SECOND DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, HODGES and PI PKI N, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

https ://w w w

. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S

C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

June 2, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A 21A 0 041. C E N T E N

N I A L V I L L A G E

, LLC v

. FULT O N C O U N T Y

SCHOOL DISTRICT, et al

. HO-0 0 2

H O D G E S , J u d g e.

Th i s d i s p ut e ari s es fro m Cen t en n i al Vi l l ag e, LLC’ s (“ Cen t en n i al ”) at t em p t to

o b t ai n fi n an ci al co n t ri bu t i o n fro m t h e Fu l t o n Co un t y Sch o o l Di s t ri ct an d t he Fu l t o n

Co u n t y Bo ard of Ed u cat i o n (co l l ect i vel y “ Fu lt o n Co u nt y ”) t o ward s t h e co s t t o rep ai r

a d et en t i o n p on d . Th i s d et en t i on p o nd co l l ect s wat er ru n o ff fro m s ev eral p ro p ert i es

p u rs u an t t o wri t t en eas em en t s, i n cl u d i n g p ro p ert y o wn ed b y Fu l t o n Co u n t y

. Fu l t o n

Co u n t y m o v ed t o d i s m i s s t h e co m p l ai n t o n t h e b as is o f s o v erei gn i m m u n i t y

, wh i ch

t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed

. Cen t en n i al no w ap p eal s

, an d fo r t h e fo l l o w i n g reas o n s

, we

affi rm th e t ri al co u rt ’ s ju d g m en t

.

Geo rg i a l aw req u ires u s t o co nd u cta d e n o v o rev iew o f a t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g on a m o t i on t o di s m i s s

. In

d o i n g s o

, o u r ro l e i s t o d et erm in e wh et h er t h e al l eg at i o n s o f th e

co m p lai n t

, wh en co n s tru ed in th e l i g ht m o st fav o rab l e t o t h e p l ai n t i ff,

an d wi t h al l d o u b ts res o l v ed i n t h e p l ai n t i ff’ s fav or, d i s cl os e w i t h

cert ai n t y th at t h e p l ai n ti ff wo u l d n o t b e en t i t l ed t o rel i ef u n d er an y s t at e

o f p ro v ab l e fact s ; h o wev er, we n eed n o t ad o p t a p art y ’ s l e g a l

co n cl u s i o n s b as ed o n t h es e fact s

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Do ve v. Ty Co bb Hea l t h ca r e S ys

. , 3 1 6 Ga. Ap p.

7

, 9 (7 2 9 SE2 d 5 8 ) (2 0 1 2 ). M o reo v er, “ [w] h et h er s o v erei g n i m m u n i t y h as b een

wai v ed un d er t h e u nd i s p u t ed fact s o f t h i s cas e i s a q u es ti on o f l aw, an d t h i s Co urt ’ s

rev i ew i s d e n o v o .” Ga

. Dep t

. o f La b o r v. RTT As so cs

., In c.

, 29 9 Ga. 7 8

, 8 1 (1 ) (7 8 6

SE2 d 8 4 0) (2 0 1 6).

So v i ewed

, t h e ev id en ce s h o w s th at Cen t en n i al i s t h e cu rr e nt o wn er o f

Cen ten n i al Vi l l ag e, a s h op p i n g cen t er i n Ro s wel l co m p ri s ed o f vari ou s ret ai l s t o res

.

Acro s s t h e s t reet s i t s Cen t en n i al Hi g h Sch o o l, wh i ch is own ed an d o p erat ed b y Fu l t o n

Co u n t y

. In 1 9 9 4

, a p ri o r o wn er o f Cen t en n i al ’ s pro p ert y g ran t ed Fu l t o n Co u n t y “ [a]

p erp et u al n o n -ex cl u s i v e eas em en t acro s s

, o v er an d t h ro u gh [t h e Cen t en n i al ] Pro p ert y

f o r d r a i n ag e o f s u rface w at er fro m [Fu l to n Co u n ty ’ s ] Pro p ert y .” In 1 9 9 9

, t hi s

eas em en t was m o di fi ed wi th reg ard t o a s p eci fi c po rt i o n o f t h e cu rren t Cen t en n i al

p ro p ert y, r e f

e r r ed t o as t h e Rear Tract

. Th e 1 9 9 9 m o d i fi cat i o n l i m i t ed Fu l t o n

2Co u n t y ’ s ri g h t s i n t h e Rear Tract “ t o t h e u s e, rep ai r an d rep l acem en t o f t h e ex i s t i n g

d rai n ag e faci l i ti es ” an d fu rt h er provide d tha t “ [ n] othing c o n tai n ed [h erei n ] i s i n t en d ed

t o i nt erfere wi t h o r ot h erwi s e red u ce t h e v o l u m e o f s t o rm wat er wh i ch can b e d rai n ed

fro m [Fu l t on Co u n t y ’ s ] Pro pert y .”

