01a0146p.06

99-3405; 99-3406; 99-3439Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit4 mai 2001

Texte intégral


5(&200(1'(' )25 3$57,$/7(;7 38%/,&$7,21
3XUVXDQW WR 6L[WK &LUFXLW 5XOH
(/(&7521,& &,7$7,21 )(' $SS 3 WK &LU
)LOH 1DPH DS
81,7('67$7(6&28572)$33($/6
)257+(6,;7+&,5&8,7
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
81,7(' 67$7(6 2) $0(5,&$
3ODLQWLII$SSHOOHH
Y
-())5(< 5,''/(
/$9$1&( 7851$*(
%(51$5'
$/76+8/(5
'HIHQGDQWV$SSHOODQWV
;!

1
1RV

$SSHDOIURPWKH8QLWHG6WDWHV'LVWULFW&RXUW
IRUWKH1RUWKHUQ'LVWULFWRI2KLRDW&OHYHODQG
1R².DWKOHHQ0F'RQDOG2¶0DOOH\
'LVWULFW-XGJH
$UJXHG)HEUXDU\
'HFLGHGDQG)LOHG0D\
%HIRUH*8<1255,6DQG6,/(5&LUFXLW-XGJHV
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
&2816(/
$5*8(' $OEHUW $ *LXOLDQL &OHYHODQG 2KLR -RKQ
3DWULFN 3DUNHU &OHYHODQG 2KLR 7LPRWK\ ) 6ZHHQH\
&OHYHODQG2KLRIRU$SSHOODQWV-XOLD-6WLOOHU81,7('

-- 1 of 8 --

8QLWHG6WDWHVY
5LGGOHHWDO
1RV
67$7(6 '(3$570(17 2) -867,&( 25*$1,=('
&5,0( 5$&.(7((5,1*6(&7,21:DVKLQJWRQ'&
IRU$SSHOOHH21%5,()$OEHUW$*LXOLDQL&OHYHODQG
2KLR -RKQ 3DWULFN 3DUNHU &OHYHODQG 2KLR 7LPRWK\ )
6ZHHQH\&OHYHODQG2KLRIRU$SSHOODQWV-XOLD-6WLOOHU
)UDQN - 0DULQH 81,7(' 67$7(6 '(3$570(17 2)
-867,&( 25*$1,=(' &5,0( 5$&.(7((5,1*
6(&7,21 :DVKLQJWRQ '& &UDLJ 6 0RUIRUG
$66,67$1781,7('67$7(6$77251(<&OHYHODQG
2KLRIRU$SSHOOHH
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
23,1,21
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
$/$1(1255,6&LUFXLW-XGJH'HIHQGDQWV%HUQDUG
$OWVKXOHU -HIIUH\ 5LGGOH DQG /DYDQFH 7XUQDJH ZHUH
FRQYLFWHGE\DMXU\RI5,&25,&2FRQVSLUDF\ 86&
† F G DQGFRQGXFWLQJDQLOOHJDOJDPEOLQJEXVLQHVV
86&† DQG5LGGOHDQG7XUQDJHRIFRPPLWWLQJD
YLROHQW FULPH LQ IXUWKHUDQFH RI UDFNHWHHULQJ 86&
† 7KH\DSSHDORQVHYHUDOJURXQGV7KH\DUJXHWKDWWKH
GLVWULFWFRXUWHUUHGZKHQLWSHUPLWWHGWKHPWREHDEVHQWGXULQJ
YRLU GLUH DQG WKH\ DWWDFN WKHLU 5,&2 DQG YLROHQW FULPH
FRQYLFWLRQV RQ WKH JURXQGV WKDW WKHUH ZDV DQ LQVXIILFLHQW
FRQQHFWLRQZLWKLQWHUVWDWHFRPPHUFH7KH\DOVRFODLPWKDW
WKHHYLGHQFHZDVLQVXIILFLHQWWRVXSSRUWFHUWDLQFRXQWVDJDLQVW
WKHP DQG WKDW WKH GLVWULFW FRXUW HUUHG ZKHQ LW DOORZHG WKH
WHVWLPRQ\RIDZLWQHVVDIWHUWKHJRYHUQPHQWKDGFRQFOXGHGD
SOHD EDUJDLQ ZLWK KLP ZKHQ LW GLG QRW JLYH D FRQVSLUDF\
ZLWKGUDZDO MXU\ LQVWUXFWLRQ DQG ZKHQ LW VHQWHQFHG WKHP
ZLWKRXWSUHVHQWHQFHUHSRUWV:HDIILUPWKHGLVWULFWFRXUW
%HFDXVHUHVROXWLRQRIGHIHQGDQWV¶LVVXHVFRQFHUQLQJWKHLU
YRLUGLUHDEVHQFHDQGWKHLQWHUVWDWHFRPPHUFHUHTXLUHPHQWV
PD\KDYHSUHFHGHQWLDOYDOXHWKRVHLVVXHVZLOOEHDGGUHVVHG
EHORZ 7KH UHPDLQLQJ LVVXHV UDLVHG E\ GHIHQGDQWV DUH
DGGUHVVHGLQDQXQSXEOLVKHGDSSHQGL[WRWKLVRSLQLRQ
1RV 8QLWHG6WDWHVY
5LGGOHHWDO

%LRQGLOOR¶VPXUGHUDQGWKH6WUROORHQWHUSULVHDQGZHKDYH
GHWHUPLQHG DERYH WKDW WKH HQWHUSULVH VXIILFLHQWO\ DIIHFWHG
LQWHUVWDWHFRPPHUFH
86& † ,OOHJDO *DPEOLQJ %XVLQHVV
$OWVKXOHUDQG5LGGOH
7KLVFRXUWKDVH[DPLQHG86&†DIWHU/RSH]DQG
IRXQGLWWREHDYDOLGH[HUFLVHRIFRQJUHVVLRQDO&RPPHUFH
&ODXVHSRZHU8QLWHG6WDWHVY:DOO)G WK
&LU ,Q :DOO ZH QRWHG WKDW DOWKRXJK WKH JDPEOLQJ
VWDWXWHGRHVQRWFRQWDLQDMXULVGLFWLRQDOHOHPHQWLWDGGUHVVHV
D FRPPHUFLDO DFWLYLW\ XQOLNH WKH /RSH] VWDWXWH
)XUWKHUPRUH LWV OHJLVODWLYH KLVWRU\ SURYLGHV FRQJUHVVLRQDO
ILQGLQJVRILOOHJDOJDPEOLQJ¶VHIIHFWRQLQWHUVWDWHFRPPHUFH
ILQGLQJVWKDWZHUHODFNLQJLQWKH*XQ)UHH6FKRRO=RQHV$FW
,G DW 'HIHQGDQWV UHFRJQL]H WKH IXWLOLW\ RI WKHLU
FKDOOHQJHLQOLJKWRI:DOOEXWXUJHWKHFRXUWWRUHFRQVLGHU
:DOOWKLVZHFDQQRWGRDEVHQWDQHQEDQFUHKHDULQJ8QLWHG
6WDWHVY6PLWK)G WK&LU $Q\DV
DSSOLHGFKDOOHQJHLVLUUHOHYDQWVLQFH†GRHVQRWFRQWDLQ
DMXULVGLFWLRQDOHOHPHQWDQGWKHSURVHFXWLRQQHHGQRWSXWRQ
HYLGHQFHRIDSDUWLFXODUFRQQHFWLRQZLWKLQWHUVWDWHFRPPHUFH
6HH$EOHV)GDW UHMHFWLQJD†GHIHQGDQW¶V
SUHPLVHWKDWD³FULPLQDOVWDWXWHFRQVWLWXWLQJDYDOLGH[HUFLVH
RIFRQJUHVVLRQDODXWKRULW\XQGHUWKH&RPPHUFH&ODXVHPD\
QHYHUWKHOHVV EH XQFRQVWLWXWLRQDO DV DSSOLHG WR D SDUWLFXODU
GHIHQGDQWZKHQWKHVWDWXWH¶VMXULVGLFWLRQDOUHTXLUHPHQWVKDYH
EHHQPHW´
,,,
)RUWKHIRUHJRLQJUHDVRQVWKHUXOLQJVRIWKHGLVWULFWFRXUW
ZLWKUHVSHFWWRGHIHQGDQWV¶YRLUGLUHDEVHQFHDQGWKHLQWHUVWDWH
FRPPHUFHHOHPHQWVRI86&††DQGDUH
DIILUPHG

