St. Louis County, et al. Missouri Cases

Joshua Lasley, a St. Louis County police officer, appealed a disciplinary action, but the St. Louis County Board of Police Commissioners sought to delegate his appeal to a hearing officer. Lasley filed for a writ of prohibition, arguing the Board lacked authority to delegate. The trial court issued a permanent writ, which the Board appealed, also arguing the case was moot. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's judgment, holding that the Board lacks explicit authority to delegate disciplinary appeal hearings and that a justiciable controversy remained, thus the case was not moot.

Lauren Neil's family sued St. Louis County police officers after their decedent, Mikel Neil, died in a high-speed police chase. The trial court granted summary judgment for the officers, finding no duty owed, no proximate causation, and protection by official immunity and the public duty doctrine. The appellate court affirmed, holding that police officers do not owe a statutory or common law duty of care to fleeing motorists.

Tony Woolfolk's family sued St. Louis County police officers for wrongful death after Woolfolk, a passenger, died in a high-speed police chase that ended in a crash. The trial court granted summary judgment for the officers, finding no duty, no proximate causation, and protection under official immunity and the public duty doctrine. The appellate court affirmed, holding that police officers do not owe a statutory or common law duty of care to voluntary passengers in a fleeing vehicle.