Baltimore City Superior Court, 1905

Wood v. Mayor of Baltimore

Wood v. Mayor of Baltimore
Baltimore City Superior Court · Decided May 1, 1905 · Baer
2 Balt. C. Rep. 349

Counsel

James McEvoy, Jr., and Harry B. Gilbert for plaintiff., W. Cabell Bruce for Mayor and City Council., Thomas G. Hayes for Frederick T. Hellman.

Wood v. Mayor of Baltimore

Opinion of the Court

BAER, J.—

In the maintenance of a Court House, and in the selection of watchmen and servants to preserve order and decorum therein, T think the city is exercising a power, which has relation to public purposes and is for the public good, and which is to be classified as governmental in its nature and appertaining to the corporation in its political capacity. It is therefore exempt from responsibility for the negligent or wrongful acts of such watchmen or servants, as is also the head of the department appointing them.

Smith Municipal Corp., Sec. 780.

Williams Municipal Liability for Torts, p. 9.

2 Dillon Municipal Corporations, Secs. 965A, 975.

County Commissioners vs. Duckett, 20 Md., 476.

Brehm vs. Baltimore, 61 Md., 264.

Deems vs. Baltimore, 80 Md., 172.

The demurrer will, therefore, be sustained.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.