Title: Colbert Cty. Bd. of Edu. v. James
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: 1100181
State: Alabama
Issuer: Alabama Supreme Court
Date: October 21, 2011

R e l : 10/21/2011 
Notice: T h i s 
o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o f o r m a l 
r e v i s i o n b e f o r e 
p u b l i c a t i o n i n 
t h e 
advance 
s h e e t s o f 
Southern Reporter. 
R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o 
n o t i f y t h e 
Reporter of 
Decisions, 
Alabama 
A p p e l l a t e 
C o u r t s , 
300 D e x t e r Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104-3741 
((334) 
2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f 
any t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n 
o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may be made 
b e f o r e t h e 
o p i n i o n i s 
p r i n t e d i n 
Southern Reporter. 
SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA 
OCTOBER TERM, 2011-2012 
1100181 
C o l b e r t County Board o f E d u c a t i o n e t a l . 
v. 
F e l e c i a James, i n d i v i d u a l l y and as mother o f J.H., 
a minor 
c h i l d 
Appeal from C o l b e r t C i r c u i t 
Court 
(CV-10-900134) 
PER CURIAM. 
1100181 
The 
C o l b e r t C o u n t y B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n 
("the B o a r d " ) ; and 
t h e 
i n d i v i d u a l 
members 
o f 
t h e 
B o a r d ;
1 
B i l l y 
Hudson, 
s u p e r i n t e n d e n t 
o f t h e C o l b e r t C o u n t y S c h o o l 
S y s t e m ; 
J a c k i e 
W i t t , 
p r i n c i p a l 
o f C o l b e r t 
C o u n t y 
H i g h 
S c h o o l ; 
and 
J e f f 
B u r b a n k , an a s s i s t a n t p r i n c i p a l a t C o l b e r t C o u n t y H i g h 
S c h o o l 
( h e r e i n a f t e r 
r e f e r r e d t o c o l l e c t i v e l y as " t h e i n d i v i d u a l l y 
named d e f e n d a n t s " ) , 
a p p e a l 
f r o m t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
j u d g m e n t 
g r a n t i n g F e l e c i a J a m e s ' s m o t i o n f o r 
a p r e l i m i n a r y i n j u n c t i o n . 
We 
d i s m i s s 
t h e a p p e a l 
i n p a r t , 
r e v e r s e 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
j u d g m e n t e n t e r i n g t h e p r e l i m i n a r y i n j u n c t i o n , and remand t h e 
c a u s e . 
F a c t s and P r o c e d u r a l 
H i s t o r y 
On o r a b o u t May 2 1 , 2 0 1 0 , an i n c i d e n t o c c u r r e d a t C o l b e r t 
C o u n t y 
H i g h 
S c h o o l 
("CCHS") 
i n v o l v i n g J . H . , J a m e s ' s 
m i n o r 
c h i l d , and a n o t h e r m i n o r e n r o l l e d i n CCHS. 
The i n c i d e n t , t h e 
d e t a i l s o f w h i c h a r e i n d i s p u t e , l e d 
B u r b a n k t o s u s p e n d 
b o t h 
s t u d e n t s 
f o r t h r e e 
d a y s 
f o r a l l e g e d l y f i g h t i n g 
on 
s c h o o l 
p r o p e r t y d u r i n g s c h o o l h o u r s . 
B u r b a n k a l s o r e q u i r e d e a c h o f 
t h e 
s u s p e n d e d 
s t u d e n t s 
t o a t t e n d t h e C o l b e r t C o u n t y 
S c h o o l 
1The 
i n d i v i d u a l B o a r d members a r e L i n d a E v a n s , p r e s i d e n t , 
and 
C h a r l e s 
C a r t e r , M a r y M o o r e , Max E a d y , J o e L a t h a m , and 
F r a n k 
W i l l i a m s o n . 
2 
1100181 
S y s t e m ' s 
a l t e r n a t i v e 
s c h o o l ("the a l t e r n a t i v e s c h o o l " ) f o r 15 
d a y s a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e f o l l o w i n g 
a c a d e m i c 
s c h o o l 
y e a r , 
i . e . , 
t h e 2010-2011 s c h o o l y e a r . 
I t a l s o a p p e a r s t h a t 
t h e r e 
was a n o t a t i o n 
p l a c e d i n J.H.'s a c a d e m i c 
f i l e t o t h e 
e f f e c t 
t h a t 
he h a d b e e n 
s u s p e n d e d 
a n d p l a c e d 
i n t h e 
a l t e r n a t i v e 
s c h o o l b e c a u s e o f f i g h t i n g . 
James a p p e a r e d b e f o r e t h e B o a r d t o d i s c u s s t h e s i t u a t i o n 
on J u n e 24, 2010. 
The B o a r d a p p a r e n t l y t o o k no a c t i o n , a n d , 
on 
J u l y 
20, 2010, J a m e s , 
" i n d i v i d u a l l y and as m o t h e r 
and 
g u a r d i a n o f J . H . , " s u e d t h e B o a r d and t h e i n d i v i d u a l l y named 
d e f e n d a n t s 
a s s e r t i n g 
s t a t e - l a w 
and 
f e d e r a l - l a w 
c l a i m s 
and 
s e e k i n g 
i n j u n c t i v e 
r e l i e f , 
d e c l a r a t o r y 
r e l i e f , 
c o m p e n s a t o r y 
damages, 
p u n i t i v e 
damages, 
c o s t s , 
i n t e r e s t , and "any 
o t h e r 
r e l i e f t o w h i c h [ J a m e s ] may be e n t i t l e d . "
2 
On J u l y 2 1 , 2010, 
James 
f i l e d 
a m o t i o n f o r a t e m p o r a r y 
r e s t r a i n i n g 
o r d e r , 
a 
p r e l i m i n a r y 
i n j u n c t i o n , a n d a p e r m a n e n t i n j u n c t i o n , 
a l l e g i n g , 
i n p e r t i n e n t 
p a r t , 
as 
f o l l o w s : 
" 1 . 
[ T h e 
B o a r d 
and 
t h e 
i n d i v i d u a l l y 
named 
d e f e n d a n t s 
h a v e ] w r o n g f u l l y 
i m p o s e d 
d i s c i p l i n e on 
[ J . H . ] . 
2 J a m e s 
f i l e d 
an amended 
c o m p l a i n t on A u g u s t 
26, 2010, 
w h i c h t h e B o a r d and i n d i v i d u a l l y named d e f e n d a n t s 
a n s w e r e d . 
3 
1100181 
"2. 
[ J . H . ' s ] s c h o o l r e c o r d w r o n g f u l l y shows he 
was 
f o u n d t o be 
f i g h t i n g a t 
s c h o o l . 
"3. 
[The 
B o a r d 
and 
t h e 
i n d i v i d u a l l y 
named 
d e f e n d a n t s ] 
i n t e n d 
on 
f u r t h e r 
w r o n g f u l l y 
i m p o s i n g 
d i s c i p l i n e 
on 
[J.H.] when s c h o o l b e g i n s on Monday, 
A u g u s t 
9, 
2010 
and 
[ t h e 
B o a r d 
i s ] 
s c h e d u l e d 
t o 
i m p o s e 
t h r e e 
(3) weeks 
o f t h e 
f i r s t 
s i x (6) week 
g r a d i n g p e r i o d i n s u s p e n s i o n / a l t e r n a t i v e s c h o o l due 
t o 
t h e 
w r o n g f u l 
a p p l i c a t i o n 
o f 
t h e 
[ B o a r d ' s ] 
p o l i c i e s , p r o c e d u r e s , and p r a c t i c e s as w e l l as 
[ t h e 
B o a r d 
and 
t h e 
i n d i v i d u a l l y 
named 
d e f e n d a n t s ' ] 
f a i l u r e t o p r o v i d e [J.H.] p r o c e d u r a l and s u b s t a n t i v e 
due 
p r o c e s s . 
"4. 
[James] has a l i k e l i h o o d o f s u c c e s s on 
t h e 
m e r i t s . 
See 
c o m p l a i n t 
a t t a c h e d h e r e t o 
as 
E x h i b i t 
A . [
3 ] 
"5. 
T h e r e 
i s no 
a d e q u a t e 
remedy 
a v a i l a b l e 
by 
l a w . 
"6. 
[J.H.] 
w i l l 
s u f f e r i r r e p a r a b l e harm w i t h o u t 
t h e 
i n j u n c t i o n . 
"7. The h a r d s h i p i m p o s e d on t h e 
[ B o a r d and 
t h e 
i n d i v i d u a l l y named d e f e n d a n t s ] 
w i l l n o t u n r e a s o n a b l y 
o u t w e i g h 
t h e 
b e n e f i t 
a c c r u i n g 
t o 
t h e 
r e q u e s t i n g 
p a r t y . 
"8. A t e m p o r a r y r e s t r a i n i n g o r d e r and 
i n j u n c t i o n 
w i l l 
n o t p r e j u d i c e t h e 
[ B o a r d and 
t h e 
i n d i v i d u a l l y 
named d e f e n d a n t s ] . 
