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finding that enforcement of forum selection clause in an internet service provider's contract with a customer would not violate any strong Virginia public policy
Summary of this case from Melo v. Zumper, Inc.Opinion
Civil Action No. 2:08cv336.
November 20, 2008
Richard Hooper Ottinger, Ethan Geoffrey Ostroff, Vandeventer Black LLP, Norfolk, VA, for Plaintiff.
Julie Thrall Burrow, M. Scott Hart, Troutman Sanders LLP, Virginia Beach, VA, for Defendant.
ORDER
Pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and (C) and Rule 72(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, as well as Rule 72 of the Rules of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, by Order of Reference filed August 28, 2008, the matter was referred to United States Magistrate Judge Tommy E. Miller for a report and recommendation. The Report and Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge was filed on October 29, 2008, recommending that the defendant, Access2Go's, motion to dismiss be granted, and that the plaintiffs complaint be dismissed for improper venue.
By copy of the Report and Recommendation, each party was advised of the right to file written objections to the findings and recommendations made by the Magistrate Judge within ten (10) days from the date the Report and Recommendation was mailed. The court has received no objections from either party and the time for filing objections has expired.
The court adopts and approves in full the findings and recommendations set forth in the Report and Recommendation of the United States Magistrate Judge filed October 29, 2008. Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that Access2Go's motion to dismiss is GRANTED and the plaintiffs complaint is DISMISSED for improper venue pursuant Rule 12(b)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The Clerk shall enter judgment in favor of the defendant.
The Clerk is REQUESTED to forward a copy of this Order to all counsel of record for the parties.
It is so ORDERED.
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
TOMMY E. MILLER, United States Magistrate Judge.This action was referred to the undersigned United States Magistrate Judge pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and (C) and Rule 72(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, as well as Rule 72 of the Rules of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
This case was referred for a report and recommendation on Access2Go, Inc.'s ("Access2Go's") Motion to Dismiss, or in the alternative, Motion to Transfer [Doc. No. 3]. For the reasons set forth below, the Court recommends GRANTING Access2Go's Motion to Dismiss.
I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
This matter arises from a written agreement for telecommunications services. The Hipage Company, Inc. ("Hipage") is a Virginia corporation in the business of freight shipping. In July 2007, Hipage instructed its Director of Information Technology, Chris Unger ("Unger"), to obtain quotes for a new telecommunications provider. Notice of Removal [Doc. No. 1], Ex. 1 ("Compl.") ¶¶ 3, 5. Unger contacted several providers, but did not have authority to enter into any contract on behalf of Hipage. Compl. ¶¶ 6-7. Unger was contacted by Access2Go, an internet and communications provider based in Illinois. Comp. ¶¶ 2, 8-9. Access2Go's agent provided initial price estimates, but informed Unger that Access2Go needed additional information in order to issue a firm price quote. Compl. ¶ 10. Access2Go then forwarded to Hipage a Service Agreement and a series of Service Orders. Compl. ¶ 15. The Service Agreement contained the following forum selection clause:
"By its execution and delivery of this Service Agreement, each of the parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees for itself that any legal action, suit or proceeding against it with respect to any matter under or arising out of or in connection with this Service Agreement must be brought in the Circuit Court of Peoria County, Illinois or in the Federal District Court for the Central District of Illinois, which courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction of all matters arising out of or in connection with this Service Agreement."
Def.'s Br. [Doc. No. 4], Ex. 1 ("Illinois Lawsuit"), Ex. A ¶ 19. Unger executed the Service Agreement and the Service Orders, but Hipage alleges that (1) Access2Go's agent represented to Unger that the execution of the agreements would not create a binding contract, and (2) Unger expressly informed the agent that he did not have authority to enter into a binding contract. Compl. ¶¶ 16-17.
Two months after the execution of the contract, Hipage declared the contract invalid and began turning away Access2Go's service technicians. Access2Go filed suit for breach of contract against Hipage in the Circuit Court of the Tenth Judicial Circuit of Illinois, Peoria County. [Doc. No. 4], Ex. 1. This Illinois Lawsuit was filed on or about May 9, 2008, and Hipage received service on June 12, 2008. Hipage then removed the Illinois Lawsuit to the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois on July 11, 2008. After removal, Hipage filed a motion to dismiss on the grounds of lack of personal jurisdiction, but at the time of oral argument, that motion remained pending.
On June 24, 2008, after having received notice of the Illinois Lawsuit, Hipage filed a complaint in the Circuit Court for the City of Norfolk, seeking a Declaratory Judgment that no contract exists between the parties. Notice of Removal [Doc. No. 1], Ex. 1. Access2Go removed the case to this Court on July 18, 2008. [Doc. No. 1]. On July 28, 2008, Access2Go filed a Motion to Dismiss or, in the alternative, a Motion to Transfer. [Doc. No. 3]. This Court heard oral argument on the motion on September 24, 2008. Richard H. Ottinger, Esq. and Ethan G. Ostroff, Esq. represented the Plaintiff, Hipage, and Julie T. Burrow represented the Defendant, Access2Go. The Official Court Reporter was Sharon Borden.
II. ANALYSIS
Access2Go has moved to dismiss Hipage's Complaint under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(3) and 12(b)(6). In the alternative, Access2Go has moved to transfer the case to the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois.
