Menalco, FZE et al v. Buchan et al, No. 2:2007cv01178 - Document 340 (D. Nev. 2010)

Court Description: ORDER Granting in part and Denying in part 272 Motion for Summary Judgment. Granting Defendant/Cross-Defendant Mark Bone-Kneell's 273 Motion for Summary Judgment. Granting in part and Denying in part 275 Motion for Summary Judgment. Parties shall file proposed joint pretrial on remaining claims no later than 3/5/10. Signed by Judge Philip M. Pro on 1/31/10. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - AXM)

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Menalco, FZE et al v. Buchan et al Doc. 340 1 2 3 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 4 DISTRICT OF NEVADA 5 *** ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) 6 MENALCO, FZE, et al., Plaintiffs, 7 8 v. 9 ROBERT GORDON BUCHAN, et al., 10 Defendants. 2:07-CV-01178-PMP-PAL ORDER 11 12 Presently before the Court is Defendant/Cross-Defendant Robert Buchan’s 13 Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. #272), filed on July 28, 2009. Plaintiffs filed an 14 Opposition (Doc. #290) on August 13, 2009. 15 Also before the Court is Defendant/Cross-Defendant Mark Bone-Knell’s Motion 16 for Summary Judgment (Doc. #273), filed on July 28, 2009. Plaintiffs filed an Opposition 17 (Doc. #291) on August 13, 2009. Mark Bone-Knell filed a Reply (Doc. #308) on 18 September 18, 2009. 19 Also before the Court is Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. #275), 20 filed on July 28, 2009. Defendant Mark Bone-Knell filed an Opposition (Doc. #309) on 21 September 18, 2009. Plaintiffs filed a Reply (Doc. #313) to Mark Bone-Knell’s Opposition 22 on October 1, 2009. Defendant Robert Buchan filed an Opposition (Doc. #317) on October 23 14, 2009. Plaintiffs filed a Reply (Doc. #326) on October 28, 2009. Defendants Phoenix 24 Technology Holdings, Inc., and Schimatic Cash Transactions Network.com filed an 25 Opposition (Doc. #318) on October 19, 2009. Plaintiffs filed a Reply (Doc. #328) on 26 November 2, 2009. Dockets.Justia.com 1 2 I. BACKGROUND Plaintiff The International Investor, K.S.C.C. (“TII”) is a publicly traded Kuwaiti 3 company which conducts business in the areas of non-banking financial services and 4 investment banking. (Pls.’ Mot. for Summ. J. (Doc. #275) (“Pls.’ MSJ”), Ex. B at 2.) 5 Plaintiff Menalco, FZE (“Menalco”) is a limited liability corporation organized under the 6 laws of the United Arab Emirates, and is TII’s wholly owned subsidiary. (Id.) As part of 7 TII’s non-banking financial services business, TII began developing a loyalty business 8 model which it called “Selektpoints,” a registered trademark owned by TII. (Id.) 9 A loyalty program rewards customers for desired behavior. (Def. Buchan’s 10 Opp’n to Pls.’ Mot. Summ. J. (Doc. #317) [“Buchan Opp’n”], Ex. A (“Buchan Aff.”) at 2.) 11 It provides merchants with the opportunity to identify and manage relationships with their 12 best customers, and customers benefit by earning rewards for their purchasing behavior as 13 loyal customers. (Buchan Opp’n, Ex. J.) Selektpoints is a worldwide loyalty program using 14 smart chip technology in credit and debit cards. (Pls.’ MSJ, Ex. A1.) Selektpoints provides 15 for issuer banks, called “landlord banks,” to rent space on the debit or credit card through 16 use of a loyalty application loaded onto the smart chip. (Id.) The consumer can use the 17 card to make a payment and to collect loyalty points in a loyalty program at the same time 18 using the same card. (Id.) The card also captures consumer purchase data which can be 19 used by participating merchants and provides for third party management of merchants’ 20 loyalty programs. (Id.) 21 In January 2005, Edward Holmes (“Holmes”), a TII executive, hired Defendant 22 Robert Buchan (“Buchan”) to work for TII’s loyalty division. (Buchan Aff. at 1; Pls.’ MSJ, 23 Ex. B at 3.) Although Buchan ultimately reported to TII, Buchan entered into employment 24 agreements with third party companies and was assigned to work as Chief Operating 25 Officer of Retail Financial Services for TII’s Loyalty Division. (Buchan Aff. at 3, 5.) 26 Buchan’s understanding as to why he was employed by intermediary companies was 2 1 because United Arab Emirates law required a company wishing to maintain employees in 2 the Emirates to establish an entity there, and TII had no such entity. (Id. at 4.) According to Buchan, from the time he was hired and throughout his employment 3 4 relationship with TII, he was “advised verbally and in writing that a primary objective was 5 to secure investment and/or joint venture opportunities to bring Plaintiffs’ loyalty business 6 to the global marketplace.” (Id. at 3.) Buchan avers that when he started at TII, its 7 proposed loyalty program was a “bare bones merchant-based Sharia compliant concept.” 8 (Id. at 4.) Buchan advised TII the concept as it then existed was not workable,1 and he 9 began working with Holmes over the ensuing months to design the Selektpoints program. 10 (Id.) In March 2006, Buchan left the employ of the intermediary company to accept a 11 12 job with another entity unrelated to TII. (Id. at 5.) According to Buchan, Holmes flew to 13 Dubai to “implore” him to stay and offered Buchan a new contract. (Id. at 6.) Buchan 14 entered into an employment contract with TII on June 1, 2006. (Id.) According to Buchan, throughout 2006, he and Holmes worked to bring 15 16 Selektpoints to the global marketplace. (Id.) Buchan recommended to TII that it consider 17 contacting Defendants Schimatic Cash Transactions Network.com (“SCTN”) and Phoenix 18 Technology Holdings Inc. (“Phoenix”), because these companies owned and licensed 19 patented software technologies that could assist in bringing Selektpoints to market in certain 20 territories. (Id.) Defendant SCTN is a Nevada corporation which owns several patents, including 21 22 one for a “Method and System for Allocating and Redeeming Incentive Credits.” 23 (SCTN/Phoenix Opp’n to Pls.’ Mot. for Sanctions (Doc. #194), Ex. 1; SCTN/Phoenix Ans. 24 25 26 1 The Court considers Buchan’s statement that he told TII the concept was not workable not for the truth of the matter asserted, i.e., that the concept was in fact not workable, but for the fact that he so advised TII. 3 1 & Verified Countercls. & Crosscls. (Doc. #19) [“Countercl.”] at 24.) SCTN has been 2 developing loyalty software since 1994 and has spent approximately $70 million in 3 developing the software and technology. (Countercl. at 26.) The patented technology 4 consists of software and other technology for a method of implementing a loyalty program 5 on a smart chip embedded in a credit or debit card which will process the loyalty transaction 6 and associated data simultaneously with the purchase transaction. (Id.) SCTN has patented 7 this technology in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and Japan. (Id. at 26-27.) 8 Defendant Phoenix is a Turks and Caicos Islands corporation which has the exclusive 9 worldwide rights to license SCTN’s patented technology. (Id. at 25.) 10 Phoenix had an agreement with Krako, Inc. pursuant to which Nik Korakianitis 11 (“Korakianitis”) was to market the SCTN/Phoenix technology and receive sales 12 commissions on any licenses Phoenix signed based on his efforts. (SCTN/Phoenix Opp’n 13 to Pls.’ Mot. for Sanctions (Doc. #194), Ex. 1.) Korakianitis had business cards with 14 SCTN’s logo, name, and website, and which identified Korakianitis as “Executive Vice 15 President Business Development,” with an email address at SCTN. (Pls.’ MSJ, Ex. A9 at 16 68-69.) Korakianitis used the SCTN email address throughout the time he had a business 17 relationship with SCTN. (Id. at 70.) Korakianitis also had business cards for several other 18 entities for which he performed sales services, including Selektpoints. (SCTN/Phoenix 19 Opp’n to Pls.’ Mot. Summ. J. (Doc. #318) [“SCTN Opp’n”], Ex. 7 at 28.) According to 20 Korakianitis, it is common for him to represent himself as an employee of the companies 21 with which he has contracted. (Id. at 27.) However, Korakianitis lacked signatory authority 22 to bind SCTN. (Id. at 292.) Korakianitis met with Buchan and Holmes for TII to evaluate 23 the SCTN/Phoenix software. (Id. at 32.) 24 In September 2006, Phoenix and TII entered into a Licensing Agreement for 25 SCTN to provide a customized software program to implement the Selektpoints program. 26 (Buchan Aff. at 7; Pls.’ MSJ, Ex. A10 at 128, Ex. A11.) Pursuant to the Licensing 4 1 Agreement, Phoenix agreed to grant TII a non-exclusive license for the SCTN technology 2 in exchange for licensing fees. (Pls.’ MSJ, Ex. A11.) Although the license was not 3 exclusive, it was Phoenix’s and SCTN’s “policy . . . not to license new Licensees where 4 their business is directly competitive without reviewing the impact on the business of a 5 previous licensee.” (Id. at 4.) Pursuant to the Agreement, TII agreed to hold confidential 6 “all information relating to SCTN Applications, Products, Technologies, and other 7 Intellectual Property, including accompanying documentation.” (Id. at 7.) Upon 8 termination of the Licensing Agreement, TII had to return all SCTN products and 9 documentation provided to TII or to an authorized affiliate or distributor of TII. (Id. at 9.) 10 Appendix A to the Agreement describes the various products Phoenix was to provide under 11 the Licensing Agreement, and states, in all capital letters, “all features may require system 12 modification to be considered acceptable for deployment.” (Id. at 13-15.) 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 The Licensing Agreement referenced a possible change in control of Selektpoints. Section 2.4 of the Licensing Agreement provides as follows: Licensor also confirms its knowledge of TII’s plans to effect a change of control of its Loyalty Business through inviting in new investors, and the Licensor agrees that the assignment or sub-licensing mentioned above in this subsection will be approved whether the change of control comes about or not. (Id.) Holmes specifically negotiated for this provision. (SCTN’s Opp’n, Ex. 9 at 436.) In September 2006, Buchan met Defendant Mark Bone-Knell (“Bone-Knell”) at 20 a social function. (Buchan Aff. at 7.) Bone-Knell recommended TII file a patent on the 21 Selektpoints concept. (Id.) In October and November 2006, Bone-Knell and Buchan 22 discussed via email the cost estimate for filing patent applications in the United Kingdom 23 and the United States, and who should be listed as the inventors and owners on the patent 24 application. (Pls.’ MSJ, Exs. A19-A20.) Buchan instructed Bone-Knell to file the 25 application in the name of a company called “Marlin” and to identify the inventors as 26 Buchan and Holmes. (Pls.’ MSJ, Ex. A20.) TII’s Chairman of the Board, Adnan Al-Bahar 5 1 (“Al-Bahar”), approved the application, and Bone-Knell filed it in the United Kingdom in 2 November 2006. (Buchan Aff. at 8; Pls.’ MSJ, Ex. A10 at 164, Ex. B at 2.) Although prior 3 communications between Buchan and Bone-Knell referenced filing the patent application in 4 Marlin’s name, the patent application actually filed in the United Kingdom lists Menalco as 5 the applicant. (Def. Bone-Knell’s Reply to Pls.’ Opp’n to Bone-Knell’s Mot. Summ. J. 6 (Doc. #308) [“Bone-Knell Reply”], Ex. A.) The application does not list Buchan and 7 Holmes as the inventors. (Id.) Bone-Knell invoiced Menalco for his services related to this 8 application on December 4, 2006, and Menalco paid for his services. (Bone-Knell Reply, 9 Ex. C; Buchan Aff. at 8.) Bone-Knell denies he ever filed a patent application identifying 10 the inventors or owners as Buchan or Holmes. (Bone-Knell Reply, Decl. of Bone-Knell.) 11 During this time frame, Holmes and Buchan discussed with Bone-Knell that TII 12 was “looking to sell” Selektpoints and they would welcome any advice or assistance in 13 finding purchasers or funding partners. (Buchan Aff. at 9.) According to Buchan, one 14 reason TII needed to sell Selektpoints was because it would violate Sharia law for TII to 15 operate Selektpoints. (SCTN Opp’n, Ex. 11 at 81-82.) Sharia law instructs Muslims with 16 respect to how to deal in money and investments, and it prohibits the receiving or paying of 17 interest or dealing in futures, as well as making or profiting from anything that is harmful to 18 human health. (Pls.’ Reply to SCTN/Phoenix’s Opp’n to Pls.’ Mot. Summ. J. (Doc. #328) 19 [“Pls.’ Reply to SCTN Opp’n”], Ex. 2 at 166.) According to Buchan, TII wanted to sell 20 Selektpoints entirely, or to reduce TII’s interest to a non-controlling interest, to avoid any 21 conflict with Sharia law to the extent Selektpoints could be viewed as aiding and abetting 22 unlawful banks, meaning banks which charge interest. (SCTN Opp’n, Ex. 11 at 81-82.) 23 However, TII’s chief legal officer, Adnan Abrahim (“Abrahim”), testified 24 Selektpoints was Sharia compliant because Sharia law does not forbid a company from 25 dealing with a bank that charges interest so long as the deal between TII and the bank does 26 not involve the charging of interest. (Pls.’ MSJ, Ex. B; Pls.’ Reply to SCTN Opp’n, Ex. 2 6 1 at 168-69.) According to Abrahim, because Selektpoints was to charge fees and not 2 interest, it was Sharia-compliant. (Pls.’ MSJ, Ex. B.) Abrahim denies TII ever considered 3 selling Selektpoints, either to comply with Sharia law or for business reasons. (Pls.’ Reply 4 to SCTN Opp’n, Ex. 2 at 172.) However, according to Buchan, TII Chairman Al-Bahar 5 instructed him to find a buyer for Selektpoints and also to explore joint venture 6 opportunities for Selektpoints. (Pls.’ Reply to Buchan’s Opp’n to Pls.’ Mot. Summ. J. 7 (Doc. #290) [Pls.’ Reply to Buchan Opp’n”], Ex. 1 at 38-39; SCTN Opp’n, Ex. 11 at 83.) 8 The record is devoid of any sworn testimony from Al-Bahar. 9 In mid to late November 2006, Bone-Knell introduced Buchan to Defendants 10 Timothy Koster (“Koster”) and Christopher Eddy (“Eddy”), who had formed Defendant 11 Convergence Capital Limited (“Convergence”). (Buchan Aff. at 10; SCTN Opp’n, Ex. 6 at 12 15.) According to Eddy, Buchan told him that TII and Al-Bahar wanted to sell Selektpoints 13 because it was not Sharia-compliant. (SCTN Opp’n, Ex. 6 at 46.) Koster and Eddy entered 14 into a non-disclosure agreement with Menalco which Holmes signed on behalf of 15 TII/Menalco. (Buchan Aff. at 10, Buchan Opp’n, Ex. E.) Among the recitals in the non- 16 disclosure agreement was that the parties “desire to disclose proprietary information relating 17 to the potential commercial involvement of the Parties in the investment/procurement of 18 equity in a company involving Financial Services and/or Loyalty Services and Products.” 