Smart Choice Construction, Inc. v. Ceco Building Systems et al

Filing 46

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 12/3/2012. (mab)

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cœ v s OFFI U. ol . CE s. r LOURT ATRX OKE,V A C gl Fjz I . L I THE UNI N TED STATES DI STRI COURT CT FOR THE W ESTERN DI STRI OF VI CT RGW I A CH ARLO TTESV I LLE D I I ON V SI 23 2 1 02 J I , ULA EP < c SM A RT CH O I CON STRU CTI ,l C . CE ON N , Ci lA c i N o. 1 vi ton 3: 2CV00021 Pl ntf , ai i f M EM O R AN D UM O PI I N N O CECO BUI NG SYSTEM S, 1/, LDI : 1, By:Hon. e E.Co a Gln nr d ChifUnie Stt sDititJ e td ae src udge Dee ns f nda t . Sma t o c Co t cin Ic (tma t oc ' fldti a to f rb e c o c n rc i r Ch ie nsnzt ,n .t r Ch ie' ie l s ci n o ra h f o ta tn o s ) l teCic i Co r f rt Co nyo Cule e a an tCe oBul igSy tms(t c ' a d h rut u to he u t f p p r g is c idn se ç o' n Ce ) W a nesErcig, Ci a nesEr ci f'. Afe t c s wa rmo e t ti c u t nt e y ' e tn LLC W y ' e tn ) tr he a e s e v d o h s o r o h b sso dv riyj rs ito , r Ch ien n e isc mplit oicu etes b e t o ka t a i f iest u idcin Sma t oc me d d t o an t n ld h u j c c n cs wih Cec a W a ' Er c i Rel ng ont f u s l ton ca eco ane i t Ce o t o nd yne s e tng. yi he or m eec i lus nt i d n he c c r c a t he t t a e d co pli t Ce o hasnow m o t ta f rve t t Unied onta t tac d o he m nde m a n , c ved o r nse nue o he t St t s Di t i tCo tf t Sou he n D it i tofTe ,H o t D i son. a e sr c ur or he t r s rc xas uson vi i B ackground Ce i aDea r c por tonwih isprncpalplceofbusne si Houson. l 2008, co s lwa e or ai t t i i a i s n t n Ce oe tr dit ac nr c wi M . Ru s lCo sr ci n(M . Ru s l), u s a t owhih c nee no o ta t t D. s el n tu to ç D. sel p ru n t c h $ ' Ce agr e t pr vi t ma e i sf t c tuci n ofam ealofie buidi i Cul pe , co e d o o de he t ral or he onsr to t fc l ng n pe r Vigi a. M . Rus ele eed i o a s pa a ec r c wih W ay ' Er c i aNo t Ca olna r ni D. s l nt r nt e r t onta t t ne s e tng, rh r i lm ied labiiy c i t i lt ompa pu s ntt whi h W a sEr c i ag ee t co tuc t ofi e ny, r ua o c yne' e tng r d o nsr t he fc buidi us ng t m a e i l pr de by Ce l ng i he t r a s ovi d co. Bot c r t wer l t ras i d t Sm a t h ontac s e a e s gne o r Choi a buidi contact bas i Boson,V igi a. ce, l ng r or ed n t r ni qx I teisa tc s , ma t oiecamsta Ce ob e c e isc nrc (h t c n h n tn a e S r Ch c li h t c ra h d t o ta t te t o ce c n rc )b p o ii t ewr n srwsf r h r o o t eb idn . S r Ch ieas cams o ta f' y r vdng h o g ce o t e o f f h ul ig mat o c lo li t tW ay sEr c i br a he isco r twih Smar Choieby i t li t buidi ha ne' e tng e c d t ntac t t c nsalng he l ng i r e ty. nco r c l Afe t c ewasr m o dt t sc t Sma tChoiea e d isc tr he as e ve o hi our, r c m nde t ompl ntt i l ai o nc ude tes b e tc nr csa e hbt. Aril 1 o t eCe oc nr c p o i e a f l ws h u j c o ta t s x iis1 t e 0 f h c o ta t r v d s s ol : c o Buye herby a knowl s si aesa ag ee t t... ny a alca ms r e c edge , tpul t nd r s ha a nd l li , a tons pr ee ngso c us sofaci n r ai t t valdiy, ror nc , c i , oc di r a e to eltng o he i t pe