CAG MLG, L.L.C. v. Smelley

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On May 10, 2013, CAG MLG, L.L.C. sued Bart Smelley and Smelley Family Investments, L.L.C., alleging six counts of misrepresentation and/or fraud and a single count of unjust enrichment. Smelley responded with a motion to dismiss, arguing that CAG was a foreign limited-liability company formed and organized in the State of Florida in 2010 and that it was "not registered or qualified to do business in the State of Alabama." Smelley also alleged that CAG had domesticated in Wyoming as Oceans, LLC, in March 2011 and that CAG was subsequently dissolved as a Florida entity in April 2011. Smelley argued that CAG "failed to state the jurisdictional element establishing its ability to maintain an action in its initial pleading." Accordingly, Smelley argued, the circuit court lacked "subject matter jurisdiction and/or personal jurisdiction over the matters contained in the [c]omplaint." CAG amended its complaint to add an eighth count requesting that the circuit court issue an injunction preventing Smelley from selling a piece of real property. Smelley amended its motion to dismiss to include the additional claim. CAG filed a motion to strike the paragraphs of Smelley's motion to dismiss that alleged that CAG was a foreign entity that was not registered to transact business in Alabama and the exhibits attached in support thereof. The circuit court held a hearing on the motions, and, the next day, issued an order granting CAG's motion to strike the objected to paragraphs of Smelley's motion. The court dismissed the request for an injunction as moot, and instructed the parties to file briefs regarding the remainder of Smelley's motion. Later that year, the circuit court granted Smelly's motion. CAG appealed. On review, the Supreme Court found that the circuit court granted Smelley's motion to dismiss without considering the exhibits attached thereto (having struck those exhibits pursuant to CAG's motion). Accordingly, Smelley's motion was not converted to a motion for a summary judgment. The the circuit court's dismissal of CAG's complaint would have only been proper if CAG's alleged lack of capacity was evident from the face of CAG's complaint. The Court concluded that it was not. Therefore, the circuit's court's dismissal of the complaint was reversed. View "CAG MLG, L.L.C. v. Smelley" on Justia Law