Source: http://nj.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20110822_0001890.DNJ.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2016-12-04 02:01:46
Document Index: 770373436

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1001', 'Art. 2', 'Art. 18', 'Art. 7', 'Art. 1', 'Art. 2', '§ 1140', '§ 510']

| Dorothy Kalksma and Barbara Beucler v. Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A.
Dorothy Kalksma and Barbara Beucler v. Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A.
DOROTHY KALKSMA AND BARBARA BEUCLER, PLAINTIFFS,v.KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS SOLUTIONS U.S.A., INC., DEFENDANT.
This case concerns employee misclassification and ERISA. Defendant Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. ("KMBS") is an information technology company that provides imaging and printing services to businesses. Plaintiffs Kalksma and Beucler are employees of KMBS who claim that they were improperly excluded from participation in KMBS benefit plans due to their misclassification as independent contractors. Plaintiffs allege that they were denied the benefits owed to them as employees and were wrongfully retaliated against when they attempted to correct their misclassification. Plaintiffs sue under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act ("ERISA"), 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq., and New Jersey common law seeking damages for lost benefits and retaliation. Defendant claims that Plaintiffs were not entitled to benefits for the period in which they were engaged as independent contractors and that Plaintiffs were not retaliated against.
Defendant now moves for summary judgment on all counts. For the reasons set forth below, Defendant's motion is GRANTED. Plaintiffs' complaint is DISMISSED.
Headquartered in Ramsey, New Jersey, Defendant KMBS provides a variety of printing and imaging services to its business clients, including office printer systems, bulk production printers, printing and imaging software applications, and information technology strategy and consulting. Like many companies, it engages in substantial marketing efforts to attract and retain business clients.
Plaintiffs Kalksma and Beucler have been involved in marketing for KMBS for many years. (Pl. SOF ¶¶ 1,7). Both originally applied for positions as full time employees, but were told that they were ineligible because they insisted on working part time hours. (Zackin Ex. A at 10-13) (Zackin Ex. B. at 7-9). To accommodate this request, KMBS hired each as an independent contractor or consultant, and instructed each Plaintiff to invoice KMBS for her hours actually worked. (Zackin Ex. A at 22) (Zackin Ex. B. at 9-10).
Between 1999 and 2009 Kalksma worked within KMBS's Marketing Communications Department. (Def. SOF ¶ 1). In that capacity, Kalksma appears to have had a variety of responsibilities related to the production of marketing materials. (Pl. SOF ¶ 12). While serving as an independent contractor, Kalksma submitted invoices for her time and was paid an hourly wage with no associated benefits or payroll tax withholding. (Def. SOF ¶ 3). Similarly, Beucler served in the Marketing Communications Department between 2003 and 2009. Id. at 2. While there, Beucler was responsible for creating sales materials for use in the US market. (Pl. SOF ¶ 3). She was also paid an hourly wage with no associated benefits or payroll tax withholding. (Def. SOF ¶ 3).
Both Beucler and Kalksma were dissatisfied with this arrangement and claim to have periodically inquired about becoming formal employees. (Pl. SOF ¶ 12). After being repeatedly rebuffed, in November of 2008, Beucler filed a Form SS-8 with the Internal Revenue Service, requesting that the IRS determine the federal employment tax status of her services to KMBS. Id.
¶ 19. On June 3, 2009, the IRS released a compliance opinion in which it determined that because of the nature of Beucler's responsibilities, KMBS could not treat her as an independent contractor for tax purposes and owed employment tax on her wages. (Warwick Ex. 1). Consequently, KMBS was directed to pay past due employment taxes to the IRS. (Goldman Ex. D, 12:7-16).
