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| Chapman v. Choicecare Long Island Long Term Disability Income Plan
Chapman v. Choicecare Long Island Long Term Disability Income Plan
CHERYL CHAPMAN, PLAINTIFF,v.CHOICECARE LONG ISLAND LONG TERM DISABILITY INCOME PLAN, DEFENDANT.
Plaintiff Cheryl Chapman ("Plaintiff" or "Chapman"), as the prevailing party in this ERISA action, seeks attorneys' fees and costs in the amount of $72,435.01 pursuant to 29 U.S.C. § 1132(g)(1). In a Memorandum of Decision and Order dated January 21, 2005 ("January 21, 2005 Memo & Order"), the Court denied Plaintiff's request. Plaintiff appealed the Court's denial. On appeal, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit vacated this Court's judgment and remanded the case for further consideration. See Chapman v. ChoiceCare Long Island Long Term Disability Income Plan, No. 05-0687, 2005 WL 3556194 (2d Cir. Dec. 29, 2005) ("Chapman II"). In particular, the Second Circuit instructed this Court: (1) to "consider whether the legal precedent established by this case and the benefits that that precedent might confer on other plan participants make an award of attorney's fees appropriate," id. at *2, and (2) to perform "an independent analysis of Chapman's application for costs." Id. at *1.
With the Circuit Court's directives in mind and for the reasons stated, infra, the Court denies Plaintiff's application for attorneys' fees, but grants in part and denies in part her application for costs.
A. Pre-Chapman II History
The facts and procedural history of this case prior to Chapman II have been set forth in the Second Circuit's first decision in this case, Chapman v. ChoiceCare Long Island Long Term Disability Income Plan, 288 F.3d 506 (2d Cir. 2002) ("Chapman I"), in this Court's May 28, 2004 Memorandum of Decision and Order ("May 28, 2004 Memo & Order"), and in this Court's January 21, 2005 Memo & Order, familiarity with all three of which is presumed. For convenience, the Court reiterates the following:
Plaintiff commenced this action on June 29, 1998, seeking (1) a declaratory judgment that she was disabled under the Defendant ChoiceCare Long Island Long Term Disability Plan ("Defendant" or "ChoiceCare"), and (2) an order directing ChoiceCare to pay her disability benefits. Initially, this Court granted ChoiceCare's summary judgment motion and dismissed Plaintiff's case on March 1, 2001.
Plaintiff appealed, and on April 29, 2002, the Second Circuit vacated this Court's judgment and remanded the case to resolve[, inter alia,] whether plaintiff's mental illness impaired counsel's efforts to file a timely request for review. (January 21, 2005 Memo & Order at 1-2.)
On remand from Chapman I, Defendant withdrew its claim that Plaintiff failed to timely file her request for administrative review. (May 28, 2004 Memo & Order at 3.) The Court then proceeded with an evidentiary hearing to determine whether Plaintiff's mental disability prevented her from timely filing her claim for benefits.*fn1 After that hearing, during which considerable evidence outside of Chapman's administrative record was introduced, it was determined that Plaintiff was entitled to equitable tolling; thus, the Defendant was directed to consider Plaintiff's claim as if timely filed. (See id. at 10.) In doing so, Defendant did not focus solely on the pre-litigation medical information it had received from Plaintiff, but rather broadened its review to include the supplemental materials thereafter provided including the pivotal testimony elicited from Plaintiff's two witnesses at the equitable tolling hearing, viz. Doctors Daryl DiDio and Shobhan Lal. Based on the expanded record, the Defendant determined that Plaintiff was entitled to benefits under the plan and paid the claim. See Br. of Appellee [Def.] at 6, Chapman II, 2005 WL 5012405 (2d Cir. July 25, 2005).
B. The Court's Initial Decision on Plaintiff's Motion for Attorneys' Fees and Costs
As already indicated, this Court initially denied Plaintiff's Motion for Attorneys' Fees and Costs. In its January 21, 2005 Memo & Order, the Court went through the five factors courts consider when determining whether to award attorneys' fees in an ERISA action. (See January 21, 2005 Memo & Order at 2-7.) These factors, often referred to in the Second Circuit as the "Chambless factors," are:
Chambless v. Masters, Mates & Pilots Pension Plan, 815 F.2d 869, 871 (2d Cir. 1987).
This Court found that the first factor favored Defendant in that the evidence demonstrated "that First Unum did not act in 'bad faith' when it denied Plaintiff's claim." (January 21, 2005 Memo & Order at 5-6.) As to the second factor, the "Defendant [did] not dispute [Plaintiff's assertion] that it has the ability to pay the attorney's fees and costs," leading the Court to conclude "that the second factor, ability to pay, weighs in [P]laintiff's favor." (Id. at 6 (citing Zervas v. Verizon New York, Inc., No. 01 CV 685, 2002 WL 31553484, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 13, 2002)("defendants do not contest this factor, and accordingly, this factor . . . favors [plaintiff].").) With respect to the third factor, deterrence, the Court found that "First Unum denied Plaintiff's claim in accordance with the time limits of the contract, as equitable tolling had not yet been established." (Id. at 7.) Therefore, this factor favored Defendant. Since Plaintiff ultimately prevailed in the underlying action, the Court found the fourth factor favored Plaintiff. (See id.) Finally, as to the fifth factor, the Court stated, without explanation, that "there is no real benefit to any class." (Id.) Therefore, the Court ruled against Plaintiff on this factor. (See id.)
