Kantsevoy v. Lumenr LLC (301 F. Supp. 3d 577, 2018)

Ellen Lipton Hollander, United States District Judge

Sergey Kantsevoy, M.D., a gastroenterologist, has sued LumenR LLC ("LumenR"), a medical device company, for breach of contract and related claims stemming from Kantsevoy's work in product development for LumenR. ECF 1 (Complaint). LumenR has asserted counterclaims for breach of contract, tortious interference with business relations, and related claims. ECF 12 (Answer and Counterclaims).

Since suit was filed in February 2017, the parties have engaged in the proverbial scorched-earth style of litigation, requiring resolution of numerous discovery disputes and the filing of thousands of pages of vitriolic submissions. Ten motions and cross-motions are pending. This Memorandum Opinion addresses three of them. The first two are cross-motions for judgment on the pleadings under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(c). ECF 25; ECF 27. LumenR filed its motion first, seeking to dismiss five of Kantsevoy's six claims. ECF 25. The motion is supported by a memorandum of law (ECF 25-1) (collectively, the "LumenR Motion"), and one exhibit. Kantsevoy opposes the LumenR Motion. ECF 26 ("Kantsevoy Opposition"). LumenR replied ("LumenR Reply").

Thereafter, Kantsevoy filed his motion for judgment on the pleadings, seeking to dismiss LumenR's counterclaim for deceit; strike LumenR's affirmative defenses of deceit and promissory estoppel; and strike from LumenR's pleadings "all allegations regarding Dr. Kantsevoy's financial disclosures to third parties." ECF 27. The motion is supported by a memorandum of law (ECF 27-1) (collectively, the "Kantsevoy Motion") and two exhibits. LumenR opposes the Kantsevoy Motion. ECF 29 ("LumenR Opposition"). Kantsevoy replied. ECF 30 ("Kantsevoy Reply").

The third motion addressed in this Memorandum Opinion is LumenR's Motion for Leave to Amend Its Answer, Affirmative Defenses and Counterclaims. ECF 120 ("Motion to Amend"). The Motion to Amend seeks to add a fifth counterclaim, styled "Breach of Contract-Third Party Beneficiary." ECF 120-2 (proposed Amended Answer and Counterclaims) at 20. Kantsevoy opposes the Motion to Amend. ECF 144. LumenR replied. ECF 158.

No hearing is necessary to resolve these three motions. See Local Rule 105.6. For the reasons that follow, I shall deny the Motion to Amend. And, I shall grant the LumenR Motion and the Kantsevoy Motion in part and deny each in part.

I. Factual Background

Given the procedural posture of this case, I must assume the truth of all factual allegations in the Complaint. See E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. v. Kolon Indus., Inc. , 637 F.3d 435, 440 (4th Cir. 2011). Because both parties have filed motions for judgment on the pleadings under Rule 12(c), I shall include the factual allegations in Kantsevoy's Complaint as well as LumenR's Answer and Counterclaims, noting where they conflict. Additionally, where relevant facts are contained in exhibits incorporated into the pleadings (discussed, infra ), I shall refer to those exhibits, as well.

In 2009, LumenR was founded by Gregory Piskun, M.D. ECF 1, ¶ 9. The company focused on developing a medical device that would aid in surgery to remove cancerous lesions and tumors from the colon, stomach, and esophagus. Id. The device is called the LumenR Tissue Retractor System ("Tissue Retractor"). Id. In May 2010, Piskun approached Kantsevoy at a convention to discuss the Tissue Retractor, and Kantsevoy said that the device could be useful. Id. ¶¶ 10-11.

Kantsevoy describes himself as "an internationally known gastroenterologist," practicing at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore. ECF 1, ¶ 4. He claims that on June 12, 2010, Piskun "invited Dr. Kantsevoy to formally join the [LumenR] development team." Id. ¶ 12. Kantsevoy alleges that Piskun made an "offer" that "included a promise to pay Dr. Kantsevoy the lesser of $500 per hour or $2500 per day for his consulting services." Id. Kantsevoy insists that the "offer" "also included a promise to 'create an equity ownership package' " for Kantsevoy, by which "[t]he parties understood that LumenR would provide Dr. Kantsevoy a reasonable equity package [in LumenR], the precise amount of which would be mutually and reasonably agreed upon later." Id. Kantsevoy alleges that he "accepted the offer that day," and the next day "Dr. Piskun acknowledged in writing that Dr. Kantsevoy accepted the offer to work for LumenR." Id.

LumenR alleges a somewhat different story. LumenR agrees that Piskun and Kantsevoy met in May 2010, but alleges that in June, Piskun "sent an email to Kantsevoy inquiring regarding Kantsevoy's interest in consulting on the LumenR project." ECF 12, ¶ 9. The email, dated June 12, 2010, stated, ECF 25-2:

Sergey-Thank you, It is an honor to get you involved. Let's start by introducing the technology to you?

If this is acceptable to you we would compensate your consulting time with $500/hour and $2500/day if need to spend a day on the company's business (meetings, labs, clinical studies, etc.) If it happens that you really [sic] excited about the technology and believe in its future, we can create an equity ownership package which may be a very substantial exit for you.

Please let me know your thoughts. If you prefer to talk on the phone please don't hesitate to call me at [REDACTED].

Best Regards,

Greg

Kantsevoy replied: "Yes, I am interested. We can discuss more details by e-mail or by phone-both way [sic] are good for me. Sergey". ECF 25-2. LumenR asserts that there were "no further communications on the topic of Kantsevoy's potential consulting arrangement until nearly a year later." ECF 12, ¶ 9.

LumenR claims that when Kantsevoy and Piskun met again in June 2011, Kantsevoy expressed interest in the Tissue Retractor. Id. ¶ 10. LumenR alleges that in September 2011, Piskun and Kantsevoy executed an agreement as to a different project, concerning the "HET" project ("HET Agreement"), not associated with LumenR, but also supervised by Piskun. Id. ¶ 11. The HET Agreement specified that Kantsevoy would receive $500 for each product evaluation form he submitted and a $2,000 honorarium for any speaking engagement he attended on behalf of the HET project. Id. The HET Agreement also provided equity compensation to Kantsevoy of 50,000 shares. Id. In addition, the HET Agreement contained a confidentiality provision and a requirement that Kantsevoy assign to HET any intellectual property rights obtained in the course of the HET project. Id.

According to LumenR, Piskun's email forwarding the HET Agreement stated that "we will create the identical agreement for LumenR when ready to execute." Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). LumenR asserts that Kantsevoy executed the HET Agreement, but then later asked to rescind it. Id. Although the HET Agreement was rescinded on an unspecified date, LumenR alleges that Kantsevoy still wished to consult for LumenR on the Tissue Retractor, and Kantsevoy suggested lowering his per diem rate to $2,000. Id. ¶ 12.

LumenR maintains that when LumenR's patent application for the Tissue Retractor was filed, at an unspecified time, Kantsevoy was named as a co-inventor, but he assigned all his rights in the product to a corporation called "Macroplata, Inc.," and his rights were subsequently assigned to LumenR. Id. ¶ 16. Kantsevoy states that he signed away his intellectual property rights, "for a symbolic fee of $1 and 'other good and valuable consideration,' " which Kantsevoy alleges was understood to include an " 'equity ownership package' " in LumenR. ECF 1, ¶ 18.

