Pazuniak Law Office LLC v. Pi-Net International, Inc. ( 2017 )


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  •              IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
    PAZUNIAK LAW OFFICE LLC and                )
    GEORGE PAZUNIAK,                           )
    )
    Plaintiffs,                 )
    )   C.A. No. N14C-12-259 EMD
    v.                            )
    )
    PI-NET INTERNATIONAL, INC. and             )
    LAKSHMI ARUNACHALAM,                       )
    )
    Defendants.                 )
    )
    LAKSHMI ARUNACHALAM,                       )
    )
    Counterclaim Plaintiff       )
    and Third-Party Plaintiff,   )
    )
    v.                            )
    )
    PAZUNIAK LAW OFFICE LLC and                )
    GEORGE PAZUNIAK,                           )
    )
    Counterclaim Defendants,     )
    )
    and                                     )
    )
    O’KELLY AND ERNST, LLC                     )
    )
    Third-Party Defendant.        )
    Upon Defendant Lakshmi-Arunachalam Ph.D.’s Renewed Motion in 14-Point Font for Summary
    Judgment to Dismiss Counts I and II of Plaintiffs’ Second Amended Complaint and to Vacate
    Default Judment against Pi-Net as Plaintiffs Got That by Fraud on the Court and Perjury
    DENIED
    Dr. Lakshmi Arunachalam, Menlo Park, California, Defendant Pro Se
    George Pazuniak, Esquire, Pazuniak Law Office, LLC, Wilmington, Delaware, Attorney for
    Plaintiffs/Counterclaim Defendants Pazuniak Law Office LLC and George Pazuniak
    Ryan M. Ernst, Esquire, Sean T. O’Kelly, Esquire, O’Kelly & Ernst, LLC, Wilmington,
    Delaware, Attorneys for Third-Party Defendant O’Kelly and Ernst, LLC.
    I. INTRODUCTION
    This is a declaratory judgment action brought by Plaintiffs Pazuniak Law Office LLC and
    George Pazuniak (collectively, “Pazuniak Law”) against Defendants Pi-Net International, Inc.
    (“Pi-Net”) and Lakshmi Arunachalam, Ph.D. Through the Second Amended Complaint,
    Pazuniak Law seeks a declaration regarding the distribution of certain funds held in an IOLTA
    trust account. Pazuniak Law also seeks a declaration as to its right to recover costs for providing
    files to Pi-Net upon the termination of Pazuniak Law’s services to Pi-Net and Dr. Arunachalam.
    Dr. Arunachalam answered the Second Amended Complaint (the “Answer”) and counterclaimed
    against Pazuniak Law and a new third party, O’Kelly and Ernst, LLC (the “O’Kelly Firm”). Pi-
    Net never filed an answer and the Court entered default judgment against Pi-Net on February 21,
    2017.
    Dr. Arunachalam now seeks summary judgment on Counts I and II of the Second
    Amended Complaint. Dr. Arunachalam also seeks to vacate the default judgment entered against
    Pi-Net. On April 11, 2017, Dr. Arunachalam filed Defendant Lakshmi Arunachalam, Ph.D.’s
    Renewed Motion in 14-Point Font for Summary Judgment to Dismiss Counts I and II of
    Plaintiffs’ Second Amended Complaint and to Vacate Default Judment against Pi-Net as
    Plaintiffs got that by Fraud on the Court and Perjury (the “Motion”). Pazuniak Law responded to
    the Motion with the Answering Brief in Opposition to Motions for Summary Judgment and to
    Vacate Default Judgment Filed by Defendant Arunachalam; and Cross Motion for Summary
    Judgment (the “Opposition”). Pazuniak Law filed the Opposition on May 2, 2017.1 Dr.
