Citizens Insurance Company v. Bloomfield Township, 209 Mich. App. 484

532 N.W.2d 183 (1994) · Michigan Court of Appeals · March 22, 1995 · No. 156133

Summary

The Michigan Court of Appeals reversed summary disposition for Bloomfield Township in a subrogation action arising from water damage caused by a fire hydrant failure. The court held that factual disputes existed concerning whether the trespass-nuisance exception to governmental immunity applied, particularly because the township required, owned, operated, and maintained the hydrant. The case was remanded for further proceedings.

Holdings

  1. The trespass-nuisance exception applies when a direct trespass upon, or interference with the use or enjoyment of, land results from a physical intrusion caused by or under the control of a governmental entity and causes personal or property damage.
  2. Summary disposition was improper because the evidence created a genuine factual dispute about whether Bloomfield Township's ownership and control of the hydrant satisfied the causation-or-control requirement of the trespass-nuisance exception.

Questions Presented

  1. Whether a genuine issue of material fact existed concerning the causation or governmental control elements of the trespass-nuisance exception to governmental immunity.
  2. Whether Bloomfield Township was entitled to summary disposition because governmental immunity barred Citizens Insurance's subrogation claim.

Disposition

reversed_and_remanded

Cases Cited (8)

  • Michigan Mutual Ins. Co. v. Dowell, 204 Mich. App. 81, 86, 514 N.W.2d 185 (1994)(followed)
  • Summers v. Detroit, 206 Mich. App. 46, 48, 520 N.W.2d 356 (1994)(followed)
  • Peterman v. Dep't of Natural Resources, 446 Mich. 177, 204-206, 521 N.W.2d 499 (1994)(followed)
  • Li v. Feldt (After Remand), 434 Mich. 584, 594, 456 N.W.2d 55 (1990)(followed)
  • Hadfield v. Oakland County Drain Commissioner, 430 Mich. 139, 422 N.W.2d 205 (1988)(followed)
  • Kuriakuz v. West Bloomfield Township, 196 Mich. App. 175, 177, 492 N.W.2d 757 (1992)(distinguished)
  • McSwain v. Redford Township, 173 Mich. App. 492, 434 N.W.2d 171 (1988)(distinguished)
  • Continental Paper & Supply Co., Inc. v. Detroit, 205 Mich. App. 404, 407-408, 521 N.W.2d 844 (1994)(followed)

Cited In (0)

No citing cases on record yet.

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