Davis v. Horry County Council et al

Filing 240

ORDER: Robinson Aviation Defendants' Motion to Dismiss, ECF No. 215 , is GRANTED, and the Robinson Aviation Defendants are dismissed with prejudice. Signed by the Honorable Donald C Coggins, Jr on 07/24/2019. (lsut, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA
FLORENCE DIVISION
Michael Davis, et al.,

)
)
Plaintiffs,
)
)
v.
)
)
Horry County Council, et al.,
)
)
Defendants. )
________________________________ )

Case No. 4:17-cv-391-DCC

OPINION AND ORDER

This matter is before the Court on the Motion to Dismiss filed by Defendants
Robinson Aviation, Inc., Glenn Ray, John Griffin, William Tiller, and John P. Zell. ECF
No. 215. Plaintiffs filed a Response in Opposition, and the Defendants filed a Reply. ECF
Nos. 220, 225. Accordingly, the Motion is ripe for consideration.
FACTUAL HISTORY1
Plaintiffs are eleven individuals who claim prior employment with, or ownership of,
the business Skydive Myrtle Beach. In March 2012, Plaintiffs made plans to open Skydive
Myrtle Beach, Inc. "to provide recreational skydiving activities at the Grand Strand
Regional Airport ["the Airport"] in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, which is owned by Horry
County." ECF No. 207 at 5. During this period of time, the Airport was operated by Grand
Strand Aviation, Inc., and was known as "Ramp 66." Id. at 6. Ramp 66 and the Horry
County Department of Airports agreed to allow Skydive Myrtle Beach, Inc. to carry out
recreational skydiving activities at the Airport. Despite this agreement, Robinson Aviation,
Inc., which was under contract to provide air traffic control and tower services to the

1

In light of the procedural posture of the case, the Court views the allegations of the
Second Amended Complaint in the light most favorable to the Plaintiffs.
1

Airport, "initially balked" at permitting recreational skydiving, "stating that it was Robinson
Aviation's policy not to allow skydiving at any of the airports at which Robinson provides
tower management." Id. "Eventually, however, Robinson Aviation was required to back
down since the Federal Aviation [Administration] ["FAA"] controls skydiving, and
Robinson Aviation could not determine federal law on its own." Id.
On May 10, 2012, Skydive Myrtle Beach signed an eight-year lease with Ramp 66
"and also executed a Letter of Agreement with Ramp 66, the Airport tower, and the Horry
County Department of Airports." Id. However, these parties never briefed Plaintiffs on
the Airport's Landing Operations Area ("LOA") or provided Plaintiffs with an official airport
operation brief. Id. From April to May 2012, Skydive Myrtle Beach "gained access and
commenced skydiving." Id. On March 21, 2013, Horry County announced that it was
resuming control of the Airport from Ramp 66. Id. Starting in May 2013, Ramp 66
attempted to make Skydive Myrtle Beach sign a new lease due to Horry County's takeover
of the Airport, but Skydive Myrtle Beach refused. Id. However, on July 1, 2013, the Horry
County Department of Airports required Skydive Myrtle Beach to sign "a space use
permit" or to vacate the Airport property.2 Id. This was intended to be a temporary
measure until Horry County created new leases for all tenants. Id.

2

The Second Amended Complaint provides conflicting dates for the signing of the space
use permit. Initially, Plaintiffs contend Skydive Myrtle Beach was required to sign the
permit on July 1, 2013. ECF No. 207 at 6. Later in the same paragraph, Plaintiffs state
that Skydive Myrtle Beach "signed the space use permit on September 10, 2013. Id.
However, on the next page of the Second Amended Complaint, Plaintiffs state that
Skydive Myrtle Beach signed the space use permit on September 18, 2013. Id. at 7.
While these inconsistencies are not determinative in any of the pending Motions to
Dismiss, they highlight the convoluted and confusing nature of the Second Amended
Complaint.
2

On September 13, 2013, the Airport and the Horry County Department of Airports
notified Skydive Myrtle Beach that they were "interested in bringing in a bigger aircraft, in
order to start to increase business." Id. at 6–7. On that day, Skydive Myrtle Beach asked
when it would receive a new lease from Horry County and was told that it would take
several more weeks. Id. at 7. According to Plaintiffs, a campaign of harassment began
around this time. For example, on October 2013, Plaintiffs discovered that their business
mail was not being forwarded from the front desk at the Airport and that there were lost
parcels of mail and packages that were returned to sender. Id. Over the next few weeks,
Plaintiffs were unilaterally told to relocate their landing zone to a smaller and less safe
area, received no assistance in procuring permits and logistical support for skydiving
activities, and obtained no resolution for their mail difficulties. Id.
This harassment continued, as the Horry County Department of Airports enlisted
the support of a police officer to place restrictions on Plaintiffs' activities and accuse
Plaintiffs of violating various Airport policies. Id. at 8. In January 2014, Skydive Myrtle
Beach was fined by the Fire Marshall for a defective circuit panel, which Skydive Myrtle
Beach had been asking the Horry County Department of Airports to fix.

