Ladd v. Chemonics Inc
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Opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
FRED LADD,
Plaintiff / Counterclaim-Defendant, Civil Action No. 07–1360 (CKK) v.
CHEMONICS INTERNATIONAL, INC.,
Defendant / Counterclaim-Plaintiff.
MEMORANDUM OPINION (March 26, 2009)
Plaintiff Fred Ladd (“Plaintiff” or “Ladd”) brings the above-captioned lawsuit against his
former employer, Defendant Chemonics International, Inc. (“Defendant” or “Chemonics”),
alleging that Chemonics breached the parties’ employment agreement (“Contract”). In October
of 2003, shortly after Plaintiff began working for Chemonics, he sustained significant injuries in
an on-the-job automobile accident, as a result of which he is no longer able to work. Plaintiff’s
complaint alleges that: (1) Chemonics’ contractually agreed to continue to pay Plaintiff his salary
in the event he was injured and no longer able to work, and that Chemonics breached the parties’
Contract by failing to pay Plaintiff his salary after his automobile accident; (2) Chemonics agreed
to provide Plaintiff with life insurance benefits and to pay Plaintiff’s COBRA premiums after he
was terminated from Chemonics, but has failed to do so and is therefore in breach of the parties’
agreement; (3) Plaintiff is owed additional compensation and/or benefits under the relevant
workers’ compensation scheme—the Defense Base Act, 42 U.S.C. § 151 et. seq. (“DBA”); and
(4) Plaintiff is entitled to recover for intentional infliction of emotional distress based upon
Chemonics’ breach of contract. Chemonics in turn has filed a counterclaim against Plaintiff, alleging that Plaintiff breached the forum selection clause in the parties’ Contract and that
Chemonics is therefore entitled to liquidated damages as provided for in the Contract.
Currently pending before the Court are Plaintiff’s [27] Motion for Partial Summary
Judgment, in which Plaintiff seeks judgment in its favor only as to his claim for breach of
contract based upon Chemonics’ failure to continue to pay his salary after he was injured and no
longer able to work, and Defendant’s [28] Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment, in which
Chemonics seeks judgment in its favor as to all of Plaintiff’s claims as well as to its own
counterclaim. After thoroughly reviewing the parties’ submissions, applicable case law, statutory
authority, and the entire record of the case as a whole, the Court shall DENY Plaintiff’s Partial
Motion for Summary Judgment and shall GRANT Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment,
for the reasons that follow.
I. BACKGROUND
A. Plaintiff’s Repeated and Inexcusable Failure to Comply with Local Civil Rules and this Court’s Orders
As a preliminary matter, the Court shall address Plaintiff’s continued and inexplicable
failure to comply with the Local Civil Rules and this Court’s orders, an issue which the Court has
previously addressed in great detail in its September 4, 2008 Order, which is fully incorporated
herein. See 9/4/08 Order, Docket No. [37]. The Court therefore sets forth only those facts
necessary to provide context for Plaintiff’s failure—yet again—to adhere to the Local Civil Rules
and this Court’s directives.
Local Civil Rules 7(h)(1) and 56.1 set forth the requirements that parties must follow
when filing or opposing a motion for summary judgment:
2 Each motion for summary judgment shall be accompanied by a statement of material facts as to which the moving party contends there is no genuine issue, which shall include references to the parts of the record relied on to support the statement. An opposition to such a motion shall be accompanied by a separate concise statement of genuine issues setting forth all material facts as to which it is contended there exists a genuine issue necessary to be litigated, which shall include references to the parts of the record relied on to support the statement . . . In determining a motion for summary judgment, the court may assume that facts identified by the moving party in its statement of material facts are admitted, unless such a fact is controverted in the statement of genuine issues filed in opposition to the motion.
LCvR 7(h)(1) & 56.1. The Court has repeatedly instructed the parties to comply with these local
rules. See 10/15/07 Order, Docket No. [15] at 4-5 (requiring the parties “to comply fully with []
LCvR 7(h),” and advising the parties that “[t]he Court assumes facts identified by the moving
party in its statement of material facts are admitted, unless such a fact is controverted in the
statement of genuine issues filed in opposition to the motion”); 5/28/08 Order, Docket No. [26]
(instructing the parties to “comply fully with [] LCvR 7(h),” which requires the parties to “furnish
precise citations to the portions of the record on which they rely”).
Notwithstanding those instructions, and despite Plaintiff’s Colorado counsel having sworn
familiarity with the Local Civil Rules,1 Plaintiff failed to include a statement of material facts not
1 As explained in the Court’s September 4, 2008 Order, Plaintiff’s Colorado counsel submitted a sworn and notarized affidavit in support of his motion for leave to appear pro hac vice, in which, inter alia, he stated:
I have reviewed Local Civil Rule 83.2(c), LCvr 83.2(c) and Local Civil Rule 83.2(d) LCvr 83.2(d). Pursuant to those rules I have retained local counsel to assist in the representation in this case, and I agree that local counsel will sign all pleadings or other papers and participate meaningfully in the preparation and trial of the case or proceedings to the extent required by the Court.
See 9/4/08 Order (citing Docket No. [10-2]). Based largely upon that representation, the Court granted Plaintiff’s Colorado counsel’s motion for leave to appear pro hac vice. See id. (citing 9/21/07 Minute Order).
3 in dispute in his motion for partial summary judgment. See Docket No. [27]. This error was
immediately pointed out to Plaintiff by Chemonics in its cross-motion for summary judgment and
opposition, filed in response to Plaintiff’s motion. See Docket Nos. [28], [29]. Chemonics’ filings
thus clearly placed Plaintiff’s counsel on notice that the failure to submit a statement of material
facts constituted a violation of the Local Civil Rules. Nonetheless, Plaintiff’s combined opposition
to Chemonics’ motion for summary judgment and reply in support of his own motion for partial
summary judgment neither specifically responded to Chemonics’ factual assertions, as required by
the Local Civil Rules and this Court’s repeated orders, nor attempted to belatedly proffer a
statement of material facts in support of Plaintiff’s own motion for partial summary judgment. See
Docket No. [32].
Indeed, it was only after briefing on the parties’ instant cross-motions had been completed
that Plaintiff belatedly filed a motion for leave to file a statement of material facts in support of his
cross-motion and a statement responding to Chemonics’ statement of material facts in support of
its cross-motion. Plaintiff did not attach either statement, but requested more time to prepare and
file them. See Docket No. [25] (filed 9/2/08). The only excuse offered by Plaintiff’s Colorado
counsel for this flagrant omission was to explain that he practices in a variety of federal
jurisdictions and “inadvertently overlooked the specific Local Rules in question for this Court.” Id.
at 2.
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
FRED LADD,
Plaintiff / Counterclaim-Defendant, Civil Action No. 07–1360 (CKK) v.
CHEMONICS INTERNATIONAL, INC.,
Defendant / Counterclaim-Plaintiff.
MEMORANDUM OPINION (March 26, 2009)
Plaintiff Fred Ladd (“Plaintiff” or “Ladd”) brings the above-captioned lawsuit against his
former employer, Defendant Chemonics International, Inc. (“Defendant” or “Chemonics”),
alleging that Chemonics breached the parties’ employment agreement (“Contract”). In October
of 2003, shortly after Plaintiff began working for Chemonics, he sustained significant injuries in
an on-the-job automobile accident, as a result of which he is no longer able to work. Plaintiff’s
complaint alleges that: (1) Chemonics’ contractually agreed to continue to pay Plaintiff his salary
in the event he was injured and no longer able to work, and that Chemonics breached the parties’
Contract by failing to pay Plaintiff his salary after his automobile accident; (2) Chemonics agreed
to provide Plaintiff with life insurance benefits and to pay Plaintiff’s COBRA premiums after he
was terminated from Chemonics, but has failed to do so and is therefore in breach of the parties’
agreement; (3) Plaintiff is owed additional compensation and/or benefits under the relevant
workers’ compensation scheme—the Defense Base Act, 42 U.S.C. § 151 et. seq. (“DBA”); and
(4) Plaintiff is entitled to recover for intentional infliction of emotional distress based upon
Chemonics’ breach of contract. Chemonics in turn has filed a counterclaim against Plaintiff, alleging that Plaintiff breached the forum selection clause in the parties’ Contract and that
Chemonics is therefore entitled to liquidated damages as provided for in the Contract.
Currently pending before the Court are Plaintiff’s [27] Motion for Partial Summary
Judgment, in which Plaintiff seeks judgment in its favor only as to his claim for breach of
contract based upon Chemonics’ failure to continue to pay his salary after he was injured and no
longer able to work, and Defendant’s [28] Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment, in which
Chemonics seeks judgment in its favor as to all of Plaintiff’s claims as well as to its own
counterclaim. After thoroughly reviewing the parties’ submissions, applicable case law, statutory
authority, and the entire record of the case as a whole, the Court shall DENY Plaintiff’s Partial
Motion for Summary Judgment and shall GRANT Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment,
for the reasons that follow.
I. BACKGROUND
A. Plaintiff’s Repeated and Inexcusable Failure to Comply with Local Civil Rules and this Court’s Orders
As a preliminary matter, the Court shall address Plaintiff’s continued and inexplicable
failure to comply with the Local Civil Rules and this Court’s orders, an issue which the Court has
previously addressed in great detail in its September 4, 2008 Order, which is fully incorporated
herein. See 9/4/08 Order, Docket No. [37]. The Court therefore sets forth only those facts
necessary to provide context for Plaintiff’s failure—yet again—to adhere to the Local Civil Rules
and this Court’s directives.
Local Civil Rules 7(h)(1) and 56.1 set forth the requirements that parties must follow
when filing or opposing a motion for summary judgment:
2 Each motion for summary judgment shall be accompanied by a statement of material facts as to which the moving party contends there is no genuine issue, which shall include references to the parts of the record relied on to support the statement. An opposition to such a motion shall be accompanied by a separate concise statement of genuine issues setting forth all material facts as to which it is contended there exists a genuine issue necessary to be litigated, which shall include references to the parts of the record relied on to support the statement . . . In determining a motion for summary judgment, the court may assume that facts identified by the moving party in its statement of material facts are admitted, unless such a fact is controverted in the statement of genuine issues filed in opposition to the motion.
