{ "id": 8570021, "name": "LINDA D. VAUGHN v. NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES", "name_abbreviation": "Vaughn v. North Carolina Department of Human Resources", "decision_date": "1979-03-16", "docket_number": "No. 91", "first_page": "683", "last_page": "692", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "296 N.C. 683" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C.", "id": 9292, "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "245 S.E. 2d 892", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1978, "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "37 N.C. App. 86", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8550705 ], "year": 1978, "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/37/0086-01" ] }, { "cite": "141 S.E. 2d 280", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1965, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "264 N.C. 168", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8571898, 8571940 ], "year": 1965, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/264/0168-01", "/nc/264/0168-02" ] }, { "cite": "148 S.E. 2d 240", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1966, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "267 N.C. 364", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8559322 ], "year": 1966, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/267/0364-01" ] }, { "cite": "193 S.E. 224", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "year": 1937, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "212 N.C. 120", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8601183 ], "year": 1937, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/212/0120-01" ] }, { "cite": "109 S.E. 2d 211", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1959, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "250 N.C. 456", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8624343 ], "year": 1959, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/250/0456-01" ] }, { "cite": "212 U.S. 215", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 5710673 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1909, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/212/0215-01" ] }, { "cite": "59 S.E. 2d 425", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1950, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "232 N.C. 162", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8596404 ], "year": 1950, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/232/0162-01" ] }, { "cite": "74 S.E. 632", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "year": 1912, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "159 N.C. 22", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8656280 ], "year": 1912, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/159/0022-01" ] }, { "cite": "29 S.E. 2d 137", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1944, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "224 N.C. 11", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8594820 ], "year": 1944, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/224/0011-01" ] }, { "cite": "245 S.E. 2d 892", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1978, "opinion_index": 0 } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 804, "char_count": 22605, "ocr_confidence": 0.83, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.0023415236405554e-06, "percentile": 0.9827959081784304 }, "sha256": "b21a4ab423a4b3df0bc240921dc0bd8d6fc190787fa99ec7f4115a2d002d1f57", "simhash": "1:00cfe2b34f6b9fde", "word_count": 3730 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:17:53.962359+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "LINDA D. VAUGHN v. NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "HUSKINS, Justice.\nThe sole question posed on this appeal is whether the North Carolina Industrial Commission has jurisdiction to hear and determine this claim.\nUnder The Tort Claims Act the North Carolina Industrial Commission (Commission) is \u201cconstituted a court for the purpose of hearing and passing upon tort claims against the . . . departments, institutions, and agencies of the State.\u201d G.S. 143-291. The Commission is authorized to determine \u201cwhether or not each individual claim arose as a result of a negligent act of any officer, employee, involuntary servant or agent of the State while acting within the scope of his office, employment, service, agency or authority, under circumstances where the State of North Carolina, if a private person, would be liable to' the claimant in accordance with the laws of North Carolina.\u201d Id.\nClaimant alleges that the Director of the Durham County Department of Social Services and his staff negligently placed in her home a foster child who was a carrier of cytomegalo virus with knowledge that claimant was attempting to become pregnant. Claimant subsequently became pregnant. While pregnant, claimant became infected with cytomegalo virus. Upon advice of her physician, claimant was forced to abort her pregnancy because of the high risk of birth defects to the unborn child due to the cytomegalo virus.