Dorothy A. Millican v. N.a. Degerstrom Inc.

No. 3018S-I-III

Millican v. NA. Degerstrom, Inc.

estate and claiming rights as a statutory beneficiary, she brought a wrongful death action

against the general contractor, N.A. Degerstrom Inc., and others. The jury returned a

defense verdict from which Ms. Millican appeals.

Ms. Millican contends on behalf of her son's estate that the trial court erred in (1)

admitting evidence that Degerstrom contractually delegated sole responsibility for the

safety of employees to its subcontractors, (2) denying the estate's motion for a new trial,

and (3) refusing to instruct the jury that Degerstrom owed a duty to the public traveling

through the construction site. She argues individually that the court erred in dismissing

her claims on the basis that she did not qualifY as a statutory beneficiary.

We conclude that it was an abuse of discretion for the trial court to deny the

estate's motion seeking to limit Degerstrom's evidence and argument that it required Mr.

Lafayette's employer to assume sole responsibility for the protection and safety of its

own employees. Degerstrom's mischaracterization to this effect pervaded its

presentation and could not be cured by the concluding instructions to the jury. The estate

and Ms. Millican fail to demonstrate any other error, however.

We affirm the trial court's dismissal of Ms. Millican's individual claim but reverse

the judgment on the jury's verdict and remand for a retrial of the estate's claims.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

In April 2005, the United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway

Administration awarded N.A. Degerstrom Inc. a contract to improve a five-mile stretch

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Millican v. NA. Degerstrom, Inc.

of Flowery Trail Road. Degerstrom subcontracted with Sharp-Line Industries Inc. to

install signs and paint road stripes. The subcontract agreement required Sharp-Line to

indemnity Degerstrom from any liability it suffered as a result ofSharp-Line's

negligence. The subcontract also contained the following provision imposing

responsibility on Sharp-Line for work site safety:

Subcontractor accepts responsibility to prevent accidents to any person who

may be close enough to its operation to be exposed to Subcontractor's

work-related hazards. Subcontractor shall be solely responsible for the

protection and safety of its employees, for final selection of additional

safety methods and means, and for daily inspection of its work area and

safety equipment. Failure on the part of Contractor to stop unsafe

Subcontractor practices shall in no way relieve Subcontractor of its

responsibility hereunder. Subcontractor shall conform to Contractor's site­

specific safety planes) and policies as directed by Contractor in writing or

by Contractor's project supervisor.

Clerk's Papers (CP) at 3227.

One ofSharp-Line's vehicles used on the Flowery Road project was a 1978

Chevrolet auger truck used to drill holes in the ground for sign posts. The truck was

equipped with outriggers, which were extended to stabilize it while the auger was being

used, and a hydraulic tamper that compacted soil around the sign posts. The auger and

tamper were powered by a device that used the truck's transmission to transmit power

from the engine. To engage the device, the truck's engine had to be running and the

transmission had to be in neutral.

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Millican v. N.A. Degerstrom, Inc.

On the day Mr. Lafayette was killed, he and Sharp-Line's crew foreman, William

Wright, were installing highway signs. Toward the end of the day, Mr. Wright parked

the auger truck facing downhill and Mr. Lafayette and Mr. Wright began installing the

last sign. Another subcontractor had set up traffic control with pilot cars because the

auger truck encroached on the roadway. Mr. Wright put the truck in the parking gear, left

the engine on, and engaged a supplemental brake device called a lever lock, which locks

hydraulic fluid in the braking system. He did not, however, set the emergency brake or

chock the tires. The men walked around behind the truck and Mr. Wright deployed the

outriggers as he drilled a hole for the sign post. Mr. Wright then retracted the outriggers

while the two men installed the sign post and began compacting soil around the post with

the hydraulic tamper.

As he worked, Mr. Wright saw Mr. Lafayette suddenly drop the tamper and begin

running after the truck, which was rolling across the road. Mr. Lafayette managed to pull

himself into the cab and steer the truck away from a line of vehicles following a pilot car

in the opposite lane. One of the drivers of the vehicles later testified that a collision

seemed inevitable until Mr. Lafayette turned the wheels. Apparently the brakes had

failed, because Mr. Lafayette was unable to slow or stop the truck. The truck continued

to accelerate as Mr. Lafayette steered it down the hill where it unavoidably crashed,

causing his death.

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Dorothy Millican was appointed the personal representative of her son's estate

and, on behalf of the estate, sued Degerstrom, Mico Inc. (the manufacturer of the lever

lock), and James and Jane Doe Bonner d/b/a Industrial Power Brake (who had done

maintenance and repair ofthe auger truck) for damages for wrongful death. She asserted

an individual cause of action as well, "as a statutory beneficiary defined in RCW

4.20.020," a provision of the wrongful death statute. CP at 8.

In suing Degerstrom, she alleged that it had a nondelegable duty as general

contractor to ensure Sharp-Line's compliance with health and safety regulations and

contractual safety duties, had allowed "illegal, unsafe, ultra-hazardous practices resulting

in an unsafe work place," CP at 20, and had thereby proximately caused her son's death.

Before trial, the court granted the defendants' joint motion for partial summary

judgment dismissing Ms. Millican's individual wrongful death claim. It found no

evidence creating a genuine issue of fact that she was dependent on her son for support

qualifying her as a beneficiary under RCW 4.20.020. It denied the estate's motion in

limine to exclude evidence or argument by Degerstrom that it did not exercise or retain

supervisory control or authority over Sharp-Line during construction operations. At the

conclusion of a three-week trial, the jury found none of the defendants liable. The trial

court denied the estate's motion for a new trial against Degerstrom and Mr. Bonner. The

estate and Ms. Millican appealed.

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Millican v. NA. Degerstrom, Inc.

ANALYSIS

Ms. Millican, on behalf of the estate and individually, makes four assignments of

error. In the published portion of this opinion, we address the estate's assignment of

error to the trial court's refusal to exclude evidence that Degerstrom delegated sole

responsibility for the safety ofSharp-Line's employees to Sharp-Line.

In the unpublished portion, we address the estate's assignment of error to the trial

court's denial of its motion for judgment as a matter of law, its refusal to instruct the jury

that Degerstrom owed a duty to the public traveling through the construction site, and

Ms. Millican's assignment of error to dismissal of her individual claim.

Refusal to limit evidence and argument

ofdelegated responsibility for safety.

Early in the proceedings below, Degerstrom moved for summary judgment,

arguing that Sharp-Line had assumed the contractual obligation to comply with all safety

laws and plans. The trial court denied the motion on the basis of Degerstrom's

nondelegable duty to ensure a safe work environment. In its motions in limine, the estate

reminded the trial court of Degerstrom's legal position, which it characterized as

"factually inaccurate, legally misleading ... , and inconsistent with [the] court's prior

denials of its motions for summary judgment." CP at 1549. It asked the court to exclude

evidence or argument by Degerstrom that it did not exercise or retain supervisory control

or authority over Sharp-Line during construction operations.

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Millican v. N.A. Degerstrom, Inc.

In orally ruling on the motion, the trial court observed that "the factual issues ...

are all going to get in front of the jury" and that it viewed the parties' disagreement over

Degerstrom's legal duty as an instructional matter. Report of Proceedings (RP) at 2.

