Gainor v. Sidley, Austin, Brow

Filing 3

MOTION with memorandum in support by Sidley, Austin, Brow to dismiss complaint (nt, Deputy Clerk)

Case 1:06-cv-21748-JEM

Document 3

Entered on FLSD Docket 07/20/2006

Page 1 of 44

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORID A CASE NO . 06-21748-CIV-MARTINE Z MARK J . GAINOR , Plaintiff,
V. SIDLEY AUSTIN BROWN & WOOD, LLP ,

Defendant .

DEFENDANT SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP'S MOTION TO DISMISS PLAINTIFF'S COMPLAINT PURSUANT TO FED . R. CIV . P . 9(b) AN D 12(b)(6 ) AND MEMORANDUM OF LAW IN SUPPORT THEREOF

Case 1:06-cv-21748-JEM

Document 3

Entered on FLSD Docket 07/20/2006

Page 2 of 44

TABLE OF CONTENTS Pag e

1.

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

II . STATEMENT OF FACTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 III . ARGUMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 A . The Fraud an d Negligent Misrepresentation Claims Must Be Dismissed Because The Complaint Fails To Allege That Plaintiff Relied Upon Brown & Wood In Entering Into The Tax Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 B . Plaintiff's Claims Must All Be Dismissed Because The Complaint Fail s To Allege That Brown & Wood Caused Plaintiff Harm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 C . Plaintiffs Breach Of Oral Contract Claim Is Defectively Pled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 D . Plaintiff Fails To State A Claim For Tortious Interference With An Advantageous Business Relationship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 E . Plaintiff Fails To State A Florida RICO Act Violation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 F . Plaintiffs Fraud-Based Claims Fail Pursuant To Federal Rule Of Civi l Procedure 9(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 IV . CONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7

1195043 .4

-i_

Case 1:06-cv-21748-JEM

Document 3

Entered on FLSD Docket 07/20/2006

Page 3 of 44

TABLE OF AUTHORITIES Page

Federal Case s Ageloffv . Kiley, 318 F . Supp . 2d 1157 (S .D . Fla. 2004) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 Andre v. Gaines Berland, Inc . , 1996 WL 383239 (S .D .N .Y . Jul . 8, 1996) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 Anthony Distributors, Inc . v. Miller Brewing Co . , 904 F .Supp . 1363 (M .D . Fla. 1995) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5 Anthony Distributors, Inc . v. Miller Brewing Company , 941 F .Supp . 1567 (M .D . Fla. 1996) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 Benchmark Electronics, Inc. v. J.M. Huber Corp . , 343 F .3d 719 (5th Cir . 2003) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 Brooks v. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc . , 116 F .3d 1364 (11th Cir . 1997) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 Butterworth v. Quick & Reilly, Inc. , 998 F .Supp . 1404 (M .D . Fla. 1998) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Dunn v. Air Line Pilots Assn, 193 F .3d 1185 (11th Cir . 1999) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 Durham v. Business Mgmt Assoc., 847 F .2d 1505 (11th Cir . 1988) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 Filler v. Hanvit Bank, 247 F . Supp . 2d 425 (S .D .N .Y . 2003) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Gibbs v. Republic Tobacco, L.P. , 119 F . Supp . 2d 1288 (M .D . Fla. 2000) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 Harrison Enterprises, Inc . v. Moran , 1999 WL 1211753 (S .D . Fla. Aug . 30, 1999) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 Hernandez v . CIBA-GEIGY Corp. USA , 200 F .R . D . 285 ( S .D . Tex . 2001) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7

1195043 .4

-u-

Case 1:06-cv-21748-JEM

Document 3

Entered on FLSD Docket 07/20/2006

Page 4 of 44

TABLE OF AUTHORITIES (continued) Page In re Cascade Int'l Securities Litig. , 840 F .Supp . 1558 (S .D . Fla . 1993) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7 In re Managed Care Litig. , 150 F . Supp . 2d 1330 (S .D . Fla. 2001) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 1 8 In re Sunstar Securities Healthcare Litig. , 173 F . Supp . 2d 1315 (M .D . Fla. 2001) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 Jackson v . BellSouth Telecomm . , 372 F .3d 1250 (11th Cir . 2004) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 Jones v. Childers , 18 F .3d 899 (11th Cir . 1994) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 KMS Restaurant Corp. v. Wendy's International, Inc. , 361 F .3d 1321 (11th Cir. 2004) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 Lachmund v. ADM Investor Services, Inc . , 191 F .3d 777 (7th Cir . 1999) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15, 1 6 Martinez v . Pavex Corp. , 422 F . Supp . 2d 1284 (M .D . Fla. 2006) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 McCulloch v. PNC Bank Inc., 298 F .3d 1217 (11th Cir . 2002) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 Medical Sav. Ins. Co. v. HCA, Inc . , 2005 WL 1528666 ( M .D . Fla . Jun 24 , 2005 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 MeterLogic, Inc. v. Copier Solutions, Inc . , 126 F . Supp . 2d 1346 (S .D . Fla. 2000) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 Murphy Brothers, Inc . v. Michetti Pipe Stringing, Inc., 526 U .S . 344 (1999) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 NCR Credit Corp . v. Reptron Electronics Inc . , 155 F .R . D . 690 ( M .D . Fla . 1994) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5 Pardo v . Tanning Research Lab ., Inc. , 996 F .Supp . 1222 (M .D . Fla. 1998) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

-iii1195043 .4

Case 1:06-cv-21748-JEM

Document 3

Entered on FLSD Docket 07/20/2006

Page 5 of 44

TABLE OF AUTHORITIES (continued) Pag e Patterson v. Downtown Med. & Diagnostic Center, Inc . , 866 F . Supp . 1379 (M . D . Fla . 1994 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Rentclub, Inc. v. Transamerica Rental Finance Corp . , 775 F .Supp . 1460 (M .D . Fla. 1991) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5 Saporito v. Combustion Engineering, 843 F . 2d 666 (3rd Cir . 1988) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7 Shibata v. Lim, 133 F . Supp . 2d 1311 (M .D . Fla . 2000) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 Souran v. Travelers Ins. Co . , 982 F .2d 1497 (11th Cir. 1993) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 T. Harris Young & Assoc., Inc. v. Marquette Electronics, Inc. , 931 F .2d 816 (11 th Cir . 1991) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 United States ex rel . Butler v. Magellan Health Servs ., Inc. , 74 F . Supp. 2d 1201 (M .D . Fla . 1999) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5 Ziemba v . Cascade International, Inc., 256 F .3d 1194 (11th Cir . 2001) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 1 7 State Case s Amstar Ins. Co. v. Cadet, 862 So .2d 736 (Fla . 5th DCA 2003 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Brown v. Larkin & Shea, P.A. , 522 So .2d 500 ( Fla. 1st DCA 1988 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 De Rubbo v. Wayner Associates, 192 A .D . 2d 889 (N .Y .A .D . 3 Dept . 1993) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 Economy Suppliers & Fabricators, Inc . v. Centennial Homes, Inc. , 325 So .2d 421 (Fla . 4th DCA 1976) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Ethan Allen, Inc . v. Georgetown Manor, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 11 647 So .2d 812 (Fla . 1994)) . Ferguson Transportation, Inc . v. North American Van Lines, Inc. , 687 So .2d 821 (Fla. 1996) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3

