State ex rel. Hayes v. Billings

The doctrine of governmental immunity, which shields a county and its innocent taxpayers from liability for the negligence of its officers in the exercise of governmental (as distinguished from proprietary) functions, obtains with all its rigor in this jurisdiction. Jones v. Commissioners, 130 N.C. 451, 42 S.E. 144; Keenan v. Commissioners, 167 N.C. 356, 83 S.E. 556; Rhodes v. Asheville, 230 N.C. 134, 141, 52 S.E. 2d 371. Our decisions are in accord with the great weight of authority elsewhere: 14 Am. Jur., Counties, Sections 48, 49, and 50; 20 C.J.S., Counties, Sections 2.15 and 220.

A county…