-- 2 of 8 --

8QLWHG6WDWHVY
5LGGOHHWDO
1RV
86&† D 7KHVWDWXWHGHILQHV³HQWHUSULVH´DVDQ
HQWLW\ZKLFKLV³HQJDJHGLQRUWKHDFWLYLWLHVRIZKLFKDIIHFW
LQWHUVWDWHRUIRUHLJQFRPPHUFH´86&† E
:H DJUHH ZLWK WKH JRYHUQPHQW WKDW WKH MXULVGLFWLRQDO
SURYLVLRQLQWKHHQWHUSULVHGHILQLWLRQGLVWLQJXLVKHVWKHVWDWXWH
IURP/RSH]EXWWKLVFRXUWKDVQRW\HWGHWHUPLQHGZKDWGHJUHH
RI FRQQHFWLRQ WR LQWHUVWDWH FRPPHUFH LV UHTXLUHG XQGHU
†7KHFRXUWVRIDSSHDOVIRURWKHUFLUFXLWVKDYHDSSOLHG
WKHGHPLQLPLVVWDQGDUGIRUWKHXQGHUO\LQJ5,&2YLRODWLRQ
ZLWKRXWUHTXLULQJWKHYLROHQWDFWWRKDYHDFRQQHFWLRQZLWK
LQWHUVWDWHFRPPHUFH,Q8QLWHG6WDWHVY*UD\)G
WK&LU WKH&RXUWRI$SSHDOVIRUWKH)RXUWK&LUFXLW
DIILUPHGD†FRQYLFWLRQEDVHGRQPXUGHULQIXUWKHUDQFH
RIDGUXJFRQVSLUDF\EHFDXVHLWIRXQGHYLGHQFHVXIILFLHQWWR
³PHHWWKHPLQLPDOVWDQGDUGUHTXLUHGWRVDWLVI\WKHLQWHUVWDWH
FRPPHUFH UHTXLUHPHQW RI † E ´ ZKHQ WKH PXUGHU
YLFWLPZDVDKHURLQDGGLFWZKRUREEHGDVWDVKKRXVH,GDW
%HFDXVHWKHJRYHUQPHQWSUHVHQWHGHYLGHQFHWKDWKHURLQ
LVSURGXFHGIURPIRUHLJQDQGQRWORFDOSRSSLHVWKHLQWHUVWDWH
FRPPHUFHUHTXLUHPHQWZDVPHW,GDW
7KH&RXUWRI$SSHDOVIRUWKH6HFRQG&LUFXLWDOVRDIILUPHG
D † FRQYLFWLRQ IRU PXUGHUV ZLWKRXW UHTXLULQJ WKH
PXUGHUVWRLPSDFWLQWHUVWDWHFRPPHUFH,QVWHDGWKHFRXUW
UHTXLUHG WKH SUHGLFDWH DFW PXUGHU WR ³EHDU D VWURQJ
UHODWLRQVKLS WR UDFNHWHHULQJ DFWLYLW\ WKDW DIIHFWV LQWHUVWDWH
FRPPHUFH>@´8QLWHG6WDWHVY0DSS)G G
&LU FHUWGHQLHG86 7KHFRXUWIRXQGWKDW
WKH PXUGHUV IXUWKHUHG D UDFNHWHHULQJ HQWHUSULVH ZKLFK ZDV
LQYROYHG LQ UREELQJ D EXVLQHVV ³HQJDJHG LQ LQWHUVWDWH
FRPPHUFHE\VHOOLQJJRRGVWKDWKDGEHHQREWDLQHGIURPRXW
RI VWDWH´ ,G 7KLV FRQQHFWLRQ WR LQWHUVWDWH FRPPHUFH
VXIILFHG:HDJUHHZLWKWKH&RXUWVRI$SSHDOVIRUWKH6HFRQG
DQGWKH)RXUWK&LUFXLWVWKDW†¶VUHTXLUHPHQWVDUHPHWLI
WKHJRYHUQPHQWHVWDEOLVKHVDFRQQHFWLRQEHWZHHQWKH†
DFWRIYLROHQFHDQGD5,&2HQWHUSULVHZKLFKKDVDGHPLQLPLV
LQWHUVWDWHFRPPHUFHFRQQHFWLRQ7KHJRYHUQPHQWKDVGRQH
VR KHUH 5LGGOH GRHV QRW FRQWHVW WKH FRQQHFWLRQ EHWZHHQ
1RV 8QLWHG6WDWHVY
5LGGOHHWDO

