FI L ED

U.S. COURT OF APPEAL S

EL EVENTH CI RCUI T

SEPTEMBER 10, 2010

J OHN L EY

CL ERK [ P U B L I S H ]

I N T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S C O U R T O F A P P E A L S

F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C I R C U I T

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

N o

. 0 9

- 1 2 6 8 3

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

D

. C

. D o c k e t N o

. 0 8

- 6 1 7 6 6

- C V

- P A S

M A R T I N M U L H A L L

,

P l a i n t i f f

- A p p e l l a n t

,

v e r s u s

U N I T E H E R E L O C A L 3 5 5

,

H O L L Y W O O D G R E Y H O U N D T R A C K

, I N C

. , d

. b

. a

. M a r d i G r a s G a m i n g

,

D e f e n d a n t s

- A p p e l l e e s

.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

A p p e a l f r o m t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s D i s t r i c t C o u r t

f o r t h e S o u t h e r n D i s t r i c t o f F l o r i d a

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ( S e p t e m b e r 1 0

, 2 0 1 0 )

B e f o r e B A R K E T T a n d M A R C U S

, C i r c u i t J u d g e s

, a n d H O O D

, D i s t r i c t J u d g e

. *

M A R C U S

, C i r c u i t J u d g e :

Honora ble J oseph M. Hood, United States District Judge f or the Ea stern District of *

Kentucky , sitti ng by

desig nation.M a r t i n M u l h a l l ( “ M u l h a l l ” )

, a n e m p l o y e e a t t h e H o l l y w o o d G r e y h o u n d

T r a c k

, I n c

. , d / b / a M a r d i G r a s G a m i n g ( “ M a r d i G r a s ” )

, a p p e a l s f r o m t h e d i s t r i c t

c o u r t ’ s d i s m i s s a l o f h i s c o m p l a i n t a g a i n s t M a r d i G r a s a n d U N I T E H E R E L o c a l

3 5 5 ( “ U n i t e ” )

, a l a b o r u n i o n

, f o r v i o l a t i o n s o f § 3 0 2 o f t h e L a b o r M a n a g e m e n t

R e l a t i o n s A c t ( “ L M R A ” )

. M u l h a l l s u e d U n i t e a n d M a r d i G r a s t o e n j o i n

e n f o r c e m e n t o f a M e m o r a n d u m o f A g r e e m e n t ( “ M O A ” )

, w h e r e b y U n i t e a g r e e d t o

s p e n d m o n e y i n s u p p o r t o f M a r d i G r a s ’ p u b l i c c a m p a i g n t o o b t a i n a g a m i n g

l i c e n s e

, i n e x c h a n g e f

o r M a r d i G r a s ’ a s s i s t a n c e i n m a k i n g U n i t e t h e e x c l u s i v e

b a r g a i n i n g a g e n t f

o r M a r d i G r a s ’ c u r r e n t l y n o n

- u n i o n i z e d w o r k f o r c e

. A p p e l l a n t

M u l h a l l

, w h o v i g o r o u s l y o p p o s e s b e i n g u n i o n i z e d

, c l a i m s t h a t t h e o r g a n i z i n g

a s s i s t a n c e p r o m i s e d b y M a r d i G r a s v i o l a t e s § 3 0 2 o f t h e L M R A

, w h i c h m a k e s i t

i l l e g a l f o r a n e m p l o y e r t o d e l i v e r

, o r f o r a u n i o n t o r e c e i v e

, a n y “ t h i n g o f v a l u e

, ”

s u b j e c t t o l i m i t e d e x c e p t i o n s

. 2 9 U

. S

. C

. § 1 8 6 ( a )

- ( b )

. T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d i s m i s s e d

M u l h a l l ’ s c o m p l a i n t f

o r l a c k o f s t a n d i n g

, h o l d i n g t h a t h e l a c k e d a c o g n i z a b l e

i n j u r y

. A f t e r t h o r o u g h r e v i e w

, w e c o n c l u d e

, h o w e v e r

, t h a t M u l h a l l h a s s t a n d i n g t o

p r o s e c u t e t h i s c l a i m i n f e d e r a l c o u r t

, a n d t h e r e f

o r e t h a t t h e c a s e i s j u s t i c i a b l e

.

A c c o r d i n g l y

, w e r e v e r s e a n d r e m a n d f o r f u r t h e r p r o c e e d i n g s

.

I

.

M u l h a l l ’ s g r i e v a n c e s t e m s f r o m a M e m o r a n d u m o f A g r e e m e n t c o n c l u d e d

2b e t w e e n M a r d i G r a s a n d U n i t e o n A u g u s t 2 3

, 2 0 0 4

. T h e s u b s t a n c e o f t h e

a g r e e m e n t w a s a s f

o l l o w s

. T h e l o c a l u n i o n

, U n i t e

, p r o m i s e d t o l e n d f i n a n c i a l

s u p p o r t t o a b a l l o t i n i t i a t i v e r e g a r d i n g c a s i n o g a m i n g t h a t w o u l d b e n e f i t M a r d i

G r a s

, a n d

, i f r e c o g n i z e d a s t h e e x c l u s i v e b a r g a i n i n g a g e n t f o r M a r d i G r a s ’

e m p l o y e e s

, t o r e f

r a i n f r o m p i c k e t i n g

, b o y c o t t i n g

, s t r i k i n g

, o r u n d e r t a k i n g “ o t h e r

e c o n o m i c a c t i v i t y ” a g a i n s t M a r d i G r a s

. I n e x c h a n g e

, M a r d i G r a s p r o m i s e d t o h e l p 1

U n i t e o r g a n i z e t h e c o m p a n y ’ s n o n

- u n i o n i z e d w o r k f o r c e

. T h i s a s s i s t a n c e n o t a b l y

i n c l u d e d p r o v i d i n g c o m p l e t e l i s t s o f M a r d i G r a s ’ e m p l o y e e s

, i n c l u d i n g t h e i r j o b

c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s

, d e p a r t m e n t s

, a n d h o m e a d d r e s s e s ; t h e u s e o f M a r d i G r a s ’ p r o p e r t y

, 2

i n c l u d i n g n o n

- p u b l i c a r e a s

, f o r o r g a n i z i n g ; a “ n e u t r a l i t y a g r e e m e n t ” ( w h i c h

3

M u l h a l l c a l l s a “ g a g c l a u s e ” ) t h a t p r o h i b i t s a n y s p e e c h o r a c t i o n s b y M a r d i G r a s o r

“Dur ing the life of this Ag ree ment, the Union will not eng ag e in a strike, pic keting [,] or 1

other e conomic ac tivity

at any g aming fac ility

cover ed by

this Agr eeme nt . . . .” MOA ¶ 11. See

also Complaint, ¶ 11 (descr ibing pr omises of monetary and other support for ba llot propositi on

conce rning g aming ).

“Within t en (10) day s following r ece ipt of written notice of intent to org anize 2

Employ ees, the Employ er w ill furnish the Union with a complete list of Employ ees, inc luding

both full and reg ular pa

rt-time Employ ees, showing their job classifications, departments[,] and

addre sses. Ther eaf

ter, the Employ er w ill provide updated c omplete lists mont hly , or at a longe r

period of time if the Union does not reque st the lists monthly .” MOA ¶ 8.

“I f the Union provide s written notice to the Employ er of its int ent to org anize 3

Employ ees c overe d by

this Agr eeme nt, the Employ er sha ll provide ac cess to its premises and to

such Employ ees by

the Union. The U nion may eng ag e in org anizing ef

forts in non-public ar eas

of the g aming fac ility

during Employ ees’ non-working times (befor e wor k, afte r work, a

nd

during meals and br eaks) and/or during such other pe riods as the pa rties may mutually ag ree

upon.” MOA ¶

7.

3i t s a g e n t s t h a t s t a t e o r i m p l y o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e u n i o n ; a w a i v e r o f M a r d i G r a s ’ r i g h t 4

t o s e e k N L R B

- s u p e r v i s e d s e c r e t e l e c t i o n s t o v e r i f y t h e u n i o n ’ s m a

j o r i t y s t a t u s

, a n d

a n a g r e e m e n t t o a b i d e b y a l e s s f o r m a l “ c a r d

- c h e c k ” p r o c e d u r e i n s t e a d ; a n d a 5

p r o m i s e n o t t o f

i l e u n f a i r l a b o r p r a c t i c e c h a r g e s a g a i n s t U n i t e f o r v i o l a t i o n s o f

e m p l o y e e r i g h t s d u r i n g t h e u n i o n ’ s o r g a n i z i n g c a m p a i g n

. 6

P u r s u a n t t o t h e M O A

, U n i t e s p e n t o v e r $ 1 0 0

, 0 0 0 c a m p a i g n i n g f o r t h e

g a m i n g

- r e l a t e d b a l l o t i n i t i a t i v e f a v o r e d b y M a r d i G r a s

. T h e r e a f t e r

, i n M a y a n d

J u l y 2 0 0 8

, U n i t e s e n t M a r d i G r a s w r i t t e n n o t i c e s o f i t s i n t e n t t o o r g a n i z e M a r d i

G r a s ’ e m p l o y e e s

, a n d d e m a n d e d t h a t M a r d i G r a s p r o v i d e t h e o r g a n i z i n g a s s i s t a n c e

p r o m i s e d i n t h e M O A

. M a r d i G r a s

, h o w e v e r

, r e f u s e d t o p r o v i d e t h e a s s i s t a n c e

,

c l a i m i n g

, w i t h t h e a d v i c e o f n e w l e g a l c o u n s e l

, t h a t t h e M O A w a s i l l e g a l a n d

“The Employ er w ill take a neutr al appr oach to unionization of Employ ees. The 4

Employ er w ill not do any action nor ma ke any

statement that will directly or indirec tly

state or

imply any opposition by

the Employ er to the se lection by such Employ ees of

a collec tive

barg aining ag ent, or pre fer ence for or opposition t o any

particula r union as a ba

rg aining ag ent.”

MOA ¶ 4.

