Judge Lets Airline Challenge to Minnesota Sick Time Law Proceed

The airline industry’s challenge to a Minnesota paid sick leave law can move forward in federal court, after a judge rejected the state labor commissioner’s effort to dismiss the lawsuit.

Judge Jerry W. Blackwell of the US District Court for the District of Minnesota denied the state’s motion in a Wednesday order that didn’t include the rationale for his decision.

The Air Transport Association of America sued Labor Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach in December. The industry group said the state law’s application to the airline industry is preempted by federal transportation statutes, including the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978.

The group’s ...