Opinion ID: 1454711
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: liability of trooper shanahan.

Text: The jury found that Trooper Shanahan was justified in firing at Will and that he had not committed assault or battery. The jury also found that he was not negligent. The trial court, however, determined that as a matter of law Trooper Shanahan is liable for the negligence of the city and Chief Lee under a theory of acting in concert. We disagree with the trial court's conclusion and hold that Trooper Shanahan is not liable to Will for the damages Will suffered in the shoot-out. We have stated that [o]ne who acts in concert with others to plan or assist in the commission of a tort is liable as a tortfeasor. Williams v. Alyeska Pipeline Serv. Co., 650 P.2d 343, 348 (Alaska 1982). In Williams we held an individual defendant liable for the battery inflicted on the plaintiff by others, even though he personally only threatened the plaintiff. The purpose underlying the acting in concert theory of liability is to hold all individuals engaged in a joint enterprise with a tortious purpose accountable for the harm any member of the enterprise may inflict. W. Prosser, The Law of Torts § 46, at 322-23 (5th ed. 1984). Our holding in Williams is inapplicable to this case. Williams involved the commission of collective intentional torts, yet in this case the trial court held Trooper Shanahan liable for the negligence of the city and Chief Lee. An individual who acts with reasonable care cannot be deemed negligent simply because those with whom he cooperates act negligently. Restatement (Second) of Torts § 876 comment c (1979). Law enforcement officers frequently must act jointly to accomplish their duties. The mere fact that two or more officers may cooperate to apprehend an individual does not make all of the participating officers liable for the negligence of one. The Second Restatement of Torts provides the following illustration of this principle: A is drunk and disorderly on the public street. B, C and D, who are all police officers, attempt to arrest A for the misdemeanor committed in their presence. A resists arrest. B and C take hold of A, using no more force than is reasonable under the circumstances. A breaks away and attempts to escape. D draws a pistol and shoots A in the back. B and C are not liable to A for the shooting. Restatement (Second) of Torts § 876 comment c, illustration 3 (1979). See also Day v. Walton, 199 Tenn. 10, 281 S.W.2d 685, 689-90 (1955) (where there is no joint negligence, no encouragement to do the particular act, no unlawful common enterprise or objective, then there is no joint liability for an unlawful act committed by one of several parties) (emphasis in original). In this case, the jury found that Trooper Shanahan was not negligent. He responded to an emergency call for assistance from the city. The state argues persuasively that holding an innocent participant liable for the negligence of another under an acting in concert theory will discourage those capable of helping from providing rescue assistance. We agree. Whether a defendant acted with reasonable care is a question of fact for the jury to determine. The trial court incorrectly relied on the acting in concert theory to create negligence where the jury found there was none. Therefore, we conclude that Trooper Shanahan is not liable for Will's injuries.