Opinion ID: 2621198
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Access to fair opportunity to seek redress

Text: The court also relies on Alaska's interest in ensuring that fair compensation is available for personal injuries occurring in Alaska. [42] It asserts that Alaska has an interest in providing negligence victims access to a legal system that affords them a fair opportunity to seek redress from the negligent party. [43] I agree that Alaska has those interests. [44] But they are irrelevant to the narrow choice-of-law issue presented here. The contract did not prohibit Long from asserting a tort claim against Holland America. It did not limit the damages she could seek. Because the one-year claim period is not legally inadequate, it does not limit fair compensation or access to the courts. Compare a complete waiver of any cause of action, or contract terms that would prevent third persons from obtaining any compensation from one of the contracting parties. Alaska's interest does not outweigh an interest in allowing parties to contract in ways that affect the procedure for asserting a tort claim without depriving a claimant of a fair opportunity to be made whole. And it does not outweigh Washington's interest. The court's opinion may imply that there is an enhanced public interest in giving personal injury claimants the full statutory period in which to sue. But that interest is not offended if they agree by contract to a shorter, but still reasonable, deadline. Nothing about personal injury claims alters this conclusion. Indeed, personal injury and other personal interest plaintiffs are disfavored with the shortest limitations periods in Alaska. [45] That the period for commencing contract suits is longer than the period for commencing personal injury suits suggests that no fundamental policy recognized by the legislature favors personal injury plaintiffs. And notably the court's opinion does not discuss whether the one-year claims time limit afforded Long a fair opportunity to seek redress for her injuries.