According to LumenR, between February 2012 and November 2013, Kantsevoy conducted several tests of the Tissue Retractor on animals and received seven payments from LumenR at his per diem rate. ECF 12, ¶ 17. Further, LumenR maintains that Kantsevoy "expressed interest in conducting human clinical trials" with the Tissue Retractor, but that he "insisted on not being compensated by LumenR as this would allow him to publish peer reviewed articles, and participate in seminars and speaking engagements while being free of financial conflicts of interest." Id. ¶ 18.

LumenR alleges that it "agreed to have Kantsevoy self-sponsor clinical work," and "support[ed] Kantsevoy's efforts" with sample devices, technical support, and selective reimbursements. Id. ¶ 19. In "exchange" for this support, Kantsevoy was expected to "provide copies of the completed clinical trial data sheets to LumenR and to publish the results of his work." Id. LumenR alleges that Kantsevoy never provided the clinical trial data sheets. Id. Further, LumenR insists that throughout Kantsevoy's clinical work, Kantsevoy continually "represented to LumenR, to peer reviewed publications, to professional organizations and...to the [Institutional Review Board] of Mercy Hospital, that Kantsevoy had no relevant financial disclosures and no financial conflicts." Id. ¶ 20. LumenR

asserts that it believed these representations to be true. Id.

Only in April of 2016, LumenR maintains, did Kantsevoy begin ''making unwarranted, unjustified and highly unethical demands for substantial retroactive payment, including company equity." Id. ¶ 21. LumenR contends that it attempted to negotiate a contract with Kantsevoy, but Kantsevoy repeatedly "escalat[ed] his demands." Id. ¶ 22.

For his part, Kantsevoy asserts that he "invested time and effort into marketing the Tissue Retractor," in addition to publishing an academic paper describing his animal testing and making 36 presentations about the technology. ECF 1, ¶ 19. He contends that he "would not have exerted such substantial efforts had he not been promised 'an equity ownership package' in the Tissue Retractor." Id.

In addition, Kantsevoy alleges that he was not paid for his work in accordance with the June 2010 "agreement," but was instead underpaid. Id. ¶ 21. In particular, he asserts that he was paid only for ten workshops, and for only eight of 21 animal experiments he conducted. Id. Plaintiff also alleges that when LumenR paid him for the eight experiments, "it underpaid Dr. Kantsevoy by $500 each time." Id. Further, plaintiff contends that he has not been paid for other substantial contributions, and that he was not fully reimbursed for travel costs. Id.

Notably, Kantsevoy asserts that during the working relationship, Piskun "repeatedly assured him that LumenR would adequately compensate Dr. Kantsevoy for his time and efforts." Id. ¶ 13. Kantsevoy cites two occasions, in 2015 and 2016, on which Piskun "confirmed that Dr. Kantsevoy would be provided an equity stake in LumenR," but that "the exact value of that interest would have to wait for the sale of the technology." Id. Since that time, however, Kantsevoy alleges that Piskun and LumenR have "disavowed" their "repeated offers of an equity stake in the company and, instead, proposed to compensate Dr. Kantsevoy in the form of vague promises that [another company] would fund Dr. Kantsevoy's future research or sponsor his scientific conferences." Id. ¶ 23.

In contrast, LumenR asserts that Kantsevoy threatened to " 'destroy' LumenR to his professional colleagues" if his demands were not met, and further threatened to destroy or compromise the data he had collected during his clinical trials. ECF 12, ¶ 25. LumenR alleges that Kantsevoy in fact carried out one of his threats by removing the Tissue Retractor from a previously announced showcase, thereby "casting the product in an unjustified negative light." Id. ¶ 26.

Finally, LumenR contends that from July 2016 to November 2016, after Kantsevoy discovered that LumenR was in talks with a third party about selling the rights to the Tissue Restractor, Kantsevoy disparaged LumenR to one or more employees of that third party and claimed that he had an interest in the company, so as to discourage the third party from completing the purchase. Id. ¶ 27. Kantsevoy alleges that the third party, Boston Scientific Corporation ("BSC"), purchased the rights to the Tissue Retractor for approximately $40 million. ECF 1, ¶ 25. However, LumenR asserts that "Kantsevoy's interference with [BSC] diminished the value" of the ultimate sale. ECF 12, ¶ 28.

This suit followed in February 2017. ECF 1. Additional facts are included in the Discussion.

II. Motion to Amend

A.

As noted, suit was filed in February 2017. LumenR initially answered Kantsevoy's Complaint and counterclaimed on February 28, 2017. ECF 12. The Court issued a Scheduling Order on March 23, 2017. ECF 23. It set a deadline of May 24, 2017, for joinder of additional parties and amendment of pleadings. Id. at 1. A deadline of October 23, 2017, was set for completion of discovery, and the dispositive pretrial motions deadline was set for November 20, 2017. Id. at 2.

On July 18, 2017, at the parties' request (ECF 45), the Court modified the Scheduling Order, extending various deadlines for expert disclosures, and extending the discovery deadline until November 15, 2017. ECF 47. At the eleventh hour, on the last day of discovery, the parties moved to extend discovery until December 1, 2017, and to extend the deadline for dispositive pretrial motions from November 20, 2017, until December 6, 2017. ECF 97. This request was also granted. ECF 98. Finally, on December 8, 2017, the parties moved to extend retroactively the discovery deadline by one day, to allow for the completion of their last deposition. ECF 118. The Court granted this motion. ECF 119.

LumenR moved to amend its Answer and Counterclaims on December 12, 2017. ECF 120. That motion was filed ten days after the close of the discovery period that had been extended three times, six days after the deadline for dispositive motions, and about six months beyond the deadline for amendment of pleadings. In particular, LumenR seeks to add a counterclaim for Breach of Contract-Third Party Beneficiary. ECF 120-2 at 20-21.

The proposed counterclaim alleges that Kantsevoy breached a contract by refusing to release to LumenR the data he collected in his human clinical trials. Id. The "contract," however, is alleged to be an informed consent form that Kantsevoy provided to the subjects of his clinical trial. ECF 120-2, ¶ 42. The consent form stated, inter alia , that "Mercy Medical Center and/or its outside partners in this research will own these data." Id. ¶ 43. LumenR alleges that it was the only "outside partner" involved in the research and therefore, according to the consent form, it owns the data. Id. ¶ 45. Although LumenR was not a party to the consent form, it claims that it was a third-party beneficiary to the agreement, and therefore it can enforce the clause of the consent form against Kantsevoy. ECF 120-1 at 2.

In Kantsevoy's opposition to the Motion to Amend (ECF 144), he points out that LumenR did not move to amend its pleadings until long after the deadline of May 24, 2017, that this Court set for doing so (see ECF 23), and he argues that LumenR's belated amendment fails Fed. R. Civ. P. 16's "good cause" standard for modifying a scheduling order. ECF 144 at 18. Kantsevoy asserts that "LumenR's counsel knew all the facts necessary to bring [the new counterclaim] long before the deadline," but declined to do so until after the close of discovery and the pretrial motions deadline. Id. at 19-20. Kantsevoy further contends that allowing the amendment will prejudice him, as he would have no opportunity to conduct further discovery regarding the new claim. Id. at 20. In the alternative, Kantsevoy argues that the Court should deny leave to amend under Fed. R. Civ. P. 15, because the amendment is futile and would cause undue prejudice to Kantsevoy. Id. at 22-30.

