Roberts v. UXB International, Inc., No. 7:2013cv00439 - Document 25 (W.D. Va. 2014)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 08/22/2014. (ssm)

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CLERK' OFFC S I E U.. ST S ATROANOKEDI . COURT FI LE ,VA D g .gp y j yj I TH E UN I N TED STA TES DI STRI COU RT CT FOR THE W ESTERN D I STRI OF V I GI I CT R N A RO AN O KE D I I ON V SI BY* . rr ?' . CL d p 7 !7 (L 7 .-'A') ERK FR AN K ROBERTS d/ a FA R b/ I NNOVATI I RNATONAL ea. ON NV I ,t1 , Ci lAc i n N o. 1 vi t o 7: 3CV 00 439 Pl i t f s a n if , M EM O M N DU M O PIN IO N UXB I NTERN ATI A L, N C . ON l , Hon.Gl n E. e Conr d a Chi fUnie Stt DititJ e t d aes src udge Def nda . e nt FrnkRobers d/ aFAR I a t, b/ nnovai I e tona (C I ton ntmai l tFAR nnovain',ie t sdi riy to ' fld hi ve st ) a tonf br c ofcontac agans UXB l e tonall (1 ci or ea h r t it ntmai , nc.$ UXB' . Thec ei pr s nty ' ) as s e e l b f r t ec u t nUXB' moi nt d s s f rlc o s b e tmatr u idito . Fo te eo e h o r o S to o imis o a k f u j c te j rs cin r h ra o s tf rhb l w,h moi nwil ed ne wih u p eu ie e s ns e o t eo t e to lb e id t o t rj dc . B ackzround Th sc s se fo ac n rc ds uebewe nafd r l o en n c nr co ( i a e tms r m o ta t ip t t e e ea g v r me t o ta tr UXB) a do eo isve d r ( I n vain , ih s p idtbe , h is b z p e s a d ar n n f t n o s FAR n o to ) wh c u pl a ls c ar , ug a p r, n i e c ran frap oe ta Ba r m Ai F r eBa ei Af h n sa Ro e t alg st a FAR u tis o rj c t g a r o c s n g a itn. b rs l e h t e l va i s ts i d isoblga i unde t c r c a s it d a i c t UX B , hi h nno ton a i f e t i tons r he ont a t nd ubm te n nvoi e o w c r m a nsunpai H ecl i st tt sc tt esa br a ofFA R l e i d. a m ha hi ons iut e ch nnova i sco r c wih U X B. ton' nt a t t Robe t f t ra l gest tFA R I r s urhe le ha nnova i w a una e t pa isow n s i r duet U XB ' ton s bl o y t upple s o S n n a me t ft ei v ie a dta t sr s t di hm ben s be tdt d b o ' p io i o p y n o h n oc , n h t hi e ul n i ig u j ce o e t rs rs n n e Af ghani t f a num berofdays,durng whi tm e FA R lm ovaton l tproft on ot s an or i ch i r i os is her c r c s Robe t s kst r ove t a oun dueunde t i ce t a i $42, 8. as onta t . rs ee o ec r he m t r he nvoi , ot lng 61 00, we la c e l s ons quentalda ag i t amountof$1 40 00. i m es n he 62, 4. l t orgi c n he i nal ompli , ie on Se e r23, 3,Robe t aleg t tFAR ant fld pt mbe 201 rs l ed ha I nnova i i a was a a lr l va tm e ,af e g s epr it s p wih isprncpa ofi s ton s nd , t 1 e e nt i s or i n ol opre or hi t t i i l fce l t i Ka , gha sa On J nua y 1 201 UXB m ove t dimi st c ocaed n bul Af nit n. a r 6, 4, d o s s he ompli ant purua t Rul 1 b)1 oft Fedea RulsofCi lPr e e. UXB aguedt tRobe t' s nt o e 2( ( ) he rl e vi oc dur r ha rs alegai r r ngFAR l l tons ega di nnova i sbusne ssr t ewe e k tue, a t tFAR ton' i s tucur r i r ' nd ha not ' lm ova i ii a c or ton,nota s e pr i t s p. D e .sBr i Supp.ofM ot t D i m i sa l ton ks op a i ol opr e or hi ' ' f' . n .o s s t 12, c t . . Reyigo tetu d me tl uet a g1s ae ole -e ntes e - Do ke No 5 l n n h s n a na r l h t a h rh d r ve h ol f s r hol - doe nothavesa ng t as e tcai sa lgi wr ha e der s tndi o s r l m le ng ongst t co por ton,' t o he r ai 'Smih Selze & Sons I v.S. Pr ur ntRe ew Pa ,20F. 1 1 1 