# U n i t e d S t a t e s C o u r t o f A pp e a l s

For the Eig hth Circu it

_ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

No . 1 8 -1 9 33

_ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Gero n i m o DeLu na

ll l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l Pl a in t i

f f - Ap p el l an t

Th e St at e o f M in n es o t a, Dep art m en t o f Hu m an Serv i ces

l l l l l l l l l l l l ll l ll l l l l Pl a in t i

f f

v

.

M ower Co u n ty ; Teres e Am azi , M o wer Co u n t y Sh eri ff; Ch ri s Fl et ch er, M o wer

Co u n t y Co rrect i o n al Offi cer; Offi cers J o hn Do e 1 t h ro u g h J oh n Do e 1 0

l l l l l l ll l l l l l l l l l l l l l Def

en d a n t s - Ap p el l ees

_ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ _

Ap p eal fro m

Un i t ed St at es Di s t ri ct Co u rt

fo r t h e Di s t ri ct o f M i n n es o ta

_ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ _

Su b m i t ted : M arch 1 2 , 2 0 1 9

Fi l ed : Au g us t 2 1 , 2 0 1 9

_ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ _

Befo re GRUENDER, BENTON, an d GRASZ, Ci rcu i t J u d ges

.

_ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ _

GRASZ, Ci rcu i t J u dg e.

Gero n i m o DeLu n a an d t h e M i n n es o t a Dep art m en t o f Hu m an S e rv i ces

(“ M DHS”) b ro u g h t th i s n eg l i g en ce act i o n aft er an o ffi ci al at th e M o wer Co u n t y

,M i n n es o t a J ai l (wh ere DeLu n a was s erv i n g t i m e) p ro v id ed an d m ad e DeLu n a wear

s h o es t hat were to o s m al l fo r h i s feet

. DeLu n a s ay s t h e s h o es cau s ed a b l i s ter o n o n e

o f h i s l eft t o es

, wh i ch u l t i m at el y res u l t ed i n a s ev ere in fect i o n req u i ri n g m u l t i p l e

co rrect iv e s u rg eri es

. T h e d i s t ri ct co u rt g ran t ed s um m ary ju d g m en t i n fav or o f M o wer

Co u n t y (“ Co u n t y ”), an d DeLu na ap peal s. Beca u s e w e c on cl u d e t h ere i s a g en u i n e

i s su e o f m at eri al fact as t o wh et h er t h e Co u n t y n eg l i g en tl y cau s ed DeLu n a’ s i n ju ry

an d t h at i t i s n o t en t i t l ed t o v icari o u s o ffi ci al i m m u ni t y , we rev ers e.

I . Ba ck g ro und

In Decem b er 2 01 4

, DeLu n a b eg an s erv in g a 1 8 0 -d ay s en t en ce at t h e jai l fo r a

d ri v i n g -rel at ed o ffen s e. Al l in m at es at t h at l o cat i o n were req ui red t o wear “ Cro c”-

s t y l e 1 s l i p -o n s h o es p ro vi ded b y t h e jai l.

On Feb ru ary 1 0

, 2 0 1 5, a jai l o ffi cer to o k away DeLu n a’ s o l d s l i p -o n s ho es an d

m ad e h im wear a rep l acem en t p ai r. 2 DeLu n a q u i ck l y n o t i ced t h e s h o es w ere t o o t i g ht

an d ru b b ed ag ai n st h is feet

. DeLu n a w o re a m en ’ s s ize t en b ut say s t h e n ew s h o e s

were a wo m en ’ s s i ze t en

. Lat er t h at d ay

, DeLu n a co m pl ai n ed to a jai l o ffi cer ab o ut

h i s s h oes b ei n g to o s m al l

, b u t h e was t o l d n o o t her s h o es were av ai l ab l e at th at t i m e

an d h i s o ld s li p -o n s h o es h ad been t h ro wn o ut

. DeLu n a s ay s h e th en s u ffered a b l i s t er

o n hi s l eft fo o t ’ s m i dd l e t o e, an d h e co m p l ai ned t o a jai l s erg ean t ab o u t h av in g a s o re

t o e. Th e jai l ’ s m ed i cal reco rd s s ay DeLu n a refu s ed t o see a n u rs e b ecau se h e wan t ed

t o co n t i n u e p art i ci p at i n g i n t h e jai l ’ s “ Sen t en ce t o Serv e” p ro g ram (“ S T S ” )

, wh i ch

al l o ws i nm at es t o p erfo rm v o l u n t eer co m m u n i t y wo rk (o ft en o ut do o r m an u al l ab o r)

1 Th e reco rd i s u n cl ear wh et h er t h e s ho es were CROCS-b ran d s h o es o r a s i m i l ar

s t y l e o f s l i p -o n s h o es

.

2 Ex cep t as ot herwi s e n o ted

, w e reci te t h es e fact s i n t h e l ig h t m o s t fav orab l e to

DeLu n a as t h e n o n m o v i n g p art y b efo re t he d i st ri ct co u rt

. Og l es b y v. Les a n

, 9 2 9 F.3 d

5 2 6 , 5 3 1

– 3 2 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 9 ).

-2

-t o red u ce t h e l en g t h o f t h ei r s en t en ces

. DeLu n a, h o wev er, d en i es refu s i n g t reat m en t

t h at d ay

.

