Firebird Structures, LCC v. United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners, Local Union No. 1505

252 F. Supp. 3d 1132, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 68736
CourtDistrict Court, D. New Mexico
DecidedMay 5, 2017
DocketNo. CIV 17-0397 JB/JLF
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 252 F. Supp. 3d 1132 (Firebird Structures, LCC v. United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners, Local Union No. 1505) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. New Mexico primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Firebird Structures, LCC v. United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners, Local Union No. 1505, 252 F. Supp. 3d 1132, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 68736 (D.N.M. 2017).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

James 0. Browning, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

THIS MATTER comes before the Court on the Plaintiffs Application for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction, filed April 4, 2017 (Doc. 3)(“Motion”). The Court held a hearing on April 10, 2017. The primary issues are: (i) whether the Court has jurisdiction over this case given that Plaintiff Firebird Structures filed an amended complaint in federal court asserting a federal claim, see First Amended Verified Complaint for Damages and Injunctive Relief ¶¶ 17-26, 3-4, filed April 10, 2017 (Doc. 14)(“Verified Complaint”), after the Defendant Carpenters’ Union removed, on complete preemption grounds, Firebird Structures’ original complaint asserting state-law claims only, see Verified Complaint for Damages and Injunctive Relief, filed in state court on March 30, 2017, filed in federal court on March 31, 2017 (Doc, l-l)(“Original .Complaint”); (ii) -whether the Norris-LaGuar-dia Act, 29 U.S.C. §§ 101-115, applies to Firebird Structures’ Motion; and (iii) whether the Court should grant Firebird Structures a temporary restraining order (“TRO”) and thereby enjoin the Carpenters’ Union from conducting activity that Firebird Structures contends is unlawful. The Court concludes: (i) that it has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 & 1367(a), because the Verified Complaint asserts a federal claim and Firebird Structures’ federal claim and state-law tort claims arise out of the samé set of factual assertions regarding the Carpenters’ Union’s alleged campaign against Firebird Structures; (ii) that the Norris-LaGuardia Act applies, because Firebird Structures and the Carpenters’ Union are involved in a “labor dispute” as the Norris-LaGuardia Act defines that term, 29 U.S.C. §§ 101 & 113(a)-(c); (iii) that Firebird Structures is not entitled to injunctive relief on its claim arising under § 303 of the Labor-Management Relations Act (“LMRA”),- 29 U.S.C. § 187, because that statutory provision awards only damages; (iv) that Firebird Structures is not likely to prevail on its two claims asserting tortious interference with contractual relations, because Fire-bird Structures’ LMRA .§ 303 claim, 29 U.S.C. § 187, preempts those claims; (v) that Firebird Structures is not likely to prevail on its claims for trespass, nuisance, harassment, and prima facie tort, because Firebird Structures has not- satisfied its burden, set forth by the-Norris-LaGuardia Act’s § 6, 29 U.S.C. § 106, to establish by “clear proof’ that the Carpenters’ Union authorized or was otherwise involved in the alleged tortious conduct; (vi) that the Norris-LaGuardia Act’s § 4, 29 U.S.C. § 104, deprives the Court of jurisdiction to enjoin the Carpenters’ Union from certain conduct that Firebird Structures asserts is tortious, including peacefully assembling, peacefully communicating with Firebird Structures’ employees and. prospective employees, and peacefully and non-fraudulently giving publicity to the labor dispute between Firebird Structures and the Carpenters’ Union; and (vii) that the four factors guiding the propriety of PI relief weigh against the Court’s issuance of a TRO to Firebird Structures, Accordingly, [1140]*1140the Court denies Firebird Structures’ Motion.

FINDINGS OF FACT

“A temporary restraining order requires the Court to make predictions about the plaintiffs likelihood of success.” Herrera v. Santa Fe Pub. Sch., 792 F.Supp.2d 1174, 1179 (D.N.M. 2011)(Browning, J.)(“‘[T]he findings of fact and conclusions of law made by a court granting a preliminary injunction are not binding at trial on the merits.’ ”)(alteration in original)(quoting Attorney Gen. of Okla. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., 565 F.3d 769, 776 (10th Cir. 2009)). “The Federal Rules of Evidence do not apply to preliminary injunction hearings.” Heideman v. S. Salt Lake City, 348 F.3d 1182, 1188 (10th Cir. 2003). Furthermore, as applicable in this case, the Norris-La Guardia Act § 9, 29 U.S.C. § 109, provides:

No restraining order or temporary or permanent injunction shall be granted in a case involving or growing out of a labor dispute, except on the basis of findings of fact made and filed by the court in the record of the case prior to the issuance of such restraining order or injunction; and every restraining order or injunction granted in a case involving or growing out of a labor dispute shall include only a prohibition of such specific act or acts as may be expressly complained of in the bill of complaint or petition filed in such case and as shall be expressly included in said findings of fact made and filed by the court as provided in this chapter.

29 U.S.C. § 109. Accordingly, the Court finds as follows:

1. Firebird Structures is a New Mexico limited liability company doing business in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. See Verified Complaint ¶ 1, at l.1

2. Firebird Structures is “a metal framing, drywall, stucco contractor,” has eighty-seven employees, fifty-four of whom are carpenters, and has been in business for over six years. Draft Transcript of Motion Proceedings at 19:17-20:14, taken April 10, 2017 (Cannedy)(“Tr.”).2

3. Trent Cannedy is Firebird Structures’ President. See Tr. at 19:12 (Canne-dy).

4. Keven Conboy is a Firebird Structures’ partner. See Tr. at 107:22-23 (Con-boy).3

5. The Carpenters’ Union is a labor organization operating in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, with its principal place of business at 3900 Pan American Fwy. NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87107. See Verified Complaint ¶ 2, at 1.

[1141]*11416. Firebird Structures does not recognize the Carpenters’ Union as its employees’ representative. See Verified Complaint ¶ 5, at 1.

7. No federal or state agency has required Firebird Structures to recognize the Carpenters’ Union as a representative of Firebird Structures’ employees for any purpose. See Verified Complaint ¶ 6, at 2.

8. The Carpenters’ Union is engaging in an organizing campaign against Firebird Structures. See Declaration of John Whi-tesitt ¶ 1, at 1, filed April 7, 2014 (Doc. 10-l)(“Whitesitt Decl.”). See also Verified Complaint ¶ 14, at 3 (alleging that the Carpenters’ Union sent letters to Firebird Structures’ current and prospective business partners to encourage and coerce those entities to cease current and prospective contracts vfith Firebird Structures).

9. Firebird Structures does not pay its carpenters union-scale wages. See Tr. at 53:5 (Cannedy).

10.

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

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
252 F. Supp. 3d 1132, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 68736, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/firebird-structures-lcc-v-united-brotherhood-of-carpenters-joiners-nmd-2017.