Alaska Employment Law

Holland on Section 1981:  A 9th Circuit panel has reviewed several rulings issued by U. S. District Judge Judge Russel Holland (sitting in the District of Arizona) on employment claims asserted under 42 USC § 1981.  The panel held, first, that Holland erred in not applying the four-year statute of limitations provided by 28 USC § 1658, where, as here, the § 1981 claim was a wrongful discharge claim that was made possible only by the 1991 civil rights amendments.  The panel, second, affirmed  Holland’s ruling that § 1981 doesn’t provide a cause of action against an arm of the state (here a state university).  Claims against university employees in their individual capacities, however, may be pursued.  Elmatboly v. Arizona State University, 2008 WL _______ (9th Cir. Oct. 27, 2008)(unpub.)

At other Alaskan blawgs:  Michael Moody writes on preemption immunity for manufacturers of defective products, at Alaska Injury Law Blog.  And Peggy Roston writes on “Your Home, Your Divorce and The Economy at her Alaska Divorce Blog.