Merrick v. District of Columbia ( 2018 )


Menu:
  •                                                      81,7('67$7(6',675,&7&2857
    )257+(',675,&72)&2/80%,$
    BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
    
    7$0(&.$0(55,&.et al.           
    
    3ODLQWLIIV      
                                        
    Y                                                               &LYLO$FWLRQ1R$%-
    
    ',675,&72)&2/80%,$              
    
    'HIHQGDQW       
    BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
    0(025$1'8023,1,21
                 3ODLQWLIIV 7DPHFND 0HUULFN DQG KHU DGXOW VRQ 5RQDOG :DVKLQJWRQ EURXJKW WKLV DFWLRQ
    DJDLQVW GHIHQGDQW WKH 'LVWULFW RI &ROXPELD VHHNLQJ WR FROOHFW DWWRUQH\V¶ IHHV LQFXUUHG ZKLOH
    EULQJLQJDVXFFHVVIXODGPLQLVWUDWLYHDFWLRQXQGHUWKH,QGLYLGXDOVZLWK'LVDELOLWLHV(GXFDWLRQ$FW
    ³,'($´  86&  †  et seq  1RZ SHQGLQJ EHIRUH WKH &RXUW LV SODLQWLIIV¶ PRWLRQ IRU
    DWWRUQH\V¶IHHVDQGFRVWV3OV¶0RWIRU$WW¶\V¶)HHV>'NW@³3OV¶0RW´3OV¶0HPRI3
    $LQ6XSSRI3OV¶0RW>'NW@³3OV¶0HP´DW
                 3ODLQWLIIV DUH VHHNLQJ  LQ DWWRUQH\V¶ IHHV DQG  LQ FRVWV UHODWHG WR WKH
    XQGHUO\LQJDGPLQLVWUDWLYHDFWLRQ&RPSO>'NW@ˆ6WDWHPHQWRI$FFRXQW([WR3OV¶
    0HP>'NW@³6WDWHPHQWRI$FFRXQW,´DWLQDGGLWLRQWRLQDWWRUQH\V¶IHHV
    DQGLQFRVWVIRUSXUVLQJWKLVDFWLRQLQIHGHUDOFRXUWSee 3OV¶0HPDW6WDWHPHQWRI
    $FFRXQW([WR3OV¶6XSSO)LOLQJ>'NW@³6WDWHPHQWRI$FFRXQW,,´DW
    
         7KH SDUWLHV DJUHHG LQ WKHLU 5XOH  5HSRUW WKDW WKLV FDVH FDQ EH UHVROYHG WKURXJK D
    GLVSRVLWLYHPRWLRQIRUDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVLQVWHDGRIDPRWLRQIRUVXPPDU\MXGJPHQWSee 5XOH
    5HSRUW>'NW@DW
    
           )RU WKH IROORZLQJ UHDVRQV WKH PRWLRQ ZLOO EH JUDQWHG LQ SDUW  7KH &RXUW ZLOO DZDUG
     LQ DWWRUQH\V¶ IHHV DQG  LQ FRVWV IRU SXUVXLQJ WKH XQGHUO\LQJ DGPLQLVWUDWLYH
    SURFHHGLQJDQGLQDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVDQGLQFRVWVIRUOLWLJDWLQJWKHIHHSHWLWLRQLQ
    WKLV&RXUW
    %$&.*5281'
           5RQDOG :DVKLQJWRQ LV D GHDI DGXOW VWXGHQW ZKR UHTXLUHV LQVWUXFWLRQ WR EH SURYLGHG LQ
    $PHULFDQ6LJQ/DQJXDJH³$6/´+HDULQJ2IILFHU'HWHUPLQDWLRQ([WR3OV¶0HP>'NW
    @³+2'´DWsee also id.ˆ+HDOVRVXIIHUVIURPLPSXOVLYHDQGDQJHUEDVHGEHKDYLRUDO
    RXWEXUVWV  
    Id. ˆ 
     +H KDV DWWHQGHG PRUH WKDQ D GR]HQ SXEOLF QRQSXEOLF DQG UHVLGHQWLDO
    SODFHPHQWVLQWKHODVWVHYHQ\HDUVId. ˆ3OV¶0HPDW±
           $WWKHHQGRI1RYHPEHU0U:DVKLQJWRQZDVUHOHDVHGIURPD'&'HSDUWPHQWRI
    id. ˆ3ULRUWRKLVUHOHDVH6WHYLH1DERUV0U:DVKLQJWRQ¶VFRXUWDSSRLQWHG
    VSHFLDOHGXFDWLRQDGYRFDWHHPDLOHGWKH'LVWULFWRI&ROXPELD3XEOLF6FKRROV¶'LUHFWRURI6SHFLDO
    
    (GXFDWLRQ DQG UHTXHVWHG DQ ,QGLYLGXDOL]HG (GXFDWLRQ 3URJUDP ³,(3´ PHHWLQJ IRU 0U
    :DVKLQJWRQ  3OV¶ 0HP DW  see also ([  WR 3OV¶ 0HP >'NW  @  0U 1DERUV KDG D
    FRQIHUHQFH FDOO ZLWK VHYHUDO HPSOR\HHV DW 'LVWULFW RI &ROXPELD 3XEOLF 6FKRROV ³'&36´ EXW
    '&36GLGQRWDGRSWWKHSURJUDPKHSURSRVHGDQGLWGLGQRWRIIHUWRFRQYHQHDQ,(3PHHWLQJ3OV¶
    0HPDW
           )ROORZLQJ'&36¶UHIXVDOWRSURYLGHVHUYLFHVRUFRQYHQHDQ,(3PHHWLQJ0V0HUULFNILOHG
    DQDGPLQLVWUDWLYHGXHSURFHVVFRPSODLQWRQKHUVRQ¶VEHKDOI&RPSOˆ6KHDOOHJHGWKDW'&36
    GHQLHGKHUVRQDIUHHDSSURSULDWHSXEOLFHGXFDWLRQ³)$3(´ZKHQLWIDLOHGWRSURYLGHKLPZLWK
    VSHFLDOHGXFDWLRQVHUYLFHVVXFKDV$6/WXWRULQJId.ˆ3OV¶0HPDW+2'DW±)XUWKHU
    VKH UHTXHVWHG WKH IROORZLQJ IRUPV RI UHOLHI   DQ RUGHU FRPSHOOLQJ '&36 WR SURYLGH 0U
    
    
    :DVKLQJWRQZLWKVSHFLDOHGXFDWLRQVHUYLFHVE\DQ$/6FHUWLILHGLQVWUXFWRUWKURXJK'&36¶+RPH
    DQG+RVSLWDO,QVWUXFWLRQ3URJUDP³++,3´DFRPSHQVDWRU\HGXFDWLRQDZDUGLQWKHIRUPRI
     KRXUV RI LQVWUXFWLRQ LQ $6/ DQG  DQ LQGHSHQGHQW HYDOXDWLRQ WR GHWHUPLQH DSSURSULDWH
    FRPSHQVDWRU\HGXFDWLRQIRU0U:DVKLQJWRQ+2'DW±
                 7KH+HDULQJ2IILFHUFRQFOXGHGWKDW'&36GLGLQGHHGGHQ\0U:DVKLQJWRQD)$3(ZKHQ
    LWIDLOHGWRLPSOHPHQWKLV,(3DIWHUKHZDVSODFHGLQDIRVWHUKRPHLQODWH1RYHPEHU+2'
    DW$QGRQ$SULOWKH+HDULQJ2IILFHURUGHUHGWKDW0U:DVKLQJWRQUHFHLYHKRXUV
    RI LQGLYLGXDO WXWRULQJ LQ $6/ HLWKHU WKURXJK '&36 RU WKURXJK DQ LQGHSHQGHQWWXWRU IXQGHG E\
    '&36DWPDUNHWUDWHV+2'DW&RPSOˆˆ±3OV¶0HPDW
                 2Q2FWREHUSODLQWLIIVILOHGDFRPSODLQWLQWKLV&RXUWVHHNLQJWRFROOHFWIHHVDQG
    FRVWVLQFXUUHGDVSDUWRIWKHDGPLQLVWUDWLYHKHDULQJSee generally &RPSO3ODLQWLIIVILOHGDPRWLRQ
    IRUDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVRQ-DQXDU\see 3OV¶0RWDQGWKHPRWLRQLVIXOO\EULHIHG
    67$1'$5'2)5(9,(:
    8QGHUWKH,'($WKH&RXUWKDVWKHGLVFUHWLRQWR³DZDUGUHDVRQDEOHDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVDVSDUW
    RIWKHFRVWVWRDSUHYDLOLQJSDUW\´LQDQDGPLQLVWUDWLYHSURFHHGLQJ³ZKRLVWKHSDUHQWRIDFKLOG
    ZLWKDGLVDELOLW\´86&†L%L,,IDFRXUWGHWHUPLQHVWKDWWKHSODLQWLIIVHHNLQJ
    DWWRUQH\V¶IHHVLVDSUHYDLOLQJSDUW\LWPXVWGHWHUPLQHZKHWKHUWKHUHTXHVWHGDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVDUH
    UHDVRQDEOHReed v. District of Columbia)G'&&LU&RXUWVW\SLFDOO\
    GHWHUPLQH WKH UHDVRQDEOHQHVV RI DWWRUQH\V¶ IHHV EDVHG RQ WKH ³QXPEHU RI KRXUV UHDVRQDEO\
    H[SHQGHGRQWKHOLWLJDWLRQPXOWLSOLHGE\DUHDVRQDEOHKRXUO\UDWH´Hensley v. Eckerhart86
    
    
         'HI¶V2SSWR3OV¶0RW>'NW@³'HI¶V2SS´3OV¶5HSO\WR'HI¶V2SS>'NW@
    ³3OV¶5HSO\´
    
    
    $SODLQWLIIEHDUVWKHEXUGHQRIHVWDEOLVKLQJERWKWKHUHDVRQDEOHQHVVRIWKHKRXUO\UDWHDQG
    WKHUHDVRQDEOHQHVVRIWKHQXPEHURIKRXUVVSHQWRQDSDUWLFXODUWDVNEley v. District of Columbia
    )G'&&LUFLWLQJCovington v. District of Columbia)G±
     '& &LU  see also In re North  )G   '& &LU   7R VKRZ WKH
    UHDVRQDEOHQHVVRIWKHKRXUO\UDWHVDSODLQWLIIPXVWVXEPLWHYLGHQFHUHODWHGWR³WKHDWWRUQH\V¶
    ELOOLQJ SUDFWLFHV´  ³WKH DWWRUQH\V¶VNLOOH[SHULHQFHDQGUHSXWDWLRQ´DQG³WKHSUHYDLOLQJ
    PDUNHWUDWHVLQWKHUHOHYDQWFRPPXQLW\´Covington)GDW7RVKRZWKHUHDVRQDEOHQHVV
    RIKRXUVVSHQWRQDWDVNDSODLQWLIIPXVWVXEPLWD³VXIILFLHQWO\GHWDLOHG>LQYRLFH@WRSHUPLWWKH
    'LVWULFW &RXUW WR PDNH DQ LQGHSHQGHQW GHWHUPLQDWLRQ ZKHWKHU RU QRW WKH KRXUV FODLPHG DUH
    MXVWLILHG´Nat’l Ass’n of Concerned Veterans v. Sec’y of Def.)G'&&LU
    
    $IWHUWKHPRYLQJSDUW\KDVPHWWKLVEXUGHQWKHQXPEHURIKRXUVDQGUDWHDUHSUHVXPHG
    UHDVRQDEOH DQG WKH QRQPRYLQJ SDUW\ PXVW UHEXW WKH PRYLQJ SDUW\¶V VKRZLQJ ZLWK ³HTXDOO\
    VSHFLILF FRXQWHUYDLOLQJ HYLGHQFH´  Covington  )G DW ± TXRWLQJ Nat’l Ass’n of
    Concerned Veterans)GDW
    $1$/<6,6
    'HIHQGDQW GRHV QRW GLVSXWH WKDW SODLQWLIIV ZHUH WKH SUHYDLOLQJ SDUWLHV LQ WKH XQGHUO\LQJ
    DGPLQLVWUDWLYHDFWLRQZLWKLQWKHPHDQLQJRIWKH,'($DQGWKDWWKH\DUHWKHUHIRUHHQWLWOHGWRVRPH
    DPRXQWRIDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVSee 'HI¶V2SSDW7KHRQO\TXHVWLRQEHIRUHWKH&RXUWLVZKHWKHU
    WKHDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVVRXJKWE\SODLQWLIIVDUHUHDVRQDEOH
    ,     7KHKRXUVH[SHQGHGE\SODLQWLIIV¶FRXQVHOZHUHUHDVRQDEOH
    3ODLQWLIIVDVNIRUIRUKRXUVRIZRUNSHUIRUPHGWROLWLJDWHWKHXQGHUO\LQJ
    DGPLQLVWUDWLYH SURFHHGLQJ  'HIHQGDQW GRHV QRW WDNH LVVXH ZLWK WKH GRFXPHQWDWLRQ SURYLGHG LQ
    
