{
  "id": 2810828,
  "name": "Frank Durkiewiecz, Claimant, vs. State of Illinois, Respondent",
  "name_abbreviation": "Durkiewiecz v. State",
  "decision_date": "1937-10-12",
  "docket_number": "No. 2484",
  "first_page": "61",
  "last_page": "63",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "10 Ill. Ct. Cl. 61"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "Ill. Ct. Cl.",
    "id": 8793,
    "name": "Illinois Court of Claims"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 29,
    "name_long": "Illinois",
    "name": "Ill."
  },
  "cites_to": [],
  "analysis": {
    "cardinality": 314,
    "char_count": 4848,
    "ocr_confidence": 0.545,
    "sha256": "07b446cf10e9394ce502bbc8add7385f5c915c728376029bf0791c2d505c3550",
    "simhash": "1:f9378ab8bca406ff",
    "word_count": 860
  },
  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T19:15:58.456912+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "Frank Durkiewiecz, Claimant, vs. State of Illinois, Respondent."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Mr. Justice Linscott\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nOn the morning of June 22d, 1934, the claimant was driving his Chevrolet truck in a northerly direction on S. B. I. Eoute No. 4, a short distance south of the Village of Elwood, in Will County, Illinois. It had been raining for some time, the pavement was wet, and the visibility was somewhat limited.\nThe evidence on the part of the claimant is to the effect that he was driving at a speed of about fifteen miles per hour, that his brakes were in good condition, and that there was no evidence of any mechanical defect in the operation of his truck immediately preceding the accident.\nThe evidence for the claimant is also to the effect that as he was proceeding in a northerly direction, another automobile with a trailer attached was approaching from the north, moving at a speed of ten or fifteen miles per hour; that as claimant\u2019s truck and the automobile and trailer were about to pass each other, a light Ford convertible coupe owned by respondent and driven by an associate director of the Department of Finance in the discharge of his official duties, approached rapidly from the north at a rate of speed in excess of fifty miles per hour; that the State automobile turned to the left in an attempt to pass the automobile and trailer just as claimant\u2019s truck was approaching from the south; that when the driver of the State car saw the claimant\u2019s truck approaching, he attempted to turn back into his own traffic lane, but on account of the condition of the pavement and the speed at which he was traveling, he lost control of the car, which skidded and collided with the claimant\u2019s truck, forcing the same off the highway and across the ditch on the east side of the road, whereby the claimant sustained severe and permanent injuries and his truck was damaged and destroyed.\nThere is evidence on behalf of the respondent to the effect that the State car just prior to the accident was traveling at a speed of thirty or thirty-five miles per hour; that the automobile and trailer hereinbefore referred to was parked on the highway, and in attempting to avoid a collision therewith the driver of the State car applied his brakes, whereby his automobile skidded, swerved first to the right and then to the left, and finally came to a complete stop while still on the road, but at right angles with the edge thereof; that while in this position the claimant\u2019s truck collided with the State automobile and forced the latter off the highway and into the ditch, damaging the same to a considerable extent.\nThe claimant bases his right of recovery on two grounds:\n1. That the accident in question was the result of the gross, reckless, wanton or wilful negligence of the servant of the State of Illinois.\n2. That in any event he should be entitled to an award on the grounds of equity and good conscience.\nThe Attorney General contends that the State is not liable for the negligence of its servants and agents in the absence of a statute making it so liable.\nClaimant concedes that the general rule is in accordance with the contention of the Attorney General, but maintains that an exception to such rule exists in those cases where the State is guilty of wilful and wanton misconduct, and the claimant himself is free from contributory negligence, and that in such cases an award is justified.\nIn the past there have been some decisions of this court in which such an exception was recognized, but such decisions have been overruled and such exception is no longer recognized by this court.\nIn denying a petition for rehearing in the recent case of George Franklin Garbutt, Admr. vs. State, No. 2246, decided at the present term of this court, the court, in disposing of the same contention, said:\n\u201cIf the State is not liable for the ordinary negligence of its servants and agents, there is no principle of law under which it can be held liable for the gross or wanton negligence of such servants and agents, in the absence of a statute making it so liable. The purported exception has no basis in law, and is no longer recognized by this court.\u201d\nWe have repeatedly held that we have no authority to allow an award in any case unless there would be a liability on the part of the State, either at law or in equity, if the State were suable. Crabtree vs. State, 7 C. C. R. 207; Kramer vs. State, 8 C. C. R. 31; Shumway vs. State, 8 C. C. R. 43; Titone vs. State, No. 2475, decided at the January Term, 1937.\nUnder the law as above set forth, we have no authority to allow an award, and the same must therefore be denied.\nAward denied. Case dismissed.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Mr. Justice Linscott"
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Brown, Hay & Stephens, for claimant.",
      "Otto Kerner, Attorney General; Murray F. Milne, Assistant Attorney General, for respondent."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "(No. 2484\nFrank Durkiewiecz, Claimant, vs. State of Illinois, Respondent.\nOpinion filed October 12, 1937.\nBrown, Hay & Stephens, for claimant.\nOtto Kerner, Attorney General; Murray F. Milne, Assistant Attorney General, for respondent."
  },
  "file_name": "0061-01",
  "first_page_order": 81,
  "last_page_order": 83
}