Steam Press Holdings, Inc. v. Hawaii Teamsters & Allied Workers Union, Local 996

Michael Drace and Steam Press Holdings, Inc., dba Young Laundry and Dry Cleaning, sued Mel Kahele and Hawaii Teamsters and Allied Workers, Local 996, in federal district court alleging that (1) defendants made defamatory statements of and concerning plaintiffs during the course of a labor dispute; (2) defendants breached a no-strike clause in a collective bargaining agreement (“CBA”); and (3) defendants engaged in racketeering. The district court found in favor of plaintiffs on the defamation claim, awarding damages for economic and reputational harm caused by the defamatory statements, and found in favor of defendants on the remaining claims. Both parties appeal.

We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 . For the reasons that follow, we (1) reverse the district court’s holding on the defamation issue; (2) affii-m the district court’s disposition of the RICO and breach of collective bargaining agreement issues; and (3) affirm the district court’s denial of plaintiffs’ request for attorneys’ fees.

BACKGROUND

This appeal arises out of a labor dispute involving the employees of Young Laundry and Dry Cleaning, Inc. (“YLDC”), a retail laundry and dry cleaning business…