Roberts v. UXB International, Inc.
Filing
25
MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 08/22/2014. (ssm)
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FR AN K ROBERTS d/ a FA R
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NNOVATI I RNATONAL ea.
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Ci lAc i n N o. 1
vi t o
7: 3CV 00
439
Pl i t f s
a n if ,
M EM O M N DU M O PIN IO N
UXB I
NTERN ATI A L, N C .
ON
l ,
Hon.Gl n E.
e
Conr d
a
Chi fUnie Stt DititJ
e
t d aes src udge
Def nda .
e nt
FrnkRobers d/ aFAR I
a
t, b/
nnovai I e tona (C I
ton ntmai l tFAR nnovain',ie t sdi riy
to ' fld hi ve st
)
a tonf br c ofcontac agans UXB l e tonall (1
ci or ea h
r t it
ntmai , nc.$
UXB' . Thec ei pr s nty
'
)
as s e e l
b f r t ec u t nUXB' moi nt d s s f rlc o s b e tmatr u idito . Fo te
eo e h o r o
S to o imis o a k f u j c te j rs cin r h
ra o s tf rhb l w,h moi nwil ed ne wih u p eu ie
e s ns e o t eo t e to lb e id t o t rj dc .
B ackzround
Th sc s se fo ac n rc ds uebewe nafd r l o en n c nr co (
i a e tms r m o ta t ip t t e e ea g v r me t o ta tr UXB)
a do eo isve d r ( I n vain , ih s p idtbe , h is b z p e s a d ar
n n f t n o s FAR n o to ) wh c u pl a ls c ar , ug a p r, n i
e
c ran frap oe ta Ba r m Ai F r eBa ei Af h n sa Ro e t alg st a FAR
u tis o rj c t g a r o c s n g a itn. b rs l e h t
e
l va i s ts i d isoblga i unde t c r c a s it d a i c t UX B , hi h
nno ton a i f e t
i tons
r he ont a t nd ubm te n nvoi e o
w c
r m a nsunpai H ecl i st tt sc tt esa br a ofFA R l
e i
d.
a m ha hi ons iut
e ch
nnova i sco r c wih U X B.
ton' nt a t t
Robe t f t ra l gest tFA R I
r s urhe le
ha
nnova i w a una e t pa isow n s i r duet U XB '
ton s bl o y t
upple s
o
S
n n a me t ft ei v ie a dta t sr s t di hm ben s be tdt d b o ' p io i
o p y n o h n oc , n h t hi e ul n i ig u j ce o e t rs rs n n
e
Af
ghani t f a num berofdays,durng whi tm e FA R lm ovaton l tproft on ot
s an or
i
ch i
r
i os
is
her
c r c s Robe t s kst r ove t a oun dueunde t i ce t a i $42, 8. as
onta t .
rs ee o ec r he m t
r he nvoi , ot lng
61 00,
we la c e
l s ons quentalda ag i t amountof$1 40 00.
i m es n he
62, 4.
l t orgi c
n he i nal ompli , ie on Se e r23, 3,Robe t aleg t tFAR
ant fld
pt mbe
201
rs l ed ha
I
nnova i i a was a a lr l va tm e ,af e g s epr it s p wih isprncpa ofi s
ton s nd
, t 1 e e nt i s or i n ol opre or hi t t i i l fce
l t i Ka , gha sa On J nua y 1 201 UXB m ove t dimi st c
ocaed n bul Af nit n.
a r 6, 4,
d o s s he ompli
ant
purua t Rul 1 b)1 oft Fedea RulsofCi lPr e e. UXB aguedt tRobe t'
s nt o e 2( ( ) he
rl e
vi oc dur
r
ha
rs
alegai r r ngFAR l
l tons ega di
nnova i sbusne ssr t ewe e k tue, a t tFAR
ton' i s tucur r i r ' nd ha
not
'
lm ova i ii a c or ton,nota s e pr i t s p. D e .sBr i Supp.ofM ot t D i m i sa
l
ton ks op a i
ol opr e or hi '
' f' . n
.o s s t
12, c t . . Reyigo tetu d me tl uet a g1s ae ole -e ntes e
- Do ke No 5
l n n h s n a na r l h t a h rh d r ve h ol
f
s r hol - doe nothavesa ng t as e tcai sa lgi wr
ha e der
s
tndi o s r l m le ng ongst t co por ton,' t
o he r ai 'Smih
Selze & Sons I v.S. Pr ur ntRe ew Pa ,20F. 1 1 1 7( h Ci.1
tr
, nc. C. oc eme vi
nel
3d 31 , 31 4t r 994)
(ntr lciain a quottonmaksomitd) UXB a g t tRobe t doesnotha sa ng
i ena tto nd ai
r
te ,
r ued ha
rs
ve tndi
t brngcli on be fofFAR l
o i a ms
hal
nnova i a t ,t tt c
ton nd, hus ha he ompl i s d bedimi s d f
ant houl
s s e or
lc o s be tmatr u idcin.
a k f u jc te j rs ito
UXB s te svea e bisi s po tofisRul 1 b)1 moi Thee bis
ubmitd e rl xhi t n up r t e 2( ( ) ton.
xhi t
i l t f l ng: 1 aSe e r1 201 e lfom Robe t, c i ntfe hi i t
ncuded he olowi ( ) ptmbe 9, 0 mai r
rs whih de iid m,n he
sg t ebl k, 'pr sde / 'of(FAR I
inaur oc as k e i ntcEo' i
nnovai l e tona,LLC''2)ba a co
ton ntmai l
'( nk c unt
i or a i n pr vi d by R o r s w hi h na e t a ountbe tci r a C R l
nf m t o o de
be t , c m d he cc
ne i a y s '
FA nnovaton
i
Consr tonCo.;()alsi fom Dun & Brdsre f S l
tuci
' 3 itng r
'
a te t or C
FAR nnovain Co t ci LLC',
to nsnzton, '
'
a ( ac ofRobe t'Li npr ieo whihhei lsedast tCEO ofFAR lmovai
nd 4) opy
rs nkedl ofl n c
s it
he I
l ton
l e na i na Com pa '
nt r to l
ny.
'
On J nua y 30, 4,Robe t fl a brefi oppos ton t U X B' m oton t di m i s a ong
a r
201
rs ied i n
ii o
S i o s s, l
wih a unta lt d co ofabusnes lc ns is d by t Af ha san I ve t e Suppor
t n r nsa e py
i s i e e s ue
he g nit n sm nt
t
Age y (t SA' . Alhoug Robe t a kno e dt theo rtdasalmie la lt
nc $A1 '
) t h
rs c wldge ha
peae
i td ibiiy
2
compa i t Unie St t s Robe t co e d t thedi no r git rt LLC wih AI and
ny n he t d a e ,
rs nt nde ha
d t e se he
t SA,
t the i t d ope a ed a a s e pr i t r hi i A f ha s a
ha
nsea
r t s ol opr e o s p n g ni t n.
The c thel a he rng on t m oton t di m i s o M a 1 201 Dur ng t hea i
our d
ai
he
i o s s n y 9, 4.
