Opinion ID: 2460196
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Liability of Franklin County

Text: The Burns Estate alleges that Franklin County is liable for the negligent actions of its employees acting in their official capacity because the county has waived its immunity from suit by participation in a self-insurance fund. This Court has repeatedly enunciated the general rule that a county has the same sovereign immunity as the state. Cullinan v. Jefferson County, Ky., 418 S.W.2d 407 (1967); Moores v. Fayette County, supra ; Calvert Investments v. Louisville and Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District, Ky., 805 S.W.2d 133 (1991) and Hempel v. Lexington-Fayette County, Ky., 641 S.W.2d 51 (1982). Calvert states in pertinent part that counties are unincorporated political subdivisions of the state, preexisting its formation, whose existence is provided for constitutionally in Sections 63, 64 and 65 of the constitution. In any event it is well settled that in the absence of waiver, the county is immune from tort liability. The legislature has not expressly waived the immunity of the county from suit in tort. The Burns Estate believes that KRS 65.150 is an implied waiver of immunity. KRS 65.150 states the county or city or urban county government ... may expend funds necessary to insure any of its employees, officials and property against any liability or property damage arising out of an act or omission committed in the scope and course of performing legal duties. As described in Withers v. University of Kentucky, Ky., 939 S.W.2d 340 (1997), and in a series of cases beginning with Dunlap v. University of Kentucky Student Health Services Clinic, Ky., 716 S.W.2d 219 (1986), this Court has previously held that the enactment of statutes permitting the purchase of liability insurance is an implied waiver of immunity. However, as noted in Withers, supra , the legislature subsequently enacted legislation amending KRS 44.072 to require a specific and express waiver of immunity. KRS 44.073(14) also states that the purchase of liability insurance or the establishment of a fund for self-insurance shall not be construed as a waiver of immunity by the Commonwealth. Again, as stated by Withers , the majority of the Supreme Court determined that a clear legislative intent to preserve the defense of sovereign immunity unless expressly waived was announced by the General Assembly and that the legislature abrogated the decision of Dunlap. KRS 65.150 does not constitute an express waiver of immunity. Thus the legislature has not waived Franklin County's immunity from this type of action. KRS 65.150 only permits a county to purchase insurance covering the liability of employees and officials and it does not provide for the purchase of insurance covering liability of the county itself. We hold that participation in a self-insurance fund is not an implied waiver of immunity.