The Boeing Company v. Spirit Aerosystems, Inc.

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
THE BOEING COMPANY, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. ) C.A. No.: N14C-12-055 EMD CCLD
)
SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC., )
)
Defendant. )
)
)
)
)
Submitted: March 22, 2017
Decided: June 27, 2017
Upon Plaintiff The Boeing Company’s Motion for Summary Judgment
DENIED
Upon Defendant-Counterclaim Plaintiff Spirit Aerosystems, Inc.’s
Motion for Summary Judgment
GRANTED
William M. Lafferty, Esquire, John P. DiTomo, Esquire, Barnaby Grzaslewicz, Esquire, Morris,
Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP, Wilmington, Delaware, Craig S. Primis, Esquire, Michael A.
Glick, Esquire, Tracie L. Bryant, Esquire, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Washington, DC, Eric F. Leon,
Equire, Kirkland & Ellis, New York, New York, Attorneys for Plaintiff The Boeing Company
John A. Sensing, Esquire, Jesse L. Noa, Esquire, Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP, Wilmington,
Delaware, Evan R. Chesler, Esquire, Darin P. McAtee, Esquire, Timothy G. Cameron, Esquire,
J. Wesley Earnhardt, Esquire, Caravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, New York, New York, Attorneys
for Defendant-Counterclaim Plaintiff Spirit Aerosystems, Inc.
DAVIS, J.
I. INTRODUCTION
This civil action is assigned to the Complex Commercial Litigation Division of the Court.
On December 5, 2014, Plaintiff The Boeing Company (“Boeing”) filed a Complaint (the
“Complaint”) against Defendant Spirit Aerosystems, Inc. (“Spirit”) for Breach of Contract and
Declaratory Judgment. Through the Complaint, Boeing seeks a declaration that Spirit breached
its indemnification obligation for liabilities arising out of certain pension and retiree medical
benefits. Spirit argues that it has no indemnification obligation to Boeing because the liabilities
at issue arose out of Boeing’s Collective Bargaining Agreements, not Boeing’s pension and
retiree medical benefits. On September 25, 2015, Spirit answered the Complaint and asserted
counterclaims against Boeing for Breach of Contract and Declaratory Judgment. Spirit seeks a
declaration that Boeing must indemnify Spirit for the costs associated with this and other legal
proceedings. Boeing answered Spirit’s counterclaims.
On December 20, 2016, the parties filed cross-motions for summary judgment
(respectively, “Boeing’s Motion” and “Spirit’s Motion” and collectively, the “Motions.”). The
Motions seek summary judgment on the Breach of Contract and Declaratory Judgment counts
based on the parties’ differing characterization of the liabilities at issue. The Court held a
hearing on the Motions on March 22, 2017. At the hearing, the parties advised the Court that no
genuine issues of material fact existed. After hearing argument, the Court took the Motions
under advisement. The Court also took this civil action off the trial calendar as both parties
agreed that the various disputes between the parties would be resolved by the Motions.
This is the Court’s decisions on the Motions. For the reasons set forth below, the Court
will DENY Boeing’s Motion and GRANT Spirit’s Motion.
II. RELEVANT FACTS
A. BOEING DIVESTS ITS MANUFACTURING FACILITIES
Boeing’s business consists of the design, manufacturing, and sale of commercial jetliners
and military aircrafts.1 In 2003, Boeing began divesting some of its commercial aircraft part
1
Compl. ¶ 10.
2
manufacturing facilities to third-party manufacturers.2 Under this divestiture strategy, Boeing
would sell its manufacturing plants to third-party manufacturers, but would retain supply
agreements with the buyers to obtain necessary parts.3 In June of 2005, Boeing sold its
manufacturing facilities in Wichita, Kansas and Tulsa and McAlester, Oklahoma (the “Kansas
and Oklahoma facilities”) to Spirit.4 The parties memorialized the sale through an Asset
Purchase Agreement (the “APA”).5
B. THE APA
The APA is a sophisticated agreement. As part of the APA, Boeing and Spirit
apportioned certain assets and liabilities related to the employees working at the Kansas and
Oklahoma facilities.6 The APA defines Spirit as the “Buyer” and Boeing as the “Seller.”7 For
purposes of this litigation, the relevant assets and liabilities are Boeing’s collective bargaining
agreements (“CBAs”) and Boeing’s benefit plans, including pension and retiree medical
benefits.8
The APA is “governed by and construed in accordance with the internal Laws (as
opposed to the conflicts of Law provisions) of the State of Delaware.”9
i. The Assets and Excluded Assets
Section 1 of the APA governs the purchase and sale of assets. Section 1.1(a)-(b) outlines
the Assets and Excluded Assets related to the purchase and sale of the Kansas and Oklahoma
facilities.10 Under Section 1.1(a), the Assets purchased by Spirit include:
2
Id. ¶ 12.
3
Id.
4
Id. ¶ 14.
5
Id.
6
See Compl. Ex. A, Asset Purchase Agreement. Ex. A to the Complaint will be cited as “APA § __.”
7
See APA at p. 1.
8
The two Boeing benefit plans at issue in this litigation are The Boeing Company Employee Retirement Plan and
the Boeing North American Retirement Plan for Eligible Employees, both of which will be cited throughout this
Opinion as “Boeing’s Benefit Plans.”
9
APA § 11.13.
