OIL, CHEMICAL & ATOMIC WORKERS INTERNATIONAL UNION, LOCAL # 4-447, ET AL., PLAINTIFFS-APPELLANTS,
v.
AMERICAN CYANAMID COMPANY, DEFENDANT-APPELLEE

5th Cir. | 1977-02-09
No. 76-2346
Before GODBOLD, HILL and FAY, Circuit Judges.
546 F.2d 1144 Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (1977) Positive Treatment
Cited by 14 cases

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Holding

The court held that the award of pre-judgment interest is within the discretion of the court in the absence of a statutory provision, and no abuse of discretion was shown.


Facts & Procedural History

A union was awarded a judgment for unpaid vacation benefits under a collective bargaining agreement. The only issue on appeal was the denial of pre-ju…

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Opinion of the Court
GODBOLD, Circuit Judge:

GODBOLD, Circuit Judge:

The union was awarded a judgment under § 301 of the Labor Management Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. § 185 et seq. for payment of unpaid vacation benefits under a collective bargaining agreement. The only issue is whether the court erred in declining to award pre-judgment interest (post-judgment interest was awarded).

The general federal rule is that in the absence of a statutory provision the award of pre-judgment interest is in the discretion of the court. Wolf v. Frank, 477 F. 2d 467 (CA 5, 1973) (§ 10b-5 securities case); Dennis v. Central Gulf Steamship, 453 F. 2d 137 (CA 5, 1972) (admiralty); Weeks v. Alonzo Cothron, 493 F. 2d 538 (CA 5, 1974) (longshoremen and harbor workers); Solomon v. Warren, 540 F. 2d 777 (CA 5, 1976) (DOHSA). The LMRA contains no explicit provision. We apply the general rule to this case. The Second Circuit has done the same. Lodges 743 and 1746 v. United Aircraft Corp., 534 F. 2d 422 (CA 2, 1975).

No basis is shown for holding that the district judge abused his discretion other than the contention that plaintiffs should be given pre-judgment interest to make them whole. This reason would apply with respect to any § 301 suit in which plaintiff successfully sues for money allegedly due under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement. This is not alone sufficient basis for a finding of abuse of discretion.

AFFIRMED.


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