Opinion
20-cv-06850-MMC
07-01-2022
CRESCENT POINT ENERGY CORP., Plaintiff, v. TACHYUS CORPORATION, Defendant.
ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART PLAINTIFF/ COUNTER DEFENDANT'S MOTION TO DISMISS AND TO STRIKE
MAXINE M. CHESNEY, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE.
Before the Court is plaintiff/counterdefendant Crescent Point Energy Corp.'s ("Crescent Point") "Motion to Dismiss Counterclaim and Strike Affirmative Defenses," filed April 27, 2022. Defendant/counterclaimant Tachyus Corporation ("Tachyus") has filed opposition, to which Crescent Point has replied. Having read and considered the papers filed in support of and in opposition to the motion, the Court rules as follows.
Crescent Point failed to provide the Court with a courtesy copy of its reply. Nonetheless, the Court has considered it. For future reference, Crescent Point is reminded that, pursuant to the Court's Standing Orders, parties are required to provide for use in chambers one paper copy of each document that is filed electronically.
By order filed June 29, 2022, the Court took the matter under submission.
A. Motion to Dismiss Counterclaim
Tachyus asserts one counterclaim, titled "Breach of Written Contract," in which it alleges Crescent Point breached the parties' contract by failing to pay a "$150,000 CDN" monthly fee to access Tachyus's software (see Countercl. ¶¶ 36-40), and by "never pa[ying] the Early Termination Fee to which Tachyus was entitled," which fee, as calculated by Tachyus, is "$510,000 CDN" (see Countercl. ¶¶ 47-50). Crescent Point argues both claims are subject to dismissal.
The contract consists of three documents (see Countercl. ¶ 34), titled, respectively, "Tachyus Master Subscription Agreement" (see Countercl. Ex. A), "Statement of Work" (see Countercl. Ex. B), and "Addendum" (see Countercl. Ex. C).
The answer and counterclaim are contained in a single document titled "Answer to First Amended Complaint and Counterclaim," with the answer comprising paragraphs numbered 1 through 255, along with affirmative and other defenses set forth in unnumbered paragraphs, and the counterclaim comprising paragraphs numbered 1 through 52. For purposes of clarity, the Court, in its citations herein, has designated the two sections of the pleading as "Answer" and "Countercl."
1. Failure to Pay Monthly Fee
Under the parties' contract, Tachyus "grant[ed]" Crescent Point the "right to access the features and functions of the applicable Tachyus Service" (see Countercl. Ex. A ¶ 2.1), specifically, "Aqueon, powered by Data Physics™" (see Countercl. Ex. B at 3). The parties also agreed to a "two-year engagement at $150,000 CDN per month." (See Countercl. Ex. B at 3). Tachyus alleges Crescent Point paid the monthly fee for the first seven months of the two-year term (see Countercl. ¶¶ 14, 39), but made no further payments (see Countercl. ¶ 39).
Crescent Point argues the counterclaim lacks facts sufficient to establish Crescent Point owed a duty to pay the above-referenced monthly fees, because Tachyus has not alleged it performed an act that, according to Crescent Point, constitutes a condition precedent to Crescent Point's obligation to pay those fees. In particular, Crescent Point relies on a paragraph in the contract providing that "all undisputed fees due [under the contract] shall be due and payable within forty five (45) days of the date of [Crescent Point's] receipt of the applicable invoice." (See Countercl. Ex. A ¶ 4.1.)
Under California law, "[a] condition precedent is either an act of a party that must be performed or an uncertain event that must happen before the contractual right accrues or the contractual duty arises." See JMR Constr. Corp. v. Environmental Assessment & Remediation Mgmt., Inc., 243 Cal.App.4th 571,593 (2015) (internal quotation and citation omitted). As "conditions precedent are not favored," see Schwab v. Bridge, 27 Cal.App. 204, 207 (1915), however, "an agreement will be strictly construed against a party asserting that its provisions impose a condition precedent," see Helzel v. Superior Court, 123 Cal.App.3d 652, 663 (1981). In particular, provisions in an agreement "are not to be construed as conditions precedent unless such construction is required by clear, unambiguous language." See JMR Constr., 243 Cal.App.4th at 594.
