What does the waiver of sovereign immunity allow individuals to do?

The waiver of sovereign immunity allows individuals to sue government entities in certain cases. Sovereign immunity is a legal doctrine that protects governments from being sued without their consent. However, many jurisdictions have enacted laws or established policies that allow for specific exceptions to this doctrine, enabling individuals to bring lawsuits against government entities under certain circumstances.

This legal framework is crucial because it ensures that individuals can seek redress for wrongs committed by the government, but it also provides protection to the government from being overwhelmed by lawsuits. The conditions under which a government entity can be sued are usually defined by statute, which may outline specific areas, such as personal injury, property damage, or wrongful actions taken by government officials.

This ensures that the public still has a path to accountability, while respecting the unique position of government entities. Other options either overstate the breadth of this waiver or misrepresent its function, as there are limitations and specific requirements that must be met before a lawsuit can proceed against a government entity.