Munson v. Indigo Acquisition Holdings, LLC , 931 N.W.2d 679 ( 2019 )

Filed 7/30/19 by Clerk of Supreme Court
IN THE SUPREME COURT
STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA
2019 ND 197Wayne Munson, Plaintiff and Appellant
v.
Indigo Acquisition Holdings, LLC,
Akoya Capital, LLC, and
Denny Chandler, Defendants and Appellees
No. 20190027
Appeal from the District Court of Burleigh County, South Central Judicial
District, the Honorable James S. Hill, Judge.
AFFIRMED.
Opinion of the Court by VandeWalle, Chief Justice.
Chad C. Nodland, Bismarck, ND, for plaintiff and appellant.
Jason R. Asmus (argued) and Charles B. Rogers (on brief), Minneapolis, MN,
for defendants and appellees.
Munson v. Indigo Acquisition Holdings, LLC
No. 20190027
VandeWalle, Chief Justice.
[¶1] Wayne Munson appealed from a district court judgment granting Indigo
Acquisition Holdings’ (IAH) motion for judgment on the pleadings. We conclude that
the transaction at issue is exempt under the North Dakota Securities Act. We affirm.
I
[¶2] In 2009, Munson and other employees of Indigo Signworks entered into an
agreement to participate in a Stock Appreciation Rights (SAR) program rather than
receive bonuses. Under the program, Munson would be paid for his SARs if Indigo
Signworks was sold. In 2016, IAH, a Delaware corporation, purchased Indigo
Signworks. Munson and other employees participating in the SAR program were paid
for their SARs and had the opportunity to reinvest in IAH’s membership units. On
October 28, 2016, Munson purchased 12,500 Class A Units of IAH. In July 2018,
Munson left his employment at Indigo Signworks to begin a competing sign company.
IAH alleged this new business violated Munson’s obligations under IAH’s Amended
LLC Agreement and filed suit in Delaware.
[¶3] In September 2018, Munson served IAH with a complaint seeking to void his
purchase of the IAH Units. Munson argued the IAH Units he purchased are
unexempt, unregistered securities under the North Dakota Securities Act. On October
1, IAH served their answer on Munson via U.S. Mail. At the time of IAH’s answer,
Munson had not yet filed the pleadings. After Munson filed the pleadings, IAH again
served Munson via U.S. Mail on November 9. The district court found this paper
service appropriate because Munson’s counsel was not enrolled as a service contact
for Munson under Odyssey, North Dakota’s electronic service system.
[¶4] Accompanying IAH’s November answer was a motion for judgment on
pleadings pursuant to N.D.R.Civ.P. 12(c). In January 2019, the district court entered
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judgment dismissing the case. In its memorandum and decision, the court found the
only issue raised in Munson’s complaint was whether the purchase of IAH Units was
an exempt transaction under the North Dakota Securities Act. After finding the
transaction exempt under N.D.C.C. ch. 10-04 as a matter of law, the court dismissed
the case under N.D.R.Civ.P. 12(c), or alternatively, under N.D.R.Civ.P. 56.
[¶5] On appeal, Munson argues his purchase of IAH Units is not exempt under the
North Dakota Securities Act; that IAH did not provide proper service under
N.D.R.Civ.P. 5(b) and N.D.R.Ct. 3.2 and 3.5; and that the district court abused its
discretion in denying his amended complaint. IAH argues this Court does not have
subject matter jurisdiction to determine the enforceability of the LLC Member
Agreement because Munson did not raise it in his complaint and the issue is currently
being litigated in Delaware.
II
[¶6] A party may move for judgment on the pleadings under Rule 12(c),
N.D.R.Civ.P. However, a court should not dismiss a pleading under N.D.R.Civ.P.
12(c) unless it appears beyond doubt that no set of facts support a party’s claim which
would entitle him to relief. Kuntz v. State, 2019 ND 46, ¶ 25, 923 N.W.2d 513. We
view pleadings in the light most favorable to the pleading party and the allegations are
taken as true. Id. If matters outside the pleadings are presented to and not excluded
by the court, the motion must be treated as one for summary judgment under Rule 56.
White v. T.P. Motel, L.L.C., 2015 ND 118, ¶ 15, 863 N.W.2d 915; N.D.R.Civ.P.
12(d).
