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U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit

Case Status

Decided

Docket Number

12-5250

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Case Updates

At NLRB's request, D.C. Circuit dismisses appeal

December 09, 2013

In an order dated 2/19/2013, the D.C. Court removed this case from the oral argument calendar and held it in abeyance per Noel Canning.

Previously, on 5/17/2012, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the ambush election rule is invalid “because no quorum ever existed for the pivotal vote in question.” Accordingly, the court granted the Chamber's motion for summary judgment and denied the defendant's motion.

Subsequently, the court rejected the NLRB’s motion to amend its 5/17/2012 judgment that the NLRB’s ambush election rule was invalid because it was adopted without a quorum. On 7/272012 the court ruled that the NLRB’s “new evidence” that a third board member was present in the NLRB’s electronic voting room when the rule was adopted was insufficient to prove that the court’s prior decision was a “clear error.” As a result, the ambush election rule is still invalid, and the NLRB’s agreement not to try to enforce the rule against employers is still in effect.

On 12/9/2013, the NLRB asked the D.C. Circuit to dismiss the appeal.

U.S. Chamber urges federal appeals court to invalidate NLRB's ambush election rule in light of unconstitutional recess appointments

December 20, 2011

The U.S. Chamber has urged the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to uphold a decision of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia that ruled that the Ambush Election Rule is invalid “because no quorum ever existed for the pivotal vote in question.”

In addition to the D.C. District Court's ruling that Member Brian Hayes did not participate in the vote, depriving the Board of a quorum, the U.S. Chamber subsequently filed a 28(j) letter with the D.C. Circuit arguing that under the court's recent decision in Noel Canning v. NLRB, the recess appointment of Member Craig Becker was invalid, and therefore, the Board would not have had a lawful quorum to promulgate the rule even if Member Hayes had participated in the vote.

The Ambush Election Rule, if left to stand, would lead to ‘drive-by’ accelerated union elections, which would deprive employers of the opportunity to rebut union propaganda. As a result, unionizing would become much easier because employees would only hear the unions’ arguments in favor of unionizing, without getting full information on the costs of unionizing to employees and employers alike.

NLRB opening brief filed with the DC Circuit on 11/16/12. NCLC's reply brief filed 12/31/12. Board's Reply filed 1/16/13.

Complaint filed 12/20/2011. Amended complaint filed 2/3/2012. Cross-motions for summary judgment filed 2/3/2012. Decided 5/14/2012. NLRB's Motion to Amend the Judgment filed 6/11/12. Plaintiffs' Response to NLRB's Motion to Amend Judgment filed 6/27/12. NLRB's reply filed 7/9/12. Motion to Amend Rejected 7/27/12. NLRB filed Notice of Appeal on 8/7/12.

Chamber 28j letter filed 1/30/12. Case removed from oral argument calendar and held in abeyance (2/19/13).

Stipulation of Voluntary Dismissal filed 12/9/13.

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