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  • MUGDOCK TAVERN INVESTMENTS, et al  vs.  CAT SEATTLE LLC, et alCNTR CNSMR COM DEBT document preview
  • MUGDOCK TAVERN INVESTMENTS, et al  vs.  CAT SEATTLE LLC, et alCNTR CNSMR COM DEBT document preview
  • MUGDOCK TAVERN INVESTMENTS, et al  vs.  CAT SEATTLE LLC, et alCNTR CNSMR COM DEBT document preview
  • MUGDOCK TAVERN INVESTMENTS, et al  vs.  CAT SEATTLE LLC, et alCNTR CNSMR COM DEBT document preview
  • MUGDOCK TAVERN INVESTMENTS, et al  vs.  CAT SEATTLE LLC, et alCNTR CNSMR COM DEBT document preview
  • MUGDOCK TAVERN INVESTMENTS, et al  vs.  CAT SEATTLE LLC, et alCNTR CNSMR COM DEBT document preview
  • MUGDOCK TAVERN INVESTMENTS, et al  vs.  CAT SEATTLE LLC, et alCNTR CNSMR COM DEBT document preview
  • MUGDOCK TAVERN INVESTMENTS, et al  vs.  CAT SEATTLE LLC, et alCNTR CNSMR COM DEBT document preview
						
                                

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FILED DALLAS COUNTY 5/9/2014 5:30:06 PM GARY FITZSIMMONS DISTRICT CLERK CAUSE NO. DC-12-12887 MUGDOCK TAVERN INVESTMENTS § IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF and DUFFY I, LP, § § Plaintiffs, § § v. § § CAT SEATTLE, LLC, ASCEND § HEALTH CORPORATION, and § RICHARD KRESCH, Individually, § § DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS Defendants and Counter- § Plaintiffs, § § v. § § Duffy I, LP and JAMES P. GRAHAM § § Counter-Defendants. § § § 134TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT ____________________________________________________________________________ DEFENDANTS/COUNTER-PLAINTIFFS’ FIRST SUPPLEMENT TO THEIR SECOND AMENDED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND NO-EVIDENCE MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT _____________________________________________________________________________ CAT Seattle, LLC (“CAT Seattle), Ascend Health Corporation (“Ascend”), and Dr. Richard Kresch (“Dr. Kresch”) (collectively, the “Ascend Defendants”) hereby file their First Supplement to their Second Amended Motion for Summary Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment as follows: I. SUMMARY OF MOTION On April 9, 2014, the Ascend Defendants filed their Second Amended Motion for Summary Judgment and No Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment (the “MSJ”), which is incorporated herein by reference. The MSJ is currently set for hearing on May 30, 2014. The DAL 79311214v4 Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs’ First Supplement to Their Motion for Summary Page 1 Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment Ascend Defendants are filing this supplement to raise additional arguments that readily establish that Plaintiffs’ claims fail as a matter of law and that the Ascend Defendants are entitled to summary judgment. Specifically, the Ascend Defendants hereby move for summary judgment on the following additional grounds: 1. Plaintiffs’ breach of fiduciary duty claim fails as a matter of law because: (a) Duffy cannot establish that it was owed a fiduciary duty; (b) Plaintiffs seek the remedy of disgorgement against a party that did not owe it any fiduciary duties as a matter of law; (c) Plaintiffs have no evidence of causation between the alleged breaches of fiduciary duty and the amount sought to be disgorged; and (d) Plaintiffs have no evidence that the Ascend Defendants breached any fiduciary duties owed to them under Delaware law. 2. Plaintiffs’ equitable claims seeking specific performance of the specific terms of voluminous protocols that Plaintiffs allege must be followed at the Ascend Defendants’ facilities is not cognizable because: (a) Plaintiffs have an adequate remedy at law in the form of a claim for damages (albeit a claim they failed to establish in this lawsuit); and (b) The relief sought improperly seeks constant and ongoing judicial supervision in the internal affairs of the Ascend Defendants’ facilities. 3. Plaintiffs’ fraudulent inducement claims based on the Ascend Defendants’ alleged failure to open a “Shick Shadel facility” in Texas is barred by the doctrine of ratification because Plaintiffs voluntarily amended the very document that was allegedly procured by fraud after its discovery of the alleged misrepresentations. Based on these additional grounds, and those originally raised in the MSJ, the Ascend Defendants respectfully request that the Court grant them summary judgment as to each claim asserted by Plaintiffs in the Second Amended Petition. After dismissal of these claims, the only live claims remaining in this litigation will be those asserted by the Ascend Defendants. Consequently, the Court should