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recognizing that "courts routinely treat antitrust violations as deceptive acts"
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ORDER:(1) DENYING DEFENDANT'S MOTION TO DISMISS OR STRIKE(2) GRANTING DEFENDANT'S MOTION TO DISMISS THE REQUEST FOR DECLARATORY JUDGMENT
IRMA E. GONZALEZ, Chief District Judge.
Before the Court are defendant's Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, Rule 12(f) motion to strike, and motion to stay the action. (Doc. Nos. 11 and 12.) Plaintiffs opposed and defendant filed a reply.
BACKGROUND
The following factual background is drawn from plaintiffs' first amended complaint. All facts alleged are taken as true for the limited purposes of this motion.
A. Parties
Plaintiff Macquarie Group Limited ("MGL") and plaintiff Macquarie Bank Limited ("Macquarie") are Australian corporations with principal places of business in Sydney, Australia. Macquarie is a wholly owned subsidiary of MGL. Plaintiff Allan Moss was the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Macquarie until November 2007, when he became the Managing Director and Chief Executive of MGL. Plaintiff Ben Bruck was the Head of Macquarie Funds Management Group, a business division within MGL. Plaintiff Jeff Blakely was the head of Macquarie Funds Management Group's Alternative Investments private equity management business. Defendant, Pacific Corporate Group, is a Delaware limited liability corporation with its principal place of business in La Jolla, California. Defendant also maintains an office in New York, New York.
B. Facts Underlying the Request for Declaratory Relief
In October 2006, Peter Martenson, an employee of a MGL subsidiary, allegedly sent e-mail messages to a number of defendant's employees in which he falsely identified the author of the emails as defendant's chairman, Christopher Bower. Martenson also sent an email to Dow Jones reporter Laura Kreutzer, in which he falsely identified the email's author as defendant's former president. In these emails, Martenson purported to transmit disparaging information about defendant gathered from the website of one of defendant's clients.
In January 2008, defendant notified plaintiffs it intended to bring claims for violations of various federal and state laws arising from Martenson's conduct. Defendant presented plaintiffs with a proposed complaint, which defendant intended to file in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of San Diego ("draft complaint"). (FAC, Ex. A.) In the draft complaint, defendant claimed plaintiffs were responsible for Martenson's conduct and conspired with Martenson to damage defendant. Defendant's draft complaint alleged $25 million in damages. Plaintiffs commenced this action in the Southern District of New York on April 7, 2008. Defendant filed a complaint in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of San Diego on May 23, 2008.
C. The Alleged Refusal To Deal
The alleged refusal to deal stems from plaintiffs' attempted entry into the investment management services for public pension funds market in 2005. A pension fund is a pool of assets bought with contributions made under a pension plan. When an employee retires, she receives payment from the pension fund. Pension plans funded by governments are pubic pension funds.
Public pension funds have trillions of dollars in capital to invest on behalf of their beneficiaries. These funds are highly risk averse and are often restricted by complicated laws and regulations governing how the public pension fund can invest. Most of the funds have extensive internal rules and regulations which require a public pension fund investment manager to develop highly specialized knowledge and understanding.
Before hiring a manager, public pension funds engage in extensive due diligence, including a review of the manager's track record. Reputation is therefore essential to secure investment business. Part of this reputation is premised on a new investment manager's first investments. The ability to acquire initial investment opportunities will have a disproportionately high impact on the investment manager's ability to enter the market. For example, an investment manager's initial inability to secure access to significant investment opportunities signals the new manager may not be able to secure adequate, long-term investment returns.
In July 2005, Macquarie attempted to enter the public pension fund investment management market. As part of the effort, Macquarie attempted to secure the business of the Government Employees Superannuation Board ("GESB"). In August 2005, Macquarie approached Aisling Capital LLC ("Aisling"), a life science venture capital fund manager with an office in New York, New York. Aisling was amenable to dealing with Macquarie and indicated Macquarie would receive a commitment of at least $15 million in the Aisling fund.
On November 9, 2005, Jan Hoerrner, Aisling's Director of Investor Relations and Marketing, telephoned Macquarie concerning Macquarie's investment in the Aisling fund. Hoerrner told Macquarie she had received a call on November 9, 2005 from defendant's president. Defendant's president told Aisling to not allow Macquarie into the Aisling Fund, requested priority over Macquarie in the fund, and threatened to not recommend Aisling to clients if Macquarie entered the fund. Aisling subsequently lowered Macquarie's investment opportunity from $15 million to $5 million.
This reduction in investment opportunity signaled to investors Macquarie could not secure meaningful investments for its clients. Plaintiffs allege defendant knew the importance of this investment opportunity and coerced Aisling into reducing the opportunity to prevent Macquarie's entry into the market. Subsequently, defendant circulated rumors in the marketplace that Macquarie was having difficulties getting access to funds like Aisling's. As a result, Macquarie failed to receive allocations from several public pension funds.
Defendant's conduct damaged not only Macquarie, but also the market. Macquarie offered lower management fees. Therefore, by preventing Macquarie's entry into the market, defendant was able to sustain higher fees and offer lower quality service. Macquarie, as well as consumers in general, suffered financial harm from defendant's acts.
Further, without Macquarie's consent, defendant obtained confidential documents belonging to Macquarie. For example, defendant's California complaint quotes a confidential email.
D. Procedure
On October 31, 2008, Judge Castel transferred this case from the Southern District of New York to the Southern District of California pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a). On November 26, 2008, plaintiffs filed a first amended complaint, alleging defendant (1) violated section 1 of the Sherman Act; (2) violated New York General Business Law § 349 (deceptive acts and practices); (3) tortiously interfered with prospective economic relations; and (4) committed conversion. Plaintiff also requests declaratory judgment arising from the Martenson incident. On December 15, 2008, defendant filed (1) a motion to strike portions of the first amended complaint and (2) a motion to dismiss or stay the action. (Doc. Nos. 11, 12.) Plaintiffs filed an opposition and defendant replied.
