Childress Cattle, LLC v. Cain et al

Filing 15

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER by Chief Judge Joseph H. McKinley, Jr.;denying dft 3 Motion to Dismiss; denying pla motion for default judgment; denied as moot dfts mot for leave to file responsive pleading; denying pla motion to strike; granting dft 13 Motion for Leave to file sur-reply. cc: Counsel(MLG)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY
LOUISVILLE DIVISION
CIVIL ACTION NO. 3:17-cv-00388-JHM
CHILDRESS CATTLE, LLC

PLAINTIFF

V.
CHRISTIE CAIN AND
R & C CAIN FARMS

DEFENDANTS
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

This matter is before the Court on Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss [DN 3], Plaintiff’s
Motion for Default Judgment [DN 7-1], Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to File Responsive Pleading
[DN 8], Plaintiff’s Motion to Strike [DN 12], and Defendants’ Motion for Leave to File a SurReply for Motion for Default Judgment [DN 13]. Fully briefed, these matters are ripe for
decision.
I. BACKGROUND
Plaintiff Childress Cattle, LLC (hereinafter “Childress”) operates as a cattle broker,
selling cattle that it acquires from various stockyards to interested buyers. (Compl. [DN 1-2] ¶
5.) Defendant R & C Cain Farms (hereinafter “Cain Farms”) is in the business of buying cattle
and was a customer of Childress’ for several years prior to this action. (Id. ¶ 6.) Cain Farms was
owned and operated by Roger Cain, now deceased. (Id. ¶ 3.) Plaintiff alleges that Roger Cain
and his wife, Christie Cain, were partners in Cain Farms. (Id.) During these years, Cain Farms
entered into several oral contracts with Childress in which Childress was to deliver cattle to Cain
Farms and, in return, Cain Farms was to tender the agreed upon price. (Id. ¶ 6.) As of
September 9, 2015, Cain Farms’ account with Childress was paid in full. (Id. ¶ 8.) Between
September 9, 2015 and December 22, 2015, Cain Farms ordered and received eight shipments of

cattle from Childress for a total of $675,239.63. (Id. ¶ 21.) As of December 22, 2015, Cain
Farms’ had remitted payments totaling $380,607.65. (Id.) Since then, Cain Farms has failed to
tender further payment, leaving an outstanding balance of $294,631.98 as of April 28, 2017.
(Id.) Due to this nonpayment, Childress contacted Christie Cain of Cain Farms many times
requesting payment and informing Cain Farms of its intent to repossess the cattle; however, Cain
Farms still failed to tender prompt payment. [Id.] Childress was unable to repossess the cattle,
as it believes the cattle have all been sold. [Id.] As such, Childress filed suit on June 23, 2017
alleging breach of contract, breach of oral contract, conversion, and quantum meruit against Cain
Farms and Christie Cain. (Id. ¶¶ 24–45.)
Before the Court now is Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss premised upon a lack of personal
jurisdiction, a lack of subject matter jurisdiction, improper service of process, and improper
venue. In addition, various other motions are now before the Court as well. The Court will
address each in turn.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Motion to Dismiss
Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss sets forth several theories for relief, including: lack of
personal of personal jurisdiction, a lack of subject matter jurisdiction, improper service of
process, and improper venue.
1. Personal Jurisdiction
a. Standard of Review
The party asserting personal jurisdiction has the burden of showing that such jurisdiction
exists. Theunissen v. Matthews, 935 F.2d 1454, 1458 (6th Cir. 1991). Personal jurisdiction is
“[a]n essential element of the jurisdiction of a district . . . court” and without personal

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jurisdiction the court is “powerless to proceed to an adjudication.” Employers Reinsurance
Corp. v. Bryant, 299 U.S. 374, 382 (1937); Schall v. Suzuki Motor of Am., Inc., No. 4:14-CV00074-JHM, 2017 WL 2059662, at *1 (W.D. Ky. May 12, 2017). When a district court rules on
a Rule 12(b)(2) motion to dismiss without an evidentiary hearing, the plaintiff need only make a
“prima facie” case that the court has personal jurisdiction. See, e.g., Conn v. Zakharov, 667 F.3d
705, 711 (6th Cir. 2012).
“In a diversity case, a federal court determines whether personal jurisdiction exists over a
nonresident defendant by applying the law of the state in which it sits.” Third Nat. Bank in
Nashville v. WEDGE Grp. Inc., 882 F.2d 1087, 1089 (6th Cir. 1989) (citing American Greetings
Corp. v. Cohn, 839 F.2d 1164, 1167 (6th Cir.1988)); see also First Nat. Bank of Louisville v. J.
W. Brewer Tire Co., 680 F.2d 1123, 1125 (6th Cir. 1982). Thus, the Court will apply Kentucky
law. Kentucky’s long-arm statute permits Kentucky courts to exercise personal jurisdiction over
certain nonresident defendants. Churchill Downs, Inc. v. NLR Entm’t, LLC, No. 3:14-CV-166H, 2014 WL 2200674, at *5 (W.D. Ky. May 27, 2014) (citing KRS § 454.210). However, “the
Kentucky Supreme Court [has] clarified that this statute is not co-extensive with federal due
process.” Id. (citing Caesars Riverboat Casino, LLC v. Beach, 336 S.W.3d 51, 56 (Ky. 2011)).
A plaintiff’s claims must instead “meet one of the nine explicit categories of the long-arm
statute, even if federal due process would otherwise permit personal jurisdiction.” Id. In order
to assert personal jurisdiction over a defendant under the Kentucky long-arm statute, a plaintiff
must show: “(1) [the defendant’s] conduct falls under a statutory category identified in KRS §
454.210(2)(a), and (2) [the plaintiff’s] claim ‘arises from’ that statutory provision.” Id. (citing
Caesars, 336 S.W.3d at 58). Under the second prong, “[a] claim ‘arises from’ certain conduct

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when there is a ‘reasonable and direct nexus’ between the conduct causing injury and the
defendant’s activities in the state.” Id. (citing Caesars, 336 S.W.3d at 59).
Upon a finding that the above requirements are met, each defendant must “have certain
minimum contacts with it such that the maintenance of the suit does not offend ‘traditional
notions of fair play and substantial justice.’” Hinners v. Robey, 336 S.W.3d 891, 897 (Ky. 2011)
(citing Int’l Shoe Co. v. Washington, 326 U.S. 310, 316 (1945)).
b. Parties to the Action Generally
Both Defendants here, Cain Farms and Christie Cain, contend that Childress’ Complaint
should be dismissed for lack of personal jurisdiction. Specifically, Cain Farms, as an Indiana
entity, and Christie Cain, as an Indiana resident, argue that they are not subject to personal
jurisdiction under the Kentucky long-arm statute or the Due Process Clause due to their lack of
contacts with the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
In its Complaint, Childress alleges that Cain Farms is a partnership and that Roger and
Christie Cain were both general partners. Defendants argue that Cain Farms was in fact a sole
proprietorship and that Christie Cain was neither a partner nor an agent of the sole
proprietorship, rather, she was simply Roger Cain’s wife.

