Unigestion Holding, S.A. v. UPM Technology, Inc. et al
Filing
384
Opinion and Order - In this Opinion and Order, the Court GRANTS IN PART AND DENIES IN PART Digicel-Haiti's motion for summary judgment against UPM's counterclaims (ECF 264 ), Digicel-Haiti's motion to exclude UPM's expert Joseph Gillan (ECF 272 ), and UPM's motion for partial summary judgment on its own counterclaims (ECF 255 ). The Court also addresses in this Opinion and Order several issues raised by UPM in its Pre-Hearing Memorandum (ECF 381 ). Finally, the Court sets a further case management schedule as described in this Opinion and Order and on the record during the hearing held on July 26, 2022. See ECF 383. Signed on 7/29/2022 by Judge Michael H. Simon. (mja)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF OREGON
UNIGESTION HOLDING, S.A.,
dba DIGICEL-HAITI,
Plaintiff,
v.
UPM TECHNOLOGY, INC. and
DUY BRUCE TRAN,
Case No. 3:15-cv-185-SI
OPINION AND ORDER ON DIGICELHAITI’S MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY
JUDGMENT AGAINST UPM’S
COUNTERCLAIMS AND TO
EXLUDE UPM’S EXPERT WITNESS,
AND UPM’S MOTION FOR PARTIAL
SUMMARY JUDGMENT
Defendants.
Robert C.L. Vaughan, Cherine Smith Valbrun, Leah B. Storie, and Anisha Carla Atchanah,
KIM VAUGHAN LERNER LLP, One Financial Plaza, Suite 2001, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33394Anne
M. Talcott, Kathryn E. Kelly, Andrew J. Lee, and Sara Kobak, SCHWABE, WILLIAMSON &
WYATT PC, 1211 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite 1900, Portland, OR 97204; and. Of Attorneys for
Plaintiff.
Christopher W. Savage, DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE LLP, 1919 Pennsylvania Avenue NW,
Suite 800, Washington, DC 20006; and Kathryn P. Salyer, Eleanor A. DuBay, and
Blake Van Zile, TOMASI BRAGAR DUBAY, 121 SW Morrison Street, Suite 1850, Portland,
OR 97204. Of Attorneys for Defendants.
Michael H. Simon, District Judge.
In its Third Amended Complaint (ECF 200), Unigestion Holding, S.A., dba DigicelHaiti, Inc. (Digicel-Haiti) alleges fraud, conversion, and unjust enrichment against UPM
PAGE 1 – OPINION AND ORDER
Technology, Inc. (UPM) and Duy Bruce Tran.1 In UPM’s Amended Answer, Affirmative
Defenses, and Counterclaims (ECF 244), UPM asserts six counterclaims—one based on a federal
statute and five based on Oregon common law. As its first counterclaim (with five counts), UPM
alleges violations of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. §§ 151 et seq. (the
Communications Act). For its remaining counterclaims, UPM alleges breach of implied-in-fact
contract, money had and received, conversion, unjust enrichment, and intentional interference
with prospective economic advantage.
On January 18, 2022, the Court granted in part UPM’s motion for summary judgment,
which significantly narrowed the scope of Digicel-Haiti’s claims and potential recovery.
ECF 294. The Court also bifurcated this lawsuit into two phases. During Phase I, the Court
planned to consider Digicel-Haiti’s claims against UPM. During Phase II, the Court planned to
consider UPM’s counterclaims against Digicel-Haiti. Id. at 37-39. On July 26, 2022, the Court
granted Digicel-Haiti’s informal letter request to lift the bifurcation order. ECF 383.
The Court previously had scheduled a jury trial on Phase I to begin April 4, 2022. At the
Phase I pretrial conference held on March 29, 2022, Digicel-Haiti announced that it could not
likely meet its evidentiary burden to establish damages under the narrowed scope that the Court
imposed. See ECF 379, at 35, 64 (Transcript from Hearing on March 29, 2022). After that
hearing, Digicel-Haiti filed a motion for reconsideration of the Court’s decision of January 18,
2022, and alternative motions to certify an interlocutory appeal to the Ninth Circuit under 28
1
Mr. Tran is the founder, owner, and chief executive officer of UPM. In this Opinion and
Order, the Court generally refers to UPM and Mr. Tran together as “UPM.” Digicel-Haiti also
asserted claims against other individual defendants employed by UPM, but the Court dismissed
those claims on January 18, 2022. ECF 294.
PAGE 2 – OPINION AND ORDER
U.S.C. § 1292(b) or certify questions to the Oregon Supreme Court under Or. Rev.
Stat. § 28.200. On July 13, 2022, the Court denied Digicel-Haiti’s motions. ECF 380.
