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Bits & Pieces

Bookwalter v Prescott

Court of Appeals of Ohio,

Sixth District, Lucas County.

Shirley Fay BOOKWALTER, Independent Administrator of the Estate of Donald Lee

Bookwalter, Deceased, et al. Appellants

v.

Calvin C. PRESCOTT, et al. Appellees

James L. Lenzie, Individually, and as Administrator of the Estate of James R.

Lenzie, Deceased Appellants

v.

Calvin C. Prescott, et al. Appellees.

Decided Feb. 10, 2006.

DECISION AND JUDGMENT ENTRY

PIETRYKOWSKI, J.

{¶ 1} This is an appeal from a summary judgment issued by the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas to appellees Vinings Industries, Inc., n/k/a Kemira Chemicals, Inc. (“Kemira”) and Great Lakes Recovery (“Great Lakes”) in a dispute over vicarious liability for the deaths and injuries resulting from a motor vehicle accident. Because we conclude that the trial court did not impermissibly weigh the evidence, we affirm.

{¶ 2} James R. Lenzie, Donald L. Bookwalter, and Travis D. Bookwalter were killed and James Lester Lenzie and Richard L. Sorensen were severely injured in a motor vehicle accident when their vehicle collided with a tanker truck driven by Calvin Prescott. At the time of the May 20, 2001 accident, Prescott was traveling south on I-75 on his way to his home in Ridgeville, Indiana. Prescott was returning from delivering a load of sodium silicate from Kemira’s plant in Fortville, Indiana to Great Lakes in Ecorse, Michigan. Prescott had been making payments to purchase the tanker truck at the time of the accident. It had an Interstate Commerce Commission placard with C & R Prescott Trucking displayed on it. Prescott did business as C & R Prescott Trucking but C & R Prescott Trucking was not incorporated.

{¶ 3} Prescott was initially recruited in 1996, to regularly transport sodium silicate in his tanker truck from Kemira to Great Lakes through either a contact at Great Lakes, Marcelino Martinez, or a contact at Power Silicates, Brooks Walden. Prescott had no written contract with either Kemira or Great Lakes for his hauling duties or any written lease with either Kemira or Great Lakes relative to the tanker truck. However, Kemira and Great Lakes had a series of renewable three-year Purchase and Sales Agreements for the sodium silicate. During the years that Prescott delivered to Great Lakes, he delivered approximately 90 percent of the sodium silicate that Great Lakes purchased from Kemira. The shipments of sodium silicate were tracked through the use of an annual blanket purchase order from Great Lakes and a bill of lading for each individual shipment printed by Kemira. Upon picking up a load at Kemira, Prescott signed this bill of lading on a line titled “agent.”

FN1. Power Silicates was an entity that formerly owned the Fortville, Indiana facilities which Vinings, and now Kemira owes and operates.

FN2. The Purchase and Sale Agreement in effect at the time of the accident ran from January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2002, and was in the name of Vining Industries, Inc., Kemira’s predecessor, and National Recovery Systems, Great Lakes Recovery’s parent company. Herein, the court makes all references to Vinings Industries and its successor Kemira as “Kemira” and all references to National Recovery Systems and its division Great Lakes Recovery as “Great Lakes.”

{¶ 4} Prescott had responsibility for periodically checking on the level of sodium silicate at Great Lakes, either by phone or in person, and transporting a load to Great Lakes from Kemira when the level became low. Prescott was informed by Martinez that if he ever let the sodium silicate at Great Lakes run empty, his hauling services from Kemira to Great Lakes would no longer be needed. Prescott paid for the maintenance of his tanker truck, the fuel for it, as well as for insurance on it. Prescott received no professional training from either Kemira or Great Lakes and neither entity specified the route he was to take between the facilities. Prescott was paid by Kemira according to the number of pounds of sodium silicate he hauled from Kemira to Great Lakes. Ultimately, Prescott’s freight charges were billed by Kemira to Great Lakes as part of the cost of the sodium silicate. Prescott received a 1099 tax form from Kemira each year.

