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You can search the entire site. or go to the recent opinions, or the chronological or subject indices. Sandy Sulzbach and Rob Sulzbach v. City & Borough of Sitka and John T. Ferrick (9/16/2022) sp-7618
Notice: This opinion is subject to correction before publication in the PACIFIC REPORTER.
Readers are requested to bring errors to the attention of the Clerk of the Appellate Courts,
303 K Street, Anchorage, Alaska 99501, phone (907) 264-0608, fax (907) 264-0878, email
corrections@akcourts.gov.
THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF ALASKA
SANDY SULZBACH and ROB )
SULZBACH, ) Supreme Court No. S-17853
)
Appellants,
) Superior Court No. 1SI-17-00237 CI
)
v.
) O P I N I O N
)
CITY & BOROUGH OF SITKA and
) No. 7618 - September 16, 2022
JOHN T. FERRICK, )
)
Appellees. )
)
he Superior Court of the State of Alaska, First
Appeal from t
Judicial District, Sitka, The Honorable M. Jude Pate, Judge.
Appearances: Mark Choate, Choate Law Firm LLC, Juneau,
for Appellants. Timothy W. Bowman, Farley & Graves,
P.C., Anchorage, for Appellee City & Borough of Sitka. No
appearance by Appellee John T. Ferrick.
Before: Winfree, Chief Justice, Maassen, Carney,
Borghesan, and Henderson, Justices.
WINFREE, Chief Justice.
I. INTRODUCTION
A city allowed an independent nonprofit organization to host a public event
at a city facility. The nonprofit organization arranged for a volunteer to hang decorations
in the facility; a decoration fell, injuring an event participant. The injured participant
sued the city, but not the nonprofit organization, for negligence. The city brought a
----------------------- Page 2-----------------------
third-party allocation of fault claim against the volunteer. The parties sought summary
judgment, and the trial court concluded that, under federal law, the volunteer could not
be held financially responsible for the accident and that the city could not be held
vicariously liable for the volunteer's actions. The remaining negligence issues were
decided at a jury trial; the jury determined that the volunteer and the city had not been
negligent and therefore were not liable for the accident. The event participant appeals.
As set forth below, we affirm.
II. FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS
A. Facts
Harrigan Centennial Hall is an event facility owned by the City and
Borough of Sitka. The City allowed the Alaska Day Organization, an independent
nonprofit entity, to host Sitka's 2016 Alaska Day celebration at Centennial Hall without
cost. John Ferrick volunteered with the Alaska Day Organization to help decorate
Centennial Hall. Ferrick had previously decorated there but it since had been renovated,
and he attended a training session with a facility employee that involved "looking at the
ceiling and going over the stage lighting and all of the logistics in the new facility[;] . . .
one of those items was decorating."
The City provided a mechanical lift that Ferrick used to hang ten cloth
lantern decorations, approximately five-and-a-half-pounds each, from the facility's
ceiling. While Ferrick was hanging the lanterns, a dance group - including Sandy
Sulzbach - rehearsed on the facility's stage. Ferrick temporarily fastened the lanterns,
planning to level their height before fixing them more securely, then left the facility for
about 15 minutes. While Ferrick was gone a lantern fell, striking Sulzbach's "head and
upper back." An ambulance transported Sulzbach to the hospital, where she was
diagnosed with a concussion and released.
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B. Proceedings
Sulzbach and her husband sued the City, alleging its negligence caused
them harm.1
The City then brought a third-party complaint against Ferrick, alleging his
negligence was the "sole, direct and proximate cause" of Sulzbach's injuries and seeking
2
to apportion fault accordingly. Neither Sulzbach nor the City brought a claim against
the Alaska Day Organization.
1. Summary judgment
3
Each party moved for summary judgment. Sulzbach argued that Ferrick
4
was negligent and that the City was vicariously liable for his actions as a matter of law.
The City argued that it owed Sulzbach no independent duty (i.e., the City was not
negligent) and that it was not vicariously liable for Ferrick's negligence. Ferrick, self-
1 Although both Sulzbach and her husband are parties to the litigation, we
refer to Sulzbach individually because her husband's claim arises from her injuries.
2 See AS 09.17.080(a) (requiring apportionment of fault and damages "[i]n
all actions involving fault of more than one person, including third-party defendants and
persons who have settled or otherwise been released" unless parties agree otherwise).
3 See Alaska R. Civ. P. 56(c) (stating summary judgment is appropriate when
"there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and . . . the moving party is entitled to
judgment as a matter of law").
4 Sulzbachasserted thatshewas seeking summary judgmentonly on theduty
and breach negligence issues, as opposed to all four elements of a negligence claim. See
Regner v. N. Star Volunteer Fire Dep't, Inc., 323 P.3d 16, 21 (Alaska 2014) ("[T]o prove
[a] negligence claim[, a party] must show that: (1) the defendants owed him a duty of
care, (2) the defendants breached this duty, (3) he was injured, and (4) his injury was the
factual and proximate result of the defendants' breach."). This distinction is irrelevant
to consideration of this appeal.
