England v. Cox et al
Filing
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MEMORANDUM AND ORDER denying 42 defendants' Motion for Leave to File; and granting 29 plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by District Judge J. Thomas Marten on 8/6/2012. (mss)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF KANSAS
SHANE ENGLAND,
Plaintiff,
vs.
Case No. 11-2362-JTM
TOBY RAY COX, and
PPC TRANSPORTATION COMPANY,
a Delaware Corporation,
Defendants.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
On May 28, 2010, plaintiff Shane England was riding aboard a locomotive engine traveling
north on a Union Pacific Railroad mainline track when it struck a stopped semi truck trailer. The
truck was driven by Cox, an employee of PPC Transportation, acting in the scope of his employment.
Cox was driving his truck east on Main Street in Neodesha, Kansas. Traveling in this direction, Main
Street first crosses the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad (UP), and then the tracks of the South
Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad (SKO). Cox had crossed the UP tracks but failed to clear them
because the car ahead of him stopped at the SKO tracks.
England has moved for summary judgment, seeking a determination that the defendants were
negligent, and that that negligence was the sole cause of the accident. Specifically, England argues
that Cox was negligent per se by violating K.S.A. 8-1584.
That statute provides:
Restrictions on driving into intersection or crosswalk or onto railroad grade
crossing. No driver shall enter an intersection or a marked crosswalk or drive onto
any railroad grade crossing unless there is sufficient space on the other side of the
intersection, crosswalk or railroad grade crossing to accommodate the vehicle he or
she is operating without obstructing the passage of other vehicles, pedestrians or
railroad trains notwithstanding any traffic-control signal indication to proceed.
Summary judgment is proper where the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories,
and admissions on file, together with affidavits, if any, show there is no genuine issue as to any
material fact, and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed.R.Civ.P.
56(c). In considering a motion for summary judgment, the court must examine all evidence in a light
most favorable to the opposing party. McKenzie v. Mercy Hospital, 854 F.2d 365, 367 (10th Cir.
1988). The party moving for summary judgment must demonstrate its entitlement to summary
judgment beyond a reasonable doubt. Ellis v. El Paso Natural Gas Co., 754 F.2d 884, 885 (10th Cir.
1985). The moving party need not disprove plaintiff's claim; it need only establish that the factual
allegations have no legal significance. Dayton Hudson Corp. v. Macerich Real Estate Co., 812 F.2d
1319, 1323 (10th Cir. 1987).
In resisting a motion for summary judgment, the opposing party may not rely upon mere
allegations or denials contained in its pleadings or briefs. Rather, the nonmoving party must come
forward with specific facts showing the presence of a genuine issue of material fact for trial and
significant probative evidence supporting the allegation. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S.
242, 256 (1986). Once the moving party has carried its burden under Rule 56(c), the party opposing
summary judgment must do more than simply show there is some metaphysical doubt as to the
material facts. "In the language of the Rule, the nonmoving party must come forward with 'specific
facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.'" Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co., Ltd. v. Zenith
Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587 (1986) (quoting Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e)) (emphasis in Matsushita). One
of the principal purposes of the summary judgment rule is to isolate and dispose of factually
unsupported claims or defenses, and the rule should be interpreted in a way that allows it to
accomplish this purpose. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317 (1986).
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It is uncontroverted that, at the time of the subject collision, Cox was subject to K.S.A. §
8-1584. Cox acknowledged in his deposition that, when he entered the subject crossing, there was
insufficient space on the other side to accommodate the tractor-trailer.
In their response, the defendants attempt to controvert this fact by citing another portion of
Cox’s deposition, where he agreed with the question proposed by counsel that
[t]here was no indication that there would be anything ahead of you that was going
to impede your ability to go forward ... on Main Street ... until the cross bar came
down on the second crossing [a]nd the couple in front of you stopped and you had
to stop behind them.”
where he stated that when he entered the crossing, the way ahead appeared clear.
Cox agreed that it is not safe for a driver to enter a crossing until there is enough clear road
on the other side of the crossing for the entirety of the driver's vehicle.
Defendant Cox failed to comply with K.S.A. § 8-1584 when he entered the subject crossing.
The sole cause of the collision was that the trailer being hauled by defendant Cox was hanging over
the rails.
It is uncontroverted that neither the conduct of England or the train engineer contributed to
the collision.
The plaintiff contends that the UP and SKO crossings were both evaluated and equipped with
gates, lights and warning devices under the provisions of the Federal Aid and Federal Highway
Acts.1
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Also before the court is the defendants’ Motion for Leave to File a Surreply (Dkt. 42),
on the ostensible grounds that England’s Reply Brief (Dkt. 35) raises “several new issues,” cites
new exhibits, and “argues that the opinions of [its expert] are inadmissible, irrelevant,
misleading, and prejudicial.” Leave to submit a surreply is denied. The arguments presented in
the Reply are all clearly framed in the Motion (Dkt. 29), Memorandum in Support (Dkt. 30) and
Plaintiff’s Response (Dkt. 32). The new exhibits referenced in the Reply play no decisive role in
the court’s Memorandum and Order. As this court has repeatedly stressed, surreplies are
disfavored, and are allowed only in the presence of “exceptional circumstances compelling the
filing of such a pleading.” IMC Chemicals v. Niro, 95 F.Supp.2d 1198, 1214 (D.Kan.2000). See
also ANR Pipeline v. Lafaver, 76 F.Supp. 1142, 1150 (D.Kan.1999). Defendant’s Motion for
Leave falls far short of this high standard.
