Franklin Technologies, Inc. v. Encite Inc.

Filing 11

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER denying 8 Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim. For the above reasons, defendants motion to dismiss is denied. The parties are directed to schedule a pretrial conference with the magistrate judge, who shall issue a scheduling order with discovery to be completed by August 31, 2017. (Ordered by Judge Leonard D. Wexler on 2/22/2017.) (Fagan, Linda)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
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FRANKLIN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.,
Plaintiff,
-against-

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
CV 16-1603 (LDW) (ARL)

ENCITE, INC.,
Defendant.
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WEXLER, District Judge
Plaintiff Franklin Technologies, Inc. (“Franklin”) asserts various claims against defendant
Encite, Inc. (“Encite”) stemming from Encite’s alleged disclosure of confidential information to
All Island Dermatology and Laser Center (“All Island”) and All Island’s termination of a
contractual relationship with Franklin. Encite moves to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) of the
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (“FRCP”). Franklin opposes the motion.

I. BACKGROUND
For purposes of this decision, the complaint can be summarized as follows. Franklin is a
New York corporation with its principal place of business in Franklin Square, New York.
Complaint ¶ 1. Encite is a North Carolina corporation with its principal place of business in
Charlotte, North Carolina. Id. ¶ 2. Encite is a developer of medical software, and Franklin is a
value-added reseller of such software. Id. ¶ 4. Pursuant to “one or more written documents . . .
and/or email communications and/or other written correspondence between Encite and
Franklin”–which Franklin refers to as the “Reseller Agreement”– it was agreed that Franklin was
permitted to resell Encite’s software, with markups of 30% to 35%, as set by Encite. Id. ¶¶ 5-6.

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Based on the Reseller Agreement and a “Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement” (the
“NDA”), the parties agreed that the existence and amount of such markups were confidential and
considered trade secrets of both parties, and were to remain confidential as to third parties. Id.
¶ 7.
Subject to the NDA, from approximately March 22, 2013 to April 1, 2013, Franklin
disclosed to Encite that Franklin had a longstanding business relationship with All Island, one of
Franklin’s largest customers, with billings totaling $1,260,000 in software, hardware, and
computer services during the prior 15 years. Id. ¶¶ 9-10. Franklin also disclosed to Encite
details of ongoing negotiations with All Island, in an effort to enlist Encite’s cooperation and
assistance in preparing proposals and invoices pursuant to the Reseller Agreement. Id. ¶¶ 9, 12.
Ultimately, on or about April 1, 2013, Franklin disclosed to Encite that Franklin had executed a
written agreement with All Island, dated April 1, 2013, to provide various computer services,
software, hardware, integration, maintenance, and repairs. Id. ¶¶ 11-12.
Between April 1, 2013 and April 20, 2013, Encite provided Franklin with Enciteprepared “resellers invoices,” including prices, made for All Island, as well as billing “invoices”
for Franklin’s direct purchases of Encite’s software that Franklin was to resell to All Island. Id.
¶¶ 14-15. One set of such invoices showed that Franklin was to receive a 35% markup on sales
to All Island. Id. ¶ 16. Encite also provided Franklin with Encite-prepared invoices for service
and maintenance that showed that Encite billed Franklin $2,000 per month for such services and
that were left blank as to the amount to be charged to All Island. Id. ¶ 17. Encite periodically
represented to Franklin that a 100% markup for such services was usual and customary practice.
Id. ¶ 18. At Encite’s request, Franklin periodically disclosed to Encite the markup and charges to

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All Island for such services. Id. ¶¶ 19-20. These invoices and the information shared
confidentially between the parties showed that Franklin would be making a total gross profit of
approximately $90,000 per year, in addition to charging All Island separately for additional
services “not specifically mentioned in the invoices.” Id. ¶ 22.
Beginning on or about March 1, 2015, Encite disclosed to All Island Franklin’s
confidential information, documents, and invoices concerning Franklin’s “mark-ups of resales”
of Encite’s products and services to All Island. Id. ¶ 23. Franklin maintains that Encite made
these disclosures “wrongfully, willfully and maliciously” for the purpose of causing detriment to
Franklin and Franklin’s relationship with All Island. Id. ¶ 26. Franklin further maintains that
Encite made these disclosures with an intent to deceive All Island into believing that Franklin
was acting “illegally” in making a profit on such resales and that Encite had no knowledge of the
markups. Id. ¶ 28. Franklin claims that these disclosures and denials resulted in All Island’s
termination of its contractual relationship with Franklin. Id. ¶ 27.
Franklin brought this action in Supreme Court, Nassau County, asserting claims for (1)
tortious interference with contract; (2) breach of the NDA; and (3) breach of the Reseller
Agreement. Id. ¶¶ 24-39. Encite removed the action, and now moves to dismiss, arguing that
Franklin fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.