3
(v) All Contracts primarily related to the Business other than with
regard to third-party customers and subject to the provisions of Section 5.2(d) and
5.2(e) (the “Assigned Contracts”), including but not limited to the Contracts set
forth on Schedule 1.1(a)(v), but not including the Contracts described in Section
1.1(b);
(viii) Assets of Seller related to Benefit Plans to the extent provided in
Section 6.2.11
Under Section 1.1(b), the Excluded Assets, or those not “conveye[d], assign[ed], or transfer[ed]”
to Spirit, include:
(xi) Assets of Seller related to all Benefit Plans, except as set forth in
Section 6.2;
(xiii) The existing collective bargaining agreements covering the
employees of the Business.12
Section 1.1(a)-(b) makes it clear what Spirit purchased from Boeing, with Section 1.1(a)
specifically listing the included assets and Section 1.1(b) specifically listing the excluded
assets.13
ii. The Assumed Liabilities and Excluded Liabilities
Section 1.2 of the APA governs the assumption of liabilities by Spirit. Section 1.2(a)-(b)
explicitly allocates liability between Spirit and Boeing.14 Section 1.2(a) lists the liabilities
assumed by Spirit—defined in the APA as Assumed Liabilities.15 The Assumed Liabilities
include:
(ii) Liabilities arising after the Closing under the Assigned Contracts
(other than Liabilities arising out of or relating to any act or omission that
occurred prior to the Closing);
10
See APA § 1.1(a)-(b).
11
Id. § 1.1(a).
12
Id. § 1.1(b).
13
See id. § 1.1(a)-(b).
14
See id. § 1.2(a)-(b).
15
Id. § 1.2(a).
4
(iii) Liabilities of Seller arising after the Closing under any Assigned
Contract included in the Assets that is entered into by Seller after the date hereof
in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement (other than Liabilities to the
extent arising out of or relating to any at or omission that occurred prior to the
Closing);
(iv) Liabilities for pension Liability, Accrued Vacation, retiree medical
flexible spending accounts, sick leave, and personal time to the extent provided in
Section 6.2.16
Section 1.2(b) lists the Excluded Liabilities, or those “retained, paid, performed, and
discharged solely by” Boeing:
(iv) Liabilities of Seller related to all Benefit plans, except as set forth in
Section 6.2;
(xiii) Liabilities under any Contract not assumed by Buyer under Section
1.2(a), including Liabilities arising out of or relating to Seller’s credit facilities or
any security interest related thereto.17
Just like in Section 1.1(a)-(b), Section 1.2(a)-(b) makes it clear that Spirit shall not assume any
liabilities other than those specifically set forth in Section 1.2(a).18
iii. Pension and Retiree Medical Benefits
Section 6.2 goes on to clarify the parties’ obligations related to employee benefit plans as
referenced throughout Sections 1.1 and 1.2.19 Section 6.2(a) establishes procedures for hiring
former Boeing employees, referred to under the APA as “Hired Employees.”20 With respect to
these Hired Employees, Spirit must:
(i) provide compensation and levels of benefits under any Benefit Plan Buyer
establishes for the Hired Employees (“Buyer’s Benefit Plans”) as determined by
Buyer and (ii) credit periods of service prior to the Closing for purposes of
determining eligibility (and benefit entitlement with respect to vacations and
pension benefits pursuant to Sections 6.2(d) and 6.2(f)) under Buyer’s Benefit
Plans so long as Seller furnishes Buyer will all information necessary to
16
Id. § 1.2(a).
17
Id. § 1.2(b).
18
See id. § 1.2(a)-(b).
19
See id. § 6.2.
20
Id. § 6.2(a).
5
implement this subsection 6.2(a)(ii) pursuant to the other provisions of this
Agreement.21
Section 6.2(f) then requires Spirit to “establish or maintain” three separate union and non-union
pension plans for the Hired Employees, specifying that the pension plans must:
. . . include credit for Hired Union Employees and Hired Non-Union Employees’
past service with Seller for eligibility and vesting and, contingent upon the
transfer of assets in accordance with this Section 6.2(f), early retirement benefits
and benefit accrual previously recognized under Seller’s Pension Plans . . .
Buyer’s Pension Plans shall further include, indefinitely, credit for Hired Union
Employees’ and Hired Non-Union Employees’ service with Buyer for eligibility,
vesting, and early retirement.22
Section 6.2(f) concludes by assigning liability for pension plan benefits as follows:
Buyer’s Pension Plans shall be liable for benefits with respect to service
recognized under Seller’s Pension Plans on or prior to the Closing Date with
respect to the Hired Union Employees and Non-Union Employees, contingent
upon the transfers of assets in accordance with this Section 6.2(f). Buyer agrees
that neither Seller nor Seller’s Pension Plans shall have any further responsibility
with respect to the assets and Liabilities so transferred, including without
limitation, obligations following such transfers with respect to the benefits
accrued by the Hired Union Employees and Hired Non-Union Employees under
the applicable Seller’s Pension Plans.23
Finally, similar to Section 6.2(f), Section 6.2(g) requires Spirit to also “maintain” certain
retiree medical benefits, specifying that:
. . . Buyer shall be responsible for and shall maintain retiree medical coverage for
the benefit of each Hired Employee who was eligible for or could have become
eligible for (after meeting applicable age and service requirements) retiree
medical coverage maintained by Seller and who is not receiving retiree medical
benefits from Seller, and shall provide each such Hired Employee full credit for
periods of service prior to the Closing . . . subject to the provisions of any
collective bargaining agreements between Buyer and the unions.24
Section 6.2(g) concludes by assigning liability as follows:
21
Id.
22
Id. § 6.2(f).
23
Id.
24
Id. § 6.2(g).
6
Buyer agrees that Seller and its retiree medical plans shall have no further
responsibilities after the Closing Date to provide to such Hired Employees retiree
medical benefits. This Agreement does not limit Buyer’s ability to make changes
in or amendments to any Buyer retiree medical plan following the Closing.25
iv. Indemnification Obligations
After apportioning and clarifying liability, the APA provides certain indemnification
rights to each party.26 Under Section 9.1(a), Boeing must indemnify Spirit for:
. . . any and all losses, Liabilities, damages, costs and expenses, including costs of
investigation and defense and reasonable fees and expenses of lawyers, experts
and other professionals (collectively, “Indemnifiable Damages”), incurred by such
Buyer Group Member in connection with or arising from: (i) any breach of any
warranty or the inaccuracy of any representation of Seller contained in this
Agreement . . . , (iii) any breach by Seller of, or failure by Seller to perform, any
of its covenants or obligations contained in this Agreement, (iv) the Excluded
Liabilities . . . .27
Under Section 9.2(a), Spirit must indemnify Boeing for:
. . . any and all Indemnifiable Damages incurred by such Seller Group Member in
connection with or arising from: (i) any breach of warranty or the inaccuracy of
any representation of Buyer contained in this Agreement . . . , (ii) any breach by
Buyer of, or failure by Buyer to perform, any of its covenants and obligations
contained in this Agreement, (iii) the Assumed Liabilities . . . .28
As to indemnification for liabilities, Spirit must indemnify Boeing for its Assumed Liabilities,
and Boeing must indemnify Spirit for the Excluded Liabilities under the terms of the APA.29
C. BOEING DECIDES TO “TERMINATE” THE HIRED EMPLOYEES
After the parties executed the APA, Boeing announced that former employees of Boeing
hired by Spirit (the “Hired Employees”) would be “terminated due to divestiture” rather than
“laid off” from Boeing.30 Boeing then transferred to Spirit’s pension fund the assets in the Hired
25
Id.
26
See id. §§ 9.1,9.2.
27
Id. § 9.1(a).
28
Id. § 9.2(a).
29
See id. §§ 9.1,9.2.
30
Compl. ¶ 29.
7
Employees’ retirement accounts and declared that it had no further pension or health benefits
obligations to the Hired Employees.31 Boeing’s decision to classify the Hired Employees as
“terminated” instead of “laid off” gives rise to the liabilities at issue in this case.
D. BOEING IS SUED FOR BREACH OF ITS CBAS
After Boeing terminated the Hired Employees, certain Hired Employees claimed that
Boeing breached its obligation under its CBAs to provide certain early retirement benefits. 32 The
Hired Employees claimed that Boeing should have classified them as “laid off” instead of
“terminated.”33 Had Boeing classified them as “laid off,” the Hired Employees could have
accessed a “layoff bridge” under Boeing’s Benefit Plans.34 Pursuant to that “bridge,” employees
who were laid off within six years of turning 55 and who had at least 10 years of service were
allowed to begin collecting early retirement benefits, including pension and retiree medical
benefits, upon reaching age 55.35 Boeing’s CBAs, however, placed limits on union employees’
entitlement to these early retirement benefits in cases of termination.36
On July 21, 2005, the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and
Agricultural Implement Workers of America (the “UAW”) filed a grievance on behalf of certain
Hired Employees (the “UAW Grievants”) at the Oklahoma facilities.37 Boeing denied the
UAW’s grievance on September 20, 2005.38 Consistent with the CBA’s grievance procedure,
the UAW escalated its grievance to arbitration (the “UAW Arbitration”).39
31
See Schedule 6.2(f) to the APA.
32
Compl. ¶ 30.
33
Id.
34
Id.
35
Id.
36
See id.
37
Id. ¶ 33.
38
Id.
39
Id. ¶ 34.
8
Similarly, in June and August of 2005, the Society of Professional Engineering
Employees in Aerospace (“SPEEA”) and the International Association of Machinists and
Aerospace Workers (“IAM”) filed separate grievances on behalf of Hired Employees at the
Kansas facilities.40 Boeing declined to resolve the grievances.41 SPEEA and IAM then
commenced litigation.42 Later, individual union members brought a class action suit in United
States District Court for the District of Kansas (the “Kansas District Court”). This class action
suit was consolidated with the litigation brought by SPEEA and IAM (the “Harkness Class
Action”).
i. The UAW Arbitration
The UAW Grievants claimed that Boeing’s decision to classify them as “terminated”
rather than “laid off” resulted in a breach of Boeing’s CBA.43 Article XI, Section 17 of the CBA
sets out the basis for breaking seniority and terminating employees.44 Article XI, Section 17
provides that a worker loses seniority rights, including the “layoff bridge” to early retirement
benefits in Boeing’s Benefit Plans, if the worker is terminated in any of eleven ways.45 The
UAW Grievants argued that Boeing breached its CBA by classifying them as “terminated”
because divestiture of Boeing facilities or alike are not among the listed ways to terminate a
worker under Article XI, Section 17.46 Consequently, the UAW Grievants asserted that Boeing
should have designated them as “laid off” after Boeing’s divestiture, which would have
preserved their rights to early retirement benefits under Boeing’s Benefit Plans.47
40
Id. ¶ 39.
41
Id.
42
Id.
43
See Spirit’s Mot. Ex. 20. Exhibits to the parties’ motions will be cited as “Spirit’s/Boeing’s Mot. Ex. __ at p.__”
or “Spirit’s/Boeing’s Mot. Ex. __ ” if no page number is provided.
44
Boeing’s Mot. Ex. 14.
45
Id.
46
See Spirit’s Mot. Ex. 20.
47
See Spirit’s Mot. Ex. 38 at p. 12–13.
9
The arbitrator agreed with the UAW and sustained the grievance.48 The arbitrator found
that Boeing violated the CBA when it repudiated its obligation for early retirement benefits to
the workers who were, in essence, “laid off.”49 As a remedy, the arbitrator ordered Boeing to
“reinstate seniority of the employees and afford them benefits appurtenant thereto” (the “2008
Award”).50 After further disputes by the parties, the arbitrator directed the UAW Grievants to
apply to Boeing’s plan administrator for the plan benefits to which they were entitled.51 Should
the plan administrator deny their benefits claims, the arbitrator ordered Boeing to assume the
plan’s obligations to those workers minus any entitlement that they may have under their Spirit
benefit plans (the “2009 Award”).52
Boeing appealed the 2009 Award, arguing that the relief ordered by the arbitrator violated
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”).53 Boeing argued that a claim
for ERISA benefits must be submitted to a plan administrator, as properly ordered by the
arbitrator.54 However, if an ERISA-benefit claim is denied, Boeing argued that a worker’s only
remedy is a suit under ERISA challenging the plan administrator’s interpretation of the plan.55
To make its claim, Boeing necessarily construed the arbitrator’s remedy as providing ERISA
benefits.
