Boeing Company v. Spirit Aerosystems, Inc.

• Court: Superior Court of Delaware
• Decided: December 5, 2017
• Docket: N14C-12-055 EMD CCLD
• Status: Published

Opinion

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: September 1, 2017 Decided: December 5, 2017

Upon Defendant-Counterclaim Plaintiff Spirit Aerosystems, Inc.’s Motion for Attorneys’ fees GRANTED in part and DENIED in part

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. On September 25, 2015, Spirit filed a counterclaim (the “Counterclaim”) against Boeing for Breach of Contract and Declaratory Judgment. Spirit sought a declaration

that Boeing must indemnify Spirit for the costs associated with this and other legal proceedings.

On December 20, 2016, the parties filed cross-motions for summary judgment. The

cross-motions sought summary judgment on the Breach of Contract and Declaratory Judgment

counts based on the parties’ differing characterization of the liabilities at issue. After a hearing,

the Court issued a decision denying Boeing’s summary judgment and granting Spirit’s motion

for summary judgment.

On July 12, 2017, Spirit filed a Motion for Attorneys’ Fees, Costs, Expenses, and Pre-

and Post-Judgment Interest (the “Motion”). Boeing filed an Opposition to Spirit Aerosystems,

Inc.’s Motion for Attorneys’ Fees, Costs, Expenses, and Pre- and Post-Judgment Interest (the

“Response”) on August 18, 2017. Spirit filed a Reply Brief in Further Support of Its Motion for

Attorneys’ Fees Costs, Expenses, and Pre- and Post-Judgment Interest (the “Reply”) on

September 1, 2017. After reviewing the Motion and the Response, the Court determined that no

hearing was necessary and took the matter under advisement on December 1, 2017.

This is the Court’s decision on the Motion. For the reasons set forth below, the Court

will GRANT in Part and DENY in Part the Motion.

II. RELEVANT FACTS

In June of 2005, Boeing sold its manufacturing facilities in Wichita, Kansas and Tulsa

and McAlester, Oklahoma to Spirit.1 The parties memorialized the sale through an Asset

Purchase Agreement (“APA”).2 As part of the APA, Boeing and Spirit apportioned certain

assets and liabilities related to the employees working at the Kansas and Oklahoma facilities.3

1 Boeing Co. v. Spirit Aerosystems, Inc., 2017 WL 2799174, at *1 (Del. Super. June 27, 2017). 2 Id. 3 See Compl. Ex. A, Asset Purchase Agreement. Ex. A to the Complaint will be cited as “APA § __.”

2 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. Section 11.15 of the APA (“Section 11.15”) states:

Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, if any Proceedings for the enforcement of this Agreement is brought, or because of an alleged dispute, breach, default or misrepresentation in connection with any of the provisions hereof, the successful or prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs incurred in that Proceeding, in addition to any other relief to which it may be entitled.4

The APA also provides that Boeing must indemnify Sprit in certain circumstances. Section 9.1

states:

After the Closing Date, and subject to the limitations set forth herein and except with respect to the matters that are the subject of Section 9.5, Seller agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Buyer Group Member from and against any and all losses, Liability, damages, costs and expenses, including costs of investigation and defense and reasonable fees and expenses of lawyers, experts and other professionals . . . arising from: . . . (iv) the Excluded Liabilities. . . .5

Boeing terminated certain Hired Employees as defined in Section 6.2(a) of the APA. The

Hired Employees claimed that Boeing breached its obligation under its CBAs to provide certain

early retirement benefits.6 Boeing’s CBAs placed limits on union employees’ entitlement to

early retirement benefits in cases of termination.7 The Hired Employees filed two underlying

actions based on Boeing’s alleged breach of the CBAs.

On July 21, 2005, the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and

Agricultural Implement Workers of America (“UAW”) filed a grievance on behalf of certain

4 APA § 11.15; see also Boeing 2017 WL 2799174, at *12. 5 APA § 9.1; see also Boeing 2017 WL 2799174, at *4. 6 Boeing 2017 WL 2799174, at *4. 7 See id.

