MARK IV TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS v. LIGHTNING LOGISTICS, INC.
Filing
144
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION for 138 Report and Recommendation, and 130 motion to dismiss is granted ***CIVIL CASE TERMINATED. Signed by Judge Esther Salas on 12/12/14. (sr, )
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
__________________________________________
:
MARK IV TRANSPORTATION &
:
LOGISTICS, INC.,
:
Civil Action No. 09-6480 (ES)
:
Plaintiff,
:
:
MEMORANDUM
v.
:
OPINION & ORDER
:
LIGHTNING LOGISTICS, LLC, et al.,
:
:
Defendants.
:
__________________________________________:
SALAS, DISTRICT JUDGE
I.
INTRODUCTION
Pending before the Court is a motion to dismiss Plaintiff Mark IV Transportation &
Logistics, Inc.’s (“Plaintiff” or “Mark IV”) Second Amended Complaint.
(D.E. No. 130).
Defendants Crosstown Courier, Inc. (“Crosstown”) and Scott Evatt (“Evatt”) (collectively
“Defendants”) filed their motion to dismiss the Second Amended Complaint pursuant to Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(2) and 12(b)(6) or, in the alternative, for summary judgment
pursuant to Rule 56. (Id.).
This Court referred Defendants’ motion to the Honorable Michael A. Hammer, United
States Magistrate Judge, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B). On August 29, 2014, Magistrate
Judge Hammer issued a Report and Recommendation (the “R & R”) that the undersigned grant
Defendants’ motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction, and deny as moot the motions to
dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) and for summary judgment. (D.E. No. 138). Pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 636(b) and Local Civil Rule 72.1(c)(2), the parties had fourteen days to file and serve any
objections to the R & R. Plaintiff requested and received a two-week extension, (D.E. Nos. 139,
140), and on September 26, 2014, filed Objections to the R & R, (D.E. No. 142, Plaintiff’s
Objections (“Obj.”)).
After reviewing the record de novo, for the reasons set forth in the R & R and for the
additional reasons set forth below, the Court adopts Magistrate Judge Hammer’s R & R and
GRANTS Defendants’ motion to dismiss.
II.
LEGAL STANDARD
“When a litigant files an objection to a Report and Recommendation, the district court must
make a de novo determination of those portions to which the litigant objects.” Leonard Parness
Trucking Corp. v. Omnipoint Commc’ns, Inc., No. 13-4148, 2013 WL 6002900, at *2 (D.N.J. Nov.
12, 2013) (citing 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A), Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b), and L. Civ. R. 72.1(c)(2)). “‘De
novo review’ means the district court must consider the matter referred to a magistrate judge anew,
as if it had not been heard before and as if no decision previously had been rendered.” 12 Fed.
Prac. & Proc. Civ. § 3070.2 (2d ed.). Upon conducting de novo review, the district judge may
“accept, reject, or modify the recommended disposition; receive further evidence; or return the
matter to the magistrate judge with instructions.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(3).
III.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
The Court provides the background of this action in summary fashion because the relevant
factual and procedural background was set forth in this Court’s September 28, 2012 Opinion, (D.E.
No. 76), and in Judge Hammer’s R & R, (D.E. No. 138). Briefly, Plaintiff is a New Jersey
corporation with its principal place of business in Kearny, New Jersey. (D.E. No. 121, Second
Amended Complaint, (“2d Am. Compl.”) ¶ 2). Lightning Logistics, LLC (“Lightning”) was
2
formed as a Tennessee limited liability company on March 2, 2006, and its principal place of
business was in Nashville, Tennessee. (Id. ¶¶ 3, 11). Lightning was owned and operated by Evatt
and a colleague, Gregory O’Riordan. (Id. ¶ 12). Evatt is a resident of Tennessee and he also owns
and operates Crosstown, a Tennessee corporation with its principal office located in Nashville,
Tennessee. (Id. ¶¶ 5, 7, 17).
On December 23, 2009, Plaintiff commenced this action against Lightning alleging claims
for (1) collection of the amount due under a book account and (2) breach of contract, seeking
approximately $100,758.67 for delivery services rendered. (D.E. No. 1, Complaint). Plaintiff
added Crosstown and Evatt as Defendants via an Amended Complaint filed on February 2, 2011.
