Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-01254/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-01254-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 790
Nature of Suit: Other Labor Litigation
Cause of Action: 29:1001 E.R.I.S.A.: Employee Retirement

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

WOODFIN SUITE HOTELS, LLC and

PACIFIC HOTEL MANAGEMENT, LLC,

Plaintiffs,

 v.

CITY OF EMERYVILLE,

Defendant. /

No. C 06-1254 SBA

ORDER

This matter comes before the Court on Plaintiffs Woodfin Suite Hotels, LLC and Pacific

Hotel Management, LLC's (jointly, "Plaintiffs") Motion for Preliminary Injunction [Docket Nos. 4,

23], Defendant City of Emeryville's ("Defendant" or the "City") Objections to Evidence and

Supplemental Evidence [Docket Nos. 41, 57], and Defendant's Request for Judicial Notice [Docket

No. 40]. Having read and considered the arguments presented by the parties and the amici curiae in

their moving papers, as well as the parties' supplemental briefing papers, the Court finds this matter

appropriate for disposition without a hearing. The Court HEREBY DENIES Plaintiffs' Motion for

Preliminary Injunction, SUSTAINS IN PART and OVERRULES IN PART Defendant's Objections

to Evidence and Supplemental Evidence, and GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART

Defendant's Request for Judicial Notice.

BACKGROUND

I. Measure C

On November 8, 2005, residents of the City of Emeryville passed Measure C ("Measure C"

or "Ordinance"). On December 6, 2005, Measure C went into effect. Measure C applies to the

hotels in the City which have more than 50 rooms (the "Hotels"). Measure C provides for, inter

alia:

• Minimum compensation of $9 per hour and average minimum compensation of $11

per hour for all employees.

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 Defendant requests that the Court take judicial notice of Measure C pursuant to Federal

Rule of Evidence 201(b). Under Rule 201, a court may take judicial notice of "matters of public

record" as long as the facts are not "subject to reasonable dispute." Lee v. City of Los Angeles, 250

F.3d 668, 689 (citations omitted). The ordinance falls within the ambit of Federal Rule of Evidence

201(b)(2), because it is "capable of accurate and ready determination by resort to sources whose

accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned." See, e.g., Manufactured Home Communities, Inc. v.

City of San Jose, 358 F. Supp. 2d 896, 904 (N.D. Cal. 2003) (taking judicial notice of municipal

ordinances), rev'd on other grounds, 420 F.3d 1022 (9th Cir. 2005). Consequently, the Court

GRANTS Defendant's request with respect to Measure C. 

Defendant also seeks to have the Court take judicial notice of the Notice of Intent to

Circulate Petition. Because the Court does not rely on the Notice of Intent in its ruling, the Court

DENIES Defendant's request as moot. 

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• Annual cost of living increases, calculated by the Consumer Price Index.

• Paid leave at the employees' regular rate of pay for jury duty.

• Protection against discharge for 90 days following a change in ownership of the

Hotels or another employer within the Hotels, absent good cause.

• Payment of time-and-a-half for the room cleaners who clean more than 5,000 square

feet in an 8 hour work day.

• Maintenance by Hotels of employee compensation records, including names, pay

rates, and benefit payments (if the Hotels want to credit benefit payments toward total

compensation).

• "Reasonable access" to Hotels by city representatives and organizations assisting

employees in the hospitality industry for the purpose of monitoring compliance with

Measure C and investigating complaints of non-compliance.

See Defendant City of Emeryville’s Request for Judicial Notice in Support of Opposition to Motion

for Preliminary Judgment [sic], Ex. A (the “Ordinance”).1

 

Measure C includes the following findings: “[I]t is proper to regulate employment conditions

at large hotels first rather than trying to regulate all employers because [the People] believe that (1)

large hotels are better able to afford the proposed conditions than other kinds of employers; (2) many

large hotels in the Bay Area are already meeting the employment conditions required by this

Ordinance, unlike the situation in other industries; (3) large hotels provide jobs similar to the

janitorial jobs already protected by a similar state law on worker retention, Labor Code sections

1060-65; and (4) large hotels are generally less likely to respond to such regulations by closing or

reducing employment than other kinds of businesses which can more readily move jobs offshore or

to other locations, as large hotels wish to be here because of our city’s location.” Ordinance, § V.

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 After Defendant declined to proceed before a U.S. Magistrate Judge, the action was

reassigned to this Court on March 3, 2006. Plaintiffs filed an amended motion before this Court on

March 9, 2006. 

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II. Procedural Background

On February 21, 2006, Plaintiffs filed a Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief (the

"Complaint") against Defendant. The Complaint seeks declaratory and injunctive relief arising from

the passage of Measure C, and argues that Measure C is unconstitutional and preempted by state and

federal law. Complaint, ¶ 8. Plaintiffs allege that Measure C was passed to primarily tilt the

economic playing field in favor of organized labor. Id., ¶ 14. 

The same day, Plaintiffs filed the instant Motion for Preliminary Injunction.2 In the motion,

Plaintiffs assert that they have demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits, and they will face

an imminent and irreparable harm in the absence of a preliminary injunction. Plaintiffs argue that

there is a likelihood of success on the merits because Measure C is preempted by the National Labor

Relations Act, including Machinists and Garmon doctrines, the Employment Retirement Income

Security Act of 1974, and California labor law, including wage-and-hour law and at-will

employment law. In addition, Plaintiffs argue that they have demonstrated a likelihood of success

on the merits because Measure C conflicts with constitutional privacy rights, is unconstitutionally

vague and violates Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses.

On March 7, 2006, Don Crosatto, Daniel Leal, Josephine Valdez, and EBASE Committee –

Yes on Measure C (the "Amici") filed a motion to intervene. The Court heard the motion on April

11, 2006. During the hearing, the Amici withdrew their motion to intervene without prejudice, and

the Court allowed them to file an opposition to the motion for preliminary injunction as amici curae. 

In their Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction (the "Amici Opposition"), Amici

claim that Plaintiffs are unlikely to prevail on the merits and the balance of irreparable injuries

weighs against granting a preliminary injunction.

Defendant also filed its Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction (the

"Opposition"). Defendant argues that Plaintiffs do not have standing to challenge Measure C, have

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not demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits, have not demonstrated any risk of irreparable

injury, and the public interest will be harmed by the issuance of injunctive relief. 

On April 19, 2006, the Court requested supplemental briefing from the parties on the issue of

standing. On April 26, 2006, Plaintiffs filed a Supplemental Brief re Standing. Plaintiffs assert they

have standing to challenge each provision of Measure C based on their own stake in the lawsuit,

which includes the administrative burden of complying with Measure C, the invasion of their

employees' privacy rights, and the direct monetary costs and interference with their operations. In

addition, Plaintiffs argue that it is unnecessary to establish independent standing grounds for every

potential argument and sub-issue. 

On May 3, 2006, Defendant filed its Supplemental Brief in Opposition to Motion for

Preliminary Injunction. In the Supplemental Brief, Defendant argues that Plaintiffs have the burden

of demonstrating standing, they must establish such standing for each challenged provision,

administrative monitoring and reporting obligations do not constitute injury, and Plaintiffs have

failed to demonstrate that Measure C requires them to change their business operations or otherwise

injures them. 

LEGAL STANDARD

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65 permits the issuance of a preliminary injunction to

preserve the positions of the parties until a full trial can be conducted. LGS Architects, Inc. v.

Concordia Homes, 434 F.3d 1150, 1158 (9th Cir. 2006) (citing University of Texas v. Camenisch,

451 U.S. 390, 395 (1981)). When a party is seeking a preliminary injunction, he or she must show

either: "(1) a combination of probable success on the merits and the possibility of irreparable injury,

or (2) that serious questions are raised and the balance of hardships tips sharply in [her or his

favor]." Stuhlbarg Int'l Sales Co. v. John D. Brush & Co., Inc., 240 F.3d 832, 839- 40 (9th Cir.

2001). "These two formulations represent two points on a sliding scale in which the required degree

of irreparable harm increases as the probability of success decreases." Roe v. Anderson, 134 F.3d

1400, 1402 (9th Cir. 1998). 

Under the sliding scale theory, a party seeking an injunction "need not demonstrate that he

will succeed on the merits, but must at least show that his cause presents serious questions of law

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worthy of litigation." Topanga Press, Inc. v. City of Los Angeles, 989 F.2d 1524, 1528 (9th Cir.

1993). "Serious questions" are those which are "substantial, difficult, and doubtful, as to make them

fair ground for litigation and thus for more deliberative investigation." Senate of State of Cal. v.

