In Re: AMR Corporation
Filing
15
MEMORANDUM OPINION & ORDER: Because this Court lacks jurisdiction over Davidson's appeal of the denial of his proof of claim and his first motion for reconsideration, Davidson's appeal as to those orders is DISMISSED. To the extent Davidson appeals the order denying his second motion for reconsideration, his appeal is DENIED, and the Bankruptcy Court's decision is AFFIRMED for the reasons provided above. The Court certifies pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) that any appeal f rom this Order would not be taken in good faith, and permission to proceed in forma pauperis is denied. The Clerk of Court is respectfully directed to terminate the case, to mail a copy of this Order to Appellant, and to note mailing on the docket. (Signed by Judge Valerie E. Caproni on 3/9/2017) (cla)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
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In the Matter of
:
:
:
AMR Corporation
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:
STEPHEN C. DAVIDSON
:
:
Appellant,
:
:
-against:
:
AMR CORPORATION, et al.,
:
:
Appellee.
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USDC SDNY
DOCUMENT
ELECTRONICALLY FILED
DOC #:
3/9/17
DATE FILED:
16-CV-1970 (VEC)
MEMORANDUM
OPINION & ORDER
VALERIE CAPRONI, United States District Judge:
Appellant Stephen Davidson (“Davidson”), proceeding pro se, appeals from three orders
of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the “Bankruptcy
Court”): (1) denying Davidson’s proof of claim in Appellee AMR Corporation’s (“AMR”)
Chapter 11 case; and (2) denying two motions for reconsideration under Section 502(j) of the
Bankruptcy Code. Davidson’s appeal of the Bankruptcy Court’s orders denying his proof of
claim and first motion for reconsideration is DISMISSED; Davidson’s appeal of the Bankruptcy
Court’s order denying his second motion for reconsideration is DENIED, and that Bankruptcy
Court order is AFFIRMED.
BACKGROUND
Davidson, a former American Airlines (“AA”) pilot, is attempting to take a fourth bite at
the apple on various claims against his former employer. Davidson unsuccessfully sought relief
in Florida state court for purported civil rights violations and tort claims. Then Davidson
commenced unsuccessful grievance procedures with AA. After those losses, Davidson filed a
1
proof of claim for over $16 million in AMR’s bankruptcy proceeding. The Bankruptcy Court
denied not only that proof of claim but two motions to reconsider. This appeal followed.
A. The Florida State Court Action1
In 2002, Davidson, represented by counsel, sued AA in Florida State Court in Davidson
v. American Airlines, Inc., No. 02-01208-CA-20. CD 23 (“Debtors’ Supplement”), Ex. C
(“Complaint”). That complaint was subsequently amended to assert four causes of action—race
discrimination and retaliation under the Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992, Fla. Stat. 760.01
(“FCRA”), negligent hiring and supervision, and vicarious liability for alleged physical assaults
by a training instructor. Debtors’ Supplement, Ex. D (“Amended Complaint”). The alleged
physical assaults included: (1) a kick during a captain simulator training (“the kicking incident”);
and (2) a pat on the shoulder (“shoulder pat incident”). Id. ¶¶ 46, 56; CD 29 (“Order”), at 2-3 &
n.1-5. He also alleged generally other acts of verbal harassment and physical intimidation by
AA flight instructors. Amended Complaint ¶¶ 47, 57.
AA moved for summary judgment, which the Florida State Court granted on three of the
four claims. Order at 3. The case proceeded to trial, and the jury found in favor of AA on the
remaining retaliation claim. Id. at 3-4. Davidson appealed to the Third District Court of Appeal
for the State of Florida, which affirmed the lower court’s decision in Davidson v. Am. Airlines,
Inc., Nos. 3d07-2063, 3D07-1901, 2D08-234 (Fla. 3d Dist. Ct. App. Apr. 29, 2009).2 Id. at 4.
1
This Court uses the following abbreviation herein: Exhibits to Appellee’s Counter Designations of the
Record on Appeal (“CD __”).
