National Air Cargo Group, Inc. v. Maersk Line, Limited et al
Filing
86
OPINION AND ORDER re: 62 MOTION to Dismiss Plaintiff's Second Amended Complaint filed by A/P Moeller Maersk, Maersk Line A/S, 57 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Maersk Line, Limited. For the reasons stat ed in this Opinion, MLL's motion for summary judgment is GRANTED in full. Maersk A/S's and A/P's motion to dismiss is GRANTED in full. The Clerk of Court is directed to terminate all pending motions, adjourn all remaining dates, and close this case. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Katherine Polk Failla on 9/27/2019) (rro) Transmission to Orders and Judgments Clerk for processing.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
NATIONAL AIR CARGO GROUP, INC.,
Plaintiff,
17 Civ. 8659 (KPF)
-v.MAERSK LINE LIMITED, MAERSK LINE
A/S, and A/P MOELLER MAERSK,
OPINION AND ORDER
Defendants.
KATHERINE POLK FAILLA, District Judge:
This case is the sequel to a prior dispute between similar parties, but
this time the roles are reversed. On November 8, 2017 — the same day that
this Court upheld a judgment requiring Plaintiff National Air Cargo Group, Inc.
(“NACG”) to pay Defendant Maersk Line Limited (“MLL”) more than $900,000
for breaching a contract between the parties — NACG filed this action against
MLL, A/P Moeller Maersk (“Maersk A/P”), and Maersk Line A/S (“Maersk A/S”)
(collectively, “Defendants” or the “Maersk Entities”). In this litigation, Plaintiff
claims that Maersk A/S and Maersk A/P interfered with the contract between
MLL and NACG, and, further, that MLL breached the contract and engaged in
other misconduct.
The Maersk Entities have asked the Court to dismiss all claims against
them. Maersk A/S and Maersk A/P move to dismiss the operative complaint
for failure to state a claim. MLL moves for summary judgment. As set forth in
the remainder of this Opinion, both motions are granted in full.
In light of the unusual procedural posture of this case, the Court has
endeavored to structure the Opinion to address the different legal claims, while
respecting the different standards of review under Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure 12(b)(6) and 56. The factual background of the case is provided
collectively. In its legal analysis, however, the Court focuses on the Second
Amended Complaint (the “SAC”) and documents integral to it in resolving
Maersk A/S’s and A/P’s motion to dismiss, and discusses additional material
only in resolving MLL’s motion for summary judgment.
BACKGROUND 1
A.
Factual Background
1.
The Parties
Plaintiff NACG is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of
Florida. (SAC ¶ 10). “NACG is a Prime Contractor with regards to the
1
The facts set forth in this Opinion are drawn from the Second Amended Complaint (the
“SAC” (Dkt. #55)) as well as the parties’ submissions in connection with the instant
motions, including MLL’s Local Rule 56.1 Statement (“MLL 56.1” (Dkt. #65)), Plaintiff’s
counterstatement (“NAGC 56.1 Opp.” (Dkt. #73)), and MLL’s reply statement (“MLL 56.1
Reply” (Dkt. #80)). References to individual declarations and affidavits are referred to
using the conventions “[Name] Decl.,” and “[Name] Aff.,” respectively. The Subcontract
between MLL and NACG is provided as an attachment to the Declaration of Christopher
Raleigh and is referred to as “Subcontract” (Dkt. #63-1). The Fifth Amendment to the
Subcontract is also provided as an attachment to the Declaration of Christopher
Raleigh and is referred to as “Amendment 5” (Dkt. #63-2 at 13). For ease of reference,
Maersk A/S’s and Maersk A/P’s joint opening brief is referred to as “Maersk Br.” (Dkt.
#64); MLL’s opening brief as “MLL Br.” (Dkt# 68); Plaintiff’s combined opposition brief
as “Pl. Opp.” (Dkt. #71); Maersk A/S’s and Maersk A/P’s joint reply brief as “Maersk
Reply” (Dkt. #81); and MLL’s reply brief as “MLL Reply” (Dkt. #80).
Citations to a party’s 56.1 Statement incorporate by reference the documents cited
therein. Where facts stated in a party’s 56.1 Statement are supported by testimonial or
documentary evidence, and denied with only a conclusory statement by the other party,
the Court finds such facts to be true. See Local Civil Rule 56.1(c) (“Each numbered
paragraph in the statement of material facts set forth in the statement required to be
served by the moving party will be deemed to be admitted for purposes of the motion
unless specifically controverted by a corresponding numbered paragraph in the
statement required to be served by the opposing party.”); id. at 56.1(d) (“Each statement
2
provision of the movement of both people and goods, globally, for the United
States Government.” (Id. at ¶ 13). Defendant MLL is a shipping corporation
organized and existing under the laws of Delaware, with its principal office and
place of business in Norfolk, Virginia; it is a United States Flag (or “U.S. flag”)
Carrier of Government property by water. (Id. at ¶ 15). Defendant Maersk A/S
is an international container shipping company based in Aarhaus, Denmark.
(Id. at ¶ 16). Maersk A/P is the world’s largest ocean shipping conglomerate,
and is based in Copenhagen, Denmark. (Id. at ¶ 17). MLL and Maersk A/S are
wholly owned subsidiaries of Maersk A/P. (Id. at ¶¶ 15-16).
2.
The Subcontract Between MLL and NACG
On January 23, 2013, NACG entered into a subcontract with MLL (“the
Subcontract”), by which MLL agreed to provide shipping services to NACG to
aid the latter in fulfilling a multimodal transportation contract that NACG held
with the U.S. Department of Defense (“DOD”). (SAC ¶¶ 20-21). This
multimodal contract provided that NACG would be responsible for the
movement and delivery of DOD’s freight. (Id.). The Subcontract begins by
describing the parties as “National Air Cargo Group, Inc. … as the Prime
contractor, and Maersk Line, Limited … as the Subcontractor[.]”
(Subcontract 1). At no point does the contract reference Maersk A/S or Maersk
A/P. (See generally Subcontract).
by the movant or opponent ... controverting any statement of material fact[] must be
followed by citation to evidence which would be admissible, set forth as required by Fed.
R. Civ. P. 56(c).”).
3
The Subcontract required NACG to compensate MLL for the provision of
two services: freight movement (i.e., shipping) and management services (which
included monitoring services and creating invoices). (SAC ¶ 23). Management
services were compensated by a Management Service Fee, which was
sometimes called the “Exclusivity Service Fee” or the “Exclusivity Fee.” (Id.).
The Exclusivity Fee is discussed at Paragraph 10 of the Subcontract (the
“Exclusivity Clause”), which initially provided:
10. VOLUME AND EXCLUSIVITY:
•
National and Maersk agree that no guarantee or
representation has been made regarding
volumes. There is no minimum volume of freight
or cargo contemplated within this subcontract.
•
Maersk will be National’s exclusive (P1) container
ocean carrier under the Commercial Multi-Modal
Contract, for both pro-grade and retrograde
operations.
•
Maersk will not provide ocean transportation
services under the Commercial MultiModal
Contract to any other non-affiliated prime
contractor: provided, nothing herein shall
supersede, conflict with or materially affect the
obligations of any Maersk affiliated entity as a
“common carrier” under applicable law.
(Subcontract 6).
The Subcontract also contained the following termination provision:
Either Party may terminate, without cause, by giving
thirty (30) days written notice to the other; provided,
such termination shall have no effect on obligations of
the parties under this Agreement for cargo awarded
under the Commercial Multi-Modal Transportation
Contract prior to such termination notice.
4
(NACG 56.1 Opp. ¶ 8). From 2013 to mid-2016, MLL provided ocean
transportation, container storage and detention, and management services to
NACG. (MLL 56.1 ¶ 9).
The parties amended the Subcontract six times, with the crux of this
dispute concerning the fifth amendment (“Amendment 5”), which was dated
February 23, 2015, and which amended the Exclusivity Clause to allow MLL to
provide specific services to Liberty Global Logistics, LLC for specific shipping
routes through Riga, Latvia and Baku, Azerbaijan. (SAC ¶¶ 23-24).
Amendment 5 revised the third bullet point of the Exclusivity Clause as follows:
With the exception of performing ocean transportation
services directly or indirectly for prime contractor
Liberty Global Logistics LLC under the Contract, and
expressly limiting such exception to the (i) North
America-Latvia (Riga) and (ii) North America —
Azerbaijan (Baku) corridors, Maersk will not provide
ocean transportation services under the Commercial
Multi-Modal Contract to any other non-affiliated prime
contractor; provided, nothing herein shall supersede,
conflict with or materially affect the obligations of any
Maersk-affiliated entity as a “common carrier” under
applicable law.
(Amendment 5 at 1).
3.
