Idearc Media, LLC v. Palmisano & Associates, P.C.

929 F. Supp. 2d 939, 2013 WL 838538, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 30134
CourtDistrict Court, D. Arizona
DecidedMarch 6, 2013
DocketNo. CV-09-02147-PHX-JAT
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 929 F. Supp. 2d 939 (Idearc Media, LLC v. Palmisano & Associates, P.C.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Arizona primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Idearc Media, LLC v. Palmisano & Associates, P.C., 929 F. Supp. 2d 939, 2013 WL 838538, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 30134 (D. Ariz. 2013).

Opinion

ORDER

JAMES A. TEILBORG, Senior District Judge.

Pending before the Court is Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. 48). The Court now rules on the Motion.

I. BACKGROUND

Plaintiff Ideare Media, LLC, now known as SuperMedia, LLC (hereinafter “Plaintiff’ or “SuperMedia, LLC”) publishes the Verizon Yellow Pages and White Pages telephone directories and Superpages.com. (Plaintiffs Statement of Facts (“Doc. 49”) at ¶ 1 and Defendants’ Responses to Plaintiffs Separate Statement of Facts (“Doc. 52”) at ¶ 1). Defendant Palmisano & Associates, P.C. is an Arizona professional corporation and is solely owned by Joseph Palmisano. (Doc. 32 at ¶ 2; Doc. 34 at ¶ 2; Doc. 49 at ¶ 17; Doc. 52 at ¶ 17). Defendant Palmisano Law is a single member Arizona professional limited liability company wholly owned by Joseph P. Palmisano. (Doc. 32 at ¶ 3; Doc. 34 at ¶ 3 Doc. 49 at ¶ 18; Doc. 52 at ¶ 18).

A. The Contracts

On April 20, 2007, Joseph P. Palmisano executed an Application for Directory Advertising on behalf of Palmisano & Associates, P.C. to purchase advertising in the Greater Tucson directory to be published in November 2007. (Doc. 49 at ¶ 2; Doc. 49-1 at Exhibit A; Doc. 52 at ¶ 2). On September 28, 2007, Palmisano & Associates executed an Application for Directory Advertising to purchase advertising in the Phoenix South Valley directory to be published in February 2008. (Doc. 49 at ¶ 3; Doc. 49-1 at Exhibit B; Doc. 52 at ¶ 3). On December 14, 2007, Palmisano & Associates executed an Application for Directory Advertising to purchase advertising, including back cover, in the Greater Phoenix directory to be published in June 2008. (Doc. 49 at ¶4; Doc. 49-1 at Exhibit C; Doc. 52 at ¶ 4). On July 22, 2008, Palmisano & Associates executed an Application for Directory Advertising to purchase advertising in the Greater Tucson directory to be published in November 2008. (Doc. 49 at ¶ 5; Doc. 49-1 at Exhibit D; Doc. 52 at ¶ 5). On December 3, 2008, Palmisano & Associates executed an Advertising Agreement to purchase advertising in the Phoenix-North Valley and Phoenix-South Valley directories to be published in February 2009. (Doc. 49 at ¶ 6; Doc. 49-1 at Exhibit E; Doc. 52 at ¶ 6).

It is undisputed that, in each contract, Palmisano & Associates agreed to pay the monthly rate listed in each Application for Directory Advertising. (Doc. 49 at ¶ 10; Doc. 52 at ¶ 10). It is further undisputed that SuperMedia published all of the contracted-for advertisements for Palmisano & Associates and Palmisano Law. (Doc. 49 at ¶¶ 12-13; Doc. 52 at ¶¶ 12-13).

It is likewise undisputed that: (1) Plaintiff invoiced Palmisano & Associates, (2) Plaintiff received payment, in whole or in part, on some of the invoices; (3) Plaintiff did not receive payments after November 2008; (4) Plaintiff accelerated the remaining balance due under the Agreements upon Defendants’ failure to pay the invoices; (5) Palmisano & Associates failed to pay $187,068.00 in advertising charges; (6) on September 16, 2009, interest in the amount of $12,501.54 had accrued on the past due amount and interest continues to [942]*942accrue at a rate of 18% per annum until judgment is entered; and (7) the Agreements’ Terms and Conditions require Palmisano & Associates to pay all collection costs and attorneys’ fees. (Doc. 49 at ¶¶ 19-26; Doc. 52 at ¶¶ 19-26).

Plaintiff argues that each contract incorporated a set of standard Term and Conditions which governed the relationship between the Parties. (Doc. 49 at ¶ 7). Indeed, each contract from April 2007 to July 2008 contained the following language: “This application is subject to the Application for Directory Advertising Terms and Conditions” and “Advertiser has received a duplicate copy of the cover section of this Application and the attached Terms and Conditions, which are hereby incorporated in the cover section of this Application, and has read and understands same.” (Doc. 49-1 at Exhibits AD). The December 2008 contract contained the following language: “By signing this Agreement I acknowledge that I have received, read and agree to the Terms and Conditions that are part of this Agreement.” (Doc. 49-1 at Exhibit E). Defendants deny that the Application included a Standard Set of Terms and Conditions and deny ever reading such Terms and Conditions. (Doc. 52 at ¶¶ 8-9).

B. Procedural History

On October 1, 2009, Plaintiff filed a Complaint against Defendants alleging four counts, specifically, breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, unjust enrichment, and open account. (Doc. 1). On November 17, 2009, Defendant Palmisano & Associates filed for bankruptcy. Thereafter, the Parties stipulated to dismiss Defendant Palmisano Law without prejudice based on the Declaration of Joseph Palmisano that Palmisano Law was not an operating entity and had no assets or revenue. (Doc. 14; Doc. 14-1). The case was then stayed pending the outcome of the bankruptcy. On November 14, 2011, when the bankruptcy case was dismissed, the stay was lifted.

Thereafter, Plaintiff moved to vacate the Order dismissing Palmisano Law or, alternatively, to amend the Complaint, because Palmisano Law was an operating entity with assets and revenue. (Doc. 22). The Court granted the Motion to Amend the Complaint and Plaintiff filed an amended Complaint re-alleging its claims of breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, unjust enrichment, and open account against Palmisano Law and Palmisano & Associates. (Doc. 30 and Doc. 32).

Plaintiff now moves for summary judgment on its claims against Defendants Palmisano & Associates, P.C. and Palmisano Law PLLC. (Doc. 48 at 1). Plaintiff specifically requests that the Court enter judgment in its favor on its breach of contract claim or, in the alternative, on its unjust enrichment claim. (Doc. 48 at 12). Defendants claim that there are disputed issues of material fact preventing summary judgment in Plaintiffs favor.

II. LEGAL STANDARD

Summary judgment is appropriate when “the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a). “A party asserting that a fact cannot be or is genuinely disputed must support that assertion by ... citing to particular parts of materials in the record, including depositions, documents, electronically stored information, affidavits, or declarations, stipulations ... admissions, interrogatory answers, or other materials,” or by “showing that materials cited do not establish the absence or presence of a genuine dispute, or that an adverse party cannot produce admissible evidence to support the fact.” Id. at [943]*94356(c)(1)(A) & (B). Thus, summary judgment is mandated “against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).

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

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
929 F. Supp. 2d 939, 2013 WL 838538, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 30134, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/idearc-media-llc-v-palmisano-associates-pc-azd-2013.