Mosbacher, 968 F. 2d 974, 977-78 (9th Cir. 1992) (citing Gilder v. PGA Tour, Inc., 936 F. 2d 417,

422 (9th Cir. 1991)); Republic of the Philippines v. Marcos, 862 F. 2d 1355, 1362 (9th Cir. 1988)

("'serious questions' refers to questions which cannot be resolved one way or the other at the hearing

on the injunction and as to which the court perceives a need to preserve the status quo lest one side

prevent resolution of the questions or execution of any judgment by altering the status quo."). 

Although the serious questions posed by the movant "need not promise a certainty of success, nor

even a probability of success," he or she must nevertheless demonstrate a "fair chance of success" on

the merits. Gilder, 936 F.2d at 422; see also Senate of State of Cal., 968 F.2d at 977. Finally, under

either of these tests, in cases where the public interest may be affected, the court must consider the

public interest as a factor in balancing the hardships. Harris v. Bd. of Supervisors, 366 F.3d 754,

760 (9th Cir. 2004) (citing Fund for Animals, Inc. v. Lujan, 962 F.2d 1391, 1400 (9th Cir. 1992)).

"'The grant of a preliminary injunction is the exercise of a very far reaching power never to

be indulged except in a case clearly warranting it.'" Sierra Club v. Hickel, 433 F.2d 24, 33 (9th Cir.

1970). See also Clairol Inc. v. Gillette Co., 389 F.2d 264, 265 (2d Cir. 1968) ("The award of a

preliminary injunction is an extraordinary remedy, and will not be granted except upon a clear

showing of probable success and possible irreperable injury.") (emphasis added).

ANALYSIS

I. Standing

To meet Article III standing requirements, Plaintiffs must establish that (1) they suffered an

actual and imminent injury, which is concrete and particularized, not hypothetical or conjectural; (2)

there is a causal connection between the injury and the conduct of which Plaintiffs complain; and (3)

it is likely, rather than speculative, that the injury will be redressed by a favorable decision. Lujan v.

Defenders of Wildlife, 504 U.S. 555, 560-61 (1992). The burden of proof for standing rests on the

Plaintiffs. Id. Thus, if Plaintiffs fail to allege facts essential to show jurisdiction, they have no

standing. FW/PBS, Inc. v. City of Dallas, 493 U.S. 215, 231 (1990), overruled in part on other

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 Plaintiffs argue that they are not required to establish independent standing grounds for

every potential argument and sub-issue. To the extent Plaintiffs are arguing that they are not

required to establish independent standing grounds for each challenged provision of Measure C, they

are incorrect.

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grounds by City of Littleton v. Z.J. Gifts D-4, LLC, 541 U.S. 774 (2004). When only injunctive and

declaratory relief is sought, Plaintiffs must show a significant possibility of future harm in order to

have standing to bring suit. See Nelsen v. King County, 895 F.2d 1248, 1250 (9th Cir.1990). 

Pre-enforcement review of an ordinance is usually granted when the ordinance imposes costly,

self-executing compliance burdens. National Rifle Ass'n of America v. Magaw, 132 F.3d 272, 279

(6th Cir. 1997).

As a preliminary matter, Plaintiffs are required to establish standing as to each provision of

Measure C, since they are challenging all provisions.3

 See FW/PBS, 493 U.S. at 231 (finding that

plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge two provisions of the ordinance, but had standing to challenge

other provisions); Clark v. Lakewood, 259 F.3d 996, 1006 (9th Cir. 2001) (“A plaintiff may have

standing to challenge some provisions of a law, but not others.”). 

Plaintiffs assert three bases for standing. First, Plaintiffs argue that they have standing to

challenge the ordinance because as hotels that have more than 50 rooms, they are a target of the

ordinance. Plaintiffs rely on Skull Valley Band of Goshute Indians v. Nielson, 376 F.3d 1223 (10th

Cir. 2004), in which the Tenth Circuit found standing to challenge a state law restricting storage

activities. However, while the Court finds Skull Valley instructive, it is distinguishable because the

statutes challenged in Skull Valley imposed a "substantial burden" on plaintiffs, such as payment of a

five-million-dollar nonrefundable application fee, compliance with complex state regulatory

requirements, the posting of a two-billion-dollar bond, and infringement upon the Indian tribe’s

inherent tribal sovereignty. Here, on the other hand, Plaintiffs allege "huge administrative burdens"

to ensure compliance of subcontractors with minimum wage requirements, "time and money to

measure the floor space being cleaned by each room cleaner on an hour-by-hour basis," and

"implement[ing] specific policies to avoid . . . output-based wage rates." Lacy Decl., ¶¶ 12, 18, 19. 

While Plaintiffs allege "huge administrative burdens," they do not provide any basis for this Court to

conclude that Measure C requirements will result in huge burdens. In fact, Plaintiffs' allegations

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 Although Plaintiffs assert substantial administrative burdens for all of the provisions of

Measure C, they have not provided factual support with respect to all of the provisions. Counsel's

conclusory statement to the contrary is insufficient to meet Plaintiffs' burden of showing standing as

to each provision. See FW/PBS, 493 U.S. at 235 (“the necessary factual predicate [for standing

purposes] may not be gleaned from the briefs”). Rather, Plaintiffs have shown that an administrative

burden is imposed on them only by certain provisions of the Ordinance, as discussed herein. 

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lead the Court to conclude that the burdens imposed on Plaintiffs – measuring floor space, obtaining

data on wages from subcontractors, and changing certain policies – do not rise to the level of the

"substantial burden" present in Skull Valley. In addition, not every provision of Measure C imposes

such administrative burdens on Plaintiffs. Accordingly, the fact that Plaintiffs are a “target” of the

Ordinance and that the Ordinance on its face applies to them is insufficient to confer standing on

Plaintiffs to challenge the Ordinance in its entirety. See Clark, 259 F.3d at 1006-07 (owner of an

adult cabaret had standing to challenge some, but not all, provisions of the City of Lakewood's adult

cabaret ordinance, even though the ordinance on its face applied to the owner's business).

The Court will next address whether Plaintiffs carried their burden to show standing with

respect to each provision of Measure C.4

A. Minimum Wage Provision

Measure C provides that the Hotels must pay each employee at least $9 per hour, and the

average compensation of all employees during a calendar year shall be at least $11 per hour.

Ordinance, § I.A. The compensation is defined as wages (or salary) and health benefits. If employer

contributions for health benefits are not paid on an hourly basis but the employer nonetheless wishes

a credit for such payments, it must present data to the City concerning hours worked and health

contributions made, and the City Manager or his designee shall estimate the value of such benefits

on an hourly basis. Id. The rates shall be upwardly adjusted annually based on a regional Consumer

Price Index. Id.

Plaintiffs do not argue that they pay their employees less than $9.00 per hour. However, they

claim that Measure C’s broad definition of “employee” imposes substantial administrative and

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 Measure C provides: “‘Employee’ includes not only common-law employees of the

operator, but also persons regularly engaged on the premises in providing services to hotel guests as

a contractor, subcontractor, tenant, subtenant, licensee or sublicensee, or as an employee thereof. 

Workers who are not common-law employees of the operator shall not be deemed 'regularly

engaged' on the premises unless they spend more than five hours per week there for more than four

weeks. The permittee shall remain ultimately liable for compliance with this Ordinance regardless

of whether or not it is the common-law employer of the Employees. ‘Employee’ does not include

any managerial or administrative employees receiving more than $50,000 per year in wages, salary,

bonus, commission or other compensation from the Hotel.” Id., § III.2.

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 In addition, Plaintiffs provide evidence regarding the wages paid by some of these

contractors and the burden of calculating the minimum and average wage for the contractors and

coordinating compliance. Davies Decl., ¶¶ 16, 17. Defendant objects to this evidence as

speculative, conclusory, assuming facts not in evidence, and lacking in personal knowledge and

foundation. The Court finds this evidence speculative. For example, De Davies, the General

Manager for Plaintiff Woodfin Suite Hotels, LLC, declares that "Woodfin currently has no legal or

contractual right to access the private payroll records of its contractors." Davies Decl., ¶ 14. At the

same time, Davies declares that he is "certain that at least some of the contractors must have

employees who are paid at an hourly rate of less than $9.00 and an average rate of less than $11.00. 

