GermanyWhat is state liability for official wrongdoing?
In Germany, state liability for official wrongdoing arises when a civil servant intentionally or negligently breaches an official duty owed to a third party, causing harm — but compensation is limited if the injured person could have avoided the damage through legal remedies.
What the Law Says
German civil law imposes strict conditions on holding the state or its officials liable for harm caused in the course of official duties. The core provision is BGB § 839, which governs liability for breaches of official duty by civil servants.
Under BGB § 839(1), a civil servant (Beamter) must compensate a third party for damage caused by intentionally or negligently violating an official duty owed to that person. However, if only negligence is involved, the injured party can only claim compensation if they cannot obtain redress through any other means — such as insurance, private claims, or administrative remedies.
Paragraph (2) sets a higher bar for judicial acts: a judge is liable for damages from a wrongful ruling only if the breach amounts to a criminal offense. Mere errors in judgment or procedural delays do not trigger liability.
Paragraph (3) introduces a mitigation requirement: liability does not arise if the injured person failed — intentionally or negligently — to use an available legal remedy (e.g., appeal, objection, or complaint) to prevent or reduce the damage.
Statutory TextVerletzt ein Beamter vorsätzlich oder fahrlässig die ihm einem Dritten gegenüber obliegende Amtspflicht, so hat er dem Dritten den daraus entstehenden Schaden zu ersetzen. Fällt dem Beamten nur Fahrlässigkeit zur Last, so kann er nur dann in Anspruch genommen werden, wenn der Verletzte nicht auf andere Weise Ersatz zu erlangen vermag.
— BGB § 839(1) — German Civil Code
Statutory TextVerletzt ein Beamter bei dem Urteil in einer Rechtssache seine Amtspflicht, so ist er für den daraus entstehenden Schaden nur dann verantwortlich, wenn die Pflichtverletzung in einer Straftat besteht. Auf eine pflichtwidrige Verweigerung oder Verzögerung der Ausübung des Amts findet diese Vorschrift keine Anwendung.
— BGB § 839(2) — German Civil Code
Statutory TextDie Ersatzpflicht tritt nicht ein, wenn der Verletzte vorsätzlich oder fahrlässig unterlassen hat, den Schaden durch Gebrauch eines Rechtsmittels abzuwenden.
— BGB § 839(3) — German Civil Code
What to Do
Confirm the person involved was a civil servant (Beamter) acting in an official capacity.
Identify the specific official duty breached and gather evidence of causation and damage.
Check whether you used — or could have used — all available legal remedies (e.g., appeal, administrative complaint) before the damage occurred.
Consult a lawyer experienced in public law or torts to assess whether your case meets the strict requirements of BGB § 839.
Sources
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Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: June 2026.