Th e n ex t d ay

, o n Feb ru ary 1 1

, DeLu na p art i ci pat ed i n t h e STS p ro g ram fro m

7 : 4 5 a.m

. u n t i l 4 p .m

. an d wo re h i s o wn p ers o n al s h o es

, as was al l o w ed d u ri n g STS

wo rk h o u rs

. Up on ret u rn in g t o t h e jai l

, D eLu n a s ay s a j ai l o ffi cer n o t i ced t h e t h i rd

t o e on DeLu n a’ s l eft fo o t h ad a b l i s t er. DeLu na t o l d t h e o ffi cer t h e s l i p -o n s h o es h e

h ad b een weari n g w ere t oo s m al l

, an d t h e offi cer i m m ed i at el y p ro v i d ed DeLu n a wi th

a l arg er, b et t er-fi t t i n g pai r. T h e jai l ’ s m ed i cal reco rd s s h o w DeLu n a co m p l ai n ed t h at

d ay t o a ja i l o f

f i c e r a g a i n ab o ut a s o re to e (DeLu n a lat er t es t i fi ed h is t o e “ was ju s t

b l o wi n g u p ” by t h en ) an d t h at h e s t i l l refu s ed t o s ee a n urs e. DeLu n a al s o d en i es h e

refu sed t reat m en t o n Feb ru ary 1 1

.

On Feb ru ary 12

, DeLu n a s ay s h i s l eft fo o t was i n s u ch p ai n he co u ld n o t g et o ut

o f b ed

. H e f

i l l ed ou t a “ Si ck Cal l Req ues t Fo rm ” s eek i n g t reat m en t

. He was

ex am i n ed b y t h e jai l ’ s n u r s e, wh o co m p l et ed a m ed ical rep ort s t at i n g DeLu n a’ s

i n ju red t o e was “ warm [an d ] s wo l l en ” an d t h at DeLu n a sai d i t beg an as a b l i s t er. Th e

n u rs e p res cri b ed an an t i bi o t i c t o b e t ak en t wi ce a d ay an d i n s t ru ct ed DeLu n a t o k eep

t h e t o e cl ean

, ap p l y a t o p i cal o i n t m en t

, an d wrap i t i n g au ze. DeLu n a s ai d hi s t o e h ad

an o p en s o re b y t h at p o i n t.

On t h e ev en i n g o f Feb ru ary 1 3

, t h e jai l ’ s o v ers eei n g offi cer o b s e rv ed DeLu n a’ s

t o e w as “ p u rp l e an d l eak i n g .” Th e offi cer d rew a l i n e t o ward t h e t o p o f DeLu n a’ s

fo o t an d t o l d h i m t o let t h e jai l k n o w i f th e red n es s an d s wel li n g p ro g res s ed b ey o n d

t h e li n e. It s o o n d i d

, an d t h e j a i l ’ s d o ct o r reco m m en d ed DeLu n a be t ak en t o a

h o s p it al . J ai l s t aff t o o k DeLu n a t o a M ay o Cl i n i c em erg en cy ro o m

.

DeLu n a w as di ag n o s ed wi th h av i n g M et h i ci l l i n -Res is t an t St ap h y l o co ccu s

A ureu s (“ M RSA”), a s u p er-s t rai n o f s t ap h i n fect i o n res i s t an t to us u al pen i ci l lin- ba se d

m ed i cat i o n

. DeLu n a rem ai n ed i n t h e h o s pi t al fo r t en d ay s an d u n d erwen t t h ree

-3

-s u rg eri es o n h i s l eft fo ot t o rem o v e t h e in fect i o n

. As a res u lt

, DeLu na s ay s h e h as a

l arg e s car ru n n i n g d o wn t he m i d d l e o f h is fo o t an d res i d u al s h arp pai n s i n t h e s am e

area. M DHS p ai d h i s s i zeab l e m ed ical b i l l.

DeLu n a an d MDHS b ro u g h t a l aws u i t i n s t at e co u rt a g a i n s t t he Co u n t y

, t h e

Co u n t y Sh eri ff, an d a n u m

b er o f jai l o ffi cers

, rai s i n g fo u r co u n t s: (1 ) neg li g en ce in

p ro v id i n g s h o es th at were to o s m al l

, res u l t in g in h is M RSA i n fect i o n ; (2 ) n eg l i g en ce

i n p ro v i d i n g an en v iro n m en t i n fes t ed wi t h b act eri a an d v i ru s es

, i n cl u d i n g MRSA; (3 )

wi l l fu l fai l u re t o pro vi de ad eq uat e m ed i cal t reat m en t i n v i o l at io n o f t h e Ei g h t h an d

Fo u rt een t h Am en d m en t s un d er 4 2 U.S.C. § 1 9 83 ; an d (4 ) fai l ure t o ad eq u at el y t rai n

jai l o ffi cers i n p ro v i d i n g s u i t ab le s h oes

, ad eq uat e m ed i cal care, an d a s afe

en v iro n m en t i n v i o l at io n o f t h e s am e ri g h t s

. Th e d efen dan t s rem o v ed th e s u i t to

fed eral d i s t ri ct co urt an d

, fo l lo w i ng d i s co v ery

, m o v ed fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n al l

cl ai m s

. DeLu n a t h en v o lu n t ari l y d i s m i s s ed al l cl ai m s an d d e f e n d an t s ex cep t h i s

n eg li g en ce act io n ag ai n s t t he Co u n t y fo r p ro v i di n g u n ders i zed s ho es

.

