What is the liability of a municipality for negligence?

The liability of a municipality for negligence in California is an important issue. In California, a municipality, also referred to as a "public entity," holds a special legal status under the law, in which the government cannot be held liable for negligence except in certain circumstances. Generally, a municipality is not liable for the negligent acts of its employees unless the injury was the result of a dangerous condition of a public property, the employee was acting on behalf of the municipality when the injury occurred, or the municipality has adopted a policy or practice that caused or contributed to the injury. In cases involving dangerous conditions of public property, the municipality will be liable for negligence if the injury was the result of a dangerous condition that was known or should have been known by the municipality. For example, if a public sidewalk has a missing piece of pavement and someone trips and is injured, the municipality may be liable for negligence since the condition was something that should have been known. In cases involving employees acting on behalf of the municipality, the municipality will be liable if the employee was acting within the scope of their employment. For instance, if a municipal employee negligently damages a person’s property while performing their job, the municipality will be liable for the damages. Finally, if a municipality has adopted a policy or practice that caused or contributed to an injury, the municipality may be liable for negligence. For example, if a municipality has a policy of not inspecting sidewalks for dangerous conditions, and someone is injured due to a dangerous condition of a sidewalk, the municipality may be liable for negligence. Overall, the liability of a municipality for negligence in California is subject to complicated legal rules and varies depending on the facts and circumstances of each case. An experienced attorney can provide advice on liability in individual cases.

What is the liability of a municipality for negligence?

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