Avaya Inc.

UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
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In re: 	:
:
AVAYA, INC., 	: 	Chapter 11
: 	Case No. 17-10089 (SMB)
Debtor. 	:
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MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER
REGARDING DISALLOWANCE OF CLAIM
WITHOUT PREJUDICE AND TAXATION OF COSTS
A P P E A R A N C E S:
KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP
Attorneys for Debtor
601 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10022
James H.M. Sprayregen, P.C.
Jonathan S. Henes, P.C.
Patrick J. Nash, Jr., P.C.
Christina L. Briesacher, Esq.
Of Counsel
ALAN WATTENMAKER
Wattenmaker Pro Se
c/o AMI, CFC AWvAV
127 West 83rd Street
Apartment 501
New York, New York 10024-0501
STUART M. BERNSTEIN
UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY JUDGE:
Avaya, Inc. and Alan Wattenmaker, a former employee, have been involved in a
long-running dispute regarding Avaya’s objection to his proof of claim (“Claim”). In its
most recent decision, the Court granted limited reconsideration and directed both sides
to produce certain information in connection with the portion of the Claim seeking
retirement medical benefits. Avaya says it has produced all of the available information
although it is not all of the information it was directed to produce. Wattenmaker filed
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two responses to Avaya’s submission 1 but stated that due to the current Covid-19
pandemic, he is unable to access the records he has been directed to produce regarding
his medical expenses. (Second Replay at ECF p. 17-19.) 2 Unless Wattenmaker can
demonstrate that he has incurred medical expenses that he claims should have been
reimbursed or otherwise covered under Avaya’s retirement medical benefit programs,
the question of his eligibility and the extent of his coverage are moot. Accordingly, the
Court will sustain Avaya’s objection to his claim for retirement medical benefits without
prejudice to reconsideration should Wattenmaker produce the information ordered by
the Court showing that he has incurred expenses he deems reimbursable. Separately,
Wattenmaker’s application for costs in the sum of $677.95 is granted.
DISCUSSION
The background to this dispute is set forth in several prior decisions of the Court.
See In re Avaya, Inc., Case No. 17-10089, 2019 WL 1750908 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y Mar. 28,
2019) (“Wattenmaker I”); In re Avaya, Inc., Case No. 17-10089, 2019 WL 1858847
(Bankr. S.D.N.Y Apr. 2, 2019) (“Wattenmaker II”); In re Avaya, Inc., Case No. 608 B.R.
366 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y 2019) (“Wattenmaker III”); and In re Avaya, Inc., Case No. 17-
10089, 2020 WL 697203 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y Feb. 10, 2020) (“Wattenmaker IV”). I
1 	See Claimant's Preliminary Reply and Opposition to Avaya’s Second Supplemental Declaration
of James Kobar in Support of the Debtors’ Eighth Omnibus Objection to Certain: (I) Amended Claims;
(II) No Liability Claims; and (III) Claims to be Modified With Respect to Claim No. 3103 (ECF Doc
#2418), dated Apr. 8, 2020 (“First Reply”) (ECF Doc. # 2424) and Claimant’s Reply to the Court’s
Scheduling Order (ECF Doc #2404) and Opposition to Second Supplemental Declaration of James
Kobar in Support of the Debtors’ Eighth Omnibus Objection to Certain: (I) Amended Claims; (II) No
Liability Claims; and (III) Claims to be Modified With Respect to Claim No. 3103 (ECF Doc #2418),
dated June 8, 2020 (“Second Reply”) (ECF Doc. # 2428).)
2 	“ECF p. [#] of [#]” refers to the page numbers imprinted by the Court’s CM/ECF system at the top
of each page of a filed document.
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assume familiarity with these decisions and limit the discussion to the facts relevant to
the instant matter.
Avaya hired Wattenmaker on April 20, 1998 and terminated him from
employment on June 11, 2009.3 He subsequently commenced an action against Avaya
in the New York Supreme Court (“State Court Action”) claiming discrimination based on
age, religion and disability. The parties settled the State Court Action on or about
November 26, 2013 and memorialized the terms in a Settlement Term Sheet. Among
other things, the Settlement Term Sheet reinstated Wattenmaker for one day on
January 13, 2014, Wattenmaker voluntarily retired the same day and Wattenmaker was
granted the pension, employment retirement medical benefits and the retirement
benefits to which he would be entitled under the collective bargaining agreement with
the Communications Workers of America (“CWA”), based on the retirement date of
January 13, 2014.
