IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF PUERTO RICO CONFEDERACIÓN HÍPICA DE PUERTO RICO, et al., Plaintiffs, v. CONFEDERACIÓN DE JINETES PUERTORRIQUEÑOS, INC., et al., Defendants.
CIVIL NO. 16-2256 (DRD)
AMENDED OPINION AND ORDER Pending before the Court is Plaintiffs, Camarero Racetrack Corp., and Confederación Motion for Summary Judgment. See Docket No. 248. Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs, Confederación de Jinetes Puertorriqueños, Inc. filed its respective opposition thereto. See Docket No. 258. Thereupon, a Reply and Surreply were filed by Plaintiffs and Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs, respectively. See Docket Nos. 259 and 269. Subsequently, Plaintiffs filed a Supplemental Motion for Summary Judgment wherein they produced an updated account of the damages subject to a reduction as to three (3) additional days of races that were held to compensate for the races that were cancelled See Docket No. 272. The Defendants then filed an Summary Judgment and other unrelated matters. 1
See Docket No. 277.
1 The only issue that the Court is entertaining in the instant Opinion and Order is the damages phase of the Complaint filed by Plaintiffs Confederación Hípica de Puerto Rico and Camarero Racetrack, Corp. as a result of the alleged strike and boycott of horse races that were scheduled for June 30, July 1 and July 2, 2016 and the opposition thereto filed
For the reasons stated herein, the Court GRANTS Motion for Summary Judgment as amended by way of Supplemental Motion for Summary Judgment. See Docket Nos. 248 and 272.
I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND The instant case arises of a Complaint filed by Plaintiffs, Confederación Hípica de Puerto and Camarero Racetrack Corp. Confederación de Jinetes Puertorriqueños, Inc. and a series of personally named individual
jockeys for allegedly boycotting and cancelling horse races that were scheduled for June 30, July 1 and July 2, 2016 in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1-7, the Clayton Act, and other federal statutes, as the jockeys are not employees but independent contractors of CHPR. Accordingly, Plaintiffs requested a temporary restraining order, a Preliminary and Permanent Injunction as well as damages as a result thereof. As a result of the arguments set forth by Plaintiffs, a temporary restraining order was issued by the Court. The Court found that a TRO was warranted pursuant to the allegations set forth and applicable law. Accordingly, the jockeys and their respective associations were ordered to immediately desist from any boycott against the Plaintiffs. The jockeys were further ordered to continue riding on horse racing days until otherwise ordered by the Court. See Docket No. 33 at 11. Upon conducting several evidentiary hearings and upon a careful evaluation of memorandum of facts and law Injunction
by Confederación de Jinetes Puertorriqueños, Inc. The Court is divested of jurisdiction as to all other matters, such as, mount fees and/or income of the jockeys. Thus, the Defendants are to set forth their claims before the other proper forums.
request. See Docket No. 210. Subsequently, the Court entered an Amended Opinion and Order wherein the Preliminary and Permanent Injunction were granted in favor of Plaintiffs. Thereafter, the case moved to the damages stage. See Docket No. 214. The Court, however, conducted several settlement conferences in order to encourage the parties to engage in settlement negotiations that would put an end to the outstanding damages litigation. As the parties failed to reach a settlement agreement, Plaintiffs filed a Motion for Summary Judgment that is currently pending before the Court. See Docket No. 248. A Supplemental Motion for Summary Judgment was subsequently filed by Plaintiffs. See Docket No. 272. 2
s a careful scrutiny of the underlying legal framework.
II. FACTUAL FINDINGS statements of undisputed facts, and supported documentation. Upon careful review of the record, the Court finds the following facts are undisputed: 1. On June 30, July 1 and July 2, 2016 no races were held at the Camarero Racetrack due to the
fact that 37 jockeys, members of the Confederación de Jinetes Puertorriqueños, Inc.
informed they would not participate prospectively in any scheduled races after June 24, 2016. (Docket No. 153 at ¶ U and V).
2 Therein, Plaintiffs submitted an updated assessment of damages.
2. Plaintiffs CHPR and Camarero filed suit against CJP and Asociación 3
for the illegal antitrust violation of a concerted refusal to deal by the two defendants associations and the individual jockeys to said entities. (Uncontested). 3. that jockey defendants have traditionally been considered to be independent contractors,
ressed in a
similar situation of jockeys versus management of the racetrack and horse owners, San Juan Racing Association, Inc. v. Asociación de Jinetes de Puerto Rico, Inc., et al., 590 F.2d 31, 32 (1 st Cir. 1979)(confirming antitrust injunctive relief as jockeys against management of the racetrack). See Docket Nos. 23, 33, 37, 41, 46 and 113.
