Moore v. Cty of Harriman
Moore v. Cty of Harriman
Opinion
5(&200(1'(' )25 )8//7(;7 38%/,&$7,21 3XUVXDQW WR 6L[WK &LUFXLW 5XOH
(/(&7521,& &,7$7,21 )(' $SS 3 WK &LU )LOH 1DPH D S
81,7('67$7(6&28572)$33($/6 )257+(6,;7+&,5&8,7 BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
5$/3+ 0225( s5 ; 3ODLQWLII$SSHOODQW 1R Y ! &,7< 2) +$55,0$1 +$55,0$1 32/,&( '(3$570(17 52< s(1.,16 &KLHIRI3ROLFH+DUULPDQ 3ROLFH'HSDUWPHQW '$55(1 0&%5220 7(55< ),1. 5$1'< +(,'/( 9,5*,/ 0&&$57 s(55< 6,1*/(721 'HIHQGDQWV$SSHOOHHV 1 $SSHDOIURPWKH8QLWHG6WDWHV'LVWULFW&RXUW IRUWKH(DVWHUQ'LVWULFWRI7HQQHVVHHDW.QR[YLOOH 1R nsDPHV+sDUYLV'LVWULFWsXGJH $UJXHG 'HFHPEHU 'HFLGHGDQG)LOHG 1RYHPEHU %HIRUH 0$57,1&KLHIsXGJH 0(55,771(/621 %2**61255,668+5+(,15,&+6,/(5 %$7&+(/'(5'$8*+75(<0225(&2/(&/$< DQG*,/0$1&LUFXLWsXGJHV
0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO 1R
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB &2816(/ $5*8(' 'RQDOG.9RZHOO92:(// $662&,$7(6 .QR[YLOOH 7HQQHVVHH IRU $SSHOODQW 1DWKDQ ' 5RZHOO :$7621+2//2: 5((9(6.QR[YLOOH7HQQHVVHH IRU$SSHOOHHV21%5,() 'RQDOG.9RZHOO92:(// $662&,$7(6 .QR[YLOOH 7HQQHVVHH IRU $SSHOODQW 1DWKDQ ' 5RZHOO 5REHUW + :DWVRQ sU :$7621 +2//2: 5((9(6.QR[YLOOH7HQQHVVHHIRU$SSHOOHHV 0$57,1 & s GHOLYHUHG WKH RSLQLRQ RI WKH FRXUW LQ ZKLFK '$8*+75(< 0225( &2/( DQG &/$< ss MRLQHG0(55,77s S GHOLYHUHGDVHSDUDWHFRQFXUULQJ RSLQLRQ*,/0$1s S GHOLYHUHGDVHSDUDWHRSLQLRQ FRQFXUULQJLQWKHUHVXOW68+5+(,15,&+s SS GHOLYHUHGDVHSDUDWHGLVVHQWLQJRSLQLRQLQZKLFK1(/621 %2**61255,66,/(5DQG%$7&+(/'(5ssMRLQHG BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB 23,1,21 BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB %2<&( ) 0$57,1 s5 &KLHI sXGJH 5DOSK 0RRUH DSSHDOV WKH GLVWULFW FRXUWjV RUGHU GLVPLVVLQJ KLV 86& FODLPVDJDLQVWILYHSROLFHRIILFHUVIRUIDLOXUHWRFOHDUO\ QRWLI\ WKH RIILFHUV WKDW WKH\ ZHUH EHLQJ VXHG LQ WKHLU LQGLYLGXDO FDSDFLWLHV XQGHU WKLV &RXUWjV UXOH LQ :HOOV Y %URZQ )G WK&LU $SDQHORIWKLV&RXUW RULJLQDOO\UHYHUVHGWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWjVGHFLVLRQILQGLQJWKDW DOWKRXJKWKHFRPSODLQWFRQWDLQHGDPELJXRXVODQJXDJHWDNHQ DV D ZKROH LW SURYLGHG VXIILFLHQW QRWLFH WR WKH LQGLYLGXDO RIILFHUV6HH0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQ)G WK &LU 7KHIXOO&RXUWYDFDWHGWKDWGHFLVLRQDQGJUDQWHG DUHKHDULQJHQEDQFWRFODULI\WKHSOHDGLQJUHTXLUHPHQWVIRUD FRPSODLQDQWVHHNLQJUHFRYHU\IURPVWDWHRIILFLDOVLQ WKHLULQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLWLHV6HH0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQ )G WK&LU )RUWKHIROORZLQJUHDVRQVZH UHYHUVHWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWjVGLVPLVVDORI0RRUHjVFODLP 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO 1R 1R 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO
, ,Q $SULO 0RRUH VXHG WKH &LW\ RI +DUULPDQ WKH +DUULPDQ3ROLFH'HSDUWPHQW 5R\sHQNLQV&KLHIRI3ROLFH DQG2IILFHUV'DUUHQ0F%URRP7HUU\ )LQN5DQG\+HLGOH 9LUJLO0F&DUWHUDQGsHUU\6LQJOHWRQIRUXVLQJH[FHVVLYHIRUFH GXULQJ 0RRUHjV DUUHVW RQH \HDU EHIRUH 0RRUH DOOHJHG YLRODWLRQVRIWKH)LUVW)RXUWKDQG)RXUWHHQWK$PHQGPHQWV WRWKH8QLWHG6WDWHV&RQVWLWXWLRQDQG$UWLFOHDQGRI WKH 7HQQHVVHH &RQVWLWXWLRQ DV ZHOO DV WKH VWDWH WRUWV RI PDOLFLRXV SURVHFXWLRQ DQG DEXVH RI SURFHVV 0RRUHjV FRPSODLQWFDSWLRQGLGQRWVSHFLI\ZKHWKHUWKHRIILFHUVZHUH QDPHGLQWKHLURIILFLDORULQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLWLHV ,QsDQXDU\ WKHRIILFHUVPRYHGWRGLVPLVVSXUVXDQWWR )HGHUDO5XOHRI&LYLO3URFHGXUH E IRUIDLOXUHWRVWDWHD FODLP DJDLQVW WKHP LQ WKHLU LQGLYLGXDO FDSDFLWLHV 0RRUH UHVSRQGHGWKDWKLVFRPSODLQWVKRZHGWKDWKHKDGVXHGHDFK RIILFHU LQ KLV LQGLYLGXDO FDSDFLW\ EXW RQ )HEUXDU\ WKH GLVWULFWFRXUWJUDQWHGWKHRIILFHUVjPRWLRQZLWKRXWSUHMXGLFH DVWRDOOVXFKFODLPV2Q0DUFK0RRUHPRYHGIRUOHDYHWR DPHQG WKH FRPSODLQW WR DGG WKH ZRUG mLQGLYLGXDOO\l DIWHU HDFKRIILFHUjVQDPHLQWKHFRPSODLQWFDSWLRQ$GGLWLRQDOO\ 0RRUHILOHGD5XOH PRWLRQWRDOWHURUDPHQGWKHMXGJPHQW LQVRIDUDVLWGLVPLVVHGmDQ\FODLPVDJDLQVW>WKHRIILFHUV@LQ WKHLU LQGLYLGXDO FDSDFLWLHVl EHFDXVH LW WKXV SXUSRUWHG WR GLVPLVVWKHVWDWHODZFODLPVDJDLQVWWKHRIILFHUVDORQJZLWKWKH FODLPV 2Q $SULO WKH GLVWULFW FRXUW UHLQVWDWHG 0RRUHjV VWDWH ODZ FODLPV DJDLQVW WKH RIILFHUV EXW GHQLHG 0RRUHWKHRSSRUWXQLW\WRDPHQGKLVFRPSODLQWVWDWLQJWKDW VXFKDQDPHQGPHQWZRXOGEHIXWLOHDVWKHRQH\HDUVWDWXWHRI OLPLWDWLRQV XQGHUO\LQJ WKH FODLPV KDG UXQ 0RRUH WLPHO\DSSHDOHG ,, :HUHYLHZWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWjVGLVPLVVDORI0RRUHjV FODLPVGHQRYR6HH7D[SD\HUV8QLWHGIRU$VVHVVPHQW&XWV Y$XVWLQ )G WK&LU :HUHYLHZZLWK FDUH DOO GLVPLVVDOV RQ WKH SOHDGLQJV DQG m>G@LVPLVVDOV RI FRPSODLQWVXQGHUWKHFLYLOULJKWVVWDWXWHVDUHVFUXWLQL]HGZLWK 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO 1R 1R 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO
VSHFLDOFDUHlsRQHVY'XQFDQ)G WK&LU TXRWLQJ'XQQ Y7HQQHVVHH )G WK&LU ,Q WKH 6XSUHPH &RXUW UXOHG WKDW VWDWHV DQG VWDWH HPSOR\HHVVXHGLQWKHLURIILFLDOFDSDFLWLHVZHUHQRWmSHUVRQVl XQGHU DQG WKHUHIRUH FRXOG QRW EH KHOG OLDEOH IRU PRQH\GDPDJHV6HH:LOOY0LFKLJDQ'HSWRI6WDWH3ROLFH 86 7KDWVDPH\HDUZHKHOGWKDW:LOO UHTXLUHGSODLQWLIIVVHHNLQJGDPDJHVXQGHU WRVHWIRUWK FOHDUO\LQWKHLUSOHDGLQJWKDWWKH\ZHUHVXLQJVWDWHRIILFLDOVDV LQGLYLGXDOVUDWKHUWKDQDVRIILFLDOV6HH:HOOVY%URZQ )G WK&LU :HOOVjVSOHDGLQJUHTXLUHPHQWVIRU FODLPDQWVUHVWRQ WZRUDWLRQDOHV)LUVW:HOOVZDVFRQFHUQHGWKDWGHIHQGDQWV UHFHLYHQRWLFHRIWKHSRVVLELOLW\RILQGLYLGXDOOLDELOLW\6HH 3HOIUH\Y&KDPEHUV)G WK&LU m,W LVFHUWDLQO\UHDVRQDEOHWRDVNWKDWDOOSODLQWLIIVDOHUWSDUW\ GHIHQGDQWV WKDW WKH\ PD\ EH LQGLYLGXDOO\ UHVSRQVLEOH LQ GDPDJHVl:HOOV )GDW 6HFRQG:HOOVIRXQGWKDW FODLPDQWV PXVW SOHDG FDSDFLW\ IRU MXULVGLFWLRQDO UHDVRQV :LOO GHWHUPLQHG WKDW WKH (OHYHQWK $PHQGPHQW FUHDWHV D MXULVGLFWLRQDO EDU WR VXLWV DJDLQVW VWDWHV DQG VWDWH HPSOR\HHV VXHG LQ WKHLU RIILFLDO FDSDFLWLHV IRU PRQH\ GDPDJHV 5XOH D VWDWHV LQ UHOHYDQW SDUW WKDW m>L@W LV QRW QHFHVVDU\ WR DYHUWKHFDSDFLW\RIDSDUW\H[FHSWWRWKH H[WHQW UHTXLUHG WR VKRZ WKH MXULVGLFWLRQ RI WKH FRXUWl )('5&,9352 D $FFRUGLQJO\ :HOOV UHDVRQHG m>E@HFDXVHWKH(OHYHQWK$PHQGPHQWSODFHVDMXULVGLFWLRQDO OLPLWRQIHGHUDOFRXUWVLQFLYLOULJKWVFDVHVDJDLQVWVWDWHVDQG VWDWHHPSOR\HHVZHXQGHUVWDQG5XOH D WRUHTXLUHSODLQWLIIV WRSURSHUO\DOOHJHFDSDFLW\LQWKHLUFRPSODLQWl:HOOV )GDW $OWKRXJKRWKHUFRXUWVKDYHUHDG:HOOVWRHVWDEOLVKDSHUVH UXOH UHTXLULQJ SODLQWLIIV WR DIILUPDWLYHO\ SOHDG mLQGLYLGXDO FDSDFLW\l LQ WKH FRPSODLQW VHH HJ %LJJV Y 0HDGRZV )G WK &LU ZH KDYH QHYHU DSSOLHGVXFKDVWULFWLQWHUSUHWDWLRQ,Q:KLWWLQJWRQY0LOE\ 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO 1R 1R 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO
)G WK &LU GHFLGHG MXVW WZR \HDUV DIWHU :HOOV ZH VWDWHG WKDW m>X@QGHU :HOOV Y %URZQ DEVHQW DQ\ LQGLFDWLRQWKDWWKHVHGHIHQGDQWVDUHEHLQJVXHGLQGLYLGXDOO\ ZH PXVW DVVXPH WKDW WKH\ DUH EHLQJ VXHG LQ WKHLU RIILFLDO FDSDFLWLHV l ,G DW FLWDWLRQ RPLWWHG HPSKDVLV DGGHG ,Q %URRNV Y $PHULFDQ %URDGFDVWLQJ &RPSDQLHV ,QF )G WK&LU ZHUHDIILUPHGWKDWm>D@OO D > @ FRPSODLQW QHHG GR LV DIIRUG WKH GHIHQGDQW µIDLU QRWLFHRIZKDWWKHFODLPLVDQGWKHJURXQGVXSRQ ZKLFKLW UHVWVjl,GDW TXRWLQJsRQHV)GDW LQWHUQDO TXRWHVDQGFLWDWLRQVRPLWWHG ,QIDFWRXUSRVW:HOOVMXULVSUXGHQFHVKRZVWKDWZHKDYH DSSOLHGDmFRXUVHRISURFHHGLQJVlWHVWWRGHWHUPLQHZKHWKHU GHIHQGDQWV KDYH UHFHLYHG QRWLFH RI WKH SODLQWLIIjV LQWHQWWRKROGWKHPSHUVRQDOO\OLDEOHDOEHLWZLWKRXWFOHDUO\ ODEHOLQJWKHWHVWDVVXFK)RULQVWDQFHZHKDYHUHIXVHGWR GLVPLVVD FRPSODLQWZKLFKIDLOHGWRVWDWHmLQGLYLGXDO FDSDFLW\lZKHUHRQHPRQWKDIWHUWKHFRPSODLQWZDVILOHGWKH SODLQWLII ILOHG D PRWLRQ VWDWLQJ WKDW WKH GHIHQGDQWV DFWHG RXWVLGHWKHVFRSHRIWKHLUHPSOR\PHQWDQGLQEDGIDLWK6HH 3HOIUH\Y&KDPEHUV)G WK&LU :H KDYHDOVRORRNHGWRODWHUSOHDGLQJVVXFKDVDUHVSRQVHWRD PRWLRQIRUVXPPDU\MXGJPHQWWRGHWHUPLQHZKHWKHUSURSHU QRWLFHKDGEHHQJLYHQ6HH$EGXU5DKPDQY0LFKLJDQ'HSW RI&RUUHFWLRQV)G WK&LU 7KHUHIRUH ZKLOH LW LV FOHDUO\ SUHIHUDEOH WKDW SODLQWLIIV H[SOLFLWO\ VWDWH ZKHWKHU D GHIHQGDQW LV VXHG LQ KLV RU KHU mLQGLYLGXDO FDSDFLW\lVHHHJ+DUGLQY6WUDXE )G WK&LU IDLOXUHWRGRVRLVQRWIDWDOLIWKHFRXUVHRI SURFHHGLQJVRWKHUZLVHLQGLFDWHVWKDWWKHGHIHQGDQWUHFHLYHG VXIILFLHQWQRWLFH
7KH mFRXUVH RI SURFHHGLQJVl WHVW FRQVLGHUV VXFK IDFWRUV DV WKH QDWXUH RI WKH SODLQWLIIjV FODLPV UHTXHVWV IRU FRPSHQVDWRU\ RU SXQLWLYH GDPDJHV DQG WKH QDWXUH RI DQ\ GHIHQVHV UDLVHG LQ UHVSRQVH WR WKH FRPSODLQW SDUWLFXODUO\ FODLPV RI TXDOLILHG LPPXQLW\ WR GHWHUPLQH ZKHWKHU WKH GHIHQGDQW KDG DFWXDO NQRZOHGJH RI WKH SRWHQWLDO IRU LQGLYLGXDO OLDELOLW\ 6HH %LJJV )G DW 7KH WHVW DOVR FRQVLGHUV ZKHWKHU VXEVHTXHQW SOHDGLQJV SXW WKH GHIHQGDQW RQ QRWLFH RI WKH FDSDFLW\ 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO 1R 1R 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO
7KH 6XSUHPH &RXUW KDV QRWHG WKDW m>W@KH µFRXUVH RI SURFHHGLQJVj LQ VXFK >XQVSHFLILHG FDSDFLW\@ FDVHV W\SLFDOO\ ZLOOLQGLFDWHWKHQDWXUHRIWKHOLDELOLW\VRXJKWWREHLPSRVHGl .HQWXFN\Y*UDKDP86 Q ,QGHHG WKHYDVWPDMRULW\RIRXUVLVWHUFLUFXLWVDSSO\WKHmFRXUVHRI SURFHHGLQJVlWHVWWRGHWHUPLQHZKHWKHUVXLWKDVEHHQEURXJKW DJDLQVWDVWDWHRIILFLDODVDQRIILFLDORUDVDQLQGLYLGXDO6HH $WFKLQVRQY'LVWULFWRI&ROXPELD)G '& &LU %LJJV)GDW <LQJsDQJ*DQY&LW\RI 1HZ <RUN )G G &LU +LOO Y 6KHODQGHU )G WK&LU +RXVWRQ Y5HLFK )G WK&LU 0HORY+DIHU )G G&LU /XQGJUHQY0F'DQLHO )G WK&LU 3DUNHUY*UDYHV )G WK&LU 2QO\WZRFLUFXLWVH[SUHVVO\GHYLDWH IURPWKLVWHVW6HHsRKQVRQY2XWERDUG0DULQH&RUS )G WK &LU SUHVXPLQJ RIILFLDO OLDELOLW\ DEVHQWH[SUHVVVWDWHPHQWWKDWVXLWLVEURXJKWDJDLQVWGHIHQGDQW LQLQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLW\ 6KRVKRQH%DQQRFN7ULEHVY)LVK *DPH&RPPjQRI,GDKR)G WK&LU SUHVXPLQJLQGLYLGXDOOLDELOLW\ZKHQFRPSODLQWVHHNVPRQH\ GDPDJHVIURPVWDWHRIILFLDOV 7KHRIILFHUVLQWKLVFDVHXUJHXVWRUHDG:HOOVDVDGRSWLQJ WKH(LJKWK&LUFXLWjVUXOHSUHVXPLQJDQRIILFLDOFDSDFLW\VXLW DEVHQWDQH[SUHVVVWDWHPHQWWRWKHFRQWUDU\7KH\DUJXHWKDW WRZLWKVWDQGDPRWLRQWRGLVPLVV:HOOVUHTXLUHVFRPSODLQWV VHHNLQJGDPDJHVIRUDOOHJHGYLRODWLRQVRI WRFRQWDLQ WKH ZRUGV mLQGLYLGXDO FDSDFLW\l UHJDUGOHVV RI ZKHWKHU WKH GHIHQGDQWV DFWXDOO\ UHFHLYH QRWLFH WKDW WKH\ DUH EHLQJ VXHG LQGLYLGXDOO\$OWKRXJKZHDFNQRZOHGJHWKDW:HOOVFRQWDLQV