3 Hired Employees at the Oklahoma facilities.8 Consistent with the CBA’s grievance procedure,

the UAW escalated its grievance to arbitration (the “UAW Arbitration”).9

Similarly, in June and August of 2005, the Society of Professional Engineering

Employees in Aerospace (“SPEEA”) and the International Association of Machinists (“IAM”)

and Aerospace Workers filed separate grievances on behalf of Hired Employees at the Kansas

facilities.10 Individual union members brought a class action suit in United States District Court

for the District of Kansas and consolidated with the litigation brought by SPEEA and IAM (the

“Harkness Class Action”).

As discussed above, Boeing filed the Complaint against Spirit on December 5, 2014. On

September 25, 2015, Spirit answered the Complaint and filed the Counterclaim. As part of

Spirit’s claim for relief, Spirit sought a declaration that Boeing must indemnify Spirit for the

costs associated with this and other legal proceedings. On June 27, 2017, the Court granted

summary judgment in favor of Spirit.

As part of the decision, the Court determined that “all liabilities related to Boeing’s

CBAs are considered Excluded Liabilities.”11 The Court found that the UAW Arbitration arose

from Boeing’s breach of its CBA’s. Further, the Court held that the Harkness Class Action arose

from Boeing’s breach of its CBA’s. The Court determined that fees under Section 9.1 are

warranted for the Excluded Liabilities.

The Court also ruled that under Section 11.15, Boeing must reimburse Spirit for its

reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses incurred in connection with the present litigation

and the underlying proceedings.

8 Id. 9 Id. 10 Id. at *5. 11 Id. at *12.

4 On July 12, 2017 Spirit filed the Motion. Boeing filed the Response on August 18, 2017.

Spirit filed the Reply on September 1, 2017.

III. PARTIES’ CONTENTIONS

A. SPIRIT’S CONTENTIONS

Spirit seeks: $11,049,748.61 in past fees, costs and expenses; $851,365.30 in pre-

judgment interest to date; and post-judgment interest at a rate of $1,665.03 per diem until the

other amounts are paid in full.12 Spirit requests $9,609,425.60 in fees for the present litigation.

Additionally, Spirit seeks $1,440,323.01 in fees from the Harkness Class Action and Spirits’

responses to Boeing’s indemnification demands.

Spirit claims that the fees are supported by documentation and reasonable under the

factors listed in Rule 1.5 of the Delaware Rules of Professional Conduct (“Rule 1.5”).

B. BOEING’S CONTENTIONS

Boeing argues that Motion should be denied or at least reduced because: (1) Spirit’s fee

request lacks adequate support; (2) Sprit’s attorney’s fees are not reasonable; and (3) Spirit is not

entitled to pre-judgment or post-judgment interest.

Boeing also contends that the Motion lacks adequate support because the 11,000 hours of

attorney’s fees “are supported only by summary monthly invoices and vague descriptions that

group together months’ worth of tasks and lack any meaningful explanation. . . .“ Boeing states

that the nearly 11,000 hours of fees “is nearly double the number of hours that Boeing’s primary

counsel . . . has worked on this same litigation.”13 Finally, Boeing claims that interest does not

apply to fee awards. 14

12 Mot. at 1. 13 Resp. at 1 (emphasis added). 14 Id. at 10.

5 C. SPIRIT’S REPLY

In the Reply, Spirit argues that: (1) the fees are adequately supported; (2) the fees are

reasonable; and (3) pre- and post-judgment interest are warranted in this case. Spirit states that

the Motion is supported and line-item review of billing is not required. Next, Spirit contends that

the fees are reasonable because Boeing had more familiarity with the UAW Arbitration, the

Harkness Class Action, the APA, and how the Underlying Proceedings interacted with the

CBAs.15 Finally, Spirit claims that interest is allowed in this case because it is awarded as a

matter of right and is due when the fees are a measure of damages.

