Morse v. Bakken Oil, LLC et al

Filing 61

ORDER adopting 51 Report and Recommendations.; granting 54 Motion to Amend/Correct/Modify complaint; granting 21 Motion to Dismiss; granting 25 Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim. The Clerk is ORDERED to file a copy of the pro posed amended complaint (ECF No. 54-2)as a separate docket entry. In addition, the Clerk shall file a copy of ECF No. 1-1 as an exhibit to the amended complaint. ORDERED by Judge Raymond P. Moore on 03/07/2016. The Court will not allow this situation to continue. Either Core must obtain counsel to represent it in this proceeding, or Core will either have entry of default entered against it or be dismissed. As a result, Core is ORDERED to obtain counsel to represent it in this action on or before March 21, 2016. Should Core fail to obtain representation by counsel, Core is ORDERED TO SHOW CAUSE on or before March 21, 2016 why entry of default should not be entered against it. Failure to respond to the Order to Show Cause WILL result in entry of default.(cthom, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO
Judge Raymond P. Moore

Case No. 15-cv-00962-RM-NYW
BRENT J. MORSE,
Plaintiff,
v.
BAKKEN OIL, LLC, et al.,
Defendants.
______________________________________________________________________________
OPINION AND ORDER
______________________________________________________________________________
Pending before the Court is the January 5, 2016 Report and Recommendation of
U.S. Magistrate Judge Nina Y. Wang (“the R&R”) (ECF No. 51). Also pending is plaintiff Brent
Morse’s (“plaintiff”) motion for leave to amend complaint (“the motion to amend”). (ECF No. 54.)
1.

The Original Complaint
In the complaint, plaintiff raised the following claims: (1) breach of contract against

defendant Northern Oil & Gas, Inc.’s (“Northern”); (2) breach of the implied warranty of authority
against defendant CORE Consulting, LLC (“Core”); (3) “negligent misrepresentation regarding
scope of authority” against defendant Bakken Oil, LLC’s (“Bakken”) and Core; (4) “deceit based on
fraud regarding promised future performance” against Northern, Bakken, and Core; and
(5) “negligent misrepresentation regarding promised future performance” against Northern, Bakken,
and Core. (ECF No. 1 at 5-11.)

2.

The R&R
In the R&R, the Magistrate Judge recommended that the Court: (1) grant Northern’s motion

to dismiss (ECF No. 21) the fourth and fifth claims of the complaint; and (2) grant Bakken’s motion
to dismiss (ECF No. 25) the complaint. (ECF No. 51 at 17.) The R&R also specifically advised the
parties that written objections were due within 14 days after service of the same. (Id. at 17 n.9.) The
Magistrate Judge warned the parties that failure to file specific objections may waive de novo review
of the R&R. (Id.)
On January 19, 2016, plaintiff filed an Objection to the R&R (“the objection”) on one limited
ground: that the R&R not be interpreted as recommending dismissal without leave to amend his
complaint. (ECF No. 53 at 1-2.) In other words, plaintiff raises no objection to the Magistrate
Judge’s recommendation to grant the motions to dismiss. As a result, the Court ADOPTS the
recommendations to GRANT Northern and Bakken’s motions to dismiss. See Summers v. Utah, 927
F.2d 1165, 1167 (10th Cir. 1991) (“In the absence of timely objection, the district court may review
a magistrate’s report under any standard it deems appropriate.”).1 Below the Court discusses whether
to sustain plaintiff’s objection as to whether he should be allowed leave to amend the complaint.
3.

The Motion to Amend
a.

Background Material

Since filing the objection, plaintiff has filed an actual motion to amend (ECF No. 54), along
with red-lined and clean versions of the proposed amended complaint (ECF Nos. 54-1-2). Bakken
has filed a response to the motion to amend, and plaintiff and Northern have both filed replies. (ECF

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However, to the extent inconsistent with the findings and conclusions herein, the Court does NOT
adopt the factual findings and conclusions of law contained in the R&R.

