McCurdy v. Montgomery Cnty

5(&200(1'(' )25 )8//7(;7 38%/,&$7,21 3XUVXDQW WR 6L[WK &LUFXLW 5XOH  (/(&7521,& &,7$7,21  )(' $SS 3 WK &LU )LOH 1DPH DS 81,7('67$7(6&28572)$33($/6 )257+(6,;7+&,5&8,7 BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB s$0(6 ( 0&&85'< ; 3ODLQWLII$SSHOODQW    1R Y  !  0217*20(5< &2817<  2+,2HWDO  'HIHQGDQWV$SSHOOHHV   1 $SSHDOIURPWKH8QLWHG6WDWHV'LVWULFW&RXUW IRUWKH6RXWKHUQ'LVWULFWRI2KLRDW'D\WRQ 1Rn0LFKDHO50HU]0DJLVWUDWHsXGJH $UJXHG0D\ 'HFLGHGDQG)LOHG)HEUXDU\ %HIRUH(1*(/s21(6DQG&2/(&LUFXLWsXGJHV BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB &2816(/ $5*8('=DFK=XQVKLQH&ROXPEXV2KLRIRU$SSHOODQW 0LFKDHO 5XVVHOO 2)),&( 2) 7+( 3526(&87,1* $77251(< )25 7+( &2817< 2) 0217*20(5< 'D\WRQ2KLRIRU$SSHOOHHV21%5,()=DFK=XQVKLQH &ROXPEXV2KLRIRU$SSHOODQW0LFKDHO5XVVHOO2)),&( 2) 7+( 3526(&87,1* $77251(< )25 7+(   0F&XUG\Y0RQWJRPHU\ 1R &RXQW\2KLRHWDO &2817< 2) 0217*20(5< 'D\WRQ 2KLR IRU $SSHOOHHV s21(6 s GHOLYHUHG WKH RSLQLRQ RI WKH FRXUW LQ ZKLFK &2/( s MRLQHG  (1*(/ s SS   GHOLYHUHG D VHSDUDWHGLVVHQWLQJRSLQLRQ BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB 23,1,21 BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB 1$7+$1,(/ 5 s21(6 &LUFXLW sXGJH  3ODLQWLII $SSHOODQWsDPHV0F&XUG\EURXJKWWKLV†VXLWDJDLQVW 'HIHQGDQWV$SSHOOHHV2IILFHU'DYLG&ROHDQG0RQWJRPHU\ &RXQW\FODLPLQJWKDWWKH\YLRODWHGKLVULJKWWREHIUHHIURP XQUHDVRQDEOH VHL]XUHV XQGHU WKH )RXUWK $PHQGPHQW DQG UHWDOLDWHG DJDLQVW KLP IRU WKH DVVHUWLRQ RI KLV )LUVW $PHQGPHQWULJKWV7KHGLVWULFWFRXUWGLVPLVVHG0F&XUG\jV )LUVW $PHQGPHQW UHWDOLDWLRQ FODLP DIWHU JUDQWLQJ 2IILFHU &ROHjVPRWLRQIRUTXDOLILHGLPPXQLW\DQGDMXU\UHWXUQHGD YHUGLFW IRU 'HIHQGDQWV RQ 0F&XUG\jV )RXUWK $PHQGPHQW FODLP0F&XUG\WKHQPRYHGIRUMXGJPHQWDVDPDWWHURIODZ RUDQHZWULDOLQWKHDOWHUQDWLYHDQGWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWGHQLHG WKHVHPRWLRQVLQWKHLUHQWLUHW\)RUWKHIROORZLQJUHDVRQVZH 5(9(56( ERWK WKH GLVWULFW FRXUWjV GHQLDO RI 0F&XUG\jV PRWLRQ IRU MXGJPHQW DV D PDWWHU RI ODZ RQ KLV )RXUWK $PHQGPHQW FODLP DQG LWV JUDQW RI TXDOLILHG LPPXQLW\ RQ 0F&XUG\jV)LUVW$PHQGPHQWUHWDOLDWLRQFODLP$FFRUGLQJO\ ZH5(0$1'IRUIXUWKHUSURFHHGLQJV , 2Qs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jV KREEOHDSROLFHRIILFHULQWKHFRXUVHRIKLVGXWLHV DSDUWPHQW WR SOD\ FDUGV  0F&XUG\ KDG FRQVXPHG DOFRKRO ERWK DW WKH FOXEKRXVH SDUW\ DQG WKH FDUG JDPH LQ KLV DSDUWPHQW$URXQGILYH LQWKHPRUQLQJ0F&XUG\DQGKLV VRQsDPHV0F&XUG\sUDFFRPSDQLHG6PLWKDQG*RROVE\WR WKHLUFDUVWRVHHWKHPRII7KHIRXUPHQZKRDUHDOO$IULFDQ $PHULFDQFRQYHUVHGIRUDERXWILIWHHQPLQXWHVZKHQDSROLFH FUXLVHUGURYHE\ 2IILFHU &ROH ZKR ZDV RQ mURXWLQH SDWUROl DQG QRW UHVSRQGLQJWRDQ\VSHFLILFFRPSODLQWVFRQFHUQLQJ0F&XUG\jV DSDUWPHQWRUWKHVXUURXQGLQJDUHDGURYHSDVW0F&XUG\DQG FRPSDQ\ YHU\ VORZO\  $IWHU WKLV LQLWLDO GULYHE\ 2IILFHU &ROHZLWKRXWDQ\SURYRFDWLRQIURP0F&XUG\RUKLVJURXS FLUFOHG EDFN WRZDUGV WKHP  $V 2IILFHU &ROH GURYH E\ WKH JURXSIRUDVHFRQGWLPHKHLQKLVRZQZRUGVmVWRSSHGDQG REVHUYHG WKHP IRU MXVW D IHZ VHFRQGV DQG >WR@ JDLQ WKHLU DWWHQWLRQVDLGZKDWjVXSJHQWOHPHQ"ls$DW$WWKDW SRLQW2IILFHU&ROHUHFDOOHG0F&XUG\DVNLQJHLWKHUmZKDWjV WKHSUREOHP"lRUmFDQ,KHOS\RX"l,G2IILFHU&ROHZKR KDGSDUNHGKLVFDUDVKRUWGLVWDQFHDZD\IURPWKHPHQFRXOG QRWKHDU0F&XUG\DQGDVNHGKLPWRUHSHDWZKDWKHKDGVDLG $FFRUGLQJWR2IILFHU&ROH0F&XUG\WKHQGHPDQGHGmZKDW WKHIX NGR\RXZDQW"l,G 2IILFH &ROH WKHQ H[LWHG KLV YHKLFOH DQG DSSURDFKHG 0F&XUG\  $FFRUGLQJ WR 2IILFHU &ROH KH WKHQ TXHVWLRQHG 0F&XUG\DVWRZK\KHXVHGSURIDQHODQJXDJHLQDGGUHVVLQJ KLP$IWHU0F&XUG\UHLWHUDWHGKLVTXHULHVDVWRWKHUHDVRQIRU 2IILFHU&ROHjVDSSURDFKWKHRIILFHUDVVHUWHGWKDWLWZDVKLV