View 360 Solutions LLC v. Google, Inc.
Filing
35
DECISION AND ORDER denying Defendants' 25 Motion to Transfer Case and denying Defendants' 26 Motion to Stay. Signed by Magistrate Judge Therese Wiley Dancks on 3/13/2013. (amt)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
____________________________________________
VIEW 360 SOLUTIONS LLC,
Plaintiff,
v.
1:12-CV-1352
(GTS/TWD)
GOOGLE, INC.,
Defendant.
____________________________________________
APPEARANCES:
OF COUNSEL:
INNOVALAW, P.C.
Counsel for Plaintiff
1900 Ravinia Place
Orlando Park, IL 60462
TIMOTHY E. GROCHOCINSKI, ESQ.
AARON W. PURSER, ESQ.
SIMON LAW FIRM
Counsel for Plaintiff
800 Market Street, Suite 1700
St. Louis, MO 63101
BENJAMIN R. ASKEW, ESQ.
MICHAEL P. KELLA, ESQ.
ANTHONY G. SIMON, ESQ.
OFFICE OF DANIEL M. SLEASMAN
Counsel for Plaintiff
One Crumitie Road
Albany, NY 12211
DANIEL M. SLEASMAN, ESQ.
AKIN, GUMP LAW FIRM
Counsel for Defendant
1333 New Hampshire Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
CONO A. CARRANO, ESQ.
DAVID C. VONDLE, ESQ.
HISCOCK & BARCLAY, LLP
Counsel for Defendant
One Park Place
300 South State Street
Syracuse, NY 13202
DOUGLAS J. NASH, ESQ.
THÉRÈSE WILEY DANCKS, United States Magistrate Judge
DECISION and ORDER
Plaintiff View 360 Solutions, LLC, a New York limited liability company with its
principal place of business in Texas, brings this action for patent infringement under Title 35 of
the United States Code. Currently before the Court is Defendant’s motion to transfer venue.
(Dkt. No. 25-1.) Plaintiff opposed the motion. (Dkt. No. 30.) Defendant filed a reply brief in
support of its motion. (Dkt. No. 34.) Defendant also filed a motion to stay proceedings while
this motion to transfer venue is pending. (Dkt. No. 26.) Plaintiff opposed the motion to stay.
(Dkt. No. 28.) For the reasons set forth below, I deny the motion to transfer, as well as the
motion to stay.
I.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL SUMMARY
View 360 Solutions, LLC (“Plaintiff ”) filed a complaint against Google, Inc.
(“Defendant”) for infringement of eight U.S. patents on August 31, 2012. (Dkt. No. 1 at 1.) In
its complaint, Plaintiff asserts that Google Street View directly infringed upon its rights to the
patents-in-suit; as such, the complaint lists eight counts of direct and indirect patent
infringement. (See Dkt. No. 1.) Plaintiff further accuses Defendant of inducing end users of
Google Street View to infringe the patents-in-suit. Id.
Mr. Ford Oxaal is the sole inventor listed on the eight patents-in-suit, and he conceived
of and reduced to practice the claimed inventions in the patents in the Northern District of New
York. (Dkt. No. 30-1 at ¶¶ 2-6.) Plaintiff claims that Mr. Oxaal granted it an exclusive license
to the patents-in-suit. (Dkt. No. 30 at 1.1)
1
Page numbers in citations to Plaintiff’s memorandum of law in opposition to Defendant’s
motion to transfer venue refer to the page numbers in the original document.
2
Defendant filed the motion to transfer venue to the Northern District of California and
motion to stay on March 7, 2013. (Dkt. No. 25 at 1; Dkt. No. 26 at 1.)
II.
ANALYSIS
“For the convenience of parties and witnesses, in the interest of justice, a district court
may transfer any civil action to any other district or division where it might have been brought.”
