Opinion ID: 2535545
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Mississippi Tort Claims Act

Text: ¶ 6. In the Middle Ages, it was generally understood that the sovereign King of England could do no wrong and was therefore immune from tort liability. [3] This common-law concept of sovereign immunity entered American law when we adopted the common law. And for many years, the State of Mississippi and its political subdivisions enjoyed complete immunity from tort liability. ¶ 7. But in 1982, the Legislature relinquished somebut not allof the state's sovereign immunity by enacting the Mississippi Tort Claims Act (MTCA). [4] Members of our bench and bar readily admit difficulty in understanding the MTCA's cryptic dividing line between acts which continue to enjoy immunity and those which don't. Today, we attempt to bring some clarity to the issue. ¶ 8. The MTCA begins by declaring: The immunity of the state and its political subdivisions . . . is and always has been the law of this state. . . . [5] Then, having established that the state enjoys sovereign immunity, the MTCAup to an established monetary limitwaives the immunity. [6] Finally, having declared sovereign immunity and then waiving it, the MTCA reclaims the immunity for twenty-five categories of actions or inactions, one of which is the exercise or performance or the failure to exercise or perform a discretionary function or duty. Specifically, the statute states: (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: . . . (d) Based upon the exercise or performance or the failure to exercise or perform a discretionary function or duty on the part of a governmental entity or employee thereof, whether or not the discretion be abused; [7] ¶ 9. So the MTCA requires that we first determine whether Shaw's lawsuit is [b]ased upon the [MDMH's] exercise or performance or the failure to exercise or perform a discretionary function or duty in its promotion of Camp Fear.