Vandyke v. Branch Coal Co. et al

Filing 13

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 05/17/2012. (kab)

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M E M O R AN D U M O PINIO N
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VS.

By: Gln E.Conr
e
ad
Chi U nied St esD i t ctJudge
ef t
at
s ri

BI BRANCH COAL CO.I , AL ,
LL
, NC.c
D ef
endant
s.

Tom m y V a
ndyke,a V igi a i a e pr e ng pr K ,hasf l d t c es ofa c vi
r ni nm t oc edi
o
ie wo opi
i l
co pl i ,a l gi t the i e il d t m one a y da a f om t coa m i wher he w or d
m a nt le ng ha
s ntte o
t r m ges r he l ne
e
ke
asa chid a f om ot ri vi l , be us ofm e c lco tonst tnow toubl hi .
l nd r
he ndi dua s ca e
di a ndii ha
r e m 1
Va
ndyke a i st pr e i f m apa r s m o s f a nt e ofco el a m o f
pple o oce d n or
upe i . ve or ppoi m nt
uns , nd ves or

j
udgme .Afe rviw ofVa
nt tr e e
ndyke' algai ,hec tc tuest co anta acvi
s le tons t our onsr he mpli s i l
rgh sa tonpurua t 42U. C.j1 grnt Va
i t ci
s nt o
S. 983, a s ndyke' a i tont pr e i fr
s pplcai o oce d n oma
pa r s and s m a iy di m i s t a ton f f iur t sa e a c a m .
upe i ,
um r l s s es he c i or a l e o t t l i
l

Va
ndyke ale t f l i e nt r l t d t hi cl i s i t sac i n. A s a c l
l ges he olow ng ve s e a e o s a m n hi t o
hid,

unde t a of1 a sili elm e a y s hool Va ykewa i t wor 'a acoa m i
r he ge
8 nd tl n e nt r c , nd
sû o
put
k' t
l ne
ope a e by BilBr nc Coa Co. l
r td
l a h
l , nc.V a
ndyke as e t t ton Sa ur ysa d i s m e
s r s ha
t da nd ur ng um r

s hoolbr a ,hewaskf c d' t wor a t m i wiho fr tunder ng s ey tani
c
e ks
çor e ' o
k t he ne t ut is
goi af t r i ng

rquiedunde saea f deallws Oneofhi ta he sû ou adigl ae diki
e r
r tt nd e r a .
s e c r t nd sloc td s n
f

( n y 'llwe b c 'a dtl t ebo smohe a o t h ij r
Va d kes o r a k' n o d h y' t r b u t e n u y.Va d kewa tk nt
ny
sae o

1 Va d k ha as fld as p rt stofs misonsr ii j 1 camsa is ofiil a
n y e s lo ie e a ae e ub s i asng 983 li gan t fcas t
t S t senVigni Re i l al onc r i alc dii s Va dy i a vie t t h c u ts
he ouhwet r r i a gona J ic e nngj i on ton . n ke s d s d ha t e o r i
r ewi t e m a t s whi wilbe a ess s ael and a copy ofany opi on oror w ilbe
evi ng hes
ter , ch l
ddr ed epar t y,
ni
der l
m aied t hi .
l o m

,O1
-VRK

BrsolM e o ilHos t ,whe ehewa tte wih abac br cet the wo ef sx mont ;
it
m ra
pial
r
s it d t
k a ha
r or i
hs he
had t c pl t t ts
o om e e ha choolye rf om hom e.
a r

l 2011 Va
n
, ndyke a i f SocilSec iy Dia lt be tt be us oft physc l
ppled or
a
urt s biiy nei s ca e he
ia
handia c us d by t di l a e dic i hi ba k.Va
cp a e
he soc t d s n s c
ndyke dic e t tt m i ha not
s over d ha he ne d
w ihhe d Soc a Se iy t xe on t w age pa d t V a
t l
i l curt a s he
s i o ndyke a a c l V a
s hid. ndyke a s rst ta
s e t ha s
a r s toft s e
e ul he e vent f om hi c l
sr
s hidhood,he s f r f o pos t a a i s r s di or ra
uf e s r m
t r um tc t es s de nd

mao d p e sv d s r e , swel ss v r p i fo t eb li gd s i h sb c , c as
j r e r si e io d r a l a e ee an r m h u gn ic n i a k whih lo
c e s a i ner e pai i hi r g l
aus s ci tc v
n n s i ht eg.
V andy s s t m i ng com pa Tho a K . a
ke ue he ni
ny, m s V ndyke,J m es R.Vandyke and
a
,

Ke t Pote .Va
nneh t r ndyke a s rst tt s de e n sa ela et hi f $1000, f r
s e t ha he e f nda t r ibl o m or , 000 o
vi a i oft Thit nt Am e
ol tons he ree h
ndm e t t U nie St t C o tt i w hi outa
nt o he t d a es ns iuton, ch l wed
s a r a f vi a i of( SHA , de a M i ng La sa Re a i .
l ve y, nd or ol tons I
M
Fe r l ni
w nd gul tons '
'
11