The Contract Between Maersk A/S and APL
On November 26, 2014, Maersk A/S entered into a contract with
American President Lines, Ltd. (“APL”), another prime Government contractor,
to provide shipping services (the “Slot Agreement”). (SAC ¶ 26). APL is a direct
competitor of NACG. (Id. at ¶ 28). The Slot Agreement allowed both APL and
Maersk A/S to offer reduced rates on services — which, it is alleged, drastically
reduced NACG’s ability to offer competitive prices and acquire business. (Id. at
5
¶¶ 29-31). NACG alleges that the Maersk Entities and APL conspired to reduce
prices artificially and thereby drive NACG out of the market for container
shipping. (Id. at ¶ 33). According to NACG, the Maersk Entities were aware of
each other’s customer information due to government disclosure rules. (Id. at
¶ 43). Maersk A/P, the parent company of both MLL and Maersk A/S, is
alleged to have capitalized on this transparency and on its complex corporate
structure to subvert the Exclusivity Clause of the Subcontract between NACG
and MLL. (Id. at ¶ 38).
4.
The Disputes Between MLL and NACG
As may be obvious from the litigation history, it was not smooth sailing
for NACG and MLL under the Subcontract. Early on, NACG’s representatives,
Ted Pendleton and Kenneth Lundgren, complained to MLL’s Vice President and
Chief Commercial Officer, Torben Svenningsen, that the costs of the
Subcontract were making NACG uncompetitive. (MLL 56.1 ¶ 12). In response,
MLL and NAGC amended the Subcontract to allow the Management Service Fee
to be waived on a case-by-case basis. (Id. at ¶ 13). The amendment resolved
the short-term dispute, but a second problem emerged in December 2014,
when Svenningsen advised Pendleton that Maersk A/S would shortly enter into
the Slot Agreement with APL. (Id. at ¶ 14). NACG responded that this
constituted a breach of the Exclusivity Clause and requested a discount of
MLL’s Management Service Fee on future food shipments. (Id. at ¶ 15).
Svenningsen responded in early 2015, agreeing with Pendleton to waive
the Management Service Fee for food shipments effective July 1, 2015.
6
(Svenningsen Decl. ¶ 18). Lundgren confirmed the agreement by email,
stating: “Additionally, per your agreement with Ted in June, effective 1 July
2015 [NACG] would no longer incur a fee for the food shipments since Maersk
was no longer exclusive.” (MLL 56.1 ¶ 17). MLL considered the dispute settled
and recalled no further complaints, while NACG maintains that the billing
continued and the dispute was unresolved. (Id. at ¶¶ 19-21; NACG 56.1 Opp.
¶¶ 19-21).
The parties attempted to negotiate a new agreement in 2016. (MLL 56.1
¶¶ 23-26). The negotiations included a proposed revision eliminating the
Exclusivity Clause. (Id. at ¶ 24). But there remained an additional obstacle in
the form of fees owed by NACG. As such, on July 1, 2016, Svenningsen
informed NACG that MLL would execute a new agreement “upon learning
details on how [NACG] is going to get caught up on both the overdue freight
charges as well as [management service fee] payments.” (Id. at ¶ 27). Upon
receiving no response, on July 14, 2016, Svenningsen informed NACG that it
was in default, demanded $755,000, stated that a hold would be placed on
NACG cargo, and terminated MLL’s business relationship with NACG. (Id. at
¶¶ 28-29).
5.
The 2016 Litigation
On August 8, 2016, MLL brought suit against NACG for breach of
contract. Maersk Line Ltd. v. Nat’l Air Cargo Grp., Inc., No. 16 Civ. 6272 (KPF),
2017 WL 4444941 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 4, 2017) (“MLL I” or the “2016 Litigation”).
MLL alleged that NACG had failed to make payments for shipping services and
7
owed $777,655.15 under the Subcontract. Id. at *1. On September 16, 2016,
the parties agreed to a stay the case pending arbitration. Id. On June 2, 2017,
the arbitration panel issued a final award in favor of MLL, comprising principal
debt of $777,655.15, pre-award interest of $128,281.14, arbitrator
compensation and expenses of $2,020.00, and post-award interest at an
annual rate of 9% accruing 30 days from the date of the award. Id. On
June 13, 2017, MLL moved for summary judgment before this Court to confirm
the total arbitral award of $907,956.29, and the Court granted the award with
post judgment interest at the statutory rate. See generally id.
NACG asserts that it did not know about the arbitration and summary
judgment proceeding in the 2016 Litigation because of the conduct of its prior
general counsel. (NACG 56.1 Opp. ¶ 30). 2 On October 18, 2017, NACG filed
an order to show cause, seeking a stay on the execution of the judgment and
an order vacating the award in the 2016 Litigation. (16 Civ. 6272 Dkt. # 31).
At the same time, NACG’s principal, Chris Alf, averred that he had learned of
the breach of the Exclusivity Clause in 2015, and that NACG’s ability to
provide services to DOD had been limited on account of that breach. (MLL
56.1 ¶¶ 34-35). On November 8, 2017, the Court heard oral argument on
these issues and denied NACG’s request to vacate the award in the 2016
2
The Court observes that Plaintiff’s current claim of ignorance is not entirely accurate, in
that at least one NACG officer was aware of these matters. NACG’s then-General
Counsel, Mark McMillan, had specifically advised NACG’s outside counsel that NACG
had no defenses to the claims raised in 2016 Litigation and, further, had directed
counsel not to oppose MLL’s motion for summary judgment confirming the arbitral
award. (See 16 Civ. 6272 Dkt. #33).
8
Litigation, while staying execution of the judgment until November 30, 2017.
(16 Civ. 6272 Dkt. #43).
6.
The 2018 Shipping Dispute
MLL has not done business directly with NACG since the termination of
the Subcontract. (See SAC ¶ 51). According to NACG, because of the Maersk
Entities’ dominant position in the container shipping market between North
American and Middle Eastern ports, NACG was required to use brokers (some
of which would then contract with MLL) in order to fulfill its contract with
DOD. (Id. at ¶¶ 51-52, 68-70). On one such occasion, in February 2018,
NACG contracted with a broker to arrange to ship DOD containers via MLL
from Newark, New Jersey, to Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates. (Id. at ¶¶ 50, 5253). NACG’s freight was transported on an MLL U.S. flag carrier to Oman, but
was transported from Oman to Jebel Ali on a foreign flag vessel, in violation of
the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (“VISA”) governing DOD cargo
shipments. (Id. at ¶¶ 39, 54).
NACG alleges that all the other freight that MLL transported from Oman
to Jebel Ali remained on the U.S. flag carrier. (SAC ¶ 55). Indeed, NACG did
not learn that its cargo had been moved to a non-U.S. flag vessel until its
Contracting Officer at DOD informed it of the change. (Id. at ¶ 56). What is
more, NACG alleges that MLL’s Svenningsen deliberately alerted DOD to this
issue in order to sabotage NACG’s relationship with DOD. (Id. at ¶¶ 56-57).
Specifically, NACG alleges that MLL provided negative information about NACG
to DOD due to the 2016 Litigation, and that these actions resulted in DOD
9
reprimanding NACG. (Id. at ¶ 59; see also id. at ¶¶ 64-65 (explaining that the
DOD Contracting Officer said, “You know who told me,” when explaining how
DOD learned that NACG’s cargo was shipped via a non-U.S. flag carrier)).
NACG also alleges that MLL obtained non-public information regarding NACG’s
communications with DOD, along with privileged internal materials between
NACG representatives, through unclear means. (Id. at ¶¶ 61, 62, 67).
MLL holds a less favorable view of NACG’s use of brokers. It states that
Svenningsen investigated the shipping incident and learned that NACG had
used a broker after the termination of the Subcontract to disguise the identity
of the shipper and the cargo. (MLL 56.1 ¶ 47). Worse yet, Svenningsen learned
that NACG was misrepresenting to DOD that NACG had an ongoing
relationship with MLL, when in fact NACG no longer had access to a U.S. flag
carrier. (Id. at ¶¶ 47-48). As for the transfer of NACG cargo in February 2018,
MLL explains that after a fire occurred on an MLL vessel near Oman, two of
NACG’s containers were transferred from MLL’s transporting vessel to a Maersk
A/S non-U.S. flag ship under an emergency contingency plan. (Id. at ¶ 53).
The same fire forced all containers on the MLL vessel to be unloaded at Oman.
(Id. at ¶¶ 55-56). MLL states that, given NACG’s use of brokers, it did not know
that the cargo was DOD priority freight and thus it did not know that the cargo
needed to be shipped aboard U.S. flag vessels. (Id. at ¶¶ 58-59). 3
3
NACG asserts that it does not have knowledge of this investigation because of the
absence of discovery. (NACG 56.1 Opp. ¶¶ 45-60). However, in an internal email,
NACG acknowledges that the goods were “most likely” transferred as part of a “network
decision and not a direct action by MLL against NACG” on account of “bad weather[.]”
(Wright Decl., Ex. A at 29).
10
Svenningsen was later approached by DOD officials at a symposium in
Bahrain on April 11, 2018, who requested information regarding NACG
containers delivered in Dubai from a Maersk vessel. (MLL 56.1 ¶ 62).
Svenningsen advised DOD that MLL no longer had a subcontract agreement
with NACG; that it held an unpaid judgment against NACG; and that NACG
was not authorized to use MLL as a U.S. flag carrier for DOD cargo. (Id. at
¶ 64). In consequence, Svenningsen requested that DOD confirm with MLL
whenever a prime contractor listed MLL as its U.S. flag carrier and asked that
DOD provide it with further information regarding disqualification of NACG due
to misrepresentations. (Id. at ¶¶ 66-67). 4
7.
