Source: http://openjurist.org/684/f2d/721/local-v-georgia
Timestamp: 2013-05-18 12:35:38
Document Index: 471569561

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 301', '§ 301', '§ 301', '§ 301', '§ 303', '§ 301', '§ 767']

684 F2d 721 Local of United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of United States and Canada v. Georgia Power Company | OpenJurist
684 F. 2d 721 - Local of United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of United States and Canada v. Georgia Power Company	Home684 f2d 721 local of united association of journeymen and apprentices of plumbing and pipefitting industry of united states and canada v. georgia power company
684 F2d 721 Local of United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of United States and Canada v. Georgia Power Company 684 F.2d 721
LOCAL 472 OF the UNITED ASSOCIATION OF JOURNEYMEN ANDAPPRENTICES OF the PLUMBING AND PIPEFITTINGINDUSTRY OF the UNITED STATES ANDCANADA, Plaintiff-Appellant,v.GEORGIA POWER COMPANY, et al., Defendants-Appellees.
In light of the District Court's grant of summary judgment in favor of the defendants, we interpret the Court's silence regarding these motions as a denial. See Addington v. Farmer's Elevator Mutual Insurance Co., 650 F.2d 663, 666 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 102 S.Ct. 672, 70 L.Ed.2d 640 (1981). The interrogatories to Superior Contractors and Cleveland Consolidated, counting parts and sub-parts, exceeded twenty questions. There was no abuse of discretion in refusing to permit these interrogatories. We have reviewed Georgia Power Company's response to the interrogatories and conclude that, while Georgia Power Company did not respond as fully as it perhaps could have, its response was adequate. There was no abuse of discretion in refusing to compel further response.
Citing a Georgia Supreme Court decision, Georgia Power Co. v. Busbin, 242 Ga. 612, 250 S.E.2d 442 (1978), the plaintiff requested leave to amend on the basis that Georgia tort law would not permit recovery against the United Association. Thus, by amendment, the local sought to drop the United Association and its representatives as parties. The District Court did not rule on this motion. Again, we interpret the District Court's failure to rule on the local's motion to amend as a denial. See Addington, 650 F.2d at 666. A denial of leave to amend is within a district court's discretion, but "leave shall be freely given when justice so requires." F.R.Civ.P. 15(a). In making this determination, a court should consider whether there has been undue delay in filing, bad faith or dilatory motives, prejudice to the opposing parties, and the futility of the amendment. Foman v. Davis, 371 U.S. 178, 182, 83 S.Ct. 227, 230, 9 L.Ed.2d 222 (1962).
The complaint in our case alleges that the defendants induced a breach of the international constitution and conspired together to interfere with property rights created by the constitution.1 United Association of Journeymen v. Local 334, United Association of Journeymen, 452 U.S. 615, 101 S.Ct. 2546, 69 L.Ed.2d 280 (1981), settles the question of jurisdiction. Therein, the Supreme Court held that union constitutions are "contracts" within the meaning of section 301(a) of the Labor-Management Relations Act.2 Since Local 472's suit is based on property rights allegedly created by the constitution of its International, it is clear that the District Court had subject matter jurisdiction. It is also clear that principles of federal law govern breach of contract suits brought under § 301. United Association of Journeymen, 452 U.S. at 627, 101 S.Ct. at 2553; Atkinson v. Sinclair Refining Co., 370 U.S. 238, 248-49, 82 S.Ct. 1318, 1324-1325, 8 L.Ed.2d 462 (1962); Teamsters Local v. Lucas Flour Co., 369 U.S. 95, 102-04, 82 S.Ct. 571, 576-577, 7 L.Ed.2d 593 (1962); Textile Workers Union v. Lincoln Mills, 353 U.S. 448, 457, 77 S.Ct. 912, 918, 1 L.Ed.2d 972 (1957).
