# Galouch v. Maine Dept of Professional and Financial Regulation > Superior Court of Maine · July 22, 2014 URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10810499 ## Case - **Court:** Superior Court of Maine - **Decided:** July 22, 2014 - **Precedential status:** Unpublished - **Opinion:** Opinion - **Judges:** M. Michaela Murphy - **Cited by:** 0 later opinions in the Frix Law Library ## Citator (automated) - No negative treatment found by the automated citator. That is not the same as a confirmation that the case is good law; read the citing cases. - Full citator and citing cases: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10810499 ## How later opinions describe it (automated extraction) - stating that where a collective bargaining agreement provides that a union and not an individual employee can request arbitration, the employer and the union are the only parties to the arbitration and only they can seek relief from an adverse award - holding that under a state statute regulating collective bargaining agreements, a unionized employee did not have standing to seek to set aside an arbitration award - holding that the petitioner could not seek to vacate the arbitration award because he was party neither to the arbitration nor to the collective bargaining agreement - holding that the petitioner lacked standing to seek vacation of the award because he was not a party to the arbitration ## Opinion text STATE OF MAINE SUPERIOR COURT KENNEBEC, ss CIVIL ACTION DOCKET NO. CV-12-175 Mfv1M- IfcE 9 PATRICIA GALOUCH - PLAINTIFF SUPERIOR COURT KENNEBEC, ss. Attorney for: PATRICIA GALOUCH Docket No AUGSC-CV-2012-00175 JAMES A CLIFFORD - RETAINED CLIFFORD & CLIFFORD LLC 62 PORTLAND RD SUITE 37 DOCKET RECORD KENNEBUNK ME 04043 VS STATE OF MAINE DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL - DEFENDANT 35 STATE HOUSE STATION AUGUSTA ME 04333-0035 Attorney for: STATE OF MAINE DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL KELLY L TURNER - RETAINED OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 6 STATE HOUSE STATION AUGUSTA ME 04333-0006 MILA KOFMAN (DISMISSED) - DEFENDANT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, 2233 WISCONSIN AVE NW, STE 525 WASHINGTON DC 20007 Attorney for: MILA KOFMAN (DISMISSED) KELLY L TURNER - RETAINED OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 6 STATE HOUSE STATION AUGUSTA ME 04333-0006 ANNE HEAD (DISMISSED) - DEFENDANT DPFR, 35 STATE HOUSE STATION AUGUSTA ME 04333-0035 Attorney for: ANNE HEAD (DISMISSED) KELLY L TURNER - RETAINED OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 6 STATE HOUSE STATION AUGUSTA ME 04333-0006 Filing Document: COMPLAINT Minor Case Type: CONSTITUTIONAL/CIVIL RIGHTS Filing Date: 05/29/2012 Docket Events: 05/30/2012 FILING DOCUMENT - COMPLAINT FILED ON 05/29/2012 Plaintiff's Attorney: JAMES A CLIFFORD 05/30/2012 Party(s): PATRICIA GALOUCH ATTORNEY - RETAINED ENTERED ON 05/29/2012 Plaintiff's Attorney: JAMES A CLIFFORD 05/30/2012 Party(s): PATRICIA GALOUCH OTHER FILING - ENTRY OF APPEARANCE FILED ON 05/29/2012 Plaintiff's Attorney: JAMES A CLIFFORD 06/28/2012 Party(s): PATRICIA GALOUCH SUPPLEMENTAL FILING - AMENDED COMPLAINT FILED ON 06/21/2012 Plaintiff's Attorney: JAMES A CLIFFORD Page 1 of 6 Printed on: 12/17/2013 AUGSC-CV-2012-00175 DOCKET RECORD 07/11/2012 Party(s): STATE OF MAINE DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL MOTION - MOTION TO DISMISS FILED ON 07/06/2012 Defendant's Attorney: KELLY L TURNER WITH MEMORANDUM OF LAW, ATTACHED EXHIBITS AND PROPOSED ORDER 7/6/2012-AMENDED MOTION TO DISMISS FILED 08/02/2012 Party(s): PATRICIA GALOUCH MOTION - MOTION FOR ENLARGEMENT OF TIME FILED ON 07/27/2012 Plaintiff's Attorney: JAMES A CLIFFORD TO FILE RESPONSE TO STATE'S AMENDED MOTION TO DISISS. 