- 5(&200(1'(' )25 )8//7(;7 38%/,&$7,21 3XUVXDQW WR 6L[WK &LUFXLW 5XOH (/(&7521,& &,7$7,21 )(' $SS 3 WK &LU )LOH 1DPH DS 81,7('67$7(6&28572)$33($/6 )257+(6,;7+&,5&8,7 BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB 81,7(' 67$7(6 2) $0(5,&$ ; 3ODLQWLII$SSHOOHH 1R Y ! 0,&+$(/ $1*(/2 )/2:$/ 'HIHQGDQW$SSHOODQW 1 $SSHDOIURPWKH8QLWHG6WDWHV'LVWULFW&RXUW IRUWKH(DVWHUQ'LVWULFWRI.HQWXFN\DW&RYLQJWRQ 1Rn:LOOLDP2%HUWHOVPDQ'LVWULFWsXGJH $UJXHG6HSWHPEHU 'HFLGHGDQG)LOHG'HFHPEHU %HIRUH1255,6DQG'$8*+75( $@mFULPHlLQFOXGHVHYHU\IDFWWKDWLVE\ODZDEDVLVIRU IRUFHRIILFHUDQG*DU\&XUU\D6SHFLDO$JHQWIRUWKH'($ LPSRVLQJRULQFUHDVLQJSXQLVKPHQWLQFRQWUDVWZLWKD ORFDWHGWZRSLHFHVRIOXJJDJHPDWFKLQJWKHFODLPQXPEHUV IDFW WKDW PLWLJDWHV SXQLVKPHQW 7KXV LI D OHJLVODWXUH DQG DW WKH DLUOLQH EDJJDJH DUHD 7KH OXJJDJH GHILQHVVRPHFRUHFULPHDQGWKHQSURYLGHVIRULQFUHDVLQJ EHORQJHG WR )ORZDO %RWK SLHFHV RI OXJJDJH ZHUH ORFNHG SXQLVKPHQW RI WKDW FULPH XSRQ D ILQGLQJ RI VRPH 7KHRIILFHUVVKRRNWKHOXJJDJHWRVHHLIWKHUHZDVPRYHPHQW DJJUDYDWLQJIDFWRUoRIZKDWHYHUVRUWLQFOXGLQJWKHIDFWRI DQGSXVKHGWKHVLGHVRIWKHOXJJDJH7KH\GLGQRWGLVFRYHU D SULRU FRQYLFWLRQo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oVXFKDVDILQH OXJJDJHDUHDZLWKDGUXJVQLIILQJGRJ7KHGRJGLGQRWUHDFW WKDWLVSURSRUWLRQDOWRWKHYDOXHRIWKHVWROHQJRRGVoWKDW RULQGLFDWHWKDWWKHOXJJDJHFRQWDLQHGGUXJV2IILFHU%DXHUOH IDFWLVDOVRDQHOHPHQW2QHQHHGRQO\ORRNWRWKH DQG$JHQW&XUU\NQHZWKLVEHIRUHWDONLQJWR)ORZDOEXWGLG NLQG GHJUHH RU UDQJH RI SXQLVKPHQW WR ZKLFK WKH QRWLQIRUP)ORZDORIWKHGRJjVUHDFWLRQ SURVHFXWLRQ LV E\ ODZ HQWLWOHG IRU D JLYHQ VHW RI IDFWV (DFKIDFWQHFHVVDU\IRUWKDWHQWLWOHPHQWLVDQHOHPHQW $FFRUGLQJWR2IILFHU%DXHUOHjVWHVWLPRQ\)ORZDOVWDUWHG GRZQWKHERDUGLQJUDPSWRERDUGWKHDLUSODQHDQG2IILFHU 6&WDW7KRPDVsFRQFXUULQJRSLQLRQ6FDOLD %DXHUOHDQG$JHQW&XUU\IROORZHGDQGVWRSSHGKLP2IILFHU s MRLQLQJ ,Q )ORZDOjV