Su b s e q u en t l y

, Cen ten n i al ’ s p red eces s or en t ered a Res t ri ct i v e Co v en an t an d

Eas em en t Ag reem en t (t h e “ RCEA”) wi t h o t h er n ei g h b o ri n g p ro p ert y / eas em en t

o wn ers

, b u t

, no t ab l y

, n o t Fu l t on Co u n ty

. T he RCEA p ro v i d ed fo r th e co n s t ru ct i o n,

m a i nt en an ce, rep ai r, an d rep l acem en t o f d rai n ag e faci l i ti es o n wh at is cu rren t l y t h e

Cen ten n i al p ro p ert y

. It creat ed a p ro ces s fo r t h e s u b m i s s i o n o f res u l t i n g ex p en s es to

t h e p art i es t o t h e ag reem en t fo r p ay m en t o n a p ro rat a b as i s

.

Aft er ex ec u t i o n o f t he RCEA, a d et en t i o n p o n d an d d rai n ag e s y s t em were

co n st ru ct ed o n t he cu r r en t Cen t en n i al p ro p ert y t o h an d l e t h e drai n ag e fro m t h e

v ari o u s p ro p ert i es w i t h eas em en t s

, in cl u d i n g Fu l t on Co u n ty

. In 2 0 16

, t h e Ci t y o f

Ro s wel l no t i fi ed Cen t en n i al t h at t h e drai n ag e p o nd w as i n d i s rep ai r an d n eed ed t o b e

rem ed i a t e d

, wh i ch Cen ten n i al al l eg es wi l l co s t h u n dred s o f t h ou s an d s o f d o l l ars

.

Cen ten n i al s o u g h t t o o bt ai n fi n an ci al co n t ri b u t i o n fro m Fu l t o n Co u n t y to ward s t h i s

rep ai r, b ut Fu l t o n Co u n t y refu s e d

. A s a res u l t

, Cen t en n i al fi l ed s ui t ag ai n st Fu l t o n

Co u n t y seek i n g a d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t t h at Fu l t o n Co u n t y m us t f i n an ci al l y

3co n tri b u t e t o t h e rep ai rs an d an i n ju n ct i o n t o p rev en t Fu l t on Co u n t y fro m fai l i n g to

co n tri b u t e. 1

Fu l t on Co u n ty m o ved t o d i s m i s s t h e co m pl ai n t o n t h e g ro un d of so v erei g n

i m m u ni t y

. Cen t en n i al o p p o sed t h e m ot i on

, co n t e n d i n g t h at t h e wri t t en eas em en t

b et ween th e p art i es w ai v ed so v erei g n im m u n i t y an d co n t ai n ed an i m pl i ci t o bl i g at i o n

t o co n t ri b u t e fi n an ci al l y t o t h e m ai n t en an ce o f th e d et e n t i o n p on d wh i ch i s

n eces s i t at ed , at l eas t i n p art

, b y Fu l t o n Co u n t y ’ s u s e o f i t s eas em en t. Th e t ri al co u rt

g ran t ed Fu l t on Co u n t y ’ s m o t i on t o d i s m i s s

. S p eci fi cal l y

, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at

Cen ten n i al fai led to m eet i ts b urd en t o dem on s t rat e t h at s o v erei g n i m m un i t y h ad b een

w a i v ed

, an d t h u s t h e t ri al co u rt l ack ed s ub ject m at t er ju ri s d i ct i o n o v er t h e d i s p u t e

.

Cen ten n i al t i m el y

ap peal ed t h i s o rd er.

