Portis v. Ruan Transportation Management Systems, Inc.

Filing 27

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 10/1/2015. (lab)

CLERKS OFFI U. .DI COURT
CE S ST.
AT ROANOKE, A
V
FI
LED

I TH E UN I
N
TED STATES D I
STRI COU RT
CT
FOR TH E W ESTERN D I
STRI OF V I N I
CT
RGI A
RO AN O KE D I
VISI
ON

22T C 12 1
25
J A DU LE C
ULI
Y
BY:
C

D ON A LD W A YN E PO RTI
S,

Pl n if
ai tf ,
Ci lA cton N o.7: CV - 18
vi i
15- 001

M EM O R AN DU M O PI O N
NI
RU AN TR AN SPORTA TI
ON
M AN A GEM EN T SY STEM S,I C .
N ,

By: on. l n E. o tad
H
Ge
C rr
Chi fUnie St t s Di t i tJ e
e
t d a e s rc udg
D e e nt
f nda .
ied hi t o
i t e nt
Pl ntf D onal W a Por i , o e ng pr K ,fl t sac i n aga ns def nda
ai i f
d yne ts pr ce di
o
.

Rua Trns ttonM a e ntSyse ,l (( n',hi f me e oye .OnJ 26,
n a porai
nag me
tms nc,(
Rua ' s or r mpl r
)
une
2015 t c tg a edRua sm o i t co pe a bir ton a sa t c s i f vorof
, he our r nt
n' ton o m l r ta i nd t yed he a e n a
ar t a i Pori hasnow m ove f r consde a i oft c tsr i Fort r s s t
bir ton. ts
d or e
i r ton he our ' ulng.
he ea ons e
f t be ow ,Po ts s m oton wilbe de e
or h l
ri '
i
l
ni d.
Backeround

Pori be wor ng f rR u a a f ltm e tuc drve on ora utO c obe 1 200
ts gan
ki o an s ul- i r k i r
bo
t r 6, 7.

Ac r ng t t c
co di o he ompli ,Po tsr pore a va it ofuns f wor ng c tonst Rua
ant ri e td
rey
a e ki ondii o
n
m a ge e t oughouthi e pl e .Por i a l ge t thi s pe vi or e t ri ed hi
na m nt hr
s m oym nt
ts le s ha s u r s s ihe gnor
s
c pl nt ort e t d hi w ih ope hosiiy a r di ul .He a s c a m st tRua m a ge e
om ai s r a e m t
n t lt nd i c e
l o l i ha
n na m nt
r prm a d hi f a num be ofm i of e es s e ofwhi h he d d notco m i,whi h
e i nde m or
r
nor f ns , om
c
i
m t
c

r ule i hi t r nai n o Nove r21 201 Ac or ngt t compl nt Rua us t e
es t d n s e mi to n
mbe , 2. c di o he
ai , n ed hes
r i andst di gui e t r r on f Ports' t m i i w hi w ast Ruan beleved hi
eprm
o s s he eal eas or
i s er naton, ch
hat
i
s

c i ds eyc ant c dj opadieisbusnes rltons ps
ontnue aft ompli s oul e r z t i s eai hi .

K

A c lci ba gani a e men (i 'bewee Rua a t l e nai l
ole tve r i ng gre t tCBA' t n n nd he ntr tona
)
Brt r
ohehoodofTe tr Loca Uni No.1 (he' on' govenst e o ntofE l
amse s
l on
71 t t
uni '
) r he mplyme
il
a

f li drve a mantna ee oyee e oye by g nla a sgne t t Kr r
ultme i r nd i e nc mpl s mpl d Rua nd si d o he oge
a ounti Roa
cc
n
noke, i g ni ' i l ng Por i ,Sç Ra A f . B a l D oc tN o. 1.
V r i a, nc udi
'
ts e y f Ex. t , ke
4- The

CBA p o ie ta Ru nma d siln o d sh r ea e o e o l io j t a s . l a 2
r vd s h t a y icp ie r ic a g n mply e n y t r us c u e' d. t .
f
'
l al o pr bisRua f o di c i i tng a i ta e pl
t s ohi t
n r m s rm na i ga ns n m oyee k n a t r sorcondii of
t ny e m
i
tons
e pl e ' f a ( ohi t d bas sofdi c i i ton unde a i a e s a e f de a ,orl l
m oym nt' or ny i
pr bie
i
s rm na i
r pplc bl t t , e r l oca
l ' 1 a l The CBA f t rpr de t te pl esca c le e a i l d vi ato '
aws. d. t .
'
urhe ovi s ha m oye
n ha l ng ny t ege ol i n'
al

