Coles v. National Labor Relations Board

14 F. Supp. 3d 1031, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42029, 2014 WL 1266815
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Ohio
DecidedMarch 26, 2014
DocketCase No. 3:13-cv-353
StatusPublished

This text of 14 F. Supp. 3d 1031 (Coles v. National Labor Relations Board) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Coles v. National Labor Relations Board, 14 F. Supp. 3d 1031, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42029, 2014 WL 1266815 (S.D. Ohio 2014).

Opinion

DECISION AND ENTRY: (1) ADOPTING THE REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE (Doc. 30); (2) OVERRULING PLAINTIFF’S OBJECTION (Doc. 31); (3) GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTIONS TO DISMISS (Docs. 16, 26); (4) DISMISSING PLAINTIFF’S COMPLAINT (Doc. 3); AND (5) TERMINATING THIS CASE

TIMOTHY S. BLACK, District Judge.

This case is before the Court on the Report and Recommendation of United States Magistrate Judge Michael J. Newman. (Doc. 30). The Magistrate Judge recommends that the Motions to Dismiss filed by Defendants Mancor Industries (“Mancor”) and the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) (Docs. 16, 26) be granted and that Plaintiffs Complaint (Doc. 3) be dismissed on the basis that the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction. Plaintiff filed an Objection (Doc. 31) to the Report and Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge. (Doc. 7). Plaintiffs Objection fails to object to the Magistrate Judge’s specific conclusion that the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction. Defendant Mancor filed a Response to Plaintiffs Objection. (Doc. 32). The matter is now ripe for decision by the Court.

As required by 28 U.S.C. § 636(b) and Fed.R.Civ.P. 72(b), upon reviewing Plaintiffs filings and the comprehensive findings of the Magistrate Judge de novo, the [1033]*1033Court: (1) ADOPTS the Report and Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge in its entirety (Doc. 30); (2) OVERRULES Plaintiff’s Objection (Doc. 32); (3) GRANTS Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss (Docs. 16, 26); (4) DISMISSES Plaintiffs Complaint in its entirety;1 and (5) TERMINATES this case on the Court’s docket.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION1 THAT: (1) PLAINTIFF’S PRO SE COMPLAINT BE DISMISSED; AND (2) THIS CASE BE CLOSED

MICHAEL J. NEWMAN, United States Magistrate Judge.

Plaintiff, proceeding pro se, brings suit against Defendants the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”), Mancor Industries, and I Force. Doc. 3. Plaintiff seeks judicial review of a decision by the General Counsel of the NLRB to dismiss his charge of unfair labor practices made to the NLRB against Mancor and I Force. Id. at PagelD 84. Plaintiff argues that his charge was improperly dismissed because the General Counsel “misconstrued” the law and asserts that this Court has jurisdiction to review that decision under the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”), 29 U.S.C. § 157. Id.

Now before the Court are motions to dismiss filed by Defendants Mancor2 (doc. 16) and the NLRB (doc. 26). Plaintiff filed memoranda in opposition (docs. 23, 29) and Mancor filed a reply (doc. 27). Mancor and the NLRB seek dismissal of Plaintiffs complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(1) and, alternatively, pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. I Force3 filed an Answer instead of a motion to dismiss.

I.

Plaintiff filed suit in this Court on October 15, 2013 and sought leave to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”). Doc. 1. The Court granted Plaintiff IFP status on October 18, 2013 and the complaint was docketed. Doc. 2.

Plaintiff alleges that his employment with Mancor was terminated on June 2, 2013 because he attempted to engage in activities protected by the NLRA. Doc. 3 [1034]*1034at PagelD 84. Plaintiff filed two unfair labor practice charges with the NLRB on July 3, 2013 against Mancor and I Force.4 Doc. 26 at PagelD 179-82. Plaintiff alleged that Mancor terminated his employment in retaliation for his involvement in a protected activity; specifically, his protests that employees were required to use their own uncalibrated tools. Id. Gary Muffley, Regional Director of the NLRB, informed Plaintiff via letters dated July 30, 2013 that the charges were being dropped because an investigation determined that there was insufficient evidence to establish violations of the NLRA. Id. at PageID 184-85,188-89. Plaintiff appealed that decision to the General Counsel of the NLRB, who denied the appeal in a letter dated September 27, 2013 because the General Counsel found that Plaintiff failed to establish he acted with the intent to initiate group action, and Mancor terminated his employment for legitimate business reasons. Doc. 3 at PagelD 93-94. The General Counsel found that Plaintiff did speak with fellow employees about other matters — his concerns regarding Man-cor’s policy that required employees to supply their own tools; the quality of blue prints; and the effect of scheduling on overtime pay — but that evidence did not establish that these conversations were made with the intent to initiate group action. Id. at PagelD 93.

Plaintiff subsequently filed suit in this Court. His complaint alleges the same three concerns raised before the NLRB and asserts facts regarding events on June 1, 2013, the day before he was terminated. Id. at PagelD 85-91. The complaint makes no mention, either directly or by implication, of any involvement by I Force. Finally, it alleges that the NLRB’s General Counsel “misconceived” the law regarding concerted activities and seeks review of the decision to dismiss his charges. Id. at PagelD 84.

II.

A motion to dismiss pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(1) is premised on the Court’s lack of subject matter jurisdiction. After a defendant brings a Rule 12(b)(1) motion to dismiss, “the plaintiff has the burden of proving jurisdiction in order to survive the motion.” Nichols v. Muskingum Coll., 318 F.3d 674, 677 (6th Cir.2003) (quoting Moir v. Greater Cleveland Reg’l Transit Auth., 895 F.2d 266, 269 (6th Cir.1990)). This burden is not heavy, as the plaintiff must only demonstrate that the complaint “alleges a claim under federal law, and the claim is ‘substantial.’ ” Musson Theatrical, Inc. v. Fed. Express Corp., 89 F.3d 1244, 1248 (6th Cir.1996). A claim is “substantial” if there is “any arguable basis in law for the claim made,” id., but the claims are insubstantial and must be dismissed if “prior decisions inescapably render the claims frivolous.” Transcontinental Leasing, Inc. v. Mich. Nat’l Bank of Detroit, 738 F.2d 163, 166 (6th Cir.1984) (quoting Hagans v. Lavine, 415 U.S. 528, 537, 94 S.Ct.

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Bluebook (online)
14 F. Supp. 3d 1031, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42029, 2014 WL 1266815, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/coles-v-national-labor-relations-board-ohsd-2014.