9/10/25, 1:44 PM MELTON LLC FPP v.

STEPHENS (2014) | FindLaw

MELTON LLC FPP v. STEPHENS

Court of Appeals of Indiana.

James K. MELTON, Perdue Foods, LLC f/k/a Perdue Farms Incorporated and FPP Business Services,
Inc. f/k/a Perdue Business Services, Inc., Appellants–Defendants, v. Chad STEPHENS, Guardian of
the Person and Estate of Stacy S. Stephens and Chad Stephens, Appellees–Plaintiffs.

James K. Melton, Perdue Foods, LLC f/k/a Perdue Farms Incorporated and FPP Business Services,
Inc. f/k/a Perdue Business Services, Inc., Third Party Plaintiffs, v. Knox County EMS, Inc., Third Party
Defendant.

No. 14A01–1308–CT–356.

Decided: July 22, 2014

Ross E. Rudolph, Max E. Fiester, Kyle R. Rudolph, Rudolph Fine Porter &
Johnson, LLP, Evansville, IN, Kevin C. Schiferl, Lucy R. Dollens, Timothy L.
Karns, Frost Brown Todd, LLC, Indianapolis, IN, Attorney for Appellants.
Matt Parmenter, David G. Hatfield, Monica C. Gilmore, Parmenter Hatfield &
Gilmore, LLP, Vincennes, IN, Attorneys for Appellees.

OPINION

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

Appellants–Defendants, James K. Melton (Melton), Perdue Foods, LLC f/k/a/ Perdue Farms
Incorporated (Perdue), and FPP Business Services, Inc. f/k/a/ Perdue Business Services, Inc. (FPP
Business) (collectively, Appellants), appeal the trial court's findings of fact and conclusions thereon
determining that the substantive laws of the State of Illinois apply to a motor vehicle collision which
occurred in the State of Illinois between residents of the State of Indiana.1 We affirm.

ISSUE

Appellants raise one issue on interlocutory appeal, which we restate as: Whether the trial court
properly held that Illinois substantive law is applicable to a collision which occurred in Illinois between
two Indiana residents after considering the choice of law factors delineated in Hubbard Manufacturing
Co., Inc. v. Greeson, 515 N.E.2d 1071 (Ind.1987).

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

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The underlying lawsuit arose out of a motor vehicle collision between Appellees–Plaintiffs, Stacy S.
Stephens (Stacy) and Chad Stephens (Chad) (collectively, Stephens)2 and Melton at the intersection
of U.S. 50 and County Road 900 East in Lawrence County, Illinois. Stacy, a resident of the State of
Indiana, was within the course and scope of her employment with Knox County EMS of Vincennes,
Indiana, and Melton, also a resident of the State of Indiana, was within the course and scope of his
employment with Perdue. Perdue, a Maryland corporation and registered to do business in Illinois, is a
wholly owned subsidiary of FPP Business.

At the time of the accident, Melton had been employed by Perdue for approximately 14 years as a
commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driver and had made deliveries to Perdue's poultry farms in Illinois at
least once or twice a week for each of the past 14 years. Both individuals were making roundtrips that
originated in Indiana and which were designed to return them to their respective places of employment
when their vehicles collided in Illinois. Although Melton made regular deliveries from Perdue's feed mill
in Washington, Indiana to its operations in Illinois, this was the first time Stacy had travelled to
Bridgeport, Illinois at the direction of her employer to transport an Illinois patient to an appointment in
Indiana.

Melton, in a semi tractor-trailer, travelled west on U.S. 50, which has a posted speed limit of 50 mph,
at a speed of 58 mph. He was behind the 2006 Ford Fusion, driven by Stacy, when Stacy began to
slow the car several hundred feet from the intersection in anticipation of making her turn. She had
nearly completed her left turn onto County Road 900 East when Melton collided into her vehicle.
Melton contends that he was attempting to pass Stacy at the time of impact and claims that Stacy
failed to signal her turn as she approached the intersection. He was issued a citation for passing within
100 feet of an intersection, which was adjudicated in the Lawrence Circuit Court, Lawrence County,
Illinois.

