Carollo et al v. Federal Debt Assistance Association, LLC et al
Filing
20
MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Richard D. Bennett on 9/25/2017. (kw2s, Deputy Clerk)
Case 1:17-cv-01220-RDB Document 20 Filed 09/25/17 Page 1 of 11
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND
*
ELIZABETH CAROLLO, et al.,
*
Plaintiffs,
*
v.
Civil Action No.: RDB-17-1220
*
FEDERAL DEBT ASSISTANCE
ASSOCIATION, LLC, et al.,
*
Defendants.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Plaintiffs Elizabeth Carollo, Russell Sutton, and Michael William Johnson
(“Plaintiffs”) have filed this action against defendants Federal Debt Assistance Association,
LLC (“FDAA”), Vincent Piccione, David Piccione, Robert Pantoulis, Nicholas Pantoulis,
and Anne Marie Diaz (collectively, “Defendants”). In Count I, Plaintiffs allege that all
defendants failed to pay wages in violation the Maryland Wage Payment and Collection Law
(“MWPCL”), Md. Code, Lab. & Empl., §§ 3-501 et seq. In Count II, Plaintiffs allege that all
Defendants failed to pay wages in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938
(“FLSA”), 29 U.S.C. §§ 201 et seq. In Count III, Plaintiffs allege that Defendant FDAA
breached contracts with Plaintiffs by refusing in bad faith to pay wages to Plaintiffs. In
Count IV, Plaintiff Johnson alleges that Defendant David Piccione assaulted him in relation
to the ongoing wage dispute. In Count V, Plaintiff Johnson alleges that Defendant David
Piccione also battered him.
1
Case 1:17-cv-01220-RDB Document 20 Filed 09/25/17 Page 2 of 11
On or about March 30, 2017, Plaintiffs filed the original Complaint in the Circuit
Court for Baltimore County, Maryland. On May 3, 2017, Defendant FDAA removed the
case to this Court pursuant to federal question jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and
1441. On May 10, 2017, Defendants FDAA, Robert Pantoulis, and Vincent Piccione filed
Motions to Dismiss. (ECF Nos. 6, 7.) On May 11, 2017, Defendants Anne Marie Diaz,
Nicholas Pantoulis, and David Piccione also filed a Motion to Dismiss. (ECF No. 10.) After
Plaintiffs filed an Amended Complaint on May 24, 2017 (ECF No. 12), Defendants filed
Motions to Dismiss Plaintiffs’ Amended Complaint (ECF Nos. 14-16). Pending before this
Court are the initial Motions to Dismiss (ECF Nos. 6, 7, 10) along with the Motions to
Dismiss Plaintiffs’ Amended Complaint (ECF Nos. 14-16). The individual Defendants assert
that the Amended Complaint fails to show that they are “employer[s]” subject to suit under
either the MWPCL or FLSA, and all Motions to Dismiss taken together challenge the factual
sufficiency of each count in the Amended Complaint.
The parties’ submissions have been reviewed and no hearing is necessary. See Local
Rule 105.6 (D. Md. 2016). For the reasons stated below, the initial Motions to Dismiss
(ECF Nos. 6, 7, 10) are DENIED as MOOT. The Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs’ Amended
Complaint by Anne Marie Diaz, Nicholas Pantoulis, and David Piccione (ECF No. 14) is
GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART. Specifically, it is GRANTED as to all
counts against Anne Marie Diaz and Nicholas Pantoulis, and it is DENIED as to all counts
against David Piccione.
The FDAA’s second Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 15) is
DENIED. The Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs’ Amended Complaint by Robert Pantoulis and
Vincent Piccione (ECF No. 16) is DENIED. Accordingly, the case shall proceed as to
2
Case 1:17-cv-01220-RDB Document 20 Filed 09/25/17 Page 3 of 11
Defendants Federal Debt Assistance Association, LCC (“FDAA”), Vincent Piccione, David
Piccione, and Robert Pantoulis.
BACKGROUND
In ruling on a motion to dismiss, this Court “accept[s] as true all well-pleaded facts in
[the] [C]omplaint and construe[s] them in the light most favorable to the plaintiff.”
