Ex Parte Alabama Dept. of Finance

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.

I. Factual and Procedural Background

On July 22, 2005, the Department issued an invitation to bid for the purchase of an "Enterprise Storage Solution" and related…