Middleton v. United States Of America
Filing
11
MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Norman K. Moon on August 2, 2012. (sfc)
IN THE U NI
TED STATESD I
STRI C OURT
CT
FoR THE W ESTERN D I
STRI OF V I NI
CT
RGI A
CL S OFFI U. DI .COUA
ERK'
CC S. ST
. k AT L
:.
.
YNCHBURQ V
A
* .
x s.FI
k LED
LYNCHBURG D I SI
VI ON
AL2 22 2 1
02
JU
BY'
.
OUD ' / (,- . K
zf :21j
74
.
EPu
CL RK
CAS N O.6: 2- 00022
E
1 cv-
EVELYN L.M I
DDLETON,
Plit
an ?
M EM OM NDUM OPI ON
NI
UNI ST
TED ATES OF A MERI
CA,
De n a t
# d n.
JUDGE N ORM AN K .M OON
Thi matri beor t Cour on amoton t dimispurua t Rul 1 b)6 oft
s te s f e he
t
i o s s s nt o e 2( () he
F d r lRulso Cii P oc dze fld b t eUntd S ae o Ame ia (Dee a f l is
e ea e f v l r e l ie y h ie tts f
r
rc t fnd n ). n t
t
moton,Dee ntc ntndst tEveyn Mi eon (s antf )ha fie t sae acli u n
i
fnda o e ha l
ddlt t i if' s ald o tt am po
pl
whih r if c n be g a t d. Afer r vi wi Pl n ifs pr s compl i , a upon
c ele a
r ne
t e e ng aitf' o e
ant nd
c i ai oft bref fl by t pa te t f r Ifnd t tPl ntf has i d f ie t
onsder ton he i s ied
he ri s hus a , i ha ai if
ndee a ld o
s a e a c a m . A c r ngl a hea i on D e e nts m oton t di m i s i unnec s ar f t
tt
li
co di y,
rng
f nda '
i o s s s
e s y; or he
r as t tf l , lw ilgr ntt m oton.
e ons ha olow
l a he
i 1
K BACKGROUND
Thef c ss tf t i Pl i ifsc
a t e orh n antf ompl i , c a t ss a 1m us a c tastue are as
ant whi h t hi t ge
t c ep
r ,
f l . Fr a uns cii da ei 2000 t ough a undicos da ei 2002, Pl ntf wor d
olows om n pe ted t n
hr
n
s l ed t n
ai if ke
a Ce r He t i Lync
t nta alh n
hbur Vigi a. Thr h t c s ofhe e oymen wih Cen r
g, r ni
oug he our e
r mpl
t t
ta
He lh,Pli ife de l e oledi a403( r tr me s vi pln,t ad s f whihwa
at antf vi nty nr l n
b) eie nt a ngs a he vior or c s
Amei nGe r lFi ilGr (t rc n Genea'.Pli ifsaest , i O ct r2000,
rca ne a nanca oup C
Ame ia
rl' antf tt hat n obe
)
1tn ac r a c wihFe ea Rul ofCii Prc d r 7 0 , t Cour m a detr i a m o i wihoutan or l
ç c od n e t d rl e
l
vl o e u e 8 9 he
t y e m ne
ton t
a
hea i ' W . Va.Ci . R.1 ( .
rnp ' D.
v
1b)
s r ceved a qua try fna a sa e e t r r ng he pl n,but s alege i e nt ly
he e i
re l i ncil t t m n ega di
r a
he l s t ve ua l
pr
oved t c a n num e o e r s Pl i tf does not how e , el bor t w ih r pec t
o ont i
r us r or . a n if
,
ver a a e t es t o
pr c s l wha t e e r s we e. Ac or ng t Pli if s wa a s d of t e r s i
e ie y
t hos ror
r
c di o antf, he s dvi e
he ror n
Dec mbe 2000,buts doesno me i by whom . Furhe ,Pli ifas e t t tt e r s
e r
he
t nton
t r a ntf s rs ha he ror
we unc r t f a pe i of 1 days I lg ofhe fusr ton,Pl i if ca ms t ts
nt oreced or
rod
07
. n i ht
r r ta i
antf li ha he
so
t pped alcon rbutonst t pl n i J nua y 2001 I J 2001,Pl i iffld a compl nt
l ti i o he a n a r
. n une
antf ie
ai
wih t Un td St t De rm e tofLa i whi h s a l d br a hesoftducar dute by
t he ie a es pa t n
bor n c he lege e c
i i y is
Ce r lHeat and Am e ian Ge r . Ac r ng t Pl ntf,t e t entte 'de ei f c
nta
lh
rc
ne al
co di o ai if hes wo ii s c t or ed
h rt wi r w a1o h rmo e fo t e4 ( )plni J n ay2 0
e o t a 1 f e n y r m h 03b a n a u r 0 2.