II. DISCUSSION
A. Motion to Dismiss Standard
In Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544 (2007), the Supreme Court held that to
avoid dismissal a plaintiff is required to plead enough facts “to state a claim for relief that is

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plausible on its face.” Id. at 570; see also Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678-80 (2009). While
heightened factual pleading is not required, Twombly holds that a “formulaic recitation of the
elements of a cause of action will not do.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555. On a motion to dismiss,
the court must, as always, assume that all allegations in the complaint are true and draw all
reasonable inferences in favor of the nonmoving party. Plair v. City of New York, 789 F. Supp.
2d 459, 463 (S.D.N.Y. 2011). However, the court must ensure that the complaint sets forth
“enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570;
see Ruston v. Town Bd. for Town of Skaneateles, 610 F.3d 55, 57 (2d Cir. 2010). A pleading that
does nothing more than recite the elements of a claim, supported by mere conclusory statements,
is insufficient to “unlock the doors of discovery.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. Rather, “only a
complaint that states a plausible claim for relief survives a motion to dismiss.” Id. at 679.
Although a motion under FRCP 12(b)(6) is directed only to the sufficiency of the pleading, the
court may consider written documents attached to the complaint as well as documents
incorporated therein by reference and those of which plaintiff had knowledge and relied upon in
commencing the action. See Brass v. Amer. Film Techn., Inc., 987 F.2d 142, 150 (2d Cir. 1993).
B. Analysis of Claims
1. Tortious Interference with Contract Claim
To state a claim under New York law for tortious interference with contract, a plaintiff
must plead “(1) the existence of a valid contract between the plaintiff and a third party; (2) the
defendant’s knowledge of the contract; (3) the defendant’s intentional procurement of the thirdparty’s breach of the contract without justification; (4) actual breach of the contract; and (5)
damages resulting therefrom.” Kirch v. Liberty Media Corp., 449 F.3d 388, 401 (2d Cir. 2006)

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(internal quotation marks omitted); Lama Holding Co. v. Smith Barney Inc., 88 N.Y.2d 413, 424
(1996).
Encite argues that the complaint is insufficient to state a claim for tortious interference
with contract because Franklin fails to allege facts supporting the requirement that Encite acted
“without justification.” In response, Franklin initially argues that it need not plead that Encite
acted “without justification.” This Court disagrees, based on the above-cited cases and this Court
own recent decision in Symquest Group, Inc. v. Canon U.S.A., Inc., 186 F. Supp. 3d 257, 266
(E.D.N.Y. 2016). Alternatively, Franklin argues that the complaint satisfies this requirement by,
inter alia, alleging that Encite knew that Franklin had an ongoing business relationship with All
Island, and that Encite made “false and fraudulent representations” for the “specific purpose of
. . . wrongfully and maliciously inducing” All Island to breach its contract with Franklin.
Complaint ¶¶ 27-30. The Court agrees. Indeed, a well-recognized definition of “malice” is
“[t]he intent, without justification or excuse, to commit a wrongful act.” Malice, Black’s Law
Dictionary 1100(10th ed. 2014). The Court finds that the complaint sufficiently alleges Encite’s
tortious interference with contract.
2. Breach of Contract Claims
To state a claim under New York law for breach of contract, a plaintiff must plead “(1) a
contract; (2) performance of the contract by one party; (3) breach by the other party; and (4)
damages.” First Investors Corp. v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 152 F.3d 162, 168 (2d Cir. 1998)
(quoting Rexnord Holdings, Inc. v. Bidermann, 21 F.3d 522, 525 (2d Cir. 1994)); Symquest
Group, Inc., 186 F. Supp. 3d at 263.
a. Breach of the NDA

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Encite argues that Franklin fails to plead a cognizable breach of the NDA. In this respect,
Encite maintains that paragraph 3 of the NDA protects the “other Party’s” confidential
information, and that it does not prohibit Encite from disclosing its own confidential information
to third parties. Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Dismiss, Exh. A (“Each Party
shall at all times maintain and keep the confidentiality of the other Party’s Proprietary
Information and shall not copy, publish or disclose any Proprietary Information to any third party
. . . .”). Although the NDA was not attached to the complaint, the Court may consider it in
determining the sufficiency of the complaint, as it was referenced therein and obviously relied on
by Franklin in commencing this action, see Complaint ¶ 7. Franklin argues that it sufficiently
alleges that Encite breached the NDA by its wrongful disclosures to All Island of Franklin’s
confidential information as to markups and invoices. Complaint ¶ 35 (emphasis added). Upon
consideration, the Court cannot say as a matter of law that the alleged disclosures were not
disclosures of Franklin’s confidential information within the meaning of, and subject to, the
NDA. Thus, the Court finds that the complaint sufficiently alleges Encite’s breach of the NDA.
b. Breach of the Reseller Agreement
Encite argues that Franklin fails to plead facts supporting a plausible claim for breach of a
“Reseller Agreement.” Encite argues, inter alia, that Franklin does not sufficiently identify the
“Reseller Agreement” or the specific terms alleged to have been breached. In response, Franklin
argues that it sufficiently alleges that Encite breached the Reseller Agreement. As noted,
Franklin alleges, inter alia, (1) that “one or more written documents . . . and/or email
communications and/or other written correspondence between Encite and Franklin” constituted
the “Reseller Agreement,” permitting Franklin to sell software with prices and markups set by

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Encite, id. ¶ 5; (2) that pursuant thereto, the parties agreed that the existence and amount of
markups were confidential and considered trade secrets of both parties, and were to remain
confidential as to third parties, id. ¶ 7; and (3) that Encite breached the Reseller Agreement by its
wrongful disclosures to All Island of Franklin’s confidential information as to markups and
invoices – the same conduct constituting breach of the NDA, id. ¶¶ 35, 38. Upon consideration,
the Court finds that Franklin sufficiently pleads Encite’s breach of the “Reseller Agreement.”1

III. CONCLUSION
For the above reasons, defendant’s motion to dismiss is denied. The parties are directed
to schedule a pretrial conference with the magistrate judge, who shall issue a scheduling order
with discovery to be completed by August 31, 2017.
SO ORDERED.
_____________/s/_________________
LEONARD D. WEXLER
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Dated: Central Islip, New York
February 22, 2017

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The Court declines to consider matters outside the pleadings submitted by Franklin,
including the Affidavit of Shayan Zahidi in Opposition to Motion to Dismiss.