Physicians Healthsource, Inc. v. Doctor Diabetic Supply, LLC et al
Filing
215
ORDER granting in part 204 Motion for Summary Judgment; granting 205 Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge Patricia A. Seitz on 3/18/2015. (ar2)
U NI
TED STATES D I
STRI C OURT
CT
SOUTHERN D I
STRICT O F FLORI
DA
Cas N o.12e
22330- V- TZ
CI SEI
PHYSI AN S H EALTH SO URCE,I C .
CI
N ,
Pl ntf ,
ai if
DO CTO R DI
ABETI SU PPLY,LLC;
C
GEO RGE T. EI
H SEL;DD S H OLDI GS,I C.
N
N ;
and SA N ARE,LLC,
D ef nda s
e nt .
/
O RDE GRANTI SUMMARYJ
R
NG
UDGME I PART
NT N
Thr eoft ef De e nt m o f s ma yj
e h our f nda s ve or um r udgm e . m o i n of
nt The to
S na e LLC ( 2 5 i gr nt d i 51 , t m o i n ofGe geHes la DDS
a r,
DE- 0 J s a e n 1 but he to
1
or
ie nd
Ho di , nc (DDS ' ( 2 4 i gr nt d o y i pa t
l ngs I . ' H ' DE- 0 J s a e nl n r.
'
)
Pl ntf Phys c a H ea t our e,I i a phys can gr
ai if
i i ns
lhs c nc. s
ii
oup pr ie. e endant
actc D f
Do t rDibe i S y,
c o a tc uppl LLC (DDS' i am alo de diti orofdi bei t si
' ' s
'
)
i- r r srbut
a tc e tng
s
upples H eielw ast CEO ofD DS untlFebr y 11 2011 w he Sanar ac r
i . s
he
i
uar ,
,
n
e quied
DDSfom agr oftussr es nt by DDSH .
r
oup r t epr e ed
DDSH wasf med i J
or
n anuar 2011
y
t efecuat t sa e ofDD S t Sanar l
o f t e he l
o
e.
Thi cas i vest o f
s e nvol
w axest tDD S s t Pl ntf a ot s. he fr t s nt
ha
ent o ai if nd her X' i s, e
a ound J y 1 2 0 (he' 0 8Fa ',a unc d DDSSs l ci a a a o d
r
ul , 0 8 t / 0 x' nno e
2
)
' e e ton s n ppr ve
pr de undera new M edi ar polc a enc aged doc or t i or t rpatent
ovi r
c e i y nd
our
t s o nf m hei
i s
a
boutDDS. s c nd s nta ound S pt mbe 20 2 1 (he/ 0 1Fa ' , nc a e
The e o , e r
e e r , 0 1 t ' 1 x' e our g d
2
)
t r cpi ntt ' l (
he e i e o ' l DDSJ
Ca
Toda ' c us ' yl c n sil e e veyourCONTOUR@
y'be a e ' ou a tl r c i
g
o BREEZE@ 2t s srpst ough t m al' ( 4 - a 3JPl i ifbrngst ca ms
r
e t ti hr
he i. DE- 1 1 t . antf i wo li
'
Foraddii f t lbac ound,s et Or Ceriyi Cl s( 2011
tonal ac ua kgr
e he der tf ng as DE- .
agai ta1 D e enda s each arsng outofbot f :f vi aton oft Tel
ns 1 f
nt ,
ii
h axes or ol i
he ephone
Co um e sPr t ci n Ac ('
ns r o e to t '
TCPA' ( unt1 a f c r i n (
' Co ) nd or onve so Count1) ( 4 .
)
1.DE- 1)
O n D ec ber23,201 t Cour c tfed a c as ofr i ent oft 2008 Fax.
em
4, he
t erii
l s ec pi s he
( 2 1) fnda sS na e Hes l a DDSH mo f s
DE- 0 .De e nt a r , ie, nd
ve or umma yj
r udgme .DE- 0 ;
nt ( 2 4
DE- 0 . Pli ifha r s
2 5J a ntf s e ponde onl t Hes l ( 2 9.He s l sno r ple z
d y o ie .DE- 0 ) ie ha t e id.
