Opinion ID: 2334466
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Public Officer

Text: A public office is the right, authority and duty, created and conferred by law, by which ... an individual is invested with some portion of the sovereign functions of the government, to be exercised by him for the benefit of the public. The individual so invested is a public officer. State ex rel. Pickett v. Truman, 333 Mo. 1018, 64 S.W.2d 105, 106 (1933). Whether or not a public employee is a public officer is dependent upon the legal and factual circumstances involved. State ex rel. Eli Lilly & Co. v. Gaertner, 619 S.W.2d 761, 764 (Mo.App.1981). This immunity protects those individuals who, in the face of imperfect information and limited resources, must daily exercise their best judgment in conducting the public's business. Kanagawa v. State, 685 S.W.2d 831, 836 (Mo. banc 1985). Dr. Howenstine's position as medical director existed to discharge the city, county and state obligations to improve the health of the public. The health department was delegated this authority by law. Sec. 205.050; 19 C.S.R. 10-1.010(4). [8] Her particular office was created by agreement between the City of Columbia and the University of Missouri, in part, to maintain collaborative practice arrangements, adopt protocols and standing orders for the nurses to follow and provide consultation to nurses and patients at the clinic. The fact that Dr. Howenstine is an employee of the University of Missouri and that she serves as the medical director of the health department pursuant to an agreement between the City of Columbia and the university is not consequential to the determination. Dr. Howenstine was a public official for purposes of this lawsuit.