Somerville Construction Co.

National Labor Relations Board - Board Decisions

May 9, 2003

338 N.L.R.B. 1178 (N.L.R.B. 2003)

DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD 1178
Somerville Construction Co., a sole proprietorship,
and its alter ego HI-TK, LLC; and Somerville
Construction Co., a sole proprietorship and HI-
TK, LLC, single employers and International
Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftsmen Local
4 of Indiana and Kentucky, Merrillville Chap-
ter, a/w International Union of Bricklayers and
Allied Craftsmen, AFL–CIO. Case 25–CA–
25276
May 9, 2003
SUPPLEMENTAL DECISION AND ORDER
BY MEMBERS SCHAUMBER, WALSH, AND ACOSTA
On January 15, 2003, Administrative Law Judge
Robert A. Pulcini issued the attached supplemental deci-
sion.1 The General Counsel filed limited exceptions.2
The National Labor Relations Board has delegated its
authority in this proceeding to a three-member panel.
The Board has considered the decision and the record
in light of the exceptions and affirms the judge’s rulings,
findings, and conclusions as modified, and adopts the
recommended Order, as modified and set forth in full
below.

1 On January 29, 1999, the Board, at 327 NLRB 514, issued its deci-
sion in the underlying unfair labor practice case, finding that Respon-
dent Somerville Construction Co. violated Sect. 8(a)(5) by engaging in
certain unfair labor practices. (The Board incorrectly spelled the Re-
spondent’s name in that case) The United States Court of Appeals for
the Third Circuit, at 206 F.3d 752, subsequently enforced the Board’s
Order on May 8, 2000.
2 Respondent HI-TK, LLC (HI-TK) filed a statement in response
(Response) to the General Counsel’s limited exceptions. The Response
was untimely under Sec. 102.46(d)(1) of the Board’s Rules and, on that
ground, the General Counsel filed a motion to strike the Response.
HI-TK argues that its late filing is excusable because the Board
failed to serve it with a copy of the judge’s decision. Respondent
Somerville, however, which HI-TK has conceded is its alter ego, was
served with a copy of that decision. It is well established that, where
two companies are alter egos, service on one company is sufficient to
constitute service on the other. See, e.g., Sturdevant Roofing Co., 238
NLRB 186, 187 (1978), enfd. 636 F.2d 271 (10th Cir. 1980). Further,
assuming HI-TK had not already received a copy of the decision, HI-
TK’s receipt of the General Counsel’s limited exceptions put HI-TK on
notice that the judge’s decision had issued. HI-TK never notified the
Board that it had not received the judge’s decision, requested a copy of
the same, or inquired as to the deadline for filing a response to the
limited exceptions. Thus, it appears any uncertainty on HI-TK’s part as
to the time period for filing a response to the limited exceptions was
due to HI-TK’s own lack of diligence. We, therefore, grant the General
Counsel’s motion to strike the Respondent’s response on timeliness
grounds. Even if we were to accept HI-TK’s untimely response, we
find the arguments raised in it are lacking in merit.
In light of the above, it is unnecessary to pass on the General Coun-
sel’s motion to strike HI-TK’s supplemental response to the General
Counsel’s initial motion. We point out also that HI-TK’s supplemental
response constitutes a reply brief not permitted under Section 102.46(h)
of the Board’s Rules. For the same reason, the Board will not accept
any further submissions by HI-TK.
At the outset of the backpay hearing, the parties, in-