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Nos. 58-60.) Essentially, Bakken opposes leave to amend, while plaintiff and Northern desire it.
In order to understand this moderately odd alignment of the parties, it is necessary to know a few of
the underlying alleged facts.
First, in the original complaint, plaintiff alleged that Bakken was an agent of Northern with
respect to the acquisition of oil and gas rights in Montana, and Core was an agent of Bakken. (ECF
No. 1 at ¶¶ 10, 11.) Second, after Core contacted plaintiff about obtaining oil and gas leases on
plaintiff’s real property, Core and plaintiff embarked upon several months of negotiations that
ultimately resulted in Northern accepting a counterproposal from plaintiff with respect to the oil and
gas leases. (Id. at ¶¶ 12-16.) This allegedly happened in September 2014. (Id. at ¶ 16.) Third, at
some point in the middle of November, after plaintiff had agreed to a Northern-proposed
modification, plaintiff received from Core, executed, and returned formal leases for his interests.
(Id. at ¶¶ 19-21.) Fourth, after Northern informed Bakken that Northern would “close” on the oil
and gas leases in 2015, Core confirmed to plaintiff that Northern’s lease payments would begin in
early 2015. (Id. at ¶¶ 23, 24.) Finally, having received no payment by mid-January 2015, plaintiff
contacted Core and Bakken, and was informed that Northern did not intend to honor the leases that
plaintiff had executed. (Id. at ¶¶ 25-27.)
In making these factual allegations, plaintiff relied upon certain exhibits attached to the
original complaint, containing, inter alia, emails between Bakken and Northern. (See id. at ¶¶ 22,
23, 27; ECF No. 1-1.) Plaintiff presumably believed that these emails buttressed his first claim for
relief in light of Northern’s Vice President of Operations’ statement that Northern would “close in
2015” on the oil and gas leases. (See ECF No. 1-1 at 42.) The Magistrate Judge, though, found, at

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least with respect to the third, fourth, and fifth claims in the original complaint, a little less support
than the plaintiff may have intended. Specifically, the Magistrate Judge found that:
The exhibits attached to [the complaint] tend to support, rather than contradict, the
following factual allegations: Core and Bakken had the authority to negotiate on
behalf of Northern; Northern was interested in obtaining a lease on [p]laintiff’s
mineral interest; and CORE and Bakken confirmed that Northern would remit
payment in 2015.
In the motion to amend, plaintiff asserts that evidence obtained during discovery effectively
casts the above-referenced emails in a new light. (See ECF No. 54 at 2-3.) According to plaintiff,
after the deadline to amend pleadings, “Northern stated under oath that it terminated Bakken’s
agency relationship in April 2014, and never authorized Bakken (or CORE) to negotiate or enter into
lease agreements on its behalf with [plaintiff].” (Id. at 3.) Plaintiff appears to contend that, because
this discovery was received after the deadline to amend had passed, under Fed.R.Civ.P. 16(b)
(“Rule 16(b)”), “good cause” exists to modify the deadline to amend. (See id.) Plaintiff further
argues that, under Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(a)(2) (“Rule 15(a)(2)”), justice requires that leave to amend be
allowed because he seeks only to amend the complaint based upon information obtained during
discovery, the discovery cut-off day is not until March 31, 2016, and the amended claims will not
prejudice or surprise any party. (Id. at 3-4.)
The proposed amended complaint maintains some, alters others, and removes one of the
claims raised in the original complaint. Specifically, the first (against Northern) and second (against
Core) claims for relief remain the same. (Id. at 5-7.) Changes begin with the third claim. That claim
would now be solely against Bakken for alleged fraudulent misrepresentation. (Id. at 7-10.) The
fourth claim is also changed. That claim would also now purely be against Bakken for alleged
negligent misrepresentation. (Id. at 10-16.) Both the third and fourth claims would be premised
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upon Northern’s discovery responses that it terminated its relationship with Bakken in April 2014.
(Id. at ¶¶ 53, 72.) The fifth claim for relief has been removed from the proposed causes of action.
(Id. at 12.)
In response, Bakken argues that plaintiff should not be allowed to file an amended complaint
because (1) plaintiff was aware of the information upon which the amended complaint relies “well
before the deadline to amend pleadings,” and (2) amendment would be futile. (ECF No. 58.)
Bakken argues that plaintiff was aware of Northern’s position viz a viz the alleged termination of
the agency relationship by no later than July 31, 2015, as that position was contained in Northern’s
statement of claims and defenses in the Scheduling Order. (Id. at 4.; see also ECF No. 46 at 6.)
With regard to the futility argument, Bakken argues that, even amended, the allegations in the
proposed complaint do not refute the clear content of the attached emails indicating that an agency
relationship existed between Bakken and Northern by at least November 2014. (ECF No. 58 at 5-7.)
Bakken further argues that amendment would be futile because, even if Bakken’s representations
were false, they were insignificant on the ground that plaintiff entered into an agreement with terms
identical to the ones Bakken represented. (Id. at 8-9.)
In reply, plaintiff argues that his motion to amend is not untimely because, although the
Scheduling Order “may have offered some guidance regarding Northern’s assertions,” it was not
until he received Northern’s discovery responses that “he was certain he had additional specific
material facts that he could allege.” (ECF No. 59 at 2.) Plaintiff next argues that the proposed
amended complaint adequately pleads that he suffered damage. (Id. at 3-4.) Although plaintiff does
not appear to contest that the proposed complaint fails to specifically allege that the leases he signed

