Opinion ID: 1465765
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The City's Immunity as Applied to Tort Claims

Text: Municipality immunity is an oft-confused area of law. Under the common law, only the State and its entities were entitled to complete sovereign immunity from all tort liability. Junior College Dist. of St. Louis v. City of St. Louis, 149 S.W.3d 442, 447 (Mo. banc 2004). Municipal corporations traditionally have had immunity, however, for those actions they undertake as a part of the municipality's governmental functionsactions benefiting the general public. Junior College, 149 S.W.3d at 447; State ex rel. Trimble v. Ryan, 745 S.W.2d 672, 673-74 (Mo. banc 1988). Municipalities have no immunity for torts while performing proprietary functionsactions benefiting or profiting the municipality in its corporate capacity. Junior College, 149 S.W.3d at 447. This Court has held that termination of a city employee is a governmental function. State ex rel. Gallagher v. Kansas City, 319 Mo. 705, 7 S.W.2d 357 (banc 1928). See also Feuchter v. City of St. Louis, 357 Mo. 616, 210 S.W.2d 21, 25 (1948), and Nichols v. City of Kirksville, 68 F.3d 245, 247 (8th Cir.1995) ( citing Gallagher, 7 S.W.2d at 361). Kunzie has provided no sound reason to deviate from Gallagher. Personnel decisions and the internal administration of operating a municipal department are governmental. As such, the city is protected by governmental immunity unless some exception applies. In this case, the only applicable exception would be the municipality's procurement of liability insurance. Section 537.610.1 allows political subdivisions of the state to purchase liability insurance for tort claims and waives sovereign immunity only to the maximum amount of and only for the purposes covered by such policy of insurance or self-insurance plan. Kunzie alleges that the city maintains liability insurance to handle the consequences of employment related actions brought against them. By doing so, Kunzie has sufficiently alleged facts that, if proved, would bring his tort claims within the purview of the statute. Because the trial court dismissed Kunzie's petition prior to the commencement of discovery, Kunzie was not able to prove the existence and content of the insurance policy. Kunzie's tort claims for wrongful discharge and retaliation may be barred. Because the case is remanded to the trial court, Kunzie will have the opportunity to prove if, and to what extent, the city maintains liability insurance that covers his claims. If the city maintains insurance that covers these types of claims, then it will have waived its immunity under section 537.610 for the specific purpose of and to the extent of its insurance coverage. A municipality's procurement of insurance constitutes an absolute and complete waiver of all immunities. [4]