Final Expense Direct v. Python Leads, LLC

CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Florida
DecidedFebruary 7, 2024
Docket8:23-cv-02093
StatusUnknown

This text of Final Expense Direct v. Python Leads, LLC (Final Expense Direct v. Python Leads, LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Final Expense Direct v. Python Leads, LLC, (M.D. Fla. 2024).

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA TAMPA DIVISION

FINAL EXPENSE DIRECT,

Plaintiff,

v. Case No. 8:23-cv-2093-WFJ-AAS

PYTHON LEADS, LLC; JACQUELYN LEAH LEVIN; and DAVID LEVIN,

Defendants. _____________________________________/

ORDER Before the Court is Python Leads, LLC (“Python”), Jacquelyn Leah Levin, and David Levin’s (collectively, “Defendants”) Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. 29). Final Expense Direct (“Plaintiff”) has responded in opposition (Dkt. 29), and Defendants have replied (Dkt. 33). Upon careful consideration, and with the benefit of full briefing, the Court denies Defendants’ Motion. BACKGROUND Plaintiff sells life insurance policies. Python sells lead generation services. While the two only worked together for a brief period of time, their business relationship resulted in multiple lawsuits and over $100,000 in settlement payments. Plaintiff now seeks to pierce the corporate veil and hold all Defendants responsible through causes of action ranging from breach of contract to civil conspiracy. I. Factual Background Plaintiff maintains that the parties’ relationship began sometime during

January 2020 when Ali Raza reached out to Plaintiff on behalf of Python. Dkt. 25 at 5; Dkt. 25-26 at 3.1 At this time, Mr. Raza essentially claimed that the company he worked for could generate final expense insurance leads which amounted to pre-

closed sales. Dkt. 25-26 at 3. Plaintiff’s Vice-President of Marketing, Luis Beauchamp, responded with four questions: “live transfers?”, “offshore call center?”, “TCPA compliant data with verifiable proof of opt-in?” and “hold harmless agreement?”. Id. at 2 (cleaned up). While Plaintiff does not explain how Mr. Raza

answered Mr. Beauchamp’s questions, the parties presumably continued to discuss the possibility of a business relationship for some months. Id. Mr. Raza eventually represented that Python’s transfers would be “fully [TCPA] Complaint and DNC

scrubbed” and that Python could hold Plaintiff “100%” harmless through its up to $1,000,000 in Berkshire Hathaway litigation insurance. Dkt. 25-18 at 2–5. Plaintiff claims that it entered into an official contract with Python for live lead transfer services on March 15, 2021 (the “March Agreement”). Dkt. 25 at 5.

The March Agreement was rather simple. Indeed, beyond establishing that transfers

1 Despite Plaintiff’s representation to the contrary, it is unclear that Mr. Raza was actually working on Python’s behalf at this time. Mr. Raza’s email signature in his January 2020 email correspondences identifies him as the “Head of Operations” for “Absolute Communication” (which is then qualified as “A Final Expense Call Center”). Dkt. 25-26 at 4. Mr. Raza’s later email signatures, beginning as early as February 26, 2021, identifies him as “Co-Founder” of “Python Leads LLC.” Dkt. 25-18 at 4. would take place between traditional working hours and that payment eligibility would be limited to transfers who remained on the phone with Plaintiff for at least

five minutes, the March Agreement contained three material terms: [(1)] It is the sole responsibility of [Python] to familiarize with all laws and regulations applicable with TCPA, FEDERAL AND STATE DO NOT CALL REGISTRY! And it will hold [Plaintiff] harmless from and against any and all claims, costs, actions, losses, expenses, liabilities, and damages (“Claims”) arising from the Undersigned’s breach of the Agreement or this Addendum or failure to ensure that the Leads provided to your company comply with the terms of the TCPA.2

[(2]] According to the agreement [Plaintiff] is agreeing in paying the price of $55/per Live Transfer Lead first week! And from 2nd week it will [be] $65 Per Live Transfer[,] 3rd Week it will be $75 per [Live] Transfer. However both parties have AUTHORITY to rewise [sic] the price with prior notice and agreed upon by both Parties . . . [Python] will send an invoice of last week billable transfers on every Monday, and [Plaintiff] will process the payment on Tuesday of each week.