    
    VXSSRUWRIWKLVUHTXHVWRUZLWKDQ\VSHFLILFKRXUVELOOHG+RZHYHULWDUJXHVWKDWD³UHGXFWLRQ
    LV DSSURSULDWH EHFDXVHPXFK RI WKH UHOLHI VRXJKW ZDV QRWREWDLQHG´  'HI¶V 2SS DW   $W D
    PLQLPXPGHIHQGDQWDVNVWKH&RXUWWR³UHGXFHWKHLQYRLFHE\WKHKRXUVGHYRWHGH[FOXVLYHO\WRWKH
    SODFHPHQWVRXJKWEXWQRWREWDLQHG´DQGLWSRLQWVWRDQHQWU\IRUKRXUVRIZRUNWKDWUHODWHG
    H[FOXVLYHO\WRWKH++,3SODFHPHQWUHTXHVWIdsee 6WDWHPHQWRI$FFRXQW,DW³/HJDOUHVHDUFK
    UHTXLUHPHQWVIRU+RPH+RVSLWDO,QVWUXFWLRQ3URJUDP³++,3´DQGZKHWKHU5:ZRXOGTXDOLI\´
    3ODLQWLIIV KDYH WKH EXUGHQ RI GHPRQVWUDWLQJ WKDW WKH QXPEHU RI KRXUV H[SHQGHG RQ
    SDUWLFXODUWDVNVE\WKHLUDWWRUQH\VZHUHUHDVRQDEOHNat’l Ass’n of Concerned Veterans)G
    DW   $WWRUQH\V PXVW ³PDLQWDLQ FRQWHPSRUDQHRXV FRPSOHWH DQG VWDQGDUGL]HG WLPH UHFRUGV
    ZKLFKDFFXUDWHO\UHIOHFWWKHZRUNGRQHE\HDFKDWWRUQH\´Id.³:KHUHWKHGRFXPHQWDWLRQRIKRXUV
    LVLQDGHTXDWHWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWPD\UHGXFHWKHDZDUGDFFRUGLQJO\´Hensley86DW
    &RXUWVDOVRKDYHWKHGLVFUHWLRQWRUHGXFHDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVDZDUGVWRDFFRXQWIRUSDUWLDORU
    OLPLWHGVXFFHVVRQWKHPHULWVE\HLWKHUHOLPLQDWLQJVSHFLILFKRXUVRUUHGXFLQJWKHDZDUGDVDZKROH
    Hensley86DW±)RUSXUSRVHVRIUHGXFLQJWKHDZDUGDPRXQWEDVHGRQWKHODFNRI
    VXFFHVVDFRXUWVKRXOGFRQVLGHUZKHWKHU³WKHSODLQWLIIDFKLHYH>G@DOHYHORIVXFFHVVWKDWPDNHVWKH
    KRXUVUHDVRQDEO\H[SHQGHGDVDWLVIDFWRU\EDVLVIRUPDNLQJDIHHDZDUG´IdDW7KLVLVD
    
          +RZHYHU WKH SDUWLHV DQG WKH &RXUW LGHQWLILHG FHUWDLQ W\SRJUDSKLFDO HUURUV DQG WKH IHH
    DZDUGZLOOEHDGMXVWHGDFFRUGLQJO\7KHILUVWPLVWDNHZDVDWLPHHQWU\PDGHRQ0DUFK
    WKDW ELOOHG 0U 0RUDQ¶V UHVHDUFK WLPH DW D UDWH RI  SHU KRXU LQVWHDG RI   See
    6WDWHPHQWRI$FFRXQW,DW7KHELOOVKRXOGUHIOHFWDFKDUJHRILQVWHDGRIVRWKH
    ELOOZLOOEHUHGXFHGE\1H[WWKHUHLVDQHQWU\IURP0DUFKLQZKLFK0U1DERUV¶
    WUDYHOWLPHZDVLQDGYHUWHQWO\ELOOHGDWSHUKRXULQVWHDGRISHUKRXUSee 6WDWHPHQW
    RI$FFRXQW,DW'HI¶V2SSDW3OV¶5HSO\DW7KHELOOUHIOHFWHGDFKDUJHRIIRU
    WUDYHOEXWLWVKRXOGKDYHRQO\FKDUJHG7KHWRWDOELOOZLOOEHUHGXFHGE\IRUWKLV
    HUURU,QDGGLWLRQSODLQWLIIVKDYHZLWKGUDZQD)HEUXDU\HQWU\LQZKLFKWKHLUDWWRUQH\V
    DFFLGHQWDOO\FKDUJHGKRXUVRIWLPHDWDUDWHRIIRUDWRWDORI3OV¶5HSO\DW
    7KLVZLOOUHGXFHWKHELOOE\$OWRJHWKHUWKHIHHDZDUGZLOOEHUHGXFHGE\
    
          ,WLVXQFOHDULIGHIHQGDQWLVDVNLQJIRUDILIWHHQSHUFHQWUHGXFWLRQLQKRXUVRUWRWKHWRWDOIHH
    DZDUG
    
    
    UHVXOWVRULHQWHGLQTXLU\³LWLVWKHdegree RIWKHSODLQWLII¶VVXFFHVVWKDWLVWKHFULWLFDOIDFWRUWRWKH
    GHWHUPLQDWLRQRIWKHVL]HRIDUHDVRQDEOHIHH´A.S. v. District of Columbia)6XSSG
    ''&FLWLQJTex. State Teachers Ass’n v. Garland Indep. Sch. Dist.86
    
    +HUHWKHVWXGHQW¶VSDUHQWEURXJKWDQDGPLQLVWUDWLYHFRPSODLQWLQRUGHUWROLWLJDWHRQHLVVXH
    ZKHWKHU0U:DVKLQJWRQZDVGHQLHGD)$3(ZKHQ'&36IDLOHGWRLPSOHPHQWKLV,(3ZKHQKH
    PRYHGLQWRDIRVWHUKRPH7KHFRPSODLQWVRXJKWWKUHHIRUPVRIUHOLHIIRUWKHDOOHJHGYLRODWLRQRI
    WKH,'($DQRUGHUFRPSHOOLQJ'&36WRSURYLGH0U:DVKLQJWRQZLWKDFHUWLILHG$6/WXWRU
    WKURXJKWKH+RPHDQG+RVSLWDO,QVWUXFWLRQ3URJUDPKRXUVRIFRPSHQVDWRU\HGXFDWLRQ
    DQGDQLQGHSHQGHQWHGXFDWLRQHYDOXDWLRQ+2'DW±
           )RUWKHUHDVRQVVHWRXWLQWKH+HDULQJ2IILFHU¶VGHFLVLRQWKHUHOLHIDZDUGHGZDVKRXUV
    RIFRPSHQVDWRU\HGXFDWLRQLQ$6See +2'DW%XWWKH&RXUWGRHVQRWILQGLWWREHDSSURSULDWH
    WRUHGXFHWKHDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVDZDUGE\ILIWHHQSHUFHQW³$UHGXFHGIHHDZDUGLVDSSURSULDWHLIWKH
    UHOLHILVOLPLWHGLQFRPSDULVRQWRWKHVFRSHRIWKHOLWLJDWLRQDVDZKROH´Hensley86DW
    see, e.g.Young v. District of Columbia)6XSSG±''&UHGXFLQJ
    WKHIHHDZDUGE\WZHQW\ILYHSHUFHQWEHFDXVHWKHSODLQWLIIRQO\SUHYDLOHGRQRQHRIWKHWKUHHLVVXHV
    SUHVHQWHG DQG WKH KHDULQJ RIILFHU GHQLHG DOO UHOLHI VRXJKW H[FHSW IRU FRPSHQVDWRU\ HGXFDWLRQ
    7KDWLVQRWWKHFDVHKHUH8OWLPDWHO\0V0HUULFNZDVVXFFHVVIXORQWKHIXQGDPHQWDOLVVXHWKDW
    ZDVOLWLJDWHGEHIRUHWKHDGPLQLVWUDWLYHERDUGDQG0U:DVKLQJWRQUHFHLYHGWKHSULPDU\IRUPRI
    UHOLHI UHTXHVWHG  FRQWLQXHG LQVWUXFWLRQ E\ D TXDOLILHG $6/ WXWRU WR PDNH XS IRU WKH KRXUV RI
    HGXFDWLRQKHKDGEHHQGHQLHG See+2'DW*HQHUDOO\DQDWWRUQH\³VKRXOGUHFRYHUDIXOO\
    FRPSHQVDWRU\IHH´ZKHUH³DSODLQWLIIKDVREWDLQHGH[FHOOHQWUHVXOWV´Hensley86DW
           0RUHRYHULWVHHPVDVLIWKHKRXUVRIFRPSHQVDWRU\HGXFDWLRQZDVDZDUGHGLQSODFHRI
    DQLQGHSHQGHQWHGXFDWLRQHYDOXDWLRQEHFDXVHDZDUGLQJERWKZRXOGKDYHEHHQGXSOLFDWLYHSee
    
    
    'HI¶V 2SS DW  ³7KH DZDUG ODFNHG DQ >LQGHSHQGHQW HGXFDWLRQ HYDOXDWLRQ@ EXW GLG SURYLGH
    FRPSHQVDWRU\ HGXFDWLRQ ZKLFK ZDV WKH SXUSRVH EHKLQG VHHNLQJ DQ >LQGHSHQGHQW HGXFDWLRQ
    HYDOXDWLRQ@´$QGWKH+HDULQJ2IILFHUUHMHFWHG0V0HUULFN¶VUHTXHVWIRUVHUYLFHVWKURXJKWKH
    ++,3EHFDXVHWKDWZRXOGKDYHPDUNHGDVLJQLILFDQWFKDQJHLQWKHVWXGHQW¶VHGXFDWLRQDOSODFHPHQW
    +2'DW6LQFHKLV,(3WHDPZDVVFKHGXOHGWRPHHWVRRQWKH+HDULQJ2IILFHUFRQFOXGHGWKDW
    ³LWZRXOGQRWEHDSSURSULDWHWRGLFWDWH>0U:DVKLQJWRQ¶V@RQJRLQJSODFHPHQW´Id.DW±
           )LQDOO\WKHDGPLQLVWUDWLYHKHDULQJLQYROYHGRQHFODLPEDVHGRQRQHVHWRIIDFWVDQGOHJDO
    WKHRULHVDQGWKHH[SHQGLWXUHRIDWWRUQH\WLPHZRXOGQRWKDYHFKDQJHGGUDPDWLFDOO\LIWKHKHDULQJ
    RIILFHUKDGDZDUGHGWKHRWKHUIRUPVRIUHTXHVWHGUHOLHISee Hensley86DW³>7@KH
    GLVWULFW FRXUW VKRXOG IRFXV RQ WKH VLJQLILFDQFH RI WKH RYHUDOO UHOLHI REWDLQHG E\ WKH SODLQWLII LQ
    UHODWLRQWRWKHKRXUVUHDVRQDEO\H[SHQGHGRQWKHOLWLJDWLRQ´+RZHYHUWKH&RXUWGRHVUHFRJQL]H
    WKDW 0U :DVKLQJWRQ ZDV QRW DZDUGHG VSHFLDO HGXFDWLRQ VHUYLFHV WKURXJK WKH ++,3 VR LW ZLOO
    UHGXFHWKHWRWDOKRXUVH[SHQGHGE\WKHKRXUWLPHHQWU\LGHQWLILHGE\GHIHQGDQWSee 6WDWHPHQW
    RI$FFRXQW,DW
           7KHUHIRUHWKH&RXUWILQGVWKDWSODLQWLIIV¶FRXQVHOUHDVRQDEO\H[SHQGHGKRXUVRIZRUN
    EXWLWZLOOUHGXFHWKHDZDUGE\ZKLFKUHIOHFWVWKHKRXUVFKDUJHGE\0U1DERUVRQ
    2FWREHUIRUUHVHDUFKUHODWHGWRWKH+RPH+RVSLWDO,QVWUXFWLRQ3URJUDP 
    ,,    3ODLQWLIIV¶FRXQVHOV¶UDWHVZHUHUHDVRQDEOH
    3ODLQWLIIVEHDUWKHEXUGHQRIHVWDEOLVKLQJWKHUHDVRQDEOHQHVVRIWKHKRXUO\UDWHVFKDUJHGE\
    WKHLU DWWRUQH\V IRU VHUYLFHV UHQGHUHG LQ WKH XQGHUO\LQJ SURFHHGLQJV  Eley  )G DW 
    ³:KHWKHU DQ KRXUO\ UDWH LV UHDVRQDEOH WXUQV RQ WKUHH VXEHOHPHQWV   µWKH DWWRUQH\¶V ELOOLQJ
    SUDFWLFHV¶µWKHDWWRUQH\¶VVNLOOH[SHULHQFHDQGUHSXWDWLRQ¶DQGµWKHSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWHV
    LQWKHUHOHYDQWFRPPXQLW\¶´Id.TXRWLQJCovington)GDW
    
