IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS

FORT WORTH DIVISION

ROBERT (BOB) ROSS §

§

VS. § 

§

ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL §

FLIGHT ATTENDANTS, et al., §

§ Case No. 4:22-CV-343-Y

AND §

§ Consolidated with

EUGENIO VARGAS § Case No. 4:22-CV-430-Y

§

VS. § 

§

ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL §

FLIGHT ATTENDANTS, et al. §

______________________________________________________________________________

APFA DEFENDANTS’ MEMORANDUM IN OPPOSITION

TO PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT

JAMES D. SANFORD

Tex. Bar No. 24051289

Gillespie Sanford LLP

4803 Gaston Ave.

Dallas, TX 75246

Tel.: (214) 800-5111; Fax.: (214) 838-0001

Email: jim@gillespiesanford.com 

JEFFREY A. BARTOS (pro hac vice)

D.C. Bar No. 435832

Guerrieri, Bartos & Roma, PC

1900 M Street, N.W. Suite 700

Washington, DC 20036

Tel.: (202) 624-7400; Fax: (202) 624-7420

Email: jbartos@geclaw.com 

Counsel for the APFA Defendants

CHARLETTE L. BRODERICK (pro hac vice)

Tex. Bar No. 241133870

Association of Professional Flight Attendants

1004 W. Euless Blvd.

Euless, TX 76040

Tel.: (682) 301-8454

Email: cbroderick@apfa.org

Counsel for APFA

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ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUMMARY OF THE CASE...........................................................................................................1

ARGUMENT...................................................................................................................................4

I. PLAINTIFFS HAVE NOT MET THEIR FUNDAMENTAL SUMMARY 

JUDGMENT BURDEN TO ESTABLISH UNDISPUTED MATERIAL 

FACTS.................................................................................................................................4

II. PLAINTIFFS ARE NOT ENTITLED TO SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON 

THEIR LMRDA CLAIMS ..................................................................................................7

A. The Undisputed Facts Do Not Support Judgment For Plaintiffs On 

Their LMRDA Due Process Claims........................................................................7

1. There Was Considerably More Than “Some Evidence” to 

Support the Arbitrator’s Decisions ....................................................................9

2. Plaintiffs Each Received A Full and Fair Hearing...........................................11

B. Plaintiffs Cannot Show That Any Protected Speech Was The “But 

For” Cause Of The Arbitrator’s Decisions ............................................................20

C. The Undisputed Facts Do Not Support Plaintiffs’ Claims For 

Damages.................................................................................................................23

III. MR. ROSS IS NOT ENTITLED TO JUDGMENT ON HIS CLAIM FOR 

BREACH OF THE TRANSITION AGREEMENT..........................................................27

A. There Is No Basis for Liability on the Transition Agreement 

Claims....................................................................................................................28

1. The Claim Regarding the Amount Paid Is Barred by the Statute 

of Limitations...................................................................................................28

2. The Non-Disclosure Provision Is Unenforceable as a Matter of 

Law ..................................................................................................................28

B. There Is No Basis For Consequential Damages Or Attorneys’ Fees.....................30

IV. AMPLE UNDISPUTED EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THE APFA’S 

FIDUCIARY DUTY COUNTERCLAIMS.......................................................................32

A. Ample Undisputed Evidence Supports A Finding of Breach of 

Fiduciary Duty .......................................................................................................33

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iii

B. Ample and Undisputed Evidence Shows the APFA was Damaged 

by Plaintiffs’ Fiduciary Breach..............................................................................36

C. Plaintiffs Have Not Met Their Burden To Establish Their Defense 

of Laches................................................................................................................37

CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................38

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ......................................................................................................40

Case 4:22-cv-00343-Y Document 243 Filed 05/24/24 Page 3 of 48 PageID 7642
iv

TABLE OF AUTHORITIES

CASES Page(s)

Abrams v. Am. Airlines, Inc.,

No. 4:04-CV-919-Y, 2007 WL 9775358 (N.D. Tex. Aug. 30, 2007), aff’d, 302 

F. App’x 242 (5th Cir. 2008) .....................................................................................................4

Adams-Lundy v. APFA,

731 F.2d 1154 (5th Cir. 1984) .................................................................................................23

Alford v. Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc., 

975 F.2d 1161, 1164 (5th Cir. 1992) .......................................................................................30

Ashe v. Corley,

992 F.2d 540 (5th Cir. 1993) ...................................................................................................33

Black v. Ryder/P.I.E. Nationwide, Inc.,

970 F.2d 1461 (6th Cir. 1992) ...................................................................................................8

Carey v. Piphus,

435 U.S. 247 (1978).................................................................................................................24

Carr v. Austin Forty,

744 S.W.2d 267 (Tex. App. 1987), writ denied (May 11, 1988).............................................32

Celotex Corp.v. Catrett,

477 U.S. 317 (1986).................................................................................................................33

City Of El Paso, Tex. v. El Paso Ent., Inc.,

382 F. App'x 361 (5th Cir. 2010).............................................................................................37

Clark Cty. Sch. Dist. v. Breeden,

532 U.S. 268 (2001).................................................................................................................22

Commer v. McEntee,

121 F. Supp. 2d 388 (S.D.N.Y. 2000), aff’d, 15 F. App’x 21 (2d Cir. 2001)..........................22

Conway v. Int’l Ass’n of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers,

209 F.Supp.2d 731 (N.D. Ohio 2002), aff’d 93 Fed.Appx. 780 (6th Cir. 2004) .......................8

Corea v. Welo,

937 F.2d 1132 (6th Cir. 1991) .............................................................................................9, 11

Curtis v. Int’l All. of Theatrical Stage Emps.,

687 F.2d 1024 (7th Cir. 1982) .............................................................................................8, 19

Case 4:22-cv-00343-Y Document 243 Filed 05/24/24 Page 4 of 48 PageID 7643
v

Dondi Properties Corp. v. Commerce Savings & Loan Assoc., 

121 F.R.D. 284 (N.D. Tex. 1988) (en banc)............................................................................27

Eckhardt v. Qualitest Pharms Inc.,

889 F.Supp.2d 901 (S.D. Tex. 2012).........................................................................................5

Fernandez-Montes v. Allied Pilots Ass'n,

987 F.2d 278 (5th Cir. 1993) ...................................................................................................29

Forsyth v. Barr,

19 F.3d 1527 (5th Cir. 1994) ........................................................................................... passim

Fowler v. S. Bell Telephone & Telegraph Co.,

343 F.2d 150 (5th Cir. 1965) ...................................................................................................34

Goodwin v. Johnson,

132 F.3d 162 (5th Cir. 1997) ...................................................................................................35

Gross v. FBL Financial Services, Inc.,

557 U.S. 167 (2009).................................................................................................................20

Guidry v. Int’l Union of Operating Engineers, Local 406,

882 F.2d 929 (5th Cir. 1989), vacated on other grounds, 494 U.S. 1022 (1990)....................27

Halsell v. Local Union No. 5, Bricklayers & Allied Craftsmen,

530 F. Supp. 803 (N.D. Tex. 1982) ...........................................................................................8

Hoffman v. Kramer,

362 F.3d 308 (5th Cir. 2004) .....................................................................................................9

Holschen v. Int’l Union of Painters & Allied Trades/Painters Dist. Council #2,

598 F.3d 454 (8th Cir. 2010) ...................................................................................................14

Hudson v. Am. Fed. of Gov’t Emps.,

630 F.Supp.3d 214 (D.D.C. 2022)...........................................................................................20

Hurd v. Hodge,

334 U.S. 24 (1948)...................................................................................................................30

Johnson v. Holway,

439 F. Supp. 2d 180 (D.D.C. 2006).........................................................................................22

Kariuki v. Tarango,

709 F.3d 495 (5th Cir. 2013) .....................................................................................................5

Keenan v. Int’l Ass’n of Machinists & Aerospace Workers,

937 F. Supp. 2d 93 (D. Me. 2013)...............................................................................12, 17, 20

Case 4:22-cv-00343-Y Document 243 Filed 05/24/24 Page 5 of 48 PageID 7644
vi

Khan v. Trans Chem. Ltd.,

178 F. App’x 419 (5th Cir. 2006) ............................................................................................28

United States ex rel King v. Solvay Pharms., Inc.,

871 F.3d 318 (5th Cir. 2017) ...................................................................................................20

Lewis v. AFSCME,

407 F.2d 1185 (3d Cir. 1969).....................................................................................................8

Loc. No. 1419, ILA, Gen. Longshore Workers Union, AFL-CIO v. Smith,

301 F.2d 791 (5th Cir. 1962) ...................................................................................................30

Loc. No. 92, Int'l Ass'n of Bridge, Structural & Ornamental Iron Workers, AFLCIO v. Norris,

383 F.2d 735 (5th Cir. 1967) .............................................................................................34, 37

Malacara v. Garber,

353 F.3d 393 (5th Cir. 2003) .....................................................................................................4

Martin v. Local 556,

No. 3:14-CV-0500, 2014 WL 4358480 (N.D. Tex. Sept. 3, 2014) ...............................9, 12, 23

McCarthy v. IAM,

Case No. 21-1673, 2021 WL 5766569 (3d Cir. Dec. 6, 2021)..........................................11, 22

Meredith v. Louisiana Fed’n of Teachers,

209 F.3d 398 (5th Cir. 2000) ...................................................................................................27

MGE UPS Sys., Inc. v. Fakouri Elec. Eng'g, Inc.,

422 F. Supp. 2d 724 (N.D. Tex. 2006) ....................................................................................38

Nat’l R.R. Passenger Corp. v. Morgan,

536 U.S. 101 (2002).................................................................................................................38

Nelms v. United Ass’n of Journeymen & Apprentices of Plumbing & Pipe Fitting 

Indus. of U. S. & Canada,

405 F.2d 715 (5th Cir. 1968) .....................................................................................................8

Newell v. Int'l Bhd. of Elec. Workers,

789 F.2d 1186 (5th Cir. 1986) .................................................................................................24

Normore v. Dallas Indep. Sch. Dist.,

677 F. Supp. 3d 494 (N.D. Tex. 2023) ..................................................................................1, 4

In re OCA, Inc.,

552 F.3d 413 (5th Cir. 2008) ...................................................................................................30

Case 4:22-cv-00343-Y Document 243 Filed 05/24/24 Page 6 of 48 PageID 7645
vii

Orthopedic & Sports Injury Clinic v. Wang Labs., Inc.,

922 F.2d 220 (5th Cir. 1991) .....................................................................................................5

Properties Corp. v. Commerce Savings & Loan Assoc.,

121 F.R.D. 284 (N.D. Tex. 1988)............................................................................................27

Ray v. Young,

753 F.2d 386 (5th Cir. 1985) ...................................................................................................32

Resol. Tr. v. Grady,

24 F.3d 240 (5th Cir. 1994) .......................................................................................................6

Ritz v. O’Donnell,

566 F.2d 731 (D.C. Cir. 1977).............................................................................................8, 22

Russ v. Int’l Paper Co,

943 F.2d 589 (5th Cir. 1991) ...................................................................................................33

Schrader v. Sheet Metal Workers Int'l Ass’n Loc. Union No. 20,

656 F. Supp. 1487 (N.D. Ind. 1987) ....................................................................................8, 19

Serafinn v. Local 722, IBT, 

597 F.3d 908, 914 (7th Cir. 2010) .....................................................................................20, 23

Signature Indus. Servs., LLC v. Int'l Paper Co.,

638 S.W.3d 179 (Tex. 2022)....................................................................................................31

Smith v. Spizzirri,

No. 22-1218, 2024 WL 2193872 (U.S. May 16, 2024)...........................................................30

Stine v. Stewart,

80 S.W.3d 586 (Tex. 2002)......................................................................................................28

Stuart v. Bayless, 

964 S.W.2d 920, 921 (Tex. 1998)............................................................................................31

Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen & Helpers, Loc. 764 v. Greenawalt,

880 F. Supp. 1076 (M.D. Pa. 1995).........................................................................................37

United Food and Comm. Workers Int’l Union, Local 911 v. United Food and 

Comm. Workers Int’l,

301 F.3d 468 (6th Cir. 2002) .....................................................................................................9

