HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-2611 BLM GROUP, INC. (PA)
BLM GROUP, INC. (DE),
BLM ARCHITECTS, INC.,
BLM ARCHITECTS, P.C.,
BLM INTERIORS, INC. (PA),
BLM INTERIORS, INC. (DE),
BLM INTERNATIONAL, LTD.,
_ BLM PROJECT MANAGEMENT, INC.,
BLM DEVELOPERS, INC., and
PETER I. BENTIVEGNA
Plaintiffs
BLM/CRA, INC.,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
CRABTREE, ROHRBAUGH &
ASSOCIATES, INC.,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
THOMAS C. CRABTREE,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
G. DOUGLAS ROHRBAUGH,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
CARL J. DAVIS,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
PATRICIA D. MALICK,
5061 Brittany Lane
BrynMawr, PA 19010,
DOUGLAS C. LINDSAY,
513 Spfingbrook Lane
Wayne, PA 19087,
UDO H. MARON,
401 Greyhorse Road
Willow Grove, PA 19090,
ANTHONY J. MERLINO,
520 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19146, and
: IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
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: CIVIL ACTION - LAW and ~Y
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BENTIVEGNA, LINDSAY, MARON, :
MERLINO - ARCHITECTS, :
161 Rock Hill Road, :
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004, :
Defendants : JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
NOTICE
YOU HAVE BEEN SUED IN COURT. If you wish to defend against the claims set
forth in the following pages, you must take action within twenty (20) days after this Complaint
and Notice are served, by entering a written appearance personally or by attorney and filing in
writing with the Court your defenses or objections to the claims set forth against you. You are
warned that if you fail to do so the case may proceed without you and a judgment may be entered
against you by the Court without further notice for any money claimed in the Complaint or for
any other claim or relief requested by the Plaintiff. You may lose money or property or other
fights important to you.
YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS PAPER TO YOUR LAWYER AT ONCE. IF YOU DO
NOT HAVE A LAWYER OR CANNOT AFFORD ONE, GO TO OR TELEPHONE THE
OFFICE SET FORTH BELOW TO FIND OUT WHERE YOU CAN GET LEGAL HELP.
Cumberland County Bar Association
2 Liberty Avenue
Carlisle, PA 17013
(800) 990-9108
NOTICIA
USTED HA SIDO DEMANDADO/A EN CORTE. Si usted desea defenderse de las
demandas que se presentan mas adelante en las siguientes paginas, debe tomar accion dentro de los
proximos veinte (20) dias despues de la notificacion de esta Demanda y Aviso radicando
personalmente o por medio de un abogado una comparecencia escrita y radicando en la Corte por
escrito sus defensas de, y objecciones a, las demandas presentadas aqui en contra suya. Se le
advierte de que si usted falla de tomar accion como se describe anteriormente, el caso puede proceder
sin usted y un fallo por cualquier suma de dinero reclamada en la demanda o cualquier otra
reclamacion o remedio solicitado por el demandante puede ser dictado en contra suya por la Corte
sin mas aviso adicional. Usted puede perder dinero o propiedad u otros derechos importantes para
usted.
USTED DEBE LLEVAR ESTE DOCUMENTO A SU ABOGADO INMEDIATAMENTE.
SI USTED NO TIENE UN ABOGADO O NO PUEDE PAGARLE A UNO, LLAME O VAYA A
LA SIGUIENTE OFICINA PARA AVERIGUAR DONDE PUEDE ENCONTRAR ASISTENCIA
LEGAL.
Cumberland County Bar Association
2 Liberty Avenue
Carlisle, PA 17013
(800) 990-9108
BLM GROUP, INC. (PA) :
BLM GROUP, INC. (DE) :
BLM ARCHITECTS, INC., :
BLM ARCHITECTS, P.C., :
BLM INTERIORS, INC. (PA), :
BLM INTERIORS, INC. (DE), :
BLM INTERNATIONAL, LTD., :
BLM PROJECT MANAGEMENT, INC., :
BLM DEVELOPERS, INC.,
PETER I. BENTIVEGNA
Plaintiffs
BLM/CRA, INC.,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
CRABTREE, ROHRBAUGH &
ASSOCIATES, INC.,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
THOMAS C. CRABTREE,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
G. DOUGLAS ROHRBAUGH,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
CARL J. DAVIS,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
PATRICIA D. MALICK,
5061 Brittany Lane
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010,
DOUGLAS C. LINDSAY,
513 Springbrook Lane
Wayne, PA 19087,
UDO H. MARON,
401 Greyhorse Road
Willow Grove, PA 19090,
ANTHONY J. MERLINO,
520 S. 22na Street
Philadelphia, PA 19146, and
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
CIVIL ACTION - LAW and Et~UITY
BENTIVEGNA, LINDSAY, MARON, :
MERLINO - ARCHITECTS, :
161 Rock Hill Road, :
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004, :
Defendants : JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
COMPLAINT
1. Plaintiff BLM Group, Inc. (PA) is a Pennsylvania corporation with a registered
address of 161 Rock Hill Road, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania 19004.
2. Plaintiff BLM Group, Inc. (DE) is a Delaware corporation whose registered agent's
address is c/o Barros, McNamara, Scanlon, Malkiewicz & Taylor, 2 West Loockerman Street, P.O.
Box 1298, Dover, Delaware 19903.
3. PlaintiffBLM Architects, Inc. is a Pennsylvania corporation with a registered address
of 161 Rock Hill Road, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania 19004.
4. Plaintiff BLM Architects, P.C., is a New Jersey professional corporation whose
registered agent's address is c/o Timothy J.P. Quinlan, 16 North Centre Street, 2nd Floor,
Merchantville, New Jersey 08109.
5. Plaintiff BLM Interiors, Inc. (PA) is a Pennsylvania corporation with a registered
address of 161 Rock Hill Road, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania 19004.
6. PlaintiffBLM Interiors, Inc. (DE) is a Delaware corporation whose registered agent's
address is c/o Barros, McNamara, Scanlon, Malkiewicz & Taylor, 2 West Loockerman Street, P.O.
Box 1298, Dover, Delaware 19903.
7. Plaintiff BLM International, Ltd. is a Pennsylvania corporation with a registered
address of 161 Rock Hill Road, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania 19004.
8. PlaintiffBLM Project Management, Inc. is Pennsylvania corporation with a registered
address of 161 Rock Hill Road, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania 19004.
9. Plaintiff BLM Developers, Inc. is a Pennsylvania corporation with a registered
address of 161 Rock Hill Road, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania 19004.
10. The corporations referred to in paragraphs 1 through 9 are hereinafter collectively
referred to as the "BLM Entities."
11. Plaintiff Peter I. Bentivegna is an adult individual who resides in Montgomery
County, Pennsylvania.
12. Defendant BLM/CRA, Inc. ("BLM/CRA") is a Pennsylvania business corporation
which maintains its registered address at E. Winding Hill Road, Mechanicsburg, Cumberland
County, Pennsylvania.
13. Defendant Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates, Inc. ("CRA") is a Pennsylvania
business corporation which maintains its principal place of business in Cumberland County,
Pennsylvania.
14. Defendant Thomas C. Crabtree is an adult individual who resides in Dover, York
County, Pennsylvania and is an officer, director, and employee of CRA and a director of BLM/CRA.
15. Defendant G. Douglas Rohrbaugh is an adult individual who is an officer, director,
and employee of CRA and a director of BLM/CRA.
16. Defendant Carl J. Davis is an adult individual who is an officer, director, and
employee of CRA and an officer, director, and employee of BLM/CRA.
17. Defendant Patricia D. Maiick is an adult individual residing at 5061 Brittany Lane,
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania 19010.
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18. Defendant Douglas C. Lindsay is an adult individual residing at 513 Springbrook
Lane, Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087.
19. Defendant Udo H. Maron is an adult individual residing at 401 Greyhorse Road,
Willow Grove, Pennsylvania 19090.
20. Defendant Anthony J. Meflino is an adult individual residing at 520 S. 22na Street,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19146.
21. Defendant Bentivegna, Lindsay, Maron, Merlino - Architects ("Partnership") is a
Pennsylvania general partnership against whom no claims are stated but which is a necessary party
to this action as a party to the Asset Purchase Agreement referred to below.
22. Plaintiffs BLM Entities and Defendant Partnership provide design services, including
architectural planning and interior design services.
23. That architectural business is operated in part by the Pennsylvania business
corporation of Plaintiff BLM Group, Inc., which was incorporated in 1985 and of which Plaintiff
Peter I. Bentivegna was an original incorporator.
24. Plaintiff BLM Group, Inc. (PA) has a number of related corporate entities because
of the need to obtain licensing to practice architecture in other states and for other proper business
reasons.
25.
Plaintiff Bentivegna was at all times and continues to be a 56.126% partner in and
Managing Partner of the Partnership and a 56.126% majority shareholder, President, and Chief
Executive Officer of BLM Entities.
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26. Mr. Bentivegna is a duly licensed architect who was a founder of an architectural
business approximately eighteen years ago which does business in Pennsylvania and in many other
states.
27.
Defendants Malik, Lindsay, Maron, and Meflino are minority shareholders in Plaintiff
BLM Entities and minority partners in Defendant Partnership.
28. In 2001, Plaintiff BLM Entities entered into negotiations with Defendant CRA for
a merger or acquisition of Plaintiff BLM Entities as a result of a recommendation received by
Plaintiff BLM Entities from a business broker.
29. As a result of those negotiations, an "Asset Purchase Agreement" ("APA") was
entered into on October 29, 2001, to which the following were the parties: Plaintiffs BLM Entities
and Bentivegna and Defendants BLM/CRA, Inc., Malick, Lindsay, Maron, Merlino, and Partnership
were parties. A copy of the APA is attached hereto as Exhibit "A."
30. Under Paragraph 2.1 of the APA, the consideration paid for the acquisition by
BLM/CRA of assets of BLM Entities was shares of stock in BLM/CRA and employment agreements
for the minority shareholders of BLM Entities and for Mr. Bentivegna was thirty percent (30%) of
the net profits of BLM/CRA for the period from November 1, 2001 through October 31, 2004 and
a three year employment contract.
31. Plaintiff Bentivegna did, in fact, enter into a three year Employment Agreement with
BLM/CRA ("Employment Agreement"), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit "B."
32. Throughout the negotiations leading up to the APA and Employment Agreement,
Defendants Crabtree, Rohrbaugh, and Davis represented the interests of CRA, BLM/CRA, and
themselves as shareholders in both CRA and BLM/CRA.
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33. Covenant 1.0 of the Employment Agreement specifically provides that Plaintiff
Bentivegna will serve as President and Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") "with all normal and
customary duties" during the first two years of his employment with BLM/CRA, a qualified
successor to him would be identified, and an orderly transition would occur during the third year of
his employment.
34. The provisions of Covenant 1.0 concerning PlaintiffBentivegna's offices and duties
were material to both the APA and Employment Agreement because the consideration to him did
not involve any immediate buy-out of him but primarily the percentage of profit over the three year
period and because those provisions were a way of insuring that he could have a substantial effect
upon and to some degree control of profitability during that period.
35. In addition, the provisions of Covenant 1.0 concerning PlaintiffBentivegna's offices
and duties were material considerations for PlaintiffBLM Entities because it enabled them to ensure
that all of its outstanding contractual obligations would be met and that they would not incur any
additional liabilities as a result of the APA.
36. All of the Defendants were aware that those provisions of Covenant 1.0 were material
to Plaintiffs BLM Entities and Bentivegna and that they would not have entered into the APA
without such provisions.
37. All of the Defendants except for the Partnership represented to Plaintiffs BLM
Entities and Bentivegna that Plaintiff Bentivegna would not only have the titles of President and
CEO of BLM/CRA but would have all the nomml and customary duties and rights that accompany
those titles throughout the first two years of his employment by BLM/CRA, and those Defendants
made those representations to Plaintiff Bentivegna specifically for the purpose of inducing him into
entering into the APA and Employment Agreement.
38. Plaintiffs BLM Entities and Bentivegna did, in fact, rely upon those representations
concerning his duties and fights as President/CEO in entering into the APA and Employment
Agreement.
39. Based upon information and belief, Plaintiffs allege that Defendants' representations
concerning the duties and fights that PlalntiffBentivegna would have were false and fraudulent when
made by Defendants in that they never intended to allow him to actually exercise such duties and
rights.
40. At all times since the execution of the APA and Employment Agreement, Defendants
with the exception of Defendant Partnership have, in fact, refused to allow Plaintiff Bentivegna to
exercise the duties and fights which normally and customarily are those ora President/CEO by, inter
alia:
a.) refusing to allow him to supervise and direct the activities of other officers and
employees of BLM/CRA;
b.) refusing to provide him with information and details concerning the financial
operations of BLM/CRA;
c.) taking actions and failing to take actions contrary to his directions which created
risk of his being personally liable therefor; and
d.) the individual Defendants' refusals to comply with entirely proper directives and
orders given to them.
41. Defendants Crabtree, Rohrbaugh, Davis, and Merlino, acting as Directors of
BLM/CRA purported to hold a meeting of the Board of Directors on April 8, 2002, at which they
adopted various resolutions which, inter alia, formally stripped PlaintiffBentivegna of all duties and
rights normally accorded to a President/CEO and directed him to confine his efforts as an officer and
employee to marketing BLM/CRA's services outside the company.
42. During the negotiations leading up to the execution of the APA, Defendants CRA,
Crabtree, Rohrbaugh, and Davis represented that BLM/CRA would have no difficulty obtaining
required licensing and registration in each of the states in which BLM Entities had been doing
business and that they knew that was the case based upon the fact that Defendant Crabtree was
licensed in more than thirty (30) states.
43. As part of those representations, Defendants CRA, Crabtree, Rohrbaugh, and Davis
specifically represented that it would not be necessary for BLM/CRA to create related corporations,
as BLM Entities had done, in order to become licensed and registered in other states and that,
therefore, BLM/CRA would be able to expeditiously and promptly take over the business of BLM
Entities, thereby allowing BLM Entities to liquidate and go out of business.
44. The aforesaid representations concerning licensing and registration were made by
Defendants CRA, Crabtree, Rohrbaugh, and Davis in order to induce Plaintiffs BLM Entities and
Bentivegna into entering into the APA.
45. Plaintiffs BLM Entities and Bentivegna did, in fact, rely upon the representations
concerning licensing and registration in entering into the APA.
46. Defendants CRA, Crabtree, Rohrbaugh, and Davis' representations concerning the
ease with which BLM/CRA could obtain required licensing and registration in other states were, in
fact, false.
47. As of this date, BLM/CRA has still not been able to obtain licensing and registration
in all of the states in which BLM Entities has done and is doing business, and BLM/CRA has been
forced to create at least one related corporation in order to be licensed and registered to do business
in one such state, New Jersey.
48. As a result of the falsity of the representation concerning the licensing and registration
of BLM/CRA, Plaintiff BLM Entities has been forced to continue its business and has incurred
expenses and liabilities.
49. During the negotiations leading up to the execution of the APA, all the Defendants
with the exception of the Partnership represented that no significant changes would be made in the
staffing and management of BLM Entities by BLM/CRA following BLM/CRA's purchase of BLM
Entities's assets under the APA.
50. The representations that no changes would be made in the staffing and management
were made to induce Plaintiffs BLM Entities and Bentivegna into entering into the APA, and they
were induced to do so in part because of those representations.
51. Based upon information and belief, Plaintiffs aver that those representations were
false when made because Defendants with the exception of the Partnership had already agreed to
make substantial changes in staffing and management.
52. At the direction of Defendant BLM/CRA and at the requests of and with the
knowledge of all Defendants except the Partnership, Plaintiffs BLM Entities and Bentivegna have
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represented to their clients, subcontractors, consultants, and suppliers that no changes would be made
in the staffing and management of BLM Entities as a result of BLM/CRA's purchase of BLM
Entities's assets under the APA.
53. All of the Defendants except Defendants CRA and the Partnership have also
represented to the clients, subcontractors, consultants, and suppliers of BLM Entities, through letters
and other communications, that all the employees of BLM Entities became employees of Defendant
BLM/CRA and that the management of BLM Entities would remain substantially unchanged, and
they have continued to represent that those things occurred and remain true.
54. Those representations are false because not all the employees of BLM Entities are
employees of Defendant BLM/CRA and the management of BLM Entities has been substantially and
significantly changed; and, in fact, Plaintiff Bentivegna, who had been attempting to minimize his
damages despite Defendant's numerous, material breaches of his Employment Agreement, was
notified by BLM/CRA that his employment was terminated on May 24, 2002.
55. Defendants BLM/CRA, Crabtree, Rohrbaugh, Davis, and Merlino have consistently
and routinely represented to Plaintiffs BLM Entities and Bentivegna since the execution of the APA
that BLM Entities is nothing more than a conduit for funds and, in effect, a front for BLM/CRA in
relation to all business formerly of BLM Entities until such time as BLM/CRA obtains required
licensing and registration and until BLM/CRA obtains any necessary consents to assignments of
contractual agreements with BLM Entities.
56. Based upon those representations, Defendants BLM/CRA, Crabtree, Rohrbaugh,
Davis, and Merlino have made repeated, persistent, and vociferous demands that Plaintiffs BLM
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Entities and Bentivegna pay various sums to and take various actions for the benefit of BLM/CRA
in such a way as to constitute harassment and abuse of them.
57. Based upon those representations, Defendants BLM/CRA, Crabtree, Rohrbaugh,
Davis, and Merlino have purported to issue "directives" and orders to Plaintiffs BLM Entities and
Bentivegna to take various actions which would be inimical to their interests of BLM Entities and
which would constitute violations of Plaintiff Bentivegna's fiduciary duties to BLM Entities while
threatening to terminate his employment if he fails to follow such "directives" and orders.
58. Contrary to Defendants' representations concerning the relationship between BLM
Entities and BLM/CRA, Paragraph 7.5 of the APA specifically provides that, until such time as
consents to assignment of contracts are received from any entity with which BLM Entities has a
contractual relationship that requires such consent, BLM/CRA is merely to function as a
subcontractor of BLM Entities.
59. As part of Defendants' representations concerning the relationship between BLM
Entities and BLM/CRA, Defendants BLM/CRA, Crabtree, Rohrbaugh, Davis, and Meflino have
consistently and routinely represented to Plaintiffs BLM Entities and Bentivegna that all
subcontractors, consultants, insurers, suppliers, and the landlord of BLM Entities have been and are
continuing to be paid by Defendant BLM/CRA.
60. Those representations are false in that many of the subcontractors, consultants,
insurers, suppliers, and the landlord of BLM Entities have not been paid by Defendant BLM/CRA.
61. Under the contractual agreements between Plaintiff BLM Entities and all of its
clients, subcontractors, and consultants, no written assignments of those contracts is legally valid
unless the client, subcontractor, or consultant consents in writing to the assignment.
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62. Defendants with the exceptions of Defendants CRA and the Partnership have
represented to clients, subcontractors, and consultants of BLM Entities that their contractual
agreements with BLM Entities have been assigned and have not fully and properly info~tsled them
that their written consent to any assignment is required and that they were entitled to refuse to give
that consent if they so choose.
Count I - - Plaintiffs vs. Ail Defendants
Except Defendant Partnership
Fraud
63. Paragraphs 1 through 62 above are incorporated herein by reference.
64. All Defendants except Defendant Partnership knowingly and wilfully made the
aforesaid false representations to Plaintiffs BLM Entities and Bentivegnato induce them to enter into
the APA and, in the case of Plaintiff Bentivegna, into the Employment Agreement.
65. The actions of all the Defendants except Defendant Partnership in making the
aforesaid false representations to Plaintiff BLM Entities were intentional, willful, outrageous, and
wanton.
66.
Defendants' false and fraudulent representations induced Plaintiffs BLM Entities and
Bentivegna into entering into the APA, and, therefore, their consents to those agreements are void
ab initio.
67. Since Plaintiffs BLM Entities and Bentivegna were induced into entering into the
APA by fraud, those agreements are vitiated and should, therefore, be rescinded.
68. As a result of the aforesaid fraud, PlaintiffBLM Entities has not been able to liquidate
and go out of business.
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69. As a result of the aforesaid fraud, Plaintiffs BLM Entities and Bentivegna have been
and will continue to also suffer damages to their professional reputations and their relationships with
clients, subcontractors, consultants, and suppliers.
70. Punitive damages should be imposed upon all of the Defendants, except Defendant
Partnership, for their intentional, willful, outrageous, and wanton fraud upon Plaintiffs BLM Entities
and Bentivegna.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs respectfully request that this Honorable Court enter a judgment
rescinding the APA and Employment Agreement and awarding damages against all Defendants
except Defendant Partnership in an amount in excess of $25,000.00, plus interest and costs and such
other relief as the Court may deem necessary and/or appropriate.
Count II - - Plaintiffs BLM Entities vs. Defendants BLM/CRA,
Malik, Landis, Maron, and Merlino
Breach of Contract
71. Paragraphs 1 through 62 above are incorporated herein by reference.
72. Defendant BLM/CRA has materially breached the APA by failing to promptly obtain
all required licensing, registration, and consents to assignments of contracts.
73. Defendant BLM/CRA has materially breached the APA because Plaintiff BLM
Entities cannot liquidate and go out of business.
74. Defendants BLM/CRA, Malik, Landis, Maron, and Merlino have materially breached
the APA by failing to allow, assist, and enable Plaintiff BLM Entities's President/CEO, Mr.
Bentivegna, to exercise
President/CEO.
the rights and duties normally and customarily exercised by a
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75. Defendants BLM/CRA and Merlino further materially breached the APA through the
resolutions adopted on April 8, 2002.
76. Defendants' aforesaid actions with regard to the APA constitute breaches of contract
even if they are not deemed to be material.
77. As a result of the aforesaid breaches of contract, Plaintiffs BLM Entities and
Bentivegna have been and will continue to suffer damages because they will not receive the full
benefits to which they are entitled under the APA.
78. As a result of the aforesaid breaches of contract, Plaintiff BLM Entities has been and
will continue to also suffer damages because it has had to continue in business and has had to
continue incurring expenses and liabilities, and those damages were entirely foreseeable by
Defendants.
79.
As a result of the aforesaid breaches of contract, Plaintiffs BLM Entities and
Bentivegna have been suffering and will continue to suffer damages to their professional reputations
and their relationships with clients, which damages were entirely foreseeable by BLM/CRA.
WHEREFORE, PlaintiffBLM Entities respectfully requests that this Honorable Court award
damages against Defendants BLM/CRA, Malik, Lindsay, Maron, and Merino in an amount in
excess of $25,000.00, plus interest and costs and such other relief as the Court may deem necessary
and/or appropriate.
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Count III - - Plaintiffs vs. All Defendants
Except Defendant Partnership
Intentional Interference with Contractual Relations
80. Paragraphs 1 through 79 above are incorporated herein by reference.
81. All Defendants except Defendants BLM/CRA and the Partnership have intentionally
interfered with the contractual agreements (i.e., the APA and Employment Agreement) between
PlalntiffBentivegna and BLM/CRA through the aforesaid actions of preventing him from exercising
the rights and duties noi-nxally and customarily exercised by a President/CEO and by failing to
promptly obtain all required licensing, registration, and consents to assignments of contracts.
82. Defendants BLM/CRA, Crabtree, Rohrbaugh, Davis, and Merlino have intentionally
interfered with the contractual relationship between Plaintiffs BLM Entities and Bentivegna through
the aforesaid actions of directing and ordering Plaintiff Bentivegna to take actions which were
inimical to the interests of Plaintiff BLM Entities and of misrepresenting the relationship between
PlaintiffBLM Entities and Defendant BLM/CRA.
83. All of the Defendants except the Defendant Partnership have intentionally interfered
with the contractual relationships between PlaintiffBLM Entities and its clients, subcontractors, and
consultants by failing to promptly obtain all required licensing, registration, and consents to
assignments of contracts and by making the misrepresentations to those clients, subcontractors, and
consultants set forth above.
84. Defendants actions in engaging in the aforesaid interferences with Plaintiffs'
contractual relations were intentional, willful, outrageous, and wanton.
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85. As a result of the aforesaid interferences, Plaintiffs BLM Entities and Bentivegna
have been and will continue to suffer damages because Plaintiff BLM Entities has had to continue
in business and has had to continue incurring expenses and liabilities.
86. As a result of the aforesaid interferences, Plaintiffs BLM Entities and Bentivegna
have been and will continue to also suffer damages because they will not receive the full benefits to
which they are entitled under the APA.
87. As a result of the interferences, Plaintiffs BLM Entities and Bentivegna have been
and will continue to also suffer damages to their professional reputations and their relationships with
clients, subcontractors, consultants, and suppliers.
88. Punitive damages should be imposed upon all Defendants except the Defendant
Partnership for their intentional, willful, outrageous, and wanton interferences with PlalntiffBLM
Entities's contractual relations.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs respectfully request that this Honorable Court award damages
against all Defendants except Defendant Partnership in an amount in excess of $25,000.00, plus
interest and costs and such other relief as the Court may deem necessary and/or appropriate.
Count IV - - Plaintiffs vs. All Defendants
Except Defendant Partnership
Civil Conspiracy
89. Paragraphs 1 through 88 above are incorporated herein by reference.
90. The repeated and on-going breaches of contract, fraud, interferences with contractual
relations, and intentional inflictions of emotional distress by all Defendants except the Defendant
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Partnership were unlawful acts which were engaged in as a result of an active or tacit agreement by
all Defendants, except the Defendant Partnership, or through concerted action.
91. The agreement of all Defendants except the Defendant Partnership and/or concerted
action constituted a conspiracy to engage in those breaches, fraud, interferences, and intentional
inflictions of distress which also constituted goals of that conspiracy.
92. Based upon information and belief, PlaintiffBLM Entities alleges that the agreement
of all Defendants, except the Partnership, and/or concerted action also had as its purpose an intention
to force Plaintiff Bentivegna to resign as President/CEO of Defendant BLM/CRA and/or Plaintiff
BLM Entities.
93. The unlawful conspiracy of Defendants except the Defendant Partnership is
intentional, willful, outrageous, and wanton.
94. As a result of the aforesaid conspiracy, Plaintiff BLM Entities has been and will
continue to suffer damages because it will not receive the full benefits to which it was entitled under
the APA.
95. As a result of the aforesaid conspiracy, Plaintiffs BLM Entities and Bentivegna have
been and will cominue to also suffer damages because Plaintiff BLM Entities must continue in
business and has had to continue incurring expenses and liabilities.
96. As a result of the aforesaid conspiracy, Plaintiffs BLM Entities and Bentivegna have
been and will continue to also suffer damage to their professional reputations and their relationships
with clients, subcontractors, consultants, and suppliers.
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97. Punitive damages should be imposed upon all Defendants except Defendant
Partnership for their intentional, willful, outrageous, and wanton conspiracy against Plaintiffs.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs respectfully request that this Honorable Court award damages
against all Defendants except Defendant Partnership in an amount in excess of $25,000.00, plus
interest and costs and such other relief as the Court may deem necessary and/or appropriate.
Count V - - Plaintiffs vs. All Defendants
Except Defendant Partnership
In Equity
98. Paragraphs 1 through 97 above are incorporated herein by reference.
99. Defendants have obtained confidential business information concerning BLM Entities
as a result of their wrongful acts set forth above.