,
7KLV LV D FDVH DERXW WKUHH DFWRUV LQ WKH /HQLQH 6WUROOR
EUDQFK RI /D &RVD 1RVWUD /&1 LQ <RXQJVWRZQ 2KLR
6WUROOR UDQ VHYHUDO W\SHV RI JDPEOLQJ LQ WKH HQWHUSULVH
LQFOXGLQJDQXPEHUVORWWHU\DQGGLFHJDPHVVRPHRIZKLFK
ZHUH SOD\HG DIWHUKRXUV DW VHYHUDO HVWDEOLVKPHQWV PDLQO\
6KDUNH\¶V -HII %XWFK DQG -HII¶V DQG WKH *UHHN &RIIHH
+RXVH7KHVHJDPHVKDGRSHUDWHGLQ&DPSEHOO2KLRVLQFH
DWOHDVWWKHVDQG6WUROOREHFDPHPRUHLQYROYHGDVKLV
SROLWLFDOLQIOXHQFH LQWKHFRPPXQLW\JUHZXQWLOKHJDLQHG
VROHFRQWURODIWHUKLVUHOHDVHIURPSULVRQLQ
6WUROOR FDPH WR UHO\ RQ GHIHQGDQW $OWVKXOHU DQG DQRWKHU
DVVRFLDWHQDPHG/DZUHQFH*DURQRLQWKHJDPEOLQJHQWHUSULVH
$OWVKXOHU UDQ RU VXSHUYLVHG PRVW GLFH JDPHV DQG ³VWDJ´
SDUWLHV JDPHVWRUDLVHPRQH\IRUDSDUWLFXODUFDXVHRUHYHQW
ZKHQKHZDVQRWLQSULVRQDQGLQWKHPLGVZKHQKHZDV
UHOHDVHG IURP SULVRQ $OWVKXOHU WRRN FRQWURO RI WKH DLOLQJ
JDPEOLQJEXVLQHVVLQSDUWEHFDXVHKHVXJJHVWHGKHZRXOGEH
DEOHWRDWWUDFW$IULFDQ$PHULFDQGUXJGHDOHUVWRWKHWDEOHV
7RDVVLVWKLP$OWVKXOHUUHFUXLWHG5LGGOHDQG7XUQDJHZKR
ZHUHDFFHSWHGLQWKHGUXJGHDOLQJFRPPXQLW\7RJHWKHUWKH\
FRQYHUWHG6KDUNH\¶VLQWRDQLJKWFOXEZLWKDFUDSVJDPHEXW
WKHXQGHUWDNLQJIDLOHG7KH\KDGPRUHVXFFHVVZLWKJDPEOLQJ
DWWKHUHVWDXUDQWFDOOHG-HII%XWFKDQG-HII¶V
:KLOH6WUROOREXLOWKLVEXVLQHVV(UQLH%LRQGLOORDVDVHOI
GHVLJQDWHG VXFFHVVRU WR 6WUROOR¶V PXUGHUHG ULYDO EHJDQ WR
FRQGXFWJDPLQJHYHQWV6WUROORIHOWWKDWKHZDVQRWJHWWLQJ
KLVIDLUVKDUHDQGKHGHFLGHGWRNLOO%LRQGLOORGHOHJDWLQJWKH
WDVNWR*DURQRDQGWKHQWR$OWVKXOHUZKRJDYHWKHMREWR
5LGGOH5LGGOHLQWXUQLQYROYHG7XUQDJH5LGGOH7XUQDJH
DQGDQRWKHUDVVRFLDWH*HRUJH:LONLQVVXUYHLOOHG%LRQGLOOR
DQGVHWRXWRQHGD\ZLWKJXQVWRNLOOKLPWKHLUHIIRUWVFDPH
WR QDXJKW ZKHQ WKH\ FRXOG QRW ILQG %LRQGLOOR 5LGGOH
VXEVHTXHQWO\GHFLGHGKHVKRXOGQRWEHSUHVHQWDWWKHVKRRWLQJ
DQGIRXQGDVXEVWLWXWH7XUQDJH:LONLQVDQGWKHVXEVWLWXWH

-- 3 of 8 --

8QLWHG6WDWHVY
5LGGOHHWDO
1RV
PHWRQ-XQHEORFNHGRII%LRQGLOOR¶VFDUDQGVKRWDQG
NLOOHGKLP
0HPEHUV RI WKH HQWHUSULVH KDG EHHQ HQMR\LQJ D FHUWDLQ
DPRXQWRISURWHFWLRQIURPWKH0DKRQLQJ&RXQW\SURVHFXWRU
ZKRXQH[SHFWHGO\ORVWWKHHOHFWLRQLQWRDIRUPHUSROLFH
RIILFHUQDPHG3DXO*DLQV,QOLJKWRIVHYHUDOSHQGLQJFDVHV
DJDLQVWHQWHUSULVHPHPEHUVLQFOXGLQJDFDVHDJDLQVW7XUQDJH
6WUROOR¶VFRQWDFWZLWKWKHSURVHFXWRU¶VRIILFHVWDWHGWKDWWKH
RQO\ VROXWLRQ ZDV WR NLOO *DLQV EHIRUH KH DVVXPHG RIILFH
6WUROORSDVVHGWKHZRUGRQWR$OWVKXOHUZKRUHSOLHG³:H¶OO
WDNHFDUHRILW´5LGGOHHQOLVWHG7XUQDJHDQG:LONLQVDQGLQ
2FWREHUWKHWULRZHQWWRILQG*DLQVDWDUHVWDXUDQWLQ
<RXQJVWRZQ WR NLOO KLP WKH\ KDG WR DEDQGRQ WKHLU SODQ
KRZHYHUZKHQWKH\IRXQGWKHDUHDIXOORISROLFH7XUQDJH
JDYHXSRQKDYLQJKLVFDVHIL[HGSOHDGHGJXLOW\WRUREEHU\
DQGZHQWWRMDLO5LGGOHWKHQUHFUXLWHGWZRRWKHUPHQWRNLOO
*DLQVEXWWKH\EXQJOHGWKHDWWHPSWOHDYLQJ*DLQVZRXQGHG
EXWDOLYH
2Q'HFHPEHUWKHJRYHUQPHQWILOHGDQLQGLFWPHQW
DJDLQVW6WUROORDQGQLQHWHHQRIKLVDVVRFLDWHVODWHUUHSODFHG
E\DVXSHUVHGLQJLQGLFWPHQWDJDLQVWWKLUWHHQGHIHQGDQWV7KH
LQGLFWPHQW FKDUJHG $OWVKXOHU 5LGGOH DQG 7XUQDJH ZLWK
YLRODWLRQVRI86&† F DQG G 5,&2 DQG†
LOOHJDO JDPEOLQJ EXVLQHVV DQG 5LGGOH DQG 7XUQDJH ZLWK
YLRODWLRQ RI 86& † YLROHQW FULPH LQ DLG RI
UDFNHWHHULQJ
2Q'HFHPEHULQDSUHWULDOFRQIHUHQFHWKHSDUWLHV
UHTXHVWHGWKHXVHRIDMXURUTXHVWLRQQDLUH7KHJRYHUQPHQW
DVNHGIRUDQDQRQ\PRXVMXU\DQG6WUROOR¶VFRXQVHODVNHGWKDW
DOOSRWHQWLDOMXURUVEHTXHVWLRQHGLQGLYLGXDOO\LQWKHFRXUW¶V
FKDPEHUV7KHFRXUWQRWHGWKDW8QLWHG6WDWHV0DUVKDOVZRXOG
KDYHWRDFFRPSDQ\GHIHQGDQWVZKHUHYHUWKH\ZHQWDQGWKH
0DUVKDOV¶SUHVHQFHLQWKHFRXUW¶VFKDPEHUVPLJKWSUHMXGLFH
GHIHQGDQWVE\VXJJHVWLQJWRSRWHQWLDOMXURUVWKDWGHIHQGDQWV
ZHUH GDQJHURXV &RXQVHO UHVSRQGHG WKDW LW ZRXOG EH LQ
GHIHQGDQWV¶LQWHUHVWWRZDLYHWKHLUULJKWWREHSUHVHQWLQRUGHU
1RV 8QLWHG6WDWHVY
5LGGOHHWDO

