Bingham et al v. FIML Natural Resources, LLC et al

Filing 79

ORDER granting 46 Motion to Dismiss Third Amended Complaint Pursuant To Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) by Judge Christine M. Arguello on 2/13/14. This case is dismissed in its entirety. (dkals, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO
Judge Christine M. Arguello
Civil Action No. 13-cv-00167-CMA-KMT
MARK D. BINGHAM,
TONY W. CHURCH,
JEFFERY C. DELANEY,
ANNETTE M. MONTOYA,
RICK L. PARKS,
AMBER D. SHETTRON,
STEWARD G. SQUIRES, and
CHARLES L. ZORIO,
Plaintiffs,
v.
FIML NATURAL RESOURCES, LLC,
DEVONSHIRE INVESTORS (DELAWARE) LLC, and
DEVONSHIRE INVESTORS, LLC,
Defendants.

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO DISMISS
THIRD AMENDED COMPLAINT PURSUANT TO FED. R. CIV. P. 12(b)(6)

This matter is before the Court on Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss Third Amended
Complaint Pursuant To Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). (Doc. # 46.) The motion is ripe for the
Court’s review. For the following reasons, the Court grants Defendants’ motion.
I. BACKGROUND 1
Plaintiffs are former employees of Defendant FIML Natural Resources, LLC
(“FIML”), a company that invests in oil and natural gas exploration and development.
(Doc. # 42 at 2, 17.) As a part of their compensation package, Plaintiffs and other high1

The following facts are taken from Plaintiffs’ Third Amended Complaint. (Doc. # 42.)
Additional facts will be provided in the analysis section.

level employees were provided incentive compensation through participation in the
Amended and Restated FIML Natural Resources Phantom Carried Interest Plan (“the
Plan”). (Id. at 2.) The Plan awarded participants “Pool Points,” representing ownership
interests in two separate pools of assets. (Id.) This case concerns only FIML’s most
recent payments based on Plaintiffs’ Pool 2 points. (Id. at 7.)
The Plan required FIML to buy Plaintiffs’ Pool points if they separated from
the company. Plaintiffs resigned on June 29, 2012, and were entitled to a payout.
However, the Plan provided for a reduced payment if its Precipitous Decline in Value
provision (“PDIV”) was triggered. (Id. at 17.) Having determined that a PDIV had
occurred, Defendants paid Plaintiffs just over $10 million for their Pool 2 points.
Plaintiffs allege that no PDIV occurred and that they should have instead received
more than $ 29 million. (Id. at 19, 21.)
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
The purpose of a motion to dismiss under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) for failure to
state a claim is to test “the sufficiency of the allegations within the four corners of the
complaint.” Mobley v. McCormick, 40 F.3d 337, 340 (10th Cir. 1994). A complaint will
survive such a motion only if it contains “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is
plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). For a
motion to dismiss, “[t]he question is whether, if the allegations are true, it is plausible
and not merely possible that the plaintiff is entitled to relief under the relevant law.”
Christy Sports, LLC v. Deer Valley Resort Co., Ltd., 555 F.3d 1188, 1192 (10th Cir.
2009). “The plausibility standard is not akin to a probability requirement, but it asks

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for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully.” Ashcroft
v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quotation marks and citation omitted).
In reviewing a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, a court must accept all the well-pleaded
allegations of the complaint as true and must construe them in the light most favorable
to the plaintiff. Williams v. Meese, 926 F.2d 994, 997 (10th Cir. 1991). Nevertheless,
a complaint does not “suffice if it tenders ‘naked assertion[s]’ devoid of ‘further factual
enhancement.’” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 557). “The
court's function on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion is not to weigh potential evidence that the
parties might present at trial, but to assess whether the plaintiff's complaint alone is
legally sufficient to state a claim for which relief may be granted.” Miller v. Glanz, 948
F.2d 1562, 1565 (10th Cir. 1991).
In general, the Court may not consider materials outside of the pleadings on
a motion to dismiss without converting the motion to one for summary judgment.
See Alvarado v. KOB-TV, L.L.C., 493 F.3d 1210, 1215 (10th Cir. 2007). However,
“the district court may consider documents referred to in the complaint if the documents
are central to the plaintiff’s claim and the parties do not dispute the documents’
authenticity.” Id.
III. ANALYSIS
In the third amended complaint, Plaintiffs allege one claim for relief: to recover
benefits due under the terms of the Plan. (Doc. # 42, at 23.) Defendants move to
dismiss this claim arguing that the two bases for relief—that FIML improperly
(1) reduced benefits under the PDIV provision, and (2) delayed payments—are not

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legally plausible. Therefore, Defendants argue, Plaintiffs’ claim fails as a matter of law.
The Court will address each of these contentions in turn.
A.