LEGAL STANDARD
A. Motion to Dismiss
A motion to dismiss pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) tests the legal sufficiency of the claims asserted in the complaint. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). To avoid a Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal, a complaint need not contain detailed factual allegations; rather, it must plead "enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face." Bell A. Corp. v. Twombly , 550 U.S.544 (2007). The court's review is limited to the contents of the complaint and must accept all factual allegations pled in the complaint as true, drawing all reasonable inferences from them in favor of the nonmoving party. Cahill v. Liberty Mutual Ins. Co. , 80 F.3d 336, 337-38 (9th Cir.1996). In spite of this deference, it is not proper for the court to assume that "the [plaintiff] can prove facts which [he or she] has not alleged." Associated General Contractors of California, Inc. v. California State Council of Carpenters , 459 U.S. 519, 526 (1983). Furthermore, a court is not required to credit conclusory legal allegations cast in the form of factual allegations, unwarranted deductions of fact, or unreasonable inferences. Sprewell v. Golden State Warriors , 266 F.3d 979, 988 (9th Cir. 2001).
B. Motion to Strike
Rule 12(f) permits the court to strike any "redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous matter." Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(f). Motions to strike are a drastic remedy and generally disfavored. 5C Wright & A. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 1380 (3d ed. 2004). A matter is impertinent if the statements do not pertain, and are not necessary, to the issues in question. Fantasy, Inc.v. Fogerty , 984 F.2d 1524, 1527 (9th Cir. 1993) rev'd on other grounds 510 U.S. 517 (1994). "Scandalous" matters "casts a cruelly derogatory light on a party or other person." In re 2TheMart.com, Inc. Sec. Litig. , 114 F.Supp. 2d 955, 965 (C.D. Cal. 2000); see, e.g. Jacobsen-Wayne v. Calvin C.M. Kam, M.D., Inc., 198 F.3d 254 (9th Cir. 1999) (striking the words "date rape" and "rape" from a reply brief in a case arising from a medical examination); Alvarado-Morales v. Digital Equip. Corp. , 843 F.2d 613 (1st Cir. 1988) (striking the terms "concentration camp," "brainwashing," and "torture" in a tort case in the employment context).
DISCUSSION
A. Motion to Dismiss Sherman Act Claim
Plaintiffs allege a vertical agreement between defendant and Aisling, through which defendant attempted to bar plaintiffs' entry into the market for investment management for public pension funds. Defendant allegedly knew a failure to procure initial investment opportunities would be a barrier to market entry and knew of plaintiffs' relationship with Aisling. Defendant allegedly called Aisling and asked the company to reduce plaintiffs' investment opportunity. Aisling subsequently reduced plaintiffs' opportunity from $15 million to $5 million. Further, defendant allegedly spread rumors regarding plaintiffs' ability to procure investment opportunities. Plaintiffs contend this, coupled with the reduction of their investment opportunity, effectively barred their entry into the market.
A "vertical agreement" is an agreement between entities operating on different marketing levels. A prototypical example would be an agreement between a manufacturer and a distributor.
Section 1 of the Sherman Act states, "[e]very contract, combination in the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade... is declared to be illegal." 15 U.S.C. § 1. Because many beneficial business contracts restrain trade, courts interpret section 1 to prohibit only those that are "unreasonably restrictive of competitive conditions." Standard Oil Co. v. United States , 221 U.S. 1 (1911). To prevail on an section 1 claim, a plaintiff must prove three elements: (1) an agreement or conspiracy intended to restrain trade; (2) which actually restrains trade; and (3) which causes an injury to competition. Les Shockley Racing, Inc. v. Nat'l Hot Rod Ass'n , 884 F.2d 504, 507 (9th Cir.1989). Further, the plaintiff must establish both the relevant market and market power. See Newcal Industries, Inc. v. Ikon Office Solution , 513 F.3d 1038, 1045 (9th Cir. 2008).
If the plaintiffs establish these elements, the Court must determine whether to implement the per se rule or the "rule of reason." See Paladin Assocs., Inc. v. Montana Power Co. , 328 F.3d 1145, 1154 (9th Cir.2003). Per se liability is reserved for those agreements "so plainly anticompetitive that no elaborate study of the industry is needed to establish their illegality." National Soc. of Professional Engineers v. United States , 435 U.S. 679, 692 (1978). An agreement between a single customer and a single supplier to terminate a second supplier is not unlawful per se. NYNEX Corp. v. Discon , 525 U.S. 128 (1998). Therefore, the Court analyzes this type of vertical agreement using the rule of reason. A.H. Cox & Company v. Star Machinery Co. , 653 F.2d 1302, 1305-6 (9th Cir. 1981). The rule of reason requires the Court to "weigh the anticompetitive effects and the procompetitive effects or business justifications advanced for the challenged restraint to determine whether it is unreasonable." Les Shockley , 884 F.2d at 507. Below, the Court evaluates whether plaintiffs meet the section 1 elements before applying the rule of reason.
1. Agreement or Conspiracy
i. Parties' Argument
Defendant argues plaintiffs cannot show an agreement because the facts alleged do not exclude the possibility defendant and Aisling Capital each acted independently. Defendant notes that, generally, a market participant may freely choose his clients, citing Monsanto Co. v. Spray-Rite Service Corp., 465 752, 761 (1984)("A distributor is free to acquiesce in the manufacturer's demand in order to avoid termination."); Sorisio v. Lenox, Inc. , 701 F.Supp. 950, 956 (D. Conn. 1988)("[P]ersuasion, pressure, even argument, is permissible."); America Channel, LLC v. Time Warner Cable, Inc., 2007 WL 1892227 at *5 (D. Minn. June 28, 2007)("allegations regarding [the defendant's] refusal to deal are insufficient to allege a claim of conspiracy because... they fail... to exclude the possibility of independent action.").
