Hill v. Peterson, 2 CA-CV 98-0153.

Decision Date27 November 2001
Docket NumberNo. 2 CA-CV 98-0153.,2 CA-CV 98-0153.
Citation35 P.3d 417,201 Ariz. 363
PartiesDonald W. HILL, Plaintiff/Appellant, v. Timothy PETERSON and Susan Peterson, husband and wife, Defendants/Appellees.
CourtArizona Court of Appeals

Leonard Felker Altfeld Greenberg & Battaile, P.C., By David J. Leonard and Peter B. Goldman, Tucson, for Plaintiff/Appellant.

Snell & Wilmer, L.L.P., By Russell B. Stowers, Erwin D. Kratz, and Sarah L. Townsend, Tucson, for Defendants/Appellees.

OPINION

ESPINOSA, Chief Judge.

¶ 1 Defendants/appellees Timothy and Susan Peterson asked us to reconsider our May 22, 2001, opinion vacating the trial court's order dismissing plaintiff/appellant Donald Hill's tortious interference with prospective advantage causes of action against them. Hill v. Peterson, 200 Ariz. 217, 25 P.3d 19 (App.2001). The Petersons contend we incorrectly found Hill's causes of action not preempted by the National Labor Relations Act, 29 U.S.C.A. §§ 141 through 187 (the Act), arguing that the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) depends not on the parties' relationship, but rather, on their conduct and that our opinion, which relied on Halstead Metal Products v. NLRB, 940 F.2d 66 (4th Cir.1991), was inconsistent with other federal cases. Because we agree that the conduct alleged is dispositive of the preemption issue and presents a narrower ground for resolving this case, see State v. Leyva, 184 Ariz. 439, 909 P.2d 506 (App.1995),

we grant the Petersons' motion. However, because the trial court can adjudicate Hill's tortious interference with prospective advantage causes of action without determining whether Peterson committed an unfair labor practice under the Act, the ultimate result does not change. Accordingly, we withdraw our previous opinion and replace it with this one, vacating the trial court's dismissal of Hill's causes of action and remanding the matter for further proceedings consistent with this decision.

Facts and Procedural History

¶ 2 The following facts are essentially undisputed. Hill, an oncologist, was hired in 1994 by Thomas Davis Medical Centers, P.C. (TDMC), which was subsequently purchased by FPA Medical Management of Arizona, Inc. In early 1997, Hill's physicians' union filed a claim with the NLRB on behalf of Hill and other physicians, accusing FPA and TDMC of unfair labor practices under the Act, a claim the NLRB found had merit. Hill resigned from TDMC in October 1997. In March 1998, he filed this action against FPA, its president and chief executive officer, Timothy Peterson, and his wife, Susan, claiming that, sometime after he resigned from TDMC, FPA and Peterson had interfered with his "business expectancy in being awarded [employment] contract[s] with Intergroup... [and] Pacific Care"1 and that FPA had interfered with his "business expectancy in his negotiations with Arizona Oncology Associates."

¶ 3 Claiming that FPA and Peterson had also threatened to enforce "a covenant not to compete contained in [Hill's employment] contract with TDMC," Hill additionally sought a declaration that the covenant was unenforceable because, with his departure, TDMC no longer had an "oncology department and, thus, [had] no legitimate interest in depriving the public of [his] services." Hill further claimed that FPA and TDMC had breached the agreement by constructively terminating his employment contract before he resigned and that FPA and TDMC had sought to selectively enforce the covenant against him because of "his union activities" while he had been employed at TDMC.

¶ 4 The defendants moved to dismiss the complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1), Ariz. R. Civ. P., 16 A.R.S., Pt. 1, contending the causes of action were preempted by the Act. They argued that, because Hill's allegations of constructive discharge and antiunion bias in his anticompetition claim had been raised on his behalf by his union in both the prior and a pending action before the NLRB, all his state causes of action were preempted.2 Although Hill offered to strike from his complaint the two bases for declaring the noncompetition covenant unenforceable that described unfair labor practices under the Act, the trial court nevertheless found all the causes of action preempted and dismissed them. After Hill filed his notice of appeal from the judgment, FPA filed for bankruptcy and the noncompetition covenant expired. Accordingly, the parties agree that all causes of action against FPA and the anticompetition cause of action are moot and that the only remaining causes are those alleging interference with prospective advantage against Peterson.

Discussion

¶ 5 Whether the Act preempts a state claim is a question of law subject to our de novo review, Vincent v. Trend Western Technical Corp., 828 F.2d 563 (9th Cir.1987), as is a trial court's determination of subject matter jurisdiction. Fairway Constructors, Inc. v. Ahern, 193 Ariz. 122, 970 P.2d 954 (App.1998). The Act was promulgated in an effort to achieve uniform and effective enforcement of a national labor policy, leaving to the courts the task of determining whether particular state causes of action can coexist with the "`comprehensive amalgam of substantive law and regulatory arrangements' " the Act prescribes. Chavez v. Copper State Rubber of Arizona, Inc., 182 Ariz. 423, 427, 897 P.2d 725, 729 (App.1995), quoting Local 926, Int'l Union of Operating Eng'rs v. Jones, 460 U.S. 669, 675, 103 S.Ct. 1453, 1458, 75 L.Ed.2d 368, 375 (1983)

.

Many courts have addressed the Act's preemptive scope in cases in which employees assert state causes of action in addition to, or in lieu of, unfair labor practice claims before the NLRB. The critical inquiry in these situations is whether the conduct at issue in the state cause of action is identical to that which could be presented to the NLRB.

Chavez, 182 Ariz. at 428, 897 P.2d at 730 (emphasis added).

