ALAN C. KAY, Senior District Judge.
Plaintiffs Elizabeth Valdez Kyne, Chad Kruzic, and Adam Borowiec ("Plaintiffs"), brought suit on behalf of a similarly situated class against the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., d/b/a the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua ("Defendant" or "Hotel"). Am. Compl. ¶¶ 3-6. Plaintiffs have all worked as food and beverage servers for at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, in Maui, Hawaii. Id. ¶ 3.
Plaintiffs' Amended Complaint alleges that the Ritz-Carlton provides food and beverage services throughout the Hotel, including in its banquet department, its
Plaintiffs' Amended Complaint asserts five counts. In Count I, Plaintiffs allege that Defendant's conduct violates Hawaii Revised Statutes ("H.R.S.") § 481B-14, and that pursuant to § 481B-4, such violation constitutes an unfair method of competition or unfair and deceptive act or practice within the meaning of H.R.S. § 480-2. In Count II, Plaintiffs allege that Defendant's conduct constitutes unlawful intentional interference with contractual and/or advantageous relations. In Count III, Plaintiffs allege that Defendant's conduct constitutes a breach of two implied contracts. In Count IV, Plaintiffs allege that Defendant has been unjustly enriched at Plaintiffs' expense under state common law. In Count V, Plaintiffs allege that as a result of Defendant's conduct, they have been deprived of income that constitutes wages, which is actionable under H.R.S. §§ 388-6, 388-10, and 388-11.
On November 24, 2008, Plaintiffs filed a Class Action Complaint. Doc. No. 1. There were a number of similar cases filed in this Court, and on February 11, 2009, Plaintiffs moved to consolidate or alternatively for assignment of all the related cases to one judge pursuant to Local Rule 40.2.
On July 9, 2009, the Court stayed this case in light of Judge Gillmor's certification to the Hawaii Supreme Court of a question of law that was also important to
Meanwhile, on May 11, 2011, Plaintiffs filed a Motion to Certify Class. Doc. No. 76. On July 18, 2011, the Court adopted the Magistrate Judge's Findings and Recommendation that the Court grant Plaintiffs' motion and certify the class as "all non-managerial food and beverage service employees who, since November 24, 2002, have worked at banquets, functions, small parties, room service, and other events at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, where a service charge was imposed and where a part of that service charge was kept by the Defendant without adequate disclosure to customers." Doc. No. 91; 2011 WL 2940444 (Doc. No. 93).
On May 11, 2011, Defendant filed a Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs' Amended Class Action Complaint ("Defendant's Motion to Dismiss"). Doc. No. 81. The Motion was accompanied by a supporting memorandum ("Def.'s MTD Mem."). Id. Plaintiffs filed an opposition on October 26, 2011 ("Pls.' Opp'n"). Doc. No. 100. On November 2, 2011, Defendant filed a reply ("Def.'s Reply"). Doc. No. 104.
Plaintiffs filed a Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on May 11, 2011 ("Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment"). Doc. No. 78. The Motion was accompanied by a supporting memorandum ("Pls.' MSJ Mem.") and a concise statement of facts ("Pls.' CSF"). Doc. Nos. 79 & 80. On October 26, 2011, Defendant filed an opposition ("Def.'s Opp'n") and a response to Plaintiffs' CSF ("Def.'s Response to Pls.' CSF"). Doc. Nos. 101 & 102. Plaintiffs filed a reply on November 2, 2011 ("Pls.' Reply"). Doc. No. 103.
On November 9, 2011, Defendant filed a supplement to its Motion to Dismiss, attaching a copy of the Hawaii Supreme Court's order on the question certified to it by Judge Kobayashi in Villon v. Marriot Hotel Services, Inc., CV-08-00529 LEK-RLP, Doc. No. 130 (Oct. 12, 2011), and Rodriguez v. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., CV-09-00016 LEK-RLP, Doc. No. 139 (Oct. 12, 2011). Doc. No. 105 Ex. A.
On November 16, 2011, the Court held a hearing on Defendant's request to stay proceedings, Plaintiffs' Motion for Partial Summary Judgment, and Defendant's Motion to Dismiss.
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) ("Rule 12(b)(6)") permits dismissal of a complaint that fails "to state a claim upon which relief can be granted." Under Rule 12(b)(6), review is generally limited to the contents of the complaint. Sprewell v. Golden State Warriors, 266 F.3d 979, 988 (9th Cir.2001); Campanelli v. Bockrath, 100 F.3d 1476, 1479 (9th Cir.1996). Courts may also "consider certain materials-documents attached to the complaint, documents incorporated by reference in the complaint, or matters of judicial notice-without converting the motion to dismiss into a motion for summary judgment." United States v. Ritchie, 342 F.3d 903, 908 (9th Cir.2003). Documents whose contents are alleged in a complaint and whose authenticity is not questioned by any party may also be considered in ruling on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss. See Branch v. Tunnell, 14 F.3d 449, 453-54 (9th Cir. 1994), overruled on other grounds by Galbraith v. County of Santa Clara, 307 F.3d 1119 (9th Cir.2002). If a court converts a motion to dismiss into a motion for summary judgment, the court must give the parties notice and a reasonable opportunity to supplement the record. Bank Melli Iran v. Pahlavi, 58 F.3d 1406, 1408 (9th Cir.1995).
