Case Title: In re: S.K.

Citation: 

Docket Number: 1101401

State: alabama

Court: Alabama Supreme Court

Date: 2012-01-27T00:00:00Z

Document:
R e l : 01/27/12 
N o t i c e : 
T h i s 
o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o f o r m a l 
r e v i s i o n b e f o r e 
p u b l i c a t i o n i n 
t h e 
advance 
s h e e t s o f 
Southern Reporter. 
R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e Reporter of 
Decisions, 
Alabama 
A p p e l l a t e 
C o u r t s , 
300 D e x t e r Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104-3741 
((334) 
2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f 
any t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n 
o r d e r 
t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may be made 
b e f o r e t h e 
o p i n i o n i s p r i n t e d i n 
Southern Reporter. 
SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA 
OCTOBER TERM, 2011-2012 
1101401 
Ex p a r t e Montgomery County Board o f E d u c a t i o n e t 
a l . 
PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS 
( I n r e : S.K., a minor, by and through her 
mother, T e r t r i n a 
Capehart 
v. 
Montgomery County Board o f E d u c a t i o n e t a l . ) 
(Montgomery C i r c u i t Court, CV-09-648) 
MAIN, J u s t i c e . 
The M o n t g o m e r y C o u n t y B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n 
("the B o a r d " ) ; 
i t s members C h a r l o t t e Meadows, 
E l e a n o r 
L e w i s D a w k i n s , M a r y 
1101401 
B r i e r s , M e l i s s a B. Snowden, R o b e r t P o r t e r f i e l d , B e v e r l y R o s s , 
and H e a t h e r 
S e l l e r s 
( h e r e i n a f t e r 
r e f e r r e d t o c o l l e c t i v e l y 
as 
" t h e 
B o a r d m e m b e r s " ) ; and 
E l a i n e L. G u i c e , a t e a c h e r i n t h e 
M o n t g o m e r y C o u n t y S c h o o l S y s t e m 
( " G u i c e " ) , p e t i t i o n t h i s C o u r t 
f o r 
a w r i t o f mandamus d i r e c t i n g t h e M o n t g o m e r y C i r c u i t 
C o u r t 
t o 
v a c a t e 
i t s o r d e r 
d e n y i n g 
t h e i r 
m o t i o n 
f o r 
a 
summary 
j u d g m e n t as t o t h e c l a i m s 
f i l e d 
a g a i n s t them by S.K. 
by 
and 
t h r o u g h S.K.'s m o t h e r , 
T e r t r i n a 
C a p e h a r t , 
and 
t o e n t e r 
an 
o r d e r g r a n t i n g 
t h e i r summary-judgment m o t i o n . 
We 
g r a n t 
t h e 
p e t i t i o n and i s s u e t h e 
w r i t . 
I . 
F a c t u a l B a c k g r o u n d 
and P r o c e d u r a l H i s t o r y 
A c c o r d i n g t o t h e c o m p l a i n t , on 
A p r i l 2 6 , 2 0 0 7 , S.K., 
a 
t h i r d - g r a d e 
s t u d e n t 
a t 
P e t e r 
Crump 
E l e m e n t a r y 
S c h o o l 
i n 
M o n t g o m e r y C o u n t y , went 
i n t o t h e r e s t r o o m w i t h two 
f r i e n d s ; 
G u i c e , h e r t h i r d - g r a d e t e a c h e r , d i d n o t accompany them. 
S.K. 
c l a i m e d t h a t when she a t t e m p t e d t o l e a v e t h e r e s t r o o m 
s t a l l , 
t h e 
s t a l l d o o r jammed. 
She f u r t h e r c l a i m e d t h a t she 
a t t e m p t e d 
t o c l i m b o v e r t h e d o o r t o g e t o u t o f t h e s t a l l b u t s l i p p e d 
and 
f e l l , 
c u t t i n g h e r f a c e on a m e t a l hook o r h a n g e r 
on t h e 
b a c k 
o f 
t h e d o o r . 
On 
A p r i l 
24, 2 0 0 9 , S.K., 
by 
and 
t h r o u g h 
h e r 
m o t h e r , T e r t r i n a C a p e h a r t , s u e d t h e B o a r d , t h e B o a r d members 
2 
1101401 
i n t h e i r 
o f f i c i a l c a p a c i t i e s , and G u i c e , b o t h i n d i v i d u a l l y and 
i n h e r o f f i c i a l 
c a p a c i t y , 
a s s e r t i n g c l a i m s o f n e g l i g e n c e 
and 
w a n t o n n e s s and s e e k i n g 
c o m p e n s a t o r y and p u n i t i v e damages. 
The 
B o a r d , t h e B o a r d members, and G u i c e 
f i l e d a m o t i o n 
f o r 
a summary j u d g m e n t . 
They 
a s s e r t e d 
t h a t 
t h e r e 
were no 
g e n u i n e 
i s s u e s o f m a t e r i a l 
f a c t , 
t h a t 
G u i c e i s immune 
f r o m 
s u i t u n d e r t h e d o c t r i n e o f S t a t e - a g e n t i m m u n i t y and t h a t t h e 
B o a r d and t h e B o a r d members a r e immune 
f r o m 
s u i t u n d e r t h e 
d o c t r i n e o f S t a t e i m m u n i t y . 
They a l s o a s s e r t e d 
t h a t S.K. was 
c o n t r i b u t o r i l y n e g l i g e n t , 
a r g u i n g 
t h a t h e r i n j u r i e s were t h e 
r e s u l t o f h e r " p l a y i n g " i n t h e r e s t r o o m . 
A d d i t i o n a l l y , t h e y 
a s s e r t e d 
t h a t S.K. h a d f a i l e d t o e x h a u s t 
a l l a d m i n i s t r a t i v e 
r e m e d i e s a v a i l a b l e t o h e r . On J u l y 15, 2 0 1 1 , t h e M o n t g o m e r y 
C i r c u i t 
C o u r t 
i s s u e d an o r d e r 
d e n y i n g t h e s u m m a r y - j u d g m e n t 
m o t i o n . 