LCvR 7(h)(1) & 56.1. The Court has repeatedly instructed the parties to comply with these local
rules. See 10/15/07 Order, Docket No. [15] at 4-5 (requiring the parties “to comply fully with []
LCvR 7(h),” and advising the parties that “[t]he Court assumes facts identified by the moving
party in its statement of material facts are admitted, unless such a fact is controverted in the
statement of genuine issues filed in opposition to the motion”); 5/28/08 Order, Docket No. [26]
(instructing the parties to “comply fully with [] LCvR 7(h),” which requires the parties to “furnish
precise citations to the portions of the record on which they rely”).
Notwithstanding those instructions, and despite Plaintiff’s Colorado counsel having sworn
familiarity with the Local Civil Rules,1 Plaintiff failed to include a statement of material facts not
1 As explained in the Court’s September 4, 2008 Order, Plaintiff’s Colorado counsel submitted a sworn and notarized affidavit in support of his motion for leave to appear pro hac vice, in which, inter alia, he stated:
I have reviewed Local Civil Rule 83.2(c), LCvr 83.2(c) and Local Civil Rule 83.2(d) LCvr 83.2(d). Pursuant to those rules I have retained local counsel to assist in the representation in this case, and I agree that local counsel will sign all pleadings or other papers and participate meaningfully in the preparation and trial of the case or proceedings to the extent required by the Court.
See 9/4/08 Order (citing Docket No. [10-2]). Based largely upon that representation, the Court granted Plaintiff’s Colorado counsel’s motion for leave to appear pro hac vice. See id. (citing 9/21/07 Minute Order).
3 in dispute in his motion for partial summary judgment. See Docket No. [27]. This error was
immediately pointed out to Plaintiff by Chemonics in its cross-motion for summary judgment and
opposition, filed in response to Plaintiff’s motion. See Docket Nos. [28], [29]. Chemonics’ filings
thus clearly placed Plaintiff’s counsel on notice that the failure to submit a statement of material
facts constituted a violation of the Local Civil Rules. Nonetheless, Plaintiff’s combined opposition
to Chemonics’ motion for summary judgment and reply in support of his own motion for partial
summary judgment neither specifically responded to Chemonics’ factual assertions, as required by
the Local Civil Rules and this Court’s repeated orders, nor attempted to belatedly proffer a
statement of material facts in support of Plaintiff’s own motion for partial summary judgment. See
Docket No. [32].
Indeed, it was only after briefing on the parties’ instant cross-motions had been completed
that Plaintiff belatedly filed a motion for leave to file a statement of material facts in support of his
cross-motion and a statement responding to Chemonics’ statement of material facts in support of
its cross-motion. Plaintiff did not attach either statement, but requested more time to prepare and
file them. See Docket No. [25] (filed 9/2/08). The only excuse offered by Plaintiff’s Colorado
counsel for this flagrant omission was to explain that he practices in a variety of federal
jurisdictions and “inadvertently overlooked the specific Local Rules in question for this Court.” Id.
at 2. As the Court emphasized in its September 4, 2008 Order granting-in-part and denying-in-part
Plaintiff’s motion for leave, “[t]his excuse is altogether unavailing.” 9/4/08 Order at 6.
Consequently, the Court refused to grant the complete relief requested in Plaintiff’s belated motion
for leave, permitting Plaintiff to respond to Chemonics’ statement of material facts, but denying
Plaintiff’s request to submit a statement of material facts in support of his own motion for partial
4 summary judgment. Id. at 7-8. Specifically, given Chemonics’ agreement that the material facts
bearing on Plaintiff’s motion for partial summary judgment are not in dispute, the Court concluded
that there was no need to allow Plaintiff to file an extraordinarily belated statement of material
facts in support of his motion at such a late date after the briefing had already been completed
without reference to a statement of facts. Id. With respect to the facts underlying Chemonics’
motion for summary judgment, however, the Court required Plaintiff to file a statement responding
to Chemonics’ statement. Id. at 8. The Court therefore struck Plaintiff’s [32] initial
opposition/reply and required Plaintiff to file a revised pleading that included appropriate citations
to Chemonics’ statement and/or his own responsive statement. Id. In addition, the Court
mandated that Plaintiff’s local counsel “carefully review all filings prepared by Plaintiff’s Colorado
counsel in order to ensure strict compliance with the Local Civil Rules and this Court’s orders.”
Id. Finally, the Court provided that Chemonics was permitted to file a revised reply, if it
determined it was necessary in light of Plaintiff’s revisions. Id. at 8. In the event Chemonics did
so, the Court ordered that Plaintiff’s Colorado counsel was required to pay all costs and attorney’s
fees incurred by Chemonics in connection with its revised reply.2 Id. at 8.
Incredibly, despite the Court’s repeated instructions that both Plaintiff’s Colorado counsel
and local counsel must ensure future pleadings are in “strict compliance with the Local Civil Rules
and this Court’s orders,” id., Plaintiff’s counsel once again disregarded both the Court’s order and
the Local Civil Rules, filing a revised pleading that blatantly fails to conform with this Court’s
clear directives, as set forth in its September 4, 2008 Order. Specifically, Plaintiff’s revised effort
2 As is discussed below, Chemonics filed a revised reply and, in accordance with this Court’s September 4, 2008 Order, provided the Court with an affidavit setting forth the fees incurred in connection with the filing of its reply. See infra p. 38.
5 to provide a response to Chemonics’ statement of material facts suffers from three main defects.
First, the response does not comply with the Court’s repeated instructions that “a party responding
to a statement of material facts must respond to each paragraph with a correspondingly numbered
paragraph, indicating whether that paragraph is admitted or denied,” and “should include any
information relevant to its response in that paragraph.” See, e.g., 5/28/08 Order at 2. Plaintiff’s
response does not indicate whether he admits or denies each of Chemonics’ factual assertions and,
as Chemonics notes in its revised reply, “[t]he numbering of Ladd’s statement of material facts that
he contends are genuinely disputed does not correspond to the numbered paragraphs of
Chemonics’ statement of material facts not in dispute,” such that it is “not [] possible to precisely
identify what Ladd is attempting to respond to.” Def.’s Rev. Reply at 2-3. Second, Plaintiff’s
response does not, “[a]t all points . . . furnish precise citations to the portions of the record on
which [he] rel[ies].” See, e.g., 5/28/08 Order at 2. For example, Plaintiff states that he went to
Chemonics’ headquarters in Washington, D.C. for “the purpose of executing the agreement,” and
cites generally to Exhibit 3 of his revised response, which he states is a copy of his affidavit, as
support for this assertion. See Pl.’s Resp. ¶ 3. Exhibit 3, however, is a copy of the parties’
Contract, not Plaintiff’s affidavit, and it does not provide any support for Plaintiff’s assertion. See
id., Ex. 3. Neither does Plaintiff’s affidavit, which is correctly cited as Exhibit 4, provide any
support for this assertion. See id., Ex. 4. Third, Plaintiff’s response includes impermissible legal
arguments dressed up as “facts.” See, e.g., Pl.’s Resp. ¶ 6 (“It certainly must be undisputed as a
material fact that Plaintiff did, indeed, perform his duties faithfully and to the best of his ability.”).
Accordingly, it is clear that Plaintiff’s revised response to Chemonics’ statement of material facts
is wholly inadequate.
6 As the D.C. Circuit has emphasized, “[LCvR 56.1] places the burden on the parties and
their counsel, who are most familiar with the litigation and the record, to crystallize for the district
court the material facts and relevant portions of the record.” Jackson v. Finnegan, Henderson,
Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, 101 F.3d 145, 151 (D.C. Cir. 1996) (citing Twist v. Meese, 854 F.2d
1421, 1425 (D.C. Cir. 1988); Guarino v. Brookfield Township Trustees, 980 F.2d 399, 406 (6th
Cir. 1992)). Because of the significance of this task and the potential hardship placed on the court
if the parties are derelict in their duty, courts require strict compliance with LCvR 56.1. See id. at
150 (citations omitted). As this Court has repeatedly advised the parties, it “may strike pleadings
not in conformity with these rules.” See, e.g., 10/15/07 Order at 4; 5/28/08 Order at 3. Plaintiff
has nonetheless failed to comply with the Local Civil Rules and this Court’s orders, despite the fact
the Court permitted Plaintiff yet another opportunity to do so even after principal briefing on the
parties’ cross-motions had been completed. Given Plaintiff’s counsel’s inexcusable and repeated
failure to adhere to the Local Civil Rules, the Court, in its discretion, shall disregard all assertions
contained in Plaintiff’s response to Chemonics’ statement that are in violation of LCvR 7(h)(1) and
LCvrR 56.1. Accordingly, where Chemonics’ factual assertions are properly supported by the
record, as confirmed by the Court’s own independent review, the Court shall treat such facts as
admitted. Thus, in setting forth the relevant factual background below, the Court cites primarily to
Chemonics’ statement of material facts, with direct citations to the record where appropriate.
B. Factual Background
Chemonics is an international development consulting firm that provides technical
assistance and support in a variety of disciplines (including private financial sector development,
health, environmental management, agriculture and governance), to governments and businesses in
7 developing countries. Def.’s Stmt. ¶ 1. Chemonics frequently works in developing countries
under contract to the U.S. Agency of International Development (“USAID”). Id. ¶ 2. In 2003,
Chemonics entered into a subcontract with the Research Triangle Institute (“RTI”), general
contractor on the USAID’s Iraq Local Governance Project Civic Institution Support Program
(“LGP Program”), to provide personnel to work on the LGP Program in Iraq under RTI’s control.
Id. ¶¶ 3-5. Chemonics was responsible for locating, screening and hiring the necessary personnel
and was also responsible for administering the pay and benefits of those hired. See Def.’s Cross-
MSJ/Opp’n, Ex. 1 (Decl. of Peter Bittner) (hereinafter “Bittner Decl.”) ¶¶ 5-6. In addition,
pursuant to Chemonics’ subcontract with RTI, Chemonics was required to procure workers’
compensation insurance for the employees pursuant to the DBA, the applicable workers’
compensation statute. Def.’s Stmt. ¶ 5.
