MISC Berhad v. World Fuel Services Corporation

Filing 41

ORDER denying 18 Motion to Dismiss Signed by Judge Patricia A. Seitz on 1/16/13. (tp)

UNI
TED STATES DI
STRI COURT
CT
SO U TH ER N D I
STR I O F FLO R I A
CT
D
CA SE N O .1 21
2- 220- V- SEI SI 0N TON
C1 - TZ/ M
M I BERH AD ,e c
SC
t .,
Pl ntf,
ai if

W ORLD FUEL SERVI
CES CORP.,

Dee ntThidPat Pli it
fnda / r ry antfl
V.

W ESTPORT PETROLEUM ,l .,
NC
Thid Pa t Def nt
r r y enda .
O R DER DEN W N G TH I PAR TY DEFEN D AN T' M O TI N TO DI I
RD
S
O
SM SS

Thi mat ri bef et Cour on Thid Pa t Defnda W e t t tol , I '
s te s or he
t
r ry e nt spor Pe r eum nc.s

Cs et f'M otont Dimis( 1 )W ordFue Se viesI ' Cs ordFue' Thid- ry
W spol ) i o s s DE- 8
l l r c nc.s W l 1' r pa t
)

Co lit( 1 ) W o l Fu l rh s dmaiefe fo W et o t o ac r os i c a tr d
mpan DE- 3 . rd e pu c a e rn u l r m sp r f r ag hp h ree
b Pli ifM I Beha (1 SC'.Ac or ngt MI t f lwa c a naed M I
y antf SC r d i
MI ' c di o SC,he ue s ontmi t
)
SC
.

s d W ordFuel who i t n fld at r pa t c
ue
l
,
n ur ie hid ry ompl i a i tW espor a lgi abr a h of
ant gans
t t le ng
ec
is f elpur has con r c a f i m nii a i . W e t t o d t dim isf i ope
t u
c e t a t nd or nde tc ton
spor m ve o s s or mpr r

ve unde Fe r Rul ofPr dur 1 b)3)ont gr mdst tt fr m s l to ca ei
nue r deal e
oce e 2( (
he ot ha he o u eecin lus n
isTe msa Condii f Bunke Saesr r d t ta a ton i c
t r nd
tons or
r l equie ha ny c i n onneci n wih is
to t t
a e m e w ih W o l Fue be br hti t f de a di t i tc tf r t Ce r lD it i tof
gr e nt t
rd
l
oug n he e r l s rc our o he nt a s rc
Ca ior a. H a ng r vi wed t Pa te pa r , pladi ,a tda t,a r e nte bis t
lf ni
vi e e
he r i s' pe s e ngs fi vis nd elva xhi t, he

Cour de est moton t dimi sbec us W espor di notr s bl co uni t istr s
t ni he i o s s
a e
t t d
ea ona y mm cae t e m
a condii nst W ord Fue .
nd
to o
l
l

1
.

Bac ound
kgr

l 2007,W ordFuelc rce wihPl ntf t pr dema i f el(loknowna
n
l
onta td t ai if o ovi
rne ' as
u
s

bunke f elf t M/ OOCL Chi ac aners pc tr byM I Thid- ry
r u l or he V
na, onti hi hareed
SC
r pa t
.

Co an ( 1 ) !5 W o l Fu l o ta tdwih e t o t os ppya dd l e t eb n e
mplit DE- 3 , . rd e c nr ce tW sp r t u l n ei r h u k r
v
f e die ty t t ve s .Compl !6.l isCo an a an tW o l Fu lM I alg st a
u l r c l o he s el
.,
n t mplit g is rd e, SC l e h t
e
t bunke si pur has d fo W ord Fue we e c ami t wih Al Phe and Bu yl
he
r t c e rm
l
l r ont na ed t kyl nol
t
Ac ylt ,t c m ial t tr nde marnef elt a e l On M a 1 , 201 W o l Fuelfl d
r a e wo he c s ha e r i ' mus bl .
u
y 5
2 rd
ie
t Thid Pa t Compl ntagans W e t t orbr ac ofco r c a i mniy. 1 W ord
he r ry
ai
i t spor f e h
nta t nd nde t d.
l
Fuela l ge t tW espor ,a t f els pple , i r ponsbl f a da
le s ha
t t s he u u i r s es
i e or ny mage a ii fom t
s rsng ' he
r

c a natd bunker W e t tdelve e t M I . 1 ,!! 1 ,1
ont mi e
s spor i r d o SC d.
1 6.

