View Summary
MARTIN D. COLLINGS, Plaintiff-Appellant,
vs.
LONGVIEW FIBRE COMPANY, Defendant-Appellee. RICHARD JAMES BEAMER; JAMES C. BANES; JAMES MILLER; MICHAEL SHAY; GUY YEAGER; BILLY R. STAGGS; BARRY J. REEVES, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. LONGVIEW FIBRE COMPANY, Defendant-Appellee.
Click Here to Read the Full Case Summary
Issues:
American with Disabilities Act, policy and procedure, marijuana.
Case Summary:
Martin Collings and other former employees of the Longview Fibre Company appeal a lower court's ruling concerning their suit against the company. The employees were dismissed from the company following an investigation of drug use on company property. The employees claimed their drug activity confirmed their physical addictions to drugs. They filed suit and contend the company violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by dismissing them for being addicted to drugs. The company responded with a motion for summary judgment.
Decision of lower jurisdiction:
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington granted the company's motion for summary judgment. The court ruled that the company dismissed the employees because of their misconduct, not their drug addictions. The employees now appeal.
Outcome:
The employees lose. The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed the ruling of the lower jurisdiction. The court noted the employees voluntarily acknowledged their own misconduct and failed to submit evidence supporting their claims against the company.