161 So. 108 | Ala. | 1935
[I] Petitioner insists that the opinion of the Court of Appeals answers its argument against liability as garnishee only in part — that relating to the statute (section 8092, Code 1923), which is not here questioned, under the cited authority of Shepherd v. Jones, 228 Ala. 307, 153 So. 223.
But it is argued that petitioner comes within the protection of section 14 of the Constitution of 1901, which reads: “That the State of Alabama shall never be made a defendant
In Turk v. Board of Education, 222 Ala. 177, 131 So. 436, the correctness of these decisions was fully recognized, but the holding was that upon the broad principle of public policy such agencies were immune from liability for torts of its servants or agents— the same principle that exempts municipalities and other such corporations from like liability in the performance of public or governmental functions.
True, these authorities made no reference to section 14 of our Constitution, but merely rested upon the assumption that nothing in. the Constitution stood in the way. But the opinion in Shepherd v. Jones, supra, gives indication this constitutional provision was in the mind of the court, as express reference is made thereto, with the notation that in passing the statute the lawmakers had the Constitution in view.
It is therefore concluded that the word “State” as employed in the statute was intended for the protection of “immediate and strict governmental agencies of the State, as its State Board of Administration, State Docks 'Commission, Alabama Polytechnic Institute, the University of Alabama, the State Insane Hospital, and other mere governmental agencies,” citing some of the authorities upon which petitioner relies.
Though not discussed in the opinions, the result of the holdings has been that county and city boards of education are not such immediate and strict governmental agencies of the state as to come within the protection of section 14 of our Constitution.
The holding of the Court of Appeals is correct, and the writ will accordingly be here denied.
Writ denied.