Phipps v. Ruby Tuesday, Inc., No. 7:2012cv00401 - Document 18 (W.D. Va. 2013)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Samuel G. Wilson on 2/15/2013. (eot)

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CLERK' OFFI U. . ST COURT S CE S DI . ATROANOKE, VA FI LED FEB 15 2 1 23 I TH E UN I ED ST AT ES DIST R I CO U R T N T CT FO R TH E W ESTER N D I STR I T O F V I G I A C R NI R OANOK E DI VISI N O L A W A N D A PH I PPS, B,I tL UA ,LR CEK CL C i lA c i N o.7: 2c vi t on 1 v401 Pl ntff ai i , M EM O R AN D UM O PI I N N O V. RUBY TUESDAY,I C. N , D efendant . By:Sam ue G . is l W l on U ni e St t sD i t i tJudge t d a e sr c Pl i ifLa nda Phi brngst sne i ncea ton pur ua t t c rtsdi r iy antf wa pps i hi glge ci s nt o he ou ' ve st j rs ito 28U. C. 1 3 , g i s d fn a tRu yTu s y I o p rtd(û b Tu s a ' u idcin, S. j 3 2 a an t ee d n b e da ,nc r o ae û y e d y' Ru ) f rij re Php s sane a trs alg dybtd wno apic o ga swhi s ewa e tng o nu is ips u ti d fe he le e l i o n e e f ls l h s ai e as ldfo Ru Tu s a ' s ldb rlRu yTue d yh smo e frs mmayj g n, aa r m by e d y s aa a . b s a a v d o u r ud me t es e ily a g ng Phi psha ofer d no pr ofneg i nce.The c ta e ,fndsno s nta l r ui p s f e oof lge our gr es i i c ton t tRuby Tues y f ie t e r s dueca ei t pr pra i a delve y of ndia i ha da a ld o xe cie r n he e ton nd i r Php ' aa , n g a t Ru y Tu s a smo inf rs mma yj d me t ips s ld a d rn s b e d y' to o u r u g n . Ruby Tue da ownsand ope a e ar t a a s ld ba i W yt vil Vig ni On s y r t s esaur nt nd aa r n he le, r i a. t ni ofFe ua y 1 2008 Phi we toutt e twih a g oup offi ndsa t W yt vil he ght br r 0, , pps n o a t r re t he he le Ruby Tue da r sa a .Afe plci he di ror r Phi we t t s a bara s y e tur nt tr a ng r nne de , pps nt o he ald nd pr pa e a s a W he s be n ea i t s a s notc d s e hi i he m o h t t e r d al d. n he ga tng he al d, he i e om t ng n r ut ha t in' se lk iwa dso vn . ( ipsAf. , No. 3 1) Php s t h o j c it t d t e m i e t s is l ig' Php d ' f 9 ECF 1 - . ips pit e b e t no 1Ru Tues yr m ovedt saci fom t Cic tCo toft Cou y ofW yt ,V igi apur ua t by da e hi ton r he r ui ur he nt he r ni s nt o 2 U.. j 1 3 ,1 41 a d 1 4 .Php srsd si Wyh vle Vigna a dRu yTu s a i ic r oae i 8 SC. j 3 2 4 , n 4 6 ip eie n te il, rii, n b ed y s n o p rtd n Geor a, t isprncpalplceofbusnes i M a yvil Te s .Phi 's e $1000, 00i dmnage fom gi wih t i i a i s n r le, nnesee pps e ks , 000. n sr Ru yTu s a Ac odn l,h rq rme t frdv riyj rs ito p rua to28U. C. 1 3 aestsid. b e d y. c rigy te e uie ns o iest u idcin u s n t S. j 3 2 r aite ana kna d ds o ee t a iwa as lp e eo ce rga s Up n is cigtvo j c, p i n ic v rd h t t s mal ic f la ls. o n pe tn h be t Phi 'dimerc pps r ompani a e t ti wasapi c ofgl s I herde ii Phi t tûed ons gr ed ha t ee as . n poston, pps esi t tt s l ba wa cea an t ts d d notobs r ea hi b o n orouto o de whie ha he aad r s l n d ha he i e v nyt ng r ke f r r l s wa m a ng he s l Phi i çunsze'ofhow t gl s goti he s a orhow l i he s ki r aad. pps s ç lr ' he a s n r ald ong t mi htha be n t r Ruby Tue da hasofe ed a a fda tfo Sha W ic t l ie t r g ve e he e. s y f r n fi vi r m ne l ox, he r r c o ofPeopl