Though these matters may be

dispositive as to the claims against the Defendants individually, here, the Court will take all
allegations in the well-pleaded complaint as true and save all questions of material fact for later
proceedings. Johnson v. Kentucky Youth Research Ctr., Inc., 682 S.W.2d 799, 800 (Ky. Ct.
App. 1985) (assuming the allegations in the complaint as true, that defendant was a sole
proprietorship, and saving the question of whether the entity was a sole proprietorship or a
partnership for summary judgment).

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Plaintiff has plausibly shown that Cain Farms was a partnership and Christie Cain was a
partner because the name of the entity—R & C Cain Farms—reflects Roger and Christie Cain’s
initials, Christie signed checks on behalf of R & C Cain Farms to pay for the cattle at issue, the
checks Christie signed were issued from R & C Cain Farms’ checking account rather than a
personal account, Christie fielded phone calls from Bonnie Childress regarding payment for the
cattle, and Christie corresponded with Childress regarding payment and cattle after Roger’s
death. These facts give rise to the reasonable inference that a general partnership was formed.
Therefore, for the purposes of this Opinion, Cain Farms will be treated as a partnership and
Christie Cain as a partner. Accordingly, the Court must determine that each Defendant is subject
to jurisdiction in the Commonwealth sufficient to satisfy the long-arm statute and that each
Defendant had minimum contacts with the Commonwealth of Kentucky in order to properly
assert personal jurisdiction.
c. Cain Farms
As to Cain Farms, “a partner’s actions may be imputed to the partnership for the purpose
of establishing minimum contacts.” Guy v. Layman, 932 F. Supp. 180, 182 (E.D. Ky. 1996)
(quoting Sher v. Johnson, 911 F.2d 1357, 1366 (9th Cir. 1990)); see also Stirling v. Hunt, No.
12-2737, 2013 WL 3328674, at *9 (W.D. Tenn. July 1, 2013) (adopting the reasoning in Guy,
932 F. Supp. at 182). Thus, Roger and Christie Cain’s contacts with Kentucky will be examined
in order to determine if this Court has sufficient personal jurisdiction over Cain Farms.1

Even if Cain Farms is determined to be a sole proprietorship, Roger Cain’s contacts with the Commonwealth of
Kentucky can give rise to personal jurisdiction over Cain Farms. At issue here are contracts made by Roger Cain
with Childress in Kentucky. “The business contracts —those made personally or by agents within their actual or
apparent authority or, when made beyond the agency power, ratified—are the proprietor’s contracts.” Sparkman v.
Consol Energy, Inc., 470 S.W.3d 321, 328 (Ky. 2015), as corrected (Sept. 24, 2015). Therefore, the acts of the sole
proprietor are the acts of the sole proprietorship, and the minimum contacts analysis will be the same as for a
partnership where the partner’s contacts are imputed to the partnership.
1

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i. Long-Arm Statute
Childress argues that this court has personal jurisdiction over Cain Farms pursuant to
Kentucky’s long-arm statute, KRS § 454.210, as Cain Farms is a nonresident of Kentucky. This
requires two separate showings by Childress, as the Court must both determine “(1) whether the
law of the state in which the district court sits authorizes jurisdiction, and (2) whether the
exercise of jurisdiction comports with the Due Process Clause.” Brunner v. Hampson, 441 F.3d
457, 463 (6th Cir. 2006).
As to the first requirement, the Kentucky Supreme Court has found that the statute
requires a two-prong showing before a court can exercise personal jurisdiction over a
nonresident. Ceasar’s, 336 S.W.3d at 57. First, the Court must find that a nonresident’s conduct
or activities fall within one of nine enumerated subsections in KRS § 454.210. Id. at 58.
Second, the Court must determine if the plaintiff’s claims arise from the defendant’s actions. Id.
This requires a showing of “a reasonable and direct nexus between the wrongful acts alleged in
the complaint and the statutory predicate for long-arm jurisdiction[.]” Id. at 59.
The Court finds that Cain Farms’ activities in the state constitute “transacting any
business in this Commonwealth,” the first of the nine possibilities for jurisdiction under KRS §
454.210. “Courts construing the definition of “transacting business” have defined the terms
using their plain meaning. Black’s Law Dictionary defines ‘transact’ as ‘[t]o carry on or conduct
(negotiations, business, etc.) to a conclusion.’” Aces High Coal Sales, Inc. v. Cmty. Tr. & Bank
of W. Georgia, No. CV 15-161-DLB-HAI, 2017 WL 3122661, at *14 (E.D. Ky. July 21, 2017)
(citing Bayou City Expl., Inc. v. Consumer Advocate Servs. Enters., LLC, No. 1:14-CV-99-DJH,
2015 WL 4094259, at *3 (W.D. Ky. July 7, 2015)). “[T]he key inquiry in personal jurisdiction
cases concerns the activities of the defendant, not the plaintiff.” Philmo, Inc. v. Checker Food

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Holding Co., No. 1:15-CV-00098-JHM, 2016 WL 1092862, at *3 (W.D. Ky. Mar. 21, 2016)
(quoting Spectrum Scan, LLC v. AGM CA, No. 3:07 CV 72 H, 2007 WL 2258860, at *3 (W.D.
Ky. Aug. 2, 2007)). The Court must consider that, “a contract with a Kentucky company [does]
not alone support the exercise of jurisdiction over a nonresident [d]efendant under KRS
454.210(2)(a)(1).” Churchill Downs, 2014 WL 2200674, at *6 (citing Spectrum Scan, 2007 WL
2258860, at *2–3); see also Calphalon Corp. v. Rowlette, 228 F. 3d 718, 722 (6th Cir. 2000)
(“[T]he mere existence of a contract . . . is insufficient to confer personal jurisdiction over [a
non-resident defendant]”).

