Taking Stock: A Review of Justice Stevens’s Last Book and an Appreciation of His Extraordinary Service on the Supreme Court

RODGER CITRON

Rodger D. Citron, the Associate Dean for Research and Scholarship and a Professor of Law at Touro College, Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center, comments on the late Justice John Paul Stevens’s last book, The Making of a Justice: Reflections on My First 94 Years. Citron laments that, in his view, the memoir is too long yet does not say enough, but he lauds the justice for his outstanding service on the Supreme Court.

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Tuttle v. Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers, Inc.

Docket: SC97721

Opinion Date: December 24, 2019

Judge: SC97721

Areas of Law: Civil Rights, Labor & Employment Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the circuit court dismissing Appellant's claims for relief under the Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA) for age discrimination and retaliation, holding that the Court was precluded from applying the MHRA to Appellant's claims. Respondent filed a motion to dismiss Appellant's claim, arguing that his petition did not state a claim upon which relief could be granted because the MHRA does not apply to an Illinois employee who faced alleged discriminatory acts in Illinois. The circuit court dismissed the petition with prejudice. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that because Appellant was aggrieved solely in Illinois, the express language of the MHRA, coupled with the presumption against extraterritorial application of laws, precluded that Court from applying the MHRA to Appellant's claims.

State ex rel. Anheuser-Busch, LLC v. Honorable Joan L. Moriarty

Docket: SC97845

Opinion Date: December 24, 2019

Judge: Zel M. Fischer

Areas of Law: Civil Rights

The Supreme Court quashed a preliminary writ of prohibition it issued directing the circuit court to vacate a portion of its order overruling Relator's motion to dismiss and to dismiss the underlying plaintiff's petition with prejudice for failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted, holding that Plaintiff had an adequate remedy by way of appeal. Plaintiff filed a complaint of discrimination alleging violations of the Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA). The circuit court concluded that Plaintiff stated a claim under the MHRA and denied Relator's motion to dismiss. Relator sought a writ of prohibition directing the circuit court to vacate the portion of its order overruling Relator's motion to dismiss. The Supreme Court issued a preliminary writ of prohibition. At the time, the lower courts did not have the benefit of the Supreme Court's opinion in Tuttle v. Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers, Inc., __ S.W.3d __ (Mo. banc 2019). The Supreme Court then quashed the preliminary writ, holding that the MHRA did not provide Plaintiff with relief and that, as demonstrated by Tuttle, Relator may seek relief by appeal after a final judgment.

City of Chesterfield v. State

Docket: SC96862

Opinion Date: December 24, 2019

Judge: Patricia Breckenridge

Areas of Law: Constitutional Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the circuit court granting summary judgment in favor of the State and intervenors (collectively, Defendants) on the City of Chesterfield's action seeking a declaration that Mo. Rev. Stat. 66.600 and 66.620 are constitutionally invalid special laws, holding that sections 66.600 and 66.620 are not special laws. On appeal, Chesterfield argued that the trial court erred in failing to find that the statutes were constitutionally invalid special laws because the general assembly changed the population classification of section 66.600 to exclude St. Charles County, and that 66.620 creates a closed class based on immutable, historical, and geographic facts and is not substantially justified. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the circuit court did not err in granting summary judgment for Defendants because Defendants articulated a rational basis for the classifications in sections 66.600 and 66.200.

Roland v. St. Louis City Board of Election Commissioners

Docket: SC97781

Opinion Date: December 24, 2019

Judge: Laura Denvir Stith

Areas of Law: Election Law, Government & Administrative Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court's judgment holding that the St. Louis City Board of Election Commissioners violated the sunshine law, Mo. Rev. Stat. 610.010 et seq., in refusing to produce absentee ballot applications and envelopes to David Roland, holding that St. Louis absentee ballot applications have ceased being protected from disclosure by law. The circuit court declared that the election board had violated the sunshine law by withholding the absentee ballot applications and ballot envelopes and then taxed costs against Roland in regard to the election board's defense of Roland's assertion that the election board's violation was purposeful or knowing. The Supreme Court reversed in part, holding (1) the circuit court did not err in declaring that the ballot applications were subject to disclosure, and ballot envelopes are open to the public after the voted ballot is removed; and (2) the election board was not entitled to costs under either the sunshine law or the general law governing the award of costs.

City of Aurora, Missouri v. Spectra Communications Group, LLC

Docket: SC96276

Opinion Date: December 24, 2019

Judge: Patricia Breckenridge

Areas of Law: Tax Law

The Supreme Court affirmed in part and reversed in part the judgment of the trial court entering judgment in favor of the cities of Aurora, Cameron, Oak Grove, and Wentzville (collectively, the Cities) in this action for declaratory judgment and injunctive relief against CenturyLink, Inc. and its subsidiaries, holding that the trial court erred in awarding prejudgment interest and attorneys fees to the Cities. In their petition, the Cities alleged that, since 2000, CenturyLink failed to pay all license taxes owed under the Cities' respective ordinances. Further, the Cities alleged that CenturyLink failed to enter into right-of-way user agreements under Cameron's and Wenzville's respective ordinances and failed to pay Cameron's linear foot fees. The trial court entered partial summary judgments in favor of the Cities on the issue of liability. After a trial, the court entered a final judgment for the Cities on the issue of damages. The trial court then awarded the Cities attorney fees, prejudgment interest, and postjudgment interest. The Supreme Court reversed in part and remanded the cause, holding that the trial court (1) erred in awarding prejudgment interest to the Cities, and (2) erred in awarding attorney fees to three of the cities.