Section I-2, Slavery prohibited.

There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in this state, otherwise than for punishment of crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.

Neb. Const. art. I, sec. 2. (1875).

An employer's intentional concealment of the dangers inherent in the work environment and the true nature and effect of an occupational disease does not constitute involuntary servitude--the use or threat of physical force or legal coercion to extract labor from an unwilling worker--and thus construing the Workers' Compensation Act to include such conduct does not violate U.S. Const. amend. XIII or this provision. Abbott v. Gould, Inc., 232 Neb. 907, 443 N.W.2d 591 (1989).

Imprisonment at hard labor for contempt of court, arising out of violation of injunctive order, is involuntary servitude prohibited by this section. Smolczyk v. Gaston, 147 Neb. 681, 24 N.W.2d 862 (1946).

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