Lesnik v. Eisenmann SE
Lesnik v. Eisenmann SE
Opinion of the Court
ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART MOTION TO DISMISS
Re: Dkt. No. 300
LUCY H. KOH, United States District Judge *933Plaintiffs Gregor Lesnik and Stjepan Papes (collectively, "Plaintiffs") have brought suit stemming from their time working at a facility owned by Tesla, Inc. ("Tesla") in Fremont, California, against 36 different Defendants. Before the Court is an omnibus motion to dismiss filed by Defendants Eisenmann Corporation ("Eisenmann"), Tesla, Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc. ("Mercedes-Benz"), Deere & Company ("Deere"), REHAU Inc. ("REHAU"), LaX Fabricating Ltd. ("LaX"), Volkswagen Group of America Chattanooga Operations, LLC ("VW"), Dicastal North America, Inc. ("Dicastal"), Volvo Car Corp. and Volvo Car US Operations Inc. ("Volvo"), and BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC ("BMW"). ECF No. 300 ("Mot."). However, after the omnibus motion to dismiss was filed, Plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed with prejudice all claims against Mercedes-Benz, Deere, REHAU, LaX, VW, Discatal, Volvo, and BMW. ECF Nos. 315-22. Thus, the only remaining Defendants who filed the omnibus motion to dismiss are Eisenmann and Tesla ("Moving Defendants"). Having considered the parties' submissions, the relevant law, and the record in this case, the Court GRANTS in part and DENIES in part Moving Defendants' motion to dismiss.
I. BACKGROUND
A. Factual Background
Defendant Eisenmann is a manufacturer of specialized paint shop equipment. See ECF No. 269 (third amended complaint, or "TAC") at ¶ 213(g); ECF No. 219 at 4. Eisenmann had relationships with a number of manufacturing entities, such as Tesla, to perform construction work related to Eisenmann's equipment. TAC at ¶ 70. The TAC then alleges that Eisenmann, to fulfill these agreements, would hire an array of subcontractors who would then provide the laborers necessary to complete the equipment installation. TAC at ¶ 84, 107. Although the TAC names a number of these subcontractors as Defendants, the one that matters for present purposes is Defendant "Vuzem.
Although all of the work described in the TAC occurred in the United States, Vuzem did not use American workers. Instead, the TAC alleges that Vuzem and the *934other subcontractor Defendants hired workers internationally. For example, to help install a paint shop at a Tesla facility in Fremont, California, Vuzem hired Plaintiff Gregor Lesnik, a resident of Slovenia, and Plaintiff Stjepan Papes, a resident of Croatia. Id. at ¶¶ 1-2, 60, 111, 213. Lesnik and Papes (like other workers) were brought to the United States on B-1 visas that are generally reserved for skilled work, even though Vuzem, Eisenmann, and Tesla allegedly knew the workers would actually be performing unskilled construction work. Id. at ¶¶ 87-95, 115, 145, 211. Eisenmann even allegedly submitted letters to the United States Consulate containing allegedly false statements to obtain B-1 visas on Lesnik and Papes' behalf. Id. at ¶¶ 140, 211, 213, 217. The TAC also alleges that Eisenmann supervised Lesnik and Papes' work at the Tesla facility. Id. at ¶ 140, 213.
The TAC alleges that the foreign workers, once in the United States, were paid far below minimum wage and were forced to work extreme hours. Lesnik allegedly worked at least 10 and on average 12 hours a day, over 80 hours a week, and received only 1 day in 14 off. Id. at ¶ 237. Papes is alleged to have generally "work[ed] the same number of hours for his work at all of the major manufacturing construction sites throughout his time working in the United States." Id. Vuzem also allegedly threatened to withhold pay if workers became too sick to work or reported a job injury; threatened to withhold medical benefits if workers reported a job injury; threatened to withhold visas and immigration status; threatened to file a civil suit against Lesnik while he was hospitalized; and even told Lesnik that "this will not go well for you." Id. at ¶ 315, 338-39. The TAC also alleges that the foreign workers were subject to poor living conditions in the United States, such as being housed in facilities without kitchens, having multiple workers sleep in the same bedroom, or typically having 6 to 10 workers share a single bathroom. Id. at ¶ 318.
B. Procedural History
The Court first discusses the instant case, then a previously-filed case by Lesnik against Eisenmann, Tesla, and Vuzem in Alameda County Superior Court, and lastly, a previously-filed workers' compensation action against Vuzem.
1. The Instant Case
Plaintiffs filed the complaint initiating this suit on March 7, 2016. ECF No. 1. On July 15, 2016, Plaintiffs filed the first amended complaint. ECF No. 20. On April 25, 2017, the United States filed a notice that it would not intervene in the instant case. ECF No. 25. On April 25, 2017, the Court unsealed the complaint. ECF No. 26.
On August 8, 2017, the Court granted Plaintiffs' motion to file a second amended complaint, and directed the United States to make a "prompt decision" regarding intervention. ECF No. 31. On October 5, 2017, the United States filed another notice that it would not intervene in the instant case. ECF No. 34. On November 11, 2017, Plaintiffs filed the second amended complaint. ECF No. 37 (second amended complaint, or "SAC").
On July 12, 2018, various moving Defendants-Eisenmann, Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, Deere, REHAU, LaX, VW, Discatal, and BMW-filed a motion to dismiss the SAC. ECF No. 219. On October 1, 2018, the Court granted in part and denied in part the motion to dismiss the SAC. ECF No. 255 ("October 1, 2018 Order"). The Court dismissed Plaintiffs' False Claims Act ("FCA") claim without prejudice for, inter alia , failing to satisfy the heightened pleading standards of *935Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b) as to all moving Defendants except Eisenmann, and failing to identify who was responsible for paying the visa fees for allegedly fraudulently-obtained B-1 visas that formed the basis of the alleged false claim. Id. at 14-15. In addition, the Court dismissed Plaintiffs' Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA") claim without prejudice because Plaintiffs failed to show that Eisenmann was Plaintiffs' joint employer liable under the FLSA for labor violations while Plaintiffs were employed. Id. at 19-20. Furthermore, the Court dismissed Plaintiffs' California Labor Code claims because Plaintiffs failed to identify the statutes and theories under which Plaintiffs were proceeding. Id. at 20. Additionally, the Court denied the motion to dismiss Plaintiffs' Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act ("TVPRA") claim and the California Trafficking Victims Protection Act ("CTVPA") claim as to Tesla and Eisenmann because Plaintiffs alleged enough facts to demonstrate that Tesla and Eisenmann knew or should have known of Vuzem's alleged mistreatment of its workers. Id. at 24-25. Lastly, the Court dismissed Plaintiffs' Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act ("RICO") claim without prejudice because Plaintiffs failed to adequately allege the existence of a RICO enterprise and failed to adequately allege a common purpose. Id. at 28, 30.