(D.E. No. 10). A little over one year later, Crosstown and Evatt filed a motion to dismiss for lack
of personal jurisdiction, (D.E. No. 55), which was ultimately granted by this Court on September
27, 2012, (D.E. No. 77). However, on October 22, 2013, after reviewing Plaintiff’s Motion for
Reconsideration, (D.E. No. 80), this Court ordered that the Amended Complaint be reinstated as
to Crosstown and Evatt and allowed Plaintiff to depose Evatt in his individual capacity and as a
representative of Crosstown, (D.E. No. 120). Plaintiff filed a Second Amended Complaint on
October 29, 2013, in which it specifically sought to pierce Lightning’s corporate veil and impose
alter ego liability on Crosstown and Evatt. (2d Am. Compl. ¶¶ 63–89). On February 20, 2014,
Crosstown and Evatt moved to dismiss the Second Amended Complaint. (D.E. No. 130). As
noted above, on August 29, 2014, Judge Hammer issued the R & R that the undersigned grant
Defendants’ motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction, (D.E. No. 138), to which Plaintiff
filed their Objection on September 26, 2014, (D.E. No. 142).
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IV.
DISCUSSION
In the R & R, Judge Hammer notes that Plaintiff is attempting to assert personal jurisdiction
over Defendants by piercing the corporate veil of Lightning. (R & R at 10). Judge Hammer
determines that Tennessee law applies to the corporate veil-piercing analysis, (id. at 11), and
concludes that the evidence is not legally sufficient to pierce the corporate veil of Lightning to
impose alter ego liability upon Defendants, (id. at 13–18).
Plaintiff objects to the R & R on six different grounds. First, Plaintiff objects to the
R & R’s statement that “Plaintiff does not explain how piercing the corporate veil leads to personal
jurisdiction in this case.” (Obj. at 2–3). Second, Plaintiff objects to the R & R’s application of
Tennessee law to the veil-piercing analysis. (Id. at 3–4). Third, Plaintiff objects to the extent the
R & R applied the wrong legal standard to the claim against Evatt. (Id. at 4). Fourth, Plaintiff
objects on the grounds that the R & R failed to properly analyze certain key facts supporting their
veil-piercing argument.
(Id. at 4–8).
Fifth, Plaintiff objects to the R & R’s credibility
determinations with respect to a $160,000 loan from Lightning to Crosstown that was issued by
Evatt in 2008. (Id. at 9–10). Plaintiff’s sixth and final objection asserts that Judge Hammer
“misapplied the law and failed to mention or consider multiple facts relevant to the claim against
Crosstown.” (Id. at 10).
This Court reviews each Objection individually, see Leonard Parness, 2013 WL 6002900,
at *2, and ultimately adopts the R & R in accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(3).
A. First Objection
Plaintiff first objects to the statement in the R & R that “Plaintiff does not explain how
piercing the corporate veil leads to personal jurisdiction in this case.” (R & R at 5, n.3). The Court
4
agrees that the R & R mischaracterizes Plaintiff’s Opposition Brief (“Pl. Opp. Br.”) and notes that
Plaintiff adequately explains their theory of imputing Lightning’s contacts to Crosstown and Evatt.
Nevertheless, the Court finds the R & R’s mischaracterization harmless. The R & R restates Plaintiff’s theory for establishing personal jurisdiction, and then appropriately analyzes the
necessary elements.
B. Second Objection
Second, Plaintiff objects to the R & R’s application of Tennessee law to the veil-piercing
analysis. (R & R at 10–11). Plaintiff objects to this conclusion and believes that the governmental
interest analysis instead leads to application of New Jersey law. (Id.)
The New Jersey Limited Liability Company Act (“NJLLCA”) calls for application of
Tennessee law. The NJLLCA states that “[t]he law of the state or other jurisdiction under which
a foreign limited liability company is formed governs . . . the liability of a member as member and
a manager as manager for the debts, obligations, or other liabilities of the company.” N.J.S.A.
42:2C-57(a)(2).
However, New Jersey courts could also “conduct a flexible ‘governmental
interest analysis,’ where the court applies the law of the state ‘that has the most significant
connections with the parties and the transaction.” D.R. Horton Inc. - New Jersey v. Dynastar Dev.,
L.L.C., MER-L-1808-00, 2005 WL 1939778 (N.J. Super. Ct. Law Div. Aug. 10, 2005). Like Judge
Hammer, this Court determines that Tennessee law applies under both the New Jersey statute and
the governmental interest analysis.
