Opinions of the United 2008 Decisions States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

1-15-2008

Zelenka v. NFI Ind Inc Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential

Docket No. 06-3650

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Recommended Citation "Zelenka v. NFI Ind Inc" (2008). 2008 Decisions. Paper 1745. http://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/thirdcircuit_2008/1745

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UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

No. 06-3650

DEANA L. ZELENKA, In the Name of the United States of America Pursuant to the False Claims Act

Appellant

v.

NFI INDUSTRIES, INC.; HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.

APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY (D.C. Civil No. 05-cv-00584) District Judge: The Honorable Joseph E. Irenas

Argued: November 28, 2007

Before: BARRY, FUENTES and GARTH, Circuit Judges

(Opinion Filed: January 15, 2008)

Ross Begelman, Esq. (Argued) Begelman & Orlow, P.C. 411 Route 70 East, Suite 245 Cherry Hill, NJ 08034

Counsel for Appellant Deana L. Zelenka, etc. Steven I. Frank, Esq. (Argued) United States Department of Justice Civil Division, Appellate Staff 950 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, DC 20530 -AND- Stuart A. Minkowitz, Esq. Office of the United States Attorney 970 Broad Street, Room 700 Newark, NJ 07102

Counsel for Amicus-Appellant - USA

Justin Loughry, Esq. (Argued) Lawrence W. Lindsay, Esq. Loughry & Lindsay 330 Market Street Camden, NJ 08102

Counsel for Appellee NFL Industries, Inc., et al

Kali Bracey, Esq. (Argued) Julie M. Carpenter, Esq. Jenner & Block 601 13th Street, N.W. Suite 1200 South Washington, DC 20005 -AND- Peter J. Torcicollo, Esq. Gibbons One Gateway Center Newark, NJ 07102-5310

Counsel for Honeywell International, Inc.

2 OPINION

BARRY, Circuit Judge

Deana L. Zelenka appeals the July 6, 2006 order of the United States District Court

for the District of New Jersey granting the motions to dismiss of appellees NFI Industries,

Inc. and Honeywell International, Inc. Appellant raises two issues on appeal:

“1. Whether the lower court erred in granting the motion[s] to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) by misapplying the limited facts and competent evidence offered below in concluding plaintiff’s complaint did not allege a legal obligation that is clearly related to inspection fees and dismissed plaintiff’s claim. 2. Whether the lower court erred in finding that plaintiff’s complaint did not state a cause of action by failing to properly allege that an obligation had been avoided or decreased under the false claims act

(a)(7).”

Appellant’s Br. at 1.

We have reviewed the submissions of the parties and have heard oral argument.

We conclude that, substantially for the reasons set forth in the Opinion of the District

Court, we will affirm.1

1 We do not decide whether, as the District Court appeared to assume, inspection fees have been and will be required. 3