Following the commencement of the chapter 11 case, Wattenmaker filed the
Claim. The Claim included numerous components all but one of which have been
resolved in the Court’s prior decisions. In Wattenmaker IV, the Court granted
reconsideration relating to Wattenmaker’s claim for retirement medical benefits. Avaya
sponsored various medical and dental plans during the pre-petition period of
Wattenmaker’s retirement, i.e., between January 13, 2014 and January 19, 2017.4
3 	References to Avaya include its predecessor, Lucent Technologies, Inc., where appropriate.
4 	The Claim is limited to the pre-petition amounts, if any, owed to Wattenmaker.
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Wattenmaker claimed that he had incurred various reimbursable medical
expenses, but Avaya contended that he was not eligible because he failed to opt into the
plans. To expedite the resolution of the remaining issue, the Court directed both sides
to produce information:
Avaya is directed to produce to Wattenmaker (even if it has already done
so), deliver to the Court and file on ECF a declaration attaching the
relevant Avaya-sponsored plans, including any summaries of the plans,
relating to eligibility for and the scope of employment retirement medical
benefits that Avaya offered to retirees like Wattenmaker during the
relevant pre-petition period together with a supplemental memorandum
that identifies and explains the relevant provisions. If Wattenmaker was
affirmatively required to enroll to receive particular benefits but did not,
Avaya should also provide a declaration from someone with personal
knowledge that he did not enroll prior to the petition date. Avaya should
produce the declarations and documents within fourteen days of the date
of this order. Wattenmaker will have thirty days from that date to reply.
At the same time, he should serve Avaya and provide the Court with
evidence of any medical or other health-related bills that he paid prior to
and including January 19, 2017.
Wattenmaker IV, 2020 WL 697203, at *3 (emphasis added).
In response, Avaya submitted the Second Supplemental Declaration of James
Kobar in Support of the Debtors’ Eighth Omnibus Objection to Certain: (I) Amended
Claims; (II) No Liability Claims; and (III) Claims to be Modified With Respect to Claim
No. 3103, dated Mar. 11, 2020 (“Kobar Declaration”) (ECF Doc. # 2418).) 5 The Kobar
Declaration attached the following documents:
• Summary Plan Descriptions for the Avaya 2013, 2015 and 2016 Retiree
Medical Expense Plans (Ex. A-1, A-2 and A-3); 6
5 	Kobar is the Benefits Manager at Avaya and has worked in Avaya’s benefits department for
eighteen years. He is “responsible for the day-to-day operations and management of the Hourly Pension
Plan benefit program, and . . . familiar with the Company’s broader suite of retirement benefits.” (Kobar
Declaration ¶ 1.)
6 	According to Kobar, “[d]espite a reasonable search, the Company is unable to locate a copy of the
summary plan descriptions for the Medical Expense Plan for the year 2014. However, based on my
experience and my review of Avaya records and the Enrollment Records, there were no substantive
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• Summary Plan Descriptions for the Avaya 2013, 2014 and 2015 Retiree
Dental Expense Plans (Ex. B-1, B-2 and B-3);7
• Annual benefit enrollment guides for 2014 through 2017 (Ex. C-1, C-2,
C-3 and C-4);
• Summary Plan Description for the 2017 Health Reimbursement
Arrangement Plan for Represented Retirees (Ex. E); and
• Letter to Wattenmaker describing the medical benefits available for 2017
(Ex. D).
The narrative portion of the Kobar Declaration directed the Court to and
explained the relevant provisions of the Plans relating to coverage and eligibility. 8
According to Kobar, for the Plans covering 2014, 2015 and 2016, a retiree had to opt into
a specific plan, and if he didn’t, he would default to an individual plan. (Kobar
Declaration ¶¶ 27-28.) Similar opt in/default rules applied to the dental plans. (Id. ¶¶
38-39.) In 2017, Avaya discontinued the medical plans for retirees in Wattenmaker’s
position and established a Health Reimbursement Account (“HRA”) plan. (Id. ¶¶ 31-32;
Ex. D at 1.) An eligible retiree had to opt into the HRA plan. (Id., Ex. E at 6.)
According to Kobar, Wattenmaker never opted into any particular plan prior to
the petition date, and Wattenmaker has not contended that he did. Kobar also stated
changes to the Medical Expense Plan in 2014 as compared to 2013, 2015, or 2016.” (Kobar Declaration ¶
8 n. 3.)
7 	According to Kobar, “[d]espite a reasonable search, Avaya is unable to locate a copy of the
summary plan description for the Dental Plan for the years 2016 or 2017. However, based on my
experience and my review of Avaya and vendor records, there were no substantive changes to the Dental
Plan in 2016 or 2017 as compared to 2013, 2014, or 2015.” (Kobar Declaration ¶ 11 n. 4.)
