DEVON ROBOTICS, LLC et al v. DEVIEDMA

Filing 34

MEMORANDUM AND/OR OPINION. SIGNED BY HONORABLE J. CURTIS JOYNER ON 1/25/2010. 1/26/2010 ENTERED AND COPIES E-MAILED.(ap, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA DEVON ROBOTICS, et al., Plaintiffs, v. GASPAR DEVIEDMA, et al., Defendants. : : : : : : : : :

CIVIL ACTION No. 09-cv-3552

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER Joyner, J. January 25, 2010

Before the Court is Defendant McKesson Corporation's Motion to Dismiss First Amended Complaint (Doc. No. 20) pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), and responses thereto (Doc. Nos. 28, 29). For the reasons set forth in this

Memorandum, the Court grants Defendant's Motion in part and denies in part. I. BACKGROUND Health Robotics, S.r.L. ("HRSRL") is an Italian company that designs, develops, markets and licences robotic medical preparation products. Plaintiff, Devon Robotics, signed two

agreements with HRSRL for the distribution of two robotic medication preparation products for hospitals and health care facilities, i.v.Station and CytoCare. On August 22, 2008, Devon

Robotics entered into an agreement with HRSRL for the exclusive

1

distribution rights of i.v.Station in North America (the "i.v.Station Agreement"). As a result of the agreement, Devon

Robotics became responsible for paying 675,000 upon the occurrence of four milestones. Devon Robotics also entered into

an agreement with HRSRL for the exclusive distribution rights of CytoCare in North America on September 12, 2008 (the "CytoCare Agreement"). This second contract obligated Devon Robotics to

make regular license fee payments to HRSRL commencing in 2008 and continuing through 2013. Mr. DeViedma, one of the defendants, At the time these

signed these two contracts on behalf of HRSRL.

agreements were negotiated and signed, Mr. DeViedma served as General Counsel for HRSRL. In December 2008, Devon Robotics began negotiating a contract with McKesson Corporation, which would give McKesson the right to distribute CytoCare within a certain territory in the United States. DeViedma played a key role in negotiating the On December 22, 2008, Devon Robotics and

contract with McKesson.

McKesson entered into a Confidential Disclosure and NonCompetition Agreement ("Confidentiality Agreement") prohibiting McKesson from divulging or using any confidential information for any purpose other than analyzing its deal with Devon. After

executing the agreement, McKesson engaged in extensive due diligence during which time Devon Robotics revealed a substantial amount of proprietary information to McKesson, including its

2

marketing plans, business opportunities, and potential customers. Around March 2009, McKesson and Devon Robotics reached an oral agreement regarding the material terms of the Exclusive Distribution, Licensing, Services and Support Agreement. The

only thing that was needed to finalize the agreement was to allow McKesson's due diligence of HRSRL in Italy. However, DeViedma,

in his capacity as an officer of HRSRL, refused to permit McKesson representatives to visit Italy and complete the due diligence. Around July 17, 2009, in an attempt to revive negotiations that had stalled, Devon Robotics offered a standstill agreement to McKesson pursuant to which Devon Robotics would be prohibited from entertaining offers from McKesson's competitors until McKesson completed its due diligence on the Devon RoboticsMcKesson deal. McKesson turned down the offer.

Later, after McKesson and Devon Robotics failed to come to an agreement, HRSRL terminated the CytoCare Agreement with Devon Robotics on July 30, 2009. Then on August 10, 2009, McKesson and

HRSRL entered into a five year agreement granting McKesson distribution rights with regard to CytoCare in various areas in North America which had previously been controlled by Devon Robotics.

