Harris County v. Dillard

HECHT, Justice.

The Texas Tort Claims Act waives sovereign immunity for certain actions of governmental employees. Tex.Civ.Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.021(1). The Act defines an employee as “a person, including an officer or agent, who is in the paid service of a governmental unit”. Id. § 101.001(1). The sole issue in this ease is whether a governmental unit is liable for the actions of a person who acts in its behalf but is not a paid employee. We hold that it is not and reverse the judgment of the court of appeals. 841 S.W.2d 552.

James Earl Skeen, a Harris County reserve deputy sheriff, and a…