public duty doctrine
public-duty doctrine. Torts. The rule that a governmental entity (such as a state or municipality) cannot be held liable for an individual plaintiff’s injury resulting from a governmental officer’s or employee’s breach of a duty owed to the general public rather than to the individual plaintiff. — Also termed public-duty rule. See SPECIAL-DUTY DOCTRINE. [Cases: Municipal Corporations 723. C.J.S. Municipal Corporations §§ 661–663.]