Laborers union recovers payments from employer

CHARLESTON – An Ohio company has agreed to pay a Charleston-based laborers union more than $180,000 to settle a lawsuit filed against it.

Various funds headed by West Virginia Laborers, as well as the group’s Local No. 1149, alleged L.A. Pipe Line Construction was not reporting and paying workers certain hourly contributions, as required by the National Pipeline Agreement reached between the Laborers’ International Union of North American and the Main Line Pipe Line Contractors.

The plaintiffs alleged the company owed $94,822.09, plus interest and the cost of any audits performed.

A complaint filed Aug. 22, 2011, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia also sought attorneys fees.

The complaint said the ownership of L.A. Pipe Line had another company called L.A. Pipeline Construction Company.

“Based upon information and belief, the plaintiffs allege that Defendants ‘L.A. Pipeline Companies’ have not reported accurately and have not paid the full amounts Defendants are obligated to contribute and/or withhold pursuant to the respective ‘Pipeline Agreement’ and have committed a breach of contract,” the complaint said.

A bench trial was scheduled for Jan. 23 before U.S. District Judge Joseph Goodwin, but an order was entered Jan. 3 that said the sides had reached an agreement.

The order said L.A. Pipeline agreed that it is responsible for the debts and liabilities alleged.

The $181,316.45 figure the two sides agreed on represented unpaid contributions, interest, liquidated damages and attorneys fees.

One defendant, Richard West, is not a party to the order and the civil matter will continue against him.

Charleston attorney Roger Williams of Williams Law Office represented the plaintiffs, while Daniel Corcoran of Marietta, Ohio, represented the defendants.

From the West Virginia Record: Reach John O’Brien at jobrienwv@gmail.com.