G&G Closed Circuit Events, LLC v. Lower D Group, LLC et al

Filing 41

ORDER AND REASONS denying 40 Motion for Summary Judgment, as set forth herein. Signed by Judge Greg Gerard Guidry on 06/03/2024. (ko)

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ORDER AND REASONS

The Court has before it Plaintiff G&G Closed Circuit Events, LLC’s (“G&G”) Motion for
Summary Judgment as to its claims raised against remaining Defendant James E. Book. R. Doc.
40. The Court has already entered an order of Default Judgment against Defendant Lower D
Group, LLC (“Lower D”), a limited liability company of which Book is a member. R. Doc. 25.
Book, proceeding pro se, has failed to file an opposition to G&G’s Motion. Nonetheless, G&G
has failed to show that it is entitled to summary judgment in its favor against Book. Accordingly,
the Court must DENY the Motion.

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Under Louisiana law, “no member, manager, employee, or agent of a limited liability
company is liable in such capacity for a debt, obligation, or liability of the limited liability
company” and “is not a proper party to a proceeding . . . against [the] limited liability company[.]”
La. R.S. 12:1320(B–C). Of course, this protection from liability does not preclude claims against
an LLC member for “fraud[,]” “breach of professional duty, or other negligent or wrongful act[s]”
based upon his individual conduct. La. R.S. 12:1320(D). But G&G has failed to show that there is
no genuine issue of material fact as to whether the conduct it alleges Book undertook in his
individual capacity constitute fraud, breach of professional duty, or negligent or wrongful acts
such that he may be held liable in this matter notwithstanding the protection of La. R.S. 12:1320.
In support of this argument, G&G asserts Book had the “right and ability to supervise the
infringing activities” and “possessed an obvious and direct financial interest in the exploitation of
G&G’s rights.” R. Doc. 40-2 at 4–5. However, if the right and ability to supervise and a financial
interest in the actions of an LLC alone were sufficient to hold a member of that LLC liable for
those actions, practically any member of an LLC could be held liable for its actions regardless of
his lack of actionable individual conduct, and the protection from liability provided by La. R.S.
12:1320 would be rendered meaningless. G&G alleges the sale of alcohol during the infringing
activities “could only have been accomplished by Book and [former Defendant Robert] Mendoza
or under their direct supervision and instructions” and that Book “offers no evidence that refutes
any activity on the saloon’s premises or his supervisory capacity.” But even if the Court were to
hold that selling alcohol or directing the sale of alcohol during the infringing activities constitutes
an action for which a member of the Lower D LLC could be held liable under La. R.S. 12:1320(D),
this allegation fails to show a lack of genuine issue of material fact as to whether that action was

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undertaken by Book specifically, and that is not Book’s burden to carry. See Celotex Corp. v.
Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986). Accordingly;
IT IS ORDERED that G&G’s Motion for Summary Judgment, R. Doc. 40, is DENIED. 1

New Orleans, Louisiana, this 3rd day of June, 2024.

The Court notes that its denial of G&G’s Motion does not resolve this matter—because Book has filed neither a
motion to dismiss nor his own motion for summary judgment, the Court cannot consider whether the claims raised
by G&G against him ought instead to be resolved in Book’s favor and dismissed. However, considering the
provisions of La. R.S. 12:1320, on the face of its Complaint, R. Doc. 1, it appears doubtful that G&G has
successfully stated any claim against Book in his individual capacity for which relief can be granted as a matter of
Louisiana law.
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