Opinion ID: 1593545
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Jones v. Lathram

Text: In Jones v. Lathram, 150 S.W.3d 50 (Ky.2005), Officer Lathram was operating a police cruiser at the time of the fatal collision. This Court determined that the officer undertook a ministerial act in responding to an emergency call for assistance from a fellow officer. The court stated that the act of safely driving a police cruiser, even in an emergency, is not an act that typically requires any deliberation or exercise of judgment. This court in a unanimous decision reversed the affirmance of a summary judgment and held that the officer was not entitled to qualified official immunity from liability. The act of safely controlling a police cruiser is not a discretionary act, but rather a ministerial function. In this case, Officer Miller had control of the operation of his police cruiser. Thus, it would be a ministerial act requiring reactive decisions based on duty, training and overall consideration of public safety. The question of whether Officer Miller was negligent in operating his police cruiser under all the facts and circumstances is a matter for the jury or trier of fact. Thus, summary judgment was inappropriate in this case. The Court of Appeals also acknowledged that Officer Miller was obviously negligent in the performance of his duty at the time in question.