Id. at 9.

Additionally, Plaintiff Aaron Holly began receiving emails from the Airport about jumpers
landing outside of the approved landing area. Id. However, Plaintiffs did not receive any
official communications from the FAA, and there was no official investigation by any
federal authorities. Id. On top of these harassing communications, the Airport's tower
began placing holds on Skydive Myrtle Beach while skydivers were in the air. Id. This
cost Plaintiffs "a huge amount of money due to fuel and hours on the airplane." Id.

3

On February 5, 2014, Plaintiff Holly caught an Airport employee breaking into
Plaintiffs' hangar with two unauthorized contractors. Id. This caused Skydive Myrtle
Beach to shut down for two days to inspect its plane and equipment. Id. In response,
Plaintiff Holly requested a meeting to clear the air with the Airport and FAA. Id. This
meeting took place on February 7, 2014 but was unproductive. Id. After this meeting,
Plaintiffs determined that the Airport was seeking to shut down Skydive Myrtle Beach. Id.
While this harassment continued, Plaintiffs' "received a letter from Horry County attorney
Randolph Haldi of allegations of violations, and a 72-hour notice to vacate" unless
Skydive Myrtle Beach signed a new lease giving the Airport 24% of its gross profits. Id.
at 10.
After months of confusion related to determining what rules and regulations the
Airport expected Skydive Myrtle Beach to comply with, the tension between the parties
escalated. Id. at 12. On September 1, 2015, the FAA wrote a letter to the Horry County
Department of Airports stating that 91 violations were reported by the Airport. Id. at 13.
As it turns out, the Horry County Department of Airports "and Robinson Aviation
employees filed some 112 'safety violations' against the Plaintiff(s) during the period of
March 29, 2013 and September 27, 2015" which were not investigated by the FAA. Id.
On October 15, 2015, Plaintiffs received an email giving them 24 hours to vacate the
hangar. Id. Plaintiffs complied with the request in order to avoid criminal charges. Id.
Plaintiffs contend that the alleged violations were unfounded, including some
alleged violations that were said to have taken place on dates that Plaintiffs did not
conduct jumps. In 2014, Plaintiffs filed a Complaint with the FAA in what is known as a
Part 16 proceeding.

The Complaint states that Horry County's "actions, including

4

attempts to restrict the landing area (Drop Zone or DZ) and reporting violations as 'safety
concerns,' are unreasonably restrictive and discriminatory as applied to an FAArecognized aeronautical activity—skydiving." See Skydive Myrtle Beach, Inc. v. Horry
Cty. Dep't of Airports, FAA Docket No. 16-14-05, Director's Determination at 1 (Oct. 7,
2015). Randall S. Fiertz, Director of Airport Compliance and Management Analysis for
the FAA, issued a Determination on October 7, 2015, which found that Horry County was
not engaged in economic discrimination against Skydive Myrtle Beach and that "[u]nless
immediate steps are taken, up to and including closure of the DZ, [Horry] County will be
considered to be in violation of [a federal grant]."3 Id. at 66.
Plaintiffs then filed an administrative appeal with the FAA, and the FAA issued a
Final Agency Decision affirming the Director's Determination on August 4, 2016.4 Skydive
Myrtle Beach, Inc. v. Horry Cty. Dep't of Airports, FAA Docket No. 16-14-05, Final Agency
Decision (Aug. 4, 2016). The Final Agency Decision advised Plaintiffs that they could
petition for judicial review "in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia Circuit or in the Court of Appeals of the United States for the Circuit in which
the [Plaintiffs reside] or [have their] principal place of business." Id. at 9. Plaintiffs filed
an appeal of the Part 16 Determination in the Fourth Circuit; however, the appeal was
untimely and denied by the Court. Skydive Myrtle Beach, Inc. v. Horry Cty. Dep't of
Airports, 735 F. App'x 810 (4th Cir. 2018).

3

https://part16.airports.faa.gov/pdf/16-14-05b.pdf.