Ex erci s in g s u p p l em e n t al ju ri s d i ct i on u nd er 2 8 U.S.C. § 1 3 6 7(a), t h e d i s t ri ct

co u rt g ran t ed s u m

m ary ju d g m en t to t h e Co un t y o n DeLu n a’ s n eg l i g en ce cl ai m

. Th e

d i s t ri ct co u rt c o n cl u d ed DeLu n a fai l ed t o s h o w t h e Co u n t y b reach ed a du t y o f care

b ecau s e co n tract i ng M RSA was n o t a fo res eeab l e d an g er of weari n g s h o es t h at were

t o o s m al l fo r l es s th an 24 ho u rs

. Th e d is t ri ct co u rt al s o co n cl u d ed DeLu n a fai l ed to

s h o w an y b reach p ro x im at el y

cau s ed h i s i n

ju ri es b ecau s e, b as ed o n t es t i m o n y fro m

t h e Co u n t y ’ s ex p ert w i tn es s

, “ m a n y o t h e r cau s at i v e fact o rs ex i s t t h at co u l d h av e

d ev el o p ed t h e M RSA i n fect i o n ,” i ncl u d i n g DeLu n a’ s h i st o ry o f d ru g ab u s e an d t h e

fact h e h ad m

u l t ip l e t at t o o s

.

In ad d i t io n, t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt ru l ed t h at

, reg ard l es s

, t he Co u n t y was en t i t l ed to

v i cari o u s o ffi ci al i m

m u n i t y u n d er M i n n es o t a l aw. Th e d i s t ri ct co u rt co n cl u d ed (a)

p ro v id i n g i n m a t e s w i th “ s u it ab l e” s h o es (as req u i red b y a s t at e st at ut e) was a

d i s cr et i o na r

y d u t y b ecau s e i t i n v o l v es t h e e x e r ci s e o f s o me d i s cret i o n

, an d (b ) t h e

-4

-jai l ’ s o ffi cers d i d n ot act wi l l fu l l y an d m al i ci ou s l y i n p ro vi d i n g DeLu n a w i t h t o o

s m a ll shoe s

— t h u s sat i sfy i n g t h e s t at e-l aw p red i cat es fo r vi cari o u s o ffi ci al i m m u n i t y

.

Th e d i s tri ct co urt di st i n g u i s hed W en d t v. Ci t y o f Mi l l e La cs

, No

. A1 3-0 1 1 4

, 2 0 1 3 W L

4 7 1 1 2 1 0 (M i n n

. Ct

. Ap p

. Sep t

. 3

, 2 0 1 3) (u n p u b l i s h ed ), wh ich h el d t h at a M i n n es o t a

co u nt y v io l at ed a mi n i s t er i a l d u t y an d was no t en t i tl ed t o i m m u ni ty wh en i t p ro v i d ed

ex t rem el y l a r

g e s h o es to an in m at e fo r h er co u rt h eari n g, aft er wh i ch s h e t ri p p ed o n

h er s h ack l es an d fel l d o w n t h e co u rt h o u se s tep s

. W en d t

, 2 0 1 3 W L 47 1 12 1 0

, at * 2,

* 6

. Th e d i st ri ct co u rt n ot ed t h at W en d t wa s an u n p u b l i s h ed d eci s io n an d t h at

“ co rrect i o n al o ffi cers are en t i t l ed t o s o m e d i s cret i on reg ard i n g wh at s i ze of s h o e t h ey

p ro v id e t o i n m at es .” DeLu n a n o w ap p eal s

.

I I . Di s cus s i on

DeLu n a arg u es t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt ’ s n eg l i g en ce ru l i n g was e r r o n eo u s fo r t wo

reas on s : (1 ) u nd er M i nn es o t a l aw, o n l y h i s b l i s t er an d o p en s o re, rat h er t h an h i s

M RSA i n fect i on

, n eed ed t o b e fo res eeab l e t o co ncl u d e t h e Co u n t y b reach ed i t s d u t y

o f care; an d (2 ) h is M RSA i n fect i o n was a n at u ral an d p ro xi m at e res u l t o f h av i n g a

b l i s t er an d o pen s ore. He al s o d i s p u t es t h e d i s tri ct co urt ’ s i m m u n i t y ru l i n g

, arg u i n g

t h at p ro v i d i n g s u i t ab l e jai l s h o es was a mi n i st er i a l d ut y fo r wh i ch v i cari o u s o ffi ci al

i m m u ni t y was n ot av ai l ab l e t o t h e Co u nt y

.

Th i s c o u r t rev i ews a d i s t ri ct co u rt ’ s g ran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t de n o v o,

“ v i ewi n g t h e ev i den ce in t h e l i g h t m o s t fav orab l e t o t h e n o n m ov i n g p art y .” Br u n s t i n g

v. Lu t s en Mo un t a i n s Co r

p

. , 6 0 1 F.3 d 8 1 3

, 8 20 (8 t h Ci r. 20 1 0). “ W e wi ll affi rm t h e

g ran t o f s u m

m ary j u d gm en t i f ‘ t h ere i s n o g en u i n e d i s p u t e as t o an y m at eri al fact an d

. . . t he m o v an t i s en t i t l ed t o ju d g m en t as a m at t er o f law.’ ” Id

. (al t erat i o n i n o ri g i n al )

(q u o ti n g Fed . R. Ci v

. P. 5 6 ).