Wikimedia Found. v. Nat’l Sec. Agency, 857 F.3d 193, 208 (4th Cir. 2017). The Plaintiffs in this
case worked as salespersons for FDAA in Baltimore. (Am. Compl. ¶ 2, ECF No. 12.)
Pursuant to their compensation agreements, Plaintiffs were to be paid “a base salary of
$1[,]250.00 plus 5% or 10% commissions for customers for which they sold services
(depending if they were a floor ‘leader’ that month), and ‘residuals’ for additional payments
made by customers brought in by them.” (Id. ¶ 16.) Defendants have allegedly failed to pay
Plaintiff Carollo at least $12,233.00 for “work performed and completed” during January and
February 2017. (Id. ¶ 17.) Defendants have allegedly failed to pay Plaintiff Sutton at least
$16,810.00 for “work performed and completed” during December 2016 and January 2017.
(Id. ¶ 18.) Defendants have also allegedly failed to pay plaintiff Johnson at least $15,000.00
for “work performed and completed” during November 2016, December 2016, and January
2017. (Id. ¶ 19.)
Four of the five individual Defendants, Vincent Piccione, David Piccione, Robert
Pantoulis, and Nicholas Pantoulis, are “owners and operators of FDAA.” (Id. ¶ 2.) Three of
the four “owners and operators,” Vincent Piccione, David Piccione, and Robert Pantoulis,
“worked at FDAA on a daily basis and authorized the payment of wages” during the time of
Plaintiffs’ employment. (Id.)
These three Defendants had the power to hire, fire, or
3
Case 1:17-cv-01220-RDB Document 20 Filed 09/25/17 Page 4 of 11
discipline the Plaintiffs; “set the rate and method of compensation”; manage the Plaintiffs’
work duties and schedules; and “maintain[] or cause[] to be maintained all employment
records relating to Plaintiffs.” Id. More specifically, Defendant David Piccione “was the
owner with primary responsibility in determining payroll.” (Id. ¶ 3.) When Plaintiff Sutton
complained about unpaid wages, Defendants David Piccione and Vincent Piccione told
Sutton they would not pay him “anything.” (Id. ¶ 4.) David Piccione added that FDAA was
not paying because Sutton allegedly “relapsed.” Id. Defendants David Piccione and Vincent
Piccione also refused to pay Plaintiff Carollo’s unpaid wages. (Id. ¶ 6.) Vincent Piccione
subsequently sent Carollo “a text threatening to pursue a theft charge against her if she
pursued a wage claim.” (Id.) Defendant Robert Pantoulis “signed [p]laintiffs’ paychecks.”
(Id. ¶ 3.) When Plaintiff Carollo asked Robert Pantoulis about her wages, Robert Pantoulis
said, “my name is at the bottom of the check and I can decide whether to pay you or not.”
(Id. ¶ 5.)
Defendant Nicholas Pantoulis told plaintiff Carollo on three occasions that he would
make sure that she was paid her wages by February 28, 2017, but he did not respond to
Carollo when she tried to contact him a fourth time on the matter. (Id. ¶ 6.)
Defendant Diaz is the CFO of FDAA whose duties include in part the calculation
and payment of wages. (Id. ¶ 7.) Diaz refused to pay the unpaid wages when requested by
the Plaintiffs. (Id.)
On or around March 15, 2017, Plaintiff Johnson went to the FDAA offices to get his
paycheck because the defendants had not returned his phone calls regarding unpaid wages.
(Id. ¶ 21.) “Defendant David Piccione said that Defendants were not going to pay Johnson
4
Case 1:17-cv-01220-RDB Document 20 Filed 09/25/17 Page 5 of 11
because Johnson was part of a lawsuit, which he was not at the time. When Johnson turned
to leave, Defendant David Piccione became angry because he believed that Johnson was
being verbally disrespectful to him.” (Id.) Defendant David Piccione then tackled Johnson
to the ground.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure authorizes the dismissal of a
complaint if it fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6).
