Wisey's 1 LLC v. Nimellis Pizzeria LLC , 952 F. Supp. 2d 184 ( 2013 )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
WISEY’S #1 LLC,
Plaintiff,
v.
NIMELLIS PIZZERIA LLC;
Civil Action No. 12-cv-1612 (JDB)
MINELLIS PIZZERIA ENTERPRISES
LLC;
and
DAVAR ASHGRIZZADEH,
Defendants.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
After Wisey’s #1 LLC (“Wisey’s”) brought federal statutory and state common law
claims against Nimellis Pizzeria LLC, Minellis Pizzeria Enterprises LLC, and Davar
Ashgrizzadeh (collectively “Nimellis”), the defendants filed counterclaims alleging four state
common law torts against Wisey’s for the actions of its employees. Wisey’s has now moved to
dismiss the counterclaims under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) for lack of subject
matter jurisdiction and 12(b)(6) for failure state a claim upon which relief can be granted. For the
reasons stated below, the Court will grant Wisey’s motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(1)
without reaching the Rule 12(b)(6) motion.
FACTS
Davar Ashgrizzadeh owns and operates Minellis Pizzeria Enterprises LLC, a defunct
entity no longer operating, and Nimellis Pizzeria LLC. Am. Countercls. [Docket Entry 24] ¶ 7
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(Jan. 9, 2013). Nimellis owns and operates a restaurant known as Café Romeo’s located at 2132
Wisconsin Avenue NW in the District of Columbia. Id.
Nimellis’ counterclaims stem from an alleged business feud that began around June 2011
when Café Romeo’s started to offer smoothies. See id. ¶¶ 9, 11. “On or around June or August
2011,” Nimellis alleges an agent, owner, or employee of Wisey’s approached Ashgrizzadeh and
demanded that Café Romeo’s stop selling smoothies. Id. ¶¶ 9, 11. Wisey’s is an active
competitor in the Georgetown and broader District of Columbia smoothie market and is located
at 1440 Wisconsin Avenue NW in the District of Columbia. Id. ¶¶ 4, 13. The agent, owner, or
employee told Ashgrizzadeh that if Café Romeo’s sold milkshakes instead of smoothies, then
Wisey’s and Café Romeo’s could be “friends,” but if Café Romeo’s continued to sell smoothies,
then Wisey’s would destroy Café Romeo’s business. See id. ¶ 11.
When Café Romeo’s refused to stop selling smoothies, Nimellis alleges that Wisey’s
through its owner Nabeel Audeh and its employee Helal Awadallah began a defamatory
campaign to embarrass Ashgrizzadeh and “destroy Café Romeo’s underlying business.” See id.
¶ 14. Many of the subsequent actions involved Ashgrizzadeh’s status as a sex offender. See, e.g.,
id. ¶ 15. In 1996, Ashgrizzadeh pleaded guilty to a sex offense involving another adult, for which
he served a two-year sentence and is listed on the sex offender registry in Virginia. See id. ¶ 16.
Nimellis alleges that in the summer of 2011, through its owners, agents, or employees—
including Awadallah—Wisey’s told its own customers that Ashgrizzadeh was a “psychopath”
and a “child molester” while disseminating his sex offender registry information to them. See id.
¶ 15. Nimellis also alleges that in or around February 2012, Wisey’s through its owners, agents,
or employees sent text messages to Café Romeo’s employees that contained Ashgrizzadeh’s sex
offender registry information. Id. ¶ 17.
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In June 2012, Café Romeo’s began trading as WISEATS/Wise Eats Café “as a reaction to
the damages caused by the plaintiff’s [Wisey’s] behavior.” Id. ¶ 18. 1 Café Romeo’s trade
changes led to Wisey’s initial complaint in this action, which included claims of federal
trademark infringement, federal unfair competition, and federal unlawful cybersquatting based
on Nimellis’ alleged infringement of Wisey’s mark and menu, as well as the registration of
www.wiseats.com. See Compl. [Docket Entry 1] ¶¶ 67, 79, 84 (Sept. 27, 2012). Nimellis alleges
that after Café Romeo’s began trading as WISEATS/Wise Eats Café, Wisey’s harassment
“began to escalate and become more aggressive.” See Am. Countercls. ¶ 18.
