Free Complaint - District Court of Delaware - Delaware


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Case 1:07-cv-00094-JJF

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE PLUMBERS AND PIPEFITTERS LOCAL UNION NO. 74 ANNUITY FUND, PLUMBERS AND PIPEFITTERS LOCAL NO. 74 HEALTH AND WELFARE TRUST FUND, PLUMBERS AND PIPEFITTERS LOCAL UNION NO. 74 PENSION FUND (formerly THE PIPEFITTERS LOCAL UNION NO. 80 AND EMPLOYERS JOINT PENSION TRUST FUND) AND SCHOLARSHIP FUND OF THE PLUMBERS AND PIPEFITTERS LOCAL UNION NO. 74 c/o Gem Group Brandywine Corporate Center 650 Naamans Road, Suite 303 Claymont, DE 19703 : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : and : : PLUMBERS AND PIPEFITTERS LOCAL : NO. 74 APPRENTICESHIP FUND, : PIPEFITTERS LOCAL UNION NO. 74 : EDUCATIONAL/PAC FUND, AND : LOCAL UNION NO. 74 OF THE UNITED : ASSOCIATION OF JOURNEYMEN AND : APPRENTICES OF THE PLUMBING AND : PIPEFITTING INDUSTRY OF THE : UNITED STATES AND CANADA, AFL-CIO : (formerly Pipefitters Local No. 80) : 3200 Old Capital Trial : Wilmington, DE 19808 : Plaintiffs, : : v. : : TRI ­ STATE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. : 300 Carson Drive : Bear, DE 19701 : Defendant. : CIVIL ACTION

C.A. NO.

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COMPLAINT Plaintiffs, by undersigned counsel, complain about Defendant as follows: JURISDICTION 1. This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this action under 29 U.S.C.

§§185(a) or 1132(e)(2). 2. A copy of this Complaint has been served on the Secretary of Labor and the

Secretary of Treasury of the United States by certified mail. VENUE 3. Venue lies in the District of Delaware under 29 U.S.C. §185(a) or 1132(e)(2). PARTIES 4. Plaintiffs, Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union No. 74 Annuity Fund, Plumbers

and Pipefitters Local No. 74 Health and Welfare Trust Fund, Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union No. 74 Pension Fund (formerly, The Pipefitters Local Union No. 80 and Employers Joint Pension Trust), Scholarship Fund of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union No. 74 and Plumbers and Pipefitters Local No. 74 Apprenticeship Fund (respectively, "Annuity Fund," "Welfare Fund," "Pension Fund," "Scholarship Fund" and "Apprenticeship Fund" and, jointly, "Funds"), are trust funds established under 29 U.S.C. §186(c)(5) and "multiemployer plans" and "employee benefit plans" within the meaning of 29 U.S.C. §1002(37),(1),(2) and (3). The Funds are administered from offices located at the address(es) listed in the caption. 5. Plaintiff, Pipefitters Local No. 74 Educational/PAC Fund ("PAC"), is an

unincorporated association established pursuant to 2 U.S.C. §431 et seq. for the purpose of advancing the political interests of the members of the union by lawfully influencing the selection, nomination, election and/or appointment of individuals for political office. The PAC
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is administered from offices located at the address in the caption. 6. Plaintiff, Local Union No. 74 of the United Association of Journeymen and

Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada, AFL-CIO (formerly Pipefitters Local No. 80) ("Union"), is an unincorporated association commonly referred to as a labor union, and is an employee organization that represents, for purposes of collective bargaining, employees of Tri ­ State Technologies, Inc. who are and/or were employed in an industry affecting interstate commerce within the meaning of 29 U.S.C. §§152(5), (6) and (7), 185(a) and 1002(4), (11) and (12). The Union maintains its principal place of business at the address listed in the caption. 7. Defendant, Tri-State Technologies Inc.("Company"), is a Delaware corporation

and an employer in an industry affecting commerce within the meaning of 29 U.S.C. §§1152(2), (6) and (7), 1002(5), (11) and (12) with a business office at the address listed in the caption. COMMON FACTS 8. At all times relevant to this action, the Company was party to a collective

bargaining agreement(s) with the Union (singly or jointly, "Labor Contract"). 9. The Company also signed or agreed to abide by the terms of agreements and

declarations of trust of the Funds ("Trust Agreements") made between certain employers and employee representatives in an industry(ies) affecting interstate commerce to promote stable and peaceful labor relations. 10. Under the Labor Contract or Trust Agreements, the Company agreed: (a) To make full and timely payments on a monthly basis to the Funds, Union

and PAC as required by the Labor Contracts; (b)
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To file monthly remittance reports with the Funds, Union and PAC
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detailing all employees or work for which contributions and work dues were required on the Labor Contract. (c) To produce, upon request by the Funds, Union and PAC, individually or