"9. The t e m p o r a r y r e s t r a i n i n g o r d e r , p r e l i m i n a r y 
i n j u n c t i o n 
and 
p e r m a n e n t 
i n j u n c t i o n 
a r e 
p r o p e r . 
S o u t h T r u s t Bank o f A l a b a m a , N.A. 
v. W e b b - S t i l e s 
Co., 
931 So. 2d 706, 708 
( A l a . 2005) ( q u o t i n g Ormco C o r p . 
3 A l t h o u g h James i n d i c a t e d i n h e r m o t i o n t h a t t h e c o m p l a i n t 
was a t t a c h e d t o t h e m o t i o n , i t d o e s n o t a p p e a r f r o m t h e r e c o r d 
t h a t a n y t h i n g was 
a t t a c h e d t o h e r 
m o t i o n . 
4 
1100181 
v. J o h n s , 869 So. 2d 1109, 
1113 ( A l a . 2 0 0 3 ) , q u o t i n g 
i n t u r n P e r l e y v. T a p s c a n , I n c . , 
646 So. 2d 5 8 5 , 
587 
( A l a . 
l 9 9 4 ) ) . 
"10. 
[James] 
h a s made a 
d i l i g e n t 
e f f o r t t o 
c o n t a c t 
[ t h e B o a r d ] 
t o d i s c u s s 
r e s o l u t i o n 
w i t h o u t 
s u c c e s s . 
" 1 1 . No b o n d i s n e c e s s a r y b e c a u s e no damage t o 
t h e 
[ B o a r d a n d t h e i n d i v i d u a l l y named 
d e f e n d a n t s ] 
w i l l 
a t t a c h 
w i t h 
t h e 
e n t r y 
o f 
a 
t e m p o r a r y 
r e s t r a i n i n g 
o r d e r , 
p r e l i m i n a r y 
a n d 
p e r m a n e n t 
i n j u n c t i o n . 
"WHEREFORE, 
p r e m i s e s 
c o n s i d e r e d , 
[James] 
r e s p e c t f u l l y 
r e q u e s t s t h e C o u r t g r a n t a 
t e m p o r a r y 
r e s t r a i n i n g 
o r d e r a n d 
i n j u n c t i o n 
p r o h i b i t i n g 
t h e 
[ B o a r d a n d t h e i n d i v i d u a l l y named d e f e n d a n t s ] 
f r o m 
i m p o s i n g w r o n g f u l d i s c i p l i n e on [J.H.] a n d 
r e q u i r i n g 
r e m o v a l 
o f 
r e f e r e n c e s 
t o 
w r o n g f u l l y 
i m p o s e d 
d i s c i p l i n e on [J.H.] p e n d i n g 
f u r t h e r 
o r d e r o f t h i s 
j _ 
II 
C o u r t . " 
The B o a r d a n d t h e i n d i v i d u a l l y named d e f e n d a n t s d i d 
n o t 
f i l e 
a r e s p o n s e t o James's m o t i o n f o r i n j u n c t i v e 
r e l i e f , 
a l t h o u g h 
t h e y d i d f i l e an a n s w e r t o James's c o m p l a i n t . 
A h e a r i n g on 
James's m o t i o n was s e t 
f o r 
A u g u s t 3, 
2 0 1 0 . 
On J u l y 29, 2 0 1 0 , t h e B o a r d a n d t h e i n d i v i d u a l l y 
named 
d e f e n d a n t s 
f i l e d 
a m o t i o n f o r 
a summary j u d g m e n t 
a s s e r t i n g 
a b s o l u t e 
i m m u n i t y on t h e p a r t o f t h e B o a r d a n d S t a t e - a g e n t 
i m m u n i t y on t h e p a r t o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l l y named d e f e n d a n t s .
4 
4 I t i s u n c l e a r f r o m t h e c o m p l a i n t w h e t h e r James 
a s s e r t s 
c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t t h e i n d i v i d u a l l y 
named 
d e f e n d a n t s i n t h e i r 
p e r s o n a l 
c a p a c i t i e s . 
However, i n t h e m o t i o n f o r 
a summary 
5 
1100181 
A h e a r i n g on t h e s u m m a r y - j u d g m e n t m o t i o n was s e t a n d t h e n 
c o n t i n u e d t o J a n u a r y 10, 2 0 1 1 .
5 
F o l l o w i n g t h e A u g u s t 3, 2 0 1 0 , h e a r i n g on J a m e s ' s 
m o t i o n 
f o r 
i n j u n c t i v e 
r e l i e f , t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t e n t e r e d a p r e l i m i n a r y 
i n j u n c t i o n 
a g a i n s t t h e B o a r d 
a n d t h e 
i n d i v i d u a l l y 
named 
d e f e n d a n t s on A u g u s t 4, 2 0 1 0 , h o l d i n g as f o l l o w s : 
"Upon 
c o n s i d e r a t i o n 
o f 
t h e 
e v i d e n c e 
a n d 
s u b m i s s i o n s , 
t h e C o u r t 
f i n d s 
t h a t 
[James] 
w i l l 
s u f f e r 
i r r e p a r a b l e 
harm 
w i t h o u t 
t h e 
i n j u n c t i o n ; 
[James] h a s no a d e q u a t e 
remedy a t l a w ; [James] h a s 
a t 
l e a s t 
a 
r e a s o n a b l e 
c h a n c e 
o f s u c c e s s 
on t h e 
u l t i m a t e 
m e r i t s ; 
a n d t h e h a r d s h i p 
i m p o s e d on t h e 
[ B o a r d a n d t h e i n d i v i d u a l l y named d e f e n d a n t s ] 
w i l l 
n o t 
u n r e a s o n a b l y 
o u t w e i g h 
t h e b e n e f i t 
a c c r u i n g t o 
[ J a m e s ] . 
S o u t h T r u s t 
Bank 
o f 
A l a b a m a , 
N.A. 
v . 
 
W e b b - S t i l e s Co., 931 So. 2d 706, 708 
( A l a . 2005) 
( q u o t i n g Ormco C o r p . v . J o h n s , 869 So. 2d 1109, 
1113 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 3 ) , 
q u o t i n g i n t u r n 
P e r l e y v . 
T a p s c a n , 
 
I n c . , 
646 So. 2d 585, 587 ( A l a . 1 9 9 4 ) ) . 
j u d g m e n t 
t h o s e 
d e f e n d a n t s 
a r g u e 
t h a t 
t h e y a r e e n t i t l e d t o 
S t a t e - a g e n t 
i m m u n i t y , 
w h i c h 
a p p l i e s 
o n l y t o c l a i m s a g a i n s t 
S t a t e a g e n t s 
a c t i n g 
t h e i r p e r s o n a l c a p a c i t i e s . 
See Ex p a r t e  
Cranman, 792 So. 2d 392 ( A l a . 2 0 0 0 ) . 
5On A u g u s t 12, 2 0 1 0 , b e f o r e t h e h e a r i n g on t h e B o a r d a n d 
t h e 
i n d i v i d u a l l y named d e f e n d a n t s ' 
summary-judgment 
m o t i o n , 
t h e B o a r d a n d t h e i n d i v i d u a l l y named d e f e n d a n t s 
p e t i t i o n e d 
t h i s C o u r t f o r 
a w r i t o f mandamus d i r e c t i n g t h e t r i a l c o u r t t o 
e n t e r a summary j u d g m e n t on t h e i r b e h a l f b a s e d on t h e d e f e n s e s 
o f 
a b s o l u t e i m m u n i t y 
a n d S t a t e - a g e n t 
i m m u n i t y . 
T h i s 
C o u r t 
d e n i e d 
t h e B o a r d 
a n d t h e 
i n d i v i d u a l l y 
named 
d e f e n d a n t s ' 
p e t i t i o n 
f o r a w r i t o f mandamus by o r d e r o f t h e C o u r t on 
J a n u a r y 6, 2 0 1 1 . Ex p a r t e C o l b e r t C o u n t y Bd. o f E d u c . (No. 
1 0 9 1 5 4 5 , J a n u a r y 6, 2 0 1 1 ) . 
6 
1100181 
" S p e c i f i c a l l y , 
[ J . H . ] 
w i l l 
s u f f e r 
i r r e p a r a b l e 
harm w i t h i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f d i s c i p l i n e 
( t h r e e weeks 
o f 
a l t e r n a t i v e s c h o o l ) c u r r e n t l y i m p o s e d as i t w i l l 
c a r r y 
f o r w a r d t o t h e s c h o o l i n w h i c h he i s n e w l y 
e n r o l l e d 
i f t h e 
C o u r t 
does 
n o t 
e n j o i n 
t h e 
i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f s a i d 
d i s c i p l i n e . 
