Lorenz v. Lorenz

157 F.R.D. 461, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12218, 1994 WL 513215
CourtU.S. Circuit Court for the District of Eastern Missouri
DecidedJune 20, 1994
Docket1:93CV115SNL
StatusPublished

This text of 157 F.R.D. 461 (Lorenz v. Lorenz) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Eastern Missouri primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lorenz v. Lorenz, 157 F.R.D. 461, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12218, 1994 WL 513215 (circtedmo 1994).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

LIMBAUGH, District Judge.

Plaintiff has filed this action against her ex-spouse alleging violation of the Omnibus Crime Control Act (better known as the Federal Wiretapping Act), 18 U.S.C. § 2510 et seq., with regard to the taping of certain phone conversations between the plaintiff and third parties from April 6 through April 9, 1993. This matter is before the Court on the plaintiffs motion for summary judgment (# 6), filed May 6, 1994. Responsive pleadings have been filed. This cause of action is set for trial on the Court’s trial docket of June 20, 1994.

Courts have repeatedly recognized that summary judgment is a harsh remedy that should be granted only when the moving party has established his right to judgment with such clarity as not to give rise to controversy. New England Mut. Life Ins. Co. v. Null, 554 F.2d 896, 901 (8th Cir.1977). Summary judgment motions, however, “can be a tool of great utility in removing factually insubstantial cases from crowded dockets, freeing courts’ trial time for those that really do raise genuine issues of material fact.” Mt. Pleasant v. Associated Elec. Coop. Inc., 838 F.2d 268, 273 (8th Cir.1988).

Pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c), a district court may grant a motion for summary judgment if all of the information before the court demonstrates that “there is no genuine issue as to material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Poller v. Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc., 368 U.S. 464, 467, 82 S.Ct. 486, 488, 7 L.Ed.2d 458 (1962). The burden is on the moving party. Mt. Pleasant, 838 F.2d at 273. After the moving party discharges this burden, the nonmoving party must do more than show that there is some doubt as to the facts. Matsushita Elec. Industrial Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 1355-56, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986). Instead, the nonmoving party bears the burden of setting forth specific facts showing that there is sufficient evidence in its favor to allow a jury to return a verdict for it. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 249,106 S.Ct. 2505, 2511, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986); Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2553, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).

In passing on a motion for summary judgment, the court must review the facts in a light most favorable to the party opposing the motion and give that party the benefit of any inferences that logically can be drawn from those facts. Butter v. Buechler, 706 F.2d 844, 846 (8th Cir.1983). The court is required to resolve all conflicts of evidence in favor of the nonmoving party. Robert Johnson Grain Co. v. Chem. Interchange Co., 541 F.2d 207, 210 (8th Cir.1976). With these principles in mind, the Court turns to an examination of the facts.

According to the defendant’s deposition testimony1 , after he and the plaintiff separated, he decided to install a wiretap on the phone in the marital house which his wife and children occupied. Although he no longer occupied the house, he still had access to it. Sometime prior to April 6, 1993, he entered the house, during his wife’s absence and without her knowledge or permission, and installed the wiretap. He tapped the phone because he was “concerned about my children and their welfare” and “about the things that she [the plaintiff] was doing in my home.” Plaintiffs Exhibit A, pg. 34.

He taped several phone conversations between his wife and third parties from April 6 through April 9, 1993. The wiretapping was [463]*463done without the consent or knowledge of the plaintiff or any of the parties to the conversations. Defendant claims that the tapes he made have since been destroyed. Plaintiffs Exhibit A, pg. 33. During a period of reconciliation, the defendant told the plaintiff (and she told the third parties) of the -wiretapping. Plaintiffs Exhibit A, pg. 34. This cause of action was filed on July 15, 1993; within two (2) years of the date of the violations. See, 18 U.S.C. § 2520(e).

Plaintiff seeks damages of $10,000.00 as provided in 18 U.S.C. § 2520(e)(2)(B).

It is clearly undisputed that the defendant violated the plaintiffs rights by wire-tapping the marital home while they were separated. He fully admits to having done so without his (ex)wife’s knowledge or permission. Normally, this would end any further discussion and summary judgment would be granted to the plaintiff. However, defendant asserts that having acknowledged to his (ex)wife the occurrence of his unlawful act, she agreed to enter into a property settlement by which she would dismiss the instant action with prejudice upon the defendant paying to her the total sum of $50,000.00 on or before April 1,1994. He asserts that he diligently applied for a loan in the sum of $50,000.00 from the Capital Bank of Cape Girardeau; however, due to certain circumstances, the loan could not be closed until April 13, 1994. Meanwhile, on January 12, 1994 he tendered to his (now) ex-wife the sum of $10,000.00. On April 13, 1994 his loan was closed whereupon he tendered the proceeds of the loan to his ex-wife. Defendant contends that his former spouse and her attorney were apprised by the Bank of the April 13th closing, and that they did not object. Defendant asserts that his full performance, albeit on April 13, 1994, constitutes an accord and satisfaction of the agreement and that this action should be dismissed with prejudice.

Plaintiff contends that according to the agreement, defendant was to tender $50,-000.00 within thirty (30) days of the date of the agreement (agreement was signed on November 30, 19932) and that the $10,000.00 paid on January 12, 1994 was merely a “late” first payment. Plaintiff further contends that, under the agreement, the April 1, 1994 date was simply a date which allowed plaintiff to continue this lawsuit if she was not paid in full by that time. Since she was not paid in full until April 13, 1994, plaintiff has the right to pursue her additional remedies pursuant to the Federal Wire-tapping Act.

Defendant has submitted a copy of the entire Property Settlement Agreement entered into by the parties; along with a copy of a letter sent by John N. Thompson (Vice-President of Capital Bank of Cape Girar-deau) to the defendant’s counsel regarding the loan transaction. Defendant’s Exhibits A and C. After careful review of these documents, it is clear to the Court that this cause of action should be dismissed with prejudice.

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157 F.R.D. 461, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12218, 1994 WL 513215, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lorenz-v-lorenz-circtedmo-1994.