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Conclusions of Law
England seeks summary judgment that (a) Cox was negligent per se by violating K.S.A. §
8-1584, (b) PPC Transportation is liable for Cox’s actions under the doctrine of respondeat superior,
(c) Cox and PPC cannot compare the fault for the design of the crossings under state law, because
the Federal Railroad Safey Act (FRSA) Design Standards preempt state negligence law. In their
Response, the defendants challenge the first and last points, arguing that the doctrine of negligence
per se does not apply to § 8-1584 and that in any event Cox did not violate the terms of the statute,
and that no federal preemption exists.
Negligence per se
The defendants argue that negligence per se has no application, citing Dietz v. Atchison,
Topeka and Santa Fe Ry. Co., 16 Kan.App.2d 342, 823 P.2d 810 (Kan.App. 1991). In Dietz, the
Court of Appeals considered the issue of negligence per se in the context of a state law governing
the conduct of hazardous materials carriers at railroad crossings. The court quoted the Kansas
Supreme Court’s observation that negligence per se requires the finding that the legislature intended
a private right of action:
“[V]iolation of a statute alone does not establish negligence per se. The [party
alleging negligence per se] must also establish that an individual right of action for
injury arising out of the violation was intended by the legislature. Statutes enacted to
protect the public, therefore, do not create a duty to individuals injured as a result of
a statutory violation.
“Generally, the test of whether an individual right of action exists for
violation of a statute is whether the legislature intended to give such a right. In the
absence of express provisions, the legislative intent to grant or withhold such a right
is determined primarily from the language of the statute. The nature of the evil sought
to be remedied and the purpose the statute was intended to accomplish may also be
taken into consideration.”
Dietz, 823 P.2d at 345 (quoting, but omitting citations, from Kansas State Bank & Trust Co. v.
Specialized Transp. Serv., 249 Kan. 348, 370, 819 P.2d 587 (1991)). Further, the court also
observed that “‘[a] statute which does not purport to establish civil liability but merely makes
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provision to secure the safety and welfare of the public does not establish civil liability.’” Id.,
(quoting Schlobohm v. United Parcel Service, Inc., 248 Kan. 122, 125, 804 P.2d 978 (1991)).
In his Reply, England first argues that even without negligence per se, Cox should be deemed
negligent under the common law based on his violation of the statute. (Dkt. 35, at 40). Next, he
recognizes the holding in Dietz, but “submits ... that this holding has been taken far out of context,
not only by defendant, but by Kansas courts that have applied the holding indiscriminately.” (Id.)
Finally, he argues that a failure to apply negligence per se would be inconsistent with typical
instructions authorized to be given in Kansas. (Dkt. 35, at 44).
The court find that plaintiff may properly raise the issue of negligence per se. “Interpretation
of a statute is a question of law,” Dietz, 823 P.2d at 814 (citing NCAA v. Kansas Dept. of Revenue,
245 Kan. 553, 557, 781 P.2d 726 (1989), and this court determines that § 8-1584 was not intended
“to secure the safety and welfare of the public ... at large,” Schlobohm 248 Kan. at 127, but rather
a particular class of individuals, namely individuals in the proximity of specific railroad crossings
at the time of the alleged violation. See Skaer v. Moore, No. 94-1287, 1995 WL 643830, *3 (D. Kan.
1995) (recognizing that negligence per se may arise under the Kansas Uniform Traffic Act for
“claims of substandard driving which create a specific risk toward other persons in the immediate
vicinity of the driver's present location”). See also Burns v. Benedict, 827 F.Supp. 1545 (D. Kan.
1993) (concluding, after a bench trial, that a driver was negligent per se for failing to yield the right
of way, as required by K.S.A. § 8-1523(c)).
Ordinarily, Kansas law discourages the resolution of questions of negligence by summary
judgment. See Esquivel v. Watters, 286 Kan. 292, 296, 183 P.3d 847 (2008). The Pattern Instructions
of Kansas include instructions to be given to the jury for its determination as to “whether any of the
following rules apply” and “whether any rules have been violated,” PIK, § 121.01, and specifically
include instructions on the duties which arise from various traffic offenses. PIK § 121.09. In most
cases, a court should decline to resolve the case by summary judgment and let the trier of fact resolve
the issue of negligence per se. See Patterson v. Dahlsten Truck Line, 130 F.Supp.2d 1228, 1235 (D.