Instead, “Kentucky courts have required a course of direct,

affirmative actions within a forum that result in or solicit a business transaction.” Gentry v.
Mead, No. CV 16-100-DLB-CJS, 2016 WL 6871252, at *3 (E.D. Ky. Nov. 21, 2016) (quoting
Modern Holdings, LLC v. Corning, Inc., No. 13-CV-405, 2015 WL 1481443, at *6 (E.D. Ky.
Mar. 31, 2015)).
Here, Cain Farms’ conduct amounted to that necessary to confer jurisdiction under the
Kentucky long-arm statute. Cain Farms entered into several contracts within the state between
2011 and 2016, performed and paid-in full on those contracts, entered into eight oral contracts
between September 9, 2015 and November 9, 2015 alone, partially paid on those 2015 contracts,
contacted Childress and was contacted by Childress numerous times regarding these and all
contracts between 2011 and 2015, and maintained an ongoing business relationship with
Childress Cattle in the state for a number of years. Further it is clear that the contracts created
between Cain Farms and Childress have given rise to the instant action, meaning there is a
“reasonable and direct nexus between the conduct causing injury and the defendant’s activities in
the state,” Caesars, 336 S.W.3d at 59, as the nonpayment on these contracts provide the basis for
the instant suit. Based on these facts, and because the parties do not dispute the fact that Cain

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Farms transacted business in Kentucky under the long-arm statute, Cain Farms’ conduct
sufficiently falls within the provision of the long-arm statute permitting personal jurisdiction
over any nonresident defendant “transacting any business in this [C]ommonwealth.” KRS §
454.210(2)(a)(1); see Phoenix Process Equip. Co. v. Capital Equip. & Trading Corp., No. 3:16CV-00024-JHM, 2017 WL 157834, at *3 (W.D. Ky. Jan. 13, 2017); Philmo, No. 1:15-CV00098-JHM, 2016 WL 1092862, at *3 (collecting cases).
ii. Due Process Requirements
After finding that Kentucky authorizes jurisdiction, the Court must determine whether the
exercise of personal jurisdiction conforms with due process. “The relevant inquiry is whether
the facts of the case demonstrate that the nonresident defendant possesses such minimum
contacts with the forum state that the exercise of jurisdiction would comport with ‘traditional
notions of fair play and substantial justice.’” Theunissen, 935 F.2d at 1459 (citations omitted).
The Sixth Circuit has identified three criteria for determining whether specific personal
jurisdiction may be exercised.
First, the defendant must purposefully avail himself of the privilege of acting in
the forum state or causing a consequence in the forum state. Second, the cause of
action must arise from the defendant’s activities there. Finally, the acts of the
defendant or consequences caused by the defendant must have a substantial
enough connection with the forum state to make the exercise of jurisdiction over
the defendant reasonable.
S. Mach. Co. v. Mohasco Indus., Inc., 401 F.2d 374, 381 (6th Cir. 1968).
The Sixth Circuit considers purposeful availment, the first prong under this test,
“essential” to a finding of personal jurisdiction. Intera Corp. v. Henderson, 428 F.3d 605, 616
(6th Cir. 2005) (quoting Calphalon Corp., 228 F.3d at 722). This requirement “serves to protect
a defendant from being haled into a jurisdiction by virtue of ‘random,’ ‘fortuitous,’ or
‘attenuated’ contacts.”

Id. (quoting Neal v. Janssen, 270 F.3d 328, 331 (6th Cir. 2001)).

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Additionally, “where an out-of-state agent is actively and personally involved in the conduct
giving rise to the claim, the exercise of personal jurisdiction should depend on traditional notions
of fair play and substantial justice; i.e., whether [the agent] purposely availed [himself] of the
forum and the reasonably foreseeable consequences of that availment.” Balance Dynamics Corp.
v. Schmitt Indus., Inc., 204 F.3d 683, 698 (6th Cir. 2000). “Physical presence of an agent is not
necessary, however, for the transaction of business in a state.” S. Mach. Co., 401 F.2d at 382.
Cain Farms principally argues that it did purposefully avail itself of the privilege of
acting in or causing a consequence in the Commonwealth of Kentucky as a nonresident buyer of
goods. It relies heavily on Tube Turns Div. of Chemetron Corp. v. Patterson Co., 562 S.W.2d
99, 100 (Ky. Ct. App. 1978), which states that courts generally distinguish nonresident buyers
and sellers because “[u]nlike the nonresident seller who seeks to distribute its products within the
forum state, the nonresident buyer enjoys no particular privilege or protection in purchasing
products from a resident seller.” However, Tube Turns is not wholly dispositive. The Tube
Turns court noted that the order at issue was not a single order, a part of a series of transactions,
or a particularly large order. Id. The court in Tube Turns concluded that “[t]he presence of one
or more of such factors can justify exercising jurisdiction over a nonresident buyer.” Id. at 101.
Cain Farms argues that it did not solicit business in or perform work in Kentucky, sign
contracts in Kentucky, provide goods or services in Kentucky, and never maintained an office,
post office box, or phone listing in Kentucky. Cain Farms contends that the extent of its
interaction with Kentucky included the phone calls made by Roger Cain, who never visited
Kentucky.

Though Cain Farms alleges that Roger Cain never visited Kentucky, physical

presence is not a requirement for purposeful availment. See S. Mach. Co., 401 F.2d at 382.

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While the factors listed by Cain Farms certainly weigh against purposeful availment, the
contacts with Kentucky were not quite as limited as Cain Farms suggests. Roger Cain, on behalf
of Cain Farms, placed numerous orders with Childress over the course of the five years prior to
his death—between 2011 and 2016. (Aff. James Childress [DN 7-1] at 1.) In fact, Cain Farms
had been a “regular customer” during this time period. (Id.) Between September and November
of 2015 alone, Cain Farms placed eight large orders—sometimes totaling over one hundred
thousand dollars at a time—with Childress. (Id. at 1–3.) Cain Farms paid in part on several of
these orders, sending large payments in the form of checks to Childress in Kentucky. (Id.) Over
the years, the transactions combined amounted to over one million dollars.
Weighing these factors, the Court finds that Cain Farms has purposefully availed itself to
the protections of the state of Kentucky so as to establish personal jurisdiction. These contacts
are hardly “random,” “fortuitous,” or “attenuated.” Neal, 270 F.3d at 331. Instead, the contacts
were continuous, so much so that they caused Childress and Cain Farms to develop an ongoing
business relationship of trust.