W e t t g st tt sc es dbedimis dunde Rul 1 b)3)f i oper
spor arue ha hi as houl
s se
r e 2( ( or mpr
ve uebe us ofaf um s l ton caus i t t r a co to ofisfz lpu c s
n
ca e
or eec i l e n he e ms nd ndii ns t t
e r ha e

a re n wi W o l Fu l M o int DimisThr - ryCo lit( 1 ) pp.1- l
g e me t t rd e. to o s s idpa t mpan DE- 8,
h
2. n
s
uppor ofism oton,W espor a tc t de a ato ofPa Ta or W e t ts Ge r
t t
i
t t ta hes he clr i n
ul yl , s por ' ne al

M a ge ofResd lPr tTr di (s-yl De lrton' g 18- 1 TheW espor tr sand
na r
iua oduc a ng E-a or caai ' DE 1
l
)
t tem
.

c tons a t c t t Ta orD e a a i , pr de:
ondii , ta hed o he yl
cl r ton ovi
G o r ng Law and Jur s c i The l w go r ng t A g e e a t
ve ni
i di t on:
a
ve ni he r em nt nd he
m a ng t r ofs l bet m a ii lw oft Unied St t and, t t e e
ki he e hal he rtme a
he t
aes
o he xt nt
noti c lc , heSt t ofCa iom i , e usveofisr eson c c oflw ,
n onfi t t
ae
lf a xcl i
t ul
hoie a
e e t ar e e t a i bl 1w i ar e e t t l w t twoul be
xc pt hat ef r nce o pplca e a s ef r nce o he a ha
d
a i a e i t a e e ofa c ce of1 w by t pa te . Exc ptasot r s
pplc bl n he bs nc
hoi
a
he r i s
e
he wi e
pr de he en,t Unied St t Diti tCour f t Ce r Dititof
ovi d r i he t
aes src
t or he ntal src

Calf ni s lha e l i j idito t e e ti aci r ltont t s
ior a hal ve xcusve urs cin o ntran tons eai o hi
M I a t ves e ' owne r ol d t rdiput a ii fom t a lge y
SC nd he s ls
r es ve hei s e rsng ' he le dl
r
c ami t d f lt oug a s r t s tlm e ;M I i s e ng i m nii ton fom W ord
ont na e ue hr h epa a e e te nt SC s e ki nde tcai r
l
Fuelba e ont epa
s d hes yment. S ege e al Co lit( I.
s e nrl
y mp an DE- J
2

Ag e mentort ma nga e oreme t r ot orbot , and Buyerand Seler
re
he ki nd nf c nt he e l
h
l
s b tt t ij rs ito f rs c p r os s An oh rc u t h vng
u mi o her u idcin o u h u p e . y t e o rs a i
j iditonove aveselt whih t mai f l ha be n dei rdwilha
urs ci
r
s o c he rne ues ve e lvee l ve
j rs it nt e f reS l rsmaii l n
u idci o n o c el ' rtme i .
o
e
e
W e t tTe & Condii ns Ex. t Ta orDe l Att tm ei de i r t f el W est
spor nns
to ,
A o yl
c . he i t lve ed he u ,
port
pr ded ade i r r c i t t OOCL Chi . Ex.B t Ta orDe l 'her epti sgne by
ovi
lve y e e pt o he
na
o yl
c . r ec i s i d

t de i r c
he lve y ompany- aci asW e t tsag nt a by t c e e i e oft OOCL
tng
spor' e
nd he hif ng ne r he
-

