MARTIN REIDINGER, District Judge.
The parties to this action currently are embroiled in two North Carolina state court lawsuits, one of which was filed before this federal action and the other coming shortly after it. Plaintiff, Tucker Materials, Inc. ("Tucker"), is a Georgia corporation that supplies building materials, including acoustical ceiling products. [Doc. 1, ¶ 5]. Defendant, SafeSound Acoustics, Inc. ("SafeSound"), is a North Carolina corporation engaged in providing and installing acoustical ceiling products for commercial and residential projects. [Doc. 1, ¶ 6]. In July 2005, the parties entered into a written agreement whereby Tucker would supply SafeSound with acoustical ceiling products and materials on credit and SafeSound would later pay Tucker for its goods delivered pursuant to the agreement. [Doc. 1, ¶ 7].
According to Tucker, SafeSound purchased acoustical ceiling products from Tucker in the fall of 2009 and failed to pay for them. [Doc. 1, ¶ 9]. Tucker sued SafeSound on the alleged debt in Buncombe County, North Carolina, District Court on September 15, 2010. [Doc. 1, ¶ 11]. Tucker also named SafeSound's president as a party defendant, suing her in her individual capacity as a personal guarantor of SafeSound's debt. [Id.]. On the parties' cross motions for summary judgment, the state district court granted Tucker's motions against both SafeSound and its president and denied the defendants' motions. [Doc. 1, ¶ 13]. The defendants appealed to the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Tucker Materials, Inc. v. SafeSound Acoustics, Inc., 725 S.E.2d 673, 2012 WL 1687689 (N.C.Ct.App.2012) (unpublished).
The North Carolina Court of Appeals reversed the state district court's decisions on May 15, 2012. [Id.]. First, the appellate court found genuine issues of material fact existed as to whether SafeSound, as opposed to some unauthorized third party, ordered materials from Tucker on SafeSound's account, and therefore, what amount of money, if any, SafeSound owed Tucker. These issues were remanded for trial. [Id. at *3]. The appellate court also reversed the summary judgment in favor of Tucker on its claim pertaining to SafeSound's president, holding that she signed as president of SafeSound on the guarantee agreement, not in her individual capacity. [Id. at *4-5]. Accordingly, the appellate court vacated the district court's judgment in this regard and directed the court grant summary judgment in her favor on remand. [Id.].
On July 24, 2012, counsel for SafeSound wrote a letter to counsel for Tucker asserting that Tucker had "engaged in conduct that violates Chapter 75 of the North Carolina General Statutes in ways which have harmed SafeSound." [Doc. 1-1]. In short, SafeSound alleged that Tucker employed unfair and deceptive trade practices in its business dealings with SafeSound that drove SafeSound out of business. [Id.] SafeSound suggested in its letter that Tucker settle all claims with SafeSound by paying SafeSound a lump-sum amount of $300,000. [Id.] On August 14, 2012, Tucker instituted this Declaratory Judgment action. [Doc. 1]. On that same date, counsel for Tucker wrote to counsel for SafeSound, enclosing a copy of Tucker's federal complaint, and said,
[Doc. 11-2]. In its federal complaint, Tucker is seeking an order from this Court declaring that (1) Tucker did not violate any section of Chapter 75 of the North Carolina General Statutes in its dealing with SafeSound, and (2) Tucker has not violated the federal antitrust laws in its dealings with SafeSound. [Doc. 1]. SafeSound's demand letter, however, made no explicit assertions regarding federal antitrust laws.
On September 20, 2012, SafeSound filed suit in the Buncombe County Superior Court against Tucker, its parent corporation, and one of Tucker's principals. [Doc. 11-3]. SafeSound's suit against Tucker and the other defendants alleges unfair and deceptive trade practices, breach of contract, tortious interference with contracts, and civil conspiracy. SafeSound alleges it is entitled to compensatory, punitive, and treble damages. [Doc. 11-3]. On October 15, 2012, SafeSound filed a motion to dismiss this federal action. [Doc. 10]. The parties briefed the issues raised by SafeSound's dismissal motion [Docs. 11, 14, 18] and the matter was referred to Magistrate Judge Howell. On January 18, 2013, the parties entered into a consent order [Doc. 23-1] staying the North Carolina Superior Court action pending the resolution of SafeSound's motion to dismiss in this matter. Judge Howell issued his Memorandum and Recommendation decision on April 17, 2013, [Doc. 19] recommending that SafeSound's motion to dismiss be granted. Tucker filed objections to Judge Howell's Memorandum and Recommendation [Doc. 20], and SafeSound responded thereto. [Doc. 23]. This matter is now ripe for resolution by the Court.