The Court also previously had scheduled a Phase II jury trial to begin November 14,
2022, but after lifting the bifurcation order, all remaining issues that are appropriate for trial will
now be decided at the November trial. There are, however, additional preliminary matters that
need to be resolved. In this Opinion and Order, the Court addresses the following motions:
(1) Digicel-Haiti’s motion for summary judgment against UPM’s six counterclaims (ECF 264);
(2) Digicel-Haiti’s motion to exclude the testimony of UPM’s expert witness Joseph Gillan
(ECF 272); and (3) UPM’s motion for partial summary judgment on portions of its first
counterclaim (ECF 255).
STANDARDS
A. Summary Judgment
Rule 56(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure states that a party is entitled to
summary judgment if the “movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact
and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). The moving
party has the burden of establishing the lack of a genuine dispute of material fact. Celotex Corp.
v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986). The court must view the evidence in the light most
favorable to the non-movant and draw all reasonable inferences in the non-movant’s favor.
Clicks Billiards Inc. v. Sixshooters Inc., 251 F.3d 1252, 1257 (9th Cir. 2001). Although
“[c]redibility determinations, the weighing of the evidence, and the drawing of legitimate
inferences from the facts are jury functions, not those of a judge . . . ruling on a motion for
summary judgment,” the “mere existence of a scintilla of evidence in support of the plaintiff’s
position [is] insufficient . . . .” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 252, 255 (1986).
“Where the record taken as a whole could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the nonPAGE 3 – OPINION AND ORDER
moving party, there is no genuine issue for trial.” Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio
Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587 (1986) (citation and quotation marks omitted).
The first sentence of Rule 56(a) provides: “A party may move for summary judgment,
identifying each claim or defense—or the part of each claim or defense—on which summary
judgment is sought.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a) (emphasis added). The 2010 Advisory Committee
explains that this sentence was “added to make clear at the beginning that summary judgment
may be requested not only as to an entire case but also as to a claim, defense, or part of a claim
or defense.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a) advisory committee’s note to 2010 amendment; see also
Minority Police Officers Ass’n of S. Bend v. City of S. Bend, Ind., 721 F.2d 197, 200 (7th
Cir. 1983) (“The word ‘judgment’ in the term ‘partial summary judgment’ is a misnomer. A
partial summary judgment is merely an order deciding one or more issues in advance of trial; it
may not be a judgment at all, let alone a final judgment on a separate claim.”).
Further, Rule 56(g) states: “If the court does not grant all the relief requested by the
motion, it may enter an order stating any material fact—including an item of damages or other
relief—that is not genuinely in dispute and treating the fact as established in the case.” Fed. R.
Civ. P. 56(g) (emphasis added). As explained by the 2010 Advisory Committee, “the court may
decide whether to apply the summary-judgment standard to dispose of a material fact that is not
genuinely in dispute.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(g) advisory committee’s note to 2010 amendment.
Finally, even if “the court believes that a fact is not genuinely in dispute it may refrain from
ordering that the fact be treated as established. The court may conclude that it is better to leave
open for trial facts and issues that may be better illuminated by the trial of related facts that must
be tried in any event.” Id.
PAGE 4 – OPINION AND ORDER
B. Expert Testimony
Rule 702 of the Federal Rules of Evidence governs the admissibility of expert testimony.
It provides:
A witness who is qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill,
experience, training, or education may testify in the form of an
opinion or otherwise if:
(a) the expert’s scientific, technical, or other specialized
knowledge will help the trier of fact to understand the
evidence or to determine a fact in issue;
(b) the testimony is based on sufficient facts or data;
(c) the testimony is the product of reliable principles and
methods; and
(d) the expert has reliably applied the principles and
methods to the facts of the case.
Fed. R. Evid. 702.
“Under Daubert2 and its progeny, including Daubert II,3 a district court’s inquiry into
admissibility is a flexible one.” City of Pomona v. SQM N. Am. Corp., 750 F.3d 1036, 1043 (9th
Cir. 2014) (citing Alaska Rent-A-Car, Inc. v. Avis Budget Grp., Inc., 738 F.3d 960, 969 (9th
Cir. 2013)). In evaluating proffered expert testimony, the trial court is “a gatekeeper, not a fact
finder.” Primiano v. Cook, 598 F.3d 558, 565 (9th Cir. 2010) (quotation marks omitted). “[T]he
trial court must assure that the expert testimony both rests on a reliable foundation and is relevant
to the task at hand.” Id. at 564 (quotation marks omitted). “Expert opinion testimony is relevant
if the knowledge underlying it has a valid connection to the pertinent inquiry. And it is reliable if
the knowledge underlying it has a reliable basis in the knowledge and experience of the relevant
2
Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579 (1993).
3
Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 43 F.3d 1311 (9th Cir. 1995).
