Hamilton v. Jefferson County
209 Ala. 517
Ala.
1923
Check Treatment

This case is very clearly ruled by the case of Jones v. Jefferson County, 206 Ala. 13, 89 So. 174, wherein it was held on rehearing that in exercising the powers and duties granted and imposed by Act Feb. 28, 1901 (Gen. Acts 1900-01, p. 1702; Terry's Local Laws of Jefferson County, p. 532), with respect to the operation and maintenance of trunk lines of drains and sewers, Jefferson county — first, through a special commission, and afterwards through its board of revenue — was in the exercise of public and governmental powers and duties, and hence was not liable in a tort action by a property owner for any consequential injury resulting therefrom.

Counsel for plaintiff in this case make a forceful appeal for a review and retraction of that decision. We remain firmly convinced, however, that the decision in question is grounded upon sound public policy, and that the principle of immunity therein declared in favor of counties is in harmony with the oft-repeated declarations of this court. Barbour County v. Brunson, 36 Ala. 362, 366; Askew v. Hale County, 54 Ala. 639, 25 Am. Rep. 730; Naftel v. Montgomery County, 127 Ala. 563,567, 29 So. 29; Board of Revenue, etc., Mobile County v. State, 172 Ala. 155, 54 So. 995; Ensley, etc., Co. v. O'Rear, Treas., 196 Ala. 481, 482, 71 So. 704; 7 Rawle C. L. 954, § 29.

There is no merit in the contention that section 123 of the Code, which declares that "every county is a body corporate, with power to sue or be sued in any court of record," imposes a general liability on counties. That provision is intended merely to confer corporate capacity to sue or be sued, which is a very different thing from corporate liability. This contention was in fact made and expressly denied in Askew v. Hale County, 54 Ala. 639, 642, 643, 25 Am. Rep. 730.

In the instant case, the gravamen of the action is the negligence of county officials in failing to keep the sewer complained of in a reasonably safe condition. Apart from the principle of the Jones Case, supra, the courts hold, with practical unanimity, that counties are not liable for the neglect of their officers to perform a corporate duty, unless such a right of action is given by statute. Heigel v. Wichita County, 84 Tex. 392, 19 S.W. 562, 31 Am. St. Rep. 63, citing numerous cases; Downing v. Mason County, 87 Ky. 208,8 S.W. 264, 12 Am. St. Rep. 473; Board of Pitkin County Com'rs v. Ball, 22 Colo. 125, 43 P. 1000, 55 Am. St. Rep. 117, 7 Rawle C. L. 957, § 31.

There is nothing in our general statutes, nor in the special acts for Jefferson county, which subjects the county to such a liability, and the general law must prevail. This is, therefore, a stronger case for immunity than was the Jones Case, since it rests here upon broader grounds. *Page 518

We hold that the demurrer to the complaint was properly sustained, and the judgment will be affirmed.

Affirmed.

ANDERSON, C. J., and THOMAS and MILLER, JJ., concur.