08/02/2012 Party(s) : PATRICIA GALOUCH MOTION - MOTION FOR ENLARGEMENT OF TIME GRANTED ON 08/02/2012 M MICHAELA MURPHY 1 JUSTICE COPIES TO PARTIES/COUNSEL 08/02/2012 Party(s): STATE OF MAINE DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL ATTORNEY - RETAINED ENTERED ON 07/06/2012 Defendant's Attorney: KELLY L TURNER 08/02/2012 Party(s): MILA KOFMAN (DISMISSED) ATTORNEY - RETAINED ENTERED ON 07/06/2012 Defendant's Attorney: KELLY L TURNER 08/02/2012 Party(s): ANNE HEAD (DISMISSED) ATTORNEY - RETAINED ENTERED ON 07/06/2012 Defendant's Attorney: KELLY L TURNER 08/10/2012 Party(s): STATE OF MAINE DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL MOTION - MOTION FOR ENLARGEMENT OF TIME FILED ON 08/07/2012 Defendant's Attorney: KELLY L TURNER FOR EXTENSION OF TIME TO FILE OPPOSITION TO DEFENDANT'S MOTION TO DISMISS AND PROPOSED ORDER 08/15/2012 Party(s): PATRICIA GALOUCH OTHER FILING - OPPOSING MEMORANDUM FILED ON 08/15/2012 Plaintiff's Attorney: JAMES A CLIFFORD TO DEFENDANT'S MOTION TO DISMISS 08/17/2012 Party(s): STATE OF MAINE DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL MOTION - MOTION FOR ENLARGEMENT OF TIME GRANTED ON 08/17/2012 M MICHAELA MURPHY I JUSTICE COPIES TO PARTIES/COUNSEL DEFENDANT'S REPLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPPORT OF ITS MOTION TO DISMISS IS DUE ON OR BEFORE AUGUST 27 2012 1 08/31/2012 Party(s) : STATE OF MAINE DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL,MILA KOFMAN (DISMISSED) ,ANNE HEAD (DISMISSED) OTHER FILING - REPLY MEMORANDUM FILED ON 08/27/2012 Defendant's Attorney: KELLY L TURNER IN SUPPORT OF ITS AMENDED MOTION TO DISMISS Page 2 of 6 Printed on: 12/17/2013 AUGSC-CV-2012-00175 DOCKET RECORD 11/14/2012 HEARING- MOTION TO DISMISS SCHEDULED FOR 11/28/2012 at 10:45 a.m. in Room No. 2 M MICHAELA MURPHY , JUSTICE 11/14/2012 HEARING - MOTION TO DISMISS NOTICE SENT ON 11/14/2012 11/14/2012 ASSIGNMENT - SINGLE JUDGE/JUSTICE ASSIGNED TO JUSTICE ON 11/14/2012 M MICHAELA MURPHY , JUSTICE 11/21/2012 Party(s): PATRICIA GALOUCH MOTION - MOTION TO CONTINUE FILED ON 11/21/2012 Plaintiff's Attorney: JAMES A CLIFFORD MOTION HEARING 11/21/2012 Party(s): PATRICIA GALOUCH MOTION - MOTION TO CONTINUE GRANTED ON 11/21/2012 M MICHAELA MURPHY , JUSTICE RE-SCHEDULED FOR LATER IN DECEMBER. UNDERSIGNED NOT IN KENNEBEC ON 12/11/12. COPY TO ATTY CLIFFORD AND AAG TURNER 11/21/2012 HEARING - MOTION TO DISMISS NOT HELD ON 11/21/2012 MOTION TO CONTINUE GRANTED 12/21/2012 HEARING - MOTION TO DISMISS SCHEDULED FOR 01/09/2013 at 09:30 a.m. in Room No. 2 M MICHAELA MURPHY , JUSTICE 12/21/2012 HEARING - MOTION TO DISMISS NOTICE SENT ON 12/21/2012 LIST SENT TO ATTY CLIFFORD AND AAG TURNER 01/09/2013 HEARING - MOTION TO DISMISS HELD ON 01/09/2013 M MICHAELA MURPHY , JUSTICE Defendant's Attorney: KELLY L TURNER Plaintiff's Attorney: JAMES A CLIFFORD TAPE 1644, INDEX 5753-7162 AND TAPE 1645, INDEX 72-155 UNDER ADVISEMENT 02/20/2013 Party(s): STATE OF MAINE DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL MOTION - MOTION TO DISMISS DENIED ON 02/15/2013 M MICHAELA MURPHY , JUSTICE COPY TO ATTY CLIFFORD, AAG TURNER 03/05/2013 Party(s): STATE OF MAINE DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIVE PLEADING - ANSWER TO AMENDED PLEADING FILED ON 03/04/2013 Defendant's Attorney: KELLY L TURNER DEFT'S ANSWER TO AMENDED COMPLAINT 04/18/2013 Party(s): PATRICIA GALOUCH LETTER - FROM PARTY FILED ON 04/17/2013 Plaintiff's Attorney: JAMES A CLIFFORD REGARDING SCHEDULING ORDER AND AMENDED COMPLAINT 04/23/2013 ORDER - SCHEDULING ORDER ENTERED ON 04/23/2013 M MICHAELA MURPHY , JUSTICE Page 3 of 6 Printed on: 12/17/2013 AUGSC-CV-2012-00175 DOCKET RECORD ORDERED INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE AT THE SPECIFIC DIRECTION OF THE COURT. COPIES TO PARTIES/COUNSEL 04/23/2013 DISCOVERY FILING - DISCOVERY DEADLINE ENTERED ON 12/23/2013 05/15/2013 Party(s): STATE OF MAINE DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL MOTION - MOTION SUMMARY JUDGMENT FILED WITH AFFIDAVIT ON 05/15/2013 Defendant's Attorney: KELLY L TURNER WITH MEMORANDUM OF LAW STATEMENT OF MATERIAL FACTS AFFIDAVIT OF JULIE ARMSTRONG AND PROPOSED ORDER 06/06/2013 Party(s): PATRICIA GALOUCH OTHER FILING - AFFIDAVIT FILED ON 06/05/2013 Plaintiff's Attorney: JAMES A CLIFFORD OF PATRICIA GALOUCH 06/06/2013 Party(s): PATRICIA GALOUCH OTHER FILING - OPPOSING MEMORANDUM FILED ON 06/06/2013 Plaintiff's Attorney: JAMES A CLIFFORD PLTF'S OPPOSING STATEMENT OF MATERIAL FACTS ANB STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FACTS, PLTF'S MEMORANDUM OF LAW IN OPPOSITION TO DEFT'S MOTION SJ 06/13/2013 Party(s): STATE OF MAINE DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL OTHER FILING - REPLY MEMORANDUM FILED ON 06/12/2013 Defendant's Attorney: KELLY L TURNER DEFT'S REPLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF ITS MOTION FOR SJ, REPLY STATEMENT OF MATERIAL FACTS 06/18/2013 HEARING - MOTION SUMMARY JUDGMENT SCHEDULED FOR 07/15/2013 at 11:30 a.m. in Room No. 2 M MICHAELA MURPHY , JUSTICE 06/18/2013 