Here, the invoicing provision on which Crescent Point relies does not include any language suggesting issuance of an invoice was a condition precedent to Crescent Point's obligation to pay the monthly fees; for example, the contract does not state Crescent Point must make a monthly payment "if" or "provided that" Tachyus issues an invoice. See Microsoft Corp. v. Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., 2019 WL 3859035, at *5 (N.D. Cal. August 16, 2019) (setting forth examples of "conditional language" indicative of condition precedent); cf. Schwab, 27 Cal.App. at 205-07 (finding, where agreement included promise to guarantee debt, followed by phrase "provided the amount may be due and presented to [guarantor] by December 3, 1905," the "words employed . . . clearly support[ed] the contention . . . that presentation of the account due and within the time specified was intended as a condition precedent"). Rather, the "essential bargain" between the parties is Tachyus's making its services available to Crescent Point in return for a fee, with the obligation to pay arising upon Crescent Point's receipt of those services, not Tachyus's issuance of an invoice. See, e.g., Microsoft Corp., 2019 WL 3859035, at *5 (holding, where "essential bargain" between parties was use of patents in exchange for payment of royalties, licensee's "obligation to pay arose when it availed itself of the patent rights granted to it," not when patent holder issued invoice in accordance with contractual "invoicing provision"). In sum, Crescent Point has failed to show issuance of an invoice is a condition precedent to Crescent Point's obligation to pay a monthly fee.
Accordingly, to the extent the counterclaim is based on Crescent Point's alleged failure to pay monthly fees, the counterclaim is not subject to dismissal.
2. Failure to Pay Termination Fee
As noted, Tachyus also alleges Crescent Point failed to pay an "Early Termination Fee to which Tachyus was entitled." (See Countercl. ¶ 47.) In support thereof, Crescent Point relies on the following contractual provision: "In the event Crescent Point elects to terminate the [contract] to suit the convenience of Crescent Point and not for a cause as provided [elsewhere in the contract], prior to the end of the Term, Crescent Point shall pay to Tachyus a fee (the 'Early Termination Fee') equal to 20% of the remaining fees to be paid by Crescent Point under the [contract] as of the date Crescent Point provides notice to Tachyus of such early termination." (See Countercl. Ex. B at 11.)
It is evident from the above-quoted language, however, that an Early Termination Fee was due only if Crescent Point had terminated the contract for a reason other than cause, and, as Crescent Point points out, Tachyus not only fails to allege Crescent Point terminated the contract for a reason other than cause, it expressly alleges, several times, that Crescent Point did not terminate the contract. (See Countercl. ¶ 25 (alleging "[a]t no time did Crescent Point terminate its contact with Tachyus"); Countercl. ¶ 47 (alleging Crescent Point "never terminated the contract"); Countercl. ¶ 50 (same).)
In its opposition, Tachyus refers to the instant claim as being "in the alternative" to its claim that Crescent Point owes monthly fees. (See Def.'s Opp. at 10:9-10.) Although the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure allow a party to assert inconsistent claims, see Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(d)(3) (providing "party may make as many separate claims . . . as it has, regardless of consistency"), a claim will not survive a motion to dismiss unless the party asserting such claim alleges "sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face," see Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (internal quotation and citation omitted), and, as noted, the counterclaim does not include facts showing Crescent Point terminated the contract for any reason, let alone for a reason other than cause.
