Sovik v. Ducks Unlimited, Inc.

MOTION to Dismiss or in the Alternative to Transfer Venue

M.D. Tenn.March 11, 2011

1 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE NASHVILLE DIVISION ______________________________________________________________________________ MARC SOVIK, ) ON BEHALF OF HIMSELF and ) ALL OTHERS Similarly-situated, ) ) Plaintiff, ) Case No. 3:11-0018 ) District Judge Trauger v. ) Magistrate Judge Knowles ) DUCKS UNLIMITED, INC., ) ) Defendant. ) ) ______________________________________________________________________________ MOTION TO DISMISS OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE TO TRANSFER VENUE ______________________________________________________________________________ Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. Proc. 12(b)(6), Defendant Ducks Unlimited, Inc. (“Ducks” or “Defendant”) respectfully moves this Court to dismiss Plaintiff’s claims with prejudice in their entirety, based on the doctrine of judicial estoppel which operates to bar Plaintiff’s claims due to Plaintiff’s failure to disclose his claims in a prior bankruptcy proceeding. In the alternative, Defendant moves the Court, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(3), to dismiss Plaintiff’s claims for improper venue or to transfer the matter to the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. In support of its Motion, Defendant relies upon the supporting memorandum of facts and law submitted contemporaneously herewith, as well as the entire record in this matter. WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Defendant moves this Court to dismiss Plaintiff’s claims in their entirety with prejudice or, in the alternative, to transfer this matter to the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. Case 3:11-cv-00018 Document 8 Filed 03/11/11 Page 1 of 3 PageID #: 25 2 Respectfully submitted, /s/ Paul E. Prather Paul E. Prather (TN Bar No. 10089) KIESEWETTER WISE KAPLAN PRATHER, PLC 3725 Champion Hills Drive, Suite 3000 Memphis, Tennessee 38125 Telephone: (901) 795-6695 Facsimile: (901) 795-1646 pprather@kwkplaw.com Attorneys for Defendant Ducks Unlimited, Inc. Case 3:11-cv-00018 Document 8 Filed 03/11/11 Page 2 of 3 PageID #: 26 3 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on the 11th day of March, 2011, I electronically filed the foregoing with the Clerk of Court using the ECF system which sent notification of such filing to the following: Peter F. Klett, III, Esq. Robert C. Bigelow, Esq. DICKINSON WRIGHT PLLC 424 Church Street, Suite 1401 Nashville, Tennessee 37219 /s/ Paul E. Prather Case 3:11-cv-00018 Document 8 Filed 03/11/11 Page 3 of 3 PageID #: 27