2
The Bankruptcy Court, relying on AA’s submissions, noted that Davidson did not seek any further appeal
or review after the Third District Court of Appeal affirmed the lower court’s decision. Order at 4. Although not
material to the result here, in fact Davidson did attempt to appeal to the Florida Supreme Court, which declined to
review the matter. Davidson v. Am. Airlines, Inc., No. SC09-1387 (Fla. dismissed Aug. 10, 2009). A court may
take judicial notice of filings in state or federal court. See Bd. of Managers of 195 Hudson St. Condo. v. Jeffrey M.
Brown Assocs., Inc., 652 F. Supp. 2d 463, 471 (S.D.N.Y. 2009); see also Kramer v. Time Warner, 937 F.2d 767,
2
B. The Grievance Procedures
Following his loss in state court, Davidson filed a grievance pursuant to a collective
bargaining agreement between AA and the Allied Pilots Association (“APA”), the union
representing AA pilots. Debtors’ Supplement, Ex. K. In the grievance, Davidson sought
retroactive long-term disability benefits covering the period from July 8, 1999, through June 15,
2007, for an injury that allegedly stemmed from the kicking incident years earlier. Debtors’
Supplement ¶ 12; id. Ex. A (“Proof of Claim”),3 Grievance Appeal Hearing Tr. 9:4-11. A
hearing was held before an AA managing director, and Davidson’s grievance was denied.
Debtors’ Supplement, Ex. J. The union submitted the grievance to the Pre-Arbitration
Conference for further consideration. Debtors’ Supplement, Ex. K.
While Davidson’s grievance was pending further consideration, the Bankruptcy Court
approved a new collective bargaining agreement and settlement letter between APA and AA.
Bankr. Dkt. 5800 (“Settlement Letter Order”).4 The settlement letter stated, in part:
In full and complete satisfaction of any and all claims APA has or
might arguably have, on behalf of itself or the pilots represented by
APA . . . the APA Settlement Consideration fully, finally, and
completely extinguishes any and all claims, interests, causes or
demands (including any and all pending grievances, excluding those
grievances identified in Exhibit 1) that APA has or might arguably have,
on behalf of itself or the pilots represented by APA . . . against the
774 (2d Cir. 1991) (noting that the Court considers the documents “not for the truth of the matters asserted [within
them] . . . but rather to establish the fact” that the prior proceedings and the related filings occurred).
3
Davidson’s proof of claim is in the record as Exhibit A to the Debtors’ Supplement to Objection to Proof of
Claim 7670 Filed by Stephen Davidson. See CD 23. According to the cover sheet for Exhibit A, Davidson’s proof
of claim was filed under seal in the Bankruptcy Court. Because the sealed proof of claim was not included in
Appellee’s courtesy copy of its Counter Designation of the Record on Appeal, at the Court’s request, Appellee
separately emailed a copy of Davidson’s proof of claim.
4
Bankruptcy Court docket entries in Bankruptcy No. 11-BK-15463 (SHL), the case that is the subject of this
appeal, are cited as “Bankr. Dkt.,” and docket entries in the appeal before this Court are cited as “Dkt.”
3
Debtors arising prior to the Effective Date of this Letter of Agreement as
defined below.
Debtors’ Supplement, Ex. L (“Settlement Letter”) § 1 (emphasis added). Davidson’s grievance
was not included in Exhibit 1 of the Settlement Letter. Settlement Letter at 7. Accordingly, per
the terms of the Settlement Letter, the APA and AA agreed to extinguish Davidson’s pending
grievance as part of the negotiated global settlement agreement.
C. The Bankruptcy Court Proceedings
On November 29, 2011, AMR and its related debtor entities, including AA, filed a
Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition. Bankr. Dkt. 1. On July 12, 2012, Davidson filed a proof of
claim for more than $16 million. Proof of Claim at 5. The proof of claim included a two page
letter accompanied by 190 pages of documents. See id.5
The Appellees filed omnibus objections seeking to expunge Davidson’s proof of claim.
