Matthews v. Pickett County

OPINION

HOLDER, J.

This case comes to us on a certified question of law. 1 The petitioner, Mary Matthews, filed this action in the United States District Court against the respondents, Pickett County, Tennessee, Larry Peek, and Dana Dowdy. The district court held that the petitioner’s negligence action was barred by the public duty doctrine, which shields public entities and public employees from tort liability for injuries caused by a breach of a duty owed to the public at large. The petitioner appealed to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals certified the…