7( h Ci.1 tr , nc. C. oc eme vi nel 3d 31 , 31 4t r 994) (ntr lciain a quottonmaksomitd) UXB a g t tRobe t doesnotha sa ng i ena tto nd ai r te , r ued ha rs ve tndi t brngcli on be fofFAR l o i a ms hal nnova i a t ,t tt c ton nd, hus ha he ompl i s d bedimi s d f ant houl s s e or lc o s be tmatr u idcin. a k f u jc te j rs ito UXB s te svea e bisi s po tofisRul 1 b)1 moi Thee bis ubmitd e rl xhi t n up r t e 2( ( ) ton. xhi t i l t f l ng: 1 aSe e r1 201 e lfom Robe t, c i ntfe hi i t ncuded he olowi ( ) ptmbe 9, 0 mai r rs whih de iid m,n he sg t ebl k, 'pr sde / 'of(FAR I inaur oc as k e i ntcEo' i nnovai l e tona,LLC''2)ba a co ton ntmai l '( nk c unt i or a i n pr vi d by R o r s w hi h na e t a ountbe tci r a C R l nf m t o o de be t , c m d he cc ne i a y s ' FA nnovaton i Consr tonCo.;()alsi fom Dun & Brdsre f S l tuci ' 3 itng r ' a te t or C FAR nnovain Co t ci LLC', to nsnzton, ' ' a ( ac ofRobe t'Li npr ieo whihhei lsedast tCEO ofFAR lmovai nd 4) opy rs nkedl ofl n c s it he I l ton l e na i na Com pa ' nt r to l ny. ' On J nua y 30, 4,Robe t fl a brefi oppos ton t U X B' m oton t di m i s a ong a r 201 rs ied i n ii o S i o s s, l wih a unta lt d co ofabusnes lc ns is d by t Af ha san I ve t e Suppor t n r nsa e py i s i e e s ue he g nit n sm nt t Age y (t SA' . Alhoug Robe t a kno e dt theo rtdasalmie la lt nc $A1 ' ) t h rs c wldge ha peae i td ibiiy 2 compa i t Unie St t s Robe t co e d t thedi no r git rt LLC wih AI and ny n he t d a e , rs nt nde ha d t e se he t SA, t the i t d ope a ed a a s e pr i t r hi i A f ha s a ha nsea r t s ol opr e o s p n g ni t n. The c thel a he rng on t m oton t di m i s o M a 1 201 Dur ng t hea i our d ai he i o s s n y 9, 4. i he rng, Robe t s rs ubmit anum be ofa tonale bis i l nghi own s n de a a i aco of ted r ddii xhi t , ncudi s wor clr ton, py a quot t tFAR Im o ton i s d t U X B,a c e ha r va i s ue o opy o a l te t tU X B s i t t t Unie f e t r ha ubm ted o he td St t A r y Cor ofEngi e sa l rr ce vi t q t a a tans a ed c ofa busne s a es m ps ne r f e e i ng he uo e, nd r l t opy i s lc e is by AI . I hi s n de a aton, be t a s redt thef iens s ued SA n s wor clr i Ro rs s e t ha ounded FAR I nnova i n I er tonala a s e pr i t s p pur uan t Af t o nt na i s ol opr e or hi s t o ghanit n l w , ha he ope a e a a sa a t t rtd s s e pr i t s p w hie doi bus ne si Af nit n w ih U X B,a t the c d no a di ol opre or hi l ng i s n gha s a t nd ha oul t nd d notope a e hi A m e i n lm ie la lt c pany i A f ha san. B o h t quot t tR o r s rt s rca i t d i biiy om n g ni t t he e ha be t ir nt oduc d att he r ng,a t l te dr hed by UX B,r f r d t Ro r s bus nes a C e he a i nd he e t r a e er e o be t ' i s s S FAR I nnova i l er tona ,' nd m a no s ii me i ofa LLC. The ta lt busne s ton nt nai l'a de pecfc nton n r nsaed i s lc ns i caest ti wa is d t FAR I ie e ndi t ha t s s ue o nnova i Consr ton on J y 1 2009,a t ti ton tuc i ul 6, nd ha t expie o J y 1 201 r d n ul 5, 0. Folow i t he r ng,Robe t fl d a n ende co pl nt i whi h he a d FAR l ng he a i r s ie n m d m ai , n c dde Im ova i Cons nl ton,LLC a a pl ntf . l r s r ton t ci s ai i f n e pons U X B tl d a r ne e m o i t e, i e e w d ton o dimis a gui t tRobe t l c d sandi t fl t orgi lc s s , r ng ha rs a ke t ng o ie he i na ompl i ,a t thei no ant nd ha s t pemitdt a dane p an if no d rt c r alc o j rs ito S eCii v. r te o d w litf i r e o u e a k fu idcin. e lv UXB I tlI . n ' nc, a pl ntf w ho l c s a ng i notpe m it t S m end t c pl i t s tt e a ne pl i t f ai i f a ks t ndi s r ted o a he om a nt o ubs iut w a n if i o d r oc r alc o j rs ito , e a eapan if yn tce t u idito b a n me t n r e t u e a k f u idcin b c us litf ma o raej rs cin y me d n wheenoexit .' ( i 3J me W ila M oo e e a.M oor sFe r lPr tc ! 