3

II. STANDARD OF REVIEW Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), a complaint should be dismissed if the plaintiff has failed to state a claim on which relief can be granted. In evaluating a motion to

dismiss, the court must take all well-pleaded factual allegations as true, but it is not required to blindly accept "a legal conclusion couched as a factual allegation." Papasan v. Allain,

478 U.S. 265, 283 (1986); Phillips v. County of Allegheny, 515 F.3d 224, 233 (3d Cir. 2008). Although a plaintiff is not

required to plead detailed factual allegations, the complaint must include enough facts to "raise a right to relief above the speculative level." 555 (2007). Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544,

III. Discussion McKesson's motion to dismiss is granted in part and denied in part. Counts III and VII of the Complaint are dismissed, as

is Plaintiffs' claim of tortious interference with prospective contractual relations (part of Count II). McKesson's Motion to Dismiss is denied. The remainder of Additionally,

Plaintiffs' request for a preliminary injunction is denied (part of Count VIII).

4

A.

Count I - Breach of Contract Plaintiffs contend that McKesson breached the

Confidentiality Agreement by improperly using confidential information regarding Devon Robotics which McKesson obtained during its due diligence on the prospective Devon Robotics McKesson deal. Plaintiffs assert that McKesson used this

information in order to obtain more favorable terms in its deal with HRSRL than it would have under a contract with Devon Robotics. As a result, Devon Robotics claims to have suffered

damages, including, the loss of its proprietary information, customer lists and marketing strategies, its competitive advantage in the industry, and revenue under the McKesson-Devon Robotics agreement which fell through. In order to state a claim for breach of contract, a plaintiff must establish: (1) the existence of a contract; (2) a breach of a duty imposed by the contract; and (3) resultant damages. Ware v. Rodale Press, Inc., 322 F.3d 218, 225 (3d Cir.

2003) (citing Corestates Bank, N.A. v. Cutillo, 723 A.2d 1053, 1058 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1999))(internal quotation marks omitted). Plaintiffs have sufficiently stated a claim of breach of contract. The existence of the Confidentiality Agreement is not Plaintiffs have given details

disputed by either party.

regarding the sequence of events and the context of the alleged breach and the time frame in which the breach occurred. As

5

Plaintiffs noted, they are not required to plead detailed factual allegations in support of their complaint under Twombly. Plaintiffs allegations have met the plausibility requirement to withstand a 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss. Plaintiffs have also

sufficiently stated that they suffered damages in the form of loss of customer lists, marketing strategies, revenue, etc. Therefore, Defendant's Motion to Dismiss Count I is denied.

B.

Count II - Tortious Interference with Current and

Prospective Contractual Relations In Count II of the Complaint, Plaintiffs allege that McKesson improperly interfered with the CytoCare Agreement and with prospective contracts for supplies that are consumed by the operation of the CytoCare and other third party contracts. Plaintiffs claim that McKesson arranged to have the CytoCare Agreement terminated prematurely and improperly and then used confidential information obtained during due diligence to structure a deal between itself and HRSRL. 1. Tortious Interference with Current Contractual

Relations Plaintiffs have adequately pled a claim for tortious interference with current contractual relations. Under

Pennsylvania law, in order to prove tortious interference with existing contractual relations plaintiff must prove the 6

following: (1) existence of a contractual relation between the claimant and a third party; (2) purposeful action on the part of the defendant specifically intended to harm the existing relation; (3) the absence of a privilege or justification for doing so; and (4) actual legal damage as a result of defendant's conduct. Brokerage Concepts, Inc. v. U.S. Healthcare, Inc., 140

F.3d 494, 530 (3d Cir. 1998); Pelagatti v. Cohen, 536 A.2d 1337, 1343 (Pa. 1988); Thompson Coal Co. v. Pike Coal Co., 412 A.2d 466, 471 (Pa. 1979). Plaintiffs have pled all the necessary elements for a claim of tortious interference with current contractual relations to a sufficient degree of plausibility. Plaintiffs allege that

McKesson interfered with the CytoCare Agreement and took purposeful action with the intent to harm Devon Robotics and to interfere with that contract. Additionally, Plaintiffs have

given details regarding the sequence of events and the context of the interference and the time frame in which the interference occurred. Therefore, Defendant's Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs'

claim of tortious interference with current contractual relations is denied. 2. Tortious Interference with Prospective Contractual