The B o a r d , t h e B o a r d members, and G u i c e p e t i t i o n 
t h i s 
C o u r t f o r 
a w r i t o f mandamus d i r e c t i n g t h e M o n t g o m e r y 
C i r c u i t 
C o u r t 
t o v a c a t e 
t h e J u l y 
15, 2 0 1 1 , o r d e r 
and t o e n t e r 
a 
summary j u d g m e n t i n t h e i r 
f a v o r . 
I I . 
S t a n d a r d o f R e v i e w 
" ' " W h i l e t h e g e n e r a l 
r u l e i s t h a t t h e 
d e n i a l o f a m o t i o n f o r 
summary j u d g m e n t i s 
n o t 
r e v i e w a b l e , 
t h e e x c e p t i o n 
i s t h a t t h e 
d e n i a l o f a m o t i o n g r o u n d e d on a c l a i m o f 
3 
1101401 
i m m u n i t y i s r e v i e w a b l e b y p e t i t i o n f o r w r i t 
o f mandamus. 
Ex p a r t e 
P u r v i s , 689 So. 2d 
794 
( A l a . 1 9 9 6 ) . . . . 
"'"Summary 
j u d g m e n t 
i s 
a p p r o p r i a t e 
o n l y when ' t h e r e i s 
no g e n u i n e i s s u e as t o 
any 
m a t e r i a l f a c t and ... t h e m o v i n g 
p a r t y 
i s 
e n t i t l e d t o a j u d g m e n t as a m a t t e r o f 
l a w . ' 
R u l e 
5 6 ( c ) ( 3 ) , A l a . R. C i v . P., 
Young v . L a Q u i n t a 
I n n s , I n c . , 
682 So. 2d 
402 
( A l a . 
1 9 9 6 ) . 
A 
c o u r t 
c o n s i d e r i n g a 
m o t i o n f o r summary j u d g m e n t 
w i l l 
v i e w t h e 
r e c o r d i n t h e l i g h t most f a v o r a b l e t o t h e 
n o n m o v i n g 
p a r t y , 
H u r s t v . A l a b a m a 
Power 
 
Co., 
675 So. 2d 397 
( A l a . 1 9 9 6 ) , Fuqua v .  
I n g e r s o l l - R a n d 
Co., 591 So. 2d 486 
( A l a . 
1991) ; w i l l 
a c c o r d t h e n o n m o v i n g p a r t y a l l 
r e a s o n a b l e 
f a v o r a b l e 
i n f e r e n c e s 
f r o m t h e 
e v i d e n c e , 
F u q u a , s u p r a , 
A l d r i d g e v. V a l l e y  
S t e e l 
C o n s t r . , 
I n c . , 
603 So. 2d 981 
( A l a . 
1992) ; and 
w i l l 
r e s o l v e 
a l l r e a s o n a b l e 
d o u b t s 
a g a i n s t 
t h e m o v i n g 
p a r t y , 
H u r s t , 
s u p r a , 
Ex p a r t e 
B r i s l i n , 
719 So. 2d 185 
( A l a . 
1 9 9 8 ) . 
"'"An 
a p p e l l a t e 
c o u r t 
r e v i e w i n g 
a 
r u l i n g 
on a m o t i o n f o r summary j u d g m e n t 
w i l l , de n o v o , a p p l y 
t h e s e same 
s t a n d a r d s 
a p p l i c a b l e 
i n t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t . 
F u q u a , 
s u p r a , 
B r i s l i n , 
s u p r a . 
L i k e w i s e , 
t h e 
a p p e l l a t e 
c o u r t 
w i l l 
c o n s i d e r 
o n l y 
t h a t 
f a c t u a l m a t e r i a l a v a i l a b l e o f r e c o r d t o 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
f o r i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n 
i n 
d e c i d i n g 
t h e m o t i o n . 
D y n a s t y 
C o r p . 
v .  
A l p h a R e s i n s 
C o r p . , 577 So. 2d 1278 
( A l a . 
1 9 9 1 ) , 
B o l a n d v . F o r t R u c k e r 
N a t ' l Bank, 
599 So. 2d 595 ( A l a . 1992 
), Rowe v . 
I s b e l l , 
599 So. 2d 35 ( A l a . 1 9 9 2 ) . " ' 
"Ex 
p a r t e 
T u r n e r , 840 So. 2d 132, 135 
( A l a . 2002) 
( q u o t i n g Ex p a r t e R i z k , 791 So. 2d 911, 912-13 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 0 ) ) . 
A 
w r i t 
o f mandamus 
i s an 
e x t r a o r d i n a r y 
4 
1101401 
remedy 
a v a i l a b l e 
o n l y 
when 
t h e 
p e t i t i o n e r 
c a n 
d e m o n s t r a t e : ' " ( 1 ) a c l e a r 
l e g a l 
r i g h t t o t h e o r d e r 
s o u g h t ; 
(2) an i m p e r a t i v e d u t y upon t h e r e s p o n d e n t 
t o p e r f o r m , a c c o m p a n i e d b y a r e f u s a l t o do s o ; (3) 
t h e 
l a c k o f a n o t h e r 
a d e q u a t e 
remedy; and (4) t h e 
p r o p e r l y 
i n v o k e d 
j u r i s d i c t i o n o f t h e c o u r t . " ' 
Ex 
 
p a r t e N a l l , 879 So. 2d 5 4 1 , 543 ( A l a 
.2003) 
( q u o t i n g 
Ex 
p a r t e BOC 
G r o u p , 
I n c . , 823 So. 2d 1270 
, 1272 
( A l a . 2 0 0 1 ) ) . " 
Ex p a r t e Y a n c e y , 8 So. 3d 299, 303-04 ( A l a . 2 0 0 8 ) . 
I I I . 
A n a l y s i s 
A. C l a i m s a g a i n s t t h e B o a r d 
The 
B o a r d 
c o n t e n d s 
t h a t 
i t i s e n t i t l e d 
t o a summary 
j u d g m e n t b e c a u s e , 
i t s a y s , i t e n j o y s i m m u n i t y , 
p u r s u a n t t o 
A r t . I , § 14, A l a . 
