Opinion ID: 2108792
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Board Prejudice

Text: Gary Thorne served in this prohibited practices case as the alternate chairperson and public representative to the Board. Subsequent to the issuance of the Board's decision, the city discovered that Thorne had appeared as counsel for the Teamsters Union in a case which raised the question of whether the in part test or the dominant motive test should be adopted in Maine. The union in that case advocated adherence to the in part test, but the city in this case has argued against application of that rule. The Superior Court, after a testimonial hearing, determined that there had been no prejudice to the city as a result of Thorne's participation in the case of Baker Bus Service v. Keith, Me., 428 A.2d 55 (1981). The city has appealed from this ruling. The record establishes that Thorne participated in Baker Bus by (1) filing an appearance in Superior Court and (2) allowing his name to be signed to a Law Court brief written and researched by out-of-state counsel for the union. Thorne testified at the hearing that he did not know what issues were involved in the Baker Bus case, and had no interest in the case at the time he served on the Board in the instant case. The city argues that under M.R.Civ.P. 11, Thorne is charged with constructive knowledge of the issues in the Brief. As the appellees note, Rule 11 applies only to pleadings, so this argument is incorrect. Even if it were accurate to charge him with knowledge, the city has not proven that any prejudice would have resulted. The employer also argues, mistakenly, that this case is similar to Gashgai v. Board of Registration in Medicine, Me., 390 A.2d 1080 (1978) (combination [in one person in one case] of investigator, prosecutor and sitting member of the adjudicatory panel, even if ostensibly a nonparticipating member, creates an intolerably high risk of unfairness. Id. at 1082). This case is not factually similar to Gashgai, since Thorne here participated only as a member of the adjudicatory panel. The rule in Maine is that pecuniary interest or relationship is a ground for disqualifying a judge. Hughes v. Black, 156 Me. 69, 160 A.2d 113 (1960). The interest must be direct and capable of demonstration rather than speculative. Id. The city introduced no evidence which would support a finding of prejudice under this standard. Further, the fact that the Board found that the discharges were entirely motivated by anti-union animus renders irrelevant the city's claim that it was prejudiced by Thorne's alleged advocacy of the in part test in this case. We affirm the Superior Court decision on this issue. We affirm the order of the Superior Court in so far as it affirmed the decision of the MLRB. We reverse the court's finding that the city did not violate 26 M.R.S.A. § 964(1)(A) and (B) by failing to treat the four employees as members of the unit and reinstate the Board's order on this issue. We also conclude that the court's modification of the Board's remedial order is erroneous, and therefore reinstate the Board's order. The entry is: Appeal denied. Cross-appeal sustained. Order of Superior Court affirmed in so far as it affirms the decision of the Maine Labor Relations Board, and reversed in so far as it modifies or reverses the decision of the Maine Labor Relations Board. Remanded to Superior Court for entry of judgment affirming the decision of the Maine Labor Relations Board. All concurring.