On June 9, 2011, the Stephens filed a Complaint against Melton and Perdue, alleging negligence by
Melton in the operation of the tractor-trailer. Specifically, they contend that:

a) [Melton] drove his vehicle to the left side of the center of the roadway in an attempt to overtake and
pass the vehicle being operated by [Stacy] when approaching within 100 feet of and while traversing
the intersection of U.S. 50 and County Road 900 East in the County of Lawrence, State of Illinois in
direct violation of 625 ILCS 5/11–706;

b) [Melton] drove his vehicle to the left of center of the roadway while attempting to overtake and pass
the vehicle being driven by [Stacy] and in doing so interfered with the safe operation of the vehicle
being operated by [Stacy] in direct violation of 625 ILCS 5/11–705;

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c) [Melton] failed to reduce the speed of his vehicle so as to avoid colliding with the vehicle being
driven by [Stacy] in direct violation of 625 ILCS 5/11–601;

d) [Melton] drove his vehicle at a speed which was in excess of that which was reasonable and
prudent under the conditions in direct violation of 625 ILCS 5/11–601;

e) [Melton] negligently failed to keep his vehicle under control at all times;

f) [Melton] negligently failed to keep a reasonable lookout for the vehicle being operated by [Stacy].

(Appellant's App. p. 45). In addition, the Stephens claimed that, as a result of Melton's negligence,
Chad suffered a loss of consortium.

On February 23, 2012, the Stephens filed an Amended Complaint, reasserting the negligence claims
and adding a new claim against Perdue, which specified:

a) [Perdue] negligently failed to train [Melton] in the proper use and operation of a commercial motor
vehicle;

b) [Perdue] negligently failed to supervise [Melton] while operating the commercial motor vehicle they
provided to him;

c) [Perdue] promulgated policies which encouraged its employees who operated motor vehicles to
exceed the posted speed limit;

d) [Perdue] promulgated policies which encouraged its employees who operated commercial motor
vehicles to drive at a speed that was in excess of that which was reasonable and prudent under the
conditions.

(Appellant's App. pp. 53–54). In addition, Chad also asserted a loss of consortium claim against
Perdue.

On July 20, 2012, Appellants filed their motion to determine applicable law, requesting the trial court to
apply Indiana's substantive law to the instant cause, in adherence to our supreme court's decision in
Hubbard Manufacturing Co., Inc. v. Greeson, 515 N.E.2d 1071 (Ind.1987). On August 2, 2012, the
Stephens responded to the motion.

On August 27, 2012, the Stephens filed a Second Amended Complaint, amending their contentions
against Melton and Perdue, and adding new, direct claims against FPP Business. With respect to
Melton and Perdue, the Stephens added that “[Melton] drove a commercial motor vehicle in violation §
391.41(a)(l)(I) of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation when he was not properly medically

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certified as physically qualified to do so.” (Appellant's App. p. 102). The Stephens' new negligence
claim against FPP Business rests upon the specific contentions that:

a) [FPP Business] negligently failed to train [Melton] in the proper use and operation of a commercial
motor vehicle;

b) [FPP Business] negligently failed to supervise [Melton] while operating the commercial motor
vehicle provided to him by [Perdue];

c) [FPP Business] promulgated policies which encouraged the employees of [Perdue] to operate
commercial motor vehicles at a speed in excess of the posted speed limit;

d) [FPP Business] promulgated policies which encouraged the employees of [Perdue] who operated
commercial motor vehicles to drive at a speed that was in excess of that which was reasonable and
prudent under the conditions.

(Appellant's App. p. 107). As with the previous Complaints, Chad also added a loss of consortium
claim against FPP Business.

On March 27, 2013, the trial court conducted a hearing on Appellants' motion to determine applicable
law. Thereafter, on June 4, 2013, the trial court issued its findings of fact and conclusions thereon,
holding that the substantive law of Illinois is applicable to the facts at hand.

Two days later, on June 6, 2013, the Stephens filed a Third Amended Complaint. Besides reiterating
the allegations included in the previous Complaints, the Stephens added a claim for punitive damages
against Appellants. With respect to Melton, the Stephens asserted:

2. That [Melton] knew that he had obstructive sleep apnea from May 22, 2009 through the time of the
motor vehicle collision[.];

3. That at the time of the collision [ ] [Melton], wantonly, maliciously, oppressively, or willfully operated
a commercial motor vehicle while his ability to do so was impaired as a result of untreated severe
obstructive sleep apnea.

