Florida Beauty Flora, Inc. v. Evergreen Fresh Farms, Inc., et al

Filing 19

ORDER Granting Motion to Dismiss Counterclaim. Signed by Senior Judge James Lawrence King on 2/8/2018. (jw)

UNI
TED STATES DI
STRICT COURT
SO U TH ER N D I
STR I O F FL OR I A
CT
D
M I M I DIV ISIO N
A
CA SE N O .17- 24173. N G
cvKl
FLORI BEA UTY FLOR A,I C.
DA
N ,
a Fl r da f Pr f tCor a i
o i or o i
por ton,

Pl i if count r D e e nt
a ntf /
e - f nda ,
EVER GREEN FRESH FA RM S,I C.
N
a Caio ni Dom e tc St k Cor ai
lf r a
si oc
por ton,
ERI M YD LAN D , a i vi ua , a V a
C
n ndi d l 1
ERI W . M YD LAN D , a k/ ERI
C
/ a
CK
M ' DLA ND ,a k/ ERI W .M Y D LAN D ,
Y
/ a
CK

D e e nt /
f nda s count r pl i if .
e - a ntf s
/
O R D ER G M N TI G M O TI N TO D I I C O U NTE RC LA I
N
O
SM SS
M
TH I CAU SE co e bef r t Cour upon Pl i ifc o e - e e ntFl i Bea t
S
m s o e he
t
a ntf / unt r D f nda
orda
uy

Fl a,l ' (s oi Be y' M oton t Dimis Defndr t/
or nc.s t rda aut '
Fl
) i o s s
e
scountrpli if Eve g e n
e - antfs r r e
Frs Fa ,I .a ErcM ydl s(ole tvey û r e ' Ame d Count cam (
e h nns nc nd i
and' c lci l û gren'
Eve
)
nde
erli DE
#1 .Theen,Fl i Beuay seksa Or r purua t Fe R.Ci P.12( ( ) dimisng
.
4) ri orda
t e
n de, s nt o d.
v.
b)6 , s s i

Eveg e n' Ame
rr e s ndedCo ecli f brac ofco rc (
untr am or e h
nta t Count1 agui t tEve g e nf l
) r ng ha r r e ais
t i ntf a pr s on of t pa tes a e m e a t ly br ac
o de iy ny ovi i
he ri ' gr e nt c ua l e hed, a f neglge
nd or
i nt

mirprs ai a fa i t i e
se eentton nd r ud n he nduc ment(
Count 1 a 11,agui t Evegrenfist
s 1 nd 1) r ng hat r e al o
pla t ecli wiht s ciiiy r rd by Rul 9( ofcamss
e d hos ams t he pe fct equie
e b) li oundi i fa Thi
ng n rud. s
m a t r i f l br e e 1a d a s t f t beow , t Cour fnds t t Fl i Be ut s M oton
te s uly i f d, n s e orh l
he
ti
ha or da a y'
i

s o l b g a td t a Ev r re scam f rb e c o c nr c b d s se wi p eu ie a d
h u d e rn e ,h t e g e n' li o ra h f o ta t e imis d t rj d c , n
h

1 eg e n h sfldisRe p n ei Op osto ( /1 ) a dFl rd Be uyha fld i Re l i Su o t DE
Ev r r e a i t s o s n p i n DE / 5 , n o i a a t s ie t py n pp r (
e
i
s
/1 )
/8 .

t t Eve gr en' cai s f r ne i nt mir pr s ntton a fa i t i
ha
r e s lm o
glge
se e e a i
nd r ud n he nduce nt b
me
e

ds se wih u p eu iea dwihla et a n .
imis d t o t rj d c n t e v o me d
B ackground

Thi ma tr a ies f om a s e e of wa e us s e.Am ong ot r t ngs Fl i
s te rs r
ublas
r ho e pac
he hi , orda
Be ut l as wa e
a y e es r hous s ce a o
e pa
r und t U nie St t , w hi h i occ i naly s ea es
he
t d a es
c t as o l ubl s .
Eve gr n i a whol s l r and di t i or of pr
r ee s
e ae
s rbut
oduc I M ay of 201 Fl i Bea y a
e. n
7, orda
ut nd
Eve gr e e e e i o a c r t w he e Fl r da Be ut s e e w a e
r e n nt r d nt
ontac
r by o i
a y ubl as d
r hous s ce t
e pa o
Ever een.
gr

The s e s ag e m e ,a t he a Exhi tC t Fl i Bea y' Am e ed Com pl i
ubl a e r e nt tac d s
bi o orda
ut s
nd
a nt

