Beegan v. State, Department of Transportation & Public Facilities

OPINION

FABE, Chief Justice.

I. INTRODUCTION

In January 2005 Dennis Beegan won a favorable judgment from the Alaska State Commission for Human Rights against the State of Alaska, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPEF) for retaliatory failures to hire. The Commission awarded him certain relief but no damages. Nine months later, Beegan filed a suit against DOTPF in superior court pursuing damages for the retaliatory conduct. The superior court dismissed Beegan's claims for back pay and noneconomic damages, reasoning that they were precluded by the doctrine of collateral…