{ "id": 11651750, "name": "ANITA FAYE ISENHOUR, individually and as Administratrix of the Estate of ANTHONY DARRELL ISENHOUR, JR., Deceased, Plaintiffs v. KIMBERLY ANN HUTTO, DONALD STEPHEN HUTTO, ROBBIE FAYE MORRISON, individually and in her official capacity as a School Crossing Guard, and THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE, a North Carolina Municipal Corporation, Defendants", "name_abbreviation": "Isenhour v. Hutto", "decision_date": "1998-06-02", "docket_number": "No. COA97-756", "first_page": "596", "last_page": "603", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "129 N.C. App. 596" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C. Ct. App.", "id": 14983, "name": "North Carolina Court of Appeals" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "365 S.E.2d 712", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "716" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "89 N.C. App. 242", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8521284 ], "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "248" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/89/0242-01" ] }, { "cite": "68 S.E.2d 783", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1952, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "787" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "235 N.C. 1", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8620036 ], "year": 1952, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "7" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/235/0001-01" ] }, { "cite": "489 S.E.2d 880", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 5, "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "887" }, { "page": "888" }, { "page": "888" }, { "page": "889" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "347 N.C. 97", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 551301 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "110" }, { "page": "112" }, { "page": "112" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/347/0097-01" ] }, { "cite": "167 S.E.2d 524", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1969, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "526" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "4 N.C. App. 630", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8555202 ], "year": 1969, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "633" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/4/0630-01" ] }, { "cite": "146 S.E.2d 53", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1966, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "60", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "266 N.C. 134", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8559841 ], "year": 1966, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "140-41", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/266/0134-01" ] }, { "cite": "62 L. Ed. 2d 46", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L. Ed. 2d", "year": 1979, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "444 U.S. 835", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 11325281, 11324888, 11324840, 11325226, 11325099, 11324940, 11325389, 11325331, 11324788, 11325174, 11325048, 11324990 ], "year": 1979, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/444/0835-10", "/us/444/0835-03", "/us/444/0835-02", "/us/444/0835-09", "/us/444/0835-07", "/us/444/0835-04", "/us/444/0835-12", "/us/444/0835-11", "/us/444/0835-01", "/us/444/0835-08", "/us/444/0835-06", "/us/444/0835-05" ] }, { "cite": "577 S.W.2d 4", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "case_ids": [ 9924208 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "6" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/sw2d/577/0004-01" ] }, { "cite": "495 S.E.2d 711", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 7, "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "717", "parenthetical": "\"governmental entities, when exercising their statutory powers, act for the benefit of the general public and . . . have no duty to protect specific individuals.\"" }, { "page": "715-16", "parenthetical": "listing cases" }, { "page": "716", "parenthetical": "\"While this Court has not heretofore applied the doctrine to a state agency or to a governmental function other than law enforcement, we do so now.\"" }, { "page": "716", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" }, { "page": "716" }, { "page": "716" }, { "page": "717", "parenthetical": "emphasis added" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "347 N.C. 473", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 551270 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "482", "parenthetical": "\"governmental entities, when exercising their statutory powers, act for the benefit of the general public and . . . have no duty to protect specific individuals.