On a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, all allegations of material fact are taken as true and construed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Fed'n of African Am. Contractors v. City of Oakland, 96 F.3d 1204, 1207 (9th Cir. 1996). However, conclusory allegations of law, unwarranted deductions of fact, and unreasonable inferences are insufficient to defeat a motion to dismiss. See Sprewell, 266 F.3d at 988; Nat'l Assoc. for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis v. Cal. Bd. of Psychology, 228 F.3d 1043, 1049 (9th Cir.2000); In re Syntex Corp. Sec. Litig., 95 F.3d 922, 926 (9th Cir.1996). Moreover, the court need not accept as true allegations that contradict matters properly subject to judicial notice or allegations contradicting the exhibits attached to the complaint. Sprewell, 266 F.3d at 988.
In summary, to survive a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, "[f]actual allegations must be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level ... on the assumption that all the allegations in the complaint are true (even if doubtful in fact)." Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007) (internal citations and quotations omitted). "While a complaint attacked by a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss does not need detailed factual allegations... a plaintiff's obligation to provide the `grounds' of his `entitlement to relief' requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do." Id. (internal citations and quotations omitted). Dismissal is appropriate under Rule 12(b)(6) if the facts alleged do not state a claim that is "plausible on its face." Id. at 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955. "Determining whether a complaint states a plausible claim for relief will ... be a context-specific task that requires the reviewing court to draw on its judicial experience and common sense." Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1950, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (citation omitted). "[W]here the well-pleaded facts do not permit the court to infer more than the mere possibility of misconduct, the complaint has alleged-but it has not `show[n]'-`that the pleader is entitled to relief.'" Id. (quoting Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a)(2)).
"Dismissal without leave to amend is improper unless it is clear that the complaint could not be saved by any
The Court will first address Defendant's request that this Court stay proceedings in this case while the Hawaii Supreme Court considers a certified question in a similar case. The Court will then address Defendant's Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs' Amended Complaint.
On May 11, 2010, in alternative to its Motion to Dismiss, Defendant asked this Court to certify the following question to the Hawaii Supreme Court: "May employees use H.R.S. § []388-6 to seek damages for alleged violations of the obligations created by H.R.S. § []481B-14 when the employees have not stated a claim under H.R.S. § []481B-14?" Def.'s MTD Mem. at 24.
Subsequently, on October 12, 2011, Judge Kobayashi certified three questions to the Hawaii Supreme Court in two similar cases, Villon v. Marriot Hotel Services, Inc., CV-08-00529 LEK-RLP, Doc. No. 130 (Oct. 12, 2011), and Rodriguez v. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., CV-09-00016 LEK-RLP, Doc. No. 139 (Oct. 12, 2011). As relevant here, Judge Kobayashi certified the following question:
Villon, CV-08-00529 LEK-RLP, Doc. No. 130; Rodriguez, CV-09-00016 LEK-RLP, Doc. No. 139.
On November 8, 2011, the Hawaii Supreme Court issued an "Order on Certified Question," ordering the parties to submit briefing with respect to this question, but stated that it was ordering such action "without conclusively determining whether this court will answer" the certified question. See Def.'s Supplemental Filing, Doc. No. 105 Ex. A.
Defendant acknowledges that Judge Kobayashi's certification renders Defendant's request for this Court to certify the question moot. Def.'s Opp'n at 21. Defendant requests, however, that the Court administratively close this case pending a decision by the Hawaii Supreme Court. Id. Defendant asserts that proceeding with the case at this time would be an inefficient use of judicial resources. Id. at 22. Defendant further asserts that because Plaintiffs' counsel are also the counsel for the plaintiffs in Villon, they will have a full opportunity to brief the issue before the Hawaii Supreme Court, and that Plaintiffs will not be prejudiced because "they will have the
Plaintiffs oppose Defendant's request, asserting that a stay "would impede the orderly course of justice by thwarting the expedient resolution of this case." Pls.' Reply at 15. Specifically, Plaintiffs point out that this case is three years old and has already been stayed once pending certification of another question to the Hawaii Supreme Court. Id.
A district court has discretion to certify a question to a state supreme court. Riordan v. State Farm Mut. Auto Ins. Co., 589 F.3d 999, 1009 (9th Cir.2009). The Ninth Circuit has explained that it "request[s] certification not because a difficult legal issue is presented but because of deference to the state court on significant state law matters," and that it has "an obligation to consider whether novel state law questions should be certified." Kremen v. Cohen, 325 F.3d 1035, 1037-38 (9th Cir.2003). The Supreme Court has noted that certification does, "in the long run save time, energy, and resources and helps build a cooperative judicial federalism." Lehman Bros. v. Schein, 416 U.S. 386, 390-91, 94 S.Ct. 1741, 40 L.Ed.2d 215 (1974).
In Bellotti v. Baird, 428 U.S. 132, 96 S.Ct. 2857, 49 L.Ed.2d 844 (1976), the Supreme Court held that the district court should have certified questions concerning the meaning of a state statute where potential interpretations of the statute would have avoided or substantially modified the constitutional challenge at issue. Id. at 146-51, 96 S.Ct. 2857 ("In deciding this case, we need go no further than the claim that the District Court should have abstained pending construction of the statute by Massachusetts courts."). The Supreme Court has also admonished both the Ninth Circuit and the district court for failure to certify a novel state law question. See Arizonans for Official English v. Arizona, 520 U.S. 43, 76-77, 117 S.Ct. 1055, 137 L.Ed.2d 170 (1997) ("Both lower federal courts in this case refused to invite the aid of the Arizona Supreme Court because they found the language of Article XXVIII [of the Arizona Constitution] `plain.' ... A more cautious approach was in order."). With this admonishment in mind, the Ninth Circuit has certified a state law question to the Washington Supreme Court when the parties unanimously opposed certification. See Parents Involved in Cmty. Schs. v. Seattle Sch. Dist. No. 1, 294 F.3d 1085, 1086 (9th Cir.2002). The Ninth Circuit has also recognized that a certified question need not raise a constitutional issue. See Kremen, 325 at 1038 n. 1, 1042. (certifying a question related to the tort of conversion). Nonetheless, the Ninth Circuit has held that "[e]ven where state law is unclear, resort to the certification process is not obligatory." Riordan, 589 F.3d at 1009.
