263 P. 723 | Colo. | 1928
Lead Opinion
delivered the opinion of the court.
The school district contracted with Pulton and Whit-comb to build a school house. The school house was built, the lumber company (plaintiff in error) furnishing to the contractors lumber used in the construction of the building. Upon the completion of the school house, there remained a balance owing by the contractors to the lumber company. The lumber company brought this suit against the contractors and the school district to recover the balance due, and to have a lien upon the school house, and the land upon which it stands, decreed and foreclosed. The contractors defaulted, and judgment against them was entered. The school district filed a general demurrer to the complaint, which demurrer was sustained. There was then filed an amended complaint, in which the lumber company abandoned its untenable claim for a lien upon the school property (Florman v. School District, 6 Colo. App. 319, 40 Pac. 469), and sought to recover a money judgment against the school district on an entirely differ
The judgment for the school district is right. The duty, a violation of which is charged in the amended complaint, is one imposed by law, and does not arise from any contract between the school district and the lumber company. The violation of such duty is a tort. Webster’s New International Dictionary defines “tort” thus: “Law. Any wroxxgful act (not involvixxg a breach of contract) for which a civil action will lie; a civil wrong independent of a contract.” And see Words and Phrases, tit. “Tort.” A school district is not liable for its torts, unless made so by statute. In Florman v. School District, 6 Colo. App. 319, 322, 40 Pac. 469, 470, it is said: “A school district is a subdivisioxi of the state for educational purposes. The several officers charged with the supervision of the schools, from the state board of education down to the directors of the school district, are merely the* instruments of the state government, chosen for the purpose of effectuating its policy ixx relation to schools. * * * The school district is created as a means for the more convenient and effective carrying out of the educational policy of the state. The entire control of schools axxd' school property is in the state, to
In Freel v. School City of Crawfordsville, 142 Ind. 27, 41 N. E. 312, 37 L. R. A. 301, the court said: “School corporations in this State are a part of the educational system of the state. * * * They are involuntary corporations, organized not for the purpose of profit or gain but solely for the public benefit, and have only such limited powers as were deemed necessary for that purpose. Such corporations are but the agents of the state, for the sole purpose of administering the state system of public education. * * * In performing the duties required of them they exercise merely a public function and agency for the public good for which they receive no private or corporate benefit. * * * It is well established that where subdivisions of the state -are organized solely for a public purpose, by a general law, no action lies against them for an injury received by a person on account of the negligence of the officers of such subdivision, unless a right of action is expressly given by statute. Such subdivisions then, as counties, townships, and school corporations, are instrumentalities of government, and exercise authority given by the state, and are no more liable for the acts or omissions of their officers than the state. ’ ’
Yoorhees, in the Law of Public Schools, p. 56, says: “A school district organized as a quasi corporation, and solely for the public benefit, although capable of suing and being sued is not liable for the trespasses, neglig.ence, and other torts committed by its officers unless made so by statute.” An analogous case is that of counties. Counties also are mere involuntary corporations, subdivisions of the state,, state agencies;' and we have held that, in the absence of statute, counties are not liable for torts. In County Commissioners v. Bish, 18 Colo. 474, 33
In South Dakota, Minnesota and Washington the statutes expressly impose liability upon municipal corporations and quasi municipal corporations for failing to take the bond required by statute. There is no such provision, or similar provision, in our statutes. This action cannot be maintained.
The judgment is affirmed.
Concurrence Opinion
concurring in the result.
I agree that the judgment should be affirmed, but on the ground that neither the pleadings nor evidence entitle the plaintiff to recover on contract, express or implied, or on quantum meruit. I do not understand that a breach of statutory duty has to be classified as an action ex delicto, or that the case here necessarily bears that construction. We invariably say that the laws of the land are written into every contract that is made, and suit may be had on the contract, regardless of tort. But here there was no privity of contract between the subcontractor or materialman, and the school district; there could be no lien because it was a school building, and this is right. It would be contrary to public policy to close a school house to accommodate a mechanic’s or a material-man’s lien. And so I concur in the opinion that the plaintiff has no case, but I question if the subject of negligence or tort is involved.
Lead Opinion
THE school district contracted with Fulton and Whitcomb to build a school house. The school house was built, the lumber company (plaintiff in error) furnishing to the contractors lumber used in the construction of the building. Upon the completion of the school house, there remained a balance owing by the contractors to the lumber company. The lumber company brought this suit against the contractors and the school district to recover the balance due, and to have a lien upon the school house, and the land upon which it stands, decreed and foreclosed. The contractors defaulted, and judgment against them was entered. The school district filed a general demurrer to the complaint, which demurrer was sustained. There was then filed an amended complaint, in which the lumber company abandoned its untenable claim for a lien upon the school property (Florman v. School District,
The judgment for the school district is right. The duty, a violation of which is charged in the amended complaint, is one imposed by law, and does not arise from any contract between the school district and the lumber company. The violation of such duty is a tort. Webster's New International Dictionary defines "tort" thus: "Law. Any wrongful act (not involving a breach of contract) for which a civil action will lie; a civil wrong independent of a contract." And see Words and Phrases, tit. "Tort." A school district is not liable for its torts, unless made so by statute. In Florman v.School District,
In Freel v. School City of Crawfordsville,
Voorhees, in the Law of Public Schools, p. 56, says: "A school district organized as a quasi corporation, and solely for the public benefit, although capable of suing and being sued is not liable for the trespasses, negligence, and other torts committed by its officers unless made so by statute." An analogous case is that of counties. Counties also are mere involuntary corporations, subdivisions of the state, state agencies; and we have held that, in the absence of statute, counties are not liable for torts. In County Commissioners v. Bish,
In South Dakota, Minnesota and Washington the statutes expressly impose liability upon municipal corporations and quasi municipal corporations for failing to take the bond required by statute. There is no such provision, or similar provision, in our statutes. This action cannot be maintained.
The judgment is affirmed. *277