ABX Air, Inc. v. Airline Prof Assn
ABX Air, Inc. v. Airline Prof Assn
Opinion
5(&200(1'(' )25 )8//7(;7 38%/,&$7,21 $%;$LUY$LUOLQH3URIjOV$VVjQ 1RV 3XUVXDQW WR 6L[WK &LUFXLW 5XOH
(/(&7521,& &,7$7,21 )(' $SS 3 WK &LU
VWDIILQJRUIOLJKWLQWHUUXSWLRQV:KLOH$%;GHFLGHGQRWWR )LOH 1DPH DS
FRPSHWHIRUFHUWDLQVHDVRQDOFRQWUDFWVLQOLJKWRIWKHRSHQ IO\LQJ EDQ LWV UHJXODU EXVLQHVV EDVH ZDV QRW LPSDLUHG 7KRXJK WKH 8QLRQjV $UWLFOH LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ HIIHFWLYHO\ 81,7('67$7(6&28572)$33($/6 H[HUFLVHV VWUDWHJLF OHYHUDJH LQ D PLQRU GLVSXWH $%;jV )257+(6,;7+&,5&8,7 HFRQRPLF LQMXULHV GR QRW TXDOLI\ WKH FUHZ PHPEHUVj BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB FRQFHUWHG EDQ RQ RSHQIO\LQJ ELGGLQJ DV D mVWULNHl 7KHUHIRUHZHKROGWKDWWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWHUUHGLQGHWHUPLQLQJ WKDWWKLVRSHQIO\LQJEDQTXDOLILHGDVDmFRQFHUWHGLQWHUUXSWLRQ RIRSHUDWLRQVlXQGHUWKH1/5$jVGHILQLWLRQRImVWULNHl $%; $,5 ,1& ; 3ODLQWLII$SSHOOHH &0RQHWDU\'DPDJHVXQGHU ,76:,7 &URVV$SSHOODQW 1RV ,Q LWV FURVVDSSHDO $%; XUJHV WKLV FRXUW WR RYHUUXOH 0DUTXDU )G DW ZKLFK SURKLELWV PRQH\ Y ! GDPDJHVWRFDUULHUVWKDWVXIIHUHFRQRPLFKDUPIURPDXQLRQjV XQODZIXOVWULNH,WLVXQQHFHVVDU\WRGHFLGHWKHFURVVDSSHDO $,5/,1( 352)(66,21$/6 DVZHDUHUXOLQJLQIDYRURIWKH8QLRQ,QDGGLWLRQWKLVSDQHO $662&,$7,21 2) 7+( FDQQRW RYHUUXOH FRQWUROOLQJ DXWKRULW\ VHW IRUWK E\ DQRWKHU SDQHO6HH6DOPLY6HFj\RI+HDOWKDQG+XPDQ6HUYV ,17(51$7,21$/ %527+(5+22' 2) )G WK&LU 7($067(56 /2&$/ 81,21 :H $)),50 WKH GLVWULFW FRXUWjV IDFWXDO ILQGLQJV 12 $)/&,2 5(9(56(LWVGHFLVLRQWKDWWKHUHLVDmVWULNHlLQWKLVFDVH 'HIHQGDQW$SSHOODQW DQG 9$&$7( LWV RUGHU IRU LQMXQFWLYH UHOLHI RQ EHKDOI RI $%; &URVV$SSHOOHH 1 $SSHDOIURPWKH8QLWHG6WDWHV'LVWULFW&RXUW IRUWKH6RXWKHUQ'LVWULFWRI2KLRDW&LQFLQQDWL 1R n6DQGUD6%HFNZLWK'LVWULFWsXGJH $UJXHG 0D\ 'HFLGHGDQG)LOHG 6HSWHPEHU
$%;$LUY$LUOLQH3URIjOV$VVjQ 1RV 1RV $%;$LUY$LUOLQH3URIjOV$VVjQ
%HIRUH 6,/(5DQG*,/0$1&LUFXLWsXGJHV '8**$1 mH[HUW HYHU\ UHDVRQDEOH HIIRUW WR PDNH DQG PDLQWDLQ 'LVWULFWsXGJH DJUHHPHQWVlXQGHU)LUVW 6HHLGDW $VD UHVXOWWKHFRXUWHQMRLQHGWKHXQLRQWRWDNHVSHFLILFVWHSVWR BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB VWRSWKHQRRYHUWLPHFDPSDLJQ &2816(/ $V D WKUHVKROG PDWWHU D IXQGDPHQWDO GLVWLQFWLRQ H[LVWV EHWZHHQWKHDERYHWKUHHFDVHVDQGWKHFDVHEHIRUHXVQRZ $5*8(' sRKQ5'ROO/2*27+(7,63(1&( '2// (DFKRIWKRVHFDVHVLQYROYHGDPDMRUGLVSXWHGXULQJZKLFKD 'D\WRQ 2KLR IRU $SSHOODQW ( 6FRWW 6PLWK )25' XQLRQLVUHTXLUHGWRPDLQWDLQWKHVWDWXVTXR,QFRQWUDVWWKH +$55,621$WODQWD*HRUJLDIRU$SSHOOHH21%5,() GLVSXWHEHWZHHQ$%;DQGWKH8QLRQLVDPLQRURQHGXULQJ sRKQ 5 'ROO s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mFRQFHUWHG LQWHUUXSWLRQ RI RSHUDWLRQVl UHTXLUHV PRUH WKDQ BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB KLJKHURSHUDWLRQDOFRVWVLQFXUUHGE\WKHQHFHVVDU\H[HUFLVHRI FRQWUDFWSURYLVLRQVDQGDOOHJHGORVVHVIURPIRUHJRQHFRQWUDFW 23,1,21 RSSRUWXQLWLHV,QFRQWUDVWWR7H[DV,QWjO$LUOLQHVWKH8QLRQ BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB PHPEHUVjRSHQIO\LQJEDQGLGQRWFDXVHDZRUNVORZGRZQ 8QOLNH'HOWD$LU/LQHVZKHUHWKHXQLRQDUJXHGWKDWWKH&%$ 6,/(5&LUFXLWsXGJH'HIHQGDQW$LUOLQH3URIHVVLRQDOV DOORZHGDOOSLORWVWRUHIXVHWRZRUNRYHUWLPHKHUHWKH8QLRQjV $VVRFLDWLRQRIWKH,QWHUQDWLRQDO%URWKHUKRRGRI7HDPVWHUV LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI WKH RSHQIO\LQJ SURYLVLRQ GLG QRW LPSDLU /RFDO 8QLRQ 1R $)/&,2 m8QLRQl DSSHDOV WKH $%;jVDELOLW\WRXVHMXQLRUPDQQLQJWRDVVLJQIOLJKWV LQMXQFWLRQHQWHUHGE\WKHGLVWULFWFRXUWRQEHKDOIRISODLQWLII $%;$LU,QF m$%;l 7KH8QLRQDUJXHVWKDWWKHGLVWULFW 5DWKHUWKLVFDVHPRUHFORVHO\UHVHPEOHVWKHIDFWVLQ8QLWHG FRXUWODFNHGVXEMHFWPDWWHUMXULVGLFWLRQWRLVVXHDQLQMXQFWLRQ $LU /LQHV :KLOH WKH 8QLRQjV LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI $UWLFOH EHFDXVHLWVPHPEHUVjFRQFHUWHGUHIXVDOWRELGIRURSHQIO\LQJ GHQRWHVDQLQWHQWWRSUHVVXUH$%;LQUHVROYLQJWKHWKUHHGD\V WLPH GLG QRW FRQVWLWXWH DQ LPSHUPLVVLEOH VWULNH LQ DLG RI D RIIUXOHGLVSXWHWKHUHVXOWLQJFRQFHUWHGFRQGXFWLVDOORZHG PLQRUGLVSXWH5DWKHULWDVVHUWVWKDWLWVPHPEHUVjFRQFHUWHG XQGHU WKH &%$ 7KRXJK KLJKHU FRVWV DQG ORVW EXVLQHVV DFWLRQZDVLQDFFRUGZLWKWKHFROOHFWLYHEDUJDLQLQJDJUHHPHQW RSSRUWXQLWLHV FDQ VHUYH DV HYLGHQFH RI DQ LQWHUUXSWLRQ RI m&%$l DQGZDVQRWDVWULNHDFWLRQUHODWLQJWRWKHVHSDUDWH RSHUDWLRQV$%;GLGQRWVXIIHUVXIILFLHQWHFRQRPLFKDUPLQ PLQRU GLVSXWH RYHU WKH &%$jV WKUHHGD\VRII UXOH ,Q LWV WKLVFDVHWRVKRZDQmLQWHUUXSWLRQRIRSHUDWLRQVl8QGHUWKH FURVVDSSHDO$%;FRQWHQGVWKDWWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWHUUHGE\ &%$MXQLRUPDQQLQJLVQRWWKHRSWLPDOPHDQVRIDVVLJQLQJ IOLJKWVWDIIDQGLWVXVHFHUWDLQO\LQFUHDVHVFRVWV+RZHYHU $%;DJUHHGWRWKLVFRQWUDFWSURYLVLRQXWLOL]HGLWWROHJDOO\