oft t r soft CBA t oug t gre nc a a birton pr dur s tf rh i Ari e6 of
he e m
he
hr h he i va e nd r ta i
oce e e o t n tcl
t a e e .l a 3.Por i a ist he hasnott l d a greva e w ih r pe tt hi cl i s
hat gr em nt d. t
ts dm t hat
ie
i nc t es c o s a m .
On M a c 1 201 Por i fl a c pl i c le ng hi t r i ton i t s c t
r h 6, 5, ts ied om a nt ha l ngi
s e m na i n hi our

unde Vigi aCodej40.- . 1 whihpr de t t'nj pes s l dic r eori a
r r ni
1 512:, c ovi s ha û o ron hal s ha g n ny
l
w a di c i i t aga ns a e pl yee be aus t e pl e hasf l d a s f y orhe t
y s r m na e i t n m o
c e he m oye
ie
a et
alh

c
ompli orha t tfe o ot r s a t d t e r s rght unde t s f t and he t
ant
s esiid r he wi e c e o xecie i s
r he a e y
alh
pr s ons oft stte f t m s ve o o he s ' O n M a 1 201 Rua fl d an a ende m oton
ovi i
hi il or he el s r t r .
'
y , 5, n ie
m
d
i
t di m i sor i t a t r tve, o c pe ar ta i n ofPo ts s c a m s The cou tgr nt d
o s s , n he le na i t om l bir t o
ri ' li .
r a e
Rua sm oto a s a t c e i f vorofa bir ton on J 26,2015. n t to ni t
n'
i n nd t yed he as n a
r tai
une
I ha pi on, he
cou ta s r i e Pori t pr de e de e t the hasfl d a gr e nc plr uantt t
r l o equ r d ts o ovi vi nc ha
ie
i va e z s
o he
pr edu e s tf t i t CBA wihi 9 days Pori tl a m oton f r r co i a i n oft
oc r s e orh n he
tn 0
. ts i ed
i o e nsder to
he
c tsdec s on on A ug t 1 201 ,he a s f l d t ee a e m e st hi m oto o Se e be
our '
ii
us 2, 5. l o ie hr m nd nt o s i n n pt m r
l , 201 , Sept m be 21 201 , a Se em be 30,201 1The m ate ha be n f l bref d a i
4
5
e r ,
5 nd pt
r
5.
t r s e uly i e nd s
now ri f r ew .
pe or evi

'
Thec tnot t tt s docu entwastl asbot ar y t Rua sr pons t Pori ss
our es ha he ame
m
ied
h epl o n' es e o ts' econd
am e d m o i t r onsde a a Pori' t r a e
nde
ton o ec i r nd s tss hid m ndedm o i t r onsde . e Doc tN os 25,26.
ton o ec i r Se
ke
.

St
andar o R e e
d f vi w
I a a s t tPo ts s o y o i f r le f om t c ts or ri unde Fede a Rul
t ppe r ha r i ' nl pton or e i f r he our ' de s
r
rl e

ofci lPr e e5 1 2Thi r epr de t tt O d ro ot rdecson, ve
vi oc dur 4(9. s ul ovi s ha,t r e r he ii howe r
any
desgnae t tadudi t fwe t nalt cli o t rght a la ltesoffwe t nal
i td,ha j caes e r ha l he ams r he i s nd ibiii
e r ha l

t p ris. ma b rv sda a ytmeb f r t ee tyo aj d me ta j dc tn al h
he a t . y e e ie t n i eo e h n r f u g n d u iaig 1t e
e .
camsa a1t pa tesrg sa labltes'Fe R. v. 54( .M oi f
li nd 1 he ri 'iht nd i iii . d. Ci P. b) tons or
'
r onsdeai unde Rul 54( aegr ne f t f l ngras :. 1 t f l a
ec i rton
r e b) r a td or he olowi e ons 6 ) o olow n
(
itr eni c ngei conr lnglw;( ona co ofne e de or( )t c rc acla
ne v ng ha n toli a 2) c unt
w vi nce; 3 o ore t e r

e rrof1w orprven ma fs ij tc 'Skine v.Ar Ar e Ve ces I , 4:2ro a
e t niet n usie. n r me mord hil ,nc.No. 1
'
CV00045,2015W L 5401 a * ( . Va.Feb.1 20l5 .t t r e amoto fr
56, t 2 W D.
0, ) i hemor,
Fur
in o
r onsde a i i nota opporuniyt r has is ale dy r ed upo be a e altgan i
ec i r ton s
n
t t o e h s ues r a ul
n c us ii t s

dipl s d wih t r s t'J Ha Pr o i ,l .v.Doubl Down Ent k LLC,No.0: 1
s ea e t he e ul.' oe nd om tons nc
e
m
1-