WKH <RXQJVWRZQ PXUGHU YLFWLP %LRQGLOOR WKH HQWHUSULVH
H[WRUWHGPRQH\IURPD YLFWLPZKRVROGILUHZRUNVLQ1HZ
<RUNDQGWKHJRYHUQPHQWDOOHJHGWKDWWKH3LWWVEXUJKPDILD
IDPLO\ZDVLQYROYHGLQWKHHQWHUSULVH DOWKRXJKDOORIWKRVH
FKDUJHGZHUH2KLRUHVLGHQWV *LYHQWKHORZWKUHVKROGIRUD
GHPLQLPLVLQWHUVWDWHFRPPHUFHFRQQHFWLRQWKHUHTXLUHPHQW
KDVEHHQPHWLQWKLVFDVH&I8QLWHG6WDWHVY0LOOV)G
WK&LU ILQGLQJWKHGHPLQLPLVQH[XV
VXIILFLHQWXQGHUWKH+REEV$FWZKHQWKHUHZDVD³UHDOLVWLF
SUREDELOLW\´WKDWVKHULII¶VGHSXWLHVIURPZKRPEULEHVZHUH
H[WRUWHGZRXOGWXUQWRDQLQWHUVWDWHOHQGHUUHFRPPHQGHGE\
WKHGHIHQGDQWVKHULIILQRUGHUWRSD\WKHEULEHV
86& † 9LROHQW &ULPHV LQ $LG RI
5DFNHWHHULQJ 5LGGOH
5LGGOHFODLPVWKDW86&†LVGLUHFWO\FRQWUROOHG
E\/RSH]DQGWKDWKLVFRQYLFWLRQLVLQYDOLGEHFDXVHWKHEDVLV
IRUKLV†FRQYLFWLRQ²WKHPXUGHURI%LRQGLOOR²KDGQR
FRQQHFWLRQ ZLWK LQWHUVWDWH FRPPHUFH 7KH JRYHUQPHQW
FRXQWHUV WKDW † H[SUHVVO\ FRQWDLQV MXULVGLFWLRQDO
HOHPHQWVWKXVGLVWLQJXLVKLQJLWIURP/RSH]
7KHVWDWXWHJRYHUQLQJYLROHQWFULPHVLQDLGRIUDFNHWHHULQJ
DFWLYLW\VWDWHV
:KRHYHU DV FRQVLGHUDWLRQ IRU WKH UHFHLSW RI RU DV
FRQVLGHUDWLRQ IRU D SURPLVH RU DJUHHPHQW WR SD\
DQ\WKLQJRISHFXQLDU\YDOXHIURPDQHQWHUSULVHHQJDJHG
LQ UDFNHWHHULQJ DFWLYLW\ RU IRU WKH SXUSRVH RI JDLQLQJ
HQWUDQFHWRRUPDLQWDLQLQJRULQFUHDVLQJSRVLWLRQLQDQ
HQWHUSULVH HQJDJHG LQ UDFNHWHHULQJ DFWLYLW\ PXUGHUV
NLGQDSV PDLPV DVVDXOWV ZLWK D GDQJHURXV ZHDSRQ
FRPPLWVDVVDXOWUHVXOWLQJLQVHULRXVERGLO\LQMXU\XSRQ
RUWKUHDWHQVWRFRPPLWDFULPHRIYLROHQFHDJDLQVWDQ\
LQGLYLGXDO LQ YLRODWLRQ RI WKH ODZV RI DQ\ 6WDWH RU WKH
8QLWHG6WDWHVRUDWWHPSWVRUFRQVSLUHVVRWRGRVKDOOEH
SXQLVKHG>DFFRUGLQJWRWKHVHQWHQFHVWKDWIROORZ@

-- 4 of 8 --

8QLWHG6WDWHVY
5LGGOHHWDO
1RV
EXWRWKHUFRXUWVKDYHFRQILUPHGWKDWDGHPLQLPLVFRQQHFWLRQ
LVVWLOOVXIILFLHQW6HHHJ8QLWHG6WDWHVY-XYHQLOH0DOH
)G WK&LU ³ZHFRQFOXGHWKDWDOO
WKDW LV UHTXLUHG WR HVWDEOLVK IHGHUDO MXULVGLFWLRQ LQ D 5,&2
SURVHFXWLRQ LV D VKRZLQJ WKDW WKH LQGLYLGXDO SUHGLFDWH
UDFNHWHHULQJ DFWV KDYH D GH PLQLPLV LPSDFW RQ LQWHUVWDWH
FRPPHUFH´ 8QLWHG6WDWHVY0LOOHU)G G
&LU KROGLQJ WKDW EHFDXVH GUXJ WUDIILFNLQJ DIIHFWV
LQWHUVWDWHFRPPHUFHD5,&2FODLPEDVHGRQGUXJWUDIILFNLQJ
QHHG HVWDEOLVK RQO\ D GH PLQLPLV FRQQHFWLRQ EHWZHHQ WKH
LQGLYLGXDOWUDQVDFWLRQDQGLQWHUVWDWHFRPPHUFH
:H KDYH IRXQG D GH PLQLPLV FRQQHFWLRQ WR LQWHUVWDWH
FRPPHUFHWREHVXIILFLHQWXQGHUVLPLODUVWDWXWHVDIWHU/RSH]
6HH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV Y $EOHV )G WK &LU
DSSO\LQJDGHPLQLPLVVWDQGDUGWR86&†
PRQH\ ODXQGHULQJ ZKLFK LQYROYHV ILQDQFLDO WUDQVDFWLRQV
WKDW ³LQ DQ\ ZD\ RU GHJUHH DIIHFW>@ LQWHUVWDWH RU IRUHLJQ
FRPPHUFH´RULQYROYH³WKHXVHRIDILQDQFLDOLQVWLWXWLRQZKLFK
LVHQJDJHGLQRUWKHDFWLYLWLHVRIZKLFKDIIHFWLQWHUVWDWHRU
IRUHLJQFRPPHUFHLQDQ\ZD\RUGHJUHH´ 8QLWHG6WDWHVY
:DOO)GQ QRWLQJLQGLFWDWKDWVWDWXWHV
OLNH WKH FDUMDFNLQJ VWDWXWH ZKLFK ³UHTXLUH>V@ WKDW WKH
JRYHUQPHQW SURYH WKDW WKH DFWLYLWLHV DW KDQG VXEVWDQWLDOO\
UHODWHWRLQWHUVWDWHFRPPHUFH´FDOOIRUD³ORZWKUHVKROGRI
SURRIRILQWHUVWDWHUHODWLRQ´ 8QLWHG6WDWHVY6PLWK)G
WK&LU VWDWLQJDGHPLQLPLVVWDQGDUGIRU
YLRODWLRQVRIWKH+REEV$FW86&†ZKLFKUHTXLUHV
UREEHULHVWR³DIIHFW>@FRPPHUFH´ EXWVHH8QLWHG6WDWHVY
:DQJ )G WK &LU UHTXLULQJ D
³VXEVWDQWLDO´ FRQQHFWLRQ LQ +REEV $FW FDVHV ZKHQ DQ
LQGLYLGXDOUDWKHUWKDQDEXVLQHVVLVWKHYLFWLP
:HKROGWKDWDGHPLQLPLVFRQQHFWLRQVXIILFHVIRUD5,&2
HQWHUSULVHWKDW³DIIHFWV´LQWHUVWDWHFRPPHUFH7KHTXHVWLRQ
WKHQLVZKHWKHUWKHJRYHUQPHQWKDVPHWWKDWEXUGHQLQWKLV
FDVH7KH2KLREDVHGHQWHUSULVHKHUHSXUFKDVHG3HQQV\OYDQLD
ORWWHU\WLFNHWVWRSURWHFWDJDLQVWORVVHVLQWKHLOOHJDOJDPEOLQJ
EXVLQHVVWKHPHPEHUVVROGLQ3HQQV\OYDQLDDULQJWDNHQIURP
1RV 8QLWHG6WDWHVY
5LGGOHHWDO