In rel at ed en u m erat io n s o f erro r, Cen ten n i al cl ai m s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in

d i s m i s s i n g i ts cas e b o t h b y fai l i n g t o f i n d an i m

p l i ci t d ut y t o co n t ri b u t e t o t h e

m ai n t en an ce a n d r e p a i r of t he d et en t io n p o nd an d b y fi n d i n g s u ch a d u t y t o b e

i n co n s i s t en t wi t h t h e ex pl ici t l an g u ag e o f t h e eas em en t. Th e b as i s o f t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

1 Cen t en n i al al s o as s ert ed a cl ai m fo r co n t in u i n g n u i s an ce/ i n v e r s e

co n dem n at i o n , b u t i t d o es n o t ap p eal t h e d i s m i s sal o f t h is cl ai m

.

4o rd er, h owev er, was a fi n d i n g t h at s o v erei g n im m un i t y b arred Cen t en n i al ’ s cl ai m s

.

Th e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g i s co rrect

.

“ So v erei g n i m

m u n it y o f a s t at e ag en cy i s n o t an affi rm at i v e d efen s e, g o i n g to

t h e m eri ts o f t h e cas e, bu t rai s e s t h e i ss u e o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s s u b ject m at t er

ju ri s d i ct i o n t o t ry t h e cas e, an d wai v er o f s o v erei g n im m un i t y m u s t b e es t ab li s h ed by

t h e p art y s eek i n g t o b en efi t fro m t h at wai v er; t h u s

, t h e p l ai n t i ff[] h ad t h e b u rd en o f

es t ab l i s h in g w a i v e r o f s o v erei g n i m m un i t y .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .)

Dep t. o f Tr a n s p

. v. Du p r e e

, 2 5 6 Ga. Ap p

. 66 8

, 67 1 (1 ) (5 7 0 SE2 d 1 ) (2 0 0 2 )

(d i s ap p ro v ed o f on o t h er g ro u nd s b y Dep t. o f Tr a n s p

. v. Th o mp s on

, 3 54 Ga. Ap p

. 2 0 0

( 8 4 0 SE2 d 67 9 ) (2 0 2 0 )). “ Si m p l y p u t, t h e co n s t i t u t i o n al d o ct ri n e o f s o v e r e i g n

i m m u ni t y fo rb i d s ou r co urt s t o en tert ai n a laws u i t ag ai n s t t h e St at e wi t h o u t i t s

co n sen t .” La t h r op v. Dea l

, 3 0 1 Ga. 4 0 8 (8 0 1 SE2 d 8 6 7 ) (2 0 17 ). “ Un d er Art . I, Sec.

II, Par. IX o f t h e G e o r g i a Co n s t i t u t i o n o f 19 8 3

, s o verei g n i m m u n i t y ex t en d s t o a

co u nt y -wi d e s ch o o l di st ri ct [.] ” Bo mi a v. Ben Hi ll Co un t y S ch o o l D i s t

. , 3 20 Ga. Ap p.

4 2 3

, 4 2 4 (7 4 0 SE2 d 1 8 5 ) (2 0 1 3 ). “ J u ri s d i ct i o n o f a co u rt t o affo rd t h e rel i ef s o u g ht

i s a m at t er wh i ch s h o u l d b e d e c i d ed p rel i m i n ari l y

, at t h e ou t s et

. J u ri s d i ct i o n ei t h er

ex i s t s o r d oes n o t ex i s t wi t ho u t reg ard t o t h e m eri ts o f t h e cas e. Th u s

, wh en a co u rt

ei t h er h as o r lack s s u b

ject m at t er ju ri sd i ct i o n

, d es p i t e an y co n fl i ct i n t h e fact s, t h e t ri al

5co u rt s h o u l d as a t h res ho l d i s s u e d et erm i n e i t s ju ri s d i ct i o n

. ” (Ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed .) Du pr ee , 2 5 6 Ga. Ap p . at 6 7 1 -6 7 2 (1 ).

On l y t h e G en eral As s em

b l y m ay wai v e so v erei g n i m m u n i t y

, ei t h er t h ro u g h t h e

Co n s t i t u t i o n o r l eg i s l at i o n ; t h e co u rt s m ay n o t wai v e so v erei g n i m m u n i t y

. Ga. Co ns t

.