f ma e i e r tton, nd/ e or e e the e s l bes itd e l i l t ac t nt m ea i a or nf c m n r of ha l ubm te xcusve y o our o c mp tn j rs ito i Ho so , ri Comt , xa . . Bu e irvo a l f o ee tu id ci n n u t n Hars t y Te s . . y r re c by s bmisis l t t ee lsv j s ito o teSaea dFe ea c u t i u t tef o h xcu ie midcin f h tt n d r l o rs n Houso Ha rsCount Te .. . t n, ri y, xas . Buye ir voca y wai s t t f les e e r re bl ve , o he u l t xt nt p r te b lw, n o j cint a i ma n w o h r a trh v t t ely n o emitd y a a y be to h tt y o r e e fe a e o h a i g f e usveve ofa ltgai a ii outofori c me i wih t s xcl i nue ny ii ton rsng n or cton t hi A g e m entora ot a e m e orta ac i br re ny her gr e nt r ns ton oughti a s c t.... n ny uch our Buye ir voc bl wave a ca mst tltg ton br r re a y i s ny li ha iia i oughti a s h c t n ny uc our has be n br e oughti a i ve e f u . n n ncon ni nt or m ( Co l Ex 1 Ar.1 . Th Ce oc nr c as c n ansaTe a c oc - flw p o iin. Am. mp . . , t 0) e c o ta t lo o ti x s h ie o -a r vso Reyi on t f u s e ton ca eco anedi Aril 1 oft Cec c r t Cec l ng he or m elc i lus nt i n tce 0 he o ontac, o ha m ove t ta f rt c e i ise iey,t t Houson Di son oft Unie Stt sDiti t s d o r nse he as , n t ntr t o he t vii he td a e src Cour f t Sout r DititofTe or i t atr i t s ve t cai a ns Ce o a t or he he n src xas , n he le natve, o e r he l m gai t c nd ka f rs h cli t t Houson Di son.2 The c the d ahe rng o t m o i on nse uc am o he t vii our l a i n he ton N ovem be 1 201 r 6, 2. 1 Ceco pr ousy m oved t di sst orgi com pl nton t ba i t t prcepr alatac t evi l o smi he i nal ai he s hat he i opos t hed o t c pl ntwasnotan enf ceabl contact Be et compl nthasbe a ende t cor ec t s he om ai or e r . caus he ai en m d o r t hi det incy,Ceco acknowl k e edgest ispe ng moton t dim iscan be deni asmoot hat t ndi i o s s ed . 2 Ce o' motoni b o ht rua tt 28U. C. 1 6() Und rt ssa ue i t c r d tr ne c s i s r ug pu s n o S. j 40 a . e hi ttt, f he ou t eemi s t tve uei i o r imus tds s, i ibei tei e etof u tc ,r nse s c c s t a yditit ha n s mpr pe,t tsimis or f t n h ntr s j sie ta fr u h a e o n src ordi son i whi i coul have been br vii n ch t d ought' .' 2 Di c s on s us i TheUnie St t sCo tofAppe l f t Fourh Cic tha hel t tf rl s l ton t d a e ur a s or he t r ui s d ha o lm eeci c a esa epr e la m a tr gove nedby f r ll w. Al ma l Cor v. ta nec UK l us r oc dtr l te s r ede a a 3 be re p. Asr ze a Lt , F. 643,650( hCi. 0) f he consr ngf um slci ca esf rlc t d.628 3d 4t r201 . s n tui oz ee ton lus ,edea ours W ha f ve ound dipostvet pa tc a lngua oft ca ea whehe i a horz sa he s ii he ri ulr a ge he lus nd t r t ut i e not r f r asa ale ai t t f u oft ltg ton orwhe he i ma t de i t d f u o um n tm tve o he or m he ii a i t r t kes he sgna e or m e l i .' I A f u s e ton caus t tc anst pecfclng geofe uson'wilbe xc usve' d. or m elc i l e ha ont i t i a ua s xcl i ' l i epr t a ma t ya e udi ve ele r . L.a 650- Abs ntacea s ng ntr eed s ndaor nd xcl ng nue s whe e 4, t 51. e l r howi t te or e e ofam a t r f um s lc i c a ewoul beunr as ha nf c m nt nda o y