Relations However, Plaintiffs' claim for tortious interference with prospective contractual relations is dismissed. Pennsylvania

7

distinguishes between claims for interference with existing contractual relations and claims for interference with prospective contractual relations. Thompson Coal Co. v. Pike In addition to the

Coal Co., 412 A.2d 466, 470-71 (Pa. 1979).

elements necessary to establish a claim for tortious interference with current contractual relations, a claim of tortious interference with prospective contractual relations requires a showing of the existence of prospective contracts. Alvord-Polk,

Inc. v. F. Schumacher & Co., 37 F.3d 996, 1014 (3d Cir. 1993). In determining whether there is a prospective contractual relationship in a tortious interference case, Pennsylvania courts consider whether the evidence supports a finding that there was a reasonable likelihood that the contemplated contract would have materialized absent the defendant's interference. Park Coll., 272 A.2d 895, 898-99 (Pa. 1971). Glenn v. Point

Additionally, a

plaintiff must base its claim that there was a prospective contractual relationship on something other than an existing or current relationship. Super. Ct. 2008). Plaintiffs have based their claim solely on the existence of the CytoCare Agreement. They offer no evidence regarding any Phillips v. Selig, 959 A.2d 420, 429 (Pa.

potential contracts which were interfered with by McKesson. Plaintiffs only refer to hypothetical contracts which might have manifested themselves as a result of the CytoCare Agreement.

8

Therefore, Plaintiffs' claim of tortious interference with prospective contractual relations is dismissed.

C.

Count III - Breach of Duty to Negotiate in Good Faith In Count III, Plaintiffs allege Defendant breached its duty

to negotiate in good faith with Plaintiffs by unilaterally cutting off all negotiations in the McKesson-Devon Robotics deal despite Devon Robotics' offer to enter a standstill agreement, by conspiring with DeViedma to have the CytoCare Agreement terminated for McKesson's benefit, and by subsequently entering an agreement with HRSRL which granted McKesson distribution rights which were previously controlled by Devon Robotics. Plaintiffs claim that McKesson had a duty to negotiate the open and undefined terms of the McKesson-Devon Robotics Agreement in good faith because the parties were so close to reaching an agreement. A duty to negotiate in good faith requires a binding agreement between the parties expressing their commitment to negotiate together in good faith to reach a final agreement. Channel Home Ctrs.,Div. of Grace Retail Corp. v. Grossman, 795 F.2d 291, 299 (3d Cir. 1986). A cause of action for breach of

duty to negotiate in good faith requires the plaintiff to show that: (1) both parties manifested an intention to be bound by an agreement to negotiate in good faith; (2) the terms of the

9

agreement are sufficiently definite to be enforced; and (3) consideration was conferred. Flight Sys., Inc. v. Elec. Data

Sys. Corp., 112 F.3d 124, 130 (3d Cir. 1997). Plaintiffs have not sufficiently stated a claim of breach of the duty to negotiate in good faith. No where in the Complaint

do Plaintiffs allege that the parties entered an agreement which would give rise to a duty to negotiate in good faith. Plaintiffs

only offer an email which states that the parties were close to reaching an agreement as evidence of this duty. Plaintiffs

merely allege that because the parties were in the middle of negotiating an agreement, Defendant had a duty to continue to negotiate in good faith. This email does not raise a factual

question about whether an agreement to negotiate in good faith existed as it only speaks to the current stage of negotiations, not to the existence of any duty. Even assuming that an

agreement to negotiate in good faith did exist, there is no evidence that there was consideration for any such agreement. Therefore, Defendant's Motion to Dismiss Count III is granted.

D.

Count VII - Conspiracy In Count VII, Plaintiffs allege that McKesson and DeViedma

planned and conspired to improperly terminate the CytoCare Agreement and to steal Devon Robotics' customer base and proprietary information.