CV02438, 2W L 621
201
0334,a * ( S. De l3, 2) Uli tl t powe t grnt
t 2 D. C. c. 201 . tmaey,he
ro a
r le unde t sr e C scom m it t t di c e i oft dit i tc t ' m .Ca A s ' v.
ei f
r hi ul '
i
ted o he s r ton he s rc our . A
'
noe sn

M uphvFams I , F. 505,51 ( hCi. .
r , nc.326 3d
5 4t r2003)
2Pori doesnots iyunderwhi Fe r Rul ofCi lPr edu ehes e rconsdea i oft
ts
pecf
ch de al e
vi oc r
e ks e i rton he

c utsodrcmp ln abtain Ne eteesRunctgrzsPot 'moina fli u drRul6 ( o
o r' re o el g rirto . vrh ls, a ae oie ris to s al n e e 0b) f
i
s
nj

teFe ea Rue o CiiPrc d r. we e, l 6 ()po ie rl fo l lrm afn lu g n, re, r
h d rl ls f vl o e ue Ho v r Rue 0b rvd s ei ny t o iaJ d me tod ro
e
f
p o e dn . F d. Ci P. 0b (mp ai a d d .t no d rc mp ln abi aini f a wh nirs l fo a
r c e ig' e R. v. 6 () e h ss d e ) û r e o el g r t to s i l e te ut rm
'
A.
i
r
n
s
pr ee ng i whi t s eis be or t dititc ti t a bir biiy oft dipue.' mphr y v.
oc di n ch he ol sue f e he src our s he r ta lt he s t 'Hu
e

Prdnil e .n .4F.d3I, l (t Ci.l9 )Idh ïseo abta it oiiae a pro a ato
u eta S clc, 3 3 3 7 4h r 9 3.fte i u f ri bly rjntd s at f n cin
s
r i

r ii ot rcl msf r if'i i c nsderd t bea ûm be dpr e ng''a l nota a
asng he ai or ele n t s o i e o n e dde oc edi ' nd s
n ppealbl fnalor r
a ei
de

u d rteFe ea Ar tainAc. Co srco s lc v Do o o Co s. , 7FJ 3 5 3 (t Ci.1 9 )
n e h d r l bi to tCNF n tu tr. n . . n h e n tCo.5 .d 9 , 98 4h r 9 5
r
( u tn Am. s Co. L- . n .3 F.d 1 3 l 6 ( t Ci.1 9 ). nt i c s , h is eo a bta ii o t e
q o ig
Ca . v. J I c, 5 3 3 , 3 4 h r 9 4 ) l h s a e t e su f r i b l y f h
r t
pa tes diput aos fom t cl msa s re by Pori,whi Rua a gu fl unde t CBA.Bec s t is
ri ' s e r e r he ai s e td
ts ch n r ed el r he
au e he s ue
ofa bir biiy wa no t s e is be or t c t t c tsor c
r t a lt s t he ol s ue f e he our , he our ' der ompe lng a bir i n wasm e ey
li r tato
rl

itro uo yi n tr, n tu , l 6 ()in ta pia e S eSe he sv Waho i Cop.30 CV2 , 0
nelc tr n aue a d h s Rue 0b s o p l bl. e tp n . c va r , :6 46 20 3
c
W L 1 2 9 8 a * ( . N. Ap . 1 2 0 )( o dn t a a bta ii wa n t h s l is eb f r t ec u t
8 0 2 , t 2 W D. C. r 2 , 0 8 h l ig h t r i b l y s o t e o e su e o e h o r
r t
whenpl ntf ale varo vi ainsoffde allw,whih deenda a gue f lu ra a e m e bewee
ai if lged ius olto
e r a
c f nt r d el nde n gr e nt t n

tepat st a c nane a abtainca s, n tedsrc c u t edt th p rismu t r irt t s cams.
h ri h t o ti d n rirto lu e a d h itit o rh l ha te at
e
e s abtae hee li )
M o e v r Ru e5 ()do sn t p ybe a ePo t d dn t 5eh smo i f rr c nsd r to wi i t e
r o e , l 9 e e o a pl c us ri i o tl i t o e o ie ai n t n h
s
on
h
2 -a t l t S eFe R. v. 5 ()(A moint atro a n ajd me tmut fldn ltrta 28
8d y i i . e d. Ci P 9 e : to o l r me d u g n sbe i o ae h n
me mi
$
e
e
d y atrtee tyo t ej g n .) Th c u t o d rc mp lngabtainwa Gldo J n 2 , 01 , ri'
a s fe h nr f h ud me t'. e o r' r e o el r i t
'
s
i
r o s e n u e 6 2 5. t s
Po s
mo i n f rr c n i e ain wa fld o Au u t1 2 5, e eo e i i u tmeyu d rRu e5 ( )
to o e o sd r t
o s ie n g s 2, 01 Th r f r , t s n i l n e l 9 e .

