Muskopf v. Corning Hospital District

Appellant

Louisa C. Muskopf, et al.

Appellee

Corning Hospital District

Appellant's Claim

That the hospital district was liable for negligence in the appellant's injury, and not immune from tort liability on the grounds of it's government status.

Chief Lawyers for Appellant

P. M. Barceloux, Burton J. Goldstein

Chief Lawyers for Appellee

Glenn D. Newton, William W. Coshow

Justices for the Court

Maurice P. Dooling, Jr., Phil S. Gibson, Raymond E. Peters, Roger J. Traynor (writing for the court), Thomas P. White

Justices Dissenting

Marshall F. McComb, B. Rey Schauer

Place

Bank, California

Date of Decision

27 January 1961

Decision

That the doctrine of government immunity from tort liability was mistaken, and the hospital district could be held liable.

Significance

The case broadened the scope for individuals bringing suit against municipal and state governments for personal injuries.

Related Cases

• Doe v. McMillan, 412 U.S. 306 (1979).
• Nixon v. Fitzgerald 457 U.S. 731 (1982).
• Crawford-El v. Britton, 118 S.Ct. 1584 (1998).

Sources

"Tort Liability." Fort Hays State University, http://bigcat.fhsu.edu.

Further Readings

• Schuck, Peter H. Suing Government: Judicial Remedies for Official Wrongs. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1983.