10

Under Pennsylvania law, in order to establish a claim for civil conspiracy, plaintiff must allege facts which if proven would show: (1) a combination of two or more persons acting with a common purpose to do an unlawful act or to do a lawful act by unlawful means or for an unlawful purpose; (2) an overt act done in pursuance of the common purpose; and (3) actual legal damage. McGreevey v. Stroup, 413 F.3d 359, 371 (3d Cir. 2005). A claim

for civil conspiracy also requires the plaintiff to allege an underlying tort. Id. (citing Boyanowski v. Capital Area "Since

Intermediate Unit, 215 F.3d 396, 405 (3d Cir.2000)).

liability for civil conspiracy depends on performance of some underlying tortious act, the conspiracy is not independently actionable; rather, it is a means for establishing vicarious liability for the underlying tort." Boyanowski v. Capital Area

Intermediate Unit, 215 F.3d 396, 406 (3d Cir.2000) (citing Halberstam v. Welch, 705 F.2d 472, 479 (D.C. Cir. 1983)). Plaintiffs' allegations of civil conspiracy focus on the alleged improper termination of the CytoCare Agreement between Devon Robotics and HRSRL. Since Plaintiffs have not alleged any

underlying tortious conduct in their Complaint which would give rise to a claim of conspiracy, the claim against McKesson must be dismissed.

11

E.

Count VIII - Injunctive Relief Plaintiffs have requested preliminary and permanent

injunctive relief.

Defendant argues that Plaintiffs have not

made a sufficient showing to justify injunctive relief. Plaintiffs contend that the Confidentiality Agreement between Devon Robotics and McKesson entitle them to injunctive relief or in the alternative that they have alleged a sufficient factual basis which entitle them to injunctive relief. This Court

declines to issue a preliminary injunction, but will consider issuing a permanent injunction should it later be proven that one is appropriate in this case. To establish the right to relief through a preliminary injunction, the moving party must show the following: (1) success on the merits is likely; (2) irreparable injury will result if injunctive relief is denied; (3) granting the preliminary injunction will not cause greater harm to the non-movant; and (4) public interest favors injunctive relief. Rogers v. Corbett, 468

F.3d 188, 192 (3d Cir. 2006) (citing Kos Pharms., Inc. v. Andrx Corp., 369 F.3d 700 (3d Cir. 2004)). The standard for granting a

permanent injunction differs from the standard governing a preliminary injunction. American v. Civil Liberties Union of New

Jersey v. Black Horse Pike Regional Bd. of Educ., 84 F.3d 1471, 1477 (3d Cir. 1996)). A court may grant a permanent injunction

where the moving party has shown: (1) jurisdiction is

12

appropriate; (2) the movant "has actually succeeded on the merits" of his claim; and (3) balancing equities favors granting injunctive relief. 2003). Plaintiffs' request for a preliminary injunction is denied. Injunctive relief is an extraordinary remedy and is only granted in limited circumstances. Plaintiffs have failed to show they Chao v. Rothermel, 327 F.3d 223, 228 (3d Cir.

will suffer irreparable harm without a preliminary injunction. Plaintiffs allege that they will loose proprietary information and competitive advantage without a preliminary injunction. However, Plaintiffs have failed to articulate the extent of the immediate harm they will suffer and whether any irreparable injury will occur. Additionally, Plaintiffs have failed to show Therefore,

that success on the merits of their claims is likely.

Plaintiffs' request for a preliminary injunction is denied. As to Plaintiffs' request for permanent injunctive relief, this is relief that the Court may consider if Plaintiffs succeed on the merits. Since this would occur at the end of litigation,

it is inappropriate for the Court to limit the remedies available to Plaintiffs at this time; therefore Defendant's motion to dismiss the claim for permanent injunctive relief is denied.

IV. Conclusion Counts III and VII are dismissed, as is Plaintiffs' claim of

13

tortious interference with prospective contractual relations. The remainder of McKesson's Motion to Dismiss is denied as is Plaintiffs' request for a preliminary injunction.