SmartBrief
Confirm favorite deletion?
Dispute Resolution Keyed to Menkel-Meadow, 3rd Ed.
Eastern Associated Coal Corp. v. United Mine Workers, District 17
Citation:
531 U.S. 57 (2000)Facts
James Smith worked for Eastern Associated Coal Corp. as a member of a road crew, driving heavy vehicles on public highways. As a commercial driver, Smith was subject to Department of Transportation regulations requiring random drug testing. In March 1996, Smith tested positive for marijuana, and Eastern sought to discharge him. The union contested this action through arbitration, and the arbitrator ordered Smith’s reinstatement with conditions including a 30-day suspension, participation in a substance-abuse program, and ongoing drug testing. Between April 1996 and January 1997, Smith passed four random drug tests, but in July 1997, he again tested positive for marijuana. Eastern again sought to discharge Smith, but the arbitrator ordered reinstatement with stricter conditions, including a three-month suspension, payment of arbitration costs, continued substance-abuse treatment, continued drug testing, and a signed resignation letter that would take effect if Smith tested positive again within five years. The arbitrator cited Smith’s 17-year good employment record and personal circumstances as mitigating factors. Eastern challenged the award in federal court, arguing it violated public policy against allowing drug users to operate dangerous machinery.
Only StudyBuddy Pro offers the complete Case Brief Anatomy*
Access the most important case brief elements for optimal case understanding.
*Case Brief Anatomy includes: Brief Prologue, Complete Case Brief, Brief Epilogue
- The Brief Prologue provides necessary case brief introductory information and includes:
Topic:
Identifies the topic of law and where this case fits within your course outline.Parties:
Identifies the cast of characters involved in the case.Procedural Posture & History:
Shares the case history with how lower courts have ruled on the matter.Case Key Terms, Acts, Doctrines, etc.:
A case specific Legal Term Dictionary.Case Doctrines, Acts, Statutes, Amendments and Treatises:
Identifies and Defines Legal Authority used in this case.
- The Case Brief is the complete case summarized and authored in the traditional Law School I.R.A.C. format. The Pro case brief includes:
Brief Facts:
A Synopsis of the Facts of the case.Rule of Law:
Identifies the Legal Principle the Court used in deciding the case.Facts:
What are the factual circumstances that gave rise to the civil or criminal case? What is the relationship of the Parties that are involved in the case.Issue(s):
Lists the Questions of Law that are raised by the Facts of the case.Holding:
Shares the Court's answer to the legal questions raised in the issue.Concurring / Dissenting Opinions:
Includes valuable concurring or dissenting opinions and their key points.Reasoning and Analysis:
Identifies the chain of argument(s) which led the judges to rule as they did.
- The Brief Prologue closes the case brief with important forward-looking discussion and includes:
Policy:
Identifies the Policy if any that has been established by the case.Court Direction:
Shares where the Court went from here for this case.