“The Union may

reque st recog nition as the exclusive collective bar g aining ag ent for 5

Employ ees. The Arbitrator selec ted throug h the proc edure s set out [ here in] , or anothe r per son

mutually ag ree d to by

Employ er a

nd Union, will conduct a r eview of Employ ees’ authorization

car ds and member ship information submitt ed by the Union in support of its claim to repre sent a

majority of such Employ ees. I f that re view esta blishes that a majority

of such Employ ees ha s

desig nated the U nion as their exclusive colletive ba rg aining repr esenta tive or joined the Union,

the Employ er w ill recog nize the union as such re prese ntative of such E mploy ees. The Employ er

will not file a petition with the National L abor Rela tions Boar d for a ny elec tion in connection

with any demand f

or re cog nition provided for in this ag ree ment.” MOA ¶ 9.

“The Union and the Employ er w ill not fil e any char g es with the Na tional L abor 6

Relations Boa

rd in conne ction with any act or omission occurring

within the context of thi s

ag ree ment; arbitration . . . shall be the exclusive remedy .” MOA ¶ 9.

4u n e n f

o r c e a b l e

.

U n i t e r e s p o n d e d i n l a t e S e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 8 b y f i l i n g a p e t i t i o n t o c o m p e l

a r b i t r a t i o n

, p u r s u a n t t o t h e M O A ’ s a r b i t r a t i o n c l a u s e

, i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s D i s t r i c t

C o u r t f o r t h e S o u t h e r n D i s t r i c t o f F l o r i d a

. S e e U n i t e H E R E L o c a l 3 5 5 v

.

H o l l y w o o d G r e y h o u n d T r a c k

, I n c

. , C a s e N o

. 0 8

- 6 1 6 5 5

- P A S ( S

. D

. F l a

. 2 0 0 8 )

. 7

U n i t e r e q u e s t e d e n f

o r c e m e n t o f t h e M O A

, b u t a l s o m a d e c l e a r t h a t i f t h e M O A

w e r e f o u n d u n l a w f

u l

, i t w o u l d “ r e q u e s t r e s t i t u t i o n a r y d a m a g e s f r o m t h e a r b i t r a t o r

o r c o u r t b a s e d o n q u a n t u m m e r u i t f o r t h e t i m e a n d m o n e y t h e U n i o n a n d i t s

m e m b e r s s p e n t o n t h e p o l i t i c a l c a m p a i g n t o o b t a i n a g a m i n g l i c e n s e f o r M a r d i G r a s

( e s t i m a t e d a t o v e r $ 1 0 0

, 0 0 0 ) a n d o v e r $ 1 0 0

, 0 0 0 i n b u s i n e s s w h i c h M a r d i G r a s

w o u l d h a v e l o s t f

r o m a b o y c o t t

. ” J o i n t S c h e d u l i n g R p t

. , F e b r u a r y 2 3

, 2 0 0 9

, a t * 2

.

M a r d i G r a s f

i l e d a n a n s w e r a n d c o u n t e r c l a i m e d f o r a d e c l a r a t i o n t h a t t h e M O A w a s

i n v a l i d

.

O n A p r i l 1 5

, 2 0 0 9

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t e n t e r e d a n o r d e r c o m p e l l i n g a r b i t r a t i o n

o f t h e p a r t i e s ’ d i s p u t e

, i n c l u d i n g M a r d i G r a s ’ c l a i m t h a t t h e M O A w a s

u n e n f o r c e a b l e

. T h e m a t t e r w a s a r b i t r a t e d

, a n d o n A u g u s t 6

, 2 0 0 9

, a n a r b i t r a t o r

r e t u r n e d a r u l i n g i n f

a v o r o f U n i t e

, f

i n d i n g t h e M O A e n f

o r c e a b l e a n d r e q u i r i n g

M a r d i G r a s t o p r o v i d e t h e r e q u e s t e d o r g a n i z i n g a s s i s t a n c e

. M a r d i G r a s t h e n

Unite named Ma

rdi Gra s as the sole re spondent, and Mulhall has ne ver be en a pa rty to 7

Unite’s sepa

rate lawsuit ag ainst Mardi Gra s.

5m o v e d t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t t o v a c a t e t h e a w a r d

, a n d U n i t e m o v e d t o c o n f i r m i t

. S e e

H o l l y w o o d G r e y h o u n d R a c e T r a c k

, I n c

. v

. U n i t e H E R E L o c a l 3 5 5

, C a s e N o

. 0 9

-

6 1 7 6 0

- W J Z ( S

. D

. F l a

. 2 0 0 9 )

. T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d e n i e d M a r d i G r a s ’ m o t i o n a n d

c o n f i r m e d t h e a w a r d i n m o s t m a t e r i a l r e s p e c t s

. T h e c o u r t g r a n t e d M a r d i G r a s ’

m o t i o n t o v a c a t e t h e a w a r d o n l y i n s o f a r a s t h e a r b i t r a t o r h a d u n i l a t e r a l l y e x t e n d e d

t h e t e r m s o f t h e M O A b y o n e y e a r

, a p p a r e n t l y a s a n e q u i t a b l e r e m e d y f o r M a r d i

G r a s ’ b r e a c h i n f

a i l i n g t o p r o v i d e t h e c o n t r a c t u a l l y p r o m i s e d o r g a n i z i n g a s s i s t a n c e

.

S e e H o l l y w o o d G r e y h o u n d R a c e T r a c k

, I n c

. v

. U n i t e H E R E L o c a l 3 5 5

, C a s e N o

.

0 9

- 6 1 7 6 0

- Z l o c h ( S

. D

. F l a

. 2 0 0 9 ) ( O r d e r g r a n t i n g i n p a r t a n d d e n y i n g i n p a r t

m o t i o n s t o v a c a t e a n d t o c o n f i r m a r b i t r a t i o n a w a r d

, a t 6 )

.

A l l t h e w h i l e

, M u l h a l l w a s p u r s u i n g h i s o w n e f f o r t t o b l o c k e n f

o r c e m e n t o f

w h a t h e c h a r a c t e r i z e d a s a n i l l e g a l a n d c o l l u s i v e a r r a n g e m e n t b e t w e e n a u n i o n a n d

a n e m p l o y e r

. N o t l o n g a f t e r M a r d i G r a s f

i l e d i t s c o u n t e r c l a i m f

o r d e c l a r a t o r y

r e l i e f

, M u l h a l l f

i l e d h i s o w n a c t i o n ( t h e i n s t a n t c a s e ) s e e k i n g a n i n j u n c t i o n

p u r s u a n t t o § 3 0 2 ( e ) o f t h e L M R A

, 2 9 U

. S

. C

. § 1 8 6 ( e )

, c l a i m i n g t h a t t h e M O A

v i o l a t e d § 3 0 2 ( a )

- ( b ) o f t h e s t a t u t e

. O n A p r i l 2 2

, 2 0 0 9

, o n e w e e k a f t e r o r d e r i n g

M a r d i G r a s a n d U n i t e t o a r b i t r a t e t h e v a l i d i t y o f t h e M O A

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t

d i s m i s s e d M u l h a l l ’ s c o m p l a i n t f o r l a c k o f s t a n d i n g

, h o l d i n g t h a t h e h a d f a i l e d t o

s h o w a n i n

j u r y

- i n

- f a c t t h a t w a s “ a c t u a l o r i m m i n e n t

, ” s i n c e i t w a s p o s s i b l e t h a t h e

6w o u l d n e v e r b e u n i o n i z e d e v e n i f U n i t e r e c e i v e d a l l o f t h e s p e c i f i e d o r g a n i z i n g

a s s i s t a n c e f

r o m t h e H o l l y w o o d G r e y h o u n d T r a c k

.

M u l h a l l t i m e l y f

i l e d t h i s a p p e a l

, c l a i m i n g t o h a v e b o t h A r t i c l e I I I a n d

p r u d e n t i a l s t a n d i n g t o s e e k t o e n j o i n t h e M O A p u r s u a n t t o § 3 0 2

. U n i t e d i s a g r e e s

,

a n d a l s o s a y s t h a t M u l h a l l ’ s c l a i m i s n o t r i p e f o r r e v i e w b e c a u s e M a r d i G r a s h a s

r e f u s e d t o p r o v i d e o r g a n i z i n g a s s i s t a n c e

, a n d m a y n e v e r d o s o

.

I I

.

A

.

W e c o n s i d e r f

i r s t w h e t h e r M u l h a l l h a s A r t i c l e I I I s t a n d i n g

. A s t h e p a r t y

i n v o k i n g f

e d e r a l j u r i s d i c t i o n

, M u l h a l l b e a r s t h e b u r d e n o f d e m o n s t r a t i n g h i s

s t a n d i n g t o s u e

. P i t t m a n v

. C o l e

, 2 6 7 F

. 3 d 1 2 6 9

, 1 2 8 2 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 1 )

. T o d o s o

,

h e m u s t s h o w t h a t : ( 1 ) h e h a s s u f f e r e d

, o r i m m i n e n t l y w i l l s u f f e r

, a n i n j u r y

- i n

- f a c t ;

( 2 ) t h e i n j u r y i s f a i r l y t r a c e a b l e t o t h e d e f e n d a n t s ’ c o n d u c t ; a n d ( 3 ) a f a v o r a b l e

j u d g m e n t i s l i k e l y t o r e d r e s s t h e i n j u r y

. H a r r e l l v

. T h e F l o r i d a B a r

, 6 0 8 F

. 3 d 1 2 4 1

,

1 2 5 3 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 1 0 )

. “ A t t h e p l e a d i n g s t a g e

, g e n e r a l f a c t u a l a l l e g a t i o n s o f i n

j u r y

r e s u l t i n g f

r o m t h e d e f

e n d a n t ’ s c o n d u c t m a y s u f f i c e

, f o r o n a m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s w e

‘ p r e s u m [ e ] t h a t g e n e r a l a l l e g a t i o n s e m b r a c e t h o s e s p e c i f i c f a c t s t h a t a r e n e c e s s a r y

t o s u p p o r t t h e c l a i m

. ’ ” L u j a n v

. D e f

e n d e r s o f W i l d l i f

e

, 5 0 4 U

. S

. 5 5 5

, 5 6 1 ( 1 9 9 2 )

7( q u o t i n g L u j a n v

. N a t ’ l W i l d l i f

e F e d ’ n

, 4 9 7 U

. S

. 8 7 1

, 8 8 9 ( 1 9 9 0 ) )

. W h e t h e r 8

M u l h a l l h a s s t a n d i n g t o s e e k a n i n j u n c t i o n o f t h e M O A p u r s u a n t t o § 3 0 2 i s a l e g a l

i s s u e s u b j e c t t o d e n o v o r e v i e w

. R e g i o n 8 F o r e s t S e r v

. T i m b e r P u r c h a s e r s C o u n c i l

v

. A l c o c k

, 9 9 3 F

. 2 d 8 0 0

, 8 0 6 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 3 )

.

