Watkins ex rel. Wrongful Death Heirs of Watkins v. Mississippi Department of Human Services

KING, Justice,

for the Court:

¶ 1. In this wrongful-death suit against the Mississippi Department of Human Services (DHS), a mother sued DHS after the death of her son in the home in which DHS placed him. The trial court granted DHS’s motion for summary judgment, determining that DHS enjoyed sovereign immunity from liability for the acts alleged in the complaint. Because summary judgment was improvidently granted, this Court reverses the trial court and remands the case for further proceedings.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶ 2. This case involves a child, Austin Watkins, whom DHS removed from the…