Opinion ID: 2607650
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Port and Immunity

Text: The Port of Portland was established by 1891 Or Laws 791 as a separate district, to be known as The Port of Portland (Section 1), which was, among other things, to have full control of [the Willamette and Columbia Rivers] at [Portland, East Portland and Albina], and between said cities and the sea, so far and to the full extent that this State can grant the same (Section 3). While its functions have been expanded to reflect the changed commercial focus of the Pacific Northwest due to the passage of nearly a century, the Port continues to promote, inter alia, the maritime and shipping interests of the greater Portland area. ORS 778.015; see generally ORS ch 778 (establishing the Port of Portland and describing its organization, functions, and duties); see also Cook v. The Port of Portland, 20 Or. 580, 27 P. 263 (1891) (declaring the Port's organic act constitutional). Unlike cities, but like other port districts, see generally, ORS ch. 477, the Port is an instrumentality of the state government, performing state functions. Other state instrumentalities, including some in the form of municipal corporations, partake fully of the state's immunity from suit. See, e.g., Vendrell v. School District No. 26C et al, supra (recognizing application of sovereign immunity to school districts); Templeton v. Linn County, 22 Or. 313, 29 P. 795 (1892) (counties likewise immune unless action authorized by legislature); Gearin v. Marion County, 110 Or. 390, 223 P. 929 (1924) (same). The Port, being a part of the state's government, therefore is immune from suit to the same extent the state as such is immune. It follows that, contrary to the contention of plaintiff here, ORS 30.270(1)(b) does not deny plaintiff any right he has against the Port by virtue of the guarantee in Oregon Constitution Article I, section 10, because there never was such a right.