D.C. v. Oakdale Joint Unified School District

Opinion

FRANSON, J.

INTRODUCTION

In California, a public entity is not liable for damages unless a statute provides for it. (Gov. Code, § 815, subd. (a).)1 Public entity tort liability is statutory. (Peterson v. San Francisco Community College Dist. (1984) 36 Cal.3d 799, 809 [205 Cal.Rptr. 842, 685 P.2d 1193].) Under the California Government Claims Act (§ 810 et seq.), with some exceptions, a suit for damages may not be brought against a public entity unless a written claim has been presented to the public entity and has been totally or partially denied by that entity’s governing board, or has…