James Childress stated that he had “a very good business

relationship with Roger Cain and R & C Cain Farms,” noting that “[i]nvoices were often paid
late, but were always eventually paid.” (Aff. James Childress [DN 7-1] at 1.) Cain Farms
consistently solicited business with Childress within Kentucky. (Id. at 1–3.) Roger Cain, on
behalf of Cain Farms, placed the eight orders at issue with Childress. (Id.) Roger Cain also
actively communicated with Childress by placing “countless phone calls” to Childress
throughout the course of their relationship. (Pl.’s Resp. [DN 11] at 6.)
Ultimately, “where a defendant ‘has created continuing obligations between himself and
the residents of the forum, he manifestly has availed himself of the privilege of conducting
business there.’” Air Prod. & Controls, Inc. v. Safetech Int’l, Inc., 503 F.3d 544, 551 (6th Cir.

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2007) (quoting Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz, 471 U.S. 462, 476 (1985)). “Although entering
into a contract with an out-of-state party alone does not automatically establish sufficient
minimum contacts, the presence of certain factors in addition to the contract will be found to
constitute purposeful availment.”

Id.

Factors to consider are “prior negotiations and

contemplated future consequences, along with the terms of the contract and the parties’ actual
course of dealing.” Burger King, 471 U.S. at 479. Here, the parties did not engage in a one-time
transaction—they engaged in a continuing business relationship that lasted a period of many
years. Cain Farms reached out beyond Indiana’s borders to conduct business with a company
whose principal place of business it knew to be in Kentucky. Such contacts are not “random,”
“fortuitous,” or “attenuated,” but are the result of deliberate conduct that amounts to purposeful
availment. Air Prod. & Controls, 503 F.3d at 551; see Aug. v. Manley Toys, Ltd., 68 F. Supp. 3d
722, 730 (E.D. Mich. 2014) (finding sufficient purposeful availment where nonresident
defendant contracted with a resident of Michigan, never visited Michigan, contacted the resident
through email and telephone only, and deposited funds into resident’s Michigan bank account).
Further, the remaining due process requirements have been met as well. The Kentucky
long-arm statute already requires a finding that the claims arise from the defendant’s contacts
with the state, just as the Due Process Clause does, and the Court has already established that
Childress’ claims arise from the business Cain Farms transacted while in Kentucky. Finally,
“where, as here, the first two criteri[a] are met, ‘an inference of reasonableness arises’ and ‘only
the unusual case will not meet this third criteri[on].’” Air Prod. & Controls, 503 F.3d at 554
(quoting Theunissen, 935 F.2d at 1461). Under the third prong, courts consider the following
factors: “(1) the burden on the defendant; (2) the interest of the forum state; (3) the plaintiff’s

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interest in obtaining relief; and (4) other states’ interest in securing the most efficient resolution.”
Id. at 554–55 (citation omitted).
Here, while Cain Farms is a resident of Indiana, the burden to defend itself is not so great
so as to be unreasonable, as the evidence indicates that Cain Farms is located in Rush County,
Indiana, approximately 120 miles from this Court. The Commonwealth of Kentucky has an
interest in providing a forum for its residents to obtain relief from parties, even nonresident
parties, that breach contracts with Kentucky citizens, particularly contracts dealing with large
sums, as is the case here. Childress has an interest in obtaining such relief, as is it owed over
$290,000 due to Cain Farms’ alleged breaches. And, finally, while some of the actions at issue
in this case took place in Indiana, any Indiana forum would be unable to provide more effective
or efficient relief because the evidence and witnesses in this matter seem evenly split between
the parties in Kentucky and Indiana. Further, Indiana has less of an interest because Indiana
forum would only allow an Indiana resident, Cain Farms, to defend an action, whereas this Court
gives a Kentucky resident, Childress, an opportunity to enforce its rights under contracts made in
Kentucky. All factors considered, the Court has personal jurisdiction over Cain Farms.
d. Christie Cain
As to Christie Cain individually, the Court must find that she transacted business in and
had sufficient minimum contacts with the Commonwealth of Kentucky in order for personal
jurisdiction to be proper. See Guy, 932 F. Supp. at 183 (finding that for partners, liability and
jurisdiction are separate, each partner must individually have sufficient contacts with the forum,
and the partnership’s contacts or other partners’ contacts do not impute jurisdiction onto
individual partners).

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i. Long-Arm Statute
Echoing the above analysis, the Court must first establish that Christie Cain’s conduct or
activities fall within one of nine enumerated subsections in KRS § 454.210 and that the
plaintiff’s claims arise from Christie Cain’s actions, which requires “a reasonable and direct
nexus between the wrongful acts alleged in the complaint and the statutory predicate for longarm jurisdiction[.]” Ceasar’s, 336 S.W.3d at 58–59.
The Court finds that Christie Cain’s activities in the state constitute “transacting any
business in this Commonwealth,” the first of the nine possibilities for jurisdiction under KRS §
454.210.

Though a contract alone does not support the exercise of jurisdiction, Churchill

Downs, 2014 WL 2200674, at *6, a course of direct, affirmative actions within a forum that
result in or solicit a business transaction can sufficiently support a finding of personal
jurisdiction, Gentry, 2016 WL 6871252, at *3. Here, Christie Cain did not enter into the
contracts with Childress, but she did ultimately tender performance on those contracts by signing
and sending the checks on behalf of Cain Farms to Childress. She sent checks made from the
Cain Farms account to Childress Cattle in Kentucky and she directed Cain Farms’ financing
company to pay invoices. (Pl.’s Reply [DN 12] at 8.) Additionally, Childress asserts that she
fielded phone calls regarding the payment on the invoices prior to Roger Cain’s death. (Id. at 8.)
It is undisputed that on behalf of Cain Farms, Christie communicated with Bonnie Childress,
wife of James Childress, owner Childress Cattle, regarding payment after Roger Cain’s death.
Childress’ allegations and the undisputed facts illustrate that Christie Cain was involved in the
ongoing relationship between Cain Farms prior to and after Roger Cain’s death. Because this
relationship was a lengthy, continuous, and consistent business relationship, the Court finds
Christie Cain transacted business within the Commonwealth. Additionally, her actions are

