Opinion
Civil Action No. 19-62687-Civ-Scola
2022-05-13
Joshua Douglas Poyer, Craig P. Kalil, Aballi Milne Kalil, P.A., Miami, FL, Andrew P. Marks, Pro Hac Vice, Dorf & Nelson LLP, Rye, NY, Leo Kayser, III, Pro Hac Vice, Kayser & Redfern LLP, New York, NY, for Plaintiff. D. Marcus Braswell, Jr., Robert A. Sugarman, Jose Javier Rodriguez, Caroline Brooke Quill, Sugarman & Susskind P.A., Coral Gables, FL, Coral Gables, FL, for Defendant American Maritime Officers Union National Executive Board. D. Marcus Braswell, Jr., Caroline Brooke Quill, Jose Javier Rodriguez, Sugarman & Susskind P.A., Coral Gables, FL, for Defendant Paul Doell.
Joshua Douglas Poyer, Craig P. Kalil, Aballi Milne Kalil, P.A., Miami, FL, Andrew P. Marks, Pro Hac Vice, Dorf & Nelson LLP, Rye, NY, Leo Kayser, III, Pro Hac Vice, Kayser & Redfern LLP, New York, NY, for Plaintiff.
D. Marcus Braswell, Jr., Robert A. Sugarman, Jose Javier Rodriguez, Caroline Brooke Quill, Sugarman & Susskind P.A., Coral Gables, FL, Coral Gables, FL, for Defendant American Maritime Officers Union National Executive Board.
D. Marcus Braswell, Jr., Caroline Brooke Quill, Jose Javier Rodriguez, Sugarman & Susskind P.A., Coral Gables, FL, for Defendant Paul Doell.
Order
Robert N. Scola, Jr., United States District Judge
This matter is before the Court on the Plaintiff's motion for interim injunctive relief. (ECF No. 60.) The motion was accompanied by a declaration of Charles Murdock and supporting exhibits. (ECF No. 60-1.) The Defendants opposed the motion and filed a response brief with five witness declarations. (ECF No. 61.) The Plaintiff filed a reply brief in support of the motion. (ECF No. 62.) After careful consideration of the briefs, the declarations, the record, and the relevant legal authority, the Court grants the Plaintiff's motion for interim injunctive relief. (ECF No. 60 .)
No party requested a hearing on the motion. And as this motion can be resolved on the basis of near-undisputed facts, the Court holds that an evidentiary hearing is not necessary or required. See Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, B.V. v. Consorcio Barr, S.A. , 320 F.3d 1205, 1211 (11th Cir. 2003) (holding that an evidentiary hearing on a motion for preliminary injunctive relief is only required where "facts are bitterly contested and credibility determinations must be made" or where "conflicting information places in serious dispute issues central to a party's claims and much depends upon the accurate presentation of numerous facts") (cleaned up).
1. Background and Procedural History
In May 2021, Charles Murdock was impeached from his position as National Secretary-Treasurer of the American Maritime Officers Union. The consequence: Murdock was removed from his position and barred from holding office in the Union. Murdock now asks the Court to issue a preliminary injunction, affirmatively requiring the Union to place Murdock on the election ballot for the Union's 2023 election. (ECF No. 60.) In the alternative, Murdock asks the Court to "eliminate the restraint on [his] right" to seek office and lift the bar preventing him from running for office again. (ECF No. 62.)
This long-running and contentious litigation began in 2019 as a suit concerning Murdock's alleged "constructive discharge" from his position as National Secretary-Treasurer. Since that time, the parties’ relationship has grown more acrimonious. Murdock has since been escorted out of Union headquarters by police, filed impeachment charges against every member of the National Executive Board, and was ultimately removed from his position via impeachment. Murdock has turned to the Court often throughout this litigation, filing for emergency or preliminary relief on multiple occasions in an attempt to gain reinstatement to his position, to stave off the impeachment trial, and to prevent member ratification of the impeachment trial.
While this case is rife with issues—both judiciable and non-justiciable, substantive and gratuitous—the scope of the present motion is narrow. The only question before the Court is whether preliminary injunctive relief is warranted on Murdock's claim that his impeachment hearing did not provide the due process rights guaranteed by 29 U.S.C. § 411(a)(5) of the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act ("LMRDA"). Therefore, the Court will briefly describe Murdock's impeachment trial before addressing the merits.
