According to Executive Branch Legal Consultant Cesar Pina Toribio, the state cannot be sued in reference to the case filed by two airlines that used to operate from Herrera International Airport and are seeking RD$70 million in damages (see DR1 Daily News 9 March 2006), as reported by Listin Diario. For his part, Airport Department Director Andres Vanderhorst said that he was surprised by the lawsuit because the two companies have not been denied the withdrawal of the equipment they installed at the terminal and because they were informed well in advance that they would have to move.