MID-CITY STATIONERS, Claimant, v. STATE OF ILLINOIS, Respondent.
Case summary
Claimant sought compensation for damage to its storefront and property caused by a state highway truck driven negligently by a maintenance patrolman. The court dismissed the claim, holding that the State is not liable for the negligence of its employees in the exercise of governmental functions, absent a statute to the contrary.
Cases cited: Goldie Ryan vs. State, 8 C. C. R. 361; Audie Crank vs. State, No. 2863, decided at the January Term, 1937; H. C. Jenkins, et al, vs. State, No. 2987, decided at the March Term, 1937; George Franklin Garbutt, Admr., etc. vs. State, No. 2246 Opinion on rehearing filed at the present term; Crabtree vs. State, 7 C. C. R. 207; Titone vs. State, No. 2475, decided at the January Term, 1937
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Headnotes
- PROPERTY DAMAGE-negligence of state employee. State not liable for. The State is not liable for damages to property caused by the negligent and careless operation of one of its trucks by a State employee, the doctrine of respondent superior not being applicable to the State.
Prior to and on the 11th day of March, 1933, claimant was engaged in business at 415 East State Street in the City of Rockford, where it was conducting a store for the sale at retail of stationery and office supplies.
The complaint herein alleges that on the last mentioned date, one of the highway maintenance patrolmen of the respondent in the performance of his duties was driving a certain State highway truck in an easterly direction on State Highway No. 5, and that said patrolman then and there drove and operated said truck in such a careless and negligent manner that it ran into and struck against the front of the building in which plaintiff was conducting its business as aforesaid, whereby the plate glass window and certain personal property there in display were damaged and destroyed;-for all of which claimant seeks to be compensated in this proceeding.
The Attorney General has moved to dismiss the case on the ground that the State is not liable for the negligence of its servants and agents.
We have repeatedly held that the State in the maintenance of its hard-surfaced roads is engaged in a governmental function, and that in the exercise of such functions, it is not liable for the negligence of its servants and agents, in the absence of a statute making it so liable. The liability, if any, rests upon the negligent employee and not upon the State. Goldie Ryan vs. State, 8 C. C. R. 361; Audie Crank vs.
State, No. 2863, decided at the January Term, 1937; H. C. Jenkins, et al, vs. State, No. 2987, decided at the March Term. [*111] 1937: George Franklin Garbutt, Admr., etc. vs. State, No. 2246 Opinion on rehearing filed at the present term of this court.
We have no jurisdiction to allow any claim unless the claimant would be entitled to redress against the State either at law or in equity, if the State were suable. Crabtree vs.
State, 7 C. C. R. 207; Titone vs. State, No. 2475, decided at the January Term, 1937.
There being no liability on the part of the State under the facts set forth in the complaint, the motion of the Attorney General must be sustained.
Motion to dismiss allowed. Case dismissed.