Powers v. Nash Equip. Inc.

• Court: Superior Court of Maine
• Decided: June 26, 2012
• Docket: CUMcv-11-75
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

STATEOFMAlNE SUPERIOR COURT CUMBERLAND, ss. CNILACTION IT~)ck~tN~~,~~~~5J ~ ...,,.-, . /

ARTHUR POWERS,

Plaintiff

v. ORDER

NASH EQUIPMENT INC., et al, STATE OF i\lAlNE Cumberland, ,;~. Clerk's Office Defendants

Rt:CFJ\It:D Before the court are motions for summary judgment by defendants Nash

Equipment Inc., Susan Nash, and Toby Veno and a motion for partial summary

judgment by defendant Eddie Nash & Sons, Inc.

This case arises from the attempted repossession on February 12, 2010 of an

excavator from plaintiff Arthur Powers by Toby Veno- alleged to have been acting as

an agent for Nash Equipment Inc. ("Nash Equipment"), Eddie Nash & Sons ("Nash &

Sons"), and Susan Nash. The basis of defendants' alleged right to the excavator was that

Nash & Sons had sold the excavator to Clinton Goodwin in May 2002 and had filed a

UCC-1 financing statement at that time. Nash & Sons had also filed a second UCC-1

financing statement naming Clinton Goodwin as the debtor in August 2003. In

December 2002, however, before the second UCC-1 was filed, Goodwin had sold the

excavator to Powers.

When he came to Powers's residence to repossess the excavator on February 12,

2010, Veno, accompanied by a deputy sheriff who stated that his role was to keep the

peace, advised Powers that he was going to take the excavator. Veno also allegedly

defamed Powers by stating or implying that Powers was a thief. Powers alleges that although he did not agree to the repossession, he agreed under protest to deliver the

excavator to Vena's residence in exchange for $1000, which defendants never paid him.

Two days after delivering the excavator, Powers brought an action to recover the

excavator in the West Bath District Court. Powers v. Nash Equipment Inc., SA-10-44

(West Bath District Court). That court (Tucker, J.) ruled that the first UCC-1 financing

statement had expired by the time of the attempted repossession, that the second UCC-

1 financing statement did not extend the first filing, and that the second UCC-1

financing statement - filed after Goodwin had sold the excavator to Powers - was not

effective as against a party who did not have knowledge of the security interest.

Accordingly, the District Court issued a writ of possession to Powers. 1 Powers

recovered the excavator in late July 2010, more than five months after he had originally

surrendered it.

Powers then brought this action for conversion, breach of contract, defamation,

intentional infliction of emotional distress, violation of the Maine Civil Rights Act,

violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and negligence.

Veno, Nash Equipment, and Susan Nash are now seeking summary judgment on

all counts of the complaint. Nash & Sons is seeking summary judgment on all counts of

the complaint except the claim for breach of contract. Both defendants alternatively seek

summary judgment with respect to Powers's claims for punitive damages. For his part,

Powers concedes that the claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress is subject

to dismissal but contests the motions for summary judgment in all other respects 2

1 The District Court's decision was subsequently upheld by the Law Court in Powers v. Nash Equipment Inc., Docket No. SAG-10-491, Mem. Dec. 11-10 (February 1, 2011). 2 He also argues that, even though he has withdrawn his claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress, he is entitled to damages for emotional distress on some of his other causes of action.

2 1. Summary Judgment

Summary judgment should be granted if there is no genuine dispute as to any

material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. In considering a

motion for summary judgment, the court is required to consider only the portions of the

record referred to and the material facts set forth in the parties' Rule 56(h) statements.

~., Johnson v. McNeil, 2002 ME 99 lJ[ 8, 800 A.2d 702, 704. The facts must be

considered in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Id. Thus, for purposes

of summary judgment, any factual disputes must be resolved against the movant.

Nevertheless, when the facts offered by a party in opposition to summary judgment

would not, if offered at trial, be sufficient to withstand a motion for judgment as a

matter of law, summary judgment should be granted. Rodrigue v. Rodrigue, 1997_ME

99 lJ[ 8, 694 A.2d 924, 926.