[James] h a s a t 
l e a s t a r e a s o n a b l e c h a n c e o f s u c c e s s on t h e u l t i m a t e 
m e r i t s 
t h a t 
[J.H.] was d e n i e d due p r o c e s s o r t h e 
c o n d u c t 
o f t h e [ B o a r d and t h e i n d i v i d u a l l y 
named 
d e f e n d a n t s ] 
o t h e r w i s e v i o l a t e s t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n o r 
l a w s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , o r t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n o f 
t h i s 
S t a t e , o r l a w s , 
r u l e s , o r r e g u l a t i o n s o f 
t h i s 
S t a t e 
e n a c t e d 
o r p r o m u l g a t e d 
f o r t h e p u r p o s e 
o f 
r e g u l a t i n g t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f a g o v e r n m e n t a l 
a g e n c y ; 
o r t h e [ B o a r d and t h e i n d i v i d u a l l y named d e f e n d a n t s ] 
a c t e d 
w i l l f u l l y , 
m a l i c i o u s l y , 
f r a u d u l e n t l y , i n b a d 
f a i t h , 
b e y o n d 
h i s o r h e r a u t h o r i t y , 
o r u n d e r 
a 
m i s t a k e n 
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h e l a w . Ex p a r t e J o n e s , 
[52 
So. 
3d 
475] 
( A l a . 2 
0 1 0 ) ( q u o t i n g 
Ex 
p a r t e 
 
Cranman, 792 So. 2d 392 ( A l a . 2 0 0 0 ) ; Ex p a r t e R i z k , 
791 So. 2d 911 
( A l a . 2 0 0 0 ) . The i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f 
s a i d 
d i s c i p l i n e 
w i l l 
a l s o 
l i k e l y 
c a u s e 
... J.H. t o 
s u f f e r 
i r r e p a r a b l e harm t o h i s r i g h t t o e d u c a t i o n 
and 
o p p o r t u n i t i e s 
r e s u l t i n g 
[ t h e r e f r o m ] due t o t h e 
s t i g m a and d i s c i p l i n e 
t h a t i s r e c o r d e d ... i n 
h i s 
s t u d e n t r e c o r d s . [J.H.] may 
l o s e h i s m e m b e r s h i p i n 
l e a d e r s h i p 
and 
e x t r a - c u r r i c u l a r 
a c t i v i t i e s 
i n 
a d d i t i o n 
t o l o s i n g 
t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o be 
c o l l e g e 
e d u c a t e d o r a c c e p t e d o t h e r w i s e i n s c h o o l . T h e r e f o r e , 
t h e 
[ B o a r d and t h e i n d i v i d u a l l y named 
d e f e n d a n t s ] 
a r e 
h e r e b y e n j o i n e d f r o m i m p o s i n g t h e d i s c i p l i n e t o 
[J.H.] as i n d i c a t e d i n [ J . H . ' s ] 
' N o t i c e o f S t u d e n t 
S u s p e n s i o n ' and a r e h e r e b y 
d i r e c t e d t o remove any 
and a l l r e f e r e n c e t o s a i d 
d i s c i p l i n e and 
' f i g h t i n g ' 
f r o m 
[ J . H . ' s ] s c h o o l r e c o r d s . The C o u r t a l s o 
h e r e b y 
f i n d s 
t h a t t h e r e i s no h a r d s h i p , p r e j u d i c e , damage 
o r 
harm t o t h e [ B o a r d and t h e i n d i v i d u a l l y 
named 
d e f e n d a n t s ] i n o r d e r i n g s a i d 
i n j u n c t i o n . 
O t h e r w i s e 
s t a t e d , 
t h e 
h a r d s h i p 
t o 
t h e 
[ B o a r d 
and 
t h e 
i n d i v i d u a l l y named d e f e n d a n t s ] 
w i l l n o t u n r e a s o n a b l y 
o u t w e i g h t h e b e n e f i t a c c r u i n g t o 
[ J . H . ] . " 
7 
1100181 
On A u g u s t 4, 2010, 
t h e same day t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t e n t e r e d 
t h e 
j u d g m e n t i s s u i n g t h e p r e l i m i n a r y i n j u n c t i o n , t h e B o a r d and 
t h e 
i n d i v i d u a l l y named d e f e n d a n t s , e x c e p t B u r b a n k , 
f i l e d 
a 
m o t i o n 
p u r s u a n t 
t o R u l e 
5 9 ( e ) , A l a . R. 
C i v . P., 
t o 
a l t e r , 
amend, o r v a c a t e t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s j u d g m e n t . 
Those d e f e n d a n t s 
a r g u e d t h a t t h e r e was no e v i d e n c e b e f o r e t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t upon 
w h i c h i t c o u l d have e n t e r e d a p r e l i m i n a r y 
i n j u n c t i o n 
a g a i n s t 
t h e 
B o a r d and t h e i n d i v i d u a l l y named d e f e n d a n t s b e c a u s e , t h e y 
a r g u e d , 
no 
e v i d e n c e h a d 
b e e n 
s u b m i t t e d . 
Those 
d e f e n d a n t s 
a r g u e d t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t e r r e d i n e n t e r i n g t h e p r e l i m i n a r y 
i n j u n c t i o n 
r e l y i n g 
s o l e l y 
on 
James's 
c o m p l a i n t 
and 
h e r 
u n v e r i f i e d m o t i o n r e q u e s t i n g 
i n j u n c t i v e 
r e l i e f . 
On 
S e p t e m b e r 
17, 
2010, 
James 
f i l e d 
a r e s p o n s e 
t o 
t h e 
B o a r d and t h e i n d i v i d u a l l y named d e f e n d a n t s ' summary-judgment 
m o t i o n 
and 
t h e R u l e 5 9 ( e ) 
m o t i o n . 
James a t t a c h e d numerous 
a f f i d a v i t s t o h e r r e s p o n s e and s t a t e s i n h e r b r i e f on a p p e a l 
t h a t t h o s e a f f i d a v i t s "were p r e s e n t a t t h e h e a r i n g b e f o r e t h e 
[ t r i a l c o u r t ] on A u g u s t 3, 2010." 
James's b r i e f , a t p. 37. A 
h e a r i n g 
on t h e R u l e 5 9 ( e ) 
m o t i o n was 
s e t f o r S e p t e m b e r 
22, 
2010, b u t was c o n t i n u e d t o J a n u a r y 10, 2 0 1 1 . 
The 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
n e v e r 
r u l e d on t h e R u l e 5 9 ( e ) m o t i o n ; t h u s , t h a t m o t i o n 
was 
8 
1100181 
d e n i e d 
by 
o p e r a t i o n 
o f 
l a w 
on November 
2, 
2010. 
See 
R u l e 
59.1, 
A l a . 
R. 
C i v . 
P. 
The 
B o a r d 
and 
t h e 
i n d i v i d u a l l y named 
d e f e n d a n t s a p p e a l e d on November 8, 
2010. 
S t a n d a r d o f R e v i e w 
T h i s C o u r t s e t 
f o r t h t h e 
s t a n d a r d 
f o r r e v i e w i n g 
a 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
d e c i s i o n t o e n t e r 
a p r e l i m i n a r y i n j u n c t i o n i n 
H o l i d a y 
I s l e , 
LLC 
v. A d k i n s , 
12 
So. 
3d 
1173, 
1175-76 
( A l a . 2 0 0 8 ) : 
"We 
have o f t e n s t a t e d : 
'The 
d e c i s i o n t o g r a n t o r 
t o deny a p r e l i m i n a r y i n j u n c t i o n i s w i t h i n t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
s o u n d 
d i s c r e t i o n . 
I n 
r e v i e w i n g 
an 
o r d e r 
g r a n t i n g 
a 
p r e l i m i n a r y 
i n j u n c t i o n , 
t h e 
C o u r t 
d e t e r m i n e s 
w h e t h e r 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
e x c e e d e d 
t h a t 
d i s c r e t i o n . ' 
S o u t h T r u s t 
Bank 
o f 
A l a b a m a , 
N.A. 
v. 
 
W e b b - S t i l e s Co., 
931 
So. 
2d 
706, 
709 
( A l a . 2 0 0 5 ) . 
"A p r e l i m i n a r y i n j u n c t i o n s h o u l d 
be i s s u e d 
o n l y 
when t h e p a r t y 
s e e k i n g 
an 
i n j u n c t i o n d e m o n s t r a t e s : 
" ' " ( 1 ) 
t h a t 
w i t h o u t 
t h e 
i n j u n c t i o n 
t h e 
[ p a r t y ] 
w o u l d 
s u f f e r 
i r r e p a r a b l e 
i n j u r y ; 
(2) t h a t t h e 
[ p a r t y ] has 
no a d e q u a t e remedy 
a t 
l a w ; 
(3) 
t h a t 
t h e 
[ p a r t y ] 
has 
a t 
l e a s t 
a 
r e a s o n a b l e 
c h a n c e 
o f 
s u c c e s s 
on 
t h e 
u l t i m a t e 
m e r i t s 
o f h i s c a s e ; 
and 
(4) 
t h a t 
t h e h a r d s h i p 
i m p o s e d on t h e 
[ p a r t y o p p o s i n g 
t h e 
p r e l i m i n a r y 
i n j u n c t i o n ] 
by 
t h e 
i n j u n c t i o n w o u l d n o t u n r e a s o n a b l y o u t w e i g h 
t h e b e n e f i t a c c r u i n g 
t o t h e 
[ p a r t y 
s e e k i n g 
t h e i n j u n c t i o n ] . " ' 
"Ormco C o r p . v. 
