Challenge Printing Company, Inc. v. Electronics For Imaging Inc.
U.S. District Court11/13/2020
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4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
5 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
6 SAN JOSE DIVISION
7
THE CHALLENGE PRINTING
8 COMPNAY, INC., Case No. 5:20-cv-04659-EJD
9 Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND
DENYING IN PART DEFENDANT’S
10 v. MOTION TO DISMISS; CONTINUING
INITIAL CASE MANAGEMENT
11 ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING INC., CONFERENCE
12 Defendant. Re: Dkt. No. 12
13
14 This case arises out of an agreement between Plaintiff, the Challenge Printing Company,
15 Inc. (“Challenge Printing”), and Defendant, Electronics for Imaging, Inc. (“EFI”), for software to
16 aid in Challenge Printing’s printing enterprise. Challenge Printing asserts claims for breach of
17 contract, intentional as well as negligent misrepresentation, fraud, and unfair competition.1
18 Pending before the Court is EFI’s motion to dismiss the complaint pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) of the
19 Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Motion to Dismiss (“Mot.”), Dkt. No. 12. The Court finds it
20 appropriate to take the motion under submission for decision without oral argument pursuant to
21 Civil Local Rule 7-1(b). For the reasons set forth below, the Court GRANTS IN PART and
22 DENIES IN PART EFI’s motion to dismiss.
23
24
25
1 Challenge Printing’s caption page also includes a cause of action for “Declaratory Relief,” but
Challenge Printing concedes that it “inadvertently referenced declaratory relief in the Complaint’s
26 caption and is not pursuing a claim for declaratory relief.” Plaintiff’s Opposition to Motion to
Dismiss (“Opp.”) 2, Dkt. No. 14.
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CASE NO. 5:20-cv-04659-EJD
1 I. BACKGROUND
2 A. Factual Background
3 Challenge Printing is a New Jersey corporation with its principle place of business in
4 Clifton, New Jersey. Complaint for Damages (“Compl.”) ¶ 1, Dkt. No. 1. Challenge Printing is a
5 pharmaceutical printing company that prints packaging components such as labels, inserts, and
6 folding cartons for pharmaceutical manufacturers worldwide. Id. ¶ 7. In pursing this enterprise,
7 Challenge Printing had a management information system for, among other things, estimating
8 pricing and scheduling jobs. Id. ¶ 10, 12. In 2016, Challenge Printing’s then-current system had
9 significant drawbacks: its estimating ability “was not integrated and relied heavily on Excel and
10 attaching to various other programs,” (id. ¶ 13), its scheduling functionality “produced manual
11 reports which were not dynamic, efficient, or integrated” such that Challenge Printing’s “managers
12 were spending significant portions of their work day managing the scheduling,” (id. ¶ 14), and the
13 system “required working with three separate systems to log print jobs onto spreadsheets,” (id. ¶
14 15). For this reason, in 2016, Challenge Printing approached EFI with “a desire to eliminate the
15 need to build, advance and maintain its then-current management information system.” Id. ¶ 10.
16 EFI is a Delaware corporation with its principle place of business in Fremont, California.2
17 Id. ¶ 2. EFI develops technologies for the manufacturing of signage, packaging, textiles, ceramic
18 tiles and personalized documents, as well as offering “digital front ends and a comprehensive
19 business and production workflow suite” such as was sought by Challenge Printing. Id. ¶ 8. In
20 2016, after being approached by Challenge Printing about replacing its management information
21 system, the parties exchanged emails and telephone communications regarding a proposed
22 solution. See id. ¶¶ 16-41.
23 Challenge Printing alleges that between October and December of 2016, in this pre-
24 contractual stage, EFI made several misrepresentations about its products. See id. For example, in
25
26
2 Given the complete diversity of the parties and that the amount in controversy well exceeds
$75,000 in this case, this Court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332.
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CASE NO. 5:20-cv-04659-EJD
1 an email sent on October 13, 2016, Mr. Darren Bradley, Sales Development Manager for EFI,
2 represented that “[EFI could] provide a very efficient and Global view to [Challenge Printing’s]
3 business and shop floor, helping [their] team optimize the manufacturing floor and become much
4 more efficient.” Id. ¶ 17. As another example, in a phone call on December 12, 2016 between Mr.
5 Bradley and one of EFI’s technical employees (identified only as “Sam”) on the one hand, and
6 Challenge Printing’s IT Director (Mr. Ashok Avadhani) and Regional Director (Mr. Chad Sasso)
7 on the other, EFI represented that its proposed solution would be able to be integrated into
8 Challenge Printing’s then-current systems. Id. ¶ 38. EFI had proposed their “Enterprise Packaging
9 (Radius MIS based) Suite Certified Solution” (the “Radius Suite”) as a solution to EFI’s problems
10 in an executive brief sent by Mr. Bradley on or about November 11, 2016. See id. ¶¶ 21-22; See
11 Compl., Ex. 1 (“Executive Brief”) 1, Dkt. No. 1-1. Challenge Printing decided to purchase only
12 part of the software suite, the iQuote estimating software. Compl. ¶¶ 41.
