Opinion ID: 1611868
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Prior Appeal

Text: In an earlier appeal in this action, the Court of Civil Appeals held that McLeod was not subject to the FDA. See McLeod v. Beaty, 718 So.2d 673 (Ala.Civ.App.1996). This Court reversed, without a majority opinion. See Ex parte McLeod, 718 So.2d 682 (Ala.1997) ( McLeod I ) (in the lead opinion, Justice Butts, joined only by Justice Shores, concluded that instructors at two-year colleges fall within the coverage of the FDA). Justice Almon concurred specially, with an opinion joined only by Justice Maddox. Justice Almon concluded that the Alabama Trade School and Junior College Authority Act (hereinafter the ATSJCAA), § 16-60-80 et seq., and not the FDA, applied to McLeod. Justice Almon then wrote that the chancellor's regulation requiring consecutive years was invalid. However, Justice Almon concurred to remand, because of his view that the provisions of the FDA and the ATSJCAA must be construed identically so as to preclude any requirement that years of service be consecutive when computing tenure. The Court had previously embraced a rule rejecting the requirement of consecutive service, in Ex parte Clayton, 552 So.2d 152, 154-155 (Ala. 1989) (no requirement of consecutive service under virtually identical language in the FDA). Justice See concurred in the result in McLeod I, without writing. Chief Justice Hooper and Justice Kennedy dissented, also without writing. Justice Cook recused himself, noting the impact the opinion could have on his wife, an employee of the two-year-college system. With only seven Justices sitting, the votes of Justices Maddox, Almon, Shores, Butts, and See combined to remand for further proceedings in the trial court, with Justice Butts noting, [W]e have made no conclusions as to the validity of [McLeod's] factual claims. 718 So.2d at 687 n. 3.