United States v. Budzanoski,

462 F.2d 443 (3d Cir. 1972).....................................................................................................29

Uptown Grill, LLC v. Shwartz,

817 F.3d 251 (5th Cir. 2016) ...................................................................................................38

Case 4:22-cv-00343-Y Document 243 Filed 05/24/24 Page 7 of 48 PageID 7646
viii

Vais Arms, Inc. v. Vais,

383 F.3d 287 (5th Cir. 2004) .....................................................................................................5

Wright v. Union Pac. R.R. Co.,

990 F.3d 428 (5th Cir. 2021) ...................................................................................................22

Yager v. Carey,

910 F. Supp. 704 (D.C. Cir. 1998).........................................................................14, 17, 18, 24

STATUTES

UNITED STATES CODE

Labor-Management Reporting & Disclosure Act

29 U.S.C. § 401................................................................................................................ passim

29 U.S.C. § 411..........................................................................................................3, 7, 13, 21

29 U.S.C. § 412........................................................................................................................23

29 U.S.C. § 431........................................................................................................................29

29 U.S.C. § 501............................................................................................................32, 35, 36

29 U.S.C. § 529........................................................................................................................20

TEXAS CIVIL PRACTICES & REMEDIES CODE

§ 38.002....................................................................................................................................32

§ 16.004....................................................................................................................................37

RULES

FEDERAL RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE

Rule 56.........................................................................................................................1, 4, 6, 35

Case 4:22-cv-00343-Y Document 243 Filed 05/24/24 Page 8 of 48 PageID 7647
The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (“APFA”), its National President, Julie 

Hedrick, and its National Treasurer, Erik Harris (collectively, “the APFA Defendants”) submit this 

Memorandum in Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Motion for Partial Summary Judgment, Doc. 237. As a 

threshold matter, Plaintiffs have failed to comply with Rule 56(c)(1)(A), Fed. R. Civ. P., which 

requires citation to “particular parts of materials in the record” to support the assertions of fact 

upon which the motion is based. This failure alone precludes summary judgment in Plaintiffs’ 

favor. Forsyth v. Barr, 19 F.3d 1527, 1537 (5th Cir. 1994); Normore v. Dallas Indep. Sch. Dist., 

677 F. Supp. 3d 494, 543 (N.D. Tex. 2023).

1

 Moreover, the critical factual assertions by Plaintiffs 

are not even supported by the material to which they broadly allude. Plaintiffs’ Motion also fails 

as a matter of law because it is based on a series of fundamental misunderstandings of governing 

law. Taken together, there are ample grounds to deny Plaintiffs’ motion and, as set forth in the 

APFA Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment, to enter judgment in favor of the APFA 

Defendants on all counts.

SUMMARY OF THE CASE

The essential facts and procedural history of this litigation are set forth in the APFA 

Defendants’ Memorandum in support of their Motion for Summary Judgment, Doc. 235 at ECF 

13-33, and will not be repeated in full here except as needed to provide context for the discussion 

below concerning Plaintiffs’ Motion.

Plaintiffs Robert Ross and Eugenio Vargas were elected to APFA National Office for terms 

which began in April 2016. Mr. Ross, who was National President, left office early pursuant to a 

Transition Agreement (“TA”) which provided for payment of specified salary and benefits. The 

1 Plaintiffs have not identified the live pleadings as required by the Initial Scheduling Order, Ross

Doc. 77 at 2-3 n.4 (3). The APFA Defendants state that the live pleadings are identified in the 

Memorandum supporting their Motion for Summary Judgment, Doc. 235 at ECF 9-12.

Case 4:22-cv-00343-Y Document 243 Filed 05/24/24 Page 9 of 48 PageID 7648
2

TA included a provision that it would never be disclosed to Union members. Mr. Vargas, who 

had been National Treasurer, stayed in office for several months after Mr. Ross’ departure. APFA 

Appx. 523 (Harris Decl.) ¶ 6; APFA Appx. 533-536 (TA).2 As Treasurer, Mr. Vargas oversaw 

and authorized the payments to Mr. Ross under the TA, before himself leaving office later in 2018. 

APFA Appx. 606-607, 610-11 (Vargas Dep. pp. 9-10, 23-26).

When the current APFA leadership took office in early 2020, at the request of several 

members of APFA’s Board of Directors, the Union conducted a review of the payments to Mr. 

Ross under the TA. APFA Appx. 525 (Harris Decl.) ¶¶ 11-14. In October 2020, the APFA’s 

outside accountant reported to APFA that Mr. Ross had been overpaid approximately $5400 based 

on Mr. Vargas’ application of an incorrect payment formula for his sick and vacation payout. 

APFA Appx. 525 (Harris Decl.) ¶ 15; Appx. 545 (O’Neil Decl.) ¶ 7 and 559 (Ross Schedule C).

3

 

APFA sought repayment, but Mr. Ross refused. APFA Appx. 527 (Harris Decl.) ¶¶ 18-20. Similar 

overpayments, based on the same error under Mr. Vargas’ oversight, had been made to Mr. Vargas 

and two other former National Officers, all of whom (unlike Mr. Ross) had repaid the overage. 

APFA Appx. 523-24 (Harris Decl.) ¶¶ 6-9. The APFA referred Mr. Ross’ debt to a collection 

agency, which Mr. Ross is also suing in this action. APFA Appx. 527 (Harris Decl.) ¶ 20.

Around the same time, two rank-and-file Union members (Melissa Chinery and Sandra 

Lee), had been conducting their own wider ranging investigation into the financial practices of 

former Union representatives, and sought access to the Transition Agreement, among other 

2 The APFA’s Appendix is filed at Docket 236. Additional material is provided in the 

Supplemental Appendix filed herewith.

3 In connection with that review, the accountant Hal O’Neil produced a memorandum, which 

Plaintiffs refer to as the “Confidential Memorandum,” APFA Appx. 547, and which is central to

Plaintiffs’ claims. We discuss that document in more detail below in relation to Plaintiffs’ 

LMRDA due process claim.

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documents, from APFA. APFA Appx. 524 (Harris Decl.) ¶ 10; APFA Appx. 103-4 (Lee statement 

in Ross arbitration); APFA Appx. 368-375 (Chinery statement in Vargas arbitration). Upon advice 

of counsel, APFA disclosed the TA to Ms. Chinery and Ms. Lee. APFA Appx. 509 (Hedrick 

Decl.) ¶ 9. In November 2020, Ms. Chinery and Ms. Lee filed internal Union charges against Mr.

Ross and Mr. Vargas, which led to arbitration under Article VII of the APFA Constitution. APFA 

Appx. 4-5 (Black Decl.) ¶¶ 10-13. The independent Article VII Arbitrator conducted hearings in 

which witnesses testified and documentary evidence was submitted, and ultimately issued awards 

in both cases which held that Mr. Ross and Mr. Vargas, while Union officers, had misused and 

improperly received tens of thousands of dollars in violation of the APFA Constitution and Policy 

Manual. AFPA Appx. 6-8 (Black Decl.) ¶¶ 15-23; APFA Appx. 282-284 (Ross Supp. Decision); 

APFA Appx. 504-506 (Vargas Supp. Decision). The Arbitrator barred Mr. Ross and Mr. Vargas 

from holding Union office, based on what he concluded were egregious breaches of their duty to 

the Union and its members. Id.; see also APFA Appx. 240, 242 (Ross Award); APFA Appx. 480 

(Vargas Award).

Mr. Ross and Mr. Vargas then sued the APFA Defendants, and the APFA has 

counterclaimed for Plaintiffs’ breach of fiduciary duty. As is pertinent to the Plaintiffs’ Motion, 

both Plaintiffs contend that their Article VII Arbitrations violated the Labor Management 

Reporting and Disclosure Act, 29 U.S.C. § 401 et seq. Plaintiffs claim that their right to a “full 

and fair hearing” under 29 U.S.C. § 411(a)(5)(C) was violated, and also that the Arbitrator’s 

decision subjected to them to discipline in retaliation for their exercise of free speech. See Doc. 

238 at ECF 28-41.

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In addition, Mr. Ross claims that the APFA Defendants breached the Transition Agreement 

in connection with payments made to him in 2018 and with the decision to disclose the document

to members in 2020. Doc. 238 at ECF 20-24.

In connection with their claims, Plaintiffs seek a summary judgment award of over $4 

million in damages, attorney’s fees and costs. See Proposed Order on Pls.’ Mot. For Partial Summ. 

J (submitted May 1, 2024).

With respect to the APFA’s Counterclaim, Plaintiffs turn a blind eye to the final and 

binding determination of the neutral Arbitrator and move for summary judgment on the ground 

that, in their view, there is “no evidence” to support the Counterclaim. Doc. 238 at ECF 15-20.

ARGUMENT

I. PLAINTIFFS HAVE NOT MET THEIR FUNDAMENTAL SUMMARY 

JUDGMENT BURDEN TO ESTABLISH UNDISPUTED MATERIAL FACTS.

As an initial matter, Plaintiffs’ Motion should be denied because they have failed to meet 

their threshold obligation of establishing the factual basis for their summary judgment motion

through specific references to the record.

Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1)(A) requires that the “party asserting that a fact cannot be ... 

genuinely disputed ... must support the assertion by ... citing to particular parts of materials in 

the record” (emphasis added); Local Civil Rule 56.5(c) likewise requires that “a party must support 

each assertion by citing each relevant page of its own or the opposing party’s appendix.” “Rule 

56 does not impose upon the district court a duty to sift through the record in search of evidence 

to support a party’s position,” Malacara v. Garber, 353 F.3d 393, 405 (5th Cir. 2003) (citation 

omitted), and a failure to provide specific record support for facts asserted at the summary 

judgment stage is grounds to deny the motion. Forsyth, 19 F.3d at 1537; Normore, 677 F. Supp.

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5

3d at 543; Abrams v. Am. Airlines, Inc., No. 4:04-CV-919-Y, 2007 WL 9775358, at *1 n.1 (N.D. 

Tex. Aug. 30, 2007), aff'd, 302 F. App’x 242 (5th Cir. 2008).

Similarly, conclusory and vague sworn statements are insufficient to establish facts for 

purposes of summary judgment. Vais Arms, Inc. v. Vais, 383 F.3d 287, 294 (5th Cir. 2004);

Kariuki v. Tarango, 709 F.3d 495, 505 (5th Cir. 2013); Orthopedic & Sports Injury Clinic v. Wang 

Labs., Inc., 922 F.2d 220, 225 (5th Cir. 1991). 

Plaintiffs’ Motion falters on these threshold grounds. To be sure, Plaintiffs did submit an 

Appendix of nearly 1,000 pages in connection with their motion. But their supporting Brief is all 

but devoid of specific citations to this massive record. Instead, Plaintiffs only offer blanket 

citations to entire documents, or blocks of documents, forcing the reader to sift through 

voluminous materials to try to ferret out their alleged factual support.

For example, Plaintiffs generally cite to the entire Ross Affidavit dated April 25, 2024 

(Pls.’ Appx. 386-96) a total of 65 times in the Brief; cite to the entire Ross Affidavit dated April 

14, 2022 (Pls.’ Appx. 1-6) a total of 26 times in their Brief; and cite to the entire Vargas Affidavit 

dated April 25, 2024 (Pls.’ Appx. 286-92) a total of 61 times in their Brief. Likewise, they 

generally cite to their entire hearing excerpts for the Ross Art. VII hearing (Pls.’ Appx. 263-285) 

and Vargas Art. VII hearing (Pls.’ Appx. 255-262) seven times each. Plaintiffs also generally cite

a 40-page block of communications discussing various topics (Pls.’ Appx. 52-92) eight times in 

their Brief. By way of another example, in support of Mr. Ross’ claim for medical damages (Doc. 

238 at ECF 43), Plaintiffs cite to over 300 pages of what appears to be his entire medical record 

from the Veterans Administration (Pls.’ Appx. 494-796).

Because the citations are generalized, most of the cited pages have little or nothing to do 

with the factual assertions which they purportedly support. Such “[v]ague references to an 

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6

extensive summary judgment record are insufficient.” Eckhardt v. Qualitest Pharms Inc., 889 F.

