Court Opinion

ID: 9447280
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-03 22:30:34.622024+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:30:58.248835
License: Public Domain

BAZELON, Circuit Judge
(concurring).
A public officer is not vicariously liable for the acts of his subordinate even though the subordinate may be liable. Robertson v. Sichel, 1888, 127 U.S. 507, 8 S.Ct. 1286, 32 L.Ed. 203. Nor is a public officer liable for his own negligence if the act is a discretionary one and not ministerial. Kendall v. Stokes, 1845, 3 How. 87, 98, 44 U.S. 87, 98, 11 L.Ed. 506; Cooper v. O’Connor, 1938, 69 App.D.C. 100, 102, 99 F.2d 135, 137, 118 A.L.R. 1440. The appointment of police officers requires the exercise of discretion. Stiebitz v. Mahoney, 1957, 144 Conn. 443, 134 A.2d 71, 74; Wray v. McMahon, 1938, 182 Misc. 592, 182 So. 99. See generally, 2 Harper & James, Torts 1632-46 (1956); 3 Davis, Administrative Law § 27 (1958).