WINSLOW v. EXTRA STORAGE SPACE

CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedJune 5, 2025
Docket2:23-cv-04930
StatusUnknown

This text of WINSLOW v. EXTRA STORAGE SPACE (WINSLOW v. EXTRA STORAGE SPACE) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
WINSLOW v. EXTRA STORAGE SPACE, (E.D. Pa. 2025).

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA

RANDALL WINSLOW, : : CIVIL ACTION Plaintiff, : : v. : NO. 23-4930 : EXTRA STORAGE SPACE and : LOGAN HARMAN, : : Defendants. :

Goldberg, J. June 5, 2025 Plaintiff Randall Winslow rented two climate-controlled storage lockers at Defendant Extra Space Storage in Malvern, Pennsylvania. According to Plaintiff, Extra Space failed to maintain a climate- controlled environment, and his items were damaged. He brought this lawsuit against Extra Space, setting forth claims for negligence, breach of contract, consumer fraud, unfair trade practices, fraud by deception, and negligent misrepresentation. Plaintiff also sued Logan Harmon, the District Manager for Extra Space Management, the company operating the Malvern Facility. On October 18, 2024, Defendants moved for summary judgment on all claims. Plaintiff filed his Response on October 24, 2024, an Affidavit on October 29, 2024, and a Memorandum in Opposition to Defendants’ Motion on November 18, 2024.1 For reasons addressed below, Defendants’ motion will be granted.

1 Under my policies and procedures, parties may file sur-reply briefs only with leave of the Court, and only under limited circumstances. Plaintiff properly filed his response on October 24, 2024. (ECF No. 31). Plaintiff’s additional filings are improper, but understanding that Plaintiff is proceeding pro se, I will consider his additional “Affidavit” and “Memorandum.” (ECF Nos. 32, 35). Plaintiff’s other responses will not be considered for the purpose of this motion. Nonetheless, I note that nothing in those filings would change this summary judgment analysis. I. STATEMENT OF FACTS The following facts are derived from the evidence submitted by the parties. Where there is conflicting evidence about a particular fact, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 requires that I view such evidence in the light most favorable to Plaintiff.2 Under my policies and procedures, “[t]he papers opposing a motion for summary judgment shall include as a separate exhibit a short and concise statement . . . [that] responds to the numbered paragraphs set forth in the moving party’s Statement of Undisputed Facts.” Policies and Procedures at 8–9, https://www.paed.uscourts.gov/judges-info/district-court-judges/mitchell-s-goldberg. Failure to dispute facts will result in those facts being deemed undisputed. Id., see also Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 56(e). I will grant summary judgment if the motion and supporting materials—including the facts considered undisputed— show that the movant is entitled to it. Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 56(e). II. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Plaintiff originally entered into a contract with Storage U.S.A. for the lease of a storage locker. (ECF No. 27 at ¶ 22.) On or about July 14, 2005, Extra Space sent a “Change of Ownership” letter that stated: We are making some changes to your lease and want to make sure you were informed. Attached to this letter is a standard lease for Extra Space Storage. In the event that the terms of your current lease and the attached lease conflict, the terms in the attached lease govern; provided that if any of the terms of the attached lease are not acceptable to you, you may terminate your lease and vacate the premises within thirty (30) days of the date of this letter. Absent such termination, the modifications to your current lease will be effective as of [insert date]. (Id. at ¶ 40.)

2 To the extent a statement is undisputed by the parties, I will cite only to the parties’ submissions. If a statement is disputed and the dispute can be easily resolved by referencing the exhibits, I will cite the supporting exhibits. If a statement is disputed, but the dispute cannot be resolved by reference to the exhibits, I will note the dispute. I will not rely on any statement of fact that is unsupported by reference to a specific exhibit. As Plaintiff has never disputed that he received and accepted the terms of the above-mentioned lease, I consider it a binding agreement between the parties.3 That agreement states, inter alia, that: 16) Operator . . . shall not be liable to Customer for any damage or loss . . . to any property stored in the Space, arising from any cause whatsoever, . . . except for damage or loss resulting from Operator’s fraud, gross negligence or willful violation of law. Customer shall indemnify and hold Operator . . . harmless from any and all damage, loss, or expense arising out of or in connection with any damage to any . . . property, occurring in the Space . . . arising in any way out of Customer’s use of the Facility, even if such damage or loss is caused entirely or in part by the negligence of Operator . . . . 17) Climate controlled spaces are heated and cooled depending on outside temperature. These spaces do not provide constant internal temperature or humidity control. Operator does not warrant or guarantee temperature or humidity ranges in the Space due to changes in outside temperature and humidity, or due to other considerations, and Customer understands and assumes the risk of climate controlled spaces not meeting certain temperature and humidity requirements. . . . 21) Operator’s Agents are not authorized or permitted to make any warranties about the Space or the Facility. Operator’s Agents’ ORAL STATEMENTS DO NOT CONSTITUTE WARRANTIES and shall not be relied upon by Customer. The entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto are embodied in this writing and NO OTHER WARRANTIES are given. . . . 36) . . . Operator and Customer agree that no arbitration, small claims court proceeding or any other action or proceeding shall be brought against Operator or Customer more than one (1) year after the accrual of the cause of action or one (1) year after the claim arises, whichever is shorter, whether known or unknown when the claim arises or whether based on tort, contract or any other legal theory. . . . 40) This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties and no representation or agreements, oral, or otherwise, between Operator and Customer not embodied herein shall be of any force or effect (except for written addenda agreed to between the parties). (Id. at ¶ 45–46, 61, 81; see also Ex. B at 16–20.) Plaintiff stored “valuable family heirlooms, antiques, and documents” at the Malvern Facility, but did not obtain insurance coverage for this property. (ECF No. 27 at ¶ 52, 54–55.) Plaintiff alleges that, on

3 Plaintiff acknowledges the rental agreement and argues that various provisions of the agreement must be strictly construed or rendered unenforceable. (See ECF No. 31 at 2; see also ECF No. 35 at 4.) or about February 25, 2022, he visited the Facility and found his property damaged. (Id. at ¶ 65.) According to him, this damage was a result of large temperature fluctuations at the Facility. (ECF No. 31 at 3.) Plaintiff provides as evidence, pictures dated as early as February 6, 2022, which appear to show thermometer readings from inside the Facility. (Id. at ¶ 66; ECF No. 25.) On October 26, 2022, Plaintiff wrote a letter regarding the alleged temperature fluctuation to the CEO of Extra Space. (ECF No. 27 at ¶ 71.) On December 13, 2023, Plaintiff filed his initial Complaint against Extra Space, alleging a failure to maintain a climate-controlled facility, which resulted in damage to his property. (ECF No. 1.) On February 12, 2024, Plaintiff filed the operable Amended Complaint. (ECF No. 5.) Plaintiff asserts that, due to Defendants’ actions, he is entitled to: (a) the cost of replacing the damaged or destroyed belongings; (b) the cost of a trailer and lot in Montauk, NY (for storage of his belongings); (c) severe emotional distress; and (d) punitive damages. (Id. at 4.) Plaintiff named Defendant Logan Harmon in his role as an employee of Extra Space Management,

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Bluebook (online)
WINSLOW v. EXTRA STORAGE SPACE, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/winslow-v-extra-storage-space-paed-2025.