Novus Franchising, Inc. v. Dawson et al
Filing
32
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER granting in part and denying in part plaintiff's 5 Motion for Preliminary Injunction; granting in part and denying in part plaintiff's 14 Motion for Default Judgment (Written Opinion). Signed by Judge John R. Tunheim on July 25, 2012. (DML) (cc: Michael Dawson) Modified on 7/25/2012 (akl).
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA
NOVUS FRANCHISING, INC.,
Civil No. 12-0529 (JRT/JJG)
Plaintiff,
v.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
AND ORDER
MICHAEL L. DAWSON and
CARMIKE, INC.,
Defendants.
James M. Susag and Susan E. Tegt, LARKIN HOFFMAN DALY &
LINDGREN LTD, 7900 Xerxes Avenue South, Suite 1500, Minneapolis,
MN 55431, for plaintiff.
This action came before the Court for a hearing on July 9, 2012, pursuant to
Plaintiff Novus Franchising, Inc.’s (“Novus’s”) motion for a preliminary injunction and
motion for default judgment. Novus alleges that Defendant Michael L. Dawson breached
a franchise agreement under which Dawson agreed to operate a Novus automotive glass
repair and replacement business. Novus terminated the franchise agreement as a result of
Dawson’s alleged breaches.
Novus alleges that Dawson has since violated the
agreement’s non-compete provisions by operating an automotive glass replacement and
repair business, CarMike, and by using Novus’s trade name, trademarks, and products in
connection with that business.1 Novus brings a complaint alleging breach of a franchise
1
Dawson seemed to allege at the July 9 hearing that CarMike is no longer in business
and that Dawson is no longer using Novus’s trade name, trademarks, and products. The Court
will not consider these defenses because Dawson has not filed an answer.
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agreement and equipment lease, conversion, trademark infringement, violation of the
Minnesota Deceptive Trade Practices Act, unjust enrichment, and unfair competition and
demanding an audit, attorneys’ fees, and costs.
At the Court’s hearing on July 9,
James M. Susag and Susan E. Tegt appeared on behalf of Novus. Dawson participated in
the hearing by phone but has not filed an answer or otherwise appeared in this case. For
the reasons outlined below, the Court will grant Novus’s motions, in part, and will
dismiss Defendant CarMike, Inc.
I.
PERSONAL JURISDICTION
The Court must first determine if it has jurisdiction over defendants. A plaintiff
must allege sufficient facts in a complaint supporting a reasonable inference that the court
can exercise personal jurisdiction over the defendants. Dever v. Hentzen Coatings, Inc.,
380 F.3d 1070, 1072 (8th Cir. 2004).
“Because Minnesota’s long-arm statute is
‘coextensive with the limits of due process,’ the only question is whether the exercise of
personal jurisdiction comports with due process.” CBS Interactive Inc. v. Nat’l Football
League Players Ass’n, Inc., 259 F.R.D. 398, 404 (D. Minn. 2009) (quoting Minn. Mining
& Mfg. Co. v. Nippon Carbide Indus., Inc., 63 F.3d 694, 697 (8th Cir. 1995)); Minn. Stat.
§ 543.19. “Due process requires “minimum contacts” with the forum state. Burlington
Indus., Inc. v. Maples Indus., Inc., 97 F.3d 1100, 1102 (8th Cir. 1996).
The Court finds that it has jurisdiction over Dawson because, among other
contacts, Dawson contracted with Novus, a Minnesota corporation, to operate a Novus
franchise.
See Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz, 471 U.S. 462, 478-79 (1985).
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Furthermore, Dawson signed a forum selection clause with Novus, selecting Minnesota
as the forum for future disputes. See id. at 472. These contacts are sufficient to establish
jurisdiction.
The Court further finds, however, that Novus has not established that this Court
has jurisdiction over CarMike, Inc. CarMike, Inc. is a Virginia corporation that allegedly
has some relationship to CarMike, the automotive glass replacement and repair business
currently operated by Dawson. (See Compl. ¶¶ 3, 7-8, 12.) Novus has not alleged any
independent contacts that CarMike, Inc. has had with Minnesota, relying instead on
Dawson’s actions to establish jurisdiction over CarMike, Inc. However, Novus has not
shown that Dawson was acting as CarMike, Inc.’s agent when he entered into a franchise
agreement with Novus. In fact, the complaint does not allege that CarMike, Inc. had any
relationship to Dawson’s Novus franchise before Novus terminated Dawson’s contract.
Thus, Novus has established no basis to impute Dawson’s contacts with Minnesota to
CarMike, Inc.