To p rev ai l in a n eg l i g en ce cl ai m un d er M i n n es o t a l aw, “ a p l ai n ti ff m u s t p ro v e

(1 ) t h e ex i s t en ce o f a d u ty of care, (2 ) a b reach o f th at du t y

, (3 ) an i n ju ry

, an d (4 ) t h at

-5

-t h e b reach o f t h e d u t y o f care was a p ro xi m at e cau s e o f t he i n ju ry .” Do ma g a l a v.

Ro l l a n d

, 8 0 5 N.W

. 2 d 1 4

, 22 (M i n n

. 2 0 11 ). Un d er M i n n es o t a l a w

, co u n t i es are

v i cari o u s l y l i ab l e fo r t h e neg l i g en ce o f em p l o y ees act i ng wi t h in th e s co p e o f t h ei r

em pl o y m en t u nl es s t h e d o ct ri n e o f vi cari o u s o ffi ci al i m m u n i t y ap p li es

. S

ee Ci t y of

Mi n nea p o l i s v. Ames & F

i s ch er Co

. II

, 7 24 N.W .2 d 7 49

, 7 5 5 (M i nn

. Ct

. Ap p

. 2 0 0 6 )

(“ M u n i ci p al i t i es are g en eral ly l i ab l e fo r t h e t o rt s of t h ei r em p l o y ees i f t he t o rt i s

co m m i t t ed wi t h i n t h e s co p e o f em p l o y m en t .”); V

a s s a l lo ex r el

. Br own v. Ma j es ki

, 8 4 2

N.W

. 2d 4 5 6 , 4 6 2– 6 3 (M i n n . 2 0 1 4 ) (d i s cu s s i n g v i cari o u s o ffi ci al i m m u n it y ).

A. Duty a nd Brea ch

W e fi rs t co n s i d er wh et h er th e Co u n t y b reach ed a d u ty o f c a r e b y p ro v i d i n g

DeLu n a wi t h s h o es t h at w ere t o o s m al l fo r h i s feet

. Al t h o u g h D eLu na arg u es t h e

Co u n t y ’ s d u t y was d efi ned b y M i n n

. St at

. § 6 41 .1 5

, s u b d

. 1

— w h i ch ex p res s l y

req u i res co u nt i es t o “ p ro v i d e s u i t ab l e jai l cl o t h i n g” t o i n m at es — h e d oes n o t p res s

an arg u m en t t h at t h e Co u n t y was n eg l i g en t p er s e. S

ee Kr on z er

v. Fi r s t Na t ’l Ba n k

o f Mi n n ea p o l i s

, 23 5 N .W .2 d 18 7

, 1 9 2 (M i n n

. 1 9 7 5 ) (“ [T] h e m eas u re of d u t y fo r

n eg li g en ce p er s e i s fi x ed b y t h e s t at u t e, s o t h a t i t s v i o l at i o n co n s ti t u t es co n cl u s i v e

ev i d en ce o f n eg li g en ce. ” )

. N o r d o es DeLu n a b as e h i s cl ai m o n t h e “ s p eci al

rel at i o n s h i p ” b et ween a j ai l an d i t s i nm at es

, s ee Co o ney v. Ho o ks

, 5 3 5 N.W .2 d 6 0 9,

6 1 1 (M i n n

. 1 99 5 ), as t h at d o ct ri n e g en eral l y ap p l i es in M i n n es o ta o n ly w h ere, u n l i k e

h ere, a th i r d p a r t

y creat es a fo res eeab l e ri s k o f h arm t o th e p l ai n t i ff. S ee, e.g

. ,

Do ma g al a

, 8 0 5 N.W .2 d at 2 3

. Rat h er, DeLu n a arg u es t h at req u i ri n g s o m eo n e t o wear

t o o -s m al l s h oes creat es a fo res eeab l e ri s k o f cau s i n g a b l i s t er an d o p en s o re.

DeLu n a’ s a r g u m en t in vo k es cl as s i c ru l es o f M i n n es o t a n eg li g en ce l aw.

“ [G] en eral n eg l i g en ce l aw i m p o s es a g en eral d u t y o f reas o n ab l e care wh en t h e

d e f en dan t ’ s own co nd u ct creat es a fo res eeab l e ri sk o f i n ju ry t o a fo res eeab l e

p l ai n t i ff.” Id

. Th e M i n n es o ta Su p rem e Co u rt h as em p h as i zed t he k ey i s wh et h er a

d efen d an t h ad “ reas o nab l e g ro u n d t o an t i ci p at e t h at a p art i cu l ar act wo u l d o r m i g ht

-6

-res u l t i n a n

y i n ju ry ” t o t h e p l ai n t i ff, ev en i f t h e d efen d an t “ co u ld no t h av e an t i ci p at ed

t h e p art i cu l ar i n

ju ry wh i ch d i d h ap p en .” Ch r i s t ia n s o n v. Ch i ca g o

, St

. P., M. & O. Ry.