Accordingly, to the extent the counterclaim is based on Crescent Point's alleged failure to pay an Early Termination Fee, the counterclaim is subject to dismissal. Such dismissal, however, will be with leave to amend. See Eminence Capital, LLC v. Aspeon, Inc., 316 F.3d 1048, 1052 (9th Cir. 2003) (holding "[dismissal with prejudice and without leave to amend is not appropriate unless it is clear . . . the complaint [can] not be saved by amendment").
B. Affirmative Defenses
A district court "may strike from a pleading an insufficient defense or any redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous matter." See Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(f).
Tachyus's answer contains thirteen “affirmative defenses” (see Answer at 23:2526), each of which, according to Crescent Point, should be stricken. In that regard, Crescent Points argues the "affirmative defenses" (1) are not affirmative in nature, (2) lack facts sufficient to provide fair notice as to the basis for the defense, and/or (3) are inapplicable as a matter of law to any of Crescent Point's claims.
1. Not Affirmative in Nature
"A defense which demonstrates that plaintiff has not met its burden of proof is not an affirmative defense." Zivkovic v. Southern California Edison Co., 302 F.3d 1080, 1088 (9th Cir. 2002). Rather, such a defense is "merely rebuttal against the evidence [to be] presented by the plaintiff" and, consequently, when pleaded as an affirmative defense, is "redundant" and subject to being stricken "so as to simplify and streamline the litigation." See Barnes v. AT&T Pension Benefit Plan-Nonbargained Program, 718 F.Supp.2d 1167, 1173-74 (N.D. Cal. 2010) (striking eight "affirmative defenses" that "simply provide[d] a basis to negate an element of [the plaintiff's] prima facie case for relief").
Here, Crescent Point argues, the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Twelfth Defenses are not affirmative in nature. As to the First, by which Tachyus alleges Crescent Point fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, Tachyus states it "does not oppose Crescent Point's motion" (see Def.'s Opp. at 14:2-4), and the Court finds persuasive Crescent Point's argument as to the following: (1) the Fifth Defense, alleging Crescent Point "has not suffered any harm, so recovery would constitute a windfall" (see Answer at 24:18-20); (2) the Sixth Defense, alleging Tachyus "performed its contractual obligations" (see Answer at 24:21-23); and (3) the Twelfth Defense, alleging the damages sought by Crescent Point are "impermissibly remote and speculative" (see Answer at 25:15-18). As to the Fourth Defense, however, by which Tachyus alleges Crescent Point "breached the agreement" by failing to make required payments (see Answer at 24:15-17; Counterclaim ¶¶ 38-40), Crescent Point fails to show said allegation constitutes mere rebuttal to Crescent Point's claims, as the relief sought is not simply a denial of the obligation to pay the sum sought by Crescent Point, but a claim for monies separate from and greater than that sum; consequently, the Fourth Defense will not be stricken.
Accordingly, the First, Fifth, Sixth, and Twelfth Defenses will be stricken, without prejudice to Tachyus's raising such defenses in rebuttal to Crescent Point's claims, and the Fourth Defense will not be stricken.
2. Lack of Fair Notice
To adequately plead an affirmative defense, the defendant must provide "fair notice" by at least "describing the defense in general terms." See Kohler v. Flava Enterprises, Inc., 779 F.3d 1016, 1019 (9th Cir. 2015) (internal quotation and citation omitted) (finding, in action wherein disabled plaintiff alleged bench in defendant's store was noncompliant with federal regulation, defendant gave sufficient notice of "equivalent facilitation" as affirmative defense by alleging "store was compliant due to its use of ‘alternative methods' of accessibility").
