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Case No. ____________________
DEFENDANTS NOTICE OF REMOVAL OF ACTION UNDER 28 U.S.C. 1332, 1441(B) (DIVERSITY)
DANIELLE OCHS, State Bar No. 178677
dot@ogletreedeakins.com
TIMOTHY L. REED, State Bar No. 258034
timothy.reed@ogletreedeakins.com
OGLETREE, DEAKINS, NASH, SMOAK & STEWART, P.C.
Steuart Tower, Suite 1300
One Market Plaza
San Francisco, CA 94105
Telephone: 415.442.4810
Facsimile: 415.442.4870
Attorneys for Defendant
OCTAGON, INC.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
DOUGLAS HENDRICKSON, an individual,
Plaintiff,
v.
OCTAGON, INC., a Washington, D.C.
corporation,
Defendant.
Case No. ____________________
DEFENDANTS NOTICE OF REMOVAL
OF ACTION UNDER 28 U.S.C. 1332,
1441(B) (DIVERSITY)
Complaint Filed: February 21, 2014
Trial Date:
Case3:14-cv-01416-CRB Document1 Filed03/27/14 Page1 of 39
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1 Case No. ____________________
DEFENDANTS NOTICE OF REMOVAL OF ACTION UNDER 28 U.S.C. 1332, 1441(B) (DIVERSITY)
TO THE CLERK OF THE ABOVE-ENTITLED COURT:
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT defendant Octagon, Inc. (Defendant) hereby removes to
this Court the pending state court civil action identified in paragraph 1 below pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
sections 1332 and 1441(b).
1. On or about February 21, 2014, Plaintiff Douglas Hendrickson (Plaintiff)
commenced a civil action against Defendant in the Superior Court of California, County of San
Francisco, entitled: Douglas Henderson, an individual, Plaintiff, v. Octagon, Inc., a Washington,
D.C. corporation, Defendant, as Case Number CGC 14-537605. On February 25, 2014, Plaintiff
served Defendant with his Verified Complaint. Plaintiff alleges claims for (1) restraint of trade in
violation of section 16600 of the California Business and Professions Code; (2) unfair business
practices under section 17200 of the California Business and Professions Code; and (3) declaratory
and injunctive relief. True and correct copies of the Summons, Plaintiffs Verified Complaint, the
Proof of Service of Summons, and a Notice of Case Management Conference are attached hereto
as Exhibit A.
2. Exhibit B is a true and correct copy of the Notice of Filing of Removal, to be filed
with the San Francisco Superior Court hereafter. Exhibits A and B comprmise all of the pleadings
and papers known to Defendant to be on file or to be filed hereafter in the Superior Court.
3. This matter is a civil action of which this Court has original jurisdiction under
28 U.S.C. section 1332, and is one which may be removed to this Court by Defendant pursuant to
28 U.S.C. section 1441(b) in that it is a civil action between citizens of different states and the
matter in controversy exceeds the sum of $75,000, exclusive of interest and costs.
4. Plaintiffs Verified Complaint does not allege a damage amount as to each of his
claims. Removal is therefore proper if, from the allegations of the Verified Complaint and the
Notice of Removal, it is more likely than not that the claims will exceed $75,000. See Sanchez v.
Monumental Life Ins. Co., 102 F.3d 398, 404 (9th Cir. 1996); Luckett v. Delta Airlines, Inc., 171
F.3d 295, 298 (5th Cir. 1999). In determining whether the jurisdictional minimum is met, the
Court considers all recoverable damages, including emotional distress damages, punitive damages,
statutory penalties, and attorneys fees. See Hunt v. Washington State Apple Advertising Commn,
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2 Case No. ____________________
DEFENDANTS NOTICE OF REMOVAL OF ACTION UNDER 28 U.S.C. 1332, 1441(B) (DIVERSITY)
432 U.S. 333, 347-48 (1977); Galt G/S v. JSS Scandinavia, 142 F.3d 1150, 1155-56 (9th Cir.
1998); Anthony v. Security Pac. Finl Services, Inc., 75 F.3d 311, 315 (7th Cir. 1996).
5. Based on Plaintiffs allegations, the amount in controversy in the instant case is
more likely than not to exceed the sum or value of $75,000. Plaintiff was employed as a sports
agent for Defendant. (Complaint, 5, 12.) In his Verified Complaint, Plaintiff alleges that on
November 25, 2007, he and Defendant entered into an employment agreement (the Agreement).
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(Complaint, 6.) The parties have a dispute over whether Section 6 of the Agreement (Section
6), which concerns the splitting of fees following the termination of Plaintiffs employment from
Defendant, is unenforceable under California law. (Complaint, 6, 15, 16, Exh. A.) Plaintiff
seeks compensatory, consequential, punitive, and exemplary damages; costs, expenses, and
attorneys fees; injunctive relief; and a declaratory judgment that Section 6 is unenforceable.
