S-4: Registration of securities issued in business combination transactions

Exhibit 5.9

November 12, 2015

Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.

200 International Circle; Suite 3500

Hunt Valley, Maryland 21030

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel in the State of Mississippi (the “State”) for (i) Dixie White House Nursing Home, LLC, a Mississippi limited liability company (“Dixie White House”); (ii) Ocean Springs Nursing Home, LLC, a Mississippi limited liability company (“Ocean Springs”); (iii) Skyler Florida, LLC, a Mississippi limited liability company (“Skyler Florida”); and (iv) Skyler Boyington, LLC, a Mississippi limited liability company (“Skyler Boyington” and, together with Dixie White House, Ocean Springs, and Skyler Florida, the “Mississippi Guarantors”) in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) filed by Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. (the “Parent”) and by the subsidiary guarantors listed on Schedule I hereto (the “Guarantors”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), relating to the offer by the Parent (the “Exchange Offer”) to exchange up to $600,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Parent’s registered 5.250% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Exchange Notes”) for an equal aggregate principal amount of its existing 5.250% Senior Notes due 2026 issued and outstanding in the aggregate principal amount of $600,000,000 (the “Initial Notes”), under the indenture dated as of September 23, 2015 (the “Original Indenture”), among the Parent, the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by that certain First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 9, 2015 (the Original Indenture, as so supplemented, being herein referred to as the “Indenture”).

We call your attention to the fact that we do not represent the Mississippi Guarantors on a regular basis and that we have represented the Mississippi Guarantors only in a limited capacity in connection with certain specific matters as to which we were consulted by the Mississippi Guarantors and we have not been engaged for any other purposes, and there may exist matters of a legal nature which could have a bearing on the Exchange Offer and the transactions related thereto with respect to which we have not been consulted.

Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.

November 12, 2015

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In connection with this opinion, we have reviewed the following documents (items 1 through 4, inclusive, below are collectively referred to herein as the “Transaction Documents”):

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November 12, 2015

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We have also examined such certificates of public officials and of representatives of the Mississippi Guarantors and other documents and records and such questions of law as we have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions set forth below. In making such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. As to various facts material to the opinions set forth herein, we have relied upon the statements and representations made in the Registration Statement and the Indenture and upon such certificates of public officials and of representatives of the Mississippi Guarantors, which facts we have not independently verified. In rendering our opinion herein, we have relied upon the Certificates of Good Standing for the conclusions that each Mississippi Guarantor was duly formed, is validly existing, and is in good standing under the laws of Mississippi.

For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed that:

1.        Each Transaction Document, was duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and constitute the valid, binding and enforceable obligations of, the parties thereto other than the Mississippi Guarantors;

2.        Consideration for the Transaction Documents has been delivered to the Mississippi Guarantors and is legally sufficient;

3.        There are no written or oral terms and conditions agreed to by, or course of conduct or dealings between any of the parties to the Transaction Documents that amend, delete, supplement, alter or otherwise vary the express terms of any of the Transaction Documents;

4.        The Transaction Documents, as executed and delivered, conform in all material respects to the drafts delivered to us, with all blank spaces appropriately completed and all appropriate exhibits attached; and

5.        Each party has acted in good faith and without notice of any defense against the enforcement of any rights created by the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, and that the parties will act at all times in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner.

The opinions set forth herein are limited to the law of the State, and we express no opinion herein as to the law of any other jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any governing law provisions contained in the Transactions Documents choosing New York law, we have for purposes of this opinion letter assumed that the courts will apply the laws of the State of Mississippi to the interpretation, construction and enforcement of the Transaction Documents.

Based upon the foregoing and in reliance thereon, and subject to the assumptions, comments, qualifications, limitations and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that, when (a) the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, (b) the Indenture has become duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, (c) the Exchange Notes (in the form examined by us) have been duly executed and delivered by the Parent and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued in exchange for the Initial Notes, and (d) the Guarantees (in the form examined by us) have been duly executed and delivered by the Guarantors, each in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture upon consummation of the Exchange Offer, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of the Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto, each Guarantee executed by a Mississippi Guarantor will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Mississippi Guarantor that is a party thereto.

Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.

November 12, 2015

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The opinion set forth above are subject to the following qualifications and limitations:

1.        Our opinion herein is (a) limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws affecting generally the rights or remedies of creditors or the obligations of debtors and (b) subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).

2.        We call to your attention the fact that the Mississippi Supreme Court has not addressed the issue of enforceability of a contractual choice of law provision, however the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in FMC Finance Corp. v. Murphee, 632 F.2d 413 (5th Cir. 1980) applied Erie analysis to conclude that Mississippi law recognizes that parties may legitimately control the choice of substantive law in a contract as long as the state law selected bears a rational relation to the transaction, and we rely on that decision to the extent our opinion relates to the enforceability of the contractual choice of New York law. While the matter is not free from doubt, a state or federal court in the State applying State choice of law rules should give effect to the choice of law provisions of those Transaction Documents that choose the laws of New York except where (a) such court determines that the State of New York does not have sufficient contact to the parties to such Transaction Documents or the transaction contemplated by such Transaction Documents or (b) the result obtained from the application of the law of the State of New York would be contrary to the public policy or prejudicial to the interests of the State.

3.        We express no opinion as to any of the following to the extent relevant to the Guarantees of the Mississippi Guarantors: (a) any provision in the Transaction Documents that excludes, waives or limits the liability of any party (i) for its own gross fault, intentional fault or for causing physical injury to the other party, (ii) for the released or indemnified’s party’s negligence, where the release or indemnity does not expressly include liability arising out of such negligence, or (iii) that requires indemnification for the indemnified party’s failure to comply with limitations or requirements of applicable law; (b) any provision in the Transaction Documents prohibiting the non-written modification of such documents; (c) as to whether or not any party to the Transaction Documents is in compliance with any covenants, representations or warranties contained in the Transaction Documents; (d) any provision in the Transaction Documents waiving unknown rights or defenses; (e) any provision requiring the payment of attorneys’ fees and expenses, in an amount in excess of reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses actually incurred; (f) any provision purporting to shorten any statute of limitations, or waiving in advance any defense with respect to any statute of limitations; (g) any provision of the Transaction Documents granting the Trustee or any Holder the unilateral right or discretion to determine standards or requirements for performance not expressly enumerated in the Transaction Documents; (h) any provision providing for equitable remedies such as specific performance or injunctive relief; (i) any provision of the Transaction Documents which: (1) establish, waive, or define rights relating to exculpation, waiver, or ratification of future acts or conversion; (2) conflict with the provisions of Miss. Code § 75-17-27, which prohibit the assessment of a late payment charge in excess of $5.00 or four percent (4%) of the amount of any delinquency, whichever is greater, and which prohibits any such late payment charge unless such delinquency is more than fifteen (15) days past due; or (3) waive or release the right of a debtor, following acceleration of the obligations upon default, to reinstate an installment schedule by tender of past due amounts and certain expenses; and (j) the application of or compliance with: (1) statutes, administrative decisions, rules or regulations of any county, municipality, or special political subdivision or other local authority; (2) ERISA laws, rules and regulations; or (3) federal or state taxation, banking, anti-trust, securities or “blue sky” laws, rules or regulations.

Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.

November 12, 2015

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This opinion letter is limited to the matters expressly stated herein, and no opinion is implied or may be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated herein. In every instance in this opinion where we have relied on a document prepared, conclusion drawn, or certification made, by another person or entity, we have made no investigation of that other person or entity for purposes of corroborating the accuracy of any information or representations provided to us by that other person or entity; however, we have no knowledge of any facts which would lead us to believe such matters to be untrue or inaccurate.

This opinion letter is made as of the date hereof and we undertake no, and hereby disclaim any, obligation to advise you of any change in any matter set forth herein, including, without limitation, any changes in Mississippi law. Insofar as the opinions herein relate to any actions to be taken after the date of this letter, the opinions are limited to the facts as they exist and the date hereof.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus filed as a part thereof. In giving such consent, we do not thereby concede that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission thereunder.

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November 12, 2015

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Schedule I

Guarantors

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