HEARING - MOTION SUMMARY JUDGMENT NOTICE SENT ON 06/18/2013 06/25/2013 Party(s) : STATE OF MAINE DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL MOTION - MOTION TO CONTINUE FILED ON 06/24/2013 Defendant's Attorney: KELLY L TURNER DEFT'S UNOPPOSED MOTION TO CONTINUE (HEARING 7/15/13) 07/03/2013 Party(s): PATRICIA GALOUCH ADR - NOTICE OF ADR PROCESS/NEUTRAL FILED ON 07/03/2013 Plaintiff's Attorney: JAMES A CLIFFORD MEDIATION WITH JERROL CROUTER, 7/30/13 07/03/2013 Party(s): STATE OF MAINE DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL MOTION - MOTION TO CONTINUE GRANTED ON 07/02/2013 M MICHAELA MURPHY , JUSTICE COPIES TO PARTIES/COUNSEL RESCHEDULED TO NEXT CIVIL MOTION DAY 07/03/2013 HEARING - MOTION SUMMARY JUDGMENT NOT HELD ON 07/02/2013 MOTION TO CONTINUE GRANTED 08/29/2013 Party(s): STATE OF MAINE DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL MOTION - MOTION FOR ENLARGEMENT OF TIME FILED ON 08/23/2013 Page 4 of 6 Printed on: 12/17/2013 AUGSC-CV-2012-00175 DOCKET RECORD Defendant's Attorney: KELLY L TURNER DEFT'S UNOPPOSED MOTION FOR ENLARGEMENT TO COMPLETE ADR 08/30/2013 Party(s) : STATE OF MAINE DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL MOTION - MOTION FOR ENLARGEMENT OF TIME GRANTED ON 08/29/2013 M MICHAELA MURPHY , JUSTICE COPIES TO PARTIES/COUNSEL ADR BY 1/23/14. ALL DEADLINES SET BY SCHEDULING ORDER FOLLOWING THE DISCOVERY DEADLINE ARE EXTENDED BY 30 DAYS. 09/21/2013 HEARING - MOTION SUMMARY JUDGMENT SCHEDULED FOR 10/09/2013 at 09:00 a.m. in Room No. 2 M MICHAELA MURPHY , JUSTICE 09/21/2013 HEARING - MOTION SUMMARY JUDGMENT NOTICE SENT ON 09/21/2013 10/09/2013 HEARING - MOTION SUMMARY JUDGMENT HELD ON 10/09/2013 M MICHAELA MURPHY , JUSTICE Defendant's Attorney: KELLY L TURNER Plaintiff's Attorney: JAMES A CLIFFORD TAPE 1767, INDEX 3600-4965 UNDER ADVISEMENT 10/09/2013 CASE STATUS - DECISION UNDER ADVISEMENT ON 10/09/2013 M MICHAELA MURPHY , JUSTICE MOTION SJ 10/17/2013 Party(s): STATE OF MAINE DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL DISCOVERY FILING- RULE 26(G) LETTER FILED ON 10/16/2013 Defendant's Attorney: KELLY L TURNER REQUEST FOR PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS, ETC, SERVED 10/9. 10/29/2013 HEARING- 26(G) CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR 10/31/2013 at 09:00 a.m. M MICHAELA MURPHY , JUSTICE NOTICE TO PARTIES/COUNSEL 10/30/2013 Party(s) : STATE OF MAINE DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL LETTER - FROM PARTY FILED ON 10/25/2013 Plaintiff's Attorney: JAMES A CLIFFORD RESPONSE RE: REQUEST FOR DISCOVERY CONFERENCE 11/03/2013 HEARING- 26(G) CONFERENCE HELD ON 10/31/2013 M MICHAELA MURPHY , JUSTICE Defendant's Attorney: KELLY L TURNER Plaintiff's Attorney: JAMES A CLIFFORD 11/03/2013 ORDER- 26(G) ORDER ENTERED ON 10/31/2013 M MICHAELA MURPHY , JUSTICE ALL DISCOVERY DEADLINES STAYED UNTIL 11/15/13 COPIES TO PARTIES/COUNSEL 12/03/2013 Party(s): PATRICIA GALOUCH JURY FILING - DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL FILED ON 11/27/2013 Plaintiff's Attorney: JAMES A CLIFFORD Page 5 of 6 Printed on: 12/17/2013 AUGSC-CV-2012-00175 DOCKET RECORD 12/17/2013 Party(s): STATE OF MAINE DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL MOTION - MOTION SUMMARY JUDGMENT DENIED ON 12/17/2013 M MICHAELA MURPHY I JUSTICE COPIES TO PARTIES/COUNSEL AND REPOSITORIES. DEFT'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT IS DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. AFTER DISCOVERY IS COMPLETE, BOTH PARTIES MAY FILE DISPOSITIVE MOTIONS UNDER THE RULES. A TRUE COPY ATTEST: Clerk Page 6 of 6 Printed on: 12/17/2013 STATE OF MAINE SUPERIOR COURT KENNEBEC, ss CIVIL ACTION DOCKET NO. AP-13-01 (11\MM- JL,£ N- 1 ; ; ; ofo/3 PATRICIA GALOUCH, Petitioner, v. ORDER ON MOTION TO VACATE ARBITRATION AWARD STATE OF MAINE, DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL AND FINANCIAL REGULATION, BUREAU OF INSURANCE, Respondent. Before the Court is Petitioner Patricia Galouch's Motion to Vacate the Arbitration Award AAA Case No. 11 390 02265 10, State# 2010-220-M dated November 13, 2012 (the "Arbitration Award") brought pursuant to the Uniform Arbitration Act, 14 M.R.S.A. §§ 5927- 5949. PROCEDURALANDFACTUALBACKGROUND Patricia Galouch ("Galouch") was employed as an Office Associate II by the Maine Bureau of Insurance, a State of Maine agency within the DPFR from May 6, 2006 to October 22, 