If Woodfin were able to ascertain these figures for compliance issues, it could be financially liable in

some way for any payment shortfall by its contractors." Davies Decl., ¶ 17. If Plaintiffs are unable

to ascertain the contractors' pay rate for the employees, as they allege, Plaintiffs cannot also claim

that they are certain that the contractors pay less than Measure C now requires. The Court therefore

SUSTAINS Defendant's objection to this evidence. Even if the Court were to consider this

evidence, the Court would not rely on it because the Court finds that the time and cost Plaintiffs will

incur in coordinating compliance efforts with the subcontractors constitute a sufficient injury-in-fact

to confer standing on Plaintiffs to challenge this provision. See Retail Industry, – F. Supp. 2d –,

2006 WL 2007654, *3. 

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monetary burdens on them.5 Specifically, Plaintiffs provide evidence that there are many contractors

with whom Plaintiffs will have to negotiate compliance issues, including elevator service, computer

technology service, thirteen food and wine purveyors, a roofing contractor, a landscaping contractor,

land association services, fire and safety equipment service contracts, and others. Supplemental

Declaration of De Davies in Support of Plaintiffs' Supplemental Brief re Standing ("Davies Decl."),

¶ 9; Supplemental Declaration of Randy H. Lacy in Support of Plaintiffs' Supplemental Brief re

Standing ("Lacy Decl."), ¶ 7. Some of the contractors have informed Plaintiffs that they will not

provide payroll data to Plaintiffs, and Plaintiffs have no way to force them to do so. Davies Decl., ¶

10; Lacy Decl., ¶ 8.6

 In order for Plaintiffs to comply with the minimum wage provision, Plaintiffs

will have to ensure that the contractors’ employees who fall under the Ordinance's definition of

“employee” receive $9 per hour minimum wage and $11 per hour average wage. The time and cost

incurred in coordinating compliance efforts with the contractors impose a concrete and particular

burden on Plaintiffs, that absent the Ordinance they would not have to assume. See Retail Industry

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 Defendant objects to this evidence on the grounds that it is speculative, irrelevant,

conclusory, assumes facts not in evidence, and calls for legal conclusion. Plaintiffs have not

provided any evidence suggesting that they have attempted to hire a management company or plan

to do so in the near future. Furthermore, Plaintiffs do not show that a new management company

will constitute a new employer for purposes of the 90-day provision and thus would trigger it. 

Accordingly, the Court finds that this evidence is speculative and irrelevant and therefore

SUSTAINS Defendant's objections. See,e.g., Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. County of Clark, 125

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Leaders Ass'n v. Fielder, – F. Supp. 2d –, 2006 WL 2007654, *3 (D. Md. July 19, 2006) (the

challenged statute required certain employers to report on an annual basis information such as the

number of employees, the amounts spent in the preceding year on health insurance, and the

percentage of payroll that amount constituted; the court found that the time and cost incurred in

meeting this requirement, while somewhat trivial, was nevertheless a concrete and particular injuryin-fact sufficient for standing purposes). Because the Court finds the reasoning of Retail Industry

persuasive, it finds that Plaintiffs have standing to challenge the minimum wage provision of the

Ordinance. 

B. Provision Regarding Protection of Employees from Unjust Discharges When a

New Employer Takes Over 

Section I.B. of the Ordinance provides that if there is a sale of the hotel or other change

resulting in a new person or entity taking over as an employer at the hotel, the new employer must

retain all employees for at least 90 calendar days unless there is reasonable and substantiated cause

to discharge such employee based on that employee’s performance or conduct. In the event of a

layoff during the first 90 days of the new employer’s operation, the laid off employee shall be

entitled to reinstatement should any position become available within the following 24 months

which the employee can perform. Plaintiffs argue that this provision requires them to “immediately

alter” their at-will employment policy by restricting their ability to terminate employees during a 90-

day period following a sale or a change in an employer at the hotel. Davies Decl., ¶ 26; Lacy Decl.,

¶ 24. According to Plaintiffs, hotels frequently “contract with specialized management companies to

run all or part of a hotel’s operations” and, under Measure C, Plaintiffs cannot hire any such

management company without suspending their at-will employment policy. Davies Decl., ¶ 27;

Lacy Decl., ¶ 25.7

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F.Supp.2d 420, 430 (D. Nev. 1999) (the court found an affidavit provided by Wal-Mart's director of

real estate that Wal Mart had plans for two additional "Supercenters" in the next 18-24 months

"speculative in nature," because no evidence was provided that land for these additional sites had

been purchased or pieces of property had been identified for development).

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The Court is not persuaded by Plaintiffs' arguments given the absence of any assertion by

Plaintiffs that there are any plans or likelihood of a sale of the hotel or a change in employers. In

Essence, Inc. v. City of Federal Heights, 285 F.3d 1272, 1281 (10th Cir. 2002), the Tenth Circuit

found that plaintiffs, a nude dancing establishment and two women denied employment as dancers,

lacked standing to challenge a portion of an ordinance which allowed the city to deny a business or

employee license based on previous criminal convictions. The court noted that there was no

allegation that the dancing establishment is owned or controlled by any individuals subject to the

challenged portion. Nor was there an allegation that the individual plaintiffs have been convicted of

crimes. The court explained that “[m]erely because [the dancing establishment] is prospectively

inhibited from such ownership and employment arrangements is in this case a hypothetical injury.” 

Id. In addition, the court found that plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge the section of the

ordinance allowing the denial of an application for a business license for an adult entertainment

establishment. The dancing establishment already had a license. While the ordinance required a

new application in the event of a change in ownership, the dancing establishment had not alleged

that it would change ownership or was likely to do so. Thus, the court found that it was "pure

conjecture" to conclude that the dancing establishment would again have to apply for a new license. 

Id. 

Similarly, Plaintiffs have not alleged that there are any plans to sell the hotel or change any

employer. Instead, they only assert conclusory allegations regarding what is common in the hotel

industry. Accordingly, the Court finds that Plaintiffs have not demonstrated that they have standing

to challenge this provision of the Ordinance because the injury they allege is hypothetical. 

C. Workload Standards for Room Cleaners Provision

Section I.C. of the Ordinance provides that employees working as room cleaners shall be

paid at least time-and-a-half the minimum average compensation of $11 per hour for all time worked

in a day if required to clean rooms amounting to more than 5,000 square feet of floorspace in an

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 Defendant objects to this evidence on the grounds that it is speculative, conclusory,

irrelevant, and lacks foundation, and argues that Plaintiffs have not asserted that any employee at

this time cleans more than 5,000 square feet of floor space in a workday. Plaintiffs did not have to

calculate the floorspace cleaned by each room cleaner until the Ordinance was passed. See

Plaintiffs' Supplemental Brief re Standing at 5; Lacy Decl., ¶ 18. Plaintiffs cannot be required to

bear this expense to support a motion in which they argue that they should not have to expend this

time and money. Thus, the Court OVERRULES Defendant’s objections to this evidence.

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eight-hour workday. Plaintiffs argue that tracking of employee compliance with the square footage

based compensation scheme would require them to spend time and money to measure the floor space

being cleaned by each room cleaner on an hour-by-hour basis, and to implement specific policies to

avoid paying time-and-a-half to room cleaners, which would restrict productivity. Davies Decl., ¶

20; Lacy Decl., ¶ 18.8

 The administrative burden of measuring floor space, even if trivial, is

nevertheless a concrete and particular burden which Plaintiffs would not otherwise be required to

assume absent this Ordinance. See Retail Industry, – F.Supp. –, 2006 WL 2007654 at *3. 

Accordingly, the Court finds that Plaintiffs have standing to challenge this provision. 

D. Paid Leave for Jury Duty Provision

Section I.D. requires each large hotel to ensure that employees are provided with paid leave

for jury duty. Plaintiffs neither make an argument nor provide any evidence how this provision

injures them. They do not assert that they currently do not provide paid leave for jury duty. 

Plaintiffs simply argue, conclusorily, that “substantial administrative burdens are imposed on

Plaintiffs as a result of every one of Measure C’s regulatory requirements.” Plaintiffs bear the

burden of proof with respect to standing to challenge each provision. They have not carried their

burden with respect to this provision. See FW/PBS, 493 U.S. at 235 (“the necessary factual

predicate [for standing purposes] may not be gleaned from the briefs”). The Court is not inclined to

fill the void with assumptions. Thus, the Court finds that Plaintiffs have not demonstrated that they

have standing to challenge this provision. 

E. Compliance with Enforcement Provision 

Section I.E. provides that hotel compliance with enforcement provisions, set forth in section

IV of the Ordinance, shall also be a condition for a permit. Since the Court finds that Plaintiffs have

standing to challenge one of the enforcement provisions, see infra at 14, and Section I.E. necessarily

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relies on all enforcement provisions, the Court finds that Plaintiffs have standing to challenge this

provision.

F. City Costs to Be Covered by Permit Fees Provision

Section II of the Ordinance provides that each hotel subject to the Ordinance shall pay a

permit fee annually to the City representing its share of city costs in enforcing the Ordinance. The

permit fee is a concrete and particular burden which Plaintiffs would not otherwise be required to

assume absent this Ordinance. See Retail Industry, – F.Supp. –, 2006 WL 2007654 at *3.