7KH +RQRUDEOH 3DWULFN s 'XJJDQ 8QLWHG 6WDWHV 'LVWULFW sXGJH IRU DVVLJQ FUHZ PHPEHUV WR RSHQ IOLJKWV DQG GLG QRW VXIIHU WKH (DVWHUQ 'LVWULFW RI 0LFKLJDQ VLWWLQJ E\ GHVLJQDWLRQ $%;$LUY$LUOLQH3URIjOV$VVjQ 1RV 1RV $%;$LUY$LUOLQH3URIjOV$VVjQ
FRQFHUWHGDFWLRQRIWKHFUHZPHPEHUVDQG8QLRQTXDOLILHGDV GHQ\LQJLWPRQHWDU\GDPDJHVDVDUHPHG\IRUDQLOOHJDOVWULNH DmFRQFHUWHGLQWHUUXSWLRQRIRSHUDWLRQVlWKUHHFDVHVSURYLGH LQ DLG RI D PLQRU GLVSXWH EDVHG RQ &6; 7UDQVS ,QF Y JXLGDQFH 0DUTXDU )G WK&LU $LU/LQHV3LORWV$VVjQY8QLWHG$LU/LQHV,QF)G :H$)),50WKHGLVWULFWFRXUWjVIDFWXDOILQGLQJWKDWWKLV WK&LU DQG7H[DV,QWjO$LUOLQHV,QFY FDVHLQYROYHVDPLQRUGLVSXWHRYHUWKHWKUHHGD\VRIIUXOHDQG $LU /LQH 3LORWV $VVjQ ) 6XSS 6' 7H[ 5(9(56(LWVUXOLQJWKDWWKHFRQFHUWHGDFWLRQRIWKHFUHZ GHDOW ZLWK FRQFHUWHG DFWLRQV WDNHQ GXULQJ &%$ PHPEHUVFRQVWLWXWHGDVWULNH QHJRWLDWLRQV:KLOHWKH6HYHQWK&LUFXLWLQ8QLWHG$LU/LQHV VWDWHG WKDW WKH FRQVHTXHQFHV RI XQLRQ FRQGXFW VKRUW RI DQ ,%$&.*5281' RXWULJKWVWULNHFRXOGTXDOLI\DVDVWULNHLWGLGQRWILQGWKDWWKH SLORWVj FRQFHUWHG DEXVH RI VLFN OHDYH ZKLFK DUJXDEO\ $%; DOVR NQRZQ DV $LUERUQH ([SUHVV LV D PDMRU DLU LQFUHDVHG RSHUDWLRQDO FRVWV DQG HIIRUWV WR GLVFRXUDJH IUHLJKWFDUULHU,QsXQH $%;DQGWKH8QLRQHQWHUHGLQWR EXVLQHVVUHVXOWHGLQHFRQRPLFKDUPVXIILFLHQWWRTXDOLI\DVD D QHZ &%$ 8QGHU $UWLFOH RI WKH DJUHHPHQW FUHZ VWULNH6HHLGDW 5DWKHULQWKHDEVHQFHRIDQ\ZRUN PHPEHUV YROXQWDULO\ ELG IRU RSHQIO\LQJ WLPHV ZKLFK DUH VWRSSDJHVPDVVGHPRQVWUDWLRQVRUHFRQRPLFKDUPWKHFRXUW VFKHGXOHGIOLJKWVWKDWKDYHQRWEHHQDVVLJQHGDVSDUWRIDFUHZ UXOHGWKDWWKHXQLRQjVDFWLRQVGLGQRWFRQVWLWXWHDQXQODZIXO PHPEHUjV PRQWKO\ VFKHGXOH DUH RSHQ EHFDXVH RI DQ VWULNH6HHLGDW HPSOR\HHjV DEVHQFH RU DQ DVVLJQPHQW FKDQJH RU KDYH QRW EHHQELGXSRQ2SHQIO\LQJWLPHLVDZDUGHGWRHOLJLEOHVHQLRU ,Q 7H[DV ,QWjO $LUOLQHV WKH XQLRQ GLUHFWHG LWV SLORWV WR FUHZ PHPEHUV ILUVW ,I DQ\ IOLJKWV UHPDLQ WKH FRPSDQ\ H[HUFLVH WKHLU FRQWUDFWXDO ULJKW WR VLFN OHDYH DQG WKH SLORWV DVVLJQV MXQLRU FUHZ PHPEHUV ZKR DUH FRPSHQVDWHG DW D HQJDJHG LQ RWKHU FRQFHUWHG DFWLRQV WKDW UHVXOWHG LQ D ZRUN KLJKHUUDWHRISD\DSUDFWLFHFDOOHGMXQLRUPDQQLQJ VORZGRZQDQGLQFUHDVHGWKHFDUULHUjVRSHUDWLQJFRVWV6HH )6XSSDW,QLVVXLQJDQLQMXQFWLRQWKHGLVWULFW 7KH 8QLRQ DQG $%; KDG D QXPEHU RI XQUHVROYHG FRXUW