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Case Name
Hoffman Plastic Compounds, Inc. v. NLRB
IM-DC-0005
Docket / Court
21-CA-26630 (NLRB) ( No Court )
State/Territory
District of Columbia
Case Type(s)
Immigration and/or the Border
Attorney Organization
MALDEF
Case Summary
In this case, Hoffman Plastic Compounds, Inc. v. NLRB, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that federal immigration law prohibited awarding undocumented immigrant workers back pay under the National Labor Relations Act.
This case arose when Hoffman Plastic Compounds fired José Castro and ...
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In this case, Hoffman Plastic Compounds, Inc. v. NLRB, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that federal immigration law prohibited awarding undocumented immigrant workers back pay under the National Labor Relations Act.
This case arose when Hoffman Plastic Compounds fired José Castro and others for union activities in 1989. During a series of administrative proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), it was determined that Castro was an undocumented immigrant who had used fake papers to gain employment. Castro was awarded some back pay (for the period beginning on date of his illegal termination until Hoffman discovered he was unauthorized to work). See Hoffman Plastic Compounds, Inc., 306 N.L.R.B. 100, 1992 WL 14561 (1992); Hoffman Plastic Compounds, Inc., 314 N.L.R.B. 683, 685, 1994 WL 397901 (1994); Hoffman Plastic Compounds, Inc. 326 N.L.R.B. No. 86, 1998 WL 663933 (Sept. 23, 1998).
Hoffman appealed to the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, arguing that the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 ("IRCA") and the case Sure-Tan, Inc. v. NLRB, 467 U.S. 883, 104 S.Ct. 2803, 81 L.Ed.2d 732 (1984), barred awards of any backpay to undocumented workers. A panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed, Hoffman Plastic Compounds, Inc. v. N.L.R.B., 208 F.3d 229 (D.C.Cir. 2000), but rehearing en banc was granted and the judgment vacated. Hoffman Plastic Compound, Inc. v. N.L.R.B., 2000 WL 985015 (D.C.Cir. 2000). On rehearing en banc, the Court held that a worker's undocumented status did not render him ineligible to obtain backpay as a remedy for an employer's violation of the NLRA. Hoffman Plastic Compounds, Inc. v. N.L.R.B., 237 F.3d 639 (D.C.Cir. 2001). The Supreme Court granted certiorari, Hoffman Plastic Compound, Inc. v. N.L.R.B., 533 U.S. 976, 122 S.Ct. 23, 150 L.Ed.2d 804 (2001) and reversed. Hoffman Plastic Compounds, Inc. v. N.L.R.B., 535 U.S. 137, 122 S.Ct. 1275, 152 L.Ed.2d 271 (2002). The Supreme Court (Chief Justice Rehnquist) held that the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) foreclosed an award of backpay under the NLRA to undocumented alien works who had never been legally authorized to work in the U.S.
On remand, the District Court entered judgment in favor of the employer Hoffman. See Hoffman Plastic Compound, Inc. v. N.L.R.B., 2002 WL 1974040 (D.C.Cir. Aug 27, 2002) and Hoffman Plastic Compound, Inc. v. N.L.R.B., 2002 WL 1974028 (D.C.Cir. Aug 27, 2002).
Dan Dalton - 01/03/2007
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Issues and Causes of Action
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Issues
Immigration/Border
Employer sanctions
Employment
Undocumented immigrants - rights and duties
Special Case Type
Out-of-court
Causes of Action
Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA)
National Labor Relations Act
Case Details
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Defendant(s)
National Labor Relations Board
Plaintiff Description
Hoffman Plastic Compounds, Inc.
Indexed Lawyer Organizations
MALDEF
Class action status sought
No
Class action status granted
No
Filed Pro Se
No
Prevailing Party
Plaintiff
Public Int. Lawyer
No
Nature of Relief
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief
Litigation
Filed
1991
Case Closing Year
2002
Case Ongoing
No
Additional Resources
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The Oyez Project, Hoffman Plastic Compounds, Inc. v. NLRB, 535 U.S. 137 (2002).
www.oyez.org
Date: Mar. 27, 2002
By: Oyez Project (IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law)
[ Detail ]
[ External Link ]
Documents
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Court
Docket(s)
D.D.C.