Here, Crescent Point argues, the Second, Third, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Defenses, should be stricken for failure to provide fair notice of the basis therefor. To the extent the Second Defense is based on laches, Tachyus states it "does not oppose Crescent Point's motion" (see Def.'s Opp. at 14:2-4), and the Court finds persuasive Crescent Point's argument as to the following: (1) the Second Defense, to the extent Tachyus alleges Crescent Point's claims are barred by "estoppel, unclean hands, in pari delicto, and waiver" (see Answer at 24:6-8); (2) the Eighth Defense, alleging Crescent Point "ratified or consented to the challenged conduct" (see Answer at 25:1-3); (3) the Ninth Defense, alleging Crescent Point's claims are barred by "the doctrine of substantial compliance" (see Answer at 4-5); and (4) the Thirteenth Defense, alleging "the damages alleged by [Crescent Point] are not reasonable and are thus barred by California Civil Code Section 3359" (see Answer at 25:19-21); Cal. Civ. Code § 3359 (providing, "where an obligation of any kind appears to create a right to unconscionable and grossly oppressive damages, contrary to substantial justice, no more than reasonable damages can be recovered").
As to the following, however, the requisite fair notice has been provided: (1) the Third Defense, alleging Crescent Point "fail[ed] to mitigate damages" by not "exercis[ing] reasonable care and diligence to avoid loss" and that any damages are "reduced or setoff entirely or in part by the benefits that [Crescent Point] received from the alleged conduct" (see Answer at 24:9-14); (2) the Tenth Defense, alleging Crescent Point's claims are barred by "a contractual limitation of liability provision" (see Answer at 25:6-8; Countercl. ¶ 42 (citing "Section 6" of contract)); see also Wyshak v. City Nat'l Bank, 607 F.2d 824, 827 (9th Cir. 1979) (finding defendant, in moving to amend answer, provided "fair notice," where proposed answer alleged "plaintiff's claims are barred by the applicable statute of limitations" and defendant identified applicable statute in motion); and (3) the Eleventh Defense, alleging any recovery by Crescent Point "must be set off and reduced by the amount of any separate obligation owed by [Crescent Point] to . . . Tachyus" (see Answer at 25:10-14; Countercl. ¶¶ 41-44).
Accordingly, the Second, Eighth, Ninth, and Thirteenth Defenses will be stricken, with leave to amend, and the Third, Tenth, and Eleventh Defenses will not be stricken.
3. Not Applicable
Crescent Point contends the Seventh Defense, alleging Crescent Point "seek[s] excessive damages in violation of the Due Process Clause guarantees of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution, and the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution" (see Answer at 24:24-27), is inapplicable as a matter of law to Crescent Point's claims. Specifically, Crescent Point, while acknowledging the above-referenced constitutional provisions limit excessive punitive damages awards, asserts its claims are based on breach of contract, a claim for which punitive damages are not available. See Cooper Industries, Inc. v. Leatherman Tool Group, Inc., 532 U.S. 424, 433-34 (2001) (discussing limits imposed by Fifth and Eighth Amendments on state courts' ability to award "punitive damages"); Crogan v. Metz, 47 Cal. 2d 398, 405 (1956) (holding "punitive damages . . .may not be granted in an action based on a breach of contract").
In its opposition, Tachyus argues the Seventh Defense should not be stricken because there is a "lack of clarity" as to the damages Crescent Point may be seeking. (See Def.'s Opp. at 14:16-24.) What is clear, however, is that Crescent Point may not, as it readily concedes, seek punitive damages as a remedy for its claims. Consequently, no constitutional issue as to punitive damages being presented in the instant action, the allegations in the Seventh Defense are, in essence, immaterial.
Accordingly, the Seventh Defense will be stricken without leave to amend.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, Crescent Point's motion to dismiss and to strike is hereby GRANTED in part and DENIED in part, as follows:
1. To the extent the counterclaim is based on a claim that Crescent Point failed to pay Tachyus an Early Termination Fee, the motion is GRANTED.
2. The First, Second, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Twelfth, and Thirteenth Defenses are hereby STRICKEN.
3. In all other respects, the motion is DENIED.
4. If Tachyus chooses to amend its counterclaim and/or the Second, Eighth, Ninth, and Thirteenth Defenses, it shall file an amended pleading no later than July 22, 2022.
IT IS SO ORDERED.