[¶7] Summary judgment under N.D.R.Civ.P. 56 “is a procedural device for
promptly resolving a controversy on the merits without a trial if there are no disputed
issues of material fact and inferences that can reasonably be drawn from undisputed
facts, or if the only issues to be resolved are questions of law.” Davidson v. State ex
rel. N.D. State Bd. of Higher Ed., 2010 ND 68, ¶ 11, 781 N.W.2d 72. All parties must
be given a reasonable opportunity to present to the court all the material that is
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pertinent to the motion. White, 2015 ND 118, ¶ 15, 863 N.W.2d 915. A district court’s
decision on a motion for summary judgment is a question of law reviewed de novo
on the record. Baker v. Sabinash, 2015 ND 153, ¶ 5, 864 N.W.2d 436.
[¶8] In this case, materials outside of the pleadings, including IAH’s answer and
attached exhibits, were presented to and not excluded by the district court. Because
the court considered materials outside of the pleadings, the motion must be treated as
one for summary judgment under N.D.R.Civ.P. 56. The court found there were no
disputed issues of material fact and that the only legal issue raised in Munson’s
complaint was whether Munson’s purchase of IAH Units is exempt from the North
Dakota Securities Act.
[¶9] Section 10-04-06, N.D.C.C., exempts the sale of certain types of unregistered
securities in North Dakota, including some connected with employee benefits.
Any security issued in connection with an employees’ stock purchase,
savings, option, profit-sharing, pension, or similar employees’ benefit
plan, including any securities, plan interests, and guarantees issued
under a compensatory benefit plan or compensation contract, contained
in a record, established by the issuer . . . for the participation of their
employees . . . .
N.D.C.C. § 10-04-06(11). “‘Record’ except in phrases ‘of record’, ‘official record’,
and ‘public record’ means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that
is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.”
N.D.C.C. § 10-04-02(17). Munson argues the court erred in finding the transaction
was “contained in a record” as required under N.D.C.C. § 10-04-06(11).
[¶10] In 2005, the legislature updated the North Dakota Securities Act “to improve
uniformity” with the 2002 Uniform Securities Act. Senate Industry, Business and
Labor Committee, 2005 N.D. Sess. Laws ch. 97 (H.B. 1176) (March 9, 2005
Testimony of Karen Tyler, ND Securities Commissioner). The 2005 amendments
added “including any securities, plan interests, and guarantees issued under a
compensatory benefit plan or compensation contract, contained in a record,
established by the issuer, its parents, its majority-owned subsidiaries, or the majority-
owned subsidiaries of the issuer’s parent for the participation of their employment”
3
to N.D.C.C. § 10-04-06(11). 2005 N.D. Sess. Laws ch. 97 (H.B. 1176). The
legislature also adopted the definition of “record” from the 2002 Uniform Securities
Act. Id.; see N.D.C.C. § 10-04-02(17).
[¶11] Other North Dakota statutes, as well as the 2002 Uniform Securities Act, use
additional language to specify action that must be taken for a record to satisfy
requirements. See N.D.C.C. § 10-04-06(21) (“in a signed record”); Unif. Securities
Act 2002 § 607(b)(5) (“contained in a record that is filed”). These requirements are
not found in the language of N.D.C.C. § 10-04-06(11). Section 10-04-06(11) only
states that the transaction must be “contained in a record.” There is no statutory
requirement that “a record” be filed, or even signed, to fulfill the requirements for
exemption under N.D.C.C. § 10-04-06(11).
[¶12] In its decision, the court concluded that “by his own admission Plaintiff
Munson has established the ‘record’ of ownership envisioned by N.D.C.C. § 10-04-
02(17).” The court found the statute’s record requirement was satisfied by Munson’s
declaration of ownership in his complaint, the “parties agree[ing] the transaction
occurred,” and the Stock Purchase Agreement submitted by IAH. We do not consider
Munson’s complaint or the parties’ mutual acknowledgment of the transaction
sufficient to serve as “a record” of the transaction for purposes of N.D.C.C. § 10-04-
06(11). A record must be “inscribed on a tangible medium” or electronically stored
in a way that “is retrievable in perceivable form.” N.D.C.C. § 10-04-02(17). The
parties’ mutual acknowledgment of the transaction does not satisfy this requirement.
