Gitlitz v. Compagnie Nationale Air France

United States Court of Appeals,
Eleventh Circuit.
No. 96-5131.
Edward GITLITZ, Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
COMPAGNIE NATIONALE AIR FRANCE, Defendant-Appellee.
Joe F. COLLINS, Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
COMPAGNIE NATIONALE AIR FRANCE, Defendant-Appellee.
Nov. 19, 1997.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. (Nos. 93-2247-
CIV-Moore, 94-0734-CIV-Moore), K. Michael Moore, District Judge.
Before ANDERSON, DUBINA and CARNES, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Plaintiffs-Appellants Edward Gitlitz and Joe F. Collins brought suit against their former
employer, Compangie Nationale Air France, alleging violations of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA).
The district court dismissed Collins's ADEA claims and granted summary judgment for the
defendant with respect to the ERISA claims of both plaintiffs.1
I. Facts and Procedural History
Edward Gitlitz and Joe F. Collins were employed as outside sales representatives for Air
1
The district court denied the defendant's motion for summary judgment on Gitlitz's ADEA
and Florida Civil Rights Act claims. These matters are not before us on appeal. The other issues
are properly before us pursuant to an order of partial final judgment by the district court.
Fed.R.Civ.P. 54(b).
France for 35 and 22 years, respectively. In 1993, Air France implemented a new personnel
structure which eliminated their positions as salaried outside sales representatives, but offered them
the opportunity to continue doing essentially the same jobs as independent contractors, known as
Business Development Attaches ("BDA's"). Some representatives, such as the plaintiffs, also
satisfied the age and service requirements to qualify for early retirement and receive pension
benefits.2 However, under the new structure, they were not permitted to take early retirement and
begin receiving pension benefits and also become independent contractors/BDAs; they were forced
to choose one or the other.3
Plaintiffs filed their respective complaints in 1994, alleging that Air France's elimination of
their sales representative positions and the manner in which it was done constituted discrimination
in violation of the ADEA and ERISA.
Gitlitz filed timely ADEA administrative charges with the EEOC and filed suit in district
court within 90 days of receiving a right-to-sue letter from the EEOC. Collins also filed ADEA
administrative charges with the EEOC. The EEOC issued a no-cause determination and right-to-sue
letter which Collins received on November 15, 1993. The letter stated that Collins had 90 days
within which to file suit. After contacting his congressman, Collins received a second right-to-sue
letter on January 28, 1994,4 which rescinded the first letter and stated that Collins had another 90
2
Plaintiff Gitlitz was 59 years old and Plaintiff Collins was 56 years old when the positions
were eliminated.
3
The defendant claims that the plaintiffs "opted voluntarily to participate in an enhanced early
retirement plan." The plaintiffs characterize the situation as forced retirement or forfeiture of
their ERISA benefits. Both sides agree that the sales representatives could not exercise both
options.
4
Upon receipt of this second letter, Collins had approximately 16 or 17 days left of the 90 day
statutory period triggered by the first letter.
days within which to file suit. On April 15, 1994, Collins filed his complaint in district court.
Concluding that Collins's second EEOC letter was ineffective, the district court dismissed Collins's
ADEA claim as untimely.
The district court denied Air France's motion for summary judgment on the ADEA claim of
Gitlitz, holding that he had raised a triable question of fact on the issue of pretext in Air France's
employment decision.
The district court granted summary judgment on the ERISA claims as to both plaintiffs.5
II. Summary Judgment Standard
This Court applies a de novo standard of review to a district court's grant of summary
judgment. See, e.g., Scala v. City of Winter Park, 116 F.3d 1396, 1398 (11th Cir.1997). Summary
judgment is appropriate if the record shows no genuine issue of material fact and that the moving
party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Id. "All evidence and reasonable factual inferences
drawn therefrom are reviewed in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion." Warren
v. Crawford, 927 F.2d 559, 561-62 (11th Cir.1991) (citations omitted).
III. Discussion
A. Collins's ADEA Claim
Collins appeals the district court's dismissal of his ADEA claim as untimely. He argues that
even if his claim was not timely filed, he should be entitled to equitable tolling based on his reliance
on the second letter he received from the EEOC. However, because plaintiff did not fairly present
this equitable tolling argument to the district court, we decline to entertain the argument for the first
time on appeal.
