Sarni Cleaners of Framingham, Inc. v. Aldrich Clean-Tech Equipment Corp.

11 Mass. L. Rptr. 486
CourtMassachusetts Superior Court
DecidedMarch 13, 2000
DocketNo. 993919
StatusPublished

This text of 11 Mass. L. Rptr. 486 (Sarni Cleaners of Framingham, Inc. v. Aldrich Clean-Tech Equipment Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts Superior Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Sarni Cleaners of Framingham, Inc. v. Aldrich Clean-Tech Equipment Corp., 11 Mass. L. Rptr. 486 (Mass. Ct. App. 2000).

Opinion

Burnes, J.

This is an action in which the plaintiff, Sarni Cleaners of Framingham, Inc. (“Sarni”), seeks damages against the defendant, Aldrich Clean-Tech Equipment Corp. (“Aldrich”), for claims sounding in conversion (Counts I and II), negligent and/or defective installation of equipment (Count III), and misrepresentation and/or fraud (Count IV). Aldrich now moves this Court to dismiss Sarni’s action pursuant to Mass.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) on the grounds that Sarni’s claims are time-barred under the relevant statute of limitation. For the reasons set forth below, Aldrich’s motion to dismiss is DENIED as to Count II and ALLOWED as to Counts I, III and IV.

BACKGROUND

Accepting as true the factual allegations of Sarni’s complaint and any inferences therefrom, the material facts for purposes of this motion to dismiss are as follows:

On November 1, 1994, Sarni and Aldrich entered into an agreement for services (“Agreement”) whereby Aldrich agreed to move all of Sarni’s dry cleaning equipment (“Old Equipment”) from its plant located at 2060 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton, Massachu[487]*487setts (“Old Plant”) to its present location at 47 Farwell Street, Waltham, Massachusetts (“New Plant”) for the amount of $36,000.00. On November 28, 1994, their initial Agreement was subsequently modified so that in addition to moving the dry cleaning equipment to the New Plant, Aldrich agreed to sell Sarni certain pieces of new dry cleaning equipment (“New Equipment") to replace some of the Old Equipment. Between the dates of November 28, 1994 and March 14, 1995 Sarni paid $99,925.00 to Aldrich as a deposit for the purchase of the New Equipment and for the moving and installation of the dry cleaning equipment in Sarni’s New Plant. During this same period, Sarni and Aldrich entered into another agreement that Aldrich would remove Sarni’s old dry cleaning equipment (“Old Equipment”), and Aldrich would then sell the Old Equipment and forward the proceeds from such a sale to Sarni.

On March 14, 1995, Aldrich removed the Old Equipment and installed the New Equipment, allegedly in an improper and defective manner. As a result of Aldrich’s alleged defective installment, Sarni experienced delays in its dry cleaning operations and received complaints from customers whose clothing was damaged.

Shortly after March 14, 1995, Sarni requested payment of the funds from Aldrich for the sale of its Old Equipment. Sarni subsequently discovered that Al-drich had either sold the Old Equipment without forwarding the proceeds to Sarni, or had not sold the Old Equipment as promised. Sarni made numerous demands upon Aldrich to return either the Old Equipment or the proceeds from the sale of such equipment. Aldrich has failed to do either.

On April 5, 1995, Sarni discovered that it had overpaid Aldrich in the amount of $47,658.10 of excess deposit funds and demanded the return of the overpayment. Rather than return the full amount of the excess deposit funds, however, Sarni and Aldrich agreed that Sarni would satisfy the balance of its existing service account with Aldrich by allowing Al-drich to retain $6,127.18. Aldrich then returned the amount of $41,530.93, the balance of the excess funds, to Sarni. Also on April 5, 1995, the parties entered into a service agreement (“Service Agreement") whereby Aldrich would service Sarni’s dry cleaning machines when repairs were necessary. As a condition of the Service Agreement, Sarni was to pay Aldrich $300.00 for each service call that Aldrich performed. Aldrich claims that this charge was intended to satisfy the past due balance that Sarni owed Aldrich on its service account.

From the period of April 5, 1995 to December 31, 1998, Sarni paid Aldrich $5,000.00. On December 31, 1998, Sarni inquired as to the charges it had been paying Aldrich. Aldrich allegedly stated that the periodic charges in the amount of $300.00 were being applied to Sarni’s past due account for services Aldrich previously rendered for Sarni. Sarni, claiming that it had already paid for these services, demanded the $5,000.00 back from Aldrich. Aldrich has failed to return these funds. On August 6, 1999, Sarni brought this complaint against Aldrich.