The Federal Magistrate Act requires a district court to "make a de novo determination of those portions of the report or specific proposed findings or recommendations to which objection is made." 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). In order "to preserve for appeal an issue in a magistrate judge's report, a party must object to the finding or recommendation on that issue with sufficient specificity so as reasonably to alert the district court of the true ground for the objection." United States v. Midgette, 478 F.3d 616, 622 (4th Cir. 2007). The Court is not required to review, under a de novo or any other standard, the factual or legal conclusions of the magistrate judge to which no objections have been raised. Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 150, 106 S.Ct. 466, 88 L.Ed.2d 435 (1985). Additionally, the Court need not conduct a de novo review where a party makes only "general and conclusory objections that do not direct the court to a specific error in the magistrate's proposed findings and recommendations." Orpiano v. Johnson, 687 F.2d 44, 47 (4th Cir. 1982).
The Federal Declaratory Judgment Act (the "Act") provides that a federal district court "may declare the rights and other legal relations of any interested party seeking such declaration, whether or not further relief is or could be sought." 28 U.S.C. § 2201(a). The Act, however, does not provide an independent basis for federal jurisdiction. City Nat'l Bank v. Edmisten, 681 F.2d 942, 945 n. 6 (4th Cir.1982). Tucker relies on the Court's
Though styled as a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), SafeSound's dismissal motion, in substance, requests that this Court exercise its discretion and abstain from entertaining Tucker's declaratory judgment action.
The decision to entertain a declaratory judgment action pursuant to the Act is left to the sound discretion of the Court. The Supreme Court has "repeatedly characterized the Declaratory Judgment Act as `an enabling act, which confers a discretion on the courts rather than an absolute right upon the litigant.'" Wilton v. Seven Falls Co., 515 U.S. 277, 287, 115 S.Ct. 2137, 132 L.Ed.2d 214 (1995) (quoting Public Serv. Comm'n of Utah v. Wycoff Co., 344 U.S. 237, 241, 73 S.Ct. 236, 97 L.Ed. 291 (1952)). The Fourth Circuit has explained that a "declaratory judgment action is appropriate `when the judgment will serve a useful purpose in clarifying and settling the legal relations in issue, and ... when it will terminate and afford relief from the uncertainty, insecurity, and controversy giving rise to the proceeding.'" Centennial Life Ins. Co. v. Poston, 88 F.3d 255, 256 (4th Cir.1996) (quoting Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co. v. Quarles, 92 F.2d 321, 324 (4th Cir. 1937)). When related state court proceedings are pending, however, "considerations of federalism, efficiency, and comity should inform the district court's decision whether to exercise jurisdiction over a declaratory judgment action." Penn-America Ins. Co. v. Coffey, 368 F.3d 409, 412 (4th Cir.2004) (internal quotations and citations omitted).
The first question for the Court to address is whether it can consider the pendency of the state court action, since it was filed after the present case. Ordinarily dispositive in this situation is the "first to file" rule (or as it is commonly called in the North Carolina courts, a Plea in Abatement) which dictates that the first case to be filed raising the issues at hand is the one that may go forward. Volvo Const. Equip. N. Am., Inc. v. CLM Equip. Co., Inc., 386 F.3d 581, 594-5 (4th Cir. 2004) (quoting Ellicott Mach. Corp. v. Modern Welding Co., Inc., 502 F.2d 178, 180 n. 2 (4th Cir.1974)). The Court, however, may consider the pendency of a subsequently filed action in "special circumstances." Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 92 F.2d at 324. The "special circumstances" to be considered when deviating from the "first to file" rule exist when: (1) the first-filed action is for a declaratory judgment because "such an action may be more indicative of a preemptive strike than a suit for damages or equitable relief[,]" or (2) the
Tucker asserts Magistrate Judge Howell failed to consider North Carolina's policy in favor of permitting the first of two pending actions to proceed. [Doc. 20, at 7-8]. Tucker cites to Cameron v. Cameron, 235 N.C. 82, 68 S.E.2d 796 (1952), in support of this proposition. The decision in Cameron, however, undermines Plaintiff's argument. Tucker correctly points out that the test for determining whether or not the parties and causes are the same for the purpose of abatement by reason of the pendency of the prior action is whether the two actions present a substantial identity as to parties, subject matter, issues involved, and relief demanded. [Doc. 20 at 8 n. 4]. In this case, the federal action involves only two parties while the state action involves three additional parties, two of whom are allegedly necessary for a full adjudication of SafeSound's claims, and the federal action requests a declaration of non-liability while the state action sets forth five affirmative claims made by SafeSound and could include all necessary defenses asserted by Tucker. Cameron, 235 N.C. at 85-6, 68 S.E.2d at 798-9. For these reasons, Tucker's reliance on Cameron and the North Carolina state policy are misplaced. It should also be noted that the North Carolina cases regarding this issue address the subject matter jurisdiction of the North Carolina state courts. The subject matter jurisdictions of the North Carolina state courts and the federal courts are entirely independent of one another and based on different principles. Therefore, state court decisions regarding state jurisdiction have no bearing on the jurisdiction of this Court.