After receiving the IRS determination, KMBS conducted an internal investigation and identified four other individuals whose classification as independent contractors could run afoul of the ruling. Id. at 7:16-8:8. One of the other individuals was Plaintiff Kalksma. After reviewing the compliance opinion, KMBS offered Kalksma and Beucler positions as ordinary employees. (Warwick Cert. ¶ 6). Kalksma and Beucler accepted the offer and the parties negotiated new employment terms, including job title, salary, benefits, and hours. Id. At these negotiations, Plaintiffs were represented by counsel. Id. After agreeing to the new terms of employment, Plaintiffs were placed in the KMBS payroll as employees effective December 14, 2009. Id.
Since they were hired as employees, Plaintiffs claim to have experienced "retaliation" because of the change in their status. Most substantially, the hourly rates negotiated by Plaintiffs as employees were 30% lower than the hourly rates that they were paid as independent contractors. (Pl. SOF ¶ 45). Plaintiffs also complain that their formal job titles within the company computer system have changed since rehiring, though they have been directed to refer to themselves, both internally and to outsiders, by the same title. Id. ¶¶ 33-39. Plaintiffs finally complain that as employees they are frequently called upon to assist co-workers and work overtime. Id. ¶¶ 42-43.
On June 2, 2010, Plaintiffs filed suit against KMBS, seeking damages for unpaid benefits and retaliation under ERISA. (Doc. No. 1). Plaintiffs claim that they were entitled to full benefits as employees during the time period in which they worked as independent contractors. Plaintiffs further claim that are entitled to retain the same hourly rates, job titles, and responsibilities that they enjoyed as independent contractors despite renegotiating the terms of their employment in 2009.
There are two benefit plans at issue. The first is the KMBS 401(k) Savings and Retirement Plan. ("401k Plan") (Warwick Ex. 2). The 401k Plan defines an "Employee" for eligibility purposes as follows:
An "Employee" means any person who is classified by an Employer, in accordance with its payroll records, as an employee of the Employer, other than any such person who is either (i) covered by a collective bargaining agreement that does not specifically provide for coverage under the Plan, (ii) a nonresident alien who does not receive United States source income or (iii) covered by any other qualified pension plan sponsored by the Konica Minolta controlled group. Any individual who is not treated by an Employer as a common law employee of the Employer shall be excluded from Plan participation even if a court or administrative agency determines that such individual is a common law employee and not an independent contractor.
The second plan is the KMBS Cafeteria Plan ("Cafeteria Plan") (Warwick Ex. 3). The Cafeteria Plan defines an "Employee" for eligibility purposes as follows:
Employee means a person who is a common law employee of the Employer, provided, however, that an Employee does not include any person who is (A) a person who is classified by the Employer as working on discrete projects; (B) a person who is classified by the Employer as an independent contractor as evidenced by its action in not withholding taxes from his or her compensation, regardless of whether the person is the Employer's common law employee.
Id. at Art. 2.9.
Like many ERISA plans, the KMBS benefits plans provide significant discretion to the Plan Administrator to make eligibility determinations. The 401k Plan states that "the plan administrator ... shall have all such powers and authorities as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of the Plan, including the power and authority to interpret and construe the provisions of the Plan, to make benefit determinations, and to resolve any disputes which arise under the Plan." (Warwick Ex. 2 at Art. 18.1). Similarly, the Cafeteria Plan permits the Plan Administrator to "determine all questions concerning the eligibility of any individual to participate in, be covered by, and receive benefits under the Plan pursuant to the provisions of the Plan." (Warwick Ex. 3 at Art. 7.3). The Plan Administrator for each plan is Donald Warwick, a Vice President of Human Resources at KMBS. (Warwick Cert. ¶¶ 1,7). Warwick has submitted a sworn certification in which he states that he reviewed Plaintiffs' claims and determined that they were not eligible for benefits under either the 401k Plan or the Cafeteria Plan. Id. ¶ 7.
On the basis of these facts, Defendant now moves for summary judgment.
The meaning of a contract may be decided by summary judgment where "the contract language is unambiguous and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Arnold M. Diamond, Inc. v. Gulf Coast Trailing Co., 180 F.3d 518, 522 (3d Cir. 1999). However, to grant summary judgment, the court must "conclude that the contractual language is subject to only one reasonable interpretation." Id.; see also Tamarind Resort Associates v. Government of Virgin Islands, 138 F.3d 107, 111 (3d Cir. 1998) ("a contract is unambiguous if it is reasonably capable of only one construction").