PAGE 5 – OPINION AND ORDER
discipline.” Id. at 565 (quotation marks omitted). “Shaky but admissible evidence is to be
attacked by cross examination, contrary evidence, and attention to the burden of proof, not
exclusion.” Id. at 564. The judge must “screen the jury from unreliable nonsense opinions, but
not exclude opinions merely because they are impeachable.” City of Pomona, 750 F.3d at 1043
(quoting Alaska Rent-A-Car, 738 F.3d at 969). In short, “[t]he district court is not tasked with
deciding whether the expert is right or wrong, just whether his testimony has substance such that
it would be helpful to a jury.” Id. at 969-70 (alteration in original) (quoting Alaska Rent-ACar, 738 F.3d at 969-70).
Further, the court must assess an expert’s reasoning or methodology, using, when
appropriate, criteria such as testability, publication in peer-reviewed literature, known or
potential error rate, and general acceptance. See Est. of Barabin v. AstenJohnson, Inc., 740 F.3d
457, 463-64 (9th Cir. 2014) (en banc). But these factors are “meant to be helpful, not definitive,
and the trial court has discretion to decide how to test an expert’s reliability as well as whether
the testimony is reliable, based on the particular circumstances of the particular case.” Primiano,
598 F.3d at 564 (citations and quotation marks omitted).
The test “is not the correctness of the expert’s conclusions but the soundness of his
methodology.” Primiano, 598 F.3d at 564 (quotation marks omitted). “The objective of
[Daubert’s gatekeeping requirement] is to ensure the reliability and relevancy of expert
testimony. It is to make certain that an expert, whether basing testimony upon professional
studies or personal experience, employs in the courtroom the same level of intellectual rigor that
characterizes the practice of an expert in the relevant field.” Kumho Tire, 526 U.S. at 149. When
an expert meets the threshold established by Rule 702, the expert may testify and the fact finder
decides how much weight to give that testimony. Primiano, 598 F.3d at 565. Challenges that go
PAGE 6 – OPINION AND ORDER
to the weight of the evidence are within the province of a fact finder, not a trial court judge. City
of Pomona, 750 F.3d at 1044. “A district court should not make credibility determinations that
are reserved for the jury.” Id.
BACKGROUND
The factual background of this case has been thoroughly described in earlier opinions,
including the Court’s decision dated January 18, 2022. ECF 294. As relevant here, UPM
purchased or otherwise obtained Digicel-Haiti SIM cards4 from third parties in Haiti and then
sent the cards to UPM in Oregon. UPM placed multiple SIM cards in a server, activated the SIM
cards, and used them to initiate and authenticate two types of calls from the United States to
Haiti. One type of call began in the United States and was sent over the internet to a radio
transmitter located in Haiti, resulting in the call appearing to originate on Digicel-Haiti’s network
in Haiti as a local call. The parties refer to this as “in-country,” or “traditional,” bypass.
Another type of call also began in the United States on a network operated by a United
States telecommunications carrier that was a roaming partner with Digicel-Haiti (i.e., with whom
Digicel-Haiti had a roaming partner contract). This call was sent by the United States roaming
partner to Digicel-Haiti’s international switch, located in either New York or Florida, as part of a
discounted calling program that Digicel-Haiti marketed and sold under the name “Roam Like
You Are Home” (RLYH). Digicel-Haiti asserts that it intended for its SIM cards in this program
to be used only by its subscribers who were human beings and not have multiple SIM cards
“SIM” is an acronym for “Subscriber Identity Module.” Each SIM card contains a
unique identification number and other information used to “authenticate” the card on a
telecommunication carrier’s network, enabling the card to be used to make calls. Typically, an
individual cell phone user would purchase a SIM card to be used for making calls from a specific
cell phone, or handset. The SIM card would often include a certain monetary value, or “prepaid”
amount, but could be recharged or “topped off” with new payments. If a carrier, such as DigicelHaiti, deactivates (or de-authenticates) a SIM card, that card can no longer be used to make calls.
4
PAGE 7 – OPINION AND ORDER
placed in a computer server. Digicel-Haiti refers to this as “RLYH bypass.” Thus, in one of these
two ways, UPM connected third-party calls originating in the United States and ending (or
terminating5) with a Digicel-Haiti customer located in Haiti. Digicel-Haiti charged, or debited,
the SIM card either the local rate or a RLYH discounted rate for these calls, rather than DigicelHaiti’s higher rate for inbound international calls.
If, however, Digicel-Haiti determined that a particular SIM card was being used in one of
these two ways (either in-country bypass or RLYH bypass), then Digicel-Haiti would deactivate,
or de-authenticate, that SIM card, thereby blocking UPM from further using it. According to
Digicel-Haiti, UPM used “human behavior software” (HBS) to actively conceal from DigicelHaiti that a SIM card was being used for some type of bypass, rather than by an individual
human user for a specific call. The Court ruled that this use of HBS would constitute fraud by
active concealment in violation of Oregon common law, by deceiving Digicel-Haiti into
allowing the SIM cards still to be used. This would assist UPM in avoiding, or bypassing, higher
charges for international calls coming from the United States to Digicel-Haiti’s customers in
Haiti. UPM denies using HBS.
