Cutler-Orosi Unified School District v. Tulare County School Districts Liability/Property Self-Insurance-Authority

Opinion

DIBIASO, J.

We are required by this case to decide whether public school districts sued in actions seeking declaratory and injunctive relief under the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. § 1973 et seq.) are entitled to a defense provided by their insurance carrier pursuant to liability policies covering “all sums which the Insured shall become obligated to pay as damages ... by reason of the liability imposed by law” (italics added). In particular, the issues before us include whether the costs of complying with a mandatory injunction or the costs of reimbursing the voting…