Press Release

Attorney General Will Vigorously Defend Alaska in Cruise Industry Lawsuit Against the State

September 18, 2009

Anchorage, Alaska - Attorney General Dan Sullivan said today the Department of Law already is carefully reviewing the lawsuit by the cruise ship industry challenging the legality of the passenger excise tax enacted by citizens initiative in 2006. The lawsuit, Alaska Cruise Association v. Patrick Galvin, was filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for Alaska.

"The cruise ship industry and the 1 million passengers who come to Alaska every summer contribute significantly to Alaska's economy," the attorney general said. "The Parnell administration will continue to work with the industry and Alaska businesses on ways to increase tourism and the economic opportunity it provides for Alaskans.

"Today's lawsuit, however, does not come as a surprise. The cruise ship industry has been threatening to sue the state ever since Alaska citizens voted to require passengers to pay their fair share of the costs of services and facilities provided to host them. The Department of Law will vigorously defend the state in this lawsuit."

The case is 3:09-cv-00195-RRB.

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Department Media Contacts: Communications Director Patty Sullivan at patty.sullivan@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6368. Information Officer Sam Curtis at sam.curtis@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6269.