13 About a year later, on December 29, 2017, the parties entered into a written agreement for
14 the iQuote software along with the EFI’s accompanying professional services for $175,000. Id. ¶
15 42. This agreement was memorialized in an investment summary, Compl., Ex. 3 (“Investment
16 Summary”), Dkt. No. 1-3, as well as a purchase order, Compl., Ex. 4 (“Purchase Order”), Dkt. No.
17 1-4, both of which were dated December 29, 2017. Compl. ¶ 42. The Investment Summary was
18 sent by EFI to Challenge Printing by email and was signed by Mr. Adam Sasso, the Senior
19 Marketing Director of Challenge Printing, and by Gabriel Matsliach, the Senior Vice President
20 and General Manager of EFI. Id. ¶ 43-44. The Investment Summary expressly incorporated EFI’s
21 Terms and Conditions License and Purchase Agreement (“EFI’s Terms and Conditions”). Id. ¶ 44;
22 Investment Summary at 2. The Purchase Order was sent by Challenge Printing to EFI on or about
23 the same day, and expressly incorporated Challenge Printing’s Terms and Conditions of Sale
24 (“Challenge Printing’s Terms and Conditions”), Compl. ¶ 43, but it was not signed by either party,
25 see Purchase Order.
26
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CASE NO. 5:20-cv-04659-EJD
1 In February 2018, installation began at Challenge Printing’s office. Compl. ¶ 50. Challenge
2 Printing alleges that, contrary to EFI’s Terms and Conditions, the iQuote product did not meet
3 EFI’s then current specifications, and that contrary to Challenge Printing’s Terms and Conditions,
4 the software was not fit for the purpose for which it was purchased. Compl. ¶¶ 52-53. Challenge
5 Printing also alleges that the product did not perform in accordance with EFI’s precontractual
6 representations. Id. ¶¶ 51, 54. Challenge Printing communicated these defects and concerns to Ms.
7 Stephanie Groth, a Senior Consultant for EFI, including through phone calls and at least one
8 email, in May and June of 2019. Id. ¶¶ 60-61. On May 29, 2019, Chad Sasso, Adam Sasso, and
9 Mr. Theodore Sasso, President of Challenge Printing, were contacted by Mr. Alfonso Hernandez
10 Jr., a new regional lead for EFI, who stated that he was checking in on the identified problems and
11 would get back to the Sassos. Id. ¶¶ 67-68. After June 7, 2019, Challenge Printing never received
12 any follow-up from either Ms. Gross or Mr. Hernandez Jr. Id. ¶ 68, 70.
13 On March 12, 2020, Challenge Printing sent EFI a notice demand letter, terminating the
14 agreement and seeking $226,000 in damages, consisting of $175,000 for the contract price, and
15 $51,000 for incidental damages. Id. ¶¶ 72-73; Compl., Ex. 7 (“Demand Letter”), Dkt. No. 1-7.
16 Challenge Printing alleges that, as of the filing of its complaint, the issues remain unresolved and
17 the iQuote software remains not fully implemented. Id. ¶ 70.
18 B. Procedural Background
19 On July 13, 2020, Challenge Printing filed its complaint for damages against EFI. Compl.
20 On August 10, 2020, EFI filed a motion to dismiss all of Challenge Printing’s causes of action.
21 Mot. Challenge Printing filed its opposition on August 24, 2020. Opp. Finally, on August 31,
22 2020, EFI filed its reply. Reply in Support of Motion to Dismiss (“Reply”) 11, Dkt. No. 15.
23 II. LEGAL STANDARD
24 A. Motion to Dismiss
25 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a) requires a plaintiff to plead each claim with sufficient
26 specificity to “give the defendant fair notice of what the . . . claim is and the grounds upon which
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CASE NO. 5:20-cv-04659-EJD
1 it rests.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (internal quotations omitted). The
2 factual allegations in the complaint “must be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative
3 level” such that the claim “is plausible on its face.” Id. at 556–57. A complaint that falls short of
4 the Rule 8(a) standard may be dismissed if it fails to state a claim upon which relief can be
5 granted. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). “Dismissal under Rule 12(b)(6) is appropriate only where the
6 complaint lacks a cognizable legal theory or sufficient facts to support a cognizable legal theory.”
7 Mendiondo v. Centinela Hosp. Med. Ctr., 521 F.3d 1097, 1104 (9th Cir. 2008).
8 When deciding whether to grant a motion to dismiss, the court must generally accept as
9 true all “well-pleaded factual allegations.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 664 (2009). The court
10 must also construe the alleged facts in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. See Retail Prop.
11 Trust v. United Bhd. of Carpenters & Joiners of Am., 768 F.3d 938, 945 (9th Cir. 2014) (providing
12 the court must “draw all reasonable inferences in favor of the nonmoving party” for a Rule
13 12(b)(6) motion). However, “courts are not bound to accept as true a legal conclusion couched as a
14 factual allegation.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678.
15 Also, the court usually does not consider any material beyond the pleadings for a Rule
16 12(b)(6) analysis. Hal Roach Studios, Inc. v. Richard Feiner & Co., 896 F.2d 1542, 1555 n. 19
17 (9th Cir. 1989). Exceptions to this rule include material submitted as part of the complaint or
18 relied upon in the complaint, and material subject to judicial notice. See Lee v. City of Los
19 Angeles, 250 F.3d 668, 688–89 (9th Cir. 2001).
20 B. Heightened Rule 9(b) Standard
21 Allegations sounding in fraud are subject to the heightened pleading requirements of
22 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b). See Vess v. Ciba–Geigy Corp. USA, 317 F.3d 1097, 1103–
23 04 (9th Cir. 2003) (if “the claim is said to be ‘grounded in fraud’ or to ‘sound in fraud,’ [then] the
24 pleading of that claim as a whole must satisfy the particularity requirement of Rule 9(b).”). This
25
26
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CASE NO. 5:20-cv-04659-EJD
1 Court also applies the Rule 9(b) standard to the claim for negligent misrepresentation.3 To that
2 end, the allegations must contain “an account of the time, place, and specific content of the false
3 representations as well as the identities of the parties to the misrepresentations.” Swartz v. KPMG
4 LLP, 476 F.3d 756, 764 (9th Cir. 2007) (internal citations omitted). In other words, the
5 “[a]verments of fraud must be accompanied by the ‘who, what, when, where, and how’ of the
6 misconduct charged.” Vess, 317 F.3d at 1106 (quoting Cooper v. Pickett, 137 F.3d 616, 627 (9th
7 Cir. 1997)).
8 III. DISCUSSION
9 EFI moves to dismiss each of Challenge Printing’s claims. This Court addresses each
10 claim in turn, but treats the fraud and misrepresentation claims together.
