Southern Bridge Co. v. Department of Highways

WEST, Chief Judge:

The question presented here is whether or not the Louisiana Department of Highways is, as a matter of law, the alter ego of the State of Louisiana, and as such able to avail itself of Eleventh Amendment immunity from a federal diversity suit brought against it by a corporate citizen of Texas. We think not. The Louisiana Department of Highways is a corporate entity separate and distinct from the State which it serves, and is thus clearly susceptible to a federal court action founded on diversity of citizenship.

The record herein reflects that plaintiff, Southern Bridge…