LQ ZKLFK KH RU VKH LV VXHG :H DUH PLQGIXO RI WKH WLPLQJ RI VXEVHTXHQW ILOLQJV QRW DV WKH RIILFHUV VXJJHVW EHFDXVH WKH\ PXVW EH ILOHG SUDFWLFDOO\ FRQWHPSRUDQHRXV WR WKH RSLQLRQ EXW UDWKHU WR GHWHUPLQH ZKHWKHU WKH SDUWLHV DUH VWLOO LQ WKH HDUO\ VWDJHV RI OLWLJDWLRQ 7KLV HQVXUHV ERWK IDLUQHVV WR GHIHQGDQWV :HOOVjV ILUVW FRQFHUQ DQG WKH UHVROXWLRQ RI DQ\ MXULVGLFWLRQDO SUREOHPV DW DQ HDUO\ VWDJH :HOOVjV VHFRQG FRQFHUQ $V WKLV FDVH DSSHDUV EHIRUH XV RQ DSSHDO IURP D 5XOH E GLVPLVVDO ZH DVVXPH LW LV VWLOO LQ D UHODWLYHO\ HDUO\ VWDJH RI OLWLJDWLRQ 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO 1R 1R 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO
$33(1',; ODQJXDJHVXSSRUWLQJWKLVUHDGLQJZHILQGWKHPRUHUHDVRQDEOH LQWHUSUHWDWLRQWREHWKDW SODLQWLIIVPXVWFOHDUO\QRWLI\ GHIHQGDQWVRIWKHSRWHQWLDOIRULQGLYLGXDOOLDELOLW\DQGPXVW FOHDUO\QRWLI\WKHFRXUWRILWVEDVLVIRUMXULVGLFWLRQ:KHQD SODLQWLII IDLOV WR DIILUPDWLYHO\ SOHDG FDSDFLW\ LQ WKH FRPSODLQW ZH WKHQ ORRN WR WKH FRXUVH RI SURFHHGLQJV WR GHWHUPLQHZKHWKHU:HOOVjVILUVWFRQFHUQDERXWQRWLFHKDVEHHQ VDWLVILHG +HUHWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWHUUHGLQGLVPLVVLQJ0RRUHjV FODLPV DJDLQVW WKH LQGLYLGXDO RIILFHUV 7KH FDSWLRQ RQ 0RRUHjVFRPSODLQWOLVWVRQO\ WKHRIILFHUVjQDPHVQRWWKHLU RIILFLDOWLWOHV7KHFRPSODLQWUHIHUVWRWKHRIILFHUVWKURXJKRXW DV WKH mLQGLYLGXDO GHIHQGDQWVl 3DUDJUDSK (OHYHQ RI WKH FRPSODLQWVWDWHVm7KHVDLGRIILFHUVDFWLQJIRUWKHPVHOYHVDQG IRU WKH &LW\l EHKDYHG mZLWK PDOLFH DQG YLRODWHG WKH SODLQWLIIjVFLYLOULJKWVl HPSKDVLVDGGHG )LQDOO\0RRUH VRXJKWFRPSHQVDWRU\DQGSXQLWLYHGDPDJHVDJDLQVWmHDFKRI WKH GHIHQGDQWVl 7DNHQ DV D ZKROH WKH FRPSODLQW OLNHO\ SURYLGHGVXIILFLHQWQRWLFHWRWKHRIILFHUVWKDWWKH\ZHUHEHLQJ VXHGDVLQGLYLGXDOV (YHQ DVVXPLQJ WKH FRPSODLQW LWVHOI IDLOHG WR SURYLGH VXIILFLHQWQRWLFH0RRUHjVUHVSRQVHWRWKHRIILFHUVjPRWLRQWR GLVPLVVFODULILHGDQ\UHPDLQLQJDPELJXLW\ m7KHLQGLYLGXDOV QDPHG DUH SROLFH RIILFHUV ZKR DUH EHLQJ VXHG LQ WKHLU LQGLYLGXDO FDSDFLWLHV IRU XVLQJ H[FHVVLYH DQG XQUHDVRQDEOH IRUFH ZKLOH PDNLQJ DQ DUUHVW RI WKH 3ODLQWLII RQ $SULO l6XEVHTXHQWILOLQJVLQDFDVHPD\UHFWLI\GHILFLHQFLHV LQWKHLQLWLDOSOHDGLQJV6HH$EGXU5DKPDQ)GDW 3HOIUH\ )G DW $EGXU5DKPDQ UHYHUVHG WKH GLVPLVVDORIDSODLQWLIIjV FODLPVEHFDXVHWKHSODLQWLIIjV UHVSRQVHWRWKHGHIHQGDQWVjPRWLRQIRUVXPPDU\MXGJPHQW SURYLGHGVXIILFLHQWQRWLFHWKDWVXLWKDGEHHQEURXJKWDJDLQVW
:H DUH QRW FRQFHUQHG WRGD\ ZLWK :HOOVjV MXULVGLFWLRQDO UDWLRQDOH 7KH RIILFHUV DUH HPSOR\HHV RI D PXQLFLSDOLW\ DQG WKH (OHYHQWK $PHQGPHQW GRHV QRW DSSO\ WR PXQLFLSDOLWLHV 6HH 0RQHOO Y 1HZ <RUN &LW\ 'HSW RI 6RFLDO 6HUYLFHV 86 7KHUHIRUH ZH DGGUHVV RQO\:HOOV jV FRQFHUQ WKDW GHIHQGDQWV UHFHLYH SURSHU QRWLFH 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO 1R 1R 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO
WKHPLQWKHLULQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLWLHV6HH$EGXU5DKPDQ WKHSDUW\RUWKHQDPLQJRIWKHSDUW\,QDOWHULQJFDSDFLW\RQH )GDW $OWKRXJKWKHRIILFHUVFLWHVHYHUDOXQSXEOLVKHG LVFKDQJLQJWKHSDUW\QRWWKHFODLP6HH)HG5&LY3 D FDVHVLQVXSSRUWRIWKHLUDUJXPHQWWKDW0RRUHGLGQRWSURYLGH ,QDQ\HYHQWWKHPDMRULW\DFNQRZOHGJHVWKDWmZHKDYHQRW WKHP ZLWK SURSHU QRWLFH WKH\ IDLO WR PHQWLRQ OHW DORQH DQVZHUHG ZKHWKHU 5XOH F DSSOLHV ZKHQ D GLVWLQJXLVK$EGXU5DKPDQIURPWKHFDVHDWEDU:HILQGWKH SODLQWLIIVHHNVWRDOWHUWKHFDSDFLW\LQZKLFKDGHIHQGDQWKDV WZRVHWVRIIDFWVIXQFWLRQDOO\HTXLYDOHQWDQGWKHUHIRUHUHYHUVH EHHQ VXHG DOWKRXJK ZH KDYH KHOG WKLV W\SH RI DOWHUDWLRQ WKHGLVWULFWFRXUWjVRUGHUGLVPLVVLQJ0RRUHjV FODLPV DFFHSWDEOH XQGHU 5XOH F l $QWH VXSUD DW $SSDUHQWO\WKHPDMRULW\WKLQNVWKDWWKLVDVSHFWRI%URZQLV ,,, GLFWD,ZLOOWRR,QDQ\HYHQWWKHSUHMXGLFHSURQJZDVQRW PHWLQ%URZQJLYHQFRXQVHOjVFRQFHVVLRQDWRUDODUJXPHQW $GGLWLRQDOO\ZHILQGWKDWWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWHUUHGLQUHIXVLQJ WRDOORZ0RRUHWRDPHQGKLVFRPSODLQW7KHGLVWULFWFRXUW ,Q VXP , ZRXOG DIILUP WKH GLVWULFW FRXUWjV GHQLDO RI FRUUHFWO\QRWHGWKDWWKHDSSURSULDWHVWDWXWHRIOLPLWDWLRQVIRU 3ODLQWLIIjVPRWLRQWRDPHQGDVDSURSHUDSSOLFDWLRQRI)HG5 0RRUHjV FODLPVZDVRQH\HDUDQGWKDWE\WKHWLPHKH &LY3DQG/RYHODFH VRXJKWWRDPHQGKLVFRPSODLQWDOPRVWWZR\HDUVKDGSDVVHG ,W IDLOHG KRZHYHU WR SURSHUO\ DSSO\ )HGHUDO 5XOH RI &LYLO 9 3URFHGXUH F ZKLFK ZRXOG KDYH DOORZHG WKH DPHQGHG FRPSODLQWWRUHODWHEDFNWRWKHRULJLQDOILOLQJGDWHVXFKWKDW $OWKRXJK ZH UHYLHZ DSSHDOV LQ FLYLO ULJKWV FDVHV UDLVLQJ LWZRXOGQRWEHEDUUHGE\WKHRQH\HDUVWDWXWHRIOLPLWDWLRQV LVVXHVVXFKDVWKLVRQHZLWKVSHFLDOFDUHZHVKRXOGQRWJUDQW VSHFLDOOHVVGHPDQGLQJSOHDGLQJUHTXLUHPHQWVWRFLYLOULJKWV 5XOH F DOORZVDPHQGPHQWVWRUHODWHEDFNZKHQmWKH SODLQWLIIV :H WDNH VSHFLDO FDUH ZLWK SUR VH OLWLJDQWV WRR FODLPRUGHIHQVHDVVHUWHGLQWKHDPHQGHGSOHDGLQJDURVHRXW :HOOV )GDW FLWLQJ+DLQHVY.HUQHU86 RI WKH FRQGXFW WUDQVDFWLRQ RU RFFXUUHQFH VHW IRUWK RU %XW ZH VWLOO UHTXLUH WKHP WR DOHUW JRYHUQPHQW DWWHPSWHG WR EH VHW IRUWK LQ WKH RULJLQDO SOHDGLQJl 5XOH GHIHQGDQWV WKDW WKH\ PD\ EH KHOG LQGLYLGXDOO\ OLDEOH IRU F DGGUHVVLQJFKDQJHVWRDSDUW\RUmWKHQDPLQJRID GDPDJHVDQGWRFRQIRUPWREDVLFSOHDGLQJUHTXLUHPHQWV,G SDUW\lVWDWHVWKDWDQDPHQGPHQWUHODWHVEDFNLIWKHSURYLVLRQV 7KH VWDQGDUG VKRXOG EH QR GLIIHUHQW IRU UHSUHVHQWHG FLYLO RI F DUHVDWLVILHGWKHGHIHQGDQWUHFHLYHGQRWLFHRIWKH ULJKWVSODLQWLIIVDVKHUH7KH\WRRPXVWSURYLGHJRYHUQPHQW VXLW ZLWKLQ GD\V IROORZLQJ WKH ILOLQJ RI WKH RULJLQDO GHIHQGDQWVIDLUQRWLFHRIWKHFDSDFLW\LQZKLFKWKH\DUHVXHG FRPSODLQWWKHQRWLFHZDVVXFKWKDWWKHGHIHQGDQWmZLOOQRWEH DQG WKH RQO\ IDLU QRWLFH LV FOHDU QRWLFH E\ WKH IDFH RI WKH SUHMXGLFHGLQPDLQWDLQLQJDGHIHQVHRQWKHPHULWVlDQGWKH FRPSODLQW,G GHIHQGDQWmNQHZRUVKRXOGKDYHNQRZQWKDWEXWIRUDPLVWDNH FRQFHUQLQJWKHLGHQWLW\RIWKHSURSHUSDUW\WKHDFWLRQZRXOG 7KH PDMRULW\jV UXOLQJ WRGD\ IORXWV ZHOOHVWDEOLVKHG KDYHEHHQEURXJKWDJDLQVWWKHSDUW\l$OWKRXJKZHKDYHQRW SUHFHGHQW DQG LJQRUHV WKH XQGHUO\LQJ MXULVGLFWLRQDO DQVZHUHG ZKHWKHU 5XOH F DSSOLHV ZKHQ D SUXGHQWLDODQGSXEOLFSROLF\FRQFHUQVWKDWJDYHULVHWRWKH SODLQWLIIVHHNVWRDOWHUWKHFDSDFLW\LQZKLFKDGHIHQGDQWKDV :HOOVUXOH)XUWKHUPRUHHYHQXQGHUWKHPDMRULW\jVQHZO\ EHHQ VXHG ZH KDYH KHOG WKLV W\SH RI DOWHUDWLRQ DFFHSWDEOH FUDIWHG WHVW FOHDU QRWLFH RI FDSDFLW\ o DW DQ\ VWDJH LQ WKH XQGHU5XOH F 6HH%URZQY6KDQHU)G SURFHHGLQJV o ZDV ODFNLQJ KHUH 7KH GLVWULFW FRXUW DOVR WK&LU FRUUHFWO\GHQLHG3ODLQWLIIjVHOHYHQWKKRXUPRWLRQWRDPHQG 7KHGLVWULFWFRXUWjVGLVPLVVDORI0RRUHjVFRPSODLQWVKRXOGEH :HDUHVDWLVILHGWKDWWKHUHTXLUHPHQWVRI5XOH F KDYH DIILUPHG EHHQ PHW KHUH 7KHUH LV QR TXHVWLRQ WKDW WKH RULJLQDO DQG 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO 1R 1R 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO
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jV EDFN7KH&RXUWjVVLOHQFHUHJDUGLQJDYDLODELOLW\RI F WKHRU\FODLPHGWKH\ZHUHLQGLYLGXDOO\OLDEOHIRUWKH OHDYHV RSHQ IRU WKLV &RXUW WR GHFLGH ZKHWKHU F DOOHJHG YLRODWLRQV 0RRUHjV FRPSODLQW DOOHJHG FRQGXFW DIIRUGVDQLQGHSHQGHQWEDVLVIRUUHODWLRQEDFN6HFRQG FRPPLWWHGE\WKHRIILFHUVmIRUWKHPVHOYHVDQGIRUWKH&LW\l HYHQ LI ZH ZHUH WR IRFXV RQ F /RYHODFH LV DQGWKDWWKH\DFWHGmZLWKPDOLFHLQYLRODWLRQRISODLQWLIIjV GLVWLQJXLVKDEOHEHFDXVHLWZDVQRWmDSSDUHQWlLQ/RYHODFH FLYLOULJKWVl$FFRUGLQJO\ZHILQGWKDWWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWHUUHG WKDW >WKH GHIHQGDQW@ NQHZ RU VKRXOG KDYH NQRZQ RI D LQGHQ\LQJ0RRUHOHDYHWRDPHQGKLVFRPSODLQWSXUVXDQWWR mPLVWDNHl LQ WKH LGHQWLI\ RI WKH SDUW\ VHW IRUWK LQ WKH 5XOH F SOHDGLQJV ,9 %URZQ )G DW :H H[SODLQHG WKDW WKH RULJLQDO FRPSODLQWLQ/RYHODFHFOHDUO\VWDWHGWKDWWKHGHIHQGDQWmKDG ,QFRQFOXVLRQZHUHDIILUP:HOOVjVUHTXLUHPHQWWKDW QRW DFWHG DV DQ LQGLYLGXDOl EXW ZLWKLQ WKH mSRZHUV RI KLV SODLQWLIIVPXVWFOHDUO\QRWLI\DQ\GHIHQGDQWVRIWKHLULQWHQWWR RIILFLDOFDSDFLW\l,G%\FRQWUDVWWKHFRPSODLQWLQ%URZQ VHHN LQGLYLGXDO OLDELOLW\ DQG ZH FODULI\ WKDW UHYLHZLQJ WKH GLGQRWVWDWHWKHFDSDFLW\LQZKLFKWKHLQGLYLGXDOGHIHQGDQWV FRXUVH RI SURFHHGLQJV LV WKH PRVW DSSURSULDWH ZD\ WR ZHUH EHLQJ VXHG ,G )LQDOO\ WKH GHIHQGDQWVj FRXQVHO LQ GHWHUPLQHZKHWKHUVXFKQRWLFHKDVEHHQJLYHQDQGUHFHLYHG %URZQ mDFNQRZOHGJHG DW RUDO DUJXPHQW WKDW LW ZDV FOHDU DV GHPRQVWUDWHG E\ RXU GHFLVLRQV LQ 3HOIUH\ DQG $EGXU IURPDUHDGLQJRIWKHFRPSODLQWWKDWWKHVHGHIHQGDQWVFRXOG 5DKPDQ %HFDXVH ZH ILQG WKLV FDVH JRYHUQHG E\ $EGXU QRWEHKHOGOLDEOHLQWKHLURIILFLDOFDSDFLW\l,G HPSKDVLVLQ 5DKPDQZHUHYHUVHWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWjVGLVPLVVDORI0RRUHjV RULJLQDO FRPSODLQW$GGLWLRQDOO\ZHILQGWKDWWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWVKRXOG KDYHDOORZHG0RRUHWRDPHQGKLVFRPSODLQWSXUVXDQWWR5XOH %URZQjVDWWHPSW WR GLVWLQJXLVK/RYHODFH RQ WKH JURXQGV F :HWKXVUHPDQGIRUIXUWKHUSURFHHGLQJV WKDW/RYHODFHGLGQRWFRQVLGHUWKHFRPSODLQWLQGHSHQGHQWO\ XQGHU)HG5&LY3 F LVLQFRQVLVWHQWZLWKWKH5XOH 7KH /RYHODFH FDVH GLG QRW FRQVLGHU 5XOH F EHFDXVH F DSSOLHVZKHQWKHDPHQGPHQWVHHNVWRDGGDFODLPRU GHIHQVH5XOH F DSSOLHVZKHQWKHDPHQGPHQWFKDQJHV 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO 1R 1R 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB DWWHPSWHG WR EH VHW IRUWK LQ WKH RULJLQDO SOHDGLQJl 5XOH F DOORZVFKDQJHVWRDSDUW\RUmWKHQDPLQJRIDSDUW\l &21&855(1&( LIWKHSURYLVLRQVRI F DUHPHWDQGZLWKLQWKHGD\V BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB IURP WKH ILOLQJ RI WKH RULJLQDO FRPSODLQW WKH SDUW\ WR EH EURXJKWLQmKDVUHFHLYHGVXFKQRWLFHRIWKHLQVWLWXWLRQRIWKH 0(55,77&LUFXLWsXGJHFRQFXUULQJ,FRQFXULQ6HFWLRQV DFWLRQWKDWWKHSDUW\ZLOOQRWEHSUHMXGLFHGLQPDLQWDLQLQJD , DQG ,, RI WKH &RXUWjV RSLQLRQ EXW , ILQG 6HFWLRQ ,,, GHIHQVHRQWKHPHULWVlDQGmNQHZRUVKRXOGKDYHNQRZQWKDW XQQHFHVVDU\DQGWKHUHIRUHGRQRWFRQFXULQWKDWVHFWLRQ,GR EXWIRUDPLVWDNHFRQFHUQLQJWKHLGHQWLW\RIWKHSURSHUSDUW\ QRWWKLQNZHVKRXOGGHFLGHWKHDPHQGPHQWLVVXHZKHQZH WKHDFWLRQZRXOGKDYHEHHQEURXJKWDJDLQVWWKHSDUW\l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mUHWDLQHGLQGHSHQGHQWFRXQVHO RXURSLQLRQLQ:HOOVY%URZQ )G WK&LU RUSDUWLFLSDWHGPRUHIXOO\LQWKHGHIHQVHl/RYHODFH )G DW)XUWKHUPRUH3ODLQWLIIGLGQRWPRYHWRDPHQGXQWLO OLWWOH RYHU D PRQWK EHIRUH WULDO WKLUWHHQ PRQWKV DIWHU WKH &RPSODLQWKDGEHHQILOHG ZKLFKZDVPXFKORQJHUWKDQLQ /RYHODFHZKLFKZDVRQO\VHYHUDOPRQWKVDIWHUWKHGD\V DOORZHG IRU VHUYLFH RI WKH VXPPRQV DQG FRPSODLQW WLPH IUDPH DQGSUHVXPDEO\ORQJDIWHUGLVFRYHU\KDGFORVHG$V SUHYLRXVO\QRWHGQRQHRIWKHLQGLYLGXDO'HIHQGDQWVLQWKLV FDVHILOHGDQDQVZHUSOHGWKHDIILUPDWLYHGHIHQVHRITXDOLILHG LPPXQLW\ RU HQJDJHG LQ GLVFRYHU\ 8QGHU WKH PDMRULW\j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