“On or about” the end of May or June 1, 2012, Ashgrizzadeh allegedly found printouts of
his sex offender registry information on cars and slid underneath apartment doors in his
apartment complex in Virginia. See id. ¶ 19. Ashgrizzadeh saw Awadallah nearby with fliers, at
which time Awadallah allegedly told him “[t]his is nothing. You’ll see what’s coming.” See id.
“In or around” June 3, 2012, Awadallah allegedly asked two of Ashgrizzadeh’s employees
whether they knew that Ashgrizzadeh had “raped a nine-year-old boy.” Id. ¶ 23. Then, “[o]n or
about” August 22, 2012 at around 2:00 p.m. or 2:30 p.m., Audeh allegedly arrived at Café
Romeo’s and accused Ashgrizzadeh of copying Wisey’s menu while threatening to put Café
Romeo’s out of business. See id. ¶ 20. Audeh also allegedly said that Ashgrizzadeh had molested
a nine-year-old boy and was a pedophile in front of several unnamed patrons and two named
employees of Café Romeo’s. See id. ¶ 20 & n.2. Two regular lunch customers present for the
alleged incident have not returned since. See id. ¶ 22.
Around the end of August 2012, Awadallah allegedly approached Ashgrizzadeh at a
Restaurant Depot in Virginia, where both restaurants purchased supplies. See id. ¶ 24. While
1
Nimellis’ amended counterclaims refers to “Café Romeo’s” when describing events that occurred after the trade
name change, so the Court will continue to refer to the restaurant as “Café Romeo’s” as well.
3
Ashgrizzadeh was checking out, Awadallah asked the cashier whether she knew that
Ashgrizzadeh 2 had “raped a nine-year-old boy” and “was a pedophile with mental issues.” See
id.
Finally, on September 7, 2012 around 10 p.m., Ashgrizzadeh was driving with two
employees of Café Romeo’s in Georgetown. See id. ¶ 25. When Ashgrizzadeh stopped at the
corner of Potomac Avenue and M Street, NW, Awadallah shouted from the car next to him at the
employees, asking whether they knew Ashgrizzadeh was a sex offender. Id.
Wisey’s filed a complaint that included federal claims for trademark infringement, unfair
competition and unlawful cybersquatting under the Lanham Act (collectively “Lanham Act
claims”). See Compl. at 11. Nimellis responded with counterclaims, now amended, alleging
common law defamation, tortious interference with prospective business advantage,
anticompetitive conduct and intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED). See Am.
Countercls. ¶¶ 35, 39, 45, 57. Nimellis alleges that Wisey’s actions have lost Nimellis former
and potential customers of dine-in, takeout and delivery options, as well as damage to its
reputation and goodwill. See id. ¶¶ 27-29. Currently before the Court is Wisey’s motion to
dismiss Nimellis’ amended counterclaims.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
Under Rule 12(b)(1), the party seeking to invoke the jurisdiction of a federal court—
counter-plaintiff Nimellis here—bears the burden of establishing that the court has jurisdiction.
See U.S. Ecology, Inc. v. U.S. Dep’t of Interior, 231 F.3d 20, 24 (D.C. Cir. 2000). Furthermore,
because subject matter jurisdiction focuses on the Court’s authority to hear the party’s claims, a
Rule 12(b)(1) motion “imposes on the court an affirmative obligation to ensure that it is acting
2
The amended counterclaim states Awadallah asked the cashier if she knew that Awadallah had committed the act
and had mental issues, but this appears to be a typographical error.
4
within the scope of its jurisdictional authority.” Grand Lodge of Fraternal Order of Police v.