The main issue before the Court is whether it should pierce the corporate veil of Lightning,
a Tennessee LLC. N.J.S.A. 42:2C-57(a)(2) calls for the application of Tennessee law, since
Lightning was incorporated in Tennessee and had its principal place of business there. (Id. ¶¶ 3,
5
11). The governmental interest analysis set forth in Horton also leads to application of Tennessee
law. “The governmental-interest analysis seeks to determine the interest that each state has in
resolving the specific issue in dispute.” Las Vegas Sands Corp. v. Ace Gaming, LLC, 713 F. Supp.
2d 427, 443 (D.N.J. 2010) (internal citation omitted). Ultimately, “the court applies the law of the
state that has the most significant connections with the parties and the transaction.” Id. (quoting
D.R. Horton Inc., 2005 WL 1939778, at *21 (internal quotation omitted)) (emphasis added). New
Jersey, as the state where Plaintiff is incorporated and has its primary place of business,
undoubtedly has an interest “in seeing its residents compensated for wrongdoing done by a foreign
company whilst it purposefully availed itself of doing business in New Jersey.” (Obj. at 4); see
also Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz, 471 U.S. 462, 473 (1985) (“A State generally has a ‘manifest
interest’ in providing its residents with a convenient forum for redressing injuries inflicted by outof-state actors.”) (citing McGee v. International Life Insurance Co., 355 U.S. 220, 223 (1957)).
However, Tennessee—as the state where Lightning and Crosstown are incorporated and have their
principal place of business, and where Evatt resides—also has an interest in seeing that its residents
and corporations are not inappropriately subject to lawsuits in other parts of the country where
jurisdiction is lacking. See generally Keeton v. Hustler Magazine, Inc., 465 U.S. 770, 773–74
(1984) (noting that a defendant cannot be “haled” into court for “attenuated . . . random, isolated,
or fortuitous” contacts with the forum state).
Under the governmental interest analysis, Tennessee has the more significant interest since
all of the activities which could lead to piercing Lightning’s corporate veil actually took place in
Tennessee. Therefore, the Court agrees with the R & R and finds that because Lightning is
incorporated in Tennessee, and because Tennessee has the “most significant connection with the
6
parties and the transaction,” that Tennessee law applies to the veil-piercing analysis.
C. Third Objection
Third, Plaintiff objects to the extent the R & R applies the wrong legal standard to the claim
against Evatt. (Obj. at 4). Plaintiff notes that the R & R cites Eldon v. Brown, No. 08-5422, 2010
WL 415317 (D.N.J. Jan. 29, 2010) for the proposition that a Court may confer personal jurisdiction
over a parent corporation for certain actions taken by a subsidiary. (R & R at 5, n.3). In the
Objection, Plaintiff makes clear that it never alleges that Evatt, an individual, is or was a parent
company of Lightning and therefore that Eldon is inapplicable to Evatt. (Obj. at 4).
The Court does not find that the R & R applies Eldon to Evatt. Rather, it appears that Eldon
is cited in the R & R merely to explain generally the theory of how piercing the veil of Lightning
could lead to personal jurisdiction over Crosstown and Evatt. Significantly, Eldon is cited prior to
the choice-of-law and substantive veil-piercing analyses. Moreover, Eldon is not cited in the
section of the R & R which analyzes Evatt. Thus, there is no indication that the citation to Eldon
in and of itself led to a misapplication of the law in any way.
D. Fourth Objection
Fourth, Plaintiff objects on the grounds that the R & R fails to properly analyze certain key
facts supporting their veil-piercing argument. (Obj. at 4–8). Plaintiff highlights twelve specific
examples not mentioned in the R & R and contends that the R & R focuses too heavily on certain
financial transactions to the detriment of the overall analysis.1 (Id.) After reviewing the record de
1
Specifically, Plaintiff points to the following evidence: (1) “Evidence that Evatt used his position as President of
Lightning to block another officer, O’Riordan, from accessing Lightning's accounts after O’Riordan complained about
the unauthorized loan taken by Evatt;” (2) “The fact that Mr. O’Riordan called the police as [sic] believed Evatt’s
unauthorized loan was a theft of corporate funds;” (3) “Crosstown’s ability to apply for and receive extensions on
Lightning’s own bank loans;” (4) “Crosstown’s ability to use Lightning’s financial status to request increases in
Crosstown’s own line of credit;” (5) “The lack of a written lease for the use of Crosstown’s office space;” (6)
7
novo, including the specific examples pointed out by Plaintiff in their Objection, this Court finds
that the evidence is insufficient to warrant piercing Lightning’s corporate veil. In short, the
evidence adduced by Plaintiff does not convince the Court that Lightning was “a sham or a dummy,
that the corporate form was abused or used for an improper purpose, or that [Lightning] was unable
to pay its obligations due to some misconduct on the part of [Evatt or Crosstown] that justifies
piercing the veil.” In re Steffner, 479 B.R. 746, 756 (Bankr. E.D. Tenn. 2012).
