Opinion ID: 1627664
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 13

Heading: The City's Liability for Officer Ratliff's Conduct

Text: Officer Ratliff's alleged negligence falls under the statutory waiver of sovereign immunity in section 537.600.1(1) because it alleges injuries directly resulting from negligent acts by a public employee arising out of his operation of a motor vehicle within the course of his employment. As such, the City is not protected by sovereign immunity against the claims relating to Officer Ratliff's alleged negligence. Further, as explained above, there can be no immunity protections for the City where statutes provide its immunity protections are waived. Under Davis, the official immunity protections available to Officer Ratliff are personal to him and cannot be extended to protect the City. 193 S.W.3d at 765. And, because the legislature intended the City to face liability in negligent operation of motor vehicle cases, the City cannot claim the residual protections of the public duty doctrine, despite the fact that Officer Ratliff is protected by the doctrine. To the extent that the trial court entered judgment after determining the City was immune from all liability in this case, that judgment is reversed. Section 537.600.1(1) makes clear that the City is not immune from the claims of respondeat superior liability relating to Officer Ratliff's conduct.