AWP, Inc. v. Commonwealth Excavating, Inc. et al
Filing
38
MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Michael F. Urbanski on 7/24/2013. (jat)
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M EM O M N DU M O PI I N
N O
Thi m at ri be or t co ton am o i t dim isfl by de e nt Commonwe lh
s te s f e he ur
ton o s s ied
f nda s
at
Exca tng,l (ç mmo alh' a 1aBi (%i ',prsde ofCommo a1h.
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)
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nwe t
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antf, e de otci , nc. (
AW ' ied hi mpl n le ng ommo 1w
)
na
c pia saut ybusnes c pia ypurua t Vigi aCodejj 1 2- ç s g.
ons rcy, tt or i s ons rc s nt o r ni
8. 499 1 e ,
mia p o raino ta s cesu d r h Vigni Unf r Trd S cesAc (VUTS ', .
sp r p ito f rde e rt n e t e r i a io m a e e rt t S
C
A' Va
)
Codejj59.- # s q.t tousi eree wihco rc orbusne sr ai hi ,a unus
1336 . e ,ori nt frnce t nta t
!
i s eltons ps nd j t
e chme . J iditon i f mde on di r iy ofcii ns p be we n AW P,a Ohi c
mi
nt urs c i s ot d
ve st
tze hi t e
n o ompa
ny
w ih isprncpa pl c ofbusne si Ken ,Ohi a de e nt Bi ,ar sde ofVigi a
t t i i l ae
i s n
t
o, nd f nda s ggs e i nt
r ni ,
a Commonwe lh,aVigi acor rto 28U. C.51
nd
at
r ni poain.
S. 332.AsAW P' c ai s tcinty
S ompl nt ufi e l
s a es a c ai upo w hi r le ca be g a e t m oton t di m i si D ENI .
tt
lm
n
ch e i f n
r nt d, he
i o s s s
ED
1.
The c pl i a l gest f l w i f t . A W P i a na i ll ade i co pr he i
om a nt le
he olo ng ac s
s
tona e r n m e nsve
ta fcc r s utonsf rr c t u ton st sa e r nc st to . Sha n W a ki
r fi ontol ol i o oad onsr c i ie nd me ge y iuai ns
w
t ns
(t aki ' ,a unnn e c co piaor prvi l wor dfrAW P asar gi ma r
d t ns' n m d o- ns rt , e ousy ke o
W
)
e onal nage .
Be o ela i hij ba AW P, ak n b g nh so tat c nr lb sn s , at Co to
f r e vng s o t
W ti s e a i wn rfk o to u i e s Trf
k nr l
S lto s LLC (TCS', i i o mainW aknso tie fo hi ma g ra p sto a
o uin ,
( ' usng nf r to t i ban d r m s na eil o i n t
ç )
i
AW P,ncl ng (hei ntt pa tc a ne a is ofisc t e s prcng, ndis
i udi t de iy, riul r eds nd s ues t usom r , ii a t
t
pr oc sa mehodol e f tafk conr . Compl, . 1 ! 1 AW Paleg t ts h
ot ol nd t ogis or r t
tol'
'
.Dkt# , 2.
l es ha uc
i or ton i pr e t asata s c e .Addii ly, heco pl ntalege t tW aki
nf ma i s ot ced
r de e r t
tona l t
m ai l s ha
t ns
i r p ry s lctdf u ohe AW P e o e st la eAW P a j i hm a TCS.
