Court Opinion

ID: 9658025
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 20:44:37.964386+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:13:50.762372
License: Public Domain

Because I find the query regarding an unspecified procedure for the payment of claims to be too vague to respond to, I cannot join in that part of the opinion. Monies for the payment of claims is antithetical to the concept of sovereign immunity-
In High Grade Oil v. Sommer, 295 N.W.2d 736, 739 (S.D.1980), we said that payment of insurance premiums for state liability coverage did not waive sovereign immunity because there was no legislative authorization. In High Grade Oil, the state was simply paying premiums to insurance companies who merely came into court and raised the defense of sovereign immunity. Here, there is a suggestion that the executive department is willing to use funds from some unknown source to pay claims directly. This smacks of a tort claims procedure which, if it is funded by legislative action, could well constitute a waiver of sovereign immunity. I would have to know more about this scheme and the source of the funds before I could knowledgeably answer the question. In all other respects, I concur in the opinion.
ROBERT E. MORGAN
Associate Justice