Trinity Graphic, USA, Inc. v. Tervis Tumbler Co.

320 F. Supp. 3d 1285
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Florida
DecidedJuly 30, 2018
DocketCase No.: 8:18-cv-230-T-24MAP
StatusPublished
Cited by27 cases

This text of 320 F. Supp. 3d 1285 (Trinity Graphic, USA, Inc. v. Tervis Tumbler Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Trinity Graphic, USA, Inc. v. Tervis Tumbler Co., 320 F. Supp. 3d 1285 (M.D. Fla. 2018).

Opinion

SUSAN C. BUCKLEW, United States District Judge

This cause comes before the Court on Defendant Tervis Tumbler Company's Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's Amended Complaint (Doc. 44) and Defendants' Southern Graphics, Inc. and SGS International, LLC's Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's Amended Complaint (Doc. 45) pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). Plaintiff filed a response in opposition to each motion (Doc. 50 and 51). Defendants *1290then filed a joint reply (Doc. 58). As explained below, Defendants' motions are DENIED .

I. Background

Plaintiff, Trinity Graphic, USA, Inc., filed its Amended Complaint against Defendants Tervis Tumbler Company ("Tervis"), Southern Graphics, Inc. ("Southern"), and SGS International, LLC. ("SGS")1 on April 17, 2018.

Plaintiff is a small Florida-based digital print solutions company that specializes in developing state-of-the-art printing technology. (Doc. 42 at ¶ 6). Defendant, Tervis, is a Florida-based company nationally known for manufacturing insulated double-walled cups known as "tumblers." (Doc. 42 at ¶ 16). Tervis tumblers are unique because they are customized with "tumbler inserts," designs inserted between the double-wall of the tumblers. (Doc. 42 at ¶ 17). These tumbler inserts often consist of licensed imagery, designs, and logos. (Doc. 42 at ¶ 17). For many years, the Tervis tumbler inserts were made from single-sided flat images, often in the form of a fabric patch. (Doc. 42 at ¶ 17). Plaintiff developed technology, processes, and procedures known collectively as the "Trinity Wrap," which allowed it to print specialized, high-quality graphics on Tervis's drinkware and became one of Tervis's leading suppliers. (Doc. 42).

In this action, Plaintiff alleges that Tervis conspired with the SGS Defendants to steal its trade secrets worth millions of dollars and cut Plaintiff out of the market. (Doc. 42 at ¶ 1). Plaintiff alleges that Tervis grew tired of paying Plaintiff for its specialized printing technique, and when Tervis failed to replicate the process on its own, formulated a plan to trick Plaintiff into sharing its printing techniques while stealing its trade secrets. (Doc. 42 at ¶ 2). Plaintiff further alleges that the SGS Defendants were Tervis's willing co-conspirators that aided Tervis's fraud and theft of Plaintiff's trade secrets, and assured Tervis that they could provide it the same printing service once they obtained the right information from Plaintiff. (Doc. 42 at ¶ 2).

Plaintiff pleads these allegations in a six-count Amended Complaint against Tervis and the SGS Defendants: Count I, Misappropriation of Trade Secrets in Violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1836(b) as to Tervis; Count II, Misappropriation of Trade Secrets in Violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1836(b) as to Southern; Count III, Breach of Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement; Count IV, Fraud as to Tervis; Count V, Aiding and Abetting Fraud as to the SGS Defendants; and Count VI, Civil Conspiracy as to all Defendants. (Doc. 42).

Tervis and the SGS Defendants now move to dismiss Plaintiff's Amended Complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). (Doc. 44 and 45). Additionally, Defendants' motions to dismiss allege that Plaintiff's Amended Complaint fails to meet the heightened pleading requirements of Fed. R. Civ. P. 9(b), or in the alternative, the requirements of Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). (Doc. 44 and 45).

Specifically, Tervis argues that Count I of the Amended Complaint should be dismissed because Plaintiff fails to establish that its methods and processes satisfy the statutory definition of "trade secrets" pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1839(3) ; and Plaintiff fails to establish that Tervis's actions constitute "misappropriation" pursuant to *129118 U.S.C. § 1839(5). (Doc. 44, p. 2). As to Count III, Tervis argues that dismissal is appropriate because the Non-Disclosure Agreement ("NDA") entered into between Plaintiff and Tervis specifically excludes "techniques" from the NDA's definition of "Confidential Information." (Doc. 44, p. 3). Tervis argues that Count IV should be dismissed because Plaintiff fails to plead with particularity the circumstances constituting fraud in conformance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 9(b). (Doc. 44, p. 4). Finally, Tervis argues that Count VI for Civil Conspiracy should be dismissed based on Plaintiff's failure to allege a valid claim for misappropriation of trade secrets and fraud. (Doc. 44, p. 4).

The SGS Defendants' Motion to Dismiss is likewise brought pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). (Doc. 45). First, the SGS Defendants argue that Plaintiff fails to satisfy the heightened pleading standards of Fed. R. Civ. P. 9(b) in its allegations of fraud. (Doc. 45 at ¶ 8a). Second, the SGS Defendants argue that Count V fails to sufficiently plead the "substantial assistance element" of aiding and abetting fraud. (Doc. 45 at ¶ 8b). As for Count III, the SGS Defendants posit that since they were not a party to the NDA between Plaintiff and Tervis, Count III should be dismissed. (Doc. 45 at ¶ 8c). Finally, the SGS Defendants argue that Count VI should be dismissed because Plaintiff fails to show the existence of an underlying tort and the allegation of civil conspiracy is not pleaded with the particularity required under the Federal Rules of Procedure. (Doc. 45 at ¶ 8d).

In response to Defendants' motions to dismiss, Plaintiff argues that it has adequately and specifically pleaded its claims pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1839(3), and that many of the issues Defendants raise are questions of fact to be resolved by a jury after full presentation of the evidence. (Doc. 50 at page 3 and Doc. 51 at page 4).

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Bluebook (online)
320 F. Supp. 3d 1285, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/trinity-graphic-usa-inc-v-tervis-tumbler-co-flmd-2018.