28 U.S.C. § 1404(a) (West Supp. 2012). The purpose of section 1404(a) “is to prevent waste of
time, energy and money and to protect litigants, witnesses and the public against unnecessary
inconvenience and expense.” Blechman v. Ideal Health, Inc., 668 F. Supp. 2d 399, 403
(E.D.N.Y. 2009) (quoting Van Dusen v. Barrack, 376 U.S. 612, 616 (1964)). “[M]otions for
transfer lie within the broad discretion of the district court and are determined upon notions of
convenience and fairness on a case-by-case basis.” In re Cuyahoga Equip. Corp., 980 F.2d 110,
117 (2d Cir. 1992) (citing Stewart Org., Inc. v. Ricoh Corp., 487 U.S. 22, 29 (1988)).
“Motions to transfer venue are governed by a two-part test: (1) whether the action to be
transferred ‘might have been brought’ in the transferee venue; and (2) whether the balance of
convenience and justice favors transfer.” Rescuecom Corp. v. Chumley, 522 F. Supp. 2d 429,
448-49 (N.D.N.Y. 2007). The moving party has the burden of demonstrating the desirability of
transfer, and a court should not disturb a plaintiff’s choice of forum “unless Defendants make a
clear and convincing showing that the balance of convenience favors [their] choice.” Hubbell
Inc. v. Pass & Seymour, Inc., 883 F. Supp. 955, 962 (S.D.N.Y. 1995).
A.
“Might Have Been Brought”
To establish that an action “might have been brought” in the transferee venue, the
moving party must establish that (a) venue is proper in the transferee venue; and (b) the
transferee venue had personal jurisdiction over the defendant on the date the action was
3
commenced. Anglo Am. Ins. Grp., P.L.C. v. CalFed Inc., 916 F. Supp. 1324, 1330 (S.D.N.Y.
1996).
The relevant federal venue statute provides, in pertinent part:
A civil action may be brought in (1) a judicial district in which any
defendant resides, if all defendants are residents of the State in
which the district is located; (2) a judicial district in which a
substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim
occurred, or a substantial part of property that is the subject of the
action is situated; or (3) if there is no district in which an action
may otherwise be brought as provided in this section, any judicial
district in which any defendant is subject to the court’s personal
jurisdiction with respect to such action.
28 U.S.C. § 1391(b) (West Supp. 2012). A defendant corporation is deemed to reside “in any
judicial district in which such defendant is subject to the court’s personal jurisdiction with
respect to the civil action in question . . . .” 28 U.S.C. § 1391(c) (West Supp. 2012).
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(c), Defendant contends that Plaintiff could have filed suit
in the Northern District of California. (Dkt. No. 25-1 at 5.) Plaintiff concedes this point in its
opposition papers. (Dkt. No. 30 at 3 n.2.)
Defendant, a corporate entity, “resides” in the Northern District of California, because it
is headquartered in and is subject to personal jurisdiction in the judicial district. Id. Moreover,
“any civil action for patent infringement may be brought in the judicial district where the
defendant resides, or where the defendant has committed acts of infringement and has a regular
and established place of business.” 28 U.S.C. § 1400(b) (West Supp. 2012). In the instant case,
Plaintiff brought a suit alleging direct and indirect infringement of eight separate patents. (See
Dkt. No. 1.)
For the foregoing reasons, Defendant has met its burden of showing that the suit “might
have been brought” in the Northern District of California at the outset of litigation.
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B.
The Balance of Convenience and Justice
Because this case “might have been brought” in the proposed transferee district, the
decision of whether to transfer depends on the balance of convenience and justice. As noted
above, the Court has considerable discretion and determines this balance on a case-by-case basis.
In re Cuyahoga Equip. Corp., 980 F.2d at 117. A non-exclusive list of factors to consider
includes:
(1) the convenience of witnesses; (2) the convenience of the parties;
(3) the location of relevant documents and the relative ease of access
to those sources of proof; (4) the situs of the operative events in issue;
(5) the availability of process to compel the attendance of unwilling
witnesses; (6) the relative means of the parties; (7) the comparative
familiarity of each district with the governing law; (8) the weight
accorded a plaintiff’s choice of forum; and (9) judicial efficiency and
the interests of justice.
Rescuecom, 522 F. Supp. 2d at 449. “No individual factor is determinative and a court has
discretion to weigh each factor to reach a fair result.” Id. (citations omitted).
The burden of establishing that transfer is appropriate is on the moving party. Anglo Am.