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (the “Illinois District
Court”) and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (the “Seventh Circuit”)
rejected Boeing’s claims and upheld the arbitrator’s award.56 The Illinois District Court and the
48
Spirit’s Mot. Ex. 39.
49
Id.
50
Id.
51
Id.
52
Spirit’s Mot. Ex. 44.
53
Boeing’s Mot. Ex. 20.
54
Id.
55
Id.
56
See Spirit’s Mot. Ex. 48, Ex. 51.
10
Seventh Circuit both disagreed with Boeing’s classification of the award as one for ERISA
benefits.57
ii. The Harkness Class Action
The Harkness Class Action arose out of the same circumstances as the UAW Arbitration.
Under the CBA at issue here, an employee’s active Boeing employment could end only in
specific, enumerated events. These specific, enumerated events included a situation where
Boeing “laid off” employees.58 The Harkness Class Action plaintiffs’ complaint alleged that
Boeing’s decision to “terminate due to divestiture” fits into the broad definition of “layoff”
enumerated in the CBA.59 The Harkness Class Action plaintiffs thus contended that their
“termination” was, in effect, a “lay off” such that they maintained their rights to the early
retirement benefits under Boeing’s Benefit Plans.60
The Harkness Class Action plaintiffs sued for breach of contract, and violations of
ERISA and the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947 (“LMRA”).61 The complaint named
both Boeing and Spirit as defendants, as neither agreed to pay for the early retirement “bridging
rights” to pension and health benefits.62 After years of discovery, the Harkness Class Action
plaintiffs dismissed all claims against Spirit with prejudice.63
Boeing and the Harkness Class Action plaintiffs filed cross-motions for summary
judgment.64 The Kansas District Court denied the cross-motions, finding that the CBAs were
ambiguous as to the meaning of “laid off.”65 On June 12, 2014, Boeing reached a settlement
57
See id.
58
Spirit’s Mot. Ex. 57 p. 7.
59
Spirit’s Mot. Ex. 52 at 8.
60
Id. at 8–18.
61
Id. at 22–40.
62
Id. at 1.
63
Spirit’s Mot. Ex. 63 at p. 6.
64
Compl. ¶ 40.
65
Spirit’s Mot. Ex. 64 p. 37–38.
11
with the Harkness Class Action plaintiffs.66 Under the settlement, Boeing agreed to contribute to
a settlement fund for the benefit of class members to resolve their claims for pension and retiree
medical benefits.67
Boeing now seeks indemnification from Spirit for the costs (and/or damages) Boeing paid
and will pay for the UAW Arbitration and the Harkness Class Action.
III. PARTIES’ CONTENTIONS
A. BOEING’S CONTENTIONS
Boeing argues that the liabilities at issue are Spirit’s Assumed Liabilities under the APA.
To reach this conclusion, Boeing classifies the costs of the UAW Arbitration and the Harkness
Litigation as costs related to employee benefits assumed by Spirit under the APA. Boeing argues
that the payments made to the UAW Grievants and the Harkness Class Action plaintiffs were
payments for early retirement benefits due under Boeing’s Benefit Plans. Boeing claims, under
its interpretation, that Spirit is responsible for these benefits because Spirit assumed liability for
pension and retiree medical benefits for Hired Employees under Sections 1.2(a)(iv) and 6.2.
Therefore, Boeing contends that Spirit must indemnify Boeing for these Assumed Liabilities
under the terms of Section 9.2(a)(iii).
B. SPIRIT’S CONTENTIONS
Spirit argues that the liabilities at issue are Excluded Assets and Excluded Liabilities
under the APA. To reach this conclusion, Spirit classifies the costs of the UAW Arbitration and
Harkness Class Action as damages for breach of Boeing’s CBAs. Under this interpretation,
Spirit claims that it need not indemnify Boeing for the damages because, under the express
language of Sections 1.1(a)(v) and 1.1(b)(xiii), Boeing’s CBAs are Excluded Assets not assumed
66
Compl. ¶ 43.
67
Id.
12
by Spirit. Alternatively, Spirit contends that, even if Boeing is correct that the liabilities arose
out of Boeing’s Benefit Plans, Spirit did not agree under Sections 1.2(a)(iv) and 6.2 to assume
liability for Boeing’s Benefit Plans. Spirit argues that, instead, Section 6.2 required Spirit to
create its own benefit plans for the Hired Employees. As such, Spirit disclaims liability.
Moreover, Spirit asserts counterclaims for indemnification under Section 9.1(a)(iv) for those
costs incurred by Spirit in the various litigations relating to this issue under the APA.
IV. STANDARD OF REVIEW
The standard of review on a motion for summary judgment is well-settled. The Court’s
principal function when considering a motion for summary judgment is to examine the record to
determine whether genuine issues of material fact exist, “but not to decide such issues.”68
Summary judgment will be granted if, after viewing the record in a light most favorable to a
nonmoving party, no genuine issues of material fact exist and the moving party is entitled to
judgment as a matter of law.69 If, however, the record reveals that material facts are in dispute,
or if the factual record has not been developed thoroughly enough to allow the Court to apply the
law to the factual record, then summary judgment will not be granted.70 The moving party bears
the initial burden of demonstrating that the undisputed facts support his claims or defenses.71 If
the motion is properly supported, then the burden shifts to the non-moving party to demonstrate
that there are material issues of fact for the resolution by the ultimate fact-finder.72
68
Merrill v. Crothall-American Inc., 606 A.2d 96, 99-100 (Del. 1992) (internal citations omitted); Oliver B. Cannon
& Sons, Inc. v. Dorr-Oliver, Inc., 312 A.2d 322, 325 (Del. Super. 1973).
