Explore 22 court opinions on Discretionary Function Exception. AI-powered plain English summaries, key holdings, and legal analysis.
22 recent cases analyzed in this topic area.
Warrantless vehicle search evidence suppressed due to lack of probable cause
Sanderson v. State of Florida, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on April 1, 2026, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The appellate court reviewed a trial court's decision to deny a motion...
Texas appeals court upholds immunity for child protective services in negligence suit
R. F. v. Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on March 20, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, R.F., sought to sue the Texas Depa...
Sovereign Immunity Shields FWC from Negligence Claim Over Boat Ramp Injury
Long v. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on March 20, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Long, sued the Florida Fis...
State Not Liable for Inmate Harm Without Specific Foreseeability
Marchant v. State of Florida, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on March 20, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, a former inmate, sued the state for alleged negligence ...
State immune from liability for pothole-related vehicle damage
Bogan v. State of Florida, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on March 20, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Bogan, sued the State of Florida alleging that the state's...
State immune from liability for park injury due to sovereign immunity
Diaz v. State of Florida, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on March 18, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Diaz, sued the State of Florida for alleged negligence in f...
State Not Liable for Road Defect Causing Accident
LaPlant v. State of Florida, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on March 6, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, LaPlant, sued the State of Florida for alleged negligence...
State Sovereign Immunity Bars Negligence Claim for Roadway Safety
Hill v. State of Florida, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on February 26, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Hill, sued the State of Florida for alleged negligence i...
Uvalde shooting victims' claims against county and state dismissed on immunity grounds
Erica Barrera, Individually and as Next Friend of D.R., Minor; Michael Brown, Individually and as Next Friend of V.B., Minor; Jennifer Davis, Individually and as Next Friend of Z.D., Minor; Angeli Ros...
Ninth Circuit: Discretionary Function Exception Bars FTCA Claim for Aircraft Operation
Fiedler v. United States, decided by Ninth Circuit on January 30, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) ...
Supreme Court Rules Government Not Liable for Drowning in Public Park Due to Discretionary Function Exception
This case involves a dispute over whether the United States government can be sued for damages related to the alleged negligence of its employees in maintaining a public park. The plaintiffs, the Elli...
Ninth Circuit: Forest Service fire suppression decisions protected by FTCA exception
Wilkins v. United States, decided by Ninth Circuit on December 29, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a Federal Tort Claims Act (FT...
Eighth Circuit: Nervousness, open container justify car search
Lynne Panting v. United States, decided by Eighth Circuit on December 22, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of Lynne Panting's motion t...
Eleventh Circuit: Forest Service trail maintenance decisions protected by FTCA exception
Elisabeth Koletas v. United States, decided by Eleventh Circuit on November 12, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment ...
Trump's Statements Protected by Absolute Immunity, Court Rules
Rebecca Slaughter v. Donald Trump, decided by D.C. Circuit on September 2, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute involved whether former President Donald Trump could be sued for ...
Second Circuit Upholds CBP's Dismissal of Property Seizure Claim
In the Matter of the Complaint of Ed Seganti, decided by Second Circuit on August 26, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Second Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a complai...
Estate's FTCA claim for death after VA discharge dismissed
Estate of William Plott v. HHS, decided by Sixth Circuit on August 22, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Sixth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to HHS, hold...
SCOTUS: Mexico cannot sue US gunmaker Smith & Wesson in US courts
Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. v. Estados Unidos Mexicanos, decided by Supreme Court of the United States on June 5, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Supreme Court considered whether the Fo...
SCOTUS: US not liable for aiding cartels under FTCA
Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. v. Estados Unidos Mexicanos, decided by Supreme Court of the United States on June 5, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Supreme Court considered whether the Un...
First Circuit: US Not Liable for Detainee's Medical Care Claims
Rojas-Tapia v. United States, decided by First Circuit on March 3, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The First Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a former immigration detainee...
FTCA discretionary function exception bars suit over data misuse
Doe No. 1 v. United States, decided by Federal Circuit on March 3, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The case concerns whether the government can be sued under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FT...
Government not shielded by discretionary function exception for unsecured vehicle
Wisconsin Bell, Inc. v. United States ex rel. Heath, decided by Supreme Court of the United States on February 21, 2025, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The case concerned whether the United Stat...