11 A. Breach of Contract Claim
12 Challenge Printing’s first cause of action is for breach of what it refers to as the “December
13 29, 2017 Agreement.” Compl. ¶ 76. This December 29, 2017 Agreement allegedly consists of both
14
15
3 This Court has previously found that “[c]laims for negligent misrepresentation must meet the
16 particularity requirement of Rule 9(b).” Trombley Enterprises, LLC v. Sauer, Inc., 2019 WL
452044, at *3 (N.D. Cal. Feb. 5, 2019). However, “[t]he Ninth Circuit has not yet decided whether
17 Rule 9(b)’s heightened pleading standard applies to a claim for negligent misrepresentation[.]
[M]ost district courts in California hold that it does.” Najarian Holdings LLC v. Corevest Am. Fin.
18
Lender LLC, 2020 WL 5993225, at *5 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 9, 2020). As the court noted in Najarian
19 Holdings, “opinions applying Rule 9(b) to negligent misrepresentation claims involved instances
where the negligence claim was grounded in fraud. Conversely, where a claim is not based in
20 fraud and involves simple negligence, then it would be in error to apply Rule 9(b)’s heightened
pleading requirements.” Id. at *6 (citing the analysis from U.S. Capital Partners, LLC v. AHMSA
21 International, Inc., 2013 WL 594285, at *3–4 (N.D. Cal. Feb. 14, 2013)).
As in Najarian Holdings, the negligent misrepresentation claim here sounds in fraud
22
because the underlying conduct for the second, third, and fifth causes of action is exactly the same,
23 involving the same allegedly false representations. See id. (finding that “[t]he underlying conduct
for the two claims [was] the same.”). It is also persuasive that the Ninth Circuit, in an unpublished
24 decision, has recently affirmed a district court’s dismissal of a negligent misrepresentation claim
on Rule 9(b) grounds. Puri v. Khalsa, 674 F. App’x 679, 689 (9th Cir. 2017) (but noting that, in
25 that case, “the plaintiffs d[id] not contest, that Rule 9(b) applie[d] to the[ir] claim.”). Here, as in
Puri v. Khalsa, Challenge Printing does not contest that Rule 9(b) applies to the negligent
26
misrepresentation claim and, given the underlying conduct, this Court so finds.
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CASE NO. 5:20-cv-04659-EJD
1 the Investment Summary, which incorporates EFI’s Terms and Conditions, and Challenge
2 Printing’s Purchase Order, which incorporates Challenge Printing’s Terms and Conditions. Id. ¶¶
3 42, 44-45. Challenge Printing alleges that EFI breached the December 29, 2017 Agreement by
4 failing to:
5 (i) provide software that was fit for the purpose for which it was
purchased; (ii) provide software which performed materially in
6 accordance with EFI’s then-current applicable specifications; (iii)
provide professional services in good and workmanlike manner
7 consistent with generally accepted industry standards; (iv) repair or
replace the defective product, re-perform the service that did not
8 meet EFI’s warranties, or provide a full refund of the purchase price;
and (v) cure the material breach of the December 29, 2017
9 Agreement.
10 Compl. ¶ 76. Some of these alleged breaches reflect only Challenge Printing’s Terms and
11 Conditions, while others reflect EFI’s Terms and Conditions. In particular, the requirements that
12 the software be (i) “fit for the purpose for which it was purchased” and (v) that EFI “cure the
13 material breach of the December 29, 2017 Agreement” are based solely on Challenge Printing’s
14 Terms and Conditions. See Compl. ¶¶ 46-48.
15 1. Alleged Breach of Challenge Printing’s Terms and Conditions
16 EFI contends that it never agreed to Challenge Printing’s Terms and Conditions, and
17 therefore “to the extent that Challenge Printing is basing its breach of contract claim on the
18 Challenge Printing Terms and Conditions, the claim should be dismissed.” Mot. at 13. EFI’s
19 argument is based on the integration clause in its Terms and Conditions, which states that “[t]his
20 Agreement constitutes the full and complete agreement between you and EFI with respect to the
21 Product and supersedes all prior negotiations, understandings, and agreements between us related
22 to the Product. Any waiver, modification, or amendment will be effective only if in writing signed
23 by you and EFI.” Compl., Ex. 5 (“EFI’s Terms and Conditions”) ¶ 15(e), Dkt. No. 1-5.