Critically, when the estate then sought to clarifY whether, in light of that reasoning, its

motion to exclude evidence and argument about duty was granted, denied, or reserved for

later rulings, the trial court responded that the motion was denied. RP at 6. The estate's

motion in limine was sufficient to raise and preserve its objection. State v. McDaniel,

155 Wn. App. 829, 853 n.l8, 230 P.3d 245 (2010) (because the purpose ofa motion in

limine is to resolve legal issues outside the presence of the jury, a trial court's ruling

denying a motion in limine is final and the moving party has a standing objection).}

At trial, Degerstrom presented extensive evidence and argument on duty,

informing the jury in opening statement, through evidence, and in closing argument that

it is "typical," "reasonable," "industry standard," and most important, "appropriate" and

"allowable under Washington law" for a general contractor like Degerstrom to delegate

its responsibilities, and for subcontractors like Sharp-Line to agree, by contract, to

} Degerstrom argues that the estate waived its objection by later questioning

witnesses about the contract and its delegation provision. But once the evidence was

permitted, it was not a waiver for the estate to try to tum the evidence to its advantage to

any extent possible.

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No.30185-1-III

Millican v. N.A. Degerstrom, Inc.

assume sole responsibility for the protection and safety of its own employees. RP at 40­

54,845-47. 2

The general rule in Washington is that a principal is not liable for injuries caused

by an independent contractor whose services are engaged by the principal. Stout v.

Warren, 176 Wn.2d 263,269,290 P.3d 972 (2012); RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS

§ 409 (1965). Two categories of exceptions to this rule exist at common law, the first

being exceptions that subject the principal to liability for its own negligence and the

second being exceptions that subject the principal to liability for its contractor's tortious

conduct even if the principal has itself exercised reasonable care. Compare

RESTATEMENT (SECOND) §§ 410-415 (direct liability) with §§ 416-429 (vicarious

liability). The latter category of exceptions giving rise to vicarious liability comprise

duties said to be nondelegable, as explained by the Restatement:

The rules ... do not rest upon any personal negligence of the

employer. They are rules of vicarious liability, making the employer liable

for the negligence ofthe independent contractor, irrespective of whether the

employer has himself been at fault. They arise in situations in which, for

reasons of policy, the employer is not permitted to shift the responsibility

for the proper conduct of the work to the contractor. The liability imposed

is closely analogous to that of a master for the negligence of his servant.

The statement commonly made in such cases is that the employer is

under a duty which he is not free to delegate to the contractor. Such a

"non-delegable duty" requires the person upon whom it is imposed to

answer for it that care is exercised by anyone, even though he be an

independent contractor, to whom the performance of the duty is entrusted.

2 Relevant portions of Degerstrom's opening statement and closing argument are

included in an appendix to this published portion of the opinion.

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No.30185-I-II1

Millican v. NA. Degerstrom, Inc.

RESTATEMENT (SECOND) ch. 15, topic 2 introductory note. Circumstances that give rise

to a principal's nondelegable duty include precautions required by statute or regulation.

Tauscher v. Puget Sound Power & Light Co., 96 Wn.2d 274,283,635 P.2d 426 (1981)

(citing Kelley v. Howard S. Wright Constr. Co., 90 Wn.2d 323,582 P.2d 500 (1978»;

RESTATEMENT (SECOND) § 424; Pettit v. Dwoskin, 116 Wn. App. 466, 472 n.l7, 68 P.3d

1088 (2003) (observing that while § 424 has not been formally adopted in Washington,

"[i]t has, however, been frequently discussed and relied upon,,). 3

Even where an exception to the general rule of nonliability applies, a principal

ordinarily owes its duty to only third parties other than the employees of its independent

contractors. Stout, 176 Wn.2d at 276 (quoting Epperly v. City ofSeattle, 65 Wn.2d 777,

783,399 P.2d 591 (1965) for its recognition of "'the distinction between the level of duty

to members of the public and the duty of the owner to one engaged to work upon the

project as the employee of an independent contractor' "); Tauscher, 96 Wn.2d at 281.

The policy considerations that are said to support excluding an independent contractor's

employees from the protected class are found in the workers' compensation systems in

place in most states. The reasoning is that by making contract payments to an

3 RESTATEMENT (SECOND) § 424 provides:

"One who by statute or by administrative regulation is under a duty to provide

specified safeguards or precautions for the safety of others is subject to liability to the

others for whose protection the duty is imposed for harm caused by the failure of a

contractor employed by him to provide such safeguards or precautions."

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No.30185-1-III

Millican v. NA. Degerstrom, Inc .

.

independent contractor that presumably include workers' compensation premiums as

overhead, the principal has already assumed some financial responsibility for the safety

of its employees. Id. at 281-82; Stout, 176 Wn.2d at 276-77.

The prevailing common law on these matters notwithstanding, Washington has

long refused to exclude a subcontractor's employees from a general contractor's duty of

care on either a "no duty" or "no duty to independent contractor employees" rationale. It

has instead found nondelegable duties on the part of the general contractor, meaning that

the general contractor is "[held] liable ... although he has himself done everything that

could reasonably be required of him." W. PAGE KEETON ET AL., PROSSER AND KEETON

ON THE LAW OF TORTS 511 (5th ed.1984)). Prosser observes that it is difficult to suggest

the criterion by which the nondelegable character of a duty may be determined, "other

than the conclusion of the courts that the responsibility is so important to the community

that the employer [here, the general contractor] should not be permitted to transfer it to

another." Id. at 512.

Before the enactment and effectiveness of the Washington Industrial Safety and

Health Act of 1973 (WISHA), chapter 49.17 RCW, our Supreme Court held that a

general contractor had a duty to provide adequate safety precautions for its

subcontractors' employees under exceptions from the general rule of liability based in

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No.30185-1-III

Millican v. NA. Degerstrom, Inc.

common law, statute, and contractual assumption of duty. Kelley, 90 Wn.2d at 330. 4 The

common law basis of the duty cited by Kelley is the duty, within the scope ofa

principal's retained control, to provide a safe place of work. The test of control is not

actual interference with the work of the subcontractor, but the right to exercise such

control. Id. at 330-31 (citing, among other authority, Restatement (Second) § 414). The

statutory basis of the duty cited in Kelley was former RCW 49.16.030 (1919), which

imposed a duty on all employers to furnish a reasonably safe place of work, with

reasonable safety devices, and to comply with state safety regulations. Id. at 333. Kelley

held that the statute created a "nondelegable duty" on the part of the general contractor.

Id.

With WISHA, the legislature revised the statutory duty, providing that "[e]ach

employer ... shall comply with the rules, regulations, and orders promulgated under

[chapter 49.17 RCW]." RCW 49.17.060(2). This specific duty to comply with WISHA

regulations is owed to all ofthe employees at work on the job site as members of the

protected class. Goucher v. J.R. Simp/ot Co., 104 Wn.2d 662,673, 709 P.2d 774 (1985).

In Stute v. P.E.MC, Inc., 114 Wn.2d 454,463-64, 788 P.2d 545 (1990), the Supreme

Court noted that WISHA's predecessor statute created a nondelegable duty on general

contractors to provide a safe place to work for employees of subcontractors and that

The accident and injury in Kelley took place in December 1972, prior to

4

WISHA's effective date of June 7, 1973. LAWS OF 1973, at ii; 90 Wn.2d at 326.

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No. 30185-1-111

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"[t]he policy reasons behind the court's holdings have not changed and give added force

to the language of WISHA." It characterized the general contractor's responsibility,

being concurrent with that of its subcontractors but primary, as a duty to "ensure

compliance with WISHA and its regulations." Id. at 463.

In Washington, then, a general contractor not only has direct liability for a breach

of its common law duties arising from retained control, but when it comes to violations of

WISHA, vicarious liability for breach of a duty that is nondelegable. A violation of

WISHA by a subcontractor's employee is therefore not only chargeable to the

subcontractor, it is also chargeable to a general contractor-"the primary employer,"

whose supervisory authority "places the general in the best position to ensure compliance

with safety regulations." Id.