Art

. I, Sec. 2

, Par. IX (e); Ga

. Dep t

. o f Na t u r a l Res o u rces v. Cen t er fo r a S u s t a i n a b l e

Co a s t

, 2 9 4 Ga. 5 9 3

, 5 9 7 (2 ) (7 55 SE2 d 1 8 4 ) (2 0 1 4 ). Leg i s l at i v e act io n s th at p ro v i d e

fo r a wai v er of so v erei g n i m m u n i t y are in d ero g at i o n o f t h e co m m o n l aw an d t h u s are

t o b e st ri ct l y co n s tru ed ag ai n s t a fi n d i n g o f wai v er. Ra w Pr o per t i es

, In c. v. La ws o n

,

3 3 5 Ga. Ap p. 8 0 2, 8 0 6 (1 ) (7 8 3 SE2 d 1 6 1 ) (2 0 1 6 ). Ou r Co n s ti t ut i o n d o es i n d eed

wai v e so v erei g n i m

m u n i t y fo r t h e b reach of wri tt en co n t ract s

. Ga. Co n s t

. Art

. I, Sec.

2

, Par. IX (c). Th e co n t ract m u st b e i n wri t i n g

, ho wev er, fo r th i s wai ver t o ap p l y

. RTT

As s o cs

. , 2 9 9 Ga. at 8 2 (2 ). M o reo v er, “ i m p l i e d w a i v ers o f g o v ern m en t al i m m u n i t y

s h o u ld n o t b e fav o red .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed .) Cu r r i d v. DeKa l b S t a t e

Co u r t Pr o b a t i on Dep t

. , 2 8 5 Ga. 1 8 4 , 1 8 7 (6 7 4 SE2 d 8 9 4) (2 00 9 ).

Here, i t is u n d i s p u ted t h at t h ere i s a wri t t en eas e m e n t w h i c h ru n s wi th

Cen ten n i al ’ s l an d

. It i s al so u n d i s pu t ed t h at t h e eas em en t co n t ai n s n o ex p l i ci t

l an g u ag e i m

p o s in g a d u t y o n Fu l t o n Co u n ty t o fi n an ci al l y co nt ri bu t e t o w a r d s a n y

rep ai rs or m ai n t en an ce n eces s i t at ed b y Fu l t o n Co u n ty ’ s u s ag e o f i t s s t o rm wat er

6d rai n ag e eas em e n t

. Becau s e t h e eas em en t co n tai n s n o ex p res s co n t ract u al t erm

req u i ri n g co n t ri b u t i o n

, Cen t en n i al i m p l ores u s t o reco g n i ze fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e in

Geo rg i a an i m

p l i ci t co n tract u al o b l i g at io n en u m erat ed b y t h e Res tat em en t (Th i rd ) o f

Pro p ert y , wh i ch p ro v i d es :

Un l es s th e t erm s o f a s erv i t u d e d et erm i n e d u n d er § 4.1 p ro v id e

o t h erwi se, d u ti es t o rep ai r an d m ai n t ai n t h e s erv i en t es t a t e a n d th e

i m p ro v em en t s u s ed i n t h e en jo y m en t of a serv i t ud e are as fo l l o ws : (1 )

Th e b en efi ci ary of an eas em en t or p ro fi t h as a d u t y t o t h e h o l der of th e

s erv ien t es t at e t o rep ai r an d m ai n t ai n t h e p ort i on s o f t h e s erv ien t es t at e

an d t h e i m

p ro v em en t s u s e d i n t h e en j o y m en t o f t h e serv i t u d e t h at are

u n d er t h e b en efi ci ary ’ s co n t ro l

, to t h e ex t en t n eces s ary t o (a) p rev en t

u n reas o n ab l e i nt erferen ce wi t h t h e en jo y m en t o f t h e s erv i en t es t at e, o r

(b ) av oi d l iab i l i t y

o f t h e s erv i en t -es t at e o wn er t o t h i rd p art ies

.

Res tat em en t (Th i rd ) o f Pro p ert y (Serv i t u d es ) § 4.1 3 (2 0 0 0). Cen t en ni al p o i n t s u s to

n u m ero u s o th er ju ri s d i ct i o n s w h i ch h av e ad o p t ed t h e Res t at em en t ’s a p p ro ach in

s u p p ort o f i t s wi s do m

.