realign the parties and permit the Ascend Defendants to open and close the evidence at trial, currently scheduled for June 2, 2014. DAL 79311214v4 Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs’ First Supplement to Their Motion for Summary Page 2 Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment II. SUPPLEMENTAL UNDISPUTED FACTS 1. CAT Seattle was created on April 1, 2011 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ascend.1 2. At all relevant times, CAT Seattle has been a Delaware limited liability company.2 3. On August 3, 2011, CAT Seattle purchased the Schick Shadel Hospital in Seattle, Washington from Duffy I, LP (“Duffy”).3 As part of that transaction, Duffy I, LP (“Duffy”) purchased 5 percent (5 units of 100) of CAT Seattle from Ascend.4 Ascend kept the other 95 percent of CAT Seattle.5 4. On August 16, 2011, as part of the overall transaction, Duffy assigned its 5 percent interest in Ascend to James P. Graham (“Graham”).6 Graham then immediately assigned the same 5 percent interest to Mugdock Tavern Investments (“Mugdock”).7 Both of these assignments state that they were made pursuant to the “Operating Agreement of CAT Seattle, LLC, dated August 16, 2011.”8 5. On August 16, 2011, the parties, as reflected in the assignments, agreed upon the Operating Agreement of CAT Seattle, LLC (hereinafter the “CAT Seattle Operating Agreement”).9 The CAT Seattle Operating Agreement was agreed upon at the same time as the 1 See Second Supplemental Summary Judgment Evidence Appendix (“2d Suppl. MSJ App.”) at 2d Suppl. MSJ App. 1 ¶ 2. 2 Id. 3 See Original Summary Judgment Evidence Appendix (“Original MSJ App.”) at APP. 012. 4 Id. 5 Id. 6 See 2d Suppl. MSJ App. at 13-14. 7 See id. at 11-12. 8 See id. at 11-14. 9 See id. at 15-62. DAL 79311214v4 Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs’ First Supplement to Their Motion for Summary Page 3 Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment assignments, although it was not signed.10 Under the CAT Seattle Operating Agreement, both Graham and Dr. Kresch were managers of CAT Seattle.11 6. On June 3, 2012, Ascend, and others, entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Universal Health Systems (“UHS”).12 7. On July 3, 2012, Ascend emailed Graham a valuation breakdown of the interests of CAT Seattle being acquired by UHS.13 The email provided that the units held by Mugdock would be acquired on the same terms and conditions as all of the other units of CAT Seattle that were being acquired by UHS, including the units held by Ascend.14 8. On August 9, 2012, Graham and Dr. Kresch met in person at Graham’s offices in Dallas, Texas to discuss the valuation and Ascend’s possible purchase of Mugdock’s 5 percent interest in CAT Seattle.15 During this meeting, Graham made his audio recordings that have been the subject of motion practice in this proceeding.16 On the recording, Graham expressly makes reference to his allegation herein that Ascend, under the original APA, was required to open a Schick Shadel facility in Texas within 12 months of closing, but opened a facility in name only without proper compliance with the Schick Shadel model of treatment.17 9. Notwithstanding those allegations, on August 23, 2012, Duffy, CAT Seattle, and Ascend entered into an Amendment to the APA (“Amendment”).18 On the same day, Mugdock 10 See id. 11 See id. at 25. 12 See Original MSJ App. at APP. 167-249. 13 See 2d Suppl. MSJ App. at 63-64. 14 See id. 15 See id. at 3 ¶ 5. 16 See Audio Recordings contained on CD on filewith the Court in connection with the Ascend Defendant’s Crime/Fraud Motion to Compel (“Audio Recordings”). 17 See Audio Recording #3 (on file with Court) at 16:22-16:53, 19:20-19:33; 2d Suppl. MSJ App. at 84 (page 13, lines 12-19; page 15, lines 21-23). 18 See Original MSJ App. at APP. 250-257. DAL 79311214v4 Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs’ First Supplement to Their Motion for Summary Page 4 Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment sold and assigned its 5 percent interest in CAT Seattle to Ascend.19 Under the assignment, Mugdock received $2,000,000 in consideration, or a $562,000 premium over the amount it was to get under the UHS merger for those same units.20 10. In October 2012, Ascend and UHS consummated the merger.21 III. ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITIES A. Plaintiffs’ Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claim Fails as a Matter of Law. Plaintiffs’ Second Amended Petition alleges as paragraphs 30-32 that CAT Seattle and Kresch owed fiduciary duties to Duffy, which they violated. See Pls.’ 2d Am. Pet. at ¶¶ 30-32. Plaintiffs do not allege any actual damages, however. Instead, Plaintiffs seek equitable disgorgement from of the entire net profit of CAT Seattle that was earned as part of the merger with UHS. See id. at ¶ 32. In other words, Plaintiffs want this court to exercise its equitable jurisdiction to seize money one party for the sale of its own assets (not any assets belonging to Plaintiffs) to compensate for the breach of duty by an entirely different party. That is not equity; that is theft. As set forth below, this claim is without merit and should be dismissed. 1. Duffy was not owed any fiduciary duties. Plaintiffs allege: (1) CAT Seattle and Dr. Kresch “owed certain fiduciary duties to Duffy, the minority shareholder,” and (2) CAT Seattle and Dr. Kresch breached their fiduciary duties to Duffy. See Pls.’ 2d Am. Pet. ¶ 31 (emphasis added). But Duffy was not a member of CAT Seattle in 2012, when Ascend bought the last 5 percent of CAT Seattle—Mugdock was. As explained above, Duffy freely assigned its 5 percent interest in CAT Seattle to Graham, who then assigned it to Mugdock, all on August 16, 2011. See 2d Suppl. MSJ App. at 11-14. Thus, if anyone were owed a fiduciary duty when Ascend was planning to merge with UHS (other than, 19 See 2d Suppl. MSJ App. at 66-81. 20 See id. 21 See id. at 2 ¶ 2. DAL 79311214v4 Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs’ First Supplement to Their Motion for Summary Page 5 Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment of course, CAT Seattle), it would have been Mugdock—not Duffy. See, e.g., Auriga Capital Corp. v. Gatz Props., 40 A.3d 839, 855 (Del. Ch. 2012) (managers of limited liability companies, by default, owe fiduciary duties to the company and its members).22 Duffy was not a member of CAT Seattle in 2012 and, thus, was not owed any fiduciary duties. Significantly, Plaintiffs’ Second Amended Petition does not allege a claim of fiduciary duty as to Mugdock. Thus, as pled, the Court must dismiss the count for breach of fiduciary duty. 2. Plaintiffs improperly want the Court to force CAT Seattle to disgorge $15.5 million for an alleged breach by Dr. Kresch. Plaintiffs seek disgorgement from the wrong party. Plaintiffs claimed that CAT Seattle and Dr. Kresch, but not Ascend, owed Duffy fiduciary duties. See Pls.’ 2d Am. Pet. ¶¶ 31-32. As a matter of law, CAT Seattle does not owe itsmembers and managers fiduciary duties; it’s the other way around. Thus, if anyone owed a fiduciary duty it was Dr. Kresch, who as a manager (just like Graham) owed certain default fiduciary duties to CAT Seattle and its members: Mugdock and Ascend. See, e.g., Auriga Capital Corp., 40 A.3d at 855. Even assuming arguendo that Dr. Kresch breached those fiduciary duties (which he did not), Plaintiffs are not seeking any disgorgement from him; instead, Plaintiffs seek disgorgement of CAT Seattle’s $15.5 million in net profits. See Pls.’ 2d Am. Pet. ¶ 32. However, CAT Seattle did not owe anyone a fiduciary duty and Plaintiffs certainly do not have any evidence to suggest that itdid owe such duties. Plaintiffs did not even allege that Ascend owed anyone fiduciary duties and, therefore, it cannot be forced to disgorge anything. Again, that leaves Dr. Kresch. But Plaintiffs have no evidence of any unjust enrichment or benefits allegedly received by Dr. Kresch, much less any evidence that Dr. Kresch personally received $15.5 million. Thus, the Court should dismiss Plaintiffs’ breach of fiduciary duty claims. 22 As previously mentioned, CAT Seattle is a Delaware limited liability company. See 2d Suppl. MSJ App. at 2 ¶ 2. Thus, Delaware law applies to questions of the duties owed. DAL 79311214v4 Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs’ First Supplement to Their Motion for Summary Page 6 Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment 3. Plaintiffs have no evidence of causation. To obtain equitable disgorgement, Plaintiffs must provide a “reasonable approximation” of what Dr. Kresch “obtained as a result of the alleged breach of fiduciary duty.” Super Future Equities, Inc. v. Wells Fargo Bank Minn., N.A., No. 3:06-CV-0271-B, 2007 WL 4410370, *17 (N.D. Tex. Dec. 14, 2007) (applying Texas law). In other words, they have to “distinguish between that which has been legally and illegally obtained.” Allstate Ins. Co. v. Receivable Fin. Co., L.L.C., 501 F.3d 398, 413 (5th Cir. 2007) (applying Texas law). Here, Plaintiffs have no evidence of causation between Dr. Kresch’s alleged breach of fiduciary duty and the $15.5 million that it seeks as a remedy. The only possible theory that Plaintiffs could allege is that “but for” Dr. Kresch’s alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, Plaintiffs