The Court did not engage in any independent analysis of Plaintiff's requests for costs.
C. The Second Circuit's Summary Order
In its Summary Order, the Second Circuit "reject[ed] Chapman's arguments that the district court's rulings on the first and third factors were abuses of discretion." Chapman II, 2005 WL 3556194, at *2. The Circuit Court made no mention of factors two and four, those being the two factors favoring Plaintiff. It did, however, direct this Court to consider again the fifth Chambless factor and to conduct an independent analysis of the Plaintiff's application for costs.
D. A Summary of the Parties' Filings Since the Remand
Upon the case's remand to this Court, the Court allowed the parties to submit supplemental letter briefs. Both parties filed opening letter briefs and reply letters.
1. Plaintiff's Opening Letter Brief
Apparently not heeding the Second Circuit's holding as to the first and third factors--that upheld this Court's determinations--Plaintiff argues anew for findings favoring her as to these two factors. (See Letter from John W. DeHaan, Esq., Binder & Binder, at 2-3, to Hon. Denis R. Hurley, U.S. District Judge, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, (Feb. 24, 2006) ("Chapman's Letter Br.").) Chapman also argues that "[i]n this case, a significant issue of law relating to ERISA was resolved." (Id. at 3 (emphasis added).) This, in turn, favors a finding for Chapman on the fifth factor--the "common benefit" prong of the analysis. (See id.) To support her argument, Plaintiff asserts, "A WestLaw KeyCite Report on the initial decision of the Second Circuit [i.e., Chapman I] . . . shows that it has been cited 132 times since April 29, 2002, on the issue of Equitable Tolling." (Id. (footnotes omitted).) Chapman contends, that "[t]he number of other courts, parties and scholars that recognize the legal issues set forth in this case demonstrate its significance." (Id.)
2. Defendant's Opening Letter Brief
Predictably, Defendant rejects Plaintiff's position that this case forges new legal precedent. (See Letter from Evan L. Gordon, Esq., to Hon. Denis R. Hurley, U.S. District Judge, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, (Feb. 24, 2006) ("ChoiceCare's Letter Br.").) Rather, Defendant endeavors to dispel any weight Plaintiff would have the Court give to the numerous citations of Chapman I; according to the Defendant, "when Chapman [I] is cited in the ERISA context, it is typically cited for the proposition (which we espoused) that an ERISA claimant must exhaust her administrative remedies (cited nine times) or as part of a discussion as to which parties may be sued in an ERISA action (also cited nine times)." (Id. at 3 (footnotes omitted).*fn2 ) Significantly, the Defendant states: "We found Chapman [I] cited in only one ERISA equitable tolling case, with both the Second Circuit and the district court discussing Chapman [I] extensively. Garcia Ramos v. 1199 Health Care Employees Pension Fund, 2004 WL 1276952 (S.D.N.Y.), aff'd, 413 F.3d 234 (2d Cir. 2005)." (Id. at 3-4.) Relying primarily on the Circuit decision in Garcia Ramos, Defendant posits that Chapman I has "not create[d] a precedent establishing equitable tolling of limitations periods in ERISA cases" and, therefore, "there is no precedent that might confer a benefit on 'other plan participants.'" (ChoiceCare's Letter Br. at 6.)
In essence, it is Defendant's position that this case is a unique exception to the rule that where a plaintiff is represented by counsel during the time sought to be tolled, equitable tolling will not be had; the rule of this case is limited to its unusual facts and circumstances. (See id. at 6-7.)
Defendant also asserts that Plaintiff's counsel "did not make a complete record at the administrative level [i.e., the level upon which First UNUM made its initial determination as to whether Plaintiff was entitled to benefits], but attempted to do so in litigation." (Id. at 10.) Indeed, it was upon that expanded post-Chapman I remand record that First UNUM reversed course and found Plaintiff disabled. (See id. at 9-10, as well as the letter referenced therein, to wit, UNUM Provident's Aug. 16, 2004 Letter to Pl.'s Counsel, attached as Ex. A to ChoiceCare's Letter Br.) As a result, Defendant argues "plaintiff may well have received benefits to which she might otherwise not have been entitled." (Id. at 10.) Given the totality of the circumstances, including this last scenario, Defendant advocates the application of the American Rule as the more appropriate and fair resolution of Plaintiff's request for attorneys' fees. (See id.)
