United States First Circuit

In a case brought by dismissed employees of a government agency in Puerto Rico claiming political discrimination, district court's order of reinstatement against defendant-intervenor is affirmed where: 1) it was proper for the district court to revisit the earlier order where, under the law of the case doctrine, courts may reopen a matter previously decided on a showing of exceptional circumstances such as the serious injustice to the plaintiffs in this case; 2) the reinstatement order was proper as defendants could be substituted for the original party under Rule 25(c) and they are not protected by sovereign immunity.

Appellate Information

• Decided 08/26/2009
• Published 08/26/2009

Judges

• LIPEZ, Circuit Judge., Before BOUDIN and LIPEZ, Circuit Judges, and SINGAL,District Judge.

Court

• United States First Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Eyck O. Lugo-Rivera, with whom Martinez Odell & Calabria were on brief, for appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• Claudio Aliff-Ortiz, with whom Eliezer A. Aldarondo-López and Aldarondo & López Bras, PSC were on brief, for appellees.