cluding Respondent Somerville Construction Co.
(Somerville) and Respondent HI-TK, LLC (HI-TK) en-
tered into a joint stipulation to resolve all issues relating
to the compliance specification the General Counsel had
issued. The judge, in his supplemental decision, set forth
findings of fact and a recommended Order which he be-
lieved were consistent with the parties’ joint stipulation
and addressed all of the relevant issues set forth therein.
The General Counsel contends in limited exceptions
that the judge omitted the following findings that were a
relevant part of the joint stipulation: (1) that Respon-
dents Somerville and HI-TK are, and have been at all
material times, alter egos and a single employer within
the meaning of the Act; (2) that HI-TK is jointly and
severally liable with Somerville to remedy Somerville’s
unfair labor practices; and (3) that, in the event any of the
individual discriminatees cannot be located within 1 year
from the date of this decision, the money due such indi-
viduals will be distributed to the other discriminatees.
We find merit in the General Counsel’s contentions.
Regarding (1) and (2) above, the compliance specifica-
tion specifically alleges that Respondents Somerville and
HI-TK are alter egos and a single employer within the
meaning of the Act. Since the joint stipulation provides
that Somerville and HI-TK agree to withdraw their re-
spective answers to the compliance specification and
states that they do not contest the allegations set forth
therein, we modify the judge’s findings of fact to provide
that Somerville and HI-TK are alter egos and a single
employer within the meaning of the Act and that, as a
single integrated business enterprise, they are jointly and
severally liable for Somerville’s unfair labor practices.
We also modify the judge’s recommended Order accord-
ingly.
Regarding (3) above, the joint stipulation that Somer-
ville and HI-TK executed also provides that, in the event
any of the individual discriminatees cannot be located
within 1 year from the date of the judge’s decision, the
money due such individuals will be distributed to the
other discriminatees. Therefore, we modify the judge’s
recommended Order to reflect the parties’ agreement on
this issue.
ORDER
IT IS ORDERED that Respondent Somerville Construc-
tion Co., a sole proprietorship, and Respondent HI-TK,
LLC are alter egos and a single employer within the
meaning of the Act and that they constitute a single inte-
grated business enterprise that is jointly and severally
liable to remedy the unfair labor practices that Respon-
dent Somerville has committed.
338 NLRB No. 182
SOMERVILLE CONSTRUCTION CO. 1179
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Respondents Somerville
and HI-TK, LLC, Indianapolis, Indiana, their officers,
agents, successors, and assigns, shall pay to the individu-
als set forth in Appendix A of the judge’s decision the
total of $2,852,389 representing backpay in the amount
of $1,499,941 and fringe benefits in the amount of
$1,352,448, minus the appropriate deductions for any tax
withholding required by State and Federal laws.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, in the event that any of
the individual discriminatees cannot be located within 1
year from the date of the judge’s decision, the money due
such individuals will be distributed to the other discrimi-
natees named in Appendix A of the judge’s decision con-
sistent with the Board’s standard practice and procedure.