Bankr. Dkt. 12048; Order at 5. The Bankruptcy Court held a hearing during which Davidson
explained that the kicking and shoulder pat incidents, along with another incident involving a
firm handshake that occurred between the kicking and shoulder pat incidents (“handshake
incident”), formed the basis for his proof of claim. Bankr. Dkt. 12371 (“Hearing Tr.”) at 36:1842:4.6
On January 28, 2015, the Bankruptcy Court expunged Davidson’s proof of claim, finding
that it was barred by res judicata on account of his prior Florida state court action. Order at 611. The Bankruptcy Court also denied Davidson’s proof of claim to the extent that any portion
5
According to Davidson’s proof of claim, AA owed Davidson $3.85 million for loss of salary, $2.5 million
for loss of retirement, $2 million for past and future medical care and treatment, $2 million for loss of excellent
health, $1.16 million for twenty-two years of retroactive and prospective long-term disability benefits, and $5
million for loss of happiness and enjoyment of life. Proof of Claim at 5.
6
Portions of the transcript were printed in the Order at 8 n.15.
4
of it stemmed from the grievance he filed with AA, given that Davidson’s representative, the
APA, had settled that matter as part of a Court-approved global settlement agreement with AA.
Id. at 9 n.16.
Davidson made a motion to reconsider the denial of his proof of claim, which was
received by the Bankruptcy Court on February 13, 2015. CD 31. On July 10, 2015, the
Bankruptcy Court denied the motion. CD 33. Over three months later, Davidson filed a second
motion to reconsider. CD 35. On February 18, 2016, the Bankruptcy Court denied Davidson’s
second motion to reconsider, CD 37, and this appeal followed on February 29, 2016, Dkt. 1.
DISCUSSION
District courts have appellate jurisdiction over bankruptcy court rulings under 28 U.S.C.
§ 158(a)(1). “A district court reviews a bankruptcy court’s findings of fact for clear error and
reviews its legal conclusions de novo.” Green Tree Servicing, LLC v. Wilson (In re Wilson), 532
B.R. 486, 489 (S.D.N.Y. 2015) (citing Overbaugh v. Household Bank, N.A. (In re Overbaugh),
559 F.3d 125, 129 (2d Cir. 2009) (per curiam)).
Davidson appears to present two issues on appeal.7 The first is whether the Bankruptcy
Court abused its discretion in denying Davidson’s motions for reconsideration. The second is
whether the Bankruptcy Court’s order disallowing his proof of claim was properly denied on the
basis of res judicata. Because the appeal was not timely filed as to the denial of the proof of
claim and the first motion for reconsideration, this Court lacks jurisdiction over the appeal from
7
Davidson’s submissions on appeal do not explicitly appeal the order disallowing the proof of claim or the
orders denying the motions for reconsideration; nevertheless, as Davidson is pro se, we construe his submissions
“more leniently than submissions by lawyers,” Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972), and “interpret them to
raise the strongest arguments that they suggest,” Pabon v. Wright, 459 F.3d 241, 248 (2d Cir. 2006).
5
those orders. As to the second motion for reconsideration, the Court has jurisdiction over the
appeal, but the appeal is without merit.
I.
Davidson Failed to Appeal Timely the Bankruptcy Court’s Orders Expunging
His Proof of Claim and Denying First Motion for Reconsideration
Under Bankruptcy Rule 8002(a) an appeal from a judgment or order not made within
fourteen days after entry of that judgment or order may not be considered; this time limit is
jurisdictional. Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8002(a); see In re Indu Craft, Inc., 749 F.3d 107, 115 (2d Cir.