19 (Pls.’ MSJ, Ex. A24.) On November 30, 2006, Holmes, Buchan, Koster, and Eddy held a 20 meeting at which Holmes reviewed an initial draft proposal for TII to sell Selektpoints. 21 (Buchan Aff. at 10.) 22 On December 11, 2006, Koster and Eddy presented this proposal in person to Al- 23 Bahar and other TII senior staff. (Id.; Buchan’s Opp’n, Ex. F.) The proposal was to 24 purchase Selektpoints from TII for $17 million through the formation of a new, as yet 25 unidentified company referred to as “NewCo.” (Buchan Aff. at 10-11; Exs. to Mot. to 26 Dismiss (Doc. #55), Ex. C.) Along with the $17 million payment, TII also would receive a 7 1 thirty-five percent interest in NewCo. (Buchan Aff. at 11.) TII rejected the offer. (Pls.’ 2 MSJ, Ex. B at 5.) 3 According to Buchan, during the December 11 meeting, Al-Bahar explained that 4 Buchan and most of the other current Selektpoints employees would be employed with the 5 new company after a deal closed, while Holmes would continue to work for TII. (Buchan 6 Aff. at 12; Pls.’ Reply to Buchan Opp’n, Ex. 1 at 38-39.) Buchan avers that Al-Bahar 7 instructed him to work with other businesses to prepare proposals because Buchan would be 8 on the “buy side” of any deal. (Pls.’ Reply to Buchan Opp’n, Ex. 1 at 39.) Buchan worked 9 with Eddy and Koster in January to prepare a new proposal. (Buchan Aff. at 13.) 10 According to Korakianitis, throughout this period he was instructed by Buchan; Michael 11 Darch (“Darch”), TII’s controller; and Samuel Assaad (“Assaad”), Menalco’s head of 12 business development for Selektpoints, to educate Koster and Eddy on the loyalty business 13 because they were working to put a strategy together to find investors for Selektpoints. 14 (SCTN Opp’n, Ex. 5 at 12, Ex. 7 at 27, 54-55, 57.) 15 On February 16, 2007, Convergence and Phoenix entered into a Mandate to Act. 16 (Countercl., Ex. 12.) Pursuant to the Mandate to Act, Convergence had a one-year time 17 frame during which it would represent Phoenix for purposes of seeking capital investment 18 or buyers, be it through a deal with TII involving the spinoff of Selektpoints into a new 19 company holding both the Selektpoints program and the Phoenix technology rights, or 20 otherwise. (SCTN Opp’n, Ex. 9 at 288-89; Countercl., Ex. 12; SCTN/Phoenix Opp’n to 21 Pls.’ Mot. for Sanctions (Doc. #194), Ex. 1.) 22 On February 18, 2007, Koster and Eddy presented a second proposal in person to 23 Al-Bahar. (Buchan Aff. at 12, 13; Buchan Opp’n Ex. G; Exs. to Mot. to Dismiss (Doc. 24 #55), Ex. D.) Pursuant to the second proposal, SCTN, Phoenix, and two other companies, 25 Smart Marketing and Krako (“SMK”) were to be included in the deal by having forty-nine 26 percent of these respective companies folded into NewCo along with Selektpoints. (Buchan 8 1 Aff. at 13.) TII was to receive between $200 million and $400 million after the strategic 2 investors invested. (Id.) Al-Bahar rejected the proposal but requested the deal be 3 restructured with TII receiving more benefit than Phoenix, SCTN, and SMK. (Id. at 14.) 4 According to Buchan, Al-Bahar demanded they negate the value of SCTN and that the 5 proposal have a much lower return for SCTN. (SCTN Opp’n, Ex. 11 at 174.) Eddy and 6 Koster sent Al-Bahar a third proposal on February 21, which Al-Bahar again rejected. 7 (Buchan Aff. at 14; Buchan Opp’n, Ex. H; Exs. to Mot. to Dismiss (Doc. #55), Ex. E.) 8 According to Abrahim, TII never took the offer from Convergence seriously. (Pls.’ MSJ, 9 Ex. A10 at 174.) 10 According to Buchan, following Al-Bahar’s rejection of the third proposal, 11 Buchan worked with Koster and Eddy to prepare another proposal. (Buchan Aff. at 14.) 12 This proposal was to involve formation of a new company, which previously had been 13 referred to as NewCo in the presentations but now was being called “CBData,” to acquire 14 Selektpoints and either acquire the Phoenix/SCTN entities, or contract with them for a 15 software license. (Id. at 14-15.) According to Buchan, Al-Bahar encouraged exploration of 16 a joint venture with Convergence. (Id. at 14.) Buchan avers that Al-Bahar knew that upon 17 a deal being made, certain employees would go forward with the new company. (SCTN 18 Opp’n, Ex. 11 at 123.) According to Assaad, Holmes informed him that if a sale of 19 Selektpoints went through, Assaad would be on the “buy side,” and would work thereafter 20 with the new organization. (Pls.’ MSJ, Ex. A18 at 90-92.) Assaad testified he discussed 21 these plans with Neil Smith, TII’s Vice President of Business Development. (Id. at 94-95.) 22 On March 6, 2007, TII and Phoenix entered into additional licensing agreements 23 for other regions not included in the September 2006 Licensing Agreement, including 24 Europe, Asia, and South Africa. (Countercl. at 32.) Later that month, Al-Bahar sent an 25 email to Buchan, Holmes, and Darch, seeking to “improve” the licensing agreements with 26 Phoenix. (SCTN Opp’n, Ex. 26.) Al-Bahar suggested alterations to the areas covered by 9 1 the licensing agreements. (Id.) Additionally, he wanted to renegotiate the per transaction 2 cost, stating the rate is “way too high” and “we may find it cheaper to take their competitor 3 and finance them to build a better solution.” (Id.) Buchan responded by arguing against a 4 proposal to renegotiate the licensing terms with Phoenix, as they risked damaging their 5 relationship with an important vendor. (Id.) Additionally, Buchan wrote that he was 6 “troubled by trying to hold a gun to our most important vendor’s head by trying to 7 renegotiate a contract, that we signed in good faith, over a penny or at most, two.” (Id.) In 8 the email to Al-Bahar, Buchan made reference to “[t]he banks and companies interested in 9 possible acquisition of us.” (Id.) 10 On April 9, 2007, Bone-Knell sent an email to SCTN/Phoenix principal Miki 11 Radivojsa (“Radivojsa”) discussing the strategy for assigning or licensing Phoenix’s 12 intellectual property to Newco. (Pls.’ Opp’n to Bone-Knell’s Mot. Summ. J. (Doc. #291) 13 [“Pls.’ Opp’n to Bone-Knell”], Ex. 3.) Bone-Knell requested information from Radivojsa 14 as to what intellectual property would be included, and what advantages that software and 15 functionality would provide to Newco over its competition. (Id.) Bone-Knell referred to 16 the future entity as both Newco and “CBD.” (Id.) Radivojsa supplied Bone-Knell with 17 pertinent information on April 13. (Id.) 18 In an April 23, 2007 email to Holmes and others, Al-Bahar stated that SCTN and 19 its competitor, WRT, were in tight financial situations. (SCTN Opp’n, Ex. 25.) Al-Bahar 20 directed his employees to “[t]hink strategically of how do we get max leverage, build a 21 competitor to SCTN for us but not for everyone else, block the use of the software to direct 22 competitors, etc.” (Id.) 23 On April 25, 2007, Radivojsa exchanged emails with Eddy, Koster, and Buchan 24 discussing CBData’s possible purchase of Phoenix. (Pls.’ MSJ, Ex. A27.) As Eddy 25 described the proposed structure of the deal, Buchan, Eddy, and Koster would form 26 CBData. (Id.) Phoenix, Smart Marketing, Airos, and Krako would grant CBData purchase 10 1 options, which CBData could exercise upon receipt of funds from strategic global investors. 2 (Id.) Radivojsa thereafter sent an email to Korakianitis expressing concerns with the 3 proposed deal, including that Eddy and Koster had no risk exposure while others had 4 invested significant time and money, that Eddy and Koster may not be able to deliver, and 5 that Koster and Eddy were trying to sidestep dealing with SCTN because SCTN was a 6 publicly held company which would require a tender offer. (Pls.’ MSJ, Ex. A28.) On April 29, 2007, Consumer Behavioural Data Corporation Limited (“CBData”) 7 8 was incorporated in the Cayman Islands. (Buchan Aff. at 14; Pls.’ MSJ, Ex. A26.) Koster 9 was CBData’s sole shareholder. (Buchan Aff. at 15.) That same date, Bone-Knell sent an 10 email to Radivojsa, Koster, and Eddy, stating he has been “tasked with identifying and 11 recording a detailed listing of the actual IP currently held or under development in the three 12 privately held companies which are intended to be rolled up into Newco (i.e. Airos, Smart 13 Marketing etc).” (Pls.’ MSJ, Ex. A26.) CBData sought to identify intellectual property 14 rights owned by these companies that potentially could be assigned to CBData so CBData 15 could inform investors about the intellectual property protection that could be afforded to 16 investors in CBData. (Buchan Aff. at 15.) In late May 2007, Radivojsa, Buchan, Eddy, and Koster discussed a deal for 17 18 CBData to purchase Phoenix and SMK, and discussed drafting a memorandum of 19 understanding (“MOU”). (Pls.’ MSJ, Exs. A33-34.) In an email discussing the drafting of 20 the MOU, Radivojsa stated, “we also want to make sure that the TII issue is deal[t] with 21 fairly (ie [sic] there is some buyout of selektpoints, agreement with Adnan, . . .) so we will 22 add some points in MOU about that as well. Without that being addressed, we will not 23 proceed.” (Id.) Eddy responded, “We always contemplated making Adnan an offer for 24 Selektpoints – it[’]s in all of the deal diagrams we have proposed. We will propose a fair 25 deal to him and hopefully he will be a seller.” (Id.) 26 /// 11 1 The draft MOU provided for CBData to execute a non-exclusive licensing 2 agreement with Phoenix. (Pls.’ MSJ, Ex. A33.) As part of this non-exclusive licensing 3 agreement, provision would be made “for legal costs, judgements [sic] if TII launches legal 4 action against Phoenix since TII is a customer of Phoenix, and CBD and TII may have the 5 same target customers.” (Id.) A valuation would be completed of Phoenix, SCTN, Airos, 6 Krako, and Ravient, and Phoenix was to present to CBData an option to purchase these 7 companies. (Id.) CBData was to procure from TII “a guarantee from TII that it will not 8 start legal action against any parties listed in the ‘Parties’ section with respect to this 9 transaction. TII is a customer of Phoenix, and CBD and TII may have the same target 10 customers and legal action may be started.” (Id.) Although the MOU identified TII as a 11 party to the agreement, the draft MOU had no signature line for a TII representative. (Id.) 12 The MOU never was signed or executed by the parties. (Id.; SCTN Opp’n, Ex. 6 at 76.) 13 Korakianitis testified that he thought Al-Bahar knew of CBData and the various 14 buyout proposals. (SCTN Opp’n, Ex. 7 at 174, 307.) Korakianitis also testified that 15 Radivojsa would not move forward with such a deal without TII’s participation, even 16 though Phoenix’s licensing agreement with TII was non-exclusive and Phoenix could have 17 worked with CBData anyway. (Id. at 307-08.) Radivojsa likewise testified that Phoenix 18 and SCTN always understood that TII/Menalco was aware of CBData’s existence and 19 approved of its efforts. (SCTN/Phoenix Opp’n to Pls.’ Mot. for Sanctions (Doc. #194), Ex. 20 1.) Radivojsa also testified he never had any reason to believe Buchan did not have 21 authority to act on behalf of Selektpoints. (SCTN’s Opp’n, Ex. 9 at 491, 494.) 22 In the meantime, TII ceased paying Phoenix for its invoices beginning in May 23 2007. (Countercl. at 47.) In June, Phoenix began to request payment of its invoices. (Id.) 24 TII sent Yzelle DeWet (“DeWet”), a TII corporate representative, to SCTN’s facilities “to 25 determine the nature of SCTN’s activities and bills on behalf of TII.” (Pls.’ MSJ, Ex. B at 26 3; Countercl. at 56.) At the end of the trip, DeWet requested that the Licensing Agreement 12 1 be changed to reduce Phoenix’s fees and to make the contract exclusive. (Countercl. at 57.) 2 Throughout June, July, and August, Phoenix questioned TII on when it would be 3 paid on the outstanding invoices. (Id. at 47-48.) TII responded through various emails 4 suggesting the invoices would be paid shortly. (Id. at 47-49; SCTN Opp’n, Exs. 18-20.) As 5 late as August 14, TII confirmed it would pay by August 30. (Countercl. at 49.) 6 Throughout this period, Phoenix continued to provide services to TII, including providing 7 training videos, user guides, and technical support. (Id. at 58-60.) According to Phoenix, it 8 is owed $1,466,731.61 in unpaid invoices. (Id., Ex. 10.) 9 Meanwhile, between May and August 2007, CBData planned fund raising 10 presentations to financial institutions. (Buchan Aff. at 16.) For example, on May 29, 11 Koster sent an email to individuals at Google with a proposal regarding CBData and stated 12 CBData is “now positioned to be one of the largest global providers of consumer behavioral 13 data.” (Pls.’ Reply to Bone-Knell’s Opp’n to Pls.’ Mot. Summ. J. (Doc. #313), Ex. 6.) 14 CBData also made a proposal to MasterCard. (Id., Ex. 7 at 225.) CBData also entered into 15 non-disclosure agreements with various financial institutions. (Buchan Aff. at 16; Buchan 16 Opp’n, Ex. I.) According to Buchan, the presentations indicated that CBData had not yet 17 acquired Selektpoints and that the purchase of Selektpoints was a key element to CBData’s 18 business strategy. (Buchan Aff. at 17.) 19 Assaad testified he attended at least one presentation given to an entity called 20 Duke Equity during which it was represented that Assaad was a TII employee, but that he 21 would be moving forward with CBData when the deal went through. (Pls.’ MSJ, Ex. A18 22 at 93-94.) According to Assaad, he worked on CBData material while being paid by TII 23 because he understood CBData “was the company facilitating this big deal for Mr. 24 Al-Bahar, so certainly any work that I would have done would have been for TII or the 25 greater good thereof.” (SCTN Opp’n, Ex. 5 at 122-23.) Assaad further testified he had a 26 CBData business card, email address, and the title of Vice President Global Sales for 13 1 CBData because “that was the perceived management team that was going to be going 2 forward with the new organization.” (Pls.’ MSJ, Ex. A18 at 90.) Assaad testified he 3 understood that Al-Bahar and others at TII knew about CBData. (Id. at 90-92.) Buchan 4 likewise avers he worked with CBData and engaged in activity to secure investment and 5 joint ventures for Selektpoints as a liaison for TII/Menalco. (Buchan Aff. at 17.) 6 Efforts also were directed at obtaining a patent for CBData and for creating 7 CBData contracts. For example, Bone-Knell filed a patent application with the United 8 Kingdom patent office on June 14, 2007 in CBData’s name. (Pls.’ MSJ, Ex. A30.) The 9 patent describes a– 10 11 12 13 14 method, system and apparatus for implementing a consumer incentive program which provides for the capture, transmission and storage of consumer transaction information, and the subsequent analysis of said information to provide consumer behavioral data to participating incentive scheme Transaction Entities, Issuing Institutions, Device issuing companies or third parties to thereby enable the identification of specific persons, consumers and/or groups of consumers meeting specific consumer profile criteria to which subsequent marking and sales campaigns and the like can be targeted. 15 (Bone-Knell Reply, Ex. F.) Buchan testified he would not be surprised to learn that the 16 patent Bone-Knell applied for on Menalco’s behalf in November 2006 was similar to the 17 patent application Bone-Knell applied for on CBData’s behalf in June 2007. (Pls.’ Opp’n 18 to Bone-Knell, Ex. 4 at 206.) According to Buchan, both patent applications are similar to 19 applications filed by other companies such as American Express. (Id.) In mid July, Bone- 20 Knell sent an email to Buchan discussing Bone-Knell’s efforts at modifying a generic 21 master agreement forwarded to him “into a format which looks sufficiently different from 22 its original form, acceptable by the Banks/Financial Institutions and ensures CBD’s ability 23 to enforce its rights.” (Pls.’ Opp’n to Bone-Knell, Ex. 5.) 24 Throughout the period, Buchan, Holmes, and other Selektpoints employees used 25 personal email addresses as opposed to their TII or Selektpoints email addresses when 26 discussing CBData business. According to Assaad, he, Buchan, and other Selektpoints/TII 14 1 employees sometimes needed to use their personal email addresses because the Selektpoints 2 email server often was not in operation. (Pls.’ MSJ, Ex. A18 at 109-11.) In an August 24, 3 2007 email, Assaad asked another Selektpoints employee, Doug Sutherland, “Can they 4 monitor . . . things like hotmail or yahoo e-mails as well?” (Id. at 209.) According to 5 Assaad, by “they” he meant TII’s wholly owned subsidiary, Procco, which was a processing 6 center. (Id. at 209-10.) According to Assaad, he was not concerned about the email 7 monitoring in an effort to hide his communications regarding CBData from Al-Bahar 8 because “Al-Bahar knew that there was a deal going forward. He sought the deal. He 9 engaged the individuals that went out to go get the deal. He had me provide sensitive, 10 highly sensitive, information to these individuals.” (Id. at 223.) Rather, Assaad testified he 11 was concerned the individuals at Procco would monitor his emails because those particular 12 people did not know Selektpoints was for sale. (Id. at 211.) According to Abrahim, at a July 2007 TII executive management strategy 13 14 meeting, Buchan claimed to have more than 200 merchants signed up for Selektpoints. 15 (Pls.’ MSJ, Ex. A10 at 129.) However, senior management was concerned about these 16 representations because Buchan had made similar comments before but had never shown 17 them a list of merchants and Buchan could not provide the list when asked at the meeting. 18 (Id. at 130, 131-32.) TII thereafter initiated an internal investigation. (Pls.’ MSJ, Ex. B at 19 3.) 20 According to Abrahim, TII did not discover Koster, Eddy, and Buchan formed 21 CBData until the summer of 2007. (Id. at 5.) Abrahim also avers that this investigation 22 revealed that SCTN paid Buchan a “series of secret unlawful payments” from 23 SCTN/Phoenix to Buchan. (Id. at 3.) However, Buchan and Korakianitis testified that the 24 payments were not from SCTN or Phoenix. Rather, the payments were from Korakianitis to 25 Buchan for unpaid work Buchan performed for a company Korakianitis used to own. 26 (Buchan Aff. at 2; SCTN Opp’n, Ex. 7 at 152-54.) Buchan and Korakianitis deny the 15 1 payments were related to SCTN/Phoenix other than that when Korakianitis received 2 payment from SCTN/Phoenix, he would use that money to pay Buchan on the prior 3 obligation. (Pls.’ MSJ, Ex. A9 at 159.) According to Korakianitis, SCTN/Phoenix had no 4 knowledge of these payments, and he would pay Buchan out of other funds he received 5 from sales commissions he received from other companies as well. (Id. at 159-60; SCTN 6 Opp’n, Ex. 7 at 152-53, 160.) Radivojsa denied he knew about or approved payments from 7 SCTN/Phoenix to Buchan. (SCTN Opp’n, Ex. 9 at 529.) On August 28, 2007, CBData was scheduled to make a presentation to a potential 8 9 investor, Signature Group. (Pls.’ Opp’n to Bone-Knell, Ex. 4 at 212-13.) Although this 10 was CBData’s first presentation, CBData had non-disclosure agreements with other 11 companies, such as The Fund, LLC. (Id. at 213.) In an August 24, 2007 email, Koster 12 stated he would be enclosing with three separate emails the McKinsey Report,2 the Pepper 13 Corporation analysis,3 and “financials” with First Data Corp under CBData’s name. (Pls.’ 14 Reply to Bone-Knell’s Opp’n to Pls.’ Mot. Summ. J. (Doc. #313), Ex. 10.) In August 2007, Buchan was arrested by Dubai police. (Buchan Aff. at 17.) A 15 16 few days later, Buchan was suspended from work with Plaintiffs, as was most of the 17 Selektpoints personnel. (Id.) Buchan attempted to leave Dubai but was stopped at the 18 airport and arrested. (Id. at 18.) Buchan spent three weeks in jail before leaving the 19 country.4 (Id.) Abrahim states that while Buchan was being investigated by the authorities 20 21 22 2 McKinsey & Company performed an assessment on the Selektpoints program to see if it was viable and to value the program. (SCTN Opp’n, Ex. 5 at 41, Ex. 33.) 3 23 24 25 26 The Pepper Corporation carried out a global assessment for Selektpoints. (SCTN Opp’n, Ex. 15 at 222-23.) 4 Plaintiffs offer as an exhibit a purported copy of a Dubai court decision finding Buchan stole Selektpoints from Plaintiffs. (Pls.’ MSJ, Ex. B1.) Buchan objects to the document. The Court will not consider this document. It is hearsay and is not a certified government document. Further, the document appears to be a Microsoft Word document entitled “Robert Buchan Conviction16 1 in Dubai, “certain banks discontinued their business relationship with TII and Menalco.” 2 (Pls.’ MSJ, Ex. B at 3.) 3 On August 30, 2007, TII/Menalco filed suit in this Court against Buchan, 4 Holmes, Koster, Eddy, Bone-Knell, Convergence, SCTN, Phoenix, and CBData. (Compl. 5 (Doc. #1).) TII/Menalco generally asserts these Defendants conspired to misappropriate 6 Selektpoints for their own use under the CBData name. TII/Menalco brings claims for 7 federal and state civil Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”) 8 violations, misappropriation of trade secrets, civil conspiracy, fraud, breach of contract, 9 breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment, and unfair competition. 10 On September 5, Eddy sent Al-Bahar and Abrahim a proposal entitled “Re: 11 Amended Proposal for Menalco/Selektpoints (‘Transaction’).” (Pls.’ Reply to Bone-Knell’s 12 Opp’n to Pls.’ Mot. Summ. J. (Doc. #313), Ex. 14.) The proposal referred to the two prior 13 proposals and suggested that at a prior meeting, Al-Bahar requested Convergence come 14 back with a simpler proposal. (Id.) The new proposal identifies Newco as CBData, and the 15 proposal states that CBData has made presentations to strategic global investors to “flesh 16 out interest in a simplified Transaction format.” (Id.) 17 In September 2007, an article appeared in MoneyWorks magazine regarding 18 Selektpoints. (Buchan’s Opp’n, Ex. J.) The article describes the Selektpoints program, 19 including that it is a global merchant funded program, that it utilizes the landlord bank 20 concept with one landlord bank, that it collects detailed transaction information such as 21 stock keeping unit information, and administers direct marketing campaigns. (Id.) The 22 article also describes the various revenue streams a landlord bank could expect under 23 Selektpoints, what the merchant could expect to pay, and how much a consumer could 24 expect to earn in rewards points. (Id.) Additionally, the article identified three landlord 25 26 English.doc,” suggesting it is a translation, with no verification that it is a true and accurate translation of the original. 17 1 banks that had signed up with Selektpoints. (Id.) According to Abrahim, the plans for Selektpoints were confidential and not 2 3 intended to be shared outside TII. (Pls.’ MSJ, Ex. B at 2.) In contrast, Buchan testified that 4 Al-Bahar never told him not to disclose how much Selektpoints pays per card, and all 5 critical parts of the business model were disclosed by the MoneyWorks article and by other 6 public presentations. (SCTN Opp’n, Ex. 8 at 264-67.) According to David Parker of 7 Pepper Corporation, which carried out a global assessment for Selektpoints, the details on 8 Selektpoints were made public through presentations at conferences and in the 9 MoneyWorks article. (Id., Ex. 15 at 222-23.) Prior to filing the Complaint in this action, TII did not communicate to Phoenix 10 11 or SCTN that it thought Phoenix/SCTN was in breach of the Licensing Agreement. 12 (Countercl. at 35; SCTN Opp’n, Ex. 9.) According to Buchan, the general consensus at TII 13 was that TII/Menalco was satisfied that SCTN had provided the technology. (SCTN Opp’n, 14 Ex. 11 at 316-17.) According to Radivojsa, SCTN completed work on the initial 15 development for Selektpoints by August 30, 2007, and besides some “tweaking,” the project 16 was ready to go forward from SCTN’s perspective. (Id., Ex. 9 at 397, 519.) According to 17 Buchan, SCTN timely performed its contractual obligations related to the launch of the 18 Selektpoints program. (Pls.’ MSJ, Ex. A8 at 108.) However, according to Abrahim, SCTN 19 never completed adapting the program to Selektpoints’ needs. (SCTN Opp’n, Ex. 24 at 20 143-44.) 21 On September 12 and 14, 2007, SCTN/Phoenix sent demand letters to TII 22 requesting the return of the SCTN/Phoenix technology from TII and any of its subsidiaries, 23 business partners, or any other party who had received the technology through TII. 24 (Countercl. at 36.) SCTN/Phoenix thereafter filed Counterclaims against TII/Menalco and 25 Cross-claims against Buchan, Holmes, Koster, Eddy, Bone-Knell, Convergence, and 26 CBData. (Ans., Countercls. & Crosscls. (Doc. #19).) SCTN/Phoenix generally allege these 18 1 Counter and Cross Defendants conspired to devalue SCTN/Phoenix and withhold payment 2 on invoices to take advantage of SCTN’s weak financial position to obtain the SCTN 3 technology at a reduced price. SCTN/Phoenix also allege TII/Menalco has failed to pay all 4 sums due under the Licensing Agreement. SCTN/Phoenix bring claims for breach of 5 contract, breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing, unjust enrichment, conversion, 6 fraud, negligent misrepresentation, misappropriation of trade secrets, federal and state civil 7 RICO, civil conspiracy, unfair trade practices, and intentional interference with prospective 8 economic advantage. Defendants Buchan and Bone-Knell now move for summary judgment on 9 10 Plaintiffs’ claims for federal and state RICO violations, misappropriation of trade secrets, 11 and civil conspiracy. Plaintiffs move for summary judgment on their own claims for federal 12 and state civil RICO, civil conspiracy, misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of contract, 13 and breach of fiduciary duty. Plaintiffs also move for summary judgment on SCTN’s 14 counterclaims for misappropriation of trade secrets, conversion, intentional interference 15 with prospective economic advantage, and the various claims related to breach of the 16 Licensing Agreement.5 17 II. OBJECTIONS Defendants SCTN and Phoenix object to Plaintiffs’ exhibits A1, A3-A7, A11, 18 19 A13-A17, A19-48, A50-A57, A64, and A66-A69 as unauthenticated. Defendants argue an 20 affidavit from Plaintiffs’ counsel stating that the various exhibits were items produced in 21 discovery is insufficient to authenticate the documents. Plaintiffs respond that they 22 sufficiently have authenticated the various exhibits through the attorney’s affidavit. 23 24 25 26 5 No party moves for summary judgment on count four (fraud) or eight (unjust enrichment) of Plaintiffs’ Complaint. Plaintiffs move for summary judgment on counts fourteen through seventeen of SCTN/Phoenix’s Counterclaim. However, these counts are forms of relief, not separate theories of liability. 19 1 The Court “can consider only admissible evidence in ruling on a motion for 2 summary judgment.” Orr v. Bank of Am., NT & SA, 285 F.3d 764, 773 (9th Cir. 2002) 3 (citing Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e)). Exhibits must be authenticated to be admissible. Id. 4 Authentication is satisfied by “evidence sufficient to support a finding that the matter in 5 question is what its proponent claims.” Fed. R. Evid. 901(a). Documents authenticated 6 through personal knowledge must be attached to an affidavit that meets the requirements of 7 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(e). Orr, 285 F.3d at 773-74. Additionally, the affiant 8 must be a person through whom the exhibits could be admitted into evidence. Id. 9 Documents produced in discovery are deemed authentic when offered by a party opponent. 10 Id. at 777 & n.20. The production in response to a discovery request acts as a judicial 11 admission that the documents are authentic. Id. “[W]hen a document has been 12 authenticated by a party, the requirement of authenticity is satisfied as to that document with 13 regards to all parties, subject to the right of any party to present evidence to the ultimate 14 fact-finder disputing its authenticity.” Id. at 776. 15 Plaintiffs’ counsel states in her affidavit that exhibits A1 through A69 were 16 “produced or exchanged in the course of this litigation.” (Pls.’ MSJ, Aff. of Colleen M. 17 Coyle at 2.) Plaintiffs’ counsel identifies which documents were produced by which party 18 by reference to the different Bates numbers used by each party. (Id.) 19 The Court will overrule the objection to exhibits A11, A27, A28, A33, A34, and 20 A64 as these documents were produced by SCTN/Phoenix in the course of discovery, and 21 thus SCTN/Phoenix admitted their authenticity. The Court also will overrule the objection 22 to exhibits A1, A19-A24, A26, A29, A30, A45, A47, and A53-A56. Although these 23 exhibits were produced by Defendant CBData and not Phoenix or SCTN, CBData produced 24 them in response to discovery requests and has not denied their authenticity. Because the 25 exhibits are authenticated as to one party, they are authenticated as to all. Further, SCTN 26 and Phoenix do not dispute these documents are authentic, they argue only that Plaintiffs 20 1 have failed to authenticate them. However, Plaintiffs cannot authenticate documents they produced in discovery by 2 3 stating through an attorney affidavit that the materials were produced in discovery and 4 hence are authentic, as this would not constitute an admission because the exhibits were not 5 offered by a party opponent. Plaintiffs provide no basis for counsel to have personal 6 knowledge as to the authenticity of Plaintiffs’ documents. The Court therefore will sustain 7 the objection to exhibits A3-A7, A13-A17, A25, A31, A32, A35-A44, A46, A48, A50-A52, 8 and A66-A69. The Court will not consider these documents in deciding the summary 9 judgment motions. The Court also will sustain the objection to exhibit A57. The document is not 10 11 marked with any Bates number, and hence it is not clear that this document was produced in 12 discovery, and if it was, by which party. It does not appear to be a document produced in 13 discovery, but rather appears to be a letter from Plaintiffs’ counsel to the former counsel for 14 SCTN and Phoenix. Plaintiffs do not otherwise attempt to authenticate this exhibit. 15 In response to SCTN’s and Phoenix’s objections, Plaintiffs argue that SCTN’s 16 and Phoenix’s exhibits 12, 13, 16, and 22 likewise are not authenticated. The Court will 17 sustain the objection to these exhibits. SCTN and Phoenix have not authenticated these 18 exhibits, and the exhibits were produced by SCTN and Phoenix in discovery, not by a party 19 opponent. 20 III. DISCUSSION 21 Summary judgment is appropriate “if the pleadings, the discovery and disclosure 22 materials on file, and any affidavits show that there is no genuine issue as to any material 23 fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c). 24 A fact is “material” if it might affect the outcome of a suit, as determined by the governing 25 substantive law. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). An issue is 26 “genuine” if sufficient evidence exists such that a reasonable fact finder could find for the 21 1 non-moving party. Villiarimo v. Aloha Island Air, Inc., 281 F.3d 1054, 1061 (9th Cir. 2 2002). Initially, the moving party bears the burden of proving there is no genuine issue of 3 material fact. Leisek v. Brightwood Corp., 278 F.3d 895, 898 (9th Cir. 2002). After the 4 moving party meets its burden, the burden shifts to the non-moving party to produce 5 evidence that a genuine issue of material fact remains for trial. Id. The Court views all 6 evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Id. 7 A. Plaintiffs’ Federal Civil RICO Claims - Counts 1-2 of the Complaint 8 In count one of the Complaint, Plaintiffs allege Defendants were participants in 9 an associated-in-fact enterprise engaged in a scheme to defraud through the formation of 10 CBData and marketing Plaintiffs’ trade secrets to others in the industry as CBData’s, 11 thereby fraudulently obtaining Selektpoints and related TII/Menalco trade secrets for 12 themselves. Plaintiffs allege as predicate acts mail and wire fraud prohibited by 18 U.S.C. 13 § 1341 and § 1343. Plaintiffs contend Defendants used the mails and wires to make false 14 representations for the purpose of misappropriating and profiting from Plaintiffs’ 15 proprietary business information and trade secrets. In count two, Plaintiffs allege 16 Defendants conspired to engage in this racketeering activity. 17 Buchan moves for summary judgment on this claim, arguing Plaintiffs have 18 failed to produce evidence that Buchan agreed to join in a conspiracy or to commit 19 predicate acts. Bone-Knell also moves for summary judgment, arguing he was not a 20 participant in an enterprise, and he did not act in a directing capacity in any such enterprise. 21 Bone-Knell also argues Plaintiffs have not shown that Bone-Knell agreed to join a 22 conspiracy or to commit predicate acts. 23 Plaintiffs respond that while Buchan references the Complaint, the evidence 24 adduced during discovery demonstrates Buchan was a central figure in an associated-in-fact 25 enterprise that included Buchan, Bone-Knell, CBData, SCTN, and Phoenix. Plaintiffs 26 contend the facts demonstrate these co-conspirators agreed to form an enterprise to 22 1 misappropriate Selektpoints, and they facilitated the commission of predicate acts using the 2 mail and wires, including misappropriating Plaintiffs’ marketing materials and contracts for 3 CBData’s use, soliciting investors for CBData, and communicating about opportunities for 4 CBData. 5 Plaintiffs also argue the evidence demonstrates Bone-Knell was a participant in 6 the enterprise-in-fact, and that he performed acts in support of the enterprise, including 7 filing a patent application in CBData’s name for the same concept for which he previously 8 had filed an application in Menalco’s name, and communicated with the other alleged 9 co-conspirators about certain language in presentations and contracts. Plaintiffs also argue 10 Bone-Knell need not have directed activity to be liable under RICO, but that he nonetheless 11 engaged in substantial activity, such as filing the patent application in CBData’s name and 12 taking other steps to get the misappropriated trade secrets to market for CBData. 13 Plaintiffs also move for summary judgment on their federal RICO claims, 14 arguing the evidence shows Defendants were involved in a scheme to defraud Plaintiffs out 15 of the Selektpoints concept. Plaintiffs argue Defendants participated in an association-in- 16 fact enterprise that was designed to misappropriate Plaintiffs’ trade secrets and present them 17 as Defendants’ own property. As for predicate acts, Plaintiffs contend Defendants 18 committed mail and wire fraud by using email to communicate regarding opportunities for 19 CBData and to make false representations to Plaintiffs regarding Defendants’ progress on 20 and intentions with respect to Selektpoints. 21 Defendant Bone-Knell responds that Plaintiffs’ evidence does not support 22 Plaintiffs’ argument that Bone-Knell participated in any scheme to defraud Plaintiffs out of 23 Selektpoints, and the evidence presented regarding Bone-Knell’s participation is false. 24 Defendant Buchan responds that Plaintiffs seek summary judgment on claims which 25 ordinarily are not suitable for summary judgment, as they necessarily are fact intensive and 26 involve questions of intent and state of mind. Further, Buchan disputes he was engaged in 23 1 any scheme to defraud Plaintiffs. Rather, he was engaged in fulfilling Plaintiffs’ request 2 that he seek out potential purchasers or joint venture opportunities for the Selektpoints 3 program, and he did so at Plaintiffs’ request and on Plaintiffs’ behalf. 4 Defendants SCTN and Phoenix respond by arguing genuine issues of material 5 fact remain regarding whether TII intended to sell Selektpoints, and directed Eddy, Koster, 6 and Buchan to present them with proposals and/or arrange for Selektpoints to be marketed 7 globally via a new entity. Further, SCTN and Phoenix argue that even if TII could show 8 Buchan, Eddy, Koster, and Bone-Knell conspired against TII, no evidence in the record 9 shows SCTN or Phoenix knew about or participated in the conspiracy. Finally, SCTN and 10 11 Phoenix argue Plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate concrete financial loss. Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c), it is unlawful “for any person employed by or 12 associated with any enterprise engaged in, or the activities of which affect, interstate or 13 foreign commerce, to conduct or participate, directly or indirectly, in the conduct of such 14 enterprise’s affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity or collection of unlawful debt.” 15 RICO provides a civil cause of action for “[a]ny person injured in his business or property 16 by reason of a violation of section 1962.” 18 U.S.C. § 1964(c). “To have standing under 17 § 1964(c), a civil RICO plaintiff must show: (1) that his alleged harm qualifies as injury to 18 his business or property; and (2) that his harm was ‘by reason of’ the RICO violation, which 19 requires the plaintiff to establish proximate causation.” Canyon County v. Syngenta Seeds, 20 Inc., 519 F.3d 969, 972 (9th Cir. 2008). A plaintiff asserting injury to business or property 21 must show “concrete financial loss” resulting from “a harm to a specific business or 22 property interest–a categorical inquiry typically determined by reference to state law.” Id. at 23 975 (quotations omitted). 24 To prevail on a federal civil RICO claim, a plaintiff must demonstrate “(1) 25 conduct (2) of an enterprise (3) through a pattern (4) of racketeering activity (known as 26 ‘predicate acts’) (5) causing injury to plaintiff’s ‘business or property.’” Living Designs, 24 1 Inc. v. E.I. Dupont de Nemours & Co., 431 F.3d 353, 361 (9th Cir. 2005) (quotation 2 omitted). Pursuant to § 1962(d), it is unlawful to conspire to commit a violation of 3 § 1962(c). To satisfy the first element, a defendant “must participate in the operation or 4 5 management of the enterprise itself.” Reves v. Ernst & Young, 507 U.S. 170, 185 (1993). 6 Conduct “requires an element of direction.” Walter v. Drayson, 538 F.3d 1244, 1247 (9th 7 Cir. 2008) (quotation omitted). The defendant need not be “upper management” to conduct 8 the enterprise’s affairs, as an enterprise is “‘operated’ not just by upper management but 9 also by lower rung participants in the enterprise who are under the direction of upper 10 management.” Reves, 507 U.S. at 184. However, simply providing services to the 11 enterprise without an element of direction is insufficient. Walter, 538 F.3d at 1249. An enterprise “includes any individual, partnership, corporation, association, or 12 13 other legal entity, and any union or group of individuals associated in fact although not a 14 legal entity.” 18 U.S.C. § 1961(4). A plaintiff pleads an enterprise through allegations of 15 “an ongoing organization, formal or informal,” and by allegations that “the various 16 associates function as a continuing unit.” Odom v. Microsoft Corp., 486 F.3d 541, 549 (9th 17 Cir. 2007) (en banc) (quotation omitted). An organization is ongoing if it “is a vehicle for 18 the commission of two or more predicate crimes.” Id. at 552 (quotation omitted). 19 Allegations that the organization existed over a two-year timespan suffices to allege it is a 20 continuing unit. Id. Where the plaintiff alleges an associated-in-fact enterprise, the 21 plaintiff need not allege “any particular organizational structure, separate or otherwise.” Id. 22 at 551. 23 A plaintiff establishes a pattern of racketeering activity by showing the 24 participants in the enterprise committed at least two acts of racketeering. Id. at 552; 18 25 U.S.C. § 1961(5). To prove a pattern of racketeering activity, the plaintiff must show “that 26 the racketeering predicates are related, and that they amount to or pose a threat of continued 25 1 criminal activity.” H.J. Inc. v. N.W. Bell Tel. Co., 492 U.S. 229, 239 (1989). Predicate acts 2 are related if they have similar “purposes, results, participants, victims, or methods of 3 commission, or otherwise are interrelated by distinguishing characteristics and are not 4 isolated events.” Id. at 240 (quotation omitted). 5 As to continuity, a plaintiff must show either a closed period of repeated conduct, 6 or past conduct that by its nature projects into the future with a threat of repetition. Id. at 7 241. “Continuity does not require a showing that the defendants engaged in more than one 8 ‘scheme’ or ‘criminal episode.’” Medallion Television Enters., Inc. v. SelecTV of Cal., 9 Inc., 833 F.2d 1360, 1363 (9th Cir. 1987). However, the circumstances in any particular 10 11 case may demonstrate the predicate acts do not amount to a threat of continuing activity. Id. Racketeering activity includes “any act or threat involving murder, kidnapping, 12 gambling, arson, robbery, bribery, extortion, dealing in obscene matter, or dealing in a 13 controlled substance or listed chemical . . . which is chargeable under State law and 14 punishable by imprisonment for more than one year.” 18 U.S.C. § 1961(1)(A). 15 Racketeering activity also includes a variety of specified federal crimes, including mail and 16 wire fraud. Id. § 1961(1)(B). To state the elements of wire or mail fraud, the plaintiff must 17 allege (1) the defendants formed a scheme or artifice to defraud; (2) the defendants used the 18 mails or wires in furtherance of the scheme; and (3) the defendants acted with the specific 19 intent to deceive or defraud. Miller v. Yokohama Tire Corp., 358 F.3d 616, 620 (9th Cir. 20 2004); United States v. Manion, 339 F.3d 1153, 1156 (9th Cir. 2003). The mails or wires 21 are used in furtherance of a scheme even if use of the mails or wires is not an “essential 22 element” of the fraudulent the scheme, so long as it is “a step in the plot.” United States v. 23 Shipsey, 363 F.3d 962, 971 (9th Cir. 2004) (quotation omitted). 24 Finally, to establish causation, the plaintiff must allege he was injured “by reason 25 of” the defendant’s alleged racketeering activity. Living Designs, Inc., 431 F.3d at 362-63. 26 The plaintiff therefore must allege the defendant’s conduct proximately caused the 26 1 plaintiff’s injury. Poulos v. Caesars World, Inc., 379 F.3d 654, 666 (9th Cir. 2004). 1. Buchan’s and Bone-Knell’s Motions for Summary Judgment 2 The Court will grant Buchan’s and Bone-Knell’s motions for summary judgment 3 4 on these claims. Plaintiffs have failed to present evidence raising a genuine issue of 5 material fact that Defendants’ alleged predicate acts satisfy the continuity requirement. 6 Defendants’ conduct involved a single alleged fraud against a single victim. Upon 7 Defendants successfully appropriating Selektpoints for their own benefit, the alleged 8 scheme would be complete. Plaintiffs present no evidence Defendants intended to defraud 9 any other companies out of intellectual property or otherwise were committing or 10 threatening to commit other fraudulent acts. Thus, “although [Plaintiffs] allege[] a number 11 of ‘acts,’ [Defendants’] collective conduct is in a sense a single episode having the singular 12 purpose of [misappropriating Selektpoints], rather than a series of separate, related acts.” 13 Sever v. Alaska Pulp Corp., 978 F.2d 1529, 1535 (9th Cir. 1992) (holding allegations that 14 the plaintiff’s former employer took retaliatory actions against him for being a 15 whistleblower did not state a pattern of racketeering activity); see also Medallion Television 16 Enters., Inc., 833 F.2d at 1363-64 (holding threat of continuing illegal activity was lacking 17 where the case involved a single fraud with a single victim based on allegations that the 18 defendant attempted to induce the plaintiff to form a joint venture to obtain broadcast 19 rights). 