The c tw ilgr ntV a
our l a
ndyke' a i a i t pr e i f m a pa
s pplc ton o oce d n or
upers butonl t t
i,
y o he

e e t t asa i t ltga ,hem a puruet aci w ihoutpr pa e oft $35 00
xt nt ha , n nma e ii nt
y s he ton t
e ym nt he 0.
f e.2 The c t s a m a t y dut t s r e i ta tlngsf om ltga s gr nt d i f
e
our ha
nda or
y o c e n nii l i i
r ii nt a e n onua

pa rssaus ErlneCo. J ms 440F.d 6 656- ( h Ci. ) a mus
upe i tt , ii
v. ol on,
3 48, 57 4t r 2006 , nd t
s m a iy Sdi m i s a ac i t tt c tfndst be f i o o m a i i ort tf ist s a e
um rl l s s n ton ha he our i o
rvol us r lc ous ha a l o t t

acam.'M i uv. l t Count 43 F. 725,728( hCi.2006)(ii 28U. C.
li ' cha Chareson
v, 4 3d
4t r
ctng
S.
j1915()2)B).
e( ( )
A f de a co ti c r wih lbe aly c t ui a c pl i f l d by a pr âq ltga
e r l ur s ha ged t i r l ons r ng om a nt ie
o ii nt
t a l t de opm e ofa pot nta l m e iorous c e. Ercks v.Par ,551U . 89,9
o low he vel
nt
e i ly rt i
as
i on
dus
S.
4,
2 see 28 U .s. j 1 5 a ( a ( )( ovdigt ti t plitf q lf i f ri f r
C. 91 ( )2) nd b pr i n ha nmae an if uaiyng o n o ma

p up rssausma pa flngf et r ug isal n sfo i t tus a c nt.
a e i tt
y y ii e h o h n t l t r m nmae r t c ou )
me

(
2007) Undere ptona cr t es i whih a i g t ci lpl ntf prs nt a
.
xce i l icumsanc ,n c n ndien , vi ai if e e s
col a e l galc a m ,butl c t c pa iy t pr en i, he cour s d s ek a a t ne
or bl e
li
a ks he a c t o es t t t
t houl e n tor y

wilngt rpr s ntpli ifi t c e.Gor v. ke,5 F. 11 11 ( hCi.1 )
li o e e e antf n he as
don Lee 74 2d 47, 73 4t r 978

(p yn Co kv. u s 51 F. 7 9(t Ci. 9 5 ) Ont eoh rha d (u g sae
a plig o Bo nd , 8 2d 7 4 h r 1 7 ).
h t e n ,j d e r
not...rquie t c tuc ag os )pa t slga agume sfrhi ' Smalv. c t 998
e rd o onsr t pr e ry' e l r nt o m.
'
l Endiot,

F. 411 41 1 ( hCi.1 ) I or rt saeacli i a fde a cvi a ton,he
2d , 7- 8 7t r 993 . n de o tt am n ny e r l i l ci t
pli ifsSgjcualal tonsmus bee ht riearghtt r i a t s c ai
antf kfa t legai
t noug o as i o elef bove he pe ultve
lvel't o t ti S a i eon isf ce'r t rt n m e e y G onc i bl .'Bel At.Co p.
e ,'o ne ha s t usbl
pl
t a , ahe ha
'
r l d e va e'
c
l l r v.

Twombl 55 U. 544,570(
v, 0 S.
2007)
.
A pl i ifalegi t the hasbe de i d ofr g s gua a e by t Cons iuton or
a ntf l ng ha
en prve
i ht
r nt ed
he
tt i
l oft U nie St t t ough t c
aws he t d a es hr
he onduc ofa pe s a tng underc orofs a e l w m ay
t
r on c i
ol
tt a

brngaci la tonunderj1 3.W e tv. ki ,487U. 42( 988 .Tosaeacai
i
vi ci
98
s At ns
S. 1 )
tt l m
a i eunderj 1 apli ifmus de
ctonabl
983, antf t monsr t t tt co uc c usngt aleg
tae ha he nd t a i he l ed
cons iutona vi a i i t ail a t i a e t t St t ,' o ast q lf a û tng unde c or
tt i l ol ton s t ry trbut bl o he a e ' s
f
o ua i y s û i
ac
r ol

ofsaelw'(loknown a itt aci '. Luga v. mons Oi Co.457U. 922,
tt a ' as
s d ae ton'
s
)
r Ed
on 1 ,
S. 937
( 982) Luca s t outat pa t oa ht dee ni saea ton, r byapli ifmus
1 .
r es
wo- r appr c o tnni ng tt ci whe e
antf t
saefcss ng:a)tlhede i ton g s c us dbyt e cs ofs merg orprvie
tt a t howi ( û- prvai wa ) a e
he xerie o iht i lge
c e t d by t St t orby a r e ofc
rae
he a e
ul
onduc i pos d by t St t orby a pe s f w hom t
tm e
he a e
r on or
he

