Life Flight Network, LLC v. Metro Aviation, Inc.

Filing 58

OPINION and ORDER - Metro's Motion 47 to Strike is GRANTED. IT IS SO ORDERED. DATED this 7th day of August, 2017, by United States Magistrate Judge John V. Acosta. (peg)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF OREGON
PORTLAND DIVISION

LIFE FLIGHT NETWORK, LLC,
an Oregon Limited Liability Corporation

Case No. 3:17-cv-00028-AC

Plaintiff,

OPINION AND
ORDER

v.
METRO AVIATION, INC.,
a Louisiana Corporation
Defendant.
_______________________________________
ACOSTA, Magistrate Judge:

Introduction
Life Flight Network, LLC (“Life Flight”), brings this lawsuit against Metro Aviation, Inc.
(“Metro”), alleging: 1) breach of contract; and 2) breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing.
Currently before the court is Metro’s motion (ECF No.47) to strike Life Flight’s request for attorney
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fees contained in its amended complaint. Metro claims Life Flight’s assertion that attorney fees
should be awarded is immaterial under Rule 12(f). In the alternative, Metro asks the court to dismiss
the claim for attorney fees under Rule 12(b)(6). Metro’s motion to strike is granted.1 Because
Metro’s motion to strike is granted, this court need not consider the alternative motion to dismiss.
Background
Life Flight is a provider of emergency medical transport services in the Pacific Northwest.
(Am. Compl. (ECF No. 46) ¶ 1.) Metro is a corporation dealing in aircraft operation services. (Id.
at ¶ 2.) On or about September 1, 2016, Life Flight became a successor in interest to, and assignee
of, Inland Health Services with respect to the Aircraft Operating Agreement with Metro (“the
Agreement”). (Am. Compl. ¶ 8.) Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, Life Flight agreed to: 1)
provide medical equipment, services, and personnel; 2) maintain the aircraft facilities; and 3)
maintain 24-hour communication centers to coordinate flight missions with Metro. (Stanberry Decl.
(ECF No. 51.) Ex. 1at 6.17) Metro agreed to: 1) provide service and maintenance of the aircraft by
licensed and qualified pilots and mechanics; 2) keep the interior and exterior of the aircraft in clean
condition; 3) adhere to federal and state law while maintaining and operating the aircraft; 4) adhere
with manufacturer requirements and airworthiness directives; 5) maintain complete and accurate
flight time records; and, 6) either restore aircraft components to fifty percent, or compensate Life
Flight for the difference, at the expiration of the Agreement. (Am. Compl. ¶ 9.)
The Agreement contained an arbitration, found at Section 14.07, which provided:
14.07 Should a dispute arising out of or relate to this Agreement occur, the parties
hereto shall in good faith attempt to settle the dispute informally. If the
1

The parties have consented to jurisdiction by magistrate judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §
636(c)(1).
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dispute cannot be so resolved, it shall be submitted to arbitration pursuant to
the following procedure:
(a)

Either of the parties may demand such arbitration by forwarding to the other
party a written demand setting forth a statement of the matter in controversy
and the name of the arbitrator appointed by the party demanding arbitration.

(b)

Within 15 days after receipt of such demand, the other party shall name its
arbitrator, and the two arbitrators so selected shall within 15 days of the
appointment of the latter of them name a third arbitrator, who shall be a
person having substantial experience in the field of emergency medical
programs.

(c)

The arbitration hearing shall be held at Spokane, Washington, and the law of
the evidence of the state whose substantive laws are applicable to this
Agreement shall govern the presentation of evidence therein. An award shall
be made within 30 days after the close of submission of evidence. An award
rendered by a majority of the arbitrators appointed pursuant hereto shall be
final and binding on all parties to the proceeding, and judgment upon the
award shall be entered in any court of law. Such award shall be reviewable
only for errors of law.

(d)

The prevailing party, as determined by the arbitrator(s), shall be entitled to
recover the cost of such action so incurred, including without limitation
reasonable attorney’s fees and arbitrators’ fees.