MREWRmVHHZKDWjVJRLQJRQlLImVRPHERG\jVVWDQGLQJRXWKHUH DWLQWKHPRUQLQJls$DW$FFRUGLQJWR2IILFHU &ROH0F&XUG\WKHQH[FODLPHGmZKDWWKHIX NLV\RXUMRE"l DQG2IILFHU&ROHDVNHGKLPDVZHOODV6PLWK*RROVE\DQG 0F&XUG\s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jV YLHZ %HFDXVHWKHIHGHUDOFRXUWVDUHVWLOOGLVSXWLQJWKHLVVXHRI mREYLRXVO\LQWR[LFDWHGl,GDW0F&XUG\UHMHFWHG UHWDOLDWLRQLQWKHFRQWH[WRIDQDUUHVWLWFDQKDUGO\EHVDLGWKDW 2IILFHU&ROHjVDGPRQLVKPHQWFODLPLQJWKDWKHGLGQRWKDYH LWVKRXOGKDYHEHHQDSSDUHQWWR2IILFHU&ROHLQWKDWKH WR JR LQVLGH DQG WKDW IXUWKHUPRUH KH GLG QRW KDYH WR GR FRXOGQRWDUUHVWDQLQGLYLGXDOHYHQWKRXJKKHKDGSUREDEOH mVK WlWKDW2IILFHU&ROHRUGHUHG,GDW$IWHU0F&XUG\ FDXVHWRHIIHFWWKHDUUHVWLIWKHLQGLYLGXDO VSURWHFWHGVSHHFK UHLWHUDWHG KLV REMHFWLRQV WR 2IILFHUjV &ROH SXUSRUWHG DWWKHWLPHKDGDQ\LPSDFWRQWKHRIILFHU VGHFLVLRQWRDUUHVW KDUDVVPHQW2IILFHU&ROHZDUQHGWKDWLIKHGLGQRWUHWXUQWR KLVKRPHLPPHGLDWHO\KHZRXOGEHDUUHVWHGDQGWDNHQWRMDLO 0W+HDOWK\FRXQVHOVDIILUPDQFHKHUHHYHQWKRXJK2IILFHU 0F&XUG\WKHQTXHVWLRQHGWKHJURXQGVRQZKLFKKHFRXOGEH &ROHPD\LQIDFWKDYHEHHQLQIOXHQFHGE\WKHIRXODQGDEXVLYH DUUHVWHG7KHRIILFHUUHVSRQGHGE\VLPSO\UHSHDWLQJWKDWLIKH ODQJXDJHHPSOR\HGE\0U0F&XUG\3DUWLFXODUO\UHOHYDQWLV GLG QRW JR LQVLGH KH ZRXOG EH DUUHVWHG  2QFH DJDLQ WKH 6XSUHPH &RXUWjV REVHUYDWLRQ WKDW VRPH LQFLGHQWV 0F&XUG\UHIXVHGWRUHWXUQWRKLVKRPHZKHUHXSRQ2IILFHU LQHYLWDEO\ UHPDLQ RQ WKH PLQGV RI WKRVH UHVSRQVLEOH IRU &ROHWROGKLPWRVWHSWRWKHVLGHDQGSODFHKLVKDQGVRQWKH PDNLQJGHFLVLRQVm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l0W+HDOWK\86DW 2EVWUXFWLQJ 2IILFLDO %XVLQHVV XQGHU 2KLR 5HY &RGH $SSO\LQJ WKDW SULQFLSOH WR WKH FDVH KHUH LW  LV HYHQ PRUH †† %   UHVSHFWLYHO\ GLVWXUELQJWKDWDGUXQNXVLQJRIIHQVLYHDQGIRXOODQJXDJHLQ WKHFRXUVHRID7HUU\VWRSFRXOGIRUWKDWUHDVRQDORQHXQGHU 0F&XUG\VXEVHTXHQWO\VXHG2IILFHU&ROHDQG0RQWJRPHU\ WKHSUHWHQVHRI)LUVW$PHQGPHQWSURWHFWHGVSHHFKLQWLPLGDWH &RXQW\DVVHUWLQJLQWHUDOLDWKDWKHZDVDUUHVWHGLQYLRODWLRQ DQGJRDGDSROLFHRIILFHULQWREHOLHYLQJWKDWKHGDUHQRWGR RI ERWK WKH )LUVW DQG )RXUWK $PHQGPHQWV  'XULQJ MXU\ ZKDWKHFRQFHLYHVWREHKLVGXW\OHVWVRPHKRZKHYLRODWHWKDW SURFHHGLQJV 0F&XUG\ FRQWHQGHG WKDW WKH &RXQW\ LOOHJDOO\ GUXQNjV FRQVWLWXWLRQDO ULJKWV  $V sXVWLFH 5HKQTXLVW VWDWHG H[HUFLVHG RQH RI LWV SHUHPSWRU\ FKDOOHQJHV RQ WKH EDVLV RI m7KHFRQVWLWXWLRQDOSULQFLSOHDWVWDNHLVVXIILFLHQWO\YLQGLFDWHG UDFH2ULJLQDOO\WKHUHZHUHWKUHHEODFNPHPEHUVDPRQJWKH LIVXFKDQHPSOR\HHLVSODFHGLQQRZRUVHDSRVLWLRQWKDQLIKH WZHQW\VL[ SHUVRQ YHQLUH  6HH s$ DW   2QH EODFN KDGQRWHQJDJHGLQWKDWFRQGXFWl0W+HDOWK\86DW YHQLUHSHUVRQ ZDV H[FXVHG IRU FDXVH EHFDXVH KH ZDV   &HUWDLQO\ DQ LQGLYLGXDO VKRXOG QRW EH DUUHVWHG FRQQHFWHG WR WKH &RXQW\ 6KHULIIj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mILJKWLQJ WKH VWULNH ZDV UDFLDOO\ PRWLYDWHG  :LWKRXW TXHVWLRQLQJ ZRUGVlE\OHJDOSUHFHGHQWRUGHWHUPLQLQJLQDMXGLFLDOSRVW :LOOLDPVRUHQJDJLQJLQDFROORTX\ZLWKHLWKHU0F&XUG\jVRU PRUWHPZKHWKHUWKH\VKRXOG WKH&RXQW\jVFRXQVHOWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWUHMHFWHG0F&XUG\jV REMHFWLRQ FUHGLWLQJ WKH &RXQW\jV DVVHUWLRQV WKDW :LOOLDPVj 7KHUHOHYDQWSUHH[LVWLQJODZRQWKHLVVXHRIUHWDOLDWLRQLV GHPHDQRUVKRZHGWKDWVKHZDVGLVLQWHUHVWHGLQVHUYLQJRQWKH IRXQGLQ0W+HDOWK\&LW\%RDUGRI(GXFY'R\OH86 MXU\   0W+HDOWK\LQYROYHGDVFKRROERDUG VGHFLVLRQ QRW WR UHKLUH D WHDFKHU LQ UHWDOLDWLRQ IRU KLV H[HUFLVH RI $IWHU WKH WULDO FRPPHQFHG WKH GLVWULFW FRXUW JUDQWHG FRQVWLWXWLRQDOO\SURWHFWHGVSHHFK%HFDXVH0W+HDOWK\GLG TXDOLILHG LPPXQLW\ WR 2IILFHU &ROH RQ 0F&XUG\jV )LUVW QRWLQYROYHDSROLFHRIILFHUjVGHFLVLRQWRDUUHVWDQREOLJDWLRQ $PHQGPHQWUHWDOLDWLRQFODLP  7KHFRXUWFRQFOXGHGWKDWLW