nine exceptions to sovereign immunity (Pennsylvania) · Go Syfert
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nine exceptions to sovereign immunity in Pennsylvania

25 Pennsylvania opinions name it 1 courts 1993–2025 4 in the last five years

The cases below were cited by Pennsylvania courts in a sentence that names this issue. Sides come from how each citing opinion treated the case (Syfertize flag on that citation), so a case can appear on both: that is where the law is contested. A red or yellow chip is the case's own overall treatment.

Followed or applied (6)

CaseFollowedCited
La Frankie v. Miklichgreen
pacommwct · 1992 · cited in 17 Pennsylvania opinions naming this issue, 2001–2025
2 sentences

2025The threshold questions in determining whether a Commonwealth party may be liable for negligent employee actions are “whether the Commonwealth employee was acting within the scope of his or her employment; whether the alleged act which causes injury was negligent and damages would be recoverable but for the availability of the immunity defense; and whether the act fits within one of the nine exceptions to sovereign immunity.” La Frankie v. Miklich, 618 A.2d 1145, 1149 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1992). 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 8522(b)(3) allows litigants to raise “claims for damages caused by … [t]he care, custody or c

2023Thus, to determine whether a Commonwealth employee is protected from liability under sovereign immunity, we must consider “whether the Commonwealth employee was acting within the scope of [their] employment; whether the alleged act which causes injury was negligent and damages would be recoverable but for the availability of 7 the immunity defense; and whether the act fits within one of the nine exceptions to sovereign immunity.” La Frankie, 618 A.2d at 1149 .

717
Williams v. Syedgreen
pacommwct · 2001 · cited in 4 Pennsylvania opinions naming this issue, 2016–2023
2 sentences

2023See Williams v. Syed, 782 A.2d 1090 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2001). 10 the scope of his or her employment; whether the alleged act which causes injury was negligent and damages would be recoverable but for the availability of the immunity defense; and whether the act fits within one of the nine exceptions to sovereign immunity.” Id. at 122 (quoting La Frankie v. Miklich, 618 A.2d 1145, 1149 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1992)); see also Section 8522 of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa.C.S. § 8522, commonly known as the Sovereign Immunity Act (Act).

2023See Williams v. Syed, 782 A.2d 1090 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2001). 10 the scope of his or her employment; whether the alleged act which causes injury was negligent and damages would be recoverable but for the availability of the immunity defense; and whether the act fits within one of the nine exceptions to sovereign immunity.” Id. at 122 (quoting La Frankie v. Miklich, 618 A.2d 1145, 1149 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1992)); see also Section 8522 of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa.C.S. § 8522, commonly known as the Sovereign Immunity Act (Act).

34
Cowell v. Commonwealth, Department of Transportationgreen
pacommwct · 2005 · cited in 2 Pennsylvania opinions naming this issue, 2012–2013
2 sentences

2013Cowell, 883 A.2d at 708 (emphasis added). “[A] plaintiff seeking to prevail in a negligence action against the Commonwealth must demonstrate that [his] claim is one that, if proven, would satisfy the common law requirements for a negligence claim and that one of the exceptions to sovereign immunity applies.” Lambert, 8 A.3d at 417 . [I]n order to prevail in a negligence action under common law, the plaintiff must establish that: (1) the defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff; (2) that duty was breached; (3) the breach resulted in the plaintiffs injury; and (4) the plaintiff suffered an

2012Cowell, 883 A.2d at 708 .

12
Williams v. Stickmangreen
pacommwct · 2007 · cited in 1 Pennsylvania opinions naming this issue, 2025–2025
1 sentence

2025See Williams v. Stickman, 917 A.2d 915 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2001).

11
Bronson v. Lechwardgreen
pacommwct · 1993 · cited in 1 Pennsylvania opinions naming this issue, 2019–2019
1 sentence

2019See Bronson, 624 A.2d at 801-02 (holding that where plaintiff did not aver that Commonwealth employees acted outside scope of their duties and that Commonwealth employees’ actions were within any exception to sovereign immunity, trial court correctly determined that employees were immune from suit and that suit was frivolous). 3 The nine exceptions to sovereign immunity relate to: vehicle liability; medical professional liability; care, custody or control of personal property; Commonwealth real estate, highways and sidewalks; potholes and other dangerous conditions; care, custody or control of

11
Wilson v. Marrowgreen
pacommwct · 2007 · cited in 1 Pennsylvania opinions naming this issue, 2018–2018
1 sentence

2018See Wilson v. Marrow , 917 A.2d 357 , 364 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2007).

11

Distinguished, questioned or overruled (0)

CaseNegativeCited
No negative-treatment citations attached to this issue in Pennsylvania. Read the followed side critically anyway.

Also cited on this issue (5)

CaseCitedYears
Heicklen v. Hoffman green
pacommwct · 2000
1 sentence

2018Heicklen v. Hoffman , 761 A.2d 207 , 209 n.7 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2000).

12018–2018
Fitzgerald v. McCutcheon green
pasuperct · 1979
1 sentence

2017In setting forth that standard, we cited to Fitzgerald v. McCutcheon, 270 Pa.Super, 102, 410 A.2d 1270 (1979), which relied oh this provision to define scope of employment, The Restatement (Second) of Agency (1958), § 228, defines conduct within the scope of employment as follows: (1) Conduct of a servant is within the scope of employment if, but only if: (a) it is of the kind he is employed to perform; (b) it occurs substantially within the authorized time and space limits; (c) it is actuated, at least in part, by a purpose to serve the master; and (d) if force is intentionally used by the se

12017–2017
Lambert v. Katz green
pacommwct · 2010
1 sentence

2013Cowell, 883 A.2d at 708 (emphasis added). “[A] plaintiff seeking to prevail in a negligence action against the Commonwealth must demonstrate that [his] claim is one that, if proven, would satisfy the common law requirements for a negligence claim and that one of the exceptions to sovereign immunity applies.” Lambert, 8 A.3d at 417 . [I]n order to prevail in a negligence action under common law, the plaintiff must establish that: (1) the defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff; (2) that duty was breached; (3) the breach resulted in the plaintiffs injury; and (4) the plaintiff suffered an

12013–2013
Norbert v. Com., State Police green
pacommwct · 1992
1 sentence

1995Norbert v. State Police, 148 Pa.Commonwealth Ct. 505, 611 A.2d 1353 (1992). *114 The Mosers allege that under either the corporate theory of liability or the ostensible agency theory of liability, Ashland and DPW owed a duty of care to Moser, which duty was breached, exposing these Commonwealth parties to tort liability.

11995–1995
Bruce v. Com., Dept. of Transp. green
pacommwct · 1991
1 sentence

1993Bruce v. Department of Transportation, 138 *233 Pa.Commonwealth Ct. 187, 588 A.2d 974 (1991), petition for allowance of appeal denied, 533 Pa. 626 , 620 A.2d 492 (1993). 9 .

11993–1993

Statutes the citing opinions construe

PA § 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 8522 (25) PA § 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 8501 (7) PA § 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 8521 (6) USC § 42u.s.c.1983 (6) PA § 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6601 (3) PA § 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6602 (3) PA § 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 8528 (3)

Counted by distinct opinions that both name this issue and are annotated to the section; sections every opinion cites regardless of issue are not filtered here, so read the counts against the total above.

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