owner is liable for any actions of any type started on, or taking place within,
       the boundaries of the trail arising out of the activities of other parties."

                 The Legislature has also expressly authorized indemnity agreements between private
landowners and state or local governments. For example, if an owner of agricultural land subject to a
Williamson Act contract for property tax purposes (Gov. Code, '' 51200-51295) agrees to permit use
of the land for public recreation, a city or county may agree to indemnity the owner under the terms of
Government Code section 51238.5:

               "If an owner of land agrees to permit the use of his land for free public
       recreation, the board or council may agree to indemnify such owner against all claims
       arising from such public use. The owner's agreement that his land be used for free,
       public recreation shall not be construed as an implied dedication to such use."

Another example involves an easement or right-of-way obtained by the state pursuant to the terms of
Government Code section 14662.5:

                "In any agreement entered into whereby the state obtains a grant of easement,
       lease, license, right-of-way, or right of entry (including without limitation, a
       right-of-way, or right of entry on or over property of any railroad), the state agency or
       its director entering into the agreement on behalf of the state may agree to indemnify
       and hold harmless the grantor, lessor, or licensor and may agree to repair or pay for any
       damage proximately caused by reason of the uses authorized by such easement, lease,
       license, right-of-way, or right or entry agreement."

                 With these various statutory immunities and indemnity agreement authorizations for
private landowners in mind, we turn to the indemnity proposal being considered as part of a county's
efforts to obtain a county-wide recreational trail system. We find that the proposal does not involve
landowners extending invitations to trail users to come onto their properties or their giving permission
to do so in return for some type of payment. And, as previously noted, the proposed agreements would

                                                   5.                                              95-305

not cover injuries to trail users caused by the willful or malicious conduct of the private property
owners. Consequently, as a practical matter, indemnification would be largely limited to a landowner's
liability for injuries sustained by persons using the trails for a business or other non-recreational
purpose. Such a purpose was found, for example, in Potts v. Halsted Financial Corp. (1983) 142
Cal. App. 3d 727 [trespasser seeking to determine the type of construction used in beach homes] and
Gerkin v. Santa Clara Valley Water Dist. (1979) 95 Cal. App. 3d 1022 [trespasser using bridge as access
to a nearby supermarket].

                The primary issue raised by the indemnity proposal is whether it would violate the
Constitution as either a proscribed "gift" or the "lending of credit" by the county to the landowners.
Article XVI, section 6 of the Constitution provides:

                 "The Legislature shall have no power to give or to lend, or to authorize the
         giving or lending, of the credit of the State, or of any county, city and county, city,
         township or other political corporation or subdivision of the State now existing, or that
         may be hereafter established, in aid of or to any person, association, or corporation,
         whether municipal or otherwise, or to pledge the credit thereof, in any manner
         whatever, for the payment of the liabilities of any individual, association, municipal or
         other corporation whatever; nor shall it have power to make any gift or authorize the
         making of any gift, of any public money or thing of value to any individual, municipal
         or other corporation whatever . . . ."6

A similar prohibition applies to counties under Government Code section 23007:

                 "Except as specified in this chapter, a county shall not, in any manner, give or
         loan its credit to or in aid of any person or corporation. An indebtedness or liability
         incurred contrary to this chapter is void."

Would the inclusion of the indemnity clause in the county's contracts with the landowners constitute a
gift or the lending of credit within the meaning of article XVI, section 6 of the Constitution and
Government Code section 23007?

                 We answered such a question in 59 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 665, supra, where we examined
the authority of a county to execute an indemnification agreement with the state. We stated:

                 "To constitute a gift within the meaning of the constitutional prohibition here in
         question, there must be a gratuitous transfer of property, made voluntarily and without
         consideration. Yosemite Stage, etc. Co. v. Dunn, 83 Cal. 264 (1890). Indemnity
         clauses are common-place in the business world, and it is a reasonable and practical

    6
      Although article XVI, section 6 is a limitation on the power of the Legislature, it results in a limitation on the counties,
whose powers are derived from the Legislature. (59 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 665 (1976); see also 60 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 59
(1977).) Of course, mere statutory authorization, such as contained in Government Code section 51238.5, would be
insufficient to insulate the gift or loan from the constitutional prohibition.

                                                               6.                                                       95-305

        conclusion that the cost of indemnity is reflected in the negotiated contract price. As
        was said in People v. City of Long Beach, 51 Cal. 2d 875, 881 (1959): `It is clear,
        however, that the performance of a bona fide contract by a public body is not the
        making of a gift, . . .'" (Id., at p. 667.)

