Groupwell International (HK) Ltd. v. Gourmet Express, LLC

277 F.R.D. 348, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 129621, 2011 WL 5434284
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Kentucky
DecidedNovember 9, 2011
DocketCivil Action No. 4:09-CV-00094-JHM
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 277 F.R.D. 348 (Groupwell International (HK) Ltd. v. Gourmet Express, LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Kentucky primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Groupwell International (HK) Ltd. v. Gourmet Express, LLC, 277 F.R.D. 348, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 129621, 2011 WL 5434284 (W.D. Ky. 2011).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

JOSEPH H. McKINLEY, JR., District Judge.

This matter is before the Court on Plaintiff Groupwell International (HK) Limited’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on Defendant’s Counterclaims [DN 55] and Motion for Protective Order [DN 58] and Defendant Counter-claimant Gourmet Express, LLC’s Motion for Relief Pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(d) and 54(b) [DN 59] and Motion to Compel Discovery [DN 63]. Fully briefed, these matters are ripe for decision.

I. BACKGROUND1

This controversy arises out of a contract dispute between Groupwell, a seller of frozen seafood and vegetables, and Gourmet, a manufacturer of frozen dinners. Groupwell filed suit against Gourmet alleging breach of contract on September 25, 2009. On November 8, 2010, Gourmet filed its Second Amended Answer and Counterclaims against Group-well alleging that Groupwell, along with two former Gourmet executives, Robert Scully and Kevin Scully, conspired to overcharge Gourmet for its products through the use of fraudulent invoices. The Seullys would then approve the fraudulent invoices and cause Gourmet to pay the invoices. The overcharge that was received by Groupwell was then redistributed in the form of a kickback to the Seullys and members of their families.

Similar claims were alleged against the Seullys in an earlier lawsuit by Ken Sliz. Sliz and the Seullys were part owners of Gourmet in 2007 when the Seullys and Gourmet filed suit against Sliz in Bexar County, Texas District Court. Sliz answered the complaint and counterclaimed, individually [352]*352and derivatively on behalf of Gourmet, alleging that the Scullys were part of a fraudulent invoice self-dealing scheme involving Siam Star Seafood, N&D International business Consultants, Ltd., N&DD, and Groupwell International (HK) Limited. While the counterclaims discussed these several business entities, none of the entities were ever made a party to the suit.

After the Texas lawsuit was filed, Gourmet filed a Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Petition in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas in August 2007. At some point, Ilex Capital Group, LLC was contacted about potentially purchasing Sliz’s interest in Gourmet. Ilex eventually agreed to purchase a controlling share in Gourmet. As part of this agreement, the parties to the Bexar County, Texas lawsuit agreed to enter into a Settlement Agreement releasing their respective claims against one another.

The Settlement Agreement was executed on January 25, 2008. The Settlement Agreement explicitly identified Robert Scully, Nu-chanat Scully, Kevin Scully, Terumi Scully, James Scully, Sharon Scully, Kenneth Sliz, Laurene Sliz, Gourmet Express, LLC, S & S Sourcing and Marketing, LLC, Commodity Packing and Trading Co., Ltd., and BKK Properties, Ltd. as the “Parties” to the Settlement Agreement. The Settlement Agreement also identified Groupwell International (HK) Limited and several other entities as non-parties. Under the Settlement Agreement, the Parties agreed to release all existing and potential claims against one another. The Slizs and Groupwell also agreed to release all existing and potential claims against one another. After execution of the Settlement Agreement, the Scullys, Sliz, and Gourmet filed an Agreed Order of Dismissal with Prejudice in the Bexar County, Texas District Court. The Order was entered on January 30, 2008, and the case was dismissed.

In the instant case, Gourmet’s counterclaims against Groupwell alleging fraud and civil conspiracy, among other things, are based upon the same factual basis as the counterclaims that Ken Sliz brought individually and on behalf of Gourmet in the Bexar County, Texas lawsuit. Gourmet additionally alleges that Groupwell misrepresented its true management and was a party to the fraudulent invoices charged to Gourmet. Groupwell has now moved for partial summary judgment on these claims.

II. STANDARD OF REVIEW

Before the Court may grant a motion for summary judgment, it must find that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a). The moving party bears the initial burden of specifying the basis for its motion and of identifying that portion of the record which demonstrates the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). Once the moving party satisfies this burden, the non-moving party thereafter must produce specific facts demonstrating a genuine issue of fact for trial. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247-48, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986).

Although the Court must review the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, the non-moving party is required to do more than simply show there is some “metaphysical doubt as to the material facts.” Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986). The rule requires the non-moving party to present specific facts showing that a genuine factual issue exists by “citing to particular parts of materials in the record” or by “showing that the materials cited do not establish the absence ... of a genuine dispute[.]” Fed. R. Civ.P. 56(c)(1). “The mere existence of a scintilla of evidence in support of the [non-moving party’s] position will be insufficient; there must be evidence on which the jury could reasonably find for the [non-moving party].” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 252, 106 S.Ct. 2505.

III. DISCUSSION

A. Groupwell’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment

Plaintiff Groupwell has moved for partial summary judgment as to Defendant Gourmet’s counterclaims contending that the [353]*353claims are barred by an earlier release contained in the Settlement Agreement executed in the Bexar County, Texas lawsuit. Alternatively, Groupwell contends that it is entitled to summary judgment based upon the doctrine of res judicata.

1. Release Through Settlement Agreement

The Settlement Agreement at issue in this ease was created to resolve the earlier Bexar County, Texas lawsuit between the Scullys and the Slizs. Groupwell contends that the Settlement Agreement released any claims against Groupwell based on conduct of Groupwell on or before January 25, 2008, the effective date of the Settlement Agreement. As this ease is based upon diversity jurisdiction, the Court would normally “apply the law, including the choice of law rules, of the forum state,” Kentucky. Himmel v. Ford Motor Co., 342 F.3d 593, 598 (6th Cir.2003). However, the Settlement Agreement contains a choice of law provision which states that it is to be interpreted in accordance with Texas law.

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277 F.R.D. 348, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 129621, 2011 WL 5434284, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/groupwell-international-hk-ltd-v-gourmet-express-llc-kywd-2011.