DeStafney v. University of Alabama

413 So. 2d 391
CourtSupreme Court of Alabama
DecidedFebruary 5, 1982
Docket80-431
StatusPublished
Cited by112 cases

This text of 413 So. 2d 391 (DeStafney v. University of Alabama) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
DeStafney v. University of Alabama, 413 So. 2d 391 (Ala. 1982).

Opinion

413 So.2d 391 (1981)

Jan Elizabeth DeSTAFNEY, individually and as the mother and custodial parent of Joseph Michael DeStafney
v.
The UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA, et al.

80-431.

Supreme Court of Alabama.

September 4, 1981.
On Rehearing February 5, 1982.
Second Rehearing Denied May 21, 1982.

Jack Drake of Drake & Pierce, University, for appellant.

Paul E. Skidmore, University, for appellee the University of Alabama and President David Mathews.

James J. Jenkins, of Phelps, Owens, Jenkins, Gibson & Fowler, Tuscaloosa, for appellee Gabrielle Martinez.

PER CURIAM.

Affirmed on the authority of Gill v. Sewell, 356 So.2d 1196 (Ala.1978), and Milton v. Espey, 356 So.2d 1201 (Ala.1978).

AFFIRMED.

TORBERT, C. J., and MADDOX and ALMON, JJ., concur.

EMBRY, BEATTY and ADAMS, JJ., concur in the result.

FAULKNER and JONES, JJ., concur in part and dissent in part.

SHORES, J., not sitting.

JONES, Justice (concurring in part and dissenting in part):

I concur with the per curiam summary affirmance on the trial court's order of dismissal with respect to Defendants University of Alabama and Dr. David Mathews. I dissent as to the dismissal of Defendant Gabrielle Martinez on the ground that I do not construe § 14 of our State Constitution as affording immunity from suit to an employee of the State for tortious injury.

FAULKNER, J., concurs.

On Application for Rehearing

JONES, Justice.

Appellant's brief in support of rehearing contains the following succinct "Statement of the Case":

"Three-year old Michael DeStafney was placed on a piece of playground equipment at Rose Towers Learning Center by Defendant-Appellee Gabrielle Martinez. Michael fell, severely injuring his jaw. His injuries may be permanent in *392 nature and as he grows older he may be forced to undergo several surgical operations to correct the damage done.
"At the time of his injury Michael was a student at Rose Towers Learning Center, a day care center operated by the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa. Defendant Martinez was employed as an Aide at the Center.
"Michael's mother Jan DeStafney filed suit against Gabrielle Martinez, individually, the University of Alabama and David Mathews, as President of the University of Alabama.[[1]] The trial court granted summary judgment for all Defendants citing Gill v. Sewell, 356 So.2d 1196 ([Ala.] 1980), and Milton v. Espey, 356 So.2d 1201 ([Ala.] 1978).
"On September 4, 1981, this Court affirmed the Circuit Court's grant of summary judgment per curiam without opinion on the authority of Gill v. Sewell, supra, and Milton v. Espey, supra. Three members of this Court concurred in the opinion, three `concurred in the result,' two concurred as to the University and David Mathews but dissented as to Martinez and one did not sit."

This Court preliminarily granted rehearing as to the individual defendant, Gabrielle Martinez; withdrew submission; and ordered the case set for oral argument on October 19, 1981.

Upon reconsideration of the briefs and arguments of counsel, we reaffirm our agreement with the trial court's order granting summary judgment as to the University of Alabama and David Mathews, as President of the University of Alabama. We grant rehearing and reverse and remand as to the defendant Gabrielle Martinez, individually.

Upon further study and re-evaluation of Gill v. Sewell, supra, and Milton v. Espey, supra, we are of the opinion that these cases do not mandate our rejection of the Plaintiffs' claims for tortious injury against the individual employee of the University of Alabama. We hold, therefore, that the defense of sovereign immunity afforded by Ala.Const. 1901, § 14, to the University of Alabama and its President, Dr. Mathews, does not extend to Gabrielle Martinez as an employee whose alleged tortious act is the basis of the claim.

We must recognize at the outset that our cases have interpreted § 14 as affording absolute immunity to some State officials, as well as to the State itself, and extending a qualified immunity to others. This accords with the majority rule with respect to public officials and employees, even in those states that have no comparable constitutional immunity. See, for example, Procunier v. Navarette, 434 U.S. 555, 561, 98 S.Ct. 855, 859, 55 L.Ed.2d 24 (1977). No Alabama case, however, has ever held that a State employee may never be sued for simple negligence committed in the line and scope of his or her employment. Indeed, significantly, neither Gill nor Milton so held.