5
The district court adopted in part and amended in part the Report and Recommendation of
United States Magistrate Judge Ted E. Bandstra dated June 1, 1995.
With regard to his other arguments, we must first determine whether Collins's second letter,
received on January 28, 1994, was effective. The parties agree that under the applicable law the
second EEOC letter was effective if issued pursuant to an EEOC reconsideration of the merits, but
was not effective if there was no reconsideration. Gonzalez v. Firestone Tire and Rubber, 610 F.2d
241, 246 (5th Cir.1980) ("The EEOC may issue a second ninety-day right-to-sue notice upon
completion of a discretionary reconsideration of a prior determination.").6 See also Lute v. Singer
Co., 678 F.2d 844, 846 (9th Cir.1982); Trujillo v. GE Co., 621 F.2d 1084, 1087 (10th Cir.1980).
Our review of the summary judgment record persuades us that there is no genuine issue of
fact with regard to this issue: there was no reconsideration by the EEOC. There is no indication that
additional evidence was before the EEOC. There was no request that the EEOC reconsider on the
merits. The only evidence of any communication between the parties and the EEOC is an inference
that Collins's congressman may have called the EEOC in response to Collins's request that he assist
in obtaining an extension of time. Neither the second EEOC letter nor the cover letter
accompanying it indicates that it was the culmination of a reconsideration. To the contrary, the
cover letter said that "[t]he Determination is reissued as of this date" (emphasis added). The term
"re-issue" suggests that the original determination was merely issued again with a new date.
Moreover, the second EEOC letter is a verbatim copy of the first letter except for a single
difference—i.e., the date. The relevant regulations, 29 C.F.R. 1601.21(b) and (d), contemplate that
"[i]n cases where the Commission decides to reconsider a dismissal or a determination finding
reasonable cause to believe a charge is true, a notice of intent to reconsider will promptly issue."
Neither party in this case received a notice of intent to reconsider; rather they received only a
6
This Court adopted as binding precedent all of the decisions of the former Fifth Circuit
handed down prior to the close of business on September 30, 1981. Bonner v. City of Prichard,
661 F.2d 1206, 1209 (11th Cir.1981) (en banc).
verbatim copy of the initial letter with a new date. Under all of these circumstances, we do not
believe a factfinder could conclude that the EEOC reconsidered this case on the merits.
Collins argues that even if the second EEOC letter is ineffective, he should nevertheless be
permitted to attach his claim to Gitlitz's under the single-filing rule. It is clear that a plaintiff who
has not filed an EEOC charge may "piggyback" on the timely filing of an EEOC charge by another
plaintiff who faced similar discriminatory treatment in the same time frame. Calloway v. Partners
National Health Plans, 986 F.2d 446, 449 (11th Cir.1993); Grayson v. K Mart Corp., 79 F.3d 1086,
1101 (11th Cir.1996) (finding that the single-filing rule applies to ADEA claims), cert. denied, ---
U.S. ----, 117 S. Ct. 447, 136 L. Ed. 2d 342 (1996).
Collins argues that it would be ironic to find that the case law permits a plaintiff who has not
filed an EEOC charge to "piggyback" his claim, but then to deny the "piggyback" option to a
plaintiff who has exercised somewhat more diligence by filing an EEOC charge although failing to
follow through with a timely suit. The Eighth Circuit addressed and rejected just such an argument:
It is somewhat ironic, however, that [a person], who did not even file an administrative
charge, is permitted to continue in this action while the others have been dismissed, and we
believe that result requires a brief explanation.... Our decision ... permitted plaintiffs who
had not filed administrative charges to "piggyback" on the timely filing of an administrative
charge filed by another claimant who purported to represent the interests of a class of
similarly situated employees.... For those plaintiffs who have never filed an administrative
charge and who are allowed to piggyback on the filed claim of another, we deem it
reasonable to permit them to join suit as long as the claimant on whose administrative filing
they have relied timely files suit....
Those plaintiffs who do file administrative charges, however, should be bound by the statute
of limitations, which is normally stated in the right-to-sue letter.... [O]nce they file separate
administrative charges, they cannot rely any further on the other claimant's actions and must
timely file suit after receiving their right-to-sue letters. Thus, any claimant who files an
administrative charge and receives a right-to-sue letter from the EEOC must file suit within
ninety days after receiving that letter to preserve the cause of action.
