Bezeau v. Cable Equipment Service, Inc. et al, No. 1:2014cv24538 - Document 55 (S.D. Fla. 2015)
Court Description: ORDER granting in part and denying in part 35 Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim; granting in part and denying in part 51 Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim. Amended Counterclaim due by 6/10/2015. Signed by Judge Patricia A. Seitz on 5/27/2015. (cqs)
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Bezeau v. Cable Equipment Service, Inc. et al Doc. 55 UN I TED STATES D I STRI COU RT CT SOU THERN D I STRI O F FLO RI A CT D CA SE N O . 1 24538 C1 - TZ/ RN OFF 4- V SEI TU ROBERT BEZEA U ,ET AL. , Pl ntf z ai if , CABLE EQUI ENT SERVI PM CES,I , AL. NC.ET , D e e nt . f nda s O R DER G M N TIN G I PA R T M O T ION T O D I ISS CO U N TER CLA IM A N D N SM M O TIO N TO D ISM ISS TH I D - R TY CLA IM S R PA TH I M ATTER i be or t Cour on t o m o i ns The tr ti Pl i if Robe t e e S s f e he t w to . i s s a ntf s r B z au a Rudi Caca ' M otont DimisDefnda Ca eEqui ntSevies l ' ( nd ana r nis i o s s e nt bl pme r c ,nc.s CES) Countr am g 35 f tri i efrncewih CES' c rc wihComc t Thescond ecli DE- 1 or o tous ntree t S onta t t as. e i Thid- ry De e nt Relnte sRe ove yCor a i sM o i n t DimisCES' Thids r pa t f nda , e ls c r por ton' to o s s S r Pa t Cli g 51 f t tousi e f e ewiht Comcatc r c a def ton.l t r ry am DE- 1 or ori ntrernc t he s onta t nd amai n hei motons Pl ntfsandRee ls Re r Co porton( i , ai if lnte s covey r ai RRC)asett tt yc dno s r ha he oul t t tousy i e f r w ih CES' Com c s co r c orbus ne sr a i hi bec us t y w e e not ori l nt r e e t S a t nt a t i s el tons p a e he r t r pa tesors r ng st t c nt a torr l to hi I i sr s hid- r i ta er o he o r c e a i ns p. n t e pons t Pl i if 'm oton, e o a ntf s i CES a guest tPl i if a e sr ng r t t con r c a CES not s t Pl ntf sha not r ha a ntf s r ta e s o he t a t nd e hat ai if ve r ponde t CES' cai f rbusne sdef ton.RRC m ove t d s ist de a ai n ca m es d o S lm o i s ama i d o im s he f m to li o y be a e CES r s d i i t r pons t Pl ntf s m o i A lhough Pl ntf s and lR C' nl c us ai e t n he es e o ai i f ' ton. t ai if ' l S ass i t t ar notstangerst t cont actf l t m otonst di m i ar gr ed w ih ertons hat hey e r o he r ai, he i o s ss e ant t l a t r pl d be us i i notc e rf om t f ce oft c e ve o e ea ca e t s l a r he a he ount r l i wha cl i s CES i e c am t am s a t l a l gi c ualy le ng. Dockets.Justia.com 1. Fact A leged i t C ount ai s l n he ercl m Pl i if 'c pl i s e un i overi e pur ua t t Fa rLa r St nda dsA c . l a ntf s om a nt e ks pa d tm s nt o he i bo a r t n r s e, e pons CES fld isAns r Afima i D e e e ,a Coun er l m a Thid- ry ie t we , fr tve fns s nd t cai nd r pa t Compli ( 1 . ant DE- 3) l t eo e cli CES a l est ti pr desca e e pm e r over s r c st n he unt r a m, leg ha t ovi bl qui nt ee y e vi e o c bl c pa es Forye r ,CES a Com c thad a bus nes r l tons p a co r d s f CES a e om ni . as nd as i s e a i hi nd nt a or t r cove Com c s c e t l vi i boxesa o he eq pm e f om di c o