Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. v. Cook

201 F. Supp. 3d 547, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 108252, 2016 WL 4414773
CourtDistrict Court, D. Delaware
DecidedAugust 16, 2016
DocketCivil Action No. 15-468-RGA
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 201 F. Supp. 3d 547 (Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. v. Cook) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Delaware primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. v. Cook, 201 F. Supp. 3d 547, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 108252, 2016 WL 4414773 (D. Del. 2016).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

ANDREWS, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE:

Presently before the Court are two motions to dismiss filed by Defendants. (D.I. 25, 29). Mr. Cook, Mr. Gregor, and Ms. Whitaker (collectively “the Delaware Defendants”) move pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6). Kelmar moves pursuant to Fed, R, Civ. P. 12(b)(1), 12(b)(6), and 12(b)(7). The issues have been My briefed. (D.I. 26, 30, 33, 35, 36, 38). The Court heard oral argument. (D.I. 45). For the reasons stated herein, the Delaware Defendants’ motion to dismiss is GRANTED, and Kelmar’s motion to dismiss is GRANTED.

I. BACKGROUND

This dispute concerns the enforcement of Delaware’s unclaimed property laws. “Unclaimed” or “abandoned” property is property held, but not owned, by a business, where there has been no contact with the owner for a “dormancy period.” Del. Code Ann. tit. 12, § 1198. That person or organization is deemed the “holder” of the property, while the owner is “any person ... having the legal or equitable title to the property ,...” Id. Every business which holds unclaimed property must, each year, “file [a report] with the State Es-cheator,” which must include certain information about the property and its possible owner. Del. Code Ann. tit. 12, § 1199. The State Escheator of Delaware is authorized to conduct unclaimed property examinations “to determine whether the person [or business] has complied with any provisions” of the Delaware unclaimed property laws.1 Del. Code Ann. tit. 12, § 1155(a). This is commonly called an “audit”- and is conducted by an “Audit Manager.” In situations where business records “are insufficient to permit the preparation of the report, the State Escheator may require the holder [of unclaimed property] to report and pay to the State the amount ... that the State Escheator reasonably estimates to be due —” Del. Code Ann. tit. 12, § 1155(b).

If the Audit Manager “determines that a holder has underreported abandoned or unclaimed property” which it owes, the Audit Manager must inform the holder, who then has sixty days to file “a written protest” with the Audit Manager, identifying “the specific grounds upon which the protest is based.” Del. Code Ann. tit. 12, § 1156(a)-(b). While the Audit Manager only considers the issues set out in the protest, “[t]he holder may submit additional documentation and written submissions ... in support of the protest.” Del. Code Ann. tit. 12, § 1156(c)-(d). If the Audit Manager, makes an adverse determination, the holder may appeal that determination to the Secretary of Finance. Del. Code Ann, tit. 12, § 1156(f)-(g). The Secretary of Finance “shall ... appoint a person ... to act as an independent reviewer to consider the appeal of the Audit Manager’s findings” under a de novo standard. Del. Code Ann. tit. 12, § 1156(g)-(h).2 After .the inde[552]*552pendent reviewer’s determination is made, “[e]ither the holder or the Secretary of Finance may ... appeal [that] determination to the Court of Chancery.” Del. Code Ann. tit. 12, § 1156(j). That review “shall be limited to whether the independent reviewer’s determination was supported by substantial evidence on the record.” Id.

On October 22, 2014, the Delaware Defendants informed Plaintiff that Delaware “would be conducting an examination of [Plaintiffs] ‘books and records,’ and the ‘books and records’ of [Plaintiffs] ‘Subsidiaries and Related Entities.’ ” (D.I. 21 ¶53). In late November, the third-party auditor, Kelmar, delivered to plaintiff an examination guide, a copy of its Confidentiality & Non-Disclosure Agreement, and its initial document requests. (Id. ¶¶ 56-58). Plaintiff refused to submit to the audit, and communicated a number of objections to both Kelmar and Ms. Whitaker, the Audit Manager. (Id. ¶¶ 59-66, 70-73). These objections included Kelmar “having a financial stake in the Audit’s outcome,” “Kelmar’s insistence on a multistate audit in which it is given authorization to share [Plaintiffs] confidential information with other states,” “the breadth and rationale] of Kelmar’s initial document requests,” and “Kelmar’s use of ‘estimation.’” (Id. ¶ 60). Ms. Whitaker, in her March 30, 2015 response, stated that Delaware would “not agree to a bar on the use of estimation techniques” and refused Plaintiffs request that Delaware sign a confidentiality agreement. (Id. ¶¶ 70-71). At the conclusion of her letter, Ms. Whitaker “directed [Plaintiff] to fully cooperate with Kelmar, produce the records requested, and schedule an opening conference.” (Id. ¶ 73).

Plaintiff, on June 5, 2015, filed this action. (D.I. 1). On August 17, 2015, Plaintiff filed the Amended Complaint, alleging violations of the Fourth Amendment, substantive due process, procedural due process, the void for vagueness doctrine, the Ex Post Facto Clause, the Takings Clause, and the Equal Protection Clause. (D.I. 21). Plaintiff also asserts conspiracy and preemption claims. (Id.). Plaintiff seeks declaratory relief, injunctive relief, and attorneys’ fees. (Id.). On September 4, 2015, Kelmar and the Delaware Defendants moved to dismiss. (D.I. 21, 25, 29).

It should be noted that, while these motions to dismiss were pending, this Court issued an opinion relevant to some of the issues raised by Plaintiffs Amended Complaint. See Temple-Inland, Inc. v. Cook, 192 F.Supp.3d 527, 2016 WL 3536710 (D.Del. June 28, 2016) (Sleet, J.). In that case, Delaware assessed liability on the plaintiff through the use of estimation. Id. at 537-38, at *6. The liability assessed to the plaintiff was reduced by the Audit Manager, and further reduced by the independent reviewer. Id. Instead of filing an appeal with the Court of Chancery, as contemplated by the statute, the plaintiff filed an action in district court, challenging the constitutionality of the audit. Id. At summary judgment, the court concluded that Delaware’s audit had violated substantive due process. Id. at 540-41, 549-50, at *8, *16. The court, however, “defer[red] its decision on the subject of an appropriate remedy until another day.” Id. at 550-51, at *17.

II. LEGAL STANDARD

Rule 8(a) requires “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). When reviewing a motion to dismiss pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12

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Related

Marathon Petroleum Corp. v. Cook
208 F. Supp. 3d 576 (D. Delaware, 2016)

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Bluebook (online)
201 F. Supp. 3d 547, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 108252, 2016 WL 4414773, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/plains-all-american-pipeline-lp-v-cook-ded-2016.