FDVH WKH LQGLFWPHQW LWVHOI DV %DXHUOHLGHQWLILHGKLPVHOIWR)ORZDODQGWROG)ORZDOWKDWKH VXEPLWWHGWRWKHMXU\VSHFLILHGWKHDPRXQWRIGUXJVDOOHJHG DQG$JHQW&XUU\KDGVHHQ)ORZDOjVOXJJDJHDQGWKDWLWORRNHG WREHLQ)ORZDOjVSRVVHVVLRQ8OWLPDWHO\WRSURYHWKDW)ORZDO VXVSLFLRXV2IILFHU%DXHUOHDVNHG)ORZDOLIKHKDGSDFNHG ZDVJXLOW\RIDFULPHXQGHUE$WKHJRYHUQPHQW WKH EDJV WR ZKLFK )ORZDO UHVSRQGHG KH KDG +H WKHQ QHHGHG WR FRQYLQFH D MXU\ EH\RQG D UHDVRQDEOH GRXEW WKDW UHTXHVWHG WR VHDUFK )ORZDOjV OXJJDJH )ORZDO FRQVHQWHG )ORZDOSRVVHVVHGPRUHWKDQILYHNLORJUDPVRIFRFDLQHMXVWDV 2IILFHU%DXHUOHDVNHGLI)ORZDOKDGWKHNH\WRWKHOXJJDJH DOOHJHGLQWKHLQGLFWPHQW,IWKHJRYHUQPHQWFRXOGRQO\SURYH )ORZDOGLGQRWEXWKHDJDLQFRQVHQWHGWRWKHVHDUFKRIWKH OXJJDJHVRORQJDVWKHRIILFHUVGLGQRWGDPDJHLW LQ WKLV FDVH FDQQRW VWDQG $ MXU\ GLG QRW PDNH D VSHFLDO ILQGLQJ DV WR WKH 2IILFHU(YDQVVHDUFKHG)ORZDOjVOXJJDJHDQGIRXQGILYH ZHLJKW RI WKH GUXJV )XUWKHUPRUH )ORZDO GLG QRW UHFHLYH WKH VWDWXWRU\ EXQGOHVRIZKDWDSSHDUHGWREHQDUFRWLFV$SSUR[LPDWHO\D PLQLPXP IRU VLPSOH SRVVHVVLRQ ,QVWHDG KH UHFHLYHG D SHQDOW\ RI OLIH PLQXWHODWHU/LHXWHQDQW%ODFNEXUQUHWXUQHGWRWKHWHUPLQDO ZLWKRXW SRVVLELOLW\ RI UHOHDVH WKDW ZDV PDQGDWRU\ XQGHU 86& DQGDUUHVWHG)ORZDO)ORZDOZDVLQGLFWHGRQsXQH E$ EXW WKDW ZRXOG QRW KDYH EHHQ PDQGDWRU\ XQGHU WKH RWKHU IRUSRVVHVVLRQZLWKLQWHQWWRGLVWULEXWHmDSSUR[LPDWHO\ILYH UHOHYDQW SURYLVLRQV 3XW DQRWKHU ZD\ WKH GLVWULFW FRXUW JDYH )ORZDO D PDQGDWRU\ PD[LPXP VHQWHQFH WKDW PLJKW QRW KDYH DFWXDOO\ EHHQ SRLQWWZRNLORJUDPVRIFRFDLQHl)ORZDOSOHGQRWJXLOW\ PDQGDWRU\ RU HYHQ SHUPLVVLEOH KDG WKH GLVWULFW FRXUW SURSHUO\ VXEPLWWHG EXWDMXU\IRXQG)ORZDOJXLOW\RISRVVHVVLRQZLWKLQWHQWWR WKH LVVXH RI WKH GUXJjV ZHLJKW WR WKH MXU\ GLVWULEXWHFRFDLQH 8QLWHG6WDWHVY)ORZDO 1R 1R 8QLWHG6WDWHVY)ORZDO 2Q0D\DSROLFHRIILFHUKDGIRXQGWKHZHLJKWRI E$7KHJRYHUQPHQWLVDOVRFRUUHFWLQQRWLQJWKDW WKH FRFDLQH WR EH