Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. v. Cusi et al
Filing
23
ORDER: Granting 13 Motion to Dismiss Defendants' Counterclaim; and Denying 14 Special Motion to Strike Counterclaim. For the reasons stated herein, the Court Grants Plaintiff's motion to dismiss Defendants' counterclaim. If they so choose, Defendants may submit an amended counterclaim within 14 days of this order. The Court Denies Plaintiff's motion to strike. Signed by Judge Michael M. Anello on 7/31/2013. (leh)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
JOE HAND PROMOTIONS, INC.,
11
Plaintiff/Counterclaim Defendant,
12
vs.
13
14
15
CASE NO. 3:13-cv-935-MMA-BLM
ORDER:
GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S
MOTION TO DISMISS
DEFENDANTS’ COUNTERCLAIM;
[Doc. No. 13]
MICHAEL E. CUSI, et al.,
16
17
18
Defendants/Counterclaimants.
DENYING PLAINTIFF’S SPECIAL
MOTION TO STRIKE
[Doc. No. 14]
On April 18, 2013, Plaintiff Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. (“Plaintiff”) filed an
19 action against Defendants Michael E. Cusi, Raquel Regno, and Raymond Regno
20 (“Defendants”), alleging violations of 47 U.S.C. section 553, 47 U.S.C. section 605,
21 California Business and Professions Code section 17000 et seq., and conversion.
22 Defendants counterclaimed, asserting that 47 U.S.C. sections 605 and 553 are
23 unconstitutionally vague and overbroad. Presently before the Court are Plaintiff’s
24 motions to dismiss and strike Defendants’ counterclaim pursuant to Federal Rules of
25 Civil Procedure 12(b)(1), 12(b)(6), and California Code of Civil Procedure section
26 425.16. [Doc. Nos. 13-14.] For the following reasons, the Court GRANTS
27 Plaintiff’s motion to dismiss, and DENIES Plaintiff’s motion to strike.
28 / / /
-1-
13-CV-935
1 I.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
2
This action arises out of events involving the broadcast of an “Ultimate
3 Fighting Championship” program at Stronghold CrossFit & Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
4 (“Stronghold CrossFit”) on April 21, 2012, at 2176 Chatsworth Boulevard, San
5 Diego, California 92107. [Compl. ¶¶ 7, 19.]
6
Plaintiff is a Pennsylvania corporation with its principal place of business at
7 407 E. Pennsylvania Boulevard, Feasterville, Pennsylvania 19053. [Compl. ¶ 6.]
8 Defendants Michael E. Cusi, Raquel Regno, and Raymond Regno are each part9 owners of Stronghold CrossFit. [Compl. ¶ 8; Answer ¶ 6.]
10
Plaintiff alleges that it was granted exclusive contractual rights to the
11 nationwide commercial distribution (closed-circuit) of Ultimate Fighting
12 Championship 145: Jon Jones v. Rashad Evans (the “Program”), telecast
13 nationwide on April 21, 2012. [Compl. ¶ 26.] Plaintiff further alleges that on April
14 21, 2012, Defendants specifically directed the employees of Stronghold CrossFit to
15 unlawfully intercept and broadcast the Program. [Compl. ¶ 19.] Alternatively,
16 Plaintiff alleges that the unlawful actions of Stronghold CrossFit employees in
17 intercepting the Program are directly imputable to Defendants, since Defendants had
18 the obligation to ensure that their business was operating lawfully. [Compl. ¶¶ 1619 18.] Plaintiff also alleges that Defendants encouraged the unlawful interception of
20 the Program due to their direct financial interest in Stronghold CrossFit, and that the
21 unlawful interception of the Program in fact resulted in increased profits for
22 Defendants while depriving Plaintiff of the profits associated with the patronage of
23 current, previous, and potential customers. [Compl. ¶¶ 20-23, 51.]
24
In its Complaint, Plaintiff asserts four claims: (1) Violation of 47 U.S.C.
