Aliya Medcare Finance, LLC v. Nickell
Aliya Medcare Finance, LLC v. Nickell
Opinion of the Court
ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO DISMISS
On October 8, 2014, Aliya Medcare Finance, LLC (“Aliya”) filed, this action against Robert P. Nickell, Comprehensive Toxicology Billing, LLC (“CTB”), Exec Billing Services, LLC (“Exec Billing”) (collectively “defendants”), and various fictitious defendants.
On December 18, 2014, Aliya filed a first amended complaint.
On December 29, 2014, the court approved the parties’ stipulation to extend defendants’ time to respond to the first amended complaint to January 30, 2015.
I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Aliya is in the business of factoring.
A. The Factoring, Non-Compete, and Indemnification Agreements
Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2012 and continuing to the first quarter of 2013, CTB and Aliya allegedly entered into three factoring agreements pursuant to which Aliya purchased existing CTB receivables and an exclusive right to acquire all right, title, and interest to CTB’s future receivables for a period of five years.
Aliya alleges that, to induce it to enter into the third agreement and pay in excess of $4 million for the receivables being purchased, Niekell executed and delivered a covenant not to compete and a covenant to indemnify.
Aliya, for its part, agreed to purchase all of CTB’s receivables without conducting any due diligence; in exchange, it negotiated a provision that permitted it to return any and all receivables that failed to meet certain criteria.
Aliya alleges that it purchased an additional $52.6 million of future receivables from CTB under the third agreement. In total, it contends it has purchased “all of CTB’s receivables, which amounts to over $83 million of receivables.”
B. Alleged Misrepresentations Concerning In-Network Doctors
The third agreement allegedly required that all receivables represent charges by referring physicians who were “in-network.”
Aliya presented the results of its research to Nickell at a meeting on October 8, 2013. After reviewing it, Nickell purportedly said that Aliya’s staff was incompetent and maintained that all physicians referring business to CTB were in-network providers of virtually every relevant insurance company.
C. Aliya’s Rejection of Certain Receivables and CTB’s Alleged Failure to Provide Reasonable Assurances Concerning Repayment
When no resolution was reached, on October 19, 2014, Aliya formally rejected $17,650,096.36 of receivables; it asserted that the receivables were properly rejected under section 14(f) of the third agreement because the referring physicians were out-of-network.
Following Aliya’s refund request, CTB had ten days, i.e., until October 29, 2014, to notify Aliya of any objection to Aliya’s rejection of the receivables under section 14(f). CTB provided a response on that date; Aliya contends, however, that the response provided no substantive basis for the objection.
CTB’s response also allegedly offered no assurance that it could pay Aliya $3,654,224.50.
D. Nickell’s and CTB’s Alleged Refusal to Honor Aliya’s Right to Reject Receivables for Charges Associated With Already Paid or Settled Workers’ Compensation Claims
Aliya alleges that insurance companies will not pay receivables for medical services when there is no longer an ongoing workers’ compensation claim; thus, the parties agreed that Aliya was permitted to reject any receivables and seek full refund of the purchase price if the receivables concerned services rendered after the underlying insurance claim had been settled, paid, or adjudicated.
E. Nickell’s and CTB’s Alleged Sale of Receivables That Had Previously Been Collected In Full and Failed to Return the Purchase Price of These Receivables
In or about June 2014, Aliya purportedly discovered that CTB had sold receivables to it that had already been paid by insurers; the purchase price for the receivables was $256,706.46.
Even if defendants did not act fraudulently, Aliya contends that CTB is contractually obligated to remit the funds paid on these receivables and/or issue a credit equal to the purchase price of the receivables at closing under section 12 of the third agreement.
“All monies related to the Receivables, which have already been received by Provider and not properly recorded against the listing of the Receivables in Exhibit A, will be immediately credited to Buyer at the time of the closing. All monies received by Provider after the execution of this contract and before funding related to the Receivables, will be turned over to Buyer in good funds, at the closing. All monies received by Provider after the funding related to Receivables will be turned over to Buyer in good funds within 48 hours of receipt.”66
On July 3, 2014, Aliya alleged exercised its rights under section 12 and made a claim for $256,706.46 based on receivables that had already been paid to CTB by insurers.
F. Nickell’s Alleged Diversion of Business That Belonged to Aliya
Beginning in or about October 2013, CTB allegedly began to divert urinalysis business in violation of the third agreement and non-competition clause.
- As a result of CTB’s allegedly wrongful actions, Aliya terminated the third agreement on November 5, 2014, giving CTB notice that it would not purchase further receivables in the future.
Since Aliya terminated the third agreement, Nickell and CTB have purportedly begun to withhold payment on all of the receivables purchased by Aliya.
Each of the parties’ three agreements required that CTB open an account into which checks representing payments on receivables Aliya purchased were to be deposited. CTB was required to send the checks, uncashed, to the account on the day they were received from the insurance company. This was purportedly done to ensure that funds would not be commingled and that Aliya would not be subjected to risk in the event CTB became insolvent.
Aliya alleges that Nickell has used the receivable payments to fund other investments and businesses.
“[I]n the beginning of 2014 he unilaterally decided to hold on to Aliya’s funds for up to seven weeks before finally paying Aliya in two installments on February 27 ($515,758) and March 5 ($534,696). Based on information and belief, these dates coincide with Nickell’s refinancing of a commercial building that he owns through one of his other entities (Kashi-wa Court,- LLC). Nickell refinanced this building in two separate transactions on February 26 and March 4, respectively, in each case the day prior to paying Aliya past overdue amounts. Nickell took the liberty to hold on to Aliya’s funds at his discretion until such time that his refinance transactions had closed.”88
Aliya contends that CTB has no right to withhold these funds under the agreements or Nevada law,
“Without access to Conexem virtually no employee duties can be performed sufficiently. For example, Aliya’s employees are unable to collect on their assigned receivables because they do not have access to all the necessary information needed (accounting information, insurance correspondence and contact information, case history, notes, medical documents, patient information etc.). Without up-to-date accounting information the billing department cannot keep in accordance with current California Workers’ Compensation law and deadlines, which depreciates the potential recovery amount leading to accrued losses. Without access to the court calendar for the claims, the legal department will not know about, nor will they be able to prepare for, court appearances, causing our receivables to be dismissed with potential for sanctions and losses.”100
CTB has also allegedly failed to turn over mail or copies of mail received concerning the receivables.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Legal Standard Governing Motions to Dismiss Under Rule 12(b)(6)
A Rule 12(b)(6) motion tests the legal sufficiency of the claims asserted in the complaint. A Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal is proper only where there is either a “lack of a cognizable legal theory,” or “the absence of sufficient facts alleged under a cognizable legal theory.” Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dept., 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1988). The court must accept all factual allegations pleaded in the complaint as true, and construe them and draw all reasonable inferences from them in favor of the nonmoving party. Cahill v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 80 F.3d 336, 337-38 (9th Cir. 1996); Mier v. Owens, 57 F.3d 747, 750 (9th Cir. 1995).
The court need not, however, accept as true unreasonable inferences or conclusory legal allegations cast in the form of factual allegations. See Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007) (“While a complaint attacked by a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss does not need detailed factual allegations, a plaintiffs obligation to provide the ‘grounds’ of his ‘entitle[ment] to relief requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do”). Thus, a plaintiffs complaint must “contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’ ... A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009); see also Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955 (“Factual allegations must be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level on the assumption that all the allegations in the complaint are true (even if doubtful in fact)” (citations omitted)); Moss v. United States Secret Service, 572 F.3d 962, 969 (9th Cir. 2009) (“[F]or a complaint to survive a motion to dismiss, the non-conclusory ‘factual content,’ and reasonable inferences from that content, must be plausibly suggestive of a claim entitling the plaintiff to relief,” citing Iqbal and Twombly).
B. Whether Aliya’s Fraudulent Inducement Claim Must Be Dismissed
Under Nevada law,
Defendants argue that Aliya’s fraudulent inducement claim is deficient because it is “nothing more than a contract claim masquerading as a tort claim.”