The purpose of Rule 12(b)(6) is “to test the sufficiency of a complaint and not to resolve
contests surrounding the facts, the merits of a claim, or the applicability of defenses.” Presley
v. City of Charlottesville, 464 F.3d 480, 483 (4th Cir. 2006); see also Goines v. Valley Cmty. Servs.
Bd., 822 F.3d 159, 165-66 (4th Cir. 2016). The sufficiency of a complaint is assessed by
reference to the pleading requirements of Rule 8(a)(2), which provides that a complaint must
contain a “short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to
relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2).
To survive a motion under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6), a complaint must contain facts
sufficient to “state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atl., Corp. v. Twombly,
550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007); Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 684 (2009). Under the plausibility
standard, a complaint must contain “more than labels and conclusions” or a “formulaic
recitation of the elements of a cause of action.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555; see Painter’s Mill
Grille, LLC v. Brown, 716 F.3d 342, 350 (4th Cir. 2013).
In reviewing a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, a court “must accept as true all of the factual
allegations contained in the complaint” and must “draw all reasonable inferences [from
5
Case 1:17-cv-01220-RDB Document 20 Filed 09/25/17 Page 6 of 11
those facts] in favor of the plaintiff.” E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. v. Kolon Indus., Inc., 637
F.3d 435, 440 (4th Cir. 2011) (citations omitted); see Semenova v. Maryland Transit Admin., 845
F.3d 564, 567 (4th Cir. 2017); Houck v. Substitute Tr. Servs., Inc., 791 F.3d 473, 484 (4th Cir.
2015).
While a court must accept as true all the factual allegations contained in the
complaint, legal conclusions drawn from those facts are not afforded such deference. Iqbal,
556 U.S. at 678 (stating that “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action,
supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice”); see Wag More Dogs, LLC v. Cozart,
680 F.3d 359, 365 (4th Cir. 2012).
DISCUSSION
I. The Initial Motions to Dismiss are Moot
The Defendants filed their initial set of Motions to Dismiss (ECF Nos. 6, 7, 10)
before the Plaintiffs filed the Amended Complaint (ECF No. 12) on May 24, 2017. The
Defendants then filed Motions to Dismiss Plaintiffs’ Amended Complaint (ECF Nos. 14-16)
and the memoranda of law in support of these motions (ECF Nos. 14-1, 15-1, 16-1) simply
update the Defendants’ arguments in response to the additional factual allegations in the
Amended Complaint. Accordingly, the initial Motions to Dismiss (ECF Nos. 6, 7, 10) are
DENIED as MOOT.
II. Individual Liability under the Maryland Wage Payment and Collection
Law and the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (Counts I and II)
a. “Employer” under MWPCL and FLSA
The individual Defendants assert that the Amended Complaint does not contain
sufficient factual allegations to support a cause of action against them as “employer[s]”
under the either the MWPCL or the FLSA. While the MWPCL and FLSA definitions of
6
Case 1:17-cv-01220-RDB Document 20 Filed 09/25/17 Page 7 of 11
“employer” are different,1 this Court has found that the “economic reality” test guides the
analysis under both statutes. See, e.g., Avila v. Caring Hearts & Hands Assisted Living & Elder
Care, LLC, TDC-15-3943, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 100904, *7 (D. Md. Aug. 1, 2016) (citing
Kerr v. Marshall Univ. Bd. of Governors, 824 F.3d 62, No. 15-1473, 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 9501,
2016 WL 2995806, at *14-15 (4th Cir. May 24, 2016); Campusano v. Lusitano Constr. LLC, 208
Md. App. 29, 56 A.3d 303, 308-309 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 2012)). When assessing the
economic realities of an employment relationship in these cases, this Court considers the
totality of the circumstances. E.g., Macsherry v. Sparrows Point, LLC, ELH-15-22, 2017 U.S.
Dist. LEXIS 122153, at *91 (D. Md. Aug 3, 2017) (MWPCL claim); Roman v. Guapos III, Inc.,
970 F. Supp. 2d 407, 417 (D. Md. 2013) (FLSA claim). In addition to an individual’s
ownership interest in the enterprise, courts assess four factors regarding the individual’s
operational control over the employment relationship. See, e.g., Macsherry, 2017 U.S. Dist.