J o h n s , 
869 
So. 
2d 
1109, 
1113 
( A l a . 
2 0 
0 
3 ) ( q u o t i n g 
P e r l e y 
v. 
T a p s c a n , 
I n c . , 
646 
So. 
2d 
585, 
587 
( A l a . 1 9 9 4 ) ) . 
9 
1100181 
"To 
t h e e x t e n t 
t h a t t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
i s s u a n c e 
o f 
a 
p r e l i m i n a r y 
i n j u n c t i o n i s g r o u n d e d 
o n l y 
i n 
q u e s t i o n s 
o f 
l a w 
b a s e d 
on 
u n d i s p u t e d 
f a c t s , 
o u r 
l o n g s t a n d i n g 
r u l e 
t h a t 
we 
r e v i e w 
an 
i n j u n c t i o n 
s o l e l y t o d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r t h e 
t r i a l c o u r t e x c e e d e d 
i t s 
d i s c r e t i o n 
s h o u l d 
n o t 
a p p l y . 
We 
f i n d 
t h e 
r u l e 
a p p l i e d 
by 
t h e 
U n i t e d 
S t a t e s 
Supreme 
C o u r t 
i n 
s i m i l a r s i t u a t i o n s t o be p e r s u a s i v e : 
'We 
r e v i e w 
t h e 
D i s t r i c t 
C o u r t ' s 
l e g a l 
r u l i n g s 
de 
novo 
and 
i t s 
u l t i m a t e 
d e c i s i o n 
t o 
i s s u e 
t h e 
p r e l i m i n a r y 
i n j u n c t i o n 
f o r a b u s e o f 
d i s c r e t i o n . ' 
G o n z a l e s v. 
O 
 
C e n t r o 
E s p i r i t a 
B e n e f i c e n t e 
U n i a o 
do 
V e g e t a l , 
54 6 
U.S. 
418, 
428, 
126 
S. 
C t . 
1211, 
163 
L. 
Ed. 
2d 
1017 
( 2 0 0 6 ) ; 
see 
a l s o J u s t i c e M u r d o c k ' s s p e c i a l w r i t i n g 
w h i l e 
s i t t i n g 
as 
a 
j u d g e 
on 
t h e 
C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s i n C i t y o f D o t h a n v. E i g h t y - F o u r West, 
I n c . , 
871 
So. 
2d 
54, 
60 
( A l a . C i v . App. 
2003) 
( M u r d o c k , 
J . , 
c o n c u r r i n g 
s p e c i a l l y 
on 
a p p l i c a t i o n 
f o r 
r e h e a r i n g ) 
( c i t e d 
w i t h 
a p p r o v a l 
i n M c G l a t h e r y 
v. 
 
R i c h a r d s o n , 
944 
So. 
2d 
968 , 
970 
( A l a . 
C i v . 
App. 
2 0 
0 
6 ) ) . " 
D i s c u s s i o n 
I . I m m u n i t y 
I s s u e s 
I n i t i a l l y , 
a l t h o u g h 
n o t 
a r g u e d 
by 
t h e 
B o a r d 
and 
i t s 
members, we must c o n s i d e r w h e t h e r t h e B o a r d and 
i t s members 
a r e 
immune 
f r o m 
t h e 
s t a t e - l a w 
c l a i m s 
f i l e d 
a g a i n s t 
them. 
A t k i n s o n 
v. 
S t a t e , 
986 
So. 
2d 
408, 
411 
( A l a . 2007) 
( h o l d i n g 
t h a t i s s u e s o f § 14, A l a . C o n s t . 1901, 
S t a t e i m m u n i t y "may 
be 
r a i s e d a t any t i m e ... by a c o u r t e x mero m o t u " ) . 
S e c t i o n 
14, 
A l a . 
C o n s t . 1901, 
p r o v i d e s 
" [ t ] h a t t h e S t a t e o f A l a b a m a 
s h a l l 
n e v e r be made a d e f e n d a n t i n any 
c o u r t o f l a w o r e q u i t y . " 
I n 
10 
1100181 
Ex p a r t e Monroe C o u n t y B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n , 48 So. 3d 621 ( A l a . 
2 0 1 0 ) , 
t h i s C o u r t 
h e l d : 
" ' " S e c t i o n 
14, A l a . C o n s t . 
1901, p r o v i d e s ' [ t ] h a t t h e S t a t e 
o f A l a b a m a 
s h a l l n e v e r be made a 
d e f e n d a n t i n any c o u r t o f l a w 
o r 
e q u i t y . ' T h i s s e c t i o n a f f o r d s t h e 
S t a t e 
a n d 
i t s a g e n c i e s 
an 
' a b s o l u t e ' i m m u n i t y 
f r o m 
s u i t i n 
any c o u r t . Ex p a r t e M o b i l e C o u n t y  
Dep't o f Human R e s . , 815 So. 2d 
527, 
530 
( A l a . 
2001) 
( s t a t i n g 
t h a t 
A l a . C o n s t . 
1 9 0 1 , § 14, 
c o n f e r s on t h e S t a t e o f A l a b a m a 
and 
i t s 
a g e n c i e s 
a b s o l u t e 
i m m u n i t y f r o m s u i t i n 
any c o u r t ) ; 
Ex 
p a r t e T u s c a l o o s a C o u n t y , 
7 
9 
6 
So. 
2d 
1100 , 
1103 ( A l a . 
2000 
) 
('Under A l a . C o n s t . o f 1 9 0 1 , § 
14, 
t h e S t a t e 
o f A l a b a m a h a s 
a b s o l u t e i m m u n i t y 
f r o m 
l a w s u i t s . 
T h i s a b s o l u t e i m m u n i t y e x t e n d s t o  
arms o r a g e n c i e s o f t h e 
s t a t e 
. . . . ' ) . 
I n d e e d , 
t h i s 
C o u r t h a s 
d e s c r i b e d 
§ 
14 as an 
' a l m o s t 
i n v i n c i b l e ' 
' w a l l ' 
o f 
i m m u n i t y . 
A l a b a m a S t a t e Docks v. S a x o n , 631 
So. 2d 943, 946 ( A l a . 1 9 9 4 ) . T h i s 
' w a l l 
o f 
i m m u n i t y ' 
i s 
' n e a r l y 
i m p r e g n a b l e , ' 
P a t t e r s o n 
v . 
G l a d w i n 
C o r p . , 
835 So. 2d 137, 
142 
( A l a . 2 0 0 2 ) , a n d b a r s 
' a l m o s t 
e v e r y c o n c e i v a b l e t y p e o f s u i t . ' 
H u t c h i n s o n v . B o a r d o f T r u s t e e s  
o f 
U n i v . o f A l a . , 288 A l a . 
20, 
23, 256 So. 2d 2 8 1 , 283 ( 1 9 7 1 ) . 
M o r e o v e r , 
i f an 
a c t i o n 
i s an 
a c t i o n 
a g a i n s t t h e S t a t e 
w i t h i n 
t h e 
m e a n i n g o f § 14, s u c h a c a s e 
' p r e s e n t s 
a 
q u e s t i o n 
o f 
11 
1100181 
s u b j e c t - m a t t e r 
j u r i s d i c t i o n , 
w h i c h 
c a n n o t 
be 
w a i v e d 
o r 
c o n f e r r e d by c o n s e n t . ' P a t t e r s o n , 
835 So. 2d a t 1 4 2 - 4 3 . " 
" ' H a l e y v . B a r b o u r C o u n t y , 885 So. 2d 7 8 3 , 
788 
( A l a . 2004) 
( e m p h a s i s 
a d d e d ) . 
F o r 
p u r p o s e s o f § 14 i m m u n i t y , c o u n t y b o a r d s o f 
e d u c a t i o n a r e c o n s i d e r e d a g e n c i e s o f t h e 
S t a t e . 
L o u v i e r e v . M o b i l e C o u n t y 
Bd. o f  
E d u c . , 
670 
So. 
2d 
873, 
877 ( A l a . 
1 9 9 5 ) ( " C o u n t y b o a r d s o f e d u c a t i o n , as l o c a l 
a g e n c i e s 
o f 
t h e 
S t a t e , 
e n j o y 
[§ 
14] 
i m m u n i t y . " ) . Thus, t h i s C o u r t h a s h e l d t h a t 
c o u n t y b o a r d s o f e d u c a t i o n a r e immune f r o m 
t o r t a c t i o n s . See Brown v. C o v i n g t o n C o u n t y  
Bd. o f E d u c . , 
524 So. 2d 623, 625 
( A l a . 
1 9 8 8 ) ; H u t t v . E t o w a h C o u n t y Bd. o f E d u c . , 
454 So. 2d 973, 974 ( A l a . 1 9 8 4 ) . ' 
"Ex 
p a r t e J a c k s o n 
C o u n t y 
Bd. o f E d u c . , 
4 So. 3d 
[1099] a t 1102-03 
[ ( A l a . 
2 0 0 8 ) ] . 
" I n Ex p a r t e H a l e C o u n t y B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n , 14 
So. 3d 844 ( A l a . 