The specific duty clause of RCW 49.17.060 is not the only statute reflecting the

legislature's intent that a general contractor's duty for WISHA compliance runs to its

subcontractors' employees. The legislature has also authorized contractual risk-sharing

of damages and defense costs by general contractors who face such workplace injury

claims. RCW 4.24.115 declares certain indemnification agreements to be valid and

enforceable including, in the construction context, an agreement by a subcontractor to

indemnify a general contractor against liability for damages caused by the negligence of

the subcontractor or its agents or employees. Gilbert H Moen Co. v. Island Steel

Erectors, Inc., 128 Wn.2d 745,759-60,912 P.2d 472 (1996). The subcontractor is only

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No. 30185-1-111

Millican v. N.A. Degerstrom, Inc.

permitted to indemnify the general contractor to the extent of the subcontractor's

negligence. The statute thereby implicitly recognizes that a general contractor may be

concurrently liable for its subcontractor's act or omission. And the statute anticipates

claims against a general contractor for workplace injury to a subcontractor's employee: it

provides that an indemnitor may waive its immunity under industrial insurance,

something that would be unnecessary except in the case of a claim by an indemnitor's

employee. RCW 4.24.115(1)(b).

Given this statutory authorization of indemnification agreements, the

Degerstrom/Sharp-Line contract may well have been "typical" and "industry standard,"

as Degerstrom drove home during the trial, but not with the legal effect that Degerstrom

then suggested to the jury. Indemnification provisions enable the general contractor, if

liable to the employee, to recover its defense costs and judgment liability from the

culpable subcontractor. They do not enable the general contractor to disavow its primary

responsibility for WISHA compliance. See Moen, 128 Wn.2d at 753 (enforcing

indemnification "allows contractors to allocate 'responsibility to purchase insurance'

according to their negotiated allocation of risk and potential liabilities," and set their fees

'" founded on their expected liability exposure as bargained and provided for in the

contract''' (quoting McDowell v. Austin Co., 105 Wn.2d 48,54, 710 P.2d 192 (1985);

BerschauerlPhillips Constr. Co. v. Seattle Sch. Dist. No.1, 124 Wn.2d 816, 826-27, 881

P.2d 986 (1994))).

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No. 30185-1-111

Millican v. NA. Degerstrom, Inc.

The facts of Moen illustrate the proper role and relevance of delegation and

indemnification agreements. The plaintiff in that case was an ironworker, severely

injured when he fell from a beam. The Department of Labor and Industries attributed the

accident to a lack of safety equipment. It cited the plaintiffs employer, Island Steel

Erectors, which it concluded was responsible for providing fall protection equipment.

Given Island's immunity from suit for the workplace injury, the plaintiff sued the general

contractor-Moen-and others.

Moen had entered into an agreement with Island that required Island to comply

with laws, regulations, and the provisions of Moen's contract with the owner, including

to comply with safety regulations. The Moen/Island agreement also included an

indemnification. addendum under which Island agreed to indemnify Moen for damages

resulting from any concurrent negligence of Moen and Island resulting from the

negligence of Island and its employees.

Moen did not rely on its agreement with Island to argue (as Degerstrom does) that

it fulfilled its duty for WISHA compliance by delegating responsibility to Island.

Instead, it settled with the plaintiff and sued Island for indemnification. The court held

that the indemnification contract was valid and enforceable to the extent of Moen's and

Island's concurrent liability for the negligence of Island. In remanding, it pointed out that

what remained to be determined were (1) whether Moen and Island were concurrently

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No.30185-1-III

Millican v. NA. Degerstrom, Inc.

negligent and (2) the extent of Island's negligence for which Moen had been required to

pay, but as to which it was entitled to be indemnified by Island.

Sharp-Line's agreement to assume sole responsibility and indemnifY Degerstrom

has no more and no less significance here. If it complies with statute, then as between

Sharp-Line and Degerstrom the agreement is controlling. As between Mr. Lafayette and

Degerstrom, for any WISHA violation established by the evidence, it is irrelevant.

Degerstrom nonetheless argues that our decision should turn on the statement in

the penultimate paragraph of Stute that "[i]t is the general contractor's responsibility to

furnish safety equipment or to contractually require subcontractors to furnish adequate

safety equipment relevant to their responsibilities." 114 Wn.2d at 464 (emphasis added).

From this, it argues that the general contractor's duty for WISHA compliance

characterized as nondelegable elsewhere in Stute can, in fact, be delegated. In

proceedings below, the trial court found the quoted statement from Stute to be

contradictory.5 The same statement was the basis for the conclusion of the majority in

Degroot that a subcontractor's contractual undertaking for safety "appears designed to

5 The trial court commented, "[I]fyou say there is a non-delegable, well, Stute

says you can enter into a contract with your subcontractor to deal with the safety issues.

Then we have the case law that says it is non-delegable. And I understand what Judge

Sweeney is talking about [in Degroot v. Berkley Constr., Inc., 83 Wn. App. 125, 133,920

P.2d 619 (1996) (Sweeney, C.J., concurring)], because it seems like there is a

contradiction here." RP at 2.

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Millican v. NA. Degerstrom, Inc.

meet the duty of care outlined in Stute." Degroot v. Berkley Constr., Inc., 83 Wn. App.

125, 129,920 P.2d 619 (1996).

The statement from Stute relied upon by Degerstrom cannot reasonably be read to

negate Stute's otherwise clear holding that the general contractor's "primary"

"nondelegable" duty is to "ensure compliance" with WISHA, however. Read in the

context of the entire opinion, the statement conveys only that a general contractor's

efforts to ensure compliance with WISHA may include, and in many cases will

necessarily include, requiring subcontractors to comply with WISHA. "The label

'nondelegable duty' does not mean that an actor is not permitted to delegate the activity

to an independent contractor. Rather, the term signals that the actor will be vicariously

liable for the contractor's tortious conduct in the course of carrying out the activity."

RESTATEMENT (THIRD) OF TORTS: LIABILITY FOR PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL HARM § 57

cmt. b (2012). Stated differently, "a 'non-delegable duty' requires the person upon whom

it is imposed to answer for it that care is exercised by anyone, even though he be an

independent contractor, to whom the performance of the duty is entrusted."

RESTATEMENT (SECOND) ch. 15, topic 2 introductory note. Here, the quotation from

Stute supports the fact that Degerstrom could enter into its agreement with Sharp-Line

and rely on Sharp-Line's compliance with WISHA regulations as satisfYing its own

duty-not that it could discharge its primary responsibility for WISHA compliance by the

mere act of entering into the agreement.

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No. 30185-1-111

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We review a trial court's evidentiary rulings for an abuse of discretion. A trial

court abuses its discretion if its evidentiary ruling is manifestly unreasonable or is

exercised on untenable grounds or for untenable reasons. Here, the trial court recognized

that Degerstrom had previously advanced a legal position as to the duty of a general

contractor that was questionable and it recognized that legal duty should be a matter of

instruction. It nonetheless denied the motion in limine. The evidence on duty that

Degerstrom chose to offer after the motion was denied did not tend to "make the

existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more

probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence." ER 401 (emphasis

added). More importantly, Degerstrom's evidence and argument that the contract

effectively shifted the duty it owed Mr. Lafayette from it, to Sharp-Line, was legally

wrong and likely misled and confused the jury. See Degroot, 83 Wn. App. at 133

(Sweeney, C.J., concurring). The mischaracterization pervaded Degerstrom's

presentation and could not be cured by the concluding instructions to the jury.

The denial of the motion in limine was therefore an abuse of discretion and

requires reversal of the judgment and remand for a new trial of the estate's claims.