2010. (Br. of Pet. 1.) On March 10, 2009, along with her attorney and Maine State Employees Association SEIU Loca11989 ("MSEA-SEIU") representatives, she engaged in mediation with the State. (Br. of Pet. 1.) The parties reached an agreement and Galouch agreed to dismiss or withdraw all her past grievances and complaints; the State promised to retain her position, 1 improve working conditions, remove certain files within her employment file regarding discipline, and pay her attorney's fees. (Br. of Pet. 1.) On December 16,2009, MSEA-SEIU filed a grievance on Galouch's behalf in connection with an oral reprimand she had received from one of her supervisors for failing to follow directions in a particular matter. (Br. of Pet. 2.) On January 13, 2010, Galouch reported to her supervisor that she believed a certain State subcontractor had breached the terms of a court reporting service agreement. (Br. of Pet. 2.) Galouch alleges that her Supervisor, Tom Record, and Deputy Superintendent, Eric Cioppa, were angered that Galouch had decided to report this supposed violation. (Br. ofPet. 2.) On January 28,2010, the Superintendent of the Bureau oflnsurance, Mila Kofman, placed Galouch on involuntary (i.e., paid) administrative leave. (Br. of Pet. 2.) The notice of suspension stated that Gal ouch's suspension was based on allegations that she had exceeded the authority anciJor duties of her position, and that if the allegations were substantiated, they would lead to discipline and even discharge. (Br. of Pet. 2; Ex. 1.) Galouch alleges that she was placed on administrative leave and ultimately terminated because of her January 13 whistleblowing reports. (Br. of Pet. 2.) Additionally, she claims she was dismissed without proper prior notice, without an opportunity to understand the allegations leveled against her or respond to them, and without regard to the express terms ofthe March 10, 2009 Settlement Agreement. (Br. of Pet. 2.) On July 12, 201 0, Galouch received a letter dated July 9, 2010 from Kathy Weymouth, an Investigator with the State of Maine Office of Employee Relations ("0 ER"), seeking an interview with Galouch "in connection with the allegations that she exceeded her authority." (Br. of Pet. 2; Ex. 2.) The investigation request also indicated that Gal ouch was being reviewed based on reports of additional performance issues discovered since she had been placed on 2 administrative leave, "including inattention to detail, entering incorrect information into a database, and failure to follow direction." (Br. of Pet. 2; Ex. 2.) On August 17, 2010, Gal ouch along with her Union Steward and Representative met with Investigator Weymouth concerning the State's investigation. (Br. of Pet. 2.) Investigator Weymouth issued a report to State BOHR General Counsel Joyce Oreskovich on September 9, 2010 entitled "Patricia Galouch Investigation." (Br. ofPet. 2.) On September 27, 2010, Galouch received notice from Superintendent Kofman that DPFR was terminating her employment. (Br. of Pet. 3.) On October 15,2010, a Loudermill hearing was held at which Galouch and her MSEA-SEIU Field Representative met with Commissioner Anne Head and Ms. Oreskovich. (Br. of Pet. 3.) Following this hearing, on October 19, 2010, Galouch received notice from Commissioner Head stating her employment was terminated effective October 22, 2010. (Br. of Pet. 3; Ex. 3.) Subsequently, in accordance with the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreement (the "CBA"), MSEA-SEIU submitted a request for arbitration to the American Arbitration Association, which was set to be reviewed by Joan Martin, Arbitrator (the "Arbitrator"). The request alleged that Gal ouch's termination was without just cause and without regard for or deference to the law or terms of the 2009 Settlement Agreement. (Br. of Pet. Ex. 8.) The parties to arbitration, the State and MSEA-SEIU, agreed on the following two issues to be addressed by the Arbitrator: whether there was just cause to terminate Galouch and what should the remedy be if no such good cause was found. (Br. ofPet. Ex. 4 at 1.) The Arbitration Hearing was held on March 22, April 3, April26, June 6, June 11, June 19, July 16, and July 17, 2012, and was attended by all parties with the Arbitrator. 1 (Br. of Pet. 3.) After the Hearing was over, the 1 Galouch notes that there is no typed transcript or audiotape available because neither the State nor MSEA-SEIU retained court reporters or recorders for the arbitration. (Br. of Pet. 3.) 