Citations
- 350 F. Supp. 3d 143
Full opinion text
KIYO A. MATSUMOTO, United States District Judge Plaintiff Uni-Systems, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company ("Uni-Systems") commenced this action on January 11, 2017 against defendants United States Tennis Association, Inc., a not-for-profit incorporated in New York ("USTA"); Rossetti Inc., a Michigan Corporation, ("Rossetti"); Hunt Construction Group, Inc., and Indiana corporation, ("Hunt"); Hardesty & Hanover, LLC, a Delaware limited liability corporation; Hardesty & Hanover, LLP, a New York limited liability corporation (together, "Hardesty & Hanover"); Morgan Engineering Systems, Inc. ("Morgan"), and Ohio Corporation; and Geiger Engineers, P.C. ("Geiger"), a New York professional corporation (collectively, "Defendants"). (See ECF No. 1, Complaint ("Compl.").) The Complaint alleged infringement by all defendants of two Uni-Systems patents, U.S. Patent No. 6,789,360 (the "Retention Mechanism patent") and U.S. Patent No. 7,594,360 (the "Lateral Release patent"), in connection with defendants' roles as either owner, architect, engineer, designer, or builder of the retractable roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows, New York (the "Ashe Retractable Roof") and Hunt's role in sending out bid notifications for a retractable roof to be built over the Louis Armstrong Stadium that appeared to infringe Uni-System's intellectual property. (Id. ¶¶ 42-84.) The Complaint also alleged trade secret misappropriation by Hunt and Hardesty & Hanover under the Federal Defend Trade Secrets Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1836 et seq., and New York common law, as well as unfair competition, based on Hunt and Hardesty & Hanover's alleged misappropriation of Uni-Systems' trade secrets and other confidential and proprietary information. (Id. ¶¶ 85-117.)
On October 20, 2017, Plaintiff moved to amend the complaint. (See ECF No. 151, Motion to Amend the Complaint; 151-2, First Amended Complaint ("Amended Complaint" or "FAC").) The Amended Complaint alleges eight separate causes of action against the named defendants except where stated: Count I - infringement of the Retention Mechanism patent at Arthur Ashe Stadium; Count II - Infringement of the Lateral Release patent at Arthur Ashe Stadium; Count III - infringement of the Lateral Release patent at Louis Armstrong Stadium, against USTA, Hunt, Rossetti, Morgan and Geiger; Count IV - federal misappropriation of trade secrets under 18 U.S.C. § 1836, against Hardesty & Hanover and Hunt; Count V - New York misappropriation of trade secrets, against Hardesty & Hanover and Hunt; Count VI New York unfair competition, against Hardesty & Hanover & Hunt; Count VII breach of contract against Hunt for breach of the Subcontract regarding the Arizona Cardinals Stadium Retractable Roof and Count VIII breach of contract against Hardesty & Hanover for breach of the confidentiality agreement for the Florida Marlins Stadium peer review.
The Amended Complaint pleads three additional claims for relief based on the additional facts discovered by plaintiff during discovery:
(1) a claim for patent infringement of the Lateral Release patent at the new Louis Armstrong Stadium, (see FAC ¶¶ 152-169); (2) a claim for breach of the Subcontract Agreement between Hunt and Uni-Systems at Cardinals Stadium, (see FAC ¶¶ 205-214); and (3) a claim for breach of the Confidentiality Agreement governing Hardesty & Hanover's peer review of the Marlins Ballpark retractable roof, (see FAC ¶¶ 215-223).
(ECF No. 151-1, Pl. Mem. Supp. Mot. to Amend Compl. at 10.) The Amended Complaint also adds three new parties: Matthew L. Rossetti Architect, P.C. ("Matthew Rossetti P.C."), a New York professional corporation and an entity related to existing Defendant Rossetti, Inc., as well as Morgan Kinetic Structures, Inc. ("Morgan Kinetic") and Morgan Automation, Inc. ("Morgan Automation"), both Ohio corporations and divisions of Defendant Morgan. (See FAC ¶¶ 3, 6.)
On October 24, 2018, the court held a pre-motion conference where the parties agreed that plaintiff's Motion to Amend the Complaint would be evaluated using the Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) standard for a motion to dismiss. On November 17, 2017, defendants opposed plaintiff's Motion to Amend and moved to dismiss the existing and proposed First Amended Complaint ("Amended Complaint" or "FAC"). Briefing on plaintiff's motion to amend and defendants' motions to dismiss was completed on January 19, 2018.
BACKGROUND
The well-pleaded factual allegations in the proposed First Amended Complaint are taken as true for purposes of deciding defendants' motions pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6), and determining whether plaintiff, Uni-Systems, shall be granted leave to amend the Complaint. See Roth v. Jennings , 489 F.3d 499, 501 (2d Cir. 2007).
Uni-Systems describes itself as the, "leading designer of retractable roof systems in the United States" and has designed and implemented retractable roof systems for major stadiums including Minute Maid Ballpark and Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas; Marlins Ballpark in Miami, Florida; Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana; Cowboys Stadium near Dallas, Texas; and University of Phoenix (Cardinals) Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (FAC ¶ 12).
In connection with its retractable roof designs, Uni-Systems developed valuable intellectual property including " U.S. Patent Nos. 6,789,360 ("the Retention Mechanism patent") and 7,594,360 ("the Lateral Release patent"), and trade secrets in at least nine categories that were incorporated in the Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong retractable roofs. (See FAC ¶¶ 13-30.) Uni-Systems made a significant investment of money and time for the research, development and testing of systems for the retractable roofs. (Id. ¶¶ 11-12.)
In January 2015, Hunt retained Uni-Systems to "design, fabricate, and install" the retractable roof at the Arizona Cardinals Stadium, and the Arizona Cardinals retained Uni-Systems to maintain and repair the retractable roof, once it was installed. (Id. ¶ 57.) For the duration of the project, Uni-Systems took careful measures to protect the confidentiality of its "software, mechanization design principles and criteria, methods for implementing the same using engineered solutions, and other information." (Id. ¶ 198.) Uni-Systems did this by limiting access to confidential information and requiring its customers and clients to sign confidentiality agreements that prohibited "unauthorized access, use, and disclosure" of the confidential information. (Id. )
Hunt was the general contractor on a number of projects Uni-Systems worked on as the "sole supplier of retractable roof services," but after years of working together, Hunt informed Uni-Systems that it was seeking to establish a second supplier. (Id. ¶¶ 31-34, 52-55.) In order to establish Hardesty & Hanover as a viable competitor with Uni-Systems, beginning in or around 2009, Hardesty & Hanover allegedly conspired with Hunt to misappropriate Uni-Systems' "trade secret and confidential and proprietary software, mechanization design principles and criteria." Hardesty & Hanover was retained to conduct a peer review for the Florida Marlins Ballpark roof, and to provide maintenance services for the Cardinals Retractable Roof, in order to obtain plaintiff's highly valuable trade secrets and proprietary information in violation of state and federal law. (Id. ¶¶ 32-71, 170-204.) Hardesty & Hanover was inexperienced in designing retractable roofs for stadiums at the time. (Id. ¶ 32.) Hunt and Hardesty & Hanover's misappropriation also constituted breaches of their respective contracts with Uni-Systems. (FAC ¶¶ 205-23.)
