HERMAN REINHARDT, Claimant, v. STATE OF ILLINOIS, Respondent.
Case summary
Claimant sought damages for property damage to his automobile caused by a collision with a state employee's vehicle. The court denied the claim, holding that the doctrine of respondeat superior does not apply to the State and that no award could be made on equitable grounds without a legal or equitable obligation.
Cases cited: Crabtree vs. State, 7 C. C. R. 207; Morrissey vs. State, No. 2233; Schmidt vs. State, 1 C. C. R. 76; Jorgenson vs. State, 2 C. C. R. 134; Ryan vs. State, 4 C. C. R. 57; Watkins vs. State, 6 C. C. R. 172; Mercer vs. State, 6 C. C. R. 20; Peterson vs. State, 6 C. C. R. 77; Perry vs. State, 6 C. C. R. 81
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Headnotes
- Property damage-negligence of employee of State-equity and good conscience. An award for damages to property alleged to have been caused by negligence of employee of State cannot be made on the grounds of equity and good conscience.
On June 10, 1933 claimant was the owner of and operating a certain Pontiac coach in an easterly direction upon a certain public highway in the State of Indiana known as U. S. Interstate Highway No. 12, at or near the City of Bailey town. At the same time one Robert Phillips, an employee of the Department of Trade and Commerce, Division of Oil Inspection of the State of Illinois, was operating a certain Ford automobile owned by the respondent, in the same direction, on said highway.
Claimant alleges that the respondent, by its said agent, so carelessly and negligently operated said Ford automobile, that it ran into and collided with the automobile of the claimant, whereby the said automobile of the claimant was damaged and destroyed.
The facts are not in dispute, and the Attorney General contends that, admitting the allegations of the complaint, still there is no liability on the part of the State, for the reason that the doctrine of respondent superior does not apply to the State, and that therefore the Respondent is not liable in this case.
The claimant admits that there is no liability under the doctrine of respondent superior, but claims the right to an award on the ground of equity and good conscience.
The right of this court to make an award in any case on the ground of equity and good conscience was fully considered in the case of Crabtree vs. State, 7 C. C. R. 207, as well as in the case of Morrissey vs. State, No. 2233, decided at [*203] ROSSIA INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA. v. 203 STATE OF ILLINOIS.
the January Term, 1934, of this court. In those cases we held in substance that the jurisdiction of this court is limited to claims in respect of which the claimant would be entitled to redress against the State either at law or in equity, if the State were suable; that this court has no authority to allow any claim unless there is a legal or equitable obligation on the part of the State to pay the same, however much the claim might appeal to the sympathies of the court; that unless the claimant can bring himself within the provisions of a law giving him the right to an award, he cannot invoke the principles of equity and good conscience to secure such an award.
The same conclusion was reached by this court in numerous previous cases. See Schmidt vs. State, 1 C. C. R. 76; Jorgenson vs. State, 2 C. C. R. 134; Ryan vs. State, 4 C. C. R. 57; Watkins vs. State, 6 C. C. R. 172; Mercer vs. State, 6 C. C. R. 20; Peterson vs. State, 6 C. C. R. 77; Perry vs. State, 6 C. C. R. 81.
We appreciate that the rule above announced has not always been adhered to by this court, but we are convinced that it is the correct rule of law, and feel that we have no right to depart from the same.
The claimant has not established a case in which he would be entitled to redress against the State if it were suable, and therefore we have no authority to allow an award.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that an award be denied and that the case be dismissed.