DISCUSSION
A. Digicel-Haiti’s Motion for Summary Judgment Against UPM’s Counterclaims
1. Whether UPM’s Counterclaims Are Barred by the Statute of Limitations
Under the Communications Act, “all complaints against carriers for the recovery of
damages . . . shall be filed . . . within two years from the time the cause of action accrues, and not
after.” 47 U.S.C. § 415. UPM filed its first iteration of counterclaims against Digicel-Haiti on
In this context, “termination” means the location where a call is shown to be received
for purposes of a cellular company’s tracking and billing records.
5
PAGE 8 – OPINION AND ORDER
March 1, 2016, which included UPM’s claims under the Communications Act as well as its
common law state claims. ECF 73.
As Digicel-Haiti correctly observes, UPM’s claim under the Communications Act (as
well as UPM’s common law state claims) are based on Digicel-Haiti’s actions deactivating the
SIM cards that UPM’s agents purchased or otherwise obtained for UPM in Haiti. UPM alleges
that “Digicel-Haiti’s actions in blocking the use by UPM of SIM cards . . . constitutes
‘unreasonable discrimination’ against UPM” and an “unjust or unreasonable charge, practice,
classification or regulation,” in violation of the Communications Act. See ECF 244, ¶¶ 331, 335,
339, 343, 349. Digicel-Haiti correctly states that the undisputed record evidence establishes that
UPM knew that Digicel-Haiti was deactivating, or blocking, UPM’s SIM cards beginning
in 2011.
UPM does not dispute any of this. Indeed, in its response, UPM states that Digicel-Haiti
argues that UPM’s claim under the Communications Act is “barred by the Statute of Limitations.
To the extent that UPM’s claims as pled extend to Digicel-Haiti’s actions during the 2011-2012
period, UPM agrees.” ECF 279, at 7 (int. p. 3). UPM adds, however, that it also purchased or
otherwise obtained Digicel-Haiti SIM cards from April through December 2014, which DigicelHaiti also blocked. UPM argues that the two-year statute of limitations does not bar DigicelHaiti’s potential liability for violations committed after March 1, 2014, including during April to
December 2014. The Court agrees with UPM.
In Communications Vending Corp. of Arizona v. F.C.C., 365 F.3d 1064, 1074 (D.C.
Cir. 2004), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit explained that under
§ 415 of the Communications Act, “a cause of action accrues either when a readily discoverable
injury occurs or, if an injury is not readily discoverable, when the plaintiff should have
PAGE 9 – OPINION AND ORDER
discovered it.” Id. at 1074 (citing MCI Telecomms. Corp. v. F.C.C., 59 F.3d 1407, 1417 (D.C.
Cir. 1995)). Thus, the relevant question is whether a distinct injury occurred during the two years
immediately preceding March 1, 2016, or whether all damages ultimately trace to the first
liability-creating act in 2011.
In Davis v. Bostick, 282 Or. 667, 672 (1978), the Oregon Supreme Court discussed
decisions applying the doctrine of “continuing tort” and concluded that the plaintiff had not
alleged a continuing tort because she could have asserted a separate cause of action after each of
defendant’s acts. “[A]t the heart of the continuing tort idea is the concept that recovery is for the
cumulative effect of wrongful behavior, not for discrete elements of that conduct.” Id. (emphasis
added). The doctrine of “continuing tort” provides useful guidance.
UPM contends that it paid about $4 per SIM card plus other amounts in recharge fees (or
top-ups) and RLYH fees. Each time that UPM paid for a SIM card (or related charges) and
Digicel-Haiti later deactivated that card, a new injury occurred for which UPM may seek
damages, at least related to that deactivated card. UPM contends that these fees total about
$156,000. ECF 244 ¶¶ 352-356.6
The real rub comes in UPM’s claim for consequential damages of about $50 million.
ECF 244 ¶¶ 332, 336, 340, 344, 350. There are several potential problems with UPM’s theory of
consequential damages. Perhaps the most serious is whether such damages are speculative and
thus not recoverable. See Parker v. Harris Pine Mills, 206 Or. 187, 197 (1955) (“In every case
actual damages sustained must be established by evidence upon which their existence and
amount may be determined with reasonable certainty. Speculative damages are never allowed.”).
6
It is unclear whether the $156,000 amount includes SIM cards deactivated by DigicelHaiti in 2011-2012 or only those deactivated by Digicel-Haiti between April and
December 2014. For purposes of the pending motion, that is immaterial.
PAGE 10 – OPINION AND ORDER
The resolution of this issue, however, will have to wait for another day, perhaps at the final
pretrial conference, perhaps at the November jury trial, or even perhaps post-trial. For now, the
Court simply concludes that UPM’s claims between April and December 2014 are not timebarred.7
2. UPM’s Counterclaim Under the Communications Act
a. Whether the Communications Act Applies to Digicel-Haiti
Digicel-Haiti argues that the Communications Act does not apply because Digicel-Haiti
does not operate as an “international common carrier” in the United States. UPM responds by
arguing, among other things, that because Digicel-Haiti has entered into roaming agreements
with United States carriers to handle calls between the United States and Haiti, Digicel-Haiti is
an international common carrier under the Communications Act, at least for those services.