or ee ton l us d e onabl t clus s d e,he a e houl bee or d. J at651. A f um s l to clus maybef dunr s bl onl i; nf ce #. ol eecin a e oun eaona e y f ()( s fr to wa i u e byfa do o er a h n ;2 tec mpann pa t 1 i ) omai n s nd c d ru r v re c i g () h o li ig ry t ç l f alpr tc lpur esbede i d of(tlda i c t be a eoft ç l or 1 acia pos wi prve is y n our' c us he ' gavei ve e eorunfines oft sl t f nl ( t f ndn nt r ncon ninc ar s he eeced o m; 3) he u me al t ar soft c e lw ma de i t pl ntf ofar me o ( (t) mfines he hosn a y prve he ai if e dy; r 4) is e or e e woul co r ve a sT publc polc oft f u sa e. nf c m nt d nt a ne t ong i i y he or m t t Al nv. o d' o Lo d n 9 F.d9 3 9 8(t Ci. 9 6 (l rzn t sa d r f r l Llv s f n o , 4 3 2 , 2 4 h r 1 9 ) sl iig he tn ad o e mma t e s n b e e sstf rhi Th Brme v. paaOf- oeCo, 0 U. 1 1 - 8( 9 2 ) mra o a ln s e o t n e e n Za t fsh r .4 7 S. , 5 1 1 7 ). l t sc e, hef u s l ci clus c ane i Aril 1 oft Cec c r cti n hi as t or m e e ton a e ont i d n tce 0 he o onta s une vocal m a t y. Ass tf rha ve i pr de t tça l a ms aci ns pr e ngsor qui ly ndaor e o t bo ,t ovi s ha çl cli , to , oc edi ca e ofa ton r l tngt t valdiy, ror a e,i e r t ton,a ore or me 'oft us s c i e ai o he i t pe f m nc ntp e ai nd/ nf ce nt' he Ce oc nr c çhal es b te e cu i l t ac u t c mp tn j rs ito i Ho tn, c o ta tt lb u mitd x l svey o o r of o ee t uid cin n uso s Ha sComt , xa , a dta t eé y r(h panit irv c bys b t isl t t e ni t y Te s' n h t h t e t e litfl re o a l u mis tef o h ' Bu 3Th rs lt no ti moind e n thn eo ti is e h we e, e a s b t Vignaa dTe a e eoui fhs t o s o ij n hs su , o v r b c u e oh r ii n x s o o ha a ed t f r sandar f det ml ng whet a f um s ec i cl e i vald a ve dopt he ede al t d or er ni her or el ton aus s i nd e f re bl S ePa Bus Sys.nc v. n n U. A.l .3 S. 2 8 4,8 - ( . 9 )(p yig n oc a e. e ul . .I . Ca o S. .nc, 97 E.d 0 0708 Va 1 90 a pl n t f dea sa da df a l igt ee or e bii o af r m s lc i ca s ) I r Al I s Co. 1 he e r l tn r or nayzn h nf c a ly f o u ee ton lu e ;n e u n . , 48 t S. . 1 9 l 3 1 ( x. 0 (a ) W 3d 0 , 1 - 4 Te 20 4) s me . e l iej rs ito o t eS aea dF d rl o rsi Ho so . ( Co lEx 1 Ar.1 . xcusv u id cin f h tt n e ea c u t n u t n' Am. mp . . , t 0) ' Gi n s h çs ik lnguageofe uson,'hec a ei ma t y a mus bee or e t es ve uc çpect a xcl i 't l us s nda or nd t nf c d ml s i woul beI ea onabl t do s Se Al mare 628 F. a 650- . t d mr s eo o. e be l, 3d t 51 l opposng Ce o' moton,Sma tChoieprm a iy a g st tt W ese n Dititof n i c s i r c i rl r ue ha he t r src Vigni i at r c n n e t e u f ra1 a t s' ( .n Op n!7. Ho v r i o d rt r i a s : e o ve in v n e o 1 p ri .4 Br i p' ) we e ,n r e o mo e' i lda eaf u s l c i c a e f i onve e ,t opposng pa t m us s nva i t or m e e ton l us or nc nince he i ry t how t tt ha he ha ds p ofta f rt t s l c e f r m woul bes tg a 't tt pa t woul bede i d of r hi r ns e o he e e t d o u d o tr ve'ha he ry d prve sç hea ' de i y t e tn is da i c t A l m a l ,628 F. d a 651 Thi t vy'bur n hassmpl no be n m e i t y n our . be r e 3 t . t i t n c e. TheBr m e 407U . at1 Cec scom o a ehea he nsa t as e n, S. 7. o' rt dqua tr ae l atd i re s r oc e n H ous on,a E he e i no e de t tt s f nl wasfxed a a way t di c a po e i l t nd d r s t vi nce ha hi o m i s o s our ge t nta pl i if fom purui lgii aecli s' Smih v. antfs r s ng e tm t am . ' t AEGON USA.LLC,770F.Supp. 8 2d 09, 8 2( . Va 2 1 (n o cn aca s r q ii ltg to i Ce a Ra i s I wa. Lie s , 1 W D. . 