Having determined that Tucker's having filed first gains it no advantage, the Court will now consider the precedents of this Circuit regarding the abstention from exercising jurisdiction in matters such as this. To determine whether to proceed with a federal declaratory judgment action when a related state court proceeding is underway, the Fourth Circuit has focused on the following four factors for guiding the analysis: (1) the strength of the state's interest in having the issues raised in the federal declaratory action decided in the state court; (2) whether the issues raised in the federal action can be more efficiently resolved in the pending state action; (3) whether the federal action might result in unnecessary entanglement between the federal and state systems due to overlapping issues of fact or of law; and (4) whether the federal action is being used merely as a device for "procedural fencing," for example, to provide another forum in a race for res judicata. Nautilus Ins. Co. v. Winchester Homes, Inc., 15 F.3d 371,
North Carolina has a strong interest in resolving the multiple questions of state law raised by the parties. It bears mentioning here that Tucker was the first party to invoke North Carolina process to seek redress of SafeSound's alleged debt due to breach of contract. Tucker's initial state court filing resulted in a remand from the state's appellate court with instructions to resolve the identified factual issues at trial in the state's district court. Further, a short time after Tucker filed this action, Safesound instituted a second state court action against Tucker and others claiming unfair and deceptive trade practices, breach of contract, tortious interference with contracts, and civil conspiracy, all under North Carolina law. The North Carolina court system is well-equipped to handle these state law claims. It has already handled the first action through the appeal.
Tucker complains that the demand letter written by counsel for SafeSound alleges violations of federal anti-trust law and exposes Tucker to a risk of future liability. Plaintiff objects to the Magistrate Judge's Memorandum and Recommendation based on his having overlooked these federal issues that arise only in this action. [Doc. 20 at 2-3, 5-6]. Tucker's position, however, is unsupported by the record. The SafeSound demand letter [Doc. 1-1] explicitly alleges in the first sentence of the first paragraph that Tucker "has engaged in conduct that violates Chapter 75 of the North Carolina General Statutes in ways which have harmed SafeSound." [Doc. 1-1]. Nowhere does the letter allege Tucker violated federal anti-trust laws, but instead, asserts only violations of North Carolina law, particularly North Carolina's unfair and deceptive trade practices act as codified in Chapter 75 of the North Carolina General Statutes. See Doc. 1-1 at 3, ("Chapter 75 is not limited to cases where there is a contract between the plaintiff and defendant, ..."; "Chapter 75 also covers situations where the plaintiff and defendant are not in direct competition with one another[,]"; "A Chapter 75 claim can be brought against Tucker on the basis of the sort of anticompetitive action described above,"; "It is undisputed that price discrimination among businesses that are similarly situated can constitute a violation of Chapter 75."). Focusing upon SafeSound's demand letter, however, does not end the inquiry. In its state court complaint, all of SafeSound's claims against Tucker assert violations of North Carolina law, not federal.