C o n s t . 1 9 0 1 , f r o m t h e t o r t c l a i m s 
a l l e g e d 
a g a i n s t i t 
i n 
t h e c o m p l a i n t . A l t h o u g h S.K. i n i t i a l l y 
c o n c e d e d 
t h a t t h e B o a r d i s e n t i t l e d t o S t a t e i m m u n i t y , i n h e r b r i e f t o 
t h i s C o u r t she a r g u e s t h a t " t h e D e f e n d a n t s ' i m m u n i t y " i s 
n o t 
a b s o l u t e 
when 
one o r more 
o f t h e d e f e n d a n t s 
have 
a c t e d 
w i l l f u l l y , i n 
b a d f a i t h , and b e y o n d 
t h e i r a u t h o r i t y . 
She t h e n 
a l l e g e s 
t h a t she h a s " p r o v i d e d p l e n t y o f e v i d e n c e t h a t 
a l l 
D e f e n d a n t s a c t e d b e y o n d 
t h e i r a u t h o r i t y , a c t e d w i l l f u l l y , and 
i n b a d f a i t h . " 
S.K.'s a r g u m e n t i s n o t w e l l t a k e n . 
F o r t h e 
r e a s o n s t h a t 
f o l l o w , we h o l d t h a t t h e B o a r d i s 
e n t i t l e d t o 
t h e i m m u n i t y i t a s s e r t e d i n i t s summary-judgment m o t i o n . 
5 
1101401 
S e c t i o n 14, A l a . C o n s t . 1 9 0 1 , 
p r o v i d e s " [ t ] h a t t h e S t a t e 
o f A l a b a m a s h a l l n e v e r be made a d e f e n d a n t i n 
any c o u r t o f 
l a w 
o r 
e q u i t y . " 
I t i s w e l l 
s e t t l e d 
i n A l a b a m a 
t h a t 
" [ l ] o c a l 
s c h o o l b o a r d s a r e a g e n c i e s o f t h e S t a t e , n o t o f t h e l o c a l 
g o v e r n m e n t a l 
u n i t s t h e y s e r v e , a n d t h e y a r e e n t i t l e d t o 
t h e 
same a b s o l u t e i m m u n i t y as o t h e r a g e n c i e s o f t h e S t a t e . " 
Ex 
 
p a r t e B e s s e m e r Bd. o f E d u c . , 68 So. 3d 782, 789 ( A l a . 2 0 1 1 ) . 
I n Ex p a r t e Monroe C o u n t y B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n , 48 So. 3d 621 
( A l a . 
2 0 1 0 ) , 
t h i s C o u r t 
h e l d : 
" ' " S e c t i o n 
14, A l a . C o n s t . 
1901, p r o v i d e s ' [ t ] h a t t h e S t a t e 
o f A l a b a m a 
s h a l l n e v e r be made a 
d e f e n d a n t i n any c o u r t o f l a w 
o r 
e q u i t y . ' T h i s s e c t i o n a f f o r d s t h e 
S t a t e 
a n d 
i t s a g e n c i e s 
an 
' a b s o l u t e ' i m m u n i t y 
f r o m 
s u i t i n 
any c o u r t . Ex p a r t e M o b i l e C o u n t y  
Dep't o f Human R e s . , 815 So. 2d 
527, 
530 
( A l a . 
2001) 
( s t a t i n g 
t h a t 
A l a . C o n s t . 
1 9 0 1 , § 14, 
c o n f e r s on t h e S t a t e o f A l a b a m a 
and 
i t s 
a g e n c i e s 
a b s o l u t e 
i m m u n i t y f r o m s u i t i n 
any c o u r t ) ; 
Ex 
p a r t e T u s c a l o o s a C o u n t y , 
7 
9 
6 
So. 
2d 
1100 , 
1103 ( A l a . 
2000 
) 
('Under A l a . C o n s t . o f 1 9 0 1 , § 
14, 
t h e S t a t e 
o f A l a b a m a h a s 
a b s o l u t e i m m u n i t y 
f r o m 
l a w s u i t s . 
T h i s a b s o l u t e i m m u n i t y e x t e n d s t o  
arms o r a g e n c i e s o f t h e 
s t a t e 
. . . . ' ) . 
I n d e e d , 
t h i s 
C o u r t h a s 
d e s c r i b e d 
§ 
14 as an 
' a l m o s t 
i n v i n c i b l e ' 
' w a l l ' 
o f 
i m m u n i t y . 
6 
1101401 
A l a b a m a S t a t e Docks v. S a x o n , 631 
So. 2d 943, 946 ( A l a . 1 9 9 4 ) . T h i s 
' w a l l 
o f 
i m m u n i t y ' 
i s 
' n e a r l y 
i m p r e g n a b l e , ' 
P a t t e r s o n 
v . 
G l a d w i n 
C o r p . , 
835 So. 2d 137, 
142 
( A l a . 2 0 0 2 ) , and b a r s ' a l m o s t 
e v e r y c o n c e i v a b l e t y p e o f 
s u i t . ' 
H u t c h i n s o n v . B o a r d o f T r u s t e e s  
o f 
U n i v . o f A l a . , 288 A l a . 
20, 
23, 256 So. 2d 2 8 1 , 283 ( 1 9 7 1 ) . 
M o r e o v e r , 
i f an 
a c t i o n 
i s an 
a c t i o n 
a g a i n s t t h e S t a t e 
w i t h i n 
t h e 
m e a n i n g o f § 14, s u c h a c a s e 
' p r e s e n t s 
a 
q u e s t i o n 
o f 
s u b j e c t - m a t t e r 
j u r i s d i c t i o n , 
w h i c h 
c a n n o t 
be 
w a i v e d 
o r 
c o n f e r r e d by c o n s e n t . ' P a t t e r s o n , 
835 So. 2d a t 1 4 2 - 4 3 . " 
" ' H a l e y v . B a r b o u r C o u n t y , 885 So. 2d 7 8 3 , 
788 
( A l a . 2004) 
( e m p h a s i s 
a d d e d ) . 
