William Knowles and Jane Knowles, on Behalf of Themselves and as Guardians of Their Minor Son, Kris Knowles v. United States

RICHARD S. ARNOLD, Chief Judge.

When this ease was initially submitted to this Court, we held that its disposition involved novel questions of state law. Thus, we certified four questions to the Supreme Court of South Dakota. Knowles v. United States, 29 F.3d 1261 (8th Cir.1994) (Knowles I). We have received answers to those questions and the parties’ briefs in response to those answers, and are prepared to dispose of this case without further argument.

I

The plaintiffs, William and Jane Knowles, brought this ease under the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b), on behalf of their son,…