649 F.3d 1067
9th Cir.
2011
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Background

  • Granite Rock sued Local 287 and IBT under LMRA §301 regarding a July 2, 2004 CBA.
  • District court denied Local's motion to strike Granite Rock's jury demand; appeal followed.
  • Supreme Court reversed this court on contract-formation issue; case remanded for further proceedings.
  • On remand, issues include whether district court erred in denying collateral estoppel regarding Local's ratification.
  • District court held (a) jury demand proper for a legal contract-formation claim; (b) collateral estoppel not applicable to preclude relitigation of ratification.

Issues

Issue Plaintiff's Argument Defendant's Argument Held
Right to a jury on contract formation Granite Rock seeks jury for legal contract-formation issue. Local contends issue is not properly triable by jury under law. Jury trial proper; issue is legal and should be decided by jury.
Collateral estoppel on ratification Granite Rock claims NLRB finding supports estoppel against Granite Rock relitigation. Local argues issue decided in administrative proceeding should preclude Granite Rock. District court properly denied collateral estoppel; not precluded.

Key Cases Cited

  • Tull v. United States, 481 U.S. 412 (1987) (two-part test for legal vs. equitable claims; right to jury in close cases)
  • Dairy Queen, Inc. v. Wood, 369 U.S. 469 (1962) (historical jury/trial jurisprudence under Seventh Amendment)
  • Scott v. Neely, 140 U.S. 106 (1891) (historical context for legal vs. equitable distinctions)
  • Beacon Theatres, Inc. v. Westover, 359 U.S. 500 (1959) (preserve jury trial rights in close cases)
  • Reyn's Pasta Bella, LLC v. Visa USA, Inc., 442 F.3d 741 (9th Cir. 2006) (collateral estoppel requires identity and final merits judgment)
  • Kourtis v. Cameron, 419 F.3d 989 (9th Cir. 2005) (requirements for collateral estoppel in Ninth Circuit)
  • Robi v. Five Platters, Inc., 838 F.2d 318 (9th Cir. 1988) (de novo review of issue preclusion availability)
  • Sekaquaptewa v. MacDonald, 575 F.2d 239 (9th Cir. 1978) (non-litigation-merits-based estoppel principles)
  • Granite Rock Co. v. Int'l Bhd. of Teamsters, 130 S. Ct. 2847 (2010) (Supreme Court reversal on contract-formation issue; remand guidance)
  • Granite Rock Co. v. Int'l Bhd. of Teamsters, 546 F.3d 1169 (9th Cir. 2010) (prior panel decision reversed by Supreme Court)
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