{ "id": 8717719, "name": "David SOLOMON, et al. v. VALCO, INC.", "name_abbreviation": "Solomon v. Valco, Inc.", "decision_date": "1986-01-27", "docket_number": "85-202", "first_page": "106", "last_page": "108", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "288 Ark. 106" }, { "type": "parallel", "cite": "702 S.W.2d 6" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ark.", "id": 8808, "name": "Arkansas Supreme Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 34, "name_long": "Arkansas", "name": "Ark." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "254 Ark. 624", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1624055 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1973, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/254/0624-01" ] }, { "cite": "256 Ark. 930", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 8725938 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1974, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/256/0930-01" ] }, { "cite": "221 Ark. 537", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1656483 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1953, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/221/0537-01" ] }, { "cite": "63 S.W.2d 993", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "year": 1933, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "187 Ark. 1055", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1432001 ], "year": 1933, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/187/1055-01" ] }, { "cite": "206 Ark. 51", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1485094 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1943, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/206/0051-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 252, "char_count": 3142, "ocr_confidence": 0.925, "pagerank": { "raw": 9.539034420656209e-08, "percentile": 0.5248232618967361 }, "sha256": "0fd0f1a43059656b38bf70ff0dc0d138d84c8ced51e79760d28b690145744195", "simhash": "1:ab5c36e7182dcc8a", "word_count": 515 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T22:45:27.788923+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Purtle, J., not participating." ], "parties": [ "David SOLOMON, et al. v. VALCO, INC." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Darrell Hickman, Justice.\nThe decision is reversed because this is a suit against the state, and the chancery court had no jurisdiction.\nValeo contracted with the Arkansas Highway Commission to improve about one mile of Highway 71 in Scott County. The contract called for the removal of several existing bridge structures. After Valeo obtained the contract, a dispute arose regarding the removal of two bridges, one over Fouche LaFave River and the other over Fouche LaFave Relief. Valeo insisted it was not in the contract to remove these two bridges. The chief engineer for the Highway Commission ruled pursuant to the contract, that Valeo had to remove the bridges.\nValeo filed a suit in the Pulaski County Chancery Court against the Arkansas Highway Commission\u2019s chief engineer, a former member of the commission and the director of the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department to enjoin the Highway Commission from requiring the removal of the bridges. Contemporaneously, a claim was filed by Valeo with the state\u2019s Claims Commission for compensation for the work.\nThe chancellor found the contract ambiguous regarding the two bridges, ruled that the chief engineer was arbitrary in resolving the matter against Valeo and issued the injunction. We only need to address the question of jurisdiction. This was simply a suit against the state, prohibited by the Ark. Const. Art. 5 \u00a7 20, which provides: \u201cThe State of Arkansas shall never be made defendant in any of her courts.\u201d The fact that the state Highway Department director, commission board members, and chief engineer were named parties instead of the state itself is not determinative of whether the state is the defendant. We look beyond the named parties to see if the real claim is against the state. McCain v. Crossett Timber Co., 206 Ark. 51, 174 S.W.2d 114 (1943). Obviously, the issue here is the business of the state and the defendants, though individuals, were named in their official capacities.\nAnother factor is whether the suit directly or indirectly coerces the state. Watson v. Dodge, 187 Ark. 1055, 63 S.W.2d 993 (1933). This j udgment directly orders the state not to enforce its contract.\nExceptions to the rule prohibiting suits against the state are few. Two instances which are not considered suits against the state are when an agency or officer acts illegally or ultra vires, which means beyond the agency\u2019s or officer\u2019s legal power or authority. Federal Compress & Warehouse Co. v. Call, 221 Ark. 537, 254 S.W.2d 319 (1953); Ark. Game & Fish Comm. v. Eubank, 256 Ark. 930, 512 S.W.2d 540 (1974). Condemnation cases are also not considered suits against the state. Ark. Highway Comm. v. Flake, 254 Ark. 624, 495 S.W.2d 855 (1973).\nThis suit is not within any of these or other exceptions; it is simply a suit directly against the state which is prohibited by the constitution.\nReversed and dismissed.\nPurtle, J., not participating.", "type": "majority", "author": "Darrell Hickman, Justice." } ], "attorneys": [ "Thomas B. Keys, Chris O. Parker and Robert L. Wilson, for appellant.", "Huey & Vittitow, for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "David SOLOMON, et al. v. VALCO, INC.\n85-202\n702 S.W.2d 6\nSupreme Court of Arkansas\nOpinion delivered January 27, 1986\nThomas B. Keys, Chris O. Parker and Robert L. Wilson, for appellant.\nHuey & Vittitow, for appellee." }, "file_name": "0106-01", "first_page_order": 132, "last_page_order": 134 }