On October 31, 2018, Plaintiffs filed a 108-page third amended complaint. See generally TAC. The TAC alleges 13 causes of action (some of which are duplicative), which can be grouped into the following general categories: (1) violations of the FCA (count 1); (2) violations of the FLSA for failure to pay minimum wage and adequate overtime pay (counts 2 and 3); (3) violations of the California Labor Code (counts 4 to 8); (4) violation of the TVPRA (counts 9 and 11); (5) violation of the CTVPA (counts 10 and 12); and (6) violations of RICO (count 13). Id. at ¶¶ 125-401.
On November 28, 2018, Defendants Eisenmann, Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, Deere, REHAU, LaX, VW, Dicastal, Volvo, and BMW moved to dismiss the TAC in an omnibus motion to dismiss. See generally Mot. On December 17, 2018, Plaintiffs filed 18 dismissal notices, abandoning multiple class action claims and also dismissing with prejudice all of the Defendants that filed the omnibus motion to dismiss the TAC with the exception of Eisenmann and Tesla. ECF Nos. 304-13, 315-22. On December 20, 2018, Plaintiffs filed their opposition. ECF No. 325 ("Opp."). On January 7, 2019, Moving Defendants filed their reply. ECF No. 342 ("Reply"). On February 14, 2019, the United States filed a notice that the United States takes no position on Moving Defendants' motion to dismiss the TAC. ECF No. 349.
2. The Alameda County Superior Court Case
On June 5, 2015, Lesnik filed suit in Alameda County Superior Court against, inter alia , Eisenmann, Tesla, and Vuzem. ECF No. 130, Dresser Decl. at ¶ 4. Lesnik's Superior Court complaint was amended twice. Id. Lesnik's suit stated, inter alia , a negligence claim, various wage and hour claims, and an unfair business practices claim against Eisenmann, Tesla, and Vuzem. Id. at Ex. C. The factual predicate of Lesnik's Superior Court case all stemmed from generally the same factual predicate as the instant case, including the issuance of visas based on allegedly fraudulent statements and poor working and living conditions. Id. Lesnik, in his Superior Court case, also alleged that he was injured from a fall while working at Tesla. Id. at ¶ 72. Lesnik eventually agreed to settle the Superior Court action. Id. , Dresser Decl. at ¶ 8. A settlement agreement was executed in June 2016. ECF No. 300-3, Ex. A at 8. This settlement *936agreement was entered into more than a year after Lesnik stopped working at the Tesla facility. TAC at ¶ 136.
The TAC makes no mention of this prior Superior Court case or settlement. However, Moving Defendants seek judicial notice of the settlement agreement despite it not being referenced in the TAC. The Ninth Circuit has held that a district court may consider a document extrinsic to a plaintiff's complaint on a Rule 12 motion if the document is "integral to the plaintiff's claims and its authenticity is not disputed." Parrino v. FHP, Inc. ,
Here, the Court finds that the settlement agreement is integral to Plaintiffs' claims in the instant case because the settlement agreement settled and released, among other things, "all wage and hour and employment-related claims" against Moving Defendants. ECF No. 300-3, Ex. A at 4. In the instant case, Plaintiffs also assert various state and federal wage and hour and employment-related claims, as well as other claims all stemming from the same factual predicate as the Superior Court case. See, e.g. , Birdsong v. AT & T Corp. ,
3. Workers' Compensation Action
On June 2, 2015, Lesnik brought a workers' compensation action against Vuzem *937before the California Workers' Compensation Appeals Board. ECF No. 130, Ex. D. Lesnik's settlement of the Alameda County Superior Court action also settled his workers' compensation action against Vuzem. ECF No. 300-3, Ex. A at 3.
II. LEGAL STANDARD
A. Motion to Dismiss Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6)
Rule 8(a)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure requires a complaint to include "a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief." A complaint that fails to meet this standard may be dismissed pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). The U.S. Supreme Court has held that Rule 8(a) requires a plaintiff to plead "enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face." Twombly , 550 U.S. at 570,
The Court, however, need not accept as true allegations contradicted by judicially noticeable facts, see Shwarz v. United States ,
B. Motion to Dismiss Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b)
Claims sounding in fraud are subject to the heightened pleading requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b). Bly-Magee v. California ,
"When an entire complaint ... is grounded in fraud and its allegations fail to satisfy the heightened pleading requirements of Rule 9(b), a district court may dismiss the complaint...." Vess ,
C. Leave to Amend
If the Court determines that a complaint should be dismissed, it must then decide whether to grant leave to amend. Under Rule 15(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, leave to amend "shall be freely given when justice so requires," bearing in mind "the underlying purpose of Rule 15 to facilitate decisions on the merits, rather than on the pleadings or technicalities." Lopez v. Smith ,
III. DISCUSSION
Plaintiffs' 108-page complaint is lengthy and unclear. See, e.g. , TAC at ¶ 177 ("The racketeering activity included a forced labor scheme ... including as alleged in paragraphs _ to _ herein.") Plaintiffs' counsel did not heed this Court's instruction "to be more concise and clear if [Plaintiffs] opt to amend the [second amended complaint]," which already totaled 62 pages. ECF No. 255 at 6. Plaintiffs' counsel also ignored the Court's comment that the SAC was also at times incomprehensible.
Moreover, 10 Defendants filed the instant omnibus motion to dismiss, and Plaintiffs waited until 3 days before Plaintiffs' opposition was due before Plaintiff dismissed with prejudice 8 of the 10 defendants who filed the omnibus motion. Thus, Plaintiffs' questionable timing left Moving Defendants no opportunity to brief the actual claims that remain at issue in the instant case until the reply, and required 8 other Defendants to expend significant resources and pages in briefing the motion to dismiss the TAC on claims and parties that are no longer part of the instant case.
Nonetheless, the Court addresses the remaining claims at issue in the instant case. First, Plaintiffs allege that the Moving Defendants violated the False Claims Act ("FCA") with respect to both Plaintiffs Lesnik and Papes. Second, Plaintiffs contend that the Moving Defendants violated various wage and hour laws, including the Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA") and *939numerous portions of the California Labor Code, with respect to Papes only. Third, Plaintiffs claim that the Moving Defendants violated the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act ("TVPRA") and the California Trafficking Victims Protection Act with respect to both Plaintiffs. Fourth, Plaintiffs argue that Eisenmann violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act ("RICO"). The Court considers each of the causes of action in turn.