F o r 
p u r p o s e s o f § 14 i m m u n i t y , c o u n t y b o a r d s o f 
e d u c a t i o n a r e c o n s i d e r e d 
a g e n c i e s o f t h e 
S t a t e . 
L o u v i e r e v. M o b i l e C o u n t y 
Bd. o f  
E d u c . , 
670 So. 2d 873, 877 
( A l a . 
1995) 
("County 
b o a r d s 
o f 
e d u c a t i o n , 
as 
l o c a l 
a g e n c i e s 
o f 
t h e 
S t a t e , 
e n j o y 
[§ 
14] 
i m m u n i t y . " ) . Thus, t h i s C o u r t h a s h e l d t h a t 
c o u n t y b o a r d s o f e d u c a t i o n a r e immune f r o m 
t o r t a c t i o n s . See Brown v . C o v i n g t o n C o u n t y  
Bd. o f E d u c . , 
524 So. 2d 623, 625 
( A l a . 
1 9 8 8 ) ; H u t t v . E t o w a h C o u n t y Bd. o f E d u c . , 
454 So. 2d 973, 974 ( A l a . 1 9 8 4 ) . ' 
"Ex 
p a r t e 
J a c k s o n C o u n t y 
Bd. o f E d u c . , 
4 So. 3d 
[1099,] a t 1102-03 
[ ( A l a . 2 0 0 8 ) ] . 
" I n Ex p a r t e H a l e C o u n t y B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n , 14 
So. 3d 844 ( A l a . 
2 0 0 9 ) , 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
r e v i s i t e d t h e 
i s s u e w h e t h e r c o u n t y b o a r d s o f e d u c a t i o n were immune 
f r o m s u i t , o v e r r u l i n g Sims v. E t o w a h C o u n t y B o a r d o f  
E d u c a t i o n , 337 So. 2d 1310 ( A l a . 1 9 7 6 ) , and Kimmons 
7 
1101401 
v. 
J e f f e r s o n C o u n t y 
B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n , 
204 
A l a . 
384, 
85 So. 774 
( 1 9 2 0 ) , 
and s t a t i n g 
t h a t 
' b e c a u s e 
c o u n t y b o a r d s o f e d u c a t i o n a r e l o c a l a g e n c i e s o f 
t h e 
S t a t e , 
t h e y a r e c l o t h e d i n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l 
i m m u n i t y 
f r o m 
s u i t ' and t h a t t h e i m m u n i t y a c c o r d e d a c o u n t y 
b o a r d o f e d u c a t i o n i s a b s o l u t e . " 
48 So. 3d a t 624-25. 
T h e r e f o r e , 
t h e m o t i o n f o r a summary 
j u d g m e n t b a s e d on § 14 i m m u n i t y was due t o be g r a n t e d as t o 
t h e B o a r d and a summary j u d g m e n t e n t e r e d on t h e t o r t 
c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t t h e B o a r d . 
B. C l a i m s 
a g a i n s t t h e B o a r d members and G u i c e i n t h e i r 
o f f i c i a l 
c a p a c i t i e s 
The 
B o a r d members and G u i c e 
l i k e w i s e c o n t e n d 
t h a t 
t h e y 
e n j o y 
i m m u n i t y u n d e r t o § 14 f o r 
t h e c l a i m s 
a s s e r t e d 
a g a i n s t 
them i n t h e i r 
o f f i c i a l 
c a p a c i t i e s . 
The B o a r d members and 
G u i c e a r e c o r r e c t . 
See B e s s e m e r Bd. o f E d u c . , 68 So. 3d a t 
789 
("'Not o n l y i s t h e S t a t e immune f r o m s u i t u n d e r § 14, b u t 
" [ t ] h e S t a t e c a n n o t be s u e d i n d i r e c t l y b y s u i n g an o f f i c e r i n 
h i s 
o r h e r o f f i c i a l 
c a p a c i t y . " ' " 
( q u o t i n g A l a b a m a Dep't o f 
T r a n s p . v. H a r b e r t 
I n t ' l , 
I n c . , 990 So. 2d 831 
, 839 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 8 ) ) ) ; and Ex p a r t e 
D a n g e r f i e l d , 49 So. 3d 675, 681 
( A l a . 
2010) 
( h o l d i n g t h a t a l l c l a i m s a g a i n s t a S t a t e 
o f f i c i a l i n h i s 
o r h e r o f f i c i a l 
c a p a c i t y 
s e e k i n g damages a r e b a r r e d b y t h e 
d o c t r i n e o f i m m u n i t y ) . " T h i s C o u r t h a s h e l d t h a t t h e i m m u n i t y 
8 
1101401 
a f f o r d e d t h e S t a t e by § 14 a p p l i e s t o i n s t r u m e n t a l i t i e s 
o f t h e 
S t a t e 
and 
S t a t e 
o f f i c e r s 
s u e d i n t h e i r 
o f f i c i a l 
c a p a c i t i e s 
when 
s u c h 
an 
a c t i o n i s e f f e c t i v e l y 
an 
a c t i o n 
a g a i n s t 
t h e 
S t a t e . 
L y o n s v. R i v e r Road C o n s t r . , I n c . , 858 So. 2d 257, 
261 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 3 ) . " 
V a n d e n b e r g v. A r a m a r k E d u c . S e r v s . , I n c . , [Ms. 
1100557 , S e p t . 30 , 2011] 
So. 3d 
, 
( A l a . 2 0 1 1 ) . 
" I t 
i s s e t t l e d b e y o n d 
c a v i l 
t h a t 
S t a t e 
o f f i c i a l s 
c a n n o t 
be 
s u e d f o r damages i n t h e i r 
o f f i c i a l 
c a p a c i t i e s . 
B u r g o o n 
v. 
 
A l a b a m a 
S t a t e 
Dep't o f Human R e s . , 
835 
So. 
2d 
131, 
132-33 
( A l a . 
2002 
) . " 
Ex 
p a r t e 
D a n g e r f i e l d , 
49 
So. 
3d 
a t 
681. 
