Boland v. The Baue Funderal Home Co. et al

Filing 16

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER: The Court, after reviewing the Plaintiffs Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and/or Preliminary Injunction ("Motion"; ECF No. 5 ), and having heard the arguments of counsel, hereby finds and orders: 1. Plainti ffs Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and/or Preliminary Injunction is DENIED. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the hearing on Plaintiffs Motion for a Preliminary Injunction is set for 1:30 p.m. on the 2nd day of April, 2015, in Courtroom lOS. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, unless otherwise ordered by the Court, the attorneys shall, not less than five (5) days prior to the date set for the preliminary injunction hearing: (SEE ORDER FOR COMPLETE DETAILS). Signed by District Judge Ronnie L. White on March 19, 2015. (BRP)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
EASTERN .D IVISION

SARAH BOLAND,

)
)
Plaintiff,
)
)
v.
)
)
THE BADE FUNERAL HOME CO.
)
)
and
)
)
ST. CHARLES MEMORIAL GARDENS )
INC.,
)

No. 4:15-CV-00469-RLW

)

Defendants.

)
)

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

The Court, after reviewing the Plaintiffs Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and/or
Preliminary Injunction ("Motion"; ECF No. 5), and having heard the arguments of counsel,
hereby finds and orders:
1. ·

Plaintiffs Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and/or Preliminary Injunction

is DENIED.
2.

As set forth in Plaintiffs Motion, Plaintiff Sarah Boland ("Boland") was formerly

employed by Defendants The Baue Funeral Home Co. and St. Charles Memorial Gardens Inc. as
a funeral director. On May 24, 2013, she signed a non-compete agreement with Defendants. In
November 2014, her employment with Defendants ended.

In January 2015, Boland began

working for Alternative Funeral & Cremation Services ("Alternative").

Upon learning of

Boland' s employment with Alternative, Defendants sent Boland and Alternative letters

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reminding them of Boland' s obligations under the non-compete agreement, and Boland' s
employment with Alternative terminated.
3.

The Court holds that Boland has not satisfied all of the factors necessary for

temporary injunctive relief. See Dataphase Systems, Inc. v. CL Systems, Inc., 640 F.2d 109, 114
(8th Cir. 1981 ). First, the Court finds that Boland has not demonstrated that she is subject to
immediate and irreparable injury if r:>efendants attempt to enforce Boland' s non-compete
agreement. Rather, it appears that, if Boland is ultimately successful in her tortious interference
with contract claim, then she would be adequately compensated with a monetary award. At this
stage, the Court holds that Boland has failed to demonstrate any irreparable harm to her that
could not be compensable through a monetary award in this lawsuit. See O'Connor v. Peru State
College, 728 F.2d 1001 , 1003 (8th Cir. 1984).
4.

The Court further finds that Boland has not demonstrated a likelihood of success

on the merits. The Court notes that Boland received $500 in consideration for executing the noncompete agreement.

After the termination of her employment in November 2014, evidence

indicates that Boland began working for Defendant' s competitor, Alternative, which is located
just three blocks from a Baue funeral home.

Through her business cards and her license on the

wall, Boland represents herself as a funeral director for Alternative, although she claims she
performs only secretarial work. In addition, although Boland attempts to downplay her customer
contacts, it appears that she had significant exposure to Defendants' clients as a funeral director,
which constitutes a protectable business interest. See Osage Glass, Inc. v. Donovan, 693 S.W.2d
71 , 74 (Mo. bane 1985)("An express agreement not to compete may be enforced as to employees
having substantial customer contacts. It is not necessary to show that there is a secret customer
list."). Therefore, Court finds that the geographic and temporal restrictions, as applied to the

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facts in this case, are likely reasonable. See Whelan Sec. Co. v. Kennebrew, 379 S.W.3d 835,
846-47 (Mo. 2012). Based upon the information currently before it, the Court finds that the noncompete agreement is probably enforceable to preclude Boland from working for a competitor
funeral home in the St. Charles area.
5.

Finally, the Court finds that the balance of harm weighs in favor of denying the

Temporary Restraining Order. Defendants have put forth evidence that Boland was exposed to
protected customer information and Defendants' specialized business model. Boland disputes
that she was privy to any protectable customer contacts or trade secrets and claims that she needs
part-time employment at Alternative funeral homes to support her family. However, as stated,
Boland' s interest can be compensated through a monetary award. Therefore, the Court believes
that the balance of harm favors Defendants.
6.

Thus, balancing the Dataphase factors, the Court denies Plaintiffs Motion for

Temporary Restraining Order.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the hearing on Plaintiffs Motion for a Preliminary

Injunction is set for 1:30 p.m. on the 2nd day of April, 2015, in Courtroom lOS.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, unless otherwise ordered by the Court, the
attorneys shall, not less than five (5) days prior to the date set for the preliminary
injunction hearing:
1.

Stipulation: Meet and jointly prepare and file with the Clerk a JOINT Stipulation

of all uncontested facts, which may be read into evidence subject to any objections of any party
set forth in said stipulation.
2.

Witnesses:

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(a)

Deliver to opposmg counsel, and to the Clerk, a list of all proposed

witnesses, identifying those witnesses who will be called to testify and those who may be called.
(b)

Except for good cause shown, no party will be permitted to call any

witnesses not listed in compliance with this Order.

3.

Exhibits:
(a)

Mark for identification all exhibits to be offered in evidence at the

preliminary injunction hearing (Plaintiff to use Arabic numerals and defendants to use letters,
e.g. , Pltf-1 , Deft-A, or Pltf Jones-1 , Deft Smith-A, if there is more than one plaintiff or
defendant), and deliver to opposing counsel and to the Clerk a list of such exhibits, identifying
those that will be introduced into evidence and those that may be introduced. The list shall
clearly indicate for each business record whether the proponent seeks to authenticate the business
record by affidavit or declaration pursuant to Fed.R.Evid. 902(11) or 902(12).
(b)

Submit said exhibits or true copies thereof, and copies of all affidavits or

declarations pursuant to Fed.R.Evid. 902(11)or 902(12), to opposing counsel for examination.
Prior to the preliminary injunction hearing, the parties shall stipulate which exhibits may be
introduced without objection or preliminary identification, and shall file written objections to all
other exhibits.

4.

Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Legal Brief: Submit to the Court and

to opposing counsel full, complete and specific findings of fact and conclusions of law, together
with a legal brief, citing authorities, in support of said party's legal theories and discussing any
anticipated substantive or procedural problems.

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Dated this 19th day of March, 2015.

RONNIE L. WHITE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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