Ashcroft, 185 F. Supp. 2d 9, 13 (D.D.C. 2001). Therefore, the party’s factual allegations in its
counterclaims “‘will bear closer scrutiny in resolving a 12(b)(1) motion’ than in resolving a
12(b)(6) motion for failure to state a claim.” Id. at 13-14 (quoting 5A Charles Alan Wright &
Arthur R. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 1350 (2d ed. 1987)).
Federal courts are courts of limited subject matter jurisdiction, possessing only the
powers granted by the Constitution and federal statute. Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of
America, 511 U.S. 375, 377 (1994) (internal citations omitted). However, “[w]hen a federal
court has an independent basis for exercising federal jurisdiction, it may, in certain
circumstances, also exercise pendent, or supplemental, jurisdiction over related claims under
state law.” Women Prisoners v. District of Columbia, 93 F.3d 910, 920 (D.C. Cir. 1996).
A two-part test guides the supplemental jurisdiction analysis. See id. First, the court
examines whether the state and federal claims “derive from a common nucleus of operative
fact.” See United Mine Workers v. Gibbs, 383 U.S. 715, 725 (1966). If they do, the court has the
authority under Article III of the Constitution to hear the state claim. See Women Prisoners, 93
F.3d at 920 (citing Gibbs, 383 U.S. at 725). Congress codified these principles in the
supplemental jurisdiction statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1367. City of Chicago v. Int’l Coll. of Surgeons,
522 U.S. 156, 165 (1997) (citing 28 U.S.C. § 1367(a)). 3 If the court finds the claims do not
derive from a common nucleus of operative fact, it cannot exercise supplemental jurisdiction and
the claims must be dismissed under Rule 12(b)(1).
If the court does find that the federal and state claims are sufficiently related,
section 1367(c) “confirms the discretionary nature of supplemental jurisdiction by enumerating
3
“[I]n any civil action of which the district courts have original jurisdiction, the district courts shall have
supplemental jurisdiction over all other claims that are so related to claims in the action within such original
jurisdiction that they form part of the same case or controversy under Article III of the United States Constitution.”
5
the circumstances in which district courts can refuse its exercise.” Id. at 173. The court may
within its discretion decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over a state claim that derives
from a common nucleus of operative fact with a federal claim if:
(1) the claim raises a novel or complex issue of State law, (2) the claim substantially
predominates over the claim or claims over which the district court has original
jurisdiction, (3) the district court has dismissed all claims over which it has original
jurisdiction, or (4) in exceptional circumstances, there are other compelling reasons for
declining jurisdiction.
28 U.S.C. § 1367(c). Each of the section 1367(c) bases is an independent reason through which a
court may decline supplemental jurisdiction. Edmondson & Gallagher v. Alban Towers Tenants
Ass’n, 48 F.3d 1260, 1266 (D.C. Cir. 1995).
DISCUSSION
Because Nimellis’ common law counterclaims do not derive from a common nucleus of
operative fact with Wisey’s Lanham Act claims, the Court does not have supplemental
jurisdiction under section 1367(a). The Court also finds that, even it if had supplemental
jurisdiction, it would exercise its discretion not to assert that jurisdiction under section 1367(c)
because the counterclaims raise a novel issue of District of Columbia tort law and the
counterclaims would substantially predominate over the Lanham Act claims.
I. Section 1367(a) Analysis
In order for the Court to assert supplemental jurisdiction over state common law claims,
it must first determine that they “derive from a common nucleus of operative fact” with the
federal claims over which there is original jurisdiction. Women Prisoners, 93 F.3d at 920(quoting Gibbs, 383 U.S. at 725) (internal quotation marks omitted). “Claims derive from a
‘common nucleus of operative fact’ only if the plaintiff would ordinarily be expected to try them
all in one judicial proceeding.” Taylor v. District of Columbia, 626 F. Supp. 2d 25, 28 (D.D.C.