100. Defendants have taken and refused to return business records of the BLM Entities
which are critical to its performance of its contractual duties with third parties and which are
necessary for its operation.
101. Despite the contractual provision making BLM/CRA a subcontractor, Defendants
have refused to supply the BLM Entities with critical infornmtion concerning matters, including, but
not limited to, detailed time records of work done on various projects of the BLM Entities, copies
of bills received from subcontractors, consultants, and suppliers of the BLM Entities, records of
payments made by clients of the BLM Entities, and records of payments made to subcontractors,
consultants, and suppliers of the BLM Entities.
102. Defendants' wrongful conduct alleged above has been on-going and is likely to be
continued unless they are enjoined from continuing to engage in that wrongful conduct.
18
103. Defendants' wrongful conduct can be fully, fairly, and properly remedied only if
equitable relief is granted to Plaintiffs.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs respectfully request that this Honorable Court enter an order:
(a) rescinding the APA and the Employment Agreement;
(b) rescinding any assignment of any of Plaintiff BLM Entities' contracts with any
of its clients, subcontractors, consultants, and/or suppliers;
(c) prohibiting Defendants from interfering in the contractual relations between
Plaintiff BLM Entities and any of its clients, subcontractors, consultants, and/or suppliers;
(d) requiring a full accounting by Defendant BLM/CRA of all payments received
from and bills issued to and/or received from any of BLM Entities' clients, subcontractors,
consultants, and/or suppliers;
(e) requiring a full accounting by Defendant BLM/CRA of all work perfotxlaed for or
with any of BLM Entities' clients, subcontractors, consultants, and/or suppliers; and
(f) awarding such further relief as the Court deems appropriate.
SHUMAKER WILLIAMS, P.C.
Dated: ~-//~3~ By ~f~~
/~a~ace W. D~gue; I'.I~# 19715
6/ Melissa A. Swauger, I.D. #82382
P.O. Box 88
Harrisburg, PA 17108
(717) 763-1121
Attorneys for Plaintiffs
:143259
19
Exhibit A
ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is entered into as of
October 29, 2001 by and among BLM/CRA, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (the "Purchaser");
BLM Group, Inc., a corporation ("Group"), BLM Inte, riors, Inc., a
corporation ("Interiors"), Bentivegna, Lindsay, Maron, Merlino-Architects, a
partnership ("BLMM-A"), BLM Architects, Inc., a
corporation ("Architects, Inc."), BLM Architects, P.C., a corporation ("Architects
P.C."), BLM International, Ltd., a corporation ("International") BLM Project
Management, Inc. ("Project Management") (Group, Interiors, BLMM-A, Architects, Inc.,
Architects P.C., International and Project Management are hereinafter referred to individually
and collectively as "Seller"); and Peter I. Bentivegna, Anthony J. Merlino, Patricia D. Malick,
Douglas C. Lindsay and Udo H. Maron, collectively the shareholders of the Seller (collectively,
the "Owners" and individually, an "Owner"). Certain other capitalized terms used herein are
defined in Article X and throughout this Agreement.
RECITALS
The Seller and Owner wish to sell, and Purchaser wishes to buy, the Purchased Assets (as
hereinafter defined) constituting the Seller°s business of health care architecture and design (the
"Business"), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement. '
BLM Developers, Inc., an entity owned by BLM Group, Inc., is a party to this Agreement
only for the purposes described in Sections 6.8 and 6.14 and its assets are not being sold hereby.
TERMS OF AGREEMENT
In consideration of the mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
PURCHASE AND SALE OF ASSETS
1.1 Purchased Assets. The Seller agrees to and will at Closing (as defined in Section
3.1), sell, convey, transfer, assign and deliver to Purchaser at the Closing, on the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, all of its assets, properties and business of
every kind and description, whether real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible, wherever
located (except those assets of the Seller which are specifically excluded as provided in Section
1.2 hereof) as shall exist on the Closing Date (as defined in Section 3.1), whether or not
appearing on the Current Balance Sheet (as defined in Section 5.9) (collectively, the "Purchased
Assets"). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Purchased Assets shall include,
but not be limited to, the following:
(a) Tangible Personal Property. All equipment, supplies, leasehold improvements,
raw materials, work in process, inventories, machinery, furniture and fixtures, computers,
telephones, automobiles, vehicles and other fixed assets owned by
particularly described on Schedule 1.1 (a) attached hereto;
the Seller, as more
(b) Customer Accounts. All of the Seller's contract and noncontract customer
accounts, customer account contracts ("Customer Contracts"), and other rights to provide
services to the customers of the Seller, as more particularly described on Schedule 1.1 (b)
attached hereto;
(c) Prepayments. Prepaid and deferred items of the Seller, including prepaid rentals,
and unbilled charges and deposits but excluding prepaid taxes and utilities and excluding any
lease security deposits prepaid by Seller;
(d) Leasehold Interests. All of the interest of and the tights and benefits accruing to
the Seller as lessee under the leases coveting the Leased Premises (as defined in Section 5.13)
and any leases of machinery, vehicles, containers, equipment, tools, furniture and fixtures and
· other fixed assets utilized in the Business;
(e) Licenses and Pemfits. To the extent assignable, all permits, licenses, certificates
of authority, franchises, accreditations, registrations and other authorizations issued 'or used in
connection with the Business;
(f) Books, Records and Other Assets. All operating data and records of the Seller,
including without limitation, client lists and records, insurance policies, financial, accounting and
credit records, correspondence, budgets and other similar documents and records, and all of the
Seller's telephone and telecopier numbers, and post office boxes as such relate to the Business
except that Seller shall retain ownership of f'mancial and accounting records relating to closed
financial years and completed work on open projects but possession of records relating to
completed work on open projects shall be held by Purchaser;
(g) Intangible Rights. All of the Seller's intellectual property ("Intellectual
Property"), including Seller's name, registered designs and applications therefor, copyrights and
copyright applications, trademarks, service marks, trade dress; slogans and the like, and any
applications therefor, inventions, confidential processes, methods, patterns, devices, trade secrets
and other know how, computer software (including data, data bases and documentation), and any
licenses, agreements or permissions in connection with any of the foregoing; notwithstanding the
foregoing Purchaser acknowledges that BLM Developers, Inc. may have a co-ownership interest
in such Intellectual Property and BLM Developers, Inc.'s interest therein is not being transferred
hereby;
(h) Insurance. All insurance, warranty and condemnation proceeds with respect to
the Business or the Purchased Assets;
(i) Contingent Rights. All other known and unknown, liquidated or unliquidated,
contingent or fixed rights, choses in action or causes of action of every nature and kind which the
Seller has or may have against any third party and all rights which the Seller may have to any
other assets other than Excluded Assets (as hereinafter defined); and
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(j) Goodwill. Any and ail goodwill related to the foregoing.
1.2 Excluded Assets. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in Section
1. I, the Purchased Assets shall exclude the following assets of the Seller: (i) the Purchase Price
(as defined in Section 2.1 ) and other rights of the Seller under this Agreement; (ii) the shares of
capitai stock of the Seller which are owned and held by the Seller as treasury shares; (iii) the
corporate minute books and stock records of the Seller; (iv) all cash and cash equivalents and
investments of the Seller; (v) all receivables of the Seller, including without limitation, all trade
accounts receivable, notes receivable and amounts due from employees; (vi) any taxes or utilities
prepaid by Seller or leasehold security deposits; (vii) Seller's patents; and (viii) those certain
assets of the Seller described on Schedule 1.2 attached hereto.
1.3 Assignment of Contracts. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, this Agreement shall not constitute an assignment of any claim, contract, license,
franchise, lease, commitment, saies order, sales contract, supply contract, service agreement,
purchase order or purchase commitment if an attempted assignment thereof, without the consent
of a third party thereto, would constitute a breach thereof or in any way adversely affect the
rights of Purchaser thereunder. If such consent is not obtained, or if any attempt at an assignment
thereof would be ineffective or would affect the rights of the Seller thereunder so that Purchaser
would not in fact receive all such rights, the Seller shall cooperate with Purchaser to the e~xtent
necessary to provide for Purchaser the benefits under such claim, contract, license, franchise,
lease, commitment, sales order, sales contract, supply contract, service agreement, purchase
order or purchase commitment, including enforcement for the benefit of Purchaser of any and all
rights of the Seller against a third party thereto arising out of the breach or cancellation by such
third party or otherwise.
ARTICLE II
PURCHASE PRICE: ASSUMED LIABILITIES
2.1 Purchase Price. As consideration for the Purchased Assets and the Covenant not-
to-compete in Section 6.8 herein, Purchaser agrees, on the terms and subject to the conditions
and limitations set forth herein, to pay to the Seller $1,000 aiong with the book vaiue of any
Purchased Assets that are acquired by the Seller in the ordinary course of business and in
compliance with Article VI hereof between August 21, 2001 and the Closing Date, which shall
be payable in cash at closing (the "Purchase Price"). In addition to the Purchase Price, the
Owners shall receive the following: (i) Peter I. Bentivegna shall receive a payment equal to 30%
of the Purchaser's EBIT (defined below) for each of the following periods: (a) the two month
period comprised o£ November 1, 2001 to December 31, 2001; (b) calendar years 2002 and
2003; and (c) the ten month period from January 1, 2001 to October 31, 2004, to be paid within
90 days after the end of such periods; (ii) each of Anthony J. Merlino, Patricia D. Malick,
Douglas C. Lindsay and Udo H. Maron (the "Continuing Shareholders") may purchase shares in
the Purchaser as set forth in the Buy-Sell Agreement attached as Exhibit 2. l(ii) at a price of
$0.10 per share; and (iii) Peter I. Bentivegna shall execute a three year employment agreement at
$175,000 per year in the fo,, of Exhibit 2.1 (iii) - PIB and each of the Continuing Shareholders
HBG\83492.8
shall execute a five year employment agreement at $112,000 per year each, in the form of
Exhibit 2.1 (iii) ~ Others.
2.2 Assumed Liabilities. As of Closing, Purchaser shall assume and agree to pay,
discharge and perform when lawfully due, all of the obligations, duties and liabilities of the
Seller (the "Assumed Liabilities") with respect to the following:
(a) all of the obligations and liabilities arising under or relating to the
Customer Contracts occurring on and after the Closing Date;
(b) all of the obligations and liabilities arising under those certain
leases with respect to the Leased Premises and any leases of machinery, vehicles,
equipment and other fixed assets acquired hereunder accruing on and after the
Closing Date; and
(c) charitable contributions, marketing and promotional obligations as
specifically set forth on Schedule 2.2.
2.3 Excluded Liabilities. Except for the Assumed Liabilities, the parties expressly
agree that Purchaser shall not assume or otherwise become liable for any other obligations or
liabilities of the Seller (the "Excluded Liabilities"), including, without limitation, the following:
(a) any liability or obligation of the Seller or any other person or
entity, absolute or contingent, known or unknown, not expressly agreed to be
assumed pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.2;
(b) any liability or obligation of the Seller against which Purchaser is
indemnified pursuant to Article IX hereof;
(c) any liability or obligation relating to income, franchise, sales, use,
payroll, property, unemployment or withholding taxes of the Seller, including any
interest or penalties related thereto, and any taxes that may be payable as a result
of the transaction contemplated hereby;
(d) any liability or obligation relating to any default under any of the
Assumed Liabilities to the extent such default existed prior to Closing;
(e) any liability or obligation, whether in tort, contract or for violation
of any law, statute, rule or regulation by the Seller, Owner or any officer, director,
employee or agent of the Seller, that arises out of or results from any act,
omission, occurrence or state of facts prior to the Closing;
(f) any liability or obligation of the Seller with respect to or arising
out of any employee benefit plan or any other plans or arrangements for the
benefit of any employees of the Seller or any affiliated companies provided that
Purchaser shall continue to honor said vacation, sick days or leave as set forth on
Schedule 2.3(0 as follows: all accrued sick days and any vacation days accrued
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between the Closing Date and December 31, 2001 will be honored by Purchaser
at the expense of Purchaser and any vacation days used or accrued in excess of
days earned between the Closing Date and December 31, 2001 shall be at the
expense of Seller, which shall be reimbursed by Seller upon demand of Purchaser;
and
(g) any liability arising under any litigation currently pending against
the Seller or Owner.
2.4 No Expansion of Third Party Rights. The assumption by Purchaser of the
Assumed Liabilities, and the transfer thereof by the Seller, shall in no way expand the rights or
remedies of any third party against Purchaser or the Seller as compared to the rights and
remedies which such third party would have had against the Seller had Purchaser not assumed
such liabilities. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, the assumption by
Purchaser of the Assumed Liabilities shall not create any third party beneficiary rights.
2.5 Allocation. The parties agree that the Purchase Price shall be allocated $500 for
goodwill and $500 for the balance of the Purchased Assets. The parties agree that such
allocation will be binding on both parties for federal income tax purposes in connection with this
purchase and sale of the Purchased Assets, and will be consistently reflected by each parW. on
their respective federal income tax returns. The parties agree to prepare and timely file all
applicable Internal Revenue Service fom~s, including Form 8594 (Asset Acquisition Statement),
and other governmental forms, to cooperate with each other in the preparation of such fom~s and
to furnish each other with a copy of such forms prepared in draft, within a reasonable period
prior to the filing due date thereof.
2.6 Scheduled Contracts. Purchaser shall assume and continue to perfmm under the
contracts, projects and scope ("Scheduled Contracts") identified on Schedule 2.6. Purchaser
shall pay to Seller all revenues received by Purchaser and attributable to these Scheduled
Contracts for the period from Closing to December 30, 2001, less the value of Purchaser's
professional services performed, calculated at the contract hourly rates..
ARTICLE III
CLOSING
3.1 Time and Place. Subject to and after fulfillment or waiver of the conditions set
forth in Article VII and Article VIII of this Agreement, the Closing of the purchase and sale of
the Purchased Assets (the "Closing") shall take place at the offices of Seller on a date selected by
Purchaser within five days following the fulfillment or waiver of such conditions, or such other
time and place as the parties may otherwise agree (the "Closing Date").
3.2 Procedure at the Closing. At the Closing, the parties agree that the following
shall occur:
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(a) The Seller and Owner shall have satisfied each of the conditions
set forth in Article VII and shall deliver to Purchaser the documents, certificates,
opinions, consents and letters required by Article VII.
(b) Purchaser shall have satisfied each of the conditions set forth in
Article VIII and shall deliver to the Seller and Owner the documents and
certificates required by Article VIII.
(c) The Seller and Owner shall deliver to Purchaser, or a direct or indirect
wholly owned subsidiary of Purchaser, a Bill of Sale and Assignment in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit 3.2, and such other deeds, bills of sale, endorsements,
assignments, releases and other instruments, in such form as is satisfactory to
Purchaser and as shall be sufficient to vest in Purchaser (or its assignee) good and
marketable title to the Purchased Assets and shall deliver to Purchaser (or its
assignee) immediate possession of the Purchased Assets.
(d) Purchaser shall pay to the Seller the Purchase Price payable
pursuant to Section 2.1.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESE1NTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
OF PURCHASER
As a material inducement to the Seller and Owners to enter into this Agreement and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, Purchaser makes the following
representations and warranties:
4.1 Corporate Status. Purchaser is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and
in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania~
4.2 Corporate Power and Authority. Purchaser has the corporate power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. Purchaser has taken all action necessary to
authorize the execution and delivery of tiffs Agreement, the performance of its obligations
hereunder and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
4.3 Enforceability. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
Purchaser and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Purchaser, enfomeable against
Purchaser in accordance with its terms, except as the same may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of
creditors' rights generally and general equitable principles regardless of whether such
enfomeability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity.
HBG\83492.8 --
4.4 No Commissions. Purchaser has not incurred any obligation for any finder's or
broker's or agent's fees or commissions or similar compensation in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby.
4.5 No Violation. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Purchaser, the
performance by Purchaser of its obligations hereunder and the consummation by Purchaser of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not (i) contravene any provision of the
certificate of incorporation or bylaws of Purchaser, (ii) violate or conflict with any law, statute,
ordinance, rule, regulations, decrees, writ, injunction, judgment or order of any Governmental
Authority or of any arbitration award which is either applicable to, binding upon or enforceable
against Purchaser, (iii) conflict with, result in any breach of, or constitute a default (or an event
which would, with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both, constitute a default) under,
or give rise to a right to texminate, amend, modify, abandon or accelerate, any material Contract
which is applicable to, binding upon or enforceable against Purchaser, or (iv) require the consent,
. approval, authorization or pemfit of, or filing with or notification to, any Governmental
Authority, any court or tribunal or any other Person.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
THE SELLER AND OWNER
As a material inducement to Purchaser to enter into this Agreement and to consummate
the transactions contemplated hereby, the Seller and Owners jointly and severally make the
following representations and warranties to Purchaser:
5.1 Corporate Status. The Seller is a corporation (or in the case of BLMM-A, a
partnership) duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its formation and ba~ the requisite power and authority to own or lease its
properties and to can'y on its business as now being conducted.
5.2 Power and Authority. Each of the Sellers and Owners has the power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. Each of the Seller and Owners has taken all
action necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the performance of
its obligations hereunder and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
5.3 Enforceability. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of
the Seller and Owners, and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of each of them,
enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms, except as the same may be limited
by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the
enforcement of creditors' rights generally and general equitable principles regardless of whether
such enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity. The Seller is not insolvent
and the sale of the Purchased Assets contemplated hereunder will not render the Seller insolvent.
5.4 Capitalization. Owners are the sole record and beneficial owners of all
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Seller.
HBG\83492.8
5.5 No Violation. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Seller and
Owners, the performance by the Seller and Owners of their respective obligations hereunder and
the consummation by the Seller and Owners of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
will not (i) contravene any provision of the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the Seller, (ii)
violate or conflict with any law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, decree, writ, injunction,
judgment or order of any Governmental Authority or of any arbitration award which is either
applicable to, binding upon or enforceable against the Seller, Owners or the Purchased Assets,
(iii) conflict with, result in any breach of, or constitute a default (or an event which would, with
the passage of time or the giving of notice or both, constitute a default) under, or give rise to a
right to terminate, amend, modify, abandon or accelerate, any Contract which is applicable to,
binding upon or enforceable against the Seller, Owners or the Purchased Assets, (iv) result in or
require the creation or imposition of any Lien upon or with respect to any of the Purchased
Assets, (v) give to any individual or entity a right or claim against the Seller, Owners ir the
Purchased Assets, or (vi) require the consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with
or notification to, any Governmental Authority, any court or tribunal or any other Person.
5.6 Subsidiaries. The Seller does not own, directly or indirectly, any outstanding
voting securities of or other interests in or controls, any other corporation, partnership, joint
venture or other business entity except: (i) other entities identified as a Seller herein; (ii) BLM
Developers, Inc., comprised of Pennsylvania and Delaware corporations; and (iii) dormant
corporate entities listed on Schedule 5.6 which will be dissolved as soon as practical.
5.7 Commissions. Seller is responsible for payment of all fees due to the Geneva
Companies in connection with this transaction. Other than the fees payable to the Geneva
Companies by Seller, the Seller and Owners have not incurred any obligation for any finder's or
broker's or agent's fees or commissions or similar compensation in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby.
5.8 Financial Statements. The Seller has delivered to Purchaser the financial
statements of the Seller dated as 'of December 31, 2000, including the notes thereto, audited by
Bardell, Weintraub P.C., and interim financial statements for the four month period ended April
22, 2001 (collectively, the "Financial Statements"), copies of which are attached to Schedule 5.8
hereto. The balance sheet dated as of April, 22, 2001 of the Seller included in the Financial
Statements is referred to herein as the "Current Balance Sheet." The Financial Statements fairly
present the financial position of the Seller at each of the balance sheet dates and the results of
operations for the periods covered thereby, and have been prepared in accordance with GAAP
consistently applied throughout the periods indicated. The books and records of the Seller fully
and fairly reflect ail transactions, properties, assets and liabilities of the Seller. There are no
extraordinary or materiai nonrecurring items of income or expense during the periods covered by
the Financiai Statements and the baiance sheets included in the Financial Statements do not
reflect any whte-up or revaluation increasing the book value of any assets, except as specifically
disclosed in the notes thereto. The Financiai Statements reflect all adjustments necessary for a
fair presentation of the financial information contained therein.
5.9 Changes Since the Current Balance Sheet Date Except as disclosed on
Schedule 5.9, the date of the Current Baiance Sheet, the Seller has not (i) issued any capital stock
HBG\83492.8 --
or other securities; (ii) made any distribution of or with respect to its capital stock or other
securities or purchased or redeemed any of its securities; (iii) paid any bonus to or increased the
rate of compensation of any of its officers or salaried employees or amended any other terms of
employment of such persons; (iv) sold, leased or transferred any of its properties or assets other
than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; (v) made or obligated itself
to make capital expenditures out of the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(vi) made any payment in respect of its liabilities other than in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice; (vii) incurred any obligations or liabilities (including any
indebtedness) or entered into any transaction or series of transactions out of the ordinary course
of business, except for this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby; (viii) suffered
any theft, damage, destruction or casualty loss, not covered by insurance and for which a timely
'claim was filed; (ix) suffered any extraordinary losses (whether or not covered by insurance); (x)
waived, canceled, compromised or released any rights having a value in excess of $15,000 in the
aggregate which may affect contracts after the Closing Date; (xi) made or adopted any change in
its accounting practice or policies; (xii) made any adjustment to its books and records other than
· in respect of the conduct of its business activities in the ordinary course consistent with past
practice; (xiii) entered into any transaction with any Affiliate; (xiv) entered into any employment
agreement; (xv) terminated, amended or modified any agreement involving an amount in excess
of $5,000; (xvi) imposed any security interest or other Lien on any of its assets other than in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; (xvi) delayed paying any accounts
payable which is due and payable except to the extent being contested in good faith; (xviii) made
or pledged any charitable contribution; (xix) entered into any other transaction or been subject to
any event which has or may have a Material Adverse Effect on the Business; or (xx) agreed to do
or authorized any of the foregoing.
5.10 Liabilities of the Seller. The Seller does not have any liabilities or obligations,
whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise, except (a) to the extent reflected or taken
into account in the Current Balance Sheet and not heretofore paid or discharged, (b) to the extent
specifically set forth in or incorporated by express reference in any of the Schedules attached
hereto, (c) liabilities incurred in.the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice
since the date of the Current Balance Sheet (none of which relates to breach of contract, breach
of warranty, tort, infxingement or violation of law, or which arose out of any action, suit, claim,
governmental investigation or arbitration proceeding), (d) nomxal accruals, reclassifications, and
audit adjustments which would be reflected on an audited financial statement and which could
not be material in the aggregate, and (e) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business
prior to the date of the Current Balance Sheet which were not recorded thereon.
5.11 Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.1 I, there is no claim, action, suit, or
other legal or administrative proceeding or governmental investigation pending, threatened,
anticipated or contemplated against, by or affecting any of the Seller, Owner or the Purchased
Assets, or which question the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby, and there is no basis for any of the foregoing. There are no outstanding
orders, decrees, stipulations or agreements issued to any Governmental Authority in any
preceding or agreed to by the Seller or Owner to which the Seller or Owner are or were a party
which have not been complied with in full or which continue to impose any mater/al obligations
on the Seller or Owner or which may have a Material Adverse Effect on the Seller, Owner or the
Purchased Assets.
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5.12 Environmental Matters.
(a) The Seller is and has at all times been in full compliance with all
Environmental Laws (as defined in clause (h) below) governing the Business and
the Purchased Assets, including, without limitation: (i) all requirements relating to
the Discharge (as defined in clause (h) below) and Handling (as defined in clause
(h) below) of Hazardous Substances (as defined in clause (h) below) or other
Waste (as defined in clause (h) below); (ii) all requirements relating to notice,
record keeping and reporting; (iii) all requirements relating to obtaining and
maintaining Licenses (as defined in clause (h) below) for the ownership of its
properties and assets and the operation of ils business as presently conducted,
including Licenses relating to the Handling and Discharge of Hazardous
Substances and other Waste; and (iv) alt applicable writs, orders, judgments,
injunctions, governmental communications, decrees, informational requests or
demands issued pursuant to, or arising under, any Environmental Laws.
(b) There are no (and there is no basis for any) noncompliance orders,
warning letters, notices of violation (collectively, "Notices"), claims, suits,
actions, judgments, penalties, fines, or administrative or judicial investigations or
proceedings (collectively, "Proceedings") pending or threatened against or
involving the Seller, or its business, operations, properties, or assets, issued by
any Governmental Authority or third party with respect to any Environmental
Laws or Licenses issued to the Seller thereunder in connection with, related to or
arising out of the ownership by the Seller of the Purchased Assets or the operation
of the Business, which have not been resolved to the satisfaction of the issuing
Governmental Authority or third party in a manner that would not impose any
obligation, burden or continuing liability on Purchaser in the event that the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated, or which could
have a Material Adverse ,Effect on the Seller, including, without limitation: (i)
Notices or Proceedings related to the Seller being a potentially responsible party
for a federal or state environmental cleanup site or for corrective action under any
applicable Environmental Laws; (ii) Notices or Proceedings in connection with
any federal or state environmental cleanup site, or in connection with any real
property or premises where the Seller has transported, transferred or disposed of
other Waste; (iii) Notices or Proceedings relating to the Seller being responsible
to undertake any response or remedial actions or cleanup actions of any k/nd; or
(iv) Notices or Proceedings related to the Seller being liable under any
Environmental Laws for personal injury, property damage, natural resource
damage, or clean up obligations.
(c) The Seller has not Handled or Discharged, nor has it allowed or
arranged for any third party to Handle or Discharge, Hazardous Substances or
other Waste to, at or upon: (i) any location other than a site lawfully permitted to
receive such Hazardous Substances or other Waste; (ii) any real property
currently or previously owned or leased by the Seller; or (iii) any site which,
pursuant to any Environmental Laws, (x) has been placed on the National
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Priorities List or its state equivalent; or (y) the Environmental Protection Agency
or the relevant state agency or other Governmental Authority has notified the
Seller that such Governmental Authority has proposed or is proposing to place on
the National Priorities List or its state equivalent. There has not occurred, nor is
there presently occurring, a Discharge, or threatened Discharge, of any Hazardous
Substance on, into or beneath the surface of, or adjacent to, any real property
currently or previously owned or leased by the Seller in an amount requiring a
notice or report to be made to a Governmental Authority or in violation of any
applicable Environmental Laws.
(d) Schedule 5.12 identifies the operations and activities, and locations
thereof, which have been conducted or are being conducted by the Seller on any
real property currently or previously owned or leased by the Seller which have
involved the Handling or Discharge of Hazardous Substances.
(e) [Intentionally Deleted].
(f) The Seller does not use, nor has it used, any Aboveground Storage
Tanks (as defined in clause (h) below) or Underground Storage Tanks (as defined
in clause (h) below), and there are not now nor have there ever been any
Underground Storage Tanks beneath any real property currently or previously
owned or leased by the Seller that are required to be registered under applicable
Environmental Laws.
