HonorableFrankWright CountyAuditor Fannin County Bonham,Texas
Bear Sir: opinionNo. O-2473 Re: Is the county liablefor parsonal Injuriesof road hands receivedwhile employedby the county?
Your recant request for an opinionof this departmsnton the above stated Puastionhas bean received.
With referenceto your Puestionwe call your attentionto 0~3 opinions Boa. O-n9 and o-2136. OpinlouBo. O-779 holds that;
"It is not the duty of the county or of the road precinctto carry employer'sliabilityinsurancefor the protectionof road worhmen of the county."
OpinionNo. O-2136 dealswith the questionof whetheror not the Com- missioners' court has the right and authorityto pay a claim for damages resultingfrom the death of an employeeof the county in a collision while on his way to work for the county. The opinionholds that the I I__..~ commissioners' court cannot legallypay the claim.
We are enclosingcopiesof the above mentionedopinionsfor your convenience.
We quote in part from the case of Bryan vs. LibertyCounty,299 SW303-4 as follows: ". . . .It has long been the law of Texas that a county is not liable in damagesfor personalinjuriessustainedby one in consequenceof the tortiouaor negligentacts of its agents, servantsand employeesunlesssuch lfabilitybe createdby statute,either in expressterms or by implication.Heigel vs. Wichita County,84 Tex. 39, 19 SW 562, 31 Am. St. Rep. 63; Walton ~5~ Travis County, 5 Tex. Civ. App. 525, 24 SW 352; Crausevs. Harris County,19 Tex. Civ. App. 375, 44 SW 616; Riley vs. ColemanCounty (Tex.Civ. App.) 181 SW 743;, Har$:vs.Hafris County [Tex. Civ. ApP.)?44~~SW 1103:~Harris Countyvs. Darhart,115 Tex. 449, 283 gf 139. Au these ~, authoritiessustainthe counter'proposition advancedby the HonorableFrankWright, Page #2 (O-2473)
defendanthere that a county is not liable in damagesfor personalinjuriesnegligentlyinflictedby the county'6 agents,servantsand employees,in the absenceof a statute creatingsuch liabilityin expressterm or by implication.*
There is no statutecreatingsuch liabilityin expressterms or by implication, making the county liablefor personalinjuriesof road hands receivedwhile employedby the county.
In view of the foregoingauthorities,your questionis respectfully answeredin the negative.
Trustingthat the foregoingfully answersyour inquiry,we are
Very truly yours
ATPORHEPGEXEFiALOFTEXAS
a/ ArdallWilliama
BY ArdallWilliams Assistant
APPROVED~08 27, 1940 s/ WALD c. MANN ATTORNEXGE3ERALOF TEXAS
APPROVEDOPINIONCOMMITTEE BY B, W. B. CHAIRMAW