(Docket No. 33 at 11). 4. The only defendant active at this stage of the proceedings is CJP, as Asociación entered into
a Settlement Agreement with Plaintiffs herein. Hence, Asociación is no longer a party in this case. (Amended Judgment dated August 18, 2017, Docket No. 207). 4 5. After evidentiary hearings held and memorandums by all parties submitted, on November 8,
2017, this Court issued an Amended Opinion and Order granting the Preliminary and Permanent Injunction, and the case was moved to the damages stage. (Docket No. 214).
3 The Court notes that in the Complaint, Plaintiffs included individual jockeys and their conjugal partnerships as members of Confederación de Jinetes and Asociación de Jinetes de Puerto Rico. See Docket No. 1. 4 See supra note 1.
6. claims in this case, showing total losses of $636,813.00 of which $338,266.00 were caused to
Camarero and $298,547.00 to CHPR. (Docket No. 248-4 at 2). 7. During the Status Conference held on March 28, 2018, Plaintiffs informed the Court that they
had submitted to CJP an assessment of the damages suffered during the three (3) days of the illegal boycott and Defendant acknowledged having been furnished with the damage report. (Docket No. 222). 8. On June 9, 2018, Camarero sent CJP an Answer to Interrogatory and Production of
Documents. (Docket No. 248-2). 9. On May 30, 2018, CHPR also answered an Interrogatory and Production of Documents.
(Docket No. 248-3). 10. Camarero expressed in the answers to interrogatory and production of documents that all
the evidence regarding the damages suffered was produced on March 27, 2018. (Docket No. 248-2 at ¶ 15; Docket No. 248-4). 11. At the time the Motion for Summary Judgment was filed, Camarero and CHPR filed the
damages pursuant to the answers of interrogatory and production of documents submitted on March 27, 2018. (Docket No. 248, Exhibits 2, 3 & 4). 12. On August 7, 2019, the Defendants filed an st for Summary
Judgment. (Docket No. 258). 13. The Defendants, in their Opposition, adduced for the first time in this litigation past the
discovery deadlines, that the computations of the damages claimed by Plaintiffs did not
include the income received during the three (3) days wherein the races were held in substitution of the three (3) cancelled races. Id. 14. the matter of the
substitution races prior thereto. 15. During the Status Conference held on September 19, 2019, Plaintiffs agreed to voluntarily
recompute the losses crediting the Defendants with any recoveries received from those substitute races. (Docket No. 271). 16. The substitute dates for reassignment of races as granted by the Horse Racing Board in Case
No. JH-15-47 were July 18, July 27 and August 1, 2016. Id. at ¶¶ 5-6. 17. After the recomputation of the losses, taking into consideration the recoveries that Plaintiffs
received on account of the three (3) race days that the local Horseracing Board allowed, the
18. $49,983.00 and $146,160.00,
respectively. (Docket No. 272, Exhibit A at ¶¶ 24-28). 5 19. $49.00. Id. at ¶ 36. 6 20. $443.00. Id. at ¶ 37. 7 21. $7,430.00. Id. at ¶ 54. 8
5 and continuing wagering was $144,607.00 and $146,160.00 as to CHPR and Camarero. Upon filing the updated damages figures, the record reflects a deduction of $94,624.00 as to direct and continuing wagering. See Docket No. 248-1 at ¶ 11. 6 initial figure of $1,356.00 See Id. at ¶ 12. 7 in comparison to the initial figure of $2,044.00 See Id. at ¶ 13. 8 initial figure of $7,866.00. See Id. at ¶ 15.
22. Camarero did not have a loss of VLT revenues. Id. at ¶ 54. 9 23. $49,983.00 and
$146,160.00, respectively. Id. at ¶¶ 24-28. 10 24. $443.00. Id. at ¶ 37. 25. CHPR did not incur in any loss for VLT revenues. Id. at ¶ 56. 11 26. The 2016 to Camarero were $200,822.00. Id. at ¶ 21. 12
27. The 2016 to CHPR were $196,073.00. Id. at ¶ 56. 13
III. LEGAL STANDARD Motion for Summary Judgment Standard (Fed. R. Civ. P. 56) A motion for summary judgment is governed by Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matte jury could resolve the point in favor of the non- F.3d 48, 52 (1st Cir. 2013); Prescott v. Higgins, 538 F.3d 32, 40 (1st Cir. 2008) (citing Thompson v.
9 As opposed to the initial figure of $36,214.00, the updated figure reflects Camarero suffered no losses related to VLT revenues. See Id. at ¶ 14. 10 See supra note 5. 11 As opposed to the initial figure of $5,736.00, the updated figure reflects CHPR suffered no losses related to VLT revenues. 12 deduction of $137,404.00 in comparison to the initial figure of $338,266.00. See Id. at ¶ 16. 13 The updated figure of the total of economi of $102,474.00 in comparison to the initial figure of $298,547.00. See Id. at ¶ 17.