THE PDIV PROVISION
First, Defendants argue that Plaintiffs’ claim that FIML improperly reduced

benefits under the PDIV provision is based on a facially implausible interpretation of
the Plan’s unambiguous language.
“In interpreting an ERISA plan, the court examines the plan documents as a
whole and, if unambiguous, construes them as a matter of law.” Admin. Comm. of
Wal-Mart Assoc. Health and Welfare Plan v. Willard, 393 F.3d 1119, 1123 (10th Cir.
2004). 2 In doing so, the Court considers the “common and ordinary meaning as a
reasonable person in the position of the [plan] participant, not the actual participant,
would have understood the words to mean.” Id. “Ambiguity exists where a plan
provision is reasonably susceptible to more than one meaning, or where there is
uncertainty as to the meaning of the term.” Id. The Court should avoid construing
the contract in a manner that would lead to absurd results. In re Fitzgerald Marine
& Repair, Inc., 619 F.3d 851, 860 n.12 (8th Cir. 2010).
Plaintiffs do not contend that the Plan is ambiguous. Rather, they argue that
Defendants misapplied the Plan’s terms to determine that a PDIV had occurred, i.e.,
2

The Plan states that it is governed by and must be construed under Massachusetts law. There
is a circuit split as to whether an ERISA plan may provide for the application of state law and the
Tenth Circuit has yet to weigh in on the question. Compare Wang Labs., Inc. v. Kagan, 990
F.2d 1126, 1128-29 (9th Cir. 1993), with Prudential Ins. Co. of Am. v. Doe, 140 F.3d 785,
791 (8th Cir. 1998). To further complicate matters, neither party takes a position on whether
Massachusetts law or federal common law should apply. The Court determines that federal
common law rules of contract interpretation should be applied. See Miller v. Monumental Life
Ins. Co., 502 F.3d 1245, 1249 (10th Cir. 2007).

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that Defendants “improperly focus[ed] on the change in a participant’s Purchase Price
and not, as required by the Plan, on the change to the Strip Value of the assets.” (Doc.
# 42, at 23.) Sections 10(a) and (b) of the Plan govern the determination of whether
a PDIV had occurred. Those sections state:
(a)
In the event of a Precipitous Decline in Value (as defined
below) with respect to the assets of any Pool, the Purchase Price of
Pool Points pursuant to Section 9(b) shall be reduced for purposes of
determining the amount of any payment to be made by the Company to
a Participant pursuant to Section 9(b). In such event, the reduction shall
equal the difference between the regular Purchase Price value as of the
Valuation Date otherwise applicable hereunder (the “termination date
value”) and a pro forma valuation as of such date (the “pro forma
determination date value”). The pro forma determination date value will
be computed by the same firms (e.g. the Company and NSAI, or a similar
independent third party reservoir engineering firm approved by the Board)
using the same Strip Value determination methodology (including with
respect to the inclusion or exclusion of any Probable Assets from the
calculation of Strip Value) and the applicable commodity pricing as of the
last day of the calendar quarter next succeeding the Valuation Date
applied to the reserves of the Proven Assets and the Probable Assets
used in the calculation of the termination date value, excluding any
reserve adjustments to the Proved Assets or Probable Assets other than
through computational errors and excluding any impairments arising from
capital invested subsequent to the applicable Termination Date.
(b)
A “Precipitous Decline in Value” shall be deemed to have
occurred with respect to a Pool when the decline from the termination date
value to the pro forma determination date value is greater than 30% with
respect to such Pool. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the value of a Pool
(the sum of Strip Value of such Pool plus all other assets net of liabilities
(calculated in accordance with Section 4(a)(v) and adjusted consistent
with the example computations set forth in Exhibit B), net to the interest of
the Company in such Pool, valued at cost) shall not be reduced pursuant
to this Section 10 below the aggregate amount of equity capital invested
in the Company by FILPV or other equity owners of the Company that is
allocated to such Pool, and in no event shall a payment ever be due from
a Participant to the Company by reason of the provisions of this Section
10.
(Doc. # 37-2, at 19) (underscoring in original).
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Looking to the plain language of the Plan, a PDIV occurs “when the
decline from the termination date value to the pro forma determination date value
is greater than 30% with respect to such Pool.” (Id.) The Plan also provides a
definition for “termination date value”, which is “the regular Purchase Price value
as of the Valuation Date otherwise applicable hereunder.” (Id.) In the definition
section of the Plan, Purchase Price is defined as:
an amount equal to (i) the vested percentage of a Participant’s Pool Points
in such Pool multiplied by an amount equal to (A) the sum of the Strip
Value of such Pool plus all other assets net of liabilities . . . net to the
interest of the Company in such Pool, valued at cost as of the applicable
Valuation Date, less (B) the Recoverable Amount . . . , less (ii) the sum of
the aggregate amount of all payments previously made to such Participant
....
(Doc. # 37-2, at 5) (emphasis added). According to the plain language of the
Plan, the Strip Value is one component of the formula to determine the Purchase
Price as of the Valuation Date, i.e., the termination date value as defined by
Section 10(a).
Pointing to the language “with respect to the assets of any Pool” in the first
sentence of Section 10(a) and “with respect to such Pool” in the first sentence of
Section 10(b), Plaintiffs argue that the Plan “requires a precipitous decline in the
value of assets.” (Doc. # 54, at 6). However, this interpretation ignores both the
Plan’s plain language defining the termination date value as the “regular
Purchase Price” and the plain language indicating that Section 10(b) defines a
PDIV. See (Doc. # 37-2, at 19) (“In the event of a Precipitous Decline in Value
(as defined below) with respect to the assets of any Pool . . . .”) (emphasis
added). Moreover, although the definition section defines a Pool as a “grouping
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of assets,” Section 10(b) states that with regard to a PDIV, the value of a pool is
“the sum of the Strip Value of such Pool plus all other assets net of liabilities
. . . .” Similarly, the phrase “Strip Value determination methodology” in the third
sentence of Section 10(a) does not support Plaintiffs’ argument that, in order to
determine whether a PDIV occurs, one must focus on the Strip Value of assets.
Instead, that phrase indicates that the Strip Value would remain a constant in the
pro forma calculation.
The Court finds that the PDIV provision is unambiguous when read in
conjunction with the Plan’s definition of Purchase Price. The plain and
unambiguous language of the Plan does not support the interpretation asserted
by Plaintiffs. Thus, the Court dismisses Plaintiffs’ claim that FIML improperly
reduced benefits under the PDIV provision pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). 3
B.