mp o el o iie o r t r
mply e o e v
nd on i t
AW P dico r d W aki 'i ve twih ACS i De mbe 201 a pr pa e t
s ve e
t ns nvol men t
n ce r 2 nd e r d o
fl a lws tagans hi c ani ma oft c am salege he ei pl c am sofbr ac of
ie a ui i t m, ont i ng ny he l i
l d r n, us l i
e h
fduc a y dut a c
i ir
y nd onve son.Bef e s twa fl ho ve ,W a ki a AW P r s ve t i
ri
or ui s ied, we r t ns nd
e ol d her
dif r nce ,W a ki a eeng t thewoul ce e o r to ofTCS i
fe e s t ns gr i ha
d as pe ai ns
mmedit l ne rwor
a ey, ve
k
w ih a ofA W P' c pe io si t f ur a t n overa 1pr pe t ofA W P,i udi a
t ny
S om tt r n he m e, nd ur
1 o ry
ncl ng ny
i or ton i W aki 'pos es i r l t t hi e oyme t r W a ki a s e utd a
nf ma i n t ns
s son, e aed o s mpl
nt he e. t ns lo xec e n
a fda tsa i t thewasi t me a i t c e ton ofTCS, ha hehadac es t AW P'
fi vi ttng ha
nsnl nt l n he r a i
t t
c so
S
ta s r t,whih AW P t a opra ese t ke p co i nta , ha he us AW P' ta
r de ec e s
c
ook ppr it tps o e nfde il t t
ed
S r de
s r t , ui nt a per o lwihoutpe mi son i or rt pur e ulyunde bi AW P on
ec e s eq pme , nd s nne t
r s i n de o pos f l
r d
j b a dmia p o raeAW P c tmes t a hewr n l p s se ta es ceso hi p ro a
o s n s p r p it
uso r,h t
o gy ose s d r d e rt n s e s n l
lp o , n ta h usdvmi us e e o AW P e up n f rtebe ei o TCS L-a !3 .
a tp a d h t e e
o pic s f
q ime t o h n ft f . d t 7
,
s
W at ns agr t shutdow n TC S by D ecem ber28,2012.
ki
eed o
2
W hie pum or i t s tl wih A W P, he com pl ntalege t tW a ki s r ptto l
l
tng o e te t
t
ai l s ha
t ns ur e ii us y
a oa he Bi t pr s de ofAW P' c pe ior Comm on lh,a ofe edt s lt
ppr c d ggs, he e i nt
S om tt ,
weat nd f r o el he
i or a i W a ki had t ke fom A W P and us t s a tTCS. The com pl nta l st t
nf m ton t ns
a n r
ed o t r
ai lege ha
W aki a Bi a e t ha Comm o alh t keove a l a tf co r dswih f r e
t ns nd ggs gr ed o ve
nwe t a
r t e s om nta
t om r
AW P c t e st tW a ki ha neg it f TCS.AW P al ge t tCommonwe t ag ee
usom r ha
t ns d otaed or
le s ha
alh r d
t pur has t i or ai a e pme W a ki t fom AW P f $45, a hiet
o c e he nf m ton nd qui nt t ns ook r
or 000 nd r he
f u TCSe ly e wh lf AW P t j i TCS
or
mpo e s o et
o on .
The c pl i a l ge t tW a ki a Bi m e w ih t f f m e A W P c t m e s
om a nt le s ha
t ns nd ggs t t he our or r
us o r
whom W aki hadpuroi d f TCS a s ese t tComm o
t ns
l ne or
nd ugg t d ha
nweat sa i TCS' s .
lh t nd n
S hoes
The c
ompl i doe notsa ewhe he a oft e c t m e sa e e t sofe . Bi as
ant s
tt
t r ny hes uso r cc pt d hi f r ggs lo
ofeedW aki a $85, s lr t j nCo
fr
t ns n 000 aa y o oi mmonwe t butW aki deci df fa of
a1h,
t ns lne or e r
vi a i hi nonc
oltng s
ompe eagr e e .
t
e m nt
I
I.