In its second objection, Tucker asserts that the Magistrate Judge overlooked the risk of future liability it faces if its federal complaint is dismissed. [Doc. 20 at 2-3, 5-6]. Tucker argues that SafeSound, claiming to be out of business, may have resurrected itself as a new corporation with a similar name "that again may demand to do business with Tucker and again may seek to recover purported damages from a continuing refusal to deal." [Id. at 5-6]. Putting aside for the moment that Tucker appears to be seeking a non-judiciable
Magistrate Judge Howell determined that the North Carolina courts were better positioned than this Court to resolve all of the parties' issues efficiently. This Court agrees that this federal action merely presents a subset of the matters pending before the North Carolina courts. The North Carolina litigation contains all of the parties and all of the claims to date. This federal action involves just the two principal parties and was brought by Tucker to seek only the pre-emptive resolution of an anticipated cause of action. What Tucker wants in this forum is the Court's order "that it win any such case before it is commenced." Public Serv. Comm'n of Utah, 344 U.S. at 245, 73 S.Ct. 236. The fact that the alleged wrongful conduct (if there was any) is complete and not ongoing only adds weight to the North Carolina court side in balancing the relative efficiencies. The Southern District Court of New York addressed the issue well:
Dow Jones & Co., Inc. v. Harrods, Ltd., 237 F.Supp.2d 394, 426 (S.D.N.Y.2002).
Tucker argues that efficiency dictates that this dispute be adjudicated in the present action because it was filed earlier. [Doc. 20 at 7-9]. The United States Supreme Court has provided guidance to answer this argument. In Public Serv.
Public Serv. Comm'n of Utah, 344 U.S. at 248, 73 S.Ct. 236 (footnote omitted) (emphasis added). The Court's holding addresses, and resolves, both Tucker's preference to be in federal court as well as its objection that "state law does not control the issue of alleged federal antitrust violations[.]" [Doc. 20 at 9]. While diversity and the amount in controversy provide the present basis for jurisdiction supporting Tucker's federal complaint, Tucker implicitly argues that the federal forum must ultimately prevail over the state because SafeSound's claims set forth in its demand letter suggest federal antitrust violations, an exclusively federal cause of action. Therefore, if SafeSound were to raise federal antitrust claims, the federal forum would be the only viable one. SafeSound's latter filed state complaint, however, makes no such claims. SafeSound's state complaint raises no federal cause of action at all, instead raising multiple claims under state law. Tucker can just as easily raise any affirmative defenses in state court as it can in this forum.
The Court pauses here to note that a certain irony exists in the parties arguing about the most efficient manner and place for resolving their claims. The parties have devoted an enormous amount of time and effort to this procedural jousting match. Tucker filed suit in this Court, anticipatorily seeking adjudication of what, in essence, is a defense. Preferring the federal forum (or maybe surmising SafeSound would not), Tucker sought to defend against a federal antitrust claim that SafeSound had yet to raise, in an effort to preserve jurisdiction on an alternate ground — federal question jurisdiction — should SafeSound name party defendants in a future state action that would destroy complete diversity. Shortly after this action was filed by Tucker, SafeSound indeed
Going forward with this declaratory action would require joining additional parties as Tucker's co-plaintiffs, one of whom is not diverse from SafeSound. That would cause further delay, which would cause further inefficiencies. Moreover, selecting the North Carolina court as the proper forum would eliminate the inverted nature of any trial that would be conducted in the federal forum. If this case continued on in this Court, Tucker would be a "defending plaintiff" and SafeSound would have to file an answer and allege its causes of action as counterclaims to Tucker's complaint of non-liability. Proceeding with such a procedurally convoluted, upside down action would be anything but efficient.
The federal trial process, too, if conducted in the normal course, would be an exercise in placing the cart before the horse. Following typical protocol, Tucker (and only Tucker) would begin the trial by explaining why it is not liable to SafeSound, a formidable task given that all of SafeSound's theories of liability would not yet be in evidence. SafeSound would then be called to answer but, in actuality, be required to put on evidence as to why Tucker is liable as well as why the other co-plaintiffs are liable too. The co-plaintiffs, not having had the opportunity to speak until this point, would presumably not assert a claim against SafeSound, but would explain why they are neither directly at fault nor vicariously so. The potential for jury
For all of these reasons and the reasons set forth by Judge Howell, the most efficient manner of resolving all of the issues between the parties is for this Court to abstain from asserting its jurisdiction and thus allow the state case to go forward. Tucker's objections to the Magistrate Judge's determination that this factor favors the North Carolina courts resolving the parties' contentions more efficiently are rejected.
Permitting the state court action to go forward would prevent any unnecessary "entanglement" between the federal and state court systems. There exists no issue of overlapping questions of law or fact between the two systems; the critical factual and legal questions are present in the state court litigation and can be handled more efficiently by North Carolina as explained supra. Paradoxically, however, the relief demanded in the federal action is dependent upon the adjudication of the claims asserted in state court, a matter of entanglement best avoided.
