Clement v. Ecolab, Inc.

341 F. Supp. 3d 1205
CourtDistrict Court, D. Oregon
DecidedSeptember 20, 2018
Docket3:18-CV-586-PK
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 341 F. Supp. 3d 1205 (Clement v. Ecolab, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Oregon primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Clement v. Ecolab, Inc., 341 F. Supp. 3d 1205 (D. Or. 2018).

Opinion

PAPAK, Magistrate Judge:

*1208Plaintiff Scott E. Clement filed this action against defendant Ecolab, Inc. ("Ecolab"), and five fictitiously named Doe defendants in the Multnomah County Circuit Court on March 8, 2018. Ecolab removed Clement's action to this court on April 5, 2018, on diversity jurisdictional grounds. By and through his complaint, Clement alleges that he is the general manager of a McCormick & Schmick's restaurant (the "Restaurant") owned by Landry's. Inc. ("Landry's"), and that Landry's had a contract with Ecolab pursuant to which Ecolab was obliged to provide pest control services at the Restaurant. Clement further alleges that under the contract, Ecolab agreed to respond by telephone to requests for service at the Restaurant within one hour, and to arrive at the restaurant to provide requested services within 24 hours. Clement further alleges that in July and August 2017, Ecolab failed to respond to requests for pest-control services in connection with the presence of spiders at the restaurant, and that on August 25, 2017, in light of Ecolab's failure to respond to his multiple requests for service, he cleared out spider webs at the restaurant by himself, in the course of which he was bitten by a brown recluse spider, causing him to suffer severe injury. Arising out of the foregoing, Clement alleges Ecolab's liability for negligence and for breach of contract. Clement seeks award of approximately $1 million in damages, plus pre- and post-judgment interest thereon.

Because it appears to be undisputed that Clement is a citizen of the State of Washington, and that Ecolab is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in Minnesota, this court appears to have diversity jurisdiction over Clement's action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332 based on the complete diversity of the parties and the amount in controversy.

Now before the court is Ecolab's motion (# 23) for judgment on the pleadings as to Clement's claims against it. I have considered the motion, oral argument on behalf of the parties, and all of the pleadings and papers on file. For the reasons set forth below, Ecolab's motion (# 23) is granted as to Clement's negligence claim and denied as to his breach of contract claim, and Clement's negligence claim is dismissed with prejudice.

LEGAL STANDARD

Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(c) governs motions for judgment on the pleadings. Rule 12(c) provides that "[a]fter the pleadings are closed-but early enough not to delay trial-a party may move for judgment on the pleadings." Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(c). "Judgment on the pleadings is proper when the moving party clearly establishes on the face of the pleadings that no material issue of fact remains to be resolved and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.... However, judgment on the pleadings is improper when the district court goes beyond the pleadings to resolve an issue; such a proceeding must properly be treated as a motion for summary judgment." Hal Roach Studios, Inc. v. Richard Feiner & Co. , 896 F.2d 1542, 1550 (9th Cir. 1989) (citations omitted). In evaluating a motion for judgment on the pleadings, the allegations of the non-moving party are credited as true, whereas those allegations of the moving party which have been denied *1209are deemed false for purposes of the motion. See id. (citation omitted).

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

I. The Parties

It appears to be undisputed that plaintiff Clement is a citizen of the State of Washington. Clement is employed as the general manager of the Restaurant owned by Landry's in Portland, Oregon.

Defendant Ecolab is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Minnesota. Ecolab is party to a contract with Landry's pursuant to which it agreed, inter alia , to provide certain specified pest elimination and pest control services at the Restaurant.

II. Clement's Allegations in Support of His Claims1

Clement has at all material times been the general manager of the Restaurant. See Complaint (# 1-1), ¶ 5. At a material time, defendant Ecolab entered into a contract with Landry's, the owner of the Restaurant, to provide "pest elimination, pest control and exterminator services to Landry's-owned facilities nationwide, including the Restaurant." Id. , ¶ 9. Pursuant to the contract between Ecolab and Landry's (the "Agreement"), "Ecolab was obligated to perform pest elimination and pest control services at the Restaurant, including promising [sic ] 'proactive prevention' through the use of reliable protocols supported by science to help protect customers through regular service visits by highly-trained and professional service specialists." Id. , ¶ 10.

The Agreement provided for regular service visits. Additionally, in the Agreement, Ecolab also agreed that it could be contacted regarding pest activity and concerns, and that its representatives would be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Ecolab also promised to call back within one hour of such calls to schedule a visit, which visit would occur within 24 hours where immediate attention is requested. Ecolab also agreed to provide emergency services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Id. , ¶ 11. Clement, in his capacity as general manager of the Restaurant, was responsible for "coordinating with Ecolab for performance of its pest elimination services at the Restaurant." Id. , ¶ 12. In connection with that responsibility, Clement often brought pest concerns to Ecolab's attention between Ecolab's regular service visits, including "to address the elimination and prevention of spider infestation." Id.

In the summer and early autumn of 2017, Clement placed several calls to Ecolab requesting that Ecolab perform services at the Restaurant in connection with eliminating spider infestations. See id. , ¶ 13.

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Bluebook (online)
341 F. Supp. 3d 1205, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/clement-v-ecolab-inc-ord-2018.