{¶ 5} On September 4, 2002, appellants filed an initial complaint that included a claim against Kemira asserting vicarious liability for Prescott’s negligence as Prescott’s employer. On February 19, 2003, appellants filed an amended complaint that included a similar vicarious liability claim against Great Lakes. On July 1, 2004, the trial court granted both appellee Kemira’s and appellee Great Lakes’ motions for summary judgment. On December 15, 2004, appellants and Prescott, individually, and Prescott dba C & R Prescott Trucking, entered into a consent judgment entry for $10,000,000 in damages. Appellants assert the following assignments of error:

{¶ 6} “1. The trial court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of Great Lakes and Vinings by finding as a matter of law that Calvin Prescott was an independent contractor because reasonable minds could conclude that Prescott was an employee or agent of Great Lakes or Vinings, or both. * * *

{¶ 7} “2. The trial court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of Great Lakes and Vinings because it exceeded the scope of its authority under Ohio Civil Rule 56 by weighing the evidence and failing to construe the evidence most strongly in favor of Plaintiffs-Appellants. * * * “

{¶ 8} Appellate review of a trial court’s grant of summary judgment is de novo. Grafton v. Ohio Edison Co. (1996), 77 Ohio St.3d 102, 105, 1996-Ohio-336. Accordingly, we review the trial court’s grant of summary judgment independently and without deference to the trial court’s determination. Brown v. Scioto Cty. Bd. Of Commrs. (1993), 87 Ohio App.3d 704, 711. Summary judgment will be granted only when there remains no genuine issue of material fact and, when construing the evidence most strongly in favor of the nonmoving party, reasonable minds can only conclude that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Harless v. Willis Day Warehousing Co. (1978), 54 Ohio St.2d 64, 66; Civ.R. 56(C). The burden of showing that no genuine issue of material fact exists falls upon the party who moves for summary judgment. Dresher v. Burt (1996), 75 Ohio St.3d 280, 294, 1996-Ohio-107. However, once the movant supports his or her motion with appropriate evidentiary materials, the nonmoving party “may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of his pleadings, but his response, by affidavit or as otherwise provided in this rule, must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.” Civ.R. 56(E).

{¶ 9} Prior to embarking on a common-law analysis of Prescott’s employment status, we must address appellees’ argument relative to Prescott’s employment status under federal statutory law. This issue was raised in Kemira’s motion for summary judgment before the trial court, though the trial court’s summary judgment opinion apparently did not address it. Both appellees cite Wyckoff Trucking, Co. v. Marsh Bros. Trucking Svc., Inc. (1991), 58 Ohio St.3d 261 in the instant appeal in advocating for emphasis on a statutory analysis of Prescott’s employment status under the Interstate Commerce Commission Regulations rather than application of the common law doctrine of respondeat superior. In fact, appellee-Great Lakes cites Wyckoff for its contention that the common law doctrine of respondeat superior plays no role in this case. In response, appellants contend that Prescott can be a statutory employee of Prescott Trucking as well as a common law employee of either Kemira or Great Lakes at the same time. In other words, appellants assert that establishment of Prescott Trucking as the statutory employer of Prescott with primary liability does not preclude a finding of secondary liability for either Kemira or Great Lakes as common law employers.

{¶ 10} In Wyckoff, the court noted there were two differing points of view with regard to the determination of tort liability arising out of accidents involving leased vehicles of interstate motor carriers under I.C.C. regulations. Id. at 265. As the court stated, “[u]nder the minority view, a written lease in combination with the display of I.C.C. placards creates only a rebuttable presumption of an employment relationship between the driver of the vehicle and the carrier-lessee indicated on the placards. Thus, the carrier-lessee’s liability is ultimately determined by resort to common law doctrines such as respondeat superior.” Id. “On the other hand, the majority view holds that Section 1057.12(c)(1), Title 49, C.F.R. creates an irrebuttable presumption of an employment relationship between the carrier-lessee and the driver of the vehicle that displays the I.C.C. placards of the carrier-lessee.” Id. In Wyckoff, the Supreme Court of Ohio sided with the majority view and held:

{¶ 11} “1. In tort causes of action involving leased vehicles of interstate motor carriers, primary liability shall be determined with regard to Interstate Commerce Commission regulations rather than the common-law doctrines of respondeat superior, master-servant, independent contractor and the like. (Thornberry v.. Oyler Bros., Inc. [1955], 164 Ohio St. 395, 58 O.O. 189, 131 N.E.2d 383, overruled to the extent inconsistent herewith.)

