Middleton v. United States Of America, No. 6:2012cv00022 - Document 11 (W.D. Va. 2012)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Norman K. Moon on August 2, 2012. (sfc)

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IN THE U NI TED STATESD I STRI C OURT CT FoR THE W ESTERN D I STRI OF V I NI CT RGI A CL S OFFI U. DI .COUA ERK' CC S. ST . k AT L :. . YNCHBURQ V A * . x s.FI k LED LYNCHBURG D I SI VI ON AL2 22 2 1 02 JU BY' . OUD ' / (,- . K zf :21j 74 . EPu CL RK CAS N O.6: 2- 00022 E 1 cv- EVELYN L.M I DDLETON, Plit an ? M EM OM NDUM OPI ON NI UNI ST TED ATES OF A MERI CA, De n a t # d n. JUDGE N ORM AN K .M OON Thi matri beor t Cour on amoton t dimispurua t Rul 1 b)6 oft s te s f e he t i o s s s nt o e 2( () he F d r lRulso Cii P oc dze fld b t eUntd S ae o Ame ia (Dee a f l is e ea e f v l r e l ie y h ie tts f r rc t fnd n ). n t t moton,Dee ntc ntndst tEveyn Mi eon (s antf )ha fie t sae acli u n i fnda o e ha l ddlt t i if' s ald o tt am po pl whih r if c n be g a t d. Afer r vi wi Pl n ifs pr s compl i , a upon c ele a r ne t e e ng aitf' o e ant nd c i ai oft bref fl by t pa te t f r Ifnd t tPl ntf has i d f ie t onsder ton he i s ied he ri s hus a , i ha ai if ndee a ld o s a e a c a m . A c r ngl a hea i on D e e nts m oton t di m i s i unnec s ar f t tt li co di y, rng f nda ' i o s s s e s y; or he r as t tf l , lw ilgr ntt m oton. e ons ha olow l a he i 1 K BACKGROUND Thef c ss tf t i Pl i ifsc a t e orh n antf ompl i , c a t ss a 1m us a c tastue are as ant whi h t hi t ge t c ep r , f l . Fr a uns cii da ei 2000 t ough a undicos da ei 2002, Pl ntf wor d olows om n pe ted t n hr n s l ed t n ai if ke a Ce r He t i Lync t nta alh n hbur Vigi a. Thr h t c s ofhe e oymen wih Cen r g, r ni oug he our e r mpl t t ta He lh,Pli ife de l e oledi a403( r tr me s vi pln,t ad s f whihwa at antf vi nty nr l n b) eie nt a ngs a he vior or c s Amei nGe r lFi ilGr (t rc n Genea'.Pli ifsaest , i O ct r2000, rca ne a nanca oup C Ame ia rl' antf tt hat n obe ) 1tn ac r a c wihFe ea Rul ofCii Prc d r 7 0 , t Cour m a detr i a m o i wihoutan or l ç c od n e t d rl e l vl o e u e 8 9 he t y e m ne ton t a hea i ' W . Va.Ci . R.1 ( . rnp ' D. v 1b) s r ceved a qua try fna a sa e e t r r ng he pl n,but s alege i e nt ly he e i re l i ncil t t m n ega di r a he l s t ve ua l pr oved t c a n num e o e r s Pl i tf does not how e , el bor t w ih r pec t o ont i r us r or . a n if , ver a a e t es t o pr c s l wha t e e r s we e. Ac or ng t Pli if s wa a s d of t e r s i e ie y t hos ror r c di o antf, he s dvi e he ror n Dec mbe 2000,buts doesno me i by whom . Furhe ,Pli ifas e t t tt e r s e r he t nton t r a ntf s rs ha he ror we unc r t f a pe i of 1 days I lg ofhe fusr ton,Pl i if ca ms t ts nt oreced or rod 07 . n i ht r r ta i antf li ha he so t pped alcon rbutonst t pl n i J nua y 2001 I J 2001,Pl i iffld a compl nt l ti i o he a n a r . n une antf ie ai wih t Un td St t De rm e tofLa i whi h s a l d br a hesoftducar dute by t he ie a es pa t n bor n c he lege e c i i y is Ce r lHeat and Am e ian Ge r . Ac r ng t Pl ntf,t e t entte 'de ei f c nta lh rc ne al co di o ai if hes wo ii s c t or ed h rt wi r w a1o h rmo e fo t e4 ( )plni J n ay2 0 e o t a 1 f e n y r m h 03b a n a u r 0 2. hd The r mai r of Pl ntf' c e nde ai ifs ompl i i difc t t f l ant s fi ul o olow, but s a he ppea s t be r o ale ng t t t De rm e of La r a s lgi ha he pa t nt bo , t ome poi a f uns cii d r s ,colece nt nd or pe fe ea ons l td m oni fom he . Alhough Pli if f is t des rbe how t s moni we e obt i d,s es r r t antf al o c i he e es r ane he neve t l s c am s t t a e pr enty bei hel by t Unied St t De t ntof t rhees l i hat hey r es l ng d he t aes parme he Tr as y. Ac or ngl Pl ntf s e a or rdie tng t tt e m oni be r l s d t her e ur c di y, ai if e ks n de r c i ha hes es eea e o . Se r t y,Pl ntf r pa a el ai i f eque t t t D e e nt be o de e t r l s a 1r co ds i is pos e s on s s ha f nda r r d o e ea e 1 e r n t ss i r ga di compl nt offducir d y br ac m a a i tCe r lHea1h, e i n Ge r , e r ng ai s i a y ut e hes de gans nta t Am rca ne al v d Ot r - z t V he s ' ' 2Thi c s i p e e e b aln ln o atmpsb Panift liaea an tDee a t(swela oh re tte s a e s rc d d y o g ie f te t y litf o i g t g is fnd n a l s te n i s t i a idvd as i t UntdSae DititCo r frteEatr Ditito Vigni.Aso ti db Dee d n i nd n iiu l) n he ie tts src u to h sen src f r i a ul y fn a tn ne i bifsp ot ji moin, anifh shdsxcssta seoii l fldi teEatr Dititg o t b t re u p ri t t Plitf a a i ae ht h rgnal i n h sen src o n o e s n s o y e dim is I a ton,Pl ntf fld a c s i saecour;ho e r Def ntr m ovedt c et fder cou ti s sed. n ddli ai if ie a e n tt t w ve , enda e he as o e al r n teEatr Ditit a d i,to,wa sbsq e ty ds se I De e r2 1 ,teEatr Dititsbe td h sen src n t o s u e u nl imisd. n c mbe 0 l h sen src u j ce Plitf t pr -ii r viw goi f wa d. I i quie a r tt tPli ife vo st s r t i ii of an if o e flng e e ng or r t s t ppaen ha antf ndea r o kit he mposton p efln r v e i t Ea tm Ditit( n ,n d u t t e t t llc o r c p i e s t he c amst a s e h s r -i g e iw n he se i src a d o o b , h o a a k f e e tv ne s o r li h t h a e c u trdtee b fln he c mplith r i teW etr Ditit Asle pani ti me rn u o iin, n o nee h r) y i g r o an ee n h sen src. i x li n hs moa d m pno l agr wih Defnda t Pl ntf ha f ld t sae a cai upon whih r i c be gr ntd. Theef e, ee t e nt hat ai if s aie o tt lm c elef an a e r or Plit fs c mpan s alb ds se wi o tpeu ie Whl l a to bld b Plitf' p ritn e i ani ' o lit h l e imisd t u rj dc . ie m ru e y anifs esse c n f h a srig cams wi o ta e u t lja o fcu lf u ain a d ato g Isr n l cut n Plitf t b se t li t u d q ae e l r a ta o nd to , n lh u h to gy a i anif o e n h o j dco sa o tfln ftr s isi t sCo r i t yaea u s btnitd a teisa tmatr Id cie a t s u iiu b u i g uue ut n hl u t fhe r s n u sa tae s h ntn te, e l , thi i n poi ,t gr t t gove nm e ' r s t t I i nt o an he r nts eque t ha mpos t s t of pr f lng r e t t t h not pr s nty e he or e- ii evi w ha , houg ee l nec s a y he e w a cl a l w a r nt i t Ea t r Di ti t e s r r , s e ry r a ed n he s e n sr c . I LEGAL STANDARD L A moton t dimispu s a tlFe r Rul ofCii Pr edur 1 b ( tsst lgal i o s s r u nt t deal e vl oc e 2()6) e t he e s t inc ofaco pl i t deer newhehert pli tf ha pr l sa e a c am ;Ei does ufk e y m ant o t mi t he a n if s opery t t d l i dt no r s veco esss r t e ol nt t uroundi t f c s t me isofacl m ,o t a i biiy ofde e es' ng he a t , he rt ai r he pplca lt f ns . ' Re b ia 'J l o C.v Ma tn 9 0 F.d 9 3 9 2 ( t Ci.1 9 ) l c n iei aRue pu lc n r fN . ri, 8 2 4 , 5 4h r 9 2 . n o sd rng l 1 b( )moton,a c tmus ac e a1f t algai i t c anta tue a mus 2()6 i our t c pt l acual le tons n he ompli s r nd t dr w a1 r as bl i er nce i f vor of t pl ntf . Er ck on v Par , 551 U . 89, 94 a 1 e ona e nf e s n a he ai i f i s . dus S. ( ) Le c l i i t guie offcua algai ,howe r ar note ild t a 2007 . gal oncusons n he s a t l le tons ve, e ntte o p eu to o t t .As c o v I b l 1 9 S Ct 1 7, 9 0 ( 0 9 . r s mp in f nzh h rf . q a, 2 . . 93 1 5 -51 2 0 ) Alho h a compl i t t ug ant t doesnotne deaie f t a lgatons a pli ifsoblga i ed t ld acual le i , a ntf i ton t p o ie teg o nd o hs e t lg n lt r le rq ie mo et n lbes a c n lso s o r vd h r u s f i ni eme t o eif e ur s r ha a l nd o cu in , t a a f m ul i r c t ton oft e e e s of a ca e of ac i w ilnot do. Bel At. Co p.v. nd or a c e ia i he l m nt us ton l ' ' l l r T mby,5 0 U. 5 4 5 5 ( 0 7 (n en lq oain mak a d ctto so te ) C cu l wo l 5 S. 4 , 5 2 0 ) itr a u tto r s n iain mi d . Ta t a t al gai m us be e le tons t nough t r ie a rghtt r le abo t s cultve lvel' I I ot r o a s i o e if ve he pe a i e . d n he ' wor ,Rul 1 b)6)doesçnotrquie hei ene f tpl di ofs cii ,butonl e h ds e 2( ( û e r ght d ac ea ng pe fcs y noug f c st s a e a cl i t r i ft i pl us bl on isf ce. 1 a 570. a t o tt a m o ele hat s a i e t a ' d. t ' 11 D l 1. scussl oN Pl i if brngs he d a m a i tD e e a ntf i r i ga ns f ndan unde 28 U . C . j2042, c i peri nt t r S. whih, n tne pa t pr de ' r , ovi s . l e r ca ei whih t rghtt wihdrw mone de ied i c tunde ( n vey s n c he i o t a y post n our r 28 U. C.j 2041 ha bee a j c td ori noti diput a s h mone has S. 1 s n d udiae s n s e nd uc y r m aned s de ie f r a las fve yea s unc am e by t pe s entted e i o post d o t e t i r li d he r on il t r t s cour s l c e s h money t be de ied i t Tr as y i t he e o, uch t ha l aus uc o post n he e ur n he na e a t t c e t of t U nie St t . Any c a m a e il t a s m nd o he r di he t d a es l i nt ntted o ny uch mone ma on peii t t c ta upon notc t t Unie St t at ne y y, tton o he our nd i e o he t d aes tor y a f l pr oft rghtt r t obt i a or rdiec i pay e t hi . nd ' l oof he i he eo, an n de r tng m nt o m u 28 U. C.j 2042. ç-hi code s cin go r t dibureme ofr gity f t tha S. t- s l e to vens he s s nt e sr unds ha ve lnguihe çora l tfveyea suncli e 'a ha t r be f f t d t çheTr aszy i a s d f t eas i r am d, nd ve he eby en oreie o t e lr n ten mea d t t ec e to te Uni d S ae .' I r Cr g' S o e o T r,I c,4 3 F.d h a n o h rdi f h t tts' n e ai s t rs f e n . 0 3 e ' 5 2 5 5n. ( t Ci. 0 )(uoi 28U. C.j2 4 ) 2 , 2 3 5h r 2 05 q tng S. 0 2. Pl ntf c pl nti de d ofany alega i t twoul i c e t t i c ai ifs om ai s voi l tons ha d ndiat ha , n onne i cton wihltg ton, t iiai mone t whih s i e ildha be n de ie wihacour t s e nty y o c he s ntte s e postd t t and ubs que l rl s dt t De rme oft Tr s y) n he rs ebrefi opposton t Dee nts eea e o he pa t nt he eaur .l r epons i n ii o fnda ' moi n t ds s ,Plitf c ne d ta s e r c n l wo a d futj d me t a ans t re to o imis an if o tn s h t h e e ty n e a l u g n g i t h e De rm en ofLa of i i s H o eve ,s onl a t c t he brefa co ofhe m o i f pa t t bor f c al . w r he y t a hes o r i py r ton or d fut u g n i t a saec u t ci n n ta a t a j d me to d r ti q ieo v o st a ea lj d me t n h t tt o r a to , o n cu l u g n r e .l s ut b i u h t t es b sino e i n et to eha mo df rad fut ud me td e no d mo srt t t h u miso f vde c ha n s ve o e a lj g n o s t e n tae ha o ea tal o tie adea lj dg n . n cu l b an d fut u me t y Uli t l net r t f t alega i ofhe co pl i nor t ar tma ey, ihe he acual l tons r m ant he gume s r ied i nt a s n he bre e t bls a cai t r le t ti e n r r if sa ih l m o e if ha s ve emot y û ausbl on isf e. Twombl , 55 el k pl i e t ac ' ' y 0 U. a 57 I e Pl ntf c ede i he r pons bre t ts ç suna e t cie a saut S. t 0. nde d, ai if onc s n r es e i f ha he ç i bl o t t t e t ta i t t sc ant' I ta s smpl pr et t tis ha pr vi gi)t seo t ha pples o hi ompli . nse d, he i y otss ha the s o de sc hi ur ' wih enough fcst twoul s t a t ha d uppors (ilhe dam .... 1dia ee. Even a trafodi t sc r i ' ' s gr fe f r ng Pli tf t lber lc ttc i ofhe pla ngst whih s i e ild by vit ofhe pr s a n if he i a onsrlton r e di o c he s ntte rue r o e sau , fn t a ds sa o h rc mp an wih u p eu iei p o e . tts l i d h t imisl f e o lit t o t rj dc s r p r I CONCLUSI V. ON Fort f egoi r s ,D e enda ' m o i t di m i s s l be gr nt d,a Pl n ifs he or ng ea ons f nt s ton o s s ha l a e nd ai tf c e s l be sr k fom t Cour' aci doc t3 A n a opr a e or r a com pa e t s as hal tuc r he ts tve ke . ppr i t de c ni s hi m e o andu opi on. m r m ni The Cl k oft Cour i he e diece t s nd a c tfe c oft sm e a um er he t s r by r td o e erii d opy hi mor nd o ni a t a companyi or rt Pl i ifa a1 couns lofr or pi on nd he c ng de o antf nd 1 e ec d. Ent r d t s ' e e hi day ofAugus , 2012. t NO AN K.M OO UN I TED STATES D I STM CT J GE UD 3 On J y 26, 201 Pl ntf fl a f e e t Pl ntf s m oton t contnue ul 2, ai if ied n ç ndm nt o ai if am i o i .' G i n t I co tu ' ve hat nsr ed Pl ntf' t i t c i 'ashe r s e bre i opposton t De e t' moton t dimis t Clr of ai ifs i on o ontnue' mot r e pons if n ii o f ndan s i o s s , he e k t Cou tpr ry dockeedt sça e m ent'asam oi t a e . l lghtofm y de so t gr ntDefndan ' he r ope l t hi tm nd ' ton o m nd n i ciin o a e ts motont dimis Pl ntf smoton t a nds lbede ed a moot lf t rnot t t c e sofPl ntf i o s s , ai if i o me hal ni s . urhe e hat he ontnt ai ips moton pe r o t t a ntaly eltd o he lgato n r ompli a he cai agans Deenda . ant nd r l m i t f nt A i ap a t bea bes tnge i l r ae t t ale insi he c cc di y,t y ha nope s i be i on myr s u i ofDe e ntsmoton. or ngl he ve ruasve arng e olton f nda ' i 5

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