jointly, all books and records deemed necessary to conduct an audit of the Company's records concerning its obligations to the Funds, Union and PAC; and (d) To pay liquidated damages and costs of litigation, including attorneys'

fees, expended by the Funds, Union and PAC to collect any amounts due as a consequence of the Company's failure to comply with its contractual obligations described in Subparagraphs (a), (b) and (c). COUNT I - AMOUNTS DUE UNDER CONTRACT - SUM CERTAIN FUNDS, UNION AND PAC v. COMPANY 11. restated. 12. On information and belief, the Company owes the Funds, Union and PAC the The allegations of Paragraph 1 through 10 are incorporated by reference as if fully

sum of at least $101,047.57 in outstanding contributions as detailed on Exhibit 1. 13. Despite request(s) for payment, the Company has not paid the Funds, Union and

PAC as required by the Labor Contract or Trust Agreements. WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs ask that the Court: (1) Enter judgment against the Company in favor of the Funds, Union and PAC

individually for at least $101,047.57 plus any amounts which become due during the pendency of this lawsuit or as a result of an audit of Company's records together with interest, liquidated
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damages and costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees incurred in this action or the collection or enforcement of any judgment, as provided in the Labor Contract or Trust Agreements. (2) appropriate. COUNT II - AMOUNTS DUE UNDER ERISA - SUM CERTAIN FUNDS v. COMPANY 14. restated. 15. On information and belief, the Company has failed to timely pay contributions to The allegations of Paragraph 1 through 10 are incorporated by reference as if fully Grant such other or further relief, legal or equitable, as may be just, necessary or

the Funds in violation of 29 U.S.C. §1145 in at least the sum of $101,047.57 as detailed on Exhibit 1. 16. The Funds have been damaged by the Company's violation of 29 U.S.C. §1145.

WHEREFORE, the Funds ask that the Court: (1) Enter judgment against the Company and in favor of the Funds, individually, for

$101,047.57 plus any amounts which become due during the pendency of this lawsuit or as a result of an audit of Company's records together with interest at the rate prescribed by 26 U.S.C. §6621 from the due date for payment until the date of actual payment, liquidated damages equal to the greater of the interest on the unpaid contributions or liquidated damages provided by the plan document or statute and reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred in this action or the collection or enforcement of any judgment as provided in the Trust Agreements and applicable law.
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(2) appropriate.

Grant such other or further relief, legal or equitable, as may be just, necessary or

COUNT III - AUDIT FUNDS, UNION AND PAC v. COMPANY 17. fully restated. 18. The Funds, Union and PAC are without sufficient information or knowledge to The allegations of Paragraphs 1 through 10 are incorporated by reference as if

plead the precise nature, extent and amount of the Company's delinquency since the books, records and information necessary to determine this liability are in the exclusive possession, custody and control or knowledge of the Company. 19. Computation of the precise amounts of an employer's delinquency is normally

achieved by an audit of the employer's books and records and/or calculated from contractually required remittance reports submitted by the employer. 20. 21. There has been no audit of the Company's books and records. The Company is required by the Labor Contract, Trust Agreements or applicable

law to permit the Plaintiffs to audit its records and to cooperate in determining the contributions due the Plaintiffs. 22. The Plaintiffs have no adequate remedy at law for the calculation of any

additional damages suffered as a result of the breach itself requires an audit. 23. All conditions precedent to equitable relief have been satisfied.

WHEREFORE, the Plaintiffs ask that the Court:
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(1)

Enjoin the Company, its officers, agents, servants, employees, attorneys and all

others in active concert or participation with them to permit an audit of all records under the actual or constructive control of the Company and, in the absence of records, to cooperate in alternative methods for the determination of work for which contributions are due, and (2) appropriate. COUNT IV - CONTRIBUTIONS UNDER CONTRACT AFTER AUDIT FUNDS, UNION AND PAC v. COMPANY 24. The allegations of Paragraphs 1 through 10 and 18 through 23 are incorporated by Grant such other or further relief, legal or equitable, as may be just, necessary or

reference as if fully restated. 25. On information and belief, the Company has failed to make contributions and

work dues payments to the Plaintiffs as required by the Labor Contract or Trust Agreements in a period not barred by any applicable statue of limitations or similar bar. 26. On information and belief, the Plaintiffs have been damaged by the failure of the

Company to make contributions as required by the Labor Contract or Trust Agreements. WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs ask that the Court: (1) After an audit, enter judgment against the Company in favor of the Plaintiffs

individually for the amount of contributions and work dues found due and owing by an audit together with liquidated damages, interest and costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees incurred in this action or the collection and enforcement of any judgment as provided in the Labor Contract or Trust Agreements.
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(2) appropriate.

