Opinion ID: 655521
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Perdue's Appeal of State Law Claims

Text: 21 Perdue appeals the district court's ruling that his common law fraud and breach of contract claims are preempted by ERISA, or, alternatively, are void as within the statute of frauds. The district court correctly decided that ERISA preempts Perdue's common law fraud claim because the only damages recoverable under the claim relate to the value of the severance benefits waived by Perdue upon acceptance of the FOM position. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Taylor, 481 U.S. 58, 62-63, 107 S.Ct. 1542, 1546, 95 L.Ed.2d 55 (1987) (ERISA preempts common law claims that relate to the recovery of benefits under an ERISA plan.). 13 22
23 The district court incorrectly determined that ERISA preempts Perdue's claim for breach of an agreement to confer a franchise because this common law claim does not relate to the BKC Program. Nevertheless, summary judgment on this claim is proper as the statute of frauds bars enforcement of the alleged promise. 14