United Continental Holdings obtains summary judgment in single plaintiff employment dispute

Client(s) United Continental Holdings, Inc.

Jones Day represented United Continental Holdings, Inc. ("United") in connection with a lawsuit filed by a former employee asserting causes of action for breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty. Both claims arose from the plaintiff's receipt of benefits in connection with his participation in an employee buyout program. After removing the case to federal court, United filed a motion for summary judgment. The federal district court granted United's motion, holding that the plaintiff failed to present sufficient evidence of either a breach of contract or a breach of fiduciary duty. The court further held that, in any event, both of the plaintiff's claims were preempted by the Railway Labor Act, and therefore must be adjudicated under the grievance procedures in the applicable collective bargaining agreement. Accordingly, the court held that the plaintiff's claims could not properly be brought before the federal district court, and it entered judgment in favor of United.

Mario De Vera v United Airlines, Inc., No. C 12-5644 (N.D. Cal., 2014)