Privacy, union issues, collective bargaining.

Officials at Amoco Oil petition for an order to a lower court, forcing the jurisdiction to rule on a dispute with a union representing company workers. The union filed suit against Amoco after learning the company had installed a remote video camera to record the entrance of a washroom facility used by female employees. The company installed the camera after receiving several reports that a male supervisor and a female employee were seen entering the washroom together. Company officials positioned the camera to record who entered the washroom and at what time. The camera could not record what was happening inside the washroom. The union filed suit, claiming the company's action violated state privacy laws. The company successfully motioned to move the case to a federal court, arguing the issue centered on the interpretation of an existing collective bargaining agreement. The union filed a motion to remand the case to a state court.

A U.S. District Court rejected the union's motion to remand the case to a state court. Amoco officials then filed a motion for summary judgment. The court rejected the motion, stating it lacked jurisdiction over the case. Amoco officials now appeal.

Amoco loses. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit rejected Amoco's petition to force the lower court to issue a ruling in the dispute. The appeals court stated it would be inappropriate to force the lower court to rule on what amounted to a procedure issue.