[(3)] No modification of this Agreement shall be considered valid unless made in writing and agreed upon by both Parties.

Dkt. 25-1 at 3 (cleaned up). Kim Wilhelm signed the March Agreement on behalf of Plaintiff. Id. Ms. Levin, however, did not sign the March Agreement on behalf of Python. Id. Plaintiff acknowledges that it “does not have a copy of the [March] Agreement that is signed by both parties.” Dkt. 25 at 5 n.1. Notwithstanding the absence of Ms. Levin’s signature, Plaintiff avers that, “[a]t all times relevant to this action, the Parties acted in accordance with the terms

2 See generally the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”), 47 U.S.C. § 227. of [the] [March] Agreement.” Id. at 5–6. First, Python or its agents allegedly affirmed the March Agreement’s terms in electronically signed emails. See Dkt. 25-

2 at 2–8 (emails apparently showing that Plaintiff was attempting to pay Python through the banking information contained in the March Agreement, which turned out to be Ms. Levin’s personal account); Dkt 25-18 at 2–5 (emails between Mr. Raza

and Mr. Beauchamp prior to the March Agreement in which Mr. Raza represents that Python has “[u]nlimited [d]efense through [B]erkshire [H]athaway for litigation issues” in response to Mr. Beauchamp requesting a “sample call/ sample script. And sample agreement with hold harmless language”).

Second, Python’s “subsequent invoicing was consistent with” the March Agreement. See Dkt. 25-5 at 2 (first week billing invoice); Dkt. 25-6 at 2 (second week billing invoice); Dkt. 25-7 at 2 (third week billing invoice).

Third, Python consistently represented that they bore the responsibility of ensuring TCPA compliance and handling all claims. See Dkt. 25-11 at 2 (Ms. Levin stating in email that “[Python] will always take responsibility in protecting you against these professional scammers”); Dkt. 25-12 at 2 (Ms. Levin stating in email

that “[Python] will contact him and get this resolved for you” after Plaintiff contacted Ms. Levin concerning another complainant represented by an attorney); Dkt. 25-10 at 2 (Mr. Raza explaining in email that “we are scrubbing out data against TCPA and DNC litigator list . . . [y]ou guys are completely harmless”). Plaintiff maintains that the March Agreement always controlled the parties’ conduct.

As time went on, Plaintiff received a significant number of complaints alleging TCPA violations. Python ostensibly handled them while acknowledging its responsibility to do so until June 2022. See generally Dkt. 25-11; Dkt. 25-12; Dkt.

25-9. Plaintiff nevertheless questions whether Python actually secured releases in these instances or whether Python paid any settlements. Dkt. 25 at 15. In June 2021, Python proposed a new arrangement (the “June Agreement”), which Python claims superseded the March Agreement. Dkt. 25 at 16; Dkt. 29 at 10.

The June Agreement provided that payment eligibility would only be limited to transfers who remained on the phone with Plaintiff for at least three minutes and changed the billable rate to a flat $20 per eligible lead. Dkt. 25-15 at 2. More

importantly, it included a disclaimer that materially altered the March Agreement’s indemnity provision: Being a Lead provider[,] we use Opt-In Data from different sources and do our best to be [in] compliance with TCPA Regulations. Along with Lead ID we will provide the source IP of the Lead. And this is your responsibility to protect yourself against any cost, demands or damages in regards to TCPA Rules. Python Leads will not be responsible for any loss or damages in regards to TCPA.

Id. The June Agreement was signed by Ms. Levin on behalf of Python. Id.

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Final Expense Direct v. Python Leads, LLC, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/final-expense-direct-v-python-leads-llc-flmd-2024.