Accordingly, this Court cannot exercise personal jurisdiction over
CarMike, Inc. and will dismiss CarMike, Inc. from this action.
The Court cautions Dawson, however, that the dismissal of CarMike, Inc. does not
give Dawson permission to fail to comply with injunctions or other orders entered by this
Court. Dawson must comply with these orders, including the injunctions entered below.
II.
PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION
The Court must next determine if Novus is entitled to a preliminary injunction.
The Court concludes that Novus’s motion for a preliminary injunction should be granted
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insofar as it demands that Dawson cease using Novus’s marks and products. As this
Court held in Novus Franchising, Inc. v. Oksendahl, No. 07-1964, 07-1965, 2007 WL
2084143, at *3 (D. Minn. July 17, 2007), Novus has a legitimate business interest in
protecting the goodwill that is associated with the Novus mark and Novus products.
Therefore, the Court finds that, to the extent that Novus seeks an injunction stopping
Dawson from using Novus’s marks and products, Novus has demonstrated a probability
of success on the merits of its claims, that it will suffer irreparable harm if injunctive
relief is not granted, that the harm it would suffer is greater than any harm imposed upon
Dawson resulting from the injunctive relief, and that the public interest favors the
granting of injunctive relief in this matter. See Dataphase Sys., Inc. v. C.L. Sys., Inc., 640
F.2d 109, 113 (8th Cir. 1981).2
However, the Court will not grant Novus’s request for preliminary injunction
insofar as it restricts Dawson from engaging in any “related business that is in any way
competitive with or similar to” Novus’s business for a period of two years following
termination of the franchise agreement. The Court is not persuaded that this aspect of the
non-compete provision is no more restrictive than necessary to protect Novus’s legitimate
business interests.
See Life Time Fitness, Inc. v. DeCelles, No. 12-420, 2012 WL
639453, at *4 (D. Minn. Feb. 28, 2012) (stating that a non-compete agreement must be
reasonable under Minnesota law). As this Court previously explained in Oksendahl, a
non-compete agreement that extends to all business products and services that compete
2
The Court will also grant the other aspects of Novus’s request for a preliminary
injunction, outlined in the Order below, enforcing reasonable aspects of Novus’s contract with
Dawson.
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with the Novus business, even those products and services that do not involve Novus
trademarks or Novus products, is likely to be more restrictive than necessary to protect
Novus’s legitimate business interests. 2007 WL 2084143, at *3. Furthermore, for the
same reasons outlined in Oksendahl, Novus has not shown that it will suffer irreparable
harm if Dawson continues to operate his business without using Novus products or
services, nor has Novus shown that the balance of the harms or the public interest weighs
against allowing Dawson to continue to operate his business without Novus marks or
products.3 Accordingly, the Court will grant the preliminary injunction only in part.
III.
DEFAULT JUDGMENT
The Court must next consider Novus’s motion for default judgment. Because
Dawson has not filed an answer, the Court will grant default judgment on Novus’s
claims, with the exception of Count IV.4
As part of its request for default judgment, Novus seeks a permanent injunction
enforcing its non-compete agreement. The Court is inclined to grant this injunction to the
3
See Oksendahl, 2007 WL 2084143, at *3-5 (holding (1) that it is unclear how Novus
would suffer irreparable harm when the defendants provided glass repair services and products
that have nothing to do with the Novus name and (2) that the balance of harms and public
interest weighed in favor of granting a preliminary injunction only with respect to the
defendants’ use of Novus marks and products).
4
Count IV alleges that Dawson breached the franchise agreement because he has had an
interest in, and assisted with the operation of, a competitive business engaged in automotive
glass repair and replacement in a certain area within two years of the termination of the franchise
agreement. As explained above, at this stage, the Court finds that a non-compete agreement that
extends to all business products and services that compete with the Novus business, even those
products and services that do not involve Novus trademarks or Novus products, is likely to be
more restrictive than necessary to protect Novus’s legitimate business interests. The Court
reserves its final decision on this issue, however.
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extent that it demands that Dawson cease using Novus’s marks and products because, as
explained above, Novus has a legitimate business interest in protecting the goodwill that
is associated with its marks and products. See Oksendahl, 2007 WL 2084143, at *3.5
Novus further requests $38,512.15 for amounts due and owing under the franchise
agreement and equipment lease and an award of costs, disbursements, and attorneys’ fees
of $18,118.57. At this stage, Novus has demonstrated that it is entitled to these awards.