In or around 2011, Uni-Systems discovered that USTA intended to construct a retractable roof for Arthur Ashe Stadium and had hired Hunt to serve as the designer-builder. (Id. ¶¶ 72-73.) Hunt contracted with Matthew Rossetti P.C., for the design and to serve as the official project architect for the Ashe Retractable Roof. Hunt also contracted with Morgan Kinetic to supply roof mechanization design and construction services for the Ashe Retractable Roof. (Id. ¶¶ 72-75.) Morgan Kinetic was a division of Morgan Engineering, and Morgan Engineering also worked as a Hunt subcontractor, "provid[ing] design build services to engineer and fabricate the Ashe Retractable Roof." (Id. ¶ 75.) Geiger was the mechanization engineer for Matthew Rossetti P.C., a role in which it assisted with the engineering development, prepared performance criteria for the retractable roof panels, and developed documentation, drawings, and specifications for use in the bidding process for the Ashe Retractable Roof. (Id. ¶ 76.) In 2012, USTA, Hunt, and Rossetti provided a specification for the Ashe Retractable Roof to Uni-Systems and requested an initial design proposal from competitors, including Hardesty & Hanover and Uni-Systems. (Id. ¶ 79.) Uni-Systems delivered a proposed a design and a price, and defendants asked Uni-Systems to complete the design, but for a fraction of Uni-Systems' typical fee. (Id. )
Hunt and Hardesty & Hanover misappropriated Uni-Systems trade secrets and infringed Uni-Systems patents to facilitate the design and building of the Ashe Retractable Roof, which was completed in August 2016, months after Uni-Systems had first notified the defendants of its intellectual property claims. (FAC ¶¶ 82-90, 125, 166.) Uni-Systems alleges, "the Ashe Retractable Roof infringes Uni-Systems' Retention Mechanism patent and its Lateral Release patent, and each of the defendants has committed infringing acts related to the Ashe Retractable Roof." (ECF No. 192-1, Uni-Systems Sealed Omnibus Reply at 18 ("Omnibus Reply") (citing FAC ¶¶ 86-90, 106-51).)
In addition to the Ashe Retractable Roof, a retractable roof was built on the Louis Armstrong Stadium on the USTA campus with the participation of the named defendants except for Hardesty & Hanover. (FAC ¶¶ 91-97.) Plaintiff alleges that the Armstrong Retractable Roof also infringes plaintiff's Lateral Release patent and utilizes misappropriated trade secrets. (Id. ¶¶ 98-105, 152-69.)
DISCUSSION
I. UNI-SYSTEMS HAS NOT ESTABLISHED THAT VENUE IS PROPER FOR THE MORGAN CORPORATIONS AND ROSSETTI, Inc.
As a preliminary matter, the court addresses whether venue is proper as to four of the named defendants.
A. Legal Standard
As prescribed by 28 U.S.C. § 1400(b)"Any civil action for patent infringement may be brought in the judicial district where the defendant resides, or where the defendant has committed acts of infringement and has a regular and established place of business." The Plaintiff bears the burden of establishing that venue is proper. See In re ZTE (USA) Inc., 890 F.3d 1008, 1013 (Fed. Cir. 2018) ; see also Cold Spring Harbor Lab. v. Ropes & Gray LLP , 762 F.Supp.2d 543, 551-52 (E.D.N.Y. 2011) (citation omitted) ("If the court chooses to rely on pleadings and affidavits, the plaintiff need only make a prima facie showing of [venue]."). Whether to dismiss an action for improper venue is within the district court's discretion. Cold Spring , 762 F.Supp.2d at 551 (citing Minnette v. Time Warner , 997 F.2d 1023, 1026 (2d Cir. 1993) ). However, "[i]n analyzing a claim of improper venue [at the pleading stage], a court must view all facts in the light most favorable to the plaintiff." Id. (citing Phillips v. Audio Active Ltd. , 494 F.3d 378, 384 (2d Cir. 2007) ).
B. The Morgan Corporations and Rossetti, Inc. Have Not Waived Their Venue Objections
Plaintiff has insufficiently pleaded that venue is proper in this district pursuant to 28 USC § 1400(b) with respect to Defendants Rossetti, Inc., Morgan Engineering, Morgan Kinetic and Morgan Automation, and unconvincingly argues that the aforementioned parties waived their objections to venue by either failing to raise it in their responsive pleadings prior to the instant Motion to Dismiss, or by actively litigating the case. The Morgan Corporations and Rossetti disagree and correctly rely on the Supreme Court's recent decision in TC Heartland LLC v. Kraft Foods Grp. Brands LLC , --- U.S. ----, 137 S.Ct. 1514, 197 L.Ed.2d 816 (2017), to establish that they did not waive venue, and that venue is improper as to the Morgan Corporations and Rossetti.
On May 22, 2017, the United States Supreme Court held that a domestic corporation defendant is a resident in its state of incorporation. TC Heartland LLC v. Kraft Foods Grp. Brands LLC , --- U.S. ----, 137 S.Ct. 1514, 1520-21, 197 L.Ed.2d 816 (2017). The Federal Circuit, applying TC Heartland to venue disputes has found, "There is no doubt after the decisions in TC Heartland and Fourco Glass Co. v. Transmirra Products Corp. , 353 U.S. 222, 77 S.Ct. 787, 1 L.Ed.2d 786 (1957), that a domestic corporation defendant is deemed to reside only in its state of incorporation." In re BigCommerce, Inc. , 890 F.3d 978, 981 (Fed. Cir. 2018) ; see also In Re Micron Tech, Inc., 875 F.3d 1091, 1099-1100 (Fed. Cir. 2017).
The Federal Circuit has held that the venue defense asserted by defendants in the instant case was not available prior to the Supreme Court's decision in TC Heartland and, therefore, waiver of the defense under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(g)(2) and (h)(1)(A) is precluded. In re Micron Tech., Inc. , 875 F.3d at 1094. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(h)(1) :
A party waives any defense listed in Rule 12(b)(2)-(5) by:
(A) omitting it from a motion in the circumstances described in Rule 12(g)(2) ; or
(B) failing to either:
(i) make it by motion under this rule; or
(ii) include it in a responsive pleading or in an amendment allowed by Rule 15(a)(1) as a matter of course.
