10 Del. C. § 4011

Immunity from suit

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(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided by statute, all governmental entities and their employees shall be immune from suit on any and all tort claims seeking recovery of damages. That a governmental entity has the power to sue or be sued, whether appearing in its charter or statutory enablement, shall not create or be interpreted as a waiver of the immunity granted in this subchapter.

(b) Notwithstanding § 4012 of this title, a governmental entity shall not be liable for any damage claim which results from:

(1) The undertaking or failure to undertake any legislative act, including, but not limited to, the adoption or failure to adopt any statute, charter, ordinance, order, regulation, resolution or resolve.

(2) The undertaking or failure to undertake any judicial or quasi-judicial act, including, but not limited to, granting, granting with conditions, refusal to grant or revocation of any license, permit, order or other administrative approval or denial.

(3) The performance or failure to exercise or perform a discretionary function or duty, whether or not the discretion be abused and whether or not the statute, charter, ordinance, order, resolution, regulation or resolve under which the discretionary function or duty is performed is valid or invalid.

(4) The decision not to provide communications, heat, light, water, electricity or solid or liquid waste collection, disposal or treatment services.

(5) The discharge, dispersal, release or escape of smoke, vapors, soot, fumes, acids, alkalines, toxic chemicals, liquids or gases, waste materials or other irritants, contaminants or pollutants into or upon land, the atmosphere or any watercourse or body of water, except as provided in § 4012(3) of this title.

(6) Any defect, lack of repair or lack of sufficient railing in any highway, townway, sidewalk, parking area, causeway, bridge, airport runway or taxiway, including appurtenances necessary for the control of such ways including but not limited to street signs, traffic lights and controls, parking meters and guardrails.

Paragraphs (b)(1) to (6) of this section to which immunity applies are cited as examples and shall not be interpreted to limit the general immunity provided by this section.

(c) An employee may be personally liable for acts or omissions causing property damage, bodily injury or death in instances in which the governmental entity is immune under this section, but only for those acts which were not within the scope of employment or which were performed with wanton negligence or wilful and malicious intent.

