Vascular Ventures, LLC v. American Vascular Access, LLC et al

Filing 103

ORDER granting in part and denying in part 91 Motion for Summary Judgment. The motion is denied as to breach of contract as to the Side Letter (Count One) against Access; granted as to breach of contract as to the Side Letter (Count One) against Dees; and denied at this time as to promissory fraud (County Three) and civil conspiracy (County Six) for both Access and Dees. Signed by Chief Judge Kristi K. DuBose on 10/16/17. (cmj)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
SOUTHERN DIVISION
VASCULAR VENTURES, LLC,
Plaintiff,

)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)

v.
AMERICAN VASCULAR ACCESS, LLC
and JANET R. DEES,
Defendants.

CIVIL ACTION: 16-00481-KD-B

ORDER
This matter is before the Court on Defendants’ motion for summary judgment (American Vascular
Access, LLC (Access) and Janet R. Dees (Dees)) (Doc. 91), Plaintiff Vascular Ventures, LLC (Plaintiff)’s
Response (Doc. 93) and Defendants’ Reply (Doc. 99).
I.

Background
This action stems from Plaintiff’s August 9, 2016 complaint, 02-CV-2016-901640, filed in the

Circuit Court of Mobile County, Alabama against Dees, Access, “any subsidiary” of Access “formed after
December 30, 2009[,]” and “nominal” defendants. (Doc. 1-2).

On September 12, 2016, Access removed

the case on the basis of federal diversity subject matter jurisdiction.

(Doc. 1).

On December 7, 2016, the

Court issued an R&R on the parties’ respective motions to dismiss, transfer and remand, through which the
Court denied remand and transfer, dismissed all defendants except Access and Dees, and dismissed all
claims except for breach of contract based on a December 30, 2009 letter (Count One), promissory fraud
(Count Three) and civil conspiracy (Count Six).

(Doc. 28).

On December 28, 2016, the R&R was

adopted. (Doc. 29); Vascular Ventures, LLC v. American Vascular Access, LLC, 2016 WL 7471642 (S.D.
Ala. Dec. 7, 2016), R&R adopted (S.D. Ala. Dec. 28, 2016).1

On August 18, 2017, Access and Dees

1 For clarification: “[n]otwithstanding…[Access’] repeated representations….that it is a party to the
Purchase Agreement, the agreement itself places the matter beyond dispute that…[it] is neither a signatory nor a
party to that agreement[.]” Id. at n.6. The Court found as follows with regard to the relevance of the Purchase

1

moved for summary judgment on the three (3) remaining claims.
II.

Findings of Fact2
From 2008-2009, Access negotiated with Plaintiff and its members (physicians)3 to purchase a

40% interest in Plaintiff’s lab-based interventional nephrology practice in Mobile, Alabama (which
ultimately became Mobile Vascular Labs, LLC).

As an “additional incentive” to Access’ payment to

Plaintiff for that 40% interest, Access promised to reserve a minimum of up to 10% of Access’ portion of
future joint ventures and business opportunities for Plaintiff.
In November 2009, the parties discussed what those future opportunities might entail.

Also,

Access’ President Janet Dees (Dees) explained to Plaintiff that she intended for the ventures to be entered
into by separate new holding companies that would be created as co-owners in other dialysis access clinics.
(Doc. 95-2 SEALED (Dep. Dees at 181-189).

Specifically, separate holding companies, originating from

Access, would be formed to hold equity positions in new ventures through which Access would perform
development and management services for the holding companies and have an ownership interest in them.
Agreement, and whether the Side Letter was incorporated into the Purchase Agreement as an “ancillary
agreement”:
It is without dispute in this case that the parties to the December 30, 2009, Purchase Agreement are nine
individual doctors….(all non-parties to this case), M[obile] V[ascular] L[abs]… (a non-party to this
case), and…[American Vascular Access Mobile Holdings, LLC] (a non-party to this case)…..Neither
Plaintiff nor any Defendant in this case alleges that it is a party or an intended third-party beneficiary to
that Purchase Agreement….On the other hand, with respect to Plaintiff’s claim that the Side Letter
agreement is a stand alone contract between…[Access], Dees, and…[Plaintiff], the Court agrees that
Plaintiff has at least stated a claim against these Defendants for breach of contract as to this
agreement….The Side Letter document shows an executed, binding agreement signed by Dees,
ostensibly on behalf of…[Access], to reserve a minimum of 10% of….[Access’] future business
ventures for investment by…[Plaintiff] and its doctor members, in exchange for which Plaintiff/its
doctor members would sell 40% off…[the Labs] to…[Access’] affiliate, [AVA]…
Id. at *14-15.

The Court dismissed Plaintiff’s breach of contract claim based on the Purchase Agreement.

2 On summary judgment the Court must “resolve all issues of material fact in favor of the
[non-movant], and then determine the legal question of whether the [movant] is entitled to judgment as a matter
of law under that version of the facts.” McDowell v. Brown, 392 F.3d 1283, 1288 (11th Cir. 2004).
3 Plaintiff and its physician members will be referenced as Plaintiff in this Order.

2

(Doc. 91-1 (Dep. Dees at 493); Doc. 95-2 SEALED (Dep. Dees at 183-185).
The parties discussed the first such “deal” for a business in the Atlanta, Georgia area.

On

November 24, 2009, Access’ Chief Operating Officer William G. Wright (Wright) e-mailed preliminary
figures and estimates for the Atlanta “deal” (including investment cash flow, revenue assumptions, start up
costs, etc.) to Plaintiff c/o Butera (Plaintiff’s President), with a copy to Dees.4 (Doc. 95-4 SEALED; Doc.
91-2 (Dep. Butera at 170-171, 173); Doc. 91-2 at 54; Doc. 95-3 SEALED (Dep. Wright at 154); Doc. 95-6
SEALED (Dep. Butera at 68)).

