Guy Wooddell, JR. v. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 71, et al. (502 U.S. 93)
U.S. Supreme Court · decided December 4, 1991 · Supreme Court Database (Spaeth)
- Citation
- 502 U.S. 93 · 112 S. Ct. 494
- Decided
- December 4, 1991
- Term
- October Term 1991
- Vote
- 8–0
- Majority author
- Justice White
- Issue area
- Criminal Procedure
- Disposition
- Reversed and remanded
- Outcome
- Petitioning party won
- Ideological direction
- Liberal
Opinion excerpt
Justice White delivered the opinion of the Court. We have before us two questions: whether a union member who sues his local union for money damages under Title I of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (LMRDA), 73 Stat. 519, as amended, 29 U. S. C. §401 et seq., is entitled to a jury trial, and whether under § 301(a) of the Labor-Management Relations Act, 1947 (LMRA), 61 Stat. 156,29 U. S. C. § 185(a), the District Court had jurisdiction over the breach-of-contract suit brought in this case by a union member against his local union. I Petitioner is a member of Local 71 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). In the wake of a dispute arising out of petitioner’s opposition to an announced dues increase and to the appointment of a union representative, the respondent president of the local (petitioner’s brother) filed internal disciplinary proceedings against petitioner. No decision was finally rendered on the charges. Later, petitioner alleges, the union discriminated against him in job referrals in the operation of a hiring hall provided for in Local 71’s collective-bargaining contracts with electrical contractors. Petitioner brought suit against the local and its officers in the United States District Court. Petitioner’s complaint alleged violation of his rights protected by the LMRDA in that he had been discriminated against in…
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