SE. STUD COMP. v. AMER. EAGLE DESIGN BUILD STUDIOS

Full title: SOUTHEASTERN STUD COMPONENTS, INC. PLAINTIFF v. AMERICAN EAGLE DESIGN…

Court: United States District Court, E.D. Arkansas, Western Division

Date published: Nov 2, 2007

4:07CV00593-WRW (E.D. Ark. Nov. 2, 2007)

Opinion

4:07CV00593-WRW.

November 2, 2007

ORDER

WILLIAM WILSON JR., District Judge

Pending are Defendant Shaw Infrastructure's Motion For Dismissal of Count XII Under Rule 12(b)(6) (Doc. No. 29) and Motion For Dismissal of Count XI (Recovery of Attorneys' Fees) Under Rule 12(b)(6) (Doc. No. 47). Plaintiff has responded (Doc. Nos. 41, 50). Defendant's Motions are GRANTED.

A. Count XII: Common Business Purpose/Single Business Enterprise

Count Twelve of Plaintiff's Amended Complaint seeks to hold Defendants liable under a common business purpose/single business entity theory.¹ While Arkansas courts recognize and have applied the piercing the corporate veil theory,² there is no precedent in Arkansas that has applied or granted relief under a common business purpose/single business entity theory. Because Arkansas does not recognize the theory as a claim upon which relief can be granted, Defendant's Motion to Dismiss Count Twelve of Plaintiff's Amended Complaint is GRANTED.

1 Doc. No. 56

2 See Nat'l Cash, Inc. v. Loveless, 361 Ark. 112 (2005); Anderson v. Stewart, No. 05-886, 2006 Ark. Lexis 247 (Ark. April 27, 2006); Quinn-Matchet Ptnrs., Inc., v. Parker, 85 Ark. App. 143 (2004); Winchel v. Craig, 55 Ark. App. 373 (1996).

B. Recovery of Attorneys' Fees

The rule in Arkansas in connection with the award of attorney's fees is that a court may assess a reasonable attorney's fee to be awarded to the prevailing party in various civil actions, including any action "to recover on an open account, statement of account, account stated, promissory note, bill, negotiable instrument, or contract relating to the purchase or sale of goods, wares, or merchandise, or for labor or services, or breach of contract. . . ."³ In a diversity case, a federal court must apply this rule.⁴ Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(d)(2)(A) mandates that claims for attorneys' fee be made by motion, unless the recovery of attorneys' fees is an element of damages to be proven at trial.⁵

3 Ark. Code Ann. § 16-22-308.

4 See Reliance Ins. Co. v. Tobi Eng'g., Inc., 735 F. Supp. 326 (W.D. Ark. 1990).

5 Fed.R.Civ.P. 54(d)(2)(A).

Count XI of Plaintiff's Amended Complaint requests the recovery of attorneys' fees.⁶ The recovery of attorneys' fees must be requested by motion; the recovery of attorneys' fees is not technically a cause of action upon which relief can be granted. Accordingly, Defendant's Motion For Dismissal of Count XI (Recovery of Attorneys' Fees) is GRANTED. Plaintiff, however, may request the recovery of attorneys' fees by motion after trial if the Plaintiff prevails upon an action identified in Ark. Code Ann. § 16-22-308.

6 Doc. No. 56.

IT IS SO ORDERED.