Chowdhury v. PlayAGS, Inc. et al, No. 2:2020cv01209 - Document 95 (D. Nev. 2022)
Court Description: ORDER Granting in part and Denying in part 69 , 70 and 71 Motion to Dismiss. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED the plaintiff class is GRANTED leave to file an amended complaint within 30 days of this order. Signed by Judge James C. Mahan on 12/2/2022. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - LOE)
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Chowdhury v. PlayAGS, Inc. et al Doc. 95 1 2 3 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 DISTRICT OF NEVADA 6 *** 7 Case No. 2:20-CV-1209 JCM (NJK) 8 9 ORDER IN RE AGS, INC. SECURITIES LITIGATION, 10 11 12 This is a consolidated class action lawsuit alleging various violations of the Securities 13 Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) and the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”) 14 against twenty-eight defendants. Presently before the court are three motions to dismiss the 15 second amended complaint filed by three separate groups of defendants. (ECF Nos. 69, 70, 16 71). The plaintiff class, through lead plaintiff Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement 17 System (“lead plaintiff”), filed responses. (ECF Nos. 78, 79, 80). The groups of defendants 18 replied. (ECF Nos. 83, 84, 85). 19 I. INTRODUCTION 20 This matter arises from allegedly fraudulent misrepresentations regarding defendants’ 21 statements regarding PlayAGS, Inc. (“PlayAGS”)’s economic performance. The plaintiff class 22 contends these statements were part of a fraudulent scheme to inflate the price of PlayAGS’s 23 initial public offering (“IPO”) and subsequent secondary public offerings (“SPOs”). 24 Specifically, the alleged harm resulted from statements artificially inflating the share price in 25 advance of two SPOs: one in August 2018 (the “August 2018 SPO”) and another in March 2019 26 (the “March 2019 SPO”). The plaintiff class consists of any person or entity who purchased 27 PlayAGS stock from January 26, 2018, to March 4, 2020 (the “class period”). During the class 28 period, PlayAGS stock fell from a high of $32.04 per share in 2018 to a low of $6.65 per share in James C. Mahan U.S. District Judge Dockets.Justia.com 1 2020. Defendants contend this price decrease was due to unforeseen challenges in the market 2 while the plaintiff class asserts it was a result of the falsity of defendants’ statements coming to 3 light. 4 Samples of allegations include: PlayAGS and/or other defendants arbitrarily and 5 fraudulently inflating its sales metrics and growth projections by a factor of four when reporting 6 to Wall Street (ECF No. 60 at 8); reporting sales in quarters in which they did not occur (Id. at 7 9); and failing to disclose costs and risks of an acquisition (Id. at 10). In sum, the plaintiff class 8 asserts unlawful statements concerning “unsupported and unstainable growth measures, sales 9 manipulation, and problematic [] acquisition” led to inflated IPO and SPO prices and ultimately 10 the downfall of the stock price harming the plaintiff class. (Id. at 11). 11 The plaintiff class asserts defendants David Lopez and Kimo Akiona (“executive 12 defendants”), and PlayAGS (collectively “PlayAGS defendants”) violated Section 10(b) of the 13 Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder (“claim 1”). Further, the plaintiff class 14 asserts defendants Apollo Global Management, LLC; Apollo Gaming Holdings, LP; Apollo 15 Investment Fund, LP; and AP Gaming VoteCo, LLC (“Apollo defendants”), and the executive 16 defendants, violated Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act (“claim 2”). 17 Regarding the Securities Act, the plaintiff class avers Section 11 was violated by the 18 underwriter defendants;1 PlayAGS; the executive defendants; and David Sambur, Daniel Cohen, 19 Eric Press, Yvette Landau, Adam Chibib, and Geoff Freeman (“director defendants”) (together 20 with the executive defendants, the “individual defendants”) (“claim 3”). 