T o d e m o n s t r a t e a n i n

j u r y

- i n

- f a c t

, M u l h a l l i s r e q u i r e d t o s h o w t h a t h e h a s a

l e g a l l y c o g n i z a b l e i n t e r e s t t h a t h a s b e e n o r i s i m m i n e n t l y a t r i s k o f b e i n g i n v a d e d

.

L u j a n

, 5 0 4 U

. S

. a t 5 6 0

. T h i s r e q u i r e m e n t m e r e l y e n s u r e s t h a t M u l h a l l

, l i k e a n y

p l a i n t i f f

, “ h a s ‘ a l l e g e d s u c h a p e r s o n a l s t a k e i n t h e o u t c o m e o f t h e c o n t r o v e r s y a s

t o a s s u r e t h a t c o n c r e t e a d v e r s e n e s s w h i c h s h a r p e n s t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f i s s u e s

. ’ ”

F l a s t v

. C o h e n

, 3 9 2 U

. S

. 8 3

, 9 9 ( 1 9 6 8 ) ( q u o t i n g B a k e r v

. C a r r

, 3 6 9 U

. S

. 1 8 6

, 2 0 4

( 1 9 6 2 ) )

. I m p o r t a n t l y

, t h e r e f o r e

, t h e r e l e v a n t q u e s t i o n i s n o t w h e t h e r M u l h a l l h a s a

l e g a l r i g h t t o b e f

r e e f r o m i n v o l u n t a r y u n i o n i z a t i o n

, o r i s l e g a l l y e n t i t l e d t o e n j o i n

t h e M O A

. “ [ S ] t a n d i n g i n n o w a y d e p e n d s o n t h e m e r i t s o f t h e p l a i n t i f f ’ s

c o n t e n t i o n t h a t p a r t i c u l a r c o n d u c t i s i l l e g a l

, ” W a r t h v

. S e l d i n

, 4 2 2 U

. S

. 4 9 0

, 5 0 0

( 1 9 7 5 ) ; i t “ f

o c u s e s o n t h e p a r t y s e e k i n g t o g e t h i s c o m p l a i n t b e f o r e a f e d e r a l c o u r t

Although a

court may

consider ma terials bey ond the pleading s if the def endant ha s 8

mounted a fa ctual attac k on subject-matter jurisdiction, there is no sug g estion in this record that

the def endant ha s done so, and we consider this to be a fac ial attack. A plaintiff def ending

ag ainst a fa cial attac k on jurisdiction enjoy s “saf eg uards similar to those re tained whe n a Rule

12(b)( 6) motion to dism iss for fa ilure to state a c laim is raised,” a nd both the district court and a

revie wing court “ must consider the [well-plea ded] alleg ations in the plaintiff’s complaint as

true.” McElmurra

y v. Consol. Gov’t of Aug usta-Richmond County , 501 F.3d 1244, 1251 ( 11th

Cir. 2007) (empha sis added) ( citations omitt ed).

8a n d n o t o n t h e i s s u e s h e w i s h e s t o h a v e a d j u d i c a t e d

, ” F l a s t

, 3 9 2 U

. S

. a t 9 9

. A t

i s s u e t o d a y i s o n l y w h e t h e r M u l h a l l h a s a s t a k e i n t h i s c o n t r o v e r s y t h a t i s r e a l

e n o u g h a n d c o n c r e t e e n o u g h t o e n t i t l e h i m t o b e h e a r d i n a f e d e r a l d i s t r i c t c o u r t

c o n c e r n i n g h i s § 3 0 2 c l a i m

, n o t h i n g m o r e

.

M u l h a l l h a s a c o g n i z a b l e a s s o c i a t i o n a l i n t e r e s t u n d e r t h e F i r s t A m e n d m e n t

t o c h a l l e n g e t h e a l l e g e d c o l l u s i v e a r r a n g e m e n t b e t w e e n t h e e m p l o y e r a n d t h e u n i o n

u n d e r § 3 0 2

. I f U n i t e i s c e r t i f i e d a s t h e m a

j o r i t y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f M a r d i G r a s ’

e m p l o y e e s

, M u l h a l l w i l l h a v e b e e n t h r u s t u n w i l l i n g l y i n t o a n a g e n c y r e l a t i o n s h i p

,

w h e r e t h e u n i o n i s h i s “ e x c l u s i v e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e [ ]

. . . f o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f c o l l e c t i v e

b a r g a i n i n g i n r e s p e c t t o r a t e s o f p a y

, w a g e s

, h o u r s o f e m p l o y m e n t

, o r o t h e r

c o n d i t i o n s o f e m p l o y m e n t ” u n d e r § 9 ( a ) o f t h e N a t i o n a l L a b o r R e l a t i o n s A c t

( “ N L R A ” )

, 2 9 U

. S

. C

. § 1 5 9 ( a )

. T h i s a r r a n g e m e n t c r e a t e s a f i d u c i a r y r e l a t i o n s h i p

,

a k i n t o t h a t b e t w e e n a t r u s t e e a n d b e n e f i c i a r y

. S e e C h a u f

f e u r s

, T e a m s t e r s

, a n d

H e l p e r s

, L o c a l 3 9 1 v

. T e r r y

, 4 9 4 U

. S

. 5 5 8

, 5 6 7 ( 1 9 9 0 )

. M o r e o v e r

, r e g a r d l e s s o f

w h e t h e r M u l h a l l c a n a v o i d c o n t r i b u t i n g f i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t t o o r b e c o m i n g a m e m b e r

o f t h e u n i o n

, c f

. F l a

. C o n s t

. a r t

. I

, § 6 ( “ T h e r i g h t o f p e r s o n s t o w o r k s h a l l n o t b e

d e n i e d o r a b r i d g e d o n a c c o u n t o f m e m b e r s h i p o r n o n

- m e m b e r s h i p i n a n y l a b o r

u n i o n o r l a b o r o r g a n i z a t i o n

. ” )

, i t s s t a t u s a s h i s e x c l u s i v e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e p l a i n l y

a f f e c t s h i s a s s o c i a t i o n a l r i g h t s

. H i s v i e w s

, f o r e x a m p l e

, l i k e t h o s e o f a n y

9e m p l o y e e

, m a y b e a t v a r i a n c e w i t h

a w i d e v a r i e t y o f a c t i v i t i e s u n d e r t a k e n b y t h e u n i o n i n i t s r o l e a s

e x c l u s i v e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e

. H i s m o r a l o r r e l i g i o u s v i e w s a b o u t t h e

d e s i r a b i l i t y o f a b o r t i o n m a y n o t s q u a r e w i t h t h e u n i o n ’ s p o l i c y i n

n e g o t i a t i n g a m e d i c a l b e n e f i t s p l a n

. O n e i n d i v i d u a l m i g h t d i s a g r e e

w i t h a u n i o n p o l i c y o f n e g o t i a t i n g l i m i t s o n t h e r i g h t t o s t r i k e

, b e l i e v i n g t h a t t o b e t h e r o a d t o s e r f d o m f o r t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s

, w h i l e

a n o t h e r m i g h t h a v e e c o n o m i c o r p o l i t i c a l o b j e c t i o n s t o u n i o n i s m

i t s e l f

. A n e m p l o y e e m i g h t o b j e c t t o t h e u n i o n ’ s w a g e p o l i c y b e c a u s e

i t v i o l a t e s g u i d e l i n e s d e s i g n e d t o l i m i t i n f l a t i o n

, o r m i g h t o b

j e c t t o t h e

u n i o n ’ s s e e k i n g a c l a u s e i n t h e c o l l e c t i v e

- b a r g a i n i n g a g r e e m e n t

p r o s c r i b i n g r a c i a l d i s c r i m i n a t i o n

. T h e e x a m p l e s c o u l d b e m u l t i p l i e d

.

A b o o d v

. D e t r o i t B d

. o f E d

. , 4 3 1 U

. S

. 2 0 9

, 2 2 2 ( 1 9 7 7 )

. T h u s

, i t h a s l o n g b e e n

r e c o g n i z e d t h a t s u c h “ a s s o c i a t i o n f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f a d v a n c i n g e c o n o m i c

, a s w e l l

a s p o l i t i c a l o r r e l i g i o u s

, i n t e r e s t s f a l l s w i t h i n t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e F i r s t

A m e n d m e n t

. ” S c o t t v

. M o o r e

, 6 8 0 F

. 2 d 9 7 9

, 9 9 0 ( 5 t h C i r

. 1 9 8 2 ) ( e n b a n c )

, r e v ’ d

o n o t h e r g r o u n d s s u b n o m

. U n i t e d B h d

. o f C a r p e n t e r s & J o i n e r s o f A m

. , L o c a l

6 1 0

, A F L

- C I O v

. S c o t t

, 4 6 3 U

. S

. 8 2 5 ( 1 9 8 3 ) ( c i t i n g B h d

. o f R

. R

. T r a i n m e n v

.

V i r g i n i a

, 3 7 7 U

. S

. 1

, 8 ( 1 9 6 4 )

, T h o m a s v

. C o l l i n s

, 3 2 3 U

. S

. 5 1 6

, 5 3 1 ( 1 9 4 5 )

, a n d

A b o o d

, 4 3 1 U

. S

. a t 2 2 2 ) )

.

J u s t a s “ [ t ] h e F i r s t A m e n d m e n t c l e a r l y g u a r a n t e e s t h e r i g h t t o j o i n a u n i o n

, ”

H o b b s v

. H a w k i n s

, 9 6 8 F

. 2 d 4 7 1

, 4 8 2 ( 5 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 2 ) ( c i t i n g T h o m a s

, 3 2 3 U

. S

. a t

5 3 2 )

, i t “ p r e s u p p o s e s a f r e e d o m n o t t o a s s o c i a t e ” w i t h a u n i o n

, R o b e r t s v

. U

. S

.