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represented, argued that he was not negligent and that he was shielded from liability by
5
the federal Volunteer Protection Act of 1997.
The trial court concluded that there were genuine issues of fact precluding
summary judgment about whether the City owed Sulzbach a duty of care and whether
Ferrick owed Sulzbach a duty of care and breached it. But the trial court concluded as
a matter of law that the City could not be held vicariously liable for Ferrick's negligence,
if any, because Ferrick and the City had "no predicate contractor-contractee
relationship." The court reasoned that Ferrick was affiliated only with the independent
nonprofit Alaska Day Organization and that his work did not benefit the City. The court
also agreed with Ferrick that the Volunteer Protection Act shielded him from liability for
ordinary negligence, but the court noted that at trial the City could allocate fault to
"Ferrick as a person 'otherwise released from liability' under AS 09.17.080(a)."
2. Trial
The trial court's summary judgment decision prohibited recovery from
Ferrick and any argument that the City was vicariously liable for Ferrick's actions; at a
jury trial Sulzbach thus argued almost exclusively that the City was negligent. The City
argued that it was not negligent, implying that any negligence was attributable to Ferrick.
Ferrick testified at trial, but he did not participate at the trial as a party.
Sulzbachprimarily testifiedabout eventsafter thelantern fell and the extent
of her injuries. She conceded having seen Ferrick using the mechanical lift, but she said
that she did not think the lanterns were dangerous and that no one warned her about
Ferrick's activities.
5 See 42 U.S.C. § 14503(a) ("Except as provided . . . , no volunteer of a
nonprofit organization . . . shall be liable for harm caused by an act or omission of the
volunteer on behalf of the organization [in given conditions] . . . .").
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Ferrick testified about his volunteer relationship with the Alaska Day
Organization and about hanging the decorations; he said that he had hung decorations
at Centennial Hall several times, although not since the facility renovation, and that his
wife usually helped him. Ferrick said he initially hung the lanterns using a temporary
fastening system so that he could more easily level their height before securing them.
Ferrick asserted that the temporary placement of the lanterns "was secure[] under normal
circumstances," but he "speculat[ed]" that a strong wind may have dislodged one.
Ferrick also testified about the dance group. Ferrick said that the dancers
initially were close to the stage while he was working and that they mostly stayed there,
out of his way. Ferrick said that he never warned the dancers about being under the
lanterns. Ferrick said that he was out of the room when the lantern fell and that it was
only after he returned that he learned the dancers had moved under the lanterns.
Donald Kluting, Centennial Hall's manager, testified during both sides'
evidentiary presentations. The trial court initially did not allow Sulzbach to ask Kluting
leading questions. The court later reconsidered, and it allowed leading questions during
Sulzbach's re-direct examination of Kluting. Kluting estimated that the bottom of the
lanterns hung less than eight feet from the ground and that he could nearly reach them
with an outstretched arm. He said the lanterns were "lightweight," "collapsible," had no
"sharp points," and their shape made it unlikely that all of a lantern's mass would fall
directly on someone's head. Kluting testified that the lanterns probably did not present
a "dangerous condition" and that it was "debatable" whether the decoration could hurt
anyone. Kluting stated that he thought the risk of injury from Ferrick's hanging method
was within reasonable "safety margins." Kluting said that the dancers were specifically
told someone would be hanging decorations and "informed to stay out from underneath"
the lanterns. He also said that some "dancers . . . told [him] that they had been warned"
about being under the lanterns.
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----------------------- Page 6-----------------------
The Centennial Hall building supervisor testified that he did not know until
Ferrick arrived that decorating would take place and had not consulted with Ferrick in
detail about hanging the lanterns. He said that he did not remember talking to the
dancers before the incident and that the dancers did not affirmatively "indicate [to him]
that they knew that they should not be in the area where [Ferrick] was working." A
Centennial Hall employee testified generally about responding to the incident. She also
testified that the building manager had warned the dancers not to sit near where Ferrick
was working and that another lantern had fallen prior to the lantern that struck Sulzbach.
One member of the dance group testified that she did not remember being
warned about Ferrick's activities but also that it was "pretty obvious" he was hanging
decorations. She said that when the lantern fell she was sitting inches from Sulzbach and
that they were 10 to 20 feet from the stage. The dancer explained that the falling lantern
also had struck her without causing long-term injuries. A second dancer testified that
Ferrick was working toward "the back of the room," away from the stage, when the
decoration fell. She said that a Centennial Hall employee had at one point told her to
move "because they're going to be hanging the decoration." She said that Ferrick was
"fine" with where she was but that after the warning the dancers moved closer to the
stage before later moving back under the lanterns once they thought Ferrick's work was
complete. She said she did not perceive "any danger" sitting under the decorations. A
third dancer testified that Centennial Hall staff told some members of the dance group
to move because "[y]ou can't be sitting there while [Ferrick is] hanging above you." She
said that dancers moved closer to the stage and away from Ferrick in response to the
warning but that they moved back under the lanterns once they believed Ferrick's work
was done.
The jury decided neither Ferrick nor the City was negligent.