The 2018 Account Seizures
NACG also complains about other conduct by MLL after it obtained the
judgment in the 2016 Litigation. NACG alleges that MLL filed a writ of
execution on NACG’s primary operating bank, Signature Bank, on July 31,
2018, in the amount of $936,011.91. (SAC ¶ 80). NACG further alleges that
MLL served this writ after previously demanding discovery materials from
NACG to obtain execution of the judgment. (Id. at ¶ 82). The writ, it is alleged.
deprived NACG of the funds it needed to operate and was filed despite NACG’s
attempts to negotiate a reasonable payment plan. (Id. at ¶¶ 83-84). NACG
alleges that many of these funds remained contested as the subject of this
litigation. (Id. at ¶¶ 85-86). NACG attempted to negotiate a resolution through
4
NACG disputes the substance of these communications and states that it has not had
the opportunity to probe these statements through discovery. (NACG 56.1 Opp. ¶¶ 6482).
11
discussions with MLL, but claims that MLL failed to act in good faith. (Id. at
¶¶ 88-89).
On August 16, 2018, MLL filed another writ of execution on NACG’s
secondary bank, Comerica Bank, for the full judgment amount. (SAC ¶ 93).
NACG attempted to inform MLL that the full judgment had already been seized
from Signature, but MLL refused to accept NACG’s representations. (Id. at
¶¶ 94-96). On August 17, 2018, MLL seized an additional $115,987 from
NACG via the writ served to its Comerica Bank account. (Id. at ¶ 97). NACG
requested that MLL cease enforcement activities, as more than $1.05 million
had been seized from NACG’s accounts. (Id. at ¶ 98). MLL’s efforts disrupted
NACG’s business and its relationship with its banks and resulted in MLL
seizing more than the judgment amount. (Id. at ¶¶ 99-103). While MLL
returned $105,000 of the seized funds, NACG alleges that MLL’s conduct
through the enforcement process was indicative of MLL’s efforts to interfere
with NACG’s business. (Id. at ¶ 104).
B.
Procedural Background
NACG filed its initial complaint in this action on November 8, 2017.
(Dkt. #4). In response to requests from the Maersk Entities to file motions to
dismiss and for summary judgment, NACG filed an amended complaint on
August 10, 2018. (Dkt. #45). After this filing, the Maersk Entities reiterated
their requests to file motions, and NACG requested leave to file the Second
Amended Complaint, which was filed on September 14, 2018. (Dkt. #55). The
SAC asserts seven claims, which can be divided into three broad categories:
12
(i) breach of contract, trade libel, and breach of the implied covenant of good
faith and fair dealing claims against MLL; (ii) tortious interference with contract
and tortious interference with prospective business relations claims against
Maersk A/S and Maersk A/P; and (iii) unfair competition and prima facie tort
claims against all parties. (SAC ¶¶ 107-39).
On October 12, 2018, Maersk A/S and Maersk A/P filed a motion to
dismiss (Dkt. #62-64), and on October 12 and 15, 2018, MLL filed a motion for
summary judgment (Dkt. #57, 65-68). On December 7, 2018, Plaintiff filed a
combined opposition to Defendants’ motions. (Dkt. #71-75). On January 4,
2019, Maersk A/S and Maersk A/P filed their reply papers in support of the
motion to dismiss (Dkt. #81), and MLL filed its reply papers in support of the
motion for summary judgment (Dkt. #77-80). Accordingly, the motions are
fully briefed and ripe for review.
DISCUSSION
A.
The Court Grants Maersk A/S’s and Maersk A/P’s Motion to Dismiss
1.
Motions to Dismiss Under Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 12(b)(6)
When considering a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6), a court
should “draw all reasonable inferences in [the plaintiff’s] favor, assume all wellpleaded factual allegations to be true, and determine whether they plausibly
give rise to an entitlement to relief.” Faber v. Metro. Life Ins. Co., 648 F.3d 98,
104 (2d Cir. 2011) (internal quotation marks omitted). Thus, “[t]o survive a
motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted
as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Ashcroft v.
13
Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S.
544, 570 (2007)). “While Twombly does not require heightened fact pleading of
specifics, it does require enough facts to ‘nudge [a plaintiff’s] claims across the
line from conceivable to plausible.’” In re Elevator Antitrust Litig., 502 F.3d 47,
50 (2d Cir. 2007) (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570). “Where a complaint
pleads facts that are ‘merely consistent with’ a defendant’s liability, it ‘stops
short of the line between possibility and plausibility of entitlement to relief.’”
Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 557).
In considering a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim pursuant to
Rule 12(b)(6), the court is not limited to the face of the complaint. Rather, the
court “may [also] consider any written instrument attached to the complaint,
statements or documents incorporated into the complaint by reference, legally
required public disclosure documents filed with the [relevant government
agencies], and documents possessed by or known to the plaintiff and upon
which it relied in bringing the suit.” ATSI Commc’ns, Inc. v. Shaar Fund, Ltd.,
493 F.3d 87, 98 (2d Cir. 2007); see also Goel v. Bunge, Ltd., 820 F.3d 554, 559
(2d Cir. 2016) (discussing materials that may properly be considered in
resolving a motion brought under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6)); DiFolco v. MSNBC
Cable LLC, 622 F.3d 104, 111 (2d Cir. 2010).
The parties dispute the extent to which the Court may consider
documents submitted in support of MLL’s motion for summary judgment in
resolving Maersk A/S’s and Maersk A/P’s motion to dismiss. Maersk A/S and
Maersk A/P argue that they may use these documents “as a court may take
14
judicial notice of matters in the public record.” (Maersk Br. 11). The Court
agrees with Plaintiff that this argument misperceives the governing law. (See
Pl. Opp. 3-7). The Second Circuit’s holding in Goel, to which Defendants cite
favorably, clarifies, “A complaint that alleges facts related to or gathered during
a separate litigation does not open the door to consideration, on a motion to
dismiss, of any and all documents filed in connection with that litigation.”
Goel, 820 F.3d at 560. While the procedural posture of this case is somewhat
distinct, given that the Court is dealing with different dispositive motions in
response to the same operative complaint, the Court understands Goel to limit
its consideration of documents to those integral to the SAC. In this category,
the Court considers the Subcontract and Amendment 5, both of which Plaintiff
relies on throughout the SAC, but not the Svenningsen Declaration, which MLL
filed in connection with its motion for summary judgment.
2.
Plaintiff Fails to State a Claim Against Maersk A/S and Maersk
A/P for Tortious Interference with Contract
a.
Applicable Law
Under New York law, which governs disputes under the Subcontract
(Subcontract 7), a claim of tortious interference with contract requires a
plaintiff to prove (i) “‘the existence of a valid contract between the plaintiff and
a third party’; [ii] the ‘defendant’s knowledge of the contract’; [iii] the
‘defendant’s intentional procurement of the third-party’s breach of the contract
without justification’; [iv] ‘actual breach of the contract’; and [v] ‘damages
resulting therefrom.’” Kirch v. Liberty Media Corp., 449 F.3d 388, 401-02 (2d
15
Cir. 2006) (quoting Lama Holding Co. v. Smith Barney Inc., 88 N.Y.2d 413, 424
(1996)). Additionally, a plaintiff must allege “that the defendant’s actions were
the ‘but for’ cause of the alleged breach — in other words, that there would not
have been a breach but for the activities of the defendant.” RSM Prod. Corp. v.
Fridman, 643 F. Supp. 2d 382, 405 (S.D.N.Y. 2009), aff’d, 387 F. App’x 72 (2d
Cir. 2010) (summary order); see also LuxSoma LLC v. Leg Res., Inc., 289 F.
Supp. 3d 514, 523 (S.D.N.Y. 2018) (citing Katel L.L.C. v. AT & T Corp., 607 F.3d
60, 66 (2d Cir. 2010) (“A plaintiff must also establish ‘the defendant’s
intentional and unjustified procurement of the third party’s breach of the
contract.’”). “Although on a motion to dismiss the allegations in a complaint
should be construed liberally, to avoid dismissal of a tortious interference with
contract claim a plaintiff must support his claim with more than mere
speculation.” Burrowes v. Combs, 808 N.Y.S.2d 50 (1st Dep’t 2006).
b.
Discussion
NACG’s arguments regarding tortious interference with contract are
somewhat puzzling. NACG alleges that by dint of Maersk A/S entering into the
Slot Agreement with APL, MLL breached the Subcontract: “Maersk A/S’s
contract with plaintiff’s competitor APL (which gained control of the MultiModal Contract) resulted in MLL’s breach of the exclusivity provision of its
subcontract with plaintiff (SAC ¶¶ 2, 27, 48, 110).” (Pl. Opp. 9). It is not clear
from Plaintiff’s pleadings or briefing how this is so. The Subcontract itself
makes no reference to any Maersk Entities beyond MLL — apart from an
explicit carveout for Maersk-affiliated entities to continue operating as common
16
carriers. (Subcontract 6). And while the SAC repeatedly asserts that the
contract between Maersk A/S and APL was immensely damaging to NACG, it is
unclear why this is relevant where neither Maersk A/S nor Maersk A/P was a
party to the Subcontract.
