Post by Logan on Feb 18, 2016 23:12:37 GMT -6
CONCORD — A bill that would make it easier for aggrieved parties to sue the people who work for their city or town could force some communities to shut down police departments, recreation services and scholastic athletic programs, according to a lobbyist for the New Hampshire Municipal Association.
Supporters of the legislation say it simply restores rights that New Hampshire citizens enjoyed until 2013, when a state Supreme Court ruling in a lawsuit against the Sanborn Regional School District granted extensive immunity to municipalities and their employees, including police and school officials.
The arguments were heard on Wednesday as the House Judiciary Committee held its first hearing on HB 1688, the most far-reaching of three bills the Legislature will consider this session that address the issue of municipal immunity to lawsuits.
HB 1688, relative to governmental liability for negligence claims, states that individual employees or officials can be held liable in bodily injury, personal injury or property damage cases. The law currently exposes municipalities to such lawsuits only if they involve the use of a municipally owned motor vehicle, or occur on municipally owned property.
See more at: www.unionleader.com/article/20160218/NEWS0621/160219104
Supporters of the legislation say it simply restores rights that New Hampshire citizens enjoyed until 2013, when a state Supreme Court ruling in a lawsuit against the Sanborn Regional School District granted extensive immunity to municipalities and their employees, including police and school officials.
The arguments were heard on Wednesday as the House Judiciary Committee held its first hearing on HB 1688, the most far-reaching of three bills the Legislature will consider this session that address the issue of municipal immunity to lawsuits.
HB 1688, relative to governmental liability for negligence claims, states that individual employees or officials can be held liable in bodily injury, personal injury or property damage cases. The law currently exposes municipalities to such lawsuits only if they involve the use of a municipally owned motor vehicle, or occur on municipally owned property.
See more at: www.unionleader.com/article/20160218/NEWS0621/160219104