(g) Schedule 5.12 identifies (i) all environmental audits, assessments
or occupational health studies undertaken by the Seller or its agents or, to the
knowledge of the Seller, undertaken by any Governmental Authority, or any third
party, relating to or affecting the Seller or any real property currently or
previously owned or leased by the Seller; (ii) the results of any ground, water,
soil, air or asbestos moni.toring undertaken by the Seller or its agents or, to the
knowledge of the Seller, undertaken by any Governmental Authority or any third
party, relating to or affecting the Seller or any real property currently or
previously owned or leased by the Seller which indicate the presence of
Hazardous Substances at levels requiring a notice or report to be made to a
Governmental Authority or in violation of any applicable Environmental Laws;
(iii) all material written communications between the Seller and any
Governmental Authority arising under or related to Environmental Laws; and (iv)
all outstanding citations issued under OSHA, or similar state or local statutes,
laws, ordinances, codes, rules, regulations, orders, rulings, or decrees, relating to
or affecting either the Seller or any real property currently or previously owned or
leased by the Seller.
(h) For purposes of this Section 5.12, the following terms shall have
the meanings ascribed to them below:
"Aboveground Storage Tank" shall have the meaning
ascribed to such term in Section 6901 et seq., as amended, of
HBG\83492.g
RCRA, or any applicable state or local statute, law, ordinance,
code, rule, regulation, order ruling, or decree governing
Aboveground Storage Tanks.
"Discharge" means any manner of spilling, leaking,
dumping, discharging, releasing or emitting, as any of such terms
may further be defined in any Environmental Law, into any
medium including, without limitation, grotmd water, surface water,
soil or air.
"Environmental Laws" means all federal, state, regional or
local statutes, laws, rules, regulations, codes, orders, plans,
injunctions, decrees, rulings, and changes or ordinances or judicial
or administrative interpretations thereof, or similar laws of foreign
jurisdictions where the Seller conducts business, whether currently
in existence or hereafter enacted or promulgated, any of which
govern (or purport to govern) or relate to pollution, protection of
the environment, public health and safety, air emissions, water
discharges, ha?~rdous or toxic substances, solid or hazardous waste
or occupational health and safety, as any of these terms are or may
be defined in such statutes, laws, rules, regulations, codes, orders,
plans, injunctions, decrees, rulings and changes or ordinances, or
judicial or administrative interpretations thereof, including, without
limitation: the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the
Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act of 1986, 42
U.S.C. {}9601, et seq. (collectively "CERCLA"); the Solid Waste
Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act of 1976 and subsequent Ha?ardous and Solid Waste
Amendments of !984, 42 U.S.C. {}6901 et seq. (collectively
"RCRA"); the Ha?ardous Materials Transportation Act, as
amended, 49 U.S.C. {}1801, et seq.: the Clean Water Act, as
amended, 33 U.S.C. {}1311, B seq.: the Clean Air Act, as amended
(42 U.S.C. {}74017642); the Toxic Substances Control Act, as
amended, 15 U.S.C. {}2601 et seq.; the Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act as amended, 7 U.S.C. {}136136y
("FIFKA"); the Emergency Planning and Community Right to
Know Act of 1986 as amended, 42 U.S.C. {}11001, et seq. (Title III
of SARA) ("EPCRA"); and the Occupational Safety and Health
Act of 1970, as amended, 29 U.S.C. {}651, et seq. ("OSHA").
"Handle" means any manner of generating, accumulating,
storing, treating, disposing of, transporting, transferring, labeling,
handling, manufacturing or using, as any of such terms may further
be defined in any Environmental Law, of any Hazardous
Substances or Waste.
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"Hazardous Substances" shall be construed broadly to
include any toxic or hazardous substance, material, or waste, and
any other contaminant, pollutant or constituent thereof, whether
liquid, solid, semisolid, sludge and/or gaseous, including without
limitation, chemicals, compounds, byproducts, pesticides, asbestos
containing materials, petroleum or petroleum products, and
polychlorinated biphenyls, the presence of which requires
investigation or remediation under any Environmental Laws or
which are or become regulated, listed or controlled by, under or
pursuant to any Environmental Laws, including, without limitation,
RCRA, CERCLA, the Ha?ardous Materials Transportation Act, the
Toxic Substances Control Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water
Act, FIFRA, EPCRA and OSHA, or any similar state statute, or
any furore amendments to, or regulations implementing such
statutes, laws, ordinances, codes, roles, regulations, orders, rulings,
or decrees, or which has been or shall be detemfined or interpreted
at any time by any Governmental Authority to be a hazardous or
toxic substance regulated under any other statute, law, regulation,
order, code, rule, order, or decree.
"Licenses" means all licenses, certificates, permits,
approvals and registrations.
"Underground Storage Tank" shall have the meaning
ascribed to such term in Section 6901 et seq., as amended, of
RCRA, or any applicable state or local statute, law, ordinance,
code, nde, regulation, order ruling, or decree governing
Underground Storage Tanks.
"Waste" shall be construed broadly to include agricultural
wastes, biomedical wastes, biological wastes, bulky wastes,
construction and demolition debris, garbage, household wastes,
industrial solid wastes, liquid wastes, recyclable materials, sludge,
solid wastes, special wastes, used oils, white goods, and yard trash
as those terms are defined under any applicable Environmental
Laws.
5.13 Real Property Leases. Schedule 5.13 sets forth a list of all leases, licenses or
similar agreements ("Leases") with respect to the Business to which the Seller is a party (copies
of which have previously been furnished to Purchaser), in each case, setting forth (a) the lessor
and lessee thereof and the date and term of each of the Leases, (b) the legal description,
including street address, of each property covered thereby, and (c) a brief description (including
size and function) of the principal improvements and buildings thereon (the "Leased Premises"),
all of which are within the property setback and building lines of the respective property. The
Leases are in full force and effect and have not been amended, and no party thereto is in default
or breach under any such Lease. No event has occurred which, with the passage of time or the
giving of notice or both, would cause a material breach of or default under any of such Leases.
HBG\83492.8
There is no breach or anticipated breach by any other party to such Leases. With respect to each
such Leased Premises: (i) the Seller has valid leasehold interests in the Leased Premises, free and
clear of any Liens, covenants and easements or title defects of any nature whatsoever; (ii) the
portions of the buildings located on the Leased Premises that are used in the business of the
Seller are each in good repair and condition, normal wear and tear excepted, and are in the
aggregate sufficient to satisfy the Seller's current and reasonably anticipated normal business
activities as conducted thereat; (iii) each of the Leased Premises (a) has direct access to public
roads or access to public roads by means of a perpetual access easement, such access being
sufficient to satisfy the current and reasonably anticipated normal transportation requirements of
the Seller's business as presently conducted at such parcel; and (b) is served by all utilities in
such quantity and quality as are sufficient to satisfy the current normal business activities as
conducted at such parcel; and (iv) the Seller has not received notice of (a)any condemnation
proceeding with respect to any portion of the Leased Premises or any access thereto, and no such
proceeding is contemplated by any Governmental Authority; or (b) any special assessment which
may affect any of the Leased Premises, and no such special assessment is contemplated by any
Governmental Authority.
5.14 Good Title Adequacy and Condition, The Seller has, and at Closing will have,
good and marketable title to the Purchased Assets with full power to sell, transfer and assign the
same flee and clear of any Lien, and by delivery of the Bill of Sale and Assignment as
contemplated by Section 3.2, the Seller will deliver to Purchaser title to such Purchased Assets
free and clear of any Lien. Each of the Seller and Owner covenants and agrees that it will
warrant and defend the title to the property hereby sold to Purchaser, its successors and assigns,
against the lawful claims, demands and charges of all Persons whomsoever. The Purchased
Assets constitute, in the aggregate, all of the assets and properties necessary for the conduct of
the Business in the manner in which and to the extent to which such Business are currently being
conducted. The Purchased Assets shall be transferred "as-is, where is" and without warranty.
5.15 Compliance with Laws. The Seller is and has been in compliance with all laws,
regulations and orders applicable to it, its business and operations (as conducted by it now and in
the past), the. Purchased Assets, the Leased Premises and any other properties and assets (in each
case owned or used by it now or in the past). The Seller has not been cited, fined or otherwise
notified of any asserted past or present failure to comply with any laws, regulations or orders and
no proceeding with respect to any such violation is pending or threatened. Neither the Seller nor
any of its employees or agents, has made any payment of funds in connection with the Business
which is prohibited by law, and no funds have been set aside to be used in connection with the
Business for any payment prohibited by law. Neither the Seller nor Owner is subject to any
Contract, decree or injunction in which the Seller is a party which restricts the continued
operation of the Business or the expansion thereof to other geographical areas, customers or
suppliers, or to other lines of business.
5.16 Labor and Employment Matters. Schedule 5.16 sets forth the name, address,
social security number and current rate of compensation of each of the employees of the Seller.
The Seller is not a party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreement or any other
agreement with a labor union, and there has been no effort by any labor union during the 24
months prior to the date hereof to organize any employees of the Seller into one or more
collective bargaining units. There is no pending or threatened labor dispute, strike or work
HBG\83492.8 _
stoppage which affects or which may affect the Business. Neither the Seller nor any agent,
representative or employee thereof has since the date of incorporation of the Seller committed
any unfair labor practice as defined in the National Labor Relations Act, as amended, and there is
no pending or, to the knowledge of the Seller or Owner, threatened charge or complaint against
the Seller by or with the National Labor Relations Board or any representative thereof. The
Seller is not aware that any key employee or group of employees has any plans to terminate his
or their employment with the Seller. The Seller is not a party or subject to any employment
agreements, non-competition agreements, or consulting agreements. The Seller has complied
with all applicable laws, rules and regulations relating to employment, civil rights and equal
employment opportunities, including but not limited to, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair
Labor Standards Act, and Americans with Disabilities Act, each as amended.
5.17 Employee Benefit Plans.
(a) Employee Benefit Plans. Schedule 5.17 contains a list setting forth
each employee benefit plan or arrangement of the Seller, including but not limited
to employee welfare benefit plans, deferred compensation plans, stock option
plans, bonus plans, stock purchase plans, hospitalization, disability and other
insurance plans, severance or termination pay plans and policies, whether or not
described in Section 3(3) of ERISA, in which employees, their spouses or
dependents, of the Seller participate ("Employee Benefit Plans") (true and
accurate copies of which, together with the most recent annual reports on Fo~m
5500 and summary plan descriptions with respect thereto, if applicable, were
furnished to Purchaser). With respect to each Employee Benefit Plan (i) each has
been administered in all material respects in compliance with its terms and with
all applicable laws, including, but not limited to, ERISA and the Code; (ii) no
actions, suits, claims or disputes are pending, or threatened; (iii) no audits,
inquiries, reviews, proceedings, claims or demands are pending with any
governmental or regulatory agency; (iv) there are no facts which could give rise to
any material liability in the event of any such investigation, claim, action, suit,
audit, review, or other proceeding; (v) all material reports, rems, and similar
documents required to be filed with any governmental agency or distributed to
any plan participant have been duly or timely filed or distributed; and (vi) no
"prohibited transaction" has occurred within the meaning of the applicable
provisions of ERISA or the Code.
(b) Welfare Plans. (i) Except as maybe required by applicable law, the
Seller is not obligated under any employee welfare benefit plan as described in
Section 3(1) of ERISA ("Welfare Plan") to provide medical or death benefits with
respect to any employee or former employee of the Seller or its predecessors after
termination of employment; (ii) the Seller has complied with the notice and
continuation coverage requirements of Section 4980B of the Code and the
regulations thereunder with respect to each Welfare Plan that is, or was during
any taxable year for which the statute of limitations on the assessment of federal
income taxes remains open, by consent or otherwise, a group health plan within
the meaning of Section 5000(b)(1) of the Code; and (iii) there are no reserves,
assets, surplus or prepaid premiums under any Welfare Plan which is an
HBG\83492.8 --
Employee Benefit Plan. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.17, the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not entitle any individual
to severance pay, and, will not accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or
increase the amount of compensation, due to any individual.
(c) Other Liabilities. (i) None of the Employee Benefit Plans obligates
the Seller to pay separation, severance, termination or similar benefits solely as a
result of any transaction contemplated by this Agreement; (ii) all required or
discretionary (in accordance with historical practices) payments, premiums,
contributions, reimbursements, or accruals for all periods ending prior to or as of
the Closing Date shall have been made or properly accrued on the Current
Balance Sheet or will be properly accrued on the books and records of the Seller
as of the Closing Date; and (iii) none of the Employee Benefit Plans has any
unfunded liabilities which axe not reflected on the Current Balance Sheet or the
books and records of the Seller.
5.18 Tax Matters. All Tax Returns required to be filed prior to the date hereof with
respect to the Seller or its income, properties, franchises or operations have been timely filed,
each such Tax Remm has been prepared in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations,
and all such Tax Returns are true and accurate in all respects. All Taxes due and payable .by or
with respect to the Seller have been paid or are accrued on the Current Balance Sheet or will be
accrued on the Seller's books and records as of the Closing. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.18
hereto: (i) with respect to each taxable period of the Seller, either such taxable period has been
audited by the relevant taxing authority or the time for assessing or collecting Taxes with respect
to each sUCh taxable period has closed and such taxable period is not subject to review by any
relevant taxing authority; (ii) no deficiency or proposed adjustment which has not been settled or
otherwise resolved for any amount of Taxes has been asserted or assessed by any taxing
authority against the Seller; (iii) the Seller has not consented to extend the time in which any
Taxes may be assessed or collected by any taxing authority; (iv) the Seller has not requested or
been granted an extension of the time for filing any Tax Return to a date later than the Closing;
(v) there is no action, suit, taxing authority proceeding, or audit or claim for refund now in
progress, pending or threatened against or with respect to the Seller regarding Taxes; (vi) the
Seller has not made an election or filed a consent under Section 341(0 of the Code (or any
corresponding provision of state, local or foreign law) on or prior to the Closing; (vii) there are
no Liens for Taxes (other than for current Taxes not yet due and payable) upon the assets of the
Seller; (viii) the Seller will not be required (A) as a result of a change in method of accounting
for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing, to include any adjustment under Section
481(c) of the Code (or any corresponding provision of state, local or foreign law) in taxable
income for any taxable period (or portion thereof) beginning after the Closing or (B) as a result
of any "closing agreement," as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding
provision of state, local or foreign law), to include any item of income or exclude any item of
deduction from any taxable period (or portion thereof) beginning after the Closing; (ix) the Seller
has not been a member of an affiliated group (as defined in Section 1504 of the Code) or filed or
been included in a combined, consolidated or unitary income Tax Return; (x) the Seller is not a
party to or bound by any tax allocation or tax sharing agreement and has no current or potential
contractual obligation to indemnify any other Person with respect to Taxes; (xi) no taxing
authority will claim or assess any additional Taxes against the Seller for any period for which
HBG\83492.8
Tax Returns have been filed; (xii) the Seller has not made any payments, and none of them is or
will become obligated (under any contract entered into on or before the Closing) to make any
payments, that will be nondeductible under Section 280G of the Code (or any corresponding
provision of state, local or foreign law); (xiii) the Seller has not been a United States real
property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code (or any
corresponding provision of state, local or foreign law) during the applicable period specified in
Section 897(c)(I)(a)(ii) of the Code (or any corresponding provision of state, local or foreign
law); (xiv) no claim has ever been made by a taxing authority in a jurisdiction where the Seller
does not file Tax Returns that the Seller is or may be subject to Taxes assessed by such
jurisdiction; (xv) the Seller has no pem~anent establishment in any foreign country, as defined in
the relevant tax treaty between the United States of America and such foreign country; (xvi) true,
correct and complete copies of all income and sales Tax Returns filed by or with respect to the
Seller for the past three years have been furnished or made available to Purchaser;.-(xvii) the
Seller will not be subject to any Taxes for the period ending at the Closing for any period for
which a Tax Remm has not been filed imposed pursuant to Section 1374 or Section 1375 of the
Code (or any corresponding provision of state, local or foreign law); and (xviii) no sales or use
tax (other than sales tax on aimraft, boats, mobile homes and motor vehicles), nonrecurring
intangibles tax, documentary stamp tax or other excise tax (or comparable tax imposed by any
governmental entity) will be payable by the Seller or Purchaser by virtue of the transactions
contemplated in this Agreement.
5.19 Insurance. The Seller is covered by valid, outstanding and enforceable policies of
insurance issued to it covering its properties, assets and business against risks of the nature
normally insured against by corporations in the same or similar lines of business and in coverage
amounts typically and reasonably carried by such corporations, including an errors and
omissions liability policy (the "Insurance Policies"). Such Insurance Policies are in full force and
effect, and all premiums due thereon have been paid. The Seller has complied with the
provisions of such Insurance Policies. The Seller has not failed to give, in a timely manner, any
notice required under any of the Insurance Policies to preserve its rights thereunder. Through the
Closing Date, each of the Insurance Policies will be in full force and effect. A copy of Seller's
most recent application/disclosure schedule for its errors and omissions policy is attached as
Schedule 5.19 along with disclosure of any claims of which Seller is aware that is not included
on such application/disclosure schedule.
5.20 Licenses and Permits. The Seller possesses all licenses and required
governmental or official approvals, permits or authorizations (collectively, the "Pemfits") for its
business and operations, and Schedule 5.20 sets forth a true, complete and accurate list of all
such Permits. All such Permits are valid and in full force and effect, the Seller is in compliance
in all material respects with their requirements, and no proceeding is pending or threatened to
revoke or amend any of them.
5,21 Contracts. Schedule 5.21 sets forth a list of each Contract to which the Seller is a
party or by which it or its properties and assets are bound and which is material to its business,
assets, properties or prospects (the "Material Contracts"), true, correct and complete copies of
which have been provided to Purchaser. Schedule 5.21 shall also indicate the parties'
understanding as to the percentage of completion as of the Closing Date for any continuing
contracts to be assumed by Purchaser. The copy Of each Material Contract furnished to
HBG\83492.8
Purchaser is a true and complete copy of the document it purports to represent and reflects all
amendments thereto made through the date of this Agreement. The Seller has not violated any of
the material te,ms or conditions of any Material Contract or any term or condition which would
permit termination or material modification of any Material Contract, all of the covenants to be
performed by any other party thereto, to the knowledge of the Seller and Owner, have been fully
performed, and there are no claims for breach or indemnification or notice of default or
termination under any Material Contract. No event has occurred which constitutes, or after notice
or the passage of time, or both, would constitute, a material default by the Seller under any
Material Contract, and no such event has occurred which constitutes or would constitute a
material default by any other party. The Seller is not subject to any liability or payment resulting
from renegotiation of amounts paid under any Material Contract. As used in this Section 5.21,
Material Contracts shall include, without limitation, formal or informal, written or oral, in ~ach
case which is material to the Seller's business, assets, properties or prospects, (a) loan
agreements, indentures, mortgages, pledges, hypothecations, deeds of trust, conditional sale or
title retention agreements, security agreements, equipment financing obligations or guaranties, or
other sources of contingent liability in respect of any indebtedness or obligations to any other
Person, or letters of intent or commitment letters with respect to same; Co) contracts obligating
the Seller to provide products or services for a period of one year or more, excluding standard
collection contracts entered into in the ordinary course of its business without material
modification from the preprinted forms used by the Seller in the ordinary course of business,
copies of which have been supplied to Purchaser; (c) leases of real property and leases of
personal property not cancelable without penalty on notice of sixty (60) days or less; (d)
distribution, sales agency or fi'anchise or similar agreements, or agreements providing for an
independent contractor's services, or letters of intent with respect to same; (e) employment
agreements, management service agreements, consulting agreements, confidentiality agreements,
noncompetition agreements, employee handbooks, policy statements and any other agreements
relating to any employee, officer or director of the Seller; (f) licenses, assignments or transfers of
trademarks, trade names, service marks, patents, copyrights, trade secrets or know how, or other
agreements regarding proprietary rights or intellectual property; (g) any contract relating to
pending capital expenditures by ~the Seller; (h) any noncompetition agreements restricting the
Seller in any manner; and (i) other material Contracts or understandings, irrespective of subject
matter and whether or not in writing, not entered into in the ordinary course of business by the
Seller and not otherwise disclosed on the Schedules.
5.22 Accuracy of Information Furnished. To the best of Seller's knowledge after
diligent investigation, no representation, statement or information contained in this Agreement
(including, without limitation, the various Schedules attached hereto) or any agreement executed
in connection herewith or in any certificate delivered pursuant hereto or thereto, contains or shall
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omits or shall omit any material fact necessary
to make the infommtion contained therein not misleading. Each of the Seller and Owner has
provided Purchaser with tree, accurate and complete copies of all documents listed or described
in the various Schedules attached hereto.
5.23 Customer Lists and Recurring Revenue. All of the customers listed on the
customer lists attached hereto as Schedule 1.1Co) are subject to valid and enforceable Customer
Contracts. True, correct and complete copies of such contracts (to the extent they exist in
writing) have been furnished by the Seller to Purchaser. The Seller has not violated any of the
HBG\83492.8
material terms or conditions of any of the Customer Contracts, and all of the covenants to be
performed by any other party thereto have been fully performed and there are no claims for
breach or indemnification or notice of default or termination thereunder. Schedule 5.23 lists all
customers of the Seller that account for more than 1% of the Seller's annual revenue. Schedule
5.24 also lists all contracts accounted for on a percentage of completion basis identifying the
total revenue expected over the life of the contract, the amount of revenue recognized as of
closing, and the total revenue remaining to be recognized (the "Ongoing Contract Projection").
5.24 Business Locations. As of the date hereof, the Seller has no office or place of
business other than as identified on Schedule 5.13 and the Seller's principal place of business and
chief executive offices are indicated on Schedule 5.13. Ail locations where the equipment,
inventory, chattel paper and books and records of the Seller are located as of the date hereof are
fully identified on Schedule 5.13.
5.25 [Intentionally Deleted]
5.26 Intellectual Property. Not including co-ownership rights that may belong to
BLM Developers, Inc.:
(a) Set forth on Schedule 5.26 hereto is a list of all of the following
Intellectual Property of the Seller: (i) trademarks and service marks; (ii)
registered or material copyrights; (iii) computer software; and (iv) licenses of
rights in or to any proprietary rights, whether to or from the Seller.
(b) Except as set forth on Schedule 5.26, the Seller owns and
possesses, and at and as of the Closing the Purchaser will own and possess all
right, title and interest in and to the Intellectual Property of the Business, or have
the right to use (puts-ant to a valid license, agreement or permission granted by a
third party) such Intellectual Property. The Intellectual Property will be owned or
available for use by the Purchaser from and after the Closing Date, on terms and
conditions identical to the terms and conditions available to the Seller prior to the
Closing Date. The Seller has not in the conduct of the Business, interfered with,
infringed upon, misappropriated, violated or othenvise come into conflict with
any Intellectual property right or rights of third parties. The Seller has not agreed
to indemnify any third party for or against any actual or potential infringement,
misappropriation, violation or other interference with respect to any of the
Intellectual Property. Furthermore, and without limiting the generality of the
foregoing: (i) no third party has contested the validity, enforceability, use or
ownership of any of the Intellectual Property; (ii) no third party has claimed that
the use by the Seller of any Intellectual Property has or will interfere with,
infringe upon, misappropriate, violate or otherwise come into conflict with any
right of any third party; and (iii) to the knowledge of the Seller, no third party has
or will interfere with, infringe upon, misappropriate, violate or other-,vise come
into conflict with any of the Intellectual Property.
(c) The loss or expiration of any Intellectual Property or group of
related Intellectual Property (other than related to offthe shelf sof~ware) may have
HBG\83492.8
an adverse effect on the conduct of the Business but no such loss is threatened,
pending or reasonably foreseeable.
(d)
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the
contrary, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall
have no material adverse affect on any of the Intellectual Property
other than the loss of rights to off the shelf software.
ARTICLE VI
CERTAIN AGREEMENTS AND COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES
6.1 Conduct of Business by the Seller Pending the Closing. The Seller and
Owners, jointly and severally, covenant and agree that, between the date of this Agreement and
the Closing Date, the Business shall be conducted only in, and the Seller shall not take any action
· with respect to the Business except in, the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice. The Seller shall use its reasonable best efforts to preserve the Business intact, to keep
available the services of its current officers, employees and consultants, and to preserve its
present relationships with customers, suppliers and other persons with which it has significant
business relations in connection with the Business.
6.2 Further Assurances. Each party shall execute and deliver such additional
instruments and other documents and shall take such further actions as may be necessary or
appropriate to effectuate, carry out and comply with all of the terms of this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby and to satisfy the conditions set forth in Articles VII and VIII.
Owners shall cause the Seller to comply with all of the covenants of the Seller under this
Agreement. Each of the parties agrees to cooperate with the others in the preparation and filing
of all forms, notifications, reports and information, if any, required or reasonably deemed
advisable purs-a_nt to any law, rule or regulation, and to use their respective best efforts to agree
jointly on a method to overcome, any objections by any Governmental Authority to any such
transactions. The parties also agree to use best efforts to defend all lawsuits or other legal
proceedings challenging this Agre~nlent or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby and to lift or rescind any injunction or restraining order or other order adversely affecting
the ability of the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
6.3 Access to Information.
(a) Access by Purchaser. From the date hereof to the Closing Date, the Seller
shall (and shall cause its directors, officers, employees, auditors, counsel and agents) to
afford Purchaser and Purchaser's officers, employees, auditors, counsel and agents
reasonable access at all reasonable times to its properties, offices, and other facilities, to
its officers and employees and to all books and records, and shall furnish such i~ersons
with all financial, operating and other data and information as may be requested. No
information provided to or obtained by Purchaser shall affect any representation or
warranty in this Agreement.
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(b) Access by Seller. After the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall afford Seller
and Seller's officers reasonable access at reasonable times, upon two days' prior notice,
to books and records relating to Seller's activities prior to the Closing Date for the
purpose of preparing tax returns and defending claims. In addition, prior to destroying
books and records dating before the Closing Date, Purchaser shall give Seller a
reasonable opportunity to take possession of such records.
6.4 Notification of Certain Matters. The Seller and Owners shall give prompt notice
to Purchaser of the occurrence or nonoccurrence of any event which would likely cause any
representation or warranty contained herein to be untrue or inaccurate, or any covenant,
condition, or agreement contained herein not to be complied with or satisfied.
6.5 Confidentiality; Publicity. Except as may be required by law or as otherwise
permitted or expressly contemplated herein, no party hereto or their respective Affiliates,
· employees, agents and representatives shall disclose to any third party this Agreement or the
subject matter or terms hereof without the prior consent of the other parties hereto. No press
release or other public announcement related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby shall be issued by any party hereto without the prior approval of the other parties, except
that Purchaser or O,amers may make such public disclosure which it believes in good faith to be
required by law or by the terms of any listing agreement with a securities exchange (in which
case Purchaser or Owners, as the case may be, will consult with the other prior to making such
disclosure).
6.6 No Other Discussions. The Seller, Owners and their respective Affiliates,
employees, agents and representatives will not (i) initiate, encourage the initiation by others of
discussions or negotiations with third parties or respond to solicitations by third persons relating
to any merger, sale or other disposition of any substantial part of the assets, business or
properties of the Seller (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of stock or otherwise), or (ii)
enter into any agreement or commitment (whether or not binding) with respect to any of the
foregoing transactions. The Seller will immediately notify Purchaser if any third party attempts
to initiate any solicitation, discussion or negotiation with respect to any of the foregoing
transactions.
