Opinion ID: 777337
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: USWA's Claim for Judgment as a Matter of Law

Text: 16 At trial, USWA argued it imposed the trusteeship to correct Plaintiffs' financial mismanagement of Local 5644 which is a permissible purpose under the LMRDA. On appeal USWA now argues even if the court accepted Plaintiffs' theory of the case, that they imposed the trusteeship for the purpose of silencing the Plaintiffs, such a reason would be lawful under the LMRDA. Its argument, in this regard, which take[s] the jury's findings at face value, presents a purely legal question that is subject to de novo appellate review. K & T Enterprises v. Zurich Ins. Co., 97 F.3d 171, 175 (6th Cir.1996). 17 Section 302 of the LMRDA states one of the purposes a trusteeship can be imposed is for assuring the performance of collective bargaining agreements or other duties of the bargaining representatives. LMRDA § 302, 29 U.S.C. § 462. USWA argues one of the duties of a bargaining representative is to negotiate collective bargaining agreements, and Plaintiffs' statements that they would not take the current contract under negotiations between USWA and Timet back to the Local for a vote interfered with that duty. Thus, it was lawful for USWA to impose the trusteeship to remove that interference. 18 USWA is correct in its assertion that the imposition of a trusteeship to prevent local officials from disrupting collective bargaining is a legitimate purpose under the LMRDA. Cascade Local Lodge No. 297 v. Int'l Ass'n of Machinists, 684 F.2d 609, 610 (9th Cir.1982); Gordon v. Laborers' Int'l Union, 490 F.2d 133, 137 (10th Cir.1973). Even if the trusteeship was imposed for a proper purpose, however, this alone would not entitle USWA to judgment as a matter of law on this issue. 19 A trusteeship is presumed to be valid when it is imposed for a purpose allowable under section 302 and it is imposed in a procedurally correct manner. LMRDA § 304, 29 U.S.C. § 464(c). Parties challenging the lawfulness of a trusteeship therefore can show the trusteeship was being imposed for an unlawful purpose or they can challenge the trusteeship because it was not imposed according to proper procedures. Teamsters Local Union No. 406 v. Crane, 848 F.2d 709, 712 (6th Cir.1988). Thus, a trusteeship can be challenged by a plaintiff even if it was imposed for a proper purpose. 20 In this case Plaintiffs challenged the trusteeship on procedural grounds. In deciding cross-motions for summary judgment, the district court held as a matter of law the procedures for implementing and maintaining the trusteeship used by USWA did not comport with the procedural requirements of the LMRDA. Argentine v. United Steel Workers Ass'n, 23 F.Supp.2d 808, 814-18 (S.D.Ohio 1998). Because the trusteeship was defective on procedural grounds, it lost its presumption of validity. Once USWA lost its presumption of validity for the trusteeship, Plaintiffs could properly attack the reasons for the trusteeship at trial. Thus, even if silencing Plaintiffs was a lawful purpose, USWA would not be entitled to judgment as a matter of law.