Law Commons^™

Public Officers - When Do They Owe A Duty To A Particular Individual Rather Than A Class?

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff, a stockholder in the Bank of the United States, sued the defendant, superintendent of banks for New York State, for losses sustained when the bank failed as a result of the defendant's failure to perform certain acts required by statute. Held, the defendant, being charged by statute with a duty to all the people of the state, owed no duty to the stockholders as individuals, and was not liable to the plaintiff. Walker v. Broderick, 252 N. Y. S. 559 (1931).