2014) (citing In re Siemon, 421 F.3d 167, 169 (2d Cir. 2005) (per curiam)). Bankruptcy Rule
8002(d), however, allows a party to move for an extension, either within fourteen days after
entry of the judgment or order being appealed or within twenty-one days after that time if the
party shows excusable neglect. Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8002(d)(1)(B). Excusable neglect is a contextspecific inquiry that considers all relevant circumstances including: “(1) the danger of prejudice
to the [non-movant]; (2) the length of the delay and its potential impact on judicial proceedings;
(3) the reason for the delay, including whether it was within the reasonable control of the
movant; and (4) whether the movant acted in good faith.” Silivanch v. Celebrity Cruises, Inc.,
333 F.3d 355, 366 (2d Cir. 2003) (quoting Pioneer Inv. Servs. Co. v. Brunswick Assocs. Ltd.
P’ship, 507 U.S. 380, 385 (1993)).
In addition, if a party timely files a motion to alter or amend a judgment under Rule 9023
(which incorporates Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59) or for relief under Rule 9024 (which
incorporates Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60), then the time to file a notice of appeal is tolled
until the bankruptcy court enters an order resolving the motion. Fed. R. Bank. P. 8002(b)(1). A
motion to alter or amend a judgment and a motion for relief must both be filed no later than
fourteen days after entry of judgment in order to toll the time to appeal. Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9023;
Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8002(b)(1). The Bankruptcy Rules also provide an absolute time limit on
6
extensions: “No extension of time may exceed 21 days after the time prescribed by this rule, or
14 days after the order granting the motion to extend time is entered, whichever is later.” Fed. R.
Bankr. P. 8002(d)(3).
The Bankruptcy Court disallowed Davidson’s proof of claim by an order entered on
January 28, 2015. Order at 11. Accordingly, Davidson’s deadline to appeal that order was
February 11, 2015. Davidson filed his first motion for reconsideration on February 13, 20158—
two days after his deadline to make a motion in Bankruptcy Court to toll the time to appeal. CD
31. The Bankruptcy Court denied Davidson’s first motion for reconsideration on July 10, 2015.
CD 33. More than three months later, Davidson filed his second motion for reconsideration,9 CD
35, which the Court denied on February 18, 2016, CD 37. Davidson filed this appeal on
February 29, 2016.10 Dkt. 1.
Because Davidson’s first motion for reconsideration—whether properly considered under
Rule 9023 or 9024—was not filed within fourteen days of the order denying his proof of claim,
his time to appeal the denial of his proof of claim was not tolled.11 Davidson’s second motion
for reconsideration was filed even later—more than three months after the order denying his first
8
Davidson’s motion was stamped “Received” by the Bankruptcy Court on February 13, 2015. ECF shows
the motion was filed on February 19, 2015; Davidson dated and served his motion on February 10, 2015.
9
According to ECF, the motion was filed on October 22, 2015. Davidson dated the motion October 5, 2015.
10
Davidson’s notice of appeal is stamped “Received” by the Bankruptcy Court on February 29, 2016, but
ECF shows the document was filed on March 16, 2016.
11
The Court might be inclined to excuse Davidson’s late filing of his first motion to reconsider given that he
filed it only two days late, but there does not appear to be any authority for doing so. See, e.g., Thompson v. JP
Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. 11-CV-2905 (JFB), 2012 WL 739384, at *3 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 8, 2012) (holding that
the court lacked jurisdiction to consider the appeal because the motion to reconsider, filed one week late, did not toll
the time to appeal). Regardless, even if the Court did have the discretion to toll Davidson’s time to appeal the denial
of his proof of claim on the basis that his first motion to reconsider was almost timely, his appeal would still be
untimely because the second motion for reconsideration was not filed within fourteen days of the Bankruptcy
Court’s order denying the first motion to reconsider.
