special duty doctrine
special-duty doctrine. Torts. The rule that a governmental entity (such as a state or municipality) can be held liable for an individual plaintiff’s injury when the entity owed a duty to the plaintiff but not to the general public. • This is an exception to the public-duty doctrine. The special-duty doctrine applies only when the plaintiff has reasonably relied on the governmental entity’s assumption of the duty. — Also termed special-duty exception. See PUBLIC-DUTY DOCTRINE. [Cases: Municipal Corporations 723. C.J.S. Municipal Corporations §§ 661–663.]