On December 30, 2009, Access issued a letter to Plaintiff (the Side Letter)

stating the parties’ intentions:

4 Per Plaintiff, Butera never saw until his deposition (and does not recall) the email from Access. Nor did he
know that an offer regarding the Georgia venture “had been rendered” from Access, adding that Access was instructed to
copy Harry Bishop. (Doc. 91-2 (Dep. Butera at 170-171, 173)).

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(Doc. 91-2 at 52).
Dees testified that per the Side Letter, Access planned for holding companies to be created for new
vascular centers that Access might do business with and have ownership interest in, and Plaintiff would
then have opportunities to buy at least a 10% interest in those holding companies.
(Dep. Dees at 186-186); Doc. 95-3 SEALED (Dep. Wright at 240)).

(Doc. 95-2 SEALED

Per Access, the Side Letter created a

contractual obligation on the part of Access to offer to Plaintiff at least a 10% interest in future investment
opportunities.

(Doc. 95-2 SEALED (Dep. Dees at 364-365)). See also (Doc. 95-3 SEALED (Dep. Wright

at 217) (“Our [Access] intent with them was always just as the document reads, to give them a 10 percent
offering on the new deals….”).

The Side Letter was executed as part of the overall closing for Access to

be a 40% member in Mobile Vascular Labs. (Doc. 95-2 SEALED (Dep. Dees at 356).
On February 8, 2010, approximately six (6) weeks later, Access entered into the first of a series of
ventures5 without Plaintiff.

(Doc. 93 at 5 (citing 95-5 SEALED); Doc. 95-3 SEALED (Dep. Wright at

196); Doc. 95-2 SEALED (Dep. Dees at 365)).6

This first venture resulted in Access (c/o the Florida

holding company it created for said purpose, AVA Newman Holdings, LLC) purchasing a 45% equity
interest in the Georgia dialysis access clinic, without Plaintiff.
(Dep. Wright at 213)).
without Plaintiff.

(Doc. 95-5 SEALED); Doc. 95-3 SEALED

Plaintiff alleges that thereafter, Access entered into other ventures -- 13 known --

The parties dispute what was communicated between them and what (and whether) the

promised 10% interest offers for new ventures were made from Access to Plaintiff.

5 Relating to 14 (known) entities: AVA Sarasota Holdings, LLC; AVA Newnan Holdings, LLC; AVA Columbus
Holdings, LLC; AVA Douglas Holdings, LLC; AVA Saint Louis Holdings, LLC; AVA Valley Holdings, LLC; and AVA
Duval Holdings, LLC; Foothill Vascular Center, Inc.; Manasota Vascular Center, LLC; Newnan Vascular Center, LLC;
Columbus Vascular Center, LLC; Gateway Vascular Center, LLC; Valley Interventional Medical Associates, PLLC; and
Duval Vascular Center, LLC.
6 Per Wright, Plaintiff’s 10% interest in this Georgia venture would have been about $29,000, but the opportunity
was not mentioned to Plaintiff because “[t]he conversation never went that far.” (Doc. 95-3 SEALED (Dep. Wright at
213-214)).

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III.

Standard of Review
“The court shall grant summary judgment if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to

any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.”

FED. R. CIV. P. 56(a).

Rule

56(c) provides as follows:
(1) Supporting Factual Positions. A party asserting that a fact cannot be or is genuinely
disputed must support the assertion by:
(A) citing to particular parts of materials in the record, including depositions,
documents, electronically stored information, affidavits or declarations, stipulations
(including those made for purposes of the motion only), admissions, interrogatory answers,
or other materials; or
(B) showing that the materials cited do not establish the absence or presence of a
genuine dispute, or that an adverse party cannot produce admissible evidence to support the
fact.
(2) Objection That a Fact Is Not Supported by Admissible Evidence. A party may object
that the material cited to support or dispute a fact cannot be presented in a form that would
be admissible in evidence.
(3) Materials Not Cited. The court need consider only the cited materials, but it may
consider other materials in the record.
(4) Affidavits or Declarations. An affidavit or declaration used to support or oppose a
motion must be made on personal knowledge, set out facts that would be admissible in
evidence, and show that the affiant or declarant is competent to testify on the matters stated.
FED.R.CIV.P. Rule 56(c).
Defendants, as the parties seeking summary judgment, bear the “initial responsibility of informing
the district court of the basis for its motion, and identifying those portions of ‘the pleadings, depositions,
answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any,’ which it believes
demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact.”

Clark v. Coats & Clark, Inc., 929 F.2d 604,

608 (11th Cir. 1991) (quoting Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986)).

If the nonmoving party

fails to make “a sufficient showing on an essential element of her case with respect to which she has the
burden of proof,” the moving party is entitled to summary judgment.

Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323.

“In

reviewing whether the nonmoving party has met its burden, the court must stop short of weighing the

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evidence and making credibility determinations of the truth of the matter.

Instead, the evidence of the

non-movant is to be believed, and all justifiable inferences are to be drawn in his favor.”

Tipton v.

Bergrohr GMBH-Siegen, 965 F.2d 994, 998-999 (11th Cir. 1992).
IV.

