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U NI T E D S T A T E S DI S T RI C T C O U R T S O U T H E R N DI S T RI C T O F N E W Y O R K -----------------------------------------------------------x S H E R WI N K. P A RI K H , M D, P . C. d/ b/ a T RI B E C A S KI N C E N T E R , a n d DI L L O N M U SI C , i n di vi d u all y a n d o n b e h alf of all ot h ers si mil arl y sit u at e d,
Pl ai ntiff s, 2 4-c v - 4 8 4 8 ( P K C) -a g ai nst - O PI NI O N A N D O R D E R A C C E S SI B E, I N C . a n d J O H N D O ES 1- 5, D ef e n d a nt s. -----------------------------------------------------------x
C A S T E L, U. S. D.J.:
P l ai ntiffs S h er wi n K. P ari k h, M D, P. C., d/ b/ a Tri b e c a S ki n C e nt er, a n d Dill o n M usi c m o v e t o dis q u alif y M arti n S . Kr e z al e k a n d his fir m fr o m r e pr es e nti n g d ef e n d a nts i n t his a cti o n, i n cl u di n g A c c essi b e, I n c. ( “ A c c essi b e ”), b e c a us e of i nf or m ati o n i m p art e d b y Tr a c y Ar mstr o n g, a n att or n e y f or Dill o n M usi c, i n a si n gl e t el e p h o n e c o n v ers ati o n wit h Kr e z al e k . T h e m oti o n is pr e mis e d u p o n R ul e 1. 1 8 of t h e N e w Y or k R ul es of Pr of essi o n al C o n d u ct r el ati n g t o d uti es o w e d b y a l a w y er t o a pr os p e cti v e cli e nt. F or t h e r e as o ns e x pl ai n e d, t h e m oti o n will b e d e ni e d. Pr o c e d ur al Hist or y L e a di n g t o t h e M oti o n t o Dis q u alif y
T h is a cti o n w as c o m m e n c e d o n J u n e 2 6, 2 0 2 4, b y P ari k h a g ai nst A c c essi b e a n d fi v e D o e d ef e n d a nts ( c oll e cti v el y, “ Ac c essi b e ”). P ari k h is pr es e ntl y r e pr es e nt e d b y f o ur l a w y ers, e a c h fr o m a diff er e nt l a w fir m. P ari k h all e g e s t h at A c c essi b e m ar k ets a s oft w ar e pr o d u ct o n a s u bs cri pti o n b asis as a n eff e cti v e, q ui c k, a n d c ost- eff e cti v e m e a ns t o g u ar a nt e e t h at a w e bsit e is i n f ull c o m pli a n c e wit h t h e A m eri c a ns wit h Dis a biliti es A ct ( “ A D A ”), 4 2 U. S. C 1 2 1 0 1 et s e q. T h e g e n er al pr e mis e of P ari k h ’s fi v e cl ai ms i n his i niti al c o m pl ai nt is t h at A c c essi b e di d n ot pr o vi d e t h e s er vi c e it pr o mis e d.
M arti n S. Kr e z al e k of t h e l a w fir m Bl a n k R o m e a p p e ar e d i n t his a cti o n o n A u g ust 5, 2 0 2 4. ( E C F 7- 8.) At t h e ti m e, Dill o n M usi c w as n ot a p art y t o t h e a cti o n. A c c essi b e e x pr ess e d its i nt e nti o n t o m o v e t o dis miss P ari k h’s c o m pl ai nt. I n r es p o ns e, P ari k h a n n o u n c e d t h at h e i nt e n d e d t o a m e n d his c o m pl ai nt t o a d d a n a d diti o n al n a m e d pl ai ntiff b ut di d n ot i d e ntif y t h e n e w p art y. ( E C F 1 8.) O n O ct o b er 1 6, 2 0 2 4, P ari k h fil e d a First A m e n d e d C o m pl ai nt j oi ni n g Dill o n M usi c as a c o -pl ai ntiff. ( E C F 2 2.) T h e First A m e n d e d C o m pl ai nt als o a d d e d a si xt h cl ai m f or br e a c h of i m pli e d c o ntr a ct. ( I d.) N eit h er P ari k h n or Dill o n M usi c s o u g ht t o dis q u alif y Kr e z al e k.
