Puckett v. WilcoHess, LLC et al

Filing 60

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Samuel G. Wilson on 2/29/2012. (eot)

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CL S OFFI U. DI . ERK' CE S. ST CDURT AT ROANOKE, VA FIED L I THE UNI STATESDI CT COURT N TED STRI FOR TH E W ESTERN DI STRI OF VI CT RGI I N A ROANOK E DI I N V SIO FEB 29 2 1 22 J A . ULI B Y: P ,Ct RK x CL E C i lA ct on N o.7:11cv00214 vi i D O N AL D PU C K E TT, Pl ntif, ai f V. M EM O M ND U M O PI O N NI W I LCOH ESS LLC,e taL By:Sam uelG .W ison l U nied St t atesD i ri Judge st ct D ef endant s. Thi i a pr i esla lt ac i n pur ua t t c ts di e s t -jrs ito , 8U. C. s s em s i biiy to s nt o he our ' v r iy u id ci n 2 S. j 1 bypli ifDonadPuc t a ns d e nt W ic sLLC a A. W ila Oi 332, antf l ket gai t efnda s loHes nd T. lims 1 Co n (olci ey,s ic le s' frijzisP k t s sane a trsipigo a mpa y c l tv l t lo- s' o nl e uc et u ti d fe l n n n e W l ) r p I k o s b tn ea aW ic He stu k so W ic He sh smo e frsl r j dg n o l n wn u sa c t lo s r c tp. lo s a v d o t n mmay u me t n t g ot t tPuc t ca he r md ha ke t nnots how wha c us d hi f l a islkey dtr to a t r f e t a e s a l nd t i l ta i n nd he e or ca nnotesa i h t tW ic l s had a t lorc t c i no i ofa uns f c ton,a t bls ha l ol e s c ua onsnz tve tce n a e ondii n es e ilelme ofaprma f c ec eofneglge e.Thec t e wih W ic l s a s nta e nt i a i as i nc our agr es t lol e s nd g a t ismotonfrsl r j me . r ns t i o lmmay udg nt 1. The r e ntf c s c t e i t lgh r tf vor bl t Puc t,a e a f l s el va a t , ons nz d n he i t nos a a e o ke t r s olow : Puc t i ave e a t c drver ha ng ope a e c ke t s t r n nz k i , vi r t d omm e calve cessnce 1 a ha e a1 r i hi l i 981 nd ul d l m a erofg nn oodst oughoutt U nie St t s Cur e l he ownsa ope a e a ta t -r ie hr he t d a e . r nty, nd r t s r c or ta l r t the us st de i ra om obie t G e gi Sou h Ca olna a Te w s e O n Augus 1 ha e o lve ut l s o or a, t r i , nd m s e. t 8, 2009,Puc ttnd hi t nbr he a wokpa t r Ro l soppe a t W ic -e stu k ket a s wi ot r nd r rne, nad) t d t he lol s r c l s o i W yt vil ,Vi gi a t f elPuc t' tac ort a l r tp n he le r ni o u ke t s r t -r ie .Puc t ha t w a tf a p l p t ke l d o i or m o CR be m ea ia e ass a a t rtuc drve puledoutofa f ll ne, pule i Puc t co val bl ; oon s nohe r k i r l ue a he l d n. ke t t n bega hi ffee t t t mi ut r i off i t tuc and pe f mi r utne he n s it n- o wen y- n e outne uelng he r k ror ng o i i pe tons W he hewasne l done, ke ttlne t wak t d t so e hi f e we out ns c i . n ary Puc t t d o l owar he t r , s e t nt r fom unde hi ,az he f lha d on t pave nt Puc t i uns r wha ca ed hi t f l, r r m ld el r he me . ke t s u e t us m o al but he s c a est ti w a a s i z pat h ofdi s lf lorm ot oi. W ha eve t ca e oft pe ul t ha t s lppe y c e e ue or l t r he us he f l W yt Co y Co m uniy Hos tllt rdignos Puc t wih abr n rghtf mur al, he unt m t pia a e a ed ke t t oke i e . Pu t b oughtane i nceaci a ns W ic s i Vigi a cr ui c t or$1, 000, cke t r glge ton gai t loHe s n r ni ic t our f 000, a W ico sr move t aci n t t sc t nd l Hes e d he to o hi our. II . W ic le sh smo df rs lo l s a ve o umma yj d me to teg o n t t c e t amo e tbl h r u g n n h r u d ha Pu k t c l t sa i s t tW ic e sha a t lo c t c i no i ofa uns f c ton. 1 B ecause Puc t,a t ha l oH s d c ua r ons nz tve tce n a e ondii ke t t he ve y l a t i una et pr e a e de eoft d a i oft al geduns e c ton a t r e s, s bl o es nt ny vi nc he urton he le af ondii t he tuc so t co tfndst tPuc t ha f ie t e t bls aprmaf i c eand gr n s r k t p, he ur i ha ke t s al d o sa ih i ace as at ' i o- s , to frs mmayj dg n . W l le s moin o u r u me t c l 2 The r l s a i a e t s i a f l c e a e w e l s tl i V igi a Se W im - xi u e pplc bl o lp- nd- a l as s r l- e ted n r ni . e l Di e Str ,I v. r r 240Va.1 1 2( 990) oes nc. Pake , 80, 8 1 .Unde t s r e ,asor opeaormus e rie r he e uls t e rt t xecs 'Puc tha satd, 1 d n'k o wh t se p do . .' ( c et p. 1 , e t 8 2 1 E... ket s t e < o t n w a I tp e n . . 