Title: Harris v. Walker
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: 1110436
State: Alabama
Issuer: Alabama Supreme Court
Date: May 25, 2012

REL:05/25/2012 
N o t i c e : 
T h i s 
o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o f o r m a l 
r e v i s i o n b e f o r e 
p u b l i c a t i o n i n 
t h e 
advance 
s h e e t s o f 
Southern Reporter. 
R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e 
Reporter of 
Decisions, 
Alabama 
A p p e l l a t e 
C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104-3741 
((334) 
2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f 
any t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n 
o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may be made 
b e f o r e t h e 
o p i n i o n i s p r i n t e d i n 
Southern Reporter. 
SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA 
OCTOBER TERM, 2011-2012 
1110436 
Ex p a r t e Marcus L y d e l l Walker 
PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS 
(In r e : Miguel H a r r i s 
v. 
Marcus L y d e l l Walker) 
(Macon C i r c u i t Court, CV-11-900048) 
BOLIN, 
J u s t i c e . 
M a r c u s 
L y d e l l 
W a l k e r , an e m p l o y e e o f t h e Macon 
C o u n t y 
S h e r i f f ' s 
D e p a r t m e n t , p e t i t i o n s 
t h i s 
C o u r t f o r 
a w r i t o f 
1110436 
mandamus d i r e c t i n g t h e Macon C i r c u i t C o u r t t o e n t e r an o r d e r 
h o l d i n g 
h i m immune f r o m 
s u i t 
b a s e d on A r t . I , § 14, A l a . 
C o n s t . 1 9 0 1 . 
W a l k e r 
f u r t h e r a s k s 
t h i s 
C o u r t t o d i r e c t t h e 
Macon 
C i r c u i t 
C o u r t t o d i s m i s s , 
p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 
1 2 ( b ) ( 6 ) , 
A l a . R. C i v . P., t h e c l a i m s 
a s s e r t e d 
a g a i n s t h i m b y 
M i g u e l 
H a r r i s . 
On May 3 1 , 2 0 1 1 , H a r r i s s u e d t h e Macon C o u n t y C o m m i s s i o n , 
Macon C o u n t y , and W a l k e r , i n b o t h h i s i n d i v i d u a l and 
o f f i c i a l 
c a p a c i t i e s , 
a l l e g i n g i n p a r t : 
"On o r a b o u t A p r i l 9, 2 0 1 1 , w h i l e t r a v e l i n g U.S. 
H i g h w a y 80 a t o r n e a r F l o y d S t r e e t i n Macon C o u n t y , 
A l a b a m a , 
t h e 
D e f e n d a n t , 
M a r c u s 
L y d e l l 
W a l k e r , 
i n d i v i d u a l l y , and w h i l e 
a c t i n g w i t h i n t h e l i n e and 
s c o p e 
o f 
h i s e m p l o y m e n t 
f o r t h e 
Macon 
C o u n t y 
S h e r i f f ' s 
D e p a r t m e n t , 
n e g l i g e n t l y a n d / o r 
w a n t o n l y 
c a u s e d o r a l l o w e d a m o t o r v e h i c l e he was 
o p e r a t i n g , 
owned b y D e f e n d a n t s Macon 
C o u n t y , A l a b a m a 
a n d / o r 
Macon 
C o u n t y 
C o m m i s s i o n , 
t o 
c o l l i d e 
w i t h 
a 
m o t o r 
v e h i c l e 
d r i v e n by 
P l a i n t i f f , 
M i g u e l 
H a r r i s . 
S a i d 
n e g l i g e n t 
a n d / o r 
w a n t o n 
c o n d u c t was 
a p r o x i m a t e 
c a u s e o f [ H a r r i s ' s ] i n j u r i e s and damages h e r e i n a f t e r 
d e s c r i b e d . 
" A t t h e a f o r e s a i d t i m e and p l a c e , t h e D e f e n d a n t , 
M a r c u s 
L y d e l l W a l k e r , was 
e n g a g e d 
i n t h e 
r e g u l a r 
c o u r s e and s c o p e o f h i s e m p l o y m e n t f o r t h e Macon 
C o u n t y S h e r i f f ' s D e p a r t m e n t . 
T h e r e f o r e , D e f e n d a n t s 
Macon C o u n t y , A l a b a m a a n d / o r Macon C o u n t y C o m m i s s i o n 
a r e 
l e g a l l y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r 
t h e a c t i o n s o f D e f e n d a n t 
M a r c u s 
L y d e l l W a l k e r 
p u r s u a n t t o t h e d o c t r i n e o f 
r e s p o n d e a t 
s u p e r i o r , 
p r i n c i p a l / a g e n t a n d / o r 
m a s t e r 
s e r v a n t . 
2 
1110436 
" A t 
t h e 
a f o r e s a i d 
t i m e 
and 
p l a c e , 
and 
f o r 
s o m e t i m e p r i o r t h e r e t o , 
t h e D e f e n d a n t , Macon C o u n t y , 
A l a b a m a 
a n d / o r 
Macon 
C o u n t y 
C o m m i s s i o n , 
was 
t h e 
owner 
o f 
s a i d 
m o t o r 
v e h i c l e 
d r i v e n 
by 
D e f e n d a n t , 
M a r c u s 
L y d e l l 
W a l k e r , 
b e i n g 
a 
2009 
F o r d 
Crown 
V i c t o r i a 
The 
D e f e n d a n t , Macon C o u n t y , 
A l a b a m a 
a n d / o r Macon C o u n t y C o m m i s s i o n , was t h e owner o f and 
h a d t h e r i g h t o f c o n t r o l o v e r t h e u s e o f t h e 
m o t o r 
v e h i c l e 
d r i v e n 
by 
t h e 
D e f e n d a n t , 
M a r c u s 
L y d e l l 
W a l k e r , and as s u c h , h a d t h e a u t h o r i t y t o 
s u p e r v i s e 
t h e m a i n t e n a n c e , o p e r a t i o n , 
and r e p a i r o f s a i d m o t o r 
v e h i c l e . 
