Opinion ID: 1725297
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: is sovereign immunity inapplicable where the governmental authority created the hazard which caused plaintiff's injuries?

Text: The Mohundros also argue that even if sovereign immunity is constitutional this Court should make the exception that where a governmental entity creates the hazardous condition which causes injury to the plaintiff it can not claim sovereign immunity. As authority, the Mohundros cite Bailey Drainage District v. Stark, 526 So.2d 678 (Fla. 1988), in which that court explained the created danger doctrine as follows: [o]nce a governmental entity creates a known dangerous condition which may not be readily apparent to one who could be injured by the condition, and the governmental entity has knowledge of the presence of people likely to be injured, then the governmental entity must take steps to avert the danger or warn persons who may be injured by that danger.       We hold, however, and in response to the certified question, sovereign immunity does not bar an action against a governmental entity for rendering an intersection dangerous by reason of obstruction to visibility if the danger is hidden or presents a trap and governmental entity has knowledge of the danger but fails to warn motorists. Bailey, 526 So.2d at 680-81, quoting in part, City of St. Petersburg v. Collom, 419 So.2d 1082, 1085 (Fla. 1982). The Mohundros also cite Hoover v. Courington, 557 So.2d 923 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1990), where that Court applied the same theory and reversed summary judgment. This issue was brought before this Court and Bailey was cited in Fortune, 611 So.2d at 930. The Court declined to address the issue however, since the case was being remanded to the trial court for further proceeding in light of the holding in Presley. Pre- Pruett law is to be applied in this case and we refuse to carve out another exception to judicially created-sovereign immunity at this late date. Any new exception would apply only to those limited cases before us in which pre- Pruett law would still apply. We refuse to now create a new rule with such limited scope.