LEXIS 122153, at *88-89. Those factors include “whether the employer (1) had the power
to hire and fire the employees, (2) supervised and controlled employee work schedules or
conditions of employment, (3) determined the rate and method of payment, and (4)
maintained employment records.” Avila, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 100904, at *7-8. No one
factor is dispositive. Id. (citing Kerr, 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 9501, 2016 WL 2995806, at *15).
In this case, the Plaintiffs have named five individual defendants and provided
varying descriptions of their ownership and control over the employment relationships at
issue. Defendants David Piccione, Vincent Piccione, and Robert Pantoulis are “owners and
operators of FDAA.” (Am. Compl. ¶ 2, ECF No. 12.) During the Plaintiffs’ period of
1
The MWPCL defines “employer” as “any person who employs an individual in the State or a successor of
the person.” Md. Code Ann., Lab. & Empl. § 3-501(b). The FLSA defines “employer” as “any person acting
directly or indirectly in the interest of an employer in relation to an employee.” 29 U.S.C. § 203(d).
7
Case 1:17-cv-01220-RDB Document 20 Filed 09/25/17 Page 8 of 11
employment, these three Defendants had the power to hire, fire, or discipline the Plaintiffs;
“set the rate and method of compensation”; manage the Plaintiffs’ work duties and
schedules; and “maintain[] or cause[] to be maintained all employment records relating to
Plaintiffs.” (Id.) Additionally, Plaintiffs’ allegations detail multiple occasions on which these
three Defendants directly refused to pay wages. (Id. ¶¶ 4-6.) The alleged facts regarding
these three Defendants’ ownership and control address each of the factors of the economic
realities test. This Court therefore finds that the Plaintiffs have made a plausible claim that
Defendants David Piccione, Vincent Piccione, and Robert Pantoulis are “employer[s]”
subject to suit under both the MWPCL and the FLSA.
Plaintiffs also identify Defendant Nicholas Pantoulis as an “owner[] and operator[] of
FDAA.” (Id. ¶ 2.) While Plaintiffs allege that “all Defendants had responsibility for payment
of wages to employees,” Plaintiffs do not name Nicholas Pantoulis as one of the individuals
who “worked at FDAA on a daily basis and authorized payment of wages” during Plaintiffs’
employment. Furthermore, Nicholas Pantoulis’ comments that he would make sure that
Plaintiff Carollo was paid did not result in actual payment. (See Id. ¶ 6.) Viewing the totality
of the circumstances regarding the Plaintiffs’ employment relationship with Defendant
Nicholas Pantoulis, particularly his apparent lack of control over numerous aspects of
Plaintiffs’ employment, this Court finds that the Plaintiffs have not made a plausible claim
that Defendant Nicholas Pantoulis is an “employer” subject to suit under either the MWPCL
or the FLSA.
Defendant Anne Marie Diaz is the only individual Defendant not identified by the
Plaintiffs as an “owner[]and operator[].” Defendant Diaz is the CFO whose duties include
8
Case 1:17-cv-01220-RDB Document 20 Filed 09/25/17 Page 9 of 11
the calculation and payment of wages. (Id. ¶ 7.) Plaintiffs allege she refused to pay their
wages upon request (id.), but Plaintiffs do not allege any facts regarding Defendant Diaz’s
control over hiring, firing, work schedules, or employment records. Without an alleged
ownership interest or control over the employment relationship beyond the payment of
wages, the Plaintiffs have not made out a plausible claim that Defendant Diaz is an
“employer” subject to suit under either the MWPCL or the FLSA.
b. Causes of Action under MWPCL and FLSA
All individual defendants, assuming arguendo that they qualify as “employer[s]” under
MWPCL and FLSA, further assert that the Plaintiffs fail to allege facts sufficient to plausibly
state a cause of action under either the MWPCL or FLSA. These arguments fail for the
reasons stated in the Plaintiffs’ brief. (Opp’n Mot. Dismiss 4-5, ECF No. 17.) Specifically,
the Amended Complaint provides, for each Plaintiff, specific amounts of unpaid wages owed
for specific months of “work performed and completed” in “selling debt relief services to
customers.” (See id. 4 (citing Am. Compl. ¶¶ 16-19, ECF No. 12).) These alleged facts
support plausible claims for unpaid wages under the MWPCL and the FLSA.
