House of Lebanon Organization, Inc. v. House of Pacific Relations International Cottages, Inc. et al
Filing
18
ORDER granting in part and denying in part 7 Motion to Dismiss. Counts 1, 5, 6, 7 are dismissed without prejudice. Counts 2, 3, 4, 8, and 9 may proceed. Signed by Judge M. James Lorenz on 6/1/2017. (sjt)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
11
12
HOUSE OF LEBANON
ORGANIZATION, INC.,
15
16
ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND
DENYING IN PART DEFENDANTS’
MOTION [Doc. 7] TO DISMISS
Plaintiff,
13
14
Case No.: 3:17-cv-00232-L-BGS
v.
HOUSE OF PACIFIC RELATIONS
INTERNATIONAL COTTAGES. INC.,
et al.,
Defendants.
17
18
Pending before the Court is Defendants’1 motion to dismiss Plaintiff House of
19
20
Lebanon’s (“Plaintiff”) first amended complaint. The Court decides the matter on the
21
papers submitted and without oral argument. See Civ. L. R. 7.1(d.1). For the reasons
22
stated below, the Court GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART Defendants’
23
motion.
24
//
25
26
1
27
28
The defendants in this action are House of Pacific Relations International Cottages, Inc.; New
International Cottages, Inc.; the City of San Diego; The House of Mexico; House of India, Inc.; House
of Turkey; House of Palestine; House of Peru; House of Panama; The House of the Philippines, Inc.;
and House of Korea, Inc.
1
3:17-cv-00232-L-BGS
1
I.
2
BACKGROUND
This case arises out of a dispute involving a project to construct new cottages in
3
Balboa Park. The cottages at issue are run by non-profit organizations with an aim
4
toward educating the public about the culture of various foreign countries. Each cottage,
5
it seems, is to be operated by a member of Defendant House of Pacific Relations
6
International Cottages (“HPR”). Plaintiff is a member of HPR. Along with eight other
7
HPR members, all of whom are defendants2 in this action, Plaintiff sought to occupy one
8
of nine cottages to be constructed in a proposed HPR expansion project (the “Project”) in
9
Balboa Park.
10
In its effort to gain inclusion into the Project, Plaintiff (1) organized as a non-profit
11
entity; (2) became a member of HPR; (3) paid HPR over $34,000; and (4) prepared
12
paperwork for presentation to the City of San Diego, the San Diego Planning
13
Commission, and the Balboa Park Committee. Furthermore, some or all of the
14
defendants in this case represented to Plaintiff that they would permit Plaintiff to
15
participate in the Project. In reliance upon these representations made by unspecified
16
defendants, Plaintiff communicated its support of the project to the San Diego City
17
Council. Subsequently, City Council approved the project, but Defendants excluded
18
Plaintiff from participating in the Project.
19
Accordingly, Plaintiff filed an amended complaint in the Superior Court of
20
California, County of San Diego, alleging (1) discrimination in violation of 42 U.S.C. §
21
1981; (2) a right to declaratory relief; (3) breach of contract; (4) breach of the implied
22
covenant of good faith and fair dealing; (5) ultra vires action; (6) fraud; (7) negligent
23
misrepresentation; (8) a right to an inspection and accounting; and (9) violation of
24
California Business and Professions Code § 17200. (See FAC [Doc. 1-2].) Defendants
25
removed to this Court and now move to dismiss under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). (See
26
27
2
28
These defendants are House of Mexico; House of India; House of Turkey; House of Palestine; House
of Peru; House of Panama; House of the Philippines; and House of Korea.
2
3:17-cv-00232-L-BGS
1
Rem. Not. [Doc. 1]; MTD [Doc. 7]; Joinder [Doc. 8].) Plaintiff opposes. (See Opp’n
2
[Doc. 11].)
3
4
II.
5
LEGAL STANDARD
The court must dismiss a cause of action for failure to state a claim upon which
6
relief can be granted. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). A motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6)
7
tests the complaint’s sufficiency. See N. Star Int’l v. Ariz. Corp. Comm’n., 720 F.2d 578,
8
581 (9th Cir. 1983). The court must assume the truth of all factual allegations and
9
“construe them in the light most favorable to [the nonmoving party].” Gompper v. VISX,
10
Inc., 298 F.3d 893, 895 (9th Cir. 2002); see also Walleri v. Fed. Home Loan Bank of
11
Seattle, 83 F.2d 1575, 1580 (9th Cir. 1996).
As the Supreme Court explained, “[w]hile a complaint attacked by a Rule 12(b)(6)
12
13
motion to dismiss does not need detailed factual allegations, a plaintiff’s obligation to
14
provide the ‘grounds’ of his ‘entitlement to relief’ requires more than labels and
15
conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.”