For this reason and the reasons set forth in the unpublished portion of this opinion,

we affirm the trial court's dismissal of Ms. Millican's individual claim, reverse the

dismissal of the estate's claim, and remand for a new trial consistent with this opinion.

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APPENDIX

Degerstrom's opening statement included the following preview of the evidence it

would thereafter present:

Now, NA Degerstrom's specialty is earth work. They don't carry

specialties in other things like ... signage and striping on the road. So

what did they do? They hired specialty subcontractors who have the

equipment and the knowledge to do this installation ....

There's also gonna be a lot of discussion in this case about NA

Degerstrom's contract with Sharp-Line. And as I talked to you earlier,

there were several subcontractors on this job, and these subcontractors were

was [sic] known as specialty subcontractors. They did work that Sharp­

excuse me, that NA Degerstrom did not qave the expertise to perform. So

what they do, typically any sort ofjob like, this you subcontract it out to

those people that are experts in their field ....

Part of their subcontract agreement, Sharp-Line agreed to comply

with all laws and regulations that are applicable to their work with regard to

what was being performed at the Flowery Trail Road project. And then I'm

gonna show you several safety provisions.

RP at 40-46. Degerstrom's lawyer then made a brief reference to jury instructions that

would be given at the end of the case addressing what was allowable under Washington

law with regard to delegating duties and regard to safety on the work site. She continued:

[W]hat I'm going to be providing you today are the several contract

provisions that discuss safety between Sharp-Line and NA Degerstrom.

And I will again, like Mr. Stocker says, I will be showing you that all these

provisions are appropriate and allowable under Washington law, and that

safety is allowed to be with regard to a specialty subcontractor, NA

Degerstrom could delegate those responsibilities.

And the reason that you're able-the reason it makes sense as far as

delegating these responsibilities, again NA Degerstrom is not all knowing

and not knowledgeable about everything that's done on this project. It's

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No. 30185-1-111

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appropriate, it's standard in the industry that you hire specialty

subcontractors who have expertise in their field. So they have expertise

with regard to preventing accidents regarding their work, and that's what

the contract requested.

They also have-we requested that Sharp-Line be solely responsible

for providing protection and safety of its employees, again because it

knows what the hazards are with regard to its job. They had the

responsibility for final selection of the safety methods and means. That

means how to--how that safety would be conducted on the project. And

then finally they had the responsibility for doing daily inspections on their

own work area and safety equipment because Degerstrom doesn't know

what their equipment is, how it's specialized. There's been plenty of

testimony today about this auger truck and how it was a very specialized

piece of equipment. But NA Degerstrom certainly doesn't know, have the

expertise to run, or would even be responsible if they ran it.

Another safety provision talked about the site specific safety plans

the accident prevention plan that NA Degerstrom had, in fact, for that

project, and how Sharp-Line had to comply with those safety requirements.

And finally Sharp-Line agreed that they would have a written safety plan

for this project, an accident prevention plan, and any other documents with'

regard to safety that were required for this project.

You're gonna be hearing testimony from a gentleman by the name of

Mike Craig. Now, Mike Craig is the president of Sharp-Line, and he's

been the president of Sharp-Line since its inception in 1987. Mr. Craig will

be testifYing that he signed this contract, and that he understood these

contract provisions, and that he understood that Sharp-Line was required to

furnish their own safety equipment and perform their work under this

contract, and that type of safety equipment also included chocks. You'll

also be provided testimony that the provisions with regard to safety that

were in the [Degerstrom] contract with Sharp-Line, they are typical and

they are standard in the industry because, again, if you're a specialty

subcontractor, you're the one who's gonna know your equipment and know

how to safely operate it.

RP at 46-48. Later in opening statement, Degerstrom's lawyer told the jury:

You'll hear how Coit Wright was the employee responsible for the

truck that day for Sharp-Line .... You'll hear how Mr. Wright was a

laborer, that he did not have training on this equipment, that he was not the

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employee responsible in the operation of this truck. You'll hear how Mr.

Wright made several poor choices that were in contradiction to the training

that he received from Sharp-Line, and that at the end of this workday that

caused that truck to start rolling.

So what did Mr. Wright fail to do? Mr. Wright provided a statement

to the Department of Labor & Industries, and then he also was interviewed

by the Department of Labor & Industries. That information he provided to

the Department of Labor & Industries, you'll hear testimony about. You'll

hear testimony that Mr. Wright failed to set the truck's parking brake.

You'll hear testimony that Mr. Wright failed to tum those wheels into the

downward slope or the shoulder of the road. You'll hear how Mr. Wright

deployed the outriggers, but then for whatever reason brought them back in.

You'll also hear that, although it was not required because the truck

was attended-both Mr. Wright and Mr. Lafayette were there and the

engine was running-that Coit Wright could have used readily available

chocks.

RP at 52-53.

In closing and summarizing the evidence that it had presented, Degerstrom's

lawyer argued:

Now, general contractors, as you know, owe a duty to provide all workers a

safe worksite and to ensure safety regulations are complied with. Now

Degerstrom, in no way, disputes this ....

. . . [O]ne of the ways that Degerstrom and all general contractors

ensure a safe worksite is they have their subcontractors-they have their

subcontractors, under contract, furnish the safety equipment. And why is

that? There's been a lot of discussion. Because subcontractors are the

experts in their field, not Degerstrom. They're the ones who know what the

hazards are. They're using their equipment, they know what is hazardous

and how to protect their employees. Degerstrom's duty is analogous to a

forest. Think of the project as being a forest and think of the subcontractors

being the trees in that forest. And the subcontractors being responsible for

the leaves on those trees, their equipment, their workers, all the things in

order to do their job safely as it's contractually required that they do. Now,

a general contractor is not able to see all those trees in the forest at one

20

No. 30185-1-111

Millican v. N.A. Degerstrom, Inc.

time. Nor can it see any of the leaves at any given moment. But it's the

subcontractors that have agreed to take care of those leaves.

Recall the testimony of Mark Lawless, that was plaintiff's site safety

expert. Both he and Mr. Stranne stated it's not reasonable, or industry

standard, to expect a general contractor to follow each subcontractor each

and every moment to ensure that subcontractors are performing this [sic]

jobs safely and correctly. Therefore general contractors are allowed, under

the law, to contractually require their subcontractors furnish safety

equipment related to their work.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I'm gonna ask that you look at

Exhibit DI03 and that safety provision that's cited in that contract. And 1

want you to look, instead of at the second paragraph, look at that first

paragraph on that page, because that talks about the safety requirements and

that Sharp-Line was solely responsible for the protection and safety of its

employees, for the final selection of additional safety means and methods,

and for daily inspection of its work area and safety equipment. It

specifically says safety equipment. And as you know from the testimony of

Mr. Craig, they agreed to be solely responsible for these items. And all

witnesses in this case, from Mr. Craig to Mr. Stranne to Mr. Lawless, all

testified this is a typical provision in a subcontract agreement.

RP at 845-47.

The remainder of this opinion has no precedential value. Therefore, it will be filed

for public record in accordance with the rules governing unpublished opinions. RCW

2.06.040.

Denial ofthe estate's motion for judgment

on liability as a matter oflaw.

The estate seeks more on appeal than reversal and remand; it asks that we find that

the trial court should have granted its posttrial motion for a new trial. The new trial it

sought, though, would be limited to damages-the estate wanted the court to instruct the

jury that Degerstrom was negligent and its negligence was a proximate cause of Mr.

21

No. 30185-1-111

Millican v. NA. Degerstrom, Inc.

Lafayette's death. On appeal, it characterizes its posttrial motion as implicitly one for

judgment as a matter oflaw on the issue ofliability. It argues that the court erred in

denying it.