DWWKHFRUHRIWKHRIILFHUjVUHVSRQVLELOLWLHVDQGQHFHVVDULO\ ZDV QRW FOHDUO\ HVWDEOLVKHG WKDW WKH )LUVW $PHQGPHQW PDGHRQWKHVSRWZLWKRXWWKHOX[XU\RILQYHVWLJDWLRQLWZDV SURKLELWHG DQ RIILFHU IURP HIIHFWXDWLQJ DQ RWKHUZLVH YDOLG QRW DSSDUHQW WKDW 0W +HDOWK\ ZRXOG JRYHUQ WKH SROLFH DUUHVW LI WKDW RIILFHU ZDV SDUWLDOO\ PRWLYDWHG E\ D GHVLUH WR RIILFHUjVFRQGXFW UHWDOLDWHDJDLQVWWKHDUUHVWHHjVDVVHUWLRQRI)LUVW$PHQGPHQW ULJKWV6HHs$DW7KHWULDOSURFHHGHGRQ0F&XUG\j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jVTXDOLILHGLPPXQLW\MXGJPHQWE\UHDVVHUWLQJ FDVHVGLVFXVVLQJUHWDOLDWLRQFODLPVLQWKHFRQWH[WRIDQDUUHVW KLV )LUVW $PHQGPHQW UHWDOLDWLRQ FODLP  0F&XUG\ DOVR UH DQG,DPDZDUHRIQRQH7KHGHIHQGDQWVUDLVHGWKHDUJXPHQW DVVHUWHG KLV FODLP WKDW WKH &RXQW\ H[HUFLVHG RQH RI LWV WKDW QR UHWDOLDWLRQ FODLP PD\ EH EURXJKW LI WKH DUUHVW LV SHUHPSWRULHVLQYLRODWLRQRIWKH(TXDO3URWHFWLRQ&ODXVH7KH VXSSRUWHGE\SUREDEOHFDXVHLQ(VWDWHRI'LHWULFKY%XUURZV GLVWULFWFRXUWGHQLHG0F&XUG\j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jVYHUGLFWmXQOHVVWKLV&RXUWµLV WKH VKHULII  :H UHDVRQHG WKDW WKH ULJKW WR FULWLFL]H SXEOLF OHIW ZLWK WKH GHILQLWH DQG ILUP FRQYLFWLRQ WKDW D PLVWDNH RIILFLDOVZDVFOHDUO\HVWDEOLVKHGDVZDVWKHSULQFLSOHWKDWD UHVXOWLQJLQSODLQLQMXVWLFHKDVEHHQFRPPLWWHGjRUWKH SXEOLFRIILFLDO VUHWDOLDWLRQDJDLQVWDQLQGLYLGXDOIRUH[HUFLVLQJ YHUGLFW µLV FRQWUDU\ WR DOO UHDVRQjl  6FKRRQRYHU Y )LUVW$PHQGPHQWULJKWVLVDYLRODWLRQRI†,GDW &RQVROLGDWHG)UHLJKWZD\V&RUS)G WK&LU   FLWDWLRQ RPLWWHG   sXGJPHQW DV D PDWWHU RI ODZ mLV 7KHUH DUH WZR SUREOHPV ZLWK WKH PDMRULW\ V UHOLDQFH RQ DSSURSULDWHRQO\ZKHQWKHUHLVDFRPSOHWHDEVHQFHRIIDFWWR %ORFK)LUVW%ORFKKDGQRWEHHQGHFLGHGDWWKHWLPH2IILFHU VXSSRUWWKHYHUGLFWVRWKDWQRUHDVRQDEOHMXURUFRXOGKDYH &ROHDUUHVWHG0F&XUG\2IILFHU&ROH VDUUHVW RI0F&XUG\ IRXQGIRUWKHQRQPRYLQJSDUW\l3RXLOORQY&LW\RI2ZRVVR RFFXUUHGLQ%ORFKZDVQRWGHFLGHGXQWLO8QGHU )G WK&LU  WKH GRFWULQH RI TXDOLILHG LPPXQLW\ mJRYHUQPHQW RIILFLDOV SHUIRUPLQJ GLVFUHWLRQDU\ IXQFWLRQV JHQHUDOO\ DUH VKLHOGHG $OWKRXJK0F&XUG\KDVQRWDVVHUWHGKLVDSSHOODWHFODLPVLQ IURPOLDELOLW\IRUFLYLOGDPDJHVLQVRIDUDVWKHLUFRQGXFWGRHV WKHPRVWDUWIXOIDVKLRQKLVILUVWFODLPHVVHQWLDOO\FRQWHQGV QRWYLRODWHFOHDUO\HVWDEOLVKHGVWDWXWRU\RUFRQVWLWXWLRQDOULJKWV WKDW2IILFHU&ROHGLGQRWKDYHSUREDEOHFDXVHWRDUUHVWKLP RIZKLFKDUHDVRQDEOHSHUVRQZRXOGKDYHNQRZQl+DUORZY DQGWKDWKHWKHUHIRUHYLRODWHGKLV)RXUWK$PHQGPHQWULJKW )LW]JHUDOG86  7KLVPHDQVWKDWWKH DJDLQVWXQUHDVRQDEOHVHDUFKHVDQGVHL]XUHV:KLOHWKH)RXUWK DSSOLFDEOHODZPXVWKDYHEHHQFOHDUO\HVWDEOLVKHGDWWKHWLPH $PHQGPHQWDOORZVEULHILQYHVWLJDWRU\GHWHQWLRQVRUm7HUU\l WKH DFWLRQ RFFXUUHG  ,G  m,I WKH ODZ DW WKDW WLPH ZDV QRW VWRSVWREHMXVWLILHGRQWKHEDVLVRIDmUHDVRQDEOHVXVSLFLRQl FOHDUO\ HVWDEOLVKHG DQ RIILFLDO FRXOG QRW UHDVRQDEO\ EH VHH7HUU\Y2KLR86  DIXOOIOHGJHG H[SHFWHG WR DQWLFLSDWH VXEVHTXHQW OHJDO GHYHORSPHQWV QRU DUUHVWPXVWEHVXSSRUWHGE\SUREDEOHFDXVH6HH*DUGHQKLUH FRXOGKHIDLUO\EHVDLGWRµNQRZjWKDWWKHODZIRUEDGHFRQGXFW Y6FKXEHUW)G WK&LU  QRWSUHYLRXVO\LGHQWLILHGDVXQODZIXOl,G 3UREDEOH FDXVH UHTXLUHV WKDW SROLFH KDYH UHDVRQDEO\ 6HFRQG%ORFKLQYROYHGDVKHULII VSUHVVUHOHDVH,WGLGQRW WUXVWZRUWK\ LQIRUPDWLRQ VXIILFLHQW WR ZDUUDQW DQ RIILFHU RI LQYROYHDQDUUHVW(YHQLIZHDFFHSWHGWKDWWKHODZDUWLFXODWHG UHDVRQDEOHFDXWLRQWREHOLHYHWKHDUUHVWHHFRPPLWWHGRULVLQ LQ%ORFKZDVFOHDUO\HVWDEOLVKHGLQWKHUHWDOLDWRU\DFWLRQ WKHSURFHVVRIFRPPLWWLQJDQRIIHQVH6HH&HQWDQQLY(LJKW DOOHJHGLQ%ORFKGLGQRWDULVHLQWKHFRQWH[WRIDQDUUHVW 8QNQRZQ2IILFHUV)G WK&LU  TXRWLQJ %HFNY2KLR86  (VWDWHRI'LHWULFKY $VQRWHGLQ$QGHUVRQY&UHLJKWRQ86   %XUURZV)G WK&LU 3UREDEOH WKH RSHUDWLRQ RI WKH TXDOLILHG LPPXQLW\ VWDQGDUG GHSHQGV FDXVH IXUWKHU