Nor does a party’s complaint initiating legal action suffice as “a record.” To say
otherwise would discourage parties from seeking legal redress because
acknowledging the transaction in a complaint would create the statutorily required
“record” that was previously absent.
[¶13] While we do not consider the parties’ agreement that a transaction occurred or
Munson’s complaint sufficient to satisfy the record requirement of N.D.C.C. § 10-04-
06(11), we agree that the Stock Purchase Agreement submitted by IAH qualifies as
“a record.” The district court determined that the Stock Purchase Agreement is “a
4
paper record memorializing the stock purchase,” “is a record of an employees’ benefit
plan, compensatory benefit plan,” and “a record that unambiguously evidence the
purchase by Plaintiff Munson of limited liability company interest.” This fulfills the
statutory requirement of a record under N.D.C.C. §§ 10-04-02(17) and -06(11).
[¶14] Because the Stock Purchase Agreement served as a record of the transaction,
the district court did not err in finding Munson’s purchase of IAH Units exempt under
N.D.C.C. § 10-04-06(11).
III
[¶15] Munson argues the district court abused its discretion in finding good cause for
IAH’s service by U.S. Mail rather than electronically through the Odyssey system.
[¶16] Rule 3.5(e)(1), N.D.R.Ct., provides that “[a]ll documents filed electronically
after the initiating pleadings must be served electronically through the Odyssey
system,” and N.D.R.Ct. 3.5(e)(3) requires all attorneys to “provide at least one e-mail
address to the State Board of Law Examiners for accepting electronic service.” See
Inwards v. N.D. Workforce Safety & Ins., 2014 ND 163, ¶ 10, 851 N.W.2d 693. “On
a showing of good cause, the court may grant appropriate relief if electronic filing or
electronic service was not completed due to technical problems.” Id.; N.D.R.Ct.
3.5(f). We review a court’s decision to grant relief from improper service under the
abuse of discretion standard. Inwards, at ¶ 14.
[¶17] Here, the district court waived IAH’s service by U.S. Mail because Munson’s
counsel failed to designate himself as a service contact in the Odyssey system. The
court stated:
It is incumbent upon an attorney of record to ensure that the Odyssey
system is properly updated so that he or she is designated as a service
contact for a given case. . . . Plaintiff cannot, by his own failure, seek
to take advantage of Defendants’ inability to accomplish electronic
service via the Odyssey system.
The court also found Munson’s counsel was served twice via U.S. Mail and so
suffered no prejudice from the lack of electronic filing. Based on the record, the court
5
did not abuse its discretion in finding good cause for IAH’s service by U.S. Mail
rather than electronic service.
IV
[¶18] Munson argues the district court committed reversible error by not allowing
him to amend his complaint. However, the record does not indicate Munson made a
motion to amend his complaint. The only statement addressing the issue is the court’s
memorandum stating that “[w]ithin his argument at the time of the hearing Plaintiff
Munson requested that should the Court be inclined to grant the motion for judgment
on the pleadings that he be granted the opportunity to amend his Complaint.” The
court stated it would “deny an appropriate motion based upon a theoretical and
unmade motion to amend.”
[¶19] “Under N.D.R.Civ.P. 15(a), once a responsive pleading has been served, a
complaint may only be amended by leave of court or by written consent of the
opposing party.” Kuntz, 2019 ND 46, ¶ 47, 923 N.W.2d 513. The district court has
wide discretion in deciding whether to permit amended pleadings after the time for
an amendment has passed. Id. We will not reverse the district court’s decision whether
to grant a party’s motion to amend unless there is an abuse of discretion. Id. When a
proposed amendment would be futile, the district court does not abuse its discretion
in denying a motion to amend the complaint. Id. An amendment is futile if it would
not survive a summary judgment motion. Ihli v. Lazzaretto, 2015 ND 151, ¶ 18, 864
N.W.2d 483.
[¶20] Our case law determines whether an amendment is futile or not based on the
viability of the added claim. See Darby v. Swenson Inc., 2009 ND 103, ¶¶ 12-13, 767
N.W.2d 147. If leave to amend is not sought until after a summary judgment motion
has been docketed, the proposed amendment must be not only theoretically viable but
also solidly grounded in the record. Johnson v. Hovland, 2011 ND 64, ¶ 9, 795
N.W.2d 294. In that instance, an amendment is properly classified as futile unless the
allegations of the proposed amended complaint are supported by substantial evidence.
