Opinion ID: 1928643
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act

Text: We begin by noting that OPPD is a political subdivision as defined by the Act. See, Neb.Rev.Stat. § 13-903(1) (Reissue 1991); Schmidt v. Omaha Pub. Power Dist, 245 Neb. 776, 515 N.W.2d 756 (1994). This negligence action against OPPD was therefore correctly initiated pursuant to the Act. The Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act reflects a limited waiver of governmental immunity and prescribes the procedure for maintenance of a suit against a political subdivision. Chicago Lumber Co. v. School Dist. No. 71, 221 Neb. 355, 366, 417 N.W.2d 757, 764 (1988). At issue in this case are the procedural requirements regarding the filing of a claim with a political subdivision within statutory timeframes. In examining these requirements, we note that whether PolinsM's July 12, 1991, letter was sufficient to constitute the filing of a claim in this case is not in question. Neb.Rev.Stat. § 13-905 (Reissue 1991) of the Act requires all plaintiffs bringing a claim against a political subdivision to submit a written claim to that entity setting forth the time and place of the occurrence giving rise to the claim, along with any other pertinent facts known to the claimant. The time limit for the filing of a tort claim against a political subdivision is set forth at § 13-919(1), which provides, in pertinent part, that [ejvery claim against a political subdivision permitted under the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act shall be forever barred unless within one year after such claim accrued the claim is made in writing to the governing body. For purposes of § 13-919(1), a cause of action accrues, thereby starting the period of limitations, when a potential plaintiff discovers, or in the exercise of reasonable diligence should discover, the political subdivision's negligence. Hutmacher v. City of Mead, 230 Neb. 78, 430 N.W.2d 276 (1988). The filing or presentment of a claim under the Act is a condition precedent to commencement of a negligence action against a political subdivision. Miles v. Box Butte County, 241 Neb. 588, 489 N.W.2d 829 (1992); Millman v. County of Butler, 235 Neb. 915, 458 N.W.2d 207 (1990). Noncompliance with the notice requirements is an available defense to a political subdivision, provided it is raised as an affirmative defense. Id. OPPD's amended answer specifically raised as an affirmative defense Polinski's failure to provide written notice of his claim within the timeframes of § 13-919. It was therefore incumbent upon Polinski to prove that he complied with the notice requirements set forth in the Act. See, Miles v. Box Butte County, supra; Millman v. County of Butler, supra. The undisputed facts in this case reveal that the first claim letter Polinski sent to OPPD was on July 12, 1991, more than 15 months after Polinski was injured. Thus, Polinski obviously failed to deliver a written claim to OPPD within the 1-year filing requirement set forth in § 13-919(1). Due to this failure to comply with the notice requirements, the district court sustained OPPD's motion for summary judgment.