Digicel-Haiti offered its discounted RLYH program to persons in Haiti who bought DigicelHaiti’s SIM cards and then subscribed to (and paid for) Digicel-Haiti’s RLYH program.
ECF 200 ¶ 128 (Third Am. Compl.). Digicel-Haiti replies that it intended the RLYH plan to be
used by individual customers while they are roaming outside of their home network in Haiti. Id.
¶ 130.
During the hearing on July 26, 2022, the Court requested additional briefing on the
question of whether the Communications Act applies to Digicel-Haiti’s challenged conduct.
ECF 383. UPM’s legal brief explaining why the Communications Act applies is due August 16,
2022, Digicel-Haiti’s response is due August 30, 2022, and UPM’s reply brief is due
7
The same conclusion applies to UPM’s Oregon tort claims, which are similarly subject
to a two-year statute of limitations. See Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.110(1) (“An action . . . for any injury
to the . . . rights of another, not arising on contract, and not especially enumerated in this chapter,
shall be commenced within two years . . . .”).
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September 9, 2022. After receiving this briefing, the Court may decide as a matter of law
whether the Communications Act applies to Digicel-Haiti’s RLYH activities in the United States
or may defer that decision until trial.
b. Whether the Foreign Sovereign Compulsion Doctrine Applies
Digicel-Haiti argues that UPM’s claim under the Communications Act must be dismissed
because its action in blocking UPM’s SIM cards was compelled by Haitian law. For now, the
Court puts aside the fact that the “foreign sovereign compulsion” doctrine has never been applied
as a defense to violations of the Communications Act and appears only to apply in the context of
antitrust cases.8 Because Digicel-Haiti has moved for summary judgment on this issue, it must
show the lack of a genuine issue of material fact. The record evidence, however, appears to
show, at most, that Digicel-Haiti did not violate Haitian law by blocking the SIM cards that UPM
was using; it does not show that Digicel-Haiti had to do so. It also appears that Digicel-Haiti’s
evidence of Circular No. 009 may not even apply to companies like Digicel-Haiti but only to
internet service providers. See ECF 60, at 6-8. The Court may revisit this issue at the pretrial
conference, depending on the evidence the parties submit, but Digicel-Haiti has not yet met its
burden on this issue at summary judgment.
c. Whether International Law or Comity Requires Abstention
Digicel-Haiti argues that the Court should “abstain” from exercising its jurisdiction over
UPM’s claim under the Communications Act. ECF 264, at 16-17 (int. pp. 12-13). Digicel-Haiti,
8
Indeed, the FCC has expressly declined to apply the foreign sovereign compulsion
doctrine to limit entities’ obligations under the Communications Act. See Petition of AT&T Inc.
for Settlements Stop Payment Order on the U.S.-Tonga Route, Memorandum Opinion and Order,
29 FCC Rcd 4186 (2014) (“Tonga Order”) at ¶ 13 (rejecting foreign carrier’s attempt to rely on
the foreign sovereign compulsion defense because the matter before the FCC did not involve
antitrust liability).
PAGE 12 – OPINION AND ORDER
however, provides no legal authority for that conclusion, either in its opening memorandum or its
reply. Without legal authority called to the Court’s attention, the Court declines Digicel-Haiti’s
suggestion that the Court abstain from hearing UPM’s counterclaims.
3. UPM’s Counterclaim of Breach of Implied-in-Fact Contract
As its second counterclaim, UPM alleges breach of implied-in-fact contract. According to
UPM, its agents purchased or otherwise obtained Digicel-Haiti SIM cards at retail prices from
authorized Digicel-Haiti dealers in Haiti and there was no writing on the SIM cards themselves
or contained in the packaging surrounding the SIM cards that imposed any restrictions or limits
on how the SIM card or its minutes may be used, nor were such restrictions imposed by any
other materials that Digicel-Haiti or its vendors provided to UPM in connection with its
acquisition of SIM cards, recharges, or payments for RLYH plans. ECF 244 ¶¶ 352, 354 (Am.
Ans., Aff. Defs., and Counterclaims). UPM further alleges that it or its agents purchased or
otherwise obtained a total of about 10,705 Digicel-Haiti SIM cards, at a cost of about $4.00 per
card, for a total purchase payment of about $42,836. UPM also paid about $111,209 for
recharges and RLYH plans to be added to UPM’s other costs relating to the SIM cards. Id. ¶ 355.
Based on these allegations, UPM contends:
Digicel-Haiti’s conduct regarding the sale and use of its SIM cards,
both in its transactions with UPM’s agents and in its general SIM
card transactions with its other customers, manifested its intent that
Digicel-Haiti would provide access to its Haiti network for the
specified number of minutes in exchange for the purchase of its
SIM cards, recharges/top-ups, and RLYH plans.