Ins. Grp., 916 F. Supp. at 1327. The moving party “must support the application with an
affidavit containing detailed factual statements relevant to the factors [to be considered by the
court in its transfer decision], including the potential principal witnesses expected to be called
and a general statement of the substance of their testimony.” Hernandez v. Graebel Van Lines,
761 F. Supp. 983, 987 (E.D.N.Y. 1991).
1.
Convenience of Non-Party Witnesses
“The convenience of party and nonparty witnesses is usually the most important
consideration in deciding a motion to transfer venue.” AEC One Stop Grp., Inc. v. CD Listening
Bar, Inc., 326 F. Supp. 2d 525, 529 (S.D.N.Y. 2004). In assessing the convenience of witnesses,
5
courts routinely examine the residence of witnesses. Argent Funds Grp., LLC v. Schutt, No.
3:05CV01456 (SRU), 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 60469, at *14, 2006 WL 2349464, at *5 (D. Conn.
June 27, 2006) (citing Golconda Min. Corp. v. Herlands, 365 F.2d 856, 857 (2d Cir. 1966)).
Moreover, the Court should “qualitatively evaluate the materiality of the testimony that
witnesses may provide.” Defenshield, Inc. v. First Choice Armor & Equipment, Inc., No. 5:10CV-1140 (GTS/DEP), 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 44276, at *36, 2012 WL 1069088, at *11
(N.D.N.Y. Mar. 29, 2012) (quoting Advanced Fiber Tech. Trust v. J & L Fiber Servs., Inc., No.
07-CV-1191 (LEK/DRH), 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 91795, at *7, 2008 WL 4890377, at*3
(N.D.N.Y. Nov. 12, 2008)).
In support of its motion to transfer venue, Defendant offers a declaration from Allen
Hutchinson. (Dkt. No. 25-3.) In his declaration, Mr. Hutchinson, an Engineering Manager for
the Street View team for the Defendant, identifies four potential witnesses “who have relevant
knowledge about the development, structure, function, and operation of Google Street View.”
Id. at 2. Each of these witnesses is located in the Northern District of California. Id. In
Plaintiff’s opposition to Defendant’s motion, Plaintiff specifically notes that the only non-party
witness identified to be called at trial is Ford Oxaal, the sole named inventor of all eight patentsin-suit. (Dkt. No. 30 at 5.)
Defendant replied to Plaintiff’s argument and contends that “all but one of the identified
witnesses are located in the Northern District of California or outside this district.” (Dkt. No. 34
at 4.2) Furthermore, Defendant contends that “Plaintiff only identifies limited and narrow
issues” to which Oxaal would testify at trial. Id.
2
Page numbers in citations to Defendant’s reply brief in support of its motion to transfer
venue refer to the page numbers in the original document.
6
The facts of the instant case are comparable to those in Defenshield. 2012 WL 1069088.
There, the defendant named “only two” potential non-party witnesses outside the District. Id. at
*11. The plaintiff named “nine potential witnesses, including the inventor of [the patent-in-suit],
all of which [were] located in [this District].” Id. As a result, this Court found that these facts
served to neutralize one another. Id. In the instant case, Defendant has named four witnesses
who are located outside this District and has listed the possibility of others. (Dkt. No. 25-1 at
8.3) The Plaintiff has named one material witness, the sole inventor of the patents-in-suit, who is
located within the district. (Dkt. No. 30 at 5.)
For the foregoing reasons, I find that this factor is neutral to venue transfer analysis.
2.
Convenience of the Parties
The convenience of the parties is another consideration in determining whether transfer is
appropriate. Here, Defendant is headquartered in the Northern District of California. (Dkt. No.
25-1 at 10.) Defendant asserts that “the persons with knowledge of the technical research,
design, and development of Google Street View work at Google’s Northern California
headquarters.” Id. Moreover, Allen Hutchinson stated in his declaration in support of the
defendant’s motion to transfer venue that “the Google teams responsible . . . for Google Street
View are primarily led by personnel that have been, and are, located in Google’s facilities in
Mountain View, California.” (Dkt. No. 25-3 at ¶ 4.)