The Defendant also argues that each party should bear its own costs. First, Defendant would have the Court include expert witness fees, if at all, as part of an award of attorneys' fees, and then, if granted, limited to statutory fees and mileage for witnesses. (See id. at 11-12.) Second, relying on Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 39(a)(4), the Defendant states a taxing of costs may only be had on a court order; since there is not, nor should there be any such order, Defendant should not bear Plaintiff's appellate costs. (See id. at 11.) Finally, Defendant argues that there is no statutory authority deeming postal charges recoverable. (See id.)
3. Plaintiff's Reply Letter
In her reply letter, Plaintiff argues that the fifth prong of the attorneys' fees test is a two-fold consideration. That is, the Court must consider whether the case conveyed a benefit to other plan members or whether the case decided a significant question of law under ERISA. (See Letter from John W. DeHaan, Esq., Binder & Binder, at 1-2, to Hon. Denis R. Hurley, U.S. District Judge, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, (Mar. 17, 2006) ("Chapman's Reply Letter").) She also reiterates her position that Chapman I "conveys a significant benefit to all plans and their administrators, as it clarified the applicability of Equitable Tolling and gives them much needed guidance." (See id. at 4 (emphasis added).) Plaintiff also argues that Chapman I has legal significance since "[i]f both Defendant and th[e District] Court's prior ruling on Defendant's culpability are correct, then the legal significance of [Chapman I] is incontrovertible, because the Second Circuit reversed this Court on this point and remanded for a determination on the applicability of Equitable Tolling." (Id. at 4.)
Finally, as to costs, Chapman asserts that the law within this Circuit is that a "[c]ourt may not arbitrarily use its discretion to deny an award of costs to the victorious party." (Id. at 6 (citing Trans World Airlines, Inc. v. Hughes, 515 F.2d 173, 177 (2d Cir. 1975).) Plaintiff also informs the Court that she has submitted a revised application for costs that should address issues raises by Defendant. (See id. at 6.)
4. Defendant's Reply Letter
In its Reply Letter, Defendant reasserts - quoting Garcia Ramos - that the Second Circuit did not establish an equitable tolling precedent in Chapman I. (See Letter from Evan L. Gordon, Esq., to Hon. Denis R. Hurley, U.S. District Judge, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, (Mar. 17, 2006) ("ChoiceCare's Reply Letter.")) Likewise, Defendant reiterates that Plaintiff's bald reliance on the number of times Chapman I has been cited in other cases is misleading and a careful review of these other cases shows the citing of Chapman I is in support of "general propositions that were established long before Chapman [I]." (Id. at 2.) "Garcia Ramos is really the only case that discusses Chapman [I] in the ERISA equitable tolling context--and it rejects the notion that Chapman [I] established a precedent in this regard." (Id. (footnote omitted).) Defendant also asserts:
Plaintiff next states that, "[p]rior to this decision, claimants may have been denied merely because they were too disabled to file a claim within the specified time period. After this decision, claimants that are so disabled may still get relief under the principle of Equitable Tolling." Yet, the benefit plan specifically provides that the claimant can give notice and proof of claim beyond the initial time deadlines if it was not reasonably possible for her to do so earlier. See AR 18 (notice and proof of claim). At best, Chapman [I] is a sui generis exception to the general rule that equitable tolling will not be permitted to a claimant who had retained counsel, as plaintiff had, but still filed late. (Id. at 3.) In Defendant's view, "Plaintiff's counsel has not shown any 'clarified rule,' nor has he shown that the ChoiceCare plan itself has benefit[t]ed from this litigation, let alone that any plan or plan participant (other than plaintiff) has benefit[t]ed." (Id.)
The Defendant advances an interesting argument regarding the taxing of costs. It is Defendant's position that since it "has paid benefits to plaintiff even though plaintiff may not have been entitled to benefits at all" (id.), as Defendant asserts is evident from the administrative record below, but which Defendant chose to pay in deference to this Court's findings on tolling, it should be spared from having to shoulder Plaintiff's costs in bringing this action. (See id.) In sum, Defendant presents the equitable argument that since it allowed Plaintiff to further develop her medical record following the Chapman I remand, which resulted in Plaintiff being awarded benefits,
[t]he administrator should not be placed in a worse position (through the assessment of costs and/or fees) than it would have been in had it not voluntarily chosen to expand the sparse medical record to include evidence presented during the hearing before Your Honor.*fn3
It is settled law that in an ERISA action, a court has discretion to award attorneys' fees to either party. See Lochner v. UNUM Life Ins. Co. of Am., 389 F.3d 288, 298 (2d Cir. 2004); Salovaara v. Eckert, 222 F.3d 19, 27 (2d Cir. 2000); 29 U.S.C. § 1132(g)(1). The Second Circuit instructs that a district court's decision whether to award attorneys' fees in an ERISA case is ordinarily based on five factors, the so-called Chambless factors provided earlier. Further, "'ERISA's attorney's fee provisions must be liberally construed to protect the statutory purpose of vindicating retirement rights . . . .'" Lochner, 389 F.3d at 298 (quoting Chambless, 815 F.2d at 872).