1 1 21 r ss'' quotng a s lim ) r , t l, e' de a acie 5.4( ( e 1 ) 3d d. 999). 3 Robersfld ar s ns t t r ne dm o i t dimi so J y 17, 4. Agai r l ng t ie e po e o he e we ton o s s n ul 201 n eyi on hi s n de a a i a t exhi t pr vi l s s wor clr ton nd he bis e ousy ubmit Robe t m ant i t the onl ted, rs i a ns ha y c onduc e busnes i Af nit n asa s epr pre orhi t thedi s i hi de i wih t d i s n gha sa ol o it s p, ha d o n s alngs t UX B,a t tne t rt quot he pr ded t UX B norU X B' s e nd ha ihe he e ovi o S ubs quen pur has o de r f r t c e r r ee t hi Ame ia lm ie la lt compa o s rc n i t d i biiy ny. Ac or ngl Robe t m ant i t theha sa ng c di y, rs i a ns ha d tndi t fl t orgi lc o ie he i na ompl i ,a t tt sa ton s ul notbe dimis d. ant nd ha hi c i ho d s se D i si scus on Be a esa dngi lc t stec u ts u id cin o e tes b e tmatro ad s u e c us tn i mp iae h o r' j rs ito v r h u j c te f ip t, t def ntsmoi waspr ryfldunde Rul 1 b)1 oft Fe r lRulsofCi l he enda ' ton ope l ie r e 2( ( ) he de a e vi P o e u e whc p r t ap ryt mo ef rd s sa o a a to frlc o s b e tmatr r c d r, ih emis a t o v o imis l f n cin o a k f u j c te j rs ito S eTa b nRe l Gp . dP'hpv. i ea 3 F.d47 , 81( t Ci. 0 3 u idcin. e u ma at y Lt s i M n t, 20 3 5 4 4h r 2 0 ) (fimigted src c u tsds sa o c mp an f rlc o sa dngu d r e1 ( )1) s e afr n h itit o r' imisl f o lit o a k f tn i n e Rul 2 b ( ); e as M ilrv. .Shor Fundi ,224F. lo le Pac e ng Supp.2d977,994( Md. 2)(ç a ng...i a D. 200 s ndi st s f n a n a c mp n n o ac u tss b e tmatr urs ito Ass c dee d n sma a ty u d me tl o o e t f o r' u j c- te j idcin. u h, fn a t y p l c aln eise itn ebyamo int ds s f rlc o j rs ito o rtes b e tmatr h le g t x se c to o imis o a k f u idcin ve h u j c te , p ru n t Fe e a Rul o CiiPr c d r 1 ( )1 .) Qu sinsr g r i s b e t te u s a t o d r l e f vl o e u e 2 b ( )' . e to e adng u j c matr ' J i di ton Sm a be r i ed a a poi durng t pr e ngs' Brckwood Con r c or sl v. ' s ci i y ur a s t ny nt i he oc edi . ' i t a t s nc. Daa tEnc' I .369F. 385,390( hCi.2004) tne g,nc, 3d 4t r . W h n a hee t ed f n a t h l ng stef cu l a i f r u j c matru idcin t e e , s r ,h ee d n c al e h a ta b ss o s be t te j rs ito ,h e b r e o p o n s be t te j rs ito i o t ep an if Se Rih n . e eiks u g& u d n f r vig u j c matru idcin s n h litf. e c mo d Fr d rc b r PoomacR. v. tdStts 945F. 765,768(t Ci.1 ) Thi c t(i t r ar t t Co. Unie ae , 2d 4h r 991. s our ts o eg d he pl di ea ngs'alega i nsasm e e e de e on t i s ,a m a c i e de e o s de t l to r vi nc he s ue nd y ons der vi nc ut i he pl di wihou c ri t pr e ngt onef s ea ngs t t onvetng he oce di o or ummayj me .' Jl Theco t r udg nt' .s t ur 4 s ul g a themo inç nl i temaeilu id cina f csaen ti d s uea dtemo ig ho d r n t to i y f h tra j rs ito l a t r o n ip t n h vn o part i entted