Many of the issues facing the Court here involve the interpretation of an unambiguous contract. Consequently summary judgment is appropriate. The Court will examine each of the contentions raised by Plaintiffs in turn.
B. Were Plaintiffs Intentionally Misclassified?
Plaintiffs claim that Defendants intentionally misclassified them as independent contractors in order to deny them benefits due under ERISA. (Pl. Br. 4). Plaintiffs do not argue that the language of the 401k Plan or Cafeteria Plan supports Plaintiff's eligibility. Rather, Plaintiffs urge the court to ignore the "terms within these plans" and focus instead on the "underlying intent for misclassification, and the damages resulting from same." Id. Plaintiffs offer no support for this free form mode of analysis. Consequently, the Court will evaluate Plaintiffs' claims in accordance with the language of the relevant benefits plans and controlling ERISA caselaw.
As a threshold matter, the Court is obligated to apply a deferential standard of review to determinations made by an ERISA Plan Administrator acting within its explicit discretion. In Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. v. Bruch, 489 U.S. 101 (1989) the Supreme Court set forth a rubric controlling judicial review of ERISA benefit eligibility decisions. Under Firestone, courts are to be "guided by principles of trust law" in evaluating the conclusions of Plan Administrators. Firestone, 498 U.S. at 111. These "principles of trust law require courts to review a denial of plan benefits 'under a de novo standard' unless the plan provides to the contrary. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Glenn, 554 U.S. 105, 111 (2008) quoting Firestone, 498 U.S. at 115.
However "[w]here the plan provides to the contrary by granting the administrator or fiduciary discretionary authority to determine eligibility for benefits, trust principles make a deferential standard of review appropriate.." Metropolitan Life, 554 U.S. at 111 (internal citations omitted).*fn1 Specifically, "[i]f the plan gives the administrator or fiduciary discretionary authority to make eligibility determinations, we review its decisions under an abuse-of-discretion (or arbitrary and capricious) standard." Viera v. Life Ins. Co. of North America, 642 F.3d 407, 413 (3d Cir. 2011). An administrator's decision is only arbitrary and capricious "if it is without reason, unsupported by substantial evidence or erroneous as a matter of law." Miller v. American Airlines, Inc., 632 F.3d 837, 845 (3d Cir. 2011) (internal citation omitted). *fn2
Here each benefits plan specifically provides that the Plan Administrator shall have broad discretion to make eligibility determinations. While "[t]here are no 'magic words' determining the scope of judicial review of decisions to deny benefits", the explicit language vesting the Plan Administrator with discretionary responsibility over benefits determination obligates the Court to treat such a determination with deference. Viera, 642 F.3d at 413.
Plaintiffs have introduced no evidence that the eligibility determinations made by the Plan Administrator were "arbitrary and capricious." Indeed, Defendant notes that all individuals hired as independent contractors were treated in a like manner. (Warwick Cert. ¶ 7). Defendant has also introduced sworn statements from the Plan Administrator in which he describes why, in the exercise of his discretion, he determined that Plaintiffs and other similarly situated individuals were ineligible for benefits. Id. While Plaintiffs may not agree with the Plan Administrator's conclusions, they have advanced no argument that his reasoning is unsupportable based on the language of the relevant agreements.
Indeed, even if the Court were to subject the 401k Plan and Cafeteria Plan under a more rigorous de novo review, Plaintiffs' claims would still fail. The plain text of each plan states that KMBS's classification of Plaintiffs as independent contractors rather than employees renders them ineligible for benefits even if that classification is subsequently found to be legally erroneous.*fn3 The current situation-where independent contractors are later held to be common law employees-was clearly contemplated and provided for when each plan was drafted. Plaintiffs' "misclassification" argument fails because each plan specifically excludes misclassified employees from benefits.*fn4
Plaintiff contends that their eligibility for benefits cannot
determined by the "labels" used by their employment contracts, and
quotes Sharkey v. Ultramar Energy Ltd.*fn5 in support.