(e)

Except to the extent inconsistent with the other provisions of this Section, the
arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the rules of the American
Arbitration Association.

(Stanberry Decl. Ex. 1 § 14.07).
Additionally, Section 14.03 of the Agreement provides:
14.03 Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, failure or
delay on the part of either party to exercise any right, remedy, power or
privilege hereunder shall not constitute a waiver thereof. A waiver, to be
effective, must be in writing and must be signed by the party making the
waiver. A written waiver of default shall not operate as a waiver of any other
default or the same type of default on a future occasion.
(Stanberry Decl. Ex. 1 § 14.03).

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A second amendment to the Agreement provided for the gradual transition of aircraft
operation from Metro to Life Flight (the “Amendment”). (Am. Compl. ¶ 10.) Life Flight alleges
Metro breached the Amendment, and its duty of good faith and fair dealing, during this transition
period. (Am. Compl. ¶ 11.) Life Flight claims Metro failed to properly maintain the aircraft in an
airworthy manner, provide routine maintenance and service on the aircraft, maintain proper flight
records, and restore aircraft components. (Am. Compl. ¶ 21.)
Life Flight filed a lawsuit against Metro on January 6, 2017, in the Multnomah County
Circuit Court of Oregon. (ECF. 53.) Metro removed the case to the District of Oregon on January
7, 2017. Id. After motions for injunctive relief, and change of venue, on February 14, 2017, the
parties filed a stipulation (the “February Stipulation”) to waive the arbitration clause of the
Agreement.

(Stipulation Regarding Venue, Non-Jury Trial and Application of Oregon Law

(“Stipulation”) (ECF No. 35.)) The February Stipulation specifically provides:
The parties to this case have waived the arbitration clause in the substantive contract
between them. Plaintiff and Defendant hereby stipulate to the following:
1.

The above entitled matter shall be tried in the US District Court for Oregon,
Portland Division. This shall include all claims including counterclaims
either party may have or can assert against the other party.

2.

The parties have agreed and hereby consent to the matter being heard by
Judge Acosta.

3.

The matter will be heard by the court without a jury. The parties hereby
expressly waive a jury trial.

4.

The law of the case shall be Oregon law.

(Stipulation)
Life Flight filed an amended complaint on May 19, 2017, asserting its right to attorney fees

