SNC-Lavalin Amreica, Inc. v. Alliant Techsystems, Inc.
Filing
40
MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 10/06/2011. (ssm)
CL SOFFI U. . ST.
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M EM O M N DU M O PINIO N
By: o Gl E.
H n. en Conr
ad
Chi fUnie St t D i ti J
e
t d a es s rct udge
ALLI T TECH SY STEM S, N C.
AN
l ,
D e e nt Coun e - a ntf .
f nda /
t r pl i if
Thi ca e i pr e ty be or t c ton t pl ntf sm oton t c pelt pr
s s s es n l f e he our
he ai i f
i o om
he oduc i
ton
ofdo um e t t tha be n wihhe dby t defndan ont bassofat ne c intprvie
c n s ha ve e t l
he e
t he i
tor y- le
i lge.
Thec the d ahe rng o t moton o Oc obe 4, 1.Folowi t he rng,t de e nt
our l
a i n he i n t r 201
l ng he a i he f nda
tndee c esoft doc
e rd opi
he ument t t c ur frL c mearviw.Fo t r s nsstf t
s o he o t o q a r e e
r he ea o e orh
be ow , he c tw ilg antt m oton t c pe .
l t our l r he i o om l
Background
S La i Amerc l (t 'fl t sdi riya tona ns Alint
Nc- valn
ia,nc.1SNC' ied hi vest ci gai t la
)
Te hs se ,n .t
c y tms l c (t ', se t gcamso b e c of o ta tu j s e c me ta d
ATK' a s ri li f ra h c nr c, n u t mi h n, n
)
n
pr m is y e t ppe . The a ton s e sf om t de i a c t u t o ofane nir c a i a
o s or s o l
c i t m r he sgn nd ons r c i n
w ti c d nd
s f rca i c nrtonplnt(C SAC' a t Radfr Ar Ammunii Pln ,
ului cd once tai a C
NAC/ ' the o d my
)
ton a t a
U nie St t s Ar y f iiy ope a e b A TK i Ra o d, igi a. S C a ATK en e e i o a
t d a e m ac lt
rtd y
n df r V r ni N nd
t r d nt
w rte c r c pu s ntt w hi h SN C a e d t pr vi e ne rng, ocur m e ,a
it n onta t r ua o c
gr e o o de ngi e i pr e nt nd
co tuc i s r i e . The s lc o t pa te 'di put i S C' de a f pa e f
ns r ton e v c s
otr e f he ri s s e s N S m nd or ym nt or
a tona c t t tt c
ddii l oss ha he ompa alge yi ureda ars tof()A' - r cedc nge i
ny le dl nc r s e ul 1 I die t ha s n
K
t wor t bepef me a ( ATK' rf a t e e t d dlnef co ei t wok.
he k o
ror d; nd 2)
S eus lo xtnd he ea i or mpltng he r
SNC ha move t c
s
d o ompelt pr ton ofdocl e swihhe d by SNC On t bassof
he oduc i
l nt t l
m
he i
at ne ci n prvie M os oft doc e t a is we epr pa edby W a hi on Gr up
tor y- le t i lge.
t he um n s t s ue r e r
s ngt
o
ltr ain l d G1) a e i eigtr hie t sr ea ATK' tc nia c ns la to te
n en to a (k ', n ngne rn im rd o ev s
W '
S e h c l o utn n h
NAC/ AC mo eniainp oe tlATK c ne d ta dth s d c me t, ih W GIce td
S
d r z to rj c.
o tn s h t ij e e o u n s whc
l
r ae
a t be s o ATK a ATK ' col s l we epr par d wih t pur e ofbeng s ntt ATK'
t he he t f
nd
S m e , r e e t he pos
i e o
S
at ne t adc e' pr sono lga ad c t ATK. ( .n Opp.oM o .oCompela
tor ys o i ouns ls ovii f e l vie o
' Br i
'
t tt
t
D i si
scus on
Be aus t si a di r iy ca e,t de e m i ton ofwhet rt doc e s a i s a e
c e hi s ve st s he t r na i
he he um nt t s ue r
pr e td by t at ne c intprvieg i g r by Vig ni lw. See e. , on Count v.