In its defense, LumenR asserts that "the relevant facts were not fully known by LumenR until well after the deadline of May 24, 2017 had passed." ECF 120-1 at 1. In particular, LumenR cites the deposition of a representative of Mercy Medical Center, taken on July 19, 2017; the deposition of Kantsevoy himself, taken on November 11, 2017; and the deposition of Kantsevoy's expert, taken on December 2, 2017, as confirming that "no other 'outside partners' other than LumenR were involved in the clinical trial of the LumenR device." Id. at 2. Thus, LumenR maintains that the counterclaim "was not fully developed by LumenR until nearly the close of discovery." ECF 158 at 7.

B.

A complaint may be amended "once as a matter of course" within twenty-one days of service of a defendant's answer or Rule 12(b), (e), or (f) motion, "whichever is earlier." Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(1). "In all other cases, a party may amend its pleading only with the opposing party's written consent or the court's leave." Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(2). However, the court "should freely give leave when justice so requires." Id.

At this juncture, however, LumenR must do more than satisfy the liberal standard for amendments set forth in Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a). When, as here, a party seeks to amend a pleading after the expiration of a deadline set forth in a scheduling order, Rule 16(b)(4) is implicated. Rule 16(b)(4) states that a scheduling order may be modified to amend a pleading "only for good cause and with the judge's consent."

LumenR must first meet the requirements of Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b)(4). "[A]fter the deadlines provided by a scheduling order have passed, the good cause standard must be satisfied to justify leave to amend the pleadings." Nourison Rug Corp. v. Parvizian , 535 F.3d 295, 298 (4th Cir. 2008) ; see also Cook v. Howard , 484 Fed.Appx. 805, 814-15 (4th Cir. 2012) (per curiam)("[U]nder Rule 16(b)(4), a party must first demonstrate 'good cause' to modify the scheduling order deadlines, before also satisfying the Rule 15(a)(2) standard for amendment."); Humane Soc'y of the U.S. v. Nat'l Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, DKC-13-1822, 2016 WL 3668028, at *2 (D. Md. July 11, 2016) (hereinafter, " Humane Society ") ("Plaintiffs must do more than satisfy the liberal standard of Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a) ; they must first meet the mandates of Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b)(4)...."); Elat v. Ngoubene , 993 F.Supp.2d 497, 519-20 (Bankr. D. Md. 2014) (applying a two-prong test under Rules 16(b)(4) and 15(a) in analyzing an untimely motion for leave to amend).

The "burden for demonstrating good cause rests on the moving party." United States v. Hartford Accident & Indemnity Co. , JKB-14-2148, 2016 WL 386218, at *5 (D. Md. Feb. 2, 2016). In order to demonstrate good cause, the party seeking relief must " 'show that the deadlines cannot reasonably be met despite the party's diligence,' and whatever other factors are also considered, 'the good-cause standard will not be satisfied if the [district] court concludes that the party seeking relief (or that party's attorney) has not acted diligently in compliance with the schedule.' " Cook , 484 Fed.Appx. at 815 (alterations in Cook ) (quoting 6A Charles Allen Wright & Arthur R. Miller, Federal Practice & Procedure § 1522.2 (3d ed. 2010) ).

In determining whether the moving party has met its burden to show good cause, a court may consider "whether the moving party acted in good faith, the length of the delay and its effects, and whether the delay will prejudice the non-moving party." Elat , 993 F.Supp.2d at 520 (citing Tawwaab v. Va. Linen Serv., Inc. , 729 F.Supp.2d 757, 768-69 (Bankr. D. Md. 2010) ). If the movant " 'was not diligent, the inquiry should end.' " Rassoull v. Maximus, Inc. , 209 F.R.D. 372, 374 (D. Md. 2002) (quoting Marcum v. Zimmer , 163 F.R.D. 250, 254 (S.D.W. Va. 1995) ) (emphasis omitted); see, e.g. , CBX Techs., Inc. v. GCC Techs., LLC , JKB-10-2112, 2012 WL 3038639, at *4 (D. Md. July 24, 2012) (denying motion to amend the complaint because the plaintiff's "failure to anticipate" its needs was "of its own doing and not the fault of any other entity"), aff'd , 533 Fed.Appx. 182 (4th Cir. 2013) (per curiam).

Of relevance here, when a movant fails to satisfy Rule 16(b), the court need not consider Rule 15(a). In Nourison , 535 F.3d at 299, the Fourth Circuit said: "Because we sustain the District Court's application of Rule 16(b), there is no cause for us to address the Court's finding that amendment would be futile, which is a Rule 15(a) consideration." See also Humane Society , 2016 WL 3668028, at *6 ("Because Plaintiffs lack good cause for modifying the scheduling order under Rule 16(b), their remaining arguments in support of leave to amend under Rule 15 need not be considered."); Marcum , 163 F.R.D. at 254 ("[T]he focus of the inquiry is upon the moving party's reasons for seeking modification. If that party was not diligent, the inquiry should end." (quoting Johnson v. Mammoth Recreations, Inc. , 975 F.2d 604, 609 (9th Cir. 1992) )).

If the movant shows good cause for modification of the scheduling order, the inquiry shifts to Rule 15(a). Rule 15(a)(2) states: "[A] party may amend its pleading only with the opposing party's written consent or the court's leave. The court should freely give leave when justice so requires." See also Foman v. Davis , 371 U.S. 178, 182, 83 S.Ct. 227, 9 L.Ed.2d 222 (1962) ; Simmons v. United Mortg. & Loan Inv., LLC , 634 F.3d 754, 769 (4th Cir. 2011). Under Rule 15(a), the district court has "broad discretion concerning motions to amend pleadings." Booth v. Maryland , 337 Fed.Appx. 301, 312 (4th Cir. 2009) (per curiam); see also Foman , 371 U.S. at 182, 83 S.Ct. 227 ; Laber v. Harvey , 438 F.3d 404, 426-29 (4th Cir. 2006) (en banc). A district court may deny a motion to amend for reasons " 'such as undue delay, bad faith or dilatory motive on the part of the movant, repeated failure to cure deficiencies by amendments previously allowed, undue prejudice to the opposing party by virtue of allowance of the amendment or futility of the amendment.' " Booth , 337 Fed.Appx. at 312 (quoting Foman , 371 U.S. at 182, 83 S.Ct. 227 ).

Rule 16(b)(4) may appear at odds with Rule 15(a)(2). The Fourth Circuit explained in Nourison , 535 F.3d at 298 :

There is tension within the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure between Rule 15(a) and Rule 16(b)....Rule 15(a) provides that leave to amend "shall be freely given when justice so requires." A motion to amend should be denied only where it would be prejudicial, there has been bad faith, or the amendment would be futile. HCMF Corp. v. Allen , 238 F.3d 273, 276-77 (4th Cir. 2001). On the other hand, Rule 16(b) provides that "a schedule shall not be modified except upon a showing of good cause and by leave of the district judge."

* * *

Given their heavy case loads, district courts require the effective case management tools provided by Rule 16.

With this framework, I turn to analyze the rules as they apply here.

C.

In its Motion to Amend, LumenR merely gestures at the "good cause" standard of Rule 16(b). It states, ECF 120-1 at 3: "Here, there can be no real question that good cause exists to move the Court to permit LumenR to amend its Answer after the scheduling order deadline has passed because, as stated above, the relevant facts were not fully developed until late in 2017." LumenR then moves on to discuss the more liberal standard of Rule 15(a). Id.