WRSUHVHUYHWKHEHQHILWRILQGLYLGXDOTXHVWLRQLQJZLWKRXWWKH
SRWHQWLDO SUHMXGLFH RI WKH 0DUVKDOV¶ VHFXULW\ 7KH FRXUW
DJUHHGDQGLQVWUXFWHGWKHODZ\HUVWRWHOOWKHFRXUWLQZULWLQJ
E\ -DQXDU\ LI WKH GHIHQGDQWV REMHFWHG WR WKLV
SURFHGXUH7KHUHZHUHQRREMHFWLRQVDQGDWD)HEUXDU\
PHHWLQJGHIHQVHFRXQVHOGLVFXVVHGWKHSURSRVHGYRLU
GLUHSURFHGXUHZLWKWKHLUFOLHQWVDWWKHFRXUW¶VUHTXHVWLQD
KROGLQJFHOODQGUHSRUWHGWRWKHFRXUWWKDWGHIHQGDQWVZLVKHG
WR SURFHHG DV DJUHHG 7KH FRXUW LVVXHG D ZULWWHQ RUGHU
FRQILUPLQJWKHZDLYHU
7KH SURVSHFWLYH MXURUV WKHQ FRPSOHWHG XQGHU RDWK D
TXHVWLRQQDLUHRIIRUW\VL[SDJHVGHYHORSHGZLWKWKHLQSXWRI
GHIHQVHFRXQVHO&RXQVHODJUHHGWRVWULNHDWRWDORIVL[W\VL[
MXURUVIRUFDXVHRQWKHEDVLVRIWKHTXHVWLRQQDLUHVZKLFKZHUH
DYDLODEOHWRGHIHQGDQWVGXULQJWKHVFUHHQLQJSURFHVV
2Q )HEUXDU\ WKH FRXUW EHJDQ LQGLYLGXDOO\
TXHVWLRQLQJWKHUHPDLQLQJMXURUVLQFKDPEHUVRQHE\RQH
ZLWKGHIHQVHFRXQVHOSUHVHQWWKHLQGLYLGXDOYRLUGLUHSURFHVV
ODVWHG IRU WKUHH GD\V 'HIHQGDQWV ZHUH SUHVHQW LQ WKH
FRXUWKRXVHRQWKHPRUQLQJRI)HEUXDU\EXWDWWKHVWDUWRI
WKHDIWHUQRRQVHVVLRQRQWKDWGD\GHIHQVHFRXQVHOLQGLFDWHG
WRWKHFRXUWWKDWGHIHQGDQWVUHTXHVWHGSHUPLVVLRQWRUHWXUQWR
MDLOXQWLOWKHILQDOVWDJHVRIWKHMXU\VHOHFWLRQSURFHVV7KH
FRXUWDIWHUFRQILUPLQJZLWKFRXQVHOGHIHQGDQWV¶ZDLYHURI
WKHLU ULJKW WR EH LQ WKH FRXUWKRXVH JUDQWHG GHIHQGDQWV¶
UHTXHVW2Q0DUFKGHIHQGDQWVUHWXUQHGWRWKHFRXUWURRP
IRUWKHH[HUFLVHRISHUHPSWRU\FKDOOHQJHV7KHVHFKDOOHQJHV
ZHUHH[HUFLVHGLQVLGHEDUFRQIHUHQFHVLQWKHRSHQFRXUWURRP
ZKHUHGHIHQGDQWVZHUHSUHVHQW
'XULQJ WKH VFUHHQLQJ RI WKH MXURUV WKH JRYHUQPHQW KDG
FRQFOXGHGDSOHDDJUHHPHQWZLWK6WUROORWKDWJDYHKLPWZHOYH
WRILIWHHQ\HDUVLQSULVRQLQH[FKDQJHIRUKLVWHVWLPRQ\DJDLQVW
WKHRWKHUVDQGGURSSHGDIRUIHLWXUHFKDUJHLQWKHDPRXQWRI
WHQPLOOLRQGROODUVSOXVYDULRXVSURSHUWLHV7KHWULDOEHJDQ
RQ 0DUFK DQG 6WUROOR IXOILOOHG KLV EDUJDLQ E\
WHVWLI\LQJ 2Q 0DUFK $OWVKXOHU 5LGGOH DQG

-- 5 of 8 --

8QLWHG6WDWHVY
5LGGOHHWDO
1RV
7XUQDJHZHUHFRQYLFWHGRQDOOFRXQWVDQGVHQWHQFHGWROLIH
LPSULVRQPHQW$IWHUWKHMXU\YHUGLFWWKHFRXUWGLGQRWRUGHU
DSUHVHQWHQFHUHSRUWVWDWLQJWKDWLWKDGDGHTXDWHLQIRUPDWLRQ
DOUHDG\ IURP SUHYLRXV SURFHHGLQJV 7KH FRXUW RIIHUHG WR
VHQWHQFH WKH GHIHQGDQWV WKH IROORZLQJ ZHHN EXW GHIHQVH
FRXQVHODJUHHGWRGRWKHVHQWHQFLQJWKDWGD\7KHFRXUWJDYH
WKH FRXQVHO WLPH WR JHW WKH GHIHQGDQWV¶ FRQVHQW WR WKH
VHQWHQFLQJ SURFHGXUH DQG FRXQVHO PDGH QR REMHFWLRQV
'HIHQGDQWV ZHUH VHQWHQFHG WR OLIH LPSULVRQPHQW ZLWKRXW
UHOHDVHZLWKDILYH\HDUVHQWHQFHIRULOOHJDOJDPEOLQJWRUXQ
FRQFXUUHQWO\ 'HIHQGDQWV DSSHDO WKHLU FRQYLFWLRQV DQG
VHQWHQFHV
,,
$9RLU'LUH
'HIHQGDQWVDUJXHWKDWWKH\GLGQRWHIIHFWLYHO\ZDLYHWKHLU
ULJKWWREHSUHVHQWGXULQJYRLUGLUHEHFDXVHWKH\GLGQRWZDLYH
WKH ULJKW LQ SHUVRQ EHIRUH WKH WULDO FRXUW 'HIHQGDQWV DUH
HVVHQWLDOO\DVVHUWLQJWKDWDWULDOFRXUWPXVWHQJDJHDGHIHQGDQW
LQDQRQWKHUHFRUGFROORTX\EHIRUHDOORZLQJWKHGHIHQGDQWWR
DEVHQWKLPVHOIIURPYRLUGLUHDQGWKDWIDLOXUHWRGRVRLVD
IXQGDPHQWDOVWUXFWXUDOHUURU:HGHFOLQHWRVRKROG
$ FULPLQDO GHIHQGDQW KDV D FRQVWLWXWLRQDO ULJKW WR EH
³SUHVHQW DW DOO VWDJHV RI WKH WULDO ZKHUH KLV DEVHQFH PLJKW
IUXVWUDWH WKH IDLUQHVV RI WKH SURFHHGLQJV>@´ )DUHWWD Y
&DOLIRUQLD86Q 8QLWHG6WDWHVY
*LEEV)G WK&LU )HGHUDO5XOHRI
&ULPLQDO3URFHGXUHEXLOGVRQWKLVULJKWDQGPDQGDWHVWKDW
³>W@KHGHIHQGDQWVKDOOEHSUHVHQWDWHYHU\VWDJHRIWKHWULDO
LQFOXGLQJ WKH LPSDQHOLQJ RI WKH MXU\ DQG WKH UHWXUQ RI WKH
YHUGLFW´)(' 5 &5,0 3 D 7KLVULJKWLVPRUHH[WHQVLYH
WKDQWKDWJXDUDQWHHGE\WKH&RQVWLWXWLRQ*LEEV)GDW