IRXQG WKDW WKHVH DFWLRQV LQWHUUXSWHG WKH FDUULHUjV JULHYDQFHV UHJDUGLQJ WKH LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI WKH ROG DQG QHZ RSHUDWLRQV DQG ZHUH LQWHQGHG WR SUHVVXUH WKH DLUOLQH WR &%$V,QSDUWLFXODUWKH\GLVDJUHHGRQKRZWRLQWHUSUHWWKH FRQFHGHWRWKHXQLRQjVEDUJDLQLQJGHPDQGV6HHLGDW QHZWKUHHGD\VRIIUXOHDSURYLVLRQUHTXLULQJDPLQLPXPRI WKUHHGD\VRIIIRUFUHZPHPEHUVZLWKDQ\VFKHGXOHGWLPHRII %RWK SDUWLHV DJUHHG WR VXEPLW WKLV PLQRU GLVSXWH IRU )LQDOO\WKH(OHYHQWK&LUFXLWUHFHQWO\UXOHGLQDFDVHZKHUH DUELWUDWLRQLQ2FWREHU SLORWVHQJDJHGLQDFRQFHUWHGUHIXVDOWRIO\RYHUWLPHGXULQJ FRQWUDFW QHJRWLDWLRQV LQ 'HOWD $LU /LQHV Y $LU /LQH 3LORWV ,Q $XJXVW WKH 8QLRQjV ([HFXWLYH %RDUG PHPEHUV $VVjQ )G WK &LU 7KH FRXUW GHFLGHGWKDWWKH\ZRXOGQRWELGRQRSHQIO\LQJWLPHXQWLOWKH UHMHFWHGWKHXQLRQjVFRQWHQWLRQWKDWWKLVZDVDPLQRUGLVSXWH 8QLRQjV GLVSXWHV DQG JULHYDQFHV ZLWK WKH FRPSDQ\ ZHUH EHFDXVHWKH&%$mDUJXDEO\lSHUPLWWHGDOOSLORWVWRUHIXVHWR UHVROYHG7KH([HFXWLYH%RDUGDQQRXQFHGLWVGHFLVLRQDWD ZRUN RYHUWLPH 6HH LG DW ,W VWDWHG WKDW VXFK DQ VXEVHTXHQWPHPEHUVKLSPHHWLQJDQGDQXPEHURIDWWHQGHHV LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ GHILHG LQGXVWU\ SUDFWLFH WR VWUXFWXUH IOLJKW VWDWHGWKDWWKH\WRRZRXOGQRWELGIRURSHQIO\LQJ)ROORZLQJ VFKHGXOHVXVLQJRSHQIO\LQJWLPHDVSDUWRIQRUPDORSHUDWLRQV 6HHLGDW 7KHFRXUWWKHQIRXQGWKDWWKHSLORWVj FRQFHUWHGDFWLRQYLRODWHGWKHXQLRQjVVWDWXWRU\REOLJDWLRQWR 7KH SDUWLHV GLG QRW LQFOXGH WKH DUELWUDWRUjV GHFLVLRQ LQ WKH UHFRUG RU WKHLU EULHIV $%;$LUY$LUOLQH3URIjOV$VVjQ 1RV 1RV $%;$LUY$LUOLQH3URIjOV$VVjQ
WKLVDPHPRUDQGXPIURPWKH([HFXWLYH%RDUGjVSUHVLGHQW $VWKH5/$GRHVQRWGHILQHWKHWHUPmVWULNHlWKHGLVWULFW DQGWKH8QLRQjVWHOHSKRQHKRWOLQHVIRFXVHGRQWKHWKUHHGD\V FRXUWSURSHUO\ORRNHGWR 86& IRUDVVLVWDQFHLQ RIIUXOHGLVSXWHDQGWKHGHFLVLRQE\WKHERDUGDQGPHPEHUVWR GHWHUPLQLQJ ZKHWKHU WKH 8QLRQjV FRQGXFW TXDOLILHG DV D QRWELGRQRSHQIO\LQJWLPHXQWLOWKHLUSUREOHPVZLWK$%; mVWULNHl LQ WKLV mFDUHIXOO\ GUDZQ DQDORJ>\@l EHWZHHQ WKH ZHUHUHVROYHG$OOKRWOLQHVXUJHGPHPEHUVWRUHPDLQ 1/5$DQG5/$7UDQV:RUOG$LUOLQHV,QFY,QGHS)HGRI SHUFHQWXQLWHG,QUHVSRQVHWRDOHWWHUIURP$%;VWDWLQJWKDW )OLJKW $WWHQGHQWV 86 VHH DOVR WKH8QLRQjVFRQFHUWHGUHIXVDOWRELGRQRSHQIO\LQJWLPHZDV %URWKHUKRRGRI557UDLQPHQYsDFNVRQYLOOH7HUPLQDO&R LOOHJDORQHKRWOLQHVWDWHGWKDWm<RXUXQLRQOHDGHUVKLSLVQRW 86 ,QDSSO\LQJWKH1/5$jVGHILQLWLRQRI DVNLQJ \RX WR H[HUFLVH DQ\ LOOHJDO MRE DFWLRQl $QRWKHU mVWULNHl WKH GLVWULFW FRXUW KHOG WKDW LWV SURYLVLRQ UHJDUGLQJ KRWOLQHVWDWHGWKDWm(DFKRIXVQHHGVWRSUHSDUHIRUWKHORQJ mFRQFHUWHG LQWHUUXSWLRQV RI RSHUDWLRQV E\ HPSOR\HHVl KDXOVKRXOG0DQDJHPHQWFRQWLQXHGRZQWKHURDGWKH\KDYH LQFOXGHV WKLV FDVHjV IDFWXDO FLUFXPVWDQFHV mD FRQFHUWHG FKRVHQZLWKUHJDUGWRVFKHGXOLQJl DFWLYLW\E\HPSOR\HHVWKDWGLVUXSWVWKHHPSOR\HUjVRSHUDWLRQV DQGFDXVHVDORVVRIEXVLQHVVRUSURILWSURPRWHGDQGGLUHFWHG ,Q6HSWHPEHU QR8QLRQPHPEHUELGRQRSHQIO\LQJ E\WKHLUXQLRQSHQGLQJUHVROXWLRQRIDPLQRUGLVSXWHZLWKWKH WLPHDQGRIWKHRSHQOLQHVDYDLODEOHLQ2FWREHURQO\ LQWHQWLRQRIH[HUWLQJSUHVVXUHXSRQWKHHPSOR\HUWRFKDQJHLWV ELGV ZHUH VXEPLWWHG 6RPH RI WKRVH ZKR ELG RQ 2FWREHU LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI WKH H[LVWLQJ FROOHFWLYH EDUJDLQLQJ IOLJKWVVWDWHGWKH\ZHUHKDUDVVHGE\RWKHU8QLRQPHPEHUV DJUHHPHQWl:KLOHWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWQRWHGFDVHVVWDWLQJWKDW $%;FODLPVWKH8QLRQjVVHOIKHOSDFWLRQFRVWLWPRUHWKDQ DFRQFHUWHGUHIXVDOWRZRUNRYHUWLPHPD\FRQVWLWXWHDVWULNH IRUWKHDGGLWLRQDOMXQLRUPDQQLQJUHTXLUHG7KRXJK WKLVFLUFXLWKDVQRWUXOHGWKDWDFRQFHUWHGUHIXVDOWRYROXQWHHU LWKDGZRQSULRUELGVIRU&KULVWPDVVHDVRQFKDUWHUFRQWUDFWV IRU RYHUWLPH ZKHQ WKH ZRUN LV DVVLJQHG DQG ZLOOLQJO\ $%;GLGQRWFRPSHWHIRUDPLOOLRQFRQWUDFWLQ EDVHG SHUIRUPHGE\RWKHUVDFFRUGLQJWRWKH&%$LVDVWULNH RQVWDIILQJFRQFHUQVUDLVHGE\WKHRSHQIO\LQJEDQ :KLOHWKHSDUWLHVjGXW\WRQHJRWLDWH\LHOGVWRWKHDGMXVWPHQW $%; ILOHG D FRPSODLQW DOOHJLQJ WKDW WKH 8QLRQ DQG LWV ERDUGjV DXWKRULW\ WR UHVROYH PLQRU GLVSXWHV RQFH WKH\ DUH PHPEHUV ER\FRWWHG RSHQIO\LQJ ELGGLQJ DQG WKDW WKLV VXEPLWWHG DQG QR VWDWXV TXR UHTXLUHPHQW DSSOLHV WR PLQRU FRQFHUWHGDFWLRQFRQVWLWXWHGDQLOOHJDOVWULNHLQDLGRIDPLQRU GLVSXWHV WKH 5/$ GRHV QRW VDQFWLRQ VWULNH DFWLRQV GLVSXWH LQ YLRODWLRQ RI 86& ,W DOVR FDPRXIODJHGDVPLQRUGLVSXWHVZKLFKWKUHDWHQWRXQGHUPLQH DVVHUWHG WKDW WKLV FRQFHUWHG DFWLRQ YLRODWHG WKH 8QLRQj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jV LQLWLDO UHTXHVW IRU D DQ DGMXVWPHQW ERDUG KDV H[FOXVLYH MXULVGLFWLRQ WR UHVROYH SUHOLPLQDU\LQMXQFWLRQKROGLQJWKDW$%;KDGQRWVKRZQWKDW PLQRU GLVSXWHV WKDW WKH SDUWLHV FDQQRW UHVROYH ,Q WKHFRQFHUWHGEDQRQRSHQIO\LQJKDGFDXVHGDQLQWHUUXSWLRQ GHWHUPLQLQJZKHWKHUWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWSURSHUO\KHOGWKDWWKH LQLWVRSHUDWLRQV,QFRQVLGHULQJ$UWLFOHRIWKH&%$LW VWDWHGmE\GHFOLQLQJWRELGIRURYHUWLPHEXWDFFHSWLQJLWZKHQ DVVLJQHG'HIHQGDQWjVPHPEHUVPD\H[HUWLQIOXHQFHZLWKRXW 7KH VWDWXWHjV FRQVWUXFWLRQ WUHDWV FRQFHUWHG LQWHUUXSWLRQV RI LQWHUUXSWLQJ3ODLQWLIIjVRSHUDWLRQVDQGWKXVZLWKRXWHQJDJLQJ RSHUDWLRQV DV D GLIIHUHQW IRUP RI FRQFHUWHG DFWLRQ IURP D ZRUN VWRSSDJH VORZGRZQ RU VWULNH $00 86& $%;$LUY$LUOLQH3URIjOV$VVjQ 1RV 1RV $%;$LUY$LUOLQH3URIjOV$VVjQ
$ )DFWXDO,VVXHo0LQRU'LVSXWHRYHU2SHQ)O\LQJRU LQDVWULNHl7KHUHIRUHZLWKRXWDQLQWHUUXSWLRQLQRSHUDWLRQV 7KUHH'D\5XOH WKH FRXUW UXOHG WKDW WKH 8QLRQ PHPEHUVj DFWLRQ ZDV QRW D VWULNHDQGLWKDGQRMXULVGLFWLRQWRLVVXHDQLQMXQFWLRQ8SRQ 7KH 8QLRQ DUJXHV WKDW WKH UHFRUG GRHV QRW VXSSRUW WKH DQLQWHUORFXWRU\DSSHDOWKLVFRXUWUXOHGWKDW WKHLQMXQFWLRQ GLVWULFWFRXUWjVIDFWXDOILQGLQJVWKDWWKLVFDVHLQYROYHVDPLQRU UHTXHVWZDVPRRWEHFDXVHWKHELGGLQJEDQKDGFHDVHGEXW GLVSXWHRYHUWKH&%$jVWKUHHGD\VRIIUXOHDQGWKDWWKH8QLRQ UHPDQGHGWKHFDVHIRUIXUWKHUFRQVLGHUDWLRQRIWKHGHFODUDWRU\ SURPRWHGDQGGLUHFWHGWKHRSHQIO\LQJEDQLQDLGRIWKLVPLQRU DQG PRQHWDU\ UHOLHI LVVXHV 6HH $%; $LU ,QF Y $LUOLQH GLVSXWH 5DWKHU LW DUJXHV WKDW WKLV FDVH VLPSO\ LQYROYHV D 3URIjOV$VVjQRIWKH,QWjO%KGRI7HDPVWHUV/RFDO1R PLQRU GLVSXWH RYHU $UWLFOH V RSHQIO\LQJ SURYLVLRQV :/ WK&LU$SU VHSDUDWHDQGDSDUWIURPWKHWKUHHGD\VRIIUXOH%DVHGRQWKH 8QLRQjV LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ $UWLFOH SURYLGHV FUHZ PHPEHUV $WWKHVXEVHTXHQWWULDOWKHFRXUWFRQVLGHUHGWKHTXHVWLRQRI ZLWKDQLPSOLFLWULJKWWRQRWYROXQWHHUIRURSHQIO\LQJWLPH ZKHWKHUWKHDFWLRQVRIWKH8QLRQDQGLWVPHPEHUVFRQVWLWXWHG VHSDUDWHO\RULQFRQFHUW7KH8QLRQFRQWHQGVWKDWWKHGLVWULFW DQmLQWHUUXSWLRQRIRSHUDWLRQVlDW$%;DQGWKXV DQLOOHJDO FRXUWmLJQRUHGWKHXQFRQWHVWHGHYLGHQFHlWKDWLWVPHPEHUV VWULNH,QLWVILQGLQJVRIIDFWWKHFRXUWIRXQGWKDWWKH8QLRQ YROXQWDULO\ FKRVH QRW WR ELG IRU RSHQIO\LQJ WLPH ZLWKRXW FRQFHLYHGRIDQGSURPRWHGWKHEDQRQRSHQIO\LQJDQGWKDW GLUHFWLRQIURP8QLRQRIILFLDOVEDVHGRQWKHLUGLVVDWLVIDFWLRQ LWVPHPEHUVjFRQFHUWHGDFWLRQZDVLQDLGRIWKHPLQRUGLVSXWH ZLWK $%;jV VORZ UHVSRQVH WR WKHLU JULHYDQFHV RQ VHYHUDO RYHUWKHWKUHHGD\VRIIUXOHZKLFKZDVVXEMHFWWRDUELWUDWLRQ LVVXHV7KXVWKH8QLRQFRQWHVWVWKHIDFWXDOILQGLQJWKDWLW ,QGHILQLQJmVWULNHlWKHFRXUWUHOLHGRQ 86& RI mFRQFHLYHGRIDQGSURPRWHGlDEDQRQRSHQIO\LQJWLPHELGV