    Arunachalam replied on May 15, 2017 with Defendant Lakshmi Arunachalam, Ph.D.’s Reply
    1
    Pazuniak Law titles its Opposition “Cross Motion for Summary Judgment,” but Pazuniak Law does not actually
    move for summary judgment or provide any facts in support of summary judgment in the Opposition. Therefore,
    the Court is treating the Opposition as an answer to the Motion, and not as a motion for summary judgment by
    Pazuniak Law.
    2
    Brief to Plaintiffs’ Opposition to Defendant’s Motions for Summary Judgment and to Vacate
    Default Judgment; Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Cross Motion for Summary Judgment; Defendant’s
    Motion to Intervene Pursuant to Rules 17, 19, and 24; and Motion to Substitute Parties Pursuant
    to Rules 17 and 25(c) (the “Reply”).
    Upon review, the Court has determined that no hearing on the issues and arguments
    raised in the Motion, the Opposition and the Reply is necessary. This is the Court’s decision on
    the Motion. For the reasons set forth below, the Court DENIES the Motion.
    II. RELEVANT FACTS
    Pazuniak Law Office LLC is a law firm organized under the laws of the State of
    Delaware with its principal place of business in Wilmington, Delaware.2 George Pazuniak is an
    attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Delaware and is the owner of Pazuniak Law
    Office LLC.3
    Pi-Net International, Inc., a California corporation, is the assignee of certain patents
    invented by Lakshmi Arunachalam.4 Lakshmi Arunachalam, a California resident, is the
    principal owner and chief executive officer of Pi-Net and a related entity, WebXchange, Inc.
    (“WebX”).5
    A.    PAZUNIAK LAW REPRESENTS PI-NET AND DR. ARUNACHALAM
    On January 25, 2012, Pazuniak Law entered into a retainer agreement (the “Retainer
    Agreement”) with Dr. Arunachalam, Pi-Net, and WebX.6 Dr. Arunachalam hired Pazuniak Law
    2
    Pls.’ Second Am. Compl. ¶ 1.
    3
    Id. ¶ 2.
    4
    Id. ¶ 3. As discussed more fully below, Dr. Arunachalam has indicated that Pi-Net has been dissolved and no
    longer exists. However, Dr. Arunachalam has not provided the Court with any documentation confirming Pi-Net’s
    corporate dissolution.
    5
    Id. ¶ 4.
    6
    Dr. Arunachalam, Pi-Net and WebX are collectively defined as the “Client” in the Retainer Agreement. Id. ¶ 5;
    see also Def.’s Answer, Ex. A, Retainer Agreement. Exhibit A to the Answer will be cited as “Agreement § __” or
    “Agreement p. __” if no section is specified.
    3
    to litigate a series of WebX and Pi-Net patent infringement cases in the United States District
    Court for the District of Delaware (the “Delaware District Court”).7 Pursuant to the Retainer
    Agreement, recoveries for alleged patent infringement obtained by Pazuniak Law on behalf of
    Pi-Net and Dr. Arunachalam would be placed into Pazuniak Law’s IOLTA escrow trust
    account.8 Thereafter, a portion of the recoveries would be retained in escrow and the remainder
    distributed to Pi-Net, Dr. Arunachalam, and Pazuniak Law in accordance with the terms of the
    Retainer Agreement’s contingent fee schedule.9
    Over the next two years, Pazuniak Law represented Dr. Arunachalam and Pi-Net in a
    series of patent infringement cases in the Delaware District Court.10 After a series of
    disagreements, however, Pi-Net and Dr. Arunachalam terminated Pazuniak Law as counsel on
    August 12, 2014.11 After the termination, Pazuniak Law attempted to make a final distribution
    of the funds in the IOLTA trust account.12 Pi-Net and Dr. Arunachalam contested and ultimately
    rejected Pazuniak Law’s accounting of the funds.13
    Thereafter, Pi-Net and Dr. Arunachalam filed a series of complaints with the Delaware
    Office of Disciplinary Counsel (“DODC”). The DODC did not find any error in Pazuniak Law’s
    legal representation of Dr. Arunachalam and Pi-Net. However, DODC advised Pazuniak Law to
    clear the trust account, even if it required filing an interpleader action.