St r a Res t' f Ruby Tues e anda ds nd uls' or day,a tsi t tRuby Tue da doesnotus te tng ha s y e gl s i is s a pr pa a i a ea nors or s l i e e si g a s c ai r . Phi s ks as n t al d e r ton r , t e a ad ngr di nt n l s ont ne s pps ee $1000, i dn a s. , 000 n m ge I I. Ru y Tu s a ha mo e f rsl r j d me to t g omdta P p sc n o s o b ed y s v d o l mmay u g n n he r t h t hip a n t h w t tç n t ea ona y da r c ton e se ' n t s l lf Ruby Tues y' c r . ha l mr s bl nge ous ondii xit d'whe he aad e t a da s ontol Ruby Tu da a g , n t abs nc ofpr e ,t tt s a l f is ç ontol'whe i pl e es y r ues i he e e ec dent ha he al d e t t t r ' c n t ac d t s l d i edint on t s l dba .W ha ltl gui nc exit on t tque ton ladst c t he a a ngr e s he a a r t ite da e ss ha si e he our t adif e c l i n- t tt s a wa sili Ruby Tues y' c t o whiei s ton t o fer nt oncuso ha he ald s tl n da s on r l l t a he s a ba .Ne rhe e s t co ttndst tPhi ha ofer d not ng s ald r ve t l s , he ur i ha pps s f e hi howi t tRuby ng ha Tue da f ie t e r s dueca e i t pr pa a i a dei r ofPhi 's l and, s y a ld o xe cie r n he e r ton nd lve y pps aad t eeo e g a t Ru yTu s a ' moin frs mmayj g n . h rf r , rn s b e d y s to o u r ud me tz Re i a l t ç ve a i s i t c s ofa t e ai d ac i ntt tm a ha s ps oquiur ç r pple n he a e n m xpl ne c de ha y ve ne bee a ti a et oneoft ca e ,f o ofwhih t de e nti no r s n trbut bl o wo us s or ne c he f nda s t e ponsbl ' Le s i e, wi ' 2A c m's al rn sl r j d me tç temo a ts wsta teei n g n n ds uea t a y o t h lg a t l mmay u g n Efh v n ho h th r s o e uie ip t s o n i maeil ata dtemo a tse tldt j d me t samatro lw. Fe R. v P. 6() Th p rymovn tra fc n h v n i nie o u g n a t te f a ' d. Ci. 5 a. e at ' ig frsmmayj d me t asteb re o ifr n tec u t ftebai f ri moina die tfigtos p rs o u r u g n ber h ud n f nomig h o r o h ss o t to n d niyn h e at s oft r or t tde onsr t t a e eofage neis ofm ae ilfct Ceotx Cor v.Cate t477U . he ec d ha m tae he bs nc nui sue tra a . l e p. r t, S. 31 3 3(98 ) I rve n as rmayj d me t to t e Rue5 ,h c u tç s d a alutfa e 7, 2 1 6 . n e iwig un r u g n moin md r l 6 te o r i t rw 1j siibl mu ifrnc si fv ro ten n vn pat ' UntdSae v CaoiaTrn fr rCo.9 F.d8 2 8 5( t Ci. nee e n a o fh o mo ig ry. ie tts . r l a so me , 78 2 3 , 3 4h r ' n l 2 (iigAn es nv Liet Lo b . n .4 7U. 24 25 ( 9 6 99 ) ct n d ro . b rv b v I c, 7 S. 2, 5 1 8 :. v.Ca ntrCo.25 Va.296,300( 996) Thus i anegi nc a in s ha t soneb ed me e , 2 1 . ,n lge e cto uc s hi as ont ç unwhols mef 't btr n i ont pli ift s ( )fha t goodwal e o ood,'he lde s he antf o how 1 û t he f t s t e s n bl d ng r u 'f rc ns mp in a d( )th t h u r ao byd n eo sc n iin mr ao a y a eo s' o o u to , n 2 i a t e n e s na l a g r u o dto t e se whe t (ood)l tt dee tsha .'Se Buse v. S. Resala s I , xitd n he f ef he fndan ' nds' e s y E. C. ttrnts nc.270 Va 5 , 3 ( 0 )( u tto makso te )( u tn Ha sTe trv Bu r uz s 2 Va 1 4 . 