Opinion
CIVIL ACTION NO. 10-10754-RWZ
11-26-2012
DOUGLAS O. NYSTEDT, JR., Individually and as Administrator of the Estate of Evan T. Nystedt v. EARL D. MUNROE et al.
ORDER
ZOBEL, D.J.
Construing his pleadings liberally, plaintiff Douglas O. Nystedt, Jr. ("Douglas") claims that defendant Earl D. Munroe ("Earl") mismanaged the affairs and plundered the estate of Douglas' brother, Evan T. Nystedt ("Evan"). He also claims that various other defendants conspired with Earl in his misdeeds. Several pending motions are ripe for decision.
I. Russell's Motion to Dismiss
Defendant Russell F. Munroe, Jr. ("Russell") is Earl's father. Douglas claims Russell conspired with other defendants to facilitate Earl's misdeeds, and so raises two claims against Russell under 18 U.S.C. 1962(d), which prohibits conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act ("RICO"). Douglas alleges three overt acts by Russell to further this conspiracy: executing two mortgages and a quitclaim deed on a house in which Earl apparently lived for some time (the "Clark Lane property"). Douglas additionally alleges that Russell submitted false application materials in connection with the mortgages.
The complaint is a model of legal murkiness. Nearly its entire length is taken up by conclusory allegations parroting the elements of various offenses, with practically no facts giving context to its claims. Instead, the factual allegations that should have been in the complaint appear in the affidavit of Douglas' counsel attached to his opposition to the motion to dismiss. It appears Douglas' theory is that the two mortgages were fraudulent because Russell told the lending bank in each case that the Clark Lane property was his second home, when in fact Earl lived there. As for the quitclaim deed, Douglas apparently contends Russell executed it so that Earl could sell the house and flee the jurisdiction with the proceeds.
Russell moves to dismiss the entire complaint. But as he is only named in two counts of the twenty-three count complaint, I only consider his arguments as to the two counts against him. On those counts, Russell's argument that Douglas has failed to plausibly allege causation is dispositive. A civil RICO claim requires "proximate cause between defendants' wrongful conduct and plaintiffs' injuries." Platten v. HG Bermuda Exempted Ltd., 437 F.3d 118, 132 (1st Cir. 2006); see also Holmes v. Sec. Investor Prot. Corp., 503 U.S. 258 (1992). Here, Douglas' allegations against Russell are completely separate from the injuries he alleges. The alleged mortgage fraud and sale of the Clark Lane property were totally unrelated to Earl's mismanagement and plundering of Evan's estate. The only connection Douglas puts forward is that Russell's actions helped Earl obtain value from the Clark Lane property and then escape his creditors (including Douglas). But even if Russell made it harder for Douglas to collect compensation from Earl after his injuries, that would not proximately cause Douglas' injuries. And Douglas' conclusory allegation that Russell "knew or should have known" about various other acts by Earl, Docket # 131 (third amended complaint) at 6, is not enough to plausibly show Russell's actions were part of a broader conspiracy to help Earl succeed in his other misdeeds. The claims against Russell are therefore dismissed.
At the time Russell filed his motion, Douglas had sought leave to file a third amended complaint, which the court subsequently granted. I therefore consider Russell's motion as addressing the third amended complaint, which is the currently active complaint in this case.
II. Earl's Motion to Set Aside Default
On July 24, 2012, Douglas moved for entry of default as to Earl when Earl failed to timely respond to the third amended complaint. The court granted that motion the next day. Earl now moves to set aside the default on the ground that he had thought the court's order of November 22, 2010, dismissed the action against him for lack of service as well as lack of subject matter jurisdiction, and so he had believed Douglas was still required to serve him.
Earl has failed to show good cause why the default should be set aside. He does not deny that he was properly served at the beginning of this action. The court's order of November 22, 2010, deals only with the question of subject matter jurisdiction and gives no reason to believe the court found Earl had not been properly served. Earl's asserted justification for his failure to answer the complaint is therefore difficult to credit. Furthermore, Earl gives no reason to believe that he could or would raise any meritorious defense in this action if the default were set aside. His motion is therefore denied.
III. Douglas' Motion for Entry of Default
Douglas moves for entry of default against defendant Elizabeth Gonzalez ("Gonzalez"), Earl's wife. The motion is denied because Gonzalez has not been served.
IV. Palmer's Request to Withdraw
Russell's attorney, William M. Palmer ("Palmer"), has requested leave to withdraw as counsel. Russell has not opposed the request. It is therefore allowed.
V. Conclusion
Russell's motion to dismiss (Docket # 123) is ALLOWED to the extent that the counts against him are dismissed for failure to state a claim. His motion for leave to file a reply brief (Docket # 137) is DENIED as moot.
Earl's motion to set aside his default (Docket # 149) is DENIED, and Douglas' motion for an extension of time to respond to that motion (Docket # 154) is ALLOWED. Douglas' motion for entry of default against Gonzalez (Docket # 156) is DENIED.
Palmer's motion to withdraw (Docket # 151) is ALLOWED.
At this point, the only defendants who have been served and who remain in the case are Earl, Michael M. McArdle, Munroe & McArdle, and George P. Lordan. A status conference will be held on December 19, 2012, at 2:30 p.m.
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RYA W. ZOBEL
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE