Marcano v. Cowpet Beach Resort, Inc.

31 V.I. 99, 1995 WL 217600, 1995 V.I. LEXIS 10
CourtSupreme Court of The Virgin Islands
DecidedMarch 9, 1995
DocketCivil No. 570/1990
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 31 V.I. 99 (Marcano v. Cowpet Beach Resort, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of The Virgin Islands primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Marcano v. Cowpet Beach Resort, Inc., 31 V.I. 99, 1995 WL 217600, 1995 V.I. LEXIS 10 (virginislands 1995).

Opinion

HODGE, Presiding Judge

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

This matter comes before the Court on Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment, Motion to Deem Summary Judgment Conceded, and Motion to Deem Conceded Motion to Deem conceded. Plaintiff has not responded to Defendants motions.

I. MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment as to Count I is premised on three contentions (1) that there was no binding contract between Plaintiff and Defendant, (2) that any alleged contract was terminable at-will, (3) that the Defendant's obligation to provide notice is waived by the doctrine of force majeure or impossibility of performance. In addition, Defendant contends that Plaintiff fails to state a claim as to Count II of its complaint.

For the reasons stated below, the Court will deny the Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment as to Count I, since there are genuine issues of material fact that should be reserved for trial, and will grant Summary Judgment as to Count II since Plaintiff failed to state a claim thereunder.

A. Applicable Law

Rule 56(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure instructs a court to enter Summary Judgment where the record reveals no genuine issue of material fact and the evidence entitles the movant [101]*101to judgment as a matter of law. The moving party bears the burden of identifying those portions of the record that demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 106 S. Ct. 2548, 2553-54, 91 L. Ed. 2d 265 (1986). Following such a showing, the burden shifts to the non-moving party to present affirmative evidence from which a jury might reasonably return a verdict in his favor. Id. at 2553-54. Anderson v. Libby Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 106 S. Ct. 2505, 2514, 91 L. Ed. 2d 202. The non-moving party, however, may not rest on his pleadings, bare assertions, or conclusory allegations, but must set forth specific facts by affidavit or other competent evidence showing there is a genuine issue of material fact. Celotex, supra, at 2553-54.

In deciding a Rule 56 motion, the court must view all inferences in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, Continental Inc. Co. v. Bodie, 682 F.2d 436, 438 (3d Cir. 1982), and must accept as true all allegations of the non-moving party which conflicts with those of the moving party. Anderson, supra, at 2513. In addition, all doubts must be resolved in favor of the non-moving party. Hollinger v. Wagner Mining Equip. Co., 667 F.2d 402, 405 (3d Cir. 1981).

B. Count I Breach of Contract

1. Was Contract Binding?

The Defendant argues that because the Plaintiff cannot establish the existence of a binding contract, the Defendant is entitled to Summary Judgment as to Count I of Plaintiff's Complaint.

The only essential prerequisite for creation of a valid contract is that the parties mutually assent to the terms and conditions of the agreement. Isidor Paiewonsky Assoc. v. Sharp Properties Inc.,761 F. Supp. 1231, 26 V.I. 228 (D.V.I. 1991). The manifestation of mutual assent almost invariably takes the form of an offer by one party which is accepted by the other party. Ventura v. Pearson, 17 V.I. 107, 111 (Terr. Ct. 1987)(citing Restatement (2d) Contracts § 22). Assent is completed only upon acceptance of the offer by the offeree. Sharp Properties Inc., supra at 232.

[102]*102It is undisputed that the Plaintiff and Defendant entered into a written personal services agreement on or about August 18,1989,1 which called for the Plaintiff to perform musically six (6) times per week at the Defendant's Elysian Hotel at a rate of Two Hundred Twenty-Five Dollars and 00/100 ($225.00) per night. Mr. Winter, the food and beverage director of Elysian, signed this agreement on August 18, 1989. At issue, however, is the final sentence of that agreement which provides that "this letter serves as an intention and is subject to reconfirmation in writing from the General Manager of Elysian."

The Defendant argues that because the General Manager never reconfirmed this agreement in writing, the written agreement represents an intention rather than a binding contract. The Plaintiff admits that the General Manager did not reconfirm the agreement in writing. See Plaintiff's Deposition at p. 17. It is not clear on these facts, however, whether Mr. Winter, the Food and Beverage Manager of Defendant's Elysian Hotel had the authority to bind the Defendant to an employment contract with the Plaintiff, and there exists a genuine issue of material fact as to whether a contract was formed based upon the written agreement. Upon examination of the undisputed facts and circumstances beyond the written agreement, the parties may have formed a contract based upon performance. The record reveals that the Plaintiff performed musically at the Defendant's Elysian Hotel, and that the Defendant paid Plaintiff for his performances for over five (5) weeks.

The principles of the Restatements of Law govern the Virgin Islands in the absence of local statutory or case law to the contrary.2 Restatement (2d) of Contracts § 34 provides in pertinent part that:

(1) The terms of a contract may be reasonably certain even though it empowers one or both parties to make a selection of terms in the course of performance.
(2) Part performance under an agreement may remove uncertainty and establish that a contract enforceable as a bargain has been formed.

[103]*103A genuine issue exists as to whether any defects in the formation of a contract between Defendant and Plaintiff arising out of the undisputed lack of reconfirmation by the General Manager, were cured by both party's performance in accordance with the terms of tire written agreement from August 28, through September 16, 1989. See Plaintiff's Deposition at p. 17.

2. Was Contract Terminable At-Will?

The Defendant argues that any contract formed with the Plaintiff was terminable at-will because of the lack of a definite term for performance thereunder. Employment is "at-will" if the employment agreement does not specify a definite duration, but will last as long as mutually satisfactory. Freiburger v. Emery Air Charter, Inc., 795 F. Supp. 253, 260 (N.D. Ill. 1992). If the agreement in the instant matter is determined to be a binding contract, the issue as to whether it would be an "at-will" contract would have to be determined, taking into consideration its completion time, etc..

The parties agreed to provide two weeks notice prior to termination of performance, and this notice provision was included in the written agreement.

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

Related

Phillip v. Marsh-Monsanto
66 V.I. 612 (Supreme Court of The Virgin Islands, 2017)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
31 V.I. 99, 1995 WL 217600, 1995 V.I. LEXIS 10, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/marcano-v-cowpet-beach-resort-inc-virginislands-1995.