31 5 6 2 05 q o ain r mitd q oig ni - ee . ro h , 41 . , ( 991) Andçhepli ifatmptngt pr ne i nc mus pr a a tona ee nt 1 ). ç antf te i o ove glge e t ove n ddii l lme , t ie,notonl t tt pr twa da r l def c i a t tm et ti lf t de e nts .. y ha he oduc s nge ousy e tve t he i ha t e t he f nda ' ha ,butalo t tt de e twa t r ul oft de e ntsf iur t exe c s duec r .' nds s ha he f c s he es t he f nda ' al e o r ie a e' Che t v.For M otrCo.445F. 967, ( h Ci.1 ) snut d o , 2d 969 4t r 971 . V igi a c t ha nota we e t ques i ofw he f on a s l d barha ç ef t r ni our s ve ns r d he ton n ood aa s f t he l de e nt sha dS.1 How e r i H a rs Tee e v. r f nda 3 n ' 3 ve , n r i t r Bur ouahs t V igi a Supr m e Co t he r ni e ur e p an dt a,s eeaplitf alg dys fe sij r fo ad ltro s b tn ei f o , x lie h t G r anif l e l u fr n u y r m eeeius u sa c n o d wh e t btr n i on t pli ift s w t tt f pr tc ai d f ei m a tra t tm e he lde s he a ntf o ho ha he ood oduc ont ne or gn te t he i t r tie s d and de i r d t m odud t t c ume . he ea lr ol lve e he o he ons r' 'Buro r uahs 241Va.a 3 , t -4 (mphai a d) TheVigi aSu e Co tt e ts(e thedeenda ' ha 'wih e ss dde . r ni prme ur hus quae K f t f nts nds' t l a t lç lve l t 'hepli ifc t r I t co e ofas l ba,i i dit tt cua ' i ryq o't antf usome . n he ntxt de aad r t s fkul o i a net tapa tc a s l c d be ç lve edt ' pa tc arc t e untlt c t r m gi ha riul r aad oul d i r o'a ri ul usom r i he usome de ha pr pa ed t s a W e et tnott ca e,a tdei r ' ure t mom e ar sa a s e r he ald. r ha he s nd t lve y'occ r d he nt e t ur nt 3Theunwhol omef sa d dc i fom Vigi apr t labiiycas s h asLoaa v. es -ood tndar rves r r ni oduc s i lt es uc n Mo to r W ad& Co.Ic, 6Va 4 (9 5 .Th ec sse u t dea ig ted fn a t h n 'wihte ng mey r .n .21 . 25 1 7 ) os a e q ae t lvn ) h ee d n s a ds' t h l c n e to ç o tol'Se . ..js t 28(& s Lo a sc u eo ato d p nd u o tee se eo ad fc i o c p fç nr a e ea,. a 4 $ . g n' a s f cin e e s p n h xitnc f ee tn c ' d Mr t sovea t tm ei lA t c r ofM ont ey W ar ...Unde eihe t war nt t y ort neglgenc he t t he i t e he ontol gom r d. r t r he ra y heor he i e te r teplitf mu t h w, 1 t th g o sweeu rao a l d ng ruset rfrteu et whc te h oy h anif s s o ()ha te o d r n e sn by a eo i o h s o ih h y he woul o di rl beputo f s meot rr as bl f e e bl pur e a ( t tt unr as bl da ous d r na iy r or o he e ona y or s ea e pos , nd 2) ha he e ona y nger c n iine se wh nteg o slAted fn a t h nd .l s eas Ch sn t4 F. 9 7 9 8 6 (ic sig o dto xitd e h o d e h ee d n' a s'z e lo etu, 45 2d 6 , 6 - 9 dsu sn '' tesmi rte b t e n gie c ,titibit a warnycams. h i l iis ewe n e lg n e src la ly,nd ra t li ) a i Thought ti id war nt ofwhols nes a i t t s l off by r sala t y Buse 270 he s e ra y mpl e ome s pples o he ae ood et tr n s' sy, ' Va a 5 6, ip d e n t h rceieh rcam a be c o- ra t cam.( e Co . -5 ECFNo. - . . t 3 Php s o s o c aatrz e li s rah-fwarny li S e mpl3 , 11) Eve i s had,s ha ofe ednot ng c e tng age nedipue. n f he he s fr hi r a i nui s t 3 soc d t s ld ba ,ar t ur ntc d al fe h f t s lont s l d ba ,scke ng t ke he aa r esa a oul low r s ood o poi he a a r i ni C t r , t uti r i tadii lne i enc la lt uSOmC S Wiho ncu rng r tona glg e ibiiy. N e r he e s Phi 'neg i nc cl i r quiest ts de onsr t t tt gl s i he ve t l s , pps lge e a m e r ha he m ta e ha he as n r s a r ule f om Ruby Tues y' çf l e t e r i e due c r ' Chesnut 445 F. a 969. al d es t d r da