Marijuana, drug testing, disparate treatment, discrimination, union issues, arbitration.

Calvin Grooms, a former employee of Wiregrass Electric Cooperative, Inc., files suit against the company for discrimination and wrongful termination. Grooms, a heavy equipment operator, was discharged after he posted a positive result for marijuana in a mandatory drug test. Grooms also filed suit against officials with the union that represented him at the company. Grooms contends the union failed to adequately represent him when it refused to petition for an arbitration hearing on his behalf. The company and the union responded with motions for summary judgment.

This is the first judicial review of this case.

A split decision. The United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama granted the motions for summary judgment that were filed by the company and the union. However, the court ruled the case could go forward on Grooms' discrimination complaint against the company.