\"" }, { "page": "480-81", "parenthetical": "listing cases" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/347/0473-01" ] }, { "cite": "371 S.E.2d 275", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1988, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "322 N.C. 834", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2514028, 2518960, 2516821, 2517941, 2513435 ], "year": 1988, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/322/0834-04", "/nc/322/0834-02", "/nc/322/0834-01", "/nc/322/0834-05", "/nc/322/0834-03" ] }, { "cite": "366 S.E.2d 2", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "5" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "89 N.C. App. 188", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8521115 ], "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "192" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/89/0188-01" ] }, { "cite": "301 N.C. 106", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8564102, 8564168, 8564074, 8564145, 8564125 ], "year": 1980, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/301/0106-02", "/nc/301/0106-05", "/nc/301/0106-01", "/nc/301/0106-04", "/nc/301/0106-03" ] }, { "cite": "266 S.E.2d 711", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "715" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "47 N.C. App. 98", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8548238 ], "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "103" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/47/0098-01" ] }, { "cite": "462 S.E.2d 508", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1995, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "341 N.C. 647", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 793231, 793236, 793046, 793239, 793240 ], "year": 1995, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/341/0647-03", "/nc/341/0647-01", "/nc/341/0647-02", "/nc/341/0647-05", "/nc/341/0647-04" ] }, { "cite": "457 S.E.2d 902", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "909" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "119 N.C. App. 44", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11913553 ], "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "55" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/119/0044-01" ] }, { "cite": "354 S.E.2d 757", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1987, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "758" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "85 N.C. App. 338", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 12169904 ], "year": 1987, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "340" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/85/0338-01" ] }, { "cite": "355 S.E.2d 838", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1987, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "840" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "85 N.C. App. 669", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 12170267 ], "year": 1987, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "670" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/85/0669-01" ] }, { "cite": "413 S.E.2d 550", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1992, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "330 N.C. 854", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2508528 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1992, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/330/0854-01" ] }, { "cite": "410 S.E.2d 897", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 13, "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "901" }, { "page": "899" }, { "page": "899" }, { "page": "899" }, { "page": "901-02" }, { "page": "901", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" }, { "page": "901" }, { "page": "901" }, { "page": "901" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "330 N.C. 363", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2509910 ], "weight": 5, "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "370-71" }, { "page": "370" }, { "page": "370-71" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/330/0363-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 822, "char_count": 17856, "ocr_confidence": 0.771, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.0691746725022976e-07, "percentile": 0.559358286911708 }, "sha256": "1d6eea1d24f7fae351c161aa2f08a287dc181c7a3ccfe6d799cfd6ab450c03d4", "simhash": "1:c301acf0547d2ddd", "word_count": 2923 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T18:14:06.814789+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Judges JOHN and McGEE concur." ], "parties": [ "ANITA FAYE ISENHOUR, individually and as Administratrix of the Estate of ANTHONY DARRELL ISENHOUR, JR., Deceased, Plaintiffs v. KIMBERLY ANN HUTTO, DONALD STEPHEN HUTTO, ROBBIE FAYE MORRISON, individually and in her official capacity as a School Crossing Guard, and THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE, a North Carolina Municipal Corporation, Defendants" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "WYNN, Judge.