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3. Motions for new trial
6
Sulzbach sought a new trial.
Sulzbach argued that the jury verdict finding
7
Ferrick not negligent was against the clear weight of the evidence. She also argued that
the trial court made "a fundamental evidentiary error" by initially not allowing her to ask
leading questions of Kluting, an adverse witness.
The trial court ruled that sufficient evidence supported the jury finding that
Ferrick was not negligent. The court observed that the decorations were light and
collapsibleandthat"it wasextremely unlikely"adecoration's fullfive-and-a-half-pound
mass "would concentrate on a single point[,] . . . substantially reducing [its] impact."
The court noted Kluting's and Ferrick's testimony "that they did not believe the manner
in which the decorations were hung posed any real risk" and "that the [d]ancers had been
repeatedly told to not sit beneath the decorations while Ferrick was working."
Acknowledging "the jury heard conflicting evidence on the question of Ferrick's
negligence," the court ultimately concluded ample evidence supported the jury's verdict
that temporarily securing the decorations "was reasonable under the circumstances."
The trial court also concluded that its initial decision to not allow Sulzbach
to ask Kluting leading questions was not grounds for a new trial. The court originally
had prohibited Sulzbach from asking Kluting leading questions during direct
examination. During a break in Kluting's cross-examination the court acknowledged
6 See Alaska R. Civ. P. 59 (allowing new trial "in the interest of justice").
7
See Hogg v. Raven Contractors, Inc., 134 P.3d 349, 352 (Alaska 2006)
("[A] trial court may set aside a verdict and order a new trial in the interest of justice if
the verdict is against the weight of the evidence. . . . [T]he court must use its discretion
andindependently weigh the evidence."(quoting Kava v. Am. Honda Motor Co., 48 P.3d
1170, 1176 (Alaska 2002) (footnotes omitted))). As we later discuss, Sulzbach did not
request a new trial on grounds that the verdict in the City's favor was against the clear
weight of the evidence (as she contends on appeal).
-7- 7618
----------------------- Page 8-----------------------
that it should have allowed Sulzbach to ask leading questions because Kluting was an
8
adverse witness by virtue of his employment with the City.
The court then allowed
Sulzbach to ask leading questions during re-direct examination. The court concluded
that any prejudice to Sulzbach was "minimal" because she had "sufficient opportunities
to elicit testimony" and she could not "point to any favorable information that [she was]
unable to elicit."
The trial court denied Sulzbach's requests for a new trial.
4. Appeal
Sulzbach appeals, contending that the trial court erred by ruling that the
City could not be held vicariously liable for Ferrick's negligence, if any, and by not
granting her summary judgment motionon Ferrick's negligence. Sulzbachalsocontends
the trial court abused its discretion by not granting a new trial, renewing her arguments
that: (1) the trial court prejudiced her by initially refusing to allow her to ask Kluting
leading questions and (2) the jury's verdict in favor of Ferrick was against the clear
weight of the evidence. Sulzbach also adds a new claim, arguing that the jury erred by
deciding, against the clear weight of the evidence, that the City was not negligent.
III. STANDARD OF REVIEW
"We review a grant of summary judgment de novo, 'affirming if the record
presents no genuine issue of material fact and if the movant is entitled to judgment as a
8 Alaska R. Evid. 611(c) ("On direct examination, leading questions should
not be allowed except . . . when the witness is hostile, an adverse party, or identified with
an adverse party . . . .").
-8- 7618
----------------------- Page 9-----------------------
9
matter of law.' " Denial of summary judgment based on the existence of a genuine issue
of material fact usually is unreviewable following a trial on the merits. 10
11 When
We review the decision denying a new trial for abuse of discretion.
the trial court refuses to grant a new trial because a jury verdict is not against the weight
of the evidence, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving
party and "will affirm [the denial] if there is an evidentiary basis for the jury's
decision."12 We "will . . . reverse a decision to deny a new trial [only] 'if the evidence
supporting the verdict was so completely lacking or slight and unconvincing as to make
the verdict plainly unreasonable and unjust.' "13
IV. DISCUSSION
A. The Trial Court Did Not Err By Granting The City Partial Summary
Judgment On The Ground That It Could Not Be Held Vicariously
Liable For Ferrick's Actions.14
9 , 27
Kelly v. Municipality of Anchorage 0 P.3d 801, 803 (Alaska 2012)
(quoting Beegan v. State, Dep't of Transp. & Pub. Facilities, 195 P.3d 134, 138 (Alaska
2008)).
10 Larson v. Benediktsson, 152 P.3d 1159, 1169 (Alaska 2007).
11 Kava, 48 P.3d at 1173.
12 Hogg, 134 P.3d at 352 (quoting Glamann v. Kirk, 29 P.3d 255, 259 (Alaska
2001)).
