Hannigan v. New Gamma-Delta Chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

327 N.E.2d 882, 367 Mass. 658, 1975 Mass. LEXIS 882

• Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
• Decided: May 6, 1975
• Status: Published

Opinion

Hennessey, J.

In this action in tort we are asked to abolish the doctrine of sovereign immunity. The plaintiffs alleged in their declaration that on or about October 17, 1971, the minor plaintiff incurred serious injuries in a fall which occurred at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, on premises controlled by the defendants by reason of the defendants’ negligence. The defendant Commonwealth of Massachusetts filed a motion to dismiss which a Superior Court judge treated as a demurrer and sustained on the ground that the court lacked jurisdiction. The judge also sustained the demurrer of the defendant Board of Trustees of the University of Massachusetts. The judge ruled, in substance, and we think correctly, that the trustees are one and the same party, namely the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, since the action was not instituted against the trustees individually, but rather against the board as a statutory entity. See G. L. c. 15, § 20; G. L. c. 75, § 1; Commonwealth v. Norman, 249 Mass. 123, 128 (1924). In his rulings, the judge, by referring to Morash & Sons, Inc. v. Commonwealth, 363 Mass. 612 (1973), indicated that he was sustaining the demurrers on the ground that the action was barred by the doctrine of sovereign immunity. Thereafter, on application by the plaintiffs, we granted direct review of the matter.

1. We consider the case in light of our statements in Morash & Sons, Inc. v. Commonwealth, supra. There was no error. We reaffirm our conclusion, as stated in the Morash case, that this court has the authority to abolish sovereign immunity, but we reiterate also that we refrain from doing so at this time since, for reasons stated in the Morash opinion, it is preferable that the Legislature should have a reasonable opportunity to accomplish by statute this change in the law.

The plaintiffs, in a comprehensive brief, urge that at this time, and without further delay, we should make this major change in the law toward which, in the Morash case, we took one step when we said: “We disagree with the Commonwealth’s argument that it cannot be sued without legislative consent. Since governmental immunity is a judicially created concept, it can be discarded by the courts and we do so now to the limited extent,of holding that the Commonwealth is not immune from liability if it creates or maintains a private nuisance which causes injury to the real property of another.” Morash & Sons, Inc. v. Commonwealth, supra, at 619.

The Commonwealth attempts to show, by extension of the arguments that it offered in the Morash case, that this court is without power to abrogate sovereign immunity and that we have said as much in the past, citing, inter alla, McArthur Bros. Co. v. Commonwealth, 197 Mass. 137 (1908), and Sullivan v. Commonwealth, 335 Mass. 619, 626 (1957).

We believe that extensive discussion, beyond the lengthy treatment we afforded the subject in the Morash case, is not necessary. However, the Commonwealth now offers an additional argument, not previously considered- in the Morash case. This contention is that the Massachusetts Constitution expressly preserves all of the law of the Commonwealth, including our common law as it existed at the time we adopted our State Constitution, until and unless that law is altered or repealed by the Legislature. The Commonwealth’s reliance is on the Massachusetts Constitution, Part II, c. 6, art. 6, adopted in 1780, which provides: “All the laws which have heretofore been adopted, used and approved in the Province, Colony or State of Massachusetts Bay, and usually practised on in the courts of law, shall still remain and be in full force, until altered or repealed by the legislature; such parts only excepted as are repugnant to the rights and liberties contained in this constitution” (emphasis added). The intermediate appellate court of the State of Georgia is cited as having recently declined to abrogate sovereign immunity because of the binding effect of a similar provision in its State Constitution. Azizi v. Regents of the Univ. Sys. of Ga. 132 Ga. App. 384 (1974).

Against this novel constitutional argument, the plaintiffs offer brief and, to us, totally convincing rebuttal. First of all, the Commonwealth brings to our attention no judicial opinions to show that the doctrine of sovereign immunity was used or adopted in Massachusetts prior to 1780, or was “usually practised on in the courts of law” of Massachusetts prior to 1780.

Furthermore, the proposition urged by the Commonwealth is clearly repugnant to the provisions in art. 30 of our Declaration of Rights for separation of powers among the departments of government, as follows: “In the government of this commonwealth, the legislative department shall never exercise the executive and judicial powers, or either of them: the executive shall never exercise the legislative and judicial powers, or either of them: the judicial shall never exercise the legislative and executive powers, or either of them: to the end it may be a government of laws and not of men.” By this language the traditional role of the Massachusetts courts in the operation of the common law is guaranteed, without regard to the origin of that law before or after 1780.¹

2. Although we reaffirm our authority to abolish sovereign immunity, we accede to the Commonwealth’s argument that we should continue to refrain, at least for the present, from doing so. Only about twenty-three months have passed since the Mor ash decision. In the meantime, legislation to the same end has been filed and has been referred to the Judicial Council.² For all of the compelling reasons we offered in the Morash opinion, it is preferable that the Legislature should act to accomplish this necessary change. We shall continue to refrain until the Legislature acts or until events demonstrate that it does not intend to act.

Orders sustaining demurrers affirmed.

1 The sweep of the Commonwealth’s argument is indicated in small part by reference below to only a few of the cases of recent years in which this court has effected substantial changes in the common law. If the Commonwealth’s argument prevailed all of these cases would be subject to reexamination, commencing with an inquiry as to whether the original rule predated 1780. The cases follow. Albano v. Western Constr. Corp. 357 Mass. 647 (1970), McMahon v. M & D Builders, Inc. 360 Mass. 54 (1971), McDonough v. Whalen, 365 Mass. 506 (1974) (implied warranty in builder’s sale of new dwelling). Lombardo v. D. F. Frangioso & Co. Inc. 359 Mass. 529 (1971), but see Diaz v. Eli Lilly & Co. 364 Mass. 153 (1973) (recovery for loss of consortium). George v. Jordan Marsh Co. 359 Mass. 244 (1971) (recovery for emotional distress and resulting bodily harm caused by intentional extreme and outrageous conduct). Gaudette v. Webb, 362 Mass. 60 (1972) (common law basis of liability for wrongful death). Knowles v. Gilchrist Co. 362 Mass. 642 (1972) (responsibflity of bailee for hire). Boston Housing Authy. v. Hemingway, 363 Mass. 184 (1973) (implied warranty of habitability of rented apartment). Mounsey v. Ellard, 363 Mass. 693 (1973) (abolition of common law classifications defining the duty of care owed by occupant of land to lawful visitors).

2 The Judicial Council has now made some specific recommendations for legislative action. See the Fiftieth Report of the Judicial Council (1974), Pub. Doc. No. 144, p. 124 et seq.