Anderson v. Unisys Corp., 47 F.3d 302, 308-09 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 116 S. Ct. 299,
133 L. Ed. 2d 205 (1995). Similarly, the Fifth Circuit concluded that "where the party wishing to
piggyback has filed his own EEOC charge," he is "bound by the parameters of his own EEOC
charge, and cannot subsequently utilize the single filing rule to avoid the statute of limitations."
Mooney v. Aramco Services Co., 54 F.3d 1207, 1223-24 (5th Cir.1995).
We agree with the reasoning of the Eighth Circuit and the Fifth Circuit. In fashioning the
ADEA statute of limitations, Congress carefully balanced the interests of plaintiffs and the interests
of employers. A plaintiff who has not filed an individual EEOC charge may invoke the single-filing
rule where such plaintiff is similarly situated to the person who actually filed an EEOC charge, and
where the EEOC charge actually filed gave the employer notice of the collective or class-wide
nature of the charge. In such circumstances, it is reasonable from the perspective of the employer's
interests and the interests of economy of administration within the agency to permit such a plaintiff
to rely upon the other claimant's EEOC charge. However, where a plaintiff has filed an individual
EEOC charge, such a plaintiff should be required to rely upon his or her own EEOC charge, and
cannot reasonably rely upon the other claimant's charge. Thus, we conclude that Collins may not
"piggyback" onto Gitlitz's ADEA claim.
For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the district court's dismissal of Collins's ADEA claim.
B. ERISA Claims
Both Collins and Gitlitz claim that their termination was a violation of ERISA § 510 which
makes it unlawful to "discharge, fine, suspend, expel, discipline, or discriminate against a participant
or beneficiary [of an employee benefit plan] ... for the purpose of interfering with the attainment of
any right to which such participant may become entitled under the plan...." 29 U.S.C. § 1140. This
section prohibits interference with present pension benefits and also protects against interference
with future entitlement to receive the same. See Inter-Modal Rail Employees Assoc. v. Atchison,
Topeka and Santa Fe R.R. Co., --- U.S. ----, ----, 117 S. Ct. 1513, 1515, 137 L. Ed. 2d 763 (1997);
Clark v. Coats & Clark, 990 F.2d 1217. 1222 (11th Cir.1993) ("Section 510 ... protects the right ...
to accrue additional vested benefits.")
Clark v. Coats & Clark articulated the Eleventh Circuit test for demonstrating a violation
of § 510:
The ultimate inquiry in a § 510 case is whether the employer had the specific intent to
interfere with the employee's ERISA rights.... A plaintiff is not required to prove that
interference with ERISA rights was the sole reason for the discharge but must show more
than the incidental loss of benefits as a result of a discharge.... This burden can be met either
by showing direct proof of discrimination or by satisfying the scheme for circumstantial
evidence established by McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 93 S. Ct. 1817,
36 L. Ed. 2d 668 (1973), and restated in Texas Department of Community Affairs v. Burdine,
450 U.S. 248, 253-54, 101 S. Ct. 1089, 1093-94, 67 L. Ed. 2d 207 (1981).
990 F.2d at 1222-23. Under the McDonnell Douglas scheme, the plaintiff must demonstrate a prima
facie case of discrimination, which creates a presumption of discrimination. The defendant then
must articulate a legitimate nondiscriminatory reason for his conduct. If the defendant does so, the
presumption of discrimination disappears, and in order to prevail the plaintiff must demonstrate that
the reason given was a mere pretext for discrimination. Id. at 1223.
Clark v. Coats & Clark also articulated the test for a prima facie case:
In the context of a § 510 claim alleging unlawful discharge, a plaintiff may establish a prima
facie case of discrimination by showing (1) that he is entitled to ERISA's protection, (2) was
qualified for the position, and (3) was discharged under circumstances that give rise to an
inference of discrimination.... To satisfy the last element the plaintiff does not have to prove
discriminatory intent but must introduce evidence that suggests interference with ERISA
rights was a motivating factor.... The plaintiff, however, cannot establish a prima facie case
merely by showing that, as a result of the termination, he was deprived of the opportunity
to accrue more benefits.... Moreover, measures designed to reduce costs in general that also
result in an incidental reduction in benefit expenses do not suggest discriminatory intent....