( /83)rquiesEveg e n t pa rnton t frtda ofe r mo h.f a ! 2.Fl i
DE /- e r
rre o y e
he is y vey nt #. t
orda
Be ut ale i is Am e
a y lges n t
nded Compl i t tEve gr n so d m a ng r ntpa e s a tr
ant ha
r ee t ppe
ki e
ym nt fe

m a ng t J 1,201 pa nt butco i
ki he une
7 yme ,
ntnuest oc upy t wa eho es c de piede a
o c
he r us pa e s t m nds
t va a e. A cc di y, Fl i Be ut br ug t s ac i aga ns Eve g e n a l gi - a
o ct
or ngl
orda a y o ht hi ton
i t
r r e le ng s

r lv n h r- cams f rb e c o c n rc a d u j s e rc n aii g o to Ev r r e s
ee a t ee - li o r a h f o ta t n nu t n ihme t rsn u f eg e n
a l ge br ac oft s e e ag e m e .
le d e h he ubl as r e nt
Eve gr n fl d a Count r ai aga ns Fl i Be ut a l gi cl i s f br c Qf
r ee ie
e cl m
i t orda a y, le ng a m or ea h
c r c ,ne i nt m ir pr s nt ton, a f a i t i
ont a t glge
se e e a i
nd r ud n he nduce en .Se Ever e n' A m e
m t e
gr e s
nded
Count r l i ,D E #11.Ever r n' cou e cl i f br c of c r tale s t t i addii n
e cam
g ee s nt r a m or ea h
ontac l ge ha , n
to
t s e s ng war hous s c t s ea e ag ee en w a f t s e e of c r a n c e s
o ubl a i
e
e pa e, he ubl s r m t s or he ubl as
e t i ool r ,
a t t Fl i Be ut ag e d t pr de c e s c pabl of m a nt i ng a t pe a ur of 40
nd ha orda a y r e o ovi ool r a e
i a ni
em r t e
degr Fahr
ees
enhei as a condii of t w ar
t
ton
he
ehous ng s ces.Evergreen does notpoi t any
i ervi
nt o
s f c pr si i t subl e agr entconcem i t s eas ng of cool ,and does not
pecii ovi on n he
eas
eem
ng he ubl i
ers

poi t a s c fc pr s on c e ni m ai ena e ofa s cii t m pe a ur ,ors t biiy
nt o ny pe ii ovi i onc r ng
nt nc
ny pe fc e r t e
uia lt
of t wa e
' he r hous s ce' us f a pa tc a pu os N e r he e s Ever e n a l s t t
e pa s e or ny ri ul r p e. ve t l s ,
gr e lege ha

Fl i Bea y b ea hed t s blas agr e e by f ii t mai a n t c e s a a
orda
ut r c
he u e e
e m nt
alng o
nti he ool r t
t l r t e s fce t mai ai t i eg iy oft mer han s Eve gr n wa sorng i t
enpe aur ufi int o
nt n he nt rt
he
c die
r ee
s t i n he

wae es e.Eve g e n frhe alge t tçl r e s l sasar s toft i f tv
rhous pac
r r e u t r le s ha ûEvegren'j os
e ul he nefecie
c e s wa or s d ha be n wihi t r ona e c e plton oft pari s bec us
oolr
s
houl ve e
t n he eas bl ontm ai
he te , a e
Fl rda Be t i i t busne s ofta pori towe san i wel awa e oft r rge aton
oi
au y s n he i s
r ns t l r d s l r
ng
he efi r i
ne oft m e c ndi e.
eds he r ha s '
'
l is c t r a m s f ne i nt m ir pr e a i a f a i t i e e ,
n t oun e cl i
or glge
s e es nt ton nd r ud n he nduc m nt
Eve g ee a l ges t t Fl i Be ut m a a sat m e t Ever r n c e ni t ft s of
r r n le
ha or da a y de t e nt o
g ee onc r ng he ines

t c e s f a pa tc a pup os - t t t y c d mant n a t mpe aur s fcint t
he ool r or
riulr
e ha he oul
i ai
e r t e ufi e o
pr e v Eve gr n' me c ndie t tEve gr en be ive t be t e,butwasi f tf s ,a .
es r e r ee s r ha s - ha
r e
le d o nl
n ac ale nd
Fl i Be ut kne i t be f s Ever r e doesnotale whe e whe how,t orby whom ,
orda a y w t o
ale.
gen
l ge
r , n,
o
tz
h ough wha m ehod ofco muni ton,wrten oror l Fl i Be ut m a t ssae e .
t t
m
ca i
it
a , orda a y de hi t tm nt
The s e s a e m e pr de t tEve gr n i t tke pos es i o t wa e
ubl a e gr e nt ovi s ha
r ee s o a
s son f he r hous
e

s ceEn a çsi'c ton,a E r ee a knowldgest nor esntto wihrs t
pa û n a s ondii nd Evegr n) c
i
e
hat epr e ains t e pec
t t condiin t e have be n ma t i.'I at! 3.Furhe ,t s e s agee t
o he
to herof
e de o t' d.
t r he ubla e r men
pr de t t
ovi s ha

