Rankin v. School Dist. No. 9

• Decision Date: 20 June 1933
• Citation: 23 P.2d 132,143 Or. 449
• Parties: RANKIN v. SCHOOL DIST. NO. 9 et al.
• Court: Oregon Supreme Court

23 P.2d 132

143 Or. 449

RANKIN v. SCHOOL DIST. NO. 9 et al.

Supreme Court of Oregon

June 20, 1933

Department 1.

Appeal from Circuit Court, Benton County; G. F. Skipworth, Judge.

Action by Nellie Rankin against School District No. 9, sometimes known as Consolidated Busses of School District No. 9 of Benton County and another. From a judgment of dismissal plaintiff appeals.

Affirmed as to defendant school district, and reversed as to codefendant.

McDannell Brown, of Portland (C. M. Idleman, of Portland, and Swan &amp Swift, of Newberg, on the brief), for appellant.

Harley W. Allen, of Portland (Sheppard & Phillips, of Portland, on the brief), for respondents.

BELT Justice.

This is an action to recover damages for personal injuries sustained through the alleged negligence of the defendant Sheppard in driving a school bus owned and operated by the defendant school district to transport children free of charge to and from school. A general demurrer to the complaint was sustained, and, upon refusal of the plaintiff further to plead, the action was dismissed. Plaintiff appeals.

The principal question is whether, in the operation of this bus the school district was acting in a governmental capacity. If it was so acting, it is clear there is no liability against it. Antin v. Union High School District, 130 Or 461, 280 P. 664, 66 A. L. R. 1271; Lupke v. School District No. 1, 130 Or. 409, 275 P. 686; Spencer v. School District No. 1, 121 Or. 511, 254 P. 357; Wagner v. Portland, 40 Or. 389, 60 P. 985, 67 P. 300. If, however, the school district was functioning in a proprietary capacity, it is equally well settled in this jurisdiction that it must respond in damages for its negligence. The line of demarcation between a governmental act and a proprietary act is in many instances indistinct, and has caused courts much concern.

This court, in Antin v. Union High School District, supra, in determining the liability or nonliability of a school district, approved the rule announced in Bolster v. City of Lawrence, 225 Mass. 387, 114 N.E. 722, 724, L. R. A. 1917B, 1285, wherein the court said: "The underlying test is whether the act is for the common good of all without the element of special corporate benefit or pecuniary profit. If it is, there is no liability, if it is not, there may be liability."

The school district, in the operation of the bus, pursuant to authority vested in it by statute (section 35-919, Oregon Code 1930), was acting as an agency of the state in affording children of school age an opportunity to secure an education. It was acting for the common good and without purpose of deriving pecuniary profit. Applying the test as above stated, the conclusion is reached that the school district was acting in a governmental capacity, and by reason thereof this action cannot be maintained against it.

Antin v. Union High School District, supra, is the latest expression of this court relative to the liability of school districts in tort actions, and the law declared therein is adverse to the contentions of the appellant. We see no need for a restatement of the law. However, it is reassuring to note that the holding in the Antin Case is in keeping with the great weight of authority. See Allen v. Independent School District, 173 Minn. 5, 216 N.W. 533...