Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_15-cv-01862/USCOURTS-cand-4_15-cv-01862-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Breach of Contract

---

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 

United States District Court 

Northern District of California 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

GATAN, INC., 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

NION COMPANY, 

Defendant. 

Case No. 15-cv-1862-PJH 

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO 

DISMISS 

Defendant’s motion to dismiss came on for hearing before this court on November 

18, 2015. Plaintiff Gatan, Inc. (“plaintiff”) appeared through its counsel, William Goines. 

Defendant Nion Company (“defendant”) appeared through its counsel, Alfred Pfeiffer. 

Having read the papers filed in conjunction with the motion and carefully considered the 

arguments and the relevant legal authority, and good cause appearing, the court hereby 

GRANTS defendant’s motion, with leave to amend, as stated at the hearing and as 

follows. 

 As to the first cause of action, plaintiff concedes that the non-competition provision 

of paragraph 16 is unenforceable unless one of the exceptions to California Business & 

Professions Code section 16600 applies. Plaintiff further asserts that the only applicable 

exception is for “trade secrets.” The second amended complaint (“SAC”) must plead 

facts supporting the application of a “trade secrets” exception. 

As to the second cause of action, the SAC must clearly identify all alleged conduct 

giving rise to the alleged breach of the implied duty. 

And as to the third cause of action, the SAC must clearly identify the nature of the 

Case 4:15-cv-01862-PJH Document 33 Filed 11/18/15 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court 

Northern District of California 

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 

dis

req

acc

oth

lea

res

the

Da

scovery (or 

quested and

Plaintif

cordance w

herwise res

ave of court

sponse to th

e court is un

IT IS S

ated: Nove

discoveries

d refused. 

ff shall have

with this ord

spond to the

t or the con

he SAC, it s

nlikely to ho

SO ORDER

mber 18, 20

s) made by

e until Dece

der, and def

e complaint

sent of all p

should be n

old a furthe

RED. 

015 

2

 defendant

ember 16, 

fendant sha

t. No new c

parties. If d

noticed for h

r hearing. 

__

PH

Un

, and must 

2015 to file

all have 21 

claims or pa

defendant f

hearing as 

 

__________

HYLLIS J. H

nited States

allege that

e a second 

days there

arties may 

files anothe

required by

__________

HAMILTON

s District Ju

t a license w

amended c

eafter to ans

be added w

er motion to

y the Local 

__________

udge 

was both 

complaint in

swer or 

without 

o dismiss in 

Rules, but

_______ 

n

Case 4:15-cv-01862-PJH Document 33 Filed 11/18/15 Page 2 of 2