Digital Commons Network^™

The Uncertain Status Of The Puerto Rico Ports Authority: Working Towards A Uniform Arm-Of-The-State Test, Jessica Landry Wildeus

Law Student Publications

Many port authorities are allocated special status and therefore partake in the parent state’s Eleventh Amendment immunity as effective arms-of-the-state. This serves several important policy goals, yet the precedent surrounding the arm-of-the-state test is muddled. This results in different tests and standards, depending on the court hearing the case, leading to different results for different entities. The Port Authority of Puerto Rico (“PRPA”) is in an especially vulnerable situation, due to its dual function as a governmental and corporate entity. The unclear status of what role the function of an entity should play in determining its status under the Eleventh …