Kantsevoy responds, emphasizing that " Rule 16 does not allow parties to sit back until their claims are fully proven; rather, it requires them to take action as soon as they have notice of the facts necessary to assert a claim." ECF 144 at 21. According to Kantsevoy, LumenR "knew all the facts necessary to assert it proposed contract claim by the February 28, 2017 filing of its original counterclaims. Id. at 19.

Indeed, LumenR admits in its reply that it "had knowledge of the language of the informed consent forms at this earlier time." ECF 158 at 7. Still, LumenR contends that because the claim was not "fully developed" until "nearly the close of discovery," good cause exists to grant leave to amend. Id.

I agree with Kantsevoy. By all accounts, LumenR was aware of the "core operative facts" of its proposed counterclaim before the deadline to amend the pleadings had passed, and "the fact that [LumenR] may not have had sufficient evidence to prove [its] claim before the deadline for the amendment of pleadings had no bearing on his ability to plead [its] claim in a timely manner." Crouch v. City of Hyattsville, Md. , DKC-09-2544, 2012 WL 718849, at *2-3 (D. Md. Mar. 5, 2012) (emphasis added) (internal quotation marks omitted). This suggests a lack of diligence on LumenR's part, and diligence is the focus of the Rule 16(b) inquiry. Marcum , 163 F.R.D. at 254.

LumenR discusses the "good cause" standard more thoroughly in its reply (ECF 158), but it offers little in the way of justification for its tardiness. It asserts that "although LumenR had been aware of the informed consent form at the time of the deadline to amend the pleadings, it was not until its deposition of Mercy on July 19, 2017, when Mercy disclaimed any ownership in the clinical trial data, that LumenR first appreciated the potential counterclaim." Id. at 9.

This statement works against LumenR's ultimate goal in two ways. First, the fact that LumenR had not previously "appreciated" its potential counterclaim, despite having knowledge of the document that purportedly gave rise to it, does not support its claim of diligence. "Courts in the Fourth Circuit deny leave to amend a complaint past the deadline established by a scheduling order where the moving party has been careless in developing his claims or where he has failed to satisfactorily account for his failure to do so." Tawwaab , 729 F.Supp.2d at 769.

Second, and perhaps more important, July 19, 2017, was almost five months prior to the filing of the Motion to Amend on December 12, 2017. If, following the deposition on July 19, 2017, LumenR finally "appreciated" its potential counterclaim, it has not adequately explained why it waited five months before moving to amend. Rather, it contends that its delay is justified by its eventual confirmation in November 2017 that there were no other "outside partners" involved in the research, and by information obtained from Kantsevoy's expert, Dr. Paresh Shah, on December 2, 2017. ECF 158 at 9. At that time, LumenR learned that Dr. Shah "would not view Kantsevoy, an employee of Mercy, as being an 'outside partner' of Mercy." Id. LumenR does not explain why the opinion of its opposing party's expert on this question was the final element LumenR needed to plausibly plead its counterclaim.

There is an important difference between modifying the Court's Scheduling Order shortly after the deadline to amend the pleadings has passed, and modifying it some six months later, after the close of discovery and the deadline to submit dispositive pretrial motions. See Crouch , 2012 WL 718849, at *2 n.4 ("Permitting Plaintiff to amend his complaint at this point in the proceedings would require not only that the deadline for the amendment of pleadings be modified, but likely that other deadlines be modified as well to accommodate additional discovery concerning any new claims."); see also Brown v. Target, Inc. , ELH-14-0950, 2016 WL 4443872, at *7-8 (D. Md. Aug. 18, 2016) (denying leave to amend where plaintiff should have known of a new claim at least two months earlier, but only sought to add the claim after the close of discovery).

I conclude that LumenR has failed to show good cause under Rule 16(b) to modify the Scheduling Order. Therefore, I need not consider the propriety of amendment under Rule 15(a). Accordingly, I shall deny the Motion to Amend. ECF 120.

III. Motions for Judgment on the Pleadings

A. Legal Standard

LumenR and Kantsevoy have moved for judgment on the pleadings pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(c). A Rule 12(c) motion "for judgment on the pleadings" may be filed "[a]fter the pleadings are closed," so long as it is "early enough not to delay trial." Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(c). Under Rule 12(h)(2)(B), a party may assert "[f]ailure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted" in a Rule 12(c) motion. Such a motion is "assessed under the same standard that applies to a Rule 12(b)(6) motion." Walker v. Kelly , 589 F.3d 127, 139 (4th Cir. 2009) (citing Edwards v. City of Goldsboro , 178 F.3d 231, 243 (4th Cir. 1999) ); see also McBurney v. Cuccinelli , 616 F.3d 393, 408 (4th Cir. 2010), aff'd sub nom. McBurney v. Youg, 569 U.S. 221 (2013).

A party may test the legal sufficiency of a complaint or counterclaim by way of a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6). In re Birmingham , 846 F.3d 88, 92 (4th Cir. 2017) ; Goines v. Valley Cmty. Servs. Bd. , 822 F.3d 159, 165-66 (4th Cir. 2016) ; McBurney , 616 F.3d at 408; Edwards, 178 F.3d at 243. A Rule 12(b)(6) motion constitutes an assertion by a defendant that, even if the facts alleged by a plaintiff are true, the complaint fails as a matter of law "to state a claim upon which relief can be granted."

Whether a complaint states a claim for relief is assessed by reference to the pleading requirements of Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2), which provides that a complaint must contain a "short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief." The purpose of the rule is to provide the defendants with "fair notice" of the claims and the "grounds" for entitlement to relief. Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly , 550 U.S. 544, 555-56, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).

To survive a motion under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6), a complaint must contain facts sufficient to "state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face." Id. at 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955 ; see Ashcroft v. Iqbal , 556 U.S. 662, 684, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) ("Our decision in Twombly expounded the pleading standard for 'all civil actions'...." (citation omitted) ); see also Willner v. Dimon , 849 F.3d 93, 112 (4th Cir. 2017). But, a plaintiff need not include "detailed factual allegations" in order to satisfy Rule 8(a)(2). Twombly , 550 U.S. at 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955. Moreover, federal pleading rules "do not countenance dismissal of a complaint for imperfect statement of the legal theory supporting the claim asserted." Johnson v. City of Shelby , Miss. , --- U.S. ----, 135 S.Ct. 346, 346, 190 L.Ed.2d 309 (2014) (per curiam).

Nevertheless, the rule demands more than bald accusations or mere speculation. Twombly , 550 U.S. at 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955 ; see Painter's Mill Grille, LLC v. Brown , 716 F.3d 342, 350 (4th Cir. 2013). If a complaint provides no more than "labels and conclusions" or "a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action," it is insufficient. Twombly , 550 U.S. at 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955. Rather, to satisfy the minimal requirements of Rule 8(a)(2), the complaint must set forth "enough factual matter (taken as true) to suggest" a cognizable cause of action, "even if...[the] actual proof of those facts is improbable and...recovery is very remote and unlikely." Id. at 556, 127 S.Ct. 1955 (citation and internal quotations marks omitted).