Accordingly, the Court finds that Plaintiffs have standing to challenge this provision. 

G. Enforcement Provisions

Section IV contains the enforcement provisions which enable the City, City residents,

organizations operating within the City and employees of large hotels to enforce the Ordinance.

Specifically, such persons or entities can bring an action in the Superior or Municipal Court for

injunctive relief and to collect damages for all persons injured by the violation of the Ordinance and

to collect penalties for the City. The enforcement provisions further require each large hotel to

maintain a record of each employee's name, pay rate, and if the hotel claims credit for health

benefits, the sums paid by the hotel for the employee’s health benefits. The hotel is required to

submit to the City a copy of such records annually. Finally, the enforcement provisions require each

large hotel to permit reasonable access to its workforce inside the hotel to authorized City

representatives or any organization assisting employees in the hospitality industry. The access may

be used solely for the purpose of monitoring compliance with the Ordinance, and it includes the

right of City representatives to inspect and copy payroll records, which information may only be

used for purpose of enforcing the Ordinance. 

Plaintiffs claim that this provision injures them because: (1) disclosure of employee records

to City officials would make them publicly accessible to any request under the California Public

Records Act; (2) employees will quit if salary and social security numbers are released; and (3)

access to the workforce would damage Plaintiffs' ability to maintain good order and discipline.

Davies Decl., ¶ 32 ("Many of [the hotel's] employees have reported that they will quit their jobs with

no advance notice if [the hotel] turns over their salary and social security information to outside

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9

 Defendant objects to this evidence on the grounds that it is speculative, conclusory, lacks

foundations, lacks personal knowledge, and assumes facts not in evidence. The Court

OVERRULES Defendant's objections as moot because the Court finds that Plaintiffs have not

demonstrated that they have standing to assert rights of third-parties, namely, their employees. 

13

parties."); Lacy Decl., ¶¶ 28, 29 ("Allowing outside groups to enter [the hotel's] premises and solicit

its workforce during their work hours will be very harmful to its ability to maintain good order and

discipline within its workforce. [New paragraph] Measure C also requires the disclosure of [the

hotel's] employee 'payroll' records to City officials, whereupon they could become publicly

accessible to any request under the California Public Records Act ('CPRA'). [The hotel's] payroll

records include private information . . . . As the custodian of these private records, [the hotel] has a

duty to prevent any public disclosure of this information.").9 

Under the doctrine of "third-party" or "jus tertii" standing, plaintiffs may assert the rights of

others not before the court if they show that: (1) they have a close relationship with the person who

possesses the right, and (2) there is a hindrance to the possessor's ability to protect his or her own

interests. Aid for Women v. Foulston, 441 F.3d 1101, 1111-12 (10th Cir. 2006). Plaintiffs have

made no such showing. Even if the Court were to find that Plaintiffs have the requisite close

relationship with their employees, Plaintiffs have not shown that there is a hindrance to the

employees' ability to protect their own interests. Requiring employees to assert their own rights is

essential to ensure effective advocacy. See, e.g., Viceroy Gold Corp. v. Aubry, 75 F.3d 482, 489 (9th

Cir. 1996) (finding that employer did not have standing to assert its employees' NLRA preemption

claim); U.S. v. Amalgamated Life Ins. Co., 534 F. Supp. 676, 679 n. 5 (S.D.N.Y. 1982) (“[T]here is 

. . . a danger in recognizing standing for a party asserting the privacy rights of others when the

interests of the party asserting the privacy rights and the parties possessing the privacy rights differ. 

The third party, whether an employer or insurance company, may present a more vigorous defense

on privacy grounds than would the employees after properly considering all of their interests.”). 

Thus, Plaintiffs have not demonstrated that they have standing to challenge Measure C's

enforcement provisions on behalf of their employees. 

Furthermore, Plaintiffs have not demonstrated that the enforcement provision requiring

hotels to allow city representatives to inspect and copy employees' payroll records injures them. 

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10 Measure C defines employees as those who receive compensation under $50, 000 per

year. None of the declarants states that he or she receives compensation under $50,000 or that

Measure C applies to him or her.

14

They have produced four declarations from employees speculating that they may be inclined to quit

if third parties such as City representatives or City residents have access to their payroll records and

social security numbers without their authorization. See Declaration of Christopher Maikish (a sales

manager); Declaration of Nonito Matocinos (a food and beverage manager); Declaration of Monica

Roca (administrative bookkeeper); Declaration of Noel Franco (banquet server). Defendant objects

to these declarations on the grounds that they lack foundation because Measure C does not require

disclosure of personnel and payroll information to any City resident; they are irrelevant and

speculative; and they assume facts not in evidence. First, it is not clear that Measure C actually

applies to any of these declarants.10 If Measure C does not apply to these employees, the evidence

that they may be inclined to quit is irrelevant. Furthermore, California Government Code Section

6254(n) exempts from disclosure "personal financial data required by a licensing agency and filed by

an applicant with the licensing agency to establish his or her personal qualifications for the license,

certificate or permit applied for.” Cal. Gov. Code § 6254(n). Section 6254(c) exempts from

disclosure "personnel, medical, or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute an

unwarranted invasion of personal privacy." Cal. Gov. Code § 6254(c). Consequently, the disclosure

of employee information for licensing and regulatory purposes would not result in a public

disclosure because it is insulated from disclosure pursuant to the California Public Records Act. In

addition, state agencies already have the right to review payroll records in connection with state

minimum wage laws. Cal. Lab. Code § 1174(b). Thus, Plaintiffs will not suffer any additional

burdens as a result of Measure C. 

Similarly, Plaintiffs have not provided any evidence that allowing outside groups to enter

Plaintiffs' premises and solicit its workforce during their work hours will disrupt good order and

discipline, except to provide the Court with a conclusory prediction to that effect, which is

insufficient to confer standing on Plaintiffs. See United Transp. Union v. I.C.C., 891 F.2d 908, 912

(D.C.C. 1989) ("When considering any chain of allegations for standing purposes, we may reject as

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overly speculative those links which are predictions of future events . . . .); Allen v. Wright, 468 U.S.

737, 751 (1984) ("The injury alleged must be . . . 'distinct and palpable' . . . and not 'abstract' or

'conjectural' or 'hypothetical' . . . ."). Since access is only allowed to ensure compliance or

investigate a complaint of non-compliance with Measure C, there is no basis to conclude that such

access would result in inappropriate solicitation of Plaintiffs' employees by unions and, as a

consequence, a disruption of "good order and discipline." 

The only enforcement provision for which Plaintiffs have made a sufficient showing of

standing relates to maintenance of employee records and the annual provision of a copy of these

records to the City. See Ordinance, § IV.E. For the reasons discussed with respect to provisions

under sections I.A. and I.C. of the Ordinance, the Court finds that the time and expense mandated by

such an annual reporting requirement is sufficient to constitute injury-in-fact. See supra at 7-8, 10-

11. See also Retail Industry, – F. Supp. 2d –, 2006 WL 2007654, *3. 

For the foregoing reasons, the Court finds that Plaintiffs have not demonstrated that they

have standing to challenge any provisions of the Ordinance, except for the minimum wage

provision, set forth in section I.A.; the workload standards for room cleaners provision, set forth in

section I.C.; the compliance with enforcement provision, set forth in section I.E.; the permit fees

provision, set forth in section II; and the annual reporting requirement, set forth in section IV.E. 

II. Preliminary Injunction

A. Irreparable Injury

When a party is seeking a preliminary injunction, they must show either: "(1) a combination

of probable success on the merits and the possibility of irreparable injury, or (2) that serious

questions are raised and the balance of hardships tips sharply in [his or her favor]." Stuhlbarg Int'l

Sales Co., 240 F.3d at 839- 40. "These two formulations represent two points on a sliding scale in

which the required degree of irreparable harm increases as the probability of success decreases." 

Roe, 134 F.3d at 1402. "Under any formulation of the test, plaintiff must demonstrate that there

exists a significant threat of irreparable injury." Oakland Tribune, Inc. v. Chronicle Publishing Co.,

762 F.2d 1374, 1376 (9th Cir. 1985). If the Court determines that Plaintiffs have not made a

showing of "a significant threat of irreparable injury," the Court does not need to decide whether

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Plaintiffs will succeed on the merits. Id. 

