Connecticut Attorney General's Office

Press Release

AG Defends Request To File Friend Of Court Brief In Pratt & Whitney Layoff Case

October 21, 2009

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today defended his request to file a friend of the court brief in support of a lawsuit alleging that proposed Pratt & Whitney layoffs violate the company's union contract.

Blumenthal said in a court filing today that because the state has a vital interest in protecting jobs and offered a large incentive package to cancel the cutbacks, it should be allowed to file a friend of the court brief in support of District Lodge 26 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers' lawsuit challenging the layoffs.

Pratt is seeking to move about 1,000 jobs overseas and to other states. The union lawsuit alleges that Pratt violated a part of its labor agreement requiring it to explore all feasible alternatives before moving jobs out of the state, contending that the company never seriously considered a $100 million state incentive package and other options.

Blumenthal said in today's filing, "None of Pratt's arguments overcome the state's substantial and direct interest in participating as amicus in this matter -- a matter affecting both the financial well-being of Connecticut families subject to these layoffs and the state's overall economy. The state's knowledge and involvement in the facts underlying this case, derived in part from its direct participation in efforts to preserve these jobs in Connecticut, clearly qualifies the state to assist as amicus in the resolution of critical factual and legal issues.

"The state's position with respect to the merits of this litigation should have no bearing on the state's fitness to participate as amicus. The state seeks amicus status to advance the public interest, just as it did in the underlying negotiations.

"Nor can there be any reasonable claim that the state's participation here will somehow delay or hinder a resolution to the issues. On the contrary, the state's interest and knowledge will facilitate a complete and appropriate conclusion of critical and legal issues. The state is ready and eager to meet any expeditious timeframe the court may set and to present whatever substantive materials may be helpful."