Washington v. Van Buren County Road Commission

Plaintiffs appeal from an order of summary disposition in a third-party automobile negligence case. The motion raised the threshold question of whether Alex Washington (hereafter plaintiff) had suffered a serious impairment of body function as defined by Cassidy v McGovern, 415 Mich 483; 330 NW2d 22 (1982).

Plaintiff, age 61, sustained a number of serious bruises, primarily to the left leg and left hip, in an automobile collision on May 11, 1984. He began to develop low back pain, which worsened and led him to seek medical treatment. Medical depositions and records were submitted to the court…