Snell v. Murray

• Decision Date: 17 November 1971
• Citation: 117 N.J.Super. 268,284 A.2d 381
• Parties: Rufus SNELL, Plaintiff, v. Thomas MURRAY and the City of Newark, a municipal corporation, defendants.
• Court: New Jersey Superior Court

Page 268

117 N.J.Super. 268

284 A.2d 381

Rufus SNELL, Plaintiff, v. Thomas MURRAY and the City of Newark, a municipal corporation, defendants.

Superior Court of New Jersey Law Division.

Decided Nov. 17, 1971.

Robert A. Budd, Newark, for plaintiff (Budd, Larner, Kent, Gross & Picillo, Newark, attorneys; Robert A. Budd, Newark, on the brief).

William Rossmoore, Asst. Corporation Counsel, for defendants (William H. Walls, Corporation Counsel, attorney; William Rossmoore, Newark, on the brief).

TUMULTY, J.S.C.

Is the City of Newark liable for bullet wounds sustained by plaintiff gambler in a 'friendly dice game' when confronted by a drunken Newark police officer who, with gun in hand, extorted the proceeds of the game? This novel question is presented by way of a motion for summary judgment made by defendant city. The test for determining the granting of a summary judgment motion is found in Judson v. People's Bank & Trust Co. of Westfield, 17 N.J. 67, 100 A.2d 24:

The standards of decision governing the grant or denial of a summary judgment emphasize that a party opposing a motion is not to be denied a trial unless the moving party sustains the burden of showing clearly the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. At the same time, the standards are to be applied with discriminating care so as not to defeat a summary judgment if the movant is justly entitled to one.

Thus it is the movant's burden to exclude any reasonable doubt as to the existence of any genuine issue of material fact, 6 Moore's Federal Practice, par. 56.15(3). The phrasing of our rule, R.R. 4:58--3, slightly different from Federal Rule 56(c), underscores this in the requirement that the absence of undisputed material facts must appear 'palpably.' All inferences of doubt are drawn against the movant in favor of the opponent of the motion. The papers supporting the motion are closely scrutinized and the opposing papers indulgently treated. Templeton v. Borough of Glen Rock, 11 N.J.Super. 1, 4, 77 A.2d 487 (App.Div.1950). * * * (at 74--75)

The facts, as narrated by plaintiff, are:

A few friends of mine and myself were having a little friendly dice game when some time between 4:30 and 5:00 A.M. the door was banged open and I saw a man I knew as 'Murray' standing in the doorway. He seemed a little high * * * I knew he was a policeman, he pulled his gun out and said 'I'm Lieutenant Murray, don't nobody move,' then he threw his badge on the table. He told us to put all our money on the table. We did. He told Eddie Little that he had seen a ten dollar bill in his hand and that the bill had better be in his pile of money on the table. He leaned over the table, looking at us, and scooped up the money that was in front of each man except one fellow that said he didn't have any money. About this time the gun went off, I cried out that I was shot, and Murray said I wasn't shot. Murray took the money off the table, and there was a click after Murray pulled the gun.

The parties agree that Murray was indicted and pleaded guilty to charges that he unlawfully and corruptly did solicit, by color of his office, a fee or reward not allowed by the laws of the State of New Jersey for performing his duties. Upon this plea, sentence was suspended and Murray was placed on probation for three years. So ends Snell's saga of the 'Friendly dice game.'

Now for a look at the law. Clearly, a municipality may be held liable for the negligent commission of an act by its agent, while acting within the scope of his employment under the theory of Respondeat superior. McAndrew v. Mularchuk, 33 N.J. 172, 162 A.2d 820 (1960). McAndrew has been discussed in law review articles which nonetheless follow the doctrine of Respondeat superior in municipal tort area, as seen from the following excerpts:

* * * McAndrew v. Mularchuk concerned the negligent shooting of the plaintiff by a reserve policeman. The court held that 'where negligent Acts of commission form the basis of the claim against a municipal corporation,' liability will be determined 'on general principles of Respondeat superior.' * * * However, the case was to be criticized by at least one court which did not think it went far enough.

('Municipal Liability for Police Torts: An Analysis of a Strand of American Legal History', 17 U. of Miami L.Rev. 475 at 501, 502 (1967))

Also see, Dakin, 'Municipal Immunity in Police Torts,' 16 Clev.Mar.L.R. 448 (1967):

In New Jersey a distinction was drawn between acts of omission and those of commission. In McAndrew v. Mularchuk, the Court held that negligent acts of commission could render the municipality liable under the doctrine of Respondeat superior so that 'complete immunity does not exist.' This was an action for injuries sustained by a minor child when he was struck by a bullet fired by a police officer who was attempting to 'scare him off.' Therefore, in New Jersey a municipality would be liable for the torts of assault and battery committed by police officers, since these are definitely acts of 'commission,' while for injuries resulting from acts of 'omission' the municipality would not be rendered liable. This reasoning is not followed by any other state. (at 453)

Judge William C. Mathes and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert T. Jones, in 'Toward A 'Scope of Official Duty' Immunity for Police Officers in Damage Actions,' 53 Georgetown L.J. 889 (1965), call for legislation giving positive statutory protection to police officers acting within the scope of their authority, and to remove that protective shield when the officers abandon their duty. This would appear to be the case law of New Jersey today.

Other cases holding the municipality liable under the Respondeat superior doctrine involve instances where the police officer was clearly acting within the scope of his employment, and while so acting, used reasonable force against the subject of an arrest. McCormick v. State of New York, 34 Misc.2d 806, 229 N.Y.S.2d 441 (Ct.Claims 1962). The question of the reasonableness of the degree of force used in effecting an arrest is usually a question for the jury. Brown v. United States, 256 U.S. 335, 41 S.Ct. 501, 65 L.Ed. 961, 18 A.L.R. 1276 (1921).

Another appearance of the doctrine of Respondeat superior for municipal liability is when an innocent bystander is injured by police officers acting within the scope of their employment. McAndrew v. Mularchuk, Supra; Evans v. Berry, 262 N.Y. 61, 186 N.E. 203 (Ct.App.1933), rev'g 236 App.Div. 334, 258 N.Y.S. 473 (App.Div.1932). Recovery has also been awarded against a municipality for failure to properly train its agents. Peer v. Newark, 71 N.J.Super. 12, 176 A.2d 249 (App.Div.1961), cert. den. 36 N.J. 300, 177 A.2d 342 (1962).

The doctrine of Respondeat superior is a maxim of common law founded upon a principle that a duty rests upon every man, in the management of his own affairs, whether by himself or his servant or agent, to conduct them in such a manner as to not cause injury to another, and if he fails to do so, he shall answer for damage. Poutre v. Saunders, 19 Wash.2d 561, 143 P.2d 554 (Super.Ct.). Likewise, under ordinary agency principles, if a police officer acts in the line of his duty and negligently causes injury, his employer--the municipal or state authority--should respond in damages. McAndrew v. Mularchuk, Supra; Greenstone, 'Liability of Police Officers for Misuse of Their Weapons,' 16 Clev.Mar.L.R. 397 (1967):

So long as the officer is engaged in the General furtherance of his employers business, liability to the employer will attach regardless of a deviation from the 'strict line of his duty.' (at 407).

In Turner v. American District Telegraph & Messenger Co., 94 Conn. 707, 110 A. 540 (Sup.Ct.Err.1920), however, a night watchman, employed by a third party, was shot by a roundsman during an altercation which occurred when the roundsman was sent by his employer--the defendant--to...