Opinion
Docket No. 88658.
Decided April 20, 1987. Leave to appeal applied for.
Becker Van Cleef, P.C. (by Frank G. Becker), for plaintiff.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Louis J. Caruso, Solicitor General, and Eric J. Eggan, Assistant Attorney General, for defendant.
Plaintiff's decedent, Gregory Michael Jenkinson, drowned while wading at the Bald Mountain State Recreation Area public beach. The recreation area is owned and operated by defendant State of Michigan Department of Natural Resources. On May 7, 1981, plaintiff filed this action against the DNR alleging that plaintiff's decedent's death was the direct and proximate result of defendant's negligence. On July 28, 1981, the Court of Claims denied defendant's motion for summary judgment under GCR 1963, 117.2(1), now MCR 2.116(C)(8). Subsequently, on October 31, 1985, the court granted defendant's motion for summary disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(7) on the basis that plaintiff's claim was barred by governmental immunity, MCL 691.1407; MSA 3.996(107), and by the recreational use statute, MCL 300.201; MSA 13.1485. Plaintiff appeals as of right. We hold that the action against the DNR is barred by both statutes and, therefore, affirm the decision of the Court of Claims.
Paragraph 14 set forth six specific acts of defendant's negligence: (a) failing to hire an adequate number of lifeguards; (b) allowing an excessive number of patrons in the beach area; (c) failing to promptly and effectively search for the plaintiff's decedent following a report of his disappearance; (d) failing to maintain a safe beach area so that sudden dropoffs would not pose a threat of harm to young nonswimmers; (e) failing to properly warn, instruct and caution young nonswimmers; and (f) failing to maintain a cordoned-off area for young nonswimmers so that they would not be exposed to deep water.
In order to plead a valid claim against a government agency, the plaintiff must plead facts in avoidance of governmental immunity. McCann v Michigan, 398 Mich. 65, 77; 247 N.W.2d 521 (1976). This is accomplished by stating a claim which fits within one of the legislatively or judicially created exceptions to governmental immunity or by pleading facts which demonstrate that the activity alleged is not in the "exercise or discharge of a governmental function" within MCL 691.1407; MSA 3.996(107). McCann, supra; Veeneman v Michigan, 143 Mich. App. 694, 698; 373 N.W.2d 193 (1985), lv gtd 424 Mich. 876 (1986).
MCL 691.1402; MSA 3.996(102), MCL 691.1405; MSA 3.996(105), MCL 691.1406; MSA 3.996(106), and MCL 691.1413; MSA 3.996(113).
In the instant case, plaintiff contends that the operation of a swimming beach is not a governmental function subject to immunity. See Feliciano v Dep't of Natural Resources, 97 Mich. App. 101; 293 N.W.2d 732 (1980). We find that Feliciano, which was decided prior to the Supreme Court's decision in Ross v Consumers Power Co (On Rehearing), 420 Mich. 567; 363 N.W.2d 641 (1984), was effectively overruled by Ross. In Ross, the Court adopted the following definition of "governmental function":
We therefore conclude that a governmental function is an activity which is expressly or impliedly mandated or authorized by constitution, statute, or other law. When a governmental agency engages in mandated or authorized activities, it is immune from tort liability, unless the activity is proprietary in nature (as defined in § 13) or falls within one of the other statutory exceptions to the governmental immunity act. [ Ross, supra, p 620.]
In this case, the state's operation of Bald Mountain Recreation Area is an activity which is expressly mandated or authorized by statute. MCL 318.3 et seq.; MSA 13.1011 et seq. See also Const 1963, art 10, § 5 and MCL 299.3; MSA 13.3, which provides that the DNR shall provide outdoor recreational facilities. The recreational activity at issue here is clearly not proprietary in nature and does not come within any of the statutory exceptions to governmental immunity. We therefore conclude that plaintiff's claim against the state is barred by governmental immunity. Contrary to plaintiff's assertion, Ross has limited retroactive effect and is applicable to this case. Hyde v University of Michigan Bd of Regents, 426 Mich. 223, 230; 393 N.W.2d 847 (1986).
Nor do we find plaintiff's claim under the recreational use statute, MCL 300.201; MSA 13.1485, a viable one. That statute provides:
No cause of action shall arise for injuries to any person who is on the lands of another without paying to such other person a valuable consideration for the purpose of fishing, hunting, trapping, camping, hiking, sightseeing, motorcycling, snowmobiling, or any other outdoor recreational use, with or without permission, against the owner, tenant, or lessee of said premises unless the injuries were caused by the gross negligence or wilful and wanton misconduct of the owner, tenant, or lessee.
The recreational use act has been held to be applicable to publicly owned lands. Burnett v City of Adrian, 414 Mich. 448; 326 N.W.2d 810 (1982); Graham v Gratiot Co, 126 Mich. App. 385; 337 N.W.2d 73 (1983); Lucchesi v Kent Co Road Comm, 109 Mich. App. 254; 312 N.W.2d 86 (1981); Syrowik v Detroit, 119 Mich. App. 343; 326 N.W.2d 507 (1982); McNeal v Dep't of Natural Resources, 140 Mich. App. 625; 364 N.W.2d 768 (1985). In the instant case, plaintiff's complaint failed to allege or even plead defendant's gross negligence or wilful and wanton misconduct. Hence her claim under this statute must fail. See, e.g., Matthews v Detroit, 141 Mich. App. 712; 367 N.W.2d 440 (1985), lv den 422 Mich. 978 (1985).
Finally, plaintiff's claims that the nuisance and public buildings exceptions are applicable to this case are without merit. Although plaintiff contends in her brief on appeal that she sought leave to amend her complaint in the lower court to allege intentional nuisance and the public buildings exception, the lower court record lacks any papers or hearing transcripts to support this. We find that, since plaintiff did not properly raise her claims below, appellate review is precluded. S S Development Co v Pants Galore Stores, Inc, 63 Mich. App. 394, 397; 234 N.W.2d 540 (1975).
Affirmed.