    7
    Agreement § 1.
    8
    Id. §§ 3(c), 4.
    9
    Id. § 3(f).
    10
    See e.g., Pi-Net Int’l, Inc. v. JPMorgan Chase & Co., C.A. No. 12-282, 
    2014 WL 1370038
    , at *1 (D. Del. Apr. 7,
    2014).
    11
    Second Am. Compl. ¶ 9.
    12
    Id. ¶¶ 11, 16.
    13
    Id.
    4
    B.   PAZUNIAK LAW SEEKS DECLARATORY JUDGMENT AS TO THE FUNDS IN ITS IOLTA TRUST
    ACCOUNT
    On September 19, 2014, Pazuniak Law filed an action in the Court of Common Pleas
    seeking a declaratory judgment regarding the distribution of the trust funds (the “Initial
    Complaint”). The Initial Complaint sought declaratory judgment against Pi-Net only, as Dr.
    Arunachalam disputed only those expenses related to Pi-Net patent litigations.
    On November 14, 2014, Dr. Arunachalam filed a complaint against Pazuniak Law in the
    U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (the “California District Court”). The
    complaint asserted claims for malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, theft, blackmail, elder abuse,
    sexual and ethnic harassment, intoxication, and mental instability. By motion of Pazuniak Law,
    the California District Court transferred the case to the Delaware District Court (the “Delaware
    District Court Action”).14 The Delaware District Court Action remains active and is pending
    before the Delaware District Court.15
    Based on the claims in the Delaware District Court Action, on December 1, 2014,
    Pazuniak Law filed a First Amended and Supplement Complaint (the “First Amended
    Complaint”). The First Amended Complaint added claims against both Pi-Net and Dr.
    Arunachalam for libel and tortuous interference with prospective business opportunities.
    Pazuniak Law also moved to transfer this action to this Court under 10 Del. C. § 1902 (“Section
    1902”). The Court of Common Pleas entered an order transferring this action on December 19,
    2014. Dr. Arunachalam filed an initial answer to the First Amended Complaint on October 7,
    2016.
    14
    See e.g., Arunachalam v. Pazuniak, C.A. No. 14-CV-05051, 
    2015 WL 1249877
    , at *1 (N.D. Ca. Mar. 17, 2015).
    15
    See e.g., Arunachalam v. Pazuniak, C.A. No. 15-259, 
    2016 WL 748005
    , at *1 (D. Del. Feb. 24, 2014) (granting in
    part and denying in part Pazuniak Law’s motion to dismiss).
    5
    C.     LITIGATION IN THIS COURT
    Since receiving this civil action, the Court has issued dozens of orders on various issues
    raised by the parties, few of which addressed or resolved any dispositive issue.16 Most notably,
    the Court denied multiple requests by Dr. Arunachalam to substitute herself for Pi-Net or
    otherwise act on behalf of Pi-Net.17 The Court explained that Pi-Net, as a corporation, had to be
    represented by a licensed attorney and could not appear pro se. Specifically, in an Order dated
    June 30, 2016, the Court explained:
    Pi-Net cannot proceed pro se in this civil action. A corporation is regarded as an
    artificial or fictional entity, and not a natural person. This is true even though a
    corporation, like Pi-Net, is a legally recognized entity. A natural person may
    represent himself or herself in this Court even though he or she is not a licensed
    attorney. However, a corporation, being an artificial entity, can only act through its
    agents and, before this Court only through an agent duly licensed to practice law.
    Going forward, the Court will not accept pleadings filed by Pi-Net unless such
    pleadings are filed by a licensed attorney.18
    Later in an Order dated October 19, 2016, the Court explained that even if Pi-Net was now
    “defunct,” as argued by Dr. Arunachalam, Pi-Net still could not appear pro se:
    Even if Dr. Arunachalam dissolved Pi-Net in compliance with California law, the
    Court cannot substitute Dr. Arunachalam for Pi-Net and allow Dr. Arunachalam to
    proceed on behalf of Pi-Net pro se. Regardless of who wound up and dissolved Pi-
    Net, that person, as an individual, cannot represent Pi-Net pro se in court. The
    Court noted in the June 30, 2016 Order that a corporation can only act through its
    agents, and, before this court only through an agent duly licensed to practice law.
