Opinion ID: 1262335
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Discretion Count

Text: In Count V of the motion for judgment, the Taylors allege that the City abused its discretion in approving the site plan of Michie Drive. The Taylors contend that the City is not immune from liability for such abuse of discretion. We do not agree. A municipal corporation, in selecting and adopting a plan for the construction of a public street, acts in a discretionary, governmental capacity and is immune from liability for injuries resulting from its errors in judgment made in that capacity. City of Norfolk v. Hall, 175 Va. 545, 551, 9 S.E.2d 356, 359 (1940); see also Freeman, 221 Va. at 59, 266 S.E.2d at 886. The Taylors also contend that the City is not immune from liability for its failure to exercise its discretion in designing and constructing Michie Drive. We reject this contention. A municipal corporation is immune from liability for failure to exercise a governmental function. Fenon, 203 Va. at 555, 125 S.E.2d at 811; Hoggard, 172 Va. at 147, 200 S.E. at 611; accord Freeman, 221 Va. at 60, 266 S.E.2d at 886; Hall, 175 Va. at 551, 9 S.E.2d at 359. We conclude, therefore, that the City is immune from liability for the claims of abuse of discretion and of failure to exercise discretion asserted in Count V of the motion for judgment. Accordingly, we will affirm the trial court's judgment that sustained the City's demurrer to that count.