Poirier Ex Rel. Martin v. United Grocers, Inc.
Poirier Ex Rel. Martin v. United Grocers, Inc.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting.
The majority reaches the strained conclusion that the form signed by plaintiff is capable of more than one sensible and reasonable interpretation and is therefore ambiguous. That conclusion is wrong. The form is not ambiguous.
In reaching its conclusion, the majority ignores fundamental rules of interpretation. In interpreting an agreement, and thus in determining if it is capable of more than one reasonable interpretation, we are guided by these maxims: “If it can be done, the agreement should be interpreted to avoid inconsistencies and to give meaning to all of its terms,” and “The specific governs the general.” Standley v. Standley, 90 Or App 552, 556, 752 P2d 1284, rev den 306 Or 413 (1988); see ORS 42.230 and ORS 42.240. The majority violates these
The majority creates ambiguity by finding an inconsistency between a statement at the top of the form and the release language at the bottom of the form. The majority supposes that there is no apparent reason to require all passengers to sign the form and, therefore, that its only purpose can be to provide a release from liability, regardless of the circumstances. There is no reason why the form cannot, for example, be assumed to serve the dual purpose of providing a record of passengers and releasing United Grocers from liability under the circumstances expressed in the release portion of the form.
Because the form is not ambiguous, extrinsic evidence of the parties’ intent is inadmissible. ORS 41.740; Jarrett v. U.S. National Bank, 81 Or App 242, 246, 725 P2d 384 (1986), rev den 302 Or 476 (1987); see also CH2M Hill Northwest, Inc. v. Parktel I, Inc., 107 Or App 461, 812 P2d 840 (1991). Iwould hold that defendants have not shown that there is no genuine issue of material fact and would reverse and remand for trial.
I dissent.
Opinion of the Court
Plaintiff brought this action to recover damages for personal injuries that resulted from a fall from a truck owned by United Grocers, Inc:, and driven by its employee, Weise. She appeals from an order granting defendants’ motion for summáry judgment. We affirm.
We review the record in the light most favorable to plaintiff, the party opposing defendants’ motion for summary judgment. Seeborg v. General Motors Corporation, 284 Or 695, 699, 588 P2d 1100 (1978). Plaintiff was a passenger on a United Grocers’ truck for part of Weise’s Prineville to Portland trip. Before accepting the ride, she signed a form that “release[d] United Grocers, Inc. or its agent from any and all liability which may arise as a result of my riding as a passenger to obtain emergency transportation.”
Defendants moved for summary judgment, contend-’ ing that plaintiff had released them from all liability. Plaintiff assigns error to the trial court’s allowance of that motion. She argues that the release relieves defendants of liability only if
A court must grant a summary judgment if there
“the construction of a contract is a question of law for the court. The exception to that rule is that, if the language in a contract is ambiguous, evidence may be admitted as to the intent of the parties, and the determination of the parties’ intent then is a question of fact. * * * However, whether the language of a contract is ambiguous is a question of law for the court. A contract provision is ambiguous if it is capable of more than one sensible and reasonable interpretation-, it is unambiguous if its meaning is clear enough to preclude doubt by a reasonable person.” Mann v. Wetter, 100 Or App 184, 188, 785 P2d 1064, rev den 309 Or 645 (1990). (Emphasis supplied; citations omitted.)
The form that plaintiff signed is capable of more than one sensible and reasonable interpretation and is, therefore, ambiguous. At its top, in conspicuous type, the form reads, “THIS FORM MUST BE COMPLETED BY ANYONE WHO IS A PASSENGER IN A UNITED GROCERS VEHICLE.” It then provides:
“I HEREBY RELEASE UNITED GROCERS * * * FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY WHICH MAY ARISE AS A RESULT OF MY RIDING AS A PASSENGER TO OBTAIN EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION.”
Because the release is ambiguous, the parties were entitled to present evidence as to its meaning and their intent. Defendants submitted two affidavits. In his affidavit, United Grocers’ director of transportation stated that no non-employee could ride in a company vehicle without signing the release. Moreover, he said tbat United Grocers intended the release to apply to all passengers riding in one of its vehicles, regardless of the circumstances of the ride. In his affidavit, Weise said that he had explained to plaintiff that the form released him and United Grocers from any liability and that she acknowledged understanding the scope and effect of the release. Weise, who was then plaintiffs fiance, also said that plaintiff had ridden with him in a United Grocers’ vehicle several times and, on each of those occasions, had signed the release. Plaintiff did not submit any counter affidavits.
ORCP 47D provides, in relevant part:
“When a motion for summary judgment is made and supported as provided in this rule an adverse party may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of that party’s pleading, but the adverse party’s response by affidavits or as otherwise provided in this section, must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue as to any material fact for trial. If the adverse party does not so respond, summary judgment, if appropriate, shall be entered against such party. ’ ’ (Emphasis supplied.)
Because plaintiff did not present counteraffidavits, ORCP 47D required the trial court to accept defendants’ assertions of fact as true. Defendants’ evidence was that the release applied to plaintiff and that she knew that she was releasing defendants from all liability while she was riding in the truck.
In her response to defendants’ motion for summary judgment, plaintiff argued that, as a matter of public policy, exculpatory releases between corporations and individuals are void. However, we have held that an exculpatory release relieving a party from responsibility for negligence is enforceable, unless it contravenes public policy. Mann v. Wetter, supra, 100 Or App at 187. In the absence of a public policy, the rule applies, even if the release is between a corporation and an individual. Plaintiff failed to present any other public policy argument to the court below.
Affirmed.
In its entirety, the form reads:
“United Grocers,'Inc.
“THIS FORM MUST BE COMPLETED BY ANYONE WHO IS A PASSENGER IN A UNITED GROCERS VEHICLE. WE ARE HAPPY THAT WE CAN BE OF SERVICE TO YOU.
“DATE_
“TIME START_
“TIME STOPPED.
“FULL NAME___
“ADDRESS_:_
“CITY_ STATE_
“I HEREBY RELEASE UNITED GROCERS, INC. OR ITS AGENT FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY WHICH MAY ARISE AS A RESULT OF MY RIDING AS A PASSENGER TO OBTAIN EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION.
“DRIVER’S SIGNATURE PASSENGER’S SIGNATURE
“Driver please note: Attach this completed form to your daily driving log.”
ORCP 47C provides, in relevant part:
“The judgment sought shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings, depositions, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.”
Plaintiff also argues that the release is void as a matter of law, because it is indefinite, imprecise and could be construed to release defendants from responsibility for reckless conduct. She also argues that it is ambiguous as to who is released. Finally, she argues that United Grocers is a common carrier and that common carriers cannot seek exculpation for negligence. She did not raise any of those arguments below, and we will not address them on appeal. Howell v. Oregonian Publishing Co., 85 Or App 84, 86, 735 P2d 659, rev den 303 Or 699, 740 P2d 1212 (1987).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Debra POIRIER, by and Through Her Guardian, Reta Martin, Appellant, v. UNITED GROCERS, INC., and Joe Craig Weise, Respondents
- Cited By
- 9 cases
- Status
- Published