Case Citation
Legal Case Name

National Labor Relations Board v. Curtin Matheson Scientific, Inc. Case Brief

Supreme Court of the United States1990Docket #87203
108 L. Ed. 2d 801 110 S. Ct. 1542 494 U.S. 775 1990 U.S. LEXIS 2020 58 U.S.L.W. 4407 133 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 3049 Labor Law Administrative Law

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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis

General Brief
3 min read

tl;dr: An employer hired permanent replacements during a strike. The Supreme Court upheld the NLRB’s rule that these replacements are not automatically presumed to oppose the union when an employer claims a “good-faith doubt” of the union’s majority support.

Legal Significance: The case grants the NLRB significant discretion to determine union support among striker replacements, rejecting a mandatory anti-union presumption and thereby strengthening a union’s position and the right to strike during labor disputes.

National Labor Relations Board v. Curtin Matheson Scientific, Inc. Law School Study Guide

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Case Facts & Court Holding

Key Facts & Case Background

After contract negotiations failed, Teamsters Local 968 commenced an economic strike against Curtin Matheson Scientific, Inc. The bargaining unit initially had 27 employees. During the strike, 5 employees crossed the picket line to return to work, and the company hired 29 permanent replacement workers. When the union unconditionally offered to end the strike, the company withdrew recognition and refused to bargain, claiming it had a good-faith doubt of the union’s majority support. At the time of withdrawal, the 49-person unit consisted of 19 strikers, 5 crossover employees, and 25 permanent replacements. The employer’s claim of good-faith doubt rested primarily on the assertion that the 25 replacements should be presumed to oppose the union, which would eliminate the union’s majority. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) found this evidence insufficient, applying its “no-presumption” rule from its decision in Station KKHI.

Court Holding & Legal Precedent

Issue: Must the National Labor Relations Board, when evaluating an employer’s claim of a good-faith doubt about a union’s majority status, presume that permanent striker replacements oppose the union?

No. The NLRB’s refusal to adopt a presumption that striker replacements oppose Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. U

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IRAC Legal Analysis

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IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the exact format professors want to see in your exam answers. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full briefs combine holding, analysis, and rule statements formatted to match what A+ students produce in exams. These structured briefs help reinforce the essential legal reasoning patterns expected in law school.

Legal Issue

Must the National Labor Relations Board, when evaluating an employer’s claim of a good-faith doubt about a union’s majority status, presume that permanent striker replacements oppose the union?

Conclusion

This decision solidifies the NLRB's authority to reject rigid presumptions regarding striker Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip

Legal Rule

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) acts within its discretion under the Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat no

Legal Analysis

The Court afforded significant deference to the NLRB's primary responsibility for developing Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nu

Flash-to-Full Case Opinions

Flash Summary

  • Holding: The NLRB is not required to presume that striker replacements
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

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