1. First Four Chambless Factors
As noted, this Court determined in its January 21, 2005 Memo & Order that the first (bad faith) and third (deterrence) Chambless factors favored Defendant. On appeal in Chapman II, the Circuit found that neither of those determinations constituted an abuse of discretion. As a result, factors one and three shall not be revisited in this opinion except that I note, as further evidence of Defendant's lack of bad faith under the first factor, Defendant maintains, and Plaintiff has not claimed otherwise, that it is unlikely that the disability benefits paid to Chapman would have been forthcoming had ChoiceCare elected to limit the materials reviewed to those originally submitted, rather than expanding the administrative record to include the post-Chapman I testimony of Doctors Lal and DiDio.
The Circuit did not address my determination of factors two and four, both of which favor Plaintiff. With respect to factor two, i.e., Defendant's ability to pay attorneys' fees and costs, my earlier explanation is relatively straightforward and requires no elaboration. However, the situation is otherwise with respect to factor four concerning the relative merits of the parties' positions. This factor favors Plaintiff who "ultimately prevailed in this action." (January 21, 2005 Memo & Order at 7.) However, it warrants mention that Defendant's position in defending its denial of benefits was far from frivolous.
Instead, its position, prescinding for a moment from the issue of equitable tolling, appeared sound based on the contract language and the facts as they existed as of the time Plaintiff's application for benefits was denied. With respect to equitable tolling, the Second Circuit had "never squarely held that it applies to time limits that are specified in plan provisions." Chapman I, 288 F.3d at 512. Moreover, the concept of equitable tolling is typically invoked by members of the judiciary - albeit rarely and under limited circumstances - to prevent manifest injustice, not by insurance company executives and other business persons endeavoring to determine their rights and obligations under an exiting contract. Accordingly, although this fourth factor favors Plaintiff, its concomitant weight must be significantly tempered with the non-frivolous nature of the positions advanced by the defense.
Attention will next be addressed to the fifth Chambless factor which Plaintiff correctly underscores is the "crucial factor." (Chapman's Letter Br. at 1-2.)
2. Chambless Factor Five, the Common Benefit Factor
a) My Role on Remand as to Factor Five
To partially reiterate, the fifth Chambless factor is "whether the action conferred a common benefit on a group of pension plan participants." Chambless v. Masters, Mates & Pilots Pension Plan, 815 F. 2d 869, 871 (2d Cir. 1987). In Chapman II, the Circuit explained that my role on remand as to this factor was to "consider whether the legal precedent established by this case and the benefits the precedent might confer on other plan participants make an award of attorney's fees appropriate." Chapman II, 2005 WL at *2.
b) The Second Circuit did not Hold in Chapman I That Equitable Tolling Applies to Time Limits That are Specified in ERISA Plan Provisions Plaintiff maintains:
[t]he Circuit Court ruled that the principle of Equitable Tolling extended to ERISA plans that included specific time limits. A WestLaw KeyCite Report on the initial decision of the Second Circuit . . . shows that it has been cited 132 times since April 29, 2002, on the issue of Equitable Tolling. The number of other courts, parties and scholars that recognize the legal issues set forth in this case demonstrate its significance. Prior to this decision, claimants may have been denied merely because they were too disabled to file a claim within the specified time period. After this decision, claimants that are so disabled may still get relief under the principle of Equitable Tolling. This decision clearly grants a benefit to participants in this and similar ERISA plans, as well as to those ERISA plans, which now have a clarified rule to apply to future claims.
(Chapman's Letter Br. at 3.)
Plaintiff's position is incorrect. In Garcia Ramos the Circuit explained: "as we stated in Chapman [I] this Court 'ha[s] never squarely held that [equitable tolling] applies to time limits that are specified in [ERISA] plan provisions.' [Chapman I, 288 F.3d] at 512. We shall not do so here." Garcia Ramos, 413 F.3d at 238 (brackets in original). Instead, the Chapman I Court placed that issue in my hands to determine, subject, of course, to possible appeal. This is evident from the following excerpt from Chapman I:
Principal among the issues with which we must deal is whether there is a limitations period for the filing of plaintiff's administrative appeal. Limitations periods perform the salutary office of preventing the assertion of rights long after memories have faded that would show such rights never existed, or had been satisfied and extinguished, if they did once exist. But a limitations period may also sometimes serve as a refuge for an inequity, and make the rule designed to prevent inequity the very means for it to succeed. We leave this question for the district court to resolve on the remand that we direct in this case.
Chapman I, 288 F.3d at 508.
The Circuit's concern regarding the administrative limitations period gave rise to two sub-issues, viz. (1) whether the lateness of Plaintiff's administrative appeal should be excused on the ground of equitable tolling and (2) "whether the 60 day time limit is enforceable given that such limitation is not mentioned in either the policy or the Summary Plan Description."*fn4 Chapman I, 288 F.3d at 514.
