Atascadero State Hospital v. Scanlon

473 U.S. 234 (1985)

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Atascadero State Hospital v. Scanlon

United States Supreme Court
473 U.S. 234 (1985)

  • Written by Rose VanHofwegen, JD
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Facts

Douglas Scanlon (plaintiff) brought an employment discrimination lawsuit in federal court against the Atascadero State Hospital (defendant) asserting claims under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The trial court dismissed Scanlon’s claims as barred by Eleventh Amendment immunity, and the appellate court affirmed on different grounds. Scanlon appealed to the Supreme Court, which reversed and remanded in light of an intervening decision. On remand, the circuit court reversed the dismissal, reasoning that California had impliedly consented to be sued in federal court by accepting Rehabilitation Act program funding. In the alternative, Scanlon argued that a California constitutional provision waived Eleventh Amendment immunity. Noting a split in circuit court decisions, the Supreme Court granted review a second time.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Powell, J.)

Dissent (Stevens, J.)

Dissent (Blackmun, J.)

Dissent (Brennan, J.)

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