Opinion ID: 1877549
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Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Immunity Under Section 668.10(1).

Text: We must determine whether McLain's claims relate to the State's failure to place, erect, or install traffic control devices. If they do, and the exceptions to immunity are not satisfied, the State is exempt from tort liability. Iowa Code section 668.10(1) provides: In any action brought pursuant to this chapter, the state or a municipality shall not be assigned a percentage of fault for any of the following: 1. The failure to place, erect, or install a stop sign, traffic control device, or other regulatory sign as defined in the uniform manual for traffic control devices adopted pursuant to section 321.252. However, once a regulatory device has been placed, created or installed, the state or municipality may be assigned a percentage of fault for its failure to maintain the device. As the statute makes clear, Iowa Code section 668.10(1) immunizes the State for decisions about whether or where to place traffic signs. Sullivan v. Wickwire, 476 N.W.2d 69, 73 (Iowa 1991); Hunt v. State, 538 N.W.2d 659, 661 (Iowa App.1995). In other words, the State is not subject to tort liability for its decisions concerning sign selection or placement. Phillips v. City of Waukee, 467 N.W.2d 218, 220 (Iowa 1991); Hunt, 538 N.W.2d at 661. This includes claims that the State improperly failed to install signs, that its signs were improperly located, or that its signs failed to adequately warn motorists. See Sullivan, 476 N.W.2d at 73; Foster v. City of Council Bluffs, 456 N.W.2d 1, 2 (Iowa 1990). Despite the different characterizations of his claims, McLain's basic claim is that the State should have monitored the effectiveness of the traffic control plan and installed additional signs. Jack Anderson, McLain's expert witness, testified in his deposition that, even though the existing signs were adequate most of the time, it was his opinion that an additional sign, preferably a changeable message board, should have been installed for use during peak traffic hours. Iowa Code section 668.10(1) does not just immunize the initial placement or installation of traffic control devices; it applies to all such placements or installations. A plaintiff cannot overcome the State's immunity by merely claiming that the State should have done more to warn motorists or should have installed more traffic control devices. As we held in Sullivan, even if a plaintiff makes a claim that the State could have done more to inform motorists of potential danger ahead, the State is still immune. Sullivan, 476 N.W.2d at 73.