Chambers v. St. Mary's School

[This opinion has been published in Ohio Official Reports at 82 Ohio St.3d 563.]

CHAMBERS ET AL., APPELLANTS, v. ST. MARY’S SCHOOL, APPELLEE.

[Cite as Chambers v. St. Mary’s School, 1998-Ohio-184.]

Torts—Negligence—Violation of an administrative rule does not constitute

negligence per se; however, violation may be admissible as evidence of

negligence.

The violation of an administrative rule does not constitute negligence per se;

however, such a violation may be admissible as evidence of negligence.

(No. 97-1967—Submitted May 27, 1998—Decided August 12, 1998.)

CERTIFIED by the Court of Appeals for Geauga County, No. 96-G-2013.

__________________

{¶ 1} Appellant, Earl Chambers, was employed by the Dairymen’s Milk

Company as a delivery person. Chambers delivered dairy products to appellee, St.

Mary’s School (“St. Mary’s”).

{¶ 2} In the early morning hours of November 29, 1993, Chambers made a

delivery to St. Mary’s. Chambers testified that there was a light snowfall on the

ground. Chambers testified that prior to delivering the milk, he brushed the snow

off the steps. He further averred that he did not observe any ice and consequently

began his delivery. After taking the milk into the school, Chambers proceeded out

the service entrance with empty crates and began down the steps, when he allegedly

slipped on a quarter-inch-thick layer of ice.

{¶ 3} Subsequent to this fall, Chambers got up and finished making his

deliveries to St. Mary’s. However, this time Chambers “made sure [he] was over

toward the railing in case [he] started to slip he could grab it.” Chambers sustained

back injuries in the fall.

{¶ 4} Chambers and his wife filed suit against St. Mary’s, alleging that St.

Mary’s had failed to maintain its premises in a safe manner in violation of R.C.

SUPREME COURT OF OHIO

4101.11, commonly known as the frequenter statute. Specifically, Chambers

asserted that St. Mary’s should have (1) constructed an awning over the area, (2)

installed appropriate gutters, (3) corrected an improperly sloped roof, and (4)

properly cleared and salted the area to prevent an unnatural accumulation of ice and

water from collecting on the steps.

{¶ 5} St. Mary’s filed a motion for summary judgment. In opposition,

Chambers asserted that his expert witness opined that St. Mary’s violated several

sections of Ohio’s Basic Building Code (“OBBC”), including Sections 805.2

(exterior stairways shall be kept free of ice), 817.12 (exterior stairway shall be

protected to prevent accumulation of ice and snow), 823.0 (means of egress

lighting), and 817.7 (stairway handrails). Chambers asserted that violations of

these sections of the OBBC were negligence per se. Adopting the reasoning from

St. Mary’s brief, the trial court granted summary judgment to St. Mary’s.1

{¶ 6} Chambers appealed, asserting, inter alia, that “[t]he court of common

pleas erred, as a matter of law, by granting summary judgment against [Chambers]

and in favor of [St. Mary’s].” Under this assignment of error, Chambers argued

that St. Mary’s “is liable under a negligence per se theory since appellee allegedly

committed several violations of the Basic Building Code.” In affirming the

summary judgment for St. Mary’s, the appellate court held that a violation of the

OBBC is not negligence per se because the OBBC is not a legislative enactment.

{¶ 7} Finding its judgment in conflict with Nemer v. Kerkian (Feb. 7, 1990),

Summit App. No. 14143, unreported, 1990 WL 11714, and Carpas v. Carpas (Nov.

15, 1989), Summit App. No. 14043, unreported, 1989 WL 139457, the court of

1. St. Mary’s in its motion for summary judgment argued that it owed no duty to Chambers for any

risks associated with accumulations of ice and snow, or alternatively that even if St. Mary’s had a

duty to Chambers because of an unnatural accumulation of ice, no liability attaches to St. Mary’s

because it had no knowledge of the condition and the condition was open and obvious.

2

January Term, 1998

appeals entered an order certifying a conflict. This cause is now before this court

upon our determination that a conflict exists.

__________________

Gary B. Garson Co., L.P.A., and Paul W. Flowers, for appellants.

Quandt, Giffels & Buck Co., L.P.A., and Nita Kay Smith, for appellee.

Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs and Scott A. Richardson, urging

affirmance for amicus curiae, Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys.

Michael R. Thomas, urging reversal for amicus curiae, Building Officials

and Code Administrators.

