United States v. Local 30, United Slate, Tile Etc.

686 F. Supp. 1139, 128 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2580, 1988 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4700
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedMay 23, 1988
DocketCiv. A. 87-7718
StatusPublished
Cited by15 cases

This text of 686 F. Supp. 1139 (United States v. Local 30, United Slate, Tile Etc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Local 30, United Slate, Tile Etc., 686 F. Supp. 1139, 128 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2580, 1988 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4700 (E.D. Pa. 1988).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

BECHTLE, District Judge.

Presently before the court is the motion of the United States for a preliminary injunction and appointment of a trustee pendente lite. For the reasons stated herein, the motion for a preliminary injunction will be granted to the extent set forth, and the motion for appointment of a trustee will be denied.

INTRODUCTION

On December 2, 1987, plaintiff United States of America (“United States” or “the government” or “plaintiff”) filed a complaint and a motion for a preliminary injunction seeking appointment of a trustee pendente lite under the civil injunctive provisions of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961-1968 (“RICO”). The United States also requests that defendants Stephen Traitz, Jr. (“Traitz”), Edward P. Hurst (“Hurst”), Michael Mangini, a/k/a “Nails” (“Mangini”), Robert Crosley (“Crosley”), Michael Daly (“Daly"), Daniel Cannon (“Cannon”), Mark Osborn (“Osborn”), Robert Medina (“Medina”), Ernest Williams (“Williams”), James Nuzzi (“Nuzzi”), Stephen Traitz, III (“Traitz III”), Joseph Traitz and Richard Schoenberger (“Schoenberger”) be enjoined from holding office or participating directly or indirectly in the affairs of defendant Locals 30 and 30B, United Slate, Tile and Composition Roofers, Damp and Waterproof Workers Association and its affiliated benefit plans (hereinafter collectively referred to as “the Roofers Union” or “the Union”) and for the court to appoint a trustee pendente lite to conduct the affairs of the Roofers Union.

On November 23, 1987, a federal court jury in this district returned a verdict in a criminal action against the thirteen officers and employees of the Roofers Union who are named defendants in this civil action. The defendants were found guilty of conducting and participating in the affairs of the Roofers Union through a pattern of racketeering activity (substantive RICO offense), RICO conspiracy, bribery of federal, state and local public officials, mail fraud, extortion, illegal kickbacks from providers to an employee benefit plan, embezzlement from the employee benefit plan and collection of debts for organized crime.

The parties introduced evidence at a preliminary injunction hearing that began on December 16, 1987 and continued with several breaks to completion on February 5, 1988. The parties were given until March *1142 15, 1988 to submit final proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law. On March 15, 1988 the court took the matter under advisement.

Plaintiff presented its evidence in three parts: (1) the testimony of approximately fifty (50) fact witnesses who described improper and/or illegal acts allegedly committed by the individual defendants and/or the Union and/or members or supporters of the Union; (2) approximately eleven (11) of the audio tapes that were recorded in accordance with the Title III wiretap Order authorized in conjunction with the federal criminal trial of the individual defendants (United States v. Traitz, et al, Criminal No. 86-451) (although the court received into evidence the entire set of 271 transcripts from the criminal proceeding); and, (3) the testimony of expert witness, law professor Clyde W. Summers. Plaintiffs evidence was received almost entirely without contradiction except for a few scattered episodes of primarily cosmetic and unrevealing cross-examination. Plaintiffs evidence thus stands virtually unchallenged.

The thirteen individual defendants were collectively represented by Ronald Kidd, Esquire until February 1, 1988, when Edward Daly, Esquire took over the representation of his brother Michael Daly and Mr. Kidd continued to represent the other twelve individual defendants. The individual defendants presented the testimony of approximately one dozen witnesses and the stipulated testimony of two (2) other persons to vouch for the individual defendants’ character and in regard to the extent of a possible injunction, their need to continue to be able to work as roofers in the geographic jurisdiction covered by the Union.

The defendant Union presented the testimony of approximately nine (9) witnesses including expert witness, business school professor Janice R. Bellace, and the stipulated testimony of two (2) other persons. The Union’s attorney, Bernard N. Katz, Esq., was replaced with the consent of the court and Mr. Katz, by Richard H. Markowitz, Esq. during the hearing.

The United States contends that the convictions of the thirteen defendants in the criminal action, the evidence presented in this action and the expert testimony of Prof. Clyde W. Summers prove by a preponderance of the evidence that absent the injunctive relief requested including the removal of the current newly-elected officers of the Union and the imposition of a trusteeship, the persuasive and longstanding pattern of racketeering activity is likely to continue in the Roofers Union. 1 The thirteen individual defendants oppose the injunctive relief sought and in any event ask the court to allow them to be allowed to work as roofers in the geographic jurisdiction covered by the Union. Defendant Roofers Union opposes removal of the current officers of the Union and the imposition of a trusteeship. Defendant Roofers Union asks the court to deny all the injunctive relief plaintiff seeks and preserve the status quo or at most to impose some sort of limited monitorship whereby the current officers would continue to run the Union but would be monitored by a court-appointed official. For the reasons stated herein the court will not grant the relief plaintiff has requested, nor will it preserve the status quo as defendants request; instead it will grant what it considers to be the appropriate injunctive relief to protect the Union, its members and the public.

FINDINGS OF FACT

A. Background

1. The Roofers Union is a labor organization headquartered at 6447 Torresdale Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that represents approximately 2,000 persons employed in eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware. At all times relevant to this action, the members of the Roofers Union have been employed in an enterprise affecting interstate commerce within the meaning of RICO, 18 U.S.C. § 1961; the Labor-Management Re *1143 porting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (“LMRDA”), 29 U.S.C. §§ 401, et seq.; and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”), 29 U.S.C. §§ 1001, et seq. [Govt.Exh. 21].

2. The Roofers Union has, since at least the 1960’s, negotiated collective bargaining agreements with two employer associations in the Philadelphia area.

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

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
686 F. Supp. 1139, 128 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2580, 1988 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4700, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-local-30-united-slate-tile-etc-paed-1988.