T he G e ne r a l A sse m

b ly

, how ev er, h as n ev er reco gn i zed t h i s i m p l i ci t co nt ra c tua l

d u t y i n G eo rg i a. Acco rd in g l y

, al t h o u g h t h e Co n s t i t u t i o n wai v es s o v erei g n i m m u n i t y

fo r b reach o f a w r i t t e n co n t ract

, we wo u l d b e o v ers t ep p i n g o ur ro le t o fi n d t h at

s o v erei g n i m

m u n i t y i s w ai v ed as a res u l t o f a h eret o fo re u n reco g n i zed i m p l i ci t

7co n tract ual d u ty

. To d o ot h erwi s e wo u ld b e t o creat e a ju d i ci al wai v er t o so v erei g n

i m m u ni t y

, wh i ch we m ay n o t d o

. 2 RTT As so cs

. , 29 9 G a. at 85 (2 ). Th i s cas e d o es n ot

req u i re u s t o d eci d e wh et h er t h is d u ty s h o ul d b e reco g n i zed i n o t h er co n tex t s b et ween

p ri v at e p art i es

, b u t we wi l l no t ack n o wl ed g e an i m p l i ci t co n t ract u al d u t y fo r t h e fi rs t

t i m e an d s i m

u l t an eo u s l y fi n d t hat s u ch a n ewl y j u d ici al l y reco g n i zed d u t y co n s t i t u t es

a wai v er o f s o v erei g n i m m u n i t y u n d er t h e Geo rg i a Co n st i tu t i o n

. See i d

. at 8 2 (2 )

(reco g n i zi n g t hat co n t ract p ri nci p l es wh i ch m ay b i nd p ri v at e p art i es b u t d o n ot

co n fo rm t o th e wri t t en co n tract t erm s wi l l b e i n s u ffi ci en t t o t ri g g er a w ai v er o f

s o v erei g n i m

m u n i t y ).

2 Co n t rary t o Cen t en n i al ’ s as s ert i on

, t h is p reci se i s su e was d eci d ed by t h e t ri al

co u rt i n i t s o rd er wh en i t fo u nd “ [w] h i l e t he 19 9 9 E as em en t M o d i fi cat i o n d o es refer

t o rep ai r an d m ai n t en an ce o f cert ai n areas

, n ei t h er t h e 1 9 9 4 Eas em en t n o r t h e 1 9 9 9

Eas em en t M o d i fi cat i o n i m p o s es a d u t y t o rep ai r o r m ai nt ai n [Cen ten n i al ’ s ] Pro p ert y

o r t he Po nd

. N ev ert hel es s

, [Cen t en n i al ] s eek s t o i m p o s e an d en fo rce a co m

m o n -l aw,

i m p l i ed d u t y t h at p urp o rt ed ly ari s es fro m an y eas em en t. A t o ral arg u m en t

, [Cen t en ni al ] ack n o w led g ed t hat t h e rep ai r an d m ai n t en an ce d u t i es t h at [Cen t en ni al ]

s eek s t o read i n t o th e 19 9 4 Eas em en t an d 1 9 9 9 Eas em en t M o di fi cat i o n h av e n o t b een

co d ifi ed b y t h e Gen eral As s em b l y o r o t herwi s e reco g ni zed by Geo rg i a co urt s

. In t h i s

co n tex t

, t h e Co u rt decl i n e s t o creat e co n tract u al d u t i es th at are n o t w ri t t en

, are n ot

b as ed o n s t a t u t o ry l aw, an d are i n co n s is t en t w i t h t h e u nam b i g uo u s l an g u ag e o f t h e

eas em en t s . Co ns eq u en t l y

, t h e cl ai m s i n [Cen t en n i al ’ s ] Co m p l ai n t d o n o t fal l wi t h in

t h e s co p e o f cl ai m s wai v ed b y t h e co n s t i t u t i o nal so v erei g n i m m u n i ty wai v er fo r

b reach o f wri t t en co n t ract cl ai m s .” (Fo o t n o te o m it ted .)