Id. ¶ 356.
When parties manifest their agreement by conduct, rather than by words, the contract is
said to be “implied-in-fact.” A contract implied-in-fact is still a contract. An express contract and
a contract implied-in-fact are both contracts formed by a mutual manifestation of assent; the only
PAGE 13 – OPINION AND ORDER
significant difference is the form or proof of the mutual assent. See In re Premera Blue Cross
Customer Data Sec. Breach Litig., 198 F. Supp. 3d 1183, 1198-99 (D. Or. 2016). Thus, an
implied-in-fact contract has the same legal requirements and the same legal effect as an express
contract. See Helicopter Transp. Servs., LLC v. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., 448 F. Supp. 3d 1127,
1135-36 (D. Or. 2020) (quoting Staley v. Taylor, 165 Or. App. 256, 262 (2000)).
As the Washington Supreme Court explained:
On at least four occasions, . . . this court has quoted with approval
a definition of a contract implied in fact, ... as follows: “A true
implied contract is an agreement of the parties arrived at from their
acts and conduct viewed in the light of surrounding circumstances,
and not from their words either spoken or written. Like an express
contract, it grows out of the intentions of the parties to the
transaction, and there must be a meeting of minds. Such a contract
differs from an express contract only in the mode of proof.” (Italics
ours.)
Id. (quoting Milone & Tucci, Inc. v. Bona Fide Builders, Inc., 49 Wash. 2d 363, 367-68 (1956)
(citations omitted) (emphasis in original)). Oregon law is not materially different. See Staley, 165
Or. App. at 262.
Digicel-Haiti contends that it expected that the users of its SIM cards would be individual
human subscribers using the purchased SIM cards in a specific mobile phone, not a business
purchasing multiple SIM cards and placing them in a server to bypass international calling
charges. UPM, however, appears to be correct that Digicel-Haiti did not place any restrictive
conditions on its SIM cards or related packaging materials. UPM add that under the objective
theory of contract, which Oregon follows, the parties’ conduct is sufficient to show an impliedin-fact agreement, or a “meeting of the minds.” Digicel-Haiti argues that it is not.
The Court concludes that whether an implied-in-fact contract was formed and, if so, what
were its material terms present questions of fact that require resolution at trial. Among other
PAGE 14 – OPINION AND ORDER
things, the trier of fact may need to determine how UPM acquired the SIM cards at issue and
what, if anything, was said by a relevant party (or its agents) to the other party (or its agents).
In addition, the Court notes that consequential damages resulting from a breach of
contract are recoverable only if they were reasonably foreseeable at the time the contract was
formed. To hold a party responsible for a particular loss, the loss must be one that ordinarily
follows the breach in the usual course of events or that reasonable people in the position of the
parties would have foreseen as a probable result of a breach. See Restatement (Second) of
Contracts § 351(1) (“Damages are not recoverable for loss that the party in breach did not have
reason to foresee as a probable result of the breach when the contract was made.”); see also 5
Timothy Murray, Arthur L. Corbin, Joseph M. Perillo, and E. Murray, Jr., Corbin on
Contracts 79, § 1010 (1964); see also Cont’l Plants Corp. v. Measured Mktg. Serv., Inc., 274 Or.
621, 625-26 (1976) (applying the English rule from Hadley v. Baxendale, 9 Exch. 341 (1854)).
B. Digicel-Haiti’s Motion to Exclude UPM’s Expert Joseph Gillan
In support of its first counterclaim, which alleges violation of the Communications Act,
UPM offers the expert testimony of Joseph Gillan. Mr. Gillan has a Master’s Degree in
Economics, which he received as part of a program that focused on the economics of public
utilities and regulated industries. ECF 273-1, at 4 (Decl. of Joseph Gillan). Mr. Gillan
summarizes what he has been asked to do by UPM as follows:
I have been asked by attorneys representing UPM Technologies to
address: (1) the economic and policy rationale underlying various
FCC decisions that recognize the importance of resale as a
regulatory tool to achieve the efficient (i.e., cost-based) pricing of
telecommunications services; (2) whether UPM’s resale of
Digicel-Haiti’s wireless services as a means to terminate traffic in
Haiti is consistent with (and furthers) the economic reasoning used
by the FCC in determining that resale restrictions are generally
prohibited under Sections 201 and 202 of the federal
Communications Act; and, conversely, (3) whether Digicel-Haiti’s
discontinuing the services UPM was buying from Digicel-Haiti
PAGE 15 – OPINION AND ORDER
and reselling to other carriers constituted the same kind of conduct,
from an economic and policy perspective, that the FCC’s ban on
resale restrictions was intended to prevent.
Id. at 6, ¶ 9.