ûg oi Be ut 's l ha no dute t manti t ( rhous s c .'1
sFlrda a y' hal ve
is o i an he wae e pa eq' d.
The s ea e a e m e al o pr de t t ' o o a s a e e s or pror w rte
ubl s gr e nt s ovi s ha 1
N r l t t m nt
i
it n
m a e i l no s cii ly i or a e her i s l be of any f ce or e f ct
t r a t pe fca l nc por t d
e n ha l
or
fe .

( rr e ) a re ta i e trn it ti S bla e a d a c p ig t e
Eveg e n g e s h t n n eig no h s u e s n c e tn h
( rhous s c prmie l i r le s ey upo t rprs nttog a
wae e pa e e s s, t eis oll
n he e e e ai ns nd
ag e men s c aned i t s Subla e t e bis a t he t r t a t
r e t ont i
n hi
e s , he xhi t tac d he e o nd he
wr te a r e e s i an e c ed co e por ne l he e ih.Thi Subl s
it n g e m nt , f y, xe ut
nt m a ous y r w t
s
ea e,
i l ng t Exhi t w hi h a e a t c d he e o a a pa the e ,cons iut t
nc udi he
bis c r ta he r t nd
r r of
tt es he
e ie a e m e of t pa te a s l not be c toned, m odii or
ntr gr e nt
he ri s nd ha l
ondii
fed
s e e e e e by a w rte ag ee e e cut d by bo h pa te '
uppl m nt d xc pt
it n r m nt xe e
t r i s.
'

1 a ! 1 f Thes e ea ee tco ai nopr sonsrltng t t l sngofc es or
d. t 4..
ublas gr men nt ns
ovii eai o he ea i
oolr,
t m a nt na e by Fl i Be ut of a pa tcul t m pe a ur i a c e s ort war hous
o i e nc
or da a y
ny ri ar e r t e n ny ool r
he
e
e
s
pace is f
t el .

Fl rda Bea y' M oto t Dim is a guest t be a e Ever e n ba e isbr ac of
oi
ut s
in o s s r
ha, c us
gr e s s t e h
con r d c e cam o a al ge t r r ltng t coolr and mai e nce of a s c fed
ta ount r li n n le d e m ea i o
es
nt na
pe ii
tl aur a s h a t r doe not e s, Fl i Be ut ca
enper t e, nd uc
em
s
xit orda a y nnot be i br c A s t
n ea h.
o
Eve gr e sc e cl i sf ne i ntm ir pr e a i a fa i t i e e ,Fl i a
r e n' ountr am or glge
se es ntton nd r ud n he nduc m nt ord

Be ut a g t Eve g e n' Am e d Count r l i do notplad t e c s wih te
a y r ues hat r r e s
nde
e c am es
e hos ount t h

s cfct r quie byFe R.Ci P.9( .
pe iiiy e rd
d
v. b)
ll LegalSt
.
andard

To s vieaRul 1 b)6)moton t dimis ac antmus i l i
ul v
e 2( (
i o s s , ompli
t ncude û
enoughf t t
acs o
saea cai t r le t ti plusbl o isf c 'BelAt.Cor v Two y,550 U . 544,5
tt l m o e if ha s a i e n t a e,' l l p. . mbl
S.
70

( 07) 1 cl m ha fca plusbiiy whe t pli ifpla fct c e t talowst
20 .û ai s a il a i lt
A
n he antf e ds a ual ontnt ha l he
c r t dr w t r as bl i e e et t de e nti la e f t m ic
ou t o a he e ona e nf r nc hat he f nda s ibl or he s onduc a lge '
t le d-'
As r .f v I al 556U. 662,663(
hc o t . qb ,
S.
2009 .Aleg i a e s ppori f t aen0te ild
) l atons bs nt u t acs r
ng
ntte
t t spr s pton ofve a t l at681
o hi e um i
r ciy. d
.