D e f e n d a n t s , Macon C o u n t y , A l a b a m a 
a n d / o r 
Macon 
C o u n t y 
C o m m i s s i o n , 
as 
owner, 
n e g l i g e n t l y 
e n t r u s t e d 
s a i d v e h i c l e 
t o D e f e n d a n t , M a r c u s 
L y d e l l 
W a l k e r , 
who 
n e g l i g e n t l y 
o r w a n t o n l y o p e r a t e d 
s a i d 
v e h i c l e i n j u r i n g [ H a r r i s ] . 
D e f e n d a n t s Macon C o u n t y , 
A l a b a m a 
a n d / o r Macon C o u n t y 
C o m m i s s i o n , 
e n t r u s t e d 
s a i d v e h i c l e t o t h e D e f e n d a n t , M a r c u s L y d e l l W a l k e r , 
and i s t h e r e f o r e 
l i a b l e t o [ H a r r i s ] . " 
H a r r i s ' s 
c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t 
W a l k e r and Macon C o u n t y and t h e Macon 
C o u n t y 
C o m m i s s i o n 
( h e r e i n a f t e r 
r e f e r r e d 
t o 
c o l l e c t i v e l y 
as 
" t h e 
c o u n t y 
d e f e n d a n t s " ) 
a l l e g e d 
n e g l i g e n c e , 
w a n t o n 
and 
r e c k l e s s 
c o n d u c t , 
and n e g l i g e n t 
and w a n t o n e n t r u s t m e n t . 
On 
J u l y 
1, 
2 0 1 1 , 
W a l k e r 
and 
t h e 
c o u n t y 
d e f e n d a n t s 
s e p a r a t e l y moved t h e t r i a l c o u r t t o d i s m i s s 
t h e c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t 
them p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 1 2 ( b ) ( 6 ) , 
A l a . R. C i v . P. 
W a l k e r a r g u e d 
t h a t he was a c t i n g w i t h i n t h e l i n e and s c o p e o f h i s e m p l o y m e n t 
as 
a 
Macon 
C o u n t y 
S h e r i f f ' s 
d e p u t y 
and 
i s , 
t h e r e f o r e , 
a b s o l u t e l y 
immune f r o m 
s u i t p u r s u a n t t o A r t . I , § 14, A l a . 
C o n s t . 1901. 
The c o u n t y d e f e n d a n t s a r g u e d t h a t t h e y c a n n o t be 
3 
1110436 
h e l d v i c a r i o u s l y 
l i a b l e f o r t h e t o r t i o u s a c t 
o f t h e s h e r i f f o r 
h i s 
d e p u t i e s 
b e c a u s e t h e A l a b a m a 
C o n s t i t u t i o n 
d e n o m i n a t e s 
s h e r i f f s 
a n d d e p u t i e s 
as members o f t h e S t a t e ' s 
e x e c u t i v e 
d e p a r t m e n t ; t h e y a r e n o t , t h e c o u n t y d e f e n d a n t s a r g u e d , c o u n t y 
e m p l o y e e s . 
On November 30, 2 0 1 1 , t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
e n t e r e d an 
o r d e r 
g r a n t i n g t h e c o u n t y d e f e n d a n t s ' 
m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s ; h o w e v e r , 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t d e n i e d W a l k e r ' s m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s . 
The 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
made no 
f i n d i n g s o f 
f a c t 
i n i t s o r d e r . 
H a r r i s ' s 
a t t o r n e y 
t e s t i f i e d i n 
an a f f i d a v i t - - p r e s e n t e d i n s u p p o r t o f 
H a r r i s ' s 
r e s p o n s e 
t o W a l k e r ' s 
p e t i t i o n 
f o r t h e w r i t o f 
mandamus -- t h a t t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t s t a t e d a t t h e h e a r i n g on 
t h e 
m o t i o n s t o d i s m i s s t h a t i t was d e n y i n g W a l k e r ' s m o t i o n b e c a u s e 
t h e r e e x i s t e d no e v i d e n c e as t o w h e t h e r W a l k e r was a c t i n g i n 
t h e 
l i n e a n d s c o p e o f h i s 
d u t i e s as a s h e r i f f ' s d e p u t y a t 
t h e 
t i m e o f t h e a c c i d e n t . 
The t r i a l 
c o u r t 
r e a s o n e d : 
"[A] m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s b a s e d on R u l e 1 2 ( b ) ( 6 ) , 
A l a . 
R. C i v . P., 
s h o u l d 
n o t be g r a n t e d 
i f t h e r e 
i s a 
p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t t h r o u g h d i s c o v e r y t h e p a r t i e s c o u l d 
f i n d 
e v i d e n c e 
t h a t 
[ W a l k e r ] was n o t a c t i n g w i t h i n 
t h e 
l i n e a n d s c o p e o f [ h i s d u t i e s ] a t t h e t i m e o f 
t h e 
a c c i d e n t 
s u c h 
t h a t 
[ H a r r i s ] 
c o u l d 
p o s s i b l y 
r e c o v e r 
f r o m 
[ W a l k e r ] . " 
S t a n d a r d o f R e v i e w 
4 
1110436 
" I n a s m u c h as t h e i s s u e b e f o r e us i s w h e t h e r t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t c o r r e c t l y d e n i e d a R u l e 
1 2 ( b ) ( 6 ) , 
A l a . 