ot ce
he tor y- le
i l e s ove ned
ri a a
, g.Uni
y
Pi rJ fry& Co.525F. 6 646( t Ci.
pe afa
,
3d 43, 8h r 2008)(;I adi riyca e t deer nai
((n1 ve st s ,he t mi ton
o whehe at ne cintprviegea plesi govene b sael ' (ii Fe R.Evi 501.
f t r tor y-le i l p i s r d y tt aw.) ctng d.
'
d. )
Asage rlnze,dcontde ilc
nea l t j i nta ommuniai bewe nat ne a cintma bec us of
l
c tons t e tor y nd le
de a e
t trlto s i a dc nc r igtes b e t te o t atr e se o me taep iie e
ha eain hp n o enn h u j c matr f he to n y' mply n r rv lg d
fo d sl s r, ve f r h p r o eo a mi seigj sie' Co n at v. wad , 7
r m ico u e e n o t e u p s f d nitrn u tc . mmo we 1h Ed r s 3 0
'
S. 2 2 6 3 ( . 99 )(n en l i to a dq oainmak o te ) Ho v r lh
E.d 9 , 01 Va 1 8 itr a ct in n u tto r s mi d . we e ,t e
a
t
t
prvie i a e e i t t ge r ld y t dic os i a o t cet i tga i oft
i lge s n xc pton o he ne a ut o s l e, s n bsa l o nvesi ton he
tuh a ds o l b srcl c n tu d' I .Ac o dngy ûth at r e -le t rvlg d e
r t , n h ud e tity o sr e . d c r i l,t l e to n y cin p iie e o s
'
l
1ATK hasdi ded t docum e satis i o f exhi t . Exhi tlncl
vi he
nt s ue nt our bis
bi i udesW Gl s
'
çs
çugges e r pons ' t pot i changenotce t tSNC s i ed t A TK . Exhi t2 c ai
t d es es' o ental
i s ha
ubm tt o
bi ont ns
s eadsheet t tW GIcr ed comparng SNC' per or ance a ns t engi i f tonal
pr
s ha
eat
i
S f m
gai t he
neerng unc i
s cii tons.Exhi t3 i udess eads st W Glcr t d e uatng whet SN C per or
pe fca i
bi ncl
pr heet hat
ea e val i
her
f med
contactr r
r equiement . Exhi t4 cont ns a A'x s
bi
ai n I gener ed m emor
at
andum eval ton ofSNC'
ua i
S
peror ance ofPr sHaz dsAnal s.
f m
oces
ar
ysi
nota tc t adoc ntme el be a eacle dei r i t hi at ne ' Va. e & Powe
ta h o
ume
r y c us
int lve s t o s tor y.'
El c.
r
Co. W esmorlnd- & E Pa t r,5 S. 2d750,755( 2000) l ta t
v. t ea LG
rnes 26 E.
Va.
. nse d,he
c
ommuniaton mus bef t pur eofpr c i orpr di l ga a cez L=;s as
ci
t or he pos
o urng
ovi ng e l dvi . d ee lo
He s nv. y t La o ao is l c,1 8F. D. 8 , 8 ( . Va 1 8 )(; j i i o tn t
n o W eh b rtre , n . 1 R. 5 5 5 7 W D. . 9 7 dlt s mp ra to
(
not . .t ti or erf rt prvieg t a y,t a tr yr evi t communi a i mus be
e . ha n d o he i l e o ppl he to ne ec i ng he
c ton
t
a tngasa at ne a notsmpl a ab i sa s n' Sc '& Sti f l LLC v. G
ci
n tor y nd
i y s usnes dvio l; ot
t rngelowa
Al
CommecalEqui Fi -nc.No.3:0CV008 ,2011U. DitLEXI 51 at* ( D.