W he e l i a m o i t dimi s t Cour mus tke al o t welpld f c ua
n vauatng
ton o s s , he
t t a l f he l- e a t l
a lga i a t e. J.a 664.
le tons s nz f t
Howe r C hr ad er ia soft elm e sofa c us ofa i n,
ve ,l e bar ect l
t
he e nt
a e cto
s ppor e by m er c us y s a e e s do nots fce ' I at663.And,t Cour ' dut t
u
td
e oncl or t t m nt ,
uf i .' d
he
ts y o
a e t f ct la l ga i i t c pl i a t u doesno r qui e i t i e s i f ct l
cc pt he a ua le tons n he om a nt s r e
t e r t o gnor pec fc a ua

d tis 'n fv ro g n rlo c ncu o y alg t n . Grfl l d s,I c v lvn 4 6 F.d
eal d a o f e e a r o ls r le ai s' ifn n u . n . . r i, 9 3
i
o '
11 9,1 06 (1 t Ci.2007) The Cour mus dimisa c antt tdoesnotpr e a
8 205- 1h r
.
t t s s ompli ha
esnt
pl usbl cl i de ons r tng e il m entt r le .I de di a m oton t di m i s t Co t
a i e a m m t a i ntte
o e i f n ci ng
i o s s , he ur

mus ac e a c
t c pt ompli ' we lpl d alegai ns as tu Erc a v Par s,551 U. 8 9
ants l- e l to
r e. ik on . du
S. 9, 4

(
2007) Suc algai mus be consr d i t lghtmos f r bl t t Pli if Am.
. h le tons t
tue n he i
t avo a e o he antf
De al s' v.CinaCor ,605F.d 1 3,1 ( t ci.201 .Cna l ngt s fce y
nt As n
g
p.
3 28 288 11h r 0) l nayzi he ufiinc
l

oft co ant ghe Co t lmigl(tjc i rton t t wel- e de f t algai ,
he mpli , t
ur) i ts is onsde ai o he lpla d acual le tons

d c me t c nta t o r fr n e i tec mpan , n matr j dcal n tc d. fa Gr sav
o u n s e rl o r ee e c d n h o lit a d te s u iily oie '
'
at .
Fis Uni Se ., l , 358 F. 840, 8 ( 1h ci.2004) The Cour ma alo c ns t
rt on c nc.
.
3d
45 1 t r
t y s o ul
doc e s t ta e a t c t t Co pl i or m oton t di m i s undert ti or a i by
um nt ha r ta hed o he m a nt
i o s s
he 'nc por ton
r e e e 'docti The El nt Cic t ha d i t i or a i by r e enc doc rne t
ef r nc '
rne.
eve h r ui s efned he nc por ton
ef r e t i o
m ean'

g doc me atac d t a moi t dimismay be c i r d by t cour
AJ u nt t he o
ton o s s
onsde e
he
t
wi o tc n ri t emoinit o ef rs mmayj d me to l it eatc e
t u o vet h to n o n o u r u g n ny f h ta h d
h
ng
doc n i: ( ) c nta t t pl ntf s cl m; a ( undiputd. . .
ume t s 1 e rl o he ai if ai nd 2)
s e
S
t s ed'i t s c e m e nst tt a hen i t oft docume i not
undiput ' n hi ontxt a ha he ut tciy
he
nt s
c lnge
hale d.

Ho se v Fedt 30 F. 11 11 ( 1hci.200 (ntr lciai omitd) s aloDa
r ly
l , 4 3d 25, 34 1 t r 2) i ena ttons te ; ee s y
.

v Ta or 400F. 1 1 ( t ci.2005)
.
yl ,
3d 272, 276 11h r
.

Fi l whe eac ant(rc ecam)alege fa Fed.R.Ci P.9( i es
naly, r ompli o ountrli l s r ud,
v. b) mpos
he g ene pl a ng sa r , r quii t t 1 pary mus sat wih pa tc a iy t
i ht d e di
t nda ds e rng ha ç
a
t
t te t
riulrt he
c r u s a scons iutng f a '
i c m t nce
tt i r ud.
'
I D icus on
ll- s si

Fl r da Bea y' ce r a gu e wih r pec t Eve gr n' br c of c r c
oi
ut s ntal r m nt t es t o
r ee s ea h
ont a t
c er l i i t t Eve gr en cn
ount c a m s ha
r e
nnot s a e a c a m f br ac of c r c b a e Ever e n
tt
l i or e h
ont a t ec us
gr e

ca ti e iy a sngl pr son oft s e e a r e e t tFl rda Be ut br a he The
nno d ntf
i e ovii
he ublas g e m nt ha o i
a y e c d.