3 parties submitted briefs, and on November 13, 2012, the Arbitrator issued her opinion ruling that the DPFR had terminated Galouch without just cause. (Br. of Pet. 3; Ex. 4.) However, the Arbitrator upheld the termination because she concluded that Galouch had failed to perform her duties as an employee of the Bureau oflnsurance even adequately. 2 (Br. of Pet. 3; Ex. 4.) Galouch then notified MSEA-SEIU that she would be filing this motion to vacate the Arbitration Award prose. (Br. of Pet. 3.) STANDARD OF REVIEW The role of courts in post-arbitration judicial review is very limited. The Maine Uniform Arbitration Act, 14 M.R.S.A. § 5938(1) provides that an arbitrator's award will be vacated if, among other things, the arbitrator exceeded her authority. The standard for determining whether an arbitrator exceeded her authority is a narrow one. Dep 't ofTransp. v. Maine State Emps. Ass'n, SEIU Locall989, 606 A.2d 775,777 (Me. 1992). The Court will uphold an arbitrator's award if it is supported by any rational construction of the collective-bargaining agreement. Maine State Emps. Ass 'n v. Maine Dep 't of Defense, 436 A.2d 394, 397 (Me. 1981 ). A court may not substitute its judgment for that of the arbitrator. Dep 't ofTransp., 606 A.2d at 777. It is the arbitrator's construction of a contract that is bargained for, and only when there is a manifest disregard of the contract or the award contravenes public policy, will the court disturb the award. !d. See also Bureau of Maine State Police v. Pratt, 568 A.2d 501, 505 (Me. 1989). The mere fact that an arbitrator commits an error of law does not mean that she has exceeded his authority. !d. 2 The Arbitrator's Award was, as presented: 1. The State of Maine did not have just cause to terminate the Grievant. 2. The Grievant shall be awarded back pay from the date of her termination, October 22, 2010 until the date ofthis award, November 13, 2012. 3. The Grievant shall be reimbursed for any verifiable medical expenses incurred during the time of her termination, if those expenses would otherwise have been paid by her insurance coverage if she had been employed. 4. The Grievant shall not be reinstated to her position with the State of Maine. (Br. ofPet. Ex. 4 at 33.) 4 Not to give such a broad discretion to the arbitrator's award would give courts the final say on the merits of the arbitration and undercut the benefits of labor arbitration-namely, speed, flexibility, informality, and finality. Mitsubishi Motors Corp. v. Soler Chrysler-Plymouth, Inc., 473 U.S. 614, 628 (1985). DISCUSSION Does Galouch Have Standing to Challenge the Arbitration Award? The first issue before this Court is whether Galouch has standing to challenge the Arbitration A ward even though she is not a signatory to the CBA and did not participate in the arbitration as a party. While other courts have addressed this narrow issue, it has not yet been before the Law Court. 3 Courts that have considered whether an aggrieved employee has standing to challenge an arbitration award have held that the challenger will have standing if she is a "party" to the collective bargaining agreement4 or to the arbitration. 5 3 See, e.g., Plumley v. S. Container, Inc., 125 F. Supp. 2d 556, 559 (D. Me. 2000) ("In general, an individual employee lacks standing either to enforce an arbitration award.") (citing Cleveland v. Porca Co., 38 F.3d 289,296 & n. 5 (7th Cir.1994)). 4 Stahulak v. City of Chicago, 703 N.E.2d 44, 46 (Ill.l998) (holding that because the plaintiff was not a party to the collective bargaining agreement, he lacked standing to bring a lawsuit to vacate an arbitration award); Miller v. Bd. of Regents of Higher Educ., 405 Mass. 475 (Mass. 1999) (holding that under a state statute regulating collective bargaining agreements, a unionized employee did not have standing to seek to set aside an arbitration award); Farmer v. H.O. Penn Mach., 375 N.Y.S.2d 17, 18 (N.Y. App. Div. 1975) (holding that the petitioner could not complain ofthe arbitration award because he was not a party to the collective bargaining agreement). 