UHTXLUHV WKDW RIILFHUV DUWLFXODWH FRQFUHWH DQG VXEVWDQWLDOO\XSRQWKHOHYHORIJHQHUDOLW\DWZKLFKWKHUHOHYDQW REMHFWLYHIDFWVIURPZKLFKWKH\LQIHUFULPLQDOFRQGXFW6HH mOHJDOUXOHlLVWREHLGHQWLILHG,GDW7KHFRQWRXUVRIWKH 8QLWHG6WDWHVY6WULFNODQG)G WK&LU  ULJKW WKH RIILFLDO LV DOOHJHG WR KDYH YLRODWHG PXVW EH 0RUHRYHUWKHREMHFWLYHUHDVRQDEOHQHVVRIWKHIDFWVUHOHYDQW VXIILFLHQWO\FOHDUWKDWDUHDVRQDEOHRIILFLDOZRXOGXQGHUVWDQG WR D SUREDEOH FDXVH GHWHUPLQDWLRQ LV SDUDPRXQW DQG WKH WKDWZKDWKHLVGRLQJYLRODWHVWKDWULJKW,GDW4XDOLILHG RIILFHUjVVXEMHFWLYHLQWHQWLRQVDUHLUUHOHYDQW6HH:KUHQY LPPXQLW\GRHVQRWWXUQRQZKHWKHUWKHYHU\DFWLRQLQTXHVWLRQ 8QLWHG 6WDWHV  86     m6XEMHFWLYH KDVSUHYLRXVO\EHHQKHOGXQODZIXOEXWWKHXQODZIXOQHVVPXVW  0F&XUG\Y0RQWJRPHU\ 1R 1R 0F&XUG\Y0RQWJRPHU\  &RXQW\2KLRHWDO &RXQW\2KLRHWDO :KHWKHUWRDUUHVWRUQRWLVDMXGJPHQWFDOOPDGHRQWKHVSRW LQWHQWLRQV SOD\ QR UROH LQ RUGLQDU\ SUREDEOHFDXVH )RXUWK E\WKHRIILFHUDQGDFFRUGLQJO\WKHHYLGHQFHVXSSRUWLQJWKH $PHQGPHQWDQDO\VLVl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jVYLHZLQ3DUW%RIWKH RSLQLRQWKDWWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWHUUHGLQJUDQWLQJ2IILFHU&ROHjV 25&† %  7KHVWDWXWHWKHUHIRUHUHTXLUHVERWK PRWLRQIRUTXDOLILHGLPPXQLW\RQWKH)LUVW$PHQGPHQWFODLP WKDW DQ LQGLYLGXDO LV mYROXQWDULO\ LQWR[LFDWHGl DQG WKDW WKH ,ILQGWKLVDPRUHGLIILFXOWTXHVWLRQEXWEHOLHYHLWLVPRRWHG LQGLYLGXDO mSUHVHQW>@ D ULVN RI SK\VLFDO KDUPl HLWKHU WR RXWE\WKHVSHFLILFILQGLQJVRIWKHWULDOFRXUWDQGWKHMXU\LQDOO KLPVHOI DQRWKHU RU DQRWKHUjV SURSHUW\  ,G  7KLV VHFRQG HYHQWV HOHPHQWUHTXLUHVVRPHDIILUPDWLYHVKRZLQJRIGDQJHURXVQHVV DVWKHVROHIDFWWKDWDQLQGLYLGXDOLVLQWR[LFDWHGGRHVQRWJLYH 7KH PDMRULW\ KROGV WKDW WKH GLVWULFW FRXUW HUUHG LQ LWV ULVHWRD† %  LQIUDFWLRQ6HH6WDWHY3HQQLQJWRQ FRQFOXVLRQWKDWZKHQ2IILFHU&ROHDFWHGLWZDVQRWFOHDUO\ 1R&$:/DW   2KLR$SS HVWDEOLVKHGWKDWWKH)LUVW$PHQGPHQWSURKLELWHGDQRIILFHU 1RY    QRW UHSRUWHG LQ 1(G  FLWLQJ IURPHIIHFWXDWLQJDQRWKHUZLVHYDOLGDUUHVWLIWKDWRIILFHUZDV †  %  jV OHJLVODWLYH KLVWRU\ DVVHUWLQJ WKDW WKH PRWLYDWHGLQSDUWE\DGHVLUHWRUHWDOLDWHDJDLQVWWKHDUUHVWHH V SURYLVLRQmLVDLPHGDWSDUWLFXODUFRQGXFWUDWKHUWKDQDWWKH DVVHUWLRQRI)LUVW$PHQGPHQWULJKWV7KHPDMRULW\UHDVRQV FRQGLWLRQ>RILQWR[LFDWLRQ@l 6WDWHYsHQNLQV1R/ WKDWEHFDXVHLWZDVZHOOHVWDEOLVKHGWKHQWKDW0F&XUG\KDGD  :/  DW  2KLR $SS 0DU    QRW FRQVWLWXWLRQDO ULJKW WR FKDOOHQJH YHUEDOO\ 2IILFHU &ROH V UHSRUWHGLQ1(G  KROGLQJWKDW† %  UHTXLUHV VXUYHLOODQFHWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWHUUHGLQJUDQWLQJ2IILFHU&ROH mVRPHDIILUPDWLYHFRQGXFWRQWKHSDUWRIWKHGHIHQGDQWDQG TXDOLILHGLPPXQLW\RQWKHUHWDOLDWLRQFODLP >GRHVQRW@SURKLELWPHUHO\EHLQJLQWR[LFDWHGLQSXEOLFl  ,QVXSSRUWRIWKLVSRVLWLRQWKHPDMRULW\UHOLHVRQ%ORFKY 5LEDU)G WK&LU ,Q%ORFKDUDSHYLFWLP  ,Q GLVVHQW sXGJH (QJHO REVHUYHV WKDW WKH 3HQQLQJWRQ DQG sHQNLQV DQG KHU KXVEDQG ILOHG D †  UHWDOLDWLRQ FODLP DJDLQVW D FDVHV ZKLFK ZH KDYH FLWHG DUH XQSXEOLVKHG RSLQLRQV WKDW ZHUH ILOHG WZR VKHULII ZKR WKH\ DOOHJHG KDG YLRODWHG WKHLU FRQVWLWXWLRQDO \HDUV DIWHU 2IILFHU &ROH DUUHVWHG 0U 0F&XUG\ +H DUJXHV WKDW LW LV XQIDLU ULJKWV E\ LVVXLQJ D SUHVV UHOHDVH GLVFXVVLQJ WKH VHQVLWLYH WR XWLOL]H WKHVH RSLQLRQV WR DQDO\]H 2IILFHU &ROHjV FXOSDELOLW\ EHFDXVH VXFK DQ DQDO\VLV UHTXLUHV 2IILFHU &ROH WR KDYH DQWLFLSDWHG ZKDW WKH ODZ  0F&XUG\Y0RQWJRPHU\ 1R 1R 0F&XUG\Y0RQWJRPHU\  &RXQW\2KLRHWDO &RXQW\2KLRHWDO 7KH VWDWXWH IXUWKHU SURYLGHV WKDW WKH GHWHUPLQDWLRQ DV WR KH ZDV DUUHVWHG XQGHU OLNH 2+,2 5' &  $ ZKHWKHUDQLQGLYLGXDOLVLQWR[LFDWHGLVGHWHUPLQHGIURPWKH † %   WKHVWDWXWHDWLVVXHLQWKLVFDVH UHTXLUHG SHUVSHFWLYHRIDQmRUGLQDU\REVHUYHUl25&† '  mVRPH DIILUPDWLYH