Opinion ID: 1383975
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Waiver by The Declaratory Judgment Act

Text: IT-Davy further claims that the Declaratory Judgment Act (DJA) waives the TNRCC's sovereign immunity from suit. IT-Davy sought declaratory relief, asking the trial court to determine its rights and status, and the TNRCC's legal obligations, under the contract. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.Code § 37.004(a). More specifically, IT-Davy asked the trial court to declare that IT-Davy performed additional work and incurred additional expenses beyond the contract's scope, and thus, the TNRCC owed IT-Davy more money. IT-Davy relies on Leeper to assert that the DJA waives the State's immunity from both suit and liability. See Leeper, 893 S.W.2d at 446. In response, the TNRCC argues that the DJA does not authorize private parties to sue the State for money damages. Further, the TNRCC contends that IT-Davy's DJA claim is merely an attempt to confer jurisdiction on the trial court to decide the breach-of-contract claim. We agree. IT-Davy misplaces its reliance on Leeper. In Leeper, home-school parents and curriculum providers brought a class-action suit against state officials, challenging the Texas Education Agency's construction of the compulsory school-attendance law. Leeper, 893 S.W.2d at 432. They sought a declaration that the compulsory attendance law's private-school exemption includes home-schooled children, and therefore, the home-school parents could not be prosecuted for keeping their children home. We determined that the DJA expressly allows persons to challenge ordinances or statutes. Leeper, 893 S.W.2d at 446. Moreover, the DJA requires challengers to join governmental entities in suits to construe legislative pronouncements, and the DJA authorizes awarding attorneys' fees. Leeper, 893 S.W.2d at 446. Accordingly, we held that the DJA necessarily waives governmental immunity for attorneys' fees in suits to construe legislative pronouncements. Leeper, 893 S.W.2d at 446. However, Leeper's limited waiver does not allow private parties to sue the State for money damages under the DJA. And IT-Davy is not asking the trial court to construe a legislative enactment. Rather, it is seeking a declaratory judgment only in an attempt to have the trial court decide its breach-of-contract claim. Thus, we conclude IT-Davy's request for declaratory relief does not waive the TNRCC's sovereign immunity from suit and cannot be maintained without legislative consent. See Federal Sign, 951 S.W.2d at 404; Dodgen, 308 S.W.2d at 840.