4. That at the time of the collision, [ ] [Melton], operated a commercial motor vehicle while his ability to
do was impaired as a result of untreated severe obstructive sleep apnea in reckless disregard or
indifference to the health and safety of others, including [ ] [Stacy].

5. That at all times herein and in the months and years leading up to the date of the collision [ ]
[Melton] engaged in conduct that constituted intentional, willful or wanton deceit in order to obtain or
maintain his status with a commercial driver's license and employment with [Perdue] by providing the

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medical examiners who performed his fitness determination examinations false, incomplete, or
inaccurate information concerning his health history or failed to provide them pertinent information
concerning his health history.

6. That the conduct of [Melton] [ ] constituted wanton, malicious, oppressive, or willful misconduct or
constituted a reckless disregard or indifference to the health and safety of others, including [Stacy].

7. That the conduct of [Melton] constitutes such conduct for which punitive damages should be
assessed and awarded at the time of the trial of this cause by the trier of fact.

(Appellant's App. pp. 269–70). A similar claim against Perdue and FPP Business is based on the
particular assertions that:

e) [Perdue] allowed [Melton] to operate a commercial motor vehicle when he was not medically
qualified to do so in contravention of 49 CFR § 392.3;

f) [Perdue] failed to develop or implement policies, programs or procedures to identify, test and
remove from service those commercial motor vehicle drivers with signs, traits and symptoms of
obstructive sleep apnea, including [Melton];

g) [Perdue] failed to train its commercial motor vehicle drivers, including [Melton] concerning the
hazards of operating a commercial motor vehicle with untreated sleep apnea;

h) [Perdue] failed to train the medical examiners who performed fitness examinations for its
commercial motor vehicle drivers of the signs, traits and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea.

(Appellant's App. pp. 271–72).

In their Answer to the Third Amended Complaint, Appellants denied any negligence in training,
supervision, and screening Melton for obstructive sleep apnea. Additionally, they also alleged that
Stacy should be allocated fault for certain violations of the Illinois Vehicle Code–Rules of the Road.

In light of this Third Amended Complaint, the Appellants filed a renewed motion to determine
applicable law on June 28, 2013. The following month, on July 19, 2013, the trial court denied
Appellants' renewed motion, incorporating into its Order the trial court's prior June 4, 2013 findings of
fact and conclusion thereon and holding the Illinois' substantive law applicable to the facts before the
court. At the same time, the trial court certified its Order for interlocutory appeal, which this court
subsequently accepted on September 27, 2013.

Additional facts will provided as necessary.

DISCUSSION AND DECISION

This interlocutory appeal is limited to the parties' dispute concerning the substantive law applicable to
the instant case. Although relying on the same set of cases—Hubbard and Simon v. U.S., 805 N.E.2d
798 (Ind.2004)—both parties reach a different result in applying Indiana's choice of law rules. Based
on these principles, Appellants argue for the application of Indiana substantive law, while the trial court
concluded, and the Stephens agree, that Illinois substantive law governs the cause.

I. Standard of Review

Indiana Trial Rule 52(A) provides that “[o]n appeal of claims tried by the court without a jury ․ the court
on appeal shall not set aside the findings or judgment unless clearly erroneous[.]” The court engages
in a two-tiered standard of review when applying this standard. Burk v. Heritage Food Serv. Equip.,
Inc., 737 N.E.2d 803, 811 (Ind.Ct.App.2000). First, we consider whether the evidence supports the
findings, construing these findings liberally in support of the judgment. Id. Findings are clearly
erroneous only when a review of the record leaves us firmly convinced that a mistake has been made.
Id. Next, we determine whether the findings support the judgment. Id. A judgment is clearly erroneous
when the findings of fact and conclusions thereon do not support it. Id. However, here, the trial court
did not conduct an evidentiary hearing on Appellants' renewed Motion to Determine Applicable Law.
Therefore, to the extent the trial court's factual findings are based on a paper record, this court
conducts its own de novo review of the record. Equicor Dev., Inc. v. Westfield–Washington Twp. Plan
Comm'n, 758 N.E.2d 34, 37 (Ind.2001).

