Case Name: Olivia RODRIGUEZ, etc., Petitioner, v. CITY OF CAPE CORAL, et al., Respondents
Court: Florida Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1985-04-04
Citations: 468 So. 2d 963
Docket Number: No. 65623
Parties: Olivia RODRIGUEZ, etc., Petitioner, v. CITY OF CAPE CORAL, et al., Respondents.
Judges: BOYD, C.J., and ALDERMAN and MCDONALD, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 468
Pages: 963–965

Head Matter:
Olivia RODRIGUEZ, etc., Petitioner, v. CITY OF CAPE CORAL, et al., Respondents.
No. 65623.
Supreme Court of Florida.
April 4, 1985.
Sheldon J. Schlesinger, P.A., Fort Laud-erdale, and Joel S. Perwin of Podhurst, Orseck, Parks, Josefsberg, Eaton, Meadow and Olin, Miami, for petitioner.
Gerald W. Pierce of Henderson, Franklin, Starnes and Holt, Fort Myers, for respondents.

Opinion:
OVERTON, Justice.
This cause is before us on petition to review Rodriguez v. City of Cape Coral, 451 So.2d 513 (Fla. 2d DCA 1984), in which the district court held that neither the city nor its police officer could be held liable for the alleged wrongful death of Eddie Rodriguez who, while obviously intoxicated, was struck and killed by a motor vehicle. The petitioner, who is Rodriguez's widow, claims there is liability because the police officer failed to take the intoxicated Rodriguez into protective custody under section 396.072(1), Florida Statutes (1977). We approve the decision of the district court in the instant case on the authority of our decision in Everton v. Willard, 468 So.2d 936 (Fla.1985).
It is so ordered.
Any person who is intoxicated in a public place and who appears in need of help, if he consents to the proffered help, may be assisted to his home or to an appropriate treatment resource, whether public or private, by a peace officer. Any person who is intoxicated in a public place and appears to be incapacitated shall be taken by the peace officer to a hospital or other appropriate treatment resource. A person shall be deemed incapacitated when he appears to be in immediate need of emergency medical attention, or when he appears to be unable to make a rational decision about his need for care (our emphasis).
BOYD, C.J., and ALDERMAN and MCDONALD, JJ., concur.
EHRLICH, J., dissents with an opinion, in which ADKINS, J., concurs.
SHAW, J., dissents with an opinion, in which ADKINS, J., concurs.