\nIn order for the Commission to assert jurisdiction over this claim there must be a showing that the Director of the Durham County Department of Social Services and his staff were acting as the \u201cinvoluntary servants or agents\u201d of a \u201cState Department\u201d under circumstances in which the State, if a private person, would be liable for the negligent acts of the named servants or agents. G.S. 143-291. Claimant contends (1) that the Director of the Durham County Department of Social Services (County Director) and his staff act as agents for the Social Services Commission of the Department of Human Resources with respect to the placement of children in foster homes, and (2) that the degree of control exercised by the Social Services Commission over the manner in which the County Director is to administer the placement of children in foster homes requires imposition of liability on the State under the rule of respondeat superior for the negligent acts of the County Director and his staff with respect to the placement of foster children.\nIs the State liable for the negligent acts of the County Director and his staff with respect to the placement of children in foster homes? Application of the principles of agency law and respondeat superior to the statutory scheme for the delivery of foster care services leads us to conclude that liability may exist and that the Industrial Commission may therefore \u201chear and pass upon\u201d the merits of this claim pursuant to the provisions of the Tort Claims Act.\nWhenever the principal retains the right \u201cto control and direct the manner in which the details of the work are to be executed\u201d by his agent, the doctrine of respondeat superior operates to make the principal vicariously liable for the tortious acts committed by the agent within the scope of his employment. Hayes v. Elon College, 224 N.C. 11, 29 S.E. 2d 137 (1944); Harmon v. Contracting Co., 159 N.C. 22, 74 S.E. 632 (1912). See also, Scott v. Lumber Co., 232 N.C. 162, 59 S.E. 2d 425 (1950). Conversely, a principal is not vicariously liable for the tortious acts of an agent who is not subject to the control and direction of the principal with respect to the details of the work and is subordinate only in effecting a result in accordance with the principal\u2019s wishes. Harmon v. Contracting Co., supra. See generally, Restatement (Second) of Agency \u00a7 2 (1957). In sum, a principal\u2019s vicarious liability for the torts of his agent depends on the degree of control retained by the principal over the details of the work as it is being performed. The controlling principle is that vicarious liability arises from the right of supervision and control. Accord, Hayes v. Elon College, supra. See also, 8 N.C. Index 3d, Master and Servant, \u00a7 3 and cases collected therein.\nAnalysis of the statutory scheme adopted by the General Assembly for the delivery of foster care services indicates that the County Director of Social Services is the agent of the Social Services Commission of the Department of Human Resources with respect to the placement of children in foster homes and that the Social Services Commission is given the right to control and direct the manner in which the County Director is to place children in foster homes. Moreover, the conclusions we reach with respect to the status of the County Director as an agent of the Department of Human Resources and with respect to the vicarious liability of the Department for the negligent acts of the County Director are equally applicable, under principles of sub-agency, to the five caseworkers named by claimant. See generally, W. Seavey, Law of Agency, \u00a7 7 (1964).\nThe County Director of Social Services is given the duty and responsibility \u201c[t]o accept children for placement in foster homes and to supervise placement for so long as such children require foster home care.\u201d G.S. 108-19(15). However, the actions of the County Director with respect to the placement of children in foster homes must comply with the rules and regulations of the Social Services Commission, which has the \u201cpower and duty to establish standards and adopt rules and regulations: * * * * For the placement and supervision of dependent and delinquent children and payment of necessary costs of foster home care for needy and homeless children as provided by G.S. 108-66. * * * * For the inspection and licensing of child-care institutions as provided by G.S. 108-78.\u201d G.S. 143B-153(2)c and (3)c. See also G.S. 108-7 (Interim Supp. 1978).\nPursuant to this mandate the Social Services Commission has adopted comprehensive standards which detail the manner in which the County Director and his staff are to supervise the placement of children in foster homes and the role which the County Director and his staff are to play in the licensing of foster homes. See Manual \u2014Welfare Programs Division, Volume I, Chapter IV, \u201cFoster Care Services\u201d (Plaintiff\u2019s Exhibit 2). These mandatory standards on foster care services instruct the County Director of Social Services on virtually all aspects of foster care. Among the topics covered by the standards are the following: (1) Under what circumstances should the County Director petition a court for the separation of a child from his natural parents? (2) In what manner should the natural parents be involved in the foster care process? (3) What constitutes a suitable foster home? (4) What type of medical care, clothing and nourishment must be provided for foster children? (5) How often and in what manner must each foster care case be evaluated? (6) How should judgments be formulated with respect to the duration of placement in a foster home?