Snyder v. Federal-Mogul Corp.

996 F. Supp. 2d 1253, 2014 WL 495372, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14909
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Florida
DecidedFebruary 6, 2014
DocketCase No. 5:12-cv-439-Oc-10PRL
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 996 F. Supp. 2d 1253 (Snyder v. Federal-Mogul Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Snyder v. Federal-Mogul Corp., 996 F. Supp. 2d 1253, 2014 WL 495372, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14909 (M.D. Fla. 2014).

Opinion

ORDER

WM. TERRELL HODGES, District Judge.

Plaintiff Franklin D. Snyder is a beneficiary and participant in a retiree medical benefit plan administered by Defendant Federal-Mogul Corporation. Snyder alleges that Federal-Mogul violated his rights under the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974, 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq. (“ERISA”) when Federal-Mogul unilaterally modified his medical benefits. The changes increased the annual deductible and the minimum co-pay for prescription [1255]*1255drugs, and eliminated dental and vision coverage (Doc. 1). Snyder seeks judicial review pursuant to 29 U.S.C. § 1132(a)(1)(B) of Federal-Mogul’s determination that he and his spouse are not exempt from these plan modifications. He requests a declaration of his rights under the health plan, and recovery of his expenses and attorney’s fees and costs.

The Parties agree that the medical plan(s) at issue in this case are governed by ERISA, and they have filed cross-motions for summary judgment (Docs. 16-17), with responses in opposition (Docs. 21, 23). The Court also heard oral argument on January 31, 2014 (Doc. 32). For the reasons discussed below, the Court concludes that Federal-Mogul’s motion is due to be granted, and Snyder’s motion is due to be denied.

Undisputed Material Facts

Snyder commenced employment with Champion Spark Plug, Inc. on September 1, 1967, and was transferred to Champion Spark Plug Limited on January 1, 1987. Champion Spark Plug Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary and division of Cooper Industries, Inc. (hereinafter “Cooper/Champion”). Snyder worked as an executive for Cooper/Champion until June 30, 1990, when he and the Company mutually agreed to end his employment. At the time his employment terminated, Snyder was the Vice President and General Manager of Champion Spark Plug Canada.

I. The Settlement Agreement

On July 26, 1990, Snyder and Cooper/Champion entered into a Settlement Agreement and Release (the “Settlement Agreement”) which, among other things, provided for monthly payments to Snyder of $8,145 for 18 months, as well as pension contributions and participation in other specified retirement and stock option plans during that period (Doc. 18-1, Ex. 1). With respect to health and welfare benefits, the Settlement Agreement provided:

During the period in which the above mentioned monthly payments are due, Snyder and his spouse will continue to be covered under the Champion Health Care Benefit Plan which is currently in effect, with the cost of said coverage identified as Hospitalization, Surgical, Medical, Dental, Drug, Audio and Vision Care (H, S, M, D, D, A, V) to be paid by Cooper/Champion. After the expiry of the period in which the monthly payments are due, Snyder and his spouse will be entitled to continue benefits on the same terms and conditions as are provided to Cooper/Champion salaried retirees as of July 1,1990.

(Doc. 18-2, Ex. 1, ¶ 5).

The Settlement Agreement did not otherwise define the “terms and conditions” of continuing benefits. Snyder claims that a three-page document entitled “Your Benefits At Retirement” was attached to the Settlement Agreement. This document is dated July 26, 1990, the same date as the Settlement Agreement, and is initialed by Snyder and Morris Davis, the person who also executed the Settlement Agreement on behalf of Cooper/Champion (Doc. 18-2, pp. 49-51). The three-page document states that salaried retirees and their dependents are entitled to continue receiving benefits from Cooper/Champion’s health plan, dental plan, vision plan, and life insurance plan. The document then “briefly outlines” the programs. With respect to the health plan, the document states that: (1) the deductible for medical, hospital, surgical, prescription drugs, and hearing care is $200 per person; (2) covered ex[1256]*1256penses are paid at 80% after deductible; and (3) the plan administrator is Aetna Life Insurance Company (Doc. 18-2, p. 49). The document further provides that when a retiree or his dependent reaches age 65, they will be eligible for Medicare Parts A and B, and that Cooper/Champion will reimburse the retiree for the monthly Medicare Part B premium. (Doc. 18-2, p. 51). The document does not state that retiree health benefits are vested, frozen, or immutable, nor does the document otherwise explain the types of coverage and benefits provided.

Snyder contends that this three-page document was incorporated into the Settlement Agreement and establishes, along with the Settlement Agreement itself, that he was vested in the health plan such that his benefits could never change. The Court agrees that the document should be considered as part-and-parcel of the Settlement Agreement. It was dated the same date and initialed by the same person who signed the Settlement Agreement on behalf of Cooper/Champion. There is no suggestion that Morris Davis would have had any reason to initial that document on that date other than in connection with the Snyder settlement package. It does not follow, however, that the document operated to vest Snyder with the health benefits then in effect without possibility of future modification.

Neither side has submitted a copy of the health plan in effect as of July 1, 1990. Instead, the Parties have provided the Court with a copy of the Summary Plan Description for the health plan, which is entitled “Guide to Your 1990 Flexible Benefits Program” (Doc. 18-2, Ex. 2). The Summary Plan Description provides a more detailed description of the health plan coverage and benefits. On the last page, it contains the statement that “The Company intends to continue this Plan indefinitely, but reserves the right to end or amend it.” (Doc. 18-2, Ex. 2, p. 28). Snyder does not dispute that he possessed a copy of this Summary Plan Description.

II. Federal-Mogul’s Assumption of Snyder’s Health Benefits

The Settlement Agreement contained a survivorship provision stating that “[t]he terms, conditions, duties and responsibilities in this agreement shall survive in the event Cooper/Champion is bought, merged, restructured, reorganized, sold, held in receivership, becomes bankrupt, or otherwise changes ownership or control.” (Doc. 18-2, Ex. 1, ¶ 12).

In 1998, Federal-Mogul acquired Cooper Automotive, including Champion Spark Plug Limited. As a result of that acquisition, Federal-Mogul assumed certain obligations of Cooper/Champion’s welfare benefit plans, including the retiree medical plan covering Snyder. Federal-Mogul continued to pay Snyder’s medical plan benefits, and there is no evidence that there were any issues concerning Federal-Mogul’s treatment of Snyder until 2006.

By letter dated August 10, 2006, Federal-Mogul notified all of its retirees, including Snyder, that it was modifying its medical and prescription drug program effective September 1, 2006 (Doc. 18-3, pp. 1-2). The letter stated that medical benefits would be transitioned from Aetna U.S. Healthcare to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, and that prescription drug benefits would transition to Medco. The letter instructed retirees to refer to an enclosed “BCBSAL Matrix” and an attached prescription drug benefit fact sheet for additional information regarding [1257]*1257plan benefits.

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Bluebook (online)
996 F. Supp. 2d 1253, 2014 WL 495372, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14909, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/snyder-v-federal-mogul-corp-flmd-2014.