In March of 2003, Chemonics contacted Plaintiff, a civil engineer, to see whether he would
be interested in working for Chemonics in Iraq. Id. ¶¶ 6-7. Plaintiff indicated that he was
interested in the position. Id. ¶ 8. Thereafter, in September of 2003, Plaintiff and Chemonics
entered into the Contract,3 under which Plaintiff was hired by Chemonics as a Municipal Utility
Specialist for the LGP in Iraq. Id. ¶ 10. As the Contract’s language is key to the instant litigation,
3 As Chemonics notes in its statement, the record contains two versions of Plaintiff’s employment contract with Chemonics. Def.’s Stmt. ¶ 10, n.1. One copy is signed by Plaintiff and Richard Breitenstein, Chemonics’ Project Administrator for the Middle East, and indicates that both signatures were made on September 5, 2003. Id. The second copy is also signed by both Plaintiff and Breitenstein, but indicates that Plaintiff did not sign the Contract until September 11, 2003. See id. Plaintiff does not recall why there is a second version of the Contract with his signature dated September 11, 2003. Id. (citing Ex. 3 (Ladd Dep.) at 33:6-12. This discrepancy, however, is not material because both versions of the Contract are otherwise identical, see id., and the timing of the Contract’s signature has not been raised in either party’s cross-motion.
8 the Court sets forth the relevant passages at issue, which provide, inter alia:
IV. Salary
The base salary for the employee for the first year of the project work has been proposed at US $131,250 per year, or a monthly rate of US $10,937.50. Salary is pending approval by RTI/USAID. Annual salary increases may be granted in accordance with Chemonics’ customary policy and are subject to the approval of USAID. Neither the rate nor amount of salary increase is guaranteed under the terms of this agreement. Salary increases are also subject to company guidelines, individual performance, and client approvals.
VI. Employment at will
The employee shall be considered an employee at will for the duration of employment covered under this agreement. Employment may be terminated by the employmee or by Chemonics at any time and for any reason. . . .
VII. Termination of employment
Employment may be terminated at any time by Chemonics or by the employee for any reason. Should the employee be terminated for misconduct, dereliction of duty, or gross failure to perform satisfactorily, or should the employee voluntarily resign without obtaining prior written consent of Chemonics’ home office, Chemonics will not be liable for salary or related costs beyond the date of employment termination. When terminated for reasons listed here in [section] VII, the employee shall also be liable for any relocation costs not allowable for U.S. government reimbursement, as stated in [section] VIII.5 of this agreement.
***
XII. Legal agreement
. . . . This agreement shall be interpreted and construed under and in accordance with the laws of the District of Columbia. The parties hereby expressly agree and acknowledge that the courts of the District of Columbia shall have sole and exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute arising under or otherwise relating to this agreement. The parties agree that any such disputes shall not be brought before any foreign court, administrative agency, or other legal body, but shall be under the sole and exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the District of Columbia as stated above. Should either party breach this clause by bringing a dispute before a foreign court, administrative agency, or other legal body, the parties agree as follows: the non-breaching party shall be entitled to liquidated damages at a sum equal to three (3) months salary of the
9 employee’s last wage under this agreement and preceding the breach.
Contract, §§ IV, VI-VII & XII.
On October 23, 2003, shortly after he was hired by Chemonics, Plaintiff was injured in an
automobile accident while working in Al Kut, Iraq. Def.’s Stmt. ¶¶ 17-18. Plaintiff sustained a
number of injuries as a result of the accident, and has been unable to work since the October 23,
2003 accident. Id. All parties agree that Plaintiff remains totally disabled because of his injuries.
Id. ¶ 19.
As it is required to do, Chemonics immediately reported Plaintiff’s injury to the
Department of Labor, Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (“OWCP”), in order to ensure
that Plaintiff received the appropriate benefits under the DBA.4 Id. ¶ 21. On November 7, 2003,
the OWCP District Office of New York sent Plaintiff a notice advising him that the OWCP had
received Chemonics’ First Report of Injury, and advising him of the workers’ compensation
benefits available to him under the DBA. Id. ¶ 22. It is undisputed that Plaintiff has been
receiving temporary total disability compensation pursuant to the DBA since the date of his
accident. Id. ¶ 26; see also Pl.’s MSJ at 4 (admitting that Plaintiff has received benefits under the
DBA). Specifically, he receives $1,030.78 per week, which is paid on a bi-weekly basis and which
is the maximum compensation rate available under the DBA for Ladd’s injury. Id. ¶¶ 26-27.
4 As Chemonics explains, it prepared and filled out a First Report of Injury, which it submitted to the OWCP. Def.’s Stmt. ¶ 21. The date of injury on the First Report of Injury is listed as October 26, 2003. Def.’s Stmt. ¶ 21, n. 2. Plaintiff, however, testified that the injury actually occurred on October 23, 2003. See id. The Court concludes that this discrepancy is immaterial to the parties’ cross-motions. It did not affect Plaintiff’s eligibility for benefits under the DBA, as it undisputed that he has received (and continues to receive) the maximum benefit allowed, see id., and Plaintiff has not raised the issue in his briefings now before the Court, see generally Pl.’s MSJ; Pl.’s Rev. Opp’n/Reply.
10 Plaintiff also receives medical care for his work-related injury under the DBA.5 Id. ¶ 28.
Chemonics also decided to keep Plaintiff on its employment roll following his injury, in
part to ensure that Plaintiff and his family would remain covered by Chemonics’ group health
insurance and to enable Chemonics to continue to pay the employer’s portion of the premium. Id.
¶ 29; Bittner Decl. ¶¶ 9-10. As a Chemonics’ employee, the total health insurance premium for
Plaintiff and his family was $674.74 per month, with Plaintiff contributing $158.00 of the monthly
premium. Id. ¶ 30. Between October 2003 and December 2004 (when Plaintiff was officially
terminated from Chemonics’ employment, as discussed below), Plaintiff remained enrolled in
Chemonics’ group health insurance and Chemonics continued to pay its portion of the health
insurance premiums for Plaintiff and his family.6 Id.
On November 23, 2004, more than a year after Plaintiff’s accident, Peter Bittner,
Chemonics’ Senior Vice President, Middle East Region, had a telephone conversation with
5 Although Plaintiff admits that he is generally receiving medical care from CNA—Chemonics’ workers’ compensation insurer—there appears to be a dispute between CNA and Plaintiff regarding an unpaid hospital bill covering charges incurred for Plaintiff’s treatment while hospitalized in Lanstuhl Hospital in Germany. See Def.’s Stmt. ¶ 28, n. 3; Pl.’s Rev. Reply at 12 (alleging that neither Chemonics nor CNA has paid the Lanstuhl hospital bill). The Court addresses this dispute below. See infra pp. 33-34. 6 Plaintiff appears to dispute Chemonics’ assertion that it kept Plaintiff on the employment roll following his injuries, in part so that he and his family would remain covered by Chemonics’ group health insurance. See Pl.’s Rev. Resp. at 3, ¶ 5. Plaintiff alleges that Chemonics’ assertion is contradicted by Chemonics’ subsequent correspondence to Plaintiff. See id. Contrary to Plaintiff’s assertion, however, the correspondence cited by Plaintiff in fact confirms that he remained enrolled in Chemonics group health insurance during the time period in question. See, e.g., Pl.s’ Rev. Opp’n/Reply, Ex. 2 (December 8, 2004 Letter) (confirming that Plaintiff’s coverage under Chemonics insurance would terminate as of midnight on December 31, 2004). More significantly, Plaintiff does not in fact dispute that he remained covered by Chemonics’ insurance until December of 2004 and that Chemonics continued to pay for the employer portion of the premium during that time period. See generally Pl.’s Rev. Opp’n/Reply.
11 Plaintiff concerning his employment status with Chemonics. Id. ¶ 31. Bittner avers that, by that
date, “it was apparent that Mr. Ladd would not return to work at Chemonics.” Bittner Decl. ¶ 11.
Accordingly, Bittner states that, “[b]ecause he had not worked for more than one year and it was
unclear when he would be able to return to work,” Bittner advised Plaintiff that his employment
with Chemonics would be terminated effective December 23, 2004. Id. ¶ 13; see also Def.’s Stmt.
¶ 31. Bittner further advised Plaintiff that he could apply for COBRA coverage to extend his
health insurance coverage for 29 months beyond his termination date at a cost of approximately
$735.00 per month, and that Chemonics would pay Plaintiff’s COBRA payments for that time
period if Plaintiff signed a release agreeing not to sue Chemonics. Def.’s Stmt. ¶ 32; see also
Bittner Decl. ¶¶ 14-15, 17.7
Bittner subsequently sent a letter to Plaintiff, dated December 8, 2004, in which Bittner
confirmed the substance of their November 23, 2004 telephone. See Def.’s Stmt. ¶ 31; see also Ex.
B. to Bittner Decl. (12/8/04 Letter from Bittner to Ladd) (hereinafter “December 8, 2004 Letter”),
at 1 (“This letter serves to summarize your discussion on November 23, 2004, regarding your end
of assignment and employment with Chemonics International.”). In particular, the letter confirmed
that Plaintiff’s employment with Chemonics would be terminated effective December 23, 2004, as
Bittner and Plaintiff had discussed. Def.’s Stmt. ¶ 33. The letter also advised Plaintiff
that,“[a]lthough you will no longer be employed with Chemonics, so long as you are disabled and
7 At deposition, Plaintiff testified that he “may have” talked to Bittner, but that he does not remember. See Def.’s Cross-MSJ/Opp’n, Ex. 3 (Ladd’s Depo.) at 141:24-142:3 (“Q. Do you remember talking with Peter Bittner on the telephone in late November, early December 2004? A. No. I may have, but I do not remember it.”). Plaintiff’s statement that he does not remember the conversation, however, does not contradict Bittner’s sworn declaration, and Plaintiff offers no other evidence disputing Bittner’s testimony regarding the substance of the November 23, 2004 telephone conversation.