i he rng,
Robe t s
rs ubmit anum be ofa tonale bis i l nghi own s n de a a i aco of
ted
r ddii
xhi t , ncudi
s
wor clr ton, py
a quot t tFAR Im o ton i s d t U X B,a c
e ha
r va i s ue o
opy o a l te t tU X B s i t t t Unie
f e t r ha
ubm ted o he
td
St t A r y Cor ofEngi e sa l rr ce vi t q t a a tans a ed c ofa busne s
a es m
ps
ne r f e e i ng he uo e, nd r l t opy
i s
lc e is by AI . I hi s n de a aton, be t a s redt thef
iens s ued
SA n s wor clr i Ro rs s e t ha
ounded FAR
I
nnova i n I er tonala a s e pr i t s p pur uan t Af
t o nt na i
s ol opr e or hi
s t o ghanit n l w , ha he ope a e a a
sa a t t
rtd s
s e pr i t s p w hie doi bus ne si Af nit n w ih U X B,a t the c d no a di
ol opre or hi
l
ng i s n gha s a t
nd ha
oul t nd d
notope a e hi A m e i n lm ie la lt c pany i A f ha san. B o h t quot t tR o r s
rt s
rca i t d i biiy om
n g ni t
t he
e ha be t
ir
nt oduc d att he r ng,a t l te dr hed by UX B,r f r d t Ro r s bus nes a C
e
he a i
nd he e t r a
e er e o be t ' i s s S
FAR
I
nnova i l er tona ,' nd m a no s ii me i ofa LLC. The ta lt busne s
ton nt nai l'a
de
pecfc nton n
r nsaed i s
lc ns i caest ti wa is d t FAR I
ie e ndi t ha t s s ue o
nnova i Consr ton on J y 1 2009,a t ti
ton
tuc i
ul 6,
nd ha t
expie o J y 1 201
r d n ul 5, 0.
Folow i t he r ng,Robe t fl d a n ende co pl nt i whi h he a d FAR
l ng he a i
r s ie n m
d m ai , n
c
dde
Im ova i Cons nl ton,LLC a a pl ntf . l r s
r
ton
t ci
s ai i f n e pons U X B tl d a r ne e m o i t
e,
i e e w d ton o
dimis a gui t tRobe t l c d sandi t fl t orgi lc
s s , r ng ha
rs a ke t ng o ie he i na ompl i ,a t thei no
ant nd ha
s t
pemitdt a dane p an if no d rt c r alc o j rs ito S eCii v.
r te o d
w litf i r e o u e a k fu idcin. e lv UXB I tlI .
n ' nc,
a
pl ntf w ho l c s a ng i notpe m it t S m end t c pl i t s tt e a ne pl i t f
ai i f
a ks t ndi s
r ted o a
he om a nt o ubs iut
w a n if
i o d r oc r alc o j rs ito , e a eapan if yn tce t u idito b a n me t
n r e t u e a k f u idcin b c us litf ma o raej rs cin y me d n
wheenoexit .' ( i 3J me W ila M oo e e a.M oor sFe r lPr tc ! 1 1 21
r
ss'' quotng a s lim
)
r , t l,
e' de a acie 5.4(
( e 1 )
3d d. 999).
3
Robersfld ar s ns t t r ne dm o i t dimi so J y 17, 4. Agai r l ng
t ie e po e o he e we
ton o s s n ul
201
n eyi
on hi s n de a a i a t exhi t pr vi l s
s wor clr ton nd he
bis e ousy ubmit Robe t m ant i t the onl
ted,
rs i a ns ha
y
c
onduc e busnes i Af nit n asa s epr pre orhi t thedi s i hi de i wih
t d i s n gha sa
ol o it s p, ha
d o n s alngs t
UX B,a t tne t rt quot he pr ded t UX B norU X B' s e
nd ha ihe he
e
ovi
o
S ubs quen pur has o de r f r
t c e r r ee
t hi Ame ia lm ie la lt compa
o s
rc n i t d i biiy
ny. Ac or ngl Robe t m ant i t theha sa ng
c di y,
rs i a ns ha
d tndi
t fl t orgi lc
o ie he i na ompl i ,a t tt sa ton s ul notbe dimis d.