Breach of Contract
At the outset, the parties dispute which state’s law applies to the breach of contract claim. This

Court exercises diversity-of-citizenship jurisdiction over this case such that the choice of law principles of
Alabama, the forum state, apply. Klaxon Co. v. Stentor Electric Mfg. Co., 313 U.S. 487, 496 (1941);
Fioretti v. Mass. Gen. Life Ins. Co., 53 F.3d 1228, 1235 (11th Cir. 1995). Alabama applies the law of the
state where the contract was formed (made) (lex loci contractus) unless: 1) a provision in a contract
specifies the governing law (Cherokee Ins. Co. v. Sanches, 975 So.2d 287, 292 (Ala. 2007) and Fairhope
Piggly Wiggly-Inc. v. PS2 LED, Inc., 2017 WL 2865528, *3 (S.D. Ala. Jul. 5, 2017);7 or 2) the contract is
to be performed in another state (Owens v. Superfos A/S, 170 F.Supp.2d 1188, 1194-1195 (M.D. Ala.
2001)).

“A contract is usually governed as to its nature, obligation, validity, and interpretation by the law

of the place where it is made, unless it is to be wholly performed in another state, in which case the place of
performance…must govern.”

Western Union Telegraph Co. v. Hill, 50 So. 248, 251 (Ala. 1909). See also

J.R. Watkins v. Hill, 108 So. 244, 245 (1926) (emphasis in original) (same).
The Side Letter between the parties contains no choice of law provision and does not specify
performance in a state other than Alabama.

As such, the Court looks to the state where the contract was

formed (made), unless the contract specifies that it is to be performed in a different state as that state’s law
will then govern.

As to formation, “[t]he elements of a valid contract include offer and acceptance,

consideration, and mutual assent or a meeting of the minds as to the terms essential to the formation of the
contract.” Ex parte Grant, 711 So. 2d 464, 464 (Ala. 1997).

Univalor Trust, SA v. Columbia Petroleum,

7 New Hampshire Ins. Co. v. Hill, 516 Fed. Appx. 803, 805 (11th Cir. 2013) (“Alabama's lex loci contractus
doctrine….requires that Alabama courts interpret contracts according to the law of the state in which they were made[]”).

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LLC, 2017 WL 2303999, *9 (S.D. Ala. May 25, 2017).

A contract is formed (made) upon acceptance (the

expression or manifestation of assent to the terms offered) of an offer, and acceptance is the last act
necessary to complete a contract.

See, e.g., Prime Ins. Syndicate, Inc. v. B.J. Handley Trucking, Inc., 363

F.3d 1089, 1093 (11th Cir. 2004) (“the ‘last act necessary to complete a contract is the offeree's
communication of acceptance [of the offer] to the offeror[]’”); Fairhope Piggly Wiggly-Inc. v. PS 2 LED,
Inc., 2017 WL 2865528, *5 (S.D. Ala. Jul. 5, 2017) (discussing mutual assent to the terms offered as
manifested by acceptance, and acceptance as then forming the contract); Cordova v. R&A Oysters, Inc.,
169 F.Supp.3d 1288 (S.D. Ala. 2016) (“a contract was formed by acceptance of an offer[]”).
The Side Letter (the contract) was drafted by Access. (Doc. 95-2 SEALED (Dep. Dees at 355).
The offer was extended from Access to Plaintiff in Alabama.

(Doc. 3 at 2; Doc. 93 at 9).

The offer from

Access to Plaintiff was to buy Plaintiff’s 40% interest in Plaintiff’s Alabama entity (Mobile Vascular Labs,
LLC) and to “reserve a minimum of up to 10%” of any future joint venture or business opportunity for
Plaintiff to invest, in return for consideration of $3,185,100.

Access’ offer was accepted when Plaintiff

agreed to the terms offered by Access (to sell its 40% interest in the entity and receive the right to invest up
to 10% in Access’ future ventures) and received the $3,185,000 consideration.
Alabama entity and its Alabama physicians, occurred in Alabama.

That acceptance, by an

The Side Letter was thus formed in

Alabama, and Alabama law governs the breach of contract claim.
A.

Dees
With regard to Dees, an individual and the President of Access, she cannot be held personally liable

for breach of contract.

The evidence indicates that the Side Letter was signed and executed by Dees,

while acting in her capacity as Access’ President, and on that entity’s behalf.
Dees signed or executed the Side Letter in her individual or personal capacity.

There is no evidence that
There is nothing in the

Side Letter indicating a personal promise or obligation on the part of Dees to Plaintiff, and there is no
evidence before the Court of such.

“It is axiomatic that officers of a corporation are merely agents of the

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corporation and are not personally liable for obligations incurred by the corporation in the usual course of
business, absent a statute, charter provision, or personal agreement to the contrary. Whitehead v. Davison
Oil Co. Inc., 352 So.2d 1339 (Ala.1977).”

Tallant v. Grain Mart, Inc., 432 So.2d 1251, 1254 (Ala. 1983).

Thus, summary judgment is GRANTED on this claim against Dees.

The Court’s discussion of Plaintiff’s

breach of contract claim below, will be directed only to Access.
B.

Access
Plaintiff contends that Access breached the contract because it “did not make a formal offer to join

any of the new ventures.”

(Doc. 99-1 (Dep. Butera at 65)).

To prevail on its breach of contract claim,

Plaintiff must establish the existence of a valid contract, Plaintiff’s performance under the contract, Access’
non-performance and resulting damages to Plaintiff. Shaffer v. Regions Fin. Corp., 29 So.3d 872, 880 (Ala.
2009).

For the reasons which follow, summary judgment is DENIED as to this claim against Access.
1.

The first element - a Valid Contract

Access disputes the first element – a valid contract.

Access contends the Side Letter is

unenforceable because it: 1) is vague, uncertain and an indefinite option agreement; and 2) violates
Alabama’s rule against perpetuities as a perpetual option to buy stock.