e r a t abl e e s on nd t r ui nt r s onne t Com c t c ed as c t e s Pl ntf s a e t owne sand o r t r oft r pa t def nda RRC . CES e t r us om r . ai if r he r pe a o s hid- ry e nt n e ed i o i pe ntc r c ora e m e s w ih Pl ntf sand RRC t pr de c bl e pm e nt nde nde ont a t gr e nt t ai if o ovi a e qui nt r c r s r ce t CES. Pl ntf sw e e pai on a pi c ba i f e ch c bl box c l c e a e ove y e vi s o ai i f r d e e s s or a a e ole t d nd r t ne Co c twoul pa CES f e c ca e boxt twa delve e t Com c s a i t n eur d. m as d y or a h bl ha s i r d o a t nd n ur CES woul pay is i pe ntc r t s i udi Pl i if and RRC . d t nde nde ontac or , ncl ng a ntf s l 201 Pl ntf s g e di s ts i d w ih t rr l tons p w ih CES. Pl i if wa e t n 4, ai i f r w s a i fe t hei e a i hi t a ntf s nt d o e nd t i t t r butCES de lne Pl ntf sal o wa ed m or pe box,whi h CES al o xpa he r eni o y c i d. ai i f s nt e r c s d clne Asar ul,Pl ntfsbega t c etoubl frCESby:( )e e i d. es t ai if n o aus r e o 1 ncourgi ot r a ng he i pe nde nden c r c o sw ho w o ked f r CES t t ke t pos ton t tt y s d be pai lke t ont a t r r o o a he ii ha he houl di e o es ()fleytli ot rCES i pe ntco rcor t tCESwa i fna il mplye ; 2 as l elng he nde nde nta t s ha s n i nca tou e'( posi dipaagngc r bl, 3) tng s r i omme sons ilmedi st t tt ownesma ge sof nt oca a ies ha he r/ na r CES m i f ce c i i lc r s m i be i tga ed by t I S,woul go ban pt a ght a rm na ha ge , ght nvesi t he R d knl , nd woul e ual be omei d vent ly c mpoveihe a ( pz di i orec i or to t ot rs d; nd 4) ovi ng nc r t nf main o her i ndependentcont orscausng t ract i hem t colectt wr cabl equi ent o l he ong e pm . O n O ct ober 1 20l Com cas t m i ed isA gr entw ih CES. Com cas s at t 4, 4, t er nat t eem t t t ed hat 2 t r as n f rt r i ton wast num be ofuna ho i ed pi k- . A s a r ul,CES l ta he e o o e m na i he r ut r z c ups es t os va ua e c r ta busne so runiy wih Comc ta no l ng ha a aci busne s l bl ontac nd i s ppo t t t as nd o er s ny tve i s i Flrda.CESalege t s acinsco tt eatri ,i e i l a unusiid n oi l s he e to nsiut o tous ntntona, nd j tfe i e f r nce w ih CES' e s i and pr pedi c r d sand bus ne s o nt r e e t S xit ng os ve ont a i s pporunii . Pl i i f t tes a ntf s w e e a a e oft s e s i and pr pedi c r c sa busnes oppor unii . A s a r w r he e xitng os ve ont a t nd i s t tes co e nc ofPl i if 'ac i ns CES hass f r da a by l i t Com c tc r ta ns que e a ntf s to , uf e ed m ges osng he as ontac nd opporunii t tes. 1. I M ot o To D i m i s St in s s andar d Thepur e ofa moton t dim isfld pur ua t Fe r Rul ofCi lPr edur pos i o s s ie s nt o de al e vi oc e 1 b)6 i t t tt f ils fce yofac ant Ther epemisdimis ofaco ant 2( () s o es he aca ufiinc ompli . ul r t s sal mpli t tf ist s a e a c a m u n whi h r le ca be gr nt d. I s d be r a a ongs de Fe r l ha a l o t t l i po c e if n a e t houl ed l i de a Rul o Ci lPr edur 8()2) whihr quiesaks l a pl nsae ntoft cli s ng e f vi oc e a( , c e r 'ho' nd ai ttme t he am howi t tt pla ri entte t rle . t ha he e de s ild o eif' houghaco