Chn I .Th r c i p o d sta t es l çss b e tt t W e t o t toe m , I Ter s
ia.d e e ept r vie h t h ae t u j c o he sp r Per lu nc. m
i
a Co tonsf Bunke Sals' 1
nd ndii or
r e . ' d.The sg t e ofaW ord Fue r pr e a i doe no
inaur
l
l e es nttve s t
a a on t r e pt
ppe r he ec i .
l is r s ns t t m oton t di m i s W o l Fue s it d t Deca ai n ofKe n
n t e po e o he
i o s s , rd
l ubm te he
lr to
vi

Wel r W ordFuelsGe rlCouns (t el rDe aai ' ( 30- J Atached t t
be, l
' nea
el s be clrton' DE 1 t
W
)
o he
.

W e be Deca ai n i apur has o de fom W ord Fuelt W e t tPe r e f ma i f l
l r lr to s
c e r rr
l
o spor tol um or rne ue
f t O OCf Chi . Se Ex.A t W e be Dec .Thepur ha e or rlssW espor a t s lr
or he
na e
o l r l
c s de it
t t s he ele

oft f el W ord Fuela t buye , a t OOCL Chi a t ve s l The ptr has o derdoe
he u , l
s he
r nd he
na s he s e .
lc e r
s
no r f x nc W e t tstr sa c tons 1 , t5.
t e e e e spor' e m nd ondii . d. a
I.
l

Leg St
al andar
d

A moton t dim isba e on af u s l c i clus i pr pe l br
i o s s sd
or m e e ton a e s o ry oughtpur ua t
s nt o

Rul 1 b)3)f i ope ve Se Lf tav Unde iesatLlyd' London,148F.
e 2( ( or mpr r nue. e pc? .
rwrtr
o s
3d
,

1 5 1 9 ( 1hCi.9 8 .A c u t yc nsd rmatr o tiet pe dn s i udi
28 , 2 0 1 t r1 9 ) o r ma o i e te s u sd he la ig , ncl ng
afd vitsi n ,od tr n wheh rds sa u e Rue 1 ()3 i a p o rae See Wai
fia t etmo y t eemie te imis l nd r l 2 b ( ) s p r p it
.

v. nbow Hol ngs 31 F.
Rai
di , 5 supp.zd 1 ,1 ( D. a. 4) Bec et si ac s i
261 268 S. Fl 200 . aus hi s a e n
a i a t f de all w gove nst e or ea lt oft f um s l c i c a e a i s . Se
dm r ly, e r a
r he nf c biiy he or
e e ton l us t s ue e
Car v Cr s Li s v Shu e 499 U . 585, 590( 991.
ni al ui e ne .
t,
S.
1 )
3

For m s l ton caus ar pr s
u eeci l es e e umptvey vald, a t blr n ofpr ngt i
i l i nd he zde
ovi her
unr a ona e s i ahe vy one. Carni Crui L i , I .v Shut,499 U. 585
e s bl ne s s a
val
se nes nc .
e
S. ,

5 5( 9 )
9 1 91.

Alho t Cour t ke t f t oft c
t ugh he
t a s he ac s he ompl i a tu , i does s ç nl t t e entt y a e
ant s r e t
o t y o he xt he r
o
unc r ve t by defnda ' a tda t.' Esat o
onto red
e nts fi vis ' t e fMyh av Ro lCa i b a Cr ie, t
r . ya rb e n us s L d.
,

695F. 1 1 ( 1h Ci.201 (nt na quottonsa cttonsomitd) W here,asher
3d 233, 239 1 t r 2) i er l ai nd iai
te
e,
.

t pa tess
he ri ubmi c lc i a fda t, t Cour çi i lne t gi g ea e wei t t
t onfitng fi vis he
t ds nc i d o ve r t r ght o he

pli ifsvesonoft j iditonalfcsa t c tu s h f t i t lghtmos f a e
antf ri
he urs ci a t nd o onsr e uc acs n he i
t avorbl

t tep an i ' 1 . ( iig Ho I s Co v T o sI d s I . 896F. 1 2,1 ( 1h
o h litm ' d; ctn me n . . . h ma n u ., nc,
2d 35 355 1 t
Ci.990)
r1 .
111.