\nThe selection of a suitable foster home is obviously one of the keys to the successful placement of children in need of foster care. Control over the manner in which this vital task is to be accomplished is vested in the State. G.S. 108-78(a) charges the Department of Human Resources with licensing and inspecting \u201cchild-caring institutions in the State under rules and regulations adopted by the Social Services Commission. . . .\u201d In its regulations the Social Services Commission instructs the County Director of Social Services and his staff to inspect prospective foster . homes under criteria established by the Commission. The County Director is to report his findings to the Department of Human Resources which decides whether to grant or renew the license as the case may be. Additionally, in its regulations the Social Services Commission specifies that the County Director may place children only in those foster homes which are licensed by the Department of Human Resources. Thus, the role of the County Director in the critical task of finding a suitable foster home is limited to conducting investigations for the Social Services Commission and, assuming there is a choice, to determining into which of several State-licensed foster homes a child will be placed.\nThe funding power of the Department of Human Resources in the field of foster care services also constitutes another source of State control over the manner in which the County Director and his staff administer the placement of children in foster homes. Pursuant to the provisions of the State Foster Home Fund, G.S. 108-66, a substantial percentage of the funding for the foster care programs administered by the County Director is provided by the Department of Human Resources in the form of reimbursement for funds expended by the county for the care of needy children who are placed in foster homes. Significantly, eligibility for reimbursement from the State Foster Home Fund is not conditioned solely on the financial need of the particular child being aided but also on the quality of foster care being provided by the county to the child. G.S. 108-66(a) authorizes reimbursement only when the needy child is placed in a foster home \u201cin accordance with the rules and regulations of the Social Services Commission.\u201d Thus a county is not entitled to reimbursement for funds expended for a needy child unless it places the child in a foster home licensed by the Department of Human Resources as the rules and regulations of the Social Services Commission require that all foster children be placed in licensed homes. Similarly, in order to continue to receive reimbursement from the Foster Home Fund a county must show that the foster care it is giving to the needy child complies with the comprehensive foster care standards promulgated by the Social Services Commission. Accordingly, every six months the county is required to submit reports to the Department of Human Resources on the following items:\n\u201cDates of visits with the child and a description of the services he is receiving, his adjustment in the home, community and school, and any medical care received during the period.\nThe child\u2019s reaction to separation from his own family and the ways by which he maintains contact with them.\nDate of interviews with the child\u2019s parents.\nDescription of the family\u2019s current situation. This includes the whereabouts of both parents, their attitude toward the child, their use of visiting rights, their efforts to improve the home situation and to plan for the child\u2019s return and any change in the family situation as it was described six months ago and the amount and source of income to the family \u2014 including employment history of the parents.\nIf the parents were not living together at the time of placement, description of what has been done to involve the absent parent.\nRelatives contacted by the agency in an effort to interest them in the child\u2019s welfare.\nServices which have been offered to the child\u2019s family since the child was removed from the home.\nWhat specific and more permanent plan of care, other than continuing foster care, has been discussed with the parents and/or relatives? What is their attitude toward the plan?\nIf the child has been released for adoption, what steps have been taken to place the child in a suitable adoptive home?\nIs the agency recommending continued foster care as the best possible plan of care at this time? Give reasons for this recommendation.\u201d Manual \u2014Welfare Programs Division, supra.\nIf the county does not provide satisfactory answers to these questions further reimbursement could be denied and the county would be forced to turn to other revenue sources to cover the expenditures it had made for the needy child. It is evident, then, that the funding power of the Department of Human Resources in the field of foster care services is utilized to control the manner in which the County Director and his staff are to supervise the placement of children in foster homes.\nSignificantly, G.S. 108-19(5) provides that the County Director of Social Services is \u201c[t]o act as agent of the Social Services Commission in relation to work required by the Social Services Commission in the county.