STRYKER v. HI-TEMP SPECIALITY METALS, INC.
Filing
105
OPINION/ORDER denying 45 Motion to hold Pltf. in Contempt. Signed by Judge Claire C. Cecchi on 2/27/14. (DD, )
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
LAWRENCE STRYKER,
Civil Action No.: 11-cv-6384
Plaintiff,
OPINION & ORDER
v.
HI-TEMP SPECIALTY METALS, INC.,
Defendant.
CECCHI, District Judge.
Before the Court is Defendant’s motion to hold Plaintiff in contempt of this Court’s March
2, 2012 Order. (ECF No. 45). The March 2, 2012 Order states that “[Plaintiff’s] purchase and sale
of virgin refractory metals obtained from ore will not violate the Restrictive Covenant.” (ECF
No. 20). Defendant argues that Plaintiff is in contempt of this Order when he deals in scrap
refractory metals. (Def. Br. at 1). Plaintiff is not.
To prove civil contempt a movant must show “(1) a valid court order existed, (2) the
defendant had knowledge of the order, and (3) the defendant disobeyed the order.” John T. ex rel.
Paul T. v. Del. Cnty. Intermediate Unit, 318 F.3d 545, 522 (3d Cir. 2003). A corollary of the second
element is that “a contempt citation should not be granted if ‘there is ground to doubt the
wrongfulness of’ the defendant’s conduct.” Harris v. City of Phila., 47 F.3d 1311, 1326 (3d Cir.
1995) (quoting Quinter v. Volkswagen of Am., 676 F.2d 969, 974 (3d Cir. 1982)). In other words,
the “resolution of ambiguities ought to favor the party charged with contempt.” Id.
The plain language of the Order permits Plaintiff to purchase and sell virgin refractory
metals; it does not forbid the sale of scrap refractory metals. Thus, even if Defendant is correct
that Plaintiff engaged in the sale of scrap, his conduct did not disobey the Order, and so he may
not be held in contempt.
Defendant does not argue that the Order alone clearly forbids the sale of scrap metal.
Instead, Defendant argues that the Opinion accompanying the Order discussing the Restrictive
Covenant at issue was “incorporated by reference into the Order” and together they forbid the sale
of scrap. (Def. Rply. at 11). In essence, Defendant invites the Court to read an injunction enjoining
Plaintiff from the sale of scrap into its Opinion and Order. The Court declines to do so.
The language Defendant claims forbids Plaintiff from selling scrap states, in most relevant
part, that “to the extent that [Plaintiff’s company] will deal only in virgin refractory metals obtained
from ore, [Plaintiff’s] ownership and operation of that company will not violate the Restrictive
Covenant.” Stryker v. Hi-Temp Specialty Metals, Inc., No. 11-cv-6384, 2012 WL 715179, at *7
(D.N.J. Mar. 2, 2012). However, this merely states an action that will not violate the Restrictive
Covenant. It does not go beyond ordering that Plaintiff’s purchase and sale of virgin refractory
metals obtained from ore will not violate the Restrictive Covenant. The fact that the language is in
the Opinion, not the Order, would make a finding of contempt even more tenuous—especially in
light of the plain mandate in the Order. In other words, Defendant’s reading the Opinion and Order
together to enjoin the sale of scrap does not overcome the Third Circuit mandate that the
“resolution of ambiguities ought to favor the party charged with contempt.” Harris, 47 F.3d at
1326.
2
Accordingly, it is hereby:
ORDERED that Defendant’s Motion to hold Plaintiff in contempt (ECF No. 45) is
DENIED.
DATED: February 27, 2014
/s/ Claire C. Cecchi
CLAIRE C. CECCHI, U.S.D.J.
3
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?