62 Del. Laws, c. 124, §  270 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 64 cases (33 in the last 5 years), 1985–2026 · leading case: McCaffrey v. City of Wilmington
McCaffrey v. City of Wilmington (2016) del · cites it 4× “36 10 Del. C. § 4011(a). 37 Moore v. Wilmington Hous.”
Artesian Water Co. v. Government of New Castle County (1985) ded · cites it 3× “” 10 Del.C. § 4011(a) (1984). A “governmental entity” is defined as including any county.”
Robinson v. Clemons (1998) ded · cites it 5× “Respondeat Superior Liability under the County and Municipal Tort Claims Act The County and Municipal Tort Claims Act, 10 Del.Code. Ann. § 4011(a), generally immunizes all governmental entities and their employees from suit on any and all tort claims seeking recovery of damages.”
Chambers v. Doe (2006) ded · cites it 3× “” 10 Del. C. § 4011(a). It further provides for immunity in the performance or failure to exercise or perform a discretionary function or duty, whether or not the discretion be abused and whether or not the statute, charter, ordinance, order, resolution, regulation or resolve…”
Ashley Adams v. Eric Selhorst, Et Ql (2011) ca3 “” 10 Del. C. § 4011(a); see also Couden v. Duffy, 446 F.”
Wilcher v. City of Wilmington (1999) ded · cites it 5× “31, 1997) (granting summary judgment with respect to claims for invasion of privacy, interference with contract and prima facie tort because they are barred by 10 Del.C. § 4011). Although the Plaintiffs do not challenge the accuracy and/or applicability of the *307 previously…”
Carr v. Town of Dewey Beach (1990) ded “” 10 Del.C. § 4011(a). The statute specifically provides that a governmental entity shall not be liable for any damage claim which results from: .”
Santiago v. Fields (2001) ded “See 10 Del. C. § 4011(c). However, "[a]n employee maybe personally liable for acts or omissions causing .”
Laura Liebal as Next Friend and Guardian of M.M., a Minor v. Belvedere Fire Company (2025) delsuperct · cites it 7× “Volunteer fire companies are immune under 10 Del. C. § 4011(a). We begin by recognizing that 10 Del.”
Rishell v. Hartly Volunteer Fire Company (2024) delsuperct · cites it 6× “” Conduct for which a 11 10 Del. C. § 4011(a). 12 10 Del. C. § 4010(2).”
Lewandowski v. City of Wilmington (2017) delsuperct · cites it 5× “Lewandowski argues she has not found caselaw specifically dealing with her scenario - where the City affirmatively acted to create a hazard - and therefore Section 4011 does not apply to her complaint.”
Fidance v. City of Wilmington (2017) delsuperct · cites it 5× “5 A governmental entity shall be exposed to liability for its negligent acts or omissions causing property damage, bodily injury or death in the following instances: (2) In the construction, operation or maintenance of any public building or the appurtenances thereto, except as…”
— 10 Del. C. § 4011(0) — 1 case
— 10 Del. C. § 4011(6) — 1 case
Fidance v. City of Wilmington (2017) delsuperct “5 A governmental entity shall be exposed to liability for its negligent acts or omissions causing property damage, bodily injury or death in the following instances: (2) In the construction, operation or maintenance of any public building or the appurtenances thereto, except as…”
— 10 Del. C. § 4011(a) — 36 cases
McCaffrey v. City of Wilmington (2016) del “36 10 Del. C. § 4011(a). 37 Moore v. Wilmington Hous.”
Artesian Water Co. v. Government of New Castle County (1985) ded “” 10 Del.C. § 4011(a) (1984). A “governmental entity” is defined as including any county.”
Ashley Adams v. Eric Selhorst, Et Ql (2011) ca3 “” 10 Del. C. § 4011(a); see also Couden v. Duffy, 446 F.”
Carr v. Town of Dewey Beach (1990) ded “” 10 Del.C. § 4011(a). The statute specifically provides that a governmental entity shall not be liable for any damage claim which results from: .”
Chambers v. Doe (2006) ded “” 10 Del. C. § 4011(a). It further provides for immunity in the performance or failure to exercise or perform a discretionary function or duty, whether or not the discretion be abused and whether or not the statute, charter, ordinance, order, resolution, regulation or resolve…”
— 10 Del. C. § 4011(b) — 6 cases
Robinson v. Clemons (1998) ded “Respondeat Superior Liability under the County and Municipal Tort Claims Act The County and Municipal Tort Claims Act, 10 Del.Code. Ann. § 4011(a), generally immunizes all governmental entities and their employees from suit on any and all tort claims seeking recovery of damages.”
Lewandowski v. City of Wilmington (2017) delsuperct “Lewandowski argues she has not found caselaw specifically dealing with her scenario - where the City affirmatively acted to create a hazard - and therefore Section 4011 does not apply to her complaint.”
Rishell v. Hartly Volunteer Fire Company (2024) delsuperct “” Conduct for which a 11 10 Del. C. § 4011(a). 12 10 Del. C. § 4010(2).”
Fidance v. City of Wilmington (2017) delsuperct “5 A governmental entity shall be exposed to liability for its negligent acts or omissions causing property damage, bodily injury or death in the following instances: (2) In the construction, operation or maintenance of any public building or the appurtenances thereto, except as…”
— 10 Del. C. § 4011(b)(3) — 6 cases
Rishell v. Hartly Volunteer Fire Company (2024) delsuperct “” Conduct for which a 11 10 Del. C. § 4011(a). 12 10 Del. C. § 4010(2).”
Brown v. NCCHA (2025) delsuperct
— 10 Del. C. § 4011(b)(5) — 1 case
Artesian Water Co. v. Government of New Castle County (1985) ded “” 10 Del.C. § 4011(a) (1984). A “governmental entity” is defined as including any county.”
— 10 Del. C. § 4011(b)(6) — 3 cases
Lewandowski v. City of Wilmington (2017) delsuperct “Lewandowski argues she has not found caselaw specifically dealing with her scenario - where the City affirmatively acted to create a hazard - and therefore Section 4011 does not apply to her complaint.”
Fidance v. City of Wilmington (2017) delsuperct “5 A governmental entity shall be exposed to liability for its negligent acts or omissions causing property damage, bodily injury or death in the following instances: (2) In the construction, operation or maintenance of any public building or the appurtenances thereto, except as…”
— 10 Del. C. § 4011(c) — 26 cases
McCaffrey v. City of Wilmington (2016) del “36 10 Del. C. § 4011(a). 37 Moore v. Wilmington Hous.”
Robinson v. Clemons (1998) ded “Respondeat Superior Liability under the County and Municipal Tort Claims Act The County and Municipal Tort Claims Act, 10 Del.Code. Ann. § 4011(a), generally immunizes all governmental entities and their employees from suit on any and all tort claims seeking recovery of damages.”
Chambers v. Doe (2006) ded “” 10 Del. C. § 4011(a). It further provides for immunity in the performance or failure to exercise or perform a discretionary function or duty, whether or not the discretion be abused and whether or not the statute, charter, ordinance, order, resolution, regulation or resolve…”
Wilcher v. City of Wilmington (1999) ded “31, 1997) (granting summary judgment with respect to claims for invasion of privacy, interference with contract and prima facie tort because they are barred by 10 Del.C. § 4011). Although the Plaintiffs do not challenge the accuracy and/or applicability of the *307 previously…”
Santiago v. Fields (2001) ded “See 10 Del. C. § 4011(c). However, "[a]n employee maybe personally liable for acts or omissions causing .”
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