2 0 0 9 ) , 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
r e v i s i t e d t h e 
i s s u e w h e t h e r c o u n t y b o a r d s o f e d u c a t i o n were immune 
f r o m s u i t , o v e r r u l i n g Sims v. E t o w a h C o u n t y B o a r d o f  
E d u c a t i o n , 337 So. 2d 1310 ( A l a . 1 9 7 6 ) , and Kimmons  
v. 
J e f f e r s o n 
C o u n t y 
B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n , 204 
A l a . 
384 , 85 So. 774 
(1920 ) , and s t a t i n g 
t h a t 
' b e c a u s e 
c o u n t y b o a r d s o f e d u c a t i o n a r e l o c a l a g e n c i e s o f 
t h e 
S t a t e , 
t h e y a r e c l o t h e d i n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l 
i m m u n i t y 
f r o m 
s u i t ' and t h a t t h e i m m u n i t y 
a c c o r d e d a c o u n t y 
b o a r d o f e d u c a t i o n i s a b s o l u t e . " 
48 
So. 3d a t 624-25. 
T h e r e f o r e , b e c a u s e 
t h e B o a r d i s 
a b s o l u t e l y immune u n d e r § 14 f r o m t h e s t a t e - l a w c l a i m s 
f i l e d 
a g a i n s t 
i t , 
t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
l a c k e d 
j u r i s d i c t i o n 
o v e r 
t h o s e 
c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t 
t h e B o a r d , 
and 
i t s j u d g m e n t 
e n t e r i n g 
a 
12 
1100181 
p r e l i m i n a r y i n j u n c t i o n a g a i n s t t h e B o a r d b a s e d upon t h e s t a t e -
l a w c l a i m s i s v o i d ; t h u s , 
i n s o f a r as t h e B o a r d i s a p p e a l i n g 
f r o m t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s v o i d j u d g m e n t , t h e a p p e a l i s 
due t o be 
d i s m i s s e d . 
See Ex p a r t e 
C i t i z e n s Bank, 879 So. 2d 535, 540 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 3 ) ( h o l d i n g 
" t h a t an a p p e a l f r o m a v o i d j u d g m e n t must 
be 
d i s m i s s e d " ) . 
F u r t h e r , 
b a s e d 
upon t h e B o a r d ' s 
a b s o l u t e 
i m m u n i t y u n d e r § 14, t h e s t a t e - l a w 
c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t t h e B o a r d 
a r e 
due 
t o 
be 
d i s m i s s e d 
f o r 
l a c k 
o f 
s u b j e c t - m a t t e r 
j u r i s d i c t i o n . 
As t o t h e B o a r d members i n t h e i r 
o f f i c i a l 
c a p a c i t i e s , 
t h i s C o u r t h a s h e l d i n 
A l a b a m a D e p a r t m e n t o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n v . 
H a r b e r t I n t e r n a t i o n a l , I n c . , 
990 So. 2d 8 3 1 , 839 ( A l a . 2 0 0 8 ) : 
"Not o n l y i s 
t h e S t a t e immune f r o m s u i t u n d e r § 
14, b u t ' [ t ] h e S t a t e 
c a n n o t be s u e d 
i n d i r e c t l y b y 
s u i n g an 
o f f i c e r 
i n h i s o r h e r o f f i c i a l 
c a p a c i t y 
L y o n s [ v. R i v e r Road C o n s t r . , 
I n c . ] , 858 So. 
2d 
[257,] 261 
[ ( A l a . 
2 0 0 3 ) ] . 
' S e c t i o n 14 p r o h i b i t s 
a c t i o n s 
a g a i n s t 
s t a t e 
o f f i c e r s 
i n t h e i r 
o f f i c i a l 
c a p a c i t i e s 
when 
t h o s e 
a c t i o n s 
a r e , i n 
e f f e c t , 
a c t i o n s a g a i n s t t h e S t a t e . ' H a l e y v . B a r b o u r 
C o u n t y , 
885 
So. 2d 783, 788 
( A l a . 2004 ) . To 
d e t e r m i n e 
w h e t h e r 
an a c t i o n 
a g a i n s t 
a S t a t e 
o f f i c e r 
i s , 
i n 
f a c t , one a g a i n s t t h e S t a t e , 
t h i s C o u r t 
c o n s i d e r s 
" ' w h e t h e r 
"a 
r e s u l t 
f a v o r a b l e 
t o t h e 
p l a i n t i f f w o u l d 
d i r e c t l y a f f e c t a c o n t r a c t 
o r p r o p e r t y 
r i g h t o f t h e S t a t e , " 
M i t c h e l l 
[v. 
D a v i s , 
598 
So. 2d 
8 
01 
, 
8 
0 
6 ( A l a . 
13 
1100181 
1 9 9 2 ) ] , 
w h e t h e r 
t h e d e f e n d a n t i s s i m p l y 
a 
" c o n d u i t " t h r o u g h w h i c h t h e p l a i n t i f f 
s e e k s 
r e c o v e r y o f damages f r o m t h e S t a t e , B a r n e s  
v. D a l e , 530 
So. 2d 770, 
784 
( A l a . 1 9 8 8 ) , 
and w h e t h e r "a j u d g m e n t a g a i n s t t h e 
o f f i c e r 
w o u l d d i r e c t l y a f f e c t t h e f i n a n c i a l 
s t a t u s 
o f 
t h e 
S t a t e 
t r e a s u r y , " 
L y o n s 
[ v . 
R i v e r  
Road C o n s t r . , 
I n c . ] , 
858 
So. 
2d 
[257] 
a t 
261 
[ ( A l a . 
2 0 0 3 ) ] . ' 
" H a l e y , 
885 
So. 
2d 
a t 
7 
88. 
A d d i t i o n a l l y , 
' [ i ] n 
d e t e r m i n i n g 
w h e t h e r 
an 
a c t i o n 
a g a i n s t 
a 
s t a t e 
o f f i c e r 
i s b a r r e d by § 14, t h e C o u r t c o n s i d e r s 
t h e 
n a t u r e 
o f t h e 
s u i t o r t h e 
r e l i e f 
demanded, n o t 
t h e 
c h a r a c t e r o f t h e 
o f f i c e 
o f t h e p e r s o n a g a i n s t whom 
t h e 
s u i t 
i s b r o u g h t . ' Ex p a r t e 
C a r t e r , 395 
So. 
2d 
65, 67-68 ( A l a . 1 9 8 0 ) . " 
The B o a r d members i n t h e i r 
o f f i c i a l c a p a c i t i e s a r e immune 
u n d e r 
§ 
14 
f r o m 
t h e 
s t a t e - l a w 
c l a i m s 
f i l e d 
a g a i n s t 
them 
i n s o f a r as t h o s e c l a i m s s e e k m o n e t a r y damages. 
Thus, 
b e c a u s e 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
l a c k e d 
s u b j e c t - m a t t e r 
j u r i s d i c t i o n o v e r 
t h e 
s t a t e - l a w c l a i m s 
s e e k i n g m o n e t a r y 
damages 
f i l e d 
a g a i n s t 
t h e 
B o a r d members i n t h e i r 
o f f i c i a l 
c a p a c i t i e s , t h o s e c l a i m s 
a r e 
due t o be 
d i s m i s s e d . 
I n s o f a r 
as 
James 
s e e k s 
i n j u n c t i v e 
r e l i e f 
a g a i n s t 
t h e 
B o a r d members i n t h e i r 
o f f i c i a l 
c a p a c i t i e s , we 
n o t e : 
"The 
i m m u n i t y 
a f f o r d e d 
S t a t e 
o f f i c e r s 
s u e d i n 
t h e i r 
o f f i c i a l 
c a p a c i t i e s , 
h o w e v e r , 
i s 
n o t 
u n l i m i t e d : 
" ' [ S e c t i o n 14] i m m u n i t y f r o m s u i t does n o t 
e x t e n d , 
i n a l l i n s t a n c e s , t o 
o f f i c e r s 
o f 
14 
1100181 
t h e 
S t a t e 
a c t i n g 
i n 
t h e i r 
o f f i c i a l 
c a p a c i t y . U n z i c k e r v. S t a t e , 346 So. 2d 931 
( A l a . 
1 9 7 7 ) . I n l i m i t e d c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h e 
w r i t o f mandamus w i l l l i e t o r e q u i r e 
a c t i o n 
o f 
s t a t e 
o f f i c i a l s . 
T h i s 
i s t r u e 
where 
d i s c r e t i o n 
i s e x h a u s t e d 
a n d 
t h a t 
w h i c h 
r e m a i n s t o be done i s a m i n i s t e r i a l a c t . 
See 
H a r d i n v. 
F u l l i l o v e 
E x c a v a t i n g 
Co., 
 
I n c . , 353 So. 2d 779 ( A l a . 1 9 7 7 ) ; T e n n e s s e e  
& C o o s a R.R. Co. v. M o o r e , 36 A l a . 