WKH1DWLRQDO/DERU5HODWLRQV$FW m1/5$l ZKLFKVWDWHVWKDW LQDLGRILWVGLVSXWHRYHUWKHWKUHHGD\VRIIUXOH WKH WHUP mVWULNHl LQFOXGHV D mFRQFHUWHG LQWHUUXSWLRQ RI RSHUDWLRQVE\HPSOR\HHVl$VDTXHVWLRQRIILUVWLPSUHVVLRQ 2YHUDOO WKH 8QLRQ UHLWHUDWHV LWV FKDUDFWHUL]DWLRQ RI WKH DQG LQ WKH DEVHQFH RI DXWKRULW\ WR WKH FRQWUDU\ WKH FRXUW HYLGHQFHSUHVHQWHGDWWULDOZKLFKZDVFRQWHVWHGE\$%;DQG FRQFOXGHG WKDW WKH GHILQLWLRQ RI mVWULNHl HQFRPSDVVHV IDLOVWRGHPRQVWUDWHFOHDUHUURUE\WKHGLVWULFWFRXUW*LYLQJ mFRQFHUWHGDFWLYLW\E\HPSOR\HHVSURPRWHGDQGGLUHFWHGE\ GXH UHJDUG WR WKH FRXUWjV FUHGLELOLW\ MXGJPHQWV DW WULDO ZH WKHLU XQLRQ SHQGLQJ UHVROXWLRQ RI D PLQRU GLVSXWH WKDW DIILUPWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWjVIDFWXDOILQGLQJVDQGKROGWKDWLWKDG GLVUXSWV WKH HPSOR\HUjV RSHUDWLRQV DQG FDXVHV D ORVV RI VXEMHFWPDWWHUMXULVGLFWLRQWRGHWHUPLQHZKHWKHUWKHFRQFHUWHG EXVLQHVVRUSURILWZLWKWKHLQWHQWLRQRIH[HUWLQJSUHVVXUHXSRQ DFWLRQV RI WKH 8QLRQ DQG LWV PHPEHUV XQGHU $UWLFOH WKH HPSOR\HU WR FKDQJH LWV LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI WKH H[LVWLQJ FRQVWLWXWHGDQLOOHJDOVWULNH6HH)HG5&LY3 D FROOHFWLYH EDUJDLQLQJ DJUHHPHQWl 2Q WKLV EDVLV WKH FRXUW KHOGWKDWWKH8QLRQjVDFWLYLWLHVYLRODWHG86&DQG %6WULNHRU0LQRU'LVSXWH )LUVW DQGWKXVLWKDGMXULVGLFWLRQWRHQMRLQWKH 8QLRQIURPWKUHDWHQHGIXWXUHDFWLRQ,QDGGLWLRQWKHFRXUW 7KHNH\TXHVWLRQLVZKHWKHUWKH8QLRQjVSURPRWLRQRID GHQLHG $%;jV SUD\HU IRU PRQH\ GDPDJHV EDVHG RQ &6; FRQFHUWHG DFWLRQ XQGHU WKH &%$jV YROXQWDU\ RSHQIO\LQJ 7UDQVS,QFY0DUTXDU )G WK&LU ELGGLQJ SURYLVLRQ FRQVWLWXWHV DQ LOOHJDO VWULNH DULVLQJ IURP DQRWKHUPLQRUGLVSXWH,IWKHUHLVQRVWULNHWKHUHLVQRVXEMHFW PDWWHU MXULVGLFWLRQ IRU WKH LVVXDQFH RI DQ LQMXQFWLRQ 6HH &RQUDLO 86DW &KLFDJR5LYHU86DW 0DUTXDU )GDW $%;$LUY$LUOLQH3URIjOV$VVjQ 1RV 1RV $%;$LUY$LUOLQH3URIjOV$VVjQ
7KH8QLRQDSSHDOVWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWjVUXOLQJRQGHFODUDWRU\ %HFDXVH WKHUH LV QR HTXLYDOHQW RI WKH 1DWLRQDO 5DLOURDG DQG LQMXQFWLYH UHOLHI DQG $%; FURVVDSSHDOV LWV GHQLDO RI $GMXVWPHQW%RDUGIRUWKHDLUOLQHLQGXVWU\86& PRQHWDU\GDPDJHV UHTXLUHV HYHU\ FDUULHU DQG LWV HPSOR\HHV WR HVWDEOLVK DQ DGMXVWPHQWERDUGE\DJUHHPHQW6HH&RQUDLO 86DW ,,67$1'$5'2)5(9,(: Q ,I WKH SDUWLHV IDLO WR VHWWOH GLVSXWHV mJURZLQJ RXW RI JULHYDQFHV RU RXW RI WKH LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RU DSSOLFDWLRQ RI 7KHGLVWULFWFRXUWjVmIDFWXDOILQGLQJVPXVWEHXSKHOGXQOHVV DJUHHPHQWV FRQFHUQLQJ UDWHV RI SD\ UXOHV RU ZRUNLQJ WKH\DUHFOHDUO\HUURQHRXVl7D\ORUDQG*DVNLQY&KULV&UDIW FRQGLWLRQVlWKURXJKQHJRWLDWLRQRQHRUERWKRIWKHSDUWLHV ,QGXV)G FLWLQJ)HG5&LY3 PD\SHWLWLRQWKHDGMXVWPHQWERDUGWRUHVROYHLW86& D $VDPDWWHURIODZWKLVFRXUWUHYLHZVGHQRYRWKH VHHDOVR&RQUDLO 86DWQ GLVWULFWFRXUWjVVWDWXWRU\FRQVWUXFWLRQRIWKH5DLOZD\/DERU $FW m5/$l UHJDUGLQJ WKH VFRSH RI LWV VXEMHFW PDWWHU 8QGHUWKH5/$WKH6XSUHPH&RXUWGLVWLQJXLVKHVEHWZHHQ MXULVGLFWLRQ6HH8QLWHG6WDWHVY%URZQ )G PDMRU DQG PLQRU GLVSXWHV EHWZHHQ FDUULHUV DQG HPSOR\HHV WK&LU UHJDUGLQJ WKHLU &%$V 6HH &RQUDLO 86 DW DFNQRZOHGJLQJWKHILUVWUHFRJQLWLRQRIWKLVGLVWLQFWLRQXQGHU ,,,',6&866,21 (OJLQs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j $VVjQ 86 VWDWXVTXRYLRODWLRQ6HH&RQUDLO 86DW,IQR KHUHLQDIWHU &RQUDLO 0DUTXDU )G DW FLWLQJ DJUHHPHQW LV UHDFKHG WKH SDUWLHV PD\ UHVRUW WR HFRQRPLF &KLFDJR 1:5\Y8QLWHG7UDQVS8QLRQ86 IRUFHLQFOXGLQJVWULNHV6HHLG 0DUTXDU )GDW )LUVWERWKSDUWLHVVKDOOmµH[HUWHYHU\UHDVRQDEOH Q HIIRUWWRPDNHDQGPDLQWDLQDJUHHPHQWVFRQFHUQLQJUDWHVRI SD\UXOHVDQGZRUNLQJFRQGLWLRQVjl0DUTXDU )GDW 0LQRUGLVSXWHVLQFOXGHFRQWURYHUVLHVRYHUWKHPHDQLQJRU FLWDWLRQRPLWWHG 6HFRQGERWKSDUWLHVVKDOOmµVHWWOHDOO DSSOLFDWLRQ RI DQ H[LVWLQJ &%$ SURYLVLRQ UHJDUGLQJ SD\ GLVSXWHV ZKHWKHU DULVLQJ RXW RI WKH DSSOLFDWLRQ RI UXOHVRUZRUNLQJFRQGLWLRQVWRDVSHFLILFVLWXDWLRQRURPLWWHG DJUHHPHQWVRURWKHUZLVHLQRUGHUWRDYRLGDQ\LQWHUUXSWLRQWR FDVH6HH&RQUDLO 86DW 0DUTXDU )GDW FRPPHUFHRUWRWKHRSHUDWLRQRIDQ\FDUULHUJURZLQJRXWRI Q,IGLVFXVVLRQVIDLOWR\LHOGDVROXWLRQERWKSDUWLHVDUH DQ\ GLVSXWHl %URWKHUKRRG RI 55 7UDLQPHQ Y &KLFDJR VXEMHFW WR FRPSXOVRU\ DQG ELQGLQJ DUELWUDWLRQ EHIRUH DQ 5LYHU ,QG55&R86 KHUHLQDIWHU DGMXVWPHQWERDUGXQGHU86&6L[WKDQG &KLFDJR5LYHU FLWDWLRQRPLWWHG 6HHLG:KLOHWKHFRXUWVKDYHQRMXULVGLFWLRQWRUHVROYHWKH VXEVWDQFH RI PLQRU GLVSXWHV WKH\ FDQ HQMRLQ VWULNHV RYHU PLQRUGLVSXWHVLQRUGHUWRHQIRUFHFRPSOLDQFHZLWKWKH5/$jV GLVSXWHUHVROXWLRQSURYLVLRQV6HH&RQUDLO 86DW 7KH 8QLRQ DVVHUWV WKDW $%;jV QRWLFH RI FURVVDSSHDO IDLOHG WR SURSHUO\ GHVLJQDWH WKH GHFLVLRQ DSSHDOHG IURP %DVHG RQ )HG 5 $SS 3 &KLFDJR5LYHU86DW 0DUTXDU )GDW $%;jV FURVVDSSHDO LV YDOLG
Reference
- Status
- Published