21 contends Section 12(a)(2) was violated by all defendants (“claim 4”), and Section 15 was 22 violated by the individual defendants and Apollo defendants (“claim 5”). Plaintiff further 23 The underwriter defendants move to dismiss the second amended complaint, joined by 24 the AGS defendants and Apollo defendants. (ECF No. 69). The AGS defendants also move to 25 26 27 28 James C. Mahan U.S. District Judge The “underwriter defendants” consist of Credit Suisse Securities (USA), LLC; Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc.; Jeffries, LLC; Macquarie Capital (USA), Inc.; Merrill Lynch; Pierce, Fenner, & Smith, Inc.; Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.; Stifel, Nicolaus, & Company, Inc.; SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.; Nomura Securities International, Inc.; Rother Capital Partners, LLC; Union Gaming Securities, LLC; Williams Capital Group, LP; Apollo Global Securities, LLC; and Morgan Stanley & Co. 1 -2- 1 dismiss the second amended complaint, joined by the underwriter defendants and Apollo 2 defendants.2 (ECF No. 70). The Apollo defendants also move to dismiss the second amended 3 complaint. (ECF No. 71). 4 II. LEGAL STANDARD 5 A court may dismiss a complaint for “failure to state a claim upon which relief can be 6 granted.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). A properly pled complaint must provide “[a] short and plain 7 statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2); Bell 8 Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007). While Rule 8 does not require detailed 9 factual allegations, it demands “more than labels and conclusions” or a “formulaic recitation of 10 the elements of a cause of action.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citation 11 omitted). 12 In Iqbal, the Supreme Court clarified the two-step approach district courts are to apply 13 when considering motions to dismiss. First, the court must accept as true all well-pled factual 14 allegations in the complaint; however, legal conclusions are not entitled to the assumption of 15 truth. Id. at 678–79. Mere recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported only by 16 conclusory statements, do not suffice. Id. at 678. 17 Second, the court must consider whether the factual allegations in the complaint allege a 18 plausible claim for relief. Id. at 679. A claim is facially plausible when the plaintiff’s complaint 19 alleges facts that allow the court to draw a reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for 20 the alleged misconduct. Id. at 678. 21 ... 22 ... 23 ... 24 ... 25 ... 26 ... 27 28 James C. Mahan U.S. District Judge 2 The Apollo defendants join the motion in its entirety, and the underwriter defendants join only §§ III.A–C. -3- The Ninth Circuit addressed post-Iqbal pleading standards in Starr v. Baca, 652 F.3d 1 2 1202, 1216 (9th Cir. 2011). The Starr court stated, in relevant part: 3 First, to be entitled to the presumption of truth, allegations in a complaint or counterclaim may not simply recite the elements of a cause of action, but must contain sufficient allegations of underlying facts to give fair notice and to enable the opposing party to defend itself effectively. Second, the factual allegations that are taken as true must plausibly suggest an entitlement to relief, such that it is not unfair to require the opposing party to be subjected to the expense of discovery and continued litigation. 4 5 6 7 Id. Allegations of fraud, however, are subject to a heightened pleading standard and must be 8 9 stated with particularity. Fed. R. Civ. P. 9(b). Rule 9(b) provides that “[m]alice, intent, 10 knowledge, and other conditions of a person’s mind may be alleged generally.” Id. Rule 9(b) 11 operates “to give defendants notice of the particular misconduct which is alleged,” requiring 12 plaintiffs to identify “the circumstances constituting fraud so that the defendant can prepare an 13 adequate answer from the allegations. . .. The complaint must specify such facts as the times, 14 dates, places, benefits received, and other details of the alleged fraudulent activity.” Neubronner 15 v. Milken, 6 F.3d 666, 671 (9th Cir. 1993) (citations omitted). 16 Moreover, the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“PSLRA”) also raises 17 the pleading standard for private securities fraud plaintiffs. “[A] private securities plaintiff 18 proceeding under the PSLRA must plead, in great detail, facts that constitute strong 19 circumstantial evidence of deliberately reckless or conscious misconduct.” 