Id. at 1096 (citing Fed. R. Civ. P. 12 ). Plaintiff argues that, regardless of any change in the law, the Morgan Corporations' and Rossetti Inc.'s actions in failing to originally contest venue and in actively litigating the lawsuit after the decision in TC Heartland give rise to a presumption of waiver. Plaintiff cites the absence of a venue defense in Morgan Engineering's and Rossetti's respective answers. (See ECF. No. 55, Morgan Engineering Answer and Countercl. ¶ 6; ECF. No. 58, Rossetti Inc. Answer and Countercl. ¶ 10.) However, at the time of the Supreme Court's TC Heartland Decision, Morgan Engineering and Rossetti were the only parties to the case that disputed venue and both parties promptly moved to dismiss based on improper venue, after the decision and in accordance with the Court's scheduling orders directing settlement discussions and an anticipated request to move to dismiss the Complaint. (See Text Only Docket Order dated May 2, 2017; see also ECF No. 111, Sealed Transcript of Proceedings Held September 6, 2017.)
Based on the foregoing, the court finds that there was no undue delay, and thus no waiver, of their venue defenses by Morgan Engineering and Rossetti Inc. in their answers to the original Complaint, prior to the change in law resulting from TC Heartland. See Dietz v. Bouldin, Inc. , --- U.S. ----, 136 S.Ct. 1885, 1893, 1897, 195 L.Ed.2d 161 (2016) (the discretion to find the venue defense forfeited must be exercised cautiously and with restraint). The Federal Circuit in In re Micron aptly noted that when the law bars the district court from adopting an argument to dismiss a case, requiring a party to assert the defense or risk waiving would improperly incentivize litigants to waste resources.
When a defense or objection is futile in the sense that the law bars the district court from adopting it to dismiss [a complaint], to require the assertion of the defense or objection in an initial motion to dismiss, on pain of waiver, would generally be to require the waste of resources, contrary to [Fed. R. Civ. P.] Rule 1.
In re Micron Tech , 875 F.3d at 1097. Consequently, the court declines to find waiver of the lack of venue defense.
Given plaintiff's Motion to Amend, in which it argues that any amendment will not prejudice defendants due to the early stage of the case, the court declines to find that plaintiff would be prejudiced by filing its claims against Morgan Engineering and Rossetti in the proper venues. (See ECF No. 151-1, Pl. Mem. Supp. Mot. to Amend Compl., at 10.) The court finds plaintiff's other arguments in support of finding waiver or forfeiture unavailing.
C. Additional Evidence is Needed to Determine Whether Venue Is Improper As to the Morgan and Rossetti, Inc. Defendants Under § 1400(b)
In any event, plaintiff has not met its burden to establish that venue in this district is proper as to defendants the Morgan Corporations and Rossetti Inc. See Cold Spring, 762 F.Supp.2d at 551-52. Plaintiff alleges that defendant Rossetti Inc. is incorporated in and has its principal place of business in Michigan, and that defendants the Morgan Corporations are incorporated under the laws of Ohio and have their principal places of business there. (See FAC ¶¶ 3, 6-7.) As venue is only proper in a judicial district where the corporation is incorporated or where the corporation has an established place of business, and defendants are incorporated elsewhere, plaintiff must adequately plead that defendants have an established place of business in this judicial district. See TC Heartland , 137 S.Ct. at 1517-18, 1521.
Plaintiff failed to plausibly allege any facts that the defendants have established places of business in New York.
Courts should ... be careful not to conflate showings that may be sufficient for other purposes, e.g. , personal jurisdiction or the general venue statute, with the necessary showing to establish proper venue in patent cases. As the district court correctly stated, "the regular and established place of business standard requires more than the minimum contacts necessary for establishing personal jurisdiction or for satisfying the doing business standard of the general venue provision, 28 U.S.C. § 1391(c)."
In re Cray Inc. , 871 F.3d 1355, 1361 (Fed. Cir. 2017).
Plaintiff's conclusory allegations that "[d]efendants maintained a regular and established place of business in this judicial district, [d]efendants have purposefully directed business to this judicial district for at least several years, and [d]efendants have committed acts of infringement in this judicial district" are insufficient to establish venue. (FAC ¶ 10.) Rather, plaintiff must show that each defendant that is incorporated outside of New York and thus entitled to challenge venue possesses (1) a physical place of business in the district; (2) that is regular and established; and (3) belongs to [each] defendant. See In re ZTE (USA) Inc. , 890 F.3d at 1014-15 (citing In re Cray Inc. , 871 F.3d at 1360 ). Plaintiff alleged no facts in the Amended Complaint establishing any of those factors.
In deciding a motion to dismiss pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(3) for improper venue, a court may consider evidence outside the pleadings, regarding proper venue. See Allied Dynamics Corp. v. Kennametal, Inc. , 965 F.Supp.2d 276, 298 (E.D.N.Y. 2013) (concluding that because, "there are disputed facts relevant to the venue determination in this case, the Court must hold an evidentiary hearing before resolving the pending Rule 12(b)(3) motion."). Uni-Systems' Reply Memorandum argues that the alleged "regular and established place of business" for Rossetti Inc. and the Morgan Corporations is the Arthur Ashe Stadium or the Louis Armstrong Stadium. (Omnibus Reply at 33-37.) Plaintiff alleges insufficient to show that either site was a regular and established place of business for the defendants challenging venue.
The Federal Circuit provided the following three factors for considering whether a corporation incorporated outside of a state has a regular and established place of business in the forum district: "(1) there must be a physical place in the district; (2) it must be a regular and established place of business; and (3) it must be the place of the defendant. If any statutory requirement is not satisfied, venue is improper under § 1400(b)." In re Cray , 871 F.3d at 1360. Plaintiff, relying on matters beyond the Complaint and FAC cites to multiple articles and websites to support its assertion that defendant Morgan Kinetic Structures maintains an office in the completed stadium and that Rossetti Inc. has touted decades of service as the USTA's master planner and architect. The cited articles are insufficient to show that Morgan Kinetic Structures and Rossetti, Inc. maintained a regular and established place of business in this district. (See ECF No. 193, Liddell Decl. Ex. A; ECF No. 196, Request for Judicial Notice ("RJN") Exs. C. and D.) Rossetti, Inc.'s promotion of the Arthur Ashe Stadium Construction site, Morgan's admissions that it conducted business activities at the Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium construction sites, and plaintiff's arguments regarding Morgan's office at Arthur Ashe Stadium for performing maintenance of the roof are insufficient to establish that the sites or dedicated spaces therein belong to the defendants. (Omnibus Reply at 37-38.) They show only that defendants provided services on site for the actual owners of the Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong Stadiums.
Plaintiff has failed to meet its burden to plausibly allege facts establishing that venue is proper as to Morgan Engineering, Morgan Kinetic Structures, Inc., Morgan Automation, Inc., and Rossetti Inc. However, as plaintiff has requested the opportunity to conduct limited venue-specific discovery and seeks an evidentiary hearing on venue, the court grants plaintiff limited discovery as to whether these defendants have an established place of business in the Eastern District of New York under the supervision of the magistrate judge assigned to this case. Allied Dynamics Corp. , 965 F.Supp.2d at 288 (citing Murphy v. Schneider Nat'l, Inc. , 362 F.3d 1133, 1139 (9th Cir. 2004) ) (stating that if there are disputed facts relevant to determining venue, the district court may exercise their discretion to determine whether to hold an evidentiary hearing to resolve the dispute). The motions of the Morgan defendants and Rossetti, Inc. to dismiss for improper venue are denied without prejudice to renew.
