Opinion ID: 1724181
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Gibbons v. Caraway

Text: In Gibbons, the police officer's injury resulted from an accident. Defendant Linda Caraway was allegedly guilty of gross negligence as well as simple negligence in her failure to observe blinking lights, by speeding, and ignoring the traffic directions. Officer Gibbons was acting in his capacity as a police officer while he was directing traffic, and the danger of injury was inherent in his duty to protect the safety of others after a traffic accident. Because the public should not be liable for damages for injuries that occur during the performance of a police officer's duties, see Kreski, supra at 368, 415 N.W.2d 178, the Court of Appeals rightly concluded that Officer Gibbons' cause of action was barred by the fireman's rule. On the basis of the considerations of policy and fairness that persuaded us to adopt the common-law fireman's rule, I would conclude that the fireman's rule bars Officer Gibbons' claim of negligence. I would affirm the Court of Appeals decision.