Robin HAYES, Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
NATIONAL SERVICE INDUSTRIES and National Linen Service, Defendants-Appellees.
No. 98-8887.
United States Court of Appeals,
Eleventh Circuit.
Nov. 24, 1999.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. (No. 1:97-CV-1651-RCF),
Richard C. Freeman, Judge.
Before CARNES, Circuit Judge, HILL, Senior Circuit Judge, and HOEVELER*, Senior District Judge.
HOEVELER, Senior District Judge:
Robin Hayes appeals from the decision below enforcing the settlement agreement negotiated by her
attorney as to Hayes' action brought pursuant to Title VII, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e. We must decide whether the
nature of the underlying action, i.e., the employment discrimination claim, requires a departure from our
general reliance on state law principles in determining whether to enforce a settlement agreement. We
conclude that under the specific facts of this case it is proper to apply Georgia law to the construction and
enforceability of this settlement agreement. Finding no abuse of discretion in the lower court's conclusion
that Hayes' attorney had apparent authority to enter into the settlement on Hayes' behalf and that Hayes
therefore was bound by the agreement, we affirm.
Hayes sued National Linen Service and its parent company, National Service Industries, Inc.
(collectively, "National"), alleging wrongful discharge from her employment as a sales representative. The
attorneys for the two parties settled the case. Hayes rejected the settlement, and National filed a motion to
enforce the settlement agreement. The Magistrate Judge to whom the motion was referred issued a report
finding that Rogers had apparent authority, and in fact believed he had actual authority, to settle the case.
*
Honorable William M. Hoeveler, Senior U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Florida, sitting
by designation.
The report found that "the terms of the settlement are clear; plaintiff only contends that she did not consent",
but noted that such issue was "irrelevant so long as her attorney has the apparent authority to settle her case
[under Georgia law]." Magistrate Judge's Order, Report and Recommendation, signed March 16, 1998, p.
3. Hayes filed her objections to the report, claiming that she did not give Rogers the authority to settle the
case on her behalf.
The district court overruled Hayes' objections, and adopted the report and recommendation,
specifically agreeing that Rogers' had "apparent, if not actual, authority" to settle Hayes' claims. Defendants'
motion to enforce was granted and Hayes' complaint was dismissed.
We must determine whether the trial judge abused his discretion in deciding to enforce the settlement
agreement. Brooks v. Georgia State Bd. of Elections, 59 F.3d 1114, 1119 (11th Cir.1995). In general, the
law of contracts governs the construction and enforcement of settlement agreements. Blum v. Morgan
Guaranty Trust Co. of New York, 709 F.2d 1463 (11th Cir.1983). We also refer to state law principles when
reviewing the scope of an attorney's authority to enter into a settlement agreement. Glazer v. J.C. Bradford
and Co., 616 F.2d 167, 168 (5th Cir.1980)1 (enforcing settlement agreement as to brokerage commissions
where attorney had apparent authority under Georgia law to enter into binding agreement on behalf of client).2
An attorney of record is the client's agent in pursuing a cause of action and under Georgia law " '[a]n
act of an agent within the scope of his apparent authority binds the principal.' " Glazer, 616 F.2d at 168,
1
The Eleventh Circuit, in the en banc decision Bonner v. City of Prichard, 661 F.2d 1206, 1209 (11th
Cir.1981), adopted as precedent decisions of the former Fifth Circuit rendered prior to October 1, 1981.
2
Hayes argues that we must apply special criteria instead of (or in addition to) traditional contract
principles established in state law when deciding whether to enforce settlements involving Title VII claims.
See, e.g., Puentes v. United Parcel Service, Inc., 86 F.3d 196, 198 (11th Cir.1996) (summary judgment
inappropriate where evidence of insufficient time to consider agreement or consult with an attorney raised
question as to whether employee knowingly and voluntarily executed release of employment discrimination
claims); Freeman v. Motor Convoy, Inc., 700 F.2d 1339, 1352 (11th Cir.1983) (employee who signed
conciliation agreement upon advice of EEOC "knowingly and voluntarily" executed the agreement and
therefore was bound by its terms). This is not the applicable standard when reviewing a case in which the
employee (or former employee) was represented by an attorney who settled the matter on the employee's
behalf.
2
quoting Davis v. Davis, 245 Ga. 233, 235-36, 264 S.E.2d 177 (1980). The attorney's authority is determined
by the representation agreement between the client and the attorney and any instructions given by the client,
and that authority may be considered plenary unless it is limited by the client and that limitation is
communicated to opposing parties. Brumbelow v. Northern Propane Gas Co., 251 Ga. 674, 675, 308 S.E.2d
544 (1983) (oral agreement enforceable against client who subsequently challenged attorney's authority to
enter into agreement unless limitation on that authority had been communicated to opposing party). "The
client is therefore 'bound by his attorney's agreement to settle a lawsuit, even though the attorney may not
have had express authority to settle, if the opposing party was unaware of any limitation on the attorney's
apparent authority.' " Ford v. Citizens and Southern Nat. Bank, Cartersville, 928 F.2d 1118, 1120 (11th
Cir.1991) (Georgia law applies to attorney settling claim for rescission of security deeds and damages),
quoting Glazer, 616 F.2d at 168.
While Hayes asserts that her attorney lacked authority to settle this matter, it is undisputed that
Hayes' attorney, Andrew Rogers, spoke with counsel for National, Sharon Morgan, and expressly told
Morgan that he had authority from Hayes to settle the case for $15,000.00. Rogers Affidavit, February 26,
1998, ¶ 4; Morgan Affidavit, February 27, 1998, ¶ 4. According to Georgia law, an attorney has the apparent
authority to enter into a binding agreement on behalf of a client and such agreement is enforceable against
the client. Glazer, 616 F.2d at 168 (citations omitted). Thus, the agreement is enforceable against Hayes
according to Georgia law.
Careful attention to the arguments raised by Hayes reveals that her challenge is simply as to the
authority of her attorney to enter into the agreement.3 Her attack on the formation of the contract is answered
conclusively by our discussion above. Hayes' attorney told counsel for National that he had authority to settle
this matter. An agreement was reached, and it is enforceable against Hayes. We affirm.
3
Hayes is representing herself and, although she is not an attorney, has presented her arguments with
admirable talent.
3
AFFIRMED.
4