-iv1195043 .4

Case 1:06-cv-21748-JEM

Document 3

Entered on FLSD Docket 07/20/2006

Page 6 of 44

TABLE OF AUTHORITIES (continued) Page Ferris v . South Florida Stadium Corp . , 926 So .2d 399 (Fla . 3rd DCA 2006 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 Goldschmidt v . Holman , 571 So .2d 422 ( Fla . 1990 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Goodkind v . Wolkowsky , 180 So . 538 (Fla. 1938) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 Gossard v. Adia Services, Inc. , 723 So .2d 182 (Fla. 1998) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 1 1 Gracey v. Eaker , 837 So .2d 348 (Fla. 2002) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Greenberg v. Mount Sinai Medical Ctr. of Greater Miami, Inc . , 629 So .2d 252 (Fla . 3rd DCA 1993) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 Ilgen v. Henderson Properties, Inc . , 683 So .2d 513 (Fla. 2nd DCA 1996) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Insurance Concepts and Design, Inc . v. Healthplan Services Inc. , 785 So .2d 1232 (Fla . 4th DCA 2001) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 Izquierdo v . Hialeah Hosp . Inc . , 709 So .2d 187 (Fla . 3rd DCA 31998 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Kreizinger v. Schlesinger , 925 So .2d 431 (Fla . 4th DCA 2006) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 MII Schottenstein Homes, Inc . v. Azam , 813 So .2d 91 (Fla. 2002) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Olmsted v. Emmanuel, 783 So .2d 1122 (Fla. 1st DCA 2001) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Palmas YBambu, S.A. v . E. 1. Dupont De Nemours & Co ., Inc. , 881 So .2d 565 (Fla . 3rd DCA 2004) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Pappas v. Smart Health U.S.A . , 861 So .2d 84 (Fla . 4th DCA 2003) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

-v1195043 .4

Case 1:06-cv-21748-JEM

Document 3

Entered on FLSD Docket 07/20/2006

Page 7 of 44

TABLE OF AUTHORITIES (continued) Pag e Sarkis v. Pafford Oil Co ., Inc . , 697 So .2d 524 (Fla . 1st DCA 1997) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 Schopler v. Smilovits, 689 So .2d 1189 (Fla . 4th DCA 1997) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Scott-Steven Development Corp . v . Gables by The Sea, Inc . , 167 So .2d 763 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1964) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Seminole Tribe v. Times Publishing Co., 780 So .2d 310 (Fla. 4th DCA 2001) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 Smith v. Ocean State Bank, 335 So .2d 641 (Fla. 1st DCA 1976) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 Spence, Payne, Masington & Grossman, P.A. v. Philip M. Gerson, P.A . , 483 So .2d 775 (Fla . 3rd DCA 1986) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 State Farm Mut. Auto . Ins. Co . v. Novotny, 657 So .2d 1210 (Fla . 5th DCA 1995) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 West v. Troelstrup , 367 So .2d 253 (Fla. 1st DCA 1979) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 Federal Statutes 18 U .S .C . § 1341 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Federal Rule s Fed . R. Civ .P . 9(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . passim Fed . R. Civ .P . 12(b)(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Florida Statute s Fla. Statut e § 772 .101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 § 772 .103 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5, 1 4

-viI195043 .4

Case 1:06-cv-21748-JEM

Document 3

Entered on FLSD Docket 07/20/2006

Page 8 of 44

Case No . 06-21748-CIV-MARTINE Z

Pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 9(b) and 12(b)(6), defendant Sidley Austin LLP ("Brown & Wood") 1 respectfully moves this Court to dismiss the Complaint filed against Brown & Wood by Plaintiff Mark J . Gainor ("Plaintiff') on the grounds that the Complaint fails to state any claims upon which relief can be granted and fails to plead fraud with particularity . 1. INTRODUCTIO N

According to his Complaint, Plaintiff brings this action against Brown & Wood because his long-time, trusted accountant Arthur Andersen LLP ("Andersen") persuaded him to invest in a tax shelter that was supposed to save him $17 million in taxes . As it turns out, the IRS audited and disapproved Plaintiffs tax scheme . Plaintiff settled with the IRS, which allowed Plaintiff to keep over $3 .3 million of the tax savings from the shelter, apparently putting him a ne t $1 .2 million or more ahead on the deal after fees and costs are included . Despite making money on his tax shelter, Plaintiff filed this lawsuit claiming fraud, tortious interference, violation of Florida's RICO statute, breach of fiduciary duty and other causes of action. Plaintiff did not name Andersen, which collapsed several years ago, but instead sued Brown & Wood, "one of the nation's largest law firms," even though Brown & Wood could not possibly have caused Plaintiff to invest in the tax shelter because Plaintiff had invested in it long before Brown & Wood ever communicated with him . Nothing in the Complaint supports Plaintiffs contrived efforts to make Brown & Wood responsible for someone else's alleged conduct . First, Plaintiff fails to plead that he relied upon any statements from Brown & Wood in deciding to participate in the tax shelter . His own Complaint makes clear that Plaintiff decided to enter the transactions at Andersen's behest months before he ever received an y communication from Brown & Wood . Plaintiff is therefore reduced to suggesting that even if Brown & Wood never communicated with him, Andersen acted as Brown & Wood's agent , 'Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP formally changed its name to Sidley Austin LLP on January 1, 2006. Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP was the successor to Brown & Wood as the result of a merger in 2001 .
I

Case 1:06-cv-21748-JEM

Document 3

Entered on FLSD Docket 07/20/2006

Page 9 of 44

Case No . 06-21748 -CIV-MARTINE Z

rendering Brown & Wood liable for Andersen's statements . Plaintiff, however, fails to allege any facts supporting the notion that Brown & Wood somehow controlled Arthur Andersen or that an agency relationship existed . Because reliance is an essential element of Plaintiff's fraud and negligent misrepresentation claims, and because Plaintiff fails to allege reliance, those claims fail on the face of the Complaint . For the same reasons, Plaintiff cannot show that Brown & Wood caused him to enter into the transactions, and thus the remaining claims must also be dismissed as causation is a necessary element of each of those causes of action. Second, and in the alternative, Plaintiffs Florida RICO claim never identifies the supposed RICO enterprise, requiring dismissal . Likewise, Plaintiffs claims for breach of an oral contract and for tortious interference with an advantageous business relationship fail to plead the essential elements of each claim . Finally, Plaintiff makes no effort to comply with the requirement of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b) that fraud be pled with particularity . Plaintiff never identifies who at Andersen allegedly induced Plaintiff to enter the transactions at issue, or when or where the so-called misrepresentations were made . He never says who at Brown & Wood supposedly gave Andersen "authority" to say or do anything on Brown & Wood's behalf, or who at Brown & Wood communicated with Andersen, or vice-versa . This mode of pleading falls well below the standard set by Rule 9(b), again requiring dismissal . II . STATEMENT OF FACTS `