A. False Claims Act Claim (Count 1)
Plaintiffs allege that Moving Defendants have violated the False Claims Act ("FCA"). Plaintiffs' FCA theories are a reverse FCA claim under
Moving Defendants advance 3 arguments for why Plaintiffs' FCA claims fail. First, Moving Defendants claim that the TAC fails to allege that any Moving Defendant "either incurred or avoided any fee associated with a visa application submitted by any Plaintiffs." Mot. at 5. Second, Moving Defendants argue that Plaintiffs' TAC does not meet the heightened pleading standard of Rule 9(b).
1. Whether any Moving Defendant Incurred or Avoided a Visa Fee
Moving Defendants argue that Plaintiffs have not stated a reverse FCA violation because Moving Defendants were never under any obligation to pay visa fees associated with the petition-based visas. Plaintiffs claim that Moving Defendants were under an obligation to pay for the more expensive petition-based visas, such as H1-B or H2-B visas, as opposed to the less expensive B-1 visas Plaintiffs obtained to enter the United States.
Since its enactment in 1863, the FCA has been focused on "those who present or directly induce the submission of false or fraudulent claims" to the government. Universal Health Servs., Inc. v. United States , --- U.S. ----,
The FCA statute defines "obligation" as "an established duty ... arising from an express or implied contractual, *940grantor-grantee, or licensor-licensee relationship, from a fee-based or similar relationship, from statute or regulation, or from the retention of any overpayment."
Here, there are no allegations that Moving Defendants ever submitted a visa application for the petition-based visas. To the contrary, Plaintiffs' allegations that Moving Defendants did not submit a visa application for the petition-based visas form the basis for Plaintiffs' reverse FCA claim. FAC at ¶¶ 61, 68-69. Thus, there was no obligation to pay the government for a petition-based visa because no visa application for a petition-based visa was ever actually submitted. Even Plaintiffs concede that "[a]n employer is obligated to pay fees when applying for petition based visas." Id. at ¶ 209 (emphasis added).
As the Ninth Circuit held in Bourseau , "[t]he obligation cannot be merely a potential liability."
Plaintiffs do not have a response to Moving Defendants' argument. Strangely, Plaintiffs seem to agree with Moving Defendants' argument. Plaintiffs concede: "[v]isa fees are an obligation to pay upon applying for a visa the approximated cost to the government for visa related expenses." Opp. at 9 (emphasis added).
However, Plaintiffs focus on the fact that they alleged that it was fraudulent for Plaintiffs to have entered the United States on their B-1 visas because Plaintiffs were performing unskilled labor on their B-1 visas, thus Moving Defendants avoided an obligation to pay the government higher visa fees associated with the petition-based visas.
Moreover, because Plaintiffs' reverse FCA claim under § 3729(a)(1)(G) fails as to Moving Defendants, there can be no underlying conspiracy to commit a violation of the FCA claim under § 3729(a)(1)(C). § 3729(a)(1)(C) requires a conspiracy "to commit a violation" of the other subparagraphs constituting a claim under the FCA. Numerous courts have found that an underlying violation of the other subparagraphs constituting a claim under the FCA is required to state a claim for conspiracy to commit a violation of the FCA. See, e.g. , Bishop v. Wells Fargo & Co. ,
Because Plaintiffs cannot state a reverse FCA claim based on visas for which they never applied, further amendment would be futile. This is a legal deficiency that cannot be cured by additional factual pleadings. Because any amendment would be futile, and it would be unduly prejudicial to Moving Defendants to litigate a third motion to dismiss regarding the same deficiencies, leave to amend is DENIED. Leadsinger, Inc. ,
The Court now turns to Papes' federal and state wage and hour claims.
B. Wage and Hour Claims (Counts 2 to 8)
Plaintiff Papes
1. Fair Labor Standards Act Claims (Counts 2 and 3)
In its October 1, 2018 Order, the Court granted the motion to dismiss the SAC's Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA") claims with leave to amend. ECF No. 255 at 20. Plaintiffs have now filed their third amended complaint, reasserting the FLSA claims against Moving Defendants. After reviewing Plaintiffs' TAC, the Court agrees with Moving Defendants that Plaintiffs' fourth attempt at stating a claim fails to address the deficiencies identified by the Court in the October 1, 2018 Order.
*942In particular, in dismissing Plaintiffs' FLSA claims against Eisenmann in the October 1, 2018 Order, the Court explained that a prerequisite to FLSA liability was being considered an employer, yet "the only allegations Plaintiffs identif[ied] ... in support of joint employer status relate[d] to Eisenmann's control over working conditions."
Here, Moving Defendants argue that first, Moving Defendants were not Papes' joint employers, and second, Papes' FLSA claims are barred by the statute of limitations. Mot. at 23-25. The Court finds Moving Defendants' first argument dispositive, and does not reach the second argument.
a. Whether Moving Defendants were Papes' Joint Employers
Moving Defendants argue that they were not Papes' joint employers, so they cannot be liable for any FLSA causes of action. The Court agrees.
The joint employer doctrine recognizes that "even where business entities are separate, if they share control of the terms or conditions of an individual's employment, both companies can qualify as employers." Johnson v. Serenity Transp., Inc. ,
A defendant must be an "employer" of the plaintiff to be liable under the FLSA. Bonnette v. Cal. Health & Welfare Agency ,
The Ninth Circuit has adopted a four-part "economic reality" test to determine when the employer-employee relationship exists. See Bonnette ,
i. Bonnette Factors as Applied to Eisenmann
The first Bonnette factor is whether the alleged joint employer has the power to hire and fire the purported employees. The TAC does not allege that Eisenmann had the power to hire and fire Papes. The most to which Plaintiffs can point in their opposition are allegations that Eisenmann "contracted with other entities such as ISM Vuzem, d.o.o. to hire *943construction workers including Stjepan Papes." TAC at ¶ 79. As discussed above, the TAC makes clear that "Eisenmann ... used a series of labor contractor entities, including ISM Vuzem d.o.o. ... to act as subcontractors and to hire enough foreign workers to do the construction work." Id. at ¶ 84. There are no allegations that Eisenmann itself "post[ed] available ... jobs, review[ed] resumes or applications, or interview[ed] candidates," nor was Eisenmann involved in "drafting, approving, or executing contracts" between Vuzem and the workers, including Papes. Johnson v. Serenity Transportation, Inc. ,
The second Bonnette factor is whether the alleged joint employer had control over the employees' work schedules or conditions. The TAC alleges that "Eisenmann ... had supervisors that came from time to time to take a look to see how the work performed by ... Gregor Lesnik [and] Stjepan Papes ... was progressing and to assess it. Further, Eisenmann ... through multiple employees and agents provided instructions to ... Gregor Lesnik and Stjepan Papes." TAC at ¶ 140. TAC at ¶ 140. The Court, as it must, construes the TAC in Plaintiffs' favor. See Manzarek ,
The third Bonnette factor is whether the alleged joint employer determined the rate and method of the employees' payment. The TAC alleges that "Eisenmann by its contracts with the Labor Contractor Defendants
Curiously, the TAC strategically deletes the SAC's allegations that Vuzem was responsible for paying workers. Specifically, the SAC alleged that Vuzem paid workers small cash per diems while the workers were in the United States. SAC at ¶ 14, 112. The SAC also alleged that "the workers received a monthly salary in most instances of 800 euros that was deposited directly in their bank account in their home country (expressly stated in the Potrdilo O Zaposlitvi (Certificate of Employment) dated 13.02.2013 signed by Direktor Ivan Vuzem as being E 783,66 gross pay)." Id. at ¶ 14 (emphasis added). Thus, the SAC indicated that Vuzem , not Eisenmann, deposited wages in the workers' bank accounts in the workers' home countries. The SAC's allegations that Vuzem was responsible for paying the workers indicated that Eisenmann did not control *944the rate and method of the workers' payment. The "court may also consider the prior allegations as part of its 'context-specific' inquiry based on its judicial experience and common sense to assess whether the Third Amended Complaint plausibly suggests an entitlement to relief, as required under Iqbal. " Cole v. Sunnyvale ,
By contrast to the SAC, the TAC's allegation that "Eisenmann by its contracts with the Labor Contractor Defendants [such as Vuzem] determined the rate of compensation" is vague and conclusory. TAC at ¶ 140. Again, the TAC lacks any allegation that Eisenmann determined the method of workers' payment. The TAC also does not explain how Eisenmann's contracts with Vuzem dictate the rate at which Vuzem pays Vuzem's workers. Under Twombly and Iqbal , the TAC does not sufficiently allege that Eisenmann determined the rate and method of the workers' payment.
Moreover, the TAC does not allege that Eisenmann, directly or indirectly, paid workers from Eisenmann's own funds or provided employment benefits. In Singh v. 7-Eleven, Inc. , the fact that a defendant "was not responsible for setting plaintiffs' wages, using its funds to pay plaintiffs, or providing any employment benefits" weighed against a finding of joint employment.
Furthermore, the TAC does not allege that Eisenmann had a contract with the workers or that the workers received a cut of the monies Eisenmann paid Vuzem. As stated earlier, the TAC does not allege how any of Eisenmann's payments to Vuzem pursuant to Eisenmann's contracts with Vuzem were distributed. Even if the workers received a cut of Eisenmann's payments to Vuzem, courts have held that such facts do not establish a joint employer relationship.
In Johnson v. Serenity Transp., Inc. , the defendant Serenity Transportation was a mortuary transport company that employed the plaintiffs.
The TAC's allegations indicate that Eisenmann had even less control over worker payments than the customer defendants in Serenity II. The TAC vaguely alleges that Eisenmann participated in the workers' compensation scheme via its contracts with Vuzem. However, the Serenity II plaintiffs actually received a cut of the fees the customer defendants paid to Serenity Transportation, a cut that was dictated by the contract between the Serenity II plaintiffs and Serenity Transportation. Thus, the Serenity II plaintiffs were contractually direct beneficiaries of a percentage of the customer defendants' payments. In contrast, the TAC only vaguely alleges that Eisenmann's contracts with Vuzem somehow dictate the rate of Vuzem's workers' payment. The TAC also makes no *945allegation that Eisenmann had any impact on the workers' method of payment.
The TAC's allegations do not sufficiently allege that Eisenmann determined the rate and method of the employees' payment. Therefore, the third Bonnette factor weighs against a finding that Eisenmann was a joint employer.
The fourth Bonnette factor is whether the alleged joint employer maintained employment records for the workers. The TAC alleges that "Eisenmann by its control of the job sites maintained records of the entry to the job sites and to the hours worked by each employee, which constituted the time records for the employed workers." TAC at ¶ 140 (emphasis added). Thus, the TAC alleges that Eisenmann had control of workers' timesheets. That is not enough for a finding that Eisenmann maintained employment records. For instance, the Pfohl v. Farmers Ins. Grp. court found that keeping timesheets and various invoices was insufficient to show that the alleged joint employer maintained employment records for workers.
In sum, 3 of the 4 Bonnette factors and the totality of the circumstances weigh against finding that Eisenmann was Papes' joint employer. The Court next turns to Tesla.
ii. Bonnette Factors as Applied to Tesla
The first Bonnette factor is whether the alleged joint employer has the power to hire and fire the purported employees. The TAC contains no allegations, and Plaintiffs point to none in their opposition, that Tesla had the power to hire and fire workers. Thus, the first Bonnette factor weighs against a finding that Tesla was a joint employer.
The second Bonnette factor is whether the alleged joint employer had control over the employees' work schedules or conditions. The TAC contains no allegations, and Plaintiffs point to none in their opposition, that Tesla had control over workers' work schedules or conditions. Therefore, the second Bonnette factor weighs against a finding that Tesla was a joint employer.
The third Bonnette factor is whether the alleged joint employer determined the rate and method of the employees' payment. Again, the TAC contains no allegations, and Plaintiffs point to none in their opposition, that Tesla determined the rate and method of workers' payment. Thus, the third Bonnette factor weighs against a finding that Tesla was a joint employer.
*946The fourth Bonnette factor is whether the alleged joint employer maintained employment records for the employees. The TAC alleges that "[t]he entry logs for the Tesla site were maintained by the security personnel of Tesla." Id. at ¶ 268. However, as the Pfohl court found, solely possessing timesheets and invoices counseled against a finding that an alleged joint employer maintained employment records.
In sum, 4 of the 4 Bonnette factors and the totality of the circumstances weigh against a finding that Tesla was a joint employer.
iii. Summary
In sum, the Bonnette factors counsel against a finding that either Eisenmann or Tesla was Papes' joint employer. Thus, Moving Defendants' motion to dismiss the FLSA claims (counts 2 and 3) is GRANTED.