{¶ 12} “2. In order for liability to attach on an interstate carrier-lessee under Interstate Commerce Commission regulations, it must be established that, at the time the cause of action arose, (1) a lease of the vehicle was in effect and (2) the vehicle displayed the carrier-lessee’s placard listing its I.C.C. numbers. (Section 1057.12, Title 49, C.F.R., applied.)

{¶ 13} “3. Section 1057.12(c)(1), Title 49, C.F.R. creates an irrebuttable presumption of an employment relationship between the carrier-lessee and the driver of a vehicle that displays the I.C .C. identification numbers of the carrier-lessee.” (Emphasis added.) Id. at paragraphs 1 and 3 of the syllabus.

{¶ 14} Appellants cite a 1992 post-Wyckoff amendment to the I.C.C. regulations and assert that the amendment effectively abrogated Wyckoff’ s irrebuttable presumption of an employment relationship between a driver and a carrier-lessee whose I.C.C. placard is displayed on the vehicle. In 1992, the Commission amended Section 1057.12(c), Title 49, C.F.R., to add the following:

{¶ 15} “(4) Nothing in the provisions required by paragraph (c)(1) of this section is intended to affect whether the lessor or driver provided by the lessor is an independent contractor or an employee of the authorized carrier lessee. * * * ” Section 1057.12(c)(4), Title 49, C.F.R.

In 1997, 49 C.F.R. § 1057.12 was amended to be renumbered 49 C.F.R. 376.12. See also In Ex Parte No. MC-203 Petition to Amend Lease and Interchange of Vehicle Regulations, 8 I.C.C.2d 669, 670 (1992), for a discussion on the Commission’s intent in adding the language of 49 C.F.R. § 1057.12(c)(4) to take “no position on the independence of lessors,” and for state courts not to hold that these control regulations are “prima facie evidence of an employer-employee relationship.” Id. at 671.

{¶ 16} We agree that there may be a question regarding the status of Wyckoff’s irrebuttable presumption after this amendment. See Hughes v. Brogan (Jan. 12, 1995), 10th Dist. Nos. 94APE05-731, 94APE08-1226. However, we do not have to resolve that issue because Wyckoff is not applicable to the present case. Wyckoff and the federal statute that it interprets both addressed vehicles of interstate motor carriers subject to a written lease. In the present case, there was no written lease entered into between either Prescott or Prescott dba C & R Prescott Trucking and Kemira or Great Lakes. Therefore, Wyckoff does not apply and we must analyze Prescott’s employment status under the common law.

The Tenth District Court of Appeals stated as follows without any further related analysis: “We acknowledge that changes have occurred since the Supreme Court decided Wyckoff * * *. These changes would make appropriate a revisiting of the Wyckoff Trucking opinion by the Ohio Supreme Court. However, we are not at liberty to disregard the Supreme Court’s opinion.”

{¶ 17} Under the common law, whether someone is an employee or an independent contractor is ordinarily an issue of fact. Bostic v. Connor (1988), 37 Ohio St.3d 144, at paragraph one of the syllabus. “However, when there is no conflict in the evidence, or the facts are admitted, the question is one of law to be decided by the trial court.” Martinez v. Trimble (Dec. 29, 1995), 6th Dist. No. L-95-160, citing Bostic at 146. “The key factual determination is who had the right to control the manner or means of doing the work.” Bostic at paragraph one of the syllabus. In Bostic, the Supreme Court of Ohio stated that in determining who has the right to control the manner or means of doing the work:

{¶ 18} “[t]he factors to be considered include, but are certainly not limited to, such indicia as who controls the details and quality of the work; who controls the hours worked; who selects the materials, tools and personnel used; who selects the routes travelled [sic]; the length of employment; the type of business; the method of payment; and any pertinent agreements or contracts.” Id. at 146.