Plaintiff is a subsidiary of Acacia Research Corporation, whose principal place of
business is in Texas. (Dkt. No. 30 at 1 n.1; Dkt. No. 25-2 at 119) Plaintiff is incorporated in
New York as of October 9, 2012. (Dkt. No. 25-2 at 6.) Plaintiff relies upon EasyWeb
3
Page numbers in citations to Defendant’s memorandum of law in support of motion to
transfer venue refer to the page numbers in the original document.
7
Innovations, LLC v. Facebook, Inc., such that where transfer would merely shift the
inconvenience from one party to the other, the Court should leave plaintiff’s choice of venue
undisturbed. No. 11-CV-5121 (JFB)(ETB), 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 123833, at *25, 2012 WL
3755410, at *8 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 30, 2012).4
Here, for the same reason that it would be inconvenient for Plaintiff to travel to the
Northern District of California, it would be inconvenient for Defendants to travel to the Northern
District of New York. Defenshield, 2012 WL 1069088, at *12. As a result, I find that this factor
is neutral.
3.
Location of Relevant Documents
“Access to documents and other proof is not a persuasive factor in favor of transfer
without proof that documents are particularly bulky or difficult to transport, or proof that it is
somehow a greater imposition for defendant to bring its evidence to New York than for plaintiff
to bring” its evidence to California. Sunshine Cellular v. Vanguard Cellular Sys., Inc., 810 F.
Supp. 486, 500 (S.D.N.Y. 1992).
Defendant contends that this factor weighs substantially in its favor. Defendant states
that “all or nearly all of the documents and highly proprietary information relating to Google
Street View are stored in Google’s various data centers, which are accessible and ultimately
managed from Mountain View, California.” (Dkt. No. 25-1 at 11.) As such, Defendant
contends that “the burden associated with accessing and transporting documentary and other
evidence is far greater if the case remains [in this District].” Id.
4
“However, ‘transfer of venue may be appropriate where inconvenience for the party
moving for transfer could be completely eliminated without substantially adding to the
nonmoving party’s inconvenience.’” EasyWeb, 2012 WL 3755410, at *8 (quoting Frame v.
Whole Foods Mkt., Inc., No. 06 Civ. 7058 (DAB), 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 72720, at *16, 2007
WL 2815613, at *6 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 24, 2007)).
8
Plaintiff contends that this factor “weighs slightly against transfer, or at a minimum, is
neutral.” (Dkt. No. 30 at 8.) Many documents relevant to this matter, “including those
pertaining to the conception of and reduction to practice of the claimed inventions,” are located
in this District at the residence of Mr. Oxaal, the sole inventor named on the patents-in-suit. Id.
Plaintiff also relays the possibility that “several models and drawings,” which cannot be
converted into electronic format and may be damaged by shipping, may relate to this action. Id.
Furthermore, Plaintiff contends that Defendant’s statement that pertinent documents are
“stored in Google’s various data centers, which are accessible and ultimately managed from
Mountain View, California” was ambiguous and does not assert that the relevant documents are
actually (or physically) located in Mountainview. Id. Moreover, Plaintiff contends that
Defendant fails “to account for the fact that all of these documents will be produced
electronically in this matter.” Id.
In patent infringement cases, the location of relevant documents “once carried significant
weight in this analysis.” Defenshield, 2012 WL 1069088, at *12 (citing Advanced Fiber Tech.,
2008 WL 4890377, at*4). This factor weighs in favor of a defendant’s argument for venue
transfer, because in a patent infringement case, the bulk of the relevant evidence is in possession
of the accused infringer. Defenshield, 2012 WL 1069088, at *12. However, this factor is not
accorded significant weight “given the technological age in which we live, with the widespread
use of, among other things, electronic document production.” EasyWeb, 2012 WL 3755410, at
*7.
For the foregoing reasons, I find that this factor only slightly weighs in favor of
Defendant’s motion to transfer.
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4.
Situs of Operative Events in Issue
“The situs of the operative facts is an important factor in deciding motions to transfer. . . .