The Court is

satisfied that the

Side Letter is a valid contract.
As noted supra regarding formation, a valid contract requires an offer, acceptance, consideration,
and mutual assent or a meeting of the minds as to the essential terms. Ex parte Grant, 711 So.2d at 464;
Univalor Trust, 2017 WL 2303999, *9.

Additionally, in Alabama:

“[t]o be enforceable, the essential terms of a contract must be sufficiently definite and certain, and a
contract that leaves material portions open for future agreement is nugatory and void for
indefiniteness.” White Sands, 998 So.2d 1042 (citations, quotation marks and brackets omitted). A
contract can lack definiteness as to “time of performance, the price to be paid, work to be done,
property to be transferred, or miscellaneous stipulations in the agreement.” Id. (emphasis added).
The terms of a contract are reasonably certain if they provide a basis for determining the existence
of a breach and for giving an appropriate remedy.” Id. (quotation marks and emphasis omitted); see
also Smith v. Chickamauga Cedar Co., 263 Ala. 245, 82 So.2d 200, 203 (1955) (“[I]f the offer is in
any case so indefinite as to make it impossible for a court to decide just what it means, and to fix

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exactly the legal liability of the parties, its acceptance cannot result in an enforceable agreement.”).
“Additionally, in order for an alleged contract to be considered void based on the indefiniteness of
its terms, the indefiniteness must reach the point where construction becomes futile.” Poole v.
Prince, 61 So.3d 258, 275 (Ala.2010) (quotation marks and brackets omitted). “A court will, if
possible, interpret doubtful agreements by attaching a sufficiently definite meaning to a bargain if
the parties evidently intended to enter into a binding contract.” Id….
Nihon Rufuto Co., Ltd. v. Nidek Medical Prod., Inc., 437 Fed. Appx. 782, 788 (11th Cir. 2011).
First, as to the nature of the Side Letter, Access argues it is vague, uncertain and indefinite as an
“agreement to agree,” “agreement to offer without any obligation to accept,” an unenforceable agreement
to later agree on a future lease extension, or an agreement to later offer.

Access states the terms are

undefined, left to be negotiated (i.e., vague and indefinite), give the parties the unrestricted right to
determine future performance, and fail for indefiniteness.

Access explains: “it is not an agreement as to

any identified joint venture or business agreement…it is an agreement to make an offer and potentially
agree in the future on unstated terms that require future negotiation.”

(Doc. 91 at 8).

However, as already concluded by this Court:
The Side Letter document shows an executed, binding agreement signed by Dees, ostensibly on
behalf of…[Defendants], to reserve a minimum of 10% of …[Defendants’] future business ventures
for investment by…[Plaintiff] and its doctor members, in exchange for which Plaintiff/its doctor
members would sell 40% of…the [Labs] to…[Defendants’] affiliate….
Vascular Ventures, 2016 WL 7471642, *13.

Additionally, Access’ summary judgment position is

contradicted by its officers’ testimony as to the nature of the Side Letter.

Access, via Dees and Wright,

testified that per the Side Letter, Plaintiff had opportunities to buy at least a 10% interest in any of Access’
future business.

(Doc. 95-2 SEALED (Dep. Dees at 186-187); Doc. 95-3 SEALED (Dep. Wright at 240)).

Indeed, per Access, the Side Letter instantly created a contractual obligation on the part of Access, at the
time it was executed, to offer to Plaintiff at least a 10% interest in future investment opportunities.

(Doc.

95-2 SEALED (Dep. Dees at 364-365)). See also (Doc. 95-3 SEALED (Dep. Wright at 217) (“Our
[Access] intent with them was always just as the document reads, to give them a 10 percent offering on the
new deals….”).

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Moreover, the Side Letter does not leave material portions open for future agreement nor does
it lack definiteness as to time of performance, the price to be paid, work to be done, property to be
transferred, etc.

Upon issuance of the Side Letter, Access immediately reserved to Plaintiff the right

to invest a minimum of up to 10% in Access’ future ventures.

The time of performance was when

Access entered into a future venture, which included investors.

The price to be paid by Plaintiff for

the investment was defined as the same term and conditions offered to other investors.

“[A] valid

contract may be conditioned upon the happening of an event, even though the event may depend upon
the will of the party who afterwards seeks to avoid its obligation.” Z.T. Mozley v. Boen, 143 So.2d
304, 305 (Ala. Civ. App. 1962).

In sum, the Side Letter’s terms are “reasonably certain” because the

terms provide a basis for determining the existence of a breach and for giving an appropriate remedy.
Second, despite Access’ contentions, the Side Letter is exempt from Alabama’s rule against
perpetuities.

As alleged, after the Side Letter was executed, Access entered into business ventures

with numerous limited liability companies without reserving a minimum of up to 10% of Access’
portion of those business ventures for Plaintiff, as promised.

“‘An interest in a limited liability

company is personal property.’ ALA. CODE § 10–12–6 (1975).” Parsons & Whittemore Enterp.
Corp. v Cello Energy, LLC, 2009 WL 323081, *3 (S.D. Ala. Feb. 7, 2009).

“‘In Alabama…the rule

against perpetuities applicable to personal property and to land shall be the same.’ ALA. CODE § 35–
4–4 (1975).”

Id.

Additionally, “[m]uch as a vested right that only becomes relevant on the

occurrence of a future event does not violate the rule against perpetuities, a vested right for which
payment is due in the future also does not violate the rule against perpetuities.”

Id. at *5.

