IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA Richmond Division
VINCENT NARDONE, Plaintiff, v. Civil Action No. 3:21-cv-731 NATIONAL STRATEGIC GROUP, LLC & NEW LIFE RECOVERY SOLUTIONS, Defendants.
FOUNDATION MEDICAL LLC, Plaintiff, Vv. Civil Action No. 3:21-cv-732 NATIONAL STRATEGIC GROUP, LLC & NEW LIFE RECOVERY SOLUTIONS, Defendants.
OPINION The defendants, National Strategic Group, LLC (“NSG”) and New Life Recovery Solutions (“New Life”), move to transfer venue to the Northern District of Ohio pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a). (Case No. 3:21cv731, ECF No. 7; Case No. 3:21c¢v732, ECF No. 11.) Because the applicable venue considerations— including deference to the plaintiffs’ choice of venue, the convenience of the parties, and the interest of justice—collectively weigh against transferring venue, the Court denies the defendants’ motions to transfer venue. I. BACKGROUND Foundation Medical LLC (“Foundation”) owns and operates an outpatient addiction treatment clinic in Midlothian, Virginia. (Case No. 3:21¢v732, ECF No. 978.) In January 2019,
FoundhaitrNieSodGn - ano nlmianrek esteirnvcgio cmepsba ansyie nOd h ioa-stsoii ns t expanFdoiunngd aptaitboianeis'nVnesti rg(iIn,rd.i5,r a1, .4 -2118C;,a Nsoe3. : 21cEvC7F3 2, No1.1 a,t3 .U)n dtheerar rangeNmSeGcn rte,aa tnmedad i ntaaw ienbestdioa t dev ertise Foundasteirov1n i('cCsea sNs.oe.3 :21cEvC7FN3 o2.9, ,r ,r20 -2F1o.u)n dtaotoiko n photoogfrMiaetpdshi Dsci arleD crVt.io nrNc,are dnotfon rme a,r kpeutripnfoogrts hweees b s2 ite. (I,rd.2,r 34 ,5 .F)o undsaettnihtoep nsh eo totgNorS aGpw,hh sip cohs ttheeodmn t hwee bsite. (I,rd.2 6.)
IAnp r2i0l2F 0o,un datteiromnii ntaasgt reedew miNetSnhGfot r t wroe asFoinNrsSs.Gt , bofatihl tedode ltihvpeea rtg ireoniwtptt r ho muinsdteehdcre o ntarnasdce,tc N,oS nGda ,c tively offeirtemsda rkseetrivntigFoc o eusn dactoimopnei'ttnsih Rteio crhs maroena(d.I,r d.3,r 6 -37, 40N.o)t withtshtteea rnmdiionnftag hct eoi notnNr SaGcc otn,t timona uiensat naodip net rhaet e websaiisfrt soe mi tOsh iooffi c3e (.ICd.a;Ns oe3. : 21cEvC7NF3o 12.1, a, 3t - 4I.ct)o ntinues tod isDprlN.aa yr dopnheo'tsoe gvretanhp ohhu egn hol oncgoenrs teoin tutsss e( .C aNsoe. 3:21cEvC7F3N92o,r,.4,r 54 ,8 F.u)r tthhdeeer fe,n dnaounwst teshw ee btsdoii trepe rcots pectiv cliteFono tusn dactoimopnei'tVnsii trogriisnn cilaNu,ed wLi infe(g.I ,r d.4,r 6 -44975,,1 .) FoundaantDdir oN.na rdbornoeu sgehpta lraawtseau giatitsnh dseet fe ndma nts
ChestCeorufiCneitlrydCc ouuisrtet e,ka inin ngj undcatmiaaognneadt,s r ,a nostffeh wree bsite's ownertFsooh uinpd (aCtaNisoo3e.n: .2 1cEvC7NF3o 11.-, a3 1t,5, C; a Nsoe3. : 21-EcCvF- 732, No1.- a3t1, , 1 2.T)h dee fendraenmtotsv heceda steots h Ciosu bretc aoufds iev eorfs ity
1T hwee bsuinitfoermr' ess oluorcc(ae"t UoRriL ws"w )w .richmondsuboxoned (CaNso3e.: 21cEvC7NF3o 92.,r , 2 0.) 2F oundoawtnaislco lon p yroitfgh pheht ost o(gIr,rd.a2 p5h..) 3A lthtohuCego hur retc ogtnhtiahzwtee e sb sniolt oena gpeprea acrtosint v hIeen ternet, thCeo udrits ctuhsfaesc aetasssl lietngh ecedo mpl(aSiiend,ret. 4,r. 1 -51.) citizenship.* (Case No. 3:21cv731, ECF No. 1, at 1; Case No. 3:21¢v732, ECF No. 1, at 1.) The defendants then moved to transfer venue pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a). (Case No. 3:21cv731, ECF No. 7; Case No. 3:21¢v732, ECF No. 11.) II. ANALYSIS Under 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a), “a district court may transfer any civil action to any other district ... where it may be brought.” This includes any “judicial district in which a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred.”> Jd. § 1391(b)(2). When deciding whether to transfer venue, courts must consider “(1) the weight accorded to [the] plaintiff's choice of venue; (2) witness convenience and access; (3) convenience of the parties; and (4) the interest of justice.” Trs. ofthe Plumbers & Pipefitters Nat’l Pension Fund vy. Plumbing Servs., Inc., 791 F.3d 436, 444 (4th Cir. 2015). “The party seeking transfer bears the burden of proving that the circumstances of the case are strongly in favor of transfer.” Phillips v. Uber Techs., Inc., No. 3:15cv544, 2016 WL 165024, at *1 (E.D. Va. Jan. 13, 2016) (quoting Heinz Kettler GMBH & Co. v. Razor USA, LLC, 750 F. Supp. 2d 660, 667 (E.D. Va. 2010) (emphasis in original)). The defendants fail to meet this high burden. Most of the applicable venue considerations—including deference to plaintiffs’ chosen forum, convenience of the parties, and the interest of justice—favor keeping the cases in this District.
