Opinion ID: 781207
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Employer-sponsored lawsuits

Text: 29 The union asks this Court to find, based on allegedly uncontroverted evidence in the record, that this lawsuit has been sponsored by Sorrento and, therefore, the DFR claims must be dismissed. We need not reach the factual question of whether the undisputed evidence does in fact show employer sponsorship because we find that employer sponsorship does not bar DFR claims brought pursuant to the NLRA. 30 Section 101(a)(4) of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA), 29 U.S.C. § 411(a)(4), prohibits any interested employer from financing, encouraging, or participating in any action by a union member against her union. There is no question that Sorrento is interested in the instant action. See Adamszewski v. Local Lodge 1487, Int'l Ass'n of Machinists, 496 F.2d 777, 784 (7th Cir.1974) (holding that an employer is interested in litigation if it is concerned with it or is liable to be affected by it or has some self-interest in it). Thus, assuming that Sorrento has encouraged this lawsuit, the question is whether such sponsorship requires dismissal of DFR claims. 31 The Ninth Circuit has never directly considered a § 101(a)(4) violation, but the prevailing view in other jurisdictions is that such a violation requires dismissal of claims brought under the LMRDA. See Harris v. Plasterers Local 406, 619 F.2d 1164, 1170 (7th Cir.1980) (dismissing an LMRDA suit against a union because, among other reasons, it was encouraged by an interested employer); Adamszewski, 496 F.2d at 784-85; Colapietro v. Int'l Ass'n of Machinists, Dist. 64, 611 F.Supp. 90, 95-96 (D.R.I.1985) (holding that where employer financed an LMRDA suit, the court had no alternative but to dismiss the complaint). But see Verville v. Int'l Ass'n of Machinists, 520 F.2d 615, 622 (6th Cir.1975) (holding that § 101(a)(4) is directed at employers and does not vitiat[e] a valid cause of action possessed by an employee). The workers have not, however, asserted LMRDA claims, raising only duty of fair representation claims under the NLRA and state law claims. The union points to no authority, and we have found none, in support of the argument that a § 101(a)(4) violation requires dismissal of claims arising from the NLRA or any law other than the LMRDA. 32 In Adamszewski, one of the cases on which the union relies, the Seventh Circuit held that such a violation does not preclude litigants from pursuing any other remedies other than LMRDA claims. 496 F.2d at 784-85. The court relied on the savings provisions of two statutes for this conclusion. First, LMRDA § 103 notes that the LMRDA does not limit the rights or remedies available to union members under other federal laws. 29 U.S.C. § 413; see also 496 F.2d at 784 85. Second, LMRDA § 603 specifically provides that the LMRDA shall not be construed to impair or otherwise affect the rights of any person under the National Labor Relations Act, as amended. 29 U.S.C. § 523(b). 33 We agree with the holding of Adamszewski, and find support for our position in a previous Ninth Circuit decision. In Fechtelkotter v. Air Line Pilots Ass'n, International, 693 F.2d 899 (9th Cir.1982), the panel considered a suit filed by Transamerica pilots against their union. The panel noted that, although they pursued claims under the Railway Labor Act and the Labor-Management Relations Act, [t]he pilots have carefully avoided any attempt to invoke the LMRDA because Transamerica is supporting the litigation. Id. at 901. Although the panel ultimately dismissed the pilots' claims on other grounds, rendering any statements regarding LMRDA § 101(a)(4) dicta, we find no reason to depart from its views. We hold that, even if Sorrento is encouraging this lawsuit, such support would bar only claims brought under the LMRDA, not under the NLRA or state law. 34