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W h na iv tei ij e b af rino jc o s bsa eo t so ep e s s a e n n ie s nurd y o eg be t r u tnc n he t r r mie , pli ifs e ng dmna m us s antf e ki ges t how t tt ope a orha acualorc tu tve notc oft ha he r t d t onsr c i i e he c ndto Grm v Ra e l c, 46Va 23 2 2( 9 3 .W h nteei n e i e c of cu l o i n. i . h mn .2 i . 9, 4 1 9 ) e h r s o v d n e a t a noie( i t c ehee ,ionsr tveknowldgeornoi ofadeeci co to ofa tc as s he as r) ûc tuci e tce f tve ndiin pr s ...may b s emie e hown by ev de et tt de e twa notc a eandha e se f a i nc ha he f c s i e bl d xit d or s fce lngt oftmet c r isposesorwihnoieofisdeeci c ton. l tll uf int e h i o hage t s s t tc t f tve ondii ' d. tlf ' t e d ef ist s he vi enc a l o how whe ade ec occ r d ont pr m ies t pl ntf ha no ma o n f t ure he e s ,he ai if s t de ut a i a i c s . 1 ( ingW in Dii S oe , 4 Va a 1 4 . prmaf ce a e' d. ct ' i n - xe tr s 2 0 . t 8 ) Ap ligt s p e e t,ti ce zt a W i od s i e tte t s mmayj g n pyn hee rc p s i s la h t l le s s n ild o u r ud me t c be a ePuc t i una et pr s nte de eoft dur ton oft alege uns f cond to a c us ke t s bl o e e vi nc he a i he l d a e ii n t t t c sop.Notonl i Puc t uns ewha c us hi t f l he a t heha no i ahow he nzk t y s ket ur t a ed m o al, dmis s de ln a ysip r s b tnc wa o t eg o n ( u k t De 21 , C. 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F. . - ) f h t s n f c wha ca ed hi t f l- a heofe sno ot re de et twoul cha ge W ico l s wih a t t us m o a l nd fr he vi nc ha d r l le s t c nsnztv n tc .I i e tr l pa il ta t etu kla i j tb f r P c et ni e o t cie o ie t s n iey lusb e h t h r c e vng us eo e u k ta v d s le s pild ome s t nce ort tPuc t hi s l s le f l waer oroi durng hi i pe to ubsa , ha ke t m e f pild ue , t , l i s ns ci n r utne Se W i Di eStr , Va. t1 4 (ç- r i noe de ei t sc s t tl i o i . e nn- xi oes 240 a 8 'lhee s vi nc n hi a e ha W nnDi e k w oft prs nceoft ( a ont foo , i t r a s ngoft lngt of xi) ne he e e he be nl he l r nor s hee ny howi he e h tmei ma ha be nt r l i j tasl c lt a s t ti wa plce ont foora i t y ve e hee. t s us ogia o sume ha t s a d he l n i t tbeor g r r sr ki a ii t i e t tiha be t r l e ught tl i nsan f e pake) tuc t s t s o nfr ha t d en hee ong no ha W nn- Diils o l ,ntee ecs o ra o a l c r , a ek o a u i ' atrto si o iia) x e h u d i h x r ie f e s n b e ae h v n wn bo t t'(leain n rgn l ( u tn Coo a S o e .nc v. le , 3Va 5 5 5 7( 9 2 :. q oi g lnil t rs I . Puly 20 . 3 , 3 1 6 ) Pu t a gue a lng h t tt c ts d c r e W ic s wih c tu tvenotc cke t r s t e t ha he our houl ha g l oHe s t onsr c i ie be a et tuc sop wasabus l aton whos ve ybusnes wa t dipe e si r lqui . c us he r k t y oc i e r i s s o s ns lppe y i ds Thi e de e,ho e r i i ufi intpr fofc tu tvenotc underV igi alw. See s vi nc w ve , s ns fce oo onsr c i ie r ni a Ho g v W a- r Str s I c, 6 F.d4 6 4 3(t Ci. 0 4 (p yn Vigni lw) d e . lMa t o e s n .3 0 3 4 , 5 4h r 2 0 ) a plig r i a a . Rah r s c e ie c t o so l t wh t e teu s f c n iint t r d c d ( e ij r wa te , u h v d n e d e ny o eh r h n ae o dto ha p o u e t ) nu y s g h f esea ei g r ,notwhehe ghede e nt ha a t lo c tuci notc oft or e bl n eneal t r t f nda l d cua r onsr tve ie he s c u aec n iinta ij rd ( eplitfj, j . pe 6c nsf o dto h tn u e t an if.3 t h , j