7KHULJKWWREHSUHVHQWPD\EHZDLYHG5XOHDOORZVWKH
FRXUWWRFRQVLGHUWKHGHIHQGDQWWRKDYHZDLYHGWKHULJKWWREH
SUHVHQWLIWKHGHIHQGDQWKDVEHHQLQLWLDOO\SUHVHQWDQGWKHQ
1RV 8QLWHG6WDWHVY
5LGGOHHWDO

86&† 5,&2 $OWVKXOHUDQG5LGGOH
$OWVKXOHU DQG 5LGGOH DUJXH WKDW WKHLU 5,&2 FRQYLFWLRQV
XQGHU86&† F DQG G ZHUHLQYDOLGEHFDXVHWKH
JRYHUQPHQWZDVREOLJHGXQGHU/RSH]WRVKRZDVXEVWDQWLDO
HIIHFWRQLQWHUVWDWHFRPPHUFHDQGLWIDLOHGWRGRVRDOOHJLQJ
RQO\DQLQWUDVWDWHHQWHUSULVH6HFWLRQ F VWDWHVWKDW
>L@W VKDOO EH XQODZIXO IRU DQ\ SHUVRQ HPSOR\HG E\ RU
DVVRFLDWHG ZLWK DQ\ HQWHUSULVH HQJDJHG LQ RU WKH
DFWLYLWLHVRIZKLFKDIIHFWLQWHUVWDWHRUIRUHLJQFRPPHUFH
WR FRQGXFW RU SDUWLFLSDWH GLUHFWO\ RU LQGLUHFWO\ LQ WKH
FRQGXFWRIVXFKHQWHUSULVH¶VDIIDLUVWKURXJKDSDWWHUQRI
UDFNHWHHULQJDFWLYLW\RUFROOHFWLRQRIXQODZIXOGHEW
86& † F 6XEVHFWLRQ G PDNHV LW D FULPH WR
FRQVSLUH WR YLRODWH F %HFDXVH WKH VWDWXWH FRQWDLQV D
MXULVGLFWLRQDOUHTXLUHPHQW WKHHQWHUSULVHPXVWEHHQJDJHGLQ
RU DIIHFW FRPPHUFH LW LV QRW FRQWUROOHG E\ /RSH] DQG
DFFRUGLQJWRWKH6XSUHPH&RXUWZKHQD5,&2HQWHUSULVHLV
³HQJDJHGLQ´LQWHUVWDWHFRPPHUFHWKHJRYHUQPHQWGRHVQRW
QHHG WR VKRZ WKDW WKH HQWHUSULVH¶V HIIHFW RQ FRPPHUFH LV
³VXEVWDQWLDO´8QLWHG6WDWHVY5REHUWVRQ86
5REHUWVRQDIILUPHGD5,&2FRQYLFWLRQEDVHGRQ
WKHRSHUDWLRQVRIDQ$ODVNDJROGPLQHZKLFKXVHGRXWRI
VWDWHZRUNHUVDQGVHQWJROGRXWRI$ODVNDDQGWKXVHQJDJHG
LQLQWHUVWDWHFRPPHUFH,G7KH&RXUWLQ5REHUWVRQUHVHUYHG
WKH TXHVWLRQ RI ZKHWKHU D 5,&2 SURVHFXWLRQ EDVHG RQ DQ
HQWHUSULVH WKDW ³DIIHFWV´ LQWHUVWDWH FRPPHUFH PXVW VKRZ D
³VXEVWDQWLDO´HIIHFW,G
6LQFH WKH <RXQJVWRZQ HQWHUSULVH KHUH LV QRW ³GLUHFWO\
HQJDJHG LQ WKH SURGXFWLRQ GLVWULEXWLRQ RU DFTXLVLWLRQ RI
JRRGV RU VHUYLFHV LQ LQWHUVWDWH FRPPHUFH´ LG DW ZH
FRQVLGHU WKH UHTXLUHPHQWV IRU DQ HQWHUSULVH WKDW DIIHFWV
LQWHUVWDWH FRPPHUFH UDWKHU WKDQ RQH WKDW LV HQJDJHG LQ
LQWHUVWDWHFRPPHUFH7KHTXHVWLRQRID5,&2HQWHUSULVH¶V
QHFHVVDU\UHODWLRQVKLSWRLQWHUVWDWHFRPPHUFHKDVQRWEHHQ
H[SUHVVO\DGGUHVVHGE\WKLVFRXUWDIWHU5REHUWVRQDQG/RSH]

-- 6 of 8 --

8QLWHG6WDWHVY
5LGGOHHWDO
1RV
VXEMHFWPDWWHUMXULVGLFWLRQWKDWLVWKHFRXUW¶VSRZHUWRKHDU
D FDVH 5DWKHU D FODLP RI DQ LQVXIILFLHQW FRQQHFWLRQ WR
LQWHUVWDWHFRPPHUFHLVDFKDOOHQJHWRRQHRIWKHHOHPHQWVRI
WKH JRYHUQPHQW¶V FDVH DQG LV WKHUHIRUH FRQVLGHUHG D FODLP
DERXWWKHVXIILFLHQF\RIWKHHYLGHQFH6HH8QLWHG6WDWHVY
'HJDQ)G WK&LU H[SODLQLQJWKDW
GHIHQGDQW¶VFKDOOHQJHWRDQLQWHUVWDWHFRPPHUFHQH[XVLQD
FRQYLFWLRQXQGHU86&† D PXUGHUIRUKLUH KDG
QRHIIHFWRQVXEMHFWPDWWHUMXULVGLFWLRQEXWZDVDFODLPDERXW
WKHVXIILFLHQF\RIWKHHYLGHQFH 8QLWHG6WDWHVY0DUWLQ
)G WK&LU VWDWLQJWKDWDFKDOOHQJHWR
86& † L ¶V LQWHUVWDWH FRPPHUFH HOHPHQW GLG QRW
DIIHFW VXEMHFW PDWWHU MXULVGLFWLRQ 'HIHQGDQWV¶ FODLP LV
WKHUHIRUH EHVW XQGHUVWRRG DV D IDFLDO FKDOOHQJH WR WKH
FRQVWLWXWLRQDOLW\ RI †† DQG DQG DQ DVDSSOLHG
FKDOOHQJHWRWKHVXIILFLHQF\RIWKHJRYHUQPHQW¶VHYLGHQFHLQ
WKH††DQGFRQYLFWLRQV
,QDWWDFNLQJWKHVWDWXWHVGHIHQGDQWVUHO\RQWKH6XSUHPH
&RXUW¶V RSLQLRQ LQ 8QLWHG 6WDWHV Y /RSH] 86
ZKLFKLQYDOLGDWHGWKH*XQ)UHH6FKRRO=RQHV$FW
86&† T EHFDXVH&RQJUHVVKDGLQVXIILFLHQWO\
HVWDEOLVKHGDFRQQHFWLRQZLWKLQWHUVWDWHFRPPHUFH7KHUHWKH
6XSUHPH&RXUWLGHQWLILHGWKUHHFDWHJRULHVRIDFWLYLWLHVWKDW
&RQJUHVVPD\UHJXODWHXQGHULWVFRPPHUFHSRZHU ³WKH
XVH RI WKH FKDQQHOV RI LQWHUVWDWH FRPPHUFH´ ³WKH
LQVWUXPHQWDOLWLHVRILQWHUVWDWHFRPPHUFHRUSHUVRQVRUWKLQJV
LQLQWHUVWDWHFRPPHUFHHYHQWKRXJKWKHWKUHDWPD\FRPHRQO\
IURPLQWUDVWDWHDFWLYLWLHV´DQG ³WKRVHDFWLYLWLHVKDYLQJD
VXEVWDQWLDOUHODWLRQWRLQWHUVWDWHFRPPHUFH´,GDW
FLWDWLRQ RPLWWHG 7KH VWDWXWH LQ /RSH] IHOO LQWR WKH WKLUG
FDWHJRU\DQGWKH&RXUWGHWHUPLQHGWKDWDFWLYLWLHVUHJXODWHG
ZLWKLQ WKLV FDWHJRU\ KDG WR ³VXEVWDQWLDOO\ DIIHFW´ LQWHUVWDWH
FRPPHUFH,GDW7KHVWDWXWHDWLVVXHGLGQRWVXUYLYH
FRQVWLWXWLRQDO VFUXWLQ\ IRU WZR UHDVRQV LW ZDV D FULPLQDO
VWDWXWHWKDWKDGQRWKLQJWRGRZLWKFRPPHUFHDQGLWODFNHGD
³MXULVGLFWLRQDOHOHPHQWZKLFKZRXOGHQVXUHWKURXJKFDVHE\
FDVHLQTXLU\WKDWWKH>DFWLYLW\@LQTXHVWLRQDIIHFWVLQWHUVWDWH
FRPPHUFH´,GDW
1RV 8QLWHG6WDWHVY
5LGGOHHWDO

