Source: https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/352/315/
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 20:33:16+00:00

Document:
Under the Federal Tort Claims Act, the United States is not immune from liability for negligence of employees of the Forest Service in fighting a fire if, in similar circumstances, a private person would be liable under the laws of the State in which the fire occurred. Pp. 352 U. S. 315-321.
225 F.2d 642, 650, judgments vacated and causes remanded.
out, it destroyed timber, buildings, and other property, some of which belonged to the petitioners.
The complaints allege that these consequences were caused by the Forest Service's negligence (1) in permitting inflammable materials to accumulate on Government land, thereby allowing the fires to start and to spread; (2) in not preventing the railroad from starting the original spot fires; (3) in not properly suppressing the spot fires; and (4) in failing to quench and prevent the spread of the fire when it was under control in the 1,600 acre area. The district judge dismissed the complaints, holding that they failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. He indicated that the facts alleged were sufficient to show actionable negligence on the part of a private person under the laws of Washington, but nevertheless felt compelled to dismiss the complaints because of the following statements by this Court in Dalehite v. United States, 346 U. S. 15, 346 U. S. 43.
"As to the alleged failure in fighting the fire, we think this too without the [Tort Claims] Act. The Act did not create new causes of action where none existed before. ' . . . Its effect is to waive immunity from recognized causes of action, and was not to visit the Government with novel and unprecedented liabilities.' . . . It did not change the normal rule that an alleged failure or carelessness of public firemen does not create private actionable rights."
deciding that the United States was immune from liability for any negligence by the Forest Service in fighting the fire.
". . . caused by the negligent or wrongful act or omission of any employee of the Government while acting within the scope of his office or employment, under circumstances where the United States, if a private person, would be liable to the claimant in accordance with the law of the place where the act or omission occurred."
28 U.S.C. § 1346(b). These provisions, given their plain natural meaning, make the United States liable to petitioners for the Forest Service's negligence in fighting the forest fire if, as alleged in the complaints, Washington law would impose liability on private persons or corporations under similar circumstances.
best interest of the nation, saw fit to impose such liability on the United States in the Tort Claims Act. Congress was aware that, when losses caused by such negligence are charged against the public treasury, they are, in effect, spread among all those who contribute financially to the support of the Government, and the resulting burden on each taxpayer is relatively slight. But when the entire burden falls on the injured party, it may leave him destitute or grievously harmed. Congress could, and apparently did, decide that this would be unfair when the public as a whole benefits from the services performed by Government employees. And, for obvious reasons, the United States cannot be equated with a municipality, which conceivably might be rendered bankrupt if it were subject to liability for the negligence of its firemen. There is no justification for this Court to read exemptions into the Act beyond those provided by Congress. [Footnote 3] If the Act is to be altered, that is a function for the same body that adopted it.
of the circumstances, we think it proper to vacate both judgments in their entirety, so that the District Court may consider the complaints anew, in their present form or as they may be amended, wholly free to determine their sufficiency on the basis of whether the allegations and any supporting material offered to explain or clarify them would be sufficient to impose liability on a private person under the laws of the State of Washington. [Footnote 4] The judgments of both courts are vacated, and the cases are remanded to the District Court for consideration in accordance with this opinion.
* Together with No. 47, Arnhold et al. v. United States, also on certiorari to the same Court.
And see United States v. Yellow Cab Co., 340 U. S. 543, 340 U. S. 548-550.
See also Eastern Air Lines v. Union Trust Co., 95 U.S.App.D.C. 189, 221 F.2d 62, aff'd per curiam sub nom. United States v. Union Trust Co., 350 U.S. 907; Air Transport Associates v. United States, 221 F.2d 467. Cf. United States v. Praylou, 208 F.2d 291, 294-295.
See United States v. Aetna Casualty & Surety Co., 338 U. S. 366, 338 U. S. 383.
Cf. Minnesota v. National Tea Co., 309 U. S. 551, 309 U. S. 555; State Tax Commission v. Van Cott, 306 U. S. 511, 306 U. S. 514-515; and Patterson v. Alabama, 294 U. S. 600, 294 U. S. 607.
MR. JUSTICE REED, with whom MR. JUSTICE CLARK joins, dissenting.
The Court of Appeals, in my view, correctly applied the law as to public firefighters. Congress assumed liability "as a private individual under like circumstances." The immunity of public bodies for injuries due to fighting fire was then well settled. Dalehite v. United States, 346 U. S. 15, 346 U. S. 43. Private organizations, except as community volunteers, for firefighting were hardly known. The situation was like private military forces. Cf. Feres v. United States, 340 U. S. 135, 340 U. S. 142. Indian Towing Co. v. United States, 350 U. S. 61, presents a different situation.

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