This factor weighs in favor of permitting the state court case to go forward and Tucker's objections to the Magistrate Judge's determination that this factor favors the North Carolina forum are rejected.
Declaratory judgment actions are designed to declare the rights of parties so that they can conform their conduct in order to avoid future damages or litigation. Cunningham Bros., Inc. v. Bail, 407 F.2d 1165, 1168 (7th Cir.1969). The acts at issue in this dispute have already been completed, and SafeSound is out of business. A declaratory judgment, in the form of the relief specifically requested by Tucker in its declaratory Complaint, that its past business relationship with SafeSound was impeccable, would do nothing to help it conform that past conduct which SafeSound alleges as the basis for its breach of contract claim and accompanying torts. Therefore, the declaration requested by Tucker from this Court is not consistent with the purpose of the Declaratory Judgment Act. Clearly, Tucker, having received SafeSound's demand letter, concluded a good offense is the best defense and seized the role of plaintiff requesting a declaration of non-liability. In bringing this declaratory action, Tucker effectively reversed the traditional roles of the parties as well as the traditional procedures for adjudicating civil claims. Whether one calls it procedural fencing or an unwarranted application of the Declaratory Judgment Act, the Seventh Circuit did not mince words when it looked upon such tactics with disfavor. "[W]e are of the opinion that to compel potential personal injury plaintiffs to litigate their claims at a time and in a forum chosen by the alleged tort-feasor would be a perversion of the Declaratory Judgment Act." Cunningham, 407 F.2d at 1167.
This Court agrees with Magistrate Judge Howell's determination that Tucker's ploy of racing to this courthouse to be first in time and place weighs strongly in favor of finding procedural fencing and thus rejects Tucker's objections to the contrary. See State Farm Fire and Cas. Co. v. Taylor, 118 F.R.D. 426, 429-30 (M.D.N.C.1988) ("A district court may properly consider the inequity of permitting a declaratory plaintiff to gain precedence in time and forum by filing a declaratory action which is merely anticipatory of a parallel state action.").
Upon weighing all four factors set forth by the Fourth Circuit in Nautilus, upon considering the purpose behind the Declaratory Judgment Act, and upon considering traditional notions of federalism, efficiency, and comity, the Court finds and concludes that abstaining from exercising jurisdiction over this dispute is warranted.
DENNIS L. HOWELL, United States Magistrate Judge.
Pending before the Court is Defendant's Motion to Dismiss [# 10]. Plaintiff brought this action for a declaratory judgment pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2201. Specifically, Plaintiff seeks a judgment from this Court declaring that its prior decision to cease conducting business with Defendant did not violate Chapter 75 of the North Carolina General Statutes and did not violate federal antitrust laws. Defendant moves to dismiss the Complaint pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules
Plaintiff is a Georgia Corporation that is in the business of distributing building materials, including acoustical ceiling products. (Pl.'s Compl. ¶¶ 1, 5.) Defendant is a North Carolina Corporation that was engaged in the business of providing and installing acoustical ceiling products for residential and commercial projects. (Id. ¶¶ 2, 6, 15.)
In 2005, Plaintiff and Defendant entered into a written credit agreement where Defendant agreed to pay for materials and supplies it purchased from Plaintiff on credit. (Id. ¶ 7.) Pursuant to this agreement, Defendant purchased acoustical ceiling products from Plaintiff on credit in 2009. (Id. ¶ 8.) Plaintiff, however, alleges that Defendant failed to pay for these products, and, as a result, Plaintiff decided to stop doing business with Defendant. (Id. ¶¶ 9-10.)
Plaintiff then brought a lawsuit in state court in North Carolina against Defendant and one of its principals for breach of contract. (Id. ¶ 11.) The state trial court granted Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment against Defendant and its principal. (Id. ¶ 13.) The North Carolina Court of Appeals, however, reversed and remanded the case. (Id.) The Court of Appeals held that summary judgment for Plaintiff on the breach of contract claim asserted against Defendant was improper because genuine issues of material fact exists "as to whether the disputed orders were made by someone with actual or apparent authority of SafeSound and as to how much money, if any, defendants owe plaintiff." Tucker Materials, Inc. v. SafeSound Acoustics, Inc., 725 S.E.2d 673, 2012 WL 1687689, at *3 (N.C.Ct.App. May 15, 2012) (table decision). In addition, the Court of Appeals found that the individual principal was entitled to summary judgment on the issue of whether she was liable in her individual capacity. Id. at *4-5.
