Legal Document

456 U.S. 717 102 Supreme Court Reporter 2112 72 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 511 SUMMIT VALLEY INDUSTRIES, INC., Petitionerv.LOCAL 112, UNITED BROTHERHOOD OF CARPENTERS AND JOINERS AMERICA. Number 81-497. Argued April 28, 1982. Decided June 1, Syllabus As the result of a labor dispute between petitioner employer and respondent union, filed an unfair practice charge against alleging that it had violated secondary boycott jurisdictional picketing prohibitions § 8(b)(4) National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). The Board (Board) found Board's order was judicially enforced. Petitioner this action in Federal District pursuant to 303 Management (LMRA), seeking damages resulting from union's illegal activity amount included both business losses attorney's fees incurred during proceedings. Section 303(a) makes unlawful for union engage conduct defined as under NLRA, 303(b) provides whoever is injured his or property because violation may sue federal district court "and shall recover by him sustained cost suit." entered judgment petitioner, awarding represented its losses, but concluded not entitled part damages. Appeals affirmed. Held : Attorney's proceedings are proper element LMRA. Pp. 721-727. (a) Neither language nor legislative history supports petitioner's contention statutory authorization such purposes American Rule ordinarily recoverable absence statute enforceable contract providing therefor. instead shows Congress did intend expand ordinary meaning term "damages" include fees. Cf. Teamsters versus Morton, 377 252, 84 1253, 12 280. 721-724. (b) Nor can allowance be justified on asserted ground would further Congress' intent protect employers adverse effects activity. This interest adequately protected award compensatory prohibited conduct. Even assuming necessary "fully" compensate victimized employer, justification alone sufficient create exception express congressional authority. KF105 F3 D. Rich company ex rel. Industrial Lumber Co., 417 116, 128-129, 94 2157, 2164-2165, 40 703. To adopt analysis authorize recovery every case where plaintiff has prevailed defendant prior litigation involving same issues. Such clearly barred Court's decisions Rule. 724-726. 9 Cir., 652 Reporter, 2nd 65, Donald C. Robinson, Butte, Mont., petitioner. David S. Paull, Portland, Or., respondent. Justice MARSHALL delivered opinion Court. 1 We granted certiorari decide whether 61 Statutes-at-Large 158, amended, 29 Code KF62 187, authorizes before (Board). 454 1079, 632, 70 613 (1981). Courts have divided issue.1 In case, Ninth Circuit held recovered. affirm. 2 * Summit Valley Industries, Incorporated (Summit Valley), manufactures prefabricated modular homes. These homes completed at plant sold directly home buyers. buyer then independently obtains services local contractor install attach ancillary structures. 1972, opened area. Rather than utilizing skilled carpenters plant, hired unskilled workers. workers were Butte Union, Local (Teamsters), collective-bargaining agreement Valley. 3 Upon learning employed no carpenters, 112 Brotherhood Carpenters Joiners America (Union) charges Union claimed valid work-preservation area associations. Although withdrew these when realized signatory agreement, ordered members work installation On least two occasions, sent own employees complete otherwise been done Union. result, began plant. 4 respondent's stoppage §§ 8(b)(4)(B) (D) 158(b)(4)(B) (D). Regional Director initiated 10(l) proceeding, 160(l), united states Montana. imposed temporary restraining pending outcome proceeding Board. Henderson America, Civ. Nos. 2235 & 2239 (1972). ceased November resumed Valley's 5 10(k) 160(k), resolution claim engaged picketing, 8(b)(4)(D). After 2-day hearing, holding validly assigned question Teamsters. Carpenters, Industries), 202 N.L.R.B. 974, 83 Reference Manual (BNA) KF3315 L38 1013 (1973). agreed pressure reassign with However, maintained right truthfully advise public employ construction 6 Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) conducted 15 days hearings charges. ALJ (D), sought enforce clause good-faith belief actions lawful. adopted findings ALJ, cease desist practices, fully comply obtained proceeding. 217 902, 89 1799 (1975). enforced order. Chamber Commerce NLRB, 574 457 (1978). 7 LMRA Union's $17,279.33: $3,675.00 $13,604.33 decision committed practices collaterally estopped relitigating issue action. Relying Mead Retail Clerks International Assn., 523 1371 (CA9 1975), Valley, losses. 475 F.Supp. 665 (1979). affirmed unpublished per curiam. 