24 If EFI’s Terms and Conditions were the only contract governing the parties’ transaction,
25 the integration clause might well preclude Challenge Printing from asserting a breach of contract
26 claim based on other terms and conditions. Challenge Printing alleges, however, that its own
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CASE NO. 5:20-cv-04659-EJD
1 Terms and Conditions also form part of the December 29, 2017 Agreement. Compl. ¶¶ 42, 45.
2 Challenge Printing’s Terms and Conditions also contain an integration clause, which states that
3 “[t]his document contains all terms of the parties [sic] agreement concerning the materials or
4 services described on the face of this document. It may not be added to, modified, or superseded
5 except by a written instrument signed by an authorized representative of The Challenge Printing
6 Company (Buyer).” Compl., Ex. 6 (“Challenge Printing’s Terms and Conditions”), Dkt. No. 1-6.
7 Thus, the first question for this Court is how to treat the competing agreements under California
8 law, which the parties have not addressed in their briefs.4
9 a. Whether the U.C.C. Applies
10 The Uniform Commercial Code (the “UCC”) applies to transactions of goods. Cal. Com.
11 Code § 2102. The UCC defines goods as “all things (including specially manufactured goods)
12 which are movable at the time of identification to the contract for sale . . .” Cal. Com. Code §
13 2105. “Applying the UCC to software poses a complex issue because transactions for software
14 often combine elements of both goods and services.” Simulados Software, Ltd. v. Photon Infotech
15 Private, Ltd., 40 F. Supp. 3d 1191, 1199 (N.D. Cal. 2014). As such, courts have arrived at
16 different decisions concerning whether software transactions are covered by the UCC.
17 The primary test used by courts to determine whether software is a good under the UCC is
18 the predominant factor test, where courts look to the “essence of the agreement” on a case-by-case
19 basis to decide how to characterize the transaction. Gross v. Symantec Corp., 2012 WL 3116158,
20 at *8 (N. D. Cal. July 31, 2012) (citing RRX Indus., Inc. v. Lab–Con, Inc., 772 F.2d 543, 546 (9th
21 Cir.1985)). “Courts determine whether the predominant factor or purpose of the contract is
22
23
4 EFI points out that “Challenge Printing[‘s] Terms and Conditions contain a New Jersey forum
selection clause and choice of law provision [whereas] EFI’s Terms and Conditions, contain a
24 California choice of law and forum selection provision.” Mot. at 12 n.1 (citing Challenge
Printing’s Terms and Conditions and EFI’s Terms and Conditions ¶ 15(b)). This Court will apply
25 California substantive law because Challenge Printing has brought this action in California and
relies on the California Civil Code, and both parties base their arguments on California law (see,
26 e.g., Opp. at 2, 11-13). Neither party, however, addresses whether the UCC or California
substantive contract law governs the agreement.
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CASE NO. 5:20-cv-04659-EJD
1 rendition of services, with goods incidentally involved, or is rendition of goods, with labor
2 incidentally involved.” Simulados Software, 40 F. Supp. 3d at 1199.
3 Generally, courts have found that mass-produced, standardized, or generally available
4 software, even with modifications and ancillary services included in the agreement, is a good that
5 is covered by the UCC. See, e.g., RRX Indus., 772 F.2d at 546 (finding that license for mass-
6 produced software for use in medical laboratories was covered by the UCC, even when the
7 software contract also provided for ancillary services such as training, repair, and system
8 upgrading). Even software adapted for specific needs has been considered a good. See, e.g.,
9 Advent Sys. Ltd. v. Unisys Corp., 925 F.2d 670, 676 (3d Cir. 1991) (finding that the software
10 contracted for was a good even where one party planned to modify its existing software and
11 hardware interfaces for the other party’s use). “[T]he advantages of applying the UCC to software
12 transactions (namely uniformity on a range of questions) and the importance of software to the
13 commercial world [are] strong policy arguments favoring the application of the UCC[.] [T]he
14 majority of academic commentary espouse[s] the view that software falls under the UCC.”
15 Simulados Software, 40 F. Supp. 3d at 1200 (citing the rationale of Advent Sys., 925 F.2d at 675-
16 76). On the other end of the spectrum, courts in this district and beyond have determined that
17 “[w]here software is designed from scratch, or the transaction is mainly for one party’s knowledge
18 and skills in creating software, the software is often found to be a service rather than a good.” Id.
19 at 1201.
20 In this case, Challenge Printing alleges it had some special software needs, including that
21 EFI’s software would be integrated with its then-existing systems. Compl. ¶ 38. However, there is
22 no indication that EFI’s software was specially designed for Challenge Printing. The iQuote
23 software appears to be standardized software offered to EFI customers. See Investment Summary
24 at 1 (calling it the “Enterprise standalone bundle”). The iQuote software is ordinarily part of and
25 installed with the Radius Suite—an EFI standardized software package that is routinely offered to
26 EFI’s customers. See, e.g., Executive Brief at 1 (touting “Radius Installations: 350 Worldwide;
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CASE NO. 5:20-cv-04659-EJD
1 250 U[nited] S[tates] & C[anada]”). Further, the Investment Summary shows that of the $182,000
2 pre-discount price, $115,000 was for “Total Software and Hardware” while $67,500 was for
3 “Total Professional Services.” Investment Summary at 1. This price differential suggests that
4 EFI’s support services were ancillary to Challenge Printing’s purchase of iQuote. Unlike in
5 Simulados Software, Challenge Printing sought and purchased an estimating and planning
6 software to replace its management information system, for which professional services were
7 ancillary. Compl. ¶¶ 10-12. Contra. Simulados, 40 F. Supp. 3d at 1202 (explaining that
8 “Simulados was not purchasing any software from [Defendant]. Rather, [Defendant] was only
9 providing services to modify Simulados’ already-existing software.”). Applying the predominant
10 factor test to this case, the Court finds that the “essence of the agreement” between Challenge