2. Agency Status of Veno

The initial issue is whether Powers is entitled to sue Veno. Although the parties

disagree as to whether Veno was acting as an agent of Nash Equipment, Nash & Sons,

and/ or Susan Nash herself, it is not disputed that he was acting as an agent of at least

one or more of the other defendants.

Even though Veno' s agency status is not contested, that does not absolve Veno of

liability for the tort claims brought by Powers. An agent is subject to liability

notwithstanding his agency status and even though he is acting within the scope of his

authority as an agent. Restatement (Third) Agency§ 7.01 (2006).

The remaining issue is whether Powers is entitled to pursue Veno for breach of

the alleged contract to pay him $1000 for agreeing to deliver the excavator rather than

3 requiring them to arrange for its removal. Veno and the other defendants contend that

in all his dealings with Powers, Veno was acting as an agent of Nash & Sons. Powers,

however, has offered evidence that when Veno arrived at the Powers residence on

February 12, 2010, Veno said he was there for Nash Equipment. According to Powers at

his deposition, Veno talked to Susan Nash while he was at the Powers residence and

told Powers he was authorized to offer Powers $1000 for delivering the excavator.

On the record before the court, the court concludes that with respect to the

alleged contract, it is undisputed that Veno disclosed that he was not acting as a

principal but as an agent. While there are disputed issues of fact as to whether Veno

was acting on behalf of Nash & Sons or Nash Equipment/ he was not an agent acting

on behalf of an undisclosed principal. However, the evidence in the summary judgment

record indicates that Veno disclosed that he was acting on behalf of Nash Equipment

but did not disclose that he was acting on behalf of Nash & Sons (as defendants now

assert).

Accordingly there is an issue of fact for trial as to whether Veno was acting on

behalf of what the Second Restatement of Agency terms a "partially disclosed

principal," see Estate of Saliba v. Dunning, 682 A.2d 224, 226 (Me. 1996); Restatement

(Second) Agency§ 321 (1958), and what the Third Restatement of Agency refers to as an

"unidentified principal." Restatement (Third) Agency§§ 1.04(2)(c), 6.02 (2006). Since an

agent can be liable on a contract entered on behalf of an "unidentified" principal, Veno

is not entitled to summary judgment on Powers's contract claim.

3 See section 3 below. Powers alleges Veno was also acting as an agent of Susan Nash individually, and that claim is addressed in section 4 below.

4 3. Role of Nash Equipment

It follows from the preceding discussion that there are disputed issues of fact as

to whether Veno was acting as an agent for Nash Equipment or Nash & Sons or both.

The evidence in the summary judgment record does not undisputedly establish that

there is a clear line of demarcation between Nash & Sons and Nash Equipment. See

Deposition of Susan Nash at 8-10, in which she inconsistently states that after the

formation of Nash Equipment in January 2009, Nash & Sons did not do any business

and had no equipment while at the same time asserting that Nash & Sons was the entity

that repossessed the excavator.

Moreover, as noted above, although defendants contend that Veno was acting

solely for Nash & Sons, evidence has been offered that Veno told Powers on February

12, 2010 that he acting on behalf of Nash Equipment. There is also evidence that the

excavator was in the possession of Nash Equipment, rather than Nash & Sons, during

the period from February 12,2010 until Powers regained possession.

On this record there are disputed issues for trial as to whether either Nash

Equipment or Nash & Sons or both engaged in a conversion of the excavator, whether

either Nash Equipment or Nash & Sons or both entered into the alleged contract with

Powers, and whether Veno was acting as a agent of either Nash Equipment or Nash &

Sons or both when he allegedly defamed Powers.

Nash Equipment argues that the claims against it should be dismissed because

the Law Court noted in its memorandum decision that "the parties correctly assert that

Nash Equipment is not a proper party to this proceeding." Docket No. SAG-10-491,

Mem. Dec. 11-10 (February 1, 2011). However, the only issue on the appeal before the

Law Court involved the right to possess the excavator. To the extent that the parties

5 agreed that Nash Equipment was not a proper party to that action- because that action

turned on the validity of the security interest allegedly possessed by Nash & Sons based

on its UCC-1 filing statements- that does not mean that Nash Equipment did not

engage or assist in converting the excavator. It also does not mean that Nash Equipment

cannot be held liable on the other claims asserted in this action, including the breach of

contract claim if a jury were to decide that a contract was formed between Powers and

Nash Equipment.

