Summary
In Cowan v Federal-Mogul Corp, 86 Mich. App. 619; 273 N.W.2d 487 (1977), this Court held that mere assertions of "bad faith" do not preclude summary judgment dismissing conspiracy claims as a matter of law. None of the facts listed in plaintiff's pleadings could lead a court to a reasonable inference that defendants conspired to have plaintiff transferred or demoted.
Summary of this case from Sankar v. Detroit Board of EducationOpinion
Docket No. 29946.
Decided August 15, 1977.
Buell A. Doelle, for plaintiffs.
Dickinson, Wright, McKean, Cudlip Moon (by John Corbett O'Meara and Timothy H. Howlett), for defendants.
Plaintiffs appeal a partial summary judgment dismissing claims sounding in tort, conspiracy and loss of companionship.
Upon careful examination, we affirm. Concerning plaintiff Joseph Cowan's claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress brought against defendant Federal-Mogul Corporation, Szydlowski v General Motors Corp, 397 Mich. 356; 245 N.W.2d 26 (1976), controls. Its mandate is clear: Jurisdiction to determine the compensability of injuries arising out of and in the course of employment is reposed initially in the Workmen's Compensation Bureau. MCL 418.841; MSA 17.237(841). Thus the trial court acted properly on this issue, although GCR 1963, 116.1(2) (lack of subject-matter jurisdiction) is the more appropriate ground for dismissal.
Plaintiff's corresponding claim against defendant insurer also fails. The unrebutted affidavit presented by defendant demonstrated that, according to his own physician, plaintiff was not disabled for any occupation and, thus, was not entitled to the waiver of premium payments. Moreover, the affidavit revealed that defendant insurer based its demand for repayment of accident and sickness benefits on an assignment executed by plaintiff, in conformance with the policy provision excluding such benefits for injuries compensable under the Workers Disability Compensation Act. Where, as here, plaintiff did not rebut this affidavit by any evidence before the court, summary judgment is proper. Durant v Stahlin, 375 Mich. 628, 638-639, 655-656; 135 N.W.2d 392 (1965), Rizzo v Kretschmer, 389 Mich. 363, 372; 207 N.W.2d 316 (1973).
For similar reasons, the lower court correctly dismissed the conspiracy charge. Plaintiff failed to allege facts supportive of his claim; instead, he merely asserted bad faith and claimed that defendants' contradictory positions regarding the compensability of plaintiff's disability demonstrated a conspiracy. Absent allegations of supporting facts, dismissal by way of summary judgment is appropriate. Valentine v Michigan Bell Telephone Co, 388 Mich. 19, 30; 199 N.W.2d 182 (1972), Pursell v Wolverine-Pentronix, Inc, 44 Mich. App. 416, 422; 205 N.W.2d 504 (1973). Moreover, the rule has been applied in cases alleging a conspiracy. Chilton's, Inc v Wilmington Apartment Co, 365 Mich. 242, 248-249, 250-251; 112 N.W.2d 434 (1961), Greer v Parks, 300 Mich. 492, 497; 2 N.W.2d 476 (1942).
With regard to plaintiff wife's derivative claim, we hold that aligned as it is with the unsuccessful claims of her husband, it too must fail.
Affirmed.