Opinion ID: 1248763
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Was an element of judgment or discretion involved?

Text: We must first determine whether the School's actions were a matter of choice or judgment. Goodman, 587 N.W.2d at 237 (quoting Berkovitz, 486 U.S. at 536, 108 S.Ct. at 1958-59, 100 L.Ed.2d at 540-41). If the School's conduct cannot be appropriately the product of judgment or choice, then there is no discretion in the conduct for the discretionary function exception to protect. Id. Nearly all challenged conduct can be characterized as the exercise of some judgment or discretion as [j]udgment is exercised in almost every human endeavor. Kansas State Bank & Trust Co. v. Specialized Transp. Servs. Inc., 249 Kan. 348, 819 P.2d 587, 600 (1991) (quoting Downs v. United States, 522 F.2d 990, 995 (6th Cir.1975)). The School appears to argue it is only liable for decisions made contrary to policies that would not allow choice. This bright line analysis suggested by the School is precisely what we moved away from when we abandoned the planning/operational test. Goodman, 587 N.W.2d at 236-38. As such, we will again apply the Berkovitz test which provides an analytical framework for even the most uncertain cases. We now turn to this analysis. The first prong of the Berkovitz test is easily satisfied in this case. When the School hired Lindsey it exercised its professional judgment. It was faced with the decision to either hire Lindsey or not hire Lindsey. When it retained Lindsey after a series of allegations of misconduct, the School further made this decision based on choice. Finally, when the School supervised Lindsey as a result of the misconduct, it exercised judgment. Therefore, the first prong of the discretionary function immunity is satisfied. The School seems to argue that once we find it exercised discretion in hiring, retaining, and supervising Lindsey its actions are immune from suit. Not all discretionary acts involving skill or judgment are immune simply because the legislature has empowered the state or its agents to act. See Ex parte Cranman, 792 So.2d 392, 404 (Ala.2000). The School clearly misapprehends the test we articulated in Goodman. Though the School exercised some discretion in this matter, that does not automatically guarantee immunity. Rather, once we decide an element of discretion was involved, we then must determine whether that discretion was of the nature the legislature intended to insulate from liability. We now turn to the second part of the test and consider whether the nature of the challenged act is entitled to immunity.