(Complaint 22, 23, 31, 32, 35, Prayer for Relief, a-h.)
6. The fees in dispute for the upcoming National Football League season under
Marshawn Lynchs player contract total $82,500. (Declaration of Paul Haase in Support of Notice
of Removal (Haase Decl.), 4-6, Exh. A.) These fees are only for Lynchs team playing
agreement, and even then, only for the upcoming season. (Haase Decl., 6.) Fees from other
player deals and other years are also in dispute. (Haase Decl., 4, 7, Exh. A.) Plaintiff also seeks
recovery of attorneys fees and punitive damages. (Complaint 23, 32, Prayer for Relief, f-g.)
Thus, based on a conservative good faith estimate of the value of the claims asserted in this action,
Plaintiff seeks recovery in excess of $75,000.
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7. Complete diversity of citizenship exists in that Plaintiff is a citizen of the State of
California. (Complaint, 1.) Defendant Octagon, Inc. is incorporated under the laws of the
District of Columbia, with its principal place of business in McLean, Virginia. (Haase Decl., 2.)
//
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The Agreement is attached to Plaintiffs Verified Complaint.
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By estimating the amount Plaintiff may recover if he prevails, Defendant does not concede that
Plaintiff will prevail on any of his claims or that, if he prevails, he is entitled to damages in any
particular amount or at all. Defendant reserves the full right to dispute Plaintiffs claims with
respect to both liability and damages.
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3 Case No. ____________________
DEFENDANTS NOTICE OF REMOVAL OF ACTION UNDER 28 U.S.C. 1332, 1441(B) (DIVERSITY)
8. This Notice of Removal of Civil Action is filed within the time provided by 28
U.S.C section 1446(b) in that it was filed within thirty days of the date that Defendants were served
with Plaintiffs Verified Complaint.
9. San Francisco County is located within the jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court for
the Northern District of California. Thus, this Court is a proper court for the removal of this
action.
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DATED: March 27, 2014 OGLETREE, DEAKINS, NASH, SMOAK &
STEWART, P.C.
By: /s/ Danielle Ochs
DANIELLE OCHS
TIMOTHY L. REED
Attorneys for Defendant
OCTAGON, INC.
17233108.2
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Defendant maintains, however, that the under the terms of the Agreement, the proper venue for
Plaintiffs action is the Eastern District of Virginia.
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EXHIBIT A

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EXHIBIT B
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Case No. CGC 14-537605
NOTICE TO PLAINTIFF AND CLERK OF THE CALIFORNIA SUPERIOR COURT OF REMOVAL OF
CIVIL ACTION TO UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DANIELLE OCHS, State Bar No. 178677
dot@ogletreedeakins.com
TIMOTHY L. REED, State Bar No. 258034
timothy.reed@ogletreedeakins.com
OGLETREE, DEAKINS, NASH, SMOAK & STEWART, P.C.
Steuart Tower, Suite 1300
One Market Plaza
San Francisco, CA 94105
Telephone: 415.442.4810
Facsimile: 415.442.4870
Attorneys for Defendant
OCTAGON, INC.
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FOR THE COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO
DOUGLAS HENDRICKSON, an individual,
Plaintiff,
vs.
OCTAGON, INC., a Washington, D.C.
corporation,
Defendant.
Case No. CGC 14-537605
NOTICE TO PLAINTIFF AND CLERK OF
THE CALIFORNIA SUPERIOR COURT
OF REMOVAL OF CIVIL ACTION TO
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
Action Filed: February 21, 2014
Trial Date: None
Case3:14-cv-01416-CRB Document1 Filed03/27/14 Page38 of 39
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1 Case No. CGC 14-537605
NOTICE TO PLAINTIFF AND CLERK OF THE CALIFORNIA SUPERIOR COURT OF REMOVAL OF
CIVIL ACTION TO UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
TO PLAINTIFF DOUGLAS HENDRICKSON AND HIS ATTORNEYS OF RECORD, AND
THE CLERK OF THE ABOVE-ENTITLED COURT:
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT on March ___, 2014, Defendant OCTAGON, INC.
removed the instant action to the United States District Court for the Northern District of
California. A true and correct copy of the Notice of Removal, without exhibits, is attached hereto
as Exhibit A.
DATED: March __, 2014
OGLETREE, DEAKINS, NASH, SMOAK &
STEWART, P.C.
By:
DANIELLE OCHS
TIMOTHY L. REED
Attorneys for Defendant
OCTAGON, INC.
17233864.1
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