{¶ 19} All indicia of an employment relationship in a given case must be assessed together as a whole. Harmon v. Schnurmacher (1992), 84 Ohio App.3d 207, 211, citing Gillum v. Indus. Comm. (1943), 141 Ohio St. 373.

{¶ 20} Appellants concede that there are several facts that support an independent contractor status of Prescott/Prescott dba C & R Prescott Trucking. Prescott received a 1099 tax form rather than a W-2 form each year; paid for all the maintenance, insurance, and fuel for his truck; was not required to take any particular route between Kemira and Great Lakes. However, appellants contend that there were several factors that pointed to an employer-employee relationship between either Kemira or Great Lakes and Prescott that were for a trier of fact to weigh and consider rather than the trial court.

{¶ 21} First, appellants point to Prescott’s testimony that under the direction of Martinez, Prescott had responsibility for keeping the supply of sodium silicate at Great Lakes at an adequate level as evidence that Great Lakes controlled the manner or means of Prescott’s work. Prescott testified regarding his understanding of the repercussions if he failed in that responsibility:

{¶ 22} “A. That’s the reason why I had the job, because I took care of the man’s–so at the plant he told me when he hired me, If my plant ever shuts down for lack of material because of you not being here, you won’t be here no longer.

{¶ 23} “Q. That’s what Martinez told you?

{¶ 24} “A. Yes, sir.

{¶ 25} “Q. So he said if somehow you don’t deliver the product and we have to shut down, you’re done?

{¶ 26} “A. That’s right, if somebody has to do it for you, you won’t be here.”

{¶ 27} Appellants assert that this demonstrates that Great Lakes had the right to “fire” Prescott. However, this does not constitute Great Lakes controlling the manner or means of Prescott doing the hauling work. See Pfau v. Cincinnati Enquirer (Mar. 30, 1987), 12th Dist. No. CA86-03-019. The right to “fire” or “terminate” a person because that person did not achieve the desired result of the business relationship is not incompatible with an independent contractor status. Id.; Norris v. Citizens Publishing Co. (Feb. 16, 1932), 2d Dist. No.2086. Neither is the alleged “requirement” that Prescott use a tanker truck to haul the sodium silicate. Neither Kemira nor Great Lakes were controlling the manner or means of Prescott’s hauling work by this requirement because this was the only trucking means to haul the sodium silicate which is a liquid.

{¶ 28} Appellants also point to the bill of lading as evidence that Prescott was Kemira’s “agent.” The bill of lading was printed at Kemira with Vinings name printed on it as “shipper.” When Prescott picked up a load from Kemira, he wrote the name “C & R Prescott Trucking” on a line titled “agent.” This line also included the designation “per” after which Prescott signed his name “C. Prescott.” When questioned about this, Prescott testified as follows:

{¶ 29} “Q. We saw on that bill of lading that you signed as agent for Vinings Industries, is that correct?

{¶ 30} “A. I’m not an agent, I’m a trucker.

{¶ 31} “Q. You did sign the document where it said ‘as agent,’ correct?

{¶ 32} “A. I signed it–I’m as C & R Trucking, Prescott Trucking, I signed that bill as I was the trucker.”

{¶ 33} From the foregoing, it is clear that Prescott did not intend to sign the bill of lading as agent for Kemira/Vinings. Appellees also cite the definition of “bill of lading” in arguing that Prescott’s signature offers no significance relative to Prescott’s employment relationship with Kemira. We agree. R.C. 1301.01(F) provides, ” ‘Bill of lading’ means a document evidencing the receipt of goods for shipment issued by a person engaged in the business of transporting or forwarding goods * * *.” Reasonable minds could only conclude that Prescott signed the bill of lading as agent for Prescott Trucking.