11 Printing and EFI was for the sale of a product, and therefore the UCC applies.
12 b. U.C.C. § 2-207: The Battle of the Forms
13 Under the common law “mirror-image rule,” a purported acceptance that varies the terms
14 of an offer operates as a rejection and counteroffer rather than an acceptance. Niagara Bottling,
15 LLC v. Rite-Hite Co., LLC, 2019 WL 1768875, at *8 (C.D. Cal. Feb. 11, 2019) (citing Diamond
16 Fruit Growers, Inc. v. Krack Corp., 794 F.2d 1440, 1443 (9th Cir. 1986)). “Section [2-]207,
17 however, rejects the ‘mirror image’ rule, and converts a common law counteroffer into an
18 acceptance even though it states additional or different terms.” Idaho Power Co. v. Westinghouse
19 Elec. Corp., 596 F.2d 924, 926 (9th Cir. 1979). “One intended application of section 2-207 is to
20 commercial transactions in which the parties exchange printed purchase order and
21 acknowledgment forms.” Diamond Fruit Growers, 794 F.2d at 1442-43. In such cases, section 2-
22 207(1) provides in relevant part that “a written confirmation which is sent within a reasonable time
23 operates as an acceptance even though it states terms additional to or different from those offered
24 or agreed upon.” Cal. Com. Code § 2207.
25 UCC § 2-207(1), however, carves out an exception where “acceptance is expressly made
26 conditional on assent to the additional or different terms.” Cal. Com. Code § 2207. “Th[at] proviso
27
CASE NO. 5:20-cv-04659-EJD
1 has been construed narrowly.” Idaho Power, 596 F.2d at 926. It applies “only to an acceptance
2 which clearly reveals that the offeree is unwilling to proceed with the transaction unless he is
3 assured of the offeror’s assent to the additional or different terms therein.” Id. (quoting and
4 agreeing with Dorton v. Collins & Aikman Corp., 453 F.2d 1161, 1168 (6th Cir. 1972)). Courts
5 have often found that “[a] written statement that an acceptance is ‘subject to all of the terms and
6 conditions on the face and reverse side [of the document], all of which are accepted by the offeror’
7 is not considered ‘expressly made conditional on assent’ within the meaning of Section 2-207(1).”
8 Channell Commercial Corp. v. Wilmington Mach. Inc., 2016 WL 7638180, at *5 (C.D. Cal. June
9 17, 2016) (citing Idaho Power, 596 F.2d at 926 and Diamond Fruit Growers, 794 F.2d at 1444).
10 In this case, Challenge Printing’s Purchase Order included no statement, express or
11 otherwise, and merely contained Challenge Printing’s Terms and Conditions. See Purchase Order.
12 EFI’s Investment Summary contained a statement, but it was exactly like those rejected in Idaho
13 Power and Channell Commercial, stating that “[EFI will provide] the software licenses, hardware,
14 and/or services (the “Products”) listed in the Investment Summary pursuant to the attached Terms
15 and Conditions.” Investment Summary at 2. Thus, under section 2-207(1), the parties entered into
16 a binding contract, even though they had separate terms and conditions.
17 The question then becomes whose terms and conditions apply. Under UCC 2-207(2),
18 “[t]he additional terms [in the acceptance] are to be construed as proposals for addition to the
19 contract. The Court is unable to apply UCC 2-207(2) to this case, however, because it is unclear
20 which party made the offer and which party accepted the offer with a proposal for additional
21 terms. “[B]oth of [the documents] are dated December 29, 2017,” (Compl. ¶ 42; Investment
22 Summary at 2; Purchase Order), and there are no other allegations from which the Court can
23 determine which came first. If EFI’s Investment Summary was sent first, then under UCC 2-
24 207(2), EFI’s terms and conditions would apply and Challenge Printing’s terms and conditions
25 would constitute an offer with a proposal for additional terms. If Challenge Printing’s Purchase
26 Order was sent first, then its terms and conditions would apply and EFI’s terms and conditions
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CASE NO. 5:20-cv-04659-EJD
1 would constitute an offer with a proposal for additional terms.
2 EFI argues that regardless of which form came first, its integration clause is signed and
3 therefore controls. Mot. at 10. There is some merit to this argument. UCC 2-207(3) provides:
4 “Conduct by both parties which recognizes the existence of a contract is sufficient to establish a
5 contract for sale although the writings of the parties do not otherwise establish a contract. In such
6 case the terms of the particular contract consist of those terms on which the writings of the parties
7 agree, together with any supplementary terms incorporated under any other provisions of this
8 Act.” At this stage, however, the record does not clearly capture “the terms on which the writings
9 of the parties agree.”5
10 Faced with this question of fact, the Court cannot conclude that Challenge Printing’s claim
11 for breach of its Terms and Conditions is subject to dismissal. “Resolution of contractual claims
12 on a motion to dismiss is proper if the terms of the contract are unambiguous.” Monaco v. Bear
13 Stearns Residential Mortg. Corp., 554 F. Supp. 2d 1034, 1040 (C.D. Cal. 2008) (quoting
14 Bedrosian v. Tenet Healthcare Corp., 208 F.3d 220 (9th Cir. 2000)) (emphasis added).
15 2. Alleged Breach of EFI’s Terms and Conditions
16 As previously mentioned, Challenge Printing’s breach of contract claim is also predicated
17 at least in part on EFI’s Terms and Conditions. Challenge Printing alleges that EFI breached its
18 contractual duty to:
19 (ii) provide software which performed materially in accordance with
EFI’s then-current applicable specifications; (iii) provide
20 professional services in good and workmanlike manner consistent
with generally accepted industry standards; [and] (iv) repair or
21
22
5 Even if Challenge Printing agreed to EFI’s terms and conditions, it is unclear whether it would
23 displace all of the terms and conditions stated in Challenge Printing’s Purchase Order. Integration
clauses often expressly address contemporaneous negotiations. See, e.g., Grey v. Am. Mgmt.
