Fredianelli v. Jenkins

ORDER GRANTING IN PART DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT (Docket No. 171)

EDWARD M. CHEN, District Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

Defendants Stephan Jenkins; Bradley Hargreaves; Third Eye Blind, Inc.; 3EB Touring, Inc.; and Stephan Jenkins Productions, Inc. bring the current motion for summary judgment or, alternatively, partial summary judgment of Plaintiff Anthony Fredianelli’s First Amended Complaint (“FAC”).¹ Plaintiffs complaint includes six causes of action stemming from his participation as lead guitarist for the rock group Third Eye Blind (“the Band”) from 1993 to 1994 and from 2000 to 2009, and his alleged co-ownership of the Band and related entities. Jenkins is the founder, singer, and leader of the Band, and Hargreaves its drummer. The six causes of action in the FAC are for (1) breach of contract; (2) reasonable value of services performed (Plaintiffs “quantum meruit” claim); (3) constructive trust; (4) accounting; (5) declaratory relief regarding ownership of copyrights; and (6) declaratory relief regarding ownership of trademarks. FAC, Docket No. 137-1, ¶¶ 79-113; Order, Docket No. 152, ¶ 4 (making FAC the operative complaint). Defendants now move for summary judgment on each cause of action.

For the reasons stated herein, the Court GRANTS Defendants’ motion for summary judgment in its entirety except to the extent Plaintiffs claims for breach of contract and an accounting are based on his not receiving his full share of net touring revenues, irrespective of his status as a co-owner of the Band, as discussed further below.

II. EVIDENTIARY OBJECTIONS

The only evidence submitted by Plaintiff in opposition to Defendants’ motion for summary judgment is a declaration with seven attached exhibits filed alongside Plaintiffs opposition brief as well as a supplemental declaration with a single exhibit filed following Defendants’ reply brief. See Fredianelli Decl., Docket No. 213-1; Supp. Fredianelli Decl., Docket No. 216. Defendants submitted fifty-seven separate objections to the evidence Plaintiff submitted in support of his opposition brief and objected separately to Plaintiffs supplemental declaration. See Defs.’ Objs., Docket No. 214-1; Defs.’ Objs. to Supp. Deck, Docket No. 219. “Before ordering summary judgment in a case, a district court must not only provide the parties with notice and an opportunity to respond to adverse arguments, it must also rule on evidentiary objections that are material to its ruling.” Norse v. City of Santa Cruz, 629 F.3d 966, 973 (9th Cir. 2010). Material to this Order are Defendants’ objections to Fredianelli’s supplemental declaration, several sham affidavit objections to Fredianelli’s initial declaration, and several hearsay objections to Fredianelli’s initial declaration.

A. Supplemental Declaration

Plaintiffs supplemental declaration includes a single exhibit of alleged deposition corrections dated December 2009 for a March 2009 deposition he gave in the matter of Jenkins v. Godtland, Case No. CGC-08-476453 (Cal.Super.Ct. San Francisco County) (hereinafter, the “Godtland case”). See Docket No. 216. The Court need not consider Plaintiff’s supplemental declaration and attached exhibit because (1) it was filed in an untimely manner pursuant to Local Rule 7 — 3(d); (2) it violates the sham affidavit rule; and (3) the deposition corrections were untimely pursuant to California law.

First, Local Rule 7-3(d) provides that, once a reply is filed, “no additional memoranda, papers, or letters may be filed without prior Court approval,” except for objections to new evidence filed with the reply and notices of relevant judicial opinions published after the date of the opposition papers. Here, Plaintiffs new evidence does not fall within either exception and Plaintiff did not seek the Court’s approval to file his supplemental declaration.

Second, the sham affidavit rule provides that “a party cannot create an issue of fact by an affidavit contradicting his prior deposition testimony.” Kennedy v. Allied Mut. Ins. Co., 952 F.2d 262, 266 (9th Cir. 1991). Similarly, deposition corrections may not “include changes offered solely to create a material factual dispute in a tactical attempt to evade an unfavorable summary judgment.” Hambleton Bros. Lumber Co. v. Balkin Enters., Inc., 397 F.3d 1217, 1225 (9th Cir.2005). There are two limitations on a district court’s discretion to invoke the sham affidavit rule: (1) “the district court must make a factual determination that the contradiction was actually a ‘sham’”; and (2) “the inconsistency between a party’s deposition testimony and subsequent affidavit must be clear and unambiguous to justify striking the affidavit.” Van Asdale v. Internat’l Game Tech., 577 F.3d 989, 998-99 (9th Cir.2009) (quotation marks and citation omitted).

Here, the affidavit claiming changes were made to the deposition transcript is a sham. Plaintiff has not submitted any evidence to corroborate that these deposition corrections were, in fact, made in December 2009 and not instead made in response to Defendants’ summary judgment motion in this case. Furthermore, the inconsistency between the original deposition testimony and the new affidavit is clear. While much of Defendants’ case rests on the argument that Plaintiff had no effective business or creative control in the Band, as testified to during Plaintiffs deposition in the Godtland case, Plaintiffs deposition corrections directly contradict this testimony. See Supp. Fredianelli Decl. Ex. H at 4-5.

Lastly, under California law, Plaintiff only had thirty days following his March 11, 2009 deposition within which to make corrections; yet, he allegedly waited until December 2009 to do so. See Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 2025.520(b); Fredianelli Decl. ¶ 43. Changes to the transcript would be barred under California law.

Plaintiff suggests that, nevertheless, he should not be bound by the transcript because he “made several attempts to get [his] original deposition transcript so [he] could make changes,” including calling his attorney’s office the day after the deposition and leaving “a message that [he] would like to see the transcript as soon as possible.” Fredianelli Decl. ¶ 41. In California, “[t]he attorney is authorized by virtue of his employment to bind the client in procedural matters arising during the course of the action but he may not impair the client’s substantial rights or the cause of action itself.” Linsk v. Linsk, 70 Cal.2d 272, 276, 74 Cal.Rptr. 544, 449 P.2d 760 (1969). Cases discussing when an attorney has impaired a client’s substantial rights or the cause of action itself do not deal with tactical or logistical decisions made during discovery, but rather instances where an attorney, by virtue of his conduct, has waived entire causes of action. See, e.g., Daley v. Butte County, 227 Cal.App.2d 380, 391-92, 38 Cal.Rptr. 693 (1964) (client not bound by attorney neglect resulting in dismissal for lack of prosecution). On the other hand, “[t]rial counsel is authorized to exercise his independent judgment with respect to strategic litigation decisions.” Cadle Co. v. World Wide Hospitality Furniture, Inc., 144 Cal.App.4th 504, 510, 50 Cal.Rptr.3d 480 (2006). Thus, even if the attorney’s failure to send Plaintiff a copy of his deposition transcript was due to negligence or mistake, Plaintiff is still bound by his attorney’s conduct. See Alferitz v. Cahen, 145 Cal. 397, 400, 78 P. 878 (1904) (“Where such questions of negligence and mistake arise, there must always come a time when, notwithstanding the hardship to the client, he must be bound by the errors and omissions of his attorney.”). In short, Mr. Fredianelli is bound to his deposition testimony.

Thus, the Court sustains Defendants’ objections to Plaintiffs alleged deposition corrections and Plaintiffs original deposition transcript stands unaltered.

B. Sham Affidavit Objections to Initial Declaration

Similar to them objections to Fredianelli’s deposition corrections, Defendants’ sham affidavit objections 12, 13(b), 16(b), 18(b), 21, 23(a), 30(c), 35(b), 36(b), and 37(a) each refer to sections of Fredianelli’s declaration wherein he states that he had a say in the business and creative decisions of the Band and that Jenkins did not have unilateral authority to make decisions on behalf of the Band, including decisions on whether or not to oust other musicians from the Band. See Defs.’ Objs., Docket No. 214-1. However, in his deposition Plaintiff testified that, up until March 2009, he never gained a say in the business and creative decision-making of the Band and that “Stephan leads.” See Fredianelli Dep. 78:20-22, 80:5-8. He further testified that “Stephan, basically, told [him] that [he] would have no role in the final decisions, in the decision making of the band” and that “[Jenkins] made an analogy as if he would be the United States and we would be smaller countries and he would' — if he wanted to ask for advice, he would ask,” but “[a]t the end of the day, he would reserve the right to make the decision and that that would not change.” Id. at 227:5-6. Lastly, he testified that Jenkins had the authority to fire him. Id. at 243:21-244:8. Thus, as noted above, Plaintiffs declaration is inadmissible under the sham affidavit rule to the extent it contradicts this unequivocal deposition testimony.