6.7 Due Diligence Review and Environmental Assessment. Purchaser shall be
entitled to conduct prior to Closing a due diligence review of the assets, properties, books and
records of the Seller and an environmental assessment of the Leased Premises (hereinafter
referred to as "Environmental Assessment"). The Environmental Assessment may include, but
not be limited to, a physical examination of the Leased Premises, and any structures, facilities, or
equipment located thereon, soil samples, ground and surface water samples, storage tank testing
and review of pertinent records, documents, and licenses of the Seller. Owners and the Seller
shall provide Purchaser or its designated agents or consultants with the access to such property
which Purchaser, its agents or consultants require to conduct the Environmental Assessment. If
the Environmental Assessment identifies environmental contamination which requires
remediation or further evaluation under the environmental, health and safety laws or if the results
of the Environmental Assessment or due diligence review are otherwise not satisfactory to
Purchaser in its sole discretion, then Purchaser may elect not to close the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement in which case this Agreement shall be terminated and the
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parties shall be released from any and all obligations hereunder. Purchaser's failure or decision
not to conduct any such Environmental Assessment shall not affect any representation or
warranty of the Seller or Owners under this Agreement.
6.8 Covenant not to Compete. The Seller jointly and severally agree that until
dissolved pursuant to Section 6.14 or as permitted by their Employment Agreements (which
provide for a sharing of work), the Seller and Owners shall not, directly or indirectly:
(a) alone or as a partner, joint venture, officer, director, employee,
consultant, agent, independent contractor, or security holder, of any Person,
engage in any business activity in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which is
directly or indirectly in competition with the Business; provided, however, that
the beneficial Ownership of less than five percent (5%) of any class of securities
of any entity having a class of equity securities actively traded on a national
securities exchange shall not be deemed, in and of itself, to violate the
prohibitions of this Section;
(b)(i) induce any customer acquired hereunder or any other customer of
Purchaser or any of its subsidiaries to patronize any business which is directly or
indirectly in competition with the Business; (ii) canvass, solicit or accept for or on
behalf of any such competitive business any customer of Purchaser or any of its
subsidiaries; or (iii) request or advise any customer of Purchaser or any of its
subsidiaries to withdraw, curtail or cancel any such customer's business with
Purchaser or any of its subsidiaries or their successors;
(c) employ any person who was employed by Purchaser or any
subsidia.D, of Purchaser, within six months prior to the date being employed by
the Seller or Owners, or in any manner seek to induce any employee of Purchaser
or any of its subsidiaries to leave his or her employment; and
(d) except as permitted by the. terms of this Agreement, in any way
utilize, disclose, copy, reproduce or retain in his possession any of the proprietary
rights, or records acquired by Purchaser hereunder, including, but not limited to,
any customer lists.
The Seller and Owners agree and acknowledge that the restrictions contained in this Section are
reasonable in scope and duration, and are necessary to protect Purchaser. The Seller and Owners
agree and acknowledge that any breach of this Section will cause irreparable injury to Purchaser
and upon any breach or threatened breach of any provision of this Section, Purchaser shall be
entitled to injunctive relief, specific perfommnce or other equitable relief, without the necessity
of posting bond; provided, however, that this shall in no way limit any other remedies which
Purchaser may have as a result of such breach, including the right to seek monetary damages.
Seller and Purchaser also acknowledge that Peter I. Bentivegna and the other Owners may
continue the business of BLM Developers, Inc. Mr. Bentivegna and the other Owners hereby
covenant that BLM Developers shall comply with the foregoing Section 6.8 covenant not to
compete. Purchaser agrees that BLM Developers may engage professionals in the Business to
provide services to BLM Developers provided Purchaser is given a reasonable opportunity to
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win such engagement and provided that BLM Developers shall select Purchaser for the provision
of services to the extent Purchaser's competence, capabilities and pricing is comparable to any
other entity seeking the same engagement. BLM Developers may perform design/build services
but may not be used for the provision of architectural services only. In addition, after
termination of Mr. Bentivegna's employment with the Purchaser, Mr. Bentivegna may perform
architectural services for BLM Developers and BLM Developers may engage in design/build
(but not design-only) projects provided Purchaser participates in such projects as described in
Peter I. Bentivegna's employment agreement with Purchaser.
6.9 Contracts. Except as set forth in Section 7.5, prior to Closing, (i) the Seller shall
not terminate or otherwise modify or amend any of its Contracts with respect to any of the
Business, (ii) the Seller shall further obtain any and all consents arid approvals necessary as a
result of the transactions contemplated hereby and to keep such Contracts in full force and effect;
and (iii) the Seller shall assist Purchaser in documenting the percentage completion as of the
· Closing Date of any ongoing contracts assigned to Purchaser.
6.10 Receivables. At or prior to the Closing Date, the Seller shall deliver to Purchaser
a true, complete and correct list of all receivables to be retained by Seller. For a period of one
calendar year after the Closing, the Purchaser shall cooperate with Seller to collect such
receivables for the benefit of Seller. The Purchaser hereby agrees and acknowledges thag any
and all payments in respect of such receivables that are received by the Purchaser after Closing
shall be held in trust for the benefit of Seller and delivered to Seller as soon as practicable.
6.11 Execution of Further Documents. From and after the Closing, upon the
reasonable request of Purchaser, the Seller shall execute, acknowledge and deliver all such
further deeds, bills of sale, assignments, transfers, conveyances, powers of attorney and
assurance as may be required or appropriate to convey and transfer to and vest in Purchaser and
protect its right, title and interest in all of the Purchased Assets and to carry out the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
6.12 Employees of the Seller. The Seller and Owners shall utilize best efforts to assist
Purchaser in engaging such of the employees of the Seller as are employed on the Closing Date
whom Purchaser desires to engage after the Closing Date. With respect to any employees of the
Seller so employed by Purchaser, the Seller and Owners will terminate and cancel, upon request
of Purchaser, any noncompetition and/or confidentiality agreements applicable to such
employees. In addition, with respect to any applicable employees of the Seller not employed by
Purchaser as provided hereunder, the Seller and Owners shall assign for the benefit of Purchaser
any noncompetition and/or confidentiality agreements applicable to such employees.
6.13 Reimbursement of Insurance Costs. Purchaser shall reimburse Seller for the
reasonable costs of errors and omissions tail insurance for the five year period following Closing,
which shall be a deduction against EBIT in calculating amounts duc to Peter I. Bentivcgna under
Section 2.1 (i).
6.14 Dissolution of Seller. At Closing, Seller and BLM Developers shall deliver to
Purchaser a Consent to Use Name form. Seller may retain its corporate and trade names for the
purpose of winding up its affairs as long as Seller does not operate any business and Seller's
HBG~83492.8
continued use of such names does not cause confusion in Purchaser's markets. After termination
of Peter I. Bentivegna's employment with Purchaser, BLM Developers may continue to use its
corporate name as long as such continued use, in Purchaser's reasonable discretion, creates no
market confusion. If Purchaser detemdnes such confusion exists, BLM Developers, Inc. shall,
upon the request of Purchaser, change its name to eliminate such confusion. After Closing,
Seller shall pay all of its vendors timely and shall make all reasonable efforts to effectuate a
dissolution within twelve months. Seller acknowledges that failure to pay vendors timely may
damage the value of the assets purchased hereunder. Purchaser may, but shall not be obligated
to, upon ten days' advance written notice, pay vendors for service performed for Seller prior to
Closing for the account of Seller and deduct such amounts from any amounts due from Purchaser
to Owners hereunder unless, prior to the expiration of the ten day period, Seller demonstrates to
Purchaser's reasonable satisfaction that a bona fide dispute exists with such vendor such that
nonpayment will not materially adversely affect Purchaser.
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF PURCHASER
The obligations of Purchaser to effect the transactions contemplated hereby shall be
subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions, any or all of
which may be waived in whole or in part by Purchaser:
7.1 Accuracy of Representations and Warranties and Compliance with
Obligations. The representations and warranties of Seller and Owners contained in this
Agreement shall be true and correct at and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect
as though made at and as of that time except (i) for changes specifically pemdtted by or
disclosed pursuant to this Agreement, and (ii) that those representations and warranties which
address matters only as of a particular date shall remain true and correct as of such date. Each of
the Seller and Owners shall have performed and complied with all of its obligations required by
this Agreement to be performed or complied with at or prior to the Closing Date. Each of the
Seller and Owners shall have delivered to Purchaser a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date,
duly signed by their respective Presidents, certifying that such representations and warranties are
tree and correct and that all such obligations have been complied with and performed.
7.2 No Material Adverse Change or Destruction of Property. Between the date
hereof and the Closing Date, (i) there shall have been no Material Adverse Change in the
Purchased Assets or the Business, (ii) there shall have been no adverse federal, state or local
legislative or regulatory change affecting in any material respect the services, products or
business of the Seller, and (iii) none of the Purchased Assets shall have been damaged by fire,
flood, casualty, act of God or the public enemy or other cause (regardless of insurance coverage
for such damage), and there shall have been delivered to Purchaser a certificate to that effect,
dated the Closing Date and signed by or on behalf of the Seller and Owners.
7.3 Corporate Certificate. Seller shall have delivered to Purchaser (i) copies of its
articles of incorporation and bylaws as in effect immediately prior to the Closing Date, (ii) copies
of resolutions adopted by its Board of Directors authorizing the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, and (iii) a certificate of good standing issued by the Secretary of State of
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Pennsylvania as of a date not more than ten days prior to the Closing Date, certified in the case
of subsections (i) and (ii) of this Section as of the Closing Date by the Secretary of the Seller and
Owners as being hue, correct and complete.
7.4 Delivery of Purchased Assets. At Closing, the Seller shall duly execute and
deliver to Purchaser or its assignee a Bill of Sale and Assignment in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A, and such other instruments of transfer of title as are necessary to transfer to Purchaser
or its assignee good and marketable title to the Purchased Assets and shall deliver to Purchaser or
its assignee immediate possession of the Purchased Assets.
7.5 Consents. The Seller shall have received consents to the transactions
contemplated hereby and waivers of rights to terminate or modify any material fights or
obligations of the Seller from any person from whom such consent or waiver is required under
any Contract to which the Seller, Owners or the Purchased Assets are bound (including the
Customer Contracts) prior to the Closing Date, or who, as a result of the transactions
contemplated hereby, would have such rights to terminate or modify such contracts, either by the
terms thereof or as a matter of law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Seller and Purchaser agree
that it would be impractical to obtain consents for assignment of professional services contracts
prior to the Closing Date. Such consents shall be obtained as soon as practical after closing. In
the event that a consent for assignment is not timely obtained, the Sellers will continue to be the
contracting party but shall subcontract out to Purchaser all of the work and assign to Purchaser
ail of the revenue received in connection with that work.
7.6 No Adverse Litigation. There shall not be pending or threatened any action or
proceeding by or before any court or other governmental body which shall seek to restrain,
prohibit, invalidate or collect damages arising out of the transactions contemplated hereby, and
which, in the judgment of Purchaser, makes it inadvisable to proceed with the transactions
contemplated hereby.
7.7 Due Diligence Review. Purchaser shall have completed its due diligence review
of the Seller, the Purchased Assets, the Owned Properties, the Leased Premises and the Business
pursuant to Sections 6.3 and 6.7., and shall be satisfied with the results of such review and
assessment.
7.8 Board Approval. The Board of Directors of Purchaser shall have authorized and
approved this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
7.9 Opinion of Counsel. Counsel for Seller shall have delivered to Purchaser an
opinion substantially in the form of Exhibit 7.9 hereto.
HBG\83492.8
ARTICLE VIII
CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF
THE SELLER AND OWNERS
The obligations of the Seller and Owners to effect the transactions contemplated hereby
shall be subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions, any
or all of which may be waived in whole or in part by the Seller and Owners:
8.1 Accuracy of Representations and Warranties and Compliance with
Obligations. The representations and warranties of Purchaser contained in this Agreement shall
be true and correct at and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as though made
at and as of that time except (i) for changes specifically pemxitted by or disclosed pursuant to this
Agreement, and (ii) that those representations and warranties which address matters only as of a
particular date shall remain tree and correct as of such date. Purchaser shall have performed and
complied with all of its obligations required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with
at or prior to the Closing Date. Purchaser shall have delivered to the Seller a certificate, dated as
of the Closing Date, and signed by an executive officer thereof, certifying that such
representations and warranties are tree and correct, and that all such obligations have been
performed and complied with, in all material respects.
8.2 Purchase Price. At the Closing, Purchaser shall have delivered to Seller $I,000,
the parties hereto shall have executed the Buy-Sell Agreement and the Owners shall have
executed their Employment Agreements.
8.3 No Order or Injunction. There shall not be pending by or before any court or
other governmental body an order or injunction restraining or prohibiting the transactions
contemplated hereby.
8.4 Financing. At the Closing, Purchaser shall provide Seller with evidence of
financing available for continued operation of the Seller's assets by the Purchaser in the form of
bank financing amounting to, at least, One Million Two Hundred Thousand Dollars.
ARTICLE IX
SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
9.1 Survival of Representations and Warranties. Each of the representations and
warranties in this Agreement or made pursuant hereto shall survive the Closing of the
transactions contemplated hereby. Notwithstanding any knowledge of facts determined or
detemlinable by any party by investigation, each party shall have the right to fully rely on the
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the other parties contained in this
Agreement or in any other documents or papers delivered in connection herewith. Each
representation, warranty, covenant and agreement of the parties contained in this Agreement is
independent of each other representation, warranty, covenant and agreement.
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ARTICLE X
DEFINITIONS
10.1 Defined Terms. As used herein, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
"Affiliate" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Rule 1262 of the
General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, as in effect on the date
hereof.
"Code" means the Intemal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
"Contract" means any agreement, contract, lease, note, mortgage,
indenture, loan agreement, franchise agreement, covenant, employment
agreement, license, instrument, purchase and sales order, undertaking,
commitment, obligation whether written or oral, express or implied.
"EBIT" means net income on a cash basis calculated before any deduction for
interest or taxes, but less any reimbursements for insurance costs by Purchaser to Seller
pursuant to Section 6.13. In calculating Purchaser's EBIT, corporate services provided
by affiliates of Purchaser which are necessary and appropriate for operation of Purchaser,
shall be billed at that affiliate's standard hourly rates as shown on Schedule 10.1.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the
United States of America from time to time.
"Governmental Authority" means any nation or government, any state,
regional, local or other political subdivision thereof, and any entity or official
exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions
of or pertaining to government.
"Lien" means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, lien
or charge of any kind (including, but not limited to, any conditional sale or other
title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, and the filing of or
agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code
or comparable law or any jurisdiction in connection with such mortgage, pledge,
security interest, encumbrance, lien or charge).
"Material Adverse Change (or Effect)" means a change (or effect), in the
condition (financial or otherwise), properties, assets, liabilities, rights, obligations,
operations, business or prospects which change (or effect) individually or in the
aggregate, is materially adverse to such condition, properties, assets, liabilities,
rights, obligations, operations, business or prospects.
HBG\83492.8
Date:
"Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation, business trust,
joint stock Seller, estate, mast, unincorporated association, joint venture,
Governmental Authority or other entity, of whatever nature.
"SEC" or "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Tax Rem" means any tax return, filing or information statement
required to be filed in connection with or with respect to any Taxes; and
"Taxes" means all taxes, fees or other assessments, including, but not
limited to, income, excise, property, sales, fi'anchise, intangible, withholding,
social security and unemployment taxes imposed by any federal, state, local or
foreign governmental agency, and any interest or penalties related thereto.
10.2 Other Definitional Provisions.
(a) All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined
meanings when used in any certificates, reports or other documents made or
delivered pursuant hereto or thereto, unless the context otherwise requires.
Co) Terms defined in the singular shall have a comparable meaning
when used in the plural, and vice versa.
(c) All matters of an accounting nature in connection with this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be determined in
accordance with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with prior periods, where
applicable.
(d) As used herein, the neuter gender shall also denote the masculine
and feminine, and the masculine gender shall also denote the neuter and feminine,
where the context so permits.
ARTICLE XI
TERMINATION
11.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing
(a) by mutual written consent of all of the parties hereto at any time
prior to the Closing; or
HBG\83492.8
(b) by Purchaser in the event of a material breach by the Seller or
Owners of any provision of this Agreement;
(c) by the Seller in the event of a material breach by Purchaser of any
provision of this Agreement; or
(d) by Purchaser or the Seller if the Closing shall not have occurred by
November 4, 2001.
11.2 Effect of Termination. Except for the provisions of Article IX hereof, which shall
survive any temfination of this Agreement, in the event of termination of this Agreement
pursuant to Section 11.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and of no further force and
effect, and the parties hereto shall be released from any and all obligations hereunder; provided,
however, that nothing herein shall relieve any party from liability for the willful breach of any of
its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement.
ARTICLE XII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
12.1 Notices. All notices, requests, demands, claims, and other communications
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered by certified or registered mail (first class
postage prepaid), g-asanteed overnight delivery, or facsimile transmission if such transmission is
confirmed by delivery by certified or registered mail (first class postage prepaid) or guaranteed
overnight delivery, to the following addresses and telecopy numbers (or to such other addresses
or telecopy numbers which such party shall designate in writing to the other party):
(a) if to Purchaser:
BLM/CRA, Inc.
401 East Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Telecopy: 717458-0047
with a copy to:
Shaun R. Eisenhauer, Esquire
Duane, Morris & Heckscher LLP
305 North Front Street
P.O. Box 1003
Harrisburg, PA 17108-1003
Telecopy: 717-232-4015
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(b) if to the Seller or Owner:
Mr. Peter I. Bentivegna
161 Rock Hill Road
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
with a copy to:
Bongiovanni & Berger
The North American Building
Suite 1700
121 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Attention: Joseph Bongiovanni
Telecopy: 215-790-0032
Notice shall be deemed given on the date sent if sent by overnight delivery or facsimile
transmission and on the date delivered (or the date of refusal of delivery) if sent by certified or
registered mail.
12.2 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the Exhibits and Schedules
attached hereto) and other documents delivered at the Closing pursnant hereto, contains the
entire understanding of the parties in respect of its subject matter and supersedes all prior
agreements and understandings (oral or written) between or among the parties with respect to
such subject matter. The Exhibits and Schedules constitute a part hereof as though set forth in
full above.
12.3 Expenses. Except as otherwise provided herein, the parties shall pay their own
fees and expenses, including their own counsel fees, incurred in connection with this Agreement
or any transaction contemplated hereby. The Seller hereby agrees to pay any and all sales and
use taxes which may become due and owing as a result of the completion of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
12.4 Amendment; Waiver. This Agreement may not be modified, amended,
supplemented, canceled or discharged, except by written instrument executed by all parties. No
failure to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or privilege under this
Agreement shall operate as a waiver, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power
or privilege hereunder preclude the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. No waiver of
any breach of any provision shall be deemed to be a waiver of any preceding or succeeding
breach of the same or any other provision, nor shall any waiver be implied firom any course of
dealing between the parties. No extension of time for performance of any obligations or other
acts hereunder or under any other agreement shall be deemed to be an extension of the time for
performance of any other obligations or any other acts. The rights and remedies of the parties
under this Agreement are in addition to all other rights and remedies, at law or equity, that they
may have against each other.
HBG\83492.8
12.5 Binding Effect; Assignment. The fights and obligations of this Agreement shall
bind and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and assigns. Nothing
expressed or implied herein shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable
rights hereunder. Except as expressly provided herein, the rights and obligations of this
Agreement may not be assigned by the Seller or Owners without the prior written consent of
Purchaser.
12.6 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts,
each of which shall be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
12.7 Interpretation. When a reference is made in tl~s Agreement to an article, section,
paragraph, clause, schedule or exhibit, such reference shall be deemed to be to this Agreement
unless otherwise indicated. The headings contained herein and on the schedules are for reference
purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement or
the schedules. Whenever the words "include," "includes" or "including" are used in this
Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without limitation." Time shall
be of the essence in this Agreement.
12.8 Governing Law; Severability. This Agreement shall be construed in accord.~ce
with and governed for all purposes by the laws of the Commonwealth of Permsylvania applicable
to contracts executed and to be wholly perfoLmed within such State. If any word, phrase,
sentence, clause, section, subsection or provision of this Agreement as applied to an party or to
any circumstance is adjudged by a court to be invalid or unenforceable, the same will in no way
affect any other circumstance or the validity or enforceability of any other word, phrase,
sentence, clause, section, subsection or provision of this Agreement. If any provision of this
Agreement, or any part thereof, is held to be unenforceable because of the duration of such
provision or the area covered thereby, the parties agree that the court making such determination
shall have the power to reduce the duration and/or area of such provision, and/or to delete
specific words or phrases, and in,its reduced fotx~, such provision shall then be enforceable and
shall be enforced.
12.9 Arm's Length Negotiations. Each party herein expressly represents and warrants
to all other parties hereto that (a) before executing this Agreement, said party has fully informed
itself of the terms, contents, conditions and effects of this Agreement; (b) said party has relied
solely and completely upon its own judgment in executing this Agreement; (c) said party has had
the opportunity to seek and has obtained the advice of counsel before executing this Agreement;
(d) said party has acted voluntarily and of its own free will in executing this Agreement; (e) said
party is not acting under duress, whether economic or physical, in executing this Agreement; and
(t') this Agreement is the result of arm's length negotiations conducted by and among the parties
and their respective counsel.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed and delivered as of the day and year first above written.
PURCHASER
- Carl ~avis~
Trea~er~
ia D. M~ick
Udo H. ~faron'
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SELLER ~"~
Peter I. Bentivegna /
President
"BLM Interiors, Inc. · i. ,.'
~ Patricia D.....~lick
Bentive~nd, say, Ma~6n? IvJ~ino-~ArchRects
Peter I. Bentivegna
M~g~g~l V~er
Peter I~enti~a
Presi~~ '
Peter I. Bentiv~na
Presi~
emit, e..
lino
Presid~
H~BG\83492.8
BLM Developers, Inc. hereby joins this Agreement for the purposes of Section 6.8 and
6.14. The assets of BLM Developers, Inc. are not being sold hereby and BLM Developers is not
bound for any other purpose.
By:~~ -
Peter I. Bentivegna/
President
HBG'~83492.8
Exhibit B
Exhibit 2.1 (iii) - PIB
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This employment agreement (the "Agreement") is made and entered into this __ day of
November, 2001, by and between BLM/CRA Group, a Pennsylvania corporation (the
"Company"), and Peter I. Bentivegna, an individual residing in ("Employee").
Recitals
1.0 BLM Group, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation ("Seller"), and the shareholders of
the Company have entered into an Agreement dated October ,2001 (the "Purchase
Agreement"), pursuant to which the Company is purcl'ms_ ing substantially all of the assets of
Seller. It is a condition to the Company's obligation under the Purchase Agreement that
Employee enter into this Agreement with the Company.
2.0 Employee has acted as one of the principal operating officers of the Seller and
possesses intimate knowledge and expertise about all aspects of the business and operations of
the Seller. Employee has developed valuable and long-standing relationships with customers
and suppliers of the Seller.
3.0 The Company desires to enter into an employment agreement with Employee in
order to assure access to his unique expertise and experience, and Employee is willing to enter
into such an employment agreement, all on the temps and subject to the conditions hereinafter set
forth.
Covenan~
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants set forth
herein, the parties agree as follows:
1.0 The Company hereby agrees to employ Employee, and Employee hereby accepts
employment from the Company, for a period of three years, commencing on the date hereof and
te~xdnating on November, 2004. During the first full two years of employment, En~loyees shall
serve as President and Chief Executive Officer with all normal and customary duties and as the
Board of Directors of the Company shall provide. It is anticipated that the Company will
identify a qualified successor and plan an orderly transition whereby during the third year of
Employee's employment hereunder, the duties, responsibilities and titles of President and Chief
Executive Officer shall devolve to said successor. Compm:y or such persons as the Company
may designate. Employee represents and warrants to the Company that he is free to enter into
and fully perform this Agreement.
2.0 Subject to time Employee may devote to BLM Developers, Inc. which shall be
secondary to Seller, Employee shall devote his full time and best efforts to the fulfillment of his
employment duties w/th Seller hereunder as directed by the Board of Directors of the Company,
to whom Employee shall report. Other than a reasonable amount of time devoted to BLM
HBGX83492.3
Developers, or a de minimis amount of time devoted to Aurora Enterprises, Employee shall not,
during the term of this Agreement, engage in any other business activity without the prior written
consent of the Company. However, nothing in this paragraph shall preclude Employee fi.om
devoting time to passive investments not related to services performed on behalf of the
Company.
3.0 Employee shall be paid a salaxy at the rate of One Hundred and Seventy-Five
Thousand Dollars ($175,000) per year during the term of this Agreement, payable in
substantially equal periodic installments, for all services rendered by the Employee under this
Agreement. Such salary shall be subject to periodic merit increases as may be detemfined by the
Company acting in its sole discretion in accordance with the Company's standard salary review
policies in effect fi.om time to time, and shall be prorated with respect to any month during which
the Employee is employed by the Company for less than a full month.
4.0 The Company shall provide Employee with such fringe benefits including
· participation in employee benefit plans, as are provided to other employees of the Company, all
according to the Company's policies as in effect from time to time. In addition, the Company
shall pay or reimburse Employee for all reasonable business expenses, including travel expenses,
actually incurred or paid by him in the performance of services pursuant to this Agreement.
Such expenses shall be supported by statements, vouchers or such other information as may be
requested by the Company. The fringe benefits available to Employee at the commencement'of
this Agreement shall be the same as those fringe benefits available to Employee from Seller but
the level of fringe benefits may change from time to time as detemfined by the Company.
5.0
5.0.1 Employee acknowledges that his services are special and unique,
and of an unusual and extraordinary character which gives them peculiar value,
the loss of which cannot adequately be compensated in damages. Employee
further acknowledges that in his employment he will be making use of, acquiring
and adding to confidential information relating to the business, processes,
apparatus, products, marketing methods, customer lists, trade secrets and the like,
of the Company, the Seller and their Affiliates (as hereinafter de£med) (the
"Confidential Information"). The parties recognize that the Confidential
Information, whether or not developed by Employee, is the exclusive property of
the Company. Therefore, Employee agrees that neither he nor any of his
Affiliates will, except for the sole benefit of or with the written consent of the
Company:
(a) during or at any time after the temt of his
employment, use or disclose any of the Confidential Information to
any person, firm or corporation for any purpose whatsoever for so
long as and to the extent that such information has not become
generally known to or available for use by the public other than by
any act or omission of Employee; or
HBG\83492.3 --
(b) use any corporate or trade name or trademark of the
Company, or any of its Affiliates for any purpose whatsoever
provided that, as long as Company determines in its reasonable
discretion that no market confusion exists, BLM Developers, Inc.
may continue to use its current corporate name; or
(c) during the term of his employment or within two
years thereafter, in any geographical area in which duties have at
any time been assigned to him during the term of his e~loyment,
engage (as an individual or as a stockholder, trustee, partner,
financier, agent, employee or representative of any person, firm,
corporation or association), or have any interest, direct or indirect,
in any business in competition with the business of Employer;
provided that this Section 5.0.1 (c) shall not prevent the Employee
from acquiring and holding not to exceed 2% of the outstanding
shares of stock of any corporation which engages in such a
.competitive business if such shares are listed on a national
securities exchange or traded in the over-the-counter market. For
purposes of this subsection only, the business of Employer shall be
defined as provision of architectural and eng~nzer;~ng services to
the healthcare industry or other industries in which Employer is
actively doing business at the time of Employee's teimination.