FRQGXFWl RQ WKH SDUW RI WKH GHIHQGDQW $OWKRXJK †  GRHV QRW SURYLGH D GHILQLWLRQ RI EH\RQGPHUHO\EHLQJLQWR[LFDWHGLQSXEOLFsHQNLQV:/ LQWR[LFDWLRQXQGHU† %  WKHGLVWULFWFRXUWSURYLGHG DW 7KHFRXUWVSHFLILFDOO\KHOGWKDWmWKHRIILFHUKDG WKHMXU\ZLWKWKHIROORZLQJLQVWUXFWLRQ SUREDEOHFDXVHWRDUUHVWDQGVHDUFKDSSHOODQWIRUGLVRUGHUO\ FRQGXFWZKHUHDSSHOODQWSDUNHGKLVFDUWRREVWUXFWWUDIILFIORZ $SHUVRQLVLQWR[LFDWHGZKRLVVRIDUXQGHUWKHLQIOXHQFH LQWRDFDUU\RXWVWRUH $SSHOODQWFUHDWHGDULVNRIKDUPWR RILQWR[LFDWLQJOLTXRUZLQHRUEHHUWKDWKLVSK\VLFDODQG KLPVHOI DQG RWKHUV DV ZHOO DV WR DQ\ FDU ZKLFK PD\ KDYH PHQWDOIDFXOWLHVDUHLPSDLUHGWRVXFKDQH[WHQWWKDWKH HQWHUHGWKDWGULYHZD\l,GDW 7KXVsHQNLQVjFRQYLFWLRQ IDLOV WR XVH WKDW GHJUHH RI FDUH DQG DWWHQWLRQ LQ KLV ZDVDIILUPHGLQWKDWFDVHLQDOOHYHQWV FRQGXFWZKLFKDUHDVRQDEOHSHUVRQZRXOGRWKHUZLVHXVH ,Q3HQQLQJWRQVXSUDWKHDSSHOODQWUHVLVWHGHIIRUWVRISROLFH s$DW WR WDON WR KLP DIWHU WKH SROLFH UHVSRQGHG WR D FDOO ZKLFK DVVHUWHG WKDW WKH DSSHOODQW ZDV mSRXQGLQJ RQ WKH GRRU DQG 0F&XUG\ DUJXHV WKDW WKHUH ZDV LQVXIILFLHQW HYLGHQFH WR UHIXVLQJ WR OHDYHl  :KHQ WKH\ FDOOHG RXW mVWRS SROLFHl VXSSRUWDILQGLQJWKDWKHZDVLQWR[LFDWHGRUSUHVHQWHGmDULVN 3HQQLQJWRQFRQWLQXHGWRUXQXQWLOKHZDVFDXJKWDQGNQRFNHG RISK\VLFDOKDUPWR>KLPVHOI@DQRWKHURUWRWKHSURSHUW\RI GRZQ DQG VXEGXHG DQG WKHUHDIWHU DUUHVWHG E\ RIILFHUV ZKR DQRWKHUlDVUHTXLUHGXQGHU† %  :LWKUHJDUGWR QRWHGWKDWKHmVPHOOHGRIDOFRKROVWDJJHUHGDQGKLVVSHHFK WKHYROXQWDU\LQWR[LFDWLRQHOHPHQW2IILFHU&ROHWHVWLILHGWKDW ZDVVOXUUHGDQGKLVH\HVZHUHJODVV\l7KDWFRXUWIRXQGWKDW KH VPHOOHG DOFRKRO RQ 0F&XUG\jV EUHDWK GXULQJ KLV WKHUHZDVQRHYLGHQFHWKDWDSSHOODQWmZDVSODFLQJKLPVHOIDW FRQYHUVDWLRQ ZLWK KLP DQG WKDW KH EHOLHYHG 0F&XUG\ ZDV ULVN E\ UXQQLQJ RWKHU WKDQ KH ZDV UXQQLQJ LQ D EDG LQWR[LFDWHGSDVWWKHOHYHOZKHUHKHFRXOGWDNHFDUHRIKLPVHOI QHLJKERUKRRG:HILQGVXFKHYLGHQFHLVOHJDOO\LQVXIILFLHQW 6HHs$DW&ROH7UDW$GGLWLRQDOO\2IILFHU WR VXVWDLQ D FRQYLFWLRQ XQGHU WKH VXEVHFWLRQ RI 25& &ROHDVNHG0F&XUG\ZKHWKHUKHKDGEHHQGULQNLQJWKDWQLJKW †FKDUJHGLQWKHFDVHVXEMXGLFHl$OWKRXJKWKHUH DQG0F&XUG\UHVSRQGHGLQWKHDIILUPDWLYH$OWKRXJK2IILFHU ZDV LQ WKH MXGJPHQW RI WKDW FRXUW LQVXIILFLHQW HYLGHQFH RI GLVRUGHUO\ FRQGXFW WKH FRXUW RI DSSHDOV IRXQG QRQHWKHOHVV WKDW 3HQQLQJWRQjV DUUHVW ZDV ODZIXO  mZKHQ DSSO\LQJ WKH REMHFWLYHWHVWWRWKHIDFWVLQWKHLQVWDQWDSSHDOEDVHGXSRQ ZRXOG EH LQ WKH IXWXUH , DJUHH WKDW LW LV JHQHUDOO\ QRW IDLU WR KROG DQ LQGLYLGXDO WR D OHJDO VWDQGDUG WKDW HPHUJHV DIWHU WKH IDFW +RZHYHU WKH QDWXUH RI WKH WURXEOH FDOO WKH WLPH RI WKH GD\ DQG WKH 2IILFHU &ROHjV FXOSDELOLW\ GRHV QRW WXUQ RQ WKH 3HQQLQJWRQ DQG sHQNLQV SHUVRQDOREVHUYDWLRQVRIWKHRIILFHUVDWWKHVFHQHZHILQGD GHFLVLRQV DV WKH GLVVHQW VXJJHVWV 2IILFHU &ROHjV FXOSDELOLW\ LV EDVHG RQ UHDVRQDEOH SROLFH RIILFHU ZRXOG KDYH EHOLHYHG DSSHOODQWjV WKH SODLQ ODQJXDJH RI WKH VWDWXWH WKDW KH UHOLHG XSRQ WR DIIHFW WKH DUUHVW RI FRQGXFWFRQVWLWXWHGDYLRODWLRQRI25&† $   0U 0F&XUG\ $V QRWHG DERYH †  %  GRHV QRW SURKLELW 'HVSLWH RXU GHFLVLRQ LQ , VXSUD WKHUH ZDV LQVXIILFLHQW mYROXQWDULO\ LQWR[LFDWLRQl LQ DQG RI LWVHOI ,Q RUGHU WR YLRODWH WKLV VWDWXWH DQ LQGLYLGXDO PXVW DOVR mSUHVHQW>@ D ULVN RI SK\VLFDO KDUPl HLWKHU WR HYLGHQFHRIGLVRUGHUO\FRQGXFWE\LQWR[LFDWLRQDVFKDUJHGLQ KLPVHOI DQRWKHU RU DQRWKHUjV SURSHUW\ 6HH †  %   2IILFHU WKHFRPSODLQWZHILQGWKHDSSHOODQWjVDUUHVWZDVQRQHWKHOHVV &ROH GLG QRW KDYH SUREDEOH FDXVH WR EHOLHYH WKDW 0U 0F&XUG\ SUHVHQWHG ODZIXOl mD ULVN RI SK\VLFDO KDUPl $FFRUGLQJO\ 2IILFHU &ROH LV JXLOW\ RI YLRODWLQJ 0U 0F&XUG\jV )RXUWK $PHQGPHQW ULJKWV 7KLV ZRXOG EH WUXH HYHQ LI WKH 3HQQLQJWRQ DQG sHQNLQV FDVHV KDG QHYHU EHHQ GHFLGHG  0F&XUG\Y0RQWJRPHU\ 1R 1R 0F&XUG\Y0RQWJRPHU\  &RXQW\2KLRHWDO &RXQW\2KLRHWDO ,GDW &ROH GLG QRW DGPLQLVWHU DQ\ NLQG RI VREULHW\ RU FRKHUHQFH WHVWVKLVWHVWLPRQ\WKDWKHVPHOOHGmDOFRKROUHDOVWURQJRQ 7KHPDMRULW\VWXGLRXVO\DYRLGVFRQVLGHUDWLRQRI0F&XUG\ V KLPls$DWFRXSOHGZLWK0F&XUG\jVDGPLVVLRQWKDWKH DEXVLYH ODQJXDJH LQ WKHLU FRQVLGHUDWLRQ RI SUREDEOH FDXVH FRQVXPHG DOFRKRO ERWK GXULQJ KLV QHSKHZjV SDUW\ DQG WKH XQGHUWKHVWDWXWH:@KHQ D SHUVRQ LV LQWR[LFDWHG WR WKDW OHYHO WR P\ 1HYHUWKHOHVV 0F&XUG\jV DEXVLYH ODQJXDJH DQG PDNH QR WUDLQLQJ DQG H[SHULHQFH XQGHU ODZ WKH\ HVVHQWLDOO\ PLVWDNH DERXW LW LW ZDV DEXVLYH IURP WKH VWDUW  HYHQ LI EHFRPHP\UHVSRQVLELOLW\RQFH,EHFRPHLQFRQWDFWZLWK SURWHFWHGE\WKH)LUVW$PHQGPHQWJHQHUDOO\ZDVQRQHWKHOHVV WKHP  ,I , OHW WKDW SHUVRQ JR , FDQQRW WHOO \RX ZKDWjV EHOOLJHUHQW  *LYHQ WKH RYHUDOO FLUFXPVWDQFHV LW FRXOG JRLQJ WR KDSSHQ WR WKHP  , FDQ RQO\ XQIRUWXQDWHO\ UHDVRQDEO\ KDYH LQGXFHG DQ RIILFHU LQ &ROHjV SRVLWLRQ WR VSHFXODWH ZKDW FRXOG KDSSHQ WR WKHP  7KDWjV ZK\ LW FRQFOXGHXQGHU2KLRODZDVLWZDVWKHQNQRZQWKDWWKHUH EHFRPHV P\ UHVSRQVLELOLW\ WR PDNH VXUH WKDWRQH RI D ZDVDULVNRIDFWXDOKDUP7KHREMHFWLYHO\UHDVRQDEOHSROLFH PLOOLRQWKLQJVGRHVQRWKDSSHQWRWKHP RIILFHUZKLFKLVRXUPHDVXUHKHUHFHUWDLQO\KDGDULJKWWR FRQVLGHUVXFKODQJXDJHQRWRQO\DVLQGLFDWLYHRI0F&XUG\jV s$ DW  &ROH 7U DW  HPSKDVLV DGGHG  LQWR[LFDWLRQEXWDOVRRIKLVIUDPHRIPLQG7KHUHDUHKDSS\ 0RUHRYHU 2IILFHU &ROH VWDWHG WKDW m>E@\ H[KLELWLQJ KLV GUXQNV DQG WKHUH DUH PDG GUXQNV  2IILFHU &ROH FRXOG LQWR[LFDWHGQDWXUH>@WKHUHZDVQRZD\WKDW,FRXOGWHOODW UHDVRQDEO\FRQFOXGHWKDW0F&XUG\LQKLVWKHQFRQGLWLRQDQG WKDWSRLQWWKDW>0F&XUG\@ZDVQRWWKHUHWRGRGDPDJHWRWKH FRPEDWLYH IUDPH RI PLQG GLG LQ IDFW SUHVHQW WKH GDQJHU SURSHUW\RIDQRWKHUSHUVRQWKDWOLYHGLQWKHDUHD7KDWjVZK\ UHTXLVLWHXQGHUWKH2KLRVWDWXWH KHZDVDUUHVWHGls$DW HPSKDVLVDGGHG 2IILFHU&ROH DGGLWLRQDOO\ DVVHUWHG WKDW DIWHU KH DSSURDFKHG 0F&XUG\ (YHQDVVXPLQJWKDWWKHWZRXQSXEOLVKHGFDVHVFLWHGE\WKH 0F&XUG\jVDVVRFLDWHVFRPEDWLYHO\FKDOOHQJHGKLVDXWKRULW\ PDMRULW\ PLJKW VRPHKRZ DFFXUDWHO\ UHIOHFW 2KLRjV LQWHUSUHWDWLRQRILWVVWDWXWHWKH\IDLOWRVXSSRUWWKHPDMRULW\ V %\2IILFHU&ROHjVRZQWHVWLPRQ\KHGLGQRWKDYHSUREDEOH FRQVWUXFWLRQ LQ DQ\ HYHQW  ,Q sHQNLQV WKH GHIHQGDQW ZDV FDXVHWRDUUHVW0F&XUG\XQGHU25&† %  DQG IRXQGSDVVHGRXWDQGVOXPSHGRYHUWKHVWHHULQJZKHHORIDFDU WKH GLVWULFW FRXUW WKHUHIRUH HUUHG LQ GHQ\LQJ 0F&XUG\jV ZKLFK ZDV VWROHQ DQG ZDV DUUHVWHG IRU GLVRUGHUO\ FRQGXFW PRWLRQIRUMXGJPHQWDVDPDWWHURIODZ*HQHURXVO\JUDQWLQJ XQGHU70& E  7KHFRXUWREVHUYHGWKDWWKHVWDWXWH 2IILFHU&ROHWKHEHQHILWRIDOOLQIHUHQFHVDQGGRXEWV2IILFHU  0F&XUG\Y0RQWJRPHU\ 1R 1R 0F&XUG\Y0RQWJRPHU\  &RXQW\2KLRHWDO &RXQW\2KLRHWDO &ROH DW EHVW SUHVXPHG WKDW 0F&XUG\ SUHVHQWHG D ULVN RI WKH\GLGSURSHUO\UHIOHFW2KLRODZWKH\GLGQRWGRVRDWWKH KDUP HLWKHU WR KLPVHOI DQRWKHU RU WKH SURSHUW\ RI DQRWKHU WLPHRIWKHHYHQWKHUH,IWKHRIILFHUjVFXOSDELOLW\LVEDVHG VROHO\EHFDXVHKHDSSHDUHGWREHLQWR[LFDWHG+RZHYHUDV XSRQKLVXQGHUVWDQGLQJRI2KLRODZDWWKHWLPHRIWKHRIIHQVH QRWHGDERYHWKHODQJXDJHRIWKHVWDWXWHFOHDUO\SURYLGHVWKDW LWLVWRWDOO\XQIDLUWRFRQFOXGHWKDWKHRXJKWUHDVRQDEO\WRKDYH LQWR[LFDWLRQ DORQH GRHV QRW JLYH ULVH WR D †  %  DQWLFLSDWHGWKLVZRXOGEHWKHODZZKLFKKHVKRXOGWKHQKDYH YLRODWLRQ  6HH 3HQQLQJWRQ  :/  DW   REH\HGWZR\HDUVEHIRUHLWVLVVXDQFHDQGZKLFKVKRXOGKDYH sHQNLQV  :/  DW   ,Q WKLV UHJDUG QHLWKHU SURPSWHGKLPQRWWRDFWDVKHGLG 2IILFHU &ROH QRU WKH &RXQW\ KDV FLWHG DQ\ REMHFWLYH DQG DUWLFXODEOHIDFWVIURPZKLFK2IILFHU&ROHFRXOGUHDVRQDEO\ 7KHPDMRULW\PLJKWEHWWHUKDYHORRNHGWRSXEOLVKHG2KLR LQIHUWKDW0F&XUG\SUHVHQWHGDULVNRISK\VLFDOKDUPXQGHU FDVHVIRUJXLGDQFHRQLQWHUSUHWDWLRQRIWKH2KLRGLVRUGHUO\ † %   FRQGXFW ZKLOH LQWR[LFDWHG VWDWXWH  ,Q 6WDWH Y 3DUNV  1(G 2KLR$SS RYHUUXOHGRQRWKHUJURXQGV ,QGHHG2IILFHU&ROHWHVWLILHGHVVHQWLDOO\WKDWWKHUHZHUHQR 6WDWHYsHQNLQV1(G 2KLR$SS WKHFRXUW REMHFWLYH IDFWV WR WULJJHU SUREDEOH FDXVH DV KH FRXOG RQO\ KHOG WKDW WKH GHIHQGDQW V DFW RI VLWWLQJ SHDFHDEO\ LQ WKH mVSHFXODWHlRQWKHmRQHRIDPLOOLRQWKLQJVlWKDWPLJKWRFFXU SDVVHQJHUVHDWRIDFDUWKDWZDVSDUNHGLQDGULYHZD\LQDQ LIKHGLGQRWDUUHVW0F&XUG\0RUHRYHU2IILFHU&ROHVWDWHG LQWR[LFDWHGVWDWHGLGQRWFUHDWHWKHNLQGRIULVNRISK\VLFDO SODLQO\WKDWKHDUUHVWHG0F&XUG\EHFDXVHmWKHUHZDVQRZD\ KDUPWRKLPVHOIWKDWZDVLQWHQGHGWREHHQFRPSDVVHGE\5& WKDW>KH@FRXOGWHOOWKDW>0F&XUG\@ZDVQRWWKHUHWRGR  %  7KHFRXUWUHMHFWHGWKHVWDWH VDUJXPHQWWKDW GDPDJH WR WKH SURSHUW\ RI DQRWKHU SHUVRQ WKDW OLYHG LQ WKH WKHGHIHQGDQW VUHIXVDOWRJHWRXWRIWKHFDUSUHVHQWHGDULVNRI DUHDl  s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jVGHQLDORI0F&XUG\j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µWKHFHQWUDOPHDQLQJRIWKH)LUVW$PHQGPHQWjl KDUPHLWKHUWRKLPVHOIRWKHUVRUWKHSURSHUW\RIRWKHUVlDQG *ODVVRQ Y &LW\ RI /RXLVYLOOH  )G   WK &LU WKDW mJHQHURXVO\ JUDQWLQJ 2IILFHU &ROH WKH EHQHILW RI DOO   TXRWLQJ1HZ7@KH)LUVW$PHQGPHQWULJKWWRFULWLFL]H 7KH SURRIV EHIRUH WKH FRXUW FRQWDLQHG REMHFWLYH DQG SXEOLFRIILFLDOVLVZHOOHVWDEOLVKHGDQGVXSSRUWHGE\DPSOH FUHGLEOHIDFWVIURPZKLFKDUHDVRQDEOHSROLFHRIILFHUFRXOG FDVH ODZ  )XUWKHUPRUH LW LV ZHOOHVWDEOLVKHG WKDW D SXEOLF ILQGSUREDEOHFDXVHWREHOLHYHWKDW0F&XUG\SUHVHQWHGDULVN RIILFLDOjVUHWDOLDWLRQDJDLQVWDQLQGLYLGXDOH[HUFLVLQJKLVRUKHU RI SK\VLFDO KDUP XQGHU WKH VWDWXWH FLWHG  2IILFHU &ROH )LUVW$PHQGPHQWULJKWVLVDYLRODWLRQRI†l 'XUDQY WHVWLILHGWKDWKHIRXQG0F&XUG\RXWVLGHDWDP+HDQG &LW\ RI 'RXJODV  )G   WK &LU  KLVFRPSDQLRQVZHUHQRWRQO\LQWR[LFDWHGEXWDOVRDFWHGDVLI m>*@RYHUQPHQW RIILFLDOV LQ JHQHUDO DQG SROLFH RIILFHUV LQ WKH\ZDQWHGWRILJKWWKHSROLFHRIILFHUDQGSHUKDSVHDFKRWKHU SDUWLFXODU PD\ QRW H[HUFLVH WKHLU DXWKRULW\ IRU SHUVRQDO +HWHVWLILHGWKDW0F&XUG\XVHGSURIDQLW\ZKHQVSHDNLQJWR PRWLYHVSDUWLFXODUO\LQUHVSRQVHWRUHDORUSHUFHLYHGVOLJKWV KLP  %DVHG 0F&XUG\ V LQWR[LFDWLRQ KLV XQSURYRNHG WRWKHLUGLJQLW\6XUHO\DQ\RQHZKRWDNHVDQRDWKRIRIILFH GLVRUGHUO\PDQQHULVPWRZDUGWKHRIILFHUDQGWKHWLPHRIGD\ NQRZVoRUVKRXOGNQRZoWKDWPXFKl  WKH RIILFHU FRQFOXGHG WKDW KH SUHVHQWHG D ULVN RI KDUP WR KLPVHOI7KHMXU\DJUHHG ,W LV ZHOOHVWDEOLVKHG WKHQ WKDW 0F&XUG\ KDG D FRQVWLWXWLRQDO ULJKW WR FKDOOHQJH YHUEDOO\ 2IILFHU &ROHjV 7KHPDMRULW\IRFXVHVRQ2IILFHU&ROHjVWHVWLPRQ\KHFRXOG VXUYHLOODQFH DQG ZH WKHUHIRUH UHYHUVH WKH GLVWULFW FRXUWjV RQO\mVSHFXODWHlRQWKHmRQHRIDPLOOLRQWKLQJVlWKDWPLJKW JUDQW RI TXDOLILHG LPPXQLW\ WR 2IILFHU &ROH  %HFDXVH WKH RFFXULIKHGLGQRWDUUHVW0F&XUG\%HDULQPLQGmRQHRID GLVWULFWFRXUWGLGQRWDGGUHVVZKHWKHU0F&XUG\jVDUUHVWZDV PLOOLRQWKLQJVlLVQRWWKHVDPHDVmRQHLQDPLOOLRQlFKDQFH DWOHDVWSDUWLDOO\PRWLYDWHGE\SURWHFWHGFRQGXFWZHUHPDQG WKDWKHPLJKWGRLQMXU\WRKLPVHOIDQGRWKHUV+RZFRXOGDQ\ IRUIXUWKHUSURFHHGLQJV SROLFHRIILFHUNQRZH[DFWO\ZKLFKSDUWLFXODULQMXU\DPDQDW  0F&XUG\Y0RQWJRPHU\ 1R 1R 0F&XUG\Y0RQWJRPHU\  &RXQW\2KLRHWDO &RXQW\2KLRHWDO 2IILFHU &ROH RQ 0F&XUG\jV )LUVW $PHQGPHQW UHWDOLDWLRQ & FODLPDVLWZDVFOHDUO\HVWDEOLVKHGDWWKHWLPH2IILFHU&ROH DFWHGWKDWKHFRXOGQRWUHWDOLDWHDJDLQVW0F&XUG\IRUDVVHUWLQJ 0F&XUG\ILQDOO\DVVHUWVWKDWWKH&RXQW\LPSURSHUO\XVHGD KLV )LUVW $PHQGPHQW ULJKWV :LWK WKHVH UXOLQJV ZH SHUHPSWRU\FKDOOHQJHWRH[FOXGHDEODFNMXURULQYLRODWLRQRI 5(0$1' WR WKH GLVWULFW FRXUW IRU IXUWKHU SURFHHGLQJV RQ WKH(TXDO3URWHFWLRQ&ODXVH0F&XUG\VSHFLILFDOO\REMHFWVWR 0F&XUG\jV)RXUWK$PHQGPHQWFODLPDJDLQVWWKH&RXQW\DQG WKH&RXQW\jVXVHRIDSHUHPSWRU\WRVWULNH$IULFDQ$PHULFDQ KLV)LUVW$PHQGPHQWUHWDOLDWLRQFODLP 6\OYLD :LOOLDPV IURP WKH MXU\  ,Q UHVSRQVH WKH &RXQW\ FRQWHQGVWKDW:LOOLDPVjGHPHDQRUGXULQJYRLUGLUHVXJJHVWHG WKDWVKHZDVGLVLQWHUHVWHGLQVHUYLQJDVDMXURU,QWKHGLVWULFW FRXUWWKH&RXQW\jVDWWRUQH\VWDWHG >,@Q P\ YLHZ LQ ZDWFKLQJ >:LOOLDPV@ WKHUH ZDV QR UHVSRQVHWRDQ\RIWKHTXHVWLRQVQRQRGGLQJRIWKHKHDG ,MXVWWRRNLWWKDWVKHZDVQjWLQWHUHVWHGLQWKHFDVHDQG, KDGKHUFURVVHGRIIIURPWKHEHJLQQLQJsXGJHDVIDUDV QRWEHLQJUHVSRQVLYHDQGWKDWjVP\UHDVRQIRUH[HUFLVLQJ WKHSHUHPSWRU\FKDOOHQJH s$DW:LWKRXWTXHVWLRQLQJ:LOOLDPVRUHQJDJLQJLQD FROORTX\ZLWKHLWKHU0F&XUG\jVRUWKH&RXQW\jVFRXQVHOWKH GLVWULFWFRXUWRYHUUXOHG0F&XUG\jV%DWVRQREMHFWLRQ6HHs$ DW   ,Q 0F&XUG\jV QHZ WULDO PRWLRQ KH UHLWHUDWHG KLV FKDOOHQJHWRWKHSHUHPSWRU\7KHGLVWULFWFRXUWUHMHFWHGKLV UHQHZHG FKDOOHQJH FRQFOXGLQJ WKDW 0V :LOOLDPV ZDV mSDVVLYHlLQWKHIDFHRIWKHSDUWLHVjTXHVWLRQLQJDQGWKDWWKH &RXQW\WKHUHIRUHKDGDUWLFXODWHGDUDFHQHXWUDOMXVWLILFDWLRQ IRULWVH[HUFLVHRIWKHSHUHPSWRU\ $ GLVWULFW FRXUWjV UXOLQJ RQ ZKHWKHU WKH H[HUFLVH RI D SHUHPSWRU\FKDOOHQJHYLRODWHVHTXDOSURWHFWLRQLVHQWLWOHGWR mJUHDWGHIHUHQFHlDQGZHPD\QRWGLVWXUELWVMXGJPHQWXQOHVV LWLVFOHDUO\HUURQHRXV8QLWHG6WDWHVY%XFKDQDQ1R :/DW  WK&LU0D\ ,WLV VHWWOHGWKDWWKH&RQVWLWXWLRQjVJXDUDQWHHRIHTXDOSURWHFWLRQ HQVXUHVWKDWDSDUW\PD\QRWH[HUFLVHDSHUHPSWRU\FKDOOHQJH WRUHPRYHDQLQGLYLGXDORQDFFRXQWRIWKDWSHUVRQjVUDFH6HH %DWVRQ Y .HQWXFN\  86    (GPRQVRQ Y /HHVYLOOH &RQFUHWH &R ,QF  86    H[WHQGLQJ%DWVRQUXOHWRFLYLOWULDOV 7RHVWDEOLVKDHTXDO  0F&XUG\Y0RQWJRPHU\ 1R 1R 0F&XUG\Y0RQWJRPHU\  &RXQW\2KLRHWDO &RXQW\2KLRHWDO SURWHFWLRQ YLRODWLRQ XQGHU %DWVRQ WKH FODLPDQW PXVW ILUVW MXVWLILFDWLRQV6HH+HUQDQGH]Y1HZ3@DVVLYLW\ LQDWWHQWLYHQHVV RU LQDELOLW\ WR UHODWH WR RWKHU HQJDJHGLQWKHFRQVWLWXWLRQDOO\UHTXLUHGDQDO\VLVZHDIILUP MXURUV >DUH@ YDOLG UDFHQHXWUDO H[SODQDWLRQV IRU H[FOXGLQJ WKHGLVWULFWFRXUWjVGHQLDORI0F&XUG\jV%DWVRQFODLP MXURUVl  GLVWULFW FRXUWV QHYHUWKHOHVV PXVW mH[SOLFLWO\ DGMXGLFDW>H@WKHFUHGLELOLW\RIWKHQRQPRYLQJRUFKDOOHQJLQJ ,,, SDUW\jVUDFHQHXWUDOH[SODQDWLRQVlsRUGDQY/H)HYUH )G G&LU VHH8QLWHG6WDWHVY3HUH] %HFDXVHQRUDWLRQDOMXU\FRXOGILQGWKDW2IILFHU&ROHKDG )G VW&LU  KROGLQJWKDWWKHWULDOFRXUWPXVW SUREDEOH FDXVH WR DUUHVW 0F&XUG\ XQGHU 25& DVVHVVWKHFUHGLELOLW\RIWKHUDFHQHXWUDOH[SODQDWLRQ 7KH † %  ZH5(9(56(WKHGLVWULFWFRXUWjVGHQLDORI QHHG IRU DQ H[SOLFLW RQWKHUHFRUG DQDO\VLV RI HDFK RI WKH 0F&XUG\jVPRWLRQIRUMXGJPHQWQRWZLWKVWDQGLQJWKHYHUGLFW HOHPHQWVRID%DWVRQFKDOOHQJHLVHVSHFLDOO\LPSRUWDQWZKHQ DQGHQWHUMXGJPHQWIRU0F&XUG\RQKLV)RXUWK$PHQGPHQW WKH SXUSRUWHG UDFHQHXWUDO MXVWLILFDWLRQ LV SUHGLFDWHG RQ FODLPDJDLQVW2IILFHU&ROHLQKLVLQGLYLGXDOFDSDFLW\:HDOVR VXEMHFWLYHH[SODQDWLRQVOLNHERG\ODQJXDJHRUGHPHDQRU6HH 5(9(56(WKHGLVWULFWFRXUWjVJUDQWRITXDOLILHGLPPXQLW\WR 8QLWHG6WDWHVY/HGIRUG1R:/DW  WK&LU2FW  XQSXEOLVKHGRSLQLRQ  QRWLQJWKDW FUHGLWLQJVXEMHFWLYHH[SODQDWLRQVIRUSHUHPSWRU\VWULNHVFRXOG  DOORZ DQ LPSURSHUO\ PRWLYDWHG DWWRUQH\ WR mFLUFXPYHQWl 7KH GLVWULFW FRXUW LWVHOI DSSHDUV WR KDYH UHFRJQL]HG WKDW LWV LQLWLDO ,9843 %DWVRQ   %HFDXVH WKH SULPDU\ GHIHQVH WR SUHWH[W EDVHG GLVSRVLWLRQ RI 0F&XUG\jV FKDOOHQJH ZDV LQVXIILFLHQW ,Q DGGUHVVLQJ 0F&XUG\jV SRVWYHUGLFW QHZ WULDO PRWLRQ WKH FRXUW H[SODLQHG YLRODWLRQVRI%DWVRQLVWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWjVDELOLW\WRDVVHVVWKH WKDW LW GLG QRW PRUH SURELQJO\ DVVHVV WKH &RXQW\jV UDFHQHXWUDO FUHGLELOLW\RIDQDWWRUQH\jVUHSUHVHQWDWLRQVLWLVFULWLFDOWKDW MXVWLILFDWLRQ EHFDXVH mQR RQH VXJJHVWHG >LW@ DW WKH WLPH DQG LW ZRXOG KDYH WKH GLVWULFW FRXUW LQGHSHQGHQWO\ DVVHVV WKH SURIIHUHG EHHQ DQ LPSURSHU LQWUXVLRQ RQ >'HIHQGDQWjV FRXQVHOjV@ MXGJPHQWl s$ DW