    
    7RHVWDEOLVKWKHSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWHDSODLQWLIIPXVW³SURGXFHVDWLVIDFWRU\HYLGHQFH±in
    addition to WKHDWWRUQH\¶VRZQDIILGDYLWV± WKDWWKHUHTXHVWHGUDWHVDUHLQOLQHZLWKWKRVHSUHYDLOLQJ
    LQWKHFRPPXQLW\IRUVLPLODUVHUYLFHVE\ODZ\HUVRIUHDVRQDEO\FRPSDUDEOHVNLOOH[SHULHQFHDQG
    UHSXWDWLRQ¶´Eley)GDWTXRWLQJBlum v. Stenson86Q)HH
    PDWULFHV DUH ³RQH W\SH RI HYLGHQFH WKDW µSURYLGHV D XVHIXO VWDUWLQJ SRLQW¶ LQ FDOFXODWLQJ WKH
    SUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWH´Id.TXRWLQJCovington)GDWDOWHUQDWLRQLQRULJLQDO7KH
    &RXUWRI$SSHDOVKDVQRWHGWKDWIHHPDWULFHVDUH³VRPHZKDWFUXGH´DQGFDQEHVXSSOHPHQWHGZLWK
    RWKHUIRUPVRIHYLGHQFHVXFKDVVXUYH\VXSGDWLQJWKHPDWULFHV³DIILGDYLWVUHFLWLQJWKHSUHFLVHIHHV
    WKDW DWWRUQH\V ZLWK VLPLODU TXDOLILFDWLRQV KDYH UHFHLYHG IURP IHHSD\LQJ FOLHQWV LQ FRPSDUDEOH
    FDVHV´DQG³HYLGHQFHRIUHFHQWIHHVDZDUGHGE\WKHFRXUWVRUWKURXJKVHWWOHPHQWWRDWWRUQH\VZLWK
    FRPSDUDEOHTXDOLILFDWLRQVKDQGOLQJVLPLODUFDVHV´IdDWTXRWLQJCovington)GDW
    
    
    +HUHWKHUHLVQRGHEDWHDERXWZKHWKHUSODLQWLIIVKDYHPHWWKHLUEXUGHQDVWRWKHILUVWWZR
    SURQJV DQG WKH FRQWURYHUV\ RYHU WKH UHDVRQDEOH KRXUO\ UDWH FHQWHUV VROHO\ RQ ZKDW VKRXOG EH
    FRQVLGHUHGWKH³SUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWH´See 'HI¶V2SSDW3ODLQWLIIVDUJXHWKDWWKH\DUHHQWLWOHG
    
                3ODLQWLIIVKDYHSURYLGHGDGHTXDWHHYLGHQFHVXSSRUWLQJWKHLUDWWRUQH\V¶ELOOLQJSUDFWLFHVDQG
    WKHLUVNLOOH[SHULHQFHDQGUHSXWDWLRQDQGGHIHQGDQWGRHVQRWFKDOOHQJHWKHVXSSRUWLQJHYLGHQFH
    See 'HI¶V2SSDW±SRVLWLQJWKDWWKH³FKLHIGLVSXWH´LVDERXWWKHSURSHUSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWH
    3ODLQWLIIVZHUHUHSUHVHQWHGLQWKHDGPLQLVWUDWLYHSURFHHGLQJE\6WHYLH1DERUV(VTDQG&KDUOHV
    0RUDQ(VT0U1DERUVHDUQHGKLVODZGHJUHHIURP$PHULFDQ8QLYHUVLW\¶V:DVKLQJWRQ&ROOHJH
    RI/DZLQDQGZDVDGPLWWHGWRSUDFWLFHODZLQWKH'LVWULFWRI&ROXPELDLQZKHUHKHKDV
    SULPDULO\OLWLJDWHG,'($FDVHV'HFORI6WHYLH1DERUV(VT([WR3OV¶0HP>'NW@
    ³1DERUV'HFO´ˆ+HKDVVXFFHVVIXOO\OLWLJDWHGPRUHWKDQWKLUW\FDVHVLQWKH2IILFHRI'LVSXWH
    5HVROXWLRQWKH'LVWULFW&RXUWIRUWKH'LVWULFWRI&ROXPELDDQGWKH'&&LUFXLWIdˆ&KDUOHV
    0RUDQHDUQHGKLVODZGHJUHHIURP'XNH8QLYHUVLW\/DZ6FKRROLQKHZDVDGPLWWHGWRWKH
    'LVWULFWRI&ROXPELDEDULQDQGKHKDVEHHQSUDFWLFLQJLQWKHILHOGRIVSHFLDOHGXFDWLRQODZ
    IRFXVLQJRQ,'($FDVHVIRUDSSUR[LPDWHO\WZHQW\ILYH\HDUV'HFORI&KDUOHV$0RUDQ(VT
    ([WR3OV¶0HP>'NW@³0RUDQ'HFO´ˆˆ±%RWKDWWRUQH\VDUHPHPEHUVRI0RUDQ
    $VVRFLDWHVDSULYDWHSXEOLFLQWHUHVWODZILUP1DERUV'HFOˆ
           )XUWKHU ERWK ODZ\HUV DYHUUHG WKDW WKH ILUP DGMXVWHG UDWHV LQ WKH ODVW IHZ \HDUV WR EH LQ
    DFFRUGDQFH ZLWK WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV $WWRUQH\V¶ 2IILFH )HH 0DWUL[  0RUDQ 'HFO ˆ  1DERUV
    'HFOˆˆ±7KDWFKDQJHZDVDUHIOHFWLRQRIUHFHQW'&&LUFXLWSUHFHGHQWDVZHOODVDQHIIRUW
    WR UHPDLQ FRPSHWLWLYH ZLWK SHHUV ZKR ZHUH FKDUJLQJ 86$2 Laffey 0DWUL[ UDWHV  0RUDQ
    'HFOˆ1DERUV'HFOˆˆ±6LQFHWKDWVKLIWWKHILUPKDV³EHHQSDLG>86$2@UDWHVE\FOLHQWV
    RQPDWWHUVFRQFHUQLQJHGXFDWLRQODZHPSOR\PHQWODZDQGODERUULJKWV´1DERUV'HFOˆ0U
    1DERUVDOVRVDLGWKDWEHFDXVHWKHYDVWPDMRULW\RIFDVHVWKHILUPUHFHLYHVDUHDSSRLQWHGWKURXJK
    WKH&RXQVHOIRU&KLOG$EXVHDQG1HJOHFW3DQHOWKHDWWRUQH\V³DUHEDUUHGE\WKH'&&RGHIURP
    DFFHSWLQJ SD\PHQW IURP WKH FOLHQW  $V D FRQVHTXHQFH >WKH\@ PXVW DFFHSW WKHVH FDVHV RQ D
    FRQWLQJHQF\EDVLVDQGFDQQRWFKDUJHWKHFOLHQWDQ\IHHV´Id. ˆ 0U1DERUVDVVHUWHGWKDW³WKH
    ILUP¶VELOOLQJSUDFWLFHVDUHVWUXFWXUHG´LQDZD\WRIXUWKHUWKHILUP¶VSULPDU\SXUSRVHRIDVVLVWLQJ
    LQGLJHQWFKLOGUHQZLWKGLVDELOLWLHVUDWKHUWKDQWRJHQHUDWH>D@SURILWId. ˆ+HDOVRDYHUUHGWKDW
    KH ³SHUIRUPHG DQ H[LW DXGLW WR UHPRYH GXSOLFLWRXV WLPH´ IURP WKH LQYRLFH 
    id. ˆ 
    DQG ERWK
    DWWRUQH\VDVVHUWHGWKDWWKHUHPDLQLQJWLPHELOOHGLVUHDVRQDEOHEDVHGRQWKHUHOLHIVHFXUHGId.
    0RUDQ'HFOˆ
    
    
    
    
    WRFRPSHQVDWLRQEDVHGRQWKH86$2Laffey 0DWUL[3OV¶0HPDW'HIHQGDQWPDLQWDLQV
    WKDWWKH86$2Laffey 0DWUL[GRHVQRWHVWDEOLVKWKH³SUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWH´IRU,'($OLWLJDWLRQ
    EHFDXVHWKHPDWUL[ZDVLQWHQGHGWRDSSO\WRFRPSOH[IHGHUDOOLWLJDWLRQZKLFKGHIHQGDQWLQVLVWV
    GRHVQRWLQFOXGH,'($OLWLJDWLRQ'HI¶V2SSDW±,QVWHDGGHIHQGDQWSRVLWVWKDWSODLQWLIIV¶
    DWWRUQH\VVKRXOGEHFRPSHQVDWHGDWVHYHQW\ILYHSHUFHQWRIWKH86$2Laffey 0DWUL[UDWHId. DW
    
    
           7KHLaffey 0DWUL[LV³DVFKHGXOHRIFKDUJHVEDVHGRQ\HDUVRIH[SHULHQFHGHYHORSHGLQ
    Laffey v. Northwest Airlines, Inc.)6XSS''&rev’d on other grounds
    )G'&&LUcert. denied86´Covington)GDW
    7ZRFRPSHWLQJYHUVLRQVRIWKHPDWUL[KDYHGHYHORSHGLQWKHSDVWWKLUW\\HDUVRQHGHYHORSHGE\
    WKH8QLWHG6WDWHV$WWRUQH\¶V2IILFHIRUWKH'LVWULFWRI&ROXPELD³86$2Laffey 0DWUL[´ZKLFK
    DGMXVWVWKHRULJLQDOPDWUL[IRULQIODWLRQXVLQJWKH&RQVXPHU3ULFH,QGH[IRU$OO8UEDQ&RQVXPHUV
    DQGDVHFRQG³HQKDQFHG´IHHVFKHGXOHZKLFKDGMXVWVWKHPDWUL[UDWHVIRULQIODWLRQXVLQJWKH/HJDO
    6HUYLFHV,QGH[³/6,Laffey 0DWUL[´See Salazar ex rel. Salazar v. District of Columbia
    )G'&&LUEley v. District of Columbia)G±'&&LU
    7KH YHUVLRQ RI WKH 86$2 Laffey 0DWUL[ WKDW LV UHOHYDQW WR WKLV FDVH LV DYDLODEOH DW
    KWWSVZZZMXVWLFHJRYXVDRGFILOHGRZQORDG ³86$2 Laffey 0DWUL[´ see ([  WR
    3OV¶0HP>'NW@7KHDSSOLFDEOHUDWHXQGHUWKH86$2Laffey 0DWUL[IRU6WHYLH1DERUV
    ZKRDWWKHWLPHKDGEHHQLQSUDFWLFHEHWZHHQWZRDQGWKUHH\HDUVZDVSHUKRXUDQGWKH
    DSSOLFDEOHUDWHIRU&KDUOHV0RUDQZKRKDGEHHQLQSUDFWLFHIRURYHUWKLUW\RQH\HDUVZDV
    SHUKRXUSee 86$2Laffey 0DWUL[.
    
           3ODLQWLIIV FRQWHQG WKDW GHIHQGDQW LV FROODWHUDOO\ HVWRSSHG IURP DUJXLQJ WKDW SODLQWLIIV¶
    FRXQVHOVKRXOGRQO\UHFHLYHVHYHQW\ILYHSHUFHQWRIWKH86$2Laffey0DWUL[3OV¶5HSO\DW±
    7KH\PDLQWDLQWKDWWKLVLVVXHZDVDOUHDG\OLWLJDWHGLQDSUHYLRXVFDVHEHWZHHQWKHVDPHWZRSDUWLHV
    LQ WKLV &RXUW  See Merrick v. District of Columbia  ) 6XSS G   ''& 
    ³Merrick I´ see also 3OV¶ 5HSO\ DW ±  7KH GRFWULQH RI LVVXH SUHFOXVLRQ ³EDUV µVXFFHVVLYH
    OLWLJDWLRQRIDQLVVXHRIIDFWRUODZDFWXDOO\OLWLJDWHGDQGUHVROYHGLQDYDOLGFRXUWGHWHUPLQDWLRQ
    HVVHQWLDOWRWKHSULRUMXGJPHQW¶HYHQLIWKHLVVXHUHFXUVLQWKHFRQWH[WRIDGLIIHUHQWFODLP´Taylor
    v. Sturgell86,VVXHSUHFOXVLRQUHTXLUHVWKDWWKHVDPHLVVXHEHLQJUDLVHG
    PXVWKDYHEHHQFRQWHVWHGE\WKHVDPHSDUWLHVRUSULYLHVDQGVXEPLWWHGWRMXGLFLDOGHWHUPLQDWLRQLQ
    D SULRU FDVH  WKH LVVXH PXVW KDYH EHHQ DFWXDOO\ DQG QHFHVVDULO\ GHWHUPLQHG E\ D FRXUW RI
    FRPSHWHQW MXULVGLFWLRQ LQ WKH SULRU FDVH DQG  WKH SUHFOXVLYH HIIHFW PXVW QRW ZRUN D EDVLF
    XQIDLUQHVVWRWKHSDUW\ERXQGE\WKHILUVWGHWHUPLQDWLRQYamaha Corp. of Am. v. United States
     )G   '& &LU   ³7KH YHU\ KHDUW RI WKH FROODWHUDOHVWRSSHO GRFWULQH LV WKH
    UHTXLUHPHQWWKDWWKHLVVXHWREHSUHFOXGHGPXVWEHVXEVWDQWLDOO\WKHVDPHDVWKHLVVXHSUHYLRXVO\
    OLWLJDWHG´Schneider v. Lockheed Aircraft Corp)G'&&LUabrogated
    on other grounds by Williams Enters., Inc. v. Sherman R. Smoot Co. )G  '& &LU
    FLWLQJMontana v. United States86>&RQWLQXHGRQQH[WSDJH@
    