C. Hearsay Objections to Initial Declaration

Of Defendants’ various hearsay objections, objections 8(a) and 11(b) are material to this Order. Objection 8(a) refers to paragraph 9 of Fredianelli’s declaration, wherein he states that Godtland “said the band was ready,” went over “that all members, including Stephan Jenkins, were employees of the corporations as well as owners,” and “told [Fredianelli] he had consulted with the band by conference call and that the points of our conversation were approved by the band.” See Defs.’ Objs., Docket No. 214-1, at 8. These statements are hearsay; Plaintiff has not cited an exception to hearsay. There is no showing, for instance, that Godtland made these statements as an agent of Jenkins on a matter within the scope of that relationship under Fed.R.Evid. 801(d)(2)(D). Plaintiff may not use them as evidence for the truth of the matters asserted: that the band was ready, that all members were employees as well as owners of the corporations, or that Godtland consulted with the Band by conference call and the Band members approved the points of his conversation with Plaintiff. The objection on this ground is sustained.

Objection 11(b) refers to paragraph 12, in which Plaintiff states that Godtland “told [the Band], if we could just get Stephan Jenkins to focus and finish one new song of lyrics, Rhino Records, wanted to release a greatest hits package in 2005, instead of in 2006 when contractual rights belonging to Rhino would vest and allow them to do so without additional permission from 3eb” and that the Band “lost a million dollar advance from that failure that Rhino would have paid 3eb in 2005 for the right to release a greatest hits record with additional new songs.” Defs.’ Objs. 11. As above, both statements are hearsay. The objection on this ground is sustained.

III. LEGAL STANDARD

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(c) provides that summary judgment shall be rendered “if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). An issue of fact is genuine only if there is sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to find for the nonmoving party. See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248-49, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). “The mere existence of a scintilla of evidence ... will be insufficient; there must be evidence on which the jury could reasonably find for the [nonmoving party].” Id. at 252, 106 S.Ct. 2505. At the summary judgment stage, evidence must be viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party and all justifiable inferences are to be drawn in the nonmovant’s favor. See id. at 255,106 S.Ct. 2505.

Where the movant has the ultimate burden of proof at trial, it may prevail on a motion for summary judgment only if it affirmatively demonstrates that there is no genuine dispute as to every essential element of its claim. See C.A.R. Transp. Brokerage Co. v. Darden Rests., Inc., 213 F.3d 474, 480 (9th Cir.2000). Once it has met the initial burden of showing the absence of any genuine dispute, the burden shifts to the opposing party to present “ ‘significant probative evidence tending to support its claim or defense.’ ” Id. (quoting Intel Corp. v. Hartford Accident & Indem. Co., 952 F.2d 1551, 1558 (9th Cir. 1991)). In contrast, where the nonmovant has the ultimate burden of proof, the movant may prevail on a motion for summary judgment simply by pointing to the nonmovant’s failure “to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to [the nonmovant’s] case.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).

IV. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

The following facts are viewed in Fredianelli’s favor. Nearly all are based on Fredianelli’s declaration except where it is barred by Defendants’ evidentiary objections. Where the declaration is silent as to an issue and does not rebut Defendants’ proffered evidence, such facts are considered undisputed.

A. Fredianelli’s Beginnings with Third Eye Blind

Plaintiff Anthony Fredianelli met Eric Godtland and Defendant Stephan Jenkins in early 1993, helping Jenkins form the band Third Eye Blind (“the Band”). Fredianelli Decl. ¶ 2. Godtland served as the Band’s manager and funded the Band’s startup costs. Id. From 1993 to 1994, Fredianelli traveled back and forth from Nevada, where he lived, to San Francisco, California, where the Band was based, to rehearse, record, write songs, and play gigs. Id. However, Jenkins eventually told Fredianelli that the Band was going to go forward with Kevin Cadogan as its guitar player. Id.

It is undisputed that, in or about 1996 to 1997, after Fredianelli was no longer in the Band, Jenkins formed three corporate entities: Third Eye Blind, Inc., which was to handle various financial aspects of the band including receipt of music royalties; Stephan Jenkins Productions, Inc., which was to handle the various expenses associated with recording and producing the recording of songs; and 3EB Touring, Inc., which was to handle the financial aspects of the Band’s touring and merchandise activities. Jenkins Deck, Docket No, 218-1, ¶ 7. It is undisputed that Jenkins was the sole shareholder of these corporations, as well as the president and chairman of their boards. Id.

In late 1999, Jenkins asked Fredianelli if he would consider touring with the Band as a utility musician. Fredianelli Deck ¶ 4; Jenkins Deck ¶ 8. Fredianelli became a “hired musician” of the Band in approximately January 2000, and considered himself an employee. Jenkins Deck Ex. A (Fredianelli Dep.), at 43:20-44:12. Once Fredianelli began rehearsing with the Band, the Band voted to fire Cadogan. Fredianelli Deck ¶ 5. Brad Hargreaves, drummer for the Band, recounted to the rest of the Band, including Fredianelli, how he let Cadogan know that he was being fired, citing the “3eb band agreement.” Id. Fredianelli was immediately promoted to lead guitarist of the band. Id. Cadogan subsequently sued the Band. See id. ¶ 6. As lead guitarist, Plaintiff earned $1750 per week with a $1000 weekly retainer for weeks when there was no work. Id.

At the time Fredianelli was hired by the Band, Arion Salazar, the Band’s bass player, Jenkins, and Godtland told him that he would have to “pay [his] dues” during a two-year “probationary period,” after which he would officially be a Band member like they were and participate as a full fledged member and co-owner of the Band. Id. ¶ 6; see Fredianelli Dep. 52:11-22. Salazar explained that “the band made big decisions together, like firing Kevin Cadogan for example, and that each member had an equal vote.” Fredianelli Deck ¶ 6.

B. The Agreement

In or around late 2002 or early 2003, Salazar told Fredianelli that “the band[’]s agreement [“the Agreement”] was affirmed through the closing of the Cadogan litigation.” Fredianelli Decl. ¶ 8. Godtland confirmed this fact. Id. Salazar told Fredianelli that “he had a lawyer who was working out ‘vesting the shares’ of 3eb to the shareholders, i.e. the band members.” Id. Godtland told Fredianelli that the rest of the band agreed that Fredianelli “could begin being se[n]t all corporate and shareholder documentation from David Rawson, [the Band’s accountant,] which began, and [Fredianelli] was told by Eric Godtland was information no different from Stephan Jenkins (sic).” Id.; Rawson Decl., Docket No. 171-5, ¶ 5.

Subsequently, Godtland set up a meeting with Plaintiff “in or around early March of 2003, where he walked [Plaintiff] through his management agreement, and the interim agreement, going over his management agreement line by line, but also going over general dynamics of the band[’]s two pass through corporations, that all members, including Stephan Jenkins, were employees of the corporations as well as owners and that [Plaintiff] in essence was agreeing to sharing the expenses of funding the business, which would include making records, to which [Plaintiff] would receive an equal share of proceeds.” Fredianelli Decl. ¶ 9. “Eric Go[d]tland, 3eb’s manager and representative to the outside world, told [Plaintiff] he had consulted with the band by conference call and that the points of [Godtland and Plaintiffs] conversation were approved by the band.” Id. Regarding the Band’s agreement, Godtland testified in the Godtland case that

[a]t each stage of band members, they agreed that they would take the shareholder agreements, sign them and distribute the shares. That happened while Cadogan was in the band, that happened again when Cadogan was out of the band with Arion, and that happened again when Tony joined.

What the band members said to each other with me there was that they were going to distribute these shares and they were going to sign off on these documents, and Stephan would distribute the shares to each of them.

Godtland Dep. 857:5-16.

Although Plaintiff alleges in his complaint that “[d]uring the Meeting, Plaintiff accepted the Band’s offer to become a full partner according to the terms of the Agreement, as that offer was conveyed to him by the Band’s manager and agent, Eric Godtland,” FAC ¶ 34,² he did not testify to such in his declaration. Fredianelli submitted no admissible evidence that he accepted the Band’s offer.

Defendants have submitted a document produced by Plaintiff in this matter titled “Third Eye Blind Inter Party Agreements” (the “Agreement”), which is presumably the “interim agreement” referenced by Plaintiff. See Greenberg Decl. Ex. B. The Agreement consists of two separate sections, titled “Business Structure (entities)” and “Employment Agreements.” Greenberg Decl. Ex. B. The Business Structure section provides that the Band members “shall be the sole owners in equal economic shares of any and all issued and outstanding shares of any corporation(s) or other business entities conducting business for or on behalf of the Group ... including but not limited to Third Eye Blind, Inc. and Third Eye Blind Touring, Inc.” Id. at 1. It then states that each member “shall have voting interests equal to their economic interests in the Corporation(s)” and requires majority approval “with respect to business and creative decisions of the Corporation(s) or the Group,” such as “approval of recording budgets.” Id. at 1-2. Towards the end of the Business Structure section, it states in handwriting that touring revenue will be split evenly, such that 25% goes to each of Salazar, Hargreaves, Fredianelli, and Jenkins. Id. at 5. It also provides that merchandise royalties would be divided such that 28% would go to Salazar, 19% to Hargreaves, 10% to Fredianelli, and 43% to Jenkins. Id.

The Employment Agreements section of the Agreement provides that each Band member is entitled to an “[ajmount equal to their respective Economic Interest in the net profits of the Corporation(s),” among other forms of compensation. Id. at 7-8. The Agreement contains different provisions for compensation following terminations based on whether the termination was “for cause” or without cause. See id. at 8-11.

