Opinion ID: 530035
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: whitman appeal

Text: 2 On March 21, 1986, Cindy Whitman filed a complaint against Raley's, her former employer, alleging causes of action for: (1) wrongful termination; (2) defamation; (3) conspiracy; (4) intentional infliction of emotional distress; (5) negligent infliction of emotional distress; and (6) reckless, malicious, oppressive and outrageous conduct. On April 25, 1986, Raley's filed a petition to remove the action to federal court on the ground that because the terms and conditions of Whitman's employment were governed by a collective bargaining agreement, federal subject matter jurisdiction existed over the complaint under section 301 of the Labor Management Relations Act (LMRA), 29 U.S.C. Sec. 185. 3 On September 23, 1986, defendant filed a motion for summary judgment alleging that, once Whitman's complaint is properly recharacterized, all relief is barred by section 301's six month statute of limitations. Whitman both opposed the motion for summary judgment and filed a counter-motion to remand the case to state court. She contended that her claims were not preempted by section 301 because she was not a union member and had no knowledge of the collective bargaining agreement. 4 On October 15, 1987, the district court granted Whitman's motion to remand reasoning that: Because the plaintiff does have a wrongful termination cause of action under state law which is not preempted in any degree by Sec. 301 of the LMRA, there is no federal question presented by the plaintiff's complaint. As such, this action was improperly removed from the state courts, and will be remanded. 1 On November 12, 1987, Raley's appealed from the remand order. On January 14, 1988, the district court granted defendant's motion to stay the remand order pending appeal. 2 Then this court issued an order to show cause why the appeal should not be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1447(d). Timely responses to the order to show cause have been filed.