Co

. , 6 9 N.W

. 6 4 0, 6 4 1 (M i n n

. 1 8 9 6 ) (em p has i s ad d ed ) (as su m i n g d efen dan t b reach ed

a du t y o f care ev en t h o u gh p l ai n t i ff’ s u l ti m at e i n ju ry was n o t fo res eeab l e). As a m o re

r e c en t M i n n es o ta cas e reco g n i zed : “ W h at a m an m ay reas o n ab l y an ti ci p at e i s

i m p o rt an t

. . . in d et erm in i n g wh et h er an act is n eg l ig en t .” Lu n d g r e n v. Fu l t

z

, 3 5 4

N.W

. 2d 2 5 , 2 8 (M i n n

. 1 9 8 4 ) (q u o t i n g Ch r is ti a n so n

, 6 9 N.W . at 6 4 1 ).

W e h o l d t h ere i s a g en u i n e i s s u e o f fact as t o wh et h er t h e Co un t y b reach ed i t s

d u t y o f care. Th e d i s tri ct co u rt erred wh en i t co n cl ud ed t o t h e co n t rary o n t h e b as i s

t h at DeLu n a’ s M RSA i n fect i o n was n o t a fo res eeab l e co ns eq u en ce o f w eari n g t o o

s m al l s ho es

. Rat h er, t he p ro p e r q u e s t i o n was wh et h er s o me h arm was fo res eeab l e

e v e n i f t he u l t i m at e i n

ju ry was n o t

. Ch r is t ia n so n

, 6 9 N.W

. at 6 4 1

. An d req u i ri n g

DeLu n a to wear t oo -s m al l sh o es t h at ru b b ed ag ai n s t h i s feet (an d fai l i n g t o rep l ace

t h em wh en h e co m

p l ai n ed l at er t h at d ay ) co u ld fo res eeab l y res ul t i n at leas t a b l i s t er. 3

Th at i s en o u gh fo r a fact fi n d er t o reas o nab l y co ncl u d e th e Co u n t y b reach ed i t s d u t y

o f care.

B. Pro x i m a te Ca us e a nd Ha rm

Bu t o u r an al y s i s d o es n ot en d t h ere. D eLu na m u st st i l l s h o w t h e C o u n t y’ s

n eg li g en t co n d uct p ro x i m at el y cau sed h i s M RSA i n fect i o n

. Do ma g a l a

, 8 05 N.W .2 d

at 2 2

. DeLu n a arg u es i t d i d ju s t t h at b ecau s e co n t ract i n g a M RSA i n fect i o n

“ n at u ral l y fl o w[s ] ” fro m

h av i n g an o p en s o re cau s ed b y t h e t o o -s m al l s h o es

.

3 W h et h er t o o -s m al l s ho es co u ld al so fo res eeab ly cau s e an op en s o re i s

, at b es t

,

a cl o se cas e, an d “ [i ] n cl o s e cas es

, t h e i s s u e o f fo res eeab i l i t y sh o ul d be s u b m i t t ed to

t h e ju ry .” Do ma g a l a

, 8 0 5 N.W .2 d at 2 7. Bu t we fi n d t h is q u es t i o n i rrel ev an t g i v en

o u r co ncl u s i o n t h at at l eas t s o me i n ju ry was arg u ab l y fo res eeab l e wi t h o u t reg ard to

t h e fo res eeab i l i t y

o f t h e o p en s o re.

-7

-W e fi rs t n ot e t hat fo res eeab i l i t y is n o t p art o f t h e p ro x i m at e-cau s e an al y s i s in

M i n n es o t a. Del l wo v. Pea rs o n

, 1 0 7 N.W .2 d 8 5 9

, 8 6 1 (M i n n

. 1 9 6 1 )

. In s t ead

, i f a

p ers o n ’ s “ act i t s el f i s n eg li g en t

, t h en t h e p ers o n g u i lt y o f i t i s eq ual l y l i ab l e fo r al l i t s

n at u ral an d p ro x i m at e co n s eq u en ces , wh et h er h e co u ld h av e fo res een t h em o r n o t .”

Id

. (q uo t i n g Ch r i st i a ns o n

, 6 9 N.W

. at 6 4 1 ). M i n ne s o t a c o u r t s l o o k t o wh et h er t h e

i n ju ry “ fo l l o w[s ] i n an u n b ro k en s e q u en ce, wi th o u t an in terv en i n g effi ci en t cau s e,

fro m t h e o ri g in al neg l i g en t act

. ” Id

. (q u o ti n g s am e). Bu t an i n t erv en i n g cau s e i s n ot

s u p er s ed i n g an d t h u s i n s u lat i n g fo r a d efen d an t u nl es s i t h as s at i s fi ed s ev eral cri t eri a,

i n cl u d i n g t h at i t “ act i v el y wo rk ed t o b ri n g ab o u t a res u lt wh ich wo u l d n o t o t h erwi s e

h av e fo l l o wed fro m t h e o ri g i n al n eg l i g en ce” an d was n o t “ reas o n ab ly fo res eeab l e by

t h e o ri g i n al wro n gd o er.” Ca n ad a ex rel

. La n d

y v. McCa r t h

y

, 5 6 7 N.W

. 2 d 4 9 6

, 5 0 7

(M i nn . 1 9 9 7 ).