371 
( 1 8 6 0 ) . A c t i o n may be e n j o i n e d i f i l l e g a l , 
f r a u d u l e n t , u n a u t h o r i z e d , 
done i n 
b a d f a i t h 
o r u n d e r a m i s t a k e n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f 
l a w . 
W a l l a c e v . B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n o f M o n t g o m e r y  
Co., 
280 A l a . 635, 197 So. 2d 428 
( 1 9 6 7 ) . 
I f 
j u d g m e n t o r d i s c r e t i o n i s a b u s e d , a n d 
e x e r c i s e d 
i n an 
a r b i t r a r y o r 
c a p r i c i o u s 
manner, 
mandamus 
w i l l 
l i e 
t o c o m p e l 
a 
p r o p e r e x e r c i s e t h e r e o f . The w r i t w i l l n o t 
l i e 
t o d i r e c t t h e manner o f 
e x e r c i s i n g 
d i s c r e t i o n 
a n d 
n e i t h e r 
w i l l 
i t l i e 
t o 
c o m p e l 
t h e p e r f o r m a n c e 
o f a 
d u t y 
i n a 
c e r t a i n 
manner where t h e p e r f o r m a n c e o f 
t h a t 
d u t y 
r e s t s upon an a s c e r t a i n m e n t o f 
f a c t s , o r t h e e x i s t e n c e o f c o n d i t i o n s , t o 
be d e t e r m i n e d by an o f f i c e r i n 
h i s j u d g m e n t 
o r 
d i s c r e t i o n . See B a r n e s v. 
S t a t e , 
274 
A l a . 
705, 151 So. 2d 619 ( 1 9 6 3 ) . ' 
" M c D o w e l l - P u r c e l l , 
I n c . v . B a s s , 370 So. 2d 942, 944 
( A l a . 
1 9 7 9 ) . 
" M o r e o v e r , 
c e r t a i n 
c a u s e s 
o f a c t i o n 
a r e n o t 
b a r r e d by § 14: 
" ' " T h e r e a r e f o u r 
g e n e r a l 
c a t e g o r i e s 
o f 
a c t i o n s w h i c h i n A l a n d v . Graham, 287 A l a . 
226, 
250 So. 2d 677 
(1971 ), we s t a t e d do 
n o t come w i t h i n t h e p r o h i b i t i o n o f § 14: 
(1) 
a c t i o n s 
b r o u g h t 
t o 
c o m p e l 
S t a t e 
o f f i c i a l s 
t o p e r f o r m 
t h e i r 
l e g a l 
d u t i e s ; 
(2) 
a c t i o n s 
b r o u g h t 
t o 
e n j o i n 
S t a t e 
15 
1100181 
o f f i c i a l s 
f r o m 
e n f o r c i n g 
a n 
u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l a w ; 
(3) a c t i o n s t o c o m p e l 
S t a t e 
o f f i c i a l s 
t o 
p e r f o r m 
m i n i s t e r i a l 
a c t s ; 
and 
(4) 
a c t i o n s 
b r o u g h t 
u n d e r 
t h e 
D e c l a r a t o r y 
J u d g m e n t s 
A c t 
... 
s e e k i n g 
c o n s t r u c t i o n 
o f 
a 
s t a t u t e 
and 
i t s 
a p p l i c a t i o n i n a g i v e n 
s i t u a t i o n . 
287 
A l a . 
a t 2 2 9 - 2 3 0 , 250 
So. 
2d 
677. 
O t h e r 
a c t i o n s 
w h i c h a r e 
n o t 
p r o h i b i t e d by 
§ 14 
a r e : 
(5) 
v a l i d i n v e r s e c o n d e m n a t i o n a c t i o n s b r o u g h t 
a g a i n s t 
S t a t e 
o f f i c i a l s 
i n 
t h e i r 
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e 
c a p a c i t y ; 
and 
(6) 
a c t i o n s 
f o r 
i n j u n c t i o n o r damages b r o u g h t 
a g a i n s t 
S t a t e 
o f f i c i a l s 
i n 
t h e i r 
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e 
c a p a c i t y 
and 
i n d i v i d u a l l y 
where 
i t 
was 
a l l e g e d 
t h a t 
t h e y 
had 
a c t e d f r a u d u l e n t l y , 
b a d 
f a i t h , b e y o n d t h e i r a u t h o r i t y o r i n 
m i s t a k e n 
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f 
l a w . 
W a l l a c e 
 
B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n 
o f M o n t g o m e r y C o u n t y , 
... 
280 
A l a . 
[635] 
a t 
639, 
197 
So. 
2d 
428 
[ ( 1 9 6 7 ) ] ; 
U n z i c k e r 
v. 
S t a t e , 
34 6 
So. 
2d 
931, 
933 
( A l a . 
1 9 7 7 ) ; 
E n g e l h a r d t 
v. 
 
J e n k i n s , 
273 
A l a . 
352, 
141 
So. 
2d 
193 
( 1 9 6 2 ) . " ' 
i n 
a 
v 
"Drummond Co. 
v. A l a b a m a Dep't o f T r a n s p . , 
937 
So. 
2d 
56, 
58 
( A l a . 2006) 
( q u o t i n g 
[Ex 
p a r t e 
] C a r t e r , 
395 
So. 
2d 
[65,] 
68 
[ ( A l a . 
1 9 8 0 ) ] ) 
( e m p h a s i s 
o m i t t e d ) . These a c t i o n s a r e s o m e t i m e s r e f e r r e d t o 
as 
' e x c e p t i o n s ' 
t o 
§ 
14; 
h o w e v e r , 
i n 
a c t u a l i t y 
t h e s e 
a c t i o n s 
a r e 
s i m p l y 
n o t 
c o n s i d e r e d 
t o 
be 
a c t i o n s 
' " a g a i n s t 
t h e 
S t a t e " 
f o r § 14 p u r p o s e s . ' 
P a t t e r s o n 
 
v. G l a d w i n C o r p . , 
835 
So. 
2d 
137, 
142 
( A l a . 2 0 0 2 ) . 
T h i s C o u r t has 
q u a l i f i e d t h o s e 
' e x c e p t i o n s , ' 
n o t i n g 
t h a t 
' " [ a ] n a c t i o n i s one 
a g a i n s t 
t h e 
[ S ] t a t e when 
a f a v o r a b l e 
r e s u l t 
f o r t h e 
p l a i n t i f f 
w o u l d 
d i r e c t l y 
a f f e c t 
a c o n t r a c t o r p r o p e r t y 
r i g h t o f t h e S t a t e , 
o r 
w o u l d 
r e s u l t 
i n t h e 
p l a i n t i f f ' s 
r e c o v e r y 
o f money 
f r o m t h e 
[ S ] t a t e . " ' A l a b a m a A g r i c . & Mech. U n i v . 
v. 
 
J o n e s , 
895 
So. 
2d 
8 
67 , 
873 
( A l a . 2004) 
( q u o t i n g 
S h o a l s 
Cmty. 
C o l l . 
v. 
C o l a g r o s s , 
674 
So. 
2d 
1311, 
16 
1100181 
1314 
( A l a . C i v . App. 1995)) ( e m p h a s i s added i n J o n e s ) . " 
H a r b e r t , 
990 
So. 
2d a t 839-40. 
James 
a l l e g e d 
i n 
h e r 
amended 
c o m p l a i n t 
t h a t 
t h e 
c h a l l e n g e d 
a c t i o n s o f a l l t h e d e f e n d a n t s , i n c l u d i n g t h e B o a r d 
members, "were w i l l f u l , m a l i c i o u s , 
f r a u d u l e n t , 
i n b a d 
f a i t h , 
b e y o n d 
[ t h e i r ] 
a u t h o r i t y , o r u n d e r a m i s t a k e n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n 
o f 
t h e 
l a w . " 
T h e r e f o r e , 
t h e 
B o a r d members 
a r e 
n o t 
immune 
u n d e r § 14 f r o m James's s t a t e - l a w 
c l a i m s 
i n s o f a r as James i s 
s e e k i n g 
i n j u n c t i v e 
r e l i e f 
b a s e d 
upon 
t h e 
B o a r d 
members' 
a l l e g e d 
f r a u d , 
b a d 
f a i t h , 
o r 
a c t i o n s 
t h a t were b e y o n d 
t h e 
B o a r d members' a u t h o r i t y o r t h a t were t a k e n u n d e r a m i s t a k e n 
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n 
o f 
l a w . 
We 
a l s o 
n o t e 
t h a t 
t h e 
B o a r d 
and 
i t s members 
a r e 
n o t 
immune u n d e r § 14 
f r o m t h e 
f e d e r a l - l a w 
c l a i m s 
f i l e d 
a g a i n s t 
them. 
See 
A b u s a i d 
v. 
H i l l s b o r o u g h 
C o u n t y 
Bd. 
o f 
C o u n t y 
 
Comm'rs, 
405 
F.3d 
1298, 
1315 
( 1 1 t h 
C i r . 2 
0 
0 
5 ) ( h o l d i n g 
t h a t 
" s t a t e 
s o v e r e i g n 
i m m u n i t y 
p r i n c i p l e s a r e 
no 
b a r 
t o 
§ 
1983 
c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t 
a 
c o u n t y " ) . 
