Rodgers v. Local No. 8 American Federation of Musicians

403 F. Supp. 870, 93 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2827, 1975 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15198
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Wisconsin
DecidedNovember 20, 1975
Docket72-C-665
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 403 F. Supp. 870 (Rodgers v. Local No. 8 American Federation of Musicians) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Wisconsin primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Rodgers v. Local No. 8 American Federation of Musicians, 403 F. Supp. 870, 93 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2827, 1975 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15198 (E.D. Wis. 1975).

Opinion

DECISION and ORDER

MYRON L. GORDON, District Judge.

On September 3, 1975, this matter was tried to the court. The opinion which follows constitutes the findings of fact and conclusions of law required by Rule 52, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

At the outset of trial, counsel were able to enter into a number of agreements. Based on counsels’ stipulations, I ordered the dismissal of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada. Also, counsel were able to concur with respect to several proposed findings of fact and conclu *872 sions of law as indicated by an asterisk in the plaintiff’s findings of fact and conclusions of law. Accordingly, I adopt findings of fact ,¶¶ 1-17 and conclusions of law ,¶¶ 2 and 4 as those of the court.

I. MOTION TO ADD PARTIES

As a part of the plaintiff’s post-trial submissions, he filed a motion to add parties plaintiff pursuant to Rule 21, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The motion seeks the addition of persons who were members of the. plaintiff’s band between 1967 and 1973. I conclude that such-motion should be denied.

The motion to add parties was apparently prompted by the defendant’s assertion during trial that the plaintiff should only be entitled to recover, if at all, for his individual losses and not on behalf of the orchestra which he leads. Although it is my opinion that the plaintiff is entitled to recover damages on behalf of his orchestra, I believe that it is unnecessary to allow the addition of parties plaintiff to accomplish that goal.

A search of the files and records of this case makes it evident that the defendant will suffer no prejudice if the plaintiff is permitted to recover on behalf of the orchestra as a business entity. While the orchestra is a partnership for tax purposes, the record reveals that for all other purposes, including this lawsuit, the plaintiff is the sole proprietor and business manager of his orchestra. Accordingly, he is entitled to recover whatever damages the orchestra suffered as a business entity.

Were I to permit the joinder of the individual band members at this late date, difficult and new questions as to how damages should be apportioned among such individuals would be presented. By allowing the plaintiff to recover damages on behalf of the orchestra, I leave the plaintiff to distribute the proceeds recovered to his sidemen pursuant to any agreement he may have with them.

II. LIABILITY

Notwithstanding the defendant’s argument to the contrary, I find that during the period between 1966 and 1971, the plaintiff was engaged in an industry or activity affecting commerce for purposes of 29 U.S.C. §§ 152(6) and (7) and within the meaning of 29 U.S.C. § 187(a). This is especially apparent from the level of business activities outlined in proposed findings of fact :¶.¶[ 3 through 9. See Marty Levitt, 171 N.L.R.B. 739 (1968); American Guild of Musical Artists, 157 N.L.R.B. 735 (1966).

Moreover, it is my opinion that this action is properly brought under 29 U. S. C. § 187(a) and that this court has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1337 and 29 U.S.C. § 187(b).

In my view, the evidence presented at trial supports the conclusion that Richard Kosmatka, the proprietor of the Mellody Bar, was subjected to coercion by the union which' violated 29 U.S.C. §§ 158(b)(4)(ii)(B). The same conclusion is applicable to the union’s conduct toward Robert T. Devine, the proprietor of Devine’s Million Dollar Ballroom.

Credible evidence demonstrates that after Richard Kosmatka made arrangements with the plaintiff for two engagements in 1966, Mr. Kosmatka was contacted by the union in connection with his use of the plaintiff’s nonunion band. Mr. Kosmatka was told by Mr. Russell Wussow, at that time the defendant union’s president, that if he continued to use nonunion music (1) he would be expelled from the defendant union, (2) he would lose the services of union bands, including his own, (3) he would be placed on the “unfair” or “do not patronize” list, and (4) he could be picketed. Similar pressures of this nature continued into 1967 in connection with Mr. Kosmatka’s use of other nonunion bands.

With respect to Mr. Devine, the evidence shows that Mr. Wussow was Mr. *873 Devine’s house band during the time that Mr. Wussow was the defendant’s vice-president and that on numerous occasions between 1965 and 1967, Mr. Wussow made plain that the use of nonunion bands could result in placement on the “unfair” or “do not patronize” list. It is also clear that Mr. Devine feared that the union would picket his establishment if nonunion bands such as the plaintiff’s were used. Mr. Devine testified that although he used the plaintiff’s band in 1965, he did not use it thereafter because of the union’s statements.

In my opinion, the conduct of the union toward Messrs. Kosmatka and Devine amounted to unlawful secondary boycott activity under 29 U.S.C. § 158(b) (4) (ii)(B). See Local 802, AFM, 171 N.L.R.B. 1106 (1968); Schauffler v. Musicians Local 77, 40 CCH Lab.Cas. |f 66,570 (E.D.Pa.1960). Also, the union’s threats of picketing and placement on an “unfair” or “do not patronize” list constituted unlawful threats, coercion and restraint for purposes of § 158(b)(4) (ii)(B). Electrical Workers Local 41, 162 N.L.R.B. 620, 624 (1967); Teamsters Local 868, 156 N.L.R.B. 67, 71 (1965); Teamsters Local 375, 182 N.L.R.B. 650, 654 (1970); Laundry Dry Cleaning & Dye Houseworkers Local No. 259, 164 N.L.R.B. 426, 436 (1967) (threats of picketing); NLRB v. Carpenters, 184 F.2d 60 (10th Cir. 1950); Schauffler v. Musicians Local 77, 40 CCH Lab.Cas. ¶ 66,570 (E.D. Pa.1960) (threats to place neutral employer on “unfair” list).

Although the plaintiff urges that other places of potential employment within the defendant’s jurisdiction were the subject of unlawful activity similar to that described above, I believe that the plaintiff has failed to adduce adequate proof of this contention.

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

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
403 F. Supp. 870, 93 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2827, 1975 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15198, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/rodgers-v-local-no-8-american-federation-of-musicians-wied-1975.