Jones v. District of Columbia

• Decision Date: 06 March 1922
• Docket Number: 3559.
• Citation: 279 F. 188
• Parties: JONES v. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — District of Columbia Circuit

279 F. 188

JONES v. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

No. 3559.

United States Court of Appeals, District of Columbia.

March 6, 1922

Submitted January 6, 1922.

Appeal from the Supreme Court of District of Columbia.

Armond W. Scott, Royal A. Hughes, and George E. C. Hayes, all of Washington, D.C., for appellant.

F. H Stephens and Ringgold Hart, both of Washington, D.C., for the District of Columbia.

SMYTH Chief Justice.

While appellant's wife was a patient in the psychopathic ward of the Washington Asylum and Jail for observation as to her mental condition, she committed suicide by hanging. Appellant says her death was the result of the negligence of the District in failing to properly guard and watch over her while she was in the institution. The trial court sustained a demurrer to his declaration, and from an adverse judgment he brings the case here for review.

For a long time the Washington Asylum, a hospital, and the jail of the District were separate institutions, each having its own government. Congress by Act of March 2, 1911 (36 Stat. 1003) made them one institution, under the name of Washington Asylum and Jail, and they were such at the time of the death of appellant's wife. Persons needing attention because of their physical or mental condition are received for treatment and observation, but no charge is made for any services rendered to them. It was under these circumstances that appellant's wife was in the ward at the time of her death.

Assuming the District was negligent, as charged, is it liable for resultant damages? This depends upon whether it was at the time acting in its governmental or proprietary capacity. Los Angeles v. Los Angeles Gas Corporation, 251 U.S 32, 38, 40 Sup.Ct. 76, 64 L.Ed. 121. If it was acting in the former capacity, it cannot be held. Harris v. District of Columbia (decided by the Supreme Court of the United States June 6, 1921) 256 U.S. 650, 41 Sup.Ct. 610, 65 L.Ed. 1146; Roth v. District of Columbia, 16 App.D.C. 323; Brown v. District of Columbia, 29 App.D.C. 273, 25 L.R.A. (N.S.) 98; District of Columbia v. Tyrrell, 41 App.D.C. 463; Coates v. District of Columbia, 42 App.D.C. 194.

The difference in these capacities is well recognized, and has been often pointed out. Vilas v. City of Manila, 220 U.S. 345, 31 Sup.Ct. 416, 55 L.Ed. 491; New Orleans Gas Light Co. v. Drainage Commission of New Orleans, 197 U.S. 453, 25 Sup.Ct. 471, 49 L.Ed. 831; South Carolina v. United States, 199 U.S. 437, 26 Sup.Ct. 110, 50 L.Ed. 261, 4 Ann.Cas. 737; Vicksburg v. Vicksburg Waterworks Co., 206 U.S. 496, 27 Sup.Ct. 762, 51 L.Ed. 1155. When a municipality acts in its governmental capacity, it exerts its police power. Such a power is generally regarded as discretionary, because, in its nature, it is legislative, and although it is the duty of such corporations to carry out the power so granted and make it beneficial, 'still it has never been held that an action on the case would lie against the corporation, at the suit of an individual, for the failure on their part to perform such a duty. ' Weightman v. Corporation of Washington, 1 Black, 39, 17 L.Ed. 52, cited with approval in Harris v. District of Columbia, supra.

Appellant's wife was received and treated in the Asylum by the District in the exercise of its governmental or police power. Cities are not liable to prisoners for injuries sustained by reason of the negligence or carelessness of the officers in charge. 4 Dillon on Municipal Corporations, Sec. 1656, and note. The maintenance of a jail is generally held to be a governmental function. McQuillin on Municipal Corporations, vol. 5, Sec. 2431.

'The furnishing of aid to indigent persons and the care of those morally mentally or physically defective, are * * * duties which rest upon the state and which can be classed as governmental in their character. In the carrying out of this function, an immunity is granted in respect to all acts or agencies.' 3 Abbott on Municipal Corporations, p. 2247, Sec. 969.

'For the acts and omissions of its...