However the benefits plan at issue in Sharkey applied to all
employees. As a consequence, the court in Sharkey was only required to
determine whether the Sharkey plaintiff was a common law employee, not
whether he fell into a specific category of employees covered by the
benefit plan.*fn6 The Sharkey decision does not hold that a
court should ignore plan language restricting eligibility to specific
categories of employees. Indeed, ERISA does not require employers to
offer all benefits plans to all employees or even to offer benefits
plans at all. Bellas v. CBS, Inc., 221 F.3d 517, 522 (3d Cir. 2000)
("ERISA neither mandates the creation of pension plans nor in general
dictates the benefits a plan must afford once created.").*fn7
Under ERISA, employers have the freedom to craft benefits
plans that exclude specific categories of employees and to have those
decisions respected. Dade v. North American Philips Corp., 68 F.3d
1558, 1562 (3d Cir. 1995) ("we are required to enforce the Plan as
written unless we can find a provision of ERISA that contains a
contrary directive."). What employers may not do is alter the
definition of "employee" for the purposes of the ERISA statute or
otherwise limit the application of the statute to employee benefit
plans that they do choose to provide. But KMBS does not argue that
Plaintiffs do not meet the definition of "employees" under ERISA or
the tax code. KMBS merely argues that the language of the plans
specifically exclude them. And it is correct.
Plaintiffs also urge reliance upon Vizcaino v. Microsoft Corp., 97 F.3d 1187 (9th Cir. 1996), vacated en banc 120 F. 3d 1006. In Vizcaino, the Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit held that freelancers who had been misclassified by Microsoft as independent contractors were entitled to benefits under a series of ERISA plans offered by the company. While the facts of Vizcaino are superficially similar, its holding cannot control here.
First, the Vizcaino court premised its decision on ambiguity in the plan agreements at issue in that case. Vizcaino, 97 F.3d at 1194 ("the terms of the SPP are susceptible to two reasonable interpretations and therefore are ambiguous"). Indeed, the court in Vizcaino found that the relevant eligibility language in one of the plans was so ambiguous that it could not be resolved even through recourse to extrinsic evidence. Id. at 1195-1196 ("the extrinsic evidence on which Microsoft relies does not resolve the ambiguity in its favor."). Finding no other means by which it could resolve the dispute, the Court relied upon the doctrine of contra proferentem, and construed the contract against the drafter-in that case, Microsoft. Id. at 1196. But in this case there is no ambiguity in the plan agreements. The 401k Plan and Cafeteria Plan explicitly state that individuals who are treated as independent contractors and do not have wages withheld by KMBS are not eligible for benefits, even if the decision not to withhold wages is later found to be improper. (Warwick Ex. 2 at Art. 1) (Warwick Ex. 3 at Art. 2.9). Absent any ambiguity, there is no need to resort to extrinsic evidence or the contra proferentem doctrine.*fn8
Moreover, the Vizcaino decision does not bind this Court. As a matter
of law, this Court is obligated to follow the decisions and legal
reasoning of the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.*fn9
But even ignoring geography, the Vizcaino decision upon which
Plaintiffs rely was subsequently vacated by an en banc decision of the
Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. 120
F. 3d 1006. In vacating the decision, the court distinguished between
the two plans at issue in the
case. It held that the determination of eligibility for one of the
plans should have been properly left to the Plan Administrator, and
not to the court. Id. at 1013 ("we have determined that we should not
allow ourselves to be seduced into making a decision which belongs to
the plan administrator in the first instance."). In the other, the
court found that the Plaintiffs had not made the necessary
contributions to receive benefits. Id. at 1015. The court fully
recognized that in the absence of evidence of a clear abuse of
discretion, decisions about eligibility were properly made by the plan
administrator and not the courts. Id. at 1009 ("when reviewing the