“The economic loss doctrine draws a legal line between contract and tort liability that forbids tort compensation for ‘certain types of foreseeable, negligently caused, financial injury.’ The doctrine expresses the policy that the need for useful commercial economic activity and the desire to make injured plaintiffs whole is best balanced by allowing tort recovery only to those plaintiffs who have suffered personal injury or property damage. And it has been reasoned that such useful commercial activity could be deterred if those involved in it were subject to tort liability. Instead, when economic loss occurs as a result of negligence in the context of commercial activity, contract law can be invoked to enforce the quality expectations derived from the parties’ agreement.” Terracon Consultants W., Inc. v. Mandalay Re*1122 sort Grp., 125 Nev. 66, 75, 206 P.3d 81 (2009).
Defendants cite no Nevada authority supporting the proposition that the economic loss rule applies to fraud claims, however. Instead, they cite one California district .court decision, which applies California law, and which did not deal with a fraudulent inducement claim. In Standard Platforms, Ltd. v. Document Imaging Sys. Corp., No. CIV. 93 20993 SW, 1995 WL 691868, *3 (N.D.Cal. Nov. 15, 1995), the court in fact expressly noted that the claim at issue was not a fraudulent inducement claim and, for that reason, did not arise from any independent duty that would support imposition of tort liability. See id. (“DISC’S fraud claim is based upon Ricoh’s performance of the warranty provisions of its agreement with Maxoptix. It bears no relation to a fraudulent inducement claim. As such, DISC’S fraud claim is precluded because it does not arise from any independent duty imposed by principles of tort law”).
[4] Nevada courts apply the economic loss rule more narrowly than California courts. In Nevada, “the doctrine bars unintentional tort actions when the plaintiff seeks to recover ‘purely economic losses.’ ” Terracon, 125 Nev. at 73, 206 P.3d 81 (citing Local Joint Exec. Bd. v. Stern, 98 Nev. 409, 411, 651 P.2d 637 (1982) (emphasis added)). The Nevada Supreme Court thus has held that “[ijntentional torts are not barred by the economic loss doctrine.” Halcrow, Inc. v. Eighth Jud. Dist. Ct., 302 P.3d 1148, 1154 n. 2 (Nev. 2013) (citing Terracon, 125 Nev. at 72-73, 206 P.3d 81); see also Las Vegas Metro. Police Dep’t v. Harris Corp., No. 13-CV-01780-GMN, 2014 WL 3474278, *2 (D.Nev. July 11, 2014) (finding under Halcrow that the economic loss rule did not bar intentional tort claims). Consequently, defendants’ assertion that the economic loss rule bars Ali-ya’s fraudulent inducement claim - or any of its intentional tort claims, for that matter-is unavailing.
Defendants next contend that Ali-ya’s fraudulent inducement claim is deficient because Aliya does not plead non-conclusory facts showing that the actions it purportedly took in reliance on Nickell’s alleged misrepresentations proximately caused it damage.
Rossberg is a California Court of Appeal decision. Defendants cite no authority indicating that Nevada has adopted a similar rule. Under Nevada law, a plaintiff must allege “damage ... resulting from [its] reliance” on a purported misrepresentation. J.A. Jones Const. Co., 120 Nev. at 290-91, 89 P.3d 1009. “Proximate
In addition, Nevada law is clear that a plaintiff need not elect remedies in a situation such as this:
“It is the law that one who has been fraudulently induced into a contract may elect to stand by that contract and sue for damages for the fraud. When this happens and the defrauding party also refuses to perform the contract as it stands, he commits a second wrong, and a separate and distinct cause of action arises for the breach of contract.... The courts of many states have recognized the rule that a suit on a contract and a suit for fraud in inducing the contract are two different causes of action with separate and consistent remedies.” J.A. Jones Const. Co., 120 Nev. at 289, 89 P.3d 1009 (quoting Bankers Trust Co. v. Pacific Employers Insurance Co., 282 F.2d 106, 110 (9th Cir. 1960)).
Accordingly, Aliya has sufficiently' alleged proximate causation to survive a motion to dismiss.
Third, defendants argue that Ali-ya’s fraudulent inducement claim fails because the third agreement “specifically contemplates the possibility of the very outcome of which Aliya now claims it was not aware.”
Aliya counters that the fact the agreement contemplated a refund in the event a receivable or some receivables purchased during the five-year life of the agreement were based oh claims by out-of-network providers does not render its reliance on Nickell’s representation that all referring doctors were in-network unreasonable.
Defendants next maintain that the fraudulent inducement claim must be dismissed because a fraud claim cannot be predicated on statements that involve future actions or events. The authority they cite does not stand for this proposition, however. Rather, the eases concern promissory fraud, i.e., promises of future performance, which are only actionable as fraud when it can be shown that the prom-isor never intended to perform. See Bulbman, Inc. v. Nev. Bell, 108 Nev. 105, 112, 825 P.2d 588 (1992) (“The mere failure to fulfill a promise or perform in the future ... will not give rise to a fraud claim absent evidence that the promisor had no intention to perform at the time the promise was made”). Nonetheless, it appears that courts applying Nevada law require that misrepresentations concern presently existing, as opposed to future, facts. See Archway Ins. Serve., LLC v. Harris, No. 11-CV-1173 JCM CWH, 2014 WL 643785, *7 (D.Nev. Feb. 18, 2014) (“Opinions [as] to the future valuation of something do not ‘satisfy the first necessary element of actionable fraud, misrepresentation of an existing fact, unless there existed a present intent not to attempt the future fulfillment of the promises,’ ” quoting Fruit Indus. Research Found. v. Nat’l Cash Register Co., 406 F.2d 546, 549-50 (9th Cir. 1969)). Aliya, however, does not allege that Nic-kell made false representations concerning future facts; it alleges that Nickell “represented] to Erik Nord [ (Aliya’s manager) ] ... that the doctors ordering toxicology services from CTB were in-network.”
Finally, defendants argue that Ali-ya has failed to allege facts supporting its conclusion that “CTB and Nickell knew or should have known that virtually all of [the] referring physicians were ‘out-of-network’ while they were servicing the receivables and prior to the [tjhird [a]greement being executed based on the insurance company denials received by CTB.”
Aliya has plausibly alleged knowledge. It pleads that as soon as it began to process collections, it discovered that insurers had previously declined to pay a large number of receivables because the referring physician was out-of-network.
C. Whether Aliya’s Fraudulent Concealment Claim Must Be Dismissed
To plead fraudulent concealment, plaintiff must allege that “(1) the defendant concealed or suppressed a material fact; (2) the defendant was under a duty to disclose the fact to the plaintiff; (3) the defendant intentionally concealed or suppressed the fact with the intent to defraud the plaintiff ...; (4) the plaintiff was unaware of the fact and would have acted differently if she had known of the concealed or suppressed fact; (5) and, as a result of the concealment or suppression of the fact, the plaintiff sustained damages.” Dow Chem. Co. v. Mahlum, 114 Nev. 1468, 1485, 970 P.2d 98 (1998), overruled in part on other grounds in GES, Inc. v. Corbitt, 117 Nev. 265, 21 P.3d 11 (2001); see also Couturier v. Am. Invsco Corp., 10 F.Supp.3d 1143, 1157 (D.Nev. 2014) (same).
Aliya alleges that CTB and Nickell concealed three facts: (1) doctors providing toxicology services were out-of-network; (2) CTB had already received payment for more than $229,000 of the receivables it sold to Aliya; and (3) Nickell diverted toxicology receivables to other entities he owned.
The first amended complaint does allege, albeit in a conclusory manner, that the three facts that were purportedly concealed were “material facts known only to Nickell and CTB, that Aliya could not have reasonably discovered on its own.”
The same is true with respect to Aliya’s allegation that CTB concealed it had received payment for more than $229,000 of receivables that it sold to Aliya. Aliya alleges that CTB initially handled collection of the receivables, and that it sold $229,000 of receivables on it had already collected without disclosing that fact to Aliya.
The court reaches a different conclusion with respect to Aliya’s allegations that Nickell purportedly diverted toxicology receivables from CTB to other entities he owned. None of the facts alleged in the complaint give rise to an inference that Aliya could or should have known that Nickell was using entities he controlled to divert business from CTB, and thus from Aliya. Defendants contend that the indemnification agreement makes it clear that Aliya knew business might be diverted; the indemnity agreement — which was executed well before the alleged concealment occurred — does not make any reference to the fact Nickell was or intended to divert assets, however. ' It thus does not foreclose the possible existence of a duty to disclose. Based on Aliya’s allegations, the court concludes that it has adequately alleged CTB and Nickell had exclusive knowledge of the fact Nickell was purportedly diverting assets from CTB to other entities he owned. Thus, it has sufficiently pled that defendants had a duty to disclose these facts under Nevada law.
The court nonetheless finds that Aliya’s fraudulent concealment claim is deficient to the extent based on Nickell’s purported diversion of toxicology receivables from CTB to other entities he owned, because Aliya fails plausibly to plead the third element of a fraudulent concealment claim, i.e., that CTB and Nickell “intentionally concealed or suppressed the fact[s] with the intent to defraud [it].” Dow Chem. Co., 114 Nev. at 1485, 970 P.2d 98. None of Aliya’s allegations affirmatively plead that Nickell intended to divert business from CTB to other entities. In fact, the complaint alleges a plausible, non-fraudulent explanation for the decline in physician referrals to CTB:
*1128 “When Aliya approached Nickell in November 2013 about the sudden drop in business, Nickell ... stated that competitors were aggressively taking away his business. He ... also suggested in numerous meetings that if Aliya would only agree to pay a higher fee for the receivables going forward, CTB and Nickell would be able to compete and win the business back.”132
Although Aliya alleges in conclusory fashion that, “[b]ased on information and belief, from the very beginning, Nickell intended to divert the business as soon as it would be to his benefit,”
Accordingly, despite the fact that Aliya adequately alleged a duty to disclose that Nickell was purportedly diverting toxicology receivables to other entities, the fraudulent concealment claim must be dismissed because it fails plausibly to allege intent to defraud with respect to these purportedly concealed facts.
D. Whether Aliya’s Promissory Fraud Claim Must Be Dismissed
“ ‘Promissory fraud,’ as it is sometimes called, is simply a fraud claim where the fact about which the tortfeasor deceives the victim is the tortfeasor’s intention not to perform from the outset.” Heldenbrand v. Multipoint Wireless, LLC, No. 12-CV-01562 RCJ, 2012 WL 5198479, *4 (D.Nev. Oct. 18, 2012) (citing Bulbman, Inc. v. Nev. Bell, 108 Nev. 105, 111-12, 825 P.2d 588 (1992)) (in turn citing Webb v. Clark, 274 Or. 387, 546 P.2d 1078 (1976)). Thus, “[t]he standard elements of fraud
Aliya contends that CTB and Nickell made two promises they did not intend to honor: (1) that Aliya could return out-of-network receivables for a refund;
Second, defendants argue that Aliya has failed adequately to allege that CTB and Nickell had no intention of performing either of the promises. “The mere failure to fulfill a promise or perform in the future ... will not give rise to a fraud claim absent evidence that the prom-isor had no intention to perform at the time the promise was made.” Bulbman, Inc., 108 Nev. at 112, 825 P.2d 588; see Heldenbrand, 2012 WL 5198479 at *4 (dismissing where plaintiff did not “plausibly allege[] that Defendants concealed an intention not to perform (promissory fraud)”). Aliya’s allegations concerning intent to perform are not particularly detailed. It alleges “on information and belief, [that] Nickell and CTB promised that CTB would perform under the [t]hird [a]greement when, in fact, [they] had no intention of performing as agreed.”
Aliya also contends that CTB’s and Nickell’s lack of intent to perform their promise to set up a lockbox account is demonstrated by their failure even to attempt performance.
“CTB has never set up this depository account, even though Aliya raised the issue with Nickell on multiple occasions, repeatedly requested that the account be set up, and sent Nickell the necessary bank forms for execution so that the account could be established.”142
This allegation contains no facts as to whether CTB and Nickell attempted to perform. The first amended complaint therefore falls short of pleading that defendants made no attempt to perform either of the purported promises. The only non-conclusory allegations supporting this aspect of the promissory fraud claim indicate only that CTB and Nickell did not perform. As noted, this is insufficient to plead the claim. See Bulbman, Inc., 108 Nev. at 112, 825 P.2d 588 (“[t]he mere failure to fulfill a promise to perform in the future, however, will not give rise to a fraud claim absent evidence that the prom-isor had no intention to perform at the time the promise was made”); see also Heldenbrand, 2012 WL 5198479 at *4 (dismissing where plaintiff did not “plausibly allege[ ] that Defendants concealed an intention not to perform (promissory fraud)”); Parker v. Bank of Am., NA, No. 12 CV 126 RCJ VPC, 2012 WL 3222150, *3 (D.Nev. Aug. 3, 2012) (same); cf. Cundiff v. Dollar Loan Ctr. LLC, 726 F.Supp.2d 1232, 1238 (D.Nev. 2010) (holding that “a misrepresentation as to future performance cannot be negligent because such a statement is either fraudulent, i.e., the person never held that intention at the time he made the statement, or it was not a misrepresentation at all, the person simply later failed to perform as promised”).
For these reasons, Aliya’s promissory fraud claim must be dismissed to the extent it is based on a purported promise to set up a lock box account. The court denies defendants’ motion to dismiss, however, to the extent the claim is based on CTB’s and Nickell’s promise to refund out-of-network receivables.
E. Whether Aliya’s Negligent Misrepresentation Claim Must Be Dismissed
Nevada has adopted the definition of negligent misrepresentation found in section 552 of the RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS. See Barmettler v. Reno Air, Inc., 114 Nev. 441, 448, 956 P.2d 1382 (1998). To state a negligent misrepresentation claim, a plaintiff must plead:
*1131 “1) a representation that is false; 2) that the representation was made in the course of the defendant’s business or ... any action in which he has a pecuniary interest; B) the representation was for the guidance of others in their business transactions; 4) the representation was justifiably relied upon; 5) that such reliance resulted in pecuniary loss to the relying party; and 6) that the defendant failed to exercise reasonable care or competence in obtaining or communicating the information.”
Tene v. BAC Home Loan Servicing LP, No. 11-CV-01095 KJD, 2012 WL 222920, *3 (D.Nev. Jan. 25, 2012) (quoting G.K. Las Vegas Limited Partnership v. Simon Property Group, Inc., 460 F.Supp.2d 1246, 1262 (D.Nev. 2006)).
Aliya bases its negligent misrepresentation claim on the same facts that support its fraudulent inducement claim, i.e., that “Nickell and CTB while in the course of their business, profession, or employment represented to Erik Nord, manager of Aliya, in telephone conversations and at meetings in Nickell’s office that the doctors ordering toxicology services from CTB were in-network.”
Defendants also assert that Aliya does not allege a duty of care. As reflected in the legal standard they cite in their moving papers, however, Nevada does not appear to require that a defendant owe plaintiff a duty of care where “the representation was made in the course of the defendant’s business or ... any action in which he has a pecuniary interest.” G.K. Las Vegas Limited Partnership, 460 F.Supp.2d at 1262. This is because “where only pecuniary loss results, liability for negligent misrepresentation is not based on general duty rules”; instead, “[[liability is only imposed on a party who has supplied false information, where that information is for the guidance of others and where the party knows that the information will be relied upon by a foreseeable class of persons.” Halcrow, Inc., 302 P.3d at 1153.
In any event, in cases not involving economic loss, the Nevada Supreme Court has held that a duty of care capable of supporting the imposition of liability for a
Accordingly, defendants’ motion to dismiss Aliya’s negligent misrepresentation claim is denied.
F. Whether Aliya’s Conversion Claim Must Be Dismissed
“A conversion is defined as a distinct act of dominion wrongfully exerted over another’s personal property in denial of, or inconsistent with his title or rights therein or in derogation, exclusion, or defiance of such title or rights.” Wantz v. Redfield, 74 Nev. 196, 198, 326 P.2d 413 (1958); see Tai Si Kim v. Kearney, No. 09 CV 02008 PMP, 2010 WL 3603651, *4 (D.Nev. Aug. 30, 2010) (same). “An exercise of the rights of ownership sufficient to constitute conversion is present when a tortfeasor takes possession, sells the property, and pockets the proceeds of the sale.” Pelletier v. Pelletier, 103 Nev. 408, 411, 742 P.2d 1027 (1987).