A c c essi b e r e n e w e d its r e q u est t o fil e a m oti o n t o dis miss, t his ti m e dir e ct e d t o t h e First A m e n d e d C o m pl ai nt ( E C F 2 3), a n d pl ai ntiffs r es p o n d e d t h at t h e y di d n ot wis h t o a m e n d t h eir c o m pl ai nt i n r es p o ns e t o t h e ar g u m e nts r ais e d i n A c c essi b e’s l ett er. ( E C F 2 4.) T h e C o urt s et a s c h e d ul e o n t h e m oti o n ( E C F 2 5) a n d A c c essi b e fil e d its m oti o n o n D e c e m b er 2 0, 2 0 2 4. ( E C F 3 0.) T h er e aft er, pl ai ntiffs fil ed a m oti o n t o fil e a S e c o n d A m e n d e d C o m pl ai nt o n J a n u ar y
9, 2 0 2 5. ( E C F 3 3.)
T w o w e e ks l at er , o n J a n u ar y 2 4, 2 0 2 5, wit h o ut c o m pl yi n g wit h t h e C o urt’s p r e- m oti o n l ett er r e q uir e m e nt, [1] pl ai ntiffs m o v e d t o dis q u alif y A c c essi b e’s c o u ns el, Kr e z al e k a n d all ot h er l a w y ers at Bl a n k R o m e. ( E C F 37.) T h e m oti o n w as pr e mis e d u p o n a c o n v ers ati o n t h at pl ai ntiffs att est t o o k pl a c e o n S e pt e m b er 1 2, 2 0 2 4 b et w e e n Tr a c y Ar mstr o n g, a l a w y er f or Dill o n [1] I n di vi d u al Pr a cti c es at 3. A . A wi d e arr a y of m oti o ns ar e e x cl u d e d fr o m t h e pr e -m oti o n r e q uir e m e nt , i n cl u di n g t h os e r e q uir e d t o b e m a d e wit hi n a s et n o n-e xt e n d a bl e ti m e p eri o d, c ert ai n r o uti n e m oti o ns , a n d, t o a c c o m m o d at e a n y n e e d f or e x p e diti o n, t h os e br o u g ht o n b y Or d er t o S h o w C a us e. M oti o ns t o dis q u alif y ar e n ot a m o n g t h e e x cl u d e d m oti o ns . T h er e ar e m a n y a n d v ari e d r e as o ns f or t h e pr e -m oti o n l ett er r e q uir e m e nt: m a n y p ot e nti al m oti o ns m a y b e r es ol v e d o n c o ns e nt; s o m e m a y b e r es ol v e d b y a n a m e n d m e nt t o t h e pl e a di n gs ; ot h ers m a y r e q uir e s o m e pr e - m oti o n dis c o v er y b y o n e si d e or t h e ot h er ; a n d s o m e pr u d e ntl y m a y b e d ef err e d t o a l at er j u n ct ur e i n t h e c as e. M usi c , a n d Kr e z al e k. T h e S e pt e m b er 1 2 T el e p h o n e C all
Ar mstr o n g, a l a w y er f or Dill o n M usi c w h o h as n ot a p p e ar e d i n t his a cti o n, st at es i n h er 3-p a g e d e cl ar ati o n t h at s h e w as c o nt a ct e d b y Dill o n M usi c i n A u g ust of 2 0 2 4 a b o ut a l a ws uit br o u g ht a g ai nst Dill o n M usi c u n d er t h e A D A cl ai mi n g t h at Dill o n M usi c’s w e bsit e w as n ot c o m pli a nt wit h r e c o g ni z e d st a n d ar ds f or a c c essi bilit y b y p ers o ns wit h dis a biliti es. ( E C F 4 0 at ¶ 2.) Ar mstr o n g l e ar n e d t h at Dill o n M usi c w as usi n g A c c essi b e’s s oft w ar e pr o d u ct t h at w as t o ut e d as r e n d eri n g a w e bsit e A D A c o m pli a nt. (I d. at ¶ 3.) S h e r e a c h e d o ut t o t w o e x e c uti v es of A c c essi b e f or “l e g al s u p p ort, ” w h o a d vis e d t h at A c c essi b e d o es n ot s u p pl y l e g al r e pr es e nt ati o n or i n d e m nit y of its c ust o m ers b ut w o ul d pr o vi d e h er wit h a vi d e o t h at c o ul d b e us e d t o d e m o nstr at e t h at t h e s oft w ar e r e n d ers a sit e A D A c o m pli a nt. (I d. at ¶ 4.) T h e y als o pr o vi d e d h er wit h t h e n a m e of Kr e z al e k , w h o h a d r e pr es e nt e d m a n y A c c essi b e c ust o m ers w h o w er e s u e d u n d er t h e A D A. ( I d.)
