Georgia Department of Natural Resources v. Center for a Sustainable Coast, Inc.

Hunstein, Justice.

We granted certiorari in this case to determine whether the doctrine of sovereign immunity presents a bar to injunctive relief at common law. For the reasons set forth below, we find that sovereign immunity bars injunctive relief against the State at common law, and therefore, we overrule Intl. Business Machines Corp. v. Evans, 265 Ga. 215 (453 SE2d 706) (1995).

On April 5, 2011, Appellees Center for a Sustainable Coast, Inc., David R. Egan, and Melinda A. Egan (collectively, “the Center”) filed a declaratory judgment suit against Appellants Georgia Department of Natural…