Meunier, et al. v. Market Strategies, Inc. (Lawyers Weekly No. 12-072-17)
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS SUFFOLK, ss. SUPERIOR COURT. 1684CV01546-BLS2 1684CV03592-BLS2 ____________________ JOHN J. MEUNIER, CHRISTY M. WHITE, and the JOHN J. MEUNIER 2012 IRREVOCABLE TRUST v. MARKET STRATEGIES, INC. ____and____ MARKET STRATEGIES, INC. v. COGENT RESEARCH HOLDINGS LLC ____________________ MEMORANDUM AND ORDER ON MARKET STRATEGIES, INC.’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT John Meunier, Christy White, and the John J. Meunier 2012 Irrevocable Trust (the “Trust”) claim that Market Strategies, Inc. (“MSI”) breached its contractual obligations to make certain payments to Cogent Research Holdings LLC (which the parties refer to as “Holdco”). They also claim that after signing the contract at issue MSI misrepresented its willingness and ability to pay what it owes and thereby committed deceptive acts in violation of G.L. c. 93A. Finally, Meunier and White seek declaratory judgment regarding the enforceability of certain non-competition, non-solicitation, and confidentiality agreements. MSI has moved for summary judgment. The Court will grant summary judgment in MSI’s favor on the contract claim because Plaintiffs are not intended beneficiaries of MSI’s payment obligations to Holdco as a matter of law. It will also allow MSI’s motion with respect to the declaratory judgment claim because any dispute regarding enforceability of the non-competition or non-solicitation agreements is moot and Plaintiffs lack standing to challenge the confidentiality agreement on the ground that MSI committed a material breach of contract by not paying Holdco. However, the Court will deny the summary judgment motion with respect to the misrepresentation and c. 93A claims because they are independent from the contract claim. 1. Undisputed Factual Background. These actions arise from the May 2013 sale of Cogent Research LLC to MSI. At the time of the transaction, Meunier, White, – 2 – and the Trust were the sole owners of Cogent Research. They agreed to sell Cogent Research to MSI in exchange for an “Initial Payment” of $ 8.0 million, a “Delayed Payment” of $ 2.0 million, and a “Contingent Payment” of roughly $ 3.15 million that was due after MSI received additional audited financial statements of Cogent Research. Meunier and White also agreed to work for MSI for three years and entered into a non-competition, non-solicitation, and confidentiality agreement. Meunier, White, and the Trust created Holdco in connection with this transaction. They are the sole owners of Holdco. They transferred ownership of Cogent Research to Holdco, which in turn sold Cogent Research to MSI. The parties’ purchase agreement provides that MSI was required to pay an Initial Payment, Delayed Payment, and Contingent Payment to Holdco. MSI does not have any contractual obligation to make any of these payments to Meunier, White, or the Trust. Although the parties’ purchase agreement provides that MSI was to make the Deferred and Contingent Payments to Holdco […]