69
Id.
70
Ebersole v. Lowengrub, 180 A.2d 467, 470 (Del. 1962); see also Cook v. City of Harrington, 1990 WL 35244 at
*3 (Del. Super. Feb. 22, 1990) (citing Ebersole, 180 A.2d at 467) (“Summary judgment will not be granted under
any circumstances when the record indicates . . . that it is desirable to inquire more thoroughly into the facts in order
to clarify the application of law to the circumstances.”).
71
Moore v. Sizemore, 405 A.2d 679, 680 (Del. 1970) (citing Ebersole, 180 A.2d at 470).
72
See Brzoska v. Olsen, 668 A.2d 1355, 1364 (Del. 1995).
13
Where, as here, the parties have filed cross motions for summary judgment and have not
argued that there are genuine issues of material fact, “the Court shall deem the motions to be the
equivalent of a stipulation for decision on the merits based on the record submitted with the
motions.”73 Neither party’s motion will be granted unless no genuine issue of material fact exists
and one of the parties is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.74
V. DISCUSSION
Boeing’s claims and Spirit’s counterclaims all seek relief through the interpretation and
application of the terms of the APA. The APA is governed by Delaware law.75 Under Delaware
law, the Court generally interprets a contract as a matter of law.76 The Court may interpret an
unambiguous contract as a matter of law by giving clear and unambiguous terms their plain and
ordinary meaning.77 An ambiguity exists where a term has more than one interpretation.78 The
Court finds that the APA is unambiguous as to the claims and counterclaims asserted by the
parties.
A. THE UAW ARBITRATION AND THE HARKNESS CLASS ACTION AROSE OUT OF BOEING’S
CBAS
Boeing and Spirit classify the liabilities at issue differently and, as a result, rely on
different provisions of the APA to allocate liability. To resolve this dispute, the Court first
analyzed the UAW Arbitration and the Harkness Class Action in order to determine the type of
liabilities at issue. After making this determination, the Court then determined how these
liabilities are apportioned in the APA, and accordingly, which party is liable. After a thorough
review of the various litigations and the APA, the Court finds that the liabilities associated with
73
Super. Ct. Civ. R. 56(h).
74
E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Co. v. Medtronic Vascular, Inc., 2013 WL 261415, at *10 (Del. Super. Jan. 18,
2013).
75
APA § 11.13.
76
O’Brien v. Progressive N. Ins. Co., 785 A.2d 281, 286 (Del. 2001).
77
Id. at 288.
78
Id.
14
the UAW Arbitration and the Harkness Class Action arose out of Boeing’s CBAs, not Boeing’s
Benefit Plans.
i. The UAW Arbitration arose from Boeing’s breach of its CBAs
The Court finds that the UAW Arbitration arose out of Boeing’s CBAs, and more
specifically, Boeing’s breach of its CBAs. The UAW Grievants pursued their claim as arising
out of Boeing’s CBAs and prosecuted it as such. The UAW Grievants claimed that Boeing’s
decision to “terminate” rather than “lay off” certain Hired Employees resulted in a breach of
Boeing’s CBA.79 The UAW Grievants repeatedly characterized their claim in this light,
including on appeal to the Seventh Circuit when it stated, “This case is conceptually simple. An
employer took an action —‘terminating’ employees instead of laying them off — that their union
contended violated the collective bargaining agreement.”80 Additionally, in their request for
relief, the UAW Grievants asked to be reinstated and “made whole for any losses they suffered
as a result of the employer’s breach of contract, including make-whole relief for their loss of
pension and insurance benefits.”81
Boeing argues the UAW Arbitration dealt with employee benefits because the UAW
Grievants principally sought pension and retiree medical benefits owed under Boeing’s Benefit
Plan.82 However, under Boeing’s own admission at the arbitration hearing, this was not the
purpose of the UAW arbitration or the intent of the parties in seeking arbitration. Boeing stated,
The grievance involves only a narrow and limited contract interpretation issue.
The Union’s only claim is that the Company, by designating certain bargaining
unit members as terminated when it sold the plants where they worked,
discharged them without cause in violation of Article XI, Section 17 of the
contract.83
79
Spirit’s Mot. Ex. 20.
80
Spirit’s Mot. Ex. 49 at p. 19.
81
Id. at 22.
82
Boeing’s Mot. p. 31.
83
Spirit’s Mot. Ex. 37 at p. 18.
15
Under Boeing’s own approach to the arbitration, this made the issue before the arbitrator
a CBA issue, not a benefits issue.
The parties’ approach to, or characterization of the arbitration is further supported by the
nature of the arbitration itself. In agreeing to arbitration, the parties asked the arbitrator to
answer two questions: whether the parties’ dispute involved the application and interpretation of
the CBA, and was therefore arbitral, and if so, whether Boeing violated a CBA.84 The arbitrator
answered both questions in the affirmative, noting as to the first that he “has limited jurisdiction
extending only to grievances involving interpretation or application of” the CBA.85 By finding
that he possessed jurisdiction, the arbitrator confirmed that the UAW arbitration involved the
application and interpretation of Boeing’s CBA. Had it simply been an employee benefits issue
as Boeing later argued, the arbitrator would not have had jurisdiction to arbitrate the claim.
The arbitrator’s award is also instructive on the issue before the Court. The arbitrator
first ordered Boeing to “reinstate seniority of the employees and afford them benefits
appurtenant thereto” and later ordered Boeing to assume the plan’s obligations to the workers.86
Based on this characterization, Boeing argues that the UAW Arbitration was about employee
benefits because “the arbitrator held (and the courts agreed) that the Hired Employees were
entitled to the amounts they would have received under Boeing’s plans” had Boeing laid them
off.87 However, the arbitrator later clarified what he meant when he used the term “benefits” in
his decision. The arbitrator stated that “it was not his intent to use that term in the same manner
as it is used in [ERISA].”88 Rather, he meant it to be “a ‘short-hand’ way of referring to the
84
Spirit’s Mot. Ex. 39.