It is also within the discretion of a district court to stay proceedings in its own court. Lockyer v. Mirant Corp., 398 F.3d 1098, 1109 (9th Cir.2005). This District Court has recognized that:
Davis v. Four Seasons Hotel Ltd., Civ. No. 08-00525 HG-BMK, 2011 WL 5025485, at *2 (D.Haw. Oct. 20, 2011) (quoting Lockyer, 398 F.3d at 1109).
In Davis v. Four Seasons Hotel Ltd., 810 F.Supp.2d 1145 (D.Haw.2011), Judge Gillmor similarly considered whether to stay the case in light of the same question
Similarly, this case is nearly three years old and has already been stayed once pending resolution of a certified question by the Hawaii Supreme Court. Since Judge Gillmor's order in Davis, however, the Hawaii Supreme Court has ordered briefing on the question potentially dispositive of the instant motion. See Def.'s Supplement, Doc. No. 105 Ex. A. Although more likely now, it does remain unclear when or if the Hawaii Supreme Court will answer the certified question because the court expressly declined to "conclusively determine" whether it would do so. Id. Also in contrast to the circumstances present in Davis Defendant has not previously opposed certification of the § 388-6 issue. In summary, in Davis, the plaintiffs, who are represented by the same counsel as Plaintiffs in this case, had requested certification to the Hawaii Supreme Court of the issue now before the Court, and the defendant in that case had opposed such certification;
Significantly, neither the Court nor the parties were able to find an appellate decision approving of a lower court continuing with a case when a state supreme court had accepted a certified question on an important issue of law in that case. It would be inefficient and a waste of resources to continue to trial and potentially the appellate process, and then have the Hawaii Supreme Court issue a decision inapposite to this Court's ruling. With this consideration in mind, and in deference to the Hawaii Supreme Court, who has ordered briefing on the certified question, the Court will stay the effect of the instant order, and administratively close the case, pending resolution of the question certified in Villon and Rodriguez.
Defendant's request to stay this case is GRANTED as modified.
Defendant moves to dismiss all counts of Plaintiffs' Amended Complaint, on the grounds that Plaintiffs' claims are preempted by Federal Labor Law and they fail to state claims upon which relief may be granted. Def.'s MTD Mem. at 1. The Court will first discuss preemption, followed by whether Plaintiffs' allegations state a plausible claim.
Defendant argues that Plaintiffs' claims require interpretation of the terms of a collective bargaining agreement ("CBA") and therefore the claims are preempted by Section 301 of the Labor Relations Management Act, 29 U.S.C. § 185(a) ("Section 301"), and accordingly should be dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Def.'s MTD Mem. at 30. Defendant also
Section 301 provides:
29 U.S.C. § 185(a). In enacting this statute, Congress charged federal courts with a "mandate ... to fashion a body of federal common law to be used to address disputes arising out of labor contracts." Allis-Chalmers Corp. v. Lueck, 471 U.S. 202, 209, 105 S.Ct. 1904, 85 L.Ed.2d 206 (1985). Thus, "a suit in state court alleging a violation of a provision of a labor contract must be brought under § 301 and resolved by reference to federal law. A state rule that purports to define the meaning or scope of a term in a contract suit is therefore pre-empted by federal labor law." Id. at 210, 105 S.Ct. 1904. The Supreme Court has explained, however, that in order to give the policies behind Section 301 their proper range, the pre-emptive effect of § 301 must extend beyond suits alleging contract violations. Id. Therefore,
Id. at 211, 105 S.Ct. 1904. The Supreme Court in Lueck was careful though to clarify that "not every dispute concerning employment, or tangentially involving a provision of a collective-bargaining agreement, is pre-empted by § 301 or other provisions of the federal labor law.... In extending the pre-emptive effect of § 301 beyond suits for breach of contract, it would be inconsistent with congressional intent under that section to preempt state rules that proscribe conduct, or establish rights and obligations, independent of a labor contract." Id. at 212, 105 S.Ct. 1904.
The Supreme Court revisited this issue just a few years after Lueck in Lingle v. Norge Division of Magic Chef, Inc., 486 U.S. 399, 108 S.Ct. 1877, 100 L.Ed.2d 410 (1988). Lingle has become a touchstone in the analysis of § 301 preemption. There, the Supreme Court held that although an employee was covered by a collective bargaining agreement that provided a contractual remedy for discharge without just cause, the employee could still maintain her state-law remedy for retaliatory discharge. See id. at 401, 108 S.Ct. 1877. The Supreme Court explained that in order to resolve the plaintiff's state law retaliatory discharge claim there was no need to interpret any term of the collective bargaining agreement. Id. at 407, 108 S.Ct. 1877. Therefore, the Supreme Court concluded that "the state-law remedy [was] `independent' of the collective-bargaining agreement in the sense of `independent' that matters for § 301 pre-emption
In practice, however, the "demarcation between preempted claims and those that survive § 301's reach is not ... a line that lends itself to analytical precision." Cramer v. Consol. Freightways, Inc., 255 F.3d 683, 691 (9th Cir.2001). Nevertheless, the Ninth Circuit has established guidelines to aid in this process based upon the Supreme Court's preemption decisions. See Burnside v. Kiewit Pac. Corp., 491 F.3d 1053, 1060 (9th Cir.2007).