Stt i rs i e,' nd ( ûl pa t c r e ... tbeapero whoma f il bes dt
ae s e ponsbl 'a b) t- ry ha g d mus
-he
sn
y ary ai o
be a s a e ac or' s a e em pl e or s e who k a t d t t rw ih orha o a ne
tt t ' tt
-a
oye
om one
l
has c e oge he t
s bt i d
s gnii a ai f om s a e of i i s ' ors e w hos ç
i f c nt d r
t t f c al ,
' om one
es
conduc i o he w ie c r ea e t t
t s t r s ha g bl o he
St t ' l
a e. d.
'

3

Va
ndyke' s
s ubm i s ons s m pl f i t s a e f c ss fci ntt pr en a pl us bl c ai
si
i y a l o t t a t ufi e o es t a i e l m
t ta oft def nda s a t d underofc orof sa e 1 w i t ra l d i e ac i nsw ih
ha ny he e nt c e
ol
t t a n hei lege nt r t o
t
Va
ndyke.3 V andyke' s r e alega i of e no i ca i n wha s ve t tt m i ng
s pa s l tons f r ndi t o
t oe r ha he ni
c pany ort i vi lde e
om
he ndi dua f ndan s e r i e a s a e c ea e prviege by w hi h t y
t xe c s d ny t t - r t d i l
c he
de i V a
prved ndyke ofr ght ,nordo hi f t a l ga i s es t tdef nda s cond tc d
i s
s ac ual le tons ugg t ha
e nt '
uc oul
be i any r s c ,c ge bl t t s a e a r quie t de t Luaa t s . Bec us V a
,n
e pe t har a e o he t t s e r d m r he
r et
a e ndyke

fist pr t thi defndant weesaeacor,hec nno pr e underj1 3.Thec t
al o ove ha s e
s r tt t s a t oce d
98
our,
t rf e s
heeor, ummaiydimis Va
rl s ses ndyke' camsu rj1
s li nde 983.
Pe ha V a
r ps ndyke be i ve t the hass m e prva e r g t br ng a ci la ton f
le s ha
o
i t i ht o i
vi c i or
dn a unde I SH A ' ort ot rf de a sa ut a r ul tons t w hi h he va l r f r .
m ges
rt
M
' he he e r l t t es nd eg a i o
c
gue y e e s
H i c us r r i nc on t s s a ut , ihoutc t ton t a pa tcul r s a ut y pr vii o
s oncl o y ela e
he e t t es w t
ia i o ny r i a t t or o s on r

prncpl,i nots fce t sa eaG a i e'c am a i tt def ndan sunde t s f de al
i i e s
ufi int o t t t usbl ' l i gans he e
pl
t
r he e e r
l w s The co tsdut oflbe alconsr ton doe no e e t t s ng t o h t U nie
a .
ur '
y i r
t uc i
s t xt nd o i hi hr ug he t d
St t s Code f s e l galc e o whi h t ha V a
ae
or om e
onc pt n
c o ng ndyke' g i va es a
s r e nc bouthi c l
s hidhood

wo ke p re c .t d rl u id ci nma n t ep e s do t emeectto o fd r l
r x ein e t e a j rs ito y o b r mie n h r iain f e ea
Fe
saues' W elrv. pa t ntofSocilSe vs,901F. 387,391( h Ci.1 .Theco t
ttt .
' le De rme
a r .
2d
4t r 990)
ur
s m arl di m i s Vandyke' cl i s u rM SH A and o he f r s a ut orr l tons
um
iy s s es
s a m nde
t r ede al t t es egu a i .

Fo ter a o ssae t c u'ds se Va yk ' c mp an wi u p eu ie
r h e s n ttd,he o l imis s nd es o lit t t rj d c ,
t
ho
purua t j1 5()2)b) f f l et saeacam.AsVa
s nt o 91 e ( ( , or aiur o tt li
ndykefist saea vi e
al o tt ny abl
c ai i t s a ton, he c tc l o fnd t the i e il t a
l m n hi c i t our a m t i ha
s ntted o ppoi m e ofc
nt nt ouns lor
e

j
udgme a hehasr ue t
nt s
eq sed.Ac or ngl t cou tde e Vandyke' moi f
c di y,he r nis
s tons or
a nt ntofc e a motonfrj
ppoi me
ouns l nd i o udgme .Ana o it or rwilis t sda
nt
ppr prae de l sue hi y.
3 M Orov r Va d ' j 1 3 cam as f isb c us hed sn talg a y fcsc c r n
e e y n yke s 98 li lo al e a e oe o le e n a t on enig
how each def
endantw asper onaly i ved i any oft gene alcom pl nt Vandykem akesabouthi
s l nvol n
he
r
ai s
s
wor i t mi ori t m i ng com pany' aleged f l et pay al appr it t
k n he ne n he ni
s l
aiur o
1
opra e axes. W es s a.
t upr

4

TheClr i diecedt s nd c esoft sm e a um opi on a a c pa ng
e k s r t o e opi
hi mor nd
ni nd c om nyi
or rt pl i i f
de o a ntf .

t
W

y
y 2.
EN TER : Thi 4- da ofM a , 201
s 1
Chi fUnied St t s D it i tJ
e
t
a e s rc udge