Tos vveamotont dimisund rFedea Rul ofCi lPr edle1 b)6) a
ur i
i o s s e
rl e
vi oc tr 2( ( ,
c antmus co an s fce fcua matrwhih, c ptdast e Ssat s acli t
ompli
t nti ufiint a t l te c ac e e nz,it eg) am o
rle t ti plusbl o isfce' As r tv.qbal556U. 66 678(
eif ha s a i e n t a .' hcof I ,
S. 2, 2009)( i Bel
quotng l
At. r . Two y 5 0U. 5 4, 7 (0 7 ) Thsplu iiiysa d r rq ie apanif
l Co p v. mbl, 5 S. 4 5 0 2 0 ). i a sb l tn ad e u rs litf
t
t de
o monsrt mor t n$as e pos i lt t tadee ntha a tdunlwf ly. J W he
tae e ha ç he r sbiiy ha
fnda s ce a ul ' Z
'
n
r i o a m oton t di m i s t c tm us t c ptt w el- e a l ga i oft co pl i t
ulng n
i o s s , he our
t i e he lpl d le tons he m a n
ac
a tu 'a Sc ttet f c sa r s bl i e e sde i t r fom i t lg mos
s r e' nd tonsrz he a t nd ea ona e nf r nce rved he e r n he i ht t
fvorbl t t pli if' I rav. t Stt ,1 F. 472,474( hCi.1 .W hiet
a a e o he antf. bar Unied aes 20 3d
'
4t r 997)
l he
courtm us acceptast al w el- eaded f ualalegatons,t s e i nott ue f l
t
rue l lpl
act
l i
he am s
r or egal
c us ons tf ea r r cia soft el m e s ofa c us ofa ton,s
oncl i . s hr dba e e t l
he e nt
a e
c i uppo t d by m e e
re
r
3
co l or sa e t ,do nots t e. l l 556U . a 678. De e m i ng whehera
neus y t t men s
ufk ' qba ,
'
S. t
t r ni
t
co pl ntsa esapl usbl ca m f r ifi ç co e -pecfc ts t r quie t r vi wi
m ai tt
a i e li or ele s $ nt xts ii a k hat e r s he e e ng
a
c t tod a o is u iil x ein ea dc mmo s n e' 1 a 6 9
o l t rw n t j dca t p re c n o n e s . d. t 7 .
r
'
1
11.
Comm onwe lh a Bi r ie anumbe ofa gumen si t rmoton t dim is Fis,
at nd ggs as
r r
t n hei
i o s s . rt
t a gue t tA W P' c pl i f ist pl ad w ih pm i ul iy is a l ga i ofbus ne s
hey r
ha
S om a nt a l o e
t
c art t le tons
i s
c piac De e an sa guet tAW P' busne sc pia y alegai nsf lt me tt
ons r y. f nd t r
ha
S i s ons r c l to ai o e he
r q ie n so Rul 9()o t eFe e a Rue o Ci l o e u eb c us AW P d e no alg
e ur me t f e b f h d r l ls f viPr c d r e a e
o s t le e
t tAW P l ta busnes asar ul oft al ge co pia y.Se ond, e nt a g t t
ha
os ny i s
es t he le d ns r c
c
def nda s r ue ha
t c pia c am sa eba r d unde t i r co ort cons r c doc rne. Thid,def nda s
he ons r cy l i r re
r he nta m ae
pia y ti
r
e nt
a g t tAW P' c a m s a e pr em pt by t V U TSA . Fourh, e nt a g t tt
r ue ha
S li r e
ed
he
t def nda s r ue ha he
c pli tf ist pr rypl d a ne be wee t al ge t ri i e f r ncewih
om a n a l o ope l ea ny xus t n he le d o tous nt re e
t
A W P' c t e sa a r uli l s ofbusne s fh, e nt a g t tt com pl nt
S us om r nd ny es tng os
i s .Fit def nda s r ue ha he
ai
f i t p o e l pe da1 fteee n so a u j s e c me t li b c u eAW P d e n t
al o r p ry la 1 o h lme t f n n u t mih n cam e a s
s
os o
aleg wih s c fciy wha be ftde e nt r c ve a t e ns ofpl i if Fi ly,
l e t pe ii t
t ne i f nda s e ei d t he xpe e
antf . na l
d f n a t o j c t teb e d ho t eijmci ns u h b AW Pa dtk is wihtea r
e e d n s be t o h ra t f h n t to o g t y
n a e sue t h wa d
ofa t ne 'f so t aval biiy ofapunii da a sa r
tor ys ee r he ia lt
tve m ge wa d.
l V igi a, c vi c pi a y i a co bi ton oft o orm o e pe s , s e
n r ni a i l ons r c s m na i
w
r r ons by om
conc re a ton, o a compls s ec i i lo unlwf lpur eort a co ih s
e td c i t c
ih om rm na r a u pos
o c mpls ome
pur e noti is l c i i orunl wf by c i i lo t l w f m e ns H e hl r Che ol t
pos
n t e f r m nal
a ul rm na r m a ul a . c e
vr e .
l v.Ge M ot sCop .230Va.396, 2, S. 2d 7 7 ( )( tngW e t v. r
nc.