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directly related to Childress’ injury. This is particularly true because Childress complains of
nonpayment on contractual obligations, and the evidence illustrates that Christie (perhaps
exclusively) was responsible for paying on the contracts at issue. Therefore, her failure to
perform and pay for the delivered cattle directly gives rise to Childress’ claims and the nexus
requirement is satisfied.
ii. Due Process Requirements
The Court must next determine that sufficient minimum contacts exist between the
nonresident and the forum under the Due Process Clause. The first step in this inquiry is the
defendant’s purposeful availment to the forum. S. Mach. Co., 401 F.2d at 381. As stated above,
Christie Cain’s contacts cannot have been “random,” “fortuitous,” or “attenuated.” Neal, 270
F.3d at 331. Though Christie Cain’s contacts were inarguably fewer and less frequent than
Roger Cain’s (and thereby Cain Farms’), she still had sufficient contact with the forum state to
reasonably expect to be haled into court here in Kentucky. As discussed above, Christie Cain
played a large part in performing on the contracts that Cain Farms created with Childress. Roger
Cain may have facilitated the contracts themselves by placing phone calls and contracting orally,
but Christie Cain was responsible for the payment due to Childress. Indeed it appears that
Christie, rather than Roger, ultimately rendered performance as she signed and sent checks to
Childress and she directed the finance company to pay on Childress’ invoices. (Def.’s Reply
[DN 12] at 8.) Additionally, she handled phone calls regarding payment placed by Childress
because, it appears, she was mostly or solely responsible for the payment. (Id.) Further, she
effectively took over Cain Farms after Roger Cain’s passing and transacted business on behalf of
Cain Farms. (Id.) Ultimately, “where a defendant ‘has created continuing obligations between
himself and the residents of the forum, he manifestly has availed himself of the privilege of

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conducting business there.’” Air Prod. & Controls, 503 F.3d at 551 (quoting Burger King, 471
U.S. at 476). Christie Cain created the continuing obligations contemplated by the requirements
of purposeful availment by paying on several of the contracts with Childress, who relied on
payment and expected to be paid due to the nature of the extensive and steady business
relationship involved.
Though a close question, the Court finds that Christie’s involvement does not offend the
notions of fair play and substantial justice. It is fair to say that when one is responsible for and
actually does perform and tender payment on several contracts with a supplier and unseasonably
halts payments without proffering an explanation, one would reasonably expect to be haled into
court in the forum where payment was due. This general notion describes the situation herein.
Christie Cain was responsible for the payment on the contracts and ceased payment without
notice or expressed reasoning to Childress. At that time, Christie Cain should have reasonably
expected to be haled into court in Kentucky to pay on those contracts to a Kentucky supplier.
The second and third due process requirements are additionally met. Here, the cause of
action arises from specifically Christie Cain’s activities (or lack thereof) in Kentucky. Because
Christie Cain was responsible for the payment on the contracts at issue, and payment ultimately
was not tendered, Christie Cain’s failure to pay directly gave rise to Childress’ claims.
Additionally, as discussed in the analysis as to Cain Farms, there is no undue or unreasonable
burden on Christie Cain to defend in Kentucky; Kentucky has a strong interest in protecting the
rights of its citizens; Childress has a large pecuniary interest in obtaining relief, as the cattle were
not repossessed; and Indiana has no more compelling interest or ability to better resolve this
matter. Accordingly, the Court has personal jurisdiction over Christie Cain as well.

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2. Subject Matter Jurisdiction
Alternatively, Defendants argue that the doctrine of claim preclusion or res judicata
warrants dismissing Childress’ complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.2

“State-court

judgments are given the same preclusive effect under the doctrines of res judicata and collateral
estoppel as they would receive in courts of the rendering state.” Anderson v. City of Blue Ash,
798 F.3d 338, 350 (6th Cir. 2015) (quoting Ohio ex rel. Boggs v. City of Cleveland, 655 F.3d
516, 519 (6th Cir. 2011)). In this diversity case, the Court will look to Indiana law to determine
the preclusive effect that attaches to an Indiana state court judgment. See Anderson, 798 F.3d at
350; Young v. Twp. of Green Oak, 471 F.3d 674, 680 (6th Cir. 2006); N. Indiana Commuter
Transp. Dist. v. Chicago SouthShore & S. Bend R.R., 685 N.E.2d 680, 684 (Ind. 1997).
In Indiana, the following four requirements must be satisfied for a claim to be
precluded under the doctrine of res judicata: “1) the former judgment must have been rendered
by a court of competent jurisdiction; 2) the former judgment must have been rendered on the
merits; 3) the matter now in issue was, or could have been, determined in the prior action; and 4)
the controversy adjudicated in the former action must have been between the parties to the
present suit or their privies.” Hermitage Ins. Co. v. Salts, 698 N.E.2d 856, 859 (Ind. Ct. App.
1998); see Indianapolis Downs, LLC v. Herr, 834 N.E.2d 699, 703 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005); see also
Valbruna Slater Steel Corp. v. Joslyn Mfg. Co., 804 F. Supp. 2d 877, 881 (N.D. Ind. 2011),
modified, No. 1:10-CV-044 JD, 2011 WL 8320458 (N.D. Ind. Nov. 17, 2011).
In order for a judgment to have preclusive effect under the principles of claim
preclusion, the claim must “have been fully and fairly litigated and finally decided in the court
“Some courts have considered a Rule 12(b)(1) motion . . . proper for dismissing a case under the doctrines of res
judicata or collateral estoppel”; however, other courts consider a motion based on res judicata principles proper
when filed under Rule 12(b)(6). 5B Charles Alan Wright et al., Federal Practice and Procedure § 1350 n.8.60 (3d
ed.), Westlaw (database updated April 2017). Because the Court will undertake a similar analysis under either
section of Rule 12 and because the parties have fully briefed the matter, the Court will address this argument herein.

2

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which rendered the original judgment.” Pringle v. Standard Life & Acc. Ins. Co., 391 N.E.2d
677, 683 (Ind. App. 1979) (quoting Durfee v. Duke, 375 U.S. 106, 111 (1963)); Sec. State Bank
v. Washburn, 650 N.E.2d 74, 76 (Ind. Ct. App. 1995); see Butler v. Stover Bros. Trucking Co.,
546 F.2d 544, 551 (7th Cir. 1977) (finding that preclusion will not be applied unless the party it
is asserted against “had a full and fair opportunity to litigate the issue in the prior proceeding and
that application of the doctrine will not result in an injustice under the particular circumstances
of the case”).
The issue here is whether the party against whom preclusion is sought, Childress, had a
full and fair opportunity to litigate in the Rush County probate proceedings so as to give rise to
preclusive effect herein. Under Indiana law, any person bringing a claim adverse to the estate of
a decedent is deemed incompetent to testify as a witness as to matters against the estate. Ind.
Code Ann. § 34-45-2-4. This is aptly named the “dead man’s statute,” as its purpose is to is to
protect a decedent’s estate from spurious claims. 3 Fletcher v. Hoeppner Wagner & Evans, LLP,
No. 2:14-CV-231, 2015 WL 4599439, at *3 (N.D. Ind. July 29, 2015) (citing Gabriel v. Gabriel,
947 N.E.2d 1001, 1009 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011)). In deciding the preclusive effect of the statute, the
Court must look to Indiana law and predict what effect the Indiana courts would give to prior
litigation subject to this statute. Anderson, 798 F.3d at 350. Courts within the Seventh Circuit
have summarily denied giving preclusive effect to original judgments that limited the testimony
and evidence put on by the parties due to dead man acts. Fred Olson Motor Serv. v. Container
Corp. of Am., 401 N.E.2d 1098, 1102 (Ill. App. 1980) (seminal case denying preclusive effect of
an original judgment where a party was unable to fully present evidence in the first action,
finding that the use of the dead man’s act created a fundamental unfairness in the subsequent
As a general note, Kentucky’s dead man’s statute, KRS § 421.210, was repealed in 1992, upon enactment of the
Kentucky Rules of Evidence. The previous testimonial prohibitions against such testimony do not now apply,
although certain testimonial privileges may survive a declarant’s death. Ky. R. Evid. 503(c), 506(c).
3