The estate did not move for judgment as a matter of law at the close of the

evidence as contemplated by CR 50(b). In authorizing postverdict motions for judgment

as a matter oflaw, CR 50(b) speaks only of renewing an equivalent motion made under

CR 50(a) before the case was submitted to the jury. The estate argues that it was excused

from moving for the relief at the close of the evidence, however, because the motion

would have been futile in light of the trial court's denial of its motion in limine. It cites

Kaplan v. N W Mut. Life Ins. Co., 115 Wn. App. 791, 804 n.6, 65 P.3d 16 (2003) in

support.

Degerstrom's response makes a one-sentence mention of the estate's alleged

waiver of its right to move for judgment as a matter oflaw. Br. of Resp't at 6. But it

does not dispute the estate's argument that its posttrial motion was implicitly a CR 50(b)

motion or provide any authority or argument in opposition to the estate's claimed excuse

of futility. Absent any authority or argument in opposition, we assume without deciding

that the estate's posttrial motion was, in part, a motion for judgment as a matter of law

and that its failure to move for such relief at the close of the evidence is excused. See

RAP 10.3(a)(6) and (b) (a respondent's brief, like the appellant's, must include argument

on the issues presented for decision along with citations to legal authority).

22

No.30185-1-III

Millican v. N.A. Degerstrom, Inc.

Citing Pudmaroffv. Allen, 138 Wn.2d 55, 68, 977 P.2d 574 (1999), the estate

contends that while violation of a controlling statute or regulation is not negligence per

se, evidence of such a violation can be conclusive if the violator fails to present any

evidence of excuse or justification. It argues that it presented evidence of WISHA

violations for which Degerstrom presented no excuse or justification. It focuses on

regulations imposing a requirement to chock a vehicle's tires in certain situations

because, it argues, "there is no dispute that the auger truck would never have rolled away

had the wheels been chocked." Br. of Appellant at 31. If a requirement for chocking was

breached it argues that the "breach was, as a matter of law, a proximate cause of [Mr.]

Lafayette's death." Id.

The principal WISHA regulation that Degerstrom alleges was not enforced is

WAC 296-1 55-6 1O(2)(b) (entitled "Motor Vehicles on Construction Sites"), which

provides:

(b) Before leaving a motor vehicle unattended:

(i) The motor must be stopped.

(ii) The parking brake must be engaged and the wheels turned into

curb or berm when parked on an incline.

(iii) If parking on an incline and there is no curb or berm, the wheels

must be chocked or otherwise secured.

Citing evidence that Degerstrom did not require Sharp-Line to use chocks and did not

inspect Sharp-Line's vehicles for chock usage, the estate contends that Degerstrom

undisputedly violated this WISHA regulation.

23

No. 30185-1-111

Millican v. NA. Degerstrom, Inc.

Degerstrom's position at trial and on appeal is that the auger truck in which Mr.

Lafayette died was not "unattended" and therefore the regulation did not apply.

Degerstrom's first argument that the truck was not unattended before beginning to

roll down the incline is a logicalry fallacious one: Degerstrom argues that "[t]he

Washington Administrative Code requires a vehicle's motor to be stopped in order for it

to be considered 'unattended.'" Br. of Resp't at 38 (footnote omitted). It infers this

proposition from the regulatory language, "Before leaving a motor vehicle unattended: (i)

The motor must be stopped." Its construction misconstrues this language as saying

something about what makes a motor vehicle "unattended," when it is instead saying

something about what operators are required to do when they leave a, motor vehicle

unattended. Were Degerstrom's construction correct, then the WAC would also require a

vehicle's parking brake to be engaged for it to be considered "unattended." For that

matter, the wheels would have to be turned into a curb or berm when parked on an incline

for it to be considered "unattended." And a motor vehicle left remotely overnight, with

no operator anywhere in the vicinity, would be considered "attended," rather than

"unattended," as long as its motor was running, the parking brake was engaged, or its

wheels were turned into a curb or berm and it was parked on an incline. Clearly the

regulation is not describing what makes a vehicle "unattended" but only the safety

measures that must be taken when it is left unattended.

24

No.30185-1-III

Millican v. NA. Degerstrom, Inc.

Elsewhere, Degerstrom's position that a vehicle's motor must be stopped in order

for it to be considered "unattended" appears to be based on the fact that the auger and

tamper used by Mr. Lafayette and his supervisor were operated using a power take-off

(PTO) from the truck's transmission~requiring that the motor be running. Degerstrom

considers it obvious that "unattended" cannot include times when the operator of a truck

has stepped outside of its cab to operate a PTO-powered piece of equipment. But

WISHA regulations are construed liberally to achieve their purpose of providing safe

working conditions. Pate/co, Inc. v. Dep'tofLabor & Indus., 166 Wn. App. 647, 653,

272 P.3d 262 (2012). It is not obvious that the Department of Labor and Industries would

be unconcerned that the motor was running, the cab was unattended, and the only

potential operators in the vicinity of this truck (pointed downhill), were engaged in other

work that could distract their attention or prevent them from reaching the cab in the event

of some hazard. The department might well require that a vehicle in this situation be

attended by an employee in the cab or one who was not engaged in operating PTO

equipment. What we do know from the record (although the evidence appears not to

have been admitted at trial) was that the department did cite Sharp-Line for a violation of

WAC 296-155-610(2)(b).

The meaning of "unattended" that Degerstrom urges is unambiguous (parked, with

the motor stopped, and the operators no longer in the vicinity) is contrary to any meaning

25

No. 30185-1-111

Millican v. NA. Degerstrom, Inc.

attached to the term under OSHA. 6 In interpreting our WISHA regulations in the absence

of state decisions, we may look to OSHA regulations and consistent federal decisions.

Wash. Cedar & Supply Co. v. Dep't ofLabor & Indus., 137 Wn. App. 592,604, 154 P.3d

287 (2007) (citing Adkins v. Aluminum Co. ofAm., 110 Wn.2d 128, 147, 750 P.2d 1257,

756 P.2d 142 (1988)). OSHA's construction of "unattended" has not been uniform,

varies depending upon the context, and recognizes that a vehicle that is left running may

be considered "unattended." See, e.g., 29 C.F.R. 1910.178(m)(5); Letter from Russell B.

Swanson, Director, Directorate of Construction, to Peter Kuchinsky II, Safety

Trainer/Consultant, Construction Building Analysts (May 11, 2005), available at

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIO

NS&p_id=25067; Letter from Russell B. Swanson, Director, Directorate of Construction,

to Paul Hayes, Safety Manager, Skanska (Jan. 14,2004), available at

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIO

NS&pjd=24723 (stating that "when [a construction vehicle is] left unattended and

running, the parking brake must be set, and ifthe vehicle is on an incline, in addition to

setting the brake, the wheels must be chocked" (emphasis added)).7

6 Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970,29 U.S.C. §§ 651-678.

7 Although only briefly reviewed, OSHA regulations include a definition and

requirements for industrial trucks used in general industry (not construction):

(ii) A powered industrial truck is unattended when the operator is 25

ft. or more away from the vehicle which remains in his view, or whenever

26

No. 30185-1-111

Millican v. N.A. Degerstrom, Inc.

The estate argues for the first time in its reply brief that "[w]hether a safety

regulati~n applies on a particular job site is a question of law for the court." Reply Br. at

20 (citing Manson v. Foutch-Miller, 38 Wn. App. 898,902,691 P.2d 236 (1984)); see

also Ball v. Smith, 87 Wn.2d 717, 722-25, 556 P.2d 936 (1976) (it is the province of the

trial court, not an expert witness, to interpret a statute or ordinance and determine

whether it applies to a party). Its argument that the trial court should have determined

whether WAC 296-155-61O(2)(b) applied, or at least instructed the jury on a meaning for

"unattended," appears worthy of briefing and consideration in the retrial. We will not

consider it in this appeal, however, for two reasons: it was not raised in the trial court and

the operator leaves the vehicle and it is not in his view.