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(the “Amended Complaint”). (Am. Compl. ¶ 27, 34.) The Amended Complaint reads “LFN is also
entitled to its reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs per the terms of the parties’ Agreement.” This
allegation is found in Life Flight’s claim for breach of contract, as well as its claim for breach of the
duty of good faith and fair dealing. Metro filed a motion to strike, claiming attorney fees were
waived in the February Stipulation. In the alternative, Metro moves to dismiss the claim of attorney
fees. (ECF No. 47.)
Legal Standards
I. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(f)
Under Rule 12(f), a court may, on its own or on a motion, “strike from a pleading an
insufficient defense or any redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous matter.” FED. R. CIV.
P. 12(f) (2016). “‘Immaterial’ matter is that which has no essential or important relationship to the
claim for relief or the defenses being pleaded.” Fantasy, Inc. v. Fogerty, 984 F.2d 1524, 1527 (9th
Cir. 1993), rev’d on other grounds, Fogerty v. Fantasy, Inc., 510 U.S. 517, 534-535 (1994) (citing
5 CHARLES A. WRIGHT & ARTHUR R. MILLER, FEDERAL PRACTICE & PROCEDURE § 1382, at 70607 (1990)).
The district court has discretion when deciding whether or not to strike a part of a pleading.
See Federal Sav. & Loan Ins. Corp. v. Gemini Mgmt., 921 F.2d 241, 244 (9th Cir. 1990). Courts
disfavor striking pleadings, and grant motions to strike infrequently. Blincoe v. Western States
Chiropractic College, No. CV 06-998-PK, 2007 WL 2071916, at *1 (D. Or. July 14, 2007).
However, a court will grant a motion to strike when it has the “effect of making the trial of the action
less complicated” or results in “streamlining the ultimate resolution of the action,” State of Cal. ex
rel. State Lands Comm’n v. United States, 512 F. Supp. 36, 38 (N.D. Cal. 1981).
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II. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6)
Under Rule 12(b)(6), a claim should be dismissed if it “fails to state a claim under which
relief can be granted.” In order for a claim to survive a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, a claim
must be plausible. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). A claim is plausible when it has
“factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for
the misconduct alleged.” Id. A federal claimant is not required to detail all factual allegations;
however, the complaint must provide “more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation
of the elements of a cause of action will not do.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555
(2007) (citations omitted). “Factual allegations must be enough to raise a right to relief above the
speculative level.” Id. While the court must assume that all facts alleged in a complaint are true and
view them in a light most favorable to the nonmoving party, it need not accept as true any legal
conclusion set forth in the complaint. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678.
Discussion
I. Motion to Strike under Rule 12(f)
Metro moves to strike Life Flight’s claim for attorney fees under Rule 12(f) as immaterial.
Metro argues Life Flight’s claim for attorney fees was waived by the February Stipulation and has
no bearing on the underlying subject matter. Life Flight contends the February Stipulation is
ambiguous and it did not intend to waive attorney fees. Life Flight argues it has a legitimate claim
to attorney fees and it should be allowed to pursue collection of those fees.
In Ironwood Country Club v. Liberty Ins. Underwriters, the court found when attorney fees
are not requested as damages, they are appropriately addressed under a Rule 12(f) motion to strike.
EDCV 13-00996-VAP (DTBx), 2013 WL 12139127, at *2 (C.D. Cal. Aug. 9, 2013). The Ironwood
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court distinguished Whittlestone, Inc.v. Handi-Craft Co., 618 F.3d 970, 974 (finding damages in a
complaint could not be removed through a Rule 12(f) motion to strike). Id. The Ironwood court
stated that when a motion does not seek dismissal of a portion of the complaint or summary
judgment on a claim, the proper avenue is a Rule 12(f) motion to strike. Id. at *1.
Here, the motion to strike attorney fees does not seek dismissal of a claim for damages or
summary judgment on a claim. Therefore, Metro’s motion to strike is appropriate.
A. Waiver by Written Term
Parties may modify a contract so long as there is mutual consent and adequate consideration.
Bennett v. Farmers Ins. Co. of Oregon, 332 Or. 138, 148 (2001). This consent can be expressed in
writing or through conduct. Id. The difference between a modification and a waiver is a waiver can
be “accomplished unilaterally” and does not require “consideration.”

