Source: http://pa.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20040329_0000212.EPA.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2017-01-20 22:30:31
Document Index: 9464948

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1981', '§ 1982', '§ 1981', '§ 1982', '§ 1985', '§ 1981', '§ 1981', '§ 1985', '§ 1985', '§ 1981', '§ 1981', '§ 1982', '§ 1985', '§ 1331', '§ 1367', '§ 118']

| ABDULHAY v. BETHLEHEM MEDICAL ARTS
ABDULHAY v. BETHLEHEM MEDICAL ARTS
GAZI ABDULHAY, M.D.; GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY ASSOCIATES OF LEHIGH VALLEY, INC., trading as Lehigh Valley Women's Cancer Center; ABDULHAY ASSOCIATES, L.P.; and BETHLEHEM AMBULATORY SURGERY CENTER, LLC, Plaintiffs
BETHLEHEM MEDICAL ARTS, L.P.; BETHLEHEM MEDICAL ARTS, LLC; KEVIN T. FOGARTY, M.D., Individually and as Managing Director of Bethlehem Medical Arts, L.P., and as President of Bethlehem Medical Arts, LLC; ROTH MARZ PARTNERSHIP, P.C.; MARK R. THOMPSON, Individually and as Vice President of Roth Marz Partnership, P.C., Defendants
This matter is before the court on the Motion of Bethlehem Medical
Arts, L.P., Bethlehem Medical Arts, LLC, and Kevin T. Fogarty, M.D. to
Dismiss Plaintiffs' Complaint, which motion was filed August 20, 2003 and
the Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
12(b)(6) on Behalf of Defendants, Roth Marz Partnership, P.C. and Mark R.
Thompson, Individually and as Vice President of Roth Marz Partnership,
P.C. filed September 10, 2003.*fn1
Because we determine that Gazi Abdulhay, M.D., Gynecologic Oncology
Associates of Lehigh Valley, Inc. ("Lehigh Valley"), and Bethlehem
Ambulatory Surgery Center, LLC ("BASC") were not parties to the contract
with which the Bethlehem defendants are alleged to have interfered, we
conclude that these plaintiffs lack standing to state a claim under
either 42 U.S.C. § 1981 or § 1982. We further determine that a
claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1981 or § 1982
may be the basis for a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3).
Accordingly, we conclude that Abdulhay Associates, L.P. ("Abdulhay") may
state a Section 1985(3) claim. Hence, we grant in part and deny in part
the Bethlehem defendants' motion to dismiss.
Because we determine that Dr. Abdulhay and Abdulhay were not parties to
a contract with defendants Roth Marz Partnership, P.C. and Mark R.
Thompson ("Marz defendants"), we conclude that these plaintiffs lack
standing to raise a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1981. However, we further
conclude that Lehigh Valley and BASC have stated a claim of alleged
illegal discrimination to contractual rights by defendants Roth Marz
Partnership, P.C. and Mark R. Thompson ("Marz defendants").
Therefore, we conclude that Lehigh Valley's and BASC's claim under
42 U.S.C. § 1981 may be the basis for a claim under
42 U.S.C. § 1985(3). Moreover, we conclude that plaintiffs have adequately
pled a claim pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3). Accordingly, we grant in part
and deny in part the Marz defendants' motion to dismiss.
The within civil action was initiated on July 25, 2003 when plaintiffs
filed a ten-count Complaint. In Count
One all plaintiffs claim a violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1981 by the
Bethlehem defendants. In Count Two, all plaintiffs aver a violation of
42 U.S.C. § 1981 by the Marz defendants. In Count Three, all plaintiffs
assert a 42 U.S.C. § 1982 claim against the Bethlehem defendants. In
Count Four, all plaintiffs claim a violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3)
by all defendants. In Count Five, Abdulhay asserts a breach of contract
claim against Bethlehem Medical Arts, L.P.
In Count Six, Lehigh Valley and BASC aver breach of contract against
Roth Marz Partnership, P.C. Count Seven is a defamation claim by Dr.
Abdulhay against the Marz defendants. In Count Eight, all plaintiffs aver
an intentional interference with a contract claim against the Marz
defendants. In Count Nine, Abdulhay asserts an intentional interference
with a contract claim against the Bethlehem defendants. In Count Ten, all
plaintiffs accuse all defendants of conspiring to engage in the above
This action is before the court on federal question jurisdiction.
