Michiana Dairy Processors, LLC v. All Star Beverage, Inc.

744 F. Supp. 2d 790, 2010 WL 3999581
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Indiana
DecidedOctober 12, 2010
Docket1:09-cv-00039
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 744 F. Supp. 2d 790 (Michiana Dairy Processors, LLC v. All Star Beverage, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Indiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Michiana Dairy Processors, LLC v. All Star Beverage, Inc., 744 F. Supp. 2d 790, 2010 WL 3999581 (N.D. Ind. 2010).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

PAUL R. CHERRY, United States Magistrate Judge.

This matter is before the Court on (1) a Motion for Summary Judgment [DE 171], filed by Defendants All Star Beverage, Inc., Prime Star Group, Inc. f/k/a American Water Star, Inc., All Star Beverage of Arizona, Inc., Geyser Beverage, Inc., Hawaiian Tropicals, Inc., Roger Mohlman, and Donna Mohlman (collectively “Defendants”) on July 15, 2010; and (2) an Objection to and Motion to Strike Certain Designated Evidence [DE 184], filed by Plaintiff Michiana Dairy Processors, LLC (“Michiana”). For the reasons set forth in this order, the Court grants in part and denies in part the Motion to Strike and grants the Motion for Summary Judgment.

PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

In the Lake Circuit Court, Michiana filed a Complaint against Star Beverage, Inc. and Roger Mohlman on April 14, 2004, a First Amended Complaint against All Star Beverage, Inc., American Water Star, Inc., All Star Beverage of Arizona, Inc., Geyser Beverages, Inc., Hawaiian Tropicals, Inc., John Doe, Jane Doe, and Roger Mohlman on March 17, 2008, and a Second Amended Complaint, adding Donna Mohlman as a defendant, on February 2, 2009.

Count I of the Second Amended Complaint for “Individual Liability” alleges the individual liability of Roger Mohlman. Count II for “Illegal Transfer of Assets” alleges that the corporate Defendants and Roger Mohlman violated Indiana and federal law, including the Indiana Fraudulent Transfer Act, by concealing, hiding, and secreting corporate assets and removing the assets in order to delay and/or prevent the attachment thereof by creditors and claimants. Count III for “Breach of Con *794 tract” alleges that the corporate Defendants’ conduct constitutes breach of contract and that as a direct and proximate result thereof, Michiana suffered damages. Count IV is for “Intentional Breach of Contract.” Count V for “Fradulent [sic] Inducement,” despite its subtitle, makes the same claims as Count IV for Intentional Breach of Contract. Against Donna Mohlman, in a section entitled “Third Party Claims Against Donna Mohlman,” Michiana alleges “Constructive Fraud,” a “Claim for Money Had and Received,” and “Fraudulent Concealment.”

On March 2, 2009, Donna Mohlman filed a Notice of Removal and an Answer and Counterclaim, alleging defamation. On April 1, 2009, Michiana filed a waiver of possible defects in the notice of removal.

On May 8, 2009, Defendants American Water Star, Inc., All Star Beverage of Arizona, Inc., Geyser Beverages, Inc., and Hawaiian Tropicals, Inc. (“American Water Star Defendants”) filed an Answer and a Counterclaim for abuse of process.

The same date, Defendant All Star Beverage, Inc. filed an Answer and a Counterclaim for breach of warranty of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.

On May 18, 2009, Michiana filed a Rule 12(f) Motion to Strike the Answer and Counterclaim of the American Water Star Defendants, which the Court denied on September 16, 2009, 263 F.R.D. 514 (N.D.Ind.2009). Michiana has not filed an Answer to the Counterclaim brought by the American Water Star Defendants.

On May 20, 2009, Michiana filed an Answer and Affirmative Defenses to Donna Mohlman’s Counterclaim.

On May 27, 2009, Michiana filed an Answer to the Counterclaim brought by All Star Beverage.

On December 4, 2009, Defendant All Star Beverage filed a Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to Rule 41(b), which the Court denied on February 11, 2010.

On July 15, 2010, Defendants filed the instant Motion for Summary Judgment and a memorandum in support. Having been granted an extension of time, Michiana filed a response in opposition to summary judgment on September 10, 2010, as well as the instant Motion to Strike. Defendants filed a reply in support of summary judgment on September 23, 2010, and a response in opposition to the Motion to Strike on September 28, 2010. Michiana did not file a reply in support of the Motion to Strike, and the time to do so has passed.

The parties orally agreed on the record to have this case assigned to a United States Magistrate Judge to conduct all further proceedings and to order the entry of a final judgment in this case. Therefore, this Court has jurisdiction to decide this case pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c).

MOTION TO STRIKE

In the motion, Michiana objects to and asks the Court to strike numerous exhibits submitted by Defendants in support of the Motion for Summary Judgment, citing generally and without argument Federal Rules of Evidence 104(a), 802, and 901.

1. Exhibit 2

Michiana argues that the letter that purports to be from the Indiana State Department of Health to Donna Mohlman, dated June 1, 2009, is hearsay and is not properly authenticated. This document is authenticated pursuant to Federal Rule of Evidence 901(b)(7), which provides for authentication based on evidence that a “purported public record, report, statement, or data compilation, in any form, is from the public office where items of this nature are kept.” Fed. R. Ev. 901(b)(7). However, *795 the contents of the letter are hearsay, as the contents are being offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted, namely that the author was unable to locate any records of registration by Michiana Dairy Processors, LLC with the Food Protection Program. Although the contents of the letter being offered to show the absence of a public record qualifies as an exception to the hearsay rule under Rule 803(10), that rule in turn requires self-authentication under Federal Rule of Evidence 902, which is not met. See Fed. R. Ev. 803(10), 902(2). Accordingly, the hearsay objection is sustained, and the Court strikes Exhibit 2.

2. Exhibits 3,I, and 5

Michiana argues, without discussion, that the Heartland bankruptcy documents are irrelevant. Federal Rule of Evidence 401 provides that, in order to be admissible, evidence must be relevant, meaning that it tends “to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence.” Fed. R. Ev. 401. Defendants offer these documents in support of background information concerning Dixie Dairy and Michiana Dairy; accordingly, the Court finds they are relevant.

Michiana also argues that the documents are not properly authenticated because they are not certified copies as required by Rule 902. Federal Rule of Evidence 902 provides that “[ejxtrinsic evidence of authenticity as a condition precedent to admissibility is not required” for certified copies of public records. Fed. R. Ev. 902(4).

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744 F. Supp. 2d 790, 2010 WL 3999581, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/michiana-dairy-processors-llc-v-all-star-beverage-inc-innd-2010.