9 La. Ann. 461 | La. | 1854
Lead Opinion
Plaintiff seeks to render the city of New Orleans liable for the value of a slave, alleged to have been killed by the officers of the late Second Municipality.
It is alleged, that in January, 1852, the lieutenant of the watch, aided by other watchmen under his command, while in the regular service and employment of the Municipality No. Two, without any justifiable cause, made an assault, with clubs, upon the slave of plaintiff, and inflicted upon him wounds of which he died.
The defence is, the general denial.
It is in proof that, on the 21st July, 1852, a detachment of the police officers of the municipality, was ordered by their chief to suppress unlawful assemblages of slaves in cabarets; that in performance of this duty they entered a dram-shop, in which the slave of plaintiff was found; that the slave attempted to escape, was pursued and overtaken by the watch, and that, in capturing him, wounds were inflicted of which he died.
It may likewise bo conceded, though the facts are by no moans clearly proved, that when the watchmen entered the cabaret, the slave was neither
The question presented is, whether under this state of facts, the city of New Orleans is amenable in damages for the acts complained of, by the act of consolidation, being bound by the obligations and liabilities of the Second Municipality.
Under the general rule regulating the liability of municipal corporations for the acts of their agents within their ordinary scope of employment, the District Judge held the city liable, and rendered judgment for the value of the slave and the expenses of his illness.
The judgment we think erroneous; and the error results from a failure in the application of the principle, to make the proper distinction between the liability of municipal corporations for acts of its officers, in the exercise of powers which it possesses for public purposes, and which it holds as part of the government of the country, and those which are conferred upon it for private purposes.
Within the sphere of the former, it enjoys the exemption of government from responsibility for its own acts and the acts of its officers deriving their authority from the sovereign power; (see White v. City Council, 2 Hill So. Ca. R. 571, as cited in the notes to Wilson v. Beverly, 1 An. leading cases, 469; also, Martin v. Mayor, &c., of Brooklyn, 1 Hill N. Y. 545, 550, and Mayor et al. v. Furze, 3 Hill N. Y. 612, 618;) whereas, in the latter, it is answerable for the acts of those who are in law its agents. Baily v. Mayor of New York, 3 Hill N. Y. 352. Same case in Error, 2 Demio, 434, 450.
In the case of Baily v. The Mayor of New York, Nelson, C. J., in treating of the difference between the powers conferred on municipal corporations in their public character, for public purposes, and those conferred on the same corporation for private advantage, with the view of distinguishing one class from the other, says: “ To this end, regard should be had, not so much to the nature and character of the various powers conferred, as the object and purpose of the Legislature in conferring them. If granted for public purposes, exclusively, they belong to the corporate body in its public or municipal character. But if for purposes of private advantage, though the public may derive a common benefit therefrom, the corporation, quoad, hoc, is to be regarded as a private company.”
In the case of Martin v. Mayor of Brooklyn, 1 Hill, 550, the court say : “ It is impossible to maintain that a village corporation is liable for a wrong committed by its officers. It is a political body, bound, I admit, and liable to an action when incurring a debt, through its corporate officers, acting within the line of their duty ; but not for either a nonfeasance or misfeasance committed by independent corporate officers.”
The inquiry which is next presented is, whether the powers under which the officers of the municipality acted, were conferred for public purposes ? If so, it follows that the city is not liable for the acts of their officers, even though illegal, or of such a character as to subject the officers themselves to liability.
The Act of 1805, incorporating the city of New Orleans, provides for the appointment of a Mayor, Recorder and Aldermen, and such subordinate officers “for preserving the peace and well ordering the affairs of the city, as the
Under these sanctions, watchmen are appointed as a necessary branch of the police of the city. Their duties are the preservation of public order and tranquility, and the city in appointing them, exercised a governmental function, conferred upon it, in its public or municipal character, for public purposes, exclusively, and is not therefore liable for the acts of its officers.
It is therefore ordered and adjudged, that the judgment of the District Court be annulled and reversed, and that there be judgment in favor of the defendants ; the costs of both courts to be paid by plaintiff and appellee.
Concurrence Opinion
I concur in the conclusion, that the municipal government is not liable in this case.
I concur in the opinion of Mr. Justice Campbell.
