Judge John Curtin
The Dimonds operated the Most Holy Family Monastery (MHFM). Relying on representations as to religious affiliation, Hoyle contributed nearly $1.3 million in cash and stock, and took up residence at MHFM in September 2005. He also claimed to have executed a document specifying that he was to receive $750,000 upon departure from MHFM. Hoyle left MHFM in 2007, taking its bank and investment account records and customer and donor information with him. He also took a laptop computer housing much of MHFM’s business information, and told police that defendants stole $470,000 from him. He later set up a website condemning MHFM as heretical. The court previously dismissed Hoyle’s 2009 complaint asserting fraud, unjust enrichment, RICO violations, deceptive trade practices and other allegations. Partly denying defendants judgment on their counterclaims, the court granted Hoyle judgment on counterclaims under the Lanham Act and the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA). Defendants did not provide proof suggesting the Lanham Act’s violation, nor did they plead or prove any facts suggesting that Hoyle intercepted electronic communications between MHFM and its benefactors, donors and customers.