5.0.2 Employee further agrees that neither he nor any of his Affiliates
will, except for the sole benefit of or with the written consent of the Company:
(a) induce any customer of the Company or the Seller
on the date hereof to patronize any business similar to any of those
described in Section 5.0.1.3;
(b) canvass, solicit or accept from any customer of the
Company or the Seller on the date hereof any business s'unilar to
any of those described in Section 5.0.1.3;
(c) request or advise any individual or company which
is a customer of the Company or the Seller on the date hereof to
withdraw, curtail or cancel any such customer's business with the
Company.
5.0.3 As used in this Agreement, the term "Affiliate" means, with
respect to a specified person, any other person which directly, or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under
common control with, the person specified.
5.0.4 If any provision of this Section 5, as applied to any party or to any
circumstances, is adjudged by a court to be invalid or unenforceable, the same
HBGX83,*92.3
will in no way affect any other provision of this Section or any other part of this
Agreement, the application of such provision in any other circumqtances or the
validity or enforceability of this Agreement. If any such provision, or any part
thereof, is held to be unenforceable because of the duration of such provision or
the area covered thereby, the parties agree that the court making such
determination will have the power to reduce the duration and/or area of such
provision, and/or to delete specific words or phrases, and in its reduced form such
provision will then be enforceable and will be enforced. Upon breach of any
provision of this Section 5, the Company will be entitled to injunctive relief; since
the remedy at law would be inadequate and insufficient. In addition, the
Company will be entitled to such damages as it can show it has sustained by
reason of such breach.
5.0.5 Company and Employee also acknowledge that Employee will
continue the business of BLM Developers, Inc. Employee hereby covenants that
BLM Developers shall comply with the foregoing Section 5.0 through 5.04.
Company agrees that BLM Developers may engage professionals in the Business
to provide services to BLM Developers provided Company is given a reasonable
opportunity to win such engagement and provided that BLM Developers shall
select Company for the provision of services to the extent Company's
competence, capabilities, timeliness and pricing is comparable to any other entity
seeking the same engagement. Similarly, Company agrees to give BLM
Developers with any design/build work it encounters.
5.0.6 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing provisions, for
two years after employment Employee may, alone and not in conjunction with any of the
other Owners, as defined in the Purchase Agreement, solicit and perform coml,-eting
architectural services for clients of the Company for particular projects as long as
Company may, at its election, perform 50% of such services and if such election is made
by the Company, the Company receives 50% of the revenues for such service.
5.07 Emlaloyee agrees that if at any time Company determines, in the
reasonable exercise of its discretion, that the name BLM Developers, Inc. is causing
market confusion, Employee shall use his best efforts to change the name of BLM
Developers, Inc.
5.08 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in the event
Employee's employment by Company te~inates for any reason, that ~v~e: ,':~t z~m~ete
................. ofEmv.vj~, ~nd BLM Developers may engage in design/build services
for any client, and Employee may provide professional services to BLM Developers.
6.0 Employee's employment hereunder will terminate automatically (i) upon
Employee's death or (ii) upon Employee's becoming physically or mentally disabled, whether
totally or partially, so that he is prevented from perfo~'afing the duties assigned to him pursuant to
this Agreement at the time of the disability for a period of six consecutive months or for shorter
periods resulting fi.om the same disability aggregating six months in any twelve-month period.
HBGX83492.3
7.0 The Company may terminate Employee's employment under this Agreement for
"cause". Termination for "cause" means re,co, nation by the Company because of Employee's
gross negligence, dishonesty, willful breach of this Agreement, or violation of any reasonable
rule or regulation of the Company or any of its Affiliates, the violation of which results in
significant damage to the Company or any of its Affiliates and with respect to which, except in
the case of dishonesty, Employee fails to make reasonable efforts to correct in a reasonable time
after written notice of such violation. Cause shall be determined solely by the Company in its
good faith judgment. In the event the Company terminates Employee's employment under this
Agreement without cause, the provisions of Section 5 shall not apply.
8.0 Upon termination of this Agreement, Employee shall not be entitled to any further
compensation.
9.0 The provisions of Section 5 shall survive any termination of this Agreement
unless the Company terminates Employee's employment without cause.
10.0 The waiver by the Company of a breach of any provision of this Agreement by
Employee shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach by Employee.
11.0 Any notice, request, infoxmation or other document to be given hereunder shall be
in writing. Any notice, request, information or other document shall be deemed duly given four
business days after it is sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to the intended
recipient, addressed as follows:
If to the Employee, addressed to such party as follows:
with a copy to:
Bongiovanni & Berger
The North American Building
Suite 1700
121 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Attn: Joseph Bongiovanni
Telecopy: 215-790-0032
If to the Purchaser, addressed to:
BLM/CRA, Inc.
401 East Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Telecopier: 717-458-0047
HBGX83492.3 --
with a copy to:
Shaun R. Eisenhauer, Esquire
Duane, Morris & Heckscher LLP
305 North Front Street
P.O. Box 1003
Harrisburg, PA 17108-1003
Telecopier: 717-232-4015
Any party may send any notice, request, information or other document to be given hereunder
using any other means (including personal delivery, courier, messenger service, facsimile
transmission, telex or ordinary mail), but no such notice, request, information or other document
shall be deemed duly given unless and until it is actually received by the party for whom it is
intended. Any party may change the address to which notices hereunder are to be sent to it by
giving written notice of such change of address in the manner herein provided for giving notice.
12.0 This Agreement shall be governed, construed and enforced in accordance with the
laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
13.0 This Agreement contains the entire Agreement of the parties with regard to the
subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all pr/or oral or written understandings and
agreements between them. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by an Agreement
in writing signed by both parties.
IN WITNESS -WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as
of the day and year first above written.
Title: ~
HBG\83492.3 --
BLM GROUP, 1NC. (PA)
BLM GROUP, INC. (DE)
BLM ARCHITECTS, INC.,
BLM ARCHITECTS, P.C.,
BLM INTERIORS, INC. (PA),
BLM INTERIORS, INC. (DE),
BLM INTERNATIONAL, LTD.,
BLM PROJECT MANAGEMENT, INC.,
BLM DEVELOPERS, INC.,
PETER I. BENTIVEGNA
Plaintiffs
Vo
BLM/CRA, INC.,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
CRABTREE, ROHRBAUGH &
ASSOCIATES, INC.,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
THOMAS C. CRABTREE,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechaniesburg, PA 17055,
G. DOUGLAS ROHRBAUGH,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
CARL J. DAVIS,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
PATRICIA D. MALICK,
5061 Brittany Lane
BrynMawr, PA 19010,
DOUGLAS C. LINDSAY,
513 Springbrook Lane
Wayne, PA 19087,
UDO H. MARON,
401 Greyhorse Road
Willow Grove, PA 19090,
ANTHONY J. MERLINO,
520 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19146, and
: IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
:
: No. t l C, ¥, l
:
.
:
:
.
:
: CIVIL ACTION - LAW and EQUITY
.
.
:
BENTIVEGNA, LINDSAY, MARON, :
MERLINO - ARCHITECTS, :
161 Rock Hill Road, :
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004, :
Defendants : JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
PROPOSED ORDER
AND NOW, this _ . day of May, 2002, upon consideration of Plaintiffs' Motion for
Preliminary Injunction and supporting Brief, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
(a) Defendants shall furnish Plaintiffs with copies of all business records of the
BLM Entities that are currently in their custody, possession, or control within
three days of the date of this Order;
(b) Defendants shall furnish Plaintiffs with copies of detailed time records of
work done on various projects of the BLM Entities, copies of bills received
from subcontractors, consultants, and suppliers of the BLM Entities, records
of payments made by clients of the BLM Entities, and records of payments
made to subcontractors, consultants, and suppliers of the BLM Entities within
three days of the date of this Order;
(c) any and all assignments of any of Plaintiff BLM Entities' contracts with any
of its clients, subcontractors, consultants, and/or suppliers are hereby
rescinded; and
(d) Defendants, with the exception of Defendant Partnership, are prohibited from
interfering with the relationships between Plaintiffs and their clients, subcontractors,
consultants, and suppliers.
BY THE COURT:
:143255
BLM GROUP, INC. (PA)
BLM GROUP, INC. (DE)
BLM ARCHITECTS, INC.,
BLM ARCHITECTS, P.C.,
BLM INTERIORS, INC. (PA),
BLM INTERIORS, INC. (DE),
BLM INTERNATIONAL, LTD.,
BLM PROJECT MANAGEMENT, INC.,
BLM DEVELOPERS, INC.,
PETER I. BENTIVEGNA,
Plaintiffs
Vo
BLM/CRA, INC.,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
CRABTREE, ROHRBAUGH &
ASSOCIATES, INC.,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
THOMAS C. CRABTREE,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
G. DOUGLAS ROHRBAUGH,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
CARL J. DAVIS,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
PATRICIA D. MALICK,
5061 Brittany Lane
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010,
DOUGLAS C. LINDSAY,
513 Springbrook Lane
Wayne, PA 19087,
UDO H. MARON,
401 Greyhorse Road
Willow Grove, PA 19090,
ANTHONY J. MERLINO,
520 S. 22na Street
Philadelphia, PA 19146, and
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
: CIVIL ACTION - LAW and EQUITY
:
;
BENTIVEGNA, LINDSAY, MARON, :
MERLINO - ARCHITECTS, :
161 Rock Hill Road, :
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004, :
Defendants : JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
PLAINTIFFS' MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION
NOW COME Plaintiffs by their counsel Shumaker Williams, P.C. to move this Honorable
Court for a preliminary injunction pursuant to Pa.R.Civ.P. 1531 and state the following in support
thereof:
1. Plaintiffs' Complaint in this action is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Plaintiffs will suffer irreparable harm through the loss of business opportunities and
market advantages if Defendants are not preliminarily forthwith required to return business records
of the plaintiff corporations ("BLM Entities") and to provide Plaintiffs detailed time records of work
done on projects of the BLM Entities, copies of bills received from subcontractors, consultants, and
suppliers of the BLM Entities, records of payments made by clients of the BLM Entities, and records
of payments made to subcontractors, consultants, and suppliers of the BLM Entities.
3. Plaintiffs will also suffer irreparable harm through the complete destruction of the
business of the BLM Entities if Defendants are not preliminarily required to provide Plaintiffs with
the information set forth in the preceding paragraph.
4. Plaintiffs will also suffer irreparable harm through the loss of business opportunities
and market advantages if Defendants are not required to rescind any assignment of any of Plaintiff
BLM Entities' contracts with any of its clients, subcontractors, consultants, and/or suppliers,
especially since such assignments have been received only as a result of false representations which
have been made to Plaintiffs and to their clients, subcontractors, consultants, and/or suppliers.
5. The hai-m that might result to Defendants from the entry of preliminary relief will be
substantially less than the harm which is being and will be done to Plaintiffs if such relief is not
granted.
6. The entry of preliminary relief will maintain the status quo by allowing Plaintiffs to
continue in business and by allowing the BLM Entities' clients, subcontractors, consultants, and/or
suppliers to make decisions as to whether they wish to have their contracts assigned to BLM/CRA
based upon accurate information rather than misrepresentations.
7. The fraud, intentional interferences with contracts, breaches of contract, and civil
conspiracy which have been alleged against Defendants constitute manifest wrongs.
8. Plaintiffs' rights to preliminary relief in order to maintain the status quo and in order
to prevent the destruction of the BLM Entities is clear.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs respectfully request that this Honorable Court enter an Order
preliminarily enjoining Defendants as follows:
(a) requiting that Defendants furnish Plaintiffs with copies of all business records of
the BLM Entities that are currently in their custody, possession, or control within three days
of the date of the Order;
(b) requiring that Defendants furnish Plaintiffs with copies of detailed time records
of work done on various projects of the BLM Entities, copies of bills received from
subcontractors, consultants, and suppliers of the BLM Entities, records of payments made
:143297
by clients of the BLM Entities, and records of payments made to subcontractors, consultants,
and suppliers of the BLM Entities within three days of the date of the Order;
(c) rescinding any and all assignments of any of Plaintiff BLM Entities' contracts
with any of its clients, subcontractors, consultants, and/or suppliers;
(d) prohibiting Defendants, with the exception of Defendant Parmership, from
interfering with the relationships between Plaintiffs and their clients, subcontractors,
consultants, and suppliers; and
(e) awarding such further relief as the Court deems appropriate.
SHUMAKER WILLIAMS, P.e.
Melissa A. Swauger, I.D. #82382
P.O. Box 88
Harrisburg, PA 17108
(717) 763-1121
Attorneys for Plaintiffs
CERTIFICATE OF SERVI~C~_;
I, Laurence W. Dague, Esquire, of the law firm of Shumaker Williams, P.C., hereby certify
that I served a true and correct copy of the foregoing Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction
on this date by depositing a copy of the same in the possession of the United States mail, first-class,
postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
Matthew Chabal, III, Esquire
DUANE MORRIS LLP
305 N. Front Street, 5th Floor
P.O. Box 1003
Harrisburg, PA 17108-1003
(Attorneys for Defendants BLM/CRA, Inc. and
Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates, Inc.)
Anthony j. Nest/co, Esquire
NESTICO KORPOSH & DRUBy LLP
840 E. Chocolate Avenue
Hershey, PA 17033
(Attorneys for Defendants Thomas C. Crabtree,
G. Douglas Rohrbaugh and Carl J. Davis)
Steven J. Englemyer, Esquire
Lisa E. Brody, Esquire
Eric J. Schreiner, Esquire
KLEINB~, BELL & BRECKER LLP
1900 Market Street, Suite 700
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(Attorneys for Defendants Patricia D. Malick,
Douglas C. Lindsay, Udo H. Maron, and Anthony J. Merlino)
~;~tivegna' Lindsay, Maron, Merlino . Architects Rock Hill Road
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
SHUMAKER WILLIAMS, P.C.
Harrisburg, PA 17108
(717) 763-1121
BENTIVEGNA, LINDSAY, MARON, :
MERLINO- ARCHITECTS, :
161 Rock Hill Road, :
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004, Defendants : JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
ORDER
AND NOW, this .~}~-- day of May, 2002, upon consideration of Plaintiffs' Motion for
Preliminary Injunction ~t~i~~T IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Court will hold a
heating on Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction or~ [,_7, 2002, at_ / "3 O
D~,, in Courtroom_
:143254
BY THE COURT:
Jo
BLM GROUP, INC. (PA)
BLM GROUP, INC. (DE)
BLM ARCHITECTS, INC.,
BLM ARCHITECTS, P.C.,
BLM INTERIORS, INC. (PA),
BLM INTERIORS, INC. (DE),
BLM INTERNATIONAL, LTD.,
BLM PROJECT MANAGEMENT, INC.,
BLM DEVELOPERS, INC.,
PETER I. BENTIVEGNA
Plaintiffs
Vo
BLM/CRA, INC.,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
CRABTREE, ROHRBAUGH &
ASSOCIATES, INC.,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
THOMAS C. CRABTREE,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
G. DOUGLAS ROHRBAUGH,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
CARL J. DAVIS,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
PATRICIA D. MALICK,
5061 Brittany Lane
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010,
DOUGLAS C. LINDSAY,
513 Spfingbrook Lane
Wayne, PA 19087,
UDO H. MARON,
401 Greyhorse Road
Willow Grove, PA 19090,
ANTHONY J. MERLINO,
520 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19146, and
: IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
:
:
:
:
:
: No.
:
: CIVIL ACTION - LAW and EQUITY
:
:
.
BENTIVEGNA, LINDSAY, MARON, :
MERLINO - ARCHITECTS, :
161 Rock Hill Road, :
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004, :
Defendants : JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
MEMORANDUM OF LAW IN SUPPORT OF PLAINTIFFS' MOTION FOR
PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION
I. Relevant Procedural and Factual Background
Plaintiffs initiated the above-captioned civil action by filing a Complaint on May 24, 2002.
Plaintiffs have concurrently filed a Motion to Consolidate this action with civil action number 2002-
01831, which Plaintiffs initiated the filing a Praecipe for Writ of Summons on April 12, 2002 and a
Complaint on May 14, 2002. Both actions involve facts and circumstances surrounding the merger
negotiations and resulting "Asset Purchase Agreement" ("APA") that was entered on October 29,
2001, by the corporate Plaintiffs ("BLM Entities"), PlaintiffBentivegna, and Defendants BLM/CRA,
Inc., Malick, Lindsay, Maron, Merlino, and Bentivegna, Lindsay, Maron, Merlino - Architects ("the
Parmership").1
PlaimiffBentivegna is a duly licensed architect who was a founder of an architectural business
approximately eighteen years ago which does business in Pennsylvania and in many other states.
That architectural business is operated in part by the Pennsylvania business corporation of
BLM Group, Inc., which was incorporated in 1985 and of which PlaintiffBentivegna was an original
incorporator. Because of the need to obtain licensing to practice architecture in other states and for
other proper business reasons, BLM Group, Inc. has a number of related corporate entities. Plaintiff
z The ensuing discussion of the background of this case is directly taken from the Complaint
in this action. Therefore, it would be unnecessary to read both.
Bentivegna was at all times and continues to be the majority shareholder and President and Chief
Executive Officer of BLM Entities.
In 2001, BLM Entities entered into negotiations with Defendant CRA for a merger or
acquisition of BLM Entities as a result of a recommendation received by BLM Entities from a
business broker. As a result of those negotiations, an "Asset Purchase Agreement" ("APA") was
entered into on October 29, 2001, to which BLM Entities, Defendant BLM/CRA, Plaintiff
Bentivegna, and minority shareholders of BLM Entities were parties.
Under Paragraph 2. I of the APA, the consideration paid for the acquisition by BLM/CRA of
assets of BLM Entities was shares of stock in BLM/CRA and employment agreements for the
minority shareholders of BLM Entities and for Plaintiff Bentivegna was thirty percent (30%) of the
net profits of BLM/CRA for the period from November 1,2001 through October 31, 2004 and a three
year employment contract.
Plaintiff Bentivegna did, in fact, enter into a three year Employment Agreement with
BLM/CRA ("Employment Agreement"). Covenant 1.0 of the Employment Agreement specifically
provides that Plaintiff Bentivegna will serve as President and Chief Executive Officer "with all
normal and customary duties" during the first two years of his employment with BLM/CRA, a
qualified successor to him would be identified, and an orderly transition would occur during the third
year of his employment. The provisions of Covenant 1.0 concerning PlaintiffBentivegna's offices
and duties were material to both the APA and Employment Agreement because the consideration to
him did not involve any immediate buy-out of him, but primarily the percentage of profit over the
three year period and because those provisions were a way of insuring that he could have a substantial
effect upon and to some degree control of profitability during that period. Moreover, all of the
3
Defendants were aware that those provisions of Covenant 1.0 were material to PlaintiffBentivegna
and that he would not have entered into either the APA or the Employment Agreement without such
provisions.
Defendants, with the exception of the Partnership, represented to Plaintiffs that Plaintiff
Bentivegna would not only have the titles of President and CEO of BLM/CRA but would have all the
normal and customary duties and fights that accompany those titles throughout the first two years of
his employment by BLM/CRA, and Defendants made those representations to Plaintiff Bentivegna
specifically for the purpose of inducing him into entering into the APA and Employment Agreement.
Plaintiffs relied upon those representations in entering into the APA and Employment Agreement.
However, it is now apparent to the Plaintiffs that Defendants' representations concerning the duties
and rights that he would have were false and fraudulent when made by Defendants in that they never
intended to allow him to actually exercise such duties and fights. At all times since the execution of
the APA and Employment Agreement, Defendants, again with the exception of the Partnership, have
refused to allow PlaintiffBentivegna to exercise the duties and fights which normally and customarily
are those ora President/CEO.
During the negotiations leading up to the execution of the APA, Defendants CRA, Crabtree,
Rohrbangh, and Davis represented that BLM/CRA would have no difficulty obtaining required
licensing and registration in each of the states in which BLM Entities had been doing business,
through its subsidiaries, and that they knew that was the case based upon the fact that Defendant
Crabtree was licensed in more than thirty (30) states. As part of those representations, those
Defendants specifically represented that it would not be necessary for BLM/CRA to create related
corporations, as BLM Entities had done, in order to become licensed and registered in other states and
4
that, therefore, BLM/CRA would be able to expeditiously and promptly take over the business of
BLM Entities thereby allowing BLM Entities to liquidate and go out of business.
Those Defendants' representations concerning the ease with which BLM/CRA could obtain
required licensing and registration in other states were, in fact, false. As of this date, BLM/CRA has
still not been able to obtain licensing and registration in all of the states in which BLM Entities has
done and is doing business, and BLM/CRA has been forced to create at least one related corporation
in order to be licensed and registered to do business in one such state, New Jersey. As a result of the
falsity of that representation, BLM Entities has been forced to continue in business.
During the negotiations leading up to the execution of the APA, all the Defendants with the
exception of the Partnership represented that no significant changes would be made in the staffing
and management of BLM Group by BLM/CRA following BLM/CRA's purchase of BLM Group's
assets under the APA. The representations that no changes would be made in the staffing and
management were made to induce Plaintiffs BLM Group and Bentivegna into entering into the APA,
and they were induced to do so in part because of those representations. Those representations were
false when made because Defendants with the exception of the Partnership had already agreed to
make substantial changes in staffing and management. At the direction of Defendant BLM/CRA and
at the requests and with the knowledge of all Defendants except the Partnership, Plaintiffs have
represented to their clients, subcontractors, consultants, and suppliers that no changes would be made
in the staffing and management of BLM Group as a result of BLM/CRA's purchase of BLM Group's
assets under the APA, and the Defendants have made such representations as well. Those
representations are false because not all the employees of BLM Group are employees of Defendant
BLM/CRA and the management of BLM Group has been substantially and significantly changed.
5
Defendants BLM/CRA, Crabtree, Rohrbaugh, Davis, and Merlino have consistently and
routinely represented to Plaintiffs that BLM Entities is nothing more than a conduit for funds and, in
effect, a front for BLM/CRA in relation to ail business formerly of BLM Entities until such time as
BLM/CRA obtains required licensing and registration and until BLM/CRA obtains any necessary
consents to assignments of contractual agreements between BLM Entities and others from those
others. They have made repeated, persistent, and vociferous demands that Plaintiffs pay various sums
to and take various actions for the benefit of BLM/CRA in such a way as to constitute harassment and
abuse of them. They have also purported to issue "directives" and orders to Plaintiffs to take various
actions which would be inimical to the interests of BLM Entities and which would constitute
violations of Plaintiff Bentivegna's fiduciary duties to BLM Entities
Contrary to those Defendants' representations concerning the relationship between BLM
Entities and BLM/CRA, Paragraph 7.5 of the APA specifically provides that, until such time as
consents to assignment of contracts are received from any entity with which BLM Group has a
contractual relationship that requires such consent, BLM/CRA is merely to function as a
subcontractor of BLM Entities As part of Defendants' representations concerning the relationship
between BLM Group and BLM/CRA, Defendants BLM/CRA, Crabtree, Rohrbaugh, Davis, and
Merlino have consistently and routinely represented to Plaintiffs BLM Group and Bentivegna that ail
subcontractors, consultants, insurers, suppliers, and the landlord of BLM Group have been and are
continuing to be paid by Defendant BLM/CRA. Those representations are false in that many of the
subcontractors, consultants, insurers, suppliers, and the landlord of BLM Group have not been paid
by Defendant BLM/CRA.
Under the contractual agreements between Plaintiff BLM Group and all of its clients,
subcontractors, and consultants, no written assignments of those contracts is legally valid unless the
client, subcontractor, or consultant consents in writing to the assignment. Defendants with the
exceptions of Defendants CRA and the Partnership have represented to clients, subcontractors, and
consultants of BLM Group that their contractual agreements with BLM Group have been assigned
and have not fully and properly infom~ed them that their written consent to any assignment is required
and that they were entitled to refuse to give that consent if they so choose.
Defendants have also taken possession of business records of the BLM Entities and denied
access to those records to Plaintiffs. That taking and denial has and will continue to cause substantial
and irreparable damages to Plaintiffs. In addition, Defendants have refused to provide information
to Plaintiffs that is critical to Plaintiffs' ability to continue their business and to fulfill their contractual
obligations to subcontractors, consultants, and suppliers. That information includes detailed time
records of work done on various projects of the BLM Entities, copies of bills received from
subcontractors, consultants, and suppliers of the BLM Entities, records of payments made by clients
of the BLM Entities, and records of payments made to subcontractors, consultants, and suppliers of
the BLM Entities.
Plaintiffs have stated claims at law for breach of contract, fraud, civil conspiracy, and
intentional interference with contractual relations and claims for equitable relief.
II. Issue
Whether this Honorable Court should enjoin the Defendants from seeking to assign the
PlmntlffSubs~dmnes customer contracts and compel the Defendants to provide the Plmntiffs
with financial information and reports in order for Plaintiff BLM Entities to continue its
operations?
Suggested Answer: Yes
III. Argument
A. Standard for Injunctive Relief
purpose ofa prehm~nary ~njunct~on ~s to preserve the status quo as it exists or previously
existed before the acts complained of, thereby preventing irreparable injury or gross injustice."
Santoro v. Morse, 781 A.2d 1220, 1229 (Pa. Super. 2001) (emphasis in original). A party seeking
an injunction, must establish five elements. Id._:. Specifically, a "moving party carries the burden of
showing" the following:
(1) that relief is necessary to prevent immediate and irreparable harm which cannot
be compensated by damages; (2) that greater injury will occur from refusing the
injunction than from granting it; (3) that the injunction will restore the parties to the
status quo as it existed immediately before the alleged wrongful conduct; (4) that the
alleged wrong is manifest, and the injunction is reasonably suited to abate it; and (5)
that the plaintiff's right to relief is clear.
Id. (citing Cappiello v. Duca, 449 Pa. Super· 100, 672 A.2d 1373 (1996)). Applying this standard to
the two requests for injunctive relief sought by Plaintiffs, it is clear that the injunctions sought should
be granted.
1. Irreparable Harm.
Plaintiffs must initially show that relief is necessary to prevent immediate and irreparable
harm which cannot be compensated by damages. Id. Any alleged hasiii must be irreversible, before
that harm can be deemed "irreparable." Id. at 1228. Haxiii may be irreparable where any monetary
damages can only be estimated by conjecture and not by any accurate pecuniary standard. I__d.
These include "wrongful breaches of contract where money damages are an inadequate
remedy." Id. Money damages are not adequate to protect Plaintiffs where the actions of Defendants
interfere with BLM Entities and its subsidiaries' abilities to perfo~ax its contractual obligations and
engage in new contracts. "In the commercial context, the impending loss of a business opportunity
or market advantage may be aptly be characterized as an 'irreparable harm.'" Id. Plaintiffs are
certainly losing business opportunity since Defendants are improperly assuming contractual rights and
obligations under the customer contracts, all the while denying Plaintiffs financial information
necessary to maintain these on-going business concerns. This puts Plaintiffs at risk of being sued by
the customers.
