A decades-old lawsuit that 52 Capital Region African-American workers filed against the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada, Local Union No. 198 and others alleging racism and discrimination has been partially settled.
In a memorandum earlier this week to U.S. District Judge James Brady, the plaintiffs, the United Association and its insurance company jointly request voluntary dismissal of the claims against the national union and its insurer, Legion Insurance Co.
The initial complaint, filed in May 1998, alleges the local union, former business manager Louis LaBlanc and then-local union organizer Jeff Armstrong—both of whom were also named in the lawsuit—gave preferential job referrals to non-African-American members, refused to appoint minorities to non-elected positions on the executive board and maintained a hostile work environment that included routine racist language.
The complaint also alleges union officials retaliated against a union member believed to be responsible for filing complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by causing him to be laid off from his job.
The case has been in limbo since 2003, when a stay was issued after a Pennsylvania court forced Legion Insurance Co. into liquidation.
The joint memo to Brady says a proof of claim filed with the insurer’s estate has been resolved, resulting in a “partial release of United Association in the amount of the policy limits.” Donna Grodner, a Baton Rouge attorney who represents the African American workers, declined to provide a dollar figure for the settlement, citing a confidentiality agreement.
The settlement does not apply to other parties in the long-standing lawsuit. Grodner says she intends to request that the stay in the case be lifted so litigation can continue against Local Union No. 198 and other named defendants remaining in the case. “I’m thrilled,” Grodner tells Daily Report. “This case has been going on a long time and it has been a lot of work. We really had to fight hard.” Nicholas Femia, a Washington, D.C., attorney for United Association, could not be reached for comment.
—Penny Font