As explained in Robertson v. Murphy, 510 So.2d 180, 181-183 (Ala. 1987) (emphasis added):
“The common law rule against perpetuities provides that no interest is good unless it must vest, if at
all, not later than twenty-one years after some life in being at the creation of the interest….
….the Supreme Court of Wyoming, in Hartnett v. Jones, 629 P.2d 1357 (Wyo.1981), held that a

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preemptive right to purchase in a joint venture contract was not subject to the rule….The court
cited and discussed Weber v. Texas Co., 83 F.2d 807 (5th Cir.1936)…; Oliner v. City of Englewood,
42 Colo.App. 106, 593 P.2d 977 (1979); Robroy Land Co. v. Prather, 95 Wash.2d 66, 622 P.2d 367
(1980), for the proposition that the rule did not apply with regard to preemptive rights….
….this case is similar to Dozier v. Troy Drive-In Theaters, Inc., 265 Ala. 93, 89 So.2d 537 (1956).
Dozier dealt with a lease of land containing an option to purchase exercisable during the term after
one year. The appellant in Dozier argued that such an option was violative of the rule in that no
reference to a life in being was stated. The Court held that the option was an exception and not
subject to the rule against perpetuities….
The Wyoming court in Hartnett described Dozier as holding “that the option or preemptive right
simply is an exception to the rule of perpetuities because it creates an estate on a condition
subsequent to which the rule does not apply.” Hartnett v. Jones, 629 P.2d at 1362. The Court in
Dozier, partially relied upon the English courts for its pronouncement of the exception:
…we are standing by the principle first stated in England in the Cartwright case, supra, that
the reservation of a right to repurchase creates a conditional fee, and is a presently reserved
vested right in the grantor, although its exercise is dependent on a future contingency.
In that connection our case of Hinton v. Gilbert, [221 Ala. 309, 128 So. 604], is reported in
70 A.L.R. 1192 as a leading authority, and our case of Libby v. Winston, supra, is noted as
supporting it. These cases are based upon a construction of the instrument as conveying a
conditional fee, thereby reserving a right which never passed from the grantor but [was]
exercisable on a contingency. Therefore, both the grantor and grantee have an interest in the
fee which they can convey and thereby relieve the property of the exemption from trade
which the rule seeks to prohibit. These cases have created a rule of property in this State
which we should uphold.
265 Ala. at 104-05, 89 So.2d at 547.
“The avowed object of the rule is to favor commerce and the circulation of property by
preventing the right of absolute disposition from being tied up or restrained beyond a certain
period.” Lyons v. Bradley, 168 Ala. 505, 53 So. 224 (1910). As pointed out by the Supreme Court
of Wyoming, preemptive rights do not inhibit the alienability of property. See Hartnett, supra.
Therefore, the rights are not contrary to the main objective of the rule. Based on the analysis of
the Court in Dozier, supra, the preemptive right to repurchase created a conditional fee and this
right is vested and presently reserved in the pre-emptioner. The preemptive right of first refusal
as found in the partnership agreement is excepted from the rule against perpetuities….
Access contends that Plaintiff’s interest is a perpetual option to purchase stock for which there
exists only a “mere probability that...[Plaintiff’s] interest will vest[]” and “there is at least some possibility”
that Plaintiff’s interest “will not vest” within 21 years.

(Doc. 91 at 11-12).

The Court is not persuaded.

Following Access’ logic, Plaintiff’s interest was not created and/or did not vest when the Side Letter was

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executed, and would only be created and/or vest, and (apparently continually) re-vest, upon the occurrence
of a future joint venture or business opportunity -- i.e., there would never be a complete vesting of
Plaintiff’s right/interest.

In contrast, a reading of the clear terms of the Side Letter confirm that upon its

execution, Access immediately reserved to Plaintiff the right to invest a minimum of up to 10% in Access’
portion of its future ventures and immediately obligated Access to offer such to Plaintiff -- “will reserve,”
“will be offered” and “will always be offered.”

Access’ officers testified that the Side Letter created an

instant “obligation,” Access’ contractual obligation, to offer Plaintiff the 10% investment opportunities.
(Doc. 95-2 SEALED (Dep. Dees at 186-186, 364-365); Doc. 95-3 SEALED (Dep. Wright at 217, 240)).
See also (Doc. 95-3 SEALED (Dep. Wright at 217)).

Thus, Plaintiff’s right (interest) was created and/or

vested upon execution of the Side Letter.
Plaintiff’s exercise of that right (interest) is a different matter. That Plaintiff’s interest becomes
relevant on the occurrence of a future joint venture/business opportunity and is a vested right for which
payment is due in the future, does not violate the rule against perpetuities.

Parsons, 2009 WL 323081, *5.

This is because Plaintiff’s interest is a preemptive right under Alabama law to purchase “a minimum of up
to 10%” and is a “presently reserved” and “vested” right for which payment is due in the future.
Robertson, 510 So.2d at 183.
2.

The remaining elements

Concerning the remaining three (3) elements for a breach of contract claim – Plaintiff’s
performance under the contract, Access’ non-performance, and resulting damages – the Court finds as
follows.

As to performance, Plaintiff performed under the contract and Side Letter by selling its 40%

interest in Mobile Vascular Labs, LLC to Access as promised.
With regard to Access’ non-performance (the alleged basis for the breach of contract), the evidence
establishes, for purposes of summary judgment, an issue of material fact.

In addition to paying Plaintiff

the agreed sum for the 40% interest in Mobile Vascular Labs, LLC (which is not in dispute), Access’

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performance required it to immediately reserve the right to Plaintiff to invest up to a minimum of up to
10% in any of Access’ future ventures.