In 1998, Plaintiff decided to sell his 81 .2% interest in Gainor Medical Management, LLC . Compl . ¶¶ 8, 9. At that time, Andersen was Plaintiffs accountant, consultant, and financial advisor with whom he had "an established relationship of trust and confidence . . . ." Id. ¶ 9 . Before the sale closed, someone at Andersen allegedly informed Plaintiff that "it might b e

2 Brown & Wood does not concede the accuracy of any of the facts alleged in the Complaint, but treats them as true for the purposes of this motion only . 2

Case 1:06-cv-21748-JEM

Document 3

Entered on FLSD Docket 07/20/2006

Page 10 of 44

Case No . 06-21748 -CIV-MARTINE Z

able to recommend a certain strategy to help reduce his total tax liability on the planned sale ." Id. ¶ 10. Plaintiff does not allege that this unidentified individual made any reference to Brown & Wood . The sale of Plaintiffs business closed in January 1999 and resulted in a gain of over $120 million . Compl . ¶ 11 . In March 1999, someone at Andersen allegedly offered Plaintiff a tax shelter that would save him approximately $17 .0 million in taxes . Id. ¶ 12 . This unidentified individual allegedly told him that he would receive "a `more likely than not' opinion letter" indicating that the strategy "would be upheld if challenged by the Internal Revenue Service ." Id. Although Plaintiff characterizes the strategy as the "Sidley Plan,"3 Id., he never alleges that Brown & Wood's name was so much as mentioned by the unidentified individual at Andersen, much less that Andersen told him he would receive an opinion letter from Brown & Wood . On August 20, 1999, someone at Andersen sent Plaintiff a schedule of fees and costs for the strategy, which were approximately $2 .1 million . Id. ¶¶ 13, 14 . On September 1, 1999 Plaintiff authorized Andersen to proceed with the transaction . Id. ¶ 15 . He does not allege that he had any contact with Brown & Wood, or was even aware of Brown & Wood, before he decided to proceed with the strategy . After Plaintiff authorized Andersen to proceed, "a series of complex and costly transactions were conducted" to generate $70,600,000 in apparent capital losses so that Plaintiff could offset the capital gains he made on the sale of his business . Id. ¶ 21 . The transactions concluded on December 14 and December 23, 1999 . Id. ¶ 24 . "After the transactions were finalized," Plaintiff received two "qualified" opinion letters from Brown & Wood stating that it was "more likely than not" that the transactions would be "upheld if challenged by the IRS ." Id. 3 While the complaint repeatedly characterizes the transaction strategy at issue as "the Sidley Plan," that term is obviously a fabrication by Plaintiffs counsel rather than a phrase that was used contemporaneously by anyone involved in the transaction . The opinion on which this suit is allegedly based was rendered in 1999 by Brown & Wood, which did not combine with Sidley & Austin until May 2001 . None of the transaction documents refer to a "Sidley Plan," a "Brown & Wood plan," or anything of the kind . 3

Case 1:06-cv-21748-JEM

Document 3

Entered on FLSD Docket 07/20/2006

Page 11 of 44

Case No. 06-21748-CfV-MARTINE Z

¶ 25. Plaintiff's receipt of the Brown & Wood opinion letters, dated December 31, 1999, was the first and only time Plaintiff allegedly communicated with Brown & Wood . Id. Of the $2 .1 million in fees and costs for the transaction, Plaintiff claims Brown & Wood received $400,000 . Id. ¶ 52 . On December 10, 1999, the IRS released Notice 99-59 warning that transactions described therein might not generate losses deductible under the Internal Revenue Code . Id. ¶ 22. Plaintiff alleges that on the same day the Notice was released, some unidentified individual at Brown & Wood told some unidentified individual at Andersen that Brown & Wood "would still issue the favorable 'more likely than not' opinion letters, but that the opinions would have to address Notice 99-59 ." Id. ¶ 23 . The unidentified person at Brown & Wood allegedly told the unidentified person at Andersen, however, that Notice 99-59 "would impair [Plaintiffs] ability to rely in good faith on the advice of a tax professional," which the December 31, 1999 opinion letters allegedly failed to state . Id. ¶ 26 . On December 22, 2001, the IRS issued Announcement 2002-2, 2002-1 C .B . 304, which encouraged taxpayers to disclose their participation in certain tax transactions in exchange for the waiver of penalties . Compl . ¶ 29 . On March 14, 2002, Brown & Wood notified Plaintiff of the Announcement and recommended that he consult his tax advisor . Id. ¶ 30 . Plaintiff thereafter voluntarily disclosed his participation in the tax shelter to the IRS and an audit commenced . Id. ¶ 31 . On or about June 22, 2004, Plaintiff filed suit against Brown & Wood in Florida state court . Brown & Wood removed to this Court and filed a motion to dismiss arguing that Plaintiffs claims were not ripe because Plaintiff had not resolved his IRS audit . After reviewing the motion, Plaintiff contacted Brown & Wood and agreed to dismiss his lawsuit without prejudice pending resolution of the IRS examination . On January 20, 2006, Plaintiff apparently accepted the IRS's settlement offer, which allows him to pay only $13,670,192 in taxes instead of the $17,000,000 tax bill he would hav e 4

Case 1:06-cv-21748-JEM

Document 3

Entered on FLSD Docket 07/20/2006

Page 12 of 44

Case No . 06-21748-CIV-MARTINE Z

paid without doing the tax strategy . Compl . ¶¶ 12, 32 . This settlement appears to have saved Plaintiff $3,329,808 in taxes, which more than makes up for the $2,100,000 in fees Plaintiff allegedly paid . Id. ¶¶ 12, 14, 32 . Nevertheless, Plaintiff refiled his suit against Brown & Wood in Florida state court on June 7, 2006 . His complaint alleges nine causes of action : (I) malpractice ; (II) breach of oral contract ; (III) breach of contract implied in fact ; (IV) breach of contract implied in law or unjust enrichment; (V) negligent misrepresentation ; (VI) fraudulent misrepresentation ; (VII) breach of fiduciary duty ; (VIII) tortious interference with an advantageous business relationship ; and (IX) violations of Florida Civil Remedies for Criminal Practices Act (the "Florida RICO Act") . 4 Brown & Wood's counsel accepted service of the second action on June 13, 2006 . As the parties are diverse and Plaintiff alleges an amount in controversy exceeding $75,000, Brown & Wood properly removed the case to federal court on July 12, 2006 . See Murphy Brothers, Inc. v. Michetti Pipe Stringing, Inc., 526 U .S . 344, 356 (1999) . ARGUMEN T A. The Fraud and Negligent Misrepresentation Claims Must Be Dismissed Because The Complaint Fails To Allege That Plaintiff Relied Upon Brown & Wood In Entering Into The Tax Strategy . Plaintiff's own allegations defeat his claims for fraud and negligent misrepresentation (Counts V and VI) because they conclusively negate detrimental reliance, which is an essential element of these causes of action . See Patterson v. Downtown Med. & Diagnostic Center, Inc ., 866 F .Supp . 1379, 1383 (M .D . Fla . 1994) (reliance essential element of fraud and negligent misrepresentation) ; M/I Schottenstein Homes, Inc . v. Azam, 813 So .2d 91, 94-95 (Fla. 2002) (reliance on the alleged false statement is an essential element of a fraud claim) .

