O'Brien v. Dept. of Transp.
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[Cite as O'Brien v. Dept. of Transp., 2009-Ohio-2750.] Court of Claims of Ohio The Ohio Judicial Center 65 South Front Street, Third Floor Columbus, OH 43215 614.387.9800 or 1.800.824.8263 www.cco.state.oh.us S.D. O BRIEN Plaintiff v. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Defendant Case No. 2008-09040-AD Deputy Clerk Daniel R. Borchert MEMORANDUM DECISION FINDINGS OF FACT {¶ 1} 1) On May 17, 2008, at approximately 8:20 p.m., plaintiff, Sandra D. O Brien, was traveling on State Route 128 in Hamilton County, when her automobile struck a pothole causing tire and rim damage to the vehicle. {¶ 2} 2) Plaintiff asserted the damage to her vehicle was proximately caused by negligence on the part of defendant in failing to maintain the roadway free of hazardous conditions. Plaintiff filed this complaint seeking to recover $572.28, the cost of automotive repair. The filing fee was paid. {¶ 3} 3) Defendant denied liability based on the contention that no DOT personnel had any knowledge of the particular damage-causing pothole prior to plaintiff s May 17, 2008 property damage occurrence. Defendant denied receiving prior calls or complaints about the pothole plaintiff s car struck, which DOT located at approximately milemarker 5.67 on State Route 128 in Hamilton County. Defendant asserted plaintiff did not produce any evidence to indicate the length of time the damage-causing pothole existed prior to May 17, 2008. Defendant suggested it is likely the pothole existed for only a short time before the incident. Defendant stated the DOT Hamilton County Manager inspects all state roadways within the county at least two times a month. Apparently, no potholes were discovered at milemarker 5.67 on State Route 128 the last time that section of roadway was inspected prior to May 17, 2008. Defendant s maintenance records show no pothole patching was performed in the vicinity of plaintiff s incident from December 17, 2007 to May 17, 2008. Defendant asserted plaintiff did not provide any evidence to prove her negligent maintenance claim. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW {¶ 4} Defendant has the duty to maintain its highways in a reasonably safe condition for the motoring public. Knickel v. Ohio Department of Transportation (1976), 49 Ohio App. 2d 335, 3 O.O. 3d 413, 361 N.E. 2d 486. However, defendant is not an insurer of the safety of its highways. See Kniskern v. Township of Somerford (1996), 112 Ohio App. 3d 189, 678 N.E. 2d 273; Rhodus v. Ohio Dept. of Transp. (1990), 67 Ohio App. 3d 723, 588 N.E. 2d 864. {¶ 5} In order to prove a breach of the duty to maintain the highways, plaintiff must prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that defendant had actual or constructive notice of the precise condition or defect alleged to have caused the accident. McClellan v. ODOT (1986), 34 Ohio App. 3d 247, 517 N.E. 2d 1388. Defendant is only liable for roadway conditions of which it has notice but fails to reasonably correct. Bussard v. Dept. of Transp. (1986), 31 Ohio Misc. 2d 1, 31 OBR 64, 507 N.E. 2d 1179. No evidence has shown defendant had actual notice of the damage-causing pothole. {¶ 6} Therefore, to find liability plaintiff must prove DOT had constructive notice of the defect. The trier of fact is precluded from making an inference of defendant s constructive notice, unless evidence is presented in respect to the time the defective condition developed. Spires v. Ohio Highway Department (1988), 61 Ohio Misc. 2d 262, 577 N.E. 2d 458. There is no indication defendant had constructive notice of the pothole. Plaintiff has not produced any evidence to infer defendant, in a general sense, maintains its highways negligently or that defendant s acts caused the defective condition. Herlihy v. Ohio Department of Transportation (1999), 99-07011-AD. Size of the defect (pothole) is insufficient to show notice or duration of existence. O Neil v. Department of Transportation (1988), 61 Ohio Misc. 2d 287, 587 N.E. 2d 891. {¶ 7} Plaintiff, in the instant claim, has not produced sufficient evidence to infer defendant, in a general sense, maintains its highways negligently or that defendant s acts caused the defective condition. Herlihy. Plaintiff has failed to show the proximate cause of her damage was connected to any conduct under the control of defendant, or that defendant was negligent in maintaining the roadway area. Taylor v. Transportation Dept. (1998), 97-10898-AD; Weininger v. Department of Transportation (1999), 9910909-AD; Witherell v. Ohio Dept. of Transportation (2000), 2000-04758-AD. Court of Claims of Ohio The Ohio Judicial Center 65 South Front Street, Third Floor Columbus, OH 43215 614.387.9800 or 1.800.824.8263 www.cco.state.oh.us S. D. O BRIEN Plaintiff v. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Defendant Case No. 2008-09040-AD Deputy Clerk Daniel R. Borchert ENTRY OF ADMINISTRATIVE DETERMINATION Having considered all the evidence in the claim file and, for the reasons set forth in the memorandum decision filed concurrently herewith, judgment is rendered in favor of defendant. Court costs are assessed against plaintiff. ________________________________ DANIEL R. BORCHERT Deputy Clerk Entry cc: S.D. O Brien 6591 Cheviot Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45247 RDK/laa 2/10 Filed 3/18/09 Sent to S.C. reporter 6/11/09 Jolene M. Molitoris, Director Department of Transportation 1980 West Broad Street Columbus, Ohio 43223
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