{¶ 34} Appellants also allege that Prescott’s exclusive six-year service for Kemira and Great Lakes is a factor to be weighed in favor of Prescott’s status as an employee. In support, appellants cite the recent case of Mendoza v. Bishop, 2005-Ohio-238, 12th Dist. No.2004-04-080, and Harmon v. Schnurmacher (1992), 84 Ohio App.3d 207 in which the worker was found to be an employee as a matter of law. However, Mendoza and Harmon involved the employment status of a horse farm laborer and a personal nurse respectively. Further, in Harmon, there were additional indicia of the nurse’s status as an employee beyond merely the length and exclusivity of her service, including work hours set by the employer, hourly pay, and the existence of fringe benefits such as paid vacation and additional holiday pay. Likewise, in Mendoza, the additional indicia included that the laborer lived on the premises at no cost, was paid a weekly salary, and the employer supplied all the equipment and materials used in the job.

{¶ 35} We find more relevant to the present case, the case of Clouse v. Quick Air Freight, Inc. (Dec. 22, 1994), 10th Dist. No. 94APE05-764, which involved summary judgment issues relative to whether a trucker was an employee rather than an independent contractor. However, in Clouse, the court found critical to its determination that a material issue of fact existed, the fact that under a written lease agreement, the trucker was not permitted to do jobs for anyone else. Id. In addition, the employer told the driver what repairs to make to the vehicle, and required the driver to take medical exams given by a doctor selected by the employer. In contrast to Clouse, in the present case, there is neither a written lease agreement nor any other evidence that Prescott was precluded from hauling for other entities. Prescott just chose not to haul for anyone else. Further, all vehicle maintenance issues were at Prescott’s discretion and neither Kemira nor Great Lakes required any medical exams. Neither Harmon, Mendoza, nor Clouse lead this court to conclude that length of service, as a sole indicia, precludes a summary judgment finding.

{¶ 36} Finally, appellants assert that there are several material questions of fact raised by the record that precluded summary judgment for appellees. Specifically, who recruited or “hired” Prescott and who made the decisions relative to his rate of pay. Prescott testified that Martinez of Great Lakes initially called him concerning hauling sodium silicate. However, Martinez testified that he could not remember if he or Walden of Powers Silicates contacted Prescott about hauling the sodium silicate. Further, Prescott testified that if he needed a pay raise to cover increasing expenses, he could not recall if he contacted someone at Kemira, or Martinez at Great Lakes. Ken White, sales representative at Kemira testified that Martinez “pretty much defined” the freight rate to Kemira and Martinez was “in control” of the freight rate. Martinez recalled Prescott raising the issue of a pay increase with him. However, Martinez did not recall renegotiating the freight rate with anyone at either Kemira or Great Lakes on Prescott’s behalf. Based on this somewhat conflicting testimony, there may be a question of fact regarding which entity first contacted Prescott and which entity had the power to increase Prescott’s pay. However, these questions are not material to a determination of Prescott’s employment status. The fact that an entity “hires” a driver does not preclude a finding of an independent contractor status. See Koch v. Lind (1997), 121 Ohio App.3d 43, 57. Those issues are not relevant to the critical inquiry of who had the right to control the manner or means of doing the work.

{¶ 37} After a thorough review of the record, reasonable minds could only conclude that neither Prescott nor Prescott dba C & R Prescott Trucking was an employee or agent of either Great Lakes or Kemira, because neither Great Lakes nor Kemira retained the right to direct the manner in which the transporting work was completed by Prescott. Both were merely interested in the result–that Great Lakes had a constant supply of sodium silicate. Further, the trial court did not exceed the scope of its authority under Civ.R. 56 by weighing the evidence and failing to construe the evidence most strongly in favor of appellants.

{¶ 38} Based on the foregoing, we find appellants’ assignments of error not well taken. Accordingly, the judgment of the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed. Appellants are ordered to pay the costs of this appeal pursuant to App.R. 24. Judgment for the clerk’s expense incurred in preparation of the record, fees allowed by law, and the fee for filing the appeal is awarded to Lucas County.

JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.

A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to App.R. 27. See, also, 6th Dist.Loc.App.R. 4, amended 1/1/98.

Logistics Insight Corp. v. JDL Trucking

United States District Court,

E.D. Michigan, Southern Division.