A nal i
ys s

W e t ta gue t tist r a condii , i l ng t f r s l ton c a e a y
spor r s ha t e ms nd
tons nc udi he o um e ec i l us ppl
,

t t s et W ordFue bec us ( )t yar cla l rfrnc di t bunke dei r rc pt
o he al o l l a e 1 he e e ry eee e n he
r lvey e ei ,
a ( W espor a W ordFue hade ge i prorta a onswheet tr a
nd 2) t t nd l l
nga d n i rns di
r he e ms nd
c ton c e ry a i z W ord Fue r pondst tW e t t ve pr de W ord Fue wih
ondii l a l ppled.
l
l es
ha
spor ne r ovi d
l
l t
m itn notc ac e i isofe t pur has bunke f el a r quie f t msa c tonst
te
ie c ptng t fr o c e
r u , s e r d or er nd ondii o
a y.W ordFuela s a gu t ti di no ha a notc oft t r a c to and
ppl
l
lo r es ha t d t ve ny i e he e ms nd ondii ns
,

t r or nom e ni f lo
he ef e
a ng u pporuniyt r vi w o a e t ist r s untli r eved ac oft
t t o e e r gr e o t e m
i t ec i
opy he
,

delve y r c pt
i r e ei .

I an a r t c e af um s l ton c a ema be o r om eonl by ac e rs
n
dmialy as , or eeci l us y
ve c
y
l a howi
ng
t tt c a e i unr as bl unde t c r tmsanc .
ha he l us s e ona e
r he icz t es

M/ Br me v Za t O fsh r Co ,
S e n . paa f - o e .

W e p r' Ta o De lr to ( 1 -)d e n t o iea ys e iisa o t h s
s o ts ylr ca ai n DE 8 1 o s o pr vd n p cfc b u t e e

a l ed pr ort a ac i ns
leg
i r ns t o .

4

407U. 1 1 ( ) A f u s lci ca ema bede medunras ewhe
S. , 0 1972 . or m ee ton lus y
e
e onabl n
:ç 1 is
ç )t
(
f mai wasi e byfa orover c ng;( t pl ntf woul bede i dofisday i
or ton
nduc d rud
rea hi 2) he ai if d
prve t
n

c u t e a s o ic n e e c o t ar s ; 3 tec o e lw wo l d prv t ep an if fa
o r b c u e f n o v nin e r mfine s () h h s n a
ud e ie h litf o
rme y; r( )e o c me to teca ewo l c nrve ep bl poiy' Krenkelv.Ker ner
e d o 4 nfr e n f h lus u d o ta n u i l '
c c
z
.

I e n. esLt ,579 F.3 1 9 1 1( 1hCi. 0 )(ne n lctto so te )
nt r Hot l d.
d 27 , 28 1 t r 20 9 itr a iai n mitd
.

I dee m i ng whehe t r wasfa oro re hi wih r s c t anon- neg it d
n tr ni
t r he e
r ud
ve r ac ng t e pe t o
ota e
f u s l c i caus lket o i W e t tst r a c tons t Cour m us c i r
or m e e ton l e i he ne n spor' e ms nd ondii
he
t t ons de
,

S t rt c a ewa r s bl co muni t t t c umer
t he he l us s ea ona y m
whe
caed o he ons
.