II. Indiana's Choice of Law 3

Rules about the choice of law are among the few fields still dominated by judge-made doctrine and
choosing the applicable substantive law for a given case is a decision made by the courts of the state
in which the lawsuit is pending. In 1987, our supreme court issued Hubbard, its seminal case on
Indiana's choice of law jurisprudence. Since then, Hubbard and its progeny have dominated this
state's choice of law landscape.

In Hubbard, our supreme court advocated a multiple step inquiry to determine Indiana's choice of law
framework in tort cases. As a preliminary premise, the trial court must determine whether the
differences between the laws of the states are “important enough to affect the outcome of the
litigation.” Hubbard, 515 N.E.2d at 1073. If such a conflict exists, the presumption arises that the
traditional lex loci delicti rule—the place of the wrong—will apply. Id. Under this initial step, the trial
court applies the substantive law of “the state where the last event necessary to make an actor liable
for the alleged wrong takes place.” Id.

In a large number of cases, the place of the tort will be significant and the place with the most
contacts. Id. In those cases, the traditional rule serves well. However, this presumption is not
conclusive. Id. When the place of the tort is an insignificant contact, then the trial court should be
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allowed to evaluate other factors. Id. In these instances, where the place of the tort bears little
connection to the legal action, our supreme court allows the consideration of factors that may be more
relevant, such as: 1) the place where the conduct causing the injury occurred; 2) the residence or
place of business of the parties; and 3) the place where the relationship is centered. Id. at 1073–74.

In Simon v. U.S., 805 N.E.2d 798, 805 (Ind.2004), the court clarified the additional contacts which may
be considered when the location of the tort is deemed insignificant, noting that “[t]hese factors are not
an exclusive list nor are they necessarily relevant in every case. All contacts should be evaluated
according to their relative importance to the particular issues being litigated.” Id . This litigation ought
to focus on the essential elements of the whole cause of action, rather than on the issues one party or
the other forecasts will be the most hotly contested given the anticipated proofs. Id.

Because both parties agree—and we concur—that the distinction between Indiana's and Illinois'
substantive law are important enough to affect the outcome of the litigation, we will next turn to the lex
loci delicti step of the Hubbard inquiry.

A. Lex Loci Delicti

Under this presumption, the court applies the substantive laws of the state where the last event
necessary to make an actor liable for the alleged wrong takes place. Shaw v. LDC Enterprises, 863
N.E.2d 424, 431 (Ind.Ct.App.2007), trans. granted (July 19, 2007), order vacated and trans. denied
(Sept. 18, 2007). “[W]here the issue is the choice between the law of the place where an allegedly
wrongful act or omission took place and the law of the place where physical injury was inflicted, the
general rule is that the ‘place of the tort’ is the place where the injury or death was inflicted and not the
place where the allegedly wrongful act or omission took place.” Id. (citing E.H. Schopler, Annotation,
What is the Place of Tort Causing Personal Injury or Resultant Damage or Death, for Purpose of
Principle of Conflict Laws that Law of Place of Tort Governs, 77 A.L.R.2d 1266, 1273 (1961)).

Although Appellants contest the place where the allegedly wrongful act took place, they do not dispute
that Stacy's injury occurred in Illinois. As such, the lex loci delicti is established in Illinois' substantive
law.

B. Significance of Illinois' Substantive Law

Contending that the presumption of the lex loci delicti is overcome in favor of Indiana's substantive
law, Appellants assert that “[b]ecause the gravamen of the Stephens' claim [ ] is wholly centered on
conduct which predates the [c]rash and occurred in Indiana, the place of the tort, Illinois, bears little
connection to this action[.]” (Appellants' Reply Br. p. 6). Appellants contend that the Stephens
mischaracterize their action as a routine vehicle accident where liability will be grounded upon
violations of the Illinois rules of the road. Instead, Appellants assert, the core of the Stephens' claim is

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“focused upon [Melton's] operation of his tractor-trailer when he allegedly knew, or reasonably should
have known, he suffered from untreated obstructive sleep apnea.” (Appellants' Reply Br. p. 5).
Clarifying their position, Appellants maintain that the center of the Stephens' suit against Melton
emphasizes his untreated sleep apnea, while the claim against Perdue and FPP Business “wholly”
relates to the failure to provide training and supervision to Melton and promulgation of appropriate
policies—conduct which occurred entirely in Indiana. (Appellants' Reply Br. p. 5) (See also Appellants'
Br. pp. 17–18).

