Goode v. City of Alexandria

By JUDGE ALBERT H. GRENADIER

This is a suit brought against the City of Alexandria for injuries allegedly sustained by the plaintiff while she was a passenger in a City van transporting her to the Health Department for treatment. The primary issue in this case is whether the City is immune from liability under the doctrine of sovereign immunity.

In Virginia a municipality acts in a dual capacity, the one governmental and the other proprietary. It is immune from negligence in performing or failing to perform governmental functions. It is not so immune with respect to proprietary functions. Where…