79-4663 1981); 65 (1981) (affirmance order). II 8 Under well established "are therefor." Fleischmann Distilling Corporation Maier Brewing 386 714, 717, 87 1404, 1407, 18 (1967). endorsed certain exceptions rule interests justice. See, e.g., Vaughan Atkinson, 369 527, 82 997, 88 (1962) (bad faith); Toledo Scale Computing 261 399, 43 458, 67 L.Ed. 719 (1923) (willful disobedience order); Central Railroad Banking Pettus, 113 387, 28 915 (1885) (common fund). one equitable exceptions, however, consistently followed almost 200 years. See Alyeska Pipeline Wilderness Society, 421 240, 249-250, 95 1612, 1617-1618, 44 141 (1975); Arcambel Wiseman, Dall. 306, (1796). Recognizing consistent adherence Rule, contends find unsupported either 303. private who practice. 303(a), 187(a), organization NLRA. remedy "[w]hoever reason any subsection section therefor . 187(b). 10 does expressly provide fees, so we presented situation made "specific explicit provisions of" supra, 260, n. 33, S.Ct., 1623, 33 (collecting statutes). Nonetheless, argues specifically purpose terminating Because expended compel " 'resumption effect take place other compensable which continue suffered if resumed,' asserts caused Brief 13, quoting Associated General Contractors Construction Laborers 563, 612 1060, 1064 (CA8 1979). 11 assessing interpretation word 303(b), begin "fundamental canon that, unless defined, words will interpreted taking their ordinary, contemporary, common meaning." Perrin States, 444 37, 42, 100 311, 314, 62 199 (1979); Burns Alcala, 420 575, 580-581, 1180, 1184-1185, 469 Ordinarily implicit Indeed, presumes means exclusive supra; Day Woodworth, 13 How. 363, 14 181 (1852); cf. 15, 1259, 280 (1964). Thus, succeed only examination relevant demonstrates intended give broader normal scope "damages." Our review reveals intention. contrary, little discussion pertaining employer's indicates following colloquy Senator Taft Morse particularly instructive. response Morse's suggestion impose virtually unlimited liability unions, stated: "Under Sherman damage subject suit attorneys' simply actual damages." 93 Cong.Rec. 4872-4873 (1947) (emphasis added). remarks persuasive evidence stop engaging recovered 303(b).2 respect, analogous supra. Teamsters, reviewed policies underlying determine provision authorized punitive quoted above, "recovery peaceful proscribed should limited actual, Id., 1259. often noted, primary justifications "one penalized merely defending prosecuting lawsuit." U.S., 718, 1407 also, 129, 2165, 703 (1974); Farmer Arabian Oil 379 227, 235, 85 411, 416, 248 intention discerned limit damages, counsels reading Nevertheless allowing reasonable furthers agree concerned about protecting injury arising out type enacted generally S.Rep.No.105, 80th Cong., 1st Sess., 54-55 (1947), Legislative History 460-461 (1974) (Leg.Hist.); 5060 Leg.Hist. (remarks Sen. Taft). fail see why cannot Ultimately, argument rests assumption "Congress plainly remedial restore all activity." 23 achieve full compensation, 2164-2165. F.D. Rich, rejected awarded Miller Act, 49 793, 80 1139, 270a et seq., provided "sums justly due," 270b(a), and, awarded, favor compensation frustrated. 128, 2164. 16 squarely rejecting claim, nothing more "restate[ment] oft-repeated criticisms Rule." Ibid. acknowledged "there some force party must bear whole," countervailing considerations support argue placing reliance need compensation. 2165. possible deterrent fee shifting poor litigants meritorious claims, time, expense, difficulty litigating question, possibility principle independent advocacy might threatened having "the earnings attorney flow pen judge whom he argues." persuade us infer "damages him" 17 Furthermore, F.2d, 1380.3 Quite simply, anytime resort enjoin conduct, arguably spent obtain injunction. analysis, each could costs subsequent our decisions. precludes courts case. Similarly, uniformly "where based wrongful act prosecuted successful issue, recover, expenses former action." Ritter Ritter, 381 Ill. 549, 555, 46 North Eastern 41, (1943). also Flanders Tweed, Wall. 450, 21 203 (1873); 1380-1381; Ill., 557, N.E.2d, 45 cases). universally avoid endless stream ensue actions: "immediately upon entry start another obtaining preceding judgment." 44. always encompass litigation. clear decline broad III 19 Accordingly, 20 Affirmed. Fifth, Sixth, Eighth Circuits Texas Distributors, 100, 598 393 (CA5 1979); 984, Humko 287 231 (CA6), cert. denied, 366 962, 81 1922, 1254 (1961); Minnesota 1060 First expressed approval dicta. Instrument de Tronquistas Puerto Rico, 558 607, 611 (1977). reached contrary conclusion. Of course, conclusive. It Taft's confined rejection itself. 1380. rationale position seem require whenever defendant's requires incur expenses, even those gave collateral-estoppel action, relitigate effect, therefore asking first litigated issues

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