Alaska Supreme Court Index
Statutory Construction
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Statutory Construction

Kinegak v. State, Dept. of Corrections (02/17/2006) sp-5988 (federal decisions persuasive authority)
Wilson V. State, Dept. of Corrections (01/20/2006) sp-5974 (goal of statutory/regulatory interpretation)
Sharon Ranney v. Whitewater Engineering and Alaska Insurance (10/14/2005) sp-5949, 122 P2d 214 (maxims for statutory construction)
Martinez v. Cape Fox (06/10/2005) sp-5909, 113 P2d 1226 (no plain meaning rule)
Larson v. Cooper (05/27/2005) sp-5897, 113 P2d 1196 (construing law for filling U.S. senate vacancy)
Bartley v. Alaska Dep't. of Administration (04/15/2005) sp-5888, 110 P2d 1254 (sliding scale for statutory interpretation)
Alaska Division of Elections v. Metcalfe (04/15/2005) sp-5884, 110 P2d 976 (statute presumed constitutional; defer to legislature on election laws)
Government Employees Insurance Company v. Graham-Gonzalez (02/18/2005) sp-5869, 107 P2d 279 (sliding scale; words given ordinary meaning)
State, Dept. of Revenue v. Municipality of Anchorage (12/23/2004) sp-5855 (sliding scale; plain meaning)
State, Dept. of Revenue, Child Support Enforcement Div. v. DeLeon (12/17/2004) sp-5853 (expressio unius est exclusio alterius)
Miller v. Safeway, Inc. (11/26/2004) sp-5849 (employment discrimination-racial, religious, gender)
Western Star Trucks, Inc. v. Big Iron Equipment Service, Inc. (11/26/2004) sp-5847 (three factors for interpreting a statute)
Rush v. State, Department of Natural Resources (09/17/2004) sp-5831 (no retroactive application of statutes)
State v. Public Safety Employees Association (06/25/2004) sp-5823 (sliding scale used for ambiguous statutes)
State v. Blank (04/30/2004) sp-5802 (avoid unconstitutionality with narrow construction)
Bryson v. Banner Health System (04/23/2004) sp-5799 (duty based on special relationship between health care provider and patient)
Alaska Legislative Council v. Knowles (01/09/2004) sp-5768 ("appropriations" as used in the Alaska Const.)
Alaska Center for the Environment v. State (11/28/2003) sp-5756 (reject plain meaning rule; review statute as a whole when considering ambiguity)
Grimm v. Wagoner (09/19/2003) sp-5737 (public official financial disclosure statutes require only substantial, not strict, compliance; corrupt election practice is basis for election contest only if sufficient to change the result)
In Re Life Insurance Co. of Alaska (08/22/2003) sp-5729 (plain meaning rule; sliding scale)
Therchik v. Grant Aviation, Inc. (07/25/2003) sp-5715 (word-for-word identical vs. "conform with")
Coughlin v. Government Employees Insurance Co. (04/18/2003) sp-5681 (exhaust policy limits to collect UIM coverage)
Enders v. Parker (03/21/2003) sp-5675 (construing unambiguous statute)
State v. Strane (01/10/2003) sp-5655 (principle of lenity in criminal statues)
Evans v. State (08/30/2002) sp-5618 (legislative history required to counter plain and unambiguous statutory language; guidelines for finding unconstitutional ambiguity; legisalture’s power to override Supreme Court)
Wold v. Progressive Preferred Insurance Co. (08/02/2002) sp-5602 (clear and unambiguous statute; public policy)
Lakosh v. Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation (06/28/2002) sp-5589 (sliding scale replaces plain meaning rule)
In Re Tamplin (06/07/2002) sp-5577 (statute recognize state policy; apply retroactively)
Tesoro Petroleum Corp. v. State (02/15/2002) sp-5539 (maxims of statutory construction; sliding scale)
Municipality of Anchorage v. Suzuki (02/08/2002) sp-5533 (several axioms; sliding scale)
Wongittilin et al. v State et al. (12/07/2001) sp-5509 (may vs. shall)
Murphy v Newlynn (11/02/2001) sp-5494 (use of plural doesn't exclude singular)
Curran v Progressive Northwestern Insurance Company (08/31/2001) sp-5456 (no "sliding scale" when statute is clear)
State, Department of Revenue v Martha Andrade, et al. (05/25/2001) sp-5414 (statutes presumed constitutional)