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case as to not allow the application of res judicata); see Butler v, 546 F.2d at 551 (finding that it
would be unfair to allow a plaintiff to invoke preclusion and benefit from the operation of the
dead man act); Kemling v. Country Mut. Ins. Co., 437 N.E.2d 1253, 1257–58 (Ill. App. 1982)
(finding that where the dead man’s act prevented a party from presenting evidence in a prior
proceeding, that party did not have a full opportunity to litigate, and preclusion will not prevent
relitigation in the subsequent suit); see also Snider v. Consolidation Coal Co., 973 F.2d 555, 559
(7th Cir. 1992) (“A party has not had the requisite full and fair opportunity if he or she was
unable to present critical evidence in the initial proceeding.”); Kendall v. C.F. Indus., Inc., 624 F.
Supp. 1102, 1107 (N.D. Ill. 1986) (“[W]here the second action uses procedures or evidence not
available in the first . . . preclusion should not apply.”).
Following suit, the Court will not give preclusive effect to the Indiana probate
proceeding. The Rush County Superior Court denied Childress’ claims against the estate of
Roger Cain. (Order [DN 3-4] at 1.) In so doing, the court determined that because Childress’
claims were adverse to the estate, James and Bonnie Childress were found to be incompetent
witnesses under Indiana’s dead man’s statute, Ind. Code Ann. § 34-45-2-4. Pursuant to this
statute, the court precluded James and Bonnie Childress from testifying at all in the proceeding
and from offering evidence as to their claims against the estate. (Order [DN 3-4] at 2–3.)
Specifically, the court refused the Childresses to admit invoices as to the cattle delivered to Cain
Farms because the testimony of the Childresses would be required to establish a foundation for
that evidence. (Id. at 3.) Ultimately, the court found that the Childresses had proved, by a
preponderance of the evidence, “that they shipped and delivered cattle on numerous occasions”
and “that they have received payment from the decedent for cattle”; however, they “failed to

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prove that they were not paid in full.” (Id. at 2.) Therefore, the court denied Childess’ claim
against the estate. (Id. at 3.)
It is clear that Childress has not had its claims litigated at all, much less fairly or fully.
James and Bonnie Childress, of Childress Cattle, were entirely unable to put on evidence of their
claims against the estate or to defend their claims through testimony. Even their invoices were
denied admission by the court. As seen, courts in the Seventh Circuit have squarely addressed
this issue and determined that giving preclusive effect to a judgment such as this one, rendered
without all parties being able to fully and fairly litigate, would result in manifest injustice and
unfairness in any later proceeding. Though the Indiana Supreme Court has not ruled on the
preclusive nature of first judgments invoking the dead man’s act, this Court finds the reasoning
used by other courts in the Seventh Circuit4 persuasive and predicts that the Indiana Supreme
Court would likely adopt this reasoning as well. As such, this Court will not give preclusive
effect to the Rush County Superior Court judgment, as the Childresses were denied the
opportunity to fully and fairly litigate their claim. 5 To reach any other conclusion would likely
be an unconstitutional denial of due process of law.

These cases focus on Illinois law, which has a similar dead man’s act: “In the trial of any action in which any party
sues or defends as the representative of a deceased person or person under a legal disability, no adverse party or
person directly interested in the action shall be allowed to testify on his or her own behalf to any conversation with
the deceased or person under legal disability or to any event which took place in the presence of the deceased or
person under legal disability . . . .” 735 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/8-201.

4

5

Even if the Indiana Supreme Court would reach a different decision, the Court has grave doubts as to whether there
is mutuality of the parties here. Defendants contend that prior probate proceeding involved the same parties in this
suit, whereas Childress contends that the parties are now different. In the probate proceeding, the parties included
Childress Cattle and Roger Cain’s estate. Here, the parties include Childress Cattle, R & C Cain Farms, and Christie
Cain. For the purposes of this Opinion, the Court has assumed Plaintiff’s allegations in its well-pleaded Complaint
to be true and has treated Cain Farms as a partnership and Christie Cain as a partner. As such, the parties here do
not appear to be the same as in the original probate action. Therefore, the doctrine of claim preclusion alternatively
fails for a lack of mutuality.

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3. Improper Service of Process
Defendants contend that service upon Christie Cain was improper because Cain Farms
was a sole proprietorship and Christie Cain could not have been served because she was not a
managing agent of the proprietorship and service was improper as to both Defendants because
they are both not subject to Kentucky’s long-arm statute, KRS § 454.210. As discussed above,
for the purposes of this Opinion, the Court will consider the facts Childress alleged in its wellpleaded complaint as true and will assume that Cain Farms was a partnership and that Christie
Cain was a partner.

The service of process was effectuated on Christie Cain as to her

individually and her as “d/b/a [doing business as] R & C Cain Farms.” (Sec. State Return
Service [DN 12-1] at 1.) As such, service was proper because Cain Farms, as a partnership, was
properly served by service on a partner, Christie Cain, and Christie Cain, as a partner, was
properly served as well. Ky. R. Civ. P. 4.04(4) (“Service shall be made upon a partnership or
unincorporated association subject to suit under a common name by serving a partner or
managing agent of the partnership or an officer or managing agent of the association . . . .”).
Additionally, as determined in Par A.1. supra, both defendants are subject to personal
jurisdiction in Kentucky under Kentucky’s long-arm statute. Accordingly, the Court will not
dismiss Childress’ Complaint for improper service of process.
4. Improper Venue
Defendants alternatively argue that venue is improper and that the Court should dismiss
the case under the doctrine of forum non conveniens.