4 Both Foundation and Dr. Nardone reside in Virginia. (Case No. 3:21cv731, ECF No. 1 § 3; Case No. 3:21cv732, ECF No. 9 { 4.) In contrast, NSG and New Life qualify as Ohio and Kansas citizens, respectively. (Case No. 3:21cv732, ECF No. 1 J 6—7.) > For purposes of this Opinion, the Court assumes that the Northern District of Ohio has personal jurisdiction over both defendants. See Koh v. Microtek Int'l, Inc., 250 F. Supp. 2d 627, 630 (E.D. Va. 2005) (“[M]ovant[s] must establish that both venue and jurisdiction with respect to each defendant is proper in the transferee district.”).
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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA Richmond Division
VINCENT NARDONE, Plaintiff, v. Civil Action No. 3:21-cv-731 NATIONAL STRATEGIC GROUP, LLC & NEW LIFE RECOVERY SOLUTIONS, Defendants.
FOUNDATION MEDICAL LLC, Plaintiff, Vv. Civil Action No. 3:21-cv-732 NATIONAL STRATEGIC GROUP, LLC & NEW LIFE RECOVERY SOLUTIONS, Defendants.
OPINION The defendants, National Strategic Group, LLC (“NSG”) and New Life Recovery Solutions (“New Life”), move to transfer venue to the Northern District of Ohio pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a). (Case No. 3:21cv731, ECF No. 7; Case No. 3:21c¢v732, ECF No. 11.) Because the applicable venue considerations— including deference to the plaintiffs’ choice of venue, the convenience of the parties, and the interest of justice—collectively weigh against transferring venue, the Court denies the defendants’ motions to transfer venue. I. BACKGROUND Foundation Medical LLC (“Foundation”) owns and operates an outpatient addiction treatment clinic in Midlothian, Virginia. (Case No. 3:21¢v732, ECF No. 978.) In January 2019,
FoundhaitrNieSodGn - ano nlmianrek esteirnvcgio cmepsba ansyie nOd h ioa-stsoii ns t expanFdoiunngd aptaitboianeis'nVnesti rg(iIn,rd.i5,r a1, .4 -2118C;,a Nsoe3. : 21cEvC7F3 2, No1.1 a,t3 .U)n dtheerar rangeNmSeGcn rte,aa tnmedad i ntaaw ienbestdioa t dev ertise Foundasteirov1n i('cCsea sNs.oe.3 :21cEvC7FN3 o2.9, ,r ,r20 -2F1o.u)n dtaotoiko n photoogfrMiaetpdshi Dsci arleD crVt.io nrNc,are dnotfon rme a,r kpeutripnfoogrts hweees b s2 ite. (I,rd.2,r 34 ,5 .F)o undsaettnihtoep nsh eo totgNorS aGpw,hh sip cohs ttheeodmn t hwee bsite. (I,rd.2 6.)
IAnp r2i0l2F 0o,un datteiromnii ntaasgt reedew miNetSnhGfot r t wroe asFoinNrsSs.Gt , bofatihl tedode ltihvpeea rtg ireoniwtptt r ho muinsdteehdcre o ntarnasdce,tc N,oS nGda ,c tively offeirtemsda rkseetrivntigFoc o eusn dactoimopnei'ttnsih Rteio crhs maroena(d.I,r d.3,r 6 -37, 40N.o)t withtshtteea rnmdiionnftag hct eoi notnNr SaGcc otn,t timona uiensat naodip net rhaet e websaiisfrt soe mi tOsh iooffi c3e (.ICd.a;Ns oe3. : 21cEvC7NF3o 12.1, a, 3t - 4I.ct)o ntinues tod isDprlN.aa yr dopnheo'tsoe gvretanhp ohhu egn hol oncgoenrs teoin tutsss e( .C aNsoe. 3:21cEvC7F3N92o,r,.4,r 54 ,8 F.u)r tthhdeeer fe,n dnaounwst teshw ee btsdoii trepe rcots pectiv cliteFono tusn dactoimopnei'tVnsii trogriisnn cilaNu,ed wLi infe(g.I ,r d.4,r 6 -44975,,1 .) FoundaantDdir oN.na rdbornoeu sgehpta lraawtseau giatitsnh dseet fe ndma nts