In 9 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 87, 90 (1947), we stated:

                ". . . it is quite clear under the authorities that `hold harmless' agreements are
        not within the provisions of Section 31, Article IV [now section 6, article XVI], where
        such agreements are merely a part of a plan carrying out a public purpose."

                A leading case concerning the constitutional prohibition against the making of gifts or
the lending of credit is County of Alameda v. Carleson (1971) 5 Cal. 3d 730. In Carleson the court
explained the meaning of the constitutional proscription:

                "It is generally held that in determining whether an appropriation of public
        funds is to be considered a gift, the primary question is whether the funds are to be used
        for a `public' or `private' purpose; the benefit to the state from an expenditure for a
        public purpose is in the nature of consideration and the funds expended are therefore
        not a gift even though private persons are benefited therefrom. [Citations.] The
        determination of what constitutes a public purpose is primarily a matter for the
        Legislature, and its discretion will not be disturbed by the courts so long as that
        determination has a reasonable basis. [Citations.] . . . "

Carleson has been followed by numerous court decisions and opinions of this office. (See, e.g.,
California Housing Finance Agency v. Elliot (1976) 17 Cal. 3d 575, 583 ["Under the public purpose
doctrine, public credit may be extended and public funds disbursed if a direct and substantial public
purpose is served and nonstate entities are benefited only as an incident to the public purpose"];
Winkelman v. City of Tiburon (1973) 32 Cal. App. 3d 834, 845-846; 77 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen 170, 173
(1994).)

               Here the county's master plan for a recreational trail system serves a public purpose by
promoting "the laudable goal of inducing owners to make their properties available for recreation."
(Ornelas v. Randolph, supra, 4 Cal.4th at 1107.) Inserting an indemnity clause into the contracts with
the landowners would serve a public purpose; it thus would not constitute a "gift" for purposes of the
Constitution. If the county purchases an insurance policy to cover losses under the indemnity
agreements or is self-insured to a stated maximum amount, no unconstitutional pledging of credit
would be involved. (See Miller v. Johnson (1935) 4 Cal. 2d 265, 267-268; 60 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen.,
supra, 61.) Even if the lending of credit were involved, it would be valid since it would be for a public
purpose. (See Veterans' Welfare Board v. Jordan (1922) 189 Cal. 124, 141; 60 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen.,
supra, 61.)

                 Finally we note that a city or county may not incur an indebtedness or liability
exceeding the income or revenue for that particular year without prior voter approval. Section 18 of
article XVI of the Constitution provides:

                                                    7.                                               95-305

                 "No county, city, town, township, board of education, or school district, shall
         incur any indebtedness or liability in any manner or for any purpose exceeding in any
         year the income and revenue provided for such year, without the assent of two-thirds of
         the qualified electors thereof, voting at an election to be held for that purpose, . . . nor
         unless before or at the time of incurring such indebtedness provision shall be made for
         the collection of an annual tax sufficient to pay the interest on such indebtedness as it
         falls due, and also provision to constitute a sinking fund for the payment of the
         principal thereof, on or before maturity, which shall not exceed forty years from the
         time of contracting the same; . . ."7

However, the voter requirement is inapplicable where the debt is contingent upon the happening of
some event. "A sum payable upon a contingency is not a debt, nor does it become a debt until the
contingency happens." (Doland v. Clark (1904) 143 Cal. 176, 181; accord, American Co. v. City of
Lakeport (1934) 220 Cal. 548, 557; see Bickerdike v. State (1904) 145 Cal. 682, 695-697; McBean v.
City of Fresno (1896) 112 Cal. 159, 168; 58 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 691, 695 (1975).) Here the indemnity
agreements would subject the county only to "[a] sum payable upon a contingency."

                 We therefore conclude that in order to acquire land for a county-wide recreational trail
system, a county may agree to indemnify private landowners for injuries sustained by persons using the
trails adjoining or traversing the landowners' properties.

                                                           *****

    7
     The Constitution places a voter approval requirement upon the creation of debt at the state level as well (Cal. Const., art.
XVI, ' 1) and the two limitations have been construed together due to their common language and purpose. (See Dean v.
Kuchel (1980) 35 Cal. 2d 444, 446; In re California Toll Bridge Authority (1931) 212 Cal. 298, 307-308.)

                                                               8.                                                      95-305