The Court finds that granting leave to amend would be futile and unduly prejudicial to Moving Defendants. Leadsinger, Inc. ,
The Court now turns to Papes' wage and hour claims under the California Labor Code.
2. California Labor Code Claims (Counts 4 to 8)
In its October 1, 2018 Order, the Court granted the motion to dismiss the SAC's California Labor Code claims with leave to amend. ECF No. 255 at 21. Plaintiffs have now filed their third amended complaint, reasserting the California Labor Code claims against Moving Defendants. After reviewing Plaintiffs' TAC, the Court agrees with Moving Defendants that Plaintiffs' fourth attempt at stating a claim fails, especially because the motion to dismiss the SAC provided Plaintiffs notice that Plaintiffs had failed to allege that Moving Defendants were not Papes' employers under California law. ECF No. 219 at 29-32.
Papes claims that Moving Defendants violated California labor laws by: failing to pay minimum wage (count 4); failing to pay overtime wages (count 5); failing to provide rest periods (count 6); failing to provide accurate wage statements (count 7); and failing to pay waiting time penalties (count 8). Moving Defendants argue that Papes' claims against Moving Defendants under the California Labor Code fail because Plaintiffs fail to allege facts establishing that either Eisenmann or Tesla was Papes' employer under California law. The Court agrees with Moving Defendants' argument.
*947To be liable for violations of the California Labor Code, a defendant must be the plaintiff's employer. See, e.g. , Martinez v. Combs ,
California has adopted the California Industrial Welfare Commission's ("IWC") definition of employer. Martinez ,
a. IWC Prong 1-Whether Moving Defendants Exercised Control over Papes' Wages, Hours, or Working Conditions
Under the first prong of the IWC's definition of employer, "an entity employs workers if it 'directly or indirectly, or through an agent or any other person, employs or exercises control' over their wages, hours, or working conditions." Ochoa v. McDonald's Corp. ,
As to Eisenmann, there is no indication that Eisenmann meets the IWC's first prong. The TAC alleges that "Eisenmann ... had supervisors that came from time to time to take a look to see how the work performed by ... Stjepan Papes ... was progressing and to assess it. Further, Eisenmann ... through multiple employees and agents provided instructions to ... Papes." TAC at ¶ 140. However, in Martinez , the plaintiffs-seasonal agricultural workers-sued a farmer and two of the produce merchants through whom the farmer sold his strawberries. Martinez ,
As for control over wages, the TAC alleges that "Eisenmann by its contracts with the Labor Contractor Defendants [such as Vuzem] determined the rate of compensation." Id. at ¶ 140 (emphasis added). Nonetheless, it was still Vuzem that directly employed and paid Papes. Id. at ¶¶ 135-36. As the Ochoa court held, merely being able to "influence the treatment of workers" is not enough to show that there was an employer-employee relationship.
Likewise, in Martinez , the produce merchants paid the farmer an advance, which could be an indirect way of controlling the farmer's ability to pay the workers.
In sum, Eisenmann does not meet the definition of an employer under the IWC's first prong.
As to Tesla, the TAC contains no allegations, and Plaintiffs point to none in their opposition, that Tesla controlled Papes' wages, hours, or working conditions. Thus, Tesla does not meet the definition of an employer under the IWC's first prong.
b. IWC Prong 2-Whether Moving Defendants Permitted Papes to Work
Under the IWC's second prong, "the basis of liability is the defendant's knowledge of and failure to prevent the work from occurring." Martinez ,
As to Eisenmann, the TAC does not allege that Eisenmann had the power to hire and fire Papes. The most Plaintiffs can cite in their opposition are allegations that Eisenmann "contracted with other entities such as ISM Vuzem, d.o.o. to hire construction workers including Stjepan Papes." TAC at ¶ 79. The TAC makes clear that "Eisenmann ... used a series of labor contractor entities, including ISM Vuzem d.o.o. ... to act as subcontractors and to hire enough foreign workers to do the construction work." Id. at ¶ 84. Similarly, in Martinez , the California Supreme Court found that the IWC's second prong was not met because "neither [produce *949merchants] suffered or permitted plaintiffs to work because neither had the power to prevent plaintiffs from working. [The farmer] and his foremen had the exclusive power to hire and fire his workers...."
As to Tesla, there are no allegations in the TAC, and Plaintiffs point to none in their opposition, that Tesla had hiring and firing power over Papes. Thus, under Martinez , Tesla does not meet the definition of employer under the IWC's second prong.
c. IWC Prong 3-Whether Moving Defendants had a Common Law Employment Relationship with Papes
Under the third prong of the IWC's employer test, an employer-employee relationship could exist if there was a common law employment relationship with the employee. "[T]he principal test of [a common law] employment relationship is whether the person to whom service is rendered has the right to control the manner and means of accomplishing the result desired." Ayala v. Antelope Valley Newspapers, Inc. ,
As discussed above, neither Eisenmann nor Tesla are alleged to have possessed the power to hire and fire Papes. Thus, under Ayala , the "strongest evidence of the right to control" points away from an employer-employee relationship between the Moving Defendants and Papes.
Plaintiffs respond by citing
The only cases this Court has found to create employment relationships under § 2750.5 have been between an unlicensed subcontractor and a general contractor: " Labor Code section 2750.5 operates to conclusively determine that a general contractor is the employer of not only its unlicensed subcontractors but also those employed by the unlicensed subcontractors." See, e.g. , Hunt Building Corp. v. Bernick ,
d. Summary
Plaintiffs have failed to establish under any of the 3 IWC prongs that the Moving Defendants were employers of Papes. Thus, Papes' California Labor Code causes of action fail. Therefore, Plaintiffs' claims that Moving Defendants violated California labor laws by: failing to pay minimum wage (count 4); failing to pay overtime wages (count 5); failing to provide rest periods (count 6); failing to provide accurate wage statements (count 7); and failing to pay waiting time penalties (count 8) are DISMISSED.
The Court finds that granting leave to amend would be futile and unduly prejudicial to Moving Defendants. Leadsinger, Inc. ,
Next, the Court discusses Plaintiffs' human trafficking claims under federal and California law.
C. Human Trafficking Claims (Counts 9 to 12)
Plaintiffs (specifically, Papes and Lesnik) also bring forced labor claims under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act ("TVPRA"),
Counts 9 and 11 are duplicative because count 9 is an individual claim for violations of the TVPRA, whereas count 11 was a class action claim for violations of the TVPRA. However, on December 17, 2018, Plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed count 11's class claims and are now only asserting an individual claim for violations of the TVPRA in count 11. ECF No. 312.