Plaintiffs argue coerced conduct satisfies the joint conduct requirement, citing Spectators' Commc's Network v. Colonia Country Club , 253 F.3d 215, 225 (5th Cir. 2001); MCM Partners, Inc. v. Andrews-Bartlett & Assoc. , 62 F.3d 967, 973-74 (7th Cir. 1995); Pinhas v. Summit Health, Ltd. , 894 F.2d 1024 (9th Cir. 1990); Oltz v. St. Petter's Cmty. Hosp. , 861 F.2d 1440, 1445 (9th Cir. 1988).
ii. Analysis
For an agreement to constitute a restraint of trade, plaintiffs must show the conspirators had "conscious commitment to a common scheme designed to achieve an unlawful objective." Monsanto Co. v. Spray-Rite Serv. Corp. , 465 U.S. 752, 768 (1984). The agreeing parties need not share a motive and "acquiescence in an illegal scheme is as much a violation of the Sherman act as the creation and promotion of one." Spectators' , 253 F.3d at 221. An agreement to exclude a competitor from the market has been widely found to be a unlawful objective. See Klor's Inc. v. Broadway-Hale Stores , 359 U.S. 207 (1959); Quemos Theatre Co. v. Warner Bros. Pictures , 35 F.Supp. 949 (D.C.N.J. 1940).
In Spectator's, the Fifth Circuit found an agreement when one conspirator was allegedly "enticed or coerced into knowingly curtailing competition by another conspirator who has an anticompetitive motive." Id. at 222. In that case, the plaintiff alleged the PGA Tour, in an attempt to drive a competitor out of the on-site radio broadcast market, pressured Anheuser-Busch to withdraw sponsorship from a competitor's radio broadcast. Id. at 221. After Anheuser-Busch rescinded the agreement, its product became the official beer of the PGA Tour. Id. The Fifth Circuit found this circumstantial connection sufficient to survive a motion to dismiss.
In the instant case, plaintiffs sufficiently allege an agreement with an unlawful object. The agreement between the parties is evidenced by defendant's alleged phone call to Aisling and Aisling's subsequent reduction of plaintiffs' investment opportunity. Like the court in Spectator's, this Court may infer an agreement between the parties from this circumstantial evidence for the limited purposes of this motion. Further, the agreement was intended to exclude plaintiffs from the market, a clearly unlawful object. Plaintiffs satisfy the agreement element.
The cases cited by defendant are irrelevant because they involve either a different type of antitrust violation or are factually distinct. Monsanto , 465 U.S. 752 (evaluating a vertical price-fixing agreement); Sorisio , 701 F.Supp. at 956 (same); American Channel, 2007 WL 1892227 at *5 (evaluating a vertical refusal to deal in which the plaintiff only alleged parallel conduct without any other proof of agreement). In the instant case, plaintiffs allege an explicit agreement, evidenced by an admission by one of the co-conspirators and supported by circumstantial proof.
"Parallel conduct" refers to the inference of agreement or concerted action which a Court may draw from "the conscious parallelism of the defendants' acts of price cutting and the like." 54 Am. Jur. 2d Monopolies § 486. Parallel conduct alone, as opposed to explicit agreements, has widely been held insufficient to maintain an antitrust claim. Id.
2. Restraint on Trade
i. Parties' Argument
Defendant argues plaintiffs fail to articulate a plausible restraint on trade. Instead, defendant argues, this case involves a supplier choosing to deal with one prospective purchaser instead of another, an act that is presumptively legal absent extraordinary market power. Republic Tobacco Co. v. North Atlantic Trading Co., Inc. , 381 F.3d 717, 736 (7th Cir. 2004); E&L Consulting Ltd. v. Dorman Industries Ltd. , 472 F.3d 23, 29 (2d Cir. 2006). Plaintiffs, defendant argues, are complaining of too much competition because defendant received a larger share of the Aisling fund.
Plaintiffs allege defendant harmed competition by barring plaintiffs' entry into the investment management services for public pension funds market. According to plaintiffs, this market is concentrated in a few firms and has "high entry barriers." One of these barriers is a lack of confidence in new investment managers - which hinges, in part, on the manager's ability to secure initial investment opportunities. Allegedly, defendant ensured plaintiffs would not clear this barrier by depriving them of the full Aisling investment opportunity. Accordingly, plaintiffs have been unable to enter the market and defendant has been able to charge higher fees and offer lesser service.
ii. Analysis
"Not every agreement is per se in restraint of trade' within the meaning of section 1." Joseph E. Seagram & Sons, Inc. v. Hawaiian Oke & Liquors, Ltd. , 416 F.2d 71,76 (9th Cir. 1969). A single seller may unilaterally transfer his business to a competitor without violating the antitrust laws. Id. However, a refusal to deal where "there was a purpose either to exclude a person or group from the market, or to accomplish some other anti-competitive objective" is a restraint on trade. Id.; see, e.g., United States v. General Motors Corp. , 384 U.S. 127 (1966)(finding a section 1 violation when the objective was to put "discounters" out of business); Silver v. New York Stock Exchange , 373 U.S. 341 (1963)(finding a section 1 violation when a group worked to put a competitor out of business or, at least, impair their ability to compete); Quemos Theatre Co., Inc. v. Warner Bros. Pictures , 35 F.Supp. 949 (D.C.N.J. 1940).