¶ 6 In San Diego Building Trades Council, Millmen's Union, Local 2020 v. Garmon, 359 U.S. 236, 79 S.Ct. 773, 3 L.Ed.2d 775 (1959), the Supreme Court held that an employer's action for damages against union picketers, based on a state law cause of action for unfair labor practice, was preempted by the NLRA. "When it is clear or may fairly be assumed that the activities which a State purports to regulate are protected by § 7 of the [NLRA], or constitute an unfair labor practice under § 8, due regard for the federal enactment requires that state jurisdiction must yield ... [so as not to] create potential frustration of national purposes." Id. at 244, 79 S.Ct. at 779,3 L.Ed.2d at 782-83. But, in Farmer v. United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Local 25, 430 U.S. 290, 304, 97 S.Ct. 1056, 1065, 51 L.Ed.2d 338, 352-53 (1977), the Court upheld a state cause of action for intentional infliction of emotional distress arising out of union activities, stating that the "potential for interference is insufficient to counterbalance the legitimate and substantial interest of the State in protecting its citizens.... [T]he state-court tort action can be adjudicated without resolution of the `merits' of the underlying labor dispute."

¶ 7 In another union picketing case, Sears, Roebuck and Co. v. San Diego County District Council of Carpenters, 436 U.S. 180, 98 S.Ct. 1745, 56 L.Ed.2d 209 (1978), Sears brought a state trespass action against union members who were demonstrating on its property. The Court stated that the critical inquiry was whether the controversy presented in the state court was identical to or different from that which could have been presented to the NLRB, concluding that "whether the picketing had an objective proscribed by federal law was irrelevant to the state claim" that only challenged the location of the picketing. Id. at 198, 98 S.Ct. at 1758, 56 L.Ed.2d at 226. Because the state court was not required to interpret or enforce federal labor laws in deciding the trespass action, the Supreme Court concluded that Sears' cause of action was not preempted. See also Richardson v. Kruchko & Fries, 966 F.2d 153, 157 (4th Cir.1992),

quoting Lumber Prod. Indus. Workers Local # 1054 v. West Coast Indus. Relations Ass'n, 775 F.2d 1042, 1049 (9th Cir.1985) ("[A] state-law claim is preempted `if the conduct relied on to prove a crucial element in the state action is conduct that is arguably covered by the NLRA.'").

¶ 8 The proper issue before us, then, is whether Hill's cause of action for tortious interference with prospective business relations against Peterson is premised upon Peterson's having engaged in an unfair labor practice under the Act. To establish a prima facie case of intentional interference with contractual relations, a plaintiff must prove the existence of a valid contractual relationship or business expectancy; the interferer's knowledge of the relationship or expectancy; intentional interference inducing or causing a breach or termination of the relationship or expectancy; and resultant damage to the party whose relationship or expectancy has been disrupted. Wallace v. Casa Grande Union High School Dist. No. 82 Bd. of Governors, 184 Ariz. 419, 909 P.2d 486 (App.1995). Furthermore, the interference must be "improper as to motive or means" before liability will attach. Wagenseller v. Scottsdale Mem'l Hosp., 147 Ariz. 370, 388, 710 P.2d 1025, 1043 (1985). Whether a particular action is improper is determined by a consideration of seven factors found in the Restatement (Second) of Torts § 767 (1979):

(a) the nature of the actor's conduct,
(b) the actor's motive,
(c) the interests of the other with which the actor's conduct interferes,
(d) the interests sought to be advanced by the actor,
(e) the social interests in protecting the freedom of action of the actor and the contractual interests of the other,
(f) the proximity or remoteness of the actor's conduct to the interference and
(g)
...

To continue reading

Request your trial
31 cases
  • White Mountain Health Ctr., Inc. v. Maricopa Cnty.
    • United States
    • Arizona Court of Appeals
    • 20 Diciembre 2016
    ...(App. 2007) (injunctive relief); Forszt v. Rodriguez , 212 Ariz. 263, 265, ¶ 9, 130 P.3d 538 (App. 2006) (mandamus relief); Hill v. Peterson , 201 Ariz. 363, 365, ¶ 5, 35 P.3d 417 (App. 2001) (noting federal preemption is a question of law); State v. Mathis , 231 Ariz. 103, 109, ¶¶ 17, 19, ......
  • Smith v. Cigna Healthplan of Arizona
    • United States
    • Arizona Court of Appeals
    • 30 Julio 2002
    ...School v. Reeves, 166 Ariz. 301, 309, 802 P.2d 1000, 1008 (1990). We also review de novo whether the Act preempts a state claim. Hill v. Peterson, 201 Ariz. 363, ¶ 5, 35 P.3d 417, ¶ 5 PREEMPTION UNDER THE ACT ¶ 9 Smith argues the trial court erred in ruling her state claims were preempted, ......
  • American Federation of State v. Phoenix
    • United States
    • Arizona Court of Appeals
    • 15 Agosto 2006
    ...policy. NLRB v. Health Care & Ret. Corp. of Am., 511 U.S. 571, 573, 114 S.Ct. 1778, 128 L.Ed.2d 586 (1994) (citation omitted); Hill v. Peterson, 201 Ariz. 363, 365, ¶ 5, 35 P.3d 417, 419 (App.2001) (citations omitted). Generally, the NLRA preempts state and federal court jurisdiction to rem......
  • Fillmore v. Maricopa Water Processing Systems, Inc.
    • United States
    • Arizona Supreme Court
    • 19 Septiembre 2005
    ...does not do so tortiously "simply because he may also bear ill will toward his competitor," Hill v. Peterson, 201 Ariz. 363, 366 ¶ 8, 35 P.3d 417, 420 (quoting Bar J Bar Cattle, 158 Ariz. at 485, 763 P.2d at 549), and "the propriety of the means employed by" the interfering party must be "d......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT