Bates et al v. Strawbridge Studios, Inc. et al, No. 7:2011cv00216 - Document 26 (W.D. Va. 2012)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 3/5/2012. (lab)

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DLERK: IFFI U, QI O LRT R :, R J ArR- OK;, VA AL O E I TH E U NI N TED STA TES D I STRI CO U RT CT FOR THE W ESTEM D I STRI O F V I GI A CT R NI ROA N OKE DI SI VI ON MÃ 2 25 2 1 22 JULK C. LEY C E D B ; i' 'zt 1Z l CL RK CHA RLES M . TES, Ig BA # . L, . Ci lActon N o.7: CV 00 6 vi i 11 21 Pl ntf s, ai if M EM O M ND UM O PINIO N STRA W BRI G E STUD I S,I C . # g , D O N , 1 1, . By:Hon. e E.Co ad Gln nr Chi U nie St t D i ti tJ ef t d a es s rc udge Def nda s e nt . ChalsM . tsa dDo naL. ts(olcieyr fre t a Ã§hepanif' fld re Bae n n Bae c le t l ee rd o s l li t s' ie v t f ) t sdi r iyaci f rdef ma i a br a h ofc r ta i tSta i e St os l hi ve st ton o a ton nd e c ontac gans r wbrdg udi , nc. (Ã»ta rd e'a J l Do , nu k o e o e a do a e t fSrwb ig .Th c s i d rwb ig ' nd om e a n n wn mply e n /r g n o ta rd e e a e s s ) pr e l be or t c t Sta i sm o i n t dim is Fort r as t tf l t es nty f e he our on r wbrdge' to o s s . he e ons ha olow, he m oton w ilbe de e i l ni d. Background Thef l wi f t ,tke fom t pli tfs co pli t a eac e e a t ef olo ng acs a n r he a n if ' m a n , r c pt d s nl or p r o e o tep n igmoi n S eErc s nv Pad s 5 U. 8 , 4( 0 7 . u p s s f h e dn to . e ik o . r u , 51 S. 9 9 2 0 ) I Aug tof2009,hepli tfs o r ofSi hta Sot St os l ,fl a a ton n us t a n if , wne s g nd md udi , nc. ied n c i f rb e c o c nr c i saec u t g is Srwb ig S u is I c (sr wb i g ' o r a h f o ta t n tt o r a an t ta rd e t do ,n .t ta rd e). t Sta i e r move t a ton t t sco to di riy g ot ,a t pa tesuli aey r wbrdg e d he c i o hi ur n ve st r mds nd he ri tm t l neg i t d a s tl e ag e m en t tr ol t i di put Se Si hta Sound Sm di . nc. ota e e tem nt r e t ha es ved he r s e. e g nd os l v. ta rdg Sudo .n .No 7:9 03 8( . Va 2 0 ) Th stlme ta re n , Srwb i e t is Ic, . 0 CV0 3 W D. . 0 9 . e ete n g e me t w hi w asexecut on M ay 12,2010,i udes t f l ng pr son:t-'e pari agr t ch ed ncl he olowi ovi i Ã» h f tes ee hat neiherw ilsay,wrt publs br t l ie, i h, oadcas ,ori any ot w ay partci t i negatve or t n her i pa e n i di par ng com m ent aboutt ot ' s agi s he her.' - OnN o mbe 1 201 Sta rdger c i aphonec l fom Trna La a ,who ve r 0, 0, r wb i e eved al r i pr de r eque t d t orgi ne tve f he da e ' s ho phot r ph f om t pr vi ye r s e he i nal ga i or r ught r s c ol og a r he e ous a . La ades pr poke wih Sta i sc t m e s r c r pr e ai , t r wbrdge' uso r e vie e es nt tve who t d he t tSta i ol r ha r wbrdge di no ha t phot a butt tt pli if mi ha i,snc t ywe e wor ng wih d t ve he ogr ph, ha he antfs ght ve t i e he r ki t Sta i e dli t r e nttm e Thec t rs r ier pr s t tveadde ho ver t t r wbrdg trng he elva i . usome e vc e e en a i d, we , ha t pl ntfsE r notr putbl a c dnotbetuse 'a t tEhi gots ba weha t he ai if t e we e a e nd oul r t d,' nd ha Ã§ ngs t o d d o g tiv le i alws i. ( mp . t 7 . e n ov d n a ut' Co la ! ) ' Afe t sc ve s ton, pr deviiedhe da e ' hi s hoola r pe t t tr hi on r ai La a st r ughtr s gh c nd e aed he sae e smadeb Sta i e' c t rs r i r pr s n a i La a t n i r d a t tt m nt y r wbrdg s usome e vce e e e t tve. pr de he nquie s o whyt s hoolwoul de wih pe e ofs h ne tvec r ce . he c d al t opl uc ga i ha a tr On M ay9, 1 t pli if fld t sd ve st a tonagans Sta i a is 201 , he antfs ie hi i riy ci i t r wbrdge nd t t mknown c t usomers r i er pr e ai as e tng cam sofde ama in a br a h ofc r c . e v c e es nttve, s ri li f to nd e c onta t' Sr wb i eha mo dt d s s tec mpan p ru n t Rul 1 ( )6 o teFe ea Rue ta rdg s ve o imis h o lit u s a t o e 2 b ( ) f h d r l ls ofCi lPr ed e. Them at rha bee f lybre e a i rpef r vi w. vi oc ur te s n u l if d nd s i or e e St anda ofR e e rd vi w Ã§f epupo eo aRue1 ( )6 moini t ts tes f in yo ac mp an . d' r s f l 2 b ( ) t s o e th u fce c f o lit' -h o ' Edwadsv. t ofGol boo,1 F. 231, ( hCi.1 .W he rviwi acam r Ciy ds r 78 3d 243 4t r 999) n e e ng li unde t sr e,hec tm us a c ptaloft al gai nsi t c r hi ul t our t c e 1 he le to n he ompl ntastuea dr w al ai r nd a l #Prort flng t i t ntac i , t pl ntf sfied adef i acton agai tSt a i i i o ii he ns a ton he ai if l amaton i ns r wbrdge n sat cour,whi wasr oved t t sc ton di siy gr te t ch em o hi our ver t ounds. On M a 1 2011 t courtp ant y 7, , he ed Sta i sm oton t dim isf f l et sa ea cl m . See Bat v.Sta i St os.l ,Cas r wbrdge' i o s s or aiur o tt ai es r wbrdze udi nc. e No. 11 00 ,2 1U. Dit LEXI 5 42( . Va M a 1 , 1.Du i tehe rngo t t 7: CV0 33 01 S. s. S 24 W D. . y 7 201 ) rng h ai n ha moton,t cour advied t pari t tt pl ntf swoul be per ted t fl a a ended compl nt i he t s he tes ha he ai if d mit o ie n m ai ora ne acton. Thepl ntfsel ed t pur uet lte coure and Gl t i t acton on M ay 9, w i ai if ect o s he a tr s ed he nsant i 20l1. Fort r onsexpl ne bel t cour concl t t ne com pl ntcont nss fcint he eas ai d ow, he t udes hat he w ai ai uf i e alegatonst s ve am oton t dim is. l i o urvi i o s s r s bl i e e esi f vo oft pli if . l a 2 Ã»ro s vveamoton t dim is a ea ona e nf r nc n a r he antfs d. t 44. t ur i ' i o s s, c pl i tm us c a n s t i ntf ct lm a t r a c pt d a t u ,t Ã§ t t a cl i t r i ft ti om a n t ont i ufk e a ua te , c e e s r e o sa e a m o ele ha s p a sbeo i fc .'As co t I b l5 6U.. 6 ,1 9 S. . 9 7, 9 9( 0 9 ( u tn lu il n t a e' h r f v.q a, 5 S 6 2 2 Ct 1 3 1 4 2 0 ) q oig s ' Bel l Co p. Two l 5 0U. 5 4 5 0( 0 7) 4noh rwods tefcua alg to s lAt. r v. mby, 5 S. 4 , 7 2 0 ).; t e r ,h a t l le ain 1 (a na t e mus Ã§ r tt co toi e mor t nt meeposi lt ofmico t'' tke s nz) t pe mi he ur t nfr e ha he r sbiiy s nduc .'A Soc' W ihou a N a e f rPe e wihou a H om e M il r il Fu ur - e q v. igi a 655 v t t m . o opl t t . le m lm t e pr s nt V r ni , F.d3 2 3 6(t Ci. 01 )( u tn lb l 1 9S. . t1 5 ) 3 4 , 4 4 h r 2 1 q oig q a, 2 Cta 9 0 . Di cuss on s i 1. De am aton f i Thepa tesag eet tVigni l w a isi t sdi r iya i Toesa ih a ri r ha r i a a pple n hi ve st cton. t bls de a ai n ca m unde Vigi alw,t pl ntfsmus fr ts f m to li r r ni a he ai if t is how t tt de e ntpubls d a ha he f nda ihe f lef t lsae e t tconc r a ha mst pli if ort pl ntfs r putto Hylnd a s acua t tm nt ha e ns nd r he antfs he ai if ' e ai n. a v Ra te nTe l c lS r s Co, 7 S. 2 7 6 7 0( . 0 9 .Th p an if mu tas . yh o cmia e v . .6 0 E.d 4 , 5 Va 2 0 ) e litfs s lo s how t ha t de e n kne t tt sae e wa f s or beivi t tt sa e e twas d t he f nda t w ha he t tm nt s ale , le ng ha he tt m n t t u l c a r as bl ba i f r s h be i f ora t d neglge l i f lng t de er i t r e, a ked e ona e s s o uc le , c e i nty n aii o t m ne he fcso whi t publc tonwasbasd. L. t fmaor sae nt ma i l sae nt a t n ch he iai e ' ds t a t y ttme s y ncude ttme s ' u De m a by i e e e,i i a i ori i to ' I Deamaor wo dsa e a tona eperK i de nf r nc mplc ton, nsnuai n. d. f t y r r c i bl ' f t e p eu ieap ro i hi o h rta eo p oe so F t v. vesd He lh aeAs' h y rj d c e s n n s r e rd r r fsin. use Ri rie at c r sn. l ,575S. 2d 858,861( 2003) nc. E. Va. . I m o ngt dimist pl i if 'de n ai cli ,Sta i a g t tt n vi o s s he antfs f m ton am r wbrdge r ues ha he s a e e sa l ge y m a by is c t e s r i r pr s t tve a e nota tona e,be a e t y t t m nt le dl de t us om r e v ce e e en a i r c i bl c us he a e e es i ofo ni r t rt n sa e e soff c . d us sofac i n f def m a i ha r xpr s ons pi on a he ha t t m nt at l ca e to or a ton ve terb ssi saec mmo lw b t r s be tt p icplso fe d m o s e h aiigu d r h i a i n tt o n a u ae u jc o rn i e f r e o f pe c rsn n e t Fi s A m e he r t ndm e t t U nied St t Cons iuton a A ri l 1 Se ton 1 oft nt o he t a es tt i nd tc e , c i 2 he Co si to o Vign a' Ye gev. le it Ti s 4 7S. 2 1 6 1 7( . 9 ) n tt in f r ii. a l Co lgae me , 9 E.d 3 , 3 Va 1 98 . u ' Co s q nl t p t ee p e so so o iiny whc d n t o ti p o a yflefcua n e ue t t ll x rs in f pn o ' ih o o c nan r v bl as a t l y, l r ' c mo a i ,Ã» a tnor ly f r t ba i ofa aci f de a a in. W J TV v. vi ol t tons Ã§ nno c ma l o m he ss n ton or f m to ' LA' Le n, 5 4 S. 2 3 3 3 2( . 0 2 .Ho v r teUntdS ae Su r meCo r S a s e i al 6 E.d 8 , 9 Va 2 0 ) we e,h ie tts p e u tt s p cfc l h y de lne t hol t tsae e sofo ni a e c t orcal e ude a t bassf acommon c i d o d ha t tm nt pi on r aeg i ly xcl d s he i or lw dea to ca eofa ton.'l (ii M iko c v. r nJ na Co.497U. 1,1821 a fmain us ci ' d. ctng l vih Loai our l , S. - ( 9 ) Ast eS p e Co r o sr e i M ik vc 1 90 . h u rme u t b e v d n lo ih: I a s a s ys Ã» n my o ni J hn J si ala , hei i a f pe ker a , t l pi on o one s ir' mples ' knowl e off c swhih l dt t co uso t tJ st dan un nzh. edg at c ea o he ncl i n ha one ol t t Eve i t s ake s a est f c su n w hi h he bas t o ni i n f he pe r t t he a t po c es he pi on, f t ef csa eeihe i ore tori mplt ,o i hi as esm e oft m hos a t r t r nc r c nco e e r f s s s nt he i er s r oneo ,t s a e e m a sili pl a f s a s r i off c . Si pl us he t t m nt y t l m y al e s e ton a t m y c hi s h s a e e si t r sofopi on doesnotdi pe t e ouc ng uc t t m nt n e m ni s l hes i plc tons a t sa e e ,d n m y opi o J m i a i ; nd he t t m nt t l ni n onesi a la ,' n c us s i r' ca a e asm uch da ag t r put ton a t s a e e , tonesi a l i . m e o e a i s he t t m nt tl s a r' ' l a 1 1 d. t 8- 9. Theque to ofwhehe ade a t ysa e nti o o f toropi o pr e t alga si n t r f ma or tt me s ne f ac ni n es n s e l quesi t be d i by t c t Hvlnd,67 S. 2d a 751.Ã§ n dee mi ngwhe he a ton o ecded he our. a 0 E. t t tr ni l t r s a e e ti one off c oropi on, c r m a no i ol t one pori oft s a e e a i s ttm n s at ni a ou t y t s a e ton he t t m nt t s ue fom a t rpori oft sae nt' Ja l ta t c tmus co i rt sae nta a r nohe ton he ttme . .. nse d,he our t nsde he ttme s 'p w hol I e. d. Appl ngt s prnci es t co ti u bl t c udet tt satm e sa i s a e yi he e i pl , he ur s na e o oncl ha he t e nt t s ue r pur e e sonsofopi o t tca e xpr s i ni n ha nnotf m t ba i ofa a tona e ca m f de a ai n. or he ss n c i bl li or f m to Ta n a one, he s a e e t tt pl ntf sÃ§ e e notr put bl a co d notbe t ts e ' ke l t t t m nt ha he ai if s r w e a e nd ul rz t dp' 4 a gua y co d bec i r d a e e so o opi on.Howeve ,gi n t c t xti whih t r bl ul onsde e n xpr s i n f ni r ve he on e n c he saeme wasm a ,a t f c t tt c t rs r ier e en a i a edt t(hi go t t nt de nd he a t ha he usome e vc epr s t tve dd ha Ã§ ngs t t s ba ( rwbrdge ha t ge i vedi alws t't c t ncl st tt o d Sta i l d o tnvol n a ui 'he our co ude ha he r pr e a i s s a e e s c d be r s bl t de s ood t i pl t e s e e ofdef m a or e es nt tve' t t m nt oul ea ona y m r t o m y he xit nc a t y f c s SeeBa l v.Compr he i Pan M gmt Cts,Ca eNo.7: a t. y or e nsve i . r. s 09CV00472,2011U. Dit S. s . LEXI 3 6 9 a * 4- 5( . Va Ap . , 01 )(-h ts frd tr nn wh t e fcst a S 7 9 , t 3 3 W D. . r 6 2 1 tl e e t o ee mi ig eh r a t h t ima beaci bl de a ton ha be n i i d i t t a r s na e lse rwoul t ke y tona e f ma i ve e mple s wheher ea o bl it ne da (hes kelt bebasnghi t ni onknowldgeoffcsoft s tha c nbee l tdi t pea r o i s opi on' e a t he or t n a vauae n ad fmai ns i.'( u tn Ro e t S c S c o Den to Li e, a de, n Reae ea to u t') q oi g b r D. a k, a k n fmain: b lSln r a d ltd ' Pr b e j43: ( t Ed 2 0 Be a s tsttme t ce ryi li t ee itn eo fcs o lms : 2 4h . 01 :. c u e c lae n s lal mp yng h x se c f a t l a ea to a ea d fmain, S nge v.TT Co .9 3F.d 1 6 ,1 71(t Ci. 9 3 ,h r cin bl s ea to ' we lr I ' m , 9 2 0 3 0 4h r 1 9 ) te cour co l st tSta rdge' frta g t ncude ha r wb i s is r umen i wihoutmert ts t i. To t extntSta i at r i y a g t tt def ma i c am c it ofba e he e r wbrdge lenatvel r ues ha he a ton l i onsss r l ga c l i nsa a f m ul i r c t to oft ne e s r el m e s t c t sunabl t e l onc us o nd or a c e ia i n he c s a y e nt , he our i eo ag e W hie s eoft pl i if 'al ga insa ea g bl co l or t c ti oft r e. l om he antfs le to r r ua y ncus y, he our s he opi on t tt c ni ha he ompl nt i ise iey,c anss fce f cualc entt sa eacl m f ai , n t ntrt onti ufi int a t ont o tt ai or def ma i t ti pl i eon isf e I ,1 S. . t1 a ton ha s ausbl t ac . nbal 29 Ct a 949. Fial,h c u t s as rj c t eapl n t a ted fmaincam i ba 'db t e n l te o r mu t lo ee t h r me t h th ea to li s ne y h y s tl nta e m e tt tt pa tesr a he i t fr taci e teme gr e n ha he ri e c d n he is ton.Ha ng r vi we t t r of vi e e d he e ms t a e m e ,hec ti una et c ude a ama troflw,t tt ag e me woul he gr e nt t our s bl o oncl , s te a ha he r e nt d pr ude t partes f pur ui a cl m t ar e s alm ont aft t agr entwas ecl he i rom s ng ai hat os ever hs er he eem execut Fort e r ed. hes easons,Staw brdge' m oton m us be deni w ih r pectt t pl ntff r i s i t ed t es o he ai i s' c a m f de a aton. l i or f m i I. I Br ach ofC ont t e rac Sta i a s a g t tt co antf ist sa eac am f rbr c ofc r c . r wbrdge lo r ues ha he mpli al o tt l i o ea h onta t Und rVignalw,ith e sn il lme t o ac us o a to f rb e c o c nrc ae( )a e r ii a Ã§ l e se ta ee n s f a e f cin o ra h f o ta t r 1 l lg l bi aino ad fn a t oapanif ( )avoaino b e c o ta o lg to a ()a e a o lg to f ee d n t litf, 2 ilto r ra h f h t b iain, nd 3 c n e u n ilij r o d ma et t epanif' Ha e v. y s 6 SE.d 1 5 1 8( . o s q e ta nu y r a g o h litf. mlt Ha e , 41 . 2 1 , 1 Va ' 2007) . Upon r viw oft c e e he ompli , hec t sc ta ne t c udet tt pl i if ha ant t our i onsr i d o oncl ha he antfs ve s fcinty saed acai f br ac o co r c .Assl rz d abo ,t pl i if aleget t ufi e l t t l m or e h f nta t lmma ie ve he antfs l ha t y e e e i o as tl me a e men wih Sta i , s ntt whi h t pa tes he ntr d nt e te nt gr e t t r wbrdge pur ua o c he ri e e syag e d t r r n fom s yi a yt ngne tveordipa a nga utt ot r The xpr s l r e o efai r a ng n hi ga i s r gi bo he he . pli if a s a lget tt sae e t ma by Sta i e' a ntwe e i die tc lc wih antfs lo le ha he t tm n s de r wbrdg s ge r n r c ontit t t s t r oft s tl m e ag e e .l or a i t a l ga i c a ne i pa a a 1 hi e m he e te nt r em nt nc por tng he le tons ont i d n r gr phs t oug 1 oft c hr h 2 he ompli , hepl ntfsf t rale t tt vi ai oft s tlm e ant t ai if urhe lge ha he olton he e te nt ag e me r s t d i dn a t t pli if 'busne sr put to Ba ed o t f e ng,t r e nt e ule n m ge o he antfs i s e ai n. s n he or goi he c tc ude t tt pl ntfs a lgai a es fc e t sa eacli f b e c ofc r c our oncl s ha he ai if ' le tons r ufii nt o tt am or r a h onta t a t , ha t moton mus alo bede e wih r s c t t scai . nd, hus t t he i t s nid t e pe t o hi l m Concl i us on Fort r as nssa e Sta i e' motont dimiswilbe d e TheClr i he e o t t d, r wbrdg s i o s s l enid. ek s diec e t s nd c riid c esoft sme o a lm o ni a t a c r t d o e e tfe opi hi m r nd l pi on nd he c ompanyi o d rt al ng r e o l c ouns ofr c d. el e or c sNTER: i G M day ofM ar h, 20 2. Th s 1 t Chi U nie St t D i ti J ef t d a es s rct udge 6

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