Case Name: Earthlee RUMPH, as Administrator of the Estate of Lucille Rumph, Respondent, v. RWF, INC., McCall-Thomas Engineering Company, and the City of Bamberg, Defendants. Appeal of CITY OF BAMBERG
Court: Supreme Court of South Carolina
Jurisdiction: South Carolina
Decision Date: 1980-07-29
Citations: 275 S.C. 221
Docket Number: 21278
Parties: Earthlee RUMPH, as Administrator of the Estate of Lucille Rumph, Respondent, v. RWF, INC., McCall-Thomas Engineering Company, and the City of Bamberg, Defendants. Appeal of CITY OF BAMBERG.
Judges: Littlejohn, Gregory and Harwell, JJ., concur.
Reporter: South Carolina Reports
Volume: 275
Pages: 221–222

Head Matter:
21278
Earthlee RUMPH, as Administrator of the Estate of Lucille Rumph, Respondent, v. RWF, INC., McCall-Thomas Engineering Company, and the City of Bamberg, Defendants. Appeal of CITY OF BAMBERG.
(268 S. E. (2d 584)
W. D. Rhoad and B. Monroe Hiers, Bamberg, for appellant.
Doyet A. Earley, III, Bamberg and Terry E. Richardson, Jr., of Blatt & Fales, Barnwell, for respondent.
July 29, 1980.

Opinion:
Lewis, Chief Justice:
The administrator initiated this action as a result of injuries to Lucille Rumph which ultimately resulted in her death. The City of Bamberg interposed a demurrer which was denied. The City has appealed whereby it raises the question of sovereign immunity and the inability of the plaintiff to bring suit under the provisons of Section 5-7-70, S. C. Code of Laws (1976). Accordingly, the critical question is whether or not the injuries involved are the result of a defect in the street so as to be envisioned by the aforementioned statutory exception to the general rule of sovereign immunity.
We agree with the trial judge that this matter is best decided in light of the evidence to be adduced at trial. His action is affirmed and the case is remanded to the trial court for further proceedings. We intimate no opinion as to the ultimate viabality of the plaintiff's claim.
Affirmed.
Littlejohn, Gregory and Harwell, JJ., concur.
Ness, J., disqualified.