Joanne C. Mages, Esq. and Rebekah Ramirez, Esq., for the
General Counsel.
James D. Masur II, Esq. (Locke Reynolds LLP), of Indianapo-
lis, Indiana, for the Respondent.
Paul T. Berkowitz Esq. (Paul T. Berkowitz & Associates, Ltd.),
of Chicago, Illinois, for the Charging Party.
SUPPLEMENTAL DECISION
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
ROBERT A. PULCINI, Administrative Law Judge. This case
was tried in Indianapolis, Indiana, on November 12, 2002. A
Decision and Order of the National Labor Relations Board
issued on January 29, 2000, affirming the findings of Adminis-
trative Law Judge James L. Rose in his recommended decision
of November 20, 1998, that certain unfair labor practices oc-
curred in the above-captioned case. An order from the Seventh
Circuit United States Court of Appeal issued on January 19,
2000, affirming the Boards’ findings. A compliance specifica-
tion and notice of hearing then issued on February 20, 2002, to
resolve, inter alia, issues of backpay.1
At hearing, the parties resolved all outstanding issues related
to the compliance specification by entering into a joint stipula-
tion and Motion for Judgment on the pleadings.2

1 The compliance specification also alleged that the original Respon-
dent Somerville Construction now does business as an entity called HI-
TK, LLC, either as an alter ego or as a single employer, or both. (Col-
lectively referred to as the Respondent.)
2 Respondent withdrew its answer to the compliance specification as
part of the stipulation.
This stipulation and the Board and Court of Appeals findings
constitute the entire record in this matter including the compli-
ance specification as amended by agreement.
On the entire record, I make the following
FINDINGS OF FACT
I. JURISDICTION
The Respondent is an employer engaged in commerce within
the meaning of Section 2(2), (6), and (7) of the Act and that the
Union is a labor organization within the meaning of Section
2(5) of the Act.
Pursuant to the stipulation, as described, the backpay period
ended on May 31, 1998.
The now uncontested specification computes the backpay in
the amount of $1,499,941. Similarly, the fringe benefits are
computed as $1,352,448. The total exposure of the Respondent
is $2,852,389.3
The individuals identified by the parties as eligible for distri-
bution of the above amounts are set forth in Appendix A of this
Supplemental Decision. The manner of distribution will be
made according to the usual practices of the Board.
On these findings of fact, I grant the Motion for Summary
Judgment on the pleadings and on the entire record issue the
following recommended4
ORDER
The Respondent, Somerville Construction Co., and HI-TK,
LLC, Indianapolis, Indiana, their officers, agents, successors,
and assigns, shall pay to the individuals set out in Appendix A,
the total of $2,852,389 representing backpay in the amount of
$1,499,941 and fringe benefits in the amount of $1,352,448,
making the appropriate deductions for any tax withholding
required by State and Federal laws.
3 The amounts of moneys reflect the application of a formula agreed
to by the parties as mirroring industry practice. It is a lump sum that
does not rely on the actual hours worked.
4 If no exceptions are filed as provided by Sec. 102.46 of the
Board’s Rules and Regulations, the findings, conclusions, and recom-
mended Order shall, as provided in Sec. 102.48 of the Rules, be
adopted by the Board and all objections to them shall be deemed
waived for all purposes.