' fie v Gi La We tEn4
' ls . nns

Lt ,631F. 1 1 ( 1h Ci.2011 .TheElve h Cic ta i a t partt tof
d.
3d 242, 246 1 t r
)
e nt r ui pples wo
es
-

t ea o e co m t i tve s ,' whi h ç a i o a ountt cl us sphys c c r c ers i
G s nabl m m ca i ne s ' c ç kes nt cc
r
t
he a e'
i al ha a t i tcs

a whe he t pli if ha t a lt t be om emea ngf ly i onne oft cl
nd
t r he a ntfs d he biiy o c
ni ul nf
d he a
us a t
e nd o

rj c istnns' I ;s ealoMar oForwar ng Co v.Contnent Cas.Co. 430 F supp.
ee t t e . d. e s
'
c
di
i al
,
zd
.

.

1 9 1 4 ( . Fl. 0 5 (t u' h ved v lp dat - a te t t ki i o accountbot
28 , 29 SD. a 2 0 ) d ls a e eo e wo p r ts a ng nt
co t
h
...

t physca c a t rsi soft co r c is t a as a e rnsc f cor i c i t
he
i l har c e itc he nta t tell nd lo ny xti i a t s ndiatng he

plitf sa ii t b c meme nng ul if nn da dt rjc tec nr cu l e sa sa e'
an if blt o e o
y
a i f ly n o e n o ee th o ta t a tnn t tk '
)
.

(ntma q ttonsa cttonsomit )
i e l uoai nd iai
ted .
As t t tr tpa toft t s , t e i no i ca i n t tt physca c r c e i tcsof
o he i s r
he e t her s ndi to ha he
i l ha a t r s i

t f u s e ton clus we e i ufi intt r a ona y co muni ae ist
he or m elc i a e r ns fce o e s bl m
ct t e
r t W o l Fuel
ms o rd
.
The cl us i s ta r i a s pa a e pa a a , a c ai s t c e l c e r l ngua t a er
a e s e pa t n e r t r gr ph nd ont ns ufi i nty l a a
ge o l t
t buye oft a i bl f u r s rc i . See,e. ,Sun TrustBank v. Sun I er i
he
r he pplca e or m e t i tons
g.
nt natonal
Hot l ,Lt ,1 F. Supp. 1
e s d. 84
2d 246,1 ( D. a 2001 ( di f u s l tonca e
260 S. Fl. ) hol ng or m eeci lus

r a ona y c
e s bl ommunia i whe e f u s e ton clus wasd e a r asa s pa aepa a a
c tve
r or m elc i a e
t t pa t
s
e r t r gr ph,

5

i lgb etpe' n wa wrte i d u fce t ce r'a g a e Thus,t Courtwilf uson
n e il y 'a d s itn n ç fiinl la 'ln u g )
s
y
he
l oc
.

whe he t t r a c tonswe er s bl communi t t W ord Fue .
t r he e ms nd ondii
r ea ona y
caed o
l
l
Viwi t pla ngs a/ da t , nd t at c e bisi t lghtmos f vo abl t
e ng he e di ,
vis a he ta hed xhi t n he i
ta r e o

W o l Fuel t Co tfndst W espo tst r sa c tonswe enotr a ona y
rd
, he ur i hat t r ' e m nd ondii
r
e s bl
c
ommunia e t W o l Fue i c
c t d o rd l n onne ton wih t s eoft ma i f e . Alhough t
ci
t he al he rne u l t
he

de l ai n ofW espor' ge r ma ersa e t tt dei r r c ptpr de t t OOCL
car to
t ts ne al nag t t s ha he lve y e ei ovi d o he
Chi wa C e i a1 ofisf lc r c s't ei no e de t tW ordFuelha a
na s t d n 1 t ue onta t y 'her s vi nce ha
us
l
d n
o runiy t r viw t dei r r c pti c me i wih t s eoff elt t OOC; Chi
ppo t t o e e he lve y e ei n ol cton t he al
u o he
na.
Notbl t dei r r c i doesnoti l W ord Fuelssgnaur nori t ea i c ton
a y, he lve y e e pt
nc ude
l
' i t e
s her ny ndi a i
,