Ar mstr o n g, i n h er d e cl ar ati o n, st at es t h at s h e s p o k e wit h Kr e z al e k o n S e pt e m b er 1 2, 2 0 2 4 f or 2 0 mi n ut es a n d “ e x pl ai n e d t h at t h e p ur p os e of m y c all w as t o s e c ur e l e g al s u p p ort o n b e h alf of m y cli e nt. ” ( I d. at ¶ 5.) S h e a d ds, “ W e als o dis c uss e d m y cli e nt’s u n d erst a n di n g of w h at it h a d p ur c h as e d a n d w h at w as i n cl u d e d, m y cli e nt’s r e a cti o n t o t h e l a ws uit wit h w hi c h it h a d b e e n s er v e d, a n d m y cli e nt’s e x p e ct ati o ns t h at A c c essi b e w o ul d pr o vi d e a s u bst a nti v e d ef e ns e. ” ( I d.) Kr e z al e k , i n Ar mstr o n g’s a c c o u nt, a d vis e d h er t h at Dill o n M usi c c o ul d r et ai n hi m t o d ef e n d t h e l a ws uit at his n or m al h o url y r at e. ( I d. at ¶ 6.) Kr e z al e k m e nti o n e d t o w ar ds t h e e n d of t h e c o n v ers ati o n t h at h e r e pr es e nt e d A c c essi b e. ( I d. at ¶ 7.) Ar mstr o n g f elt t h er e w o ul d b e a c o nfli ct i n Kr e z al e k r e pr es e nti n g Dill o n M usi c, b ut di d n ot e x pr ess t h at c o n c er n t o Kr e z al e k. (I d. at ¶ ¶ 8- 9 .) S h e di d, h o w e v er, c o m m u ni c at e h er c o n c er ns t o Mr. Dill o n of Dill o n M usi c. (I d. at ¶ 9.) Ar mstr o n g st at es t h at s h e “l at er l e ar n e d ” t h at Kr e z al e k w as r e pr es e nti n g A c c essi b e i n a s uit br o u g ht b y Dill o n M usi c ( pr es u m a bl y r ef erri n g t o t his a cti o n), b ut d o es n ot s p e cif y w h e n s h e l e ar n e d t his. (I d. at ¶ 1 0.)
Kr e z al e k h as s u b mitt e d a d e cl ar ati o n t h at t ells a diff er e nt v ersi o n of t h e c all. ( E C F 5 1.) H e h as pr o d u c e d a t el e p h o n e l o g c o nfir mi n g t h e e xist e n c e of a p h o n e c all fr o m a p h o n e n u m b er ass o ci at e d wit h Ar mstr o n g’s l a w fir m o n S e pt e m b er 1 2 t h at l ast e d 9 0 1 s e c o n ds, i. e., 1 5 mi n ut es a n d 1 s e c o n d. ( E C F 5 1- 1.) H e st at es t h at t h e c all er ( w h os e n a m e h e di d n ot r e m e m b er b ut a c c e pts it w as Ar mstr o n g) di d n ot dis cl os e t h at h er cli e nt w as Dill o n M usi c. ( E C F 5 1 at ¶ ¶ 1 8- 2 0.) H e is s ur e of t his b e c a us e h e h a d b e e n i nf or m e d b y A c c essi b e t o b e o n t h e l o o k o ut f or a p ossi bl e l a ws uit fr o m Dill o n M usi c. (I d. at ¶ 2 0.)