T h e r e f o r e , 
b e c a u s e 
t h e c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t t h e B o a r d members 
and 
G u i c e i n t h e i r 
o f f i c i a l c a p a c i t i e s a r e b a r r e d by A r t . I , § 14, 
A l a . 
C o n s t . 1901, t h e m o t i o n f o r a summary j u d g m e n t as t o them 
i n 
t h e i r 
o f f i c i a l 
c a p a c i t i e s was due t o be 
g r a n t e d . 
C. C l a i m s a g a i n s t G u i c e i n h e r i n d i v i d u a l 
c a p a c i t y 
G u i c e 
c o n t e n d s 
t h a t 
she 
i s 
e n t i t l e d 
t o 
S t a t e - a g e n t 
i m m u n i t y f o r t h e c l a i m s a s s e r t e d a g a i n s t h e r i n h e r 
i n d i v i d u a l 
c a p a c i t y . 
G u i c e a r g u e s 
t h a t 
t h e 
c l a i m s 
a r e b a s e d 
on 
a c t s 
a r i s i n g f r o m h e r p e r f o r m a n c e o f o f f i c i a l d u t i e s and e x e r c i s i n g 
d i s c r e t i o n 
as a t e a c h e r 
f o r t h e M o n t g o m e r y C o u n t y 
B o a r d 
o f 
E d u c a t i o n . 
9 
1101401 
"A 
S t a t e 
a g e n t 
s h a l l 
be 
immune 
f r o m 
c i v i l 
l i a b i l i t y i n h i s o r h e r p e r s o n a l 
c a p a c i t y when t h e 
c o n d u c t made t h e b a s i s 
o f t h e c l a i m 
a g a i n s t t h e 
a g e n t i s b a s e d upon t h e a g e n t ' s 
"(1) 
f o r m u l a t i n g p l a n s , p o l i c i e s , o r d e s i g n s ; o r 
"(2) 
e x e r c i s i n g h i s o r h e r j u d g m e n t 
i n t h e 
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n 
o f 
a 
d e p a r t m e n t 
o r 
a g e n c y 
o f 
g o v e r n m e n t , 
i n c l u d i n g , b u t n o t l i m i t e d t o , e x a m p l e s 
s u c h a s : 
" ( a ) 
m a k i n g 
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e 
a d j u d i c a t i o n s ; 
"(b) 
a l l o c a t i n g 
r e s o u r c e s ; 
" ( c ) 
n e g o t i a t i n g 
c o n t r a c t s ; 
"(d) 
h i r i n g , 
f i r i n g , 
t r a n s f e r r i n g , 
a s s i g n i n g , o r s u p e r v i s i n g p e r s o n n e l ; 
o r 
o r 
as 
"(3) 
d i s c h a r g i n g 
d u t i e s i m p o s e d on a d e p a r t m e n t 
a g e n c y b y s t a t u t e , 
r u l e , o r r e g u l a t i o n , 
i n s o f a r 
t h e 
s t a t u t e , 
r u l e o r r e g u l a t i o n 
p r e s c r i b e s t h e 
manner f o r 
p e r f o r m i n g t h e d u t i e s and t h e S t a t e 
a g e n t 
p e r f o r m s t h e d u t i e s i n t h a t manner; o r 
"(4) 
e x e r c i s i n g j u d g m e n t i n t h e e n f o r c e m e n t o f 
t h e 
c r i m i n a l l a w s o f t h e S t a t e , 
i n c l u d i n g , b u t n o t 
l i m i t e d t o , l a w - e n f o r c e m e n t 
o f f i c e r s ' 
a r r e s t i n g o r 
a t t e m p t i n g t o a r r e s t p e r s o n s ; o r 
"(5) 
e x e r c i s i n g j u d g m e n t 
i n t h e d i s c h a r g e o f 
d u t i e s 
i m p o s e d b y s t a t u t e , 
r u l e , o r r e g u l a t i o n i n 
r e l e a s i n g p r i s o n e r s , c o u n s e l i n g o r r e l e a s i n g p e r s o n s 
o f u n s o u n d m i n d , o r e d u c a t i n g 
s t u d e n t s . 
" N o t w i t h s t a n d i n g a n y t h i n g t o t h e c o n t r a r y i n t h e 
f o r e g o i n g s t a t e m e n t o f t h e r u l e , a S t a t e a g e n t 
s h a l l  
n o t be immune f r o m 
c i v i l 
l i a b i l i t y 
i n h i s o r h e r 
p e r s o n a l 
c a p a c i t y 
10 
1101401 
" ( 1 ) when t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n o r l a w s o f t h e 
U n i t e d 
S t a t e s , o r t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n o f t h i s 
S t a t e , o r l a w s , 
r u l e s , 
o r 
r e g u l a t i o n s 
o f 
t h i s 
S t a t e 
e n a c t e d 
o r 
p r o m u l g a t e d 
f o r 
t h e 
p u r p o s e 
o f 
r e g u l a t i n g 
t h e 
a c t i v i t i e s 
o f 
a 
g o v e r n m e n t a l 
a g e n c y 
r e q u i r e 
o t h e r w i s e ; 
o r 
" ( 2 ) 
when 
t h e 
S t a t e 
a g e n t 
a c t s 
w i l l f u l l y , 
m a l i c i o u s l y , 
f r a u d u l e n t l y , i n b a d 
f a i t h , 
b e y o n d h i s 
o r h e r a u t h o r i t y , o r u n d e r a m i s t a k e n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n 
o f t h e l a w . " 
Ex p a r t e Cranman, 792 So. 2d 392, 405 
( A l a . 2 0 0 0 ) .
1 
" T h i s C o u r t has e s t a b l i s h e d a 
' b u r d e n - s h i f t i n g ' 
p r o c e s s 
when 
a 
p a r t y 
r a i s e s 
t h e 
d e f e n s e 
o f 
S t a t e - a g e n t i m m u n i t y . 
G i a m b r o n e v. D o u g l a s , 874 
So. 
2d 
1046, 
1052 
( A l a . 2003) . 
