106 Mo. App. 607 | Mo. Ct. App. | 1904
ELLISON, J.
Plaintiff instituted this action by petition in which he charges that defendant was bridge commissioner of Chariton county and as such had supervision and control of the construction of a bridge across one of the streams in that county, which the county court had let to a bridge builder. It is charged
The trial court held that the petition did not state a cause of action and sustained a demurrer thereto on that ground.
1. The petition did not charge that defendant’s action was instigated by willfulness, malice or corruption. It is well settled in this State that when a public officer is charged with duties which call for an exercise of his judgment and discretion, he is not liable'for an erroneous performance unless he has been guilty of willful wrong, malice or corruption. Reed v. Conway, 20 Mo. 23; Pike v. Megoun, 44 Mo. 491; Edwards v. Ferguson, 73 Mo. 686; St. Joseph v. McCabe, 58 Mo. App. 542.
2. But counsel for plaintiff stated in argument, and it is true, that the petition charges carelessness and negligence against defendant in the performance of his duties. That charge, however, in our opinion, does not meet the requirement of the law. Negligence and carelessness are generally esteemed as not only, not will-fullness, but rather the opposite. Gibeline v. Smith, 106 Mo. App. 545.
The judgment is affirmed.