Linhart v. Lawson

Francis Linhart, Jr., was injured when the vehicle he was driving was struck by a school bus driven by Thomas Lawson, an employee of the School Board of the City of Norfolk (School Board). Linhart filed a motion for judgment against Lawson and the School Board alleging that Lawson’s negligence resulted in Linhart’s injuries. Lawson and the School Board filed special pleas in bar asserting the defense of sovereign immunity. The trial court granted those pleas and dismissed Linhart’s motion for judgment, holding that Lawson was entitled to sovereign immunity for acts of simple negligence under…