4. Role of Susan Nash

In her motion for summary judgment Susan Nash has offered evidence that she

was acting at all times as an officer of Nash & Sons and/ or Nash Equipment and she

contends that she may not be sued in her individual capacity. The only evidence that

Powers has offered for the proposition that Susan Nash was acting in her individual

capacity rather than on behalf of Nash & Sons and/ or Nash Equipment is a letter in

which Susan Nash states, inter alia, that "I repossessed my Caterpillar 312 excavator."

This might create an issue of fact if the letter were not written on Nash Equipment

stationery. Given the use of company stationery, the wording quoted above is

insufficient to demonstrate the existence of a genuine issue for trial as to whether Susan

Nash was acting on her own behal£.4

Accordingly, Susan Nash is entitled to summary judgment on all of the claims

raised in the complaint.

4 The same is true with respect to Powers's testimony that Vena told him he had been authorized by Susan Nash to offer $1000 for delivering the excavator. Where as noted above, Vena had informed Powers that he was acting on behalf of Nash Equipment, his identification of the company officer who had allegedly authorized the $1000 payment does not create an issue for trial as to whether the company officer in question was acting on her own behalf rather than on behalf of the company.

6 5. Conversion- Liability

To establish a claim for conversion, Powers must show (1) that he had a property

interest in the excavator; (2) that he had the right to possess the excavator at the time of

the alleged conversion; and (3) that he made a demand for the return of the property

that was denied by the party responsible for the alleged conversion. Withers v. Hackett,

1998 :tv1E 164

required if the holder of the property acquired possession rightfully. Mitchell v. Allstate

Insurance Co., 2011 ME 133

excavator rightfully is a disputed issue in this case.

Defendants make three arguments in support of their contention that Veno, Nash

& Sons, and Nash Equipment are entitled to summary judgment dismissing Powers's

cause of action for conversion. 5 First, they contend that Powers agreed to relinquish the

excavator and therefore no conversion took place. On this issue, the summary judgment

record demonstrates that there is a disputed issue of fact for trial as to whether Powers

initially relinquished the excavator under protest, as he contends, or whether he

willingly yielded the excavator. Moreover, even if Powers initially agreed to give

possession of the excavator to defendants, the jury could find a conversion once Powers

asserted his right to the excavator and defendants declined to give it back. See

Restatement (Second) Torts§ 237 (1965).

Defendants' second argument is that Powers never made a demand for the

excavator. However, a demand would only be required if defendants acquired the

excavator rightfully - which is a disputed issue for trial as set forth in the preceding

5 As discussed in section 6 below, they also contend that Powers cannot show any damages resulting from the alleged conversion.

7 paragraph. Moreover, because Powers brought an action to recover possession of the

excavator two days after he had relinquished possession, it is difficult to understand

how defendants can make the argument that he never demanded return of the

excavator. At a minimum there is an issue for trial on this issue.

Defendants' third argument is that they cannot be held liable for conversion

because they had a reasonable belief that the two UCC-1 filings gave Nash & Sons a

perfected security interest in the excavator. Under Restatement (Second) Torts § 244

(1965), however, a mistaken belief on the part of defendants that their UCC-1 filings

gave Nash & Sons and/ or Nash Equipment a security interest in the excavator is not a

defense to an action for conversion. Accord, Mitchell v. Allstate Insurance Co., 2011 ME

133

make a qualified refusal to surrender property in order to allow a reasonable

opportunity to inquire as to whether the person making the demand has a right to

immediate possession, Restatement (Second) Torts § 240(1) (1965), there is certainly a

disputed issue for trial as to whether defendants' opposition to Powers's District Court

action to recover the property would fall into the category of a qualified refusal to allow

a reasonable opportunity for inquiry.

6. Conversion- Damages

Defendants argue that they are entitled to summary judgment on Powers's

conversion claim because the record reflects that he did not incur any damage as a

result of the alleged conversion. It is undisputed that Powers recovered the excavator

approximately five months after the February 12, 2010 repossession, and defendants

have established that Powers did not have to forego any excavation work during the

period when Nash & Sons and/ or Nash Equipment were in possession of the excavator.

