Alaska Employment Law

Alaska Employment Law covers employment and labor law in Alaska state and federal courts. Posts appear daily, except Sundays.

Author: William Schendel is a solo practitioner in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Blawg Related Categories: Labor & Employment • States • Alaska • Solo / Small Firm

Recent Posts from Alaska Employment Law

The Weekend: Revanche, The Film
In Revanche, a gritty little Austrian movie (with subtitles) that was nominated for an Academy Award last year in the foreign language film category, Alex lugs crates of beer and watches over the prostitutes in…
The Proposed Arbitration Fairness Act of 2009
Sen. Russ Feingold (D.Wis) has introduced the Arbitration Fairness Act of 2009 (S931), in reaction to the 14 Penn Plaza v. Pyett opinion. It would amend the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 USC § 1, et…
USSCt: New Affirmative Action Guidelines
Introduction Reversing a “wise Latina judge,” the United States Supreme Court concluded its 2008-09 Term on June 29, 2009, by issuing its long-awaited affirmative action opinion in Ricci v. DeStefano, et al., ___ U.S. ___…
USSCt: The New Haven Firefighters Case
Here’s the opinion from this Monday morning. AEL’s Gregory Fisher will have an analysis shortly. In the meantime, go to Volokh Conspiracy for commentary.
The Weekend: Elmore Leonard’s Hot Kid
I wish I could warm up to Elmore Leonard. I’ve tried. I read Get Shorty a few years ago (after the film version), and I thought it was confusing and oddly uninvolving. But everyone likes…
USSCt: No Mixed Motive Theory in ADEA Cases
Introduction In a somewhat surprising opinion, the United States Supreme Court recently held that a mixed-motive instruction is never appropriate in an age discrimination case. The case is Gross v. FBL Financial Services, Inc., ___…
Alaska Legal Miscellanea: SSN Privacy, OSHA, Crack Cocaine, and Charles Ponzi
New Alaska law on release of SSNs: Effective July 1, 2009, Alaska will bar employers (and others) from some disclosures of Social Security Numbers to third parties. AS 45.48.430 -.480 (ch 92 SLA 2008). The statute creates…
WESTLAW Publishing Criteria
Over the last couple years of reviewing opinions from the District of Alaska, I’ve been frequently puzzled by several phenomena on WESTLAW. WESTLAW publishes some, but not all lengthy substantive orders of apparent equal importance. Sometimes…
DAlaska: In Kott, Sedwick Appoints Counsel and Issues Protective Order
On remand from the 9th Circuit, after the Department of Justice’s “remarkable” mishandling of discovery, U. S. District Judge John Sedwick has appointed former state Representative Peter Kott counsel at public expense, and barred public disclosure of material…
9th Cir: Teacher’s Blog About Work Gets No Constitutional Respect
A public school teacher working as a “curriculum specialist” and “instructional coach” blogged about her mentees. When the District found out about the blog, it transferred her to a classroom teaching position. The employee sued…