13 Id. (quoting Grant v. Stoyer, 10 P.3d 594, 596 (Alaska 2000)).
14 The City contends this argument is moot because the jury found Ferrick
not negligent. See Ulmer v. Alaska Rest. & Beverage Ass'n, 33 P.3d 773, 776
was
(Alaska 2001) (noting that we will "refrain from deciding questions where the facts have
rendered the legal issues moot" (quoting O'Callaghan v. State, 920 P.2d 1387, 1388
(Alaska 1996) (internal quotation marks omitted))). According to the City, even if it
were vicariously liable for Ferrick's actions, he committed no tort. We have disregarded
(continued...)
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15
Principal-agent relationships can give rise to vicarious liability, and two
types of potential agency relationships are relevant to this case: servants and
16 "The existence . . . of a master-servant relationship is
independent contractors.
ordinarily a jury question" but may be decided by a court if "the inference is clear that
there is, or is not, a master and servant relation."17 We have outlined ten factors that
14 (...continued)
as "irrelevant" vicarious liability claims after a jury found an alleged employee not
negligent, but we decline to do so in this case. See, e.g., Baker v. Werner, 654 P.2d 263,
267 n.6 (Alaska 1982) ("Given the finding that neither the doctor nor the hospital was
negligent, any theory of vicarious liability is irrelevant.").
Sulzbach contends the trial likely would have been litigated differently had
the trial court not initially determined the City could not be vicariously liable. The court
simultaneously decided three things: (1) the City could not be vicariously liable;
(2) Ferrick could not be liable for his own negligence; and (3) the City potentially could
apportion fault to Ferrick under AS 09.17.080(a). Sulzbach argues that not being able
to recover from Ferrick put her in the uncomfortable position of affirmatively avoiding
any suggestion he was negligent, likely her strongestargument,and that this trial strategy
might have influenced the jury to Sulzbach's detriment. We thus consider the issue
before considering the jury's determination that Ferrick was not negligent.
15 See Powell v. Tanner, 59 P.3d 246, 248-250, 252 n.26 (Alaska 2002).
16 "A servant is a person employed to perform services in the affairs of
another and who with respect to the physical conduct in the performance of the services
is subject to the other's control or right to control." Id. at 249 (quoting RESTATEMENT
(SECOND) OF AGENCY § 220 (A M. L. I NST . 1958)). "An independent contractor is 'any
person who does work for another under conditions which are not sufficient to make him
a servant of the other.' " Id. (quoting R ESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS § 409, cmt. a
(AM. L. I NST . 1965)).
17 Sterud v. Chugach Elec. Ass'n , 640 P.2d 823, 826 (Alaska 1982) (quoting
RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF AGENCY § 220, cmt. c to subsection (1) (A M. L. I NST .
1958)).
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courts may consider when determining whether someone is an independent contractor; 18
19
a principal's control over the manner of an agent's work is the most important factor.
20 but not an
A principal usually is vicariously liable for a servant's tortious activity
21 A principal may, however, be vicariously liable for an
independent contractor's.
independent contractor's tort if the principal "entrusts to an independent contractor
construction, repair, or other work on the land."22
Sulzbach contends that the City is vicariously liable for Ferrick's activity
because: (1) Ferrick and the City formed a master-servant relationship and (2) Ferrick
was an independent contractor on the City's behalf.23
18 Id. at 826 & n.6 (adopting factors listed in Restatement).
19 Anderson v. PPCT Mgmt. Sys., Inc., 145 P.3d 503, 507-08 (Alaska 2006).
20 Kastner v. Toombs, 611 P.2d 62, 63 (Alaska 1980) ("Under the doctrine of
respondeat superior a master is liable for the torts of his servants committed while acting
in the scope of their employment.").
21 See Patton v. Spa Lady, Inc., 772 P.2d 1082, 1083 (Alaska 1989) ("The
general common-law rule . . . is that an employer is not vicariously liable for the torts of
its independent contractor.").
22 See id. at 1083-84 (quoting R ESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS § 422 (A M.
NST . 1965)).
L. I
23 Sulzbach bases her arguments on the Restatement (Second) of Agency
(Am. L. Inst. 1958) and Restatement (Second) of Torts (Am. L. Inst. 1965). Sulzbach
does not ask us to apply later versions of the Restatements, but we see nothing that would
change our result or reasoning. The Restatement (Third) of Agency explains that the
authors moved away from the term "independent contractor" because it does not
acknowledge that an independent contractor may nevertheless be an agent. § 1.01, cmt. c
(AM.L.I NST .2006). It eschews the term in favor of making a distinction between agents
who are not employees and "nonagent service providers." Id. The Restatement (Third)
of Torts explains that thevicarious liability rules for those hiring independent contractors
(continued...)
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1. Ferrick was not the City's servant.
Master-servant relationships often involve formal contracts or agreements.
But "[o]ne who volunteers services without an agreement for or expectation of reward
24
may be a servant of the one accepting such services." Sulzbach concedes that Ferrick
and the City had "no contract or direct agreement." She instead argues that Ferrick was
the City's servant because he volunteered his services and the City accepted them.
We have suggested that a predicate to accepting work is that "the [actual]
25
purpose of the service" must be to benefit the principal.