Absent some allegation that Maersk A/S and Maersk A/P were the alteregos of MLL, it is not clear how a separate corporation signing a contract with
Plaintiff’s competitor could possibly constitute a breach of MLL’s exclusivity
requirement. Each of the citations to the SAC offered by Plaintiff in opposing
the motion to dismiss (see Pl. Opp. 12 (citing SAC ¶¶ 26-27, 46, 110, 137))
merely asserts that the Slot Agreement breached the Exclusivity Clause of the
Subcontract without further explanation (see, e.g., SAC ¶ 26 (“Maersk A/S’s
agreement with APL knowingly interferes with and violates the exclusivity
provision (including Amendment 5) of the Subcontractor Agreement.”)). Under
New York law, it is insufficient to allege in conclusory terms that a contract
existed and was breached. See, e.g., Kirch, 449 F.3d at 401-02 (finding that an
allegation that a contract counterparty “walked away” from a project is
insufficient to establish that the terms of a contract were violated); Leadsinger,
Inc. v. Cole, No. 05 Civ. 5606 (HBP), 2006 WL 2320544, at *11-12 (S.D.N.Y.
Aug. 10, 2006) (dismissing claim for tortious interference where party failed
adequately to allege the specific breach); Pitcock v. Kasowitz, Benson, Torres &
Friedman, LLP, 915 N.Y.S.2d 239, 241 (1st Dep’t 2011) (“[P]laintiff has failed to
state [a claim for tortious interference with contract because he] has not
alleged, in non[-]conclusory language, the essential terms of the parties’
17
contract, including the specific provisions upon which liability is predicated[.]”);
cf. Bennett v. State Farm Fire and Cas. Co., 26 N.Y.S.3d 554, 555 (2d Dep’t
2016) (noting that a party must “plead the terms of the alleged underlying
contract … and any specific breach thereof”).
While NACG alludes to a conspiracy among the Maersk Entities, it offers
nothing beyond conclusory allegations that these companies worked together
in entering the Slot Agreement with APL. Seeking to shore up its conspiracy
arguments in its briefing, Plaintiff contends that “the SAC clearly states that
Maersk A/S and A/P either working in concert together and/or with MLL,
procured or caused MLL to breach the subcontract when Maersk A/S
contracted with APL to provide shipping container services to APL[.]”. (Pl.
Opp. 12). The effort fails: Plaintiff’s argument both equivocates as to whether
Maersk A/S and Maersk A/P were in fact working with MLL, and fails to
provide any particularized facts as to how the Maersk Entities worked together.
For instance, the SAC provides no description of when such an agreement was
formed, who was involved, and what role the Subcontract played in these
discussions. The conclusory allegations that Maersk A/S/ and A/P were
“either working in concert together and/or with MLL” are insufficient to
demonstrate a conspiracy among the Maersk Entities. See Masefield AG v.
Colonial Oil Indus., No. 05 Civ. 2231 (PKL), 2006 WL 346178, at *4 (S.D.N.Y.
Feb. 15, 2006) (dismissing a complaint for tortious interference where
“conclusory allegations with respect to [the defendant] lack[ed] any factual
underpinnings in the amended counterclaim”).
18
Having failed to plead a conspiracy, NACG could have argued that the
various corporate entities were alter-egos. And NACG alludes to such a claim
in the SAC, stating that “Maersk A/P used its complex, global corporate
structure to subvert and circumvent its subsidiary’s explicit grant of
exclusivity.” (SAC ¶ 38). However, Plaintiff specifically disavows such an
argument in its briefing and acknowledges tbat the Maersk Entities are
separate corporations with separate identities. (See Pl. Opp. 10).
Plaintiff protests that it is not required to show that the various Maersk
Entities are alter-egos or act as a single entity, and cites to various allegations
in the SAC to the effect that the Slot Agreement left NACG uncompetitive in the
shipping market. (Pl. Opp. 9-12). But the sole case that Plaintiff cites in
support of its position is Momentive Performance Materials USA, Inc. v.
AstroCosmos Metallurgical, Inc., No. 07 Civ. 567 (FJS) (DRH), 2009 WL
1514912, at *5 (N.D.N.Y. June 1, 2009), and that case arose in a decidedly
different context. (Pl. Opp. 11). The issue of alter-egos in Momentive
Performance Materials concerned affirmative defenses related to the defendant’s
assertion of economic justification for any interference in contractual relations.
See 2009 WL 1514912, at *5 (identifying the defendants’ two grounds for
dismissal as “(i) the economic interest defense and (ii) the defense that, because
Defendant[s] … are sister companies, Plaintiff cannot hold Defendant CLEGC
liable for interfering with the contractual and/or business relationship between
GE and Defendant AstroCosmos because any such interference results from
Defendant CLEGC’s attempt to protect its own economic interests”). In sharp
19
contrast, Maersk A/S and Maersk A/P have not raised an affirmative defense of
economic justification, but have instead argued that NACG has failed to plead
adequately that entry into the Slot Agreement was in any way a breach of
contract.
The Court agrees with Defendants that nothing in the Subcontract
prevents other Maersk entities from entering into separate agreements, and the
SAC fails to allege with any particularity how the Slot Agreement constitutes a
breach of the Subcontract, or how separate entities entering into a separate
agreement caused MLL to breach the Subcontract. Absent these two essential
elements, the Court dismisses this claim.
Furthermore, the Court is concerned about the consequences of
accepting Plaintiff’s arguments. If a parent company could be held liable for
breaching an exclusivity provision in a situation where said provision was
signed only by a corporate subsidiary, the immediate effect would be to give
outsized negotiating power to the smaller counterparty. The broader effect
would be to limit, if not foreclose, larger companies from operating freely in the
market. The cost of these restrictions would fall on consumers, who would
likely face higher prices and fewer choices as large companies struggled to
discern with whom they could do business in light of the various economic
relationships engendered by their subsidiaries. For these reasons as well, the
Court holds that Plaintiff has failed to state a claim for tortious interference
with contract.
20
3.
Plaintiff Fails to State a Claim Against Maersk A/S and Maersk
A/P for Tortious Interference with Prospective Business
Relations
a.
Applicable Law
To state a claim for intentional interference with prospective business
relations under New York law, “four conditions must be met: (i) the plaintiff
had business relations with a third party; (ii) the defendant interfered with
those business relations; (iii) the defendants acted for a wrongful purpose or
used dishonest, unfair, or improper means; and (iv) the defendants’ acts
injured the relationship.’” Catskill Development, L.L.C. v. Park Place
Entertainment Corp, 547 F.3d 115, 132 (2d Cir 2008) (citing Lombard v. BoozAllen & Hamilton, Inc., 280 F.3d 209, 214 (2d Cir. 2002)). A plaintiff must also
establish causation by demonstrating “that she ‘would have entered into an
economic relationship but for the defendant’s wrongful conduct.’” Tucker v.
Wyckoff Heights Med. Ctr., 52 F. Supp. 3d 583, 598 (S.D.N.Y. 2014)
(quoting Memnon v. Clifford Chance US, LLP, 667 F. Supp. 2d 334, 349
(S.D.N.Y. 2009)). “This tort is a difficult one to sustain, with requirements
more demanding than those for interference with [the] performance of an
existing contract.” PKG Grp., LLC v. Gamma Croma, S.p.A., 446 F. Supp. 2d
249, 251 (S.D.N.Y. 2006).
The salient distinction between claims for tortious interference with
contract and claims for tortious interference with business relations concerns
the defendant’s mental state: “In the case of tortious interference with
contract, a plaintiff may recover if the plaintiff can demonstrate that the
21
‘defendant’s deliberate interference result[ed] in a breach of [the]
contract.’” Gym Door Repairs, Inc. v. Young Equip. Sales, Inc., 206 F. Supp. 3d
869, 908 (S.D.N.Y. 2016) (quoting Carvel Corp. v. Noonan, 3 N.Y.3d 182, 189
(2004)), as amended, (Sept. 16, 2016), reconsideration denied, 2016 WL
6652733 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 10, 2016). But “[i]n the case of tortious interference
with prospective economic advantage, ... the ‘plaintiff must show more culpable
conduct on the part of the defendant.’” Id. (quoting Carvel, 3 N.Y.3d at 190).
To state a prospective-economic-advantage claim, a plaintiff must show that
“the defendant’s conduct ... amount[s] to a crime or an independent tort,” or
that the defendant has “engage[d] in conduct for the sole purpose of inflicting
intentional harm on” the plaintiff. Carvel, 3 N.Y.3d at 190 (internal quotation
marks and citation omitted); see also Sidney Frank Importing Co. v. Beam Inc.,
998 F. Supp. 2d 193, 211-12 (S.D.N.Y. 2014) (finding that mental state for
prospective-economic-advantage claim “is more exacting” than that for a
contract-interference claim “because courts must balance a plaintiff’s
expectation in establishing a contractual relationship against the competing
interest of the interferer ... and the broader interest of fostering healthy
competition” (internal quotation marks and citations omitted)).
b.
