National Labor Relations Board v. Consolidated Food Services, Inc.
National Labor Relations Board v. Consolidated Food Services, Inc.
Opinion of the Court
JUDGMENT
The respondent was charged with violating federal labor law by failing to bargain with the union as to the closing of a restaurant and failing to provide the union with certain requested documents. The respondent did not file an answer to the charges. On March 14, 2003, the National Labor Relations Board (the “Board”) entered a decision and order in Case No. 7-CA-44786 granting the General Counsel’s motion for summary judgment. The Board ordered the respondent to bargain with the union and to provide the requested documents. It also ordered limited backpay for affected employees. The Board now applies to this court for summary enforcement of its decision and order.
In response to the Board’s application, this court received a letter from Mary L. Lewis, who identifies herself as the sole shareholder of the above corporation.
The fact that a respondent may have ceased business operations and may no longer be able to comply with the Board’s decision and order is not a bar to enforcement of that decision and order by this court. NLRB v. Electric Steam Radiator Corp., 321 F.2d 733, 738 (6th Cir. 1963). Likewise, 29 U.S.C. § 160(e) prohibits this court from considering objections not made before the Board unless such failure “shall be excused because of extraordinary circumstances.” This requirement is waived “only in cases of extenuating circumstances,” NLRB v. Ferraro’s Bakery, Inc., 353 F.2d 366, 368 (6th Cir. 1965), and then “only if there has been some occurrence or decision that prevented a matter which should have been presented to the Board from having been presented at the proper time.” NLRB v. Allied Products Corp., 548 F.2d 644, 654 (6th Cir. 1977). We conclude that no reasons have been advanced which would explain the respondent’s failure to file an answer to the charges against it.
It therefore is ORDERED and ADJUDGED that the Board’s decision and order in Case No. 7-CA-44786 be and hereby is enforced. The respondent, Consolidated Foods Services, Inc., d/b/a Express Gourmet, its officers, agents, successors, and assigns, shall abide by the directives contained therein. (See Attachments)
ORDER
The National Labor Relations Board orders that the Respondent, Consolidated Food Services, Inc. d/b/a Express Gourmet, Southfield, Michigan, its officers, agents, successors, and assigns, shall
Cease and desist from
(a) Failing and refusing to bargain in good faith with Local 24, Hotel and Restaurant Employees International Union, AFL-CIO, as the exclusive representative of the employees in the bargaining unit set forth below, by refusing to bargain with the Union concerning the effects on the unit employees of the Respondent’s decision to close its Detroit Metropolitan Airport facility, and the termination of the unit employees.
All cooks, bakers, storeroom employees, utility employees, hosts/hostesses, cashiers, deli/grill attendants, bartenders, pie bakers/baker helpers, pantry employees, snack bar employees, fast food attendants and servers employed by Respondent at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, but excluding confidential employees, watchmen, and guards and supervisors as defined in the Act.
(b) Failing and refusing to furnish the Union with information that is necessary for, and relevant to, its performance of its function as the exclusive representative of the employees in the unit.
(c) In any like or related manner interfering with, restraining, or coercing employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed them by Section 7 of the Act.
2. Take the following affirmative action necessary to effectuate the policies of the Act.
(a) On request, bargain with the Union concerning the effects on unit employees of the closing of the Respondent’s facility at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, and the resulting termination of the unit employees.
(b) Pay the former employees in the unit described above their normal wages when in the Respondent’s employ from 5
(c) Furnish the Union with the following information requested in its letter of November 28, 2001: an accounting of all unpaid contractual obligations, including wages, fringe benefits, and accrued vacation pay.
(d) Preserve and, within 14 days of a request, or such additional time as the Regional Director may allow for good cause shown, provide at a reasonable place designated by the Board or its agents, all payroll records, social security payment records, timecards, personnel records and reports, and all other records including an electronic copy of such records if stored in electronic form, necessary to analyze the amount of backpay due under the terms of this Order.
(e) Within 14 days after service by the Region, duplicate and mail, at its own expense and after being signed by the Respondent’s authorized representative, copies of the attached notice marked “Appendix”
(f) Within 21 days after service by the Region, file with the Regional Director for Region 7 a sworn certification of a responsible official on a form provided by the Region attesting to the steps that the Respondent has taken to comply.
APPENDIX
NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES
MAILED PURSUANT TO A JUDGMENT OF THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS ENFORCING AN ORDER OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
The National Labor Relations Board has found that we violated Federal labor law and has ordered us to post and obey this notice.
Form, join, or assist a union
Choose representatives to bargain with us on your behalf
Act together with other employees for your benefit and protection
Choose not to engage in any of these protected activities.
WE WILL NOT fail and refuse to bargain in good faith with Local 24, Hotel and Restaurant Employees International Union, AFL-CIO, as the exclusive representative of the employees in the bargaining unit set forth below, by refusing to bargain with the Union concerning the effects on the unit employees of our decision to close our Detroit Metropolitan Airport facility, and the resulting termination of the unit employees.
All cooks, bakers, storeroom employees, utility employees, hosts/hostesses, cashiers, deli/grill attendants, bartenders, pie bakers/baker helpers, pantry employees, snack bar employees, fast food attendants and servers employed by us at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, but excluding confidential employees, watchmen, and guards and supervisors as defined in the Act.
WE WILL NOT fail and refuse to furnish the Union with information that is necessary for, and relevant to, the Union’s performance of its function as the exclusive representative of the employees in the unit.
WE WILL NOT in any like or related manner interfere with, restrain, or coerce you in the exercise of the rights guaranteed you by Section 7 of the Act.
WE WILL, on request, bargain with the Union concerning the effects on unit employees of the closing of our facility at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, and the resulting termination of the unit employees.
WE WILL pay limited backpay to the unit employees in connection with our failure to bargain with the Union concerning the effects of our closing of the Detroit Metropolitan Airport facility.
WE WILL furnish the Union with the following information requested in its letter of November 28, 2001: an accounting of all unpaid contractual obligations, including wages, fringe benefits, and accrued vacation pay.
CONSOLIDATED FOOD SERVICES, INC. D/B/A EXPRESS GOURMET
. The law is well-settled that a corporation may appear in federal courts only through licensed counsel and not through the pro se representation of an officer, agent, or shareholder. See Rowland v. California Men’s Colony, 506 U.S. 194, 201-03, 113 S.Ct. 716, 121 L.Ed.2d 656 (1993) (noting that this "has been the law for the better part of two centuries.”) There is caselaw, however, that holds that a sole proprietorship has no legal existence apart from its owner and that the individual owner may represent a sole proprietorship in a pro se capacity. See United States v. Fox, 721 F.2d 32, 36 (2d Cir. 1983); United Parcel Service v. The Net, Inc., 185 F.Supp.2d 274, 279-80 (E.D.N.Y. 2002); Lowery v. Hoffman, 188 F.R.D. 651, 653-54 (M.D.Ala. 1999). Although the nature of the respondent’s status is not clear from the materials before us, we will, in an exercise of caution, treat the letter as a response to the Board’s application.
. Melody Toyota, 325 NLRB 846, 1998 WL 289059 (1998).
. If this Order is enforced by a judgment of a United States court of appeals, the words in the notice reading "Mailed by Order of the National Labor Relations Board" shall read "Mailed Pursuant to a Judgment of the United States Court of Appeals Enforcing an Order of The National Labor Relations Board.”
Reference
- Full Case Name
- NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD v. CONSOLIDATED FOOD SERVICES, INC., d/b/a Express Gourmet
- Cited By
- 15 cases
- Status
- Published