(Mot. Dismiss [DN 3-1] at 11.)

Defendants assert that “a court, even when properly vested with jurisdiction and venue, may
dismiss an action upon the determination [that a forum] more convenient for the parties and

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witnesses [exists].” (Id. (citing Roos v. Kentucky Ed. Ass’n, 580 S.W.2d 508, 508 (Ky. Ct. App.
1979)).
In this Circuit, “[a] dismissal upon the grounds of forum non conveniens is justified when
a defendant establishes that an adequate alternative forum is available and that the public and
private factors enumerated in Gulf Oil Corp. v. Gilbert, 330 U.S. 501, 508–09 (1947)
demonstrate that the chosen forum is unnecessarily burdensome to a defendant or a district
court.” Zions First Nat. Bank v. Moto Diesel Mexicana, S.A. de C.V., 629 F.3d 520, 523 (6th
Cir. 2010). In a forum non conveniens challenge, the relevant public and private factors, as set
forth in Gulf Oil, “include access to witnesses and evidence, availability of compulsory process,
cost of obtaining witnesses, administration difficulties for the trial court, local interest in the
litigation, and the law applicable to the controversy.” Id. (citing Gulf Oil, 330 U.S. at 508–09).
Typically, “a district court may decline to exercise jurisdiction over a case when a foreign
tribunal can more appropriately conduct the litigation,” Ajuba Int’l, L.L.C. v. Saharia, 871 F.
Supp. 2d 671, 680 (E.D. Mich. 2012), “as the doctrine of forum non conveniens applies only in
cases in which the alternative forum is in another country; if another federal district is an
alternative forum, dismissal on grounds of forum non conveniens is inapplicable and statutory
provision related to change of venue applies.” Zions, 629 F.3d at 520 hn.4.
Here, Defendants are citizens of Indiana and Childress is a citizen of Kentucky; meaning,
Defendants are not seeking dismissal under forum non conveniens because a more appropriate
venue lies outside of the United States. Instead, they allege that the proper venue lies in Indiana.
Because another federal district court would be a proper venue, to dismiss this action under
forum non convenience would be an inappropriate application of the doctrine.

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Additionally, “[i]n determining whether a case should be dismissed on the grounds of
forum non conveniens, a district court must apply a strong presumption in favor of a plaintiff’s
selected forum, particularly if the forum is the home of the plaintiff, because “it is reasonable to
assume that this choice is convenient.” Id. at 523–24. Defendants have neither argued nor
established that the “oppressiveness and vexation” Defendants face is totally out of all proportion
to Childress’ convenience or that this venue is “unnecessarily burdensome.” Id. For these
reasons, the Court will not dismiss Childress’ complaint for improper venue under forum non
conveniens.
Overall, Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss fails on all accounts. Several factual issues have
arisen, and they have not been ignored by the Court. At this stage, these issues cannot be
resolved due to the incompleteness of the record; therefore, they will be properly decided upon
motions for summary judgment or reserved for a jury trial.
B. Motion for Default Judgment
Childress filed a Motion for Default Judgment in the LaRue Circuit County Court on
June 23, 2017 arguing that service was proper as of June 1, 2017, and, because Defendants failed
to respond within 20 days, default was proper. (Mot. Default J. [DN 7-1] at 1.) This Motion is
now before the court because a “federal court takes the case on removal exactly as the case
stood in state court and treats all pending motions as if filed in federal court.” Williamson Cty.
Bd. of Educ. v. C.K., No. 3:07-0826, 2007 WL 3023616, at *4 (M.D. Tenn. Oct. 11, 2007).
Defendants argue that they were served and answered within the 20 day time period
required in Kentucky state court. They first argue that the service rendered on June 1, 2017 was
actually valid effective June 9, 2017. This first attempt at service was made by the Kentucky
Secretary of State, which sent a summons and complaint to Defendants via certified mail on two

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occasions on May 15, 2017. (Mot. Default J. [DN 7-1] at 1.) The Secretary of State made its
return to the LaRue County Circuit Court on June 1, 2017, and this return was filed on June 9,
2017. It is well-established that “[w]hen the Secretary of State [makes] its statutorily required
return to the circuit court, the time for answering the complaint by [the defendant begins] to run.”
Deskins v. Estep, 314 S.W.3d 300, 303 (Ky. Ct. App. 2010). Defendants argue that the date that
the return was filed with the court, June 9, 2017, not the date that the return was actually made,
June 1, 2017, triggered the 20 day time period for answering the Complaint. However, the
Kentucky Court of Appeals has determined that the summons and complaint are deemed noticed
as of the date of the return, not as of the date the return is filed with the circuit court. Spragens v.
Eads, No. 2011-CA-001182-ME, 2012 WL 2052103, at *3 (Ky. Ct. App. June 8, 2012).
Therefore, the service was effective on June 1, 2017. The second attempt at service was made by
the Rush County Sheriff’s Office and made on June 7, 2017. This service was undisputedly
effective. Regardless of the second service, Defendants were served as of the date of the return
by the Secretary of State on June 1, 2017.
When using June 1, 2017 as the date of service, it is clear that Defendants did not respond
within the prescribed 20 day period under state law. However, Defendants did properly and
timely remove this action pursuant to the 30 day time period afforded by 28 U.S.C. § 1446(b).
Defendants must be afforded the right of removal under the federal removal statute, 28 U.S.C. §
1446 and must be given the statutorily prescribed 30 day time limit—any other result would
vitiate the very foundation of the rule.
Even more, the law disfavors default judgments, particularly in removal actions. See
Newsome v. Alexander, No. 79-70192, 1979 WL 15498, at *4 (E.D. Mich. June 8, 1979)
(citation omitted).