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were not valid, he argues that, construing the allegations in a light most favorable to him, it can be
“reasonab[ly] infer[red]” that a sufficient allegation was made. (See id.)
Northern has also filed a reply to Bakken’s response. (ECF No. 60.) Northern notes its
support for the motion to amend, and re-asserts its position that, after April 2014, Bakken was no
longer its agent. (Id. at 2 & n.1.) Northern also provides further clarification of its position,
asserting that, post-April 2014, Bakken attempted to “shop” deals to Northern, such as the ones with
plaintiff, and in doing so, the parties were independent of and effectively negotiating with each other.
(Id. at 2-3.) Northern contends that, because the primary focus of the original complaint was the first
claim for breach of contract, the facts supporting its position were absent, and the proposed amended
complaint merely attempts to add clarity to the parties’ relationships. (Id. at 3.)
b.

Legal Standard

“After a scheduling order deadline, a party seeking leave to amend must demonstrate
(1) good cause for seeking modification under [Rule 16(b)(4),] and (2) satisfaction of the Rule 15(a)
standard.” Gorsuch, Ltd., B.C. v. Wells Fargo Nat. Bank Ass’n, 771 F.3d 1230, 1240 (10th Cir.
2014).
“Good cause” under Rule 16(b)(4) may be met if a plaintiff learns new information from
discovery. However, “[i]f the plaintiff knew of the underlying conduct but simply failed to raise [his
claims] … the claims are barred.” Id.
Pursuant to Rule 15(a)(2), a party may amend its pleading with the opposing party’s consent
or leave of court, with the court “freely giv[ing] leave when justice so requires.”
Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(a)(2). This standard means that leave to amend is not justified when there has been
“undue delay, undue prejudice to the opposing party, bad faith or dilatory motive, failure to cure

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deficiencies by amendments previously allowed, or the futility of amendment.” Frank v. U.S. West,
Inc., 3 F.3d 1357, 1365 (10th Cir. 1993). “Untimeliness alone is a sufficient reason to deny leave
to amend, especially when the party filing the motion has no adequate explanation for the delay.”
Id. (citations omitted). “A proposed amendment is futile if the complaint, as amended, would be
subject to dismissal.” Anderson v. Suiters, 499 F.3d 1228, 1238 (10th Cir. 2007) (quotation and
internal quotation omitted).
c.

Discussion

Bakken raises two principal reasons for why leave should not be granted: (1) good cause does
not exist under Rule 16(b)(4) because plaintiff knew of Northern’s position viz a viz the agency
relationship by July 31, 2015; and (2) amendment would be futile because (a) the emails attached
to the proposed complaint disprove plaintiff’s claims of misrepresentation, and (b) plaintiff fails to
allege that he did not enter into an agreement with Northern. (ECF No. 58.) The Court will address
each argument in turn.
i.

Rule 16(b)(4)

The Court finds that good cause exists under Rule 16(b)(4) to modify the deadline to amend
pleadings. Bakken accurately complains that, in the Scheduling Order, Northern asserted the
substance of what forms the basis of the factual changes in the proposed amended complaint.
Specifically, Northern asserted that “Bakken was contracted by Northern to renew oil and gas leases,
but that relationship ended in April of 2014. After that time, Bakken, through CORE, tried to ‘shop’
the Plaintiff’s lease to Northern.” (ECF No. 46 at 6.) Moreover, arguably, plaintiff was aware of
Northern’s position in this regard by July 24, 2015, when the parties filed a Proposed Scheduling
Order, containing the same assertions. (ECF No. 42 at 6.)

