Case: Pagliolo v. Guidant Corp.

0:06-cv-00943 | U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota

Filed Date: March 1, 2006

Closed Date: Dec. 24, 2008

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Case Summary

On March 1st, 2006, a group of former employees of Guidant Corporation filed a lawsuit under 28 U.S.C. § 2201 against Guidant Corporation in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. The plaintiff, represented by private counsel, asked the court for declaratory judgment that the Severance Agreement and Release of Claims was invalid under the Older Workers Benefits Protection Act ("OWBPA"). The plaintiffs claimed that employment Releases given by Guidant Corporation failed …

On March 1st, 2006, a group of former employees of Guidant Corporation filed a lawsuit under 28 U.S.C. § 2201 against Guidant Corporation in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. The plaintiff, represented by private counsel, asked the court for declaratory judgment that the Severance Agreement and Release of Claims was invalid under the Older Workers Benefits Protection Act ("OWBPA"). The plaintiffs claimed that employment Releases given by Guidant Corporation failed to comply with the OWBPA and were invalid. Plaintiffs also asked the Court for summary judgment on Guidant's counterclaims in the case, which were for declaratory judgment under 28 U.S.C. § 2201 that the employment Release was valid under OWBPA. Guidant also made counterclaims for unjust enrichment, restitution, recoupment, and setoff, and breach of contract.

In 2004, Guidant Corporation began developing "Project Apple," which was a codename for a Reduction in Force (RIF). Guidant began selecting employees at the local level whose employment would be terminated. Ultimately, over 700 employees were informed their employment would be terminated. As part of the "RIF," these employees were given notice for eligibility of benefits. Each terminated employee received a package of documents including a cover letter, a copy of the Severance Agreement and Release of Claims (the "Release"), a statement of Severance Pay and Benefits, along with a Severance Eligibility Disclosure.

One plaintiff, Joseph Pagliolo, ultimately used information in the Severance Eligibility Disclosure to perform an analysis that led to his choice in not signing the Release. His calculations showed that a disproportionate number of employees ages 40 and older had been affected by the RIF. This information led to forming the case at hand in which employees claim Guidant had engaged in age discrimination when terminating the 700 employees.

Specifically, the plaintiff claimed that Exhibit B, the employment Release form, violated the OWBPA. Within an employment release form, there are certain statutory requirements that must be met or else it is ineffective under the law.

On June 11th, 2007, plaintiffs filed a motion for class certification, and the Court approved the class on September 28th, 2007.

The Court (Judge Donovan W. Frank) found that Guidant Corporation did not meet statutory requirements for various parts of the employment Release form that was part of employees' severance packages. First, the Court held that the Release form contained material misrepresentations that failed to satisfy OWBPA. The form included a list of employees who were redeployed for employment as part of the group of employees eligible for severance benefits. This material misrepresentation had the effect of making it appear that there were 10% fewer terminations of employees ages 40 and older. The Court also found that the Release form did not disclose the decisional unit for the RIF and did not give employees a document that explained the eligibility factors for the RIF. Lastly, the Court found that Guidant did not satisfactorily fulfill the age and job formatting requirements. Guidant failed to provide the age on the Project Apple Spreadsheet, but rather only included birthdates.

On September 28th, 2007, the Court ordered that the Releases signed by plaintiffs under the Older Workers Benefits Protection Act were void, with respect to plaintiffs' claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. The Court dismissed defendants' counterclaims for declaratory judgment and breach of contract. The Court also denied defendants' motion for partial summary judgment.

Summary Authors

Julianne Nowicki (7/28/2010)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4739895/parties/pagliolo-v-guidant-corporation/


Judge(s)

Frank, Donovan W. (Minnesota)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Bertelson, Beth E. (Minnesota)

Foster, Wood R. Jr. (Minnesota)

Attorney for Defendant

Blickenstaff, Leslie S. (Massachusetts)

Cross, Tonya M. (California)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

0:06-cv-00943

Docket

Pagliolo v. Guidant Corporation

Dec. 24, 2008

Dec. 24, 2008

Docket
1

0:06-cv-00943

Complaint

Pagliolo v. Guidant Corporation

March 1, 2006

March 1, 2006

Complaint
63

0:06-cv-00943

ORDER FOR DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE OF PLAINTIFFS JUDY MATHIOWETZ AND PATRICIA WILKE

Pagliolo v. Guidant Corporation

June 5, 2007

June 5, 2007

Order/Opinion
66

0:06-cv-00943

Plaintiffs’ Motion for Conditional Certification and Mailing of Notice to Similarly Situated Individuals

Pagliolo v. Guidant Corporation

June 11, 2007

June 11, 2007

Pleading / Motion / Brief
101

0:06-cv-00943

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

Pagliolo v. Guidant Corporation

Sept. 28, 2007

Sept. 28, 2007

Order/Opinion

2007 WL 2007

185

0:06-cv-00943

ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE

Pagliolo v. Guidant Corporation

Dec. 23, 2007

Dec. 23, 2007

Order/Opinion
186

0:06-cv-00943

Judgment

Pagliolo v. Guidant Corporation

Dec. 24, 2008

Dec. 24, 2008

Order/Opinion

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4739895/pagliolo-v-guidant-corporation/

Last updated March 25, 2024, 3:06 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
45

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER denying 17 Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment, granting in part and denying in part 13 Plaintiffs' Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (Written Opinion). Signed by Judge Donovan W. Frank on 4/4/07. (lml)

April 4, 2007

April 4, 2007

RECAP
61

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER granting in part and denying in part 49 Defendants' Motion for Certificate of Appealability (Written Opinion). Signed by Judge Donovan W. Frank on 5/29/07. (lml)

May 29, 2007

May 29, 2007

RECAP
101

ORDER granting 66 Motion to Certify Class (Written Opinion). Signed by Judge Donovan W. Frank on 09/28/2007. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit(s) A) (rlb)

Sept. 28, 2007

Sept. 28, 2007

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory: Minnesota

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

Private Employment Class Actions

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 1, 2006

Closing Date: Dec. 24, 2008

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Former Guidant employees ages 40 and older that were terminated from their positions due to age discrimination

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Guidant Corporation, Private Entity/Person

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), 29 U.S.C. §§ 621 et seq.

Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Issues

General:

Pattern or Practice

Discrimination-area:

Demotion

Hiring

Pay / Benefits

Discrimination-basis:

Age discrimination

Affected Sex or Gender:

Female

Male