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IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, Plaintiff, v. THE UNITED STATES, Defendant. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
No. 06-232C (Judge Baskir)
DEFENDANT'S ANSWER TO PLAINTIFF'S COMPLAINT For its answer to the complaint, defendant admits, denies, and alleges as follows: I. The allegation contained in the first sentence of Section I is a conclusion of law to which no response is required; to the extent it may be deemed an allegation of fact, it is denied. Defendant, the United States, admits the allegations in the second, third, and fourth sentences of Section I. Defendant admits the allegations in the fifth sentence of Section I to the extent they are supported by the termination settlement proposal cited, which is the best evidence of its contents; otherwise denies the allegations contained in the fifth sentence of Section I. Defendant admits the allegation in the sixth sentence of Section I to the extent it is supported by the contracting officer's decision which is the best evidence of its contents;
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otherwise denies the allegations contained in the sixth sentence of Section I. II. 1. Defendant admits the allegations in the first and second
sentences of paragraph 1 of the complaint to the extent they are supported by the contract referred to which is the best evidence of its contents; otherwise denies the allegations contained in the first and second sentences of paragraph 1. Defendant denies the remainder of the allegations in paragraph 1 of the complaint and specifically avers that the TDP did not contain deficiencies. 2. Defendant admits the allegations in the first sentence of
paragraph 2 of the complaint to the extent they are supported by the contract referred to which is the best evidence of its contents; otherwise denies the allegations contained in the first sentence of paragraph 2. Defendant admits that it did not terminate the contract otherwise denies the allegations in the second sentence of paragraph 2. Defendant admits the allegations in the third sentence of paragraph 2 to the extent they are supported by the contract referred to which is the best evidence of its contents; otherwise denies the allegations contained in the third sentence
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of paragraph 2. The final sentence of paragraph 2 constitutes plaintiff's characterization of this case to which no response is required; to the extent it may be deemed an allegation of fact it is denied. 3. The allegation contained in paragraph 3 of the complaint
constitutes plaintiff's conclusion of law and characterization of this case to which no response is necessary; to the extent it may be deemed an issue of fact it is denied. 4. The allegations contained in the first, second, and third
sentences of paragraph 4 constitute plaintiff's conclusions of law to which no response is necessary; to the extent they may be deemed an issue of fact they are denied. Defendant denies the allegations in the fourth sentence of paragraph 4. 5a-5d. The allegations contained in paragraphs 5a through 5d
constitute plaintiff's conclusion of law and plaintiff's characterization of its case; to the extent they may be deemed an allegation of fact they are denied. 5.e. Defendant admits the allegations in the first sentence of paragraph 5e to the extent they are supported by the specifications and drawings referred to; otherwise they are denied. The allegation in the
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second sentence of paragraph 5e constitutes plaintiff's conclusion of law to which no response is necessary; to the extent it is deemed an allegation of fact it is denied. 6. Defendant lacks information sufficient to form a belief as to the
truth of the allegations contained in paragraph 6 of the complaint. 7. Defendant admits the allegations contained in paragraph 7 to
the extent they are supported by the letter referred to which is the best evidence of its contents; otherwise denies the allegations in paragraph 7. 8. Defendant lacks information sufficient to form a belief as to the
truth of the allegations contained in paragraph 8 of the complaint. 9. Defendant admits the allegations contained in paragraph 9 to
the extent they are supported by the letter referred to which is the best evidence of its contents; otherwise denies the allegations in paragraph 9. 10. The allegations contained in paragraph 10 constitute plaintiff's
characterization of this case; to the extent they may be deemed allegations of fact they are denied. 11. Defendant admits the allegations contained in paragraph 11 of
the complaint but specifically denies that the technical data package was defective.
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12.