1. Standard under Tennessee Law
As noted above, this Court finds that Tennessee law applies to the veil-piercing analysis.
The general rule under Tennessee law is that members, owners, employees or other agents of a
Tennessee limited liability company have no personal liability for the debts or obligations of the
company. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 48–217–101(a)(1); Tenn. Code Ann. § 48–249–114(a)(1)(B).
However, under Tennessee law, a court may disregard an entity’s form—including an LLC—to
hold “the true owners of the entity . . . liable when the corporation is liable for a debt but is without
funds due to some misconduct on the part of the officers and directors.” Starnes Family Office,
LLC v. McCullar, 765 F. Supp. 2d 1036, 1049 (W.D. Tenn. 2011) (internal citations omitted).
Under Tennessee law, “[t]o pierce the corporate veil, a court must be convinced that the separate
corporate entity ‘is a sham or a dummy’ or that disregarding the separate corporate entity is
‘necessary to accomplish justice.’” CAO Holdings, Inc. v. Trost, 333 S.W.3d 73, 88 (Tenn. 2010)
“Lightning’s decision to pay officers and loan them corporate funds despite an inability to pay creditors;” (7) “The
use of corporate funds to pay an officer’s commuting expenses;” (8) “Evatt taking a salary despite doing little to earn
these funds according to his fellow officer;” (9) “Lightning assigning its interest in a personal loan to its officer to its
bank to avoid suit by the bank on defaulted loans which were personally guaranteed by Lightning’s officers;” (10)
“Evatt’s receipt of a back salary at the time of his separation from Lightning despite Lightning being significantly in
debt;” (11) “Lightning’s decision to pay all invoices of Crosstown despite not paying multiple other creditors; and”
(12) “Evatt, the joint head of Crosstown and Lightning, forced Lightning’s officers to work for Crosstown.” (Obj. at
5–6).
8
(quoting Oceanics Sch., Inc. v. Barbour, 112 S.W.3d 135, 140 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2003)). But,
“Tennessee law strongly disfavors piercing the corporate veil,” NVK Spinning Co., LTD. v.
Nichols, 12-2904, 2014 WL 28831 (W.D. Tenn. Jan. 2, 2014), and it should be pierced “only in
extreme circumstances . . . .” Edmunds v. Delta Partners, L.L.C., et al., 403 S. W.3d 812, 829
(Tenn. Ct. App. 2012) (internal citation omitted).
“Conditions under which the corporate entity will be disregarded vary according to the
circumstances present in the case.” Muroll Gesellschaft M.B.H. v. Tenn. Tape, Inc., 908 S.W.2d
211, 213 (Tenn. App. 1995). “Whether the veil should be pierced is an equitable determination
that must be made after considering the ‘entire spectrum of relevant facts.’” Grand Rapids
Associates Ltd. P'ship v. Coop Properties, LLC, 495 F. App’x 598, 601 (6th Cir. 2012) (internal
citation omitted).
“There is no single rule delineating when a corporate entity should be
disregarded, and the facts are to be assessed in light of a corporation’s economic justification to
determine if the corporate form has been abused.” Rymal v. Baergen, 262 Mich.App. 274, 686
N.W.2d 241, 252 (2004).
Factors to be considered in determining whether to disregard the corporate veil
include not only whether the entity has been used to work a fraud or injustice in
contravention of public policy, but also: (1) whether there was a failure to collect
paid in capital; (2) whether the corporation was grossly undercapitalized; (3) the
nonissuance of stock certificates; (4) the sole ownership of stock by one individual;
(5) the use of the same office or business location; (6) the employment of the same
employees or attorneys; (7) the use of the corporation as an instrumentality or
business conduit for an individual or another corporation; (8) the diversion of
corporate assets by or to a stockholder or other entity to the detriment of creditors,
or the manipulation of assets and liabilities in another; (9) the use of the corporation
as a subterfuge in illegal transactions; (10) the formation and use of the corporation
to transfer to it the existing liability of another person or entity; and (11) the failure
to maintain arms length relationships among related entities.