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p. n.I ,
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25
S. s.
S 028, 8 E. Va.
M a 1 , 01 )( od n t a at u hg n rlc u e wa p iyt c rand c me t,h
y 2 2 1 h li g h t l g e ea o ns l s rv o eti o u ns te
ho
ator y- le prvie di nota y s nc ( he pur e oft c m uni atonsw a nott
t ne c i nt i l ge d
ppl i e s
t
pos
he om
c i
s
he
s iiai orpr sonoflga a vieona s iidl lis ' Rus v.SumieSe o
olctton
ovii
e ld c
ny pecfe ega suel; h
s nir
Li ng-I , 07- 1 2008Va Ci.
vi nc.No. 1 322,
. rLEXI 1 a *1 ( Ci.CtFe 1 2008)
S 2, t 2 Va. r . b. 2,
(mpha ii t tt prvie Edo nots el fo dico r co
e szng ha he i lge t es hi d rm s vey mmuniai ge rt o
c tons neaed r
r c i by a a t ne a tng i s e ot r c pa iy, c m uni to i whi h a a t ne i
e e ved
n tor y c i n om he a c t or om
ca i ns n
c n tor y s
gvigb ie sa v c rte t a lg l d ie'(ne n l iaina dq o ainmak o te )
i n usn s d ie ah r h n e a a v c ' itr a ctto n u tto r s mitd .
)
The b de i on t pr pone o t prviege t o es a i h t t t a t ne c i n
ur n s
he o
nt f he i l
d
t t bls ha he tor y- le t
r l tons p e s e t t t c m uni a i u r c i r ton a e prvie d,a t t t
e a i hi xit d, ha he om
c tons nde ons de a i r i l ge nd ha he
p ii g wa n t ie ' Ed r s 3 0S. 2 a 3 .$Inprcia tr ,h sb r e rq ie
rvl e s o wav d. wa d , 7 E.d t 01 $ ) a tc l ems ti u d n e ur s
e
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(
t pr
he opone t e a n, lr
nt o xpl i tlough # pa t s i s onsi ne es a y t m a nt i c
x r e ubm s i f c s r o i a n onfde talt t
n i iy, he
.
sgniia eormea ngofa ot r s cr i doc nt'Unie St esv.Unde Se l, 48F.
i fc nc
ni
n hewie yptc ume . td at ( r a)7 2d
'
2Thes ei tuef com muni i be we a clentand at r pa y r ai by t cle .
am s r or
catons t en i
hid rt et ned he int
W hiet U nied St t Cour ofAppeal hashel t tt i aton oft ator y- i pri l
l he t
a es
t
s
d ha he nvoc i
he t ne clent viege
may beappr i ei cas i vi communi i beween a clentand isagent s h
oprat n es nvol ng
catons t
i
t
, uc
com muni tonsm us be t adef t pur eoff lttng t r ton ofl s vi ' Se l r
ca i
t t
m
or he pos
aciia i he endii
egal er ces.' e n e
GrndJ r Pr e di sUn rS a,9 F. ll 8 11 ( t Ci.1 )
a u v oc e ng de e l 47 2d 8 , 91 4h r 996 .
3
871 8 (t Ci.1 .St eddifrnty,hepa t wihhol ngt doc ntmus s cfc ly
, 76 4h r 984) at fee l t ry t di he ume
t pe iial
a dfcual s p o tt cam o p iie ei y wa ofe ie c , t u tag me t' Ne be c r
n a t l u p r is li f rvlg i y vd n e no j s r u n . u r e
y
b
'
Bema Re EsaeI omeFund.I .v.Lol Br Tnlt 230F. D.3 41 ( M d.
r n al tt nc
nc
a own s,
R. 98, 0 D. 2005)
.