would have prevented the merger with UHS. It is not enough for Plaintiff to simply allege that it would not have sold its interest in CAT Seattle (for a premium) because its disgorgement claim has nothing to do with the consideration exchanged under that agreement. Instead, Plaintiffs want all of the profits from the merger, for all 100 percent of the interests, and, therefore, they must show a causal relationship between the alleged breach and the merger. Plaintiffs, however, have no evidence that they could have prevented the merger. Moreover, the evidence readily establishes that they could not have prevented the merger even assuming they objected because Ascend could have proceeded with the merger without buying Mugdock out. Section 8.4 of the CAT Seattle Operating Agreement gave Ascend “drag along” rights that, once invoked, obligated Mugdock to sell its 5 percent interest in CAT Seattle “on the same terms and conditions, and at the same consideration per Unit” that Ascend sold its interest to another company.23 Even if Ascend for some reason could not enforce 23 See 2d Suppl. MSJ App. at 33-34. To the extent Plaintiffsargue the CAT Seattle Operating Agreement is unenforceable due to the lack of their signatures, the CAT Seattle Operating Agreement was part of a single DAL 79311214v4 Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs’ First Supplement to Their Motion for Summary Page 7 Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment its drag-along rights, Delaware law provides that mergers can be approved by the member who “own[s] more than 50 percent of the then current percentage . . . in the profits” of CAT Seattle. See 6 Del. Code § 18-209(b). Because Ascend owned 95 percent of CAT Seattle, Ascend could have easily approved the merger without Mugdock’s consent. Consequently, even if Mugdock objected to the merger, it could not have prevented the merger. Thus, Dr. Kresch’s alleged breaches of fiduciary duty could not have been a “but for” case of the alleged unjust enrichment that Plaintiffs seek to disgorge. 4. Plaintiffs have no evidence of an actual breach of duty. Finally, the Court should dismiss Plaintiffs’ fiduciary duty claim because there is no evidence of any breach. It is axiomatic that before Dr. Kresch can breach his fiduciary duties as alleged in the pleadings, Plaintiffs must be able to establish that the fiduciary duties he did owe extended to the matters alleged to be a breach. Under Delaware law, Plaintiffs cannot establish this element of their claim. As a default rule in Delaware, managers of limited liability companies owe duties of care and loyalty. See Auriga Capital Corp., 40 A.3d at 855; Feeley v. NHAOCG, LLC, 62 A.3d 649, 660 (Del. Ch. 2012). Plaintiffs did not allege that Dr. Kresch breached his duty of care. See transaction documented by several other writings that were all fully executed. See, e.g., id. at 5-13.The CAT Seattle Operating Agreement is thus enforceable under the multiple writings rule. See, e.g., Jones v. Kelly, 614 S.W.2d 95, 98 (Tex. 1981) (“The general rule is that separate instruments or contracts executed at the same time, for the same purpose, and in the course of the same transaction are to be considered as one instrument, and are to be read and construed together.”). Further, the Assignment to Transfer Units between Mugdock and Ascend, dated August 23, 2012, makes reference and specifically incorporates the CAT SeattleOperating Agreement. See 2d Suppl. MSJ App. at 66. Such an incorporation makes the CAT Seattle Operating Agreement binding. See, e.g., In re D. Wilson Const. Co., 196 S.W.3d 774, 781 (Tex. 2006) (“Innumerable contracts are consummated every day in Texas that incorporate other documents by reference. A contractual term is not rendered invalid merely because it exists in a document incorporated by reference.”). Moreover, Plaintiffs and Graham clearly acted as if the CAT Seattle Operating Agreement were in effect and acted as if they all, at various times, were members of CAT Seattle. As a result, they are estopped from disclaiming the enforceability of the LLC Agreement. See, e.g., Meyer v. WMCO-GP, LLC, 211 S.W.3d 302, 305 (Tex. 2006) (person who seeks by claim to derive direct benefit from contract may be equitably estopped from avoiding clauses in such contract even if person is not a signatory).Finally, Delaware clearly states that limited liability company agreements are enforceable even if they are oral. See 6 Del. Code § 18-101(7). DAL 79311214v4 Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs’ First Supplement to Their Motion for Summary Page 8 Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment Pls.’ 2d Am. Pet. ¶¶ 31-32. Instead, Plaintiffs allege that Dr. Kresch breached his duty of loyalty. While plaintiff alleges breach of the duty of good faith and honesty, those are not independent duties under Delaware law, but instead components of the duty of loyalty. See, e.g., Stone v. Ritter, 911 A.2d 362, 369-70 (Del. 2006); Auriga Capital Corp., 40 A.3d at 855; Feeley v. NHAOCG, LLC, 62 A.3d 649, 660 (Del. Ch. 2012). Stated simply, the duty of loyalty, in all of its forms, prevents a manager or managing member from “receiv[ing] a personal benefit not shared by all shareholders.” See, e.g., In re Walt Disney Co. Deriv. Lit., 907 A.2d 693, 751 (Del. Ch. 2005), aff’d, 906 A.2d 27 (Del. 2006). Plaintiffs’ allegation of breach do not give rise to a claim for breach of the duty of loyalty, especially given the undisputed evidence that Mugdock received a substantial premium on its shares of CAT Seattle. For example, Plaintiffs allege that Dr. Kresch did not tell Graham (who was not a member of CAT Seattle and thus was not owed a fiduciary duty to begin with) about the UHS merger. See id. at ¶ 32. In July 2012, months before the merger closed, Dr. Kresch and his associate, Steve Page (“Page”) sent Graham the valuation of Mugdock’s 5 percent under the merger. See 2d Suppl. MSJ App. at 2 ¶ 4, 63-64. The valuation valued Mugdock’s minority interest the exact same as Ascend’s majority interest. The parties discussed this valuation in detail during the felonious August 9, 2012 meeting. See Audio Recording # 3 (on file with the Court) at 10:41-13:12; 2d Suppl. MSJ App. at 83 (page 9, lines 1-25 through page 11, lines 1-6). And, ultimately, Mugdock sold its5 percent on August 23, 2012, months before the UHS merger closed, for a substantial premium. See 2d Suppl. MSJ App. at 66. Plaintiffs cannot seriously maintain that Dr. Kresch breached his duty of loyalty by engaging in conduct where, at first, Mugdock’s interests were treated the exact same as all other interest and, ultimately, Mugdock sold its interest on far better terms than any other members. DAL 79311214v4 Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs’ First Supplement to Their Motion for Summary Page 9 Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment Nor did Dr. Kresch misrepresent the value of Mugdock’s 5 percent interest in CAT Seattle. As required by the CAT Seattle Operating Agreement, Ascend offered to purchase Mugdock’s 5 percent interest on the same terms and conditions and for the same consideration per unit. See 2d Suppl. MSJ App. at 2 ¶¶ 3-4, 63-64. UHS offered to pay Ascend a purchase price calculated as 9.7 times Ascend’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”). See 2d Suppl. MSJ App. at 2 ¶¶ 3-4, 63-64. As part of the valuation of Ascend as an enterprise, the constituent parts of Ascend, including Schick Shadel, were given EBITDA valuations. See 2d Suppl. MSJ App. at 2 ¶¶ 3-4, 63-64. Ascend then offered Mugdock $1,338,660, which was 5 percent of Schick Shadel’s value, for Mugdock’s 5 percent interest in CAT Seattle. See 2d Suppl. MSJ App. at 2 ¶¶ 3-4, 63-64. Thus, Ascend offered to buy Mugdock’s units for the same consideration per unit that Ascend would receive from UHS. See 2d Suppl. MSJ App. at 2 ¶¶ 3-4, 63-64. This apparently not being enough (despite the fact that Mugdock would have more than doubled its investment in less than a year), Mugdock successfully pushed for more, ultimately agreeing to sell its 5 percent interest for $2 million. See 2d Suppl. MSJ App. at 66. As a result, Mugdock was paid a premium over what Ascend itself received from UHS. This is far from the classic example of a breach of loyalty, where a manager “receives a personal benefit not shared by all shareholders.” See, e.g., In re Walt Disney, 907 A.2d at 751. Finally, Plaintiffs’ third accusation is simply a fraud allegation repackaged as a breach of fiduciary duty claim, but one that does not implicate the duty of loyalty. “A plaintiff may not recast his claim in the language of another cause of action to . . . circumvent existing case law contrary to the plaintiff’s position.” Crowder v. Am. Airlines, Inc., No. 05-99-00661-CV, 2000 WL 471520, *2 (Tex. App.—Dallas April 25, 2000, pet. denied) (collecting cases). Plaintiffs DAL 79311214v4 Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs’ First Supplement to Their Motion for Summary Page 10 Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment claimed that Mugdock relied on Dr. Kresch’s alleged promise not to mix Schick Shadel patients with the rest of the Mayhill patients in agreeing to sell the 5 percent interest. See Pls.’ 2d Am. Pet. ¶¶ 31-32. This is nothing more than saying Plaintiffs relied on a misrepresentation to their detriment, which is an allegation of fraud, not breach of fiduciary duty, and certainly not a breach of the duty of loyalty. Thus, Plaintiffs should not be allowed to recast their fraud claim— for which they have no damages—into a wide-ranging breach of fiduciary claim that they contend entitles them to millions. B. The Court Should Dismiss Plaintiffs’ Request for Specific Performance. Plaintiffs, in contract (and presumably in tort) seek specific performance of the obligations in section 16.2 of the APA to follow certain voluminous protocol relating to the managing of the treatment facilities. Specific performance is not appropriate for two reasons. First, Plaintiffs have an adequate remedy at law for an alleged breach of that provision: actual damages, if any. “A fundamental rule of equity is that a court will not grant specific performance unless it is shown that no adequate remedy exists at law.” Am. Housing Resources, Inc. v. Slaughter, 397 S.W.2d 13, 15 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1980, writ ref’d n.r.e.) (collecting cases). Plaintiffs’ request for specific performance of section 16.2 is nothing more than a backdoor request for a permanent mandatory injunction to maintain the chemical aversion therapy protocols without any allegation, much less proof, of irreparable harm. Second, unlike section 16.1 of the APA, which was satisfied before the August 3, 2012 deadline, section 16.2 concerns the maintenance of chemical aversion therapy protocols for an indefinite period of time. “Among the factors to be considered” when deciding whether to grant specific performance are “whether long-continued supervision by the court will be required, whether complete relief can be rendered by the remedy sought, and whether if the remedy sought is granted it can be adequately enforced.” Id. at 15. Ordering the Ascend Defendants (really, at DAL 79311214v4 Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs’ First Supplement to Their Motion for Summary Page 11 Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment this point, UHS, a nonparty) to indefinitely maintain the chemical aversion therapy protocols to Graham’s liking would require constant and intrusive monitoring, supervision, and judicial intervention by the Court into the day-to-day medical decisions made by physicians working at the Schick Shadel facilities. “It is a settled principle that a court of equity . . . will not decree a party to perform a continuous series of acts extending through a long period of time, requiring constant supervision by the court, . . .” United Coin Meter Co. v. Johnson-Campbell Lumber Co., 493 S.W.2d 882, 888 (Tex. Civ. App.—Fort Worth 1973, no writ) (citing 81 C.J.S., Specific Performance § 75)). Consequently, the Court should grant Defendants summary judgment as to Plaintiffs’ claims for specific performance. C. Plaintiffs’ Fraud Claims are Barred by the Doctrine of Ratification. As explained in the MSJ, section 16.1 of the APA required CAT Seattle to open a Schick Shadel unit in Texas by August 3, 2012. CAT Seattle in fact opened the Schick Shadel unit at Mayhill Hospital in Denton, Texas on or around July 9, 2012. By the time the parties entered into the Amendment to the APA, Plaintiffs and Graham were griping and were fully aware of the supposed fraud surrounding the opening of the Mayhill unit. During the August 9, 2012 recorded meeting, Graham repeatedly claimed that the Mayhill unit was not a legitimate Schick Shadel facility. See Audio Recording #3 (on file with Court) at 16:22-16:53, 19:20-19:33; 2d Suppl. MSJ App. at 84 (page 13, lines 12-19; page 15, lines 21-23). Despite that position, and with full knowledge of any alleged misrepresentation made more than a year earlier, Graham caused Plaintiffs to enter into the Amendment and to sell Mugdock’s 5 percent interest in CAT Seattle for around $2 million. See 2d Suppl. MSJ App. at 66. The Amendment left section 16.1 alone; the parties made changes to section 16.2 (which principally dealt with the chemical aversion therapy protocols) and to provisions relating to the retention of employees until the consummation of the UHS merger. See id. Thus, any claims for DAL 79311214v4 Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs’ First Supplement to Their Motion for Summary Page 12 Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment fraud relating to Plaintiffs’ “in name only” section 16.1 theory, e.g., the Ascend Defendants promised to comply with 16.1 with no intention to do so, was ratified by the Amendment to the APA and the sale of Mugdock’s 