ChestCeorufiCneitlrydCc ouuisrtet e,ka inin ngj undcatmiaaognneadt,s r ,a nostffeh wree bsite's ownertFsooh uinpd (aCtaNisoo3e.n: .2 1cEvC7NF3o 11.-, a3 1t,5, C; a Nsoe3. : 21-EcCvF- 732, No1.- a3t1, , 1 2.T)h dee fendraenmtotsv heceda steots h Ciosu bretc aoufds iev eorfs ity
1T hwee bsuinitfoermr' ess oluorcc(ae"t UoRriL ws"w )w .richmondsuboxoned (CaNso3e.: 21cEvC7NF3o 92.,r , 2 0.) 2F oundoawtnaislco lon p yroitfgh pheht ost o(gIr,rd.a2 p5h..) 3A lthtohuCego hur retc ogtnhtiahzwtee e sb sniolt oena gpeprea acrtosint v hIeen ternet, thCeo udrits ctuhsfaesc aetasssl lietngh ecedo mpl(aSiiend,ret. 4,r. 1 -51.) citizenship.* (Case No. 3:21cv731, ECF No. 1, at 1; Case No. 3:21¢v732, ECF No. 1, at 1.) The defendants then moved to transfer venue pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a). (Case No. 3:21cv731, ECF No. 7; Case No. 3:21¢v732, ECF No. 11.) II. ANALYSIS Under 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a), “a district court may transfer any civil action to any other district ... where it may be brought.” This includes any “judicial district in which a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred.”> Jd. § 1391(b)(2). When deciding whether to transfer venue, courts must consider “(1) the weight accorded to [the] plaintiff's choice of venue; (2) witness convenience and access; (3) convenience of the parties; and (4) the interest of justice.” Trs. ofthe Plumbers & Pipefitters Nat’l Pension Fund vy. Plumbing Servs., Inc., 791 F.3d 436, 444 (4th Cir. 2015). “The party seeking transfer bears the burden of proving that the circumstances of the case are strongly in favor of transfer.” Phillips v. Uber Techs., Inc., No. 3:15cv544, 2016 WL 165024, at *1 (E.D. Va. Jan. 13, 2016) (quoting Heinz Kettler GMBH & Co. v. Razor USA, LLC, 750 F. Supp. 2d 660, 667 (E.D. Va. 2010) (emphasis in original)). The defendants fail to meet this high burden. Most of the applicable venue considerations—including deference to plaintiffs’ chosen forum, convenience of the parties, and the interest of justice—favor keeping the cases in this District.
4 Both Foundation and Dr. Nardone reside in Virginia. (Case No. 3:21cv731, ECF No. 1 § 3; Case No. 3:21cv732, ECF No. 9 { 4.) In contrast, NSG and New Life qualify as Ohio and Kansas citizens, respectively. (Case No. 3:21cv732, ECF No. 1 J 6—7.) > For purposes of this Opinion, the Court assumes that the Northern District of Ohio has personal jurisdiction over both defendants. See Koh v. Microtek Int'l, Inc., 250 F. Supp. 2d 627, 630 (E.D. Va. 2005) (“[M]ovant[s] must establish that both venue and jurisdiction with respect to each defendant is proper in the transferee district.”).
A.PlainCthiffoosif'Vc een ue Ast hpel aincthiovffsesen'ntu heiD,si sdtreiscetsr uvbesstd aenfetrifoearnvl ce en ue purpo"s[epAsl].a i'ncthiooff'vfise c neiue sen ttisotu lbesdtw aeniitgdnihe attl e rwmhientihnegr traniasspfe prr opPrliuamtSbeei.rn"Ivg'ns 7c.9.,F1,3 . da 4t4 (4q uoBtd.oi fnTgvr S.su .l livant AvPer.o LpLsC5.,0,F 8 .S up2pd4. 7 3,(4E7.V7Da 2..0 0).7B) uitf p"laa icnhtoioafoffs r eesi gn foruamn tdhc ea uosafec tbieoalnri sot nrto lr ee latttohi foaortnu tmh,pe l aicnhtoivsfeefnnsu e inso etn tittosl uescduh b stwaenitgTiheatll.e "p hSaorlImsna.vccP,..yi ckpCooirn2pt3. F8,.