If I determined that "the 60-day time limit" was unenforceable for the reason articulated by the Circuit, the equitable tolling argument as to that deadline would have been rendered academic. Indeed, that is the reason provided by the Circuit for declining to decide whether equitable tolling applies to time limitations set forth in ERISA plans. Id. at 512 ("Because this point [whether equitable tolling applies to time limits specified in ERISA plans] may become moot upon remand, we decline, at this time to rule on this important question.").
In sum, it is clear from the perusal of both Chapman I and the Circuit decision in Garcia Ramos that the Circuit, notwithstanding Plaintiff's insistence to the contrary, did not decide the equitable tolling issue under discussion.
c) Precedent Value of This Court's Memorandum and Order of May 28, 2004
As noted earlier, this Court, upon remand following Chapman I, found that equitable tolling was applicable to the time limitations in the subject ERISA plan and, accordingly, directed Defendant to consider Plaintiff's application on the merits.
The question arises whether my determination as a district court judge resulted in "a common benefit [being conferred] on a group of pension plan participants." Chambless, 815 F.2d at 871. For that to occur, the May 28, 2004 Memo & Order must constitute precedent, which precedent aids a sufficient number of plan participants to meet the common benefit standard. By way of format, the issue of precedent will be addressed initially, to be followed by discussions of other subjects bearing on the fifth factor including the common benefits aspect.
The parties have focused their precedent arguments on whether the Second Circuit held in Chapman I that equitable tolling applies to time limitations in ERISA plans. Neither has discussed whether my decision has precedential relevance for present purposes. In my judgment, however, that latter question calls for an affirmative answer for several reasons. To begin with, "precedent" is defined in Black's Law Dictionary thusly: "An adjudicated case or decision of a court, considered as furnishing an example or authority for an identical or similar case afterwards arising or a similar question of law. . . . Prior cases which are close in facts or legal principles to the case under consideration are called precedents." Black's Law Dictionary 1176 (6th ed. 1990). Under that definition, my holding in this case although, of course, non-binding, may be of some assistance to another judge, lawyer, or litigant confronted with the same substantive question. As such, it constitutes precedent. Additionally, the Second Circuit apparently views the relevant portion of the May 28, 2004 Memo & Order as precedent, because it has directed that the fifth factor be revisited given "the legal precedent established by this case." Chapman II, 2005 WL at *2. And lastly, such cases as Chambless represent circuit court decisions articulating the appropriate standards to be employed by district judges in deciding ERISA counsel fee applications. In applying those standards, district judges, of necessity, must consider the precedent value, if any, embodied in their decisions.
Although the May 28, 2004 Memo & Order constitutes precedent, its significance is, at best, de minimus for several reasons, one of which pertains to the "common benefit" aspect of the fifth factor. The word "common" has multiple dictionary definitions including "of or relating to a community at large," "belonging to or shared by two or more individuals or things or by all members of a group," and "occurring or appearing frequently." Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary 250 (11th ed. 2003). For purposes of the fifth factor, what constitutes commonality? In Chambless, the number of incidental beneficiaries of Chambless's court victory were extensive, consisting of a class of older employees whose pension benefits, like Chambless's, were adversely effected by the challenged pension plan amendment.
The common benefit conferred, however, need not aid all plan participants nor be as broad-based as in Chambless to satisfy the fifth factor. See Leyda v. Alliedsignal, Inc., 322 F.3d 199, 210-11 (2d Cir. 2003). But if those benefitted represent only a minor subset of plan participants, it is problematic whether the commonality requirement is even met. However, for present purposes, consistent with the principle that "ERISA's attorney's fee provisions must be liberally construed to protect the statutory purpose of vindicating retirement rights," Chambless, 815 F.2d at 871, I will assume that commonality has been shown by Plaintiff, albeit barely. That being said, attention will now be focused on the concomitant weight to be attached to factor five.