7
motion for reconsideration—and did not toll his time to appeal the denial of his proof of claim or
first motion for reconsideration pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 8002(b)(1). Moreover, at no time
did Davidson make a motion to extend his time to appeal pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule
8002(d)(1). Therefore, even if Davidson could have shown “excusable neglect” when requesting
an extension of time to file his appeal, his appeal was filed significantly beyond the twenty-oneday extension period permitted by Bankruptcy Rule 8002(d)(1). Accordingly, to the extent
Davidson appeals the expungement of his proof of claim and denial of his first motion for
reconsideration, that appeal is untimely, and this Court lacks jurisdiction to decide it. See, e.g.,
In re Mark IV Indus., Inc., 558 Fed. App’x 135, 137 (2d Cir. 2014) (dismissing a pro se
bankruptcy appeal under Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8002 because it was untimely filled more than one
year from the fourteen-day jurisdictional deadline and because the appellant failed to procure any
extension).
Davidson did, however, timely appeal the denial of his second motion for
reconsideration; Davidson’s notice of appeal was filed eleven days after the Bankruptcy Court
denied his second motion for reconsideration. Thus, to the extent Davidson appeals the
Bankruptcy Court’s order denying his second motion for reconsideration, this Court has
jurisdiction. See In re Spiegel, Inc., 385 B.R. 35, 37-38 (S.D.N.Y. 2008) (holding the court
lacked jurisdiction to review the disallowance of the proof of claim because the appeal was
untimely, but it had jurisdiction to review the denial of the motion for reconsideration because
the appeal of the denial of that motion was timely).
8
II.
The Order Denying Davidson’s Second Motion for Reconsideration Is Affirmed,
and the Orders Denying Davidson’s Proof of Claim and First Motion for
Reconsideration Would Be Affirmed If the Court Had Jurisdiction
A. The Bankruptcy Court Did Not Abuse Its Discretion in Denying Davidson’s
Motions to Reconsider
The standard of review for the denial of a motion to reconsider is abuse of discretion. See
Cyrus v. City of N.Y., 450 F. App’x 24, 26 (2d Cir. 2011) (summary order) (“[P]laintiff's notice
of appeal . . . brings before us only the denial of the motion for reconsideration, which we review
for abuse of discretion.”); Shrader v. CSX Transp., Inc., 70 F.3d 255, 257 (2d Cir. 1995)
(applying an abuse of discretion standard to review a district court’s decision on a motion for
reconsideration); In re Spiegel, Inc., 385 B.R. at 38 (“The Court reviews the Bankruptcy Court's
denial of a Rule 60(b) motion for abuse of discretion.”).
Section 502(j) of the Bankruptcy Code provides that a claim that has been disallowed
may be reconsidered for cause. 11 U.S.C. § 502(j). Courts decide motions under section 502(j)
by “[a]pply[ing] the same analysis that it would to a motion under Fed. R. Bank. P. 9023
(incorporating Fed. R. Civ. P. 59) or Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9024 (incorporating Fed. R. Civ. P. 60),
depending on whether the movant . . . sought reconsideration within [fourteen days] after the
entry of the order disallowing the claim, or did so only later.” In re Terrestar Networks, Inc.,
Nos. 10–15446 (SHL), 11-10612 (SHL), 2013 WL 781613, at *2 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. Feb. 28,
2013) (collecting cases). Both Bankruptcy Rule 9023 and 9024, respectively, prevent “repetitive
arguments on issues that have been considered fully by the court,” Griffin Indus., Inc. v.
Petrojam, Ltd., 72 F. Supp. 2d 365, 368 (S.D.N.Y. 1999) (discussing the purpose of Rule 59(e),
which applies pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 9023), and “relitigat[ing] matters settled by the
original judgment,” Frankel v. ICD Holdings S.A., 939 F. Supp. 1124, 1127 (S.D.N.Y. 1996)
(discussing the purpose of Rule 60(b), which applies pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 9024).
