Specifically, the lawsuit was filed against the SMWIA; against Mike Sullivan in his official capacity as president of the SMWIA; against the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART); against Paul Thompson in his capacity as a former president of the UTU; and against the UTU.

The UTU/SMWIA merger, not implemented and the subject of continuing court litigation, would have created the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) Workers union.

This lawsuit -- filed by UTU General Chairperson David Murphy (Rochester & Southern Railway); UTU General Chairperson Pate King (GO 680, Norfolk Southern) and UTU Texas State Legislative Director Connie English -- was filed July 15 in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. It asks for a jury trial.

The plaintiffs complains that Thompson and Sullivan conspired to withhold information from the UTU Board of Directors and the UTU membership -- such as the fact that contrary to written and spoken assertions of Thompson and Sullivan before the August 2007 merger ratification vote, significant conflicts existed between the two organizations' constitutions.

To read the lawsuit brought by the three UTU officers, click here.