5 percent of CAT Seattle. See, e.g., Chambers v. Equity Bank, SSB, 319 S.W.3d 892, 897-902 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2010, no pet.); Motel Enters., Inc. v. Nobani, 784 S.W.2d 545, 547 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1990, no writ). III. CONCLUSION Wherefore, CAT Seattle, LLC, Ascend Health Corporation, and Dr. Richard Kresch respectfully request that the Court grant their Second Amended Motion for Summary Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment on the grounds stated therein, and as provided in this supplement, dismiss with prejudice all of Plaintiffs’ claims against these defendants, realign the parties for trial, and grant the Ascend Defendants such other and further relief, at law or in equity, to which they may be justly entitled. Respectfully submitted, /s/ Victor D. Vital Victor D. Vital Texas State Bar No. 00794798 vitalv@gtlaw.com Nicholas A. Sarokhanian Texas State Bar No. 24075020 sarokhaniann@gtlaw.com GREENBERG TRAURIG, LLP 2200 Ross Avenue, Suite 5200 Dallas, Texas 75201 214-665-3600 - Telephone 214-665-3601- Facsimile DAL 79311214v4 Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs’ First Supplement to Their Motion for Summary Page 13 Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE The undersigned certifies that a true and correct copy of the foregoing document was served on the following counsel of record pursuant to the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure by electronic mail on May 9, 2014: Charles C. Frederiksen J. Randal Brown, II Glast, Phillips & Murray, P.C. 14801 Quorum Drive, Suite 500 Dallas, Texas 75254 /s/ Nicholas A. Sarokhanian Nicholas A. Sarokhanian DAL 79311214v4 Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs’ First Supplement to Their Motion for Summary Page 14 Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment 2d Suppl. MSJ App. 1 Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs’ First Supplement to Their Motion for Summary Page 15 Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment 2d Suppl. MSJ App. 2 Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs’ First Supplement to Their Motion for Summary Page 16 Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment 2d Suppl. MSJ App. 3 Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs’ First Supplement to Their Motion for Summary Page 17 Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment 2d Suppl. MSJ App. 4 Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs’ First Supplement to Their Motion for Summary Page 18 Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment DEFENDANTS exhibitsticker.com EXHIBIT 21 2d Suppl. MSJ App. 5 Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs’ First Supplement to Their Motion for Summary Page 19 Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment 2d Suppl. MSJ App. 6 Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs’ First Supplement to Their Motion for Summary Page 20 Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment 2d Suppl. MSJ App. 7 Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs’ First Supplement to Their Motion for Summary Page 21 Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment 2d Suppl. MSJ App. 8 Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs’ First Supplement to Their Motion for Summary Page 22 Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment 2d Suppl. MSJ App. 9 Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs’ First Supplement to Their Motion for Summary Page 23 Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment 2d Suppl. MSJ App. 10 Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs’ First Supplement to Their Motion for Summary Page 24 Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment DEFENDANTS exhibitsticker.com EXHIBIT 22 2d Suppl. MSJ App. 11 Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs’ First Supplement to Their Motion for Summary Page 25 Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment 2d Suppl. MSJ App. 12 Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs’ First Supplement to Their Motion for Summary Page 26 Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment DEFENDANTS exhibitsticker.com EXHIBIT 26 2d Suppl. MSJ App. 13 Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs’ First Supplement to Their Motion for Summary Page 27 Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment 2d Suppl. MSJ App. 14 Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs’ First Supplement to Their Motion for Summary Page 28 Judgment and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment DEFENDANTS exhibitsticker.com