It is unclear how Rule 12(b)(6) relates to the Motion to Dismiss. First, Rule 12(b)(3) clearly governs the argument to dismiss on grounds of enforcing the forum selection clause. See Sucampo Pharms., Inc. v. Astellas Pharma, Inc., 471 F.3d 544 (4th Cir. 2006). Second, the argument that this Court should use its discretion to dismiss an improper declaratory action is grounded in the Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201. See Watkins Strategy Res. Group, LLC v. WLC, LLC, 433 F.Supp.2d 778, 781 (S.D.Miss. 2006).
In its motion, Access2Go did not clearly state the procedural basis for the transfer. This Report will address the issue under 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a) and § 1406(a).
A. Forum Selection Clause
Access2Go asserts this Court should dismiss the Complaint under Rule 12(b)(3) for improper venue, based on the forum selection clause in the Service Agreement. At its heart, Access2Go's argument is based on the assumption that an exclusive forum selection clause, if valid, renders venue improper in a non-designated forum, even if the non-designated forum would otherwise be proper. This assumption, however logical, is not accepted by all courts. Although the U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly held that forum selection clauses in private contracts are enforceable, the manner and "procedural vehicle by which they should be enforced . . . is the subject of some confusion." BHP Int'l Inv., Inc. v. OnLine Exch., Inc., 105 F.Supp.2d 493, 495 (E.D.Va. 2000).
The ambiguity underlying enforcement flows from a set of incongruous Supreme Court cases. In M/S Bremen v. Zapata Off-Shore Co., the Court announced for the first time that forum selection clauses are enforceable, unless "unreasonable and unjust, or that the clause was invalid for such reasons as fraud or overreaching." 407 U.S. 1, 15, 92 S.Ct. 1907, 32 L.Ed.2d 513 (1972). In Stewart Org. Inc. v. Ricoh Corp., however, the Court suggested in dicta that a forum selection clause, even if enforceable under the Bremen standard, is not necessarily enforceable upon a motion to dismiss. 487 U.S. 22, 28-29 n. 8, 108 S.Ct. 2239, 101 L.Ed.2d 22 (1988) ("The parties do not dispute that the District Court properly denied the motion to dismiss the case for improper venue . . . because respondent apparently does business in the [district].") The motion to dismiss was not at issue in the case, but the majority opinion cited 28 U.S.C. § 1391(a) for the proposition that "venue [is] proper in judicial district in which corporation is doing business." Id. In other words, the Court's footnote implies that an enforceable forum selection clause does not automatically invalidate a venue, if that venue is proper under § 1391(a).
The Stewart Court then addressed the motion to transfer, the central issue in the case, and further subjugated the forum selection clause to the discretion of the district court. The opinion holds that 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a) governs the analysis, and the forum selection clause is but one "significant" factor in an "individualized, caseby-case consideration of convenience and fairness." Id. at 29. Thus, following Stewart, the appropriate method of enforcement was likely transfer, rather than dismissal, but any transfer was subject to broad discretion of the district court.
Three years later, however, the Supreme Court revived strict enforcement of valid forum selection clauses. In Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc. v. Shute, the Court held that the forum selection clause included in the cruiseline's passage contract ticket was reasonable under the relaxed standard of M/S Bremen. 499 U.S. 585, 111 S.Ct. 1522, 113 L.Ed.2d 622 (1991). Specifically, the majority opinion relied on M/S Bremen's presumption in favor of enforcing forum selection clauses, which requires the party challenging enforcement to "bear a heavy burden of proof [of unfairness]." Id. at 592, 595, 111 S.Ct. 1522. The Carnival Cruise Lines Court, however, neither applied nor overruled the balancing test in Stewart. As a result, even though the Court's reversal of the Ninth Circuit's decision effected a dismissal, the opinion did not specifically address either (1) whether dismissal, as opposed to transfer, is the proper procedural vehicle for enforcing a forum selection clause, or (2) whether a forum selection clause trumps 28 U.S.C. § 1391(a) in determining whether venue is proper.
Cruise passengers brought suit in the Western District of Washington. Carnival moved for summary judgment on grounds of both (a) lack of personal jurisdiction and (b) enforcement of the Florida forum selection clause. The district court granted summary judgment for lack of personal jurisdiction, but did not address the forum selection clause issue. On appeal, the Ninth Circuit reversed, holding that (a) the district court had personal jurisdiction and (b) the forum selection clause was not enforceable. The U.S. Supreme Court reversed the Ninth Circuit with respect to the forum selection clause, but did not address the issue of personal jurisdiction. Thus, the Ninth Circuit, on remand, should have contemplated the remedy of enforcement. Instead, however, the Ninth Circuit merely affirmed the district court's dismissal in a onesentence opinion. Shute v. Carnival Cruise Lines, 934 F.2d 1091 (9th Cir. 1991).