However, while Local 472's complaint alleges a breach of the constitution, the local's theory of recovery is one of tortious interference with contractual or business relations. The local maintains that this cause of action is grounded on state law, not federal law. We disagree. "(T)he substantive law to apply in suits under § 301(a) is federal law, which courts must fashion from the policy of our national labor laws." Lincoln Mills, 353 U.S. at 456, 77 S.Ct. at 917. The Supreme Court has consistently cautioned that, since the " 'subject matter (of § 301) is peculiarly one that calls for uniform law,' " Lucas Flour, 369 U.S. at 103, 82 S.Ct. at 576 (quoting Pennsylvania R. Co. v. PSC, 250 U.S. 566, 569, 40 S.Ct. 36, 37, 64 L.Ed. 1142 (1919)), to read § 301 narrowly " 'would undercut the Act and defeat its policy.' " Atkinson, 370 U.S. at 249, 82 S.Ct. at 1325 (quoting Lincoln Mills, 353 U.S. at 456, 77 S.Ct. at 917). In this case, the local's action for tortious interference is based on the contractual relations which exist between the local and its International. The contract rights of the parties are governed by federal law. To hold that a tort action based on property rights allegedly created by the contract is governed by state law would be contrary to Supreme Court holdings and would defy reason. The national interest in a uniform body of labor relations law requires that the plaintiff's claim be judged by principles of federal law, not state law. See Wilkes-Barre Publishing Co. v. Newspaper Guild, 647 F.2d 372 (3d Cir. 1981), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 102 S.Ct. 1003, 71 L.Ed.2d 295 (1982); contra Loss v. Blankenship, 673 F.2d 942 (7th Cir. 1982). We agree with the reasoning of the Third Circuit in Wilkes-Barre:
647 F.2d at 381 (footnote and citations omitted). Cf. Mobile Mechanical Contractors Association v. Carlough, 664 F.2d 481 (5th Cir. 1981), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 102 S.Ct. 1490, 71 L.Ed.2d 691 (1982) (under § 303 of the Labor-Management Relations Act, state action based on tortious interference with a lawful business is preempted); California State Council of Carpenters v. Associated General Contractors, Inc., 648 F.2d 527 (9th Cir. 1980), cert. granted, --- U.S. ----, 102 S.Ct. 998, 71 L.Ed.2d 292 (1982) ("(s)tate remedies for non-violent business-related torts ... are preempted"); Ramsey v. Signal Delivery Service, Inc., 631 F.2d 1210 (5th Cir. 1980) (state tort claims for emotional distress are preempted). We hold that the local's claim of tortious interference must be governed by federal common law. In determining the rights and liabilities of the parties under the local's legal theory, we may, of course, resort to "state law, if compatible with the purpose of § 301.... Any state law applied, however, will be absorbed as federal law and will not be an independent source of private rights." Lincoln Mills, 353 U.S. at 457, 77 S.Ct. at 918.
In examining a claim of tortious interference, a court must examine the nature of the alleged culpable actions. Liability cannot be predicated on actions which are "justified" or "privileged." See, e.g., Orkin Exterminating Co. v. Martin Co., 240 Ga. 662, 242 S.E.2d 135 (1978); Nager v. Lad 'N Dad Slacks, 148 Ga.App. 401, 251 S.E.2d 330 (1978); Annot., 26 A.L.R.2d 1227 (1952); Annot., 9 A.L.R.2d 228 (1950). The concept of privilege involves a balancing process. Taking into consideration the nature of the conduct, the relationship between the parties, and the interest sought to be advanced by the "interferor" and to be protected by the complaining party, the court must determine whether societal interests in protecting the interferor's actions outweigh the particular property interest at stake. See Restatement (Second) of Torts § 767 (1979); Carpenter, Interference with Contract Relations, 41 Harv.L.Rev. 728, 745 (1928).
We have reservations about the applicability of a duty of fair representation to an international's jurisdictional decisions, see Bass v. International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, 630 F.2d 1058, 1063 (5th Cir. 1980) (suggesting that duty of fair representation does not extend to purely internal union decisions), but, assuming arguendo that it attaches, we perceive nothing in this record to support the local's claim. Section 2 of the United Association's constitution gives the United Association plenary power over jurisdiction: "To the United Association ... is reserved the right to decide all matters pertaining to trade and territorial jurisdiction of its affiliated Local Unions, and no Local Union is conceded territorial jurisdiction other than the current working day in said territory...." Nevertheless, the United Association notified Local 472 that removal of part of the local's jurisdiction was under consideration and scheduled a hearing which was attended by representatives of the local. Mitchell, Cleveland, and Lanier testified at that hearing and were subject to cross-examination by the local. There is nothing in this record to indicate that the United Association's decision was "arbitrary, discriminatory, or in bad faith." Vaca v. Sipes, 386 U.S. 171, 190, 87 S.Ct. 903, 916, 17 L.Ed.2d 842 (1967). We conclude that Local 472 has failed to establish any genuine issue of fact. Summary judgment in favor of the United Association and its representatives was appropriate.
Home684 f2d 721 local of united association of journeymen and apprentices of plumbing and pipefitting industry of united states and canada v. georgia power company