4

https://part16.airports.faa.gov/pdf/16-14-05.pdf.
5

PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Initially, each Plaintiff filed factually identical cases pro se, naming a large group
of Defendants in each lawsuit. ECF No. 199 (citing initial pro se cases). The Court
"considered consolidating the matters for pre-trial handling and trial but concluded that
because each of the [P]laintiffs was pro se, consolidation would be problematic." ECF
No. 199. Indeed, while Plaintiffs' cases proceeded individually and pro se, there were a
large number of dispositive motions filed, leading to extensive briefing, many rulings by
the Court, and several Amended Complaints.
On July 10, 2018, nearly a year and a half after this federal litigation began,
attorney Robert Bratton Varnado filed a Notice of Appearance on behalf of all Plaintiffs.
ECF No. 191. The following day, Plaintiffs' counsel filed a Motion to Consolidate the
individual cases and sought an extension of time to reply to the various pending
dispositive motions.

ECF No. 194.

Generally, Defendants opposed consolidation,

claiming defects in Plaintiffs' pleadings, failure to serve those pleadings or name
Defendants uniformly, and prejudice resulting from consolidation prior to ruling on
dispositive motions. See ECF Nos. 195–98.
On August 31, 2018, the Court consolidated the eleven cases pursuant to Federal
Rule of Civil Procedure 42(a) and directed Mr. Varnado to file a consolidated Amended
Complaint in Davis v. Horry County Council, 4:17-cv-391 by September 15, 2018. ECF
No. 199.

On September 11, 2018, Plaintiffs requested additional time to file their

consolidated Amended Complaint, and the Court extended the deadline until October 1,
2018. ECF Nos. 200–01.

6

On October 1, 2018, Plaintiffs filed an Amended Complaint. ECF No. 203. On
October 9, 2018, the Court entered a Text Order striking Plaintiffs' Amended Complaint
because the Amended Complaint omitted Plaintiff Amanda Boulineau and added a partyplaintiff, Skydive Myrtle Beach, Inc., without authorization from the Court or consent from
all Defendants. ECF No. 205. The Court directed Plaintiffs' counsel to file a Second
Amended Complaint that complied with its August 31, 2018, Order within three days. Id.
Plaintiffs filed a Second Amended Complaint in compliance with the Court's Order.5 ECF
No. 207. Thereafter, on October 16, 2018, the Court dismissed the other ten pro se cases
so that the consolidated case could proceed without duplicative litigation. ECF No. 208.
Plaintiffs' Second Amended Complaint named five groups of Defendants: (1)
Defendants Horry County Department of Airports, Pat Apone, Charles Bree, Chad Cox,
Ed Dingley, Brett Cullen, Heather Solomon, John (or Jack) Teal, Tim Jackson, Horry
County Council, Harold Worley, Mark Lazarus, Bill Howard, Jimmy Washington, Gary
Loftus, Tyler Servant, Cam Crawford, Harold Phillips, Johnny Vaught, W. Paul Prince,
Jody Prince, Al Allen, Lisa Bourcier, Arrigo Carotti, Randolph Haldi, and Frank Venegas
(collectively, "Horry County Defendants"); (2) Defendants Robinson Aviation, Inc., Glenn
Ray, Jack Griffin, Bill Tiller, and Phill Zell (collectively, "Robinson Aviation Defendants");
(3) Defendants USPA, Randy Ottinger, and Ed Scott (collectively, "USPA Defendants");
(4) Defendant FAA; and (5) Defendants James Cline, James Dangerfield, Howard Hollis,
Gary Pendleton, Robert Giguere, Daryl McMillen, Herman Smith, Thomas Winston,
Daniel Jones, and Larry Ayers (collectively, "Individual Federal Defendants"). ECF No.

5

The caption of Plaintiffs' Second Amended Complaint does not precisely mirror the
Defendants named in the Second Amended Complaint. However, the dispositive motions
pending in this case dispose of all parties against whom claims have been filed.
7

207. Additionally, Plaintiffs named Defendant State of South Carolina "for the purpose of
notice."6 Id. at 4–5.
Plaintiffs' Complaint alleges eleven causes of action: (1) Violation of 42 U.S.C.
§ 1983 as to Horry County Defendants; (2) Implied Constitutional Action for Damages
Under Bivens7 as to Individual Federal Defendants; (3) Civil Conspiracy as to All
Defendants; (4) Fraud and/or Constructive Fraud as to All Defendants; (5) Violation of
South Carolina's Unfair Trade Practices Act as to Defendant Robinson Aviation, Inc.; (6)
Breach of Contract as to USPA Defendants; (7) Breach of Contract & Wrongful Eviction
as to Horry County Defendants; (8) Breach of Contract – Letter of Agreement as to Horry
County Defendants; (9) Trespass and Wrongful Held Property as to Defendants Tim
Jackson, Jack Teal, Charles Bree, Arrigo Carotti; (10) Negligence and Negligent
Misrepresentation as to All Defendants; and (11) Declaratory Judgment as to Defendants
FAA and Horry County Department of Airports.
Following the filing of the Second Amended Complaint, Defendants filed a series
of dispositive motions. See ECF Nos. 212 (Motion to Dismiss by Defendant FAA); 213
(Motion to Dismiss by USPA Defendants); 214 (Motion to Dismiss by Individual Federal
Defendants); 215 (Motion to Dismiss by Robinson Aviation Defendants); 216 (Motion to
Dimiss by Horry County Defendants). These Motions have been fully briefed, and the