aitc lenge byaRul 1 b)6)moi 'Al mpl n hal d e 2( ( ton t di m i s doe notnee de a l d f ct la l to ,apl ntf i s iloblga ed t pr de t o s s s d t ie a ua lega i ns ai i f s tl i t o ovi he k r unds' orhi entte e t r le , nd a û or ul i r c t ton oft e e e t ofa ca e of k o g 'f s il m nt o e i f a k m a c e ia i f he l m n s us a tonwilno do. BelAtantcCor v Twombl 550U. 5 555( ci l t ' l l i p. . ' y, S. 44, 2007) . W he acompl nti c le d u rRul 1 b( ) ac t lpr s t a1 n ai s halnge nde e 2()6 , our wil eume hat 1 we lpl de a l ato a etue a vi t pladi i t lghtmos f a et t l- ea d leg i ns r r nd ew he e ngs n he i t avor bl o he pli if Ame ian Unie L(:I .Co.v Mari z, F. 1 43,1 ( 1h Ci.2007) antf. rc td / ns . tne 480 3d 0 066 1 t r . How e r onc a c tû de i i s pl adi t t be aus t y a e no m or t n c l i ns a e ve , e our t ntfe e ngs ha , c e he r i e ha onc us o , r notentted t t as pton oftut ' i m us det m i whet t wel- ed f t Cst e a il o he sum i r h,' t t er ne her he lpl ac s û at cam t r ift ti pl i eo isfce' As rj v l ,556U. 662,678( ) A li o ele ha s ausbl n t a .' hc ot . qbal S. 2009 . 3 c mp an c no l s r i al ( )6 mo int ds s i i c n ansfcu l le ain ta ae o lit a ny u vve 2 b ( ) to o imis f t o ti a t a alg to s h t r ( nough t r i e a r g t r i a k e o a s i ht o elef bove t s c atve l ve , on t a s pton t al t he pe ul i e l he s um i hat 1 he ga t l alg to si t ec mpan aetu . T mby 5 0U. a 5 5.Ho v r awelp e f cua) l ain n h o lit r r e' wo l 5 S. t 5 e ' we e , l-ld c ants vi samoint dimist ve i i srke as vvyj t ta t lpr foft s ompli ur ve to o s s s n f t ti s a udge ha cua oo he e e f c s i i pr bl and dha a r c r i ver r ot a unlke y.''' Twombl 550 U . at a t s m oba e, t t e ove y s y em e nd i l y, S. 556. 11 1. D i c s on s us i W. Tori sI efee eCl m tou ntr rnc ai Pl i i f a RR C a s r t ta ca e ofa i f t r i usi e f r a ntf s nd s e t ha us d on or o to nt r e ence c nnotbe a m ant i d a i tt m bee us t f dspl d by CES e tbls t tCES ea i ane gans he a e he a e sa ih ha nnotme tt t r e he hid el m e tofa t tous i e f r nc cl i . l or rt es a i h a c a m f t tous i e f r nce e n ori nt r e e e a m n de o t bls l i or or i nt r e e , CESmus esa ih:( )t e se eofabusne sr ai hi notnec srl e denc bya t tbls 1 he xitnc i s eltons p, esaiy vi ed n e orea ec nta t ()kno e oft rltons p o t pa toft dee nf c bl o rc ; 2 wldge he eai hi n he r he fndant ( a ; 3) n itnina a d u j siiditree c wi t er lto hpb t ed fn a t a ( )d ma et n e to l n n u tfe n efr n e t h eains i y h e e d n ; nd 4 a g o h teplitf a ar s l o t b e c o t erlto s p Unie st o We t o iaBo r o h an if s e u t f he ra h f h eain hi. v r i f s Fl rd a d f y Tr t sv. gge ,1 So.3d323,326( a 1tDCA 201 .Pli if a RRC contnd usee Habe r 25 Fl. s 3) antfs nd e t t i or rt me t d j tte 'ape toft t r ee nt apero mus beasrnge t ha,n de o ethe û usi d' s c he hid lme , s n t un i ta r o t busnes r l to hi Pl i tf s a RRC a g t ti i c ea f om t f e oft he i s e a i ns p. a n if nd r ue ha t s l r r he ac he c e cl m t tt y a e notsr nge st t r l tons p be w e n