Roland Frohman v. City Detroit

Following a lengthy trial, a jury found that defendant Sergeant Donald Chalmers negligently operated his police vehicle and
proximately caused the accident which resulted in serious injury to plaintiff Roland Frohman, Jr. The jury found defendant
City of Detroit liable for Sergeant Chalmers' negligence. The jury awarded Frohman $2,250,000. The trial court found that
defendants were not entitled to governmental immunity from liability and denied their motions for directed verdict and judgment
notwithstanding the verdict or new trial. Further, defendants sought remittitur, which was denied. Defendants appeal as of
right. We reverse in part and affirm in part. On April 14, 1981, at approximately 10:10 p.m., Detroit Police Officers Zaharoff and Tatom saw a van parked illegally in
Palmer Park. When the officers approached the van, Officer Zaharoff shined his flashlight in the window and observed a man
and a woman engaged in sexual intercourse. When Officer Zaharoff tapped on the window, the man went to the driver's seat,
started the van by reaching under the ignition area, backed into a crowd of onlookers, and drove from the area. As the van
drove away, it ran over Officer Zaharoff's foot. The officers pursued the van. A dispatch officer informed them that the van
was a stolen vehicle.