R. C i v . P., m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s , 
' [ t ] h i s 
C o u r t 
must 
a c c e p t t h e a l l e g a t i o n s o f t h e c o m p l a i n t as 
t r u e . ' 
C r e o l a 
L a n d 
Dev., 
I n c . v . 
B e n t b r o o k e 
H o u s i n g , 
 
L.L.C., 828 So. 2d 285, 288 ( A l a . 
2 0 0 2 ) . 
M o r e o v e r , 
as 
t h e 
d e f e n d a n t s 
s o u g h t 
o n l y 
a 
R u l e 
1 2 ( b ) ( 6 ) 
d i s m i s s a l 
w i t h o u t 
r e s o r t 
t o 
f a c t s 
s u p p l i e d 
b y 
a f f i d a v i t o r o t h e r e v i d e n t i a r y m a t e r i a l o u t s i d e t h e 
a l l e g a t i o n s o f t h e c o m p l a i n t , and as t h e t r i a l c o u r t 
a c c o r d i n g l y t r e a t e d t h e m o t i o n o n l y as what i t 
was, 
a m o t i o n 
t o d i s m i s s and n o t a m o t i o n 
f o r summary 
j u d g m e n t 
w i t h 
e v i d e n t i a r y 
m a t e r i a l s 
o u t s i d e t h e 
a l l e g a t i o n s 
o f t h e c o m p l a i n t , 
t h o s e 
a l l e g a t i o n s 
t h e m s e l v e s a r e t h e o n l y p o t e n t i a l s o u r c e o f f a c t u a l 
s u p p o r t f o r 
t h e d e f e n d a n t s ' c l a i m s o f i m m u n i t y . 
R u l e 
1 2 ( b ) , A l a . 
R. C i v . P.; Mooneyham v . S t a t e Bd. o f  
C h i r o p r a c t i c E x a m i n e r s , 802 So. 2d 200 ( A l a . 2 0 0 1 ) ; 
G a r r i s v . F e d e r a l L a n d Bank o f J a c k s o n , 584 So. 2d 
791 
( A l a . 1 9 9 1 ) ; 
H a l e s 
v . 
F i r s t 
N a t ' l 
Bank 
o f 
M o b i l e , 380 So. 2d 797 ( A l a . 1 9 8 0 ) . 
"'"Mandamus 
i s 
a 
d r a s t i c 
and 
e x t r a o r d i n a r y w r i t , t o be i s s u e d o n l y where 
t h e r e i s (1) a c l e a r 
l e g a l 
r i g h t 
i n t h e 
p e t i t i o n e r 
t o t h e o r d e r 
s o u g h t ; 
(2) an 
i m p e r a t i v e 
d u t y 
upon 
t h e r e s p o n d e n t 
t o 
p e r f o r m , a c c o m p a n i e d by a r e f u s a l t o do s o ; 
(3) t h e l a c k o f a n o t h e r 
a d e q u a t e 
remedy; 
and 
(4) p r o p e r l y i n v o k e d 
j u r i s d i c t i o n o f 
t h e 
c o u r t . " 
Ex p a r t e I n t e g o n 
C o r p . , 
672 
So. 2d 497, 499 ( A l a . 
1 9 9 5 ) . . . . Our r e v i e w 
i s f u r t h e r l i m i t e d t o t h o s e f a c t s t h a t were 
b e f o r e t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t . Ex p a r t e 
A m e r i c a n  
R e s o u r c e s 
I n s . Co., 663 So. 2d 932, 936 
( A l a . 
1 9 9 5 ) . ' 
"Ex 
p a r t e N a t i o n a l S e c . I n s . Co., 727 So. 2d 7 
88 
, 
789 ( A l a . 1 9 9 8 ) . 
"'The a p p r o p r i a t e s t a n d a r d o f r e v i e w u n d e r 
R u l e 
1 2 ( b ) ( 6 ) 
i s 
w h e t h e r , 
when 
t h e 
5 
1110436 
a l l e g a t i o n s 
o f 
t h e 
c o m p l a i n t 
a r e 
v i e w e d 
most 
s t r o n g l y i n t h e 
p l e a d e r ' s 
f a v o r , i t 
a p p e a r s 
t h a t 
t h e 
p l e a d e r 
c o u l d p r o v e 
any 
s e t 
o f 
c i r c u m s t a n c e s 
t h a t 
w o u l d 
e n t i t l e 
[him] 
t o 
r e l i e f . 
I n 
m a k i n g 
t h i s 
d e t e r m i n a t i o n , t h i s C o u r t does n o t 
c o n s i d e r 
w h e t h e r 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f 
w i l l 
u l t i m a t e l y 
p r e v a i l , b u t o n l y w h e t h e r [he] may 
p o s s i b l y 
p r e v a i l . We 
n o t e a R u l e 
1 2 ( b ) ( 6 ) 
d i s m i s s a l 
i s p r o p e r o n l y when i t a p p e a r s b e y o n d d o u b t 
t h a t 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f 
c a n 
p r o v e 
no 
s e t 
o f 
f a c t s 
i n s u p p o r t 
o f 
t h e 
c l a i m t h a t 
w o u l d 
e n t i t l e 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f 
t o 
r e l i e f . ' 
"Nance v. M a t t h e w s , 622 
So. 
2d 297, 
299 
( A l a . 