\nUnder the \u201cpublic duty doctrine,\u201d state and municipal governmental entities are deemed to act for the general public and thus have no tort duty to protect individuals from harm by third parties. See Braswell v. Braswell, 330 N.C. 363, 370-71, 410 S.E.2d 897, 901 (1991), reh\u2019g denied, 330 N.C. 854, 413 S.E.2d 550 (1992). In this case, the City of Charlotte asserts that the public duty doctrine shields it from any liability for the alleged negligence of a school crossing guard that caused the death of a child. Because we find that a crossing guard\u2019s primary function is to ensure the safety of specific individuals \u2014 children crossing the street \u2014 rather than the public at large, we uphold the trial court\u2019s determination that the public duty doctrine does not shield the City of Charlotte from liability.\nOn 8 October 1991, Anthony Darrell Isenhour, Jr., a minor, walked home from elementary school. As he crossed a Charlotte street under the direction of a crossing guard, a driver struck him with her vehicle. Initially severely injured, Anthony later died as a result of the accident.\nAnthony\u2019s mother, Anita Faye Isenhour, first brought a negligence action but later amended it to a wrongful death action against the driver and her husband. She also sued the crossing guard and her employer, the City of Charlotte.\nThe crossing guard and Charlotte responded to the complaint by moving to dismiss it under Rule 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim. Following a denial of those motions, the crossing guard and Charlotte appealed to this Court.\nI.\nWhen ruling on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, the standard of review is \u201cwhether, as a matter of law, the allegations of the complaint, treated as true, are sufficient to state a claim upon which relief may be granted under some legal theory.\u201d Harris v. NCNB, 85 N.C. App. 669, 670, 355 S.E.2d 838, 840 (1987). In ruling upon such a motion, the complaint is to be liberally construed, and the court should not dismiss the complaint \u201cunless it appears beyond doubt that [the] plaintiff could prove no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitle him to relief.\u201d Dixon v. Stuart, 85 N.C. App. 338, 340, 354 S.E.2d 757, 758 (1987).\nMs. Isenhour asserted numerous negligent acts and omissions on the part of the City of Charlotte and the crossing guard that caused her son\u2019s injuries and subsequent death. On appeal, the City of Charlotte and the crossing guard argue that Ms. Isenhour failed to state a claim against them because they are shielded from liability by the public duty doctrine.\nIn essence, the public duty doctrine operates to defeat a negligence claim by establishing the lack of the \u201cduty\u201d element. Davis v. Messer, 119 N.C. App. 44, 55, 457 S.E.2d 902, 909 (1995), disc. review denied, 341 N.C. 647, 462 S.E.2d 508 (1995). An action for negligence requires \u201cthe existence of a legal relationship between the parties by which the injured party is owed a duty which either arises out of a contract or by operation of law.\u201d Vickery v. Construction Co., 47 N.C. App. 98, 103, 266 S.E.2d 711, 715, disc. review denied, 301 N.C. 106, - S.E.2d - (1980). If there is no duty, there can be no liability. Coleman v. Cooper, 89 N.C. App. 188, 192, 366 S.E.2d 2, 5, disc. review denied, 322 N.C. 834, 371 S.E.2d 275 (1988). Under the public duty doctrine, when exercising its statutory police powers a municipality and its agents cannot be held liable for a failure to carry but its statutory duties to an individual. Braswell v. Braswell, 330 N.C. 363, 410 S.E.2d 897 (1991), reh\u2019g denied, 330 N.C. 854, 413 S.E.2d 550 (1992); see also Stone v. N.C. Dept. of Labor, 347 N.C. 473, 482, 495 S.E.2d 711, 717 (1998) (\u201cgovernmental entities, when exercising their statutory powers, act for the benefit of the general public and . . . have no duty to protect specific individuals.