On January 27, 2021, Daniel Robichaux, National Vice President Inland Waters, filed impeachment charges against Murdock (the "January 27 Charges"). (ECF No. 60-1 at 15.) The charges accused Murdock of nonfeasance and violation of Article V, section 2 for failure to remove thirteen members who had not paid Union dues. (Id. at 16.) Moreover, the charges allege that, given the predicate violation of Article V, Murdock also violated Article IV, section 7, Article VI, section 1, and Article XI, section 5(c). The charges appear to have been amended on February 17, 2021, including new allegations accusing Murdock of "neglect"—in addition to the previously alleged nonfeasance in failing to remove members—in generally carrying out his "duties of dues and initiation arrearage collection" (the "February 17 Charges"). (Id. at 18–19.)
Unless otherwise noted, the Court references provisions of the American Maritime Officers National Constitution, which is available at ECF No. 40-1 Ex. A.
These provisions are general and non-substantive. In relevant part, Article IV, section 7 requires members to "uphold and defend this Constitution." (ECF No. 40-1 at 15.) Article VI, section 1 generally provides that members are governed by the Union's constitution. (Id. at 16.) And Article XI, section 5(c) recites an oath that all elected members must take, in which the members pledge to uphold the constitution. (Id. at 20.)
Murdock disputes that he received the February 17 Charges. (ECF No. 60 at 7 n.2.)
The Union's constitution provides that once charges are filed, the National Executive Board must create a trial committee, composed of three full-time members who are elected national officers. (ECF No. 60-1 at 21.) Moreover, the trial itself must be set no earlier than thirty days after the impeachment charges were mailed. (Id. )
The trial committee here was comprised of Christian Spain, Mike Finnigan, and John Clemons, who were all members of the National Executive Board at the time. (ECF No. 60-1 at 2; ECF No. 61-4 at 1.) While Murdock had previously filed impeachment charges against these individuals (as he had against all individuals on the National Executive Board), the Defendants contend that this slate was the only panel eligible to sit on the trial committee due to various recusals and illness. (See ECF No. 61-4 at 1.)
Murdock's impeachment trial was held on March 3, 2021. (ECF No. 60-1 at 2.) Murdock asked for a five-day adjournment, as his preferred Union advisor was not available at the hearing, but this continuance was denied. (Id. at 26.) The trial committee held that while Murdock had a right to a Union advisor, he had no right to a specific Union advisor. (See id. ) Therefore, the hearing proceeded, and Murdock had no representation, legal or otherwise.
The impeachment hearing lasted approximately five hours. (ECF No. 60-1 at 4.) Trial committee member Mike Finnigan passed away after the hearing concluded but before the trial committee began deliberations. (ECF No. 60 at 10 n.4.) Therefore, Spain and Clemons, as the only two remaining members of the trial committee, deliberated for two hours and issued a decision on May 3, 2021. (ECF No. 60-1 at 32–39.)
The trial committee concluded that Murdock "failed to take charge of the collection of all Union funds" in violation of Article VIII, section 2(a), a provision that was not mentioned in the January 27 Charges. (Id. at 36.) With such a predicate finding, the trial committee then held that Murdock also violated the non-substantive provisions of Article IV, section 7, Article VI, section 1, and Article XI, section 5(c). (Id. ) However, the trial committee explicitly held that it did not find that Murdock violated Article V, section 2, as that section "does not refer to individual duties of a national officer." (Id. at 38.) As the penalty, the trial committee held that Murdock was to be "dismissed from his position and barred from holding office in the [Union]." (Id. at 38.)
2. Legal Standard
To obtain a preliminary injunction, a party must demonstrate "(1) a substantial likelihood of success on the merits; (2) that irreparable injury will be suffered if the relief is not granted; (3) that the threatened injury outweighs the harm the relief would inflict on the non-movant; and (4) that the entry of the relief would serve the public interest." See Schiavo ex. rel Schindler v. Schiavo , 403 F.3d 1223, 1225–26 (11th Cir. 2005) (per curiam); see also Levi Strauss & Co. v. Sunrise Int'l. Trading Inc. , 51 F.3d 982, 985–86 (11th Cir. 1995). A preliminary injunction is an "extraordinary and drastic remedy not to be granted unless the movant clearly establishes the burden of persuasion as to the four requisites." Siegel v. LePore , 120 F. Supp. 2d 1041, 1047 (S.D. Fla. 2000) (Middlebrooks, J.).