Where a cause of action arises from claims of alleged wrongdoing in the proposed transferee
district, transfer is appropriate. Transfer is not precluded where the operative facts have some
connection to the initial forum if the transferee district has a stronger connection with the
operative facts raised in the pleadings.” Sheet Metal Workers’ Nat’l Pension Fund v. Gallagher,
669 F. Supp. 88, 92-93 (S.D.N.Y. 1987) (citations omitted).
“Operative facts in a patent infringement action include those relating to the design,
development, and production of a patented product.” Defenshield, 2012 WL 1069088, at *13
(citing Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. v. Lexar Media, Inc., 415 F. Supp. 2d 370, 375 (S.D.N.Y.
2006); Invivo Research, Inc. v. Magnetic Resonance Equipment Corp., 119 F. Supp. 2d 433, 439
(S.D.N.Y. 2000)). “Similar information regarding the allegedly infringing product is also vital in
adjudicating an infringement case.” Defenshield, 2012 WL 1069088, at *13 (citing Amersham
Pharmacia Biotech, Inc. v. Perkin-Elmer Corp., 11 F. Supp. 2d 729, 730 (S.D.N.Y. 1998)). “As
a result, venue analysis may demonstrate that there are multiple loci of operative facts.”
Defenshield, 2012 WL 1069088, at *13 (internal citations omitted).
Defendant contends that “the operative events and facts related to Google Street View
include its design and development, both of which occurred in the Northern District of
California.” (Dkt. No. 25-1 at 12.) Furthermore, Defendant contends that, “although the alleged
conception and reduction to practice of the Patents-in-Suit may have occurred in this District,”
the persons with significant, relevant knowledge are located outside of this District. Id. For
these reasons, Defendant asserts that this factor weighs in favor of transfer.
10
Plaintiff contends that this factor is neutral to the analysis and relies upon EasyWeb.
2012 WL 3755410, at *9. There, the Court stated “that in patent cases, the locus of operative
facts can include the district where either the patent-in-suit or the allegedly infringing product
was designed, developed, and produced.” Id. (emphasis in original). The Court ultimately held
that “because both districts in this case are loci of operative events, this factor is neutral in this
case.” Id.
Here, the facts mirror those of EasyWeb. As such, the two loci of operative events offset
each other, rendering this factor neutral to the analysis.
5.
Availability of Process to Compel Attendance
The court can compel the attendance of witnesses who are served within the district or at
any other place that is within 100 miles of the place specified in the subpoena. Federal Rule of
Civil Procedure Rule 45(b)(2). “In determining whether a change of venue is appropriate, the
Court will . . . examine the ability to compel the attendance of witnesses.” Neil Bros. Ltd. v.
World Wide Lines, Inc., 425 F. Supp. 2d 325, 332-33 (E.D.N.Y. 2006). “However, ‘this factor is
generally relevant only with respect to third-party witnesses, since employees of the parties will
as a practical matter be available in any venue by virtue of the employment relationship.’”
Defenshield, 2012 WL 1069088, at *13 (quoting Ripmax Ltd. v. Horizon Hobby, Inc., No. 07CV-386 (JCH), 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 50047, at *13, 2007 WL 204933, at *4 (D. Conn. June
25, 2007)).
Here, Plaintiff stated concern regarding the availability to compel attendance of its only
non-party witness, Mr. Oxaal, who is the inventor of the patent-in-suit. (Dkt. No. 30 at 10.)
However, Plaintiff noted that it “expects that Mr. Oxaal will voluntarily appear at trial in this
matter.” Id. at n.9. Defendant stated concern regarding this Court’s subpoena power over “all
11
prosecuting attorneys of the Patents-in-Suit.” (Dkt. No. 25-1 at 13.) However, Defendant fails to
identify non-party witnesses it intends to depose or have testify during future proceedings.
Although Defendant notes that potential witnesses would be outside of this District’s
ability to be subpoenaed, they have not indicated that such witnesses would be unwilling to
appear. As such, there is no indication that any non-party witnesses would refuse to appear.
Thus, this factor is neutral to the venue transfer analysis.
6.