CES a Com c tbec us ount r ai ha he r t a r o he e a i hi t e nd as a e Pl i if a RRC ha a fna a i e es i t co i ton oft tr a i hi Pl i if a a ntf s nd d i nci l nt r t n he ntnua i ha el tons p. a ntf s nd R RC m ai ai t t com pens i t r ved f om CES cam e f om Com cas and t t nt n hat he aton hey ecei r r t hus hey 4 w er nots r e t anger t t cont bet een CES and Com castl s o he ract w . Pl i if a RR C r y on a sngl c e t m a t i a gum e , m Beac Cbtn/ a ntf s nd el i e as o ke he r r nt Pal h /y He l Ca eDitit . oe so a Me ia Ed c to , n . 1 S 3d 1 9 ( 1 . t DCA at r src v Prf s in l dc l u a in l c, 3 o. 0 0 F a 4h h 2009) Tha ea e howe r i ditng s bl l t tc ePr esi lM e c Educain,I . t s, ve ,s si uiha e. n ha as of sona dial to nc. ha ac r c t pr de s r c t t Ciy ofGr na r .W hienotapa t t t tc r c , d onta t o ovi e vies o he t ee e es l ry o ha onta t Pal Be h Count H e lh Ca e D i ti tw ast s c oft f m ac y a t r sr c he our e he undspa ng f t s r c yi or he e vi es pe f m e by Pr es i na M e c lEduc ton, nc. The c t l t tast s c off ndsf r or d of s o l di a ai I our he d ha he our e u or pa e , Pa m Be h Count H e lh Ca e D i ti twasa i e e t d t r pa t t t c r t ym nt l ac y a t r sr c n nt r s e hid- r y o he ontac . l a 1 d t 094- The Pal Be h c t t d t ta û f ndan i nota s r ngert a busne s 95. m ac our no e ha s e de ts ta o i s r a i hi a t c el tons p, nd hus annotbe he d la e f t tous i e f r nce w he i ha a s r s y l i bl or or i nt r e e , n t s upe vi or i e e ti how t r l tons p i c nt r s n he e a i hi s onduc e ora po e i lf na i li er s i how a c r c i td t nta i nc a nt e t n ont a t s pef me ' I a 1 ror d. d t 094.ThePal Be hc tctdt t Rettme ( ond)ofTolsj ' m ac our ie o he sae nt Sec ' t 769( 979)t expli wha fna i i eessma aperona i ee t t r pat t a 1 o an t i ncalntr t ke s n ntrsed hid- ry o c r c . Co m e c oft s s c i oft Res a em e s a es ont a t m nt hi e ton he t t nt t t : The f na i li er s i anot r sbus ne sr qui ie f t r e s a e i t s Se ton i i nc a nt e t n he ' i s e st or he ul t t d n hi c i s a i e es i t na ur ofa i sm e . pa towne oft bus nes ,a f e m pl a n nt r t n he t e n nve t nt A r r he i s s or xa e, pa t rors oc rne t khol r ha a l as a i e e toft s na ur A bo de , s t e t n nt r s hi t e. ndhol rorot r de he c ediorm a a s ha i. n t o he ha t i e es ofa pe s w ho l kst a t r r t y l o ve t O he t r nd, he nt r t r on oo o hid pe s f b i s a w ill e bus nes oppo t tesi t tpe s e e s i o t r on or us nes nd l os i s r unii f ha r on nt r nt he bus ne s r l t o i ve i nota tna ali e e tunde t r e s a e i t sSe ton. i s e a i ns nvol d s i nci nt r s r he ul t t d n hi c i Re ttme ( co ofTor j769 (979)c . sae nt Se nd) t 1 mtc.Unde t sdei tona bas dont r hi fnii nd e he a l ga i i t c er l m a t r pa t c pl i ,Pl i i f a R RC woul notbe le tons n he ount c ai nd hid- r y om a nt a ntf s nd d l ng t s ar entt is l calextem e w oul m ean t any crediorofCES coul ' raki hi gum o t ogi r d hat t d a s cl i i w asa i e e t d pa t t t Com c tconta bec us pa entf om Com ca tt lo am