Mayer Electric Supply Company Inc v. Chester Electric LLC

CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Louisiana
DecidedAugust 16, 2022
Docket2:21-cv-00372
StatusUnknown

This text of Mayer Electric Supply Company Inc v. Chester Electric LLC (Mayer Electric Supply Company Inc v. Chester Electric LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Mayer Electric Supply Company Inc v. Chester Electric LLC, (E.D. La. 2022).

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA

MAYER ELECTRIC SUPPLY CIVIL ACTION COMPANY, INC.

VERSUS CASE NO. 21-372 CHESTER ELECTRIC, LLC SECTION: “G”

ORDER AND REASONS Plaintiff Mayer Electric Supply Company, Inc. (“Plaintiff”) brings this suit against Chester Electric, LLC (“Defendant”).1 Plaintiff seeks to recover payment for materials allegedly owed under a contract with Defendant.2 Before the Court is Plaintiff’s “Motion for Partial Summary Judgment.”3 Defendant opposes the motion.4 The Court notes at the outset that Plaintiff moved for summary judgment on its own claims for breach of contract, unpaid account, unjust enrichment, and attorneys’ fees, and then separately moved for summary judgment on all of Defendant’s affirmative defenses and counterclaims. Therefore, as to the breach of contract and unpaid account claims, this Order is limited to the analysis of whether Defendant has failed to make payments owed under the parties’ agreement. Whether Defendant’s failure to pay was justified due to an affirmative defense or counterclaim is analyzed in a separate order. Having considered the motion, the memoranda in support and opposition, the record, and the applicable law, the Court denies the

1 Rec. Doc. 1. 2 Id. 3 Rec. Doc. 39. 4 Rec. Doc. 42. 1 motion. I. Background On February 19, 2021, Plaintiff filed a complaint against Defendant in this Court, asserting diversity jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332.5 On February 25, 2021, Plaintiff filed an amended complaint.6 Plaintiff alleges that it entered into an agreement with Defendant through

which Plaintiff agreed to sell electrical materials to Defendant on credit.7 Plaintiff claims that it abided by the terms of the agreement and sold materials on credit to Defendant, but Defendant refused to pay for the materials.8 Accordingly, Plaintiff brings claims under Louisiana law for (1) breach of contract; (2) open account; (3) unjust enrichment; and (4) attorneys’ fees.9 On May 16, 2022, Plaintiff filed the instant “Motion for Partial Summary Judgment.”10 On May 24, 2022, Defendant opposed the motion.11 On May 31, 2022, with leave of Court, Plaintiff filed a reply.12 II. Parties’ Arguments A. Plaintiff’s Arguments in Support of the Motion

5 Rec. Doc. 1. 6 Rec. Doc. 7. 7 Id. at 1–2. 8 Id. 9 Rec. Doc. 1 at 5–6.

10 Rec. Doc. 39.

11 Rec. Doc. 42.

12 Rec. Doc. 43; Rec. Doc. 55.

2 Plaintiff argues that it is entitled to summary judgment on its claims for breach of contract, unpaid account, unjust enrichment, and attorneys’ fees. As to breach of contract, Plaintiff argues that pursuant to the parties’ agreement whereby Defendant obtained materials on credit from Plaintiff, Plaintiff “fully performed its obligations under the agreement by providing materials to [Defendant].”13 Plaintiff argues that “[d]espite written demand, [Defendant] breached the

agreement by failing to pay the amount due for the materials.”14 Plaintiff contends that there is an unpaid balance of $7,077.10. Therefore, Plaintiff argues it is entitled to summary judgment on its breach of contract claim. As to Plaintiff’s “unpaid account” claim, Plaintiff argues that “[a] claimant prevails on an unpaid account claim by showing ‘that the record of the account was kept in the course of business’ and that the account is accurate.”15 According to Plaintiff, “[o]nce a prima facie case has been established by the creditor, the burden shifts to the debtor to prove the inaccuracy of the account or to prove the debtor is entitled to certain credits.”16 Plaintiff argues that Defendant purchased the materials and Plaintiff furnished the materials to Defendant.17 Plaintiff contends that it kept a record of Defendant’s account and that the account is past due and unpaid.18 Therefore, Plaintiff

argues it is entitled to summary judgment on this claim.