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has identified the procedural vehicle for dismissal, but arguably has not resolved the remainder of the issues. In 2006, the Fourth Circuit held that "a motion to dismiss based on a forum-selection clause should be properly treated under Rule 12(b)(3) as a motion to dismiss on the basis of improper venue." Sucampo Pharms., Inc. v. Astellas Pharma, Inc., 471 F.3d 544, 550 (4th Cir. 2006). The Sucampo court affirmed the dismissal, reasoning that because "the forum selection clause . . . governs Sucampo's complaint," the district court "was thus an improper venue." Id. at 551. The scope of Sucampo, however, is limited in two respects. First, the case does not establish that dismissal takes precedence over transfer, because transfer was not possible. The forum selection clause designated the Tokyo District Court as the exclusive forum. Id. at 547, 551. Since the federal courts lack authority to transfer cases to foreign courts, the only available method of enforcement was dismissal. 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a), (c) and § 1406(a), (c); see, e.g., Allen v. Lloyd's of London, 94 F.3d 923 (4th Cir. 1996) (ordered dismissal after finding that the forum selection clause for British courts was enforceable). Second, even after Sucampo, a forum selection clause does not necessarily trump the framework of 28 U.S.C. § 1391(a) in determining whether venue is proper. The Sucampo decision based the dismissal on enforcement of the forum selection clause, but the opinion made no mention of § 1391(a). Sucampo, 471 F.3d at 551. Moreover, venue was likely improper under § 1391(a), as well. Therefore, Sucampo does not necessarily eliminate the discretion of a district court judge to refuse enforcement of a forum selection clause if venue is deemed proper under § 1391(a).
The facts detailed in the Sucampo opinion do not suggest that (1) a substantial part of the events occurred in the district of filing, (2) the defendant resides in the district of filing, or (3) the defendant would be subject to personal jurisdiction in the district of filing. Sucampo, 471 F.3d at 546-47.
In the wake of Sucampo, two district courts have employed two distinct approaches to the issue of enforcement. In Fixture Specialists, Inc. v. Global Construction Co., the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia stated that "a forum selection clause does not affect the Court's analysis of whether venue is proper." 2007 WL 3468997, at *2 (E.D.Va. 2007). Instead, citing Stewart, the court applied § 1391(a) and concluded that venue was improper. Id. "[I]n the interest of justice," however, the court denied the motion to dismiss and transferred the suit to the federal district court mandated by the forum selection clause. In sum, the Fixture Specialists decision (1) removed the forum selection clause from the determination of whether venue is proper, but (2) considered the clause as a significant factor in the decision to transfer, as the Supreme Court outlined in Stewart.
In Silo Point II LLC v. Suffolk Construction Co., on the other hand, the District of Maryland treated the forum selection clause as dispositive of whether venue is proper. 578 F.Supp.2d 807 (D.Md. 2008). There, the forum selection clause designated Maryland state court as the exclusive forum for litigation, but the plaintiff brought suit in a federal district court in Maryland. Id. at 808. Since all alleged events took place in Maryland, it is clear that venue was proper under § 1391(a). The Silo Point court held that the forum selection clause rendered the venue improper, however, and granted the defendant's motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(3). Id. at 811-12.
In light of the aforementioned authority, this Court adopts the approach that a valid forum selection clause renders venue improper. First, Carnival Cruise Lines punctuates Supreme Court precedent with the position that a forum selection clause, if reasonable under M/S Bremen, is strictly enforceable. 499 U.S. at 594-95, 111 S.Ct. 1522. And if the clause is enforceable, the clause should render venue improper. For example, in Carnival Cruise Lines, the plaintiff filed suit in the Western District of Washington, which was likely a proper venue under the federal venue statute. The Supreme Court's decision effected a dismissal based on an enforceable forum selection clause, however, which suggests that the forum selection clause rendered venue improper. Carnival Cruise Lines, 499 U.S. at 594-95, 111 S.Ct. 1522; see also David Marcus, The Perils of Contract Procedure: A Revised History of Forum Selection Clauses in the Federal Courts, 82 Tul. L. Rev. 973, 1030 ("The only possible problem with the plaintiff's original forum was that the cruise ticket designated a different one. [Carnival's] forum selection clause thus must have rendered the forum where the plaintiff first filed `wrong.'"). Even though the Supreme Court employed a balancing test in its Stewart opinion, Stewart preceded Carnival Cruise Lines, and a motion to dismiss was not even at issue in Stewart. Thus, the forward thrust of Supreme Court precedent suggests that a forum selection clause, if deemed enforceable under the framework of M/S Bremen, renders venue improper.
Carnival Cruise Lines was the sole defendant. When there is only one defendant, venue is proper in a district in which the defendant "resides." 28 U.S.C. § 1391(a). Under § 1391(c), "a corporation shall be deemed to reside in any judicial district in which it is subject to personal jurisdiction at the time the action is commenced." Carnival is a global cruise company and its contacts with customers in the state of Washington are likely substantial. Thus, pursuant to § 1391, venue was likely proper in the Western District of Washington.
Second, the Fourth Circuit recognizes the same causal relationship. The first paragraph of the Sucampo decision states: "Because we find that the safety agreement . . . [was] governed by the forum-selection clause requiring Sucampo to bring suit in Japan, we affirm the decision of the district court [to dismiss the case]." 471 F.3d at 545. The opinion clearly upheld this dismissal "on the basis of improper venue." Id. at 550. More importantly, the court deemed venue improper solely because the forum selection clause was valid. Id. at 550-51. Unlike the district court in Fixture Specialists, the Fourth Circuit did not include § 1391(a) in its analysis of whether venue was proper. As a result, the Silo Point decision is more consistent with controlling precedent, which instructs that a forum selection clause, if enforceable under M/S Bremen, compels a dismissal for improper venue under Rule 12(b)(3).