DSSUR[LPDWHO\ NLORJUDPV ZLWK LWV DUHSHDWRIIHQGHUZKRSRVVHVVHVNLORJUDPVRIFRFDLQH SDFNDJLQJ$OVREHWZHHQ0D\DQGsXO\ FDQ UHFHLYH OLIH LPSULVRQPHQW XQGHU 86& $QGUHD0LFKLHOVDFKHPLVWZLWKWKH'($KDGZHLJKHGWKH E%+RZHYHUVXFKDSHQDOW\LVQRWPDQGDWRU\ FRFDLQHZLWKLWVSDFNDJLQJDQGKDGFRQFOXGHGLWVJURVVZHLJKW XQGHUWKHODWWHUSURYLVLRQ7KLVGLIIHUHQFHLVVLJQLILFDQWLQ ZDV NLORJUDPV 0LFKLHOV VXVSHFWHG KHU ZHLJKW WKLVFDVHEHFDXVHWKHWULDOMXGJHj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j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jVFRFDLQHZHLJKHG RQO\ LPSRVH SHQDOWLHV WKDW IDOO ZLWKLQ WKH VWDWXWRU\ UDQJH DXWKRUL]HG E\ WKH NLORJUDPV DQG SXUVXDQW WR 86& E$ MXU\j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j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j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jVSUREDEO\DVXSHUIOXRXV E& %HFDXVH WKH DPRXQW RI WKH GUXJV DW LVVXH ILQGLQJ GHWHUPLQHG WKH DSSURSULDWH VWDWXWRU\ SXQLVKPHQW D MXU\ VKRXOG KDYH GHWHUPLQHG WKH ZHLJKW RI WKH GUXJV EH\RQG D 7KHFRXUWDJDLQVHQWHQFHG)ORZDOWRWKHPDQGDWRU\PD[LPXP UHDVRQDEOHGRXEW SHQDOW\ RI OLIH LQ SULVRQ ZLWKRXW WKH SRVVLELOLW\ RI UHOHDVH 7KLVDSSHDOIROORZHG 7KHJRYHUQPHQWDUJXHVWKHSHQDOW\LPSRVHGLQWKLVFDVH GRHV QRW H[FHHG WKH mSUHVFULEHG VWDWXWRU\ PD[LPXPl DV ,, UHTXLUHG EHIRUH $SSUHQGL WDNHV HIIHFW $FFRUGLQJ WR WKH JRYHUQPHQWWKHRQO\GLVSXWHLVZKHWKHUWKHGUXJVZHLJKHG )ORZDODUJXHVWKDW%RQGY8QLWHG6WDWHV86 NLORJUDPV RU PRUH WKDQ ILYH NLORJUDPV DQG OLIH 6&W/(GGIRUELGVJRYHUQPHQW LPSULVRQPHQWLVDQDSSURSULDWHSHQDOW\LI)ORZDOSRVVHVVHG DJHQWVIURPVHL]LQJVRPHRQHjVOXJJDJHDIWHUPDQLSXODWLQJLW HLWKHU DPRXQW $V H[SODLQHG OLIH LPSULVRQPHQW ZLWKRXW LQ DQ H[SORUDWRU\ PDQQHU $FFRUGLQJ WR )ORZDO EHFDXVH UHOHDVH LV PDQGDWRU\ IRU )ORZDO XQGHU 86& 2IILFHU%DXHUOHDQG$JHQW&XUU\SLFNHGXS%RQGj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mEULFNOLNHlREMHFWLQRQHRIWKHEDJV,G