01 ) e f r ig lu e e urng i ain n d r p d , o ) k wie i t r i no e de et tr quii Sma tChoiet ta lt Ho t woul be s l y he e s vi nc ha e rng r c o r ve o uson d o mdul i c n e in t a i wo de sn ilyd p ieS r Ch ieo teo po t t t a j d c t is n o v n e t h tt ul se tal e rv ma t oc f h p rt y o du iae t mi cli a i tCe o. Coursha r og z t twhe pa te e t ri t a ag ee ntwih a am ga ns c t ve ec nied ha n ri s n e n o n r me t f u s e ton c a e S he e f c i l r pr s ntt e c ot rt tt ag ee f r m i nots or m elc i l us , i y fe tve y e e e o a h he ha he r d o u s t o i onve e t te or ng t c a e wilde i eihe pa t ofisda i c t he he f c t nc ni nt ha nf ci he l us l prve t r ry t y n our w t r or os s orot rr as . Ba r t f & Cas I Lt v. he e ons' nc of Lie ' . CC. d. FFD Re ou c 1sLLC, 1 - - 4, s r es I No. 1 11238 4 Sm ar Choi al s t ce so uggesst Ce wai t rghtt enf cet f m s ectoncl eby el i t t hat co ved he i o or he oru el i aus ectng o i ok t jtidci o ti c ur. Ho ve, u hag me i u up re b e si c s lw. Se , nv e he trs iton f hs o t we rs c ru nts ns potd y xitng ae a e eg.Kigalnv. t r Sol i slc, 9F. up 2 1 5, 2 ( Mas20 )(ee tngt plitf' . , l le Newok uton.n .9 S p. d 2 1 9 D. s. 00 rjci he anifs a g me tt t h d f n n wave terg tt o j c t v nu b no r iigt ob e toni t ermov l r u n ha t e e e da t i d h ih o be t o e e y t asn he j ci n h e a n ie ; re v. otc ) To r s SOH Diti.Co.No. l - 1 ,2 0U. Dit LEXI 474 , t* n. ( D. . srb , 3:0 CV- 79 01 S. s. S 48 a 9 3 E. Va Ma 1 , 01)Cq ikydsad ig'tepani 'ag me th th d fn a t ie terg to y 3 2 0 tuc l ic rl l h lit fs ru n ta te ee d n wav d h ih t n ' f e f r et ef r m s lclnca eb rmo ngt c s fom saec r t fdea c ur) Mor o e , s n o c h o u ee to lus y e vi he a e r tt ou t o e rl o t. e v ra Ce o no e i isr pl b if t c ta tc n i ng t e f r m s e ton c a e wa no m a e apa t t c t s n t e y re k he on r c o o ni h o u elc i lus s t d r of he r d untla ert c wasr m oved fom sat cour and Smar Choi fl an amended compl nt ecor i ft he ase e r te t t ce ied ai . 4 2 2U.. s. 01 S Dit LEXI 1 8 9 , t* 9( D. x. g 2 2 1 )(n en l iai na dq o in S 0 2 3 a 6 S. Te Au . , 0 2 itr a ctto n u uto mar omitd) M orove ,i t sc e,heCe oco r c co ansa e e swaverofa ks te . e r n hi as t c nta t nti n xpr s i ny c am t tTe woul bea i nve e f um . Ont sr co d,hec ta e wihCec t t l i ha xas d n nco nint or hi e r t our gr es t o ha Sma tChoie,a a sg t t Ce o c r c ,S houl notbeal d ... o e or e c rai r c s s i nee o he c onta t l s d lowe t nf c e t n pr sonsi t (ontacqwhiea t s metmea di isoblgai unde ot pr vii , ovii n he c r t l t he a i voi ng t i tons r her o sons s h a t f r m s l c i n cl us ' Ada Li s Gr uc s he o u e e t o a e. ' s oup.Lt v.Sa a Lee Cop . N o.1 06CV 61 d. r , : 