Next, we turn to the remaining issue of whether the district court may order a transfer, even if dismissal is appropriate for improper venue. Supreme Court precedent offers no meaningful guidance. In M/S Bremen, the parties had contracted for an exclusive forum in London; thus, the Court did not have the authority to transfer. 407 U.S. 1, 92 S.Ct. 1907, 32 L.Ed.2d 513; 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a), (c) and § 1406(a), (c). The Stewart decision's reliance on § 1404(a) is not instructive, because the parties had stipulated that a dismissal for improper venue was not appropriate. 487 U.S. at 28-29 n. 8, 108 S.Ct. 2239. Lastly, even though the Carnival Cruise Lines Court had authority to transfer the case to a federal district court in Florida, the Court's opinion ignored the issue of transfer.
The lower courts consistently address transfer as a matter of judicial discretion, even when dismissal is available on grounds of improper venue. These courts are divided, however, as to whether the analysis of transfer is governed by 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a), or § 1406(a). Several jurisdictions hold that because an enforceable forum selection clause renders a nondesignated venue improper, § 1406(a) must govern transfer. Cont'l Ins. Co. v. M/V ORSULA, 354 F.3d 603, 607-08 (7th Cir. 2003); Jackson v. West Telemarketing Corp. Outbound, 245 F.3d 518, 522-23 (5th Cir. 2001); Russo v. Ballard Med. Prods., 352 F.Supp.2d 177, 182 (D.R.I. 2005) ("[H]aving upheld the forum selection clause, this Court finds that in the interest of justice, transfer of this matter to Utah pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1406(a) is most appropriate."); Mercury West A.G., Inc. v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., 2004 WL 421793, at *8 (S.D.N.Y. 2004); Roberson v. Norwegian Cruise Line, 897 F.Supp. 1285, 1289 (C.D.Cal. 1995). On the other hand, some courts have read Stewart expansively and deemed § 1404(a) controlling for all transfers based on a forum selection clause (so long as venue is proper under § 1391(a)). Jumara v. State Farm Ins. Co., 55 F.3d 873, 877-79 (3rd Cir. 1995); Gipson v. Wells Fargo Co., 563 F.Supp.2d 149, 155-56 (D.D.C. 2008); BHP Int'l Inv., Inc. v. OnLine Exch., Inc., 105 F.Supp.2d 493 (E.D.Va. 2000) (compiling cases). The BHP decision based its discussion of a § 1404(a) transfer on the assumption that the forum selection clause did not render venue improper, however. 105 F.Supp.2d at 497-98. After the Fourth Circuit's decision in Sucampo, this assumption is no longer tenable. 471 F.3d at 550-51. Thus, with the Fourth Circuit silent on the procedural basis for transfer, the majority of persuasive precedent favors the application of § 1406(a).
28 U.S.C. § 1406(a) states that "[t]he district court of a district in which is filed a case laying venue in the wrong division or district shall dismiss, or if it be in the interest of justice, transfer such case to any district or division in which it could have been brought." (emphasis added).
§ 1404(a) states, "For the convenience of parties and witnesses, in the interest of justice, a district court may transfer any civil action to any other district or division where it might have been brought." (emphasis added).
Additionally, when a forum selection clause is enforceable, an application of § 1404(a) would be impractical. For example, in the Fourth Circuit, if a forum selection clause is enforceable, then dismissal is appropriate under Rule 12(b)(3). Sucampo, 471 F.3d at 550. If a court denies transfer, the case will be dismissed, and the defendant will no longer be a litigant. Thus, the central inquiry for transfer is the effect on the plaintiff, which is the crux of a § 1406(a) analysis. See Goldlawr, Inc. v. Heiman, 369 U.S. 463, 466, 82 S.Ct. 913, 8 L.Ed.2d 39 (1962) (holding that purpose of § 1406(a) was to "avoid[] the injustice which had often resulted to plaintiffs from dismissal of their actions" for reasonable filing errors).
This Court now adopts the following two procedural principles, which will govern the analysis of Access2Go's Motion to Dismiss, or in the alternative, Motion to Transfer: (1) the forum selection clause, if enforceable under M/S Bremen, per se renders venue improper in the Eastern District of Virginia, and (2) even if dismissal is appropriate under Rule 12(b)(3), this Court has the discretion under § 1406(a) to transfer the action, if it is "in the interest of justice."
1. Standard of Review
In the Fourth Circuit, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(3) is the correct procedural vehicle for bringing a motion to dismiss based on improper venue under a forum selection clause. Sucampo Pharms., Inc. v. Astellas Pharma, Inc., 471 F.3d 544, 550 (4th Cir. 2006). Under Rule 12(b)(3), the court may consider evidence outside the pleadings, and "the pleadings are not accepted as true, as would be required under a Rule 12(b)(6) analysis." Id. at 549-550 (emphasis added). Without an evidentiary hearing, however, "the trial court must `draw all reasonable inferences in favor of the nonmoving party and resolve all factual conflicts in favor of the non-moving party.'" Essex Ins. Co. v. MDRB Corp., 2006 WL 1892411, at *2 (D.Md. 2006) (quoting Murphy v. Schneider Nat'l, Inc., 362 F.3d 1133, 1138-39 (9th Cir. 2004)); see also Fixture Specialists, Inc. v. Global Constr. Co., 2007 WL 3468997, at *1 (E.D.Va. 2007). Finally, this Court will apply federal law to resolve whether the forum selection clause is enforceable.
