JIMENEZ v. GCA SERVICES GROUP, INC. et al

Filing 5

OPINION. Signed by Judge John Michael Vazquez on 11/21/16. (cm,)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY ANALIVE JIMENEZ, Plain ti[f Civil Action No. 16-1871 V. OPINION GCA SERVICES GROUP, INC., SEIU LOCAL 32BJ. JOHN DOES 1-10, and ABC CORPORATION 11-20, Defendants. John Michael Vazguez, U.S.D.J. This matter comes before the Court by way of the Motion to Dismiss filed by Defendant SEIU Local 32BJ (“Local 32BJ” or “the Union”). D.E. 4. Plaintiff Analive Jimenez did not oppose Defendant’s motion. The Court reviewed Local 32BJ’s submissions in support and considered the motion without oral argument pursuant to L. Civ. R. 78.1(b). For the reasons stated below, the Union’s motion is GRANTED. I. BACKGROUND Plaintiff filed this matter in the Superior Court of New Jersey on December 21, 2015. asserting claims against the Union, GCA Services Group, Inc. (“GCA”), and unidentified John Doe individuals and ABC corporations. See Compl., D.E. 1-1. Plaintiff alleges that she was a contracted GCA employee but was wrongfully terminated on or about December 20, 2013. Id. ¶ 1. Plaintiff brings four claims against GCA and the John Doe and ABC Corporation Defendants for her allegedly wrongffil termination. Id. ¶j 1-5, 11-25. Plaintiff also alleges that she was a member of Local 32BJ. Id. ¶ 7. Plaintiffbdngs a single claim against the Union, alleging that it breached an unidentified contract. Plaintiff contends that as a union member, Local 32BJ “was contractually obligated to protect Plaintiffs interest regarding her employment and assist Plaintiff in any disputes between Plaintiff and her employer.” Id. ¶ 8. Plaintiff alleges that Local 32BJ failed to thIfill its contractual duties, and as a result, she was terminated from her employment with GCA. Id. ¶ 9. Plaintiff served Local 32BJ with a Summons and Complaint in this matter on March 28, 2016, and on April 4,2016, Local 32BJ filed a Notice of Removal.’ See Notice of Removal ¶ I (D.E. I). Local 32BJ alleges that the only contract that Plaintiff could possibly be referencing in the breach of contract claim is a collective bargaining agreement between the Union and GCA (the “CBA”). Id. ¶ 8-9. The Union therefore argues that Plaintiffs claims are governed by federal law because the Complaint is “best understood as stating claims under Management Relations Act (“LMRA”), 29 U.S.C. § 185. Id. ¶ 6-8, § 301” of the Labor 10. Shortly afler filing its Notice of Removal, the Union filed this Motion to Dismiss pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 1 2(bX6). D.E. 4. As in its Notice of Removal, Local 32BJ argues that the breach of contract claim asserted against it should be construed as a claim for breach of the duty of fair representation under § 301 of the LMRA. See Dc? s Br. at 3-4. As such, the Union contends that the claim must be dismissed because it is time-barred and because Plaintiff fails to allege sufficient facts to plead a viable claim. See Def’s Br. at 4-10. As noted, Plaintiff did not oppose Local 32BJ’s Motion to Dismiss. Because GCA has not been served yet and the other Defendants are unnamed individuals and corporations, the Union did not need to obtain the consent of any of its co-defendants to remove this matter. See Grnnovsky c Pfizer, Inc., 631 F. Supp. 2d 554, 559 (D.N.J. 2009) (stating that defendant need not obtain consent to remove from unknown defendants or a non-resident defendant that had not been served). ‘3 II. LEGAL STANDARD Local 32BJ argues for dismissal pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6). Del’s Br. at 2-3. For a complaint to survive dismissal under Rule l2(b)(6), it must contain sufficient factual matter to state a claim that is plausible on its face. Ashcroft v. Iqbal. 556 U.s. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Bell At!. Corp. v. Twonzblv, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). A claim is facially plausible “when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Id. Further, a plaintiff must “allege sufficient facts to raise a reasonable expectation that discovery will uncover proof of her claims.” Connelly i Lane Const. C’orp., 809 F.3d 780, 789 (3d Cir. 2016). In evaluating the sufficiency of a complaint, district courts must separate the factual and legal elements. Fouler v. UPIvIC Shadvside, 578 F.3d 203,210-11 (3d Cir. 2009). Restatements of the elements of a claim are legal conclusions, therefore, they are not entitled to a presumption of truth. Bunch v. Mitherg Factors, Inc., 662 F.3d 212, 224 (3d Cir. 2011). The Court, however, “must accept all of the complaint’s well-pleaded facts as true.” Fouler, 578 F.3d at 210. III. DISCUSSION Local 32BJ argues that “the only contract under which Plaintiff could conceivably have a cause of action regarding her discharge is the collective bargaining agreement between Local 32BJ and GCA.” Del s Br. at 4. Plaintiffs Complaint alleges that the terms of an unnamed contract “obligated [Local 32BJ] to protect Plaintiffs interest regarding her employment and assist Plaintiff in any disputes between Plaintiff and her employer.” Compl. ¶ 8. Based on this language, the Court agrees that the contract at issue is the CBA. Local 32BJ therefore contends that the breach of contract claim should be construed as one for breach of the duty of fair representation pursuant to 3 § 301 of the LMRA. Del s Br. at 3-4. When a state law claim “is substantially dependent” upon an analysis of the terms of a labor contract, including a collective bargaining agreement, “that claim must either be treated as a § 301 claim or dismissed as pre-empted by federal