Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Over South Dakota Mine Sinkholes

South Dakota judge rules state has sovereign immunity, plaintiffs to appeal to Supreme Court.

Circuit Court Judge Eric J. Strawn dismissed the lawsuit citing the state's sovereign immunity.
The lawsuit was filed by residents of Hideaway Hills, whose homes are affected by sinkholes linked to an old underground mine.
Plaintiffs argue that the state's mining activities and closure methods created conditions for sinkholes and that the state failed to disclose these risks.
The lawsuit, originally filed in 2020, involves approximately 150 neighbors seeking $45 million in damages.
The plaintiffs plan to appeal the decision to the South Dakota Supreme Court, aiming to clarify the legal theory behind their claims.