The federal circuits are divided on the issue of whether state or federal law governs whether a forum selection clause is enforceable. The majority position, however, applies federal law. See ADT Sec. Services, Inc. v. Apex Alarm, LLC, 430 F.Supp.2d 1199, 1201-04 (D.Colo. 2006) (collecting cases as follows: (a) Second, Fifth, and Ninth Circuits have expressly adopted federal law; (b) Tenth and Eleventh Circuits apply federal law without explanation; (c) Third Circuit has expressly adopted state law; and (d) remainder of Circuits are silent on the issue). Within the Fourth Circuit, although the District of Maryland applies state law, the majority of the district courts hold that federal law governs enforcement of forum selection clauses. See Gita Sports Ltd. v. SG Sensortechnik GmbH Co. KG, 560 F.Supp.2d 432, 437-38 (W.D.N.C. 2008) (collecting cases); Red Light, LLC v. Am. Traffic Solutions, Inc., 2006 WL 463569, at *2 (D.S.C. 2006) ("Federal law governs a district court's decision to enforce or not enforce a forum selection clause.").
2. Analysis of Whether Forum Selection Clause is Enforceable
A forum selection clause is presumptively valid and enforceable unless the challenger can "clearly show" that enforcement would be "unreasonable under the circumstances." M/S Bremen v. Zapata Off-Shore Co., 407 U.S. 1, 10, 15, 92 S.Ct. 1907, 32 L.Ed.2d 513 (1972). The clause is unreasonable if (1) it was "induced by fraud or overreaching;" (2) the complaining party will be "deprived of his day in court because of the grave inconvenience or unfairness of the selected forum;" (3) "the fundamental unfairness of the chosen law may deprive the plaintiff of a remedy;" or (4) enforcement of the clause "would contravene a strong public policy of the forum state." Allen v. Lloyd's of London, 94 F.3d 923, 928 (4th Cir. 1996) (quotations omitted).
a. Fraud or Overreaching
Hipage asserts that the forum selection clause is not enforceable due to fraudulent inducement of the entire Service Agreement, but this argument is not persuasive. First, Hipage did not allege fraud in the Complaint. Second, even if the Complaint had attempted to allege fraud, the facts would fail to establish a prima facie case. In particular, "it is essential that the defrauded party demonstrates the right to reasonably rely upon the misrepresentation." Metrocall of Delaware, Inc. v. Cont'l Cellular Corp., 246 Va. 365, 437 S.E.2d 189, 194 (1993). See also Bank of Montreal v. Signet Bank, 193 F.3d 818, 827 (4th Cir. 1999). Furthermore, the Fourth Circuit has held that "there [can] be no reasonable reliance on the oral statements in the face of plainly contradictory contractual language." Foremost Guar. Corp. v. Meritor Sav. Bank, 910 F.2d 118, 126 (4th Cir. 1990). In the present case, the signed Service Agreement directly contradicts the alleged oral statement by Access2Go's agent to Unger (that the contract would not be binding). As a matter of law, therefore, Hipage could not have reasonably relied on the oral representation.
Although the Complaint alleges facts in Paragraphs 16 and 17 that could be construed as Hipage's reliance on a misrepresentation, Count I does not mention fraud. Compl. ¶¶ 16-17. Furthermore, plaintiff's counsel "submitted" at oral argument that Hipage did not plead fraud with sufficient specificity. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 9(b).
Hipage also contends that Unger lacked authority to enter into a binding agreement, and thus, the forum selection clause is unenforceable. The Court finds this argument equally unpersuasive. Bremen and its progeny of cases have set a high bar for challenging the presumptive validity of a forum selection clause, and Hipage has failed to cite a single case in which a court has refused to enforce such a clause on the grounds of agency law principles. Unger's lack of authority to contract does not rise to the high bar of "fraud or overreaching." Lloyd's of London, 94 F.3d at 928.
b. Grave Inconvenience
Hipage limits its discussion of inconvenience to the location of potential witnesses, which is insufficient to challenge enforcement of a forum selection clause. The Supreme Court held "that even where the forum clause establishes a remote forum for resolution of conflicts, the party claiming unfairness should bear a heavy burden of proof." Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc. v. Shute, 499 U.S. 585, 592, 111 S.Ct. 1522, 113 L.Ed.2d 622 (1991) (quotations omitted). Moreover, the Fourth Circuit has clearly stated that the expense of transporting witnesses is not sufficient to preclude enforcement of a forum clause. Brock v. Entre Computer Ctrs., Inc., 933 F.2d 1253, 1258 (4th Cir. 1991) ("No matter which forum is selected, one side or the other will be burdened with bringing themselves and their witnesses from far away.") In Carnival Cruise Lines, the U.S. Supreme Court held that forcing two individuals living in the state of Washington to litigate their claim in Florida, even though none of the relevant events took place in Florida, did not violate fairness standards. 499 U.S. at 595, 111 S.Ct. 1522. Here, Hipage is a sophisticated business that signed an agreement, which designates Illinois as the exclusive forum. The distance for Hipage and its witnesses to travel is significantly less than the distance between Washington and Florida. Thus, under Carnival Cruise Lines and Brock, Hipage has "not satisfied the heavy burden of proof . . . required to set aside the clause on grounds of inconvenience." Id.
c. Fundamental Unfairness
Hipage does not argue that enforcement of the clause is fundamentally unfair to the point of depriving Hipage of a remedy.
In fact, Hipage is not seeking a remedy in the traditional sense, but rather, a predetermination of an affirmative defense to Access2Go's action in Illinois.
d. Public Policy
Enforcement of the forum selection clause will not contravene any strong public policy of the state of Virginia. Hipage asserts that Virginia courts are better equipped to apply Virginia law, but this argument lacks merit. Even assuming that Virginia law would apply to the action in Illinois, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois is competent to apply Virginia law. Furthermore, the Fourth Circuit has enforced a forum selection clause, even where the contracted forum was England, and English law was arguably at odds with certain United States securities laws. Lloyd's of London, 94 F.3d at 928-32. Hipage has not identified any practices of the Illinois courts that would offend the public policy of Virginia. This, coupled with the lack of fraud, grave inconvenience, and fundamental unfairness, compels this Court to enforce the forum selection clause. Under Sucampo, a dismissal under Rule 12(b)(3) would be an appropriate method of enforcement. 471 F.3d at 550. Next, however, this Court will examine whether transfer is preferred over dismissal.
Hipage states that "the parties have agreed that Virginia law governs this matter," (Pl.'s Br. at 12), but Access2Go counters that the choice of law provision in the Service Agreement mandates an application of Illinois law. (Def.'s Reply Br. at 6.)
3. Transfer Under § 1406(a)
The forum selection clause renders venue improper in Virginia, and as a result, § 1406(a) governs the court's consideration of a transfer:
The district court of a district in which is filed a case laying venue in the wrong division or district shall dismiss, or if it be in the interest of justice, transfer such case to any district or division in which it could have been brought.28 U.S.C. § 1406(a) (emphasis added). Specifically, the "interest of justice" requires "removing whatever obstacles may impede an expeditious and orderly adjudication of cases and controversies on their merits." Goldlawr, Inc. v. Heiman, 369 U.S. 463, 466-67, 82 S.Ct. 913, 8 L.Ed.2d 39 (1962). In Goldlawr, the Supreme Court reversed dismissal and mandated a transfer in order to circumvent the expired statute of limitations and avoid forfeiture of plaintiff's causes of action. Id. at 466, 82 S.Ct. 913 (identifying forfeiture of claims as the "typical example of the problem sought to be avoided"). Hipage does not face a statute of limitations, however, nor forfeiture of its rights by any means. Rather, the Illinois lawsuit includes all the issues presented by Hipage's declaratory action in Virginia. Thus, "an expeditious and orderly adjudication" of the contract dispute on the merits is already underway. As a result, transfer is not appropriate.
B. Jurisdiction Over Declaratory Judgment
1. Legal Standard for Declaratory Judgments
Under the Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201(a), "any court of the United States . . . may declare the rights and other legal relations of any interested party seeking such declaration, whether or not further relief is or could be sought." The U.S. Supreme Court has stated, "[s]ince its inception, the Declaratory Judgment Act has been understood to confer on federal courts unique and substantial discretion in deciding whether to declare the rights of litigants." Wilton v. Seven Falls Co., 515 U.S. 277, 286, 115 S.Ct. 2137, 132 L.Ed.2d 214 (1995) (emphasis added). Thus, a federal district court has "`great latitude in determining whether to assert jurisdiction over declaratory judgment actions,' but should refuse to entertain a declaratory judgment only for good cause." First Nationwide Mortgage Corp. v. FISI Madison, LLC, 219 F.Supp.2d 669, 672 (D.Md. 2002) (quoting Aetna Cas. Surety Co. v. Quarles, 92 F.2d 321, 324 (4th Cir. 1937)).
Although Hipage originally filed this declaratory action in state court, the subsequent removal to federal court brings the action within the ambit of the Declaratory Judgment Act. See Erie R.R. Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64, 58 S.Ct. 817, 82 L.Ed. 1188 (1938) (holding that federal courts with diversity jurisdiction shall apply the state substantive law, but the federal procedural law) and Aetna Life Ins. Co. of Hartford, Conn. v. Haworth, 300 U.S. 227, 57 S.Ct. 461, 81 L.Ed. 617 (1937) (stating that "the operation of the Declaratory Judgment Act is procedural only").
2. Analysis
A declaratory judgment "is appropriate when the judgment will serve a useful purpose in clarifying and settling the legal relations in issue, and when it will terminate and afford relief from the uncertainty, insecurity, and controversy giving rise to the proceeding." Penn-America Ins. Co. v. Coffey, 368 F.3d 409, 412 (4th Cir. 2004) (quotations omitted). The Supreme Court has counseled that "[t]he factors relevant to wise administration here [in the context of declaratory judgments] are equitable in nature." Kerotest Mfg. Co. v. C-O-Two Fire Equip. Co., 342 U.S. 180, 183, 72 S.Ct. 219, 96 L.Ed. 200 (1952). For example, the Middle District of North Carolina collected cases and observed that "a balance must be struck between the . . . [potential plaintiff's] traditional interests in choice of forum, timing, and avoiding a race to the courthouse . . . [and a potential defendant's] interest in being relieved from the uncertainty and insecurity arising from a controversy." State Farm Fire and Cas. Co. v. Taylor, 118 F.R.D. 426, 430 (M.D.N.C. 1988). Although the case law does not present a uniform list of factors for a district court to decide whether to exercise discretion to hear a declaratory judgment action, the following factors feature prominently: (1) whether the action serves the purpose of the Declaratory Judgment Act; (2) whether the action constitutes procedural fencing; (3) judicial efficiency; and (4) fairness to the parties. Sherwin-Williams Co. v. Holmes County, 343 F.3d 383, 388 (5th Cir. 2003); Learning Network v. Discovery Commc'ns, 11 Fed. Appx. 297, 301 (4th Cir. 2001); Amari v. Radio Spirits, Inc., 219 F.Supp.2d 942, 944 (N.D.Ill. 2002); Yoder v. Heinold Commodities, Inc., 630 F.Supp. 756, 760-62 (E.D.Va. 1986). This Court will address each factor in turn.
When the declaratory judgment action is in federal court and the corresponding action is in state court, the Fourth Circuit has provided a consistent list of four factors: "(1) whether the state has a strong interest in having the issues decided in its courts; (2) whether the state courts could resolve the issues more efficiently than the federal courts; (3) whether the presence of `overlapping issues of fact or law' might create unnecessary `entanglement' between the state and federal courts; and (4) whether the federal action is mere `procedural fencing,' in the sense that the action is merely the product of forumshopping." Penn-America Ins. Co. v. Coffey., 368 F.3d 409, 412 (4th Cir. 2004) (citations omitted). In the present case, both Hipage's and Access2Go's suits have been removed to federal court, which renders the first and third factors moot.
a. Purpose of the DJA
The purpose of the Declaratory Judgment Act is to "allow[] the uncertain party to gain relief from the insecurity caused by a potential suit waiting in the wings." United Capitol Ins. Co. v. Kapiloff, 155 F.3d 488, 494 (4th Cir. 1998). This purpose can be parsed into two key principles. First, if a suit for actual relief has already been filed, then the "insecurity" of looming litigation does not exist. Id. As a result, the courts disfavor a subsequent action for declaratory judgment that would "interfere with an action which has already been instituted." Aetna Cas. Sur. Co. v. Ind-Com Elec. Co., 139 F.3d 419, 422 (4th Cir. 1998) (quoting Aetna Cas. Sur. Co. v. Quarles, 92 F.2d 321, 325 (4th Cir. 1937)). In the present case, Access2Go filed its action for breach of contract in Illinois before Hipage filed its action for declaratory judgment in Virginia. Furthermore, Access2Go's action encompasses each issue presented by Hipage's action. Thus, Hipage has failed to heed the Fourth Circuit's warning that a district court should not entertain declaratory judgment actions "for the purpose of trying issues involved in cases already pending." Quarles, 92 F.2d at 324.
Second, declaratory judgments are designed to declare rights so that parties can conform their conduct to avoid future litigation. See Volvo Constr. Equip. N. Am., Inc. v. CLM Equip. Co., 386 F.3d 581, 593-94 (4th Cir. 2004). In other words, "the declaratory judgment procedure is an alternative to pursuit of the arguably illegal activity." MedImmune, Inc. v. Genentech, Inc., 549 U.S. 118, 127 S.Ct. 764, 166 L.Ed.2d 604 (2007) (citations omitted). Here, because Hipage has already repudiated the Service Agreement, there is no guidance that this Court can offer to steer Hipage's conduct away from a breach of contract. See Trull v. Smolka, 2008 WL 4279599, at *8 (E.D.Va. 2008) ("[A] declaratory judgment is unavailable in situations where . . . claims and rights asserted have fully matured, and the alleged wrongs have already been committed.") (quotations omitted); Publ'ns Int'l, Ltd. v. McRae, 953 F.Supp. 223, 224 (N.D.Ill. 1996) ("Its [declaratory judgment's] purpose is to avoid accrual of avoidable damages to one not certain of his rights . . ."). In McRae, a book publisher failed to ship all the contracted books to a wholesaler, then filed an action for declaratory judgment on the status of the parties' rights. 953 F.Supp. at 224. The district court dismissed the declaratory judgment action, because "[w]hatever damages there may be have already accrued." Id. Similarly, the damages arising from Hipage's business dealings with Access2Go have already accrued, and thus, the action for declaratory judgment is untimely.
The Court therefore finds that Hipage's declaratory action is not consistent with the purpose of the Declaratory Judgment Act, and this factor weighs heavily in favor of dismissal.
b. Procedural Fencing
It is well established that courts disfavor "procedural fencing," such as forum shopping and races to the courthouse. See Nautilus Ins. Co. v. Winchester Homes, Inc., 15 F.3d 371, 377 (4th Cir. 1994), overruled on other grounds by Wilton v. Seven Falls Co., 515 U.S. 277, 115 S.Ct. 2137, 132 L.Ed.2d 214 (1995). See also Coffey, 368 F.3d at 412; Yoder, 630 F.Supp. at 760-62. In Yoder, cited by Hipage, an investment broker had committed fraudulent acts at the expense of a client. 630 F.Supp. at 757-58. The broker filed an action for declaratory judgment in Illinois in anticipation of the client filing suit for damages. Id. When the client did file suit in Virginia, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia refused to recognize the broker's forum shopping in Illinois. The court denied dismissal and declared that "[t]he federal declaratory judgment is not a prize to the winner of a race to the courthouses." Id. at 761 (quoting Factors Etc., Inc. v. Pro Arts, Inc., 579 F.2d 215, 219 (2nd Cir. 1978), cert denied, 440 U.S. 908, 99 S.Ct. 1215, 59 L.Ed.2d 455 (1979)). In the present case, Hipage strays even farther from the proper path. Hipage filed for declaratory judgment in Virginia after Access2Go filed suit for breach of contract in Illinois. Thus, Hipage attempted to "wrest[] the choice of forum from the `natural' plaintiff," which runs directly contrary to the prevailing view, which is "not to give the alleged wrongdoer a choice of forum." McRae, 953 F.Supp. at 224.
Hipage contends that this Court is better equipped to try the issues under Virginia law, but this argument is not persuasive. First, the forum selection clause is enforceable, and thus, the choice of law provision, which elects that Illinois law governs the dispute, likely is also enforceable. Even assuming that Virginia law governs, however, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois is certainly capable of applying Virginia law. Moreover, the determination of whether Virginia or Illinois "is the better forum is a question that should be decided by the court chosen by the putative plaintiff." Watkins Strategy Res. Group, LLC v. WLC, LLC, 433 F.Supp.2d 778, 784 (S.D.Miss. 2006). Hipage, "as the putative defendant, did not have the right to make this determination." Id. There is no valid justification for Hipage's attempt to forum shop, and as a result, this "procedural fencing" militates in favor of dismissal.
In general, a "putative plaintiff" is an alleged victim, whereas the "putative defendant" is the alleged wrongdoer. For example, the party who allegedly breached the contract would be the putative defendant, even if this party filed an action for declaratory judgment.
c. Judicial Economy
Judicial economy is not served by trying "a controversy by piecemeal, or [trying] particular issues without settling the entire controversy or [interfering] with an action which has already been instituted." Aetna Cas. Sur. Co. v. Ind-Com Elec. Co., 139 F.3d 419, 422 (4th Cir. 1998) (citations omitted). First, Hipage attempts to wrest the choice of forum from Access2Go, thus interfering with Access2Go's Illinois lawsuit, "which has already been instituted." Id. Second, Hipage's action for declaratory judgment seeks a determination that no contract existed. If this Court decided against Hipage on the merits, however, another court would have to address the issues of breach and damages. Thus, the Illinois lawsuit for breach of contract "provides a broader and more comprehensive forum for resolving the entire dispute between the parties." First Nationwide, 219 F.Supp.2d at 674. See also Watkins Strategy, 433 F.Supp.2d at 782 (finding judicial economy better served by limiting litigation to the lawsuit that is "more inclusive of all issues surrounding the dispute between the parties").
Hipage requests, in the alternative, that this Court stay the Virginia action for declaratory judgment until the Illinois court rules on the motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. A stay, however, would not serve judicial economy. At oral argument, Hipage conceded that if the Illinois lawsuit were dismissed for lack of personal jurisdiction, dismissal of this declaratory judgment action would be appropriate. Furthermore, if the Illinois action proceeded to the merits, dismissal of the declaratory judgment action would be even more appropriate. For one, "it seems wasteful and extravagant for litigants to be required to proceed simultaneously in two different forums," where the issues are the same. Childers Foods, Inc. v. Rockingham Poultry Mktg. Co-op., Inc., 203 F.Supp. 794, 796 (W.D.Va. 1962). Even more troubling, however, is the potential for two conflicting determinations of whether a contract existed between Hipage and Access2Go. A stay of the proceedings, therefore, is not appropriate.
Judicial economy is not served by allowing Hipage's action for declaratory judgment to proceed, and thus, this factors weighs in favor of dismissal.
d. Fairness to the Parties
Hipage argues that a transfer of this action to Illinois, or a dismissal, is inappropriate on grounds of inconvenience, but this argument lacks merit. If this Court orders either a dismissal or transfer of the declaratory judgment action, Hipage will not suffer added inconvenience for the simple reason that Hipage is already party to the lawsuit in Illinois. Unless the suit in Illinois is dismissed, Hipage and its witnesses will be required to travel to Illinois, regardless of what this Court decides. Furthermore, even if the Illinois suit is dismissed, Hipage has already conceded that dismissal of this action would be appropriate. Thus, a dismissal of the declaratory judgment action would not impose further inconvenience on Hipage. As a result, the consideration of fairness is a neutral factor in the analysis. See Watkins Strategy, 433 F.Supp.2d at 784.
Based on the foregoing factors, it is clear that a declaratory judgment would not serve "a useful purpose in clarifying and settling the legal relations in issue." Coffey, 368 F.3d at 412. Accordingly, the Court declines to exercise its authority to hear the action for declaratory judgment and concludes that a dismissal is appropriate.
III. RECOMMENDATION
For the foregoing reasons, the Court recommends that Access2Go's Motion to Dismiss be GRANTED.
IV. REVIEW PROCEDURE
By copy of this Report and Recommendation, the parties are notified that pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(c):
1. Any party may serve upon the other party and file with the Clerk written objections to the foregoing findings and recommendations within ten days from the date of mailing of this report to the objecting party, see 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(c), computed pursuant to Rule 6(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, plus three days permitted by Rule 6(e) of said rules. A party may respond to another party's objections within ten days after being served with a copy thereof.
2. A district judge shall make a de novo determination of those portions of this report or specified findings or recommendations to which objection is made.
The parties are further notified that failure to file timely objections to the findings and recommendations set forth above will result in waiver of right to appeal from a judgment of this court based on such findings and recommendations. Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 106 S.Ct. 466, 88 L.Ed.2d 435 (1985); Carr v. Hutto, 737 F.2d 433 (4th Cir. 1984); United States v. Schronce, 727 F.2d 91 (4th Cir. 1984).