12 you continue to satisfy the terms and conditions under DBA, the DBA insurance provider, CNA,
will continue to pay you this benefit.” Id. In addition, Plaintiff was informed that his “remaining
group insurances of health, company paid and (additional) optional life insurance, and accidental
death and dismemberment will terminate as of midnight December 23, 2004.” Id. However,
Bittner reiterated that Plaintiff could continue his Chemonics’ health insurance coverage by
applying for the coverage through COBRA, and indicated that he should fill out and return the
appropriate forms attached to the letter to apply for COBRA benefits, if he wished to do so. Id.;
see also Def.’s Stmt. ¶ 33. In addition, Bittner advised Plaintiff that his “company paid life
insurance may be converted to individual policies,” and that Plaintiff should contact Chemonics if
he “wish[ed] to pursue insurance conversions.” December 23, 2004 Letter at 1. Finally, although
the letter itself did not specifically reference the release agreement that Bittner had discussed
during the November 23, 2004 telephone conversation—stating only that “Chemonics has agreed
to pay for the cost of the premium (both the employee and the employer portions) during your
entire COBRA eligibility”—Bittner attached a copy of the release to the letter (hereinafter,
“Release”). See Def.’s Stmt. ¶ 35; see also December 8, 2004 Letter and Att. In relevant part, the
release provides that Chemonics would agree to pay for Plaintiff’s COBRA premiums in exchange
for Plaintiff’s agreement not to sue Chemonics:
2. If you sign and do not revoke this agreement, you will receive twenty-nine months of COBRA coverage beginning on January 1, 2005.
3. In this agreement, in exchange for the payments and benefits described in paragraph 2, you are agreeing not to sue [Chemonics] and waiving and releasing claims and causes of action you may have, on the day you sign this agreement, against [Chemonics] arising out of your employment.
See Att. to December 8, 2004 Letter (hereinafter “Release”). The Release was signed by Bittner
13 and dated December 8, 2004. See id.
On that same day (December 8, 2004), Bittner also provided Plaintiff with copies of the
December 8, 2004 Letter and Release via e-mail. Def.’s Stmt. ¶ 37; see also Ex. A to Bittner Decl.
(12/8/04 e-mail from Bittner to Ladd) (hereinafter “December 8, 2004 E-mail”). Bittner explained
in the e-mail that he was attaching a “letter . . . that summarizes our November 23rd discussion” as
well as “a release agreement for you to sign, should you agree with the terms listed in the letter.”
Id. Bittner further instructed Plaintiff to “[p]lease sign and send back one copy of the release to
[Chemonics]” and to “keep the other for your file.” Id. Bittner further advised Plaintiff that he
should “also fill out the attached COBRA notification and application and send [the forms] back
with the release agreement.” Id.
Plaintiff, for his part, denies that he was told by Bittner that Chemonics’ offer to pay his
COBRA premiums was contingent on Plaintiff’s agreement not to sue Chemonics. See Pl.’s Rev.
Opp’n/Reply at 4-5, ¶ 8. Rather, Plaintiff contends that he was instead told that Chemonics “[was]
going to continue paying his COBRA premiums because of his good service and injuries.” Id.
Plaintiff, however, has not provided any affirmative evidence contradicting Chemonics’ factual
assertions and supporting evidence. Rather, Plaintiff’s only support for his claim that Chemonics
gratuitously agreed to pay his COBRA premiums is a single citation to his own deposition
testimony. See Pl.’s Rev./Opp’n/Reply at 4-5, ¶ 8 (citing Ex. 6 (Ladd Dep.) at 142-43). But upon
closer review of the cited testimony, it is clear that the cited testimony does not actually provide
support for Plaintiff’s assertion. Indeed, in the cited portion of Plaintiff’s deposition testimony, he
testifies only that: (1) he “believe[s] [he has] seen” the December 8, 2004 Letter, but does not
know when exactly he saw or whether he received it via U.S. mail or e-mail; (2) he remembers
14 seeing the Release “[a]t some time in there,” at which point he “questioned it and sent it to [his
counsel in Colorado]; and (3) that he “understood before [he saw the Release] that they [i.e.,
Chemonics] were paying for it [i.e., his COBRA preimiums] . . . because I was injured on their
projects on the job.” See Def.’s Cross-MSJ/Opp’n, Ex. 3 (Ladd’s Depo.) at 142:4-144:21. Thus, at
most, Plaintiff’s testimony provides only that he does not remember receiving the Release and that
he understood (on what basis he does not say) that he did not need to do anything in return for
Chemonics’ promise to pay his COBRA premiums. Plaintiff did not testify, however, that he was
affirmatively told by Chemonics that it would “continue paying his COBRA premiums because of
his good service and injuries,” as Plaintiff claims in his revised reply. See Pl.’s Rev. Opp’n/Reply
at 4-5, ¶ 8.
Moreover, Chemonics has presented affirmative evidence, uncontradicted by Plaintiff,
demonstrating that Plaintiff in fact received Bittner’s December 8, 2004 E-mail on the same day it
was sent and that Plaintiff immediately forwarded the e-mail to his counsel that very same day.
See Ex. A to Bittner Decl. (December 8, 2004 E-Mail) (showing it was forwarded on December 8,
2004 from Ladd to his counsel). Significantly, Chemonics also provides a copy of a letter sent
from Plaintiff’s Colorado counsel to Bittner, dated December 13, 2004, in which Plaintiff’s
counsel affirmatively states: “Recently [Ladd] has provided me with a letter from you enclosing a
release form intended to settle his employment situation with Chemonics.” See Ex. C to Bittner
Decl. (December 13, 2004 Letter from Plaintiff’s Colorado counsel to Bittner) at 2. Plaintiff’s
Colorado counsel further continues by expressly acknowledging that Chemonics has conditioned
payment of the COBRA premiums on Plaintiff’s agreement to release Chemonics from future
liability, stating that “although [Ladd] certainly must have the COBRA benefits, we do not agree
15 that he should be required to release the company from other legitimate claims as referred to
above.” See id. at 2. The undisputed evidence in the record thus clearly demonstrates that Plaintiff
received a copy of the Release and was well aware that Chemonics offered to pay Plaintiff’s
COBRA premiums if, and only if, Plaintiff agreed not to sue Chemonics.8
C. Procedural History
Plaintiff originally filed his complaint against Chemonics on November 30, 2006 in the
District Court for the County of El Paso, Colorado. See Compl., Docket No. [1-4] at 38. Although
not drafted pro se, Plaintiff’s complaint is by no means a model of artful pleading. The complaint
on its face asserts only one claim for relief, but, upon closer review, appears to nonetheless set
forth four distinct theories of recovery. See generally Docket No. [1-4] at 5-7 (hereinafter
“Compl.”). First, Plaintiff’s complaint alleges that Chemonics was contractually obligated to
continue to pay him his full salary even after he was no longer able to work because of injuries
sustained in the October 23, 2003 accident. See id. ¶¶ 4-11. Second, Plaintiff’s complaint alleges
that Chemonics “also agreed to provide life insurance benefits and [] to pay for the cost of the
premiums to cover COBRA eligibility for as long as [Plaintiff] was disabled up to 29 months from
January 1, 2005.” Id. ¶ 12. Third, Plaintiff’s complaint also appears to allege that Plaintiff is
entitled to additional compensation and benefits under the DBA, claiming that, “under the Defense
8 As further support, Chemonics notes that, on January 10, 2005, in response to an e-mail from Plaintiff, it again advised Plaintiff that he needed to sign and return the Release in order to receive payments for his COBRA premiums. See Def.’s Cross-MSJ/Opp’n, Ex. 12 (E-mail chain between Amanda Righi and Ladd dated December 21, 2004 and January 10, 2005) (advising Plaintiff that Chemonics “had received the information about COBRA,” but further informing him that, “[i]n order to begin the 29 months of coverage by Chemonics, we need to . . . settle the issue of the release statement. Once that is settled, we will being to cover the cost of COBRA.”).
16 Base Act, he was also to be paid compensation for partial compensation for loss of earnings, but
has never received any additional compensation for loss of earnings.” Id. ¶ 9. Fourth and finally,
Plaintiff appears to assert a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress, alleging that
“[t]he breaches of contract . . . on the part of defendant have been deliberate and intentional and
have constituted outrageous conduct causing plaintiff to also suffer severe emotional and mental
distress as well as financial hardship.” Id. ¶ 13. Plaintiff’s instant motion for partial summary
judgment, as is discussed below, confirms that he intends to assert more than one claim against
Chemonics. Accordingly, the Court shall proceed with the understanding that Plaintiff asserts four
claims for relief: (1) a claim for breach of contract based upon Chemonics’ alleged failure to
continue to pay his salary after his October 23, 2003 injury; (2) a claim for breach of contract based
upon Chemonics’ alleged failure to provide life insurance benefits and to pay Plaintiff’s COBRA
premiums; (3) a claim that Plaintiff is owed additional compensation and/or benefits under the
DBA; and (4) a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress based upon Chemonics’
breach of contract.9
Chemonics subsequently removed the lawsuit to federal court in the United States District
Court for the District of Colorado, and then filed an unopposed motion to transfer the case to the
United States District Court for the District of Columbia. See generally Docket No. [1]. The case
was transferred to this Court on July 26, 2007. See generally Docket No. [1].
Shortly thereafter, on August 2, 2007, Chemonics filed its answer and counterclaim. See
9 Although the Court would normally require Plaintiff to file an amended complaint to clarify the precise claims sought and the legal basis for such claims, given the disposition of this case on the parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment, the filing of an amended complaint is obviously unnecessary.
17 Docket No. [3]. Specifically, Chemonics asserts a counterclaim against Plaintiff for breach of the
Contract’s forum selection clause, which provides that all disputes under the Contract must be
brought in the Courts of the District of Columbia. See id. at 4-5. Chemonics therefore seeks
$32,812.50 in liquidated damages for Plaintiff’s alleged breach, as provided for in the Contract.
See id.
On May 29, 2008, Plaintiff filed his motion for partial summary judgment. See Pl.’s MSJ,
Docket No. [27]. As explained in his motion, Plaintiff moves for summary judgment only as to his
claim that Chemonics breached its contractual obligation to continue to pay Plaintiff his salary
after his injury. See id. at 1, 4-5. As to Plaintiff’s remaining claims, Plaintiff asserts that summary
judgment is not appropriate as material questions of disputed fact exist with respect to those issues.
See id. at 1, 4-5. On June 27, 2008, Chemonics filed its cross-motion for summary judgment (both
as to Plaintiff’s complaint and Chemonics’ counterclaim) and opposition to Plaintiff’s partial
motion for summary judgment. See Def.’s Cross-MSJ/Opp’n, Docket No. [28]. Plaintiff thereafter
filed his opposition/reply, see Pl.’s Opp’n/Reply, Docket No. [32], and Chemonics filed its reply,
see Def.’s Reply, Docket No. [34]. As discussed above, Plaintiff subsequently filed a motion for
leave to file a statement of material facts in support of his cross-motion and a statement responding
to Chemonics’ statement of material facts in support of its cross-motion, see Docket No. [25],
which the Court granted-in-part and denied-in-part, see Docket No. [37]. Specifically, the Court
struck Plaintiff’s opposition/reply, Docket No. [32], and required Plaintiff to file a response to
Chemonics’ statement of material facts, along with a revised opposition/reply, which Plaintiff
subsequently filed on September 11, 2008, see Pl.’s Rev. Opp’n/Reply, Docket No. [38]. As
permitted by this Court’s order, Chemonics then filed a revised reply in support of its motion for
18 summary judgment. See Def.’s Rev. Reply, Docket No. [40]. Accordingly, briefing is now
complete and the parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment are ripe for the Court’s review and
resolution.
II. LEGAL STANDARDS
In this case the Court is presented with cross motions for summary judgment. A party is
entitled to summary judgment if the pleadings, depositions, and affidavits demonstrate that there is
no genuine issue of material fact in dispute and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a
matter of law. See FED . R. CIV . P. 56(c); Tao v. Freeh, 27 F.3d 635, 638 (D.C. Cir. 1994). Under
the summary judgment standard, the moving party “bears the initial responsibility of informing the
district court of the basis for its motion, and identifying those portions of ‘the pleadings,
depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any’
which it believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact.” Celotex Corp. v.
Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986). In response, the opposing party must “go beyond the pleadings
and by [its] own affidavits, or by the ‘depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on
file,’ designate ‘specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.’” Id. at 324.
Although a court should draw all inferences from the supporting records submitted by the
nonmoving party, the mere existence of a factual dispute, by itself, is not sufficient to bar summary
judgment. See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247-48 (1986). To be material, the
factual assertion must be capable of affecting the substantive outcome of the litigation; to be
genuine, the issue must be supported by sufficient admissible evidence that a reasonable trier-of-
fact could find for the nonmoving party. Laningham v. U.S. Navy, 813 F.2d 1236, 1242-43 (D.C.
Cir. 1987); Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. at 251-52 (the court must determine “whether the evidence
19 presents a sufficient disagreement to require submission to a jury or whether it is so one-sided that
one party must prevail as a matter of law”). “If the evidence is merely colorable, or is not
sufficiently probative, summary judgment may be granted.” Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. at 249-50
(internal citations omitted). “Mere allegations or denials of the adverse party’s pleading are not
enough to prevent the issuance of summary judgment.” Williams v. Callaghan, 938 F. Supp. 46,
49 (D.D.C. 1996). The adverse party “must do more than simply show that there is some
metaphysical doubt as to the material facts.” Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp.,
475 U.S. 574, 586 (1986). Instead, while the movant bears the initial responsibility of identifying
those portions of the record that demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact, the
burden shifts to the non-movant to “come forward with ‘specific facts showing that there is a
genuine issue for trial.’” Id. at 587 (citing FED . R. CIV . P. 56(e)) (emphasis in original).
III. LEGAL DISCUSSION
A. Plaintiff’s Breach of Contract Claim Alleging that Chemonics Failed to Continue to Pay Plaintiff’s Salary After his October 23, 2003 Accident
As explained above, Plaintiff’s complaint alleges that Chemonics contractually agreed to
pay Plaintiff his full salary, even if Plaintiff was injured and no longer able to work, and that
Chemonics’ failure to pay Plaintiff his full salary after his October 23, 2003 injury was a breach of
the parties’ Contract. Compl. ¶¶ 4-11. Chemonics responds that Plaintiff’s claim must fail for
three reasons. First, Chemonics argues that Plaintiff’s breach of contract claim is barred by the
exclusive remedy provision of the DBA. See Def.’s Cross-MSJ/Opp’n at 10-14. Second,
Chemonics contends that even if Plaintiff’s breach of contract claim is not barred by the DBA,
Chemonics is still entitled to summary judgment because it did not contractually agree to pay
20 Plaintiff his salary even if he could not work and therefore did not breach the parties’ Contract. Id.
at 14. Finally, Chemonics argues that even if the Contract could be interpreted as requiring
Chemonics to continue to pay Plaintiff his salary after he was no longer able to work, any such
agreement is void for lack of consideration. Id. at 15-16. The Court shall examine each of
Chemonics’ arguments in turn.
First, Chemonics asserts that Plaintiff’s breach of contract claim is barred by the exclusive
remedy provision of the DBA. See Def.’s Cross-MSJ/Opp’n at 10-14. The DBA provides that the
provisions of the Longhshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (“LHWCA”), 33 U.S.C. §
901 et seq., apply with respect to any injury or death of an employee who is employed, inter alia,
“under a contract approved and financed by the United States . . . or agency thereof . . . or any
subcontract or subordinate contract with respect to such contract, where such contract is to be
performed outside the continental United States . . . .” 42 U.S.C. § 1651(a)(5); see also Ross v.
DynCorp, 362 F. Supp. 2d 344, 351-52 (D.D.C. 2005). The DBA also provides that “[t]he liability
of an employer . . . under this chapter shall be exclusive and in place of all other liability of such
employer . . . under the workmen’s compensation law of any State, Territory, or other jurisdiction .
. . .” 42 U.S.C. § 1651(c). Accordingly, “[f]or any contract covered by the DBA that ‘is to be
performed outside the continental United States,’ the relevant workers’ compensation scheme
made applicable to claims related to the injury or death of an employee of the contractor is the
[LHWCA], which also expressly excludes all other forms of remedial action against the
contractor.” Ross, 362 F. Supp. 2d at 352; see also 33 U.S.C. § 905(a) (providing that “liability of
an employer prescribed [under the LHWCA] shall be exclusive and in place of all other liability of
such employer to the employee . . . and anyone otherwise entitled to recover damages from such
21 employer at law . . . on account of [an employee’s] injury or death”). Thus, if the DBA is
applicable, “it necessarily displaces all derivative common-law causes of action based on the injury
or death of a covered employee caused by employer negligence, including wrongful death and
survivorship actions.” Ross, 362 F. Supp. 2d at 352 (finding that DBA barred plaintiff’s
negligence-based claims).
There is no dispute that the DBA applies in this case, that Chemonics obtained workers’
compensation insurance for Plaintiff under the DBA, and that Plaintiff has in fact received (and
continues to receive) benefits pursuant to the DBA. Def.’s Stmt. ¶¶ 5, 26-28; see also Pl.’s MSJ at
4. The only question at issue is whether the DBA precludes Plaintiff’s breach of contract claim.
Chemonics asserts that the DBA’s exclusive remedy provision should be broadly interpreted to
preclude a lawsuit by an injured employee against his or her employer that arises out of the work-
related injury, even where, as here, Plaintiff characterizes his claim as based in contract. Def.’s
Cross-MSJ/Opp’n at 12-13. That is, Chemonics argues that Plaintiff’s claim, although packaged as
a breach of contract claim, is really seeking to recover earnings he lost between October 23, 2003
and December 23, 2004 because of the work-related injuries he sustained in the automobile
accident in Iraq. See id. Accordingly, Chemonics contends that Plaintiff’s claim is barred by the
exclusive remedy provision of the DBA. Id. Plaintiff responds that the DBA should not be
interpreted to preclude contract-based claims brought by an injured employee against his employer.
See Pl.’s Rev. Opp’n/Reply at 6-12.
As an initial matter, the Court notes that the question does not appear to be as clear cut as
Chemonics urges. Indeed, Chemonics has not directed the Court to any decision directly holding
that the DBA (or the LHWCA) precludes an injured employee from bringing a breach of contract
22 claim, as opposed to a tort-based claim, against his or her employer. See Def.’s Cross-MSJ/Opp’n
at 10-14. Plaintiff for his part, however, provides little assistance to the Court in resolving this
issue, positing only that “we doubt that such an issue has ever been brought before the Appellate
Courts.” See Pl.’s Rev. Opp’n/Reply at 8. It is Plaintiff’s burden, however, and not this Court’s,to
provide legal authority in support of his claim—and his own personal musings on whether such
case law is likely to exist are of no assistance to this Court.10 Plaintiff’s failure to provide a more
thorough and well-supported analysis of the issue thus hinders the Court’s ability to resolve what
appears to be a novel question of law. Ultimately, however, the Court concludes that it need not
resolve this issue, because Plaintiff’s claim—even if not barred by the DBA—is wholly without
merit. Accordingly, given that Plaintiff has no claim for breach of contract, the Court shall grant
Chemonics summary judgment on that basis, and shall not attempt to resolve the question of the
scope of the DBA’s exclusivity provision on the record now before it.
The Court turns then to Chemonics’ second argument that it did not, in fact, breach the
parties’ Contract. Def.’s Cross-MSJ/Opp’n at 14. Specifically, Chemonics argues that it did not
contractually agree to pay Plaintiff his salary even if he could not work and, therefore, its failure to
do so is not a breach of the parties’ Contract. Id. at 14. The Court agrees. The District of
Columbia adheres to an “objective” law of contracts, meaning that “‘the written language
10 Indeed, Plaintiff provides only one legal citation in support of his argument that the DBA should not be read to preclude his contract-based claims. See Pl.’s Rev. Opp’n/Reply at 11-12 (citing Gary Foster v. Subsea Int’l, Inc. 101 F. Supp. 2d 454 (E.D. La. 1998)). As Chemonics notes, however, Foster involved an action for indemnity—not an action by an injured employee against his or her employer for breach of contract. See Def.’s Rev. Opp’n at 7, n. 5. The Court is therefore not persuaded the case is relevant to the matter at hand, particularly given Plaintiff’s failure to provide any detailed explanation of the decision’s relevance to the case at hand.
23 embodying the terms of an agreement will govern the rights and liabilities of the parties
[regardless] of the intent of the parties at the time they entered into the contract, unless the written
language is not susceptible of a clear and definite undertaking, or unless there is fraud, duress, or
mutual mistake.’” Tillery v. District of Columbia Contract Appeals Bd., 912 A.2d 1169, 1176
(D.C. 2006) (quoting DSP Venture Group, Ins. v. Allen, 830 A.2d 850, 852 (D.C. 2003)).11
“Ambiguities exist only if the term is ‘reasonably susceptible of different constructions or
interpretations,’” and “[i]t is not enough that the parties disagree about the term’s meaning.”
Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co. v. Nat’l REO Mgmt., Inc., 205 F.R.D. 1, 12 (D.D.C. 2000) (quoting
Cameron v. USAA Property and Cas. Ins. Co., 733 A.2d 965, 968 (D.C. 1999)); see also Mittal
Steel USA ISG, Inc. v. Bodman, 435 F. Supp. 2d 106, 109 (D.D.C. 2006) (“A contract is ambiguous
when it is ‘reasonably susceptible of different constructions or interpretations.’”) (quoting 1901
Wyoming Ave. Coop. Assoc. v. Lee, 345 A.2d 456, 461 n. 7 (D.C. 1975)).
Section VI of the parties’ Contract provides the terms of Plaintiff’s salary, and provides as
follows:
11 Although the parties do not specifically address the issue, the Court is persuaded that it should apply District of Columbia law in interpreting the parties’ Contract. The Contract itself contains an explicit choice of law provision, which provides that “[t]his agreement shall be interpreted and construed under and in accordance with the laws of the District of Columbia.” Contract, § XII. Plaintiff has not challenged application of this provision nor asserted that any other state law is relevant to resolution of this case. See generally Pl.’s MSJ; Pl.’s Rev. Opp’n/Reply. Further, “District of Columbia courts give effect to contractual choice of laws provisions ‘as long as there is some reasonable relationship with the state specified.’” Elemary v. Philipp Holzmann A.G., 533 F. Supp. 2d 144, 153-54 n.3 (2008) (quoting Norris v. Norris, 419 A.2d 982, 984 (D.C. 1980)). Here, Chemonics has its principal place of business in the District of Columbia. See Docket No. [1-4] at 38. Accordingly, the Court shall apply the District of Columbia’s rules of contract interpretation in resolving the issues raised in the parties’ cross- motions.
24 The base salary for the employee for the first year of the project work has been proposed at US $131,250 per year, or a monthly rate of US $10,937.50. Salary is pending approval by RTI/USAID. Annual salary increases may be granted in accordance with Chemonics’ customary policy and are subject to the approval of USAID. Neither the rate nor amount of salary increase is guaranteed under the terms of this agreement. Salary increases are also subject to company guidelines, individual performance, and client approvals.
Contract, § IV. Where, as here, “the [] contract does not define salary, [but] there is nothing to
indicate that it is was used in any special context,” courts routinely interpret the word as it
commonly understood. McIntosh v. Aetna Life Ins. Co., 268 A.2d 518, 520 (D.C. Cir. 1970).
Accordingly, in interpreting the term “salary” in a contract, courts consistently rely upon the
common definition of the term. See, e.g., id. (referring to the definition of “salary” as set forth in
Webster’s Third New International Dictionary and in Black’s Law Dictionary in interpreting the
term as used in a contract); Noble v. Sombrotto, 525 F.3d 1230, 1249 (D.C. Cir. 2008) (referring to
the definition of “salary” in Webster’s Third New International Dictionary and in the Oxford
English Dictionary in interpreting the term’s meaning in a contract); cf Crandon v. United States,
494 U.S. 152, 171-72 (1990) (relying upon the definition of the term “salary” in Webster’s Second
International Dictionary to interpret statutory language). As these courts have each recognized,
“salary” is commonly defined as “fixed compensation paid regularly (as by the year, quarter,
month, or week) for services.” Webster’s Third International Dictionary 2003 (1969) (emphasis
added); see also Oxford English Dictionary (1989 2d Ed.) (defining “salary” as “[f]ixed payment
made periodically to a person as compensation for regular work”). The Contract’s language itself
confirms that the term was intended to be used as it is commonly understood, as the Contract
provides for a base salary for the “first year of the project work.” Contract, § IV (emphasis added).
It is therefore clear that the parties’ agreed that Chemonics would pay Plaintiff a salary as that term
25 is commonly understood—i.e., in exchange for services rendered. Nothing in this provision even
suggests that Chemonics agreed to continue to pay Plaintiff his salary even if Plaintiff performed
no work for Chemonics.
Indeed, Plaintiff implicitly acknowledges as much, as he relies primarily—not on section
VI of the Contract, which deals squarely with Plaintiff’s salary terms—but on section VII, see Pl.’s
MSJ at 5-7, which addresses Chemonics’ termination procedures and provides that:
Employment may be terminated at any time by Chemonics or by the employee for any reason. Should the employee be terminated for misconduct, dereliction of duty, or gross failure to perform satisfactorily, or should the employee voluntarily resign without obtaining prior written consent of Chemonics’ home office, Chemonics will not be liable for salary or related costs beyond the date of employment termination. When terminated for reasons listed here in [section] VII, the employee shall also be liable for any relocation costs not allowable for U.S. government reimbursement, as stated in [section] VIII.5 of this agreement.
Contract, § VII. Plaintiff focuses on the second sentence of the paragraph in particular, which
provides that “Chemonics will not be liable for salary or related costs beyond the date of
employment termination” in certain situations where the employee is terminated for misconduct,
etc. Id. Because Plaintiff was not effectively terminated—i.e., officially removed from
Chemonics’ employment roll—until December 23, 2004, see Def.’s Stmt. ¶ 13, Plaintiff argues
that the highlighted language in section VII provides that “defendant is clearly liable for at least the
admitted salary due to the plaintiff from November 2003 through December 2004.” Pl.’s MSJ at 6.
Essentially, Plaintiff argues that, (a) because Chemonics explicitly states that, in certain instances
where an employee is terminated for misconduct, etc., it is not liable for salary or other related
costs that are incurred after the date of termination, then (b) Chemonics has also “clearly” agreed to
be liable for the salary of all of its employees—regardless of whether or not they actually perform
26 any work—until they are officially terminated and removed from Chemonics’ employment roll.
Plaintiff’s argument not only contradicts the plain meaning of the Contract’s salary provisions and
the relevant case law, but it is, in a word, nonsensical.12
Plaintiff’s other arguments are equally without merit. For example, Plaintiff argues at
length that an employer “might” contract with an employee to continue to pay that employee his or
her salary in the event the employee is injured. See Pl.’s Rev. Reply at 8. It is entirely irrelevant,
however, what type of contract the parties “might” have entered into, as the contract they signed
does not provide that Chemonics will continue to pay Plaintiff his salary even if he is unable to
work. Similarly, Plaintiff avers, without citation to any legal authority, that professional athletes
routinely enter into agreements of this type, in which their employer agrees to continue to pay the
athlete his or her full salary even if the athlete is injured. See id. Rather than prove his point, this
analogy in fact demonstrates the error of Plaintiff’s reasoning—because in those instances, the
professional athlete’s contract contains explicit language binding the employer to pay the athlete’s
salary even if injured. See, e.g., Lincoln Hockey LLC v. District of Columbia, 810 A.2d 862, 864
(D.C. 2002) (noting that the player’s contract specifically contained language that “[a] player under
contract who is disabled and unable to perform his duties as a hockey player . . . shall be entitled to
12 As support for this argument, Plaintiff also appears to rely on section VI of the Contract, which provides that an “employee shall be considered an employee at will for the duration of employment covered under this agreement.” See Pl.’s MSJ at 5-6; see also Pl.’s Rev. Opp’n/Reply at 10. Plaintiff argues that this section supports his contention that he remained an employee of Chemonics until he was officially terminated in December of 2004. That point, however, is not in dispute, nor does Plaintiff’s employment status shed light on whether the question at issue—whether he was entitled to salary during that time period, even though he did no perform any work. To the contrary, the fact that Plaintiff was “an at-will employee with no legitimate expectation of continued employment,” Hall v. Ford, 856 F.2d 255, 265-66 (D.C. Cir. 1988), would seem to weigh against Plaintiff’s argument that he is entitled to salary, regardless of whether he performed any work for Chemonics.
27 receive his remaining salary due in accordance with the terms of his contract as long as the said
disability and inability to perform continue”); see also Smith v. Pro-Football, Inc., 528 F. Supp.
1266, 1269 (D.D.C. 1981) (citing excerpt of player’s contract that provides that “[i]n the event that
Player is injured in the performance of his services under this contract, . . . the Club will . . .
continue, during the term of this contract, to pay Player his salary”). Such language is clearly
absent in the Contract at hand. Finally, Plaintiff argues that the Contract should be interpreted
against Chemonics, who, Plaintiff argues, was solely responsible for drafting the agreement. See
Pl.’s Rev. Opp’n/Reply at 11. This principle, however, applies only when a contract is ambiguous.
See Cameron, 733 A.2d at 968. As the Court has already found that the Contract is not ambiguous
as a matter of law, the plain language of the Contract governs, regardless of who drafted the
Contract.
Plaintiff’s breach of contract claim therefore fails. The plain language of the Contract
provides that Chemonics agreed to pay Plaintiff a salary in exchange for his services. Accordingly,
once Plaintiff was no longer able to perform those services, Chemonics was under no contractual
obligation to continue to pay Plaintiff a salary, and the Court therefore finds in favor of
Chemonics.13 The Court thus grants Chemonics’ motion for summary and denies Plaintiff’s
partial motion for summary judgment, with respect to Plaintiff’s claim that Chemonics’ failure to
pay his salary after the date of his injury was a breach of the parties’ Contract.
13 Having reached the conclusion that the parties’ Contract did not obligate Chemonics to continue to pay Plaintiff his salary even after he was no longer able to perform any work, the Court need not address Defendant’s third argument in the alternative—that even if the Contract could be interpreted as requiring Chemonics to continue to pay Plaintiff his salary after he was no longer able to work, any such agreement is void for lack of consideration. Def.’s Cross- MSJ/Opp’n at 15-16.
28 B. Plaintiff’s Claim that Chemonics Agreed to Provide Plaintiff with Life Insurance Benefits and to Pay for the Cost of his COBRA Premiums
Plaintiff next alleges that Chemonics “agreed to provide life insurance benefits and [] to
pay for the cost of the premiums to cover COBRA eligibility for as long as [Plaintiff] was disabled
up to 29 months from January 1, 2005.” Id. ¶ 12. Chemonics counters that it never offered to pay
Plaintiff’s life insurance benefits and that, although it did offer to pay Plaintiff’s COBRA
premiums, that offer was contingent upon Plaintiff’s signature on the Release. Def.’s Cross-
MSJ/Opp’n at 16-18. As Plaintiff did not sign the Release, Chemonics was not obligated to pay
Plaintiff’s COBRA premiums. See id. The Court agrees with Chemonics on both counts.
First, Plaintiff’s claim that Chemonics agreed to provide Plaintiff with life insurance is
wholly without merit. Indeed, Plaintiff has failed to show that Chemonics even offered to provide
Plaintiff with life insurance benefits, let alone that a binding contract supported by consideration
exists. Under District of Columbia law, “the party seeking to enforce a contract must prove that a
contract exists by demonstrating: ‘(1) agreement as to all material terms; and (2) intention of the
parties to be bound.’” New Economy Capital, LLC v. New Markets Capital Group, 881 A.2d
1087, 1094 (D.C. 2005) (quoting Jack Bauer, Inc. v. Office Space Dev. Corp., 664 A.2d 1236,
1238 (D.C. 1985)). Here, Plaintiff has failed to proffer any evidence that Chemonics offered to
provide Plaintiff with life insurance benefits, much less that there was “agreement as to all material
terms.” As Chemonics notes in its cross-motion for summary judgment and opposition, the only
reference to life insurance in any of the communications in the record now before the Court is
found in the December 8, 2004 Letter from Bittner to Plaintiff. Def.’s Cross-MSJ/Opp’n at 18. In
that letter, however, Bittner merely informs Plaintiff that, if he wished, his “company paid life
29 insurance may be converted to individual policies” and that Plaintiff should contact Chemonics if
he was interested in doing so. December 8, 2004 Letter at 1-2. This is plainly not an offer by
Chemonics to provide life insurance benefits to Plaintiff. Indeed, Plaintiff apparently concedes as
much, given that he fails to address these arguments in his revised opposition/reply. See generally
Pl.’s Rev. Opp’n/Reply; see also Franklin v. Potter, __ F.2d ___, Civ. Act. No. 07-1205, 2009 Wl
533071, *13 (D.D.C. Mar. 24, 2009) (treating defendant’s argument in motion for summary
judgment as conceded where plaintiff failed to address in his response); Hopkins v. Women’s Div.,
General Bd. of Global Ministries, 284 F. Supp. 2d 15, 25 (D.D.C. 2003) (“It is well understood in
this Circuit that when a plaintiff files an opposition to a dispositive motion and addresses only
certain arguments raised by the defendant, a court may treat those arguments that the plaintiff
failed to address as conceded.”), aff’d 98 Fed. Appx. 8 (D.C. Cir. 2004). Regardless, Plaintiff’s
argument is wholly without merit, and the Court finds in favor of Chemonics that there is no
contractual agreement between the parties that Chemonics would provide Plaintiff with life
insurance benefits.
Second, Plaintiff’s allegation that Chemonics agreed to pay for the cost of his COBRA
premiums, regardless of whether he signed the Release or not, is equally without merit. The
evidence in the record establishes that Chemonics offered to pay Plaintiff’s COBRA premiums if,
and only if, he signed the Release. As explained above, Bittner first raised the issue of the
COBRA premiums in his November 23, 2004 telephone conversation with Plaintiff, in which he
informed Plaintiff that Chemonics would pay Plaintiff’s COBRA premiums if Plaintiff agreed not
to sue Chemonics. Def.’s Stmt. ¶ 32; see also Bittner Decl. ¶¶ 14-15, 17. Bittner subsequently
provided Plaintiff a copy of the Release, attaching it both to the December 8, 2004 Letter and
30 sending it via e-mail to Plaintiff that same day. Def.’s Stmt. ¶¶ 32, 37; see also December 8, 2004
Letter; December 8, 2004 E-mail. The Release clearly provided that Chemonics’ offer was
contingent upon Plaintiff’s signing the Release: “If you sign and do not revoke this agreement, you
will receive twenty-nine months of COBRA coverage beginning January 1, 2005.” See December
8, 2004 Letter; December 8, 2004 E-mail. Plaintiff does not allege, nor is there any evidence in the
record, that he accepted Chemonics’ offer and signed the Release. Accordingly, as Plaintiff did not
accept Chemonics’ offer, no binding contract exists. See New Economy Capital, 881 A.2d at 1094.
Plaintiff’s unsupported assertion to the contrary—that Chemonics offered to pay for his
COBRA premiums simply because of his injury and that he was never told that he had to sign the
Release in order to receive the COBRA benefits, see Pl.’s Rev Opp’n/Reply at 4-5, ¶ 8—is flatly
contradicted by the evidence in the record. Indeed, written statements by Plaintiff’s counsel
confirm that both Plaintiff and his counsel received the Release and were aware that Chemonics’
offer to pay Plaintiff’s COBRA payments was contingent upon Plaintiff’s agreement not to sue
Chemonics. See supra pp. 12-15. Plaintiff’s counsel acknowledged in his December 13, 2004
letter to Bittner that Plaintiff had provided him with “a letter from you enclosing a release form
intended to settle his employment situation.” See December 13, 2004 Letter. Although Plaintiff’s
counsel ultimately rejected Chemonics’ offer, he clearly acknowledged that the offer was
contingent upon Plaintiff’s agreeing not to sue Chemonics, stating that, “although [Ladd] certainly
must have the COBRA benefits, we do not agree that he should be required to release the company
from other legitimate claims as referred to above.” See id. at 2. Thus, the record evidence
establishes that Chemonics offered to pay for Plaintiff’s COBRA premiums if, and only if, Plaintiff
agreed not to sue Chemonics, and that Plaintiff and his counsel were well aware of the substance of
31 Chemonics’ offer. For Plaintiff to now suggest otherwise is disingenuous and wholly unsupported
by the evidence in the record.
Moreover, any attempt to avoid this conclusion by focusing solely on the December 8, 2004
Letter is unavailing. Admittedly, the December 8, 2004 Letter does not specifically reference the
attached Release. But even assuming that the letter could be read in isolation from the Release
itself and the parties’ various other communications confirming that the offer was contingent upon
Plaintiff’s agreement not to sue Chemonics, the letter itself contains only a gratuitous promise to
pay Plaintiff’s COBRA benefits—that is, a promise that is not supported by consideration. The
record confirms that Plaintiff tendered nothing in return for Chemonics’ alleged promise to pay his
COBRA premiums, and Plaintiff himself conceded in his deposition that, even accepting his
unsupported view of events, he “did not have to do anything for [Chemonics]” in return for their
promise to pay his COBRA premiums. See Def.’s Cross-MSJ/Opp’n, Ex. 3 (Ladd Dep.) at 144:22-
145:2. Thus, “[t]here is no evidence presented that plaintiff offered to perform or forbear from any
action that would constitute sufficient consideration. A mere promise to pay unsupported by
consideration is an unenforceable gratuitous promise under District of Columbia law.” Haney v.
Marriott, Civ. Act. No. 05-2501, 2007 WL 2936087, *9 (D.D.C. Oct. 9, 2007) (citing Zoob v.
Jordan, 841 A.2d 761, 765 (D.C. 2004) (“[A] mere promise to make a gift is unenforceable.”)); see
also Goozh v. Capitol Souvenir Co., Inc., 462 A.2d 1140, 1142 n. 3 (D.C. 1983) (“Therefore, under
contract law, to create a valid settlement agreement, there must be an offer and an acceptance and
the agreement must be supported by consideration.”). Plaintiff apparently concedes this point, as
he has made no attempt to address this argument in his revised opposition/reply. See generally
Pl.’s Rev. Opp’n/Reply; see also Franklin, 2009 Wl 533071, *13; Hopkins, 284 F. Supp. 2d at 25.
32 The Court therefore finds in favor of Chemonics, and accordingly, grants Chemonics’ motion for
summary with respect to Plaintiff’s allegation that Chemonics breached an agreement to provide
Plaintiff with life insurance benefits or to pay his COBRA premiums.
C. Plaintiff’s Claim that he is Entitled to Additional Compensation Under the DBA
Plaintiff next claims that he is entitled to additional compensation and benefits under the
DBA, alleging that, “under the Defense Base Act, he was also to be paid compensation for partial
compensation for loss of earnings, but has never received any additional compensation for loss of
earnings.” Id. ¶ 9. Although not included in Plaintiff’s complaint, it appears that Plaintiff is also
seeking damages in the amount of the bill for the treatment he received at a military hospital in
Germany. See Pl.’s MSJ at 4; Pl.’s Rev. Opp’n/Reply at 12. Chemonics responds that, to the
extent Plaintiff is seeking such relief, it is entitled to summary judgment because this Court is not
the proper forum to adjudicate Plaintiff’s claims, as claims regarding compensation or medical
benefits under the DBA must be administratively brought before the Department of Labor. Def.’s
Cross-MSJ/Opp’n at 18-20. The Court agrees with Chemonics that this Court is not the proper
forum for Plaintiff’s claims relating to benefits under the DBA.
