Court Opinion

ID: 4692812
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-06-04 09:08:10.243166+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:05:18.287670
License: Public Domain

If this opinion indicates that it is “FOR PUBLICATION,” it is subject to
                 revision until final publication in the Michigan Appeals Reports.

                           STATE OF MICHIGAN

                            COURT OF APPEALS

BARRY LATARTE and MARY HELEN                                         UNPUBLISHED
LATARTE,                                                             June 3, 2021

               Plaintiffs-Appellees,

v                                                                    No. 354486
                                                                     Saginaw Circuit Court
DESHAWN HARRIS,                                                      LC No. 18-038302-NI

               Defendant-Appellant.

Before: SHAPIRO, P.J., and JANSEN and BECKERING, JJ.

JANSEN, J. (dissenting).

        I do not believe defendant’s conduct amounted to gross negligence, and therefore I would
reverse the trial court’s order denying defendant summary disposition on the basis of governmental
immunity. Accordingly, I respectfully dissent.1

        The majority thoroughly and accurately summarizes the applicable statutes and caselaw,
and I agree with the majority’s conclusion that defendant, “a police officer for the city of Saginaw,
was acting within the scope of his authority in the exercise of a governmental function.” However,
I disagree with the majority’s conclusion that defendant’s conduct could constitute gross
negligence, and moreover, I cannot conclude that his conduct was the proximate cause of plaintiff’s
injuries. As the majority notes, MCL 691.1407(8)(a) defines “gross negligence” as “conduct so
reckless as to demonstrate a substantial lack of concern for whether any injury results.” This Court
has explained that grossly negligent conduct amounts to “almost a willful disregard of precautions
or measures to attend to safety and a singular disregard for substantial risks.” Wood v Detroit, 323
Mich App 416, 424; 917 NW2d 709 (2018).

1
 I do, however, agree with the majority’s conclusion that defendant’s argument regarding whether
plaintiff sustained a serious impairment of a body function is not properly before this Court, and
should not be considered at this time.

                                                -1-
         Indeed, defendant’s conduct was negligent. Traveling over twice the posted speed limit
through a busy intersection on wet pavement is negligent, particularly where another motorist’s
ability to appreciate the speed of his approach or defendant’s own ability to react may be affected.
However, I agree with defendant’s position that his conduct does not rise to the level of gross
negligence, and is legally excused, because he was responding to an emergency call concerning a
suicidal individual that required him to turn off his emergency lights and sirens so as to avoid
alerting the agitated individual. Under the particular facts of this case, I find persuasive MCL
257.603(5), which provides that “[a] police vehicle shall retain the exemptions granted in this
section to an authorized emergency vehicle without sounding an audible signal if the police vehicle
is engaged in an emergency run in which silence is required.” In my view, defendant’s conduct
was reasonable in light of the circumstances. Moreover, there is no evidence that the way in which
defendant and his partner responded to the call for an agitated individual was incorrect, or against
police policy.

        I further agree with defendant’s position that he was not the proximate cause of plaintiff’s
injuries: plaintiff was also at fault for the accident because she failed to yield to oncoming traffic
before making a left-hand turn. Defendant was traveling behind Officer Booth who also proceeded
through the intersection at a high rate of speed. In my view, a reasonably prudent person would
have paused before attempting to turn left in front of oncoming traffic after seeing Officer Booth
come through the intersection. Moreover, plaintiff testified in her deposition that after looking,
she believed she had enough time to turn left. Plaintiff’s failure to accurately judge the speed and
distance of oncoming traffic was also a proximate cause of her injuries, and I would conclude the
most “immediate, efficient, and direct cause of [her] injuries.” Ray v Swager (On Remand), 321
Mich App 755, 760; 909 NW2d 917 (2017).

        On the basis of the foregoing, I would reverse, vacate the trial court’s order denying
defendant’s motion for summary disposition, and remand for entry of an order granting summary
disposition in favor of defendant.

                                                              /s/ Kathleen Jansen

                                                 -2-