Opinion ID: 1591402
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: other possible bars to liability.

Text: ¶ 25. East Mississippi argues that Miss.Code Ann. § 11-46-9(1)(m) (Rev. 2002) provides it with immunity. The statute provides as follows: (1) A governmental entity and its employees acting within the course and scope of their employment or duties shall not be liable for any claim:    (m) Of any claimant who at the time the claim arises is an inmate of any detention center, jail, workhouse, penal farm, penitentiary or other such institution, regardless of whether such claimant is or is not an inmate of any detention center, jail, workhouse, penal farm, penitentiary or other such institution when the claim is filed; . . . East Mississippi contends that other such institution may be interpreted as a state mental hospital. However, subsection (m) clearly pertains to penal institutions. ¶ 26. East Mississippi also claims that Hall was not entitled to recover damages because she was injured during the performance of an illegal act pursuant to Miss.Code Ann. §§ 97-9-25 (Rev.2000) and 11-46-9(1)(f) (Rev.2002). A mental patient's attempted escape is not a criminal act. This claim is without merit.