GLVWULFW FRXUW KRZHYHU IRXQG E\ D SUHSRQGHUDQFH RI WKH HYLGHQFH WKDW D GHDWK KDG UHVXOWHG IURP WKH GLVWULEXWLRQ 7KHUHIRUH SXUVXDQW WR WKH $IWHU%RQGDGPLWWHGWKHEDJZDVKLVDQGFRQVHQWHGWRKDYH SURYLVLRQV RI 86& E& WKH GLVWULFW FRXUW LQFUHDVHG WKH WKH EDJ VHDUFKHG WKH DJHQW GLVFRYHUHG D mEULFNl RI LOOHJDO VHQWHQFH WR OLIH :H UHYHUVHG QRWLQJ WKDW 86& FDOOV IRU D GUXJV,GDW%RQGDUJXHGWKHVHDUFKZDVLOOHJDOXQGHU IDFWXDO GHWHUPLQDWLRQ RI ZKHWKHU WKH GLVWULEXWLRQ RI GUXJV FDXVHV GHDWK WKH)RXUWK$PHQGPHQWEXWWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWDQGWKHFRXUWRI DQG WKDW WKLV IDFWXDO GHWHUPLQDWLRQ VLJQLILFDQWO\ LPSDFWV WKH PD[LPXP DSSHDOVUHIXVHGWRVXSSUHVVWKHHYLGHQFHRQWKRVHJURXQGV SHQDOW\ $OWKRXJK WKH GHIHQGDQW KDG ZDLYHG KHU ULJKW WR D MXU\ WULDO DV SDUW RI KHU SOHD DJUHHPHQW VKH KDG QRW ZDLYHG KHU ULJKW WR KDYH WKLV ,G7KH6XSUHPH&RXUWDJUHHGZLWK%RQGQRWLQJWKDW%RQG HOHPHQW RI WKH RIIHQVH SURYHG EH\RQG D UHDVRQDEOH GRXEW WR WKH WULHU RI KDGVSHFLILFDOO\DWWHPSWHGWRSUHVHUYHKLVSULYDF\E\XVLQJDQ IDFW $V ZH QRWHG LW ZRXOG KDYH YLRODWHG WKH FRQVWLWXWLRQDO XQGHUSLQQLQJV RSDTXHEDJDQGE\SODFLQJWKHEDJRYHUKLVVHDW,GDW RI WKH GHIHQGDQWjV ULJKW WR WULDO WR DOORZ D GHIHQGDQW ZKR SOHDGV JXLOW\ WR 7KH &RXUW DOVR QRWHG WKDW HYHQ WKRXJK D EXV SDVVHQJHU SK\VLFDO GLVWULEXWLRQ WR EH VHQWHQFHG WR OLIH XSRQ D GLVWULFW FRXUWjV ILQGLQJ SUREDEO\H[SHFWVKLVEDJWREHKDQGOHGE\RWKHUSDVVHQJHUVRU RQO\ E\ D SUHSRQGHUDQFH RI WKH HYLGHQFH WKDW D GHDWK KDG UHVXOWHG IURP WKH FKDUJHG FULPH 7KH KROGLQJ WRGD\ UHDIILUPV WKH ORJLF RI #0s2,33 D EXV HPSOR\HHV KH GRHV QRW UHDVRQDEO\ H[SHFW WKDW DQ\RQH IDFW WKDW LQFUHDVHV WKH DSSOLFDEOH VWDWXWRU\ SHQDOW\ UDQJH IRU D SDUWLFXODU ZLOOIHHORUPDQLSXODWHWKHEDJLQDQH[SORUDWRU\PDQQHU,G FULPH PXVW EH SURYHG EH\RQG D UHDVRQDEOH GRXEW WR WKH WULHU RI IDFW 