Hermanies, Major, Castelli & Goodman and Richard L. Goodman; and

Michael R. Thomas, urging reversal for amicus curiae, Ohio Academy of Trial

Lawyers.

__________________

LUNDBERG STRATTON, J.

{¶ 8} The issue certified for our review is “[w]hether a violation of the Ohio

Basic Building Code may constitute negligence per se.”

{¶ 9} In order to recover on a negligence claim, a plaintiff must prove (1)

that the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty, (2) that the defendant breached that

duty, and (3) that the breach of the duty proximately caused the plaintiff’s injury.

Wellman v. E. Ohio Gas Co. (1953), 160 Ohio St. 103, 108-109, 51 O.O. 27, 30,

113 N.E.2d 629, 632; Sedar v. Knowlton Constr. Co. (1990), 49 Ohio St.3d 193,

198, 551 N.E.2d 938, 943, overruled on other grounds, Brennaman v. R.M.I. Co.

(1994), 70 Ohio St.3d 460, 639 N.E.2d 425. Typically, a duty may be established

by common law, legislative enactment, or by the particular facts and circumstances

of the case. Eisenhuth v. Moneyhon (1954), 161 Ohio St. 367, 53 O.O. 274, 119

N.E.2d 440, paragraph one of the syllabus. Where a legislative enactment imposes

a specific duty for the safety of others, failure to perform that duty is negligence

per se. Eisenhuth at paragraph two of the syllabus. Application of negligence per

3

SUPREME COURT OF OHIO

se in a tort action means that the plaintiff has conclusively established that the

defendant breached the duty that he or she owed to the plaintiff. It is not a finding

of liability per se because the plaintiff will also have to prove proximate cause and

damages. Pond v. Leslein (1995), 72 Ohio St.3d 50, 53, 647 N.E.2d 477, 479.

{¶ 10} In Swoboda v. Brown (1935), 129 Ohio St. 512, 522, 2 O.O. 516,

521, 196 N.E. 274, 278, this court stated:

“The distinction between negligence and ‘negligence per se’ is the means

and method of ascertainment. The first must be found by the jury from the facts,

the conditions and circumstances disclosed by the evidence; the latter is a violation

of a specific requirement of law or ordinance, the only fact for determination by the

jury being the commission or omission of the specific act inhibited or required.”

“In other words, if a positive and definite standard of care has been

established by legislative enactment whereby a jury may determine whether there

has been a violation thereof by finding a single issue of fact, a violation is

negligence per se; but where the jury must determine the negligence or lack of

negligence of a party charged with the violation of a rule of conduct fixed by

legislative enactment from a consideration and evaluation of multiple facts and

circumstances by the process of applying, as the standard of care, the conduct of a

reasonably prudent person, negligence per se is not involved.” Eisenhuth at 374-

375, 53 O.O. at 278, 119 N.E.2d at 444.

{¶ 11} Thus, the application of negligence per se effectively reduces the

elements that a plaintiff must prove in a negligence action. Hernandez v. Martin

Chevrolet, Inc. (1995), 72 Ohio St.3d 302, 304, 649 N.E.2d 1215, 1216.

Negligence per se is tantamount to strict liability for purposes of proving that a

defendant breached a duty. See Lonzrick v. Republic Steel Corp. (1966), 6 Ohio

St.2d 227, 250, 35 O.O.2d 404, 417, 218 N.E.2d 185, 200 (Taft, C.J., dissenting).

4

January Term, 1998

{¶ 12} Since the application of negligence per se effectively reduces the

plaintiff’s burden of proof in a tort case, we must carefully examine whether an

extension of negligence per se to violations of administrative rules is justified.

{¶ 13} In Eisenhuth, this court held that a violation of a “legislative

enactment” was negligence per se. Chambers asks us to extend the doctrine of

negligence per se to violations of the OBBC, which constitutes administrative rules.

In order to make such a decision, we must determine whether there are any material

differences between statutes and administrative rules which would preclude us from

extending the application of negligence per se to violations of administrative rules.

{¶ 14} Legislative authority is vested with the General Assembly. Belden

v. Union Cent. Life Ins. Co. (1944), 143 Ohio St. 329, 28 O.O. 295, 55 N.E.2d 629,

paragraph one of the syllabus. A legislative enactment, or statute, is initially

introduced as a bill. Section 15(A), Article II, Ohio Constitution. The introduction

of a bill is a manifestation of public policy, which is determined primarily by the

General Assembly. See State v. Smorgala (1990), 50 Ohio St.3d 222, 223, 553

N.E.2d 672, 673-674.