II. PATENT INFRINGEMENT, MISAPPROPRIATION OF TRADE SECRETS AND BREACH OF CONTRACT CLAIMS IN THE AMENDED COMPLAINT
A. Legal Standard
1. Leave to Amend
Leave to amend a pleading is typically "freely given" pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a), however, "the trial court [is] required to take into account any prejudice that might result to the party opposing the amendment." Ansam Assocs., Inc. v. Cola Petroleum, Ltd. , 760 F.2d 442, 446 (2d Cir. 1985) (citing Zenith Radio Corp. v. Hazeltine Research, Inc., 401 U.S. 321, 330-31, 91 S.Ct. 795, 28 L.Ed.2d 77 (1971) ) (internal quotation marks omitted) (denying motion to amend filed after the close of discovery and after a motion for summary judgment was filed, on the basis that it would be "especially prejudicial"). Moreover, under this liberal standard, district courts should not deny leave to amend except where as the court finds futility, bad faith, undue delay, or undue prejudice to the opposing party. See, e.g., Burch v. Pioneer Credit Recovery, Inc. , 551 F.3d 122, 126 (2d Cir. 2008) ; McCarthy v. Dun & Bradstreet Corp. , 482 F.3d 184, 200 (2d Cir. 2007) ; Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co. v. Aniero Concrete Co., Inc. , 404 F.3d 566, 603-04 (2d Cir. 2005).
2. Motion to Dismiss
In assessing whether the proposed amendments would be futile, this Court will apply a Rule 12(b)(6) standard in adjudicating the defendants' arguments in opposition to plaintiff's Motion to Amend, and in support of defendants' motions to dismiss the original complaint and the proposed First Amended Complaint, submitted with plaintiff's Motion to Amend. At a conference on October 24, 2017, the parties agreed that the court would simultaneously decide the plaintiff's motion to amend, defendants' opposition to the amendment, and their motion to dismiss the underlying complaint. (See Oct. 24, 2017 Tr. at 15:9-22.; Motion to Amend; FAC.)
In determining whether a motion to amend should be granted, the court may consider the same standards as those governing the adequacy of a filed pleading. See Ricciuti v. N.Y.C. Transit Auth. , 941 F.2d 119, 123 (2d Cir. 1991) ; Lucente v. Int'l Bus. Machines Corp. , 310 F.3d 243, 258 (2d Cir. 2002) (citation omitted) ("An amendment to a pleading is futile if the proposed claim could not withstand a motion to dismiss pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6).")
"To survive a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), a complaint must contain sufficient facts that if accepted as true 'state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.' " Ashcroft v. Iqbal , 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly , 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007) ). A well-pleaded complaint must contain "a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief, in order to give the defendant fair notice of what the ... claim is and the grounds upon which it rests." Carson Optical Inc. v. eBay Inc. , 202 F.Supp.3d 247, 252 (E.D.N.Y. 2016) (citing Twombly , 550 U.S. at 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955 ). A complaint providing only "labels and conclusions" or "a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do." Twombly , 550 U.S. at 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955.
A motion to dismiss "does not impose a probability requirement at the pleading stage; it simply calls for enough fact to raise a reasonable expectation that discovery will reveal evidence [to prove a claim]." Id. at 556, 127 S.Ct. 1955. In deciding a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), the court may refer to "documents attached to the complaint as an exhibit or incorporated in it by reference, to matters of which judicial notice may be taken, or to documents either in plaintiffs' possession or of which plaintiffs had knowledge and relied on in bringing suit." Brass v. Am. Film Tech., Inc. , 987 F.2d 142, 150 (2d Cir. 1993) (internal citations omitted); see also Chambers v. Time Warner, Inc., 282 F.3d 147, 153 (2d Cir. 2002) (internal emphasis and citation omitted) (clarifying that "reliance on the terms and effect of a document in drafting the complaint is a necessary prerequisite to the court's consideration of a document on a dismissal motion; mere notice of possession is not enough.").
B. The Patent Infringement Claims
1. Counts I and II Against All Defendants Regarding Arthur Ashe Stadium and Count III Against USTA, Hunt, Rossetti, Morgan and Geiger Regarding Armstrong Stadium
Subsection (a) of 35 U.S.C. § 271 governs direct infringement of patents and provides:
Except as otherwise provided in this title, whoever without authority makes, uses, offers to sell, or sells any patented invention, within the United States or imports into the United States any patented invention during the term of the patent therefor, infringes the patent.
Commil USA, LLC v. Cisco Sys., Inc. , --- U.S. ----, 135 S.Ct. 1920, 1926, 191 L.Ed.2d 883 (2015). "Under this form of liability, a defendant's mental state is irrelevant. Direct infringement is a strict-liability offense." Id. (citation omitted.) To sufficiently allege direct infringement of a patent, a party need not plead each element of the allegedly infringed claim; rather, drawing all reasonable inferences in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, "the plaintiff need only 'nudge' its claim 'across the line from conceivable to plausible.' " Crypto Research, LLC v. Assa Abloy, Inc. , 236 F.Supp.3d 671, 686 (E.D.N.Y. 2017) (quoting Iqbal , 556 U.S. at 680, 129 S.Ct. 1937 ).
The Federal Circuit has acknowledged that a complaint pleading facts supporting the following five factors contained in Form 18, a model patent complaint located in the Appendix to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, is likely to fulfill the plausibility requirements, though not all five are required to state a claim for relief:
(1) an allegation of jurisdiction; (2) a statement that the plaintiff owns the patent; (3) a statement that defendant has been infringing the patent 'by making, selling, and using [the device] embodying the patent'; (4) a statement that the plaintiff has given the defendant notice of its infringement; and (5) a demand for an injunction and damages.
In re Bill of Lading Transmission & Processing Sys. Patent Litig., 681 F.3d 1323, 1334 (Fed. Cir. 2012) (citation omitted).
Rossetti, Inc. and Rossetti PC, the Morgan Corporations, Geiger, Hunt, and Hardesty & Hanover argue that the patent infringement claims in Counts I-III of the First Amended Complaint fail because they rely on bare legal conclusions rather than alleging sufficient facts in support of Uni-Systems' claims of infringement. Accepting as true all of Uni-Systems' factual allegations, and considering them in the light most favorable to Uni-Systems, Uni-Systems' pleadings of direct patent infringement are sufficient, with regard to certain defendants, to state a claim upon which relief may be granted and place the parties "on notice of what activity ... is being accused of infringement." Lifetime Indus., Inc. v. Trim-Lok, Inc. , 869 F.3d 1372, 1379 (Fed. Cir. 2017) (citation omitted); see also In re Bill of Lading , 681 F.3d at 1340 (citation omitted) (explaining that a court must draw all reasonable inferences in favor of plaintiff on a motion to dismiss and, noting that "[n]othing in Twombly or its progeny allows a court to choose among competing inferences as long as there are sufficient facts alleged to render the non-movant's asserted inferences plausible."). Defendants attempt to read into the pleading requirements an additional requirement that the claims be likely to succeed - an approach which the Federal Circuit has rejected as premature at the motion to dismiss stage. See In re Bill of Lading , 681 F.3d at 1331-32, 1340.