25 section 605, (2) Violation of 47 U.S.C. section 553, (3) Violation of California
26 Business and Professions Code section 17200 et seq., and (4) conversion. In their
27 Answer, Defendants raise a counterclaim against Plaintiff, contending that 47 U.S.C.
28 sections 605 and 553 (“sections 605 and 553”) are unconstitutionally vague and
-2-
13-CV-935
1 overbroad. [Answer ¶ 10.] Defendants thus request declaratory relief in the form of
2 a judicial determination as to the vagueness and reach of sections 605 and 553 so
3 that they can conform their conduct to the terms of these statutes. [Answer ¶¶ 11,
4 12.] Plaintiff now moves to dismiss Defendants’ counterclaim.
5 II.
DISCUSSION
6
Plaintiff seeks to dismiss or strike Defendants’ counterclaim on three grounds:
7 (1) lack of subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1), (2) failure to state a
8 claim pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), and (3) suppression of Plaintiff’s First Amendment
9 right to petition, pursuant to California’s Anti-SLAPP statute, California Code of
10 Civil Procedure section 425.16. The Court will consider each in turn.
11
A.
12
13
Motion to Dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1)
1.
Legal Standard
Motions to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction are provided for by
14 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1). When Rule 12(b)(1) is invoked by a
15 litigant, the opposing party bears the burden of proving the existence of the court’s
16 subject matter jurisdiction by pleading factual allegations. Thompson v. McCombe,
17 99 F.3d 352, 353 (9th Cir. 1996).
18
The justiciability doctrine of standing pertains to the subject matter
19 jurisdiction of federal courts under Article III, and is thus appropriately raised in a
20 motion to dismiss under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1). White v. Lee, 227 F.3d 1214, 1242
21 (9th Cir. 2000); Principal Life Ins. Co. v. Robinson, 394 F.3d 665, 669 (9th Cir.
22 2005).
23
24
2.
Standing
Plaintiff contends that Defendants lack standing to bring their counterclaim.
25 Article III, section 2 of the Constitution confines federal courts to the decision of
26 “Cases or Controversies.” U.S. Const. art. III, § 2. Standing to sue or defend is an
27 aspect of the case-or-controversy requirement. Arizonans for Official English v.
28 Arizona, 520 U.S. 43, 64 (1997). To qualify as a party with standing, a person must
-3-
13-CV-935
1 first show (1) an “invasion of a legally protected interest that is concrete and
2 particularized, and actual or imminent.” Id. In other words, the litigant must seek
3 relief for an injury that affects him in a “personal and individual way,” such that he
4 has a “direct stake in the outcome of the case.” Id.
5
Once the litigant establishes an injury sufficient for standing, he must also
6 show (2) a causal link between the claimed injury and opposing party’s challenged
7 conduct; and (3) redressability of the injury by a favorable judicial decision. Lujan
8 v. Defenders of Wildlife, 504 U.S. at 560-61 (1992); Hollingsworth v. Perry, 133
9 S.Ct. 2652, 2661 (2013).
10
Standing will not be granted, however, based on the legal rights or interests of
11 third parties, or on the basis of a generalized grievance that affects the litigant no
12 more directly or tangibly than the public at large. Powers v. Ohio, 499 U.S. 400,
13 410 (1991); Hollingsworth, 133 S.Ct. at 2662. In the event that a litigant
14 simultaneously seeks standing both for himself and on behalf of a third party, the
15 court will not automatically dismiss one set of allegations merely because standing is
16 found lacking for the other set. J&J Sports Productions, Inc. v. Dean, 2011 WL
17 4080052, at *4 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 12, 2011).
18
In the matter at bar, the Court finds that Defendants have standing to bring
19 their counterclaim. Defendants have already been injured by the enforcement of the
20 two provisions whose constitutionality they now challenge. [Opp. at 2, Doc. No.
21 17.] They have been involuntarily summoned to a court of law over enforcement of
22 the two provisions, and have already accrued legal expenses associated with
23 defending against Plaintiff’s claims. This constitutes sufficient injury to satisfy the
24 first requirement for standing.