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Nonetheless, the Court does not find that either the proposed or actual Scheduling Order put
plaintiff on notice that he might need to amend his complaint. In Birch v. Polaris Indus., Inc., the
Tenth Circuit concluded that the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying a motion to
amend, where (1) the plaintiffs’ expert knew of pertinent facts in October 2013, (2) the defendant
filed a pleading in April 2014 alleging pertinent facts, (3) at the defendant’s deposition in May 2014,
the defendant testified as to certain pertinent facts, and (4) in June 2014, the pertinent information
was revealed after the disassembly of the product at issue. ___ F.3d ___, 2015 WL 9310564, at *8-9
(10th Cir. Dec. 23, 2015). The Tenth Circuit stated that all of these events put the plaintiffs on
notice that they may need to amend their complaint, yet they did not move to amend until four
months after the June 2014 disassembly. Id. at *9.
Here, the Scheduling Order did not put plaintiff on sufficient notice that he may need to
amend the complaint. Unlike the plaintiffs in Birch, the Scheduling Order was the only event that
indicated to plaintiff the facts he subsequently set forth in the proposed amended complaint. Bakken
cites no support, though, for the contention that a plaintiff should amend his or her complaint based
solely on the assertions made by another defendant in a proposed scheduling order, which were
simply Northern’s statement of its affirmative defenses to the same complaint and could have been
subsequently amended. (See ECF No. 46 at 6); cf. Smith v. Argent Mortg. Co., 331 F. App’x 549,
556 (10th Cir. 2009) (concluding that a statement of undisputed fact in a pre-trial scheduling order
was not binding on a party, where the party later explained that the fact was actually disputed and
the fact was not contained in the final pre-trial order). Therefore, the Court can discern no fault in
plaintiff waiting for discovery to support, or fail to support, Northern’s assertion that no agency
relationship existed after April 2014. As a result, in this instance, plaintiff learned from discovery

8

of the information contained in his proposed amended complaint, and thus, there is good cause to
modify the deadline to amend pleadings to the extent that the filing of the proposed amended
complaint was not untimely. See Gorsuch, 771 F.3d at 1240.
ii.

Futility Under Rule 15(a)(2)

Bakken contends that amendment would be futile for two reasons: (1) the emails referenced
in the proposed amended complaint, which are the same as the ones attached to the original, establish
that plaintiff’s allegations of misrepresentation are untrue; and (2) even if the allegations are true,
plaintiff has failed to allege that he suffered any injury in entering into the leases. (ECF No. 58
at 5-9.)
First, in light of Northern’s argument that its agency relationship with Bakken terminated at
the end of April 2014, the Court disagrees that the emails prove as fact that the allegations of
misrepresentation are untrue. The Court acknowledges that the Magistrate Judge found that the
emails supported the position that Core and Bakken had authority to negotiate on Northern’s behalf.
(ECF No. 51 at 13.) However, at no point was the Magistrate Judge presented with the alleged fact
that Northern had terminated that authority by the end of April 2014, and, thereafter, Bakken was
allegedly “shopping” plaintiff’s leases to Northern. Notably, the Magistrate Judge’s factual
background begins in August 2014. (Id. at 2-3.) Thus, the Magistrate Judge quite rightly did not
construe the emails in a light that the subject leases were being “shopped.”
Construed in that fashion, it is arguable that the statements of Northern’s representative in
those emails can support an allegation that Bakken was shopping plaintiff’s leases to Northern.
Before beginning, the Court notes that there is no ‘smoking gun’ in the emails in that nowhere is it
expressly stated that Bakken either was or was not an agent of Northern. The impression that such

