MacKey v. Moss

175 So. 2d 749, 278 Ala. 55, 1965 Ala. LEXIS 843, 59 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2880
CourtSupreme Court of Alabama
DecidedMay 27, 1965
Docket3 Div. 141
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 175 So. 2d 749 (MacKey v. Moss) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
MacKey v. Moss, 175 So. 2d 749, 278 Ala. 55, 1965 Ala. LEXIS 843, 59 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2880 (Ala. 1965).

Opinion

HARWOOD, Justice.

On 11 March 1964, Kenneth Moss filed a bill of complaint against M. C. Mackey, individually and as secretary of Local 479, American Federation of Musicians. The cause was heard on 23 March 1964, and on that day the bill was amended by adding as a party respondent the American Federation of Musicians. At the direction of the court, service upon the American Federation of Musicians was effectuated by the register serving a copy of the amended bill upon M. C. Mackey, the local secretary of the American Federation of Musicians.

The amended bill alleged that the American Federation of Musicians had arbitrarily placed the appellee’s name on the “National Defaulter’s List,” of the American Federation of Musicians, and that as a result of such action the Federation was attempting to interfere with the contractual relationship existing between the appellee and certain musicians employed by him, and that such action would result in irreparable injury to the complainant in that musicians employed by the complainant would be compelled to cease performing under their contracts of employment with the complainant.

On the day that the amendment to the bill was filed, a hearing was had and after argument the court took the matter under consideration and on 30 March 1964, upon condition of execution of an injunction bond in the amount of $5,000, the court issued a temporary writ of injunction requiring the American Federation of Musicians and M. C. Mackey, its local secretary, to remove the name of Kenneth Moss from the National Defaulter’s List, and prohibiting them from taking any further *57 action relative to placing the name of Kenneth Moss on such defaulter’s list, and further prohibiting any interference •with the contractual relationship existing between Kenneth Moss and Buddy Pello, a musician employed by Moss.

Thereafter the American Federation of Musicians filed a “petition for an advice or instructions” as to whether or not there was a hearing as to the American Federation of Musicians within the meaning of the law of Alabama as respects temporary injunctions, stating that they did not know whether to appeal from said order or to file a motion to dissolve the said temporary 'inj unction.

Pursuant to this petition the court issued an order stating that it was the court’s determination that the issuance of the temporary injunction against the American Federation of Musicians was made ex parte and was an ex parte injunction, and that the temporary injunction granted against M. C. Mackey, individually and as secretary of Local 479, American Federation of Musicians, was granted after a hearing.

Pursuant to this construction of its injunctive order, the American Federation of Musicians filed a motion to dissolve •the temporary writ of injunction which .after hearing was denied.

Separate appeals were then taken by ■the respondents, M. C. Mackey appealing from the order granting the injunction, and the American Federation of Musicians .appealing from the order denying its motion to dissolve the injunction.

This review concerns the separate appeal of Mackey, as Secretary, etc.

The evidence introduced below tended to ■show that on February 1964, the appellee, Kenneth Moss, entered into a contract with Buddy Pello whereby Pello, a musician, was to perform nightly at the Diplomat 'Inn in Montgomery, Alabama, said Diplomat Inn being operated by Moss. The contract was to extend through 19 December 1964. The contract was on a form of the American Federation of Musicians, and among other things contained the following provisions:

“Any employees who are parties to or affected by this contract are free to cease service hereunder by reason of any strike, ban, unfair list order, or requirement of the Federation, and shall be free to accept and engage in other employment of the same or similar character or otherwise, for other employers or persons without any restraint, hinderance, penalty, obligation or liability whatever, any other provisions of this contract to the contrary notwithstanding. * * *
“The employer represents that there does not exist against him, in favor of any member of the Federation, any claim of any kind arising out of musical services rendered for any such employer. No employee will be required tract or to render any services for to perform any provisions of this con-said employer as long as any such claim is unsatisfied or unpaid, in whole or in part. * * *
“To the extent permitted by applicable law, there are incorporated into and made a part of this agreement, as though fully set forth herein, all of the bylaws, rules and regulations of the Federation and of any Local of the Federation in whose jurisdiction services are to be performed hereunder (insofar as they do not conflict with those of the Federation), and the employer acknowledges' his responsibility to be fully acquainted now and for the duration of this contract, with the contents thereof.”

The uncontradicted evidence shows that at the time the appellee Moss executed the contract with Pello there were two claims against him filed with the American Federation of Musicians; for alleged claims growing out of breach of contract with other performers or entertainers. One such claim was by Charles Drake, a musician, and the other was by a group known *58 as the “Star Belles.” By letter dated 13 January 1963, Moss was notified by the American Federation of Musicians of the claim filed by Charles Drake against him and the Diplomat Inn for alleged salary due, and was requested to reply to the same within 14 days and was informed that failure on his part to reply within that time might result in the case going against him and the Diplomat Inn by default. This claim was allowed by the Federation.

Later, with the assistance of Mackey the claim of Charles Drake was reopened by the American Federation of Musicians, and the amount found to be due was reduced.

As to the claim filed by the Star Belles, it appears that their claim was filed by letter dated 21 November 1963, with the American Federation of Musicians, and Moss was notified of its filing and was requested to answer within 14 days. This he did not do, though at a later date he did furnish the American Federation of Musicians with information to the effect that the Diplomat Inn was undergoing remodeling changes and it was impossible for him to use the services of the Star Belles in the Diplomat lounge on the date agreed to with their agent, and that upon his signing the contract and placing the same in the mails he had on that same date notified the agent of the Star Belles by telegram that it was necessary for him to cancel the contract which he had deposited in the mails a few hours earlier addressed to the agent in Kansas City.

Upon consideration of the claims filed by Drake and by the Star Belles, the executive board of the American Federation of Musicians allowed the claim of the Star Belles, and the claim of Drake, though Drake’s claim was later reduced in amount as above stated.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
175 So. 2d 749, 278 Ala. 55, 1965 Ala. LEXIS 843, 59 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2880, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mackey-v-moss-ala-1965.