Hiran Management v. NLRB

5th CircuitOct 31, 2025

Split Score

SplitScore: 62/100

Case Summary

Disposition

Remanded

The Fifth Circuit held that the National Labor Relations Board lacks statutory authority under NLRA §10(c) to award full compensatory damages (i.e., all “foreseeable pecuniary harms”) beyond traditional equitable relief such as reinstatement and back-pay. Accordingly, it granted the employer’s petition for review in part, denied the Board’s cross-application for enforcement in part, and remanded for further proceedings.

Circuit Split Identified

Legal Issue

Whether NLRA §10(c) authorizes the NLRB to award full compensatory damages (all foreseeable pecuniary harms) as part of its make-whole remedy.

Circuit Positions

3rd Circuit5th Circuit(this circuit)

NLRA §10(c) authorizes only equitable relief; the Board may not award full compensatory (foreseeable) damages.

9th Circuit

NLRA §10(c) allows the Board to award full compensatory damages for all foreseeable pecuniary harms (Thryv remedy).

Conflict Summary

The Third and Fifth Circuits read §10(c) as limiting the Board to equitable remedies (reinstatement and back-pay) and therefore reject the Board’s Thryv policy of awarding full compensatory damages, whereas the Ninth Circuit upholds the Thryv approach and permits the Board to award damages for all foreseeable pecuniary harms suffered by employees.

Parties & Counsel

Parties

Appellant:Hiran Management, Incorporated (doing business as Hungry Like the Wolf)
Appellee:National Labor Relations Board

Opinion Document