A .A I LI
V CABLE LAW
TheTe e neCo ume Pr e to Ac (he'
lpho
ns r otci n t t '
TCPA/ ma si ' a 'lf
' ke t' wf or
)
unl u
any per ... o s nd any ... olct adver i e ent't a f m ac ne unl s
son
t e
uns i ied
ts m
' o ax
hi
es
c ran r q r me sa eme . 7U. C. 22 ( ( )C) l t e r quie e sa enotme ,
e t i e uie nt r t 4 S. j 7b)1 ( . f hos e r m nt r
t
t TCPA aut i prvat par i t s t 's
he
horzes i e tes o ue he 'ender'oft adver iem entf
' he
ts
or
s at or da ages 'Sender'm eans ' he per on orentt on w hos be fa f i ie
t ut y m
.'
'
'
t
s
iy
e hal acsm l
uns i ied adveri em enti s ntorw hos goodsors viesar adver ied or
olc t
ts
s e
e
er c
e
ts
pr
omot d i t uns iie a rie nt'4 C. R. 6 1 0 ()1 ; e as Pam Be c
e n he olct d dve ts me . 7 F. j 4.2 0 f( ) s e lo l a h
'
Gofct. c,nc 7 Jh G. ars D. S.P. ,-F. -1 -4 3 2 5W L 1 0 2 4 a
l r- a I .? o n S ri, D. , A. 3d , 31 01 , 01
Bo
.
043,t
* ( 1 h Ci. a . , 01 (
8 1 t r M r 9 2 5) uphol ng t sr g a i n)
di hi e ulto .
Beca e t s at or pr bii applest 'any per oa ' i vi
us he t ut y ohi ton
i o'
s ' ndi dual ca be
s n
hel la eundert TCPA f s
d i bl
he
or endi uns i ied f adver iem e s I par iul ,a
ng
olct ax
ts nt . n
tc ar
c por e ofi er' ay beper onaly la e undert TCPA i hehad di ec,per onal
or at fc '
m
s
l i bl
he
f
r t
s
par i paton i orper onaly aut i t c
tci i n
s
l
horzed he onduc f
t ound t have vi at t s at e,
o
ol ed he t ut
a wa notme eytng ntal i l d. Te a p. Bls x I .1 4F. upp.
nd s
rl a e il nvove ' x s Am. afa , nc, 6 S 2d
y
'
8 2 8 8 ( . Te 2 0 ) seas M a ya d7.Unies l e to ,7 7F. upp. d 4 8
9 , 9 W D. x. 0 1 ; e lo r ln J v ra Elcins 8 S
2 0,
41 ( M d. 0 1 ('Ifa i vi la tng o be l ofac po a i n c ul a d
6 D. 2 1 ) ' J n ndi dua ci n haf
(
or r to o d voi
i vi lla lt,t TCPA wo dl emuc o isf c .)c. i p GulCo s
ndi dua ibiiy he
ul os
h f t orev;f Mas . f at
Pl i ifsde dlnet r s nd wa Fe ua y 9 2 1 ( 2 7)Hes lsde dl
antf' a i o e po
s br r , 0 5.DE- 0 . ie ' a i
ne
t r pl t Pl ntf' r pons w asFebr y 20,201
o e y o ai ifs es
e
uar
5.
ColcinBu e u I c,1 - 9 6 CI S
l to ra , n . 161 3 - V- COLA, 0 3W L 1 3 8 , t+ ( D. a M a . 7
e
21
28 8 5 a 4 S. Fl . r 2 ,
2 3 ( a a o a e t lphone dil rc s ,a ofie c n bepe s ly la ei he
01 ) i n ut m t d-ee
n
- ae a e n fc r a
r onal ibl f
'a horzed orper
' ut i
sonaly e
l ngaged i c
n onduc t tceary vi at t TCPA' or'f ied
t ha l l ol ed he
' 'a l
t t efor st i pl e appr i e polci orpr dur des gned t com pl
o ake f t o m em nt
oprat
i es
oce es i
o
y
wih t TCPA' .
t he
'3
)
Pl ntf' conver i c a m i pr ied on t s ef t asisTCPA cai .
ai ifs
son l i s em s
he am ac s t
lm
UnderFl i l ,'
orda aw ' w r
any ongf exer ie oras um pton ofa hort overanot '
ul
cs
s
i
ut iy
hers
goods de i ng hi oft pos es i pe m ane l orf an i
, prvi
m
he s s on, r
nty
or ndefnie tm e,i a
i t i
s
c nve so 'Pam Bec G0/2 1 W L 1 0 3 ,a * Pli ifalge t tt t
o rin. l ah ( 0 5
'
;
0 42 4 t 9. antf le s ha he wo
uns iied f adver iem e sconver ed Pl i ifsf m ac ne and em pl
olc t ax
ts nt
t
a ntf ' ax
hi
oyee tm e.
i
( 4 a 1 %4 1
DE- 1 t 1 2.