Instead the employee must introduce evidence suggesting that the employer's decision was
directed at ERISA rights in particular.
Id. at 1223-24.
In Seaman v. Arvida Realty Sales, 985 F.2d 543 (11th Cir.1993), we held that a company's
reclassification of employees as independent contractors could, if done with specific intent to
interfere with the employees' future ERISA benefits, give rise to a violation of § 510.
In this case the district court held that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate a violation of §
510. After a careful review of this summary judgment record, we disagree. We readily conclude
that plaintiffs have created genuine issues of fact with respect to the prima facie case. Plaintiffs are
clearly entitled to ERISA's protection and qualified for the job, thus satisfying the first two prongs.
For the reasons discussed below, we also conclude that plaintiffs have satisfied the third prong by
adducing sufficient evidence to create a genuine issue of fact on the issue of whether Air France
reclassified them from employees to independent contractors with specific intent to interfere with
their ERISA benefits. Air France has articulated what it asserts to be a legitimate business reason
for its actions—i.e., that it reclassified plaintiffs and the other outside sales representatives in order
to motivate the sales force. Thus, the issue before us is whether plaintiffs have adduced sufficient
evidence to create a genuine issue of fact as to whether Air France's purported reason was a pretext
for discrimination, or, in other words, whether Air France had a specific intent to interfere with
employees' ERISA rights.
After a careful review of this summary judgment record, we conclude that plaintiffs have
adduced evidence from which a factfinder could reasonably find that Air France conceived and
implemented the BDA structure for the specific purpose of interfering with the ERISA rights of
plaintiffs and others similarly situated. It is clear that plaintiffs were entitled to continue accruing
ERISA benefits in their previous status as employees, but were excluded from all ERISA plans in
the independent contractor status of BDA. Plaintiffs have adduced evidence from which a factfinder
could find that the change of status was accompanied by no substantial change in the job function,
in the manner the job was expected to be performed, in the supervisors, or in the control exercised
by the supervisors. There is also a genuine issue of fact as to whether the BDA program would save
future ERISA costs for Air France, and the extent of any such savings. The only business reason
for the change which has been asserted by Air France is that its purpose was to motivate the sales
force. However, counsel for plaintiffs, in deposing the two Air France managers who apparently
were involved in the decision, pressed each for an explanation of how the BDA structure operated
to enhance such motivation in a manner not also equally feasible in an employee status. Neither
provided an intelligible answer. Similarly, at oral argument in this Court counsel for Air France was
unable to provide an intelligible answer to that question. Our careful review of this summary
judgment record reveals no apparent way in which the independent contractor status, as
implemented in this case, served to enhance motivation in a manner not equally feasible in an
employee context.7 The only feature of the new BDA structure which apparently would serve to
increase motivation was an increased reliance on a bonus method of compensation, a method which
is as readily adapted to employee status as to independent contractor status.
Under all the circumstances revealed by the instant record, we conclude that a factfinder
could find that Air France's asserted business reason is a pretext, and that Air France did have a
specific intent to deprive plaintiffs, and others similarly situated, of their right to accrue future
ERISA benefits. This would violate § 510. Clark v. Coats & Clark, supra, 990 F.2d at 1222;
Seaman v. Arvida, supra, 985 F.2d at 545-47.
Accordingly, with respect to plaintiffs' ERISA claims, we reverse the grant of summary
judgment and remand the case to the district court for further proceedings.
IV. Conclusion
7
We expressly leave open the possibility that some other formulation of job functions and
responsibilities in an independent contractor context might constitute a legitimate business
reason and rebut any inference of specific intent to interfere with ERISA rights. We hold only
that the BDA program as implemented in this record and in conjunction with the other evidence
in this record leaves a genuine issue of fact as to such specific intent.
We affirm the district court's dismissal of Collins's ADEA claim. We reverse the district
court's grant of summary judgment on the ERISA claims of both plaintiffs, and remand these claims.
AFFIRMED IN PART, REVERSED AND REMANDED IN PART.