Opinion ID: 696995
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Commission Claims

Text: 24 McNatt's complaint also contains several counts that concern his alleged entitlement to past-due commissions: breach of sales commission contract (count four); common counts (count five); negligence (count seven); fraud - misrepresentation (count nine); fraud - false promise (count ten); trespass (counts eleven and twelve); interference with contractual relations (count sixteen); and conspiracy to interfere with contractual relations (count seventeen). McNatt asserts that he is owed approximately $30,000 based on a special commission agreement for the sale of Hawker aircraft. In addition, he seeks $4,500 in commissions allegedly owed from the F20 retrofit program. While McNatt has failed to produce evidence showing that he is entitled to past-due commissions from the Hawker program, he has raised a triable issue of fact as to whether he is owed a commission from the F20 program.
25 As the district court noted, the claims based on an alleged oral promise are barred by the two-year statute of limitations. Calif. Code of Civil Procedure Sec. 339. Any breaches of the alleged oral agreement for the sale of Hawker aircraft occurred more than two years before August 1, 1989, the date on which McNatt filed suit. 26 Even with respect to the Hawker claims that are not barred by the statute of limitations, McNatt has failed to produce any evidence showing that he is entitled to recover any commissions. In August 1986, Graser wrote McNatt to confirm that McNatt would receive a $10,000 commission for the each 731 Hawker Aircraft, spec numbers 65, 66, and 67, sold within 30 days of the date the aircraft was ready for sale. McNatt sold a spec number 66 aircraft and a spec number 67 aircraft within the time limit, and received a $10,000 commission for each. 27 The record contains no evidence that McNatt sold any other aircraft specified in Graser's letter within 30 days of completion. Although McNatt did sell Hawker aircraft with spec numbers 57 and 64, the company denied his request, correctly pointing out that these models were not covered by the written agreement. In addition, McNatt sold a spec number 65 aircraft on April 1987; he admitted, however, that this aircraft was sold more than 30 days after completion. Thus, McNatt has not come forward with evidence that he is entitled to any unpaid commissions on Hawker aircraft.
28 In count four, McNatt asserts that he is entitled to $4,500 in commissions from the sale of F20 retrofit kits to Occidental Chemical, Southern Natural Gas, and Dow Chemical. The record contains no evidence supporting McNatt's assertion that he is entitled to commissions from the Southern Natural Gas and Dow sales. He has, however, raised a triable issue of fact as to whether he is owed a commission for the sale of an F20 retrofit kit to Occidental Chemical. 29 The record contains evidence that Allied's salesmen were entitled to a $1,500 commission for each F20 retrofit kit sold. McNatt admits that he did not sell any F20 retrofit kits before August 5, 1988, the date of his termination, but asserts that he should have received credit for an order that Allied received from 30 Occidental that same date. In their answer to McNatt's complaint, the defendants acknowledge receipt of Occidental's order for an F20 retrofit kit on August 5, 1988. 31 The record contains several memoranda from McNatt to Defendant Graser, tending to show that he was instrumental in making this sale. McNatt spoke with Occidental representatives numerous times during the final months of his employment and provided detailed written descriptions of these conversations to Graser. Indeed, from the documents contained in the record, it appears that McNatt was the only Allied salesman involved in the Occidental sale. In a memorandum dated July 25, 1988, a few days before his termination, McNatt estimated that the retrofit contract would be signed during the first week of August 1988. 32 During his deposition, McNatt admitted that aircraft are not technically considered sold until the final payment is made and the aircraft is delivered. We do not believe that this admission forecloses McNatt's claim to a commission from the Occidental sale. The record does not establish the precise terms of the commission agreement between Allied and McNatt. Thus, we cannot determine with certainty whether McNatt would be entitled to a commission for the sale, notwithstanding the fact that the aircraft was delivered and payment made after his termination. Even if the Occidental retrofit kit was not technically sold until after McNatt's termination, there appears to be a triable issue of fact as to whether McNatt was entitled to a commission. 33 v. 34 Because ERISA preempts McNatt's state-law fraudulent concealment claim, we conclude that the district court properly asserted jurisdiction over this action. The district court was also correct in concluding that McNatt has failed to raise a triable issue of fact with respect to his claim under ERISA, his claims relating to his discharge, and his claims relating to commissions from the Hawker program. However, we reverse the grant of summary judgment as to one of the claims contained in count four. We conclude that there is a genuine issue of material fact with respect to whether McNatt is entitled to a commission from the sale of an F20 retrofit kit to Occidental Chemical. 35 AFFIRMED in part, REVERSED in part and REMANDED.