Plaintiffs argue that they will suffer irreparable injury because (1) if they are required to

increase employee compensation and Measure C is ultimately invalidated, California Labor Code §

221 would prevent them from recouping any additional wages paid to meet the minimum

compensation requirements of Measure C; (2) Plaintiffs would have to alter pre-existing contracts

with third-parties since several of the third-party contractors indicated that they would sever the

contracts with Plaintiffs rather than operate under the terms imposed by Measure C; (3) Measure C

would disrupt operations by allowing impermissible union solicitations of employees; and (4)

Measure C interferes with the state and federal constitutional rights of Plaintiffs, their employees

and contractors.

Plaintiffs' first contention, as presented, is without merit. Plaintiffs have not alleged or

provided any evidence that they will have to increase their employee compensation. Defendant

asserts that Plaintiffs were already paying their employees the minimum wages required by Measure

C prior to Measure C's enactment, and Plaintiffs have neither rebutted nor responded to Defendant's

assertion. Clearly, without any assertion or evidence that they will have to raise wages, there is no

legitimate basis to conclude that they will need to recoup additional wages paid. 

Plaintiffs' second argument that damage to existing business relationships and accumulated

goodwill constitutes a threat of irreparable harm is not persuasive. Plaintiffs' reliance on Stuhlbarg

Int'l Sales Co. v. John D. Brush & Co., 240 F.3d 832, 841 (9th Cir. 2001) to support this proposition

is misplaced, because it is a trademark case, and irreparable injury may be presumed from a showing

of the likelihood of success on the merits (which involves the likelihood of confusion between

plaintiff's and defendant's marks) in trademark cases. See GoTo.com, Inc. v. Walt Disney Co., 202

F.3d 1199, 1205 n. 4 (9th Cir. 2000). Outside of trademark cases, "'economic and reputational

injuries are generally not irreparable.'" Bannum, Inc. v. District of Columbia, – F.Supp.2d –, 2006

WL 832466, at *2 (D.D.C. March 30, 2006) (internal citation omitted); see also Vera, Inc. v. Tug

Dakota, 769 F.Supp. 451, 454 (E.D.N.Y. 1991) ("[I]f the wrongful activity threatens only the

disruption as opposed to the destruction of an ongoing business there is no irreparable injury."). 

This is because economic and reputational injuries can be adequately compensated at a later date, in

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the ordinary course of litigation. Here, Plaintiffs have not shown that their businesses will be

destroyed if, as Plaintiffs allege, several subcontractors terminate their contracts with Plaintiffs. Nor

have Plaintiffs shown that the economic damages they will suffer as a result of having to find new

subcontractors cannot be adequately compensated at a later time.

Plaintiffs' third contention is that they will suffer irreparable harm because Measure C would

disrupt operations by allowing impermissible union solicitations of employees. Plaintiffs lack

standing to challenge the provision, allowing any organization assisting employees in the hospitality

industry access to the hotels' workforce to be used for the purpose of monitoring compliance with

the Ordinance, because they have not provided any evidence that the provision will injure them in

the distinct and palpable, rather than conjectural or hypothetical way. See supra at 11-14. See also

Allen, 468 U.S. at 751 ("The injury alleged must be . . . 'distinct and palpable' . . . and not 'abstract'

or 'conjectural' or 'hypothetical' . . . ."). The access is allowed solely for the purpose of monitoring

compliance with the Ordinance. Thus, Plaintiffs' allegations that unions will use such access to

impermissibly solicit their employees to join the unions is wholly speculative. It is well-settled that

a preliminary injunction will not issue to prevent a mere speculative injury. See Regents of

University of California v. American Broadcasting Companies, 747 F.2d 511, 523 (9th Cir. 1984). 

Thus, this argument fails as well.

 Finally, Plaintiffs set forth a two-prong argument that Measure C's interference with the state

and federal constitutional rights of Plaintiffs, their employees and contractors constitutes irreparable

harm. First, Plaintiffs assert that the injury to the employees will result from the disclosure of their

confidential information. As discussed previously, Plaintiffs lack standing to assert the rights of

third parties. Second, Plaintiffs rely on Associated Gen. Contractors of Cal., Inc. v. Coalition for

Economic Equity, 950 F.2d 1401, 1412 (9th Cir. 1991), for the proposition that the denial of

constitutional rights constitutes irreparable harm for purposes of injunctive relief. In Associated

Gen. Contractors, the Ninth Circuit reiterated the rule that an alleged unconstitutional infringement

will often be sufficient to presume irreparable harm. Id. However, it reserved the question whether

a presumption arises in cases where a plaintiff, as here, has asserted primarily economic damage. Id.

at 1412 n. 9 (citing Northeastern Florida Chapter of Ass'n of General Contractors of America v.

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City of Jacksonville, 896 F.2d 1283, 1285 (11th Cir. 1990)). In Northeastern, the Eleventh Circuit

found that the presumption did not arise in cases where the plaintiff has asserted primarily economic

damage and has not alleged an invasion of privacy or a violation of the First Amendment rights. Id.

at 1285-86. The following language in Northeastern is particularly instructive: 

When a federal court before trial enjoins the enforcement of a municipal ordinance adopted

by a duly elected city council, the court overrules the decision of the elected representatives

of the people and, thus, in a sense interferes with the processes of democratic government. 

Such a step can occasionally be justified by the Constitution (itself the highest product of

democratic processes). Still, preliminary injunctions of legislative enactments – because

they interfere with the democratic process and lack the safeguards against abuse or error that

come with a full trial on the merits – must be granted reluctantly and only upon a clear

showing that the injunction before trial is definitely demanded by the Constitution and by the

other strict legal and equitable principles that restrain courts. 

Id. at 1285.

Plaintiffs have failed to make a clear showing that the preliminary injunction is necessary to

prevent irreparable harm. Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction is DENIED on that ground. 

See Oakland Tribune, 762 F.2d at 1376 (if the court determines that plaintiffs have not made a

showing of "a significant threat of irreparable injury," the court does not need to decide whether

plaintiffs will succeed on the merits). 

B. Likelihood of Success

Even if the Court were to find that Plaintiffs have demonstrated a significant threat of

irreparable injury, the Court would nevertheless deny the motion for preliminary injunction. 

Plaintiffs have not shown a likelihood of success on the merits. 

i. Preemption by the National Labor Relations Act

(a) Machinists Doctrine

Plaintiffs argue that they are likely to succeed on the merits because Measure C is preempted

by the National Labor Relations Act ("NLRA"). Although the NLRA does not contain an express

preemption clause, "the Supreme Court has nevertheless articulated two NLRA preemption

principles." Associated Builders v. Nunn, 356 F.3d 979, 987 (9th Cir. 2004). The two principles

include the Machinists doctrine and the Garmon doctrine. Plaintiffs assert that Measure C is

preempted by both. 

The Machinists doctrine prohibits States from imposing restrictions on labor and

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management's "'weapon[s] of self-help'" that were left unregulated in the NLRA because Congress

intended for tactical bargaining decisions and conduct "'to be controlled by the free play of economic

forces.'" Associated Builders, 356 F.3d at 987 (citing Lodge 76, Int'l Ass'n of Machinists v. Wis.

Empl. Relations Comm., 427 U.S. 132, 140 (1976)). 

Plaintiffs argue that Measure C is preempted under the NLRA because it targets four hotels,

and interferes with their use of legitimate "economic weapons" in their bargaining with employees. 

They rely on Chamber of Commerce v. Bragdon, 64 F.3d 497 (9th Cir. 1995) as support for their

argument that it is unlawful for "prevailing wage requirements" to target specific entities, especially

when they are "so restrictive as to virtually dictate the results" of collective bargaining. Id. at 501. 

Plaintiffs' reliance on Bragdon is misplaced. In the cases following Bragdon, the Ninth Circuit has

explained that: 

Bragdon must be interpreted in the context of Supreme Court authority and our other, more

recent, rulings on NLRA preemption. While Bragdon emphasized that the Contra Costa

County ordinance 'targets particular workers in a particular industry,' id. at 504, we have

since explained on several occasions that the NLRA does not authorize us to preempt

minimum labor standards simply because they are applicable only to particular workers in a

particular industry. [citations omitted] It is now clear in this Circuit that state substantive

labor standards, including minimum wages, are not invalid simply because they apply to

particular trades, professions, or job classifications rather than to the entire labor market.

Associated Builders, 356 F.3d at 990. Furthermore, Measure C imposes a minimum wage

regulation, rather than a prevailing wage requirement, and the Ninth Circuit in Bragdon expressly

distinguished minimum wage regulations as lawful. Id. at n. 8 (citing Bragdon, 64 F.3d at 502).

Plaintiffs next argue that Measure C infringes on the collective-bargaining process by

"tilt[ing] the negotiating field in labor's favor by giving extra powers to unions . . . ." Motion at 10.