C. Operation of Band Following Plaintiff Becoming a Member

In line with the Agreement, upon his becoming a full-fledged member of the Band, Plaintiff ceased receiving the weekly retainer he had received since joining the Band in 2000 and began to receive 25% of touring revenue. Fredianelli Dep. 54:25-55:11, 72:16-73:5. However, contrary to the Agreement and as admitted at his deposition in the Godtland case, Plaintiff did not begin to have a role in the decision-making process of the Band and did not have a say in business decisions, where to tour, legal matters, creative decisions, or what expenses to incur. Id. at 78:2-80:15. Rather, Jenkins “would make those decisions because he was the leader.” Id. at 80:5-8. In characterizing the decision-making structure of the Band, Plaintiff testified that it was not a “democracy.” Id. at 80:11-15. Rather, Jenkins told Plaintiff that Plaintiff “would have no role in the final decisions, in the decision making of the band.” Id. at 227:5-10. “[Jenkins] made an analogy as if he would be the United States and [the rest of the Band] would be smaller countries and he would — if he wanted to ask for advice, he would ask.” Id. at 227:11-14. “At the end of the day, he would reserve the right to make the decision and that that would not change.” Id. at 227:14-16. Plaintiff conceded that, although “[f]iring someone in a band is a big decision,” Jenkins had the authority to fire him. Id. at 244:2-8. Moreover, Plaintiff does not dispute that shares in the corporations conducting business for the Band were never distributed to Plaintiff or any member of the Band other than Jenkins. See Jenkins Decl. ¶ 7.

A February 23, 2008 email from Plaintiff to the Band’s business manager corroborates his testimony about the Band’s decision-making structure. See Rawson Decl. Ex. A. In the email, Plaintiff indicates that Jenkins, not the collective Band, was negotiating each Band member’s share of the touring income, writing that “SJ and I sat down and had a talk” regarding a new agreement as to touring income, that “Stephan [Jenkins] has this same plan in mind for Brad [Hargreaves] — but as of right now they don’t have an agreement,” that Plaintiff was “going to be asking Eric [Godtland] — for a little bit of breathing room in regards to [Plaintiffs] management commission,” and that he did not “know what Stephan [Jenkins] has in mind for [Godtland] in general.” See id.

Furthermore, it is undisputed that contrary to the Agreement, Fredianelli did not initially share in the merchandising royalties. Rather, Jenkins took the net proceeds from merchandise sales, and only came to share such revenue four years later, in 2007, at which point Jenkins received 50% of net merchandise proceeds, Hargreaves received 35%, and Plaintiff received 15%, terms which were not consistent with the Agreement. Jenkins Decl. ¶ 14.

D. Changes Following Plaintiff Becoming a Band Member

Shortly after Plaintiffs March 2003 meeting with Godtland, Godtland arranged a band meeting in Miami where he explained to each Band member that, since the Band no longer had a record company, all expenses would be paid from the Band’s touring revenue, including non-touring expenses such as the Band’s recording expenses. Fredianelli Decl. ¶ 10. The Band agreed to the decision to pay non-touring expenses out of the net touring revenue. See id. ¶ 37.

From 2004 to 2007, Jenkins all but abandoned the Band. Id. ¶ 13. Plaintiff stepped into the void and took over the leadership role for the Band, engaging in a variety of marketing activities on behalf of the Band, such as building the Band’s first Myspace and Facebook pages as well as reaching out to the Band’s fanbase through the “Village Churchyard” website. Id,. ¶ 15.

In 2005, Jenkins changed Salazar’s share of the net touring revenue to less than 25%, with the remaining funds shared equally by Plaintiff, Jenkins, and Hargreaves. Jenkins Decl. ¶ 13. It is undisputed that, in June 2006, Salazar left the Band, and the remaining three musicians continued to share the net touring revenue equally, such that each member took home one-third of the net touring revenue. See Fredianelli Decl. ¶ 19; Jenkins Decl. ¶ 13; Rawson Decl. ¶ 11.

In or around early 2008, Jenkins replaced Godtland as manager for the Band. Fredianelli Decl. ¶¶ 20-22. In his first act as manager, Jenkins approached Fredianelli in January 2008 about reducing his share of the touring revenue back to 25%. Id. ¶ 22; Jenkins Decl. ¶ 13; Fredianelli Dep. 123:12-125:14. Fredianelli told Jenkins that he “would tentatively agree to making this one change to the deal [they] had in place, but told him strictly that it would be the only point [Fredianelli] would be willing to negotiate upon.” Fredianelli Decl. ¶ 22. Plaintiff told Jenkins he would make that one concession “contingent on [his] income not going down” from the $292,000 he earned touring in 2007. Id.

E. Godtland Litigation and Plaintiff’s Termination from the Band

Following Godtland’s ouster as manager for the Band, Jenkins wished to sue him. Id. ¶ 23. Jenkins threatened that if Plaintiff and Hargreaves “did not agree to sue Godtland, Jenkins would pursue other projects, leaving the band without a lead singer and mak[ing] it impossible for 3eb to deliver the new album Jenkins had been promising [Plaintiff], Hargreaves and Third Eye Blind fans for years.” Id. Jenkins indicated on several occasions “that he already was rich and did not need Third Eye Blind anymore, but that [Plaintiff] and Brad Hargreaves did, so [Plaintiff] had better go along, as he had convinced Brad [Hargreaves] to do, or [Plaintiff and Hargreaves] would lose everything.” Id. Ultimately, the Band decided to proceed with the litigation against Godtland. Id. In his deposition, Plaintiff testified he had no say in legal decisions of the band. Fredianelli Dep. 78:12-13; 79:9-21.

During the course of the Godtland litigation, Plaintiff gave a deposition in. March 2009, in which he testified that he had never seen a management contract with Godtland and that he had effectively no control over the Band. Fredianelli Decl. ¶ 40; Fredianelli Dep. 77:22-80:15. Approximately nine months later, in December 2009, he contacted Godtland to apologize about his testimony and expressed a desire to make changes to his deposition. Fredianelli Decl. ¶ 42. About a week after Plaintiffs conversation with Godtland, Plaintiff perceived that Jenkins was angry with him for the recantation of his deposition testimony. Id. ¶ 44. Plaintiff played his last show with the Band on December 31, 2009, after which he was effectively frozen out of the Band. Id. He was never formally terminated for cause or any other reason. Id.

F. Intellectual Property Dispute

In early 2009, Jenkins sent Plaintiff an email with a proposal for publishing splits. Fredianelli Decl. ¶ 25. Fredianelli pointed out to Jenkins and Tim Mandelbaum, the Band’s attorney, that he did not agree with the split suggestions, as the splits were too low and Jenkins neglected to include four songs for which Plaintiff was clearly an author. Id. The Band released a digital EP titled “Red Star” in November 2008 and a full-length album titled “Ursa Major” in August 2009, for which Plaintiff authored or co-authored many of the new songs. Id. ¶26. Yet, Jenkins and Mandelbaum failed to credit Plaintiff for those works. Id. ¶ 26. Plaintiff never assigned any of his share of Third Eye Blind song rights or his share of the masters to Jenkins or any third party, yet Jenkins registered them in the Band’s corporations. Id. ¶ 29. Plaintiff eventually hired an attorney, Howard King, to work on his splits. Id. ¶ 33. King resolved the splits dispute in June 2010. Id.

Despite the resolution of the dispute over publishing splits, Plaintiff asserts that he is owed revenue from several other sources, including: a deal with Megaforce MRI involving $1 million in advances of which Plaintiff would receive one-third; $1 million in sales from the Megaforce deal from which Plaintiff should have received his royalties; Plaintiffs song “Can You Take Me” being used in the video game “Guitar Hero V”; “synch revenue”; ring-tones; and royalties from the sale of a live record to which Plaintiff contributed. Id. ¶¶ 33-34, 46.

Y. DISCUSSION

A. Breach of Contract (First Cause of Action)

This cause of action involves two separate legal theories: (1) that there existed an express contract between the parties conferring on Plaintiff co-ownership of the Band; and (2) that the parties’ course of conduct evidenced an intent for Plaintiff to be a partner even absent an express partnership agreement. In addition, Plaintiff argued, but did not plead in his complaint, that Defendants breached a profit-sharing agreement with him, regardless of his status as a co-owner of the Band.

1. Express Contract

First, Defendants dispute Plaintiffs allegation that he entered an express contract, the Agreement, to become a co-owner of the Band. While both parties use the term “partner” and “partnership” throughout their briefs, this terminology appears to be inapposite with respect to the Agreement; the Agreement, as produced by Defendants, contemplates that Plaintiff will be a shareholder in “any corporation(s) or other business entities conducting business for or on behalf of the Group.... ” Greenberg Decl., Docket No. 171-3, Ex. B.

a. Statement of Law

To prevail on his breach of contract claim, Plaintiff must prove (1) the existence of a contract, (2) Plaintiffs performance or excuse for non-performance, (3) Defendants’ breach of the contract, and (4) damage to Plaintiff resulting from such breach. See Acoustics, Inc. v. Trepte Constr. Co., 14 Cal.App.3d 887, 913, 92 Cal.Rptr. 723 (1971). Here, Defendants only contest the first element, arguing that Plaintiff cannot show the existence of a contract establishing him as a co-owner of the Band. See Defs.’ Mot., Docket No. 171, at 13-17. In order to show the existence of a contract, Plaintiff must produce evidence showing (1) “[pjarties capable of contracting”; (2) “[tjheir consent”; (3) “[a] lawful object”; and (4) “sufficient cause or consideration.” Cal. Civ. Code § 1550.