*951Counts 10 and 12 are also duplicative because count 10 is an individual claim for violations of the CTVPA, whereas count 12 was a class action claim for violations of the CTVPA. On December 17, 2018, Plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed count 12's class claims and are now only asserting an individual claim for violations of the CTVPA in count 12. ECF No. 313.
For the reasons below, the Court finds that Papes has stated a claim under the TVPRA and under California law. Lastly, the Court addresses the effect of Lesnik's June 2016 Alameda County Superior Court case settlement agreement on his human trafficking claims.
1. TVPRA Claims (Counts 9 and 11)
The TVPRA includes a civil cause of action under
The TAC alleges that Defendants violated
(1) by means of force, threats of force, physical restraint, or threats of physical restraint to that person or another person;
(2) by means of serious harm or threats of serious harm to that person or another person;
(3) by means of the abuse or threatened abuse of law or legal process; or
(4) by means of any scheme, plan, or pattern intended to cause the person to believe that, if that person did not perform such labor or services, that person or another person would suffer serious harm or physical restraint[.]
Moving Defendants move to dismiss Plaintiffs' TVPRA claim on 4 grounds. First, Moving Defendants note that the TAC contains no allegations that Plaintiffs were subjected to forced labor under § 1589(a)(1) or (4). Mot. at 14. Plaintiffs do not dispute this point, so the remaining analysis focuses on § 1589(a)(2) and (3). Second, Moving Defendants argue that Plaintiffs fail to state a claim under § 1589(a)(2) and (3). Third, Moving Defendants assert that Manufacturing Defendants-Mercedes-Benz, Deere, REHAU, LaX, VW, Discatal, Volvo, and BMW, Mot. at 2-did not knowingly benefit from any purported forced labor. Because Plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed Manufacturing Defendants with prejudice from this case on December 17, 2018, ECF Nos. 315-322, the Court need not address this argument. Fourth, Moving Defendants argue that the Court should not exercise pendant jurisdiction over Manufacturing Defendants. Again, as Plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed Manufacturing Defendants with prejudice from this case on December 17, 2018, the Court need not address this argument. Thus, the only remaining argument is ground 2: that Plaintiffs fail to state a claim under § 1589(a)(2) and (3).
*952a. Whether Plaintiffs State a Claim under § 1589(a)(2) and (3)
§ 1589(c) defines the "serious harm" referenced in § 1589(a)(2) as "any harm, whether physical or nonphysical, including psychological, financial, or reputational harm," that is serious enough to compel a reasonable person to perform labor to avoid the harm. See United States v. Dann ,
The TAC meets the bar for both §§ 1589(a)(2) and 1589(a)(3). Specifically, the TAC alleges that Vuzem threatened to withhold pay if workers became too sick to work or reported a job injury; Vuzem threatened to withhold medical benefits if workers reported a job injury; Vuzem threatened to withhold visas and immigration status; Vuzem threatened to file a civil suit against Lesnik while he was hospitalized; and Vuzem even told Lesnik that "this will not go well for you." TAC at ¶¶ 117, 315, 324-26; see Manzarek ,
Moreover, as to both §§ 1589(a)(2) and 1589(a)(3), "multiple jurisdictions have found that the threat of deportation may itself constitute a threat sufficient to satisfy the second and/or third element of [ § 1589 ] forced labor." Echon v. Sackett ,
The Court now discusses Tesla and Eisenmann's roles and potential liability because the TVPRA also gives rise to liability to "[w]hoever knowingly benefits, financially or by receiving anything of value, from participation in a venture which has engaged in the providing or obtaining of labor or services by any of the means" proscribed under the 4 prongs of
First, regarding any financial benefit, Tesla and Eisenmann, on June 6, *9532014, entered into an agreement under which Eisenmann would establish a paint shop at Tesla's facility in Fremont, California. TAC at ¶ 213. On September 29, 2014, representatives for Vuzem, Eisenmann, and Tesla met and signed a subsequent agreement under which Eisenmann would employ Vuzem as a subcontractor to assist the construction of the paint shop.
Second, regarding knowledge, the TAC also adequately alleges that Eisenmann "knew or should have known" about Vuzem's treatment of its workers.
As for Tesla, per the TAC, Tesla knew Vuzem's workers were performing construction work prohibited by their B-1 visas and knew the workers lacked state licenses that are necessary to perform construction work.
The Court finds Moving Defendants' arguments that Papes "instead levels complaints that fall far short of 'serious harm' " unconvincing. Mot. at 14. Moving Defendants point to allegations that workers were provided with poor housing conditions or that they were not paid if they were sick as if they were the only allegations made in support of the TVPRA claim. However, as aforementioned, Papes alleges far more potentially-illegal conduct, such as threats to withhold visa and immigration status. TAC at ¶ 117. Also as discussed above, as to both §§ 1589(a)(2) and 1589(a)(3), "multiple jurisdictions have found that the threat of deportation may itself constitute a threat sufficient to satisfy the second and/or third element of [ § 1589 ] forced labor." Echon ,
*954In sum, there are sufficient allegations as to render both Eisenmann and Tesla liable pursuant to § 1595(a). Thus, Moving Defendants' motion to dismiss is DENIED as to count 9 (individual violations of TVPRA).
As aforementioned, Plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed count 11's class claims and are now only asserting an individual claim for violations of the TVPRA in count 11. ECF No. 312. "It is well established that a district court has broad discretion to control its own docket, and that includes the power to dismiss duplicative claims." M.M. v. Lafayette School Dist. ,
2. CTVPA Claims (Counts 10 and 12)
Plaintiffs' California Trafficking Victims Protection Act ("CTVPA") claim is based on
As aforementioned, Plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed count 12's class claims and are now only asserting an individual claim for violations of the CTVPA in count 12. ECF No. 313. The Court has the power to dismiss duplicative claims. M.M. ,
3. The Effect of Lesnik's June 2016 Settlement Agreement
Moving Defendants argue that Lesnik's June 2016 settlement agreement bars all of Lesnik's non-FCA claims in the instant action (i.e., federal and state human trafficking claims) because the settlement agreement broadly releases all claims or potential claims arising out of his Alameda County Superior Court action. Mot. at 21. Plaintiffs argue that Lesnik's settlement bars only claims relating to the fall Lesnik suffered while working at Tesla. Opp. at 31. The Court agrees with Moving Defendants.