ant nd ha hi c i ho d
s se
D i si
scus on
Be a esa dngi lc t stec u ts u id cin o e tes b e tmatro ad s u e
c us tn i mp iae h o r' j rs ito v r h u j c te f ip t,
t def ntsmoi waspr ryfldunde Rul 1 b)1 oft Fe r lRulsofCi l
he enda ' ton
ope l ie
r e 2( ( ) he de a e
vi
P o e u e whc p r t ap ryt mo ef rd s sa o a a to frlc o s b e tmatr
r c d r, ih emis a t o v o imis l f n cin o a k f u j c te
j rs ito S eTa b nRe l Gp . dP'hpv. i ea 3 F.d47 , 81( t Ci. 0 3
u idcin. e u ma at
y
Lt s i M n t, 20 3 5 4 4h r 2 0 )
(fimigted src c u tsds sa o c mp an f rlc o sa dngu d r e1 ( )1) s e
afr n h itit o r' imisl f o lit o a k f tn i n e Rul 2 b ( ); e
as M ilrv. .Shor Fundi ,224F.
lo le Pac
e
ng
Supp.2d977,994( Md. 2)(ç a ng...i a
D. 200 s ndi
st
s
f n a n a c mp n n o ac u tss b e tmatr urs ito Ass c dee d n sma a ty
u d me tl o o e t f o r' u j c- te j idcin.
u h, fn a t y p l
c aln eise itn ebyamo int ds s f rlc o j rs ito o rtes b e tmatr
h le g t x se c
to o imis o a k f u idcin ve h u j c te ,
p ru n t Fe e a Rul o CiiPr c d r 1 ( )1 .) Qu sinsr g r i s b e t te
u s a t o d r l e f vl o e u e 2 b ( )' . e to e adng u j c matr
'
J i di ton Sm a be r i ed a a poi durng t pr e ngs' Brckwood Con r c or sl v.
' s ci i y
ur
a s t ny nt i he oc edi .
' i
t a t s nc.
Daa tEnc' I .369F. 385,390( hCi.2004)
tne
g,nc,
3d
4t r
.
W h n a hee t ed f n a t h l ng stef cu l a i f r u j c matru idcin t e
e , s r ,h ee d n c al e h a ta b ss o s be t te j rs ito ,h
e
b r e o p o n s be t te j rs ito i o t ep an if Se Rih n . e eiks u g&
u d n f r vig u j c matru idcin s n h litf. e c mo d Fr d rc b r
PoomacR. v. tdStts 945F. 765,768(t Ci.1 ) Thi c t(i t r ar t
t
Co. Unie ae ,
2d
4h r 991. s our ts o eg d he
pl di
ea ngs'alega i nsasm e e e de e on t i s ,a m a c i e de e o s de t
l to
r vi nc
he s ue nd y ons der vi nc ut i he
pl di wihou c ri t pr e ngt onef s
ea ngs t t onvetng he oce di o
or ummayj me .' Jl Theco t
r udg nt' .s
t
ur
4
s ul g a themo inç nl i temaeilu id cina f csaen ti d s uea dtemo ig
ho d r n t
to i y f h tra j rs ito l a t r o n ip t n h vn
o
part i entted t pr lasa m aterofl .' I at769*see al Evans v.B. Per ns Co. 166
y s il o evai
t
aw ' d.
,
so
F. ki
,
F. 642,647( hCi.1 . W he j iditonalfcsar i e t ne wihfcsce r t t
3d
4t r 999)
n urs ci a t e ntrwi d t a t ntalo he
m e isofa c e, he c ts d r ol t r l va f t di put onl a t ra o i t
rt
as t our houl es ve he e e nt ac ual s es y f e ppr pr a e
dicovey. Se Kensv. tdStts 585F. 187,193( hCi. )
s r
e r Unie ae ,
3d
4t r 2009 .
l t sca e,t de e m i tve i s i whe he Robe t ha sa ng t tl t o i na
n hi s he t r na i s ue s t r
rs d t ndi o i e he r gi l
c ant SeeLuinv. e r ofW idlf,50 U. 555, n. ( 992)(ssla ngi t be
ompli .
a Defnde s
l ie 4 S. 570 5 1
tg tndi s o
deemi da oft c
tr ne s he omme men ofs t' ' wma Gr nsI . Alonz Laran, U.
nce t ui.) Ne n- ee nc v. f o- ri 490 S.