hd
The r mai r of Pl ntf' c
e nde
ai ifs ompl i i difc t t f l
ant s fi ul o olow, but s a
he ppea s t be
r o
ale ng t t t De rm e of La r a s
lgi ha he pa t nt
bo , t ome poi a f uns cii d r s ,colece
nt nd or pe fe ea ons
l td
m oni fom he . Alhough Pli if f is t des rbe how t s moni we e obt i d,s
es r
r
t
antf al o c i
he e
es r
ane he
neve t l s c am s t t a e pr enty bei hel by t Unied St t De t ntof t
rhees l i hat hey r es l
ng d
he
t
aes parme
he
Tr as y. Ac or ngl Pl ntf s e a or rdie tng t tt e m oni be r l s d t her
e ur
c di y, ai if e ks n de r c i ha hes
es
eea e o .
Se r t y,Pl ntf r
pa a el ai i f eque t t t D e e nt be o de e t r l s a 1r co ds i is pos e s on
s s ha
f nda
r r d o e ea e 1 e r n t
ss i
r ga di compl nt offducir d y br ac m a a i tCe r lHea1h, e i n Ge r ,
e r ng
ai s i a y ut e hes de gans nta
t Am rca
ne al
v d Ot r - z
t
V
he s '
'
2Thi c s i p e e e b aln ln o atmpsb Panift liaea an tDee a t(swela oh re tte
s a e s rc d d y o g ie f te t y litf o i g t g is fnd n a l s te n i s
t
i
a idvd as i t UntdSae DititCo r frteEatr Ditito Vigni.Aso ti db Dee d n i
nd n iiu l) n he ie tts src u to h sen src f r i a
ul y fn a tn
ne
i bifsp ot ji moin, anifh shdsxcssta seoii l fldi teEatr Dititg o t b
t re u p ri t t Plitf a a i ae ht h rgnal i n h sen src o n o e
s
n s o
y e
dim is I a ton,Pl ntf fld a c s i saecour;ho e r Def ntr m ovedt c et fder cou ti
s sed. n ddli
ai if ie
a e n tt
t w ve , enda e
he as o e al r n
teEatr Ditit a d i,to,wa sbsq e ty ds se I De e r2 1 ,teEatr Dititsbe td
h sen src n t o
s u e u nl imisd. n c mbe 0 l h sen src u j ce
Plitf t pr -ii r viw goi f wa d. I i quie a r tt tPli ife vo st s r t i ii of
an if o e flng e e
ng or r t s t ppaen ha antf ndea r o kit he mposton
p efln r v e i t Ea tm Ditit( n ,n d u t t e t t llc o r c p i e s t he c amst a s e h s
r -i g e iw n he se
i
src a d o o b , h o a a k f e e tv ne s o r li h t h a
e c u trdtee b fln he c mplith r i teW etr Ditit Asle pani ti me rn u o iin,
n o nee h r) y i g r o an ee n h sen src.
i
x li n hs moa d m pno l
agr wih Defnda t Pl ntf ha f ld t sae a cai upon whih r i c be gr ntd. Theef e,
ee t
e nt hat ai if s aie o tt
lm
c elef an
a e
r or
Plit fs c mpan s alb ds se wi o tpeu ie Whl l a to bld b Plitf' p ritn e i
ani ' o lit h l e imisd t u rj dc . ie m ru e y anifs esse c n
f
h
a srig cams wi o ta e u t lja o fcu lf u ain a d ato g Isr n l cut n Plitf t b
se t li t u d q ae e l r a ta o nd to , n lh u h to gy a i anif o e
n
h
o
j dco sa o tfln ftr s isi t sCo r i t yaea u s btnitd a teisa tmatr Id cie a t s
u iiu b u i g uue ut n hl u t fhe r s n u sa tae s h ntn te, e l , thi
i
n
poi ,t gr t t gove nm e ' r s t t I i
nt o an he
r nts eque t ha mpos t s t of pr f lng r e t t t h not pr s nty
e he or
e- ii evi w ha , houg
ee l
nec s a y he e w a cl a l w a r nt i t Ea t r Di ti t
e s r r , s e ry r a ed n he s e n sr c .
