The Alabama Department of Finance ("the Department") petitions this Court for a writ of mandamus instructing the Madison Circuit Court to grant its motion to dismiss or, in the alternative, for a summary judgment, or, failing that, to grant its motion to transfer the case to the Montgomery Circuit Court. For the reasons stated herein, we grant the petition and instruct the trial court to dismiss the Department from the case.
GTSI shipped the purchased equipment to the Department in Montgomery. GTSI then arranged for one of the items delivered to the Department, the StorEdge 9985, to be shipped from Montgomery to the Alabama Supercomputer Authority in Huntsville. At some point, either during shipment to or unloading at Huntsville, the StorEdge 9985 was damaged to such an extent that it was rendered unusable. Because of this damage, the Department refused to pay for the StorEdge 9985. In response, GTSI filed a petition for a writ of mandamus in the Madison Circuit Court, seeking an order from that court requiring the Department to pay for the StorEdge 9985.
On February 1, 2007, the Department filed in the Madison Circuit Court a motion to dismiss or, in the alternative, for a summary judgment, arguing that the Department was entitled to sovereign immunity. On February 2, 2007, the Department filed a motion to transfer the case to the Montgomery Circuit Court, arguing that actions against State agencies must be filed in Montgomery County. On July 6, 2007, the trial court entered an order, stating, in part:
*1256"This cause came before the Court on the 7th day of June, 2007, for a hearing on all pending motions. Having considered the pleadings, the responses and briefs thereto, and the arguments and representations of counsel, and after careful review of all relevant and applicable law, it is ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED as follows:
"1. The defendant's Motion to Transfer Venue is denied.
". . . .
"3. Within sixty (60) days, the parties shall concur and submit a joint scheduling order for entry by this Court.
"4. This matter is hereby set for trial on the 5th day of May, 2008, at 9:30 a.m. in Courtroom #6 of the Madison County Courthouse."
Although the trial court's order did not explicitly reference the motion to dismiss or, in the alternative, for a summary judgment, we will treat that motion as having been denied, given that the trial court's order indicated that the motion was considered, that it was not granted, that the parties were ordered to submit a scheduling order, and that the case was set for trial.
On July 24, 2007, GTSI amended its mandamus petition by adding as a respondent James Allen Main in his capacity as the State Finance Director and director of the Department. On August 17, 2007, the Department filed the presently pending petition for a writ of mandamus with this Court. The relief sought therein relates to the Department only; Main did not join the petition, and no relief is sought on his behalf.
"The denial of a motion for a summary judgment or of a motion to dismiss grounded on immunity is reviewable by a petition for a writ of mandamus. Ex parte Rizk,
, 791 So.2d 911 912 (Ala. 2000). Ex parte Haralson,, 853 So.2d 928 931 n. 2 (Ala. 2003) (`The denial of a motion to dismiss or a motion for a summary judgment generally is not reviewable by a petition for writ of mandamus, subject to certain narrow exceptions, such as the issue of immunity. Ex parte Liberty Nat'l Life Ins. Co.,, 825 So.2d 758 761-62 (Ala. 2002).'). This Court has stated:"`A writ of mandamus is an extraordinary remedy available only when there is: "(1) a clear legal right to the order sought; (2) an imperative duty upon the respondent to perform, accompanied by a refusal to do so; (3) the lack of another adequate remedy; and (4) the properly invoked jurisdiction of the court." Ex parte BOC Group, Inc.,
, 823 So.2d 1270 1272 (Ala. 2001).'"Ex parte Nall,
, 879 So.2d 541 543 (Ala. 2003)."
Section 14 provides "[t]hat the State of Alabama shall never be made a defendant in any court of law or equity." "Under § 14, the State and its agencies are absolutely immune from suit."Lyons v. River Road Constr., Inc.,
GTSI argues that, notwithstanding sovereign immunity, an agency of the State is subject to suit for the payment of goods and services it has accepted under a contract. GTSI argues that, under the circumstances present in this case, it "may properly pursue its claims through a Petition for the Writ of Mandamus against the Department of Finance," and that "the doctrine of sovereign immunity is not a defense to the Petition brought by GTSI."
GTSI is correct when it argues that certain actions are not barred by § 14. There are six general categories of *1257
actions that do not come within the prohibition of § 14: (1) actions brought to compel State officials to perform their legal duties; (2) actions brought to enjoin State officials from enforcing an unconstitutional law; (3) actions to compel State officials to perform ministerial acts; (4) actions brought against State officials under the Declaratory Judgments Act, Ala. Code 1975, §
Actions against the State or against State agencies are absolutely barred by § 14. As a result, the Department is entitled to the relief it seeks from this Court in the form of an order directing the trial court to dismiss it from this action.
MOTION TO STRIKE GRANTED; PETITION GRANTED; WRIT ISSUED.
COBB, C.J., and LYONS, STUART, and BOLIN, JJ., concur.