Coca Cola Co., 522 F.3d 168, 175 (1st Cir. 2008)); see also Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248-250 (1986); Calero Cerezo v. U.S. Dep't of Justice, 355 F.3d 6, 19 (1st Cir. 2004). burden of proof that a non- given factual dispute requires submission to a jury must be guided by the substantive evidentiary
Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. at 255 (applying the summary judgment standard while taking into account a higher burden of proof for cases of defamation against a public figure). In order f Sands v. Ridefilm Corp., 212
F.3d 657, 660 661 (1st Cir. 2000) (citing Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. at 247 248); Prescott, 538 F.3d at 40 (1st Cir. 2008) (citing Maymí v. P.R. Ports Auth., 515 F.3d 20, 25 (1st Cir. 2008)). DeNovellis v. Shalala, 124 F.3d 298,
306 (1st Cir. 1997) (citing the advisory committee note to the 1963 Amendment to Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e)). The moving party must demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue as to any outcome- determinative fact on the record. Shalala, 124 F.3d at 306. Upon a showing by the moving party of an absence of a genuine issue of material fact, the burden shifts to the nonmoving party to demonstrate that a trier of fact could reasonably find in his favor. Id. (citing Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986)). The non- competent evidence. Maldonado Denis v. Castillo Rodriguez, 23 F.3d 576, 581 (1st Cir. 1994).
The non- Case 3:16-cv-02256-DRD Document 305 Filed 12/04/19 Page 8 of 14 Garside v. Osco Drug, Inc., 895 F.2d 46, 48 (1st Cir. 1990); see also Suarez v. Pueblo Int'l., 229 F.3d 49, 53 (1st Cir. 2000) (stating that a non-movant may shut down a summary judgment motion only upon a showing that a trial-worthy issue exists). As a result, otherwise prope Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. at
247 248. Similarly, summary judgment is appropriate where the nonmoving party rests solely Ayala Gerena v. Bristol Myers Squibb Co., 95 F.3d 86, 95 (1st Cir. 1996); Medina-Muñoz v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., 896 F.2d 5, 8 (1st Cir. 1990). inferences in favor of the non-moving party while ignoring conclusory allegations, improbable
inferences Smith v. Jenkins, 732 F.3d 51, 76 (1st Cir. 2013) (reiterating Shafmaster v. United States, 707 F.3d 130, 135 (1st Cir. 2013)). The Court must review the record as a whole and refrain from engaging in the assessment of credibility or the gauging the weight of the evidence presented. Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Products, Inc., 530 U.S. 133, 135 (2000); Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 255 (1986); see also Pina v. Children's Place the evidence, and the drawing of legitimate inferences from the facts are jury functions, not
Reeves, 530 U.S. at 150 (quoting Anderson, 477 U.S. at 250 51). genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of
See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a).
Hence, in order to prevail, Plaintiffs must demonstrate that, even admitting well-pleaded allegations in light most favorable to Defendants, the applicable law compels a judgment in its favor.
IV. ANALYSIS The Court has already determined that the jockeys, in effect, incurred in boycotting and cancelling horse races that were scheduled for June 30, July 1 and July 2, 2016 in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1-7, the Clayton Act, and other federal statutes, considering that the jockeys are not employees but independent contractors of CHPR. See Docket No. 214. In fact, the instant controversy stems of the decision of 37 jockeys of not participating in three (3) scheduled races after June 24, 2016. Id. Plaintiffs filed a suit against CJP for the illegal antitrust violation of a concerted refusal to deal by the two defendants associations and the individual jockeys to said entities. The Court issued a TRO based on the fact that jockeys have been traditionally considered to be independent contractors other instances such as the First Circuit decision in San Juan Racing Association, Inc. v. Asociación
de Jinetes de Puerto Rico, Inc., et al., 590 F.2d 31, 32 (1 st
Cir. 1979). After evidentiary hearings were held and memorandums of law submitted by all parties, the Court ultimately entered a Preliminary and Permanent Injunction against the jockeys and the case was moved to the damages stage, thereafter. Thus, Camarero and CHPR suffered damages. At issue is determining the extent of the damages suffered by Plaintiffs.