"California has a strong policy in favor of enforcing settlement agreements." Carcamo v. Vacation Interval Realty Inc. ,
Lesnik's settlement agreement released:
[A]ll claims, demands, action, or causes of action, known or unknown, including all injuries, damages, or death, arising out of or in any way connected to or resulting from the claims and allegations made, or which could have been made in the [Alameda County Superior Court action and workers' compensation action]
*955as referred to in Paragraph 3 above, including the full and complete discharge from and waiver of any potential and future wrongful death claim arising out of or in any way connected to or resulting from GREGOR LESNIK'S alleged injuries and damages as a result of the accident.
ECF No. 300-3, Ex. A at 3. The settlement agreement also released "all wage and hour and employment-related claims. " Id. at 4 (emphasis added).
"A clause providing for the release of claims may refer to all claims raised in the pending action, or it may refer to all claims, both potential and actual, that may have been raised in the pending action with respect to the matter of controversy." Villacres v. ABM Indus. Inc. ,
Here, Plaintiffs are incorrect in their interpretation of the release as only being limited to Lesnik's injuries and damages as a result of his accident. The release clearly releases "all claims ... or causes of action, arising out of or in any way connected to or resulting from the claims and allegations made, or which could have been made in the" Alameda County Superior Court action, "including the full and complete discharge from and waiver of any potential and future wrongful death claim ... connected to ... GREGOR LESNIK'S alleged injuries and damages as a result of the accident." ECF No. 300-3, Ex. A at 3 (emphasis added). The release is unambiguous. The word "including" in the release does not mean "limited to." The release clearly releases claims that were made or could have been made in the Alameda County Superior Court action, including that of a future wrongful death claim connected to Lesnik's accident.
Moreover, the settled claims included more than simply personal injury claims. Lesnik's second amended complaint in the Superior Court action also alleged multiple violations of the California Labor Code, such as under
The question now becomes whether Lesnik could have made his human trafficking claims in the Alameda County Superior Court action. The Court finds that Lesnik could have made both his federal and state-based human trafficking claims in the Superior Court action. In Lesnik's second amended complaint in the Superior Court action, Lesnik specifically mentions "the false statements to the United States Embassy concerning visas, the gross and unconscionable underpayment of wages, the lack of workers compensation insurance, and the indentured servitude nature of the 'employment' relationship with Plaintiff Gregor Lesnik and workers similarly situated to Gregor Lesnik." ECF No. 130, Ex. C at ¶ 167. The Superior Court complaint, like the TAC, mentioned threats against Lesnik, i.e., comments by Robert Vuzem that "things would not go well for him."
In sum, Lesnik basically alleged in his Superior Court action aspects of a federal and state cause of action for human trafficking. The Superior Court complaint shows that at the time Lesnik filed his Superior Court action, with the assistance of the same counsel as in the instant case, facts relating to the human trafficking claims were fully developed in a way that they "could have been alleged by reason of or in connection with any matter or fact set forth or referred to in the complaint." Villacres ,
The situation here is analogous to that in Villacres. The Villacres court was considering the application of a blanket release made in a settlement agreement with verbiage similar to Lesnik's release.
Here, there is a similarly-broad release provision that released claims not expressly brought in Lesnik's action. Moreover, it is noteworthy that Lesnik filed the instant action on March 7, 2016, 3 months before he entered into the June 2016 settlement agreement.
Plaintiffs assert that Lesnik read the settlement as "being a settlement of the personal injury claims ... and of a California wages claim," and thus Lesnik's understanding controls the interpretation of the settlement agreement. Opp. at 33. However, Lesnik's understanding of the settlement is counter to California law. "A settlement agreement is in the nature of a contract and is therefore governed by the same legal principles applicable to contracts generally." Timney v. Lin ,
Because Lesnik was represented by the same counsel as the instant action; because Lesnik's Superior Court complaint alleged the same factual predicates as his human trafficking claims in the instant case; because Lesnik filed the instant action 3 months before his June 2016 settlement agreement; and because Lesnik had the opportunity to bring his employment-based human trafficking claims as part of his employment law-based lawsuit in Alameda County Superior Court but failed to, the Court finds that Lesnik's Superior Court settlement agreement bars Lesnik's human trafficking claims.
4. Summary
The Court DENIES Moving Defendants' motion to dismiss the federal TVPRA claims (count 9) and California CTVPA claims (count 10) as to Plaintiff Papes.
The Court GRANTS Moving Defendants' motion to dismiss the federal TVPRA claims (count 9) and California CTVPA claims (count 10) as to Plaintiff Lesnik. Because Lesnik's human trafficking claims are barred by the release in his June 2016 settlement agreement, further amendment of the human trafficking claims would be futile. Moreover, it would be unduly prejudicial to Moving Defendants to have to continue to litigate released claims. Therefore, leave to amend is denied. Leadsinger, Inc. ,
Moreover, the Court DISMISSES counts 11 (individual violations of the TVPRA) and 12 (individual violations of the CTVPA) as duplicative of counts 9 and 10, respectively.
D. RICO Claims (Count 13)
In its October 1, 2018 Order, the Court granted the motion to dismiss the SAC's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act ("RICO") claims with leave to amend. ECF No. 255 at 31. Plaintiffs have *958now filed their third amended complaint, reasserting the RICO claims against Eisenmann. After reviewing Plaintiffs' TAC, the Court agrees with Moving Defendants that Plaintiffs' fourth attempt at stating a claim fails to address the deficiencies identified by the Court in the October 1, 2018 Order.
In particular, in dismissing Plaintiffs' RICO claims against Eisenmann in the October 1, 2018 Order, the Court explained that "the threadbare allegations in the SAC" fail to allege a RICO enterprise. Id. at 30. The Court warned that "failure to cure the deficiencies ... will result in a dismissal with prejudice of the deficient claims or theories." Id. at 32.
Plaintiffs again bring claims under
Plaintiffs also proceed under § 1962(d), which provides that "[i]t shall be unlawful for any person to conspire to violate any of the provisions of subsection (a), (b), or (c) of this section." In considering Plaintiffs' RICO claims, the Court is mindful that "RICO is to be read broadly" and should "be liberally construed to effectuate its remedial purposes." Odom v. Microsoft Corp. ,
Moving Defendants move to dismiss Plaintiffs' RICO claims against Eisenmann on 4 grounds. First, Moving Defendants argue that Plaintiffs have failed to allege any predicate acts of racketeering. This Court's October 1, 2018 Order held that Plaintiffs' human trafficking claims could serve as a RICO predicate. ECF No. 255 at 28 n.10 ; Lesnik ,
A RICO "enterprise" consists of "any individual, partnership, corporation, association, or other legal entity, or any union or group of individuals associated in fact although not as a legal entity."
