Illinois Mine Subsidence Insurance Fund v. Union Pacific Railroad Company
Filing
20
OPINION entered by Magistrate Judge Tom Schanzle-Haskins on 4/11/2018. Plaintiff's Motion for Leave to File First Amended Complaint, d/e 16 is ALLOWED. Defendant Union Pacific is directed to respond to the First Amended Complaint by 4/30/2018. (SEE WRITTEN OPINION) (MAS, ilcd)
E-FILED
Thursday, 12 April, 2018 12:19:06 PM
Clerk, U.S. District Court, ILCD
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS, SPRINGFIELD DIVISION
ILLINOIS MINE SUBSIDENCE
INSURANCE FUND,
Plaintiff,
v.
UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD
COMPANY,
Defendant.
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No. 17-cv-3199
OPINION
TOM SCHANZLE-HASKINS, U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE:
This matter comes before the Court Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to File First
Amended Complaint (d/e 16) (Motion). For the reasons set forth below, the
Motion is ALLOWED.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
Plaintiff alleges in the current Complaint that in 2014 and 2015, two homes
in Macoupin County, Illinois (Macoupin County), suffered damage from mine
subsidence. Country Mutual Insurance Company (Country Mutual) issued
homeowner’s insurance policies on both homes that included coverage for mine
subsidence. Country Mutual had a reinsurance agreement with Plaintiff Illinois
Mine Subsidence Insurance Fund (Fund). The Fund paid $163,600 and $71,400,
respectively, to indemnify Country Mutual for moneys paid to the homeowners for
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the covered losses. The Fund brings this action under its subrogation rights
against Defendant Union Pacific Railroad Company (Union Pacific). Notice of
Removal (d/e 1), Exhibit A, Complaint of the Illinois Mine Subsidence Insurance
Fund (Complaint), ¶¶ 40-50. The Fund alleges that Union Pacific is liable for the
losses due to the subsidence because Union Pacific is the successor to the
Superior Coal Company (Superior) which had operated the mines that subsided.
The Fund alleges that the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company
(CNW) established Superior in 1903 to operate coal mines. CNW owned 19,995
of the 20,000 outstanding shares of Superior. The five directors of Superior each
owned one of the remaining five shares of Superior stock. The directors of
Superior were officers or employees of CNW. The directors each owned a share
of Superior stock because a director had to be a stockholder. Superior’s place of
business was located in CNW’s general office. Complaint, ¶¶ 4-8, 14-17, 19(a);
see Gillespie Community Unit School Dist. No. 7, Macoupin County v. Union
Pacific Railroad Co., 2015 IL App (4th) 1408771 ¶¶ 12-66, 43 N.E.3d 1155, 25260 (Ill. App. 4th Dist. 2015).
In 1954, CNW’s Board of Directors adopted a resolution to cease all of
Superior’s mining operations because of CNW’s decreasing demand for coal.
CNW Board also instructed Superior to cease mine operations on June 1, 1954
unless a purchaser of Superior’s assets had been located. Complaint, ¶ 29-30.
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On September 14, 1956, CNW’s Board of Directors passed a resolution
stating that it was in the best interest of CNW that Superior be dissolved. In
October 1956, Superior filed a statement of its intent to dissolve. The statement
recited that CNW’s Board of Directors had resolved that the proper officers of
CNW would arrange for the dissolution of Superior. Complaint, ¶¶ 35-36.
In December 1956, Larry Provo, President of Superior and Vice President
of CNW, and E.A. Vik, Secretary of Superior and Secretary of CNW, executed a
deed transferring all of Superior’s land and mineral rights in Macoupin County to
CNW. Superior made the transfer without receiving any consideration.
Complaint, ¶ 37.
In 1957, Superior was dissolved. Superior’s assets, together with those
liabilities which could not be fully liquidated prior to dissolution, were transferred
to and assumed by CNW. The Fund alleges that Superior’s liability for mine
subsidence damage was not and could not be fully liquidated prior to Superior’s
dissolution. Complaint, ¶¶ 9.
In 1970, CNW sold all of its assets and liabilities to North Western
Employees Transportation Corporation. In 1972, North Western Employees
Transportation Corporation changed its name to Chicago and North Western
Transportation Company. In 1994, Chicago and North Western Transportation
Company changed its name to Chicago and North Western Railway Company
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(New CNW). In October 1995, New CNW merged with Defendant Union Pacific.
Union Pacific became the successor corporation after the merger. Complaint, ¶¶
10-13.
