Opinion ID: 1698030
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: City of Tuskegee

Text: Arnold alleges that the City of Tuskegee is vicariously liable for the negligence, carelessness, and unskillfulness of John Moon and Theodore Moon. The petitioners argue that because the officers are immune from liability under § 6-5-338(a) the City is immune from liability under § 6-5-338(b). Section § 6-5-338(b) provides: This section is intended to extend immunity only to peace officers and governmental units or agencies authorized to appoint peace officers. No immunity is extended hereby to any private non-governmental person or entity, including any private employer of a peace officer during that officer's off-duty hours. It is well established that, if a municipal police officer is immune pursuant to § 6-5-338(a), then, pursuant to § 6-5-338(b), the city by which he is employed is also immune. Howard, 887 So.2d at 211. Because we have held that John Moon and Theodore Moon are immune from Arnold's claim alleging negligence, unskillfulness, or carelessness, the City is also immune from liability as to this claim by virtue of § 6-5-338(b). Therefore, the petition for a writ of mandamus ordering the trial court to stay discovery is due to be granted as to the claims against the City based upon the negligence, carelessness, and unskillfulness of John Moon and Theodore Moon, and we direct the trial court to conduct a hearing on the City's motion for a summary judgment as to these claims. Arnold also claims that the City of Tuskegee is vicariously liable for the bad faith of John Moon and Theodore Moon in allegedly concocting the warrant. The City argues that it is immune from liability as to these claims under Ala.Code 1975, § 11-47-190. Section 11-47-190 provides that a municipality is immune from tort liability unless such injury or wrong was done or suffered through the neglect, carelessness or unskillfulness of some agent, officer or employee of the municipality engaged in work therefor and while acting in the line of his or her duty. This statute limits a municipality's liability for the acts of its agents to those acts that are negligent, careless, or unskillful. Section 11-47-190 provides a municipality immunity from liability for the acts of its agents that are carried out in bad faith or with malice. Borders, 875 So.2d at 1183 (quoting Ex parte City of Gadsden, 718 So.2d 716, 721 (Ala.1998)). The City has a clear legal right to an order directing the trial court to stay discovery as to Arnold's claims that are based upon the intentional conduct of John Moon and Theodore Moon because a municipality cannot be held liable for the intentional torts of its agents. Therefore, we grant the petition for the writ of mandamus ordering the trial court to stay discovery as to the claims based upon the bad faith or malicious acts of John Moon and Theodore Moon, and we direct the trial court to hold a hearing on the City's motion for a summary judgment as to these claims. Arnold also alleges that the City of Tuskegee is vicariously liable for the actions of Baker and Ware. Because we have held that, at this point in the proceeding, Baker and Ware were not entitled to judicial immunity as to Arnold's claims of negligence, unskillfulness, or carelessness against them, Arnold has stated a cause of action against the City of Tuskegee under § 11-47-190. See Franklin, 670 So.2d at 852 ([W]here a plaintiff alleges a factual pattern that demonstrates `neglect, carelessness, or unskillfulness' the plaintiff has stated a cause of action under Ala.Code 1975, § 11-47-190.). The City of Tuskegee does not have a clear legal right to an order instructing the trial court to stay discovery and conduct a hearing on the summary-judgment motion as to this claim because it is possible that Arnold could discover facts demonstrating that Baker and Ware are not immune from liability by virtue of judicial immunity. Accordingly, we deny the petition for the writ of mandamus as to this claim. The City of Tuskegee does have a clear legal right to an order directing the trial court to stay discovery and conduct a hearing on the motion for a summary judgment as to the claim that it is vicariously liable for the acts of Baker and Ware that were allegedly carried out with bad faith or malice. As stated earlier in this opinion, under § 11-47-190, a municipality is immune from liability for the intentional torts of its agents. Borders, 875 So.2d at 1183 (quoting City of Gadsden, 718 So.2d at 721). The City cannot be held liable for any intentional torts on the part of Baker and Ware. Therefore, the City's petition for a writ of mandamus directing the trial court to stay discovery as to the claim that it is vicariously liable for the alleged intentional torts of Baker and Ware is due to be granted, and we direct the trial court to conduct a hearing on the summary-judgment motion as to this claim.