J a y c e e s

, 4 6 8 U

. S

. 6 0 9

, 6 2 3 ( 1 9 8 4 ) ( c i t i n g A b o o d

, 4 3 1 U

. S

. a t 2 3 4

- 2 3 5 )

. T h i s

10f

r e e d o m o f c o u r s e m a y b e o u t w e i g h e d b y o t h e r i m p o r t a n t g o v e r n m e n t a l i n t e r e s t s

,

s u c h a s t h e p r o m o t i o n o f p r o d u c t i v e l a b o r

- m a n a g e m e n t r e l a t i o n s

. I n t h i s i n s t a n c e

,

f o r e x a m p l e

, a l t h o u g h t h e f e d e r a l l y

- c r e a t e d r i g h t o f a m a j o r i t y

- f a v o r e d u n i o n t o

s u p e r s e d e a n e m p l o y e e ’ s d i r e c t b a r g a i n i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h h i s e m p l o y e r a m o u n t s

t o “ c o m p u l s o r y a s s o c i a t i o n

, ” A c e v e d o

- D e l g a d o v

. R i v e r a

, 2 9 2 F

. 3 d 3 7

, 4 2 ( 1 s t C i r

.

2 0 0 2 )

, t h a t c o m p u l s i o n “ h a s b e e n s a n c t i o n e d a s a p e r m i s s i b l e b u r d e n o n

e m p l o y e e s ’ f

r e e a s s o c i a t i o n r i g h t s

, ” i d

. , b a s e d o n a l e g i s l a t i v e j u d g m e n t t h a t

c o l l e c t i v e b a r g a i n i n g i s c r u c i a l t o l a b o r p e a c e

, A b o o d

, 4 3 1 U

. S

. a t 2 2 4

.

T h e r e l e v a n t p o i n t h e r e

, h o w e v e r

, i s t h a t e m p l o y e e s l i k e M u l h a l l h a v e s u c h

a n a s s o c i a t i o n a l i n t e r e s t

. S e e S c o t t

, 6 8 0 F

. 2 d a t 9 9 0 ( h o l d i n g t h a t F i r s t

A m e n d m e n t i n t e r e s t s o f n o n u n i o n e m p l o y e e s t o w o r k i n n o n u n i o n e n v i r o n m e n t

w e r e i n v a d e d b y p r o

- u n i o n c o n s p i r a c y ) ; s e e a l s o R i v e r a

, 2 9 2 F

. 3 d a t 4 2

. I n o t h e r

w o r d s

, w h i l e “ c o m p u l s o r y a f f i l i a t i o n w i t h

. . . [ a ] u n i o n d o e s n o t

, w i t h o u t m o r e

,

v i o l a t e t h e F i r s t A m e n d m e n t r i g h t s ” o f e m p l o y e e s

, L e h n e r t v

. F e r r i s F a c u l t y A s s ’ n

,

5 0 0 U

. S

. 5 0 7

, 5 1 7 ( 1 9 9 1 ) ( a d d r e s s i n g b o t h p r i v a t e

- a n d p u b l i c

- e m p l o y e r c o n t e x t s )

,

i t i s n o l e s s t r u e t h a t “ c o m p e l l i n g a n e m p l o y e e

. . . t o b e l o n g t o

. . . a u n i o n

. . .

i m p l i c a t e s t h a t p e r s o n ’ s F i r s t A m e n d m e n t r i g h t n o t t o a s s o c i a t e

, ” R o m e r o v

.

C o l e g i o D e A b o g a d o s D e P

. R

. , 2 0 4 F

. 3 d 2 9 1

, 3 0 1 ( 1 s t C i r

. 2 0 0 0 ) ( e m p h a s i s

11a d d e d )

. W e c o n c l u d e t h a t M u l h a l l h a s a l e g a l l y c o g n i z a b l e a s s o c i a t i o n a l i n t e r e s t

. 9

W e d o n o t p u r p o r t t o a s s e s s t h e s t r e n g t h o f M u l h a l l ’ s i n t e r e s t ; w e s a y o n l y t h a t i t i s

e n o u g h t o a l l o w h i m t o g e t h i s t i c k e t s t a m p e d f o r a d m i s s i o n t o t h e f

e d e r a l c o u r t i n

o r d e r t o b e a b l e t o a r g u e t h a t t h e a r r a n g e m e n t b e t w e e n M a r d i G r a s a n d U n i t e i s

i l l e g a l u n d e r § 3 0 2

.

M u l h a l l h a s a l s o a d e q u a t e l y a l l e g e d t h a t t h i s a s s o c i a t i o n a l i n t e r e s t i s a t

i m m i n e n t r i s k o f i n v a s i o n

, b e c a u s e M a r d i G r a s ’ p r o v i s i o n o f c o n s i d e r a b l e a n d

v a r i e d o r g a n i z i n g a s s i s t a n c e p u r s u a n t t o t h e M O A w i l l s u b s t a n t i a l l y i n c r e a s e t h e

l i k e l i h o o d t h a t M u l h a l l w i l l b e u n i o n i z e d a g a i n s t h i s w i l l

. U n d e r c o n t r o l l i n g l a w

, a

p l a i n t i f f f a c e s a n “ i m m i n e n t ” h a r m w h e n t h e r e i s “ a r e a l i s t i c d a n g e r o f s u s t a i n i n g a

d i r e c t i n j u r y a s a r e s u l t ” o f t h e c h a l l e n g e d a c t i o n

. F l a

. S t a t e C o n f

. o f N A A C P v

.

B r o w n i n g

, 5 2 2 F

. 3 d 1 1 5 3

, 1 1 6 1 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 8 ) ( q u o t i n g B a b b i t t v

. U n i t e d F a r m

W o r k e r s N a t ’ l U n i o n

, 4 4 2 U

. S

. 2 8 9

, 2 9 8 ( 1 9 7 9 ) )

. “ H o w l i k e l y i s e n o u g h i s

n e c e s s a r i l y a q u a l i t a t i v e j u d g m e n t

, ” i d

. , b u t

, u n d e r o u r l a w

, “ p r o b a b i l i s t i c h a r m i s

e n o u g h i n

j u r y i n f a c t t o c o n f

e r s t a n d i n g i n t h e u n d e m a n d i n g A r t i c l e I I I s e n s e

, ” i d

.

a t 1 1 6 3 ( c i t a t i o n a n d a l t e r a t i o n o m i t t e d )

.

M u l h a l l h a s a d e q u a t e l y a l l e g e d t h a t t h e o r g a n i z i n g a s s i s t a n c e p r o m i s e d b y

I ndeed, e ven if Mulhall’s assoc iational interest we re c hara cter ized as being primarily 9

commerc ial in nature, his intere st would stil l be entitled to protec tion under the F irst

Amendment, albe it to a lesser e x tent. See Roberts v. U.S. Jay cee s, 468 U.S. 609, 634 (1984)

(O’Connor, J., concurr ing)

.

12M a r d i G r a s i n t h e M O A i s v a l u a b l e

, a n d i n d e e d e s s e n t i a l

, t o U n i t e ’ s e f f o r t t o g a i n

r e c o g n i t i o n

. A s a n i n i t i a l m a t t e r

, t h e c o m p l a i n t s a y s t h a t t h e p r o v i s i o n o f l i s t s

s h o w i n g t h e c l a s s i f

i c a t i o n s

, d e p a r t m e n t s

, a n d h o m e a d d r e s s e s o f M a r d i G r a s ’

e m p l o y e e s “ p e r m i t s L o c a l 3 5 5 t o t a r g e t e m p l o y e e s d u r i n g o r g a n i z i n g c a m p a i g n s

a n d s e n d u n i o n o r g a n i z e r s t o e m p l o y e e s ’ h o m e s

, ” C o m p l a i n t ¶ 1 7 ( b ) ; t h a t a c c e s s t o

M a r d i G r a s ’ f

a c i l i t i e s

, i n c l u d i n g “ n o n

- p u b l i c a r e a s o f t h e g a m i n g f a c i l i t y ” d u r i n g

n o n

- w o r k i n g h o u r s

, “ i s o b j e c t i v e l y u s e f

u l t o L o c a l 3 5 5 f

o r o r g a n i z i n g n o n u n i o n

e m p l o y e e s

, ” i d

. ¶ 2 0 ( b ) ; t h a t t h e n e u t r a l i t y a g r e e m e n t i s a l s o u s e f u l t o L o c a l 3 5 5

b e c a u s e

, a m o n g o t h e r t h i n g s

, i t s i l e n c e s p o t e n t i a l l y p e r s u a s i v e o p p o n e n t s o f

u n i o n i z a t i o n w i t h i n t h e c o m p a n y

, i n c l u d i n g a l l m a n a g e r s a n d s u p e r v i s o r s w h o

o t h e r w i s e m i g h t d i s c u s s t h e d i s a d v a n t a g e s o f u n i o n i z a t i o n

, i d

. ¶ 2 5 ( b ) ; a n d t h a t

M a r d i G r a s ’ w a i v e r o f i t s r i g h t t o d e m a n d a s e c r e t

, N L R B

- c o n d u c t e d e l e c t i o n

,

C o m p l a i n t

, ¶ 1 0 ( a )

- - a m e t h o d w h i c h h a s “ a c k n o w l e d g e d s u p e r i o r i t y i n

a s c e r t a i n i n g w h e t h e r a u n i o n h a s m a j o r i t y s u p p o r t

, ” L i n d e n L u m b e r D i v i s i o n

,

S u m m e r & C o

. v

. N L R B

, 4 1 9 U

. S

. 3 0 1

, 3 0 4 ( 1 9 7 4 )

- - s i m i l a r l y f i g u r e d i n t o t h e

q u i d p r o q u o e x c h a n g e w i t h U n i t e

, i d

. ¶ 1 1

.

