Court Opinion

ID: 9657195
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 20:17:17.810924+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:10:12.532078
License: Public Domain

T. M. Burns, J.
(dissenting). Because I disagree with the majority’s conclusion in regard to interpretation and application of the phrase "doing mechanical work” and of the terms "loading” and "unloading,” I dissent. I believe that the trial court erred by granting summary judgment in favor of defendant.
First, this Court recently considered the meaning of "mechanical work” as the term is used in § 3106(2) and concluded that the phrase refers to "work normally done by a mechanic which is for the purpose of maintaining or repairing the vehicle.” Marshall v Roadway Express, Inc, 146 Mich App 753; 381 NW2d 422 (1985). In Marshall, this Court stated:
As noted by the legislative history, though, the trucking industry was primarily concerned with mechanics collecting no-fault benefits for injuries that occurred while they were doing repair work or maintenance work on the vehicles. In the instant case, it is undisputed that plaintiff was not performing mechanical repair or maintenance work. Defendants, however, now urge us to adopt a *659broad definition of "doing mechanical work” as that term is used in § 3106(2). While a broad definition of that term may be appropriate, we do not feel that it should include activity which is not designed to maintain or repair the truck and is routinely performed in the truck’s operation. While detaching the trailer requires some level of skill, as the trial court noted, we do not feel that this function was "mechanical work” as that term is used in §3106(2). We feel that "mechanical work” means that work normally done by a mechanic which is for the purpose of maintaining or repairing the vehicle. Plaintiff was removing the trailer from his tractor for increased mobility, not to maintain or repair it. Therefore, plaintiff was not performing mechanical work and the trial court erred in granting summary judgment on this basis. [146 Mich App 757.]
Likewise in this case, it is undisputed that plaintiff was not performing mechanical repair or maintenance work. Plaintiff’s injury occurred when he pulled on a lever to release a pin holding a trailer box in place over the trailer axle. This activity was not designed to maintain or repair the truck and is routinely performed in the truck’s operation. After the lever is pulled to release the pin, the trailer is moved by being pulled forward or pushed backward by the tractor or cab. I find Marshall, supra, to be controlling on this question. Plaintiff was not performing mechanical work when the injury occurred since his purpose in pulling the lever was to allow the trailer box to be repositioned over the axle so that the trailer could be backed into a loading area more easily. The plaintiff was not engaged in work normally performed by a mechanic for the purpose of repairing the vehicle. Thus, I conclude that the trial court erred in denying no-fault benefits on the ground that plaintiff was doing "mechanical work” within the contemplation of § 3106(2).
*660Second, I do not dispute the appropriateness of applying a broad interpretation to the terms "loading” and "unloading.” See e.g., Marshall, supra, and Dowling v Auto Club Casualty Ins Co, 147 Mich App 482; 383 NW2d 233 (1985). However, I do dispute that a liberal construction of those terms leads to the conclusion that the § 3106(2) exclusion applies.
As noted earlier, plaintiffs injury occurred when he pulled on a lever to release a pin holding a trailer box in place over the trailer axle. After the lever is pulled to release the pin, the trailer is moved by being pulled forward or pushed backward by the tractor. In my opinion, plaintiffs action was not part of the unloading process as that term is used in § 3106(2). Plaintiff was engaged in action which was preparatory to the completion of the truck’s arrival at the unloading dock. The driver had not yet finished completely backing the tractor-trailer assembly to its final position at the dock. While the assembly was parked at the time, after plaintiff pulled the lever the main portion still needed to be moved closer. This movement would involve the use of the tractor. This case is more analogous to situations in which a tractor-trailer driver has not finished backing up to the dock than it is to situations where all the driving is finished and the unloading simply needs to be done.
I acknowledge that plaintiffs actions took place prior to the actual unloading. However, almost any action which takes place after the goods are initially loaded and the truck has left the point of origin is done in contemplation that the goods will be unloaded after the destination is reached. In that sense, even driving on the highway can be considered an activity which is preparatory to the actual procedure of unloading goods from the *661trailer. While a liberal interpretation of the term "unloading” contemplates some actions which are preparatory to actual unloading, this does not mean that no line can be drawn to mark a point where "unloading” has not yet begun.
I believe that plaintiffs action in this case is more properly considered as a part of the delivery process than as a part of the unloading process. There would be no dispute as to "loading” and "unloading” in this case if plaintiff were injured in a situation where the driver simply stopped his truck a few feet from the dock, took a further look, and then finished backing the truck the extra few feet.
In this case, the driver had not yet properly positioned his tractor and trailer at the unloading dock when plaintiff was injured. In my opinion, the delivery was still taking place and no one was yet preparing to unload the goods from the vehicle. Plaintiffs purpose in pulling the lever was to release a pin so that the trailer could be backed into the loading dock more easily. Thus, he was aiding in the process of delivery.
I would reverse.