First, a court must determine whether the asserted cause of action involves a right conferred upon an employee by virtue of state law, not by a CBA. Id. at 1059-60. As a part of this analysis, the Court must consider the "legal character of a claim, as `independent' of rights under the collective-bargaining agreement [and] not whether a grievance arising from `precisely the same set of facts' could be pursued." Id. at 1060 (citing Livadas v. Bradshaw, 512 U.S. 107, 123, 114 S.Ct. 2068, 129 L.Ed.2d 93 (1994)). Moreover, a defendant's reliance upon a CBA as an aspect of a defense is not enough to "inject[] a federal question into an action that asserts what is plainly a state-law claim." Id.
Second, even if a right exists independently of the CBA, a court must consider whether the claim is nevertheless "substantially dependent on analysis of a collective-bargaining agreement." Id. at 1059-60. To determine whether a state law right is "substantially dependent" on the terms of a CBA, the court must examine whether a claim can be resolved by "looking to" a CBA rather than "interpreting" the CBA. Id. In Livadas, the Supreme Court made it clear that "when the meaning of contract terms is not the subject of dispute, the bare fact that a [CBA] will be consulted in the course of state-law litigation plainly does not require the claim to be extinguished." Livadas, 512 U.S. at 124, 114 S.Ct. 2068. The Ninth Circuit has also explained, as part of this analysis, if a waiver of the state law right at issue is asserted (and a waiver of that right is permissible), a court may look to a CBA to determine whether it contains a clear and unmistakable waiver of that right without triggering Section 301 preemption. See Cramer, 255 F.3d at 692. Finally, a court may look to a CBA to determine damages without triggering the need for preemption. See Lingle, 486 U.S. at 413 n. 12, 108 S.Ct. 1877 ("A collective-bargaining agreement may, of course, contain information such as rate of pay ... that might be helpful in determining the damages to which a worker prevailing in a state-law suit is entitled."); Livadas, 512 U.S. at 125, 114 S.Ct. 2068, ("[T]he mere need to `look to' the collective-bargaining agreement for damages computation is no reason to hold the state-law claim defeated by § 301."); Burnside, 491 F.3d at 1073.
As Defendant recognizes, this Court previously addressed the same arguments in a similar case, Wadsworth v. KSL Grant Wailea Resort, Inc., 818 F.Supp.2d 1240 (D.Haw.2010). In Wadsworth the Court discussed Defendant's arguments in detail and concluded that, with the exception of the portion of Count III seeking recovery for an implied contract between the plaintiffs and the defendants, the same claims alleged here were not preempted by Section 301 because the claims did not involve interpretation of the CBA.
In short, the Court concludes that Count I, Plaintiffs' unfair methods of competition claim, is not preempted under Section 301 because Plaintiffs are not enforcing a right conferred only by the CBA, but rather an independent right conferred by state law. Defendant makes the blanket assertion that the Court will need to interpret the CBA in resolving this claim. Def.'s MTD Mem. at 31. Resolution of Plaintiffs' state law claim, however, is not dependent on any provision contained in the CBA and will not require interpretation of the CBA. See Wadsworth, 818 F.Supp.2d at 1251-52, 2010 WL 5146521, at *8-9. Therefore Count I is not preempted by Section 301.
In Count II, Plaintiffs assert that Defendant's conduct constitutes unlawful intentional interference with contractual and/or advantageous business relationships that exists between the employees and Defendant's customers. Am. Compl. Count II. Again this state-law claim is independent of any right conferred by the CBA. The CBA plainly does not confer or deny Plaintiffs the right to maintain business relations with customers. There is no indication that any interpretation of the terms or provision of the CBA is needed to support or defend against this claim, and thus Count II is not preempted by Section 301.
With respect to Count III, Plaintiffs recognize this Court has previously concluded that a claim for breach of an implied contract between an employer and employee is preempted by Section 301. Thus, Plaintiffs are only pursuing this count to the extent it asserts an implied contract between Defendant and its customers, with Plaintiffs as third party beneficiaries. Pls.' Opp'n at 20 n. 6. Any such an implied contract would be independent of the CBA and not require any interpretation of the terms of the CBA. Accordingly, Plaintiffs' breach of an implied contract claim is not preempted to the extent that they allege there is an implied contract between Defendant and its customers, to which Plaintiffs assert they are third party beneficiaries.
Defendant's Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED with respect to the portion of Count III that seeks recovery for an implied contract between Plaintiffs and Defendant.
Defendant asserts that Count IV, Plaintiffs' unjust enrichment claim, is preempted by Section 301 because the CBA expressly authorizes the Hotel to retain a portion of the service charges. Def.'s MTD Mem. at 32. Under Hawaii law, there are two required elements for an unjust enrichment claim — (1) a plaintiff must show that he or she has conferred a benefit upon the defendant and second, that the retention of that benefit was unjust. Wadsworth, 818 F.Supp.2d at 1254-55, 2010 WL 5146521, at *11. This claim is based upon § 481B-14, and although the CBA may need to be referenced regarding Defendant's defense, no interpretation of the CBA is required and thus Count IV is not preempted by Section 301. Moreover,
Count V, Plaintiffs' claim pursuant to Chapter 388 is similarly not preempted by section 301. This claim is asserting a state-law right that is independent of any right conferred by the CBA. The CBA will not need to be interpreted in resolving this claim and thus it is not preempted by Section 301. See id. at 1255-58, at *13-14.
