Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-02162/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-02162-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 891
Nature of Suit: Agricultural Acts
Cause of Action: 07:499 Agricultural Commodities Act

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 1 - 11cv2162

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

PREMIER PRODUCE COMPANY, INC.,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 11-CV-2162 BEN (JMA)

ORDER GRANTING EX PARTE

APPLICATION TO AMEND

TEMPORARY RESTRAINING

ORDER

[Docket No. 7]

vs.

MIA’S NUTRITION CENTER, INC., et al.,

Defendants.

On September 19, 2011, Plaintiff Premier Produce Company initiated this action against

Defendants Mia’s Nutrition Centers, Inc., John Christian Gillette, and Lisa A. Gillette for alleged

violation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (“PACA”), 7 U.S.C. § 499e. (Docket No.

1.) At the same time, Plaintiff filed an Ex Parte Application for Temporary Restraining Order to

enjoin Defendants from transferring all PACA assets until Defendants pay Plaintiff $3,043.11, plus

interest, attorney fees, and costs. (Docket No. 3.) The Court denied Plaintiff’s ex parte application

for a temporary restraining order because (1) Plaintiff failed to present specific facts showing that the

trust assets will be dissipated immediately, before Defendants may be heard in opposition, and (2)

Plaintiff’s attorney did not certify in writing that any effort was made to give notice, or why notice

should not be required. (Docket No. 4.) On September 20, 2011, Plaintiff filed a second Ex Parte

Application for Temporary Restraining Order. (Docket No. 5.) This second Ex Parte Application

was granted on September 21, 2011, because Plaintiff corrected the deficiencies the Court noted in the

first Ex Parte Application. (Docket No. 6.)

Case 3:11-cv-02162-BEN-JMA Document 8 Filed 09/22/11 Page 1 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28 In a proposed order, Plaintiff made additional changes to the language found in the 1

September 21 Order. Plaintiff, however, has not supported these changes with any evidence or

legal authority. Accordingly, these changes have not been incorporated in the amended language.

- 2 - 11cv2162

Presently before the Court is Plaintiff’s Ex Parte Application to Amend the Temporary

Restraining Order. (Docket No. 7.) The September 21 Order provides:

It is hereby ordered that Defendants, their customers, agents, officers, subsidiaries,

assigns, and banking institutions, shall not alienate, dissipate, pay over or assign any

assets of Mia’s Nutrition Center, or its subsidiaries or related companies, except in the

ordinary course of business until further order of this Court or until Defendants pay

Plaintiff the sum of $3,043.11 by cashiers’ check or certified check, at which time this

Order is dissolved.

(Sept. 21 Order, at 3 (emphasis added).) Plaintiff seeks to amend the September 21 Order to provide

that “funds of Defendants John Christian Gillette and Lisa A Gillette shall, along with company funds,

if any, shall be paid over to the Plaintiff until the sum of $3,043.11, plus statutory interest and attorney

fees is, paid in full.” (Pl. Mot. at 4 (emphasis added).) Plaintiff argues that “[a]s the 2 sole

shareholders and corporate officers of the companies and as the persons responsible for the day-to-day

operations of Mia Nutrition Centers, Defendants John Christian Gillette and Lisa A. Gillette were in

a position of control over the PACA trust assets belonging to the Plaintiff and are therefore personally

liable for the debt owed to the Plaintiff by their companies.” (Pl. Mot. at 2.) Plaintiff also submits

evidence that John Christian Gillette and Lisa A. Gillette are the two sole officers of Mia’s Nutrition

Centers. (Pl. Mot., Exh. C.)

Plaintiff’s Motion is GRANTED. See Sunkist Growers, Inc. v. Fisher, 104 F.3d 280, 283 (9th

Cir. 1997) (“[I]ndividual shareholders, officers, or directors of a corporation who are in a position to

control PACA trust assets, and who breach their fiduciary duty to preserve those assets, may be held

personally liable under the Act.”). Page 3, lines 2 to 6, of the September 21 Order is amended as

follows:

It is hereby ordered that Defendants, their customers, agents, officers, subsidiaries,

assigns, and banking institutions, shall not alienate, dissipate, pay over or assign any

assets of Mia’s Nutrition Center, or its subsidiaries or related companies, except in the

ordinarycourse of business, or of John Christian Gillette or Lisa A. Gillette, until further

order of this Court or until Defendants pay Plaintiff the sum of $ 3,043.11 by cashiers’

check or certified check, at which time this Order is dissolved.1

Case 3:11-cv-02162-BEN-JMA Document 8 Filed 09/22/11 Page 2 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 3 - 11cv2162

All other provisions contained in the September 21 Order shall remain in full force and effect. Further

amendments to the September 21 Order will not be made prior to the September 28, 2011 hearing

without good cause.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: September 22, 2011

Hon. Roger T. Benitez

United States District Judge

Case 3:11-cv-02162-BEN-JMA Document 8 Filed 09/22/11 Page 3 of 3