In reviewing a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, a court "must accept as true all of the factual allegations contained in the complaint" and must "draw all reasonable inferences [from those facts] in favor of the plaintiff." E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. , 637 F.3d at 440 (citations and internal quotation marks omitted); see Semenova v. Md. Transit Admin. , 845 F.3d 564, 567 (4th Cir. 2017) ; Houck v. Substitute Tr. Servs., Inc. , 791 F.3d 473, 484 (4th Cir. 2015) ; Kendall v. Balcerzak , 650 F.3d 515, 522 (4th Cir. 2011), cert. denied , 565 U.S. 943, 132 S.Ct. 402, 181 L.Ed.2d 257 (2011). But, a court is not required to accept legal conclusions drawn from the facts. See Papasan v. Allain , 478 U.S. 265, 286, 106 S.Ct. 2932, 92 L.Ed.2d 209 (1986). "A court decides whether [the pleading] standard is met by separating the legal conclusions from the factual allegations, assuming the truth of only the factual allegations, and then determining whether those allegations allow the court to reasonably infer" that the plaintiff is entitled to the legal remedy sought. A Society Without a Name v. Virginia , 655 F.3d 342, 346 (4th. Cir. 2011), cert. denied , 566 U.S. 937, 132 S.Ct. 1960, 182 L.Ed.2d 772 (2012).

B. Exhibits

Under limited circumstances, when resolving a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, a court may consider documents beyond the complaint without converting the motion to dismiss to one for summary judgment. Goldfarb v. Mayor & City Council of Baltimore , 791 F.3d 500, 508 (4th Cir. 2015).

"Generally, when a defendant moves to dismiss a complaint under Rule 12(b)(6), courts are limited to considering the sufficiency of allegations set forth in the complaint and the 'documents attached or incorporated into the complaint.' " Zak v. Chelsea Therapeutics Int'l, Ltd. , 780 F.3d 597, 606 (4th Cir. 2015) (quoting E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. , 637 F.3d at 448 ). In particular, a court may properly consider documents that are "explicitly incorporated into the complaint by reference and those attached to the complaint as exhibits." Goines , 822 F.3d at 166 (citation omitted); see also U.S. ex rel. Oberg v. Pa. Higher Educ. Assistance Agency , 745 F.3d 131, 136 (4th Cir. 2014) ; Anand v. Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC , 754 F.3d 195, 198 (4th Cir. 2014) ; Am. Chiropractic Ass'n v. Trigon Healthcare, Inc. , 367 F.3d 212, 234 (4th Cir. 2004), cert. denied , 543 U.S. 979, 125 S.Ct. 479, 160 L.Ed.2d 356 (2004) ; Phillips v. LCI Int'l Inc. , 190 F.3d 609, 618 (4th Cir. 1999).

However, "before treating the contents of an attached or incorporated document as true, the district court should consider the nature of the document and why the plaintiff attached it." Goines , 822 F.3d at 167 (citing N. Ind. Gun & Outdoor Shows, Inc. v. City of S. Bend , 163 F.3d 449, 455 (7th Cir. 1998) ). Of import here, "[w]hen the plaintiff attaches or incorporates a document upon which his claim is based, or when the complaint otherwise shows that the plaintiff has adopted the contents of the document, crediting the document over conflicting allegations in the complaint is proper." Goines , 822 F.3d at 167. Conversely, "where the plaintiff attaches or incorporates a document for purposes other than the truthfulness of the document, it is inappropriate to treat the contents of that document as true." Id.

Kantsevoy did not attach any exhibits to his Complaint, and LumenR did not attach any exhibits to its Answer and Counterclaims. However, both parties submitted exhibits with their motions for judgment on the pleadings. LumenR attached an email exchange between Piskun and Kantsevoy, dated June 12, 2010. ECF 25-2 at 2 ("June 12, 2010 Email"). Kantsevoy attached two exhibits to the Kantsevoy Motion: a copy of the HET Agreement (ECF 27-3), and an email from Piskun to Kantsevoy, dated September 1, 2011, discussing Kantsevoy's proposed compensation with regard to the HET Agreement. ECF 27-4. Kantsevoy also attached the September 1, 2011 email and the HET Agreement to the Kantsevoy Opposition. ECF 26-1, ECF 26-2. LumenR attached a different email from Piskun to Kantsevoy, dated June 14, 2011, to the LumenR Reply. ECF 28-1. That email pertains to an earlier draft of the HET Agreement. Kantsevoy attached an article, published in connection with his clinical trials of the HET technology, to the Kantsevoy Reply. ECF 30-1.

In my view, the June 12, 2010 Email (ECF 25-2) is incorporated into both the Complaint and the Answer and Counterclaims, because it is referenced repeatedly, and it appears to be the basis of the Complaint. See, e.g. , ECF 1, ¶ 1; ECF 12, ¶ 9. Likewise, I regard the HET Agreement (ECF 27-3) as incorporated by reference into LumenR's Answer and Counterclaims. See, e.g. , ECF 12, ¶ 11. And, the email of June 14, 2011, at ECF 28-1, is also incorporated into LumenR's Answer and Counterclaims. See ECF 12, ¶ 11.

I consider the other exhibits-the September 11, 2011 email, at ECF 27-4, and Kantsevoy's published article, at ECF 30-1-to be submitted as evidence, rather than as documents foundational to the Complaint. As such, they are inappropriate to consider in connection with a motion to dismiss. See Zak , 780 F.3d at 606 ("Consideration of extrinsic documents by a court during the pleading stage of litigation improperly converts the motion to dismiss into a motion for summary judgment.").

C. Choice of Law

Jurisdiction is founded on diversity of citizenship. ECF 1, ¶ 6. Both parties assume, without discussion, that Maryland law applies. See ECF 25-1 at 8; ECF 27-1 at 12. "When choosing the applicable state substantive law while exercising diversity or supplemental jurisdiction, a federal district court applies the choice of law rules of the forum state." Ground Zero Museum Workshop v. Wilson , 813 F.Supp.2d 678, 696 (D. Md. 2011) ; see also Colgan Air, Inc. v. Raytheon Aircraft Co. , 507 F.3d 270, 275 (4th Cir. 2007) (per curiam); Baker v. Antwerpen Motorcars Ltd. , 807 F.Supp.2d 386, 389 n. 13 (D. Md. 2011). Maryland is, of course, the forum state.

As to contract claims, Maryland applies the law of the state in which the contract was formed ("lex loci contractus "), unless the parties to the contract agreed to be bound by the law of another state. See, e.g., Am. Motorists Ins. Co. v. ARTRA Group, Inc. , 338 Md. 560, 573, 659 A.2d 1295, 1301 (1995) ; TIG Ins. Co. v. Monongahela Power Co. , 209 Md. App. 146, 161, 58 A.3d 497, 507 (2012), aff'd , 437 Md. 372, 86 A.3d 1245 (2014). Kantsevoy alleges that he entered into the contract while in Maryland. ECF 1, ¶ 8. Although LumenR disputes the allegation that a contract was ever formed, it does not dispute the application of Maryland law. See ECF 12, ¶¶ 4-5. Therefore, I shall apply Maryland law.

D. Principles of Contract Construction

Because both parties allege claims founded in contracts, it is helpful to review the principles of contract formation and contract interpretation under Maryland law.