As the Amended Complaint fulfills factors 1, 2, 4 and 5 in the In re Bill of Lading test with regards to Claims I, II and III, the analyses of the infringement claims against the individual defendants will focus on whether the Amended Complaint plausibly alleges facts regarding "(3) [ ] that defendant has been infringing the patent by making, selling, and using [the device] embodying the patent." In re Bill of Lading , 681 F.3d at 1334 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
a. Rossetti
Uni-Systems plausibly alleges that Rossetti, PC and Rossetti Inc. (collectively "Rossetti") infringed the Retention Mechanism patent at Arthur Ashe Stadium (Count I), infringed the Lateral Release patent at Arthur Ashe Stadium (Count II), and infringed the Lateral Release patent at Louis Armstrong Stadium (Count III). Rossetti argues that the Amended Complaint consist of legal conclusions and limited factual allegations that are insufficient to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.
Uni-Systems alleges that Rossetti P.C., was the lead designer and official project architect and worked with Rossetti Inc. to provide design and architectural services for the Ashe Stadium Retractable Roof and Louis Armstrong Stadium Retractable Roof. (See FAC ¶¶ 74, 77, 93, 135, 156.) Uni-Systems alleges that Rossetti and Geiger "reviewed and approved" the roof mechanization work for the Arthur Ashe Stadium that was completed by another defendant. (Id. ¶¶ 77, 86-88.)
Uni-Systems further alleges that despite being on notice of their alleged infringement, (Id. ¶¶ 102, 125-27, 148, 150, 166, 168), the Rossetti defendants continued to infringe the Retention Mechanism Patent by "making and using the Ashe Retractable Roof and/or controlling or directing one or more Defendants or third parties to make or use the Ashe Retractable Roof, which was completed, operational, and put into service as of August 2016," and thereafter constructed the Armstrong Retractable Roof using the infringing design. (Id. ¶¶ 112, 169.)
Rossetti argues that the allegations regarding "making" and "using" the Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong stadium roofs are legal conclusions, that allegations regarding defendant's titles and roles are not factual or entitled to a presumption of truth, and that "designing or drawing a device that ... might infringe a patent does not itself constitute infringement." (See ECF No. 187, Rossetti Opposition to the Motion to Amend ("Rossetti Opp'n") at 12 (citations omitted). )
An allegation of a defendant's roles, supported by sufficient facts, can place a defendant on notice of a claim and even be probative of a defendant's specific intent with regard to a finding of inducement. See Crypto Research , 236 F.Supp.3d at 687 (citing Ricoh Co. v. Quanta Computer Inc. , 550 F.3d 1325, 1343 (Fed. Cir. 2008) ) ("defendant's 'role as the designer and manufacturer of the [allegedly infringing devices] in question may evidence an intent sufficiently specific to support a finding of inducement.' "). But a mere allegation of title and role, without facts that describe defendants' actions in making, selling or using an infringing patent will not suffice. The mere drafting of designs for the accused retractable roofs at the Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong stadiums would be insufficient to sustain a claim that the Rossetti Defendants made, used or sold any patented invention. Rossetti argues that plaintiff has merely alleged the legal elements of a patent infringement claim under 35 U.S.C (Section 271(a). Rossetti further asserts that the drawings by the Rossetti defendants are expressions of an idea for a retractable roof design, but do not constitute "use" of any element, or the "making" of a retractable roof system. (ECF No. 187, Rossetti Opp'n at 10.)
Here, however, the allegations of Rossetti's continuing involvement in its role not only as an architect and designer, but also as a reviewer and approver or inspector of the mechanization work at Arthur Ashe and designer of the Louis Armstrong Stadium, combined with the detailed allegations regarding Rossetti's knowledge of infringement adequately state claims against the Rossetti defendants. See Waymark Corp. v. Porta Sys. Corp. , 245 F.3d 1364, 1366 (Fed. Cir. 2001) ("testing is a use of the invention that may infringe under [ 35 U.S.C.] § 271(a).").
Further, the bare repetition of the elements provided in 35 U.S.C. § 271(a), when coupled with Uni-Systems factual allegations, regarding Rossetti's role in designing, reviewing and approving Morgan's design and building services go beyond merely alleging the elements, labels and titles against the Rossetti defendants. (ECF No. 188, Rossetti Surreply at 5.) Viewed in the light most favorable to Uni-Systems, Uni-Systems allegations barely state a cognizable claim for direct patent infringement against Rossetti. Rossetti's motion to dismiss the allegations of direct infringement in Counts I, II and III is therefore denied.
b. The Morgan Corporations
Uni-Systems again alleges barely sufficient facts to plausibly state a claim for patent infringement against the Morgan Corporations as to Counts I, II, and III of the FAC. The Morgan Corporations contested venue, but did not substantively dispute the claims brought in the Amended Complaint. In the FAC, Uni-Systems alleges, inter alia , that, "as designer and builder of the Ashe Retractable Roof, Morgan has infringed the Lateral Release and Retention Mechanism patents under 35 U.S.C. § 271(a) by, among other things, offering for sale and selling a design to USTA, Hunt, and Rossetti that practices one or more claims of the [Lateral Release and] Retention Mechanism patent[s]." (FAC ¶¶ 120, 143, 161.) Morgan also allegedly sold components of the Ashe Retractable Roof that constituted a material part of the Lateral Release and Retention Mechanism patents with the knowledge that the components were, "were especially adapted for infringement of [each] patent and lacked a substantial non-infringing use." (Id. ¶¶ 120-2, 143-46.) Plaintiff makes similar allegations against the Morgan defendants regarding the Lateral Release Patent and the Morgan defendants use of the patent at Louis Armstrong Stadium, both with respect to Morgan's role as a designer and builder who allegedly sold a design that practices one or more claims of the Lateral Release patent and the sale of component parts specially adapted to infringe and without a substantial non-infringing use. (Id. at ¶¶ 161-63.)