24 Servs., 204 Cal. App. 4th 803, 807, (2012) (wherein the contract between the parties stated that
“[t]his Agreement is the entire agreement between the parties in connection with Employee’s
25 employment with [Employer], and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous discussions and
understandings.”) (emphasis added). By contrast, EFI’s integration clause refers only to prior and
26 future negotiations, and omits any mention of contemporaneous ones. Contra. Mot. at 10. This
leaves open the question of whether contemporaneous agreements were to be superseded.
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CASE NO. 5:20-cv-04659-EJD
replace the defective product, re-perform the service that did not
1 meet EFI’s warranties, or provide a full refund of the purchase price;
2 Compl. ¶ 76. These allegations are based on duties in paragraphs 7(a) and 7(c) of EFI’s Terms and
3 Conditions. Compl. ¶¶ 46-47; EFI’s Terms and Conditions ¶¶ 7(a), (c).
4 EFI argues that none of the alleged breaches (ii)-(iv) are legally cognizable. EFI first
5 argues that its duty to (ii) “to provide software which performed materially in accordance with
6 EFI’s then-current applicable specifications” … was subject to the condition precedent that
7 Challenge Printing properly installed all updates, upgrades and bug-fixes. Mot. at 13; EFI Terms
8 and Conditions ¶ 7(a). EFI argues that there is no allegation that Challenge Printing has performed
9 this condition precedent. Mot. at 13.
10 “Under California law, in order to state a claim for breach of contract, … ‘the performance
11 of conditions precedent must be alleged either generally or specifically.’” Microsoft Corp. v. Hon
12 Hai Precision Indus. Co., 2019 WL 3859035, at *5 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 16, 2019) (quoting Gordon
13 Bldg. Corp. v. Gibraltar Sav. & Loan Ass’n, 247 Cal. App. 2d 1, 6 (1966)). Challenge Printing
14 generally alleges that it performed all of its obligations pursuant to the December 29, 2017
15 Agreement.” Compl. ¶ 77. Moreover, although Challenge Printing does not specifically allege that
16 it has applied “all updates, upgrades, and bug-fixes,” it does allege lengthy attempts to fix the
17 persisting issues by contacting EFI’s representatives. See Compl. ¶¶ 60-69. It is reasonable to infer
18 that Challenge Printing at least attempted to satisfy the condition precedent by contacting EFI’s
19 representative. See Retail Prop. Trust, 768 F.3d at 945 (the court must “draw all reasonable
20 inferences in favor of the nonmoving party” for a Rule 12(b)(6) motion). Accordingly, Challenge
21 Printing has pled sufficient facts to plausibly allege that the condition precedent was met.
22 EFI also argues that breaches (ii) and (iii) are insufficiently pled because it is unclear to
23 which software services Challenge Printing is referring, in particular whether having to do with
24 the Radius Suite or only with iQuote. Mot. at 13-14. The argument is unpersuasive. When the
25 complaint is read with its supporting material (the Investment Summary, Purchase Order, EFI’s
26 Terms and Conditions, and Challenge Printing’s Terms and Conditions), it is clear that the breach
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CASE NO. 5:20-cv-04659-EJD
1 of contract claims are unambiguously directed to the iQuote system—the only system Challenge
2 Printing purchased.
3 Finally, with respect to breach of contractual duty (iv), EFI argues that the duty is
4 “contradicted by the limitation of liability language in [EFI’s] Terms and Conditions.” This
5 argument fails because EFI does not point to any specific contradictory language. Mot. at 14.
6 Although EFI cites generally to ¶9 of its Terms and Conditions, it is unclear what contradictions
7 EFI is referring to.
8 In sum, Challenge Printing’s alleged breaches of contractual duties (ii)-(iv) are well-
9 grounded in EFI’s own Terms and Conditions, and the Court finds no reason to dismiss the breach
10 of contract claim to the extent that it relies on those contractual duties.
11 3. Motion to Strike Incidental Damages from the Claim
12 For the breach of contract claim, Challenge Printing seeks damages in “an amount not less
13 than $226,000,” (Compl. ¶ 78), which is based upon “the $175,000 purchase price Challenge
14 Printing paid EFI for the defective software and $51,000 for incidental damages Challenge
15 Printing incurred as a result of EFI’s material breach,” (id. ¶ 73). EFI argues that this allegation is
16 insufficient to satisfy Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(g), which requires that when an item of
17 “special damages is claimed, it must be specifically stated.” EFI reasons that incidental damages
18 are a form of special damages, and therefore Challenge Printing must allege the damages “with
19 particularity, as well as specify facts showing such damages were the natural and direct result of
20 defendant’s conduct.” Mot. at 14 (citing Browning v. Clinton, 292 F.3d 235, 245-246 (D.C. Cir.
21 2002)). EFI relies solely on Browning v. Clinton, while Challenge Printing’s opposition cites no
22 legal authority on this issue. Mot. at 14; Opp. at 9.
23 In Browning v. Clinton, the D.C. Circuit held that “[a] disparagement of property claim
24 requires that the plaintiff plead special damages.” Browning, 292 F.3d at 245 (internal quotations
25 omitted). Here, Challenge Printing is asserting a breach of contract claim, not a disparagement of
26 property claim. As such, Browning provides little if any guidance in determining the applicability
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CASE NO. 5:20-cv-04659-EJD
1 of Rule 9(g) to Challenge Printing’s breach of contract claim.