D i c s on
s us i
A ppl ng t
yi hese prnci es,t coul concl
i pl he
'
t
udest Ports i notentted t r i under
hat
i s
il o elef

Rul 54( . rt Po tsdoe noti ntf a r e c ngei co r lnglw oracl rer of
e b) Fis, ri s de iy ny ec nt ha n ntoli a
ea ror
l w t tw oul m e i a r vi i oft c tsde s on.I hi m oto Por i sm pl r ie a e t
a ha
d rt e s on he our ' ci i n s i n, ts i y e t r t s he
s m e f c sand a gum e t t tt co tc i r w he de enni ng Rua s m oton t c pel
a
at
r
n s ha he ur ons de ed
n t ni
n'
i o om
a bir ton, m e y t tt m a ge s a Rua i e Po ts sr po t a
r ta i na l ha he na r t n gnor d r i ' e r s boutuns f w or ng
ae
ki

co tonsa Rua s eq nty fr dhi . c tc nnotfnd any a s ri i Pori'
ndii
nd
n ubs ue l ie m The our a
i
s e ton n ts s
m o i t tw oul c tt e a a gum e t tt 1 w hasc nge ort tt c te ed i is
ton ha
d ons iut n r
nt ha he a
ha d ha he our n' n t
eover, Pori hasnots
a i ton o t l w . M or
pplca i f he a 3
ts
hown w hy r co i r ton woul pr ve a
e ns de a i
d e nt

ma ie tij tc b c u etec u tso no wa û lal er ne us'Na tl l . . .
nf s nusie e a s h o r' piin s i e ry ro o . u i ns Co v
c
'
us
StoncwelCor ,968F.Supp. 807,823( . Va. 3) l fc,Po tssae i hi moton
r
l p.
2d
W D. 201 .n a t ri tts n s i
t ttlj t c r' die tor rt co lar tai i amatrofpr dur g jundesa
ha tif he outs rc de o mpe birton s te
oee e,he
rtnds
t i po t nce off l w i pr ce e a w ilpr e d. Pl' M o . orRe nsder ton a 1.
he m r a
olo ng o dur s nd l oc e ' .s t f
'
co i a i t
H ow e r Pori as e t t the ta ksf t c ts a e s a r a iy ofcic s a es
ve , ts s r s ha
û s or he our ' war ne s nd e lt
r um t nc

i ve 'J Thi doe nota
nvol d. .
'i s s
moun t a ag ntt tt c t sce rye r ous
t o n rume ha he our wa lal rone .
Se ond, tsdoesnotpr de a ne e de i hi m oton f r cons de a i
c
Pori
ovi ny w vi nce n s i or e
i r ton.
Po ts di a t h t o e bisi s
r i d tac w xhi t n uppo tofhi m oton. ne e bi i am e or ndum w ih a
r
s i O
xhi t s
m a
t
s m ar ofan i er e be wee Rua m a ge s Sha n Ra a BilBr a t
um
y
nt vi w t n
n na r
w
y nd l ady nd he
De rm e ofLa .Se P1' M ot f rR e ons de a i a 4.The ot e bi i a dec a a i
pa t nt
bor e .s
. o c i r ton t
her xhi t s
l r ton
ofK a a Lynn M c i s a dipat he atRua 1 a 5- Pori alo s it a e a lt t
r
G nni , s c r
n. d. t 6. ts s ubm ted n m i o he
3l hi fr ta e d m oto f r c i r to , Pori a tc d adecii n f om t Cic tCou tf t
n s is m nde
i n or e ons de a i n
ts ta he
s o r he r ui
r or he
Count ofRoa
y
noke t tc i r t que to ofne i ents r son ofan e pl
ha ons de ed he s i n
glg upe vii
m oyeeby a e pl r Howe ,
n m oye .
ver
t sca e wasdec de o M a 4,2009,be o e t s c ts de s o c peli a bir ton,a t r or i no ne
hi s
i d n y
f r hi our' cii n om lng r ta i nd he ef e s t w
l w . o e ,t c ' c notfnd a t ng i t cas t two d s w t tt cou ter e i is a i a i of
a M r over he oul an i ny hi n he e ha ul ho ha he r r d n t pplc ton
t
t l w whe dec di whe he t co pela bi a i a Po tsdo notar t i does Thus t c r
he a
n i ng
t ro m
r t ton, nd r i es
r
gue hat t
.
, he ou t
conc ude t tPori ha notputf r h a a gume st t c te r d i de e mi ng t lgalquesi i is
l s ha
ts s
o t ny r
nt hat he our r e n t r ni he e
tons n t
pr vi m oton.
e ous i