    This principle still applies. Dr. Arunachalam is not licensed to practice law and
    cannot act on behalf of Pi-Net in this Court in a pro se capacity.19
    No attorney ever entered an appearance on behalf of Pi-Net, and Pi-Net never answered the
    Initial Complaint or the First Amended Complaint. Consequently, on October 24, 2016,
    16
    See D.I. Nos. 63–70, 77, 87, 104, 124, 136, 143, 146, 156–57, 173, 175, 202, 206–07, 209, 212–16, 233, 235, 250,
    267, 269, 272–73.
    17
    See D.I. Nos. 65, 124, 143.
    18
    See D.I. No. 65.
    19
    See D.I. No. 124.
    6
    Pazuniak Law filed a motion for entry of default judgment against Pi-Net.20 On February 21,
    2017, the Court entered a default judgment (the “Default Judgment Order”) against Pi-Net, but
    reserved judgment as to distribution of the IOLTA funds as between Pazuniak Law and Pi-Net
    until the other claims in this case are resolved.21
    On February 23, 2017, the Court granted Pazuniak Law leave to file a second amended
    complaint (the “Second Amended Complaint”).22 The Second Amended Complaint, filed on
    March 8, 2017, dismissed the tort claims against Pi-Net and Dr. Arunachalam and added a new
    claim for declaratory judgment against Dr. Arunachalam.23 The Second Amended Complaint
    now seeks declaratory judgment as to Pi-Net (Count I) and Dr. Arunachalam (Count II)
    regarding distribution of the trust funds and Pazuniak Law’s right to recover costs for providing
    certain files to Pi-Net.
    On April 7, 2017, Dr. Arunachalam filed the Answer and asserted ten counterclaims
    against Pazuniak Law and the O’Kelly Firm.24 On April 13, 2017, Pazuniak Law and the
    O’Kelly Firm moved to dismiss the counterclaims and third-party claims.25 By opinion issued
    concurrently with this Opinion, the Court granted in part and denied in part the motion to
    dismiss. The Court allowed the counterclaim for breach of contract against Pazuniak Law to
    proceed. The Court denied all other counterclaims and dismissed the O’Kelly Firm from this
    civil action.
    20
    See D.I. No. 125.
    21
    See D.I. No. 216. The Court understands that Pi-Net, WebX and Dr. Arunachalam are collectively the “Client” in
    the Retainer Agreement. Therefore, the Court felt it premature to make any further determinations with respect to
    Pi-Net until all the parties’ rights with respect to the Retainer Agreement had been resolved.
    22
    See D.I. No. 213.
    23
    See D.I. No. 246
    24
    See D.I. No. 253.
    25
    See D.I. No. 259.
    7
    Dr. Arunachalam now seeks summary judgment on the declaratory judgment Counts I
    and II. Dr. Arunachalam also seeks to vacate the Default Judgment Order entered against Pi-Net,
    and, in the Reply, raises for the first time a request to “intervene pursuant to Rules 17, 19, and
    24” and “substitute parties pursuant to Rules 17 and 25(c).”
    III. PARTIES’ CONTENTIONS
    Dr. Arunachalam asserts various arguments in support of the Motion—that she is the real
    party in interest under the Retainer Agreement, that Pazuniak Law failed to attach the Retainer
    Agreement to the Second Amended Complaint, and that Pazuniak Law fraudulently filed this
    civil action in the Court of Common Pleas. Dr. Arunachalam also argues that the Court should
    vacate the Default Judgment Order against Pi-Net because Pazuniak Law obtained it through
    fraud.