Kr e z al e k d e cl ar es u n d er p e n alt y of p erj ur y t h at “t h e c all w as w h oll y n o n e v e ntf ul a n d di d n ot g o b e y o n d m e dis c ussi n g t h e g e n er al n at ur e of s eri al A D A w e bsit e liti g ati o n; m y k n o wl e d g e of t h e c o urts, j u d g es, a n d pl ai ntiffs’ c o u ns el w h o r e g ul arl y bri n g s u c h a cti o ns; a n d a g e n eri c d ef e n d a nt’s t y pi c al o pti o ns w h e n s u e d. ” ( I d. at ¶ 2 1.) T h e y als o dis c uss e d his e x p eri e n c e wit h s u c h c as es a n d his h o url y r at e. ( I d.) Kr e z al e k a d ds, “ Ms. Ar mstr o n g di d n ot dis c uss or dis cl os e c o nfi d e nti al, pri vil e g e d, or pr o pri et ar y i nf or m ati o n a b o ut Dill o n M usi c, n or di d I i n q uir e a b o ut c o nfi d e nti al i nf or m ati o n. Ms. Ar mstr o n g di d n ot s h ar e Dill o n M usi c’s ( or h er “ cli e nt’s ”) m e nt al i m pr essi o ns, t h o u g hts, i d e as, str at e gi es, or si mil ar i nf or m ati o n a b o ut a p e n di n g l a ws uit or a p ot e nti al l a ws uit a g ai nst [ A c c essi b e], n ot [si c] di d I i n q uir e of s u c h i nf or m ati o n. ” (I d. at ¶ 2 4.) W h e n Ms. Ar mstr o n g m e nti o ne d t h at h er cli e nt h a d A cc essi b e’s s oft w ar e r u n ni n g o n its w e bsit e a n d as k e d a b o ut its effi c a c y, Kr e z al e k i nf or m e d h er t h at h e r e pr es e nt e d A c c essi b e a n d t h at h e w as n ot a w ar e of “ a n y c as es r es ulti n g i n a fi n di n g t h at [A c c essi b e ] di d n ot w or k. ” (I d. at ¶ ¶ 2 7 - 2 8.) H e r e c ei v e d n o f oll o w- u p c o m m u ni c ati o n fr o m Ar mstr o n g or Dill o n M usi c a n d w as n e v er hir e d as Dill o n M usi c’s att or n e y. (I d. at ¶ 3 0.)
I n a bri ef r e pl y d e cl ar ati o n, Ar mstr o n g a d h er es t o h er v ersi o n of t h e c all t h at s h e di d m e nti o n t h at h er cli e nt w as Dill o n M usi c . ( E C F 5 3- 1 at ¶ 2.) S h e st at es t h at “t h e p ur p os e of m y c all w as t o s e c ur e l e g al r e pr es e nt ati o n, or i n d e m nit y t o p a y f or l e g al r e pr es e nt ati o n, f or Dill o n M usi c , ” b ut di d n ot t hr e at e n t o s u e A c c essi b e. (I d. at ¶ ¶ 2- 3.) S h e a d ds , “. . . I r e c all e x pr essi n g t o Mr. Kr e z al e k Dill o n M usi c’s i m pr essi o ns r e g ar di n g t h e str e n gt h of t h e cl ai ms t h at h a d b e e n br o u g ht a g ai nst it a n d s p e cifi c all y t h at Dill o n M usi c vi e w e d it as [ a] s uit t h at s h o ul d b e s ettl e d f or n uis a n c e v al u e. ” ( I d. at ¶ 4.)
