Certified for resolution under the provisions of
Are the time limitations contained in the Oklahoma Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act, 1 51 Okla.Stat. (1978 Supp.) § 156, controlling as to a cause of action accrued to a minor, notwithstanding the provisions of 12 Okla.Stat.1971 § 96?
As summarized by the Federal Court, this cause arose from an injury to plaintiff at the Central Elementary School of Wynne-wood, Oklahoma, on September 18, 1979. The petition alleges plaintiff, Shawna Gay Johns, was injured by a blow to the head inflicted by another student, identity unknown, alleging the child was struck as a result of lack of supervision by the defendants over schoolyard activities. Plaintiff seeks to recover from the School Board alone. We hold that the minority of the
Prior to certification of this question to this Court, the Federal Court sustained the motion to dismiss the attendant claim of the injured minor’s mother, Audrey Jean Johns, for failure of that plaintiff to substantially comply with the notice provisions of the Act, 51 O.S. § 156. In the ruling of the Federal Court it was noted that the fact the school board was aware of the injury did not supplant the formal notice provisions of the Act inasmuch as actual knowledge of the injury inflicted was not notice in and of itself that the injured parties intended to seek monetary redress as a result of the incident.
The exception granted infants from the running of the statute of limitations rests on legislative determination and does not emanate from a fundamental precept of the law. 54 C.J.S.
Limitations of Actions § 235.
It is within the power of the legislature to place infants in the same category as adults in the respect of limitations and unless excepted by statute, the limitations statutes apply to that class of persons.
Choteau v. Hoss,
In Choteau, supra, this Court noted that in the revivor statute then in effect the right to revive was conditioned on the existence of one of four circumstances. Since the action was not brought within one year of the death of the predecessor in interest, and the date of his death was known, nor was it brought with the defendant’s consent, the only available ground was a showing that the heir was prevented from bringing the action “for other unavoidable reasons.” In the resolution of the issue of whether or not infancy could be considered in the latter class, the Court stated that the revivor statute did not save the right to revive until majority, and the general rule of construction is that exceptions from the operation of the statute of limitations (commonly granted infants) do not rest on a fundamental precept of law but upon the will of the legislature expressed by statutory law and unless infants are specifically excepted from the operation of the statute, the infants’ rights rest upon the same footing as adults.
Title 51 O.S.1981 § 151, et seq., delineates the liability of political subdivisions for tor-tious conduct. Section 153 of the Act, in conjunction with § 166, operate to create liability for those acts previously considered governmental functions. That liability is conditioned by various sections of the Act, among them § 156. Title 51 O.S. § 156 contains detailed provisions for limitations of actions against political subdivisions. There are no express exceptions saving the rights of infants found within this section or any other portion of the Act. This is true despite the detailed limitation provisions of 51 O.S. §§ 156 and 157. On the face of the statute, the limitations provided by § 156 are detailed and also appear absolute in that Subdivision B states, “A claim
The answer to the question here certified for determination is held to be:
The time limitations contained in the Oklahoma Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act, 51 Okla.Stat. (1978 Supp.) (now 1981) § 156, control as to a cause of action accrued to a minor, notwithstanding the provisions of 12 O.S.1981 § 96. Certified Question Answered.