Opinion ID: 2977119
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Merits of Florida Counsel’s Objections

Text: Deutsche Bank and the LLCs argue that even if the district court erroneously applied judicial estoppel in denying Florida Counsel’s objections, this Court may still affirm the district court’s order on the merits of the objections. “The prevailing party may, of course, assert in a reviewing court any ground in support of his judgment, whether or not that ground was relied upon or even considered by the trial court.” Dandridge v. Williams, 397 U.S. 471, 476 n.6 (1970). In such cases, this Court “may properly review any reason advanced by [appellee] in support of the district court’s [order] that was presented to the district court.” United Food & Commercial Workers Union, Local 1099 v. Southwest Ohio Reg’l Transit Auth., 163 F.3d 341, 349 n.3 (6th Cir. 1998). However, given the complexity and the number of contracts involved in this case–the three fee payment agreements with MTF Counsel, the MSA, the Model FPA, and the agreements establishing the LLCs and Florida Counsel’s transfer of payment rights–this Court would benefit from the district court’s interpretation of these agreements. The district court’s greater familiarity with the details and background of the case is further reason to allow it to rule on the issues presented. Moreover, because the district court found that judicial estoppel applied to the objections, discovery did not proceed, and Florida Counsel argues that discovery would show that both Florida Counsel and the LLCs understood the assignments to exclude the supplemental payments. Therefore, although a resolution of this matter may be possible based on a review of the applicable agreements, prudence dictates that this Court ought not do so here, but remand the case for further development of the record in the district court.