6
2009) (quoting Gibbs, 383 U.S. at 725). “[S]tate law claims do not derive from a common
nucleus of operative facts if there is almost no factual or legal overlap between the state and
federal claims.” See Chelsea Condo. Unit Owners Ass’n v. 1815 A St., Condo. Grp., LLC, 468
F. Supp. 2d 136, 141 (D.D.C. 2007). Here, there is no legal overlap and only some background
factual overlap. Thus, there is no common nucleus of operative fact to support supplemental
jurisdiction.
A. Legal Overlap
The alleged Lanham Act claims are trademark infringement, unfair competition and
unlawful cybersquatting. Their elements involve the companies’ trademarks, the distinctive
nature or secondary meaning of Wisey’s trademark, the likelihood of confusion caused by
Nimellis’ allegedly infringing mark, and the bad faith 4 registration or use of a domain name
confusingly similar to Wisey’s mark. See 15 U.S.C. §§ 1114(1), 1125(a), (d); Sears, Roebuck &
Co. v. Sears Fin. Network, 576 F. Supp. 857, 861 (D.D.C. 1983) (internal citation omitted);
Hanley-Wood LLC v. Hanley Wood LLC, 783 F. Supp. 2d 147, 152 (D.D.C. 2011).
Conversely, the tort counterclaims focus on elements unrelated to the Lanham Act
claims. The defamation claims examine the falseness and defamatory nature of alleged
statements made by Wisey’s employees to third parties regarding Ashgrizzadeh’s sex offender
history, whether the statements were made at least negligently, and what damages the statements
caused. See Croixland Props. Ltd. P’ship v. Corcoran, 174 F.3d 213, 215 (D.C. Cir. 1999)
(quoting Crowley v. North Am. Telecomm. Ass’n, 691 A.2d 1169, 1172 n.2 (D.C. 1997)
(internal quotation marks omitted)). The tortious interference claims concern whether, with what
intent, and to what extent those statements lost Nimellis repeat or prospective customers’ future
4
The bad faith determination is based upon nine factors that examine the history of the domain name and the
defendant’s actions relating to the domain name. See 15 U.S.C. § 1125(d)(1)(B)(i). That analysis does not examine
broader bad faith context and motivations in a dispute beyond the domain name.
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business. See Bennett Enters., Inc. v. Domino’s Pizza, Inc., 45 F.3d 493, 499 (D.C. Cir. 1995)
(internal citations omitted). The anticompetitive conduct claim alleging attempted
monopolization tests whether Wisey’s defamatory and harassing statements were predatory and
with an intent and probability of obtaining monopoly market power. See Spectrum Sports, Inc. v.
McQuillan, 506 U.S. 447, 456 (1993) (internal citation omitted). 5 The IIED claim addresses
whether Wisey’s employees’ conduct rose to the level of being extreme and outrageous and
whether the employees intentionally or recklessly caused Ashgrizzadeh severe emotional
distress. See Khan v. Parsons Global Servs. Ltd., 521 F.3d 421, 428 (D.C. Cir. 2008) (quoting
Darrow v. Dillingham & Murphy, LLP, 902 A.2d 135, 139 (D.C. 2006)). Tellingly, the Lanham
Act and tort claims are not related such that the Court would “ordinarily be expected to try them
all in one judicial proceeding,” Gibbs, 383 U.S. at 725, and the adjudication of the counterclaims
would be unaffected if the Court were to dismiss Wisey’s Lanham Act claims. Accordingly, the
claims do not legally overlap.
B. Factual Overlap
Although the counterclaims and Lanham Act claims are both part of the broader dispute
between the businesses, they only share a set of general background facts. The operative facts
are those relating directly to the federal Lanham Act claims concerning the alleged actions taken
by Nimellis. See Black’s Law Dictionary 670 (9th ed. 2009) (operative fact is one “that
constitutes the transaction or event on which a claim or defense is based”).
