World of Boxing LLC v. King
World of Boxing LLC v. King
Opinion of the Court
OPINION AND ORDER
I. INTRODUCTION
Plaintiffs Vladimir Hrunov and Andrey Ryabinskiy are Russian boxing promoters who do business as World of Boxing (“WOB”). Defendant Don King (“King”) is an American boxing promoter who does business as Don King Productions. On January 28, 2014, King and WOB entered into an Agreement In Principle (“Agreement”), in which King promised to produce Guillermo Jones (“Jones”) for a bout against Denis Lebedev (“Lebedev”) on April 25, 2014.
On May 28, 2014, WOB filed this suit. WOB alleges that King, by failing to produce a clean fighter, breached the Agreement.
On August 22, 2014, WOB moved for partial summary judgment on the question of contract liability. WOB seeks (1) a ruling that King is liable for breaching the Agreement, (2) dismissal of King’s counterclaims, and (3) a judgment that WOB is entitled to reimbursement of funds from a disputed escrow account (“escrow funds”).
II. BACKGROUND
The following facts are undisputed. On May 17, 2013, Jones and Lebedev fought in a Cruiserweight Title Fight in Moscow, sanctioned by the World Boxing Association (“WBA”), which Jones won by knockout in the eleventh round.
On January 28, 2014, King and WOB finalized terms for a second administration of the Cruiserweight Title match between Lebedev and Jones. In the Agreement, King represented that he “holds the exclusive promotional rights for Jones,”
Jones must arrive in Moscow a minimum of 7 days before the Event and shall remain in Moscow until the Event. Jones also undertakes to be subjected to drug testing before and after the fight,*510 in compliance with the rules of the WBA and the [2013 WBA Resolution].11
The purpose of these provisions, as King has explained by affidavit, was to “preclude another [ ] positive drug test [from Jones].”
The rematch was finalized for April 25, 2014. On April 23, 2014, urine samples were collected from both Jones and Lebe-dev and submitted for testing. On April 25, 2014 — the day the bout was supposed to take place — a report was issued, finding that Lebedev’s sample was clean but that Jones’s sample tested positive for furosem-ide. When WOB and Lebedev learned of this news, Lebedev withdrew from the bout.
On May 28, 2014, WOB brought the present suit. It argues that King, by failing to “cause Jones [] to participate” in the bout, breached the terms of the Agreement.
Summary judgment is appropriate “where, construing all the evidence in the light most favorable to the [non-moving party] and drawing all reasonable inferences in that party’s favor, there is ‘no genuine issue as to any material fact and ... the [moving party] is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.’ ”
IV. APPLICABLE LAW
“Because this is a diversity action,” the Court applies the law of “the forum in which [it] sits.”
A. Breach of Contract
Under New York law, contracts are given “the meaning intended by the parties, as derived from the language of the contract in question.”
Breach of contract claims are subject to a four-part test. To prevail, a plaintiff must show: “(1) the existence of a contract between [the plaintiff] and [the] defendant; (2) performance of the plaintiffs obligations under the contract; (3) breach of the contract by [the] defendant; and (4) damages to the plaintiff caused by [the] defendant’s breach.”
B. The Defense of “Impossibility”
Breaches of contract normally carry
To sustain an impossibility defense, the “supervening event” must have been “unanticipated” by the parties.
V. DISCUSSION
A. King Breached the Contract
The Agreement required King to “cause [Jones] to participate in a 12 Round WBA Cruiserweight World Title match [against Lebedev].”
But the relevant facts are not in dispute. Under WBA rules — which the Agreement incorporates by reference — any boxer who tests positive for a banned, performance-enhancing substance is disqualified from WBA-sponsored bouts for no less than six months.
While these arguments might have force, they are addressed to the wrong issue. King could be right: under the circumstances, it is possible that his contractual obligations were too onerous to be enforceable. But that question goes to whether King’s failure to perform may be excused, not to whether King in fact failed to perform.
B. Impossibility Does Not Excuse King’s Breach
In general, “contract liability is strict liability.”
New York law is very clear, however, that an impossibility defense is only available if the frustration of performance was “produced by an unanticipated event that
King tries to "turn these facts around. Noting how “stunned” and “shocked” he was to learn of the positive drug test -on April 25, 2014,
While King’s dismay is understandable — it is stunning that Jones was foolish enough to test positive for the same drug twice — his argument misconstrues the term “unanticipated event.” Ipng casts the question in terms of probability: an event is “ilnanticipated,” in his view, if it is unlikely to occur. What the case law has in mind, however, are not improbable events, but events that fall outside the sphere of what a reasonable person would plan for.
King’s own testimony proves the point. By way of explaining why the Agreement was silent about what to do in the event of a second positive test, King admits that he thought the “mandatory drug testing provision” would “preclude” Jones from ingesting furosemide.
