Sosik v. Albin Marine, Inc.

16 Mass. L. Rptr. 398
CourtMassachusetts Superior Court
DecidedMay 28, 2003
DocketNo. 020539B
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 16 Mass. L. Rptr. 398 (Sosik v. Albin Marine, Inc.) 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
Sosik v. Albin Marine, Inc., 16 Mass. L. Rptr. 398 (Mass. Ct. App. 2003).

Opinion

Fishman, J.

INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff, Michael F. Sosik, Jr. (“Sosik”), brings this action against defendants Albin Marine, Inc. (“Albin”), Nauset Marine, Inc. (“Nauset”), and Peninsular Engines, Inc. (“Peninsular”). Sosik seeks to recover damages resulting from the malfunctioning of a boat and its engines which he purchased from Nauset. Nauset and Peninsular move for summary judgment on all six counts of Sosik’s complaint. For the reasons set forth below, the defendants’ motions for summary judgment are DENIED in part and ALLOWED in part.

BACKGROUND

Following are the facts viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party.

Sosik has owned and operated three businesses throughout his life. In 1969, he started a construction company, which failed five years later. In 1990, Sosik started a credit card processing company, and, in 1998, he started a charter service company called Northeast Charter Services, Inc.

Nauset, a business incorporated in Massachusetts, operates as a full service marine dealer in Orleans, Massachusetts. Nauset sells Albin’s product line of marine vessels. Peninsular is a corporation with its headquarters in (Grandville, Michigan: Peninsular sells diesel engines and their component parts. Hansen Marine Engineering (“Hansen”) is an independent distributor and warranty agent for Peninsular.

Upon starting his charter service, Sosik purchased a new Albin 31-foot Tournament Express (T/E). This was the first time Sosik had ever purchased a new boat, and was the largest purchase he had ever made. The sale occurred on November 11, 1997, when Sosik visited Nauset and met with one of its salesmen, Paul Ayles (“Ayles”). Upon learning of Sosik’s intent to use the vessel for his charter service, Ayles suggested that the boat be powered by Peninsular engines. Sosik claims to have relied on Ayles’ advice. On November 11, 1997, Sosik signed a Purchase and Sales Agreement (“the Agreement”), which was prepared by Nauset, for anew Albin 31 T/E boat (“boat”) with Twin Peninsular Diesel engines (“Peninsular engines”). The Peninsular engines came with component parts such as starters, a fuel injector pump, solenoid and relays. Before signing the Agreement, a major concern of Sosik’s was where the boat would be serviced. When Sosik voiced this concern to Ayles, Ayles assured Sosik that Nauset would service the vessel in Maine. Although Ayles was aware of Sosik’s planned commercial use of the boat, he made no mention to Sosik that both Nauset’s and Peninsular’s warranties excluded coverage to boats used for commercial purposes.

[399]*399Below Sosik’s signature, the Agreement reads: SIGNATURE CONFIRMS RECEIPT OF ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OUTLINED ON SIDE 2 OF THIS AGREEMENT.

Paragraph nine, appearing on Side 2 of the Agreement states, in relevant part:

New Boat Warranties. EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT REQUIRED BY STATE LAW, SELLER EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. All warranties covering the equipment referred to on page 1 of this Agreement, if any, are made by the manufacturer. A copy of any applicable manufacturer’s warranty shall be delivered by Seller to Buyer.

Approximately six months later, on May 9, 1998, Sosik took possession of his new Albin. At that time, he received from Nauset a packet of warranty documents applicable to the boat and its various parts. Enclosed in the packet was a warranty registration card which Sosik signed. Typed in capital letters on the line of the registration card identifying the recipient of the warranty is “Northeast Charter Services, Inc.” Sosik’s signature appears below the name of his company. On the opposite side of the card, Ayles signed his name. Above Sosik’s signature the warranty card read: “The Purchaser hereby acknowledges receipt of the ALBIN MARINE, INC. LIMITED WARRANTY attached to this card and hereby agrees to all of the terms, provisions, conditions and limitations contained herein.”

The limited warranty section of the card states: “THIS LIMITED WARRANTY IS EXPRESSLY IN LIEU OF ANY OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. THERE ARE NO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR USE OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.” It further states that “(a]t its option, Manufacturer will replace or repair within twelve (12) months from the date of delivery to the original purchaser any part (except as provided below) which is proven to the Manufacturer’s satisfaction to be defective under normal use and service.” In addition, there is a section entitled “This Limited Warranty Shall Not Apply To,” which is followed by thirteen paragraphs typed in a small font. Paragraph seven states: “Any boat which has been subjected to misuse, negligence, alteration or accident, or which has been used for racing or commercial, rental or other income producing activities, or which has been operated contrary to any instructions furnished by Manufacturer.”

Lastly, the “GENERAL PROVISIONS” section of the warranty provides:

NOTICE
NOTHING IN THIS LIMITED WARRANTY IS INTENDED NOR SHALL IT IMPLY OR BE CONSTRUED TO CREATE ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND ON THE PART OF THE MANUFACTURER. ALSO NOTHING HEREIN SHALL IMPLY OR BE CONSTRUED OR DEEMED TO CREATE ANY OBLIGATION ON THE PART OF THE MANUFACTURER TO PAY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSSES.
ALL STATUTORY IMPLIED WARRANTIES ARE NEGATED AND WAIVED. IN THE EVENT STATUTORY OR CASE LAW PREVENTS SUCH WAIVER ORNEGATION, RECOVERABLE DAMAGES SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE REPLACEMENT OF PARTS OR ATTHE ELECTION OF MANUFACTURER THE DIRECT AND PROXIMATE DAMAGES, AND FURTHER PROVIDED THAT NOTICE OF CLAIM IS MADE WITHIN TWELVE (12) MONTHS OF THE DATE OF THE DELIVERY OF THE BOAT TO THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER.

Among the warranty documents, Sosik also received Peninsular’s limited warranty which provided that the limited warranty was good for 12 months or 2,000 hours of engine use, whichever came first. In relevant part, Peninsular’s limited warranty provides:

LIMITED WARRANTY ON PENINSULAR MARINE DIESEL ENGINES for Marine Pleasure Boat
Peninsular . . . warrants only to the first retail purchaser who is the ultimate user and owner that it will repair any defective or malfunctioning parts of each new Peninsular Marine Engine . . . used in a marine pleasure boat, manufactured or supplied by Peninsular Engines, Inc. in accordance with the following schedule ... [12 months or 2,000 hours] . . . The warranty period shall begin on the date the Engine is delivered to the first retail purchaser who is the ultimate user and owner. This warranty covers only malfunctions resulting from defects in material or workmanship.

The Peninsular limited warranty further states:

THIS WARRANTY IS THE ONLYEXPRESS WARRANTY APPLICABLE TO PENINSULAR MARINE ENGINES. THE DURATION OF ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES SHALL NOT EXTEND BEYOND THE DURATION OF THIS WARRANTY. ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES ON MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR ANY LIABILITY FOR LOSSES BASED ON NEGLIGENCE OR STRICT LIABILITY, ARE THEREAFTER DISCLAIMED. PENINSULAR ENGINES, INC. DOES NOT AUTHORIZE ANY PERSON TO CREATE FOR IT ANY OTHER OBLIGATION OR LIABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH THESE ENGINES. PENINSULAR ENGINES, INC.

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Bluebook (online)
16 Mass. L. Rptr. 398, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/sosik-v-albin-marine-inc-masssuperct-2003.