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This time, Eastern filed suit in
District Court, seeking to have the arbitrator's decision vacated on grounds that it "contravened a public policy against the operation of dangerous machinery by workers who test positive for drugs." Although the District Court recognized the "strong regulation-based
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James Smith, a truck driver for
Eastern, was subject to random drug testing as his position was deemed "safety sensitive". In March 1996 Smith tested positive for marijuana. Eastern sought to discharge Smith, but the arbitrator ruled that Smith's positive drug test was not "just cause" and ordered
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Smith would be tested four times between April 1996 and
January 1997; each time, no drugs were found. But in July 1997 Smith again tested positive for marijuana, and again Eastern sought discharge. Once again, however, the arbitrator ruled that Smith should be reinstated with conditions, one of
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affirmed the
District Court's decision. The Supreme Court granted certiorari on the basis that the Circuit Courts disagreed on whether the mandatory reinstatement of employees using illegal drugs was against public policy.
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public policy" against workers in "safety sensitive" positions, it ruled that Smith's conditional reinstatement did not violate that policy, and ordered the enforcement of the arbitrator's decision.
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which was that he was to provide a signed, undated letter of resignation, to take effect should Smith test positive within the next five years.
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award ordering an employer to reinstate an employee truck driver who twice tested positive for
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Eastern
Associated Coal Corporation v. United Mine Workers of America, District 17, et al.
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ruled that public policy considerations do not require courts to refuse to enforce an
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Smith reinstated, subject to certain conditions including future drug testing.
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Breyer, joined by
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Eastern
Associated Coal Corp. v. United Mine Workers of America
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United States
Supreme Court cases of the Rehnquist Court
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public domain material from this U.S government document
90:) 1633; 165 L.R.R.M. 2865; 14 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. S 15
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List of United States
Supreme Court cases, volume 531
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United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
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215:, 531 U.S. 57 (2000), was a case in which the
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212:Eastern Associated Coal Corp. v. Mine Workers
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513:United States controlled substances case law
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204:Scalia (in judgment), joined by Thomas
246:which contained provisions requiring
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82:354; 2000
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