1993) 
( c i t a t i o n s 
o m i t t e d ) . 
A c c o r d 
Cook 
v. 
L l o y d 
N o l a n d 
 
F o u n d . , 
I n c . , 
825 
So. 
2d 
83, 
89 
( A l a . 2 0 0 1 ) , 
and 
C.B. 
v. Bobo, 
659 
So. 
2d 
98, 
104 
( A l a . 1 9 9 5 ) . 
'We 
c o n s t r u e a l l 
d o u b t s r e g a r d i n g t h e s u f f i c i e n c y o f 
t h e 
c o m p l a i n t 
i n 
f a v o r 
o f 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f . ' 
Ex 
p a r t e 
H a r a l s o n , 
853 
So. 
2d 
928, 
931 
( A l a . 2 0 0 3 ) . 
'[A] 
m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s 
i s t y p i c a l l y n o t 
t h e 
a p p r o p r i a t e 
v e h i c l e by w h i c h t o a s s e r t ... 
q u a l i f i e d i m m u n i t y o r 
S t a t e - a g e n t 
i m m u n i t y 
and 
... 
n o r m a l l y 
t h e 
d e t e r m i n a t i o n 
as t o t h e e x i s t e n c e o f s u c h a d e f e n s e 
s h o u l d be r e s e r v e d u n t i l t h e summary-judgment s t a g e , 
f o l l o w i n g 
a p p r o p r i a t e 
d i s c o v e r y . ' Ex 
p a r t e 
A l a b a m a  
Dep't o f M e n t a l 
H e a l t h & M e n t a l R e t a r d a t i o n , 837 
So. 
2d 808, 
813-14 
( A l a . 2 0 0 2 ) . " 
Ex p a r t e A l a b a m a Dep't o f Y o u t h S e r v s . , 880 
So. 2d 393, 
397-98 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 3 ) . 
D i s c u s s i o n 
W a l k e r 
s t a t e s 
t h a t 
t h e 
c o m p l a i n t 
i n 
t h i s 
c a s e 
a l l e g e s 
t h a t t h e t r a f f i c a c c i d e n t o c c u r r e d w h i l e he was 
" a c t i n g w i t h i n 
t h e 
l i n e 
and 
s c o p e 
o f 
h i s e m p l o y m e n t 
f o r t h e Macon 
C o u n t y 
6 
1110436 
S h e r i f f ' s D e p a r t m e n t " and t h a t a t t h e t i m e o f t h e a c c i d e n t he 
"was e n g a g e d i n 
t h e r e g u l a r c o u r s e and s c o p e o f h i s e m p l o y m e n t 
f o r t h e Macon C o u n t y 
S h e r i f f ' s D e p a r t m e n t . " 
W a l k e r a r g u e s i n 
h i s p e t i t i o n 
t h a t he i s an e x e c u t i v e 
o f f i c e r o f t h e S t a t e o f 
A l a b a m a p u r s u a n t t o A r t . V, § 112, A l a . 
C o n s t . 1 9 0 1 . 
W a l k e r 
c o n t e n d s 
t h a t , as an e x e c u t i v e 
o f f i c e r o f t h e S t a t e , 
he i s 
immune f r o m s u i t , p u r s u a n t t o A r t . I , § 14, A l a . C o n s t . 1 9 0 1 , 
f o r money damages f o r 
a c t i o n s t a k e n w h i l e he was e x e c u t i n g h i s 
d u t i e s as a d e p u t y 
s h e r i f f . 
H a r r i s 
c o n c e d e s 
t h a t W a l k e r i s immune f r o m 
s u i t i n 
h i s 
o f f i c i a l c a p a c i t y as a d e p u t y 
s h e r i f f ; h o w e v e r , he n o t e s 
t h a t 
t h e 
c o m p l a i n t 
c o n t a i n e d 
a l l e g a t i o n s a g a i n s t 
W a l k e r 
i n 
h i s 
i n d i v i d u a l c a p a c i t y , and he a r g u e s t h a t W a l k e r i s e n t i t l e d t o 
i m m u n i t y 
f r o m t h o s e c l a i m s 
o n l y i f 
he was a c t i n g w i t h i n t h e 
l i n e and s c o p e o f h i s d u t i e s a t t h e t i m e o f t h e a c c i d e n t . 
R e l y i n g upon t h i s C o u r t ' s d e c i s i o n i n Ex p a r t e 
H a r a l s o n , 
853 
So. 2d 928 
( A l a . 2 0 0 3 ) , 
H a r r i s c o n t e n d s 
t h a t W a l k e r 
c a n n o t 
a s s e r t 
i m m u n i t y 
f r o m 
c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t 
h i m i n h i s i n d i v i d u a l 
c a p a c i t y s i m p l y b e c a u s e he was o p e r a t i n g h i s 
p a t r o l c a r 
a t 
t h e 
t i m e o f t h e a c c i d e n t 
and t h a t 
W a l k e r 
must p u t f o r t h 
some 
e v i d e n c e 
s h o w i n g 
t h a t , a t t h e t i m e o f t h e a c c i d e n t , he was 
7 
1110436 
a c t i n g w i t h i n t h e l i n e and s c o p e o f h i s 
e m p l o y m e n t as a d e p u t y 
s h e r i f f . 
H a r r i s 
s t a t e s 
t h a t 
t h e m o t i o n 
t o 
d i s m i s s 
was 
p r o p e r l y d e n i e d b e c a u s e i t 
i s e n t i r e l y p o s s i b l e t h a t he 
c o u l d 
p r e v a i l on h i s c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t 
W a l k e r 
i n d i v i d u a l l y 
i f i t i s 
shown t h a t W a l k e r was n o t a c t i n g w i t h i n t h e l i n e and s c o p e o f 
h i s e m p l o y m e n t a t t h e t i m e o f t h e a c c i d e n t . 
