Opinion ID: 1422239
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Juvenile Release Exception

Text: DJJ argues it is entitled to summary judgment because it is granted immunity under the juvenile release exception to the Tort Claims Act. We disagree. Under Section 15-78-60(21), a governmental entity is not liable for the decision to or implementation of release, discharge, parole, or furlough of any person in the custody of any governmental entity, including but not limited to a prisoner, inmate, juvenile, patient, or client, or the escape of these persons. DJJ argues that the present case falls squarely within this exception based on Respondents' allegations that Fredrico was in the DJJ's custody and was negligently released from that custody. Despite the Respondents' factual allegations, however, it does not appear Fredrico was released from his relationship with the DJJ, whether it was a custodial relationship or not. Neither Respondents nor DJJ present any case law on this exemption. However, on its face, the exemption appears to apply to a narrower set of circumstances than those presented in this case. The language of the exemption indicates the custodial entity must make a conscious, if not formal, decision to terminate the relationship before this immunity is triggered. DJJ did not do so in this case. Dorsey placed Fredrico in his home temporarily and appears to have had the authority to remove him at any time. Without further evidence, we conclude the juvenile release exemption does not protect the DJJ from liability. Furthermore, although § 15-78-60(21) does not contain a gross negligence exception, this Court has recognized that when a governmental entity asserts various exceptions to the waiver of immunity ... [the court] must read exceptions that do not contain the gross negligence standard in light of exceptions that do contain the standard. Steinke v. South Carolina Dep't of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation, 336 S.C. 373, 395, 520 S.E.2d 142, 153 (1999). Therefore, even if Dorsey's actions fell within the release exception, a jury could find his actions were grossly negligent.