The Court finds that Plaintiffs have not adequately alleged the existence of an enterprise. Plaintiffs allege dozens of Defendants scattered across the United States and Europe constitute an enterprise. See, e.g. , TAC at ¶¶ 388 ("This RICO cause of action is based on an association in fact Enterprise consisting of the Eisenmann entities and the Labor Contractor defendants
The international enterprise alleged in the TAC radiates outwards from Eisenmann and its customers (e.g. Tesla) and around 18 subcontractors (e.g. Vuzem) named in the TAC, as well as "other labor contractors" not named in the TAC. TAC at ¶¶ 84, 400. Indeed, Plaintiffs cite no case that has found a RICO enterprise based on a structure as loosely-defined as the one Plaintiff alleges here. Specifically, the TAC makes no attempt to describe Defendants' roles in the enterprise's structure, or to in any way differentiate among Defendants. Instead, the TAC baldly states an enterprise exists and that it consisted of a mixture of Defendants not separately identified. Id. at ¶ 400 ("Eisenmann entities, the Labor Contractor Defendants and other labor contractors have directly and indirectly conducted and participated in the conduct of the enterprise's affairs through the pattern of racketeering and activity described above, in violation of
By contrast, in a case where the Ninth Circuit found the existence of a RICO enterprise, each alleged participant of the enterprise was separately-named and the alleged racketeering activity committed by each alleged participant of the enterprise was set forth in detail. Schreiber Distributing Co. v. Serv-Well Furniture Co. ,
Thus, the Court must dismiss Plaintiffs' § 1962(c) cause of action because the existence of an enterprise is an essential element of the claim. Chrysler ,
In sum, the Court GRANTS Moving Defendants' motion to dismiss Plaintiffs' claim under § 1962(c) and (d) against Eisenmann.
The Court finds that granting leave to amend would be futile and unduly prejudicial to Moving Defendants. Leadsinger, Inc. ,
IV. CONCLUSION
10 Defendants-Eisenmann, Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, Deere, REHAU, LaX, VW, Discatal, Volvo, and BMW-filed the instant motion to dismiss. 3 days before Plaintiffs filed their opposition, Plaintiffs dismissed with prejudice all claims against 8 of the 10 Defendants-Mercedes-Benz, Deere, REHAU, LaX, VW, Discatal, Volvo, and BMW. ECF Nos. 315-22. Thus, the 2 Moving Defendants remaining are Eisenmann and Tesla.
For the foregoing reasons, Moving Defendants' motion to dismiss is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. In particular:
1. Moving Defendants' motion to dismiss Plaintiffs' False Claims Act claims (count 1) is GRANTED with prejudice.
2. Moving Defendants' motion to dismiss Plaintiff Papes' Fair Labor Standards Act claims (counts 2 and 3) is GRANTED with prejudice.
3. Moving Defendants' motion to dismiss Plaintiff Papes' California Labor Code claims for failing to pay minimum *961wage (count 4); failing to pay overtime wages (count 5); failing to provide rest periods (count 6); failing to provide accurate wage statements (count 7); and failing to pay waiting time penalties (count 8) is GRANTED with prejudice.
4. Moving Defendants' motion to dismiss Plaintiffs' Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (count 9) is GRANTED with prejudice with respect to Plaintiff Lesnik. Otherwise, Moving Defendants' motion to dismiss Plaintiffs' Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (count 9) is DENIED with respect to Plaintiff Papes.
5. Moving Defendants' motion to dismiss Plaintiffs' California Trafficking Victims Protection Act (count 10) is GRANTED with prejudice with respect to Plaintiff Lesnik. Otherwise, Moving Defendants' motion to dismiss Plaintiffs' California Trafficking Victims Protection Act (count 10) is DENIED with respect to Plaintiff Papes.
6. Counts 11 (individual Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act claims) and 12 (individual California Trafficking Victims Protection Act claims) are DISMISSED as being duplicative of counts 9 and 10, respectively.
7. Moving Defendants' motion to dismiss Plaintiffs' Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act claims against Eisenmann (count 13) is GRANTED with prejudice.
Accordingly, as a result of all these rulings, the only claims that remain against Eisenmann and Tesla are Papes' claims under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (count 9) and California Trafficking Victims Protection Act (count 10).
IT IS SO ORDERED.
To be precise, the TAC names ISM Vuzem d.o.o., ISM Vuzem USA, Inc., Ivan Vuzem, Robert Vuzem, Vuzem USA, Inc. TAC at ¶¶ 9-13. The Court refers to "Vuzem" for simplicity, and because the TAC alleges that these entities are the same company under different guises. Id. at ¶¶ 9-13, 15.
"Undisputed matters of public record" are proper subjects for judicial notice. Disabled Rights Action Comm. v. Las Vegas Events, Inc. ,
Plaintiff Lesnik does not bring any federal or state wage and hour claims against Moving Defendants. See ECF Nos. 305-11.
Plaintiffs name numerous parties as "Labor Contractor" Defendants, many of which have not appeared yet in the instant case. For instance, LB metal d.o.o, D2N Tehnologije d.o.o, REHAU, VV Mot, d.o.o., Magna International, Inc., Magna Automotive Services GmbH, Magna, d.o.o., and We-Kr d.o.o. are all named as "Labor Contractor" Defendants. TAC at ¶ 84. For present purposes, it is sufficient to note that Vuzem is named as a Labor Contractor Defendant.
"Undisputed matters of public record" are proper subjects for judicial notice. Disabled Rights Action Comm. ,
Plaintiffs' complaints in the instant case were under seal from March 7, 2016 through April 25, 2017. ECF No. 26. Thus, Tesla, Eisenmann, and Vuzem were unaware of Plaintiffs' complaints in the instant case when Tesla, Eisenmann, and Vuzem decided to settle Lesnik's Superior Court and workers' compensation cases.
Plaintiffs name numerous parties as "Labor Contractor" Defendants, many of which have not appeared yet in the instant case. For instance, LB metal d.o.o, D2N Tehnologije d.o.o, REHAU, VV Mot, d.o.o., Magna International, Inc., Magna Automotive Services GmbH, Magna, d.o.o., and We-Kr d.o.o. are all named as "Labor Contractor" Defendants. TAC at ¶ 84. For present purposes, it is enough to note that Vuzem is named as a Labor Contractor Defendant.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Gregor LESNIK v. EISENMANN SE
- Cited By
- 24 cases
- Status
- Published