5 Kozura v. Tulpehocken Area Sch. Dist. & Tulpehocken Educ. Ass 'n, 791 A.2d 1169, 1174 n. 7 (Pa. 2002) (stating that where a collective bargaining agreement provides that a union and not an individual employee can request arbitration, the employer and the union are the only parties to the arbitration and only they can seek relief from an adverse award); accord Taylor v. State Bd. of Mediation & Arbitration, 736 A.2d 175, 179 (Conn. App. Ct. 1999) (holding that unless the collective bargaining agreement establishes a personal right to seek arbitration, an employee is not a party to the arbitration and lacks standing to seek confirmation of the award); Wilson v. Bd. of Educ. of the City of New York, 689 N.Y.S.2d 222, 222 (N.Y. App. Div. 1999) (holding that the petitioner could not seek to vacate the arbitration award because he was party neither to the arbitration nor to the collective bargaining agreement); Cornell v. Caren, 428 N.Y.S.2d 764, 766 (N.Y. App. Div. 1980) (holding that the petitioner lacked standing to seek vacation of the award because he was not a party to the arbitration). 5 Here, the only two parties to arbitration were the State and MSEA-SEIU. (Br. of Pet. Ex. 4.) The caption of the Arbitrator's Decision is styled "Maine State Employees Association Local 1989, SEJU, AFL-CJO and State of Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation." (Pet. Ex. 4 at 1.) It refers to Galouch as "Grievant," and not as "Party." (Br. of Pet. Ex. 4 at 9-14, 20-23.) Nor was Galouch a signatory to the CBA; the only signatories to the contract were the State and MSEA-SEIU. (Br. of Pet. Ex. 5 at 81.) Because Galouch was not a party to the CBA or the arbitration, she has no standing to challenge the Arbitration A ward, unless there exists an independent basis conferring standing-if she is an intended third-party beneficiary under the CBA with an enforceable right to individually challenge the Arbitration Award. 6 The courts that allowed aggrieved employees to proceed with their actions challenging an arbitration award did so on the basis of the language of the collective bargaining agreement at issue. See, e.g., Kozura, 791 A.2d 1169. In those cases, the agreement on its face intended to permit unionized employees to assert grievances individually, or to arbitrate or challenge the results of such proceedings on their own behalf. For example, in Kozura, the court held that an aggrieved employee had standing because the collective bargaining agreement contained the following provisions: "If the grievance has not been settled in Step Three, it may be referred to arbitration by the Employee(s)" and "An Employee may be represented at any and all steps of this procedure by a person of their choice." ld. It is not enough for the collective bargaining agreement to simply bring about some benefit to the aggrieved employee. In Falsetti v. Local Union No. 2026, United Mine Workers of 6 The Court agrees with Galouch that in general, third-party intended beneficiaries have standing to enforce a contract, however, this is not the issue before this Court. The narrow issue here is whether the CBA intended to give Galouch an enforceable right to individually challenge the Arbitration Award in spite of her not being a signatory to the contract. 6 America, the court specifically rejected the argument that an employee should be entitled to enforce a seniority provision in the agreement because it was intended to benefit unionized employees and not the union. 161 A.2d 882, 893 (Pa. 1960). On the contrary, the Court held that the employee's cause of action was precluded by a contractual grievance and arbitration procedure, which, by its very terms, limited access thereto to the union. !d. The CBA before this Court is unlike the one in Kozura. The language of the CBA provides as follows: "if the grievance has not been satisfactorily resolved in Step 3, then MSEA- SEIU may submit the grievance to arbitration by submitting a request for arbitration to the Chief Counsel of Employee Relations as well as a statement of the grievance." (Br. of Pet. Ex. 5 at 32 (emphasis added).) It further provides that "[t]he State shall not deny any employee MSEA-SEIU representation at any stage of the grievance procedure and MSEA-SEIU shall have the exclusive right to represent employees in any grievance." (Br. of Pet. Ex. 5 at 33 (emphasis added).) This language in the CBA unambiguously suggests that it was not the intention of the State or MSEA-SEIU to allow State employees, like Galouch, to enforce individually their rights under the CBA's grievance and arbitration provisions. In fact, to do so would thwart the purpose of collective bargaining. Although this Court is ofthe opinion that Galouch and similarly situated employees do not have standing to challenge an arbitration award obtained by MSEA-SEIU pursuant to Step 4 of the Grievance Procedure, it does not mean that these employees are left without recourse. An individual employee may bring such a claim if she by her motion to vacate an arbitration award also alleges and proves that the union breached its duty of fair representation in connection with the substance of her claim. Plumley, 125 F. Supp. 2d at 559 (citing Cleveland, 38 F.3d at 297). 