AN EXAMINATION of COURT CASES INVOLVING IMMUNITY in the K-12 SETTING by BRANDON T. PAYNE DAVID DAGLEY, COMMITTEE CHAIR DAISY
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AN EXAMINATION OF COURT CASES INVOLVING IMMUNITY IN THE K-12 SETTING by BRANDON T. PAYNE DAVID DAGLEY, COMMITTEE CHAIR DAISY ARREDONDO-RUCINSKI JUDY GIESEN BART REEVES STEPHEN TOMLINSON A DISSERTATION Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the Department of Educational Leadership, Policy, and Technology Studies in the Graduate School of The University of Alabama TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA 2012 Copyright Brandon T. Payne 2012 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ABSTRACT The impetus of this research is to provide districts and their personnel with sound guidelines by which they can protect themselves and the interests of the public taxpayers, and to develop personnel knowledge appropriately as it relates to the use of immunity as a legal defense. The use of various forms of immunity as a defensible position is growing increasingly difficult in our litigious society. Administrators, superintendents, and school boards must become more cognizant of how current legal interpretations impact the liabilities they encounter. It is vital that school leaders protect their schools and personnel through professional development that provides the necessary knowledge to retain immunity. This study was conducted as a qualitative, historical, document-based study of legal cases briefed and analyzed to determine the issues, outcomes, and trends involving the various types of immunity defenses used by school personnel. The study involved cases from 1981 to 2010, to ensure validity and relevance. The conclusion of the study provided findings that were used to develop guiding principles for school personnel in their day-to-day operations. Within the study, the trend was that school personnel’s immunity defense relies on several factors: (1) school personnel were acting within the scope and authority of their position; (2) their actions were discretionary, which involves the exercise of judgment, rather than ministerial; (3) the conduct in question does not rise to the level of willful or wanton behavior; (4) their actions were not committed with malicious intent; and (5) they do not violate an established constitutional right. In view of this trend, it is paramount that school ii personnel know and implement best practices in their daily work that will not abrogate their immunity defense. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to express my appreciation to my chairperson, Dr. Dave Dagley, for his encouragement, insight, and leadership throughout this process. He provided affirmation, guidance and questions through his knowledge that made this study more rewarding. I also want to thank the professors, Dr. Rose Mary Newton, Dr. Daisy Arredondo-Rucinski, Dr. Judy Giesen, Dr. Stephen Tomlinson, and Dr. Bart Reeves, for taking time from their busy schedules to assist me throughout this process. I would like to thank my family for supporting me during my educational pursuit. To my parents, thank you, for always believing in me and valuing education as you did. To my wife, I appreciate the support and sacrifices you made for me as I continued my education. Finally, to my daughters, you are the joy of my life and I hope to always be an example to you of learning, perseverance, and work ethic. iv CONTENTS ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................. iv LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... viii I INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................1 Research Problem ................................................................................................................2 Significance of the Problem .................................................................................................3 Statement of Purpose ...........................................................................................................3 Research Questions ..............................................................................................................4 Limitations ...........................................................................................................................4 Assumptions .........................................................................................................................4 Definitions............................................................................................................................5 Organization of Study ..........................................................................................................8 II LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................................10 Introduction ........................................................................................................................10 School Boards ....................................................................................................................12 Distinct or Vicarious Liability ...........................................................................................14 Personnel Liability .............................................................................................................15 Foreseeability .....................................................................................................................15 Torts ...................................................................................................................................17 v Intentional Torts .................................................................................................................18 Assault and Battery ......................................................................................................19 False Imprisonment ......................................................................................................20 Defamation ...................................................................................................................21 Unintentional Torts ............................................................................................................22 Immunity ............................................................................................................................24 Soverign Immunity ......................................................................................................24 Absolute Immunity ......................................................................................................26 Qualified Immunity ......................................................................................................26 Assumption of Risk............................................................................................................27 Contributory Negligence ....................................................................................................27 Comparative Negligence ....................................................................................................29 Summary ............................................................................................................................28 III METHODOLOGY ..................................................................................................................31 Introduction ........................................................................................................................31 Research Questions ............................................................................................................31 Research Materials .............................................................................................................31 Methodology ......................................................................................................................32 Data Collection ..................................................................................................................33 Data Production .................................................................................................................34 Data Analysis .....................................................................................................................35 Summary ............................................................................................................................36 IV DATA PRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS .............................................................................37 vi Case Briefs .........................................................................................................................37 Analysis of Cases .............................................................................................................382 Student Injury and School Safety ..............................................................................392 Suspension .................................................................................................................393 Student Death .............................................................................................................393 Discipline and Corporal Punishment .........................................................................398 Academic Issue ..........................................................................................................401