APPENDIX A

1. Aguilar, Jesse
2. Allen, Derrick
3. Almanzon, Bernardo
4. Alv, G. R.
5. Alv, L.
6. Alvarado, Juventino
7. Alvarado, Leobardo
8. Alvarez, Leobardo
9. Anderson, Ronnie
10. Andrade, Enrique
11. Anguilar, Jessie
12. Aquilar, Jose Israel
13. Arbogast, Nelson
14. Arcos, Horacio
15. Arcos, Ricardo
16. Armenta, Guadalupe
17. Armento, Mauro
18. Arredondo, David
19. Arriga, Jose
20. Averitte, Andrew
21. Azapata, Veronica
22. Babcock, Dave
23. Banda, Javir
24. Banegas, Jorg R.
25. Bankhead, Robert
26. Bantes, Michael
27. Baugh, Michael
28. Bautista, Jose
29. Bell, Clemon
30. Bell, Harold
DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD 1180
31. Ben, J.C.
32. Benamon, Sam
33. Ber, E.
34. Berry, Larry
35. Blas, Domingo
36. Bocanegra, Carlos
37. Bolanos, Angel
38. Boyd, Kelly
39. Boyd, Wavy
40. Bradley, Fred C.
41. Brewer, Carlos
42. Brewer, Dorothy
43. Brooks, Anthony
44. Brooks, James
45. Brown, Joe
46. Brown, Joe L., Jr.
47. Brown, Jonn
48. Brown, Nathaniel F.
49. Brown, Nathaniel L
50. Bruner, Floyd T.
51. Bryant, Antonio Lee
52. Butcher, John
53. Butto, Corey
54. Butts, Helen
55. Calderon, Dimas
56. Caldwell, Robert
57. Calvin, George
58. Campbell, Derrick
59. Cardenas, Ramon
60. Cardona, Jose
61. Carnell, Chris
62. Carnell, Kurt
63. Carnell, Ricky
64. Castaneda, Salomon Uribe
65. Castillo, Antonio
66. Cathey, Willie B.
67. Chambers, Beverly
68. Chavez, Fernando
69. Chavez, Fernando Sr.
70. Chavez, Jr., Fernando
71. Chavez, Raul Martinez
72. Churchman, M. S.
73. Clark, James
74. Clay, Robert
75. Cole, J. C.
76. Coles, Charles
77. Collier, James M.
78. Conley, T.C.
79. Covington, James
80. Cox, Eddie
81. Cruz, Antonio
82. Cruz, Tony
83. Cunningham, Mack
84. Cunningham, V.W
85. Daniel, Edward
86. Daniel, Edward Jr.
87. Daniels, Edward
88. Daulton, Carl
89. Davis, John
90. Davis, Sammy
91. Davis, Shawn
92. Day, Dora
93. Dees, Detra
94. Diaz, Marco
95. Dillon, Anthony
96. Dodd, Allen
97. Dougthit, Doren
98. Dumes, Sam
99. Dyson, Keith
100. Easterling, Curtis
101. Edmonds, Bryant Keith
102. Edwards, Michael
103. Ellis, Thomas
104. Estrada, Luciano Olivera
105. Ferell, James
106. Fincher, Nikkia
107. Flores, Abel
108. Flores, Miguel
109. Flores, Noe
110. Foster, John
111. Frazier, Bobby
112. Frazier, Charmel M.
113. Freeman, Keith
114. Fryson, John
115. Fuentes, Juan
116. Fuentes, Salvador
117. Gaither, Ronnie
118. Gamez, Jose A.
119. Gamez, Juan F.
120. Garcia, Adolfo
121. Garcia, Felipe
122. Garcia, Fernando
123. Garcia, Jose Luis
124. Garcia, Ricardo
125. Garrett, Daryl
126. Gibson, Raymond
127. Gil, George
128. Godinez. Martin
129. Godinez, Tammy
130. Gomez, Jolio A. Montoya
131. Gomez, Jose
132. Gonzales, Hugo
133. Gonzales, Rocendo
134. Gonzales, Rosendo
135. Gonzalez, Fernando Chavez
136. Gooch, William
137. Graham, Fred
138. Graves, Leonard
139. Gray, Jr., H.E.
140. Griffin, Cortese
141. Griffin, Percy R.
142. Guarniola, Jose
143. Guy, Dirk D.
144. Hall, Brian
145. Hampton, Larry
146. Harlin, Quiana
147. Harrell, Edward J.
148. Harville, Leroy
149. Hernandez, Cesar
150. Hernandez, Ygnacio
151. Herrera, Jesus R.
152. Hicks, James
153. Hicks, Sylvester
154. Holmes, Leon
155. Homes, Leon
156. Houston, Nicholas
157. Howard, Jackie K., Jr.
158. Howson, Fred
159. Hoyle, James
160. Hoyle, Nina
161. Hughes, Don
162. Ibarra, Julian
163. Ipina, Valentino
164. Jackson, J.C.
165. Jackson, James
166. Jackson, Prentiss
167. Jackson, Robert
168. Jams, Ronald
169. Jefferson, Allan
170. Jeffries, Rosie
171. Jennings, Willie
172. Johnson, Derrick
