Court Rules on Suing Localities

RALEIGH — The N.C. Court of Appeals has clarified the conditions under which a local government can be sued. The ruling comes in the case of a Greensboro man who was injured while being transported in the back of a police car. In December 1994, Officer T. H. Branson of the Greensboro Police Department was transporting John Clayton from Clayton’s house to the city magistrate’s office. Clayton was not wearing a seat belt when Branson maneuvered the car aggressively to avoid a collision while driving well over the posted speed limit. Clayton hit the metal screen and was injured. He subsequently had three back operations and continues to suffer significant back pain.