Id. at 156. Waiver is

expressed as “the voluntary relinquishment of a known right.” Id. (quoting Alderman v. Davidson,
326 Or. 508 (1998)). Metro argues Life Flight waived its right to attorney fees when it waived the
arbitration clause because the arbitration clause was the only section of the Agreement that allowed
for the award of attorney fees. Life Flight claims attorney fees were addressed in the Agreement and
were never intended to be waived in the February Stipulation.
When interpreting a contract, the court looks to the text in context. Yoman v. Parrott, 325
Or. 358, 361 (1997). If the court finds the text is ambiguous, then it looks to the intent of the parties
to determine the meaning of the contract provision. Id. at 363. If neither the text in context or the
intent of the parties is clear, then the court will look at the construction of the contract to determine
the proper meaning. Id. at 364. Metro argues the written terms of the February Stipulation are
unambiguous; Life Flight claims the February Stipulation is ambiguous because it fails to mention
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attorney fees, and the court should look at the intent of the parties.
Arbitration was the sole purpose of Section 14.07. It expressed both parties’ intent to resolve
disputes through arbitration. The February Stipulation substantively altered that agreement. Without
question, the stipulation states the intent of both parties to submit to the judgment of this court, and
sets out a course of action to be taken by both parties in litigating the alleged breach of contract.
Instead of arbitration, the parties agreed to proceed in court. Instead of an arbitrator, the parties
agreed to submit their dispute to a judge. Instead of applying Washington law, Oregon law would
govern. Therefore, by addressing the arbitration and including additional provisions, the February
Stipulation is a deliberate replacement of Section 14.07.
The February Stipulation does not mention awarding attorney fees. Life Flight’s opposition
to the motion to strike specifically states the parties never discussed modification of attorney fees
before filing the February Stipulation. (Pl. Opp. to Defs.’ Mot. to Strike (ECF No. 53) at 3, 7.)
Discussion of attorney fees after the filing of the February Stipulation would have been an attempt
to modify that stipulation, because Section 14.07 would no longer have applied to the dispute as the
parties waived and replaced the arbitration clause.
The February Stipulation provides the parties “have waived the arbitration clause in the
substantive contract,” but fails to define what the “clause” is meant to entail. A clause is defined as
“a distinct section or provision of a legal document or instrument.” Clause, Black’s Law Dictionary
(10th ed. 2014). The word “clause” is synonymous with the words “section” and “provision.” By
waiving the arbitration clause, Life Flight waived the entire arbitration section. For these reasons,
the attorney fees under Section 14.07 were waived by the February Stipulation.
Even if this court chose to use an alternate interpretation of “clause”, the attorney fees would
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still be waived. For example, “clause” is used once in Section 8.01 of the Agreement and again in
Section 5 of the Assignment. In both, it makes reference to lettered sub-sections of Sections. The
language of Section 14.07(d), of the Agreement provides “the prevailing party, as determined by the
arbitrator(s), shall be entitled to recover the cost of such action so incurred, including without
limitation reasonable attorney’s fees and arbitrators’ fees.” As argued by Metro, the attorney fees
are imbedded within the arbitration clause. Therefore, the February Stipulation replaces Section
14.07 because it expresses both parties’ agreement to waive the arbitration clause.
The language in the February Stipulation is not ambiguous. The court need not analyze the
intent of the parties or the construction of the contract.
In the alternative, Metro argues Life Flight’s conduct, in bringing litigation before a good
faith effort to resolve the dispute, waives the entire arbitration section. Because the language of the
February Stipulation is clear, the court need not analyze Metro’s alternative argument.
B. Immaterial
A matter is considered immaterial if it has “no essential or important relationship to the claim
for relief or the defenses being pleaded.” Fantasy, Inc. v. Fogerty, 984 F.2d 1524, 1527 (9th Cir.
1993), rev’d on other grounds, Fogerty v. Fantasy, Inc., 510 U.S. 517, 534-535 (1994). In
determining that attorney fees were waived through the February Stipulation, the subject becomes
immaterial to the substance of the claims breach of contract and breach of the duty of good faith and
fair dealing. Metro contends Life Flight waived the arbitration clause in its entirety and cannot claim
attorney fees absent a statute or contract provision.
A court generally does not award attorney fees outside of a statute or contract provision.
Precision Seed Cleaners v. Country Mut. Ins. Co., 976 F. Supp. 2d 1228, 1235 (D. Or. Oct. 1, 2013)
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(quoting Swett v. Bradbury, 67 P.3d 391(Or. 2003)). While Oregon law gives the court discretion
in awarding attorney fees absent a statute or contract provision, this discretion may only be applied
when 1) the proceeding is one in equity; 2) the party requesting attorney fees is the prevailing party;
and, 3) the party requesting attorney fees is attempting to vindicate an important constitutional right
applying to all citizens without any gain peculiar to himself. Armatta v. Kitzhaber, 327 Or. 250, 287
(1998) (internal quotations omitted). These elements are not present in the current case. Therefore,
in light of the waiver of the arbitration clause in the February Stipulation, attorney fees are
immaterial to Life Flight’s claims.
II. Rule 12(b)(6) Motion to Dismiss and Attorney Fees
Because the court grants Metro’s motion to strike, the court need not consider the alternative
motion to dismiss.
Conclusion
For the reasons state above, Metro’s motion (ECF No. 47) to strike is GRANTED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED this 8th day of August, 2017.

s/ John V. Acosta
JOHN V. ACOSTA
United States Magistrate Judge

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