# Specter v. Commonwealth

> Supreme Court of Pennsylvania · July 7, 1975 · 462 Pa. 474

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/9651432

## Case

- **Full name:** Irving SPECTER and Marie Specter, His Wife, Appellants, v. COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
- **Court:** Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
- **Decided:** July 7, 1975
- **Citations:** 462 Pa. 474; 341 A.2d 481; 1975 Pa. LEXIS 903
- **Precedential status:** Published
- **Opinion:** Concurring in part by Roberts
- **Judges:** Jones, Eagen, O'Brien, Roberts, Pomeroy, Nix, Manderino, Commonwealth
- **Cited by:** 68 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

## Citator (automated)

- No negative treatment found by the automated citator. That is not the same as a confirmation that the case is good law; read the citing cases.
- Full citator and citing cases: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/9651432

## Opinion text

ROBERTS, Justice
(concurring and dissenting).
I agree that the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is not immune from suit for the torts of its employees, and therefore I concur in the reversal of the order with respect to the Commission. However, I remain of the view, expressed on many occasions, * that sovereign im *495 munity is an archaic doctrine productive of little but mischief and injustice. Therefore, I dissent from the affirmance of the order with respect to the Commonwealth,
NIX, J., joins in this concurring and dissenting opinion.
E. g. Williams v. Pennsylvania Dep’t of Labor & Indus., 460 Pa. 581, 582 , 333 A.2d 924 -25 (1975) (dissenting opinion of Roberts, J., joined by Nix, J.); McCoy v. Commonwealth, 457 Pa. 513, 514-16 , 326 A.2d 396, 397-98 (1974) (dissenting opinion of Roberts, J., joined by Nix & Manderino, JJ.); Sweigard v. Pennsylvania Dep’t of Transp., 454 Pa. 32, 35-38 , 309 A.2d 374, 376-77 (1973) (dissenting opinion of Roberts, J., joined by Nix & Manderino, JJ.); Brown v. Commonwealth, 453 Pa. 566, 577-79 , 305 A.2d 868, 871-72 (1973) (dissenting opinion of Roberts, J., joined by Nix & Manderino, JJ.); Biello v. Pennsylvania Liquor Control Bd., 454 Pa. 179, 187-92 , 301 A.2d 849, 853-56 (1973) (dissenting opinion of Nix, J., joined by Roberts, J.); cf. Ayala v. Philadelphia Bd. of Public Educ., 453 Pa. 584 , 305 A.2d 877 (1973).

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/9651432. Public record. Not legal advice.