Grant such other or further relief, legal or equitable as may be just, necessary or

COUNT V - CONTRIBUTIONS UNDER ERISA AFTER AUDIT FUNDS v. COMPANY 27. The allegations of Paragraphs 1 through 10 and 18 through 23 are incorporated by

reference as if fully restated. 28. On information and belief, the Company has failed to make contributions to the

Funds in violation of 29 U.S.C. §1145 in a period not barred by any applicable statue of limitations or similar bar. 29. The Plaintiffs are without sufficient information or knowledge to plead the precise

nature, extent and amount of the Company's delinquency because the books, records and information necessary to determine this liability are in the possession, control or knowledge of the Company. 30. On information and belief, the Funds have been damaged by the Company's

violation of 29 U.S.C. §1145. WHEREFORE, the Funds ask that the Court: (1) After an audit, enter judgment against the Company in favor of the Funds

individually for the contributions found due and owing by the audit, together with interest at the rate prescribed by 26 U.S.C. §6621 from the due date for payment until the date of actual payment, liquidated damages equal to the greater of the interest on the unpaid contributions or liquidated damages provided by the plan document or statute and reasonable attorneys' fees and
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costs incurred in this action and in connection with any proceedings to enforce or collect any judgment. (2) appropriate. COUNT VI - INJUNCTION FUNDS v. COMPANY 31. fully restated. 32. A money judgment or other remedy available at law is inadequate because the The allegations of Paragraphs 1 through 30 are incorporated by reference as if Grant such or further relief, legal or equitable, as may be just, necessary or

Company has shown its disregard of its contractual and legal obligations by a consistent pattern of delinquencies. 33. Unless ordered to do otherwise by this Court, Company will continue to refuse to

submit remittance reports and pay the contributions presently due and owing or which become due and owing in the future, and the Funds and their participants will suffer immediate, continuing and irreparable damage by, among other matters, the loss of investment earnings, the inability to properly determine eligibility and calculate benefits, and a substantial increase in the administrative costs of the Funds with a diminution of the assets otherwise available to pay benefits to company's employees and employees of other employers who fully and timely pay their contributory obligations. 34. All other conditions precedent to equitable relief have been satisfied.

WHEREFORE, the Funds ask that the Court:
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(1)

Permanently restrain and enjoin the Company, its officers, agents, servants,

employees, attorneys and all others in active concert or participation with them from continuing to violate the terms of the current collective bargaining agreement(s) between the Company and the Union and from violating such other collective bargaining agreements as may from time to time be entered by the said parties providing for the timely filing of remittance reports with complete, accurate and proper information and timely payment of contributions to the Funds for so long as the Company is contractually-required to do so. (2) appropriate. FERRY, JOSEPH & PEARCE, P.A. BY:_/s/Rick S. Miller___________ RICK S. MILLER, ESQUIRE (#3418) 824 Market Street, Suite 904 P.O. Box 1351 Wilmington, DE 19899-1351 (302) 575-1555 SANFORD G. ROSENTHAL, ESQUIRE Jennings Sigmond, P.C. The Penn Mutual Towers, 16th Floor 510 Walnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19106-3683 (215) 351-0611 Attorneys for Plaintiffs Dated: February 20, 2007 Grant such other or further relief, legal or equitable, as may be just, necessary or

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(REV. 07/89) CIVIL COVER SHEET The JS 44 civil cover sheet and the information contained herein neither replace nor supplement the filing and service of pleadings or other papers as required by law, except as provided by local rules of court. This form, approved by the Judicial Conference of the United States in September 1974, is required for the use of the Clerk of Court for the purpose of initiating the civil docket sheet. (SEE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE REVERSE OF THE FORM.)

I (a) PLAINTIFFS Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union No. 74 Annuity Fund, Health and Welfare Trust Fund, Pension Fund, Apprenticeship Fund, Educational/PAC Fund and Local Union No. 74 of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada, AFL-CIO.
b) COUNTY OF RESIDENCE OF FIRST LISTED PLAINTIFF N/A
(EXCEPT IN U.S. PLAINTIFF CASES)

DEFENDANTS

Tri-State Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

(c) ATTORNEYS (FIRM NAME, ADDRESS, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER) Rick S. Miller (#3418) FERRY JOSEPH & PEARCE, P.A. 824 Market Street, Suite 904 P.O. Box 1351 Wilmington, DE 19899-1351 (302)575-1555 II. BASIS OF JURISDICTION
9 1 U.S. Government 9 2 U.S. Government Defendent
(PLACE AN X IN ONE BOX ONLY)

ATTORNEYS (IF KNOWN)

