DETROIT (AP) — Wayne State University is not immune to a Michigan law that grants job protections to veterans, a federal appeals court said.

The court affirmed a decision that requires Wayne State to rehire Charles Rudolph, a custodian who was accused of missing assignments and fired in 2015.

Rudolph, a U.S. Army veteran, sued the university, saying he was entitled to a hearing under a law that gives protections to veterans who work for public employers. An arbitrator agreed that Rudolph's rights were violated and said he should be reinstated.

U.S. District Judge Arthur Tarnow signed the order.

Wayne State argued that it's not covered by the veterans law because the Michigan Constitution gives it authority to manage its affairs. But the appeals court said that position doesn't mesh with previous legal rulings.

This article was written by The Associated Press from The Associated Press and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@newscred.com.