In general, a contract is defined as "a promise or set of promises for breach of which the law gives a remedy, or the performance of which the law in some way recognizes as a duty." Richard A. Lord, 1 Williston on Contracts § 1:1, at 2-3 (4th ed. 1990) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Restatement (Second) Contracts § 1, (1981)) ; see also Maslow v. Vanguri , 168 Md. App. 298, 321, 896 A.2d 408, 421-22 (2006), cert. denied , 393 Md. 478, 903 A.2d 416 (2006). " 'A contract is formed when an unrevoked offer made by one person is accepted by another.' " County Comm'rs for Carroll County v. Forty W. Builders, Inc. , 178 Md. App. 328, 377, 941 A.2d 1181, 1209 (2008) (quoting Prince George's County v. Silverman , 58 Md. App. 41, 57, 472 A.2d 104, 112 (1984) ). Thus, mutual assent is an integral component of every contract. See, e.g. , Cochran v. Norkunas , 398 Md. 1, 14, 919 A.2d 700, 708 (2007) ; Advance Telecom Process LLC v. DSFederal, Inc. , 224 Md. App. 164, 177, 119 A.3d 175, 183 (2015).

"In determining whether there was an enforceable contract, [courts] began [the] analysis by discussing the essential prerequisite of mutual assent to the formation of a contract...." Falls Garden Condo. Ass'n, Inc. v. Falls Homeowners Ass'n, Inc. , 441 Md. 290, 302, 107 A.3d 1183, 1189 (2015) ;see also Mitchell v. AARP , 140 Md. App. 102, 116, 779 A.2d 1061, 1069 (2001) ("An essential element with respect to the formation of a contract is 'a manifestation of agreement or mutual assent by the parties to the terms thereof; in other words, to establish a contract the minds of the parties must be in agreement as to its terms.' " (citations omitted) ). "Manifestation of mutual assent includes two issues: (1) intent to be bound, and (2) definiteness of terms." Cochran , 398 Md. at 14, 919 A.2d at 708.

A contract may be oral or written, as well as express or implied. " 'An express contract has been defined as an actual agreement of the parties, the terms of which are openly uttered or declared at the time of making it, being stated in distinct and explicit language, either orally or in writing.' " Maryland Cas. Co. v. Blackstone Int'l Ltd. , 442 Md. 685, 706, 114 A.3d 676, 688 (2015) (quoting Cnty. Comm'rs of Caroline Cnty. v. J. Roland Dashiell & Sons, Inc. , 358 Md. 83, 94, 747 A.2d 600, 606 (2000) ). Whether oral or written, a contract must express with certainty the nature and extent of the parties' obligations and the essential terms of the agreement. Forty W. Builders, Inc. , 178 Md. App. at 377-78, 941 A.2d at 1209-10 ; see Canaras v. Lift Truck Servs. , 272 Md. 337, 346, 322 A.2d 866, 871 (1974). If an agreement omits an important term, or is otherwise too vague or indefinite with respect to an essential term, it is not enforceable. Mogavero v. Silverstein , 142 Md. App. 259, 272, 790 A.2d 43, 50-51 (2002) ; see L & L Corp. v. Ammendale Normal Inst. , 248 Md. 380, 385, 236 A.2d 734, 737 (1968) ; Schloss v. Davis , 213 Md. 119, 123, 131 A.2d 287, 290 (1957) (stating that a "contract may be so vague and uncertain as to price or amount as to be unenforceable").

Under Maryland law, the interpretation of a contract is "ordinarily a question of law for the court." Grimes v. Gouldmann , 232 Md. App. 230, 235, 157 A.3d 331, 334-35 (2017) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted); see also Spacesaver Sys., Inc. v. Adam , 440 Md. 1, 7, 98 A.3d 264, 268 (2014) ; Myers v. Kayhoe , 391 Md. 188, 198, 892 A.2d 520, 526 (2006) ; Towson Univ. v. Conte , 384 Md. 68, 78, 862 A.2d 941, 946 (2004) ; Lema v. Bank of Am. N.A. , 375 Md. 625, 641, 826 A.2d 504, 513 (2003) ; Under Armour, Inc. v. Ziger/Snead, LLP , 232 Md. App. 548, 552, 158 A.3d 1134, 1136 (2017). This includes the determination of whether a contract is ambiguous.

Sy-Lene of Wash., Inc. v. Starwood Urban Retail II, LLC , 376 Md. 157, 163, 829 A.2d 540, 544 (2003).

" 'The cardinal rule of contract interpretation is to give effect to the parties' intentions.' " Dumbarton Imp. Ass'n Inc. v. Druid Ridge Cemetery Co. , 434 Md. 37, 51, 73 A.3d 224, 232 (2013) (alteration omitted) (quoting Tomran, Inc. v. Passano , 391 Md. 1, 14, 891 A.2d 336, 344 (2006) ). To determine the parties' intentions, courts look first to the written language of the contract. Walton v. Mariner Health of Maryland, Inc. , 391 Md. 643, 660, 894 A.2d 584, 594 (2006) ("Generally, when seeking to interpret the meaning of a contract our search is limited to the four corners of the agreement."); Hartford Acc. & Indem. Co. v. Scarlett Harbor Assoc. Ltd. P'ship , 109 Md. App. 217, 291, 674 A.2d 106, 142 (1996) ("[T]he court must, as its first step, determine from the language of the agreement what a reasonable person in the position of the parties would have meant at the time the agreement was effectuated."), aff'd, 346 Md. 122, 695 A.2d 153 (1997).

"Maryland courts interpreting written contracts have long abided by the law of objective contract interpretation, which specifies that 'clear and unambiguous language' in an agreement 'will not give way to what the parties thought the agreement meant or was intended to mean.' " Urban Growth Prop. Ltd. P'ship v. One W. Baltimore St. Assocs. LLC , No. 882, Sept. Term, 2015, 2017 WL 526559, at *5 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. Feb. 9, 2017) (citation omitted) (unpublished); see Cochran , 398 Md. at 16, 919 A.2d at 709 ; Huggins v. Huggins & Harrison, Inc. , 220 Md. App. 405, 417, 103 A.3d 1133, 1139 (2014). The court's "task, therefore, when interpreting a contract, is not to discern the actual mindset of the parties at the time of the agreement." Dumbarton , 434 Md. at 52, 73 A.3d at 232. Rather, the court is to " 'determine from the language of the agreement itself what a reasonable person in the position of the parties would have meant at the time it was effectuated.' " Id. (quoting Gen. Motors Acceptance v. Daniels, 303 Md. 254, 261, 492 A.2d 1306, 1310 (1985) ).

As indicated, to determine the parties' intentions, courts first look to the written language of the contract. See Walton , 391 Md. at 660, 894 A.2d at 594. " 'The words employed in the contract are to be given their ordinary and usual meaning, in light of the context within which they are employed.' " DIRECTV, Inc. v. Mattingly , 376 Md. 302, 313, 829 A.2d 626, 632-33 (2003) (citations omitted). A court will presume that the parties meant what they stated in an unambiguous contract, without regard to what the parties to the contract personally thought it meant or intended it to mean. See Dumbarton , 434 Md. at 51-52, 73 A.3d at 232 ; Dennis v. Fire & Police Employees' Ret. Sys. , 390 Md. 639, 656-57, 890 A.2d 737, 747 (2006) ; PaineWebber Inc. v. East , 363 Md. 408, 414, 768 A.2d 1029, 1032 (2001) ; see also, e.g. , Scarlett Harbor, 109 Md. App. at 291, 674 A.2d at 142 ("Where the language of a contract is clear, there is no room for construction; it must be presumed that the parties meant what they expressed.").