7 And an employee need not sue the union in order to proceed against his employer on such a claim.ld. (citing De/Costello v. lnt'l Bhd. a/Teamsters, 462 U.S. 151, 165 (1983)). The record in this case is insufficient to support a finding of a breach of fiduciary duties owed by MSEA-SEIU to Galouch. Petitioner contends that she "notified her labor union, the Maine State Employees Association (MSEA-SEIU), that she would be filing this appeal prose after they notified her that they would not." (Br. of Pet. 3.) However, nothing in the record indicates that MSEA-SEIU's decision not to proceed with a motion to vacate the Arbitration Award was "arbitrary, discriminatory or in bad faith." Brown v. MSEA, 1997 ME 24, ~ 7, 690 A.2d 956; Lundrigan v. MLRB, 482 A.2d 834, 836 (Me. 1984). While the union may not disregard or set aside a grievance with merits, or unreasonably postpone filing a grievance, "a 'wide range of reasonableness must be allowed' and 'mere negligence, poor judgment or ineptitude are insufficient to establish a breach of the duty of fair representation."' Lundrigan 482 A.2d 836 (quoting Ford Motor Co. v. Huffman, 345 U.S. 330, 338 (1953)); see also Brown, 1997 ME 24, ~ 7, 690 A.2d 956. A union's conduct is arbitrary if: In light of the factual and legal landscape at the time of the union's actions, the union's behavior is so far outside a wide range of reasonableness as to be irrational. A union's discriminatory conduct violates its duty of fair representation if it is invidious. Bad faith requires a showing of fraud, or deceitful or dishonest action. Aguinaga v. United Food & Commercial Workers lnt'l Union, 993 F.2d 1463, 1470 (lOth Cir. 1993). None of these elements of unfair representation are present here and for that reason, the Court concludes that MSEA-SEIU's decision not to pursue Galouch's theory of inadequacy of the Arbitration A ward was an act of discretion, and fell sufficiently within the bounds of its duty 8 of fair representation. For the foregoing reasons, Gal ouch lacks standing to challenge the Arbitration Award either as a third-party beneficiary or on any other basis. If Galouch Had Standing, Would She Be Able to Establish Grounds for Vacating the Arbitration A ward? Even if Gal ouch had standing to pursue this motion to vacate the Arbitration Award, she would fail because she did not plead a cognizable legal basis to invalidate the Arbitrator's decision. 7 Gal ouch argues that the Arbitrator's Award should be vacated because she exceeded her power in fashioning the remedy so that Galouch would not be reinstated to her position with the State. She contends that having determined that Galouch was terminated without just cause, the Arbitrator was constrained to fashion a remedy consistent with the progressive discipline prescribed by the CBA. To find merit in Galouch's argument, this Court must conclude that the Arbitrator's decision bears no reasonable relationship to the CBA. Maine State Emps. Ass 'n, 436 A.2d at 3 97. If there is any rational construction of the CBA that would support the Arbitration Award, the Award must be upheld.ld The CBA prohibits the State from suspending without pay, demoting, or dismissing its employees unless it first gives the employee a notice in writing of the disciplinary action to be taken. (Br. of Pet. Ex. 5 at 19.) It further requires the State to follow the principles of progressive discipline. (Br. of Pet. Ex. 5 at 19.) The Arbitrator concluded that the State failed to follow progressive discipline and for that reason found Galouch's termination to be without just cause. 7 Pursuant to 14 M.R.S.A. § 5938(1), this Court may vacate an arbitrator's award on the basis of: corruption, fraud or other undue means; arbitrator's partiality; arbitrator's having exceeded his powers; arbitrator's refusal to postpone the hearing or refusal to hear evidence material to the controversy. 