t n nt r s e ry o he as r ct a e ym r s o CES w o d pr de CES wih f ul ovi t undst tc d be us d t pa t c edio . Cl a l t si nota ha oul e o y he r t r e r y, hi s r onabl concl on. eas e usi 5 c ns de e i e esed t r pa test t c t a torbus nes r l tons p be wee CES a o i r d nt r t hi d- r i o he on r c i s e a i hi t n nd Co c t A s pl d, a ntf s a RRC ' i er s s a e nota n t t e ofan owne ,pa t r or m as . e Pl i if ' nd S nt e t r ki o hos r rne , soc de .Asi pe n co r c or ,a pld i t co e c am ,Pli if a RRC a e t khol r nde nde t nta t s s e n he unt r l i a ntfs nd r a n t peo e w ho w ill e bus nes o ki o pl l os i s pporunii . Thus Pl i if a RRC ar s r nge st t tes , a ntf s nd e ta r o t c r torbus ne sr l tons p be w e n CES a Com ca t M or over t c he ontac i s e a i hi t e nd s. e , he ount r l m e c ai doe notco a n a a l ga i t tPl i if orR RC ha a fna i i e es i t c r t s nt i ny le tons ha a ntf s ve i nc al nt r t n he ontac be wee CES a Com c ta c r r t Pl i if 'a RRC ' i plc tons t Cour m us t n nd as nd, onta y o a ntf s nd S m i a i , he t t dr w a lr ona e i e enc i f vorofCES,notPl ntf s a t s s a oft pr e ngs a l eas bl nf r es n a ai i f , t hi t ge he oce di . Thus t M oton t D i m i si de e H oweve ,Pl i i f a R RC a e f e t a l ge f ct t , he i o s s s ni d. r a ntf s nd r r e o le a s o s r t i camsofj tfcaiiprvie / nca i ees asa afimai def e. uppo ther li usi to i lgefna il ntr t n fr tve ens B.De maton Cl m fa i ai l isr s ns t t Pl i if M o i t D i m i s CES as e t t ti ha a s alege a n t e po e o he a ntf s' ton o s s , s r s ha t s l o l d cai f busnes de a a i whih i nota e s d i Pl ntfs M oton t Dim is Asa l m or i s f m ton, c s ddr s e n ai if ' i o s s . r t i is M oton t Di m i RRC al seeks t dim i s CES' def aton cl m . The esul , n t i o s ss, so o s s S am i ai c us on ove t e s e e oft s c a m a i e f om t f c t ti i notcl rf om t f ce of onf i r he xi t nc hi l i rs s r he a t ha t s ea r he a t c e c am a t r pa t c he ount r l i nd hid- ry ompli t tCES pl muli ecli . The e a enot ant ha ed tpl a msz r r s pa a e nu be e c e r t m r d ount i t c nt r l i a t r pa t c pl i . M or ove ,not ng on s n he ou e c a m nd hi d- ry om a nt e r hi t f ce oft c e cl m a t r pa t com pl i i c est tCES i e d t pl a a he a he ount r ai nd hid- r y a nt ndi at ha nt nde o e d s pa a e cl m f def m a i l f c ,t wor i f m aton' i ne r us i t c e r t ai or a ton. n a t he d ' a i ' s ve ed n he ount r l m de e c ai a t r pa t c pl i . A sa r ul,t c e c ai a t r pary c pl i m us be nd hid- r y om a nt es t he ount r l m nd hid- t om a nt t a e d t c a iy e c l w ha c a m sa ebe or t Cour . m nde o l rf xa ty t l i r f e he t 2 ti al o no c e r i CES ha pl d a cl m f t tousi e f r e w ih a conta or I s s t la f s e ai or ori nt r e enc t r ct t tousi er erence w ih a busi ori nt f t nessr atons p,orbot el i hi h. 6 RRC hasm ove t di m i s t def m a i cl i be us i doe notm e tt d o s s he a ton a m ca e t s e he r qui e en s ofFede a R ul ofCi lPr dur 8. l or rt sat a c a m f de a a i unde e rm t rl e vi oce