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Keywords

lawsuittortplaintiffdamagesappealsustainedsovereign immunity

tortdamagesappealrespondent

Related Cases

Nevada v. Hall, 440 U.S. 410, 99 S.Ct. 1182, 59 L.Ed.2d 416

Facts

The plaintiffs, California residents, were involved in a collision on a California highway with a vehicle driven by an employee of the University of Nevada, which is an instrumentality of the State of Nevada. The driver of the Nevada vehicle was killed in the accident, and the plaintiffs sustained severe injuries. They filed a lawsuit in California against the State of Nevada and the University, seeking damages for their injuries. The California courts ultimately ruled that Nevada was subject to suit in California, leading to a jury award of $1,150,000 in damages.

The respondents are California residents. They suffered severe injuries in an automobile collision on a California highway on May 13, 1968. The driver of the other vehicle, an employee of the University of Nevada, was killed in the collision.

Issue

Whether the State of Nevada can claim immunity from suit in a California court for damages arising from a tort committed by its employee in California.

Whether a State may claim immunity from suit in the courts of another State.

Rule

A state is not constitutionally immune from suit in the courts of another state, and the Full Faith and Credit Clause does not require a state to apply another state's law in violation of its own legitimate public policy.

A State is not constitutionally immune from suit in the courts of another State.

Analysis

The Supreme Court analyzed the principles of sovereign immunity and the Full Faith and Credit Clause, concluding that Nevada's claim of immunity did not hold in California courts. The Court emphasized that the doctrine of sovereign immunity applies only to a state's own courts and does not extend to the courts of another state. California's policy of allowing full compensation for injuries sustained on its highways was deemed legitimate and not in violation of Nevada's statutory limitations.

The opinion in The Schooner Exchange makes clear that if California and Nevada were independent and completely sovereign nations, Nevada's claim of immunity from suit in California's courts would be answered by reference to the law of California.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the California Court of Appeal, ruling that the State of Nevada could not claim immunity from suit in California courts.

The judgment of the California Court of Appeal is affirmed.

Who won?

The plaintiffs, California residents, prevailed in the case because the court ruled that Nevada could not claim immunity from suit in California, allowing them to recover full damages for their injuries.

The Court, in a plausible opinion, holds that the State of Nevada is subject to an unconsented suit in a California state court for damages in tort.

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