From 1996 to 2008, Union Pacific paid the Fund more than $900,000.00 to
reimburse the Fund for losses to at least 20 insured structures due to subsidence
in properties over mines operated by Superior. The releases signed by Union
Pacific stated that Union Pacific was “the successor in interest” to CNW and
Superior. The releases released Union Pacific, CNW, and Superior. The
releases were contractual releases and not merely recitals. Complaint, ¶ 39.
Based on these and additional allegations not pertinent here, the Complaint
asserts a claim that Union Pacific’s predecessor CNW was the alter ego of
Superior, and so, was liable for damages caused by the subsidence of Superior’s
Macoupin County mines. Complaint, ¶¶ 14-39, 51-59.
The Fund now moves to amend the Complaint to assert a claim that the
transfer of Superior’s assets to CNW and the dissolution of Superior was a de
facto merger through which CNW assumed all of the liabilities of Superior.
The proposed Amended Complaint alleges the following. On September
14, 1956, CNW’s Board of Directors passed a resolution to dissolve Superior.
On October 12, 1956, the shareholders of Superior executed a statement of
intent to dissolve, and that in December 1956, Provo, President of Superior and
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Vice President of CNW, and Vik, Secretary of Superior and Secretary of CNW,
executed a deed transferring all of Superior’s land and mineral rights in Macoupin
County to CNW. Superior made the transfer without receiving any consideration.
Motion, Exhibit A, First Amended Complaint of the Illinois Mine Subsidence
Insurance Fund (Amended Complaint), ¶¶ 41-43.
The proposed Amended Complaint alleges that in February 1957, Superior
was dissolved. After the December 1956 transfer and February 1957 dissolution
of Superior, CNW became the owner of all of Superior’s land and mineral rights
in Macoupin County. After the transactions, Provo and Vik continued on as
officers of CNW. In 1958, Vik was CNW’s secretary and Provo was acting as
CNW’s president. Amended Complaint, ¶¶ 45-48.
ANALYSIS
The Fund has filed this timely Motion to amend its pleadings. Motions to
amend should be freely granted when justice so requires. Fed. R. Civ. P.
15(a)(2). Union Pacific objects, asserting that the proposed amendment is futile.
The Court may deny requests to amend pleadings for several reasons, including
a proposed amendment that is futile. See Mulvania v. Sheriff of Rock Island
County, 850 F.3d 849, 854 (7th Cir. 2017). The Court evaluates the futility of a
proposed amendment under the standard for motions to dismiss for failure to
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state a claim. Runnion ex rel. v. Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest
Indiana, 786 F.3d 510, 526 (7th Cir. 2015); Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6).
The Federal Rules require only “a short and plain statement of the claim
showing that the pleader is entitled to relief,” and allegations must be “simple,
concise, and direct.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2) & (d)(1). While a complaint need not
contain detailed, specific factual allegations, it must contain sufficient facts to
“state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atlantic Corp. v.
Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). A claim is plausible if the plaintiff “pleads
factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the
defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662,
678 (2009). A claim is plausible on its face if it provides the defendant fair notice
of what the claim is and the grounds upon which it rests. George v. Smith, 507
F.3d 605, 608 (7th Cir. 2007). Dismissal under Rule 12(b)(6) is appropriate when
“the factual detail in a complaint [is] so sketchy that the complaint does not
provide the type of notice of the claim to which the defendant is entitled under
Rule 8.” Airborne Beepers & Video, Inc. v. AT & T Mobility, LLC, 499 F.3d 663,
667 (7th Cir. 2007).
To assert successor liability due to a de facto merger, the Fund must
allege:
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(1) The seller’s enterprise continues after the transaction, including a
continuation of management, personnel, physical location, assets and general
business operations.
(2) The seller’s shareholders become shareholders of the purchaser so that they
become a constituent part of the purchaser.
(3) The seller corporation ceases its ordinary business operations, liquidates and
dissolves as soon as legally and practically possible.
(4) The purchasing corporation assumes those liabilities and obligations of the
seller ordinarily necessary for the uninterrupted continuation of normal business
operations of the seller corporation.
See Myers v. Putzmeiter, Inc., 596 N.E.2d 754, 756 (Ill. App. 1992).
When read favorably to the Fund, the proposed Amended Complaint states
a claim for liability under a de facto merger theory. The allegations show a
continuation of Superior’s enterprise. Superior deeded the Macoupin County
land and mineral rights to CNW, and CNW took over Superior’s other assets.