At this stage in the proceedings, plaintiffs sufficiently allege defendant's vertical agreement with Aisling was a restraint on trade. Defendant allegedly pressured Aisling to reduce plaintiffs' investment opportunity in order to prevent their entry into the market, which is a form of a refusal to deal. Defendant's alleged anticompetitive motive is further evidenced by the rumors it allegedly spread about plaintiffs' inability to obtain investment opportunities. These agreements restrain trade by reducing the number of participants in the market and, as a result, plaintiffs allege defendant is able to charge supracompetitive prices. Evaluating the totality of these allegations, the Court concludes plaintiffs sufficiently allege a restraint on trade.
3. Injury to Competition (Anti-Trust Injury)
Defendant alleges plaintiffs do not properly alleged an injury to competition. A plaintiff must allege more than an injury to itself, it must allege an injury to the marketplace as a whole. Brunswick Corp. v. Pueblo Bowl-O-Mat , 429 U.S. 477 (1977). The complaint alleges defendant's actions allowed it "to sustain higher fees and offer lower quality of service... and consumers in general will suffer significant financial harm from the absence of an effective alternative to [defendant]." (FAC ¶ 65.) This allegation of supracompetitive prices is sufficient to satisfy the injury to competition requirement at this stage of the proceedings. See Rebel Oil Co, Inc. v. A. Richfield Co. , 51 F.3d 1421, 1424 (9th Cir. 1995) (noting evidence of "restricted output and supracompetitive prices" is proof of injury to competition.).
4. Relevant Market
i. Parties' Arguments
Defendant argues there is no relevant market because "investment management services to public pension funds" are indistinguishable from general investment management services. According to defendant, there are hundreds of thousands of professionals who could potentially provide services to public pension funds. Given this vast potential market, defendant argues plaintiffs fail to plead sufficient facts other than conclusory allegations of market, citing as an example Rick-Mik Enterprises, Inc. v. Equilon Enterprises LLC , 532 F.3d 963 (9th Cir. 2008).
Plaintiffs argue the relevant market is investment management services for public pension funds. This is typically a factual rather than a legal element. Newcal Indus., Inc. v. Ikon Office Solution , 513 F.3d 1038, 1045 (9th Cir. 2008). At this stage, plaintiffs argue defendant cannot defeat a well-pleaded complaint by counter-pleading another relevant market.
ii. Analysis
To state a valid Sherman Act claim, plaintiffs must allege "a relevant market' exists." Newcal Industries, Inc. v. Ikon Office Solution , 513 F.3d 1038, 1044 (9th Cir. 2008). A complaint survives a Rule 12(b)(6) motion "unless it is apparent from the face of the complaint that the alleged market suffers a fatal legal defect." Id. at 1045. Determination of the existence of a relevant market is generally a factual question, but there are some legal requirements. Plaintiffs must allege both a geographic market and a product market. The product "market must encompass the product at issue as well as all economic substitutes for the product." Id. at 1046.
Here, plaintiffs have alleged a plausible geographic and product market - the United States market for investment management of public pension funds. Plaintiffs allege this market is highly regulated, with a limited number of investment opportunities available due to the regulation; therefore, there are few economic substitutes. Although a factual inquiry may test the legitimacy of the market, it is not appropriate for determination at the motion to dismiss stage.
4. Market Power
i. Parties' Arguments
Defendant argues plaintiffs do not allege market power. Defendant contends, even if it had frozen plaintiffs out of the market, "exclusive dealing is an unreasonable restraint on trade only when a significant fraction of buyers or sellers are frozen out of a market by the exclusive deal." Jefferson Parish Hosp. Dist. No. 2 v. Hyde , 466 U.S. 2, 45 (1984)(requiring market share greater than 30%). Plaintiffs aver defendant's ability to exclude competition proves its market power.
ii. Analysis
"Market power may be demonstrated through... direct evidence of the injurious exercise of market power." Rebel Oil , 51 F.3d at 1421. Plaintiffs allege defendant manages billions of dollars for large, public pension funds. Defendant allegedly exercised its market power to exclude plaintiffs from the market, which is direct evidence of the injurious exercise of market power.
Defendant's citation to Jefferson Parish Hosp. is unpersuasive. That case involved a tying agreement, which occurs when a monopolist attempts "to use a tie-in to a product to extend its monopoly power into a second market...." Herbert Hovenkamp, Federal Antitrust Policy: The Law of Competition and its Practice § 7.8 (3d ed 2005). Under antitrust law, tying agreements are analyzed under a different rubric than refusals to deal. See generally id.
5. Weighing the Procompetitive and Anticompetitive factors
In general, courts find vertical agreements "among traders at different marketing levels, designed to exclude from the market direct competitors" to be impermissible. See 10A Fletcher Cyc. Corp. § 5007 (collecting cases). When a large appliance dealer used its purchasing power to induce manufacturers to sell at a higher price to competing appliance dealer, the effect of the agreement was unlawful because it drove the competitor out of business. Klor's Inc. v. Broadway-Hale Stores , 359 U.S. 207 (1959). The exclusion of competitors from the market place has the anticompetitive effect of allowing defendant to charge supracompetitive prices and, additionally, reduces consumer options.
The procompetitive factor involved is the freedom of a party to choose one client over another. The freedom of choice is a fundamental tenant of a the market system and the antitrust statutes do not restrict the right of any entity to choose with whom it does business. Shawver & Son, Inc. v. Oklahoma Gas & Elec. Co. , 463 F.2d 204 (10th Cir. 1972).