    
    ,Q VXSSRUW RI WKHLU SRVLWLRQ WKDW WKH 86$2 Laffey 0DWUL[ SURYLGHV WKH SURSHU UDWHV
    SODLQWLIIVKDYHVXEPLWWHGDYDULHW\RIHYLGHQFHLQFOXGLQJWKHIHHPDWUL[LWVHOI$VWKH&RXUWRI
    $SSHDOVKDVVDLGIHHPDWULFHVDUHDJRRGSODFHWRVWDUWLQGHWHUPLQLQJWKHSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWH
    Eley)GDW
    7KH '& &LUFXLW KDV GHFOLQHG WR ZHLJK LQ RQ WKH TXHVWLRQ RI ZKHWKHU ,'($ OLWLJDWLRQ
    TXDOLILHVDV³FRPSOH[IHGHUDOOLWLJDWLRQ´WRZDUUDQWWKHSUHVXPSWLYHDSSOLFDWLRQRIDQ\YHUVLRQRI
    WKHLaffey 0DWUL[See Reed)GDWFRQFOXGLQJWKDWWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWGLGQRWDEXVHLWV
    GLVFUHWLRQLQGHFLGLQJQRWWRDZDUGWKHKLJKHU/6,Laffey UDWHVWRDWWRUQH\VIRUWKHLUZRUNLQ,'($
    FDVHV EXW H[SUHVVO\ QRWLQJ WKDW LW GRHV ³QRW PHDQ WR UXOH RXW WKH SRVVLELOLW\ WKDW IXWXUH IHH
    DSSOLFDQWVPD\EHDEOHWRGHPRQVWUDWHWKDW,'($FDVHVDUHµFRPSOH[IHGHUDOOLWLJDWLRQ¶WRZKLFK
    WKH Laffey 0DWUL[ SUHVXPSWLYHO\ DSSOLHV´ Eley  )G DW  KROGLQJ WKDW WKH ORZHUFRXUW
    DEXVHGLWVGLVFUHWLRQLQDZDUGLQJIHHVDWWKHKLJKHU/6,Laffey UDWHZLWKRXWUHTXLULQJWKHSODLQWLII
    WRGHPRQVWUDWHWKDWWKRVHUDWHVZHUHLQOLQHZLWKWKHSUHYDLOLQJUDWH-XGJH.DYDQDJKGLGVWDWHLQ
    KLV FRQFXUUHQFH LQ Eley WKDW WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV¶ $WWRUQH\¶V 2IILFH Laffey 0DWUL[ WKDW SODLQWLIIV
    
           >&RQWLQXHGIURPSUHYLRXVSDJH@,QMerrick IWKHSDUWLHVOLWLJDWHGIRXUVSHFLILFFODLPV
    EHIRUHD+HDULQJ2IILFHUUHODWLQJWRSODFLQJ0U:DVKLQJWRQLQDUHVLGHQWLDOIDFLOLW\ZKLFKWKHQ
    JDYHULVHWRWKHDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVOLWLJDWLRQLQWKLV&RXUW)6XSSGDW±7KH&RXUW
    UHIXVHG WR UHGXFH WKH 86$2 Laffey UDWH E\ WZHQW\ILYH SHUFHQW DQG LQVWHDG LW DZDUGHG WKH
    DWWRUQH\VWKHIXOOUDWHVDFFRUGLQJWRWKHLQGH[Id.DW±+HUHWKHGHIHQVHLVDVNLQJWKH&RXUW
    WRDZDUGWKHDWWRUQH\VVHYHQW\ILYHSHUFHQWRIWKH86$2Laffey 0DWUL[ UDWHZKLFKLVWKHVDPHDV
    DUHTXHVWWRUHGXFHWKHUDWHE\WZHQW\ILYHSHUFHQWSee 'HI¶V2SSDW7KXVRQLWVIDFHLW
    DSSHDUVWKDWGHIHQGDQWLVOLWLJDWLQJWKHVDPHLVVXH
           7KH&RXUWRI$SSHDOVKDVQRWH[SUHVVO\KHOGWKDW,'($OLWLJDWLRQLVFRPSOH[HQRXJKWR
    ZDUUDQWWKHXVHRIDVSHFLILFPDWUL[SeeReed)GDWEley)GDW5DWKHUWKH
    GHWHUPLQDWLRQGHSHQGVRQWKHVSHFLILFIDFWVRIWKHFDVHA.S.)6XSSGDW³7KLVFRXUW
    ILQGVWKDWWKHGHWHUPLQDWLRQ>RIZKHWKHUWRUHGXFHWKHLaffeyUDWH@PXVWEHPDGHLQDFDVHE\FDVH
    DQDO\VLV´ see also Hensley  86 DW  ³7KH DPRXQW RI WKH IHH RI FRXUVH PXVW EH
    GHWHUPLQHG RQ WKH IDFWV RI HDFK FDVH´  6LQFH WKH WZR Merrick FDVHV DULVH RXW RI VHSDUDWH
    FRQWURYHUVLHVUHODWLQJWR0U:DVKLQJWRQ¶V,(3WKDWWRRNSODFHDWWZRGLVWLQFWWLPHVWKHLVVXHRI
    UHGXFLQJWKH86$2Laffey 0DWUL[UDWHLVFRQWLQJHQWXSRQDQHZVHWRIRSHUDWLYHIDFWVWKDWZHUH
    QRWSUHVHQWLQWKHILUVWFDVH:KHWKHUDSDUWLFXODUUDWHLVDSSURSULDWHGHSHQGVRQWKHIDFWVRIHDFK
    FDVHVRWKHUHLVQRSUHFOXVLYHHIIHFWRQWKLVFDVHIURPWKHGHFLVLRQE\WKLV&RXUWLQMerrick I
    
    
    LQYRNH LQ WKLV FDVH ³LV DSSURSULDWH IRU ,'($ FDVHV´  Eley  )G DW  .DYDQDXJK -
    FRQFXUULQJ
    6RPHFRXUWVKDYHDGRSWHGWKHDSSURDFKRIGLVFRXQWLQJHYHQWKHORZHU86$2LaffeyUDWHV
    WRDFFRXQWIRUDODFNRIFRPSOH[LW\LQWKHXQGHUO\LQJSURFHHGLQJVseeMcAllister v. District of
    Columbia)6XSSG±''&EXWPDQ\FRXUWVLQFOXGLQJWKLVRQHKDYH
    UHMHFWHG WKH QRWLRQ WKDW ,'($ DGPLQLVWUDWLYH SURFHHGLQJV DUH ³FDWHJRULFDOO\ OHVV FRPSOH[ WKDQ
    RWKHUIRUPVRIOLWLJDWLRQ´See, e.g.Bucher v. District of Columbia)6XSSG''&
     Jackson v. District of Columbia)6XSSG''&7KRVHFRXUWV
    UHFRJQL]HWKDW,'($FDVHV³WDNHDYDULHW\RIGLIIHUHQWOLWLJDWLRQSDWKV´DQG³FDQQRWEHGLVPLVVHG
    DVFDWHJRULFDOO\URXWLQHRUVLPSOH´Thomas v. District of Columbia)6XSSG
    ''&  ,'($ FDVHV ³UHTXLUH WHVWLPRQ\ IURP HGXFDWLRQ H[SHUWV UHJDUGLQJ ZKHWKHU D
    VWXGHQW KDV EHHQ GHQLHG D IUHH DQG SXEOLF HGXFDWLRQ´ Jackson  ) 6XSS G DW  DQG
    SODLQWLII¶V FRXQVHO PXVW ³XQGHUVWDQG WKH EXUHDXFUDWLF ZRUNLQJV RI >'&36@ Cox v. District of
    Columbia)6XSSG''&DQG³PXVWEHFRPHFRQYHUVDQWZLWKDZLGHUDQJH
    RIGLVDEOLQJFRJQLWLYHHPRWLRQDODQGODQJXDJHEDVHGGLVRUGHUVDQGWKHFRUUHVSRQGLQJWKHUDSHXWLF
    DQGHGXFDWLRQDODSSURDFKHV´Sweatt v. District of Columbia)6XSSG''&
    
    3ODLQWLIIVKDYHSURIIHUHGDIILGDYLWVIURPDWWRUQH\VZKRDUHIDPLOLDUZLWKDQGZKR KDYH
    OLWLJDWHG,'($FDVHVDQGWKH\VSHDNWRWKHFRPSOH[LW\RIWKRVHW\SHVRIFDVHV³0HUHFRQFOXVRU\
    VWDWHPHQWVWKDW,'($OLWLJDWLRQLVµDVFRPSOH[¶DVRWKHUW\SHVRIFDVHVGHHPHGE\WKLVFRXUWWREH
    µFRPSOH[ IHGHUDO OLWLJDWLRQ¶ DEVHQW DQ H[SODQDWLRQ RI why WKLV LV VR FDQQRW VXIILFH WR PHHW
    >SODLQWLIIV¶@EXUGHQ´Reed)GDW%XWWKHGHFODUDWLRQVVXSSOLHGE\SODLQWLIIVKHUHDUH
    VXIILFLHQWO\GHWDLOHGWRVXSSRUWSODLQWLIIV¶SRVLWLRQWKDW,'($FDVHVTXDOLI\DV³FRPSOH[IHGHUDO
    OLWLJDWLRQ´VRDVWRZDUUDQWWKHSUHVXPSWLYHDSSOLFDWLRQRIWKH86$2Laffey UDWHVSee 'HFORI
    
    
    (OL]DEHWK-HVWHU(VT([WR3OV¶0HP>'NW@³-HVWHU'HFO´ˆH[SODLQLQJWKDWD
    ODFN RI GLVFRYHU\ PDNHV ,'($ OLWLJDWLRQYHU\FRPSOH[EHFDXVHDWWRUQH\V RQO\KDYH D ILYHGD\
    GLVFORVXUH SHULRG LQ ZKLFK WR SURGXFH DQG UHFHLYH DOO GRFXPHQWV WKDW FRXOG EH XWLOL]HG DW WKH
    KHDULQJ DQG WR SUHSDUH WR H[DPLQH YDULRXV ZLWQHVVHV 
    id. ˆ 
    GLVFXVVLQJ WKH FRPSOH[LW\ RI
    OHDUQLQJDQGXQGHUVWDQGLQJ³HYHU\GLVFLSOLQHWKDWWRXFKHVWKHGLVDELOLWLHVSUHVHQWHGE\WKHFKLOGDW
    LVVXH´VRDVWRIRUH[DPSOHFURVVH[DPLQHWKH'&36³SV\FKRORJLVWRQWKHQXDQFHVRIFRJQLWLYH
    DFDGHPLFEHKDYLRUDODQGHPRWLRQDOWHVWLQJ´9HULILHG6WDWHPHQWRI$ODQD+HFKW(VT([WR
    3OV¶0HP>'NW@³+HFKW'HFO´ˆˆ±GLVFXVVLQJKRZ³,'($OLWLJDWLRQLQYROYHVWKH
    SUHVHQWDWLRQ RI >DQ@ HQWLUH EHQFK WULDO LQFOXGLQJ WKH DGPLVVLRQ RI H[KLELWV GLUHFW DQG FURVV
    H[DPLQDWLRQ RI ZLWQHVVHV RSHQLQJ DQG FORVLQJ VWDWHPHQWVDUJXPHQWV DQG D UREXVW PRWLRQV
    SUDFWLFH´DVZHOODVWKHSDUWLFXODUFRPSOH[LW\EHKLQG³SXWWLQJRQDIXOOWULDOZLWKZLWQHVVHVWKDW
    DUHLQWKHWRWDOFRQWURODQGHPSOR\RIWKH>U@HVSRQGHQW´see also 9HULILHG6WDWHPHQWRI1LFKRODV
    2VWUHP([WR3OV¶0HP>'NW@³2VWUHP'HFO´ˆGHVFULELQJWLPHFRQVXPLQJIHH
    OLWLJDWLRQLQ,'($FDVHV
    7KHUHIRUHWKH&RXUWFRQFOXGHVWKDWLWLVQRWDSSURSULDWHWRUHIOH[LYHO\UHGXFHWKH86$2
    Laffey 0DWUL[UDWHVE\WZHQW\ILYHSHUFHQWWRDFFRXQWIRUDODFNRIFRPSOH[LW\LQWKHXQGHUO\LQJ
    DGPLQLVWUDWLYHSURFHHGLQJV)XUWKHUPRUHEHFDXVHDQDWWRUQH\¶VWRWDOIHHDZDUGLVGHWHUPLQHGE\
    PXOWLSO\LQJWKHQXPEHURIKRXUVH[SHQGHGE\WKHKRXUO\UDWHUHGXFLQJWKH86$2Laffey UDWHVWR
    UHIOHFWWKHEUHYLW\RIWKHFDVHLPSURSHUO\DFFRXQWVIRUWKHOHQJWKRIWKHSURFHHGLQJVWZLFHSee
    Eley)6XSSGDW³>7@KHFRPSOH[LW\RIWKHFDVHLVDFFRXQWHGIRUE\WKHQXPEHURI
    KRXUVH[SHQGHGDQGVKRXOGQRWEHDFFRXQWHGIRUE\DEOXQWUHGXFWLRQRIUDWHVEHIRUHDSSO\LQJWKH
    UDWHVWRWKHQXPEHURIKRXUVH[SHQGHG´vacated and remanded on other grounds)G
    see also Flood v. District of Columbia)6XSSG''&REVHUYLQJWKDW
    ³DQ DXWRPDWLF UHGXFWLRQ LQ WKH SODLQWLII¶V UHTXHVWHG UHLPEXUVHPHQW UDWH EDVHG RQO\ RQ WKH
    