Thet e De e nt m o ng f s
hr e fnda s vi or umm a yj
r udgme be rt bur n of
nt a he de
es abls ng t ,e
t ihi hat ven i al r ona e i er nc f om t e dentar r or ar
f l eas bl nf e es r
he vi
i y ec d e
dr wn i Pl i ifsf vor e c oft t e De e nt i sile ild t j m e a a
a n antf' a , a h he hr e f nda s s tl ntte o udg nt s
ma t ro 1w be a et r i no g nui is o m a e i l a t S m a yj
te f a c us he e s e ne s ue f t ra f c . um r udgme i
nt s
no a opra ef ra pa tc a cam i ar a ona ej y c d fnd f t Pl i if
t ppr i t o ny riulr l i f e s bl ur oul i or he antf
o e c ee ntoft tcam . e Fe R. v. 5 () And ro 7. b ryLo b , n .4 7
n a h lme
ha li S e d. Ci P. 6 c; es n J Lie t b y I c, 7
U. 2 2( 9 6 . Co twila e st cam sa s re a i te c o t t e
S. 4 1 8 ) The ur l ddr s he l i s e t d gans a h f he hr e
m ovi D e endant s par el
ng f
s e at y.
A lhough no f
t
eder a
al ppelat c tha addr s cor at - fc la lt
l e our s
es ed por e ofi er i biiy
undert TCPA,t El nt Cic tha r
he
he eve h r ui s ecogni t s e prncpl i ot ar
zed he am
i i e n her eas
ofl .Se ,eg. S.Be lTe .& Te.Co.f. s i e Te .Die t r Publs r ,756 F. 801
aw e . ,
l l
l
' As ocatd l r c o y
7
ihe s
2d
,
8 1( 1h Ci. 9 5 (' i vi li l ng ac por t ofie ,
1 1 t r 1 8 ) ' ndi dua, ncudi
An
or ae fc r who ha t a lt t
s he biiy o
s
uper s i rngi actviy and has afnanci i er s i t ac i t orw ho
vi e nf i ng i t
i
al nt e t n hat tviy,
pe s nal pa tcpa e i t ta tviy i pe s na l la ef t i rnge ntv .
r o ly rii t s n ha ci t s r o ly ibl or he nfi me .)
B.SANARE
Def
endantSanar s at t ti neihert a m it norpari i ed i t
e t es ha t t
r ns ted
tc pat n he
t ans isi oft 2011 Fax.The 2011Fax is l neve r e st Sa e orispr
r m s on
he
tef
r ef r o nar
t oduc sor
t
s vi es a t r i no evi nc t Sanar em pl
er c , nd he e s
de e hat
e
oyed anyonew ho w asi ved i
nvol
n
t s ndi o t 2 1Fa ( 2 5 DE- 0 - .Be a eDee ntha pr i d
he e ng f he 01 x.DE- 0 ; 2 5 11 c us f nda
s ov de
evi
denc t s
e o uppor t e as er i ,and Pl ntf hasf l t r pond,t Cour w il
t hes s tons
ai if
aied o es
he
t l
te tt s f csa undiput d unde F de a Rul 5 e ()a Loc lRul 561b)
r a he e a t s
s e
r e r l e 6()2 nd a
e .( .
Bec e t 2011 Fax w asneihers ntby Sanar diecty noron Sa e' behal,
aus he
t
e
e r l
nar s
f
Sanar i nott 's
es
he 'ender'oft 2011Fax undert TCPA and i notla e f any
' he
he
s
i bl or
c nve son c us d by ista m iso S na ei t e ild t s m a yj
o ri a e
t r ns s i n. a r s hus ntte o um r udgme o
nt n
bot t TCPA c a m a t c
h he
l i nd he onve son c ai .