e n de o t e l i or f m ton r Fl ialw,aparymus alege: 1 publc ton;2)fliy;( )t tt acorma t sae nt ord a t t l ( ) iai ( ast 3 ha he t de he ttme s w ih know l t edge orr c es dir ga d a t t f l iy o a m a t rc e kl s s e r s o he a st n te once ni a publc of i i l or r ng i fc a , a las neglge l onamatrc r ngaprvaepes ( a t lda ge a ( t tt t e t i nty te onceni i t ron; 4) cua ma s; nd 5) ha he sae n i d fmaoy.J ws o J s s l c v Ra p, 9 So 2 1 8 1 0 ( a 2 08 .CES' ttme t s ea tr e f r e u , n . . p 9 7 . d 09 , 1 6 F1. 0 ) S c ount r l m a t r pary c pl i ha nota e c ai nd hi d- t om a nt s dequa e y a l ge f t t s t l le d ac s o uppor a 1oft e t 1 hes e e e s A ta m i m um ,CES ha f ie t pl a an da ag asa r ul oft alege l m nt . ni s a l d o e d y m es es t he l d s a e e s Furhe , he s a e e sa t a l ge publca i a e pl d i t bar s pos i e t t m nt . t r t t t m nt nd he le d i ton r e n he e t s bl wa W hie RRC a gue t tt s a em e spl d a e s c a i a opi on a t ,not y. l r s ha he t t nt e r pe ul tve nd ni nd, hus a tona e s h a gum e s n o t a fr a i de e e nota f l e t ade t l pl a a c i bl , uc r nt m unt o f i m tve f ns s aiur o qua e y e d de a a i c ai . H ow e r ass tf r h a f m ton l m ve , e o t bove, he M oto t D i m i s t de a a i c a m t i n o s s he f m ton l i mus begr nt be us i i notc e rfom t f ceoft pladi t CES ha e n pl d s h t a ed ca e t s l a r he a he e ng hat s ve e uc aca m .I CES i e t pl a a s pa a ec am f rdef maton i m us s toutt s tnc of li f nt nds o e d e r t l i o a i t te he ubsa e e c a l dl de a a o y sa e enton w hi h i i pr e ng; he da e pl e, nd m a r of a h lege y f m t r t t m c t s oce di t t , ac a nne pu i ton;t w hom ea h sat m e w asm ade a f c ss i t da a s tow i f om blca i o c t e nt ; nd a t how ng he m ge l ng r each sat ent t em . A ccor ngl i i di y, t s ORD ERED t hat 1. Pl ntf s Rober Bez a and Rudi na Ca c nis M oton t D i m i s Count r l i ai i f t eu a ra ' i o s s e ca m ( 35 i GRANTED i pa ta DENI i pa t DE- j s n r nd ED n r: a. The M oton t D i m i bas on Pl ntf s't y t t ar i er t i o s ss ed ai i f heor hat hey e nt es ed partesi t cont actor r atons p i D EN I . i n he r el i hi s ED The M o i t D im i s i GR AN TED t t e e t tt c er l i f l ton o s s s o he xt nt ha he ount c a m ais t ade t l s tf t t cl i spl o qua e y e orh he a m ed. Ree ls Rec r Cor ai sMotont DimisThid- ryCli g 51 i lnte s ove y porton' i o s s r pa t am DE- ) s G RAN TED i pa4 a D EN I i pa t n 1 nd ED n r : The M oton t Di m i sba e on RRC ' t or t ti i a i er s e pa t i i o s s sd S he y ha t s n nt e t d r y n t co r c orr l t o hi i D EN I . he nt a t e a i ns p s ED The M oton t D i m i st de a a i c ai i GRA N TED . i o s s he f m ton l m s 3. CES s lf l a a e d c hal ie n m nde ount r l i i a or nce w ih t s Or rby June 10, e c a m n cc da t hi de 2015. r a f y 5. D O N E A ND O R D ER ED i M i m i Fl r da, hi W ? d yo Ma , 201 n a , oi t s N PA TRI A A .SE Z CI UN I TED STATES D I I JU D GE STR CT A 1 couns ofr d 1 el ecor 8
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