W e al s o n o t e a d efen d an t ’ s co n d u ct m u s t be a “ s u b s t an ti al fact o r i n b ri n g i n g

ab o ut t h e i n

ju ry .” Lu b b er

s v. A n d er s o n

, 53 9 N.W .2 d 39 8

, 4 0 1 (M in n

. 1 99 5 ) (q u o t i n g

Fl o m v. Fl o m

, 2 9 1 N .W .2 d 9 1 4

, 9 1 7 ( M in n

. 1 9 8 0 )). Ad di t i o n al cau s es m ay b e

“ c o n cu rri n g ” an d t h us “ d i rect cau s es wh ich act

. . . s o n earl y t o g et her [wi t h t h e

d efen d an t ’ s co n d u ct ] t h at t h e ch ai n of cau s at i o n i s n o t b ro k en .” Ro emer v. Ma r t i n

,

4 4 0 N.W .2 d 1 2 2 , 1 2 3 n .1 (M i n n . 1 9 8 9 ).

Fi n al l y

, al t h o u g h p ro x i m at e cau s e i s a q ues t i o n o f la w “ w h e r e r e a sona

b le m i nd s

can arri v e at o n l y on e co n cl u si o n ,” i t i s ot h erwi s e g en eral l y a q u es t i o n o f fact fo r t h e

fact fi n d er. Lu b ber

s , 5 3 9 N

. W .2 d at 4 0 2

.

DeLu n a arg u es th e d i s t ri c t co u rt rel i ed t o o heav i l y on t h e d efen d an t ’ s ex p ert

t es t i m o ny t h at t he M RSA in fect i o n co ul d hav e res u l ted fro m n u m ero u s o t h er cau s es

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt p o i n t ed t o t h e t es t i m o n y o f Dr. Ran d al W o jci eh o sk i

,

wh o ev al u at ed D eLu n a’ s m ed i cal reco rd an d t es t i fi ed “ i t i s i m p o ss i b l e to p i n p o i nt

wh ere M r. DeLu n a co nt ract ed M RSA” g iv en hi s h i s t o ry of h i g h -ri s k b eh av i o r, i n trav en ou s d ru g ab u s e, an d t h e fact h e h as m u l t i p le t at t o os , al l o f wh i ch p l aced h i m at

-8

-ri sk fo r d ev el o p i n g M RSA. DeLu n a a r g u e s t h i s t es t i m o n y do es n ot co n t rad i ct

ev i d en ce t en di ng t o s ho w h e co n t ract ed t he i n fect i o n o n h i s t oe as a res ul t o f weari n g

t h e t o o -s m al l s h o es . At t h i s s t ag e o f t h e l i t i g at i o n, we ag ree.

Th e ev i d en ce befo re u s pres en t s at l eas t a fact u al q u es t i o n as t o wh e t h e r t h e

t o o -s m al l s h o es were a s u bs t an ti al (ev en if n o t ex cl us i v e) fact o r i n cau s i n g DeLu n a’ s

M RSA i nfect i o n

. Th e Co u n t y i t s el f i n t ro d u ced a j o u rn al art i cl e ex p l ai n i n g M RSA

h a s b eco m e an acu te p ro b l em i n co rrect i o n al faci l i t i es an d can i n fect a p ers o n b y

en t eri n g “ ev en t h ro u gh t he ti n i es t cu t on t h e s k i n.” An d t here i s ev i d en ce t en d i n g to

s h o w DeLu n a’ s i n fect io n beg an n ot i n th e area of a t at t oo

, b u t o n h i s l eft fo o t ’ s t h i rd

t o e w h ere DeLu n a s ay s h e s u ffered a b l i s t er fro m t h e t o o -s m al l s h o es

. To th e ex t en t

DeLu n a’ s p as t d ru g ab u se ren d ered h i m m o re v u ln erab l e t o co n t ract i n g M RSA as a

res u l t o f a t o e in

j u ry

, th e “ eg g s h el l p l ai n t iff d o ct ri n e” wo u l d p rev en t t h e Co u n t y fro m

d i s cl ai m i n g r e s p o n si b il i ty fo r h i s u l t i m at e h arm

. S ee Ro we v. Mu n

ye

, 7 02 N.W .2 d

7 2 9

, 7 41 (M i n n

. 2 0 0 5) (“ Th e eg g s h el l p l ai n t i ff do ct ri n e st at es th at ‘ [w] h ere a t o rt i s

co m m i t t ed

, an d i n

ju ry m ay reas o n ab l y be an t i ci p at ed

, t h e wro n g d o er i s l i ab l e fo r t h e

p ro x im at e res u l t s o f t h at i n ju ry

, al t h o u g h t h e co n s eq u en ces are m o re s eri o u s t h an t h ey

wo u l d hav e b een

, h ad t h e i nju red p ers on b een i n p erfect h e a l t h

. ’” (al t erat i o n in

o ri g i nal ) (q u o t i n g Ro s s v. Gr ea t No r t h er n Ry. Co

. , 1 11 N.W . 9 5 1 , 9 5 3 (1 9 0 7 ))).