8 Under the Restatement, the amount of damages for conversion of property is

diminished if the person entitled to possession recovers the property. Restatement

(Second) Torts§ 922(1) (1979). Under the circumstances of this case, Powers would not

be entitled to recover the full value of the excavator at the time of the conversion, and

Powers has not offered evidence that the value of the excavator at the time he regained

possession was less than its value on February 12, 2010. Consequential damages

including lost earnings may be available under some circumstances, although the

summary judgment record appears to eliminate the possibility of lost earnings in this

case.

On summary judgment, however, it is the moving party's burden to demonstrate

that there are no disputed issues of fact for trial. In this case defendants have not

demonstrated that Powers did not incur any damages as a result of the alleged

conversion. At a minimum Powers appears to have incurred attorneys fees and costs in

prosecuting his District Court action to recover possession of the excavator, and this is

sufficient to preclude summary judgment on Powers's conversion claim. 6

At the same time, the court is not aware of any authority for the recovery of

damages for emotional distress in an action for conversion, and it therefore appears that

Powers would be limited to recovery of economic damages on that claim.

7. Defamation

Defamation consists of (1) a false and defamatory statement concerning another;

(2) an unprivileged publication to a third party; (3) fault amounting to at least

6 Powers did not offer evidence of such costs in his summary judgment papers. Because defendants did not assert in their statements of material facts that Powers had not incurred any damages of any kind, Powers was not obliged to offer evidence as his legal costs and other expenses resulting from the alleged conversion.

9 negligence on the part of the person making the publication; and (4) either actionability

of the statement irrespective of special harm or the existence of special harm caused by

the publication. Rice v. Alley, 2002 ME 43 ~ 19, 791 A.2d 932, citing Lester v. Powers,

596 A.2d 65, 69 (Me. 1991). See Restatement (Second) Torts§ 558 (1977).

Defendants' motion for summary judgment with respect to the defamation claim

is directed to the fourth element: whether there is a disputed issue for trial as to the

existence of special harm or whether the alleged statement, if proven, would be

actionable irrespective of the existence of special harm. Under the Restatement, a

statement imputing that someone has committed a theft would be actionable without

proof of special harm. See Restatement (Second) Torts§ 571 (1977). Maine law appears

consistent with the Restatement on this issue. See Cohen v. Bowdoin, 288 A.2d 106, 110

(Me. 1972). 7

Accordingly, there is a disputed issue for trial in connection with Powers's claim

of defamation.

8. Civil Rights Claims

In order to recover under the Maine Civil Rights Act, a plaintiff must

demonstrate that the defendant intentionally interfered or intentionally attempted to

interfere with the exercise or enjoyment of constitutional or statutory rights by (1)

physical force or violence or the threat thereof, (2) damage or destruction of property or

7 In cases where the alleged defamation did not directly impute that the plaintiff had engaged in conduct constituting a criminal offense, the Law Court has focused on whether the statement reflected on the plaintiff's business or profession. I1&, Marston v. Newavom, 629 A.2d 587, 592 (Me. 1993). Because the alleged statement made by Vena directly imputed that Powers had committed a theft (a crime of moral turpitude punishable by imprisonment), the court concludes that the Law Court would follow § 571 of the Restatement and would not require that the statement involve Powers's business or profession.

10 the threat thereof, or (3) trespass on property or the threat thereof. 5 M.R.S. § 4682. The

undisputed facts establish that there is no factual dispute for trial with respect to any

use or threat of physical force or violence, damage or destruction of property, or

trespass. Defendants are therefore entitled to summary judgment with respect to

Powers's claims under the Maine Civil Rights Act.

Defendants are also entitled to summary judgment with respect to Powers's

claims under section 1983. A claim under section 1983 does not lie absent state action.

Alexis v. McDonald's Restaurants of Mass., Inc., 67 F.3d 341, 351 (1st Cir. 1995). Where

only private parties are sued under section 1983, there must be a showing that the

private parties acted jointly with a state official in depriving plaintiff of his civil rights

or that the private parties obtained significant aid from a state official. Alexis, 67 F.3d at

351; Holland v. Sebunya, 2000 :ME 160

In this case it is undisputed that, according to Powers, the sheriff who

accompanied Vena to the Powers residence on February 12, 2012 limited his

involvement to stating that he was there "to keep the peace" and to asking about the

presence of guns or other weapons and whether anyone was prone to violence.