T h e c o m p l a i n t i n t h i s c a s e

, m o r e o v e r

, h i g h l i g h t s U n i t e ’ s o w n b e l i e f t h a t t h e

e m p l o y e r ’ s o r g a n i z i n g a s s i s t a n c e i s e s s e n t i a l t o i t s e f f o r t t o g a i n m a

j o r i t y s t a t u s

.

T h e c o m p l a i n t c o n t a i n s t h e f o l l o w i n g q u o t a t i o n f

r o m U n i t e ’ s o w n a l l e g a t i o n s i n

13p a r a l l e l l i t i g a t i o n :

[ T ] h e E m p l o y e r ’ s f

a i l u r e t o a b i d e b y t h e A g r e e m e n t ’ s p r o v i s i o n s h a s

c a u s e d a n d w i l l c a u s e s e r i o u s i r r e p a r a b l e i n j u r i e s t o t h e U n i o n a n d i t s

m e m b e r s

. W i t h o u t a l i s t t h e U n i o n i s u n a b l e t o p r o v i d e i n f o r m a t i o n t o

m a n y o f t h e E m p l o y e r ’ s w o r k e r s

, a n d h e n c e u n a b l e t o o b t a i n

r e c o g n i t i o n a s t h e e m p l o y e e s ’ r e p r e s e n t a t i v e a s c o n t e m p l a t e d b y

S e c t i o n 9 o f t h e A g r e e m e n t

, a n d u n a b l e t o f i n d o u t f

r o m w o r k e r s

w h e t h e r t h e E m p l o y e r i s c o m p l y i n g w i t h o t h e r p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e

A g r e e m e n t

. . . . T h e r e s u l t i n g d e l a y i n r e c o g n i t i o n m e a n s a d e l a y i n

o b t a i n i n g t h e f

i n a n c i a l b e n e f

i t s o f u n i o n r e p r e s e n t a t i o n f o r e m p l o y e e s

,

a n d i n c r e a s e d o r g a n i z i n g e x p e n s e s a n d l o s t r e v e n u e s f o r t h e U n i o n

, b u t t h e a m o u n t o f s u c h d a m a g e s i s e x t r a o r d i n a r i l y b u r d e n s o m e t o

c a l c u l a t e

, a n d a l s o t h e r e a r e n o n

- f i n a n c i a l a d v a n t a g e s t o r e c o g n i t i o n

w h i c h c a n n o t b e p u t i n t o m o n e t a r y t e r m s

. T h e U n i o n i s a l s o s u f f e r i n g

i r r e p a r a b l e i n

j u r i e s i n l o s s o f s t a n d i n g w i t h e m p l o y e e s a n d l o s s o f

b a r g a i n i n g p o w e r

.

C o m p l a i n t ¶ 2 7 ( q u o t i n g U n i t e H E R E L o c a l 3 5 5 v

. H o l l y w o o d G r e y h o u n d T r a c k

,

I n c

. , C a s e N o

. 0 8

- 6 1 6 5 5

- P A S ( S

. D

. F l a

. ) ( C o m p l a i n t ¶ 1 1 ) )

. A l s o n o t e w o r t h y

, o f

c o u r s e

, i s t h e c o n s i d e r a t i o n U n i t e o f f e r e d f o r t h e o r g a n i z i n g a s s i s t a n c e : i t p r o m i s e d

n o t t o “ p i c k e t

, b o y c o t t

, s t r i k e

, o r t a k e o t h e r e c o n o m i c a c t i o n a g a i n s t M a r d i G r a s

, ”

a n d t h a t i t w o u l d “ e x p e n d m o n e t a r y a n d o t h e r r e s o u r c e s ” t o s u p p o r t a b a l l o t

p r o p o s i t i o n f

a v o r e d b y M a r d i G r a s

. I d

. ¶ 1 1

. U n i t e u l t i m a t e l y s p e n t $ 1 0 0

, 0 0 0 o n

t h e i n i t i a t i v e c a m p a i g n

, s u g g e s t i n g t h a t t h e o r g a n i z i n g a s s i s t a n c e i t b a r g a i n e d f o r

w a s s i g n i f

i c a n t i n a m o n e t a r y s e n s e

.

T a k e n t o g e t h e r

, t h e a l l e g a t i o n s i n M u l h a l l ’ s c o m p l a i n t y i e l d a s t r o n g

i n f e r e n c e t h a t t h e o r g a n i z i n g a s s i s t a n c e i s a c r i t i c a l i n g r e d i e n t f o r U n i t e ’ s s u c c e s s

,

14a n d t h a t

, i f p r o v i d e d

, i t w i l l s u b s t a n t i a l l y i n c r e a s e t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t M u l h a l l w i l l

b e u n i o n i z e d a g a i n s t h i s w i l l

. T h a t “ p r o b a b i l i s t i c h a r m ” i s a c o g n i z a b l e i n j u r y f o r

p u r p o s e s o f s t a n d i n g

. B r o w n i n g

, 5 2 2 F

. 3 d a t 1 1 6 3

. 1 0

F o r o b v i o u s r e a s o n s

, M u l h a l l ’ s c l a i m a l s o s a t i s f i e s t h e c a u s a t i o n e l e m e n t o f

t h e s t a n d i n g i n q u i r y

. M u l h a l l ’ s c l a i m e d i n j u r y f l o w s f r o m M a r d i G r a s ’ i m m i n e n t

p r o v i s i o n o f o r g a n i z i n g a s s i s t a n c e u n d e r t h e M O A

, i n r e s p o n s e t o U n i t e ’ s

d e m a n d s

. T h i s i n

j u r y i s “ f a i r l y t r a c e a b l e ” t o t h e d e f e n d a n t s ’ c o n d u c t

. L u

j a n

, 5 0 4

U

. S

. a t 5 6 0 ( a l t e r a t i o n o m i t t e d )

.

On appe al, Mulhall cites a number of ac ademic a

uthorities in support of his contention 1 0

that the org anizing assistanc e and othe r conc essions by Mardi Gr as in the MOA substantially

incre ase the likelihood that Unite will achieve ma jority rec og nition. S ee, e .g ., L aura J . Cooper,

Privatiz ing L abor L aw: Ne utrality /Card Check A g ree ments and the Role of the Arbitrator , 83

I nd. L .J . 1589, 1591-93 (2008) (noting that “all indications” in e mpirical re sear ch ar e that

“neutr ality

/car d chec k ag ree ments [are] . . . a rema rkably succe ssful mecha

nism” in achieving

rec og nition; ex plaining tha t neutrality ag ree ments ban many

lawful e mploy er ta ctics thoug ht to

contribute to union repr esenta tion election losses, including captive a udience speec hes,

“ag g ressive a

nd hiera rchic al” e mploy er c ommunications, and “intense pe rsonal ca mpaig ning by

supervisors” (citation omitted); and obser ving tha t it is unclea

r “w hy a non-union e mploy er

might be w illing to contra ct with a strang er union to for eg o lawful c ampaig n tactics a nd a

g overnme nt-conduc ted sec ret-ba llot election, both of which would e nhance its chance s of

rema ining union-f

ree ,” except as a

result of “ rational business judg ment”); Char les I . Cohen,

J oseph E. Santucc i, J r. & J onathan C. F ritts, Resist ing its Own O bsolescenc e -- How the

National L abor Rela tions Boar d is Questioning the E x isting L aw of Neutra lity

Ag ree ments, 20

Notre D ame J.L . Ethics & Pub. Pol’y 521, 523 (2006) ( noting that ne utrality ag ree ments,

employ ee lists, and ac cess to employ er f acilities “sig nificantly

incre ase the chanc es that an

org anizing drive will be succe ssful”); Adr ienne E. Eaton & Jil l Kriesky , Union Org anizing under

Neutra lity

and Card Che ck Ag ree ments, 55 I ndus. & L ab. Rel. Rev. 42, 57 (2001) (finding

strong evidenc e that “[c]ard c heck a g ree ments . . . substantially incre ased the rate of union

rec og nition” as compar ed with NL RB-c onducted se cre t elections, and tha t “[r] equire ments that

employ ers pr ovide unions with employ ee lists and time limits to campaig ns were both associated

with gr eate r union succe ss”). This mater ial, howeve r, is neither pa rt of the plea dings, nor

subject

to judicial notice, nor include d in any aff idavits or attachme nts to the pleading s, so we do not

consider it in re solving this fac ial attack on subje ct-matter jurisdiction.

15F i n a l l y

, M u l h a l l ’ s a l l e g a t i o n s s a t i s f y t h e r e d r e s s a b i l i t y r e q u i r e m e n t

.

“ R e d r e s s a b i l i t y i s e s t a b l i s h e d

. . . w h e n a f a v o r a b l e d e c i s i o n ‘ w o u l d a m o u n t t o a

s i g n i f i c a n t i n c r e a s e i n t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t t h e p l a i n t i f f w o u l d o b t a i n r e l i e f t h a t

d i r e c t l y r e d r e s s e s t h e i n j u r y s u f f e r e d

. ’ ” H a r r e l l

, 6 0 8 F

. 3 d a t 1 2 6 0 n

. 7 ( c i t a t i o n

o m i t t e d )

. I f M u l h a l l o b t a i n s a j u d g m e n t e n j o i n i n g e n f

o r c e m e n t o f t h e M O A

, t h e

s u b s t a n t i a l i n c r e a s e i n t h e r i s k o f u n i o n i z a t i o n a t t r i b u t a b l e t o t h e M O A w i l l h a v e

b e e n e l i m i n a t e d

.

B

.

U n i t e L o c a l 3 5 5 a l s o a p p e a r s t o s u g g e s t t h a t M u l h a l l ’ s c l a i m i s b a r r e d b y t h e

p r u d e n t i a l s t a n d i n g d o c t r i n e

, w h i c h c o m p r i s e s t h r e e n o n

- c o n s t i t u t i o n a l

, n o n

j u r i s d i c t i o n a l

, p o l i c y

- b a s e d l i m i t a t i o n s o n t h e a v a i l a b i l i t y o f j u d i c i a l r e v i e w

. A m

.

