Boisvert v. Genzyme Corp.

29 Mass. L. Rptr. 89
CourtMassachusetts Superior Court
DecidedOctober 5, 2011
DocketNo. WOCV201100131
StatusPublished

This text of 29 Mass. L. Rptr. 89 (Boisvert v. Genzyme Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts Superior Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Boisvert v. Genzyme Corp., 29 Mass. L. Rptr. 89 (Mass. Ct. App. 2011).

Opinion

Carey, Richard J., J.

The pro se plaintiff, Alan R. Boisvert (“Boisvert”), brought this action against the defendant, Genzyme Corporation (“Genzyme”), alleging violations of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (“SOX”), 18 U.S.C. §1514A, the Massachusetts Whistleblower Protection Act, G.L.c. 149, §185, and the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”), 29 U.S.C. §151 et seq.; wrongful discharge in violation of public policy; and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. This matter is now’ before the court on Genzyme’s motion to dismiss pursuant to Mass.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6). For the following reasons, Genzyme’s motion to dismiss is ALLOWED in part, and DENIED as to the plaintiffs claims for wrongful termination and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

The following facts are summarized from Boisvert’s amended complaint. See General Motors Acceptance Corp. v. Abington Cas. Ins. Co., 413 Mass. 583, 584 (1992).

From December 17,2007 through August 27,2009, Boisvert was employed as an “at-will” Senior/Lead Facility Maintenance Technician III at Genzyme’s production facilities in Framingham, Massachusetts. From 2008 until his termination, Boisvert raised concerns to various Genzyme officers and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) regarding the poor condition of the production facilities and equipment [90]*90at the Framingham site, and its effect on the safely of consumers using the products being manufactured there. In light of these concerns, Boisvert refused to certify Genzyme documents which falsely stated that he had performed or witnessed the performance of favorable inspections of the production facilities. Bois-vert alleges that, as a result of his actions, he was discriminated against and harassed during his employment at Genzyme and was eventually terminated.

DISCUSSION

I.Legal Standard

To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must set forth the basis of the plaintiffs entitlement to relief with “more than labels and conclusions.” Iannacchino v. Ford Motor Co., 451 Mass. 623, 636 (2008), quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007). While factual allegations need not be detailed, they “must be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level ... [based] on the assumption that all the allegations in the complaint are true (even if doubtful in fact) . . ."Id., quoting Bell Atl. Corp., 550 U.S. at 555. At the pleading stage, Mass.RCiv.P. 12(b)(6) requires that the complaint set forth “factual ‘allegations plausibly suggesting (not merely consistent with)’ an entitlement to relief...” Id. quoting Bell Atl. Corp., 550 U.S. at 557.

II.Boisvert’s Claims Under SOX

Genzyme seeks to dismiss Boisvert’s claims under SOX, arguing that Boisvert has failed to exhaust the required administrative remedies. “SOX protects ‘whistleblower’ employees of publicly-traded companies by prohibiting employers from retaliating against employees because they provided information about specified potentially unlawful conduct.” Day v. Staples, Inc., 555 F.3d 42, 52 (1st Cir. 2009), citing 18 U.S.C. § 1514A.1 Under SOX prior to filing in any federal court, an injured party must file a complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) within 180 days of the alleged adverse employment action. See 18 U.S.C. §1514A(b)(2)(D); see also Day, 555 F.3d at 52 (“An employee seeking §1514A protection must first file an administrative complaint with the Department of Labor (’DOL’)’j. Here, Boisvert does not allege that he filed a SOX whistleblower complaint with OSHA at any time prior to instituting the present action. As Boisvert has failed to exhaust his administrative remedies, this court lacks jurisdiction over his SOX claims.

III.Boisvert’s Claims Under the Massachusetts Whistleblower Protection Act

Genzyme argues that Boisvert’s claims under the Massachusetts Whistleblower Protection Act (“the Act”) must be dismissed because Genzyme is not an “employer” within the Act’s meaning. The Act prohibits public employers from taking retaliatory action against an employee because the employee discloses an activity, policy, or practice of the employer which the employee reasonably believes is in violation of the law or because the employee objects to or refuses to participate in such activity, policy, or practice. See G.L.c. 149, §185(b)(l) and (3). The Act defines “retaliatory action” as “discharge, suspension, or demotion of an employee or other adverse employment action taken against an employee in the terms and conditions of employment.” G.L.c. 149, §185(a)(5). The Act specifically defines an “employer” as: “[T]he commonwealth, and its agencies or political subdivisions, including, but not limited to, cities, towns, counties and regional school districts, or any authority, commission, board or instrumentality thereof.” G.L.c. 149, § 185(a)(2). Genzyme does not fit the statutory definition of an “employer,” as it is neither an agency nor a political subdivision of the Commonwealth. See Ahanotu v. Massachusetts Turnpike Auth., 466 F.Sup.2d 378, 395-96 (D.Mass. 2006) (dismissing §185 whistleblower claims against joint enterprise of two corporations because they were not in-strumentalities of state and were thus not covered by statute). Accordingly, Boisvert’s claims under the Act do not survive.

IV.Boisvert’s Claims Under NLRA

Genzyme further asserts that this court lacks subject matter jurisdiction to hear Boisvert’s claims under NLRA because Genzyme’s alleged conduct involves unfair labor practices within exclusive jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”). This court agrees. Under the preemption doctrine, NLRB has primary jurisdiction over a labor dispute if the matter is arguably subject to Sections 7 or 8 of NLRA.2 See San Diego Bldg. Trades Council, Millmen’s Union, Local 2020 v. Garmon, 359 U.S. 236, 244-45 (1959); see also Chaulk v. Massachusetts Comm’n Against Discrimination, 70 F.3d 1361, 1364 (1st Cir. 1995), cert, denied, 518 U.S. 196 (1996) (“[W]hen an activity is arguably subject to Section(s) 7 or Section(s) 8 of the National Labor Relations Act, the states as well as the federal courts must defer to the exclusive competence of the NLRB if the danger of state interference with national labor policy is to be averted”). Accordingly, Boisvert was first required to bring his wrongful discharge claim before the NRLB before resorting to filing a suit in this court. Boisvert’s claim under NRLB must therefore be dismissed.

V.Wrongful Termination and Breach of Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

San Diego Building Trades Council v. Garmon
359 U.S. 236 (Supreme Court, 1959)
Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly
550 U.S. 544 (Supreme Court, 2007)
Day v. Staples, Inc.
555 F.3d 42 (First Circuit, 2009)
General Motors Acceptance Corp. v. Abington Casualty Insurance
602 N.E.2d 1085 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1992)
Iannacchino v. Ford Motor Co.
451 Mass. 623 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 2008)
Coady v. Wellfleet Marine Corp.
816 N.E.2d 124 (Massachusetts Appeals Court, 2004)
Falcon v. Leger
816 N.E.2d 1010 (Massachusetts Appeals Court, 2004)
Haddad v. Scanlon
10 Mass. L. Rptr. 298 (Massachusetts Superior Court, 1999)
Fisher v. Commonwealth
13 Mass. L. Rptr. 594 (Massachusetts Superior Court, 2001)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
29 Mass. L. Rptr. 89, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/boisvert-v-genzyme-corp-masssuperct-2011.