173. Johnson, Euranus J.
174. Johnson, III, Johnny
175. Johnson, Michael
176. Johnson, Tony
177. Johnson, Warter
178. Jones, Clint
179. Jones, Dan
180. Jones, Frank D.
181. Jones, George
182. Jones, Kenneth
183. Jones, Willie
184. Kyles, Howard
185. LaJaye, Stewart
186. Lewis, Barbara
187. Lewis, Darrell
188. Lewis, Milton
189. Lewis, Ryan
190. Lopez, Abel
191. Lopez, Guillermo
192. Lopez, Manuel
193. Lopez, Omar
194. Lopez, Salvador
195. Lopez, Uriel
196. Lordeo, Fidel
197. Luna, J, Delores
198. Maguegal, Carlos
199. Magueyal, J. Ernesto
200. Mann, Robert
201. Manning, Derek
202. Manuel, Antonio
203. Martin, Guadalupe
204. Martinez, Edgardo S.
SOMERVILLE CONSTRUCTION CO. 1181
205. Martinez, Enrique Olvera
206. Martinez, Juan
207. Matinez, Juan
208. McGlan, Willie
209. McKinney, Roosevelt
210. McNeal, Charlie J.
211. McNeal, William
212. Medina, Jose
213. Mejia, Noe
214. Mendes, Tomas
215. Mendez, Jose Luis
216. Mendoza, Benjamin
217. Mendoza, Eluterio
218. Mendoza. Javier
219. Mendoza, Raul
220. Mendoza, Raul B.
221. Mendoza, Salome
222. Minter, John
223. Miranda, Israel
224. Montoya, Enrique
225. Moore, Edward
226. Morales, Enrique
227. Morales, Gerardo
228. Morales, Leobardo
229. Morales, Miguel
230. Mosley, David
231. Munday, Curtis
232. Murillo, Ernesto
233. Musick, Penny
234. Nichols, Michael W.
235. Nunes, Martin
236. 0., Margarito Gomez
237. Oaks, Glen
238. Orr, Dennis, R.
239. Orr, Ulice O.
240. Paniagua, Baltazar F
241. Parada, David
242. Pennington, Robert
243. Perez, Bartolo Aguilar
244. Perez, Ramon
245. Perine, Edward
246. PeNine, Terry
247. Phillips, Jim
248. Plummer, Mark A.
249. Ponce, Juan
250. Ponce, Mario
251. Poole Gregory K.
252. Powell, Hallie
253. Pratt, Michael
254. Price, Sammy
255. Puente, Guillermo
256. Pullins, Kevin
257. Purnell, Carolyn
258. Rainey, Charmel M.
259. Rainey, Randolph
260. Ramirez. Dimas V.
261. Randolph, Vernell
262. Reed, Paul R.
263. Reynosa, Aureliano
264. Richardson, Reggie
265. Richardson, Roger
266. Rivera, Ernesto
267. Rivera, Jose L.
268. Rivera, Mateo
269. Rivera, Oscar
270. Riveria, Juan
271. Roberts, Kenny
272. Robledo, Andres
273. Robledo, Juan Manuel
274. Robledo, Pedro
275. Rodriguez, Augustine
276. Rodriguez, Roberto
277. Rodriquez, Miguel
278. Rodriquez, Roberto S.
279. Rojas, Abel
280. Rollins, Elzea
281. Rosas, Ivan
282. Ross, Todd
283. Rubio, Jose L. Martinez
284. Salazar, Candelario
285. Sanchez, Francisco F.
286. Sanchez, Salvador
287. Sanders, Elbert
288. Serrato, Eleazar
289. Shelby, Joe
290. Shinkle, David
291. SiFuentes, Sergio
292. Sil, I.
293. Slayden, Sollie
294. Smiley, Michael G.
295. Somerville, Brandon
296. Somerville, Dana
297. Somerville, Denise
298. SomervIlle, Diane
299. Somerville, Frank
300. Somerville, Frank Cordell
301. Somerville, Homer L. Jr.
302. Sosa, Miguel
303. Spier, H. J.
304. Spight, Derrick L.
305. Stringer, Emmanuel
306. Taylor, John Ed
307. Taylor, Phillip
308. Tena, Victor
309. Torrence, Delisa
310. Tovar, Wilmer
311. Troutman, Antonio
312. Tucker, Vincent
313. Tyler, Dondray
314. Vazquez, Jose Alverto
315. Vega, Fermin
316. Vicario, Gregorio
317. Victoria, Erick
318. Volladares, Luis Alfredo
319. Walker, Charlie
320. Wallace, Zula
321. War, C.
322. Watkins, Horace
323. Whitley, Willie
324. Watts, Elmer
325. Williams, Eugene
326. Williams, James
327. Williams, Leon
328. Williams, Mary
329. Wilson, Billy
330. Winn, Richard
331. Woods, Shelby
332. Wright, Rafael
333. Young, James
334. Zamora, David Romero
335. Zamora, Enrique
336. Zamora, Javier
337. Zapata, Frutoso