Before the Court is Defendant Donald Rulh's motion to dismiss pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1). R. Doc. 103. Plaintiff Complete Logistical Services, LLC ("CLS") opposes the motion. R. Doc. 113. Defendant has filed a reply. R. Doc. 123. Having considered the applicable law, the parties' arguments, and having held oral argument on the motion, the Court is ready to rule.
I. BACKGROUND
CLS provides contract labor to various marine industries. It alleges its former member, Defendant Rulh, breached his fiduciary duties to CLS, misappropriated CLS' assets, damaged CLS' image, and
In its verified complaint, CLS alleges that, as a result of Mr. Rulh's failure to collect payments from clients; refusal to reimburse the LLC for money he borrowed to refinance his private home; arriving intoxicated to company events; and changing the locks on the CLS office without first discussing the matter with the other LLC members, the other three members of CLS voted to treat Mr. Rulh as "an assignee of the Company," thereby revoking his authority to manage the business or act unilaterally for the business. R. Doc. 98 at 4-6. CLS alleges that after Mr. Rulh was stripped of this authority, he stole from CLS confidential information including financial statements, customer lists, and sales records while the other members were at a company crawfish boil. R. Doc. 98 at 8. According to CLS, these documents were printed, scanned, and then emailed to Mr. Rulh's personal email account. R. Doc. 98 at 8. CLS further alleges Mr. Rulh took this information intending to start a competing business with his co-Defendants. In support of this allegation, CLS points to a non-disclosure agreement between the Defendants, which CLS included as an attachment to its complaint. R. Doc. 98-5. Additionally, Plaintiff alleges Mr. Rulh took $222,000.00 from the LLC's bank account without authorization.
Based on these allegations, CLS brings claims against Defendants Donald Rulh, Arnold Baker, Morris Kahn, Michelle Elwell, and Shawana Harris for violations of the Defend Trade Secrets Act ("DTSA"); Louisiana Uniform Trade Secrets Act ("LUTSA"); Computer Fraud and Abuse Act ("CFA"); Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices Act ("LUTPA"); and for unjust enrichment; breach of fiduciary duties, duty of loyalty, and duty of due care; conversion; conspiracy; and fraud. R. Doc. 98 at 3. CLS also seeks injunctive relief. R. Doc. 98 at 4. Moreover, CLS submits that, after it initially filed suit, its remaining members "availed themselves of their rights in the CLS Operating Agreement to expel Mr. Rulh from CLS membership." R. Doc. 98 at 4. In its amended complaint, Plaintiff seeks a declaration "that the expulsion proceedings were proper in all respects and confirming that Mr. Rulh is no longer a member of CLS." R. Doc. 98 at 4.
a. Procedural History
On April 12, 2018, pursuant to CLS' request for a temporary restraining order ("TRO"), the Court held a telephone hearing with CLS and granted the request. Pursuant to the TRO, the Court directed Defendants to return materials taken from CLS, including a computer allegedly purchased with CLS funds. R. Doc. 8. On April 13, 2018, Defendant moved for an extension of the deadline to comply with the Court's order, R. Doc. 10, which the Court granted in part, R. Doc. 11.
On April 16, 2018, Defendants moved to dissolve the temporary restraining order. R. Doc. 13. The Court held oral argument on Defendants' motion that same day. The Court determined the TRO should remain in effect as to the prohibitory elements and ordered the parties to discuss a plan to determine which information, if any, may be privileged and which should be returned to Plaintiff. On Wednesday, April 18, 2018, the Court approved the parties proposed order for mirroring the files on the computer and other devices held by counsel. R. Doc. 17.