Accordingly, the second Motion to Dismiss by Anne Marie Diaz, Nicholas Pantoulis,
and David Piccione (ECF No. 14) is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.
Specifically, it is GRANTED as to all counts against Anne Marie Diaz and Nicholas
Pantoulis, and it is DENIED as to Counts I and II against David Piccione.2 The second
Motion to Dismiss by Robert Pantoulis and Vincent Piccione (ECF No. 16) is DENIED.
2
This Court addresses Counts IV (assault) and V (battery) against Defendant David Piccione in discussion
section IV infra.
9
Case 1:17-cv-01220-RDB Document 20 Filed 09/25/17 Page 10 of 11
III.
Federal Debt Assistance Association, LCC’s Motions to Dismiss
(Counts I, II, and III)
Defendant FDAA asserts that Plaintiffs have not alleged facts sufficient to plausibly
state claims in Counts I (MWPCL), II (FLSA), and III (breach of contract). FDAA’s
arguments fail for the reasons stated in the Plaintiffs’ response. (Opp’n Mot. Dismiss 4-6,
ECF No. 17.) Regarding Counts I (MWPCL) and II (FLSA), the Amended Complaint
provides, for each Plaintiff, specific amounts of unpaid wages owed for specific months of
“work performed and completed” in “selling debt relief services to customers” of FDAA.
(See id. 4 (citing Am. Compl. ¶¶ 16-19, ECF No. 12).) As for Count III (breach of contract),
the alleged facts regarding Plaintiffs’ performance as salespersons under a specified
compensation plan (see Am. Compl. ¶¶ 1, 11, 15-19, 34, ECF No. 12) support the alleged
existence of contracts between the Plaintiffs and Defendant FDAA. Plaintiffs have further
identified the specific months in which FDAA allegedly breached those contracts by failing
to pay Plaintiffs’ earned wages. (Opp’n Mot. Dismiss 6, ECF No. 17; Am. Compl. ¶¶ 17-19,
ECF No. 12.) FDAA’s second Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 15) is therefore DENIED.
IV. Assault & Battery (Counts IV and V)
Defendant David Piccione asserts that the Amended Complaint fails to allege facts
sufficient to plausibly state either an assault (Count IV) or battery (Count V) claim. These
arguments fail for the reasons stated in the Plaintiffs’ response. (Opp’n Mot. Dismiss 6-7,
ECF No. 17.) The Plaintiffs allege sufficient facts regarding Defendant David Piccione’s
intent, namely the allegedly “disrespectful” conversation regarding the wage dispute, when
he “tackl[ed] [Plaintiff Johnson] to the ground.” (Am. Compl. ¶ 21, ECF No. 12.) The
Amended Complaint provides a sufficiently “short and plain statement” making out
10
Case 1:17-cv-01220-RDB Document 20 Filed 09/25/17 Page 11 of 11
plausible claims of assault and battery against Defendant David Piccione. The second
Motion to Dismiss by Defendant David Piccione (ECF No. 14) is therefore DENIED as to
Counts IV and V.3
CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, the initial Motions to Dismiss (ECF Nos. 6, 7, 10) are
DENIED as MOOT. The second Motion to Dismiss by Anne Marie Diaz, Nicholas
Pantoulis, and David Piccione (ECF No. 14) is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN
PART. Specifically, it is GRANTED as to all counts against Anne Marie Diaz and Nicholas
Pantoulis, and it is DENIED as to all counts against David Piccione. The FDAA’s second
Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 15) is DENIED. The second Motion to Dismiss by Robert
Pantoulis and Vincent Piccione (ECF No. 16) is DENIED.
A separate Order follows.
Dated: September 25, 2017
3
___/s/_______________
Richard D. Bennett
United States District Judge
All counts against Defendant David Piccione thus survive Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss.
11
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?