85
Id.
86
See Spirit’s Mot. Ex. 39, Ex. 44.
87
Boeing’s Mot. p. 28.
88
Spirit’s Mot. Ex. 58.
16
remedy of making the affected employees whole for [Boeing’s] violation of the” CBA.89 As in
any breach of contract action, the arbitrator tried to give the UAW Grievants what they would
have been entitled to had they been laid off. The reasoning of the arbitrator confirms that his
award was a remedy of contract damages to compensate the UAW Grievants for Boeing’s breach
of its CBA.
The courts involved agreed with the arbitrator’s decision as to what was at issue. In the
appeal of the arbitrator’s award, Boeing repeatedly construed the arbitrator’s award as providing
ERISA benefits and challenged the award for this reason. The Illinois District Court and the
Seventh Circuit disagreed. The Illinois District Court acknowledged that Boeing’s breach of the
CBA resulted in lost benefits under Boeing’s Benefit Plans.90 However, the Illinois District
Court held that the purpose of the arbitrator’s remedy was to “make those employees whole, by
placing them in the same status they held on the date of the sale and to require Boeing to provide
any benefits the employees lost as a result of the sale and Boeing’s breach” of the CBA.91
The Seventh Circuit agreed with and affirmed the Illinois District Court’s rulings. The
Seventh Circuit also classified the remedy as damages for breach of contract, not benefits—“The
arbitrator awarded what amount to damages for breach of contract measured by the benefits of
which the breach deprived the workers, who were third-party beneficiaries under the collective
bargaining contract.”92
In response to the foregoing, Boeing now argues, as a final point, that because the
arbitrator measured damages based on ERISA benefits, the damages are in fact an award for
89
Id.
90
See Spirit’s Mot. Ex. 48 at p. 7.
91
Id.
92
Spirit’s Mot. Ex. 51 at p. 7.
17
payment of ERISA benefits.93 The Court finds that what Boeing describes here, however, is how
expectation damages awards are calculated—by looking to the “reasonable expectations of the
parties ex ante.”94 Expectation damages reference what the aggrieved party stood to gain absent
the breach. In this case, the determination depends upon the benefits under Boeing’s Benefit
Plans. This does not mean, however, that the damages can be recast as something other than
contract damages. As the Illinois District Court noted, to do so in this case would “turn every
order that awards damages based on lost benefits to be paid over time into an ERISA plan.”95
The Court does not agree with Boeing’s interpretation of the damages award in the UAW
Arbitration, and finds that this award was for a breach of the CBA.
ii. The Harkness Class Action arose from Boeing’s breach of its CBAs
The Harkness Class Action also arose from Boeing’s CBAs, and more specifically,
Boeing’s breach of its CBAs. Like the UAW Grievants, the Harkness Class Action plaintiffs
maintained claims predicated on a breach of a CBA. From the beginning, the Harkness Class
Action plaintiffs claimed that Boeing’s decision to “terminate” rather than “lay off” certain Hired
Employees resulted in a breach of Boeing’s CBAs. IAM explained that “the Union is filing this
grievance against [Boeing] on behalf of all adversely affected employees because of Boeing’s
violation of Attachment B to the CBA.”96 Similarly, SPEEA contested the coding of its
represented members as “terminated” and claimed that it violated Article 8 and Article 21 of the
CBA.97 Later during litigation in the Kansas District Court, the Harkness Class Action plaintiffs
argued that “the crux of the Complaint was that Boeing breached its CBAs . . . .”98 In essence,
93
Boeing’s Mot. p. 28–29.
94
See Sia Techs. Inc., v. PharmAthene, Inc., 132 A.3d 1108, 1130 (Del. 2015).
95
Spirit’s Mot. Ex. 61 at p. 5.
96
Spirit’s Mot. Ex. 18.
97
Spirit’s Mot. Ex. 24.
98
Spirit’s Mot. Ex. 69 at p. 36.
18
the promise by Boeing in the CBAs, and the breach of that promise, underpinned all of the
Harkness Class Action plaintiffs’ claims.
Also similar to the UAW Arbitration, the nature of the Harkness Class Action is itself
instructive on the issue before the Court. To bring a claim under section 301 of the LMRA, as
the Harkness Class Action plaintiffs did, the claim must involve a CBA. Section 301 clearly
provides for “suits for violation of contracts between an employer and a labor organization.”99
The United States Supreme Court has subsequently interpreted section 301 as governing claims
“founded directly on rights created by [CBAs], and also claims substantially dependent on
analysis of a [CBA].”100 Therefore, absent a claim grounded in a CBA, the Harkness Class
Action plaintiffs could not have argued that Boeing violated section 301 of the LMRA.
The Kansas District Court, though addressing the Harkness Class Action plaintiffs’
claims on cross-motions for summary judgment, ultimately reached the same conclusion as the
adjudicators in the UAW Arbitration. The Kansas District Court found that all of Harkness
Class Action plaintiffs’ claims fundamentally arose from an alleged CBA breach. The Kansas
District Court framed the case as follows: “[i]n this case, the contracts in question are the CBAs
and the fundamental issues revolve around the meaning and effect of the terms ‘laid off’ and
‘layoff,’ which appear numerous times in the CBAs as well as in Boeing documents.”101 The
Kansas District Court found the CBAs to be ambiguous with respect to the meaning of “laid off,”
and consequently denied summary judgment.102 While the Kansas District Court left the issue of
whether Boeing breached the CBA for trial, the ruling is clear that the dispute centered on
Boeing’s CBAs.
99
29 U.S.C. § 185(a).
100
Caterpillar, Inc. v. Williams, 482 U.S. 386, 387 (1987).
101
Spirit’s Mot. Ex. 64 at p. 37.
102
Id. at 37–39.