DISCUSSION

When evaluating the sufficiency of a complaint pursuant to Mass.R.Civ.R 12(b)(6), the court must accept as true the pleaded factual allegations of the complaint, as well as any inferences which can be drawn therefrom in the plaintiffs favor. Fairneny v. Savogran Co., 422 Mass. 469, 470 (1996); Eyal v. Helen Broadcasting Corp., 411 Mass. 426, 429 (1991), and cases cited. “The plaintiffs need only surmount a minimal hurdle to survive a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim.” Bell v. Mazza, 394 Mass. 176, 184 (1985). The complaint should not be dismissed for failure to state a claim unless it appears beyond a doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of its claim which would entitle it to relief." Nadar v. Citron, 372 Mass. 96, 98 (1977), quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46 (1957). In fact, “dismissals on the basis of pleadings before the facts have been found, are discouraged.” Gennari v. City of Revere, 23 Mass.App.Ct. 979, 980 (1987), citing Fabrizio v. Quincy, 9 Mass.App.Ct. 733, 734 (1980) (citations omitted).

I. Conversion of New Equipment (Count I)

The parties agree that the statute of limitations applicable to the plaintiffs conversion counts is G.L.c. 260, §2A. General Laws c. 260, §2A provides a three-year limitations period in which to bring actions of tort, actions of contract to recover for personal injuries and actions of replevin. The determination of when a cause of action “accrues” has generally been left to the courts by the Legislature. Franklin v. Albert, 381 Mass. 611, 617 (1980). In making this determination, the courts have been guided by the basic principle that “ ‘a cause of action accrues on the happening of an event likely to put the plaintiff on notice.’ Hendrickson v. Sears, 365 Mass. 83, 89-90 (1974), and cases cited.” Franklin, 381 Mass. at 618.

One is liable for the tort of conversion when the one who intentionally and wrongfully exercises acts of ownership, has control or dortiinion over personal property to which he has no right of possession at that time. See Spooner v. Manchester, 133 Mass. 270, 274 (1882). For purposes of calculating the statute of limitations for tort, the action is said to accrue at the time of the injury. See White v. Peabody Contstr. Co., Inc., 386 Mass. 121, 129 (1982).

Sarni alleges that Aldrich unlawfully withheld the excess money Sarni paid to it for sale of the New Equipment. According to Sarni’s complaint, the injury which occurred as a result of Aldrich’s wrongful conduct occurred on April 5, 1995, the date Aldrich allegedly wrongfully withheld the excess money that [488]*488Sarni paid. In these circumstances, the three year limitations period began to run on April 5, 1995 and expired on April 5, 1998, well before Sarni’s complaint was filed on August 6, 1999. Count I, therefore, is time barred.

II.Conversion of Old Equipment (Count II)

Aldrich claims that the injury in Count II occurred on March 14, 1995, the date Aldrich allegedly wrongfully exercised control and dominion over the Old Equipment.

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

Related

Conley v. Gibson
355 U.S. 41 (Supreme Court, 1957)
Bell v. Mazza
474 N.E.2d 1111 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1985)
Fabrizio v. City of Quincy
404 N.E.2d 675 (Massachusetts Appeals Court, 1980)
Hendrickson v. Sears
310 N.E.2d 131 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1974)
Pagliuca v. City of Boston
626 N.E.2d 625 (Massachusetts Appeals Court, 1994)
White v. Peabody Construction Co., Inc.
434 N.E.2d 1015 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1982)
Riley v. Presnell
565 N.E.2d 780 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1991)
Eyal v. Helen Broadcasting Corp.
583 N.E.2d 228 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1991)
Franklin v. Albert
411 N.E.2d 458 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1980)
Nader v. Citron
360 N.E.2d 870 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1977)
Spooner v. Manchester
133 Mass. 270 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1882)
Fairneny v. Savogran Co.
422 Mass. 469 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1996)
Gennari v. City of Revere
23 Mass. App. Ct. 979 (Massachusetts Appeals Court, 1987)
Felton v. Labor Relations Commission
598 N.E.2d 687 (Massachusetts Appeals Court, 1992)
McEneaney v. Chestnut Hill Realty Corp.
650 N.E.2d 93 (Massachusetts Appeals Court, 1995)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
11 Mass. L. Rptr. 486, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/sarni-cleaners-of-framingham-inc-v-aldrich-clean-tech-equipment-corp-masssuperct-2000.