9
To prevail on a motion under Rule 9023, the movant “must show that the court
overlooked controlling decisions or factual matters that might materially have influenced its
earlier decision,” In re Parade Place, LLC, 508 B.R. 863, 869 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2014) (citation
omitted), and the motion is “granted only when the [movant] identifies ‘an intervening change of
controlling law, the availability of new evidence, or the need to correct a clear error or prevent
manifest injustice,’” Kolel Beth Yechiel Mechil of Tartikov, Inc. v. YLL Irrevocable Tr., 729 F.3d
99, 104 (2d Cir. 2013) (quoting Virgin Atl. Airways, Ltd. v. Nat’l Mediation Bd., 956 F.2d 1245,
1255 (2d Cir. 1992)). Similarly, a motion under Rule 9024 is granted “only upon a showing of
exceptional circumstances.” United States v. Int’l Bhd. of Teamsters, 247 F.3d 370, 391 (2d Cir.
2001).
As to Appellant’s first motion to reconsider, the Bankruptcy Court determined that the
factual matters Davidson raised would not “materially influence” the decision to disallow
Davidson’s proof of claim. CD 33, at 4. Indeed, Davidson admitted in his motion for
reconsideration that “[a]ll attached documents have previously been provided to this Honorable
Court as well as opposing counsel.” CD 31, at 8. The Bankruptcy Court specifically addressed
several of the factual matters raised by Davidson and noted that the problem with Davidson’s
proof of claim was not compensability but that Davidson had failed to “establish his entitlement
to the additional amounts sought in the [proof of] [c]laim.” CD 33, at 5. Based on its own
review of the record, this Court finds that the Bankruptcy Court did not “base[] its ruling[s] on an
erroneous view of the law or on a clearly erroneous assessment of the evidence,” Transaero, Inc.
v. La Fuerza Aerea Boliviana, 162 F.3d 724, 729 (2d Cir. 1998) (quoting Cooter & Gell v.
Hartmarx Corp., 496 U.S. 384, 405 (1990)), and thus did not abuse its discretion in denying
Davidson’s first motion for reconsideration.
10
In his second motion for reconsideration, Davidson again admitted that “[a]ll document
[sic] and Information has previously been provided to this Honorable Court . . . .” CD 35, at 1.
Davidson’s second motion for consideration focused on the grievance and benefits process at
AA, see generally CD 35, 36; as the Bankruptcy Court held, these were issues previously raised
and thus did not qualify as new evidence or controlling decisions overlooked by the Bankruptcy
Court. CD 37, at 4. The Bankruptcy Court also considered Davidson’s argument, newly raised,
regarding the disbarment of his Florida attorney. The Bankruptcy Court correctly concluded that
Davidson was attempting to re-litigate the Florida state claims and that the appropriate forum in
which to raise concerns about his Florida attorney was the Florida state court. Id. at 4 n.2.
Moreover, the Bankruptcy Court held that Davidson had not demonstrated exceptional
circumstances, mistake, surprise, or excusable neglect. Id. at 5. Again, based on its own review
of the record, this Court concludes that the Bankruptcy Court did not abuse its discretion in
denying Davidson’s second motion for reconsideration.
B. The Bankruptcy Court Did Not Err in Concluding that Res Judicata Bars the
Florida State Claims
Putting aside the issue of whether the Bankruptcy Court abused its discretion in denying
Davidson’s motions for reconsideration, it is clear that the Court appropriately expunged
Davidson’s proof of claim as a transparent attempt to avoid the preclusive effect of the Florida
judgment.
“It is [well] settled that a federal court must give to a state-court judgment the same
preclusive effect as would be given that judgment under the law of the State in which the
judgment was rendered.” In re AMR Corp., 491 B.R. 372, 376 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2013)
(alteration in original) (quoting Migra v. Warren City Sch. Dist. Bd. of Educ., 465 U.S. 75, 81
(1984)). Under Florida law, res judicata applies when there is an earlier decision that is (1) a
11
final judgment on the merits, (2) by a court of competent jurisdiction, (3) in a case involving the
same parties, and (4) involving the same cause of action. See Philip Morris USA, Inc. v.
Douglas, 110 So. 3d 419, 425 (Fla. 2013). “[S]ummary judgment is a final judgment on the
merits and is entitled to the full preclusive effect of any final judgment.” Bazile v. Lucent Techs.