\u201d (Emphasis added.) The rules and regulations adopted by the Social Services Commission with respect to the placement of children in foster homes specify part of the \u201cwork required by the Social Services Commission in the county.\u201d Thus, in defining the duties of the County Director of Social Services the General Assembly envisaged that he would be the agent responsible for executing whatever work was required by the Social Services Commission in his county. The nomenclature utilized by the General Assembly accurately describes the role played by the County Director in the delivery of foster care services. This statutory scheme gives the Department of Human Resources, through the Social Services Commission, control over the delivery of foster care services and designates the County Director as the person responsible for carrying out the policies formulated by the Department. Thus, in practice, as well as in name, the role of the County Director in the delivery of foster care services is that of an agent. Like the agent, the County Director acts on behalf of the Department of Human Resources and is subject to its control with respect to the actions he takes on its behalf. See W. Seavey, Law of Agency, \u00a7 3, p. 4 (1964).\nReview of the statutory scheme for the delivery of foster care services indicates that the County Director of Social Services is the agent of the Social Services Commission with respect thereto and that the Department of Human Resources through the Social Services Commission has the right to control the manner in which the County Director of Social Services and his staff are to place children in foster homes. We therefore hold that the Department of Human Resources is liable under the rule of respondeat superior for the negligent acts of the County Director of Social Services with respect to the placement of children in foster homes. It follows therefore that the Industrial Commission has jurisdiction under the Tort Claims Act to determine whether claimant\u2019s injuries arose as a result of a negligent act of the County Director of Social Services or his staff while acting within the scope of their obligation to place children in foster homes.\nIn concluding that the Social Services Commission has the right to control the acts of the County Director with respect to the placement of children in foster homes, we are cognizant of the fact that the Social Services Commission does not have the exclusive power to hire, discharge, or compensate the County Director. Those powers are vested in the County Board of Social Services. See G.S. 108-17 and 108-18. The members of the County Board of Social Services are appointed in part by the Social Services Commission. See G.S. 108-9. It is fair to say, then, that through its minority representation on the County Board of Social Services the Social Services Commission exercises some influence in the hiring, discharge and compensation of the County Director. We note, however, that exclusive power over the hiring, discharge, and compensation of an agent is not a prerequisite to a finding that the right of control exists; rather, it is one of many circumstances to be considered in determining whether the principal has the right to control the acts of his agents. See Standard Oil Co. v. Anderson, 212 U.S. 215, 53 L.Ed. 480, 29 S.Ct. 252 (1909). Thus, lack of power over hiring, discharge, and compensation does not preclude a finding of control where, as in this case, other circumstances support such finding. See Hayes v. Elon College, supra.\nThe case of Turner v. Board of Education, 250 N.C. 456, 109 S.E. 2d 211 (1959), cited by defendant as dispositive of this appeal, is factually distinguishable. In Turner this Court held that the State Board of Education was not vicariously liable for the negligent acts of a lawn mower operator employed by the Gastonia City Board of Education. The holding in Turner is premised on a finding that the State Board did not have the right to control the actions of the lawn mower operator. The facts in this case, unlike those in Turner, warrant a finding that the Department of Human Resources has the right to control the actions of the County Director of Social Services with respect to the placement of children in foster homes.\nIn this case we hold only that the Department of Human Resources is liable for the negligent acts of its agents, the Durham County Director of Social Services and his subordinates, with respect to the placement of children in foster homes. Our holding is narrowly premised on the ground that the Department of Human Resources through the Social Services Commission has the right to control the manner in which the County Director is to execute his obligation to place children in foster homes. We express no opinion on whether the Department of Human Resources might also be liable for. negligent acts of the County Director outside the scope of his obligation to place children in foster homes. In every instance the liability of the Department of Human Resources depends upon application of the principles of agency and respondeat superior to the facts in the case under consideration. See Snow v. DeButts, 212 N.C. 120, 193 S.E. 224 (1937).