I n 
o r d e r 
t o 
c l a i m 
S t a t e - a g e n t i m m u n i t y , a S t a t e a g e n t b e a r s t h e b u r d e n 
o f d e m o n s t r a t i n g t h a t t h e 
p l a i n t i f f ' s 
c l a i m s 
a r i s e 
f r o m a f u n c t i o n 
t h a t w o u l d 
e n t i t l e 
t h e S t a t e 
a g e n t 
t o 
i m m u n i t y . 
G i a m b r o n e , 
874 
So. 
2d 
a t 
1052 ; 
Ex 
 
p a r t e Wood, 852 So. 2d 705, 709 
( A l a . 2 0 0 2 ) . 
I f t h e 
S t a t e 
a g e n t makes s u c h a s h o w i n g , 
t h e b u r d e n 
t h e n 
s h i f t s t o t h e p l a i n t i f f t o show t h a t t h e S t a t e 
a g e n t 
a c t e d 
w i l l f u l l y , 
m a l i c i o u s l y , 
f r a u d u l e n t l y , i n b a d 
f a i t h , 
o r b e y o n d 
h i s o r h e r a u t h o r i t y . 
G i a m b r o n e , 
874 
So. 
2d 
a t 
1052 ; Wood, 852 
So. 
2d 
a t 709; 
Ex 
 
p a r t e 
D a v i s , 
721 
So. 
2d 685, 
689 
( A l a . 1 9 9 8 ) . 
'A 
S t a t e 
a g e n t 
a c t s b e y o n d 
a u t h o r i t y and i s 
t h e r e f o r e 
n o t immune when 
he 
o r 
she 
" f a i l [ s ] 
t o 
d i s c h a r g e 
d u t i e s 
p u r s u a n t 
t o 
d e t a i l e d 
r u l e s 
o r 
r e g u l a t i o n s , 
s u c h as t h o s e s t a t e d on a c h e c k l i s t . " ' 
G i a m b r o n e , 
874 So. 2d a t 1052 
( q u o t i n g Ex p a r t e 
B u t t s , 775 
So. 
2d 173, 178 
( A l a . 2 0 0 0 ) ) . " 
1 A l t h o u g h Cranman was 
a p l u r a l i t y 
o p i n i o n , 
t h e t e s t s e t 
f o r t h i n Cranman was s u b s e q u e n t l y a d o p t e d by a m a j o r i t y o f t h e 
C o u r t i n Ex p a r t e 
B u t t s , 775 So. 2d 173, 178 
( A l a . 2 0 0 0 ) . 
11 
1101401 
Ex p a r t e E s t a t e o f R e y n o l d s , 
946 So. 2d 450, 
452 
( A l a . 2 0 0 6 ) . 
A d d i t i o n a l l y , 
as 
t h i s C o u r t 
r e c e n t l y s t a t e d : 
" ' S t a t e - a g e n t i m m u n i t y p r o t e c t s a g e n t s 
o f t h e 
S t a t e 
i n 
t h e i r 
e x e r c i s e 
o f 
d i s c r e t i o n 
i n 
e d u c a t i n g 
s t u d e n t s . 
We 
w i l l 
n o t 
s e c o n d - g u e s s 
t h e i r 
d e c i s i o n s . ' 
Ex p a r t e B l a n k e n s h i p , 
806 
So. 2d 
1186, 
1190 
( A l a . 2 0 0 0 ) . 
However, ' [ o ] n c e i t i s 
d e t e r m i n e d 
t h a t 
S t a t e - a g e n t 
i m m u n i t y 
a p p l i e s , 
S t a t e - a g e n t 
i m m u n i t y i s w i t h h e l d upon a s h o w i n g t h a t t h e 
S t a t e 
a g e n t a c t e d w i l l f u l l y , m a l i c i o u s l y , f r a u d u l e n t l y , i n 
b a d 
f a i t h , 
o r 
b e y o n d 
h i s 
o r 
h e r 
a u t h o r i t y . 
[Ex 
 
p a r t e ] 
Cranman, 
792 
So. 
2d 
[392,] 
a t 
405 
[ ( A l a . 
2 0 0 0 ) ] . ' 
Ex 
p a r t e 
B i t e l , 
45 
So. 
3d 
1252, 
1257-58 
( A l a . 
2 0 1 0 ) . " 
N.C. 
v. 
C a l d w e l l , [Ms. 
1081434, 
A p r i l 
22, 
2011] 
So. 
3d 
, 
( A l a . 2 0 1 1 ) . 
S.K. 
a t t e m p t s 
t o 
a n a l o g i z e t h e 
f a c t s 
i n c a s e s 
s u c h 
as 
C a l d w e l l and Ex p a r t e Monroe C o u n t y B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n , 
s u p r a , 
t o t h e f a c t s i n t h i s c a s e . 
I n C a l d w e l l , N.C. 
a l l e g e d t h a t she 
was 
r a p e d 
by 
a s t u d e n t 
i n t h e 
b o y s ' 
l o c k e r room 
a f t e r 
gym 
c l a s s had e n d e d . 
The 
t r i a l 
c o u r t e n t e r e d a summary j u d g m e n t 
i n f a v o r o f C a l d w e l l , t h e p h y s i c a l - e d u c a t i o n t e a c h e r , and 
N.C. 
a p p e a l e d . 
T h i s 
C o u r t 
d e t e r m i n e d 
t h a t 
a 
g e n u i n e 
i s s u e 
o f 
m a t e r i a l f a c t e x i s t e d as t o w h e t h e r C a l d w e l l had a p p o i n t e d 
t h e 
s t u d e n t who 
a l l e g e d l y 
r a p e d 
N.C. 
t o s e r v e as a s t u d e n t 
a i d e 
and, i f s o , w h e t h e r he had e x c e e d e d h i s a u t h o r i t y i n d o i n g s o . 
I n 
m a k i n g 
t h a t 
d e t e r m i n a t i o n , 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
l o o k e d 
t o 
t h e 
12 
1101401 
a f f i d a v i t s 
and 
o t h e r 
e v i d e n c e 
i n t h e 
r e c o r d 
a t 
t h e summary-
j u d g m e n t s t a g e . 