The Court is satisfied that Mr. Gillan has the technical or specialized knowledge required
of an expert in this field but is not persuaded that Mr. Gillan’s knowledge “will help the trier of
fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue,” which also is required under
Rule 702(a) of the Federal Rules of Evidence. Instead, the Court is concerned that the proffered
testimony invades the province of the Court in instructing the jury about the law and may even
confuse jurors about the issues that they must decide.
In telecommunications cases, courts have placed boundaries on expert testimony
purporting to give opinions about the interpretation of FCC rulings and orders and the intent or
objectives of the FCC, concluding that such opinions impermissibly usurp the role of the judge.
See, e.g., TC Sys. Inc. v. Town of Colonie, 213 F. Supp. 2d 171, 181-82 (N.D.N.Y. 2002)
(excluding expert opinions when the expert’s “review of FCC rulings and regulations
impermissibly usurps the role of the trial judge in determining the relevant law” and further
holding that “any testimony as to the intent of the Telecommunications Act or FCC regulations
or how the jury should ultimately decide this case, however, is inappropriate”); CFM Commc’ns,
LLC v. Mitts Telecasting Co., 424 F. Supp. 2d 1229, 1236 (E.D. Cal. 2005) (excluding expert
testimony on (1) what factors the FCC considers in deciding control of a broadcast station and
how such factors apply to the case; (2) whether and how any FCC action indicates its likely
decision on any legal issue; (3) how the FCC will decide any legal issue; and (4) any other
application of law to the facts of the case); GlobalRock Networks, Inc., v. MCI Comm’ns, 943 F.
Supp. 2d 320, 343 (N.D.N.Y. 2013) (excluding expert opinions about violations of FCC rules);
Qwest Corp. v. City of Santa Fe, 2013 WL 12239492, at *5 (D.N.M. Feb. 8, 2013) (refusing to
PAGE 16 – OPINION AND ORDER
allow an expert to testify about “the legal standards applicable to [47 U.S.C.] § 253”). Thus, the
Court excludes Mr. Gillan’s testimony under Rule 702(a) of the Federal Rules of Evidence.
In addition, even if there were some aspects of Mr. Gillan’s proffered expert testimony
that might have some appropriate probative value, the Court still finds that any such probative
value is substantially outweighed by the danger of confusing the jury on the issues that need to
be decided. If Digicel-Haiti violated the Communications Act as UPM alleges, that is enough.
The jury need not determine “the economic and policy rationale underlying various FCC
decisions,” whether how UPM used Digicel-Haiti’s SIM cards is “consistent with (and furthers)
the economic reasoning used by the FCC,” or whether the deactivation of SIM cards by DigicelHaiti “constituted the same kind of conduct, from an economic and policy perspective, that the
FCC’s ban on resale restrictions was intended to prevent.” These questions are not before the
jury, and UPM offering expert testimony on these issues will likely confuse the jury about what
it needs to decide. Accordingly, the Court excludes Mr. Gillan’s testimony under Rule 403 of the
Federal Rules of Evidence as well.9
C. UPM’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on Its First Counterclaim
UPM seeks partial summary judgment on the following aspects of its first counterclaim,
which alleges violations of the Communications Act:
(a)
Digicel-Haiti’s roaming arrangements make it a
telecommunications carrier subject to the Communications Act;
and
(b)
Digicel-Haiti’s blocking of UPM’s RLYH SIM cards
prevented UPM from reselling RLYH service.
9
UPM requests leave to ask the Court to reconsider this ruling at a later time, depending
on what, if anything, the Court allows Digicel-Haiti’s expert witnesses to present at trial. Such
leave is granted.
PAGE 17 – OPINION AND ORDER
ECF 265, at 38 (int. p. 34). UPM may be correct on the first point. Nevertheless, whether the
Communications Act applies to Digicel-Haiti or any of its services is a close call, the Court’s
understanding on this issue is evolving, and the Court’s evaluation of this question likely will
benefit from the additional briefing and argument that has been scheduled, and maybe even from
observing the evidence presented at trial. Accordingly, even if this is a fact issue that is not
genuinely in dispute, the Court might refrain from ordering that the fact be treated as established
until the time of trial.
As for UPM’s second point, this point as well may be undisputed, but it also may be
legally irrelevant if UPM cannot show consequential damages without speculation. The Court
certainly will allow UPM to seek as damages its out-of-pocket costs paid, within the limitations
period, to acquire, or recharge SIM cards and to subscribe to Digicel-Haiti’s RLYH program.
The Court, however, might not allow UPM to seek consequential, or lost profit, damages
resulting from Digicel-Haiti’s blocking of UPM’s SIM cards in 2014, depending on the quality
of UPM’s evidence. In any event, the Court will not decide that issue now. See Fed. R. Civ.
P. 56(g) advisory committee’s note to 2010 amendment (“it is better to leave open for trial facts
and issues that may be better illuminated by the trial of related facts that must be tried in any
event”).