,

et o t r eptis fort a fda t , t tW ord Fue r c vedt delver r ept i t
iher n he ec i tel he fi vis ha
l
l e ei he i y ec i s n he
r gu a c s ofis prort a a tons wih W espor .3
e l r our e t i r ns c i
t
t t

W hiePa Ta or sDe l r ton sa e t tW espor E s d bunke st W ord Fuelon
l ul yl ' c a a i t t s ha
t t s ol
had
r o
l

n meo so c so sa d ( e t r'lTemsa dCo dto a plid b t i o tr '5 t i
u r u c a in n W spo ts r n n iins p l j y her wn ems' hs
e
4
3 W espo tsr la e o One Be on I .Co.v Cr e M ar ne Se
t r ' e i nc n
ac ns
. owly
i
nw

,

6 F. 258
48 3d

( h Ci. 1,i miplce Tha c ei veda agr mentt com plt shi r paisbet en
5t r201 ) s s a d. t as nvol n ee
o
e e p e r we

a s p ow ne a a ve s r pai c pa . 1 a 261 Aspa toft ta a i n t s p o r
r nd
s el e r om ny d. t .
r he r ns cto , he hi wne
i hi
sue arpai s r ceor r(C ' die tyt t rparcompa . TheR SO notd t tt
s d e r evi de 1
RSO' rcl o he e i
)
ny
e ha he
o de wasis d i a c danc wih t s p owne ' t r a c tonsa ia eby a c sng
r r
sue n c or e t he hi
r s e ms nd ondii
va lbl
c es i
t s p owne ' we iea es , whi h wa pr vi ont RSO is f 1 a 263.Unlket
he hi
r s bst ddr s
c
s o ded he
tel. d. t
i he
ca e a ba , hepa te i OneBe on di no diput t tt r pa rc
s t rt
ris n
ac
d t s e ha he e i ompa y r c ve a
n e ei d nd
r vi d t RSO aspa tofista aci wih t s p owne . I a t o i w a t di pu ed
e ewe he
r t r ns ton t he hi
r n ddii n, t s m s t
t tt s p own ha pr ded t r i compa wih RSOsr e e ngt
ha he hi
er d ovi he epar
ny t
ef r nci h
et r a
e ms nd
co tonsi ea h ofisp i tans tons M or over t Fi Cic tafime t ditit
ndii n c
t ror r ac i .
e , he ûh r ui fr d he src
c tshol ng t tt r pa rco pa ha r tfed t pa te 'c s ofde i i udi t
our ' di ha he e i m ny d a ii he r i s our e
alng ncl ng he
,
tr sa co to r e e ed i t RSO , by s itng a i ce a rt r pa rw or was
e m nd ndii ns ef r nc n he
ubm ti n nvoi Re he e i
k

c mpee wi o to j cigt t etn .He e te ei n i iaint a W o l Fu l o ka y
o ltd t u be tn o h e us r ,h r s o ndc to h t rd e t o n
h

afimai a tt r tf W e t tst r .
fr tve c o a iy spor ' e ms
D

4 W e t r ' saeme i isr pl breft tW o l Fue t d s ent s m ef m
spo ts t t nt n t e y i ha
rd l E e he n or
ha

elver Re i e prsl a yi g e t ts Temsa Condii onma pror
i y cept x e sy ppl ng ' spor') r nd
W
tons
ny i

oc a i 'fndsno s ppor i t afi visand e bis
c sons' i
u
t n he fda t
xhi t .
6

s a e enta one doesnote t bls t tW ord Fue was d e ngf l i or e ' t f r
tt m
l
s a ih ha
l
l
t ani uly nf m d' of he o um
m

s lcinca s s hta i h da o po tnt t rj c istr .fi s 631F.da 1 4 .Ih
ee to lu e uc h tt a n p ru iy o ee t t e ms l ,
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PA TRI A A . E1
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