Balancing this freedom of choice against the anticompetitive factors, the Court finds plaintiffs satisfy the rule of reason. Although businesses are generally free to contract, there is a strong prohibition against agreements designed to prevent entry of a competitor into the market. Plaintiffs allege they can provide services to public pension funds at a lower price, therefore, its exclusion from the market damages consumers as a whole. The alleged damage to consumers outweighs the freedom of choice, making this alleged restraint on trade unreasonable. Accordingly, the Court DENIES defendant's motion to dismiss the antitrust claim.
B. Motion to Dismiss New York General Business Law § 349 Claim
The complaint alleges defendant's alleged phone call to Aisling constituted a violation of New York General Business Law § 349.
i. Parties' Argument
Defendant argues New York General Business Law § 349 is a consumer protection law and not applicable to this factual situation. First, defendant argues the complaint does not allege an act directed toward any New York consumers. Second, defendant asserts the phone call between it and Aisling was not deceptive. Finally, it argues, the damage claimed was to plaintiffs, not consumers.
Plaintiffs contend defendant's actions were consumer-oriented because they deprived New York consumers of access to a lucrative investment opportunity. Defendant's actions were deceptive because they were intended to deceive the market as to plaintiff's ability to compete for lucrative investment opportunities. Finally, defendant's actions were misleading toward New York consumers and injured plaintiffs.
ii. Analysis
Section 349 of new York's General Business Law provides: "Deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any business, trade or commerce or in the furnishing of any service in this state are hereby declared unlawful." N.Y. Gen. Bus. law § 349(a). To establish prima facie case, plaintiff must demonstrate that: (1) defendant's deceptive acts were directed at consumers, (2) acts are misleading in material way, and (3) plaintiffs have been injured as result. Gristede's Food, Inc. v. Unkechauge Nation , 532 F.Supp. 2d 439 (E.D.N.Y. 2007). There is no dispute plaintiffs allege they were injured as a result, therefore, the Court turns to the other elements.
The first element requires plaintiffs allege a "consumer injury or harm to the public interest." New York v. Feldman , 210 F.Supp. 2d 294, 301 (S.D.N.Y. 2002) (citation omitted). This requirement is construed "liberally." Id. "[P]laintiffs suing as corporate competitors under § 349 must show that defendants allegedly deceptive practice affects the public interest of New York.'" Boule v. Hutton , 320 F.Supp. 2d 132, 137 (S.D.N.Y. 2004) (citation omitted). In Feldman, the court found injury to the public interest when defendants allegedly engaged in a scheme to manipulate public stamp auctions, thereby, "undermin[ing] New York's interest in an honest marketplace in which economic activity is conducted in a competitive manner." Feldman , 210 F.Supp. 2d at 302. In the instant case, plaintiffs allege defendant orchestrated a refusal to deal designed to prevent its entry into the market, thereby, allowing defendant to charge supracompetitive prices. This undermines New York's interest in an honest marketplace in which economic activity is conducted in a competitive manner.
Next, the Court must determine if plaintiffs adequately allege the practice was deceptive or misleading. "[A] deceptive act or practice has an objective definition,... limited to those [acts] likely to mislead a reasonable consumer acting reasonably under the circumstances.'" Leider v. Ralfe , 387 F.Supp. 2d 283, 292 (S.D.N.Y. 2005) (quoting Oswego Laborers' Local 214 Pension Fund v. Marine Midland Bank, N.A. , 647 N.E.2d 741 (1995)). In this case, the alleged collusive activity falls within section 349's definition of "deceptive acts or practices." In Feldman, the court detailed a line of cases applying section 349 "by looking to the definition of deceptive acts under section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act." Feldman , 210 F.Supp. 2d at 302. The Feldman court noted many courts routinely treated antitrust violations as deceptive acts; therefore, the court found an alleged antitrust violation was a deceptive act for pleading purposes. Id. Similarly, this Court finds the particular antitrust violation alleged constitutes a deceptive act for the purposes of section 349. Accordingly, the Court DENIES defendant's motion to dismiss the section 349 claim.
C. Motion to Dismiss Other State Law Claims
1. Choice of Law Issues
As an initial matter, the parties disagree which state's laws govern plaintiffs' tortious interference and conversion claims. Defendant's motion rests upon the assumption both these claims are governed by California law. Plaintiffs argue New York law controls.
Following a transfer for "convenience" under 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a), the transferee court applies the same substantive rules - including statute of limitations - that the transferor court would have applied. Van Dusen v. Barrack , 376 U.S. 612, 637-39 (1964); Muldoon v. Tropitone Furn. Co. , 1 F.3d 964, 965 (9th Cir. 1993). However, the law applied will not necessarily be the law of New York, but rather the law a New York court would have applied under a choice of law analysis. See, e.g., Myelle v. American Cyanamid Co. , 57 F.3d 411, 413 (4th Cir. 1995).
The first step is to determine whether an actual conflict exists between the laws of the jurisdictions involved. In re Allstate Ins. Co. , 613 N.E.2d 936, 937 (N.Y. 1993). When no conflict exists, "the court should apply the law of the forum state in which the action is being heard." Frazier Exton Dev., LP v. Kemper Envtl., Ltd. , 2004 WL 1752580 at * 12 (S.D.N.Y. July 29, 2004). If there is a conflict, "New York has adopted an interest analysis,' which requires... the law of the jurisdiction having the greatest interest in the litigation... be applied.'" Kalb, Voorhis & Co. v. American Fin. Corp. , 8 F.3d 130, 132 (2d Cir.1993) (quoting Intercontinental Planning, Ltd. v. Daystrom, Inc. , 248 N.E.2d 576, 582 (1969)). The most important contacts to consider are "the locus of the tort and the domicile of the parties." Cooney v. Osgood Mach., Inc. , 179 A.D. 2d 240, 242 (N.Y. App. Div., 1992). "Where the parties are domiciled in different states, the locus of the tort will almost always be determinative in cases involving conduct regulating laws." Krock v. Lipsay , 97 F.3d 640, 646 (2d Cir. 1996). Interference with prospective economic relations is a conduct regulating law. The locus of the tort is where the last event occurred that triggered liability. Hamilton v. Accu-Tek , 47 F.Supp. 2d 330, 337 (E.D.N.Y. 1999).