LOGISTICS INSIGHT CORP., Plaintiff,

v.

JDL TRUCKING, L.L.C., Defendant.

Feb. 16, 2006.

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

GADOLA, J.

Plaintiff Logistics Insight Corporation first brought this subrogation action on June 8, 2004. On June 30, 2005, Defendant JDL Trucking, L.L.C. filed a “motion to dismiss for failure to allege a genuine issue as to any material fact under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(c),” more commonly known as a motion for summary judgment. For the following reasons, the Court will deny Defendant’s motion for summary judgment.

I. Background

Plaintiff has a contract with General Motors (“GM”) to arrange for various carriers to deliver automobile parts to GM assembly plants. Defendant is one of the carriers who transported goods for Plaintiff to GM’s plants.

On or about May 3, 2002, Todd Crawford, a driver employed by Defendant, left White Marsh, Maryland, transporting a truckload of 88 automobile transmissions, bound for GM’s Pontiac Assembly Center in Pontiac, Michigan. While on his way to the GM plant, Crawford had at least one accident when his tractor trailer truck ran off Interstate 75 near Troy, Michigan. Because of the accident, some of the transmissions were visibly damaged and knocked out onto the floor of the truck, while others were simply shifted out of their shipping cases. When the shipment eventually arrived at the GM Assembly Center on May 4, 2002, all the transmissions were refused. The transmissions were then moved to a warehouse for inspection. After an inspection by Dwayne Calhoun, an employee of Plaintiff, and Julie Fitzpatrick, an independent inspector, the decision was made to scrap all 88 transmissions. Since GM owned the transmissions, Plaintiff paid GM $240,000 for the damaged freight. Plaintiff then filed suit on June 8, 2004 against Defendant to recover $240,000 in reimbursement, claiming Defendant was liable as a carrier for the damage done to all 88 transmissions.

II. Legal Standard

Rule 56(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that summary judgment “shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). Summary judgment is appropriate if the moving party demonstrates that there is no genuine issue of material fact regarding the existence of an essential element of the nonmoving party’s case on which the nonmoving party would bear the burden of proof at trial. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986); Martin v. Ohio Turnpike Comm’n, 968 F.2d 606, 608 (6th Cir.1992).

In considering a motion for summary judgment, the Court must view the facts and draw all reasonable inferences in a light most favorable to the nonmoving party. 60 Ivy St. Corp. v. Alexander, 822 F.2d 1432, 1435 (6th Cir.1987). The Court is not required or permitted, however, to judge the evidence or make findings of fact. Id. at 1435-36. The moving party has the burden of showing conclusively that no genuine issue of material fact exists. Id. at 1435.

A fact is “material” for purposes of summary judgment if proof of that fact would have the effect of establishing or refuting an essential element of the cause of action or a defense advanced by the parties. Kendall v. Hoover Co., 751 F.2d 171, 174 (6th Cir.1984). A dispute over a material fact is genuine “if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). Accordingly, when a reasonable jury could not find that the nonmoving party is entitled to a verdict, there is no genuine issue for trial and summary judgment is appropriate. Id.; Feliciano v. City of Cleveland, 988 F.2d 649, 654 (6th Cir.1993).

Once the moving party carries the initial burden of demonstrating that there are no genuine issues of material fact in dispute, the burden shifts to the nonmoving party to present specific facts to prove that there is a genuine issue for trial. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 256. To create a genuine issue of material fact, the nonmoving party must present more than just some evidence of a disputed issue. Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co., Ltd. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586-87, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986). As the United States Supreme Court has stated, “there is no issue for trial unless there is sufficient evidence favoring the nonmoving party for a jury to return a verdict for that party. If the [nonmoving party’s] evidence is merely colorable, or is not significantly probative, summary judgment may be granted.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249-50 (citations omitted); see Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322-23; Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 586-87.