',
8 6 8 0( 98 )(-hee se eo f d rlu id ci no d n rl d pe d o tefcsa t e e it
2 , 3 1 9 il xitnc f e ea j rs ito r i ai e n s n h a t s h y x s
sy
whe t c aiti fl ' Ba e o t cure rc d,hec tfndst e denc s te
n he ompl n s ied.) s d n he rnt e or t our i he vi e ubmitd
'
by Roberss fc e t wihsand am o i t dim isf rlc ofsandi
t ufi i nt o t t
ton o s s o a k t ng. Ass tf t a ve
e orh bo ,
R o r shass it a s ol dec ar ton i whi h he a r t the o r t d asa s e
be t
ubm ted w m
l ai n
c
ve s ha
pe a e
ol
pr pre or hi whie doi bus nes i A f ni t n w ih U X B,a t the c d no a di not
o it s p
l
ng i s n gha s a t
nd ha
oul t nd d
o r t hi A m e i a lm ie la lt com pa i Af hani t n. A s um i t t u h ofRobe t
pe a e s
r c n i t d i biiy
ny n g s a
s ng he r t
rs'
de a a i w hi he m a nt i i s
cl r ton, ch
i a ns s uppored by o he doc e sdr t d by hi and UX B,t
t
t r um nt afe
m
he
c ti c t ai d t c l
our s ons r ne o onc ude, tt ss age oft pr e di , ha Robe t ha s a ng t tl
a hi t
he oc e ngs t t
r s d t ndi o ie
s tagans UXB i hi pe s lca ciy. Se e. , ne Colegev.Se i , F.
ui i t
n s r ona pa t
e. c.Ge va l
belus 929 Supp.
2d
402, ( . Pa.201 (xpli ngt t'her i nol ls pa ai bewee g s e
429 W D.
3) e ani ha k e s ega e r ton t n a ol
t
pr it s pla isowne , t tt s epr it s p' i li aeacual gheowne 'j
opreorhi nd t
r' ha he ol opreorhi s t ams r t ly t
'
c
rs
cams'a t tt owne ca d sr i hi ownna t cl msa s redby (hes e
li , nd ha he
'
r n t e tn s
as
me he ai s e t
t ol
pr preo s pj'(ii 1W ila M e Flthe,Flthe Cycopedi oft La of
o itrhi ' ctng
)
lim ade ec r ec r l a he w
Cor ai j23( 2)4Dol v.W orhv,1 P. 946,947( ah.Ct App.2007)( tng
portons
201 ) by
t 73 3d
W s .
noi
t t$ s eprpreorhi doesnotha lga sa ngt s o bes di isownrght'.
ha t ol o it s p
a
ve e l tndi o ue r ue n t
i '
)
5
Be a ej rs ito a c aln e ma b rie a a yp i t u i gt ep oc e ig ,h
c us u idcin l h l g s y e asd t n o n d rn h r e dn s t e
e
d fn a tsmoint ds s wi bed n e wih u p eu ie Th d fn a twi b pemitd
e e d n ' to o imis l e id t o t rj dc . e e e d n l e r te
l
l
t r ne ismoton s d addii na i o m a i c et lghtdurng dic r t tc t doubt
o e w t
i houl
to l nf r ton om o i
i
s ove y ha ass
on Robe t 'r g t s on t unde l ng cl i s
r s i ht o ue
he
r yi
am .
The Clr i die t d t s c esoft sme or ndum o ni and t a co pa ng
e k s r c e o end opi
hi m a
pi on
he c m nyi
or rt a lc
de o 1 ouns lofr c d.
e
e or
EN TER : s
Thi
VA# d y ofA ugust 2014.
a
,
Chi fU nie St t s D it i tJ
e
t d a e s rc udge
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