8OWLPDWHO\WKH&RXUWIRXQGWKHDJHQWjVSK\VLFDOPDQLSXODWLRQ 8QLWHG6WDWHVY)ORZDO 1R 1R 8QLWHG6WDWHVY)ORZDO RI WKH SDVVHQJHUjV FDUU\RQ OXJJDJH YLRODWHG WKH )RXUWK ,Q $SSUHQGL WKH GHIHQGDQW HQWHUHG D SOHD DJUHHPHQW IRU $PHQGPHQWjVSURVFULSWLRQDJDLQVWXQUHDVRQDEOHVHDUFKHV,G SRVVHVVLRQRIDILUHDUPIRUDQXQODZIXOSXUSRVH6&WDW DW 7KHPD[LPXPSHQDOW\IRUWKDWFULPHZDVWHQ\HDUVEXW WKHVWDWHKDWHFULPHVWDWXWHDOORZHGWKHWULDOMXGJHWRHQKDQFH 7KH JRYHUQPHQW DVVHUWV WKDW )ORZDOjV H[SHFWDWLRQ RI WKHSHQDOW\LIKHIRXQGE\DSUHSRQGHUDQFHRIWKHHYLGHQFH SULYDF\ZDVPXFKORZHUWKDQ%RQGjVEHFDXVH)ORZDOWXUQHG WKDWWKHGHIHQGDQWFRPPLWWHGWKHFULPHZLWKWKHSXUSRVHRI KLV OXJJDJH RYHU WR WKH FXVWRG\ DQG FRQWURO RI WKH DLUOLQH LQWLPLGDWLQJDSHUVRQRUJURXSRQWKHEDVLVRIUDFH,G DW :LWKRXWUHVROYLQJWKDWSRLQWWKHVHDUFKRI)ORZDOjVOXJJDJH $WWULDODQGRQDSSHDOWKHGHIHQGDQWDUJXHGWKHWULDO ZDV QRW XQFRQVWLWXWLRQDO XQGHU %RQG 7KH RIILFHUV MXGJHVKRXOGKDYHVXEPLWWHGWKHLVVXHRIUDFLDOELDVWRDMXU\ LQYHVWLJDWHG)ORZDOjVOXJJDJHEHFDXVHKHPDWFKHGWKHGUXJ ,GDW7KHWULDOFRXUWDQGWKHDSSHOODWHFRXUWGLVDJUHHG FRXULHU SURILOH QRW EHFDXVH WKH\ KDG IHOW VRPHWKLQJ ,GDW7KH6XSUHPH&RXUWKRZHYHUUHYHUVHG,GDW VXVSLFLRXVLQLW,QRWKHUZRUGVXQOLNHWKHDJHQWLQ%RQGWKH $VWKH&RXUWH[SODLQHGm2WKHUWKDQWKHIDFWRIDSULRU RIILFHUVLQWKLVFDVHKDGDUHDVRQDEOHEHOLHIWKDWWKHOXJJDJH FRQYLFWLRQ DQ\ IDFW WKDW LQFUHDVHV WKH SHQDOW\ IRU D FULPH FRXOG FRQWDLQ FRQWUDEDQG EHIRUH HYHU WRXFKLQJ LW ,Q IDFW EH\RQGWKHSUHVFULEHGVWDWXWRU\PD[LPXPPXVWEHVXEPLWWHG QHLWKHU WKH RIILFHUVj SURGGLQJ RI WKH OXJJDJH QRU WKH GUXJ WR D MXU\ DQG SURYHG EH\RQG D UHDVRQDEOH GRXEWl ,G DW VQLIILQJGRJUHYHDOHGDQ\WKLQJVXVSLFLRXVKHQFHWKHUHDVRQ WKHRIILFHUVDSSURDFKHG)ORZDODQGREWDLQHGKLVFRQVHQWWR VHDUFKWKHEDJV*LYHQWKDW)ORZDOPDWFKHGWKHGUXJFRXULHU 7KH&RXUWKDGHDUOLHUDQQRXQFHGWKHSULQFLSOHXQGHUO\LQJ SURILOH DQG WKDW KH FRQVHQWHG WR WKH XOWLPDWH VHDUFK RI KLV WKH $SSUHQGL UXOH LQ sRQHV Y 8QLWHG 6WDWHV 86 OXJJDJH WKH RIILFHUV KDG D UHDVRQDEOH EDVLV IRU WKH VHDUFK ,QsRQHVWKH&RXUWLQWHUSUHWHGDFULPLQDOVWDWXWHVR LQGHSHQGHQWRIDQ\SK\VLFDOSURGGLQJRUPDQLSXODWLRQRIWKH DV WR DYRLG WKH GLIILFXOW DQG VLJQLILFDQW FRQVWLWXWLRQDO EDJV SUREOHPVSRVHGE\UHPRYLQJIURPWKHMXU\WKHILQGLQJRIIDFWV WKDWZLOOGHWHUPLQHDVWDWXWRU\VHQWHQFLQJUDQJH,GDW ,,, 7KH&RXUWKRZHYHUGLGDQQRXQFHWKHSULQFLSOHWKDWEHFDPH ODZLQ$SSUHQGLmDQ\IDFWRWKHUWKDQSULRUFRQYLFWLRQWKDW )ORZDOQH[WDUJXHVDMXU\VKRXOGKDYHGHFLGHGWKHZHLJKW LQFUHDVHVWKHPD[LPXPSHQDOW\IRUDFULPHPXVWEHFKDUJHG RIWKHGUXJV$VQRWHGDERYHWKHWULDOMXGJHIRXQGWKHZHLJKW LQDQLQGLFWPHQWVXEPLWWHGWRDMXU\DQGSURYHQEH\RQGD RI WKH GUXJV ZDV JUDPV E\ D SUHSRQGHUDQFH RI WKH UHDVRQDEOHGRXEWl,GDWQ HYLGHQFHDQGLQDQ\FDVHZDVPRUHWKDQJUDPVEH\RQG DUHDVRQDEOHGRXEW7KHWULDOMXGJHPDGHKLVGHFLVLRQEHIRUH 7KH LQGLFWPHQW LQ )ORZDOjV FDVH VSHFLILFDOO\ FKDUJHG WKHUHFHQW6XSUHPH&RXUWFDVHRI$SSUHQGLY1HZsHUVH\ )ORZDO ZLWK SRVVHVVLRQ RI NLORJUDPV RI FRFDLQH LQ BBB 86 BBB 6&W /(GG YLRODWLRQRI86&E$7KHXOWLPDWHHIIHFWRI )ORZDODUJXHVWKDW$SSUHQGLQRZUHTXLUHVWKHVXEPLVVLRQRI WKHWULDOMXGJHjVILQGLQJLQWKLVFDVHLVWKHVDPHDVWKHHIIHFW WKH ZHLJKW TXHVWLRQ WR WKH MXU\ DQG WKDW IDLOXUH WR GR VR LV RI WKH MXGJHjV ILQGLQJ LQ $SSUHQGL WKH WULDO MXGJH PDGH D HUURU IDFWXDOILQGLQJWKDWGHWHUPLQHGWKHDSSURSULDWHOHQJWKRIWKH FULPLQDO VHQWHQFH 0RUH VSHFLILFDOO\ D ILQGLQJ DV WR WKH ZHLJKW RI WKH GUXJV GHWHUPLQHG WKH UDQJH RI SHQDOWLHV WKDW ZRXOG DSSO\ WR )ORZDO *LYHQ )ORZDOjV WZR SULRU IHORQ\ FRQYLFWLRQVOLIHLPSULVRQPHQWZLWKRXWSDUROHZDVPDQGDWRU\ %HFDXVH WKH JRYHUQPHQW GLG QRW UDLVH WKH LVVXH WKH 6XSUHPH &RXUW LIKHSRVVHVVHGILYHRUPRUHNLORJUDPVRIFRFDLQH86& GLG QRW FRQVLGHU WKH HIIHFW RI FRQVHQW LQ 43/
Document Info
Docket Number: 99-5357
Filed Date: 12/11/2000
Precedential Status: Precedential
Modified Date: 3/3/2016