Case ID: f-appx_670/html/0033-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

MANHATTAN BEER DISTRIBUTORS LLC, Petitioner-Cross-Respondent, v. NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD, Respondent-Cross-Petitioner.
    Nos. 15-2845, 15-3099
    United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
    November 16, 2016
    For Petitioner: Allen B. Roberts, Epstein Becker & Green, P.C., New York, NY.
    For Respondent: Michael Ellement and Jill A. Griffin (on the brief), for Richard F. Griffin, Jr., General Counsel, Jennifer Abruzzo, Deputy General Counsel, John H. Ferguson, Associate General Counsel, and Linda Dreeben, Deputy Associate General Counsel, National Labor Relations Board, Washington, D.C.
    Present: ROBERT A. KATZMANN, Chief Judge, RICHARD C. WESLEY, SUSAN L. CARNEY, Circuit Judges.
   SUMMARY ORDER

Petitioner Manhattan Beer Distributors LLC (“Manhattan Beer”) petitions for review of a final National Labor Relations Board (“Board”) Decision and Order issued on August 27, 2015. In this Decision and Order, the Board found that Manhattan Beer had violated Section 8(a)(1) of the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”), 29 U.S.C. § 158(a)(1), by denying former Manhattan Beer employee Joe Garcia Diaz the right to union representation at an investigatory interview that Diaz reasonably believed could result in discipline. The Board also found that Manhattan Beer violated the NLRA by discharging Diaz for refusing to take a drug test without having a union representative present, and accordingly, ordered the remedies of reinstatement and backpay. We assume the parties’ familiarity with the facts and procedural history of this case.

“We review the Board’s factual findings for whether they are supported by substantial evidence,” and “[w]e will enforce the Board’s order if its legal conclusions have a ‘reasonable basis in law.’ ” NLRB v. Special Touch Home Care Servs., Inc., 708 F.3d 447, 453 (2d Cir. 2013) (quoting NLRB v. Windsor Castle Health Care Facilities, Inc., 13 F.3d 619, 623 (2d Cir. 1994)). Here, the Board reasonably construed the NLRA, in light of relevant judicial and administrative precedent, in determining that Diaz had the right to the physical presence of a union representative before consenting to take a drug test in the context of an investigation that he reasonably believed would result in discipline. See NLRB v. J. Weingarten, Inc., 420 U.S. 251, 260, 262, 95 S.Ct. 959, 43 L.Ed.2d 171 (1975). Therefore, we uphold the Board’s conclusion that Manhattan Beer violated Section 8(a)(1) of the NLRA.

In addition, we uphold the Board’s award of the make-whole remedy of reinstatement and backpay. Such relief is available when there is “a sufficient nexus between the unfair labor practice committed (denial of representation at an investigatory interview) and the reason for the discharge.” Taracorp Indus., 273 N.L.R.B. 221, 223 (1984); see also 29 U.S.C. § 160(c). Here, the Board reasonably determined that Manhattan Beer’s discharge of Diaz resulted from Diaz’s assertion of his Wein-garten rights. See Ralphs Grocery Co., 361 NLRB No. 9 (2014); Int’l Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union v. Quality Mfg. Co., 420 U.S. 276, 280, 95 S.Ct. 972, 43 L.Ed.2d 189 (1975). In particular, Manhattan Beer’s documentation supporting Diaz’s termination stated that Diaz was terminated because he “[rjefused to go for drug testing under the reasonable suspicion of substance abuse.” J.A. 264. Consequently, we uphold the Board’s conclusion that Diaz was entitled to reinstatement and backpay.

We have considered all of the parties’ remaining arguments and find in them no basis for altering our decision. Accordingly, for the foregoing reasons, Manhattan Beer’s petition for review is DENIED, and the Board’s cross-application for enforcement is GRANTED.