3. Analysis
As noted above, Murdock only argues that he is entitled to a preliminary injunction on his § 411(a)(5) claim relating to his impeachment hearing. In particular, Murdock contends that he is likely to succeed on his claims that (1) he was "not timely served with written specific charges" and (2) his trial committee "was not an impartial, open-minded body." (ECF No. 60 at 9–10.) The Court holds that Murdock has established that he is entitled to a preliminary injunction on his first claim. As he is entitled to a preliminary injunction on that basis, the Court need not address Murdock's second claim. The Court will walk through each preliminary-injunction factor, but first the Court will address various preliminary arguments raised by the Defendants. A. Threshold Issues
The Defendants spend much of their opposition brief outlining a series of threshold issues, each generally contending that Murdock's requested relief cannot be obtained. First, the Defendants argue that the Defendants cannot place Murdock on the ballot; rather, only the Union's Credentials Committee can do so after individuals proceed through the usual nomination and eligibility process, which Murdock has failed to exhaust. (ECF No. 61 at 5–10.) Next, the Defendants contend that they cannot reverse Murdock's ban on holding office, as such result was a mandatory penalty following Murdock's impeachment and because the result was upheld by a membership vote. (Id. at 7.) Third, the Defendants briefly argue that Murdock's motion should fail as he seeks preliminary relief that was not included in his complaint. (Id. at 8.) Last, the Defendants argue that Murdock cannot obtain his requested relief without suing the Union itself and that the National Executive Board is an improper defendant. (Id. at 10–11.)
Most of these arguments can be dealt with summarily. Moreover, the Court finds several of the Defendants’ arguments disingenuous. The Defendants argue that the Court cannot grant Murdock relief due to his failure to "exhaust pre-suit remedies" by seeking to be placed on the ballot while simultaneously arguing that the Court cannot lift Murdock's bar on seeking office because such bar is "non-discretionary." (Id. at 7, 10.) In other words, the Defendants argue that Murdock cannot obtain relief from the Court without first going through internal Union nomination procedures, even though doing so would be futile. As the Defendants are aware, the exhaustion provisions of the LMRDA are discretionary. (See ECF No. 34 at 3) (citing Chapa v. Local 18 , 737 F.2d 929, 931 (11th Cir. 1984).) Because Murdock's ban on holding office is, absent a Court-order, non-discretionary, it is undisputed that the Union's Credentials Committee would not place Murdock on a ballot. As seeking to be placed on the ballot, without first obtaining any relief from the Court, would be futile, the Court finds that Murdock is not barred by any exhaustion requirement. See generally Gibson v. Berryhill , 411 U.S. 564, 575 n.14, 93 S.Ct. 1689, 36 L.Ed.2d 488 (1973) (noting that the exhaustion of administrative remedies may be excused where such remedies are futile); cf. Bailey v. Nagle , 172 F.3d 1299, 1305 (11th Cir. 1999) (referring to the "familiar principle" that parties may forgo seeking administrative remedies if "any future attempts at exhaustion would be futile").
Second, the Court already considered and rejected the Defendants’ argument that the Court cannot "nullify" the Union membership's vote affirming the impeachment. (ECF No. 54 at 8 n.5 (noting that "the mere fact that union members ratified the impeachment of Murdock does not cure any alleged violations of Section 411(a)(4) and 411(a)(5)").)
Third, the Court holds that the relief presently sought falls within the relief sought in Murdock's complaint. Murdock's operative complaint requests, in part, that the Court "[i]ssue appropriate injunctive relief to prevent the Defendants ... from further acting to infringe the Plaintiff's ... rights guaranteed to him by the LMRDA." (ECF No. 47-1 at 27.) As explained below, the LMRDA protects union members’ right to run for office, and preliminary injunctive relief here is necessary to protect that right.
