Court Opinion

ID: 9662364
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 23:06:56.240971+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:15:42.432123
License: Public Domain

*275Otis, Justice
(dissenting).
The evidence that these police officers were guilty of willful and wanton neglect of duty is virtually undisputed. There are no mitigating circumstances set forth in this record to justify their calloused disregard of the rights of innocent and law-abiding citizens. The award of punitive damages against them belies their claim of good faith.
The use of taxpayers’ money to save harmless these defendants is in my opinion a clear violation of Minn. St. 466.07, subd. 2, which prohibits indemnity “in case of malfeasance in office or wilful or wanton neglect of duty.” If we are to hold as a matter of law that the city of Minneapolis was justified in finding that these officers acted in good faith, it is difficult to imagine any situation where the statutory limitations of § 466.07 will apply.
I would require at the very least that the city council conduct a full hearing and make findings of fact which a trial court can review to determine whether there has been compliance with the statute.