13 Rec. Doc. 39-2 at 2.

14 Id.

15 Id. at 3.

16 Id.

17 Id.

18 Id.

3 As to Plaintiff’s unjust enrichment claim, Plaintiff argues that Defendant “received the materials without paying, though it agreed to pay for them.”19 Plaintiff contends that it was deprived of the value of the materials for which Defendant kept but did not pay for.20 Plaintiff contends that Defendant has no justification or cause for failing to pay.21 Plaintiff argues that it

“pleads this claim in the alternative to its breach of contract and unpaid account claims,” such that “if relief is not granted on those claims, [Plaintiff] will be left with no other remedy at law.”22 Thus, Plaintiff argues it is entitled to summary judgment on its unjust enrichment claim. As to attorneys’ fees, Plaintiff argues that because the parties’ agreement provides for attorneys’ fees, and attorneys’ fees are available under Louisiana Revised Statute 9:2791.23 Plaintiff asserts that it is entitled to $41,528.83 in attorneys’ fees, based on an affidavit from Plaintiff’s attorney Randall Lindley.24 B. Defendant’s Arguments in Opposition to the Motion In opposition, Defendant argues that factual disputes preclude summary judgment as to Plaintiff’s breach of contract claims. Defendant argues that Plaintiff’s claim that Defendant

breached the contract ignores the fact that Plaintiff unliterally (1) closed the Harahan warehouse; (2) accelerated delivery of “unneeded and unordered materials at [Defendant]’s sole expense”; (3)

19 Id.

20 Id.

21 Id. at 4.

22 Id.

23 Id.

24 Rec. Doc. 39-4 at 1–9.

4 accelerated demand for payment of these materials; and (4) filed suit despite knowing that Plaintiff had tendered “almost $60,000 of the $106,545.17” allegedly owed prior to filing suit.25 In addition, Defendant argues that “there is a fact issue as to whether [Defendant] ever agreed to an accelerated payment schedule for the accelerated deliveries of the unordered and unneeded materials.”26 Defendant also notes that the credit agreement between the parties is not signed by Plaintiff.27

As to Plaintiff’s “unpaid account” claim, Defendant argues that “it is unclear how this claim differs from the breach-of-contract claim, and appears to be an improper attempt to double-dip regarding any alleged damages that Mayer may be entitled to.”28 Defendant further argues that Plaintiff has not established that any account is accurate.29 Defendant argues that in order to win on summary judgment, Plaintiff must provide the Court with (1) “a complete accounting of the original materials list for the job in question”; (2) “a complete accounting of all payments on a line-item basis to verify whether materials allegedly supplied were actually delivered, actually used on the job, and not returned”; and (3) “an accounting for all credits due [Defendant] for storage, security etc. regarding the accelerated delivery of materials.”30 Defendant argues that Plaintiff has not provided this information.31 Defendant also argues that there are disputes of fact

as to the amount outstanding because Plaintiff’s $7,077.10 figure: (1) does not include offsets for

25 Rec. Doc. 42 at 4.

26 Id. at 4–5.

27 Id. at 2.

28 Id. at 5 (internal citation omitted).

29 Id.

30 Id.

31 Id.

5 the costs associated with Defendant having to store the materials once Plaintiff closed the warehouse; (2) does not include offsets reflecting that Defendant is exempt from sales taxes related to its project with Orleans Parish; and (3) is inconsistent with Plaintiff’s own exhibit containing allegedly outstanding invoices.32

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Mayer Electric Supply Company Inc v. Chester Electric LLC, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mayer-electric-supply-company-inc-v-chester-electric-llc-laed-2022.