But Ferrick's actual purpose
was not to benefit the City; Ferrick worked exclusively at the direction of the Alaska Day
Organization to fulfill its - not the City's - goals. Had Ferrick not volunteered to
decorate, the Alaska Day Organization, not the City, presumably would have found
another volunteer. Alaska Day celebration ticket sale proceeds went directly to the
Alaska Day Organization. The City collected no rent fromthe Alaska Day Organization.
The only party receiving a direct material benefit from Ferrick's work was the Alaska
Day Organization.
23 (...continued)
M. L. I NST . 2012). We have not
are "consistent with" the earlier version. § 57, cmt. a (A
been asked to adopt new terminology and do not do so here.
24 RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF AGENCY § 225 (A M.L.I NST .1958); Anderson ,
145 P.3d at 508 n.8 (citing § 225 in stating that "gratuitous acts may sometimes create
a master-servant relationship").
25 Anderson , 145 P.3d at 508 n.8. In Anderson we quoted an example from
the Restatement (Second) of Agency to make this point: "[I]f a car is stalled in traffic
and another driver gets out . . . to assist in pushing the car to the curb, such driver is
presumably not a servant of the owner of the first car if [the] purpose is to remove an
obstruction to [the driver's] own progress down the street." Id. (quoting RESTATEMENT
(SECOND) OF AGENCY § 225, cmt. b (A M. L. I NST . 1958)).
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----------------------- Page 13-----------------------
Moreover, the City did not control the"physical details as to the manner of"
26
Ferrick's work.
City staff trained Ferrick about proper hanging methods in the
renovated facility, gave him permission to be at Centennial Hall, and had the ability to
stop him from working, but the City did not tell Ferrick which decorations to hang, when
to hang them, or how to arrange them. That the alleged principal "has merely a general
right to order the work stopped or resumed" does not create a master-servant
27 Neither Ferrick nor the relevant City employees appear to have believed
relationship.
they were creating a master-servant relationship, and Ferrick affirmatively stated that he
was volunteering with the Alaska Day Organization. To the extent the City exercised
minimal control over Ferrick, it was general and only incidental to the City's status as
landowner.
Sulzbach is correct that the City has a general interest in ensuring that
Alaska Day celebrations occur and that hosting those events is part of Centennial Hall's
mission. But on these facts such an abstract benefit to the City is not enough to
transform the fundamental legal nature of the City's relationship with Ferrick. The City
neither meaningfully controlled Ferrick's work nor accepted his services. There was no
master-servant relationship between Ferrick and the City.
2. Ferrick was not the City's independent contractor working on
the land.
Sulzbach also argues that the City would be vicariously liable for Ferrick's
negligence under the Restatement (Second) of Torts Section 422, providing in relevant
part:
26 See Powell , 59 P.3d at 252 n.26 (quoting R ESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF
AGENCY § 250, cmt. a (A M. L. I NST . 1958)).
27 Id. at 249 (quoting Hammond v. Bechtel Inc., 606 P.2d 1269, 1275 (Alaska
1980)).
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A possessor of land who entrusts to an independent
contractor construction, repair, or other work on the land, or
on a building or other structure upon it, is subject to the same
liability as though he had retained the work in his own hands
to others on or outside of the land for physical harm caused
to them by the unsafe condition of the structure
(a) while the possessor has retained possession
of the land during the progress of the work, or
(b) after he has resumed possession of the land
upon its completion. [28]
Sulzbach's argument is unpersuasive for two reasons. First, the City did
not employ Ferrick as an independent contractor; the City had no formal relationship
with Ferrick, who volunteered for a third party that the City allowed to use its property
as a public service. Every illustration in the Comment to Section 422 uses either the verb
"to employ" or "to contract with" to describe the relationship between the principal and
an independent contractor. Although the language may not foreclose the possibility that
a principal may be liable for a volunteer's torts, it strongly suggests that the principal and
agent must have some sort of formal relationship benefitting the principal. Sulzbach
concedes that Ferrick and the City had no formal relationship, and, as discussed above,
Ferrick's work did not materially benefit the City.
Second, Ferrick was not doing "construction, repair, or other work on the
land."29 Section 422 "applies to any work done on a building or other structure on the
land, whether it be construction, repair, or demolition . . . [and] to work done on the land
28 It was undisputed that the City retained possession of the land.
29 See RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS § 422 (AM. L. INST . 1965).
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----------------------- Page 15-----------------------
30
itself preparatory to construction, such as excavation for a foundation." The
illustrations describe installing skylights, constructing a building, and repairing a burned
31
building. And Alaska cases considering Section 422 involved significant building
modifications or major land improvements necessarily including a risk that may be
32
difficult for a lay person to assess. Ferrick was not engaged in building modification
or land improvement at all; rather, he was hanging temporary decorations in the City's
facility for the Alaska Day celebration.
TheCity hadno formalrelationship withFerrick, and Ferrick was not doing
the type of work necessary to impose vicarious liability under Section 422. The trial
court correctly concluded that, as a matter of law, the City may not be held vicariously
33
liable for Ferrick's volunteer work.
B. Whether The Trial Court Erred By Denying Sulzbach Summary
Judgment On Issues Relating To Ferrick's Alleged Negligence Is
Unreviewable.