Taken together, these facts satisfy prongs three and four of the In re Bill of Lading test, "(3) [ ] that defendant has been infringing the patent 'by making, selling, and using [the device] embodying the patent,' " and, "(4) [ ] that the plaintiff has given the defendant notice of its infringement." 681 F.3d at 1334. The allegation regarding sale of components supports the allegation of patent infringement by selling or offering for sale a design that incorporated claims of the Retention Mechanism patent and the Lateral Release patent. The Morgan Corporations' motion to dismiss the allegations of direct infringement in Counts I, II and III is, therefore, denied.
c. Geiger
Uni-Systems has alleged sufficient facts to state a claim for patent infringement against Geiger as to Counts I, II and III of the Amended Complaint. Uni-Systems alleges that Geiger, "served as mechanization engineer consultant and structural engineer, prepared performance criteria, developed documentation, drawings, and specifications, and reviewed fabrication and construction of the Ashe Retractable Roof.... [and] [was] an engineer of the Armstrong Retractable Roof." (Omnibus Reply at 42 (citing FAC ¶¶ 76, 95, 164).) In that role, Geiger "reviewed and approved" of the mechanization work for the Arthur Ashe Stadium that was conducted by Morgan, another defendant. In its role as an engineer for the Arthur Ashe Retractable Roof, Geiger allegedly "infringed and continues to infringe" the Retention Mechanism patent and the Lateral Release patent "by, among other things, making and using the Ashe Retractable Roof and/or controlling or directing one or more Defendants or third parties to make or use the Ashe Retractable Roof." (FAC ¶¶ 123, 146, 147.) Geiger is further alleged to have engineered the Armstrong Retractable Roof that infringed the Lateral Release patent in the Armstrong Retractable Roof, even after receiving notice of its infringing characteristic. (FAC ¶¶ 165-66, 168.)
Geiger argues that the Amended Complaint fails to set forth any plausible claim of infringement at Arthur Ashe or Louis Armstrong Stadium and that dismissal is proper, because plaintiff's factual allegations are either naked assertions or legal conclusions and not entitled to an assumption truth. (ECF No. 189, Geiger Opposition to the Motion to Amend ("Geiger Opp'n") at 9-10.) Geiger's arguments regarding titles and labels are unavailing, when combined with plaintiff's other factual allegations regarding Geiger's actions, including Geiger's role in designing and periodically reviewing the fabrication and construction of the allegedly infringing roof mechanisms. Geiger relies on Raffaele v. City of New York , 144 F.Supp.3d 365, 372 (E.D.N.Y. 2015), in support of its arguments regarding titles and labels. (Geiger Opp'n at 12; Rossetti Opp'n at 11.) Raffaele , however, did not hold that pleadings regarding formal or informal titles are not factual statements or are not entitled to a presumption of truth - the decision simply stated that, "[a]lthough detailed factual allegations" are not required, "[a] pleading that offers 'labels and conclusions' or 'a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.' " Raffaele , 144 F.Supp.3d at 372 (citations omitted). As plaintiff correctly notes, "[a]llegations regarding a defendant's title or role are factual assertions that alone can be sufficient to support an infringement pleading." (See Omnibus Reply at 44 (citing LML Holdings, Inc. v. Pac. Coast Distrib. Inc. , No. 11-CV-06173, 2012 WL 1965878, at *2 (N.D. Cal. May 30, 2012) ) ); see also Crypto Research , 236 F.Supp.3d at 687 (citing Ricoh , 550 F.3d at 1343 ). Where, as here, Geiger's role as a mechanization engineer is critical to plaintiff's allegation of infringement, it is a relevant fact that supports the allegations of infringement.
Geiger also argues that none of Geiger's alleged acts support claims that Geiger "engineered" the Ashe Retractable Roof. (Geiger Opp'n at 15). The allegations that Geiger was responsible for preparing "performance criteria for the proposed retractable roof panels and mechanisms, as well as documentation illustrative of a retractable roof design that would comply with the performance criteria" that Geiger developed dramatization, drawing, and specifications for use in the bidding process, was involved in the bidding, reviewed the fabrication and construction of the roof mechanism, and "assisted in the engineering development" for the Ashe Retractable Roof more than plausibly allege that Geiger "engineered" the roof." (See FAC ¶ 76; Omnibus Reply at 51.) Although Geiger describes the pleadings as speculative and conclusory, the allegations sufficiently put the defendants on notice of the infringement claim. (Id. )
Geiger also argues that its design as built does not infringe the Lateral Release Pattern because it has different mechanisms and that a substantive change to the roof design of the Armstrong Stadium precludes finding of infringement. (ECF No. 191, Geiger Surreply to the Motion to Amend ("Geiger Surreply"), at 14.) The court declines to adjudicate material factual disputes. Geiger's submissions are not as focused on the sufficiency of the pleadings, as they are on the substance and merits of plaintiff's factual allegations - which is improper on a motion to dismiss. See YETI Coolers, LLC v. RTIC Coolers, LLC , No. 16-CV-264-RP, 2016 WL 3951223, at *2 (W.D. Tex. July 19, 2016) (denying defendant's motion to dismiss and holding that dismissal was inappropriate where there was a factual dispute as to whether the plaintiff's plausible allegation regarding the defendant's role was accurate). Geiger's motion to dismiss the allegations of direct infringement in Counts I, II and III is therefore denied.
d. Hunt
In addition to arguments in support of its motion to dismiss claims against Hunt, in its memorandum of law, "Hunt adopts the arguments of Defendant Geiger Engineers, P.C. ("Geiger") with respect to the ... patent infringement claims (Counts I-II) asserted by Uni-Systems." (ECF No. 195, Hunt Opposition to the Motion to Amend ("Hunt Opp'n"), at 9.) The court finds Hunt's arguments unavailing to the extent they mirror Geiger's for the same reasons that it denied Geiger's motion to dismiss. Plaintiff sufficiently alleged that Geiger, "has been infringing the patent 'by making, selling, and using [the device] embodying the patent,' " and, "that the plaintiff has given the defendant notice of its infringement." In re Bill of Lading , 681 F.3d at 1334 (citation omitted).
Plaintiff alleges that, as lead builder of the Arthur Ashe Retractable Roof, Hunt made and used the Ashe Retractable Roof, "and/or controll[ed] or direct[ed] one or more Defendants or third parties to make or use the Ashe Retractable Roof, which was completed, operational, and put into service as of August 2016." (FAC ¶ 114.) Hunt further infringed the Lateral Release patent under 35 U.S.C. § 271(a) by "making and using the Armstrong Retractable Roof and/or controlling or directing one or more Defendants or third parties to make or use the Armstrong Retractable Roof" despite knowledge of its infringing nature and "intended to encourage other Defendants' infringement though their making and using the Armstrong Retractable Roof," which is now substantially complete and operational. (See FAC ¶¶ 102, 125-27, 148-50,158-59, 164, 166, 168; see also Defendants' Letter Withdrawing Arguments.)
Taken together, the facts alleged regarding Hunt's infringement state a plausible claim for direct patent infringement. Hunt's motion to dismiss the allegations of direct infringement in Counts I, II and III is, therefore, denied.
e. Hardesty & Hanover
Plaintiff alleges that,
[a]s designer and builder of the Ashe Retractable Roof, Hardesty & Hanover has infringed and continues to infringe the Retention Mechanism patent [and the under 35 U.S.C. § 271(a) by, among other things, offering for sale and selling a design to USTA, Hunt, and Rossetti that practices one or more claims of the Retention Mechanism patent. Hardesty & Hanover has also infringed and continues to infringe the Retention Mechanism patent by making and using the Ashe Retractable Roof and/or controlling or directing one or more Defendants or third parties to make or use the Ashe Retractable Roof, which was completed ... as of August 2016.