4 Gainor alleges violations of Florida Statute § 772 .103 of the Civil Remedies for Criminal Practices Act . Compl . ¶ 96 . This is Florida's Civil RICO provision . See Jones v . Childers, 18 F .3d 899, 910 (11th Cir . 1994) . 5

Case 1:06-cv-21748-JEM

Document 3

Entered on FLSD Docket 07/20/2006

Page 13 of 44

Case No . 06-21748 -CIV-MARTINE Z

Here, Plaintiffs Complaint makes clear that he did not rely on Brown & Wood when he decided to enter into the tax strategy . Indeed, Plaintiffs only communication from Brown & Wood - two opinion letters - were not delivered until "[a]fter the transactions were finalized ." Compl . ¶ 25 (emphasis added) . It defies common sense to suggest that Plaintiff could have relied on Brown & Wood's after-the-fact letters in deciding to participate in the tax shelter . See Schopler v. Smilovits, 689 So .2d 1189, 1190 (Fla . 4th DCA 1997) (dismissing fraud claim for lack of reliance where the allegedly fraudulent "representation was made after the transaction had already taken place") ; State Farm Mut . Auto. Ins. Co. v. Novotny, 657 So .2d 1210, 1213-14 (Fla . 5th DCA 1995) (dismissing action for fraudulent misrepresentation because at the time alleged misrepresentation was made, plaintiff had "already made the decision" to change her position and thus could not have acted to her detriment in reliance on the misrepresentation) ; see also Williams v. Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP, et al ., slip op . at 10 Supreme Court of the State of New York, Index No . 600808/05 (March 13, 2006), attached hereto as Exhibit A (dismissing fraud and negligent misrepresentation claims where opinion letters were sent after the decision to enter transaction was made and "plaintiffs do not allege any direct misrepresentations of fact by the [Brown & Wood] defendants . . . prior to the agreement to enter into the [tax strategy] .") 5 Recognizing this deficiency, Plaintiff urges that Andersen somehow made its statements to Plaintiff as Brown & Wood's "agent ." According to Plaintiff, the supposed agency relationship makes Brown & Wood liable for Andersen's alleged misrepresentations . This argument also fails as a matter of law, however, because Plaintiff pleads no "ultimate facts tha t

5 See also Filler v. Hanvit Bank , 247 F . Supp . 2d 425, 430 (S .D .N .Y . 2003 ) ("For the plaintiffs to allege reli ance , as required for actionable fr aud under both federal and common law, plaintiffs must allege with particularity that defendants made false statements prior to [the plaintiffs' act of det rimental reliance]"), vacated on other grounds at 2003 WL 21729978 (S .D .N .Y . July 25, 2003) . 6

Case 1:06-cv-21748-JEM

Document 3

Entered on FLSD Docket 07/20/2006

Page 14 of 44

Case No . 06-21748-CIV-MARTINEZ

establish either actual or apparent agency ." Goldschmidt v. Holman, 571 So .2d 422, 423 (Fla .

1990) .
The essential elements of an agency relationship are "(1) acknowledgement by the principal that the agent will act for him ; (2) the agent's acceptance of the undertaking ; an d (3) control by the principal over the actions of the agent ." Ilgen v . Henderson Properties, Inc ., 683 So .2d 513, 515 (Fla. 2d DCA 1996) (dismissing for failure to plead first element) (emphasis added) . Plaintiff never alleges (and could not honestly allege) that Brown & Wood controlled Andersen . This should surprise no one since, by Plaintiffs own admission, (1) Andersen, not Brown & Wood, had a relationship with Plaintiff; (2) Andersen, not Brown & Wood, chose which tax strategies to suggest to him ; (3) Andersen, not Brown & Wood, made the representations at issue ; and (4) Andersen, not Brown & Wood, received $1 .7 million of the $2 .1 million in fees . Compl . ¶¶ 12, 41 ; see also id. ¶¶ 20, 40, 56-57, 64-65 . Where Andersen exercised so high a level of independent control, no actual agency can exist . See Economy Suppliers & Fabricators, Inc . v. Centennial Homes, Inc., 325 So .2d 421, 422 (Fla . 4th DCA 1976) (dismissing agency allegation because by definition an agent is not "free from control with regard to the details of the engagement") (citation omitted) . Moreover, according to the Complaint, Brown & Wood authorized Andersen to tel l "prospective customers" only that "Andersen would arrange for the customers to get lega l representation from [Brown & Wood]" for "`independent ,' more likely than not opinion le tters ." Compl . ¶ 20 . This without more is not enough to create actual agency . See Pappas v . Smart Health U.S.A., 861 So .2d 84, 85 (Fla . 4th DCA 2003) (" mere permissive use of [defendant's] name did not create an agency relationship") . Nor does Plaintiff fare be tter under an apparent agency theory . The essential elements of an apparent agency relationship are "1) there was a representation by the principal ; 2) the injured party relied on that representation ; and 3) the injured party ch an ged position in reli ance upon the 7

Case 1:06-cv-21748-JEM

Document 3

Entered on FLSD Docket 07/20/2006

Page 15 of 44

Case No . 06-21748-CIV-MARTINEZ

representation and suffered detriment ." Amstar Ins. Co . v. Cadet, 862 So .2d 736, 742 (Fla . 5th DCA 2003) . "The focus is on the appearance created by the principal, and not the appearance created by the agent ." Pardo v. Tanning Research Lab., Inc., 996 F .Supp . 1222, 1226 (M .D . Fla. 1998) (emphasis in original) ; Izquierdo v . Hialeah Hosp . Inc., 709 So .2d 187, 188 (Fla . 3rd DCA 1998) ("apparent authority exists only where the principal creates the appearance of an agency relationship ." (quoting Spence, Payne, Ilasington & Grossman, P .A . v . Philip M Gerson, P.A., 483 So .2d 775, 777 (Fla . 3rd DCA 1986)) . Plaintiffs Complaint never alleges that Brown & Wood made any representation whatsoever, much less one that created the appearance that Andersen was its agent . B. Plaintiffs Claims Must All Be Dismissed Because The Complaint Fails To Allege That Brown & Wood Caused Plaintiff Harm . Plaintiffs professional malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract (however formed),6 tortious interference in an advantageous business relationship, and Florida RICO claims similarly fail for lack of causation, which is an essential element of each of these claims .' Plaintiff cursorily alleges that "[a]s a result of Brown & Wood's "breaches and deviations, [he ]