On September 23, 2019, Camarero filed a Supplemental Motion for Summary Judgment wherein an updated assessment of damages was produced to the Defendants along with a Sworn Statement Under Penalty of Perjury subscribed by Mr. Stanley Pinkerton, Chief Financial Officer of Camarero Racetrack, Corp. See Docket No. 272, Exhibit A. reflects total losses of $396,895.00 of which $200,822.00 were caused to Camarero and $196,073.00 to CHPR. See Id. From the Sworn Statement Under Penalty of Perjury included in support of the Supplemental Motion for Summary Judgment, arises the fact that the Defendants breached their obligations with Plaintiffs by boycotting and cancelling horse races for the dates of June 30, July 1 and July 2, 2016, causing damages to Plaintiffs that are due and payable. It is undisputed that the amounts due and payable to date are $200,822.00 as to Camarero and $196,073.00 as to CHPR. These amounts of losses include a mitigation of damages, by way of substitution races held on July 18, July 27 and August 1, 2016, that resulted in a deduction as to the earnings received by Plaintiffs in the substitution races. Furthermore, there is no genuine issue of material fact as Plaintiffs. See Do to seek judicial redress of payment on the outstanding debt for damages. Accordingly, Plaintiffs
are entitled to judgment as a matter of law providing for the compensation for due and payable damages as described above. On a final note, the Court finds that the Defendants failed to properly Motion for Summary Judgment pursuant to the Fed.R.Civ.P. 56 requirements. Particularly, the
Defendants resorted in Amended Declaration of Uncontested Facts in Support
of Summary Judgment by providing an Unsworn Declaration Under Penalty of Perjury alleged Accountant-Attorney Olga Benítez in support thereof. See Docket No. 277-5. Yet, Ms.
Declaration Under Penalty of Perjury is untimely. At this time, it is unclear whether Ms. retained as an expert witness, as implied in her Declaration, the Defendants failed to disclose
prior hereto, the fact that she was retained to declare on their behalf if the instant matter proceeds to trial. Said omission is in clear contravention to Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(A). 14 The Defendants, thus, attempted to cure the deficiencies identified by the Court of their former Opposition (Docket No. 258) and Surreply (Docket No. 269), by presenting a potential expert witness without disclosing her identity prior thereto. The Court notes that by allowing the Defendants to submit an Amended Surreply demand, the Court was only allowing the Defendants an opportunity to properly submit their
arguments pursuant to the applicable rules. It was not permission to attempt to reopen the discovery of the instant case which is long gone. Most crucial and determinative, s requirements when filing a declaration in support to the opposition to motion for summary judgment. Rule 56 clearly provides that, [a]n affidavit or declaration used to support or oppose a motion must be made on personal knowledge, set out facts that would be admissible in evidence, and show that the affiant or declarant is competent to testify on the matters stated Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c)(4) (Emphasis ours). 14
e identity of any ‘
surrounding the instant case, as well as her credentials to do so, but ultimately, the Court finds her observations and conclusions turned out to be baseless, incomprehensible and with no documents in support thereof. As previously discussed, the non-movant may not defeat a through definite and competent evidence. Maldonado-Denis, 23 F.3d at 581. More importantly,
Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure clearly provides that
judgment if the motion and supporting materials including the facts considered
undisputed Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e). Likewise, the Local Rules provide that when opposing to a statement of support each denial or For the Declaration Under Penalty of Perjury. In the instant case, the statement of Ms. Benítez did not show in a comprehensive manner damages as a result of the three (3) days in which no races were held. Yet, Plaintiffs provided an update as to the damages figure to deduct the earnings obtained as a result of the substitution races that were held as part of a mitigatory effort to recover the earnings lost in June 30, July 1, and July 2, 2016.
Finally, the Court finds that the major drawback on the Defendants failure to properly Amended Declaration of Uncontested Material Facts in Support of Summary (Docket No. 272-1) is that a
t properly See P.R.D. Local Rule 56(c) and (e); see also Morales v. A.C. Orssleff's EFTF, 246 F.3d 32, 33
(1st Cir. 2001). Accordingly, the Court deems the
V. CONCLUSION For the reasons set forth above, the Court hereby GRANTS Motion for Summary Judgment (Docket No. 248) as amended by way of Supplemental Motion for Summary Judgment (Docket No. 272). Thus, pursuant to Section 4 of the Clayton Act, which clearly provides that the Camarero Racetrack Corp. is entitled to the reimbursement of $602,466.00 in damages, and CHPR is entitled to $588,219.00 in damages as 15
See 15 U.S.C. § 15(a). 16
Judgment pursuant to the instant Opinion and Order is to be issued forthwith. IT IS SO ORDERED. In San Juan, Puerto Rico, this 4th day of December, 2019. S/Daniel R. Domínguez Daniel R. Domínguez United States District Judge
15 boycott, those entities may be jointly or severally responsible for the damages stated herein. 16 Section 4 of the Clayton Act provides in its pertinent part that or property by reason of anything forbidden in the antitrust laws may sue therefor in any district court of the United States in the district in which the defendant resides or is found or has an agent without respect to the amount in controversy, and shall recover threefold the damages by him sustained, and cost of suit, including a reasonable