Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca8-03-02463/USCOURTS-ca8-03-02463-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Department of the Army
Appellee
Lesa Murray
Appellant
Lynn Murray
Appellant
United States of America
Appellee

Document Text:

1

 The Honorable Richard E. Dorr, United States District Judge for the Western

District of Missouri, sitting by designation.

United States Court of Appeals

FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT

___________

No. 03-2463

___________

Lynn Murray, a minor, by * 

Lesa Murray, her mother and * 

natural guardian; Lesa Murray, * 

individually, * 

* 

Appellants, * 

* Appeal from the United States

v. * District Court for the

* District of Minnesota.

United States of America; * 

Department of the Army, * 

* 

Appellees. *

___________

Submitted: May 14, 2004

Filed: August 27, 2004

___________

Before LOKEN, Chief Judge, SMITH, Circuit Judge, and DORR,1

 District Judge.

___________

SMITH, Circuit Judge.

Seventeen-year-old Jessica Ann Baker and fourteen-year-old Lynn Murray

were involved in a tragic single-car automobile accident. Baker, the driver, was en

route to Westbrook-Walnut Grove High School where she and Murray were students.

Appellate Case: 03-2463 Page: 1 Date Filed: 08/27/2004 Entry ID: 1804166 
2

 Murray also has claims pending in Minnesota state court.

3

 The Honorable Ann D. Montgomery, United States District Judge for the

District of Minnesota.

-2-

On the way, Baker lost control of the car and was killed. Her passenger, Murray, was

severely injured. Murray (and her mother) filed suit against the United States of

America, under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA).2

 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b)(1). In her

suit, Murray alleged that Baker was a member of the Minnesota Army National

Guard's "Delayed Training Program," which allowed Baker to satisfy her training

obligation by attending school "in proper uniform for not less than four (4) hours each

training period." Murray's complaint further alleged that Baker was wearing her

uniform as she drove to school, and–at the moment of the collision–Baker was

engaged in a recruitment conversation with Murray. Additionally, Murray alleged that

Baker was transporting National Guard recruitment brochures in her vehicle on the

day of the accident. Thus, Murray contends that the government is liable for her

injuries under the FTCA.

The district court3

 granted summary judgment in favor of the government and

dismissed the case. Murray appeals the grant of summary judgment and urges that the

district court erred when it determined that she failed to state a claim under the

FTCA. The district court found that Baker was neither a federal employee nor was

she acting within the scope of her federal employment at the time of the accident. We

review the grant of summary judgment de novo. Gen. Trading Int'l, Inc. v. Wal-Mart

Stores, Inc., 320 F.3d 831, 835 (8th Cir. 2003). After our review of the record, we

agree that–at the time of the accident–Baker was not a federal employee. Walsh v.

United States, 31 F.3d 696, 699 (8th Cir. 1994). Consequently, Murray's claim of

negligence under the FTCA cannot stand. St. John v. United States, 240 F.3d 671, 676

(8th Cir. 2001). Accordingly, we affirm based on the well-reasoned opinion of the

district court. See 8th Cir. R. 47B.

______________________________

Appellate Case: 03-2463 Page: 2 Date Filed: 08/27/2004 Entry ID: 1804166