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation v. Laidlaw Transit, Inc. (04/12/2001) sp-5390 (Axioms re: ambiguity; plain meaning)
Bullock v. State; DCRA (03/23/2001) sp-5376 (Deference to agency; in pari materia)
Sosa v. State (06/16/2000) sp-5283 (Unambiguous statute, heavy burden of proof)
Northern Alaska Environmental Center v. State; Dept. of Natural Resources (06/02/2000) sp-5279 (Several canons of statutory construction)
Gerber v. Juneau Bartlett Memorial Hospital (05/19/2000) sp-5276 ("May" = discretionary; "shall" = mandatory)
Halliburton Energy Services v. State (04/07/2000) sp-5256 (Void for vagueness)
McGlothlin v. Municipality of Anchorage (11/19/1999) sp-5205 (Duty owed by 3rd party; retained control, voluntary assume, obvious danger, negligent entrust)
Romann v. State, Dept. of Transportation & Public Facilities (11/12/1999) sp-5203 (Sliding scale instead of plain meaning rule)
Rollins v. State, Dept. of Revenue, Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (11/12/1999) sp-5200 (Regs consistent with statutes)
John v. Baker (09/08/1999) sp-5174 (Amibguities in Native American statutes)
Universal Motors Inc. v. Neary (08/20/1999) sp-5162 (Model act commentary as reliable guide)
Veco v. Rosebrock (02/19/1999) sp-5084, 970 P2d 906 (Hostile environment sexual harassment, wrongful discharge; employer vicarious liability)
Church v. State of Alaska; Department of Revenue (02/12/1999) sp-5079, 973 P2d 1125 (reg can be more restrictive than statute)
Brooks v. Wright (01/15/1999) sp-5066, 971 P2d 1025 (same rules for statutes and constitution)
Ganz v. Alaska Airlines, Inc. (08/14/1998) sp-5020, 963 P2d 1015 (three maxims of construction)
Sielak v. Alaska Child Support Enforcement Div. (05/15/1998) sp-4985, 958 P2d 438 (ex post facto laws)
Grober v. Alaska Child Support Enforcement Division (05/08/1998) sp-4981, 956 P2d 1230 (retroactive procedural statutes)
Hendren v. Alaska Child Support Enforcement Div. (04/10/1998) sp-4967, 957 P2d 1350 (three maxims of construction)
Estate of Evancoe (03/06/1998) sp-4952, 955 P2d 525 (unambiguous successor statute)
Progressive Insurance Co. v. Simmons (02/20/1998) sp-4949, 953 P2d 510 (implied repeal)
Swiss v. Chignik River, Ltd. (01/02/1998) sp-4926, 951 P2d 433 (terms not included presumed excluded)
Eastwind Inc., et al., v. State, Department of Labor (12/26/1997) sp-4927, 951 P2d 844 (Presumed not retroactive)
Alaska Division of Motor Vehicls v. Fernandes (10/31/1997) sp-4899, 946 P2d 1259 (substantial compliance)
Lowery v. McMurdie (09/05/1997) sp-4880, 944 P2d 50 (may=discretionary)
Dep't. of Transportation & Public Facilities et al. v. Sanders (08/22/1997) sp-4872, 944 P2d 453 ("may" = discretionary, not mandatory)
Turney v. State (04/04/1997) sp-4799, 936 P2d 533 (overbroad or vague statute)
Amyot v. Luchini (02/14/1997) sp-4480, 932 P2d 244 (exclude a remedy-include only named remedy)
Trigg et al v City of Nome (12/20/1996) sp-4448, 929 P2d 1273 (peculiar meaning vs common usage of words)
Griswold v. City of Homer (10/25/1996) sp-4419, 925 P2d 1015 (whether statute is wise not up to court)
Richmond v. Pluid (10/25/1996) sp-4418, 925 P2d 251 (court cases, retroactive application)
Muller v. BP Exploration Inc. (09/13/1996) sp-4402, 923 P2d 783 (three guidelines)
Usibelli Coal Mine v. Department of Natural Resources (08/16/1996) sp-4391, 921 P2d 1134 (statutes in pari materia)
Alaska Housing Finance Corporation v. Alaska State Employees Association (08/02/1996) sp-4380, 923 P2d 18 (sliding scale)
Miller v. Purvis (07/26/1996) sp-4372, 921 P2d 610 (presumption of constitutionality)
Konecky v. Camco Wireline, Inc. (07/26/1996) sp-4371, 920 P2d 277 (clear statutes can' be judicially modified)
R.R. v. State (06/21/1996) sp-4359, 919 P2d 754 ("unconstitutionally vague" guidelines)
Phillip Chokwak v. Les Worley and Ron Worley (03/08/1996) sp-4323, 912 P2d 1248 (plain meaning vs. sliding scale)