YROXQWDULO\OHDYHVDIWHUWKHWULDOKDVFRPPHQFHG³ZKHWKHURU
QRW WKH GHIHQGDQW KDV EHHQ LQIRUPHG E\ WKH FRXUW RI WKH
REOLJDWLRQWRUHPDLQGXULQJWKHWULDO´ )(' 5 &5,0 3 E
'HIHQGDQWVDWWHPSWWRDYRLGWKHFRQFOXVLRQWKDWWKH\ZDLYHG
WKHLUULJKWZKHQWKH\FRQVHQWHGWRWKHXVHRITXHVWLRQQDLUHV
DQG UHTXHVWHG WR OHDYH WKH FRXUWKRXVH GXULQJ YRLU GLUH E\
VD\LQJWKDWZDLYHUE\WKHLUFRXQVHOZDVQRWHIIHFWLYHDVWKHLU
ZDLYHU7KLVFRXUWKDVKRZHYHUKHOGRWKHUZLVH,Q8QLWHG
6WDWHVY*DOOR)G WK&LU ZH DJUHHG
ZLWK D GLVWULFW FRXUW¶V GHWHUPLQDWLRQ WKDW D GHIHQGDQW KDG
HIIHFWLYHO\ZDLYHGKLVULJKWWREHSUHVHQWZKHQKLVGHIHQVH
FRXQVHO UHOD\HG WKH KRVSLWDOL]HG GHIHQGDQW¶V ZDLYHU RI
SUHVHQFHWRWKHFRXUW,GDW
2I FRXUVH WKH ZDLYHU RI WKLV ULJKW DV ZLWK RWKHU
FRQVWLWXWLRQDO ULJKWV PXVW EH NQRZLQJ DQG YROXQWDU\
-RKQVRQY=HUEVW86 ³$ZDLYHULV
RUGLQDULO\DQLQWHQWLRQDOUHOLQTXLVKPHQWRUDEDQGRQPHQWRID
NQRZQULJKWRUSULYLOHJH´ *LYHQWKHFKRLFHVSUHVHQWHGWR
WKHGHIHQGDQWVDQGWKHLUVWUDWHJLFRSWLRQWREHDEVHQWWRDYRLG
SUHMXGLFH WKH YROXQWDULQHVV RI WKHLU GHFLVLRQ LV FOHDU
0RUHRYHU DV 5XOH VXJJHVWV WKH &RQVWLWXWLRQ GRHV QRW
UHTXLUHDFROORTX\RQWKHUHFRUGWRHVWDEOLVKDNQRZLQJZDLYHU
RIWKHULJKWWREHSUHVHQW7D\ORUY8QLWHG6WDWHV86
,Q7D\ORUDGHIHQGDQWIDLOHGWRUHWXUQIRU
WKH DIWHUQRRQ VHVVLRQ RI KLV WULDO ZKLFK FRQWLQXHG LQ KLV
DEVHQFH WKH IROORZLQJ GD\ 7KH 6XSUHPH &RXUW IRXQG DQ
HIIHFWLYHZDLYHULQKLVYROXQWDU\DEVHQFHHYHQWKRXJKWKH
WULDOFRXUWGLGQRWZDUQKLPRIKLVULJKWVDQGWKHFRQVHTXHQFHV
RI KLV DEVHQFH 7KH 6XSUHPH &RXUW UHDVRQHG WKDW LW ZDV
³ZKROO\LQFUHGLEOH´WKDWWKHGHIHQGDQWZKRKDGEHHQSUHVHQW
DWWKHVWDUWRIKLVWULDOZDVXQDZDUHRIKLVULJKWWREHSUHVHQW
,GDW6LPLODUO\LQ8QLWHG6WDWHVY*DJQRQ86
DFDVHLQYROYLQJDQLQFDPHUDFRQIHUHQFHZLWKDMXURU
WKH6XSUHPH&RXUWIRXQGWKDW³UHVSRQGHQWV¶WRWDOIDLOXUHWR
DVVHUW WKHLU ULJKWV WR DWWHQG WKH FRQIHUHQFH ZLWK WKH MXURU
VXIILFHGWRZDLYHWKHLUULJKWVXQGHU5XOH´,GDWVHH
DOVR8QLWHG6WDWHVY+RO\ILHOG)G WK&LU
DIILUPLQJDFRQYLFWLRQ ZKHQWKHMXGJHDQGFRXQVHO

