Lowery v. International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Shipbuilders & Helpers

130 So. 2d 831, 241 Miss. 458, 1961 Miss. LEXIS 365, 48 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2736
CourtMississippi Supreme Court
DecidedMay 29, 1961
Docket41857, 41858
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 130 So. 2d 831 (Lowery v. International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Shipbuilders & Helpers) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Mississippi Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lowery v. International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Shipbuilders & Helpers, 130 So. 2d 831, 241 Miss. 458, 1961 Miss. LEXIS 365, 48 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2736 (Mich. 1961).

Opinion

*465 Rodgers, J.

On October 28, 1953, Walter S. Lowery, Jr., filed a suit in the U. S. District Court, Southern District of Mississippi, against The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders and Helpers of America, et al., in which he sought to be reinstated as a Member of Local 693 of the International Brotherhood; and damages for wrongful suspension or expulsion. The U. S. District Court dismissed the cause of action for want of jurisdiction.

Later, within one year, appellant Lowery filed an attachment suit in the Chancery Court of Jackson County against the appellee, International Brotherhood, and Local No. 693, the Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation, and the.Merchants & Marine Bank of Pascagoula, garnishee-defendants. This cause was removed to the U. S. District Court where it was dismissed on the ground that action was barred by the statutes of limitation of Kansas and Mississippi. The case was then appealed to the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, where it was reversed. 220 F. 2d 546.

While the above case was on appeal to the appellate court, the appellant filed a second suit in attachment in the Chancery Court of Jackson County, Mississippi, against the same parties, requesting that the court reinstate him to his former membership and award damages for his wrongful suspension. The case was then removed to the Federal District Court where the two cases were consolidated. Both cases were then heard as one and were dismissed. The consolidated cases were then appealed to the U. S. Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, and were there reversed because a diversity of citizenship did not initially exist, and it was held that the jurisdiction was vested in the state court. The consolidated cases were then submitted by agreement to the Chancery Court of Jackson County, Mississippi. It was there agreed and stipulated by the *466 parties that the evidence and exhibits introduced upon the trial of the cases in the Federal District Court would constitute a part of the record in the Chancery Court. The Chancellor, having heard the testimony, entered a decree on the 10th day of June 1960, dismissing the case on its merits and dismissed the garnishments. The appellant Lowery appealed to this Court from the decree of the Chancery Court.

The appellant was a Member of The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders and Helpers of America, and of Local Lodge No. 693, until October 29, 1947. Chas. J. McGowan, President of the above-mentioned International Brotherhood, wrote a letter to appellant on the aforementioned date, suspending him from membership in the International Brotherhood, under the provisions of Section 9, Article XV, Subordinate Lodge Constitution. This letter set out certain complaints and advised appellant that there was a complete file of his activities on the President’s desk. He was also advised that he could appeal to the International Executive Council under Section 7, Article I, International Lodge Constitution. The appellant notified the President by letter dated November 13, 1947, that he desired to appeal. He was then advised by Mr. McGowan that the International Executive Council would convene at the Stevens Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, on April 5, 1948, and that he would be given an opportunity to be heard. The appellant appeared before the Council at their Chicago meeting, and after a full hearing, the Executive Council affirmed the action of the President. The appellant was then advised that he could appeal to the International Brotherhood which would convene in convention at the Mt. Royal Hotel, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, May 2, 1949, but he did not appeal. He filed instead the aforementioned actions.

The first question to be determined is whether or not the President of the International Brotherhood of Boil *467 ermakers, Iron Ship Builders and Helpers of America, had authority to suspend the appellant.

The Constitution and By-laws of the Union which were in force at the time the appellant was suspended by the President were adopted at the convention held in Kansas City, Missouri, January 31, 1944. The pertinent provisions are: ARTICLE I. “Power — Section 3. The powers of the International Brotherhood, while in session, shall be legislative, judicial and executive.”

ARTICLE I. “Executive and Judicial Authority— Section 5. The Executive and Judicial Powers only, of the International Brotherhood when not in session, shall be vested in an International Executive Council of the International Brotherhood, which shall consist of the International President, Assistant International President and all of the International Vice-Presidents.”

ARTICLE I. “Supervision and Meetings of Executive Council — Section 7. The International Executive Council shall have supervision over the Order when the International Brotherhood is not in session. Its meetings shall be held annually, unless conditions warrant special meetings. They shall have the power to pass on any subject, proposition or grievance, hear and determine all cases on appeal from the decisions and rulings of the Subordinate Lodges, or against any Officer of this International Brotherhood or appointed Officer, and all decisions of the Executive Council shall be final and in full force until reversed by the International Brotherhood in Convention assembled.”

ARTICLE IV. “Duties of International Officers. President. — Section 1. The International President shall countersign all orders for payment of money. He shall be empowered to suspend Subordinate Lodge meetings, appoint officers pro-tem of both the International Brotherhood and of Subordinate Lodges and all committees * * * He shall have the direction and supervision of all Subordinate and District Lodges, and be empowered to *468 suspend tlieir individual members * * * when in his judgment the action of such member, * # * (is) in violation of the International Constitution * * * or in violation of the declared policies of our International Brotherhood. ’ ’

It will be observed that all that is required under the constitution provisions is that the president determine whether or not a member has violated the International Constitution. If in his judgment a member has violated the constitution or policies of the International Brotherhood, the president may suspend such member. In the event of an emergency, the president may exercise such authority without securing the advice of the Executive Council. (Article IV, Sec. 4). If there is no emergency, the president is required to secure the advice of the Executive Council. (Article IV, Sec. 3). Any member who is suspended shall have the right of appeal to the International Executive Council, and if dissatisfied may thereafter appeal-to the International Convention. (Article IV, Sec. 5).

The testimony in this case supports the decree of the chancellor insofar as the procedure of the President is concerned. The president obtained the advice of the International Council before he wrote the letter of suspension. Complaint had been made to the President by Cecil S. Massey, an International Vice-President, dated September 17, 1947, in which he detailed a number of instances of misconduct on the part of appellant and recommended that membership be revoked.

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Bluebook (online)
130 So. 2d 831, 241 Miss. 458, 1961 Miss. LEXIS 365, 48 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2736, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lowery-v-international-brotherhood-of-boilermakers-iron-shipbuilders-miss-1961.