(FAC ¶ 117); see also FieldTurf Int'l, Inc. v. Sprinturf, Inc. , 433 F.3d 1366, 1369-70 (Fed. Cir. 2006) ("A bid to supply a product specified in a RFP is a traditional offer to sell."). Plaintiff also alleges that defendant Hardesty & Hanover infringed the Lateral Release patent by engaging in the activities listed above, because the Arthur Ashe Roof incorporated both the Lateral Release patent and Retention Mechanism patent. (FAC ¶ 140.) The allegations that Hardesty & Hanover both sold a design to USTA that practices the Lateral Release and Retention Mechanism patent and made and used the Ashe Retractable Roof after receiving notice that it was infringing plaintiff's patents are sufficient to state a claim for direct patent infringement. (See FAC ¶¶ 117-20, 125, 127.) As such, Hardesty & Hanover's motion to dismiss the allegations of direct infringement Counts I and II is denied.
2. Plaintiff's Claims for Induced and Contributory Infringement Are Dismissed in Part
"To state a claim for induced infringement, a plaintiff must plausibly allege that the defendant: (1) had knowledge of the patent-in-suit; (2) knew the induced acts were infringing; and (3) specifically intended to encourage another's infringement." Carson Optical , 202 F.Supp.3d at 253 (citing Commil USA, LLC, 135 S.Ct. at 1926 ); see also 35 U.S.C. § 271(b) (2010). As long as these criteria are met, "[A] well-pleaded complaint may proceed even if it strikes a savvy judge that actual proof of those facts is improbable, and that a recovery is very remote and unlikely." In re Bill of Lading , 681 F.3d at 1339 (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).
As to factor one, knowledge of the patents-in-suit, "[t]he filing of a federal complaint identifying the patents-in-suit satisfies the requirement that a plaintiff plead a defendant's knowledge of the patents-in-suit." Carson Optical , 202 F.Supp.3d at 254 (citing Smartwater, Ltd. v. Applied DNA Scis., Inc. , No. 12-CV-5731, 2013 WL 5440599, at *8 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 27, 2013) ) ("recognizing that a defendant's knowledge of the patents prior to the filing of a federal complaint is 'not essential to a claim of induced infringement' "). With regard to knowledge that the induced acts were infringing, "[t]he plaintiff has the burden of showing that the alleged infringer's actions induced infringing acts and that he knew or should have known his actions would induce actual infringements." Ricoh , 550 F.3d at 1342. However, "the plaintiff need not prove that the defendant exercised control over the third party infringer's actions to support a finding of inducement liability." Trs. of Columbia Univ. v. Roche Diagnostics GmbH , 272 F.Supp.2d 90, 104 (D. Mass. 2002) (holding instead that direct or circumstantial evidence of knowingly aiding and abetting infringement was required).
In evaluating specific intent, the third factor, "direct evidence is not required; rather, circumstantial evidence may suffice." Carson Optical , 202 F.Supp.3d at 253 (quoting MEMC Elec. Materials, Inc. v. Mitsubishi Materials Silicon Corp. , 420 F.3d 1369, 1378 (Fed. Cir. 2005) ) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). To plead a claim for inducement, a party must allege specific intent and not merely knowledge. Plaintiff successfully pleaded the first two elements of a claim for induced infringement by plausibly alleging claims for direct infringement by all defendants, and pleading notice, and knowledge, so the following analysis will evaluate whether plaintiff adequately alleged facts regarding the third factor, specific intent, as to each defendant.
"Evidence of active steps taken to encourage direct infringement, such as advertising an infringing use or instructing how to engage in an infringing use , show an affirmative intent that the product be used to infringe." (Omnibus reply at 54 (citing MEMC Elec. , 420 F.3d at 1379 (quoting Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. v. Grokster, Ltd. , 545 U.S. 913, 936, 125 S.Ct. 2764, 162 L.Ed.2d 781 (2005) ) ) (emphasis added).)
To establish contributory infringement, plaintiff must allege sufficient facts to show that a party sold or offered to sell, "a component of a patented machine, manufacture, combination or composition, or a material or apparatus for use in practicing a patented process, constituting a material part of the invention, knowing the same to be especially made or especially adapted for use in an infringement of such patent, and not a staple article or commodity of commerce suitable for substantial noninfringing use." See 35 U.S.C.A. § 271(c) (2010).
a. Rossetti
Plaintiff alleges that "As lead designer and architect of the Ashe Retractable Roof, Rossetti has induced infringement.... Rossetti knew that the Ashe Retractable Roof it designed infringed the Retention Mechanism patent, and [ ] specifically intended to encourage other Defendants' infringement through their making and using of the Ashe Retractable Roof." (FAC ¶ 113.) Plaintiff makes similar allegations regarding the Lateral Release patent used in the Arthur Ashe Retractable Roof and Armstrong Retractable Roof. (Id. ¶¶ 135, 157.) However, Uni-Systems fails to plead any additional specific factual allegations beyond Rossetti's knowledge of the patent and notice of infringement of the Lateral Release patents used in the Arthur Ashe Retractable Roof and Armstrong Retractable Roof to support the claim of inducement. (Id. ¶¶ 112-113, 135-136, 156-157.)
Plaintiff urges an interpretation and inference that, "as architect and engineer at the Louis Armstrong Stadium, it is more than plausible that Rossetti and Geiger have provided designs and instructions for making and using the retractable roof" during the time between the May 2016 notification and the completion of the Arthur Ashe Stadium in August 2016. (Omnibus Reply at 51.) Plaintiff cites to Baut v. Pethick Const. Co. , 262 F.Supp. 350, 360 (M.D. Pa. 1966), arguing that submitting drawings and specifications that incorporate an infringing element can constitute inducement. However, the facts in Baut are distinguishable. In Baut , a windowmaker attended a meeting for the express purpose of copying a structure's design, was informed later that the structure would infringe a patent if installed, and then attempted to convince the architect to use the infringing design because changing the specifications would delay the job being completed. 262 F.Supp. at 360. Plaintiff alleges no such facts here and although the court may draw all reasonable inferences in favor of plaintiff, an inference of specific intent based on plaintiff's pleadings is unreasonable where the only factual statement regarding specific intent is found in the conclusory allegation that the defendant specifically intended to encourage other defendants' infringement.