On May 7, 2018, Defendants answered the complaint and filed counterclaims against CLS and a third party complaint against CLS members Spencer Sens and Natchez Morice, III. R. Doc. 30. On August
In their counterclaim, Defendants claim CLS wrongfully seized information from them in violation of the DTSA and the LUTPA. Additionally, Mr. Rulh brings claims against CLS for breach of fiduciary duties and due care, breach of contract, unjust enrichment, conversion, and derivative action. Mr. Rulh also seeks an accounting of CLS. R. Doc. 30 at 18-24. On June 25, 2018, Plaintiff moved to dismiss Defendants' counterclaims. On August 21, 2018, the Court granted the motion in part, dismissing Defendants' LUTPA claim and Defendant Rulh's claims for unjust enrichment, conversion, and derivative action. R. Doc. 93.
On June 26, 2018, Defendants Harris, Elwell, Baker, and Kahn filed a motion seeking summary judgment on Plaintiff's claims against them. R. Doc. 52. The Court denied the motion as premature on August 21, 2018. R. Doc. 92.
On September 13, 2018, Defendant Rulh filed the instant motion to dismiss pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1). R. Doc. 103. Defendants Harris, Elwell, Baker, and Kahn did not join in the motion. In his motion, Defendant Rulh argues Plaintiff has failed to state a federal claim upon which relief may be granted and, as a result, the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over the action.
II. DISCUSSION
Defendant argues CLS has failed to allege facts that give rise to a plausible claim for relief under either of Plaintiff's two federal law-based claims: the DTSA and the CFAA.
CLS filed its opposition on October 2, 2018. R. Doc. 113. First, it argues Defendant's motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction should be denied as procedurally improper, arguing that, because CLS alleged federal causes of action, the Court must exercise jurisdiction over its complaint. Second, because Defendant attaches his sworn declaration with his motion to
III. LEGAL STANDARD
a. Motion to Dismiss Standard
Where a motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction is limited to a facial attack on the pleadings, as here, it is subject to the same standard as a motion brought under Rule 12(b)(6). See Lane v. Halliburton ,
"To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to 'state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.' " Ashcroft v. Iqbal ,
IV. ANALYSIS
Defendant argues Plaintiff's federal claims against him are "wholly insubstantial" and brought "solely for the purpose of obtaining jurisdiction." R. Doc. 123. He moves for dismissal of both pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1). Because Defendant's arguments for the dismissal of both claims constitute a facial attack on the pleadings, however, the Court analyzes each under the Rule 12(b)(6) standard. See Lane ,
a. Defend Trade Secrets Act
To state a claim under the DTSA, a plaintiff must allege (1) the existence of a trade secret, (2) misappropriation of the trade secret by another, and (3) the trade secret's relation to a good or service used or intended for use in interstate or foreign commerce.
i. The existence of a trade secret
A "trade secret" under the DTSA includes scientific and technical information that "the owner thereof has taken reasonable
Plaintiff's amended complaint alleges Defendant took profit and loss statements, customer lists, and sales analyses without authorization. Defendant argues these cannot be considered trade secrets, as he can ascertain the list through memory and because Plaintiff's clients are generally known in the industry. Plaintiff responds, pointing out that in its complaint, it alleges these documents were protected and not shared with anyone outside of CLS. R. Doc. 113 at 9. Finally, Plaintiff submits Defendant is estopped from arguing these are not trade secrets, as on the day he stole them, he submitted a non-disclosure agreement to his co-Defendants in which he asserted that the documents at issue were trade secrets.
Courts in this circuit have held that customer lists can be considered trade secrets. For example, in Alfasigma USA, Inc. v. EBM Medical, LLC , No. 17-7753,
Moreover, "existing state law on trade secrets informs the Court's application of the DTSA." Source Prod. & Equip. Co. v. Schehr , No. 16-17528,
In this case, Plaintiff alleges Defendant "accessed CLS' proprietary and confidential electronic data" including Plaintiff's its financial statements, customer lists, and sales records, which are kept on Plaintiff's "secure and protected computer system." R. Doc. 98 at ¶ 98. Moreover, Plaintiff alleges it "maintains its Confidential Information as confidential within CLS and does not share this information outside of CLS," R. Doc. 98 at ¶ 38, which Plaintiff alleges makes the information "highly valuable." Id. at ¶ 39. Finally, Plaintiff alleges it "derives a competitive advantage and independent economic value, both actual and potential, from the Confidential Information, because the Confidential Information is not generally known to the public or to others who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use." The Court finds Plaintiff has sufficiently alleged the existence of a trade secret.