The tortious interference claim is governed by New York law because there is no conflict between New York and California law. New York requires a plaintiff establish: "(1) the plaintiff had a business relationship with a third party; (2) defendant knew of such relationship and intentionally interfered with it; (3) defendant acted solely out of malice, or used dishonest, unfair, or improper means; and (4) defendant's actions injured the relationship between plaintiff and third party." Henneberry v. Sumitomo Corp. of America , 415 F.Supp. 2d 423, 467 (S.D.N.Y. 2006). California requires a plaintiff establish:
Even if a reviewing court finds a conflict, New York law still controls because the locus of the tort was New York. The majority of alleged tortious conduct occurred in New York: Aisling received defendant's phone call in New York, decided to reduce plaintiff's subscription in New York, and in fact reduced plaintiff's subscription.
[1] An economic relationship between plaintiff and some third party...; [2] The defendant's knowledge of the relationship; [3] Intentional acts by the defendant designed to disrupt the relationship; [4] Actual disruption of the relationship; [5] Economic harm to the plaintiff proximately caused by the acts of the defendant; [6] Conduct that was wrongful by some legal measure other than the fact of interference itself.
5 Witkin, Summary of California Law, Torts, § 742 (10th ed. 2005). The only arguable difference is California's requirement the act be "wrongful by some other legal measure." However, this is a false distinction as New York defines "improper means" to mean the conduct "must amount to a crime or an independent tort." Henneberry , 415 F.Supp. 2d at 468 (citation omitted). Because there is no material difference, a New York court would find New York law controls this claim.
The conversion claim is also governed by New York law because there is not conflict between the two potential laws. The elements of conversion in California are: (1) plaintiff's right of possession; (2) defendant's conversion by a wrongful act or disposition of plaintiff's property rights; and (3) damages. Burlesci v. Peterson , 68 Cal.App. 4th 1062 (1998). The elements of conversion in New York, (1) the plaintiff's right to possession, (2) intent of the defendant, and (3) defendant's interference with plaintiff's property rights to the exclusion of plaintiff's rights. Meese v. Miller , 436 N.Y.S.2d 496 (N.Y. App. Div., 1981). A New York court would apply New York conversion law.
Because there is no true conflict between these laws, rebriefing is unnecessary because defendant's arguments apply with equal vigor to New York law.
2. Tortious Interference with Prospective Economic Relations
Defendant allegedly interfered with plaintiffs' prospective economic relations by placing a phone call to Aisling, thereby convincing Aisling to reduce plaintiffs' investment opportunity.
i. Parties' Argument
As a threshold matter, defendant asserts plaintiffs' claim is time-barred. Defendant then argues the claim fails because plaintiffs have failed to show the act was independently wrongful, citing Korea Supply Co. v. Lockheed Martin Corp. , 29 Cal 4th 1134, 1159 (2003) ("[T]he requirement of pleading that a defendant has engaged in an act that was independently wrongful distinguishes lawful competitive behavior from tortious interference."). Finally, defendant claims its conduct was fully privileged under the doctrine of competition privilege and California's statutory common interest privilege, California Civil Code § 47(c).
Plaintiffs argue the claim is timely under New York law. Further, plaintiffs argue the complaint alleges the prima facie elements for its interference claim. Finally, plaintiffs argue neither the competition privilege nor the common interest privileges support dismissal.
ii. Analysis
The statute of limitations for this claim is three years from the date injury. N.Y. CPLR § 214. The injury did not occur until "Aisling succumbed to [defendants] threats and agreed to reduce [plaintiff's] $15 million investment in the Aisling Fund to $5 million." (FAC, ¶ 57.) Plaintiffs assert this occurred after November 26, 2005, less than three years before the filing of the FAC. Therefore, the statute of limitations does not bar the claim.
Under New York law, a claim for tortious interference with prospective economic advantage lies where "(1) the plaintiff had a business relationship with a third party; (2) defendant knew of such relationship and intentionally interfered with it; (3) defendant acted solely out of malice, or used dishonest, unfair, or improper means; and (4) defendant's actions injured the relationship between plaintiff and third party." Henneberry , 415 F.Supp. 2d at 467. The complaint satisfies elements one, two and four by adequately alleging plaintiffs had a relationship with Aisling, defendant knew of the relationship, defendant intentionally interfered with the relationship, and defendant's actions injured the relationship. Accordingly, the Court turns its analysis to the third element.
Plaintiffs must allege conduct that "amount[s] to a crime or an independent tort, or must be engaged in for the sole purpose of inflicting intentional harm to the plaintiffs.'" Henneberry , 415 F.Supp. 2d at 468 (quoting Caravel Corp. v. Noonan , 818 N.E.2d 1100, 1103 (N.Y. 2004)). Plaintiffs satisfy the third element because, as stated above, they adequately allege defendant's conduct constituted an antitrust violation.
The competition privilege and the common interest privilege are affirmative defenses and, as such, not grounds for dismissal. The "justification [for the competition privilege] is a question for the jury" based on various factual elements. United Euram Corp. v. Occidental Petroleum Corp. , 474 N.Y.S.2d 372, 375 (N.Y. S.Ct. 1984). Similarly, the common interest privilege "constitutes an affirmative defense..., [therefore,] it does not lend itself to a pre-answer motion to dismiss." Demas v. Levistsky , 738 N.Y.S.2d 402, 410 (NY. App. Div. 2002). Accordingly, the Court DENIES defendant's motion to dismiss the interference claim.