Moreover, a court will not "add or delete words to achieve a meaning not otherwise evident from a fair reading of the language used." Brendsel v. Winchester Constr. Co. , 392 Md. 601, 623, 898 A.2d 472, 485 (2006). Indeed, "[i]t is a fundamental principle of contract law that it is 'improper for the court to rewrite the terms of a contract, or draw a new contract for the parties, when the terms thereof are clear and unambiguous, simply to avoid hardships.' " Calomiris v. Woods , 353 Md. 425, 445, 727 A.2d 358, 368 (1999) (quoting Canaras v. Lift Truck Servs. , 272 Md. 337, 350, 322 A.2d 866, 873 (1974) ); see Loudin Ins. Agency, Inc. v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co. , 966 F.2d 1443 (Table), 1992 WL 145269, at *5 (4th Cir. 1992) (per curiam) (applying West Virginia law and stating that the court ''will not rewrite the parties' contract simply because one party is no longer satisfied with the bargain he struck.").

Under Maryland law, the elements of a claim for breach of contract are " 'contractual obligation, breach, and damages.' " Tucker v. Specialized Loan Servicing, LLC , 83 F.Supp.3d 635, 655 (Bankr. D. Md. 2015) (quoting Kumar v. Dhanda, 198 Md. App. 337, 17 A.3d 744, 749 (2011) ). To "prevail in an action for breach of contract, a plaintiff must prove that the defendant owed the plaintiff a contractual obligation and that the defendant breached that obligation." Taylor v. NationsBank, N.A. , 365 Md. 166, 175, 776 A.2d 645, 651 (2001) ; accord Belyakov v. Med. Sci. & Computing , 86 F.Supp.3d 430, 437 (D. Md. 2015) ; see also RRC Northeast, LLC v. BAA Maryland, Inc. , 413 Md. 638, 658, 994 A.2d 430, 442 (2010). In other words, "[i]t is the parties' agreement that ultimately determines whether there has been a breach." Mathis v. Hargrove , 166 Md. App. 286, 318-19, 888 A.2d 377, 396 (2005).

In Polek v. J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. , 424 Md. 333, 362, 36 A.3d 399, 416 (2012), the Maryland Court of Appeals said: "Maryland law requires that a plaintiff alleging a breach of contract 'must of necessity allege with certainty and definiteness facts showing a contractual obligation owed by the defendant to the plaintiff and a breach of that obligation by defendant.' " (citation omitted) (emphasis in Polek ); see also Robinson v. GEO Licensing Co., L.L.C. , 173 F.Supp.2d 419, 423 (D. Md. 2001).

IV. LumenR Motion

A. Overview of Kantsevoy's Claims

As discussed, Kantsevoy alleges that he formed a contract with LumenR on June 12, 2010. On that date, Piskun, on behalf of LumenR, emailed an "offer" to Kantsevoy promising daily or hourly compensation and " 'an equity ownership package' providing 'a very substantial exit.' " ECF 1, ¶ 27. And, Kantsevoy alleges that he "accepted that offer immediately and performed fully under the contract." Id. ¶ 28. According to Kantsevoy, LumenR (through Piskun) reaffirmed its intention to grant Kantsevoy an equity package on multiple occasions. Id. ¶ 13. As a result of this agreement, and in reliance on the expectation of cash and equity, Kantsevoy allegedly dedicated his time and expertise to improving and promoting the medical device. Id. ¶ 16-17.

Kantsevoy further asserts that LumenR failed to compensate him properly, both by reducing or refusing to pay him the agreed-upon consulting fees, and by reneging on its promise of an equity interest in LumenR. Id. ¶¶ 21-23. Therefore, Kantsevoy demands "all the fees" promised in the June 12, 2010 Email, reimbursement for all expenses that he incurred on behalf of LumenR, and " 'an equity ownership package' (or equivalent consideration) commensurate with his contributions to the company's success." Id. ¶ 31.

The LumenR Motion does not dispute the allegations underlying the alleged "breach." Instead, LumenR argues that no contract was formed because, rather than constituting a definite offer, Piskun's June 12, 2010 Email was merely an "invitation to engage in a future negotiation." ECF 25-1 at 9. As noted, the June 12, 2010 Email stated, ECF 25-2:

Sergey-Thank you, It is an honor to get you involved. Let's start by introducing the technology to you?

If this is acceptable to you we would compensate your consulting time with $500/hour and $2500/day if need to spend a day on the company's business (meetings, labs, clinical studies, etc.) If it happens that you really excited about the technology and believe in its future, we can create an equity ownership package which may be a very substantial exit for you.

Please let me know your thoughts. If you prefer to talk on the phone please don't hesitate to call me at [REDACTED].

Best Regards,

Greg

And, Kantsevoy responded, id. : "Yes, I am interested. We can discuss more details by e-mail or by phone-both way [sic] are good for me. Sergey."

According to LumenR, this exchange did not create "an enforceable promise." ECF 25-1 at 8. LumenR asserts that material terms are missing from the exchange, such as the terms of the "equity ownership package." Id. at 10. Thus, LumenR maintains that Kantsevoy's allegations do not state a claim for breach of express contract (id. ), breach of implied-in-fact contract (id. at 10-11), or promissory estoppel. Id. at 12-13. Likewise, LumenR argues that because the June 12, 2010 Email contains no "false representation," Kantsevoy cannot state a claim for deceit or negligent misrepresentation, either. Id. at 13-16.

This basic framework of allegations-a promise made, work done, a promise broken-underlies all six of Kantsevoy's claims against LumenR. And, LumenR's argument for dismissal-no promise was made-underlies each part of the LumenR Motion. All of the claims rest on the same logic. I shall divide the discussion of Kantsevoy's claims into two parts: (1) his claim for monetary compensation of $500 per hour or $2,500 per day, and (2) his claim for an "equity ownership package."

B. Elements of Kantsevoy's Claims

As indicated, LumenR has moved to dismiss Counts I, II, IV, V, and VI of Kantsevoy's Complaint. ECF 25. These counts allege Breach of Express Contract (Count I), Breach of Implied-In-Fact Contract (Count II), Promissory Estoppel (Count IV), Deceit (Count V), and Negligent Misrepresentation (Count VI). See ECF 1. LumenR does not move to dismiss Kantsevoy's Count III, for Breach of Implied-In-Law Contract, i.e. , unjust enrichment.

Before discussing the specifics of these claims, it is helpful to define each of them.

1. Contract-Based Claims

The Maryland Court of Appeals has amply explained the distinctions between an "express contract," a "contract implied-in-fact," and a "contract implied-in-law," as well as the elements of a claim for "promissory estoppel."

"An express contract has been defined as an actual agreement of the parties, the terms of which are openly uttered or declared at the time of making it, being stated in distinct and explicit language, either orally or in writing." Maryland Cas. Co. , 442 Md. at 706, 114 A.3d at 688 (2015) (quoting Dashiell , 358 Md. at 94, 747 A.2d at 606 ).

Kantsevoy's other contract claims are at least loosely based in the doctrine of quantum meruit, although neither party uses the term. "The Latin term quantum meruit means 'as much as deserved.' " Mogavero , 142 Md. App. at 274, 790 A.2d at 51 (quoting Black's Law Dictionary 1243 (6th ed. 1990) ); see also Blanton v. Friedberg , 819 F.2d 489, 492 (4th Cir. 1987) (construing South Carolina law and stating: " 'The impact of quantum meruit is to allow a promisee to recover the value of services he gave to the defendant irrespective of whether he would have lost money on the contract and been unable to recover in a suit on the contract.' ") (citation omitted); Swedish Civil Aviation Admin. v. Project Management Enterprises, Inc. , 190 F.Supp.2d 785, 793 (D. Md. 2002) (" 'By its term, quantum meruit is a method of obtaining a reasonable value for services' ") (quoting First Union Nat'l Bank v. Meyer, Faller, Weisman, & Rosenberg, P.C. , 125 Md. App. 1, 23, 723 A.2d 899 (1999) ) ('' 'By its terms, quantum meruit is a method of obtaining a reasonable value for services ...''' (Citation omitted)).