6 Plaintiff's contract based claims are, in reality, nothing more than claims for professional malpractice . Compare ¶¶ 36, 37 (professional malpractice) with ¶ 42 (breach of oral contract), T¶ 48, 49 (breach of contract implied in fact) and ¶¶ 53, 54 (breach of contract implied in law) . See Olmsted v. Emmanuel, 783 So.2d 1122, 1125 (Fla . 1st DCA 2001) (essential element of legal malpractice is causing loss) ; Gracey v. Eaker, 837 So .2d 348, 353 (Fla . 2002) (causation is element for breach of fiduciary duty) ; Scott-Steven Development Corp. v. Gables by The Sea, Inc ., 167 So .2d 763, 764 (Fla . 3rd DCA 1964) (the law remedies those breaches of contract "only for such wrongful acts as result in injury or damage") (emphasis added) ; Palmas Y Bambu, S.A. v. E.I. Dupont De Nemours & Co., Inc., 881 So .2d 565, 570 (Fla . 3rd DCA 2004) (holding causation is an element of Florida's RICO statute) ; T. Harris Young & Assoc ., Inc . v. Marquette Electronics, Inc., 931 F .2d 816, 825-26 (11th Cir . 1991) (tortious interference with a business relationship requires causation) . Causation is also an element of plaintiff's fraud and negligent misrepresentation claims . See Butterworth v. Quick & Reilly, Inc ., 998 F .Supp . 1404, 141 1 (M .D . Fla. 1998) (plaintiff's claims of fraudulent inducement and negligent misrepresentation both failed for lack of causation) . 8

Case 1:06-cv-21748-JEM

Document 3

Entered on FLSD Docket 07/20/2006

Page 16 of 44

Case No. 06-21748-CIV-MARTINEZ

entered into the subject transactions ." Compl. ¶ 38 ; see also id. ¶¶ 44, 50, 62, 70, 79. His specific allegations, however, flatly contradict this conclusory assertion . Plaintiff specifically alleges that he decided to enter into the tax shelter and pay the fees based solely on advice and communications from Andersen before he ever had any contact with Brown & Wood . Compl . ¶ 25 . As noted previously, because Plaintiff already had decided to invest, and indeed had completed the transaction, before receiving any communication from Brown & Wood, Brown & Wood's December 1999 opinion letters could not have caused Plaintiff to enter into a transaction that happened in September 1999 . In other words, Plaintiff's own Complaint forecloses any showing that he based his decision to engage in the transactions on communications from Brown & Wood . As a consequence, Plaintiff's claims, which all require causation as an essential element, should be dismissed . 8 C. Plaintiffs Breach Of Oral Contract Claim Is Defectively Pled . Plaintiff attempts to state a claim for breach of oral contract (1) even though he never spoke to anyone at Brown & Wood, and (2) even though he fails to allege that Brown & Wood breached an express term of the purported contract . In an attempt to remedy the first defect, Plaintiff alleges that Andersen acted as Brown & Wood's "agent ." Compl . ¶¶ 40-41 . As already discussed, the Complaint fails to allege facts sufficient to establish an agency relationship . As to the second defect, Gainor alleges that Brown & Wood violated the so-called oral contract by breaching "an implied covenant . . . to exercise ordinary skill and knowledge in the rendition of legal professional services" and an "implied covenant of good faith and fai r dealing ." Compl . ¶¶ 42, 43 . Under Florida law, however, a "cause of action for breach of the implied covenant cannot be maintained . . . in the absence of breach of an express term of th e

8 For the reasons discussed above with respect to reliance, Gainor cannot rely on alleged misrepresentations or omissions by Andersen to satisfy the causation element because he has failed to plead facts sufficient to establish that Andersen was acting as Brown & Wood's agent . 9

Case 1:06-cv-21748-JEM

Document 3

Entered on FLSD Docket 07/20/2006

Page 17 of 44

Case No . 06-21748-CIV-MARTINEZ

underlying contract ." Shibata v . Lim, 133 F . Supp . 2d 1311, 1318 (M .D . Fla. 2000) . Plaintiff is trying to do exactly what Florida law forbids : state a claim for breach of implied covenant without alleging breach of an express term . Insurance Concepts and Design, Inc . v. Healthplan Services Inc ., 785 So .2d 1232, 1234 (Fla. 4th DCA 2001) . Count II for breach of oral contract should be dismissed on this alternative and independent ground as well . D. Plaintiff Fails To State A Claim For Tortious Interference With An Advantageous Business Relationship . Plaintiff's Tortious Interference with an Advantageous Business Relationship claim fails on every level . Indeed, Plaintiff actually alleges facts that conclusively foreclose his claim . The elements of a claim for tortious interference with an advantageous business relationship are : "(1) the existence of a business relationship . . . (2) knowledge of the relationship on the part of the defendant; (3) an intentional and unjustified interference with the relationship by the defendant; and (4) damage to the plaintiff as a result of the breach of the relationship ." Gossard v. Adia Services, Inc ., 723 So .2d 182, 184 (Fla . 1998) (quoting Ethan Allen, Inc . v. Georgetown Manor, Inc ., 647 So .2d 812, 814 (Fla . 1994)) . Plaintiff has failed to plead interference, much less intentional and unjustified interference . "Either a `breach' or `termination"' of a business relationship is necessary to establish `interference ."' Martinez v. Pavex Corp., 422 F. Supp . 2d 1284, 1297 (M .D . Fla. 2006) ; Anthony Distributors, Inc. v. Miller Brewing Company, 941 F .Supp . 1567, 1572 (M .D . Fla . 1996) (citing Smith v. Ocean State Bank, 335 So .2d 641, 643 (Fla. 1st DCA 1976) ; Ethan Allen, 647 So .2d at 814 ; Greenberg v. Mount Sinai Medical Ctr . of Greater Miami, Inc., 629 So .2d 252 (Fla . DCA 3d 1993) ; West v. Troelstrup, 367 So .2d 253 (Fla . 1st DCA 1979)) ; see also Seminole Tribe v. Times Publishing Co ., 780 So .2d 310, 315 (Fla . 4th DCA 2001) (holding "interference" occurs when the defendant induces the third party "not to deal with" the plaintiff) . Plaintiff alleges that he had a business relationship with Arthur Andersen and that Brown & Wood interfered with that relationship by "inducing Andersen to promote the Sidley Plan t o 10

Case 1:06-cv-21748-JEM

Document 3

Entered on FLSD Docket 07/20/2006

Page 18 of 44

Case No . 06-21748-CIV-MARTINEZ

Andersen's clients, including Gainor ." Compl . ¶ 78 . Plaintiff fails to allege (because he cannot) that his relationship with Arthur Andersen was "breached" or "terminated" or that Brown & Wood induced Andersen "not to deal with" Plaintiff. Indeed, Plaintiff alleges the exact opposite ; that as a result of Brown & Wood's actions Plaintiff did more business with Arthur Andersen and entered into the tax strategy at issue . Compl . ¶ 79 . Without an allegation of a breached or terminated relationship, Gainor's claim for tortious interference fails . Further, Plaintiffs relationship with Arthur Andersen, his accountant and financial advisor, does not suffice to establish the "business relationship" element . In most, if not all cases, the plaintiff alleging tortious interference sues because the defendant purportedly stole or otherwise interfered with his clients or customers . Our research discloses no case where a client, like Plaintiff, has successfully sued for tortious interference with its relationship with the person it is paying to provide it services (e .g ., a lawyer, accountant, advisor, house painter, etc .) . This cause of action is meant to protect businesses from losing business, not clients who are dissatisfied with the services they received . Even if the relationship could work backwards and a client could sue, Plaintiff still has not alleged the necessary "business relationship" element . "[A]n action for tortious interference with a business relationship requires a business relationship evidenced by an actual and identifiable understanding or agreement which in all probability would have been completed if the defendant had not interfered." Gossard v. Adia Services, Inc., 723 So .2d 182, 184 (Fla . 1998) (quoting Ethan Allen, Inc. 647 So .2d at 815) . Just because two parties have had a history of past dealings does not establish a business relationship going forward . See Ethan Allen, Inc. 647 So .2d at 815 (holding that "[t]he mere hope that some of its past customers may choose to buy again cannot be the basis for a tortious interference claim ." Id. ; see also Medical Sav . Ins. Co . v. HCA, Inc., No . 2:04CV 1 56FTM, 2005 WL 1528666, at *9 (M .D . Fla. Jun 24, 2005) (dismissing tortious interference claim brought by medical insurer who complained defendant s