Specifically, Plaintiffs claim that such infringement stems from the following provisions: (1) access

to Plaintiffs' workforce by organizations assisting employees in the hospitality industry for the

purpose of ensuring Plaintiffs' compliance with the Ordinance (§ IV.G); (2) disallowing non-union

employees to waive any provisions of the Ordinance and allowing the unions to waive them (§

IV.D.); and (3) the 90-day stay on layoffs provision following a sale of the hotel or a change of the

employer within the hotel (§ I.B.) Because Plaintiffs have not demonstrated that they have standing

to challenge any of these provisions, none of the arguments supports a finding of a likelihood of

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11 Even if the Court were to find that Plaintiffs have standing to challenge these provisions,

Plaintiffs would still be unable to demonstrate likelihood of success on the merits. For example, the

waiver provision expressly provides an exception to the terms of Measure C for "written valid

collective bargaining agreement[s]." Ordinance, § IV.D. In Viceroy Gold Corp., the Ninth Circuit

addressed section 750.5 of the California Labor Code prohibiting a period of employment more than

eight hours within a 24-hour period for non-union employees, and allowing a period of employment

up to 12 hours when the employer and a labor organization entered into a collective-bargaining

agreement. 75 F.3d at 489. The Ninth Circuit found that such a provision was not preempted by the

Machinists doctrine because it was a narrowly tailored opt-out provision that the Supreme Court

found valid in Lividas v. Bradshaw, 512 U.S. 107 (1994). Here, the waiver provision which does

not allow non-union employees to waive any provisions of Measure C, but allows the unions to

negotiate around Measure C requirements is very similar to the provision in Viceroy and

consequently, it is unlikely to be preempted by the NLRA. 

12 Section I.A.3 provides: "'Compensation' shall be defined herein as wages (or salary) and

health benefits. If employer contributions for health benefits are not paid on an hourly basis but the

Hotel nonetheless wishes a credit for such payments, the Hotel shall present data to the City

concerning hours worked and health contributions made, and the City Manager or his designee shall

estimate the value of such benefits on an hourly basis." 

20

success on the merits.11

Finally, Plaintiffs argue that by virtue of Measure C, City officials are impermissibly injected

into labor negotiations. Specifically, Plaintiffs argue that Measure C requires the City Manager to

fix the value of any benefits package offered by Plaintiffs, thereby manipulating any negotiated

apportionment of employee compensation between cash wages and health benefits. This argument

is pure hyperbole. Measure C requires no such thing. Measure C leaves it to up the employer and

employees to determine how much money to spend on wages versus benefits, or even whether to

provide any benefits. The employer is free to provide benefits on an hourly basis or not on an hourly

basis. Should the employer choose to provide benefits on an hourly basis, the City Manager has no

authority to fix any benefits packages. If the employer chooses to provide benefits and to do so not

on an hourly basis, the employer still does not need to provide any benefits data to the City Manager,

if the employer does not want to receive a credit for such benefits. Only if the employer chooses to

provide health benefits, and to do so not on an hourly basis, and to receive a credit for the benefits,

must the employer present data to the City for the City Manager to estimate the value of such

benefits on an hourly basis. However, Plaintiffs are incorrect in suggesting that the City Manager

has any authority to force the employer to provide a certain amount of health benefits. See

Ordinance, § I.A.3.12 

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13 Section IV.A provides: "If after notice and hearing the City Council Finds a Large Hotel

has violated its permit requirements, the Council shall revoke such permit or attach conditions to the

renewal of such permit sufficient to remedy past violations and prevent future violations." 

21

Plaintiffs also argue that the City is impermissibly injected into ongoing labor negotiations

by virtue of the provision that the City Council can unilaterally determine that Plaintiffs have not

complied with Measure C and attach conditions respecting wages hours and working conditions to

Plaintiffs' rights to continue to operate their hotels. See Ordinance, § IV.A.13 However, the cases on

which Plaintiffs rely to support their argument are clearly distinguishable. See Golden State Transit

Corp. v. Los Angeles, 475 U.S. 608 (1986) (overturning state law that conditioned grant of state

taxicab franchise on settlement of strike with drivers); Machinists , 427 U.S. 132 (overturning state

law prohibiting employees from refusing to work overtime during collective bargaining

negotiations). In Golden State, for example, a taxicab company applied to the City of Los Angeles

for renewal of its operating franchise. While the application was pending, the company's cab drivers

went on strike, halting its operations. The City Council delayed action on the renewal application,

allowing it to expire. During discussion on the application, the Council reached a consensus "for

rejection of an extension with a possibility for reopening the issue if the parties settled their labor

dispute before the franchise expired . . . ." Id. at 611. The Supreme Court, applying the Machinists

doctrine, held the City Council's action illegal. The Court reasoned that the driver's union had the

right to strike and the taxicab company had the right to attempt to hold out long enough to force

concessions from the union. The Court construed the Council's action as improper interference with

the on-going struggle and ruled that "the city was preempted from conditioning Golden State's

franchise renewal on the settlement of the labor dispute." Id. at 618. 

Here, the situation is very different. Plaintiffs' allegations that the City will use this

provision to interfere with the disputes between Plaintiffs and their labor force is pure speculation. 

First, Plaintiffs have not alleged that there is an ongoing labor dispute. Second, this provision is

simply an enforcement tool that the City can use to ensure the hotels' compliance with Measure C's

requirements short of denying the hotels the permit. The provision allows a notice and hearing, and

specifies that if the City attaches the conditions to the renewal of the permit they must be sufficient

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to remedy past violations and prevent future violations of Measure C. It does not provide that the

conditions must be such as to force the hotels' dispute with their labor force, or to deny them an

economic weapon such as an ability to wait out a strike. Because Plaintiffs have not shown that

Measure C imposes restrictions on labor and management's "'weapons] of self-help'" that were left

unregulated in the NLRA," Plaintiffs have not demonstrated that Measure C is likely to be

preempted by the NLRA under the Machinists doctrine. 

(b) Garmon Doctrine

Plaintiffs also argue that Measure C is preempted under the Garmon doctrine exception,

which "prohibits states from regulating fields that Congress intended to occupy fully through the

creation of a continuum between conduct that is either protected or prohibited by the NLRA." 

Associated Builders, 356 F.3d at 987 (citing San Diego Bldg. Trades Council v. Garmon, 359 U.S.

236, 244 (1959)). Plaintiffs argue that Section IV.G. of Measure C, which provides "reasonable

access" by "any organization assisting employees in the hospitality industry" is preempted by the

NLRA under the Garmon doctrine because the "determination of the permissible time, place, and

manner for labor organizing is . . . indisputably within the NLRB's primary jurisdiction." Motion at

13. Because Plaintiffs have not demonstrated that they have standing to challenge the reasonable

access provision and they do not argue that any other provision is preempted by the Garmon

doctrine, they have not demonstrated that Measure C is likely to be preempted by the NLRA under

the Garmon doctrine.

ii. Preemption by the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974

Neither party disputes that the health plans provided by Plaintiffs to their employees are

covered under the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"). ERISA

"supersede[s] any and all State laws insofar as they may now or hereafter relate to any employee

benefit plan . . . ." 29 U.S.C. § 1144(a). The phrase "relate to" has been interpreted to cover state

laws that contain either a "reference to" or a "connection with" a benefit plan covered by ERISA. 

Cal. Div. of Lab. Standards v. Dillingham, 519 U.S. 316, 324 (1997). The "reference to" prong

"applies where the state law in question either acts 'immediately and exclusively' upon an ERISA

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plan or the existence of such a plan is 'essential' to the law's operation." Associated Builders, 356

F.3d at 984 (citing Dillingham, 519 U.S. at 325). The "connection with" prong applies to a state law

"if it falls outside the scope of state laws that Congress understood would survive ERISA or if its

effect is to bind ERISA plans." Id. However, Measure C does not relate to any employee benefit

plan because it contains neither a "reference to," nor a "connection with" a benefit plan as those

terms have been defined by case law.

The only mention of the benefit plans in Measure C is contained in Section I.A.3 which

defines "compensation" for purposes of the Ordinance to include "wages (or salary) and health

benefits." Ordinance, § I.A.3. The "reference to" prong does not apply to Measure C because the

Ordinance does not work "immediately and exclusively" upon Plaintiffs' ERISA plans, and the

existence of such plans is not essential to Measure C's operation. For example, Plaintiffs can comply

with Measure C by providing minimum compensation of at least nine dollars per hour in wages

alone. See Ordinance, § I.A.3 ("'Compensation' shall be defined herein as wages (or salary) and

health benefits. If employer contributions for health benefits are not paid on an hourly basis but the

Hotel nonetheless wishes a credit for such payments, the Hotel shall present data to the City

concerning hours worked and health contributions made . . . .") (emphasis added). 