Approximately two months after the ruling from the Court of Appeals, counsel for Defendant sent counsel for Plaintiff a letter dated July 24, 2012, regarding the settlement of the state court action, as well as the potential of Defendant bringing a claim under Chapter 75 of the North Carolina General Statutes against Plaintiff. (Id. ¶ 14; Ex. A to Pl.'s Compl. at p. 1.) The letter states Defendant's position that Plaintiff had violated Chapter 75 of the North Carolina General Statutes and that this conduct had led to Defendant's financial loss, including Defendant closing its doors and stopping business operations. (Ex. A to Pl.'s Compl.) Defendant requested a settlement amount of $300,000.00 in lieu of filing a lawsuit asserting Chapter 75 claims against Plaintiff. (Id. at p. 4.)
After receiving the letter from Defendant's counsel, Plaintiff initiated this action on August 14, 2012, seeking a declaratory judgment that it was not liable under Chapter 75 or federal antitrust laws. (Pl.'s Compl. ¶¶ 22-30.) That same day, counsel for Plaintiff sent counsel for Defendant a response to his July 24, 2012,
(Id. at p. 2.)
On September 20, 2012, Defendant then filed an action in the Superior Court of Buncombe County asserting claims for unfair and deceptive trade practices, breach of contract, tortious interference with contracts, civil conspiracy, and punitive damages against Plaintiff, Gypsum Management and Supply, Inc., and Renee Sutton. (Ex. C to Def.'s Memo. Law Supp. Def.'s Mot. Dismiss.) Defendant moves to dismiss the Complaint. Defendants' motion is now properly before the Court for a Memorandum and Recommendation to the District Court.
The Federal Declaratory Judgment Act (the "Act") provides that a federal district court "may declare the rights and other legal relations of any interested party seeking such declaration, whether or not further relief is or could be sought." 28 U.S.C. § 2201(a). The Act, however, does not provide an independent basis for federal jurisdiction. City Nat'l Bank v. Edmisten, 681 F.2d 942, 945 n. 6 (4th Cir.1982). Accordingly, Plaintiff relies on the Court's diversity jurisdiction conferred under 28 U.S.C. § 1332 to provide the basis of federal jurisdiction in this Court. Because this action is between citizens of different states and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000.00, diversity jurisdiction is proper in this case. See 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a).
It is now well settled, however, that the decision to exercise jurisdiction under the Act and render declaratory relief is discretionary, even where the Court possess diversity jurisdiction over the dispute. See Wilton v. Seven Falls Co., 515 U.S. 277, 286, 115 S.Ct. 2137, 2142, 132 L.Ed.2d 214 (1995) ("Since its inception, the Declaratory Judgment Act has been understood to confer on federal courts unique and substantial discretion in deciding whether to declare the rights of litigants."); Centennial Life Ins. Co. v. Poston, 88 F.3d 255, 256 (4th Cir.1996) ("This power has consistently been considered discretionary."); Continental Cas. Co. v. Fuscardo, 35 F.3d 963, 965 (4th Cir.1994); Mitcheson v. Harris, 955 F.2d 235, 237 (4th Cir.1992); Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co. v. Alpha Mech., Inc., 9 F.Supp.2d 585, 587 (W.D.N.C.1998) (Potter, J.).
