Ex Parte Devon McGuire and Spencer Collier Petition for Writ of Mandamus (in Re: Faya Rose Toure v. Spencer Collier)…

Summary

The Supreme Court of Alabama granted McGuire and Collier's mandamus petition and directed the trial court to enter summary judgment for them based on peace-officer and State-agent immunity. The court held that McGuire's investigation and arrest of Toure, and Collier's supervision and administration of the police department, involved discretionary law-enforcement or administrative functions, and that Toure failed to present substantial evidence establishing an exception to immunity. The court also held that Toure's defamation and libel claims were barred because the challenged press-conference and publicity decisions were discretionary and were not shown to be willful, malicious, fraudulent, in bad faith, beyond authority, or based on a mistaken interpretation of law.