Sup2pd7. 4 714,(3 E .VDa2..0 0)(3 quoCtoignngi ItrmoangSiiycnIssgn.v c,R.. e cogRnsicthi.o n In8c3.F ,.S up2pd6. 8 699,(6E .VDa2..0 0).0) FirtshitsD, i sctorniscttti hptelu atiehnsot mifoffers u'bm e cabuostpehl airnetsiiffdse he6r See.c tohnceda ,uo safec tsiuobns traenlttaitotah elDislis ys tArlitchNtoSG.uc grhe aantde d manatghweeed b osuiottife to sf fiicOneh iFoo,u ndcaotnitorwnai NcthSt Gfoe rdt hseop luerp ose oafd verttVoii srigrniegns iipada ernttisic,tnu h Rileca hrmloaryne da( .C aNso3e.: 2c1v 7E3C2F, No9.,r 1,r8 -2119E;,C NFo 1.1 a,3t -4 .N)o tatbhlweye ,b siteF oduinsdpalotaffiiycoeend ' s addrienMs isd loVtihrigaainnnt,dih waee, b sUiRLt eev'ecsno nttahwieon r"sd[ R]ichmond (CaNsoe3. : 2lcEvC7NF3o 29.,r, 4,r,2 03,0 .F)u rthetrhpmelo ariecn,ot nittffehstna hdte y
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partasys ertinign cwointvnmeeunsspistre onsffcueefr fi ciernetg adtrehdwteiia ntiganl nehsdsi s s orh etre sttiaoml olntoyhcw eo utroats sbeosttshhm e a teroifta helevi itdye ntchweei ttnheasts wiolfflean rdt hien convtehnwaiitrel enlscfr ueol mdt e cltitonr ianntgsha feecr t iLoyncI.on"sc ,. vT.iVIon,c4 .9F,9.S up2pd6. 8 659,(3 E .VDa2..0 0T7h)tyi.ps i calltyh mero evqatunoitr es subamfifitd parvoivtitsdh iiedn egn atniddte isecsr oifpt theiexo pnestc etsetdio mfio tnsy witneSseBsede o.s/ .Tv rB.sa .y Hleoart &iA niCgro ndit7i0oF2n.S i unp1gp2,.5 3,( E1.2D5.8 Va1.9 88C)o.ua rfftoslr edws esi tgoth htfai cst wohrea np ardtoyen sor te qtuhiuers eoe f compuplrsootcrsoeye s cswu irtean pepsesa rLayncIocnse4c,s9. .F,9S . u p2pda.6 t 9 B3u.ct o urts gigvree waetietgrtoh h tfai cst iotfrh i en convaepnpitle"oinw eciset n'ewshstoeessse t iism ony
centtoarc allaa inmwd h ocsree diibasil llsiiokty te obl eay ni mportanItd(q . ui ostsiuneg. "' BaylHoera t&iA niCgro ndit7i0oF2nS. iu npagp1t,.2 58). Thdee fendfoaunprta srw'tyi tnaelrsles seiisOnd h eia onc da onff erre leivnafonrtm ation abotuhstee rvNiScGpe rso vtiFodo eudn d(aStCeiaeoNs noe.. 3:E2C1NFco v1.71a 3,4t2 ) ,O. f thofosuero ,nr ee futseots r atvoRie clh mofonrtd h per oceewdhiianlngeos tw,ho eufirln dd traveling highly burdensome.’ (Case No. 3:21¢v732, ECF No. 22-3 § 4-5; ECF No. 22-4 6.) The plaintiffs’ three party witnesses would apparently offer testimony about Foundation’s business; the plaintiffs do not explain, however, where these party witnesses live. Dr. Nardone, who lives in Virginia, has a medical practice that transfer of this case would disrupt. (Case No. 3:21¢v731, ECF No. 12, at 8.) The defendants intend to call five nonparty witnesses, all of whom are former NSG employees who live in Ohio and were involved in the work that NSG provided to the plaintiffs. (Case No. 3:21cv732, ECF No. 11, at 4-5.) Because NSG no longer employs these witnesses, NSG anticipates that it will need to subpoena them in order to compel their appearances. (Case No. 3:21cv732, ECF No. 22-2 48.) In comparison, the plaintiffs intend to call one or two witnesses not affiliated with Foundation; the plaintiffs do not explain where these witnesses live or what testimony they will offer. While more witnesses live and work in or near Euclid, the ease of modern travel makes coming to Richmond for a trial easier. Further, the parties can depose the witnesses in Ohio, and the witnesses can testify by video recording. Whichever venue holds the trial, someone has to travel in order to appear personally. Given that NSG chose to contract with a Richmond company to improve its Richmond client base, and given the parties’ ability to present testimony in Richmond—either in person or by video—the convenience to witnesses does not weigh significantly in favor of either party.
7 The defendants do not provide information about the willingness of the other two party witnesses to travel to Virginia for these proceedings.
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inconvoetfnh iiene sntcanet fr oatmch tei odnetsfeto nh pdelan atisTn htuipsffa,src .to yn venience doneosst u ptproarnts vfeernaruwieanfr ygo mth Diiss trict. D.InteorJfeu sstt ice Finatlhileny t,oe jfru esswttei icagegh asti rnasnts vfeerrinntguto eh N eo rtDhiesrnot fr ict OhiIona.s setshsfaiicsnt cgoo ru,sr htoscu olnds ider: (1t)hpee ndoefanr ceyl aactte(id2ot )nhc ,eo ufratm'islw iiattrhhaie pt pyl icable la(w3,d) o cckoentd i(t4ai)co cntespos,r s e mtihsmaeitsgh hattv boee v iew(e5d), thpeo ssiobfai nul nifttayri i(ra6 tl)h, ae b itloji otyoi tn hpearr t(i7te)hs e, possiobhfiar laistsaymn e(dn8t t)hi, en toehfra evsliton ccgoa nlt rodveecrisdieeds ahto me. VaI.n novSactiIisnvo.cS.n,.a msEulneCgco s9..2,F 8 S. u p2pd8. 6 837,(2E .VDa2..0 1W3h)e.n weigthhiefanscget ocrosus,rh toseu slpde ccoinasltilhdyee ri onf"t jeurdeeiscctoisnaan oldm y thaev oidoafin ncceo njsuidsgtmeeInndt(qt uso.tB"iy negrv E.sq ounifI axnf oS.er 4v6sF7.. , Sup2pd6. 2 673,(5 E .VDa2..0 06)). Fouorft haeb ocvoen siddeonr oaattp ipholenyrTs eh .de e fendannocttos n tdteohn adt thmaati ntvaeinniuitnenh D gii ss twroiulcletdta todh peo ssiobfai nunfl aiittrry ai nai ln,a bility
8S eseu pnroa6t .e tjoo oitnh pearr toirthe eps o,s siobfhi alriatsysM moerneton.vop e arrar,tg yut ehsia ntte eds accteposr se miiensi ettshh Deiirss ottrrhi Neco tr tDhiesrnto frO ihcito . Similraerllaayct,te icdoe nrste axiibnseltcy a buosthpe l ainstuiiafftrssifr' so emth e defendcaonnttsoi'pn eureoadtft h wieeo bns idties pDtlrhNa.aay trs d opnheo'tso( gCraaNspoeh. . 3:21cEvC7FN3 o11.,- C3a;sN eo3 .: 21cEvC7FN3 o29.,. T )h uisnt, hi en teorfje usdti cial econtohmCeyo ,us rth oeuiltdkh eeebrpo s tuhii tnt hsDi iss torrti rcatnb sotfettorhh Neo rthern
DisotOfrhi icBotu.t t hr ee laottfhi eossnuoe it thse drowneiossat eit dhC eo urti dne ciwdhiincgh veniumseo raep propriate. Thien teorfje usstfat citctoehr e,r teufornrosent , h rperei mcaryo nsid(e1rt)ah tei ons: court's wfittahhmae ip lpilailrcai(awty2b,d )l o ec ckoentd iatni(do3 tn)his en, t eirnhe asvti ng loccaoln trodveecriashdtioe emdAse l .tl h rceoen sidweeriaagtghia toirnnassn ts vfeernruien.g 1.FamilwiiaAtrphip tyl iLcaawble Firtshftea, m ilwiiaratiphtp yl ilcawaweb iligenhfa sv oorfk eeptihanecg t iinto hnis s Dist"r[ifeAcd]te .cr oauslri tti tdnii nvge rsittyhc eha opipcleri-ueolosfetf -sh fol era uwsm t ate." OlawvoA.lc et iIonN2ce5.tF8,,.S up3pd6. 9 740,(3 E .VDa2..0 1s7e)Ke;l aCxoov.nS. t entor EleMcf.Cg o.3. 1,U3 . 4S8.47 9,(6 1 94H1e)rV.ei ,r gcihnoiiac'esr- uolafep-spll ayw.
Thfoel losweicntagi noanlesya ozctfeh h pel aicnltaiwiffimsts'th hicinos n text. a.FedCeorpaylIr nifgrhitn(1 7gU e.mS§e.1 nC0t 6 ) Fedelraaawpl p tloFi oeusn dactoipoyinrn'ifsgr hitnc gleaamigeman NitSn GsS.te 1e7 U.S§.1 C0.6B .e catuhsDieis s tarntidhc Neto rtDhiesrnto rfOi hciatore eq uaelqluyit pop ed handcllea imfesd uelnradatwleh, ri sd ocneoosuat nff tet choteu tcootfmh aein sa lysis. b.B reoafCc ohn tract Ohlioaa wp ptlFoio eusn dabtrieooacfnco 'hns tc rlaaacigtma N iSnGs".tV ircgoinntiraa ct chooiflc aerw u ldeiss tibnegtuwaiecsethnci oonncse thrniepn egr foromfaanc coen twrhaiccth, argeo vebrnyte hldea o wtf h pel aocpfee rforamnaandcc teci,oo nncse trnhviean lgoi cdrri etayt ion ofac ontwrhaiarccetgh ,o vebrnyte hdle ao wft hpel aocfte hm ea kiontfgh c eo ntrUancitt.e"d GovS'etOc ff..o Afm v.S. p cOipaelr aGtripIo.nn,4cs 3.F 6,.S u p2pd7. 9 709,(2 E .VDa2..0 06). Herbee,c atuhpsearte i deiss ptuhpteee r formoaftn hcceoe n t"rtalhcaetow ,ft hpel aocfe