Appl ng t s prnci es a ha ng r viwe e c oft doc e s wihhe d fom
yi he e i pl , nd vi e e d a h
he um nt t l r
pr duc i t coul c l st tATK ha f ie t de ons r t t t doc e sa epr ec e
o ton, he
' onc ude ha
t
s a l d o m ta e hat he um nt r ot t d
byt a t ney cle prvie Thedoc e swe epr r d by e pl e ofW G1and A TK, nd
he tor - i nt i l ge.
um nt r epa e
m oye s
a
i l en co muni tonsfom ATK ' lga c e .W hieATK ha s it de al i c tng
nc ud o m
cai r
S e l ouns l
l
s ubm te m is ndia i
t te ch oft doc nt wasi e d t be s r d wih lga co el net rt doc nt
ha a
he ume s
nt nde o
ha e t e l uns , ihe he ume s
t m s l s nor an ot r e de e pr s nt by ATK,esa ihes t t t doc nt we e
he eve ,
y he vi nc e e ed
t bls
ha he
ume s r
d e r prm a iy i a l ga ca c t ' a oppos d t a û i s ca c t ' H e on,11 F. . .
û pa ed i rl n e l pa iyr s
pr
'
e o s ne s pa iy.' ns
bus
8 RD
a 588. The c muni to C note iil a k f l ga a c opi ons orove sght' or
t
om
cai ns t
do
xplcty s or e l dvie, ni ,
ri ,
'
o he wi e s
t r s ugge tt tt pu pos oft doc e si t obt n orpr deûa opi o o l w , e l
s ha he r e he um nt s o ai
ovi s n ni n n a l ga
s r i e ,or ...a s s a i s m e l ga c e .' Sc t& St i e l ,2011 U . D it LEX I
e vc s
s i t nce n o
e l ont xt' ot
r ngf low
S. s .
S
51
028,a *1 W hie t t bl ofco e si o oft e bi bi s i c t t tt e bi
t 0.
l he a e
nt nt n ne he xhi t nder ndi a es ha he xhi t
c a nsC ount r l i a ys s't a t doc e s co itngofs e hee spr r dbyW G I
ont i t
c
e c a m nal i , he c ual um nt , nss i
'
pr ads t epa e
,
we ege r t d m ont be or S C t l d t i t nta ton i D e m be of201 The s m e i tue
r ne a e
hs f e N i e he ns a c i n ce r
0.
a sr
wih al of t o he d um e s whi h w e e dr fe be w e n M ar h and Se e be oft tye r
t l he t r oc nt , c
r a td t e
c
pt m r ha a .
Be a enet r hedoc e t t m s l snora o he e de pr f r dbyATK esa ihe t t
c us ihe t
um n s he eve
ny t r vi nce ofe e
t bls s ha
t doc e sw e et a f t pur eof ac lt tngt r ndii ofl l e v c s 'I r Gr nd
he um nt r ç de or he pos f iia i he e ton ega s r i e ,'n e a
m
J y Pr e ngs 9 F. a l 9l t c tc l s t tATK has f ied t m e tisbur n of
ur oc edi , 47 2d t 1 , he our onc ude ha
al o e t
de
de o ta i t tt a t r y- i ntprvieg i m t i st doc e sf om di c os e
m nsr tng ha he t o ne cle
i l e m m ze he um nt r
s l ur .
Fort r a o sa e t co twilg a SNC' m o i t co pel TheClr i die t d
he e s ns t t d, he ur l r nt
S ton o m .
ek s rce
t s nd ce tfe c esoft sm e o a um opi on a t ac om panyi o de t a lc
o e
rii d opi
hi m r nd
ni nd he c
ng r r o 1 ouns lof
e
r c d.
e or
E ER:T i C dyo Oco e, 0 1
NT
hs
a f tbr2 1.
j
Chi fU nied St t D i ti tJ
e
t
a es s r c udge
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