Supp. 2d 901, 904-05 (S.D. Tex. 2012). “As we have said before, ‘Judges are not ferrets!’ The 

... failure to ‘set forth specific facts showing that there is [or is not] a genuine issue for trial’” 

warrants an adverse summary judgment ruling. Resol. Tr. v. Grady, 24 F.3d 240 (5th Cir. 1994).

Plaintiffs also repeatedly fail to offer any citations to the record at all in support of many 

of their claimed factual assertions and frequently cite documents having nothing to do with the 

factual claims. By way of example, Plaintiffs claim that “APFA sought out publishing [a] line 

item on [Mr. Ross’] credit report for the overpayment to injure his ability to obtain credit. (App. 

pp. 1-6; 52-92).” Doc. 238 at ECF 27. The first citation is to the entire Ross Affidavit (Pls.’ 

Appx. 1-6), which does not support this factual assertion and the second citation (Pls.’ Appx. 52-

92) is to 40 pages of various communications, none of which support this factual assertion either.

Plaintiffs also offer no citations at all in support of various claims, such as:

• that “[a]ll expenses or purchases that Defendant, APFA, contend were 

improper were actually made, submitted, and approved via APFA 

procedures and policy at the time, or were pre-approved by APFA Board of 

Directors and were approved by the APFA accounting personnel 

responsible for payments” (Doc. 238 at ECF 17);

• that “[t]here is no dispute [that] ... there is no damage suffered by APFA 

that can form the basis of a breach of fiduciary duty” (id. at ECF 19); or

• that the “evidence was controlled by, presented by, testified to, and 

delivered by the APFA National Officers -- those charged with conducting 

the disciplinary proceedings” (id. at ECF 34).

Additional instances of this practice are described below in connection with the specific arguments 

to which they relate.

Plaintiffs’ failure to meet their threshold obligation of establishing, through specific 

references to the record, the factual basis for their motion as required by Rule 56 is in itself grounds 

to deny their summary judgment motion, in addition to the legal issues which we discuss below. 

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7

II. PLAINTIFFS ARE NOT ENTITLED TO SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON THEIR 

LMRDA CLAIMS.

Plaintiffs argue that they are entitled to summary judgment on their LMRDA claims

relating to the Article VII Arbitrations, asserting first, that they were denied a “full and fair

hearing,” and second, that the discipline imposed by the Article VII Arbitrator was in retaliation 

for engaging in speech protected by the LMRDA. Both grounds are meritless. 

A. The Undisputed Facts Do Not Support Judgment For Plaintiffs On Their 

LMRDA Due Process Claims.

Contrary to Plaintiffs’ assertions, the undisputed evidence shows that the Arbitration 

process was fully consistent with the requirements of the LMRDA. Notably, Plaintiffs’ various 

contentions regarding procedural issues were never raised with the Arbitrator, nor do Plaintiffs 

explain to the Court how the alleged procedural shortfalls (if they occurred) could have affected 

the outcome of their arbitrations.

Article VII of the APFA Constitution allows any APFA member in good standing to file 

internal Union charges against another member or Union officer for, among other things, theft or

embezzlement of Union funds and for willful violations of the Constitution and internal Union

policies, as was the case here. The LMRDA requires certain minimum safeguards be met by a 

union before discipline can be imposed, including that the member (1) be served with written 

specific charges; (2) be given a reasonable time to prepare his defense; and (3) be afforded a “full 

and fair hearing.” 29 U.S.C. § 411(a)(5)(C). Here, it is not disputed that Plaintiffs were served 

with written specific charges and were given a reasonable time (9-12 months each) to prepare their 

defense. Plaintiffs claim only that they were not afforded a “full and fair” hearing. 

As Plaintiffs concede, the LMRDA’s “‘full and fair hearing’ clause does not require unions 

to provide the ‘full panoply of procedural safeguards found in criminal proceedings,’ but only to 

Case 4:22-cv-00343-Y Document 243 Filed 05/24/24 Page 15 of 48 PageID 7654
8

comply with the ‘fundamental and traditional concepts of due process.’” Doc. 238 at ECF 30 

(citation omitted). “If the charging party ... presents witnesses or other evidence at the proceeding, 

and the respondent is offered both full opportunity to test the validity of that evidence and the 

opportunity to call the charging persons as witnesses (even as hostile witnesses) in the event he 

thinks their testimony will help his case, a full and fair hearing is assured.” Ritz v. O’Donnell, 566 

F.2d 731, 736 (D.C. Cir. 1977). The LMRDA does not require (1) “the more stringent evidentiary 

standards” applicable in court (Schrader v. Sheet Metal Workers Int’l Ass’n Local Union No. 20, 

656 F. Supp. 1487, 1495 (N.D. Ind. 1987)); (2) pre-hearing discovery (Conway v. Int’l Ass’n of 

Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers, 209 F. Supp. 2d 731, 751 (N.D. Ohio 2002), 

aff’d 93 F. App’x. 780 (6th Cir. 2004); or (3) the right to counsel (Curtis v. Int’l All. of Theatrical 

Stage Emps., 687 F.2d 1024, 1028 (7th Cir. 1982)). 

As long as the LMRDA’s minimal due process requirements are met, courts review the 

results of such proceedings only to determine whether there was “some evidence” to support the 

charges. Int’l Bhd. of Boilermakers v. Hardeman, 401 U.S. 233, 246-47 (1971). “A stricter 

standard [of review] ... would be inconsistent with the apparent congressional intent to allow 

unions to govern their own affairs and would require courts to judge the credibility of witnesses 

on [a] ... cold record.” Id.; see also Black v. Ryder/P.I.E. Nationwide, Inc., 970 F.2d 1461, 1468-

69 (6th Cir. 1992). “Once the court determines that the findings of the union’s tribunal were ‘not 

without any foundation in the evidence,’ that the proof adduced related to appropriate charges, and 

that procedural due process was observed, the action of the union tribunal must be upheld.” Lewis 

v. AFSCME, 407 F.2d 1185, 1198 (3d Cir. 1969); see also Nelms v. United Ass’n of Journeymen 

& Apprentices of the Plumbing & Pipe Fitting Indus. of U. S. & Canada, 405 F.2d 715, 718 (5th 

Cir. 1968) (“Our review of the [internal union disciplinary] findings is limited in nature, and we 

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9

must exercise a sound reluctance to interfere in internal union affairs.”); Halsell v. Local Union 

No. 5, Bricklayers & Allied Craftsmen, 530 F. Supp. 803, 807 (N.D. Tex. 1982) (“The Court said 

[in Hardeman] that it was up to the unions, not the Courts, to define the conduct which would lead 

to disciplinary conduct.”).

Plaintiffs cite Martin v. Local 556, No. 3:14-CV-0500, 2014 WL 4358480 (N.D. Tex. Sept. 

3, 2014), seemingly for the proposition that a more expansive judicial review of internal union 

discipline is available if “there is evidence of impropriety in the proceedings.” Doc. 238 at ECF 

33. There is no such evidence here, but in any event the quoted language does not appear in 

Martin, nor in any case we have found involving LMRDA Title I in this Circuit. Instead, the 

quoted language is found in Hoffman v. Kramer, 362 F.3d 308, 316 (5th Cir. 2004), which 

addresses the limited role of courts in connection with fiduciary duty claims by union members, 

and states in full that “The federal courts do not sit as a ‘super review’ board of internal union 

grievances unless there is evidence of impropriety in the proceedings” (emphasis supplied).4 And

the case law, including Martin, conclusively establishes that review of internal union discipline is 

strictly limited to the “full and fair hearing” and “some evidence” standards. See Martin, 2014 

WL 4358480 at *9-12.

1. There Was Considerably More Than “Some Evidence” to Support the 

Arbitrator’s Decisions.

The evidence of record establishes that the LMRDA standard for union discipline is amply 

satisfied here. Substantial testimony and documentary evidence were introduced during the 

4 Hoffman cited, in turn, two other appellate cases involving Section 501, and not involving 

review of internal union discipline under the “full and fair hearing” requirement. United Food 

and Commercial Workers Int’l Union, Local 911 v. United Food and Commercial Workers Int’l, 

301 F.3d 468, 475 (6th Cir. 2002); Corea v. Welo, 937 F.2d 1132, 1143 (6th Cir. 1991).

 

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10

hearings to support the charges against Mr. Ross and Mr. Vargas, both of whom were represented 

at the hearings by parties of their own choosing. APFA Appx. 6-8 (Black Decl.) ¶¶ 15-16, 20-21, 

23; APFA Appx. 219-42 and 282-84 (Ross Awards), 442-480 and 504-06 (Vargas Awards); APFA 

Appx. 573-74 (Ross Dep. 74-80); APFA Appx. 629-630 (Vargas Dep. 102-107). The Charging 

Parties submitted dozens of exhibits and called numerous witnesses including both rank-and-file 

members and past and present elected officers who testified as to the Union’s financial procedures

and the expenses paid to or approved by the Plaintiffs. Id. Plaintiffs actively participated in the 

hearing, submitting their own exhibits, testifying, and calling and cross-examining witnesses, 

including the Charging Parties, and took the stand in their own defense. APFA Appx. 219-20, 226-

231 (Ross Award summarizing hearing procedures and witness testimony), 442-43, 448-61 

(Vargas Award summarizing hearing procedures and witness testimony); APFA Appx. 109-10 and

143-44 (Ross Art. VII Hearing Tr. Witness and Exhibit indexes); APFA Appx. 287-88, 355-56,

and 387-88 (Vargas Art. VII Hearing Tr. Witness and Exhibit indexes). A transcript was provided, 

and both Mr. Ross and Mr. Vargas submitted detailed post-hearing briefs in support of their 

defenses. APFA Appx. 6-7 (Black Decl.) ¶¶ 15-16, 21; APFA Appx. 187-213 (Ross Brief); APFA 

Appx. 404-41 (Vargas Brief).5

Arbitrator Armendariz issued detailed and considered decisions citing the evidentiary 

record. His supplemental awards followed the independent financial reviews he had ordered. 

5 A more complete summary of the Article VII proceedings for Mr. Ross and Mr. Vargas can be 

found in the Declaration of APFA National Secretary Joshua Black found in the APFA’s Appendix 

filed in support of its Motion for Summary Judgment. APFA Appx. 4-7 (Black Decl.) ¶¶ 10-20 

(discussing Ross charges and hearing procedures) and ¶¶ 21-23 (discussing Vargas charges and 

hearing procedures), and Exhibits referenced therein. A summary of the applicable Constitutional 

and Policy Manual procedures regarding Article VII charges and hearings can be found as well in 

Mr. Black’s Declaration, and the Exhibits cited in support therein. APFA Appx. 1-3 (Black Decl.) 

¶¶ 3-8; APFA Appx. 30-35 (APFA Constitution, Art. VII); APFA Appx. 62-67 (APFA Policy 

Manual, Article VII Administrative Policies and Procedures). 

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Arbitrator Armendariz ultimately ruled that Plaintiffs were guilty on most of the charges levied 

against them and should be barred from union office. APFA Appx. 219-42 (Ross Award); APFA 

Appx. 282-84 (Ross Supp. Award); APFA Appx. 442-80 (Vargas Award); APFA Appx. 504-06 

(Vargas Supp. Award). Because the “some evidence” standard was met, there is no basis to reverse 

the outcome of the Article VII Hearings. Hardeman, 401 U.S. at 242-43; Brock, 790 F.2d at 510, 

512; Corea, 937 F.2d at 1135; McCarthy v. IAM, Case No. 21-1673, 2021 WL 5766569, *4 (3d 

Cir. Dec. 6, 2021) (some evidence standard met when “testimony was offered to support each of 

the alleged acts of misconduct and the fact finders credited that testimony”; plaintiff’s “denials or 

explanations for his actions do not negate that substantial evidence supported the verdict against 

him”).

