Opinion ID: 2590190
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Constitutionality of Abrogation of Remedies Against Government Employees

Text: ¶ 51 We turn now to the constitutionality of Utah Code Ann. § 63-30-4 under Article I, section 11. In 1978 and 1982, section 63-30-4 was amended to bar all actions against government employees for fault-based conduct except for fraud and malice. ¶ 52 Whether the abrogation of those remedies violates Article I, section 11 depends on the application of the two standards enunciated in Berry v. Beech Aircraft, 717 P.2d 670 (Utah 1985): First, section 11 is satisfied if the law provides an injured person an effective and reasonable alternative remedy by due course of law for vindication of his constitutional interest. The benefit provided by the substitute must be substantially equal in value or other benefit to the remedy abrogated in providing essentially comparable substantive protection to one's person, property, or reputation, although the form of the substitute remedy may be different. . . . Second, if there is no substitute or alternative remedy provided, abrogation of the remedy or cause of action may be justified only if there is a clear social or economic evil to be eliminated and the elimination of an existing legal remedy is not an arbitrary or unreasonable means for achieving the objective. Id. at 680 (citations omitted); see also Craftsman, 1999 UT 18, 974 P.2d 1194; Hirpa v. IHC Hospitals, 948 P.2d 785 (Utah 1997).