It is a “rare case” where the place of the tort is insignificant. Simon, 805 N.E.2d at 806. In fact, Simon
appears to suggest that most cases involving an automobile accident will be governed by the laws of
the state where the accident occurred. See id. (“[U]nlike in cases involving an automobile accident, the
laws of the state where the crash occurred did not govern the conduct of the parties at the time of the
accident.”) (emphasis added).

To determine whether this is one of those “rare case[s],” this court should define “the gravamen” of the
Stephens' complaint. See Judge v. Pilot Oil Corp., 17 F.Supp.2d 832, 834 (N.D.Ind.1998). Focusing on
the Stephens' Amended Complaints, we note that all the allegations stem from Melton's perceived
negligence in operating his vehicle, be it negligently ignoring the rules of the road or negligently driving
with knowledge of his severe sleep apnea. Through the doctrine of respondeat superior as well as
through the independent negligence claims of failure of supervision and training, the Stephens attempt
to also hold Perdue and FPP Business responsible for Stacy's injuries. Accordingly, without Melton's
alleged negligence in operating his vehicle, there would be no need for this lawsuit.

Moreover, even though at first glance, the claims of negligent supervision and training lodged at
Perdue and FPP Business do not find a contact point in Illinois substantive law, we hasten to clarify
that these allegations are also embedded in Illinois' Rules of the Road. Specifically, 625 ILCS § 5/18b–
105 incorporates certain parts of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, such as the prohibition
that a driver with a respiratory dysfunction is not medically certifiable to drive a CMV; and the
prohibition that Perdue/FPP Business can require Melton to operate a CMV while his alertness is likely
to be impaired. Although we agree with Appellants that Perdue and FPP Business's failure in
supervision and training occurred in Indiana and Maryland, this conduct only became legally negligent
as a result of Melton's accident in Illinois.

In addition to emphasizing the location of the tort, the Stephens also point to Appellants' claims for
contribution against the State of Illinois based on the Illinois Joint Tortfeasor Contribution Act pending
in the Illinois Court of Claims, alleging Illinois' alleged failure to meet applicable highway engineering
standards set forth by the Illinois Department of Transportation; Melton's citation issued by the Illinois
State Police for passing within 100 feet of an intersection; and Stacy's pending claim for Illinois'
Workers' Compensation benefits for injuries as separate contact points to increase the significance of
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the lex loci delicti. Mindful of Simon's directive to include the “essential elements of the whole cause of
action,” we must reject the Workers' Compensation Claim as it fails to relate to the gravamen of the
Stephens' action. See Simon, 805 N.E.2d at 806; Hubbard, 515 N.E.2d at 1074 (concluding that
Illinois bore little connection because it being the site of the coroner's inquest and source of worker's
compensation benefits did not “relate[ ] to the wrongful death action”).

Because the drivers' conduct in operating their motor vehicles prior to the collision will be the focus of
attention to determine liability, and that conduct was governed by the rules of the road of the state in
which the accident occurred, we conclude that the presumption of the lex loci delicti remains
significant and is not overcome. See also Tompkins v. Isbell, 543 N.E.2d 680, 682 (Ind.Ct.App.1989)
(“[T]he place of the tort in a case arising out of a motor vehicle accident has extensive connection with
the legal action.”). Moreover, recognizing that the issues presented by Stephens are substantial and
not merely remedial or procedural, the conduct must be necessarily governed by Illinois' Rules of the
Road as “people do not take the laws of their home state with them when they travel but are subject to
the laws of the state in which they act.” Simon, 805 N.E.2d at 806. Based on the circumstances before
us, we conclude that the place of the tort is significant to the action.