(iii) When the operator of an industrial truck is dismounted and

within 25 ft. of the truck still in his view, the load engaging means shall be

fully lowered, controls neutralized, and the brakes set to prevent movement.

29 C.F.R. 1910.l78(m)(5). In a May 11,2005 interpretation letter addressed to Peter

Kuchinsky II, OSHA referred to this industrial truck regulation in addressing a question

about construction equipment, stating:

Although these provisions do not apply to construction or earth­

moving equipment, they address some of the same type of hazards. After

considering the approach that was taken in § 191 0.178(m)(5) and the

hazards associated with construction equipment, we have determined that,

for construction equipment such as bobcats, backhoes, and trenchers,

leaving the motor running with the operator away from the controls will be

considered a de minimis violation of §1926.600(a)(3) where all of the

following are met: the attachment is lowered, the controls are in the neutral

position, the brakes are set, all manufacturer provided and recommended

safety measures are utilized, and the operator is within 25 feet (and still in·

view) of the equipment.

Letter to Paul Kuchinsky II, supra (footnote omitted).

27

No. 30185-1·111

Millican v. NA. Degerstrom, Inc.

was raised for the first time in the estate's reply brief. RAP 2.5(a) (appellate courts need

not entertain issues not raised in the trial court); Cowiche Canyon Conservancy v. Bosley,

118 Wn.2d 801, 809, 828 P .2d 549 (1992) (issue raised for the first time in a reply brief is

too late to warrant consideration).

In the trial court, the estate was content to have the jury decide whether the

regulation applied. While we reject the two principal arguments Degerstrom offers on

appeal as to why its construction of the regulation is correct, the fact remains that the

estate allowed the meaning and application of the regulation to be decided by the jury.

Both parties' witnesses offered their views as to whether the auger truck was

"unattended" when the auger was being operated; the estate's witnesses said that it was

unattended and Degerstrom' s witnesses testified that it was attended, not unattended. As

the case was tried, and viewed in the light most favorable to Degerstrom, the evidence

could support a jury determination that the auger truck was not unattended at the time it

began rolling down the incline. Cj Wieder v. Towmotor Corp., 568 F. Supp. 1058, 1063

(E.D. Pa. 1983) (experts' conflicting opinions as to whether forklift was left "unattended"

when driver dismounted were submitted to the jury for its determination), aff'd, 734 F.2d

9 (3d Cir. 1984).

While placing principal reliance on WAC 296-155-61 0(2)(b), the estate points to

evidence it presented of other alleged violations of WISHA regulations by Degerstrom as

well. But that evidence was similarly disputed by Degerstrom's employees and experts at

28

No. 30185-I-III

Millican v. N.A. Degerstrom, Inc.

trial. And with respect to some of the WISHA regulations the estate argued were violated

by Degerstrom, the estate did not conclusively demonstrate that any violation was a

proximate cause of Mr. Lafayette's death.

The trial court did not err in denying the estate's motion for judgment as a matter

of law on liability and a new trial limited to the issue of damages.

Refusal to instruct on a duty owed to the public.

The estate next appeals the trial court's refusal to instruct the jury that the general

contractor on a highway construction project has a duty to exercise ordinary care to

protect the traveling public from dangerous conditions that may arise within a

construction zone. It claims to have relied on an alternative theory of liability that

Degerstrom's negligent omissions created a peril to the motorists on Flowery Trail Road

who were in the path of the auger truck as it rolled downhill. Its breach of that duty owed

the public created liability to anyone injured in a reasonable attempt to rescue the

imperiled motorists-in this case, the rescuer happened to be the employee of a

subcontractor. See McCoy v. Am. Suzuki Motor Corp., 136 Wn.2d 350, 355, 961 P.2d

952 (1998) (rescue doctrines allows an injured rescuer to sue the party that caused the

8A plaintiff relying on the rescue doctrine must prove that (1) the defendant was

negligent to the person rescued and that negligence created an appearance that the person

rescued was in peril, (2) the peril or appearance of peril was imminent, (3) a reasonably

prudent person would have concluded that the peril existed, and (4) the rescuer acted with

reasonable care. McCoy, 136 Wn.2d at 355-56.

29

No. 30185-1-111

Millican v. N.A. Degerstrom, Inc.

danger that required the rescue). It contends that the court's refusal to give the requested

instruction prevented it from arguing this separate theory of negligence.

Jury instructions must allow the parties to argue their theories of the case, must not

mislead the jury, and must as a whole inform the jury of the applicable law. Thompson v.

King Feed & Nutrition Serv., Inc., 153 Wn.2d 447,453, 105 P.3d 378 (2005). "Failure to

permit instructions on a party's theory of the case, where there is evidence supporting the

theory, is reversible error." Barrett v. Lucky Seven Saloon, Inc., 152 Wn.2d 259, 266-67,

96 P.3d 386 (2004). "As with a trial court's instruction misstating the applicable law, a

court's omission of a proposed statement of the governing law will be 'reversible error

where it prejudices a party.'" Id. at 267 (quoting Hue v. Farmboy Spray Co., 127 Wn.2d

67,92,896 P.2d 682 (1995)). On appeal, errors oflaw injury instructions are reviewed

de novo. Hue, 127 Wn.2d at 92.

The estate's proposed instruction was not a Washington pattern jury instruction;

the authority it cited in proposing the instruction was Smith v. Acme Paving Co., 16 Wn.

App. 389, 558 P.2d 811 (1976) and Cummins v. Rachner, 257 N.W.2d 808 (Minn. 1977).

On appeal, it cites Argus v. Peter Kiewit Sons' Co., 49 Wn.2d 853, 307 P.2d 261 (1957)

as additional authority. Degerstrom argues that all three cases involved distinguishable

facts: a contractor engaged in road construction who created a hazard in or on the

physical roadway being constructed. We agree; the duty of the contractor in each case

was identified as being to maintain the streets in a reasonably safe condition and to guard

30

No.30185-1-III

Millican v. N.A. Degerstrom, Inc.

drivers from reasonably anticipated hazards. Argus, 49 Wn.2d at 856; Smith, 16 Wn.

App. at 393; Cummins, 257 N.W.2d at 813. As stated in Smith, 16 Wn. App. at 393-94,

this duty "is particularly applicable where the conditions complained of arise out of the

actual construction, repair, and maintenance of the roadway." Degerstrom is not accused

of creating a hazard, but of failing to safeguard against it.

Nonetheless, other evidence presented at trial supported a broader duty owed by

Degerstrom to the public. Degerstrom's agreement in its accident prevention program to

reasonably ensure that parked, unattended vehicles were chocked on inclines apparently

was intended to protect the public as well as employees from hazardous runaway

vehicles. The reference in WISHA regulations to vehicles parked at night, after work

hours, proves this intent. WAC 296-1 55-605(1)(a). Degerstrom also agreed to safeguard

the public from its operations and to provide adequate warnings of hazards for workers

and the public.

This scope of Degerstrom's duty was reflected in other instructions given by the

trial court, however, from which the estate could argue that Degerstrom breached a duty

of care to the public by failing to require Sharp-Line to use chocks on the auger trucks.

The trial court's instructions informed the jury that negligence includes "the failure to do

some act that a reasonably careful person would have done under the same or similar

circumstances," CP at 3179, and that a violation of a WISHA regulation is evidence of

negligence. The estate elicited testimony from several witnesses that it would have been

31

No. 30185-1-111

Millican v. N.A. Degerstrom, Inc.

safer to use chocks under the circumstances ofthe accident, and argued that the failure to

use chocks was both unreasonable and a violation of WISHA safety regulations, creating

an imminent threat to the pUblic.