3. Conversion
Defendant allegedly converted "confidential documents (including the referenced e-mail)." (FAC ¶ 76.) The "referenced e-mail" was an internal email defendant allegedly took from plaintiffs.
i. Parties Argument
Defendant argues (1) an email cannot be converted, (2) plaintiffs have failed to allege defendant wrongfully obtained the email, (3) the possession of the email did not substantially interfere with plaintiffs' possession, and (4) plaintiffs have not identified any confidential documents converted.
Plaintiffs argue they have pled (1) ownership and right to possession of the confidential e-mail, (2) defendant's intentional interference with plaintiffs' right of possession, and (3) damages. Plaintiffs discuss at length whether email can be converted.
ii. Analysis
The elements of conversion in New York are (1) the plaintiff's right to possession, (2) intent of the defendant, and (3) defendant's interference with plaintiff's property rights to the exclusion of plaintiff's rights. Meese v. Miller , 436 N.Y.S.2d 496 (N.Y. App. Div., 1981) Plaintiffs allege a right to possess the confidential documents (including the email), defendant intended to convert the documents, and defendant interfered with plaintiffs' property right by using the documents to the exclusion of plaintiffs' rights. Further plaintiffs allege the conversion has caused damages in excess of $75,000. This is sufficient to maintain a conversion action in New York.
The issue of whether an email can be converted is irrelevant because the complaint clearly alleges the conversion of "confidential documents (including the referenced e-mail)." (FAC ¶ 77.) A plain reading of this paragraph implies defendant also converted documents other than the referenced email. Even if the email cannot be converted, plaintiffs have sufficiently alleged defendant converted other confidential documents. Therefore, the Court need not reach the question at this juncture and DENIES defendant's motion to dismiss the conversion claim.
D. Motion to Strike Pursuant to Rule 12(f)
i. Parties' Argument
Defendant urges the Court strike paragraphs 18-43 of plaintiffs' complaint because they purportedly violate California's litigation privilege and the Federal Noerr-Pennington doctrine. Defendant cites cases extending both doctrines to prelawsuit communications. Sengchanthalangsy v. Accelerated Recovery Specialists, Inc. , 473 F.Supp. 2d 1083, 1088 (S.D. Cal. 2007) (extending California litigation privilege to demand letters); Sosa v. DIRECTV, Inc. , 437 F.3d 923, 933 (9th Cir. 2006) (extending Noerr-Pennington doctrine to demand letters). Defendant argues the factual allegations reference a draft complaint it sent to plaintiffs as a prelawsuit invitation to settle, therefore, these allegations should be barred under both Sengchanthalangsy and Sosa.
Plaintiffs argue defendant's motion fails to identify the privileged communication and does not explain how plaintiffs' use violated the privilege. Plaintiffs also argue the reliance on the draft complaint does not violate either privilege.
ii. Analysis
As a preliminary matter, for the reasons discussed above, the Court applies New York litigation privilege law. In New York, "a statement made in the course of legal proceedings is absolutely privileged if it is at all pertinent to the litigation." Lacher v. Engel , 817 N.Y.S.2d 37 (N.Y. App. Div. 2006) (citing Youmans v. Smith , 47 N.E. 265 (N.Y. 1897)). The privilege extends to "preliminary stages or investigative stages of the process." Rosenberg v. MetLife, Inc. , 866 N.E.2d 439, 443 (N.Y. 2007). The privilege is intended to prevent parties from being held liable for exercising their right to access the courts. Id. The usual context in which this arises is suits for defamation based upon the filing of a complaint. See, e.g., Toker v. Pollak , 376 N.E.2d 163 (N.Y. 1978).
The Noerr-Pennington doctrine "ensures that those who petition the government for redress of grievances remain immune from liability for statutory violations, notwithstanding the fact that their activity might otherwise be proscribed by the statute involved." White v. Lee , 227 F.3d 1214, 1231 (9th Cir. 2000). The purpose of the doctrine is to protect the right to petition the government. Id.
Both the litigation privilege and the Noerr-Pennington doctrine seek to prohibit suits aimed to punish parties for seeking access to the courts. In the instant case, plaintiffs do not bring any cause of action to punish defendant for its prelawsuit communications. This is not an action for defamation and plaintiffs do not rely on the act of sending the complaint as a basis for a cause of action. The draft complaint may have been a catalyst for the instant litigation, but these doctrines do not bar access to the courts in this situation. Accordingly, the Court DENIES defendant's motion to strike.
E. Motion to Dismiss or Stay the Declaratory Relief Claim
Plaintiffs request the Court declare the rights of the parties concerning the alleged conduct of Macquarie's former employee Peter Martenson. Martenson allegedly sent emails to defendant's employees and the press pretending to be an executive working for defendant. These actions allegedly caused $25,000,000 in damages to defendant. On May 23, 2008, defendant filed a complaint in California state court based on these facts.
i. Parties' Arguments
Defendant moves the Court to dismiss or stay plaintiffs' declaratory judgement action in favor of defendant's California state lawsuit. Defendant notes the Court has broad discretion to exercise its jurisdiction under the Declaratory Judgment act. Assessing factors set forth in Brillhart v. Excess Ins. Co. of America , 316 U.S. 491 (1942), defendant argues dismissal would avoid needless determination of state laws issues, discourage forum shopping, and avoid duplicative litigation. Further, defendant argues the declaratory judgment action serves no useful purpose, would not finalize the controversy, is merely "procedural fencing,"and raises unnecessary federalism issues. Government Employees Ins. Co. v. Dizol , 133 F.3d 1220, 1225 (9th Cir. 1998).