ri l m 4
C.D D SH
AsPli ifa is De e ntDDS wa f me i J nua y 2 1 ( 2 4 a 2%
a ntf dm t, fnda
H s or d n a r 0 1.DE- 0 t
4 DE- 0 a 4 % 4.The e or , tha no r ei s ndi t 2 0 Fa Ac or ng y
; 29 t
) r f e i d ol n e ng he 0 8 x. c di l ,
DDS i e ild t s
H s ntte o umma yj
r udgme a t bo h ofPl i ifsca msa ii outo t
nt s o t
antf' l i rsng
f he
2008 Fax.
DDS Sm oto f rs m a y j m e doe nota e st 20 1Fa Pli if
H' i n o um r udg nt s
ddr s he 1 x. antf
r pr s nt t tPl i ifa DDS ha a r e t adim is l ihoutpr j c (
e e e s ha antf nd
H ve g e d o s s a w t
eudie DE209at1n. ,butnom oton orsi aton ofdim is hasbe fl Ther or ,Pl ntf
11
i
tpul i
s s al
en ied. ef e ai if
s ilha i vi
tl s ndi dualTCPA and c
onver i c ai saga ns DD SH ars ng outoft 2011
s on l m
i t
ii
he
Fax.
The c ai saga ns Sana e arsi outoft 2008 Fax have aleady been
lm
i t
r i ng
he
r
dimis d. DE- 0.
s se ( 8 J
D .H EI SEI
Ast t 2 0 Fa , ie move f rs m a y j m e s l l on t gr und
o he 0 8 x Hes l
s o um r udg nt o ey he o
t the w asnotper onaly i ved i s ng t f x. s i l he ar
ha
s l nvol
n endi he a Es entaly,
guest he
hat
t
houghti w oul be m aied,notf xed.H ow ever t r i c rar r ord e denc t
t
d
l
a
, he e s ont y ec
vi
e hat
c e t sa is o f c f aj yt r s l .
r ae n s ue f a t or ur o e o ve
Spe iia l t r i e de et tHes la horz d Cludi Ar uj ,
cfc ly, he e s vi nc ha ie ut ie a o a o DDS' Vie
S c
Pr i
es dentofM ar i and Tec
ketng
hnol
ogy,t s t 2008 Fax asa f I A prla M ay
o end he
ax. n
i nd
2 0 , ie dic s d t 20 8Fa wih Ar uj a wih lga c uns l ( 2 9a 71%
0 8 He s l s us e he 0 x t a o nd t e l o e. DE- 0 t
1 - 2. I f c,Hes l a ha be n t onl pe s a DDS t c m munia ew ih
6 2 5 n a t ie m y ve e he y r on t
)
oo
ct t
c uns la
o e boutt 2 0 F x. . :DE- 0 a 2 % 8JAts epo ntt r a t r Hes l nd
he 0 8 a ( c
6
24 t
. om
i he e fe , ie a
Ar uj ha ac muni ai n ordic so fom whih Ar uj c ncude t t' he
a o d om
c to
s us i n r
c a o o l d ha '
t
cont ntw ast be s ed ac or ng t ourpl ' Afert ,t 2008 Fax w ass out
e
o
har
c di o
an. t hat he
'
ent
byf x. c di t Ar uj i woul no ha be n s nto wihout ie ' a o l
a Ac or ng o a o,t
d t ve e e ut t He s ls ppr va .
( 2 9a 8 %% 2 -2 . Thi i e
DE- 0 t
1 84 s s noug cr um sa i l vi nc f ra r a ona ej y t
h ic tnta e de e o e s bl ur o
c ncudet tHes l nd Ar u o' ' a 'i l d s ndi t 2 0 Fa a af x
o l ha ie a
a j s ' n' ncude e ng he 0 8 x s a .
pl
M or ove ,H eieldi notr t i t m anneri w hi h t 2008 Fax c d bes
e r
s
d
es rct he
n
c he
oul
ent
( 2 9 a 7% 2 1 e e t
DE-0 t
5 , v n hough t r i e de et thewa o he wief mii rwih
he e s vi nc ha
s t r s a la t
DDS' us off ,i udi f adver i ng.Forexam pl H ei lr ei an em ai on
S e axes ncl ng or
tsi
e, se ec ved
l
M ay 1 2008 t as
6,
hat ked i DD S had r ei ' he cor ec ed c r tasw el ast
f
ec ved '
t
r t ont ac
l he
a t r t TRuEta kmee fryo bata c mp i '( 2 98(mpha i a dl)
rwo k he
r c tr o ur lsf x a agn. DE-0 - e
'
ss dde .