Equitable tolling, by its very nature, is limited to a very few, indeed, "'rare and exceptional circumstances,'" Zerilli-Edelglass v. N.Y. City Transit Auth., 333 F.3d 74, 80 (2d Cir. 2003) (quoting Smith v. McGinnis, 208 F.3d 13, 17 (2d Cir. 2000)), where "a party is 'prevented in some extraordinary way from exercising his rights,'" id. (quoting Johnson v. Nyack Hosp., 86 F.3d 8, 12 (2d Cir. 1996)). As the Zerilli-Edelglass court stated, one such rare circumstance is "where a plaintiff's medical condition or mental impairment prevented her from proceeding in a timely fashion." Id. (citing Brown v. Parkchester S. Condos., 287 F.3d 58, 60 (2d Cir. 2002)). And, as the Brown court instructed, "whether a mental disability warrants equitable tolling of a filing deadline requires a 'highly case-specific' inquiry." 287 F.3d at 60 (2d Cir. 2002) (citing Boos v. Runyon, 201 F.3d 178, 184 (2d Cir. 2000)) (further citation omitted). The number of plan participants whose situation essentially mirrors Plaintiff's - given the "highly case specific inquiry" standard - is seemingly small.*fn5
Finally, and more importantly, consideration of equitable tolling claims in an ERISA context predates this action. See Chapman I, 288 F.3d at 511-12; see also 17 A.L.R. 3d 530, particularly Article III C, § 9[a] the introduction to which reads: "In many cases it has been held or recognized that mental or physical incapacity of the insured to give notice is a valid excuse for not giving notice of claim within the period specified or required in a disability insurance policy or clause." And I relied on several cases in making my equitable tolling determination , including two federal district court decisions involving equitable tolling and untimely filings under ERISA plans due to mental illness, viz. Clark v. Unum Life Ins. Co. of Am., 14 F. Supp. 2d 1351, 1355 (S.D. Ga. 1998)("To require a person who is described by some as being 'insane' or 'mentally incompetent' to do something that his disability prevents him from doing places that person in what some would refer to as a 'catch-22' situation."), and Sirkin v. Phillips Colleges, Inc., 779 F. Supp. 751 (D.N.J. 1991)(holding that where an insured fails to meet a deadline imposed under the insurance policy "due to the insured's incapacity to know of or meet her obligation, the deadline . . . is tolled for a reasonable period of time until the insured or her legally appointed guardian is able to cure the deficiency."). (See May 28, 2005 Memo & Order at 8-10.) Those district court cases, like mine, are not controlling precedent but may be of some assistance to others confronted with a situation similar to Chapman's. My decision seemingly is less significant, and certainly has no greater persuasive value as non-binding precedent than the decisions upon which I relied.*fn6
To partially reiterate this point, Plaintiff insists that the Second Circuit held in her case that equitable tolling was applicable to her attorney's failure to timely seek administrative review of ChoiceCare's denial of her claim for ERISA benefits. As noted, that claim, which is central to her position as to the fifth Chambless factor, is erroneous. Unaddressed by Plaintiff, but germane to considering the fifth Chambless factor, is the precedent value of my decision of August 28, 2005. For the reasons indicated above, I believe that decision - though far from ground-breaking and based on, inter alia, earlier district court decisions - may be of some aid to others in the ChoiceCare plan who find themselves in a similar situation to Plaintiff, or indeed to like individuals under other ERISA plans. The number of such "other" individuals apparently will be few, however, given that the facts necessary for the successful invocation of equitable tolling based on a mental disability are largely sui generis, as implicitly evidenced by the explanation in Brown v. Parkchester South Condominiums that the appropriate inquiry under such circumstances is "highly case-specific." 287 F.3d 58, 60 (2d Cir. 2002)(internal quotation marks deleted).
In sum, the fifth Chambless factor favors Plaintiff, but barely so and not for the reason advanced by Plaintiff.
3. Based on Consideration of the Five Chambless Factors, Plaintiff's Application for Attorneys' Fees is Denied
The Court has considered each of the five Chambless factors, no one of which is dispositive. The factors favoring Plaintiff are factor two, Defendant's ability to pay (which has been recognized to be "of little significance," Zervos v. Verizon New York, Inc., 202 WL 31553484 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 13, 2002)), factor four, looking to the relative merits of the parties' positions, and factor five pertaining to common benefits.
As to the fourth factor, its weight must be significantly tempered, as noted earlier, by the non-frivolous nature of the positions advanced by Defendant. Similarly, as to the fifth factor, Plaintiff's position about the Second Circuit precedent value of the case is off-target and, as a result, so is her argument about the weight that should be afforded to this factor. Indeed, that weight, rather than being formidable as Plaintiff opines, is appropriately categorized as de minimus.
In my judgment, appropriately weighed, the factors favoring Plaintiff are more than counterbalanced by those favoring Defendant and, accordingly, Plaintiff's application for attorneys' fees is denied.
In accordance with the Second Circuit's instruction, the Court will, as it should have done in the first instance, consider Plaintiff's application for costs separately from her request for attorneys' fees.
Plaintiff seeks $11,147.60 in costs, representing purported recoverable expenses incurred in prosecuting her claim before me, and in successfully appealing, first, the grant of summary judgment to Defendant (Chapman I, 288 F.3d 506 (2d Cir. 2002)) and, second, the denial of her application for attorneys' fees and costs (Chapman II, 2005 WL 3556194 (2d Cir. Dec. 29, 2005)). Included within that sum is $4,542.65 representing "[f]ees for [the two expert] witnesses" who were called by Plaintiff at the equitable tolling hearing held before me following the Chapman I remand, viz. Shobhan Lal ($1,542.65) and Daryl R. DiDio, Ph.D. ($3,000). (See revised Bill of Costs attach at Ex. C to Chapman's Letter Br.)