Relative Means of the Parties
“Where a disparity exists between the means of the parties . . ., the Court may consider
the relative means of the parties in determining whether to transfer.” Miller v. Bombardier Inc.,
No. 93-CV-0376 (PLK), 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13319, at *13, 1993 WL 378585, at *5
(S.D.N.Y. Sept. 23, 1993). In the instant case, both parties concede that this factor is neutral to
the analysis. (Dkt. No. 25-1 at 13; Dkt. No. 30 at 10.) Defendant and Plaintiff both have
significant resources at their disposal. For the foregoing reasons, I agree that this factor is
neutral.
7.
Comparative Familiarity of Each District with the Governing Law
“This case involves questions of federal law, and ‘any district court may handle a patent
case with equal skill.’” Defenshield, Inc., 2012 WL 1069088, at *14 (quoting Bionix Implants,
Inc. v. Biomet, Inc., No. 99 Civ. 740(WHP), 1999 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8031, at *15, 1999 WL
342306, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. May 27, 1999). As a result, both parties concede that this factor is
neutral to transfer analysis, and I agree.
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8.
Weight Accorded a Plaintiff’s Choice of Forum
A plaintiff’s choice of forum “should not be disturbed unless the balance of several
factors is strongly in favor of defendant.” Fuji Photo Film Co. v. Lexar Media, Inc., 415 F.
Supp. 2d 370, 376 (S.D.N.Y. 2006) (citation omitted).
Here, Plaintiff properly filed this action in the Northern District of New York, is
incorporated in this state, and maintains a preference for litigating in this forum. (See Dkt. No.
30.) Moreover, the patents-in-suit were designed in the Northern District of New York by Ford
Oxaal, who currently resides in this forum. Id. at 1. These facts are significant to an action for
patent infringement and support Plaintiff’s choice of forum. Defenshield, 2012 WL 1069088, at
*15 (citing Advanced Fiber Tech. Trust, 2008 WL 4890377, at *6).
Moreover, while Defendant contends that this Court should give little deference to
Plaintiff’s choice of forum because “none of the operative facts or events giving rise to the
infringement allegations occurred in this District, other than the named inventor appearing to
reside in this District,” Defendant’s argument is inconsistent with relevant case law. (Dkt. No.
25-1 at 6.)
“The place where the patented invention was developed and the place where the
allegedly infringing products are developed are both loci of operative facts.” EasyWeb, 2012
WL 3755410, *5 (finding that Plaintiff’s choice of venue was entitled great deference as there
was a “clear connection to the District as the place where the patents-in-suit were designed,
developed and patented . . . although operative facts also occurred in California) (citing
Defenshield, 2012 WL 1069088, at *13).
For all of these reasons, I find that this factor weighs against transfer.
13
9.
Judicial Efficiency and the Interests of Justice
Even if Defendants had shown a difference in speed of cases to final disposition in the
two districts, “docket congestion is not considered a dispositive factor. . . .” Dow Jones & Co.,
Inc. v. Bd. of Trade, 539 F. Supp. 190, 192-93 (S.D.N.Y. 1982).
Despite Defendant’s argument regarding the parties’ lack of “a meaningful connection
with this District,” and the relative “Judicial Caseload Statistics” for the two forums, it has not
met its burden in showing that “the interests of justice” factor weighs in favor of transfer. This
Court is fully capable of adjudicating Plaintiff’s claims in a timely manner. For these reasons, I
find that this factor does not weigh in favor of transfer.
C.
Conclusion
Of the nine factors considered above, only one factor weighs in favor of transferring
venue to the Northern District of California, two factors weigh in favor of maintaining venue in
the Northern District of New York, and the remaining six factors are neutral to transfer analysis.
As a result, I find that none of the factors heavily outweigh the deference accorded to Plaintiff’s
choice of forum. For this reason, Defendant’s motion to transfer venue is denied.
Based on the above analysis of the relevant factors, I find the balance of convenience and
the interests of justice favors venue in the Northern District of New York. Since Defendant’s
motion to stay was requested pending a ruling on its motion to transfer venue, there is no reason
to stay the action.
ACCORDINGLY, it is
ORDERED that Defendants’ motion to transfer venue (Dkt. No. 25) is DENIED; and it
is further
14
ORDERED that Defendant’s motion to stay (Dkt. No. 26) is DENIED.
Date: March 13, 2013
Syracuse, New York
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