H a r r i s 
f u r t h e r 
c o n t e n d s 
t h a t 
a t 
t h i s 
e a r l y 
s t a g e 
o f t h e p r o c e e d i n g 
no 
d i s c o v e r y h a s t a k e n p l a c e and t h a t he s h o u l d be a l l o w e d 
t i m e 
f o r d i s c o v e r y i n o r d e r t o d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r W a l k e r was a c t i n g 
w i t h i n 
t h e l i n e 
and s c o p e o f h i s e m p l o y m e n t as a 
d e p u t y 
s h e r i f f a t t h e t i m e o f t h e a c c i d e n t . 
T h i s C o u r t h a s s t a t e d : 
"A s h e r i f f i s 
an e x e c u t i v e 
o f f i c e r o f t h i s 
S t a t e 
p u r s u a n t t o t h e A l a b a m a C o n s t i t u t i o n o f 1 9 0 1 , A r t . 
V, § 112. P a r k e r 
[ v . A m e r s o n ] , 519 So. 2d [422,] a t 
443 
[ ( A l a . 
1 9 8 7 ) ] . 
As 
an 
e x e c u t i v e 
o f f i c e r , 
a 
s h e r i f f i s immune f r o m b e i n g 
s u e d i n t h e 
e x e c u t i o n 
o f t h e d u t i e s 
o f h i s o f f i c e 
u n d e r A r t . I , § 14, 
A l a b a m a C o n s t . 1 9 0 1 . I d . a t 4 4 2 - 4 3 . F u r t h e r m o r e , a 
s h e r i f f , 
as an e m p l o y e e o f t h e S t a t e , 
' i s immune 
f r o m 
s u i t , i n h i s o f f i c i a l 
c a p a c i t y , f o r n e g l i g e n t 
p e r f o r m a n c e o f h i s s t a t u t o r y d u t i e s . ' A l e x a n d e r [ v .  
H a t f i e l d ] , 652 So. 2d [1142,] a t 1143 [ ( A l a . 
1 9 9 4 ) ] ; 
P a r k e r , 
519 So. 2d a t 4 4 2 - 4 3 ; W r i g h t v . B a i l e y , 611 
So. 2d 300, 303 ( A l a . 1 9 9 2 ) . 
" T h i s 
C o u r t h a s h e l d 
t h a t d e p u t y 
s h e r i f f s a r e 
immune 
t o t h e same 
e x t e n t 
s h e r i f f s 
a r e immune 
b e c a u s e 
' " [ t ] h e d e p u t y 
s h e r i f f i s t h e a l t e r ego o f 
t h e 
s h e r i f f . " ' H e r e f o r d v. J e f f e r s o n C o u n t y , 586 So. 
8 
1110436 
2d 209, 210 ( A l a . 1991) ( q u o t i n g M o s e l y v. K e n n e d y , 
245 
A l a . 448, 450, 17 So. 2d 536, 537 
( 1 9 4 4 ) ) . 
A 
d e p u t y 
s h e r i f f 
a c t i n g i n h i s ' o f f i c i a l 
c a p a c i t [ y ] 
and 
i n d i v i d u a l l y ' 
i s immune 
f r o m 
s u i t 
when 
t h e 
a c t i o n 
i s one 
a g a i n s t t h e S t a t e . See 
P h i l l i p s 
v .  
Thomas, 555 So. 2d 81, 83 
( A l a . 
1 9 8 9 ) . 
See 
a l s o 
H e r e f o r d , 
586 So. 2d a t 210 
( d e p u t y 
s h e r i f f s were 
e n t i t l e d 
t o S t a t e 
i m m u n i t y 
f o r t h e i r 
a c t i o n s i n 
r e l e a s i n g a p r i s o n e r ) ; s e e a l s o W r i g h t , 
611 So. 2d 
a t 
303 
( d e p u t y 
s h e r i f f s 
were 
e n t i t l e d 
t o 
S t a t e 
i m m u n i t y f o r t h e i r 
n e g l i g e n t 
f a i l u r e 
t o a r r e s t a 
m o t o r i s t ) ; D r a i n v. Odom, 631 So. 2d 971 ( A l a . 1994) 
( d e p u t y 
s h e r i f f was 
e n t i t l e d t o S t a t e i m m u n i t y , i n 
h i s 
o f f i c i a l 
c a p a c i t y , 
f o r 
a c t i o n s 
t a k e n 
i n 
p e r f o r m a n c e 
o f 
h i s 
d u t i e s 
as 
d e p u t y 
s h e r i f f ) ; 
A l e x a n d e r , 
652 So. 2d a t 1144 
( d e p u t y 
s h e r i f f 
was 
e n t i t l e d t o S t a t e i m m u n i t y f o r a c t i o n s t a k e n 
w h i l e 
'on 
d u t y ' ) . " 
Ex p a r t e H a r a l s o n , 853 So. 2d a t 932. 
I n 
Ex p a r t e 
H a r a l s o n , 
t h e p l a i n t i f f 
s u e d a 
s h e r i f f ' s 
d e p u t y 
s e e k i n g 
t o 
r e c o v e r 
damages 
as 
t h e 
r e s u l t 
o f an 
a u t o m o b i l e 
a c c i d e n t i n v o l v i n g t h e d e p u t y w h i l e t h e d e p u t y was 
o p e r a t i n g a v e h i c l e owned b y t h e s h e r i f f ' s 
d e p a r t m e n t . 