F u r t h e r , 
S t a t e - a g e n t 
i m m u n i t y , 
r a i s e d by t h e 
i n d i v i d u a l l y named d e f e n d a n t s i n t h e i r summary-
j u d g m e n t m o t i o n 
s t i l l p e n d i n g b e f o r e 
t h e 
t r i a l c o u r t , b u t 
n o t 
r a i s e d 
i n 
t h i s 
a p p e a l , 
w o u l d 
n o t 
o p e r a t e 
t o 
b a r 
a c t i o n s 
17 
1100181 
a g a i n s t S t a t e a g e n t s s e e k i n g 
i n j u n c t i v e o r d e c l a r a t o r y 
r e l i e f . 
See M a t t h e w s v. A l a b a m a A g r i c . & Mech. U n i v . , 787 So. 2d 691, 
698 
( A l a . 2 0 0 0 ) ( n o t i n g 
t h a t an a c t i o n 
s e e k i n g 
i n j u n c t i v e o r 
d e c l a r a t o r y 
r e l i e f 
a g a i n s t a S t a t e a g e n t i s n o t b a r r e d by t h e 
d o c t r i n e o f S t a t e - a g e n t i m m u n i t y ) . 
Thus, we now a d d r e s s t h e 
m e r i t s o f t h e p r e l i m i n a r y i n j u n c t i o n . 
I I . 
P r e l i m i n a r y 
I n j u n c t i o n 
On 
a p p e a l , 
t h e 
B o a r d 
and 
t h e 
i n d i v i d u a l l y 
named 
d e f e n d a n t s 
a r g u e 
t h a t 
" [ t ] h e 
[ t ] r i a l 
[ c ] o u r t 
a b u s e d i t s 
d i s c r e t i o n 
when 
i t i s s u e d 
i t s [ p ] r e l i m i n a r y 
[ i ] n j u n c t i o n 
w i t h o u t any e v i d e n c e i n s u p p o r t o f i t s i s s u a n c e . " 
The B o a r d 
and 
t h e i n d i v i d u a l l y named d e f e n d a n t s ' 
b r i e f , a t p. 7. 
We 
a g r e e . 
T h i s 
C o u r t h a s h e l d 
t h a t , 
" [ u ] n d e r 
p r e v a i l i n g A l a b a m a 
l a w , [one r e q u e s t i n g a p r e l i m i n a r y i n j u n c t i o n i s ] o b l i g a t e d t o 
e s t a b l i s h 
a number o f e l e m e n t s as c o n d i t i o n s 
n e c e s s a r y t o 
s u p p o r t 
t h e 
i s s u a n c e 
o f 
a 
p r e l i m i n a r y 
i n j u n c t i o n . " 
T e l e p r o m p t e r o f M o b i l e , I n c . 
v . B a y o u C a b l e TV, 428 So. 2d 17, 
20 ( A l a . 1 9 8 3 ) . 
I n B a y o u C a b l e , 
t h i s C o u r t r e v i e w e d a 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
i s s u a n c e 
o f a p r e l i m i n a r y 
i n j u n c t i o n . 
I n r e v e r s i n g 
t h e 
t r i a l c o u r t ' s i s s u a n c e o f t h e p r e l i m i n a r y i n j u n c t i o n , t h i s 
18 
1100181 
C o u r t 
d e t e r m i n e d 
t h a t t h e p a r t y 
r e q u e s t i n g t h e p r e l i m i n a r y 
i n j u n c t i o n 
h a d 
" p r e s e n t e d 
no 
e v i d e n c e 
s u p p o r t i n g 
i t s 
c o n t e n t i o n 
t h a t i t w o u l d 
s u f f e r 
i r r e p a r a b l e i n j u r y 
i f 
t h e 
p r e l i m i n a r y i n j u n c t i o n was n o t i s s u e d . " 
I d . T h i s C o u r t h e l d 
t h a t 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
j u d g m e n t 
i s s u i n g 
a 
p r e l i m i n a r y 
i n j u n c t i o n was i n e r r o r b e c a u s e t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t h a d f a i l e d t o 
f o l l o w t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f R u l e 6 5 ( d ) ( 2 ) , A l a . 
R. C i v . 
P., and 
b e c a u s e 
" t h e r e was no e v i d e n c e o f an i r r e p a r a b l e i n j u r y o r 
l a c k o f an a d e q u a t e remedy a t l a w . " I d . 
I n t h e p r e s e n t 
c a s e , 
t h e r e i s n o t h i n g t o i n d i c a t e t h a t 
any 
e v i d e n c e h a d b e e n p r e s e n t e d 
t o t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t b e f o r e i t 
i s s u e d t h e p r e l i m i n a r y i n j u n c t i o n a g a i n s t t h e B o a r d and t h e 
i n d i v i d u a l l y named d e f e n d a n t s . 
T h e r e i s 
no t r a n s c r i p t i n 
t h e 
r e c o r d o f t h e A u g u s t 3, 2 0 1 0 , h e a r i n g a t w h i c h t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
c o n s i d e r e d 
t h e m e r i t s 
o f James's m o t i o n 
s e e k i n g 
i n j u n c t i v e 
r e l i e f . 
James d o e s , h o w e v e r , 
d e s c r i b e i n h e r b r i e f 
b e f o r e 
t h i s C o u r t t h e A u g u s t 3, 2 0 1 0 , h e a r i n g , as f o l l o w s : 
" I n t h e i n s t a n t c a s e , t h e C o u r t s e t 
a h e a r i n g on 
A u g u s t 3, 2 0 1 0 . None o f t h e D e f e n d a n t s o r 
w i t n e s s e s 
on 
t h e i r 
b e h a l f 
a p p e a r e d . D e f e n d a n t s 
f i l e d 
m o t i o n s 
t o 
c o n t i n u e t h e h e a r i n g . C o u n s e l f o r D e f e n d a n t s d i d 
a p p e a r . 
P l a i n t i f f 
a p p e a r e d w i t h 
s e v e r a l 
w i t n e s s e s , 
some o f whom e x e c u t e d 
a f f i d a v i t s 
p r o p e r l y 
p e n d i n g 
b e f o r e 
t h e 
C o u r t 
p r i o r 
t o t h e 
h e a r i n g 
on t h e 
D e f e n d a n t s ' 
M o t i o n 
t o A l t e r , 
Amend 
o r V a c a t e 
on 
19 
1100181 
S e p t e m b e r 22, 2 0 1 0 . A f t e r t h e c o u r t 
s p o k e w i t h a l l 
c o u n s e l and d e t e r m i n e d w i t h o u t o b j e c t i o n t h a t 
t h e r e 
w o u l d be no harm o r damage[] t o D e f e n d a n t s w i t h t h e 
e n t r y 
o f 
a 
[ p r e l i m i n a r y ] 
i n j u n c t i o n 
and 
t h e 
i r r e p a r a b l e harm t o t h e p l a i n t i f f was i m m i n e n t , t h e 
C o u r t 
e n t e r e d 
an o r d e r 
g r a n t i n g 
t h e 
[ p r e l i m i n a r y ] 
i n j u n c t i o n . A t t h e same t i m e , t h e C o u r t 
i n s t r u c t e d 
c o u n s e l 
t h a t t h e t e s t i m o n y on t h e m e r i t s 
w o u l d be 
h e l d on S e p t e m b e r 22, 2 0 1 0 . " 
James's b r i e f , a t pp. 34-35. 
A l t h o u g h James i n d i c a t e s 
t h a t 
she 
a p p e a r e d w i t h 
w i t n e s s e s a t t h e A u g u s t 3, 2 0 1 0 , 
h e a r i n g , 
she 
does 
n o t 
i n d i c a t e , n o r d o e s 
a n y t h i n g 
i n t h e 
r e c o r d 
i n d i c a t e , 
t h a t any o f t h o s e w i t n e s s e s 
t e s t i f i e d . 
I n s t e a d , 
James 
i n d i c a t e s 
t h a t t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
o n l y 
" s p o k e 
w i t h a l l 
c o u n s e l . " 
I n Bamberg v. Bamberg, 441 So. 2d 970 
( A l a . C i v . 
App. 
1 9 8 3 ) , t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l A p p e a l s h e l d 
t h a t 
" ' [ e ] v i d e n c e 
t h a t 
g o e s 
b e y o n d 
t h e 
u n v e r i f i e d 
a l l e g a t i o n s o f t h e p l e a d i n g s 
and m o t i o n p a p e r s must 
be 
p r e s e n t e d t o s u p p o r t o r o p p o s e a m o t i o n f o r a 
p r e l i m i n a r y 
i n j u n c t i o n . ' 11 C. W r i g h t & A. 