{¶ 15} A bill may originate in either the House of Representatives or the

Senate. Section 15(A), Article II, Ohio Constitution. All bills are subject to debate,

discussion, and amendment prior to being put to a vote. Id. Once all amendments

are made, the bill must still be passed by a concurrence of a majority of members

from both the Senate and the House of Representatives and be signed by the

Governor before it becomes law. Sections 15 and 16, Article II, Ohio Constitution.

{¶ 16} Members of the General Assembly are accountable to their

constituents because they are elected to office. Section 2, Article II, Ohio

Constitution. If the constituents are unhappy with policy determinations made by

members of the General Assembly, they can change the makeup of the General

Assembly at the voting booth. Thus, in effect, citizens of the state may shape the

nature of legislation.

5

SUPREME COURT OF OHIO

{¶ 17} The legislative process and accountability are the cornerstones of the

democratic process which justify the General Assembly’s role as lawmaker. In

contrast, administrative rules do not dictate public policy, but rather expound upon

public policy already established by the General Assembly in the Revised Code. “

‘The purpose of administrative rulemaking is to facilitate an administrative

agency’s placing into effect a policy declared by the General Assembly in the

statutes to be administered by the agency.’ ” Doyle v. Ohio Bur. of Motor Vehicles

(1990), 51 Ohio St.3d 46, 47, 554 N.E.2d 97, 99, quoting Carroll v. Dept. of Adm.

Serv. (1983), 10 Ohio App.3d 108, 110, 10 OBR 132, 133, 460 N.E.2d 704, 706.

Yet determination of public policy remains with the General Assembly. State ex

rel. Bryant v. Akron Metro. Park Dist. for Summit Cty. (1929), 120 Ohio St. 464,

479, 166 N.E. 407, 411-412, affirmed State ex rel. Bryant v. Akron Metro. Park

Dist. for Summit Cty. (1930), 281 U.S. 74, 50 S.Ct. 228, 74 L.Ed. 710.

Administrative agencies may make only “subordinate” rules. Belden v. Union

Cent. Life Ins. Co. (1944), 143 Ohio St. 329, 342-343, 28 O.O. 295, 301, 55 N.E.2d

629, 635-636; see, also, Redman v. Dept. of Indus. Relations (1996), 75 Ohio St.3d

399, 404, 662 N.E.2d 352, 357; Blue Cross of Northeast Ohio v. Ratchford (1980),

64 Ohio St.2d 256, 259, 18 O.O.3d 450, 452, 416 N.E.2d 614, 617.

{¶ 18} Unlike the legislative process, rulemaking by administrative

agencies does not involve the collaborative effort of elected officials. Directors of

administrative agencies are appointed by the Governor. R.C. 121.03. It is these

directors and/or their employees who propose and adopt administrative rules.

Administrative agencies have the technical expertise to compose such rules.

Farrand v. State Med. Bd. (1949), 151 Ohio St. 222, 39 O.O. 41, 85 N.E.2d 113.

However, administrative agencies have no accountability as do the members of the

General Assembly.2

2. Administrative rulemaking is subject to the conditions set out in R.C. 119.01 to 119.13.

Generally, these conditions require that notice be given of a public hearing to be held on a proposed

6

January Term, 1998

{¶ 19} The specific issue before this court is whether a violation of the

OBBC is negligence per se. However, our comparison of the legislative process

and the rulemaking process dictates that we examine this issue in the broader

context of whether violations of any administrative rules should require the

application of negligence per se.

{¶ 20} If we were to rule that a violation of the OBBC (an administrative

rule) was negligence per se, we would in effect bestow upon administrative

agencies the ability to propose and adopt rules which alter the proof requirements

between litigants. Altering proof requirements is a public policy determination

more properly determined by the General Assembly because the General

Assembly, as opposed to administrative agencies, has the authority and

accountability to dictate public policy. Giving administrative agencies the ability

to adopt such rules would be tantamount to an unconstitutional delegation of

legislative authority, since administrative agencies cannot dictate public policy.