\u201d)\nRelatively recently, our Supreme Court expressly adopted the public duty doctrine in the case of Braswell v. Braswell, 330 N.C. 363, 410 S.E.2d 897. In that case, the Court considered a negligence claim brought by the administrator of Lillie Stancil Braswell\u2019s estate against Ralph L. Tyson, the Sheriff of Pitt County. Id. at 366, 410 S.E.2d at 899. Billy R. Braswell, Lillie\u2019s estranged husband and a Pitt County deputy sheriff, murdered her. Id. The plaintiff, Lillie and Billy\u2019s son, sued Sheriff Tyson for negligent failure to protect and for negligent supervision and retention of Billy. Id. at 366-67, 410 S.E.2d at 899. At the close of plaintiff\u2019s evidence, the trial court directed verdict in favor of Sheriff Tyson. Id. at 367, 410 S.E.2d at 899. The plaintiff appealed to this Court, and we found no error in the dismissal of the negligent supervision and hiring claim, but reversed on the dismissal of the claim for negligent failure to protect. Id.\nIn reversing the Court of Appeals on the issue involving the claim for negligent failure to protect, the Supreme Court held that the public duty doctrine protected the defendant Sheriff from liability. Id. at 370-72, 410 S.E.2d at 901-02. The Court noted that \u201c[t]he general common law rule, known as the public duty doctrine, is that a municipality and its agents act for the benefit of the public, and therefore, there is no liability for the failure to furnish police protection to specific individuals. This rule recognizes the limited resources of law enforcement and refuses to judicially impose an overwhelming burden of liability for failure to prevent every criminal act.\u201d Id. at 370-71, 410 S.E.2d at 901 (citation omitted).\nThe language used in the holding of Braswell was specific to the facts before the Court \u2014 a law enforcement officer sued for failing to protect a member of the public from harm. See id. at 370-71, 410 S.E.2d at 901. After Braswell, several opinions of this Court recognized the applicability of the public duty doctrine for non-police defendants. See Stone v. N.C. Dept. of Labor, 347 N.C. 473, 480-81, 495 S.E.2d 711, 715-16 (1998) (listing cases). However, it was not until the recent case of Stone v. N.C. Dept, of Labor that our Supreme Court recognized the applicability of the public duty doctrine to non-law enforcement defendants. See id. at 481, 495 S.E.2d at 716 (\u201cWhile this Court has not heretofore applied the doctrine to a state agency or to a governmental function other than law enforcement, we do so now.\u201d)\nIn Stone, the plaintiffs sued the North Carolina Department of Labor and its Occupational Safety and Health Division under the Tort Claims Act. The plaintiffs asserted a negligence claim, alleging that defendants had, inter alia, negligently failed to inspect the Imperial Foods Products Plant in Hamlet, North Carolina.\nThe Supreme Court held that the public duty doctrine barred such a claim.\nThe general common law rule provides that governmental entities, when exercising their statutory powers, act for the benefit of the general public and therefore have no duty to protect specific individuals. Because the governmental entity owes no particular duty to any individual claimant, it cannot be held liable for negligence for a failure to carry out its statutory duties. Absent a duty, there can be no liability.\nId. at 482, 495 S.E.2d at 716 (citations omitted). Again, the theory behind the application of the doctrine was concern about \u201cimposing] an overwhelming burden of liability on defendants for failure to prevent every employer\u2019s negligence that results in injuries or deaths to employees,\u201d as \u201c \u2018[i]t is better to have ... laws [for public protection], even haphazardly enforced, than not to have them at all.\u2019 \u201d Id. at 481, 495 S.E.2d at 716 (quoting Grogan v. Commonwealth, 577 S.W.2d 4, 6 (Ky.), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 835, 62 L. Ed. 2d 46 (1979)).\nReturning to the case before us, we do not agree that the public duty doctrine nullifies a negligence suit against a crossing guard alleged to have negligently performed his or her duties. \u201cWhether there is a duty owed by one person to another to use care ... depends upon the relationship of the parties one to the other.\u201d Insurance Co. v. Sprinkler Co., 266 N.C. 134, 140-41, 146 S.E.2d 53, 60 (1966) (citation omitted). The public duty doctrine theorizes that \u201ca municipality and its agents act for the benefit of the public, and therefore, there is no liability ... to specific individuals.\u201d Braswell, 330 N.C. at 370, 410 S.E.2d at 901.\nHere, the relevant relationship was one between a crossing guard and an elementary school student. Unlike police and governmental agencies, who serve the public at large, a crossing guard\u2019s primary function is to ensure the safety of a specific individual \u2014 each child who comes to the crossing guard seeking to cross the street. Thus, the theoretical argument for the public duty doctrine has no applicability to the facts of the present case.