The instructions given enabled the estate to argue a negligent breach of duty to the

public. The trial court's refusal to give a more specific instruction was therefore not

reversible error.

Dismissal ofMs. Millican's individual claim.

Ms. Millican sued not only as the personal representative of Mr. Lafayette's estate

but also individually, as a statutory beneficiary. RCW 4.20.020 identifies a first and

second tier of beneficiaries who may recover damages for wrongful death. Armantrout v.

Carlson, 166 Wn.2d 931, 935, 214 P.3d 914 (2009). The first tier includes a decedent's

wife, husband, or registered domestic partner, and any children or stepchildren. Ifthere

are no first tier beneficiaries, as in the case of 19-year-old Mr. Lafayette, a wrongful

death suit may be maintained for the benefit of second tier beneficiaries, including

parents or siblings "who may be dependent upon the deceased person for support." RCW

4.20.020; Armantrout, 166 Wn.2d at 935.

The statute does not define "dependent" or "support." It has long been construed

to require that second tier beneficiaries prove '''substantial dependency'" and a

recognition by the child of the parent's '''necessitous want. '" Id. at 936 (quoting Bortle

v. N. Pac. Ry., 60 Wash. 552, 554, III P. 788 (1910)). The substantial dependency must

32

No. 30185-1-111

Millican v. NA. Degerstrom, Inc.

be based on the situation existing at the time of the decedent's death, not on a promise of

future contributions. Id. Emotional dependency alone will not qualify parents for

second-tier beneficiary status. Id. In Armantrout, the Washington Supreme Court held

that the trier of fact may consider services provided by the deceased that had a monetary

value for which the parents would not otherwise have been able to pay. It may not,

however, consider "everyday services a child would routinely provide." Id. at 940.

The defendants moved for summary judgment dismissing Ms. Millican's

individual claim, arguing that there was no genuine issue that she was dependent on her

son for support. It was undisputed that Mr. Lafayette had moved out of his mother's

home four months before the accident and had been living independently. The

defendants submitted Ms. Millican's deposition in support of their motion, summarizing

material concessions made in the deposition as follows:

Mrs. Millican does not have debilitating health problems requiring

necessary care and assistance from her family members. She had a

pulmonary embolism nearly twenty years ago and now has hypertension,

but she tries not to limit herself in activities. Mr. Lafayette did not offer

any medical care to his mother. In fact, Ms. Millican is able to work at two

jobs, the Riverside school district administration office and a foster home

for at-risk youth. Currently, she is working about 35 hours per week at the

school district and 35-40 hours per week at the foster home. Mr. Lafayette

did not give his mother any [monetary] support.

CP at 645-46 (footnotes omitted).

In response, Ms. Millican submitted the declaration of her primary care physician

that she has class IV pulmonary hypertension that causes shortness of breath with

33

No.30185-1-III

Millican v. NA. Degerstrom, Inc.

exertion and significantly limits her ability to do chores involving aerobic activity. She

also submitted evidence that her son began working construction at age 12 and had

become proficient at construction, household repair, and landscaping. She testified that

during his teenage years he had regularly handled household repairs and maintenance and

had undertaken a number of improvements to her home and the 10-acre parcel on which

it is located. She argued that her physical limitations prevented her, personally, from

performing the maintenance required on her home and property.

She testified that her son planned to continue providing these and other

maintenance, repair, and home improvement services in the future. In support of a

motion for reconsideration she submitted a declaration stating conclusorily that she and

her husband were financially unable to pay someone else to perform the tasks necessary

for the maintenance and upkeep of their home. Because she and her husband could not

keep up the property as well as Mr. Lafayette had, and it did not make sense for her to

refinance a home that was losing value, she testified that she lost her home in foreclosure.

Our review of an order of summary judgment is de novo, considering the facts and

reasonable inferences in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Beggs v. Dep't

o/Soc. & Health Servs., 171Wn.2d 69, 75, 247 P.3d 421 (2011); Right-Price Recreation,

LLC v. Connells Prairie Cmty. Council, 146 Wn.2d 370,381,46 P.3d 789 (2002).

Summary judgment is proper if the pleadings and accompanying documentary evidence

show that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that the moving party is entitled

34

No.30185-1-III

Millican v. N.A. Degerstrom, Inc.

to judgment as a matter oflaw. Phillips v. King County, 136 Wn.2d 946,956,968 P.2d

871 (1998); CR 56(c).

Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to Ms. Millican, the services Mr.

Lafayette provided are different from the type of support services discussed in

Armantrout that make a parent "dependent ... for support" within the meaning ofRCW

4.20.020. In that case, the 18-year-old decedent had lived with her mother, who had

diabetes and was blind. She acted as her mother's driver and administered her mother's

glucose tests and insulin injections. The decedent had contributed her monthly disability

benefit checks to the household. Armantrout held that these services were the kind for

which an economic value could be determined. At the same time, it endorsed the trial

court's instruction to the jury that the financial dependence required excluded the

everyday services a child would routinely provide. 166 Wn.2d at 939.

Ms. Millican's evidence responding to the summary judgment motion failed to

demonstrate a genuine issue of material fact. Mr. Lafayette provided no medical care or

monetary support to his mother, who was able to get around on her own and hold more

than full-time employment. Some services provided by Mr. Lafayette, such as snow

plowing and yard maintenance, were in the nature of everyday services a child would

routinely provide. Extensive future home and landscaping improvements accounted for a

35

No. 30185-1-111

Millican v. N.A. Degerstrom, Inc.

large part of her damage claim 9 but they were both hoped-for contributions and not the

degree of dependency contemplated by the statute, which "must be real and substantial

and will not arise from occasional gifts or gratuities." Beggs, 171 Wn.2d at 82 n.12.

Finally, with respect to any assistance she had been receiving from Mr. Lafayette that

Ms. Millican might legitimately argue was nonroutine and responded to a real and

substantial need, she made no showing of financial dependence on that assistance.

The trial court properly granted the defendants' motion for partial summary

judgment dismissing Ms. Millican's individual claim.

We affirm the trial court's dismissal of Ms. Millican's individual claim, reverse

the dismissal of the estate's claim, and remand for a new trial consistent with this

OpInIOn.

Siddoway, A.C.J.

I CONCUR:

9 Summarized at CP 782-87, Ms. Millican's damage claim included the value of

the following improvements to her home that she had hoped Mr. Lafayette would

undertake in the future: construction of a new two-car garage with studio apartment; a

two-story addition to the home; a kitchen remodel; and new lawn, sprinkler, and drip

irrigation systems.

36

No. 30185-1-111

BROWN, J., (concurring in part, dissenting in part) - I agree the trial court correctly

dismissed Dorothy Millican's individual claim. But in my view under existing law, the

trial court did not abuse its discretion and err in admitting the subcontract between N.A.

Degerstrom (NAD) and Sharp-line Industries, Inc. Pretrial, the Estate of Daren

Lafayette (Estate) unsuccessfully moved to exclude any U[a]rgument or inference that

Degerstrom did not retain control or exercise supervision over [Sharp-line's] work,"

citing ER 401,402, and 403 and Stute v. P.B.M.G., Inc., 114 Wn.2d 454,788 P.2d 545

(1990). Clerk's Papers (CP) at 1549. Attached to the motion was the subcontract

between NAD and Sharp-line, which specified in one provision that Sharp-Line

accepts responsibility to prevent accidents to any person who may be

close enough to its operations to be exposed to Subcontractor's work­

related hazards. Subcontractor shall be solely responsible for the

protection and safety of its employees, for final selection of additional

safety methods and means, and for daily inspection of its work area and

safety equipment.