9 But, because of her finding that Galouch had failed to perform her duties even adequately, the Arbitrator concluded that reinstatement would not be an appropriate remedy in this case. (Br. of Pet. Ex. 4 at 29.) Although this remedy seems to go beyond the four comers of the CBA, it was the parties' arbitration submission that empowered the Arbitrator to craft the remedy the way she did. "Absent an express provision to the contrary, it must be assumed that the parties did not intend the arbitrator to go beyond the contract." Am. Fed'n of State, Cnty., & Mun. Emps., Council 93 v. City of Portland, 675 A.2d 100, 103 (Me. 1996) (citing Westbrook Sch. Comrn. v. Westbrook Teachers Ass 'n, 404 A.2d 204, 208-209 (Me.1979)). However, if the parties to arbitration purposefully invite the arbitrator to determine her own remedy, the reviewing court will be required to consider both the agreement and the arbitral submission. !d. (citing E. Maine Med. Ctr., Inc. v. Maine State Nurses Ass'n, 866 F. Supp. 607,609 (D. Me. 1994)). Here, the parties to arbitration, the State and MSEA-SEIU, submitted two issues to the Arbitrator: "Did the State have just cause to terminate the grievant, Patricia Galouch?" and "If not, what shall the remedy be?'' (Br. of Pet. Ex. 4 at 1.) In other words, the State and MSEA- SEIU did not simply request that the Arbitrator determine whether, pursuant to the CBA, there was just cause for Gal ouch's termination, but they also explicitly expanded the Arbitrator's authority by asking her to craft a remedy she deemed appropriate. In light of this arbitral submission, the award was within the consensual delegation of arbitral authority. !d. (citing High Concrete Structures, Inc. v. United Elec., Radio and Mach. Workers ofAm., Local 166, 879 F.2d 1215, 1218-19 (3d Cir.1989) (parties may agree to authorize an arbitrator to go beyond the terms of the agreement by submitting specific issues to arbitration); Carpenters' Dist. Council v. 10 Anderson, 619 F.2d 776, 778 (8th Cir.l980) (even if arbitrator exceeded his power pursuant to the agreement, the parties' submission gave him authority to order reinstatement and back pay)). With the deferential scope of review in mind, the Court is compelled to conclude that the Arbitration Award was proper. The entry will be: Patricia Galouch's Motion to Vacate the Arbitrator's Award dated November 13, 2012 is DATE SUPERIOR COURT JUS 11 Date Filed 1/9/13 Kennebec Docket No. AP-13-01 F County Action: Petition for Review J. Murphy soc State of Maine, Department of Professional Patricia Galouch vs. & Financial Regulation, Bureau of Insurance Plaintiff's Attorney Defendant's Attorney Patricia Galoueh, Pro 8e Julie Armstrong, Esq, 91 Old VViAthro~ Road, #3 79 State House Station Augusta, ME 04330 Augusta, ME 04333-0079 Barbara Goodwin, Esq. PO Box 1051 Augusta, ME 04332-1051 Date of Entry 1/15/13 Appellant's Petition Of Review Brief, filed 1/9/13. s/Galouch, ProSe 1/31/13 Memorandum In Opposition To Petitioner's Motion To Vacate Arbitration Award, filed 1/30/13. s/Armstrong, Esq. 2/12/13 Reply to Memorandum Opposition to Petitioner's Motion to Vacate Arbitration Award, filed. s/Galouch, ProSe 2/13/13 Revised signed Certificate of Service, filed.s/Patricia Galouch, ProSe 3/12/13 Oral argument scheduled for 4/4/13 List mailed to Petitioner and Atty Armstrong 3/28/13 Motion to Continue, filed. s/Galouch, Pro Se 4/1/13 ORDER, Murphy, J. Motion to Continue is Granted. Copy to Petitioner and Atty Armstrong 5/24/13 Oral argument scheduled for 7/15/13 at 9:30a.m. Copy of motion list and hearing notice mailed to Petitioner and Atty Armstrong. 7/17/13 Oral argument was not held on 7/15/13. Rescheduled to 8/2/13 at 8:15. Notice of Hearing mailed to Attys Goodwin and Armstrong. 8/2/13 Oral argument held. J. Murphy presiding. Barbara Goodwin, Esq. for Petitioner, Julie Armstrong, Esq. for Respondent. Tape 1740, Index 50-650 Under advisement. Page 1 AP-13-01 12/10/13 ORDER ON MOTION TO VACATE ARBITRATION AWARD, Murphy, J. Patricia Galouch's Motion to Vacate the Arbitrator's Award dated November 13, 2012 is DENIED. Copy to Attys Goodwin and Armstrong. Copy to repositories. Page 2 AP-13-01 --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10810499. Public record. Not legal advice.