20 Graphics Inc. Sec. Litig., 183 F.3d 970, 974 (9th Cir. 1999) (superseded by statute on other 21 grounds). 22 III. 23 In re Silicon DISCUSSION a. Heightened Pleading Standard 24 The plaintiff class’s allegations sound in fraud. (See ECF No. 60). The Exchange Act 25 claims are subject to a heightened pleading standard pursuant to the PSLRA. See 15 U.S.C. § 26 78u-4(b)(1)(B). Moreover, the entirety of the complaint alleges a “unified course of fraudulent 27 conduct” in which defendants made false statements and misrepresentations to artificially inflate 28 the price of PlayAGS shares prior to SPOs. (Id.). Thus, the Securities Act claims are subject to James C. Mahan U.S. District Judge -4- 1 the Rule 9(b) pleading standard. See Rubke v. Capitol Bancorp Ltd., 551 F.3d 1156, 1161 (9th 2 Cir. 2009). 3 disputed statement was untrue or misleading when made. In re GlenFed, Inc. Sec. Litig., 42 F.3d 4 1541, 1549 (9th Cir. 1994) (superseded by statute on other grounds) (emphasis in original). 5 Further, the Ninth Circuit specifically requires “an explanation as to why the b. Underwriter Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss 6 The underwriter defendants move to dismiss claim 3: violation of Section 11 of the 7 Securities Act. (ECF No. 69). The underwriter defendants additionally move to dismiss the 8 plaintiff class’s claim 4: violation of Section 12(a)(2) of the Securities Act. (Id.). 9 i. Standing – March 2019 SPO 10 As an initial matter, the underwriter defendants assert lead plaintiff—and thus the 11 plaintiff class—lacks standing to bring claims alleging violations of Sections 11 and 12 of the 12 Securities Act regarding the March 2019 SPO. (Id.). In support, the underwriter defendants 13 assert lead plaintiff’s last purchase of AGS shares was seven months prior to the March 2019 14 SPO, and further contend a lead plaintiff does not have standing to challenge a public offering in 15 which it did not purchase a security. (Id.). Lead plaintiff, alternatively, asserts that even if it did 16 not purchase shares in the March 2019 SPO, it purchased shares in the August 2018 SPO, and 17 both SPOs relied on nearly identical shelf registration statements and resulted in the same type of 18 injury. (ECF No. 79). Thus, lead plaintiff contends it has standing on behalf of other class 19 members who did purchase shares in the March 2019 SPO because of the similarity of the 20 alleged wrongdoing and harm. (Id.). 21 The sides present competing case law, but the dispute boils down to what type of 22 standing is at issue here. The underwriter defendants suggest statutory standing is at issue (ECF 23 Nos. 71, 85) while lead plaintiff provides case law concerning Constitutional standing (ECF No. 24 79). The court finds statutory standing is the appropriate standard as the underwriter defendants 25 moved to dismiss claims pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6). See In re Century Aluminum Co. Sec. Litig., 26 27 28 James C. Mahan U.S. District Judge -5- 1 729 F.3d 1104, 1109 (“[F]ailure to allege statutory standing results in failure to state a claim on 2 which relief can be granted, not the absence of subject matter jurisdiction.”); (ECF No. 71).3 3 To adequately allege statutory standing, plaintiffs can (1) “prove they purchased their 4 shares directly in the secondary offering itself,” or (2) “prove that [its] shares, although 5 purchased in the aftermarket, can be traced back to the secondary offering.” Id. at 1106 (citing 6 Joseph v. Wiles, 223 F.3d 1155, 1159 (10th Cir. 2000) (abrogated on other grounds)). 7 Here, lead plaintiff’s last purchase of AGS shares was seven months prior to the March 8 2019 SPO, and the complaint contains no allegations tying any of its shares to the March SPO. 9 (ECF No. 60). Thus, lead plaintiff does not have statutory standing to bring claims of violations 10 of Section 11 or Section 12 of the Securities Act concerning the March 2019 SPO. 11 The underwriter defendants’ motion to dismiss (ECF No. 69)—to which the AGS 12 defendants and Apollo defendants have joined—is GRANTED as to all defendants concerning 13 the March 2019 SPO because lead plaintiff does not have statutory standing. ii. The underwriter defendants are not statutory sellers 14 15 To find liability under Section 12(a)(2) of the securities act, the defendant must be a 16 “statutory seller” defined by 15 U.S.C. § 77l(a)(2). (“A person who offers or sells a security…by 17 means of a prospectus or oral communication…shall be liable…to the person purchasing such 18 security from him.”). The term “purchase” is not defined by the Securities Act but has been 19 interpreted to be “a correlative to both ‘sell’ and ‘offer,’ at least to the extent that the latter 20 entails active solicitation of an offer to buy.” Pinter v. Dahl, 486 U.S. 622, 645 (1988). 21 Here, each allegation concerning underwriter defendants “selling” or “offering” AGS 22 shares is vague and conclusory. Both parties refer to paragraphs 33, 46–59, 399, and 408 of the 23 complaint as relevant to whether the underwriter defendants actually sold, offered, or solicited 24 purchase of shares to the plaintiffs. (ECF Nos. 69, 79, 85). Notably, all these paragraphs are in 25 the “PARTIES” or “CLAIMS FOR RELIEF UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT” sections of the 26 3 27 28 James C. Mahan U.S. District Judge In its opposition and argument for Constitutional standing, lead plaintiff suggests standing is, at least in part, a class certification issue. (ECF No. 79). The merits of this contention are irrelevant here as Constitutional standing is not at issue. -6- 1 complaint. (ECF No. 60). Paragraph 33 simply describes lead plaintiff and alleges it purchased 2 shares from underwriter defendant Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. in the August 2018 SPO. (ECF 3 No. 60). Paragraphs 46–59 merely state who each underwriter defendant is and blanketly assert 4 each “help[ed] to draft and disseminated the Shelf Registration Statement and solicit investors to 5 purchase the PlayAGS stock issued pursuant thereto.” (Id.). Paragraphs 399 and 408 are 6 conclusory statements of law. (See id.). Such vague and conclusory allegations do not meet the 7 heightened Rule 9(b) pleading standard and thus do not need to be taken as true. Fed. R. Civ. P. 8 9(b); see Neubronner, 6 F.3d at 671; In re Silicon Graphics, 183 F.3d at 974. 9 Lead plaintiff also points to paragraphs 315–20, which contain allegations regarding the 10 nature of the underwriter defendants’ relationship with PlayAGS and role in the SPOs.4 (ECF 11 Nos. 60, 79). None of these, however, allege with specificity any sale or offer to the plaintiff 12 class. (See ECF No. 60). Even taking the most specific allegation regarding an underwriter 13 defendant selling shares to lead plaintiff—paragraph 33—and considering it in context with 14 paragraphs 315–320, the complaint falls short of establishing underwriter defendants as statutory 15 sellers. See In re Violin Memory Sec. Litig., 2014 WL 5525946, at *19 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 31, 2014) 16 (holding that without allegations active or direct solicitation, communication, or negotiation 17 between plaintiffs and the alleged statutory seller, the pleadings were insufficient to establish 18 underwriters as statutory sellers). 19 The underwriter defendants’ motion to dismiss (ECF No. 69)—to which the AGS 20 defendants and Apollo defendants have joined—is GRANTED as to the underwriter defendants 21 as the allegations are insufficient to establish them as statutory sellers. c. AGS Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss 22 23 The AGS defendants seek to dismiss the entire complaint. (ECF No. 70). The plaintiff 24 class asserts claims 1 and 4 against the AGS defendants, claim 2 against the executive 25 defendants, and claim 3 against PlayAGS. (ECF No. 60). As an initial matter, the court 26 27 28 James C. Mahan U.S. District Judge Specifically, they allege the underwriter defendants’ direct participation in creating and filing with the SEC the Shelf Registration Statement. (SAC ¶¶ 319–320). 4 -7- 1 reiterates lead plaintiff does not have standing to bring claims 3 or 4 as they pertain to the March 2 2019 SPO. 3 i. Confidential Witnesses 4 Many of the allegations in the complaint are derived from confidential witnesses 5 (“CWs”). (See ECF No. 60). The AGS defendants argue that most, if not all, allegations based 6 on CW assertions should not be considered at this stage of pleading. (ECF No. 70). 7 CWs must be “described ‘with sufficient particularity to support the probability that a 8 person in the position occupied by the source would possess the information alleged.’” Zucco 9 Partners, LLC v. Digimarc Corp., 552 F.3d 981, 995 (9th Cir. 2009) (citing In re Duao Sys., Inc. 10 Sec. Litig., 411 F.3d 1006, 1015 (9th Cir. 2005)). Facts must demonstrate that a CW would have 11 been “personally knowledgeable of the information alleged” given their position. Id. at 996. 12 When alleging scienter, CW allegations of unreliable hearsay and conclusory assertions of 13 scienter are unreliable. Id. 14 15 The court first addresses whether each CW would have been “personally knowledgeable of the information alleged” given their position. See id. 16 CW-1 is a former vice president of game development and worked at PlayAGS from June 17 2015 through January 2018. (ECF No. 60). CW-1’s allegations discuss financial goals of 18 PlayAGS, its success—or lack thereof—in Oklahoma, and post-January 2018-IPO sales goals. 19 (Id.). It seems unlikely that someone in game development, albeit in a high-up role, would be 20 “personally knowledgeable” about such specific details of sales. Without more, allegations of 21 CW-1 are insufficiently pled. See Zucco Partners, 552 F.3d at 995. 22 CW-2 is a former director of slot products and worked for PlayAGS from September 23 2015 until February 2017. (ECF No. 60). CW-2 “was responsible for product management, 24 placing units, and forecasting earnings.” (Id.). CW-2’s allegations concern communication with 25 a former director of sales and unrealistic forecasted growth going into the January 2018 IPO. 26 (Id.). The similarity between the allegations and CW-2’s responsibilities demonstrate that CW-2 27 was in a position to be “personally knowledgeable of the information alleged.” See Zucco 28 Partners, 552 F.3d at 995. James C. Mahan U.S. District Judge -8- 1 CW-3 is a former information systems manager and worked for PlayAGS “prior to the 2 class period” but allegedly bore witness to practices “in late 2017 and early 2018” and was 3 tasked with “creating synergy” between Cadillac Jack and PlayAGS during the 2015 acquisition. 4 (ECF No. 60). CW-3’s allegations concern PlayAGS pressuring salespeople and firing those 5 who “pushed back” as well as Cadillac Jack’s alleged price-inflating practices. (Id.). It seems 6 unlikely that someone in information systems management would be “personally 7 knowledgeable” about the culture of the sales team at PlayAGS. See Zucco Partners, 552 F.3d 8 at 995. Further, though tasked with “creating synergy,” it seems unlikely that someone in 9 information systems management would be “personally knowledgeable” about executive 10 financial decisions and practices of a target company. 11 insufficiently pled. See id. See id. Without more, CW-3 is 12 CW-4 is a former PlayAGS employee. (ECF No. 60). CW-4 worked at Cadillac Jack 13 until it was acquired by PlayAGS in 2015, then at PlayAGS until August 2018. (Id.). The 14 complaint states CW-4 was “in the reporting line that reported to the Chief Technology Officer, 15 who reported to Defendant Lopez. (Id.). “CW-4 participated in meetings with his reporting line 16 throughout the 2017 to 2018 time period where the Oklahoma market was discussed.” (Id.). 17 Allegations concern difficulty placing certain games in Oklahoma and lack of certain actions to 18 resolve the issue. 19 activities within PlayAGS demonstrate that CW-4 was in a position to be “personally 20 knowledgeable of the information alleged.” See Zucco Partners, 552 F.3d at 995. (Id.). The similarity between the allegations and CW-4’s position and 21 CW-5 is a former senior financial analyst who worked for PlayAGS from April 2016 to 22 June 2019. (ECF No. 60). He attended financial meetings regarding sales and cost cutting. 23 (Id.). 24 PlayAGS. (Id.). The similarity between the allegations and CW-5’s position and activities 25 within PlayAGS demonstrate that CW-5 was in a position to be “personally knowledgeable of 26 the information alleged.” See Zucco Partners, 552 F.3d at 995. His allegations concern these meetings and general financial and sales practices of 27 CW-6 is a former member of the finance team who worked for PlayAGS during the class 28 period and was responsible for business analytics, forecasting, and budgeting. (ECF No. 60). James C. Mahan U.S. District Judge -9- 1 CW-6’s allegations concern sales practices with clients and selling pieces of Integrity. (Id.). It 2 seems unlikely that a non-executive member of the finance team would be “personally 3 knowledgeable” about negotiations with clients, though CW-6 is likely “personally 4 knowledgeable” about selling pieces of a previously acquired company. See Zucco Partners, 5 552 F.3d at 995. CW-6 is insufficiently pled regarding allegations of client negotiations, but 6 sufficiently pled regarding allegations of selling parts of the company. See id. 7 CW-7 is a former manager of gaming operations who worked at PlayAGS from May 8 2017 through October 2019. (ECF No. 60). CW-7 conducted market research ahead of the 9 Integrity acquisition. (Id.). CW-7’s allegations concern findings pursuant to the market research 10 as well as insider information on a contract negotiation with Chickasaw Nation, where PlayAGS 11 had electronic gaming machines located. (Id.). Given that CW-7 personally performed the 12 research giving rise to his allegations, CW-7 was in a position to be “personally knowledgeable 13 of the information alleged” regarding the Integrity acquisition. See Zucco Partners, 552 F.3d at 14 995. 15 “personally knowledgeable” about negotiations with Chickasaw Nation. See id. Further, due to his involvement with other entities generally, CW-7 likely also was 16 CWs-8 and -9 were never employed at PlayAGS. (ECF No. 60). It is unlikely that non- 17 employees would be knowledgeable about PlayAGS’s business decisions given they would not 18 be in a position to be privy to internal corporate knowledge. See Zucco Partners, 552 F.3d at 19 995. Thus, CWs-8 and -9 are insufficiently pled. See id. 20 CW-10, like CW-4, previously worked for Cadillac Jack then at PlayAGS “in an 21 engineering capacity” until October 2019 after the acquisition. 22 allegations concern details of revenue models and pricing arrangements with casinos as well as 23 requisite maintenance and upkeep of the gaming machines. (Id.). It seems unlikely that an 24 employee who simply worked “in an engineering capacity” would be “personally 25 knowledgeable” about revenue models and pricing arrangements with casinos, though CW-10 is 26 likely “personally knowledgeable” about maintenance and upkeep issues of the gaming macines. 27 See Zucco Partners, 552 F.3d at 995. CW-10 is insufficiently pled regarding business dealings, 28 but sufficiently pled regarding maintenance of machines. See id. James C. Mahan U.S. District Judge - 10 - (ECF No. 60). CW-10’s 1 CW-11 is a former senior employee in sales, who was employed with PlayAGS “from 2 before the class period until shortly before August 2019” SPO.5 (ECF No. 60). CW-11’s 3 allegations concern pressure on improving revenue and sales, in part from the Apollo defendants. 4 (Id.). The court recognizes CW-11’s request and need for anonymity. However, a “senior 5 employee in sales,” without more detail, is insufficient to establish whether CW-11 is 6 “personally knowledgeable” about financial practices and executive-level pressure from third 7 parties. See Zucco Partners, 552 F.3d at 995. This is especially so because the specific timing 8 of employment cannot be discerned. See id.; (ECF No. 60). Thus, CW-11 is insufficiently pled. 9 See Zucco Partners, 552 F.3d at 995. 10 CW-12 was a director of gaming operations for PlayAGS from November 2013 to 11 February 2019. (ECF No. 60). CW-12’s responsibilities including managing large projects and 12 acquisitions in this role. (Id.). CW-12 then worked as an account executive until August 2019 13 and reported to senior vice president of slot products, Andrew Burke, who reported to defendant 14 Lopez. (Id.). CW-12 was also sent to Oklahoma to assess the Integrity acquisition. (Id.). CW- 15 12’s allegations concern misrepresentations of growth to investors and Integrity’s overvaluation. 16 (Id.). The similarity between the allegations and CW-12’s position and responsibilities within 17 PlayAGS demonstrate that CW-12 was in a position to be “personally knowledgeable of the 18 information alleged.” See Zucco Partners, 552 F.3d at 995. 