Here, the lawfulness of the object of the Agreement and consideration are not at issue. Rather, the dispute centers on whether Jenkins and the other Band members mutually consented to be bound by the Agreement or, if not, if Godtland had the authority to bind them to the terms of the Agreement.

b. Consent of Band Members

Plaintiffs declaration and the attached excerpts of Godtland’s deposition in the Godtland case identify only four instances where the Agreement came up among the other Band members: (1) when Hargreaves cited the “3eb band agreement” after the Band terminated Cadogan; (2) when Salazar, Jenkins, and Godtland told Plaintiff when he was hired by the Band in 2000 that, after a two-year probationary period, Plaintiff would officially be a full fledged Band member and co-owner of the Band; (3) when Salazar told Plaintiff that the Band’s agreement “was affirmed through the closing of the Cadogan litigation” and that “he had a lawyer who was working out ‘vesting the shares’ of 3eb to the shareholders, i.e. the band members,” and Godtland confirmed this fact; and (4) when the Band “agreed that they would take the shareholder agreements, sign them and distribute the shares.” See Fredianelli Decl. ¶¶ 6, 8; Godtland Dep. at 857:5-16. In addition, the written Agreement submitted by Defendants is itself potential evidence of the existence of a contract. See Greenberg Decl. Ex. B.

The first and third instances are not offers; they evidence no consent by the Band members to enter into a current agreement with Plaintiff. To the extent the third instance refers to an agreement being “affirmed,” the statement is ambiguous: it does not indicate what the agreement is, what is meant by its affirmation, who affirmed it, or whether Plaintiffs inclusion in the agreement was part of the affirmation. Moreover, these conversations with Salazar occurred before Fredianelli was made a member of the Band, suggesting that any agreement that he be a co-owner of the Band could not have been in effect at that time.

The second instance, on the other hand, is, at best, an agreement to enter into a contract two years in the future. In California, the statute of frauds requires that “[a]n agreement that by its terms is not to be performed within a year from the making thereof’ be reduced to writing. Cal. Civ. Code § 1624. Here, the promise to make Plaintiff a co-owner after a two year probationary period would thus be subject to the statute of frauds, as there is no way in which it could be performed in less than a year. Plaintiff has not produced any writing indicating this promise, and thus it could not serve to create a contract. Cf. 1 Witkin, Summary 10th (2005) Contracts, § 366 (a conditional contract must be one potentially performed within one year).

As for the fourth instance based on Godtland’s testimony that the Band intended to sign the shareholder agreements and distribute the shares that testimony is inadmissible hearsay. Even if it were admitted to show an intent of the Band members to sign a shareholder agreement and distribute the shares in the future, “an agreement that parties will, in the future, make such contract as they may then agree upon amounts to nothing.” Kerr Glass Mfg. Corp. v. Elizabeth Arden Sales Corp., 61 Cal.App.2d 55, 56, 141 P.2d 938 (1943). There is no evidence that the parties had agreed on specific terms for this future agreement. The general rule in California is “that where any of the essential elements of a promise are reserved for the future agreement of both parties, no legal obligation arises ‘until such future agreement is made.’ ” Copeland v. Baskin Robbins U.S.A., 96 Cal.App.4th 1251, 1256, 117 Cal.Rptr.2d 875 (2002) (quoting City of Los Angeles v. Super. Ct., 51 Cal.2d 423, 433, 333 P.2d 745 (1959)).

The uncertainty here is underscored by the fact that, even if Godtland was referring to the draft written Agreement described above, it is unclear which version of the Agreement Godtland was referring to when he indicated that the Band intended to sign the shareholder agreements and distribute the shares. As is evident from the face of the Agreement (and as testified to by Jenkins), it was subject to a number of revisions to key elements over time, such as the merchandising splits, sponsorship splits, and decision-making structure. Jenkins Decl. ¶ 11; Greenberg Decl. Ex. B. Thus, Godtland’s representation that the Band intended to sign the shareholder agreements simply indicates that they intended to sign an agreement in the future, which agreement in fact was never signed. The terms of the agreement, as testified to by Godtland, even if that testimony was admissible, are insufficiently definite to create a binding contract.

Even if the Court were to consider the terms of the written Agreement submitted by Defendants sufficiently definite to form the basis of a contractual obligation, Plaintiffs own evidence suggests that the parties did not intend for the Agreement to be effective until signed. As represented by Plaintiff, Godtland testified that the Band “agreed that they would take the shareholder agreements, sign them and distribute the shares” and that “they were going to distribute these shares and they were going to sign off on these documents, and Stephan [Jenkins] would distribute the shares to each of them.” Godtland Dep. 857:5-16 (emphasis added). If anything, this testimony indicates the Band’s intent that the Agreement not be in effect until signed, as Godtland repeatedly testified to the Band’s intent to sign the Agreement.³ “[W]here it is part of the understanding between the parties that the terms of their contract are to be reduced to writing and signed by the parties, the assent to its terms must be evidenced in the manner agreed upon or it does not become a binding or completed contract.” Beck v. Am. Health Group Internat’l, 211 Cal.App.3d 1555, 1562, 260 Cal.Rptr. 237 (1989). It is undisputed that no written agreement was ever signed by Plaintiff and the other band members.

Of course, parties may enter into an agreement without a written agreement. For example, in Columbia Pictures Corp. v. De Toth, 87 Cal.App.2d 620, 624, 197 P.2d 580 (1948), the court upheld an oral agreement when a film director and his agent held a meeting with a studio executive to negotiate a “term contract” governing the director’s employment by the studio for a period of time, at which meeting the agent indicated his client would sign the term contract upon termination of a preexisting agreement. The studio executive then repeated the terms of the term contract to the director and asked the director if he agreed, to which the director responded in the affirmative. Id. at 624-25, 197 P.2d 580. The three then shook hands and one of them said, “This is a deal.” Id. at 625, 197 P.2d 580. The director then said that he agreed to sign the term contract once his preexisting agreement terminated. Id. In upholding the oral agreement, the court noted that “when the respective parties orally agree upon all of the terms and conditions of an agreement with the mutual intention that it shall thereupon become binding, the mere fact that a formal written agreement to the same effect is to be prepared and signed does not alter the binding validity of the oral agreement.” Id. at 629, 197 P.2d 580.

Here, unlike in Columbia Pictures, Godtland’s testimony does not speak to whether or not the Band agreed to the specific terms of the Agreement. The facts and circumstances surrounding the Agreement suggest that the parties did not orally agree to be bound by its terms. See Banner Ent., Inc. v. Super. Ct. (Alchemy Filmworks, Inc.), 62 Cal.App.4th 348, 358, 72 Cal.Rptr.2d 598 (1998) (mutual intention of oral agreement determined from the surrounding facts and circumstances). First, the Band never signed the Agreement and never distributed shares. See Jenkins Deck ¶ 7; Greenberg Deck Ex. B. This was contrary not only to the written draft Agreement but Salazar’s putative statement to Plaintiff that a lawyer was working out the “vesting of shares” to the band shareholders. Second, from the outset, the Band for the most part did not follow the terms of the written draft Agreement: it did not follow the merchandising splits provided for in the Agreement (see Jenkins Deck ¶ 14; Greenberg Deck Ex. B), it did not provide Fredianelli any control over the Band as provided in the Agreement (see Fredianelli Dep. 78:2-80:15, 227:5-16, 244:2-8), and it only provided Fredianelli with a share of net touring revenues as opposed to net profits as provided for in the Agreement (see Green-berg Deck Ex. B at 7; Fredianelli Dep. 54:25-55:11, 72:16-73:5). In fact, the only term of the Agreement that the Band appears to have comported with was the handwritten touring revenue split.

In sum, there is no evidence the written Agreement was consented to by all parties. Nor was it executed in a manner suggesting its existence as a binding contract. Plaintiff has not met his burden of producing evidence from which a reasonable jury could conclude that the Band consented to be bound by the terms of the Agreement,

c. Agency Authority

If Plaintiffs reliance on Godtland’s representations regarding the Agreement were sufficient to create a contract, such reliance is problematic for another reason: Godtland did not have the authority to bind the Band to the Agreement’s terms. An agent may bind a principal to a contract if he has either actual or ostensible authority to do so, or, if the agent is unauthorized to do so, the principal ratifies the agent’s unauthorized action. See Cal. Civ. Code §§ 2307, 2330.

i. Actual Authority

Actual authority “is such as a principal intentionally confers upon the agent, or intentionally, or by want of ordinary care, allows the agent to believe himself to possess.” Cal. Civ. Code § 2316. In other words, actual authority may be either express, whereby a principal gives it to an agent orally or by writing, or implied, whereby the conduct of the principal indicates an intent to confer actual authority or causes the agent to believe he possesses such authority. See 3 Witkin, Summary of Cal. Law (10th) Agency § 134. “[A] general manager ... may not, in the absence of express authority, contract to distribute to employees a portion of the profits of a business.... ” Howard v. Winton Co., 199 Cal. 374, 379, 249 P. 511 (1926). Similarly, a general manager does not have implied authority to sell the business. See London v. Zachary, 92 Cal. App.2d 654, 657, 207 P.2d 1067 (1949).

