Holmes v. Grooms

391 F. Supp. 3d 536
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Virginia
DecidedJuly 1, 2019
DocketCivil Action No. 3:18-cv-709
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 391 F. Supp. 3d 536 (Holmes v. Grooms) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Holmes v. Grooms, 391 F. Supp. 3d 536 (E.D. Va. 2019).

Opinion

Robert E. Payne, Senior United States District Judge

By ORDER entered on May 17, 2019 (ECF No. 48), the Court directed the parties to provide supplemental briefing on whether the Court has subject matter jurisdiction over the claims asserted in the *539FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT ("FAC") (ECF No. 27). Having considered PLAINTIFF OLIVER HOLMES' SUPPLEMENTAL BRIEF REGARDING SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION (ECF No. 49), DEFENDANTS' JOINT SUPPLEMENTAL BRIEF REGARDING SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION (ECF No. 50), and PLAINTIFF OLIVER HOLMES' SUPPLEMENTAL REPLY BRIEF REGARDING SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION (ECF No. 51), the Court concludes that it lacks subject matter jurisdiction over the claims asserted in the FAC. However, the FAC will be dismissed without prejudice to the filing of an action in compliance with the requirements of 29 U.S.C. § 501(b).

BACKGROUND

Oliver Holmes ("Holmes") is a member of the American Postal Workers Union Local 199 ("APWU" or the "Union"). See FAC ¶ 1. He brings this action against the Union and three of its current officers, Sylvia Grooms ("Grooms") (the current President), Sherry Gay ("Gay") (the current Secretary), and Jerome Cosby ("Cosby") (the current Director of Industrial Relations) (collectively, the "Defendants"). Id. ¶¶ 3-5.

The FAC alleges that Holmes attempted to investigate certain perceived improper expenditures by the Union on behalf of Gay and Cosby.1 Holmes also alleges that he was improperly thwarted in his efforts to investigate these matters by the Defendants. See generally FAC ¶¶ 9-23. Holmes also alleges that Grooms maliciously prosecuted him for defamation and slander "to retaliate against Plaintiff for speaking out about misuse of union funds. "Id. ¶¶ 24-28.

Count I of the FAC alleges a violation of fiduciary duties by Grooms, Gay, and Cosby under the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act ("LMRDA"), 29 U.S.C. § 501(a). Count II of the FAC alleges a state law claim for breach of fiduciary duty against Grooms, Gay, and Cosby. Counts III and IV of the FAC allege state law breach of contract claims against the Union. And, Count V alleges a state law malicious prosecution against Grooms.

In response to the FAC, the Defendants filed DEFENDANTS' MOTION TO DISMISS FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT (ECF No. 29) pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12 (b) (6). In reviewing that Motion, and the parties' supporting and opposing memoranda thereto (ECF Nos. 30, 36, 37), it appeared that the Court might lack subject matter jurisdiction over the case because: (1) 29 U.S.C. § 501(b) requires that "[n]o such proceeding [for violations of fiduciary duties under 29 U.S.C. § 501(a) ] shall be brought except upon leave of the court obtained upon verified application and for good cause shown," and Holmes did not seek leave of court to file the action; and (2) the FAC alleged that supplemental jurisdiction over the state law claims in Counts II through V was proper under 28 U.S.C. § 1343, but that statute pertains to "civil rights and elective franchise." The FAC made no reference to 28 U.S.C. § 1367, the statute pertaining to supplemental jurisdiction over state law claims. Because of these concerns, the Court ordered additional briefing on whether it had subject matter jurisdiction over all five Counts in the FAC. See ECF No. 48.

*540The parties have submitted their supplemental briefing on subject matter jurisdiction. ECF Nos. 49, 50, 51. Having considered the supplemental briefing, the Court is satisfied that the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the Court; and that, therefore, oral argument would not aid the decisional process. The matter is ripe for decision.

DISCUSSION

A. Legal Framework

Count I of the FAC is based on the LMRDA, 29 U.S.C § 501. Section 501 (a) establishes that certain union officials owe their union fiduciary duties.2 If a covered union official violates the provisions of Section 501(a), then subsection (b) comes into play. Subsection (b) is entitled "Violation of duties; action by member after refusal or failure by labor organization to commence proceedings; jurisdiction; leave of court; counsel fees and expenses" (emphasis added).

In relevant part, Section 501(b) reads:

When any [covered union official] is alleged to have violated the duties declared in subsection (a) and the labor organization or its governing board or officers refuse or fail to sue or recover damages or secure an accounting or other appropriate relief within a reasonable time after being requested to do so by any member of the labor organization, such member may sue such [covered union official] in any district court of the United States or in any State court of competent jurisdiction to recover damages or secure an accounting or other appropriate relief for the benefit of the labor organization. No such proceeding shall be brought except upon leave of the court obtained upon verified application and for good cause shown, which application may be made ex parte.

(emphasis added). Based on the plain text of the statute, Section 501(b) imposes three requirements of a plaintiff who files suit thereunder. First, the plaintiff must make certain demands on the union, its governing board, or its officers that are refused or ignored. Second, the plaintiff must receive "leave of the court obtained upon verified application" before bringing such an action. Third, to secure leave of court to sue, the plaintiff must demonstrate "good cause." See

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Bluebook (online)
391 F. Supp. 3d 536, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/holmes-v-grooms-vaed-2019.