Discussion
NACG fails plausibly to allege that Maersk A/S’s entry into the Slot
Agreement with APL was either (i) “a crime or independent tort” or (ii) entered
into “for the sole purpose of inflicting intentional harm on plaintiff[].” Carvel, 3
N.Y.3d at 190. As discussed above, beyond conclusory assertions that the
22
Maersk Entities conspired to drive NACG out of the market for shipping DOD’s
goods, the SAC is bereft of particularized allegations showing that Maersk A/S,
Maersk A/P, and MLL coordinated this activity. The allegations merely assert
that these separate entities were aware of MLL’s Subcontract and that Maersk
A/S signed a separate contract that was harmful to NACG’s business. As
Maersk A/S and Maersk A/P point out, the Slot Agreement was an ordinary
commercial contract, approved by relevant regulatory agencies. (Maersk
Br. 16-17; Maersk Reply 4-6). There is no suggestion that such a contract
constitutes a crime or independent tort, or that it was entered into solely to
harm NACG. 5
Additionally, NACG has failed adequately to plead causation. This Court
has already held in the 2016 Litigation that NACG was liable to MLL for breach
of the Subcontract. MLL I, 2017 WL 4444941, at *1-3. Contractual relations
between NACG and MLL did not continue after this initial dispute. The
allegations in the SAC do not permit the Court to conclude that, but for the
Slot Agreement, the relationship between NACG and MLL would have
continued despite these fundamental contractual disputes. Numerous cases
have stressed that this causation requirement is vital to a tortious interference
with business relations claim. See, e.g., Gallagher v. N.Y.C. Health & Hosps.
Corp., No. 16 Civ. 4389 (GBD), 2017 WL 4326042, at *5 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 20,
5
NACG does state in the SAC that Maersk A/S violated the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift
Agreement (“VISA”). (SAC ¶¶ 39-40). At no point in its opposition motion does NACG
raise this issue or suggest that this constitutes a crime or independent tort (See Pl.
Opp. 12-14), and the Court does not consider this potential regulatory violation an
allegation of a crime or independent tort against NACG.
23
2017) (“Plaintiff[] … must specify some particular, existing relationship through
which [it] would have done business but for the allegedly tortuous behavior.”
(quoting Commercial Data Servers, Inc. v. Int’l Bus. Mach. Corp., 166 F. Supp.
2d 891, 898 (S.D.N.Y. 2001))), aff’d, 733 F. App’x 3 (2d Cir. 2018) (summary
order). In its opposition, NACG fails to cite to any case law finding tortious
interference with a prospective business relationship in similar circumstances.
(Pl. Opp. 12-14).
The Court concludes that Plaintiff has failed adequately to allege either
the requisite mental state or causation. Accordingly, the claim against Maersk
A/S and Maersk A/P for tortious interference with a business relationship
must be dismissed.
4.
Plaintiff Fails to State a Claim Against Maersk A/P and Maersk
A/S for Unfair Competition
a.
Applicable Law
“‘The essence of an unfair competition claim under New York law is that
the defendant has misappropriated the labors and expenditures of another’
with ‘some element of bad faith.’” Universal Instruments Corp. v. Micro Sys.
Eng’g, Inc., 924 F.3d 32, 51 (2d Cir. 2019) (quoting Saratoga Vichy Spring Co. v.
Lehman, 625 F.2d 1037, 1044 (2d Cir. 1980)). The law of unfair competition is
flexible. See Roy Export Co. Establishment of Vaduz, Liechtenstein v. Columbia
Broad. Sys., Inc., 672 F.2d 1095, 1105 (2d Cir. 1982) (“New York courts have
noted the ‘incalculable variety’ of illegal practices falling within the unfair
competition rubric[.]”). In this case, NACG alleges that the Maersk Entities
24
misappropriated NACG’s prime contract with DOD. “To properly assert this
claim, which is a subset of New York’s unfair competition law, a plaintiff must
allege that a defendant misappropriated plaintiff’s [property] and displayed
some element of bad faith in doing so[.]” Schroeder v. Pinterest Inc., 17
N.Y.S.3d 678, 693 (1st Dep’t 2015). “Bad faith is an essential element of an
unfair competition claim. Mere negligence or recklessness is insufficient to
sustain this claim; instead, a plaintiff must establish bad faith by showing that
the defendant acted out of a dishonest purpose.” Big Vision Private Ltd. v. E.I.
DuPont De Nemours & Co., 1 F. Supp. 3d 224, 275 (S.D.N.Y. 2014), aff’d, 610
F. App’x 69 (2d Cir. 2015) (summary order).
b.
Discussion
The Court again finds Plaintiff’s allegations of conspiracy, collusion, and
malevolence amongst the Maersk Entities to be lacking in particularized facts
sufficient to support an allegation of bad faith. In opposition, Plaintiff asserts:
The SAC further alleges that Maersk A/S and Maersk
A/P “committed acts, previously referred to herein, that
injured the good will and business reputation of NACG,”
and that they did so “maliciously, fraudulently, and
oppressively, with the wrongful intention of injuring
NACG, with an improper and evil motive amounting to
malice, and in conscious disregard of NACG’s rights.”
(Pl. Opp. 15). These assertions are precisely the type of conclusory allegations
of evil intent that Iqbal instructs courts not to accept. 556 U.S. at 678-79.
Separately, Plaintiff’s allegations with regards to the particular property
misappropriated are difficult to follow. While Plaintiff asserts that Maersk A/S
and Maersk A/P somehow misappropriated NACG’s prime Multi-Modal
25
Transportation Contract with DOD, the SAC offers no explanation for how a
separate contract between separate entities untethered to NACG constitutes a
misappropriation of an ongoing contract between NACG and DOD. There is no
suggestion that DOD cancelled its contract with NACG after the Slot
Agreement, and the Court has already found that Maersk A/S was not
prohibited from entering into contracts with NACG’s competitors.
Plaintiff argues that “the SAC alleges that Maersk A/S’s and A/P’s
tortious contract with APL was aimed at exploiting their scale and pricing
power to debilitate NACG.” (Pl. Opp. 14). This assertion seems to sound in
some form of antitrust argument regarding the Maersk Entities’ market power,
but it provides no explanation for how Maersk A/S’s Slot Agreement can be
considered to have stolen NACG’s separate Subcontract. Absent particularized
pleading regarding bad faith, and clarity on how exactly NACG’s property was
misappropriated, Plaintiff’s claim for unfair competition fails.
5.
Plaintiff Fails to State a Claim Against Maersk A/P and Maersk
A/S for Prima Facie Tort
a.
Applicable Law
Under New York law, four elements are necessary to establish a claim for
prima facie tort: “[i] an intentional infliction of harm; [ii] without excuse or
justification and motivated solely by malice; [iii] resulting in special damages;
[iv] by an act that would otherwise be lawful.” United States for Use and Benefit
of Evergreen Pipeline Const. Co., Inc. v. Merritt Meridian Constr. Corp., 95 F.3d
153, 161 (2d Cir. 1996). The standard for the second element is stringent. See
26
McKenzie v. Dow Jones & Co., Inc., 355 F. App’x 533, 536 (2d Cir. 2009)
(summary order) (“New York courts have been very strict in holding that a
cause of action for prima facie tort will not lie unless the actions complained of
can be plausibly said to have been motivated solely by malice towards the
plaintiff.”). The elements also include sufficiently specific special damages.
See DiSanto v. Forsyth, 684 N.Y.S.2d 628, 629 (2d Dep’t 1999) (“Special
damages, which are an essential element of both injurious falsehood and prima
facie tort, must be pleaded with sufficient specificity”).
b.
Discussion
As in its discussion of the claims for tortious interference with a business
relationship and unfair competition, the Court finds Plaintiff’s pleading
deficient with respect to malice. The pleading standard for prima facie tort
allows for claims only where malice is the sole motivating factor in a
defendant’s decision; any profit motive will defeat a prima facie tort claim. See
Margrabe v. Sexter & Warmflash, P.C., 353 F. App’x 547, 549 (2d Cir. 2009)
(summary order) (“To prevail on a prima facie tort claim, a plaintiff must plead
that the only motivation for the act was ‘disinterested malevolence.’” (quoting
Twin Lab., Inc. v. Weider Health & Fitness, 900 F.2d 566, 571 (2d Cir. 1990))).
Plaintiff acknowledges in the SAC that the Slot Agreement provided Maersk
A/S and Maersk A/P with business advantages: “Given the relative combined
market share of the Maersk Entities and APL in the container shipping
market, the combination of their services allowed them to provide container
27
shipping services well below the prevailing market[.]” (SAC ¶ 30). This
acknowledgement vitiates Plaintiff’s prima facie tort claim.
