Opinion ID: 1405111
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Scope of the Plaintiff's Claims

Text: The broad language of the forum-selection clause in this case provides that it applies to all actions brought in connection with  the CSA. The facts in this case, however, establish that it was Massey's actions relating to the sale of Mr. Caperton's interest in the Harman Companiesactions that were not related in any way to the CSAthat directly caused the Harman Companies' and Mr. Caperton's complete financial demise. [9] For example, had Massey merely directed Wellmore to fraudulently declare force majeure, but done nothing further, it is likely that Mr. Caperton would have found a buyer for the Harman Companies, which would have saved them from bankruptcy and saved Mr. Caperton from personal financial ruin. Indeed, Black Diamond, the company that ultimately purchased Wellmore from Massey, had previously expressed an interest in purchasing the Harman Companies. Massey, however, prevented any such deal by engaging Black Diamond as a buyer for Wellmore and then ordering Black Diamond not to communicate with representatives of Harman regarding its possible acquisition. Massey's directive to Black Diamond is just one example of an act by Massey that was wholly unrelated to the CSA and, in the absence of which, the Harman Companies may well have avoided bankruptcy. Similarly, had Mr. Caperton not shut down the Harman Companies' operations in mid-January, in reliance on Massey's fraudulent representations that it intended to close the deal by January 31, 1998, Mr. Caperton and the Harman Companies' financial distress would not have been as urgent or immediate as it was. With a little more time, they could have found another buyer for their extremely valuable coal. [10] As part of its scheme, however, starting in November 1997, Massey consistently led Mr. Caperton to believe that the parties would reach a deal for the sale of Mr. Caperton's interest in the Harman Companies' and, thus, Massey effectively prevented Mr. Caperton and the Harman Companies from seeking other buyers or pursuing other avenues for relief. Clearly, Massey's misrepresentations regarding its intent to reach a sale agreement, as well as its failure to follow through on the agreed-to closing date for this sale, bear no relation to the CSA. The actions did, however, directly lead to the Harman Companies' and Mr. Caperton's declarations of bankruptcy. Finally, Massey's use of confidential information, obtained during the sale negotiations with Mr. Caperton, to purchase the narrow band of coal reserves surrounding the Harman Companies' mine, provides another example of conduct unrelated to any aspect of the CSA. As admitted by Massey in its own internal documents, this purchase ensured that the Harman Companies' property would be unattractive to all potential buyers other than Massey. Clearly, such action was yet another aspect of Massey's fraudulent scheme to ensure the Harman Companies' total collapse, and to further Massey's goal of gaining access to the Harman Companies' valuable coal reserves. Accordingly, the majority is wrong when it concludes that, in absence of the declaration of force majeure, the Harman Companies would not have been forced into bankruptcy and their prospective contractual relationships would not have been impeded by Massey. Rather, the facts indicate that Massey's fraudulent conduct neither began nor ended with that wrongful declaration and that it was Massey's misrepresentations and concealments made in connection with the proposed sale of Mr. Caperton's interest in the Harman Companies that directly caused their demise. The majority, however, makes no attempt to explain why all of Massey's conduct unrelated to the CSA can be characterized as flowing from the fraudulent declaration of force majeure. Like many of its other determinations, the majority simply makes conclusory statements without any support or reasoning.