Defendants contend that Aliya’s conversion claim must be dismissed because it fails to allege a specific and definite sum that is capable of identification. They contend the claim is based on CTB’s alleged withholding of “checks” constituting payments of receivables, and that Aliya does not plead the overall sum converted. Under Nevada law, money can be the subject of a conversion claim. See Lopez v. Javier Corral, D.C., No. 51541, 2010 WL 5541115, *6 (Nev. Dec. 20, 2010) (Un-pub.Disp.) (“From the evidence that was presented at trial, the district court could have reasonably inferred that Lopez wrongfully exerted dominion over Corral’s money, which was in derogation of Corral’s rights in the property. Therefore, we conclude that substantial evidence supports the district court’s finding that Lopez committed conversion”).
To be the subject of a conversion claim, however, “the money, or the specific amount of money, [must be] identifiable,
Here, Aliya does not allege simply that money has been converted; it contends that receivables it purchased have been converted. Numerous courts have found that accounts receivable can be converted. See Laguna Commercial Capital, LLC v. Se. Texas EMS, LLC, No. CV 11-09930-MMM (PLAx), 2011 WL 6409222, *4-6 (C.D.Cal. Dec. 21, 2011) (entering a preliminary injunction, inter alia, on a conversion claim arising from a factoring agreement where the seller was allegedly keeping receivables from the buyer); Pioneer Commercial Funding Corp. v. United Airlines, Inc., 122 B.R. 871, 884-85 (S.D.N.Y. 1991) (holding that accounts receivable can be converted because “receivables, while resulting from accounting entries, nevertheless represent tangible, marketable assets which can be sold, secured, or traded”); Medi-Cen Corp. v. Birschbach, 123 Md.App. 765, 720 A.2d 966, 969-72 (1998) (holding that accounts receivable can be converted where they are “represented by hard copies or electronic data, kept in the normal course of business”).
Without citation to authority, defendants maintain that the conversion claim fails because the receivables are not specifically identified by amount. The only case applying Nevada law that the court has been able to locate reached the opposite conclusion, albeit on facts somewhat different than those of this case. In Hester, 2011 WL 856871 at *3, the court held that where a defendant “received money specifically earmarked to be given to its flight crews, but kept it for its own benefit, it ha[d] converted the property (money).” Other federal courts have more directly rejected defendants’ contention, concluding that receivables are, in fact, readily identifiable, e.g., by resort to the agreements under which they were purchased or sold. See Pioneer Commercial Funding Corp., 122 B.R. at 884 (“United correctly cites the general rule that the mere establishment of a debtor/creditor relationship is insufficient to create a cause of action for conversion when the debtor fails to satisfy its obligations.... Pioneer is not simply alleging the conversion of money through the failure to satisfy a debt, but rather, is claiming the conversion of funds represented by accounts receivable held at ACH on its behalf. This distinction is not merely a matter of semantics since these receivables, while resulting from accounting entries, nevertheless represent tangible, marketable assets which can be sold, secured, or traded. Indeed, Pioneer, and thereafter the Bank Group, secured its interest in Presidential’s receivables held at ACH in order to obtain a priority over these funds. Thus, when United kept the funds it allegedly was required to transfer to ACH, it allegedly violated Pioneer’s proprietary rights in a specific and identifiable piece of property, namely Presidential’s accounts receivable”). On the basis of this authority, the court concludes that Aliya has sufficiently identified the allegedly converted property, i.e., the receivables it purchased under the first, second and three agreements.' Defendants’ motion to dismiss on this basis is therefore denied.
Defendants next argue that Ali-ya’s conversion claim fails because it is no more than a disguised contract claim. They cite In re Bailey, 197 F.3d 997 (9th Cir. 1999), for the proposition that “a mere contractual right of payment, without more, does not entitle the obligee to the immediate possession necessary to establish a cause of action for the tort of conversion.” Id. at 1000; see also Gerawan Farming, Inc. v. Rehrig Pac. Co., No.
The court therefore finds that Ali-ya has plausibly alleged a conversion claim against CTB. Aliya also purports to state the claim against Nickell. As explained infra in the court’s discussion of Aliya’s UCL claim against Nickell, however, Aliya does not plausibly plead that Nickell, as opposed to CTB, converted or otherwise wrongfully retained possession of its funds or the receivables. Aliya asserted at the hearing that Nickell can be liable for conversion because he directed that funds be converted by CTB and others. It cited two cases, neither of which applies Nevada law, as support for this assertion. See Receivables Exch., LLC v. Suncoast Tech., Inc., No. CV 10-4152, 2012 WL 1019623, *8 (E.D.La. Mar. 26, 2012) (“It has long been established in Louisiana that a corporate officer may be personally liable for conversion committed on behalf of the corporation”); Hirsch v. Phily, 4 N.J. 408, 73 A.2d 173, 176-77 (1950) (holding corporate officers personally liable for withholding funds due to a factor in connection with purchased receivables).
It appears Nevada law accords with these cases to the extent they hold that a corporate officer can be held liable for directing the commission of a tort. See Pocahontas First Corp. v. Venture Planning Grp., Inc., 572 F.Supp. 503, 508 (D.Nev. 1983) (“There is no doubt that an individual who commits a tort while acting in the capacity of a corporate officer may be held personally liable”). The problem, however, is that, in addition to failing plausibly to plead that Nickell himself converted funds, Aliya also does not plausibly allege that he directed CTB or other Nic-kell entities to convert any funds. At the hearing, Aliya confirmed that its only allegations concerning Nickell’s direction of the conversion are paragraphs 105 and 117, which state only that “Nickell has directly authorized, participated in, and directed this interference with Aliya’s rights.”
For all of these reasons, the court denies defendants’ motion to dismiss Aliya’s conversion claim alleged against CTB, but dismisses the claim against against Nic-kell.
G. Whether Aliya’s Intentional Interference With Contractual Relations Claim Must Be Dismissed
“In an action for intentional interference with contractual relations, a
Aliya ásserts this claim only against Nickell. Defendants argue the claim must be dismissed because Nickell is the president and CEO of CTB, i.e., an agent of CTB, and therefore cannot tor-tiously interfere with CTB’s contract with Aliya. Blanck, 360 F.Supp.2d at 1154. Aliya counters that Nickell diverted money solely for the benefit of other entities he controlled, not CTB; thus, it asserts he was not acting within the scope of his agency for CTB, or in its best interests. The only allegation in the complaint that supports this assertion is paragraph 167. That paragraph states that “by diverting receivables to his other businesses, Nickell was not acting in the interests of CTB - he was acting in his own interest or in the interest of those other companies.”
This claim fails for a more fundamental reason as well. “The defendant’s ‘mere knowledge of the contract is insufficient to establish that the defendant intended or designed to disrupt the plaintiffs contractual relationship; instead, the plaintiff must demonstrate that the defendant intended to induce the other party to breach the contract with the plaintiff.’ ” JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. v. KB Home, 740 F.Supp.2d 1192, 1197-98 (D.Nev. 2010) (quoting J.J. Indus., LLC, 119 Nev. at 274, 71 P.3d 1264). As noted in the court’s discussion of the • fraudulent concealment claim, there are no allegations in the complaint that plausibly allege Nickell intended to divert business — or, in fact, that he diverted business — from CTB. To the contrary, the complaint alleges a plausible, non-fraudulent explanation for the decline in physician referrals to CTB, i.e., “that competitors were aggressively taking away [CTB’s] business.”
Consequently, this claim must be dismissed as deficiently pled.
H. Whether Aliya’s Constructive Trust Claim Must Be Dismissed
“A constructive trust will arise and affect property acquisitions under circumstances where: (1) a confidential relationship exists between the parties; (2) retention of legal title by the holder thereof against another would be inequitable; and (3) the existence of such a trust is essential to the effectuation of justice.” Locken v. Locken, 98 Nev. 369, 372, 650 P.2d 803 (1982). Defendants argue that this claim must be dismissed because a constructive trust is a remedy, not a cause of action. The court agrees.