11

Case 1:06-cv-21748-JEM

Document 3

Entered on FLSD Docket 07/20/2006

Page 19 of 44

Case No . 06-21748-CIV-MARTINE Z

induced insurers' customers not to renew their policies because a past relationship with a customer does not mean the insurer will have a prospective relationship with that customer) . Here, all Plaintiff has alleged is that in the past he had relied upon Arthur Andersen for accounting and related-services . Compl . ¶ 76 . He makes no allegation of any identifiable understanding or agreement that any relationship between Andersen and Plaintiff would continue in the future . Further, even if such an agreement existed, it would be terminable at-will by either party and would provide nothing more than a "bare expectancy, rather than a legal right, that the relationship would continue." Brown v . Larkin & Shea, P .A ., 522 So .2d 500, 501 (Fla . 1st DCA 1988) (holding attorney-client relationship was terminable "at-will" and there was no claim for tortious interference where one law firm induced another law firm's clients to switch their representation) ; see also Kreizinger v. Schlesinger 925 So .2d 431, 433 (Fla . DCA 4th . 2006) (same) ; Goodkind v. Wolkowsky, 180 So . 538, 540 (Fla . 1938) (holding agreement that accountant would represent a client in a tax proceeding was terminable at-will) ; Ferris v. South Florida Stadium Corp ., 926 So .2d 399, 401-02 (Fla. 3rd DCA 2006) (holding that "[t]he general rule is that an action for tortious interference will not lie where a party interferes with an at will contract") . 9 Finally, Plaintiff never alleges that Brown & Wood knew of his specific business relationship with Andersen and targeted it . See KMS Restaurant Corp . v. Wendy's International, Inc., 361 F .3d 1321, 1325 (11th Cir . 2004) (holding under Florida law that tortious interference claim required plaintiff KMS to establish defendant "Wendy's knowledge of the business relationship between KMS and Citicorp .") . Instead, he pleads only that Brown & Wood knew "that Andersen maintained these types of relationships with clients such as Gainor." Compl . 9 See also Andre v. Gaines Berland, Inc ., No . 95Civ 10524 (DC) 1996 WL 383239, *2 (S .D .N .Y . Jul . 8, 1996) (holding that " on-going professional services relationship is terminable at-will by either party" unless there is a specific agreement to the contrary); De Rubbo v . Wayner Associates , 192 A.D. 2d 889, 891 (N .Y .A .D . 3 Dept . 1993) (holding that " a continuing professional se rvices relationship with defendant involving accounting , tax an d advisory services . . . would be terminable at will by either party") . 12

Case 1:06-cv-21748-JEM

Document 3

Entered on FLSD Docket 07/20/2006

Page 20 of 44

Case No . 06-21748 -CIV-MARTINE Z

¶ 77 (emphasis added) . The cases make clear that alleging Brown & Wood intended only to affect Andersen's relationship with its clients generally cannot sustain Plaintiffs tortious interference claim . See Dunn v . Air Line Pilots Assn, 193 F .3d 1185, 1191 (11th Cir. 1999) (holding that a tortious interference claim requires "a relationship with a particular party") ; Ferguson Transportation, Inc . v. North American Van Lines, Inc ., 687 So .2d 821, 821 (Fla . 1996) (holding that "in order to establish the tort of tortious interference with a business relationship, the plaintiff must prove a business relationship with identifiable customers .") ; Sarkis v . Pafford Oil Co ., Inc., 697 So .2d 524 (Fla . 1st DCA 1997) (affirming dismissal on this ground) . Without an allegation that Brown & Wood knew Plaintiff in particular had a relationship with Andersen, Plaintiff has failed to adequately allege the "knowledge" element of a tortious interference claim . Because Plaintiff would have to contradict the allegations of his Complaint to save his tortious interference with advantageous business relationship claim, this claim should be dismissed with prejudice . E. Plaintiff Fails To State A Florida RICO Act Violation . Plaintiffs attempt to assert a claim for violations of the Florida RICO Act, Florida Statute § 772 .101 et seq ., is equally unavailing. In addition to the Complaint's failure to satisfy the particularity requirements of Fed . R. Civ . P . 9(b) (as described immediately below), Plaintiff never identifies the core element of his RICO claim, the "enterprise . " Description of the alleged RICO enterprise constitutes an "[e]ssential" and "basic requirement[]" of a RICO claim .10 Jackson v. BellSouth Telecomm ., 372 F .3d 1250, 1264 (11th Cir . 2004) ; see also McCulloch v . PNC Bank Inc., 298 F .3d 1217, 1225 (11th Cir. 2002) ("To state a RICO claim, a plaintiff must plead . . . an `enterprise"') ; Durham v. Business Mgmt Assoc . ,

10 The Florida RICO Act was patterned after the federal RICO statute, see Jackson v. BellSouth Telecomm ., 372 F .3d 1250, 1263-64 (11th Cir . 2004) . As a result, case law interpreting the Federal RICO statute informs the interpretation of Florida's Act . See id. 13

Case 1:06-cv-21748-JEM

Document 3

Entered on FLSD Docket 07/20/2006

Page 21 of 44

Case No . 06-21748-CIV-MARTINE Z

847 F .2d 1505, 1511 (11th Cir . 1988) (same) . Here Plaintiff never even attempts to explain the nature of the RICO enterprise supposedly at issue . In fact, the word "enterprise" is used only once in the Complaint and that is where Plaintiff parrots back the statutory language of Florida Statute § 772 .103 . Compl . ¶95 . ("Sidley has used or invested . . . the proceeds of these payments in . . . the establishment or operation of an enterprise .") . Nowhere does Plaintiff develop or explain the alleged "enterprise ." This failure dooms his claim . F. Plaintiffs Fraud-Based Claims Fail Pursuant To Federal Rule Of Civil Procedure 9b . Finally, Plaintiff' s claims against Brown & Wood for fraudulent misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation, and violations of the Florida RICO Act should also be dismissed because the Complaint utterly fails to state "the circumstances of fraud . . . with particularity" as required by Fed . R. Civ . P . 9(b) .1 1 To satisfy the requirements of Rule 9(b), a plaintiff must allege : (1) the precise statements, documents or misrepresentations made ; (2) the time, place and person responsible for the statement ; (3) the content and manner in which these statement misled the Plaintiffs ; and (4) what the defendants gained as a consequence of the fraud . In re Managed Care Litig., 150 F . Supp . 2d 1330, 1346 (S .D . Fla. 2001) (J. Moreno) ( internal quotation marks and citation omitted) . Where, as here, the defendant is an org anization, a

