sovereign immunity

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge denied the Pasadena Unified School District's request for an injunction to block enforcement of the City of Pasadena's tree protection ordinance during an ongoing lawsuit. The district argued it has sovereign immunity from local zoning regulations but did not receive a temporary restraining order.

Former President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores will face a June 1 trial in the U.S. on drug trafficking charges. Their lawyers are challenging the indictment's legality, arguing the U.S. military's seizure of them was unlawful.

Virginia Beach city officials denied lost profit claims from Oceanfront businesses impacted by a temporary curfew, citing Virginia Code and sovereign immunity as legal justifications. The curfew, approved by the Virginia Beach City Council on April 16, was implemented as a temporary measure.

Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a bill that would have increased damages caps in negligence lawsuits against government entities from $200,000 per individual and $300,000 per incident to $350,000 and $500,000, respectively. The veto was supported by a coalition of organizations including the Florida League of Cities and others, who argued the bill would increase government costs and burdens.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis must decide by June 30 whether to sign or veto HB 145, a bill raising sovereign immunity caps for negligence lawsuits. The legislation faces opposition from education groups citing financial risks to school districts and support from the Florida Justice Association, which represents trial attorneys. DeSantis has previously vetoed similar bills backed by the trial bar group.