Opinion ID: 20408
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Bennett's First Emotional Distress Claim.

Text: 29 Bennett's first FTCA claim was also for emotional distress and was based on facts surrounding the interview. The district court dismissed this claim at theconclusion of the bench trial because Bennett exceeded her authority as a union steward. Bennett charges that this ruling was erroneous. We disagree. 30 The district court's legal determination of the limits of Bennett's authority as a steward is correct. She advised Harrell that he had the right to an attorney and that he did not have to answer any questions. At that point Bennett only had the right to remain in the interview as long as she did not interfere with the legitimate employer objective of conducting an orderly investigatory interview of Harrell's involvement in the altercation and his possession of a gun on postal property. See National Labor relations Bd. v. J. Weingarten, Inc., 420 U.S. 251, 258 (1975); Southwestern Bell Telephone Co., 667 F.2d 470, 473-74 (5th Cir. 1982). The district court found Bennett exceeded her authority as union steward by interfering with the interview. The district court's factual determination that Bennett interfered with the interview is not clearly erroneous. See Gebreyesus v. F.C. Schaffer & Assoc's, Inc., 204 F.3d 639, 642 (5th Cir. 2000) (The standard of reviewed for bench trials is well-established: 'findings of fact are reviewed for clear error; legal issues de novo.') (quoting F.D.I.C. v. McFarland, 33 F.3d 532, 536 (5th Cir. 1994)). Therefore, the district court's dismissal of Bennett's first FTCA claims for emotional distress claim is affirmed.