Consequently, the nonmoving party must do more than raise some doubt as to the existence of a fact; the nonmoving party must produce evidence that would be sufficient to require submission of the issue to the jury. Lucas v. Leaseway Multi Transp. Serv., Inc., 738 F.Supp. 214, 217 (E.D.Mich.1990) (Gadola, J.), aff’d, 929 F.2d 701 (6th Cir.1991). “The mere existence of a scintilla of evidence in support of the plaintiff’s position will be insufficient; there must be evidence on which the jury could reasonably find for the plaintiff.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 252; see Cox v. Ky. Dep’t of Transp., 53 F.3d 146, 150 (6th Cir.1995).

III. Analysis

This case involves the Carmack Amendment, 49 U.S.C. § 14706, which governs claims against a carrier for the damage of goods transported during interstate shipment. See Am. Rd. Serv. Co. v. Consol. Rail Co., 348 F.3d 565, 568 (6th Cir.2003). Pursuant to the Carmack Amendment, Plaintiff must first establish a prima facie case of liability:

[I]n an action to recover from a carrier for damage to a shipment, the shipper establishes his prima facie case when he shows delivery in good condition, arrival in damaged condition, and the amount of damages. Thereupon, the burden of proof is upon the carrier to show both that it was free from negligence and that the damage to the cargo was due to one of the excepted causes relieving the carrier of liability.

Plough, Inc. v. Mason & Dixon Lines, 630 F.2d 468, 470 (6th Cir.1980) (citing Missouri Pacific R.R. v. Elmore & Stahl, 377 U.S. 134, 138, 84 S.Ct. 1142, 12 L.Ed.2d 194 (1964)).

The third element of the prima facie case, the amount of damages, is “ordinarily measured by the reduction in market value at destination or by replacement or repair costs occasioned by the harm. The Carmack Amendment incorporates common law principles of damages, and permits recovery of lost profits unless they are speculative.” Camar Corp. v. Preston Trucking Co., 221 F.3d 271, 277 (1st Cir.2000) (citations omitted).

In support of its motion, Defendant argues that Plaintiff fails to establish a prima facie case because Plaintiff cannot show the amount of damages actually suffered. Defendant argues that Plaintiff only did a cursory, visual check of the shipment, and rejected the entire shipment without inspecting each transmission. Therefore, Defendant claims, the total amount of damages suffered is purely speculative.

When considering the facts in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, there is sufficient evidence showing that some kind of traffic accident occurred which damaged some of the transmissions. Plaintiff has provided deposition testimony revealing that when the shipment was examined at the GM plant and at the warehouse, some of the transmissions were visibly broken, that there was transmission fluid on the floor of the trailer, and that several other transmissions were out of the shipping cradles in which they rest during transport. Because the cost of one transmission is a definite amount that can be determined with certainty, the amount of damages in the instance of one broken transmission is not speculative. In the current case, there is evidence that several of the transmissions were damaged by the accident. Thus, the amount of damages for these transmissions that were visibly damaged can be sufficiently determined. Consequently, Plaintiff has certainly established a prima facie case of liability under the Carmack Amendment for those transmissions that were visibly damaged.

Defendant also argues that since Plaintiff did not conduct a thorough inspection of each individual transmission, Plaintiff cannot demonstrate that the entire shipment was damaged, and thus, Plaintiff cannot establish a prima facie case of liability for the rest of the transmissions. In further support, Defendant argues that because the accident was a not a rollover accident, GM and Plaintiff had no basis for rejecting the entire shipment.

Though in their briefs the parties devote much time to the question of whether a rollover accident occurred, whether the accident was a rollover or not is not relevant to the consideration of this motion. The evidence in the record indicates that some kind of accident having a significantly large impact did happen, traumatic enough to knock several heavy transmissions out of their shipping cradles. There is also evidence that GM had a policy of rejecting an entire shipment of goods when there was some indication that a traumatic accident had affected the integrity of the goods. Again, when considering the facts in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, the evidence is sufficient for a jury to find that the integrity of the entire shipment had been compromised by the accident, and that all of the goods had been damaged. Plaintiff has established a prima facie case and Defendant is not entitled to judgment as a matter of law.

ACCORDINGLY, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Defendant’s motion for summary judgment [docket entry 13] is DENIED.

SO ORDERED.

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