    Pazuniak Law contends the allegations in the Motion are incomprehensible and do not
    demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Pazuniak Law further contends the
    Default Judgment Order is proper because Pi-Net never filed an answer or otherwise responded
    to the Initial Complaint or First Amended Complaint.
    IV. STANDARD OF REVIEW
    A.       SUMMARY JUDGMENT
    The standard of review on a motion for summary judgment is well-settled. The Court’s
    principal function when considering a motion for summary judgment is to examine the record to
    determine whether genuine issues of material fact exist, “but not to decide such issues.”26
    Summary judgment will be granted if, after viewing the record in a light most favorable to a
    nonmoving party, no genuine issues of material fact exist and the moving party is entitled to
    26
    Merrill v. Crothall-American Inc., 
    606 A.2d 96
    , 99-100 (Del. 1992) (internal citations omitted); Oliver B. Cannon
    & Sons, Inc. v. Dorr-Oliver, Inc., 
    312 A.2d 322
    , 325 (Del. Super. 1973).
    8
    judgment as a matter of law.27 If, however, the record reveals that material facts are in dispute,
    or if the factual record has not been developed thoroughly enough to allow the Court to apply the
    law to the factual record, then summary judgment will not be granted.28 The moving party bears
    the initial burden of demonstrating that the undisputed facts support his claims or defenses.29 If
    the motion is properly supported, then the burden shifts to the non-moving party to demonstrate
    that there are material issues of fact for the resolution by the ultimate fact-finder.30
    B.    VACATUR
    Superior Court Civil Rule 60 (“Rule 60”) governs relief from a final judgment or order.
    Rule 60(a) allows any party in a civil action to file a motion to correct “clerical mistakes in
    judgments, orders, or other parts of the record and errors therein arising from oversight or
    omission.”31 In addition, Rule 60(b) permits the Court to vacate a final judgment, order, or
    proceeding for the following reasons:
    (1) Mistake, inadvertence, surprise or excusable neglect; (2) newly discovered
    evidence which by due diligence could not have been discovered in time to move
    for a new trial under Rule 59(b); (3) fraud (whether heretofore denominated
    intrinsic or extrinsic), misrepresentation, or other misconduct of an adverse party;
    (4) the judgment is void; (5) the judgment has been satisfied, released, discharged,
    or a prior judgment upon which it is based has been reversed or otherwise vacated,
    or it is no longer equitable that the judgment should have prospective application;
    or (6) any other reason justifying relief from the operation of judgment.32
    27
    
    Id.
    28
    Ebersole v. Lowengrub, 
    180 A.2d 467
    , 470 (Del. 1962); see also Cook v. City of Harrington, 
    1990 WL 35244
     at
    *3 (Del. Super. Feb. 22, 1990) (citing Ebersole, 
    180 A.2d at 467
    ) (“Summary judgment will not be granted under
    any circumstances when the record indicates . . . that it is desirable to inquire more thoroughly into the facts in order
    to clarify the application of law to the circumstances.”).
    29
    Moore v. Sizemore, 
    405 A.2d 679
    , 680 (Del. 1970) (citing Ebersole, 
    180 A.2d at 470
    ).
    30
    See Brzoska v. Olsen, 
    668 A.2d 1355
    , 1364 (Del. 1995).
    31
    Super. Ct. Civ. R. 60(a).
    32
    Super. Ct. Civ. R. 60(b).
    9
    V. DISCUSSION
    A.    THE COURT WILL NOT VACATE THE DEFAULT JUDGMENT ORDER
    Dr. Arunachalam argues that the Court should vacate the Default Judgment Order against
    because that order was obtained through fraud. Although not clearly articulated, it appears Dr.
    Arunachalam is seeking to vacate the Default Judgment Order under Rule 60(b)(3) based on
    Pazuniak Law’s purported fraud.
