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.]

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词条贡献者

双语律师李明，国际知名法学院法律专业，擅长翻译各类与政府监管相关的法律文件。