There exists a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Access

breached the Side Letter due to its alleged non-performance on this particular contractual obligation. See,
e.g., Penmont v. Blue Ridge Piedmont, 607 F.Supp.2d 1266, 1272-1273 (M.D. Ala. 2009) (to establish a
successful breach-of-contract claim, a plaintiff must demonstrate not only the existence of a valid contract
and that he performed under the contract, but also that the defendant failed to perform) (citing State Farm
Fire and Casualty Company v. Slay, 747 So.2d 293, 303 (Ala.1999)).
Specifically, as noted supra, Dees testified that the Side Letter created a contractual obligation on
the part of Access to offer Plaintiff the 10% investment opportunities. (Doc. 95-2 SEALED (Dep. Dees at
365)). See also (Doc. 95-3 SEALED (Dep. Wright at 216-217) (“Our [Access] intent with them was always
just as the document reads, to give them a 10 percent offering on the new deals….”).

Following execution

of the Side Letter, Access entered approximately 14 joint ventures/business opportunities (known to date)
without Plaintiff.

As explanation, Access asserts that “these opportunities were all discussed….[Plaintiff]

just doesn’t recall which ones or any of the details of the discussions[]” and “[t]he only dispute, perhaps, is
that the opportunity wasn’t presented to…[Plaintiff] in a form of their liking[.]”

(Doc. 91-2 at 17 (citing

Dep. Butera at 67-68, 137-140, 166-181)).

“They [Plaintiff] didn’t want anything to do with it.” (Doc.

95-3 SEALED (Dep. Wright at 216-217)).

See also Doc. 91-1 (Dep. Dees at 488); Doc. 95-2 SEALED

(Dep. Dees at 366)).
In contrast, Plaintiff asserts that while Dees (for Access) may have communicated and informed
Plaintiff (c/o Butera) about “new ventures,” “every time a new venture was mentioned, there was always
something…they weren’t interested in having us join[]” and Access “always had” a reason to exclude
Plaintiff.

(Doc. 99-1 (Dep. Butera at 68, 70-72, 74, 76)).

“My…feeling is that...[Access] had no

intention of including us in these new ventures” as there was always an excuse for “[e]very one [venture] I
asked about.” (Id. (Dep. Butera at 67-68); Doc. 91-2 (Dep. Butera at 67-68); Doc. 95-6 SEALED (Dep.

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Butera at 69)). “[I]t was always why we couldn’t participate. So my understanding was that they weren’t
interested in including us in any of these ventures.”

(Doc. 99-1 (Dep. Butera at 66)).

Additionally, while

Dees communicated about some “new ventures out there,” “she never revealed that…Access had an equity
position in these ventures. In fact, she denied that she had an equity position in these ventures, telling me
they were management positions.”
70-71)).

(Doc. 91-2 (Dep. Butera at 142); Doc. 95-6 SEALED (Dep. Butera at

Moreover, Butera testified that he never turned down offers from Access: “I never said I was not

interested in any practice [venture][]” nor “respond that I wasn’t interested.”
168, 178, 180-181).
Butera at 181).

(Doc. 91-2 (Dep. Butera at

Per Butera, Dees simply “did not inquire into my [Plaintiff’s] interest[.]”

(Id. (Dep.

In light of the parties’ differing versions of events, the Court is satisfied that Plaintiff has

created an issue of material fact as to Access’ non-performance.
Further, as for “resulting damages,” Access represents that Plaintiff’s claim of 10% interest for four
(4) of the entities is “worth no less than $537,000 as of August 9, 2016.”
Dees)).

(Doc. 95-8 at 4 (Supp. Aff.

Plaintiff asserts that the damages amount are currently unknown but that it “will prove amounts

above” the $537,000 figure “by a profit analysis of each of the subject” ventures from December 30, 2009
to the present.

(Doc. 93 at 6 and note 5, and 8; Doc. 91-3 (Dep. Bishop at 181-184, 221)).

Thus, the fact

of damages has been sufficiently stated by the parties on summary judgment, but the amount remains a
question of fact for the jury.
V.

Tort Claims: Promissory Fraud & Civil Conspiracy
Alabama choice of law rules apply the doctrine of lex loci delicti to tort claims: the law of the state

in which the injury occurred governs the substantive rights of the injured party. Colonial Life & Acc. Ins.
Co. v. Hartford Fire Ins. Co., 358 F.3d 1306, 1308 (11th Cir. 2004).

Additionally, for fraud claims, courts

look to the state in which the plaintiff suffered the economic impact.
990 F.Supp. 1344 (M.D.Ala.1998).

Glass v. Southern Wrecker Sales,

Per Chambers v. Cooney, 2007 WL 2493682, *11 (S.D. Ala. Aug. 29,

2007) (emphasis added):

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…the place of injury “is the locale in which the last event necessary to make a defendant liable for
an alleged tort occurs.”….see also Velten v. Regis B. Lippert, Intercat, Inc., 985 F.2d 1515, 1521
(11th Cir.1993) (“The place of the wrong is the jurisdiction where the harm was suffered or where
the last event necessary to make an actor liable for the alleged tort takes place.”). Where, as here,
the injury in question is financial, the location where the financial injury was felt is
determinative under lex loci delicti….
See also Alabama Aircraft Indus., Inc. v. The Boeing Co., Inc., 2013 WL 1178720, *8 (N.D. Ala. Mar. 20,
2013) (same); Renasant Bank v. Park Nat. Corp., 2013 WL 1499580, *7 (S.D. Ala. Apr. 10, 2013)
(applying the law of the state where plaintiff’s business was located as they “could have suffered injury
only in that state[]”).
While the 14 entities (the future joint ventures/business opportunities) were formed in a variety of
different states, the Court finds that the injuries (torts) to Plaintiff and its members (an Alabama limited
liability company with Alabama citizen members) occurred in Alabama.

This is because as alleged, the

injury to Plaintiff and its members is financial and the location where the financial injury was felt was (is)
in Alabama, the state where Plaintiff and its members are located and where they are alleged to have been
deprived of promised financial opportunities.
A.