Our review of the cases, keeping in mind that claimants have traditionally sought to circumvent the absolutism of § 14 by naming individual State officials and employees as parties defendant, puts the issue in perspective. As early as 1907 (§ 14, though under a different section number, first appeared in the 1875 State Constitution), this Court in Elmore v. Fields, 153 Ala. 345, 45 So. 66 (1907), addressed employee immunity:

"It must stand to reason that no person can commit a wrong upon the property or person of another, and escape liability, upon the theory that he was acting for and in the name of the government which is immune from suit at the instance of one of her subjects." Elmore, 153 Ala. at 350, 45 So. 66.

The Elmore view was restated in St. Clair County v. Town of Riverside, 272 Ala. 294, 128 So.2d 333 (1961):

"`Nor does the immunity of the state from suit relieve an officer of the state from responsibility when he acts tortiously on the rights of an individual.... An officer who acts illegally is not acting as *393 an officer, but stands in the same light as any other trespasser.'" St. Clair County, 272 Ala. at 296, 128 So.2d 333.

Six years later Wallace v. Board of Education of Montgomery, 280 Ala. 635, 197 So.2d 428 (1967), cited with approval the St. Clair County language quoted above.

Then, in Aland v. Graham, 287 Ala. 226, 250 So.2d 677 (1971), where the Plaintiff claimed a right of way through a public park, the Court held the action was barred by § 14 as not falling within any of the four recognized exceptions to § 14:

1. Actions brought to compel State officials to perform their legal duties;
2. Actions brought to enjoin State officials from enforcing an unconstitutional law;
3. Actions to compel State officials to perform ministerial acts; and
4. Actions brought under the Declaratory Judgments Act.[2]

In Aland, where the issue arose in a non-tort context, the Court rejected claimant's attempt to circumvent § 14 by naming several State officials as parties defendant. The Aland Court quoted with approval the rationale of Southall v. Stricos Corporation, 275 Ala. 156, 153 So.2d 234 (1963), which case held:

"... Section 14 not only prevents a suit against the State, but against its officers and agents in their official capacity, when a result favorable to the plaintiff or complainant would directly affect a contract or property right of the State." Aland, 287 Ala. at 229.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Vick v. Venter (Ex parte Venter)
251 So. 3d 778 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 2017)
Ex parte Ingram
229 So. 3d 220 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 2017)
Ex parte Talbott
215 So. 3d 541 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 2015)
Deason v. Walker
188 So. 3d 633 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 2015)
Ex Parte Watson
37 So. 3d 752 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 2009)
D. S. v. County of Montgomery, State of AL
286 F. App'x 629 (Eleventh Circuit, 2008)
Ex Parte Estate of Reynolds
946 So. 2d 450 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 2006)
Worthington Ex Rel. JW v. Elmore County Board of Education
160 F. App'x 877 (Eleventh Circuit, 2005)
Swan v. City of Hueytown
920 So. 2d 1075 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 2005)
Thurmond v. City of Huntsville
904 So. 2d 314 (Court of Civil Appeals of Alabama, 2004)
Lee v. Minute Stop, Inc.
874 So. 2d 505 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 2003)
Ex Parte Hudson
866 So. 2d 1115 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 2003)
Haston ex rel. Haston v. C.F. Vigor High School
866 So. 2d 1115 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 2003)
Sprinkle ex rel. Philyaw v. Edwards
848 So. 2d 217 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 2002)
Ex Parte Duvall
782 So. 2d 244 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 2000)
Taylor Ex Rel. Estate of Mason v. Adams
221 F.3d 1254 (Eleventh Circuit, 2000)
Taylor v. City of Mobile
221 F.3d 1254 (Eleventh Circuit, 2000)
Matthews v. ALABAMA AGR. AND MECHANICAL UNIV.
787 So. 2d 691 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 2000)
Blue Ridge Sand & Gravel, Inc. v. Alabama Department of Transportation
764 So. 2d 1263 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 2000)
Ex Parte City of Montgomery
758 So. 2d 565 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1999)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
413 So. 2d 391, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/destafney-v-university-of-alabama-ala-1982.