In Machinists, the U.S. Supreme Court described the circumstances in which the NLRA will preempt an otherwise valid state law. Under Machinists, state activity may be restricted "on the theory that pre-emption is necessary to further Congress['s] intent that `the conduct involved be unregulated because [it should be] left to be controlled by the free play of economic forces.'" Fort Halifax Packing Co. v. Coyne, 482 U.S. 1, 19-20, 107 S.Ct. 2211, 96 L.Ed.2d 1 (1987) (second alteration in original) (internal quotations omitted) (quoting Machinists, 427 U.S. at 140, 96 S.Ct. 2548). In considering Machinists preemption, the Supreme Court has explained that states may pass laws that set minimum labor standards because they do not "encourage or discourage employees in the promotion of their interests collectively," which are the subject of federal regulation under the NLRA. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Massachusetts, 471 U.S. 724, 755, 105 S.Ct. 2380, 85 L.Ed.2d 728 (1985). The Court further explained "that it cannot declare pre-empted all local regulation that touches or concerns in any way the complex interrelationships between employees, employers, and unions; obviously, much of this is left to the States." Id. at 756-57, 105 S.Ct. 2380.
As with Defendant's arguments related to Section 301 preemption, the Court considered a nearly identical argument in Wadsworth that § 481B-14 is preempted by the NLRA pursuant to Machinists. See Wadsworth, 818 F.Supp.2d at 1260-62, 2010 WL 5146521, at *17-18. The Court adopts its reasoning in Wadsworth as its analysis in this case. In sum, § 481B-14 is a law of general applicability which creates a minimum standard related to service charges for the entire hotel and restaurant industry. Consequently, § 481B-14 does not encourage or discourage employees in the promotion of their interest collectively, and is not the type of statute that the Machinists doctrine is intended to preempt. See id. at 1259-60, at *16; see also Dillingham Const. N.A., Inc. v. Cnty. of Sonoma, 190 F.3d 1034, 1038-40 (9th Cir.1999) (concluding that a statute directed at certain workers was one of general applicability providing minimum protection for employees and thus was not preempted under Machinists); Nat'l Broadcasting v. Bradshaw, 70 F.3d 69, 71-73 (9th Cir.1995) (holding that a California regulation that applied only to broadcast employees and established an overtime minimum benefit protection was not preempted under Machinists); Rodriguez, Civ. No. 09-00016, Doc. No. 93, at 25-26 (explaining that in passing § 481B-14, "Hawai'i has done nothing more than use its broad authority to pass employment regulations to protect workers in the state," and that the provision "in no way limits the rights of self-organization or collective bargaining," and thus was not preempted under Machinists) (internal quotations omitted). Thus, § 481B-14 is not preempted by the Machinists doctrine.
Count 1 is claim for unfair methods of competition brought pursuant to §§ 481B-14, 481B-4, and 480-2. Defendant asserts that Plaintiffs have not alleged facts describing
Plaintiffs disagree with Defendant's characterization of the Hawaii Supreme Court's decision in Davis II. Pls.' Opp'n at 28. Plaintiffs assert that the Court ruled that plaintiffs must meet the "causation requirement" of the statute, which is similar to the requirement in the federal antitrust context, but that the court "specifically decided not to adopt" the test used in federal antitrust cases. Id. Instead, Plaintiffs assert the Hawaii Supreme Court held that "plaintiffs' pleadings `should reflect the anticompetitive effect either of the violation or of anticompetitive acts made possible by the violation.'" Id. Plaintiffs aver that they have met this burden, asserting that "the negative effect on competition is presumed to have occurred as a result of their employer's violation of § 481B-14." Id. at 28-29.
This Court has already rejected similar arguments made by the plaintiffs in Wadsworth and adopts its analysis in Wadsworth with respect to Count I in full as its analysis here. Specifically, the Court reiterates that in Davis II, the Hawaii Supreme Court explained that a plaintiff may bring a claim of unfair methods of competition based on conduct that would also support a claim of unfair or deceptive acts or practices, but that in doing so, the nature of the competition must be sufficiently alleged in the complaint. See Davis II, 228 P.3d at 315. The court went on to state that "the existence of the competition is what distinguishes a claim of unfair or deceptive acts or practices from a claim of unfair methods of competition." Id. at 317 n. 26 (internal quotations omitted). Thus, "[e]mployees are required to allege how [the Hotel's] conduct will negatively affect competition in order to recover on an unfair methods of competition claim." Id. at 317-18.
Hawaii's requirement that a plaintiff assert the nature of the competition is designed to serve the same purpose as the federal requirement that a plaintiff assert an antitrust injury. See id. at 323 ("When examining HRS § 480-2, this court has recognized that `[t]he genesis of Hawai`i's consumer protection statute is in federal antitrust law,' with a shared `concern for the preservation of unrestrained economic competition and free trade.'") (alterations in original) (quoting Cieri v. Leticia Query Realty, Inc., 80 Haw. 54, 905 P.2d 29, 34 (1995)). In Davis II, the Hawaii Supreme Court explained that it had previously "noted that the antitrust injury should reflect the anticompetitive effect either of the violation or of the anticompetitive acts made possible by the violation." Davis II, 228 P.3d at 323 (quoting Robert's Hawaii Sch. Bus, Inc. v. Laupahoehoe Transp. Co. Inc., 91 Haw. 224, 982 P.2d 853, 883 n. 31 (1999)). Consequently, Plaintiffs' argument that they do not have to plead an antitrust injury is without merit.
