Cummins v. Lewis County

*848¶1 The question presented in this case is whether, under the public duty doctrine, an actionable “special relationship” is created between a member of the public and a government entity when an individual places a “911 call,” identifies the nature of his medical emergency, provides a street address but not his name, and “hangs up” prior to either requesting help or receiving an oral assurance from the operator that medical aid will be dispatched. We answer “no” to that question, concluding that there is neither a statutory nor a common law duty on the part of a county to dispatch medical aid…