2 Instead, the Court turns to California law for guidance. Under California contract law,
3 “damages are of two types—general damages (sometimes called direct damages) and special
4 damages (sometimes called consequential damages).” Lewis Jorge Constr. Mgmt., Inc. v. Pomona
5 Unified Sch. Dist., 34 Cal. 4th 960, 968 (2004). “Unlike general damages, special damages are
6 those losses that do not arise directly and inevitably from any similar breach of any similar
7 agreement.” Id. District courts have similarly recognized “[s]pecial damages are those elements of
8 damages that are the natural, but not the necessary, consequence of a defendant’s conduct.”
9 Botosan v. Fitzhugh, 13 F. Supp. 2d 1047, 1053 (S.D. Cal. 1998) (quoting 5 Charles A. Wright &
10 Arthur R. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 1310 (1990)).
11 As such, any analysis of special damages must turn on the underlying facts of the injury.
12 For example, in Klinkenborg Aerial Spraying & Seeding Inc. v. Rotorcraft Dev. Corp, the District
13 of Montana found that incidental damages met the specificity requirement where
14 [t]he complaint allege[d] that Klinkenborg ‘incurred substantial
expenses in traveling in an effort to inspect and facilitate delivery of
15 the 993YC and 992YC helicopters, the 992YC engine, and other
outstanding parts.’ (Doc. 1, ¶ 35). Klinkenborg’s breach of contract
16 claims specifically allege[d] damages in the form of expenses
incurred “to travel and inspect the aircraft in an effort to have [them]
17 delivered.” (Doc. 1, ¶¶ 63, 68).
18 Klinkenborg Aerial Spraying & Seeding Inc. v. Rotorcraft Dev. Corp, 2014 WL 12725980, at *13
19 (D. Mont. Aug. 18, 2014) (assuming without analysis that incidental damages under UCC § 2-715,
20 as would be applicable here, were a form of special damages).
21 In this case, however, Challenge Printing’s complaint is vague. Challenge Printing only
22 pleads that it incurred “$51,000 [in] incidental damages . . . as a result of EFI’s material breach.”
23 Compl. ¶ 73. Challenge Printing’s opposition, relying on the complaint and Demand Letter,
24 merely restates that the “allegations are adequately pled.” Opp. at 9. There are no facts stated in
25 either the complaint or the Demand Letter to explain what caused the incidental damages. In the
26 absence of any facts whatsoever, the Court cannot determine whether the alleged damages are the
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CASE NO. 5:20-cv-04659-EJD
1 “natural, but not the necessary, consequence of [the] defendant’s conduct.” See Botosan, F. Supp.
2 2d at 1053. Accordingly, although the Court will not strike Challenge Printing’s claim for
3 incidental damages, the Court will preclude Challenge Printing from pursuing special damages at
4 trial unless the complaint is amended to comply with Rule 9(g).
5 B. Fraud-Based Claims
6 Challenge Printing also alleges that, during the contracting period, EFI misrepresented to
7 Challenge Printing that EFI’s software
8 (1) was fit for the purpose for which it was purchased; (2) would address areas of
critical need that Plaintiff had previously identified to Defendant; (3) was focused
9 on areas of importance and risk for Plaintiff; (4) would provide value to Plaintiff’s
business including a significant return on investment of at least $2,000,000; (5)
10 would be able to be integrated into Plaintiff’s current systems; (6) would enable
Plaintiff to optimize the manufacturing floor and become much more efficient; (7)
11 would eliminate multiple systems which caused Plaintiff’s process to be inefficient
and susceptible to significant risk; (8) would significantly improve Plaintiff’s
12 efficiency and profitability; (9) had the capability to automatically apply new
pricing to estimates; (10) had a die library in which to choose the correct die for
13 Plaintiff’s press operators; (11) had the capability to view layouts accurately by the
estimator; and (12) would work with CIMS to exchange data.
14
15 Id. ¶¶ 80, 87, 94, 98. 6 These alleged misrepresentations form the basis of Challenge Printing’s
16 claims of intentional misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation, and fraudulent deceit. Id. at
17 “Second Cause of Action,” “Third Cause of Action,” and “Fifth Cause of Action,” respectively.
18 As previously noted, these are all fraud-based claims that must meet the heightened pleading
19 requirement of Rule 9(b). See Vess, 317 F.3d at 1103–04.
20 1. Insufficient Particularity
21 EFI contends that Challenge Printing has not met the heightened pleading requirement.
22 More specifically, EFI contends that Challenge Printing has “not pled the actual content of the
23 alleged misrepresentations made by EFI, either with respect to the software suite it actually
24 purchased (the iQuote software) nor has it alleged facts sufficient to show that it justifiably relied
25
26
6 For clarity, the Court will refer to the twelve alleged misrepresentations with their numbers when
discussing them.
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CASE NO. 5:20-cv-04659-EJD
1 on those misrepresentations.” Mot. at 15. In other words, EFI’s contention is that Challenge
2 Printing has not sufficiently pled the “who, what, when, where, and how” of the
3 misrepresentations. See Vess, 317 F.3d at 1106. Paragraphs 80, 87, 94, and 98 alone, of course,
4 would not meet the standard of Rule 9(b) because they do not lay out, at a minimum, “who,”
5 “where,” or “when.” See Compl. ¶¶ 80, 87, 94, 98. However, as mentioned previously, these
6 alleged misrepresentations are substantiated by specific factual allegations about emails, phone
7 calls, and the like elsewhere in the complaint. The Court now turns to evaluating the alleged
8 misrepresentations, mindful that on a motion to dismiss, it views the allegations in the light most
9 favorable to the plaintiff. Retail Prop. Trust, 768 F.3d at 945.