    A motion under Rule 60(b)(3) may be granted where the movant demonstrates fraud,
    misrepresentation, or other misconduct of an adverse party.33 The Delaware Supreme Court has
    explained that a Rule 60(b)(3) motion is “reserved for situations where a party has engaged in
    fraud or misrepresentation that prevents the moving party from fairly and adequately presenting
    his or her case.”34 This is a high standard that requires “the most egregious conduct involving a
    corruption of the judicial process itself.”35
    Dr. Arunachalam provides no evidence of any fraud or misrepresentation by Pazuniak
    Law. Dr. Arunachalam argues that Pazuniak Law’s initial filing in the Court of Common Pleas
    somehow tricked this Court into entering default judgment.36 While Pazuniak Law may have
    erred when it filed the First Amended Complaint in the Court of Common Pleas thereby creating
    a subject matter jurisdiction problem, Pazuniak Law remedied that by transferring the civil action
    to this Court under Section 1902. Pazuniak Law’s conduct was not impermissible or otherwise
    fraudulent; in fact, it is expressly contemplated by Section 1902.37
    33
    Super. Ct. Civ. R. 60(b)(3).
    34
    MCA, Inc. v. Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co., Ltd., 
    785 A.2d 625
    , 639 (Del. 2001).
    35
    
    Id. at 638
    .
    36
    Def.’s Mot. p. 2–3; Def.’s Reply p. 32–33.
    37
    See Carney v. Qualls, 
    514 A.2d 1126
    , 1128 (Del. Super. 1986) (explaining that 10 Del. C. § 1902 is “remedial in
    nature and designed to prevent [a] case from being totally precluded because [the] case was brought in the wrong
    court”).
    10
    Dr. Arunachalam also fails to articulate how the purported fraud brought about the
    Default Judgment Order. The Court took care to instruct Dr. Arunachalam on the proper
    procedure for representing a corporation under Delaware law. The Court told Dr. Arunachalam
    numerous times that she could not, as a pro se litigant and non-attorney, represent Pi-Net in this
    civil action. Instead, the Court told Dr. Arunachalam that Pi-Net had to be represented by an
    attorney licensed to practice law. Despite this instruction, no attorney entered an appearance on
    behalf of Pi-Net or on behalf of the representative charged with dissolving and winding up Pi-
    Net, and Pi-Net never filed an answer to the Initial Complaint or First Amended Complaint. The
    Court accordingly entered the Default Judgment Order after proper motion by Pazuniak Law.
    Finally, Dr. Arunachalam does not and cannot allege that the purported fraud has denied
    her the opportunity to fairly and adequately present her case. Since receiving this civil action in
    2015, the Court has issued dozens of orders and has held numerous hearings and teleconferences
    on dispositive and non-dispositive issues. This includes three separate motions and orders
    concerning the issue underlying the Declaratory Judgment Order.
    Therefore, the Court finds that Dr. Arunachalam fails to meet the high Rule 60(b)(3)
    standard, and the Court will not vacate the Default Judgment Order.
    B. THE COURT WILL NOT GRANT SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON COUNTS I AND II
    Dr. Arunachalam next seeks summary judgment on Counts I and II of the Second
    Amended Complaint. Count I asserts a declaratory judgment claim against Pi-Net, and Count II
    asserts a declaratory judgment claim against Dr. Arunachalam.
    Count I of the Second Amended Complaint is not a newly asserted cause of action upon
    which Dr. Arunachalam can move for summary judgment. As indicated above, Count I pertains
    to the proper distribution of funds to Pi-Net under the terms of the Retainer Agreement.
    11
    Pazuniak Law first asserted Count I when it filed its initial complaint in the Court of Common
    Pleas. The Court cannot grant summary judgment on Count I because the Court has already
    entered default judgment on Count I against Pi-Net. Through the Default Judgment Order, the
    Court entered default judgment against Pi-Net, but reserved judgment as to distribution of the
    IOLTA funds until the other claims in this case are resolved. As discussed above, the Court will
    not vacate the Default Judgment Order. Therefore, the Court cannot grant summary judgment in
    favor of Dr. Arunachalam on behalf of Pi-Net on Count I.
