Thomas J Petipren v. Rodney Jaskowski

This case concerns “absolute” governmental immunity. Specifically, we consider whether a village chief of police, the highest appointive executive official of a level of government, acted within the scope of his “executive authority” when he performed the duties of an ordinary police officer and is, therefore, entitled to absolute immunity under MCL 691.1407(5) of the governmental tort liability act (GTLA), MCL 691.1401 et seq. We hold that the term *194“executive authority,” as used in MCL 691.1407(5), encompasses all authority vested in the highest executive official by virtue of his or her…