16
Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 1964-65 (2007) (internal citations and
17
quotation marks omitted). Instead, the allegation in the complaint “must be enough to
18
raise a right to relief above the speculative level.” Id. at 1965. A complaint may be
19
dismissed as a matter of law either for lack of a cognizable legal theory or for insufficient
20
facts under a cognizable theory. Robertson v. Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc., 749 F.2d 530,
21
534 (9th Cir. 1984).
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
III.
COUNT 1
Count 1 of Plaintiff’s Amended Complaint alleges a violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1981.
§ 1981 provides that
All persons within the jurisdiction of the United States shall have the same
right in every State and Territory to make and enforce contracts, to sue, be
parties, give evidence, and to the full and equal benefit of all laws and
proceedings for the security of persons and property as is enjoyed by white
3
3:17-cv-00232-L-BGS
1
citizens, and shall be subject to like punishment, pains, penalties, taxes,
licenses, and exactions of every kind, and to no other.
2
3
42 U.S.C. § 1981(a). The Supreme Court has articulated that § 1981 forbids only racial
4
discrimination in the making of contracts. Saint Francis College v. Al-Khazraji, 481 U.S.
5
604, 609 (1987). § 1981 does not prohibit discrimination on the basis of national origin
6
in the making of contracts. Id. at 613. Here, Plaintiff explicitly bases its § 1981 claim on
7
national origin discrimination. (FAC ¶ 29). Indeed, the Amended Complaint does not
8
even state the racial ancestry of Plaintiff’s members. Nor does it allege how any
9
discrimination it suffered was based on the race of its members. Accordingly, the Court
10
GRANTS WITHOUT PREJUDICE Defendants’ motion as to the § 1981 claim.
11
12
IV.
COUNTS 2, 3, & 4
13
Defendants argue that Plaintiff has failed to state a claim for breach of contract.
14
Specifically, Defendants argue Plaintiff has not alleged the exact terms of any alleged
15
contract; the names of the parties who executed the contract; when and how the parties
16
executed the contract; or any precise facts about how Defendants breached the contract.
17
For these reasons, Defendants contend Plaintiff’s allegations do not raise the breach of
18
contract claim to the level of plausibility.
19
The Court disagrees. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a) requires only that
20
Plaintiff provide “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the [Plaintiff] is
21
entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). A Plaintiff meets this standard so long as its
22
allegations “raise the right to relief above the speculative level.” Twombly, 127 S.Ct. at
23
1964–65. Here, Plaintiff alleges that it entered into an agreement with Defendants such
24
that, in return for Plaintiff’s support of the effort to obtain City Council’s approval of the
25
Project, Defendant would allow Plaintiff to occupy one of the Project’s cottages.3 (FAC
26
27
The Court notes that Plaintiff’s use of the word “interest” in reference to the project clearly refers to
occupying one of the new cottages. (See FAC ¶¶ 1–4.)
3
28
4
3:17-cv-00232-L-BGS
1
¶¶ 3–5, 8, 9, 35.) Further, Plaintiff alleges that, notwithstanding its support of the
2
Project, Defendants wrongfully denied Plaintiff from participating. (Id. ¶ 10.)
3
Construing these allegations as true, the Court finds them sufficient to plausibly allege a
4
breach of contract. To the extent Defendants desire more specificity regarding the details
5
of the contract’s terms and execution, they may seek them in discovery.
Defendants’ arguments for dismissal of the breach of the implied covenant of good
6
7
faith and fair dealing claim and the declaratory relief claim are unpersuasive for similar
8
reasons. Specifically, Defendants only argument for dismissal of the breach of the
9
implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing claim is that, to sustain such a claim, a
10
plaintiff must properly allege the existence of a contract. Thus, Defendants argue,
11
because Plaintiff has not properly alleged the existence of a contract, the Court must
12
dismiss the implied covenant claim. Having concluded Plaintiff has in fact properly
13
alleged the existence of a contract, Defendant’s implied covenant argument necessarily
14
fails.
Plaintiff’s claim for declaratory relief seeks a declaration from this Court regarding
15
16
the nature of Plaintiff’s interest in the Project. Defendants argue for dismissal of this
17
claim on the grounds that Plaintiff fails to identify any “interest” to which it might
18
plausibly be entitled. This argument fails because, as discussed above in connection with
19
the breach of contract claim, Plaintiff has plausibly alleged that it might be entitled to
20
occupy one of the cottages that the Project will produce. For these reasons, the Court
21
DENIES Defendants’ motion as to Counts 2, 3, and 4.
22
23
24
V.
COUNT 5
Plaintiff’s fifth cause of action alleges that Defendants other than the City of San
25
Diego took actions against Plaintiff that are invalid as ultra vires. (FAC ¶¶ 46–49.) Ultra
26
vires conduct is conduct that is “beyond the purpose or power of the corporation.”