As such, Alabama law governs the tort claims.

Dees
In the Complaint, Plaintiff alleges that “Dees promised/contracted” the terms of the Side Letter to

Plaintiff, “[a]s a material inducement…individually…promised that any future joint venture or business
opportunity…would be presented to Plaintiff for consideration[,]” and “[s]ince making those
promises…has been instrumental in development new business opportunities[]” but “has not offered the
Plaintiff…a chance to buy into and be a partner in the….ventures…..”.

(Doc. 1-2 at 7-9). On summary

judgment, Plaintiff alleges that Dees “controlled the entities that took the future joint ventures or business
opportunities” without Plaintiff and “had a personal duty to disclose these ventures and opportunities to the
Plaintiff and is the only Defendant which could ensure that the new holding companies included Plaintiff.”
(Doc. 93 at 29).

In response, Defendants move for summary judgment in Dees’ favor on the basis that

“she made no promise, contract, or action in her individual capacity.”

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(Doc. 91 at 20).

As explained in Allstate Ins. Co v. Regions Bank, 2015 WL 4073184, *22 (S.D. Ala. Jul. 2, 2015):
…Jones seeks summary judgment on the ground that was “operating as a Corporate Officer,
Member, or Manager,” and that he “never acted in an individual capacity.”….This argument
misapprehends fundamental principles of tort and agency law. The First Amended Complaint
alleges that Jones committed certain tortious conduct…If Jones committed those torts, it makes no
legal difference whether he did so in a representative / agency capacity or not. Either way, he would
remain liable for his own tortious conduct. …whether Jones acted in an individual or representative
capacity is irrelevant.
In Alabama, “[a] corporate agent who personally participates, albeit in….her capacity as such agent, in a
tort is personally liable for the tort.” Ex parte McInnis, 820 So.2d 795, 798–799 (Ala. 2001). See also
Prince Hotel, S.A. v. Blake Marine Group, 2012 WL 4711897, *5 (S.D. Ala. Oct. 2, 2012) (“If Zatezalo
committed that tort, it makes no difference whether he did so in a representative capacity or not. Either
way, he would remain liable for his own tortious conduct[]”); Bethel v. Thorn, 757 So.2d 1154 (Ala. 1999)
(“Bethel argues that Thorn, as president of Diesel, can be held individually liable for the fraudulent acts or
omissions he personally committed in his capacity as a corporate officer. We agree that this is a correct
statement of law[]”); Ex parte Charles Bell Pontiac–Buick–Cadillac–GMC, Inc., 496 So.2d 774, 775
(Ala.1986) (“In Alabama, the general rule is that officers or employees of a corporation are liable for torts
in which they have personally participated, irrespective of whether they were acting in a corporate
capacity[]”); Crigler v. Salac, 438 So.2d 1375, 1379-1380 (Ala.1983) (“This rule does not depend on the
same grounds as ‘piercing the corporate veil’....”).

As such, Defendants’ motion, on the basis that Dees

“made no promise, contract, or action in her individual capacity[,]” is DENIED as to the tort claims alleged
against her.
B.

Access
1.

Promissory Fraud

As summarized by this Court in Vascular Ventures, 2016 WL 7471642, *16-17, 19: Plaintiff
alleges that Access “fraudulently misrepresent[ed] and/or suppress[ed] the existence of joint ventures and
business opportunities in which Plaintiff was entitled to purchase up to a 10% interest and that Plaintiff was

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damaged….”

Access contends on summary judgment that because the Side Letter is void as a matter of

law, the promissory fraud claim must fail; or in the alternative, there is no evidence that Access intended to
deceive Plaintiff.

For those reasons detailed supra, the Side Letter is not void as a matter of law and thus,

Access’ argument is not persuasive on that basis.
As for Access’ intent to deceive, the Court notes as follows.

In Alabama, “[a] claim of promissory

fraud is ‘one based upon a promise to act or not to act in the future.’” Ex parte Michelin North America,
Inc., 795 So.2d 674, 678 (Ala. 2001).

To establish a claim for promissory fraud a plaintiff must show: 1)

a false representation; 2) of a material existing fact; 3) reasonably relied upon by the plaintiff; 4) who
suffered damage as a proximate consequence of the misrepresentation; 5) proof that at the time of the
misrepresentation, the defendant had the intention not to perform the act promised; and 6) proof that the
defendant had an intent to deceive.

Southland Bank v. A&A Drywall Supply Co., Inc., 21 So.3d 1196,

1210 (Ala. 2008); Hunt Petroleum Corp. v. State of Alabama, 901 So.2d 1, 4 (Ala. 2004). See also e.g.,
G.F. Kelly Trucking, Inc. v. U.S. Xpress Enterp., Inc., 281 Fed. Appx. 855, 861 (11th Cir. 2008). “The
burden is on the plaintiff to prove that when the promise was made the defendant intended to deceive...[t]he
plaintiff cannot meet his burden merely by showing that the alleged promise ultimately was not kept...[i]t is
well settled that ‘a jury does not have untrammeled discretion to speculate upon the existence of [the
requisite] intent [for promissory fraud].’ There must be substantial evidence of a fraudulent intent that
existed when the promise was made.” Southland, 21 So.3d at 1212.

See also Odom v. Southeast Supply

Header, LLC, 2010 WL 1780367, *9-10 (S.D. Ala. Apr. 29, 2010).

“Evidence of consistent, but

unfulfilled, promises can in some cases amount to substantial evidence of an intent to deceive[,] and “[a]
defendant's intent to deceive can be established through circumstantial evidence that relates to events that
occurred after the alleged misrepresentations were made.”