III. CITIZENSHIP OF PRINCIPAL PARTIES
N/A

X 3 Federal Question 9 4 Diversity (Indicated Citizenship of Parties in Item III)

IV. CAUSE OF ACTION (CITE THE U S CIVIL STATUE UNDER WHICH YOU ARE FILING AND WRITE A BRIEF STATEMENT OF CAUSE
DO NOT CITE JURISDICTION STATUES UNLESS DIVERSITY)

29 USC §1002 et seq.; Amounts Due under ERISA and Contract Law

V. NATURE OF SUIT (PLACE AN x IN ONE BOX ONLY)
CONTRACT TORTS FORFEITURE/PENALTY BANKRUPTCY OTHER STATUES

9 110 Insurance 9 120 Manne 9 130 Miller Act 9 140 Negotiable Instrument 9 150 Recovery of Overpayment & Enforcement of Judgment 9 151 Midicare Act 9 152 Recovery of Defaulted Student Loans (Excl. Veterans) 9 160 Stockholders Suits 9 190 Other Contract 9 195 Contract Product Liability REAL PROPERTY 9 210 Land Condemnation 9 220 Foreclosure 9 230 Rent Lease & Equipment 9 240 Torts to Land 9 245 Tort Product Liability 9 290 All Other Real Property

PERSONAL INJURY 9 310 Airplane 9 315 Airplane Product Liability 9 320 Assault, Libel & Slander 9 330 Federal Employers' Liability 9 340 Manne 9 345 Manne Product Liability 9 350 Motor Vehicle 9 355 Motor Vehicle Product Liability CIVIL RIGHTS 9 441 Voting 9 442 Employment 9 443 Housing/ Accommodations 9 444 Welfare 9 440 Other Civil Rights

PERSONAL INJURY 9 362 Personal Injury-Med Malpractice 9 365 Personal Injury -Product Liability 9 368 Asbestos Personal Injury Product Liability PERSONAL PROPERTY 9 370 Other Fraud 9 371 Truth in Lending 9 380 Other Personal Property Damage 9 385 Property Damage Property Liability PRISONER PETITIONS 9 510 Motions to Vacate Sentence Habeas Corpus: 9 530 General 9 535 Dealth Penalty 9 540 Mandamus & Other 9 550 Civil Right

9 610 Agriculture 9 620 Other Food & Drug 9 625 Drug Related Seizure of Property 21 USC 881 9 630 Liquor Laws 9 640 R.R. & Truck 9 650 Airline Regs 9 660 Occupational Safety/Health 9 690 Other LABOR 9 710 Fair Labor Standards Act 9 720 Labor/Mgmt. Relations 9 730 Labor/Mgmt. Reporting & Disclosure Act 9 740 Railway Labor Act 9 790 Other Labor Litigation X 791 Empl. Security Act Ret. Inc.

9 422 Appeal 28 USC 158 9 423 Withdrawal 28 USC 157 PROPERTY RIGHTS 9 820 Copyrights 830 Patent 9 840 Trademark

9 422 State Reapportionment 9 410 Antitrust 9 430 Banks and Banking 9 450 Commerce/ICC Rates/etc. 9 460 Deportation 9 470 Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations 9 810 Selective Service 9 850 Securities/Commodities/ Exchange 9 875 Customer Challenge 12 USC 3410 9 891 Agricultural Acts 9 892 Economic Stabilization 9 893 Environmental Matters 9 894 Energy Allocation Act 9 895 Freedom of Information Act 9 900 Appeal of Fee Determination Under Equal Access to Justice 9 950 Constitutionality of State Statues 9 Other Statutory Actions

SOCIAL SECURITY 9 861 HIA (1395ff) 9 862 Black Lung (923) 9 863 DIWC/DIWW (405(g)) 9 864 SSID Title XVI 9 865 RSI (405(g)) FEDERAL TAX SUITS 9 870 Taxes (U.S. Plaintiff or Defendant) 9 871 IRS -- Third Party 26 USC 7609

VI. ORIGIN
X 1 Original Proceeding

(PLACE AN x IN ONE BOX ONLY)
Transferred from 9 2 Removed from 9 3 Remanded from 9 4 Reinstated or 9 5 another district State Court Appellate Court Reopened (specify) DEMAND $ N/A

Appeal to District 9 7 Judge from 9 6 Multidistrict Magistrate Litigation Judgment
X NO

VII. REQUESTED IN CHECK IF THIS IS A CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT: ___9 UNDER F.R.C.P 23 VIII. RELATED CASE(S) (See instructions) IF ANY N/A
DATE February 20, 2007 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

Check YES only if demanded in complaint: JURY DEMAND:_9 YES

SIGNATURE OF ATTORNEY OF RECORD /s/Rick

S. Miller (#3418)

COVER.USD

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