W ha e rt ca eofPuc t' f l Vigi a1w i cea ont poi t twhe t r i t ve he us kets al, r ni a s l r he nt ha n he e s no e de eoft dur ton ofa uns f c ndii t pl i ifha notesa ihed aprmaf i vi nc he a i n a e o ton,he antf s t bls i ace ca e Be a e t r i no s h e de he e t c twilgr tW ic es 'm oton f r s . c us he e s uc vi nce r , he our l an l oH s i o 4 s mmayj d me t u r u g n. 3Pucketde edvarousW icoles e o sr ga di W ic l s i pe ton a s l ce u t pos i l - s mplyee e r ng loles ' ns c i nd pil lan-p l p o e ue, ndatmpst c nueag n n iseo maeilatrg rigW ic He s is e t nrgme r c d r sa te t o o j r e uie su f tra fc e adn lo s'n p ci e i . o ( eRep. tS mm. . 3 2 , C. No 5 )Bu a tee do ted y Pu k t si d e n t n w wh t a s d Se s Mo. u J 2 - 4 E. F. . 6. t th n fh a , c ettl o s o k o a c u e l hi t fl orwhe t algeduns f c to a os Unde t cic m sa s t a m o al n he le a e ondiin r e. r he r u tnce , he dequac ofW ico e s y l H s' is eto rgmei i tra.S eGrm, 46Va a 2 2 4 (< n e n td cd wh t rteo -a p ro n p cin e i s mmaeil e i 2 . t 4 - 3 < e d o e ie ehe h ned y eid We s g etdb teIlitf wo dj si ghagn ted fn a t t c ntu tv n tc qb cu e a tetil o r u g se y h panit ul utf c rig h ee d n wih o sr cie oie e a s , s h ra c ut l y puti,the ei a olt y no e de a t whe t txt ewasbr n, t t r s bs uel vi nce s o n he i ur oke how i wasbr n,noevi nc t tt t oke de e ha he o e k e a o tt I c ul ha eb e b o e fv miue a oo so e.'. wn r n w b u i. t o d v e n r k n ie n ts g r o n r') ' 4I r s et RonadPuc tsde iin tsi onyt thi br he m i ha si d o a(ier t' n e pons o l ket' posto e tm ha s ot r ght ve lppe n tr u' t ca e byt c tntweghtoftacortaie smo ng ov t tuc sop pa men ,W ic us d he onsa i r t r lr vi er he r k-t ve t loHes a gue t ta s r s ha ny ale szf c def miy ne t f elilnd woul havebee ope a obvi .Puc t doe no a rt ba e lged lra e or t ar he u sa d n n nd ous ke t s t ppea o s hsc s o t she r (e Co l3 5 E. F No. -) a dhsrsone t temoinfrsmmayj d me t i a e n hit oy se mp. - , C.. 12 , n i ep ss o h t o u r u g n o o l me to i i o e( nfn s e )p r g a h ( s M o . u . . 4 E. F. 5 )(Ast ( r ts ef c o n y n in tn n u i ih d a a r p . Re p. t S mm J 2 , C. No. 6. f o a u ') fe t n é teflo teplitf ic nbec n iee ac nrb tn fco b tej r whc d e n t e ur c ne tr o h al f h anif t a o sd rd o tiuig a tr y h uy ih o s o rq ie oj cue r u bild'sc) n rde 'Iil. Theea enum eousVigi ac e fndi sm iars fcedef test beo n a obvi a am atr r r r r ni as s i ng i l ura onnii o pe nd ous s te oflw andt r f eno grs frapr m ie la lt lws t See e. , kv M t Shoppi Ct.As oc v. a he eor t it o e s s ibiiy a ui. . a.Roc . na r s s. S e z l, 35Va 6 6 6 7( 9 8 . Towh tv re tn P c e t g t n e dt rs o s c at e l Vigni c s ta al2 . 3 , 3 18) ae e x e t u k t mi h i tn o e t n u h h o y, r i a a e Iw,c e wih t fct pr s nti t sc e,rnde t t or s c a i a unwor e. a oupld t he a s e e n hi as e r he he y pe ultve nd kabl 4 1 11. Puc t f l t esabls aprm af c ec s ofpr m ie labiiy. Ac or ngl an ket has aied o t ih i a i a e e s s i lt c di y, d f rter ao sae ,h c u t lg a tW i o s ' to f rs mma yj d me t o h e s ns ttd te o r wil rn l He s mo in o u r u g n. c s ENTER : Thi 29t da ofFe ua y,201 s h y br r 2. A' .. ' I IE S E oll c'J T D TAT S s w r UDGE 5Thec tclrntyha unde a s m e W icoHe s m oto f Rul 37 s nctons. W ic our tre l s r dvie nt l s ' in or e a i l oHes a l ge s le s t tPucketsco elhasbe uncoope ai d i dic r ont is ofda age andm ovest srkepo tons ha t' uns en r tve urng s ovey he sue m s o ti ri o Pu k t'pla ig .I lg t ftejdg n h ri tec u t ld n W i o-s ' to frsn t n . f c ets e dn s n ih o h u me t een,h o r wil e y l le s moin o a ci s c l o

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