I r o n a n d S t e e l I n s t

. v

. O S H A

, 1 8 2 F

. 3 d 1 2 6 1

, 1 2 7 4 n

. 1 0 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 9 )

. T h e

d o c t r i n e r e q u i r e s ( 1 ) t h a t t h e p l a i n t i f f ’ s c o m p l a i n t f

a l l w i t h i n t h e “ z o n e o f i n t e r e s t s ”

p r o t e c t e d b y t h e s t a t u t e o r c o n s t i t u t i o n a l p r o v i s i o n a t i s s u e ; ( 2 ) t h a t t h e c o m p l a i n t

n o t r e q u i r e t h e c o u r t t o p a s s o n a b s t r a c t q u e s t i o n s o r g e n e r a l i z e d g r i e v a n c e s b e t t e r

a d d r e s s e d b y t h e l e g i s l a t i v e b r a n c h e s ; a n d ( 3 ) t h a t t h e p l a i n t i f f a s s e r t h i s o r h e r

o w n l e g a l r i g h t s a n d i n t e r e s t s r a t h e r t h a n t h e l e g a l r i g h t s a n d i n t e r e s t s o f t h i r d

p a r t i e s

. H a r r i s v

. E v a n s

, 2 0 F

. 3 d 1 1 1 8

, 1 1 2 1 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 4 ) ( e n b a n c )

. M u l h a l l

e a s i l y s a t i s f

i e s t h e s e c o n d a n d t h i r d r e q u i r e m e n t s

. T h e o n l y r e a l d i s p u t e h e r e i s

16w h e t h e r M u l h a l l m e e t s t h e “ z o n e

- o f

- i n t e r e s t s ” t e s t

, w h i c h l i m i t s j u d i c i a l r e v i e w t o

c l a i m s o f i n

j u r y t h a t a r e s u f

f i c i e n t l y r e l a t e d t o t h e c o r e c o n c e r n s o f a g i v e n s t a t u t e

.

T h e z o n e

- o f

- i n t e r e s t s t e s t “ d o e s n o t r e q u i r e t h e p l a i n t i f f t o s h o w a n

i d e n t i f i a b l e ‘ l e g a l i n t e r e s t ’ t h a t m a y e n t i t l e h i m t o r e l i e f

. ” C h u r c h o f S c i e n t o l o g y

F l a g S e r v

. O r g

. , I n c

. v

. C i t y o f C l e a r w a t e r

, 2 F

. 3 d 1 5 1 4

, 1 5 2 6 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 3 )

( q u o t i n g A s s ’ n o f D a t a P r o c e s s i n g S e r v

. O r g s

. , I n c

. v

. C a m p ( “ A D A P S O ” )

, 3 9 7

U

. S

. 1 5 0

, 1 5 3 ( 1 9 7 0 ) )

. R a t h e r

, t h e p l a i n t i f f n e e d o n l y s h o w “ t h a t t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p

b e t w e e n [ h i s ] a l l e g e d i n t e r e s t a n d t h e p u r p o s e s i m p l i c i t i n t h e s u b s t a n t i v e p r o v i s i o n

[ i s ] m o r e t h a n ‘ m a r g i n a l [ ]

, ’ ” C i t y o f C l e a r w a t e r

, 2 F

. 3 d a t 1 5 2 6 ( q u o t i n g C l a r k e v

.

S e c

. I n d u s

. A s s ’ n

, 4 7 9 U

. S

. 3 8 8

, 3 9 9 ( 1 9 8 7 ) )

. S e e a l s o A D A P S O

, 3 9 7 U

. S

. a t 1 5 3

.

T h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n M u l h a l l ’ s a l l e g e d i n t e r e s t a n d t h e p u r p o s e s o f §

3 0 2 i s m o r e t h a n “ m a r g i n a l

. ” S e c t i o n 3 0 2 i s “ a c o n f l i c t

- o f

- i n t e r e s t s t a t u t e

, ” U n i t e d

S t a t e s v

. B r o w n e

, 5 0 5 F

. 3 d 1 2 2 9

, 1 2 4 8 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 7 ) ; i t b a n s t h e e x c h a n g e o f

a n y t h i n g o f v a l u e b e t w e e n a u n i o n a n d a n e m p l o y e r

, s u b j e c t t o a s t r i c t l y l i m i t e d s e t

o f e x c e p t i o n s

, s e e 2 9 U

. S

. C

. § 1 8 6 ( a )

- ( c )

. I t s p u r p o s e i s t o “ p r o t e c t e m p l o y e e s i n

d e a l i n g s b e t w e e n t h e u n i o n a n d e m p l o y e r

, ” J a c k s o n P u r c h a s e R u r a l E l e c

. C o o p

.

A s s ’ n v

. L o c a l U n i o n 8 1 6

, I n t ’ l B h d

. o f E l e c

. W o r k e r s

, 6 4 6 F

. 2 d 2 6 4

, 2 6 7 ( 6 t h C i r

.

1 9 8 1 )

, a n d s p e c i f

i c a l l y t o p r o t e c t t h e m “ f r o m t h e c o l l u s i o n o f u n i o n o f f i c i a l s a n d

m a n a g e m e n t

, ” M o s l e y v

. N a t ’ l M a r i t i m e U n i o n P e n s i o n a n d W e l f a r e P l a n

, 4 3 8 F

.

17S u p p

. 4 1 3

, 4 2 1 ( E

. D

. N

. Y

. 1 9 7 7 )

. I n d e e d

, t h e l e g i s l a t i v e h i s t o r y o f § 3 0 2

d e m o n s t r a t e s t h a t t h e p r o v i s i o n w a s i n t e n d e d t o “ p r o h i b i t [ ]

, a m o n g o t h e r t h i n g s

,

t h e b u y i n g a n d s e l l i n g o f l a b o r p e a c e

, ” s e e S

. R e p

. N o

. 9 8

- 2 2 5 ( 1 9 8 4 )

, r e p r i n t e d i n

1 9 8 4 U

. S

. C

. C

. A

. N

. 3 1 8 2

, 3 4 7 7

, s o m e t h i n g t h a t t h e M O A a t i s s u e h e r e a t l e a s t

a r g u a b l y d o e s

, s e e C o m p l a i n t ¶ 1 1 ; M O A ¶ 1 1

. M u l h a l l ’ s c o m p l a i n t t h u s f a l l s

w i t h i n t h e z o n e o f i n t e r e s t s t h a t § 3 0 2 w a s d e s i g n e d t o p r o t e c t

.

I n s u m

, M u l h a l l h a s a d e q u a t e l y p l e a d e d f a c t s s u p p o r t i n g A r t i c l e I I I s t a n d i n g

,

a n d h i s c l a i m r a i s e s n o p r u d e n t i a l s t a n d i n g c o n c e r n s

.

I I I

.

U n i t e n e x t a r g u e s t h a t M u l h a l l ’ s c l a i m i s n o t r i p e

, b e c a u s e h i s a l l e g e d i n j u r y

i s c o n t i n g e n t o n t h e o u t c o m e o f M a r d i G r a s ’ o w n l a w s u i t a g a i n s t U n i t e t o v o i d t h e

M O A

. S p e c i f

i c a l l y

, U n i t e s u g g e s t s t h a t M a r d i G r a s ’ l a w s u i t

, i f s u c c e s s f u l

, w o u l d

s h i e l d M u l h a l l f

r o m t h e a g r e e m e n t ’ s a l l e g e d l y i l l e g a l e f f e c t s

, a n d f

r o m t h e

c o n c o m i t a n t i n c r e a s e i n t h e l i k e l i h o o d o f u n i o n i z a t i o n

. W e r e m a i n u n p e r s u a d e d

.

T h e r i p e n e s s d o c t r i n e i s o n e o f t h e s e v e r a l “ s t r a n d s o f j u s t i c i a b i l i t y d o c t r i n e

.

. . t h a t g o t o t h e h e a r t o f t h e A r t i c l e I I I c a s e o r c o n t r o v e r s y r e q u i r e m e n t

. ” H a r r e l l

,

6 0 8 F

. 3 d a t 1 2 4 6 ( q u o t a t i o n m a r k s a n d c i t a t i o n o m i t t e d )

. W h i l e s t a n d i n g c o n c e r n s

t h e i d e n t i t y o f t h e p l a i n t i f f a n d a s k s w h e t h e r h e m a y a p p r o p r i a t e l y b r i n g s u i t

,

r i p e n e s s c o n c e r n s t h e t i m i n g o f t h e s u i t

. I d

. a t 1 2 6 1

. T h e f u n c t i o n o f t h e r i p e n e s s

18d o c t r i n e i s t o “ p r o t e c t [ ] f e d e r a l c o u r t s f

r o m e n g a g i n g i n s p e c u l a t i o n o r w a s t i n g

t h e i r r e s o u r c e s t h r o u g h t h e r e v i e w o f p o t e n t i a l o r a b s t r a c t d i s p u t e s

. ” I d

. a t 1 2 5 7

- 5 8

( c i t a t i o n a n d q u o t a t i o n m a r k s o m i t t e d )

. “ T o d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r a c l a i m i s r i p e

, w e

a s s e s s b o t h t h e f

i t n e s s o f t h e i s s u e s f

o r j u d i c i a l d e c i s i o n a n d t h e h a r d s h i p t o t h e

p a r t i e s o f w i t h h o l d i n g j u d i c i a l r e v i e w

. ” I d

. a t 1 2 5 8 ( e m p h a s i s o m i t t e d )

. “ T h e

f i t n e s s p r o n g i s t y p i c a l l y c o n c e r n e d w i t h q u e s t i o n s o f ‘ f i n a l i t y

, d e f

i n i t e n e s s

, a n d

t h e e x t e n t t o w h i c h r e s o l u t i o n o f t h e c h a l l e n g e d e p e n d s u p o n f a c t s t h a t m a y n o t y e t

b e s u f f i c i e n t l y d e v e l o p e d

. ’ ” I d

. ( c i t a t i o n a n d q u o t a t i o n m a r k s o m i t t e d )

. “ T h e

h a r d s h i p p r o n g a s k s a b o u t t h e c o s t s t o t h e c o m p l a i n i n g p a r t y o f d e l a y i n g r e v i e w

u n t i l c o n d i t i o n s f

o r d e c i d i n g t h e c o n t r o v e r s y a r e i d e a l

. ” I d

.

