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Harris v. Vernier8/18/2000
FOR PUBLICATION
9:15 a.m.
Plaintiff appeals as of right from the trial court's order granting summary disposition for defendant pursuant to MCR 2.116(C)(4) (lack of subject-matter jurisdiction) and dismissing plaintiff's third party no fault claim. We affirm.
The essential facts are not in dispute. In the early morning on September 22, 1995, the parties were driving separate vehicles when they were involved in a collision in the parking lot of a Ford Motor Company plant. Plaintiff and defendant were employees of Ford, both having finished their shifts at the plant just prior to the collision. Plaintiff brought suit, alleging defendant's negligence in operating his vehicle caused her serious and permanent physical injuries. See MCL 500.3135(1); MSA 24.13135(1). Defendant brought his first motion for summary disposition pursuant to MCR 2.116(C)(10), arguing any injury is compensable only under the Worker 's Disability Compensation Act (WDCA), MCL 418.101 et seq.; MSA 17.237(101) et seq., because the parties were employees present on their employer's premises when the collision occurred. As such, defendant argued, plaintiff's suit is barred by the exclusive remedy provision of the WDCA, MCL 418.131; MSA 17.237(131). Plaintiff argued, in response, that defendant had failed to assert the affirmative defense of "immunity granted by law" under MCR 2.111(F)(3)(a) or (b) in his first responsive pleading and, thus, pursuant to MCR 2.111(F)(2), waived any defense based on the exclusive remedy provision of the WDCA. The trial court initially agreed that defendant's assertion of the exclusive remedy provision constituted an affirmative defense and ruled that defendant waived the defense when he failed to raise it in his answer to plaintiff's complaint or through amendment. The trial court also denied defendant's request to amend his answer to include a WDCA defense given the late stage of the proceedings. Thereafter, defendant brought a motion for reconsideration and a second motion for summary disposition pursuant to MCR 2.116(C)(4), arguing the trial court lacks subject-matter jurisdiction over plaintiff's claim. Defendant asserted that the suit should be characterized as a workplace injury claim that falls within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Bureau of Worker 's Compensation. Plaintiff argued, in response, that the case involves a personal injury claim arising from an automobile accident over which the trial court has subject-matter jurisdiction. The trial court reversed its prior ruling and granted summary disposition for defendant, ruling that the Bureau of Worker 's Compensation has exclusive subject-matter jurisdiction over plaintiff's claim.
On appeal, plaintiff argues that the trial court erred in concluding that the exclusive remedy provision of the WDCA, when asserted as a defense to a third-party no-fault claim brought in circuit court, constitutes a defense challenging the court's subject-matter jurisdiction over the claim. Plaintiff claims that defendant's assertion of the exclusive remedy provision is more properly characterized as a waivable affirmative defense based on immunity granted by law. We review a trial court's decision on a motion for summary disposition based on MCR 2.116(C)(4) de novo to determine if the moving party was entitled to judgment as a matter of law, or if affidavits or other proofs demonstrate there is an issue of material fact. MCR 2.116(C)(I)(1); Herbolsheimer v SMS Holding Co, Inc, 239 Mich App 236, 240; 608 NW2d 487 (2000). Further, whether a trial court had subject-matter jurisdiction over a claim is a question of law that is reviewed de novo. Specht v Citizens Ins Co of America, 234 Mich App 292, 294; 593 NW2d 670 (1999).
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