Sirsi Corporation v. Craven-Pamlico-Carteret Regional Library System

Filing 1

COMPLAINT against Craven-Pamlico-Carteret Regional Library System ( Filing fee $ 350 receipt number 0417-1576487.), filed by Sirsi Corporation. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons in a Civil Action) (Numbers, Robert)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
EASTERN DIVISION
Civil Action No. ___________________
SIRSI CORPORATION d/b/a
SIRSIDYNIX,
Plaintiff,
v.
CRAVEN-PAMLICO-CARTERET
REGIONAL LIBRARY SYSTEM,
Defendant.

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COMPLAINT

Sirsi Corporation d/b/a SirsiDynix (“SirsiDynix”), complaining about Defendant CravenPamlico-Carteret Regional Library System (“CPC Regional”) states as follows:
PARTIES
1.

SirsiDynix is a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware and having its

principal place of business in the State of Utah.
2.

Upon information and belief, CPC Regional is a regional public library system in

the State of North Carolina composed of nine member libraries. CPC Regional’s administrative
offices are located at the New Bern-Craven County Public Library in New Bern, North Carolina.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
3.

The Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §

1332 because the parties are citizens of different states and the amount in controversy is in excess
of $75,000.

4.

Venue is appropriate in this judicial district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391 because

a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred in the Eastern
District of North Carolina.
FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS
5.

On or about February 3, 2009, representatives from SirsiDynix and CPC Regional

discussed CPC Regional’s needs with respect to library management tools. During the course of
this conversation, the representative from CPC Regional requested a quote related to the cost of
transitioning from their existing library management system, also a SirsiDynix product, to
SirsiDynix’s Symphony system.
6.

On February 5, 2009, SirsiDynix sent CPC Regional a quote that outlined the

costs related with the migration to the Symphony System.
7.

On April 29, 2009, SirsiDynix and CPC Regional entered into a Master Software

License and Services Agreement (“Master Agreement”).

Under the terms of the Master

Agreement, SirsiDynix granted CPC Regional a limited, non-exclusive, personal, nontransferable license to utilize SirsiDynix software in the operations of the CPC Regional libraries.
SirsiDynix also agreed to provide various services related to the implementation, maintenance,
and upgrading of the licensed software.
8.

In return for the license and services provided by SirsiDynix, CPC Regional was

to pay SirsiDynix a total of $146,844.80 over the three year term of the Master Agreement.
9.

After entering into the Master Agreement with SirsiDynix, CPC Regional asked to

delay implementation of the Symphony system due to funding issues. SirsiDynix agreed to these
delays.

10.

However, when SirsiDynix attempted to follow up with CPC Regional regarding

implementation, CPC Regional refused to respond or proceed with the implementation. In
addition to failing to respond to communications from SirsiDynix, CPC Regional failed to pay
the amounts due under the Master Agreement.
11.

During this time, although CPC Regional already had a binding contract with

SirsiDynix for library management software, CPC Regional was engaged in negotiations with the
Online Computer Library Center, Inc. (“OCLC”) to license a competing library management
system.
12.

In late 2009, CPC Regional entered into an agreement to utilize OCLC’s Web-

scale management services as their library management system.
13.

In November, 2010, Jackie Beach, Director of CPC Regional, informed

SirsiDynix that, due to its contract with OCLC, CPC Regional would no longer be working with
SirsiDynix.
14.

On February 14, 2011, SirsiDynix informed CPC Regional that they had breached

the terms of the Master Agreement and requested that CPC Regional cure the breach.
15.

As of the date of this filing, CPC Regional has refused to cure the breach or pay

the amounts due under the Master Agreement.
16.

By entering into a valid contract with SirsiDynix, CPC Regional has waived any

sovereign or governmental immunity that may have otherwise barred SirsiDynix’s claims.
FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION
BREACH OF CONTRACT
17.
herein.

SirsiDynix incorporates the allegations of Paragraphs 1-16 as if set forth fully

18.

The Master Agreement was a valid and enforceable contract between SirsiDynix

and CPC Regional that was supported by consideration.
19.

The Master Agreement required CPC Regional to pay SirsiDynix a total of

$146,844.80 for a software license and various services.
20.

CPC Regional has repudiated and breached the Master Agreement by failing to

make these payments or participate in the software implementation process.
21.

SirsiDynix has complied with all conditions precedent to this suit.

22.

As a result of CPC Regional’s breach of the Master Agreement, SirsiDynix has

suffered damages in the amount of $146,844.80.
SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION
BREACH OF IMPLIED DUTY OF GOOD FAITH & FAIR DEALING
23.

SirsiDynix incorporates the allegations of Paragraphs 1-22 as if set forth fully

24.

SirsiDynix and CPC Regional entered into the Master Agreement.

25.

Implied in such agreement is a covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

26.

By its actions and failure to honor such agreement, as set forth above, CPC

herein.

Regional has breached the covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
27.

As a direct consequence of CPC Regional’s breach of this covenant, SirsiDynix

has suffered injuries and damages in the amount of $146,844.80.
Wherefore, SirsiDynix requests that the Court:
1.

Award SirsiDynix compensatory damages in the amount of $146,844.80;

2.

Award SirsiDynix pre and post-judgment interest as allowed by law;

3.

Order CPC Regional to pay the reasonable costs of this action, including

attorney’s fees; and
4.

Order a trial by jury of all issues so triable.

This 15th day of April, 2011.

WOMBLE CARLYLE SANDRIDGE & RICE
A Professional Limited Liability Company
By:

/s/ Robert T. Numbers II________________
ROBERT T. NUMBERS, II
(N.C. State Bar No. 34134)
150 Fayetteville Street, Suite 2100
Post Office Box 831
Raleigh, North Carolina 27602
[phone]
[phone] (facsimile)
Attorney for Plaintiff