See 28 U.S.C. § 1331. The court has supplemental
jurisdiction over plaintiff's pendent state law claims. See
28 U.S.C. § 1367. Venue is appropriate because plaintiff alleges that
giving rise to the causes of action occurred in Northampton County.
See 28 U.S.C. § 118, 1391. Plaintiff demands a trial by
Based upon the allegations in plaintiffs' Complaint, which we must
accept as true for the purposes of this motion, the operative facts are
as follows. Plaintiff Gazi Abdulhay, M.D. is a licensed physician and
surgeon with a speciality in gynecological oncology.*fn2 Dr. Abdulhay is
a United States citizen of Syrian and Turkish descent and claims to be an
Arab-American.*fn3 He is the General Partner of Abdulhay, President of
Lehigh Valley, and President and Managing Partner of BASC.*fn4
On April 23, 2001, Abdulhay entered into a Lease Agreement with
Bethlehem Medical Arts, L.P. ("BMA") for 6,000 net rentable feet of space
on the first floor of a medical office building located at 5325 Northgate
Drive, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. ("Building").*fn5 Subsequently, Abdulhay
leased an
additional 3,800 net rentable feet of space on the second floor of
the Building and an additional 1,500 net rentable feet of space on the
first floor of the Building.*fn6 (The space which Abdulhay leased from
BMA is collectively referred to as the "Leased Premises".)
All of the leased areas were subject to the agreements in the Lease
Agreement ("Lease").*fn7 Pursuant to the terms of the Lease, Abdulhay
purchased shares in Bethlehem Medical Associates, L.L.C., the business
which through Dr. Fogarty managed the Building.*fn8
The Leased Premises were unfinished at the time of the Lease.*fn9 The
Lease contains no time limit for Abdulhay to complete improvements on the
Leased Premises.*fn10 Improvements to the Leased Premises are governed
by Section 7 of the Lease.*fn11 Dr. Abdulhay, Abdulhay, and the
Bethlehem defendants agreed that Dr. Abdulhay, Abdulhay, and BASC would
developed the Leased Premises as both medical offices and an ambulatory
surgery center.*fn12
The intent of plaintiffs and the Bethlehem defendants was that Dr.
Abdulhay, BASC and other physicians located by Dr. Abdulhay would occupy
the Leased Premises after improvements to the Leased Premises were
medical care to patients of Dr. Abdulhay, Lehigh Valley, and
BASC.*fn13 There is no allegation that the agreements regarding Dr.
Abdulhay, Lehigh Valley, and BASC were reduced to writing or executed by
Because Suites 103 and 200 of the Leased Premises were to be fitted as
an ambulatory surgery center, plaintiffs were required to obtain approval
of the planned improvements from the Pennsylvania Department of Health
("DOH"). Plaintiffs were required to comply with a complex set of DOH
regulations before construction could begin.*fn14
Plaintiffs needed an architect to design the improvements to the Leased
Premises. The Bethlehem defendants introduced Dr. Abdulhay to Roth Marz
Partnership, P.C.*fn15 The Bethlehem defendants had a longstanding
relationship with Roth Marz Partnership.*fn16 Dr. Abdulhay, as President
of Lehigh Valley and BASC, entered into a contract with Roth Marz
Partnership for improvements to the Leased Premises at the
Building.*fn17
On November 2, 2001, an initial set of plans for the
project was submitted to, and approved by, DOH. On December 18,
2002, DOH approved revised plans for the project.*fn18
In Spring 2003, all defendants conspired and implemented a plan to stop
the plaintiffs from continuing with the improvements. Defendants
collectively created a sham default of the lease. On or after May 6,
2003, the Bethlehem defendants, in concert with the Marz defendants
implemented a strategy to force Dr. Abdulhay and Abdulhay to abandon the
improvements and vacate the Building. This strategy was implemented to
prevent Dr. Abdulhay, Abdulhay, Lehigh Valley, and BASC from occupying
the Leases Premises.*fn19
In the course of the conspiracy, the following occurred. The Marz
defendants, who were in possession of the original DOH-approved plans for
the Leased Premises, refused to surrender the plans to BASC.*fn20 As a
result, BASC was forced to resubmit plans to DOH on May 27, 2003. The
resubmitted plans were approved on May 27, 2003.*fn21
&nbsp; Abdulhay and BASC submitted this second set of plans to Hanover
Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, to obtain a building permit.
This permit was granted on June 3, 2003.*fn22 However, on June 6, 2003,
the Marz defendants sent a
letter to Jim Sterner, the Township Manager of Hanover Township,
falsely claiming that Dr. Abdulhay had tampered with the plans submitted