T h er e is n o cl ai m t h at a n y d o c u m e nt p ass e d b et w e e n Ar mstr o n g a n d Kr e z al e k. St a n d ar d G o v er ni n g M oti o ns t o Dis q u alif y I n e x er cisi n g t h e p o w er t o dis q u alif y a n att or n e y, a c o urt m ust “ b al a n c e a cli e nt's ri g ht fr e el y t o c h o os e his c o u ns el a g ai nst t h e n e e d t o m ai nt ai n t h e hi g h est st a n d ar ds of t h e pr of essi o n. ” H e m pst e a d Vi d e o, I n c. v. I n c or p or at e d Vill a g e of V all e y Str e a m , 4 0 9 F. 3 d 1 2 7, 1 3 2 ( 2 d Cir. 2 0 0 5) ( cit ati o n a n d i nt er n al q u ot ati o n m ar ks o mitt e d). O n a di s q u alifi c ati o n m oti o n , a c o urt l o o ks t o stat e dis ci pli n ar y r ul es t o “ m er el y pr o vi d e g e n er al g ui d a n c e a n d n ot e v er y vi ol ati o n of dis ci pli n ar y r ul e will n e c ess aril y l e a d t o dis q u alifi c ati o n . . . . ” I d. A m oti o n t o dis q u alif y is s u bj e ct t o “ a hi g h st a n d ar d of pr o of ” b e c a us e s u c h m oti o ns “ar e oft e n i nt er p os e d f or t a cti c al r e as o ns. ” E v a ns v. Art e k S yst e ms C or p ., 7 1 5 F. 2 d 7 8 8, 7 9 1 – 9 2 ( 2 d Cir. 1 9 8 3) ( cit ati o ns o mitt e d) . T h e A p pli c ati o n of R ul e 1. 1 8 t o t h e F a cts Pr es e nt e d
Pl ai ntiffs r el y o n R ul e 1. 1 8 of t h e N e w Y or k R ul es of Pr of essi o n al C o n d u ct (t h e “ R ul e ”) , s etti n g f ort h t h e d uti es o w e d b y a l a w y er t o a pr os p e cti v e cli e nt . It pr o vi d es i n r el e v a nt p art as f oll o ws:
( a) . . . a p ers o n w h o c o ns ults wit h a l a w y er a b o ut t h e p ossi bilit y of f or mi n g a cli e nt -l a w y er r el ati o ns hi p wit h r es p e ct t o a m att er is a pr os p e cti v e cli e nt. ( b) E v e n w h e n n o cli e nt-l a w y er r el ati o ns hi p e ns u es, a l a w y er w h o h as l e ar n e d i nf or m ati o n fr o m a pr os p e cti v e cli e nt s h all n ot us e or r e v e al t h at i nf or m ati o n . . . .
( c) A l a w y er s u bj e ct t o p ar a gr a p h ( b) s h all n ot r e pr es e nt a cli e nt wit h i nt er ests m at eri all y a d v ers e t o t h os e of a pr os p e cti v e cli e nt i n t h e s a m e or a s u bst a nti all y r el at e d m att er if t h e l a w y er r e c ei v e d i nf or m ati o n fr o m t h e pr os p e cti v e cli e nt t h at c o ul d b e si g nifi c a ntl y h ar mf ul t o t h at p ers o n i n t h e m att er, e x c e pt as pr o vi d e d i n p ar a gr a p h ( d) . . . .
T h e C o urt ass u m es wit h o ut d e ci di n g t h at Ar mstr o n g q u alifi es as a p ers o n w h o c o ns ult e d wit h a l a w y er a b o ut t h e p ossi bilit y of f or mi n g a cli e nt- l a w y er r el ati o ns hi p e v e n t h o u g h h er c o n v ers ati o n wit h Kr e z al e k e x pl or e d t h e p ossi bilit y of h er cli e nt, Dill o n M usi c, f or mi n g a n att or n e y -cli e nt r el ati o ns hi p . T h us, t h e C o urt tr e ats Ar mstr o n g’s cli e nt as “ a pr os p e cti v e cli e nt ” of Kr e z al e k f or t h e p ur p os e of t h e m oti o n. R ul e 1. 1 8( a).
Kr e z al e k pr es e ntl y r e pr es e nts a cli e nt, A c c essi b e, i n t his a cti o n wit h i nt er ests “ m at eri all y a d v ers e t o t h os e of a pr os p e cti v e cli e nt . ” R ul e 1. 1 8( c). M at eri al a d v ersit y first ar os e o n O ct o b er 1 6, 2 0 2 4, w h e n t h e First A m e n d e d C o m pl ai nt a d d e d Dill o n M usi c as a n a m e d pl ai ntiff o n cl ai ms a g ai nst A c c essi b e.
B ut t h e C o urt c o n cl u d es t h at Kr e z al e k di d n ot r e c ei v e i nf or m ati o n t h at c o ul d b e si g nifi c a ntl y h ar mf ul t o Dill o n M u si c i n t h e pr es e nt a cti o n. T h e w or ds “si g nifi c a ntl y h ar mf ul ” ar e n ot d e fi n e d i n t h e R ul e. “ Si g nifi c a nt ” ( as i n m aj or) m e a ns “ h a vi n g gr e at m e a ni n g or l asti n g eff e ct . ” [2] “H ar mf ul ” ( as i n d etri m e nt al) m e a ns “ c a usi n g or c a p a bl e of c a usi n g h ar m. ” [3] A f air ass ess m e nt of w h et h er i nf or m ati o n c o ul d b e “si g nifi c a ntl y h ar mf ul ” r e q uir es m or e t h a n a r e vi e w of t h e w or ds c o m m u ni c at e d; it r e q uir es a n e x a mi n ati o n of t h e s urr o u n di n g c o nt e xt. I nf or m ati o n [2] htt ps:// w w w. m erri a m -w e bst er. c o m/t h es a ur us/si g nifi c a nt (l ast a c c ess e d M a y 2 2, 2 0 2 5). [3] htt ps:// w w w. m erri a m -w e bst er. c o m/t h es a ur us/ h ar mf ul (l ast a c c ess e d M a y 2 2, 2 0 2 5) t h at is v a g u e, g a u z y, or o b vi o us is n ot c a p a bl e of b ei n g si g nifi c a ntl y h ar mf ul.