20 Moreover, Plaintiffs have failed to show injury or damages with admissible 21 evidence. In their opposition, Plaintiffs cite only to their expert report in support of their 22 argument that they have established harm to TII’s business. (Pls.’ Opp’n to Buchan at 6; 23 Pls.’ Opp’n to Bone-Knell’s Mot. Summ. J. at 7.) The Court will not consider the expert 24 report, as it is hearsay. Plaintiffs therefore have failed to present admissible evidence 25 raising a genuine issue of material fact as to injury or damages for this claim. Because 26 Plaintiffs had reasonable notice that the sufficiency of their claim was at issue based on 27 1 Defendants Buchan and Bone-Knell challenging the claim on these bases, the Court sua 2 sponte will grant summary judgment in favor of Defendants SCTN and Phoenix on this 3 claim as well. See Oluwa v. Gomez, 133 F.3d 1237, 1239 (9th Cir. 1998). 2. Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment 4 Because the Court will grant Defendants’ motion for summary judgment on these 5 6 claims, the Court will deny Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment. Further, even if the 7 Court were not granting Defendants’ motion for summary judgment as to these claims, the 8 Court still would deny Plaintiffs’ motion. Defendant Buchan denies under oath he 9 participated in any scheme to defraud Plaintiffs of Selektpoints. He avers that he worked at 10 all times in Plaintiffs’ interest and at Plaintiffs’ direction to obtain offers to purchase or 11 joint venture opportunities for Selektpoints. Because Buchan’s intent is an essential 12 element of the alleged predicate acts of mail and wire fraud, a genuine issue of material fact 13 remains for trial, and Plaintiffs are not entitled to summary judgment as to Defendant 14 Buchan. 15 As for Defendant Bone-Knell, Buchan’s denial that he participated in a 16 conspiracy to steal Selektpoints from Plaintiffs raises a genuine issue of material fact for 17 Bone-Knell as well. As Plaintiffs have framed the facts, Buchan was the key individual in 18 the alleged conspiracy, and thus his denial of any such scheme to defraud raises a genuine 19 issue of material fact regarding Bone-Knell’s participation in any such scheme. 20 Additionally, many of the facts which Plaintiffs cite to support their federal 21 RICO claims against Bone-Knell are not supported by the evidence. Plaintiffs assert they 22 paid Bone-Knell’s “bills” believing he was providing services to Plaintiffs when he was 23 not. However, the evidence shows Bone-Knell submitted only one bill to Plaintiffs for 24 filing the patent application in the United Kingdom, which he filed under Plaintiff 25 Menalco’s name. Additionally, while Plaintiffs contend Bone-Knell filed the patent 26 application listing Holmes and Buchan as the inventors, the evidence Plaintiffs cite consists 28 1 of an email string between Buchan and Bone-Knell discussing in whose name the patent 2 should be filed. The actual patent application Bone-Knell filed is in Menalco’s name and 3 does not list Buchan and Holmes as the inventors. Plaintiffs also contend Bone-Knell filed 4 a patent application in the United States listing Buchan and Holmes as inventors. However, 5 the evidence cited again consists only of an email string discussing a possible application in 6 the United States. Bone-Knell denies he ever made such a filing, and Plaintiffs present no 7 evidence to the contrary. Moreover, the email string identifies Menalco as the “proprietor,” 8 thus raising an issue of fact as to whether Bone-Knell was acting in Plaintiffs’ interest in 9 any efforts to obtain a patent in the United States, rather than in furtherance of a conspiracy 10 to deprive Plaintiffs of Selektpoints. As to Defendants SCTN/Phoenix, a genuine issue of material fact remains 11 12 regarding their participation in any alleged scheme to defraud. Buchan denies any such 13 scheme to defraud existed. Radivojsa, SCTN/Phoenix’s principal, testified he believed 14 TII/Menalco knew about and approved of the efforts of Buchan, Koster, and Eddy to 15 prepare purchase or joint venture proposals for Selektpoints. Further, Radivojsa and 16 Korakianitis both testified that Radivojsa would not move forward with a deal involving 17 Phoenix and CBData without TII’s participation, as reflected in the email string discussing 18 a potential MOU between CBData and Phoenix. Radivojsa also testified he never had any 19 reason to believe that Buchan was not acting on Selektpoints’ behalf. Genuine issues of material fact remain regarding whether Defendants engaged in 20 21 any predicate acts involving use of the mails or wires in a scheme to defraud. Whether 22 Defendants acted with the requisite intent generally is a question of fact, particularly where 23 Defendants have denied such intent under oath. The Court therefore will deny Plaintiffs’ 24 motion for summary judgment on counts 1 and 2 of their Complaint. 25 /// 26 /// 29 1 B. Plaintiffs’ Nevada Civil Rico Claims - Counts 6 & 7 of the Complaint 2 In count six of the Complaint, Plaintiffs allege violations of Nevada’s civil RICO 3 statute, alleging the same enterprise as the federal civil RICO claim. In count 7, Plaintiffs 4 allege Defendants conspired to violate the Nevada civil RICO statute. Buchan moves for summary judgment on this claim, arguing Plaintiffs cannot 5 6 show Buchan engaged in two predicate acts, or that his actions caused any injuries to 7 Plaintiffs. Bone-Knell also moves for summary judgment, arguing Plaintiffs cannot show 8 he made any misrepresentations, or that he took any actions that caused injuries to 9 Plaintiffs, as Plaintiffs have no evidence they ever departed with money under false 10 11 pretenses. Plaintiffs respond that Buchan engaged in at least two predicate acts of obtaining 12 money through false pretenses or taking property from another under circumstances not 13 amounting to robbery. Specifically, Plaintiffs contend Buchan misappropriated the 14 Selektpoints trade secrets and used them for his own financial gain, falsely filed a patent 15 application indicating CBData owned Plaintiffs’ trade secrets, induced TII to contract with 16 SCTN by falsely representing SCTN’s software was fully developed and received a 17 payment from SCTN in return, and received his salary from TII by falsely representing he 18 was devoting his time exclusively to TII and keeping confidential TII’s information. 19 Plaintiffs contend they have produced evidence of damages, including payments to SCTN 20 and Bone-Knell, and from its continued contractual relationships with Defendants, which 21 involved paying sums of money to Defendants. 22 Plaintiffs contend Bone-Knell engaged in predicate acts by taking TII’s trade 23 secrets and filing a false patent application stating CBData owned the trade secrets, 24 submitting invoices to TII for payment when he was not working in TII’s interests, and 25 taking TII’s contracts and copying them with slight alterations for CBData’s use. Plaintiffs 26 also contend they parted with money as a result of Bone-Knell’s misrepresentations that he 30 1 was working to promote Selektpoints on TII’s behalf by providing Bone-Knell with 2 confidential information, paying his invoices, and continuing the contractual relationship 3 with Defendants. Plaintiffs also move for summary judgment on this claim, arguing the 4 evidence demonstrates Defendants engaged in a conspiracy to obtain Selektpoints for their 5 own use. 6 Nevada law makes it unlawful for a person: 7 (b) Through racketeering activity to acquire or maintain, directly or indirectly, any interest in or control of any enterprise. (c) Who is employed by or associated with any enterprise to conduct or participate, directly or indirectly, in: (1) The affairs of the enterprise through racketeering activity; or (2) Racketeering activity through the affairs of the enterprise. ... (h) To conspire to violate any of the provisions of this section. 8 9 10 11 12 13 Nev. Rev. Stat. § 207.400. Racketeering activity means the defendant “engag[ed] in at least 14 two crimes related to racketeering that have the same or similar pattern, intents, results, 15 accomplices, victims or methods of commission, or are otherwise interrelated by 16 distinguishing characteristics and are not isolated incidents . . . .” Nev. Rev. Stat. 17 § 207.390. Unlike federal law, a plaintiff in a Nevada civil RICO suit need not prove a 18 pattern of racketeering activity or continuity. Siragusa v. Brown, 971 P.2d 801, 809-11 19 (Nev. 1998). A plaintiff asserting a Nevada RICO claim must establish: (1) the plaintiff’s 20 injury flows from the defendant’s violation of a predicate Nevada RICO act; (2) the 21 defendant’s violation of the predicate act directly and proximately caused the plaintiff’s 22 injury; and (3) the plaintiff did not participate in committing the predicate act. Allum v. 23 Valley Bank of Nev., 849 P.2d 297, 299, 301 (Nev. 1993). 24 A “crime relating to racketeering” includes, among many other listed violations, 25 taking property from another under circumstances not amounting to robbery. Nev. Rev. 26 Stat. § 207.360(9). Obtaining possession of money or property valued at $250 or more by 31 1 means of false pretenses also qualifies as a predicate act. Id. § 207.360(26). To 2 demonstrate a false pretenses predicate act, the plaintiff must establish: “(1) intent to 3 defraud; (2) a false representation; (3) reliance on the false representation; and (4) that the 4 victim be defrauded.” Hale v. Burkhardt, 764 P.2d 866, 870 (Nev. 1988). 1. Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment 5 The Court will deny Plaintiffs’ motion on the Nevada civil RICO claims for the 6 7 same reasons as the federal civil RICO claims. Defendants deny they intended to obtain 8 Selektpoints through fraudulent means, and contend they were acting with Plaintiffs’ 9 consent, or believed they were doing so. A genuine issue of material fact therefore remains 10 regarding whether Defendants took Plaintiffs’ property under circumstances not amounting 11 to robbery or obtained Plaintiffs’ property through false pretenses, or conspired to do so. 2. Buchan’s Motion for Summary Judgment 12 13 Buchan contends Plaintiffs have not presented evidence raising a genuine issue of 14 material fact that he agreed to engage in predicate acts.6 Plaintiffs identify four instances of 15 predicate acts which, according to Plaintiffs, amount to either taking property of another 16 under circumstances not amounting to robbery, or false pretenses. First, Plaintiffs contend 17 Buchan took Selektpoints trade secrets and used them for his own financial gain and the 18 promotion of CBData. Buchan does not dispute he used Selektpoints material to produce 19 CBData materials and promote CBData. Rather, he argues he did so at Plaintiffs’ direction 20 and with Plaintiffs’ consent. Plaintiffs have presented evidence that Plaintiffs did not even 21 know about CBData until the Summer of 2007. Viewing the facts in the light most 22 favorable to Plaintiffs, a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Buchan took any of 23 Plaintiffs’ property under circumstances not amounting to robbery or obtained Plaintiffs’ 24 25 26 6 Buchan may prevail by showing that Plaintiffs do not have enough evidence of an essential element to carry their ultimate burden of persuasion at trial. Nissan Fire & Marine Ins. Co., Ltd. v. Fritz Cos., Inc., 210 F.3d 1099, 1102 (9th Cir. 2000). 32 1 property through false pretenses. Plaintiffs therefore have presented evidence raising a 2 genuine issue of material fact as to this predicate act. 3 Next, Plaintiffs contend Buchan took TII’s trade secrets when he filed a patent 4 application falsely stating that CBData had rightful ownership of the trade secrets. 5 Plaintiffs do not identify what crime Buchan committed for this conduct, but the reference 6 to a false statement suggests Plaintiffs are contending Buchan obtained the trade secrets 7 through false pretenses. The only evidence cited for this proposition, however, indicates 8 that it was Bone-Knell, not Buchan, who filed the patent application. (Pls.’ Opp’n to 9 Buchan at 9; Pls.’ MSJ at 11.) Further, Plaintiffs have failed to raise a genuine issue of 10 material fact regarding a necessary element of the false pretenses predicate act, as Plaintiffs 11 have no evidence anyone relied on the patent filing for any purpose. Moreover, Plaintiffs 12 present no admissible evidence of injury or damages resulting from this predicate act. 13 Next, Plaintiffs contend Buchan induced TII to contract with SCTN by falsely 14 representing that SCTN’s software was fully developed to support Selektpoints, and Buchan 15 received payments from SCTN through Korakianitis. Viewing the facts in the light most 16 favorable to Plaintiffs, Plaintiffs have presented evidence in the form of Abrahim’s 17 declaration that Buchan falsely represented the SCTN software was fully developed when 18 in fact it was not. Plaintiffs also have presented evidence from which a reasonable jury 19 could find Plaintiffs relied on the representation by entering into the contract with Phoenix 20 for the SCTN technology, and by continuing to make payments on the contract. 21 Additionally, viewing the facts in the light most favorable to Plaintiffs, a reasonably jury 22 could conclude Korakianitis funneled money from SCTN to Buchan upon TII’s payment of 23 contract fees to SCTN. Plaintiffs have presented evidence of damages in the form of 24 contract payments to SCTN for work which Plaintiffs contend they believed already had 25 been completed. Accordingly, Plaintiffs have presented evidence raising a genuine issue of 26 material fact that this conduct constitutes a predicate act. 33 1 Finally, Plaintiffs contend Buchan continued receiving his salary by falsely 2 representing he was devoting his productive time exclusively to TII and maintaining the 3 confidentiality of the information entrusted to him. Plaintiffs do not identify what crime 4 they believe Buchan committed through this conduct. The reference to the false statement 5 suggests Plaintiffs are asserting false pretenses. Plaintiffs rely almost exclusively on 6 inadmissible evidence to support this contention. (Pls.’ Opp’n to Buchan at 9.) The only 7 admissible evidence to which Plaintiffs cite is Abrahim’s declaration, in which he states that 8 TII relied on Buchan’s promises of loyalty and confidentiality when awarding Buchan 9 promotions and increased compensation. (Id.; Pls.’ MSJ, Ex. B at 3.) Plaintiffs do not cite 10 to admissible evidence identifying particular promises of loyalty or confidentiality Buchan 11 made to TII. Plaintiffs therefore have failed to raise a genuine issue of material fact that 12 Buchan made false representations to TII to support a false pretenses predicate act. 13 Additionally, this conduct amounts to a “standard breach of contract[] claim dressed as a 14 predicate act.” G.K. Las Vegas Ltd. P’ship v. Simon Property Group, Inc., 460 F. Supp. 2d 15 1222, 1236 (D. Nev. 2006). Plaintiffs contend Buchan failed to live up to promises of 16 loyalty and confidentiality as part of his employment agreement, which is nothing more than 17 a standard breach of contract claim, and which therefore does not amount to a predicate act 18 under Nevada’s RICO statute. Id. 19 Viewing the facts from the admissible evidence in the light most favorable to 20 Plaintiffs, Plaintiffs have presented evidence raising a genuine issue of material fact as to 21 two predicate acts. The Court therefore will deny Defendant Buchan’s summary judgment 22 motion on this claim. 23 24 3. Bone-Knell’s Motion for Summary Judgment Bone-Knell likewise contends Plaintiffs have not presented evidence raising a 25 genuine issue of material fact that he agreed to engage in predicate acts. Plaintiffs identify 26 three predicate acts for Bone-Knell. First, Plaintiffs contend Bone-Knell took TII’s trade 34 1 secrets and filed a patent application falsely stating CBData had rightful ownership of the 2 trade secrets. Plaintiffs do not identify what crime Buchan committed for this conduct, but 3 the reference to a false statement suggests Plaintiffs are contending Bone-Knell obtained 4 the trade secrets through false pretenses. As stated above with respect to Buchan, Plaintiffs 5 have failed to raise a genuine issue of material fact regarding a necessary element of the 6 false pretenses predicate act, as Plaintiffs have no evidence anyone relied on the patent 7 filing for any purpose. Moreover, Plaintiffs present no admissible evidence of injury or 8 damages resulting from this predicate act. Next, Plaintiffs contend Bone-Knell submitted invoices and received payments 9 10 from TII, and TII paid the invoices because TII incorrectly believed Bone-Knell was 11 working to further TII’s interests. Plaintiffs fail to present evidence raising a genuine issue 12 of material fact on this issue. The evidence before the Court shows Bone-Knell submitted 13 only one invoice to TII, which was for filing the patent in the United Kingdom which listed 14 Menalco as the owner. TII presents no evidence of other bills Bone-Knell submitted to TII 15 or that TII paid. Because the only bill Bone-Knell submitted to TII which TII paid was for 16 work performed for TII, Plaintiffs raise no genuine issue of material fact that Bone-Knell 17 committed a predicate act. Finally, Plaintiffs contend Bone-Knell participated in taking a contract that was 18 19 TII’s property and copying it, with only slight adaptations, for CBData’s use.7 Plaintiffs do 20 not identify what crime Bone-Knell committed by this conduct. Even if this activity 21 constituted a crime, Plaintiffs have not presented evidence raising a genuine issue of 22 material fact that Bone-Knell committed at least two predicate acts. The Court therefore 23 24 25 26 7 The evidence which Plaintiffs present on this point is also tenuous, as it consists of Buchan’s testimony that Bone-Knell “probably” used a Selektpoints contract. Plaintiffs do not present the contracts for a comparison, nor do they present Bone-Knell’s testimony regarding what contract he used as a template, or any other evidence suggesting Bone-Knell in fact used a Selektpoints contract. 35 1 will grant Bone-Knell’s motion for summary judgment on this claim. 2 C. Plaintiffs’ Civil Conspiracy Claim - Count 5 of the Complaint 3 In count five of the Complaint, Plaintiffs allege Defendants conspired “to obtain 4 Plaintiffs’ Trade Secrets,” and to disseminate false and fraudulent information in 5 furtherance of their conspiracy to obtain Plaintiffs’ trade secrets. Buchan and Bone-Knell 6 each move for summary judgment, arguing Plaintiffs have no evidence Buchan or Bone- 7 Knell entered into any conspiracy. Additionally, Buchan and Bone-Knell contend the 8 conspiracy claim duplicates the misappropriation of trade secrets claim, and thus is 9 preempted by Nevada’s Uniform Trade Secrets Act. Plaintiffs also move for summary judgment on this claim and respond that the 10 11 facts show Buchan and Bone-Knell agreed with their co-conspirators to harm TII, and TII 12 relied to its detriment on their false representations, as TII continued to employ them and 13 allow them access to TII’s trade secrets. Plaintiffs also argue the claim is not preempted 14 because it does not depend on the information at issue being a trade secret. Plaintiffs 15 contend Buchan and Bone-Knell committed other overt acts in furtherance of the 16 conspiracy unrelated to misappropriation of a trade secret. Under Nevada law, to establish a claim for civil conspiracy, the plaintiff must 17 18 show “a combination of two or more persons who, by some concerted action, intend to 19 accomplish some unlawful objective for the purpose of harming another which results in 20 damage.” Collins v. Union Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass’n, 662 P.2d 610, 622 (Nev. 1983). 1. Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment 21 The Court will deny Plaintiffs’ summary judgment motion for the same reasons it 22 23 has denied the state and federal civil RICO claims. Defendants deny any conspiracy with 24 the intent to cause harm to Plaintiffs. A genuine issue of material fact therefore remains. 25 /// 26 /// 36 1 2. Buchan’s and Bone-Knell’s Motions for Summary Judgment 2 The Nevada Uniform Trade Secrets Act (“NUTSA”) displaces “conflicting tort, 3 restitutionary, and other law of this state providing civil remedies for misappropriation of a 4 trade secret.” Nev. Rev. Stat. § 600A.090(1). However, NUTSA does not displace: 5 6 7 8 9 (a) Contractual remedies, whether or not based upon misappropriation of a trade secret; (b) Other civil remedies that are not based upon misappropriation of a trade secret; or (c) Except as otherwise provided in NRS 600A.035, criminal sanctions, whether or not based upon misappropriation of a trade secret. Id. § 600A.090(2). The Act precludes common law tort claims arising from a “single 10 factual episode” of misappropriation of a trade secret. Frantz v. Johnson, 999 P.2d 351, 11 357-58 (Nev. 2000); Hutchison v. KFC Corp., 809 F. Supp. 68, 71-72 (D. Nev. 1992) 12 (dismissing various common law tort claims as precluded by the Act). However, NUTSA 13 does not provide a “blanket preemption to all claims that arise from a factual circumstance 14 possibly involving a trade secret.” Frantz, 999 P.2d at 357 n.3. If the plaintiff establishes 15 claims that “do not depend on the information at issue being deemed a trade secret,” the Act 16 will not preclude those claims. Id. 17 The Court will grant Defendants’ motions for summary judgment on this claim, 18 as it is barred by the NUTSA. Although Plaintiffs argue this claim is not duplicative of the 19 misappropriation of trade secrets claim because it involves overt acts in furtherance of the 20 conspiracy that do not involve a trade secret, the object and purpose of the alleged 21 conspiracy is the same as the misappropriation of trade secrets claim. The basis of the 22 conspiracy is that Defendants allegedly agreed to harm Plaintiffs by stealing the 23 Selektpoints trade secrets to market the program as their own. That they may have taken 24 acts in furtherance of this conspiracy that do not involve misappropriation of a trade secret 25 does not transform the overall nature of the claim. Because Plaintiffs had reasonable notice 26 that the sufficiency of their claim was at issue based on Defendants Buchan and Bone-Knell 37 1 moving for summary judgment on this claim arguing it was precluded by NUTSA, the 2 Court sua sponte will grant summary judgment in favor of Defendants SCTN and Phoenix 3 on this claim as well. See Oluwa, 133 F.3d at 1239. D. Plaintiffs’ Misappropriation of Trade Secrets Claim - Count 3 of the Complaint 4 5 In count three of the Complaint, Plaintiffs allege they owned unique know-how, 6 7 concepts, ideas, methodologies, standards, specifications, and business models that 8 constitute protectable proprietary information. Plaintiffs allege Defendants acquired the 9 trade secrets through improper means and misappropriated them for their own use and 10 11 benefit. Buchan moves for summary judgment on this claim, arguing he promoted 12 Selektpoints and explored possible purchase or joint venture agreements at Plaintiffs’ 13 insistence, and obtained non-disclosure agreements where appropriate to protect Plaintiffs’ 14 confidential information. Bone-Knell also moves for summary judgment, arguing he did 15 not misappropriate any information, as everything was provided to him by Menalco to file a 16 patent application and to facilitate fund raising to purchase the Selektpoints loyalty 17 program. Additionally, Bone-Knell argues he had no duty to maintain secrecy except under 18 a confidentiality agreement with another company called EMAX, pursuant to which he 19 owed no duty to Plaintiffs. Bone-Knell further argues that he did not attend any 20 presentations of the Selektpoints program to potential investors, and in any event all such 21 presentations were given under the protection of non-disclosure agreements. 22 Plaintiffs respond that the evidence shows the Selektpoints concept was a 23 valuable trade secret to which Buchan had access through his employment. Plaintiffs 24 contend Buchan misappropriated the trade secret by establishing CBData and disclosing the 25 secrets to CBData to further CBData’s and Buchan’s own interests. Buchan disclosed 26 Plaintiffs’ trade secrets to potential investors without Plaintiffs’ consent and implied that 38 1 CBData owned the trade secrets, and he did so in violation of his confidentiality obligation 2 to Plaintiffs in an effort to compete with Plaintiffs. 3 As to Bone-Knell, Plaintiffs argue Bone-Knell was privy to the Selektpoints 4 concept only due to his relationship with Buchan and for filing patent applications in 5 Menalco’s name. Plaintiffs contend Bone-Knell misappropriated those trade secrets by 6 disclosing the secrets to CBData and by providing support to Koster, Eddy, and Buchan 7 with respect to presentations designed to raise funds, which Plaintiffs contend Bone-Knell 8 knew would result in the disclosure of TII’s trade secrets to third parties. Plaintiffs also 9 move for summary judgment on this claim, arguing Defendants misappropriated Plaintiffs’ 10 trade secrets in the form of the Selektpoints business plans by using the plans for 11 Defendants’ own benefit, disclosing the plans without Plaintiffs’ consent, and concealing 12 such use from Plaintiffs. Plaintiffs contend these actions were in contravention of 13 Defendants’ duties of confidentiality and loyalty, and caused Plaintiffs damages. 14 Defendant Buchan responds by arguing the business plans were not trade secrets, 15 as they were published by Plaintiffs in a trade magazine. Buchan also argues that any 16 disclosures he made were pursuant to non-disclosure agreements, and were done with 17 Plaintiffs’ knowledge and authorization to pursue a sale or joint venture. Defendant Bone- 18 Knell responds by arguing the two patent applications covered different inventions, and he 19 had no role in forming CBData. Defendants SCTN/Phoenix respond by arguing the 20 Selektpoints business plan was not a trade secret, Plaintiffs took no effort to protect the 21 alleged trade secret, Plaintiffs have presented no evidence Plaintiffs derive economic value 22 from its business plans not being known, and no wrongful misappropriation occurred 23 because SCTN/Phoenix were not involved in any conspiracy to misappropriate the alleged 24 trade secrets. 25 26 The NUTSA prohibits the misappropriation of trade secrets and provides for a private right of action for damages and injunctive relief. See Nev. Rev. Stat. § 600A.010 et 39 1 seq. To establish a misappropriation claim, the plaintiff must show: (1) a valuable trade secret; (2) misappropriation of the trade secret through use, disclosure, or nondisclosure of use of the trade secret; and (3) the requirement that the misappropriation be wrongful because it was made in breach of an express or implied contract or by a party with a duty not to disclose. 2 3 4 5 Frantz, 999 P.2d at 358 (footnotes omitted). The Act defines a trade secret as: information, including, without limitation, a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique, product, system, process, design, prototype, procedure, computer programming instruction or code that: (a) Derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by the public or any other persons who can obtain commercial or economic value from its disclosure or use; and (b) Is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy. 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Nev. Rev. Stat. § 600A.030(5). Whether information is a trade secret generally is a 13 question for the fact-finder. Frantz, 999 P.2d at 358. Factors to consider include the extent 14 to which others outside the business know the information, the ease or difficulty with which 15 others could acquire the information properly, whether the information was confidential or 16 secret, and the measures the employer took to guard the information’s secrecy. Id. at 17 358-59. 18 19 1. Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment As with Plaintiffs’ other claims, the Court will deny summary judgment on this 20 claim, as Defendants deny any use was wrongful. Rather, they contend they were working 21 on Plaintiffs’ behalf and/or with Plaintiffs’ knowledge and consent, and therefore did not 22 misappropriate anything. Moreover, Defendants present evidence raising a genuine issue of 23 material fact that Plaintiffs had no trade secrets, as every detail of the Selektpoints program 24 was revealed in detail at public presentations and through the MoneyWorks article. Buchan 25 testified that all details of the program were publicly released, as did David Parker of 26 Pepper Corporation, an individual Plaintiffs do not allege was a part of the scheme to steal 40 1 Selektpoints. Moreover, Plaintiffs have not identified with any specificity a single trade 2 secret that was not revealed in the MoneyWorks article. 