Marquardt v. King et al

Filing 11

MOTION to Dismiss 1 Complaint with Brief In Support by Stephen King, Simon & Schuster Global Services, Inc.. (Attachments: # 1 Brief, # 2 Declaration of Elizabeth A. McNamara)(Freeman, Christopher) Modified on 2/15/2011 to correct linkage on docket (fap).

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA ATLANTA DIVISION ROD MARQUARDT, Plaintiff, Civil Action No. 1:10-CV-03946-JEC v. STEPHEN KING and SIMON & SCHUSTER, INC., Defendants. DEFENDANTS STEPHEN KING AND SIMON & SCHUSTER, INC.’S MOTION TO DISMISS THE COMPLAINT Defendants Stephen King (“King”) and Simon & Schuster, Inc. (“Simon & Schuster”) respectfully move, pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, to dismiss with prejudice all counts of the Complaint of plaintiff Rod Marquardt, a/k/a Rod Morgan (“Marquardt” or “Plaintiff”). As grounds for the motion, King and Simon & Schuster state that the only similarities between Marquardt’s novel Keller’s Den and the novel Duma Key, written by King and published by Simon & Schuster, are abstract ideas, stock elements and random similarities isolated from the expressive context in which they appear, none of which are protected by copyright. It is plain from a review of 1 DWT 16565462v1 3901014-000644 these books, and can be decided as a matter of law, that there is no substantial similarity in protected expression between these two novels. Since “substantial similarity” of protected expression is an essential element of a copyright claim, Plaintiff’s copyright claim must be dismissed. Accordingly, as the sole count of the Complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, King and Simon & Schuster are entitled to dismissal of the Complaint with prejudice. WHEREFORE, Defendants Stephen King and Simon & Schuster move that the Court dismiss the Complaint with prejudice, and award Defendants their costs, attorneys’ fees and such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper. Dated: February 14, 2011 1633 Broadway, 27th Floor New York, New York 10019 (212) 489-8230 (212) 489-8340 (fax) DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE LLP /s/ Elizabeth A. McNamara Elizabeth A. McNamara, pro hac vice CARLTON FIELDS, P.A. 1201 West Peachtree Street Suite 3000 Atlanta, Georgia 30309 (404) 815-3400 (404) 815-3415 (fax) /s/ Christopher B. Freeman Walter H. Bush Georgia Bar No. 098825 Christopher B. Freeman Georgia Bar No. 140867 Attorneys for Defendants Stephen King and Simon & Schuster, Inc. 5 Union Court Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930 (978) 283-2263 PETER HERBERT, ESQ /s/ Peter A. Herbert Peter A. Herbert, pro hac vice Co-Counsel for Stephen King CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE This is to certify that I have this day served the within and foregoing DEFENDANTS STEPHEN KING AND SIMON & SCHUSTER, INC.’S MOTION TO DISMISS THE COMPLAINT by electronic notification through the Court’s CM/ECF system as follows: S. Quinn Johnson, Esq. Johnson P.C. 3348 Peachtree Road, N.E. Suite 700 Atlanta, Georgia 30326 This 14th day of February, 2011. /s/ Christopher B. Freeman Christopher B. Freeman

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