Opinion ID: 1937341
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Declaratory and Permanent Injunctive Relief

Text: In addition to his claims for compensatory damages and back wages, Latham seeks declaratory and injunctive relief. Specifically, Latham seeks a judgment declaring that DOC and ACI do not have the authority to contract inmate labor to a private company such as Wilson, and he seeks to enjoin DOC, ACI, Campbell, and Carter from continuing to require prisoners to work under contracts that provide prison-made goods to private companies. There are four exceptions to sovereign immunity. A state official is not immune from an action that (1) seeks to compel a state official to perform his or her legal duties, (2) seeks to enjoin a state official from enforcing unconstitutional laws, (3) seeks to compel a state official to perform ministerial acts, or (4) seeks a declaration under the Declaratory Judgments Act, § 6-6-220 et seq., Ala.Code 1975, construing a statute and applying it in a given situation. Jones, 895 So.2d at 873. Latham's claims for declaratory and injunctive relief are not barred by the doctrine of sovereign immunity; however, for the reasons discussed below, we do not reach the merits of Latham's argument that he is entitled to that relief.