perform"ga onvceeIrnds A.l thFoouugnhd maatdpieao ynm teoNn StGsfr omV irgainndi a, althuonudgtehhrc e o ntNrSaGsc otu tgohd ti rpeacttii enVn itrsgt ioFn oiuan dNaStGi on, perfoirtomsbe ldi guantdtiehocreno sn tirnOa hcito . Thluaaswp, p OtlhoiFi eoosun dation's breoafcc ohn tcrlaacitm . cT.o rt Claims "Viragpipntlihilaeee l sxod ceil tihlceato witf ,h p el aoctfeh w er otntogo ,ar ctt .i.o.n".s MilvtI.oT nRT s cIhn.s1 t3F.83., d5 1592,(1 4 Ctih1r 9.9 8U)n.dt ehrdi osc tcroiunmreut,ss t app"ltylh aeow ft hset iawnth ei tchwher onagctfutol po lka wchee,r tehveeeff reo cftt hsaa ctt arefe ltI.da" 5t 2 2".[ sIt]lafat iweus n clfeedaercr[oa,ul]mr utspstr etdhidece tc iosfti hoen
stahtieg'hcseo sutrW te.lv"lL. si dd1l8Fy63., d5 055,2 7-(248Ct ih1r 9.9 9")[.Ap ]r oper appliocfla etlxio roceniq uait roerst -abnya-lotyfows rhiteas nt oirsatl letgohe advb ee en compltdeoet teedtr hmpeil naoectf eh w er onCgo.c"krv uD.mo nJ.aT lrdu fmoPprr esIindce.n,t , 36F5.S u p3pd6. 5 626,(7 . EDV.a 2.0 1(9d)i scVuisrsgliiannwsgi)e Ma;ec MivlM.lc aMni llan, 21V9a 1.1 2275S,3. E6.6262d6,( 31 9(7a9ffi)r lmeilxnod gce il aithsce st eit rtulileVnedi rginia) "Thpel aocfthe ew rofonrpg u rpoosfte hlsee l xod ceil icitdsie firnauestl dhpe el awcheet rhee laesvten netc etsmosa arkayena ctloirafo bral nae l lteogtreatdkp elsae cveie,tfn h e haancsot or conotvrteohrlle o caotfti hloeane s vte nItn.sI"tn edevulC.s o .s tCaonnztar Caoc2.t7,iF6 n. g Sup2pd4. 7 498,(6E .VDa2..0 0(3d)i scVuisrsgliiannwAgi)c a.c ordthiepn lgaolctfyeh w, er ong correwsipttohhmne od mse wnhtet nhp el aicnatuiosfafefc stb ieognti aonc sc rCuoec.kr3 u6m5, FS.up3pda.6 t 6 s7e;e QvuI.in lPtll'ea/ny I tne7cx8.F,9,. 120d4 110,4( 44C tih1r 9.8 6). i.UntDreucee,p atnFidav lAesdv,ee rtising (VaC.o dAen§ n§.1 8.25-92.116-.6 8.3) Virgliangwio av eFrnosu ndautnitrodunee'c,se patnfaidlv saeed, v ertisIinn g cl Virgair niiogahfa,t c tfoirfao lnsa ed verctliasbiiemngsogi n nolsny ca pe l aihnastsui ffffe ar ed losSseK.el aivFb.re ere mAasssooIncn sc..,, 42746886,57 8,VS7a. .E 5.5255d5, (92 0V0a3.) ; CodAen §n§.1 8.2-216(,W e52s90t.2 1H2-e)6r.F8e o.,u3 n dsautffiehoranern dmow th eNnS G publtihswehe ebdsb iutoten ,lo yn ctehw ee bsdiitreep crtoesdp celcitieinVnv iters g tion ia Foundactoimopne'(tsCi atNsoo3re.:s 2.1 cEvC7NF3o 12.2,a , 1t 0 -1B1e.c)aN uSsGae l legedly
injFuoruendd iaVnti irogVnii nriglaia,anw pi patl toih efaesl asdev erctliasiimn.g iiC.onsptiIornj auAcrnyeo tihTner raB dues,i onrPer sosf,e ssion (VaC.o de1§8§. 2-499-500) Virgliaanwli asapo p tloFio eusn dactliaooifcnm o' nss ptiiorn ajacunyro eti hnter ra de, busionprer sosfe,s Tsopi roonv.e ac lsau"icapmh l, a imnutseitsff t a'b(la1ic )so hm:b ionfa tion twoomr o rpee rsforot nhpseu rpose aonmfda wliilcilinfuojluulsryli yni ghn i bpsul saiinnetsisff[ ; an(d2r )e sudlatmiatngpogel ainDtuinfflv.Ca."op 't tTmraann smSiys2ss8.Vi7,ao 2.n0 271,4 - 157,5S 4. E3.1233d1, (72 0(1q4u)oA tlilRneegna C lotyrv pH..o lb2e2Vr7at 4.,4 1,3414S89. ,E. 2d5 9529,(61 98"4N)co)a .uo sfae c teixoiwnsi ttsht ohrueet s uilntj.iury.n. ".gI da 3t1 6-17 (quoGtailnvlgS.o h pa 1r7pV9,a 3.3 353,189,S .E8.428,d6( 194A2sn) o)t.Fe odu,n dation suffeirtiesnd j iurnVy i rg9 iCnoinas.eqVuierngtlilanyawi,l a as pop ltioFe osu ndation' consptiiorn ajacurnyeo ittrnha edrbe u,s ionprer sosfe,sc sliaoinm . iiCio.mmLoanCw o nspiracy Virgliagnwoi vae Frnosu ndactoimomlnoa'ncws o nspcilraaaigcmay ti hndese tfe ndants. Toe staabc loimsmhlo ancw o nsptihrpeal cayim,nu tssithff ot wh "attw oorm orpee rsons combtiona ecdc om.p ls.io smc.her imoirun nalla pwufurlpo orss oeml ea wpfuulrp obsyae crimoiurnn allam wefualnT shfo.eu ndaotfaci ioavnci tloi fco onn spiitsrh daeac myac gaeu sed
