Opinion ID: 1831493
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the mmlp policy

Text: ¶ 30. At common law, the State and its subdivisions enjoyed complete immunity from suit through the judicial doctrine of sovereign immunity. In 1982, this Court did away with judicial sovereign immunity in Pruett v. City of Rosedale, 421 So.2d 1046 (Miss.1982). As a result, the Legislature enacted Title 11, Chapter 46, commonly referred to as the Mississippi Tort Claims Act (MTCA). The MTCA provides sovereign immunity to the State and its subdivisions and allows for a limited waiver of that protection if certain statutory requirements are met. Miss.Code Ann. §§ 11-46-3, 11-46-5, 11-46-11. The MTCA is the exclusive remedy of a claimant alleging injuries due to the negligence of the State or its political subdivisions and employees. Miss.Code Ann. § 11-46-7. The Act further sets out certain acts for which a government entity and its employees may never be held liable. Miss.Code Ann. § 11-46-9. Even if a political subdivision or government entity has waived sovereign immunity for a certain act of negligence, the MTCA still provides a limitation of liability thereby capping the amount of applicable damages for which it may be held liable. Miss.Code Ann. § 11-46-15. ¶ 31. Taylorsville is a political subdivision which falls under the protections of the MTCA. Miss.Code Ann. §§ 11-46-1(i), 11-46-3(1), 11-46-5(1), 11-46-7(1). All statutory requirements have been met, and Taylorsville does not contest any issue with regard to the plaintiffs' satisfaction of these statutory requirements. Miss.Code Ann. §§ 11-46-11(1), (2), (3), & (4). Immunity is waived to the extent of $50,000 for the negligent acts of Jones, a Taylorsville employee acting within the scope and course of employment. Miss.Code Ann. §§ 11-46-1(f); 11-46-5(1),(2), & (3); 11-46-9(1)(c); 11-46-15(1)(a). Taylorsville concedes that it is liable for $50,000. ¶ 32. However, as the majority states, the issue then turns on the MMLP policy because recovery in excess of $50,000 is still possible depending on the true character of the policy and the terms provided therein. Section 11-46-15 provides that [e]xcept as otherwise provided in Section 11-46-17(4), in any suit brought under the provisions of this chapter, if the verdict which is returned when added to costs and any attorney's fees authorized by law, would exceed the maximum dollar amount of liability provided in subsection (1) of this section, the court shall reduce the verdict accordingly and enter judgment in an amount not to exceed the maximum dollar amount of liability provided in subsection (1) of this section. Miss.Code Ann. § 11-46-15(3) (emphasis added). It is this statement except as otherwise provided in Section 11-46-17(4) which creates to the present controversy. Miss. Code Ann. § 11-46-15(3) (emphasis added). ¶ 33. Section 11-46-17 provides for the creation of a Tort Claims Fund to cover claims made against government entities and subdivisions. Miss.Code Ann. § 11-46-17(1). However, this Section also gives municipalities and other government entities the option of opting out of the Tort Claims Fund and electing self-insurance, pooling agreements, and general liability insurance. Miss.Code Ann. § 11-46-17(3),(4), & (5). The applicable portions of Section 11-46-17 specifically provide: (3) All political subdivisions shall, from and after October 1, 1993, obtain such policy or policies of insurance, establish such self insurance reserves, or provide a combination of such insurance and reserves as necessary to cover all risks of claims and suits for which political subdivisions may be liable under this chapter; except any political subdivision shall not be required to obtain pollution liability insurance. However, this shall not limit any cause of action against such political subdivision relative to limits of liability under the Tort Claims Act. Such policy or policies of insurance or such self-insurance may contain any reasonable limitations or exclusions not contrary to Mississippi state statutes or case law as are normally included in commercial liability insurance policies generally available to political subdivisions. All such plans of insurance and/or reserves shall be submitted for approval to the board. The board shall issue a certificate of coverage to each political subdivision whose plan of insurance and/or reserves it approves in the same manner as provided in subsection (2) of this section. Whenever any political subdivision fails to obtain the board's approval of any plan of insurance and/or reserves, the political subdivision shall act in accordance with the rules and regulations of the board and obtain a satisfactory plan of insurance and/or reserves to be approved by the board. (4) Any governmental entity of the state may purchase liability insurance to cover claims in excess of the amounts provided for in Section 11-46-15 and may be sued by anyone is excess of the amounts provided for in Section 11-46-15 to the extent of such excess insurance carried; provided, however, that the immunity from suit above the amounts provided for in Section 11-46-15 shall be waived only to the extent of such excess liability insurance carried.