Courts should normally exercise jurisdiction over a declaratory judgment action where the judgment "will serve a useful purpose in clarifying and settling the legal relations in issue and ... will terminate and afford relief from the uncertainty, insecurity, and controversy giving rise to the proceeding." Fuscardo, 35 F.3d at 965 (internal quotations and citations omitted). A declaratory judgment, however, "should not be used `to try a controversy by piecemeal, or to try particular issues without settling the entire controversy, or to interfere with an action which has already been instituted.'" Poston, 88 F.3d at 256-57 (quoting Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co. v. Quarles, 92 F.2d 321, 325 (4th Cir.1937)). A district
Moreover, where a related action is pending in state court, the federal district court should consider whether the state court is better situated to handle the controversy. Poston, 88 F.3d at 257. Courts are guided by "the same consideration of federalism, efficiency, and comity that traditionally inform a federal court's discretionary decision whether to abstain from exercising jurisdiction over state-law claims in the face of parallel litigation in the state courts." Nautilus Ins. Co. v. Winchester Homes, Inc., 15 F.3d 371, 376 (4th Cir.1994). Accordingly, the Fourth Circuit has set four additional factors that a court must consider in deciding whether to exercise its discretion and hear a declaratory judgment action where parallel litigation is pending in state court. Poston, 88 F.3d at 257; Fuscardo, 35 F.3d at 966; see also Valdese Weavers, Inc. v. Highland Fabrics, Inc., No. 1:09cv 170, 2009 WL 4726640, at *4 (W.D.N.C. Dec. 2, 2009) (Reidinger, J.). These factors include: (1) the strength of the state's interest in having the issues raised in the federal declaratory action decided in the state court; (2) whether the issues raised in the federal action can be more efficiently resolved in the pending state action; (3) whether the federal action might result in unnecessary entanglement between the federal and state systems due to overlapping issues of fact or of law; and (4) whether the federal action is being used merely as a device for "procedural fencing," i.e., to provide another forum in a race for res judicata. Fuscardo, 35 F.3d at 966; see also Poston, 88 F.3d at 257; The Hipage Co., Inc. v. Access2Go, Inc., 589 F.Supp.2d 602, 615, n. 13 (E.D.Va.2008); Argonaut Great Cent. Ins. Co. v. McDowell Cnty., 626 F.Supp.2d 554 (W.D.N.C.2009) (Howell, Mag. J.) (apply factors and declining to exercise jurisdiction); State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Baker, No. 3:08cv355, 2008 WL 5255802, at *2 (W.D.N.C. Dec. 16, 2008) (Mullen, J.) (same); Firemen's Ins. Co. of Washington, D.C. v. Hunter Constr. Group, Inc., No. 3:07cv 120, 2008 WL 2247138, at *2 (W.D.N.C. May 29, 2008) (Mullen, J.) (same).
Good reason exists for declining to exercise jurisdiction in this case. Under the first factor, North Carolina has an interest in the resolving the substantial questions of state law at issue in this dispute. Defendant's complaint in state court asserts claims for breach of contract and various torts under North Carolina law, including Chapter 75 claims. In this case, Plaintiff asks this Court to issue a declaratory judgment that its actions did not violate Chapter 75. Although the Complaint also asserts a request for declaratory judgment that its actions did not violate federal antitrust law, the overwhelming issues in this dispute are ones of state law and policy that are best left to the state courts to address, and the state court is particularly well suited to apply North Carolina law in this case. While this factor alone is not sufficient to decline to exercise jurisdiction, when considered in conjunction with the other factors, as well as the general principals set forth by the Fourth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court, the
Similarly, the second and third factors weigh against the Court exercising jurisdiction over this action because the issues could be resolved more efficiently in a single court system, and ruling on the declaratory judgment could result in the unnecessary entanglement between federal and state systems. Plaintiff brought this declaratory judgment action asserting what is essentially an affirmative defense to the Chapter 75 claims asserted by Defendant in state court. The declaratory judgment action, however, would do nothing to address the breach of contract or some of the additional torts asserted by Defendant. In addition, not all the parties involved in the state court action are parties to this action. Although Plaintiff was the first to file suit, it did so in response to a letter from counsel for Defendant asserting that it would file suit against Plaintiff asserting Chapter 75 claims; it was inevitable that these issues would arise before the state court. See generally Fuscardo, 35 F.3d at 967. Thus, the state court action provides a broader, more efficient, and more comprehensive forum for resolving the entire dispute between the parties.