U n i t e ’ s a r g u m e n t

, w h i c h g o e s t o t h e “ f i t n e s s ” p r o n g o f t h e r i p e n e s s i n q u i r y

,

h a s s o m e a p p e a l

, f

o r i t i s g e n e r a l l y t r u e t h a t t h e e x i s t e n c e o f c o n t i n g e n c i e s r a i s e s

f i t n e s s c o n c e r n s t h a t “ m i l i t a t [ e ] i n f a v o r o f p o s t p o n [ i n g ] ” r e v i e w

. I d

. a t 1 2 6 3

( q u o t i n g A T & T C o r p

. v

. F C C

, 3 4 9 F

. 3 d 6 9 2

, 7 0 0 ( D

. C

. C i r

. 2 0 0 3 ) )

. S p e c i f i c a l l y

,

i f a p l a i n t i f

f ’ s c l a i m e d i n

j u r y d e p e n d s o n t h e r e s o l u t i o n o f o t h e r j u d i c i a l

p r o c e e d i n g s

, t h e r e m a y w e l l b e f i t n e s s c o n c e r n s t h a t r e n d e r t h e p l a i n t i f f ’ s c l a i m

p r e s u m p t i v e l y u n r i p e

. S e e

, e

. g

. , I n r e L o w e n s c h u s s

, 1 7 0 F

. 3 d 9 2 3

, 9 3 2 ( 9 t h C i r

.

1 9 9 9 ) ( h o l d i n g t h a t c l a i m i n b a n k r u p t c y d e p e n d e n t o n j u d g m e n t i n p a r a l l e l

p r o c e e d i n g s i n N e w J e r s e y w a s u n r i p e

, w h e r e T h i r d C i r c u i t h a d n o t y e t r u l e d o n a n

19a p p e a l ) ; L i n c o l n H o u s e

, I n c

. v

. D u p r e

, 9 0 3 F

. 2 d 8 4 5 ( 1 s t C i r

. 1 9 9 0 )

. 1 1

Y e t

, t o d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r a f u t u r e c o n t i n g e n c y c r e a t e s f i t n e s s ( a n d

u l t i m a t e l y r i p e n e s s ) c o n c e r n s

, a c o u r t m u s t a s s e s s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t a c o n t i n g e n t

e v e n t w i l l d e p r i v e t h e p l a i n t i f f o f a n i n j u r y

. S e e P i t t m a n

, 2 6 7 F

. 3 d a t 1 2 7 8

. I n

o t h e r w o r d s

, i t i s n o t m e r e l y t h e e x i s t e n c e

, b u t t h e “ d e g r e e o f c o n t i n g e n c y [ t h a t ] i s

a n i m p o r t a n t b a r o m e t e r o f r i p e n e s s

. ” R i v a v

. M a s s a c h u s e t t s

, 6 1 F

. 3 d 1 0 0 3

, 1 0 1 1

( 1 s t C i r

. 1 9 9 5 ) ( e m p h a s i s a d d e d )

. S e e a l s o U n i t e d S t e e l w o r k e r s o f A m

. , L o c a l

2 1 1 6 v

. C y c l o p s C o r p

. , 8 6 0 F

. 2 d 1 8 9

, 1 9 4 ( 6 t h C i r

. 1 9 8 8 ) ( “ I n u n d e r t a k i n g a

r i p e n e s s a n a l y s i s

, w e

. . . . p a y p a r t i c u l a r a t t e n t i o n t o t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t t h e h a r m

a l l e g e d b y p l a i n t i f

f s w i l l e v e r c o m e t o p a s s

. ” )

.

I n t h i s c a s e

, i t i s e x t r e m e l y u n l i k e l y t h a t M a r d i G r a s ’ p a r a l l e l l i t i g a t i o n

, i n i t s

p r e s e n t p o s t u r e

, w i l l d e p r i v e M u l h a l l o f a n i n j u r y

. A s r e c o u n t e d a b o v e

, t h e d i s t r i c t

c o u r t g r a n t e d U n i t e ’ s m o t i o n t o c o m p e l a r b i t r a t i o n o f t h e d i s p u t e o v e r t h e v a l i d i t y

o f t h e M O A

, a n d t h e a r b i t r a t o r r e n d e r e d a j u d g m e n t i n f a v o r o f U n i t e

. M a r d i G r a s

m o v e d t o v a c a t e t h e a w a r d

, b u t t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t c o n f i r m e d t h e a w a r d i n a l l

The “ fitness” issue ra ised by the exist ence of future conting encie s, which g oes to 1 1

ripene ss, is related to but distinct from the “imminence ” re quirement of a cog nizable injury -infac t, which g oes to standing . The que stion, for purposes of standing , is how likely

the

challeng ed conduc t is to cause the plaintiff a n injury . The que stion for ripene ss purposes is

whether the def endant’ s eng ag ement in the cha lleng ed conduc t is continge nt on future e vents

whose non-oc curr ence might depr ive the plaintiff of an injury -in-fa ct. See B ova v. City of

Medfor d, 564 F.3d 1093, 1096 ( 9th Cir. 2009) (noting tha t ripeness a nd standing are interre lated,

insofar a s non-occ urring future e vents will deprive the pla intiff of an injury -in-fa ct).

20r e s p e c t s b u t o n e

. T h u s

, d e s p i t e i t s l o n g

- s t a n d i n g u n w i l l i n g n e s s t o c o m p l y w i t h t h e

d i s p u t e d p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e M O A

, M a r d i G r a s i s n o w u n d e r c o m p u l s i o n o f t h e l a w

t o d o j u s t t h a t

.

W e c a n d i v i n e o n l y o n e t h e o r e t i c a l s c e n a r i o i n w h i c h M u l h a l l c o u l d b e

d e p r i v e d o f a n i n

j u r y a t t h i s p o i n t

, n a m e l y

, i f M a r d i G r a s a p p e a l e d t h e d i s t r i c t

c o u r t ’ s o r d e r c o n f

i r m i n g t h e a r b i t r a t i o n a w a r d

, o b t a i n e d a s t a y o f t h e d i s t r i c t

c o u r t ’ s j u d g m e n t p e n d i n g a p p e a l

, a n d p r e v a i l e d o n a p p e a l

. B u t t h a t s c e n a r i o i s a

d e c i d e d l y r e m o t e p o s s i b i l i t y u n d e r t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s

, b e c a u s e M a r d i G r a s i s v e r y

u n l i k e l y t o s u c c e e d i n a n a p p e a l o f t h e j u d g m e n t c o n f i r m i n g t h e a r b i t r a t i o n a w a r d

.

T h e F e d e r a l A r b i t r a t i o n A c t a u t h o r i z e s a f e d e r a l c o u r t t o v a c a t e a n a r b i t r a l a w a r d i n

o n l y f o u r i n s t a n c e s :

( 1 ) w h e r e t h e a w a r d w a s p r o c u r e d b y c o r r u p t i o n

, f r a u d

, o r u n d u e

m e a n s ;

( 2 ) w h e r e t h e r e w a s e v i d e n t p a r t i a l i t y o r c o r r u p t i o n i n t h e a r b i t r a t o r s

,

o r e i t h e r o f t h e m ;

( 3 ) w h e r e t h e a r b i t r a t o r s w e r e g u i l t y o f m i s c o n d u c t i n r e f u s i n g t o

p o s t p o n e t h e h e a r i n g

, u p o n s u f f i c i e n t c a u s e s h o w n

, o r i n r e f u s i n g t o

h e a r e v i d e n c e p e r t i n e n t a n d m a t e r i a l t o t h e c o n t r o v e r s y ; o r o f a n y

o t h e r m i s b e h a v i o r b y w h i c h t h e r i g h t s o f a n y p a r t y h a v e b e e n

p r e j u d i c e d ; o r

( 4 ) w h e r e t h e a r b i t r a t o r s e x c e e d e d t h e i r p o w e r s

, o r s o i m p e r f e c t l y

e x e c u t e d t h e m t h a t a m u t u a l

, f i n a l

, a n d d e f

i n i t e a w a r d u p o n t h e

s u b j e c t m a t t e r s u b m i t t e d w a s n o t m a d e

.

219 U

. S

. C

. § § 1 0 ( a ) ; F r a z i e r v

. C i t i F i n a n c i a l C o r p

. , L L C

, 6 0 4 F

. 3 d 1 3 1 3

, 1 3 2 1

, 1 3 2 4

( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 1 0 ) ( h o l d i n g t h a t s t a t u t o r y g r o u n d s f o r v a c a t u r a r e e x c l u s i v e )

. A s i d e

f r o m i t s c l a i m t h a t t h e a r b i t r a t o r e x c e e d e d h i s a u t h o r i t y b y e x t e n d i n g t h e t e r m o f

t h e M O A f

o r o n e y e a r

- - a c l a i m u p o n w h i c h t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t g r a n t e d r e l i e f

- -

M a r d i G r a s n e v e r a r g u e d t h a t t h e a r b i t r a l a w a r d w a s s u b j e c t t o v a c a t u r o n a n y o f

t h e e n u m e r a t e d s t a t u t o r y g r o u n d s

.

F u r t h e r m o r e

, a l t h o u g h M a r d i G r a s m i g h t a r g u e o n a p p e a l t h a t t h e v a l i d i t y o f

t h e M O A s h o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n a r b i t r a t e d i n t h e f i r s t i n s t a n c e

, M a r d i G r a s i s v e r y

u n l i k e l y t o p r e v a i l o n t h a t c l a i m

, e i t h e r

. A s t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t o b s e r v e d i n g r a n t i n g

U n i t e ’ s m o t i o n t o c o m p e l a r b i t r a t i o n

, f e d e r a l l a w r e q u i r e d a r b i t r a t i o n o f t h e s u b j e c t

d i s p u t e

, p u r s u a n t t o t h e M O A ’ s a r b i t r a t i o n c l a u s e

, “ u n l e s s i t [ c o u l d ] b e s a i d w i t h

p o s i t i v e a s s u r a n c e t h a t t h e a r b i t r a t i o n c l a u s e [ w a s ] n o t s u s c e p t i b l e o f a n

i n t e r p r e t a t i o n t h a t c o v e r [ e d ] t h e a s s e r t e d d i s p u t e

, ” w i t h a n y d o u b t s a b o u t

a r b i t r a b i l i t y r e s o l v e d “ i n f a v o r o f c o v e r a g e

. ” A T & T T e c h s

. v

. C o m m c ’ n s W o r k e r s

o f A m

. , 4 7 5 U

. S

. 6 4 3

, 6 5 0 ( 1 9 8 6 ) ( c i t a t i o n s o m i t t e d )

. T h e c l a u s e a t i s s u e h e r e

b r o a d l y c o v e r e d “ a n y d i s p u t e s o v e r t h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o r a p p l i c a t i o n o f ” t h e M O A

,

a p h r a s e t h a t s e e m s a t l e a s t a r g u a b l y e x p a n s i v e e n o u g h t o c o v e r a d i s p u t e o v e r

w h e t h e r c e r t a i n p a r t s o f t h e a g r e e m e n t w e r e l e g a l a n d c o u l d b e a p p l i e d a t a l l

.