s faiur o xe c s a e. ' t , 2d t He e,Phi ha m a s l d not ng wha s ve s r pps s r ha e hi t oe r howi t tRuby Tues y f ie t e r ie ng ha da a ld o xe c s duec r i ope a i iss l d ba .Phi a ist tt s a ba wascla a i good or r a e n r tng t a a r pps dm t ha he ald r e n nd n de w he s pr r he s l s of e s no e ana i n f rt pr enc oft gl s i hers a n he epa ed r a ad, he f r xpl to o he es e he a s n al d, and s i t s le how l t gl s ha be n t r By c r t Ruby Tues ha ofer d he s m t r ong he a s d e he e. ontas , day s f e unc r c e e de et ti doe no us gl si t s a pr pa a i a e a t ti does ontadit d vi nc ha t s t e as n he ald e r ton r a nd ha t n tso et ig e in si ga sc nan r.S mma yj d me tçsp o e i ten n vn o t r he n r de t n ls o ties u r u g n < r p r f h o mo ig i pa t f ist m a a s fce s wi ofa e s nta elm e ' o whi h t tpa t be r t ry a l o ke ufi int ho ng n s e i l e nt' n c ha ry a s he bur nofpr .Rhode v.E..duPon deNe lsa Co.636F.d 88,9 ( hCi. ) de oof s I t motr nd , 3 4 4t r 2011 . Bec us r si a l quiurdoe no a y i t sc s ,a be a ePhi ha ofer d not ng a e e ps o t s t ppl n hi a e nd c us pps s f e hi s howi t tRuby Tues y f ie t e r ie d ca ei o r tng iss l d ba , ppsha ng ha da al d o xe c s ue r n pe ai t a a r Phi s f l t m a a s fce s aied o ke uf i i nt howi o a es e i lel m e ofhe c s ng n n s nta e nt r a e. Php a g e t a t ec u t h udd n Ru yTue d y' s mmayj d me tmoi n ips r u s h t h o r s o l e y b s a s u r u g n to bec us di c r ha no c ude whe Ruby Tue da fl d t moton. Shea guest t a e s ove y d t oncl d n s y ie he i r ha Ef t rdi c r may c eae ge ne is ofm ae ilf c whi h ma pr c udes ma y iurhe s ove y r t nui s ues tra a t c y el um r j d me t' ( s . , No 1 . No wih tn n ta s c lt n a dPhp s fiu et u g n . Re p 2 ECF . 4) t tsa dig h t pe uai n ip ' alr o ' o t h wl b afd vto d caaint tf rs cfe r a o s (h lc n o p e e t a t e s nil ç o ) y fi a i r e lrto ha,o pe iid e s n , s e n n t rs n f cs s e ta s t j siyh ro po iin't t s mma yj d me tmo in Fe R. v. 5 ( ) Php s o u tf e p sto 'o he u r u g n to , d. Ci P. 6 d , ip pr um a y complt d di c r afe s tld herirtlws tba e on t si i nti es bl ee s ove y tr he ie i s a ui s d hi nc de n V igi a sa e cour on J 11 2008. N e r y f ye r afe s f l d t ts t a t t r ni t t t une , a l our a s t r he ie ha ui, fer he 4 c l i ofdic r andt wee prort t s he e ti lda eofFe ua y 28,201 oncuson s ove y wo ks i o he c dul d ra t br r 2, Phi t avol aynon-ui.( eNotc o Nons tECFNo.1 2. Afe Phi 'lws t pps ook untr s t Se ie f ui, 6- ) tr pps a ui a ve i f de a cout t scou te e e an o de i po atng t dicove y fom t sa e ni d n e r l l hi r nt r d r r ncor r i he s r r he tt - c t to i ot s pr e ngs ( eOr r ECFNo.1 )Unde t cr umsa e ,he our acin nt he e oce di . Se de, 0. r he ic tnc s t c tdice nsnoba i f pr ongi t sma tr Acc di y, hec tgr nt Ruby Tues y' our s r ss or ol ng hi te . or ngl t our a s da s moi nfrsl to o t mmmyj d me t u g n. 111. Fo tera o ssae ,h c u t r nsRu y Tu s a smo inf rs r h e s n ttd te o r g a t b e d y' to o umma yj d me t r u g n. EN TER :Fe ua y 15, br r 2013. z' Z Z I TED STA TES D I STRI J DG E CT U 5

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