Sidley Wins Landmark Ruling: Port Authority No Longer Shielded by Sovereign Immunity in Federal Court

Sidley achieved a breakthrough appellate win that fundamentally alters how the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey — and similar bistate agencies — can be sued. In Baroni v. Port Authority, the Second Circuit took the unusual step of issuing a “mini en banc” ruling to reverse its own long-standing precedent and strip the Port Authority of the sovereign immunity shield it has long used to avoid state-law claims in federal court.

The court made clear that the Port Authority and other compact entities, which are “not cloaked with the sovereign immunity that a State enjoys,” have no immunity from state-law claims in federal court, even if they would in state court, a ruling that significantly strengthens the ability of litigants to bring such claims.

The Sidley team representing Baroni included partners Michael A. Levy, Christopher M. Egleson, and Michael D. Mann, as well as senior managing associate Danica L. Muir, and managing associates Alyssa M. Hasbrouck, Norman M. Hobbie Jr., and James R. Horner.

Mike, Chris, and Michael were named Runners-Up for “Litigator of the Week” by The American Lawyer Litigation Daily.