Opinion

Rohrabaugh v. Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority Corp.

  • 75 Mich. App. 677
  • 256 N.W.2d 240
  • 1977 Mich. App. LEXIS 1149
Court
Michigan Court of Appeals
Filed
May 17, 1977
Status
Published
Author
Bashara
On the bench
Holbrook, Bashara, Hood
Cited by
10 cases
Authority
More cited than 12.8%

The opinion

Bashara, J.

(dissenting). I respectfully dissent.

I am not convinced the case law cited in support of the majority’s decision requires a finding that the roller rink was operated as a proprietary function. Matthews v Detroit, 291 Mich 161 ; 289 NW 115 (1939), was decided by an equally divided Court, and hence is of limited precedential value. The more recent opinion from this Court, Smith v Board of Commissioners of the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority, 49 Mich App 280 ; 212 NW2d 32 (1973), is factually similar to the case at bar.

The majority argues that the roller rink is proprietary because it could exist separate from the park. It is true that the operation of the rink does not solely depend upon the other available facilities. On the other hand, the economics of the rink shows that it functions in direct relation to its locale.

It was undisputed at the trial that the roller rink charges fees substantially less than those in effect at privately owned rinks. There was no evidence showing that the rink fees covered its costs, let alone produced any profit for the defendant. The rink is just one of the many attractions in the overall park.

The unique cost structure and need to control *689 the users of such an attraction necessitate the charging of a small fee. However, I do not believe that in the instant case and in Smith, supra, the function thereby becomes proprietary in nature. In the absence of any clear showing of even an intent for profit, the consistently-applied doctrine of governmental immunity for the operation of municipal parks should not be waived.

I would affirm.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

A word about cookies

We need a few to keep you signed in and the library working. The rest help us see which pages people use and where they get stuck. They stay off unless you say yes.