The 
d e p u t y moved t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t t o d i s m i s s t h e c o m p l a i n t 
a g a i n s t 
h i m , 
a r g u i n g , among o t h e r t h i n g s , t h a t he was immune f r o m 
s u i t 
u n d e r § 14. 
The 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
d e n i e d t h e d e p u t y ' s m o t i o n t o 
d i s m i s s ; he t h e n p e t i t i o n e d t h i s C o u r t f o r 
a w r i t o f mandamus 
d i r e c t i n g t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t t o d i s m i s s t h e c l a i m s a g a i n s t h i m . 
As W a l k e r a r g u e s h e r e , t h e d e p u t y i n 
Ex p a r t e H a r a l s o n , 
a r g u e d 
i n s u p p o r t o f h i s p e t i t i o n t h a t he was an e x e c u t i v e o f f i c e r o f 
9 
1110436 
t h e 
S t a t e p u r s u a n t t o A r t . V, 
§ 112, 
A l a b a m a C o n s t i t u t i o n 
o f 
1901, 
and 
t h a t 
as 
an 
e x e c u t i v e 
o f f i c e r 
he 
i s e n t i t l e d , 
u n d e r 
A r t . 
I , § 14, 
t o i m m u n i t y f r o m b e i n g 
s u e d . The 
d e p u t y a r g u e d 
t h a t 
t h i s i m m u n i t y e x t e n d e d t o t h e e x e c u t i o n 
o f t h e d u t i e s 
o f 
h i s 
o f f i c e . 
The 
p l a i n t i f f 
i n Ex p a r t e 
H a r a l s o n , 
a r g u e d i n 
o p p o s i t i o n 
t o t h e d e p u t y ' s p e t i t i o n 
t h a t 
t h e d e p u t y was 
n o t 
e n t i t l e d 
t o 
i m m u n i t y s i m p l y b e c a u s e he 
a s s e r t e d 
t h a t he was 
an 
o f f i c e r 
o f 
t h e S t a t e and 
t h a t t h e d e p u t y was 
e n t i t l e d t o i m m u n i t y o n l y i f 
he 
was 
"on 
d u t y " a n d / o r was 
a c t i n g w i t h i n 
t h e 
s c o p e 
o f 
h i s 
e m p l o y m e n t a t t h e t i m e o f t h e a c c i d e n t . 
The 
p l a i n t i f f 
c l a i m e d 
t h a t i t was 
n o t c l e a r w h e t h e r t h e d e p u t y was 
a c t i n g u n d e r 
t h e 
a u t h o r i t y o f t h e 
S t a t e 
a t t h e t i m e o f t h e 
a c c i d e n t 
and 
t h a t , 
w i t h o u t 
e v i d e n c e 
i n d i c a t i n g 
t h a t 
he 
was 
a c t i n g 
u n d e r 
s u c h 
a u t h o r i t y , 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
c o r r e c t l y 
d e n i e d 
h i s 
m o t i o n 
t o 
d i s m i s s . 
I d . 
T h i s C o u r t a g r e e d w i t h 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f 
and 
s t a t e d : 
"We 
c a n n o t c o n c l u d e , a t t h i s e a r l y s t a g e o f 
t h e 
p r o c e e d i n g s , 
w i t h o u t 
e v i d e n c e 
s h o w i n g 
t h a t 
a t 
t h e 
t i m e o f 
t h e 
a c c i d e n t 
he 
was 
a c t i n g w i t h i n 
t h e 
l i n e 
and s c o p e o f h i s e m p l o y m e n t , t h a t D e p u t y H a r a l s o n i s 
e n t i t l e d 
t o i m m u n i t y . 
No 
S t a t e 
o f f i c e r , 
s u c h 
as 
a 
d e p u t y 
s h e r i f f , 
can 
a v o i d 
t o r t 
l i a b i l i t y 
s i m p l y 
by 
c l a i m i n g 
t h a t 
h i s 
'"mere 
s t a t u s 
as 
a 
[ S ] t a t e 
o f f i c i a l 
c l o a k s 
h i m 
w i t h 
t h e 
[ S ] t a t e ' s 
10 
1110436 
c o n s t i t u t i o n a l 
i m m u n i t y . " ' P h i l l i p s [ v . T h o m a s ] , 
555 
So. 
2d 
[81,] 
a t 83 
[ ( A l a . 
1 9 8 9 ) ] 
( q u o t i n g B a r n e s 
v. 
D a l e , 
530 
So. 
2d 
770, 
781 
( A l a . 1 
98 8 
) ) ; 
see 
a l s o 
M i t c h e l l 
[ v . D a v i s ] , 598 
So. 2d [801,] a t 806 
[ ( A l a . 
1 9 9 2 ) ] . 
I t i s c o n c e i v a b l e t h a t G r i f f i t h c o u l d p r o v e 
f a c t s 
t h a t 
w o u l d 
show 
t h a t 
a t 
t h e 
t i m e 
o f 
t h e 
a c c i d e n t D e p u t y H a r a l s o n was 
on a p e r s o n a l e r r a n d o r 
o t h e r w i s e 
had 
d e p a r t e d 
f r o m t h e 
l i n e 
and 
s c o p e 
o f 
h i s 
e m p l o y m e n t . 
I f 
s o , 
G r i f f i t h 
'may 
p o s s i b l [ y ] 
p r e v a i l ' 
on h e r c l a i m s . 
See Nance [ v . M a t h e w s ] , 
622 
So. 
