Opinion
20639
March 14, 1978.
Daniel R. McLeod, Atty. Gen., A. Camden Lewis and Perry M. Buckner, Asst. Attys. Gen., of Columbia, for Appellants, cite: As to employees of the state or county government enjoying a qualified immunity from suit when performing discretionary acts within the scope of their employment: Prosser, The Law of Torts § 132; 263 S.C. 446, 211 S.E.2d 241; 260 S.C. 562, 197 S.E.2d 659; Prosser, The Law of Torts § 132 at 987; 386 U.S. 547; 260 S.C. 562, 197 S.E.2d 659; 160 S.C. 414, 170 S.E. 460; Prosser, Law of Torts § 132; 170 S.C. 414, 421, 170 S.E. 460; 204 Iowa 798, 215 N.W. 957; 16 N.J. Misc. 537, 3 A.2d 293; 134 Ga. App. 680, 215 S.E.2d 537; 107 Ariz. 4, 480 P.2d 654; 216 Kan. 399, 517 P.2d 117; 127 Ga. App. 42, 117 S.E. 118; 348 A.2d 455; 311 F. Supp. 973; 214 Va. 405, 200 S.E.2d 569.
W. Ralph Garris, of Columbia, for Respondent, cites: As to immunity from liability for tortious acts which County employees enjoy: Cooley on Torts, p. 385; 2 Nott McC. 537; 1 East, 555; Antieau, Local Government Law, County Law § 34.08, page 98; McQuillin, Municipal Corporations, § 12.211 (a), page 151; McQuillin, Municipal Corporations § 12.211, page 149; 212 N.C. 504, 193 S.E. 814; 224 N.C. 783, 32 S.E.2d 594; 234 N.C. 3, 65 S.E.2d 300; 235 N.C. 1, 68 S.E.2d 783; 273 N.C. 44, 159 S.E.2d 530; 75 N.C. 347; 211 Ill. 200, 71 N.E. 860, 103 Am. St. Rep. 191; Cooley on Torts, p. 757; 173 N.C. 167, 91 S.E. 831; 101 W. Va. 650, 133 S.E. 365; 170 S.C. 414, 170 S.E. 460; 204 Iowa 798, 215 N.W. 957; Section 44-31-20 of the 1975 Code of Laws of South Carolina; Antieau, Local Government Law, County § 34.08, page 99; Section 1-11-140 of the 1975 Code of Laws of South Carolina; 247 S.C. 317, 147 S.E.2d 264; 261 S.C. 509, 201 S.E.2d 113; 260 S.C. 562, 197 S.E.2d 659; 252 S.C. 179, 165 S.E.2d 797.
March 14, 1978.
These are actions for wrongful death and pain and suffering brought against three physicians, their professional associations, a laboratory technician and a laboratory aid. This appeal is from an order denying a demurrer interposed by Carmelisa Edwards, a laboratory technician, and Flonnie Brooks, a laboratory aid. We affirm.
Sommai Hanselmann suffered from hemotysis which eventually caused respiratory and cardiac arrest. She died on July 29, 1975. Appellants Edwards and Brooks, employees of Richland Memorial Hospital, performed laboratory tests in connection with Ms. Hanselmann's illness.
Respondent alleged, inter alia, that Edwards and Brooks did not follow specified laboratory procedures and failed to exercise proper care in reporting the laboratory results. Appellants' demurrer asserted that as a matter of law, public employees enjoy immunity from suit for all discretionary official acts not done maliciously, and as the complaint failed to allege any malicious conduct by appellants, it failed to state a cause of action.
We believe the demurrer was properly denied. The scope of immunity, if any, enjoyed by appellants is a critical issue which should be decided at trial rather than by demurrer. Springfield v. Williams Plumbing Supply Co., 249 S.C. 130, 153 S.E.2d 184 (1967); Crowley v. Bob Jones University, 268 S.C. 492, 234 S.E.2d 879 (1977).
See also Sams v. Sams, 247 S.C. 467, 148 S.E.2d 154 (1966); Dismukes v. Carletta et al., S.C. 236 S.E.2d 421, filed July 14, 1977; 71 C.J.S. Pleading § 265, p. 548.
Accordingly, the order denying appellants' demurrer is affirmed.
LEWIS, C.J., and LITTLEJOHN, RHODES and GREGORY, JJ., concur.