State common law claims that only “relate generally” to federal claims through a broader
dispute and do not share any operative facts are insufficient for supplemental jurisdiction.
Chelsea Condo., 468 F. Supp. 2d at 138-39 (finding no supplemental jurisdiction over several
5
Failure to state a claim for attempted monopolization under Sherman Act elements signifies failure to state the
claim under the D.C. Code. Dial A Car, Inc. v. Transp., Inc., 884 F. Supp. 584, 588 n.2 (D.D.C. 1995), aff’d, 82
F.3d 484 (D.C. Cir. 1996).
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state law claims alleging misrepresentations made during marketing of condominiums where
federal law claims alleged failure to disclose conflict of interest during sales of same
condominiums); see also Ning Ye v. Holder, 667 F. Supp. 2d 103, 104 (D.D.C. 2009) (finding no
supplemental jurisdiction over state law defamation claim because facts needed to prove
defamation arose from “two entirely separate events” from those needed to be examined for
federal claims); Burgess v. Omar, 345 F. Supp. 2d 369, 370 (S.D.N.Y. 2004) (“while facts
relevant to one claim might provide background with respect to the other, more is required”
(footnote omitted)).
Nimellis argues that “the parties’ relationship and history of dealings, including the
nature and offerings of each business” are operative facts and that the counterclaims “provide
motive, intent, context, and logical explanation” for the federal claims. Defs.’ Opp’n to Pl.’s.
Mot. [Docket Entry 29] at 1, 7 (Feb. 19, 2013) (“Defs.’ Opp’n”). In support of this proposition,
Nimellis cites to Seventh Circuit precedent holding that “a loose factual connection between the
claims is generally sufficient” to constitute an overlap of operative facts under section 1367(a).
See Ammerman v. Sween, 54 F.3d 423, 424 (7th Cir. 1995) (internal citation omitted). This
argument is unpersuasive. Nimellis’ “loose factual connection” standard has not been adopted in
the D.C. Circuit, and district courts within the Seventh Circuit have interpreted it more narrowly
than Nimellis portrays. See, e.g., Trilithic, Inc. v. Wavetek U.S. Inc., 6 F. Supp. 2d 803, 806
(S.D. Ind. 1998) (finding no supplemental jurisdiction where “the factual connection occurs
among the background facts, as opposed to the operative facts”); United States v. Clark, No. 08
C 4158, 2010 WL 476637, at *1 (N.D. Ill. Feb. 3, 2010) (while a “loose factual connection” is
sufficient, “facts linking state to federal claims must be operative, i.e., they must be relevant to
the resolution of the federal claims” (internal quotation marks omitted)).
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Nimellis has not shown that the counterclaims provide a factual basis or overlap that will
aid in the resolution of the Lanham Act claims; the facts raised by the parties’ history and
relationship, and even Nimellis’ intent and motive, are simply not implicated beyond furnishing
a general background for Wisey’s narrow federal trademark, unfair competition, and unlawful
cybersquatting claims. See CheckPoint Fluidic Sys. Int’l, Ltd. v. Guccione, Civil Action No. 10-
4505, 2012 WL 195533 (E.D. La. Jan. 23, 2012) (“background about the dealings between the
parties” is not operative facts); Council of Unit Owners of Wisp Condo., Inc. v. Recreational
Indus., Inc., 793 F. Supp. 120, 122 (D. Md. 1992) (even though both state law and federal claims
were “part of an ongoing, bitter dispute” between the parties, “[n]ot every dispute that arises
between parties litigating a federal claim constitutes a part of the same Article III case”).
Although they originate from the same general background facts, Nimellis has not proven that
the two sets of claims are derived from a common nucleus of operative fact so as to satisfy
section 1367(a).