11 In addition to Plaintiff's claim for fraudulent misrepresentation, Rule 9(b) applies to the Florida RICO Act claim, which is premised on mail fraud under 18 U .S .C . § 1341 (see Compl . ¶ 92), and the negligent misrepresentation claim . See Brooks v . Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc ., 116 F .3d 1364, 1380-81 (11th Cir . 1997) (applying Rule 9(b) to mail fraud allegation in RICO action) ; Benchmark Electronics, Inc . v. J.M. Huber Corp., 343 F .3d 719, 723 (5th Cir . 2003) (9(b) applies to negligent misrepresentation claim if based on the same alleged facts as fraudulent misrepresentation) ; Harrison Enterprises, Inc. v. Moran, No . 97-4362-CIV, 1999 WL 1211753, *3 (S .D . Fla. Aug . 30, 1999) (recognizing that under Florida law, "an action for negligent misrepresentation sounds in fraud rather than negligence," and therefore the pleading requirements of Rule 9(b) apply) (quoting Souran v. Travelers Ins . Co., 982 F .2d 1497, 1511 (11th Cir. 1993) ; MeterLogic, Inc. v. Copier Solutions, Inc ., 126 F . Supp . 2d 1346, 1360 (S.D. Fla. 2000) (applying Rule 9(b) to negligent misrepresentation claim) . 14

Case 1:06-cv-21748-JEM

Document 3

Entered on FLSD Docket 07/20/2006

Page 22 of 44

Case No . 06-21748-CIV-MARTINEZ

plaintiff must also identify the individual(s) within the organization who made the allegedly false or misleading statements . United States ex rel. Butler v. Magellan Health Servs ., Inc., 74 F . Supp . 2d 1201, 1216 (M .D . Fla. 1999) . Furthermore, the nature of the agency relationship alleged must be pled with particularity "when the plaintiff relies upon the same circumstances to establish both the alleged fraud and the agency relationship ." Lachmund v . ADM Investor Services, Inc ., 191 F .3d 777, 782-83 (7th Cir. 1999) (applying Rule 9(b)) . Plaintiff's Complaint violates Rule 9(b) in every way . It does not identify who at Brown & Wood allegedly gave Andersen "express or implicit authority" to act on its behalf in dealing with Plaintiff, Compl . ¶ 12 ; who allegedly "authorized and encouraged" Andersen to use its name as part of an "agree[ment] to work together" on tax shelters, id. ¶¶ 19, 20, 56 ; who purportedly admitted to Andersen that Plaintiff could not rely "on the advice of a tax professional," id. ¶ 23 ; or who issued the allegedly misleading opinion letters . See, e.g., Rentclub, Inc. v. Transamerica Rental Finance Corp ., 775 F .Supp . 1460, 1462 (M .D . Fla. 1991) (requiring plaintiff to re-plead because he "should specifically identify the individuals who made the alleged misrepresentations[,] . . . [and] their specific statements to organize, orchestrate, and commence the alleged plan") ; Anthony Distributors, Inc. v. Miller Brewing Co ., 904 F .Supp . 1363, 1365 (M.D. Fla. 1995) (noting requirement to "specifically identify the individuals") . Further, the Complaint does not identify who at Andersen allegedly "offered" the strategy to Plaintiff, Compl . ¶ 12 ; misled him about "the actual risk associated" with the transaction, id. ¶¶ 28(a), 57; or was told about the purported impact of Notice 99-59 on Plaintiff's ability to rely on the advice of tax professionals . Id. ¶ 23 . See, e.g., NCR Credit Corp . v. Reptron Electronics Inc ., 155 F .R .D . 690, 693 (M .D . Fla. 1994) (dismissing complaint under Rule 9(b) for failure to identify agents who made alleged misrepresentations) . Nor does the Complaint set forth what the unidentified person at Andersen told Plaintiff about the tax strategy or when the alleged misrepresentations were made . Finally, the Complaint fails to allege "the manner in which [th e

15

Case 1:06-cv-21748-JEM

Document 3

Entered on FLSD Docket 07/20/2006

Page 23 of 44

Case No . 06-21748 -CIV-MARTINE Z

misrepresentations] misled" Plaintiff. Ziemba v . Cascade International, Inc., 256 F .3d 1194, 1202 (11th Cir . 2001) ; see Compl . ¶¶ 28, 57 & 65 (both incorporating ¶ 28) . In an effort to cure Plaintiffs inability to allege causation and reliance on Brown & Wood's Opinion Letters (as described in detail above), Plaintiff obliquely refers to Brown & Wood's "preliminary advice and directives ." Compl. ¶ 28 . Nowhere in the Complaint, however, does Plaintiff ever detail these supposed communications, identify who at Brown & Wood purportedly gave them, state when they were provided, or describe the impact on Plaintiff . Plaintiff's Florida RICO Act claim suffers from similar defects . Plaintiff groups Andersen and the accounting firm KPMG LLP with unidentified "accounting and financial consulting firms" and "other financial institutions" as "The Marketers ." Compl . ¶ 84 . He fails, however, to identify any individuals at any of "The Marketers" who were allegedly authorized by Brown & Wood to make the representations to other taxpayers, id. ¶¶ 85, 86, or who made representations to any of the taxpayers identified in the Complaint . This failure requires dismissal . See In re Managed Care, 150 F . Supp . 2d at 1347 (citing Saporito v . Combustion Engineering, 843 F .2d 666, 675 (3rd Cir . 1988)) . Further, he fails to allege who at Brown & Wood "authorized and encouraged The Marketers" to make promises to "prospective customers" id, ¶ 85, or "authorized" them to make representations regarding the tax consequences of certain deductions they might take if they implemented the tax strategies . Id. ¶ 86 ; see Ageloff v. Kiley, 318 F . Supp . 2d 1157, 1159 (S .D . Fla. 2004) (a civil RICO complaint must plead all of the elements of each alleged predicate act with particularity). To the extent Plaintiff purports to allege specific "material omissions," Compl . ¶ 28, he fails to allege how the purported omissions misled him, or facts establishing circumstances that would require such disclosures . Rule 9(b) "requires" him to set forth "where the statement was, or should have been, made" as well as "when the statement was, or should have been, made ." In re Sunstar Securities Healthcare Litig., 173 F . Supp . 2d 1315, 1318 (M .D . Fla. 2001) (emphasis added) ; see also Gibbs v. Republic Tobacco, L .P., 119 F . Supp . 2d 1288, 1294 (M .D . 16