403 F. Supp. 2d 1174, 1180 (S.D. Fla. 2005) (citing Exhibitors Poster Exch., Inc. v. Nat’l Screen
Serv. Corp., 517 F.2d 110 (5th Cir. 1974)). “[I]f a case arises out of the same nucleus of
operative fact, or is based upon the same factual predicate, as a former action . . . the two cases
are really the same ‘claim’ or ‘cause of action’ for purposes of res judicata.” In re Piper Aircraft
Corp., 244 F.3d 1289, 1297 (11th Cir. 2001) (citation omitted).
All the elements of res judicata are satisfied here. All of Davidson’s claims were brought
in the Florida state court action, and that action culminated in a final judgment on the merits.
Three of the four claims were decided at summary judgment in AA’s favor, and a jury resolved
Davidson’s remaining claim in favor of AA. Order at 3, 4. Florida’s Third District Court of
Appeal affirmed the verdict and the grant of summary judgment. Davidson v. Am. Airlines, Inc.,
Nos. 3d07-2063, 3D07-1901, 2D08-234 (Fla. 3d Dist. Ct. App. April 29, 2009). Further, Florida
state court was a competent jurisdiction, and the proof of claim and Florida state court action
involve the same parties, namely Davidson and AA.
Davidson’s proof of claim involves the same cause of action—i.e., it arises out of the
same nucleus of operative fact—as Davidson’s claims in the Florida state court action. Although
Davidson’s proof of claim is far from clear regarding the basis for the amounts sought, as
discussed above, during the hearing regarding Appellee’s objections to Davidson’s proof of
claim, Davidson explained that the kicking, handshake, and shoulder pat incidents provided the
basis for his claim. Hearing Tr. at 36:18-42:4. The kicking and shoulder pat incidents were
12
unequivocally part of the Florida state court litigation as they were identified in Counts III and
IV of Davidson’s Amended Complaint. Amended Complaint ¶¶ 46, 56. Although the
handshake incident was not explicitly mentioned in the Complaint or Amended Complaint, it,
too, arises out of the same set of operative facts as the Florida state court litigation because
Davidson generally alleged verbal harassment and physical intimidation by his AA flight
instructors. See Amended Complaint ¶¶ 47, 57. Further, the handshake incident occurred
between the time of the kicking incident and the shoulder pat incident and before Davidson filed
his Amended Complaint. If he did not include the handshake incident in his Florida action, he
could have. See Griswold v. County of Hillsborough, 598 F.3d 1289, 1293 (11th Cir. 2010)
(noting res judicata bars claims “that could have been raised” in the prior litigation”) (citations
omitted). Therefore, res judicata properly precludes re-litigation in this case.
During the hearing regarding Appellee’s objections to the proof of claim, Davidson
argued that res judicata should not apply because: (1) AA hid relevant information during the
course of the Florida litigation, see Hearing Tr. 54:12-17; 56:17-25; (2) AA’s managers and
supervisors committed perjury, see Hearing Tr. 57:1-7; and (3) AA engaged in criminal acts and
“three corporate cover-ups of that criminal act,” see Hearing Tr. 58:14-19. The Court agrees
with the Bankruptcy Court that the evidence proffered by Davidson does not support his claim
that AA hid material evidence, lied, or engaged in a criminal cover up, but, in any event, the
forum in which those alleged problems should have been addressed was the Florida state court.
13
In short, the Bankruptcy Court correctly concluded that res judicata bars Davidson from
raising these issues in his proof of claim because they either were or could have been raised in
the Florida state court lawsuit.12
C. The Bankruptcy Court Did Not Err in Concluding that Res Judicata Bars the
Employee Benefits Claims
Davidson appears also to base his proof of claim on the grievance he filed for employee
benefits—primarily long-term disability benefits. As the Bankruptcy Court noted, Davidson
attached to his proof of claim several documents relating to his grievance, although he did not
explain how those documents or the grievance supported the amounts sought in his proof of
claim. Nevertheless, those claims are also barred by res judicata.