3 4 2. Buchan’s Motion for Summary Judgment The Court will deny Defendant Buchan’s motion for summary judgment. As 5 with the Nevada civil RICO claim, Buchan does not deny he used the Selektpoints business 6 plans. Rather, he contends he did so at Plaintiffs’ behest and with Plaintiffs’ authorization. 7 Plaintiffs have presented evidence they did not authorize any disclosures to CBData or 8 CBData’s potential investors, as Plaintiffs have presented evidence they were unaware 9 CBData even existed. The fact that CBData signed non-disclosure agreements prior to any 10 disclosure is of no consequence, as Plaintiffs have presented evidence it did not approve 11 any disclosures to CBData or its potential investors, whether under a non-disclosure 12 agreement or otherwise. Because Plaintiffs have presented evidence that Buchan 13 misappropriated a trade secret, the Court will deny Defendant Buchan’s motion for 14 summary judgment on this claim. 15 16 3. Bone-Knell’s Motion for Summary Judgment The Court will grant Bone-Knell’s motion for summary judgment on this claim. 17 Plaintiffs identify two bases for this claim. First, Plaintiffs’ contend Bone-Knell stole TII’s 18 trade secrets, established CBData, and disclosed the secrets to CBData. However, the 19 evidence cited does not support this claim against Bone-Knell. Rather, the facts cited 20 demonstrate Koster, Eddy, Holmes, and Buchan formed CBData. Plaintiffs cite to no 21 evidence Bone-Knell formed CBData. As for the other cited evidence, the only paragraph 22 that refers to Bone-Knell states that Bone-Knell filed a patent application in the United 23 Kingdom on CBData’s behalf for the Selektpoints concept in June 2007. However, 24 Plaintiffs have presented no evidence raising a genuine issue of material fact that Bone- 25 Knell used any of Plaintiffs’ trade secrets in preparing the application. Plaintiffs have not 26 pointed to any evidence as to what materials Bone-Knell relied upon to make the second 41 1 application, nor have they identified a single trade secret revealed in the patent filing. If, as 2 Plaintiffs contend, the second patent application is merely a repeat of the idea contained in 3 the first application, then Bone-Knell could have relied upon the contents of a publicly filed 4 document, not Plaintiffs’ trade secrets, in preparing the second application. 5 Second, Plaintiffs contend Bone-Knell provided support to Koster, Eddy, and 6 Buchan with respect to fund raising presentations, and Bone-Knell knew these presentations 7 sought investors for CBData and would involve disclosure of TII’s trade secrets. Plaintiffs 8 fail to raise a genuine issue of material fact on this contention. Plaintiffs cite only to Bone- 9 Knell’s admission that he provided support to Buchan, Koster, and Eddy. However, 10 Plaintiffs present no evidence that Bone-Knell’s support consisted of providing Koster, 11 Eddy, and Buchan with TII’s trade secrets. Plaintiffs present no evidence Bone-Knell 12 attended any presentations at which TII’s trade secrets were revealed. Indeed, Plaintiffs 13 point to no evidence raising a genuine issue of material fact as to which presentations Bone- 14 Knell provided support and that Plaintiffs’ trade secrets were in fact revealed at any of those 15 presentations, or that Bone-Knell knew Plaintiffs’ trade secrets would be so revealed. The 16 Court therefore will grant Bone-Knell’s motion for summary judgment on this claim. 17 E. Plaintiffs’ Breach of Contract Claim - Count 9 of the Complaint/Breach of Fiduciary Duty - Count 10 of the Complaint 18 19 Count nine of the Complaint alleges Buchan breached his employment contracts 20 by acting against Plaintiffs’ interests, by devoting part of his productive time to his own 21 endeavors on CBData’s behalf, and by disseminating Plaintiffs’ confidential business 22 information. Plaintiffs move for summary judgment on this claim, arguing the evidence 23 establishes Buchan violated his contractual obligations and fiduciary duties by directing the 24 alleged scheme to steal Selektpoints, by not devoting all of his productive time to Plaintiffs, 25 and by disseminating Plaintiffs’ confidential information without Plaintiffs’ permission. 26 Buchan contends the employment agreement was illegal and void, and therefore 42 1 unenforceable. Buchan also argues that in any event, he performed under the contract, as 2 all actions he took were at the behest of Plaintiffs. Finally, Buchan argues the breach of 3 fiduciary duty claim is precluded by the NUTSA, as it is duplicative of Plaintiffs’ 4 misappropriation of trade secrets claim. Under Nevada law, to establish a breach of contract claim, the plaintiff must 5 6 show: (1) a valid contract; (2) the plaintiff performed or was excused from performing; (3) 7 the defendant materially breached the contract; (4) resulting in damages to the plaintiff. 8 Cohen-Breen v. Gray Television Group, 1. Inc., --- F. Supp.2d ----, 2009 WL 3241632, *9 9 (D. Nev. 2009) (applying Nevada law). A breach of fiduciary duty claim requires the 10 plaintiff to show the existence of a fiduciary duty, the defendant breached that duty, and the 11 breach proximately caused the plaintiff damages. Stalk v. Mushkin, 199 P.3d 838, 843 12 (Nev. 2009). The Court will deny Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment on this claim. 13 14 Buchan avers that he worked in Plaintiffs’ interest, acted as Plaintiffs’ liaison, and worked 15 to fulfill Plaintiffs’ wishes and direction that he look for purchasers or joint venture 16 opportunities for Selektpoints. Because Buchan states under oath that he acted in Plaintiffs’ 17 interests and at their behest, a genuine issue of material fact remains regarding whether 18 Buchan violated any contractual or fiduciary duties.8 However, the Court rejects Buchan’s argument that the breach of fiduciary duty 19 20 claim is duplicative of the misappropriation of trade secrets claim. Plaintiffs allege Buchan 21 committed acts breaching his fiduciary duties which do not depend on the misappropriation 22 of any trade secret. For example, Plaintiffs contend Buchan spent his time developing 23 CBData for his own profit when he was being paid by Plaintiffs to work on bringing 24 Selektpoints to market for Plaintiffs’ benefit. Buchan’s alleged personal pursuits on 25 26 8 Buchan did not move for summary judgment on these claims. 43 1 company time do not depend on Selektpoints being a trade secret. 2 F. Plaintiffs’ Unfair Competition Claim - Count 13 of the Complaint 3 Count thirteen of Plaintiffs’ Complaint alleges Defendants engaged in unfair 4 competition by attempting to seize for themselves the value of the time and resources which 5 Plaintiffs expended in developing Selektpoints. Plaintiffs move for summary judgment on 6 this claim, arguing Defendants engaged in a conspiracy to misappropriate Plaintiffs’ trade 7 secrets and use them for their own benefit. Defendants Buchan, Bone-Knell, and SCTN 8 respond by arguing this claim is precluded by the NUTSA as duplicative, and in any event, 9 they never attempted to seize Selektpoints for themselves. Buchan also argues he gained no 10 market advantage because Selektpoints never was brought to market by anyone. Nevada common law unfair competition must be “ground[ed] in deception or 11 12 appropriation of [the plaintiff’s] property.” Golden Nugget, Inc. v. Am. Stock Exch., Inc., 13 828 F.2d 586, 591 (9th Cir. 1987) (applying Nevada law). 14 The Court will deny Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment on this claim for 15 the same reasons as the Court denied Plaintiffs’ motion as to other claims. Defendants deny 16 they seized Selektpoints for themselves or otherwise deceived Plaintiffs. The Court further 17 concludes this claim is preempted by NUTSA. Plaintiffs’ unfair competition claim relies on 18 the theory that Defendants conspired to misappropriate Plaintiffs’ trade secrets for their own 19 use. It arises out of a single factual episode and by Plaintiffs’ own argument rests on the 20 misappropriation of Plaintiffs’ confidential information. Because Plaintiffs had reasonable 21 notice that the sufficiency of their claim was at issue based on Defendants challenging the 22 claim as precluded by NUTSA, the Court sua sponte will grant summary judgment in 23 Defendants’ favor on this claim. See Oluwa, 133 F.3d at 1239. 24 /// 25 /// 26 /// 44 1 G. SCTN/Phoenix’s Federal and State RICO Claims and Conspiracy Claim - Counts 8-11 of the Counterclaim 2 3 Count eight of SCTN/Phoenix’s Counterclaim alleges Plaintiffs participated in 4 the conduct of an associated-in-fact enterprise with the Cross-Defendants which failed to 5 return SCTN/Phoenix’s patented technology, used the technology when not licensed to do 6 so, and disseminated the technology to unlicensed entities. As predicate acts, 7 SCTN/Phoenix allege mail and wire fraud to make false representations that Plaintiffs 8 would maintain confidentiality and would abide by the terms of the Licensing Agreement. 9 Count nine alleges Plaintiffs conspired to commit the RICO violation described in count 10 eight. Count ten alleges a Nevada civil RICO violation based on the same facts, with the 11 predicate acts as making false representations with the intent of obtaining money or 12 property. Count eleven alleges civil conspiracy based on the same allegations. 13 Plaintiffs move for summary judgment, arguing SCTN/Phoenix have failed to 14 present evidence Plaintiffs were engaged in an enterprise with the Cross-Defendants 15 because the evidence shows Plaintiffs were unaware of the activities of Buchan, Bone- 16 Knell, Eddy, and Koster. Plaintiffs also argue SCTN/Phoenix have no evidence Plaintiffs 17 intentionally participated in a scheme to defraud SCTN/Phoenix. As to the conspiracy 18 claim, Plaintiffs argue SCTN/Phoenix have presented no evidence there was a meeting of 19 the minds with the Cross-Defendants. Further, Plaintiffs argue that SCTN/Phoenix have 20 failed to identify what trade secrets Plaintiffs allegedly stole through the conspiracy. 21 SCTN/Phoenix respond by arguing evidence in the record raises an issue of fact 22 that Plaintiffs were aware of and approved the Cross-Defendants’ activities. 23 SCTN/Phoenix argue the evidence shows Plaintiffs entered into a non-disclosure agreement 24 with Convergence to explore a sale or joint venture involving Selektpoints. SCTN/Phoenix 25 argue that after Al-Bahar rejected Convergence’s offers, he instructed Convergence to come 26 back with a better offer, one which devalued SCTN/Phoenix, even though Convergence had 45 1 a contractual obligation to SCTN/Phoenix at that time under the Mandate to Act. 2 According to SCTN/Phoenix, Plaintiffs were aware of SCTN’s financial difficulties, and 3 Plaintiffs thereafter withheld payment and sought to renegotiate the terms of the Licensing 4 Agreement by using their nonpayment as leverage while repeatedly misrepresenting to 5 SCTN/Phoenix that payment was forthcoming. The Court will grant Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment on these claims. 6 7 SCTN/Phoenix have presented no evidence of an enterprise or a meeting of the minds 8 between Plaintiffs and Convergence. Although SCTN/Phoenix present evidence Al-Bahar 9 instructed Convergence to devalue SCTN in the next offer, SCTN/Phoenix present no 10 evidence Convergence agreed to act in concert with Plaintiffs. Neither presentation shows 11 dollar figures for what Convergence was presenting as SCTN/Phoenix’s value and Al- 12 Bahar rejected Convergence’s next offer in which Convergence allegedly was to devalue 13 SCTN/Phoenix. To the extent Convergence restructured the offer, SCTN/Phoenix have not 14 presented any evidence raising a genuine issue of material fact that Convergence did so as 15 part of an associated-in-fact enterprise or conspiracy with Plaintiffs as opposed to contract 16 negotiation on SCTN/Phoenix’s behalf under the Mandate to Act. SCTN/Phoenix have not 17 presented evidence, for example, that Convergence grossly deflated SCTN/Phoenix’s value 18 in the subsequent proposal. SCTN/Phoenix also present no evidence that Convergence 19 played any role in Plaintiffs’ alleged plan to cease paying SCTN/Phoenix’s invoices to put 20 pressure on SCTN/Phoenix’s already-tight financial situations. For example, 21 SCTN/Phoenix do not point to any evidence in the record that Convergence knew Plaintiffs 22 were not paying SCTN/Phoenix’s bills and sought to take advantage of that circumstance. 23 The Court therefore will grant Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment on counts 8-11 of 24 SCTN/Phoenix’s Counterclaim. 25 /// 26 /// 46 1 H. SCTN/Phoenix’s Misappropriation of Trade Secrets Claim - Count 7 of the Counterclaim 2 3 Count seven of SCTN/Phoenix’s Counterclaim alleges SCTN/Phoenix own 4 certain technology, as well as unique know how, ideas, concepts, methodologies, and 5 business models which are proprietary and constitute trade secrets. SCTN/Phoenix allege 6 Plaintiffs misappropriated those trade secrets, causing damages. 7 Plaintiffs move for summary judgment on this claim, arguing SCTN/Phoenix 8 have failed to show the existence of a trade secret, or that Plaintiffs misappropriated any 9 such trade secret because Plaintiffs did not have access to the trade secrets, as all software 10 was provided to the client banks or loaded onto point-of-sale terminals. SCTN/Phoenix 11 respond that they adequately have set forth their trade secrets as software for the cards and 12 point-of-sale terminals, technical manuals, training videos, and technical overview 13 documentation. SCTN/Phoenix contend the evidence shows this information was provided 14 to Plaintiffs, and Plaintiffs have not returned all of the property. 15 The Court will deny Plaintiffs’ summary judgment motion on this claim. 16 Viewing the facts and reasonable inferences therefrom in the light most favorable to 17 Plaintiffs, SCTN/Phoenix have identified the trade secrets at issue as software on the point- 18 of-sale terminal and on the smart card; specifications for the interface to the point-of-sale 19 terminal, smart card, and back office system; user manuals; and training videos. (SCTN 20 Opp’n, Ex. 1 at 234, Ex. 9 at 424-29; Countercl. at 50.) Reference to tangible trade secret 21 material will suffice to adequately describe the trade secret. See Imax Corp. v. Cinema 22 Tech., Inc., 152 F.3d 1161, 1167 (9th Cir. 1998) (stating that identification of a trade secret 23 is sufficient when it refers to trade secret material such as engineering drawings and 24 blueprints, but reference to a general catchall phrase to describe features of a system not 25 disclosed in a patent does not adequately describe the trade secret where the trade secret is 26 the intangible concept, in this case, the dimensions and tolerances in the design of a 47 1 complex projector system). Additionally, SCTN/Phoenix have presented evidence they 2 provided those materials directly to Plaintiffs, including a point-of-sale terminal and smart 3 card left in Buchan’s office, as well as specifications, user manuals, and training videos sent 4 to Plaintiffs. The Court therefore will deny Plaintiffs’ motion on this claim. 