Opinion ID: 1389782
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Imputed Liability

Text: Finally, the Greens contend that the State's negligence must, as a matter of law, be imputed to Bannock and Western. We disagree. This was not a defective road surface case. The Greens did not allege that the excavation of the detour was performed negligently, that the pavement was applied negligently, or that the road surface was improperly maintained. Rather, the defects complained of at trial were inadequate signing, inadequate snow removal on the signs, inadequate repair of a vandal's damage to a flashing light, and inappropriate use of concrete porta-rail at the entrance to and along the detour. The evidence established that the State of Idaho designed and staked the detour. The evidence further established that the State designed the signing, placed the signs and maintained the signs. It was the State which decided to use porta-rail to barricade the detour, where to place it, and how long to keep it there. Bannock had finished its work on the segment of roadway where the detour was located long before the accident occurred. Western did not begin its work until after the detour was constructed, signed, barricaded and paved. These facts were certainly sufficient to support the jury's finding of independent liability on the part of the State. The Greens allege that the State's liability should be imputed to the contractors. However, they fail to cite us any authority for this proposition. The Greens' argument seems to have its roots in a misapprehension of the doctrine of respondeat superior. Under that doctrine, an employer may be held liable for the negligence of its employees acting within the scope of their employment. See generally, W. Keeton, Prosser and Keeton on the Law of Torts, § 69 (1984). Had Bannock and Western been found negligent in the present case, the Greens might have argued, under the theory of respondeat superior, that their negligence should be imputed upward to the State of Idaho. We are aware of no theory, however, under which the liability of the State may be imputed downward to an independent contractor. We therefore hold that the trial court did not err in refusing to impute the State's negligence to Bannock and Western. The decision of the district court is affirmed. Costs to respondent. No attorney fees on appeal. SHEPARD and BISTLINE, JJ., and McFADDEN and WALTERS, JJ. Pro Tem., concur.