2. Plaintiffs Each Received A Full and Fair Hearing.

In support of their due process claims, Plaintiffs raise several meritless and largely 

unsupported allegations, including that they were denied full discovery or that evidence was 

“altered” because they did not receive a copy of the O’Neil “Confidential Memorandum” prior to 

the hearing (Doc. 238 at ECF 33-34); that they were prevented from making certain arguments to 

the Arbitrator or calling certain witnesses (id. at ECF 35-37); that they were not given

“proportionate time” to put on a defense (id. at ECF 34); and that the “bulk of the documents 

admitted into [the] record ... were unreliable hearsay” (id. at ECF 36). Notably, with the exception 

of the “Confidential Memo,” none of these issues was raised by either Mr. Ross or Mr. Vargas in 

their post-hearing briefs to the Arbitrator. See APFA Appx. 185-213 (Ross Brief); APFA Appx. 

404-41 (Vargas Brief). And, as shown below, the undisputed facts do not make out a due process 

claim under the LMRDA on any asserted ground. 

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Discovery and Confidential Memorandum. While Plaintiffs’ claim that they were entitled 

to “discovery” here (Doc. 238 at ECF 33-34), it is well-settled that a union member facing union 

disciplinary proceedings is not, as a matter of right, entitled to discovery under the LMRDA. See 

Martin, 2014 WL 4358480, at *8; Keenan v. Int’l Ass’n of Machinists & Aerospace Workers, 937 

F. Supp. 2d 93, 117 (D. Me. 2013) (plaintiff “was not denied his right to a full and fair hearing by 

his inability to force individuals to appear at the hearing to testify on his behalf”).

Moreover, the key document which Plaintiffs claim they were denied access to, the 

“Confidential Memorandum” drafted by accountant Hal O’Neil, Doc. 238 at ECF 13, 33-34, does 

not support their underlying claim and in any event was provided by Mr. Ross to the Article VII 

Arbitrator prior to his ruling.6 The Arbitrator held that the memorandum did not raise any new 

issue, and went on to reject Mr. Ross’ argument which was based on that memorandum. There is 

no plausible claim that the timing of the distribution of that memorandum to Plaintiffs gives rise 

to a violation of Title I.

As explained more fully in the memorandum supporting the APFA Defendants’ motion for 

summary judgment, that memorandum was drafted by APFA’s outside accountant Hal O’Neil in 

connection with a request to determine whether Mr. Ross, like the other National Officers he had 

served with, had been overpaid any amount in connection with payment for sick and vacation days 

when he left office. In that regard, Mr. O’Neil analyzed whether Mr. Ross had been paid the correct 

6 Specifically, Plaintiffs claim that “[r]emoving the Confidential Memo from the original document 

delivered by the CPA and citing his credentials as a CPA constitutes to fraudulent 

misrepresentation” and that “putting forth fraudulent misrepresentations in such an egregious 

manner during the discovery process and hearing deprived the Plaintiffs of their right [to] inspect 

the documents, question witnesses, and properly mount a defense based on the evidence.” Doc. 

238 at ECF 33-34 (emphasis added). 

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13

number of sick and vacation days; and also whether the correct daily rate had been applied to those 

days. APFA Appx. 525 (Harris Decl.) ¶ 14; Appx. 544-45 (O’Neil Decl.) ¶ 5.

In late September 2020, Mr. O’Neil provided APFA National Treasurer Harris with a set 

of “workpapers” regarding the payments to Mr. Ross and the other Officers who served with him 

(Mr. Vargas, Ms. Martin and Ms. Dunaway). APFA Appx. 525 (Harris Decl.) ¶ 15; APFA Appx. 

548-559 (Schedules). With respect to Mr. Ross, the workpapers included a 2-page document 

(Schedule C) labelled “Overpayment Calculation” which showed, similarly to the calculations for 

the other former Officers, the amounts he had been “paid in error”, and a “Total overpayment –

due to APFA” of $5,436.47. APFA Appx. 545 (O’Neil Decl.) ¶ 7 and 559 (Ross Sch. C); APFA 

Appx. 525-26 (Harris Decl.) ¶¶ 15-16. Mr. O’Neil also provided National Treasurer Harris with 

the memorandum which Plaintiffs call “the Confidential Memorandum.” Appx. 545, 547 (O’Neil 

Decl. ¶ 8 and Memorandum). The memorandum discussed the “overpayment schedule of the 

accrued and unused sick, and accrued and unused vacation time payments made to Bob Ross in 

2018, similar to the overpayment schedules we prepared previously for the other three officers,” 

and noted that the TA which Mr. Ross had signed “doesn’t specify that the payments be made in 

accordance with policy manual guidelines. Consequently, these payments appear appropriate and 

in compliance with the transition agreement.” APFA Appx. 547. As described in his Declaration, 

by that language, Mr. O’Neil meant that the number of days of accrued sick and vacation pay was 

consistent with the TA. Mr. O’Neil also concluded, however, that the daily rate applied to each 

such day was in excess of that which was allowed, and therefore was an overpayment as reflected 

on Schedule C. APFA Appx. 545-46 (O’Neil Decl.) ¶ 8; APFA Appx. 526 (Harris Decl.) ¶¶ 16-

17.

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Accordingly, even if there was any obligation for APFA to produce the Confidential

Memorandum to Mr. Ross or Mr. Vargas in connection with their Article VII arbitrations, and

Plaintiffs have not shown that there was, Plaintiffs cannot show that the nonproduction materially 

impacted their defense here. Even if “an internal union rule has been violated, Section 411(a)(5)(C) 

gives union members a cause of action only when that violation severely impairs the member’s 

ability to prepare and present a defense, or by increasing the risk that a decision maker will reach 

an erroneous determination.” Yager v. Carey, 910 F. Supp. 704, 714 (D.D.C. 1995), aff’d, 159 

F.3d 638 (D.C. Cir. 1998). The undisputed record, including the uncontradicted sworn statement 

of Mr. O’Neil, demonstrates that, far from being “exculpatory”, the memorandum and its Schedule 

C reveals that accountant O’Neil concluded that Ross was overpaid in his sick and vacation payout 

by $5,436.47, based on the inflated daily rate applied by Mr. Vargas. APFA Appx. 545-46 (O’Neil 

Decl.) ¶¶ 7-8.7

Moreover, and independently dispositive, Mr. Ross provided the O’Neil Memorandum to 

the Arbitrator prior to the disciplinary award against him, APFA Appx. 215-16, and the Arbitrator 

ruled that the issue had already been fully explained before rejecting Mr. Ross’ arguments in his 

decision. APFA Appx. 217-18; see also APFA Appx. 229 (Arbitration Award (Ross)) 

(“Defendant Ross argued that all payouts and formula used to calculate the payout for vacation, 

sick and end of term buyout of accrued and unused Sick and Vacation days ...was the product of 

a Transition Agreement and not specific to APFA Policy.”); APFA Appx. 230 (describing same 

argument by Mr. Ross and referencing O’Neil memorandum). There was not, and could not have 

been, any prejudice to Mr. Ross.

7 Plaintiffs’ assertion that Mr. O’Neil somehow “disavowed” his own “assertion of overpayment” 

contained in the same document (Schedule C) is, as Mr. O’Neil explains, simply incorrect. APFA 

Appx. 545-46 (O’Neil Decl.) ¶¶ 7-8. 

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It also bears emphasis that this document only pertains to one of the many charges against 

both Plaintiffs for which they were found guilty, and thus could not be the basis to undo the Awards 

in their entirety. See Holschen v. Int’l Union of Painters & Allied Trades/Painters Dist. Council 

#2, 598 F.3d 454, 462 (8th Cir. 2010) (upholding discipline when there is “some evidence to 

support some of the charges brought against him”).

8

 

Ability to Discuss Transition Agreement. Plaintiff argues that “[m]ost importantly, neither 

Ross nor Vargas were allowed to introduce any evidence related to Ross’s Transition Agreement.” 

Doc. 238 at ECF at 35. In support, they cite excerpts from both Article VII Hearings, as well as 

Mr. Vargas’ and Mr. Ross’ Affidavits in this matter. Id. None of these documents even arguably 

support this claim.9 To the contrary, while Plaintiffs cite to an objection made by the Charging 

Parties during Mr. Vargas’ hearing over certain questions related to the Transition Agreement (at 

8 Also unavailing is Plaintiffs’ argument that they were denied due process because the APFA 

Executive Committee did not receive the Confidential Memorandum prior to voting that the 

charges were procedurally proper and referring the matter to the Article VII Arbitrator. Doc. 238 

at ECF 34. It is not the Executive Committee’s role to review the evidence and issue a decision 

on the merits of Article VII charges. Rather, it simply reviews the charges for timeliness, 

specificity and validity. APFA Appx. 3-4 (Black Decl.) ¶¶ 5, 12 and APFA Appx. 31-32 

(Constitution, Art. VII, § 3). As Mr. Ross acknowledged in his Article VII Post-Hearing Brief,

“The only requirement of the EC to find Validity and to pass charges, true or false, on to ... 

Arbitration ... is to deem the accusations as Valid simply under the notion that ‘If the charges were 

true, then they are Valid.’” APFA Appx. 191. 

9 In support of this claim and their claim that the “dominant charge at issue” in the Article VII 

proceedings was the “alleged overpayment made by Vargas to Ross based on the terms of Ross’s

Transition Agreement,” (Doc. 238 at ECF 35), Plaintiffs cite generally to the entire Ross and 

Vargas Article VII Hearing Transcript excerpts (Pls.’ Appx. 255-285), entire Ross Affidavits (id.

at 1-6, 386-96), entire Vargas Affidavit (id. at 286-92), and the entire Arbitration Awards issued 

against them (id. at 115-38, 309-50), but none of these documents support the allegation that they 

could not discuss the Transition Agreement or that the alleged vacation/sick leave overpayment 

was the “dominant” charge. Contrary to their claims, the cited record pages instead reveal that the

Transition Agreement was discussed at the hearings, as were multiple other issues wholly separate 

from that document. 

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page 313 of the hearing transcript, Pls.’ Appx. 261), they misleadingly fail to include the next page 

in the transcript (page 314), in which the Arbitrator overruled this objection and stated that he 

would “allow this” line of questioning. Compare Pls’ Appx. 261 (Tr. p. 314) with APFA Supp. 

Appx. 695-96 (Tr. pp. 313-14).

The record also shows that Plaintiffs were fully able to discuss the Transition Agreement, 

which was introduced into the record in both cases; discussed at length in both Plaintiffs’ posthearing briefs;

10 and raised in Mr. Ross’ request to re-open the record.11 Their arguments about 

the Transition Agreement were also summarized at length in the Arbitrator’s Awards.12 

10 See, e.g., APFA Appx. 192 (Ross Post-Art. VII Hearing Brief) (arguing “The Ross TA, and not 

the Policy Manual, was the controlling document for the ... alleged violations”); APFA Appx. 198 

(arguing “nowhere in the ... Ross agreement[s] does it state payments were to be made in 

accordance with the APFA Policy Manual.”); APFA Appx. 207 (arguing “All payouts and formula 

used to calculate the payout for vacation, sick and end of term buyout of accrued and unused Sick 

and Vacation days ... was the product of a Transition Agreement and not specific to APFA Policy. 

Through sworn testimony, former APFA National Treasurer, Eugenio Vargas, used full salary vs 

basic salary in these calculations, which include MEA and SAF in compliance with the terms of 

the controlling document, the Ross TA.”); APFA Apps. 404-41 (Vargas Post-Art. VII Hearing 

Brief ) (the term “Transition Agreement” appears 38 times in Vargas’ Brief); APFA Appx. 429 

(arguing “The calculations made by Mr. Vargas was based on Full Salary as was designated in

the Ross ‘Transition Agreement’ and not Basic Salary as charged by Members Melissa Chinery 

and Sandra Lee.”) (emphasis in original). 

11 See APFA Appx. 215-216 (Ross’ Request to Reopen the Hearing) (attaching Confidential 

Memorandum and arguing that it was “exculpatory with regard to the calculation Ross’ sick and 

vacation pay as well as his moving expenses under his transition agreement.”).