However, the Court will give Dawson sixty days to file an answer to the complaint to
address these issues.6 If Dawson fails to answer, the Court will issue a permanent
injunction banning Dawson from using Novus’s marks and products and will enter the
requested monetary judgment.
Finally, the Court orders that, within ten days of this Order, Dawson submit
certain financial records to Novus so that Novus can determine the full amounts owed to
it by Dawson.
ORDER
Based upon all of the files, records, and proceedings herein and the arguments of
counsel, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
1.
Defendant CarMike, Inc. is DISMISSED.
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The Court is not inclined to grant the permanent injunction to the extent that it enforces
the non-compete agreement that extends to all business products and services that compete with
the Novus business.
6
The Court reminds Dawson that, if he wishes to respond to Novus’s allegations, he must
file an answer in this case. Dawson’s informal communications with the Court are not
substitutes for filing an answer.
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2.
Plaintiff’s Motion for a Preliminary Injunction [Docket No. 5] against
defendant Michael L. Dawson is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part, as follows:
a.
Effective immediately, defendant Michael L. Dawson is hereby
RESTRAINED AND ENJOINED from:
(1)
using or displaying Novus trademarks, copyrights, products,
tools, technology, or techniques in connection with glass repair and the
glass repair business; and
(2)
Retaining any manual or other confidential or proprietary
information provided to him under the Franchise Agreement.
b.
Defendant Michael L. Dawson shall:
(1)
Return all confidential and proprietary materials of Novus to
Novus including, but not limited to, all manuals and equipment, within five
(5) days of the date of this Order;
(2)
Remove and return to Novus or destroy all signage,
promotional materials, and other materials bearing the Novus Marks, within
five (5) days of the date of this Order;
(3)
Immediately take such steps as necessary to effect the transfer
of all telephone numbers, including all fax numbers and other listings for or
associated with defendant Michael L. Dawson’s former Novus franchise,
including but not limited to the telephone and/or fax number (804) 2611193 to Novus or its designee;
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(4)
In the event defendant Michael L. Dawson fails to effect the
transfer of the telephone, fax, and other listings for or associated with his
former Novus franchise, defendant Michael L. Dawson authorizes Novus to
direct the telephone company, all listing agencies, and internet service
providers, to transfer all fax and telephone numbers and listings to Novus.
A copy of this Order shall serve as authorization by defendant Michael L.
Dawson to the telephone company, all listing agencies, and internet service
providers, to transfer any telephone and/or fax numbers formerly associated
with defendant Michael L. Dawson’s former Novus franchise, including but
not limited to (804) 261-1193, to Novus or its designee; and
(5)
Provide proof to plaintiff’s counsel of all steps taken pursuant
to this Order, within seven (7) days of the date of this Order.
c.
In accordance with Rule 65(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure, plaintiff shall post a bond with the Clerk in the amount of $1,000.00
for the payment of such costs and damages as may be incurred or suffered by
defendant Michael L. Dawson in the event defendant is found to have been
wrongfully enjoined or restrained.
d.
This preliminary injunction shall go into effect upon the posting of
the bond, and shall remain in effect until further order of this Court dissolving this
preliminary injunction.
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3.
Plaintiff’s Motion for Default Judgment [Docket No. 14] against defendant
Michael L. Dawson is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part, as follows:
a.
Novus shall have judgment entered in its favor and against defendant
Michael L. Dawson on Counts I, II, III, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, and X, but only
insofar as these causes of action do not seek to enforce non-compete restrictions,
identified by the Court above, that may be unreasonable.
b.
Defendant Michael L. Dawson shall submit all financial records
referring or relating to his Novus business dating from September 1, 2010 through
October 31, 2011 to Plaintiff’s counsel within ten (10) days of the date of this
Order. In the event an audit of the financial records shows that additional royalties
are due and owing from defendant Michael L. Dawson to plaintiff, plaintiff shall
have the right and authority to petition this Court for judgment in the additional
amount. If the amounts due and owing are in excess of $500.00, plaintiff may
petition for an award of its costs and expenses associated with the audit.
c.
The Court reserves judgment on the remainder of the plaintiff’s
motion for default judgment.
4.
Defendant Michael L. Dawson shall file an answer to the complaint within
sixty (60) days of the date of this Order. If an answer is not filed, plaintiff may move for
a permanent injunction.
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5.
The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to mail a copy of this Order to Michael
Dawson, 10501 Runnymeade Drive, Glen Allen, VA 23059.
DATED: July 25, 2012
at Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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JOHN R. TUNHEIM
United States District Judge
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