To the extent Defendant argues this information cannot be considered trade secrets because he can recall the information from memory, such arguments require the Court to look beyond the pleadings and are therefore inappropriate at the motion to dismiss stage. Even if the Court could consider Defendant's declaration at the motion to dismiss stage, the case to which Defendant points in support of his assertion, Weighing & Control Services, Inc. v. Williams , No. 88-5211,
ii. Misappropriate of the Trade Secret
The DTSA defines "misappropriation" as:
(A) acquisition of a trade secret of another by a person who knows or has reason to know that the trade secret was acquired by improper means; or
(B) disclosure or use of a trade secret of another without express or implied consent by a person who-
(i) used improper means to acquire knowledge of the trade secret;
(ii) at the time of disclosure or use, knew or had reason to know that the knowledge of the trade secret was-
(I) derived from or through a person who had used improper means to acquire the trade secret;
(II) acquired under circumstances giving rise to a duty to maintain the secrecy of the trade secret or limit the use of the trade secret; or
(III) derived from or through a person who owed a duty to the person seeking relief to maintain the secrecy of the trade secret or limit the use of the trade secret; or
(iii) before a material change of the position of the person, knew or had reason to know that-
(I) the trade secret was a trade secret; and
(II) knowledge of the trade secret had been acquired by accident or mistake....
In his motion to dismiss, Defendant argues Plaintiff has failed to allege he took trade secrets by improper means, as he was "arguably ... still a member of CLS." R. Doc. 103-2 at 15. In opposition, Plaintiff submits it alleges in its complaint that, at the time Mr. Rulh took the documents, he had no authority to do so. Thus, because on a motion to dismiss the Court must accept all well-pleaded facts as true, Plaintiff contends the Court must assume Defendant took these trade secrets without authority.
Plaintiff's complaint alleges Mr. Rulh took its trade secrets after the LLC voted to treat Mr. Rulh as "an assignee of the Company," thereby revoking his authority to manage the business or act unilaterally for the business. R. Doc. 98 at 4-6. Plaintiff further alleges that, having been stripped of his authority, Defendant was not authorized to take the information he did. Finally, Plaintiff alleges Defendant used this information to form a company with his co-Defendants that will compete with CLS in the industry. Construing the allegations in Plaintiff's complaint as true, as the Court must, the Court finds Plaintiff has sufficiently alleged Defendant misappropriated its trade secrets as defined by the DTSA. See
iii. Interstate or foreign commerce
Finally, Defendant argues Plaintiff has failed to plead the jurisdictional nexus required under the DSTA. In opposition, Plaintiffs submit Mr. Rulh offers no authority from the Fifth Circuit for his position that CLS is required to plead a jurisdictional nexus. However, Plaintiffs contend that, even assuming such a requirement exists, CLS has satisfied this pleading requirement, particularly since Mr. Ruhl's theft of trade secrets pertained in part to CLS' out-of-state clients. Thus, Plaintiffs argue it has met its pleading burden by alleging CLS intended to use its trade secrets, which include marketing, pricing, sales, and business information, in interstate commerce by soliciting business across state lines.
In Wells Lamont Industry Group LLC v. Richard Mendoza and Radians, Inc. , No. 17-1136,
In this case, Plaintiff alleges "CLS is headquartered in Louisiana but operates in other states, and regularly transacts business in states other than Louisiana, including in person and by phone, internet, and mail. CLS' trade secrets relate to this business and are used by CLS in interstate commerce." R. Doc. 98 at ¶ 78. Moreover, Plaintiff has provided the Court with its customer list, R. Doc. 66-12, which includes several out of state customers. As a result, to the extent Plaintiffs are required to plead a jurisdictional nexus in order to invoke the DTSA's protections, Plaintiffs have adequately done so.
b. Computer Fraud and Abuse Act
The CFAA prohibits unauthorized access to a "protected computer," as defined by
To state a civil CFAA claim, a plaintiff must allege that one of the first five factors listed in
any reasonable cost to any victim, including the cost of responding to an offense, conducting a damage assessment, and restoring the data, program, system, or information to its condition prior to the offense, and any revenue lost, cost incurred, or other consequential damages incurred because of interruption of service.