    
    VLPSOLFLW\ RI DQ DGPLQLVWUDWLYH SURFHHGLQJ UXQV FRXQWHU WR WKH 6XSUHPH &RXUW¶V YLHZ WKDW WKH
    UHODWLYHFRPSOH[LW\RIDPDWWHULVJHQHUDOO\SUHVXPHGWREHUHIOHFWHGIXOO\LQWKHQXPEHURIKRXUV
    ELOOHG´ DQG WKDW ³UHGXFWLRQ RI WKH SODLQWLII¶V UHLPEXUVHPHQW UDWH LQ WKLV PDQQHU ULVNV GRXEOH
    FRXQWLQJWKHUHODWLYHVLPSOLFLW\RIWKHXQGHUO\LQJSURFHHGLQJV´accord Sweatt)6XSSGDW
    
    0RUHRYHUSODLQWLIIVKDYHSURYLGHGWKH&RXUWZLWKDGGLWLRQDOHYLGHQFHWRFDUU\WKHLUEXUGHQ
    RIHVWDEOLVKLQJWKDWWKHLUUHTXHVWHGUDWHVUHIOHFWWKH³UDWHVSUHYDLOLQJLQWKHFRPPXQLW\LQZKLFK
    WKH DFWLRQ RU SURFHHGLQJ DURVH IRU WKH NLQG DQG TXDOLW\ RI VHUYLFHV IXUQLVKHG´ 
    86&†L& HYHQ WKRXJK DGGLWLRQDO SURRI RI WKH SUHYDLOLQJ PDUNHW UDWH LV QRW
    QHFHVVDULO\UHTXLUHGDIWHUDSODLQWLIIKDVVKRZQWKDWWKH,'($FDVHZDVFRPSOH[See Reed
    )GDWH[SODLQLQJWKDWIHHDSSOLFDQWVLQ,'($FDVHVUHO\³RQWZRVHSDUDWHEXWLQWHU
    UHODWHG DSSURDFKHV WR SURYLGLQJ HYLGHQFH RI SUHYDLOLQJ PDUNHW UDWH´  ³DWWHPSWLQJ WR
    GHPRQVWUDWH WKDW ,'($ FDVHV IDOO ZLWKLQ WKH ERXQGV´ RI FRPSOH[ IHGHUDO OLWLJDWLRQ DQG 
    ³SURYLGLQJHYLGHQFHRIWKHIHHVFKDUJHGDQGUHFHLYHGE\,'($OLWLJDWRUV´see also James v.
    District of Columbia  ) 6XSS G   ''&  ³>7@KH &LUFXLW¶V PRUH UHFHQW
    GHFLVLRQLQReed PDNHVFOHDUWKDWDSODLQWLIIPXVWRIIHUSURRIRIWKHSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWHWKDWLV
    LQGHSHQGHQWRIWKH86$2Laffey 0DWUL[DEVHQWDVKRZLQJRIFRPSOH[LW\´Flood)6XSS
    GDWFRQILUPLQJWKDWIHHDSSOLFDQWV³PD\PHHWWKHLUEXUGHQXSRQHLWKHURIWZRVKRZLQJV´
    ³WKDW ,'($ SURFHHGLQJV TXDOLI\ DV µFRPSOH[ IHGHUDO OLWLJDWLRQ¶ WR ZKLFK Laffey UDWHV
    SUHVXPSWLYHO\DSSO\´RU³WKDWUDWHVFXVWRPDULO\FKDUJHGE\,'($SUDFWLWLRQHUVLQWKH'LVWULFWDUH
    FRPSDUDEOHWRWKRVHSURYLGHGXQGHUWKH>86$2@Laffey 0DWUL[´
    %HVLGHV SRLQWLQJ WR WKH IHH PDWUL[ LWVHOI D SODLQWLII PD\ PHHW KHU EXUGHQ E\ SURGXFLQJ
    HYLGHQFH³WKDWWKHUHTXHVWHGUDWHVDUHLQOLQHZLWKWKRVHSUHYDLOLQJLQWKHFRPPXQLW\IRUVLPLODU
    VHUYLFHVE\ODZ\HUVRIUHDVRQDEO\FRPSDUDEOHVNLOOH[SHULHQFHDQGUHSXWDWLRQ´Eley)GDW
    
    
      7KH HYLGHQFH UHOHYDQW WR WKLV LQTXLU\ LQFOXGHV ³DIILGDYLWV UHFLWLQJ WKH SUHFLVH IHHV WKDW
    DWWRUQH\VZLWKVLPLODUTXDOLILFDWLRQVKDYHUHFHLYHGIURPIHHSD\LQJFOLHQWVLQFRPSDUDEOHFDVHV´
    ³HYLGHQFHRIUHFHQWIHHVDZDUGHGE\WKHFRXUWVRUWKURXJKVHWWOHPHQWWRDWWRUQH\VZLWKFRPSDUDEOH
    TXDOLILFDWLRQVKDQGOLQJVLPLODUFDVHV´DQGPDUNHWVXUYH\VXSGDWLQJWKHIHHPDWULFHVId. DW
    +HUH SODLQWLIIV KDYH VXEPLWWHG ILYH GHFODUDWLRQV IURP ,'($ SUDFWLWLRQHUV LQ WKLV
    MXULVGLFWLRQ WKDW VXSSRUW D ILQGLQJ WKDW IXOO 86$2 Laffey UDWHV DUH WKH SUHYDLOLQJ UDWHV LQ WKH
    FRPPXQLW\IRU,'($OLWLJDWLRQSee'HFORI&DURO\Q+RXFN(VT([WR3OV¶0HP>'NW
    @³+RXFN'HFO´ˆˆ±GHVFULELQJKRZVKHKDVSUDFWLFHGLQWKHILHOGRIVSHFLDOHGXFDWLRQ
    ODZ VLQFH  DQG KDV OLWLJDWHG PRUH WKDQ  FDVHV OHDGLQJ WR GXH SURFHVV KHDULQJV RU
    VHWWOHPHQWDJUHHPHQWVXQGHUWKH,'($DQGFKDUJHVFOLHQWV³DWRUQHDUWKHFXUUHQWDWWRUQH\¶VIHHV
    PDWUL[ UDWHV SXEOLVKHG E\ WKH 86$2´ -HVWHU 'HFO ˆˆ  ±  VWDWLQJ WKDW KHU SULPDU\
    SUDFWLFHDUHDVLQFHKDVEHHQFKLOGUHQ¶VULJKWVWKDWLWLVKHU³QRUPDOSUDFWLFHWRELOOFOLHQWV
    ZKRDUHQRWLQGLJHQWDWUDWHVHTXLYDOHQWWRWKHUDWHVVHWIRUWKLQWKH86$2$WWRUQH\¶V)HHV0DWUL[´
    DQGGHWDLOLQJWKHQXPHURXVWLPHVVKHKDVEHHQDZDUGHGIXOO86$2Laffey UDWHVE\MXGJHVLQWKLV
    GLVWULFW+HFKW'HFOˆˆDYHUULQJWKDWKHUODZILUPVROHO\SUDFWLFHVVSHFLDOHGXFDWLRQODZ
    WKDWLW³FXUUHQWO\PDWFKHVLWVKRXUO\UDWHVWRWKRVHLQZKDWLVNQRZQDVWKH86$2DGMXVWHGLaffey
    PDWUL[´DQGWKDWLW³KDVKDGVHYHUDOSD\LQJFOLHQWVWKDWKDYHSDLGWKHVHUDWHV´2VWUHP'HFOˆ
    VWDWLQJWKDWKLVODZILUPZKLFKVSHFLDOL]HVLQ,'($OLWLJDWLRQ³KDVDOZD\VPDWFKHGLWVKRXUO\
    UDWHVWRWKRVHLQZKDWLVFRPPRQO\NQRZQDVWKHµLaffey 0DWUL[¶´id. ˆˆGHVFULELQJKRZKH
    IRXQGLW³LPSRVVLEOHWRVXVWDLQ´DSUDFWLFH³IRULQGLJHQWSDUHQWVDQGVWXGHQWVE\UHO\LQJRQWKHµIHH
    VKLIWLQJ¶ SURYLVLRQ RI WKH ,'($´ IRU PDQ\ UHDVRQV LQFOXGLQJ EXW QRW OLPLWHG WR ³VRPH MXGJHV
    UHJXODUO\DZDUGLQJKRXUO\UDWHVDWRIWKHUDWHVLQWKH86$2IHHPDWUL[´9HULILHG6WDWHPHQW
    RI'RXJODV7\UND([WR3OV¶0HP>'NW@³7\UND'HFO´ˆˆ±GHFODULQJWKDWKH
    KDVDOPRVWH[FOXVLYHO\SUDFWLFHGODZLQWKHILHOGRIVSHFLDOHGXFDWLRQVLQFHWKDWWKHODZILUP
    
    
    ³KDVDOZD\VFKDUJHGDWKRXUO\UDWHVPDWFKLQJWKRVHLQZKDWLVFRPPRQO\NQRZQDVµWKH/6,
    Laffey 0DWUL[¶´WKDW³WKHILUPKDVKDGVHYHUDOFOLHQWVSD\WKHILUPDWWKH/6,Laffey 0DWUL[UDWHV
    GLUHFWO\´DQGWKDW³>W@KHILUPLVFXUUHQWO\UHWDLQHGE\FOLHQWVDWWKH/6,Laffey 0DWUL[UDWHV´
    'HIHQGDQWWDNHVLVVXHZLWKWKHVHGHFODUDWLRQVDUJXLQJWKDWWKH\PHUHO\VKRZZKDWVRPH
    DWWRUQH\VFKDUJHFOLHQWVUDWKHUWKDQZKDWWKH\DFWXDOO\UHFHLYHIURPWKHP'HI¶V2SSDW±
    7KH\PDLQWDLQWKDWVXFKVWDWHPHQWVGRQRWSURYLGHFRQYLQFLQJHYLGHQFHRIWKHSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHW
    UDWHId. ,QVXSSRUWRIWKLVSRVLWLRQWKH\SRLQWWRRWKHUFRXUWVLQWKLVGLVWULFWWKDWKDYHIRXQGWKDW
    GHFODUDWLRQVVLPLODUWRWKHRQHVVXEPLWWHGLQWKLVFDVHIDOOVKRUWRIZKDWLVQHFHVVDU\WRGHPRQVWUDWH
    WKH IHHV WKDW DWWRUQH\V KDYH UHFHLYHG IURP IHHSD\LQJ FOLHQWV LQ FRPSDUDEOH FDVHV Id. DW ±
    FLWLQJFDVHV
    ,WLVWUXHWKDWWKHGHFODUDWLRQVRIIHUHGE\SODLQWLIIVLQWKLVFDVHGRQRWHVWDEOLVKWKDW,'($
    DWWRUQH\VXQLIRUPO\FROOHFWIHHVFRPSDUDEOHWRWKH86$2Laffey 0DWUL[:KLOHWKHGHFODUDQWV
    DYHUWKDWWKH\FKDUJHWKRVHUDWHVRQO\DIHZRIWKHPVWDWHWKDWFOLHQWVKDYHSDLGWKHPSee +HFKW
    'HFOˆDYHUULQJWKDWKHUODZILUP³KDVKDGVHYHUDOSD\LQJFOLHQWVWKDWKDYHSDLGWKHVHUDWHV´
    7\UND'HFOˆˆ±GHFODULQJWKDW³WKHILUPKDVKDGVHYHUDOFOLHQWVSD\WKHILUPDWWKH/6,Laffey
    0DWUL[UDWHVGLUHFWO\´DQGWKDW³>W@KHILUPLVFXUUHQWO\UHWDLQHGE\FOLHQWVDWWKH/6,Laffey 0DWUL[
    UDWHV´$QGWKRVHGHFODUDQWVGRQRWVSHFLI\ZKDWSURSRUWLRQRIWKHLUFOLHQWVDFWXDOO\SD\WKHVH
    UDWHV
    %XW WKH GHFODUDQWV DOVR HPSKDVL]H WKDW IHZ LI DQ\ ,'($ FODLPDQWV DUH DEOH WR DIIRUG
    UHSUHVHQWDWLRQLQFRQQHFWLRQZLWKWKHLUDGPLQLVWUDWLYHFODLPVSee -HVWHU'HFOˆH[SODLQLQJ
    WKDWWKHPDMRULW\RIKHUFOLHQWVDUHLQGLJHQWDQGFDQQRWDIIRUGWRSD\DWWRUQH\V¶IHHVRUFRVWVDWDQ\
    OHYHO +RXFN'HFOˆ³:KHQUHSUHVHQWLQJVSHFLDOHGXFDWLRQFOLHQWVRQDFRQWLQJHQF\EDVLV
    DWWRUQH\VLQWKH'LVWULFWRI&ROXPELDDFFHSWWKDWUHSUHVHQWDWLRQIRUWKHSURVSHFWRIUHFRYHULQJIHHV
    EDVHG RQ WKH UHDVRQDEOH IHHVKLIWLQJ JXLGHOLQHV IRXQG LQ WKH 86$2¶V DWWRUQH\V IHHV PDWUL[´
    