Trost, 333 S.W.3d at 89 n.13 (quoting Fed. Deposit. Ins. Corp. v. Allen, 584 F.Supp. 386, 397
9
(E.D. Tenn. 1984)). “[I]t is not necessary that all factors weigh in favor of piercing the corporate
veil. It is necessary, however, that the equities substantially favor the party requesting the court to
disregard the corporate status.” Trost, 333 S.W.3d at 89 (quoting Oceanics Sch., Inc. v. Barbour,
112 S.W.3d at 140–41).
2. Analysis
Plaintiff’s Opposition Brief places the evidence showing why Lightning’s corporate veil
should be pierced into three broad categories: (i) failure to adhere to corporate formalities; (ii)
misuse or siphoning of corporate funds; and (iii) undercapitalization. (Pl. Opp. Br. at i). The Court
finds substantial overlap between these three categories and in particular notes that failure to
adhere to corporate formalities appears to be a “but for” cause of the alleged misuse of corporate
funds, which in turn is a “but for” cause of the undercapitalization. In other words, Lightning was
unable to pay Mark IV because it was allegedly undercapitalized; it was undercapitalized because
of the alleged misuse of funds; and the misuse of funds occurred largely because Lightning failed
to adhere to corporate formalities.
With respect to failure to adhere to corporate formalities, Plaintiff contends that “the law
does not stand for the proposition that corporate formalities are not required [for an LLC] at all.”
(Pl. Opp. Br. at 13). While this may be true, Plaintiff cites no specific Tennessee law in support
of this stance. On the other hand, Tennessee law seems clear that failure to adhere to formalities
is insufficient for piercing an entity’s veil. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-217-101(e) (“The failure of
an LLC to observe the usual company formalities or requirements relating to the exercise of its
LLC powers or management of its business is not a ground for imposing personal liability on the
members, governors, managers, employees or other agents of the LLC.”); NVK Spinning Co., LTD.
10
v. Nichols, No. 12-2904, 2014 WL 28831 (W.D. Tenn. Jan. 2, 2014) (“Adherence to corporate
formalities is not required for an LLC to maintain its limited-liability status under the statute.”).
Additionally, the official comment to Section 304(b) of the Revised Uniform Limited Liability
Company Act—upon which the Tennessee statute is based—notes that “[i]n the corporate realm,
‘disregard of corporate formalities’ is a key factor in the piercing analysis. In the realm of LLCs,
that factor is inappropriate, because informality of organization and operation is both common and
desired.”
In light of this—and in the absence of law to the contrary—the Court finds it highly
significant that Lightning was an LLC that chose to operate informally.2 To be clear, the Court is
not saying that failure to adhere to corporate formalities is never relevant in determining whether
or not to pierce the veil of a Tennessee LLC. However, viewing the facts on the record in this
particular dispute in light of the law governing Tennessee LLCs, the equities undoubtedly tip away
from piercing the veil. Evatt had broad authority as President of Lightning to run the business.
(See Reply Decl., Ex. C. at ¶¶ 2, 19 (showing how Evatt had broad discretion over the types of
transactions engaged in by Lightning)). Furthermore, Lightning was formed approximately twelve
years after Crosstown and the record suggests that both companies had sufficient “economic
justification,” Rymal, 262 Mich.App. at 294, in that the companies had independent roles within
the shipping services industry. (See infra at 15).
Within this context, certain evidence adduced by Plaintiff speaks just as much to the pitfalls
of choosing to organize and operate a co-owned LLC informally as it does to an outright abuse of
the corporate form which would warrant piercing the entity’s veil in the interests of justice. For
2
See, e.g., D.E. No. 130-8, Ex. 20, Deposition of Scott Evatt (“Evatt Dep.”) at 49:1–50:21, 128:10–17. This Court
construes Evatt’s inability to recall corporate resolutions or bylaws as evidence of informal operation.