6
Id. For an effective appeal, the issue must have been raised in the district court so the
court could rule on it. Ruud v. Frandson, 2005 ND 174, ¶ 10, 704 N.W.2d 852. We
have previously determined that a court is not obligated to consider a conditional
motion that is not actually made. See Frank v. Daimler-Benz, A.G., Stuttgart, West
Germany, 226 N.W.2d 143, 146 (N.D. 1975).
[¶21] In this case, Munson offered “no indication of what amendments he would
propose to make nor what the amended Complaint would state.” Munson’s brief to
this Court also provided no support for what “other claims” he would pursue had he
been allowed to amend his complaint. Without a motion to amend or explanation of
the proposed amendment, the district court did not abuse its discretion.
V
[¶22] Munson argues that IAH’s LLC Member Agreement is against North Dakota
public policy. However, this issue was not raised in Munson’s complaint and the
district court determined it did not have jurisdiction to consider the argument. The
court found that Munson brought his complaint “on very narrow grounds seeking to
void his voluntary purchase of the 12,500 Class A Units of Indigo Holdings” and
ruled only on whether the transaction was exempt under the North Dakota Securities
Act. The court stated:
Plaintiff Munson argues intensely regarding a number of aspects of the
Amended LLC Agreement, its applicability to him, and the validity of
the confidentiality and non-complete [sic] provisions contained therein.
Those matters are pending in the Delaware Chancery Court. They are
not issues that Plaintiff Munson has specifically raised in his North
Dakota Complaint. These matters must be resolved before the Delaware
Chancery Court and presumably under Delaware law. This Court is
without jurisdiction to consider the arguments Plaintiff Munson makes
regarding the Amended LLC Agreement. . . . Plaintiff Munson will
7
certainly be allowed to litigate his claims regarding the Amended LLC
Agreement before the Delaware Chancery Court.1
[¶23] Subject matter jurisdiction is a question of law, which this Court reviews de
novo, when jurisdictional facts are not in dispute. Investors Title Ins. Co. v. Herzig,
2010 ND 138, ¶ 57, 785 N.W.2d 863. Issues involving subject matter jurisdiction
cannot be waived and can be raised sua sponte at any time. Garaas v. Cass County
Joint Water Resource Dist., 2016 ND 148, ¶ 4, 883 N.W.2d 436. “For subject-matter
jurisdiction to attach, the particular issue to be determined must be properly brought
before the court in the particular proceeding.” Id. at ¶ 5 (quoting Albrecht v. Metro
Area Ambulance, 1998 ND 132, ¶ 11, 580 N.W.2d 583). A court may not consider an
action whenever it appears the court lacks jurisdiction on the subject matter. Id.;
Herzig, at ¶ 57 (“For a court to issue a valid order or judgment, the court must have
jurisdiction over both the subject-matter of the action and the parties.”)
[¶24] Here, the court raised the absence of subject-matter jurisdiction in its
memorandum order. The court found Munson did not specifically raise the issue of
enforcing the Amended LLC Agreement in his complaint and that those issues were
pending in the Delaware Chancery Court. Based on the record, we agree that the
issues relating to the Amended LLC Agreement were not raised to the district court.
The court properly determined it did not have subject matter jurisdiction over issues
surrounding the LLC Member Agreement.
VI
1
Although it is not the issue before us, we note that generally non-compete
agreements are against North Dakota public policy. See Osborne v. Brown & Saenger,
Inc., 2017 ND 288, ¶ 13, 904 N.W.2d 34. Notwithstanding the ongoing case in the
Delaware Chancery Court, provisions of the Amended LLC Agreement that violate
North Dakota’s statute regulating non-compete agreements could be properly raised
at a later time. See N.D.C.C. § 9-08-06 (amended by 2019 N.D. Sess. Laws ch. 87
(H.B. 1351)).
8
[¶25] We conclude that Munson’s purchase of IAH Units is an exempt transaction
under the North Dakota Securities Act. We affirm the judgment.
[¶26] Gerald W. VandeWalle, C.J.
Jon J. Jensen
Jerod E. Tufte
Daniel J. Crothers
Lisa Fair McEvers
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