Cour a e .To saeacam f bra h ofc r c,apl ntf ( c e- ai if ast c e
t gres
tt li or e c
onta t ai if or ountrpl ntf, he as
ma be mus algefcss wi t tt f l ngtz eeme saeme:( )avai c rc;
y ) t le a t ho ng ha he olowi h ee l nt r t 1
ld ontat

( amaeilb e c a ( dnmage .Have sv.Coa Flrda P. ,11 So.3d 11 11
2)
tra r a h; nd 3)
s
n
st o i , A. 7
79, 81
( a.2dDCA 201 .W hieEveg e n doesalget tt pa tese eedi o avaldc rd,
Fl
3)
l rr e
le ha he ri ntr nt
i onta
t k e h' Eve gr n c pl i of f iu e t m ai ai t w a e
he l ac ' r ee om a ns - a l r o
br
nt n he r hous s e or cool r at40
e pac
es

de r e Fa el i- i no atnu ( tra o ot r s )oft tc r c.Ac di y,Fl i
g e s hr z t s t e mae il r he wie ha onta t cor ngl orda
he
Be u y ha no du y unde t s e s ag ee entt m a nt n any t m pe a ur ,a is alege
at d
t
r he ubl a e r m
o i ai
e r t e nd t l d

f iur t do s ca
al e o
o nnots l a t ba i f a c am t tFl rda Bea y br ac t s ea e
e' s he ss or l i ha o i
ve
ut e hed he ubl s
a eme .
gr e nt Ther f e, r e n' br ac ofc r c c mtr l m mus bedim is
e or Eve gr e s e h onta t ot e cai
t
s s ed.

W ih r s c t Eve g ee s ne i nt mir pr s ntton a fa i t i uc m e
t e pe t o
r r n' glge
se e e a i nd r ud n he nd e nt
cou er li ,t Cour a e s t tEve gr n di notpl d t e cl ms wih t s cii iy
nt ca ms he
t gr e ha
r ee d
ea hos ai
t he pe fct

r r d by Rul 9( . Evegre smpl alges t t Fl i Be t ma a saeme .
equie
e b)
r e n i y le
ha orda auy de tt nt
Eve g e n d notalege t who,t whe t how,t t whom ,oranyt ng fom whi h
r r e oes
l he
he
n, he
he o
hi r
c
Fl rd Be ut c n evauat Eve gr n' cli offa Thee s nc ofEve g e n' cli i t t
oia a y a
l e r ee s a m
r ud.
se e
r r e s am s ha
Fl rdaBe ut mus ha kno t r s why Eve g ee wa s ea i t wa e
oi
a y
t ve wn he ea on
r r n s ubl sng he r hous s c
e pa e

be us Fl i Be ut wasi asmia busnes.Thi i note ugh t co y wih Rul 9( .
ca e orda a y
n i lr i s s s
no
o mpl t e b)
A c o di y, Eve g ee s c a m s f ne i nt m i r pr e a i a f a i t i e e
c r ngl
r r n' l i or glge
s e es nt ton nd r ud n he nduc m nt
m us al o be di m i s
t s
s s ed.
The e o e, i i O R D ERE D, A D JUD GED , and DE CR EED t t Pl i i fcount r
rf r t s
ha a ntf/
e-

De e nt Fl rda Bea y Fl a l ' M oton t Dim is Def nda scount rpli if
f nda
oi
ut or , nc.s
i o s s
e nt/
e - antfs

Ame
ndedCountr l m ( #1 be a t s he e i GRANTED.Count 1 a I1of
e cai DE 4) , nd he ame r by s
s 1 nd 1
t
eudi . unt
he
t Ame ed Cou ecam ( #11)ar DI I
he
nd
ntrli DE
e SM SSED wihout pr j ce Co lof t
Ame
nded Count cai i DI I
er l m s SM SSED wih prj c . Plitf ma fl a a nd d
t eudie anif y ie n me e
c unt r l i w ihi 20 da oft da e oft s Or r
o e c am t n
ys he t
hi de .
D O N E and O RD ERED i c m ber a t J m e Lawr nc K i Fede a J tc
n ha
s t he a s
e e ng
r l us i e
Buidi a U nie St t s Courhous ,M i m i Fl i t s
l ng nd
td ae
t e a , orda, hi

'
#
cc:

day ofFe a y, 018.
bnl r

R

w

JAM ES LA W REN CE KI G
N
UN I
TED STATES DISTR I U
CT

Al couns ofrecord
I
el

6

E