-- 7 of 8 --

8QLWHG6WDWHVY
5LGGOHHWDO
1RV
FRQIHUHQFHFDOOHGWKHKRVSLWDOL]HGGHIHQGDQWZKRFRQYHUVHG
ZLWKKLVODZ\HUDQGDXWKRUL]HGKLVODZ\HUDQGWKHFRXUWWR
SURFHHGLQKLVDEVHQFH
,QWKLVFDVHGHIHQVHFRXQVHOVXJJHVWHGGHIHQGDQWV¶DEVHQFH
DQG WKH FRXUW DOORZHG WKH ZDLYHU RQO\ DIWHU LW LQVWUXFWHG
GHIHQVH FRXQVHO WR FRQVXOW ZLWK WKHLU FOLHQWV DQG WKHQ
UHFHLYHGDVVXUDQFHIURPGHIHQVHFRXQVHOWKDWWKHGHIHQGDQWV
ZDLYHGWKHLUULJKWWREHSUHVHQW7RKROGWKDWVXFKDZDLYHU
RIDGHIHQGDQW¶VYRLUGLUHSUHVHQFHZRXOGEHHIIHFWLYHRQO\
DIWHU DQ RQWKHUHFRUG FROORTX\ ZLWK WKH GHIHQGDQW ZRXOG
FUHDWHDEXUGHQVRPHDQGLPSUDFWLFDOUXOH,QGHHGVXFKDUXOH
ZRXOGHIIHFWLYHO\VWRSWKHSURFHHGLQJVZKHQHYHUDGHIHQGDQW
UHIXVHGWRUHWXUQWRFRXUW:HKROGWKDWGHIHQGDQWV¶ZDLYHU
WKURXJKWKHLUFRXQVHORIWKHLUULJKWWREHSUHVHQWGXULQJYRLU
GLUHZDVHIIHFWLYH
(YHQLIWKHZDLYHUZHUHQRWHIIHFWLYHWKHULJKWWREHSUHVHQW
DW YRLU GLUH LV QRW RQH RI WKRVH VWUXFWXUDO ULJKWV ZKRVH
YLRODWLRQ FRQVWLWXWHV SHU VH HUURU 5DWKHU WKHUH PXVW EH
SUHMXGLFHLQWKHDEVHQFHWRZDUUDQWUHYHUVDO6HH*LEEV
)GDW DSSO\LQJKDUPOHVVHUURUUHYLHZWRWKHH[FOXVLRQ
RI GHIHQGDQWV IURP D SRUWLRQ RI YRLU GLUH DQG SODLQ HUURU
UHYLHZWRGHIHQGDQWV¶H[FOXVLRQIURPSHUHPSWRU\FKDOOHQJHV
$Q\HUURULQDGHIHQGDQW¶VYRLUGLUHDEVHQFHLVQRWD³GHIHFW
DIIHFWLQJ WKH IUDPHZRUN ZLWKLQ ZKLFK WKH WULDO SURFHHGV´
$UL]RQDY)XOPLQDQWH86 QRULVLWRQH
RI WKRVH HUURUV WKDW ³QHFHVVDULO\ UHQGHU>V@ D WULDO
IXQGDPHQWDOO\ XQIDLU´ 5RVH Y &ODUN 86
FRPSDUH*LGHRQY:DLQZULJKW86
UHYHUVDOUHTXLUHGIRUWKHFRPSOHWHGHQLDORIWULDOFRXQVHO
7XPH\Y2KLR86 UHYHUVDOUHTXLUHG
ZKHQDMXGJHKDVDILQDQFLDOLQWHUHVWLQFRQYLFWLRQGHVSLWHD
ODFNRILQGLFDWLRQWKDWELDVLQIOXHQFHGGHFLVLRQV 9DVTXH]Y
+LOOHU\86 GLVFULPLQDWLRQLQWKH
JUDQGMXU\LVQRWVXEMHFWWRKDUPOHVVHUURUUHYLHZ 0F.DVNOH
Y:LJJLQV86Q GHQLDORIWKH
ULJKWWRVHOIUHSUHVHQWDWLRQDWWULDOLVQRWVXEMHFWWRKDUPOHVV
HUURUUHYLHZ :DOOHUY*HRUJLD86Q
1RV 8QLWHG6WDWHVY
5LGGOHHWDO

$OWVKXOHU ZDV QRW FRQYLFWHG XQGHU 86& †
GHQLDORIWKHULJKWWRDSXEOLFWULDOLVQRWVXEMHFWWRKDUPOHVV
HUURUDQDO\VLV 7RFUHDWHDQDXWRPDWLFUHYHUVDOUXOHIRUYRLU
GLUHDEVHQFHVZRXOGEHWRULVNLQWHUIHUHQFHZLWKWKHFKRLFHV
PDGHE\FRXQVHODQGGHIHQGDQWIRUWKHGHIHQGDQW¶VEHQHILW
+HUHIRULQVWDQFHGHIHQGDQWV¶DEVHQFHZDVSDUWRIDGHIHQVH
VWUDWHJ\WRDYRLGDQ\SUHMXGLFHUHVXOWLQJIURPWKHDSSHDUDQFH
RI KHDY\ VHFXULW\ GXULQJ WKH TXHVWLRQLQJ RI WKH SRWHQWLDO
MXURUV 1R SXUSRVH ZRXOG EH VHUYHG E\ D SHU VH UXOH WKDW
HOLPLQDWHGWKLVVROXWLRQWRGHIHQGDQWV¶GLOHPPD6XFKDUXOH
ZRXOGDOVRLQYLWH³VDQGEDJJLQJ´E\GHIHQGDQWVVHHNLQJWRZLQ
DUHYHUVDORQLVVXHVQHYHUSUHVHQWHGWRWKHWULDOFRXUW:H
GHFOLQHWRH[SDQGWKHOLPLWHGOLVWRIVWUXFWXUDOULJKWVZKRVH
YLRODWLRQFRQVWLWXWHVSHUVHHUURUE\DGGLQJWKHGHIHQGDQW¶V
ULJKWWRSUHVHQFHDWYRLUGLUH
%,QWHUVWDWH&RPPHUFH
$OWVKXOHU DQG 5LGGOH FODLP WKDW VHYHUDO FRXQWV RI WKHLU
FRQYLFWLRQVKRXOGEHUHYHUVHGEHFDXVHWKHJRYHUQPHQWGLGQRW
VXIILFLHQWO\ HVWDEOLVK D OLQN ZLWK LQWHUVWDWH FRPPHUFH
6SHFLILFDOO\WKH\DUJXHWKDWWKHFRXUWODFNHGVXEMHFWPDWWHU
MXULVGLFWLRQWRFRQYLFWWKHPXQGHU86&† 5,&2
DQG86&† JDPEOLQJ DQG5LGGOHXQGHU86&
† YLROHQFHLQIXUWKHUDQFHRIUDFNHWHHULQJ EHFDXVHWKH
JRYHUQPHQW GLG QRW VKRZ D VXEVWDQWLDO HIIHFW RQ LQWHUVWDWH
FRPPHUFH 'HIHQGDQWV UDLVH WKHLU LQWHUVWDWH FRPPHUFH
DUJXPHQWIRUWKHILUVWWLPHRQDSSHDO7KHFODLPPD\RQO\EH
UHYLHZHGIRUSODLQHUURU6HH8QLWHG6WDWHVY*D\GRV
)G G&LU UHYLHZLQJIRUSODLQHUURUWKH
FODLP WKDW WKH HYLGHQFH ZDV LQVXIILFLHQW WR HVWDEOLVK D
FRQQHFWLRQWRLQWHUVWDWHFRPPHUFHLQDQH[SORVLYHVFDVH
'HIHQGDQWV HUU LQ DVVHUWLQJ WKDW WKH LQWHUVWDWH FRPPHUFH
DUJXPHQWJRHVWRWKHFRXUW¶VVXEMHFWPDWWHUMXULVGLFWLRQ7KLV
FRXUWKDVH[SODLQHGWKDWWKHLQWHUVWDWHFRPPHUFHUHTXLUHPHQW
ZKLOHUHIHUUHGWRDVD³MXULVGLFWLRQDO´HOHPHQWGRHVQRWDIIHFW

-- 8 of 8 --

Poursuivez vos recherches dans ChatGPT ou Claude

Connectez Omnilex pour rechercher dans le corpus juridique depuis votre assistant IA.