Last, the Court notes that in response to the Defendants’ arguments concerning their inability to provide the scope of relief sought, Murdock adjusted his requested relief. Murdock now seeks not for the Court to affirmatively require Murdock be placed on the ballot, but for the Court to lift the bar preventing Murdock from running for election. The Court agrees with the Defendants that the Court cannot require the Defendants to place Murdock on a ballot, but the Court, for the reasons set out below, will return the parties to the status quo, thereby removing the bar that had been placed on Murdock's ability to run for office.
The Defendants also argued that the Court should dismiss the National Executive Board from this action. (ECF No. 61 at 11.) As the Defendants did not seek this relief in a motion, the Court denies the request. See Peklun v. Tierra Del Mar Condo. Assoc., Inc. , 15-CIV-80801, 2015 WL 8029840, at *16 (S.D. Fla. Dec. 7, 2015) (Bloom, J.) (noting that "a party may not seek affirmative relief in a response"); see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 7(b) ("A request for a court order must be made by motion.").
B. Substantial Likelihood of Success
The Court will begin with the first preliminary-injunction factor—whether the movant established a substantial likelihood of success on the merits. Murdock only seeks a preliminary injunction on his claims arising under 29 U.S.C. § 411(a)(5), which provides union members certain "safeguards against improper disciplinary action" and requires that a member receive "written specific charges," a "reasonable time" to prepare a defense, and "a full and fair hearing" before the union acts to discipline that member. See 29 U.S.C. § 411(a)(5). Failure to provide any of the above amounts to a violation of § 411(a)(5).
Relevant here, a member must receive "written specific charges" that are "specific enough to inform the accused member of the offenses allegedly committed." See Int'l Bhd. of Boilermakers, Iron Shipbuilders, Blacksmiths, Forgers & Helpers, AFL-CIO v. Hardeman , 401 U.S. 233, 245, 91 S.Ct. 609, 28 L.Ed.2d 10 (1971) ; see also Brittain v. Am. Fed'n of Gov't Empls. , No. 3:20-cv-92-TJC-PDB, 2021 WL 2315005, at *6 (M.D. Fla. June 7, 2021) (holding that the written charges must "put the charged individual on notice of the conduct they are expected to defend in their disciplinary proceeding"). While the charges need not contain a "highly technical statement of facts," the charges must include a description of the "nature of the charges" and "a statement of the factual basis underlying the charges." See Brittain , 2021 WL 2315005, at *6 (quoting Kent v. N.Y. State Public Empls. Fed'n, AFL-CIO , 1:17-CV-0268, ––– F.Supp.3d ––––, ––––, 2020 WL 1531020, at *11 (N.D.N.Y. Mar. 31, 2020) ); see also Caterina v. Int'l Bhd. of Painters and Allied Trades, Local Union No. 30 , No. CV477-233, 1978 WL 1671, at *12 (S.D. Ga. July 21, 1978) (holding that the charges should contain "at a minimum," " ‘the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding the alleged infraction, and, as nearly as may reasonably be ascertained, the time and place of the occurrence’ ") (quoting Berg v. Watson , 417 F. Supp. 806, 810 (S.D.N.Y. 1976) ).
Here, there is a substantial likelihood that Murdock will succeed on his claim that the impeachment charges did not provide sufficient notice. The January 27 Charges concerned Murdock's alleged "nonfeasance" and failure to remove thirteen members who were in arrears, in violation of Article V, section 2. (ECF No. 60-1 at 15–16.) However, the trial committee ultimately impeached Murdock not for failing to remove members, but for his "fail[ure] to take charge of the collection of all Union funds" and for the resulting increase in dues and initiation fees dating back to 2017, in violation of Article VIII, section 2(a). (Id. at 36, 38.)
In other words, Murdock was impeached for charges that were absent from the January 27 Charges. The Defendants argue that Murdock was sufficiently put on notice that the impeachment concerned his failure to collect Union dues. (ECF No. 61 at 15.) While both charges (those contained in the January 27 Charges and those that were not) generally relate to Murdock's alleged failure to collect Union dues, the nature and basis of each is different. The January 27 Charges were based on Murdock's alleged nonfeasance—his failure to act "to drop [thirteen] members from membership for at least 4 years." (ECF No. 60-1 at 15.) But Murdock was impeached for a more sprawling charge of general neglect—his neglect to "properly fulfill his duty to collect member dues and initiation fees." (Id. at 36.) Therefore, while Murdock was initially put on notice of his alleged, narrowly defined nonfeasance in failing to remove thirteen members, he was impeached for a much broader charge of misfeasance. (Id. ) To defend against the latter would require more comprehensive argument concerning Murdock's overall conduct in office, whereas to defend the former charge would require focused argument on the thirteen members that Murdock failed to drop from membership.