byt haec ctosm miitfntu erdt hoetfrh caeon ncsep iCroamBc.uy Ss.y.v"s B. .e llSseoru2vt4sh9. , Va3.9 4,84 ,5 S3. E2.6221d6, (7 1 9(9e5m)p haadsd(ieidsn) t ceirntaaoltm iiotnTtshe ridus)l .e imptlhisaeutsff ehraircnmog n sttih"telu eatvseetisn an tc "o mmloacnwo nsplinrsaItcneyde.ul s ., 27F6. S2udap4 tp8 .s6 e;Ce o mB.uS sy.4s 5.S3,. Ea.2t26 d7B .e caFuosuen dsautffiehorarnem d iVni rg10iV niiragl,iaa nwpi patl ioit cesos m mloacnwo nspcilraaicmy. ivT.ortIinotuesr wfeirPterhno csep BeucstiionrvEe ecs osn Aodmviacn tage Virgliaanwpi patl Foio eusn dattoirotinin'otsue src fleaarigemain tnchsedet e fendants. Toe staacb llaifoisrtmh o ritnitoeurswfe iratbe hun scieon creo snstre axcpte ctancy, [tphlea imnutssithff]ot wh( a1ith)t a ad[ buseixnpeescs(t]2[an )tcd hyee;fe ndant] kneowft heex pec(t3a[)nt cdhyee;fe ndianntt]e ntiinotnearwlfilettyrhh e ed expec(t4[a)nt dcheyefe; n duanstie]md p rmoepaenrms e tohtroio dn st ewrifetrhe theex pecatnan(dc5[ y)t;p h lea isnutffieaflr f]oea sdass r esouf[l tdthe efe ndant's] disrouftp ht[eib ouns iness] expectancy. PrefSeyrSsro.el vds.G . PC onsuLlLtC2i,8nV 4ga ,3. 8 240,73 3,S2 . E6.7266d8, (8 2 012). Becatuhrseie go hfat c tdioonenos at c curnuttehi pell aisnutffiaelff ro sts hsle,o caotfti hoant losst-hciianss V ei,r g1-1iangiadaient ertmhaiepn pelsil caawSb.eCl eoe c kr3u6mF5,.S upp. 9S eseu pSreac 1t1i.oDn. l.c.i. 10S eseu pSreac 1t1i.oDn. 1.c.i. 11S eSee c1t1il.o.Dnc. . i. 3da 6t6 7C.o nseqVuierngltialgnwyoi ,va e Frnosu ndattoirotinin'otsue src felraeinmc.e v.CommLoanUw n fCaoimrp etition Ohiloa gwo veFrnosu ndactoimmoonln'a uswn fcaiorm pectliataiigmoa nit nhset defendVanitrsgn.ia nrirdaoe wfilunyne fasci orm peat"sid teicoebnpy mt eiaoonnwfs,h igcoho ds ofo ndee aarlepe arl omffea dst hoosfae n otMhoenro.Ifl"no tI 'nv/cS.,.a h7m2,F6 S. u p1p2.1 , 12(7E .VDa1..9 8(9q)u oBteinnjgT.a C mriunCm opv. J.. L L.i ndIsna1cy0.V,3,a 1.4 146,10 0,7
S.6E7.69 8,(4 1 92U1n)d)te.hrs i tsan dtahrredi ,go hfat c taipopnet aoarc sca rthtue em oment sudcehc eopctciurSoseni.e d H .e rea,l ltdehegece edop ctciuowrnhr eNenSd Gfa ilterode move fromt hwee bs"iastlpele cFiofiucn dMaetdiipocrnaa lci tnifocrmeau tpiotonen rm inoaftt hieo n parrteileast'i (oCnaNssoh3e.i: p2.l"cE vC7NF3o 92.,r ,1 00B.e)c aNuSsGfae i ltedodo s ofr om itOsh iooffi ce,l aOgwho ivoeF rnosun datcioomnml'oasunnw f aciorm pectliat(iiSmoCe.nae s e No3.: 21cEvC7NF3o 12.1, a, 3t - 4.) viU.nauthUosorePfi i zceatdnu Idrm ea ge FinaOlhlilyoa,g w o veDrnrNs.a rdone's uusonefpa iuctanthduoi rrmeia zcgeleda im agatihndese tfe ndVainrtglsia.pnw ri oah tihubesio etfan s o thneamreo' prsi cwtiutrhheoa uvti ng
obtatihnpaeetdr son'sV aCc.oo dAnens ne§8.n . t0.1 (-W4e20s0 t1 5I)nafa. l saed vertisin conttehFxeot u,Cr itrhhc aursie tc oga"n niazimeuseds foerda dvertpiusrpiownshgeei sant p pears ianp ublicDaetviAiodlnv'.os"Lc LavCtZ. eu ,r AimcI.hn C so.6. 6,F6 A. p p'x2 62(254 C6thi, r . 201(e6 m)p haadsdi(eds di )s cussilnagwA )pV.pi lrtyghisiintnsgani data pori dc ttuhlreoe csa,t ion opfu blictahtciiasosO neh-,ii on- saetsr hpvele aoscfi e n j(uCrayNs.o3e .: 2lcEvC7NF3o 2., 11a,3t - 4T.h)uO sh,il oag wo vetrnhcsil sa im. * * * Itno tVailr,gl iaanwpi patl fooiu eorstf h pel aicnltaiOiffhmsils'oa, g w o vetrnhsro etfeh e claainmfedsd ,e lraaawlp ptlFoio eusn dactoipoycnrl'iasgCi homtn. s eqtuheDinists lthyra,is c t sligmhotrfleay m iwliitahra lptyph leil caaawnb dl,e tthhecirosen fosried,e ration wei at ranSsefeCero .o rs CBorv.eO. wa iBkne gv erIan5gc4e.F,9,.S up2pd7. 6 747,(4 E .VDa.. 200(8n)o tthifeandtge rali Nnce owYu orrhtkas vg ere aterw ifctalhma ibilrmiosauu rgnihdttey r NewY orskt laattweh daonfe derali Vnci orugritnsi a).