19 In sum, allegations of CWs-1, -3, -8, -9, and -11 are insufficiently pled. Thus, allegations 20 sourced from these CWs do not have to be accepted by the court as true. See id. at 999. CWs-6 21 and -10 are likewise insufficiently pled as to allegations of client negotiations and business 22 dealings, respectively. CWs-2, -4, -5, -7, and -12 are sufficiently pled. ii. Executive Defendants 23 24 The plaintiff class asserts claims 1, 2, and 4 against the executive defendants. To support 25 claims 1 and 2, the pleadings must include materially false or misleading statements and allege 26 scienter with a high degree of particularity. Stoneridge Inv. Partners, LLC v. Scientific-Atlanta, 27 28 5 There are two SPOs at issue: August 2018 and March 2019. The court is unclear on which this refers to. James C. Mahan U.S. District Judge - 11 - 1 Inc., 552 U.S. 148, 157 (2008). To support claim 4, the pleadings must establish defendants 2 were statutory sellers of the shares at issue and that plaintiff relied on materially false and 3 misleading statements when purchasing the shares. 4 clarified that the author of the statements must not believe the contents thereof when published to 5 constitute “false or misleading.” 6 Pension Fund, 575 U.S. 175, 188–89 (2015). Here, the complaint does not allege the requisite 7 scienter or contemporaneous falsity required nor that the executive defendants were statutory 8 sellers. 15 U.S.C. § 77l(a)(2). Omnicare has Omnicare, Inc. v. Laborers Dist. Council Constr. Indus. 9 All supporting factual allegations in the complaint point to already-existing poor market 10 conditions or declining sales in advance of the SPOs when positive statements saying the 11 opposite were published. (ECF No. 60). However, each of these statements were based on 12 record sales in audited financial statements. There is no allegation that shows the executive 13 defendants had any reason to believe otherwise. (Id.). Moreover, the executive defendants did 14 not directly sell or solicit purchase of shares of PlayAGS. Indeed, both the executive defendants 15 purchased shares of AGS and did not sell them, further indicating their belief of positive 16 performance of PlayAGS. 17 Thus, because allegations fail to show the executive defendants did not believe 18 statements that turned out to be false or misleading, and because there are no allegations to 19 establish executive defendants as statutory sellers, the AGS defendants’ motion as to claims 1, 2, 20 and 4, against the executive defendants is GRANTED. 21 22 iii. PlayAGS The plaintiff class brings claims 1, 3, and 4 against PlayAGS. Like the executive 23 defendants, there are no allegations establishing PlayAGS ever selling or soliciting purchase of 24 AGS shares. (See generally ECF No. 60). Moreover, there are no allegations of scienter to 25 support PlayAGS intentionally publishing misrepresentations or false statements. (Id.). Indeed, 26 the complaint lacks factual allegations that demonstrate the statements were false at the time, let 27 alone that defendants did not believe them. (Id.). Thus, the complaint does not reach the 28 heightened pleading standards required for claims 1 and 4. James C. Mahan U.S. District Judge - 12 - 1 Lead plaintiff contends PlayAGS failed to disclose the necessary risks in its SPO 2 materials, but the prospectus supplement before the court directly contradicts this. (See ECF 3 Nos. 60, 70). Risks of the Integrity acquisition and moving into the Oklahoma market—which 4 were a significant factor in the downfall of the stock price—were adequately disclosed. (ECF 5 No. 60). Lead plaintiff contends the risks were misidentified as “potential” risks when they had 6 already materialized, but the complaint does not allege sufficient factual allegations to support 7 this assertion. (Id.) Thus, the complaint fails as to claims 1, 3, and 4 against PlayAGS and the AGS 8 9 defendants’ motion to dismiss with respect to these claims is GRANTED. d. Apollo Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss 10 i. The Apollo defendants are not statutory sellers 11 12 The parties dispute whether the Apollo defendants are established as statutory sellers 13 pursuant to § 12(a)(2) in the complaint. Pinter instructs a defendant that (1) “passed title, or 14 other interest in the security, to the buyer for value,” or (2) successfully solicited the purchase of 15 the security “motivated at least in part by a desire to serve his own financial interests.” 