2d 
[2 
97 ,] 
a t 
299 
[ ( A l a . 
1 
9 9 3 ) ] . 
G i v e n 
t h e 
q u e s t i o n 
p r e s e n t e d 
by 
t h i s 
mandamus 
p e t i t i o n - ¬
w h e t h e r 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
s h o u l d 
have 
d i s m i s s e d 
G r i f f i t h ' s 
c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t 
D e p u t y 
H a r a l s o n 
on 
t h e 
g r o u n d 
t h a t 
he 
i s 
e n t i t l e d 
t o 
S t a t e 
i m m u n i t y - - w e 
c o n c l u d e 
t h a t D e p u t y H a r a l s o n has 
n o t shown t h a t 
he 
has 
'"a c l e a r 
l e g a l 
r i g h t 
... 
t o t h e o r d e r 
s o u g h t . " ' 
[Ex 
p a r t e ] 
B u t t s , 
775 
So. 
2d 
[173] 
a t 
178 
[ ( A l a . 
2 0 0 0 ) ] 
( q u o t i n g 
Ex 
p a r t e 
U n i t e d 
S e r v . 
S t a t i o n s , 
 
I n c . , 
628 
So. 
2d a t 
5 0 3 ) . " 
Ex p a r t e H a r a l s o n , 
853 
So. 
2d a t 
933. 
We 
f i n d 
t h e 
f a c t s 
p r e s e n t e d 
i n 
t h i s 
p e t i t i o n 
t o 
be 
d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e f r o m t h o s e i n Ex p a r t e H a r a l s o n and more a k i n 
t o 
t h o s e 
p r e s e n t e d 
i n Ex 
p a r t e 
B l a n k e n s h i p , 
893 
So. 
2d 
303 
( A l a . 
2004 ) , 
a 
c a s e 
r e l i e d 
on 
by 
W a l k e r . 
I n 
Ex 
p a r t e 
B l a n k e n s h i p , 
t h e p l a i n t i f f s u e d a s h e r i f f ' s d e p u t y s e e k i n g t o 
r e c o v e r damages 
a r i s i n g 
f r o m an 
a u t o m o b i l e 
a c c i d e n t b e t w e e n 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f ' s v e h i c l e and 
a v e h i c l e b e i n g 
d r i v e n by 
t h e 
d e p u t y . 
The 
c o m p l a i n t 
s p e c i f i c a l l y a l l e g e d t h a t t h e 
d e p u t y 
was 
an e m p l o y e e o f t h e 
s h e r i f f ' s 
d e p a r t m e n t and 
t h a t a t 
t h e 
t i m e and p l a c e o f t h e a c c i d e n t t h e d e p u t y was 
" ' p e r f o r m i n g 
h i s 
11 
1110436 
d u t i e s as a D e p u t y S h e r i f f . ' " 
893 
So. 
2d a t 305. 
The 
d e p u t y 
moved 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
t o 
d i s m i s s 
t h e 
c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t 
h i m , 
a r g u i n g t h a t he was 
e n t i t l e d t o a b s o l u t e i m m u n i t y p u r s u a n t 
t o 
§ 14. 
The 
t r i a l 
c o u r t d e n i e d 
t h e m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s . 
The 
d e p u t y p e t i t i o n e d t h i s C o u r t 
f o r a w r i t o f mandamus, 
a g a i n a r g u i n g t h a t he was immune f r o m l i a b i l i t y p u r s u a n t 
t o § 
14. 
T h i s C o u r t 
a g r e e d , 
s t a t i n g : 
"Where 
i t i s u n d i s p u t e d 
t h a t 
a d e p u t y 
s h e r i f f 
i s 
' a c t i n g w i t h i n t h e 
l i n e and s c o p e o f h i s e m p l o y m e n t 
... 
a t t h e 
t i m e 
[he 
i s i n v o l v e d i n an 
a u t o m o b i l e ] 
a c c i d e n t ' 
w i t h 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f , 
§ 
14, 
A l a . 
C o n s t . 
1901, 
b a r s 
an a c t i o n a g a i n s t t h e d e p u t y s h e r i f f 
f o r 
damages 
a r i s i n g 
o u t 
o f 
t h e 
a c c i d e n t . 
Ex 
p a r t e 
 
M c W h o r t e r , 880 
So. 2d [1116,] a t 1117 
[ ( A l a . 
2 0 0 3 ) ] . 
T h i s i s s o , b e c a u s e an a c t i o n a g a i n s t a 
s h e r i f f - - o r 
a 
d e p u t y 
s h e r i f f - - f o r 
damages 
a r i s i n g 
o u t 
o f 
t h e 
p e r f o r m a n c e 
o f 
h i s d u t i e s 
i s 
' " e s s e n t i a l l y 
a 
s u i t 
a g a i n s t t h e 
s t a t e . " ' 
P a r k e r 
v. A m e r s o n , 519 
So. 
2d 
442, 
445 
( A l a . 1987) 
( q u o t i n g M o n t i e l v. 
H o l c o m b e , 
240 
A l a . 352, 
354, 
199 
So. 
245, 
245 
( 1 9 4 0 ) ) ; 
a c c o r d 
D r a i n 
v. 
Odom, 
631 
So. 
2d 
971 , 
972 
( A l a . 
1994 ) 
('deputy 
s h e r i f f s 
a r e immune t o t h e same e x t e n t 
as 
s h e r i f f s ' ) . 