U ni wih hi a ende m o i on Sept m be 21 201 l d s no a art ta oft e
on t s m
d ton
e r , 5. t oe t ppe ha ny hes
exhi t w e e pr vi usy fl d w ih Por i ' opposton breft Rua s m oton t c pe
bis r e o l ie t
ts s
ii
i o
n'
i o om l
a bir to How e r t m e or ndum i da e M a 23,201 t dec a a i i da ed
r t a i n.
ve , he m a
s td y
3, he l r ton s t

De m be 4,201 a t e li da e M ay 5,20l1 Thus noneoft s doc e swer
ce r
3, nd he mai s t d
.
,
he e um nt
e
c e t d a t rRua f l d is m oton t c pela bir ton on M a 1, 5. n or r f t c t o
r a e fe
n ie t
i o om
r tai
y 201 l de or he our t
gr nta m oto f r c i r ton bas d on ne e de e Pori m us e a n why he c d not
a
i n or e ons de a i
e
w vi nc , ts
t xpl i
oul
have i roduced t s i or aton prort t courtsdeci on on Ruan' m oton.See M ccov v.
nt
hi nf m i
i o he
'
si
s i

Ro ns n, 3: v555,2011W L 5
bi o No. 08c
975277,a *9( D. . v. 2011 (i antf,
t E. Va No 28, ) û i if
pl
how e ,f ist e ai ashe m us , hy he c d no ha i r
ver a l o xpl n,
tw
oul t ve nt oduc d t i or ato i hi
e he nf m i n n s

De lrto p irt tea j d c to o t ep e iusmo in f rs mmayj d me t' . ri
caain ro o h du iain f h rv o
to s o u r u g n .) Po ts
'
hasnotdone s i t sca e M o eo r e n i Pori had pr d s m e e a ton a t w hy
o n hi s . r ve , ve f ts
ovi ed o
xpl na i s o

t doc
he ument hes
s ubmitd we epr ousy u va lbl t hi ,
te
r evi l na ia e o m none oft doc e sa
he um nt ppea s
r
t pr de a e de er e ntt t co tsd ii whehe o no t CBA c pest
o ovi ny vi nc elva o he ur ' ecson
t r r t he
om l he
pa test ar ta e t i diput l t ad, he doc e sr l t t Pori ' a l ga i t tRua
r i o bir t he r s e. ns e t
um nt e a e o ts s le tons ha
n

tr nae hi i vi ai ofVigi aCod j40.- . 2,whi i t is t beabirtd.
emi td m n olton
r ni
e
1512:
ch s he sue o r tae
The e or ,Po i hasnotm a a s f c e s i f t cou tt r ons de is de i i
r f e rts
de uf i i nt how ng or he r o ec i r t c son
c pe lng t pa te t s i t a bir t o A c or ngl Por i ' m o i f r co i r ton
om li he ri s o ubm t o r t a i n. c di y, ts s ton or e ns de a i
w ilb de ed.
l e ni
Concl on
usi

Fort f e ng r a o ,t c tco ude t tPori hasno me hi bu de of
he or goi e s ns he our ncl s ha
ts
t t s r n
s
howi a a opr a e r as f rt co t o r co i ris o ni n and o de c peli
ng n ppr i t e on o he ur t e nsde t pi o
r r om lng
a bir ton a s a ng t c s i f vorofa bir ton. s s h, ts s m oton f r
r t a i nd t yi he a e n a
r t a i A uc Pori '
i o
r
eeons deraton i deni Becaus t deadlne f Portst El evi
i
i s
ed.
e he
i or
i o e dence t he s art t
hat t ed he

greva pr es pa s whiet c twa c i rngt smoton,t cour wile e t t
i nce oc s s ed l he our s onsde i hi
i he
t l xtnd ha
dea i t Oc obe 9,201 a a e by t pa te .The Cl r i die t d t s nd c r ii d
dlne o t r
5, s gr ed
he r i s
e k s r c e o e e tfe
co esoft sm e or
pi
hi m andum opi o a t a om pa ng o de t a lc
ni n nd he cc
nyi r r o l ouns lofr c d.
e
e or

ENTER:Thi / d yofOco e, 0l .
s W a
tb r2 5
ChifUnie Stt DititJ e
e
t d a es src udg