Th e Co u n t y arg u es in reb u t t al t h at DeLu na’ s t h eo ry i s fo u n d ed o n sp ecu l at i o n

an d co n ject u re. See E.H. Ren n er & S o n s

, I n c

. v

. Pr imu s

, 2 0 3 N.W .2 d 8 3 2

, 8 3 5

(M i n n

. 1 9 7 3 ) (“ Pro o f of a cau s al co n n ect i on m u s t b e s o m et h i n g m o re t h an m erel y

co n si s t en t wi t h t h e co m

p l ai n an t ’ s t h eo ry of t h e cas e.”). Th e Co u n t y s peci fi cal l y

arg u es th ere i s no reco rd ev i d en ce “ [o ] t h er t h an DeLu n a’ s as s ert i on s ” th at h e s u ffered

a b l is t er an d o p en s o re as a res u l t o f t h e t o o -s m al l s h o es

. It al s o i nd i cat es DeLu n a

n eed ed ex p ert t es ti m on y t o es t ab l i s h a p ro x i m at e co n n ect i o n bet ween w eari n g t h e

t o o -s m al l s h oes an d h i s M RSA i n fect i o n

.

-9

-W e d i s ag ree. DeLu n a t es t i fi ed in h i s d e p o s i t io n t h at h e p ers on al l y fel t t h e

t o o -s m al l s h o es ru b b i n g ag ai n s t h is feet b efo re o b s erv i n g a b l i s ter on t he m i d d l e t o e

o f h i s left fo o t

. Th e n u rs e’ s m ed i cal rep ort al s o s ay s DeLu n a r e p o r t e d t h at h i s

s wo ll en t o e b eg an as a bl i s t er. W e can n o t i g no re th es e st at em en t s wi th o u t as s es s i n g

DeLu n a’ s cred ib i l i t y

— a “ fu n ct i o n o f t h e j u ry

, n o t an ap p el lat e co urt .” Un i ted S t a t es

v. Her n a n d

ez

, 5 6 9 F.3 d 8 9 3

, 8 9 7 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 9 ) (q u o t i ng Un i t ed S t a tes v. Ha r r i s o n

,

6 7 1 F.2 d 1 1 5 9

, 1 1 6 2 (8 t h Ci r. 1 9 8 2 )). Th i s cas e i s al s o n o t o n e req ui ri ng s u p p o rt i n g

t es t i m o ny fro m a n ex p ert wi t n es s t o ex p l ai n “ m at t ers no t wi th i n t h e co m m o n

k n o wl ed g e o f a l ay m an

. ” DeCo u rcy v. Tr s

. of W es t mi n s ter Pr es b

yt er ia n Ch u r ch

,

In c., o f M i n n ea p o l i s

, 1 3 4 N.W .2 d 3 2 6

, 32 8 (M i nn

. 1 9 6 5 ). A l ay p ers o n c an

u n d ers t an d b as ed o n co m m o n k n o wl ed g e wh et her t o o -s m al l s h o es cau s ed a b l i s t er

an d w h et h er, as a p ro x i m at e res u l t

, t h at bl i s t er o p en ed an d becam e i n fect ed

. 4 On t h e

fact s b efo re u s , we can n o t s ay DeLu n a’ s cas e i s b as ed o n s p ecu l at i o n

. 5

Th eref o r e

, we co ncl u d e DeLu n a h as pres en t ed a t ri ab l e i s s u e o f fact as to

wh et h er t h e Co u n t y

n eg l i g en t l y

cau s ed h i s M RSA i n fect i o n

.

4 W e reject t h e Co u n ty ’ s arg um en t t h at DeLu n a d i d n o t co n t en d b efo re t h e

d i s t ri ct co u rt t hat t h e s h oes cau s ed b o t h a b l is t er a n d an op en s o re wh ich u l t i m at el y

b e c a m e i n fect ed

. W i t h o u t o p i n i n g o n w h at p oi n t i n t im e DeLu n a co n t ract ed t h e

i n fect i o n

, we n o t e DeLu n a arg ued i n h i s co m p l ai n t t h e t o o -s m al l s h oes “ cau s ed h i m

t o d ev el op an o p en wo un d in t h e jai l en v i r o n m en t ” an d t hu s “ ex p o s u re t o

. . . M RSA.”

5 W e al s o can n ot s ay at t h i s s t a g e t hat DeLu na’ s p h y s i cal l ab o r in t h e STS

p ro g ram t h e d ay aft er weari n g t h e t o o -s m al l s h o es an d h i s al l eg ed refu s al to recei v e

m ed i cal care were s u

p er s ed i n g cau s es

. Th ere i s at l eas t a fact q u es ti o n as t o wh et h er

DeLu n a’ s i n fect io n wo u l d h av e o ccu rred an y way g iv en t h at h e fi rs t rep o rt ed a s o re

t o e t h e s am e day h e w o re t h e t o o -s m al l s h oe s

. A n d h e d e n i es t hat h e refu s ed

t reat m en t . Th es e q u es t i o n s , t o o , are fo r a fact fi nd er.

-1 0

-C. Vi ca ri o us Offi ci a l I m m uni ty

W e h av e o n e m o re s t ep

. Th e Co u n t y arg u es t h at ev en i f i t was n eg li g en t

, i t i s

en t i t l ed t o v i cari o u s o ffi ci al i m m u ni t y

.

