The Procter & Gamble U.S. Business Services Company v. Estate of Jefffrey Rolison

District Court, M.D. Pennsylvania·Decided October 23, 2024·No. 3:17-cv-00762·Unknown

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA THE PROCTOR & GAMBLE U.S. BUSINESS SERVICES COMPANY, As Plan Administrator And On Behalf Of The Procter & Gamble Profit Sharing Trust and Employee Stock Ownership Plan, et al., CIVIL ACTION NO. 3:17-CV-00762

Plaintiffs, (MEHALCHICK, J.)

v.

ESTATE OF JEFFREY ROLISON, et al.,

Defendants.

MEMORANDUM Procter & Gamble filed this lawsuit under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) 29 U. S. C. §§ 1001 et. seq. in its capacity as plan administrator of The Procter & Gamble Profit-Sharing Trust and Employee Stock Ownership Plan and the Procter & Gamble savings plan. (Doc. 1). Proctor and Gamble brought this action to determine who is entitled to decent Jeffery Rolison’s (“Rolison”) investment plan funds following his death in 2015. (Doc. 1). Proctor and Gamble’s initial complaint was filed in April of 2017 against Margaret Losinger (“Losinger”) and the Estate of Jeffrey Rolison (“the Estate”). (Doc. 1). Before the Court now are two motions for reconsideration of this Court’s April 29, 2024 Memorandum and Order as it relates to Losinger and Proctor and Gamble filed by the Estate. (Doc. 225; Doc. 226). For the following reasons, these motions for reconsideration will be DENIED. (Doc. 225; Doc. 226). I. BACKGROUND Having laid out the factual background of this case in the challenged April 29, 2024, Memorandum, the Court will provide an abbreviated version here. This case revolves around the investment funds Rolison accrued while employed at Proctor and Gamble. (Doc. 222, at 2). In accordance with ERISA, these funds were distributed to Losinger, the named

beneficiary on his plans. (Doc. 222, at 2). The Estate challenged this distribution, seeking the creation of a constructive trust in its favor. (Doc. 222, at 13). The Estate also asserted a crossclaim against Proctor and Gamble, the plan administrator, claiming it breached its fiduciary duties to Rolison. (Doc. 222, at 6). On April 29, 2024, the Court filed a Memorandum and an Order addressing four motions for summary judgment, one filed by Proctor and Gamble, one filed by Losinger, and two filed by the Estate. (Doc. 161; Doc. 164; Doc. 165; Doc. 166; Doc. 222; Doc. 223). The Court granted both Proctor and Gamble and Losinger’s motions for summary judgment and denied both of the Estate’s motions for summary judgment. (Doc. 161; Doc. 164; Doc. 165;

Doc. 166; Doc. 222, at 2-1; Doc. 223). Judgment was issued in favor of Proctor and Gamble and Losinger and against the Estate. (Doc. 224). The Estate filed the instant motions for reconsideration on May 13, 2024, and May 14, 2024, respectively, challenging the Court’s April 29, 2024, Memorandum and Order. (Doc. 222; Doc. 223; Doc. 224 Doc. 225; Doc. 226). The Estate filed both briefs in support of its motions of May 14, 2024. (Doc. 227; Doc. 228). On May 20, 2024, Losinger filed a brief in opposition to both motions for reconsideration docketed incorrectly as a reply brief. (Doc. 229). On May 21, 2024, Losinger filed a properly docketed brief in opposition to the motions.

2 (Doc. 30). On May 28, 2024, Procter & Gamble filed a brief in opposition to the Estate’s second motion for reconsideration. (Doc. 226; Doc. 233). On June 7, 2024, the Estate filed a reply brief to Proctor and Gamble’s brief in opposition. (Doc. 236). Accordingly, the motions are ripe and ready for discussion. II. STANDARD OF REVIEW

A. MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION A motion for reconsideration is a device of limited utility which may only be used to correct manifest errors of law or fact or to present newly discovered precedent or evidence. Harasco Corp. v. Zlotnicki, 779 F.2d 906, 909 (3d Cir. 1985). To prevail, a party seeking reconsideration must demonstrate one of the following: “(1) an intervening change in the controlling law; (2) the availability of new evidence that was not available when the court granted the motion . . . ; or (3) the need to correct a clear error of law or fact or to prevent manifest injustice.” Max’s Seafood Café ex rel. Lou-Ann, Inc. v. Quinteros, 176 F.3d 669, 677 (3d Cir. 1999). “Because federal courts have a strong interest in the finality of judgments, motions

for reconsideration should be granted sparingly.” Continental Cas. Co. v. Diversified Indus., Inc., 884 F. Supp. 937, 943 (E.D.Pa.1995). B. MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT Under Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, summary judgment should be granted only if “there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). A fact is “material” only if it might affect the outcome of the case. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). A dispute of material fact is “genuine” if the evidence “is such that a reasonable jury could return

3 a verdict for the non-moving party.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248. In deciding a summary judgment motion, all inferences “should be drawn in the light most favorable to the non- moving party, and where the non-moving party’s evidence contradicts the movant’s, then the non-movant’s must be taken as true.” Pastore v. Bell Tel. Co. of Pa., 24 F.3d 508, 512 (3d Cir.

1994). However, a party opposing a summary judgment motion must comply with Local Rule 56.1, which specifically directs the oppositional party to submit a “statement of the material facts, responding to the numbered paragraphs set forth in the statement required [to be filed by the movant], as to which it is contended that there exists a genuine issue to be tried”; if the nonmovant fails to do so, “[a]ll material facts set forth in the statement required to be served by the moving party will be deemed to be admitted.” See M.D. Pa. L.R. 56.1. A party cannot evade these litigation responsibilities in this regard simply by citing the fact that he is a pro se litigant. These rules apply with equal force to all parties. Morrison v. United States, No. 1:20- CV-01571, 2021 WL 4192086, at *3 (M.D. Pa. Sept. 15, 2021) (citing Mala v. Crown Bay

Marina, Inc., 704 F.3d 239, 245 (3d Cir. 2013) (noting that pro se parties “cannot flout procedural rules—they must abide by the same rules that apply to all other litigants”)). A federal court should grant summary judgment “if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Farrell v. Planters Lifesavers Co., 206 F.3d 271, 278 (3d Cir. 2000). In deciding a motion for summary judgment, the court’s function is not to make credibility determinations, weigh evidence, or draw inferences from the facts. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249. Rather, the court must simply “determine whether there is a genuine issue for trial.” Anderson,

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The Procter & Gamble U.S. Business Services Company v. Estate of Jefffrey Rolison, (M.D. Pa. 2024).

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