National Labor Relations Board v. Beach Lane Management, Inc.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
National Labor Relations Board v. Beach Lane Management, Inc., 505 F. App'x 62 (2d Cir. 2012)

National Labor Relations Board v. Beach Lane Management, Inc.

Opinion

SUMMARY ORDER

UPON DUE CONSIDERATION, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that the application of the National Labor Relations Board to enforce its order is GRANTED, and the cross-petition for review is DENIED.

Petitioner-Cross-Respondent National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) seeks enforcement of its order. Respondents-Cross-Petitioners (Beach Lane Management, Inc., FSM Management, Inc., Carpe Diem Management, LLC, a single employer (collectively, “BLM”)) seek review of that order. The NLRB’s order requires BLM to, among other things, cease and desist from engaging in unfair labor practices and to reinstate four superintendents who were discharged as a result of their activities on behalf of a labor union.

Our review of an NLRB order is “highly deferential.” Int’l Union, UAW v. NLRB, 520 F.3d 192, 196 (2d Cir. 2008). “Specifically, we review the NLRB’s factual findings to determine whether they are supported by substantial evidence in light of the record as a whole, and we review the Board’s legal conclusions to ensure that they have a reasonable basis in law.” Id. (internal citations and quotation marks omitted). “We review the remedy chosen by the Board for abuse of discretion.” NLRB v. G & T Terminal Packaging Co., 246 F.3d 103, 119 (2d Cir. 2001).

1. Substantial evidence in the record as a whole supports the conclusion that BLM discriminated against the four superintendents by offering them less supplemental repair work, as a result of their protected organizing activities. Although BLM points to various potential errors in the statistical exhibits relied upon by the NLRB, we will not displace the NLRB’s decision because it is adequately supported in the record. Id. at 114.

2. BLM also challenges the remedial language used in Paragraph 2(b) of the NLRB’s order. BLM waived this argument by not urging it before the Board. 29 U.S.C. § 160(e); see also Elec. Contractors, Inc. v. NLRB, 245 F.3d 109, 115 (2d Cir. 2001).

3. Finally, BLM challenges the aspect of the order requiring that it reinstate Manuel Nina. In contesting Nina’s reinstatement, BLM points to Nina’s dishonesty regarding his whereabouts. Specifically, Nina was unavailable for two weeks while he was in the Dominican Republic and presented a forged doctor’s note to cover up his absence. But substantial evidence supports the NLRB’s finding that BLM typically would have given Nina the benefit of the doubt regarding his lack of availability, and did not do so in this instance solely because of his union organizing activities. Accordingly, the NLRB did not abuse its discretion in ordering Nina’s reinstatement.

*64 For the foregoing reasons, and finding no merit in BLM’s other arguments, we hereby GRANT the NLRB’s application for enforcement of its order and DENY BLM’s cross-petition for review.

Reference

Full Case Name
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD, Petitioner/Cross-Respondent, v. BEACH LANE MANAGEMENT, INC., FSM Management, Inc., Carpe Diem Management, LLC, a Single Employer, Respondent/Cross-Petitioner
Status
Unpublished