labor-contract law.” Egas v. Pit Rite Both’ Parts, Inc., No. 11-2340, 2011 WL 6935314, at *4 (D.NJ. Dec. 30, 2011) (quoting Allis-Chalmers Corp. t’. Lueck, 471 U.S. 202, 220 (1985)) (dismissing breach of contract claim against union because it was completely preempted by § 301). “An action wherein a union member sues his or her employer for breaching its contractual obligations under the collective bargaining agreement and the union for breaching its duty of fair representation is referred to as a ‘hybrid’ action under of the [LMRAJ.”2 Lee v. NJ 2010) (quoting Beidehnan i’. § 301 Transit, No. 08-5972, 2010 WL 1382392, at *4 (D.N.J. Apr. 6, Stroh Brewan’ Co., 182 F.3d 225, 236 (3d Cir. 1999)) (internal quotation marks omitted). In this instance, the breach of contract claim against the Union is clearly dependent on the terms of the CBA. As a result, the Court will construe this claim as a “hybrid” § 301 claim. The Union first argues that Plaintiffs claim is time-barred. Del s Br. at 4-6. The statute 301 claim is six months. Lee, 2010 WL 1382392, at *4 (quoting of limitations for a “hybrid” § Da,iiels v, Pipefitters’Ass Local Union No. 597, 945 F.2d 906, 922 (7th Cir. 1991)). For a ‘ii breach of a union’s duty of fair representation, “the limitations period commences when the plaintiff receives notice that the union will proceed no further with the grievance.” Vadino 2 i’. A. An employee bringing a “hybrid” action may bring suit against the union, her employer or both parties. Simoni v. Diamond. No. 10-6798. 2014 WL 4724677, at *4 (D.N.J. Sept. 23, 2014) (quoting DelCostdllo v. Int’l Bhd. of Teamsters, 462 U.S. 161, 165 (1983)). In ahybrid action, the claims against the employer and the union are “inextricably interdependent.” Id. (quoting DelCostello, 462 U.S. at 165). As a result, even if the plaintiff only sues one party she “must prove both that the employer breached the collective bargaining agreement and that the union breached its duty of fair representation.” Corrigan i’. Local 6. Bakey, Confectionaiy & Tobacco Workers, 91 F. Supp. 3d 618, 626 (E.D. Pa. 2015) (emphasis added). 4 Valey Eng ‘rs, 903 F.2d 253, 260 (3d Cir. 1990). Notice need not be explicit. Athright v. Virtue, 273 F.3d 564, 566 (3d Cir. 2001) (“We have not required that union members who wish to file suit against the union or their employers be given explicit notice that their grievances have been rejected.”). Further, a § 301 claim begins to run “when the claimant discovers, or in the exercise of reasonable diligence should have discovered, the acts constituting the alleged violation.” Vadino, 903 F.2d at 260. Generally, the statute of limitations is not an appropriate basis for a Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal. There is an exception, however, if “the plaintiffs tardiness in bringing the action [is] apparent from the face of the complaint.” IV Penn Allegheny Health Si’s., Inc. i’. UPMC. 627 F.3d 85, 105 n. 13 (3d Cir. 2010) (quoting Robinson v. Johnson, 313 F.3d 128, 135 & n.3 (3d Cir. 2002)). Here, the only date that appears in Plaintiffs Complaint is December 20, 2013 allegedly terminated from her employment with GCA. Comp. ¶ 7. - the day she was Plaintiff, however, waited two years before filing this suit on December 21, 2015. The Union makes a colorable argument as to the statute of limitations. But based on the extremely limited factual record and viewing the facts in a light most favorable to Plaintiff, the Court cannot conclude as a matter of law that Plaintiffs claims are time-barred. Therefore, the Court will not grant Local 32BJ’s motion to dismiss on statute of limitations grounds. The Court. however, will dismiss Plaintiffs claims against the Union for failure to state a claim. Plaintiffs Complaint is a bare-bones pleading that cannot survive a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss. As discussed, for a “hybrid” § 301 claim, a plaintiff must prove that the employer breached the CBA and that the union breached its duty of fair representation. Corrigan, 91 F. Supp. at 618. The duty of fair representation is breached when “a union’s conduct toward a member . . . is arbitrary, discriminatory, or in bad faith.” Ahmad v. United Parcel Sen’., 281 F. 5 App’x 102, 105 (3d Cir. 2008) (quoting Vaca 1’. Sipes, 386 U.S. 171, 190 (1967)). Here, Plaintiff does not (I) provide any facts to substantiate how the Union breached its contractual duties under the unnamed contract; (2) plead that GCA breached the CBA; or (3) allege that the Union’s actions towards her were arbitran’. discriminatory, or in bad faith. See, e.g., Johnson i. La,tndn’ Workers LCL 141 & Agents, 419 F. App’x 146, 148 (3d Cir. 2011) (affirming dismissal of”hybrid” action because plaintiffpled “no facts suggesting that the CRA was violated” or that “Local 141’s conduct was arbitrary, discriminatory, or in bad faith”). Because Plaintiff fails to plead the necessary elements of a “hybrid” § 301 claim and provides absolutely no facts to plausibly support her claim, Plaintiffs cause of action against the Union is dismissed. IV. CONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons, Defendant SEll) Local 32BJ’s Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED without prejudice. Plaintiff may file an amended complaint that cures the deficiencies as explained above within thirty (30) days. If Plaintiff does not file an amended complaint within this timeframe, the claim against Defendant SEll) Local 32BJ will be dismissed with prejudice. An appropriate order accompanies this opinion. Dated: November21, 2016 John Michael Vazquez. 6

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