The Nevada Supreme Court has expressly referred to constructive trust as a remedy. See Bemis v. Estate of Bemis, 114 Nev. 1021, 1027, 967 P.2d 437 (1998) (“We note that Kevin and Scott’s complaint did not specifically request the remedy of a constructive trust; however, applying the Locken criteria, the remedy of constructive trust may be available notwithstanding a failure to plead fraud in the complaint” (emphasis added)). Moreover, the Nevada Supreme Court has repeatedly discussed the fact that a constructive trust is “available” based on the terms of a contract or oral agreement. See id. (“Having concluded that the divorce agreement created a constructive trust....”); Locken, 98 Nev. at 371-72, 650 P.2d 803 (“Since the record supports the finding by the district court of an oral agreement between the parties for the conveyance of land, we must first consider whether the imposition of a constructive trust runs afoul of the statute of frauds”). Numerous federal courts have dismissed constructive trust claims because a constructive trust is a remedy, not a cause of action. See Kunio Tsutsumi v. Advanced Power Technologies, Inc., No. 12-CV-01784-MMD, 2013 WL 1953716, *9 (D.Nev. May 10, 2013) (“Plaintiffs’ cause[ ] of action for ... constructive trust [is a] remed[y], not [an] individual cause[ ] of action.... Plaintiffs may amend their Complaint to properly plead [constructive trust] as [a] remed[y] rather than claim[ ]”); Med. Providers Fin. Corp. II v. New Life Centers, L.L.C., 818 F.Supp.2d 1271, 1276 (D.Nev. 2011) (“Finally, Counterclaimants’ claims for an accounting and constructive trust[] are
Aliya cites no contrary authority. In the absence of such authority, the court finds these cases persuasive, and dismisses Aliya’s constructive trust claim with prejudice. Aliya may allege constructive trust as a remedy in the prayer of any amended complaint.
I. Whether Aliya’s Breach of Contract Claim Against Exec Billing Must Be Dismissed
Aliya’s breach of contract claim against Exec Billing is actually a claim for contractual indemnity. “Contractual indemnity is where, pursuant to a contractual provision, two parties agree that one party will reimburse the other party for Lability resulting from the former’s work.” George L. Brown Ins. v. Star Ins. Co., 126 Nev. 316, 237 P.3d 92, 96 (2010) (quoting Medallion Dev. v. Converse Consultants, 113 Nev. 27, 33, 930 P.2d 115 (1997)), superseded by statute as stated in Doctors Co. v. Vincent, 120 Nev. 644, 654, 98 P.3d 681 (2004). The scope of a contractual indemnity clause is determined by the language of the contract; general principles governing the interpretation of contracts apply. George L. Brown Ins., 237 P.3d at 97 (citing Rossmoor Sanitation, Inc. v. Pylon, Inc., 13 Cal.3d 622, 119 Cal.Rptr. 449, 532 P.2d 97 (1975)).
Under the covenant to indemnify, Exec Billing
“agree[d] to indemnify and hold harmless [Aliya] and its successors and assigns ... for all losses, damages, liabilities and claims, and all 'fees, costs and expenses of any kind related thereto ... incurred, arising out of, based upon, or resulting from ... (b) the breach of, or failure to perform by, [CTB] of any of its agreements, covenants or obligations contained in or made pursuant to the [third] [a]greement, or the breach of, or failure to perform by, [Exec Billing] of any of its agreements, covenants or obligations contained in or made herein.”152
Defendants argue that the plain language of the provision requires a finding that CTB breached the third agreement before any duty to indemnify is triggered.
Because CTB has not been found liable, Exec Billing has no duty to indemnify Aliya for any purported damages. Thus, it cannot at this point have breached the covenant to indemnify. As the claim is not ripe for adjudication, it must be dismissed. See Winnemucca Farms, Inc., 2008 WL 8943375 at *5 (dismissing a contractual indemnity claim as not ripe based on similar allegations).
J. Whether Aliya’s UCL Claim Must Be Dismissed
Aliya alleges a UCL claim against Nickell. “The UCL prohibits ‘any unlawful, unfair or fraudulent business act or practice and unfair, deceptive, untrue or misleading advertising.’ ” Stearns v. Select Comfort Retail Corp., 763 F.Supp.2d 1128, 1149 (N.D.Cal. 2010) (quoting Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200). “ ‘An act can be alleged to violate any or all of the three prongs of the UCL — unlawful, unfair, or fraudulent.’ ” Id. (quoting Berryman v. Merit Prop. Mgmt., Inc., 152 Cal.App.4th 1544, 1554, 62 Cal.Rptr.3d 177 (2007)). The law is “sweeping, embracing anything that can properly be called a business practice and [that is] at the same time ... forbidden by law.” Cel-Tech Communications, Inc. v. L.A. Cellular Tel. Co., 20 Cal.4th 163, 180, 83 Cal.Rptr.2d 548, 973 P.2d 527 (1999); see also Palestini v. Homecomings Fin., LLC, No. 10CV1049-MMA, 2010 WL 3339459, *9 (S.D.Cal. Aug. 23, 2010) (same). California courts have held that “an action under the UCL is not an all-purpose substitute for a tort or contract action.” Korea Supply Co. v. Lockheed Martin Corp., 29 Cal.4th 1134, 1150, 131 Cal.Rptr.2d 29, 63 P.3d 937 (2003) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted).
Defendants contend Aliya has always maintained that Nevada law governs the parties’ relationship; as a result, it contends the UCL, a California statute, is inapplicable. Aliya counters that Nickell is not a party to the third agreement, or any other agreement with it, such that the choice of law provision does not apply to him. The choice of law provision in the third agreement states: “All questions concerning the performance, construction, validity and interpretation of th[e] [third] [a]greement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Nevada.”
“Every person who shall feloniously steal, take, carry, lead, or drive away the personal property of another, or who shall fraudulently appropriate property which has been entrusted to him or her ... is guilty of theft.” Cal. Pen. Code § 484.
Aliya also contends Nickell’s conduct constitutes embezzlement under California law. See Cal. Pen. Code § 506 (“Every trustee, banker, merchant, broker, attorney, agent, assignee in trust, executor, administrator, or collector, or person otherwise intrusted with or having in his control property for the use of any other person, who fraudulently appropriates it to any use or purpose not in the due and lawful execution of his trust, or secretes it with a fraudulent intent to appropriate it to such use or purpose ... is guilty of embezzlement”).
Defendants do not argue that application of California law would impair Nevada’s interests. Because their only basis for arguing that Nevada law applies is the choice of law provision, and this argument fails, California law presumptively applies, because “California will decline to apply its own law to a case brought in California only if it is shown that another state has a greater interest, in having its law applied.” Nelson v. Tiffany Industries Inc., 778 F.2d 533, 584 (9th Cir. 1985); In re Computer Memories Sec. Litig., 111 F.R.D. 675, 684-85 (N.D.Cal. 1986) (“[U]nder California choice of law rules, the party seeking to invoke the law of another jurisdiction bears the burden of going forward with the argument that the foreign jurisdiction’s law conflicts with the relevant California law, that both California and the foreign jurisdiction have an interest in having their own laws applied, and that the interests of the foreign jurisdiction will be more impaired than those California if its law is not applied”); Hurtado v. Superior Court, 11 Cal.3d 574, 581, 114 Cal.Rptr. 106, 522 P.2d 666 (1974) (“[Generally speaking, the forum will apply its own rule of decision unless a party litigant timely invokes the law of a foreign state”). Thus, the court will apply California law in evaluating Aliya’s UCL claim against Nickell.
Applying California law, the court concludes that Aliya’s UCL claim fails because California does not permit extraterritorial application of the UCL. “California’s Supreme Court has made clear that there is a strong presumption against the extra-territorial application of California law.” Ehret v. Uber Technologies, Inc., 68
“However far the Legislature’s power may theoretically extend, we presume the Legislature did not intend a statute to be ‘operative, with respect to occurrences outside the state, ... unless such intention is clearly expressed or reasonably to be inferred from the language of the act or from its purpose, subject matter or history.’ ” Id. at 1207, 127 Cal.Rptr.3d 185, 254 P.3d 237 (quoting Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc. v. Superior Court, 19 Cal.4th 1036, 1059, 80 Cal.Rptr.2d 828, 968 P.2d 539 (1999) (internal citation and quotation marks omitted)).
