Compliance and Ethics
Compliance and Ethics
Historically, the state and its agencies were protected from tort liability under the doctrine of sovereign immunity. The state waived its sovereign immunity, however, for some tort claims when it adopted the Mississippi Tort Claims Act (“MTCA”).
Torts- Injuries caused by the negligence of another or by another persons breach of some legal duty are generally referred to in legal terms as “torts”.
The MTCA limits the University’s liability for injuries caused by an act or omission of the University or its employees to $500,000.
The MTCA also protects the University employees from personal liability from the employee’s acts of negligence which occur during the course and scope of his or her employment.
However, the protections and coverage afforded University employees under the MTCA do not include those acts occurring outside the course and scope of his or her employment including but not limited to conduct that constitutes fraud, malice, libel, slander, defamation, or any criminal offense.
While an employee may be named as a defendant in an action against the University for an act by employee occurring in the scope and course of the employee’s employment, the University will provide the employee, in either state of the federal court, with legal representation at no cost to the employee.
A Tort Claims Certificate verifying that we are self-insured under the Mississippi Tort Claims Act (MTCA) is available by emailing generalcounselFREEMississippi%C2%A0