In sum, the tort counterclaims do not have a legal overlap with the Lanham Act claims
and the factual overlap exists only to the extent that the federal claims and counterclaims relate
generally to the parties’ broader background dispute. The counterclaims therefore do not derive
from a common nucleus of operative fact with the Lanham Act claims. Accordingly, the Court
will dismiss Nimellis’ counterclaims for a lack of subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to Federal
Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1). Moreover, as discussed below, even if the Court had
supplemental jurisdiction, it concludes that it should decline to exercise it.
II. Section 1367(c) Analysis
Wisey’s also argues that even if the counterclaims satisfied section 1367(a), the Court
should decline supplemental jurisdiction in its discretion pursuant to section 1367(c)(1) or
10
section 1367(c)(2). The Court agrees in part regarding section 1367(c)(1) and in total regarding
section 1367(c)(2).
A. Section 1367(c)(1)
If the Court permitted the counterclaims to advance under section 1367(a), Wisey’s
argues that three legal questions inherent in the counterclaims each “raise a novel or complex
issue of State law,” 6 which provides an independent basis for the Court to decline to exercise
supplemental jurisdiction under section 1367(c)(1). First, Wisey’s states that the Court would
have to decide “whether a corporate entity is defamed under DC law by ‘personal’ statements
about an owner”; second, the Court would have to determine “whether a corporate entity is liable
under a theory of respondeat superior for alleged statements by an employee made outside the
scope of employment”; and third, the Court would need to examine “a number of choice-of-law
questions given that most of the alleged statements were made in Virginia, by a Virginia
resident, concerning another Virginia resident.” Pl.’s Reply to Defs.’ Opp’n [Docket Entry 30] at
6 (Feb. 25, 2013) (“Pl.’s Reply”).
The first issue appears to be novel to District of Columbia common law and the
interpretation of that law in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Under
Restatement (Second) of Torts § 561(a), a corporation may assert a claim of defamation when it
is defamed by a personal attack against one of its agents in a manner that reflects upon the way
the corporation does its business. See Restatement (Second) of Torts § 561(a) cmt. b (1977).
However, because local District of Columbia courts have not had the opportunity to accept or
decline the Restatement in this context, that issue would be one of first impression before this
Court. If this Court were to adopt the Restatement standard, it would also need to decide whether
6
Nimellis counters, without elaboration, that the issues Wisey’s raises are “not particularly legally complex or
novel.” Defs.’ Opp’n at 7.
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accusing the owner of a restaurant of pedophilia reflects upon the way the restaurant does its
business. Given that “[n]eedless decisions of state law should be avoided both as a matter of
comity and to promote justice between the parties, by procuring for them a surer-footed reading
of applicable law,” Gibbs, 383 U.S. at 726, and out of an abundance of deference to the District
of Columbia courts, this Court should decline to address the defamation claims invoking this
issue.
Wisey’s second section 1367(c)(1) argument, rather than contend that the counterclaims
represent a novel or complex issue, seems instead to be an attempt to convince the Court that
Wisey’s employees were not within their scope of employment when they committed the alleged
tortious acts. If the Court were to accept that argument, then respondeat superior would not apply
and Wisey’s would not be liable. See Penn Central Transp. Co. v. Reddick, 398 A.2d 27, 29
(D.C. 1979) (respondeat superior “allows the employer to be held liable for the acts of his
employees committed within the scope of their employment” (internal citation omitted)). But
scope of employment is generally a question for the trier of fact. Jordan v. Medley, 711 F.2d 211,
215 (D.C. Cir. 1983) (citing Penn Central Transport Co., 398 A.2d at 32). In any event,
respondeat superior is an oft-litigated question and Wisey’s has not shown a novel or complex
issue of District of Columbia law here.
Wisey’s third argument, that “the Court would also be faced with a number of choice-of-
law questions given that most of the alleged statements were made in Virginia, by a Virginia
resident, concerning another Virginia resident,” Pl.’s Reply at 6, also does not raise a novel or
complex issue of District of Columbia law. First, it appears to be factually inaccurate. Of seven
alleged encounters, only two are specified to have taken place in Virginia. See Am. Countercls.
