STERLING v. LOCAL 438, LIBERTY ASSOCIATION OF STEAM AND POWER PIPE FITTERS AND HELPERS' ASSOCIATION et al., 207 Md. 132

Summary

A business agent brought an action against the unions, seeking to recover damages for his wrongful dismissal as business agent of one of the local unions and for their subsequent continued prevention of his right to work at his trade. The circuit court granted summary judgment in favor of the unions, and the business agent appealed. The court affirmed, holding that summary judgment was properly granted as to the first claim on the basis that an equity suit brought two years before by the business against two of the three union defendants, in an effort to recover his lost position, was res judicata of his right to damages for the loss of the position. The court granted summary judgment on the second claim, on the basis that the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947 provided an exclusive remedy for the unfair labor practices of which he complained.