This is because “the central purpose of the removal statutes would be

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abrogated and form would be elevated over substance if the defaults were upheld” merely
because they were entered prior to the running of the removal time. Id. Meaning, “to avoid the
entry of a default, [defendants] would [be] forced to answer the complaint in state court within
[the prescribed 20] days, or complete the process of removal within that time. Yet Congress has
seen fit to grant 30 days for removal.” Id. (citing Berberian v. Gibney, 514 F.2d 790, 792 (1st
Cir. 1975)). In short, the interests of justice do not allow this Court to give effect to the Motion
for Default Judgment filed in the LaRue County Circuit Court when the instant Notice of
Removal was proper. Accordingly, the Court will not grant Childress’ Motion for Default
Judgment.
C. Motion for Leave to File Responsive Pleading
Alternatively, Defendants have requested the Court grant them leave to file a responsive
pleading to Childress’ Complaint in the event that the Court finds that they did not properly
respond in time. Because the Court denied the Motion for Default as seen above, no additional
time is necessary to file a responsive pleading. Therefore, the Motion for Leave is moot.
D. Motion to Strike
The Court will now address Childress’ Motion to Strike Christie Cain’s affidavit. In the
Motion to Strike, Childress summarily argues that the Affidavit of Christie Cain [DN 8-3] should
be stricken from the record because it “is self-serving, unsupported by actual facts, contains
hearsay, and includes information irrelevant to the issues in this cause of action and in these
pleadings.” (Mot. Strike [DN 12] at 9.) Childress principally relies on Pixler for the proposition
that, in reviewing motions to dismiss, the Court should use the same standard as it would for
motions for summary judgment; meaning, “[a]n affidavit or declaration used to support or
oppose a motion must be made on personal knowledge, set out facts that would be admissible in

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evidence, and show that the affiant or declarant is competent to testify on the matters stated.”
Pixler v. Huff, No. 3:11-CV-00207-JHM, 2011 WL 5597327, at *4 (W.D. Ky. Nov. 17, 2011)
(quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)).
Childress’ argument in the instant context is inapposite. Though Childress points to
neither the correct federal rules nor relevant precedent, Rule 12(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure governs motions to strike. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(f), the Court
may “strike from a pleading an insufficient defense or any redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or
scandalous matter.” “The purpose of a motion to strike is to avoid the expense of ‘litigating
spurious issues’ by dispensing with them before trial.” CWI, Inc. v. Smartdog Servs., LLC, No.
1:15-CV-00139-GNS, 2016 WL 2654085, at *3 (W.D. Ky. May 9, 2016) (quoting SidneyVinstein v. A.H. Robins Co., 697 F.2d 880, 885 (9th Cir. 1983)); Pixler, 2011 WL 5597327, at
*16. “When ruling on a motion to strike, the court must view the pleading in question in the
light most favorable to the non-moving party.” Boultinghouse v. Herrington, No. 4:14-CV00100-JHM, 2016 WL 324527, at *1 (W.D. Ky. Jan. 26, 2016) (citation omitted). Generally,
striking a pleading “is a drastic remedy to be resorted to only when required for the purposes of
justice . . . [and] should be granted only when the pleading to be stricken has no possible relation
to the controversy[.]” Boultinghouse, 2016 WL 324527, at *1 (quoting Brown v. Williamson
Tobacco Corp. v. United States, 201 F.2d 819, 822 (6th Cir. 1953)). “Motions to strike under
Rule 12(f) are committed to the sound discretion of the of the trial court.” Equal Employment
Opportunity Comm’n v. Indi’s Fast Food Rest., Inc., No. 3:15-CV-00590-JHM, 2016 WL
7473130, at *6 (W.D. Ky. Dec. 28, 2016)
As stated, Rule 12(f) empowers the Court to strike certain material from “a pleading.”
Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(f) (emphasis added). The Rules of Civil Procedure define “pleading” as:

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[A] complaint and an answer; a reply to a counterclaim denominated as such; an
answer to a cross-claim, if the answer contains a cross-claim; a third-party
complaint, if a person who was not an original third party is summoned under the
provisions of Rule 14; and a third-party answer, if a third-party complaint is
served.
Fed. R. Civ. P. 7(a). “An affidavit is not a pleading that is subject to a motion to strike under
Rule 12(f).” Trustees of Plumbers & Steam Fitters Local 184 Supplemental Pension Plan v.
Ivitts Plumbing Contractors, Inc., No. 5:12-CV-112-TBR, 2014 WL 3905589, at *3 (W.D. Ky.
Aug. 11, 2014) (citing Fox v. Mich. State Police Dep’t, 173 F. App’x 372, 374 (6th Cir. 2006);
Adams v. Shelby Cnty., Tenn., No. 03–2975 B, 2006 WL 522422, at *1 (W.D. Tenn. Mar. 30,
2006); City of Kalamazoo v. Mich. Disposal Serv. Corp., 125 F.Supp.2d 219, 221–22 (W.D.
Mich. 2000)); Sutton v. U.S. Small Bus. Admin., 92 F. App’x 112, 118 (6th Cir. 2003)).
Moreover, motions to strike are generally disfavored. “Rather than striking material, a
court may simply ignore inadmissible evidence.” Ivitts Plumbing, 2014 WL 3905589, at *3
(citing Berry v. Frank’s Auto Body Carstar, Inc., 817 F.Supp.2d 1037, 1041–42 (S.D. Ohio
2011) (“[M]otions to strike are disfavored; a Court should ignore inadmissible evidence instead
of striking it from the record.”)). The Court finds this approach the most prudent. Accordingly,
the Court will deny Childress’ Motion to Strike and will consider the parties’ arguments
regarding the admissibility of the challenged portions of the affidavit at issue in its ruling on any
future motions for summary judgment.
E. Motion for Leave to File a Sur-Reply for Motion for Default Judgment
Defendants argue that Childress’ Reply [DN 12] contains new allegations in the form of a
Motion to Strike; therefore, they should be afforded the opportunity to respond to these
allegations. As such, Defendants have requested that the Court grant them leave to file a surreply to Childress’ Reply. “Although the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure do not expressly

26

permit the filing of sur-replies, such filings may be allowed in the appropriate circumstances,
especially ‘[w]hen new submissions and/or arguments are included in a reply brief, and a
nonmovant's ability to respond to the new evidence has been vitiated.’” Key v. Shelby Cty., 551
F. App’x 262, 265 (6th Cir. 2014) (quoting Seay v. Tenn. Valley Auth., 339 F.3d 454, 481 (6th
Cir. 2003)). Granting leave for a party to file a sur-reply is left to the sound discretion of the
district court. Id.
Here, Childress did raise an entirely new motion in its Reply to the Motion for Default
Judgment. Because Defendants’ Sur-Reply was included with the Motion, the Court was able to
consider the arguments made in the above analysis. As such, the Court will grant Defendants’
Motion for Leave to File a Sur-Reply.
IV. CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Defendants’ Motion to
Dismiss is DENIED; Plaintiff’s Motion for Default Judgment is DENIED; Defendants’ Motion
for Leave to File Responsive Pleading is DENIED as MOOT; Plaintiff’s Motion to Strike is
DENIED; and Defendants’ Motion for Leave to File a Sur-Reply is GRANTED.

August 9, 2017

cc: counsel of record

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