{¶ 21} Further, scores of administrative agencies propose and adopt perhaps

hundreds of rules each year. Considering the sheer number and complexity of

administrative rules, a finding that administrative rules establish negligence per se

could open the floodgates to litigation. Strict compliance with such a multitude of

rules would be virtually impossible. In effect, it would make those subject to such

rules the insurer of third parties who are harmed by any violation of such rules. 3

rule, where persons affected thereby may comment and present evidence pertaining to the

unreasonable or unlawful effect of the rule. R.C. 119.03(A). The rule is then reviewed by the Joint

Committee on Agency Rule Review, which may, under certain circumstances, recommend that the

General Assembly adopt a resolution invalidating the rule. R.C. 119.03(I). Assuming that the rule

is not invalidated at this point, it is still subject to invalidation at the next regular session of the

General Assembly. R.C. 119.03(I)(2)(b). If the rule is not invalidated at that session, then the

agency may issue an order adopting the rule. R.C. 119.03(D).

These conditions provide constraints in rulemaking. However, they do not elevate

rulemaking to the status of lawmaking for purposes of applying negligence per se to violations of

administrative rules.

3. For example, Section 805.2 of the OBBC requires that all exterior stairways be kept free of ice

and snow. The language in this rule mandates removal of snow from steps without reference to any

7

SUPREME COURT OF OHIO

Only those relatively few statutes which this court or the General Assembly has

determined, or may determine, should merit application of negligence per se should

receive such status.

{¶ 22} For all the aforementioned reasons, we hold that the violation of an

administrative rule does not constitute negligence per se; however, such a violation

of an administrative rule may be admissible as evidence of negligence. Stephens v.

A-Able Rents Co. (1995), 101 Ohio App.3d 20, 27-28, 654 N.E.2d 1315, 1320.

{¶ 23} The OBBC constitutes administrative rules proposed and adopted by

the Board of Building Standards, an administrative agency, whose members are

appointed by the Governor. Ohio Adm.Code 4101:2-1-03, R.C. 3781.07, and

3781.10. Therefore, a violation of the OBBC is not negligence per se.

Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the appellate court.

Judgment affirmed.

MOYER, C.J., PFEIFER and COOK, JJ., concur.

DOUGLAS, RESNICK and F.E. SWEENEY, JJ., dissent.

__________________

exceptions or a reasonableness standard. An application of negligence per se to such a rule would

essentially make a premises owner or occupier strictly liable for a slip and fall as soon as snow

started to fall. It would be virtually impossible for a premises owner to comply with such a strict

standard.

In the case at bar, the snow fell in the very early morning hours just prior to Chambers’s

arrival at St. Mary’s. It is unreasonable to require St. Mary’s to keep a worker on call twenty-four

hours a day to remove snow at a moment’s notice.

This is a prime example of why negligence per se should not apply to administrative rules.

8

January Term, 1998

DOUGLAS, J., dissenting.

{¶ 24} I dissent from the judgment and opinion of the majority. Today the

majority has determined that a violation of the Ohio Basic Building Code may never

constitute negligence per se. What is even more shocking is that the majority

further holds that the extension of the doctrine of negligence per se to violations of

any administrative rules is never justified. The breadth of the majority opinion is

alarming and, in addition, is simply wrong! To that end, the conclusions reached

by the majority have disturbed well-settled law and have effectively overruled

numerous decisions of this court.

{¶ 25} We have held time and time again that an administrative rule issued

pursuant to statutory authority has the force and effect of law unless it is

unreasonable or is in clear conflict with a statute governing the same subject matter.

See, e.g., Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Lindley (1988), 38 Ohio St.3d 232, 234,

527 N.E.2d 828, citing Kroger Grocery & Baking Co. v. Glander (1948), 149 Ohio

St. 120, 125, 36 O.O. 471, 474, 77 N.E.2d 921, 924. See, also, State ex rel. Kildow

v. Indus. Comm. (1934), 128 Ohio St. 573, 580, 1 O.O. 235, 238, 192 N.E. 873,

876. Indeed, this court has also implicitly agreed that a tortfeasor may be negligent

per se in violating a relevant administrative regulation. See Merchants Mut. Ins.

Co. v. Baker (1984), 15 Ohio St.3d 316, 15 OBR 444, 473 N.E.2d 827. The

majority, however, has turned a blind eye to these and other important cases decided

by this court.

{¶ 26} Accordingly, for the foregoing reasons, I must dissent.

RESNICK and F.E. SWEENEY, JJ., concur in the foregoing dissenting opinion.

__________________

9