The trial court denied part of Sulzbach's summary judgment motion
because it concluded there was a genuine factual dispute whether Ferrick owed Sulzbach
30 Id. cmt. b.
31 Id. cmts. c-d.
32
See, e.g., Patton v. Spa Lady, Inc., 772 P.2d 1082, 1084 (Alaska 1989)
(installing electrical outlets); Sloan v. Atl. Richfield Co., 552 P.2d 157, 157-58, 160-61
(Alaska 1976) (building concrete foundation); Morris v. City of Soldotna , 553 P.2d 474,
475, 481-82 (Alaska 1976) (painting sewage treatment plant).
33 Sulzbach also contends that public policy favors imposing vicarious
liability. Sulzbach asserts that the City should be held liable because it had an
opportunity to purchase insurance and was in the best position to mitigate the relevant
risks. But Sulzbach ignores that both arguments apply at least as strongly, if not more
so, to the Alaska Day Organization, which Sulzbach chose not to sue. And public policy
arguments alone are not enough in this case to impose vicarious liability.
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34
a duty. The case proceeded to a jury trial on the merits; the jury found Ferrick not
negligent. Sulzbach contends on appeal that the trial court should have granted partial
summary judgment by concluding, as a matter of law, that Ferrick owed Sulzbach a duty
of care.
We have explained that "an order denying summary judgment on factual
35 An exception to
grounds becomes unreviewable on appeal after a trial on the merits."
the general rule exists if "the order was entered on a legal ground that affected the
subsequent trial."36 But Sulzbach does not argue that the order was entered on a legal
ground affecting the trial; the court denied summary judgment on this issue solely
because a genuine factual dispute existed about the foreseeability of harm.37 The trial
court's summary judgment decision on this issue therefore is unreviewable.
34 The existence of a tort duty may present legal or factual questions. See
Arctic Tug & Barge , Inc. v. Raleigh, Schwarz & Powell, 956 P.2d 1199, 1203 (Alaska
1998) ("We have made statements suggesting [that the existence of a duty always
presents a factual question]. But [the appellant] reads [our case law] too categorically.
We have elsewhere held it appropriate to summarily adjudge disputed questions of tort
duty when the undisputed facts support only one reasonable inference.").
35 Larson v. Benediktsson, 152 P.3d 1159, 1170 (Alaska 2007); see Pederson
v. Arctic Slope Reg'l Corp. , 421 P.3d 58, 67 (Alaska 2018) ("[O]ur case law is clear that
'post-trial review of orders denying motions for summary judgment - at least when the
"motions are denied on the basis that there are genuine issues of material fact" ' - is
precluded." (quoting Larson, 152 P.3d at 1169)); Wassillie v. State, 411 P.3d 595, 614
(Alaska 2018) (Bolger, J., dissenting) ("[I]n a civil case, we generally decline to review
on appeal an order that denies a defendant's motion for summary judgment on factual
grounds, even when the defendant argues that there were no genuine factual issues for
trial.").
36 ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc. v. Williams Alaska Petrol., Inc., 322 P.3d 114,
133 n.66 (Alaska 2014).
37 See Lynden Inc. v. Walker, 30 P.3d 609, 614 (Alaska 2001) (stating
foreseeability of harm is relevant to existence of duty).
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C. The Jury Verdicts Were Not Against The Weight Of The Evidence.
To succeed on her negligence claims Sulzbach needed to prove: (1) the
defendant owed her a duty; (2) the defendant breached this duty; (3) she was injured; and
38
(4) the breach was the "factual and proximate" cause of the injury. A party "owes a
duty of due care to 'all persons who are foreseeably endangered by his conduct, with
39
respect to all risks which make the conduct unreasonably dangerous.' " "We have
'made it clear that foreseeability is a broad concept and does not require that the precise
40
A par
harm in a given case be predictable.' " ty owing a negligence duty usually must
act reasonably under the circumstances.41
38 See Regner v. N. Star Volunteer Fire Dep't, Inc., 323 P.3d 16, 21 (Alaska
2014).
39 Winschel v. Brown, 171 P.3d 142, 146 (Alaska 2007); Guerrero v. Alaska
Hous. Fin. Corp., 6 P.3d 250, 254 (Alaska 2000) (explaining that when determining
whether duty is owed we consider following seven factors: "the foreseeability of harm
to the plaintiff, the degree of certainty that the plaintiff suffered injury, the closeness of
the connection between the defendant's conduct and the injury suffered, the moral blame
attached to the defendant's conduct, the policy of preventing future harm, the extent of
the burden to the defendant and consequences to the community of imposing a duty to
exercise care with resulting liability for breach, and the availability, cost and prevalence
of insurance for the risk involved." (quoting Schumacher v. City & Borough of Yakutat,
946 P.2d 1255, 1257 (Alaska 1997))).
40 Winschel, 171 P.3d at 146 (quoting P.G. & G.G. v. State, Dep't of Health
& Human Servs., Div. of Fam. & Youth Servs., 4 P.3d 326, 332 n.11 (Alaska 2000)).