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a relationship existed or did not can only be inferred from the words used in the emails. The Court
starts with what appears to be the first email sent from Joshua Cole (“Cole”), a Manager at Bakken,
to Adam Dirlam (“Dirlam”), the Vice President of Operations at Northern. In that email, dated
August 12, 2014, Cole asked Dirlam if he was “interested” in any of the listed leases in Montana.
(ECF No. 1-1 at 55.) Construing the term “interested” and the entire email in the light most
favorable to plaintiff, a reasonable jury could infer that Cole was attempting to shop the leases listed.
There is no indication in the email that the leases were obtained or being offered in connection with
a continuing course of agency business between Bakken and Northern, that Bakken was employed
by Northern, or that Northern had held Bakken out to plaintiff as its agent. See Semenza v. Kniss,
189 P.3d 1188, 1191 (Mont. 2008) (explaining that “‘[a]n agency is either actual or ostensible. An
agency is actual when the agent is really employed by the principal. An agency is ostensible when
the principal … causes a third person to believe another to be the principal’s agent ….’”) (quoting
Mont. Code Ann. § 28-10-103(1)).2 Obviously the email chain between Cole and Dirlam may not
have initiated with the August 12, 2014 email, and, in that respect, the Court will assume that the
record is far from complete, particularly with regard to what may have transpired in April 2014, but
based upon the emails submitted so far, it is possible to infer that the leases in the email were being
shopped to Northern.
Next, when construed favorably to plaintiff, the remaining emails do not contradict
Northern’s further assertion that, in shopping plaintiff’s leases, Bakken and Northern were
“negotiating” the leases, and thus, were not operating as agent and principal. (See ECF No. 60 at 3.)

2

None of the parties objected to the Magistrate Judge’s determination that Montana law applies in
this diversity case. (See ECF No. 51 at 7-9.) Thus, the Court will apply that law in this instance.

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For example, Dirlam’s statement on August 13, 2014 that Northern could “do $1550 @ 80% for
three years here” (ECF No. 1-1 at 54), can easily be construed as part of a negotiation. As can
Dirlam’s statement that Northern would take the leases for “four years” (id. at 53), especially in light
of subsequent emails. After what appears to have been some confusion over whether plaintiff
wanted to move forward with deal in 2014 or merely wanted to get paid in 2015 (id. at 52-53),
Dirlam stated that Northern would “close in 2015.” (Id. at 51.) However, Dirlam then said “please
send over the lease form that was used as I don’t believe we ever reviewed or signed off on unless
[I’m] mistaken.” (Id.) Depending on whether any one at Northern had reviewed and signed off on
the leases, and on the inferences read into the entire context of Northern and Bakken’s relationship,
this email may support Northern’s argument that Bakken had no authority to send leases out in
Northern’s name without Northern reviewing and approving the leases. (See ECF No. 60 at 3.)
The purpose of this review is not to establish facts, or even inferences from facts, against any
of the parties. The purpose is purely to show that there appear to be many disputed issues related
to the emails submitted with the original complaint, which are not appropriate for resolution at the
motion-to-dismiss stage. See Colorado Farm Bureau Fed’n v. U.S. Forest Serv., 220 F.3d 1171,
1173 (10th Cir. 2000) (“When considering a motion to dismiss, [a court] must construe the
complaint in favor of the complaining party and assume the truth of all factual allegations.”).
This leaves Bakken’s argument that amendment is futile because plaintiff fails to allege that
he did not enter into a contract with Northern. (ECF No. 58 at 8-9.) Bakken cites to the Magistrate
Judge’s finding that plaintiff entered into an agreement with terms identical to the ones represented
by Bakken and Core. (Id. at 8 (citing ECF No. 51 at 16)). It is true that the Magistrate Judge found
that plaintiff entered into leases on the terms represented by Bakken and Core. (ECF No. 51 at 16.)