10 Alleged misrepresentation (1) is pulled directly from the language of Challenge Printing’s
11 Terms and Conditions and appears nowhere else in the communications between the parties. See
12 Challenge Printing’s Terms and Conditions ¶ 3. Thus, although the “when” and “where” of
13 misrepresentation (1) is ascertainable, the “who” and “how” are not. “It is unclear who, if anyone,
14 from EFI can possibly be held liable for a representation in Challenge Printing’s own Terms and
15 Conditions. See Purchase Order.
16 Alleged misrepresentations (2)-(12), are pled with the requisite “who, when, where, and
17 how.” The “who” is Mr. Bradley, occasionally in conjunction with others such as their technical
18 employee, Sam, on the December 12 phone call, or in conjunction with Mr. Paul Lightfoot, Mr.
19 Dave Hall, Mr. Glyn Slack, and Mr. David Taylor when it concerns the Executive Brief. Compl.
20 ¶¶ 16, 18, 20-23, 38-40. The “when” are the dates of those same correspondences. Id. The “how”
21 is also clearly alleged. Challenge Printing specifically identifies which misrepresentations were
22 made by phone, by email, or in-person. Id. And, although there is no geographical “where,” the
23 specific allegations regarding emails, phone calls, and the Executive Brief are satisfactory to
24 comply with Rule 9(b). See, e.g., Cooper v. Pickett, 137 F.3d 616, 627 (9th Cir. 1997) (finding
25 that the “allegations identified who (eight of Merisel’s customers), what (four types of improper
26 revenue recognition), when (last two quarters of 1993 and first quarter of 1994), and where
27
CASE NO. 5:20-cv-04659-EJD
1 (reported in financial statements).”) (emphasis added). Ultimately, the purpose of Rule 9(b) is to
2 “give defendants notice of the particular misconduct which is alleged to constitute the fraud
3 charged so that they can defend against the charge and not just deny that they have done anything
4 wrong.” United States ex rel. Anita Silingo v. WellPoint, Inc., 904 F.3d 667, 677 (9th Cir. 2018)
5 (quoting Bly-Magee v. California, 236 F.3d 1014, 1019 (9th Cir. 2001)). Challenge Printing’s
6 allegations are sufficiently particularized to establish the “who, when, where and how” of alleged
7 misrepresentations (2)-(12).
8 The “what” of alleged misrepresentations (2)-(12), however, is lacking. Challenge Printing
9 fails to explain whether the alleged misrepresentations relate to the Radius Platform or the iQuote
10 system it actually purchased. “This is critical, given that Challenge Printing cannot conceivably
11 rely on representations for a different product than what it purchased.” Mot. at 17. The Executive
12 Brief, for example, and all alleged misrepresentations contained therein appear to point
13 exclusively to the Radius Suite. Other alleged misrepresentations made in emails by Mr. Bradley
14 are made without reference to any particular product. See, e.g., Compl. ¶ 17 (Mr. Bradley’s
15 October 13 email refers only to “EFI software,” which may or may not encompass the iQuote
16 software). Challenge Printing must provide more particularity so that EFI may “defend against the
17 charge and not just deny that [it] has done any wrong,” Bly-Magee, 236 F.3d at 1019.
18 Accordingly, this Court finds that the Challenge Printing has not pled fraud with particularity
19 under Rule 9(b) with respect to the second, third, and fifth causes of action.
20 2. EFI’s Other Arguments
21 EFI also argues that, even if the claims were pled with sufficient specificity, “most of these
22 statements are classic puffery.” Mot. at 17. EFI further argues that the third cause of action,
23 negligent misrepresentation, “is barred by the economic loss rule.” Mot. at 18. Because the Court
24 is dismissing Challenge Printing’s second, third, and fifth causes of action on Rule 9(b) grounds,
25 the Court declines to address these arguments at this time.
26
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CASE NO. 5:20-cv-04659-EJD
1 C. Unfair Competition Claim
2 Finally, the Court turns to Challenge Printing’s fourth cause of action for unfair
3 competition in violation of California Business and Professions Code § 17200 (the “UCL”). EFI
4 argues both that Challenge Printing has not pled facts sufficient to support a UCL claim, and that
5 || Challenge Printing seeks an improper remedy under the UCL.
6 The UCL claim is based entirely upon the alleged misrepresentations of the second, third,
7 and fifth causes of action. These claims have been dismissed for failure to comply with Rule 9(b).
8 As such, the UCL claim is not legally cognizable as well. The Court similarly dismisses Challenge
9 || Printing’s UCL claim.
10 IV. CONCLUSION
11 For the forgoing reasons, the Court GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART EFI’s
12 || motion to dismiss. The motion to dismiss the first cause of action is DENIED. The motion to
5 13 dismiss the second, third, fourth and fifth causes of action is GRANTED and those claims are
14 || ordered DISMISSED. “A complaint should not be dismissed without leave to amend unless
3 15 amendment would be futile.” Carolina Cas. Ins. Co. v. Team Equipment, Inc., 741 F.3d 1082,
a 16 1086 (9th Cir. 2014). The Court finds amendment would not be futile. Accordingly, Challenge
3 17 || Printing is GRANTED LEAVE TO AMEND the complaint. If Challenge Printing chooses to
18 || amend the complaint, Challenge Printing must file and serve the amended complaint no later than
19 December 4, 2020. The case management conference scheduled for December 17, 2020 is
20 || continued to January 28, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. The parties’ joint statement is due January 18, 2021.
21 IT IS SO ORDERED.
22 Dated: November 13, 2020
23 aspQO.
EDWARD J. DAVILA
24 United States District Judge
25
26
27 CASE NO. 5:20-cv-04659-EJD
2g || ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO
DISMISS; CONTINUING INITIAL CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE