Steves And Sons, Inc. v. Jeld-Wen, Inc.

MOTION to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim

E.D. Va.August 5, 2016

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA RICHMOND DIVISION STEVES AND SONS, INC., Plaintiff, v. JELD-WEN, INC., Defendant. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Civil Action No. 3:16-CV-00545-REP DEFENDANT JELD-WEN, INC.’S MOTION TO DISMISS COUNT ONE OF PLAINTIFF STEVES AND SONS, INC.’S COMPLAINT FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM Defendant JELD-WEN, Inc. (“JELD-WEN”), by counsel, pursuant to Rules 5(b)(2)(E), 6(d), and 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, hereby moves for an order dismissing Count One of the Complaint filed by Plaintiff Steves and Sons, Inc. (“Steves”) on June 29, 2016, for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. As set forth more fully in the accompanying memorandum of law, the grounds for this motion are as follows: 1. As a competitor of JELD-WEN’s in the alleged relevant market for interior molded doors, Steves does not, and cannot, allege that it suffered any financial injury from JELD-WEN’s acquisition of a door skin plant in 2012, that forms the basis of its antitrust claim. 2. As a purchaser of door skins from JELD-WEN in the alleged relevant market for interior molded door skins, Steves does not, and cannot, allege that JELD-WEN’s Case 3:16-cv-00545-REP Document 20 Filed 08/05/16 Page 1 of 5 PageID# 180 2 acquisition of the door skin plant caused Steves to pay higher prices for interior molded door skins. 3. As a private party attempting to challenge a merger consummated four years ago, Steves does not, and cannot, demonstrate a right to divestiture as a matter of law. Therefore, JELD-WEN respectfully requests that the Court issue an order dismissing Count One of the Complaint with prejudice. Dated: August 5, 2016 Respectfully submitted, JELD-WEN, Inc. By counsel /s/Harrison M. Gates Craig T. Merritt (VSB #20281) Harrison M. Gates (VSB #80385) Christian & Barton, L.L.P. 909 East Main Street, Suite 1200 Richmond, Virginia 23219-3095 (804) 697-4119 – Tel. (804) 697-4112 – Fax cmerritt@cblaw.com hgates@cblaw.com Margaret M. Zwisler (pro hac vice) Latham & Watkins LLP 555 Eleventh Street, N.W., Suite 1000 Washington, D.C., 20004 (202) 637-2200 – Tel. (202) 637-2201 – Fax margaret.zwisler@lw.com Case 3:16-cv-00545-REP Document 20 Filed 08/05/16 Page 2 of 5 PageID# 181 3 Lawrence E. Buterman (pro hac vice) Latham & Watkins LLP 885 Third Avenue New York, NY 10022 (212) 906-1200 – Tel. (212) 751-4864 – Fax lawrence.buterman@lw.com Attorneys for Defendant Case 3:16-cv-00545-REP Document 20 Filed 08/05/16 Page 3 of 5 PageID# 182 4 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on the 5th day of August, 2016, I will electronically file a copy of the foregoing with the Clerk of Court using the CM/ECF system, which will then send a notification of such filing (NEF) to the registered participants as identified on the NEF to receive electronic service, including: Lewis F. Powell III John S. Martin John E. Beerbower Alexandra L. Klein Hunton & Williams LLP Riverfront Plaza, East Tower 951 East Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 (804) 788-8200 – Tel. (804) 788-8218 – Fax lpowell@hunton.com martinj@hunton.com jbeerbower@hunton.com aklein@hunton.com /s/Harrison M. Gates Craig T. Merritt (VSB #20281) Harrison M. Gates (VSB #80385) Christian & Barton, L.L.P. 909 East Main Street, Suite 1200 Richmond, Virginia 23219-3095 (804) 697-4100 – Tel. (804) 697-4112 – Fax cmerritt@cblaw.com hgates@cblaw.com Margaret M. Zwisler (pro hac vice) Latham & Watkins LLP 555 Eleventh Street, N.W., Suite 1000 Washington, D.C., 20004 (202) 637-2200 – Tel. (202) 637-2201 – Fax margaret.zwisler@lw.com Case 3:16-cv-00545-REP Document 20 Filed 08/05/16 Page 4 of 5 PageID# 183 5 Lawrence E. Buterman (pro hac vice) Latham & Watkins LLP 885 Third Avenue New York, NY 10022 (212) 906-1200 – Tel. (212) 751-4864 – Fax lawrence.buterman@lw.com Attorneys for Defendant Case 3:16-cv-00545-REP Document 20 Filed 08/05/16 Page 5 of 5 PageID# 184