Salesman’s claim about commissions dismissed
June 25, 2013The salesman’s compensation guidelines in Kellerman v. Avaya, Inc. said on the first page: “Avaya Inc. has the right to amend, change, or cancel the sales compensation policies solely at its discretion and without prior notice, except in countries where it is a violation of applicable law.” Later provisions had more detail about the types of decisions reserved to Avaya. The salesman claimed that the company had manipulated its revenue recognition to reduce his compensation, but the Fifth Circuit affirmed a summary judgment for the company: “where an employer exercises rights reserved in the contract[,] there can be no breach of contract.” (citing Nichols v. Enterasys Networks, 495 F.3d 185, 186-87 (5th Cir. 2007) (reviewing similar compensation arrangement)).