2. Balancing Harms.
Defendants will not suffer harm by this Honorable Court granting an injunction to stop the
Defendants from assuming contractual rights and obligations to which they are not legally entitled
or compelling the Defendants to provide Plaintiffs with financial information crucial to the continued
business of BLM Entities The Defendants will remain able to continue any contracts that they may
have obtained independently of their wrongful conduct. In contrast, the failure to grant the injunction
will result in irreparable harm to the Plaintiffs since, without the injunction, the Plaintiffs cannot meet
any of their on-going obligations and, therefore, are likely to see the total destruction of their business.
9
3. Status Quo.
The preliminary injunction is sought in order to maintain the status quo. Every contract that
Defendants seek to or claim has been assigned constitutes a change of the status quo, i.e., a change
from Plaintiff BLM Group being the party having the contractual relations in question. Thus, by
seeking to restrain Defendants from obtaining assignments and dealing with the relationships as if a
valid assignment had been obtained, Plaintiffs are truly seeking "an order which would restore the
'last actual, peaceable and lawful non-contested status which preceded the pending controversy.'" Id.
at 1230 (quoting Lewis v. City of Harrisburg, 158 Pa. Commw. 318 .... 631 A.2d 807, 810
(1993)). Furthermore, the business records and financial information sought by Plaintiffs are essential
to allowing Plaintiffs to fulfill their contractual obligations to their clients, subcontractors,
consultants, and suppliers and, thereby, to continue in business and maintain the status quo.
4. Manifest Wrong.
Plaintiffs have alleged numerous manifest wrongs. Defendants obtained their contracts with
Plaintiffs only through fraud. They have repeatedly and materially breached those contracts in bad
faith. They have improperly interfered with the relationships between PlaintiffBLM Group and its
clients, subcontractors, consultants and suppliers even at times when they were lawfully entitled to
do business with those clients, subcontractors, consultants and suppliers. Any purported consents that
Defendants may have obtained from Plaintiffs' clients, subcontractors, consultants and suppliers have
resulted from intentional misrepresentations that Defendants have made.
5. Right to Relief.
Plaintiffs' fight to relief is clear. Since the APA and Employment Agreement were obtained
only as a result of fraud, those contracts must be rescinded, and the Plaintiffs should be placed as
10
closely as possible to their position prior to the execution of those contracts. Furthermore, Defendants
numerous breaches of those contracts and improper interferences with the contractual relations
between PlaintiffBLM Group and its clients, subcontractors, consultants and suppliers clearly entitles
Plaintiffs to relief.
IV..Conclusion
For the masons set forth above, Plaintiffs respectfully request that this Honorable Court enter
an Order granting Plaintiffs' Motion for a Preliminary Injunction and granting the preliminary relief
sought therein.
SHUMAKER WILLIAMS, P.C.
Dated: ~'~,~
:143212
~/I~aurence W. Dague, 1.12(. #19715
Angela L. Thomas, I.D. #67810
Melissa A. Swauger, I.D. #82382
P.O. Box 88
Harrisburg, PA 17108
(717) 763-1121
Attorneys for Plaintiffs
11
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, Laurence W. Dague, Esquire, of the law firm of Shumaker Williams, P.C., hereby certify
that I served a true and correct copy of the foregoing Memorandum of Law in Support of Plaintiffs'
Motion for Preliminary Injunction on this date by depositing a copy of the same in the possession of
the United States mail, first-class, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
Matthew Chabal, III, Esquire
DUANE MORRIS LLP
305 N. Front Street, 5th Floor
P.O. Box 1003
Harrisburg, PA 17108-1003
(Attorneys for Defendants BLM/CRA, Inc. and
Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates, Inc.)
Anthony J. Nestico, Esquire
NESTICO KORPOSH & DRUBY LLP
840 E. Chocolate Avenue
Hershey, PA 17033
(Attorneys for Defendants Thomas C. Crabtree,
G. Douglas Rohrbaugh and Carl J. Davis)
Steven J. Englemyer, Esquire
Lisa E. Brody, Esquire
Eric J. Schreiner, Esquire
KLEINBARD, BELL & BRECKER LLP
1900 Market Street, Suite 700
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(Attorneys for Defendants Patricia D. Malick,
Douglas C. Lindsay, Udo H. Maron, and Anthony J. Merlino)
Bentivegna, Lindsay, Maron, Merlino - Architects
161 Rock Hill Road
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
SHUMAKER WILLIAMS, P.C.
~__~auren~e W. ~)ague, I.~. # 19715
P.O. Box 88
Harrisburg, PA 17108
(717) 763-1121
BLM GROUP, INC. (PA)
BLM GROUP, INC. (DE)
BLM ARCHITECTS, INC.,
BLM ARCHITECTS, P.C.,
BLM INTERIORS, INC. (PA),
BLM INTERIORS, INC. (DE),
BLM INTERNATIONAL, LTD.,
BLM PROJECT MANAGEMENT, INC.,
BLM DEVELOPERS, 1NC.,
PETER I. BENTIVEGNA
Plaintiffs
BLM/CRA, INC.,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, pA 17055,
CRABTREE, ROHRBAUGH &
ASSOCIATES, INC.,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
THOMAS C. CRABTREE,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, pA 17055,
G. DOUGLAS ROHRBAUGH,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA t 7055,
CARL J. DAVIS,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, pA 17055,
PATRICIA D. MALICK,
5061 Brittany Lane
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010,
DOUGLAS C. LINDSAY,
513 Springbrook Lane
Wayne, PA 19087,
LIDO H. MARON,
401 Greyhorse Road
Willow Grove, PA 19090,
ANTHONY j. MERLINO,
520 S. 22~ Street
Philadelphia, PA 19146, and
: IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
:
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:
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: No.
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:
.-
:
:
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:
CIVIL ACTION - LAW and EQUITY
:
..
:
:
Bentivegna was at all times and continues to be the majority shareholder and President and Chiei
Executive Officer of BLM Entities.
In 2001, BLM Entities entered into negotiations with Defendant CRA for a merger or
acquisition of BLM Entities as a result of a recommendation received by BLM Entities from a
business broker. As a result of those negotiations, an "Asset Purchase Agreement" ("APA") was
entered into on October 29, 2001, to which BLM Entities, Defendant BLM/CRA, Plaintiff
Bentivegna, and minority shareholders of BLM Entities were parties.
Under Paragraph 2.1 of the APA, the consideration paid for the acquisition by BLM/CRA of
assets of BLM Entities was shares of stock in BLM/CRA and employment agreements for the
minority shareholders of BLM Entities and for PlaintiffBentivegna was thirty percent (30%) of the
net profits of BLM/CRA for the period from November 1,2001 through October 31,2004 and a three
year employment contract.
Plaintiff Bentivegna did, in fact, enter into a three year Employment Agreement with
BLM/CRA ("Employment Agreement"). Covenant 1.0 of the Employment Agreement specifically
provides that Plaintiff Bentivegna will serve as President and Chief Executive Officer "with all
normal and customary duties" during the first two years of his employment with BLM/CRA, a
qualified successor to him would be identified, and an orderly transition would occur during the third
year of his employment. The provisions of Covenant 1.0 concerning Plaintiff Bentivegna,s offices
and duties were material to both the APA and Employment Agreement because the consideration to
him did not involve any immediate buy-out of him, but primarily the percentage of profit over the
three year period and because those provisions
were a way of insuring that he could have a substantial
effect upon and to some degree control of profitability during that period. Moreover, all of the
3
Defendants were aware that those provisions of Covenant 1.0 were material to Plaintiff Bentivegna
and that he would not have entered into either the APA or the Employment Agreement without such
provisions.
Defendants, with the exception of the Partnership, represented to Plaintiffs that Plaintiff
Bentivegna would not only have the titles of President and CEO of BLM/CRA but would have all the
normal and customary duties and rights that accompany those titles throughout the first two years of
his employment by BLM/CRA, and Defendants made those representations to PlaintiffBentivegna
specifically for the purpose of inducing him into entering into the APA and Employment Agreement.
Plaintiffs relied upon those representations in entering into the APA and Employment Agreement.
However, it is now apparent to the Plaintiffs that Defendants' representations concerning the duties
and rights that he would have were false and fraudulent when made by Defendants in that they never
intended to allow him to actually exercise such duties and rights. At all times since the execution of
the APA and Employment Agreement, Defendants, again with the exception of the Partnership, have
refused to allow PlaintiffBentivegna to exercise the duties and rights which normally and customarily
are those ora President/CEO.
During the negotiations leading up to the '
execution of the APA, Defendants CRA, Crabtree,
Rohrbaugh, and Davis represented that BLM/CRA would have no difficulty obtaining required
licensing and registration in each of the states in which BLM Entities had been doing business,
through its subsidiaries, and that they knew that was the case based upon the fact that Defendant
Crabtree was licensed in more than thirty (30) states. As part of those representations, those
Defendants specifically represented that it would not be necessary for BLM/CRA to create related
corporations, as BLM Entities had done, in order to become licensed and registered in other states and
4
that, therefore, BLM/CRA would be able to expeditiously and promptly take over the business of
BLM Entities thereby allowing BLM Entities to liquidate and go out of business.
Those Defendants' representations concerning the ease with which BLM/CRA could obtain
required licensing and registration in other states were, in fact, false. As of this date, BLM/CRA has
still not been able to obtain licensing and registration in all of the states in which BLM Entities has
done and is doing business, and BLM/CRA has been forced to create at least one related corporation
in order to be licensed and registered to do business in one such state, New Jersey. As a result of the
falsity of that representation, BLM Entities has been forced to continue in business.
During the negotiations leading up to the execution of the APA, all the Defendants with the
exception of the Partnership represented that no significant changes would be made in the staffing
and management of BLM Group by BLM/CRA following BLM/CRA's purchase of BLM Group's
assets under the APA. The representations that no changes would be made in the staffing and
management were made to induce Plaintiffs BLM Group and Bentivegna into entering into the APA,
and they were induced to do so in part because of those representations. Those representations were
false when made because Defendants with the exception of the Partnership had already agreed to
make substantial changes in staffing and management. At the direction of Defendant BLM/CRA and
at the requests and with the knowledge of all Defendants except the Partnership, Plaintiffs have
represented to their clients, subcontractors, consultants, and suppliers that no changes would be made
in the staffing and management of BLM Group as a result of BLM/CRA's purchase of BLM Group's
assets under the APA, and the Defendants have made such representations as well. Those
representations are false because not all the employees of BLM Group are employees of Defendant
BLM/CRA and the management of BLM Group has been substantially and significantly changed.
5
Defendants BLM/CRA, Crabtree, Rohrbaugh, Davis, and Merlino have consistently and
routinely represented to Plaintiffs that BLM Entities is nothing more than a conduit for funds and, in
effect, a front for BLM/CRA in relation to all business formerly of BLM Entities until such time as
BLM/CRA obtains required licensing and registration and until BLM/CRA obtains any necessary
consents to assignments of contractual agreements between BLM Entities and others from those
others. They have made repeated, persistent, and vociferous demands that Plaintiffs pay various sums
to and take various actions for the benefit of BLM/CRA in such a way as to constitute harassment and
abuse of them. They have also purported to issue "directives" and orders to Plaintiffs to take various
actions which would be inimical to the interests of BLM Entities and which would constitute
violations of PlaintiffBentivegna's fiduciary duties to BLM Entities
Contrary to those Defendants' representations concerning the relationship between BLM
Entities and BLM/CRA, Paragraph 7.5 of the APA specifically provides that, until such time as
consents to assignment of contracts are received from any entity with which BLM Group has a
contractual relationship that requires such consent, BLM/CRA is merely to function as a
subcontractor of BLM Entities As part of Defendants' representations concerning the relationship
between BLM Group and BLM/CRA, Defendants BLM/CRA, Crabtree, Rohrbaugh, Davis, and
Merlino have consistently and routinely represented to Plaintiffs BLM Group and Bentivegna that all
subcontractors, consultants, insurers, suppliers, and the landlord of BLM Group have been and are
continuing to be paid by Defendant BLM/CRA. Those representations are false in that many of the
subcontractors, consultants, insurers, suppliers, and the landlord of BLM Group have not been paid
by Defendant BLM/CRA.
Under the contractual agreements between Plaintiff BLM Group and all of its clientsi
subcontractors, and consultants, no written assignments of those contracts is legally valid unless the
client, subcontractor, or consultant consents in writing to the assignment. Defendants with the
exceptions of Defendants CRA and the Partnership have represented to clients, subcontractors, and
consultants of BLM Group that their contractual agreements with BLM Group have been assigned
and have not fully and properly informed them that their written consent to any assignment is required
and that they were entitled to refuse to give that consent if they so choose.
Defendants have also taken possession of business records of the BLM Entities and denied
access to those records to Plaintiffs. That taking and denial has and will continue to cause substantial
and irreparable damages to Plaintiffs. In addition, Defendants have refused to provide information
to Plaintiffs that is critical to Plaintiffs' ablhty to continue their business and to fulfill the:r contractual
obligations to subcontractors, consultants, and suppliers. That information includes detailed time
records of work done on various projects of the BLM Entities, copies of bills received from
subcontractors, consultants, and suppliers of the BLM Entities, records of payments made by clients
of the BLM Entities, and records of payments made to subcontractors, consultants, and suppliers of
the BLM Entities.
Plaintiffs have stated claims at law for breach of contract, fraud, civil conspiracy, and
intentional interference with contractual relations and claims for equitable relief.
II. ls__sue
Whether this Honorable Court should enjoin the Defendants from seeking to assign the
PlaintiffSubsid;~,~ .....
with financial information and reports in order for Plaintiff BLM Entities to continue its
operations? ,-,,~ customer contracts and compel the Defendants to provide the Plaintiffs
Suggested Answer: Yes
A. _Standard for Injunctive Relief
III. Argument
"The purpose of a preliminary injunction is to preserve the status quo as it exists orpreviously
existed before the acts complained of thereby preventing irreparable injury or gross injustice."
S~antor~o v. Morse, 781 A.2d 1220, 1229 (Pa. Super. 2001) (emphasis in original). A party seeking
an injunction, must establish five elements. Id. Specifically, a "moving party carries the burden of
showing" the following:
(1) that relief is necessary to prevent immediate and irreparable harm which cannot
be compensated by damages; (2) that greater injury will occur from refusing the
injunction than from granting it; (3) that the injunction will restore the parties to the
status quo as it existed immediately before the alleged wrongful conduct; (4) that the
alleged wrong is manifest, and the injunction is reasonably suited to abate it; and (5)
that the plaintiff's right to relief is clear.
Id. (citing_C310t~iello v. D~uuca, 449 Pa. Super. 100, 672 A.2d 1373 (1996)). Applying this standard to
the two requests for injunctive relief sought by Plaintiffs, it is clear that the injunctions sought should
be granted.
Plaintiffs must initially show that relief is necessary to prevent immediate and irreparable
harm which cannot be compensated by damages. Id. Any alleged harm must be irreversible, before
that harm can be deemed "irreparable." Id. at 1228. Harm may be irreparable where any monetary
damages can only be estimated by conjecture and not by any accurate pecuniary standard. I.d.
These include "wrongful breaches of contract where money damages are an inadequate
remedy." Id. Money damages are not adequate to protect Plaintiffs where the actions of Defendants
interfere with BLM Entities and its subsidiaries' abilities to perform its contractual obligations and
engage in new contracts. "In the commercial context, the impending loss ora business opportunity
or market advantage may be aptly be characterized as an 'irreparable harm.'" I__d. Plaintiffs are
certainly losing business opportunity since Defendants are improperly assuming contractual rights and
obligations under the customer contracts, all the while denying Plaintiffs financial information
necessary to maintain these on-going business concerns. This puts Plaintiffs at risk of being sued by
the customers.
2. _Balancing Harms.
Defendants will not suffer harm by this Honorable Court granting an injunction to stop the
Defendants from assuming contractual rights and obligations to which they are not legally entitled
or compelling the Defendants to provide Plaintiffs with financial information crucial to the continued
business of BLM Entities The Defendants will remain able to continue any contracts that they may
have obtained independently of their wrongful conduct. In contrast, the failure to grant the injunction
will result in irreparable harm to the Plaintiffs since, without the injunction, the Plaintiffs cannot meet
any of their on-going obligations and, therefore, are likely to see the total destruction of their business.
9
3. St__atus Quo.
The preliminary injunction is sought in order to maintain the status quo. Every contract that
Defendants seek to or claim has been assigned constitutes a change of the status quo, .i.e., a change
from Plaintiff BLM Group being the party having the contractual relations in question. Thus, by
seeking to restrain Defendants from obtaining assignments and dealing with the relationships as if a
valid assignment had been obtained, Plaintiffs are truly seeking "an order which would restore the
'last actual, peaceable and lawful non-contested status which preceded the pending controversy.", I.__d.
at 1230 (quoting Lewi._~s v. City of Harris_burg, 158 Pa. Commw. 318 .... 631 A.2d 807, 810
(1993)). Furthermore, the business records and financml ~nformat~on sought by Plaintiffs are essential
to allowing Plaintiffs to fulfill their contractual obligations to their clients, subcontractors,
consultants, and suppliers and, thereby, to continue in business and maintain the status quo.
4. Manifest Wron .
Plaintiffs have alleged numerous manifest wrongs. Defendants obtained their contracts with
Plaintiffs only through fraud. They have repeatedly and materially breached those contracts in bad
faith. They have improperly interfered with the relationships between PlaintiffBLM Group and its
clients, subcontractors, consultants and suppliers even at times when they were lawfully entitled to
do business with those clients, subcontractors, consultants and suppliers. Any purported consents that
Defendants may have obtained from Plaintiffs' clients, subcontractors, consultants and suppliers have
resulted from intentional misrepresentations that Defendants have made.
5. ~Ri~ht to Relief.
Plaintiffs' right to relief is clear. Since the APA and Employment Agreement were obtained
only as a result of fraud, those contracts must be rescinded, and the Plaintiffs should be placed as
10
closely as possible to their position prior to the execution of those contracts. Furthermore, Defendants
numerous breaches of those contracts and improper interferences with the contractual relations
between PlaintiffBLM Group and its clients, subcontractors, consultants and suppliers clearly entitles
Plaintiffs to relief.
IV. Conclusion
For the reasons set forth above, Plaintiffs respectfully request that this Honorable Court enter
an Order granting Plaintiffs' Motion for a Preliminary Injunction and granting the preliminary relief
sought therein.
SHUMAKER WILLIAMS, P.C.
Dated: ~,,~
:143212
~/Laurence ~.. Da~e, I.I~ 19~-~
Angela L. Thomas, I.D. #67810
Melissa A. Swauger, I.D. #82382
P.O. Box 88
Harrisburg, PA 17108
(717) 763-1121
Attorneys for Plaintiffs
11
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, Laurence W. Dague, Esquire, of the law firm of Shumaker Williams, P.C., hereby certify
that I served a true and correct copy of the foregoing Memorandum of Law in Support of Plaintiffs'
Motion for Preliminary Injunction on this date by depositing a copy of the same in the possession of
the United States mail, first-class, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
Matthew Chabal, III, Esquire
DUANE MORRIS LLP
305 N. Front Street, 5th Floor
P.O. Box 1003
Harrisburg, PA 17108-1003
(Attorneys for Defendants BLM/CRA, Inc. and
Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates, Inc.)
'Anthony J. Nestico, Esquire
NESTICO KORPOSH & DRUBy LLP
840 E. Chocolate Avenue
Hershey, pA 17033
(Attorneys for Defendants Thomas C. Crabtree,
G. Douglas Rohrbaugh and Carl J. Davis)
Steven J. Englemyer, Esquire
Lisa E. Brody, Esquire
Eric J. Schreiner, Esquire
KLEINBARD, BELL & BRECKER LLP
1900 Market Street, Suite 700
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(Attorneys for Defendants Patricia D. Malick,
Douglas C. Lindsay, Udo H. Maron, and Anthony J. Merlino)
Bentivegna, Lindsay, Maron, Merlino - Architects
161 Rock Hill Road
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Dated: ~_~.~/~,~
SHUMAKER WILLIAMS, P.C.
P.O. Box 88
Harrisburg, PA 17108
(717) 763-1121
BLM GROUP, INC. (PA)
BLM GROUP, INC. (DE)
BLM ARCHITECTS, INC.,
BLM ARCHITECTS, P.C.,
BLM INTERIORS, INC. (PA),
BLM INTERIORS, INC. (DE),
BLM INTERNATIONAL, LTD.,
BLM PROJECT MANAGEMENT, INC.,
BLM DEVELOPERS, INC.,
PETER I. BENTIVEGNA
Plaintiffs
Vo
BLM/CRA, INC.,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
CRABTREE, ROHRBAUGH &
ASSOCIATES, INC.,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
THOMAS C. CRABTREE,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
G. DOUGLAS ROHRBAUGH,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
CARL J. DAVIS,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
PATRICIA D. MALICK,
5061 Brittany Lane
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010,
DOUGLAS C. LINDSAY,
513 Springbrook Lane
Wayne, PA 19087,
UDO H. MARON,
401 Greyhorse Road
Willow Grove, PA 19090,
ANTHONY J. MERLINO,
520 S. 22~a Street
Philadelphia, PA 19146, and
: IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
.-
:
:
;
:
No.
CIVIL ACTION - LAW and EQUITY
BENTIVEGNA, LINDSAY, MARON, :
MERLINO - ARCHITECTS, :
161 Rock Hill Road, :
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004, :
Defendants : JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
MEMORANDUM OF LAW IN SUPPORT OF PLAINTIFFS' MOTION FOIl
PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION
I. Relevant Procedural and Factual Backeroun, I
Plaintiffs initiated the above-captioned civil action by filing a Complaint on May 24, 2002.
Plaintiffs have concurrently filed a Motion to Consolidate this action with civil action number 2002-
01831, which Plaimiffs initiated the filing a Praecipe for Writ of Summons on April 12, 2002 and a
Complaint on May 14, 2002. Both actions involve facts and circumstances surrounding the merger
negotiations and resulting "Asset Purchase Agreement" ("APA") that was entered on October 29,
2001, by the corporate Plaintiffs ("BLM Entities"), PlaintiffBentivegna, and Defendants BLM/CRA,
Inc., Malick, Lindsay, Maron, Merlino, and Bentivegna, Lindsay, Maron, Merlino - Architects ("the
Partnership"). ~
PlaintiffBentivegna is a duly licensed architect who was a founder of an architectural business
approximately eighteen years ago which does business in Pennsylvania and in many other states.
That architectural business is operated in part by the Pennsylvania business corporation of
BLM Group, Inc., which was incorporated in 1985 and of which PlaintiffBentivegna was an original
incorporator. Because of the need to obtain licensing to practice architecture in other states and for
other proper business reasons, BLM Group, Inc. has a number of related corporate entities. Plaintiff
~ The ensuing discussion of the background of this case is directly taken from the Complaint
in this action. Therefore, it would be unnecessary to read both.
Bentivegna was at all times and continues to be the majority shareholder and President and Chief
Executive Officer of BLM Entities.
In 2001, BLM Entities entered into negotiations with Defendant CRA for a merger or
acquisition of BLM Entities as a result of a recommendation received by BLM Entities from a
business broker. As a result of those negotiations, an "Asset Purchase Agreement" ("APA") was
entered into on October 29, 2001, to which BLM Entities, Defendant BLM/CRA, Plaintiff
Bentivegna, and minority shareholders of BLM Entities were parties.
Under Paragraph 2.1 of the APA, the consideration paid for the acquisition by BLM/CRA of
assets of BLM Entities was shares of stock in BLM/CRA and employment agreements for the
minority shareholders of BLM Entities and for PlaintiffBentivegna was thirty percent (30%) of the
net profits of BLM/CRA for the period from November 1,2001 through October 31,2004 and a three
year employment contract.
Plaintiff Bentivegna did, in fact, enter into a three year Employment Agreement with
BLM/CRA ("Employment Agreement"). Covenant 1.0 of the Employment Agreement specifically
provides that Plaintiff Bentivegna will serve as President and Chief Executive Officer "with all
normal and customary duties" during the first two years of his employment with BLM/CRA, a
qualified successor to him would be identified, and an orderly transition would occur during the third
year of his employment. The provisions of Covenant 1.0 concerning PlaintiffBentivegna's offices
and duties were material to both the APA and Employment Agreement because the consideration to
him did not involve any immediate buy-out of him, but primarily the percentage of profit over the
three year period and because those provisions were a way of insuring that he could have a substantial
effect upon and to some degree control of profitability during that period. Moreover, all of the
Defendants were aware that those provisions of Covenant 1.0 were material to PlaintiffBentivegna
and that he would not have entered into either the APA or the Employment Agreement without such
provisions.
Defendants, with the exception of the Partnership, represented to Plaintiffs that Plaintiff
Bentivegna would not only have the titles of President and CEO of BLM/CRA but would have all the
normal and customary duties and rights that accompany those titles throughout the first two years of
his employment by BLM/CRA, and Defendants made those representations to Plaintiff Bentivegna
specifically for the purpose of inducing him into entering into the APA and Employment Agreement.
Plaintiffs relied upon those representations in entering into the APA and Employment Agreement.
However, it is now apparent to the Plaintiffs that Defendants' representations concerning the duties
and rights that he would have were false and fraudulent when made by Defendants in that they never
intended to allow him to actually exercise such duties and rights. At all times since the execution of
the APA and Employment Agreement, Defendants, again with the exception of the Partnership, have
refused to allow PlaintiffBentivegna to exercise the duties and rights which normally and customarily
are those ora President/CEO.
During the negotiations leading up to the execution of the APA, Defendants CRA, Crabtree,
Rohrbaugh, and Davis represented that BLM/CRA would have no difficulty obtaining required
licensing and registration in each of the states in which BLM Entities had been doing business,
through its subsidiaries, and that they knew that was the case based upon the fact that Defendant
Crabtree was licensed in more than thirty (30) states. As part of those representations, those
Defendants specifically represented that it would not be necessary for BLM/CRA to create related
corporations, as BLM Entities had done, in order to become licensed and registered in other states and
that, therefore, BLM/CRA would be able to expeditiously and promptly take over the business of
BLM Entities thereby allowing BLM Entities to liquidate and go out of business.
Those Defendants' representations concerning the ease with which BLM/CRA could obtain
required licensing and registration in other states were, in fact, false. As of this date, BLM/CRA has
still not been able to obtain licensing and registration in all of the states in which BLM Entities has
done and is doing business, and BLM/CRA has been forced to create at least one related corporation
in order to be licensed and registered to do business in one such state, New Jersey. As a result of the
falsity of that representation, BLM Entities has been forced to continue in business.
During the negotiations leading up to the execution of the APA, all the Defendants with the
exception of the Partnership represented that no significant changes would be made in the staffing
and management of BLM Group by BLM/CRA following BLM/CRA's purchase of BLM Group's
assets under the APA. The representations that no changes would be made in the staffing and
management were made to induce Plaintiffs BLM Group and Bentivegna into entering into the APA,
and they were induced to do so in part because of those representations. Those representations were
false when made because Defendants with the exception of the Partnership had already agreed to
make substantial changes in staffing and management. At the direction of Defendant BLM/CRA and
at the requests and with the knowledge of all Defendants except the Partnership, Plaintiffs have
represented to their clients, subcontractors, consultants, and suppliers that no changes would be made
in the staffing and management of BLM Group as a result of BLM/CRA's purchase of BLM Group's
assets under the APA, and the Defendants have made such representations as well. Those
representations are false because not all the employees of BLM Group are employees of Defendant
BLM/CRA and the management of BLM Group has been substantially and significantly changed.
