AALS Rejects Boycott, Sort Of.
posted by Dave Hoffman
Responding to the LWI’s boycott call, the AALS responds:
The AALS 2009 Annual Meeting will take place January 6-10, 2009, in San Diego, California. Several years ago the Association booked rooms at the San Diego Marriott and the Manchester Grand Hyatt. In the last few weeks there have been suggestions that the Association should boycott the Hyatt because its owner has contributed money to a ballot initiative designed to overturn the California Supreme Court’s May decision in favor of same-sex marriage. In addressing this issue, the Executive Committee has sought to ensure that the Annual Meeting serves the needs of all participants to the maximum extent possible given our contractual obligations to the hotels.Our contracts with the hotels provide that each hotel reserve a block of guest rooms, and leave to the AALS the choice of where to locate the AALS Registration, Exhibit Hall, Section Programs, Presidential Programs, and House of Representatives meetings. We will honor our contracts with both hotels, and we have exercised our option to hold all AALS events at the Marriott to ensure the maximum participation by our members.
Law schools and other organizations hosting meetings and receptions will be contacted soon by an AALS meetings manager regarding the location of their events. Faculty and staff at law schools will soon receive housing information and you will be able to choose your individual hotel room on a first-come, first-served basis in accordance with the usual housing procedures.
Translation: we agree with you that merely contributing to the SSM amendment is beyond the pale, but we (sadly) can’t breach our contracts.
August 18, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Posted in: Law School
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Responses (3)
Nate Oman - August 18, 2008 at 4:42 pm
…or rather — on the assumption that the AALS understands the option theory of contract — the cost of our moral turpitude in staying at a Hilton is less than the damages that we might be required to pay in the event of breach.
Dan Rodriguez - August 18, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Remarkably, the AALS has neglected to note, either because they did not investigate or else they did not want to say, that Doug Manchester owns BOTH the Hyatt and the San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina. (!!!)
Dan Rodriguez - August 18, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Remarkably, the AALS has neglected to note, either because they did not investigate or else they did not want to say, that Doug Manchester owns BOTH the Hyatt and the San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina. (!!!)
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