486 U.S. 16 at 642, 647. The Ninth Circuit has clarified that “a plaintiff must allege that the defendants did 17 more than simply urge another to purchase a security.” In re Daou Sys., Inc., 411 F.3d 1006, 18 1029 (9th Cir. 2005). “The plaintiff must show that the defendants solicited purchase of the 19 securities for their own financial gain.” Id. 20 The requisite showing is not present here. As an initial matter, the complaint contains no 21 allegations of any Apollo defendants passing title to any member of the plaintiff class. (See ECF 22 No. 60). Secondly, there are no allegations that allege any direct communications between the 23 Apollo defendants and any member of the plaintiff class. 24 solicitation prong cannot be satisfied. See Maine State Ret. Sys. v. Countrywide Fin. Corp., 2011 25 WL 4389689, at *10 (C.D. Cal. May 5, 2011) (noting that a complaint “must include very 26 specific allegations of solicitation, including direct communication[s]” to avoid dismissal). 27 Thus, the complaint does not establish the Apollo defendants as statutory sellers. 28 ... James C. Mahan U.S. District Judge - 13 - (See id.). Without more, the The Apollo defendants’ motion to dismiss is thus GRANTED with respect to claim 4. 1 ii. Primary Liability 2 3 The Apollo defendants further move to dismiss claims 2 and 5—alleged violations of § 4 20(a) of the Exchange Act and § 15 of the Securities Act—on the grounds that there is no 5 primary liability and thus there cannot be control person liability. (ECF No. 71). “To establish a 6 cause of action under § 20(a), a plaintiff must first prove a primary violation of underlying 7 federal securities laws.” In re NVIDIA Corp. Sec. Litig., 768 F.3d 1046, 1052 (9th Cir. 2014). 8 Likewise, “violation of § 15 is predicated upon violation of § 11 or § 12.” In re Harmonic Inc. 9 Sec. Litig., 163 F. Supp. 2d 1079, 1085 (N.D. Cal. 2001). 10 Because the Apollo defendants are not established as statutory sellers by the complaint, 11 there is no primary liability to predicate claims 2 and 5. Thus, they must be dismissed with claim 12 3 regarding the Apollo defendants. Lead plaintiff points to paragraphs 269–87, and 414–22 for 13 allegations of the Apollo defendants’ control other defendants in this action. (ECF No. 80). 14 However, even assuming arguendo this is true, it does not affect this court’s finding that the 15 complaint fails to establish the Apollo defendants as statutory sellers and thus fails to establish 16 primary liability for claims 2 and 5. e. Scheme Liability Claim 17 18 Defendants dispute whether the plaintiff class brings an independent scheme liability 19 claim. However, this claim is clear from the complaint’s face. Claim 1 is specifically entitled 20 “Violation of Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 Promulgated Thereunder 21 Against PlayAGS and the Executive Defendants.” (ECF No. 60 (emphasis added)). No motion 22 presently before the court properly addresses this claim. The AGS defendants’ motion to dismiss 23 contends the complaint does not cite “Rule 10b-5(a) or (c),” which is the legal basis for scheme 24 liability, but this nuance does not indicate there is no claim for scheme liability when Rule 10b-5 25 was specifically mentioned. 26 complaint in its entirety. The AGS defendants’ motion to dismiss as to scheme liability is 27 DENIED. 28 ... James C. Mahan U.S. District Judge (See ECF No. 60). - 14 - Nonetheless, they move to dismiss the f. Leave to Amend 1 2 Lead plaintiff requests leave to amend the complaint should any claims be dismissed. 3 Despite the complaint having been amended twice already, the court recognizes this is the first it 4 has been substantively challenged. Thus, leave to amend is GRANTED. 5 IV. CONCLUSION 6 Accordingly, 7 IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that the defendants’ 8 9 10 11 12 13 motions to dismiss are GRANTED in part and DENIED in part consistent with the foregoing. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED the plaintiff class is GRANTED leave to file an amended complaint within 30 days of this order. DATED December 2, 2022. __________________________________________ UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 James C. Mahan U.S. District Judge - 15 -
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