Here, Plaintiff has submitted no admissible evidence showing that Godtland had express authority to bind Jenkins or the Band to the Agreement with Plaintiff. While Plaintiff testifies in his declaration that Godtland told him “he had consulted with the band by conference call and that the points of [their] conversation were approved by the band,” this statement is inadmissible hearsay evidence for the point that the Band did in fact approve of Godtland entering the agreement on its behalf. Id. ¶ 9. Significantly, Plaintiff did not submit direct non-hearsay evidence from Godtland that he had actual authority. Moreover, Godtland could not have had implied authority to either enter into a profit-sharing agreement with Fredianelli or grant him an ownership stake in the Band, as general managers may not contract to distribute the profits of a business or sell a business absent express authority. See Howard, 199 Cal. at 379, 249 P. 511; London, 92 Cal.App.2d at 657, 207 P.2d 1067. Thus, Fredianelli has not set forth a claim based on Godtland’s actual authority to make him a co-owner of the Band.

ii. Ostensible Authority

Ostensible authority “is such as a principal, intentionally or by want of ordinary care, causes or allows a third person to believe the agent to possess.” Cal. Civ. Code § 2317. In order for an agent to bind a principal to a contract based on the agent’s ostensible authority, (1) “[t]he person dealing with the agent must do so with belief in the agent’s authority and this belief must be a reasonable one”; (2) “such belief must be generated by some act or neglect of the principal sought to be charged”; and (3) “the third person in relying on the agent’s apparent authority must not be guilty of negligence.” Ass’d Creditors’ Agency v. Davis, 13 Cal.3d 374, 399, 118 Cal.Rptr. 772, 530 P.2d 1084 (1975).

As to the first factor, Plaintiff testifies in his declaration that Godtland told him “he had consulted with the band by conference call and that the points of [their] conversation were approved by the band.” Id. ¶ 9. Although this point of Fredianelli’s declaration is inadmissible to prove that the Band actually did approve of Godtland entering into the Agreement with Fredianelli on behalf of Jenkins or the Band, it is admissible for the limited purpose of establishing Plaintiffs belief that Godtland had that authority and suggests that Plaintiffs belief may have been reasonable.

On the other hand, Plaintiff has not submitted any admissible evidence that conduct of the principals — i.e., Jenkins or the Band — would lead him to believe that Godtland had the authority to bind them to the Agreement. In fact, he testifies to the opposite, that Hargreaves told him that “Godtland ... did not have the authority to act unilaterally specifically when it came to changing any member[’]s financial position in the band.” Fredianelli Decl. ¶ 24. Although Salazar, Jenkins, and Godtland did tell Plaintiff that he would eventually become a full-fledged member and co-owner of the Band around the time that he began playing with them in 2000, they never indicated that Godtland would be the one to make that arrangement. See Fredianelli Decl. ¶ 6. In fact, Salazar said that “the band made big decisions together, like firing Kevin Cadogan for example.Id. Absent admissible evidence showing that other members of the Band led Plaintiff to believe that Godtland would have the authority to enter into the Agreement on their behalf, Plaintiff cannot demonstrate that Godtland had ostensible authority to do so.

iii. Ratification

Even if Godtland’s offering Plaintiff to enter the Agreement was unauthorized, Defendants may still be bound to it if they ratified the Agreement. “A ratification can be made ... where an oral authorization would suffice[ ] by accepting or retaining the benefit of the act, with notice thereof.” Cal. Civ. Code § 2310 (emphasis added). “[RJatification may be proved by circumstantial as well as direct evidence,” and “[a]nything which convincingly shows the intention of the principal to adopt or approve the act in question is sufficient.” StreetScenes v. ITC Entertainment Group, Inc., 103 Cal.App.4th 233, 242, 126 Cal.Rptr.2d 754 (2002) (quotation marks and citations omitted). On the other hand, ratification “may also be shown by implication,” meaning that, “where an agent is authorized to do an act, and he transcends his authority, it is the duty of the principal to repudiate the act as soon as he is fully informed of what has been thus done in his name, else he will be bound by the act as having ratified it by implication.” Id. (alterations, quotation marks, and citations omitted).

Here, Plaintiff does not submit any admissible evidence that the Band knew Godtland had presented Plaintiff with the Agreement. Moreover, circumstantial evidence suggests they did not have notice of Plaintiff being offered with and accepting the Agreement, as he was never treated in accordance with the Agreement, aside from his taking a twenty-five percent share of the net touring revenues. As admitted by Plaintiff in his deposition, once he became a member, he did not gain a role in the decision-making process of the Band, did not have a say in the Band’s business decisions, and did not have a say in the Band’s creative decisions, despite the Agreement’s explicit provision that “[m]ajority approval of the voting interests of the Corporation(s) will be required with respect to business and creative decisions of the Corporation(s) or the Group.... ” See Fredianelli Dep. 78:2-80:15; Green-berg Decl. Ex. B at 2. In addition, he did not take a share of the band’s merchandise proceeds until 2007, despite the Agreement’s statement that he would immediately take a ten percent share of such revenue. See Jenkins Decl. ¶ 14; Green-berg Decl. Ex. B at 5. Such treatment is inconsistent with any ratification theory and thus this argument in favor of contract formation fails, too.

Thus, no contract may be found based on Godtland’s putative role as agent.

2. Partnership

The parties devote the lion’s share of their briefing on Plaintiffs first cause of action to the question of whether or not Defendants created a partnership with Plaintiff by way of their conduct.⁴ Under California law, “the association of two or more persons to carry on as coowners a business for profit forms a partnership, whether or not the persons intend to form a partnership.” Cal. Corp. Code § 16202(a). Whether a partnership exists depends primarily on the intention of the parties, determined from the terms of the parties’ agreement or from the surrounding circumstances. Greene v. Brooks, 235 Cal.App.2d 161, 165-66, 45 Cal.Rptr. 99 (1965). “It is immaterial if the parties do not designate their relationship as a partnership or if they do not know that they are partners, for intent may be implied from their acts.” In re Lona, 393 B.R. 1, 14 (Bankr.N.D.Cal.2008). “Ordinarily, the existence of an actual partnership is evidenced by the right of the respective parties to participate in the profits and losses of the business, the contribution by the partners of either money, property or services and some degree of participation by the partners in the management and control of the business.” Id.

“To participate to some extent in the management of a business is a primary element in partnership organization, and it is virtually essential to a determination that such a relationship existed.” Dickenson v. Samples, 104 Cal.App.2d 311, 315, 231 P.2d 530 (1951). However, where partners have designated a particular partner to manage the partnership, “the making of the agreement to relinquish control is itself an exercise of the requisite right to control.” Dills v. Delira Corp., 145 Cal. App.2d 124, 132, 302 P.2d 397 (1956) (emphasis in original).

Here, while some of the hallmarks of a partnership were present [e.g., sharing of profits), Plaintiff was effectively shut out of the Band’s decision-making process. Rather, Jenkins had the final say as to all creative and business decisions of the Band. See Fredianelli Dep. 78:2-80:15, 227:5-16, 244:2-8; cf. Rawson Decl. Ex. A. There is no evidence that Plaintiff relinquished any control he had in the Band or that Plaintiff ever took part in a decision that Jenkins did not favor.⁵

Aside from aspects of his own declaration and alleged deposition corrections prohibited by the sham affidavit rule,⁶ Plaintiff puts forth two admissible pieces of evidence supporting his claim he had some control over the Band: (1) Jenkins’s deposition admission that he was not the only-person to make the decision to hire Mandlebaum as an attorney; and (2) Jenkins’s deposition admission that he made the decision to change the touring revenue split with Hargreaves “in consultation with” Plaintiff. Jenkins Dep. 133:2-11, 395:9-19. However, neither of these facts suggests that Plaintiff had any say in the final decision, nor has Plaintiff offered evidence suggesting that he did. Jenkins’s admission that he was not the only person to make the decision to hire Mandlebaum as an attorney does not, on its own, suggest that Plaintiff was involved in the decision to hire Mandlebaum, especially in light of Plaintiffs deposition testimony that he had no say in the Band’s legal matters. See Fredianelli Dep. 78:12-13, 79:9-21. That the decision to change the touring revenue split was made “in consultation with” Plaintiff does not imply that Plaintiff had the power to change the outcome. In fact, such a characterization comports with Plaintiffs deposition testimony that he “renegotiated” his touring split with Jenkins and that Jenkins had previously told Fredianelli “if he wanted to ask for advice, he would ask,” but “[a]t the end of the day, he would reserve the right to make the decision .... ” Fredianelli Dep. 123:24-124:8, 227:13-16. Obviously, a reduction of an employee’s compensation would involve some degree of consultation with the employee, even if just presented as a “take it or leave it” offer. However, just because an employee has the power to accept reduced compensation, negotiate for a different compensation, or leave his job, does not mean that the employee has power over the employer’s ultimate decision of what compensation to offer. Thus, there is no record evidence before the Court that Fredianelli ever had any control in a decision by the Band.

