WASHINGTON (Feb. 28) — The District of Columbia federal district court had no jurisdiction to order Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. to obey subpoenas in a labor investigation conducted by the National Labor Relations Board, the D.C. federal appeals court has ruled 2-1.
In seeking to force Cooper to obey two 2003 subpoenas related to an investigation at the tire maker´s Tupelo, Miss. plant, the NLRB should have filed in Mississippi district court, rather than in D.C., the majority ruled. The dissenting judge, however, said the majority decision placed a burden on all federal agencies to try and enforce subpoenas in courts all around the U.S., rather than in D.C. where the bulk of subpoenas are issued.
An NLRB spokesman said it was too early to discuss the agency´s appeal plans. A Cooper spokeswoman said the company was pleased at the ruling and looking forward to the next step in the case.