6

The Court previously dismissed the State of South Carolina as a party defendant. ECF
No. 77. While Plaintiffs have named the State of South Carolina as a party defendant,
they have alleged no cause of action relating to the State of South Carolina. Accordingly,
the State of South Carolina is not a valid party to this action.

7

Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Fed. Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971).
8

Court heard oral arguments from the parties on April 30, 2019. Accordingly, the Motions
are ripe for review.
LEGAL STANDARD
Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure permits the dismissal of an
action if the complaint fails “to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.” Such a
motion tests the legal sufficiency of the complaint and “does not resolve contests
surrounding the facts, the merits of the claim, or the applicability of defenses . . . . Our
inquiry then is limited to whether the allegations constitute ‘a short and plain statement of
the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.’” Republican Party of N.C. v. Martin,
980 F.2d 943, 952 (4th Cir. 1992) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). In a
Rule 12(b)(6) motion, the Court is obligated to “assume the truth of all facts alleged in the
complaint and the existence of any fact that can be proved, consistent with the complaint's
allegations.” E. Shore Mkts., Inc. v. J.D. Assocs. Ltd. P'ship, 213 F.3d 175, 180 (4th Cir.
2000). However, while the Court must accept the facts in a light most favorable to the
nonmoving party, it “need not accept as true unwarranted inferences, unreasonable
conclusions, or arguments.” Id.
To survive a motion to dismiss, the complaint must state “enough facts to state a
claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544,
570(2007).

Although the requirement of plausibility does not impose a probability

requirement at this stage, the complaint must show more than a “sheer possibility that a
defendant has acted unlawfully.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). A complaint
has “facial plausibility” where the pleading “allows the court to draw the reasonable
inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Id.

9

DISCUSSION
The Robinson Aviation Defendants first contend that Plaintiffs' Second Amended
Complaint should be dismissed because the allegations "are still unclear, incomplete,
inconsistent, and inadequate, and all of the allegations apparently still refer to actions
taken in connection with" Skydive Myrtle Beach, not the specific Plaintiffs. ECF No. 215
at 5. Additionally, the Robinson Aviation Defendants allege that Plaintiffs improperly lump
all Defendants together in their causes of action. Id. at 6. While the Court agrees that
the Second Amended Complaint is, at times, difficult to follow, the Court holds that this
alone does not warrant dismissal.
Second, the Robinson Aviation Defendants claim that Plaintiffs' Second Amended
Complaint does not allege particularized damages as to each individual Plaintiff and that
Plaintiffs do not have standing to bring the claims in this case. The Court has thoroughly
reviewed the Second Amended Complaint, and agrees with the Robinson Aviation
Defendants that Plaintiffs' allegations relate exclusively to Skydive Myrtle Beach's safety
violations. Put differently, Plaintiffs' claims are related to their employment with Skydive
Myrtle Beach, and Plaintiffs' damages are a result of the loss of employment with Skydive
Myrtle Beach. This is insufficient to confer Article III standing.8 See Smith & Sons, Inc.
v. S.C. Procurement Review Panel, 20 F.3d 1311, 1317 (4th Cir. 1994) ("It is considered
a 'fundamental rule' that '[a] shareholder—even the shareholder—does not have standing
to assert claims alleging wrongs to the corporation.'" (quoting Jones v. Niagara Frontier
Transp. Auth., 836 F.2d 731, 736 (2d Cir. 1987))).

8

If the Court were to reach the merits of Plaintiffs' claims, it would agree with the Robinson
Aviation Defendants' arguments that Plaintiffs have failed to state a plausible claim for
relief.
10

CONCLUSION
For these reasons, Robinson Aviation Defendants' Motion to Dismiss, ECF No.
215, is GRANTED, and the Robinson Aviation Defendants are dismissed with prejudice.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/ Donald C. Coggins, Jr.
United States District Judge
July 24, 2019
Spartanburg, South Carolina

11