I LEGAL STANDARD
L
A moton t dimispu s a tlFe r Rul ofCii Pr edur 1 b ( tsst lgal
i o s s r u nt t deal e
vl oc e 2()6) e t he e
s t inc ofaco pl i t deer newhehert pli tf ha pr l sa e a c am ;Ei does
ufk e y
m ant o t mi
t he a n if s opery t t d l i dt
no r s veco esss r
t e ol
nt t uroundi t f c s t me isofacl m ,o t a i biiy ofde e es'
ng he a t , he rt
ai r he pplca lt
f ns .
'
Re b ia 'J l o C.v Ma tn 9 0 F.d 9 3 9 2 ( t Ci.1 9 ) l c n iei aRue
pu lc n r fN
. ri, 8 2 4 , 5 4h r 9 2 . n o sd rng
l
1 b( )moton,a c tmus ac e a1f t algai i t c anta tue a mus
2()6
i
our
t c pt l acual le tons n he ompli s r nd t
dr w a1 r as bl i er nce i f vor of t pl ntf . Er ck on v Par , 551 U . 89, 94
a
1 e ona e nf e s n a
he ai i f
i s
.
dus
S.
( ) Le c l i i t guie offcua algai ,howe r ar note ild t a
2007 . gal oncusons n he s
a t l le tons
ve, e
ntte o
p eu to o t t .As c o v I b l 1 9 S Ct 1 7, 9 0 ( 0 9 .
r s mp in f nzh h rf . q a, 2 . . 93 1 5 -51 2 0 )
Alho h a compl i t
t ug
ant t
doesnotne deaie f t a lgatons a pli ifsoblga i
ed t ld acual le i , a ntf
i ton
t p o ie teg o nd o hs e t lg n lt r le rq ie mo et n lbes a c n lso s
o r vd h r u s f i ni eme t o eif e ur s r ha a l nd o cu in ,
t
a a f m ul i r c t ton oft e e e s of a ca e of ac i w ilnot do. Bel At. Co p.v.
nd or a c e ia i
he l m nt
us
ton l
'
'
l l r
T mby,5 0 U. 5 4 5 5 ( 0 7 (n en lq oain mak a d ctto so te ) C cu l
wo l 5 S. 4 , 5 2 0 ) itr a u tto r s n iain mi d . Ta t a
t
al gai m us be e
le tons
t
nough t r ie a rghtt r le abo t s cultve lvel' I I ot r
o a s i o e if ve he pe a i e . d n he
'
wor ,Rul 1 b)6)doesçnotrquie hei ene f tpl di ofs cii ,butonl e h
ds e 2( (
û e r ght d ac ea ng pe fcs
y noug
f c st s a e a cl i t r i ft i pl us bl on isf ce. 1 a 570.
a t o tt
a m o ele hat s a i e
t a ' d. t
'
11 D l
1. scussl
oN
Pl i if brngs he d a m a i tD e e
a ntf i
r i ga ns f ndan unde 28 U . C . j2042, c i peri nt
t
r
S.
whih, n tne
pa t pr de '
r , ovi s
.
l e r ca ei whih t rghtt wihdrw mone de ied i c tunde (
n vey s n c he i o t a
y post n our
r 28
U. C.j 2041 ha bee a j c td ori noti diput a s h mone has
S.
1 s n d udiae
s
n s e nd uc
y
r m aned s de ie f r a las fve yea s unc am e by t pe s entted
e i
o post d o t e t i
r
li d
he r on il
t r t s cour s l c e s h money t be de ied i t Tr as y i t
he e o, uch
t ha l aus uc
o
post n he e ur n he
na e a t t c e t of t U nie St t . Any c a m a e il t a s
m nd o he r di
he
t d a es
l i nt ntted o ny uch
mone ma on peii t t c ta upon notc t t Unie St t at ne
y y,
tton o he our nd
i e o he t d aes tor y
a f l pr oft rghtt r t obt i a or rdiec i pay e t hi .
nd ' l oof he i he eo, an n de r tng m nt o m
u
28 U. C.j 2042. ç-hi code s cin go r t dibureme ofr gity f t tha
S.
t- s
l
e to vens he s s nt e sr unds ha ve
lnguihe çora l tfveyea suncli e 'a ha t r be f f t d t çheTr aszy i
a s d f t eas i
r
am d, nd ve he eby en oreie o t
e lr n
ten mea d t t ec e to te Uni d S ae .' I r Cr g' S o e o T r,I c,4 3 F.d
h a n o h rdi f h
t tts' n e ai s t rs f e n . 0 3
e
'
5 2 5 5n. ( t Ci. 0 )(uoi 28U. C.j2 4 )
2 , 2 3 5h r 2 05 q tng
S.
0 2.
