Business groups file new suit vs. sanctions law

Mary Jo Pitzl

The Arizona Republic
Dec. 11, 2007 12:00 AM

The fight about Arizona's employer-sanctions law is back in federal court with allegations that businesses are being investigated or threatened by Maricopa County law-enforcement officials before the law goes into effect.

The new complaint alleges that Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas is investigating at least one business and that Sheriff Joe Arpaio's office threatened another business owner who hired an undocumented worker.

Both county officials deny the claims. The new lawsuit was filed Monday by a dozen business groups challenging the Legal Arizona Workers Act, scheduled to take effect three weeks from today.

Attorneys for the business groups are seeking a temporary restraining order and are hoping for a ruling by week's end.

The new lawsuit capped a whirlwind weekend that began late Friday when Judge Neil V. Wake dismissed the original lawsuit, explaining that the groups had sued the wrong people and suggesting that they had little ground to claim injury because the law has yet to take effect.