In Sullivan, the California Supreme Court explicitly held that this presumption applied to the UCL, noting that “[njeither the language of the UCL nor its legislative history provides any basis for concluding the Legislature intended the UCL to operate extraterritorially,” and concluding that the presumption against extraterritoriality “applies to the UCL in full force.” Id.; Nonvest Mortgage, Inc. v. Superior Court, 72 Cal.App.4th 214, 222, 85 Cal.Rptr.2d 18 (1999) (“[The UCL is not] applicable to claims of non-California residents injured by conduct occurring beyond California’s borders”); see also Badella v. Deniro Marketing LLC, No. C 10-03908 CRB, 2011 WL 5358400, *11 (N.D.Cal. Nov. 4, 2011) (“[T]he Court recognizes that extraterritorial application of the UCL is improper where non-residents of California raise claims based on conduct that allegedly occurred outside of the state,” citing Sullivan v. Oracle Corp., 547 F.3d 1177, 1187 (9th Cir. 2008)). Aliya is a Nevada resident; the first amended complaint does not allege Nickell’s citizenship. Nor does it allege that any of the purportedly unlawful, unfair, or fraudulent business practices in which Nickell engaged took place in California. Absent such allegations, the court cannot conclude that it is appropriate to apply the UCL to the claim of a non-California residents such as Aliya. The claim is therefore deficient and must be dismissed.
Defendants also argue that the UCL claim is deficient because Aliya does not seek restitution. As noted, the type of relief that a UCL plaintiff can obtain is limited to restitution and other forms of equitable relief; “[t]o show [an entitlement] to restitution, a plaintiff must demonstrate that the defendant is in possession of money or property taken from [him or] her.” See Asghari v. Volkswagen Grp. of Am., Inc., 42 F.Supp.3d 1306, 1324 (C.D.Cal. 2013); Groupion, LLC v. Groupon, Inc., 859 F.Supp.2d 1067, 1083 (N.D.Cal. 2012) (holding that restitution was unavailable because plaintiff “ha[d] not submitted any evidence or ... argument, to show that [defendant] obtained money from [plaintiff] or that [plaintiff] otherwise ha[d] any ownership interest [in] any of [defendant’s] profits,” citing Colgan v. Leatherman Tool Group, Inc., 135 Cal.App.4th 663, 699, 38 Cal.Rptr.3d 36 (2006) (a plaintiff can seek money or property as restitution only when the “money or property identified as belonging in good conscience to the plaintiff [can] clearly be traced to particular funds or property in the defendant’s possession”)); Hill v. Opus Corp., 464 B.R. 361, 394 (C.D.Cal. 2011) (restitution is not available where the money claimed by plaintiff cannot be “traced to any particular funds in [defendants’] possession”); EchoStar Satellite Corp. v. NDS Group PLC, No. SA CV03-0950 DOC, 2008 WL 4596644, *9 (C.D.Cal. Oct. 15, 2008) (“Restitution under the UCL is only available where the sum at issue can clearly be traced to particular funds or property in the defendant’s possession. ... As the Court previously recognized, NDS never directly took anything
The court agrees with defendants that Aliya has not alleged entitlement to restitution, because it has not plausibly pled that Nickell — as opposed to CTB — “is in possession of money or property taken from [it].” See Asghari, 42 F.Supp.3d at 1324. Aliya alleges that “CTB has deposited the checks [constituting payment on Aliya’s receivables] into its own account and commingled Aliya’s funds with its own[, and that] Nickell used the payments on Aliya’s receivables to fund his other investments and businesses, and then from time-to-time, Nickell would replenish CTB’s account and wire Aliya funds for collected receivables.”
K. Whether the Court Should Grant Aliya Leave to Amend
Defendants argue that Aliya’s complaint should be dismissed with prejudice. The court has denied defendants’ motion to dismiss Aliya’s fraudulent inducement, negligent misrepresentation, and conversion claims; those claims can therefore proceed. The court has granted defendants’ motion to dismiss the balance of Aliya’s claims, however. While Aliya has now had two opportunities to plead viable claims, this is the first opportunity the court has had to pass on the adequacy of the claims. Despite the fact that many of the claims were deficient, Aliya may be able to amend to allege plausible claims for relief. The court therefore grants Aliya leave to amend. See Kendall v. Visa U.S.A., Inc., 518 F.3d 1042, 1051 (9th Cir. 2008) (“Dismissal without leave to amend is proper if it is clear that the complaint could not be saved by amendment”); In re Daou Sys., Inc., 411 F.3d 1006, 1013 (9th Cir. 2005) (“Dismissal without leave to amend is improper unless it is clear ... that the complaint could not be saved by any amendment”); California ex rel. California Department of Toxic Substances Control v. Neville Chemical Co., 358 F.3d 661, 673 (9th Cir. 2004) (“[D]enial of leave
III. CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated, the court grants in' part and denies in part defendants’ motion to dismiss. The motion to dismiss Aliya’s fraudulent inducement, negligent misrepresentation, and conversion claims is denied. As noted, defendants do not move to dismiss Aliya’s breach of contract claim against CTB, nor its claim for an accounting; these claims will thus proceed as well. Defendants’ motion to dismiss Aliya’s promissory fraud claim is denied to the extent the claim is based on CTB’s and Nickell’s alleged promise to refund the purchase price of out-of-network receivables; the claim is dismissed, however, to the extent it is based on CTB’s and Nie-kell’s promise to set up a lockbox account. The motion to dismiss Aliya’s fraudulent concealment, intentional interference with contractual relations, constructive trust, breach of contract against Exec Billing, and UCL claims is also granted. With the exception of the constructive trust claim, which is dismissed with prejudice, the court grants leave to amend. Aliya may file an amended complaint within twenty (20) days of the date of this order if it is able to remedy the deficiencies the court has noted. ,
Aliya may not plead new claims. Should the scope of any amendment exceed the scope of leave to amend granted by this order, the court will strike the offending portions of the pleading under Rule 12(f). See Fed. R. Crv. Proo. 12(f) (“The court may strike from a pleading an insufficient defense or any redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous matter. The court may act: (1) on its own; or (2) on motion made by a party either before responding to the pleading or, if a response is not allowed, within 21 days after being served with the pleading”); see also Barker v. Avila, No. 2:09-cv-0001-GEB-JFM, 2010 WL 3171067, *1-2 (E.D.Cal. Aug. 11, 2010) (striking an amendment to a federal law claim where the court had granted leave to amend only state law claims).
. Complaint, Docket No. 1 (Oct. 8, 2014).
. Ex Parte Application ("Application”), Docket No. 8 (Nov. 20, 2014).
. Id. at 1; [Proposed] Temporary Restraining Order and Order to Show Cause Re: Preliminary Injunction, Docket No. 8-1 (Nov. 20, 2014) at 1-2.
. Order Denying Ex Parte Application for a Temporary Restraining Order, Docket No. 20 (Nov. 26, 2014).
. First Amended Complaint ("FAC”), Docket No. 23 (Dec. 18, 2014).
. The first amended complaint dropped a breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing claim and added a UCL claim against
. The conversion claim is also alleged against the various Doe defendants.
. The breach of contract claim against Exec is also alleged against the various Doe defendants.
. Order Approving Stipulation to Extend Time, Docket No. 30 (Dec. 29, 2014); Stipulation to Extend Time to Respond, Docket No. 27 (Dec. 29, 2014).
. Notice of Motion and Motion to Dismiss First Amended Complaint (“Motion”), Docket No. 44 (Jan. 30, 2015); see also Reply in Support of Motion to Dismiss (“Reply”), Docket No. 91 (Apr. 20, 2015).
. Opposition to Motion to Dismiss First Amended Complaint ("Opposition”), Docket No. 90 (Apr. 13, 2015).
. “Factoring is ... the sale of accounts receivable of a firm to a factor at a discounted price. In return for selling the accounts receivable at a discounted price, the seller receives two immediate advantages: (1) immediate access to cash; and (2) the factor assumes, the risk of loss.” In re Straightline Investments, Inc., 525 F.3d 870, 883 (9th Cir. 2008).
. FAC, ¶4.
. Id., II 5.
. Id., ¶ 6.
. Id., ¶25.
. FAC, ¶ 26.