    The Court also cannot grant summary judgment in favor of Dr. Arunachalam on Count II.
    Dr. Arunachalam does not articulate why summary judgment is appropriate on the declaratory
    judgment claims. In fact, Dr. Arunachalam asserts little, if any facts related to the declaratory
    judgment claims. Instead, Dr. Arunachalam devotes the Motion to arguing that Pazuniak Law:
    (i) withheld the Retainer Agreement from the Court; and (ii) defrauded this Court by originally
    filing this action in the Court of Common Pleas. These allegations are unrelated to whether
    Pazuniak Law’s proposed distribution of the IOLTA account funds is proper—the issue
    underlying the declaratory judgment claims and this civil action. These allegations also fail to
    establish the absence of a genuine issue of material fact, or that Dr. Arunachalam is entitled to
    judgment on the declaratory judgment claims as a matter of law.
    As such, the Court will deny summary judgment on Count II.
    C.   THE COURT WILL DENY THE MOTION TO INTERVENE AND THE MOTION TO SUBSTITUTE
    For the first time in the Reply, Dr. Arunachalam asks to “intervene pursuant Rules 17, 19,
    and 24” and to “substitute parties pursuant to Rules 17 and 25(c).” This marks the third time that
    Dr. Arunachalam has asked to substitute on behalf of Pi-Net.
    12
    Dr. Arunachalam moves principally under Superior Court Civil Rule 17 (“Rule 17”). Dr.
    Arunachalam argues that, as the “real party in interest” to this civil action, she has an
    “unconditional right to intervene and to substitute in place of Pi-Net” under Rule 17.38 Dr.
    Arunachalam also contends that the Court improperly entered default judgment against Pi-Net
    because Rule 17 states that “no action shall be dismissed on the ground that it is not prosecuted
    in the name of the real party in interest until a reasonable time has been allowed for . . . joinder
    or substitution.”39 Dr. Arunachalam claims that she was not given reasonable time to substitute
    on behalf of Pi-Net before the Court entered default judgment.
    Dr. Arunachalam misunderstands Rule 17. Rule 17 provides that “every action shall be
    prosecuted in the name of the real party in interest.”40 Here, Pazuniak Law brought this civil
    action on behalf of itself, the real party in interest to the IOLTA trust funds in its possession and
    as a party to the Retainer Agreement. The other parties (or “real party in interest”) to the
    Retainer Agreement include Pi-Net and Dr. Arunachalam. Rule 17 does not provide a basis for
    Dr. Arunachalam, as a defendant in this civil action, to substitute herself or intervene on behalf
    of Pi-Net. Rule 17 also does not provide a basis for a finding that the Court improperly entered
    default judgment against Pi-Net.
    The Court notes that Dr. Arunachalam’s attempt to substitute on behalf of Pi-Net is now
    moot at this stage in the litigation. The Court has entered default judgment against Pi-Net. This
    means that judgment has been entered in favor of Pazuniak Law as it relates to Pi-Net.
    Therefore, Dr. Arunachalam is foreclosed from attempting to represent Pi-Net’s interest or
    otherwise substitute herself on behalf of Pi-Net.
    38
    Def.’s Reply p. 3
    39
    Id.
    40
    Super. Ct. Civ. R. 17(a) (emphasis added).
    13
    VI. CONCLUSION
    For the reasons set forth above, the Court will DENY Defendant Lakshmi Arunachalam,
    Ph.D.’s Renewed Motion in 14-Point Font for Summary Judgment to Dismiss Counts I and II of
    Plaintiffs’ Second Amended Complaint and to Vacate Default Judment against Pi-Net as
    Plaintiffs got that by Fraud on the Court and Perjury.
    Dated: August 25, 2017
    Wilmington, Delaware
    /s/ Eric M. Davis
    Eric M. Davis, Judge
    14