In essence, King argues that he should not be held liable because Jones’s decision to take furosemide was outside of King’s
After all, WOB could also invoke the “imprisonment” logic — in support of the opposite view. If I were to rule that Jones’s ingestion of furosemide effectively dissolved the Agreement, and that King’s failure to perform was therefore excused, WOB might reasonably object that it had no way — short of imprisoning Jones — to avoid the economic loss of that outcome. Ultimately, the reality is that Jones’s poor decision-making was costly to both parties. The question is which party — King or WOB — should have to shoulder those costs. The law makes it clear that the answer is King. As the party who promised to secure Jones’s participation, King “assumed the risk” of foreseeable events that might frustrate his ability to make good on that promise.
C. King’s Counterclaims Fail
Both of King’s counterclaims rest on the proposition that Lebedev’s decision to withdraw from the bout constituted either a breach or a dissolution of the Agreement, releasing King from his obligations. This proposition is wrong. Once Jones tested positive, WOB and Lebedev were entitled to “treat the entire contract as broken,” because Jones’s participation (which the positive test rendered impossible) was the centerpiece of the agreement.
VI. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, WOB’s partial motion for summary judgment as to liability is GRANTED. The Clerk of the Court is directed to close this motion (Dkt. No. 26), and the parties are directed to submit briefings as to damages in accordance with the following schedule: WOB’s moving papers (15 pages) should be filed by October 10; King’s opposition (15 pages) should be filed by October 17; and WOB’s reply (5 pages) should be filed by October 24.
SO ORDERED.
. See Agreement In Principle ("Agreement”), Exhibit ("Ejx.”) A to 7/22/14 Declaration of Olga Korobova, Custodian of Records for the World Boxing Association ("Korobova Decl.”).
. See Plaintiffs' Complaint and Demand for Jury Trial ("Complaint”), ¶¶ 36-47.
. Defendants’ Memorandum in Opposition to Summary Judgment ("Def. Mem.”), at 11 (emphasis added).
. See Defendants' Answer ("Answer”) ¶¶ 28-40.
. See Plaintiffs' Motion for Partial Summary Judgment, at 1.
. Accordingly, facts having exclusively to do with the creation and disposition of the escrow account are omitted here. A schedule for briefing on damages is set out at the end of this Opinion.
. See Complaint ¶ 14.
. See WBA Resolution of October 17, 2013 ("2013 WBA Resolution”), Ex. B to 8/22/14 Declaration of Michael A. McAleenan, General Counsel to the WBA (“McAleenan Decl.”) § IV ¶ B.
. Agreement § III ¶ 1.
. Id.
. Id. § III ¶ 6. These terms were slightly modified in an addendum on March 17, 2014, but not in any way that impacts this case. See Addendum to Prior Agreement, Ex. B to Korobova Decl.
. 9/11/14 Affidavit of Don King ("King Aff."), ¶ 8.
. The parties have a dispute about the significance of various events leading up to Lebe-dev’s decision to withdraw. King submits— and for the purposes of this Opinion, I will accept as true — that immediately after the positive test, Carlos Chavez, the WBA supervisor in Moscow in charge of the bout, “ruled” that the urine test was unofficial and that "the [bout] should take place as scheduled.” De- ' fendants’ Counterclaim ("Counterclaim”) ¶ 23. In response, WOB counters — and once again, I will accept this as true — that after Chavez ordered the bout to go forward, Gilbert Mendoza, Jr., the President of the WBA, reversed Chavez’s decision and deemed the bout cancelled. See McAleenan Decl. ¶¶21-22.
For the reasons set forth during the August 15, 2014 conference, this dispute is irrelevant. As I put it then, because "it is not in dispute that [Jones] took a prohibited substance, [there is no reason to] care about Chavez and Mendoza. [Jones] could not have fought [the] bout. There is no question that [King] could not produce him. The only [] question is [whether King was obligated to produce him, and if so] whether the breach was excused.” 8/15/14 Transcript of Premotion Conference (“Conf. Tr.”), at 3.
. 4/28/14 Letter from McAleenan, on Behalf of the WBA, -Ex. E to Korobova Decl., at 2. The WBA rule referenced in the letter is C.45, which provides, in relevant part, that "[n]o boxer who has tested positively for prohibited substances can be rated, retain a title, or be permitted to fight in a sanctioned bout for a period of no less than six (6) months from the date of the positive test.” Rules of World of Boxing Association (“WBA Rules”), Ex. A to McAleenan Decl. § C ¶ 45 (emphasis added).
. See WBA Resolution of May 23, 2014, Ex. E to Complaint, at 3.
. See Complaint ¶¶ 36-47.
. See Counterclaim ¶¶ 28-40.
. Id. II25.
. Rivera v. Rochester Genesee Reg’l Transp. Auth., 743 F.3d 11, 1.9 (2d Cir. 2014) (quoting Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c)) (some quotation marks omitted).
. Windsor v. United States, 699 F.3d 169, 192 (2d Cir. 2012), aff'd, - U.S. -, 133 S.Ct. 2675, 186 L.Ed.2d 808 (2013) (quotations and alterations omitted).
. Brod v. Omya, Inc., 653 F.3d 156, 164 (2d Cir. 2011) (quotation marks and citations omitted).