¶¶ 15, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25. Then, if an alleged claim did occur in Virginia, the Court would
12
decide whether to use Virginia or District of Columbia law based on a choice-of-law analysis.
See Oveissi v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 573 F.3d 835, 842-43 (D.C. Cir. 2009) (describing
general choice-of-law analysis); Mastro v. Potomac Elec. Power Co., 447 F.3d 843, 857-58
(D.C. Cir. 2006) (describing choice-of-law analysis in defamation context). Should the Court
find Virginia law applies, it can adjudicate the case under the law of that forum. See, e.g.,
Fawehinmi v. Lincoln Holdings, LLC, 895 F. Supp. 2d 148, 153 (D.D.C. 2012) (finding choice-
of-law dictated using Virginia law and subsequently interpreting Virginia statute and common
law in contract and tort claims). Hence, Wisey’s has not alleged a choice-of-law question that is
novel or complex.
With respect to 1367(c)(1), then, the Court agrees with Wisey’s motion in part. While the
defamation claims appear to be novel to District of Columbia law, the respondeat superior and
choice-of-law issues that Wisey’s raises are neither novel nor complex.
B. Section 1367(c)(2)
Under section 1367(c)(2), the Court may also decline to exercise supplemental
jurisdiction when a state common law claim “substantially predominates over the claim or claims
over which the district court has original jurisdiction.” In general, “the question of whether state
law predominates . . . must be answered by looking to the nature of the claims as set forth in the
pleading and by determining whether the state law claims are more complex or require more
judicial resources to adjudicate.” Diven v. Amalgamated Transit Union Int’l & Local 689, 38
F.3d 598, 602 (D.C. Cir. 1994) (internal quotation marks omitted); see also Gibbs, 383 U.S. at
726-27 (if “state issues substantially predominate, whether in terms of proof, of the scope of the
issues raised, or of the comprehensiveness of the remedy sought, the state claims may be
dismissed without prejudice and left for resolution to state tribunals”); Lindsay v. Gov’t Emps.
13
Ins. Co., 448 F.3d 416, 425 (D.C. Cir. 2006) (“predomination under section 1367(c)(2) relates to
the type of claim”).
Given the varied types of torts alleged and the judicial resources that would be required
to adjudicate them, section 1367(c)(2) counsels using discretion in this case to decline
supplemental jurisdiction. The four torts alleged in the counterclaims each require different
elements of proof than the federal claims. Additionally, there are as many as seven altercations
between the parties in two states, several witnesses 7 who would presumably only be called for
the counterclaims, and the counterclaims could involve the application of both Virginia and
District of Columbia law. Given the judicial resources it would take to preside over the
counterclaims and their legal and factual separation from the federal claims, this Court should
also decline supplemental jurisdiction under section 1367(c)(2).
CONCLUSION
The counterclaims do not share a common nucleus of operative fact with the federal
claims and thus do not satisfy section 1367(a). Because the Court cannot assert supplemental
jurisdiction over the counterclaims it will grant the Rule 12(b)(1) motion to dismiss for lack of
subject matter jurisdiction. Had the Court found the counterclaims satisfied section 1367(a), it
still would have declined to assert supplemental jurisdiction over the defamation claims under
section 1367(c)(1) and over all the counterclaims under section 1367(c)(2). Having found
sufficient grounds to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(1), the Court will not reach the Rule 12(b)(6)
motion.
7
Nimellis names “patrons and employees” of Café Romeo’s, two regular customers, “two of Mr. Ashgrizzadeh’s
employees,” a Restaurant Depot cashier and two international work-study students, among others, as potential
witnesses to the alleged defamatory or otherwise harassing incidents. See Am. Countercls. ¶¶ 20, 22, 23, 24, 25.
14
For these reasons, the Court will grant Wisey’s motion to dismiss the amended
counterclaims. A separate Order will issue on this date.
/s/
JOHN D. BATES
United States District Judge
Dated: July 9, 2013
15