Defendant admits the allegations contained in paragraph 12 to
the extent they are supported by the letter referred to which is the best evidence of its contents; otherwise denies the allegations in paragraph 12 of the complaint. 13. Defendant admits that SDC continued to request clarification of
the technical data package requirements, otherwise denies the allegations in the first sentence of paragraph 13 of the complaint. Defendant admits that plaintiff communicated with the new contracting officer, otherwise denies the allegations in the second sentence of paragraph 13 of the complaint. Defendant denies the allegation in the third sentence of paragraph 13 of the complaint. 14. Defendant admits the allegations contained in the first, second
and third sentences of paragraph 14 to the extent they are supported by the letter referred to which is the best evidence of its contents; otherwise denies the allegations in the first sentence of paragraph 14. Defendant specifically denies that it failed to provide any required data. Defendant admits that it denied the request for progress payments, otherwise denies the allegations in the fourth sentence of paragraph 14 of the complaint. 15. Defendant admits the allegations contained in paragraph 15 of
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the complaint but specifically denies that the technical data package was defective. 16. Defendant admits the allegations contained in paragraph 16 to
the extent they are supported by the letter referred to which is the best evidence of its contents; otherwise denies the allegations in paragraph 16. 17. Defendant admits the allegations contained in paragraph 17 to
the extent they are supported by the letter referred to which is the best evidence of its contents; otherwise denies the allegations in paragraph 17. 18. Defendant admits the allegations contained in paragraph 18 to
the extent they are supported by the letter referred to which is the best evidence of its contents; otherwise denies the allegations in paragraph 18. 19. Defendant admits the allegation contained in paragraph 19, but
specifically denies that the technical data package was defective. 20. Defendant denies the allegations contained in the first sentence
of paragraph 20. Defendant admits the allegation in the second sentence of paragraph 20. Defendant admits the allegations in the third sentence of paragraph 20 of the complaint to the extent they are supported by the termination settlement proposal referred to which is the best evidence of its contents; otherwise denies the allegations in the third sentence of
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paragraph 20. Defendant specifically denies that there were defects in the technical data package. 21. Defendant admits the allegations in paragraph 21 of the
complaint to the extent they are supported by the contracting officer's decision referred to which is the best evidence of its contents; otherwise denies the allegations contained in paragraph 21. 22. Defendant admits the allegations in the first and second
sentences of paragraph 22 to the extent they are supported by the contracting officer's final decision referred to which is the best evidence of its contents; otherwise denies the allegations in the first and second sentence of paragraph 22. The third and fourth sentences of paragraph 22 constitute plaintiff's characterization of its case and its legal conclusions to which no response is required; to extent they may be deemed statements of fact they are denied. COUNT I 23. Defendant re-alleges and incorporates herein by reference its
responses to Paragraphs 1-22 of the complaint. 24. Defendant denies that plaintiff is entitled to the relief requested
in paragraph 24 or any relief whatsoever.
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COUNT II 25. Defendant re-alleges and incorporates herein by reference its
responses to Paragraphs 1-22 of the complaint. 26. Defendant denies that plaintiff is entitled to the relief requested
in paragraph 26 or any relief whatsoever. COUNT III 27. Defendant re-alleges and incorporates herein by reference its
responses to Paragraphs 1-22 of the complaint. 28. The allegations contained in paragraph 28 constitute plaintiff's
conclusions of law to which no response is required; to the extent they may be deemed allegations of fact, they are denied. 29. The allegations contained in paragraph 29 constitute plaintiff's
conclusions of law and characterization of its case to which no response is required; to the extent they may be deemed allegations of fact, they are denied. 30. Defendant denies that plaintiff is entitled to the relief requested
in paragraph 30 or any relief whatsoever. COUNT IV 31. Defendant re-alleges and incorporates herein by reference its
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responses to Paragraphs 1-22 of the complaint. 32. Defendant denies that plaintiff is entitled to the relief requested
in paragraph 32 or any relief whatsoever. 33. Defendant denies each and every allegation not previously
admitted or otherwise qualified. WHEREFORE, defendant respectfully requests that the Court dismiss the complaint, and that defendant be granted such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES 34. Plaintiff's claims are barred by the doctrine of payment insofar
as plaintiff has received payment and has been fully compensated according to the terms and conditions of the contract. 35. Plaintiff's claims are barred by the doctrine of accord and
satisfaction insofar as the verifiable expenses submitted for payment have been paid in full. 36. be granted. 37. Plaintiff's equitable adjustment claims are barred because Plaintiff's complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can
plaintiff failed to present them in a certified claim to the Procuring
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Contracting Officer. Respectfully submitted, PETER D. KEISLER Assistant Attorney General DAVID M. COHEN Director DONALD E. KINNER Assistant Director OF COUNSEL: STEPHEN F. PEREIRA Defense Contract Management Agency s/ Joan M. Stentiford JOAN M. STENTIFORD
Trial Attorney Commercial Litigation Branch Civil Division Department of Justice Phone: (202) 616-0341 Fax: (202) 514-8624 July 21, 2006 Attorneys for Defendant
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CERTIFICATE OF FILING I hereby certify under penalty of perjury that on this 21st day of July, 2006,"DEFENDANT'S ANSWER TO PLAINTIFF'S COMPLAINT," was filed electronically. I understand that notice of this filing will be sent to all parties by operation of the Court's electronic filing system. Parties may access this filing through the Court's system.
___/s/ Joan M. Stentiford_____ JOAN M. STENTIFORD