Van Leeuwen v. United States Postal Service

628 F.2d 1093, 105 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2097
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
DecidedAugust 21, 1980
DocketNo. 79-1939
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 628 F.2d 1093 (Van Leeuwen v. United States Postal Service) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Van Leeuwen v. United States Postal Service, 628 F.2d 1093, 105 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2097 (8th Cir. 1980).

Opinion

FLOYD R. GIBSON, Senior Circuit Judge.

Van Leeuwen appeals from the District Court’s1 order of October 4, 1979, dismissing all of the claims in his complaint, which charged improper discharge from employment and violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), 29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq. (1976), except his individual claim against the United States Postal Service for violation of the FLSA, 29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq. (1976). We affirm.

On March 8, 1979, Van Leeuwen filed a complaint against the United States Postal Service and the various postal unions. In Count I he sought reinstatement and compensatory and punitive damages under section 301 of the Labor Management Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. § 185 (1976).2 In addition, he alleged that the Postal Service had violated his constitutional right to due process. In Count II he claimed that the Postal Service had violated the minimum wage, overtime, and record keeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. §§ 206, 207, 216(b) (1976). He claimed federal jurisdiction on the basis of 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1337, 1361 (1976).

The unions moved to dismiss the complaint, and submitted the national agreement between the Postal Service and the unions as an exhibit. Van Leeuwen filed affidavits and exhibits in response, and the [1095]*1095unions submitted additional affidavits. On August 31, 1979, the District Court held a hearing on the motions to dismiss. On September 7, 1979, the Postal Service filed a motion to dismiss or, alternatively, for summary judgment. Thereafter the District Court entered its October 4, 1979, order. After further proceedings, the District Court on February 12, 1980, directed that its October 4, 1979, order be entered as a final judgment pursuant to Rule 54(b) insofar as it dismissed plaintiff’s causes of action against all defendants except his claim for violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act against the United States Postal Service.3 That portion of the October 4 order striking the class action aspects of the Fair Labor Standards Act claim the District Court certified for review pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b) (1976).

We note that the District Court, in dismissing Van Leeuwen’s claims, considered affidavits and exhibits outside the pleadings. The court thus treated the motion as one for summary judgment. See Fed.R. Civ.P. 12(b). Van Leeuwen had notice of the court’s intention to treat the motion to dismiss as one for summary judgment, because he, along with the other parties, submitted outside the pleadings affidavits and exhibits which he understood that the District Court accepted for consideration.

In the context of a summary judgment motion, we must view the facts in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Adickes v. S. H. Kress & Co., 398 U.S. 144, 158-59, 90 S.Ct. 1598, 1608-09, 26 L.Ed.2d 142 (1970). Thus we must consider the facts as alleged by Van Leeuwen.

Van Leeuwen commenced work as a substitute rural letter carrier for the Sectional Center Facility of the United States Postal Service at Harrison, Arkansas, on April 4, 1977. Ten days later, on April 14, the Postal Service discharged him. He discussed his discharge with his immediate supervisor, and requested specific information regarding the stated reason for his discharge. He was told that his discharge was on the basis of medical unsuitability because it was believed he had a hernia. He strongly denied this stated medical basis.

The next day, April 15, Van Leeuwen went to two physicians to review with them the medical condition given by the Postal Service as the reason for his termination. Each physician prepared a statement to the effect that Van Leeuwen had no hernias. Van Leeuwen returned to the Postal Service facility and presented these statements to his immediate supervisor, who took the statements and informed Van Leeuwen that he would have to discuss the matter with the head of the facility, who would be out of town until April 18. On that date, Van Leeuwen met with the head of the Sectional Facility who explained that, while he had the authority to reverse the discharge, he would send the question to the medical officials of the Postal Service located in New Orleans, Louisiana, for their decision.

Van Leeuwen next went to the Postal Service facility on May 10, requesting that he be paid for his employment and requesting information regarding the outcome of the medieal examination in New Orleans. This led to another meeting with the head of the facility on May 16, when the head of the facility showed Van Leeuwen a letter addressed to him from the head of the facility dated May 16, 1977, which stated that the Postal Service's medical officer had determined that Van Leeuwen was medically suitable for future employment, and that he would be placed on the eligibility roster for substitute rural carrier at .the Harrison Post Office. Van Leeuwen protested on the basis that he was not reinstated to his original position. After this meeting, Van [1096]*1096Leeuwen continued to contact the Postal Service to protest, and he received periodic notification regarding the status of his case. He has never been reinstated to his original position or considered for employment from the eligibility list.

The collective bargaining agreement between the Postal Service and various postal unions in effect during Van Leeu wen’s employment provided for a probationary period of ninety days “actually worked or one calendar year, whichever comes first” before an employee becomes a permanent employee.4 During this time, a probationary employee is not permitted to appeal a discharge through the contractual grievance procedures. The National Rural Letter Carriers Association (NRLCA) was the certified statutory bargaining representative for the unit to which Van Leeuwen belonged during his tenure with the Postal Service. During Van Leeu wen’s ten days on the job, the union did not take any affirmative action to identify to him his union representative. Van Leeuwen, in fact, had no contact with any union until sometime in April 1978, over a year after his discharge, when he contacted the president of a branch of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), which branch aside from being affiliated with the wrong union, did not even serve the Harrison area. The union official contacted responded to Van Leeuwen by suggesting that he join a union, and advising him that he had not contacted the proper union official and that retention of an attorney would not be of assistance in a grievance procedure. Van Leeuwen then wrote two different union officials generally inquiring about union membership, and seeking help. He did not pursue this matter further, but instead filed his complaint on March 8, 1979.

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W. W. J. Van Leeuwen v. United States Postal Service
628 F.2d 1093 (Eighth Circuit, 1980)

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Bluebook (online)
628 F.2d 1093, 105 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2097, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/van-leeuwen-v-united-states-postal-service-ca8-1980.