Court Opinion

ID: 9513264
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-06 22:33:25.507808+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:05:47.960082
License: Public Domain

MESCHKE, Justice,
concurring.
[¶ 19] I join in the majority opinion. I write separately only to question the dissent’s excessive complaint that “the majority opinion ... does not augur well for any form of governmental immunity.” To the contrary, Bulman, 521 N.W.2d at 640, carefully stated “our decision should not be interpreted as imposing tort liability on the State for the exercise of discretionary acts in its official capacity, including legislative, judicial, quasi-legislative and quasi-judicial functions.” See also Kitto, 224 N.W.2d at 804:
We do not contemplate that the essential acts of governmental decision-making be the subject of judicial second-guessing or harassment by the actual or potential threat of litigation. We hold that no tort action will lie against governmental units for those acts which may be termed discretionary in character. Included within this category are acts traditionally deemed legislative or quasi-legislative, or judicial or quasi-judicial, in nature. The exercise of discretion carries with it the right to be wrong. It is for torts committed in the execution of the activity decided upon that liability attaches, not for the decision itself.
Nor does today’s decision place official discretionary immunity in jeopardy.
[¶ 20] Herbert L. Meschke