IV. DISCUSSION

The Court has discretion in determining a reasonable fee award.16 The party seeking the

attorneys’ fees “bears the burden of establishing the reasonableness of the amount sought.”17

A. ATTORNEYS’ FEES

i. Spirit’s request for fees is reasonably supported in the Motion and Thomas Affidavit

The Court is not required to conduct a line-item review of the fees. A Court’s

determination of reasonableness of attorneys’ fees “does not require that this Court examine

individually each time entry and disbursement” 18 or conduct an independent inquiry of the

appropriateness of counsel’s fee for a particular filing or litigation tactic.19

Spirit provided the Affidavit of Deidra Thomas in Support of Spirit Aerosystems Inc.’s

Motion for Attorneys’ Fees, Costs, Expenses, and Pre- and Post-Judgment Interest (“Thomas

15 See Reply at 4. 16 See AFH Holding & Advisory, LLC v. Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc., 2014 WL 1760935, at *4 (Del. Super. April 16, 2014). 17 Glob. Link Logistics, Inc. v. Olympus Growth Fund III, L.P., 2010 WL 692752, at *1 (Del. Ch. Feb. 24, 2010) (quoting Korn v. New Castle Cty., 2007 WL 2981939, at *2 (Del. Ch. Oct. 3, 2007)). 18 Danenberg v. Fitracks, Inc., 58 A.3d 991, 997 (Del. Ch. 2012) (citing Aveta Inc. v. Bengoa, 2010 WL 3221823 (Del. Ch. Aug. 13, 2010)). 19 Danenberg, 58 A.3d at 997.

6 Affidavit”). The Thomas Affidavit also contains one hundred and seventy-nine exhibits in

support of the request for fees. Deidra Thomas is a paralegal in the legal department of Spirit.

In the Thomas Affidavit, Ms. Thomas states that Spirit payed the invoices from law firms

following the invoice date. In addition, Ms. Thomas states that to “the best of [her] knowledge

and belief, the amount of attorney, paralegal and clerk time spent on this matter is normal and

reasonable for this type of commercial litigation. This is especially true considering the complex

issues involved in this case.”20

Boeing does not argue that any of the attorneys’ fees are unrelated to the enforcement of

the APA. The Thomas Affidavit states that Spirit incurred $9,609,425.60 in reasonable

attorneys’ fees for this action. These attorneys’ fees are warranted under Section 11.15.

Additionally, Spirit incurred $1,440,323.01 in reasonable attorneys’ fees for Spirits’ participation

in the Harkness Class Action and Spirits’ responses to Boeing’s indemnification demands.21 The

Court already held that “all liabilities related to Boeing’s CBAs are considered Excluded

Liabilities.”22 The reasonable fees associated with the Harkness Class Action and Spirits’

responses to Boeing’s indemnification demands are warranted under Section 9.1(a)(iv).

ii. Spirit’s request for fees is reasonable for this case

Generally, litigates are responsible for their own litigation costs.23 If a contract contains a

fee shifting provision, the court will make exception to the general rule.24 Even with a fee

shifting provision, the court must determine whether the requested fees are reasonable.25 To

20 Aff’d of Deidra Thomas in Support of Spirit Aerosystems Inc.’s Motion for Attorneys’ Fees, Costs, Expenses, and Pre- and Post-Judgment Interest (“Thomas Aff’d”) ¶ 51. 21 Id. ¶¶ 19, 47. 22 Boeing, 2017 WL 2799174, at *12. 23 Mahani v. Edix Media Group, LLC, 935 A.2d 242, 245 (Del. 2007) (citing Chrysler Corp. v. Dann, 223 A.2d 384, 386 (Del. 1996) 24 Mahani, 935 A.2d at 245 (citing All Pro Maids, Inc. v. Layton, 2004 WL 1878784, *12-13 (Aug. 9, 2004)). 25 Mahani, 935 A.2d at 245 (citing Del. Lawyer’s Rules of Prof’l Conduct R. 1.5(a)(1)(a)).