I t i s a l s o e x c e e d i n g l y u n l i k e l y t h a t M a r d i G r a s c o u l d s u c c e s s f u l l y o b t a i n a

22s t a y o f t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s j u d g m e n t c o n f i r m i n g t h e a r b i t r a l a w a r d p e n d i n g a p p e a l

.

T o b e s u r e

, a s t a y i s t h e o r e t i c a l l y ( a n d p r o c e d u r a l l y ) p o s s i b l e : “ [ a ] r b i t r a t i o n a w a r d s

a r e n o t s e l f

- e n f o r c i n g

, [ b u t ]

. . . m u s t b e g i v e n f o r c e a n d e f

f e c t b y b e i n g c o n v e r t e d

t o j u d i c i a l o r d e r s ” o n a n a p p r o p r i a t e m o t i o n t o c o n f i r m o r v a c a t e

, D

. H

. B l a i r & C o

.

v

. G o t t d i e n e r

, 4 6 2 F

. 3 d 9 5

, 1 0 4 ( 2 d C i r

. 2 0 0 6 ) ( i n t e r n a l q u o t a t i o n m a r k s o m i t t e d )

,

a n d a d i s t r i c t c o u r t m a y e n t e r a s t a y o f a n y j u d g m e n t p e n d i n g a n a p p e a l

, s e e F e d

.

R

. C i v

. P

. 6 2

, i n c l u d i n g a j u d g m e n t u p o n a n o r d e r c o n f i r m i n g o r v a c a t i n g a n

a r b i t r a l a w a r d

. Y e t

, i n r u l i n g o n a r e q u e s t e d s t a y

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t f i r s t w o u l d h a v e

t o a s s e s s t h e a p p e l l a n t ’ s l i k e l i h o o d o f s u c c e s s o n a p p e a l

. S e e V e n u s L i n e s A g e n c y

v

. C V G I n d u s t r i a V e n e z o l a n a d e A l u m i n i o

, C

. A

. , 2 1 0 F

. 3 d 1 3 0 9

, 1 3 1 3

- 1 4 ( 1 1 t h

C i r

. 2 0 0 0 )

. A s w e s e e i t

, t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t M a r d i G r a s w i l l s u c c e e d i n a n y

1 2

a p p e a l i s m i n i m a l d u e t o t h e c o n s t r a i n t s o f t h e a r b i t r a t i o n s y s t e m

, a n d t h e

a d d i t i o n a l l i k e l i h o o d o f a s t a y i s c o r r e s p o n d i n g l y l o w

.

I n s h o r t

, t h e c o n t i n g e n c y

, i f a n y

, o c c a s i o n e d b y M a r d i G r a s ’ p a r a l l e l

l i t i g a t i o n t o v o i d t h e M O A i s v e r y r e m o t e

. T h u s

, M u l h a l l ’ s c l a i m r a i s e s n o

s u b s t a n t i a l f

i t n e s s c o n c e r n s

. A n d

, “ ‘ [ w ] h e r e

. . . t h e r e a r e n o s i g n i f i c a n t a g e n c y o r

The likelihood of succ ess is one fa ctor a district court must consider whe n ruling on a 1 2

reque sted stay . The other fac tors are : whether , absent a stay , the movant will suffer irrepa rable

damag e; whethe r the a dverse party will suffer no substantial ha rm from issuanc e of a

stay ; and

whether the public intere st will be served by issuing a sta

y . Venus L ines Ag ency

v. CVG

I ndustria Vene zolana de Aluminio, C.A., 210 F.3d 1309, 1313-14 ( 11th Cir. 2000).

23j u d i c i a l i n t e r e s t s m i l i t a t i n g i n f a v o r o f d e l a y

, [ l a c k o f

] ‘ h a r d s h i p ’ c a n n o t t i p t h e

b a l a n c e a g a i n s t j u d i c i a l r e v i e w

. ’ ” H a r r e l l

, 6 0 8 F

. 3 d a t 1 2 5 9 ( q u o t i n g C o n s o l

. R a i l

C o r p

. v

. U n i t e d S t a t e s

, 8 9 6 F

. 2 d 5 7 4

, 5 7 7 ( D

. C

. C i r

. 1 9 9 0 ) )

. A c c o r d i n g l y

,

M u l h a l l ’ s c l a i m i s r i p e f o r r e v i e w

, t o o

.

I V

.

B e y o n d t h e i s s u e s o f s t a n d i n g a n d r i p e n e s s

, t h e p a r t i e s h a v e e x t e n s i v e l y

b r i e f e d t h e m e r i t s q u e s t i o n o f w h e t h e r § 3 0 2 p r o v i d e s a c l a i m a n t l i k e M u l h a l l w i t h

a p r i v a t e r i g h t o f a c t i o n

, a s w e l l a s t h e q u e s t i o n o f w h e t h e r t h e o r g a n i z i n g

a s s i s t a n c e s p e c i f

i e d i n t h e M O A a c t u a l l y v i o l a t e s § 3 0 2 o f t h e L M R A

. N e i t h e r

q u e s t i o n

, h o w e v e r

, i s p r o p e r l y b e f o r e u s o n r e v i e w o f t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s o r d e r

d i s m i s s i n g t h i s a c t i o n f

o r l a c k o f s u b

j e c t

- m a t t e r j u r i s d i c t i o n

.

T h e e x i s t e n c e o f a p r i v a t e r i g h t o f a c t i o n i s a n i s s u e “ s e p a r a t e a n d d i s t i n c t ”

f r o m t h e i s s u e o f s t a n d i n g

, T h e W i l d e r n e s s S o c i e t y v

. K a n e C o u n t y

, U t a h

, 5 8 1

F

. 3 d 1 1 9 8

, 1 2 1 5 ( 1 0 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 9 )

, a n d “ i s n o t j u r i s d i c t i o n a l

, ” N o r t h w e s t A i r l i n e s

,

I n c

. v

. C o u n t y o f K e n t

, M i c h

. , 5 1 0 U

. S

. 3 5 5

, 3 6 5 ( 1 9 9 4 )

. S e e a l s o A i r C o u r i e r

C o n f e r e n c e o f A m

. v

. A m

. P o s t a l W o r k e r s U n i o n

, A F L

- C I O

, 4 9 8 U

. S

. 5 1 7

, 5 2 3

,

n

. 3 ( 1 9 9 1 )

. A l t h o u g h t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t m e n t i o n e d i n p a s s i n g t h a t § 3 0 2 p r o v i d e s a

p r i v a t e r i g h t o f a c t i o n

, M u l h a l l v

. U n i t e H E R E L o c a l 3 5 5

, e t a l

. , N o

. 0 8

- 6 1 7 6 6

-

P A S ( S

. D

. F l a

. A p r i l 2 2

, 2 0 0 9 ) ( O r d e r g r a n t i n g m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s

, a t 3 )

, a n d

24a l t h o u g h t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t h a s o b s e r v e d i n d i c t a t h a t § 3 0 2 ( e ) “ e x p r e s s l y

p e r m i t [ s ] s u i t s f

o r i n j u n c t i o n s

. . . t o b e b r o u g h t i n t h e f e d e r a l c o u r t s b y p r i v a t e

l i t i g a n t s

, ” S i n c l a i r R e f

. C o

. v

. A t k i n s o n

, 3 7 0 U

. S

. 1 9 5

, 2 0 5 n

. 1 9 ( 1 9 6 2 )

, t h e i s s u e i s

s i m p l y n o t f

o r u s t o d e c i d e i n t h i s a p p e a l

.

S i m i l a r l y

, t h e q u e s t i o n o f w h e t h e r t h e d i s p u t e d o r g a n i z i n g a s s i s t a n c e i s a

“ t h i n g o f v a l u e

, ” w h o s e p r o v i s i o n b y M a r d i G r a s o r a c c e p t a n c e b y U n i t e w o u l d

v i o l a t e § 3 0 2

, i s b e y o n d t h e s c o p e o f t h i s a p p e a l

. “ [ S ] t a n d i n g i n n o w a y d e p e n d s

o n t h e m e r i t s o f t h e p l a i n t i f f ’ s c o n t e n t i o n t h a t p a r t i c u l a r c o n d u c t i s i l l e g a l

. ” W a r t h

,

4 2 2 U

. S

. a t 5 0 0

. T h e m e r i t s w i l l b e f o r t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t t o d e c i d e o n r e m a n d

.

V

.

I n s u m

, w e c o n c l u d e t h a t M u l h a l l h a s c o n s t i t u t i o n a l a n d p r u d e n t i a l s t a n d i n g

t o m a i n t a i n h i s c l a i m f

o r i n j u n c t i v e r e l i e f u n d e r § 3 0 2 o f t h e L a b o r R e l a t i o n s

M a n a g e m e n t A c t

, a n d t h a t h i s c l a i m i s r i p e f o r r e v i e w

. A c c o r d i n g l y

, w e r e v e r s e

t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s o r d e r a n d j u d g m e n t o f d i s m i s s a l a n d r e m a n d t h e c a s e f o r f u r t h e r

p r o c e e d i n g s c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h i s o p i n i o n

.

R E V E R S E D A N D R E M A N D E D

.

25