Todd v. Northwest Airlines, Inc.

324 F. Supp. 79, 76 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2700, 1969 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10866
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Washington
DecidedJanuary 28, 1969
DocketCiv. A. No. 6638
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 324 F. Supp. 79 (Todd v. Northwest Airlines, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Todd v. Northwest Airlines, Inc., 324 F. Supp. 79, 76 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2700, 1969 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10866 (W.D. Wash. 1969).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

LINDBERG, Chief Judge.

This is an action brought by plaintiff, Franklin E. Todd, a flight engineer formerly employed by the defendant, Northwest Airlines, seeking to set aside an arbitration order by the System Board of Adjustment. Specifically, the plaintiff asks this court to set aside an order of the System Board entered September 28, 1964, which affirmed the defendant’s termination of plaintiff’s employment on the grounds that the plaintiff “influenced and encouraged the first pilot and other crew members to fly flight N027 of January 1, 1964, at a time when he had good reason to believe the first pilot should not take out the flight in the interest of public safety.”

Plaintiff also seeks contract damages because of an alleged wrongful discharge and alleged breach of employment contract by the defendant.

After discovery and pretrial conferences a pretrial order was entered (referred to as Pretrial Order No. 1) for the purpose of submitting the case upon motions of both parties for summary judgment on the issue of whether or not the award of the System Board of Adjustment should be set aside. For the purpose of this memorandum opinion it will be helpful to set forth the pretrial order verbatim:

“Pursuant to Rule 16 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and in accordance with the pretrial conference held on June 14, 1968, the following formulation of issues is herein set forth:
“I. JURISDICTION
“Without defendant’s waiving its contention that this Court does not have jurisdiction to hear this matter for the reasons hereinafter set forth in defendant’s Contentions of Law, the parties agree that:
“1. The plaintiff is a citizen of the State of Washington and was formerly employed by the defendant as a flight engineer.
“2. The defendant is a Minnesota corporation with principal offices in Minneapolis St. Paul, is engaged in the business of an interstate air carrier and does business in the State of Washington.
“3. The damages sought by the plaintiff exceed $10,000 exclusive of interest and costs.
“4. Plaintiff seeks a review of a System Board of Adjustment Order entered September 28, 1964, which affirmed the defendant’s termination of plaintiff’s employment. This court’s review of the Adjustment Board Order is governed by Sections 153, 181 and 184 of the Railway Labor Act. 45 USCA § 153, 181, 184.
“II. ADMITTED FACTS
“1. On or about February 28, 1964, and prior thereto, plaintiff was employed as a flight engineer for Northwest Airlines, Inc.
“2. Northwest Airlines, Inc. had entered a collective bargaining agreement with the International Association of Machinists for and on behalf of flight engineers. Said contract was for the benefit of plaintiff and granted rights of tenure and seniority to plaintiff.
“3. On or about February 28, 1964, defendant terminated plaintiff’s employment with Northwest Airlines, Inc.
“4. The collective bargaining agreement hereinabove referred to contained certain grievance procedure in the event of Company-imposed discipline on plain[82]*82tiff. All of the conditions precedent to invoking the grievance procedure were met by plaintiff or his representatives.
“5. On August 18, 19 and 20, 1964, a grievance hearing was held in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, before a System Board of Adjustment duly impaneled under the aforesaid agreement. The Company charges filed against the plaintiff were:
“ ‘A. He served as a crew member on Flight N027 of January 1, 1964, having used alcoholic beverages during the twenty-four hour period immediately preceding the departure time of Flight N027 of January 1, 1964.
“ ‘B. Further, he influenced and encouraged the first pilot and other crew members to fly Flight N027 of January 1, 1964, at a time when he knew of the physical deficiency of the first pilot assigned to the flight.”
“6. On September 28, 1964, the System Board of Adjustment rendered its award against the plaintiff, sustaining the Company’s termination of plaintiff’s employment.
“7. Walter L. Gray, of Oklahoma City, was the neutral arbitrator in the System Board of Adjustment hearing involving the plaintiff.
“The following additional facts are not disputed but defendant contends they are not relevant to the issues of this case:
“1. In the course of the System Board of Adjustment hearing involving plaintiff a letter was introduced in evidence, a copy of which is referred to in plaintiff’s listed exhibits.
“2. Subsequently, in October, 1964, a System Board of Adjustment hearing was held pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement entered into by and between defendant, the Airline Pilots Association, with respect to the termination of David G. Rail, pilot of Northwest Flight N027 of January 1, 1964; and in November, 1964, a System Board of Adjustment hearing was held pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement entered into by and between defendant, the Airline Pilots Association, with respect to the termination of Robert E. Lee, co-pilot of Northwest Flight N027 of January 1, 1964.
“3. Walter L. Gray, of Oklahoma City, was the neutral arbitrator in the System Board of Adjustment hearing involving Rail and Lee.
“4. On or about January 8, 1965, a decision was rendered in the System Board of Adjustment matters involving the said Rail and Lee, disciplining them, but not terminating their employment.
“HI. DISPUTED FACTS
“A. Plaintiff contends as follows:
“1. That the letter referred to in paragraph 1, on pages 3 and 7 of this Pre-Trial Order and referred to in Plaintiff’s Exhibits, is a forgery in that it was not the letter signed by Peter Kama.
“2. That the award imposing discipline upon the plaintiff herein is without foundation in reason or fact, in light of the following factors:
“(a) The duties of a flight engineer;
“(b) His relative responsibilities in the operation of aircraft;
“(c) His responsibility to follow the ’commands of the pilot and copilot ;
“(d) The discipline imposed upon David G. Rail and Robert E. Lee; “(e) Other discipline imposed in the administration of other grievance proceedings involving Northwest Airlines personnel.
“B. Defendant contends that for the purposes of this pre-trial order there are no issues of fact for the Court.
“IV. ISSUES. OF LAW

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Related

Franklin E. Todd, and v. Northwest Airlines, Inc.
438 F.2d 527 (Ninth Circuit, 1971)

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Bluebook (online)
324 F. Supp. 79, 76 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2700, 1969 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10866, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/todd-v-northwest-airlines-inc-wawd-1969.