Plaintiffs argue that, pursuant to Associated Builders & Contractors, Golden Gate Chapter,

Inc. v. Baca, 769 F. Supp. 1537, 1547 (N.D. Cal. 1991), an ordinance that requires the calculation on

a regular basis of the wages and benefits paid to individual workers is preempted by ERISA. 

Defendant responds that Baca is no longer authoritative, in part due to the Ninth Circuit ruling in

WSB Elec., Inc. v. Curry, 88 F.3d 788 (9th Cir. 1996), in which the circuit rejected an ERISA

preemption challenge to a prevailing wage law. The court reasoned that "regardless of how

[employers] write their ERISA plans, or even whether they have ERISA plans at all, they must pay

the prevailing wage, and they may do so through some combination of cash and benefits." Id. at

796. This proposition was reaffirmed by the Ninth Circuit in Associated Builders, 356 F.3d at 986. 

Here, regardless of whether Plaintiffs have ERISA plans, and how they write their plans, the

Ordinance mandates them to pay the minimum wage of $9 per hour and the average minimum wage

of $11 per hour. They may pay the wage through some combination of cash and benefits. Measure

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C does not require Plaintiffs to modify their benefit plans. The choice of amount and type of

benefits remains with Plaintiffs. Measure C does not tell Plaintiffs how to write their ERISA plans

or conditions some requirement on how they write their ERISA plans. Consequently, the fact that

Measure C § I.A.3 allows for the incorporation of both wages and health benefits to meet the

compensation requirements does not mean that the Ordinance relates to an employee benefit plan

and therefore is preempted by ERISA. See WSB, 88 F.3d at 796 (finding no ERISA preemption

where the law mandated that employers paid prevailing wage through some combination of cash and

benefits). Accordingly, Plaintiffs have not demonstrated that Measure C is likely to be preempted

by ERISA.

iii. Conflict with California Wage-and-Hour Law

The California Constitution allows cities and counties to make and enforce ordinances not in

conflict with general laws. Cal. Const., Art. XI § 7. State law will preempt local legislation if the

local legislation duplicates, contradicts, or enters an area which is fully occupied by general law. 

Sherwin-Williams Co. v. City of Los Angeles, 4 Cal. 4th 893, 897-8 (1993) (internal citations

omitted). "Local legislation is 'duplicative' of general law when it is coextensive therewith. 

[Citation omitted.] Similarly, local legislation is 'contradictory' to general law when it is inimical

thereto. [Citation omitted.] Finally, local legislation enters an area that is "fully occupied" by

general law when the Legislature has expressly manifested its intent to 'fully occupy' the area. . . ." 

Id. 

California Labor Code § 1205(b) provides that "[n]othing in [the chapter entitled 'Wages,

Hours and Working Conditions . . .'] shall be deemed to restrict the exercise of local police powers

in a more stringent manner." Thus, California state law expressly contemplates further wage

regulation by individual localities, demonstrating that the Legislature has expressly manifested its

intent not to "fully occupy" the area. It, therefore, follows that California law preempts Measure C

only if it is "duplicative" or "contradictory" to the general law.

Plaintiffs do not argue that Measure C is duplicative of state law; rather, they argue that

Measure C is contradictory to four areas of California state law: (1) the lower minimum wage for

"learners"; (2) the credit for meals and lodging; (3) the impact of Measure C's minimum average

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14 Section 11050.4(A), which applies to all persons employed in the public housekeeping

industry, provides in pertinent part: "Every employer shall pay to each employee wages not less than

. . . six dollars and seventy-five cents ($6.25) per hour for all hours worked effective January 1,

2002, except: LEARNERS: Employees during their 160 hours of employment in occupations in

which they have no previous similar or related experience, may be paid not less than 85 per cent of

the minimum wage rounded to the nearest nickel." 

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compensation rate on the state minimum-wage law; and (4) the concepts of quantity of work versus

time worked. 

As the California Supreme Court explained in Sherwin-Williams, "local legislation is

"contradictory" to general law when it is inimical thereto," 4 Cal. 4th at 897, such as when the local

legislation penalizes conduct which the state law expressly authorizes, or purports to permit conduct

which state law forbids. Bravo Vending v. City of Rancho Mirage, 16 Cal. App. 4th 383, 397

(1993). Plaintiffs first argue that state law explicitly permits a lower minimum rate for "learners,"

which is eliminated by Measure C's minimum compensation rate that applies equally to all

employees, whether or not they are "learners." Motion at 17. See also Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8, §

11050.4(A).14 Defendant, on the other hand, argues that state law does not require employers to hire

"learners," so any impact on their hiring because of the increased compensation rate is not a conflict

but rather an unfortunate side-effect of Measure C's minimum compensation requirements. 

Opposition at 18-19. Defendant is correct. The California "learners" law allowing lower minimum

wage for learners does not conflict with Measure C's requirement that all employees subject to the

Ordinance must be paid at least $9.00 per hour. The Ordinance neither penalizes the conduct state

law expressly authorizes, nor permits conduct that state law forbids. It simply sets the bar higher

which is allowed by California Labor Code § 1205(b). See Gilbert v. City of San Jose (2003) 114

Cal.App.4th 606, 616 (local gaming ordinance was not preempted by state Gambling Control Act

where legislature specifically allowed local governments to promulgate more stringent local

controls). This is particularly true in light of California's public policy, which favors the full

payment of wages for all hours worked. See Armenta v. Osmose, Inc. (2005) 135 Cal.App.4th 314,

324 ("California's labor statutes reflect a strong public policy in favor of full payment of wages for

all hours worked."). This policy is demonstrated by the fact that California law limits the

subminimum wage to be paid to "learners" for the first 160 hours (approximately 20 days), whereas

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its federal counterpart law allows the subminimum wage to be paid for the first 90 days. Thus,

California "learners" law simply sets a floor for the regulation of wage requirements. Measure C

furthers the goal of the state law by providing additional protections to the large hotels' employees in

the City of Emeryville. A different result would be warranted if Measure C imposed additional

requirements that undermined the purpose behind the state law. Thus, Plaintiffs have not

demonstrated that Measure C is likely to be found contradictory to California state law with respect

to "learners."

Next, Plaintiffs claim that Measure C conflicts with the IWC Wage Orders which provide

that employees may agree to receive meals and lodging as a credit toward their minimum-wage

compensation based on specified rates and values. Plaintiffs argue that Measure C conflicts with

this provision because it allows the minimum wage compensation under the Ordinance to be met

solely through a combination of cash and health benefits. Defendant responds that the state law does

not apply to anything beyond the state-imposed minimum wage of $6.75 per hour. Neither parties,

nor the amici provide any legal authorities with respect to this issue. It is Plaintiffs' burden to make

a clear showing of entitlement to injunctive relief. Because Plaintiffs have not carried their burden

with respect to this provision, the Court is unable to conclude on this record that the IWC Wage

Orders are likely to preempt Measure C. 

Plaintiffs also argue that the minimum average compensation rate contained in Measure C is

contradictory to the state minimum-wage law because it "obligates employers to increase the number

of employees at the high end of its current compensation range while decreasing (through

termination or attrition) the number of lower-paid workers on its payroll." Motion at 17 (emphasis

omitted). Plaintiffs focus on the purpose behind the state minimum-wage law, and argue that the

minimum average compensation rate is "at odds with the spirit and purposes of CA's current

minimum-wage law." Motion at 18. While the "spirit" of the state minimum-wage law provides

guidance in discerning the intent of legislature, it is not what the law "expressly authorizes, or . . .

forbids." Bravo Vending, 16 Cal. App. 4th at 397. Consequently, it is not, alone, a valid basis on

which to find a conflict. Moreover, more stringent compensation requirements are expressly

permitted under California Labor Code § 1205(b). 

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Further, Plaintiffs argue that it is nearly impossible for them to maintain the average

compensation rate when independent contractors may hire people at various rates, thereby forcing

either Plaintiffs or other independent contractors to adjust their practice of hiring and firing

employees to maintain the average compensation higher than the required minimum of $11 per hour. 

However, Plaintiffs fail to explain how the challenge in coordinating employee pay by third-party

contractors amounts to a contradiction between Measure C and California state law. 