In the Matter of N. A. (01/26/1996) sp-4314, 912 P2d 1235 (effect given to all provisions)
Totemoff v. Alaska (10/20/1995) sp-4276, 905 P2d 954 (ANILCA as controlling subsistence)
Child Support Enforcement Div. v. Dean (& Cross) (08/25/1995) sp-4244, 902 P2d 1321 (Oregon statutes/case law as precedent)
Totemoff v. State of Alaska (08/07/1995) sp-4236 (ANILCA as controlling subsistence)
Pet. for Inc. of City & Boro of Yakutat v. Lcl. Bdry. Comm'n. (04/28/1995) sp-4192, 900 P2d 721 ('shall'=mandatory; harmonious construction)
Peninsula Marketing Association v. Rosier (02/24/1995) sp-4170, 890 P2d 567 (give effect to all sections of act)
[F] Marlow v. Municipality of Anchorage (02/10/1995) sp-4164, 889 P2d 599 (construing municipal ordinance)
L. Capener v. Tanagusix Corp. (11/04/1994) sp-4142, 884 P2d 1060 (ambiguous laws affecting Natives)
State of Alaska v. H. Palmer (10/07/1994) sp-4129, 882 P2d 386 (parts of hunting statute/reg severable)
N. Alaska Env. Center et al v. Alaska Public Utilities Comm. (08/26/1994) sp-4115, 879 P2d 1015 (definition of quorum)
Hickel et al v. Cowper (05/27/1994) sp-4089, 874 P2d 922 (constitutionality of statute)
State Leasing and Equip. v. Wichman (05/27/1994) sp-4086, 874 P2d 949 (construe to be harmonious)
City of Dillingham v. CH2M Hill Northwest, Inc. (04/29/1994) sp-4077, 873 P2d 1271 (sliding scale; legislative history)
Kenai Borough v. Port Graham Corporation (04/08/1994) sp-4070, 871 P2d 1135 (statutory law vs. common law)
Peloza v. Freas (03/25/1994) sp-4067, 871 P2d 687 (constitutionality under equal rights)
State of Alaska and Cameron, et al v. Beard (12/03/1993) sp-4032, 864 P2d 538 (broad legislative goal)
Rydwell v. Anchorage School Dist. and Wetzel Svcs. (12/03/1993) sp-4030, 864 P2d 526 (broad legislative goal)
R. Olson v. F. Olson (07/23/1993) sp-3975, 856 P2d 482 (Latin maxim)
Saunders Propterties v. Municipality of Anchorage (02/12/1993) sp-3933, 846 P2d 135 (examine plain language)
Homer Electric Assoc. v. Towsley (11/27/1992) sp-3901, 841 P2d 1042 (plain meaning, etc.)
Sonneman v. Hickel and the State of Alaska (08/14/1992) sp-3876, 836 P2d 936 (severability)
Beck v. Dept. of Transportation (07/31/1992) sp-3871, 837 P2d 105 (legislative history)
University of Alaska v. Shanti (06/30/1992) sp-3861, 835 P2d 1225 (derogation of common law)
Smith v. Stratton (06/26/1992) sp-3852, 835 P2d 1162 (basic principles)
K. & G. LeDoux v. Kodiak (03/20/1992) sp-3822, 827 P2d 1121 (injunctive relief)
O'Callaghan v. State of Alaska et al (03/06/1992) sp-3818, 826 P2d 1132 (several maxims)
MOA v. A. Leigh (01/03/1992) sp-3793, 823 P2d 1241 (constitutionality)
RAN Corp. v. D. Hudesman & H. Smith, Jr. (12/27/1991) sp-3790, 823 P2d 646 (plain meaning; sales tax on liquor; ag opinions)
J. Loeb v. L. Rasmussen & L&L Investments (12/13/1991) sp-3786, 822 P2d 914 (exceptional statute)
C. Croft v. Pan AK Trucking, & AK Natural Ins. (11/15/1991) sp-3773, 820 P2d 1064 (admin agencies)
E. Warner et al v. State et al (10/17/1991) sp-3764, 819 P2d 28 (administrative reulations)
P. Flisock v. State Div. of Retirement and Benefits (10/04/1991) sp-3758, 818 P2d 640 (plain meaning)
Fairbanks School District v. NEA-Alaska (09/27/1991) sp-3751, 817 P2d 923 (plain meaning)
Peninsula Marketing Assoc. et al v. Dept. of Fish and Game (09/20/1991) sp-3754, 817 P2d 917 (plain meaning)
L.O. v. State, in the Matter of E.A.O. (08/30/1991) sp-3742, 816 P2d 1352 (plain meaning)

To Index

Touch N' Go Systems, Inc. (touchngo@touchngo.com) and The Law Offices of James B. Gottstein are pleased to present this index to recent Alaska Supreme Court Opinions with the permission of Lawyers Support Services, which offers single page summaries of each week's cases by the Monday following each Friday's cases. We find the summaries to be very useful. In addition, Lawyers Support Services provides other types of legal support, primarily in Fairbanks, Alaska.

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Last Modified 04/17/2006