12 See APFA Appx. 229 (Arbitration Award (Ross) (“Defendant Ross argued that all payouts and 

formula used to calculate the payout for vacation, sick and end of term buyout of accrued and 

unused Sick and Vacation days occurred after former APFA President Ross had left office and was 

the product of a Transition Agreement and not specific to APFA Policy.”); id. at 230 (“Defendant 

Ross argued that on January 14, 2022, an APFA document surfaced that was withheld from 

document retrieval that corroborates the Policy Manual was not the controlling document to the 

Ross TA and therefore Ross was paid in compliance with the TA. This document would have been 

exculpatory to the defense of Mr. Ross on this and other matters pertaining to the Ross TA had it 

been provided.”); APFA Appx. 455 (Arbitration Award (Vargas)) (summarizing testimony and 

stating, “the Ross Transition Agreement was introduced into the record and discussed. Harris 

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 Finally, this argument regarding the Transition Agreement evidence also fails because 

Plaintiffs have neglected to even suggest, much less establish, exactly what they were not able to 

get into the record regarding the Transition Agreement nor to show how that would have affected 

the outcome. There is no ground to find an LMRDA violation.

Ability to Call Witnesses. In a similar vein, Mr. Ross complains that he was “unable to 

call most of his witnesses to testify” at the hearing, specifying that although he had identified Mr. 

Vargas and Ms. Martin as potential witnesses, they did not testify. Doc. 238 at ECF 14. However, 

Mr. Ross offers no evidence as to what these witnesses would have testified to, how he was 

impeded from calling these friendly witnesses, nor that his defense was materially harmed by the

absence of their testimony as required for an LMRDA due process claim. Yager, 910 F. Supp. at 

717. He also complains that although he subpoenaed Defendant Hedrick to testify, she did not 

appear at the hearing. However, this alone does not amount to a due process violation. Keenan, 

937 F. Supp. 2d at 117 (plaintiff “was not denied his right to a full and fair hearing by his inability 

to force individuals to appear at the hearing to testify on his behalf”). As with his other allegedly 

missing witnesses, he also fails to show how this may have materially impacted his case. Further, 

there is no evidence that he raised any of these issues with the Arbitrator at any stage; instead, at 

the end of the hearing, when the Arbitrator asked Mr. Ross if he had any more witnesses, his 

representative simply replied, “no.” APFA Appx. 181.13

Denial of “Proportionate Time.” Both Plaintiffs argue that they were “deprived of 

proportionate time” to present their defenses, Doc. 238 at ECF 34, although no evidence regarding 

confirmed this was the document given to the Plaintiff. Harris read into the record Item No. 4, the 

economic terms of the Ross Transition Agreement.”). 13 Notably, Mr. Ross chose not to take the deposition of Ms. Hedrick in this litigation, further 

belying any claim that her testimony may be relevant to the underlying charges. 

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Mr. Vargas is submitted in this regard. Ibid. Plaintiffs contend that “A review of the Disciplinary 

Hearing transcripts shows that Ross did not have an adequate opportunity to present evidence,” 

id., but the cited Transcript pages are merely indexes of witnesses and exhibits, which show that 

Mr. Ross or his representative (Ms. Guidry) cross-examined witnesses, Pls.’ Appx. 104, called 

their own witnesses, Pls.’ Appx. 111, and introduced multiple exhibits, Pls.’ Appx. 105. There is 

no basis to find that he was denied any opportunity or that such denial impaired the fairness of the 

proceedings. He does not show what evidence he would have put on, or what impact that evidence 

may have had. And, as noted, no evidence regarding Mr. Vargas has been presented on this point. 

Their unfounded and speculative claim regarding “proportionate time” is not grounds for summary 

judgment.

“Bulk” of Documents Admitted “Were Unreliable Hearsay.” Plaintiffs make the blanket 

assertion that “the bulk of the documents admitted into the record and taken under review to render 

the Arbitration Award were unreliable hearsay documents.” Doc. 238 at ECF 36. There is simply 

no support in the record for this assertion either. Plaintiffs fail to identify which documents were 

allegedly “unreliable hearsay” or why, much less show (as they must) how they materially 

impacted their defenses. See Yager, 910 F. Supp. at 717 (“Under the LMRDA, plaintiffs must 

point out specific prejudice that resulted from the admission of the documents, that is, prejudice 

that impaired their ability to present their case. Because the court can find no such prejudice, the 

court now finds that this procedural irregularity did not deny them a full and fair trial.”). While 

Mr. Ross contends that “most importantly” he felt misled into waiving a hearsay objection to 

documents produced pursuant to a subpoena, he does not show what those documents are, whether 

they were improperly admitted under any standard, or how the admission unfairly prejudiced him. 

Doc. 238 at ECF 14. And in any event, it is well-settled that federal evidentiary standards are 

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inapplicable to internal union disciplinary proceedings and “hearsay” is not per se improper. 

Schrader, 656 F. Supp. at 1495 (“the more stringent evidentiary standards which ordinarily apply 

in proceedings in this court .... simply do not apply”); see also APFA Appx. 65 (APFA Policy 

Manual at 17.4) (Article VII Arbitrator is the “judge of the relevancy and materiality of the 

evidence offered” and conformity with the legal rules of evidence is not required.).14 

Mr. Vargas also claims that “evidence of APFA harassment and intimidation of witnesses 

was excluded from the hearing,” Doc. 238 at ECF 13, citing a notarized statement from the former 

APFA Office Coordinator, LaDonna Casey, Pls.’ Appx. 294-95. That statement mostly addresses 

how furniture was handled in the period August 1996 to November 2018, and concludes with the

statement that “Due to dangers associated with COVID and my fears of retaliation I could not 

attend this hearing in person.” Pls.’ Appx. 295. The hearing transcript shows that the Vargas 

Defense attempted to submit this document into evidence regarding the furniture issues, and 

advised the Arbitrator that Ms. Casey could not attend the hearing, “due to comorbidity with regard 

to COVID.” APFA Supp. Appx.683-86 (Vargas Art. VII Hearing Tr.). Mr. Vargas did not contend 

in the hearing that the statement by Ms. Casey had anything to do with alleged “harassment and 

intimidation of witnesses,” nor was it offered for that purpose. Id. The Charging Parties objected 

to the document because the witness did not appear in-person and could not be cross-examined. 

14 Plaintiffs also make the sweeping accusation that all the “documents that formed the basis of 

the charges were unreliable.” Doc. 238 at ECF 13. They do not produce or even discuss all the 

documents, but instead cite only to an email dated August 10, 2021 from Erik Harris to the 

Charging Parties updating them on an outstanding record request and stating that he was still 

looking for certain financial records and expense reports and would follow up with them regarding 

same. Pls.’ Appx. 385. Harris noted in this email that they had recently been seen by his staff and 

later testified that he had found some of the materials and that the few materials that still remained 

missing did not include materials related to Mr. Ross or Mr. Vargas. Id.; APFA Supp. Appx. 691-

93 and 697-98 (Vargas Art. VII Hearing Tr.). This email hardly demonstrates that any part of the

record was “unreliable” much less that any “unreliable” documents “severely” impacted their 

defense.

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The Arbitrator sustained the objection and declined to accept the statement into evidence. Id. 

Plaintiffs point to no evidence of harassment or intimidation of witnesses, nor did they make such 

a claim to the Arbitrator.

Based on the foregoing, Plaintiffs’ due process claims fail as a matter of law. 

B. Plaintiffs Cannot Show That Any Protected Speech Was The “But For” Cause 

Of The Arbitrator’s Decisions. 

Plaintiffs both contend that the discipline assessed by the Arbitrator was in retaliation for 

some form of protected free speech related to their views against merging APFA with another 

union, in alleged violation of 29 U.S.C. § 529. Doc. 238 at ECF 38-40. They provide nothing 

more than pure speculation for this theory, and do not establish any basis for a judgment in their 

favor.

For this claim, the burden is on Plaintiffs to produce evidence on which a jury could find 

that the exercise of free speech rights “was not merely a motivating factor, but a necessary 

condition or a ‘but-for’ cause” of the discipline. Serafinn v. Local 722, IBT, 597 F.3d 908, 914 (7th 

Cir. 2010); Hudson v. Am. Fed. of Gov’t Emps., 630 F. Supp. 3d 214, 225 (D.D.C. 2022); Keenan, 

937 F. Supp. 2d at 109.15 It is insufficient for a plaintiff to assert that a retaliatory purpose was a 

“motivating” or “contributing” factor in the union’s disciplinary action because a “mixed-motive 

theory of liability is never proper in a suit brought under the LMRDA.” Serafinn, 597 F.3d at 914 

(emphasis in original). Plaintiffs cannot meet their burden here.

15 The Fifth Circuit has not yet ruled on this precise issue. However, as explained by the Seventh 

Circuit in Serafinn, 597 F.3d at 914-15, the requirement of “but-for” causation is mandated by the 

statutory language and the Supreme Court’s holding regarding similar language in Gross v. FBL 

Fin. Servs, Inc., 557 U.S. 167, 174-76 (2009). The Fifth Circuit has applied the same reasoning in 

applying other similarly worded statutes. See, e.g., United States ex rel King v. Solvay Pharms., 

Inc., 871 F.3d 318, 333 (5th Cir. 2017).

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It bears emphasis here that the discipline at issue was imposed by a neutral third-party 

arbitrator. Neither the APFA nor the individual defendants brought the charges, nor did they play 

a role in the Arbitrator’s decision. Plaintiffs falsely argue that Ms. Chinery was “representing the 

union” when she filed Article VII charges against the Plaintiffs (Doc. 238 at ECF 8) and that the 

APFA National Officers, including Defendants Hedrick and Harris “controlled” the evidence and 

were “charged with conducting the disciplinary proceedings” (id. at ECF 34). But the record, 

including the record cited by Plaintiffs, is completely devoid of any evidence in support of these 

allegations.16 Indeed, the record clearly shows that the Charging Parties brought the charges 

against Plaintiffs on their own accord. Neither the APFA, nor Defendants Hedrick and Harris, 

were involved in either bringing the charges or in issuing the final disciplinary awards, and that 

the only decision-maker was Arbitrator Armendariz. See, e.g., APFA Appx. 293, 366-67 and 374-

81 (Chinery testimony); APFA Appx. 4-5 (Black Decl.) ¶¶ 8-11; APFA Appx. 510 (Hedrick Decl.) 

¶ 11; APFA Appx. 527 (Harris Decl.) ¶ 22.

Plaintiffs do not dispute that the constitutional provisions and rules they were charged with 

and disciplined for violating were reasonable rules as to the responsibilities of officers towards the 

organization and which the Union was authorized to enforce. See 29 U.S.C. § 411(a)(2). 

Moreover, during the hearing, both Plaintiffs admitted to engaging in financial irregularities and 

the Arbitrator found that the record clearly supported a finding of guilt that they violated these 

reasonable rules. “Where the actions of the union member do not fall within the free speech 

16In support of the accusation that Ms. Chinery was “representing the union” when she filed 

charges, Plaintiffs’ generally cite to the entire Ross Affidavit and entire Vargas Affidavit. 

However, neither document supports this assertion. In support of the accusation that the National 

Officers “controlled” the evidence and were “charged with conducting the disciplinary 

proceedings,” Plaintiffs do not cite to any support in the record at all. See Doc. 238 at ECF 8 and 

ECF 34.

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22

protection of Section 101(a)(2), however, the union member cannot resort to that section to nullify 

disciplinary action.” Ritz, 413 F. Supp. at 1377.

At best, Plaintiffs only claim that their general opposition in 2016 to APFA merging with

another union which allegedly ran contrary to the political views of one of Plaintiffs’ accusers

(Chinery) in the Article VII proceedings. Doc. 238 at ECF 38; see also id. at ECF 7 (“On April 2, 

2016, the day after Ross took office, [Ms. Chinery] ... pledged to remove Ross from office.”). This 

speech was four years before the charges were even filed, timing which “suggests ... no causality 

at all.” Clark Cty. Sch. Dist. v. Breeden, 532 U.S. 268, 273-74 (2001); see also Wright v. Union 

Pac. R.R. Co., 990 F.3d 428, 433-34 (5th Cir. 2021).

