Kirby v. Harker

121 N.W. 1071, 143 Iowa 478

• Court: Supreme Court of Iowa
• Decided: July 2, 1909
• Status: Published

Opinion

Sherwin, J.

The plaintiff was quarantined for smallpox in his own home from the 1st' day of June until the 3d day of July, 1901. The defendant was at that time mayor of Grand Junction, and, by virtue of said office, the president of the local board of health. This suit is to recover damages for the restraint; the plaintiff alleging in his pleading that it was illegal and malicious.

The facts are substantially as follows: A rumor reached the defendant that the plaintiff was sick, and on the 30th or 31st of May he went to see him. After the call, the defendant immediately notified the health physician of Grand Junction, Dr. G. W. Kester, of the plaintiff’s condition, and the latter visited the plaintiff and examined him in the afternoon of the 31st day of May, and at once reported to the defendant that the plaintiff was afflicted with smallpox. At about the same time the defendant telephoned to Dr. C. E. Adams, who was then a member of the state board of health, residing at Sac City, notifying him of the plaintiff’s condition, and asking him to come and investigate the matter. Dr. Adams went to Grand Junction on the 1st of June, made an examination of the plaintiff, had a consultation about his case with Dr. Kester, and then reported to the defendant that the plaintiff had smallpox. The reports of the two doctors to the defendant were verbal only. While Dr. Ad'ams was making his examination of the plaintiff, he told the plaintiff that he diagnosed his case as smallpox, and, in answer to the plaintiff’s inquiry as to what was to be done, suggested to him that he remain in his drug store with the doors locked until evening, and then go to his home and submit to quarantine. After talking the matter over, the plaintiff agreed to follow the advice, and this conversation and agreement was reported to the defendant by Dr. Adams. Following the report of Dr. Adams, the defendant called together the local board of health, and at the session so called the entire matter was laid before the board. But in making such report it was also reported that the plaintiff had already been quarantined by the defendant, which, as we understand the present record, was not true. The board approved the quarantine so reported, and passed a resolution to the effect that the rules and regulations of the state board of health be carried out to the letter; that the chairman of the board quarantine all “directly” exposed persons, and place a guard over the quarantined persons if found necessary. After this action had been taken by the board, a notice of quarantine was served upon the plaintiff, and, after the notice, a guard was placed over his premises, and he was not permitted to leave them until the quarantine was raised on the 3d of July.

1. Quarantine FOR CONTAGIOUS disease: damages. While the record of the board of health recites that the plaintiff had already been quarantined, it is shown without substantial conflict that there was no restraint ^le Pontiff Until after the board of health had officially directed the quarantine of all suspects, and notice thereof had been served upon the plaintiff. If he remained secluded from his .neighbors before service of the notice, it was because of his agreement with Dr. Adams and was purely voluntary, and hence no liability can be predicated thereon. Bishop on Noncontracts, sections 49-53, inclusive.

2. Same noticeof contagious disease. In the light ofs the record before us, we think it must be held that, when the quarantine was finally established and the plaintiff’s liberty restrained, it was in pursuance of the formal direction of the board of health, and not upon the individual authority of the defendant. And, if such be the case, the ques- . . # tion of a written notice to the defendant is wholly immaterial. Code, section 2568, provides that the mayor and council of each city and town shall constitute a local board of health within the limits of such cities and towns, and that such board shall have power “to proclaim and establish quarantine against all infectious or contagious diseases dangerous to the public, and maintain and remove the same, as may be required by regulations of the state board.” The last clause of the section also provides that the quarantine authorized by the preceding provisions of the section may be declared or terminated by the mayor of any city or town upon written notice given by any practicing physician of the existence of such disease. It is evident that this written notice is only necessary when the mayor acts without authority from the board of health, and that it is not necessary to confer jurisdiction on such board. That the board of health had the power to act, and that its action was legal, can not be seriously questioned. Beeks v. Dickinson County, 131 Iowa, 244; Valentine v. City of Englewood, (N. J.) 71 Atl. 344.

3. Same false imprisonment: damages. And, if the defendant did no more than to see that the requirements of the health board were carried out, he is not individually liable. Beeks v. County, supra. There is no evidence upon which the jury could have found that the defendant acted beyond ° the scope of his authority and with malice, and the ••verdict was therefore properly directed for him when it was determined as a matter of law that he acted with authority from the board. Indeed, the appellant concedes in argument that, if the defendant acted with proper authority, there is no liability. See note to Beeks v. County, supra; 9 Am. & Eng. Ann. Cas. 814, and note in 47 Am. St. Rep. 533. In State v. Kirby, 120 Iowa, 26, we held the appellant not criminally liable for breaking the quarantine in question, but that case is not controlling here because of the different facts presented in this ease.

4. Same quarintine exposed persons. As we understand the record, the plaintiff was confined to his own home with his wife and other members of his family. If we are correct in this, it was proper to keep the other members of the family secluded from the public under the resolution of the board of health. There would have been no sense in keeping the plaintiff confined to liis premises if the exposed members of his family were permitted to spread the disease.

The judgment of - the district court is right, and it is therefore affirmed.