M i l l e r , 
F e d e r a l 
P r a c t i c e 
a n d 
P r o c e d u r e 
§ 
2949, 
a t 469 
( 1 9 7 3 ) . I n o t h e r w o r d s , a t a p r e l i m i n a r y 
i n j u n c t i o n 
h e a r i n g an u n v e r i f i e d p l e a d i n g , w i t h o u t p r o o f o f i t s 
a v e r m e n t s , i s i n s u f f i c i e n t 
i n and o f 
i t s e l f 
upon 
w h i c h 
t o 
b a s e 
t h e 
i s s u a n c e 
o f 
a 
p r e l i m i n a r y 
i n j u n c t i o n . ... W h i l e 
[ R ] u l e 65 o f t h e A l a b a m a R u l e s 
o f 
C i v i l P r o c e d u r e d o e s n o t e x p l i c i t l y 
r e q u i r e 
t h a t 
o r a l 
t e s t i m o n y 
be 
p r e s e n t e d 
a t 
a 
p r e l i m i n a r y 
i n j u n c t i o n 
h e a r i n g , 
some 
t y p e 
o f e v i d e n c e 
w h i c h 
s u b s t a n t i a t e s t h e p l e a d i n g s 
i s i m p l i c i t l y 
r e q u i r e d 
by 
s u b s e c t i o n 
( a ) ( 2 ) 
o f 
t h a t 
r u l e . 
... 
A t 
a 
p r e l i m i n a r y 
i n j u n c t i o n 
h e a r i n g , 
... 
e v i d e n c e 
may 
20 
1100181 
t a k e t h e f o r m o f a v e r i f i e d p l e a d i n g , an 
a f f i d a v i t , 
a d e p o s i t i o n , a s t i p u l a t i o n , an a d m i s s i o n , a w r i t t e n 
e x h i b i t a n d / o r o r a l t e s t i m o n y ; h o w e v e r , u n s w o r n , 
o r 
u n a f f i r m e d , 
s t a t e m e n t s 
o f 
p a r t i e s 
o r 
f a c t u a l 
a s s e r t i o n s 
and a r g u m e n t s o f c o u n s e l w o u l d n o t meet 
m u s t e r . " 
441 
So. 2d a t 971. 
I n t h e p r e s e n t c a s e , James d i d n o t 
s u b m i t 
a 
v e r i f i e d 
c o m p l a i n t 
o r 
a 
v e r i f i e d 
p r e l i m i n a r y - i n j u n c t i o n 
m o t i o n , 
and i t i s a p p a r e n t 
f r o m James's own 
d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e 
A u g u s t 3, 2010, 
h e a r i n g t h a t no e v i d e n c e was 
s u b m i t t e d t o t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
a t 
t h a t 
t i m e . 
I n s t e a d , 
James 
s t a t e s 
t h a t 
a f f i d a v i t s 
"were p r e s e n t 
a t 
t h e 
h e a r i n g 
b e f o r e 
t h e 
[ t r i a l 
c o u r t ] on A u g u s t 3, 2 0 1 0 . " 
James's b r i e f , a t p. 37. 
However, 
James 
f i r s t 
s u b m i t t e d t h o s e 
a f f i d a v i t s t o t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
on 
S e p t e m b e r 17, 
2010, 
as a t t a c h m e n t s 
t o h e r 
o p p o s i t i o n t o 
t h e 
B o a r d and t h e i n d i v i d u a l l y named d e f e n d a n t s ' 
summary-judgment 
m o t i o n 
and 
t h e 
R u l e 
5 9 ( e ) 
m o t i o n , 
and 
t h e r e 
i s n o t h i n g 
t o 
i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t e v e r c o n s i d e r e d t h o s e 
a f f i d a v i t s 
b e f o r e 
i t e n t e r e d 
t h e 
p r e l i m i n a r y i n j u n c t i o n 
on 
A u g u s t 
4, 
2010. 
A l t h o u g h 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
i n d i c a t e d 
t h a t i t was 
r e l y i n g 
upon 
i t s " c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f 
t h e 
e v i d e n c e 
and 
s u b m i s s i o n s , " 
t h e r e i s n o t h i n g i n t h e r e c o r d t o i n d i c a t e t h a t any 
e v i d e n c e 
had b e e n p r e s e n t e d when i t e n t e r e d t h e p r e l i m i n a r y i n j u n c t i o n . 
21 
1100181 
T h e r e f o r e , 
we r e v e r s e t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s j u d g m e n t i s s u i n g t h e 
p r e l i m i n a r y 
i n j u n c t i o n a g a i n s t 
t h e B o a r d t o t h e e x t e n t , i f 
any, 
t h a t t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
i s s u e d t h e p r e l i m i n a r y 
i n j u n c t i o n 
a g a i n s t t h e B o a r d b a s e d on James's f e d e r a l - l a w 
c l a i m s , and we 
r e v e r s e 
t h e 
j u d g m e n t 
i s s u i n g 
t h e 
p r e l i m i n a r y 
i n j u n c t i o n 
a g a i n s t 
t h e 
i n d i v i d u a l l y 
named 
d e f e n d a n t s 
b a s e d 
upon t h e 
c o m p l e t e l a c k o f any e v i d e n c e s u p p o r t i n g 
t h e i s s u a n c e 
o f t h e 
p r e l i m i n a r y i n j u n c t i o n . See B a y o u C a b l e , s u p r a ( r e v e r s i n g t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
j u d g m e n t 
i s s u i n g 
a 
p r e l i m i n a r y 
i n j u n c t i o n 
b e c a u s e 
" t h e r e 
was no e v i d e n c e o f an i r r e p a r a b l e i n j u r y o r 
l a c k o f an a d e q u a t e remedy a t l a w " ) ; 
I n t e r n a t i o n a l M o l d e r s &  
A l l i e d 
W o r k e r s 
U n i o n v . 
A l i c e v i l l e 
V e n e e r s D i v . , B u c h a n a n  
Lumber B i r m i n g h a m , 348 So. 2d 1385 ( A l a . 1977) (no e v i d e n c e t o 
s u s t a i n t h e e n t r y o f a p r e l i m i n a r y 
i n j u n c t i o n ) ; and Bamberg, 
s u p r a 
( r e v e r s i n g 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
j u d g m e n t 
i s s u i n g 
a 
p r e l i m i n a r y 
i n j u n c t i o n b a s e d upon t h e " c o m p l e t e 
l a c k o f any 
s u p p o r t i v e 
e v i d e n c e " ) . 
The 
B o a r d and t h e i n d i v i d u a l l y named d e f e n d a n t s 
p r e s e n t 
o t h e r 
a r g u m e n t s ; 
h o w e v e r , o u r d i s p o s i t i o n o f t h e i m m u n i t y 
i s s u e s and t h i s 
i s s u e p r e t e r m i t s any d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e o t h e r 
22 
1100181 
a r g u m e n t s 
r a i s e d by t h e B o a r d 
and t h e i n d i v i d u a l l y 
named 
d e f e n d a n t s . 
C o n c l u s i o n 
B a s e d on t h e f o r e g o i n g , i n s o f a r as t h e B o a r d i s a p p e a l i n g 
t h e e n t r y o f t h e p r e l i m i n a r y i n j u n c t i o n a g a i n s t i t 
b a s e d upon 
t h e s t a t e - l a w c l a i m s 
f i l e d by James, we d i s m i s s t h e a p p e a l f o r 
l a c k o f s u b j e c t - m a t t e r 
j u r i s d i c t i o n . 
B e c a u s e we a r e r e v e r s i n g 
t h e j u d g m e n t e n t e r i n g t h e p r e l i m i n a r y i n j u n c t i o n , we s e e no 
n e e d 
t o o r d e r 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
t o v a c a t e 
t h e p r e l i m i n a r y 
i n j u n c t i o n e n t e r e d a g a i n s t t h e B o a r d i n s o f a r as i t 
i s 
b a s e d on 
t h o s e 
c l a i m s . 
We 
a l s o 
o r d e r 
t h a t James's 
s t a t e - l a w 
c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t 
t h e B o a r d and h e r c l a i m s 
s e e k i n g 
m o n e t a r y damages 
a g a i n s t 
t h e B o a r d members i n t h e i r 
o f f i c i a l 
c a p a c i t i e s be 
d i s m i s s e d f o r l a c k o f s u b j e c t - m a t t e r 
j u r i s d i c t i o n . 
F u r t h e r , 
b e c a u s e 
t h e r e 
was n o t 
s u f f i c i e n t 
e v i d e n c e 
t o s u p p o r t i t s 
i s s u a n c e , we r e v e r s e t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s j u d g m e n t e n t e r i n g t h e 
p r e l i m i n a r y 
i n j u n c t i o n 
a g a i n s t 
t h e 
i n d i v i d u a l l y 
named 
d e f e n d a n t s a n d , i n s o f a r as t h e p r e l i m i n a r y i n j u n c t i o n a g a i n s t 
t h e B o a r d i s b a s e d upon James's f e d e r a l - l a w c l a i m s , 
a g a i n s t 
t h e 
B o a r d . 
23 
1100181 
APPEAL DISMISSED IN PART; JUDGMENT ENTERING 
PRELIMINARY 
INJUNCTION REVERSED; AND CAUSE REMANDED. 
M a l o n e , C . J . , 
a n d W o o d a l l , 
S t u a r t , 
B o l i n , 
P a r k e r , Shaw, 
M a i n , a n d W i s e , J J . , c o n c u r . 
24