D. Other Rulings Sought by UPM
In UPM’s Pre-Hearing Memorandum (ECF 381), UPM states that it seeks additional
pretrial rulings. Among other things, UPM seeks a ruling that it was a customer and purchaser of
Digicel-Haiti’s RLYH service by paying Digicel-Haiti for that service. According to UPM, it
obtained SIM cards for Digicel-Haiti’s network and added funds to those specific SIM cards
through third-party “top-up” services. UPM adds that Digicel-Haiti accepted those funds by
crediting them to the accounts of the SIM cards that UPM had topped up, and UPM directed
PAGE 18 – OPINION AND ORDER
Digicel-Haiti to deduct the RLYH service fee (approximately $25 per card), which Digicel-Haiti
did. According to UPM, this series of actions establishes an “implied-in-fact” contract between
UPM and Digicel-Haiti that obligated Digicel-Haiti to provide RLYH service to UPM. ECF 381,
at 3. Earlier in this Opinion and Order, the Court explained that UPM’s claim of breach of
implied-in-fact contract presents a question of fact for the jury and UPM likely will need to
present evidence showing how it obtained the SIM cards at issue, how UPM paid third-party
vendors or Digicel-Haiti for the services at issue, and what, if anything, was communicated
between the parties (or their agents) during these transactions.
Digicel-Haiti alleges that SIM cards are sometimes purchased using false or altered
identification documents, bought in bulk in unauthorized “off-book” transactions, or bought
under the pretext that they will be used by an individual for that individual’s personal calls in a
unique cellular device. ECF 200 ¶¶ 60, 62 (Third. Am. Compl.) UPM denies these allegations.
ECF 244 ¶¶ 60, 62 (Am. Ans., Aff. Defs., and Counterclaims). UPM, however, has not shown
with record evidence that Digicel-Haiti’s allegations are incorrect. Thus, because the
circumstances showing how UPM obtained the SIM cards at issue appear to be relevant to
UPM’s counterclaims, UPM will need to present admissible evidence on that point at trial. UPM
also asks the Court to rule on UPM’s motions in limine seeking to exclude testimony from
Digicel-Haiti’s expert witnesses Mr. McEwen and Mr. Castel. ECF 381, at 7-8. UPM argues that
this testimony does not relate to UPM’s counterclaims. Id. The Court will address this issue at
the pretrial conference to be held before the November trial begins.
E. Additional Case Management Scheduling
As discussed during the hearing held on July 26, 2022, in addition to further briefing on
the question of whether the Communications Act applies to Digicel-Haiti’s RLYH activities in
the United States, the Court requested further briefing on whether, in light of the Court’s ruling
PAGE 19 – OPINION AND ORDER
on January 18, 2022 (ECF 294), Digicel-Haiti can present evidence sufficient to show without
speculation that UPM’s alleged used of HBS caused damage to Digicel-Haiti and, if so, in what
amount. As noted during that hearing, the Court set the following schedule: (1) Digicel-Haiti’s
amended “Phase I” lay and expert witness statements, exhibits, exhibit lists, deposition excerpts
in lieu of live testimony, and legal brief regarding causation and damages are due by August 16,
2022;10 (2) UPM’s motion for judgment as a matter of law on Phase I (causation and damages)
based on Digicel-Haiti’s trial documents filed on August 16, 2022 is due August 30, 2022;
(3) Digicel-Haiti’s response to UPM’s motion for judgment as a matter of law is due
September 9, 2022 ; and (4) UPM’s reply brief in support of motion for judgment as a matter of
law (causation and damages) is due September 12, 2022. The Court will hear oral argument on
this issue, as well as on the applicability of the Communications Act, on Wednesday,
September 14, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. The Court also sets a Pretrial Conference for October 21, 2022
at 9:00 a.m. See also ECF 383. As noted, trial will begin on November 14, 2022.
CONCLUSION
In this Opinion and Order, the Court GRANTS IN PART AND DENIES IN PART
Digicel-Haiti’s motion for summary judgment against UPM’s counterclaims (ECF 264), DigicelHaiti’s motion to exclude UPM’s expert Joseph Gillan (ECF 272), and UPM’s motion for partial
summary judgment on its own counterclaims (ECF 255). The Court also addresses in this
Opinion and Order several issues raised by UPM in its Pre-Hearing Memorandum (ECF 381).
Finally, the Court sets a further case management schedule as described in this Opinion and
Order and on the record during the hearing held on July 26, 2022. See ECF 383.
Here, “Phase I” refers to Digicel-Haiti’s remaining affirmative claim for damages
against UPM. It does not include Digicel-Haiti’s defenses or responses to UPM’s counterclaims.
Those materials will be due later, under the Court’s Civil Trial Management Order. ECF 191.
10
PAGE 20 – OPINION AND ORDER
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED this 29th day of July, 2022.
/s/ Michael H. Simon
Michael H. Simon
United States District Judge
PAGE 21 – OPINION AND ORDER
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