. Id.., ¶ 27. See also id. Exh. A ("First Agreement").
. Id., ¶ 28. See also id. Exh. B ("Second Agreement”).
. Id., ¶ 29. See also id. Exh. C (“Third Agreement”).
. Id., ¶,29.
. Id., ¶ 32.
. Id., ¶ 30. See also id. Exh. C ("Non-Compete”), Exh. D ("Indemnification Agreement”).
. Id., ¶ 31.
. Id.
. Id., ¶39.
. Id. (emphasis removed). See also Third Agreement, § 14.
. Third Agreement, § 14(f).
. Third Agreement, § 14.
. Id.
. FAC, ¶¶ 33-34.
. Id., ¶ 35.
. Id., ¶ 37. S.B. 863 provided, inter alia, “that a treating physician be included in the network only if the physician or authorized employee of the physician gives a separate written acknowledgment that the physician is a member of the network, and would require every medical provider network to include one or more persons employed as medical access assistants to help an injured employee find an available physician and assist employees in scheduling appointments.” See 2012 Cal. Legis. Serv. Ch. 363 (S.B.863).
. Id., ¶ 38.
. Id.,n 42-43.
. Id., ¶ 44.
. Id., ¶ 45.
. Id., ¶ 46.
. Id.
. Id., ¶ 47.
. Id.
. Id.
. Id., ¶ 48.
. Id.
. Id., ¶ 47.
. Id., ¶ 49.
. Id., ¶ 50.
. Id.
. Id., ¶ 51.
. Id., ¶ 52.
. Id.
. Id., ¶ 54.
. Id., ¶ 55.
. Id.
. Id., ¶ 57.
. Id.
. Id., ¶ 58.
. Id., ¶ 59.
. Id. ¶ 60.
. Id., ¶ 67; Third Agreement, § 14(d)-(e).
. FAC, ¶ 68.
. Id., ¶69.
. Id., ¶ 70.
. Id., ¶ 73.
. Id.
. Third Agreement, § 12.
. FAC, ¶ 75.
. FAC, ¶ 75.
. Id., ¶ 76.
. Id., ¶ 80.
. Id.
. Id., ¶ 81.
. Id.
. Id., ¶ 82.
. Id., ¶¶ 82-83.
.Id., ¶ 84.
. Id., ¶ 87.
. Id., ¶ 88.
. Id., ¶ 89.
. Id., ¶¶ 89, 99.
. Id., ¶ 89.
. Id., ¶ 91 (citing Third Agreement, §§ 4, 8).
. Id., ¶ 93 (citing First Agreement, § 12; Second Agreement, § 16; Third Agreement, § 19).
. Id.
. Id., ¶¶ 92, 94.
. Id., ¶ 95.
. Id.
. Id., ¶96.
. Id.., ¶ 97.
. Id.
. Id., ¶ 98.
. Id., ¶ 100.
. Nevada law governs the first, second, and third agreements. (See First Agreement, § 27; Second Agreement, § 30; Third Agreement, § 33.) The agreements also contain a provision requiring that "any action at law, suit in equity, or other judicial or non-judicial proceeding for the enforcement of th[e] Agreements] be instituted in the courts located in the State of Nevada, County of Clark.” (Id.) Thus, venue in this district is improper. Defendants, however, have not raised improper venue as a basis for dismissal under Rule 12(b)(3), and have therefore waived the defense by failing to address in their motion to dismiss. Under Rule 12(h), the defense of improper venue is waived if omitted from a motion under the circumstances described in Rule 12(g). Fed. R. Civ. Proc. 12(h). Rule 12(g) provides that "[a] motion under this rule may be joined with any other motion allowed by this rule.” Fed. R. Civ. Proc. 12(g). Rule 12(g) also provides that if a party makes a motion under Rule 12, but omits a defense that the rule permits a party to raise by motion (e.g., improper venue), the defense cannot be raised in a subsequent motion. See Misch on Behalf of Estate of Misch v. Zee Enteiprises, Inc., 879 F.2d 628, 631 (9th Cir. 1989) ("Although a party may assert the defense of improper venue either as part of his responsive pleading or by separate motion, ... he waives the defense if not timely and properly raised”). "The purpose of Rule 12(g) is the consolidation of defenses in a single motion and the avoidance of successive, delaying motions.” Kina v. United Air Lines, Inc., No. CV 08 4358 PJH, 2008 WL 5071045, *3 (N.D.Cal. Dec. 1, 2008). Here, because defendants did not assert improper venue in their motion to dismiss, claim, they have waived their right to raise the defense at a later point in the litigation. See Fed. R. Civ. Proc. 12(h); Zee Enterprises, Inc., 879 F.2d at 631.
. FAC, ¶ 101.
. Id., ¶ 102 (citing Nev. Rev. Stat. § 104-9318(a)).
. Id., ¶ 103.
. Id.., ¶ 104. See also Third Agreement, § 19 (“[A]ny proceeds with the respect to the Receivables, will be promptly turned over to Buyer via wire transfer within 48 hours, along with the respective explanation of benefits/remittance advices, pertaining to such proceeds. This Non-Diversion Guaranty from Provider will survive this Agreement”).
. FAC, ¶ 105.
. Id., ¶¶ 106-07. Specifically, the agreements provide: "[Aliya's] purchase of the Receivables also includes (i) full title and ownership to Provider's books, records, billing and credit files, medical and patient records, chattel paper, and documents, related to the Receivables, together with all rights, remedies, liens, security Interests, guarantees and other information necessary to collect the Receivables, including, without limitation, access to all records residing on the Provider's computer hardware, computer equipment and billing and collection software, including but not limited to, Provider's billing and collections system and [Aliya’s] right to use such system(s) as [Aliya] requires to collect the Receivables.” (See First Agreement, § 3; Second Agreement, § 3; Third Agreement § 4.)
. FAC, ¶ 109.
. Id., ¶ 110..
. Jd„ MI 111-12.
. Third Agreement, § 24.
. FAC, ¶ 114 (citing Third Agreement, § 24 ("Provider agrees that the foregoing powers are coupled with an interest and that they shall be irrevocable until all Liens purchased by Buyer and all other amounts which may be owed by Provider to Buyer have been paid in M").)
. Id., 11116.
. Neither party addresses whether Nevada or California law applies to Aliya’s tort claims. Both presume, however, that Nevada law applies. This appears to be correct. As noted, the contracts contain a choice of law provision stating that all “questions concerning the performance, construction, validity and Interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Nevada." (First Agreement, § 27; Second Agreement, § 30; Third Agreement, § 33.) "Federal courts sitting in diversity must apply ‘the forum state’s choice of law rules to determine the controlling substantive law.’ " Fields v. Legacy Health Sys., 413 F.3d 943, 950 (9th Cir. 2005) (quoting Patton v. Cox, 276 F.3d 493, 495 (9th Cir. 2002)). “California law
In Nedlloyd Lines B.V. v. Superior Court, 3 Cal.4th 459, 468, 11 Cal.Rptr.2d 330, 834 P.2d 1148 (1992), the California Supreme Court held that ”[w]hen two sophisticated, commercial entities agree to a choice-of-law clause ..., the most reasonable interpretation of their actions is that they intended for the clause to apply to all causes of action arising from or related to their contract.” Id. (emphasis added). The agreement in Nedlloyd provided that it was to be "governed by and construed in accordance with Hong Kong law and each party hereby irrevocably submitted] to the non-exclusive jurisdiction and service of process of the Hong Kong courts.” Id. at 468-69, 11 Cal.Rptr.2d 330, 834 P.2d 1148 (emphasis original). The Court explained that "[t]he phrase 'governed by’ is a broad one signifying a relationship of absolute direction, control, and restraint. Thus, [it observed that] the clause reflected] the parties' clear contemplation that 'the agreement’ [would] be completely and absolutely controlled by Hong Kong law.” Id. at 469, 11 Cal.Rptr.2d 330, 834 P.2d 1148. It determined, as a result, that plaintiff’s breach of fiduciary duty claim was governed by Hong Kong law because it "exist[ed] only because of” the underlying agreement. Id.
The same is true here. All of the tort claims Aliya has asserted exist only because of the parties’ contracts. In the absence of any argument by the parties, the court finds that the contractual choice of law provision controls, and that Nevada law applies to both contract and tort claims.