0, di y, he t 2 0U. DitLEXI 1 2 , t* ( . N. No 2 , 01 ) Accor ngl t cour 01 S. s. S 25 08 a 8 M D. C. v. 4 2 0 . c l st tt f u s e ton c a em us bee or e onc ude ha he or m elc i l us t nf c d. Un e j 1 0 () tec u t yo l ta se amatrt ad src i whc t ematr d r 4 6 a,h o r ma n y z n fr te o ititn ih h te t ul ha be nbr d d ve e ought' 28U. C.j1 a. Bec us t br c ofc r c cai ag ns co . ' S. 406() a e he ea h onta t l m ai t W a ' Er tng i ba e on a s pa a e c r t ha c ai no f m s l c i c a e a s nc yne s ec i s s d e r t ontac t t ont ns onz e e ton l us , nd i e t ei no i ca i t tt cli a i tW ayne' Er c i c d ha be n br her s ndi ton ha he am gans s e tng oul ve e oughti Te , n xas t c tdeci st ta f rt c s i ise ie y. I t ad, hec t l e r ieisdic ei n he our lne o r nse he a e n t ntr t nse t our wil xe c s t s r to t s ve t c am a ns Ce o fom t cai ag ns W a sEr c i and ta f rt cai o e r he l i gai t c r he l m ai t yne' e tng, r nse he l m a an tCe ot t eS uhenDitit fTe s Th c u t lrti trs ito o e tecam g is c o h o t r src o xa . e o r wil eanjlidcin v r h li a i tW a ' Er tng- Se Fed. R. v. 21(emit gtec u tosv racam a an t ga ns yne s ec i s e Ci P. p r ti h o r t e e li g is a n pa t) s eas Co t nTrn miso S s. n . . rio 3 F.d2 , 9 (dCi.1 9 )(i ry ; e lo tma a s sin v .I c v Ma t , 6 3 91 2 6 3 r 9 4 çn n d t st ton whe eve i pr rf onedef nda butnotf a t ra dim is i he iua i r nue s ope or e nt or no he nd s s al s i ppr i t t dititc tha ac c . Oneopton ...i t s ve t cli s r a ni na oprae, he src our s hoi e i s o e r he am , eti ng jlidcino e o ed fn a t n ta sern t ec s a t t eoh r e e d n t a a p o rae t s ito v r n e e d n a d z n frig h a e s o h t e d fn a t o n p r p it r ditit' ;Ch vse Crdi Cor v.CountvChr lr I ,928F. 1 09,151 - ( 0t Ci. src .) r lr e t p. ' r vse .nc. 2d 5 8 19 1 h r 5 Alhough ltga i i s r e f umsmay be l sconve entf Sm ar Choie, he cour i convi t ii tng n epa at or es ni or t c t ts nced t ts i onve enc ca ha uch nc ni e nnotover comet valdiy oft f um s ec i cl e c ai i t Cec he i t he or el ton aus ont ned n he o c r . ont act 1 91 ( g l e ec rancamsi a a to aep o e l s v rd . . t s p rt a to srs l; 9 ) çW h r eti li n n cin r r p ry e ee . ,wo e aae cin e uta ç d src c u t yta fro a to wh l rtiigj rs it no e t eoh r' itit o r ma rnse ne cin ie eann u id ci v r h te . o ). Conc us on l i Fort r s nss ae t c twils ve Sma tChoie' c am a i tCe o fom is he ea o tt d, he our l e r r c s l i gans c r t cli a i tW a sEr ci t r by c eai t s pa a ea tons Thec t l gr nt am ga ns yne' e tng, he e r tng wo e r t c i . our wil a Ce sm o i t ta f rt Ce o a tont t Houson Di son oft Sout r Diti tof co' ton o r ns e he c c i o he t vii he he n src Te a . Th c u t lrti t idcin o e t ea to a ans W a n ' Erci . x s e o r wil eanjl s ito v r h cin g i t y es e tng r The Clr i diece t s ndce tfe c esoft sm e a lm o ni a t e k s r td o e rii d opi hi mor ndl pi on nd he a com pa ng or rt a1 cot s ofr or c nyi de o 1 m el ec d. EN TER :Thi s da ofDec m be , 2. y e r 201 Chi fUnie Stt sDititJ e t d a e src udge 6

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