Buddy's Plant Plus Corp. v. Centimark Corp.

978 F. Supp. 2d 523, 92 Fed. R. Serv. 932, 2013 WL 5676852, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 150001
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedOctober 18, 2013
DocketCivil Action No. 10-670
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 978 F. Supp. 2d 523 (Buddy's Plant Plus Corp. v. Centimark Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Buddy's Plant Plus Corp. v. Centimark Corp., 978 F. Supp. 2d 523, 92 Fed. R. Serv. 932, 2013 WL 5676852, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 150001 (W.D. Pa. 2013).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

ROBERT C. MITCHELL, United States Magistrate Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

Before the court are the parties’ motions in limine in the instant breach of contract case.1 As the motions are fully briefed and a hearing on the motions was held on October 1, 2013, the matters are ripe for disposition.

II. BACKGROUND

This case concerns an allegedly defective roof coating system (specifically an elastomeric acrylic coating manufactured by Lapolla, Inc.) installed by Defendant, CentiMark Corporation (“CentiMark”) at [527]*527Plaintiffs, Buddy’s Plant Plus Corporation (“Buddy’s”) facilities.2 After a hail storm struck Buddy’s facilities, Buddy’s claims their roof began to leak. CentiMark was contacted to bid the job. It is disputed as to how CentiMark became involved in the roofing project and whether CentiMark recommended installing the elastomeric coating to fix the leaks in the roof. Buddy’s claims that it was approached by CentiMark and CentiMark represented that the elastomeric coating would effectively remedy Buddy’s leaks. CentiMark counters that Buddy’s was a Lapolla customer before the leaks even occurred and a Lapolla agent had recommended that the elastomeric coating be applied. CentiMark claims that Buddy’s made the decision to install an elastomeric coating before CentiMark and Buddy’s were even in contact with one another. CentiMark claims that it was not its responsibility to choose or suggest the roofing system to be installed, but only to bid and install the elastomeric acrylic coating chosen by Buddy’s.

In August 2005, CentiMark installed the elastomeric coating, and a ten year warranty was given for materials and services. After the application of the coating, Buddy’s reported that the leaks continued. CentiMark attempted to repair the leaks, but Buddy’s claims that the roof still leaks, and reports that it leaks more after the repairs were completed by CentiMark. Buddy’s then filed the instant action.

The claims that remain are a breach of contract for failure to apply a waterproofing material and for defective repairs under the warranty provision and a breach of the implied duty to perform in a workmanlike manner. Buddy’s claims that CentiMark breached the contract by not installing a waterproof material, a term of the contract, and that the elastomeric coating is not a waterproofing material. Buddy’s further claims that CentiMark breached the warranty by failing to repair the leaks that occurred after applying the coating. Lastly, Buddy’s claims that CentiMark further damaged the roof beyond repair when it tried to repair the roof by drilling ungasketed screws through the roof, causing more leakage. As a consequence, Buddy’s alleges that the entire roof needs to be replaced.

CentiMark defends against these claims by arguing that although the elastomeric coating has waterproofing capabilities, it was not to be used as Buddy’s contends, i. e., to create a watertight roof, and Buddy’s knew this before it signed the contract. CentiMark further claims that it properly installed the coating and the materials were proper for the job completed. CentiMark contends that the coating failed because Buddy’s buildings were negligently designed and/or constructed such that they expand and contract with the elements, allowing condensation to enter the roof and cause the leaks. Further, CentiMark claims it was under no duty to provide engineering expertise prior to applying the coating and expressly disclaimed this in the contract. CentiMark also argues that the entire roof does not need to be replaced, as Buddy’s claims, but rather, it can be repaired.

III. DISCUSSION

The parties raise a variety of motions in limine that the court will address in turn.

[528]*528A. Plaintiffs Motions in Limine

1. Plaintiff’s Motion to Preclude CentiMark from, Arguing or Introducing Evidence that an Alleged Defect in the Construction of the Roof and Laps on the Plaintiff’s HSRRIDQ Facility Caused CentiMark’s Repairs to Fail [ECF No. 170]

Buddy’s first moves to preclude CentiMark from arguing or offering evidence that a defect in the construction of Buddy’s facility, specifically, the roof end laps, caused CentiMark’s repairs to fail. PL’s Br. in Supp. of Mot. in Limine [ECF No. 171] at 1. Buddy’s claims that Mike Gainor, a CentiMark employee found no “pre-existing” conditions on Buddy’s roof when he conducted a pre-job inspection. Buddy’s argues that CentiMark should be estopped from introducing any of the aforementioned evidence because “CentiMark’s misrepresentation that the roof was in such a condition so as to allow CentiMark’s repairs to be effective induced Buddy’s to authorize repairs.” Id. at 8.

CentiMark responds that Buddy’s has not properly alleged estoppel because “(1) CentiMark did not use misleading words, conduct or silence against Buddy’s; (2) Buddy’s had no right to rely upon CentiMark’s inspection, which inspection was intended only to produce a proposal to perform specific tasks for a specific price; and (3) because Buddy’s had a duty to further investigate the structural defects in its roof, which duty it failed to satisfy.” Def.’s Resp. to PL’s Mot. in Lim [ECF No. 224] at 2-3. CentiMark also argues

With respect to any alleged duty in CentiMark to discover structural defects and alert Buddy’s to them, no such duty lies in this case — neither contractually nor at common law. Buddy’s cannot unilaterally impose such duties upon CentiMark because CentiMark did not agree to undertake them, and in fact, CentiMark expressly disclaimed responsibility for both discovering defects and alerting Buddy’s to them.

Id. at 3.

The purpose of a motion in limine is to “narrow the evidentiary issues for trial and to eliminate unnecessary trial interruptions.” Bradley v. Pgh. Bd. of Educ., 913 F.2d 1064, 1069 (3d Cir.1990). Contrarily, a motion for summary judgment is “designed to eliminate a trial in cases where there are no issues of fact.” Id.

Primarily, equitable estoppel is an affirmative defense, not an independent basis to support a motion in limine. See Bair v. Purcell, 500 F.Supp.2d 468, 491 (M.D.Pa.2007) (“equitable estoppel is raised as an affirmative defense or as a ground to prevent a defendant from raising a particular defense, it cannot be pleaded as a separate cause of action.”). Such argument is appropriate for a summary judgment motion, not at this juncture. Moreover, Buddy’s provides no basis under the Federal Rules of Evidence as to why CentiMark should be barred from introducing such evidence and testimony. The Court otherwise finds that the evidence is relevant and admissible under the Federal Rules of Evidence.

Accordingly, Plaintiffs Motion in Limine [ECF No. 170] is denied.

2. Plaintiffs Motion to Exclude the Expert Testimony Concerning Condensation of the Roof [ECF No. 17U]

Next, Buddy’s seeks to preclude CentiMark’s civil engineer, Brian Neal Jaks from testifying as to condensation on Buddy’s roof.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Humphries v. Barber
M.D. Pennsylvania, 2025
FROBE v. UPMC ST. MARGARET
W.D. Pennsylvania, 2023
LEE v. WAKEMAN
W.D. Pennsylvania, 2022
Buddy's Plant Plus Corp v. Centimark Corporation
604 F. App'x 134 (Third Circuit, 2015)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
978 F. Supp. 2d 523, 92 Fed. R. Serv. 932, 2013 WL 5676852, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 150001, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/buddys-plant-plus-corp-v-centimark-corp-pawd-2013.