The final argument set forth by Plaintiffs is that a conflict exists between Measure C's

requirement of $16.50 per hour for any room cleaner who cleans a prorated total of more than 625

square feet per hour. Plaintiffs argue that such a premium for quantity of work is contradictory to

California overtime law which places a premium solely on the number of hours worked. California

Labor Code § 510 states that "[a]ny work in excess of eight hours in one workday . . . shall be

compensated at the rate of no less than one and one-half times the regular rate of pay for an

employee." Consequently, if Plaintiffs' employees worked over eight hours, regardless of the

quantity of the work, they would be afforded overtime pay under state law. Measure C, on the other

hand, provides for overtime pay when employees are required to clean over 5,000 square feet even if

employees work only eight hours. Measure C does not alter the overtime premium payment for the

number of hours worked, it only adds to as an occasion for which overtime premium must be paid

those instances in which an employee is required to clean over 5,000 square feet. Providing

overtime in such a situation is not expressly forbidden or required under state law. Consequently, no

contradiction is created.

iv. Conflict with California's At-Will Employment

Plaintiffs' final argument regarding preemption of Measure C is that the 90-day stay on

terminations following a change in ownership of the hotel or an employer within the hotel conflicts

with the at-will employment provision of California law. The Court has found that Plaintiffs do not

have standing to challenge the 90-day stay provision. See supra. Accordingly, Plaintiffs cannot

succeed on the merits with respect to this claim. 

v. Conflict with Constitutional Privacy Rights

Article I, section 1 of the California Constitution explicitly protects an individual's right to

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privacy against the disclosure of private and confidential information by both private and

governmental bodies. Cal. Const. Art I, sect. 1; see also Gilbert v. City of San Jose, 114 Cal. App.

4th 606, 613 (2003). Privacy rights are subject to a balancing test, and "may be abridged when . . .

there is a 'compelling' and opposing state interest." Bd. of Trs. v. Super. Ct., 119 Cal. App. 3d 516,

525 (1981). 

Plaintiffs argue that the City cannot articulate any compelling need for the private employee

information, and that such information is not necessary to ensure Plaintiffs' compliance with the

Ordinance. Motion at 21. The Court has found that Plaintiffs cannot assert the rights of their

employees. See Section I, supra. Accordingly, Plaintiffs cannot succeed on the merits with respect

to this claim. 

vi. Unconstitutionally Vague and Violates Due Process

"It is a basic principle of due process that an enactment is void for vagueness if its

prohibitions are not clearly defined." Greynard v. City of Rockford, 408 U.S. 104, 108 (1972). To

survive a vagueness challenge, the statute must give the person of ordinary intelligence a reasonable

opportunity to know what is prohibited, so that he may act accordingly. Id. The statute must also

provide explicit standards for those who apply it so that arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement is

prevented. Id. However, "a party challenging the facial validity of an ordinance on vagueness

grounds outside the domain of the First Amendment must demonstrate that 'the enactment is

impermissibly vague in all of its applications.'" Hotel & Motel Ass'n of Oakland v. City of Oakland,

344 F.3d 959, 972 (9th Cir. 2003) (citing Hoffman Estates v. The Flipside, Hoffman Estates, Inc.,

455 U.S. 489, 495 (1982)). In addition, economic regulations are "subject to a less strict vagueness

test because its subject matter is often more narrow and because businesses . . . can be expected to

consult relevant legislation in advance of action." Hoffman Estates, 455 U.S. at 489. Because of the

advanced warning associated with legislative actions, "due process is [generally] satisfied when the

legislative body performs its responsibilities in the normal manner prescribed by law.'" Hotel &

Motel Ass'n, 344 F.3d at 969 (citing Halverson v. Skagit County, 42 F.3d 1257, 1260 (9th Cir. 1995).

Plaintiffs argue that Measure C is unconstitutionally vague because the ordinance (1) uses

the terms "large hotel" and "hotel" interchangeably; (2) fails to identify how Plaintiffs are supposed

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to avoid liability for employees not under their control (i.e., who work for independent contractors);

(3) does not explain what constitutes "reasonable access" to Plaintiffs' workforce; (4) is unclear how

to reconcile the average compensation requirements with existing state laws for calculating regular

and overtime rates; and (5) neglects to provide standards for the City Council to apply in

ascertaining non-compliance. Plaintiffs assert that these ambiguities, in connection with the

penalties for non-compliance identified in Measure C, create an unconstitutional ambiguity and a

violation of due process. Motion at 22-23. 

Plaintiffs admit that the Ordinance applies to them because they are hotels which have over

50 guest rooms. Motion at 22; Ordinance, § III.1. Thus, Plaintiffs cannot complain that the

Ordinance's allegedly vague interchangeable use of the terms "hotel" or "large hotel" is causing them

any harm that would be redressed by favorable decision in this litigation. See Young v. American

Mini Theaters, Inc., 427 U.S. 50, 59 (1976) (plurality opinion) (holding that where ordinance is

unquestionably applicable to a litigant, any vagueness has not affected them and does not violate due

process); Basiardanes v. City of Galveston, 682 F.2d 1203, 1210 (5th Cir. 1982) (plaintiff lacked

standing to challenge the terms of the ordinance for vagueness because the terms clearly applied to

him); Parker v. Levy, 417 U.S. 733, 756 (1974) ("One to whose conduct the statute clearly applies

may not successfully challenge it for vagueness."); United States v. Mazurie, 419 U.S. 544, 550

(1975) ("It is well established that vagueness challenges to statutes which do not involve First

Amendment freedoms must be examined in light of the facts of the case at hand."). Because the

Ordinance clearly applies to them, Plaintiffs have not demonstrated that they have standing to

challenge it for vagueness. In addition, Plaintiffs have not demonstrated that they have standing to

assert that the Ordinance is vague as applied to others. See Basiardanes, 682 F.2d at 1210

("Ordinarily, a litigant to whom a statute clearly applies lacks standing to argue that the statute is

vague as to others."). 

vii. Violation of Equal Protection

The relevant test to determine whether Measure C violates equal protection is whether a

"rational basis" exists for the classification of "Hotels" set forth under Measure C. See Burlington

Northern R.R. Co. v. Dept. of Pub. Serv. Regulations, 763 F.2d 1106, 1109 (9th Cir. 1985). This test

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is applied because the case "involves 'social and economic policy' and neither targets a suspect class

nor impinges upon a fundamental right." RUI One Corp. v. City of Berkeley, 371 F.3d 1137, 1154

(9th Cir. 2004) (citing FCC v. Beach Commun., Inc., 508 U.S. 307, 313 (1993)). Furthermore, "the

rational-basis inquiry is a very lenient one." RUI One, 371 F.3d at 1156. To determine whether this

standard is met, the Court only needs to determine if there are plausible reasons for the legislative

action. Id. at 1154 (citing Beach Commun., 508 U.S. 313-4).

In the Findings section of Measure C, there are a number of rationales set forth in support of

the Ordinance, including the fact that "large hotels are better able to afford the proposed conditions,"

"many large hotels are already meeting the employment conditions required by this Ordinance," the

ordinance is similar to California Labor Code sections already protecting janitors, and "large hotels

are generally less likely to respond by closing or reducing employment." Ordinance, § V. 

Plaintiffs argue that Measure C arbitrarily imposes its regulations on hotel operators with

more than 50 guest rooms and their hotel restaurants, while leaving other businesses with more

employees and greater revenues exempt. Motion at 23. Plaintiffs conclude that this imposition is

not supported by a "legitimate public-policy rationale." Any group or individual "attacking the

rationality of the legislative classification ha[s] the burden 'to negative every conceivable basis

which might support it.'" RUI One, 371 F.3d at 1155 (citing Beach Commun., 508 U.S. at 315)

(brackets in original). Plaintiffs fail to carry that burden. Although all businesses are not covered

under Measure C, "the legislature must be allowed leeway to approach a perceived problem

incrementally...[and] select one phase of one field and apply a remedy there [while] neglecting the

others." RUI One, 371 F.3d at 1155 (citing Beach Commun., 508 U.S. at 316; William v. Lee

Optical of Okla., Inc., 348 U.S. 483, 489 (1955)). This is the preferred approach because the

Constitution presumes that "even improvident decisions will eventually be rectified by the

democratic process and . . . judicial intervention is generally unwarranted no matter how unwisely

we may think a political branch has acted." Retail Industry, – F.Supp. –, 2006 WL 2007654 at 15. 

Under similar circumstances, no violation of the Equal Protection Clause has been found, even when

an ordinance specifically targeted only one company. See id. at 13-16. Consequently, Plaintiffs are

unlikely to successfully assert that Measure C violates an Equal Protection Clause.

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CONCLUSION 

For the reasons stated above, 

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction is DENIED.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT Defendant's request for judicial notice is GRANTED as

to Exhibit A, and DENIED as to Exhibit B.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT Defendant's objections to evidence and supplemental

evidence are SUSTAINED in part and OVERRULED in part.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: 8/22/06 

SAUNDRA BROWN ARMSTRONG

United States District Judge

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