. Motion at 7-8.
. Id.
. Motion at 8.
. Id.
. FAC, ¶ 122.
. Id., ¶¶ 36-37, 122.
. Id., ¶ 47.
. Motion at 9.
. Opposition at 16.
. FAC, ¶ 122.
. Opposition at 16.
. Third Agreement, § 14.
. FAC, ¶ 38. See also id., ¶48 ("Nickell again said that all physicians referring business to CTB were in-network providers of virtually every insurance company").
. Id., ¶ 63.
. Id.
. Id.
. Id., ¶¶ 44 ("Soon after Aliya commenced servicing its receivables, it noticed that insurance companies had denied payment of a large number of receivables because the referring physician was out-of-network”); id., ¶ 45 ("Aliya had not seen any such denials while Nickell’s companies serviced the receivables because CTB did not provide Aliya with any documentation or correspondence from insurance companies regarding Aliya’s receivables, such as correspondence explaining the reason a claim for payment had been denied, explanations of benefits, and so forth, even though it was obligated to do so. CTB only communicated to Aliya the amount paid on the receivables by the insurance companies and, eventually, remitted such payments to Aliya”).
. Id., ¶¶ 63, 120.
. Defendants also maintain that, to the extent Aliya rests its fraudulent inducement claim on alleged misrepresentations by Nic-kell that occurred after the parties to perform the third agreement, it has failed to plead the “who, what, when, where, and how” of the purported fraud. (Motion at 11.) Defendants do not identify any alleged misrepresentations made after the term of the agreement commenced. Nor does the court interpret Aliya’s allegations as directed to post-contract-formation misrepresentations; the gravamen of the
. FAC ¶¶ 126-128.
. Motion at 12.
. FAC, ¶ 129.
. Id., ¶ 39 (stating that "Aliya agreed to purchase all CTB’s receivables [in the third
. Id., ¶ 75.
. Opposition at 18.
. FAC, V 82.
. Zd., ¶ 85.
. At the hearing, Aliya cited only this allegation in arguing that its fraudulent concealment claim was not deficient. Based on the authority discussed above, the court cannot agree.
. In addition, as respects the purported concealment of the fact that $229,000 of receivables had been paid by the time they were sold to Aliya, Aliya alleges only that "CTB and Nickell knew or should have known that at the time each [agreement was entered into, at the closing, and on each funding day for the receivables at hand, that these receivables had already been paid in full.” (FAC, ¶ 76.) This allegation is also wholly conclusory and fails plausibly to allege intent to defraud. Given that Aliya purchased more than $83 million of receivables in total, the court cannot conclude that the fact defendants sold slightly more than $200,000 of receivables they had already collected supports an inference of intent to defraud. (FAC, ¶ 34.) Given the volume of receivables purchased and sold, the sale could just as easily have been the product of an error or negligence.
. FAC, ¶¶ 66, 136.
. Id., ¶¶ 91-92.
. Id., ¶ 136.
. Opposition at 20 (citing FAC, ¶¶ 44-45).
. Id.
. Id., ¶ 92.
. Id.
. FAC, ¶ 143.
. Id., ¶ 144.
. Motion at 14. Although not an intentional tort, negligent misrepresentation claims are exempt from the economic loss rule under Nevada law. The Nevada Supreme Court explained in Halcrow that there are “exceptions to the economic loss doctrine for negligent misrepresentation claims in a certain category of cases when strong countervailing considerations weigh in favor of imposing liability.” 302 P.3d at 1153. “These types of cases encompass economic loss sustained, for example, as a result of ... negligent" misstatements about financial matters.” Id. See also Terracon, 125 Nev. at 77, 206 P.3d 81 ("negligent misrepresentation is a special financial harm claim for which tort recovery is permitted because without such liability the law would not exert significant financial pressures to avoid such negligence”). Defendants do not cite any authority suggesting that the negligent misrepresentation exception to the economic loss doctrine does not apply here, and the alleged misrepresentations clearly concerned financial matters. The court therefore declines to dismiss the negligent misrepresentation claim on the basis of the economic loss rule. See Phillips v. Dignified Transition Solutions, No. 13-CV-02237 GMN, 2014 WL 4294972, *7 (D.Nev. Aug. 28, 2014) (negligent misrepresentation claim was not subject to dismissal under economic loss rule).
. Unpublished decisions of the Nevada Supreme Court are not precedent. See Nev. Sup. Ct. R. 123 (“An unpublished opinion or order of the Nevada Supreme Court shall not be regarded as precedent and shall not be cited as legal authority except when the opinion or order is (1) relevant under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata or collateral estoppel; or (2) relevant to a criminal or disciplinary proceeding because it affects the same defendant or respondent in another such proceeding”). "Although the court is not bound by unpublished decisions of [] state courts, unpublished opinions that are supported by reasoned analysis may be treated as persuasive authority.” Scottsdale Ins. Co. v. OU Interests, Inc., No. C 05-313 VRW, 2005 WL 2893865, *3 (N.D.Cal. Nov. 2, 2005) (citing Employers Ins. of Wausau v. Granite State Ins. Co., 330 F.3d 1214, 1220 n. 8 (9th Cir. 2003) ("[W]e may consider unpublished state decisions, even though such opinions have no precedential value”)).
. FAC, ¶¶ 105, 117.
. FAC, ¶ 167.
. FAC, ¶ 82.
. Id., ¶85.
.In Hester v. Vision Airlines, Inc., 2010 WL 3724182 at *5 (D.Nev. 2010), the court acknowledged that "constructive trust is an equitable remedy/’ but stated that it did "not dispute [ ] that a constructive trust may be an independent cause of action given the proper circumstances.” Id. It found that the case sub judice was "not one such circumstance,” because the class members "ha[d] other claims that may give rise to a constructive trust or money damages, which ma[de] an independent claim for a constructive trust improper.” Id. The court's rationale for con-eluding that a constructive trust claim can lie under certain circumstances is unclear. Nonetheless, as in Hester, Aliya can seek imposition of a constructive trust as a remedy for fraudulent inducement in an amended complaint. As a result, Hester does not alter the court’s conclusion that the constructive trust claim should be dismissed.
. Indemnification Agreement at 1.
. Motion at 22-23.
. The first amended complaint also alleges that Exec Billing breached the non-competition agreement "by, among other things, engaging in the business of marketing, billing and servicing drug urinalysis in direct competition with CTB and/or through entities other than CTB and not compensating Aliya for doing so." (FAC, ¶ 173.) This is the sole allegation in the complaint concerning breach of the non-competition clause. Because the allegation is conclusory, it does not plausibly plead breach. Accordingly, although not addressed by either party, this portion of the breach of contract claim must also be dismissed. See, e.g., Aguilar v. WMC Mortgage Corp., No. 09-CV-01416 ECR PAL, 2010 WL 185951, *6 (D.Nev. Jan. 15, 2010) (dismissing a breach of contract claim because "[plaintiffs’ allegations [were] conclusory and vague”).
. Third Agreement, § 33.
. Courts have permitted UCL claims based on violation of Penal Code § 484. See Berryman v. Merit Prop. Mgmt., Inc., 152 Cal. App.4th 1544, 1554, 62 Cal.Rptr.3d 177 (2007).
. FAC, ¶ 95.
. Id., ¶ 96 ("As one example of Nickell’s commingling and withholding proceeds, in the beginning of 2014 he unilaterally decided to hold on to Aliya’s funds for up to seven weeks before finally paying Aliya in two installments on February 27 ($515,758) and March 5 ($534,696). Based on information and belief, these dates coincide with Nickell’s refinancing of a commercial building that he owns through one of his other entities (Kashi-wa Court, LLC). Nickell refinanced this building in two separate transactions on February 26 and March 4, respectively, in each case the day prior to paying Aliya past overdue amounts. Nickell took the liberty to hold on to Aliya's funds at his discretion until such time that his refinance transactions had closed”).
.Id., ¶ 97.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- ALIYA MEDCARE FINANCE, LLC v. Robert P. NICKELL, an individual Comprehensive Toxicology Billing, LLC, a California limited liability company Exec Billing Services, LLC, a California limited liability company and Does 1-10, inclusive
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published