- Tripp v. City and Bureau of Juneau
TORT LAW
Supreme Court of Alaska (2025)
Drew Loughlin
In Tripp v. City & Borough of Juneau, 563 P.3d 17 (Alaska 2025), the Supreme Court of Alaska held that a public employer has no duty to train employees against excessive alcohol consumption outside of work hours and therefore could not be held liable for an employee who drives ...
- Rochon v. City of Nome
TORT LAW
Supreme Court of Alaska (2025)
Teddy Brodsky
In Rochon v. City of Nome, 568 P.3d 8 (Alaska 2025), the Supreme Court of Alaska held that municipalities are immune from liability when providing gratuitous emergency services outside of city limits. (Id. at 17). After he was injured in a single-vehicle accident 35 miles outside Nome, Rochon sued ...
- Griffith v. Hemphill
TORT LAW
Supreme Court of Alaska (2025)
Ben Helzner
In Griffith v. Hemphill, 556 P.3d 932 (Alaska 2025), the Supreme Court of Alaska held that (1) “negligent infliction of emotional distress” claims cannot be based on litigation conduct and (2) “malicious prosecution” claims require those bringing the claim to have won on all relevant issues in the previous ...
- Kisling v. Grosz
TORT LAW
Supreme Court of Alaska (2025)
Teddy Brodsky
In Kisling v. Grosz, 565 P.3d 226 (Alaska 2025), the Supreme Court of Alaska held that when a jury awards noneconomic damages, the court must first allocate fault before deciding whether a damages cap applies. (Id. at 227). After Grosz was traumatically injured while helping his friend Kisling hang ...
- Downing v. Shoreside Petroleum, Inc.
TORT LAW
Supreme Court of Alaska (2025)
Katharine Roberts
In Downing v. Shoreside Petroleum, Inc., 563 P.3d 34 (Alaska 2025), the Supreme Court of Alaska held that the lower court was not required to make a damages award based on the post-accident earning capacity the plaintiff suggested. (Id. at 39–40). Downing sued Shoreside Petroleum, Inc. (Shoreside) after she ...
- Alaska v. Express Scripts, Inc.
TORT LAW
United States District Court for the District of Alaska (2025)
Ben Helzner
In Alaska v. Express Scripts, Inc., 774 F. Supp. 3d 1150 (D. Alaska 2025), the United States District Court for the District of Alaska held that organizations can still engage in a RICO enterprise with a common purpose even if they compete with one ...
- Torrence v. Blue
TORT LAW
Supreme Court of Alaska (2024)
Lauren Beizer
In Torrence v. Blue, 552 P.3d 489 (Alaska 2024), the supreme court held that an inmate’s original complaint included a valid claim for civil battery, therefore, reversing the dismissal of the case decided by the superior court. (Id. at 495). Thus, the case was remanded for further proceedings. (Id.). ...
- Downing v. Shoreside Petroleum, Inc.
TORT LAW
Supreme Court of Alaska (2023)
Sammy Sawyer
In Downing v. Shoreside Petroleum, Inc., 528 P.3d 874 (Alaska 2023), the supreme court held that a plaintiff who has proven harm to her future earning capacity from her injuries need not prove the amount of lost future earnings to a reasonable certainty to be eligible to receive damages. ...
- Estate of Vinberg v. United States
TORT LAWUnited States District Court, District of Alaska (2022)Elza BouhassiraIn Estate of Vinberg v. United States, 2022 WL 11753090 (D. Alaska 2022), the district courtheld that a widow’s claim regarding her husband’s death was not barred by the intentional tortexception of the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). (Id. at 6). Through his widow, a diseasedcivilian’s ...
- Garcia v. Vitus Energy, L.L.C. (Garcia III)
TORT LAWUnited States District Court, District of Alaska (2022)Jake ShermanIn Garcia v. Vitus Energy, L.L.C., 605 F. Supp. 3d 1188 (D. Alaska 2022), the court held that areasonable jury could find that a principal granted an agent apparent authority by designating himas captain of the principal’s ship. (Id. at 1217). After suffering injuries while being ...