Defendant opposes Plaintiff's application for costs on multiple grounds, including (1) the $4,542.65 expert fees sought by Plaintiff, to the extent it exceeds the statutory witness and mileage fees provided for in 28 U.S.C. § 1821(b), are recoverable, if at all, only "as part of an attorney's fee award,"*fn7 and (2) "[a]ppellate fees ($2,387.61) should not be awarded" because "[u]nder FRAP 39 (A)[sic](4), where a judgment is affirmed in part, reversed in part, modified or vacated, costs may only be taxed as the court orders." (ChoiceCare's Letter Br. at 12.) Moreover, as an omnibus objection to any costs being assessed against it, Defendant argues that ChoiceCare, by granting benefits to Plaintiff based on the post-Chapman I expanded administrative record, "paid benefits to Plaintiff even though Plaintiff may not have been entitled to benefits at all." (ChoiceCare's Reply Letter at 3-4.)
1. Costs Incurred at District Court Level
Generally Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(d)(1), entitled "Costs Other than Attorneys' Fees," provides:
Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(d)(1) (emphasis added). "[B]ecause Rule 54(d) allows costs 'as of course,' such an award against the losing party is the normal rule obtaining in civil litigation, not the exception." Whitfield v. Scully, 241 F.3d 264, 270 (2d Cir. 2001)(citing Mercy v. County of Suffolk, 748 F.2d 52, 54 (2d Cir. 1984)). Therefore, it is the losing party's burden "to show that costs should not be imposed." Id. (providing examples of reasons for denial of costs).
The Defendant has failed to meet its burden of showing that costs should not be imposed in this case as is the normal rule. For example, - referencing the examples provided in Whitfield - there is no indication of misconduct by the Plaintiff; this case is not of such public importance that it warrants overriding the normal rule; nor does this case involve a difficult issue; and, finally, there is no issue that Defendant is of such limited financial resource that taxing it with costs would be an undue hardship. See id. Moreover, Defendant has not established that its previously identified "omnibus objection" to being saddled with costs is sufficient to override the normal rule as to the imposition of costs.
Attention will now be directed to Defendant's objections to paying the fees associated with Doctors Lal and DiDio.
2. Costs Incurred for Expert Witnesses
"[T]he Supreme Court has held that the term 'costs' [in Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(d)(1)] includes only the specific items enumerated in 28 U.S.C. § 1920 (1994)." Whitfield, 241 F.3d at 269 (citing Crawford Fitting Co. v. J.T. Gibbons, Inc., 482 U.S. 437, 441 (1994))(further citation omitted). Included within the § 1920 listing is subdivision 3 which allows that the cost of "[f]ees . . . for . . . witnesses" may be assessed against the losing party. 28 U.S.C. § 1920(3). The amount of the fee recoverable, however, is limited to the amount provided in 28 U.S.C. § 1821. See Crawford Fitting Co., 482 U.S. at 441-42. Section 1821(b) reads:
28 U.S.C. § 1821(b).
Crawford Fitting Co. instructs that the § 1821(b) rate is applicable to lay witnesses and non-court appointed experts alike absent explicit statutory or contractual authorization, neither of which, parenthetically, is claimed by Chapman. See Crawford Fitting Co., 482 U.S. at 441-42 and at 445; see also Holland v. Valhi, Inc., 22 F.3d 968, 979 (10th Cir. 1994)("The fee shifting provision of ERISA, 29 U.S.C. § 1132(g), authorizes that the district court, in its discretion, 'may allow a reasonable attorney's fee and costs of action to either party.' But absent a specific statutory provision, an award of expert fees must be based on 28 U.S.C. §§ 1821 and 1920."); Harris Trust and Savings Bank v. John Hancock Mutual Life Ins., Co., 137 F. Supp. 2d 351, 360 (S.D.N.Y. 2001)("Under well established principles of law, however, these expenses [for expert witnesses] are not recoverable, except to the extent of the $40 per day statutory fee and travel expenses for witnesses in general."), aff'd in part, rev'd in part, vacated in part, and remanded on other grounds, 302 F.3d 18 (2d Cir. 2002).
Applying the above principles to the present case indicates that Plaintiff, as the prevailing party, is entitled to receive the per diem rate and mileage provided under § 1821(b) for its expert witnesses. The difference between what Plaintiff paid those witnesses and the amounts recoverable under § 1821(b) may not be taxed to Defendant.*fn8
3. Costs Incurred in the Appellate Court
Plaintiff also seeks the costs incurred in her two successful appeals to the Second Circuit resulting in Chapman I and Chapman II. By way of support, she argues as follows:
An award of costs also includes the costs of appeal. Under FEDERAL RULE OF APPELLATE PROCEDURES 39(a), the court may tax the costs of an appeal when an order has been vacated. Plaintiff incurred substantial costs for litigation for two appeals to the Second Circuit, both of which resulted in the vacating of judgement and remand. Plaintiff has already suffered severe financial hardship due to her disability and Defendant's failure to pay disability benefits. To not grant an award of costs, including the appeal costs, would be to further the financial hardship she already endures. Therefore, Plaintiff should be awarded her costs.
(Chapman's Letter Br. at 4-5.)
