HUNTER v SISCO: Court of Appeals Bars Auto-Accident Victim’s Right to Damages for Pain and Suffering

The Michigan Court of Appeals handed down a published decision recently in a case involving the Michigan Governmental Tort Liability Act (GTLA). The decision bars an auto-accident victim from asking a jury to award damages for pain and suffering when the crash was caused by a governmental employee’s negligent operation of a motor vehicle. In Michigan, the GTLA provides a general blanket of immunity for governmental employees and agencies when they are performing a “governmental function.” Section 1405 of the GTLA, however, provides an exception for injuries – specifically “bodily injury” and “property damage” — caused by the negligent operation of...