Southland, 21 So.3d at 1212 (internal citations

omitted).
In response to Plaintiff’s promissory fraud allegations, Access contends that “these opportunities

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were all discussed; Dr. Butera [Plaintiff] just doesn’t recall which ones or any of the details of the
discussions[]” and “[t]he only dispute, perhaps, is that the opportunity wasn’t presented to…[Plaintiff] in a
form of their liking[.]”

(Doc. 91-2 at 17 (citing Dep. Butera at 67-68, 137-140, 166-181)).

“Our

[Access] intent with them was always just as the document reads, to give them a 10 percent offering on the
new deals. They [Plaintiff] didn’t want anything to do with it.” (Doc. 95-3 SEALED (Dep. Wright at
216-217)).

Access asserts Plaintiff is “simply confused.”

(Doc. 91 at 18).

In contrast, Plaintiff asserts

that at the time the Side Letter was drafted and issued, Access was in active and serious negotiations to
enter into a future business opportunity with a third-party and successfully did a few weeks after the Side
Letter was executed, but failed to include Plaintiff. See supra. As alleged, thereafter, Access entered into
approximately 13 other ventures/business opportunities, without Plaintiff.

According to Plaintiff, while

Access communicated and informed Plaintiff (c/o Butera) about “new ventures,” “every time a new venture
was mentioned, there was always something…they [Access] weren’t interested in having us [Plaintiff]
join[]” and Access “always had” a reason to exclude Plaintiff.
76)).

(Doc. 99-1 (Dep. Butera at 68, 70-72, 74,

“My…feeling is that they [Access] had no intention of including us in these new ventures.”

(Dep. Butera at 68)).

(Id.

Plaintiff asserts that an inference can thus be drawn of Access’ intention to deceive

at the time the Side Letter was prepared.

“[F]or the purposes of a promissory-fraud claim, ‘the factfinder

may consider that failure [the failure to perform the promised act] together with other circumstances, in
determining whether, at the time the promise was made, the promisor intended to deceive.’” Mantiply v.
Mantiply, 951 So.2d 638, 653-654 (Ala. 2006) (quoting Byrd v. Lamar, 846 So.2d 334, 343 (Ala. 2003);
Ex parte Grand Manor, Inc., 778 So.2d 173, 182 (Ala. 2000)).
Plaintiff’s evidence and allegations, showing the circumstances surrounding the Side Letter and
Access’ actions, might persuade a jury that Access intended to deceive Plaintiff. Drawing all inferences in
Plaintiff's favor, “fair-minded persons in the exercise of impartial judgment…[could] reasonably infer the
existence of” Access’ intent not to perform and intent to deceive at the time of the making and issuance of

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the Side Letter. See, e.g., Beiersdoerfer, 953 So.2d at 1205. See also Waddell & Reed, Inc. v. United
Investors Life Ins. Co., 875 So.2d 1143, 1160 (Ala. 2003); Padgett v. Hughes, 535 So.2d 140, 142 (Ala.
1988). Thus, there is a genuine issue of material fact.
1315 (M.D. Ala. 2000).
2.

Scott v. Dixie Homecrafters, 125 F.Supp.2d 1311,

As such, summary judgment is DENIED on this claim at this time on that basis.

Civil Conspiracy
As summarized by this Court in Vascular Ventures, 2016 WL 7471642, *16-17, 19: Plaintiff

alleges that Defendants “conspired….agreed to do something unlawful, i.e., commit fraud, in order to
prevent Plaintiff from knowing about, and taking advantage of, investment opportunities that Defendants
created after December 30, 2009….”

“The elements of civil conspiracy in Alabama are: (1) concerted

action by two or more persons to (2) achieve an unlawful purpose or a lawful purpose by unlawful means.
Luck v. Primus Auto. Fin. Servs., Inc., 763 So.2d 243, 247 (Ala.2000).” J&M Assoc., Inc. v. Romero, 488
Fed. Appx. 373, 375 (11th Cir. 2012). “[A] plaintiff alleging a conspiracy must have a valid underlying
cause of action…A civil conspiracy claim fails if the underlying act or acts do not support an action….”
Catlin Syndicate Ltd. v. Ramuji, LLC, 2017 WL 3581722, *11 (N.D. Ala. Aug. 18, 2017).

See, e.g.,

Funliner of Alabama, LLC v. Pickard, 873 So.2d 198, 211 (Ala. 2003) (same); Goolesby v. Koch Farms,
LLC, 955 So.2d 422, 430 (Ala. 2006) (same).
Plaintiff alleges that Defendants conspired to fraudulently misrepresent and/or suppress the
existence of joint ventures and business opportunities in which Plaintiff was contractually entitled to
purchase up to a 10% interest.

(Doc. 1-2 at 16).

conspiracy claim is the promissory fraud claim.
claim, Plaintiff’s civil conspiracy claim fails.

As such, the underlying action of Plaintiff’s civil

Defendants assert that because there is no underlying

For those reasons stated supra, issues of material fact exist

for Plaintiff’s promissory fraud claim and thus, the same holds true for civil conspiracy.
summary judgment is DENIED on this claim at this time.

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As such,

VI.

Conclusion
Based on the foregoing, it is ORDERED that Defendants’ motion for summary judgment is

DENIED in part and GRANTED in part as follows: DENIED as to breach of contract as to the Side
Letter (Count One) against Access; GRANTED as to breach of contract as to the Side Letter (Count One)
against Dees; and DENIED at this time as to promissory fraud (Count Three) and civil conspiracy (Count
Six) for both Access and Dees.
DONE and ORDERED this the 16th day of October 2017.
/s/ Kristi K. DuBose
KRISTI K. DuBOSE
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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