5 I. SCTN/Phoenix’s Conversion and Unfair Trade Practices Claims - Counts 4 and 12 of the Counterclaim 6 7 Count four of the Counterclaim alleges Plaintiffs have possession of 8 SCTN/Phoenix’s patented technology but will not return it despite requests for its return. 9 Count twelve of the Counterclaim alleges Plaintiffs’ refusal to return the patented 10 technology is an attempt to convert the technology to Plaintiffs’ own use or to copy and/or 11 exhibit it for others, in violation of Nevada Revised Statute § 603.040. 12 Plaintiffs move for summary judgment on these claims, arguing SCTN/Phoenix 13 have failed to provide evidence that Plaintiffs have retained or copied any proprietary 14 information. Plaintiffs also argue Nevada law does not protect conversion of intangible 15 assets. SCTN/Phoenix respond by arguing that both Buchan and Radivojsa testified that 16 SCTN/Phoenix’s proprietary information was contained on a smart card and point-of-sale 17 terminal which were located in Buchan’s office at the time he left Plaintiffs’ employ, and 18 neither item has been returned. SCTN/Phoenix also argue Nevada law will protect 19 intangible assets from conversion where they are merged with something tangible, like the 20 terminal and smart card in this case. 21 Under Nevada law, conversion is “a distinct act of dominion wrongfully exerted 22 over another’s personal property in denial of, or inconsistent with his title or rights therein 23 or in derogation, exclusion, or defiance of such title or rights.” M.C. Multi-Family Dev., 24 L.L.C. v. Crestdale Assocs., Ltd., 193 P.3d 536, 542 (Nev. 2008) (quotation omitted). 25 Conversion is “an act of general intent, which does not require wrongful intent and is not 26 excused by care, good faith, or lack of knowledge.” Id. at 542-43 (quotation omitted). 48 1 Whether the defendant converted the plaintiff’s property generally is a question for the fact 2 finder. Id. at 543. Under Nevada law, intangible property may be converted under certain 3 circumstances, including where there is conversion of tangible property in which intangible 4 rights are merged. Id. at 543 (citing the Restatement (Second) of Torts § 242). Pursuant to 5 Nevada Revised Statutes § 603.040(1)(b), it is an unfair trade practice for a person to 6 convert a proprietary program or the data stored in a computer with the intent to convert 7 that program or data to his own use of for the use of another. 8 9 The Court will deny Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment on the conversion claim. Viewing the facts and reasonable inferences therefrom in the light most favorable to 10 the nonmoving parties, SCTN/Phoenix have presented evidence raising a genuine issue of 11 material fact that Plaintiffs have retained possession of SCTN/Phoenix’s property. Buchan 12 testified he left a point-of-sale terminal in his office when he left TII, and Radivojsa 13 testified the item has not been returned to SCTN/Phoenix. To the extent the software is 14 considered intangible, it is merged in tangible items in the form of the point-of-sale terminal 15 and smart card. The Court also will deny Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment on the 16 unfair trade practices claim, as Plaintiffs’ arguments related to this claim are the same as for 17 conversion. 18 J. SCTN/Phoenix’s Intentional Interference With Prospective Economic Advantage Claim - Count 13 of the Counterclaim 19 20 Count thirteen of the Counterclaim alleges Plaintiffs and Cross-Defendants 21 intentionally interfered with SCTN/Phoenix’s prospective economic advantage in seeking 22 potential licensees. Plaintiffs move for summary judgment on this claim, arguing 23 SCTN/Phoenix have provided no evidence of prospective relationships with licensees that 24 were harmed, Plaintiffs’ knowledge of such relationships, or Plaintiffs’ intent to harm 25 SCTN/Phoenix. SCTN/Phoenix respond that Radivojsa testified that Phoenix lost an 26 agreement with a potential licensee, GTMT, as a result of Plaintiffs’ conduct, of which 49 1 Plaintiffs were aware as demonstrated by Plaintiffs’ contact with GTMT. SCTN/Phoenix 2 argue it was Plaintiffs’ intent to harm SCTN/Phoenix, because Plaintiffs would have no 3 reason to interfere absent this motive. 4 The Court will grant Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment on this claim. 5 Although SCTN/Phoenix identify GTMT as the potential licensee, SCTN/Phoenix have 6 provided no evidence raising a genuine issue of material fact that it was Plaintiffs who 7 communicated with GTMT. Radivojsa could not confirm that it was Plaintiffs who 8 contacted GTMT, instead testifying that SCTN/Phoenix “received from the South African 9 police that one of the people that we had licensed to had been contacted by someone from 10 Dubai stating that SCTN was . . . a fraud . . . . Given that it’s coming from Dubai, we have 11 suspicions that TII and Menalco are involved.” (SCTN Opp’n, Ex. 9 at 443-44.) Radivojsa 12 stated they were pursuing the matter because they wanted to “be clear who is the one who’s 13 doing this.” (Id. at 44.) When Plaintiffs’ counsel requested discovery on the matter, 14 SCTN/Phoenix’s counsel responded that they would seasonably supplement discovery but 15 they did not “have any resolution at this point as to what – what’s really going on. Until we 16 do, we’re not going to produce things that leave us with half the story.” (Id. at 445.) 17 SCTN/Phoenix have presented no evidence raising an issue of material fact that Plaintiffs 18 were the source of the alleged communications to GTMT. SCTN/Phoenix therefore have 19 failed to present evidence raising a genuine issue of material fact that Plaintiffs interfered 20 with any prospective economic advantage. 21 K. SCTN/Phoenix’s Claims Related to the Licensing Agreement - Counts 13, 5-6 of the Counterclaim 22 23 Count one of the Counterclaim asserts a claim for breach of contract against 24 Plaintiffs based on Plaintiffs’ failure to pay all invoices, as well as cancellation of the 25 contract resulting in SCTN/Phoenix losing out on future fees-per-transaction once 26 Selektpoints went active. Count two alleges breach of the duty of good faith and fair 50 1 dealing based on the same conduct. Count three alleges Defendants were unjustly enriched 2 by using SCTN/Phoenix technology without permission or license. Count five alleges fraud 3 based on Plaintiffs’ false and misleading statements to SCTN/Phoenix that Plaintiffs would 4 pay the unpaid invoices, thereby inducing SCTN/Phoenix to continue providing the 5 technology and professional services after Plaintiffs already had decided they were not 6 going to pay the invoices. Count six alleges negligent misrepresentation based on similar 7 alleged misrepresentations. 8 9 Plaintiffs move for summary judgment on these claims, arguing SCTN/Phoenix breached the contract and the duty of good faith and fair dealing by scheming to defraud 10 Plaintiffs of the benefit of the Licensing Agreement. Plaintiffs thus argue they were 11 permitted to suspend their own performance on the contract upon learning of 12 SCTN/Phoenix’s participation in the scheme. Plaintiffs also argue the Licensing 13 Agreement’s purpose was frustrated by SCTN/Phoenix’s participation in the scheme, thus 14 excusing performance. Plaintiffs also argue SCTN/Phoenix’s unjust enrichment claim 15 cannot lie because a written contract governs the parties’ relationship. Finally, Plaintiffs 16 argue SCTN/Phoenix’s claims for fraud and negligent misrepresentation fail because they 17 attempt to convert breach of contract claims into torts. Plaintiffs contend the economic loss 18 doctrine prevents recovery in these circumstances. Further, Plaintiffs argue SCTN/Phoenix 19 cannot show they relied upon any representations regarding payment to their detriment 20 because SCTN/Phoenix were not providing services to Plaintiffs in good faith, and thus 21 could not justifiably rely on any representations that Plaintiffs would continue to pay them. 22 SCTN/Phoenix respond that Plaintiffs’ motion with respect to these claims relies 23 primarily on Plaintiffs’ theory that SCTN/Phoenix were involved in a conspiracy against 24 Plaintiffs. SCTN/Phoenix argue that because a genuine issue of fact remains on that issue, 25 Plaintiffs’ motion must be denied as to these claims as well. SCTN/Phoenix also object to 26 Plaintiffs’ reliance on the defense of frustration of purpose, as Plaintiffs did not set forth 51 1 this affirmative defense in their response to the Counterclaim. As to the fraud and negligent 2 misrepresentation claims, SCTN/Phoenix argue that the economic loss doctrine applies only 3 to unintentional torts, not fraud. Further, SCTN/Phoenix argue the Nevada Supreme Court 4 expressly has held the economic loss doctrine does not apply to a negligent 5 misrepresentation claim. Finally, as to unjust enrichment, SCTN/Phoenix note they pled 6 this claim in the alternative, and recognize they cannot recover for both breach of contract 7 and unjust enrichment. 8 a. Breach of Contract and Duty of Good Faith and Fair Dealing/Unjust Enrichment 9 10 The Court will deny Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment on the breach of 11 contract and breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing claims, as Plaintiffs’ argument 12 as to these two claims presumes SCTN/Phoenix was involved in a conspiracy against 13 Plaintiffs. As noted elsewhere in this Order, a genuine issue of material fact remains 14 regarding SCTN/Phoenix’s alleged participation in any such conspiracy. The Court also 15 will not consider the frustration of purpose defense because Plaintiffs did not assert this as 16 an affirmative defense in their Answer to the Counterclaims. Even if the Court considered 17 this defense, it likewise relies upon the same conspiracy theory for which issues of fact 18 remain. As to unjust enrichment, SCTN/Phoenix may pursue this claim in the alternative to 19 their breach of contract claim, however, they may not recover on both theories. 20 21 b. Fraud and Negligent Misrepresentation Plaintiffs argue SCTN/Phoenix’s claims for fraud and negligent 22 misrepresentation fail because they attempt to convert breach of contract claims into torts. 23 Plaintiffs contend the economic loss doctrine prevents recovery in these circumstances. 24 Further, Plaintiffs argue SCTN/Phoenix cannot show they relied upon any representations 25 regarding payment to their detriment because SCTN/Phoenix were not providing services to 26 Plaintiffs in good faith, and thus could not justifiably rely on any representations that 52 1 2 Plaintiffs would continue to pay them. The economic loss doctrine bars unintentional tort actions in which the plaintiff 3 seeks to recover purely economic losses. Terracon Consultants W., Inc. v. Mandalay Resort 4 Group, 206 P.3d 81, 86 (Nev. 2009) (en banc). However, exceptions to the doctrine exist. 5 Id. at 88. Among those exceptions are claims for negligent misrepresentation. Id. To turn 6 a contract case into a fraud case, the plaintiff must establish intentional wrongful conduct, 7 such as evidence “the promisor had no intention to perform at the time the promise was 8 made.” Bulbman, Inc. v. Nevada Bell, 825 P.2d 588, 592 (Nev. 1992). 9 Because the economic loss doctrine applies only to unintentional torts, the 10 doctrine does not bar SCTN/Phoenix’s fraud claim. Additionally, Nevada has recognized 11 an exception to the economic loss doctrine for negligent misrepresentation claims, and thus 12 SCTN/Phoenix’s negligent misrepresentation claim also is not barred. Further, 13 SCTN/Phoenix have presented evidence supporting intentional wrongful conduct for their 14 fraud claim. SCTN/Phoenix have presented evidence from which a reasonable jury could 15 find that Plaintiffs’ employees were assuring SCTN/Phoenix of imminent payment of 16 outstanding invoices at a time when Plaintiffs had no intention of making those payments. 17 Additionally, a genuine issue of material fact remains as to whether 18 SCTN/Phoenix reasonably relied on Plaintiffs’ representations that the outstanding invoices 19 would be paid. Plaintiffs’ contention that any such reliance was unreasonable relies on their 20 theory that SCTN/Phoenix were in a conspiracy to steal Selektpoints. As discussed 21 previously, genuine issues of material fact remain regarding SCTN/Phoenix’s alleged 22 participation in any conspiracy or scheme to defraud. The Court therefore will deny 23 Plaintiffs’ motion on the fraud and negligent misrepresentation claims. 24 IV. CONCLUSION 25 26 IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Defendant/Cross-Defendant Robert Buchan’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. #272) is hereby GRANTED in part and 53 1 DENIED in part. The motion is granted with respect to counts 1, 2, and 5 of Plaintiffs’ 2 Complaint. The motion is denied in all other respects. 3 4 5 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendant/Cross-Defendant Mark BoneKnell’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. #273) is hereby GRANTED. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment 6 (Doc. #275) is hereby GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. The motion is granted as to 7 Defendants SCTN/Phoenix’s Counterclaims in counts 8-11 and 13. The motion is denied in 8 all other respects. 9 10 11 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Court sua sponte grants summary judgment in favor of Defendants Buchan and Bone-Knell on count 13 of Plaintiffs’ Complaint. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Court sua sponte grants summary judgment 12 in favor of Defendants SCTN and Phoenix on counts 1-2, 5, and 13 of Plaintiffs’ 13 Complaint. 14 15 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the parties shall file a proposed joint pre-trial order for all remaining claims no later than March 5, 2010. 16 17 DATED: February 1, 2010 18 19 20 _______________________________ PHILIP M. PRO United States District Judge 21 22 23 24 25 26 54

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