The substantive difference between these charges is further elucidated by the penalties meted out. Indeed, Murdock appears to have successively argued against the charge of nonfeasance that he failed to drop thirteen members. The January 27 Charges primarily charged Murdock with violation of Article V, section 2, which requires members in arrears for two years to be removed from the membership. (Id. at 15, 38.) The trial committee ultimately held that Murdock did not violate Article V, section 2, and he was only "censured" for "taking no action to add members ... to the drop list for presentation to the National Executive Board." (Id. at 38.) However, Murdock was removed from office and barred from holding future office for "failing to take charge of the collection of all Union funds and allowing the dues and initiation fees arrearage to increase" in violation of Article VIII, section 2(a), a provision that was not even mentioned in the January 27 Charges. (Id. at 36, 38)
For the reasons set out above, the Court finds that Murdock has established a substantial likelihood that he will succeed on his claim under § 411(a)(5), as he was impeached for conduct that was not noticed in "written, specific charges." See Nakanelua v. United Public Workers, AFSCME, Local 646, AFL-CIO , No. 20-00442, 2021 WL 5162586, at *11 (D. Haw. Nov. 5, 2021) (noting that discipline on the basis of allegations not provided in the charging documents is "troubling to any idea of due process"); cf. Kent , ––– F.Supp.3d at ––––, 2020 WL 1531020, at *12 (rejecting a § 411(a)(5) challenge based on uncharged conduct, as there was no evidence that the plaintiff was disciplined for conduct that was not charged). Therefore, Murdock was not provided with "written, specific charges" that were sufficient to put him on notice of the conduct that he would have to defend at the impeachment hearing. As the Court finds that Murdock is likely to succeed on this prong, the Court need not address, at this time, whether Murdock received a "full and fair hearing" under § 411(a)(5).
The Court notes that the Defendants do not argue that Murdock received sufficient notice through the February 17 Charges. Rather, the Defendants press that the Court "need not consider" that document. (ECF No. 61 at 15 n.39.) The Court notes that even if the February 17 Charges gave sufficient notice to Murdock, those charges were only provided to Murdock, at the earliest, two weeks before the impeachment hearing. As stated above, § 411(a)(5) requires that union members receive a "reasonable time" to prepare a defense. See 29 U.S.C. § 411(a)(5). Courts have held that a "reasonable time" must be at least that which is provided for in the union's constitution. See Brittain , 2021 WL 2315005, at *7 ; cf. Hardeman , 401 U.S. at 245, 91 S.Ct. 609. Here, the Union's constitution requires that a disciplinary hearing be set no earlier than thirty days after the mailing of charges. (ECF No. 60-1 at 21.) As Murdock's impeachment hearing was set only two weeks after he (at the earliest) received the February 17 Charges, Murdock did not receive a "reasonable time" to prepare his defense to those charges.
C. Irreparable Injury
As noted above, preliminary injunctive relief may only be granted if the movant shows that "irreparable injury will be suffered if the relief is not granted[.]" See Schiavo , 403 F.3d at 1225. Murdock argues that he will endure irreparable harm if his current bar to elected office is not preliminarily lifted, as the next election cycle will take place in 2026 when Murdock will be 78 years old. (ECF No. 60 at 2.) The Defendants dispute this asserted harm and argue that Murdock has an effective remedy, as he has not attempted to proceed through the Union's credentialing and nomination process. (ECF No. 61 at 23.) However, as discussed above, this argument is disingenuous at best.