n. or
,
40 337 E. 44, 48 1985 cii
rh Fie
Cos Adi t ntBtrau 1 Va.845,855,1 S. 255, ( 933 Thepli ifmus alge
. usme le , 60
71 E. 259 1 :.
antf
t le
4
t tt de e nt c bi d t t rt e f ta S e onceve pln a uniy ofdesg and
ha he f nda s om ne ogehe o fec ç c
pr
i d a nd t
in
pur e f t c
pos , or he omm on de i i t e s nceoft c pia y. Bul v.Loger c .I ., 323
sgn s he s e
he ons r c '
' l
toni s nc
F. u p. 1 , 3 ( D. . 9 )( ain o te )
S p 1 5 1 1 E. Va 1 71 dtto s mitd .
I or rt s vveam o i t dimis pli ifmus a l s pl d t r uiiec e t
n de o ur i
ton o s s , antf
t t ea t ea he eq st onc r
ofa ton a uniy ofpur e i m or t n E e e c us y l nguag ' Le i v. G upt 54
c i nd t
pos n
e ha t r oncl or a
m
e. w s
'
a,
F.Supp. 611 61 ( D. .1 (ii Bowma v.Stt Bn ofKe vil 229Va.
2d , 8 E. Va 999) ctng
n ae nk
ys le,
534,
3 S. 2 7 7 8 2( 9 5 ( c ns ia ycam a s re i meec n l o yln u g i b sd
31 E.d 9 , 0 1 8 ) a o pr c li s etd n r o cus r a g a e s a e
o i frnc sta aeno fil a dj tyd a fo t fcsalg d ) I ohe wo d ,
n n ee e h t r t ary n usl rwn r m he a t l e l. n t r r s
e
Vig ni r r apl i ift al ts
r i a equies antf o lege iome de al oftme a plcea t a l e e f d oft
t is i nd a nd he leg d fe
he
c pia y. J onv. ug z,1 Va. r 1 1 ( t ofRihmondCi.1 )(t1ti not
ons rc ' ohns Ka a s 4 Ci. 72, 76 Ciy
'
c
r 988 (() s
e
noughme eyt saet tac piac t p1c '.Fi ly,çgj gitoft cvi a tonof
r l o tt ha ons r y ook a e.) nal çthe s he i l ci
'
c pia y i t da ag c us d by t a t comm itd i pur ua e oft f
ons r c s he m e a e
he c s
te n s nc
he onne c pia
d ons r cy
a nott m e e c bi ton oft o orm or per onst ac om pls a unl w f pu pos o us
nd
he r om na i
w
e s
o c
i h n a ul r e r e
unlwf m e ns' Ca e cor l v.Cae i Conc pt sI ,246 Va.22,28,431S. 2d 277,
a ul a .' t r p. nc.
trna
e s nc.
E.
28182( 993)(ii Gal v.Sha 1 Va.335,338,1 S. 2d8 86( 9
- 1
ctng lop
p, 79
9 E. 4, 1 42:.
Theelm e sofacli unde t Vigi a busne sc pia y sa ut a e s c te i
e nt
am
r he r ni
i s ons r c tt e r pe ii d n
Vigi aCodej1 2
r ni
8.-499. whihpr desasf l :
A, c ovi
olows
Any t o or m or pe s who co bi a s a e agr e,m ut ly
w
e r ons
m ne, s oci t , e
ua l
u d ra e o c n e tt g t e frt p r os o ()wilul a d
n e tk r o c r o eh r o he u p e f i lf ly n
maii u l ij rn a t e i hi rp tto ta e b i e s o
lco sy n u ig noh r n s e uain, rd , usn s r
p o e so b a y me n wh tv r. . s l b j it a d
r fsi n y n
a s ae e . hal e onl n
y
s ve a l guit of a Cl s 1 m i de e nor Suc puni hm e s l
e r ly ly
as
s m a . h
s nt ha l
bei addii t a cvi rle rcovea eunde j18. 00.
n ton o ny i l eif e rbl
r
2-5
Vigi aCodej1 2-500. pr dest rmedy:
r ni
8.