5
Defendants BLM/CRA, Crabtree, Rohrbaugh, Davis, and Merlino have consistently and
routinely represented to Plaintiffs that BLM Entities is nothing more than a conduit for funds and, in
effect, a front for BLM/CRA in relation to all business formerly of BLM Entities until such time as
BLM/CRA obtains required licensing and registration and until BLM/CRA obtains any necessary
consents to assignments of contractual agreements between BLM Entities and others from those
others. They have made repeated, persistent, and vociferous demands that Plaintiffs pay various sums
to and take various actions for the benefit of BLM/CRA in such a way as to constitute harassment and
abuse of them. They have also purported to issue "directives" and orders to Plaintffs to take various
actions which would be inimical to the interests of BLM Entities and which would constitute
violations of Plaintiff Bentivegna's fiduciary duties to BLM Entities
Contrary to those Defendants' representations concerning the relationship between BLM
Entities and BLM/CRA, Paragraph 7.5 of the APA specifically provides that, until such time as
consents to assignment of contracts are received from any entity with which BLM Group has a
contractual relationship that requires such consent, BLM/CRA is merely to function as a
subcontractor of BLM Entities As part of Defendants' representations concerning the relationship
between BLM Group and BLM/CRA, Defendants BLM/CRA, Crabtree, Rohrbaugh, Davis, and
Merlino have consistently and routinely represented to Plaintiffs BLM Group and Bentivegna that all
subcontractors, consultants, insurers, suppliers, and the landlord of BLM Group have been and are
continuing to be paid by Defendant BLM/CRA. Those representations are false in that many of the
subcontractors, consultants, insurers, suppliers, and the landlord of BLM Group have not been paid
by Defendant BLM/CRA.
6
Under the contractual agreements between Plaintiff BLM Group and all of its clients,
subcontractors, and consultants, no written assignments of those contracts is legally valid unless the
client, subcontractor, or consultant consents in writing to the assignment. Defendants with the
exceptions of Defendants CRA and the Partnership have represented to clients, subcontractors, and
consultants of BLM Group that their contractual agreements with BLM Group have been assigned
and have not fully and properly informed them that their written consent to any assignment is required
and that they were entitled to refuse to give that consent if they so choose.
Defendants have also taken possession of business records of the BLM Entities and denied
access to those records to Plaintiffs. That taking and denial has and will continue to cause substantial
and irreparable damages to Plaintiffs. In addition, Defendants have refused to provide information
to Plaintiffs that is critical to Plaintiffs' ability to continue their business and to fulfill their contractual
obligations to subcontractors, consultants, and suppliers. That infmmation includes detailed time
records of work done on various projects of the BLM Entities, copies of bills received from
subcontractors, consultants, and suppliers of the BLM Entities, records of payments made by clients
of the BLM Entities, and records of payments made to subcontractors, consultants, and suppliers of
the BLM Entities.
Plaintiffs have stated claims at law for breach of contract, fraud, civil conspiracy, and
intentional interference with contractual relations and claims for equitable relief.
II. Issue
Whether this Honorable Court should enjoin the Defendants from seeking to assign the
PlaintiffSubsidiaries' customer contracts and compel the Defendants to provide the Plaintiffs
with financial information and reports in order for Plaintiff BLM Entities to continue its
operations?
Suggested Answer: Yes
III. Argument
A. Standard for Injunctive Relief
e purpose ofa prehm~nary :njunct~on ~s to preserve the status quo as it exists orpreviously
existed before the acts complained of, thereby preventing irreparable injury or gross injustice."
Santoro v. Morse, 781 A.2d 1220, 1229 (Pa. Super. 2001) (emphasis in original). A party seeking
an injunction, must establish five elements. Id. SPecifically, a "moving party carries the burden of
showing" the following:
(1) that relief is necessary to prevent immediate and irreparable hams which cannot
be compensated by damages; (2) that greater injury will occur from refusing the
injunction than from granting it; (3) that the injunction will restore the parties to the
status quo as it existed immediately before the alleged wrongful conduct; (4) that the
alleged wrong is manifest, and the injunction is reasonably suited to abate it; and (5)
that the plaintiff's right to relief is clear.
Id. (citing Cappiello v. Duca, 449 Pa. Super. 100, 672 A.2d 1373 (1996)). Applying this standard to
the two requests for injunctive relief sought by Plaintiffs, it is clear that the injunctions sought should
be granted.
1. Irreparable Harm.
Plaintiffs must initially show that relief is necessary to prevent immediate and irreparable
harm which cannot be compensated by damages. Id. Any alleged harm must be irreversible, before
that harm can be deemed "irreparable." Id. at 1228. Harm may be irreparable where any monetary
damages can only be estimated by conjecture and not by any accurate pecuniary standard. I__d.
These include "wrongful breaches of contract where money damages are an inadequate
remedy." Id. Money damages are not adequate to protect Plaintiffs where the actions of Defendants
interfere with BLM Entities and its subsidiaries' abilities to perform its contractual obligations and
engage in new contracts. "In the commercial context, the impending loss of a business opportunity
or market advantage may be aptly be characterized as an 'irreparable hzam.'" Id. Plaintiffs are
certainly losing business opportunity since Defendants are improperly assuming contractual rights and
obligations under the customer contracts, all the while denying Plaintiffs financial information
necessary to maintain these on-going business concerns. This puts Plaintiffs at risk of being sued by
the customers.
2. Balancing Harms.
Defendants will not suffer harm by this Honorable Court granting an injunction to stop the
Defendants from assuming contractual fights and obligations to which they are not legally entitled
or compelling the Defendants to provide Plaintiffs with financial information crucial to the continued
business of BLM Entities The Defendants will remain able to continue any contracts that they may
have obtained independently of their wrongful conduct. In contrast, the failure to grant the injunction
will result in irreparable harm to the Plaintiffs since, without the injunction, the Plaintiffs cannot meet
any of their on-going obligations and, therefore, are likely to see the total destruction of their business.
9
3. Status Quo.
The preliminary injunction is sought in order to maintain the status quo. Every contract that
Defendants seek to or claim has been assigned constitutes a change of the status quo, i.e., a change
from Plaintiff BLM Group being the party having the contractual relations in question. Thus, by
seeking to restrain Defendants from obtaining assignments and dealing with the relationships as ifa
valid assignment had been obtained, Plaintiffs are truly seeking "an order which would restore the
'last actual, peaceable and lawful non-contested status which preceded the pending controversy. '"Id.
at 1230 (quoting Lewis v. City of Harrisburg, 158 Pa. Commw. 318, __, 631 A.2d 807, 810
(1993)). Furthermore, the business records and financial information sought by Plaintiffs are essential
to allowing Plaintiffs to fulfill their contractual obligations to their clients, subcontractors,
consultants, and suppliers and, thereby, to continue in business and maintain the status quo.
4. Manifest Wrong.
Plaintiffs have alleged numerous manifest wrongs. Defendants obtained their contracts with
Plaintiffs only through fraud. They have repeatedly and materially breached those contracts in bad
faith. They have improperly interfered with the relationships between PlalntiffBLM Group and its
clients, subcontractors, consultants and suppliers even at times when they were lawfully entitled to
do business with those clients, subcontractors, consultants and suppliers. Any purported consents that
Defendants may have obtained from Plaintiffs' clients, subcontractors, consultants and suppliers have
resulted from intentional misrepresentations that Defendants have made.
5. Right to Relief.
Plaintiffs' right to relief is clear. Since the APA and Employment Agreement were obtained
only as a result of fraud, those contracts must be rescinded, and the Plaintiffs should be placed as
10
closely as possible to their position prior to the execution of those contracts. Furthermore, Defendants
numerous breaches of those contracts and improper interferences with the contractual relations
between PlaintiffBLM Group and its clients, subcontractors, consultants and suppliers clearly entitles
Plaintiffs to relief.
IV. Conclusion
For the reasons set forth above, Plaintiffs respectfully request that this Honorable Court enter
an Order granting Plaintiffs' Motion for a Preliminary Injunction and granting the preliminary relief
sought therein.
SHUMAKER WILLIAMS, P.C.
Dated: ~-~~
:143212
~l~aurence W. Dague, l.I~. #19715
Angela L. Thomas, I.D. #67810
Melissa A. Swauger, I.D. #82382
P.O. Box 88
Harrisburg, PA 17108
(717) 763-1121
Attorneys for Plaintiffs
11
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, Laurence W. Dague, Esquire, of the law firm of Shumaker Williams, P.C., hereby certify
that I served a tree and correct copy of the foregoing Memorandum of Law in Support of Plaintiffs'
Motion for Preliminary Injunction on this date by depositing a copy of the same in the possession of
the United States mail, first-class, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
Matthew Chabal, III, Esquire
DUANE MORRIS LLP
305 N. Front Street, 5th Floor
P.O. Box 1003
Harrisburg, PA 17108-1003
(Attorneys for Defendants BLM/CRA, Inc. and
Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates, Inc.)
Anthony J. Nestico, Esquire
NESTICO KORPOSH & DRUBY LLP
840 E. Chocolate Avenue
Hershey, PA 17033
(Attorneys for Defendants Thomas C. Crabtree,
G. Douglas Rohrbaugh and Carl J. Davis)
Steven J. Englemyer, Esquire
Lisa E. Brody, Esquire
Eric J. Schreiner, Esquire
KLEINBARD, BELL & BRECKER LLP
1900 Market Street, Suite 700
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(Attorneys for Defendants Patricia D. Malick,
Douglas C. Lindsay, Udo H. Maron, and Anthony J. Merlino)
Bentivegna, Lindsay, Maron, Merlino - Architects
161 Rock Hill Road
Baia Cynwyd, PA 19004
Dated:
SHUMAKER WILLIAMS, P.C.
~/~auren~e W. ~)ague, I.~. # 19715
P.O. Box 88
Harrisburg, PA 17108
(717) 763-1121
PETER I. BENTIVEGNA
and MARGARET M.
STUSKI,
Plaintiffs
Vo
BLM/CRA, INC., :
CRABTREE, :
ROHRBAUGH & :
ASSOCIATES, INC., :
THOMAS C. CRABTREE,:
G. DOUGLAS :
ROHRBAUGH, and :
CARL J. DAVIS, :
Defendants :
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
CIVIL ACTION - LAW
NO. 02-1831 CIVIL TERM
BLM GROUP, INC. (PA),
BLM GROUP, INC. (DE),
'BLM ARCHITECTS, INC.
BLM ARCHITECTS, P.C.,:
BLM INTERIORS, INC.
(PA), BLM INTERIORS,
INC. (DE), BLM
INTERNATIONAL, LTD.,
BLM PROJECT
MANAGEMENT, INC.,
BLM DEVELOPERS,
INC., PETER I.
BENTIVEGNA,
Plaintiffs
V.
BLM/CRA, INC.,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
CRABTREE,
ROHRBAUGH &
ASSOCIATES, INC.,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
CIVIL ACTION - LAW
THOMAS C. CRABTREE,:
401 E. Winding Hill Road :
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,:
G. DOUGLAS :
ROHRBAUGH, :
401 E. Winding Hill Road :
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,:
CARL J. DAVIS, :
401 E. Winding Hill Road :
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,:
PATRICIA D. MALICK, :
5061 Brittany Lane :
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010, :
DOUGLAS C. LINDSAY,:
513 Springbrook Lane :
Wayne, PA 19087, :
UDO H. MARON, :
401 Greyhorse Road :
Willow Grove, PA 19090, :
ANTHONY J. MERLINO,:
520 S. 22na Street :
Philadelphia, PA 19146, :
and BENTIVEGNA, :
LINDSAY, MARON, :
MERLIN0-ARCHITECTS,:
161 Rock Hill Road :
Bala Cnywyd, PA 19004, :
Defendants :
NO. 02-2611 CIVIL TERM
ORDER OF COURT
AND NOW, this 31st day of May, 2002, upon consideration of Plaintiffs' Motion
To Consolidate, a Rule is hereby issued upon Defendants to show cause why the relief
requested should not be granted.
RULE RETURNABLE within 10 days of service.
Laurence W. Dague, Esq.
Angela L. Thomas, Esq.
Melissa A. Swauger, Esq.
P.O. Box 88
Harrisburg, PA 17108
Attorneys for Plaintiffs
Matthew Chabal, III, Esq.
305 North From Street
5th Floor
P.O. Box 1003
Harrisburg, PA 17108-1003
Attorney for Defendants
BLM/CRA, Inc. and Crabtree
Rohrbaugh & Associates, Inc.
Anthony J. Nestico, Esq.
840 E. Chocolate Avenue
Hershey, PA 17033
Attorney for Defendants
Thomas C. Crabtree, G. Douglas
Rohrbaugh and Carl J. Davis
BY THE COURT,
esley Ole(-,~., ·
Steven J. Englemyer, Esq.
Lisa E. Brody, Esq.
Eric J. Schreiner, Esq.
KLEINBARD, BELL &
BRECKER, LLP
1900 Market Street
Suite 700
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Attorneys for Defendants
Patricia D. Malick, Douglas C.
Lindsay, Udo H. Maron, and
Anthony J. Merlino
Bentivegna, Lindsay, Maron,
Merlino - Architects
161 Rock Hill Road
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Defendant, Pro Se
BLM GROUP, INC. (PA),
BLM GROUP, INC. (DE),
BLM ARCHITECTS, INC.
BLM ARCHITECTS, P.C.,
BLM INTERIORS, INC. (PA),
BLM INTERIORS, INC. (DE),
BLM INTERNATIONAL, LTD.,
BLM PROJECT
MANAGEMENT, INC.,
BLM DEVELOPERS, INC.,
PETER I. BENTIVEGNA,
Plaintiffs
Vo
BLM/CRA, INC.,
CRABTREE, ROHRBAUGH &
ASSOCIATES, INC.,
THOMAS C. CRABTREE,
G. DOUGLAS ROHRBAUGH,
CARL J. DAVIS,
PATRICIA D. MALICK,
DOUGLAS C. LINDSAY,
UDO H. MARON,
ANTHONY J. MERLINO, and
BENTIVEGNA, LINDSAY,
MARON, MERLINO-ARCH1TECTS,
Defendants
In the Court of Common Pleas of
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
Civil Action - Law
No. 02-2611 Civil Term
ENTRY OF APPEARANCE.
Please enter our appearance on behalf of Defendants BLM/CRA, Inc., and Crabtree,
Rohrbaugh & Associates, Inc. We are authorized to accept service on their behalf.
Respectfully submitted,
DUANE MORRIS, LLP
Dated:
Attorney I.D. No. 49926
Barbara A. Zemiock
Attorney I.D. No. 58891
Thomas L. Isenberg
Attorney I.D. No. 76652
305 N, Front St., 5th Floor
P. O. Box 1003
Harrisburg, PA 17108-1003
(717) 237-5500
HBG\98866.1
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE_
%
On this [ (9 of June, 2002, I, Patricia Z. Glusko, a secretary in the law offices of
Duane Morris LLP, hereby certify that I have served this day true and correct copies of the
attached document in the above-captioned case, by depositing same in the United States First
Class Mail, postage prepaid, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to those persons and addresses
indicated below:
Laurence W. Dague, Esq.
Angela L. Thomas, Esq.
Melissa A. Swanger, Esq.
Shumaker Williams
P. O. Box 88
Harrisburg, PA 17108
Attorneys for Plaintiffs
Anthony J. Nestico, Esq.
840 E. Chocolate Avenue
Hershey, PA 17033
Attorneys for Defendants Thomas Crabtree,
Douglas Rohrbaugh and Carl Davis
Steven J. Engelmyer, Esq.
Lisa E. Brody, Esq.
Eric J. Schreiner, Esq.
Kleinbard, Bell & Brecker, LLP
1900 Market Street, Suite 700
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Attorneys for Defendants Malick, Lindsay, Maron and Meflino
Bentivegna, Lindsay, Maron, Merlino - Architects
161 Rock Hill Road
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Defendant, Pro Se
Patricia Z~usko
GREGORY S. PLANK,
Plaintiff
V.
DENISE L. PLANK,
Defendant
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERI,ANO COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
No. O~ ~ ~"]'Z-2- Civil Term
CIVIL ACTION - LAW
IN DIVORCE
AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA :
SS.
COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND
Laura A. Gargiulo, Esquire, being duly sworn according to law, deposes and says that she
is the attorney for Plaintiff in the above-captioned action; that on June 6, 2002, she mailed a true
and correct copy of the Complaint in Divorce to the Defendant, by certified mail with restricted
delivery, postage prepaid, return receipt requested and evidenced by return receipt card No. 7000
0600 0021 3855 9132 to Defendant's last known address; that on June 8, 2002, Defendant did
personally received said Complaint in Divorce; that attached hereto, made a part hereof and
marked as Exhibit "A" is return receipt card number 7000 0600 0021 3855 9132, with Plaintiff's
signature affixed thereon; and that the facts set forth in the within Affidavit are true and correct
to the best of her information and belief.
Sworn to.~lnd subscribed before me
this IC~'~+t~ day of
,2002.
Lat~ra A. Gargiulo,aEsq~
Attorney for Defendant
EXHIBIT A
Certified Fee
Return Receipt Fee
(Endorsement Required)
Restricted Delivery Fee
(Endorsement Required)
· Cqmplete items 1, 2, and 3. Also complete
item 4 if Restricted Delivery is desired.
· Print your name and address on the reverse
so that we can return the card to you.
· Attach this card to the back of the mailpiece,
or on the front if space permits.
1. Article Addresesd to:
C. Sigy,~,ture ~ ~
D. Is delivery address dtffesmt from item 17
If YES, enter delivery address below:
3.
JJ~Jegi~tered JJj~4~tum Reselpt for lgle~hm~cli~e
[] In~ured ~ail [] C.O.D.
4. ResVict~d Delivery? (Extra Fee)
2, .Art~.~m_b,~._.~E~oy from serv~a~m/) ~,,~....~ ~,
PS F'o'flTt~l. July 1~9~" , Domestic Return Receipt
102595-00-M-0952
BLM GROUP, INC. (PA),
BLM GROUP, INC. (DE),
BLM ARCHITECTS, INC.,
BLM ARCHITECTS, P.C.
BLM INTERIORS, INC. (PA),
BLM INTERIORS, INC. (DE),
BLM INTERNATIONAL, LTD.,
BLM PROJECT MANAGEMENT, INC.,
BLM DEVELOPERS, INC., and
PETER I. BENTIVEGNA
Plaintiffs,
BLM/CRA, INC.,
CRABTREE, ROHRBAUGH &
ASSOCIATES, INC.,
THOMAS C. CRABTREE,
G. DOUGLAS ROHRBAUGH,
CARL J. DAVIS,
PATRICIA D. MALICK,
DOUGLAS C. LINDSAY,
UDO H. MARON,
ANTHONY J. MERLINO, and
BENTIVEGNA, LINDSAY, MARON
MERLINO-ARCHITECTS,
Defendants.
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
No. 02-2611 Civil Term
PRAECIPE FOR ENTRY OF APPEARANCE
To the Prothonotary:
Please enter our appearance in the above-captioned case on behalf of Defendants
Patricia D. Malick, Douglas C. Lindsay, Udo H. Maron and Anthony J. Merlino.
Dated: June 11, 2002
Respectfully submitted,
KLEINBARD, BELL & BRECKER LLP
Steventg. Engelmyer
Lisa E. Brody
Eric J. Schreiner
1900 Market Street, Suite 700
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 568-2000
Attorneys for Defendants Patricia D. Malick,
Douglas C. Lindsay, Udo H. Maron and
Anthony J. Meflino
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, Eric J. Schreiner, hereby certify that on the 11th day of June, 2002, I caused true and
correct copies of the foregoing Praecipe for Entry of Appearance to be served on the following
via U.S. Mail:
Laurence W. Dague, Esq.
Angela L. Thomas, Esq.
Melissa A. Swauger, Esq.
Shumaker Williams, P.C.
3425 Simpson Ferry Rd. (Camp Hill)
P.O. Box 88
Harrisburg, PA 17108-0088
Counsel for Plaintiffs
Matthew Chabal, III, Esq.
Duane Morris, LLP
305 N. Front Street, 5th Floor
P.O. Box 1003
Harrisburg, PA 17108-1003
Counsel for Defendants BLM/CRA, Inc. and Crabtree,
Rohrbaugh & Associates
Anthony J. Nestico
Nestico Korposh & Dmby, LLP
804 E. Chocolate, Ave.
Hershey, PA 17033
Counsel for Defendants Thomas C. Crabtree,
G. Douglas Rohrbaugh and Carl J. Davis
Eric J. ~iner
BLM GROUP, INC. (PA),:
BLM GROUP, INC. (DE),:
BLM ARCHITECTS, INC.:
BLM ARCHITECTS, P.C.,:
BLM INTERIORS, 1NC. :
(PA), BLM INTERIORS, :
INC. (DE), BLM :
INTERNATIONAL, LTD.,:
BLM PROJECT
MANAGEMENT, INC.,
BLM DEVELOPERS,
INC., PETER I.
BENTIVEGNA,
Plaintiffs
BLM/CRA, INC.,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
CRABTREE,
ROHRBAUGH &
ASSOCIATES, INC.,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,:
THOMAS C. CRABTREE,:
401 E. Winding Hill Road :
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,:
G. DOUGLAS :
ROHRBAUGH, :
401 E. Winding Hill Road :
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,:
CARL J. DAVIS,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
PATRICIA D. MALICK, :
5061 Brittany Lane :
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010, :
DOUGLAS C. LINDSAY,:
513 Springbrook Lane :
Wayne, PA 19087, :
UDO H. MARON, :
401 Greyhorse Road :
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
CIVIL ACTION - LAW
VINVA~SNNr~d
3OlJJO-Cl311J
Willow Grove, PA 19090, :
ANTHONY J. MERLINO,:
520 S. 22® Street :
Philadelphia, PA 19146, :
and BENTIVEGNA, :
LINDSAY, MARON, :
MERLIN0-ARCHITECTS,:
161 Rock Hill Road :
Bala Cnywyd, PA 19004, :
Defendants :
NO. 02-2611 CIVIL TERM
1N RE: PLAINTIFFS' MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION
ORDER OF COURT
AND NOW, this 13th day of June, 2002, upon consideration of of the attached
letter fi.om Laurence W. Dague, Esq., attorney for Plaintiffs, the hearing previously
scheduled in the above matter for June 17, 2002, is continued to Thursday, September 26,
2002, at 1:30 p.m., in Courtroom No. 1, Cumberland Cotmty Courthouse, Carlisle,
Peunsyvlania.
/Laurence W. Dague, Esq.
Angela L. Thomas, Esq.
Melissa A. Swauger, Esq.
P.O. Box 88
Harrisburg, PA 17108
Attorneys for Plaintiffs
BY THE COURT,
Matthew Chabal, III, Esq.
305 North Front Street
5th Floor
P.O. Box 1003
Harrisburg, PA 17108-1003
Attorney for Defendants
BLMdCRA, Inc. and Crabtree
Rohrbaugh & Associates, Inc.
,~Anthony J. Nestico, Esq.
840 E. Chocolate Avenue
Hershey, PA 17033
Attorney for Defendants
~[Steven J. Englemyer, Esq.
Lisa E. Brody, Esq.
Eric J. Schreiner, Esq.
KLE1NBARD, BELL &
BRECKER, LLP
1900 Market Street
Suite 700
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Attorneys for Defendants
Patricia D. Malick, Douglas C.
Lindsay, Udo H. Maron, and
Anthony J. Merlino
/Bentivegna, Lindsay, Maron,
Merlino - Architects
161 Rock Hill Road
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Defendant, Pro Se
0~?~3/2002 10:~7
7177~37467
AKER
I IAMS .c.
SHUMAKER WILLIAMS
WRITgR'$ DIRECT DIAL NUMBER:
WRITER'S E-MAIL:
June 13, 2002
PAGE
717.909.1645
doouo~ohumakom411iamo,oom
02
The Honorable J. Wesley Oler, Jr.
CTr~BERLAND COU'NTY COURTHOUSE
One Courthouse Square
Carlisle, PA 17013
BLM CTrOUp, Inc. (PA), et al. v. BLMYCRA, lnc., et al.
C.C.P. Cumberland County, No. 02-2611 Civil
Our File No. 716-02(2)
..Dear judge Olaf:
By Order of May 31, 2002, Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction ("Motion") was
scheduled for it heari~ on June 17, 2002 at 1:30 p.m. in the above-captioned matter. A partial
settlement between some of the parties has reduced and may eliminate the need for a hearing on
Pla/mt/~s' Motion.
In light of the foregoing, we respe~tfiflly request that Your Honor continue the hearing
scheduled for June 17, 2002 at 1:30 p.m. and reschedule the hearing for a later date, in the event the
parties cannot re~h a settlement of the unresolved issues_ Thank-you for your consideration of this
LWD/mac:143889
Very tnlly yours,
Matthew Chabal, 1/I, Esquire (Via Tele~opier)
Anfhnny I l~le.qfien, l~Rqnim (Via Telecopier)
Steven J. Engclmyer, Esquire (Via Telecopier)
CORRESPONDENCE:
ROi BOX 88
PHONE;' 7i 7;~65,1121
FA~(;' 717.763.7419
READING, PA 610.929.5808
BLM GROUP, INC. (PA) :
BLM GROUP, INC. (DE) :
BLM ARCHITECTS, INC., :
BLM ARCHITECTS, P.C., :
BLM INTERIORS, INC. (PA), :
BLM INTERIORS, INC. (DE), :
BLM INTERNATIONAL, LTD., :
BLM PROJECT MANAGEMENT, INC., :
BLM DEVELOPERS, INC.,
PETER I. BENTIVEGNA,
Plaintiffs
Mo
BLM/CRA, INC.,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
CRABTREE, ROHRBAUGH &
ASSOCIATES, INC.,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
THOMAS C. CRABTREE,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
G. DOUGLAS ROHRBAUGH,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
CARL J. DAVIS,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
PATRICIA D. MALICK,
5061 Brittany Lane
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010,
DOUGLAS C. L1NDSAY,
513 Springbrook Lane
Wayne, PA 19087,
UDO H. MARON,
401 Greyhorse Road
Willow Grove, PA 19090,
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND couNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
: No. 02-2611 Civil
:
_-
.-
:
:
:
:
:
:
.
:
: CIVIL ACTION - LAW
:
:
and EQUITY
ANTHONY J. MERLINO,
520 S. 22nd Street :
Philadelphia, PA 19146, and :
BENTIVEGNA, L1NDSAY, MARON, :
MERLINO - ARCHITECTS, :
161 Rock Hill Road, :
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004, :
Defendants : JURY TRIAL DEMAN]
PRAECIPE TO REINSTATE COMPLAIN'
TO THE PROTHONOTARY:
Please reinstate the Complaint filed in the above-captioned matt
Dated: 6/19/02
SHUMAKER WI[
C~;~'~urence W. Dagu
Melissa A. Swaug~
P.O. Box 88
Harrisburg, PA 17
(717) 763-1121
)ED
LIAMS, P.C.
