Case Name: Robert M. ZIEJA, Appellant, v. METROPOLITAN DADE COUNTY, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1986-06-03
Citations: 508 So. 2d 354
Docket Number: No. 86-179
Parties: Robert M. ZIEJA, Appellant, v. METROPOLITAN DADE COUNTY, Appellee.
Judges: Before NESBITT, BASKIN and FERGUSON, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 508
Pages: 354–358

Head Matter:
Robert M. ZIEJA, Appellant, v. METROPOLITAN DADE COUNTY, Appellee.
No. 86-179.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District.
June 3, 1986.
On Motion for Rehearing En Banc June 23, 1987.
Wiggins & Wiggins, and Elena Moure, Miami Shores, for appellant.
Robert A. Ginsburg, Co. Atty., and William L. Petros, Asst. Co. Atty., for appel-lee.
Before NESBITT, BASKIN and FERGUSON, JJ.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
The trial court granted Dade County's motion for judgment on the pleadings, finding the county to be free of liability under the doctrine of sovereign immunity. We disagree but affirm on other grounds.
Zieja sustained injuries when he tried to rescue a court clerk in the Metro Justice Building from a knife-wielding attacker. Zieja attempted in his pleadings to state a cause of action against Dade County based upon the common law duty which a landlord owes to protect a business invitee from reasonably foreseeable dangers. Federated Department Stores v. Doe, 454 So.2d 10 (Fla. 3d DCA 1984). Zieja alleged not only that such an attack was foreseeable, but also that the lack of protection was the result of an operational decision concerning security. Pitts v. Metropolitan Dade County, 374 So.2d 996 (Fla. 3d DCA 1979). Sovereign immunity does not apply where the plaintiff demonstrates that the sovereign owes a common law duty and that the breach of that duty was the result of an operational decision. Trianon Park Condominium Assoc., Inc. v. City of Hialeah, 468 So.2d 912 (Fla.1985). Zieja has therefore alleged sufficient facts to overcome the defense of sovereign immunity.
The problem, as Dade County correctly points out, is that Zieja failed to allege that he was a business invitee. Consequently, we must affirm the judgment on the pleadings. However, since it is apparent that Zieja can state a valid claim, he should be given the opportunity to amend his pleadings. Cf. Hart Properties, Inc. v. Slack, 159 So.2d 236, 240 (Fla.1963) (where summary judgment is appropriate, but the record reflects plaintiff otherwise has a valid cause of action, leave to amend should be granted; Cudlipp v. Blue Chip Laundry, Inc., 476 So.2d 783 (Fla. 4th DCA 1985) (same).
Affirmed with directions that the plaintiff be granted leave to amend his pleadings.
Before SCHWARTZ, C.J., and BARKDULL, HENDRY, HUBBART, NESBITT, BASKIN, DANIEL S. PEARSON, FERGUSON and JORGENSON, JJ.