On Thursday, the California Supreme Court ruled in favor of Trinity County in a closely-watched case concerning liability for injuries sustained by civilians who assist law enforcement. RCRC, joined by the League of California Cities, had filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting Trinity County, arguing that civilians injured while assisting law enforcement officers in responding to 911 calls should receive compensation guaranteed through the workers’ compensation system, rather than suing the law enforcement agency in civil court, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the incident. The Supreme Court agreed with these arguments, and specifically acknowledged RCRC's contribution in its decision.
The issue is of special interest to rural counties, as the large geographic areas and scarce law enforcement resources increase the opportunities for civilian assistance in law enforcement. Thursday's decision will both protect counties and cities from substantial liability exposure, but will also ensure that injured civilians are certain to receive workers’ compensation benefits regardless of the nature of the assistance provided to law enforcement.
The Supreme Court’s decision can be accessed here, and RCRC's friend-of-the-court brief can be accessed here.