    
    +HFKW'HFOˆDYHUULQJWKDWPRVWRIWKHILUP¶VFOLHQWVDUHLQGLJHQWDQGWKDWWKRVH³FOLHQWVVLJQ
    UHWDLQHUDJUHHPHQWVWKDWGRQRWUHTXLUHWKHPWRSD\IHHVXSIURQWEXWGRDGYLVHWKHPWKDWWKHILUP
    ZLOOEHVHHNLQJIXOOLaffey 0DWUL[UDWHVRQWKHFOLHQW¶VEHKDOI´
    :KLOH VRPH FRXUWV LQ WKLV GLVWULFW KDYH IRXQG WKDW VWDWHPHQWV OLNH WKH RQHV PDGH LQ WKH
    GHFODUDWLRQVLQWKLVFDVHDUHXQFRQYLQFLQJsee Cox v. District of Columbia)6XSSG
    ''&DWOHDVWRQHFRXUWKDVEHHQ³RIWKHYLHZ´WKDWVXFKVWDWHPHQWVUHIOHFW³µSUHFLVH
    IHHV¶ WKDW DQ DWWRUQH\ KDV µUHFHLYHG IURP IHHSD\LQJ FOLHQWV¶ IRU ,'($ OLWLJDWLRQ´  Wimbish v.
    District of Columbia)6XSSG''&TXRWLQJEley)GDW
    $QGDVDQRWKHUFRXUWKDVREVHUYHG³>D@WWKHHQGRIWKHGD\WKH&RXUWLVOHIWZLWKFDVHVRQERWK
    VLGHVRIWKHLaffey GLYLGH´ZKHQLWFRPHVWRGHWHUPLQLQJWKHSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWHCopeland v.
    District of Columbia)6XSSG''&DZDUGLQJDWWRUQH\VDWIXOO86$2
    Laffey 0DWUL[UDWHV
    *LYHQ WKH H[LVWHQFH RI WKH IHHVKLIWLQJ VWDWXWH LQ ,'($ FDVHV DQG WKH UHODWLYH UDULW\ RI
    SD\LQJVSHFLDOHGXFDWLRQFOLHQWVWKH&RXUWILQGVWKDWLWZRXOGEHXQUHDOLVWLFWRH[SHFWDJUHDWHU
    
    
    OHYHORIVSHFLILFLW\WKDQZKDWZDVVXEPLWWHGLQWKLVFDVH:KLOHWKHDIILGDYLWVPD\QRWVXSSO\
    FRQFOXVLYHHYLGHQFHRIWKHSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWHVLQWKHUHOHYDQWFRPPXQLW\WKH&RXUWILQGVWKDW
    WKH VWDWHPHQWV SURYLGHG E\ WKH ,'($ DWWRUQH\V LQ WKHLU GHFODUDWLRQV VXIILFLHQWO\ ³UHFLW>H@ WKH
    SUHFLVH IHHV WKDW DWWRUQH\V ZLWK VLPLODU TXDOLILFDWLRQV KDYH UHFHLYHG IURP IHHSD\LQJ FOLHQWV LQ
    FRPSDUDEOHFDVHV´Eley)GDWsee also Flood)6XSSGDWFRQFOXGLQJ
    WKDWWKHGHFODUDWLRQVGLG³QRWGHPRQVWUDWHFRQFOXVLYHO\WKHSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWHV´EXWXOWLPDWHO\
    KROGLQJWKDWWKHSODLQWLIIPHWKHUEXUGHQE\SURYLGLQJWKHGHFODUDWLRQVLQDGGLWLRQWRHYLGHQFHRI
    UHFHQWIHHVDZDUGHGE\RWKHUFRXUWVLQWKHVDPHMXULVGLFWLRQ
    )XUWKHUSODLQWLIIVVXSSOHPHQWWKLVHYLGHQFHE\SRLQWLQJWRUHFHQWIHHDZDUGVLQWKLVGLVWULFW
    LQZKLFKSUHYDLOLQJ,'($FODLPDQWVZHUHUHLPEXUVHGDWIXOO86$2Laffey UDWHVSee 3OV¶0HP
    DW±FLWLQJFDVHVsee e.g.Wimbish)6XSSGDW±FRQFOXGLQJWKDWWKHSODLQWLII
    KDGPHWKHUEXUGHQWRVKRZWKDWWKH86$2Laffey UDWHVZHUHWKHSUHYDLOLQJUDWHVLQWKHFRPPXQLW\
    E\SURYLGLQJDIILGDYLWVIURPRWKHUDWWRUQH\VDVZHOODVSRLQWLQJWRUHFHQWFDVHVWKDWKDGDZDUGHG
    IXOOUDWHVFlood)6XSSGDW³>$@UHYLHZRIUHFHQW,'($IHHDZDUGVLQGLFDWHVIDLUO\
    
           $VWKLV&RXUWKDVSRLQWHGRXWLQWKHSDVWDQ\HIIRUWWRGHWHUPLQHDSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWH
    ZLOOIDOOVKRUWRISHUIHFWLRQVLQFHWKHVSHFLDOHGXFDWLRQEDUGRHVQRWIXQFWLRQLQDQRUGLQDU\PDUNHW
    :KLOHWKHUHLVDVPDOOSRUWLRQRIFOLHQWVZKRFDQSD\WKHIXOOIUHLJKWWKHVHFDVHVDUHOLWLJDWHGXQGHU
    DIHHVKLIWLQJVWDWXWHPDQ\DWWRUQH\VZLOOLQJO\DVVXPHWKHULVNWKDWWKH\PD\QRWEHSDLGDWDOOLI
    WKH\DUHXQVXFFHVVIXODQGWKHIHHVREWDLQHGZKHQSODLQWLIIVSUHYDLODUHXOWLPDWHO\VHWE\MXGJHV
    ZLWK YDU\LQJ SRLQWV RI YLHZ VRPH RI ZKRP UHJXODUO\ GLVFRXQW IHH SHWLWLRQV E\ D YDULHW\ RI
    SHUFHQWDJHVIRUDYDULHW\RIUHDVRQV7KHVLWXDWLRQFULHVRXWIRUDEHWWHUVROXWLRQSee Merrick I
     ) 6XSS G DW  Q ³7KH &RXUW QRWHV WKDW LQ Eley WKH &RXUW RI $SSHDOV VWDWHG WKDW
    µHYLGHQFHRIWKHSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWHFDQWDNHPDQ\IRUPV¶DQGVXJJHVWHGWKDWDPDUNHWVXUYH\
    PLJKWDOVREHDSHUVXDVLYHIRUPRIHYLGHQFH%XWJLYHQWKHH[LVWHQFHRIWKHIHHVKLIWLQJVWDWXWHLQ
    FDVHVOLNHWKLVRQHDQGWKHUHODWLYHUDULW\RISD\LQJVSHFLDOHGXFDWLRQFOLHQWVRQHFDQKDUGO\VD\
    WKDW D µPDUNHW¶ H[LVWV IRU VHUYLFHV VLPLODU WR WKH VHUYLFHV RIIHUHG LQ WKLV FDVH  6R WKH H[HUFLVH
    FRQWHPSODWHGE\EleyZLOORIWHQSURGXFHDZNZDUGDQGOHVVWKDQLGHDOUHVXOWV7KHUHDUHJRLQJWR
    FRQWLQXHWREHFRXQWOHVVKRXUVZDVWHGE\SULYDWHFRXQVHO'&36DQGWKHEHQFKOLWLJDWLQJQRWRQO\
    IHH SHWLWLRQV EXW DOVR IHHVRQIHHV SHWLWLRQV XQWLO WKH 'LVWULFW DQG WKH VSHFLDO HGXFDWLRQ EDU VLW
    GRZQLQJRRGIDLWK±ZLWKRUZLWKRXWWKHDVVLVWDQFHRIDQHXWUDOPHGLDWRU±DQGWU\WRKDPPHURXW
    DPXWXDOO\DFFHSWDEOHSUHVXPSWLYHIHHVFKHGXOHWKDWLVQRWDVSDUVLPRQLRXVDQGXQUHDOLVWLFDVWKH
    ODVWRQH´LQWHUQDOFLWDWLRQRPLWWHG
    
    
    EURDG VXSSRUW DPRQJ -XGJHV RQ WKLV &RXUW IRU UHLPEXUVHPHQW DW RU DERYH IXOO 86$2 Laffey
    UDWHV´Copeland)6XSSGDW7KHDIILGDYLWVDQGFDVHVWDNHQWRJHWKHUVXIILFLHQWO\
    GHPRQVWUDWHWKDWSODLQWLIIVKDYHPHWWKHLUEXUGHQWRSURYHWKDWIXOO86$2Laffey UDWHVFRQVWLWXWH
    WKHSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWHVIRU,'($OLWLJDWLRQSUDFWLFHLQWKLVMXULVGLFWLRQ
    %HFDXVHSODLQWLIIVKDYHPHWWKHLUEXUGHQWKH&RXUWPXVWSUHVXPHWKDWWKHKRXUO\UDWHVDUH
    UHDVRQDEOHDQGWKHEXUGHQVKLIWVWRWKHGHIHQVHWRSURYLGH³VSHFLILFFRQWUDU\HYLGHQFHWHQGLQJWR
    VKRZWKDWDORZHUUDWHZRXOGEHDSSURSULDWH´Covington)GDW±FLWLQJNat’l Ass’n
    of Concerned Veterans)GDW
    'HIHQGDQW RIIHUV WKH GHFODUDWLRQ RI )OR\G +D\HV ZKR VHUYHV DV WKH )LQDQFLDO 3URJUDP
    $QDO\VWLQWKH'&362IILFHRI*HQHUDO&RXQVHOWRGHPRQVWUDWHWKDWVHYHQW\ILYHSHUFHQWRIWKH
    86$2Laffey KRXUO\UDWHLVWKHSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWHIRUDWWRUQH\VSUDFWLFLQJ,'($OLWLJDWLRQDQG
    WKDW WKH UDWH LV VXIILFLHQW WR DWWUDFW FRPSHWHQW FRXQVHO See 'HFO RI )OR\G +D\HV >'NW  @
    
         (YHQ UHFHQW IHH DZDUGV LQ WKH GLVWULFW PD\ XQGHUHVWLPDWH WKH SUHYDLOLQJ PDUNHW UDWH IRU
    ,'($ OLWLJDWLRQ  $V DQRWKHU FRXUW KDV SRLQWHG RXW PDQ\ ,'($ DWWRUQH\V PD\ UHTXHVW
    UHLPEXUVHPHQW EHORZ IXOO 86$2 Laffey UDWHV WR DYRLG SURORQJHG OLWLJDWLRQ DQG VHFXUH WLPHO\
    UHLPEXUVHPHQWFlood)6XSSGDW
    
        ,Q DGGLWLRQ SODLQWLIIV VXEPLWWHG D 'HSDUWPHQW RI -XVWLFH PDUNHW VXUYH\ FRQGXFWHG E\
    HFRQRPLVW'U/DXUD$0DORZDQHDVZHOODVWKH1DWLRQDO/DZ-RXUQDOPDUNHWVXUYH\WR
    VXSSRUWWKHLUSRVLWLRQWKDWWKH86$2Laffey 0DWUL[LVWKHDSSURSULDWHLQGH[WRGHWHUPLQHDWWRUQH\V¶
    IHHVSee 'HFORI'U/DXUD$0DORZDQH([WR3OV¶0HP>'NW@ˆ³,QP\RSLQLRQ
    WKHDWWRUQH\IHHPDWUL[LVVXHGDQGXSGDWHGE\WKH8QLWHG6WDWHV$WWRUQH\V¶2IILFHIRUWKH'LVWULFW
    RI&ROXPELDLVWKHDSSURSULDWHPDWUL[WRXVHIRUSXUSRVHVRIGHWHUPLQLQJSODLQWLII¶VDWWRUQH\V¶
    IHHV´([WR3OV¶0HP>'NW@'HIHQGDQWLQVLVWVWKDWWKH&RXUWVKRXOGGLVUHJDUG/DXUD
    0DORZDQH¶VGHFODUDWLRQEHFDXVHLWZDVSUHSDUHGIRUDQRWKHUFDVH'HI¶V2SSDW,WDOVRDUJXHV
    WKDWWKH1DWLRQDO/DZ-RXUQDOPDUNHWVXUYH\³SURYLGHVQRHYLGHQFHRIWKHUHDVRQDEOHPDUNHWUDWH´
    EHFDXVHLWGRHVQRWLGHQWLI\DWWRUQH\\HDUVRIH[SHULHQFHLWLQFOXGHVDQXPEHURISUDFWLFHDUHDV
    VXFKDVZKLWHFROODUFULPHDQGWUDQVDFWLRQDODWWRUQH\VDQGLWGRHVQRWVSHFLI\LIWKHUDWHVDUHPHUHO\
    FKDUJHGE\SUDFWLWLRQHUVRUDFWXDOO\UHFHLYHGIURPFOLHQWVId. DW%HFDXVHWKHRWKHUHYLGHQFH
    SODLQWLIIV SURYLGHG LV VXIILFLHQW IRU WKHP WR PHHW WKHLU EXUGHQ WKH &RXUW QHHG QRW HYDOXDWH WKH
    ZHLJKW RI WKLV DGGLWLRQDO HYLGHQFH  7KH &RXUW QRWHV KRZHYHU WKDW PDUNHW VXUYH\V KDYH EHHQ
    HQGRUVHGE\WKH&RXUWRI$SSHDOVDVDQRWKHUIRUPRIHYLGHQFHDSODLQWLIIPD\SURYLGHWRSURYHWKH
    SUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWHSee Eley)GDW
    
