Opinion ID: 1672256
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Powell's Liability

Text: Official immunity protects public officials from liability for alleged acts of ordinary negligence committed during the course of their official duties for the performance of discretionary acts. Kanagawa v. State By and Through Freeman, 685 S.W.2d 831, 835 (Mo. banc 1985). Whether an act is discretionary or ministerial depends on the degree of reason and judgment required to perform the act. Id. at 836. An act is discretionary when it requires the exercise of reason in the adaption of means to an end, and discretion in determining how or whether an act should be done or a course pursued. Rustici v. Weidemeyer, 673 S.W.2d 762, 769 (Mo. banc 1984) quoting Jackson v. Wilson, 581 S.W.2d 39, 43 (Mo.App.1979). Conversely, a ministerial function is of a clerical nature which a public officer is required to perform upon a given state of facts, in a prescribed manner, in obedience to the mandate of legal authority, without regard to his own judgment or opinion concerning the propriety of the act to be performed. Id. To discern whether an act is ministerial or discretionary, the court looks to three factors: (1) the nature of the duties; (2) how much policymaking or professional expertise and judgment the act involves; and (3) the consequences of withholding immunity. Kanagawa, 685 S.W.2d at 836. Police officers, driving in non-emergency situations, do not benefit from official immunity. Brown v. Tate, 888 S.W.2d 413, 415 (Mo.App.1994). When an officer is responding to an emergency, however, the officer exercises judgment and discretion and is entitled to official immunity. Initially, Powell's duties require the exercise of discretion. The accident occurred while Powell was responding to an officer-in-need-of-aid emergency call. Powell exercised judgment in determining which route to take based on the amount of traffic in the area and the location of the officer in need. He further exercised judgment and professional expertise in determining the speed he could safely travel. Imposing liability upon the officer in these cases might delay responses to emergency calls, thereby adversely affecting officers or citizens in need of emergency assistance. Bachmann v. Welby, 860 S.W.2d 31, 34 (Mo.App.1993). The parties' dispute centers on whether section 304.022 [1] provides official immunity to Powell. Section 304.022, [2] which allows drivers of emergency vehicles to violate certain traffic rules in emergency situations, does not affect official immunity. Official immunity is a common law doctrine relieving public officials of liability for negligence when they are acting in a discretionary capacity. See Reed v. Conway, 20 Mo. 22 (1854). By its plain language, section 304.022 does not abolish, abrogate, or in any way modify official immunity. State ex rel. Golden v. Crawford, 165 S.W.3d 147, 149 (Mo. banc 2005), provides an example of a statute where official immunity is superseded by a civil liability statute that specifically removes liability for certain emergency system operators, with exceptions for willful or wanton misconduct and gross negligence. Section 304.022, by its terms, does not provide official immunity. [3] An officer may determine that a particular emergency requires a less conspicuous, or even a silent, approach. In those cases, an officer exercises discretion in not activating his lights and sirens. Powell was acting in a discretionary manner, however, and is entitled to official immunity under the common law doctrine. The doctrine does not negate the jury's finding that Powell was 25 percent at fault. [4] Although Powell was negligent, his actions fall within the doctrine of official immunity. Recovery against Powell is precluded. The remaining question is whether the airport, as Powell's employer, is liable for Powell's negligence under the doctrine of respondeat superior.