Defendant first argues Plaintiff has failed to allege its damages were caused as a result of an "interruption of service." He points to Meyers v. Siddons-Martin Emergency Group LLC , No. 16-1197,
Plaintiff responds, arguing Meyers was decided incorrectly as it "is at odds with virtually every other case on this issue, and has not been followed in subsequent cases." R. Doc. 113 at 16. It points to L-3 Communications Westwood Corp. v. Robicharux , in which the district court explained, "The meaning of 'Loss' both before and after the term was defined by statute, has consistently meant a cost of investigating or remedying damage to a computer or a cost incurred because the computer's service was interrupted." No. 06-0279,
Although the Fifth Circuit has not yet ruled on this issue, several of our sister circuits have held that the plain language of the statutory definition includes two separate types of loss: (1) reasonable costs incurred in connection with such activities as responding to a violation, assessing the damage done, and restoring the affected data, program system, or information to its condition prior to the violation, as Plaintiff alleges here; and (2) any revenue lost, cost incurred, or other consequential damages incurred because of interruption of service. See Brown Jordan International, Inc. v. Carmicle ,
The Court finds that, as a matter of law, a Plaintiff alleging a violation of the CFAA is not required to plead that its damages were the result of an interruption in service. Thus, under a plain reading of the statute, the nature of Plaintiff's alleged loss from Defendants' violation of the CFAA is sufficient.
Next, Defendant contends Plaintiff's allegation with respect to its loss calculation is conclusory and therefore does not sufficiently substantiate the allegation. CLS responds by pointing out that it alleges Defendant accessed its confidential information on its protected computer system without authorized access. R. Doc. 98 at ¶ 98. Moreover, Plaintiff submits the amended complaint alleges that CLS will expend more than $5,000 over a one-year period investigating the Defendants' conduct, assessing the resulting damages, and restoring or attempting to restore its computer systems to the condition they were in prior to Defendants' wrongful conduct. R. Doc. 98 at ¶ 100.
In Oil States Skagit Smatco, LLC v. Dupre , No. 09-4508,
In this case, Plaintiff merely asserts it will sustain more than $5,000 investigating Defendant's actions, but does not substantiate the assertion or define any cost for specific purposes. During oral argument, however, Plaintiff explained it has hired a computer expert to account for Defendant's actions and reiterated its position that it will incur at least $5,000 in damages as a result of Defendant's actions. Thus, the Court will order Plaintiff to amend its
V. CONCLUSION
Plaintiff has sufficiently alleged a plausible claim for relief under the DSTA. Having brought a federal claim for relief that is neither "wholly insubstantial" nor brought "solely for the purpose of obtaining jurisdiction," the Court finds it has jurisdiction over Plaintiff's claims pursuant to
Accordingly;
IT IS ORDERED that Defendant Donald Rulh's motion to dismiss pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1), R. Doc. 103, is hereby DENIED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff Complete Logistical Services, LLC amend its complaint within thirty days of this Order to address the deficiencies identified in this Order with respect to its Computer Fraud and Abuse Act claim. In the event Plaintiff does not amend its complaint within thirty days, the Court will dismiss this claim with prejudice.
Notes
In his motion, Defendant seeks dismissal of Plaintiff's DTSA and CFAA claims, but does not move to dismiss Plaintiff's claim brought pursuant to the Declaratory Judgment Act ("DJA"),
See also SPBS, Inc. v. Mobley , No.,