Exhibition On Screen, Ltd. v. Pew

360 F. Supp. 3d 281
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedDecember 19, 2018
DocketCIVIL ACTION NO. 18-3212
StatusPublished

This text of 360 F. Supp. 3d 281 (Exhibition On Screen, Ltd. v. Pew) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Exhibition On Screen, Ltd. v. Pew, 360 F. Supp. 3d 281 (E.D. Pa. 2018).

Opinion

Savage, District Judge.

Plaintiff Exhibition on Screen, Ltd., ("EOS") a British documentary filmmaker, entered into a distributorship agreement with Mediacast Holdings LLC, d/b/a Specticast ("Mediacast"), a Pennsylvania limited liability company. EOS has sued defendant Derek Pew, an officer and director of Mediacast, who signed the agreement on behalf of the company. EOS seeks to recover its share of monies it contends Mediacast *284failed to turn over from the proceeds from the distribution and showing of three films it had produced. Having already obtained a judgment against Mediacast on the agreement, EOS now seeks to collect from Pew, contending he is a trustee of the monies owed EOS under the agreement. In short, EOS argues the agreement created a trust to hold EOS's share of the proceeds and Pew failed to turn over the trust funds.

Pew has moved to dismiss the complaint under Rule 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. He argues that EOS has not stated a cause of action for breach of trust because there was no trust. Pew contends that even if one had been created, he cannot be liable because the agreement was between EOS and Mediacast, not between EOS and him.

We conclude that EOS has failed to state a cause of action against Pew for breach of trust. Pew was not a trustee of the trust created to hold EOS's share of theater receipts. Therefore, we shall grant Pew's motion to dismiss.

Background

EOS produces documentary films about famous artists and their works.1 The films are presented through distributors who arrange showings with theaters.2 Mediacast agreed to distribute three films produced by EOS in North America.3

EOS and Mediacast entered into a distributorship agreement on November 1, 2016.4 Under the agreement, Mediacast contracted with theaters to screen the films and generate box office receipts.5 From the box office receipts, each theatre retained its share and remitted the balance to Mediacast.6 From that amount, Mediacast deducted its share and costs, yielding "Net Receipts."7 The agreement provided that the net receipts were to be "held in trust for EOS."8 Despite its repeated demands, EOS received no payments, books, or records of the films.9 Mediacast closed its business in January 2018.10

On November 29, 2017, EOS filed a related suit against Mediacast to recover its share of the receipts generated by the screenings of its films arranged by Mediacast.11 Mediacast never responded. Default judgment was entered against Mediacast in the amount of $216,039.68 on February 27, 2018.12

On July 30, 2018, EOS filed this action against Pew, in his individual capacity, for breach of trust. It alleges that Pew was a managing director, officer, executive, and member of Mediacast.13 The complaint states that "Pew personally negotiated, and executed" the EOS agreement "on behalf of Mediacast...."14 It further alleges that Pew had "ultimate control of [Mediacast's] financial and accounting affairs...."15 EOS claims Pew breached his *285fiduciary duties of care and maintenance of the funds "held on trust for EOS" when he closed the company without remitting any net receipts.16 The complaint avers that "instead of duly preserving or remitting [the funds], [Pew] and his company used their status as trustee [sic ] to gain ready access to EOS' Net Receipts and use them for personal, unauthorized purposes without notice or consent of the trust beneficiary, EOS."17

Standard of Review

Pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), a court may dismiss all or part of an action for "failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted." Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). The complaint must plead "factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged." Ashcroft v. Iqbal , 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (citing Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly , 550 U.S. 544, 556, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007) ). The plaintiff must allege facts that indicate "more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully." Id. Pleading only "facts that are 'merely consistent with' a defendant's liability" is insufficient and cannot survive a motion to dismiss. Id. (quoting Twombly , 550 U.S. at 557, 127 S.Ct. 1955 ).

A conclusory recitation of the elements of a cause of action is not sufficient. Phillips v. Cty. of Allegheny , 515 F.3d 224, 233 (3d Cir. 2008). The plaintiff must allege facts necessary to make out each element. Id. (quoting Twombly , 550 U.S. at 563 n.8, 127 S.Ct. 1955 ). In other words, the complaint must contain facts which, if proven later, support a conclusion that the cause of action can be established.

In assessing the sufficiency of a complaint, a court must: (1) identify the elements of the causes of action; (2) disregard conclusory statements, leaving only factual allegations; and (3) assuming the truth of those factual allegations, determine whether they plausibly give rise to an entitlement to relief. Palakovic v. Wetzel

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Bluebook (online)
360 F. Supp. 3d 281, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/exhibition-on-screen-ltd-v-pew-paed-2018.