01/08/2002
21-CA-26630
IM-DC-0005-9000.pdf
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Detail
General Documents
not recorded
01/22/1992
Decision and Order
(1992 WL 14561)
IM-DC-0005-0004.pdf
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WESTLAW
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Detail
Source: Westlaw
State Trial Court
07/29/1994
Supplemental Decision and Order
(1994 WL 397901)
IM-DC-0005-0005.pdf
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WESTLAW
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Detail
not recorded
09/23/1998
Second Supplemental Decision and Order
(1998 WL 663933)
IM-DC-0005-0006.pdf
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WESTLAW
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Detail
U.S. Supreme Court
01/01/2000
Brief of Amici Curiae National Employment Law Project, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Coalition for Jumane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, et al. in Support of Respondent
IM-DC-0005-0001.pdf
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Detail
U.S. Court of Appeals
03/17/2000
Opinion
(208 F.3d 229)
IM-DC-0005-0002.pdf
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WESTLAW
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LEXIS
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Detail
Source: Google Scholar
U.S. Court of Appeals
01/16/2001
Opinion
(237 F.3d 639)
IM-DC-0005-0003.pdf
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WESTLAW
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LEXIS
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Detail
Source: Google Scholar
U.S. Supreme Court
03/27/2002
Supreme Court Opinion
(535 U.S. 137)
IM-DC-0005-0009.pdf
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WESTLAW
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LEXIS
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Detail
Source: Westlaw
U.S. Court of Appeals
08/27/2002
Order
(2002 WL 1974040)
IM-DC-0005-0007.pdf
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WESTLAW
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Detail
U.S. Court of Appeals
08/27/2002
Opinion
(2002 WL 1974028)
IM-DC-0005-0008.pdf
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WESTLAW
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Detail
People
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Judges
Breyer, Stephen Gerald
(First Circuit, SCOTUS)
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IM-DC-0005-0009
Edwards, Harry Thomas
(D.C. Circuit)
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IM-DC-0005-0003 | IM-DC-0005-0007 | IM-DC-0005-0008
Garland, Merrick B.
(D.C. Circuit)
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IM-DC-0005-0003 | IM-DC-0005-0007 | IM-DC-0005-0008
Ginsburg, Ruth Bader
(D.C. Circuit, SCOTUS)
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IM-DC-0005-0003 | IM-DC-0005-0007 | IM-DC-0005-0008 | IM-DC-0005-0009
Henderson, Karen LeCraft
(D.S.C., D.C. Circuit)
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IM-DC-0005-0003 | IM-DC-0005-0007 | IM-DC-0005-0008
Randolph, Arthur Raymond
(D.C. Circuit)
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IM-DC-0005-0007 | IM-DC-0005-0008
Rogers, Judith Ann Wilson
(D.C. Circuit)
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IM-DC-0005-0002 | IM-DC-0005-0007 | IM-DC-0005-0008
Rogers, John M.
(Sixth Circuit)
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IM-DC-0005-0003
Sentelle, David Bryan
(W.D.N.C., D.C. Circuit)
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IM-DC-0005-0002 | IM-DC-0005-0003 | IM-DC-0005-0007 | IM-DC-0005-0008
Silberman, Laurence Hirsch
(FISCR, D.C. Circuit)
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IM-DC-0005-0003 | IM-DC-0005-0007 | IM-DC-0005-0008
Stevens, John Paul
(Seventh Circuit, SCOTUS)
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IM-DC-0005-0009
Tatel, David S.
(D.C. Circuit)
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IM-DC-0005-0002 | IM-DC-0005-0003 | IM-DC-0005-0007 | IM-DC-0005-0008
Williams, Neil C. III
Court not on record
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IM-DC-0005-0003 | IM-DC-0005-0008
Plaintiff's Lawyers
Baskin, Maurice
(District of Columbia)
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IM-DC-0005-0002 | IM-DC-0005-0003
McCortney, Ryan D.
(California)
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IM-DC-0005-0003
Defendant's Lawyers
Armstrong, Aileen A.
(District of Columbia)
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IM-DC-0005-0003
Block, Sharon
(District of Columbia)
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IM-DC-0005-0002 | IM-DC-0005-0003
Burgoyne, John D.
(District of Columbia)
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IM-DC-0005-0003
Cornnell, Fred L Jr
(District of Columbia)
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IM-DC-0005-0003
Page, Leonard R
(District of Columbia)
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IM-DC-0005-0003
Sher, Linda R.
(District of Columbia)
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IM-DC-0005-0003
Other Lawyers
Berra, Joseph Pacifico
(Texas)
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IM-DC-0005-0001
Berzon, Marsha Siegel
(California)
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IM-DC-0005-0002
Coppess, James B.
(District of Columbia)
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IM-DC-0005-0003
Gold, Laurence E.
(District of Columbia)
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IM-DC-0005-0003
Hiatt, Jonathan P.
(District of Columbia)
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IM-DC-0005-0003
Reif, James
(New York)
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IM-DC-0005-0001
Ruckelshaus, Cahterine K.
(New York)
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IM-DC-0005-0001
Saucedo, Leticia M.
(Texas)
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IM-DC-0005-0001
Smith, Rebecca Ann
(Washington)
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IM-DC-0005-0001
Williams, James
(New York)
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IM-DC-0005-0001 | IM-DC-0005-0007
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