Deuser v. Vecera
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
139 F.3d 1190 (8th Cir. 1998)
Park rangers Vecera and Bridges (defendants) arrested an intoxicated, harassing Deuser at a crowded public festival, but when overwhelmed St. Louis police couldn't process the arrest, the rangers — following handbook guidance to use their discretion given scarce holiday-weekend law-enforcement resources — released Deuser away from the festival site with no money or transportation, after which he was struck and killed walking on a highway; his survivors sued the United States for wrongful death, and the district court dismissed the claim.
Whether the United States may be sued if federal park rangers use their discretion and terminate the arrest of and release an intoxicated man at a national park.