7 determine if the fees are reasonable, the court considers the factors listed in Rule 1.5.26 The

factors include:

(1) the time and labor required, the novelty and difficulty of the questions involved, and the skill requisite to perform the legal service properly; (2) the likelihood, if apparent to the client, that the acceptance of the particular employment will preclude other employment by the lawyer; (3) the fee customarily charged in the locality for similar legal services; (4) the amount involved and the results obtained; (5) the time limitations imposed by the client or by the circumstances; (6) the nature and length of the professional relationship with the client; (7) the experience, reputation, and ability of the lawyer or lawyers performing the services; and (8) whether the fee is fixed or contingent.27

The Court finds that the relevant factors support the reasonableness of Spirit’s attorneys’

fees. First, the case involved a complicated issue of interpreting the APA, which required large

legal teams to evaluate the terms. Additionally, Boeing was more familiar with the subject of

this litigation. Neither party argues that the second factor applies in this case. Third, the hourly

rates charged by Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP and Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP are

comparable to other firms dealing with complex corporate issues in the area. Fourth, Boeing

sought $150 million in this litigation and Spirit seeks nearly $9 million in attorneys’ fees.

Additionally, the Court granted Spirit’s motion for summary judgment and denied Boeing’s

motion for summary judgment. Like the second factor, the fifth factor is not implicated in this

case.28

Sixth, Spirit and Cravath have had a contractual relationship for nearly seven years.

Spirit retained Potter Anderson at the inception of the present litigation. The length of the

professional relationship between Spirit and its attorneys indicates that Spirit’s attorneys charged

reasonable fees. Seventh, the Court notes that Spirit’s attorneys are well regarded corporate law

26 Mahani, 935 A.2d at 245 (citing Del. Lawyer’s Rules of Prof’l Conduct R. 1.5(a)(1)). 27 Del. Lawyer’s Rules of Prof’l Conduct R. 1.5(a)(1). 28 To any degree Boeing makes an argument under the fifth factor, the argument is subsumed under the first factor.

8 firms. Eighth, the attorneys had a fixed hourly fee. Spirit typically paid invoices within forty-

five-days after the invoice date.29

Boeing argues that the attorneys’ fees sought by Spirit are excessive. Boeing argues that

Cravath billed twice as many hours as Boeing’s primary counsel.30 Although Boeing argues that

Spirit’s primary counsel billed twice as many hours as Boeing’s primary counsel, Boeing does

not indicate how many hours other counsel spent on the case. Further, the Court believes that

Cravath’s additional billing seems warranted in this case. The Court may find a fee unreasonable

when one side bills twice as many hours as the other side.31 However, the parties are generally

on equal playing fields. Boeing tries to argue that the billed hours should be the same because

both parties conducted the same actions for the Court in preparation for trial. However, Spirit

notes that it was at a disadvantage at the beginning of litigation. Specifically, Spirit notes:

Spirit was not party to the UAW Arbitration, and was a part-time participant in the Harkness Litigation, whereas Boeing was the target of the UAW Arbitration and the full-time, lead defendant in Harkness. . . .

Boeing negotiated the APA on its own behalf, whereas a third party (Onex Corporation) negotiated the APA for Spirit. Since the meaning of the APA was the core issue in this case, this asymmetry of information impacted many tasks performed by Spirit’s attorneys, who had to understand a complex corporate transaction with little to no prior familiarity with what occurred.

Another key issue in this case was how the Underlying Proceedings interacted with Boeing’s own collective bargaining agreements (“CBAs”). Boeing already had great familiarity with and institutional knowledge concerning its own CBAs. Spirit did not, and its counsel again started from square one.32

For these reasons, the attorneys’ fees appear reasonable.

29 Thomas Aff’d ¶ 6. 30 Response at 6. 31 See Concord Steel, Inc. v. Wilmington Steel Processing Co., 2010 WL 571934, at *4 (Del. Ch. Feb. 5, 2010) (finding attorneys’ fees unreasonable “[b]ased on . . . the fact that the amount billed by Defendants’ counsel was roughly half of the amount billed by [Plaintiff]’s counsel”); Dunlap v. Sunbeam Corp., 1999 WL 413299, at *1 (Del. Ch. June 7, 1999) (“[E]vidence of fees and expenditures of other parties may be relevant to the issue of the reasonableness of the petitioner’s fees. . . .”). 32 Reply at 4.