27
McDermott v. Bear Film Co., 219 Cal. App. 2d 607, 610–11 (1963). Here, Plaintiff has
28
failed to allege either (1) the scope of activity permitted by any of the Defendants’
5
3:17-cv-00232-L-BGS
1
articles, bylaws, or other corporate documents or (2) what actions Defendants’ took that
2
allegedly exceeded this corporate authority. Accordingly, the Court finds Plaintiff has
3
failed to plausibly allege that Defendants’ engaged in ultra vires conduct and GRANTS
4
WITHOUT PREJUDICE Defendants’ motion as to Count 5.
5
6
VI.
COUNTS 6 & 7
Plaintiff’s sixth and seventh causes of action allege fraud and negligent
7
8
misrepresentation. The heightened pleading standards of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
9
9(b) apply to both claims. Fed. R. Civ. P. 9(b); Puri v. Khalsa, 2017 WL 66621 *6–7
10
(9th Cir. 2017). Rule 9(b) provides that, “[i]n alleging fraud or mistake, a party must
11
state with particularity the circumstances constituting fraud or mistake.” Fed. R. Civ. P.
12
9(b). To satisfy Rule 9(b), “a plaintiff must set forth more than the neutral facts
13
necessary to identify the transaction.” In re GlenFed, Inc. Sec. Litig., 42 F.3d 1541, 1548
14
(9th Cir. 1994). A plaintiff must state the who, what, when, where, and how of the
15
alleged misrepresentation. Vess v. Ciba-Geigy Corp. USA, 317 F.3d 1097, 1106 (9th Cir.
16
2003).
17
Here, Plaintiff alleges that on November 14, 2016, Defendants misrepresented to
18
Camil Saab and Sam Abed (representatives of Plaintiff) that “Defendants would fully
19
recognize and allow House of Lebanon’s interest in the Project and its membership
20
interest.” (FAC ¶ 8.) While this allegation identifies the misrepresentation, when it was
21
made, and which of Plaintiffs representatives it was made to, it does not identify which
22
Defendants made it. Where, as here, a plaintiff alleges fraud against multiple defendants,
23
Rule 9(b) requires a plaintiff to “differentiate their allegations” so as to “inform each
24
defendant separately of the allegations surrounding his alleged participation in the fraud.”
25
Swartz v. KPMG LLP, 476 F.3d 756, 764–65 (9th Cir. 2007). Plaintiff’s failure to do so
26
is fatal to its sixth and seventh causes of action. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS
27
WITHOUT PREJUDICE Defendants’ motion as to these causes of action.
28
//
6
3:17-cv-00232-L-BGS
1
2
VII. COUNT 8
Plaintiff’s eighth cause of action seeks an inspection and accounting. Plaintiff
3
alleges that “[b]y reason of its membership interest and the over $34,000 it has paid to
4
Defendants, Plaintiff is entitled to inspect the records of Defendants, and Plaintiff is
5
entitled to an accounting.” (FAC ¶ 65.) Defendants seek dismissal of the inspection and
6
accounting claim on the grounds that (1) Plaintiff has not alleged it is owed any money
7
by Defendant and (2) if Plaintiff is owed money, the sum is certain at $34,000 and
8
therefore no accounting is necessary.
9
Defendants’ arguments are unpersuasive. Plaintiff has properly alleged a breach of
10
contract claim and explicitly seeks damages according to proof. (FAC 10:23.)
11
Furthermore, Defendants claim that any damage sum is certain at $34,000 ignores the
12
fact that Plaintiff alleges it has paid Defendants an unknown some of money that is
13
greater than $34,000. (Id. ¶ 5.) Accordingly, the Court DENIES Defendants’ motion to
14
dismiss the eighth cause of action. As to the extent and nature of discovery Plaintiff may
15
take via inspection and accounting, the parties may seek guidance from Magistrate Judge
16
Bernard G. Skomal.
17
18
19
VIII. COUNT 9
Plaintiff’s ninth cause of action alleges unlawful business activity in violation of
20
California Business and Professions Code § 17200 (the “UCL”). The UCL prohibits
21
unfair competition. “Unfair competition” includes any business act or practice that is
22
“unlawful, unfair or fraudulent…” Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200. To sustain a claim
23
under the unlawful prong of the UCL, a Plaintiff need only allege that a defendant
24
violated any law, whether state or federal, civil or criminal, or whether based in statute,
25
regulation, or common law. Saunders v. Superior Court, 27 Cal. App. 4th 832, 838–39
26
(1994). Here, the Court has already held that Plaintiff has adequately alleged that
27
Defendants violated the California common law prohibiting breach of contract. Because
28
7
3:17-cv-00232-L-BGS
1
Plaintiff has thus properly alleged unlawful activity, the Court DENIES Defendants’
2
motion to dismiss the ninth cause of action.
3
4
5
6
IX.
CONCLUSION & ORDER
For the foregoing reasons, the Court GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART
Defendants’ motion as follows:
7
Counts 1, 5, 6, 7 are dismissed without prejudice.
8
Counts 2, 3, 4, 8, and 9 may proceed.
9
10
IT IS SO ORDERED.
11
12
Dated: June 1, 2017
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
8
3:17-cv-00232-L-BGS
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?