CP at 3227. The Estate mistakenly contends this provision impermissibly delegated

NAD's responsibility to ensure compliance with the safety regulations of the Washington

Industrial Safety and Health Act of 1973 (WISHA), chapter 49.17 RCW.

No. 30185·1·111

Millican v. Degerstrom, Inc. - concurrence/dissent

Evidence must be relevant to be admissible, meaning "it must tend to make the

existence of any fact of consequence to the action more or less probable." Degroot v.

Berkley Constr., Inc., 83 Wn. App. 125, 128,920 P.2d 619 (1996). Even relevant

evidence may be excluded if its probative value is outweighed by the likelihood that it

will mislead the jury. Id. The trial court's balancing of probative value versus prejudicial

effect is entitled to great deference. Id.

The subcontract's safety provision was relevant to NAD's defense that it took all

reasonable steps to comply with WISHA regulations. Under RCW 49.17.060, each

employer

(1) Shall furnish to each of his or her employees a place of

employment free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to

cause serious injury or death to his or her employees ... ; and

(2) Shall comply with the rules, regulations, and orders

promulgated under this chapter.

This statute is mirrored in WAC 296-155·040, which states in part:

(1) Each employer shall furnish to each employee a place of

employment 'free 'from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to

cause serious injury or death to employees.

(2) Every employer shall require safety devices, furnish safeguards,

and shall adopt and use practices, methods, operations, and processes

which are reasonably adequate to render such employment and place of

employment safe. Every employer shall do everything reasonably

necessary to protect the life and safety of employees.

See Stute, 114 Wn.2d at 457,459-60. Stute held RCW 49.17.060 and WAC 291·155·

040 create a two·fold duty for general contractors. Id. at 457. Subsection (1) of the

statute and regulation imposes a general duty on employers to protect solely their own

employees from "recognized hazards not covered by specific safety regulations." Id.

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Subsection (2) of the statute and regulation, however, "imposes a specific duty to

comply with WISHA regulations." Id. This specific duty extends to the employees of

subcontractors. Id. at 458. Thus, a general contractor has a nondelegable duty to

ensure compliance with safety regulations for the safety of a subcontractor's

employees. Id. at 463-64.

In Stute, P.B.M.C., Inc., a general contractor, subcontracted with S & S Gutters

to install gutters on a condominium complex. Mr. Stute, an employee of S & S Gutters,

fell while installing gutters and was injured. The record showed P.B.M.C. knew the

employees of S & S Gutters were working on the roof without safety devices. Id. at 456.

Mr. Stute sued P.B.M.C., alleging the general contractor owed a duty to provide

necessary safety devices on the work site. Citing RCW 49.17.060, WAC 296-155-040,

and the general contractor's "innate supervisory authority," Stute, 114 Wn.2d at 464, the

Supreme Court held a general contractor had a specific duty as a matter of law to

supply safety equipment for all employees on a work site or to contractually require

subcontractors to provide adequate safety equipment relevant to their responsibilities.

Stute, 114 Wn.2d at 464.

Here, the trial court correctly reasoned Stute allowed a general contractor to

contractually require subcontractors to furnish adequate safety equipment. Id. Thus, in

my view, the trial court correctly admitted the subcontract with the understanding it

would deal with the legal issues in the jury instructions.

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In Degroot, a subcontractor's employee was injured while working on a job site

and sued the general contractors for negligence and WISHA violations. Before trial, the

employee moved to exclude a subcontract safety provision that arguably gave the

subcontractor sole responsibility for the safety of its employees:

"Subcontractor shall, at its own cost and expense, protect its own

employees, employees of Contractor, and all other persons from risk of

death, injury or bodily harm arising out of or in any way connected with the

work to be performed under this Subcontract.

"Subcontractor shall strictly comply with all safety orders, rules,

regulations or requirements of all federal, state and local government

agencies, exercising safety jurisdiction over said work including, but not

limited to, federal OSHA [Occupational Safey and Health Act of 1970,29

U.S.C. §§ 651-678] and state occupational safety and health regulations."

Degroot, 83 Wn. App. at 128. The employee contended that because the safety

provision gave the impression that the general contractors had delegated to the

subcontractor the duty to furnish a relatively safe working environment, the safety

provision was irrelevant and misleading. Id. at 127.

In affirming the trial court's admission of the evidence, the Degroot court found

the boilerplate language in the safety provision appeared to be designed to meet the

duty of care outlined in Stute, particularly the general contractor's duty to "'furnish safety

equipment or to contractually require subcontractors to furnish adequate safety

equipment.'" Id. at 129 (quoting Stute, 114 Wn.2d at 464). Consequently, the safety

provision was "at least relevant to whether [the general contractors] fulfilled their WISHA

responsibility for the safety of all employees on the work site." Id. The Degroot court

concluded the safety provision was not misleading, because the general contractors

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agreed at trial they had a nondelegable duty to comply with WISHA safety regulations,

never argued the subcontract delegated this duty to the subcontractor, and submitted

the safety provision solely as "evidence of their attempt to exercise reasonable care to

enforce safety regulations on the work site." Id. at 131. The trial court in Degroot

instructed the jury that the provision was not evidence that the general contractors had

delegated their WISHA duties to the subcontractor and that the general contractors

were required to exercise ordinary care to ensure compliance with safety regulations on

the work site. Id.

Under Degroot, subcontract safety provisions may be admissible as evidence of

the steps the general contractor took to comply with WISHA safety regulations, but the

provisions are not admissible to show the general contractor delegated its responsibility

for compliance with the safety regulations to the subcontractor. Id. at 129. As in

Degroot, the subcontract safety provision here is relevant to whether NAD met its duty

to ensure compliance with WISHA safety regulations at the work site. Id.; Stute, 114

Wn.2d at 464; WAC 296-155-040(2).

The trial court found the relevance of the subcontract safety provision here

outweighed the possibility that it might mislead the jury regarding the general

contractor's nondelegable duty to comply with WISHA safety regulations. Although the

subcontract states Sharp-Line is "solely responsible for the protection and safety of its

employees," CP at 3227, NAD acknowledged in its opening and closing statements that

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general contractors have a legal duty to provide a safe work site for all employees. No

objection was noted to NAO's arguments in the briefing.

In terms of a fair trial, NAO employees testified that the general contractor

retained the ultimate responsibility for work site safety. Additionally, NAO provided

evidence it had a site specific accident prevention plan, it had a foreman and

superintendent performing oversight at the job site daily, as well as a safety director

who checked in on occasion, and it ran weekly safety meetings that were required for all

workers on the site. NAO's closing statement explained that as the general contractor,

it was required to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of the work site, including

contractually requiring its subcontractors to furnish any safety equipment related to their

work. The trial court was in the best position to rule on any objections, if they had been

made.

Importantly, the jury was instructed that a general contractor has a nondelegable

responsibility to ensure the safety of all employees on the work site:

Under Washington law, a general contractor on a construction

project owes a duty to every employee at the job site, including employees

of subcontractors, to ensure that it and its subcontractors comply with all

applicable safety regulations. The general contractor is the party with

innate supervisory authority and per se control over the job site, so it

bears the primary, non-delegable duty to provide a safe workplace for

subcontractor employees.

In Washington, all general contractors have a non-delegable

specific duty to ensure compliance with all Washington state construction

safety regulations.

CP at 3182. We assume juries follow the instructions. Degroot, 83 Wn. App. at 131.

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Accordingly, I concur in affirming the trial court's dismissal of Ms. Millican's

individual claim, but because I would affirm the trial court's judgment on the jury's

verdict, I respectfully dissent.

Brown, J.

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