Court Opinion

ID: 9387951
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-04-19 15:03:35.376321+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:18:16.410056
License: Public Domain

DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA
                              FOURTH DISTRICT

           THE SCHOOL BOARD OF PALM BEACH COUNTY,
                          Appellant,

                                     v.

                        EDITHE DELHOMME,
    as Personal Representative of the ESTATE OF ADEN WILLIAMS,
her deceased minor son, on behalf of the Estate and its lawful survivors,
            to wit, EDITHE DELHOMME, surviving mother,
                               Appellee.

                              No. 4D22-2418

                              [April 19, 2023]

  Appeal of a nonfinal order from the Circuit Court for the Fifteenth
Judicial Circuit, Palm Beach County; James Nutt, Judge; L.T. Case No.
502022CA000545XXXXMB.

  Sean Fahey of The School Board of Palm Beach County, West Palm
Beach, for appellant.

   Nichole J. Segal of Burlington & Rockenbach, P.A., West Palm Beach,
and Rosalyn Sia Baker-Barnes of Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart &
Shipley, P.A., West Palm Beach, for appellee.

PER CURIAM.

    The School Board of Palm Beach County seeks review of the denial of
its motion to dismiss based on sovereign immunity. We find that Francis
v. School Board of Palm Beach County, 29 So. 3d 441 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010),
compels reversal in this tragic case. In both cases, the students were killed
while crossing a busy street to get to their bus stop. We previously ruled
in Francis that a busy roadway does not constitute a dangerous trap
because it is not created by the school board. Id. at 444. Additionally, the
dangers of the busy roadway are apparent. Id. Therefore, the school board
did not owe a duty of care to the student while he was crossing the street.
The order is reversed and remanded with instructions to grant the motion
to dismiss and dismiss the complaint against the school board as it is
barred by sovereign immunity.
  Reversed and remanded.

MAY, GERBER, and LEVINE, JJ., concur.

                         *        *       *

  Not final until disposition of timely filed motion for rehearing.

                                  2