Ex Parte City of Midfield (in Re Patrick Williams and Elizabeth W. McElroy, as Successor Administratrix of The…

Summary

The court granted the Midfield defendants' mandamus petition in part, holding that the police officers were entitled to State-agent immunity for their discretionary pursuit of a fleeing suspect and that Midfield was consequently immune from the related negligence and negligence-per-se claims. The plaintiffs did not present substantial evidence that either officer violated a detailed rule or regulation, acted beyond authority, or triggered an exception to immunity. The court denied mandamus relief as to the negligent-training-and-supervision claim because the defendants had not shown that the individuals responsible for the alleged conduct were immune. Justice Shaw concurred in the result on the training-and-supervision claim but would defer the immunity issue; Justice Murdock separately expressed concern about the beyond-authority exception; and Chief Justice Moore concurred in denying relief on the training-and-supervision claim but dissented from issuing relief on the remaining claims.