Opinion
No. 07-1585.
July 18, 2008.
On Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Lou Anne Lavender Perkins, a member of a class of breast implant claimants, moved to opt out of the Settlement Facility — Dow Corning Trust after the opt-out deadline had elapsed. Under the Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization for Dow Corning Corporation, claimants had the option to settle or to elect to opt out of the settlement under the Settlement Facility and proceed with litigation against the Litigation Facility. Claimants electing to pursue litigation instead of participating in the settlement program "must make their election by completing, signing and returning the Participation Form to the Claims Office on or before the six (6)-month anniversary of the Effective Date ("Election Deadline")." (Settlement Fund and Distribution Agreement, Annex A. Art. 3.02(c)(v)). The Election Deadline was November 29, 2004.
Perkins did not submit a participation form. In her motion, she argued that she never received a form. However, a claim form packet was mailed to Perkins' attorney at his last known address and when it was returned as undeliverable, another packet was sent to Perkins at her last known address, which again was returned as undeliverable. Perkins claims that she notified the Settlement Facility of her address, but the only communication from her prior to the November deadline was an e-mail addressed to the Tort Claimants' Committee. Not until February 2005 did she contact the Settlement Facility to give her new address. In September 2005, she notified the Settlement Facility of another new address but she never filed a claim form.
The District Court had jurisdiction under the Plan of Reorganization to resolve controversies regarding the interpretation and implementation of the Plan. The Court denied Perkins' motion. It held that the plain and ordinary meaning of the word "must" as set forth in the Plan is that claimants are required to affirmatively elect to litigate and to complete and return the participation form by the election deadline, and that the requirement is mandatory and not discretionary. The Court further found that the failure of Perkins and her attorneys to provide the Settlement Facility with her current address did not constitute excusable neglect. We agree with the District Court and adopt its well-reasoned opinion and order.
For the reasons stated, we AFFIRM the judgment of the district court.