A ovi he e
Any pes who s l beij e i hi rputton,tade busne s
ron
hal n urd n s e ai r , i s
orpr esi by r as ofa vi ain of j 1 2
of son
e on
olto
8.-499,ma s
y ue
t r o a r c r t e - ol t da a by hi s t i
he ef r nd e ove hr e f d he m ges
m us a ned,a
nd
t c t of s t i l ng a r s bl f e t pli ifscou el
he oss
ui, ncudi
ea ona e e o antf
ns ,
a wihoutlmii t g ne a iy of t t r ,ç mage ' s l
nd t
i tng he e r lt
he e m s
da
s' hal
i ude l sofpr is
ncl
os
oft .
Thus t s a e a c a m f s a ut y bus nes c pia y i Vi gi a apl i ifmus s w :
, o t t l i or t t or
i s ons r c n r ni ,
antf
t ho
( )ac mbiaino t o moep ro f rt ep po eo wilul a dmai usyij n
1 o n to f wo r r es ns o h u s f l l n ldo l n mig
f y
pl ntf i hi busnes;a ( r uli dn get plitf.Va.
ai if n s i s nd 2) es tng ma o anif
Codej 1 2- Si
8. 499; mmonsv.
Mil ,261Va.561 578,544S. 2d666,676( ) Sc r nber v.Carnctn,686F. pp.
ler
,
E.
2001; hape g
ri o
Su
2d655,661( D. 201 .
E. Va. 0)
I a ton t I l plusbiiyr quie e ,al to o i i s c pia y,lke
n ddii o oba' a i lt e r m nt legai ns f t ne s ons r c i
s
bus
f a mus bepla d wih pa tc a iy,a wih m o et n ç e ec l or lng ge.'
r ud, t
e de t riulrt nd t r ha m r oncus y a ua ''
Gov'Emps l .Co.v.Googe I ,330F. pp.2(700,706( D. 200 ( tton
t
.ns
ls nc.
Su
1
E. Va. 4) ciai
o te ) ç -l ecru tn e t bepe wihp riua i gn e Ru e9 b ). . r t etme
mi d . dlh ic msa c s o ld t a t lr y u d r l ( ) . ae h i ,
t
gc t
pl ce a co e soft f l e r pr s nt to ,asw e la t i iy oft pe s m a ng t
a nd nt nt
he a s e e e a i ns
l s he dentt
he r on ki he
m ir pr e a i a wha heobt ne t e ' Fe e v. t lRe ly M g t, F.Supp.
se es nt ton nd
t
ai d her by. ely To a at
'
m .660
2d700,71 ( D. 2009)(iainomitd) Sc pe r 68 F.Supp.2da 66162.
2 E. Va.
ctto
te ; ha nbe c, 6
t Si ia l a c ai ofbus ne sc piac doe no c pl w ih t s c fc t r qui e e sof
m l ry, l m
i s ons r y s t om y t he pe ii iy e r m nt
Rul 9( a mus bedimis dwher t r aei ufiin al ai fom whiht i e a
e b) nd t s s e
e he e r ns fce t leg tons r
c o nfr
me tngoft mi andno mer paalelc
ei
he nds
t e r l onduc.Feeey,660F.Supp2da 71 çg n
t l
t 3. dAl
al ga i ofpa alelc
le ton
r l onduc a aba eas e ton ofc pia wilnots fc ... nc
t nd
r s ri
ons r cy l
ufi e. He e,
whenalgai ofpaallc
le tons
rle onduc aes to i or rt ma agons r yqcam,he mus
t r e ut n de o ke c piac li t y t
be pl e i a c e t tr s s a s
ac d n ont xt ha ai e ugge ton ofa pr c di a e m e . Tw om bl 55 U . a
si
e e ng gr e nt'
'
y, 0 S. t
55657.
