Journeymen Barbers, Hairdressers & Proprietors International Union v. Ector

95 Ohio Law. Abs. 270
CourtCuyahoga County Common Pleas Court
DecidedJuly 1, 1964
DocketNo. 791993
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 95 Ohio Law. Abs. 270 (Journeymen Barbers, Hairdressers & Proprietors International Union v. Ector) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Journeymen Barbers, Hairdressers & Proprietors International Union v. Ector, 95 Ohio Law. Abs. 270 (Ohio Super. Ct. 1964).

Opinion

Friedman, J.

This cause came on for hearing on the 17th day of March, 1963, upon the Amended Petition of the plaintiff, the Answer of the defendant and the evidence, and upon consideration the Court submits its findings of fact separate and apart from its conclusions of law.

The petition of plaintiff sets forth the following allegations:

That on February 11,1963, plaintiff and defendant executed a written contract in which in substance the defendant, as owner of a barbershop, agreed to the following terms and conditions:

1. The maintenance of established minimum price rates for haircuts and relating tonsorial services.

2. Agreement to refrain from extending rebates, refunds, etc., as to the established price for said services.

3. Agreement to abide by the opening and closing hours of defendant’s establishment, as set forth in the contract.

4. Provisions for contributing and participation by the defendant in the plaintiff’s Health & Welfare Fund.

Plaintiff alleges that subsequent to the execution of this agreement, and particularly from December 1, 1963 to the present date, the defendant did violate the agreement in that he established a discount operation of his barbershop; that the defendant did set up a rebate promotion, violated the closing hours and failed to contribute to the Health & Welfare Fund as provided for and consequently seeks relief as prayed for.

In his Answer defendant admits the execution and terms and conditions of the contract as alleged. The defendant however contends that he is no longer bound by said contract by reason of the fact that prior to the occurrence of the violations alleged, he had closed operation of said barbershop and stored the equipment. That subsequent thereto he sold said equip[272]*272ment to his wife who opened a barbershop operation at a new location and that the defendant has no interest therein.

Findings of Fact

From the evidence adduced before the Court, it is found from the admissions and testimony the following facts:

That plaintiff is an organized unincorporated labor association composed of approximately 1100 Journeymen barbers, hairdressers and cosmetologists and numbering among its membership both proprietors and working employees.

That the defendant is a duly licensed barber and had operated a union barbershop on West 117th Street, Cleveland, Ohio, for about eight months, at which location and during the course of his operation defendant signed the agreement with plaintiff

That the defendant was fully aware of the terms and the conditions of the agreement as to prices, discounts, hours and Health & Welfare but felt that they did not apply to a successor operator, namely, his wife Jule Ector.

That during the course of this agreement the defendant upon closing operation of his shop at the location of West 117th Street, Cleveland, Ohio, because the operation was not profitable, sold his equipment to his wife for a consideration of $250.00, duly executed the Bill of Sale to her and assisted her in opening up a barbershop at 8901 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio in a building which defendant rented on a year-to-year basis with an option to purchase and the defendant, in turn, leased a store front to his wife for $50.00 a month for the operation of her barbershop.

The evidence further discloses that defendant prepared and executed the application for a barbershop permit from the state to be issued in the name of his wife; that the defendant assisted her in setting up the operation so as to conform with all necessary requirements; that he met with the public officials as to the inspection of the premises prior to the issuance of the various permits required.

In his testimony the defendant stated that he at no time ever discussed with his wife his relationship with plaintiff union nor the contents of the contract that he had signed; that he has been assisting her at ail times in the operation, acting in the capacity of a part-time barber and supervising at times for which he is paid weekly wages,

[273]*273The evidence is undisputed that the defendant’s wife has had no prior experience or training in the operation of a business in barbering; that she is the mother of a child of tender years and has stated specifically that the only way this can be conducted on a profitable basis is to do the very things prohibited by the agreement, namely, give haircuts at discount prices and keep hours later than provided for in the union contract, which she has been doing.

Decision of the Court

As stated, the plaintiff seeks two separate and distinct remedies. One is to have the Court declare the legal rights and status of the contract referred to and the second is to grant injunctive relief against further violations.

The remedy of declaratory action arises under Section 2721.02 of the Revised Code of Ohio, which provides as follows:

“Courts of record may declare rights, status, and other legal relations whether or not further relief is or could be claimed. No action or proceeding is open to objection on the ground that a declaratory judgment or decree is prayed for. The declaration may be either affirmative or negative in form and effect. Such declaration has the effect of a final judgment or decree. ’ ’

Our Courts have consistently held that a declaratory judgment is to be exercised within the sound discretion of the Court, where the action is within the spirit of the declaratory judgment act and where a real justiciable controversy exists between the parties and speedy relief is necessary to the preservation of rights which otherwise may be impaired or lost.

Am. Life v. Jones, 152 Ohio St., 287; Radaszewski v. Keating, Extrx., 141 Ohio St., 489, 49 N. E. (2d), 167; Schaefer v. First Nat. Bank, 134 Ohio St., 511, 18 N. E. (2d), 262.

In the case of Duskill v. City of Cincinnati, 66 Ohio App., 372, 34 N. E. (2d), 241, the Court stated:

“Declaratory Judgment can be rendered only in cases where there is a real dispute between the adverse parties in a matter which presents a justiciable issue.”

It is the opinion of this Court based on the section of the statute referred to, and the Court’s interpretation thereof, the remedy sought in the instant case for declaratory judgment is not a proper remedy in light of the pleadings and evidence [274]*274where the defendant recognizes the legality of contract and its terms, raises no dispute pertaining thereto, but claims that it is no longer applicable to him since he is no longer in the barbering business.

We now therefore come to a consideration as to whether or not the plaintiff is entitled to injunctive relief as prayed for.

A Union or Guild may contract on behalf of its employees. Levarenz v. Cleveland Home Brewing Corp., 24 O. NP n. s., 193, 33 Ohio Jurisprudence (2d), Labor, Section 25.

It also has been generally held that a contract of a labor union is to be accorded the same liberality as is given to all other agreements in order to accomplish their evident purpose, 31 American Jurisprudence, 469, Labor, Section 101.

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

Related

In Re Kopfstein
35 B.R. 656 (N.D. Ohio, 1983)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
95 Ohio Law. Abs. 270, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/journeymen-barbers-hairdressers-proprietors-international-union-v-ector-ohctcomplcuyaho-1964.