New America Marketing FSI LLC v. MGA Entertainment, Inc.

187 F. Supp. 3d 476, 2016 WL 3525302
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedMay 20, 2016
Docket14-CV-4266
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 187 F. Supp. 3d 476 (New America Marketing FSI LLC v. MGA Entertainment, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
New America Marketing FSI LLC v. MGA Entertainment, Inc., 187 F. Supp. 3d 476, 2016 WL 3525302 (S.D.N.Y. 2016).

Opinion

DECISION AND ORDER

VICTOR MARRERO, United States District Judge.

The Court has received motions in limine pertaining to the trial in the matter of News America Marketing FSI LLC v. MGA Entertainment, Inc. As a preliminary matter, the Court notes that many of the in limine motions the parties have brought reflect inappropriate use of such motions. The purpose of in limine motions is to enable the Court to rule on disputes over the admissibility of discrete items of evidence. See TVT Records v. Island Def Jam Music Grp., 250 F.Supp.2d 341, 344 (S.D.N.Y.2003), United States v. Chan, 184 F.Supp.2d 337, 340 (S.D.N.Y.2002) (“The purpose of a motion in limine is to allow the trial court to rule in advance of trial on [479]*479the admissibility and relevance of certain forecasted evidence.”).

Six motions in limine were filed by plaintiff News America Marketing FSI LLC (“NAM”). A summary of NAM’S requests and the Court’s rulings thereon follow.

NAM requests that the Court:

(1) exclude evidence of objection to an account stated in its entirety pursuant to Federal Rule of Evidence (“FRE”) 402: DENIED
(2) exclude evidence of non-performance by NAN pursuant to FRE 402 and 403: DENIED
(3) exclude evidence or testimony that refers to an alleged fraud or the dismissed counterclaims, or that references an auditun its entirety pursuant to FRE 402 and 403: GRANTED IN PART
(4) exclude evidence or testimony regarding defendant MGA Entertainment, Ine.’s (“MGA”) counterclaim for negligent misrepresentation: DENIED
(5) exclude evidence or testimony concerning MGA’s new, unpled negligent misrepresentation theory: DENIED
(6) exclude the testimony of Andrea Ma-singale (“Masingale”) pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure (“FRCP”) 37(c)(1): GRANTED

MGA also filed a motion in limine. A summary of MGA’s requests and the Court’s rulings thereon follow. MGA requests that the Court:

(1) exclude evidence relating to the claim for an account stated brought by NAM pursuant to FRE 403: DENIED

In the following discussion, each of the motions is addressed in turn, beginning with NAM’S motions.

I. EVIDENCE OF OBJECTION TO ACCOUNT STATED

Federal Rule of Evidence 402 provides that relevant evidence is generally admissible, and FRE 403 provides that evidence that is relevant may nonetheless be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by, among other considerations, the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury. NAM seeks specifically to preclude any evidence that MGA requested information or back-up documentation from NAM after receiving NAM’S invoice. NAM asserts that any request for information made by MGA was, as a matter of law, not an objection to the account stated and therefore any information regarding such a request for information, is neither relevant nor probative of whether NAM has made out its account stated claim. NAM further asserts that what probative value any evidence of a .request for information about the coupon program may have is substantially outweighed by undue prejudice to NAM and the danger of confusion of the issues for the jury. •

Defendant counters that whether MGA stated an objection to the account within a reasonable time is a question of fact that should be left to a jury. MGA argues that evidence of an objection to the invoice is- a factual dispute over a required element of NAM’S account stated claim and they intend to show evidence that MGA did make a specific objection to the invoice.

Where there is a dispute over the correctness of the account, the account stated cause of action fails. DiMare Homestead, Inc. v. Alphas Co. of New York, No. 09 Civ. 6644, 2012 WL 1155133, at *22-23 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 5, 2012).. Where the question in an account stated claim is whether the alleged debtor retained a statement of account without objecting within a reasonable time, the issue “almost always is for [480]*480the jury.” See Trend & Style Asia HK Co. v. Pac. Worldwide, Inc., No. 14 Civ. 9992, 2015 WL 4190746, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. July 10, 2015); see also Epstein v. Turecamo, 258 A.D.2d 502, 684 N.Y.S.2d 621, 622 (2d Dept.1999). The Court concludes that evidence of objection to NAM’S account stated is relevant, to the central elements of the account stated claim—specifically whether the parties agreed upon the account—and sufficiently probative to outweigh any prejudice to MGA. Accordingly, NAM’S motion to exclude evidence that MGA requested information or back-up documentation from NAM after receiving NAM’S invoice is DENIED.

II. EVIDENCE OF NONPERFORMANCE

NAM also seeks to exclude evidence of non-performance by NAM as irrelevant and prejudicial pursuant to FRE 402 and 403. First, NAM argues that any evidence of non-performance by NAM should be excluded as it was not raised within 120 days as required by the May 31 credit agreement (“Credit Agreement”). NAM further asserts that any evidence involving alleged performance obligations outside the scope of NAM’S contractual obligations and duties should be excluded as irrelevant to NAM’S performance under the Letter of Commitment.

With respect to the 120-day limitation period, MGA argues that the Letter of Commitment, which includes no similar time limit, superseded the Credit Agreement. The Court notes that the parties agreed that the Letter of Commitment should “supersede all prior agreements.” Regardless of the application of the limitations period, MGA asserts that it intends to present evidence of an objection made within the 120 day objection period. Such evidence, in addition to evidence of NAM’S non-performance under the Letter of Commitment, is clearly relevant to the central elements of NAM’S claim of breach of contract against MGA. NAM’S entire motion to exclude evidence of non-performance is therefore DENIED.

III. EVIDENCE THAT REFERS TO ALLEGED FRAUD OR DISMISSED COUNTERCLAIMS, OR REFERENCES AN AUDIT

NAM asserts that evidence or testimony that refers to an alleged fraud or dismissed counterclaims, or that refer to an audit of the coupon program proposed internally by MGA, should be excluded. NAM asserts that such evidence should be precluded under FRE 403 because such evidence relates to fraud-based counterclaims that have been dismissed and would prejudice NAM and confuse the jury.

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Bluebook (online)
187 F. Supp. 3d 476, 2016 WL 3525302, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/new-america-marketing-fsi-llc-v-mga-entertainment-inc-nysd-2016.