I n so 
d o i n g , 
we 
n o t e d t h a t 
"N.C. 
p r e s e n t e d 
e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t i n g t h a t C a l d w e l l had 
a p p o i n t e d 
A.H. 
t o 
s e r v e 
as a s t u d e n t 
a i d e i n t h e f i f t h - p e r i o d p h y s i c a l - e d u c a t i o n 
c l a s s 
and 
a l s o e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t i n g t h a t b e f o r e 
t h e i n c i d e n t s e v e r a l 
f e m a l e s t u d e n t s 
had c o m p l a i n e d t o C a l d w e l l t h a t A.H. 
had 
a c t e d 
i n a p p r o p r i a t e l y t o w a r d them." 
C a l d w e l l , 
So. 
3d 
a t 
. 
T h e r e 
was 
a l s o 
e v i d e n c e 
i n 
t h e 
r e c o r d 
i n d i c a t i n g 
t h a t 
t h e 
s c h o o l ' s 
f a c u l t y 
h a n d b o o k 
e x p r e s s l y 
p r o v i d e d 
t h a t 
" ' [ a ] n y 
s t u d e n t 
n o t 
s c h e d u l e d 
f o r 
a 
c l a s s 
s h o u l d 
n o t 
a t t e n d 
t h a t 
c l a s s , ' " 
So. 
3d a t 
, and 
t h a t C a l d w e l l was aware o f 
t h e 
p o l i c y b e c a u s e he 
had 
i n s t r u c t e d s t u d e n t s , 
on 
o c c a s i o n 
e v e n 
t h e 
s t u d e n t 
a i d e 
who 
a l l e g e d l y c o m m i t t e d t h e 
r a p e , 
t o 
l e a v e 
t h e gym when t h e y were n o t s c h e d u l e d f o r t h e c l a s s t h e n 
b e i n g 
c o n d u c t e d 
t h e r e . 
I n Ex p a r t e Monroe C o u n t y B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n , 
a m a j o r i t y 
o f t h i s C o u r t d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e t e a c h e r , 
a g a i n s t whom c l a i m s 
o f 
n e g l i g e n c e , 
w a n t o n n e s s , 
and 
a s s a u l t 
a r i s i n g 
o u t 
o f 
a 
s p a n k i n g i n c i d e n t had b e e n a s s e r t e d , had 
n o t e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t 
she was 
e n t i t l e d t o S t a t e - a g e n t 
i m m u n i t y ; t h e r e f o r e , 
a l t h o u g h 
t h i s C o u r t g r a n t e d 
t h e b o a r d ' s mandamus p e t i t i o n and 
d i r e c t e d 
13 
1101401 
t h e 
t r i a l c o u r t t o e n t e r a summary j u d g m e n t f o r t h e b o a r d , i t 
d e n i e d t h e mandamus p e t i t i o n as t o t h e t e a c h e r . 
I n so d o i n g , 
t h e m a j o r i t y r e l i e d 
on 
t h e 
f a c t 
t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e 
i n d i c a t e d 
t h a t t h e t e a c h e r had 
a d m i n i s t e r e d c o r p o r a l p u n i s h m e n t t o 
t h e 
s t u d e n t 
w i t h o u t 
any 
o t h e r 
e m p l o y e e ' s 
b e i n g 
p r e s e n t , 
e v e n 
t h o u g h 
t h e 
b o a r d 
had 
a 
w r i t t e n 
p o l i c y 
g o v e r n i n g 
c o r p o r a l 
p u n i s h m e n t , w h i c h 
i n c l u d e d a p r o v i s i o n t h a t a n o t h e r 
e m p l o y e e 
be 
p r e s e n t 
w h e n e v e r 
c o r p o r a l 
p u n i s h m e n t 
was 
b e i n g 
a d m i n i s t e r e d . 
The 
m a j o r i t y c o n c l u d e d 
t h a t t h e 
t e a c h e r 
had 
e x c e e d e d t h e s c o p e o f h e r a u t h o r i t y and 
t h a t , t h e r e f o r e , she 
was 
n o t 
e n t i t l e d 
t o a summary j u d g m e n t b a s e d on 
S t a t e - a g e n t 
i m m u n i t y . 
The 
t y p e o f a l l e g a t i o n s p r e s e n t i n C a l d w e l l ( t h e r a p e 
o f 
a 
s t u d e n t 
by 
a n o t h e r 
s t u d e n t whom 
C a l d w e l l 
had 
a l l e g e d l y 
d e s i g n a t e d 
as 
a s t u d e n t 
a i d e 
and 
C a l d w e l l ' s i g n o r i n g o t h e r 
c o m p l a i n t s 
f r o m 
f e m a l e 
s t u d e n t s 
a b o u t 
t h e 
s t u d e n t 
a i d e ' s 
b e h a v i o r 
t o w a r d 
them) 
and 
Ex 
p a r t e Monroe C o u n t y 
B o a r d 
o f 
 
E d u c a t i o n ( e v i d e n c e a t t h e summary-judgment s t a g e 
c o n c l u s i v e l y 
e s t a b l i s h e d 
t h a t 
t h e 
t e a c h e r , 
who 
h a d 
v i o l a t e d 
a 
s p e c i f i c 
w r i t t e n p o l i c y o f t h e s c h o o l b o a r d by a d m i n i s t e r i n g c o r p o r a l 
p u n i s h m e n t 
w i t h o u t 
a n o t h e r 
e m p l o y e e ' s 
b e i n g 
p r e s e n t , 
had 
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1101401 
e x c e e d e d t h e s c o p e o f h e r a u t h o r i t y and was n o t e n t i t l e d t o 
S t a t e - a g e n t 
i m m u n i t y ) 
a r e 
n o t 
p r e s e n t 
i n 
t h i s 
c a s e . 
C e r t a i n l y , i n t h e a b s e n c e o f any r u l e o r p o l i c y o f t h e B o a r d 
t o t h e c o n t r a r y , 
i t was w e l l 
w i t h i n 
G u i c e ' s 
d i s c r e t i o n t o 
d e t e r m i n e when and how t o p e r m i t s t u d e n t s i n 
h e r c l a s s t o t a k e 
r e s t r o o m 
b r e a k s 
d u r i n g 
t h e 
s c h o o l 
d a y . 