19
iii. In both cases, but for the CBAs, the UAW Grievants and the Harkness Class
Action plaintiffs could not have maintained a claim against Boeing
Boeing contends that the two proceedings arose from Boeing’s Benefit Plans because the
litigants included members of Boeing’s Benefit Plans.103 The Court finds that Boeing’s
argument does little to prove that either proceeding arose from Boeing’s Benefit Plans. The
Court agrees that: (i) Boeing’s Benefit Plans set forth the early retirement benefits; and (ii) the
UAW Grievants and the Harkness Class Action plaintiffs sought to recover these early
retirement benefits. In both proceedings, however, the arbitrator or the applicable court
determined that the issue was whether Boeing improperly classified certain Hired Employees as
“terminated” under the terms of the CBAs. The Court agrees. It is the contractual terms of the
CBAs, not Boeing’s Benefit Plans, which directed the UAW Arbitration and Harkness Class
Action. Moreover, the CBAs’ contractual terms are what allowed both sets of parties to sustain a
claim for breach of contract.
The Court’s determination that the UAW Arbitration and the Harkness Class Action
involved a breach of the CBAs is further supported by the fact that the proceedings exclusively
involved union members. The Court notes that only union members—or those covered by the
CBAs—commenced legal proceedings. This supports the finding that the CBAs, and not
Boeing’s Benefit Plans, gave rise to the two proceedings. Non-union members—or those not
covered by the CBAs—did not commence legal proceedings or join in the UAW Arbitration or
the Harkness Class Action. The logical conclusion is that the terms of Boeing’s Benefit Plans
did not place limits on early retirement benefits in cases of termination. Had Boeing’s Benefit
Plans done so, both union and non-union members could have challenged Boeing’s classification
103
See Boeing’s Mot. p. 31.
20
of the employees as “terminated.” The Court reviewed the parties in those proceedings and it is
clear that the plaintiffs were only union members.
B. BECAUSE THE LIABILITIES AROSE OUT OF BOEING’S CBAS, THE LIABILITIES ARE
EXCLUDED ASSETS AND EXCLUDED LIABILITIES FOR WHICH SPIRIT HAS NO
INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATION
By first classifying the liabilities at issue, the Court can now determine how the liabilities
are apportioned in the APA, and, ultimately, which party is liable. Based on the plain language
of Sections 1.1 and 1.2, Boeing’s CBAs constitute Excluded Assets and Excluded Liabilities not
transferred by Boeing or assumed by Spirit. Therefore, Spirit need not indemnify Boeing.
Under Section 1.1(a)(v), the assets purchased by Spirit include “all Contracts primarily
related to the business . . . but not including the Contracts described in Section 1.1(b).”104
Section 1.1(b) then lists certain Excluded Assets not transferred or conveyed to Spirit, which
include contracts such as “the existing collective bargaining agreements covering employees of
the business.”105 The CBAs are considered contracts, as the APA defines “Contracts” broadly as
“any written contract, agreement, license, mortgage, note, guarantee, sublicense, consensual
obligation, commitment, lease, sales or purchase order or other legally binding commitment
(whether written or oral” in the nature of a contract.”106 Section 1.1(a)-(b) states that Spirit shall
not acquire any assets other than those specifically set forth in Section 1.1(a). Therefore, the
CBAs are clearly Excluded Assets retained by Boeing after the sale of the Kansas and Oklahoma
facilities.
That the CBAs are an Excluded Asset is further reflected in the language of Section
1.2(a)-(b)—the provisions apportioning liability between the parties. Section 1.2(a) provides for
Spirit’s Assumed Liabilities, and states that the only contracts assumed by Spirit are “Assigned
104
APA § 1.1(a)(v).
105
Id. § 1.1(b)(xiii).
106
See id. § 12.1 (emphasis added).
21
Contracts.” The APA previously defined “Assigned Contracts” in Section 1.1(a)(v) to mean “all
Contracts primarily related to the business . . . but not including the Contracts described in
Section 1.1(b).” The CBAs—specifically as Excluded Assets in Section 1.1(b)(xiii) and broadly
from the entirety of Section 1.2(a)—are not Assumed Liabilities under Section 1.2(a). Section
1.2(b) then provides for certain Excluded Liabilities not assumed by Spirit. The Excluded
Liabilities include “Liabilities under any Contract not assumed by Buyer under Section 1.2(a) . .
.”107 The CBAs are not one of the contracts assumed by Spirit and, therefore, are not Assumed
Liabilities under Section 1.2(a). Instead, the CBAs are Excluded Liabilities.
Boeing nonetheless argues that Spirit assumed liability for the CBAs. Boeing interprets
Section 1.2(b)(xiii) as excluding certain “Liabilities,” not “Assets,” from Spirit’s Assumed
Liabilities. Put another way, Boeing reads Section 1.2(b)(xiii) as excluding contractual
“Liabilities” unless those “Liabilities” are assumed by Spirit pursuant to Section 1.2(a). Because
Spirit assumed “Liabilities for pension Liability, Accrued Vacation, retiree medical, flexible
spending accounts, sick leave, and personal time,”—all of which grew out of contracts—those
liabilities are not Excluded Liabilities, even if Spirit did not assume the entire contracts out of
which those liabilities arise.108
In light of Spirit’s other Assumed Liabilities, the Court rejects Boeing’s reading of
Section 1.2(b)(xiii). Spirit’s assumption of liabilities in Section 1.2 reflects Spirit’s intent to
assume only those liabilities over which it had control. Multiple provisions throughout Section
1.2 state that Spirit assumed only those liabilities that arose after closing; Spirit did not assume
liability “arising out of any act or omission that occurred prior to closing.”109 In fact, the parties
carefully crafted Section 1.2(a)(iii) as a gap provision wherein Spirit disclaimed contractual
107
Id. § 1.2(b)(xiii).
108
See id. § 1.2(a)(iv).