Pl ai ntiffs cl ai m t h at t h e “si g nifi c a ntl y h ar mf ul ” i nf or m ati o n w as as f oll o ws: Mr. Kr e z al e k a n d I dis c uss e d Dill o n M usi c's p ur c h as e a n d us e of t h e A c c essi b e pr o d u ct, its r e as o ns f or p ur c h asi n g t h e pr o d u ct, t h e p ur p os e a n d effi c a c y of t h e A c c essi b e pr o d u ct, a n d t h e f a cts at iss u e i n t h e liti g ati o n n a mi n g Dill o n M usi c as a d ef e n d a nt. W e als o dis c uss e d m y cli e nt's u n d erst a n di n g of w h at it h a d p ur c h as e d a n d w h at w as i n cl u d e d, m y cli e nt's r e a cti o n t o t h e l a ws uit wit h w hi c h it h a d b e e n s er v e d, a n d m y cli e nt's e x p e ct ati o ns t h at A c c essi b e w o ul d pr o vi d e a s u bst a nti v e d ef e ns e.
( E C F 4 0 at ¶ 5.) E x a mi ni n g t h e c o nt e xt, t h e s u bj e ct of Ar mstr o n g’s c all w as a n A D A c o m pli a n c e l a ws uit br o u g ht a g ai nst h er cli e nt Dill o n M usi c b y a p art y t h at s h e d o es n ot n a m e a n d t h at w as fil e d i n a n u ni d e ntifi e d j uris di cti o n . B ut t h e First A m e n d e d C o m pl ai nt h el ps pr o vi d e s o m e d et ail. It all e g es t h at a n A D A cl ass a cti o n w as c o m m e n c e d a g ai nst Dill o n M usi c i n M a y 2 0 2 4. ( E C F 2 2 at ¶ 8 1.) T h e C o urt t a k es j u di ci al n oti c e t h at o n M a y 1 5, 2 0 2 4 a n A D A cl ass a cti o n w as c o m m e n c e d a g ai nst Dill o n M usi c i n t his distri ct. Li z v. Dill o n M usi c, I n c., 2 4-c v - 3 7 3 5 ( K P F) ( E C F 1, 7, 1 7). At t h e ti m e of t h e S e pt e m b er 1 2 c all t o Kr e z al e k, Dill o n M usi c h a d alr e a d y a ns w er e d t h e c o m pl ai nt i n t h e Li z a cti o n s etti n g f ort h t w el v e affir m ati v e d ef e ns es. (I d. at E C F 7.) T h us, t h e “f a cts at iss u e i n t h e liti g ati o n n a mi n g Dill o n M usi c as a d ef e n d a nt ” w er e k n o w a bl e fr o m t h e pl e a di n gs i n t h e Li z a cti o n at t h e ti m e of t h e Ar mstr o n g -Kr e z a l e k c all. (I d. at E C F 1, 7 .) I n d e e d, t h e all e g ati o ns i n t h e Li z a cti o n l ar g el y tr a c k t hos e m a d e i n t h e m a n y si mil ar A D A n o n- c o m pli a n c e a cti o ns fil e d i n t his distri ct. (I d. at E C F 1.) T h e R ul e’s r e q uir e m e nt t h at t h e pr os p e cti v e cli e nt h a v e c o n v e y e d i nf or m ati o n t h at is “si g nifi c a ntl y h ar mf ul ” r e q uir es t h at t h e i nf or m ati o n b e c o nfi d e nti al i nf or m ati o n “ a v ail a bl e o nl y t o a s el e ct gr o u p of i nt e n d e d r e ci pi e nts. ” Mi n ess v. A h uj a, 7 6 2 F. S u p p. 2 d 4 6 5, 4 8 1 ( E. D. N. Y. 2 0 1 0). I nf or m ati o n a b o ut t h e f a cts at iss u e i n t h e liti g ati o n w er e a m att er of p u bli c r e c or d.
N or d o es Ar mstr o n g’s d es cri pti o n of h er cli e nt’s p er c e pti o ns of “t h e p ur p os e a n d effi c a c y of t h e A c c essi b e pr o d u ct ” a m o u nt t o i nf or m ati o n w hi c h p os es a si g nifi c a nt h ar m t o Dill o n M usi c. Dill o n M usi c’s vi e w of t h e p ur p os e a n d effi c a c y of t h e A c c essi b e pr o d u ct is k n o w a bl e fr o m t h e f a c e of t h e First A m e n d e d C o m pl ai nt, fil e d b ef or e t h e dis q u alifi c ati o n m oti o n: “ Dill o n M usi c w o ul d n ot h a v e p ur c h as e d A c c essi b e’s a c c ess Wi d g et h a d it k n o w n it w o ul d n ot b e eff e cti v e i n m a ki n g its w e bsit e c o nf or m wit h W C A G st a n d ar ds a n d c o m pl y wit h t h e A D A. N or w o ul d Dill o n M usi c h a v e p ur c h as e d a s u bs cri pti o n h a d it k n o w n of t h e fr e q u e n c y of l a ws uits a g ai nst b usi n ess es t h at h a d i nst all e d A c c essi b e’s a c c ess Wi d g et. ” ( E C F 2 2 at ¶ 8 6.) Ar mstr o n g m a k es n o cl ai m o n t his m oti o n t h at s h e dis cl os e d t o Kr e z a l e k a m at eri all y diff er e nt v ersi o n of t h e f a cts w hi c h w er e at o d ds wit h t h e all e g ati o ns of t h e First A m e n d e d C o m pl ai nt.
As t o Dill o n M usi c’s “r e as o ns f or p ur c h asi n g t h e pr o d u ct ” a n d “ u n d erst a n di n g of w h at it h a d p ur c h as e d, ” t h e First A m e n d e d C o m pl ai nt s ets f ort h its r e as o ns a n d u n d erst a n di n g i n d et ail —it w as s e e ki n g “t h e b est w a y t o m a k e its w e bsit e A D A c o m pli a nt s o as t o a v oi d s u c h d e m a n ds a n d t h e t hr e at of s u c h l a ws uits i n t h e f ut ur e. ” ( I d. at ¶ 7 1.) T h er e is n o hi nt i n Ar mstr o n g’s t w o d e cl ar ati o ns fil e d wit h t h e C o urt t h at s h e a ct u all y t ol d Kr e z al e k a diff er e nt a n d c o ntr a di ct or y st or y, w hi c h, if it e v er c a m e t o li g ht, w o ul d b e si g nifi c a ntl y h ar mf ul t o h er cli e nt.
Ar mstr o n g als o st at es t h at “I r e c all e x pr essi n g t o Mr. Kr e z al e k Dill o n M usi c’s i m pr essi o ns r e g ar di n g t h e str e n gt h of t h e cl ai ms t h at h a d b e e n br o u g ht a g ai nst it a n d s p e cifi c all y t h at Dill o n M usi c vi e w e d it as s uit [si c] t h at s h o ul d b e s ettl e d f or n uis a n c e v al u e. ” ( E C F 5 3- 1 at ¶ 4.) B ut n eit h er Kr e z al e k n or his cli e nt w as p art y t o t h e Li z c as e . Kr e z al e k’s pr a cti c e is d ef e n di n g cl ai ms a g ai nst o p er at ors of w e bsit es, n ot s ui n g t h e m. ( E C F 5 1 at ¶ ¶ 6- 7.) I n a d diti o n, k n o wi n g t h at Dill o n M usi c w a nt e d t o s ettl e t h e Li z a cti o n, w hi c h it di d b ef or e pl ai ntiffs fil e d t h e i nst a nt m oti o n, f or as littl e m o n e y as p ossi bl e gi v es A c c essi b e n o a d v a nt a g e i n t h e pr es e nt a cti o n b ef or e t his C o urt, w hi c h bri n gs cl ai ms a g ai nst A c c essi b e f or s elli n g Dill o n M usi c a s yst e m f or A D A c o m pli a n c e t h at di d n ot p erf or m as e x p e ct e d.
T h e n at ur e of A D A n o n- c o m pli a n c e liti g ati o n is s u c h t h at t h er e is littl e m yst er y s urr o u n di n g e a c h p arti c ul ar a cti o n or t h e d esir e of a d ef e n d a nt t o r es ol v e t h e a cti o n as c h e a pl y as p ossi bl e. H er e is h o w Dill o n M usi c’s First A m e n d e d C o m pl ai nt d es cri b es t h e l a y of t h e l a n d:
R e c e nt y e ars h a v e s e e n a dr a m ati c i n cr e as e i n l a ws uits all e gi n g t h at a b usi n ess’s w e bsit e d o es n ot c o m pl y wit h A D A Titl e III. M ost of t h es e c as es ar e fil e d b y a s m all n u m b er of l a w fir m s t h at fil e h u n dr e ds of n e arl y i d e nti c al b oil er pl at e c o m pl ai nts wit h n e arl y i d e nti c al f a ct u al all e g ati o ns. W hil e s u c h cl ai ms ar e r ar el y, if e v er, tri e d t o v er di ct, t h e l e g al a cti o ns ar e n o n et h el ess disr u pti v e a n d e x p e nsi v e f or t h e b usi n ess es t h at ar e s u e d.
( E C F 2 2 at ¶ 5 (f o ot n ot e o mitt e d).) W hil e t h er e is n o e vi d e n c e t h at Ar mstr o n g, i n f a ct, c o n v e y e d t o Kre z a l e k i nf or m ati o n t h at c o ul d b e si g nifi c a ntl y h ar mf ul t o h er cli e nt, it is als o d o u btf ul t h at s h e p oss ess e d m u c h i nf or m ati o n of t h at n at ur e c o n c er ni n g t h e “ b oil er pl at e ” l a ws uit . At t h e ti m e of t h e S e pt e m b er 1 2 c all, s h e f elt A c c essi b e o w e d h er cli e nt i n d e m nifi c ati o n or a d ef e ns e a n d c all e d Kr e z al e k, t h e l a w y er s u g g est e d b y r e pr es e nt ati v es of A c c essi b e, i n or d er t o e x pl or e t h os e o pti o ns. Ar mstr o n g, a m e m b er of t h e b ar w h o is d es cri b e d as b ei n g a m e m b er of t h e Distri ct Et hi cs C o m mitt e e f or Distri ct VIII of N e w J ers e y ( E C F 3 8 at 3 n. 1), m a k es n o cl ai m t h at s h e di d n ot u n d erst a n d t h e c o n c e pt of pri vil e g e d or c o nfi d e nti al cli e nt i nf or m ati o n or t h at s h e fr e el y dis cl os e d s u c h i nf or m ati o n o v er t h e p h o n e wit h a l a w y er w h o h a d b e e n r e c o m m e n d e d b y A c c essi b e. Pl ai ntiffs’ ass erti o n, b as e d u p o n Ar mstr o n g’s t hi n d e cl ar ati o ns, t h at s h e c o n v e y e d i nf or m ati o n t h at c o ul d b e d a m a gi n g t o Dill o n M usi c i n t h e e v e nt it s u e d A c c essi b e ( w hi c h it di d 3 4 d a ys l at er) is, c h arit a bl y p ut, i m pl a usi bl e.
C O N C L U SI O N
Cr e diti n g Ar mstr o n g’s v ersi o n of t h e S e pt e m b er 1 2, 2 0 2 4 c all , pl ai ntiffs h a v e n ot d e m o nstr at e d t h at Ar mstr o n g, a cti n g o n b e h alf of Dill o n M usi c, c o m m u ni c at e d t o Kr e z al e k a n y i nf or m ati o n t h at c o ul d b e si g nifi c a ntl y h ar mf ul t o Dill o n M usi c i n its pr es e nt a cti o n a g ai nst A c c essi b e. T h e m oti o n t o dis q u alif y is D E NI E D. T h e Cl er k is r e q u est e d t o t er mi n at e t h e m oti o n at E C F 3 7.
S O O R D E R E D.
D at e: N e w Y or k, N e w Y or k J u n e 4, 2 0 2 5 1 0