41 HDI-Gerling Am. Ins. Co. v. Carlile Transp. Sys., Inc., 426 P.3d 881, 884
n.1 (Alaska 2018). A relevant jury instruction, which Sulzbach has not contested, set out
the duty concepts for the jury's consideration:
A property owner is negligent if the owner fails to exercise
reasonable care to guard against unreasonable risks created
by a dangerous condition on the property. A person can be
(continued...)
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The special verdict form asked two questions about Sulzbach's claim
against each defendant: (1) was the defendant "negligent" and (2) was the defendant's
"negligence a substantial factor in causing" Sulzbach's harm. For both Ferrick and the
City, the jury answered "no" to question one (negligence) and did not move on to
question two (causation). Based on the special verdict wording, the jury apparently
concluded that neither Ferrick nor the City breached a duty to Sulzbach. Sulzbach
requested a new trial, arguing that the Ferrick verdict was against the clear weight of the
evidence, which the trial court denied. She renews that argument on appeal, and she also
argues that the jury verdict finding the City was not negligent was against the clear
weight of the evidence.
"[A] motion for new trial on the ground that the verdict is against the
42 "We
weight of the evidence is addressed to the sound discretion of the trial court."
'will affirm [the denial of a new trial] if there is an evidentiary basis for the jury's
decision' and 'will . . . reverse [the denial only] "if the evidence supporting the verdict
was so completely lacking or slight and unconvincing as to make the verdict plainly
unreasonable and unjust." ' "43 Absent a motion for a new trial before the trial court, we
41 (...continued)
negligent by acting or failing to act. A person is negligent if
he or she does something that a reasonably careful person
would not do in the same situation, or fails to do something
that a reasonably careful person would do in the same
situation. The law does not require exceptional caution or
skill, only reasonable care.
42 Bolden v. City of Kodiak, 439 P.2d 796, 801 (Alaska 1968).
43 Hogg v. Raven Contractors, Inc., 134 P.3d 349, 352 (Alaska 2006)
(footnote omitted) (first quoting Glamann v. Kirk, 29 P.3d 255, 259 (Alaska 2001), then
quoting Grant v. Stoyer, 10 P.3d 594, 596 (Alaska 2000)).
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"review[] the record to ascertain whether a new trial should be granted on the ground that
44
the verdict is contrary to the clear weight of the evidence"
and whether "there has been
45 We "take the evidence and all inferences reasonably
a miscarriage of justice."
deducible therefrom in the light most favorable to the appellee."46
1. Evidence supports the jury verdict that Ferrick was not
negligent.
Based on the evidence, the jury could have reasonably concluded that
Ferrick was not negligent. Witness testimony suggested that the lanterns were unlikely
to harm someone even if they fell. The lanterns weighed only about five-and-a-half
pounds. Kluting testified that the bases of the lanterns were not very high, such that he
could almost touch them while standing; that the lanterns' shape made it unlikely the
entire force generated by a fall would be concentrated on someone's head; and that it was
"debatable" whether the lanterns could hurt anyone. Kluting said Ferrick's temporary
hanging method was within reasonable "safety margins" because the decorations were
"lightweight,""collapsible,"and had no "sharppoints." Ferrick testified that thelanterns
were "secured under normal circumstances" and speculated that the lantern fell only
because of a strong wind. Although Ferrick and Kluting were adverse to Sulzbach,
reasonable jurors could have believed them.
And despite Sulzbach's argument to the contrary, meaningful evidence
suggests that the dancers were warned not to sit near the lanterns. Kluting testified that
the dancers were "informed to stay out from underneath the [lanterns] prior to the
44 Bolden, 439 P.2d at 801.
45 Heynen v. Fairbanks, 293 P.3d 470, 474 (Alaska 2013) (quoting Bolden,
439 P.2d at 801).
46 Jakoski v. Holland, 520 P.2d 569, 575 (Alaska 1974).
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accident" and that some "dancers . . . told [him] that they had been warned" about being
under the lanterns. One dancer specifically testified that a Centennial Hall employee told
her to move "because they're going to be hanging the decoration." She testified that
dancers reacted to the warning by moving away from Ferrick and the lanterns. Another
dancer also testified that someone told them to move away from where Ferrick was
working. Sulzbach concedes that "the evidence at trial adduced one instance of either
[a Centennial Hall] employee or Ferrick moving some dancers physically out of the way
to hang [a lantern]."
Sulzbach points to some evidence that might justify a finding that Ferrick
was negligent, suggesting: Ferrick did not follow approved Centennial Hall hanging
methods; the dancers were not sufficiently warned; and Sulzbach was significantly
harmed. But even if Sulzbach's evidence were persuasive standing alone, she has not
established that, viewing the record in the light most favorable to upholding the verdict,
the evidence supporting the jury verdict is "so completely lacking or slight and
47 We accordingly
unconvincing as to make the verdict plainly unreasonable and unjust."
affirm the trial court's denial of a new trial on Ferrick's negligence and the jury verdict
in Ferrick's favor.
2. Evidence supports the verdict that the City was not negligent.
Sulzbach contends the jury verdict that the City was not negligent is against
the clear weight of the evidence. Sulzbach's argument is unpersuasive; viewing the
evidence in the City's favor, substantial evidence supports the jury's conclusion. First,
as discussed above, there was testimony that the lantern would not pose an obvious risk
if it fell and that Ferrick's temporary hanging method was secure under normal
circumstances. Second, as discussed above, multiple people testified that at least one
47 See Hogg, 134 P.3d at 352.
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City employee warned the dancers not to sit near where Ferrick was working while he
was hanging the decorations. And Sulzbach concedes that "the evidence at trial adduced
one instance of either [a Centennial Hall] employee or Ferrick moving some dancers
physically out of the way." Third, the jury could have concluded that the City acted
reasonably by training Ferrick on how to conduct his decorating. In light of this
evidence, a jury justifiably could have concluded that the City acted reasonably.
Sulzbach points to testimony describing the lantern and suggesting that the
City was negligent because: another lantern fell while Ferrick was working; the City
worked with Ferrick to hang the lantern; Ferrick did not follow the City's instructions
about hanging the lanterns; no City employee supervised Ferrick; and Centennial Hall
let Ferrick access the building and allowed him to use building equipment. But even
assuming that all this were true, Sulzbach does not explain why the jury was not
permitted to rely more heavily on other evidence. Because the jury verdict in the City's
favor was not against the clear weight of the evidence such that there was a miscarriage
48 we affirm it.
of justice,
D. The Trial Court Did Not Abuse Its Discretion By Denying A New Trial
Based On An Initial And Later Corrected Evidentiary Error.
Alaska Evidence Rule 611(c) states: "On direct examination, leading
questions should not be allowed except . . . when the witness is hostile, an adverse party,
or identified with an adverse party." Sulzbach called Kluting, a City employee, as her
first witness. Sulzbach's attorney asked to treat Kluting as an adverse party due to his
employment and alleged unwillingness to forthrightly answer non-leading questions.
The trial court agreed that Kluting was an adverse party but decided not to allow leading
questions until Kluting demonstrated that he was hostile. Sulzbach's attorney renewed
48 See supra notes 42-46 and accompanying text (setting out standard of
review for reversing jury verdict).
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this request several times during Kluting's direct examination, but, concluding that
Kluting was not hostile, the court did not change its ruling. During a recess the court
reconsidered and concluded that it should have let Sulzbach's attorney ask leading
questions on direct examination because adverse parties need not also be hostile under
Rule 611(c). The court then allowed Sulzbach's attorney to ask leading questions during
re-direct examination.
After trial Sulzbach moved for a new trial on the ground that the court's
initial error was highly prejudicial. The court reviewed the transcript and denied the
motion for three reasons: (1) "Sulzbach had sufficient opportunities to elicit testimony
from Kluting"; (2) "Sulzbach [was] unable to point to any favorable information [she
was] unable to elicit from Kluting"; and (3) "Sulzbach [was] unable to explain how
examination of Kluting was otherwise not effective."
The trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying a new trial based on
its initial error because, for the reasons the court outlined, the error did not prejudice
49 The court permitted Sulzbach to ask leading questions on re-direct
Sulzbach.
examinationofKluting,giving Sulzbach manyopportunitiesto elicit favorabletestimony
from Kluting using leading questions. Sulzbach also had the opportunity to cross-
examine and re-cross-examine Kluting during the City's case. Sulzbach points to no
testimony that she hoped to elicit from Kluting but could not.
Sulzbach contends that "the timing of the error" was prejudicial because
"what is first said and what the fact finders' attention is first called to, is critical in
framing a case and setting how additional information will be evaluated." But Sulzbach
49 See Marron v. Stromstad , 123 P.3d 992, 1011 (Alaska 2005) (noting that
"party requesting a new trial [based on evidence-related error] has the burden of proving
both error and prejudice" and that we have "great reluctance to interfere with a [trial]
court's decision to deny a new trial").
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has not convinced us that jurors would have perceived Kluting's responses to leading
questions differently on direct versus re-direct examination, occurring about 75 minutes
apart over the course of a two-week trial in which Kluting was the first witness. And the
trial court, having been in the courtroom with the jurors, was in the best position to
determine the prejudice caused by its own error, which it corrected in a reasonable
50
exercise of discretion.
The trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying a new trial on the
ground that it made, then quickly corrected, an evidence-related error.51
V. CONCLUSION
The judgment is AFFIRMED.
50 See Hogg , 134 P.3d at 353 ("Unlike this court, for which testimony is
necessarily but words on a page, the trial court had the opportunity to hear the witnesses
testify in person.").
51 Sulzbach raised other issues in her points of appeal, including various
attorney's fees issues. Those arguments are waived as insufficiently briefed because she
does not mention them at all in her briefing. See Casciola v. F.S. Air Serv., Inc., 120
P.3d 1059, 1062 (Alaska 2005) ("We do not consider arguments that are inadequately
briefed.").
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