8 	Wattenmaker continues to question Kobar’s expert credentials, (First Reply, at ECF pp. 2-3 of 9),
but Kobar is not testifying as an expert. As the Court previously explained in response to a similar
argument, the provisions of the relevant plans govern Wattenmaker’s rights; Kobar’s explanation assists
the Court by focusing it on the relevant provisions and “Wattenmaker is free to point to any other
provisions he believes are relevant.” Wattenmaker I, 2019 WL 1750908, at *6 n. 10. Wattenmaker has
not identified any other provision that the Court should read or specify any provision that Kobar has
misinterpreted.
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that Wattenmaker was not identified in Avaya’s records until around August 1, 2016 (the
approximate time the State Court Action was resolved) and consequently, his retirement
medical benefits became effective on August 1, 2016. (Kobar Declaration ¶¶ 29-30.)
However, Wattenmaker, became a retiree as of January 13, 2014 regardless of what
Avaya’s records showed, and under the Settlement Term Sheet, he became entitled to
retirement medical benefits as of that date.
Accordingly, Wattenmaker might be entitled to reimbursement for medical
and/or dental expenses incurred during all or part of the pre-petition period provided
that he complied with the conditions precedent to reimbursement under the plan that
covered him. In particular, “Medical Expense Plan participants were generally required
to submit a claim for reimbursement within 15 months after the date of service,
including a copy of the original bill as well as the Explanation of Benefit statement from
the primary medical program provider, such as Medicare. See Ex. A-1 at 104–105
(describing the claims process); Ex. A-2 at 105–106 (same); Ex. A-3 at 105–106 (same).”
(Kobar Declaration ¶ 26 n. 14.) 9 In other words, even if Wattenmaker was covered by
the Avaya retirement medical plans during the pre-petition period, he would still have
been required to submit claims under the plan to obtain reimbursement.
As noted, the Court directed Wattenmaker to produce “evidence of any medical
or other health-related bills that he paid prior to and including January 19, 2017.” He
has failed to comply with the Court’s order. He claims that he is unable to access this
9 	Wattenmaker was eligible for Medicare Part A and Part B at all relevant times during his
retirement. Under the Avaya Medical Plans, Medicare was deemed his primary insurer whether or not he
registered for it. (Ex. A-1 at 36 (“When you or a dependent becomes Medicare-eligible, regardless of age,
Medicare takes over as the primary benefit plan.”); Ex. A-2 at 36 (same); (Ex. A-3 at 36 (same).
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information because of the current pandemic as well as personal health reasons and the
fact that he has had to move from New York. (Second Reply at ECF p. 17 of 19.) Based
on Wattenmaker’s inability to comply with the Court’s order to provide evidence of
reimbursable medical expenses, he cannot demonstrate that he incurred reimbursable
expenses under any Avaya plan. Rather than force the parties to engage in continued
litigation regarding the scope of his coverage at this time, particularly since Avaya may
choose to reimburse a reasonable amount of expenses rather than engage in continual,
expensive litigation, the Court will await the production by Wattenmaker of any
evidence of his medical expenses. Accordingly, Avaya’s objection to Wattenmaker’s
claim for retirement medical benefits is sustained without prejudice to Wattenmaker’s
right to seek reconsideration upon the production of evidence of expenses he claims are
reimbursable under any of Avaya’s medical or dental plans during the pre-petition
period.
Taxation of Costs
Wattenmaker IV also addressed Wattenmaker’s request to tax costs. The Court
concluded that Wattenmaker was entitled to tax costs and identified the categories of
costs he could recover:
He is entitled to the cost of making one copy of any exhibit that he attached
to his papers submitted in connection with the Objection. Accordingly, he
may seek to tax his copying costs within thirty days of the date of this order
by filing and serving a notice of taxation with the Court. His notice of
taxation should identify the exhibits whose copying costs he seeks to tax and
attach bills for the costs claimed. Avaya will have seven days to file any
objections. The failure to notice taxation of costs within the time set forth in
this order shall constitute a waiver of the right to costs.
Wattenmaker IV, 2020 WL 697203, at *5.
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Wattenmaker’s Notice of Taxation, (see Claimant’s Notice of Taxation, dated
Mar. 11, 2020 (ECF Doc. # 2419)), sought $677.95 as set forth in an attached
“Preliminary List.” Although Exhibit A seems to go well beyond the costs of copying
exhibits or transcripts that he attached to his papers, Avaya responded that it consented
to pay the costs but opposed any additional costs as the deadline has passed. (Letter
From Ameneh M. Bordi, Esq. to the Court, dated Mar. 17, 2020 (ECF Doc. # 2420).)
The letter does not indicate that a copy was sent to Wattenmaker. Wattenmaker’s right
to additional costs can be addressed when, as and if he seeks them. Consequently,
Wattenmaker’s application for costs in the sum of $677.95 is granted.
So ordered.
Dated: New York, New York
October 20, 2020
/s/ Stuart M. Bernstein
STUART M. BERNSTEIN
United States Bankruptcy Judge
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