The Court also agrees with Maersk A/S and Maersk A/P that the SAC
fails to plead special damages. To plead special damages, “actual losses must
be identified and causally related to the alleged tortious act.” In Touch
Concepts, Inc. v. Cellco P’ship, 949 F. Supp. 2d 447, 484 n.30 (S.D.N.Y. 2013)
(quoting L.W.C. Agency, Inc. v. St. Paul Fire and Marine Ins. Co., 509 N.Y.S.2d
97, 100 (2d Dep’t 1986)). Here, Plaintiff asserts general damages of
$10,000,000 based on irreparable financial and reputational harm to NACG’s
business (Pl. Opp. 16), but makes no effort to connect the damages to specific
tortious acts. The claim for prima facie tort fails.
In sum, the Court finds that none of Plaintiff’s claims against Maersk A/S
or Maersk A/P is adequately alleged, and it therefore grants their motion to
dismiss in full.
B.
The Court Grants MLL’s Motion for Summary Judgment 6
1.
Motions for Summary Judgment Under Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 56
The Court turns next to MLL’s motion for summary judgment, which
motion is more closely tied to the 2016 Litigation. Under Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 56(a), a “court shall grant summary judgment if the movant shows
that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is
6
MLL has moved for judgment on the tortious interference claims (MLL Br. 12), but
NAGC clarifies that these are only brought against Maersk A/S and Maersk A/P (Pl.
Opp. 3). Accordingly, the Court does not address these claims in this section.
28
entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a); see also Celotex
Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986); Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477
U.S. 242, 247-48 (1986). 7 A genuine dispute exists where “the evidence is
such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.”
Fireman’s Fund Ins. Co. v. Great Am. Ins. Co. of N.Y., 822 F.3d 620, 631 n.12
(2d Cir. 2016) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). A fact is
“material” if it “might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law[.]”
Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248.
While the moving party “bears the initial burden of demonstrating ‘the
absence of a genuine issue of material fact,’” ICC Chem. Corp. v. Nordic Tankers
Trading a/s, 186 F. Supp. 3d 296, 301 (S.D.N.Y. 2016) (quoting Catrett, 477
U.S. at 323), the party opposing summary judgment “must do more than
simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts,”
Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586 (1986); see
also Brown v. Henderson, 257 F.3d 246, 252 (2d Cir. 2001). Rather, the nonmoving party “must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine
issue for trial.” Parks Real Estate Purchasing Grp. v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins.
Co., 472 F.3d 33, 41 (2d Cir. 2006) (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e)). The
7
The 2010 Amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure revised the summary
judgment standard from a genuine “issue” of material fact to a genuine “dispute” of
material fact. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56, advisory comm. notes (2010 Amendments) (noting
that the amendment to “[s]ubdivision (a) ... chang[es] only one word — genuine ‘issue’
becomes genuine ‘dispute.’ ‘Dispute’ better reflects the focus of a summary-judgment
determination.”). This Court uses the post-amendment standard, but continues to be
guided by pre-amendment Supreme Court and Second Circuit precedent that refers to
“genuine issues of material fact.”
29
nonmoving party may not rely on “mere speculation or conjecture as to the true
nature of the facts to overcome a motion for summary judgment.” Knight v.
U.S. Fire Ins. Co., 804 F.2d 9, 12 (2d Cir. 1986). Furthermore, “[m]ere
conclusory allegations or denials cannot by themselves create a genuine issue
of material fact where none would otherwise exist.” Hicks v. Baines, 593 F.3d
159, 166 (2d Cir. 2010) (quoting Fletcher v. Atex, Inc., 68 F.3d 1451, 1456 (2d
Cir. 1995) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted)).
“When ruling on a summary judgment motion, the district court must
construe the facts in the light most favorable to the non-moving party and
must resolve all ambiguities and draw all reasonable inferences against the
movant.” Dallas Aerospace, Inc. v. CIS Air Corp., 352 F.3d 775, 780 (2d Cir.
2003). “Though [the Court] must accept as true the allegations of the party
defending against the summary judgment motion ... conclusory statements,
conjecture, or speculation by the party resisting the motion will not defeat
summary judgment.” Kulak v. City of N.Y., 88 F.3d 63, 71 (2d Cir. 1996)
(internal citation omitted) (citing Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 587; Wyler v. United
States, 725 F.2d 156, 160 (2d Cir. 1983)); accord Hicks v. Baines, 593 F.3d
159, 166 (2d Cir. 2010).
2.
Plaintiff’s Claims Against MLL for Breach of Contract, Unfair
Competition, and Breach of the Covenant of Good Faith and
Fair Dealing Are Precluded by the 2016 Litigation
a.
Applicable Law
As a first line of attack, MLL asserts that the 2016 Litigation forecloses
all claims arising out of the Subcontract, as they were compulsory
30
counterclaims. (MLL Br. 4-10). Plaintiff challenges that assertion, to be sure.
But Plaintiff also challenges MLL on the law to apply to the claim preclusion
analysis: NACG states that New York law applies under the Subcontract (Pl.
Opp. 17-18), while MLL points to decisions holding that federal claim
preclusion rules apply in federal court (MLL Br. 14-15).
The New York Court of Appeals has recently made clear that “where
federal preclusion principles would operate to preclude a claim — and state
law principles would yield a conflicting outcome — the ‘federal courts’ interest
in the integrity of their own processes’ justifies the displacement of New York
law as the federally prescribed rule of decision.” Paramount Pictures Corp. v.
Allianz Risk Transfer AG, 31 N.Y.3d 64, 71 (2018) (citing Semtek Int’l Inc. v.
Lockheed Martin Corp., 531 U.S. 497, 508 (2001)). Accordingly, the Court
applies federal law.
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 13(a) in relevant part provides:
A pleading shall state as a counterclaim any claim
which at the time of serving the pleading the pleader
has against any opposing party, if it arises out of the
transaction or occurrence that is the subject matter of
the opposing party’s claim and does not require for its
adjudication the presence of third parties of whom the
court cannot acquire jurisdiction.
Fed. R. Civ. P. 13(a). The Second Circuit has long considered the standard for
a compulsory counterclaim satisfied “when there is a ‘logical relationship’
between the counterclaim and the main claim.” Jones v. Ford Motor Credit Co.,
358 F.3d 205, 209 (2d Cir. 2004) (citing United States v. Aquavella, 615 F.2d
12, 22 (2d Cir. 1979)).
31
For completeness, the Court considers the issue under New York law as
well. While New York does not have compulsory counterclaims, New York
courts do apply res judicata and have held that federal res judicata rules apply
where the earlier decision came in federal court. “[A] court should apply the
rules of res judicata followed in the jurisdiction that rendered the earlier
decision[.]” RM 18 Corp. v. Bank of N.Y. Mellon Tr. Co., 961 N.Y.S.2d 271, 274
(2d Dep’t 2013). “To determine whether the doctrine of res judicata bars a
subsequent action, we consider whether [i] the prior decision was a final
judgment on the merits, [ii] the litigants were the same parties, [iii] the prior
court was of competent jurisdiction, and [iv] the causes of action were the
same.” Corbett v. MacDonald Moving Servs., 124 F.3d 82, 87-88 (2d Cir. 1997).
As to the fourth factor, “[r]es judicata does not require the precluded claim to
actually have been litigated; its concern, rather, is that the party against whom
the doctrine is asserted had a full and fair opportunity to litigate the claim.”
EDP Med. Computer Sys., Inc. v. United States, 480 F.3d 621, 626 (2d Cir.
2007).
Under New York law, all counterclaims are permissive. See Batavia Kill
Watershed Dist. v. Charles O. Desch, Inc., 444 N.Y.S.2d 958, 960 (3d Dep’t
1981) (“It is apparent that the CPLR does not require that a party plead
counterclaims, and, with the possible exception of cases based on waiver ...
there is no requirement of compulsory pleading of counterclaims in this
State[.]”), aff’d, 57 N.Y.2d 796 (1982)). That said, “a party is not free to remain
silent in an action in which he is the defendant and then bring a second action
32
seeking relief inconsistent with the judgment in the first action by asserting
what is simply a new legal theory[.]” Henry Modell & Co. v. Minister, Elders &
Deacons of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, 68 N.Y.2d 456, 461 (1986);
see also Classic Autos., Inc. v. Oxford Resources Corp., 612 N.Y.S.2d 32, 33 (2d
Dep’t 1994) (stating that New York “allows counterclaims to be raised through
separate litigation ... as long as a party defendant does not remain silent in one
action, then bring a second suit on the basis of a pre-existing claim for relief
that would impair the rights or interests established in the first action”). In
summary, New York applies res judicata to preclude claims that necessarily
entail an attack on a prior judgment.
b.
Plaintiff’s Claims Under the Subcontract Are Precluded
Under federal or New York law, the claims that NACG seeks to raise
against MLL under the Subcontract are barred by the judgment in the 2016
Litigation. NACG does not address Rule 13(a), but the Court must. “A claim
is compulsory if ‘a logical relationship exists between the claim and the
counterclaim and [if] the essential facts of the claims are so logically connected
that considerations of judicial economy and fairness dictate that all the issues
be resolved in one lawsuit.’” Critical-Vac Filtration Corp. v. Minuteman Int’l,
Inc., 233 F.3d 697, 699 (2d Cir. 2000) (citing Adam v. Jacobs, 950 F.2d 89, 92
(2d Cir. 1991)). Here, a logical relationship exists between MLL’s claim of
breach of contract for unpaid invoices and NACG’s counterclaim that the
contract had already been breached due to MLL’s conduct. Similarly, claims
regarding the Slot Agreement, including the claim for unfair competition and
33
breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, are connected to the
breach of contract claims in the 2016 Litigation, as these claims presuppose
that MLL had already breached the Subcontract. (See SAC ¶¶ 124-27,13439). These claims are thus foreclosed by Rule 13(a).