Moreover, declaratory judgment actions are designed to declare the rights of parties so that they can conform their conduct in order to avoid future damages or litigation. See Gallant v. Deutsche Bank Nat'l Trust Co., 766 F.Supp.2d 714, 719 (W.D.Va.2011); Access2Go, 589 F.Supp.2d at 615; State Farm Fire and Cas. Co. v. Taylor, 118 F.R.D. 426, 429 (M.D.N.C. 1988); see also See Cunningham Bros., Inc. v. Bail, 407 F.2d 1165, 1168 (7th Cir. 1969). The acts at issue in this dispute have already been completed, and the Defendant is out of business. A declaratory judgment from this Court would do nothing to steer Plaintiff away from the alleged breach of contract and tortious conduct that Defendant alleges occurred and, thus, a declaration from this Court is not consistent with the purpose of the Declaratory Judgment Act. Access2Go, 589 F.Supp.2d at 615 ("Here, because [plaintiff] has already repudiated the Service Agreement, there is no guidance that this Court can offer to steer [plaintiff's] conduct away from a breach of contract"); Gallant, 766 F.Supp.2d at 719 (holding that because the alleged wrong had already occurred — a foreclosure — declaratory relief was not appropriated); Bagley v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Civil Action No. 3:12-CV-617, 2013 WL 350527, at *7 (E.D.Va. Jan. 29, 2013) ("In this case, there is no reasonably certain future conduct to be prevented or mandated because the foreclosure sale has already occurred, and the issue of which the party is responsible for the related costs will be addressed by the underlying contract claim resolving whether the foreclosure sale is void or valid."); Avco Corp. v. Cherry, Civil Action No. 3:08cv402, 2008 WL 5234691, at *8 (E.D.Va. Dec. 15, 2008) ("Therefore, in cases such as this where the underlying injury had already been fully realized by the declaratory-judgment defendant, the clear weight of authority dictates that the Court should exercise its discretion and dismiss [plaintiff's] claim under the DJA."); Dann Marine Towing, LC v. St. Paul Fire and Marine Ins. Co., C/A No. 2:01-2766-18, 2002 WL 34455167, at *2-3 (D.S.C. Apr. 23, 2002).
As the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York explained in Dow Jones & Co., Inc. v. Harrods, Ltd., 237 F.Supp.2d 394 (S.D.N.Y. 2002):
Harrods, 237 F.Supp.2d at 426. In this case, a declaratory judgment would not prevent avoidable injuries and would not serve to clarify the uncertain legal rights of the parties. Instead, a declaratory judgment would merely determine whether Plaintiff was liable in tort for its prior actions. Put simply, the claims and issues in dispute in this case are best left to the resolution of the state court rather than through this Court hearing a declaratory judgment action.
Finally, the Court must consider whether Plaintiff brought the declaratory judgment action as a type of procedural fencing. See Fuscardo, 35 F.3d at 966. Although closely related to the discussion regarding the second and third factors, Courts have nearly uniformly held that declaratory relief is inappropriate in cases such as this where an alleged tortfeasor sues the injured party for a declaration of nonliability in anticipation of suit. See e.g. Morrison v. Parker, 90 F.Supp.2d 876, 880 (W.D.Mich.2000) ("Following Cunningham, the uniform approach of the federal courts is that declaratory relief is generally inappropriate when a punitive tortfeasor sues the insured party for a declaration of nonliability."). "It is our view that where a declaratory plaintiff raises chiefly an affirmative defense, and it appears that granting relief could effectively deny an allegedly injured party its otherwise legitimate choice of the forum and time for suit, no declaratory judgment should issue." BASF Corp. v. Symington, 50 F.3d 555, 559 (8th Cir. 1995); see also AmSouth Bank v. Dale, 386 F.3d 763, 788 (6th Cir.2004); Tempco Elec. Heater Corp. v. Omega Eng'g, Inc., 819 F.2d 746, 749-50 (7th Cir.1987); United Ins. Co. of Am. v. Harris, 939 F.Supp. 1527, 1535 (M.D.Ala.1996). "[W]e are of the opinion that to compel potential personal injury plaintiffs to litigate their claims at a time and forum chosen by the alleged tort-feasor would be a perversion of the Declaratory Judgment Act." Cunningham, 407 F.2d at 1167.
Here, Plaintiff is attempting to use the Declaratory Judgment Act as a tactical device to force Defendant to litigate at a time and forum of its choosing. After receiving a demand letter and offer of settlement from Defendant, Plaintiff preemptively filed this declaratory judgment action seeking a declaration of nonliability on the Chapter 75 claims in federal court. At the time Plaintiff brought this action, Defendant was on notice that Defendant was planning on initiating litigation against it for alleged violations of Chapter 75. The procedural fencing and race to the courthouse employed by Plaintiff in bringing this action weighs strongly in favor of declining to exercise jurisdiction in this case. See State Farm Fire and Cas. Co. v. Taylor, 118 F.R.D. 426, 429-30 (M.D.N.C.1988) ("A district court may properly consider the inequity of permitting a declaratory plaintiff to gain precedence in time and forum by filing a declaratory action which is merely anticipatory of a parallel state action."); Avco Corp., 2008 WL 5234691, at *9. Upon weighing the factors set forth by the Fourth Circuit, considering the purpose behind the Declaratory Judgment Act, and considering
The Court