9 The Court finds the Thomas Affidavit very helpful to the overall determination of

reasonableness. Spirit reviewed, approved and paid its attorneys’ fees and costs on a regular

basis. Ms. Thomas stated that these fees and costs were “reasonable.”33 Absent some

demonstration to the contrary, the Court is not going to second guess a for-profit business that

reviews its legal bills on a regular basis, makes determinations that the fees and costs are

reasonable and then pays the bills. Especially when Spirit had no guarantee from the outset that

the attorneys’ fees and costs would be reimbursed under the APA.34

B. PRE-TRIAL AND POST-TRIAL INTEREST

Spirit is not entitled to interest on the attorneys’ fees award. Generally, fees are not part

of the award for compensation.35 In most cases, Attorney’s fees are costs and interest is not

awarded unless authorized by a statute or other means.36 However, the Court awards interest on

attorneys’ fees in limited circumstances including for fees from a common fund settlement where

the fee is part of the compensation.37

Spirit argues that it is entitled to interest as a matter of right and that the fees are part of

the measure of damages. Although the Delaware Supreme Court has held that “prejudgment

interest is awarded as a matter of right,” the Court was ruling on an advancement that was

already due before the judgment.38 The Court further noted that “[t]he purpose of prejudgment

33 Thomas Aff’d ¶ 51. 34 See Danenberg, 58 A.3d at 997 (quoting Aveta, 2010 WL 3221823, at *6) (“If a party cannot be certain that it will be able to shift expenses at the time the expenses are incurred, the prospect that the party will bear its own expenses provides ‘sufficient incentive to monitor its counsel’s work and ensure that counsel [does] not engage in excessive or unnecessary efforts.’”). 35 See Dennis v. PA Manufacturing Ass’n Ins. Co., 1992 WL 240458, at *2 (Del. Super. Aug. 14, 1992) (citing Case v. City of Wilmington, 260 A.2d 703 (Del. 1969)). 36 Dennis, 1992 WL 240458, at *2 (citing Moore v. Chrystler Corp., 233 A.2d 53, 55-56 (Del. 1967)); see Wilmington Bd. of Public Educ. v. Digiacomo, 1987 WL 36367 (Del. Feb. 9, 1987) (finding that the Court has discretion to authorize interest on attorneys’ fees for an appeal from a Board decision under 19 Del. C. § 2350). 37 Oliver v. Boston U., 2009 WL 1515607, at *4 (Del. Ch. May 29, 2009). 38 Citadel Holding Corp. v. Roven, 603 A.2d 818, 826 (Del. 1992); see also Underbrink v. Warrior Energy Services Corp., 2008 WL 2262316, at *18-19 (Del. Ch. May 30, 2008) (granting interest on mandatory retroactive attorneys’ fees that should have been advanced to the party).

10 interest is to compensate plaintiffs for losses suffered from the inability to use the money

awarded during the time it was not available.”39

In the instant case, Boeing did not owe Spirit any duty to advance payment of the

attorneys’ fees. The award of attorneys’ fees in this case constitutes a contractual fee and

indemnification. The APA provides that if “any Proceedings for the enforcement of this

Agreement is brought the successful or prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable

attorneys’ fees and other costs incurred in that Proceeding.” Additionally, the APA allows for

Spirit to recover fees from Excluded Liabilities. In this case, the APA provides for reasonable

attorneys’ fees, but not any interest on the award of the attorneys’ fees.

The APA is a highly negotiated document. The APA provides when a party is entitled to

attorneys’ fees and costs. The APA does not contractually provide for interest. If the parties had

intended interest to be paid on such items, the APA would have provided for interest. Here,

there is no contractual provision granting interest on the attorneys’ fees. As such, Spirit is not

entitled to recover interest in this case.

V. CONCLUSION

For the reasons set forth above, the Court will GRANT in Part and DENY in Part the

Motion. As to Spirit’s past fees amounting to $11,049,748.61, the Motion is GRANTED. As to

any pre-trial or post-trial interest, the Motion is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 5, 2017 Wilmington, Delaware

/s/ Eric M. Davis Eric M. Davis, Judge

39 Id.