25
Defendants also satisfy elements (2) and (3) of standing. Plaintiff’s efforts to
26 enforce sections 605 and 553 are contingent upon the constitutional validity of the
27 two provisions. This forms the causal link of element (2) that binds the claimed
28 injury (Defendants’ accrual of fees from being hailed into court) to the opposing
-4-
13-CV-935
1 party’s conduct (filing a lawsuit in order to enforce sections 605 and 553). Element
2 (3) is satisfied because Defendants’ injury is redressable: a declaratory judgment
3 invalidating sections 605 and 553 would preclude Plaintiff’s enforcement of the two
4 provisions and eliminate two causes of action against Defendants.
5
However, Defendants cannot allege injury as a general grievance or on behalf
6 of third parties. Thus, to the extent that Defendants request declaratory relief “on
7 behalf of similarly situated people in the public,” the Court declines to grant
8 standing. [Answer ¶¶ 11, 12.] Defendants appear to concede that they cannot assert
9 the rights of third parties. [Opp. at 3.]
10
Next, because Defendants seek declaratory relief, the Court must consider
11 whether Defendants have proper standing under the Declaratory Judgment Act
12 (“DJA”). Under the DJA, the litigant “must establish standing by showing that there
13 is a substantial controversy, between parties having adverse legal interests, of
14 sufficient immediacy and reality to warrant the issuance of a declaratory judgment.”
15 Scott v. Pasadena Unified School District, 306 F.3d 646, 658 (9th Cir. 2002); Seattle
16 Audobon Society v. Moseley, 80 F.3d 1401, 1405 (9th Cir. 1996). Furthermore,
17 standing under the DJA will be granted to a litigant that challenges the
18 constitutionality of a statute if he asserts a “sufficiently direct threat of personal
19 detriment.” Doe v. Bolton, 410 U.S. 179, 185, 188 (1973).
20
In addition to the Court’s finding that Defendants have general standing to
21 bring their counterclaim, the Court also finds that Defendants have standing under
22 the DJA. Plaintiff filed its complaint on April 18, 2013, and the ongoing lawsuit
23 constitutes a substantial controversy between Plaintiff and Defendants who have
24 adverse legal interests. Furthermore, two of the four causes of action alleged by
25 Plaintiff depend on whether sections 605 and 553 are constitutional, which warrants
26 the issuance of a declaratory judgment. Finally, because Plaintiff has requested
27 statutory damages in excess of $170,000, Defendants assert a sufficiently direct
28 threat of personal detriment.
-5-
13-CV-935
1
The Court DENIES Plaintiff’s motion to dismiss Defendants’ counterclaim
2 based on lack of standing. Defendants have standing to pursue their own claims, but
3 do not have standing to defend claims of the public at large.
4
B.
5
6
Motion to Dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6)
1.
Judicial Notice
In support of its motion to dismiss, Plaintiff requests that the Court take
7 judicial notice of the Answer to Complaint and Counterclaim filed in J&J Sports
8 Productions, Inc. v. Dean, 2011 WL 4080052 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 12, 2011), attached to
9 Plaintiff’s reply as Exhibit 1. [See Doc. No. 19-1.] A court may take notice of
10 adjudicative facts not subject to reasonable dispute that “can be accurately and
11 readily determined from sources whose accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned.”
12 Fed. R. Evid. 201(b)(2). Since pleadings are public documents, the source of
13 Exhibit 1 cannot be reasonably questioned. The Court thus GRANTS Plaintiff’s
14 request for judicial notice.
15
16
2.
Legal Standard
Dismissal for failure to state a claim under Rule 12(b)(6) is only appropriate if
17 the complaint does not give the defendant fair notice of a legally cognizable claim
18 and the grounds on which it rests. Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544,
19 555 (2007).
20
A pleading must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing
21 that the pleader is entitled to relief . . . .” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). However,
22 plaintiffs must also plead “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on
23 its face.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6); Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570. The plausibility
24 standard thus demands more than naked assertions devoid of further factual
25 enhancement. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). Instead, the complaint
26 “must contain allegations of underlying facts [sufficient] to give fair notice and to
27 enable the opposing party to defend itself effectively.” Starr v. Baca, 652 F.3d
28 1202, 1216 (9th Cir. 2011).
-6-
13-CV-935
1
To survive a motion to dismiss, the complaint must contain sufficient factual
2 content to allow the court to reasonably infer that the allegations have merit. Iqbal,
3 556 U.S. at 678. The factual allegations must be definite enough to raise a right to
4 relief above the speculative level. Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555.
