Bull v. BGK Holdings, LLC

859 F. Supp. 2d 1238, 2012 WL 1609280, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 64725
CourtDistrict Court, D. New Mexico
DecidedMay 7, 2012
DocketCivil No. 11-cv-00894-WJ-ACT
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 859 F. Supp. 2d 1238 (Bull v. BGK Holdings, LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. New Mexico primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bull v. BGK Holdings, LLC, 859 F. Supp. 2d 1238, 2012 WL 1609280, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 64725 (D.N.M. 2012).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER DENYING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO DISMISS

WILLIAM P. JOHNSON, District Judge.

THIS MATTER comes before the Court upon a Motion to Dismiss in Part Plaintiffs First Amended Complaint filed by BGK Equities on January 12, 2012 (Doc. 26). Having considered the parties’ briefs and the applicable law, I find that Defendants’ motion is not well-taken and is therefore DENIED.

BACKGROUND

This is a diversity action for damages. Plaintiff is a former employee and interest holder in certain of the Defendant entities (the “BGK entities”). According to the Amended Complaint (Doc. 12), between 1996 and 2005, Plaintiff acquired minority ownership interests in a number of the BGK entities, which are various family companies engaged in the business of real-estate development and real-estate investment. The BGK entities are substantially controlled by Defendant Edward Gilbert who serves in the capacity of president of the various BGK entities. In 2005, Defendants allegedly made false statements of fact and contractually binding promises to induce Plaintiff to relocate himself and his family to Louisiana in order for Plaintiff to assist in BGK-related management and operations. Subsequently Defendants abandoned operations in Louisiana after Plaintiff moved to Louisiana.

[1242]*1242Plaintiff further asserts that Gilbert and the BGK entities then launched an improper plan to cause Plaintiff to relinquish his minority interests in the BGK entities at a price significantly below their real value. Plaintiffs sale of his interest in the BGK entities arose out of a transaction (the “Rosemont Merger”) in which all members and shareholders of the BGK entities were invited to participate. Prior to his retirement, Defendant Gilbert partnered with Rosemont Real Estate, LLC, to form Rosemont Realty, LLC. Plaintiff reviewed the documents associated with the Rosemont Merger, and elected to sell his interests in the BGK entities to Rosemont Real Estate, LLC, by assignment, on May 3, 2010. Plaintiffs claims in this case arise from circumstances relating to Plaintiffs relocation to Louisiana and from the sale of Plaintiffs interests in the BGK entities to Rosemont Real Estate, LLC.

The Amended Complaint asserts the following claims: Breach of Contract (Count One); Breach of Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing (Count Two); Breach of Fiduciary Duty (Count Three); Oppression (Count Four); Intentional Misrepresentation Regarding the Louisiana Operations (Count Five); Negligent Misrepresentation Regarding the Louisiana Operations (Count Six); Intentional Misrepresentation Regarding the BGK Entities Interests (Count Seven); Negligent Misrepresentation Regarding the BGK Entities Interests (Count Eight); Economic Duress (Count Nine); and Prima Facie Tort (Count Ten).

Defendants have asserted Counterclaims against Plaintiff for indemnification and contribution, arising from the settlement of claims made or litigation initiated by third parties against Gilbert and/or certain BGK entities and/or Plaintiff. Defendants claim that they are at least entitled to offset against the claims being asserted against them by Plaintiff, or an award of damages depending on the timing of the claims.

DISCUSSION

Defendants seek dismissal of several claims asserted in the Amended Complaint. They claim that Counts Four through Ten fail as a matter of law, essentially moving to limit the Amended Complaint to a contract action.

The standard for granting a motion to dismiss is well settled. When, as in this case, a plaintiffs complaint fails to state a claim for which there is a plausible entitlement to relief, the Court must dismiss the complaint. See Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 1974, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007). While the well-pled factual allegations of a complaint must be accepted as true for purposes of a motion to dismiss, neither conclusory allegations nor legal conclusions disguised as factual allegations need be accepted as such. See id. at 1965; see also Ridge at Red Hawk, L.L.C. v. Schneider, 493 F.3d 1174, 1177 (10th Cir.2007) (holding that the mere metaphysical possibility that some plaintiff could prove some set of facts in support of the pleaded claims is insufficient; the complaint must give the court reason to believe that this plaintiff has a reasonable likelihood of mustering factual support for these claims). The burden is on the plaintiff to frame a “complaint with enough factual matter (taken as true) to suggest” that he or she is entitled to relief. Twombly, 127 S.Ct. at 1965.

For purposes of the motion, the Court will not consider the “Additional Factual Allegations Relevant to Motion to Dismiss.” The Court agrees with Defendants that the analysis in a motion to dismiss is limited to the allegations in the Amended Complaint.

[1243]*1243I. Whether Counts Five and Six Should Be Dismissed Based on Economic Loss Rule

Defendants contend that Plaintiffs’ claims of Intentional and Negligent Misrepresentation in Counts Five and Six must be dismissed pursuant to the economic loss rule, which precludes pleading breach of contract claims as tort claims.

The economic loss rule precludes recovery in tort for purely economic losses where the claims alleged are based on breach of an express or implied contractual duty. See Utah Int’l, Inc. v. Caterpillar Tractor Co., 108 N.M. 539, 542, 775 P.2d 741 (Ct.App.1989) (adopting the economic loss rule in New Mexico). The purpose of the rule is not to bar the recovery of economic loss damages; rather, the rule bars recovery of such damages under a tort cause of action. In re Consolidated Vista Hills Retaining Wall Litigation, 119 N.M. 542, 551, 893 P.2d 438 (1995) (parties “should not be allowed to use tort law to alter or avoid the bargain struck in the contract.”); see Farmers Alliance Mut. Ins. Co. v. Naylor, 480 F.Supp.2d 1287, 1289 (D.N.M.2007) (“Naylor II”) (“The economic loss rule provides that a plaintiff may not recover in tort for losses that are purely economic, i.e., not involving personal injury or property damage.”). The purpose behind New Mexico’s economic loss rule is “to allow commercial parties to freely contract and allocate the risk of defective products as they wish.” 108 N.M. at 542, 775 P.2d 741. The New Mexico Supreme Court observed that: “[a]s a matter of policy, the parties should not be allowed to use tort law to alter or avoid the bargain struck in the contract. The law of contract provides an adequate remedy.” Vista Hills, 119 N.M. at 550, 893 P.2d 438. Thus, Defendants’ argument has merit only if Plaintiff is seeking monetary damages for economic loss as a result of a breach of contract between the parties.

The economic loss rule does not, however, bar a tort claim where an independent duty exists, “because the claim is based on a recognized independent duty of care and thus does not fall within the scope of the rule.”

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
859 F. Supp. 2d 1238, 2012 WL 1609280, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 64725, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bull-v-bgk-holdings-llc-nmd-2012.