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However, it appears that finding was based upon the Magistrate Judge’s earlier finding that an
agency relationship existed between Bakken and Northern, and thus, plaintiff entered into leases with
Northern. (See id. (“The fact the party who sought to lease the interests changed its mind after
Plaintiff had executed the agreement does not alter this fact.”)). As discussed supra, though, that
is not necessarily the case in light of the new factual allegations in the proposed amended complaint.
Moreover, nowhere in the R&R’s short discussion of this issue, does it mention that the Magistrate
Judge’s finding is based upon a failure to plead injury or the lack of a valid lease. (See id.) Thus,
to the extent that Bakken contends that the Magistrate Judge found a pleading deficiency in this
regard, the R&R does not support it.
Nonetheless, the Court agrees with Bakken that the proposed amended complaint does fail
to specifically allege that plaintiff did not enter into valid leases. However, the import, if not the
precise wording, of plaintiff’s allegations is sufficiently clear. Specifically, plaintiff alleges that, if
a jury finds Bakken lacked authority, then Bakken knew or should have known that its statements
or representations were false. (ECF No. 54-2 at ¶¶ 55, 74.) Construing the complaint in plaintiff’s
favor, “statements” and/or “representations” can be construed to encompass all of Bakken’s
statements, including the alleged statement that Northern had agreed to be bound by the leases.
From this, if such a statement was false, it can also be construed that Northern had not agreed to be
bound, and thus, the leases were not valid and binding, as only one party had agreed to them. In
addition, plaintiff alleges that Bakken intended that he rely on its representations in determining
whether “enforceable leases existed,” and that he relied on the representations in executing the leases
and ceasing to market his properties. (Id. at ¶¶ 56-57, 75-76.) Nothing more was necessary for
plaintiff to allege his reliance on Bakken’s statements. See Whitehead v. Shafer, 295 F. App’x 906,

12

908 (10th Cir. 2008) (“The purpose of a modern complaint is to give opposing parties fair notice of
the basis of the claim against them so that they may respond to the complaint, and to apprise the
court of sufficient allegations to allow it to conclude, if the allegations are true, that the claimant has
a legal right to relief.”) (quotation omitted); see also Walters v. Luloff, 176 P.3d 1034, 1038 (Mont.
2008) (explaining that a claim of negligent misrepresentation must establish “(1) that the defendant
made a false representation as to a past or existing material fact without any reasonable ground for
believing it to be true … with the intent to induce the plaintiff’s reliance; and (2) that the plaintiff,
unaware of the falsity of the representation, justifiably relied on the representation and suffered
damage as a result of that reliance.”).
Having rejected Bakken’s reasons for denying leave to amend, and discerning no other reason
why justice would not require leave, the Court SUSTAINS plaintiff’s objection to the R&R to the
extent that he shall have leave to amend the complaint, and GRANTS the motion to amend.
4.

Conclusion
For the reasons set forth herein, the Court:
(1)

ADOPTS the R&R (ECF No. 51) to the extent that:
(a)
(b)

(2)

Northern’s motion to dismiss (ECF No. 21) is GRANTED; and
Bakken’s motion to dismiss (ECF No. 25) is GRANTED;

SUSTAINS plaintiff’s objection (ECF No. 53) to the R&R to the extent that plaintiff
shall have leave to amend the complaint; and

(3)

GRANTS plaintiff’s motion for leave to amend complaint (ECF No. 54).

The Clerk is ORDERED to file a copy of the proposed amended complaint (ECF No. 54-2)
as a separate docket entry. In addition, the Clerk shall file a copy of ECF No. 1-1 as an exhibit to
the amended complaint.
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Finally, the Court notes that since the beginning of this case, Core, a corporation, has been
unrepresented. Although Core’s managing member Cori Schock (“Ms. Schock”) filed an Answer
to the complaint, the Magistrate Judge struck the same and specifically warned Ms. Schock that Core
must be represented by an attorney to appear in federal court, and that failure to obtain such
representation may result in entry of default. (See ECF No. 31.) The Magistrate Judge gave Core
until July 22, 2015 to obtain counsel (id.), which, evidently, Core has not done. The Court further
notes that, in the amended complaint, Core remains a defendant in this action, and is also a crossdefendant with respect to Northern’s crossclaim. (See ECF No. 44 at 23, 26-28.) In the R&R, the
Magistrate Judge remarked that Core remained unrepresented, and also that plaintiff has failed to
move for entry of default. (ECF No. 51 at 5.)
The Court will not allow this situation to continue. Either Core must obtain counsel to
represent it in this proceeding, or Core will either have entry of default entered against it or be
dismissed. As a result, Core is ORDERED to obtain counsel to represent it in this action on or
before March 21, 2016. Should Core fail to obtain representation by counsel, Core is ORDERED
TO SHOW CAUSE on or before March 21, 2016 why entry of default should not be entered
against it. Failure to respond to the Order to Show Cause WILL result in entry of default.
SO ORDERED.
DATED this 7th day of March, 2016.
BY THE COURT:

____________________________________
RAYMOND P. MOORE
United States District Judge
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