Reich v. David Weekley Homes, Inc.

909 F. Supp. 826, 17 OSHC (BNA) 1470, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 62, 1996 WL 5343
CourtDistrict Court, D. Colorado
DecidedJanuary 2, 1996
DocketCiv. A. No. 95-D-1446
StatusPublished

This text of 909 F. Supp. 826 (Reich v. David Weekley Homes, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Colorado primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Reich v. David Weekley Homes, Inc., 909 F. Supp. 826, 17 OSHC (BNA) 1470, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 62, 1996 WL 5343 (D. Colo. 1996).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

DANIEL, District Judge.

This matter is before the Court on Plaintiffs Verified Petition for Adjudication of Civil Contempt, filed June 7, 1995, and Defendant’s Motion to Quash Administrative Inspection Warrant, filed July 5, 1995. The underlying dispute stems from the issuance of an inspection warrant which authorized the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) to inspect the defendant’s home building construction site.

More specifically, after receiving a complaint from a former employee of defendant David Weekley Homes, Inc. (‘Weekley”) which alleged serious fall protection hazards, an OSHA inspector drove through the defendant’s worksite and confirmed the hazards. Thereafter, on May 5, 1995, OSHA applied for an administrative inspection warrant pursuant to the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. § 651, et seq., which Magistrate Judge Abram issued on the same day. However, when OSHA inspectors sub1 sequently attempted to serve the warrant, a Weekley representative refused their entry to the worksite, thus prompting the instant action. This matter was originally referred to Magistrate Judge Abram for a recommendation, which the Court now reviews de novo based on Weekley’s timely submission of objections. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed. R.Civ.P. 72(b). For purposes of discussion, the recommendation is incorporated herein by reference. The Court, having reviewed the recommendation, defendant’s objections thereto, and relevant case law, hereby ADOPTS the Magistrate Judge’s recommendation for the reasons discussed below.

As stated in the Magistrate Judge’s recommendation, Weekley originally contested the inspection warrant on five grounds. See Recommendation at 3. However, Weekley’s objections are limited to two grounds, which it frames as follows:

1. Did OSHA demonstrate probable cause for a warrant to inspect David Weekley Homes?
2. Is the May 5 Inspection Warrant unconstitutionally overbroad in scope?

The Court now addresses these questions seriatim,.1

As for Weekley’s first objection— probable cause — Weekley concedes that the informal complaint coupled with the personal observations of the OSHA officer constitutes probable cause. See Marshall v. Horn Seed Co., 647 F.2d 96, 100, 103 (10th Cir.1981) (stating that for a “special” inspection warrant to pass constitutional muster, “[a] signed, written employee complaint containing detailed information demonstrating first hand knowledge may be so compelling that further verification is unnecessary,” ... “[though] more may be demanded when the complaint is a simple allegation by a competitor or an unknown caller that an OSHA violation exists at a plant.”). As Weekley states, the “personal verification of the com[829]*829plaint therefore established probable cause for a warrant to inspect the roof framing contractor. It did not establish probable cause to inspect David Weekley Homes or any other contractor.” Objections at 11. However, insofar as Weekley is asserting a scope argument, it is rejected for reasons discussed below. Alternatively, insofar as Weekley is asserting a de facto agency argument, it is rejected for the reasons stated by the Magistrate Judge:

Weekley raised the issue that it may not be held in contempt because it is not the employer of its subcontractors. The Plaintiff correctly pointed out, however, that Weekley’s argument is not timely, but is a defense to be brought before an Administrative Judge after a citation has issued. I agree. Moreover, it appears that the law does not support Weekley’s contention. See Clarkson Constr. Co. v. Occupational Safety and Health Review Comm’n, 531 F.2d 451, 457-58 (10th Cir.1976). In Clarkson, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals determined that the general contractor who controls the working environment on a construction project “was in a much better position to see to it that the required safety devices were installed.” Id. at 458. Accordingly, the court imposed lability on the general contractor for a safety violation which resulted in the death of an employee.

Recommendation at 5-6.

Turning to Weekley’s second objection, it argues that insofar as the warrant extends to the entire worksite, it is over-broad and thus constitutionally infirm. In addressing this challenge, the Court notes that a warrant must be tailored to the probable cause finding which precedes its issuance. See, e.g., Marshall v. Wollaston Alloys, Inc., 479 F.Supp. 1102, 1104 (D.Mass.1979). Put another way, a search warrant for inspection is not overly broad where the scope of the inspection authorized by the warrant bears a reasonable relationship to the underlying complaint. West Point-Pepperell, Inc. v. Donovan, 689 F.2d 950, 962-63 (11th Cir.1982); see also Trinity Indus., Inc. v. OSHRC, 16 F.3d 1455, 1460 (6th Cir.1994) (a complaint inspection must bear an appropriate relationship to the violation alleged in the complaint). Thus, in determining whether the warrant issued in this instance was im-permissibly overbroad, the Court must examine and compare two factors: (1) the motivating, underlying conduct complained of; and (2) the parameters of the issued warrant. In short, the Court must be satisfied that the warrant is narrowly tailored to embrace only the complained of conduct. Furthermore, in making such a determination, the Court is mindful of the related principle that the standard of probable cause applied in criminal cases does not apply to warrants issued pursuant to legislative or administrative regulatory programs. Horn Seed, 647 F.2d at 102-03.

In this instance, the underlying complaint and follow-up site examination focused on “fall hazards.” More specifically, the catalyst complaint alleged that employees performing roof framing at the construction site were subject to fall hazards and did not have fall protection. Thus, based on the facts of this case, any warrant issued could theoretically be overbroad on either of two grounds: (1) it could cover activities beyond those referenced in the underlying complaint (i.e. fall hazards); or (2) it could extend to areas beyond which such activities take place. Naturally, in addressing these two areas, the Court must analyze the language employed in the warrant. Of significance, the warrant provides that

there is sufficient and probable cause to issue an administrative inspection warrant authorizing entry for a safety inspection and investigation of specified areas within the areas within the construction worksite described as:
David Weekley Homes

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909 F. Supp. 826, 17 OSHC (BNA) 1470, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 62, 1996 WL 5343, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/reich-v-david-weekley-homes-inc-cod-1996.