As Chemonics explains, the DBA incorporates the LHWCA’s claim adjudication
procedures. See Director, Off. of Workers’ Compensation Programs v. Newport News
Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., 514 U.S. 122, 141-42 (1995) (Ginsburg, J., concurring) (explaining
that claims under the DBA and the LHWCA “are handled by the same administrative actors” and
generally apply “the same procedures”). With certain limited exceptions, the LHWCA is
administered by the Secretary of Labor through the OWCP. Id. at 125. A worker seeking
compensation under the LHWCA (and therefore under the DBA) must file a claim with an OWCP
33 district director, who holds an informal conference in an attempt to amicably resolve disputed
issues. Id. (citing 33 U.S.C. § 919(a) and 20 C.F.R. §§ 701.301(a), 702.105 & 702.311). If the
disputed issues are not resolved by the district director, the claim is transferred to the Department
of Labor’s Office of Administrative Law Judges for an evidentiary hearing conducted in
accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act. Id. (citing 32 U.S.C. § 919(d)). The ALJ’s
decision is reviewable by the Benefits Review Board, whose members are appointed by the
Secretary. Id. (citing 33 U.S.C. § 921(b)(1)). Any party aggrieved by the Benefits Review Board’s
decision may in turn obtain review of that decision in the appropriate United States Courts of
Appeals. Id. (citing 33 U.S.C. § 921(c)).
This Court, therefore, is not the correct forum for Plaintiff’s claims for benefits under the
DBA. Indeed, Plaintiff apparently concedes this point, as he has made no attempt to address this
argument in his revised opposition/reply. See generally Pl.’s Rev. Opp’n/Reply; see also Franklin,
2009 Wl 533071, *13; Hopkins, 284 F. Supp.2d at 25. The Court therefore finds in favor of
Chemonics, and accordingly, grants Chemonics’ motion for summary with respect to Plaintiff’s
claim that he is entitled to additional compensation and/or benefits under the DBA.
D. Plaintiff’s Claim for Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
Finally, Plaintiff appears to assert a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress,
alleging that “[t]he breaches of contract . . . on the part of defendant have been deliberate and
intentional and have constituted outrageous conduct causing plaintiff to also suffer severe
emotional and mental distress as well as financial hardship.” Pl.’s Compl. ¶ 13. To prove a claim
of intentional infliction of emotional distress, “a plaintiff must show (1) extreme and outrageous
conduct on the part of the defendant which (2) intentionally or recklessly (3) causes the plaintiff
34 severe emotional distress.” Larijani v. Georgetown Univ., 791 A.2d 41, 44 (D.C. 2002); see also
Howard Univ. v. Best, 484 A.2d 958, 985 (D.C. 1984) (same). “The conduct alleged must be ‘so
outrageous in character, and so extreme in degree, as to go beyond all possible bounds of decency,
and to be regarded as atrocious, and utterly intolerable in a civilized community.’” Larijani, 791
A.2d at 44 (quoting Homan v. Goyal, 711 A.2d 812, 818 (D.C. 1998)). “In general, a case of
intentional infliction of emotional distress is made out only if the recitation of the facts to an
average member of the community would arouse his resentment against the actor, and lead him to
exclaim ‘Outrageous!’” Id. (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
As an initial matter, given the Court’s conclusion above that Chemonics did not, in fact,
breach the parties’ Contract, Plaintiff’s alleged basis for his claim of intentional infliction of
emotional distress does not even exist. Regardless, Plaintiff has failed to proffer any evidence
from which a reasonable jury could conclude that Chemonics’ conduct was “extreme and
outrageous.” To the contrary, the record evidence demonstrates that Chemonics went above and
beyond its contractual obligations, keeping Plaintiff on its employment roll for more than a year
after his injury, in part so that he and his family would remain covered under Chemonics’ group
health insurance (at a substantial cost to Chemonics, who continued to pay the employer’s portion
of the premium). See supra p. 11 & n. 6. Chemonics also promptly prepared and filed the
necessary paperwork with the OWCP in order to ensure that Plaintiff received benefits under the
DBA. See Def.’s Stmt. ¶ 21. Plaintiff appears to concede that he has no meritorious claim, as his
revised opposition/reply does not address Chemonics’ arguments that its conduct was not
outrageous and that Plaintiff has not suffered severe emotional distress. See generally Pl.’s Rev.
Opp’n/Reply; see also Franklin, 2009 Wl 533071, *13; Hopkins, 284 F. Supp. 2d at 25. As there
35 is no evidence in the record from which a reasonable jury could find that Chemonics’ conduct was
“extreme and outrageous” or that Plaintiff suffered “severe emotional distress” as a result of
Chemonics’ behavior, the finds in favor of Chemonics. Accordingly, the Court grants Chemonics’
motion for summary with respect to Plaintiff’s claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress.
E. Chemonics’ Counterclaim that Plaintiff Breached the Contract’s Forum Selection Clause
The Court next turns to Chemonics’ counterclaim against Plaintiff for breach of the
Contract’s forum selection clause. See Answer & Counterclaim, at 4-5. Docket No. [3].
Chemonics’ counterclaim centers on language in section XII of the parties’ Contract, which
provides, inter alia:
The parties hereby expressly agree and acknowledge that the courts of the District of Columbia shall have sole and exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute arising under or otherwise relating to this agreement. The parties agree that any such disputes shall not be brought before any foreign court, administrative agency, or other legal body, but shall be under the sole and exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the District of Columbia as stated above. Should either party breach this clause by brining a dispute before a foreign court, administrative agency, or other legal body, the parties agree as follows: the non-breaching party shall be entitled to liquidated damages at a sum equal to three (3) months salary of the employee’s last wage under this agreement and preceding the breach.
Contract, § XII. As Chemonics points out, it is undisputed that inexplicably Plaintiff originally
filed his complaint against Chemonics for breach of contract in the District Court for the County of
El Paso, Colorado. See Compl., Docket No. [1-4] at 38. Chemonics thereafter removed the
lawsuit to federal court in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, and then
filed an unopposed motion to transfer the case to the United States District Court for the District of
Columbia. See generally Docket No. [1]. Accordingly, Chemonics contends it is entitled to
$32,812.50 in liquidated damages (i.e., Plaintiff’s monthly salary of $10,937.50, as provided for in
36 section IV of the Contract, multiplied by 3). Def.’s Cross-MSJ/Opp’n at 22-23.
Plaintiff’s entire response to Chemonics’ argument is limited to three sentences, which the
Court quotes in full:
Defendant has asserted a counterclaim because of Plaintiff’s filing in the El Paso District Court of Colorado. It is true that Plaintiff did file in that court; however, Plaintiff also then consented to the transfer of that case to the District of Columbia jurisdiction and, therefore, the filing was purely ministerial and constituted no prejudice to the Defendant because of the consensual transfer to this jurisdiction. Plaintiff also contends that, even if transfer had not been made, that the intentional nature of the breach of contract claim would preclude any such penalty attachment for filing.
Pl.’s Rev. Opp’n/Reply at 12-13. Significantly, Plaintiff makes no argument that the forum
selection clause is void or unenforceable, and admits that he filed the instant lawsuit in a court
outside of the District of Columbia. Thus, there is no dispute that Plaintiff breached the parties’
forum selection clause.
The only question that remains, therefore, is whether Chemonics is entitled to liquidated
damages in the amount of $32,812.50. Under District of Columbia law, “[i]t is well-settled that
parties to a contract may agree in advance to a sum certain to be forfeited as liquidated damages for
breach of contract.” Burns v. Hanoever Ins. Co., 454 A.2d 325, 327 (D.C. 1982). “Such a
bargained-for liquidated damages clause is valid unless it is found to constitute a penalty.” Id.
Significantly, the party challenging the enforceability of a liquidated damages clause has the
burden of proving that it is penalty. S. Brooke Purll, Inc. v. Vailes, 850 A.2d 1135, 1138 (D.C.
2004) (explicitly adopting rule that burden of proof regarding enforceability of liquidated damages
clause is on party challenging the clause).
As demonstrated by the quoted language above, however, Plaintiff has not challenged the
37 enforceability of the liquidated damages clause. Rather, he contends only that: (a) his subsequent
consent to transfer somehow “voids” his breach of the forum selection clause; and (b) the alleged
intentional nature of Chemonics’ breach precludes imposition of any damages for Plaintiff’s breach
of the forum selection clause. Notably, Plaintiff offers no case law or legal authority to support
either argument. Moreover, as the Court has already concluded that Chemonics did not breach the
parties’ Contract (intentionally or otherwise), Plaintiff’s latter argument is clearly unavailing.
Simply put, Plaintiff has failed to demonstrate that the liquidated damages clause is void as a
penalty or otherwise unenforceable—a burden he bears. Nor does Plaintiff explain why he
originally filed the lawsuit in the District Court for the County of El Paso, Colorado, whether due
to legal error or other reason. Accordingly, as there are no material facts in dispute and as Plaintiff
has not argued that the liquidated damages provision is unenforceable, the Court finds in favor of
Chemonics that it is entitled to a monetary judgment in the amount of $32,812.50. The Court thus
grants Chemonics’ motion for summary judgment as to its counterclaim for Plaintiff’s breach of
the parties’ forum selection clause.
Finally, as discussed above, the Court’s September 4, 2008 Order provided that Plaintiff’s
Colorado counsel is required to pay attorneys’ fees and costs associated with Chemonics’ revised
reply. See supra p. 5. In accordance with that order, Chemonics attached to its revised reply the
sworn affidavit of James M. Mesnard, lead attorney for Chemonics, which avers that Chemonics
incurred a total of $1,209.50 in attorneys’ fees and costs with respect to the filing of its revised
Reply. Def.’s Rev. Reply, Att. 2. Plaintiff has not put the Court on notice through a motion or
otherwise that the amount requested is contested. Accordingly, the Court awards Chemonics
attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount of $1,209.50, which amount is to be paid solely by
38 Plaintiff’s Colorado counsel.
IV. CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above, the Court hereby DENIES Plaintiff’s [27] Motion for
Partial Summary Judgment and GRANTS Defendant’s [28] Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment,
finding in Defendant’s favor both as to Plaintiff’s claims and as to Defendant’s counterclaim and
awards Chemonics a monetary judgment in the amount of $32,812.50. In addition, Chemonics is
awarded attorneys’ fees and costs totaling $1,209.50, which amount is to be paid solely by
Plaintiff’s Colorado counsel.
Date: March 26, 2009
/s/ COLLEEN KOLLAR-KOTELLY United States District Judge
Related
Cite This Page — Counsel Stack
Ladd v. Chemonics Inc, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ladd-v-chemonics-inc-dcd-2009.