UHVSRQGHGWRWKHPRWLRQRQ)HEUXDU\ EXWGLGQRW BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB VHHNOHDYHWRDPHQGWRLQVHUWDQDOOHJDWLRQWKDWWKHRIILFHUV ZHUHEHLQJVXHGLQWKHLULQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLWLHVXQWLO0DUFK &21&855(1&( DIWHUWKHRUGHUJUDQWLQJ'HIHQGDQWVjPRWLRQZDVHQWHUHG BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB RQ)HEUXDU\ 7KXVHYHQLQWKHIDFHRIFOHDUQRWLFH IURP'HIHQGDQWVWKDWQRWLFHRILQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLW\KDGQRW 521$/' /(( *,/0$1 &LUFXLW sXGJH FRQFXUULQJ , EHHQmUHFHLYHGl3ODLQWLIIGLGQRWGRDQ\WKLQJXQWLODOPRVWWKH FRQFXULQWKHUHVXOWUHDFKHGE\WKHPDMRULW\RSLQLRQDQG, HYHRIWULDOZKLFKKDGEHHQVHWIRU0D\ ZKLFKE\ DJUHHZLWKPXFKRILWVUHDVRQLQJ,QSDUWLFXODUWKHDGRSWLRQ WKHZD\ZDVWKLUWHHQPRQWKVDIWHUWKHFRPSODLQWKDGEHHQ RIWKHmFRXUVHRISURFHHGLQJVlWHVWWRGHWHUPLQHWKHFDSDFLW\ ILOHG&I3HOIUH\)GDW DOWKRXJKWKHFRPSODLQW LQZKLFKDSXEOLFRIILFLDOLVVXHGDQGWKHKROGLQJWKDWWKH IDLOHG WR LQGLFDWH FDSDFLW\ WKH SODLQWLII ILOHG D PRWLRQ RQH GLVWULFWFRXUWHUUHGLQUHIXVLQJWRDOORZ0RRUHWRDPHQGKLV PRQWK DIWHU WKH FRPSODLQW ZDV ILOHG FODULI\LQJ WKDW WKH FRPSODLQWVWULNHPHDVWKHSURSHUUXOLQJVLQWKLVFDVH GHIHQGDQWV ZHUH EHLQJ VXHG LQ WKHLU SHUVRQDO FDSDFLWLHV 7KXVWKHPDWWHUEHIRUHXVGLGQRWFRPHWRXVLQWKHSRVWXUH ,ZULWHVHSDUDWHO\KRZHYHUWRH[SUHVVP\DJUHHPHQWZLWK RImVWLOOLQDUHODWLYHO\HDUO\VWDJHRIOLWLJDWLRQl$QWHDWQ WKH IROORZLQJ SRLQW PDGH E\ WKH GLVVHQW m$OWKRXJK WKH PDMRULW\SD\VOLSVHUYLFHWRWKH:HOOVUXOHZKDWLWLVUHDOO\ 7KXVHYHQDIWHUVLIWLQJWKURXJKWKHFRXUVHRISURFHHGLQJV GRLQJ LV DGRSWLQJ D FRXUVH RI SURFHHGLQJV WHVW ,W LV ZHFRPHXSZLWKOLWWOHHYLGHQFHWRHVWDEOLVKWKDW3ODLQWLIIJDYH GLVLQJHQXRXVWRGRVRZLWKRXWH[SOLFLWO\RYHUUXOLQJ:HOOVl FOHDUQRWLFHRIKLVLQWHQWWRVXH'HIHQGDQWVLQWKHLUSHUVRQDO 'LVVHQWLQJ2SDW 7KHPDMRULW\VLWWLQJHQEDQFRIFRXUVH FDSDFLWLHVDQGWKDW'HIHQGDQWVUHFHLYHGWKLVQRWLFH,QRWKHU LVSHUIHFWO\IUHHWRDEDQGRQWKHUXOHLQ:HOOV DQGWKHGLVVHQW ZRUGVLWVLPSO\FDQQRWEHVDLGWKDW3ODLQWLIIjVLQWHQWLRQWR GRHVQRWFODLPRWKHUZLVH EXWLWZRXOGEHSUHIHUDEOHWRGRVR KROG 'HIHQGDQWV SHUVRQDOO\ OLDEOH FRXOG EH mIDLUO\ IRUWKULJKWO\7RGRRWKHUZLVHOHDYHVWKHFRXUWRSHQWRWKH DVFHUWDLQHGl6HH%LJJV)GDW QRWLQJWKDWWKURXJKRXW FULWLFLVP WKDW LW LV GHQ\LQJ WKH REYLRXV XQWLO DQ REMHFWLYH WKHFRXUVHRISURFHHGLQJVmWKHXQGHUO\LQJLQTXLU\UHPDLQV REVHUYHUFULHVRXWWKDWmWKHHPSHURUKDVQRFORWKHVl+DQV ZKHWKHU WKH SODLQWLIIjV LQWHQWLRQ WR KROG D GHIHQGDQW &KULVWLDQ $QGHUVHQ 7KH (PSHURUjV 1HZ &ORWKHV LQ 7KH SHUVRQDOO\OLDEOHFDQEHDVFHUWDLQHGIDLUO\l 7KHPDMRULW\jV /LWWOH0HUPDLGDQG2WKHU)DLU\7DOHV KROGLQJLVFRQWUDU\WR:HOOVDQGSURJHQ\GRHVQRWILWZLWKLQ WKHQDUURZH[FHSWLRQFUHDWHGE\3HOIUH\DQGGRHVQRWHYHQ SDVVPXVWHUXQGHUDFRXUVHRISURFHHGLQJVDQDO\VLV ,9 7KH PDMRULW\ DOVR ILQGV WKDW WKH GLVWULFW FRXUW HUUHG LQ UHIXVLQJ WR DOORZ 3ODLQWLII WR DPHQG KLV FRPSODLQW 7KH PDMRULW\DFNQRZOHGJHVWKDWWKHRQH\HDUVWDWXWHRIOLPLWDWLRQV IRU3ODLQWLIIjV FODLPKDGUXQEXWKROGVWKDWWKHFRXUW IDLOHG WR SURSHUO\ DSSO\ )HGHUDO 5XOH RI &LYLO 3URFHGXUH F 5XOH F DOORZVDPHQGPHQWVWRUHODWHEDFNZKHQ mWKHFODLPRUGHIHQVHDVVHUWHGLQWKHDPHQGHGSOHDGLQJDURVH RXW RI WKH FRQGXFW WUDQVDFWLRQ RU RFFXUUHQFH VHW IRUWK RU 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO 1R 1R 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBB UDLVHGLQUHVSRQVHWRWKHFRPSODLQWLVDUHOHYDQWIDFWRU6HH %LJJV)GDW+HUHWKHLQGLYLGXDO'HIHQGDQWVGLGQRW ',66(17 UHVSRQGLQDZD\WKDWUHIOHFWVDQ\SHUFHSWLRQRQWKHLUSDUWRI BBBBBBBBBBBBBBB SRWHQWLDOLQGLYLGXDOOLDELOLW\,QGHHGWKHRIILFHUVGLGQRWILOH LQGLYLGXDODQVZHUVDQGWKXVREYLRXVO\QHYHUDVVHUWHGWKH 68+5+(,15,&+&LUFXLWsXGJHGLVVHQWLQJ7KHPDMRULW\ DIILUPDWLYHGHIHQVHRITXDOLILHGLPPXQLW\6HHLG REVHUYLQJ RSLQLRQSXUSRUWVWRmUHDIILUP:HOOVjVUHTXLUHPHQWWKDW WKDWDVVHUWLRQRITXDOLILHGLPPXQLW\GHIHQVHLQGLFDWHVWKDWWKH SODLQWLIIVPXVWFOHDUO\QRWLI\DQ\GHIHQGDQWVRIWKHLULQWHQWWR GHIHQGDQWLQWHUSUHWHGWKHSODLQWLIIjVDFWLRQDVEHLQJDJDLQVW VHHNLQGLYLGXDOOLDELOLW\DQG>WR@FODULI\WKDWUHYLHZLQJWKH KLPSHUVRQDOO\EHFDXVHTXDOLILHGLPPXQLW\LVRQO\DYDLODEOH FRXUVH RI SURFHHGLQJV LV WKH PRVW DSSURSULDWH ZD\ WR LQDSHUVRQDOFDSDFLW\VXLW GHWHUPLQHZKHWKHUVXFKQRWLFHKDVEHHQJLYHQDQGUHFHLYHG DV GHPRQVWUDWHG E\ RXU GHFLVLRQV LQ 3HOIUH\ DQG $EGXU 5DWKHURQO\RQH$QVZHUZDVILOHG E\WKH&LW\7KH&LW\jV 5DKPDQl $QWH DW ,Q DFWXDOLW\ KRZHYHU WKH PDMRULW\ $QVZHU DOVRUHIOHFWVWKH&LW\jVSHUFHSWLRQWKDWWKLVZDVDQ HYLVFHUDWHVWKH:HOOVVWDQGDUGH[SDQGVWKHQDUURZH[FHSWLRQ RIILFLDOFDSDFLW\VXLW7KHILUVWVHQWHQFHRIWKH&LW\jV$QVZHU FUHDWHGLQ3HOIUH\EH\RQGDOOUHDVRQDEOHERXQGVWUDQVIHUVWKH VWDWHV m7KH'HIHQGDQW&LW\RI+DUULPDQDQGLWVHPSOR\HHV SOHDGLQJ EXUGHQ IURP SODLQWLIIV WR FOHDUO\ SOHDG LQGLYLGXDO GR KHUHE\ DSSHDU DQG DQVZHU WKLV &RPSODLQW DV IROORZVl FDSDFLW\WRJRYHUQPHQWGHIHQGDQWVWRFODULI\WKHFDSDFLW\LQ )XUWKHUWKH$QVZHUDOVRSURYLGHVWKDWm>L@WLVPDLQWDLQHGWKDW ZKLFKWKH\DUHVXHGDQGDGRSWVDVWDQGDUGOHVVmFRXUVHRI QHLWKHUWKH&LW\RI+DUULPDQQRULWVHPSOR\HHVGLGDQ\DFW SURFHHGLQJVlWHVWWKDWLJQRUHVWKHFHUWDLQW\WKH5XOHVRI&LYLO ZKLFKZRXOGUHQGHUWKH&LW\RI+DUULPDQUHVSRQVLEOHWRWKH 3URFHGXUHDUHLQWHQGHGWRVHFXUH7KXV,GLVVHQW SODLQWLII IRU GDPDJHV LQ WKLV FDVHl $QVZHU ,W DOVR VWDWHVm>L@WLVKHUHE\VSHFLILFDOO\PDLQWDLQHGWKDWWKHSODLQWLII , LV QRW HQWLWOHG WR UHFRYHU SXQLWLYH GDPDJHV DJDLQVW D JRYHUQPHQWDO HQWLW\ VXFK DV WKH &LW\ RI +DUULPDQ DQG 6HWWLQJ DVLGH IRU WKH PRPHQW WKH EDVLF LOORJLF RI WKH WKHUHIRUH VXFK FODLP IRU SXQLWLYH GDPDJHV IDLOV WR VWDWH D PDMRULW\jVSRVLWLRQoQDPHO\WKDWFRPSOLDQFHZLWKDSOHDGLQJ FODLP XSRQ ZKLFK UHOLHI FDQ EH JUDQWHGl ,G 7KLV UXOH UHTXLULQJ FOHDU QRWLFH RI FDSDFLW\ FDQ VRPHKRZ EH $QVZHUFRXSOHGZLWKWKHIDFWWKDWQRWRQHRIWKHRIILFHUVILOHG YHULILHG WKURXJK VXEVHTXHQW SURFHHGLQJV o WKH PDMRULW\jV DVHSDUDWHDQVZHUVKRXOGKDYHSXW3ODLQWLIIRQQRWLFHWKDWWKH GHFLVLRQ FDQQRW EH UHFRQFLOHG ZLWK :HOOV DQG LWV SURJHQ\ RIILFHUVGLGQRWUHJDUGWKHVXLWDVRQHDJDLQVWWKHPSHUVRQDOO\ 7KHVHFLUFXPVWDQFHVVKRXOGKDYHSURPSWHG3ODLQWLIIWRVHHN OHDYHWRDPHQGKLV&RPSODLQWWRFODULI\KLVFODLPVRUWRVHHN DGHIDXOWMXGJPHQW3ODLQWLIIGLGQHLWKHU 5XOH RI WKH )HGHUDO 5XOHV RI &LYLO 3URFHGXUH GHILQHV ZKDW FRQVWLWXWHV D mSOHDGLQJl $ WHOOLQJ LQGLFDWLRQ WKDW 'HIHQGDQWV GLG QRW LQWHUSUHW D 3OHDGLQJV 7KHUH VKDOO EH D FRPSODLQW DQG DQ DQVZHU D 3ODLQWLIIjV DFWLRQ DV D SHUVRQDO FDSDFLW\ VXLW LV WKHLU MRLQW UHSO\ WR D FRXQWHUFODLP GHQRPLQDWHG DV VXFK DQ DQVZHU WR D PRWLRQWRGLVPLVVILOHGE\WKH&LW\jVDWWRUQH\VRQsDQXDU\ FURVVFODLP LI WKH DQVZHU FRQWDLQV D FURVVFODLP D WKLUGSDUW\ ,Q LW WKH\ H[SUHVVO\ VWDWH WKDW mWKH IRUHJRLQJ FRPSODLQW LI D SHUVRQ ZKR ZDV QRW DQ RULJLQDO SDUW\ LV 'HIHQGDQWVVKRXOGEHGLVPLVVHGIRUIDLOXUHRIWKH3ODLQWLIIVj VXPPRQHG XQGHU WKH SURYLVLRQV RI 5XOH DQG D WKLUGSDUW\ DQVZHU LI D WKLUGSDUW\ FRPSODLQW LV VHUYHG 1R RWKHU SOHDGLQJ WRVWDWHDFODLPDJDLQVWWKHPLQWKHLULQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLW\l VKDOO EH DOORZHG H[FHSW WKDW WKH FRXUW PD\ RUGHU D UHSO\ WR DQ 3XUVXDQWWRWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWjVVFKHGXOLQJRUGHU3ODLQWLIIKDG DQVZHU RU D WKLUGSDUW\ DQVZHU XQWLO )HEUXDU\ WR DPHQG WKH SOHDGLQJV 3ODLQWLII )HG 5 &LY 3 D 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO 1R 1R 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO
UHIHUHQFHSXWVWKHGHIHQGDQWVRQQRWLFHWKDWERWKWKH %HFDXVH WKH PDMRULW\ ODUJHO\ LJQRUHV LW H[SOLFDWLRQ RI RXU FODLPVDQGWKHVWDWHODZFODLPVZHUHLQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLW\VXLWV SUHFHGHQWLVLQRUGHU HVSHFLDOO\ZKHQWKHVHSDUDWHSDUDJUDSKGHYRWHGWRWKH FDXVH RI DFWLRQ PDNHV QR PHQWLRQ RI LQGLYLGXDO FDSDFLW\ $VWKHPDMRULW\QRWHVWKH6XSUHPH&RXUWjVGHFLVLRQLQ:LOO )XUWKHUPRUHZKHQUHDGDJDLQVWWKHEDFNGURSRISDUDJUDSKV Y 0LFK 'HSjW RI 6WDWH 3ROLFH 86 DQGZKLFKVWDWHWKDWDOORIWKHDFWLRQVRIWKHRIILFHUV SURPSWHGRXUUXOLQJLQ:HOOVY%URZQ )G WK&LU ZHUHSHUIRUPHGXQGHUFRORURIODZDQGLQIXUWKHUDQFHRIWKH :LOO KHOG WKDW D 6WDWH LV QRW D mSHUVRQl ZLWKLQ WKH EXVLQHVVRIWKH&LW\ZHDUHOHIWZLWKDKRSHOHVVDPELJXLW\ PHDQLQJ RI :LOO 86 DW 7KH :LOO FRXUW FOHDUO\LQVXIILFLHQWWRDOHUWWKHGHIHQGDQWVWKDWWKH\ZHUHEHLQJ IXUWKHU KHOG WKDW DOWKRXJK mVWDWH RIILFLDOV OLWHUDOO\ DUH VXHGLQWKHLULQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLWLHVXQGHUIHGHUDOODZ SHUVRQVlLGDWmDVXLWDJDLQVWDVWDWHRIILFLDOLQKLVRUKHU RIILFLDOFDSDFLW\LVQRWDVXLWDJDLQVWWKHRIILFLDOEXWUDWKHUD /DVWO\WKHPDMRULW\UHOLHVRQWKHSUD\HUIRUUHOLHIZKHUHLQ VXLWDJDLQVWWKHRIILFLDOjVRIILFHl,G$QGm>D@VVXFKLWLVQR 3ODLQWLIIPDNHVEODQNHWUHTXHVWVIRUERWKFRPSHQVDWRU\DQG GLIIHUHQW IURP D VXLW DJDLQVW WKH 6WDWH LWVHOIl ,G $Q SXQLWLYH GDPDJHV mDJDLQVW HDFK RI WKH GHIHQGDQWVl ,G LPSRUWDQWFRQVLGHUDWLRQLQWKH:LOOFRXUWj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jVFRQGXFWLQWHUPVRI FDSDFLW\ FODLPV 7KXV XQGHU D WUDGLWLRQDO DSSOLFDWLRQ RI WKHLURIILFLDOFDSDFLW\RQO\:HOOV )GDW :HKHOG :HOOVLWPXVWEHDVVXPHGWKDWWKHGHIHQGDQWVZHUHVXHGLQ WKDW :LOO PDGH LW XQQHFHVVDU\ WR UHDFK WKH PHULWV RI WKH WKHLURIILFLDOFDSDFLWLHVRQO\EHFDXVHWKH&RPSODLQWIDLOVWR SODLQWLIIVjFODLPVEHFDXVHWKH:HOOVFRPSODLQWGLGQRWFOHDUO\ DOOHJH WKDW WKH GHIHQGDQWV ZHUH VXHG LQ WKHLU SHUVRQDO VHW IRUWK WKDW WKH\ ZHUH VXLQJ WKH VWDWH GHIHQGDQWV LQ WKHLU FDSDFLWLHV 7KH GLVWULFW FRXUW WKHUHIRUH GLG QRW HUU LQ LQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLW\IRUGDPDJHVQRWPHUHO\LQWKHLUFDSDFLW\ GLVPLVVLQJWKHGHIHQGDQWVLQWKHLULQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLWLHV 7KH mFRXUVH RI SURFHHGLQJVl GRHV QRW GHPRQVWUDWH WKDW QRWLFHRILQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLW\FODLPVZDVmJLYHQDQGUHFHLYHGl HLWKHU$VWKHPDMRULW\LQGLFDWHVWKHQDWXUHRIDQ\GHIHQVHV %\ FRQWUDVW mVWDWH RIILFLDOV VXHG LQ WKHLU LQGLYLGXDO FDSDFLWLHV DUH µSHUVRQVj ZLWKLQ WKH PHDQLQJ RI 7KH (OHYHQWK $PHQGPHQW GRHV QRW EDU VXFK VXLWV QRU DUH VWDWH RIILFHUV DEVROXWHO\ LPPXQH IURP SHUVRQDO OLDELOLW\ XQGHU VROHO\ E\ YLUWXH RI WKH µRIILFLDOj QDWXUH RI WKHLU DQG WKH XVH RI IRUFH GXULQJ WKH DUUHVW YLRODWHG WKH SODLQWLIIjV DFWVl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jV ULJKWV VHFXUHG WKH :LOO FRXUW DOVR VXJJHVWHG WKDW WKH (OHYHQWK $PHQGPHQW GRHV QRW DSSO\ E\ $UWLFOH DQG RI WKH 7HQQHVVHH &RQVWLWXWLRQ LQ VWDWH FRXUW 6HH :LOO 86 DW &I $OGHQ Y 0DLQH 86 &RPSODLQW QRWLQJ WKDW VWDWHPHQW LQ :LOO LV GLFWD 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO 1R 1R 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO
DVVWDWHRIILFLDOV,GDW ,QVRUXOLQJZHDGRSWHGWKH VDLG RIILFHUV FRQVWLWXWHG WKH GHSULYDWLRQ RI WKH SODLQWLIIjV (LJKWK&LUFXLWjVVWDQGDUGIRU SOHDGLQJVWKDWUHTXLUHV ULJKWVXQGHUFRORURIVWDWHODZSURKLELWHGE\86& l SODLQWLIIVWRmFOHDUO\VHWIRUWKLQWKHLUSOHDGLQJWKDWWKH\DUH &RPSODLQW8QGHU:HOOVLWPXVWEHDVVXPHGWKDWLQWKH VXLQJ WKH VWDWH GHIHQGDQWV LQ WKHLU LQGLYLGXDO FDSDFLW\ IRU FODLPWKHGHIHQGDQWVDUHEHLQJVXHGLQWKHLURIILFLDO GDPDJHVQRWVLPSO\LQWKHLUFDSDFLW\DVVWDWHRIILFLDOVl,G FDSDFLW\RQO\ DW FLWLQJ1L[Y1RUPDQ )G WK&LU 7KHPDMRULW\DOVRUHOLHVRQWKHDOOHJDWLRQLQ3DUDJUDSK WKDW m7KH VDLG RIILFHUV DFWLQJ IRU WKHPVHOYHV DQG IRU WKH &LW\lEHKDYHGmZLWKPDOLFHDQGYLRODWHGWKHSODLQWLIIjV FLYLO ULJKWVl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mWKDW µ>L@W LV 7KHVDLGRIILFHUVDFWLQJIRUWKHPVHOYHVDQGIRUWKH&LW\ REYLRXVO\ SUHIHUDEOH IRU WKH SODLQWLII WR EH VSHFLILF LQ WKH ILUVW LQVWDQFH WR LQVWLWXWHGDOORIWKHFULPLQDOFKDUJHVDJDLQVWWKHSODLQWLII DYRLG DQ\ DPELJXLW\jl ,G TXRWLQJ +DIHU Y 0HOR )G Q ZLWKRXWSUREDEOHFDXVHDQGZLWKPDOLFH7KHFKDUJHV G &LU HPSKDVLV DGGHG ZHUHQRWLQVWLWXWHGIRUWKHSURSHUSXUSRVHRIEULQJLQJWKH SODLQWLII WR MXVWLFH EXW WR VKLHOG DQG FRYHU XS WKH 7KH PDMRULW\ mDFNQRZOHGJHVl WKH RIILFHUVj UHDGLQJ RI :HOOV DV ZURQJIXO DFWLRQV RI WKH VDLG GHIHQGDQWV DV GHVFULEHG DGRSWLQJ WKH (LJKWK &LUFXLWjV UXOH SUHVXPLQJ DQ RIILFLDO FDSDFLW\ VXLW DEVHQW DQ H[SUHVV VWDWHPHQW WR WKH FRQWUDU\ EXW mILQG>V@ WKH PRUH DERYH7KHVDLGFULPLQDOSURVHFXWLRQVIRUFRQWULEXWLQJ UHDVRQDEOH LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ WR EH WKDW SODLQWLIIV PXVW FOHDUO\ QRWLI\ WR WKH GHOLQTXHQF\ RI D PLQRU DQG DJJUDYDWHG DVVDXOW GHIHQGDQWV RI WKH SRWHQWLDO IRU LQGLYLGXDO OLDELOLW\ DQG PXVW FOHDUO\ QRWLI\ KDYH DOUHDG\ EHHQ WHUPLQDWHG LQ IDYRU RI WKH SODLQWLII WKH FRXUW RI LWV EDVLV IRU MXULVGLFWLRQl $QWH DW , KDYH D KDUG WLPH ZLWKWKHVDLGFKDUJHVEHLQJGLVPLVVHGDWWKHSUHOLPLQDU\ XQGHUVWDQGLQJ WKLV JORVV RQ WKH SODLQ ODQJXDJH RI :HOOV KHDULQJ7KHSODFLQJRIVDLGFKDUJHVRIFRQWULEXWLQJWR :H DGRSW WKH (LJKWK &LUFXLWjV LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI :LOO ZKLFK WKH GHOLQTXHQF\ RI D PLQRU DQG DJJUDYDWHG DVVDXOW FRQVWLWXWH WKH WRUWV RI PDOLFLRXV SURVHFXWLRQ DQG WKH UHTXLUHV WKDW SODLQWLIIV VHHNLQJ GDPDJHV XQGHU VHW IRUWK FOHDUO\ LQ WKHLU SOHDGLQJ WKDW WKH\ DUH VXLQJ WKH VWDWH GHIHQGDQWV LQ WKHLU LQGLYLGXDO FDSDFLW\ IRU GDPDJHV QRW VLPSO\ LQ WKHLU DEXVHRISURFHVVDQGYLRODWHGWKHSODLQWLIIjVFLYLOULJKWV FDSDFLW\ DV VWDWH RIILFLDOV 6HH 1L[ Y 1RUPDQ )G WK HQXPHUDWHGDERYH &LU :HOOV )G DW HPSKDVHV DGGHG &RPSODLQW :KHQ YLHZHG LQ IXOO LW LV DSSDUHQW WKDW 1RWDEO\ LQ :HOOV DOWKRXJK ZH DGRSWHG WKH (LJKWK &LUFXLWjV UXOH XQOLNH WKDW FRXUW ZH GLG QRW UHTXLUH RU VXJJHVW DQ\ mPDJLF ZRUGVl WR EH 3DUDJUDSK VHWV IRUWK VWDWH ODZ FODLPV RI mWKH WRUWV RI XVHG LQ D FRPSODLQW &RPSDUH :HOOV )G DW VWDWLQJ VLPSO\ WKDW PDOLFLRXVSURVHFXWLRQDQGDEXVHRISURFHVVlDQGWDFNVRQD mWKH IDFH RI D FRPSODLQW PXVW LQGLFDWH ZKHWKHU D SODLQWLII VHHNV WR UHFRYHU UHIHUHQFH WR SUHYLRXVO\ DVVHUWHG FLYLO ULJKWV DV VWDWHG LQ GDPDJHV IURP GHIHQGDQWV GLUHFWO\ RU WR KROG WKH VWDWH UHVSRQVLEOH IRU WKH SDUDJUDSKVDQG,VLPSO\GRQRWVHHKRZVXFKDYDJXH FRQGXFW RI LWV HPSOR\HHVl ZLWK 1L[ )G DW m>:@H KDYH UHSHDWHGO\ VWDWHG WKDW VHFWLRQ OLWLJDQWV ZLVKLQJ WR VXH JRYHUQPHQW DJHQWV LQ ERWK FDSDFLWLHV VKRXOG VLPSO\ XVH WKH IROORZLQJ ODQJXDJH µ3ODLQWLII VXHV HDFK DQG DOO GHIHQGDQWV LQ ERWK WKHLU LQGLYLGXDO DQG RIILFLDO 3DUDJUDSK SURYLGHV FDSDFLWLHVjl TXRWLQJ 5ROOLQV E\ $JRVWD Y )DUPHU )G Q 7KH VDLG RIILFHUV XVHG H[FHVVLYH DQG XQUHDVRQDEOH IRUFH LQ WK &LU DUUHVWLQJ WKH SODLQWLII DQG WKHLU DFWLRQV LQFOXGLQJ ERWK WKH DUUHVW 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO 1R 1R 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO
6LPLODUO\ WKH WHUPV mLQGLYLGXDO FDSDFLW\l RU mSHUVRQDO $VWKHPDMRULW\REVHUYHV:HOOVEDVHGLWVKROGLQJRQWZR FDSDFLW\l DUH DOVR QHYHU PHQWLRQHG LQ WKH ERG\ RI WKH IXQGDPHQWDOFRQFHUQV WKH(OHYHQWK$PHQGPHQWEDUWRVXLWV &RPSODLQW&RQWUDU\WRWKHPDMRULW\jVDVVHUWLRQWKDWm>W@KH DJDLQVWDVWDWHLQIHGHUDOFRXUWDQGQRWLFHWRGHIHQGDQWVWKDW FRPSODLQWUHIHUVWRWKHRIILFHUVWKURXJKRXWDVWKH LQGLYLGXDO SHUVRQDODVVHWVPD\EHDWULVNLQDFDXVHRIDFWLRQ5HJDUGLQJ GHIHQGDQWV DQWHDWWKHSKUDVHLVXVHGRQO\RQFHLQWKH WKHWKUHVKROGLVVXHRIMXULVGLFWLRQZHVWDWHG SDUDJUDSK GHVFULELQJ WKH SDUWLHV WR WKH DFWLRQ $JDLQ WKH UHIHUHQFHZLWKRXWDGHVLJQDWLRQWRmLQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLW\lGRHV 5XOH D RI WKH )HGHUDO 5XOHV RI &LYLO 3URFHGXUH QRWFODULI\WKDWWKHVXLWDJDLQVWWKHLQGLYLGXDOGHIHQGDQWVZDV UHTXLUHVDVKRUWDQGSODLQVWDWHPHQWRIWKHJURXQGVIRU LQWKHLULQGLYLGXDODQGQRWRIILFLDOFDSDFLWLHV8QGHU:HOOV MXULVGLFWLRQDQGUHOLHI$OWKRXJK5XOHKDVOLEHUDOL]HG WKHmSDVVLQJUHIHUHQFHlWRDJRYHUQPHQWGHIHQGDQWVjSHUVRQDO SOHDGLQJLWVKRXOGQRWEHUHDGWRDOWHUWKHMXULVGLFWLRQRI LQYROYHPHQWDVVHUWLQJWKDWWKH\SDUWLFLSDWHGLQFHUWDLQHYHQWV IHGHUDO FRXUWV 5HDG WRJHWKHU ZLWK WKH MXULVGLFWLRQDO LVQRWVXIILFLHQWWRQRWLI\WKHPWKDWWKH\PD\EHSHUVRQDOO\ OLPLWVRI5XOH D HYHQOLEHUDOL]HGSOHDGLQJXQGHU5XOH OLDEOHIRUGDPDJHV6HH:HOOV )GDW D FDQQRWFRQIHUMXULVGLFWLRQRQWKLV&RXUWWRHQWHUWDLQ VXLWVDJDLQVWVWDWHVDQGVWDWHRIILFLDOVZKHQWKH(OHYHQWK )XUWKHUPRUHWKHIXOOSDVVDJHUHDGVDVIROORZV m7KHRWKHU $PHQGPHQWEDUVXVIURPGRLQJVR5XOH D SURYLGHV LQGLYLGXDOGHIHQGDQWVZHUHDWDOOWLPHVUHOHYDQWWRWKLVDFWLRQ LQSHUWLQHQWSDUW RIILFHUVRIWKH&LW\RI+DUULPDQ3ROLFH'HSDUWPHQWDQGZHUH D &DSDFLW\,WLVQRWQHFHVVDU\WRDYHUWKHFDSDFLW\ DFWLQJLQWKHFRXUVHRIWKHLUHPSOR\PHQWDQGLQIXUWKHUDQFH RIWKHSDUW\WRVXHRUEHVXHGH[FHSWWRWKHH[WHQW RI WKH EXVLQHVV RI WKH &LW\l &RPSODLQW F HPSKDVLV UHTXLUHG WR VKRZ WKH MXULVGLFWLRQ RI WKH FRXUW DGGHG 7KLVVWDWHPHQWIDLUO\LPSOLHVWKDW3ODLQWLIIZDVVXLQJ HPSKDVLVDGGHG WKHLQGLYLGXDOGHIHQGDQWVLQWKHLUFDSDFLW\DVDJHQWVRIWKH $FFRUGLQJO\EHFDXVHWKH(OHYHQWK$PHQGPHQWSODFHV 3ROLFH'HSDUWPHQW7KLVUHDGLQJLVUHLQIRUFHGLQ3DUDJUDSK DMXULVGLFWLRQDOOLPLWRQIHGHUDOFRXUWVLQFLYLOULJKWVFDVHV ZKLFKH[SOLFLWO\VWDWHVWKDWWKHDFWLRQVRIWKHGHIHQGDQWV DJDLQVWVWDWHVDQGVWDWHHPSOR\HHVZHXQGHUVWDQG5XOH ZHUH WDNHQ DV SDUW RI WKHLU RIILFLDO GXWLHV m$W DOO WLPHV D WRUHTXLUHSODLQWLIIVWRSURSHUO\DOOHJHFDSDFLW\LQ UHOHYDQWWRWKLVDFWLRQWKHVDLGRIILFHUVZHUHHPSOR\HHVDQGRU WKHLUFRPSODLQW DJHQWVRIWKH&LW\RI+DUULPDQ$OORIWKHVDLGDFWLRQVRIWKH VDLGRIILFHUVZHUHWDNHQLQWKHFRXUVHRIDQGLQWKHVFRSHRI WKHLU HPSOR\PHQW E\ WKH &LW\ IRU ZKLFK WKH &LW\ DQG WKH GHIHQGDQW SROLFH FKLHI sHQNLQV DUH OLDEOH YLFDULRXVO\ DFFRUGLQJWRWKHSULQFLSOHVRIUHVSRQGHDWVXSHULRUl,G (PSKDVHVDGGHG (YHQXQGHUWKHPDMRULW\jVVHOHFWLYHO\ FKRVHQ FDVH ODZ WKLV GRHV QRW VHUYH DV VXIILFLHQW QRWLFH ,QGHHGLQ3HOIUH\ZHIRXQGWKHSOHDGLQJDWLVVXHSURYLGHG VXIILFLHQWQRWLFHRIWKHIDFWWKDWWKHGHIHQGDQWVZHUHEHLQJ VXHGLQWKHLULQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLW\LQSDUWEHFDXVHLWmVWDWHGWKDW WKHGHIHQGDQWVDFWHGRXWVLGHWKHVFRSHRIWKHLUHPSOR\PHQWl 3HOIUH\)GDW HPSKDVLVDGGHG 3DUDJUDSKVHWVIRUWKWKH FODLP3DUDJUDSKVWDWHV DQGLWVWDWHVQRWKLQJHOVH WKHIROORZLQJ m7KHDFWLRQVRIWKH 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO 1R 1R 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO
,GDW FLWDWLRQVRPLWWHG WKH PDMRULW\jV H[SDQVLYH mFRXUVH RI SURFHHGLQJVl WHVW WKH GLVWULFWFRXUWjVGLVPLVVDORISODLQWLIIjVFRPSODLQWZDVSURSHU $VIRUQRWLFHWRWKHGHIHQGDQWVZHVWDWHGWKDW , EHJLQ DV , PXVW XQGHU HLWKHU WHVW ZLWK 3ODLQWLIIjV >D@OWKRXJKPRGHUQSOHDGLQJLVOHVVULJLGWKDQLQDQHDUOLHU &RPSODLQWZKLFKLVVHWIRUWKLQLWVHQWLUHW\DVDQDSSHQGL[WR GD\ VHH &RQOH\ Y *LEVRQ 86 WKLVRSLQLRQ7KHFDSWLRQRIWKH&RPSODLQWUHDGVDVIROORZV ZHKDYHQRWOHWGRZQDOOSOHDGLQJEDUULHUV,WLV QRW WRR PXFK WR DVN WKDW LI D SHUVRQ RU HQWLW\ LV WR EH 5DOSK0RRUHsU VXEMHFWWRVXLWWKHSHUVRQRUHQWLW\VKRXOGEHSURSHUO\ 6KHOGRQ5G QDPHGDQGFOHDUO\QRWLILHGRIWKHSRWHQWLDOIRUSD\PHQW +DUULPDQ71 RIGDPDJHVLQGLYLGXDOO\ 3ODLQWLII ,G1RWLFHRISHUVRQDOFDSDFLW\LQWXUQDOORZVJRYHUQPHQW GHIHQGDQWV WR DYDLO WKHPVHOYHV RI WKH TXDOLILHG LPPXQLW\ YV GHIHQVH:HH[SODLQHGWKHSROLF\UDWLRQDOHRIWKHTXDOLILHG LPPXQLW\GRFWULQHLHWKHmGHVLUHWRVKLHOGSXEOLFRIILFLDOV &LW\RI+DUULPDQ7HQQHVVHH+DUULPDQ IURPGLYHUWLQJWKHLUHQHUJLHVWKURXJKWKHIRUFHGGHIHQVHRI 3ROLFH'HSDUWPHQW5R\sHQNLQV&KLHI FKDOOHQJHV WR WKHLU DFWLRQV WDNHQ LQ WKHLU JRYHUQPHQWDO RI3ROLFH'DUUHQ0F%URRP7HUU\)LQN FDSDFLWLHVlDQGWKHUHODWHGUHTXLUHPHQWWKDWWKRVHZKRDUH 5DQG\+HLGOH9LUJLO0F&DUWDQGsHUU\ HQWLWOHGWRVXFKLPPXQLW\mVKRXOGEHJUDQWHGWKDWLPPXQLW\ 6LQJOHWRQ DW WKH HDUOLHVW SRVVLEOH VWDJH RI WKH FDVHl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jQDPHVQRW FDVH ODZ KDV DSSOLHG LW DV VXFK WKHLURIILFLDOWLWOHV,GRQRWNQRZWKDWWKLVVLJQLILHVDQ\WKLQJ (QWLWLHVFDQRQO\DFWWKURXJKWKHLUDJHQWVVHH3RLQGH[WHUY :H DGGHG WKDW *UHHQKRZ 86 m>W@KH 6WDWH LV D 7KLV SULQFLSOH LV UHLQIRUFHG E\ WKH IDFW WKDW LQ UHFHQW \HDUV SROLWLFDOFRUSRUDWHERG\>DQG@FDQRQO\DFWWKURXJKDJHQWVl DQ LQFUHDVLQJO\ ODUJH QXPEHU RI IULYRORXV FDVHV KDYH EHHQ ILOHG 7KXVmRIILFLDOFDSDFLW\VXLWVµJHQHUDOO\UHSUHVHQWRQO\DQRWKHU LQ IHGHUDO FRXUWo ERWK E\ ODZ\HUV DQG 0DQ\ RI WKHVH VXLWV ZDVWH WKH WLPH RI SXEOLF RIILFLDOV ODZ\HUV DQG WKH FRXUWV ZD\RISOHDGLQJDQDFWLRQDJDLQVWDQHQWLW\RIZKLFKDQRIILFHU SUR VH
