Court Opinion

ID: 9588724
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 23:37:30.272439+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:42:35.854438
License: Public Domain

COCHRAN, J.,
dissenting.
The majority opinion is a constructive explication of the rationale and rule in James v. Jane, 221 Va. 43, 282 S.E.2d 864 (1980). However, the conclusion the majority reaches, while consistent with that reached by the majority in Lawhorne v. Harlan, 214 Va. 405, 200 S.E.2d 569 (1973), is irreconcilable with the unanimous opinions of this court in Crabbe v. School Board and Albrite, 209 Va. 356, 164 S.E.2d 639 (1968), and Short v. Griffitts, 220 Va. 53, 255 S.E.2d 479 (1979). In Crabbe, immunity was disallowed in a suit against a teacher by a student for injuries allegedly caused by the teacher’s negligence during instruction in the use of a power saw. In Short, we reversed the trial court’s dismissal under the immunity theory of a student’s action against a school athletic director, baseball coach, and building and grounds supervisor for injuries resulting from their alleged negligence in maintaining the school track.
Nevertheless, in a later case, Banks v. Sellers, 224 Va. 168, 294 S.E.2d 862 (1982), we upheld the bar of immunity in an action by *255a student who alleged she was stabbed at school because of the negligent failure of a superintendent and a principal to provide a safe environment for her. Although the majority opinion in Banks summarized Short it did not explain satisfactorily to me why opposite results were justified in the two cases. This tendency of the majority to tiptoe around the fringes of sovereign immunity not only produces highly attenuated reasoning but leads to increasing uncertainty and confusion in the trial courts. I would reaffirm the sound principle enunciated in Crabbe, James, and Short that agents and employees of an immune employer are subject to liability for negligence in the performance of their duties. Therefore, I would reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand the case for trial on the merits.
POFF and STEPHENSON, JJ., join in this dissenting opinion.