:, I.D. #19'~15/
r, I.D. #82382
108
Attorneys for Plaintiff
: 144062
SHERIFF'S RETURN - REGULAR
CASE NO: 2002-02611 P
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVA~NIA:
COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND
BLM GROUP INC (PA) ET AL
VS
BLM/CRA INC ET AL
J MICHAEL ICKES , Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff of
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, who being duly sworn according to
says, the within COMPLAINT & NOTICE was served upon
BLM/CRA INC the
DEFENDANT at 1540:00 HOURS,
at 401 E WINDING HILL ROAD
MECHANICSBURG, PA 17055
CARL J DAVIS, CFO
on the 3rd day of June , 2002
by handing to
a true and attested copy of COMPLAINT & NOTICE
together with
and at the same time directing His attention to the contents thereof.
Sheriff's Costs:
Docketing 18.00
Service 6.90
Affidavit .00
Surcharge 10.00
.00
34.90
Sworn and Subscribed to before
me this 22/~,~ day of
(/~. ~,~ ~- o~'~ 2- A. D.
/ ~roth0hotary
So Answers:
R. Thomas Kline
08/13/2002
SHUMAKER WILLIAMS
Dep~{f~ ~h-effi f f
SHERIFF'S RETURN - REGULAR
CASE NO: 2002-02611 P
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA:
COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND
BLM GROUP INC (PA) ET AL
VS
BLM/CPJI INC ET AL
J MICHAEL ICKES , Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff of
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, who being duly sworn according to law,
says, the within COMPLAINT & NOTICE was served upon
CRABTREE ROHRBAUGH & ASSOCIATES INC the
DEFENDANT , at 1540:00 HOURS, on the 3rd day of June
at 401 E WINDING HILL ROAD
, 2002
MECIAZ~NICSBURG, PA 17055 by handing to
CARL J DAVIS, CFO
a true and attested copy of COMPLAINT & NOTICE together with
and at the same time directing His attention to the contents thereof.
Sheriff's Costs:
Docketing 6.00
Service .00
Affidavit .00
Surcharge 10.00
.00
16.00
Sworn and Subscribed to before
me this ;~7~ day of
Q~,, ~ ~)2~ A.D.
--~ / Prothonotary ' '
So Answers:
R. Thomas Kline
08/13/2002
SHUMA~ER WILLIAMS
By:
~- Deputy Sheriff
SHERIFF'S
CASE NO: 2002-02611 P
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA:
COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND
BLM GROUP INC (PA) ET AL
VS
BLM/CRA INC ET AL
RETURN - REGULAR
J MICHAEL ICKES Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff of
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, who being duly sworn according to law,
says, the within COMPLAINT & NOTICE was served upon
CP~ABTREE THOMAS C the
DEFENDANT , at 1540:00 HOURS, on the 3rd day of June
at 401 E WINDING HILL ROAD
2002
MECH3~NICSBURG, PA 17055 by handing to
CARL J DAVIS, CFC
a true and attested copy of COMPLAINT & NOTICE together with
and at the same time directing His attention to the contents thereof.
Sheriff's Costs: So Answers:
Docketing 6.00
Service .00
Affidavit .00
Surcharge 10.00 R. Thomas Kline
.00
16.00
Sworn and Subscribed to before
me this ~$,~ day of
~ L~2- ~ ~b A.D.
/-! Pr~fhonA~ary'
08/13/2002
SHUMAKER WILLIAMS
~/ ' De~uhy Sheriff
SHERIFF'S RETURN -
CASE NO: 2002-02611 P
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA:
COUNTY OF CUMBERLJLND
BLM GROUP INC (PA) ET AL
VS
BLM/CP~A INC ET AL
REGULAR
J MICHAEL ICKES , Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff of
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, who being duly sworn according to law,
says, the within COMPLAINT & NOTICE was served upon
ROHRBAUGH G DOUGLAS the
DEFENDANT at 1540:00 HOURS, on the 3rd day of June
at 401 E WINDING HILL ROAD
2002
MECHANICSBURG, PA 17055 by handing to
CARL J DAVIS, CFO
a true and attested copy of COMPLAINT & NOTICE together with
and at the same time directing His attention to the contents thereof.
Sheriff's Costs:
Docketing 6.00
Service .00
Affidavit .00
Surcharge 10.00
.00
16.00
Sworn and Subscribed to before
me this ~_3~ day of
~-~, ~ ~ ~JL A.D.
# ! Prothonotary
So Answers:
R. Thomas Kline
08/13/2002
SHUMAKER WILLIAMS
~ Deputy ~heriff
SHERIFF'S RETURN - REGULAR
CASE NO: 2002-02611 P
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA:
COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND
BLM GROUP INC (PA) ET AL
VS
BLM/CRA INC ET AL
J MICHAEL ICKES , Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff of
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, who being duly sworn according to law,
says, the within COMPLAINT & NOTICE was served upon
DAVIS CARL J the
DEFENDANT , at 1540:00 HOURS, on the 3rd day of June , 2002
at 401 E WINDING HILL ROAD
MECI43~NICSBURG, PA 17055
CARL J DAVIS
by handing to
a true and attested copy of COMPLAINT & NOTICE
together with
and at the same time directing His attention to the contents thereof.
Sheriff's Costs:
Docketing 6.00
Service .00
Affidavit .00
Surcharge 10.00
.00
16.00
Sworn and Subscribed to before
me this ~ day of
~,,~3- ~ 3_~ A.D.
/ ~ Prothohota~yl -
So Answers:
R. Thomas Kline
08/13/2002
SHUMAKER WILLIAMS
//
SHERIFF'S RETURN - OUT OF COUNTY
CASE NO: 2002-02611 P
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA:
COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND
BLM GROUP INC (PA) ET AL
VS
BLM/CRA INC ET AL
R. Thomas Kline
duly sworn according to law, says, that he made a diligent
and inquiry for the within named DEFENDANT , to wit:
MALICK PATRICIA D
but was unable to locate Her in his bailiwick.
deputized the sheriff of DELAWARE County,
serve the within COMPLAINT & NOTICE
Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff who being
search and
He therefore
Pennsylvania, to
On August 13th 2002 , this office was in receipt of the
attached return from DELAWARE
Sheriff's Costs:
Docketing 6.00
Out of County 9.00
Surcharge 10.00
Dep Delaware Co 34.25
.00
59.25
08/13/2002
SHUMAKER WILLIAMS
So answ s: ~
R. Thomas Kline
Sheriff of Cumberland County
Sworn and subscribed to before me
J2~ day of~,,~
this
~ A.D.
/ ! Prothonotgr~ '
SHERIFF'S RETURN - OUT OF COUNTY
CASE NO: 2002-02611 P
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA:
COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND
BLM GROUP INC (PA) ET AL
VS
BLM/CRA INC ET AL
R. Thomas Kline
duly sworn according to law, says, that he made a diligent
and inquiry for the within named DEFENDANT , to wit:
LINDSAY DOUGLAS C
but was unable to locate Him
deputized the sheriff of CHESTER
Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff who being
search and
in his bailiwick.
County,
serve the within COMPLAINT & NOTICE
He therefore
Pennsylvania, to
On August 13th , 2002 , this office was in receipt of the
attached return from CHESTER
Sheriff's Costs:
Docketing
Out of County
Surcharge
Dep Chester Co
6.00
9.00
10.00
34.37
.00
59.37
08/13/2002
SHUMAKER WILLIAMS
Sheriff of Cumberland County
Sworn and subscribed to before me
this 22,z~ day of ~
~20~2_ A.D.
! I Prothonota~y~ '
SHERIFF'S RETURN - OUT OF COUNTY
CASE NO: 2002-02611 P
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA:
COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND
BLM GROUP INC (PA) ET AL
VS
BLM/CRA INC ET AL
R. Thomas Kline , Sheriff
duly sworn according to law, says, that he made a diligent
and inquiry for the within named DEFENDANT , to wit:
LINDSAY DOUGLAS C
but was unable to locate Him in his
deputized the sheriff of MONTGOMERY
serve the within COMPLAINT & NOTICE
or Deputy Sheriff who being
search and
bailiwick.
County,
He therefore
Pennsylvania, to
On August 13th , 2002 , this office was in receipt of the
attached return from MONTGOMERY
Sheriff's Costs:
Docketing 6.00
Out of County 9.00
Surcharge 10.00
Dep Montgomery Co 33.00
.00
58.00
08/13/2002
SHUMAKER WILLIAMS
Sheriff of Cumberland County
Sworn and subscribed to before me
this ~2~Qday of ~.~-
~6~-~ A.D.
~ ' Prothonotary ~
SHERIFF'S RETURN
CASE NO: 2002-02611 P
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA:
COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND
BLM GROUP INC (PA) ET AL
VS
BLM/CRA INC ET AL
- OUT OF COUNTY
R. Thomas Kline
duly sworn according to law, says, that he made a diligent
and inquiry for the within named DEFENDANT , to wit:
MARON UDO H
, Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff who being
search and
but was unable to locate Him in his bailiwick.
deputized the sheriff of MONTGOMERY County,
serve the within COMPLAINT & NOTICE
He therefore
Pennsylvania,
to
On August 13th , 2002 , this office was in receipt of the
attached return from MONTGOMERY
Sheriff's Costs:
Docketing 6.00
Out of County .00
Surcharge 10.00
Dep Montgomery Co 49.00
.00
65.00
08/13/2002
SHUlVLAKEA WILLIANS
So answer~: ~.~i~3~C-<~
R. ~Thomas Kline
Sheriff of Cumberland County
Sworn and subscribed to before me
this J)~t day of
2~o 2w A.D.
' ' Prothonotary'
SHERIFF'S RETURN
CASE NO: 2002-02611 P
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA:
COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND
BLM GROUP INC (PA) ET AL
VS
BLM/CRA INC ET AL
- OUT OF COUNTY
R. Thomas Kline
duly sworn according to law, says, that he made a diligent
and inquiry for the within named DEFENDANT , to wit:
BENTIVEGNA LINDSAY MARON MERLINO-ARCHITECTS
but was unable to locate Them in his bailiwick.
deputized the sheriff of COMPANY County,
serve the within COMPLAINT & NOTICE
Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff who being
search and
He therefore
Pennsylvania, to
On August 13th , 2002 , this office was in receipt of the
attached return from COMPANY
Sheriff's Costs:
Docketing 6.00
Out of County .00
Surcharge 10.00
.00
.00
16.00
08/13/2002
SHUMAKER WILLIAMS
So answer_~.--
R.FThomas Kline
Sheriff of Cumberland County
Sworn and subscribed to before me
SHERIFF'S RETURN - OUT OF COUNTY
CASE NO: 2002-02611 P
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA:
COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND
BLM GROUP INC (PA) ET AL
VS
BLM/CRA INC ET AL
R. Thomas Kline
duly sworn according to law,
and inquiry for the within named DEFENDANT , to wit:
MERLINO ANTHONY J
but was unable to locate Him in his bailiwick.
deputized the sheriff of PHILADELPHIA County,
serve the within COMPLAINT & NOTICE
, Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff who being
says, that he made a diligent search and
He therefore
Pennsylvania,
to
On August 13th , 2002 , this office was in receipt of the
attached return from PHILADELPHIA
Sheriff's Costs:
Docketing 6.00
Out of County 9.00
Surcharge 10.00
Dep Philadelphia 116.00
.00
141.00
08/13/2002
SHUMAKER WILLIAMS
R/. Thomas Kline
Sheriff of Cumberland County
Sworn and subscribed to before me
this ~g~( day
~2. A.D.
~ ' Prothono%arg
In The Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
BL~ Group, Inc, (PA) et al ~, ~
VS.
BLM/CRA, Inc. et al
SERVE: Patricia D. Malick
NO. 02 2611 civil
NOW, May 31, 2002 , I, SHERIFF OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PA, do
hereby deputize the Sheriff of Delaware County to execute this Writ, this
deputation being made at the request and risk of the Plaintiff.
Sheriff of Cumberland County, PA
Affidavit of Service
Now,
within
,20 , at o'clock M. served the
upon
at
by handing to
copy of the original
and made known to
the contents thereof.
Sworn and subsc~v35ed before
n e is fd_dayof,J ,200Z
So answers,
Sheriff of County, PA
COSTS
SERVICE
MILEAGE
AFFIDAVIT
NOTARIAL SEAL
SHERI L. ZUPPO, Notary Publlc
Media Boro., Delaware County
My Commission Expires Augus124r 2005
~In The Court of Common Pleas of CUmberland County, Pennsylvania
BL~ Group, Inc. (PA) et al
VS.
BI~/CRA, Inc. et al
SERVE: Douglas C. Lindsay NO. 02 2611 civil
Now, May 31, 2002
hereby deputize the Sheriffof Chester
, I, SI-IERIFF OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PA, do
County to execute this Writ, this
deputation being made at the request and risk of the Plaintiff.
Sheriff of Cumberland County, PA
Affidavit of Service
Now~
within
upon
at
,20 , at o'clock __ M. served the
by handing to
and made known to
Sworn and subscribed before
me this // day of (~L~ ,20tO~
copy of the original
So answers,
the contents thereof.
COSTS
SERVICE
MILEAGE
AFFIDAVIT
Sheriff of County, PA
In The Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland
BIN Group, Inc. (PA) et al
VS.
. BIN/.¥RA, Inc. et al
SERVE: Douglas C. Lindsay No. 02
County, Pennsylvania
2611 civil
June I9, 2002
hereby deput/ze the Sheriffof Montgomery
., I, SHERIFF OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PA, do
County to execute this Writ, this
deputation being made at the request and risk of the Plaintiff.
Sheriff of Cumberland County, PA
Affidavit of Service
,20 t;x., at C>~/r'- o'clock
M. served the
by handing to
copy of the ori~nal ~.,~'d'F / ~
and madeknownto
the contents thereof.
So answers,
Notarial Seal
He!ene Friedman, Notary Public '
Norristown Boro, Montgomery County
Commission Expires Apr. 1, 2004
Sheriff of ' ' County, PA
Sworn and subscribed before
me thi~2) [~ dayo~ , 20 ~
R. THOMAS I<L~, _:
Sheriff
EDWARD L. SCHORPP
Seli~or
OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF
One Cou~house Square
Cadisle, Pennsylvania 17013
RONNY R. ANDERSON
Chief Depul7
PATRICIA A. SHATTO
Real Estate Deputy
TO: Montgcmer~¢ County Sheriff
BLM Group, Inc. (PA) et al
VS
BLN/CRA, /nc et al
02-2611 civil
Enclosed please find
to be served upon
Notice and Ocmplaint
Douglas C. Lindsay
513 Sprin~brook Lane
Wayne, PA 19087
PERSON SE RVED~ou&~s
reinstated
RELATION / POSITION
PLACE OF SERVICE .~i~
D,~I'E OF SERVTCE ~
':F',~;ER OF ATTEMPTS_
Kindly make service thereof and send us your return of service.
DEPUTY __ ~
Enclosed is the advance payment wl-tich you requested. L~y OF S£R¥ICE
Very truly yogis, '
'Enclosures:
· R. Thomas Kline, Sheriff
Cumberland CounW, Pennsylvania
SHERIFF'S RETURN
PROTHONOTARY: Y- 3143
DEFENDANT: Udo H. Maron
DOCUMENT SERVED: Civil
INDIVIDUAL SERVED: Udo Maron
RELATIONSHIP TO DEFENDANT: Defendant
DATE AND PREVAILING TIME: June 10, 2002 ~ 7:00
LOCATION: 401 Greyhorse Road, Willow Grove, PA
June 13, 2002
Notary PubFtc
Sheriff of Montgomery County
Deputy Sheriff
Bono
R, THOMAS KLINE
Sheriff
EDWARD L. SCHORPP
Solicitor
OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF
One Cou~house Square
Carlisle, Pennsylvania 17013
RONNY R. ANDERSON
Chief Depuly
PATRICIA A. SHATTO
Real Estate Deputy
TO: Montgcmery County Sheriff
B~ Group, Inc. (PA) et al
VS
BI/q/CRA, Inc et al
02-2611 civil
Dear Sir:
Enclosed please fred
to be served upon
Notice and Complaint
401 Greyhorse Road
Willow Grove, PA 19090
in your County.
IGndly make service thereof and send us your return of service.
Enclosed is the advance payment wlfich you requested.
P ^C[ o[ s ,V CEAZ, 5
T?~ OF SERVICE
DATE OF~.~' ~:: ' , (~
NUMBER OF ATTEMPTS'
Very truly yours,
· R. Thomas Klin¢, Sheriff
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
DEPUTY
LAST DAY OF SERVICE
In The Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
BI2~ Group, Inc. (PA) et al
VS.
BII~/CRA, Inc. et al
SERVE: Udo H. Mar6n
No. 02 2611 civil
~J0w, May 31, 2002
hereby deputize the Sheriff of Montgcmery
, I, SHERIFF OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PA, do
County to execute this Writ, this
deputation being made at the request and risk of the Plaintiff.
Sheriff of Cumberland County, PA
Now,
within
Affidavit of Service'
,201~_,at 7d'~ o'clock_~f_M, servedthe
upon
at
by handing to /_J.D ~'
a
and made known to
copy of the ori~nal
So answers,
the contents thereof.
Sworn and subscribed before
me this day of
,20
Sheriff of County, PA
COSTS
SERUICE
MILEAGE
AFFIDAVIT
SHERIFF'S RETURN
PROTHONOTARY Y- 3143
DEFENDANT: Bentivegna, Lindsay, Moran, Merlino-Architects
DOCUMENT SERVED: Civil
INDIVIDUAL SERVED: Jessi Byrd
RELATIONSHIP TO DEFENDANT: Person In Charge
DATE AND PREVAILING TIME: June 11, 2002 ~ 10:50
LOCATION: 161 Rock Hill Road, Bala Cynwyd, PA
June 13, 2002
Notary Public
Sheriff of Montgomery County
Deputy Sheriff
Galluzzo
R. THOMAS KL[NE
Sheriff
EDWARD L. SCHORPP
Solicitor
OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF
One Cou~house Square
Carlisle, Pennsylvania 17013
RONNY R. ANDERSON
Chief Depuly
PATRICIA A. SHATFO
Real Estate Deputy
TO: Montgcmery County Sheriff
BLM Group, Inc. (PA) et al
VS
BLM/CRA, Inc et al
02-2611 civil
Dear Sir:
Enclosed please find Notice and Complaint
to be served upon~0b~ Bentive~a, r.indsa¥, Moran, Merlino- Architects
161 Rock Hill Road
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
in your County.
Kindly make service thereof and send us your return of service.
Enclosed is the advance payment wh/ch you requested.
RELATION i POSITION
'PLACE OF SERVICE
..... ~' ~: SERVICE
..-
NUMBER OF ATTEMPTS / ,,-
Ve~j traly yo~u/s, //'"/"~'
' R. Thomas Kline, Sheriff
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
DEPUTY
LAST DAY Og SERVICE_ ........
In The Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
. ELM Group, Inc. (PA) et al
VS.
BLM/CRA, Inc. et al
SERVE: Bentive~na, Lindsay, Maron l~o. 02 2611 civil
Merlino - Architects
]xTow, May 31, 2002
hereby deputize the Sheriff of Montgcraery
deputation being made at the request and risk of the Plaintiff.
Sheriff of Cumberland County, PA
, I, SHERIFF OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PA, do
County to execute this Writ, this
Affidavit of Service
,200o2 ,at tO~"D o'clock ~ M. servedthe
by handing to
a
and made known to
copy of the original
So allswers~
the contents thereof.
Sworn and subscribed before
me this __ day of
,20
County, PA ~
Sheriffof
COSTS
SERhZlCE
MILEAGE
AFFIDAVIT
Sheriff's No. 10780
AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE
Plaintiff: BLM GROUP, INC.,(PA) ETAL
Vs.
Defendant: ANTHONY J. MERLINO
520 SOUTH 22ND STREET
PHILADELPHIA
Court Name: COMMON PLEAS
PA
County Name: Cumberland
Case No. 02-2611-CWIL 2611
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA: SS: COUNTY OF PHILADELPHIA
That on d' / ~ t~7 ~ at '~ ~'~) a.rrrd~service
of
County Foreign Writ was made upon ANTHONY J. MERLINO
by serving to and leaving with: ,~. ?/~, ?t~-~ f f~ ~ }~t'~ JJ/~/~~5
at: ~C~O ,~. ~c),l'xc~ ~4~/Lt~
in the City and Count of Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
NOT FOUND:
That on at
[] Moved [] No answer
[] Other
[] Expired
a.m./p.m, service was not made because:
[] Unknown [] Vacant
~Competent Adult
~ Philadelphia County
In The Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
BLM Group, Inc. (PA) et al
VS.
BLM/CRA, Inc. et al
SERVE: Anthony J. Merlino No. 02 2611 civil
Now, May 31, 2002
hereby deputize the Sheriff of Philadelphia
deputation being made at the request and risk of the Plaintiff.
Sheriff of Cumberland County, PA
Affidavit of Service
, I, SHERIFF OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PA, do
County to execute this Writ, this
Now, ., 20 , at o'clock __ M. served the
within '
upon
by handing to
a
and made lmown to
copy of the orig/nal
So answers,
the contents thereof.
Sworn and subscribed before
me this __ day of ,20__
Sheriffof County, PA
COSTS
SERVICE
MILEAGE
AFFIDAVIT
BLM GROUP, INC. (PA)
BLM GROUP, INC. (DE)
BLM ARCHITECTS, INC.,
BLM ARCHITECTS, P.C.,
BLM INTERIORS, INC. (PA),
BLM INTERIORS, INC. (DE),
BLM INTERNATIONAL, LTD.,
BLM PROJECT MANAGEMENT, INC.,
BLM DEVELOPERS, INC.,
PETER I. BENTIVEGNA,
Plaintiffs
BLM/CRA, INC.,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, pA 17055,
CRABTREE, ROHRBAUGH &
ASSOCIATES, INC.,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, pA 17055,
THOMAS C. CRABTREE,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, pA 17055,
G. DOUGLAS ROHRBAUGH,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
CARL J. DAVIS,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
PATRICIA D. MALICK,
5061 Brittany Lane
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010,
DOUGLAS C. LINDSAY,
513 Springbrook Lane
Wayne, PA 19087,
UDO H. MARON,
401 Greyhorse Road
Willow Grove, PA 19090,
· IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
:
· No. 02-2611 Civil
..
;
CIVIL ACTION - LAW and EQUITY
ANTHONY J. MERLINO,
520 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19146, and
BENTIVEGNA, LINDSAY, MARON,
MER. LINO - ARCHITECTS,
161 Rock Hill Road,
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004,
Defendants
: JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
PRAECIPE FOR DISCONTINUANCE
TO: Curt Long, Prothonotary
Please enter a discontinuance without prejudice of the above-referenced action as to all
Defendants pursuant to Pa.R. Civ. P. 229(b).
Dated: ~/~/~
SHUMAKER WILLIAMS, P.C.
~ ence W. Dague, I.D. ~9715
Melissa A. Swauger, I.D. #82382
P.O. Box 88
Harrisburg, PA 17108
(717) 763-1121
: 147484
Attorneys for Plaintiffs
.CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, Laurence W. Dague, Esquire, of the law firm of Shumaker Williams, P.C., hereby certify
that I served a true and correct copy of the foregoing Praecipe for Discontinuance on this date by
depositing a copy of the same in the possession of the United States ma/l, first-class, postage
prepa/d, addressed as follows:
Matthew Chabal, III, Esquire
DUANE MORRIS LLP
305 N. Front Street, 5th Floor
P.O. Box 1003
Harrisburg, PA 17108-1003
(Attorneys for Defendants BLM/CRA, Inc. and
Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates, Inc.)
Anthony J. Nest/co, Esquire
NESTICO KORPOSH & DRUBY LLP
840 E. Chocolate Avenue
Hershey, PA 17033
(Attorneys for Defendants Thomas C. Crabtree,
G. Douglas Rohrbaugh and Carl J. Davis)
Steven J. Englemyer, Esquire
Lisa E. Brody, Esquire
Eric J. Schreiner, Esquire
KLEINBARD, BELL & BRECK. ER LLP
1900 Market Street, Suite 700
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(Attorneys for Defendants Patricia D. Malick,
Douglas C. Lindsay, Udo H. Maron, and Anthony J. Merlino)
Bentivegna, Lindsay, Maron, Merl/no - Architects
161 Rock Hill Road
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
SHUMAKER WILLIAMS, P.C.
e W. Dague ~'~ '
P.O. Box 88
Harrisburg, PA 17108
(717) 763-I 121
BLM GROUP, INC. (PA),:
BLM GROUP, INC. (DE),:
BLM ARCHITECTS, INC.:
BLM ARCHITECTS, P.C.,:
BLM INTERIORS, INC. :
(PA), BLM INTERIORS, :
INC. (DE), BLM :
INTERNATIONAL, LTD.,:
BLM PROJECT
MANAGEMENT, INC.,
BLM DEVELOPERS,
INC., PETER I.
BENTIVEGNA,
Plaintiffs
BLM/CRA, INC.,
401 E. Winding Hill Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,
CRABTREE,
ROHRBAUGH &
ASSOCIATES, INC., :
401 E. Winding Hill Road :
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,:
THOMAS C. CRABTREE,:
401 E. Winding Hill Road :
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,:
G. DOUGLAS :
ROHRBAUGH, :
401 E. Winding Hill Road :
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,:
CARL J. DAVIS, :
401 E. Winding Hill Road :
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055,:
PATRICIA D. MALICK, :
5061 Brittany Lane :
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010, :
DOUGLAS C. LINDSAY,:
513 Springbrook Lane :
Wayne, PA 19087, :
UDO H. MARON, :
401 Greyhorse Road :
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
CIVIL ACTION - LAW
Willow Grove, PA 19090, :
ANTHONY J. MERLINO,:
520 S. 22nd Street :
Philadelphia, PA 19146, :
and BENTIVEGNA, :
LINDSAY, MARON, :
MERLIN0-ARCHITECTS,:
161 Rock Hill Road :
Bala Cnywyd, PA 19004, :
Defendants :
NO. 02-2611 CIVIL TERM
IN RE: PLAINTIFFS' MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION
ORDER OF COURT
AND NOW, this 24th day of September, 2002, upon consideration of the Praecipe
for Discontinuance filed in the above matter, the hearing scheduled for September 26,
2002, is cancelled.
Laurence W. Dague, Esq.
Angela L. Thomas, Esq.
Melissa A. Swauger, Esq.
P.O. Box 88
Harrisburg, PA 17108
Attorneys for Plaintiffs
Matthew Chabal, III, Esq.
305 North Front Street
5th Floor
P.O. Box 1003
Harrisburg, PA 17108-1003
Attorney for Defendants
BLM/CRA, Inc. and Crabtree
Rohrbaugh & Associates, Inc.
BY THE COURT,
/~esieyble~.
Anthony J. Nestico, Esq.
840 E. Chocolate Avenue
Hershey, PA 17033
Attorney for Defendants
Steven J. Englemyer, Esq.
Lisa E. Brody, Esq.
Eric J. Schreiner, Esq.
KLEINBARD, BELL &
BRECKER, LLP
1900 Market Street
Suite 700
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Attorneys for Defendants
Patricia D. Malick, Douglas C.
Lindsay, Udo H. Maron, and
Anthony J. Merlino
Bentivegna, Lindsay, Maron,
Merlino - Architects
161 Rock Hill Road
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Defendant, Pro Se