0LQLPXP SOHDGLQJ UHTXLUHPHQWV DUH QHHGHG HYHQ IRU LVDQDJHQWjl+DIHUY0HOR86 TXRWLQJ SODLQWLIIV ZKRVH ODZVXLWV QRZ FRPSULVH PRUH WKDQ RU SUR VH .HQWXFN\Y*UDKDP86 VHHDOVRLG DOPRVW RI WKH DSSHDOV ILOHG LQ WKLV &RXUW ,W LV FHUWDLQO\ DW QRWLQJWKDWm>V@WDWHRIILFHUVVXHGIRUGDPDJHVLQWKHLU UHDVRQDEOH WR DVN WKDW DOO SODLQWLIIV HYHQ SODLQWLIIV VRPH RIILFLDO FDSDFLW\ DUH QRW µSHUVRQVj IRU SXUSRVHV RI WKH VXLW RI ZKRP ILOH VHYHUDO DSSHDOV HDFK \HDU ZLWK XV DOHUW SDUW\ SUR VH
GHIHQGDQWVWKDWWKH\PD\EHLQGLYLGXDOO\UHVSRQVLEOHLQGDPDJHV EHFDXVH WKH\ DVVXPH WKH LGHQWLW\ RI WKH JRYHUQPHQW WKDW 7KH WULDO DQG DSSHOODWH FRXUWV VKRXOG QRW KDYH WR JXHVV DW WKH HPSOR\VWKHPl 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO 1R 1R 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO
7KH FRXUVH RI SURFHHGLQJV WHVW GRHV QRW JXDUDQWHH 7KXVLQ:HOOVZHFRQFOXGHGWKDWm>W@KHSDVVLQJUHIHUHQFH VXEVWDQWLDOMXVWLFHIRUGHIHQGDQWVEHFDXVHLWDOORZVDSODLQWLII WRWKHVHFRUUHFWLRQVRIILFLDOVjµSHUVRQDOLQYROYHPHQWLQWKLV WR EHODWHGO\ VDOYDJH DQ DPELJXRXV RU HYHQ QRQH[LVWHQW FRPSODLQWjDVVHUW>LQJ@WKDWWKH\NQHZRIDQGSDUWLFLSDWHGLQ DVVHUWLRQ RI FDSDFLW\ $ GHIHQGDQW WR KLV VXUSULVH PLJKW FHUWDLQHYHQWV>GLG@QRWFRQYHUWWK>H@ODZVXLWDJDLQVWWKH OHDUQIRUWKHILUVWWLPHLQDUHVSRQVHWRDVXPPDU\MXGJPHQW GHIHQGDQWVj RIILFHV WR RQH WKDW VXIILFLHQWO\ DOHUWV WKHVH PRWLRQWKDWKHPD\EHSHUVRQDOO\OLDEOHIRUPRQH\GDPDJHV RIILFLDOV WKDW WKH\ PD\ EH SHUVRQDOO\ DFFRXQWDEOH IRU DQ\ &I$EGXU5DKPDQ)GDW 6XFKDUHVXOWLVFRVWO\ GDPDJHVOLDELOLW\WKDWPD\IORZIURPSODLQWLIIVjGXHSURFHVV DQGLQHIILFLHQWEHFDXVHWKHGHIHQGDQWZRXOGKDYHWRFRQGXFW FODLPl,GDW %HFDXVHWKHSODLQWLIIVjFRPSODLQWGLGQRW DGGLWLRQDOGLVFRYHU\DQGPRWLRQSUDFWLFHDQGUHYLVHKLVWULDO PHHW WKH 1L[ WHVW RI FOHDUO\ SOHDGLQJ WKDW GHIHQGDQWV ZHUH SUHSDUDWLRQDQGVWUDWHJ\$OORIWKLVFDQEHDYRLGHGKRZHYHU EHLQJ VXHG LQ WKHLU LQGLYLGXDO FDSDFLW\ IRU GDPDJHV ZH LIWKHSODLQWLIIIROORZVWKHUXOHVDQGSOHDGVFDSDFLW\SURSHUO\ DIILUPHGWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWjVJUDQWRIVXPPDU\MXGJPHQWDQG LQ WKH FRPSODLQW 7KH GHIHQGDQW FDQ WKHQ UDLVH WKH GLVPLVVHGWKHDSSHDOIRUODFNRIVXEMHFWPDWWHUMXULVGLFWLRQ DIILUPDWLYH GHIHQVH RI TXDOLILHG LPPXQLW\ LQ KLV YHU\ ILUVW ,GDW SOHDGLQJ EH LW DQ DQVZHU RU PRWLRQ WR GLVPLVV DQG WKHQ FRQGXFWGLVFRYHU\DQGPRWLRQSUDFWLFHLIQHFHVVDU\sXGLFLDO &RQWUDU\WRWKHPDMRULW\jVFKDUDFWHUL]DWLRQRIRXUFDVHODZ UHVRXUFHVZRXOGDOVREHFRQVHUYHG ZHKDYHQRWDSSOLHGDmFRXUVHRISURFHHGLQJVlWHVWEXWLQVWHDG KDYH VWULFWO\ IROORZHG :HOOVjV UHTXLUHPHQW WKDW 7KH:HOOVUXOHDVLWKDVEHHQFRQVLVWHQWO\DSSOLHGLQWKLV SODLQWLIIV FOHDUO\ SOHDG mLQGLYLGXDO FDSDFLW\l LQ WKH &LUFXLWWRUHTXLUHFOHDUQRWLFHRILQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLW\LQWKH FRPSODLQW ,Q WKH ILUVW SXEOLVKHG FDVH WR DSSO\ :HOOV SOHDGLQJV SURPRWHV IXQGDPHQWDO MXULVGLFWLRQDO DQG MXULVSUXGHQWLDOGRFWULQHV7KHFRXUVHRISURFHHGLQJVWHVWGRHV QRW )RU WKLV UHDVRQ , VXEPLW WKDW WKH UXOH FUDIWHG E\ WKH PDMRULW\LVLOODGYLVHG QDWXUH RI WKH FODLP DVVHUWHG $00 &ODUN Y 1DWLRQDO 7UDYHOHUV /LIH ,QV &R )G WK &LU
,,, :HOOV )G DW
7KH&RPSODLQWIDLOVWRDOOHJHSHUVRQDOFDSDFLW\XQGHU:HOOV ,Q VXSSRUW RI LWV DVVHUWLRQ WKDW ZH KDYH QHYHU UHDG :HOOV WR HVWDEOLVK D SHU VH UXOH UHTXLULQJ SODLQWLII WR DIILUPDWLYH SOHDG mLQGLYLGXDO DQGSURJHQ\EHFDXVHLWGRHVQRWFOHDUO\SOHDGLW,QGHHGLW FDSDFLW\l LQ WKH FRPSODLQW WKH PDMRULW\ FLWHV %URRNV Y $PHULFDQ GRHVQRWXVHWKHWHUPmFDSDFLW\lDWDOO+RZHYHUHYHQXQGHU %URDGFDVWLQJ &RV )G WK &LU DV UHDIILUPLQJ WKDW m>D@OO D > @ FRPSODLQW QHHG GR LV DIIRUG WKH GHIHQGDQW µIDLU QRWLFH RI ZKDW WKH FODLP LV DQG WKH JURXQGV XSRQ ZKLFK LW UHVWVjl ,G DW TXRWLQJ sRQHV Y 'XQFDQ )G WK &LU HPSKDVLV DGGHG %URRNV GRHV QRW FLWH HLWKHU :HOOV RU :KLWWLQJWRQ 3HUKDSV WKDW LV EHFDXVH UHODWH EDFN ZKHQ WKH DPHQGPHQW LV RQH WKDW FKDQJHV D SDUW\ WKH LQWHQGHG FDSDFLW\ ZDV QRW DW LVVXH LQ %URRNV 5DWKHU WKH LVVXH LQ %URRNV ZDV WKH SDUW\ GLG QRW UHFHLYH QRWLFH ZLWKLQ WKH SHULRG IRU VHUYLFH RI SURFHVV XQGHU OHJDO EDVLV IRU KLV DQG FODLPV :H FRQFOXGHG RQ ERWK 5XOH P LH GD\V WKHUH LV SUHMXGLFH WR WKH SDUW\ WR EH EURXJKW LQ FRXQWV WKDW WKH SODLQWLIIjV DOOHJDWLRQV ZHUH WRR YDJXH DQG FRQFOXVRU\ WR DQG WKH LQWHQGHG SDUW\ GLG QRW NQRZ RU KDYH UHDVRQ WR NQRZ WKDW EXW IRU ZLWKVWDQG D PRWLRQ WR GLVPLVV ,G DW 6LPLODUO\ LQ 'XQFDQ DW D PLVWDNH WKH DFWLRQ ZRXOG KDYH EHHQ EURXJKW DJDLQVW KLP )HG 5 &LY LVVXH ZDV mWKH VXIILFLHQF\ RI WKH DOOHJDWLRQV LQ D FRPSODLQW IRU DQ DFWLRQ 3 F XQGHU VHFWLRQ l 'XQFDQ )G DW 0RUH VSHFLILFDOO\ WKH , QHHG QRW LOOXVWUDWH WKH SRLQW WKURXJK HYHU\ UXOH EXW LW LV DSSDUHQW LVVXH ZDV ZKHWKHU WKH SODLQWLII DGHTXDWHO\ DOOHJHG WKDW WKH GHIHQGDQWVj WKDW WKH )HGHUDO 5XOHV RI &LYLO 3URFHGXUH EDODQFH WKH FRPSHWLQJ LQWHUHVWV DFWLRQV ZHUH WDNHQ mXQGHU FRORU RI ODZl DV UHTXLUHG WR VWDWH D FODLP XQGHU RI SODLQWLIIV DQG GHIHQGDQWV E\ VHWWLQJ XS DQ RUGHUO\ DQG ILQLWH SURFHGXUH $JDLQ FDSDFLW\ ZDV QRW DQ LVVXH 7KXV WKH PDMRULW\jV UHOLDQFH IURP FRPSODLQW WR MXGJPHQW RQ WKHVH WZR FDVHV LV QRW RQO\ LQDSSURSULDWH LW LV GLVLQJHQXRXV JLYHQ WKDW 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO 1R 1R 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO
:KLWWLQJWRQ Y 0LOE\ )G WK &LU SHU FRYHUWKHOHJDOIHHVRUMXGJPHQWVRIWKHLUHPSOR\HHVIRUDFWV FXULDP ZH DIILUPHG WKH GLVWULFW FRXUWjV GLVPLVVDO RI WKH SHUIRUPHGLQWKHLULQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLWLHV6XFKODZVXLWVQRW FODLP DJDLQVW D FRXQW\ DWWRUQH\ D ZDUQLQJ RIILFHU RQO\ DIIHFW WKHVH GHIHQGDQWVj ILQDQFLDO UHVRXUFHV EXW DOVR DWWRUQH\DQGMXGJHVWDWLQJWKDWm>X@QGHU:HOOVY%URZQ KDYHDJUHDWLPSDFWRQWKHLUHPRWLRQVDQGWKHLUUHSXWDWLRQV )G WK&LU DEVHQWDQ\LQGLFDWLRQWKDW ERWKSURIHVVLRQDODQGSHUVRQDO,ILQGLWVWUDQJHWKDWZHDVN WKHVHGHIHQGDQWVDUHEHLQJVXHGLQGLYLGXDOO\ZHPXVWDVVXPH DOOWKLVRISHRSOHZKRDJUHHWRSHUIRUPSXEOLFVHUYLFHEXW WKDWWKH\DUHEHLQJVXHGLQWKHLURIILFLDOFDSDFLWLHVoFRXQW\ WKHQZHIDLOWRSURYLGHWKHPWKHFRXUWHV\RIHDUO\QRWLFHWKDW DWWRUQH\ ZDUQLQJ RIILFHU DWWRUQH\ DQG MXGJH UHVSHFWLYHO\ WKH\ PD\ EH LQGLYLGXDOO\ OLDEOH IRU DFWV DULVLQJ RXW RI WKDW %HFDXVH0U:KLWWLQJWRQLVVHHNLQJPRQHWDU\UHOLHIRQO\KLV VHUYLFH FODLP DJDLQVW WKHVH RIILFLDOV FDQQRW EH VXVWDLQHGl :KLWWLQJWRQ )GDW ,Q:KLWWLQJWRQRQO\WKHQRWLFH 7KHPDMRULW\jVDSSURDFKLVDOVRLQFRQVLVWHQWZLWKWKHWHQRU UDWLRQDOH RI :HOOV ZDV LPSOLFDWHG EHFDXVH WKH VXLW ZDV RIWKH)HGHUDO5XOHVRI&LYLO3URFHGXUH7KHIXQGDPHQWDO DJDLQVWORFDORIILFLDOV7KXVLQ:KLWWLQJWRQZHLPSOLFLWO\ SXUSRVH RI WKH 5XOHV LV mWR VHFXUH WKH MXVW VSHHG\ DQG UHFRJQL]HGWKHQRWLFHUDWLRQDOHDVDQLQGHSHQGHQWEDVLVIRU LQH[SHQVLYHGHWHUPLQDWLRQRIHYHU\DFWLRQl)HG5&LY3 UHTXLULQJWKDWLQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLW\EHSOHDGHGLQWKHFRPSODLQW VHHDOVR&HORWH[&RUSY&DWUHWW86 QRWLQJWKDW5XOHRIWKH)HGHUDO5XOHVRI&LYLO3URFHGXUH LV LQ DFFRUG ZLWK WKH SULPDU\ SXUSRVH RI )HGHUDO 5XOHV DV VWDWHGLQ)HG5&LY3 m7KHDSSOLFDWLRQRIRUGHUO\UXOHV RI SURFHGXUH GRHV QRW UHTXLUH WKH VDFULILFH RI IXQGDPHQWDO MXVWLFH EXW UDWKHU WKH 5XOHV PXVW EH FRQVWUXHG WR SURPRWH MXVWLFHIRUERWKSDUWLHVQRWWRGHIHDWLW7KLVPDQGDWHLVPHW LIVXEVWDQWLDOMXVWLFHLVDFFRPSOLVKHGEHWZHHQWKHSDUWLHVl s$0(6:00225((7$/0225(j6)('(5$/ 35$&7,&(>@>D@ GHG
7KH FRQFHSW RI VXEVWDQWLDO MXVWLFH IRU ERWK SDUWLHV WKURXJK WKH RUGHUO\ DSSOLFDWLRQ RI UXOHV RI SURFHGXUH SHUPHDWHV WKH 5XOHV )RU H[DPSOH WKH 5XOHV SURYLGH WKDW LI VHUYLFH LV QRW PDGH XSRQ D GHIHQGDQW ZLWKLQ GD\V DIWHU WKH FRPSODLQW LI ILOHG WKH FRXUW VKDOO GLVPLVV WKH DFWLRQ ZLWKRXW SUHMXGLFH XQOHVV WKH SODLQWLII VKRZV JRRG FDXVH 5XOH IXUWKHU DOORZV DPHQGPHQWV WR VXPPRQV )HG 5 &LY 3 D 7KLV HQVXUHV GHIHQGDQWV DUH WLPHO\ QRWLILHG RI VXLWV DJDLQVW WKHP EXW HQVXUHV DQ RSSRUWXQLW\ IRU SODLQWLIIV WR FRUUHFW RYHUVLJKWV 5XOH DOVR RIIHUV RSSRUWXQLWLHV IRU SDUWLHV WR VDYH FRVWV RQ FRRSHUDWLRQ UHJDUGLQJ ZDLYHU RI VHUYLFH )HG 5 &LY 3 G $ GHIHQGDQW KDV WZHQW\ GD\V XSRQ UHFHLSW RI WKH VXPPRQV DQG FRPSODLQW WR VHUYH DQ DQVZHU )HG 5 &LY 3 D EXW PD\ EH VXEMHFW WR GHIDXOW LI KH IDLOV WR DQVZHU RU RWKHUZLVH GHIHQG WKH DFWLRQ )HG 5 &LY 3 D $ GHIDXOWHG GHIHQGDQW KRZHYHU KDV WZR DYHQXHV RI UHFRXUVH XQGHU )HG 5 &LY 3 F DQG E 7KH 5XOHV DUH DOVR OLEHUDO LQ DOORZLQJ D SDUW\ WR DPHQG KLV SOHDGLQJ $00 )HG 5 &LY 3 D $W WKH VDPH WLPH KRZHYHU DQ DPHQGPHQW WKHUH LV DPSOH 6L[WK &LUFXLW DXWKRULW\ RQ WKH LVVXH RI SOHDGLQJ FDSDFLW\ HYHQ RQH WKDW SHUWDLQV WR WKH VDPH WUDQVDFWLRQ RU RFFXUUHQFH GRHV QRW 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO 1R 1R 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO
JRYHUQPHQW RIILFLDOV FDQ HQWDLO VXEVWDQWLDO VRFLDO FRVWV 1H[W LQ+DUGLQY6WUDXE )G WK&LU LQFOXGLQJWKHULVNWKDWIHDURISHUVRQDOPRQHWDU\OLDELOLW\DQG ZKLFKLQYROYHGDVWDWHSULVRQRIILFLDODVGHIHQGDQWZHQRWHG KDUDVVLQJ OLWLJDWLRQ ZLOO XQGXO\ LQKLELW RIILFLDOV LQ WKH GLVFKDUJHRIWKHLUGXWLHVl VHHDOVR:\DWWY&ROH86 QRWLQJ WKDW 6XSUHPH &RXUW KDV 5LWFKLH Y :LFNVWURP )G WK &LU ZDV DFWXDOO\ WKH FRQVLVWHQWO\UHFRJQL]HGTXDOLILHGLPPXQLW\IRUJRYHUQPHQW QH[W SXEOLVKHG GHFLVLRQ DSSO\LQJ :HOOV +RZHYHU WKH RSLQLRQ GRHV QRW RIILFLDOVmZKHUHLWZDVQHFHVVDU\WRSUHVHUYHWKHLUDELOLW\WR VKHG PXFK OLJKW RQ :HOOV :LWKRXW GLVFXVVLQJ WKH VSHFLILF ODQJXDJH RI WKH VHUYH WKHSXEOLFJRRGRUWRHQVXUHWKDWWDOHQWHGFDQGLGDWHV FRPSODLQW ZH KHOG WKDW ZHUHQRWGHWHUUHGE\WKHWKUHDWRIGDPDJHVVXLWVIURPHQWHULQJ :KHQ WKH IRUHJRLQJ LV XVHG DV WKH DQDO\WLFDO WRRO WR HYDOXDWH
SXEOLF VHUYLFHl OLVWLQJ FDVHV 8QGHU WKH FRXUVH RI SODLQWLIIjV FODLP LQ WKH FDVH DW EDU LW EHFRPHV LQVWDQWO\ FOHDU WKDW WKH VXLW DJDLQVW FRUUHFWLRQV RIILFHU :LFNVWURP LV DQ mLQGLYLGXDO SURFHHGLQJV DQDO\VLV WKH SURWHFWLRQV RI WKH TXDOLILHG FDSDFLW\l VXLW QRW VXEMHFW WR HOHYHQWK DPHQGPHQW SURWHFWLRQV
LPPXQLW\GRFWULQHDUHODUJHO\ORVW 6LPLODUO\ ZH EHOLHYH WKH VXLW DJDLQVW .RHKOHU LV DQ mLQGLYLGXDO FDSDFLW\l VXLW QRWZLWKVWDQGLQJ WKDW QR mKDQGV RQl PLVFRQGXFW 7KH PDMRULW\jV QHZ UXOH LQH[SOLFDEO\ WLSV WKH EDODQFH LQ LV FODLPHG IDYRURILQHSWSOHDGLQJDQGLPSURSHUO\SODFHVWKHEXUGHQRQ :H GR QRW ILQG WKLV KROGLQJ WR EH LQFRQVLVWHQW ZLWK
