Trustees for the Alaska Hotel & Restaurant Employees Health & Welfare Fund & Pension Fund v. Hansen

OPINION

The question in this case is whether state courts have jurisdiction to hear an action brought by two employees’ benefits trust funds to collect unpaid contributions from an employer. We conclude that the state courts have jurisdiction and reverse the judgment of the superior court.

I

The Trustees for the Alaska Hotel and Restaurant Employees Health and Welfare Fund and Pension Fund (Trustees) filed a complaint in superior court seeking to enforce certain provisions of a collective bargaining agreement. The complaint alleged that Blake Hansen and A. Kirschbaum, d/b/a Peggy’s Cafe, had…