Case 1:06-cv-21748-JEM

Document 3

Entered on FLSD Docket 07/20/2006

Page 24 of 44

Case No . 06-21748-CIV-MARTINEZ

Fla. 2000) (plaintiff should plead the time an d place " of misstatement or omission) ; Hernandez v. CIBA-GEIGYCorp . USA, 200 F .R.D . 285, 291 (S.D. Tex. 2001) (dismissing fraud claim under Rule 9 ( b) because plaintiff " fail[ed] to allege the circumst ances that would necessitate making such disclosures , such as when and where these disclosures should have been made ") . Plaintiff fails to identify any affirmative representations by either Andersen or Brown & Wood that were misleading because of the alleged omissions or explain how these omissions misled him . See, e .g., In re Cascade Int'l Securities Litig ., 840 F .Supp . 1558, 1574 ( S .D . Fla. 1993) (for omissions to be actionable , plaintiff must allege the "manner in which he was] misled") . Because, as set forth above , Plaintiff fails to plead fraud with the required specificity, his claims for negligent misrepresentation (Count V), fraudulent misrepresentation ( Count VI), and violation of Florida ' s civil RICO statute ( Count IX) should be dismissed . IV . CONCLUSIO N

For the reasons set fo rth above , Plaintiff's Complaint should be dismissed . DATED : July 19, 2006 . Respectfully submi tt ed ,

By :

-

t,,)

Katheri ne W . Ezell (SBN I T4771) kezell@podhurst .com PODHURST ORSECK, P .A . 25 West Flagler Street, Ste . 800 Miami , Florida 3313 0 Tel : [phone]/ Fax : [phone]

Of Counsel : MUNGER, TOLLES & OLSON LLP Jonathan E . Altman Aaron M . May 355 S . Grand Ave ., 35th Floor Los Angeles , CA 9007 1 [phone] / Fax [phone]
Attorneys for Sidley Austin LLP

17

Case 1:06-cv-21748-JEM

Document 3

Entered on FLSD Docket 07/20/2006

Page 25 of 44

Case No . 06-21748-CIV-MARTINEZ CERTIFICATE OF SERVIC E I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing was served by first class U .S . mail to Richard B . Wilkes, Esq ., at Richard B . Wilkes P .A . 600 South Magnolia Ave ., Suite 200, Tampa, FL 33606 on July 19, 2006 .

Katherine W. Ezell (SB 114771 ) kezell@podhurst .co m PODHURST ORSECK, P .A . 25 West Flagler Street, Ste . 800 Miami , Florida 3313 0 Tel : [phone] / Fax: [phone]

Of Counsel : MUNGER, TOLLES & OLSON LLP Jonathan E . Altman Aaron M . May 355 S . Grand Ave ., 35th Floor Los Angeles, CA 9007 1 [phone] / Fax [phone]
Attorneys for Sidley Austin LL P

18

Case 1:06-cv-21748-JEM

Document 3

Entered on FLSD Docket 07/20/2006

Page 26 of 44

SUPREME CC1-URT OF THE STATE OF PRESENT.

.NEW YORK --:-'NEW YORK COUNT Y

Index Number : 60080812004
. .WILLWAMS, E. ROGER' .

WMA-ft 4 . nu

}.

.&c

SNDLEY AUSTIN BROWN & WOOD LLP ,$Rquenca-Number :. .00 7
OlSM ACTION/IINCQNVEN{ENT FORUM
MOTION{ CAL . NO .

-The following papers ,'

numbered I to

were read on this motion to/for

-----------PERS Nt1MgEAeO

Notice of Motion / Order to Show . Cause . - Affidavits Exhibits . . . Anawering 'affidavits Exhlbjt a

upon the fore~ojng papers , it Is ordered that this motion .

This motion is decided in accordance with the accompanying 1nemorand decision .

. Q FINAL DISPOSITION G~eck1. ap priate: : f pr o . ,0 DO NOT PO& 1

Check nne

NO

W

JSC .

I~l0111

-4400SITIO N
0 . REFERENCE . . .
xea
H' ilggq 1 iNHN

7n . 1

bc :GI Qnn7

ti

Case 1:06-cv-21748-JEM

Document 3

Entered on FLSD Docket 07/20/2006

Page 27 of 44

SUPREME COURT OI 0THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YQ . T.A .S . PART 60. , 'E. ROGER WtI .IAT%NORMANDY TRADING ' . IIVC . and NORMANDY INVESTMENT TRUST '
-against-.

Plaintiffs' .-

SIDLEY AUSTIN BROWN & WOOD, L .L .P ; RAYMOND . "J.1WB'LE; MULTINATTONAL'STItATEGIES, L,LG ; KEVIN M . KOPS; MICHAEL N . SCHWA~L COASTAL TRADING, LLC ; ENTERPRISE FINANCIAL . SERVICES INC ., fllrla EPRISE BANIC ; .DEERI-IURST MANAGEMENT COMPANY, N .C. ; BRA) TON LANAGEMEN.T,.1NC ; BRADONTON MANAGEMENT, INC.; NORTHBRIDJE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT ZNC . I#ECKFNH'AM TRADING COMPANY', . . INC . : .PETER MARKETS , LTD .; HVB US FINANCE INC ; and DAVID A.- SCHWARTZ,
Defendants . ---------..----------- ----

MOLYNEUx; ANDREW 1ZRIE GER; REFCO CM1TAL

APPEARANCES :
Plaintiffs : Defendants : .4 1 forney r for defendant Sfdley Austin Brown & Wood LLP Covington & Burlington 1330 Avenue of the America New York, NY 1001 9 · .

Kane Kessler, P.C . 1350 Avenue of the Americas New York. New. York 10019 (Jeffrey H. Daichman, Esq .)

.2323 21w Avenue North B 'AL 35203 (Joe R .' Whatley, Jr., Esq .)

(Aaron it Marcu, .Esq . Andre Bull o, . . Esq., Phillip A. Irwin Esq ., Jason P . C.rlss, . Esq . ) - OfCounsel : ·· . . . . Munger Tolles & Olson L L P 355 South Grand Avenue, 35'h Floor Los Angeles, California 90071 (Richard E. Drooyan, Esq .)

1C :CI Qllf 7 bl JeW

f lf1C-Cb7-7 17 :X2 J

11 II

QQ J

'I

P Nu

Case 1:06-cv-21748-JEM

Document 3

Entered on FLSD Docket 07/20/2006

Page 28 of 44

· 'William J. Brady, III, F_ .sq. Frankel, Abrams . . . 230'Park Avenu e

Attorneysfor Raymond J. Ruble
'.

New York , New York J 0169 (Stuart E . Abrams, Esq. . William J . Brady 111, Esq.) ,4 11or,aeysf or Uefer danl DIY .
B US Finance Inc. f/k/a HVB Structured Finance Inc . : Fulbright ,& Jaworski, LL P

555 S. Flower Street ' Los Angeles, California 9007 1 (Helen L . Duncan, Esq ., Dinh Ha, Esq .)and 666 Fifth Avenue New York, New York . l 0103 (Sarah E. O'Connell, Esq . )

$,n · .4

hc :CI

ann7

171

Jew

annC'-Cb7-717 :xe4

541IQgIu Iukv

Case 1:06-cv-21748-JEM

Document 3

Entered on FLSD Docket 07/20/2006

Page 29 of 44

FRIED, J', : Motion sequence numbers 007, 008 and 009 are consolidated for determination . In this action , plaintiffs , F . Roger Williams and his affiliated entities, assert thirtee n
causes of action against the defendants; who are alleged to have acted : in 'concert to structure and facilitate a series of transaetions leading to plaintiffs '