JRYHUQPHQWGHIHQGDQWVWRIHUUHWRXWZKHWKHUWKH\DUHEHLQJ :HOOV Y %URZQ )G WK &LU ZKHQ :HOOV LV UHDG DJDLQVW WKH FOHDU PDQGDWH RI WKH UHOHYDQW VXHGSHUVRQDOO\7KHSUDFWLFDOHIIHFWRIWKHPDMRULW\jVWHVWLV 6XSUHPH &RXUW GHFLVLRQV WKDW HYHU\ JRYHUQPHQW GHIHQGDQW ZKHQ IDFHG ZLWK DQ ,G DW
DPELJXRXV FRPSODLQW D FRPSODLQW WKDW LV VLOHQW RQ WKH $ IXOO UHDGLQJ RI 5LWFKLH UHYHDOV WKDW WKH IRFXV RI WKDW RSLQLRQ ZDV WR TXHVWLRQ RI FDSDFLW\ RU HYHQ D FRPSODLQW WKDW FOHDUO\ RQO\ FODULI\ WKH 6L[WK &LUFXLWjV LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI (OHYHQWK $PHQGPHQW
DOOHJHVDQRIILFLDOFDSDFLW\VXLWZLOOKDYHWRILOHDPRWLRQIRU LPPXQLW\ 3ULRU WR +DIHU WKLV &RXUW KDG LVVXHG DQ RSLQLRQ &RZDQ Y 8QLYHUVLW\ RI /RXLVYLOOH 6FKRRO RI 0HGLFLQH )G WK &LU DPRUHGHILQLWHVWDWHPHQWLQRUGHUWRHQVXUHWKDWWKH\DUHQRW LQ ZKLFK ZH GLVPLVVHG FODLPV DJDLQVW LQGLYLGXDO GHIHQGDQWV KROGLQJ WKDW EHLQJVXHGLQWKHLULQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLW\7KHSODLQWLIILVWKH WKH FODLP ZDV DQ mRIILFLDO FDSDFLW\l FODLP DQG WKXV ZDV UHDOO\ DQ DWWHPSW PDVWHURIKLVFRPSODLQWDQGLWLVQRWWRRPXFKWRDVNWKDWKH WR FROOHFW PRQH\ GDPDJHV DJDLQVW WKH XQLYHUVLW\ D VWDWH DJHQF\ ZLWK SOHDGKLVFODLPVSURSHUO\&I&DWHUSLOODU,QFY:LOOLDPV (OHYHQWK $PHQGPHQW LPPXQLW\ ,Q +DIHU WKH 6XSUHPH &RXUW
86 REVHUYLQJ mWKH SDUDPRXQW FKDUDFWHUL]HG &RZDQ DV HQGRUVLQJ WKH YLHZ WKDW VWDWH RIILFLDOV PD\ QRW EH KHOG OLDEOH LQ WKHLU SHUVRQDO FDSDFLW\ IRU DFWLRQV WKH\ WDNH LQ WKHLU RIILFLDO SROLFLHVHPERGLHGLQWKHZHOOSOHDGHGFRPSODLQWUXOHWKDWWKH FDSDFLW\ 6HH +DIHU 86 DW SODLQWLIILVWKHPDVWHURIWKHFRPSODLQWWKDWDIHGHUDOTXHVWLRQ ,Q 5LWFKLH sXGJH *X\ ZKR ZDV DOVR WKH DXWKRU RI &RZDQ FODULILHG PXVWDSSHDURQWKHIDFHRIWKHFRPSODLQWDQGWKDWWKHSODLQWLII WKDW WKLV ZDV QRW ZKDW &RZDQ KHOG PD\E\HVFKHZLQJFODLPVEDVHGRQIHGHUDOODZFKRRVHWR 7KH GHFLVLRQ LQ &RZDQ RI ZKLFK , ZDV WKH DXWKRU LV EHLQJ KDYHWKHFDXVHKHDUGLQVWDWHFRXUWl 1RUVKRXOGZHDOORZ PLVLQWHUSUHWHG E\ WKH GHIHQGDQWV &RZDQ GRHV QRW VWDQG IRU WKH SURSRVLWLRQ WKDW HYHU\ WLPH D VWDWH RIILFLDO LV FKDUJHG ZLWK OD[SODLQWLIIVWRSXWFRXUWVLQWKHSRVLWLRQRIGLYLQLQJZKHWKHU PLVFRQGXFW ZKLOH DFWLQJ ZLWKLQ WKH JHQHUDO DPELW RI KLV MRE WLWOH DGHIHQGDQWVKRXOGKDYHXQGHUVWRRGWKDWKHZDVEHLQJVXHGLQ HOHYHQWK DPHQGPHQW LPPXQLW\ FRPHV LQWR SOD\ $OO WKDW ZDV KLVSHUVRQDOFDSDFLW\$VZHVWDWHGLQ:HOOVmWKHWULDODQG LQWHQGHG LQ &RZDQ ZDV WR LQGLFDWH WKDW LQ WKDW FDVH WKH WZR DSSHOODWHFRXUWVVKRXOGQRWKDYHWRJXHVVDWWKHQDWXUHRIWKH LQGLYLGXDO GHIHQGDQWV ZHUH PHUHO\ FDUU\LQJ RXW VWDWH SROLF\ DQG FODLPDVVHUWHGl:HOOV )GDW DV VXFK WKH VXLW ZDV QR GLIIHUHQW WKDQ LI LW ZDV EURXJKW VROHO\ DJDLQVW WKH VWDWH 5LWFKLH )G DW $V ZH REVHUYHG LQ +DUGLQ m5LWFKLH :HDVDQDWLRQHQFRXUDJHSXEOLFVHUYLFH+RZHYHUSXEOLF GHPRQVWUDWHV WKDW WKH ODZ RI WKLV FLUFXLW ZDV FRQVLVWHQW ZLWK WKH VHUYLFHRIWHQPHDQVORZHUSD\WKDQDSRVLWLRQLQWKHSULYDWH LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI (OHYHQWK $PHQGPHQW LPPXQLW\ DGRSWHG E\ WKLV &RXUW LQ VHFWRU )XUWKHUPRUH PDQ\ JRYHUQPHQW DJHQFLHV GR QRW +DIHUl +DUGLQ )G DW Q ,Q VKRUW 5LWFKLH LV QRW SDUWLFXODUO\ UHOHYDQW LQ WKLV FDVH 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO 1R 1R 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO
WKDW :HOOV UHTXLUHV SODLQWLIIV WR mVHW IRUWK FOHDUO\ LQ WKHLU SURWHFWLRQVRIWKHGRFWULQHZKLFKSURYLGHVDQLPPXQLW\QRW SOHDGLQJ WKDW WKH\ DUH VXLQJ WKH VWDWH GHIHQGDQWV LQ WKHLU RQO\ IURP OLDELOLW\ EXW IURP VXLW 6HH +DUORZ VXSUD LQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLW\IRUGDPDJHVQRWVLPSO\LQWKHLUFDSDFLW\ 0LWFKHOOY)RUV\WK86 TXDOLILHGLPPXQLW\ DVVWDWHRIILFLDOVl,GDW TXRWLQJ:HOOV )GDW SURYLGHV QRW PHUHO\ LPPXQLW\ IURP OLDELOLW\ EXW DQ 7KH+DUGLQFRXUWIRXQGWKDWWKHSODLQWLIILQWKDWFDVH mLPPXQLW\IURPVXLWl (QJOLVK)GDW 7KLVLQ KDGVDWLVILHGWKH:HOOVUHTXLUHPHQWVLQFHWKHFRPSODLQWVWDWHG WXUQGHIHDWVWKHORQJVWDQGLQJSXEOLFSROLF\RIHQFRXUDJLQJ WKDW mµ'HIHQGDQW 6WUDXE LV EHLQJ VXHG LQ KLV LQGLYLGXDO SXEOLF VHUYLFH E\ SURWHFWLQJ JRYHUQPHQW RIILFLDOV IURP FDSDFLW\RQWKHSODLQWLIIjVFODLPIRUGDPDJHVDQGERWKLQKLV IULYRORXV EXW QRQHWKHOHVV GHELOLWDWLQJ OLWLJDWLRQ 6HH HJ LQGLYLGXDODQGRIILFLDOFDSDFLW\RQWKH SODLQWLIIjVFODLPIRU +DUORZ 86 DW REVHUYLQJ WKDW VXEVWDQWLDO FRVWV LQMXQFWLYHUHOLHIjl,GDW TXRWLQJFRPSODLQW DWWHQG WKH OLWLJDWLRQ DJDLQVW SXEOLF RIILFLDOV LQFOXGLQJ mWKH JHQHUDO FRVWV RI VXEMHFWLQJ RIILFLDOV WR WKH ULVNV RI WULDO ,Q/RYHODFHY2j+DUD )G WK&LU WKH GLVWUDFWLRQ RI RIILFLDOV IURP WKHLU JRYHUQPHQWDO GXWLHV SODLQWLII VXHG D FRXQW\ SROLFH RIILFHU XQGHU IRU LQKLELWLRQ RI GLVFUHWLRQDU\ DFWLRQ DQG GHWHUUHQFH RI DEOH GDPDJHVEXWFOHDUO\VHWIRUWKLQKHUFRPSODLQWWKDWKHZDV SHRSOH IURP SXEOLF VHUYLFHl 0LWFKHOO 86 DW EHLQJVXHGmQRWDVDQLQGLYLGXDOEXWUDWKHUXQGHUWKHFRORU VDPH TXRWLQJ +DUORZ $QGHUVRQ Y &UHLJKWRQ 86 DQGSUHWHQVHRIWKHWLWOHRIKLVRIILFH XQGHUWKHDXWKRULW\RI mSHUPLWWLQJ GDPDJH VXLWV DJDLQVW KLVRIILFHDVDSROLFHRIILFHU FOHDUO\ZLWKLQWKHH[SUHVVHGDQG LPSOLHG SRZHUV RI KLV RIILFLDO FDSDFLW\l ,G DW 7KH GLVWULFW FRXUW WKHUHIRUH WUHDWHG WKH FRPSODLQW DV DJDLQVW 2j+DUDLQKLVRIILFLDOFDSDFLW\ RQO\ DQGJUDQWHGVXPPDU\ DVVHUW WKH GHIHQVH SULRU WR GLVFRYHU\ PD\ ZDLYH WKH ULJKW WR DYRLG MXGJPHQW 7KH GLVWULFW FRXUW ODWHU DOORZHG WKH SODLQWLII WR GLVFRYHU\ EXW PD\ QRQHWKHOHVV UDLVH WKH LVVXH DIWHU GLVFRYHU\ RQ
DPHQG WKH FRPSODLQW WR QDPH WKH RIILFHU LQ KLV LQGLYLGXDO VXPPDU\ MXGJPHQW RU DW WULDO
FDSDFLW\KRZHYHUGHVSLWHWKHIDFWWKDWWKHRQH\HDUVWDWXWHRI (QJOLVK )G DW FLWDWLRQV TXRWDWLRQV DQG IRRWQRWH RPLWWHG OLPLWDWLRQVKDGUXQ,G7KHFRXUWJUDQWHGVXPPDU\MXGJPHQW WRWKHSROLFHRIILFHURQTXDOLILHGLPPXQLW\JURXQGV,G2Q ,Q +DUORZ WKH 6XSUHPH &RXUW DOWHUHG WKH VWDQGDUG RI TXDOLILHG DSSHDO WKLV &RXUW IRXQG WKDW WKH GLVWULFW FRXUW HUUHG LQ LPPXQLW\ E\ GHILQLQJ LPPXQLW\ LQ ZKROO\ REMHFWLYH WHUPV XQOLNH HDUOLHU DOORZLQJWKHDPHQGPHQW,GDW FDVHV ZKLFK XVHG D VXEMHFWLYH JRRGIDLWK GHIHQVH EHFDXVH WKH VXEMHFWLYH WHVW mIUHTXHQWO\ >KDG@ SURYHG LQFRPSDWLEOH ZLWK RXU DGPRQLWLRQ WKDW ,QYRNLQJ:HOOVZHUHPDUNHG LQVXEVWDQWLDO FODLPV VKRXOG QRW SURFHHG WR WULDOl +DUORZ 86 DW 7KXV +DUORZ KHOG WKDW JRYHUQPHQW RIILFLDOV SHUIRUPLQJ
7KLV FRXUW KDV UHFRJQL]HG WKH LPSRUWDQFH RI JLYLQJ GLVFUHWLRQDU\ IXQFWLRQV mDUH VKLHOGHG IURP OLDELOLW\ IRU FLYLO GDPDJHV LQVRIDU DV WKHLU FRQGXFW >GLG@ QRW YLRODWH FOHDUO\ HVWDEOLVKHG VWDWXWRU\ RU GHIHQGDQWVQRWLFHRIWKHFDSDFLW\LQZKLFKWKH\DUHEHLQJ FRQVWLWXWLRQDO ULJKWV RI ZKLFK D UHDVRQDEOH SHUVRQ ZRXOG KDYH NQRZQl VXHG,Q:HOOVY%URZQ )G WK&LU ,G DW 7KH &RXUW FRQFOXGHG WKDW WKLV REMHFWLYH VWDQGDUG ZRXOG mDYRLG
WKLVFRXUWVWDWHG H[FHVVLYH GLVUXSWLRQ RI JRYHUQPHQW DQG SHUPLW WKH UHVROXWLRQ RI PDQ\ >7@KHIDFHRIDFRPSODLQWPXVWLQGLFDWHZKHWKHUD LQVXEVWDQWLDO FODLPV RQ VXPPDU\ MXGJPHQWl ,G
SODLQWLIIVHHNVWRUHFRYHUGDPDJHVIURPGHIHQGDQWV GLUHFWO\ RU WR KROG WKH VWDWH UHVSRQVLEOH IRU WKH ,W LV IRU WKLV UHDVRQ WKDW GHQLDOV RI TXDOLILHG LPPXQLW\ DUH
FRQGXFW RI LWV HPSOR\HHV $OWKRXJK PRGHUQ LPPHGLDWHO\ DSSHDODEOH EHFDXVH DQ HUURU EHORZ FDQQRW EH UHPHGLHG SRVW MXGJPHQW RQ DSSHDO 6HH 0LWFKHOO Y )RUV\WK 86 SOHDGLQJLVOHVVULJLGWKDQLQDQHDUOLHUGD\ZHKDYH m7KH HQWLWOHPHQW LV DQ LPPXQLW\ IURP VXLW UDWKHU WKDQ D PHUH GHIHQVH WR QRWOHWGRZQDOOSOHDGLQJEDUULHUV,WLVQRWWRRPXFK OLDELOLW\ DQG OLNH DQ DEVROXWH LPPXQLW\ LW LV HIIHFWLYHO\ ORVW LI D FDVH LV HUURQHRXVO\ SHUPLWWHG WR JR WR WULDOl 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO 1R 1R 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO
MXULVGLFWLRQ WKH\ H[HUFLVH RQO\ WKDW DXWKRULW\ FRQIHUUHG RQ WRDVNWKDWLIDSHUVRQRUHQWLW\LVWREHVXEMHFWWR WKHP E\ $UWLFOH ,,, DQG FRQJUHVVLRQDO HQDFWPHQWV SXUVXDQW VXLWWKHSHUVRQRUHQWLW\VKRXOGEHSURSHUO\QDPHG WKHUHWR DQGFOHDUO\QRWLILHGRIWKHSRWHQWLDOIRUSD\PHQWRI GDPDJHVLQGLYLGXDOO\ 6LPLODUO\WKHQRWLFHUDWLRQDOHVHUYHVWRDOHUWGHIHQGDQWVDW ,GDW FLWDWLRQVRPLWWHG WKHODZVXLWjVLQFHSWLRQZKHWKHUWKH\ZLOOEHSHUVRQDOO\OLDEOH IRUGDPDJHV:LWKRXWVXFKWLPHO\QRWLFHGHIHQGDQWVPLJKW ,G DW :H IRXQG WKDW WKH RULJLQDO FRPSODLQW mFOHDUO\ UHO\RQWKHLUJRYHUQPHQWDOHPSOR\HUIDLOWRDQVZHUDQGEH IDLO>HG@ WR FRPSRUW ZLWK WKH UHTXLUHPHQW RI :HOOV WKDW D VXEMHFW WR GHIDXOW MXGJPHQW LQ WKHLU SHUVRQDO FDSDFLWLHV GHIHQGDQWEHµFOHDUO\QRWLILHGRIWKHSRWHQWLDOIRUSD\PHQWRI )XUWKHUZLWKRXWHDUO\QRWLFHJRYHUQPHQWGHIHQGDQWVFDQQRW GDPDJHVLQGLYLGXDOO\jl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mDQDPHQGPHQWLQ UHJDUGLQJWKHLURZQGHIHQVH D GHIHQGDQWjV FDSDFLW\ LQ D ODZVXLW XQGHU 86& DOWHUVWKHHOHPHQWVRIUHFRYHU\DQGGHIHQVH :LWKRXWWKDWQRWLFHDJRYHUQPHQWGHIHQGDQWPD\DOVRIDLO >DQG@ UHTXLUH>V@ PDMRU FKDQJHV LQ SOHDGLQJ GLVFRYHU\ WRSOHDGWKHDIILUPDWLYHGHIHQVHRITXDOLILHGLPPXQLW\DQG WULDOSUHSDUDWLRQDQGVHOHFWLRQDQGORFDWLRQRIZLWQHVVHV WKHUHE\ ZDLYH WKH GHIHQVH 6HH +DUORZ 86 DW WRWHVWLI\DWWULDOl )G WK&LU TXDOLILHGLPPXQLW\LVDQDIILUPDWLYHGHIHQVHZKLFKPXVWEH &RIIH\sGLVVHQWLQJ $V2j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j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jV IDLOHG WR H[HUFLVH GXH GLOLJHQFH RU KDV DVVHUWHG WKH GHIHQVH IRU GLVPLVVDORIWKHSODLQWLIIjVPRWLRQWRDPHQGWRDGGD GLODWRU\ SXUSRVHV 6XFK D ZDLYHU KRZHYHU QHHG QRW ZDLYH WKH GHIHQVH IRU DOO SXUSRVHV EXW ZRXOG JHQHUDOO\ RQO\ ZDLYH WKH FODLP DJDLQVW LQWHU DOLD WKH QDPHG RIILFLDOV EHFDXVH DQ GHIHQVH IRU WKH VWDJH DW ZKLFK WKH GHIHQVH VKRXOG KDYH EHHQ DPHQGPHQWZRXOGEHIXWLOH DVVHUWHG 7KXV IRU H[DPSOH D GHIHQGDQW ZKR IDLOV WR WLPHO\ 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO 1R 1R 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO
7KLV &RXUW KDV KHOG WKDW VHFWLRQ SODLQWLIIV PXVW DW SODLQWLII IDLOHG WR FODULI\ FDSDFLW\ DIWHU PRUH WKDQ FOHDUO\VHWIRUWKLQWKHLUSOHDGLQJVWKDWWKH\DUHVXLQJWKH WKUHHPRQWKV RIILFLDOVLQWKHLULQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLWLHVIRUGDPDJHVQRW VLPSO\ LQ WKHLU FDSDFLWLHV DV VWDWH RIILFLDOV +DUGLQ Y :LWK RQH PLQRU H[FHSWLRQ WKH PDMRULW\j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j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sRQHV)G Q WK&LU DW WKH RXWVHWZKHWKHULWKDVMXULVGLFWLRQWRGHFLGHWKHFDVH QRWLQJWKDWGHVSLWHFODLPVZKLFKFRXOGEHFRQVWUXHGDV 6HHHJ8QLWHG6WDWHVY8QLWHG0LQH:RUNHUVRI$PHULFD DJDLQVWWKHRIILFHULQKLVLQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLW\WKHRIILFHUZDV 86 FRXUWV KDYH MXULVGLFWLRQ WR MRLQHGRQO\LQKLVRIILFLDOFDSDFLW\VRWKDW:HOOVZDVQRWPHW GHWHUPLQHWKHLURZQMXULVGLFWLRQ )LUHPDQjV)XQG,QV&RY FI6DQGHUIHUY1LFKROV)GQ WK&LU 5DLOZD\([SUHVV$JHQF\)G WK&LU DVVXPLQJFRXUWRUGHUHGVXEVWLWXWLRQRISDUW\LQKHULQGLYLGXDO 6SKHUH 'UDNH ,QV /WG Y $OO $PHULFDQ ,QV &R )G FDSDFLW\ JLYHQ :HOOV VWDQGDUG DQG LQ OLJKW RI WKH FRXUWjV WK &LU sXO\ <HW WKH PDMRULW\ UXOH VLPXOWDQHRXVUXOLQJV UHYHUVLQJGHQLDORIGHIHQGDQWjVPRWLRQ SRWHQWLDOO\DOORZVDFRXUWWRH[HUFLVHMXULVGLFWLRQWKDWLWPD\ IRUVXPPDU\MXGJPHQW QRWUHDOO\KDYHGXULQJWKHSURWUDFWHGmFRXUVHRISURFHHGLQJVl ,Q VKRUW WKH FRXUVH RI SURFHHGLQJV WHVW DGYDQFHG E\ WKH ,Q VKRUW RXU SXEOLVKHG GHFLVLRQV ZLWK WZR H[FHSWLRQV PDMRULW\ LV LQ WHQVLRQ ZLWK WKH FRQFHSW RI OLPLWHG IHGHUDO ZKLFK,ZLOOGLVFXVVPRPHQWDULO\ LOOXVWUDWHWKDWWKH:HOOVUXOH MXULVGLFWLRQ6HH%HQGHUY:LOOLDPVSRUW$UHD6FK'LVW 86 IHGHUDO FRXUWV DUH FRXUWV RI OLPLWHG 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO 1R 1R 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO
,QKLVFRPSODLQW5DKPDQGLGQRWVWDWHLQZKDWFDSDFLW\ UHTXLULQJWKHSODLQWLIIWRFOHDUO\SOHDGLQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLW\LQ KHVXHG0F*LQQLV+RZHYHULQKLVUHSO\WR0F*LQQLVjV WKHSOHDGLQJVKDVEHHQVWULFWO\DQGFRQVLVWHQWO\IROORZHG PRWLRQIRUVXPPDU\MXGJPHQW5DKPDQPDNHVFOHDUWKDW KH LQWHQGHG WR VXH 0F*LQQLV LQ KLV LQGLYLGXDO DQG 2XUXQSXEOLVKHGGHFLVLRQVOLNHZLVHGHPRQVWUDWHWKDWIRU RIILFLDOFDSDFLWLHV8QGHU3HOIUH\Y&KDPEHUV)G RYHUDGHFDGHZHKDYHVWULFWO\DSSOLHGWKH:HOOVVWDQGDUGWR WK&LU FHUWGHQLHG6&W UHTXLUHWKDWWKHSODLQWLIIDIILUPDWLYHO\SOHDGFDSDFLW\LQWKH 5DKPDQjV UHVSRQVH WR 0F*LQQLVjV PRWLRQ IRU FRPSODLQW DV D SUHGLFDWH WR PRQHWDU\ UHOLHI 6HH HJ VXPPDU\MXGJPHQWLVVXIILFLHQWQRWLFHWR0F*LQQLVWKDW &KHQDXOWY7HQQ'HSjWRI0HQWDO+HDOWK)G KHLVEHLQJVXHGLQKLVLQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLW\ 86$SS/(;,6 DW WK&LU RUGHU EHFDXVHFRPSODLQWGLGQRWLQGLFDWHWKDWWKHGHIHQGDQWVZHUH ,G EHLQJVXHGSHUVRQDOO\FRXUWDVVXPHGWKDWWKH\ZHUHVXHGLQ WKHLU RIILFLDO FDSDFLW\ DV VWDWH HPSOR\HHV FLWLQJ :HOOV $EGXU5DKPDQ FDQQRW EH UHFRQFLOHG ZLWK :HOOV ,W LV SHWLWLRQIRUFHUWILOHG 86/: sXQH 1R XQGLVSXWHGWKDWWKHFRPSODLQWGLGQRWLQGLFDWHFDSDFLW\7KXV sDVPDQ Y 6FKPLGW )G :/ XQGHU:HOOVE\RSHUDWLRQRIODZWKHGHIHQGDQWZDVVXHGLQ DW WK &LU DIILUPLQJ GLVWULFW FRXUWjV KLVRIILFLDOFDSDFLW\RQO\)XUWKHUWKHGHIHQGDQWLQ$EGXU KROGLQJ WKDW GHIHQGDQWV ZHUH LPPXQH IURP PRQHWDU\ 5DKPDQGLGQRWUHFHLYHQRWLFHWKDWKHZDVEHLQJVXHGLQKLV GDPDJHVEHFDXVHWKHSODLQWLIIIDLOHGWRDOOHJHFDSDFLW\ FLWLQJ LQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLW\XQWLOWKHSODLQWLIIILOHGKLVUHVSRQVHWRWKH :HOOV /LOOLHY(JHOKRII)G:/ GHIHQGDQWj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sRQHVY3RUWHU)G :/ DW WK &LU RUGHU ,QVXPDSDUWIURP3HOIUH\DQG$EGXU5DKPDQZHKDYH KROGLQJWKDWGLVWULFWFRXUWGLGQRWHUUE\IDLOLQJWRFRQVWUXH VWULFWO\DSSOLHGWKH:HOOVVWDQGDUG0RUHRYHUWKHGHDUWKRI WKHFRPSODLQWDVDOOHJLQJDQDEXVHRISURFHVVFODLP FLWLQJ UHIHUHQFHWR3HOIUH\LQRXUSUHFHGHQWLOOXVWUDWHVWKDWZHKDYH :HOOV 0DUFHDX[ Y 5DPVH\ )G :/ FRQVWUXHG WKDW FDVH QDUURZO\ DQG NHSW LW FRQVWUDLQHG WR LWV DW WK&LU KROGLQJWKDWGHIHQGDQWVZHUH SHFXOLDUIDFWV,QGHHGWKHIHZUHIHUHQFHVWR3HOIUH\LQRXU VXHGLQWKHLURIILFLDOFDSDFLWLHVEHFDXVHFRPSODLQWIDLOHGWR XQSXEOLVKHG FDVHV GHPRQVWUDWH WKDW ZH JHQHUDOO\ YLHZ WKH VSHFLI\FDSDFLW\ FLWLQJ:HOOV $YHU\Y1LFRO)G FDVH DV UHTXLULQJ DIILUPDWLYH FRQGXFW RQ WKH SDUW RI WKH :/ DW WK &LU KROGLQJ WKDW VXLW SODLQWLIIWRFODULI\WKHQDWXUHRIKLVVXLWLQDWLPHO\PDQQHU VHHNLQJ PRQH\ GDPDJHV FRXOG SURFHHG DJDLQVW GHIHQGDQWV 6HH HJ &XPPLQJV :/ DW SODLQWLII EHFDXVHFRPSODLQWDOOHJHGWKDWGHIHQGDQWVZHUHVXHGLQWKHLU QHYHUDFWHGWRFODULI\FDSDFLW\ +DUYHVW :/ LQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLW\ FLWLQJ:HOOV 9DQ0DUWLQY1HZNLUN 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO 1R 1R 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO
)G :/ DW WK &LU SOHDGLQJ ZH EHOLHYH WKDW GHIHQGDQWV ZHUH JLYHQ VXIILFLHQW KROGLQJWKDWGLVWULFWFRXUWSURSHUO\GLVPLVVHGPRQH\GDPDJHV QRWLFHRIWKHIDFWWKDWWKH\ZHUHEHLQJVXHGLQWKHLULQGLYLGXDO VXLWEHFDXVHSODLQWLIIIDLOHGWRVSHFLI\FDSDFLW\LQZKLFKKH FDSDFLW\l,G HPSKDVLVDGGHG )XUWKHUPRUHEHFDXVHWKH ZDVVXLQJGHIHQGDQWV FLWLQJ:HOOV 6LOOHUY&UXLVH)G SODLQWLIIjV FDVH ZDV GLVPLVVHG DW DQ HDUO\ VWDJH LQ WKH :/ DW WK &LU DIILUPLQJ SURFHHGLQJVWKHIDLOXUHWRSOHDGFDSDFLW\FRXOGEHFXUHGE\DQ GLVPLVVDORIGDPDJHVDFWLRQEHFDXVHGHIHQGDQWVZHUHVXHG DPHQGPHQWWRWKHFRPSODLQWXQGHU)HG5&LY3 D ,G RQO\ LQ WKHLU RIILFLDO FDSDFLW\ DV VWDWH HPSOR\HHV FLWLQJ :HOOV 6KDZY0LFKLJDQ)G :/ 7KH3HOIUH\FRXUWSUHPLVHGLWVUXOLQJRQWKHIDFWWKDWWKH DW WK&LU VDPH $EGXU5HKHHP;Y0F*LQQLV GHIHQGDQWVUHFHLYHGmVXIILFLHQWl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oWRSURYLGHHDUO\QRWLFH EXWVXLWIRUPRQH\GDPDJHVFRXOGSURFHHGDJDLQVWGHIHQGDQWV WRGHIHQGDQWVRIWKHSRWHQWLDOIRULQGLYLGXDOOLDELOLW\ WRH[WHQWWKH\ZHUHVXHGLQWKHLULQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLWLHV FLWLQJ :HOOV *UDKDPY0HUFHU )G :/ 7KH 3HOIUH\ FRXUW QHYHU XVHG WKH WHUP mFRXUVH RI DW WK&LU RUGHU KROGLQJVWDWHGHIHQGDQWVZHUH SURFHHGLQJVlRUFLWHGWRDQ\RWKHU&LUFXLWWKDWKDGDGRSWHG QRWVXEMHFWWRVXLWIRUPRQHWDU\GDPDJHVEHFDXVHWKHSODLQWLII VXFKDUXOH5DWKHULWUHSUHVHQWVDQDUURZH[FHSWLRQWRWKH IDLOHG WR GHVLJQDWH FDSDFLW\ WKXV LW ZDV DVVXPHG WKDW WKH\ :HOOVUXOHOLPLWHGE\WKHSHFXOLDUIDFWVRIWKDWFDVH QDPHO\ ZHUHVXHGLQWKHLURIILFLDOFDSDFLW\ FLWLQJ:HOOV 1DSLHUY WKHSODLQWLIIjVFODULI\LQJPRWLRQILOHGRQO\RQHPRQWKDIWHU %DURQ )G :/ DW WK &LU WKHFRPSODLQW3HOIUH\FDQQRWEHUHDGDVDGRSWLQJDEURDG RUGHU VDPH FHUWGHQLHG86 6WLOO mFRXUVHRISURFHHGLQJVlWHVW Y:LONLQVRQ )G :/DW WK &LU RUGHU KROGLQJ:HOOVPHWLQWKHSODLQWLIIjVWKLUG 7KHRWKHUFDVHUHOLHGRQE\WKHPDMRULW\oLQGHHGWKHRQH FODLPEHFDXVHKHVSHFLILHGLQKLVSURVHFRPSODLQWWKDWKHZDV WKH PDMRULW\ GHHPV FRQWUROOLQJ o LV $EGXU5DKPDQ Y VXLQJ GHIHQGDQWV LQ WKHLU LQGLYLGXDO FDSDFLWLHV QRWLQJ DOVR 0LFKLJDQ'HSWRI&RUUHFWLRQV)G WK&LU WKDW WKH SODLQWLII DJDLQ H[SUHVVHG KLV LQWHQW WR VXH WKH RUGHU ,Q$EGXU5DKPDQ$EGXU5DKPDQDSURVHSULVRQHU GHIHQGDQWVLQWKHLULQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLWLHVLQKLVUHVSRQVHWRWKH VXHGWKH0LFKLJDQ'HSDUWPHQWRI&RUUHFWLRQVDQG.HQQHWK GHIHQGDQWVj PRWLRQ IRU VXPPDU\ MXGJPHQW FLWLQJ $EGXU 0F*LQQLVWKH'LUHFWRURIWKH'HSDUWPHQW7KHSODLQWLIIGLG 5DKPDQ 6FRWWY.LQNHOD )G :/ QRWLQGLFDWHWKHLQGLYLGXDOGHIHQGDQWjVFDSDFLW\,GDW DW WK&LU :HOOVQRWPHWEHFDXVHSODLQWLIIIDLOHGWR :LWKRXWUHIHUULQJWR:HOOVWKHFRXUWUXOHG SOHDG FDSDFLW\ &ROH Y 6PLWK )G :/ DW Q WK &LU SHU FXULDP VDPH QHYHUWKHOHVVDGGUHVVLQJERWKFDSDFLWLHVZKHUHQHLWKHUSDUWLHV QRU FRXUW DGGUHVVHG :HOOV DQG XSKROGLQJ GLVPLVVDO RI WKH &XULRXVO\ WKH 3HOIUH\ FRXUW GLG QRW GLVFXVV WKH (OHYHQWK DFWLRQ .QHFKWY&ROOLQV)G :/ $PHQGPHQW HYHQ WKRXJK WKH GHIHQGDQW RIILFHUV ZHUH VWDWH HPSOR\HHV
DW WK &LU SHU FXULDP :HOOV QRW PHW EHFDXVH 7KH RYHUVLJKW LV GLIILFXOW WR XQGHUVWDQG JLYHQ WKH MXULVGLFWLRQDO LPSOLFDWLRQV 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO 1R 1R 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO
FRQVLGHUHGE\SDQHOVLQGHWHUPLQLQJZKHWKHUDGHFLVLRQZLOO VHFRQG DPHQGHG FRPSODLQW GLG QRW QDPH GHIHQGDQW LQ KLV EHGHVLJQDWHGIRUSXEOLFDWLRQ LQFOXGLQJLQWHUDOLDmZKHWKHU LQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLW\ 'L[RQY1XVKROW])G LW HVWDEOLVKHV D QHZ UXOH RI ODZ RU DOWHUV RU PRGLILHV DQ :/DW WK&LU EHFDXVHWKHSODLQWLIIGLG H[LVWLQJUXOHRIODZRUDSSOLHVDQHVWDEOLVKHGUXOHWRDQRYHO QRWVSHFLI\WKHFDSDFLW\LQZKLFKKHVXHGWKHGHIHQGDQWLWZDV IDFWVLWXDWLRQl SUHVXPHG XQGHU :HOOV WKDW WKH GHIHQGDQW ZDV VXHG LQ KLV RIILFLDOFDSDFLW\ %XFNQHUY:RRGV)G :/ ,URQLFDOO\ WKH PDMRULW\ UHOLHV RQ WKH RQO\ WZR GHFLVLRQV DW WK&LU VDPH 3DUNVY&RQOH\ ZKLFKGHYLDWHIURPDVWUDLJKWIRUZDUGDSSOLFDWLRQRIWKH:HOOV )G :/ DW WK&LU VDPH UXOH,Q3HOIUH\Y&KDPEHUV)G WK&LU 0DUWLQY0LOOLRQ)G :/ DW WKHGHIHQGDQWVVWDWHFRUUHFWLRQVRIILFLDOVDUJXHGWKDW WK &LU FRPSODLQW QDPHG WKH GHIHQGDQWV LQ WKHLU WKHSODLQWLIIjV FRPSODLQWVKRXOGEHGLVPLVVHGXQGHU RIILFLDOFDSDFLWLHV DIILUPLQJ WKH GLVWULFWFRXUWjVVXDVSRQWH :HOOVEHFDXVHWKHSODLQWLIIjVFRPSODLQWGLGQRWVSHFLI\WKDWKH GLVPLVVDOIRUIDLOXUHWRVWDWHDFODLPEHFDXVHGHIHQGDQWSULVRQ ZDV VXLQJ WKH GHIHQGDQW FRUUHFWLRQDO RIILFHUV LQ WKHLU HPSOR\HHVDUHQRWmSHUVRQVl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s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m>E@DVHGRQWKLV 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO 1R 1R 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO
:DONHUY&KDWWDQRRJD3ROLFH'HSjW)G FRPSODLQW ZKLFK KDG DW OHDVW RQH FODLP PHUHO\ DOOHJLQJ :/DW WK&LU VDPH DIILUPLQJGLVWULFW LQGLYLGXDO FRQGXFW WKHQ ORRNLQJ WR VXEVHTXHQW FRQGXFW RI FRXUW MXGJPHQW GLVPLVVLQJ VXLW VHHNLQJ PRQHWDU\ UHOLHI SDUWLHVWRVXEVWDQWLDWHWKDWGHIHQGDQWVKDGQRWLFH +DUULVY QRWLQJWKDWWKHSODLQWLIIIDLOHGWRVSHFLI\FDSDFLW\DQGDEVHQW 0RUULV )G :/DW Q WK VXFKDVWDWHRIILFLDOZLOOEHFRQVWUXHGDVVXHGLQKLVRIILFLDO &LU SHUFXULDP QRWLQJWKDWWKHSODLQWLIIGLGQRWVWDWH FDSDFLW\ FLWLQJ :HOOV 0RUULV Y 0HWULVK )G LQ KLV FRPSODLQW WKDW KH ZDV VXLQJ DQ\ RI WKH LQGLYLGXDO :/DW WK&LU DIILUPLQJGLVPLVVDO GHIHQGDQWVLQWKHLURIILFLDOFDSDFLW\DQGDFNQRZOHGJLQJWKH RIFRPSODLQWVHHNLQJVROHO\PRQHWDU\GDPDJHVXQGHU FRPSODLQW ZDV QRW D mPRGHO RI FODULW\l EXW QRQHWKHOHVV EHFDXVH WKH SODLQWLII GLG QRW VSHFLI\ WKDW KH ZDV VXLQJ WKH KROGLQJWKDWLQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLW\ZDVSURSHUO\SOHGDVWRWKUHH GHIHQGDQWLQKHULQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLW\DQGWKDWXQGHU:HOOVLW GHIHQGDQWVEDVHGRQDOOHJDWLRQVLQERG\RIFRPSODLQWVWDWLQJ PXVW EH DVVXPHG WKDW WKH GHIHQGDQW ZDV VXHG LQ RIILFLDO LQWHUDOLDWKDWWKHGHIHQGDQWVZHUHDZDUHRIWKHSODLQWLIIjV FDSDFLW\RQO\ 7ZHHGY:LONLQVRQ)G FRPSODLQWV EXW IDLOHG WR LQYHVWLJDWH DQG WKDW HDFK RI WKH :/ DW WK &LU VDPH %URZQHU Y GHIHQGDQWVFRQWLQXDOO\SODFHGWKHSODLQWLIILQOLIHWKUHDWHQLQJ 0D\QDUG)G :/ DW WK&LU VLWXDWLRQV &DUU Y %ODQFKDUG )G :/ VDPH %URZQHU Y +LOO )G :/ DW WK&LU RUGHU YDFDWLQJGLVPLVVDORQ DW WK&LU RUGHU VDPH &XPPLQJVY JURXQGVRI:HOOVDQGUHPDQGLQJIRUUHFRQVLGHUDWLRQEHFDXVH :LONHUVRQ)G :/DW WK&LU WKHSODLQWLIIVRXJKWWRDPHQGKLVFRPSODLQWWRVXHGHIHQGDQWV 5\DQs KROGLQJWKDWWKHSODLQWLIIj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s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m3XEOLFDWLRQRI'HFLVLRQVloHVWDEOLVKLQJFULWHULDWREH 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO 1R 1R 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO
GDPDJHV FLWLQJ:LOO *UHHQY6PLWK )G WKHSODLQWLIIGLGQRWVSHFLI\FDSDFLW\LQZKLFKWKHGHIHQGDQWV :/ DW WK&LU RUGHU VDPH &DUWHUY ZHUHEHLQJVXHGDQGXQGHU:HOOVmZHUHJDUGWKHPDVKDYLQJ sRQHV )G :/ WK&LU RUGHU EHHQVXHGLQWKHLURIILFLDOFDSDFLWLHVl +DUYHVWY5DQGROI QRWLQJWKDWGLVPLVVDOZDVDSSURSULDWHEHFDXVHWKHFRPSODLQW )G :/DW WK&LU SHU FRPSOHWHO\ IDLOHG WR VHW IRUWK FOHDUO\ WKDW WKH SODLQWLII ZDV FXULDP KROGLQJ WKDW VWDWH GHIHQGDQW VKDUHG DEVROXWH VXLQJ WKH VWDWH GHIHQGDQWV LQ WKHLU LQGLYLGXDO FDSDFLW\ IRU (OHYHQWK $PHQGPHQW LPPXQLW\ ZLWK VWDWH GHSDUWPHQW RI GDPDJHV FLWLQJ:HOOV 3HUVRQY1RUULV )G WUDQVSRUWDWLRQEHFDXVHWKHFRPSODLQWGLGQRWVSHFLI\FDSDFLW\ :/DW WK&LU RUGHU VDPH +D\QLHY LQZKLFKKHZDVVXHGVWDWLQJWKDWm>X@QGHUWKHVHWWOHGODZRI 7HQQ6WDWH3HQLWHQWLDU\ +RVS )G 86 WKLV&LUFXLWZKHUHDFRPSODLQWVHHNLQJPRQHWDU\GDPDJHV $SS /(;,6 DW WK &LU RUGHU VDPH DJDLQVW D VWDWH RIILFLDO XQGHU 86& GRHV QRW /RZHY+XIIVWXWOHU )G 86$SS/(;,6 FOHDUO\ VWDWH WKDW WKH RIILFLDO LV VXHG LQ KLV LQGLYLGXDO RU DW WK&LU RUGHU KROGLQJWKDWWKHSODLQWLII SHUVRQDO FDSDFLW\ WKH FRXUW PXVW WUHDW WKH ODZVXLW DV RQH ZDVQRWHQWLWOHGWRFROOHFWPRQH\GDPDJHVIURPDQ\RIWKH DJDLQVWWKHGHIHQGDQWLQKLVRIILFLDOFDSDFLW\l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j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sRKQVRQY0DQGHQEHUJ )G :/DW FDSDFLWLHVIRUZKLFKPRQHWDU\UHOLHILVQRWDYDLODEOHFLWLQJ
WK &LU SHU FXULDP KROGLQJ WKDW WKH :HOOV :HOOV /RQJY0F*LQQLV )G :/ VWDQGDUG RI FOHDUO\ SOHDGLQJ LQGLYLGXDO FDSDFLW\ LQ WKH DW WK&LU SHUFXULDP :HOOVVWDQGDUGPHWIRUWZR FRPSODLQWZDVQRWPHWZKHUHWKHFRPSODLQWPHUHO\DYHUUHG GHIHQGDQWV EHFDXVH WKH FRPSODLQW VSHFLILHG WKDW WKH WZR WKDW WKH GHIHQGDQWV mZHUH DFWLQJ LQ WKHLU RIILFLDO GHIHQGDQWV ZHUH VXHG LQ ERWK WKHLU RIILFLDO DQG LQGLYLGXDO FDSDFLWLHVlDQG GLG QRW DOOHJH WKDW WKH\ ZHUH VXHG LQ WKHLU FDSDFLWLHV EXW QRW PHW IRU D WKLUG GHIHQGDQW EHFDXVH WKH LQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLWLHV %XWVHH3HUU\Y&URXFKHU)G FRPSOLDQW GLG QRW LQGLFDWH WKH FDSDFLW\ LQ ZKLFK WKDW :/DW WK&LU ORRNLQJILUVWWR GHIHQGDQWZDVVXHG %HVVHUY:LONLQVRQ )G 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO 1R 1R 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO
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s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jVFRQGXFWLQWHUPVRIWKHLURIILFLDOFDSDFLWLHVWKH &LU RUGHU VDPH :LOVRQY/DQH)G SODLQWLIIj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
WK&LU RUGHU VDPH 6ZHHWY6XWKHUODQG Y8QLWHG6WDWHV )G :/DW WK )G :/ DW WK &LU RUGHU &LU SHUFXULDP KROGLQJWKDWZKHUHQRWKLQJRQWKH VDPH /XQDY6XWKHUODQG)G :/ IDFHRIWKHFRPSODLQWVXJJHVWHGWKDWWKHWKUHHHPSOR\HHVKDG DW WK&LU RUGHU VDPH sXOLDQ%H\Y8SFKXUFK EHHQVXHGRWKHUWKDQLQDQRIILFLDOFDSDFLW\XQGHU:HOOVLW )G :/DW WK&LU RUGHU ZDVmFOHDUWKDWWKHFRPSODLQWIDLO>HG@WRPDNHWKHUHTXLVLWH VDPH +LOOY:LONLQVRQ)G :/ DW VKRZLQJRIMXULVGLFWLRQZLWKUHVSHFWWRWKHVHGHIHQGDQWVl
WK&LU RUGHU VDPH &DOOLKDQY.HQWXFN\ 6HHY&ROOLQV )G :/ DW WK&LU )G :/ DW WK &LU RUGHU RUGHU VDPH +XJKHVY$YHU\ )G VDPH %HUU\Y2j&RQQHOO)G :/ :/ DW WK &LU RUGHU EHFDXVH WKH DW WK&LU VDPH 7KRPDVY0LFK6WDWH%GRI SODLQWLIIGLGQRWSOHDGWKHFDSDFLW\LQZKLFKWKHGHIHQGDQWV /DZ([DPjUV)G :/ DW WK&LU ZHUHVXHGDVUHTXLUHGE\:HOOVWKHVWDWHGHIHQGDQWZDVVXHG RUGHU VDPH %HUU\Y$OOHQ)G :/ LQKHURIILFLDOFDSDFLW\DQGQRWVXEMHFWWRVXLWIRUPRQHWDU\ 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO 1R 1R 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO
HPSOR\HHVZHUHEHLQJVXHGSHUVRQDOO\ FLWLQJ:HOOV 5RGJHUV DW WK &LU RUGHU VDPH 'RQDOG Y Y%URZQ )G :/DW WK&LU 0HQGHO)G :/ DW WK&LU RUGHU GDPDJHVDFWLRQZDVSURSHUO\GLVPLVVHG RUGHU VDPH .LUN Y *ULQHU )G :/ EHFDXVHWKHSODLQWLIIGLGQRWLQGLFDWHWKDWKHLQWHQGHGWRVXH DW WK &LU RUGHU VDPH 0HHKDQ Y WKHVWDWHGHIHQGDQWLQKLVLQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLW\ FLWLQJ:LOODQG 3DUGXH)G :/DW WK&LU :HOOV sXVWLFHY%URZQ )G :/DW RUGHU VDPH 3UXQW\ Y :LOVRQ )G :/
WK &LU RUGHU VDPH %XFKDQDQ Y :LONLQVRQ DW WK&LU RUGHU VDPH :LOVRQY9LOODJH )G :/DW WK&LU RUGHU RI&DVVRSROLV)G :/ DW WK&LU VDPH FLWLQJ:HOOVRQO\ (O$PLQY%URZQ )G RUGHU VDPH *URWHY0F*LQQLV)G 86$SS/(;,6DW WK&LU RUGHU :/DW WK&LU RUGHU VDPH +LWFKFRFN VDPH FLWLQJ:LOODQG:HOOV )DYRUVY %DUQHWW )G Y )RZOHU )G :/ DW WK &LU :/DW WK&LU RUGHU VDPH RUGHU VDPH %RVZHOOY/XQGVWURP )G 0RRUHY'DKOEHUJ )G :/ DW :/DW WK&LU RUGHU VDPH 6PLWK(OY WK&LU RUGHU QRWLQJWKDWWKHSODLQWLIIjVFODLPIRU s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j'HD )G :/DW WK&LU VWDWLQJWKDWm>H@YHQSURVHSODLQWLIIVPXVWVSHFLI\WKDWWKH\DUH RUGHU QRWLQJ WKDW WKH SODLQWLII GLG QRW DOOHJH FDSDFLW\ LQ VXLQJVWDWHRIILFLDOVLQWKHLULQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLWLHVLQRUGHUWR ZKLFK KH VXHG WKH GHIHQGDQWV DQG WKDW XQGHU :HOOV WKH DYRLG GLVPLVVDO RQ WKLV JURXQGl FLWLQJ :LOO DQG :HOOV GHIHQGDQWVDUHFRQVWUXHGWREHVXHGLQWKHLURIILFLDOFDSDFLWLHV *RQJROHZVNLY/H[LQJWRQ)D\HWWH8UEDQ&RXQW\*RYjW DQGWKHUHIRUHQRWVXEMHFWWRVXLWIRUPRQH\GDPDJHV :RRGV )G :/ DW WK &LU SHU Y'DKOEHUJ )G :/DW WK&LU FXULDP QRWLQJ WKDW D FRXUW VKRXOG H[DPLQH D FRPSODLQWjV RUGHU VDPH 7D\ORUY0LFK'HSjWRI&RUUV KHDGLQJDQGERG\ZKHQGHWHUPLQLQJWKHFDSDFLW\LQZKLFKD )G :/DW WK&LU RUGHU GHIHQGDQW LV VXHG KROGLQJWKDWWKHFRPSODLQWGLGQRWVWDWH VDPH 0F'RQDOG(OY$QWKRQ\ )G 86 FODLPVDJDLQVWWKHLQGLYLGXDOGHIHQGDQWVLQWKHLULQGLYLGXDO $SS/(;,6DW WK&LU RUGHU QRWLQJ FDSDFLWLHV DQG WKDW WKH SODLQWLII ZDV QRW HQWLWOHG WR KDYH WKDW WKH SODLQWLIIjV FODLPV IRU GDPDJHV DJDLQVW WKH VWDWH LQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLW\OLDELOLW\VXEPLWWHGWRWKHMXU\ FLWLQJ:HOOV GHIHQGDQWVLQWKHLURIILFLDOFDSDFLW\DUHEDUUHGE\WKH(OHYHQWK DQG 1RUPDQ +XJKHV Y 3HUU\ )G :/ $PHQGPHQW DIILUPLQJ GLVWULFW FRXUWjV JUDQW RI VXPPDU\ DW WK &LU RUGHU KROGLQJ WKDW WKH MXGJPHQWWRGHIHQGDQWV &DUPHQjV(DVW,QFY+XJJLQV SODLQWLIIjVFODLPODFNHGDQDUJXDEOHEDVLVLQODZDVLPPXQH )G 86 $SS /(;,6 DW WK &LU XQGHUWKH(OHYHQWK$PHQGPHQWEHFDXVHWKHFRPSODLQWGLGQRW 0HUULWW s KROGLQJ WKDW :HOOV VWDQGDUG ZDV PHW DOOHJHWKDWWKHVWDWHGHIHQGDQWZDVEHLQJVXHGSHUVRQDOO\DQG EHFDXVH WKH GHIHQGDQWV ZHUH VXHG LQ WKHLU LQGLYLGXDO XQGHU:HOOVLWPD\EHDVVXPHGWKDWWKHGHIHQGDQWZDVVXHGLQ FDSDFLWLHV 5XVVHOOY3RWWV )G :/ KLVRIILFLDOFDSDFLW\RQO\ %DQWXY&ROHPDQ )G DW WK &LU RUGHU KROGLQJ WKDW WKH SODLQWLIIjV :/ DW WK &LU RUGHU VDPH FRPSODLQWIDLOHGWRVSHFLI\LQZKDWFDSDFLW\KHZDVVXLQJWKH 0XVLFNY:LJJLQWRQ )G :/DW GHIHQGDQWV FRXUWZDVWKHUHIRUHUHTXLUHGWRDVVXPHWKDWKH 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO 1R 1R 0RRUHY&LW\RI+DUULPDQHWDO
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sRKQVRQY%HQWO\ )G WKHUHIRUHLPPXQHIURP GDPDJHVFLWLQJ:HOOV sRQHV :/ DW WK &LU SHU FXULDP Y &DONLQV )G :/ DW WK&LU VDPHDOVRQRWLQJWKDWWKHFRXUWODFNHGMXULVGLFWLRQRYHUWKH RUGHU VDPH )UHGHULFNY7HQQHVVHH )G SODLQWLIIjVGDPDJHVFODLP %HUU\PDQYsRKQVRQ )G :/DW WK&LU RUGHU DVVXPLQJDVD :/DW WK&LU 1HOVRQs PDWWHU RI ODZ WKDW VHYHUDO GHIHQGDQWV ZHUH VHUYHG LQ WKHLU :HOOVVWDQGDUGRIFOHDUO\SOHDGLQJLQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLW\PHW RIILFLDOFDSDFLW\EHFDXVHWKHFRPSODLQWGLGQRWLQGLFDWHWKDW EHFDXVHWKHFRPSODLQWDOOHJHGWKDWWKHGHIHQGDQWVZHUHVXHG WKH\ ZHUH EHLQJ VXHG DV LQGLYLGXDOV DQG WKDW WKH\ ZHUH LQ ERWK WKHLU RIILFLDO FDSDFLWLHV DQG WKHLU LQGLYLGXDO WKHUHIRUH QRW mSHUVRQVl VXEMHFW WR OLDELOLW\ XGQHU FDSDFLWLHV *HQWU\Y5ROOLQV )G 86$SS FLWLQJ :HOOV :LQJDUG Y 6PLWK )G :/ /(;,6DW WK&LU RUGHU KROGLQJWKDWWKH DW WK &LU RUGHU DIILUPLQJ GLVWULFW SODLQWLIIjVFODLPIRUPRQHWDU\GDPDJHVDJDLQVWWKHGHIHQGDQWV FRXUWjVMXGJPHQWIRUGHIHQGDQWVEHFDXVHWKHGHIHQGDQWVLQ ZDV EDUUHG XQGHU WKH (OHYHQWK $PHQGPHQW ZKHUH WKH WKHLURIILFLDOFDSDFLWLHVDUHQRWmSHUVRQVlVXEMHFWWRVXLWIRU FRPSODLQWPHUHO\DOOHJHGWKDWWKHGHIHQGDQWVDFWHGmLQWKHLU PRQHWDU\GDPDJHVXQGHU FLWLQJ:LOO DQGQRWLQJWKDW UHVSHFWLYH SURIHVVLRQDO FDSDFLW\l FLWLQJ :LOO DQG :HOOV m>H@YHQSURVHSODLQWLIIVPXVWVSHFLI\WKDWWKH\DUHVXLQJVWDWH :LOVRQYsDEH )G :/DW WK RIILFLDOV LQ WKHLU LQGLYLGXDO FDSDFLWLHV LQ RUGHU WR DYRLG &LU RUGHU KROGLQJ WKDW WKH SODLQWLIIjV FODLPV IRU GLVPLVVDORQWKLVJURXQGl FLWLQJ:HOOV 6LPSVRQY+DZOH\ PRQHWDU\UHOLHIODFNHGDQDUJXDEOHEDVLVLQODZEHFDXVHKH )G :/DW WK&LU RUGHU IDLOHG WR VSHFLI\ WKDW VWDWH GHIHQGDQWV ZHUH VXHG LQ WKHLU VDPH RQ SODLQWLIIjV FRQFHVVLRQ .LUN Y 1HJHQGDQN LQGLYLGXDO FDSDFLWLHV FLWLQJ :HOOV DQG :LOO %RVZHOO Y )G :/DW WK&LU SHUFXULDP 7RRPEV )G :/ DW WK &LU KROGLQJ WKDW WKH FRXUW ODFNHG MXULVGLFWLRQ RYHU WKH VWDWH RUGHU VDPH *DOODJKHUY<HDJOH\ )G GHIHQGDQWjVDSSHDOEHFDXVHWKHSODLQWLIIj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jRIILFHVDQGWKHUHE\DJDLQVW 86 $SS /(;,6 DW WK &LU WKH8QLYHUVLW\ FLWLQJ:HOOV 0DUWLQY:KDOHQ )G RUGHU KROGLQJWKDWVHYHUDOGHIHQGDQWVZHUHQRWOLDEOHIRU :/DW WK&LU RUGHU KROGLQJWKDW PRQHWDU\GDPDJHVXQGHU EHFDXVHWKH\ZHUHQDPHGLQ WKHSODLQWLIIZDVEDUUHGIURPUHFHLYLQJDPRQHWDU\MXGJPHQW WKHLURIILFLDOFDSDFLWLHVRQO\LQFRQWUDVWZLWKRWKHUGHIHQGDQWV EHFDXVH WKH FRPSODLQW GLG QRW LQGLFDWH WKDW WKH VWDWH
Reference
- Status
- Published