M or ov r DDS' f xve
e e,
S a ndora c untwa i Hes lsna ( 2 9 a 8 %% 2 -2 .
co
s n ie' me.DE- 0 t
1 8)
5
Pl ntf' r pons i udesa s at m entofaddii
ai ifs es
e ncl
t e
tonalf t .Beca e eac f t
ac s
us
h ac ual
as eri hasevi i y s
s ton
dentar uppor,a H eieldi notr y t Pl ntf' r pons ,t
t nd
s
d
epl o ai ifs es
e he
Cour wilte tt m a undiput d unde Fe r l e5 e ( )a Loc l e5 1b)
t l r a he s
s e
r de a Rul 6()2 nd a Rul 6.( .
The e or , he ei r c d e de epe mitng aj y t c ncudet tHes l
r f e t r s e or vi nc r ti ur o o l ha ie
'w asnotm e el t
'
r y ange i l i ved' butr her' s
ntaly nvol '
at ' onaly aut i 't dec son
per
l
horzed' he i i
t s ndt 2 0 Fa b fxr t rt nbymalAm. a fa ,1 4F.
o e he 0 8 x y a ahe ha
i. Bls x 6 Supp. da 8 8. s
2 t 9 Thi
pr cude gr ntng s m a yj m e f rHes la t t 2 0 Fa on bo h t ca ss
e l s a i um r udg nt o ie s o he 0 8 x
t he l s '
TCPA c ai a t Pl ntf ' i vi
l m nd he ai ifs ndi dualc
onver i cai .
son l m
H ow eve ,ast t 2011Fax,Pl ntf adm ist Def
r
o he
ai if
t hat endantH ei e had no
sl
i l e e i o r tngDDS at rFe ua y 2 1 . DE- 0 a 2 % 5 DE- 0 a 4% 5J
nvo v m nt n pe a i
fe br r 0 1 ( 2 4 t
; 29 t
.
Ther or H eielc d nothave diec l aut i orpari i ed i s ndi t 2011
ef e, s oul
r ty hor zed
tc pat n e ng he
Fax,w hi h w ass i Sept ber2011.Ac di y,H eieli entted t s m a y
c
ent n
em
cor ngl
s s il o um r
j me a t t 2 1Fa onbot t TCPA cam a t c nve son ca m.
udg nt s o he 01 x
h he
li nd he o r i l i
E.C ONCLU SI
ON
sube tt t pa te ' e e e a i n t tDDS wilb dim is d, he ea eo y
jc o he ri s r pr s ntto ha
H l e s s e t r r nl
t e cam sa i tt oDe e nt t tr m an. s a e 1 t ca ssTCPA cam s
hr e li gans w
f nda s ha e i Tho e r : ) he l s '
li
a ans DDSa He s la ii o o t 2 0 Fa ; )Pl i ifsi vi lc nve son
gi t
nd ie rsng ut f he 0 8 x 2 antf' ndi dua o r i
cam a i tDDSa Hes la ii outo t 2 0 Fa ;a 3 Pl i ifsi vi l
li gans
nd ie rsng
f he 0 8 x nd ) antf' ndi dua
TCPA a c
nd onver i cai s agai tDDS ars ng outoft 2011Fax. c or ngl i i
s on l m
ns
ii
he
A c di y, t s
he e
r by
O RDERED t
hat
1 Sa r ' moton f s
) na e s i or umma y j me ( 20 i GRANTED.
r udg nt DE- 5) s
2 A1 cam sa i tSa r a eDI I SED W I PREJ CE.
) l l i gans na e r SM S
TH
UDI
3) DDS Sa Hes lsm oto f s ma yj m e ( 20 Ji GRANTED I
H' nd ie ' i n or um r udg nt DE- 4 s
N
PART.Spec fca l
ii ly:
a. A1 c ai sagai tDD SH a i i outoft 20 Fa ar D I I
1l m
ns
r sng
he 08 x e SM SSED
W I PREJ CE.
TH
UDI
b. A l cai s agai tH eielarsng outoft 2011 Fa ar DI I
llm
ns
s
ii
he
x e SM SSED
W I PREJ CE.
TH
UDI
T
&
DONEANDOR R Di MimiFoiati / d yo Mac,05
DE E n a , lr ,hs Y a f rh 21 .
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