5
Finally, leave to amend should be granted unless the pleading could not
6 possibly be cured by the allegation of additional or other facts. Knappenberger v.
7 City of Phoenix, 566 F.3d 936, 942 (9th Cir. 2009).
8
9
3.
Analysis
In J&J Sports, the defendants filed a counterclaim seeking declaratory relief
10 on the issue of whether sections 605 and 553 were vague and overbroad. J&J Sports
11 Productions, Inc. v. Dean, 2011 WL 4080052, at *1 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 12, 2011). In
12 support of their counterclaim, the defendants listed specific provisions of sections
13 605 and 553 which were allegedly vague and/or overbroad, and emphasized the
14 particular statutory terms that were of questionable validity. [See Doc. No. 19-1.]
15 The district court found that the defendants’ counterclaim under the First and Fifth
16 Amendments was cognizable. J&J Sports, 2011 WL 4080052 at *6.
17
Here, Defendants’ counterclaim is superficially similar to that alleged by the
18 defendants in J&J Sports. However, Defendants fail to state with any specificity
19 how sections 605 and 533 are vague or overbroad. Defendants allege only that
20 sections 605 and 553:
21
22
are unconstitutionally vague and overbroad, threatening liability
without fair notice and chilling their protected First Amendment
activities.
23 [Answer at 7.] This allegation is insufficient. Defendants must provide more than
24 conclusory allegations that sections 605 and 553 are unconstitutionally vague and
25 overbroad in order to survive the standard for 12(b)(6) motions. Without more,
26 Defendants’ counterclaim is entirely implausible. See Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570.
27 Defendants rely heavily on J&J Sports, for example, but have failed to allege the
28 unconstitutionality of sections 605 and 553 with specificity comparable to that pled
-7-
13-CV-935
1 by the defendants in J&J Sports.
2
The Court thus GRANTS Plaintiff’s motion to dismiss based on failure to
3 state a claim pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6). Defendants are granted leave to amend their
4 counterclaim to cure the deficiencies noted above.
5
C.
Special Motion to Strike under Anti-SLAPP, § 425.16
6
Finally, Plaintiff moves under California Code of Civil Procedure § 425.16 to
7 strike Defendants’ counterclaim. Section 425.16(b)(1), which addresses Strategic
8 Lawsuits Against Public Participation (“SLAPP”), provides,
9
10
11
12
A cause of action against a person arising from any act of that person in
furtherance of the person’s right of petition or free speech under the
United States or California Constitution in connection with a public issue
shall be subject to a special motion to strike, unless the court determines
that the plaintiff has established that there is a probability that the plaintiff
will prevail on the claim.
13 Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 4.25(b)(1). California anti-SLAPP motions are available to
14 litigants proceeding in federal court. Thomas v. Fry’s Elecs., Inc., 400 F.3d 1206,
15 1206 (9th Cir. 2005). However, Plaintiff’s anti-SLAPP motion must be denied
16 because it is directed at Defendants’ counterclaim, which presents a federal
17 constitutional question. Hilton v. Hallmark Cards, 599 F.3d 894, 901 (9th Cir.
18 2010) (“[A] federal court can only entertain anti-SLAPP special motions to strike in
19 connection with state law claims.”).
20
With respect to attorney’s fees and costs, the Court finds that although
21 Plaintiff overreached on the applicability of the anti-SLAPP statute to Defendants’
22 counterclaim, such overreach does not rise to the level of frivolity. Thus, each party
23 is to bear its own fees and costs associated with litigating the motion.
24 / / /
25 / / /
26 / / /
27 / / /
28 / / /
-8-
13-CV-935
1 III.
CONCLUSION
2
For the reasons set forth above, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s motion to
3 dismiss Defendants’ counterclaim. If they so choose, Defendants may submit an
4 amended counterclaim which cures the defects noted herein. The amended
5 counterclaim must be filed within fourteen days of this order.
6
The Court DENIES Plaintiff’s motion to strike.
7
IT IS SO ORDERED.
8 DATED: July 31, 2013
9
10
11
Hon. Michael M. Anello
United States District Judge
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
-9-
13cv935
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?