The 
m a t e r i a l s 
s u b m i t t e d by t h e p a r t i e s do n o t i n d i c a t e any p o l i c y o r r u l e 
r e q u i r i n g a t e a c h e r 
t o accompany s t u d e n t s t o t h e r e s t r o o m . 
The 
e v i d e n c e 
i n d i c a t e d 
t h a t 
b e f o r e 
t h e i n c i d e n t 
u n d e r l y i n g 
t h i s a c t i o n S.K. h a d r o u t i n e l y gone t o t h e r e s t r o o m w i t h o u t a 
t e a c h e r ' s 
s u p e r v i s i o n . 
Thus, t h e b u r d e n 
s h i f t e d t o S.K. t o 
show t h a t G u i c e e x c e e d e d t h a t d i s c r e t i o n i n a l l o w i n g S.K. t o 
go 
i n t o t h e r e s t r o o m w i t h o u t an a d u l t . 
S.K. a t t e m p t s t o make 
s u c h a s h o w i n g by p o i n t i n g t o C a p e h a r t ' s d e p o s i t i o n i n w h i c h 
C a p e h a r t 
s t a t e d 
t h a t she h a d w r i t t e n G u i c e and i n f o r m e d h e r 
t h a t 
S.K. 
s u f f e r e d 
f r o m 
a t t e n t i o n d e f i c i t / h y p e r a c t i v i t y 
d i s o r d e r and s h o u l d n o t be a l l o w e d t o wander a r o u n d t h e s c h o o l 
u n a t t e n d e d . 
E v e n a s s u m i n g t h a t C a p e h a r t d i d , i n f a c t , 
p r o v i d e 
t h a t g e n e r a l 
i n f o r m a t i o n t o G u i c e , i t 
s i m p l y d o e s n o t r i s e t o 
t h e 
l e v e l o f c r e a t i n g a g e n u i n e i s s u e o f m a t e r i a l 
f a c t as t o 
w h e t h e r 
G u i c e 
e x c e e d e d 
h e r 
d i s c r e t i o n a r y 
a u t h o r i t y 
i n 
15 
1101401 
p e r m i t t i n g S.K. t o go i n t o t h e r e s t r o o m 
w i t h o u t 
a c c o m p a n y i n g 
h e r . 
S.K. was n o t a s s i g n e d t o any s o r t o f s p e c i a l - e d u c a t i o n 
p r o g r a m o r d e s i g n a t e d 
b y t h e s c h o o l 
as n e e d i n g 
a d d i t i o n a l 
m o n i t o r i n g , n o r was C a p e h a r t a d v i s e d t h a t S.K. w o u l d , i n f a c t , 
be 
t r e a t e d d i f f e r e n t l y t h a n any o t h e r 
s t u d e n t i n t h e g e n e r a l 
e d u c a t i o n a l 
p r o g r a m 
a t t h e 
s c h o o l . 
T h e r e f o r e , 
G u i c e i s 
e n t i t l e d t o S t a t e - a g e n t 
i m m u n i t y as t o t h e c l a i m s a g a i n s t h e r 
i n h e r i n d i v i d u a l 
c a p a c i t y , and h e r m o t i o n 
f o r a 
summary 
j u d g m e n t 
as t o t h e c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t 
h e r i n h e r 
i n d i v i d u a l 
c a p a c i t y was due t o be 
g r a n t e d . 
I V . 
C o n c l u s i o n 
B e c a u s e t h e B o a r d h a s d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t u n d e r A r t . I , § 
14, A l a . C o n s t . 1 9 0 1 , i t 
h a s a b s o l u t e 
i m m u n i t y f r o m 
s u i t on 
t h e 
c l a i m s 
a s s e r t e d a g a i n s t 
i t , t h e B o a r d h a s e s t a b l i s h e d a 
c l e a r l e g a l r i g h t t o a summary j u d g m e n t on t h e c l a i m s a s s e r t e d 
a g a i n s t 
i t . 
B e c a u s e 
t h e B o a r d 
members 
and 
G u i c e 
h a v e 
d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t u n d e r A r t . I , § 14, A l a . 
C o n s t . 1 9 0 1 , t h e y 
a r e e n t i t l e d t o t h e same i m m u n i t y f r o m s u i t as t h e B o a r d , 
t h e y 
h a v e e s t a b l i s h e d a c l e a r l e g a l r i g h t t o a summary j u d g e m e n t on 
t h e c l a i m s a s s e r t e d a g a i n s t them i n t h e i r 
o f f i c i a l 
c a p a c i t i e s . 
F i n a l l y , b e c a u s e G u i c e h a s d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t she i s e n t i t l e d 
16 
1101401 
t o S t a t e - a g e n t i m m u n i t y 
as t o t h e c l a i m s a s s e r t e d a g a i n s t h e r 
i n h e r i n d i v i d u a l c a p a c i t y , she has e s t a b l i s h e d a c l e a r 
l e g a l 
r i g h t 
t o a summary j u d g m e n t on t h o s e c l a i m s . 
T h e r e f o r e , 
we 
g r a n t t h e p e t i t i o n and 
i s s u e a w r i t 
d i r e c t i n g t h e M o n t g o m e r y 
C i r c u i t C o u r t t o v a c a t e i t s J u l y 15, 2 0 1 1 , 
o r d e r d e n y i n g 
t h e 
d e f e n d a n t s ' summary-judgment m o t i o n 
and 
t o 
e n t e r a summary 
j u d g m e n t on 
a l l t h e c l a i m s a s s e r t e d a g a i n s t t h e B o a r d , 
t h e 
B o a r d members, and 
G u i c e . 
P E T I T I O N GRANTED; WRIT ISSUED. 
M a l o n e , 
C . J . , 
and 
W o o d a l l , 
S t u a r t , 
B o l i n , 
P a r k e r , 
M u r d o c k , Shaw, and W i s e , J J . , c o n c u r . 
17