Court Opinion

ID: 9678804
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 06:32:58.750935+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:08.039852
License: Public Domain

FOSHEIM, Chief Justice
(concurring in the result).
While I concur with the result reached by the majority, I question use of the so-called “three step test” of sovereign immunity. This test effectively departs from our settled sovereign immunity position confirmed in High-Grade Oil Company, Inc. v. Sommer, 295 N.W.2d 736 (S.D.1980), and Merrill v. Birhanzel, 310 N.W.2d 522 (S.D.1981), and results in judicial erosion of sovereign immunity. Traditionally, when a state employee acted within the scope of his or her employment no tort liability attached. If, however, it was established that a state employee acted wrongfully outside the scope of his or her employment, then that person became responsible for any act of personal negligence. This was clearly the rule before National Bank of S.D. v. Leir, 325 N.W.2d 845 (S.D.1982), and Kruger v. Wilson, 325 N.W.2d 851 (S.D.1982). See Comment, Sovereign Immunity and the South Dakota Plaintiff: A Practical Approach, 26 S.D.L.Rev. 300, 304 (1981).
Perhaps the time has come to diminish or abolish sovereign immunity. Such action, however, is constitutionally the exclusive province of the legislature. S.D. Const, art. Ill, § 27. Erosion of sovereign immunity by judicial fiat is disruptive and causes confusion. See Comment, An Analysis of South Dakota’s Sovereign Immunity Law: Government v. Official Immunity. 28 S.D. L.Rev_(1983).