"Procedural fencing" means that the action is merely the product of forum shopping. Sherwin-Williams Co. v. Holmes County , 343 F.3d 383, 390 n. 2 (5th Cir. 2003).
Plaintiffs argue the presence of their other substantive claims weighs in favor of the Court retaining jurisdiction, citing Dizol , 133 F.3d at 1225-26. Plaintiffs assert adjudication of the declaratory judgment action would not be duplicative because the state court has stayed the action and the parties are substantially similar. Further, plaintiffs argue adjudication of the declaratory judgment action would not lead to needless determination of state law. Plaintiffs aver they have not engaged in forum shopping and the action serves the useful purpose of clarifying liabilities.
ii. Analysis
"The Declaratory Judgment Act embraces both constitutional and prudential concerns." Dizol , 133 F.3d at 1222. A plaintiff seeking federal declaratory relief must have Article III standing, satisfy the case and controversy requirement, and fulfill all statutory prerequisites. Id. at 1222-23. The parties do not dispute plaintiff has fulfilled these requirements and the Court, upon its own review, finds plaintiff satisfies these prerequisites. "If the suit passes constitutional and statutory muster, the district court must also be satisfied that entertaining the action is appropriate. This determination is discretionary...." Id.
A federal district court's broad discretion to abstain in declaratory relief actions empowers it to stay or dismiss such actions in favor of pending state court proceedings involving the same issue and parties. Wilton v. Seven Falls Co. , 515 U.S. 277, 287-89 (1995). The Court is guided by the factors first articulated in Brillhart - avoidance of needless determination of state law issues, discouragement of forum shopping, and avoidance of duplicative litigation. Brillhart , 316 U.S. 491, 495 (1942). Additionally, courts may inquire: (1) whether the declaratory action will settle all aspects of the controversy; (2) whether the declaratory action will serve a useful purpose; (3) whether the action is brought merely for "procedural fencing"; and (4) whether the declaratory action will unnecessarily entangle the state and federal courts. Dizol , 133 F.3d at 1225 n.5 (citations omitted).
Turning first to the Brillhart factors, entertaining the declaratory judgment claim would result in needless determination of state law issues. When the sole basis of jurisdiction is diversity of citizenship, the federal interest is at its nadir and the policy of avoiding unnecessary determination of state law is especially strong. Allstate Life Ins. Co. v. Sundboll, 1995 WL 566040 at *3 (N.D. Cal. 1995). According to plaintiffs, defendant does not allege plaintiffs violated any federal laws (see defendant's draft complaint (FAC, Ex. A)); therefore, diversity would be the sole basis of jurisdiction. Further, the declaratory judgment claim arises from a different case and controversy than plaintiffs' other claims. The declaratory judgment claim concerns Peter Martenson, who allegedly sent false materials to defendant's employees and the press, pretending to be an executive working for defendant. Plaintiffs' other claims involve defendant's interference with its investment opportunities, a factually and temporally distinct controversy. Therefore, the Court need not determine the state law issues underlying the declaratory judgment claim. Further, entertaining the declaratory judgment claim would encourage forum shopping. "A party should not be allowed to choose a less appropriate federal forum by hasty initiation of a federal proceeding which is parallel to a state proceeding." Allstate, 1995 WL 566060 at *3. Here, the federal forum is inappropriate because the federal proceeding involves only state claims and is parallel to a state proceeding; therefore plaintiffs should not be allowed to force defendant, who is the natural plaintiff, into the federal forum. Finally, duplicative litigation would result if both this Court and the state court allow the claims to proceed. All of these factors weigh against entertaining the declaratory judgment claim.
Similarly, the other Ninth Circuit factors also weigh against hearing the declaratory judgment claim. The declaratory judgment claim would not completely resolve the controversy because plaintiff omitted key parties in interest - most notably Peter Martenson. Further, the action serves no useful purpose. "The useful purpose' served by the declaratory judgment action is the clarification of legal duties for the future, rather than the past harm a coercive tort action is aimed at redressing." Amsouth Bank v. Dale , 386 F.3d 763, 786 (6th Cir. 2004). Plaintiffs merely seek to have the court conduct a tort-style inquiry into the past conduct of Peter Martenson and determine liability - this is not the useful purpose described in Amsouth. See also, 10B C. Wright, A. Miller & M. Kane, Federal Practice & Procedure § 2758 (3d ed 1998) ("[I]t is not the function of the federal declaratory action merely to anticipate a defense that otherwise could be presented in a state action."). Additionally, the declaratory judgment claim appears to be procedural fencing, an attempt to place the action in a federal forum rather than the appropriate state forum. Finally, the claim would unnecessarily cause friction between the state and federal courts because both courts would be adjudicating the same issue simultaneously. These factors weigh against entertaining the declaratory judgment claim in this Court.
The next issue is whether the Court should dismiss the claim or stay the action. In Exxon Shipping Co. v. Airport Depot Diner, Inc. , 120 F.3d 166 (9th Cir. 1997), the Ninth Circuit remanded a declaratory judgment action with directions to dismiss when the court determined the declaratory judgment served the improper purpose of attempting to displace a state court ruling. Similarly, in the instant case, plaintiffs are trying to bring this state action into a federal court by bringing a declaratory judgment claim. This Court GRANTS defendant's motion to dismiss the declaratory judgment claim.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the Court DENIES defendant's motion to dismiss the antitrust claim, the New York Business Law Claim, the conversion claim, and the tortious interference with prospective economic advantage claim. The Court DISMISSES WITH PREJUDICE plaintiff's declaratory judgment claim because any amendment to that claim would be futile.
IT IS SO ORDERED.