The LMRDA was adopted to "promote union democracy." See United Steelworkers of Am., AFL-CIO-CLC v. Sadlowski , 457 U.S. 102, 112, 102 S.Ct. 2339, 72 L.Ed.2d 707 (1982). Moreover, § 411(a)(5), and the rest of Title I of the LMRDA, was "specifically designed to protect the union member's right to seek higher office within the union." See Hall v. Cole , 412 U.S. 1, 14, 93 S.Ct. 1943, 36 L.Ed.2d 702 (1973). A deprivation of that right, premised on an impeachment hearing that likely did not comply with the due process rights afforded in § 411(a)(5), would amount to irreparable harm. Therefore, the Court finds that if Murdock were continued to be barred from effectively accessing the credentialing and nomination process for the 2023 elections, he would suffer irreparable injury. See Terranova v. Sheet Metal Workers Int'l Ass'n , No. 09 CV 3027, 2009 WL 1578974, at *9 (N.D. Ill. June 4, 2009) (granting a preliminary injunction and requiring the defendants to place the plaintiff on the union ballot, as if "the discipline against [plaintiff] is not enjoined, [plaintiff] will be prevented from running in the June 2009 election and will lose the opportunity to be elected and serve ... for the next three years" and finding that such irreparable harm would extend to the general membership, who would be "prevented from voting for the candidate of their choice").
D. Balance of Harm
Third, as noted above, a preliminary injunction may only issue where "the threatened injury outweighs the harm the relief would inflict on the non-movant[.]" See Schiavo , 403 F.3d at 1225–26. Murdock asserts that no harm would befall the Defendants, as even if Murdock won election, the Union could later install the second-choice candidate if Murdock's impeachment is ultimately sustained by the Court. (ECF No. 60 at 2.) The Defendants argue that Murdock's requested relief would result in "not-hard-to-imagine confusion and tumult" and "challenges ... in governing the union and encouraging member participation[.]" (ECF No. 61 at 22.) Moreover, the Defendants submitted five declarations, each detailing some of the difficulties that would accompany a court order placing Murdock directly on the ballot. (ECF No. 61 Exs. A–E.)
The Defendants’ objections are well-noted. If the Court unilaterally installed Murdock on the ballot, skipping over the Union's normal credentialing and nomination process, damage to the integrity of the Union's election process may follow. However, Murdock, in his reply brief, argued for an alternative remedy—that the Court merely remove the bar preventing Murdock from seeking office. (ECF No. 62 at 7.) This relief aligns with the purpose of a preliminary injunction. See Ne. Fla. Chapter of Ass'n of Gen. Contractors v. City of Jacksonville , 896 F.2d 1283, 1284 (11th Cir. 1990) ("The chief function of a preliminary injunction is to preserve [or return to] the status quo until the merits of the controversy can be fully and fairly adjudicated."). Moreover, the Court cannot discern any harm that would result if Murdock were permitted to go through the normal credentialing and nominations process—for which the Defendants advocate—without the bar to seeking higher office that is currently in place. Therefore, the Court finds that there is no threatened injury to the Defendants that would outweigh the harm to Murdock if the Court lifted the bar currently preventing Murdock from running for office.
E. Public Interest
Last, a preliminary injunction may only issue if "the entry of the relief would serve the public interest." See Schiavo , 403 F.3d at 1226. The Defendants do not specifically argue that preliminary injunctive relief would be against the public interest. On the other hand, Murdock argues that the public interest favors "fair and honest union management" and the vindication of rights provided in § 411(a)(5). (ECF No. 60 at 15.) The Court agrees—as discussed above, the LMRDA protects union democracy and seeks to guarantee union members the basic tenants of due process and self-expression. Ensuring that Murdock can exercise these rights and seek higher office without a potentially unlawful bar on office is in the public interest.
4. Conclusion
For the reasons set out above, the Court grants the Plaintiff's motion for preliminary injunctive relief. (ECF No. 60 .) Therefore, the Court orders as follows:
1. The May 3, 2021, impeachment of Charles Murdock is enjoined only insofar as it holds that Charles Murdock is "barred from holding office in the [Union]";
2. Charles Murdock may not be denied access to the Union's election credentialing and eligibility processes, or to the election ballot, on the basis of his impeachment. To be clear, the Court does not hold that Murdock must be placed on any ballot or reinstated to his prior position. Rather, Murdock must be permitted to proceed through the Union's election process, without the bar that was placed as the result of an impeachment hearing that did not comply with the due process rights guaranteed in 29 U.S.C. § 411(a)(5) ;
3. The posting of an injunction bond is waived;
4. This Order shall stand until further order of this Court.
Done and ordered at Miami, Florida, on May 13, 2022.