DELAYED PAYMENTS
Plaintiffs also allege that Defendants improperly delayed payment under the Plan

by paying the Pool 2 benefits on November 29, 2012. (Doc. # 42, at 20.) In their
response, Plaintiffs offer an interpretation of the Plan that they allege made the
payments due on August 29, 2012. Again, that interpretation is contrary to the plain
language of the Plan and fails as a matter of law.
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The Court also rejects Plaintiffs’ argument that their interpretation best reflects the
Plan’s purpose because that purpose cannot override the plain language of the Plan.
See, e.g., Aramony v. United Way of Am., 254 F.3d 403, 412-14 (2d. Cir 2001).
Likewise, the Court disagrees that it should contravene a plain language reading of the
PDIV provision because such a reading may result in different PDIV determinations for
different participants. Indeed, the Plan allows for different PDIV determination based on
the Purchase Price, which takes into consideration, inter alia, a participants’ individual
ownership in the Pool and grant date. Contrary to Plaintiffs’ argument, these
considerations do not lead to an absurd result.

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Section 9(b), which governs the timing of payments, states:
The Company shall purchase all such vested and not forfeited Pool Points
with a cash payment at a closing held at the offices of the Company on
the first business day occurring on or after the sixtieth (60th) day
after the last day of the succeeding calendar quarter after the
Termination Date.
(Doc. # 37-2, at 17) (emphasis added).
To determine the pertinent date, one must work backward through the operative
text, beginning with the Termination Date, which both parties agree is June 29, 2012.
That date is in the second quarter; therefore, the “succeeding calendar quarter” would
be the third quarter. The “last day” of the third quarter is September 30, 2012. The
“sixtieth (60th) day” after September 30, 2012, is November 29, 2012, which is a
“business day.”
Plaintiffs latch on to language that appears earlier in this provision that states:
If a Participant becomes a Terminated Participant . . . then the Company
shall be obligated to purchase the entire vested and not forfeited portion of
the Pool Points granted to such Terminated Participant in all Pools for a
Purchase Price payment for the Tracked Investment in each such Pool as
of the last day of the calendar quarter preceding the Termination Date.
(Id.) (emphasis added). However, it is clear from the plain language that this sentence
does not refer to the date that payment is due to a Terminated Participant, but rather,
refers to the date from which the payment is calculated. The plain language dictates
that payment was due to Plaintiffs on November 29, 2012, the date on which they were
ultimately paid.
The Court further notes that Plaintiffs have filed four versions of their complaint.
(Doc. ## 3, 4, 27, 42.) Because the Court has determined that Plaintiffs have failed to
state a claim as a matter of law, an amendment of Plaintiffs’ complaint would be futile.
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See Rivas v. U.S. Bank, 486 F. App’x 752, 753 (10th Cir 2012) (order and judgment)
(affirming dismissal with prejudice where the plaintiff’s claims failed as a matter of law).
Accordingly, Plaintiffs’ sole claim is dismissed with prejudice. See Brerton v. Bountiful
City Corp., 434 F.3d 1213, 1219 (10th Cir. 2006) (“A dismissal with prejudice is
appropriate where a complaint fails to state a claim . . . and granting leave to amend
would be futile.”).
IV. CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, it is ORDERED that Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss
Third Amended Complaint Pursuant To Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) (Doc. # 46) is
GRANTED. It is
FURTHER ORDERED that the sole claim in the complaint is DISMISSED WITH
PREJUDICE. It is
FURTHER ORDERED that this case is DISMISSED in its entirety.
DATED: February

13

, 2014
BY THE COURT:

_______________________________
CHRISTINE M. ARGUELLO
United States District Judge

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