Plaintiffs position on a merger was not a basis for any of the charges, and there is no 

evidence that the neutral arbitrator was even aware of, much less influenced by, this alleged 

political dispute.17 

Rather than meet their burden, Plaintiffs instead present the unfounded argument that the 

Article VII arbitrations were part of a “pattern of intimidation and stifled dissent.” Doc. 238 at 

ECF 39; see generally id., at ECF 37-41. This argument is fundamentally misdirected. Plaintiffs’ 

core burden here is to prove that retaliation for their protected speech was the “but-for”, reason for 

17 Plaintiffs’ generalized contentions are insufficient to establish a triable issue as to causation –

i.e., that the discipline was imposed because of protected activities. See, e.g., McCarthy, 2021 WL 

5766569 at *4 (rejecting argument that alleged activity from 2016 influenced a disciplinary award 

issued three years later); Commer v. McEntee, 121 F. Supp. 2d 388, 398 (S.D.N.Y. 2000), aff’d, 

15 F. App’x 21 (2d Cir. 2001) (“[A]lthough Commer alleges that he was punished because of his 

ongoing dissent within the union, he has shown no connection between the panel’s decision and 

that speech activity. Rather he relies on the generalized contention that, since his vociferous 

criticism necessarily would have created animus towards him with the [union] hierarchy, the 

discipline rendered against him must have been motivated by that animus.”); Johnson v. Holway, 

439 F. Supp. 2d 180, 228 (D.D.C. 2006) (“This burden [of showing causation] cannot be satisfied 

by the unsupported contention that plaintiff’s ‘vociferous criticism necessarily would have created 

animus’ and, as a result, retaliation.”).

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23

the arbitration outcomes. See, e.g., Serafinn, 597 F.3d at 914. Plaintiffs’ “pattern” argument is 

derived from case law which goes only to a different question of whether the removal of Mr. Ross 

from office by the arbitrator is actionable at all under 29 U.S.C. § 412, which generally protects 

the rights of union members and not officers as such. As Plaintiffs acknowledge, Doc. 238 at ECF 

37-38, the Adams-Lundy and Martin decisions they cite deal with an exception to that general rule, 

and hold that if a removed union officer can show that removal was part of a broader “pattern of 

intimidation” of members, then he or she may come within the coverage of the statute. AdamsLundy v. APFA, 731 F.2d 1154, 1157-59 (5th Cir. 1984); Martin v. Local 556, TWU, Civ. No. 

3:14-cv-500, 2014 WL 4358480 at *6 (N.D. Tex. Sept. 3, 2014). Defendants do not dispute that 

Mr. Ross, as an APFA member, may seek to assert LMRDA claims in connection with the Article 

VII arbitration. And even when an “ousted officer” is able to challenge his removal, “his right to 

bring that action is no greater than that of any individual member of the union.” Adams-Lundy, 

731 F.2d at 1158. Accordingly, Mr. Ross must still meet his burden of showing that LMRDAprotected free speech activity was the “but for” cause of his discipline. Neither Plaintiff has even 

attempted to meet that burden here. 

Plaintiffs were charged with, and found guilty of, financial malfeasance during their tenure 

as APFA officers and not for the exercise of any right enumerated in Title I of the LMRDA. Their 

retaliation claim cannot be sustained. 

C. The Undisputed Facts Do Not Support Plaintiffs’ Claims For Damages. 

Plaintiffs make a far-fetched claim for a summary award of substantial “emotional distress” 

and “reputational” damages for the alleged LMRDA violations, Doc. 238 at ECF 42-43. But even 

if they could succeed on the merits of the liability claims, the claims for damages are not 

appropriate for summary judgment. To be awarded emotional distress damages, Plaintiffs bear the 

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24

burden of “convinc[ing] the trier of fact that he actually suffered distress because of the” legal 

violation they establish. Carey v. Piphus, 435 U.S. 247, 263 (1978) (emphasis added); see also

Newell v. Int’l Bhd. of Elec. Workers, 789 F.2d 1186, 1190 (5th Cir. 1986) (applying Carey to 

LMRDA Title I claim). Plaintiffs cannot prove liability nor even begin to show the required causal 

nexus between the alleged violations and the damages claimed.18

With respect to emotional distress, Mr. Ross seeks summary judgment for over $300,000 

in damages, which he calculates by multiplying the “average cost of cardiac related Emergency 

Room Visits” obtained from a website, by 500%. Doc. 238 at ECF 43; Pls.’ Appx. 395 (Ross Aff.) 

¶ 32 and n.1. Leaving aside the totally speculative methodology, the documentary evidence 

submitted by Mr. Ross reveals a genuine issue as to whether he suffered emotional damages 

“because of” the conduct of any defendant herein, requiring denial of his motion as to damages 

even if liability could be established. 

Mr. Ross contends that in September 2023 he was “diagnosed with depression and anxiety” 

that he attributes to “the matters in this case” and that he suffered from a series of “cardiac 

episode[s]” attributable to “mental distress.” Pls.’ Appx. 393-94 (Ross Aff.) ¶ 31. But the medical 

records he submitted show that, to the contrary, Mr. Ross’ mental health issues and diagnoses long 

predated the events over which he now sues and that he has consistently attributed much of his 

concerns to causes having nothing to do with the union. Without belaboring the point, the records 

18 Mr. Ross and Mr. Vargas also make a cursory claim for alleged “actual damages” from the 

Article VII process, Doc. 238 at ECF 42-43, but with no explanation of the factual or legal basis 

for this gratuitous demand other than citations to over a hundred pages of appendix material. 

Their claim for punitive damages, based on a sweeping narrative of a years-long conspiracy, is 

supported by no factual material and is in fact contrary to the undisputed record of the Article 

VII proceedings. The failure to provide factual support compels denial of these claims as well. 

See, e.g. Forsyth, 19 F.3d at 1537.

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show that: Mr. Ross had symptoms of depression and anxiety as early as 2012 (Pls.’ Appx. 508); 

underwent a psychiatric hospitalization in 2019 (Pls.’ Appx. 527); complained to his physician 

regarding “work related stress” in September 2020, prior to the Article VII charges (Pls.’ Appx. 

686); and in 2023 “reported significant stressors with family and work.... Reported feeling 

depressed as his career is not where he thought it would be ... Noted he has made sacrifices for 

his family and ... [that] commuting to work to Dallas ... has added ‘exponentially’ to his stress 

level” (Pls.’ Appx. 526-27). 

And, contrary to Mr. Ross’ claim that his emotional reaction to the internal union discipline 

caused him to have cardiac distress, his medical records show that when subject to eight days of 

heart monitoring in 2022, his physician concluded that his reports of “thinking about my union 

and how they ruin my life/family” did “not correlate with significant arrhythmia.” Pls.’ Appx. 

613 (emphasis supplied). A reasonable factfinder could determine, even assuming a finding of 

liability, that other factors caused the claimed emotional distress and cardiac issues, precluding 

Mr. Ross’ attempt for summary judgment on his alleged damages. 

Mr. Ross also claims “reputational damages” in the form of compensation for lost job 

opportunities at American Airlines. Doc. 238 at ECF 26 (describing “reputational damages”) and

ECF 43 (claiming “reputational damages” for LMRDA claim). This wholly speculative claim is 

not sustainable on summary judgment. Mr. Ross states in his Affidavit that in April 2021 (which 

is after the Article VII charges had been filed, but well before the Article VII Award was issued) 

he “discussed my consideration for hire in a position at American Airlines as a 

manager/consultant,” and that despite one manager telling him that he “would be a good fit for 

their team,” that American Airlines “would not hire me because of the ... Disciplinary Charges 

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26

against me.” He claims a loss of “approximately $86,376.00 in potential income.” Pls.’ Appx. 

393 (Ross. Aff.) ¶ 29.

This attestation does not show that Mr. Ross actually applied for a job; that he met the 

criteria for any job; that he was actually denied any position; or what the salary of the position

would be. Indeed, Mr. Ross confirmed in his deposition that he had not submitted an application 

at the time of his encounter with managers, which he described as merely “an informal 

conversation ... over the phone .... And a very loose walking-out-of-the-terminal conversation.” 

APFA Supp. Appx. 700-701 (Ross Dep. pp. 121:4-12 and 122:2-6). Mr. Ross offers no evidence 

of the basis for his $86,000 figure,

19 nor can he attribute the alleged injury to any LMRDA 

violation, since his claimed interaction with management in April 2021 took place before the 

Article VII Arbitration Award was issued in March 2022.

20 There is no basis to award Mr. Ross 

the damages he claims on summary judgment.

Nor is there any basis for an award of attorneys’ fees Plaintiffs seek on summary judgment. 

Plaintiffs seek over $570,000 in fees and costs, based on their contention that the APFA’s defense 

of the lawsuit and in particular its counterclaims have been pursued “in bad faith.” Doc. 238 at 

ECF 44-5. This request lacks any basis in fact or law. “The bad faith exception to the general 

rule” that fees are not recoverable absent contractual or statutory authority, pertains only to “the 

manner in which the litigation is carried out. That is, the rule is intended to penalize a litigant who 

19 Mr. Ross testified that he came up with the $86,000 number by looking at salary listings from 

the website “salary.com” for positions he had not applied for, and the federal government salary 

of a former APFA President. APFA Supp. Appx. 701-702 (Ross Dep. pp. 123:13-126:20).

20 Mr. Ross’ Affidavit may create the impression that his discussion with management was after 

the Article VII Award, since he first refers to a Hotline publicizing the Award and then 

immediately discusses the meeting. Pls.’ Appx. 393, ¶ 29. But the alleged meeting was in April 

2021, ibid., and the Article VII Award was not issued until March 2022, Pls.’ Appx. 6 (Ross 

Aff.) ¶ p.

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brings to court a frivolous suit or defense, or abuses the process ... separate from the underlying 

claim.” Guidry v. Int’l Union of Operating Engineers, Local 406, 882 F.2d 929, 944 (5th Cir. 

1989), vacated on other grounds, 494 U.S. 1022 (1990). Put another way, “Attorney’s fees must 

rest on bad faith prosecution of the case rather than bad faith in the conduct giving rise to the 

claim.” Meredith v. Louisiana Fed’n of Teachers, 209 F.3d 398, 405 (5th Cir. 2000).

Plaintiffs make no such showing, nor could they. APFA’s original federal counterclaim 

survived a motion to dismiss (see Ross Doc. 72), and this Court has already rejected Plaintiffs’ 

argument that the current counterclaim should not be permitted on the ground of futility, Ross

Docs. 117, 133. We also have established, in our memorandum supporting APFA’s motion for 

summary judgment, Doc. 235, that the undisputed facts warrant judgment in APFA’s favor on the 

counterclaims. Regardless of how the legal issues are ultimately resolved, there is absolutely 

nothing to suggest any bad faith by APFA.21

III. MR. ROSS IS NOT ENTITLED TO JUDGMENT ON HIS CLAIM FOR 

BREACH OF THE TRANSITION AGREEMENT.

Mr. Ross seeks summary judgment on his claim that the APFA breached his 2018 

Transition Agreement in three respects: (1) by allegedly undercounting the number of sick and 

vacation days he was paid for upon leaving office in 2018; (2) by allegedly undervaluing the daily 

value of his sick and vacation pay upon his leaving office; and (3) by disclosing the Transition 

21 The Court has already rejected Plaintiffs repeated prior accusations of bad faith and efforts to 

impose sanctions on APFA, and affirmatively sanctioned Plaintiffs’ counsel for “blatant disregard 

for the standards set forth in Dondi [Properties Corp. v. Commerce Savings & Loan Assoc., 121 

F.R.D. 284 (N.D. Tex. 1988) (en banc)].” Doc. 219 at ECF 8 and passim. Among those sanctions 

was a requirement to pay for the APFA’s fees and costs for the depositions of Mr. Ross and Mr. 

Vargas. Id. at ECF 23. With what can only be called audacity, Plaintiffs now seek an order that 

APFA pay them for their costs and fees for those same depositions. See Pls.’ Appx. 856 and 858 

(fees for depositions); Pls.’ Appx. 871-883 (court reporter and videographer expenses).

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Agreement to two union members, an outside accountant, and to the debt collection agency 

Diversified Credit. Doc. 238 at ECF 22-23.

