Markert v. PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.

828 F. Supp. 2d 765, 52 Employee Benefits Cas. (BNA) 2914, 2011 WL 5523522, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 130966
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedNovember 14, 2011
DocketCivil Action No. 11-4918
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 828 F. Supp. 2d 765 (Markert v. PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Markert v. PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., 828 F. Supp. 2d 765, 52 Employee Benefits Cas. (BNA) 2914, 2011 WL 5523522, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 130966 (E.D. Pa. 2011).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

ROBERT F. KELLY, Senior District Judge.

Presently before the Court are a Motion to Dismiss filed by the Defendant, the PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., formerly known as PNC Financial Corporation, doing business as PNC (“Defendant”), and a Motion for Leave to File an Amended Complaint filed by Daniel Mar[769]*769kert, individually and as Executor for the Estate of Michael Markert, deceased (hereafter, the “Decedent”), Joseph Markert, and Thomas Markert (collectively, “Plaintiffs”). For the reasons stated below, we will grant the Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss and we will grant the Plaintiffs’ Motion for Leave to File an Amended Complaint with instructions.

I. FACTS

Prior to his death on June 6, 2008, the Decedent was employed by the Defendant. (Compl. ¶¶ 5, 8.) The Decedent began to participate in the Defendant’s Incentives Savings Plan (hereafter, “401K”) in the third quarter of 1983. (Id ¶ 8.) On January 1, 1989, the 401K became a contributory plan.1 (Id) On the date of the Decedent’s passing, his 401K was valued at $405, 941.24. (Id ¶ 9.) The Decedent designated Plaintiffs as the beneficiaries of the 401K plan, entitling each to a one third share. (Id ¶¶ 11-12.) Plaintiffs, however, did not receive their shares of the 401K promptly after the Decedent’s death. (Id ¶ 13.) Rather, the Plaintiffs received their shares six months after the Decedent’s death. (Id) When Plaintiffs finally received them, they were transferred to three bank accounts established by the Defendant. (Id) Each bank account required access passwords created and sent by the Defendant. (Id) The Decedent also participated in the Defendant’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”). Under the ESPP, the Defendant established an account with its transfer agent, Computershare Investor Services in the Decedent’s name. (Id ¶ 14.) As of June 17, 2008, 511 shares of the Defendant’s stock were held in safekeeping with the transfer agent. (Id ¶ 15.) Plaintiffs allege that they are each entitled to a one third share of the ESPP along with any residual cash balance associated with the ESPP. (Id ¶ 16.) On the date of the Decedent’s death, the stock was worth $31,495.41. (Id ¶ 17.) The Defendant directed the Plaintiffs to contact its employee if they had questions regarding the ESPP information provided to them. (Id ¶ 18.) Thereafter, Plaintiffs requested that the Defendant transfer the shares to them individually. (Id ¶ 19.) On or about October 17, 2008, the Defendant distributed the shares into three separate accounts maintained by the Defendant for the Plaintiffs. (/¿¶20.)

The Decedent also participated in the Defendant’s Pension Plan (“Pension”). (Id ¶ 21.) As of June 11, 2008, a preretirement death benefit in the estimated amount of $135,322.01 was to be paid to the Decedent’s Estate. (Id ¶ 22.) Around August 3, 2008, Daniel Markert received correspondence from the Defendant indicating that it would disburse the Pension benefit on or about September 1, 2008. (Id ¶ 23.) Plaintiffs allege that the Defendant incorrectly issued the disbursement check twice before the correct amount was received and deposited by the Executor, Daniel Markert. (Id ¶ 24.)

Plaintiffs claim that the Defendant failed to make a timely and efficient distribution of the assets under the 401K, ESPP, and Pension plans (collectively, the “Plans”) as [770]*770they requested it to do. (Id. ¶ 28.) As a result, Plaintiffs claim that the market value of the Plans experienced a steep and significant decline. (Id. ¶ 28.)2

Plaintiffs commenced this action in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas by filing a writ of summons in May of 2010. On July 14, 2011, Plaintiffs filed a six-count Complaint against the Defendant alleging state law claims for breach of contract (Count I), breach of fiduciary duty (Count II), negligence (Count III), conversion (Count IV), detrimental reliance/promissory estoppel (Count V), and violations of the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (Count VI).

On August 1, 2011, the Defendant removed the action to this Court alleging that the Plaintiffs’ claims are preempted by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), 29 U.S.C. § 1001, et seq. (Def.’s Not. Removal ¶¶ 1, 15-19.) On August 8, 2011, the Defendant filed a motion to dismiss Plaintiffs’ Complaint. Specifically, the Defendant argued that the Plaintiffs’ state law claims were preempted by ERISA, Plaintiffs’ suit was premature because they did not exhaust their administrative remedies, and Plaintiffs lacked standing because they did not suffer an “injury-in-fact” because they received the benefits. (Mot. to Dismiss ¶¶ 4-6.) Apparently, Plaintiffs were unable to amend their Complaint within the 21 day deadline required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 153 because they needed to acquire counsel familiar with ERISA practice. (Pltfs.’ Mot. to File Am. Compl. ¶ 5.) The Defendant agreed to extend the time to respond to its Motion to Dismiss. (Id. ¶ 6.) On September 12, 2011, the Plaintiffs filed a Motion for Leave to File Amended Complaint with an attached Proposed Amended Complaint. (Doc. No. 7.) On September 26, 2011, the Defendant filed a Response in Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Motion for Leave to File Amended Complaint. (Doc. No. 9.) The parties disagree about whether the filing of an amended complaint is a response to a motion to dismiss. (Pltfs.’ Mot. to File Am. Compl. at 1) (Plaintiffs “move[] this Court for leave to file an Amended Complaint in response [sic] the pending Motion to Dismiss Complaint”), (Def.’s Resp. at 2) (“Plaintiffs did not respond to [Defendant’s] Motion to Dismiss. Rather ... they moved to file an amended complaint pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 15.”). Notwithstanding this dispute, the Defendant argues that we should deny the Plaintiffs leave to file the Proposed Amended Complaint because the amendments are futile. On October 21, 2011, the Plaintiffs submitted a Reply Memorandum (Doc. No. 10).4

[771]*771II. STANDARDS OF REVIEW

A. Leave to Amend

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15(a)(1)(B) allows a plaintiff to amend a complaint once as a matter of course within twenty-one days after the service of a responsive pleading if the pleading is one to which a responsive pleading is required or twenty-one days after service of a motion under Rule 12(b), whichever is earlier. Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(a)(1)(B). Otherwise, a party may amend its pleading only with the opposing party’s written consent or the court’s leave. Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(a)(2). Rule 15 provides that courts should freely give leave to amend when justice' so requires. Id.

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828 F. Supp. 2d 765, 52 Employee Benefits Cas. (BNA) 2914, 2011 WL 5523522, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 130966, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/markert-v-pnc-financial-services-group-inc-paed-2011.