Plaintiffs' allegations related to competition include that (1) "the defendant has gained an unfair competitive advantage over competitor hotels that comply with Section 481B-14 because the defendant is able to reduce the published cost of its food and beverages by improperly profiting from the imposition of a service charge that its customers would believe is used in full to pay gratuity for its food and
These pleadings are insufficient because (1) although Plaintiffs allege harm to competitors, they have not alleged harm to competition; (2) merely alleging competition between hotels that results in lower prices to consumers does not give rise to antitrust injury, instead Plaintiffs must show how these lower prices are predatory; (3) Plaintiffs have offered no authority supporting their allegation that they were "competing" with Defendant for tips, that there is a competitive market for tips, that Defendant was part of this market, or that Defendant's actions regarding service charges had a negative effect on any such market; and (4) Plaintiffs' conclusory statements that their injuries are "inextricably intertwined" with Defendant's anti-competitive acts does not establish that Defendant's actions have caused any negative effect on competition. See Wadsworth, 818 F.Supp.2d at 1264-70, 2010 WL 5146521, at *21-26.
Consequently, Plaintiffs have not adequately alleged the nature of competition and Count I is DISMISSED without prejudice.
In Count II, Plaintiffs assert a claim for intentional interference with contractual and/or business relations. Defendant asserts that Plaintiffs fail to state a viable claim because any business relationship could "only be by virtue of H.R.S. § 481B-14." Def.'s MTD Mem. at 27. Defendant also contends that Plaintiffs have not alleged a business relationship between themselves and the customers or prospective advantage or expectancy that would mature in the future. Id.
Hawaii recognizes two separate torts: (1) tortious interference with contractual relations and (2) the tort of intentional or tortious interference with prospective business advantage. Meridian Mortg. Inc. v. First Hawaiian Bank, 109 Haw. 35, 122 P.3d 1133, 1145-46 (Haw. App.2005); Robert's Hawaii Sch. Bus, Inc., 982 P.2d at 887-88. Among other elements, tortious interference with contractual relations requires a contract between the plaintiff and a third party and a defendant's knowledge of the contract. Meridian, 122 P.3d at 1143. Because Plaintiffs have not alleged the existence of a contract between themselves and customers of the Hotel, the Court will focus on a tortious interference with prospective business advantage claim.
To state a claim for tortious interference with prospective business advantage, a plaintiff must allege: (1) the existence of a valid business relationship or a prospective advantage or expectancy that is reasonably probable of maturing into a future economic benefit to the plaintiff; (2) knowledge of the relationship, advantage, or expectancy by the defendant; (3) purposeful intent to interfere with the relationship, advantage or expectancy; (4) legal causation between the act of interference and the impairment of the relationship, advantage, or expectancy; and (5) actual damages. See id. at 1145-46.
Plaintiffs have alleged that they served Defendant's customers, that the customers paid the service charge, and
Plaintiffs have therefore failed to allege sufficient facts to support their claim and Count II is DISMISSED without prejudice.
Plaintiffs' third count asserts that "the defendant has breached an implied contract with its customers that the employees would receive this money, for which the employees are third party beneficiaries."
To state a claim for breach of an implied contract, a plaintiff must allege the breach of "an agreement in fact," which is not expressed, but "is implied or presumed" based upon the actions of the parties. Durette v. Aloha Plastic Recycling, Inc., 105 Haw. 490, 100 P.3d 60, 74 (2004); Kemp v. State of Haw. Child Support Enforcement Agency, 111 Haw. 367, 141 P.3d 1014, 1038 (2006). "Generally, third parties do not have enforceable contract rights. The exception to the general rule involves intended third-party beneficiaries." Ass'n of Apartment Owners of Newtown Meadows v. Venture 15, Inc., 115 Haw. 232, 167 P.3d 225, 262 (2007) (internal quotations omitted). Thus, "a prime requisite to the status of `third party beneficiary under a contract is that the parties to the contract must have intended to benefit the third party, who must be something more than a mere incidental beneficiary.'" Id. (internal quotations omitted).
Plaintiffs allege that by imposing a service charge, Defendant and Defendant's customers had an implied contract that the serving employees would receive the service charge. Plaintiffs further assert that Defendant has breached this implied contract through withholding service charges. This claim is unlikely to survive a summary judgment motion. See Davis I, Civ. No. 08-00525, Doc. No. 183, at 12-13 (granting summary judgment for the defendant on a similar claim because the plaintiffs were unable to point to evidence of actions taken by the hotel and its customers that would imply a mutual intent to form a contract requiring the hotel to remit the total service charges to employees). At this stage of the proceeding, however, Plaintiffs' allegations are sufficient to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. See Rodriguez, Civ. No. 09-000016 DAE-LEK, Doc. No. 93, at 53 (D.Haw. Dec. 29, 2010) (determining a similar claim with similar allegations stated a plausible claim).
In Count IV, Plaintiffs assert that "the defendant's conduct as set forth above constitutes unjust enrichment under state common law." Am. Compl. Count IV. There are two elements a plaintiff must show to establish an unjust enrichment claim under Hawaii law. Wadsworth, 818 F.Supp.2d at 1254-55, 2010 WL 5146521, at *11. First, a plaintiff must show that he or she has conferred a benefit upon the defendant and second, that the retention of that benefit was unjust. Id. Plaintiffs have alleged that Defendant's conduct of assessing and partially retaining a service charge at events where Plaintiffs serve food and beverages, which customers expect and intend to be distributed to Plaintiffs, results in unjustly enriching Defendant.