11
example, the fact that Evatt blocked O’Riordan from accessing Lightning’s accounts and that
O’Riordan called the police after learning of the six-figure loan can be construed as evidence of a
disagreement between co-owners of an informally run business as much as it can be construed as
evidence of Lightning as a “sham or dummy.”
Additionally, the Court is satisfied that Lightning possessed sufficient capital. Plaintiff
stresses that the undercapitalization analysis should have focused on the misuse of funds, instead
of focusing on capitalization at formation.3 Again, however, the Court finds Lightning’s LLC
structure significant.
Plaintiff’s objections make clear that it believes that Lightning was
undercapitalized because of the alleged misuse of funds, which arose out of Lightning’s failure to
adhere to corporate formalities. (Obj. at 6–8). The record convinces the Court that Lightning was
not a “sham or dummy,” and so the Court declines to find informal, yet perhaps misguided,
decisions of the LLC which lead to inability to pay creditors sufficient to pierce the veil. NVK
Spinning Co., LTD. v. Nichols, No. 12-2904, 2014 WL 28831 (W.D. Tenn. Jan. 2, 2014)
(“Adherence to corporate formalities is not required for an LLC to maintain its limited-liability
status . . . .”); see also Greene v. Hill Home Development Inc., 1993 WL 17115 (Tenn. Ct. App.
1993) (“Failure of a business venture and resulting loss of capital does not constitute gross
undercapitalization . . . .”).
Plaintiff also claims that the 2009 Loan Request form filled out by Crosstown was not
sufficiently analyzed in the R & R.4 Plaintiff in particular emphasizes the following sentence from
3
E.g., “Lightning’s decision to pay officers and loan them corporate funds despite an inability to pay creditors;”
“The use of corporate funds to pay an officer’s commuting expenses;” “Evatt taking a salary despite doing little to
earn these funds according to his fellow officer;” “Evatt’s receipt of a back salary at the time of his separation from
Lightning despite Lightning being significantly in debt;” “Lightning’s decision to pay all invoices of Crosstown
despite not paying multiple other creditors.” (Obj. at 5–6).
4
E.g., “Crosstown’s ability to apply for and receive extensions on Lightning’s own bank loans” and “Crosstown’s
ability to use Lightning’s financial status to request increases in Crosstown's own line of credit.” (Obj. at 5).
12
the loan request: “In January 2010, Lightning Logistics will be merged into Crosstown Couriers,
Inc. . . .” (Pl. Opp. Br. at 31). However, in spite of the fact that Evatt was an officer of both
Lightning and Crosstown, this Court does not find that contemplation of merger shows that
Lightning was a “sham or dummy.”
In short, it appears to this Court that the evidence adduced by Plaintiff to show why piercing
the veil is warranted boils down to discretionary acts of an informally run LLC which resulted in
inability to pay a creditor. When viewing the entire spectrum of facts, the Court cannot say that
Lightning was a “sham or dummy,” or that piercing Lightning’s veil is “necessary to accomplish
justice.” See Trost, 333 S.W.3d at 88, 89.
E. Fifth Objection
Plaintiff also objects to the making of credibility determinations in the R & R. Specifically,
Plaintiff objects to how the R & R “took Evatt’s word that his unauthorized six figure loan was
repaid to Lightning.” (Obj. at 9 (citing R & R at 14)). Plaintiff contends that “the conclusion
which should have been reached was that Evatt’s unauthorized six figure loan was never repaid.”
(Obj. at 10).
First, this Court notes that Judge Hammer does not simply “take Evatt’s word” that the
loan was repaid. Instead, Judge Hammer states that Evatt testified that the loan had been repaid,
that there is no evidence on point one way or the other, and that he “will not construe the lack of
evidentiary support on either side against Defendants.” (R & R at 14).
“To survive a motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction, a plaintiff bears the burden
of establishing the court’s jurisdiction over the moving defendants. However, when the court does
not hold an evidentiary hearing on the motion to dismiss, the plaintiff need only establish a prima
13
facie case of personal jurisdiction and the plaintiff is entitled to have its allegations taken as true
and all factual disputes drawn in its favor.” Miller Yacht Sales, Inc. v. Smith, 384 F.3d 93, 97 (3d
Cir. 2004) (internal citations omitted).