" H e r e , 
i t 
i s 
a l l e g e d 
i n 
t h e 
c o m p l a i n t 
and 
a d m i t t e d 
i n t h e a n s w e r t h a t D e p u t y B l a n k e n s h i p 
was 
a c t i n g 
i n t h e 
l i n e 
and 
s c o p e o f h i s d u t i e s a t 
t h e 
t i m e 
o f 
t h e 
a c c i d e n t . 
Of 
c o u r s e , 
i n 
r e v i e w i n g 
a 
m o t i o n 
t o 
d i s m i s s , 
t h e 
C o u r t 
'"must 
a c c e p t 
t h e 
 
a l l e g a t i o n s 
o f 
t h e 
c o m p l a i n t 
as 
t r u e . " ' 
Ex 
p a r t e 
 
A l a b a m a Dep't o f Y o u t h S e r v s . , 
880 
So. 
2d 
393, 
397 
( A l a . 
2003) 
( e m p h a s i s added) 
( q u o t i n g 
C r e o l a 
L a n d 
 
Dev., 
I n c . v. B e n t b r o o k e H o u s i n g , L.L.C., 
828 
So. 
2d 
285, 
288 
( A l a . 2 0 0 2 ) ) . 
Thus, 
an 
a c t i o n 
a g a i n s t 
D e p u t y B l a n k e n s h i p b a s e d on t h i s c o m p l a i n t 
i s b a r r e d 
12 
1110436 
by 
§ 14, 
and 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
e r r e d 
i n d e n y i n g 
t h e 
m o t i o n t o 
d i s m i s s . " 
Ex p a r t e 
B l a n k e n s h i p , 
893 
So. 
2d a t 
305. 
H e r e , H a r r i s 
s p e c i f i c a l l y 
a l l e g e d i n h i s c o m p l a i n t , 
n o t 
once b u t 
t w i c e , 
t h a t W a l k e r was 
a c t i n g w i t h i n 
t h e 
l i n e 
and 
s c o p e 
o f 
h i s 
e m p l o y m e n t 
w i t h 
t h e 
Macon 
C o u n t y 
S h e r i f f ' s 
D e p a r t m e n t a t t h e t i m e o f t h e a c c i d e n t . 
H a r r i s a l l e g e d i n t h e 
c o m p l a i n t 
t h a t a t t h e t i m e o f t h e a c c i d e n t W a l k e r was 
" a c t i n g 
w i t h i n t h e 
l i n e and s c o p e o f h i s e m p l o y m e n t " and 
"was 
e n g a g e d 
i n 
t h e 
r e g u l a r 
c o u r s e 
and 
s c o p e 
o f 
h i s employment 
f o r 
t h e 
Macon C o u n t y S h e r i f f ' s D e p a r t m e n t . " 
T h e r e a r e no a l l e g a t i o n s 
i n 
t h e 
c o m p l a i n t 
t h a t 
W a l k e r 
had 
d e v i a t e d 
f r o m 
t h e 
n o r m a l 
s c o p e 
o f 
h i s 
d u t i e s 
as 
an 
e m p l o y e e 
o f 
t h e 
Macon 
C o u n t y 
S h e r i f f ' s D e p a r t m e n t a t t h e 
t i m e o f t h e 
a c c i d e n t . 
I t i s a 
w e l l 
e s t a b l i s h e d 
r u l e 
" ' " t h a t 
a p a r t y 
i s b o u n d by what i t 
s t a t e s i n i t s p l e a d i n g s . " ' " 
Ex p a r t e 
B l a n k e n s h i p , 
893 
So. 
2d 
a t 306 
( q u o t i n g H e l p a t Home, I n c . v. M e d i c a l 
C a p i t a l , L.L.C., 
260 
F. 3d 748, 
753 
( 7 t h C i r . 2 0 0 1 ) ) . 
F u r t h e r , we "must a c c e p t 
t h e a l l e g a t i o n s o f t h e c o m p l a i n t 
as t r u e . " 
C r e o l a L a n d 
Dev., 
I n c . v. B e n t b r o o k e H o u s i n g , L.L.C., 828 
So. 
2d 285, 
288 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 2 ) . B e c a u s e H a r r i s h i m s e l f 
a l l e g e d i n t h e 
c o m p l a i n t 
t h a t 
W a l k e r 
was 
" a c t i n g 
w i t h i n 
t h e 
l i n e 
and 
s c o p e 
o f 
h i s 
13 
1110436 
e m p l o y m e n t " 
as 
a 
d e p u t y 
s h e r i f f 
and 
"was 
e n g a g e d 
i n 
t h e 
r e g u l a r 
c o u r s e 
and 
s c o p e 
o f 
h i s employment 
f o r t h e 
Macon 
C o u n t y 
S h e r i f f ' s 
D e p a r t m e n t " 
a t 
t h e 
t i m e 
o f 
t h e 
a c c i d e n t , 
W a l k e r i s immune f r o m s u i t p u r s u a n t t o § 14. 
C o n c l u s i o n 
W a l k e r has d e m o n s t r a t e d a c l e a r 
l e g a l r i g h t t o t h e 
r e l i e f 
s o u g h t . 
T h e r e f o r e , we 
g r a n t 
t h e 
p e t i t i o n 
f o r a 
w r i t 
o f 
mandamus and 
d i r e c t 
t h e Macon 
C i r c u i t C o u r t t o d i s m i s s 
t h e 
c l a i m s a s s e r t e d a g a i n s t 
W a l k e r . 
P E T I T I O N GRANTED; WRIT ISSUED. 
M a l o n e , 
C . J . , and W o o d a l l , 
S t u a r t , 
P a r k e r , Shaw, 
M a i n , 
and W i s e , J J . , c o n c u r . 
14