Defendant alleges that Plaintiffs cannot show any such retention was unjust because the CBA, negotiated by Defendant and Plaintiffs' union, allows Defendant to retain a portion of service charges. The Court cannot consider the CBA in deciding the motion to dismiss as it is not a proper subject of judicial notice and the Amended Complaint does not refer to it. See Fed. R.Civ.P. 12(d) ("If, on a motion under Rule 12(b)(6) or 12(c), matters outside the pleadings are presented to and not excluded by the court, the motion must be treated as one for summary judgment under Rule 56.").
Consequently, Defendant's motion to dismiss Count IV is DENIED.
In Count V, Plaintiffs assert that as a result of Defendant's unlawful failure to remit the entire proceeds of food and beverage service charges to the food and beverage servers, Defendant is liable to Plaintiffs under Chapter 388. Am. Compl. Count V. Whether Plaintiffs have stated a plausible claims turns on a question of statutory interpretation — whether an employee may recover under H.R.S. §§ 388-6, 388-10, and 388-11, for the failure of a hotel to distribute service charges to employees when the hotel did not make disclosures required by H.R.S. § 481B-14.
The Court has diversity jurisdiction over this case pursuant to the Class Action Fairness Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1332(d)(2). See Am. Compl. ¶ 2. In Davis II, the Hawaii Supreme Court addressed whether employees have standing to enforce § 481B-14 through § 480-2(e), but declined to consider whether § 481B-14 is enforceable through §§ 386-6, 388-10, and 388-11 because "it [was] beyond the scope of the certified question." 228 P.3d at 308 n. 12. Because the instant issue raises a question not yet decided by the Hawaii Supreme
The Hawaii Supreme Court instructs that "[w]hen construing a statute, the starting point is the language of the statute itself." State v. Batson, 99 Haw. 118, 53 P.3d 257, 259 (2002) (internal quotation omitted). A court "must read statutory language in the context of the entire statute and construe it in a manner consistent with its purpose." Id. (internal quotations omitted). When statutes appear to relate to the same subject matter, the Hawaii Supreme Court uses a three-step approach to interpret those statutes.
Batson, 53 P.3d 257, 259 (alterations in original) (internal quotations and citations omitted).
The Hawaii Supreme Court has explained: "It is a cardinal rule of statutory interpretation that, where the terms of a statute are plain, unambiguous and explicit, we are not at liberty to look beyond that language for a different meaning. Instead, our sole duty is to give effect to the statute's plain and obvious meaning." T-Mobile USA v. Cnty. of Hawaii Planning Comm'n, 106 Haw. 343, 104 P.3d 930, 939-40 (2005) (internal quotations omitted).
In Count V, Plaintiffs seek to recover unpaid service charges pursuant to H.R.S. § 388-6, titled "Withholding of wages." Section 388-6 provides that: "No employer may deduct, retain, or otherwise require to be paid, any part or portion of any compensation earned by any employee except where required by federal or state statute or by court process or when such deductions or retentions are authorized in writing by the employee."
H.R.S. § 388-1.
"Any employer who fails to pay wages in accordance with [Chapter 388] without equitable justification" is liable to the unpaid employee for twice the amount of the unpaid wages. H.R.S. § 388-10. Section 388-11 provides an employee or class of employees with a cause of action to recover unpaid wages.
Pursuant to § 481B-4, if a person violates a provision of Chapter 481B, the person is deemed to have engaged in an unfair method of competition. One such provision, § 481B-14, requires that:
Defendant argues that Count V does not state a plausible claim because Plaintiffs have no "inchoate right" to service charges and "if they have a claim to [service charges], it could only be by virtue of H.R.S. § []481B-14." Def.'s MTD Mem. at 13. Defendant asserts that consequently, if Plaintiffs cannot assert a claim under § 481B-14, there is nothing to remedy and a claim under Chapter 388 cannot stand. Id. Defendant asserts that improperly retained service charges are not "compensation earned," and that instead, service charges are property of the hotel that imposes them in contrast to tips. Def.'s Opp'n at 6. Defendant elaborates that the CBA contains the amount of service charges Plaintiffs are entitled to receive, and thus that amount is the only service charges that Plaintiffs "earned," and that "[a]ny payments above that are not earned," but "a penalty imposed by H.R.S. § []481B-14." Id. Defendant relies heavily on the legislative history of § 481B-14. Def.'s MTD Mem. at 7-14. Defendant asserts, inter alia, that because the legislature initially intended to amend Chapters 387 and 388, but chose to ultimately add a new section regarding service charges in Chapter 481B, § 481B-14 is enforceable exclusively through Chapter 480. Id. at 10-11. Defendant avers that Plaintiffs erroneously rely on the title of H.B. No. 2123, the bill that eventually became § 481B-14, which is "Relating to wages and Tips of Employees." Def.'s Reply at 11-13. Defendant argues that the title is insignificant because the Hawaii Legislative Drafting Manual indicates that each bill gets a title and that titles should not be amended. Id. at 11.