    
    
    ³+D\HV'HFO´'HI¶V2SSDW±7KHGHFODUDWLRQLQFOXGHVVWDWLVWLFVUHJDUGLQJWKHQXPEHU
    RILQYRLFHVVXEPLWWHGWKHQXPEHURILQYRLFHVWKDWZHUHVHWWOHGDQGWKHDPRXQWRIDWWRUQH\V¶IHHV
    WKDWZHUHUHTXHVWHGDQGSDLGIRUILVFDO\HDUVDQGSee +D\HV'HFOˆˆ±,Q
    '&36VHWWOHGRIWKHDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVLQYRLFHVVXEPLWWHGLQ'&36VHWWOHG
    RIWKHLQYRLFHVVXEPLWWHGDQGLQ'&36VHWWOHGRIWKHLQYRLFHVVXEPLWWHGId.
    $QGLQHDFK\HDUDOORIWKHLQYRLFHVWKDWZHUHVHWWOHGZHUHVHWWOHGDWVHYHQW\ILYHSHUFHQWRIWKH
    86$2Laffey 0DWUL[UDWHId.
    :KLOHWKLVHYLGHQFHVKRZVWKDWVRPHODZ\HUVKDYHDJUHHGWRDFFHSWVHYHQW\ILYHSHUFHQW
    RIWKH86$2Laffey UDWHVIRUWKHLUZRUNRQEHKDOIRI,'($SODLQWLIIVVHWWOHPHQWDZDUGVSUHVHQW
    GUDZEDFNV DV HYLGHQFH VLQFH WKH\ OLNHO\ XQGHUVWDWH WKH SUHYDLOLQJ PDUNHW UDWHV IRU VSHFLDO
    HGXFDWLRQ DWWRUQH\V  7KH &RXUW FDQQRW LJQRUH WKH IDFW WKDW VHWWOHPHQWV UHIOHFW FRPSURPLVHV
    EHWZHHQWZRSDUWLHVWKDWKDYHIDFWRUHGLQWKHFRVWVDQGULVNVRIFRQWLQXHGOLWLJDWLRQ$VHWWOHPHQW
    WKDWLQFOXGHVWKHSD\PHQWRIDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVDWDVHYHQW\ILYHSHUFHQW86$2Laffey UDWHPD\EHDQ
    LQGLFDWLRQRIDIDLUUDWHEXWLWGRHVQRWQHFHVVDULO\PHDQWKDWWKHUDWHLVWKHSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWH
    7KLVREVHUYDWLRQLVEROVWHUHGE\WKHDIILGDYLWVSODLQWLIIVSURYLGHGZKLFKDYHUWKDWUDWHVDW
    VHYHQW\ILYHSHUFHQWRIWKH86$2Laffey 0DWUL[DUHWRRORZWRHQDEOH,'($DWWRUQH\VWRPDLQWDLQ
    DIXOOWLPHSUDFWLFHVHUYLQJDOPRVWH[FOXVLYHO\QRQSD\LQJ,'($FOLHQWVSee +HFKW'HFOˆ
    ³,I,FDQQRWJHWLaffey UDWHVLQDWLPHO\PDQQHUIRUWKHOHJDOZRUN,SHUIRUP,PD\QRWEHDEOHWR
    FRQWLQXHVHUYLQJWKHLQGLJHQWSRSXODWLRQRQDFRQWLQJHQF\EDVLV´2VWUHP'HFOˆˆ±VWDWLQJ
    WKDWKH³IRXQGLWLPSRVVLEOHWRVXVWDLQ´DSUDFWLFHWKDWZDVFRPSOHWHO\IRFXVHGRQ,'($FDVHVIRU
    LQGLJHQWSDUHQWVDQGVWXGHQWVEHFDXVHKH³FRXOGQRWDIIRUG´LW7\UND'HFOˆDYHUULQJWKDW³LW
    KDVEHFRPHYHU\GLIILFXOWWRHDUQDUHDVRQDEOHLQFRPH´IURP,'($OLWLJDWLRQDQG³LPSRVVLEOHWR
    PDLQWDLQDODZILUPWKDWUHOLHVXSRQWKDWZRUNIRUWKHPDMRULW\RILWVZRUN´id. ˆ³,EHOLHYH
    
    
    WKDWZLWKWKHVRPHWLPHDSSOLFDWLRQRIµ86$2UDWHV¶LWLVLPSRVVLEOHWRPDLQWDLQDSUDFWLFHLQ
    ZKLFKDODUJHSRUWLRQRIWKHZRUNLV,'($ZRUNIRUQRQSD\LQJFOLHQWV´
    7KHUHIRUHWKHLQIRUPDWLRQSURYLGHGE\WKH'LVWULFWLVLQVXIILFLHQWIRULWWRPHHWLWVEXUGHQ
    WRSURYLGH³VSHFLILFFRQWUDU\HYLGHQFHWHQGLQJWRVKRZWKDWDORZHUUDWHZRXOGEHDSSURSULDWH´
    Covington  )G DW ± FLWLQJ Nat’l Ass’n of Concerned Veterans  )G DW 
    $FFRUGLQJO\WKH&RXUWILQGVWKDWWKHUDWHVFKDUJHGE\0U1DERUVDQG0U0RUDQDUHUHDVRQDEOH
    KRXUO\UDWHVIRUWKHOHJDOVHUYLFHVSURYLGHG
    8WLOL]LQJWKH86$2Laffey UDWHVDQGDGMXVWLQJWKHKRXUVH[SHQGHGDVRXWOLQHGE\WKH&RXUW
    DERYHWKH&RXUWZLOODZDUGSODLQWLIIV¶FRXQVHOLQDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVDQGLQFRVWV
    ,,,         3ODLQWLIIV¶FRXQVHODUHHQWLWOHGWRDIHHVRQIHHVDZDUG
    3ODLQWLIIV DOVR DVN WKH &RXUW WR ³RUGHU IHHVRQIHHV EDVHG RQ WKH 86$2 $WWRUQH\V )HH
    0DWUL[´3OV¶0HPDW+RZHYHUSODLQWLIIVGLGQRWVXEPLWDILQDOLQYRLFHWRWKH&RXUWZLWK
    WKHLU UHSO\ EULHI UDWKHUGHIHQGDQW ZDV WKH SDUW\ WKDW DWWDFKHG D ³GUDIW´ RI SODLQWLIIV¶ FRXQVHOV¶
    LQYRLFHIRUOLWLJDWLQJWKHIHHLVVXHLQWKLV&RXUWSee([WR'HI¶V2SS>'NW@³'UDIW
    ,QYRLFH´%HFDXVHRIWKLVRPLVVLRQWKH&RXUWRUGHUHGSODLQWLIIVWRVXSSOHPHQWWKHLUPRWLRQIRU
    DWWRUQH\V¶IHHVZLWKDILQDOLQYRLFHWKDWFRYHUHGWKHSHULRGWKURXJKWKHILOLQJRIWKHUHSO\EULHILQ
    WKLVFDVH0LQ2UGHU-XQH
    2Q-XQHSODLQWLIIVVXEPLWWHGWKHILQDOLQYRLFHDQGDOVRDWWDFKHGGHFODUDWLRQVIURP
    WZRDGGLWLRQDOODZILUPHPSOR\HHVZKRZRUNHGPLQLPDOO\RQWKHFDVH&KDUOHV6LEHUWDQG-RVHSK
    *ROLQNHUSee 3OV¶6XSSO)LOLQJLQ5HVSWR&W¶V-XQH2UGHU>'NW@6WDWHPHQWRI
    
        'HIHQGDQWGLGQRWRSSRVHWKHUHTXHVWIRULQFRVWVSee 'HI¶V2SSDW³&RVWV
    WRWDOIRUWKHXQGHUO\LQJDGPLQLVWUDWLYHDFWLRQ´
    
        7KH'UDIW,QYRLFHLQFOXGHGFKDUJHVXSWKURXJK-DQXDU\See 'UDIW,QYRLFHDW
    $WWKDWSRLQWLQWLPHSODLQWLIIV¶FRXQVHOV¶IHHVKDGDPRXQWHGWRId. 
    
    
    
    $FFRXQW ,, 'HFO RI &KDUOHV $ 6LEHUW (VT >'NW  @ ³6LEHUW 'HFO´ 'HFO RI -RVHSK
    *ROLQNHU>'NW@³*ROLQNHU'HFO´3ODLQWLIIVDUHVHHNLQJLQDWWRUQH\V¶IHHV
    IRU  KRXUV RI ZRUN DQG  LQ FRVWV IRU SXUVXLQJ WKLV IHH OLWLJDWLRQ  See 6WDWHPHQW RI
    $FFRXQW,,DW
    ³,'($OLWLJDQWVDUHHQWLWOHGWRUHFHLYHFRPSHQVDWLRQIRUWKHKRXUVH[SHQGHGSXUVXLQJDQ
    LQLWLDOIHHDZDUGLQ'LVWULFW&RXUW´Reed)GDW7KH&RXUWRI$SSHDOV³KDV\HWWR
    GHWHUPLQHZKHWKHUDOODVSHFWVRIDQ,'($OLWLJDWLRQVKRXOGEHWUHDWHGDVDXQLILHGZKROHVXEMHFW
    WRWKHVDPHSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWH´Id.%XWLWKDVKHOGWKDWVXEVHTXHQWIHHOLWLJDWLRQVKRXOGEH
    FRQVLGHUHGSDUWRIWKHVDPHDFWLRQDVWKHXQGHUO\LQJDGPLQLVWUDWLYHSURFHHGLQJSeeJester v. Gov’t
    of the District of Columbia  )G  ± '& &LU  KROGLQJ WKDW DQ ,'($
    DGPLQLVWUDWLYH SURFHHGLQJ DQG WKH VXEVHTXHQW MXGLFLDO SURFHHGLQJ FRQVWLWXWH ³RQH DFWLRQ´
    Kaseman v. District of Columbia)G±'&&LUFRQFOXGLQJWKDWIHHV
    RQIHHVOLWLJDWLRQLVSDUWRIWKHVDPHDFWLRQDVWKH,'($DGPLQLVWUDWLYHKHDULQJ$QGWKH&RXUW
    
        &KDUOHV6LEHUWHDUQHGKLVODZGHJUHHIURP$PHULFDQ8QLYHUVLW\:DVKLQJWRQ&ROOHJHRI
    /DZLQ0D\DQGZDVDGPLWWHGWRSUDFWLFHODZLQ0LFKLJDQLQ-XQH6LEHUW'HFOˆ
    6KRUWO\DIWHUKLVDGPLWWDQFHWRWKH0LFKLJDQEDUKHEHJDQSUDFWLFLQJODZLQ:DVKLQJWRQ'&
    XQGHUWKHVXSHUYLVLRQRI&KDUOHV0RUDQDQG6WHYLH1DERUVSXUVXDQWWR'&&RXUWRI$SSHDOV5XOH
    FId. ˆ0U6LEHUWZDVDGPLWWHGWRWKH'&EDURQ)HEUXDU\Id.ˆ0U6LEHUW
    DYHUUHGWKDWKLVSUDFWLFHIRFXVHVRQVSHFLDOHGXFDWLRQODZXQGHUWKH,'($DQGWKDWKLVELOOLQJUDWH
    LVSHUKRXUSXUVXDQWWRWKHFXUUHQW86$2Laffey 0DWUL[Id.ˆˆ±
    
        -RVHSK*ROLQNHUHDUQHGKLVODZGHJUHHIURP$PHULFDQ8QLYHUVLW\:DVKLQJWRQ&ROOHJHRI
    /DZLQDQGKHLVDPHPEHURIWKH6WDWH%DURI1HZ0H[LFR*ROLQNHU'HFOˆˆ+H
    KDVILYH\HDUVRIFRPELQHGH[SHULHQFHLQVSHFLDOHGXFDWLRQWHDFKLQJODZDQGDGYRFDF\DQGKH
    FXUUHQWO\ZRUNVDVDODZFOHUNDW0RUDQDQG$VVRFLDWHVId.ˆˆ7KHILUP³FXVWRPDULO\ELOOV
    IRU>KLV@WLPHDWWKH86$2PDWUL[SDUDOHJDOUDWH´ZKLFKLVSHUKRXUId. ˆsee also
    86$2Laffey 0DWUL[
    
        3ODLQWLIIV¶'UDIW,QYRLFHRULJLQDOO\VRXJKWLQFRVWVDQGGHIHQGDQWGLGQRWRSSRVH
    WKDWUHTXHVWLQLWVEULHISee 'UDIW,QYRLFHDW'HI¶V2SSDW³&RVWVWRWDOLQFXUUHG
    IRUIHHVRQIHHV´$OWKRXJKWKHDPRXQWQRZLQFOXGHVDQDGGLWLRQDOFKDUJHIRUSULQWLQJsee
    6WDWHPHQWRI$FFRXQW,,DWWKH&RXUWZLOOFRQWLQXHWRWUHDWWKHUHTXHVWIRUFRVWVDVXQRSSRVHG
    