\nDefendant has excepted to the findings of fact made by the Industrial Commission. Since the facts found by the Commission are jurisdictional they are not binding on this Court. See, e.g., Hicks v. Guilford County, 267 N.C. 364, 148 S.E. 2d 240 (1966); Askew v. Tire Co., 264 N.C. 168, 141 S.E. 2d 280 (1965). Nonetheless, all the findings made by the Industrial Commission, save one, are supported by competent evidence. The Commission found that the Durham County Board of Social Services consisted of three members. Contrary to this finding the record indicates that the actual number of board members is five. However, since jurisdiction in this case does not turn on the composition of the Durham County Board of Social Services, we conclude that the Commission\u2019s error was harmless. Defendant\u2019s exceptions to the Commission\u2019s findings of fact are overruled.\nFor the reasons stated the decision of the Court of Appeals is\nAffirmed.", "type": "majority", "author": "HUSKINS, Justice." } ], "attorneys": [ "Powe, Porter, Alphin & Whichard, P.A., by Charles R. Holton and Willis P. Whichard for plaintiff appellee.", "Rufus L. Edmisten, Attorney General, by William Woodward Webb and Ralf F. Haskell, Assistant Attorneys General, for the State." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "LINDA D. VAUGHN v. NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES\nNo. 91\n(Filed 16 March 1979)\n1. Principal and Agent \u00a7 9\u2014 liability of principal for torts of agent \u2014 degree of control\nWhenever the principal retains the right to control and direct the manner in which details of work are to be executed by his agent, the doctrine of respondeat superior operates to make the principal vicariously liable for the tortious acts committed by the agent within the scope of his employment. Conversely, a principal is not vicariously liable for the .tortious acts of an agent who is not subject to the control and direction of the principal with respect to the details of the work and is subordinate only in effecting a result in accordance with the principal\u2019s wishes.\n2. State \u00a7 6\u2014 Tort Claims Act \u2014 foster home program \u2014County Director of Social Services\nA County Director of Social Services and his staff are agents of the Social Services Commission of the Department of Human Resources with respect to the placement of children in foster homes since the Social Services Commission has been given the right to control and direct the manner in which the County Director and his staff are to place children in foster homes. Therefore, the Department of Human Resources is liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior for the negligent acts of the County Director and his staff with respect to the placement of children in foster homes, and the Industrial Commission has jurisdiction under the Tort Claims Act of a claim based on such alleged negligence of the County Director and his staff.\nOn defendant\u2019s petition for discretionary review of the decision of the Court of Appeals, 37 N.C. App. 86, 245 S.E. 2d 892 (1978), affirming the order of the North Carolina Industrial Commission entered 3 February 1977. This case was docketed and argued as No. 116 at the Fall Term 1978.\nThis is a claim against the Department of Human Resources which has not yet been heard on the merits. It was filed with the North Carolina Industrial Commission pursuant to the provisions of the Tort Claims Act, G.S. 143-291. In her accompanying affidavit, claimant alleges that a foster child was negligently placed in her home by the Durham County Department of Social Services. The employees who placed the child in her home knew the child was a carrier of cytomegalo virus. The claimant had previously advised her caseworker that she was attempting to become pregnant; and subsequently, the claimant did become pregnant. While pregnant, the claimant was infected with cytomegalo virus. Upon advice of her physicians, the claimant was forced to abort her pregnancy because of the high risk of birth defects to the unborn child due to the cytomegalo virus. The abortion and its aftermath have resulted in great physical pain and mental anguish to the claimant.\nClaimant named the County Director of Social Services, Mr. Thomas W. Hogan, and five of his caseworkers as the negligent employees. Counsel have stipulated that at the times complained of Thomas Hogan was the Director of the Durham County Department of Social Services; that either he or his predecessor in office was responsible for the hiring of the named caseworkers; that all of said individuals at the times complained of were employees of the Durham County Department of Social Services.\nThe Department of Human Resources moved to dismiss the claim for lack of jurisdiction, contending the Durham County Department of Social Services is not a State department and the Director and employees thereof are not State employees within the meaning of G.S. 143-291.\nThe motion came on for hearing before the Industrial Commission and, after finding facts, Commissioner Stephenson held that the Industrial Commission had jurisdiction to hear and determine this claim. On defendant\u2019s appeal Commissioner Stephenson\u2019s order was affirmed by the Full Commission and, on further appeal, by the Court of Appeals. We allowed defendant\u2019s petition for discretionary review.\nPowe, Porter, Alphin & Whichard, P.A., by Charles R. Holton and Willis P. Whichard for plaintiff appellee.\nRufus L. Edmisten, Attorney General, by William Woodward Webb and Ralf F. Haskell, Assistant Attorneys General, for the State." }, "file_name": "0683-01", "first_page_order": 707, "last_page_order": 716 }