However, even if we were to concur with Appellants' arguments and conclude that the presumption of
the lex loci delicti is overcome, our analysis of Hubbard's additional factors would reach the same
result.

B. Second Hubbard Step: Relative Importance of Additional Contacts

Even if we deemed the State of Illinois, as place of the tort, to be an insignificant contact—which we
do not—an analysis of the additional Hubbard factors would yield a similar outcome.

Where the place of the tort bears little connection to the legal action, our supreme court allows the
consideration of other factors that may be more relevant, such as: 1) the place where the conduct
causing the injury occurred; 2) the residence or place of business of the parties; and 3) the place
where the relationship is centered. Hubbard, 515 N.E.2d at 1073–74. “These factors are not an
exclusive list nor are they necessarily relevant in every case.” Simon, 805 N.E.2d at 805. All contacts
“should be evaluated according to their relative importance to the particular issues being litigated.” Id.

Maintaining that the collision only took place in Illinois by accident, Appellants content that the real
connection lies in Indiana. They especially refer to the second contact point—domicile—to bolster their
claim: both Melton and Stacy are Indiana residents and were employed by Indiana-based corporations
at the time of the accident. Focusing on the negligent acts of supervision, Appellants argue that
“[a]lthough the effect of those allegedly negligent acts may have been felt in Illinois, the conduct which
is of the greatest significance to the Stephens' claims (i.e ., that Melton operated his tractor-trailer
when he knew, or reasonably should have known, that he suffered from untreated obstructive sleep
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apnea and that Perdue and/or FPP [Business] failed to provide Melton with training on the dangers of
driving a[CMV] with untreated sleep apnea) is rooted in Indiana.” (Appellants' Reply Br. p. 10). Thus,
Appellants assert that the Hubbard factors favor Indiana because “the relationship between the two
drivers and their employers, which took them on routes just over the Indiana border, are centered in
Indiana.” (Appellants' Br. p. 19).

Although we agree that the residence element of the Hubbard test favors Indiana, as both Melton and
Stacy are Indiana residents, working for Indiana-based companies, neither of the other two elements
support the application of Indiana substantive law to this cause. Despite Appellants' arguments to
center the relationship in Indiana, the ‘relationship’ between the two actors in the collision only came
into existence through the accident in Illinois. There is no evidence, and the parties cannot point us to
any, that their paths crossed anywhere else but in Illinois.

Furthermore, unlike Appellants, we deem the place of the conduct causing injury to be centered in
Illinois. We have defined the gravamen of the Stephens' Complaint to be Melton's negligent operation
of his vehicle. Therefore, this conduct is necessarily governed by the law of the state in which he
negligently acted, i.e., Illinois. Even though the Stephens asserted negligent training and supervision
against Perdue and FPP Business through the doctrine of respondeat superior, this negligence only
became actionable when the injury occurred at the time of the collision. As our supreme court noted in
Simon,

[i]f the state of conduct has a law regulating how the tortfeasor or victim is supposed to act in the
particular situation, courts will apply that standard rather than the law of the parties' residence. In fact,
this preference of the conduct-regulating law of the conduct state is virtually absolute, winning out
even over the law of other interested states. Courts as a practical matter recognize a conduct-
regulating exception to the normal interest-based choice-of-law methods․ This is also true in Indiana.

Simon, 805 N.E.2d at 807 n. 12. See also Judge v. Pilot Oil Corp., 17 F.Supp.2d 832, 836
(N.D.Ind.1998) (“Each state has an interest in having its policies applied to its residents and to conduct
that occurs within its borders.”).

Accordingly, the trial court correctly determined that in the case at bar, the place of the tort has
extensive connection with the legal action, and thus, the doctrine of lex loci delicti retains its vitality.
We hold that the trial court correctly applied the Hubbard test and concluded that Illinois substantive
law governs the action.

CONCLUSION

Based on the foregoing, we conclude that the trial court properly held that Illinois substantive law is
applicable to a collision which occurred in Illinois between two Indiana residents.

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Affirmed.

RILEY, Judge.

NAJAM, J. and ROBB, J. concur.

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