. Ash v. Richards, 572 Fed.Appx. 52, 53 (2d Cir. 2014).
. Agreement § III ¶ 9.
. Duane Reade v. Cardtronics, 54 A.D.3d 137, 140, 863 N.Y.S.2d 14 (1st Dep't 2008).
. Sutton v. East River. Sav. Bank, 55 N.Y.2d 550, 555, 450 N.Y.S.2d 460, 435 N.E.2d 1075 (1982).
. Id.
. See This Is Me, Inc. v. Taylor, 157 F.3d 139, 144 (2d Cir. 1998) (applying New York law).
. Diesel Props S.r.l. v. Greystone Bus. Credit II LLC, 631 F.3d 42, 52 (2d Cir. 2011) (applying New York law).
. Restatement (Second) of Contracts ("Second Restatement”), Introductory Note to Chapter 11 ("Intro, to Chap. 11”) (1981).
. Id. § 261(b).
. Kel Kim, Corp. v. Central Mkts., Inc., 70 N.Y.2d 900, 902, 524 N.Y.S.2d 384, 519 N.E.2d 295 (1987). Accord U.S. v. Winstar Corp., 518 U.S. 839, 905 n. 53, 116 S.Ct. 2432, 135 L.Ed.2d 964 (1996) (citing Kel Kim and compiling other sources).
. Winstar, 518 U.S. at 905, 116 S.Ct. 2432 (internal citations omitted).
. Kel Kim, 70 N.Y.2d at 902, 524 N.Y.S.2d 384, 519 N.E.2d 295. Accord 407 East 61st Garage v. Savoy Fifth Ave. Corp., 23 N.Y.2d 275, 296 N.Y.S.2d 338, 344, 244 N.E.2d 37 (1968); Ogdensburg Urban Renewal Agency v. Moroney, 42 A.D.2d 639, 345 N.Y.S.2d 169, 171 (N.Y. 1973). This is not necessarily true in every jurisdiction — the Second Restatement suggests that "[t]he fact that the event was foreseeable, or even foreseen, does not necessarily compel a conclusion that its non-occurrence was not a basic assumption.” Second Restatement § 261(b) (emphasis added). But New York law is crystal clear: the supervening event must have been "unanticipated” for an impossibility defense to prevail.
. Agreement § III ¶ 1.
. See WBA Rules § C ¶ 45.
. Conf. Tr. at 2.
. See WBA Rules § C ¶ 45.
. King’s efforts to paint his obligations as “ambiguous” fail. According to King, in addition to the interpretation adopted here, it is also possible to read the Agreement as requiring King to "do everything within his control and ability to cause Jones's participation.” Def. Mem. at 11. But a promise to do something, and a promise to try to do something, are fundamentally different. The parties were free, of course, to negotiate contract terms
.Def. Mem. at 9 n. 9.
. Id. at 8.
. Id. (emphasis added).
. The error in King’s reasoning is particularly apparent when he argues that interpreting the contract to "unconditionally require[] [him] to [ ] cause Jones to engage in the bout ... would leave [him] no recourse if Jones were to die, become injured, refuse to fight, or otherwise become incapable of participating in a WBA-sanctioned championship bout.” Def. Mem. at 11. That is simply not true. Under those circumstances, King’s "recourse” would be to raise an impossibility defense — -just as he has.
. Second Restatement, Intro, to Chap. 11.
. Kel Kim, 70 N.Y.2d at 902, 524 N.Y.S.2d 384, 519 N.E.2d 295.
. Spalding v. Rosa, 71 N.Y. 40, 44 (1877).
. Kel Kim, 70 N.Y.2d at 902, 524 N.Y.S.2d 384, 519 N.E.2d 295. Accord East 61st Garage, 296 N.Y.S.2d at 344, 244 N.E.2d 37; Ogdensburg, 345 N.Y.S.2d at 171.
. See Complaint ¶¶ 16-18.
. See Agreement § C ¶ 6.
. See 2013 WBA Resolution § IV ¶ E.
. King Aff. ¶ 22.
. Def. Mem. at 13 (emphasis added).
. King Aff. ¶ 8.
. Def. Mem. at 13.
. See, e.g., Kel Kim, 70 N.Y.2d at 902, 524 N.Y.S.2d 384, 519 N.E.2d 295 (emphasizing that the proper question is whether the performance-frustrating event should have been "foreseen and guarded against in the contract”).
. King Aff. ¶ 8.
. Def. Mem. at 8.
. See Winstar, 518 U.S. at 905, 116 S.Ct. 2432.
. ESPN, Inc. v. Office of Comm’r of Baseball, 76 F.Supp.2d 383, 388 (S.D.N.Y. 1999) (quoting Inter-Power of New York, Inc. v. Niagara Mohawk Power Corp., 259 A.D.2d 932, 686 N.Y.S.2d 911, 913 (3d Dep’t 1999)).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- WORLD OF BOXING LLC, Vladimir Hrunov, and Andrey Ryabinskiy v. Don KING and Don King Productions, Inc.
- Cited By
- 4 cases
- Status
- Published