He further seeks a summary judgment award of direct damages for what he believes was 

underpayment under the Transition Agreement; consequential damages of over $200,000 for funds 

he claims he was unable to borrow in 2021; over $100,000 for funds he claims he lost from his 

401(k) holdings; as well as the amount he was ordered to pay by the Article VII Arbitration Award

(which he has not paid).

Mr. Ross is not entitled to judgment on either liability or damages. To the contrary, his 

claims are in part untimely and in part based on an unenforceable provision of the TA.

A. There Is No Basis for Liability on the Transition Agreement Claims.

1. The Claim Regarding the Amount Paid Is Barred by the Statute of 

Limitations.

Mr. Ross’ claim regarding the number of sick and vacation days for which he was paid, 

and for the “per diem” value of each such day, is barred by the four-year Texas statute of 

limitations. The challenged payment (authorized by his co-Plaintiff Eugenio Vargas who was 

Treasurer at the time), was made on March 29, 2018. APFA Appx. 525 (Harris Decl.) ¶ 13. This 

lawsuit was filed on April 20, 2022, more than four years later. Doc. 1 (Complaint). The claim is 

untimely. Khan v. Trans Chem. Ltd., 178 F. App’x 419, 424 (5th Cir. 2006); Stine v. Stewart, 80 

S.W.3d 586, 592 (Tex. 2002).

2. The Non-Disclosure Provision Is Unenforceable as a Matter of Law.

Mr. Ross’ claim for breach of the non-disclosure provision fails because that provision is 

unenforceable as a matter of law. The non-disclosure clause purported to bar the APFA, a labor 

organization, from “disclos[ing] the existence, terms or content of this Agreement, except to the 

signatories ... and to any APFA officers, employees, accountants or attorneys who have an explicit 

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need to know of this Agreement in order to effectuate its terms.” APFA Appx. 534, ¶ 7. To the 

extent that Mr. Ross complains the TA was disclosed to two APFA members, his claim fails 

because federal law required APFA to make that disclosure, rendering this provision 

unenforceable.22 

The LMRDA requires labor organizations to file annual financial reports with the 

Department of Labor, which include “salary, allowances, and other direct or indirect disbursements 

(including reimbursed expenses) to each officer” during the reporting year. 29 U.S.C. § 431(b)(3). 

The purpose of this and related reporting provisions is to provide union members with “all the vital 

information necessary for them to take effective action in regulating affairs of their organization.”

United States v. Budzanoski, 462 F.2d 443, 449-50 (3d Cir. 1972).

A union treasury should not be managed as the private property of union officers, 

however well intentioned, but as a fund governed by fiduciary standards 

appropriate to this type of organization. The members who are the real owners of 

the money and property of the organization are entitled to a full accounting of all 

transactions involving their property.

Id. (quoting S.Rep. 187, 86th Cong., 1st Session, p. 9 (1959)).

Both the LMRDA and the APFA Constitution require the union to provide members an 

opportunity, upon request, to review the Union’s “books, records, and accounts necessary to verify 

such report[s].” 29 U.S.C. § 431(c); see also APFA Appx. 14 (APFA Const. Art. II § 3(B)) (active 

members “shall have access to all administrative and financial reports and records”). This 

obligation is enforceable in court. See Fernandez-Montes v. Allied Pilots Ass’n, 987 F.2d 278, 285 

(5th Cir. 1993) (noting the “many cases affirming a union member’s right to inspect and photocopy 

receipts and other union records necessary to verify the accuracy of the union’s financial 

22 To the extent Mr. Ross complains the TA was disclosed to APFA’s accountant, or to outside 

attorneys to collect the overpayment to Mr. Ross, his claim fails because disclosure to “accountants 

or attorneys” is expressly allowed under this provision.

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statements filed with the Secretary of Labor”); Local No. 1419, ILA, Gen. Longshore Workers 

Union, AFL-CIO v. Smith, 301 F.2d 791, 796 (5th Cir. 1962) (affirming order compelling union to 

disclose books and records to members). The Charging Parties here (Ms. Lee and Ms. Chinery) 

exercised this federal right to request to review the TA, and APFA, upon advice of counsel, 

allowed them such access. APFA Appx. 509 (Hedrick Decl.) ¶ 9. 

Because the APFA’s disclosure of the TA to union members was required by federal law, 

Mr. Ross cannot sue APFA for making that disclosure, even if the TA prohibited it. Hurd v. 

Hodge, 334 U.S. 24, 34–35 (1948) (“The power of the federal courts to enforce the terms of private 

agreements is at all times exercised subject to the restrictions and limitations of the public policy 

of the United States as manifested in ... federal statutes, and applicable legal precedents. Where

the enforcement of private agreements would be violative of that policy, it is the obligation of 

courts to refrain from such exertions of judicial power.”); In re OCA, Inc., 552 F.3d 413, 422 (5th 

Cir. 2008) (“Under Texas law, a contract is illegal, and thus void, if the contract obligates the 

parties to perform an action that is forbidden by the law of the place where the action is to 

occur.”).23 

B. There Is No Basis For Consequential Damages Or Attorneys’ Fees.

Even assuming arguendo that Mr. Ross could establish a breach of contract on this record 

for purposes of liability, his claims for damages and attorney’s fees fail as a matter of Texas law. 

23 In the APFA Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment, we also argued that the mandatory 

arbitration provision of the Transition Agreement required dismissal of Mr. Ross’ claim. Doc. 235 

at ECF 46 (citing Alford v. Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc., 975 F.2d 1161, 1164 (5th Cir. 1992)). Since 

that filing, the Supreme Court ruled that the Federal Arbitration Act does not permit dismissal on 

this ground, but only the stay of a case pending arbitration if requested by the moving party, 

abrogating the Fifth Circuit’s ruling in Alford. Smith v. Spizzirri, No. 22-1218, 2024 WL 2193872 

at *3 (May 16, 2024). The APFA Defendants do not advance that argument here and will be 

withdrawing the argument from their Motion with their Reply.

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The vast bulk of the damages sought by Mr. Ross here – including over $200,000 in lost “use of 

funds,” over “$107,000” in lost “funds from his 401k”, lost job opportunities, and the arbitration 

costs and arbitration award -- falls within the category of potential “consequential damages,” but 

Mr. Ross has utterly failed to present evidence upon which would satisfy the legal standard for 

such relief. Doc. 238 at ECF 24. Nor has Mr. Ross presented competent evidence for an award 

of direct damages for the alleged breach of the TA.

To establish a right to consequential damages, the moving party must show that “the parties 

contemplated at the time they made the contract that such damages would be a probable result of 

the breach.” Signature Indus. Servs., LLC v. Int’l Paper Co., 638 S.W.3d 179, 186 (Tex. 2022)

(quoting Stuart v. Bayless, 964 S.W.2d 920, 921 (Tex. 1998)). “A loss that is not the ‘probable’ 

consequence of the breach, from the breaching party’s perspective at the time of contracting, is not 

foreseeable.” Signature Indus. Servs., 638 S.W.3d at 186. Mr. Ross has not even attempted to 

meet his burden of showing that the damages he claims were contemplated by the APFA (or even 

by himself) at the time the TA was signed, nor could he, given the strained chain of supposed 

causality upon which this damage claim is based.24

Because Mr. Ross has failed to meet his burden on summary judgment, his claim for 

contract damages cannot succeed.

24 Mr. Ross claims that the APFA violated the confidentiality clause by allowing union members 

Chinery and Lee to review the TA, that their review led to the Article VII charges, which led to 

the adverse arbitration ruling and associated costs, as well as hindering his chance at a management 

position with American Airlines. He also claims that the APFA violated the agreement by allowing 

accountant O’Neil and attorneys for Diversified to review the TA, leading to the overpayment 

calculation, the debt collection lawsuit, the credit report and his alleged inability to borrow an 

additional $204,000 in a mortgage refinance and a need to withdraw $29,000 from his 401(k) plan. 

Doc. 238 at ECF 23-24 and 27; Pls.’ Appx. 392 (Ross Aff.) ¶¶ 26-27. 

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Mr. Ross’ claim for attorney’s fees is also meritless. “In order to recover attorney’s fees 

in a suit ‘founded’ on a written contract ..., a plaintiff must plead and prove that presentment of a 

contract claim was made to the opposing party and he failed to tender performance.” Carr v. 

Austin Forty, 744 S.W.2d 267, 271 (Tex. App. 1987), writ denied (May 11, 1988); see Tex. Civ. 

Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 38.002. Mr. Ross has tendered no such proof, thus precluding summary 

judgment on his behalf for a fee award.

IV. AMPLE UNDISPUTED EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THE APFA’S FIDUCIARY 

DUTY COUNTERCLAIMS.

The APFA has asserted claims for breach of the federal fiduciary duty owed by union 

officers to the union and its membership as a whole, 29 U.S.C. § 501(a). Ross Doc. 134 at ECF 9-

14; Vargas Doc. 132 at ECF. 6-11. The statue requires union officers to hold the union’s money 

“solely for the benefit of the organization and its members,” and to manage and expend the same 

“in accordance with [the union’s] constitution and ... any resolutions of [its] governing bodies.” 

29 U.S.C. § 501(a). See generally Ray v. Young, 753 F.2d 386, 389-90 (5th Cir. 1985).

As described more fully in support of APFA’s motion for summary judgment on this claim, 

the Article VII Arbitrator has conclusively determined that Mr. Ross and Mr. Vargas spent and 

received union funds for matters that were unauthorized under the Union Constitution and Policy 

Manual. Those determinations are final and binding on the parties. Based on that undisputed 

material fact and applicable law, APFA submits that Mr. Ross and Mr. Vargas violated their 

fiduciary duty under 29 U.S.C. § 501(a). 

Plaintiffs broadly contend that there is “no evidence” to support the APFA’s Counterclaim, 

in three respects. First, they contend that there is no evidence of a breach of duty; second, they 

contend that there is no evidence of damages to the union; and third, they contend that there is no 

“evidence to extend the statute of limitations.” Doc. 238 at ECF 16-19. Notably, even where, as 

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here, the moving party asserts there is “no evidence” to support the non-movant’s claim, the 

moving party “always bears the initial responsibility of ... identifying those portions of the 

‘pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the 

affidavits, if any,’ which it believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact.”

Celotex Corp.v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986). “It is not enough for the moving party to 

merely make a conclusory statement that the other party has no evidence to prove his case.” Ashe 

v. Corley, 992 F.2d 540, 543 (5th Cir. 1993); see also Russ v. Int’l Paper Co, 943 F.2d 589, 591 

(5th Cir. 1991). Plaintiffs have not met their burden, and their conclusory arguments supporting 

summary judgment fail.

A. Ample Undisputed Evidence Supports A Finding of Breach of Fiduciary Duty.

Plaintiffs first assert, without citation to any discovery responses or testimony, that there is 

no evidence that Mr. Ross or Mr. Vargas breached their fiduciary duty because, they claim, “[a]ll 

expenses ... were actually ... approved ... or ... pre-approved,” and “followed APFA procedures” 

and “were reasonable.” Doc. 238 at ECF 17. But the two paragraphs in which Plaintiffs make 

these claims are not supported by a single reference to any evidence whatsoever.25 Such assertions 

25 Plaintiffs also claim that the sick and vacation payout “calculations were made in conjunction 

with in-house accountants, reviewed and approved by two APFA officers for compliance with 

policy, and approved by two additional APFA accounting personnel for accuracy of calculation, 

budgeting purposes, and issuance of payment,” Doc. 238 at ECF 18, but their citation to the Vargas 

Affidavit (Pls.’ Appx. 286-292), does not support this assertion. Mr. Vargas states only that he 

calculated the payments “in consultation with” his staff accountant, and with approval of two other 

officers who, like Mr. Vargas, were later found to have also been overpaid. Pls.’ Appx. 288-89

(Vargas Aff.) ¶ 6-7. This does not overcome the binding Article VII Arbitrator’s finding that Mr. 

Vargas had made many thousands of dollars of expenditures of Union funds without proper 

authorization and not in compliance with the APFA Constitution or Policy Manual.