2.DocCkoentd itions Althdooucgckhoe ntd irteicoemniisvn eiw meailig nhv te nturean sdfeerc istihoinss , considaelsrsuaopt pikooernet ptsihi neng s stuaiintntth s Di iss tKroih2c,5tF 0.S. u p2pda. 6t 3 9. Inc isvuiiltt hNseo, r therno fOD hiimsoat irniatcm atei dntisian frm oemfi litndogi spoosfi tion 9.m4o nths. UnitCeodu rSttsa-tJNeuasdt iicDoiinasaltl r iC4ca2(ts D ee3lc1o2.,a0 d2 1P)r,o fi https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/defaulItn/ files conttrhaDisists ,tm reidctitia'frmnsoe mfi litnodgi spoiscnii tsviuioiiln6st . sm6 o ntIhdas.t. 25F.urthermtohmreee d,ti iafrmnoe mfi l itntogr i issai mlxo nltohnsig tneh Nreo rtDhiesrnt rict ofO hitohi atnnh Diiss tIrd.ai 2tc5 t,. T 4h2ut.shD ,ii ss tridcotc'cksoe ntd ibteitsotunepsrp ort thien teorjfeu sdtiescc ioanloS meVyea. I. n nov9a2tF8iS. ou np2,pda . 8t 6 7.
3.InteiDrnee csitLd oicCnaogln troavHteo rmseies Virghianasgi rae iantteerir nte hseatsc et itohnadson e Osh iIod.T. h iCso uhrats recogtnhViaiztre gdhi aanss i uab stiannttieitnrah eolesu tt cooafcm aews hee trhieen jpuarretdy resiiVndi ersg ainntdih saet laetgei s"lhaeatnsua rclete egdi ssleaetktiiopon rngo Vtiercgti nia [citfriozmte htneys o]pfu en lacwofunlda ulcltea gites dsluVyee .r"i zoSne rOvvnR.sla .il nseky , 20F3S. u p2pd6. 0 612,(4 E .VDa2..0 02). InJ affve.L S CI orthpi.Cs,o uforutn tdh aap ta tceonntt rwoavlseo rctsaoNyl o rth CaroliVniar-gnionttiw ako-e rfoyer a sFoinrtssh.dte e, fe ndmaanntusfa cantdus rotelhdde patepnrtoediduNn co trC tarho li8n7Fa4.S. u p2pd4. 9 590,5 -(0E6.V Da2..0 12S)e.c ond, Virgciintiihaza nedons sp eicnitaeilrn te hoseut t cooftm hede i sbpeuctaetu hcsele a im only implifceadtenerosdatt l al,ta eIw,d.. Juasstt h Jea ffdee fendmaanntusfa ctpuarteedpn rttoehdideutn ch Nteo rCtarho ltihnea ,
defenhdesarinemt iscl rarelanaydtm eadi nttahwieen besidOin ht ieBo u.ut n lJiakffweeh ,et rhee defendsaontlthdpse r odiuntch steam efo ruimnw hitchhme ayn ufacituNtrS,eG cd r etahtee d webstimotar ekF eotu ndasteirovnia'foc sre umso uitnos fiw dheei rcter eatweedb stihtee -in thciassV ei,r gMionrieao.Vv ierrgh,ia ansd i ias tiinnticetrtn eh dsiitss pouuttec'bosem cea use boptlha irnetshiieffd1rs2aee n ,Vd i rgliagnwoi vaem rnosro ethf e p laicnltaitiffhmsdas'on Oe hsi o la13w S.eVee riOznol2ni0 nF3eS. ,u p2pda. 6t 2 4A.sar esVuilrtgm,io nrrieea a qduiallyai sfies thsei otthfue sc ontraonvhdeaa rss s tyr oinngteiertnr h eiesn tss tuainTtths ut.sh D,ii ss t(1r )i ct's betftaemri lwiiattrhhaie pt pyl ilca(aw2b,m)l o ere ef ficdioecnkte t caon(nd3ds )it trioonngse,r intiednre ecsitthd ilison cgca oln trcoovlelresscywt itinhvigeen ltyoe jfru essfattci tcioefanr v or omf ainttahiseun hiietnrsge .
IICIO.NCLUSION Fothrefo regroeiansgtho eCn osuw,ri tdl elnt yhd ee fendmanottsit'oto nr san svfeern ue. (3:21-EcCvNF-o 77.;3 13,: 2E1C-NFco v1.-1 7T.3h)C2e o, u wriitls lsa unae p proOprrdieart.e LethteC lesrekanc do potyfh Oipsi ntiaool cnlo unosrfee lc ord.
12S eseu pnroa6t .e 13S eseu pSreac 1t1io1n. D .1. Date: ee March 2022 Is/ Richmond, VA John A. Gibney, Jr. Senior United States District Judge