\nFurthermore, the facts of this case are distinguishable from the holdings of Stone and Braswell. Ms. Isenhour alleged that the crossing guard negligently acted in assisting her son in crossing the street. In contrast, the governmental entity in Stone negligently failed to carry out its statutory duties. Likewise, in Braswell the defendant was a law enforcement officer, and the suit was for negligently failing to provide law enforcement protection.\nMoreover, the public policy justification for the public duty doctrine is inapplicable to the present case. As stated by our Supreme Court, the public duty doctrine \u201crecognizes the limited resources of law enforcement and refuses to judicially impose an overwhelming burden of liability for failure to prevent every criminal act.\u201d Braswell, 330 N.C. at 370-71, 410 S.E.2d at 901. Similarly, in Stone-, \u201cwe . . . refuse to judicially impose an overwhelming burden of liability on defendants for failure to prevent every employer\u2019s negligence that results in injuries or deaths to employees.\u201d Id. at 481, 495 S.E.2d at 716. Here, the imposition of liability on crossing guards implicates no such threat of overwhelming liability, given the limited range of services provided by them and the relatively smaller segment of the population served.\nPerhaps the most compelling reason for concluding that the public duty doctrine does not apply to this case comes from Stone. Responding to a dissent, the Court said: \u201cA myriad of reported and unreported cases, covering a great variety of fact situations, have allowed recovery against the State under the Tort Claims Act. Nothing in this opinion even hints at the overruling of those cases. Absent legislative change, the Act functions and will continue to function as it has for almost half a century. We simply hold ... that in this limited new context, not heretofore confronted by this Court, the Act was not intended to and does not apply absent a special relationship or special duty.\u201d Id. at 483, 495 S.E.2d at 717 (emphasis added).\nWe can discern no reason why the doctrine\u2019s application should be differentiated based on whether the defendant is a state or municipal tortfeasor. Thus, we will apply the Stone Court\u2019s understanding to the present case involving a municipality. It appears to be well-established that, under the Tort Claims Act, recovery may be had for injuries resulting from negligent action but not for negligent omissions; however, an undertaking negligently implemented is an actionable negligent action. Mackey v. Highway Comm., 4 N.C. App. 630, 633, 167 S.E.2d 524, 526 (1969). The present case falls squarely into the category of action undertaken and, treating Ms. Isenhour\u2019s allegations as true, negligently performed. Therefore, we conclude that this recognized basis of liability was not nullified by the Supreme Court\u2019s adoption of the public duty doctrine.\nAccordingly, we hold that the public duty doctrine does not apply to the situation of a crossing guard sued for negligently directing a child across the street; we therefore hold that the trial court did not err by declining to dismiss this action. Given this conclusion, we do not need to consider whether an exception to the public duty doctrine applies.\nII.\nLastly, the crossing guard contends that the trial court erred by denying her motion to dismiss the claim against her in her individual capacity, and abused its discretion by allowing amendment of the complaint to include a designation in the caption that the suit was against her in her individual capacity.\nThe crossing guard first argues that the language and \u201coverall tenor\u201d of the complaint was for a suit against her in her official capacity. We disagree. \u201cThe crucial question for determining whether a defendant is sued in an individual or official capacity is the nature of the relief sought, not the nature of the act or omission alleged.\u201d Anita R. Brown-Graham & Jeffrey S. Koeze, Immunity from Personal Liability under State Law for Public Officials and Employees: An Update, Loc. Gov\u2019t L. Bull. 67, at 7 (Inst, of Gov\u2019t, Univ. of N.C. at Chapel Hill), Apr. 1995, quoted in Meyer v. Walls, 347 N.C. 97, 110, 489 S.E.2d 880, 887 (1997).\nHere, the complaint sought monetary damages. \u201cIf money damages are sought, the court must ascertain whether the complaint indicates that the damages are sought from the government or from the pocket of the individual defendant.... if the latter, it is an individual-capacity claim....\u201d Id. In this case, the complaint specifically sought relief from Morrison in her individual capacity. Accordingly, we can find no merit in the crossing guard\u2019s contention that the complaint did not state a claim against her in her individual capacity.