HomeMy Public PortalAbout2009_10_27_R128 - Opposing Legislation which Reduces Soveriegn Immunityr~ ,
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GG'iIIi.REAS; rit is the position ofthe I,eesburg'Po~ =n'Councilthat ttie General tlssetnbl}°
slzoald }zot expand klie Tae t Claims Act as zeconvnetlded bj%'the Boyd:-Graves ~c~IZfereriee; ani
WIILIL1sAS, the cansetTilences of expanding the Tort Claims .Act certilcl hai%e widespread
al7ct potentially harmful efi'ectson ourlocai gavei~nments and the coint7urnities (icy server the
nziture acid estent cif these effects is uliktlvivn, slid tl7e uncertainty associated tvft7 such a change;
by itself, eouid be detrimental; and
GGjHEREIIS, current Vli•~inia lait% alloyvs prakectiota for n7ost local goveriilnent activity
alzd they Iirtsenlly fine( some tlegrec of protection in sovereign innnuisity and rclated jnc(Icial
clc3cn•ines: and
GVI~I;RI3AS, ei%ery co~t7[y, city, <Intl to~Gm itz V irgnia wattld be sttbjeet to liability for
oi`dinary negligence<in virtually ail of ftir aetii=ities of localgovernment including, butIiot
liiz7ited to: law ezifot~cel77eni, emergent}% services,streets and sidewalks, water, storm and
Sanltdt'y SF;Vl et'S, tt'atlle C(>S7t2'41., 131aYininga27d LO11inL'„ 6pe1'atEC}n Qf 13Ub11C tiUlldings and Veh4Glf;S
In \'al7olls fbrnls of public USe and SeA1%Iee~ anti
GUHEREA~, tl7e financial consegl~enees lvould be dettitnental to the to'fhe `I?own, even
with a caprst7 liability, the potential fornew claims is vast as'is the cost foie additional defense
anal insurance epehditlEres; and
WIIkIREAS, fl7e C4ztmcil urges the Towli's a~epreselitatives intl7e {}eneral Assenzbiy aticl
the House of'I)elebates iQ oppose il7e i•eeomniendations c3fthe Boy<I-drat%es e~nlerence and
A RESOLUTION: OPPOSING ANY LEGISLATION WHICH REDUCES SOVEREIGN
IMMUNITY
oppose any legislation that would diminish sovereign immunity as presently enjoyed by the
Town.
THEREFORE, RESOLVF,D by the Council of the Town of Leesburg in Virginia that it
strongly opposes any legislation which reduces the protection of sovereign immunity.
PASSED this 27°i day of October, 2009.
I{nst C. U stattd, Mayor
Town of Leesburg
1
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Clerk of Co pc11
P:U2esolulionsU2esolutions 2009\1027 Sovereign Immnniq•.doc 10/28(09