Plaintiff's Response to Statement of Material Facts on behalf of defendants Vena and

Nash & Sons

sheriff acted jointly with Vena in attempting to repossess the property or that the sheriff

provided significant assistance to Vena. See Moore v. Carpenter, 404 F.3d 1043, 1046

(8th Cir. 2005). 8

8 Powers argues that he interpreted the presence of the sheriff as assistance to Vena. What matters in this context is not how Powers interpreted the situation but whether he has offered evidence that the sheriff actually assisted Vena or was acting jointly with Vena. Contrary to Powers's arguments, moreover, the sheriff's statement that he was just there to keep the peace is consistent with a finding that the sheriff was not taking sides in the dispute.

11 9. Negligence

The next issue is whether, based on the summary judgment record, Powers may

pursue a claim for negligence against Veno, Nash & Sons, and Nash Equipment. Powers

contends that the defendants owed him a duty not to act negligently with respect to the

repossession of the excavator. Whether such a duty exists is an issue of law.

The duty of the defendants with respect to conversion is defined by the tort of

conversion, which does not require a showing of negligence. The duty of the defendants

with respect to defamation is defined by that tort, which does require fault amounting

to at least negligence. In the court's view, defendant's duties are defined by those two

torts (and with respect to the breach of contract claim, by the applicable principles of

contract law). Under the circumstances of this case, there is no freestanding negligence

claim upon which Powers can recover if he does not prevail on his tort claims for

conversion and/ or defamation at trial.

10. Punitive Damages

The remaining question raised on this motion is whether defendants are entitled

to summary judgment dismissing Powers's claims for punitive damages. The Law

Court has held that, in appropriate cases, summary judgment may be granted

dismissing punitive damage claims if the court concludes that the alleged conduct does

not meet the applicable requirements for such claims as matter of law. ~ Gayer v.

Bath Iron Works, 687 A.2d 617, 622 (Me. 1996). Indeed, in a case where - as on

summary judgment - the facts had to be construed in the light most favorable to the

plaintiff, the Law Court ruled that even fraudulent conduct that may be worthy of

condemnation does not rise to the level of outrageousness justifying punitive damages.

Boivin v. Jones & Vining, Inc., 578 A.2d 187, 189 (Me. 1990).

12 In this case Powers has not advanced evidence generating a disputed issue for

trial as to whether it could be found by clear and convincing evidence that either

defendants' actions with respect to the alleged conversion or Vena's statement

constituting the alleged defamation were motivated by ill will or were so outrageous

that ill-will should be implied. See Gayer v. Bath Iron Works, 687 A.2d at 622.

Accordingly, summary judgment is granted dismissing Powers's punitive damage

claims.

The entry shall be:

Defendant Vena's motion for summary judgment is granted as to plaintiff's claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress, violation of the Maine Civil Rights Act, violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and negligence but is denied as to plaintiff's claims for conversion, breach of contract, and defamation.

Defendant Nash Equipment's motion for summary judgment is granted as to plaintiff's claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress, violation of the Maine Civil Rights Act, violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and negligence but is denied as to plaintiff's claims for conversion, breach of contract, and defamation.

Defendant Nash & Sons's motion for summary judgment is granted as to plaintiff's claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress, violation of the Maine Civil Rights Act, violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and negligence but is denied as to plaintiff's claims for conversion and defamation. 9

The motion by defendants Vena, Nash & Sons, and Nash Equipment for summary judgment dismissing plaintiff's claims for punitive damages is granted.

Defendant Susan Nash's motion for summary judgment is granted in all respects, and the complaint is dismissed as against her.

The Clerk is directed to incorporate this order in the docket by reference pursuant to Rule 79(a).

9 Nash & Sons did not seek summary judgment on the contract claim, and that claim survives against Nash & Sons as well.

13 Dated: June 2-s- 2012 ___/~ Thomas D. Warren Justice, Superior Court

14 ARTHUR POWERS VS NASH EQUIPMENT INC ET ALS UTN:AOCSsr -2011-0017628 CASE #:PORSC-CV-2011-00075

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