decision of a plan administrator who has discretion, the exercise of
that discretion is reviewed under the arbitrary or capricious
standard, or for abuse of discretion, which comes to the same
Other courts in this district have come to similar conclusions regarding the treatment of employees classified as independent contractors.*fn10 In Sturgis v. Mattel, Inc., 525 F.Supp.2d 695 (D.N.J. 2007), a worker who had signed an independent contractor agreement brought suit against Mattel seeking benefits under various ERISA plans. The court upheld the determinations of the plan administrators, finding that even if the plaintiff were a common law employee, she would still have been excluded from eligibility by the language of the benefits agreements. Sturgis, 525 F.Supp.2d at 706-707 ("Plaintiff's entitlement to benefits turns not only on whether she meets the statutory definition of "employee," but also whether she meets the plans' definitions for eligible participants. It was not arbitrary or capricious for Mattel, in making its benefits determination, to find that Plaintiff, whom Mattel concededly had always classified as an independent contractor, was not eligible for benefits.") (internal citations omitted).*fn11
Last, the Court notes that Plaintiffs have introduced no evidence of
intentional misclassification. While Plaintiffs' brief is peppered
with accusatory language stating that their classification as
independent contractors was some sort of "intentional"*fn12
scheme by which Plaintiffs were "cloaked. in the label of
independent contractors"*fn13 to "interfere with
[Plaintiffs'] attainment of . rights"*fn14 for
Defendant's "own self serving reasons"*fn15 they
introduce zero evidence of actual fraud or malfeasance. While
Defendant's intent is essentially irrelevant to Plaintiffs'
eligibility for benefits under an employee compensation plan, it is
surprising that Plaintiffs offer so little evidence of KMBS's
subjective motivations when so much of their argumentation appears
predicated upon it.
What testimony Plaintiffs have introduced suggests that KMBS hired Plaintiffs as independent contractors because it believed that the nature of Plaintiffs' responsibilities and part- time status made such a classification appropriate. When it turned out that this status did not comply with tax laws, KMBS remedied it by offering Plaintiffs jobs. To the extent that KMBS failed to pay the necessary federal taxes, it has already been punished. Nothing before the Court suggests some nefarious plot to cheat Plaintiffs out of their due. Nor were Plaintiffs mislead concerning the terms of the employment bargain they struck. Plaintiffs offer no reason why they should be permitted to renegotiate the terms of their new employment or collect an economic windfall.
Plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate that they are eligible for benefits under the language of the 401k Plan or Cafeteria Plan. Even if the Court were to assume that Plaintiffs were common law employees, this is not sufficient to sustain their cause of action for unpaid benefits. As such, Plaintiffs' ERISA claims will be DISMISSED.
C. Are Plaintiffs Entitled to Damages for Retaliation?
Plaintiffs also seek damages for retaliation, claiming that they have been discriminated against for attempting to collect on ERISA benefits to which they were lawfully entitled. Section 510 of ERISA provides that "[i]t shall be unlawful for any person to discharge, fine, suspend, expel, discipline, or discriminate against a participant or beneficiary for exercising any right to which he is entitled under the provisions of an employee benefit plan.."29 U.S.C.A. § 1140.
To recover under § 510, a plaintiff must show that: "1) she is a member of an ERISA plan, 2) she was qualified for the position, and 3) she was [retaliated against] under circumstances that provide some basis for believing that [her employer] intended to deprive her of benefits." Kampmier v. Emeritus Corp.,472 F.3d 930, 943 (7th Cir. 2007).
As stated above, Plaintiffs were not eligible for benefits under any
ERISA plan. As such, their claim for retaliation must fail, whether
brought under Section 510 or New Jersey common law.*fn16
Plaintiffs' retaliation claims are DISMISSED.
For the foregoing reasons, Defendant's motion is GRANTED. Plaintiffs' complaint is DISMISSED.