Home Depot Avoids Liability in Dallas Officer’s Shooting Death

Home Depot had no legal duty to warn an on-duty Dallas police officer that a shoplifting suspect that killed him could’ve been armed, the Texas Supreme Court said Friday, adopting a rule used in other jurisdictions that limits obligations owed to a responding officer.

The home improvement giant didn’t need to warn of the potential danger because Officer Rogelio Santander was acting within the scope of employment and performing emergency services, the unanimous court said.

In such a scenario, an officer “should anticipate in a way that an ordinary citizen might not that a suspect could have a concealed weapon,” ...