Defendant opposes that application upon the ground that "[u]nder FRAP 39(A)[sic](4), where a judgment is affirmed in part, reversed in part, modified or vacated, costs may only be taxed as the court orders. For the reasons discussed above, the court should not place this expense on the plan." (ChoiceCare's Letter Br. at 12.)
In Chapman I, this Court's grant of summary judgment to Defendant was "vacated and the case remanded to the district court for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion." Chapman I, 288 F.3d at 515. In Chapman II, my judgment denying attorneys' fees and costs to Plaintiff was "vacated and the case remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion." Chapman II, 2005 WL at *3. Absent from both Chapman I and Chapman II is any specific mention of the costs incurred by Plaintiff-appellant on appeal. Under such circumstances, the subsection of Rule 39 cited by Defendant, to wit (a)(4) controls, including the provision that appellate "costs are taxed only as the court orders." Fed. R. of App. P. 39(a)(4)(emphasis added).
The question arises whether "the court" referenced in Rule 39(a)(4) is this Court, the Circuit Court, or both.
Although the answer to that question involves my authority to grant Plaintiff's request of an award of appellate costs, the subject has not been specifically addressed by either party in the apparent belief that the term "this court," as it appears in Rule 39(a)(4), includes the district court. However my reading of the Rule indicates a contrary conclusion for the reasons provided, infra. To place that discussion in context, the relevant portions of Rule 39, entitled "Costs," are provided. Rule 39 provides in pertinent part:
(1) A party who wants costs taxed must--within 14 days after entry of judgment--file with the circuit clerk, with proof of service, an itemized and verified bill of costs.
(3) The clerk must prepare and certify an itemized statement of costs for insertion in the mandate, but issuance of the mandate must not be delayed for taxing costs. If the mandate issues before costs are finally determined, the district clerk must--upon the circuit clerk's request--add the statement of costs, or any amendment of it, to the mandate.
(4) the fee for filing the notice of appeal. Fed. R. of App. P. Rule 39.
Initially it warrants mention that Rule 39(e) indicates that certain costs incurred on appeal may be assessed "in the district court." Rule 39(e). Those costs, listed in subdivision(e) as (1), (2), (3), and (4) may be awarded "for the benefit of the party entitled to costs under this rule." Id. The language "entitled to costs under this rule," necessarily directs the reader's attention from subdivision(e) to subdivision (a) entitled "Against Whom Assessed."
A perusal of subdivision(a)(1), (2), and (3) indicates that the prevailing party is, in the language of Rule 39(e), "entitled to costs" depending on the outcome of the appeal. Rule 39(e). For example, subdivision (a)(3) provides "if a judgment is reversed, costs are taxed against the appellee." Rule 39(a)(3).*fn9 Thus, the awarding of the appellate costs listed in Rule 39(e)(1)-(4) to a prevailing party under (a)(1), (2), or (3) is essentially a ministerial task, specifically entrusted under the Rule 39 to the lower court.
The situation is otherwise with respect to Rule 39 (a)(4), that being, as noted earlier, the subdivision applicable for present purposes to both Chapman I and Chapman II. Under (a)(4), unlike the other three parts of (a), neither party is presumptively entitled to costs. Indeed, unless "the court" takes the affirmative action of awarding costs to the appellant or appellee, no costs will be awarded under (a)(4).
To interpret "the court" in (a)(4), and elsewhere in Rule 39(a) for that matter, as including the district court would be out of sync with the manner in which the Rule is constructed. The Rule, to partially reiterate, provides essentially ministerial authority to district courts in the taxing of costs on appeal, limited to those situations in which a party is entitled to such an award under subdivision(a). Such an entitlement under (a)(1), (2), and (3) is subject to a court order to the contrary, just as the non-entitlement under (a)(4) may be overridden by a court order as well. If such an order may be issued by a district judge, that would mean, for example, if a judgment was reversed, the appellee's entitlement to appellate costs could be upset by a district judge, i.e., a stranger to the appeal process except for the fact that his or her order or judgment was the subject of the appeal. That makes no sense. Instead, a fair reading of the Rule indicates that the draft-person used the term "district court" where intended, viz. in Rule 39(e) and used the term "this court" in Rule 39(a) to indicate a circuit court. See Conway Groves, Inc. v. Coopers & Lybrand, 158 F.R.D. 505, 507 (M.D. Fla. 1994). As a result, I am not authorized to grant Plaintiff the costs she incurred on appeal with respect to Chapman I and Chapman II. Accordingly, Plaintiff's application for costs on appeal is denied.*fn10
4. Conclusion Regarding Plaintiff's Application for Costs
For the reasons indicated, Plaintiff's application for costs incurred in the district court is granted, including her application with respect to expert witnesses but only to the extent provided in 28 U.S.C. § 1821; her application for costs incurred on appeal is denied on the ground that Rule 39(a)(4) provides that costs are taxed only if so ordered by "the court," the court being the Circuit Court, not this Court.
For the reasons indicated, Plaintiff's request for an award of attorneys' fees is denied and her request for costs is granted in part and denied in part.