Even under New York law, the claims would be barred by res judicata.
NACG asserts that the claims do not meet the requirements of res judicata, as
(i) there was no prior determination on the merits of NACG’s claims of breach of
contract, unfair competition, or breach of the covenant of good faith and fair
dealing; (ii) Maersk A/S and Maersk A/P were not parties to the 2016
Litigation, nor was MLL in privity with them; and (iii) NACG’s breach claims
could not have been raised in the 2016 Litigation due to NACG’s lack of
knowledge. (Pl. Opp. 19-20). The Court addresses each of these claims and
rejects all three.
First, numerous decisions from state and federal courts in New York
make clear that a party cannot relitigate contractual performance when
contractual performance was itself the subject of the prior litigation. See e.g.,
Graham v. Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc., 156 F. Supp. 3d 491, 509-10 (S.D.N.Y.
2016) (holding that plaintiff’s contract breach claims against his mortgage
servicing company were precluded, when plaintiff failed to bring those claims in
the prior foreclosure action); Robert v. Cooper, 979 N.Y.S.2d 585, 586 (1st Dep’t
2014) (rejecting plaintiff’s attempt to sue an attorney over the latter’s
fraudulent billing practices, when the subject of attorney’s fees was at the
“core” of a prior related litigation). The core of the 2016 Litigation was the
34
validity of the Subcontract and the parties’ performance thereunder. Res
judicata does not require identity of claims, but only that the judgment
rendered was “on the merits of the same issues or subject matter.”
TechnoMarine SA v. Giftports, Inc., 758 F.3d 493,499 (2d Cir. 2014).
Second, the Court can quickly dispense with NACG’s privity arguments.
While Maersk A/S and Maersk A/P were not parties to the prior action or in
privity with MLL, NACG was a party. Res judicata requires only “the previous
action involved the plaintiffs or those in privity with them.” TechnoMarine, 758
F.3d at 499. Plaintiff qualifies.
Third, NACG’s purported lack of awareness regarding the claims it could
have raised against MLL in 2016 does not excuse its failure to raise them in the
2016 Litigation. (See Pl. Opp. 19 (“What Alf … stated … was that in 2015 ‘he
began to learn’ about MLL’s breach. Indeed, Alf stated that in 2016, when
NACG was prevented from fulfilling the DOD contract, he ‘believe[d]’ that MLL
and APL conspired to artificially raise prices and drive NACG out of the
market.”); see also Pl. Opp. 19-20 (“NACG intended to raise the during
arbitration. But unbeknownst to NACG, both the arbitration and MLL’s
summary judgment motion to enforce the default judgment occurred without
NACG’s knowledge.” (internal citations omitted))). As MLL points out, the
relevant question is not whether Plaintiff had sufficient knowledge to bring a
claim, but rather “whether the same evidence is needed to support both claims,
and whether the facts essential to the second were present in the first.” (MLL
Reply 3 (citing TechnoMarine, 758 F.3d at 499)). Clearly, claims that MLL was
35
in breach of the Subcontract would have been essential information in the
2016 Litigation, and the evidence in both cases turns on interpretation of
contractual provisions. The Court agrees that NACG’s internal failures to
communicate do not excuse it remaining silent in the prior proceeding,
especially where there is no suggestion of active concealment by MLL. See
Mason Tenders Dist. Council Pension Fund v. Messera, No. 95 Civ. 9341 (RWS),
1996 WL 578048, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 8, 1996) (declining to find claim
preclusion where “Defendants … concealed from Plaintiffs the kickback and
embezzlement scheme from which those claims arose”). Indeed, the key item in
dispute, the Slot Agreement, was widely publicized. For all of these reasons,
NACG’s claims against MLL arising out of an alleged breach of the Subcontract
due to the Slot Agreement — which include the claims for breach of contract,
unfair competition, and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing —
are barred under federal and New York law.
c.
The Court Declines to Reach the Issue of Accord and
Satisfaction
Separately, MLL moves for summary judgment as to the claims for unfair
competition and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing based on
a purported agreement settling the dispute over the Slot Agreement. (MLL
Br. 10-12). “An accord and satisfaction, as its name implies, has two
components. An accord is an agreement that a stipulated performance will be
accepted, in the future, in lieu of an existing claim. Execution of the agreement
is a satisfaction.” Denburg v. Parker Chapin Flattau & Klimpl, 82 N.Y.2d 375,
383 (1993). MLL argues that the parties’ 2015 agreement that MLL would no
36
longer charge a Management Services Fee for food shipments in settlement and
resolution of the alleged breach of the Exclusivity Clause. NACG disputes that
the Management Services Fee was ever actually waived (Pl. Opp. 20-21), while
MLL asserts that these fees were never actually paid (MLL Reply 4-5).
The Court observes that MLL acknowledges that “one (1) of the six (6)
disputed MLL invoices reflects waived MSFs billed to NAGG on food
shipments,” but suggests that this fee was never actually paid. (MLL Reply 5).
Given evidence suggesting that the putative settlement agreement remained
unexecuted, and the concomitant need for discovery on this point, the Court
cannot find accord and satisfaction as a matter of law. As the claims are
already barred by claim preclusion, the Court does not consider it necessary to
make assessments of competing evidentiary claims on this point.
3.
Plaintiff’s Claim Against MLL for Unfair Competition Is Legally
Insufficient
The Court has discussed the applicable law of unfair competition in the
context of the motion to dismiss. To review, “[t]he essence of an unfair
competition claim under New York law is that the defendant has
misappropriated the labors and expenditures of another.” Saratoga Vichy
Spring, 625 F.2d at 1044. In opposing MLL’s summary judgment motion,
NACG alleges that MLL “misappropriated NACG’s prime contract with the
DOD” by assisting APL in undercutting NACG through lower prices and
violating the Exclusivity Clause of the Subcontract. (NACG Opp. 22-23).
These claims are duplicative of NACG’s breach of contract claim and
cannot create an independent cause of action for unfair competition. As MLL
37
notes, this misappropriation claim merely provides additional allegations
regarding Defendants’ mental state while performing the conduct underlying
the breach of contract claim. Courts are disinclined to allow unfair competition
claims that merely repackage an underlying substantive allegation. See, e.g.,
Ferring B.V. v. Allergan, Inc., 4 F. Supp. 3d 612, 629 (S.D.N.Y. 2014) (“An
unfair competition claim can only survive dismissal of a duplicative
misappropriation claim if the two rest on different factual predicates.”); Fid.
Info. Servs., Inc. v. Debtdomain GLMS Pte. Ltd., No. 09 Civ. 7589 (LAK), 2011
WL 4526140, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 28, 2011) (holding that an “unfair
competition claim [that] duplicates [a] copyright claim … is preempted by it”).
The Court holds that NACG’s unfair competition claim against MLL provides no
independent factual assertions from the breach of contract claim and is thus
preempted by that claim.
4.
Plaintiff’s Claim Against MLL for Prima Facie Tort Is Legally
Insufficient
The Court has also discussed the governing law for prima facie torts, and
finds this claim against MLL foreclosed as a matter of law as well. As
discussed, the elements of the offense require, “[i] an intentional infliction of
harm; [ii] without excuse or justification and motivated solely by malice;
[iii] resulting in special damages; [iv] by an act that would otherwise be lawful.”
Merritt Meridian Constr. Corp., 95 F.3d at 161. Unlike its claims against
Maersk A/S and Maersk A/P, which involve execution of the Slot Agreement,
NACG bases its prima facie tort claims against MLL on the latter’s alleged
misconduct with respect to the shipment of goods in 2018 and its seizure of
38
accounts to enforce the 2016 judgment. The Court finds that neither of these
proffered bases constitutes a cognizable claim for prima facie tort.
The governing standard for prima facie tort requires a plaintiff to
demonstrate the absence of any motive besides malice. With respect to the
2018 interference, which allegedly involved MLL maliciously placing two of
NACG’s containers on a non-U.S. flag ship to malign NACG in the eyes of DOD,
the Court finds no triable issue of fact. Both sides agree that a fire played
some role in the transfer, and an internal NACG email described the transfer as
most likely a “network decision and not a direct action by MLL against NACG.”
(Wright Decl., Ex. A at 29).
NACG argues that the Court may not consider this email, as it is
hearsay. (NACG Opp. 25). NACG is wrong — it is plainly a party admission.
See Fed. R. Evid. 801(d)(2). NACG also argues that the email states that “any
fire was due to a storm,” and suggests that this raises a genuine dispute of fact
as to the reason for the transfer. (Pl. Opp. 25). The Court disagrees. Whether
a fire, a fire caused by a storm, or any other emergency situation led to the
transfer, the email clearly demonstrates that NACG itself acknowledged other,
malice-free motivations for the transfer.
