Opinion ID: 835357
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Overview of the OTCA

Text: Before 1967, public bodies were immune from tort liability. Smith v. Pernoll, 291 Or. 67, 69, 628 P.2d 729 (1981). A person injured by the negligence of a public employee acting within the scope of his or her employment could pursue an action against the employee, but not against the public employer. See Krieger v. Just, 319 Or. 328, 331-32, 876 P.2d 754 (1994) (citing Ogle v. Billick, 253 Or. 92, 453 P.2d 677 (1969)). In 1967, the legislature enacted the OTCA, which partially waived immunity for public bodies. Jensen, 334 Or. at 416-17, 51 P.3d 599. The 1967 version of the OTCA included a monetary limitation on the state's liability, Or. Laws 1967, ch. 627, § 4, but did not alter the liability of public officers, employees, or agents. Jensen, 334 Or. at 417, 51 P.3d 599. Those individuals, therefore, remained personally liable for torts committed within the course and scope of their employment. Id. In 1975, the legislature amended the OTCA. The 1975 version required that public bodies indemnify officers, employees, and agents against tort claims arising out of an alleged act or omission occurring in the performance of duty. Jensen, 334 Or. at 417, 51 P.3d 599 (internal quotation marks and citations omitted); Or Laws 1975, ch 609, § 16(1). Additionally, the legislature extended the limitation on damages to claims against officers, employees, and agents of all public bodies. Jensen, 334 Or. at 417, 51 P.3d 599; Or Laws 1975, ch 609, § 13. In 1991, the legislature again revised the OTCA. Or Laws 1991, ch 861, § 1. That revision added language to ORS 30.265(1) that eliminated entirely any claim against any officer, employee, or agent for their work-related torts. Jensen, 334 Or. at 417, 51 P.3d 599. Pursuant to the 1991 amendments, the sole cause of action available for torts committed by public officers, employees, or agents is an action against the public body. Or Laws 1991, ch 861, § 1. After that amendment, ORS 30.265(1) now requires that, if an action is filed against a public officer, employee, or agent, the public body shall be substituted as the only defendant. That substituted claim against the public body is subject to the OTCA's damages limitations. ORS 30.265(1); ORS 30.270(1); Jensen, 334 Or. at 417, 51 P.3d 599. The 1991 amendments were added at the request of the state, which asserted three reasons for the requested change. Testimony, House Judiciary Committee, HB 3520, May 13, 1991, Ex E (statement of Jack Landau, Deputy Attorney General). First, because the law provided indemnification for state officers, naming the officers as parties serve[d] no purpose. Id. Second, some claimants had argued that the limitation on the liability of the state did not apply to the liability of individuals; therefore, the state sought to plug that loophole. Id. Finally, the state noted that a lot of resources were spent litigating which state officials are properly named in any given lawsuit. Id. Here, as in Jensen, the 1991 revision frames the issues in this case.