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Kan. 2000) (finding that material questions of fact precluded an award of summary judgment on the
issue of negligence per se); Jackson v. Henderson, No 02-2480-KHV, 2004 WL 48907, *4 (D. Kan.
2004) (denying summary judgment on claims of negligence per se for violation of traffic statutes).
But this is simply the general rule, and the court finds that summary judgment may properly
issue in the present action. The uncontroverted facts presented here demonstrate that Cox was
negligent per se in the collision. Attempting to respond to Cox’s concessions in his deposition, the
defendants cite Cox’s additional response to a leading question from his counsel, to the effect that
he could not see any impediment ahead of him at the time he started onto the UP crossing. But the
statute governing the passage of railroad crossings does not require simply apparent or contingent
or possible clearance. It imposes the duty of having actual clearance on the other side of the railroad
crossings; it imposes the duty to avoid entering the crossing unless clearance is assured. Cox’s
violation of this duty was the sole proximate cause of the collision.
At various points in his Response, Cox and PPC present some factual assertions as grounds
for denying the plaintiff’s motion, but none of these is grounded on admissible evidence. For
example, the defendants rely in particular on an unsworn expert report by Dr. John C. Glennon.
England raises several challenges to the content of Glennon’s opinion, but for present purposes it
is sufficient to note that the unsworn report is not admissible evidence, and thus is not sufficient
grounds for contesting a motion for summary judgment under D.Kan.R. 56.1(d).
Similarly, the defendants argue that “Cox had no way to anticipate the design of the
crossing.” (Resp. at 5, 7). Again, however, the statute creates the duty to avoid entering any crossing
unless it can be done safely. Prior knowledge of the design of the crossing is not relevant. Similarly,
while the defendants stress that Cox was not cited by the police after the accident, the opinion of the
officer present at the scene (conducting his first investigation of a truck-train collision) is not
relevant or controlling as to the court’s determination here.
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Preemption
If FRSA standards cover a subject, state regulatory or common law negligence standards are
preempted by the federal standards. CSX Trans., Inc. v. Easterwood, 507 U.S. 658, 664 (1993);
Norfolk Southern R. Co. v. Shanklin, 529 U.S. 344, 352 (2000). That is, when the Secretary of
Transportation adopts a regulation covering a given subject matter, that federal regulation preempts
state law. Easterwood, 507 U.S. 670-71, 674. The Court in Easterwood recognized the federal
regulation of railroad crossings:
FRSA was enacted in 1970 “to promote safety in all areas of railroad operations and
to reduce rail-road-related accidents, and to reduce deaths and injuries to persons....”
45 U.S.C. § 421. To aid in the achievement of these goals, the Act specifically directs
the Secretary of Transportation to study and develop solutions to safety problems
posed by grade crossings. § 433.
Easterwood, 507 U.S. at 661-62.
Acting through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Secretary of
Transportation has promulgated regulations addressing railroad crossing improvements. Shanklin,
529 U.S. at 348. Accordingly, “the federal standard for adequacy applies to the crossing
improvement and ‘substantially subsume[s] the subject matter of the relevant state law.’” Id. at 356
(quoting Easterwood, 507 U.S. at 664).
In exchange for federal funding, the Highway Safety Act (HSA) requires that states “conduct
and systematically maintain a survey of all highways to identify those railroad crossings which may
require separation, relocation, or protective devices, and establish and implement a schedule of
projects for this purpose.” 23 U.S.C. § 130(d). Railroad crossings which receive funds under the
HSA — which includes both the UP and SKO crossings involved in this action — must be approved
by the FHWA.
However, the defendants argue that no preemption exists under Easterwood, citing language
from that decision indicating that preemption exists only if the federal regulation “covers” the same
subject matter as relevant state law, meaning more than a mere “touching upon” or “relating to.” 507
U.S. at 664. The FHSA does not preempt state negligence law, the defendants argue, because it does
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not directly address the specific design flaw they identify, namely the minimum distance between
grade crossings. (Dkt. 32, at 9). The court finds that the strong preemption recognized in Easterwood
cannot be so easily avoided.
First, the defendants have submitted no admissible evidence showing that the crossings were
defective merely because of the distance between the crossings. To the extent that defendants would
argue that the signaling devices of the crossing were defective, this is precisely the subject of FHWA
review and approval, and thus falls squarely within the exclusive federal regulatory scheme. In any
event, defective crossing claims are preempted by federal regulation regardless of the particular
language used by a claimant. See Missouri Pacific R. Co. v. Limmer, 299 S.W.3d 78, 92 (Tex. 2009)
(finding claim of obstructed view of railroad crossing was “simply a restatement” of a claim for
inadequate crossing warning, and “[a]s such, it is preempted”).
IT IS ACCORDINGLY ORDERED this 6th day of August, 2012, that the court grants the
plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Dkt. 29) for the reasons provided herein; defendants’
Motion for Leave (Dkt. 42) is denied.
s/ J. Thomas Marten
J. THOMAS MARTEN, JUDGE
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