Th e M i n n es o t a Su p rem e Co u rt h as h el d t h at u n d er th e “ co m m o n l aw d o ct ri n e

o f offi ci al i m

m u n i t y

. . . [,] a pu bl i c o ffi ci al wh o i s ch arg ed b y l aw wi t h d u t i es cal l i n g

fo r t h e ex erci s e o f

j ud g men t o r d i s cr et i o n i s no t p ers o n al l y l i ab l e t o an i n di v i d u al fo r

d am ag es u n l es s th e o ffi ci al i s g u i l t y o f a wi l l fu l o r m al i ci ou s act .” W ied er h ol t v. Ci t

y

o f Mi n nea p o l i s

, 5 8 1 N

. W

. 2 d 3 1 2

, 3 15 (M i nn

. 1 99 8 ) (em p h as i s ad d ed ). An d

g o v ern m en t em

p lo y ers a re g en eral l y en ti t l ed t o v i cari o u s o ffi ci al im m un i t y fro m

l aws u i t s bas ed o n t h e d i s cret i o n ary act s o f t h ei r em p l o y ees

. S

ee i d

. at 3 17

. Vi cari ou s

o ffi c i a l i m

m u n i t y d o es n o t ap p l y

, h o wev er, to m i ni s t eri al d u t i es

— i .e., t h o s e “ in

wh i ch n o t h i n g i s l eft t o d i s cret i o n ” an d “ i n vo l v [e] m erel y ex ecu t i on o f a sp eci fi c d u t y

ari s in g fro m fi xed an d d es i g n at ed fact s .” Id

. at 3 1 5 (q uo t in g Co o k v. Tr o va t t en

, 2 7 4

N.W. 1 6 5

, 1 6 7 (M i n n

. 1 9 3 7)). In o t h er wo rd s

, “ [w] h en t he jo b i s ‘ s i m p l e an d

d efi n i t e’ an d th erefo re ‘ cl earl y m i n i s teri al ,’ t h e [g ov ern m en t em p l o y er] i s n o t en t i t l ed

t o [v i cari o u s ] o ffi ci al i m

m u n i ty .” Id . at 3 1 6

.

W e h o l d t h e du t y o f p ro v i d i n g s u i t ab l e s h o es i n a co un t y jai l s et t i n g i s

m i n i s t eri al

. As w e hav e al read y n o t ed

, t h e M i n n es o t a Co u rt o f Ap p eal s reach ed t h i s

s am e co n cl u si o n i n W

en d t

, rel y i n g o n t h e o b l i gat i o n o f co u n t y b o ard s u n d er M i n n.

St at

. § 6 4 1 .1 5

, s u b d

. 1 t o “ p ro vi d e s ui t ab l e j ai l cl ot h i n g ” t o pri s on ers

. W en d t

, 2 0 1 3

W L 4 7 1 1 2 1 0

, at * 6

. Al t h o ug h t h i s d eci s i o n was u n p u b l i s h ed

, we are n o t co n v i n ced

t h e M in n es o t a Su p rem e Co u rt wo u l d d i s ag ree. In An d er s o n v. An oka Hen n ep in

In d ep

. S ch

. Di s t

. 11

, th e M i n n es o t a Su p rem e Co u rt o bs erv ed “ t h e m ere ex i s t en ce o f

s o m e deg ree o f ju d g m en t or d i s cret i o n w i ll no t neces s ari l y c o nfer co m m o n l aw

o ffi ci al im

m un i t y ; rat h er, t h e fo cu s i s o n t h e n at u re o f t h e act at i s s u e.” 6 7 8 N.W .2 d

6 5 1 , 6 5 6 (M in n. 2 0 0 4 ). In W i ed er h o l t

, fo r ex am

p l e, t h e M i n nes o t a Su p rem e Co u rt

h el d t h at ci t y

s i d ewal k i ns p ect o rs h ad a m i n is teri al d u t y t o rep ai r b ro k en s i d ewal k s

-1 1

-w h e r e c i t y co d e req u i red t h e “ Ci t y En g i n eer t o i m m ed i at el y rep ai r [an y b ro k en

s i dewal k ] i n a g o o d, s ub s tan t i al

, an d t h o ro u g h m an n er.” 5 8 1 N

. W

. 2 d at 3 1 4

, 3 1 6

(em p h as i s o m it t ed ) (al t erat i o n i n o ri g in al ) (q u o t i ng M i n n eap o l i s, M i n n

. , Co d e o f

Ord in an ces ch . 8 , § 1 2 (1 9 9 1 )).

Here, t h e p r o v i s i o n of s u i t ab l e jai l s h oes i s a s i m p l e act an d d efi n ed b y t h e

d es i g n at ed fact s o f a p ri s o n er’ s s h o e s i ze. Ev en i f t h ere i s s o m e d eg ree o f ju d g m en t

i n v o l v ed i n l i g ht o f a p ri s o n ’ s l i m i t ed res o u rces

, t h i s d u t y i s s u ffi ci en t ly “ s i m p l e an d

d efi n i t e” s o as to be m i n is t eri al

. Th erefo re, th e Co u n t y i s n o t en ti t led to v i cari ou s

o ffi ci al i m

m u n i t y

.

I I I . Co ncl us i o n

Fo r t h e reas on s d i s cu s s ed h erei n

, we rev ers e th e ju d g m en t o f t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt

.

__ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _

-1 2

-