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Hooks v. Transportation Services, Inc., 88-STA-7 (Sec'y June 24, 1988)


U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
SECRETARY OF LABOR
WASHINGTON, D.C.

DATE: June 24, 1988
CASE NO. 88-STA-7

IN THE MATTER OF

JERRY L. HOOKS,
   COMPLAINANT,

v.

TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, INC.,
   RESPONDENT.

BEFORE: THE SECRETARY OF LABOR

FINAL ORDER OF DISMISSAL

   Before me for review is the Recommended Order of Dismissal, issued by Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) James W. Kerr, Jr. on March 31, 1988, in the above-captioned case, which arises under the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 (STAA), 49 U.S.C. app. § 2305 (1985).

   The ALJ's recommendation that this case be dismissed is based on Complainant's written notification that he had "no interest in continuing the complaint against Transportation Services, Inc." Exhibit #1. The record reveals that this statement was filed with the ALJ shortly before commencement of a hearing scheduled as a result of Respondent's objections to the Secretary's Findings, issued on October 8, 1987, finding that Respondent violated the STAA by refusing to provide further work to Complainant.

   Neither the regulations implementing the STAA, 29 C.F.R. Part 1978, nor the Rules of Practice and Procedure for Administrative Hearings Before the Office of Administrative Law Judges, 29 C.F.R. Part 18, contemplate the situation presented by this case. I, therefore, apply the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

   I find that Rule 41(a)(1)(ii) is applicable. That rule provides for voluntary dismissal of an action by the "filing of a stipulation of dismissal signed by all parties who have appeared in the action." Although Complainant's written notification to the ALJ was not signed by Respondent and by the Solicitor of Labor, the other parties appearing in the action, both the Respondent and the Solicitor agreed on the record to dismissal of


[Page 2]

Complainant's complaint. Transcript of Hearing held on March 9, 1988, at 5-6. Such agreement has the same effect as the filing of a joint stipulation.

   Accordingly, the complaint initiating this case is DISMISSED.

   SO ORDERED.

         Ann McLaughlin
         Secretary of Labor

Washington, D.C.



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