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Simple English definitions for legal terms
public-duty doctrine
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A quick definition of public-duty doctrine:
The public-duty doctrine is a rule that says a government organization, like a city or state, cannot be held responsible if someone gets hurt because a government worker didn't do their job properly. This is because the worker's duty is to the general public, not to any one person in particular. This rule is also called the public-duty rule and is different from the special-duty doctrine.
A more thorough explanation:
The public-duty doctrine is a legal principle that states that a government entity, such as a state or municipality, cannot be held responsible for an individual's injury resulting from a breach of duty by a government officer or employee. This duty is owed to the general public rather than to the individual plaintiff.
For example, if a police officer fails to respond to a specific individual's call for help, the individual cannot sue the police department for damages resulting from the officer's failure to act. This is because the officer's duty is to the general public, not to any specific individual.
Another example is if a city fails to maintain a sidewalk, causing someone to trip and fall. The individual cannot sue the city for damages because the city's duty is to the general public to maintain the sidewalks, not to any specific individual.
The public-duty doctrine is important because it protects government entities from being held liable for every individual's injury resulting from the actions of their officers or employees. It ensures that government entities can focus on serving the general public without fear of being sued for every individual's injury.