Davidson filed his 2009 grievance pursuant to the applicable collective bargaining
agreement between AA and APA, his union. Debtors’ Supplement, Ex. I. His grievance was
denied. While his grievance was pending for further consideration, the APA and AA settled all
outstanding employee grievances, including Davidson’s, as part of a global settlement.
Settlement Letter § 1. The Bankruptcy Court approved the settlement and ordered that the
settlement “completely extinguishe[d]” all claims except “those grievances identified in Exhibit
1.” Settlement Letter Order; Settlement Letter, at § 1. Because Davidson’s grievance was not
specifically identified in Exhibit 1 of the Settlement Letter, his grievance was “completely
extinguished.”
The settlement agreement satisfies the requirements for res judicata, which, under
Second Circuit law, are “(1) the previous action involved an adjudication on the merits; (2) the
12
Indeed, with respect to the perjury allegation, Davidson argued in a brief in his Florida state court lawsuit
that the exclusion of certain “kicking evidence” led to AA’s “suborned testimony which misled the jury.”
Appellant’s Reply Brief and Cross-Appellee’s Answer Brief, at 20, Davidson v. Am. Airlines, Inc., Nos. 3D07-2063,
3D07-1901, 2D08-234, at 20 (Fla. 3d Dist. Ct. App. Feb. 4, 2009).
14
previous action involved the plaintiffs or those in privity with them; (3) the claims asserted in the
subsequent action were, or could have been, raised in the prior action.” Monahan v. N.Y.C.
Dep’t of Corr., 214 F.3d 275, 285 (2d Cir. 2000) (citations omitted). Because the Bankruptcy
Court approved the settlement agreement as part of the bankruptcy plan and because the
settlement agreement by its terms extinguished all claims that the APA or its members had or
may have had, the settlement agreement is a final judgment on the merits. Greenberg v. Bd. of
Governors of Fed. Reserve Sys., 968 F.2d 164, 168 (2d Cir. 1992) (“Settlements may also have
preclusive effect. . . . The preclusive effect of a settlement is measured by the intent of the parties
to the settlement.” (citation omitted)). The APA was in privity with Davidson when it executed
the settlement agreement because his “interests were adequately represented by another vested
with the authority of representation.” Alpert’s Newspaper Delivery, Inc. v. The New York Times
Co., 876 F.2d 266, 270 (2d Cir. 1989). There is no evidence or allegation that the APA was not
authorized to enter the settlement agreement on behalf of its members, nor is there evidence or
allegation of collusion between the APA and AA. See Monahan, 214 F.3d at 285-86, 288
(holding union was in privity with its members when it entered into settled agreement because
there was, inter alia, no evidence that the union was not authorized to proceed on behalf of its
members in the lawsuit and no evidence of collusion between the union and management).
Finally, the claims regarding long-term disability benefits that Davidson appears to have raised
in his proof of claim are the same claims that he raised in his grievance, or at the very least, there
is no indication that they could not have been raised in his prior grievance.
Accordingly, res judicata bars Davidson’s proof of claim to the extent it is based on
claims for employee benefits.
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CONCLUSION
Because this Court lacks jurisdiction over Davidson’s appeal of the denial of his proof of
claim and his first motion for reconsideration, Davidson’s appeal as to those orders is
DISMISSED. To the extent Davidson appeals the order denying his second motion for
reconsideration, his appeal is DENIED, and the Bankruptcy Court’s decision is AFFIRMED for
the reasons provided above. The Court certifies pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) that any
appeal from this Order would not be taken in good faith, and permission to proceed in forma
pauperis is denied. The Clerk of Court is respectfully directed to terminate the case, to mail a
copy of this Order to Appellant, and to note mailing on the docket.
SO ORDERED.
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__________________________
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CAPRONI
VALERIE CAPRONI
N
United States District Judge
Date: March 9, 2017
New York, New York
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