The com pl ntaleges a cl m undert V i ni busnesscons racy s at e w ih
ai l
ai
he rgi a i
pi
t ut t
s t c e tpa tc a iy. A W P a l ge t tW a ki a Bi m e be w e Ch it asa N e
ufi i n r i ul rt
le s ha
t ns nd ggs t t en r s m
nd w
Y er ' Eve 2012,f t pur
s
or he pose oft
ransf
ening TCS' busi t Com m onw ea1h. The
S
ness o
t
c pl i aleg t ta t tm e W a ki kne t tA W P a Com m onwea t w e e
om a nt l es ha t hat i
t ns w ha
nd
lh r
c
ompeior a a e t i r e TCS' f merc t r t Co monwe lh.Compl, .
tt s nd gr ed o ntoduc
S or
usome s o m
at
.Dkt
# 1 ! 38- Bi a Commonwe 1haealeg t ha knownt tTCSobti t s
, ! 39. ggs nd
at r l ed o ve
ha
aned he e
c t r byusngconfde i a pr itr i or tonmia o it fom AW P.L,s at
usome s
i
i ntal nd oprea y nf mai
sppr praed r
d
.
!40.AW P algespa tculrpl es dae ,a tmesoft alge me tngsa whihW at ns
le
ri a ac , ts nd i
he le d ei t c
ki
a Bi s he e t us AW P' c i ntali or ai n and ta s c e si or rt unde c
nd ggs c m d o e
S onfde i nf m to
r de e r t n de o
r ut
a unde bi AW P on val bl c r t .Durng abr kf s m e tng on J nua y 4,201
nd
r d
ua e ontac s
i
ea a t ei
a r
3,
W a ki a e t s r A W P' tade s c e s i l ng cus om e ls s prci i or a i
t ns gr ed o ha e
Sr
e r t , nc udi
t r it , i ng nf m ton,
polcesa pr tc r r ng c peii bi ng,a ot rc i pta a pr pre a y
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1
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t
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a
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s h u j c f fo t h t r e s n be n e h
c r um sanc t m a nt i is s c e
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Va.Cod j59.-336.
e
1
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t
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usome s riul r eds
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i t i ng usom r nf
ton
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uc
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S i s nd i
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t us o r .
uc he le tons e he i s t t o y e r m nt how ng he
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xi t e
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l to
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ofSys It r to l .v. l ialSevs & M ae il,l , F.Supp.2d565,575( D.
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tras nc.299
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t ns d
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nf
ton.
leg t o
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r
V igi a l w .
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AW P' cli frc
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n a nd ttt y ons r y,ori ntrernc nd j t
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nrcl nt r e mpt
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ç plc s onfitng
di
t qr siutona y,a o he lw oft sComm o
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s ppr i i
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t e m , he e m i
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e , he i l e di ha r t e
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es t- a n a
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nt nde o e nt nco it n he i
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lmi tng le tve he i
om
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e r e s d he
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s ppr pra i
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ods
. nc. Pori n c nc.
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ntnde o ecude nl hos omm o 1 w ca ms ... e s d e iel o aca m f
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ss n i na) i ena iains
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mitd .
l Sm ihf e d H n , a ntf alege t m i a opraton ofis s c e bar c s uc
n
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ori l nt re ed t t nta t nd i s eltons c us f nda
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e
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o
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c e ve f f nda
uc es f n how ng ha t d nde nde l vel pe he
r ci a t r f r ha notm ia oprae ata s r t pli ifne t e shadpld f c s
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notye pr ve is e il e t r le unde t V UTSA . A ss h,def nda ' pr em pto
t o n t nttem nt o e i f
r he
uc
e nt s e
in
a g e i pr a ur Se e. ,St Cas l Fi . nc. Fred a Bilncs Ra s y & Co.
r um nt s em t e. e. g. one te n. l v. i m n. li . m e
.
l ,1 F.
nc. 91 Supp.2d652,659( D.Va 2002)( et Ea tr Dititc l t t
E. .
wher he sen src oncuded ha
i e si c bec e ry dic m edt tt i or a i i quesi c tt esata s c e , he
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tn
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t i he m ai n he i
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nd onsde i ha
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l s
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ri
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ontde i l i s nf r ton
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y t lf s r
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mpl es he our ca
oncl
hi i ha
pr empton a isa am at roflw .The c ti E..DupontdeNemour & Co. Kol
e
i pple s
te
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our n I
s
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l d s. n .68 F. u p. d4 3 4 3( D. . 0 ) d ci e t d s s at riusitree c
n u .l c, 8 S p 2 4 , 5 E. Va 20 9, e ln d o imis o to n efrn e
cl i a t m oton t di m i s s a f t sve y r as c udi asf l s
a m t he
i o s s t ge or hi r e on, oncl ng olow :
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