Superior’s President and Secretary Provo and Vik continued as officers of the
buyer CNW after the transaction. Provo became President of CNW in 1958.
The allegations also showed a continuity of ownership. Before the
transaction, CNW shareholders owned Superior’s enterprise indirectly because
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CNW owned the vast majority of Superior’s shares. After the transaction, the
CNW shareholders owned Superior’s enterprise directly.
Finally, the allegations show that Superior dissolved shortly after the
transaction and CNW took on the liabilities necessary for the continuation of
Superior’s enterprise. The proposed Amended Complaint is not futile.
Union Pacific argues that the Fund failed to allege a continuation of
Superior’s enterprise because Superior ceased mine operations in 1954. CNW
argues that because there was no enterprise, there was no continuation of any
enterprise. Union Pacific cites Gray v. Mundelein College, 296 Ill.App.3d 795,
695 N.E.2d 1379 (Ill. App. 1st Dist. 1998), to support its position. In Gray the
selling entity both continued to exist and underwent significant changes in
management, employees, and business operations after the transaction. 695
N.E.2d at 1389. In this case, Superior was an active corporation with assets at
the time of the transaction. Superior had to maintain those assets. CNW
acquired those assets, and so, acquired the obligation to maintain those assets.
Further Superior’s offices already were located in CNW’s general offices at the
time of the transaction. Provo and Vik also continued as officers of CNW after
the transaction. Finally, Superior dissolved after the transaction. The Gray case,
therefore, simply does not apply. When read favorably, the Fund has alleged
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some ongoing activity that continued after the transaction. The allegations are
not futile.
Union Pacific also argues that the Fund fails to allege a continuity of
shareholders. Union Pacific cites cases that state that the purchasing
corporation must buy the selling corporation’s assets with shares of stock so that
the seller becomes a constituent part of the purchasing corporation. E.g., Myers,
596 N.E.2d at 756; Kaleta v. Whittaker Corp., 583 N.E.2d 567, 570-71(Ill. App. 1st
Dist. 1991).
Other cases, however, focus on the factual continuity of ownership after the
transaction rather than requiring a formal payment of stock for assets. In
Fenderson v. Athey Products Corp. Kohlman Div., 220 Ill.App.3d 832, 836, 581
N.E.2d 288, 291 (Ill. App. 1st Dist. 1991), the Court found a continuity of
ownership when the purchaser paid the seller $444,000 in cash, executed a
promissory note for $850,000, and paid stock worth $420,000 to $500,000. In
Steel Co. v. Morgan Marshall Industries, Inc., 278 Ill.App.3d 241, 248-50, 662
N.E.2d 595, 600 (Ill.App. 1st Dist. 1996), the Court found a that an issue of fact
existed regarding the continuity of ownership when the purchasing corporation
bought the seller’s assets from seller’s chief secured creditor. The secured
creditor had previously foreclosed on the assets and purchased the assets at a
private sale under the UCC. The Court found continuity of ownership could exist
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because the business continued operating at the same location, the chief
executive and owner of the seller became chief executive of the purchaser, and
the chief executive’s wife owned 80 percent of purchaser’s stock. The chief
executive’s continued control and his wife’s ownership of the stock could
establish a continuity of ownership. Id.
The Fenderson and Steel Co. cases hold that the realities of the
transaction may demonstrate a continuity of ownership even if the parties did not
engage in a formal payment of stock for assets. See Fenderson, 581 N.E.2d at
291-92 (rejecting the proposition that purchasing corporation’s stock must be the
primary consideration paid when the realities of the transaction shows that there
was a continuity of ownership); Steel Co., 662 N.E.2d at 600.
The Fund’s proposed allegations, when read favorably to the Fund, show a
continuity of ownership. The stockholders of CNW owned all the assets before
the transaction through CNW’s ownership of Superior, and the stockholders of
CNW owned all the assets after the transaction directly as the owners of CNW.
Moreover, Superior’s President Provo continued as an officer and director of
CNW after the transaction and became its president in 1958. When read
favorably to the Fund, these allegations are not futile.
THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to File First
Amended Complaint (d/e 16), is ALLOWED. The Clerk is directed to docket the
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proposed First Amended Complaint attached to the Motion. Defendant Union
Pacific is directed to respond to the First Amended Complaint by April 30, 2018.
ENTER: April 11, 2018
s/ Tom Schanzle-Haskins
TOM SCHANZLE-HASKINS
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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