    
    
    RI$SSHDOVLQReed XSKHOGDGLVWULFWFRXUW¶VGHFLVLRQWRDZDUGIHHVRQIHHVDWWKHVDPHSUHYDLOLQJ
    PDUNHWUDWHDVWKHXQGHUO\LQJIHHDZDUGIRUWKHDGPLQLVWUDWLYHDFWLRQReed)GDW
    'HIHQGDQWDUJXHVWKDWWKHKRXUO\UDWHDZDUGHGIRUWKHWLPHVSHQWSUHSDULQJSODLQWLIIV¶IHH
    SHWLWLRQVKRXOGEHILIW\SHUFHQWRIWKH86$2Laffey0DWUL[UDWH'HI¶V2SSDW7RVXSSRUW
    LWVSRVLWLRQWKHGHIHQVHSRLQWVWRDIHZFDVHVLQWKLVGLVWULFWWKDWKDYHRUGHUHGIHHVRQIHHVDZDUGV
    DWILIW\SHUFHQWRIWKH86$2UDWHVSee 'HI¶V2SSDWFLWLQJFDVHV%XWDOORIWKRVHFDVHV
    ZHUHGHFLGHGSULRUWRWKH&LUFXLW¶VGHFLVLRQLQReed)GDW$QGVLQFHWKHQFRXUWVLQ
    WKLVGLVWULFWKDYHRUGHUHGIHHVRQIHHVDZDUGVDWWKHVDPHUDWHVDVWKRVHDZDUGHGWRWKHDWWRUQH\V
    IRUWKHXQGHUO\LQJDGPLQLVWUDWLYHDFWLRQSee, e.g. Shaw v. District of Columbia)6XSSG
     ± ''&  DZDUGLQJ IXOO 86$2 Laffey UDWHV IRU IHHVRQIHHV OLWLJDWLRQ DQG
    DJUHHLQJZLWKRWKHUFRXUWV³WKDWDSODLQWLIIVHHNLQJIHHVRQIHHVQHHGQRWDJDLQGHPRQVWUDWHWKDW
    WKHIHHUDWHVRXJKWLVUHDVRQDEOH´McNeil v. District of Columbia)6XSSG±
    ''&DZDUGLQJVHYHQW\ILYHSHUFHQWRI86$2Laffey UDWHVLQERWKWKHXQGHUO\LQJIHH
    DZDUGDQGWKHIHHVRQIHHVDZDUGDQGREVHUYLQJWKDWUHOLWLJDWLQJWKHIHHLVVXH³ZRXOGEHLOORJLFDO
    JLYHQWKDWWKHLQLWLDOIHHSURFHHGLQJDQGWKLVSURFHHGLQJDUHSDUWVRIWKHVDPHDFWLRQ´
    7KH'LVWULFWKDV³IDLOHGWRSURYLGHDQ\HYLGHQFHVXJJHVWLQJWKDWWKHµSUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWH¶
    IRUIHHVRQIHHVLVGLVWLQFWIURPWKHUDWHXVHGWRFDOFXODWHDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVIRUWKHDGPLQLVWUDWLYH
    SURFHHGLQJV´Reed)GDWFRQFOXGLQJWKDWWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWGLGQRWDEXVHLWVGLVFUHWLRQ
    LQDSSO\LQJWKHVDPHUDWHIRUIHHVIRUWKHDGPLQLVWUDWLYHSURFHHGLQJVDQGIHHVRQIHHVLQOLJKWRI
    
        'HIHQGDQW DOVR PDLQWDLQV WKDW WKH ILIW\ SHUFHQW UDWH VKRXOG EH DSSOLHG WR WKH HQWU\ RQ
    SODLQWLIIV¶LQYRLFH³UHODWHGWRWKHXQGHUO\LQJDGPLQLVWUDWLYHDFWLRQZKLFKELOOVWZRKRXUV¶WLPHIRU
    UHYLHZLQJDQGSUHSDULQJWKHLQYRLFH´'HI¶V2SSDWsee 6WDWHPHQWRI$FFRXQW,DW³([LW
    DXGLWLQYRLFH´%XWGHIHQGDQWJLYHVQROHJDOUHDVRQIRUZK\WKH&RXUWVKRXOGUHGXFHWKHUDWH
    DVVLJQHGWRWKDWHQWU\)XUWKHUWKH'LVWULFWDOUHDG\DVVHUWHGWKDWWKH³SUHYDLOLQJPDUNHWUDWH´LV
    VHYHQW\ILYHSHUFHQWRIWKH86$2Laffey UDWHDQGWKH&RXUWKDVDOUHDG\UHMHFWHGWKDWSRVLWLRQ
    
    
    
    WKH ³IDLOXUH WR VXEPLW HYLGHQFH RI DQ\ PHDQLQJIXO GLIIHUHQFH EHWZHHQ WK>H@ WZR W\SHV RI
    OLWLJDWLRQ´7KHUHIRUHWKH&RXUWZLOODZDUGSODLQWLIIV¶DWWRUQH\VIHHVIRUWKHLQVWDQWIHHOLWLJDWLRQ
    DWWKHIXOO86$2Laffey 0DWUL[UDWH
    %XWWKDWGRHVQRWHQGWKHLQTXLU\$QDWWRUQH\V¶IHHDZDUGLVGHWHUPLQHGE\WKH³QXPEHU
    RIKRXUVUHDVRQDEO\H[SHQGHGRQWKHOLWLJDWLRQPXOWLSOLHGE\DUHDVRQDEOHKRXUO\UDWH´Hensley
     86 DW   7KXV WKH &RXUW PXVW DOVR GHWHUPLQH LI WKH  KRXUV RI WLPH VSHQW VHHNLQJ
    FRPSHQVDWLRQIRUWKHKRXUVGHYRWHGWRWKHFOLHQWZDVUHDVRQDEOHSee generally 6WDWHPHQWRI
    $FFRXQW ,,  ,Q PDNLQJ WKH IHH FDOFXODWLRQ WKH FRXUW ³VKRXOG H[FOXGH    KRXUV WKDW ZHUH QRW
    µUHDVRQDEO\H[SHQGHG¶´VXFKDVIRUZRUNWKDWLV³H[FHVVLYHUHGXQGDQWRURWKHUZLVHXQQHFHVVDU\´
    Hensley86DWLQWHUQDOFLWDWLRQRPLWWHG )XUWKHUWKHFRXUWPD\FRQVLGHUDYDULHW\RI
    IDFWRUVWRGHWHUPLQHLIWKHRYHUDOOIHHDZDUGVKRXOGEHDGMXVWHG³XSZDUGRUGRZQZDUGLQFOXGLQJ
    WKHLPSRUWDQWIDFWRURIWKHUHVXOWVREWDLQHG¶´Id.LQWHUQDOTXRWDWLRQPDUNVRPLWWHG³7KHUHLVQR
    SUHFLVHUXOHRUIRUPXODIRUPDNLQJWKHVHGHWHUPLQDWLRQV7KHGLVWULFWFRXUWPD\DWWHPSWWRLGHQWLI\
    VSHFLILF KRXUV WKDWVKRXOG EH HOLPLQDWHG RU LWPD\ VLPSO\ UHGXFH WKHDZDUG WR DFFRXQW IRUWKH
    OLPLWHGVXFFHVV7KHFRXUWQHFHVVDULO\KDVGLVFUHWLRQLQPDNLQJWKLVHTXLWDEOHMXGJPHQW´Id. DW
    ±
    $IWHU SODLQWLIIV IDLOHG WR ILOH D ILQDO LQYRLFH ZLWK WKHLU UHSO\ EULHI WKH &RXUW LQVWUXFWHG
    SODLQWLIIVWRVXEPLW³DILQDOLQYRLFHWKDWFRYHUVWKHSHULRGthrough the filing of the reply brief LQ
    WKLVFDVH´0LQ2UGHU-XQHHPSKDVLVDGGHG:KLOHSODLQWLIIVUHVSRQGHGWRWKHRUGHU
    WKH\ VXEPLWWHG D ILQDO LQYRLFH WKDW LQFOXGHG ELOODEOH WLPH DIWHU WKH ILOLQJ RI WKH UHSO\ EULHI RQ
    )HEUXDU\See 6WDWHPHQWRI$FFRXQW,,DWELOOLQJKRXUVIRU³>U@HDG>LQJ@WKH&RXUW¶V
    PLQXWHRUGHU´DQGKRXUVIRUDXGLWLQJWKHLQYRLFHZKLFKLQFOXGHGDUHYLHZWR³YHULI\GDWHV
    RISOHDGLQJVHFIQRWLFHVDQGHPDLOFRPPXQLFDWLRQV´7KH&RXUWILQGVWKDWLQFOXGLQJDQ\WLPH
    FRXQVHOFKRVHWRGHYRWHWRWKHPDWWHUDIWHU)HEUXDU\ZRXOGEHXQUHDVRQDEOHDQGWKDW
    
    
    FRXQVHOVKRXOGQRWEHFRPSHQVDWHGIRULW7KHUHIRUHWKHLQYRLFHZLOOEHUHGXFHGE\WKHKRXUV
    RIWLPHELOOHGE\0U0RUDQDQGWKHKRXUVELOOHGE\0U1DERUVIRUDUHGXFWLRQRI
    7KHRQO\FKDOOHQJHGHIHQGDQWPDNHVWRWKHKRXUVH[SHQGHGRQWKHIHHVRQIHHVOLWLJDWLRQ
    LVWRDWLPHHQWU\RQ-DQXDU\'HI¶V2SSDW2QWKDWGDWH0U0RUDQELOOHGKRXUV
    RI WLPH IRU ³>U@HYLHZ>LQJ@ SULRU +2' DQG FRPSOHWH FOLHQW ILOH DQG FRPSDU>LQJ@ WR FXUUHQW
    SURFHGXUDO SRVWXUH´  6WDWHPHQW RI $FFRXQW ,, DW   'HIHQGDQW DUJXHV WKDW WKH &RXUW VKRXOG
    GLVFRXQWWKHLQYRLFHE\KRXUVEHFDXVH³>Q@RFOHDULQIHUHQFHOLHVVXSSRUWLQJWKHUHODWLRQRIWKLV
    HQWU\WRWKHLUFXUUHQWPRWLRQRUDUJXPHQW´'HI¶V2SSDW%HFDXVHSODLQWLIIVGRQRWUHVSRQG
    WRWKLVDUJXPHQWLQWKHLUUHSO\EULHIsee generally 3OV¶5HSO\DQGWKH&RXUWFDQQRWGHWHUPLQHWKH
    SXUSRVHRIWKLVZRUN±RUZK\LWWRRNQHDUO\WZRKRXUVWRFRPSOHWH±WKH&RXUWZLOODOVRUHGXFH
    WKHIHHVRQIHHVDZDUGE\WKHELOOHGIRUWKLVWLPHHQWU\
    7KHVHGHGXFWLRQVZRXOGUHVXOWLQDQDZDUGRILQDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVDQGLQ
    FRVWVIRUWKHIHHOLWLJDWLRQRUDIHHVRQIHHVDZDUGHTXDOWRDSSUR[LPDWHO\ILIW\WKUHHSHUFHQWRIWKH
    IHH IRU OLWLJDWLQJ WKH PDWWHU DW WKH IXOO 86$2 Laffey 0DWUL[ UDWH  7KH &RXUW ILQGV WKLV WR EH
    VRPHZKDW GLVSURSRUWLRQDWH DQG H[FHVVLYH VLQFH WKH KRXUV WR EH VSHQW RQ WKH IHH SHWLWLRQ ZHUH
    ODUJHO\ ZLWKLQ FRXQVHO¶V FRQWURO DQG LQ LWV GLVFUHWLRQ LW ZLOO UHGXFH WKH IHHV RQ IHHV DZDUG WR
    RUDSSUR[LPDWHO\RQHWKLUGRIWKHIHHIRUOLWLJDWLQJWKHPDWWHU
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    &21&/86,21
    )RUWKHIRUHJRLQJUHDVRQVWKH&RXUWZLOOJUDQWSODLQWLIIV¶PRWLRQIRUDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVLQSDUW
    DQG LW ZLOO DZDUG SODLQWLIIV¶ FRXQVHO  LQ DWWRUQH\V¶ IHHV DQG  LQ FRVWV IRU WKH
    XQGHUO\LQJDGPLQLVWUDWLYHSURFHHGLQJDQGLQDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVDQGLQFRVWVIRU
    OLWLJDWLQJWKHIHHSHWLWLRQLQWKLV&RXUW-XGJPHQWZLOOEHHQWHUHGIRUSODLQWLIIVLQWKHDPRXQWRI
    LQDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVDQGFRVWV
    $VHSDUDWHRUGHUZLOOLVVXH
    
    
    
    
    
    
    $0<%(50$1-$&.621
    8QLWHG6WDWHV'LVWULFW-XGJH
    
    '$7(-XO\
    
    
    

Document Info

Docket Number: Civil Action No. 2017-2133

Judges: Judge Amy Berman Jackson

Filed Date: 7/13/2018

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 7/13/2018