The Court further holds that enforcement of the 2016 judgment cannot
state a claim for prima facie tort. NACG appears to acknowledge that, standing
alone, failure to settle a judgment cannot create liability, as its opposition only
states that “failure to work out a resolution speaks volumes as to the bad faith
and ulterior motives of MLL.” (Pl. Opp. 25). In the SAC, NACG further
39
acknowledges both that “MLL had a right (given the judgment) to serve NACG
with … a Writ [of Execution]” and that “$105,000 [the amount seized in excess
of the judgment] [was] returned to plaintiff.” (SAC ¶¶ 82, 106). While MLL’s
enforcement efforts were undoubtedly aggressive, the legal enforcement of a
judgment necessarily implicates motives beyond malice, namely, the desire to
obtain money to which a plaintiff is legally entitled. MLL is entitled to
summary judgment on NACG’s prima facie tort claim.
5.
Plaintiff’s Claim Against MLL for Trade Libel Is Legally
Insufficient
a.
Applicable Law
Trade libel, also known as injurious falsehood, “is a tort separate and
distinct from the tort of defamation.” Henneberry v. Sumitomo Corp. of Am.,
415 F. Supp. 2d 423, 470 (S.D.N.Y. 2006). “The tort of injurious falsehood
‘consists of the knowing publication of false matter derogatory to the plaintiff’s
business of a kind calculated to prevent others from dealing with the business
or otherwise interfering with its relations with others, to its detriment.’”
Grayson v. Ressler & Ressler, 271 F. Supp. 3d 501, 519 (S.D.N.Y. 2017)
(quoting Waste Distillation Tech., Inc. v. Blasland & Bouck Engineers, P.C., 523
N.Y.S.2d 875, 877 (2d Dep’t 1988)). Trade libel — as distinct from
defamation — requires showings of malice and special damages. Id.; see also
Ruder & Finn Inc. v. Seaboard Sur. Co., 52 N.Y.2d 663, 670-71 (1981)
(“Where … the statement is confined to denigrating the quality of the business’
40
goods or services, it could support an action for disparagement, but will do so
only if malice and special damages are proven.”).
b.
Discussion
In its opposition papers, NACG lists the following communications from
MLL to DOD as constituting trade libel: communications alerting DOD that
NACG cargo had been shipped on a foreign flag vessel, claiming that NACG was
not qualified to handle the cargo, stating that MLL had obtained a judgment
against NACG, and arguing that NACG was not an appropriate primary
contractor for such shipments in the future. (Pl. Opp. 26-28). The Court does
not find that NACG can demonstrate that any of these categories of statements
constitutes knowing falsehoods.
To begin, the statement regarding NACG’s cargo was plainly accurate, as
NACG’s pleadings and opposition acknowledge that shipment was made on a
non-U.S. flag carrier. NACG discusses, at length, its belief that MLL alerted
DOD to this fact (Pl. Opp. 26-27), but none of this discussion demonstrates
that this fact was untrue. The same is true of MLL’s statement that it held a
judgment against NACG. NACG points to an email from Svenningsen to DOD
in which he states: “‘without authorization [NACG] may be using MLL’s VISA
status for awards under the [multi-modal] contract; or that NAC[G] may be
moving cargo’ on MLL’s vessels bypassing MLL (as the [authorized U.S. flag]
carrier).’” (Pl. Opp. 28 (citing Svenningsen Decl., Ex. I)). But as MLL observes
in reply, Plaintiff offers no explanation for why this statement is a
misrepresentation of facts. (MLL Reply 9). The parties both acknowledge that
41
NAGC was moving cargo on MLL ships through use of a broker to “maintain
confidentiality of identity.” (SAC ¶ 52). Furthermore, it is not even clear that
such a conditional statement constitutes a definitive statement of fact.
As for claims that NACG was not a “qualified” or “appropriate” contractor
for future shipments of DOD cargo, the Court finds that these are statements
of opinion that cannot be actionable as trade libel. 8 “An expression of pure
opinion is not actionable.” Steinhilber v. Alphonse, 68 N.Y.2d 283, 289 (1986);
see also Sandler v. Simoes, 609 F. Supp. 2d 293, 303 (E.D.N.Y. 2009)
(“Moreover, as with other defamation claims, a claim of trade libel may be
defeated by a showing that the subject statements, when read in context,
would be perceived by a reasonable person to be nothing more than personal
opinion.”).
The New York Court of Appeals has instructed courts to examine three
factors distinguishing fact from opinion: (i) whether the language used has a
precise meaning or whether it is indefinite or ambiguous; (ii) whether the
statement is capable of objectively being true or false, and (iii) the full context
of the entire communication or the broader social context surrounding the
communication. See Brian v. Richardson, 87 N.Y.2d 46, 51 (1995). When
examined in context, statements regarding whether NACG was qualified or
appropriate clearly reflect MLL’s belief based on the parties’ negative
interactions, which indicated that NACG was an unreliable partner. Terms
8
Svenningsen denies having made such statements (MLL Br. 18), but the Court
considers this an issue of fact.
42
such as “qualified” (or “unqualified”) and “appropriate” (or “inappropriate”) lack
precise meaning and represent generalized dissatisfaction rather than factual
assertions. Finally, whether a contractor is qualified or appropriate for a
specific contract is not a question with an objectively true or false answer. The
Court declines to find that such statements or opinions are actionable.
The Court also agrees with MLL that NACG fails to identify special
damages. NACG suggests that because DOD’s rating of NACG may be affected
in the future, it is premature to assess special damages. (Pl. Opp. 28). The
Court finds, however, that Plaintiff cannot avoid proving an essential element of
its claim by merely asserting that it is premature. To do so would leave the
special damages requirement toothless. The trade libel claim against MLL fails
on this ground as well. 9
6.
Plaintiff’s Claim Against MLL for Breach of the Implied
Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing Is Barred as
Duplicative of the Breach of Contract Claim
In addition to being precluded by the 2016 Litigation, NACG’s claim
against MLL for breach the covenant of good faith and fair dealing must be
dismissed as duplicative of its claim for breach of contract. “A cause of action
for breach of the implied duty of good faith and fair dealing cannot be
maintained where the alleged breach is ‘intrinsically tied to the damages
9
The Court declines to reach MLL’s qualified privilege argument. (MLL Br. 19-22; MLL
Reply 10-11). MLL argues in favor of a qualified privilege for communications regarding
NAGC’s conduct as a contractor by making public policy arguments that such
communications involve the public interest in the expenditure of public funds. (Id.).
Given that the Court finds the trade libel claim foreclosed on other grounds, it declines
to opine on an issue that necessarily entails an examination of competing policy goals
with potentially broad ramifications for government contractors.
43
allegedly resulting from a breach of the contract.’” The Hawthorne Grp., LLC v.
RRE Ventures, 776 N.Y.S.2d 273, 276 (1st Dep’t 2004) (quoting Canstar v. J.A.
Jones Const. Co., 622 N.Y.S.2d 730, 731 (1st Dep’t 1995)). As MLL argues, the
damages attributed to this claim are tied to the damages based on the
ostensible violation of the Exclusivity Clause of the Subcontract. (MLL Br. 2223). The alleged additional areas of breach include: failure to inform NACG of
the Slot Agreement, undercutting NACG economically with artificially lower
prices, undertaking retaliatory measures, and failing to negotiate a good-faith
resolution of the dispute despite a good-faith negotiation requirement in the
Subcontract. (Pl. Opp. 30). The Court considers each of these claims to be
either an aspect of the breach of contract claim or conduct that occurred after
the Subcontract was terminated. The alleged failure to inform NACG of the
Slot Agreement and the artificially lowered prices are clearly intrinsically tied
to the breach of contract. Both necessarily ask whether the Slot Agreement
between Maersk A/S and APL constituted a breach of the Exclusivity Clause.
As for the 2018 conduct with respect to the transferred cargo and the seized
accounts, the Subcontract had been terminated long before these events. The
covenant of good faith and fair dealing was no longer in operation at the
time. 10
10
The Court does not reach the issues of Plaintiff’s admissions and denies its Rule 56(d)
application. (See MLL Reply 12-15). The Court does not rely on the admissions in
reaching any of its conclusions. Similarly, the Court principally finds that Plaintiff’s
claims against MLL are barred for procedural reasons or inadequate as a matter of law.
The Court does not find that any issue of fact requires further discovery or would
change the outcome regarding any of Plaintiff’s claims. See Gualandi v. Adams, 385
44
CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated in this Opinion, MLL’s motion for summary
judgment is GRANTED in full. Maersk A/S’s and A/P’s motion to dismiss is
GRANTED in full. The Clerk of Court is directed to terminate all pending
motions, adjourn all remaining dates, and close this case.
SO ORDERED.
Dated: September 27, 2019
New York, New York
KATHERINE POLK FAILLA
United States District Judge
F.3d 236, 244 (2d Cir. 2004) (providing the factors to assess in considering a Rule 56(d)
application).
45
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