\nWe now turn to the question of whether the crossing guard could be sued in her individual capacity. \u201cIt is settled law in this jurisdiction that a public official, engaged in the performance of governmental duties involving the exercise of judgment and discretion, may not be held personally liable for mere negligence in respect thereto.\u201d Smith v. Hefner, 235 N.C. 1, 7, 68 S.E.2d 783, 787 (1952), quoted in Meyer v. Walls, 347 N.C. at 112, 489 S.E.2d at 888. However, a public employee may be held individually liable. Meyer, 347 N.C. at 112, 489 S.E.2d at 888.\nWhen differentiating between a public officer and a public employee, several distinctions are relevant: (1) public officer\u2019s positions are created by the constitution or statutes of the sovereign; (2) the duties of a public officer involve the exercise of sovereign power; (3) public officers have some degree of discretion \u2014 discretionary acts being those requiring personal deliberation, decision, and judgment \u2014 whereas public employees perform ministerial functions \u2014 the execution of a specific duty arising from fixed and designated facts. See id. at 113-14, 489 S.E.2d at 889.\nUnder this analysis, the crossing guard is analogous to a police officer, in that both are charged with the public safety and with ensuring that public laws are obeyed, albeit the crossing guard has a lesser degree of responsibility and power. Further, it is common knowledge that police officers are often called upon to direct traffic. We can discern no reason to distinguish between a crossing guard and a police officer in this situation. As a police officer is a public official, see Shuping v. Barber, 89 N.C. App. 242, 248, 365 S.E.2d 712, 716 (1988), we believe a crossing guard should be so treated. Accordingly, we hold that the crossing guard was not susceptible to suit in her individual capacity for ordinary acts of negligence; as the complaint alleges no greater culpability than that, the trial court erred by not dismissing the suit against her in her individual capacity. The suit against her in her official capacity, of course, is not affected by this holding.\nTo summarize, we affirm the trial court\u2019s denial of the motion to dismiss based on the public duty doctrine, but on the plaintiffs\u2019 claim against the crossing guard in her individual capacity we reverse and remand for an order dismissing the claim.\nAffirmed in part, reversed in part.\nJudges JOHN and McGEE concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "WYNN, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Dean & Gibson, by Rodney A. Dean and D. Christopher Osborn, for defendants-appellants.", "Bailey, Patterson, Caddell, Hart & Bailey, P.A., by Michael A. Bailey, for plaintiffs-appellees." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "ANITA FAYE ISENHOUR, individually and as Administratrix of the Estate of ANTHONY DARRELL ISENHOUR, JR., Deceased, Plaintiffs v. KIMBERLY ANN HUTTO, DONALD STEPHEN HUTTO, ROBBIE FAYE MORRISON, individually and in her official capacity as a School Crossing Guard, and THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE, a North Carolina Municipal Corporation, Defendants\nNo. COA97-756\n(Filed 2 June 1998)\n1. Municipal Corporations \u00a7 450 (NCI4th)\u2014 public duty doctrine \u2014 inapplicability to school crossing guard\nThe public duty doctrine does not shield a city from liability for the alleged negligence of a school crossing guard that caused the death of a child because the crossing guard\u2019s primary function is to ensure the safety of specific individuals \u2014 children crossing the street \u2014 rather than the public at large.\n2. Public Officers and Employees \u00a7 35 (NCI4th)\u2014 complaint \u2014 claim against defendant in individual capacity\nPlaintiffs\u2019 complaint stated a claim against defendant school crossing guard in her individual capacity for negligently directing a child across the street where the complaint sought monetary damages against the crossing guard.\n3. Public Officers and Employees \u00a7 35 (NCI4th)\u2014 school crossing guard \u2014 individual capacity \u2014 not liable for ordinary negligence\nA school crossing guard is a public official rather than a public employee; therefore, a crossing guard was not susceptible to suit in her individual capacity for an ordinary act of negligence.\nAppeal by defendants City of Charlotte and Robbie Faye Morrison from order entered 8 April 1997 by the Honorable John M. Gardner in Mecklenburg County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 18 February 1998.\nDean & Gibson, by Rodney A. Dean and D. Christopher Osborn, for defendants-appellants.\nBailey, Patterson, Caddell, Hart & Bailey, P.A., by Michael A. Bailey, for plaintiffs-appellees." }, "file_name": "0596-01", "first_page_order": 636, "last_page_order": 643 }