109
See id. § 1.2(a)(ii),(iii),(v),(vi), (vii),(ix).
22
liability for certain Assigned Contracts entered into by Boeing prior to closing.110 Boeing’s
interpretation would contravene this clear intent by having Spirit assume liability for Boeing’s
CBAs, which Boeing negotiated and executed before closing. The Court finds it illogical that
Spirit would agree in one discrete instance to assume the liabilities associated with Boeing’s
CBAs, when Spirit was not assuming those agreements or otherwise had control over the
agreements which could create those liabilities. The Court believes that the parties would have
included a cross-reference to Section 1.2(a)(iv) in Section 1.1(b)(xiii) had they intended to
subject this Excluded Asset to an exception.
Boeing argues that, if the CBAs and related liabilities are Excluded Assets and Excluded
Liabilities, there is no scenario under which Spirit would be liable for Hired Employees’ pension
and retiree medical benefits. Boeing claims that this would render Section 1.2(a)(iv)
meaningless. This is not true. Under Section 6.2, Spirit agreed to establish three separate
pension plans for union and non-union Hired Employees, and then include credit for those Hired
Employees’ past service with Boeing for eligibility, vesting, early retirement, and accrued
benefits.111 The credit applied after Boeing transferred the assets in Boeing’s Pension Plans to
Spirit’s new pension plans.112 After this transfer, Boeing had no further obligation for those
assets.113 If, then, Spirit refused to credit the Hired Employees’ past service with Boeing, and the
Hired Employees’ sought payment from Boeing for their accrued service, Boeing could then
seek indemnification from Spirit.
Nothing in Section 6.2, however, provides that Spirit assumed liability for Boeing’s
CBAs or the liabilities associated with those CBAs, including liability that resulted from
110
See id. § 1.2(a)(iii).
111
See id. § 6.2(a),(f).
112
Id. § 6.2(f).
113
Id.
23
Boeing’s breach of its own CBAs. Spirit’s only obligation was to create its own pension plans
and credit Hired Employees’ for its past service with Boeing subject to the conditions of its own
collective bargaining agreements.114 Spirit then created benefit plans that mirrored Boeing’s,
including its own “layoff bridge.” As it pertained to health benefits, however, Section 6.2(g)
allowed Spirit to “make changes in or amendments to any Buyer retiree medical plan following
the Closing.”115 Given all of this, the Court cannot find that Spirit agreed to assume the
liabilities of Boeing’s CBAs, including Boeing’s Benefit Plans.
Therefore, Spirit need not indemnify Boeing for the liabilities arising from its CBAs
because the CBAs are Excluded Liabilities. Section 9.2(a) provides that Spirit need only
indemnify Boeing for its Assumed Liabilities. There is nothing in Section 9.2(a) providing that
Spirit must indemnify Boeing when Boeing bears its own retained liabilities. Accordingly, the
Court finds that Spirit did not breach is indemnity obligations under the APA, and it need not
indemnify Boeing for the costs related to the UAW Arbitration and the Harkness Class Action.
C. BOEING MUST INDEMNIFY SPIRIT FOR THE COSTS OF LITIGATION STEMMING FROM THE
PRESENT DISPUTE
As a final matter, Spirit counterclaimed against Boeing for breach of contract and
declaratory judgment.116 Spirit contends that Boeing breached the APA by failing to honor its
obligation under Section 9.1(a) to indemnify Spirit for certain Indemnifiable Damages.117 As a
result, Spirit seeks a declaration that Spirit must indemnify it for fees, costs, and expenses for: (i)
participating in the Harkness Class Action, (ii) responding to Boeing’s indemnification demands
114
See id. § 6.2(g) (explaining that Spirit “shall provide each such Hired Employee full credit for periods of service
prior to the Closing . . . subject to the provisions of any collective bargaining agreement between [Spirit] and the
unions).
115
Id.
116
See Answer ¶¶ 36–62.
117
Id. ¶¶ 56–65.
24
and participating in the dispute resolution process, (iii) defending itself against Boeing’s
allegations and claims in this case, and (iv) asserting and prosecuting the Counterclaim.118
The Court has already held that all liabilities related to Boeing’s CBAs are considered
Excluded Liabilities. Furthermore, under Section 9.1(a), Boeing must indemnify Spirit for
Indemnifiable Damages incurred by Spirit in connection with or arising from the Excluded
Liabilities.119 Consequently, because the costs and expenses cited by Spirit all arose from
Excluded Liabilities, i.e. Boeing’s CBAs, Boeing must indemnify Spirit for these costs and
expenses.
As to the latter three items of damages, Spirit is also entitled to recovery under Section
11.15. Section 11.15 provides that a prevailing party is entitled to recover “reasonable attorneys’
fees and other costs incurred” in connection with any proceeding for the enforcement of the
APA, or “because of an alleged dispute, breach, default, or misrepresentation in connection with
any of the provisions” in the APA.120 Boeing brought this civil action to enforce the APA after
an alleged “breach” of Spirit’s indemnification obligation. Therefore, Spirit is entitled to recover
reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs incurred in defending against Boeing’s claims and in
asserting its Counterclaim.121
VI. CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth herein, the Court declares that Spirit did not breach the APA and
is not obligated to indemnify Boeing for the costs associated with the UAW Arbitration and the
Harkness Class Action. The Court further declares that Boeing breached the APA and is
obligated to indemnify Spirit for the costs stemming from the present dispute. Accordingly, the
118
Id. ¶ 47.
119
APA § 9.1(a).
120
Id. § 11.15.
121
The Court notes that Boeing did not respond to Spirit’s arguments for attorneys’ fees.
25
Court DENIES the Boeing Company’s Motion for Summary Judgment and GRANTS
Defendant-Counterclaim Plaintiff Spirit Aerosystems, Inc.’s Motion for Summary Judgment.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: June 27, 2017
Wilmington, Delaware
/s/ Eric M. Davis
Eric M. Davis, Judge
26