Pl ntf c pl nti de d ofany alega i t twoul i c e t t i c
ai ifs om ai s voi
l tons ha
d ndiat ha , n onne i
cton
wihltg ton,
t iiai mone t whih s i e ildha be n de ie wihacour t s e nty
y o c he s ntte s e postd t
t and ubs que l
rl s dt t De rme oft Tr s y) n he rs ebrefi opposton t Dee nts
eea e o he pa t nt he eaur .l r epons i n
ii o fnda '
moi n t ds s ,Plitf c ne d ta s e r c n l wo a d futj d me t a ans t re
to o imis an if o tn s h t h e e ty n e a l u g n g i t h e
De rm en ofLa of i i s H o eve ,s onl a t c t he brefa co ofhe m o i f
pa t t
bor f c al . w r he y t a hes o r i
py
r ton or
d fut u g n i t a saec u t ci n n ta a t a j d me to d r ti q ieo v o st a
ea lj d me t n h t tt o r a to , o n cu l u g n r e .l s ut b i u h t
t es b sino e i n et to eha mo df rad fut ud me td e no d mo srt t t
h u miso f vde c ha n s ve o e a lj g n o s t e n tae ha
o ea tal o tie adea lj dg n .
n cu l b an d fut u me t
y
Uli t l net r t f t alega i ofhe co pl i nor t ar
tma ey, ihe he acual l tons
r m ant
he gume s r ied i
nt a s n
he bre e t bls a cai t r le t ti e n r
r if sa ih l m o e if ha s ve emot y û ausbl on isf e. Twombl , 55
el k
pl i e
t ac '
'
y 0
U. a 57 I e Pl ntf c ede i he r pons bre t ts ç suna e t cie a saut
S. t 0. nde d, ai if onc s n r es e i f ha he ç
i
bl o t t t e
t ta i t t sc ant' I ta s smpl pr et t tis ha pr vi gi)t seo t
ha pples o hi ompli . nse d, he i y otss ha the s o de sc hi ur
'
wih enough fcst twoul s
t
a t ha
d uppors (ilhe dam .... 1dia ee. Even a trafodi
t sc r i
'
' s gr
fe f r ng
Pli tf t lber lc ttc i ofhe pla ngst whih s i e ild by vit ofhe pr s
a n if he i a onsrlton
r e di
o c he s ntte
rue
r o e
sau , fn t a ds sa o h rc mp an wih u p eu iei p o e .
tts l i d h t imisl f e o lit t o t rj dc s r p r
I CONCLUSI
V.
ON
Fort f egoi r s ,D e enda ' m o i t di m i s s l be gr nt d,a Pl n ifs
he or ng ea ons f
nt s ton o s s ha l
a e nd ai tf
c e s l be sr k fom t Cour' aci doc t3 A n a opr a e or r a com pa e t s
as hal
tuc r
he
ts tve ke .
ppr i t de c
ni s hi
m e o andu opi on.
m r
m
ni
The Cl k oft Cour i he e diece t s nd a c tfe c oft sm e a um
er
he
t s r by r td o e
erii d opy
hi mor nd
o ni a t a companyi or rt Pl i ifa a1 couns lofr or
pi on nd he c
ng de o antf nd 1
e
ec d.
Ent r d t s '
e e hi
day ofAugus , 2012.
t
NO
AN K.M OO
UN I
TED STATES D I
STM CT J GE
UD
3 On J y 26, 201 Pl ntf fl a f e e t Pl ntf s m oton t contnue
ul
2, ai if ied n ç ndm nt o ai if
am
i o
i .' G i n t I co tu
' ve hat
nsr ed
Pl ntf' t i t c i 'ashe r s e bre i opposton t De e t' moton t dimis t Clr of
ai ifs i on o ontnue'
mot
r e pons if n
ii o f ndan s i o s s , he e k
t Cou tpr ry dockeedt sça e m ent'asam oi t a e . l lghtofm y de so t gr ntDefndan '
he r ope l
t hi tm nd
'
ton o m nd n i
ciin o a
e ts
motont dimis Pl ntf smoton t a nds lbede ed a moot lf t rnot t t c e sofPl ntf
i o s s , ai if
i o me hal
ni s
.
urhe e hat he ontnt
ai ips
moton pe r o t t a ntaly eltd o he lgato n r ompli a he cai agans Deenda .
ant nd r l m
i t f nt
A i ap a t bea bes tnge i l r ae t t ale insi he c
cc di y,t y ha nope s i be i on myr s u i ofDe e ntsmoton.
or ngl he ve
ruasve arng
e olton
f nda '
i
5
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