Plaintiffs point out that "section 388-1 defines `wages' as `compensation for labor services rendered by an employee,' including, for purposes of § 388-6, `tips or gratuities of any kind.'" Pls.' Reply at 3. Plaintiffs assert that, therefore, service charges that must be distributed as "tip income," "plainly mean" the same thing as "compensation earned" as used in § 388-6. Id. Plaintiffs assert that the plain language of the statutes renders a resort to legislative history unnecessary, and that in any event, the legislative history supports Plaintiffs' interpretation of the statute. Id. at 8. Plaintiffs aver that the title of H.B. No. 2123, "Relating to Wages and Tips of Employees," is "pivotal," because Article III, section 15 states that: "No law shall be passed except by bill. Each law shall embrace
Plaintiffs additionally contend that the title supports that § 481B-14 and § 388-6 can be read in pari materia. Id. Plaintiffs assert that "[s]imply put, § 481B-14 deals with distribution of `tip income' and § 388-6 deals with the withholding of wages and other compensation, including tips," and thus the two provisions deal with similar subjects. Id. Plaintiffs further contend that if the legislature did not intend for employees to be able to bring an action seeking payment of service charges under § 388-6, there would no reason for the final version of § 481B-14 to require that, where a clear disclosure is not made, the service charge be distributed "directly to its employees as tip income. ..." Id. at 10. Plaintiffs assert this is "especially so" because the phrase "as tip income" was added after the proposed bill had been moved to Chapter 481B. Id.
Again, the Court considered this identical issue in an order issued today in Wadsworth. Both Defendant and Plaintiffs are represented by the same counsel in Wadsworth, and the parties have not made any arguments that were not made in that case. The Court will adopt its reasoning in that case as its reasoning here. See Wadsworth, Civ. No. 08-00527 ACK-RLP, Order Denying Defendants' Motion to Dismiss, Granting Defendants' Request to Stay Proceedings as Modified, and Administratively Closing this Case. In sum, the Court found that pursuant to the plain language of §§ 388-6, 388-10, 388-11, and 481B-14, employees can recover service charges that a hotel imposed without making a clear disclosure that the charges were not distributed to employees as tips or wages. Because § 481B-14 and § 388-6 address the same subject matter, compensation of employees, the statutes can be read in pari materia, i.e., applied with reference to each other. Defendant's argument that the Court must ignore the title of H.B. No. 2123 is not persuasive. Significantly, after noting the title of H.B. No. 2123 was "Relating to Wages and Tips of Employees," the Hawaii Supreme Court stated that "although we believe the title is instructive in that it appears to reflect the legislature's concern that employees may not always be receiving the service charges imposed by their employers, we do not believe it is dispositive of the issue of whether the legislature intended to afford Employees standing to sue for HRS § 481B-14 violations." Davis II, 228 P.3d at 313 (emphasis added). Although the title is not dispositive of the issue whether the two provisions here consider the same subject matter, it, along with the Hawaii Supreme Court's discussion in Davis II, provide further support for the Court's conclusion that the statutes both refer to employee compensation and thus can be read in pari materia.
Section 481B-14 requires hotels to distribute service charges to employees as "tip income." Section 388-6 provides that employers cannot retain "compensation earned" by employees and § 388-1 provides that, for purposes of Chapter 388, "`[w]ages' means compensation for labor or services rendered by an employee ... for the purposes of section 388-6, `wages' shall include tips or gratuities of any kind." (emphasis added). Employees earn "tip income" that is distributed from service charges made without the requisite disclosure by serving at the relevant events. This "tip income" qualifies as "compensation earned" under § 388-6, and thus is recoverable pursuant to § 388-10,
Because under Hawaii law the Court need not look past the plain language, it is unnecessary to consult the legislative history of § 481B-14 here. Nonetheless, the Court alternatively holds that the legislative history, as interpreted by the Hawaii Supreme Court in Davis II, allows Plaintiffs to recover for unpaid service charges imposed without the requisite disclosure set forth in § 481B-14, through a claim brought pursuant to §§ 388-6, 388-10, and 388-11.
In Davis II, the Hawaii Supreme Court performed an in depth review of the legislative history of § 481B-14, and determined that "[i]n sum, the legislative history of H.B. No. 2123 indicates that the legislature was concerned that when a hotel or restaurant withholds a service charge without disclosing to consumers that it is doing so, both employees and consumers can be negatively impacted." Davis II, 228 P.3d at 314 (emphasis added). This Court agrees with Judge Gillmor's analysis in Davis, that:
Davis, 810 F.Supp.2d at 1154 (internal citations omitted).
Defendant's Motion to Dismiss with respect to Count V is DENIED.
For the foregoing reasons the Court (1) GRANTS in part and DENIES in part Defendant's Motion to Dismiss, and (2) GRANTS Defendant's request to stay the case as modified.
Specifically, Counts I, II, and III, to the extent Count III seeks recovery for an implied contract between Defendant and Plaintiffs, are DISMISSED.
The Court orders a stay of all proceedings pending a decision by the Hawaii Supreme Court on the question of law certified to it by Judge Kobayashi in Villon v. Marriot Hotel Services, Inc., CV-08-00529 LEK-RLP, Doc. No. 130 (Oct. 12, 2011), and Rodriguez v. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., CV-09-00016 LEK-RLP, Doc. No. 139 (Oct. 12, 2011). The Clerk of Court is directed to administratively close this action without prejudice to any party. The closing is administrative only and thus has no effect on the procedural or substantive rights of any party or any limitations period. Any party may move to reopen the case after the Hawaii Supreme Court rules, and the parties shall promptly inform this court in writing of the disposition in Judge Kobayashi's case, at which time the stay will be automatically dissolved if not earlier. The instant order will not go into effect until after the Hawaii Supreme Court rules on
IT IS SO ORDERED.
See Davis v. Four Seasons Hotel Ltd., Civ. No. 08-00525 HG-LEK, Doc. No. 75, 2009 WL 1607534 (D.Haw. June 2, 2009).
The Hawaii Supreme Court declined to accept these two questions. See Def.'s Supplemental Filing, Doc. No. 105 Ex. A.
