Court Opinion

ID: 1069440
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-09 19:34:21.041877+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:23:37.482051
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
                            AT KNOXVILLE
                                    May 14, 2002 Session

            CHRISTINA FORTENBERRY v. G. T. GEORGE, ET AL.

                        Appeal from the Circuit Court for Knox County
                          No. 1-617-98    Dale C. Workman, Judge

                      No. E2000-02984-COA-R3-CV Filed July 3, 2002

HOUSTON M. GODDARD, P.J., Concurring

        Preliminarily, I would concur with Judge Swiney’s opinion that it is appropriate in the
interest of judicial economy to accept this case notwithstanding that the judgment below was not a
final one as to all parties. I do believe, however, that it does not meet the criteria of a Rule 10
appeal, but think it more appropriate to accept it as a Rule 9 appeal, suspending all uncomplied with
rules necessary for such an appeal.

       I also concur that Judge Swiney has accurately stated the law on the question of the liability
of the City as mandated by Limbaugh. I write separately, however, to question the reasoning
employed by the Supreme Court in reaching its resolution in that case.

        As I read the Statute, it first gives a blanket grant of immunity to governmental entities,
T.C.A. 29-20-201. Thereafter, it provides for several exceptions, including T.C.A. 29-20-205, which
excepts from the blanket grant of immunity “injury proximately caused by a negligent act or
omission of an employee within the scope of his employment.” There are, however, exceptions to
the exception, which in the case at bar are set out in subsection 2. This section, as Judge Swiney’s
opinion points out, enumerates a number of causes of action for which immunity remains. Those
enumerated do not include assault and battery which is the reason that the Limbaugh Court held
assault and battery remained under the exception to immunity found in the first paragraph of T.C.A.
29-20-205.

      It is my view that the construction placed upon the statute by the Supreme Court results in
an oxymoron, to-wit, the employee was guilty of a negligent assault and battery. I reach this
conclusion because under our civil law1 intent is an “indispensable element” of assault and battery.
Kite v. Hamblen, 241 S.W.2d 601 (Tenn. 1951). This case also reminds us that an assault and
battery is in fact a “trespass vi et armis (striking plaintiff with fists).” Having said this, I concede
this argument was not advanced in the case at bar and most likely was not advanced in Limbaugh.

        I also note that under the reasoning of the Supreme Court in Limbaugh murder in the first
degree and rape would likewise not be protected by immunity, even though it is hard to imagine
either being the result of a negligent act.

        In summary, I believe that upon a fair reading the statute provides that governmental entities
are clothed with immunity except for negligent acts committed by an employee within the scope of
his employment. But even as to negligent acts the governmental entity retains its immunity as
enumerated in subsections 1 through 9.2

                                                   _________________________________________
                                                   HOUSTON M. GODDARD, PRESIDING JUDGE

       1
               Our Crim inal Code uses the wo rd “recklessly” in defining an assault. 39-135 -101(7).

        2
                Subsection 2, the one relied upon in Limbaugh, is set out in Judge Swiney’s opinion.

                                                      -2-