t pr lasa m aterofl .' I at769*see al Evans v.B. Per ns Co. 166 y s il o evai t aw ' d. , so F. ki , F. 642,647( hCi.1 . W he j iditonalfcsar i e t ne wihfcsce r t t 3d 4t r 999) n urs ci a t e ntrwi d t a t ntalo he m e isofa c e, he c ts d r ol t r l va f t di put onl a t ra o i t rt as t our houl es ve he e e nt ac ual s es y f e ppr pr a e dicovey. Se Kensv. tdStts 585F. 187,193( hCi. ) s r e r Unie ae , 3d 4t r 2009 . l t sca e,t de e m i tve i s i whe he Robe t ha sa ng t tl t o i na n hi s he t r na i s ue s t r rs d t ndi o i e he r gi l c ant SeeLuinv. e r ofW idlf,50 U. 555, n. ( 992)(ssla ngi t be ompli . a Defnde s l ie 4 S. 570 5 1 tg tndi s o deemi da oft c tr ne s he omme men ofs t' ' wma Gr nsI . Alonz Laran, U. nce t ui.) Ne n- ee nc v. f o- ri 490 S. ', 8 6 8 0( 98 )(-hee se eo f d rlu id ci no d n rl d pe d o tefcsa t e e it 2 , 3 1 9 il xitnc f e ea j rs ito r i ai e n s n h a t s h y x s sy whe t c aiti fl ' Ba e o t cure rc d,hec tfndst e denc s te n he ompl n s ied.) s d n he rnt e or t our i he vi e ubmitd ' by Roberss fc e t wihsand am o i t dim isf rlc ofsandi t ufi i nt o t t ton o s s o a k t ng. Ass tf t a ve e orh bo , R o r shass it a s ol dec ar ton i whi h he a r t the o r t d asa s e be t ubm ted w m l ai n c ve s ha pe a e ol pr pre or hi whie doi bus nes i A f ni t n w ih U X B,a t the c d no a di not o it s p l ng i s n gha s a t nd ha oul t nd d o r t hi A m e i a lm ie la lt com pa i Af hani t n. A s um i t t u h ofRobe t pe a e s r c n i t d i biiy ny n g s a s ng he r t rs' de a a i w hi he m a nt i i s cl r ton, ch i a ns s uppored by o he doc e sdr t d by hi and UX B,t t t r um nt afe m he c ti c t ai d t c l our s ons r ne o onc ude, tt ss age oft pr e di , ha Robe t ha s a ng t tl a hi t he oc e ngs t t r s d t ndi o ie s tagans UXB i hi pe s lca ciy. Se e. , ne Colegev.Se i , F. ui i t n s r ona pa t e. c.Ge va l belus 929 Supp. 2d 402, ( . Pa.201 (xpli ngt t'her i nol ls pa ai bewee g s e 429 W D. 3) e ani ha k e s ega e r ton t n a ol t pr it s pla isowne , t tt s epr it s p' i li aeacual gheowne 'j opreorhi nd t r' ha he ol opreorhi s t ams r t ly t ' c rs cams'a t tt owne ca d sr i hi ownna t cl msa s redby (hes e li , nd ha he ' r n t e tn s as me he ai s e t t ol pr preo s pj'(ii 1W ila M e Flthe,Flthe Cycopedi oft La of o itrhi ' ctng ) lim ade ec r ec r l a he w Cor ai j23( 2)4Dol v.W orhv,1 P. 946,947( ah.Ct App.2007)( tng portons 201 ) by t 73 3d W s . noi t t$ s eprpreorhi doesnotha lga sa ngt s o bes di isownrght'. ha t ol o it s p a ve e l tndi o ue r ue n t i ' ) 5 Be a ej rs ito a c aln e ma b rie a a yp i t u i gt ep oc e ig ,h c us u idcin l h l g s y e asd t n o n d rn h r e dn s t e e d fn a tsmoint ds s wi bed n e wih u p eu ie Th d fn a twi b pemitd e e d n ' to o imis l e id t o t rj dc . e e e d n l e r te l l t r ne ismoton s d addii na i o m a i c et lghtdurng dic r t tc t doubt o e w t i houl to l nf r ton om o i i s ove y ha ass on Robe t 'r g t s on t unde l ng cl i s r s i ht o ue he r yi am . The Clr i die t d t s c esoft sme or ndum o ni and t a co pa ng e k s r c e o end opi hi m a pi on he c m nyi or rt a lc de o 1 ouns lofr c d. e e or EN TER : s Thi VA# d y ofA ugust 2014. a , Chi fU nie St t s D it i tJ e t d a e s rc udge

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