Several other facts cited by Plaintiff to support the existence of a partnership, such as sharing of net touring revenues, Plaintiffs participation as a party in the Godtland case, and Plaintiffs being referenced as a “member” and “officer” of the Band, are insufficient to give rise to a genuine issue of fact as to which Plaintiff was a partner.

First, as discussed above, it is undisputed that Plaintiff took between a quarter and a third of the Band’s net touring revenue from the time he was made a member in 2003 to the time he was ousted in 2009. See Fredianelli Dep. 54:25-55:11, 72:16-73:5, 123:12-125:14; Fredianelli Decl. ¶¶ 19, 22; Jenkins Decl. ¶ 13. Sharing of net touring revenues with Plaintiff is not inconsistent with Defendants’ assertion that Plaintiffs share of net touring revenues constituted wages for his employment with the Band, especially where Defendants support the contention by introducing testimony that the Band’s accountant made wage payments to Plaintiff, issued W-2 and 1099 tax forms for such payments, and never filed partnership tax returns or made partner draw payments. See Rawson Decl. ¶ 13; Jenkins Decl. ¶ 19; see also Cal. Corp. Code § 16202(c)(3)(B) (profit-sharing as form of wages does not create presumption of partnership). Moreover, Plaintiff did not share in the net merchandise proceeds until 2007, demonstrating that Plaintiff did not even participate in a full profit-sharing agreement, as would be expected of a co-owner of a business. Jenkins Decl. ¶ 14.

Second, the complaint in the Godtland case alleges that Plaintiff was a party to a contract with Godtland by which Godtland took a commission based, in part, on “the band members’ songwriting income” for, among other tasks, “us[ing] [his] best efforts to promote the band’s careers and efforts in the entertainment industry.” Compl., Jenkins v. Godtland, No. C-08-476453 (Cal.Super.Ct., San Francisco County June 18, 2008) ¶¶ 14, 19-20 (emphasis added). While Plaintiff did take part as a party to the Godtland case, his participation was premised, at least in part, not on his being a partner in the ownership of the band, but on his allegedly being an individual party to a management contract with Godtland. See id.⁷ Plaintiffs individual participation in such a contract comported with its covering “the band members’ songwriting income,” which would naturally vary for each member of the Band based on their individual contribution to the Band’s songwriting, as well as with Plaintiffs representation in an email that Godtland and Plaintiff had an individual agreement regarding Godtland’s management commission for Plaintiff. See id. ¶ 14; Rawson Decl. Ex. A; cf. Love v. The Mail on Sunday, 489 F.Supp.2d 1100, 1106-07 (C.D.Cal.2007) (recognizing that songwriting collaboration does not in and of itself create partnership and that each collaborator is individually entitled to royalties). Plaintiffs individual participation in the Godtland case also comports with the allegation therein that part of Godtland’s role as manager was to promote Plaintiffs career and efforts in the entertainment industry, giving rise to individual rights against Godtland.

Lastly, Plaintiff was at various times referred to as a “member” and “officer” of the Band. See, e.g., Fredianelli Deck ¶ 6 (“member”), Ex. G (“officer”). However, such designation does not necessarily make him a legal partner in the Band’s operation, especially in light of the evidence showing that Plaintiff had no effective control over the Band. Being a band “member” does not necessarily denote ownership. Cf. Bartels v. Birmingham, 332 U.S. 126, 127-28, 67 S.Ct. 1547, 91 L.Ed. 1947 (1947) (members of “name bands” are employees and leader is employer); Far Out Productions, Inc. v. Oskar, 247 F.3d 986, 998 (9th Cir.2001) (recognizing band members being hired as employees). Regarding Plaintiff being labeled an “officer” of the Band, there is only one document referring to him as such, a one page balance sheet under the header of 3EB Touring, Inc. See Fredianelli Deck Ex. G. This one document does not establish a genuine dispute as to whether Fredianelli was, in fact, an officer of the Band. However, even construing the evidence in the light most favorable to Plaintiff, his being an “officer” would not make him a “partner” in the Band in light of his undisputed lack of control over management of the band. Cf. GAB Bus. Servs., Inc. v. Lindsey & Newsom Claim Services, Inc., 83 Cal.App.4th 409, 420-21, 99 Cal.Rptr.2d 665 (2000) overturned on other grounds by Reeves v. Hanlon, 33 Cal.4th 1140, 1153-54, 17 Cal.Rptr.3d 289, 95 P.3d 513 (2004) (recognizing that corporations may have nominal officers without control over business). Plaintiff has not offered evidence from which the Court may reasonably infer a partnership existed between him and the Band members.

Thus, the Court GRANTS Defendants’ motion for summary judgment as to Plaintiffs first cause of action except to the extent it is based on his not receiving his full share of net touring revenues irrespective of ownership, as discussed below.

3. Profitr-Sharing Agreement

Interpreted in the light most favorable to Plaintiff, Defendants have made admissions that would support an action for breach of contract to the extent it relates to Plaintiffs right to a share of the net touring revenue. See Pl.’s Opp’n 5. Regardless of Plaintiffs status as a partner or employee, Jenkins admits that Plaintiff was entitled to at least 25% of the net touring revenue starting in 2003. Jenkins Decl. ¶ 13. Plaintiff claims he has not been fully paid. There is evidence from which it may be inferred that Plaintiff is owed moneys based on the agreement to pay him a share of net touring revenue. In his July 20, 2009 deposition in the Godtland case, Jenkins testified that the Band “moved up on this tour to a profitability somewhere in the estimate of about 52 percent — 51 or 52 percent....” Jenkins Dep. 243:6-8. Defendants produced a document in this litigation entitled “3EBT Earning 2008 — 2009” showing total tour earnings of $5,155,590 between March 2008 and August 2009. Fredianelli Decl. ¶ 57, Ex. F. If 52 percent of that sum was profit and Plaintiff was entitled to 25 percent of the profit, Plaintiff should have been paid $670,226.70 for his participation in the Band during that period. Yet, Plaintiff earned, at most, $353,957 during that period. See Rawson Decl. ¶ 9.

Defendants have not proffered an explanation for the nearly $320,000 difference yielded by this calculation. See Defs.’ Reply 13. In a case involving an alleged profit-sharing agreement, the burden of proof at summary judgment and at trial is on the party in control of financial records, in this case Defendants, to demonstrate the party claiming breach was paid accordingly. See Wolf, 107 Cal.App.4th at 35-36, 130 Cal.Rptr.2d 860.⁸ In Wolf, the court rejected a plaintiffs theory that a profit-sharing agreement created a fiduciary relationship, but held that, nevertheless, “in contingent compensation and other profit-sharing cases where essential financial records are in the exclusive control of the defendant who would benefit from any incompleteness, public policy is best served by shifting the burden of proof to the defendant, thereby imposing the risk of any incompleteness in the records on the party obligated to maintain them.” Id. at 35, 130 Cal.Rptr.2d 860. As such, breach of contract as to the agreement to pay net touring revenues for March 2008 to August 2009 is an appropriate cause of action.

Thus, the Court finds that a contractual obligation to pay a percentage of the net touring revenue exists, and permits Plaintiff to proceed with his breach of contract claim only to the extent it is based on his right to a share of the net touring revenue.

B. Reasonable Value of Services Performed (Second Cause of Action)

Plaintiffs second cause of action for reasonable value of services performed, also known as a “quantum meruit” claim, alleges that “[b]etween March 13, 2003 and December 31, 2009, Plaintiff was not paid the reasonable value of the services that he performed for the Band.” FAC ¶ 88. “To recover on a claim for the reasonable value of services under a quantum meruit theory, a plaintiff must establish both that he or she was acting pursuant to either an express or implied request for services from the defendant and that the services rendered were intended to and did benefit the defendant.” Ochs v. PacifiCare of Cal., 115 Cal.App.4th 782, 794, 9 Cal.Rptr.3d 734 (2004). “[I]t is well settled that there is no equitable basis for an implied-in-law promise to pay reasonable value when the parties have an actual agreement covering compensation.” Hedging Concepts, Inc. v. First Alliance Mortgage Co., 41 Cal.App.4th 1410, 1419, 49 Cal.Rptr.2d 191 (1996). However, courts have recognized quantum meruit claims where the actual agreement is not for a certain or readily ascertainable figure. See Chodos v. West Publ. Co., 292 F.3d 992, 1001-02 (9th Cir.2002). For example, in Chodos the court recognized a quantum meruit claim where the plaintiff, an author, wrote a treatise based on a contract with a publisher for fifteen percent of the revenues from sales, yet the defendant declined to publish the treatise. Id.

Here, the fact that the parties had an agreement as to Plaintiffs compensation is dispositive. There is no dispute that Plaintiff was entitled to either twenty-five percent or thirty-three percent of the net touring revenue at any given point between March 2003 and December 2009. See Jenkins Decl. ¶ 13; Fredianelli Decl. ¶22. Moreover, unlike in Chodos, where the damages were uncertain, here Plaintiff was entitled to a share of an ascertainable portion of profits. Thus, the Court need not reach a decision as to whether the monies ultimately paid Plaintiff were reasonable.⁹ Breach of contract rather than quantum meruit lies.

The Court GRANTS Defendants’ motion for summary judgment as to Plaintiffs second cause of action.

C. Constructive Trust (Third Cause of Action)

Plaintiffs third cause of action asserts that Jenkins breached a fiduciary duty owed Plaintiff by “causing substantial assets, revenues and profits belonging to the Band to be placed either in his own individual name or into corporations wholly owned by him” and “treating the aforesaid assets belonging to other Band members as his own personal property.” FAC ¶¶ 94-96. “A cause of action for constructive trust is not based on the establishment of a trust, but consists of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty or [anjother act which entitles the plaintiff to some relief.” Michaelian v. State Comp. Ins. Fund, 50 Cal. App.4th 1093, 1114, 58 Cal.Rptr.2d 133 (1996). Here, based on the language of the complaint, Plaintiffs third cause of action appears to seek the remedy of a constructive trust based on Jenkins’s alleged breach of a fiduciary duty. See FAC ¶¶ 94-96.

In order to state a claim for breach of fiduciary duty against Jenkins, Plaintiff must demonstrate the existence of a fiduciary relationship. See 1-800 Contacts, Inc. v. Steinberg, 107 Cal.App.4th 568, 592-93, 132 Cal.Rptr.2d 789 (2003). Here, as discussed above, Plaintiff has not demonstrated that he was made a co-owner of the Band or its related corporations, and thus Jenkins’s alleged status as a co-owner of the Band with Plaintiff does not give rise to a fiduciary duty.

However, Plaintiff asserts two alternative sources of Jenkins’s fiduciary duty towards Plaintiff: Jenkins’s serving as Plaintiffs manager and Plaintiffs right to a twenty-five percent share of net profits. See Pl.’s Opp’n 21-22. Plaintiff cites no admissible evidence supporting that Jenkins actually was Plaintiffs manager in an individual capacity. Rather, Jenkins managed the Band, and, as discussed above, Plaintiff was not a co-owner of the Band, but rather an employee. See Fredianelli Decl. ¶20.¹⁰ As to Plaintiffs argument that Jenkins owed Plaintiff a fiduciary duty to the extent Plaintiff was entitled to a share of the Band’s profits, a contract for profit-sharing alone does not give rise to a fiduciary relationship. See Wolf v. Super. Ct., 107 Cal.App.4th 25, 34, 130 Cal. Rptr.2d 860 (2003).

Thus, the Court GRANTS Defendants’ motion for summary judgment as to Plaintiffs third cause of action for constructive trust.

D. Accounting (Fourth Cause of Action)

Plaintiffs fourth cause of action “seeks an[ ] accounting of the disposition of any and all moneys, property and assets that Defendants Jenkins and or Hargreaves wrongfully received or misappropriated from the Band during the period when Plaintiff was an equal co-owner.” FAC ¶ 101. “An action for an accounting ... is a proceeding in equity for the purpose of obtaining a judicial settlement of the accounts of the parties in which proceeding the court will adjudicate the amount due, administer full relief and render complete justice.... ” Verdier v. Super. Ct. in and for City & County of San Francisco, 88 Cal.App.2d 527, 530, 199 P.2d 325 (1948). “A cause of action for an accounting requires a showing that a relationship exists between the plaintiff and defendant that requires an accounting, and that some balance is due the plaintiff that can only be ascertained by an accounting.” Teselle v. McLaughlin, 173 Cal.App.4th 156, 179, 92 Cal.Rptr.3d 696 (2009). “[A] party to a profit-sharing agreement may have a right to an accounting, even absent a fiduciary relationship, when such a right is inherent in the nature of the contract itself.” Wolf, 107 Cal.App.4th at 34, 130 Cal.Rptr.2d 860.

As with his breach of contract cause of action, Plaintiffs complaint suffers the fatal flaw that the entire action for accounting is premised on him being an “equal co-owner” of the Band at some point. See FAC ¶ 101. As discussed above, Plaintiff was never an equal co-owner of the Band, and thus cannot have a right to an accounting, at least as pled. Plaintiff also asserts that Defendants have “unaccounted for royalties,” yet produces no admissible evidence of such royalties. See PL’s Opp’n 5, 22; Fredianelli Decl. ¶¶ 33-34. The only evidence cited by Plaintiff to support a claim for unaccounted for royalties consists of hearsay and conjecture. See Fredianelli Decl. ¶¶ 33-34. While Plaintiff asserts that a song he wrote was used in a video game but he “never received any advances or royalties from the licensing of the song,” he does not introduce any evidence that the licensing of the song generated any royalties in the first place. See Fredianelli Decl. ¶ 46. It is equally conceivable that the use of the song in a video game was purely promotional and designed to encourage record sales or promote the Band’s profile. Thus, Plaintiff has not produced sufficient evidence to entitle him to an accounting of royalties.

Like with his breach of contract action, Plaintiff has proffered at least some evidence that he was not paid his full share of the band’s net touring revenues. Without an accounting, there may be no way by which Plaintiff could determine whether he was entitled to additional compensation. See Wolf, 107 Cal.App.4th at 34, 130 Cal. Rptr.2d 860 (accounting appropriate where, without an accounting, there may be no way by which a party entitled to a share in profits could determine the amount of profits). Again, the burden of proof would be on Defendants to demonstrate that Plaintiff was paid accordingly. See id. at 35-36,130 Cal.Rptr.2d 860.

As Plaintiff has neither demonstrated that he was as co-owner of the Band nor shown the existence of any unaccounted for royalties, the Court GRANTS Defendants’ motion for summary judgment as to his fourth cause of action, except to the extent it is based on his not receiving a full share of the Band’s net touring revenues, irrespective of ownership.

E. Declaratory Relief Regarding Ownership of Copyrights (Fifth Cause of Action)

In his fifth cause of action “regarding ownership of copyrights,” Plaintiff asserts that he “is an author and joint owner of certain songs (and copyrights therein)” for which “[o]ne or more of [the] Defendants is listed as the sole author,” and thus he “requests that the Court declare him to be an author of these works.” FAC ¶¶ 102-07. In response, Defendants have produced evidence showing that the parties already resolved any ownership dispute based on Plaintiffs authorship of the songs at issue. See Callazzo Decl. ¶¶ 3-6, 8, Ex. A; Jenkins Decl. ¶ 18. In response, Plaintiff has produced no evidence of an outstanding, bona fide copyright dispute, but rather asserts that the dispute is about ownership, not royalty amounts, despite the fact that evidence produced by Defendants directly addresses the matter of ownership as having been previously settled. See, e.g., Callazzo Deck Ex. A (email from Plaintiffs attorney “eonfirmfing] that Mr. Fredianelli owns and controls the following. ...”). Although the materials submitted by Defendants suggest that, as of 2010, there was a dispute as to the song “Carnival Barker,” Plaintiff has submitted no evidence or argument that he is entitled to ownership of that song. See Callazzo Deck ¶ 7, Ex. A. Lastly, Plaintiffs argument that he is entitled to unaccounted for royalties and touring participation monies is inapposite; this cause of action is about declaratory relief for ownership of songs. See Pl.’s Opp’n 22-23.

Thus, the Court GRANTS summary judgment as to Plaintiffs fifth cause of action.

F. Declaratory Relief Regarding Ownership of Trademarks (Sixth Cause of Action)

Plaintiffs sixth cause of action asserts that he is an author of the “Third Eye Blind” and “3EB” trademarks registered by Defendant Stephan Jenkins Productions, Inc. See FAC ¶¶ 108-113. “[A] person who remains continuously involved with the group and is in a position to control the quality of its services retains the right to use of the mark, even when that person is a manager rather than a performer.” Robi v. Reed, 173 F.3d 736, 740 (9th Cir.1999). Here, Plaintiff has produced no evidence showing continuous involvement in the Band. According to his own declaration, Plaintiff played with the Band under the name Third Eye Blind from 1993 to 1994, left the Band from 1994 to 1999, rejoined the Band from 1999 to 2009, and has not played with the Band since 2009. See Fredianelli Deck ¶¶ 2-5, 44. On the other hand, Jenkins has played under the name Third Eye Blind continuously since before 1993, while Hargreaves has played under the name Third Eye Blind continuously since 1995. See Jenkins Deck ¶¶ 2 — 3; Hargreaves Deck ¶2. Plaintiff admits that Jenkins “was the band leader.... ” Fredianelli Deck ¶ 39. Plaintiff has not submitted evidence sufficient to demonstrate either his continuous involvement with the Band or his ability to control the quality of its service.

The Court therefore GRANTS summary judgment as to his sixth cause of action.

G. Alternative Relief

Plaintiff urges that, if the Court is inclined to grant Defendants’ motion for summary judgment, it grant him permission to amend his complaint to plead an additional cause of action for violation of California Labor Code section 2802 (“section 2802”) or permit Plaintiff to conduct additional discovery before ruling on Defendants’ motion. See Pl.’s Opp’n 24-25.

In support of a claim for relief under section 2802, Plaintiff states that portions of Plaintiffs participation in the Band’s net touring revenue were used to fund other expenses of the Band, including recording and legal expenses. See id. at 24. However, section 2802 provides that “[a]n employer shall indemnify his or her employee for all necessary expenditures or losses incurred by the employee in direct consequence of the discharge of his or her duties.... ” Cal. Lab.Code § 2802 (emphasis added). Plaintiff has submitted no evidence of expenses he incurred while discharging his duties, much less any argument why such expenditures were necessary. Rather, he appears to be arguing that, since he was paid from net touring revenues, any expenditures out of those revenues would give rise to an indemnification claim under section 2802. However, this argument confuses a share of net revenues, to which Plaintiff was entitled, with a share of gross revenues, to which Plaintiff was not entitled. By definition, Plaintiffs compensation agreement for net revenues incorporated expenses.

Thus, the Court DENIES Plaintiffs request for leave to amend his complaint to add a section 2802 claim.

As for permitting Plaintiff to conduct more discovery, Plaintiff is correct that “[i]f a nonmovant shows by affidavit or declaration that, for specified reasons, it cannot present facts essential to justify its opposition, the court may ... allow time ... to take discovery____” See Fed. R.Civ.P. 56(d). However, in support of his argument, Plaintiffs declaration only states that “[o]ne of the reasons [he has] been abandoned by so many attorney[ ]s in this case has been their refusal to conduct adequate discovery.” See Fredianelli Deck ¶ 48; Pk’s Opp’n 24-25. He does not include compelling testimony for why he failed to take the depositions of Godtland and Salazar, who he claims would corroborate his testimony. See Fredianelli Deck ¶ 48.

Thus, Plaintiffs request for additional time to conduct discovery is DENIED.

However, as discussed above, the parties have produced sufficient evidence to suggest that an appropriate cause of action would lie for breach of contract or an accounting on the grounds that Plaintiff did not receive his full share of net touring revenues. See Bishop v. Kelley, 100 Cal. App.2d 775, 786, 224 P.2d 814 (1950) (action for accounting where calculation of net profits was in dispute); Thacker v. American Foundry, 78 Cal.App.2d 76, 84-85, 177 P.2d 322 (1947) (breach of contract claim where calculation of net profits was in dispute). Defendants would not suffer prejudice from Plaintiff being able to proceed with either claim, as they have been on notice that Plaintiff sought his share of the Band’s net touring revenues, given his complaint’s repeated references to not receiving his full share of the Band’s profits as well as Jenkins’s and Hargreaves’s alleged misappropriation of the Band’s profits. See, e.g, FAC ¶¶77, 85B-C, 90-91, 95,101.

Thus, as discussed above the Court permits Plaintiff to proceed with his causes of action for breach of contract and accounting based on Defendants’ failure to pay his full share of the Band’s net touring revenue.

VI. CONCLUSION

In sum, the Court GRANTS Defendants’ motion for summary judgment as to all of Plaintiffs causes of action permits except to the extent his causes of action for breach of contract and accounting are based on his not receiving his agreed-to share of net touring revenues.

This order disposes of Docket No. 171.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Notes

1 . In addition, Defendants moved for summary judgment on the cross-complaint of the Band’s former manager, Eric Godtland, who also moved for leave to amend his cross-complaint. See Defs.’ Mot. for Summ. J. (“Defs.’ Mot.’’), Docket No. 218, at 21-24; Mot. to Amend/Correct Cross-Compl., Docket No. 166. However, the parties indicated that Godtland and Defendants have reached a settlement in this matter and wish to take these matters off calendar. See Joint Case Management Statement, Docket No. 223, at 2:5-11. Thus, this Order does not address any of the Godtland claims.

2 . In his complaint, but not in his declaration, Plaintiff references a document titled "Third Eye Blind Inter Party Agreements," (the "Agreement”) stating that, during their March 2003 meeting, "Mr. Godtland showed Plaintiff both the Agreement and explained to him that the Band was operating under the Agreement and he would be an equal owner in all of the Band's various ventures, with the rights and responsibilities as set forth in [] the Agreement.” FAC ¶¶ 22-26, 31-32. In addition, Plaintiff alleges in his complaint, but not his declaration, that "[d]uring the Meeting, Plaintiff accepted the Band’s offer to become a full partner according to the terms of the Agreement, as that offer was conveyed to him by the Band’s manager and agent, Eric Godtland.” Id. ¶ 34. Plaintiffs' unverified complaint is inadmissible for these facts. See Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986) (“Rule 56(e) ... requires the nonmoving party to go beyond the pleadings____”).

3 . The Agreement contains a clause indicating that it would constitute a binding agreement "when signed by the parties hereto....” Greenberg Decl. Ex. B at 11. However, in the version submitted by Defendants, this clause is crossed out, with the note "reflects current agreements to add TF” written in the margin. Id. However, neither party has introduced any testimony as to who crossed out this paragraph, who made the note in the margin, or even what the document is, aside from mentioning that Plaintiff produced this document in the course of litigation. See Greenberg Decl. ¶ 3. Thus, there is insufficient evidence before the Court from which a reasonable jury could infer that this paragraph being crossed out evidenced any intent by the Band that the Agreement need not be in writing.

4 . The legal entities that appear to comprise the Band — 3EB Touring, Inc., Stephan Jenkins Productions, Inc., and Third Eye Blind, Inc. — are all corporations. Thus, it is not clear how a partnership theory fits into this scheme, i.e. whether Plaintiff is a partner with the other members of the Band in the operation of the Band as some separate entity from these corporations, whether Plaintiff is a partner with these corporations in the operation of the Band, whether Plaintiff is a partner with Jenkins in the operation of some aspects of the Band, and so forth. In any event, as discussed herein, Plaintiff has not produced sufficient evidence from which a reasonable jury could conclude he was a partner in the Band or any of its related enterprises.

5 . At the hearing on this matter, Plaintiff's counsel suggested that Jenkins had been on the losing side of a Band decision as it related to the firing of Cadogan. However, the only evidence on the record of this fact is the statement in Plaintiff's declaration that Jenkins told Plaintiff "in late 1997/early 1998 that he ‘hated Kevin Cadogan, would fire him, but he didn't have the votes of Arion Salazar and drummer Brad Hargreaves'...." Fredianelli Decl. ¶ 3. That statement predates Plaintiff's joining the Band and does not provide any support for Plaintiff taking part in any decisions by the Band.

6 . For example, Plaintiff's declaration and deposition contain statements suggesting that he did take part in the decision-making structure of the Band and was told by Jenkins that he could have voted to terminate Jenkins as the Band’s manager, which are directly contradicted by statements in his deposition that he effectively had no control over the Band and was told by Jenkins that he would have no role in the decision-making of the Band. See, e.g., Fredianelli Decl. V 22; Fredianelli Dep. 227:5-16.

7 . The Court sua sponte takes judicial notice of the complaint in the Godtland case as a matter of public record not subject to reasonable dispute. See Fed.R.Evid. 201(c)(1); Molex v. City & County of San Francisco, No. C-11-1282 YGR, 2012 WL 3042256, at *1 (N.D.Cal. July 25, 2012) (at summary judgment phase court may take judicial notice sua sponte of documents "directly relevant to the arguments raised by the parties”).

8 . By way of contrast, the court in Cusano v. Klein, 280 F.Supp.2d 1035, 1039-40 (C.D.Cal. 2003), held that the plaintiff had the burden of proving he was not paid in accordance with a profit-sharing agreement at the summary judgment phase, but only after relying on the plaintiffs failure to invoke auditing procedures provided for under the profit-sharing agreement. Here, at least as alleged in the complaint, Fredianelli was stonewalled in his attempts to audit the Band's profits. See FAC ¶ 53.

9 . Defendants have submitted substantial evidence suggesting that Plaintiffs compensation was well above the industry standard. See Rawson Decl. ¶¶ 8-10. Plaintiff has not refuted any of this evidence. See Pl.’s Opp'n 20-21.

10 . By way of contrast, there is evidence on the record that Godtland represented Plaintiff in an individual capacity, as discussed above. See Rawson Decl. Ex. A.

Case Details

Case Name: Fredianelli v. Jenkins

Court Name: District Court, N.D. California

Date Published: Mar 14, 2013

Citation: 931 F. Supp. 2d 1001

Docket Number: No. C-11-3232 EMC

Court Abbreviation: N.D. Cal.