The Fourth Circuit explained in W.F. Magann Corp. v. Diamond Manufacturing Co. , 775 F.2d 1202, 1208 (4th Cir. 1985) ) (quoting 5 Corbin on Contracts § 1109) (construing South Carolina Law):

"One who has rendered a service or supplied work, labor and materials under a contract with another, but who has been wrongfully discharged or otherwise prevented from so fully performing as to earn the agreed compensation, may regard the contract as terminated and get judgment for the reasonable value of all that the defendant has received in performance of the contract....

The underlying purpose of allowing quantum meruit recovery is two-fold, i.e. to prevent the breaching party from being unjustly enriched and to restore the aggrieved party in the contract to the position he occupied prior to entry into the contract. Quantum meruit merely seeks to return to the plaintiff the reasonable value of the services and goods provided to the defendant.

Under Maryland law, a claim for quantum meruit may be based on a contract implied in fact or a contract implied by law, which is often referred to as unjust enrichment. The Fourth Circuit explained in Sanders v. Mueller , 133 Fed.Appx. 37, 42 n.3 (4th Cir. 2005) : "Maryland law distinguishes between two types of quantum meruit claims, one based on an implied-in-fact contract (usually designated as quantum meruit) and the other based on an implied-in-law contract (usually designated as unjust enrichment)." See also Mogavero , 142 Md. App. at 274-75, 790 A.2d at 52. These terms have "distinct meanings." Dashiell , 358 Md. at 95 n.6, 747 A.2d at 606 n.6 ; see Alternatives Unlimited, Inc. v. New Baltimore City Board of School Comm'rs , 155 Md. App. 415, 480-82, 843 A.2d 252, 290-91 (2004) ; Mohiuddin v. Doctors Billing & Management Solutions, Inc. , 196 Md. App. 439, 447, 9 A.3d 859, 864 (2010).

A contract implied-in-fact, or an "implied contract," is "an agreement which legitimately can be inferred from intention of the parties as evidenced by the circumstances and the ordinary course of dealing and the common understanding of men." Dashiell , 358 Md. at 706, 747 A.2d at 606 (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). Maryland courts have said that an implied-in-fact contract arises when "specific services are requested by the defendant." Mogavero , 142 Md. App. at 281, 790 A.2d at 55. An implied-in-fact contract "is 'inferred from conduct of parties and arises where plaintiff, without being requested to do so, renders services under circumstances indicating that he expects to be paid therefore, and defendant, knowing such circumstances, avails himself of [the] benefit of those services.' " Dashiell , 358 Md. at 95 n.6, 747 A.2d at 606 n.6 (citation omitted). As noted, " 'The services must be rendered under such circumstances as to indicate that the person rendering them expected to be paid therefor, and that the recipient expected, or should have expected, to pay for them.' " Mogavero , 142 Md. App. at 277, 790 A.2d 43 (citation omitted). "Recovery on a contract implied in fact...is based on the amount that the parties intended as the contract price or, if that amount is unexpressed, the fair market value of the plaintiff's services." Id. at 276, 790 A.2d at 53.

An implied-in-fact contract " 'refers to that class of obligations which arises from mutual agreement and intent to promise , when the agreement and promise have simply not been expressed in words. Despite the fact that no words of promise or agreement have been used, such transactions are nevertheless true contracts , and may properly be called inferred contracts or contracts implied in fact.' " Mohiuddin , 196 Md. App. at 448, 9 A.3d at 865 (quoting Williston on Contracts § 1.5 (1990) ) (emphasis in Mohiuddin ); see also Dashiell , 358 Md. at 94, 747 A.2d at 606 ("An implied contract is an agreement which legitimately can be inferred from intention of the parties as evidenced by the circumstances and the ordinary course of dealing and the common understanding of men.") (internal quotation and citations omitted); Mogavero , 142 Md. App. at 275, 790 A.2d at 52 ("An implied-in-fact contract is a 'true contract' and 'means that the parties had a contract that can be seen in their conduct rather than in an explicit set of words.' "); Slick v. Reinecker , 154 Md. App. 312, 318, 839 A.2d 784, 787 (2003) (" 'The term implied in fact contract only means that the parties had a contract that can be seen in their conduct rather than in an explicit set of words.' ") (alterations omitted) (quoting Mass Transit Admin. v. Granite Construction Co. , 57 Md. App. 766, 774, 471 A.2d 1121 (1984) )); Mogavero , 142 Md.App. at 275, 790 A.2d at 52 (''An implied-in-fact contract is a 'true contract' and 'means that the parties had a contract that can be seen in their conduct rather than in an explicit set of words.'''). Am implied-in-fact contact is proven by circumstantial evidence. Slick , 154 MdApp. at 318, 839 A.2d at 787.

In contrast to express and implied-in-fact contracts, a contract implied-in-law, also known as a "quasi-contract" or unjust enrichment, is a "[l]egal fiction invented by common law courts to permit recovery by contractual remedy in cases where, in fact, there is no contract, but where circumstances are such that justice warrants a recovery as though there had been a promise." Maryland Cas. Co. , 442 Md. at 707, 114 A.3d at 689 (emphasis and citations omitted); see Mohiuddin , 196 Md. App. at 449, 9 A.3d at 865 (quoting Restatement (Second) of Contracts, § 4 (1981) ); accord Dashiell , 358 Md. at 95 n.6, 747 A.2d at 606 n.6 ("A contract implied by law is now what commonly is called quasi-contract...."); Mohiuddin , 196 Md.App. at 449, 9 A.3d at 865. However, " 'unlike true contracts, quasi-contracts are not based on the apparent intention of the parties to undertake the performances in question, nor are they promises. They are obligations created by law for reasons of justice. ' " Mohiuddin , 196 Md. App. at 449, 9 A.3d at 865 (citation omitted) (emphasis in Mohiuddin ).

Thus, ''[i]n Maryland, a claim of unjust enrichment, which is a quasi-contract claim, may not be brought where the subject matter of the claim is covered by an express contract between the parties." Janusz v. Gilliam , 404 Md. 524, 537, 947 A.2d 560, 567 (2008) (citation and Internal quotation marks omitted); Dashiell , 358 Md. at 101, 747 A.2d at 610 ("We hold that, generally, quasi-contract claims such as quantum meruit and unjust enrichment cannot be asserted when an express contract defining the rights and remedies of the parties exists."); see also FLF, Inc. v. World Publications, Inc. , 999 F.Supp. 640, 642 (D. Md. 1998) ("It is settled law in Maryland, and elsewhere, that a claim for unjust enrichment may not be brought where the subject matter of the claim is covered by an express contract between the parties."). Accordingly, "[t]he measure of damages in an unjust enrichment claim is the value of the goods or services rendered by the plaintiff in the hands of the defendant." Maryland Cas. Co. , 442 Md. at 709, 114 A.3d at 690 (citing Mogavero , 142 Md. App. at 276, 790 A.2d at 53 ).

In Dolan v