Alaska Case Commentaries

State Liability for Negligent Fire Inspection in Gold Rush Hotel Fire Case

Date: Oct 2, 1976

State Liability for Negligent Fire Inspection in Gold Rush Hotel Fire Case Introduction The case of Thomas L. Adams et al. v. State of Alaska et al. (555 P.2d 235) arose from the tragic fire at the...

Coleman v. State of Alaska: Affirmation of Reasonable Investigative Stops and Prosecutorial Conduct in Grand Jury Proceedings

Date: Jul 15, 1976

Coleman v. State of Alaska: Affirmation of Reasonable Investigative Stops and Prosecutorial Conduct in Grand Jury Proceedings Introduction Coleman v. State of Alaska (553 P.2d 40, 1976) is a landmark...

Alaska Supreme Court Reinforces Procedural Safeguards in State Land Lease Sales

Date: Jul 10, 1976

Alaska Supreme Court Reinforces Procedural Safeguards in State Land Lease Sales Introduction In the landmark case of Kenneth D. Moore et al. v. State of Alaska et al., decided on July 9, 1976, the...

Abolition of Privity in Implied Warranty Claims: An Analysis of Morrow v. New Moon Homes

Date: Mar 27, 1976

Abolition of Privity in Implied Warranty Claims: An Analysis of Morrow v. New Moon Homes Introduction The Supreme Court of Alaska, in the landmark case Joseph R. Morrow and Nikki Morrow v. New Moon...

Enhanced Sentencing Guidelines for Repeat Offenders Established in State v. Wortham

Date: Jul 4, 1975

Enhanced Sentencing Guidelines for Repeat Offenders Established in State of Alaska v. Wortham Introduction The case of State of Alaska, Appellant, v. John Mathis Wortham, Appellee (537 P.2d 1117)...

Right to Privacy in Personal Marijuana Possession Affirmed: Ravin v. State of Alaska

Date: May 29, 1975

Right to Privacy in Personal Marijuana Possession Affirmed: Ravin v. State of Alaska Introduction In the landmark case of Ravin v. State of Alaska, 537 P.2d 494 (Alaska Supreme Court, 1975), the...

Attorney-Client Privilege and Civil Fraud: Insights from USAA v. Werley

Date: Sep 10, 1974

Attorney-Client Privilege and Civil Fraud: Insights from USAA v. Werley Introduction The case of United Services Automobile Association v. Harley D. Werley et al., reported as (526 P.2d 28),...

Cooksey v. State of Alaska: Affirmation of Speedy Trial Rights under Criminal Rule 45

Date: Jul 20, 1974

Cooksey v. State of Alaska: Affirmation of Speedy Trial Rights under Criminal Rule 45 Introduction John Charles Cooksey appealed his conviction to the Supreme Court of Alaska, challenging the...

Risher v. State of Alaska: Establishing the Two-Prong Test for Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

Date: Jun 18, 1974

Risher v. State of Alaska: Establishing the Two-Prong Test for Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Introduction Risher v. State of Alaska, 523 P.2d 421 (Alaska, 1974), is a landmark case in the realm...

Malvo v. J.C. Penney Co.: Strengthening Jury Selection Standards and Attorney Fee Limitations

Date: Jul 14, 1973

Malvo v. J.C. Penney Co.: Strengthening Jury Selection Standards and Attorney Fee Limitations Introduction Malvo v. J.C. Penney Company, Inc., 512 P.2d 575 (Alaska Supreme Court, 1973), is a landmark...

Erickson v. State of Alaska: Upholding Independent Source Exception in Search and Seizure Law

Date: Mar 6, 1973

Erickson v. State of Alaska: Upholding Independent Source Exception in Search and Seizure Law Introduction The case of Howard Charles Erickson and Malcolm Allen Erickson v. State of Alaska, decided...

Negligence in Highway Maintenance: State of Alaska v. Abbott Establishes Key Precedent

Date: Jun 17, 1972

Negligence in Highway Maintenance: State of Alaska v. Abbott Establishes Key Precedent Introduction In the landmark case of State of Alaska v. Susan H. Abbott, Guardian of Brenda Vogt, a Minor (498...

Alaska Supreme Court Establishes Constitutional Right to Jury and Public Trial for Juvenile Delinquency Proceedings in RLR v. State of Alaska

Date: Jul 10, 1971

Alaska Supreme Court Establishes Constitutional Right to Jury and Public Trial for Juvenile Delinquency Proceedings in RLR v. State of Alaska Introduction RLR, a minor, appealed against the State of...

Strict Compliance with Cash Bonus Bidding in Oil and Gas Lease Awards: Insights from Kelly v. Zamarello

Date: Jul 7, 1971

Strict Compliance with Cash Bonus Bidding in Oil and Gas Lease Awards: Insights from Kelly v. Zamarello Introduction The case of Thomas E. Kelly, Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources,...

Reaffirmation of 'Zone of Reasonableness' in Sentencing for Drug and Concurrent Crimes: Waters v. State of Alaska

Date: Mar 26, 1971

Reaffirmation of 'Zone of Reasonableness' in Sentencing for Drug and Concurrent Crimes: Waters v. State of Alaska Introduction Leneal Osborne Waters v. State of Alaska, 483 P.2d 199 (1971),...

Double Jeopardy Protections in Alaska: Preventing Multiple Sentences for Concurrent Robbery Offenses

Date: Dec 24, 1970

Double Jeopardy Protections in Alaska: Preventing Multiple Sentences for Concurrent Robbery Offenses Introduction The case of Raymond David Whitton v. State of Alaska (479 P.2d 302) adjudicated by...

Establishing Appellate Oversight of Lenient Sentences: State of Alaska v. Chaney

Date: Dec 8, 1970

Establishing Appellate Oversight of Lenient Sentences: State of Alaska v. Chaney Introduction State of Alaska v. Donald Scott Chaney is a landmark decision rendered by the Supreme Court of Alaska on...

Alaska Supreme Court Expands Right to Jury Trial for City Ordinance Violations

Date: Jun 6, 1970

Alaska Supreme Court Expands Right to Jury Trial for City Ordinance Violations Introduction The case of Proctor J. Baker v. City of Fairbanks addresses a pivotal question regarding the constitutional...

Alaska Supreme Court Sets Specific Intent Requirement for Felony Murder

Date: Jan 17, 1970

Alaska Supreme Court Sets Specific Intent Requirement for Felony Murder Introduction The case of Dewey Spencer Gray, Willie Lee Gray, Jr. v. State of Alaska adjudicated by the Supreme Court of Alaska...

Substantial Similarity in Conditions for Experimental Evidence: Supreme Court of Alaska's Decision in Love v. State of Alaska

Date: Aug 9, 1969

Substantial Similarity in Conditions for Experimental Evidence: Supreme Court of Alaska's Decision in Love v. State of Alaska Introduction The case of WILLIAM F. LOVE, APPELLANT, v. STATE OF ALASKA,...