Keggin v. County of Hillsborough

Citations

• 71 Fla. 356
• 71 So. 372

Syllabus

<p>I. A county is a political subdivision of the State, created for administrative purposes, is representative of the sovereignty of the State and auxiliary to it. Its functions aré of a public nature, it is political in character and constitutes the machinery by and through which many of the powers of the State are exercised.</p> <p>2. The building of roads and bridges and the maintenance of the same are none the less powers and duties of the State because it delegates the performance of -.these duties to officers of the different political subdivisions who in discharging such duties act as agents for the public at large.</p> <p>3. A county of this State being a mere governmental agency-through which many of the functions and powers of the State are exercised, partakes of the immunity of the State from liability and may not be sued in an action ex delicto by one who in ignorance of the unsafe condition of a county bridge sustains a damage to his vehicle in crossing the bridge which the county has permitted to become unsafe and unfit for use.</p>