Accordingly, the Rossetti defendants' motion to dismiss plaintiff's claim of induced infringement is granted, with leave for plaintiff to replead additional facts to state a claim for inducement that show, by direct or circumstantial evidence, that the Rossetti defendants specifically induced another to infringe plaintiff's patents. See Superior Indus., LLC v. Thor Global Enters. Ltd. , 700 F.3d 1287, 1296 (Fed. Cir. 2012) (affirming dismissal of induced infringement claim where complaint fails to allege any facts from which the court could reasonably infer specific intent to induce infringement and knowledge that it induced acts that caused infringement).
b. The Morgan Corporations
Plaintiff alleged sufficient facts to support its claim that the Morgan Corporations contributed to the infringement of plaintiff's Retention Mechanism patent and Lateral Release patent. Specifically, plaintiff alleged that Morgan offered to sell and sold designs and component parts of the Armstrong Retractable Roof and continued participation in the design and construction of the Armstrong Retractable Roof after being placed on notice that the roof's design infringed plaintiff's patent, as is required under 35 U.S.C. § 271(c). (See FAC ¶¶ 122, 144-145,163.)
However, plaintiff has failed to allege sufficient facts to state a claim that the Morgan defendants induced infringement of the relevant patents. (See id. ¶¶ 120-21, 142-43, 161-62.) The only factual statement regarding specific intent is found in the conclusory allegation that the defendant specifically intended to encourage other defendants' infringement. (Id. ¶ 144.) Plaintiff's claim of inducement against the Morgan defendants is dismissed with leave to replead additional facts to state a claim for inducement that establish, by direct or circumstantial evidence, that the Morgan defendants specifically intended to induce another to infringe plaintiff's patents.
c. Geiger
Plaintiff fails to plead sufficient facts to state a claim that Geiger induced others to infringe the Retention Mechanism and Lateral Release patents. With regards to induced infringement, plaintiff pleads in Paragraphs 124, 147, and 165 of the Amended Complaint that, "[a]s engineer" Geiger "induced infringement and continues to induce infringement" of the Retention Mechanism patent and Lateral Release patents and alleges that Geiger "specifically intended to encourage other Defendants' infringement through their making and using" of the Ashe Retractable Roof and Armstrong Retractable roof. (Id. )
Plaintiff's conclusory statements that Geiger "induced infringement" and "specifically intended to induce infringement" are insufficient to state a claim for induced infringement. Plaintiff argues that "[e]vidence of active steps taken to encourage direct infringement, such as advertising an infringing use or instructing how to engage in an infringing use , show an affirmative intent that the product be used to infringe." (Omnibus Reply at 54 (citing MEMC Elec. , 420 F.3d at 1379 (quoting Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer , 545 U.S. at 936, 125 S.Ct. 2764 ) ) (emphasis added).) However, the evidence of active steps for inducement cited in MEMC go beyond the unadorned factual allegations in the Uni-Systems complaints and, in MEMC , included making presentations on the infringing product and providing ongoing technical support. 420 F.3d at 1379. Plaintiff's claim that Geiger induced infringement is dismissed with leave to replead facts supporting specific intent and active steps taken to induce infringement.
d. Hunt
Plaintiff sufficiently alleged that Hunt induced and contributed to infringement of plaintiff's Retention Mechanism and Lateral Release patent. (See FAC ¶¶ 115-16, 138-39, 159-60.) Hunt's specific intent is found in plaintiff's allegations that Hunt conspired with Hardesty & Hanover to utilize plaintiff's patented and trade secret roof technology, (see id. ¶¶ 65, 71, 75, 85), Hunt's leadership role in recruiting Rossetti P.C. and Morgan Kinetic and Hunt's role in selecting Morgan Engineering as a subcontractor to work on the Ashe Retractable Roof, (see id. ¶¶ 74-75), and Hunt's provision of the specifications for the Ashe Retractable Roof and request for an initial design proposal from Uni-Systems. (See id. ¶ 79)
Plaintiff's allegations that Hunt sold components of the Ashe Retractable Roof and Armstrong Retractable Roof that constituted material parts of the Lateral Release patent, and components of the Ashe Retractable Roof that constituted material parts of the Retention Mechanism patent after being placed on notice that the designs infringed plaintiff's patents are sufficient to state a claim for contributing to infringement under 35 U.S.C. § 271(c). (See id. ¶¶ 116, 127, 139, 160.) Hunt's motion to dismiss the allegations of induced and contributory infringement in Counts I, II and III is therefore denied.
e. Hardesty & Hanover
Plaintiff has failed to state sufficient facts to support its claim that Hardesty & Hanover induced infringement of the Retention Mechanism and Lateral Release patents. Plaintiff's sole allegations regarding specific intent are statements that Hardesty & Hanover specifically intended to encourage other defendants' infringement in their making and using of the Ashe Retractable Roof. (See FAC ¶¶ 118, 141.) Standing alone, these conclusory allegations are insufficient to state the specific intent required to adequately plead a claim for induced infringement. Hardesty & Hanover's motion to dismiss the allegations of induced infringement is granted; plaintiff is granted leave to replead facts supporting specific intent and active steps taken to induce infringement. See Superior Indus. , 700 F.3d at 1296.
Plaintiff's allegations that Hardesty & Hanover sold components of the Ashe Retractable Roof constituting a material part of the Retention Mechanism and Lateral Release patents knowing that the components were specially adapted to infringe plaintiff's patents and "lacked a substantial non-infringing use" are sufficient to state a claim for contributory infringement given Hardesty & Hanover's role and alleged history with Hunt and plaintiff. (See FAC ¶¶ 119, 142.) Hardesty and Hanover's Motion to Dismiss plaintiff's claims of contributory infringement in Counts I and II is therefore denied.
C. Plaintiff Sufficiently Pleads Misappropriation of Trade Secrets Under Federal and State Law
1. Legal Standard
Trade Secrets are defined under the Defending Trade Secrets Act("DTSA") as:
[A]ll forms and types of financial, business, scientific, technical, economic, or engineering information, including patterns, plans, compilations, program devices, formulas, designs, prototypes, methods, techniques, processes, procedures, programs, or codes, whether tangible or intangible, and whether or how stored, compiled, or memorialized physically, electronically, graphically, photographically, or in writing if-
(A) the owner thereof has taken reasonable measures to keep such information secret; and
(B) the information derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable through proper means by, another person who can obtain economic value from the disclosure or use of the information;
18 U.S.C. § 1839(3). To succeed on a claim misappropriation of a trade secret under the DTSA, a plaintiff must show that the trade secret was: (A) acquired by a person who knows or has reason to know that the trade secret was acquired by improper means; or (B) disclosed by another without express or implied consent. 18 U.S.C. §§ 1839(5)(A), (B). Use or disclosure is unlawful where the party:
(i) used improper means to acquire knowledge of the trade secret;
(ii) at the time of disclosure or use, knew or had reason to know that the knowledge of the trade secret was--
(I) derived from or through a person who had used improper means to acquire the trade secret; or
(II) acquired under circumstances giving rise to a duty to maintain the secrecy of the trade secret or limit the use of the trade secret; or
(III) derived from or through a person who owed a duty to the person seeking relief to maintain the secrecy of the trade secret or limit the use of the trade secret ...
Id.
To state a claim for misappropriation of a trade secret under New York law, a plaintiff must plead, "(1) it