8Cen t en n i al rel i e s o n cas es i n wh i ch t h i s Co u rt p rev i o u s l y p erm i t t ed cas es to

p ro ceed prem is ed o n a b reach o f t h e i m p l i ed co n t ract u al d u t y o f g o o d fai t h an d fai r

d eal i ng fo r t h e p ro p o si t i o n t h at we m ay ack n owl ed g e a wai ver of s o verei g n i m m u n i t y

b as ed o n t h e i m

p l i e d co n t ract u al d u t y i t cu rren tl y ad v an ces

. See DeKa l b Co u n t y

S ch oo l Di s t

. v. Go l d

, 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. 6 3 3

, 6 4 5 (2 ) (7 3 4 SE2 d 46 6 ) (2 0 1 2 ) ( o v erru l ed

o n ot h er g ro u n d s b y Ri ver a v. W a s hi n g to n

, 2 9 8 Ga. 7 70 (7 84 SE2 d 7 7 5) (2 0 1 6 ));

Dep t. o f Tr an s p

. v. D a l to n Pa vi ng & Co n st

. , 2 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. 2 07

, 2 2 4 (9 ) (b ) (4 8 9 SE2 d

3 2 9 ) (1 99 7 ) (d is ap p ro v ed o f on o t h er g ro un d s b y RTT As s o cs

. , 2 9 9 Ga. 7 8 ); Dep t

. of

Tr a ns p . v. APAC-Geo rg i a, In c. , 2 1 7 Ga. A p p

. 10 3

, 1 0 5 (2 ) (4 5 6 SE2 d 6 6 8 ) (1 9 9 5 ).

Th es e cas es are w ho l l y d i s t i n g u i s h ab l e an d we need n ot ex t en d t h e l aw o f

t h es e cas es t o reach t h e d u t y Cen t en n ial s eek s t h i s Co u rt t o r e c o g ni ze. “ Ever y

co n tr a ct i m

pl i es a co ven an t o f g o o d fai t h an d fai r d eal i n g i n th e co n t ract ’ s

p erfo rm an ce an d en fo rcem en t .” (Em p h as i s s u p pl i ed .) Cea s a r v. W el l s Fa r g o Ba nk,

N.A.

, 3 2 2 Ga. Ap p

. 5 2 9

, 5 3 3 (2 ) (c) (7 4 4 SE2 d 3 6 9) (2 0 1 3 ). “ Th e co ven an t t o p erfo rm

i n g o o d fai t h i s no t an i nd ep en d en t co nt ract t erm

. It i s a d oct ri n e t h at m o d i fi es t h e

m ean i n g o f al l ex p l i ci t t erm s i n a co n tract

, p rev en t i n g a b reach of t h o s e ex p l i ci t t erm s

d e fact o wh en p erfo rm an ce is m ai n t ai ned d e ju re.” (Ci t at i o n an d p u nct u a t i o n

o m it t ed .) S t u a rt En t er

p r i s es In t l

. v. Peyka n

, In c.

, 25 2 Ga. Ap p. 2 3 1, 23 3 -2 3 4 (2 ) (5 5 5

9SE2 d 8 8 1 ) (2 0 0 1 ). In co n t ras t

, t h e du t y Cen t en n i al s eek s t h i s Co u rt t o reco g n i ze i s

n o t i m p l ied i n ever

y co n t r a ct

, n o r i s i t o n e wh ich creat es n o n ew s u b s t an t i v e ri g h t s

fo r t h e co n t ract i n g p art i es

. In s t ead

, t h e i m p l i ci t d ut y Cen t en n i al s eek s t o en fo rce

wo u l d ap p l y s o l el y i n t h e co n t ex t o f an eas em en t an d w o u l d creat e s u b s t an ti al ri g h t s

fo r t h e s erv i en t l an d own er b ey o n d t ho s e ex p res s l y p ro v i d ed fo r b y t he co n t ract

. W e

can n ot fi nd t h at an i m

p l ici t d u t y o f t h i s n at ure, ev en i f i t ex i st s o r sh o u l d ex is t i n o t h er

co n tex t s

, p erm i ts a wai v er of s o v erei g n i m m u n i t y i n t h e a b s e n c e o f l eg i s l at i v e

au t h o ri t y reco gn i zi n g su ch a d u t y an d a wai v er. Si m p ly s t at ed

, t h e cas es rel i ed u p o n

b y Cen t en n i al are i n ap p o s i t e t o o u r an al y s i s

. Acco rd i n g l y

, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err

i n d i s m i s s i n g Cen t en n i al ’ s cl ai m s fo r l ack o f s u b ject m at ter ju ri s d i ct io n

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Mi l l er

, P. J., a n d

Pi p ki n, J., co n cu r

.

10