Opinion ID: 1101570
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Action Seeking a Declaratory Judgment

Text: State immunity does not bar [a]ctions brought under the Declaratory Judgments Act, [§ 6-6-22 et seq., Ala. Code 1975,] seeking construction of a statute and how it should be applied in a given situation. Aland v. Graham, 287 Ala. 226, 230, 250 So.2d 677, 679 (1971); Curry v. Woodstock Slag Corp., 242 Ala. 379, 381, 6 So.2d 479, 480-81 (1942) (an action seeking to construe the law and direct the parties to what is required of them under a given set of facts does not violate the doctrine of State immunity); § 6-6-222, Ala.Code 1975. River Road contends that by filing this action it is seeking to determine its rights relative to the statutory powers granted the port authority and its director in the applicable sections of Title 33, Code of Alabama 1975. See §§ 33-1-12 and -12.1. Lyons argues that River Road does not seek a declaration of rights under a statute and of how the statute should be applied, but instead seeks a declaration that the State should compensate River Road for its unforeseen expenses on the dredging project and an injunction to enforce that declaration. Lyons contends that River Road is attempting to characterize its claim as a declaratory-judgment action, when it is nothing more than an action for damages. We agree. In Curry, supra, this Court described an action seeking a declaratory judgment: Considering the true nature of a suit which is declaratory of controversial rights and seeks no other relief, but only prays for guidance both to complainant and the State officers trying to enforce the law so as to prevent them from making injurious mistakes through an honest interpretation of the law, and thereby control the individual conduct of the parties, albeit some of them may be acting for the State, it is our opinion that a suit between such parties for such relief alone does not violate section 14 of the Constitution. 242 Ala. at 381, 6 So.2d at 481. River Road is asking this Court to order the State to pay it $1,108,944 from the State treasury. As previously noted, no statute requires this payment. Moreover, River Road's argument that its claim falls within the ambit of the Declaratory Judgment Act because it seeks a determination as to the construction and application of the law as it applies to River Road's rights arising under a contract is unconvincing. No contract exists between the State and River Road to construe. River Road's action will not prevent a mistaken interpretation of the law because River Road has presented no law to interpret. See Curry, 242 Ala. at 381, 6 So.2d at 481. The cases cited by River Road also fail to support its proposition that its action seeks only a declaration of its rights. See, e.g., Snow v. Abernathy, 331 So.2d 626, 631 (Ala.1976) (determining the proper recipient of the decedent's State retirement benefits); Gunter, supra, 414 So.2d at 49 (addressing the constitutionality of House and Senate resolutions specifically requiring payment by the State of expenses incurred by a former lieutenant governor); Unzicker v. State, 346 So.2d 931 (Ala.1977) (allowing an action against State officials when the plaintiffs alleged that the State officers acted beyond their authority ).