Even if under Miller Yacht Sales this Court draws the factual dispute over loan repayment
in favor of Plaintiff and concludes that the loan was not repaid, the Court would still not find this
sufficient to pierce Lightning’s veil. Although the line of credit from which the loan was drawn
was “earmarked” to cover “gaps” in paying vendors such as Plaintiff, Plaintiff has not cited, and
this Court is not aware, of any independent requirement under Tennessee law which dictates that
the Court characterize such a unilateral withdrawal as “misconduct.” There is nothing in the record
which suggests that the line of credit could only be used for paying vendors, or that Plaintiff had a
priority for receiving payment over Lightning’s ability to utilize the line of credit for alternate
purposes. As President of an informally run LLC, Evatt had broad discretion over which strategies
to pursue.
F. Sixth Objection
Plaintiff’s sixth and final objection asserts that Judge Hammer “misapplied the law and
failed to mention or consider multiple facts relevant to the claim against Crosstown.” (Obj. at 10).
The R & R concludes that “Plaintiff has failed to meet its burden of showing that Lightning’s
corporate veil should be pierced, and that Crosstown is Lightning’s alter ego.” (R & R at 18).
When piercing the corporate veil, a court may disregard the corporate entity in order
to impose liability against a related entity, such as a parent corporation or a
controlling shareholder, where the two entities are in fact identical or
indistinguishable and where necessary to accomplish justice. When a subsidiary
corporation is used as a mere instrumentality of a parent corporation, our Supreme
Court has held that the corporate veil of the subsidiary may be pierced to reach the
parent if three elements are present:
(1) The parent corporation, at the time of the transaction complained of,
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exercises complete dominion over its subsidiary, not only of finances, but
of policy and business practice in respect to the transaction under attack, so
that the corporate entity, as to that transaction, had no separate mind, will
or existence of its own.
(2) Such control must have been used to commit fraud or wrong, to
perpetuate the violation of a statutory or other positive legal duty, or a
dishonest and unjust act in contravention of third parties’ rights.
(3) The aforesaid control and breach of duty must proximately cause the
injury or unjust loss complained of.
Pamperin v. Streamline Mfg., Inc., 276 S.W.3d 428, 437–38 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2008) (internal
citations omitted).
As set forth in the Declaration of Eli J. Rogers (and accompanying exhibits), (D.E. No.
130-2 (“Reply Decl.”)), Crosstown was formed in or about 1995—twelve years prior to
Lightning’s formation—and still continues to operate. (Reply Decl., Ex. 5 ¶ 25). Unlike
Lightning, Crosstown does not provide “logistics services” for shipping companies, but rather, is
a traditional courier service, which performs so-called “last mile” deliveries in and around
Tennessee. (Id. at ¶¶ 23–24). Furthermore, according to the deposition of Evatt, (see Reply Decl.,
Ex. 20), Lightning executed a lease agreement to sublease office space from Crosstown in 2006
and thus became a subtenant of Crosstown, (id. at 54:8–11); Lightning had its own space and setup
and did not share secretarial support, computer support, or supplies, (id. at 55:14–15); and
Lightning maintained its own separate customer service and dispatch personnel, (id. at 56:1).
Thus, despite the fact that a written memorialization of the lease was not produced, and that certain
employees worked for both companies, the Court is satisfied that Crosstown is a separate and preexisting entity in a different sector of the shipping industry and that Lightning is not “identical or
indistinguishable” to Crosstown.
15
Like the R & R, this Court finds In re Steffner, 479 B.R. 746 (Bankr. E.D. Tenn. 2012)
instructive. There, a bankruptcy court declined to pierce the corporate veil despite the fact that the
two companies at issue “operated out of the same building, albeit in different suites, and used the
same bank, attorneys, and accounts.” Id. at 757.
The court also noted that the two entities were
“formed at different times for different purposes” and that it was “not unusual or inappropriate for
closely-held businesses to utilize the same professionals for convenience.” Id.
This Court
declines to impose alter ego liability on Crosstown for similar reasons.
The Court has reviewed this matter de novo, and for the reasons stated above and in the
R & R,
IT IS on this 12th day of December 2014,
ORDERED that this Court ADOPTS Magistrate Judge Hammer’s Report and
Recommendation, (D.E. No. 138), as the Opinion of this Court; and it is further
ORDERED that Plaintiff’s motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction, (D.E. No.
130), is GRANTED; and it is further
ORDERED that the Clerk of Court shall mark this case CLOSED.
s/ Esther Salas
Esther Salas, U.S.D.J.
16
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