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are “not enough” to even pass the basic threshold for consideration of summary judgment.” Ashe, 

992 F.2d at 543; see also Forsyth, 19 F.3d at 1537.26

And, contrary to Plaintiffs’ broad and generic assertions, the APFA’s Counterclaims are 

based on the final and binding determinations of Arbitrator Armendariz, who found, based on an 

extensive record in accordance with LMRDA procedures, that Mr. Ross and Mr. Vargas had both 

improperly expended APFA funds without authorization, contrary to policy, and for their personal 

benefit. See APFA Appx. 231-42 (Ross Award); APFA Appx. 282-84 (Ross Supp. Award); APFA 

Appx. 472-79 (Vargas Award); APFA Appx. 504-06 (Vargas Supp. Award). These findings, 

which are binding on Ross and Vargas, are more than an ample factual predicate for a 

determination that both Ross and Vargas breached their fiduciary duty under federal law. See 

Local No. 92, Int’l Ass’n of Bridge, Structural and Ornamental Iron Workers, 383 F.2d 735, 739

(5th Cir. 1967) (fiduciary duty is violated when officers spend or receive funds not authorized 

under union constitution or other governing documents).

Plaintiffs attempt to salvage their defense by asserting that the “Department of Labor ... 

conducted its own investigation of the overpayments and cleared the Ross Administration of all 

26 Plaintiffs also state that “Vargas always complied with APFA procedures,” Doc. 238 at ECF 18, 

citing two Vargas Affidavits in their entirety (Pls.’ Appx. 139-141, 286-92), in which he generally 

states that he always followed procedure. Similarly, Plaintiffs make the (unsupported) claim that 

all “expenses and payments made with union funds during the Ross Administration followed 

APFA procedures.” Doc. 238 at ECF 17. Such blanket conclusory assertions, however, without 

specific factual support, are insufficient to support a motion for summary judgment. Fowler v. S. 

Bell Telephone & Telegraph Co., 343 F.2d 150, 154 (5th Cir. 1965) (parties’ sworn, conclusory 

statements that they were acting within scope of employment did not support summary judgment 

where unsupported by specific facts). And the binding arbitration awards specifically found 

otherwise. See Vargas Arbitration Award (APFA Appx. 479) (“Ross received an overpayment 

because Vargas admittedly changed the formula.”); Ross Arbitration Award (APFA Appx. 240)

(“Defendant Ross intentionally and willfully ignored the provisions of the APFA Policy Manual.”). 

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35

charges of misappropriation and embezzlement.” Doc. 238 at ECF 18. The record does not 

support that statement. For this point, Plaintiff cite the entirety of Affidavits from Mr. Ross and 

Mr. Vargas, id., but a review of the cited documents does not establish this claim. Mr. Ross states 

that “In a conversation with the U.S. Department of Labor regarding my Transition Agreement, I 

was told that an investigation was conducted in 2021 regarding my Transition Agreement and 

financial conduct of the Ross Administration. The results of the investigation found no actionable 

wrong-doing on the part of any National Officers serving for APFA from April 1, 2016 to July 31, 

2018” (emphasis supplied). Pls.’ Appx. 386 ¶ 3. Mr. Vargas also generally attests that he met 

with a DOL investigator in 2021, and that “I have never been charged with or convicted of a 

crime.” Pls.’ Appx. 287 ¶ 3 (emphasis supplied). 

This material does support summary judgment. To begin with, the Ross Affidavit 

paragraph is inadmissible hearsay and improper under Rule 56(c)(4), Fed. R. Civ. P., which 

requires that “[a]n affidavit ... used to support ... a motion ... set out facts that would be admissible 

in evidence.” A hearsay “statement is incompetent summary judgment evidence.” Goodwin v. 

Johnson, 132 F.3d 162, 186 (5th Cir. 1997).

Moreover, even if this portion of Mr. Ross’ Affidavit were admissible, neither it nor Mr. 

Vargas’ statement that he was “never ... charged with ... a crime,” establish the point asserted by 

Plaintiffs. Mr. Ross attests only that he was told by an unidentified person “with the DOL” that 

the agency “found no actionable wrong-doing” (emphasis supplied). But the DOL does not 

enforce the civil fiduciary duty of § 501(a); its enforcement authority is limited to potential referral 

for criminal prosecution under 29 U.S.C. § 501(c). See generally, 

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/olms/about (visited April 29, 2024) (describing civil and criminal 

authority). Thus, even leaving aside the hearsay bar, Plaintiffs’ Affidavits do not provide any 

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information regarding the issue of whether they spent and received funds in violation of the APFA 

Constitution and Policy Manual or breached their civil fiduciary duties. The Affidavits certainly 

do not support the claim that the DOL “cleared” them “of all charges,” whether civil or criminal. 

And an exercise of prosecutorial discretion to not charge Mr. Ross or Mr. Vargas with crimes such 

as embezzlement under § 501(c) would in no way shield them from civil liability for breach of 

their fiduciary duty under § 501(a). 

Plaintiffs’ claim that there is “no evidence” to support a finding of breach of duty is 

unavailing.

B. Ample and Undisputed Evidence Shows the APFA was Damaged by Plaintiffs’ 

Fiduciary Breach. 

Plaintiffs also contend “that there is no damage suffered by the APFA that can form the 

basis of a breach of fiduciary duty” and “no admissible evidence that the union suffered damages.” 

Doc. 238 at ECF 18. Plaintiffs are in error. The APFA has demonstrated, in support of its motion 

for summary judgment on the counterclaims, that the final and binding arbitration awards have 

established that Plaintiffs expended and received tens of thousands of dollars in union funds in 

violation of the APFA Constitution and Policy, and that they have refused to pay back the amounts 

ordered by the Arbitrator in those cases. Plaintiffs do not dispute either that the Arbitrator so 

found, nor that they have refused to repay APFA. Thus, not only is the APFA’s claim supported 

by admissible evidence, that evidence is undisputed. See APFA Defs.’ Mem. Supp. Mot. Summ. 

J., Doc. 235 at ECF 51-53.

In the face of the binding arbitral determinations, Plaintiffs resort to a contorted argument 

that defies logic, to wit: Since the union did not report the misappropriation of union funds on an 

LM-2 form filed with the Department of Labor, the documented losses found by the Arbitrator 

became unrecoverable. Doc. 238 at ECF 19 and 19 n.2. Plaintiffs produce nothing in the LMRDA 

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37

nor any case law supporting their unique and erroneous position. Moreover, the forms cited by 

Plaintiffs covering the period of the Ross Administration (those filed in 2017 and 2018) were 

signed by Plaintiff Vargas, Doc. 238 at ECF 19 n.2 (links to forms for 2017 and 2018); APFA 

Supp. Appx. 703-706 (excerpts from the LM-2 filings cited by Plaintiffs).

27 The fact that Mr. 

Vargas did not confess or self-report the misconduct of himself or Mr. Ross can scarcely be 

grounds to find that there were no damages to the union from the misconduct found by the 

Arbitrator, much less preclude the new union leadership seeking recovery after binding arbitration. 

C. Plaintiffs Have Not Met Their Burden To Establish Their Defense of Laches.

Finally, Plaintiffs argue that the counterclaims are “legal in nature and therefore governed 

by the Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004, which applies a four-year statute of limitations.” 

Doc. 238 at ECF 19. This Court has held, however, that the Section 501 claim “appears to be 

governed by the federal doctrine of laches, rather than the state statute of limitations upon which 

Ross relies.” Doc. 72 at 2. This determination was correct, see, e.g., Local No. 92, Int’l Ass’n of 

Bridge, Structural & Ornamental Iron Workers, AFL-CIO v. Norris, 383 F.2d 735, 741–42 (5th 

Cir. 1967) (Section 501 claims are equitable in nature); Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen & 

Helpers, Loc. 764 v. Greenawalt, 880 F. Supp. 1076, 1083–84 (M.D. Pa. 1995) (discussing the 

“considerable support” for conclusion that § 501 claim is equitable and that laches applies), and 

Plaintiffs offer no case law showing otherwise.

Plaintiffs also argue, mistakenly, that the APFA bears the burden of proving that its claim 

is not barred by laches. Doc. 238 at ECF 20. Laches is an affirmative defense for which the party 

against whom a claim is asserted (here, Mr. Ross and Mr. Vargas as counterclaim defendants) “has 

27 The directions for answering LM-2 Question 13 instruct: “Answer ‘Yes’ to Item 13 if the labor 

organization experienced a loss, shortage, or other discrepancy in its finances during the period 

covered.” APFA Supp. Appx. 708 (emphasis supplied).

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38

the burden of proving its essential elements.” City of El Paso, Tex. v. El Paso Ent., Inc., 382 F. 

App’x 361, 366 (5th Cir. 2010). Accordingly, to obtain summary judgment on their defense, 

Plaintiffs must affirmatively establish with undisputed evidence that the APFA “delayed in 

asserting the rights at issue; that the delay is inexcusable; and that the [defending] parties have 

suffered undue prejudice as a result of the delay.” Uptown Grill, LLC v. Shwartz, 817 F.3d 251, 

256 (5th Cir. 2016); see also Nat’l R.R. Passenger Corp. v. Morgan, 536 U.S. 101, 121–22 (2002) 

(“a laches defense ... bars a plaintiff from maintaining a suit if he unreasonably delays in filing a 

suit and as a result harms the defendant”). Plaintiffs have made no showing of inexcusable delay 

or prejudice, but instead mistakenly assert that APFA has the burden to present evidence that their 

claim is not barred by laches. Their motion should be denied.28 MGE UPS Sys., Inc. v. Fakouri 

Elec. Eng’g, Inc., 422 F. Supp. 2d 724, 736 and n.12 (N.D. Tex. 2006) (denying summary 

judgment on laches defense where movant failed to provide evidence to meet its burden).

Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment on the APFA’s counterclaim should be denied.

CONCLUSION

For all the foregoing reasons, Defendants respectfully urge the Court to deny Plaintiffs’ 

Motion for Partial Summary Judgment.

28 Nor could Plaintiffs plausibly establish an entitlement to judgment on their affirmative defense. 

The undisputed record shows that APFA brought these counterclaims just months after the 

Arbitrator’s binding determination that Ross and Vargas had expended and received union funds 

in violation of the APFA Constitution and Policy Manual, Doc. 72 at 3 (discussing timing), and 

Plaintiffs do not assert any prejudice from the timing. 

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Dated: May 24, 2024 Respectfully submitted, 

/s/ James D. Sanford____________

JAMES D. SANFORD

Tex. Bar No. 24051289

Gillespie Sanford LLP

4803 Gaston Ave.

Dallas, TX 75246

Tel.: (214) 800-5111; Fax.: (214) 838-0001

Email: jim@gillespiesanford.com 

JEFFREY A. BARTOS (pro hac vice)

D.C. Bar No. 435832

Guerrieri, Bartos & Roma, PC

1900 M Street, N.W. Suite 700

Washington, DC 20036

Tel.: (202) 624-7400; Fax: (202) 624-7420

Email: jbartos@geclaw.com 

Counsel for the APFA Defendants

CHARLETTE L. BRODERICK 

(pro hac vice)

Tex. Bar No. 24133870

Association of Professional Flight 

Attendants

1004 W. Euless Blvd.

Euless, TX 76040

Tel.: (682) 301-8454

Email: cbroderick@apfa.org 

Counsel for APFA

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I certify that on May 24, 2024, a true and correct copy of the foregoing document was 

served upon all persons who have requested notice and service of pleadings in this case via the 

Court’s ECF system.

KERRI PHILLIPS

K.D. Phillips Law Firm, PLLC

6010 W. Spring Creek Parkway

Plano, TX 75024

Phone: (972) 327-5800

Fax: (940) 400-0089

Email: kerri@KDphillipslaw.com

notice@KDphillipslaw.com

MICHAEL R RAKE

Michael R. Rake, Attorney at Law

PO Box 1556

Lake Dallas, TX 75065

Tel.: (940) 498-2103

Fax: (940) 498-2103

Email: mrake1@mrakeattorney.com

/s/ _James D. Sanford____

JAMES D. SANFORD

Case 4:22-cv-00343-Y Document 243 Filed 05/24/24 Page 48 of 48 PageID 7687