Tetra Financial Group v. Cell Tech International et al
Filing
157
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER denying 90 Motion for Summary Judgment on Plaintiff's Contract Claims and on Cell Tech's Counterclaim and Third-Party Complaint ; denying 96 Motion for Partial Summary Judgment against Plaintiff's Contract Claims. Pursuant to this Court's standard practice, the Court will refer the parties to settlement by separate order. Signed by Judge Ted Stewart on 5/6/2011. (las)
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF UTAH
CENTRAL DIVISION
TETRA FINANCIAL GROUP, LLC, a Utah
limited liability company,
Plaintiff/Counterclaim Defendant,
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND
ORDER DENYING CROSS
MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY
JUDGMENT
vs.
CELL TECH INTERNATIONAL
INCORPORATED, a Delaware corporation;
KAZI MANAGEMENT VI, LLC, a U.S.
Virgin Islands limited company; ZUBAIR M.
KAZI, an individual; and JEAN GLEASON,
an individual,
Case No. 2:08-CV-935 TS
Defendants/Counterclaimants.
_____________________________________
CELL TECH INTERNATIONAL
INCORPORATED, a Delaware corporation,
Third Party Plaintiff,
vs.
TRENTON JELACO, an individual; GREG
EMERY, an individual,
Third Party Defendants.
1
This matter is before the Court on (1) Tetra Financial’s Motion for Summary Judgment
on Contract Claims and on Cell Tech’s Counterclaim and Third Party Complaint and (2) Cell
Tech’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment Against Plaintiff’s Contract Claims and on
Defendants’ Contract, Fraud, Negligent Misrepresentation, and Unconscionability Claims, and
on Third-Party Plaintiffs’ Fraud and Negligent Misrepresentation Claims. The parties present
cross motions for summary judgment on their various contract and contract-related claims. For
the reasons discussed below, the Court will deny both Motions.
I. BACKGROUND
Most of the facts of this case are in dispute. The following is a description of those facts
that are undisputed, as well as a discussion of some of the important facts that are in dispute.
Defendant Cell Tech, through its subsidiary corporation, manufactures and distributes
supplements, focusing on blue-green-algae based products. On or about September 25, 2007,
Cell Tech entered into a Software License Agreement and Software Service Agreement
(collectively, “Software Agreements”) with JIA, Inc. (hereinafter “Jenkon”). Pursuant to the
Software Agreements, Cell Tech hired Jenkon to build a software program and update all aspects
of Cell Tech’s business operations. The anticipated cost for the initial Jenkon software and
service package was approximately $400,000. Additional programming costs incurred after
execution of the Software Agreements raised the anticipated cost.
By May 2008, Cell Tech had paid Jenkon approximately $248,000 towards the price of
the software. During this time period, Cell Tech was experiencing cash flow and financial
difficulties and was seeking immediate financing to complete the deal with Jenkon.
2
It is around this time that Cell Tech came into contact with Trenton Jelaco, a National
Account Executive with Tetra. Cell Tech alleges that Mr. Jelaco made certain material
misrepresentations in these discussion. Specifically, Cell Tech alleges that Jelaco falsely stated
that Tetra had been in business for 21 years, was a direct lender, and could provide funding
within a matter of days. Cell Tech alleges that it relied upon these representations in making its
decision to ultimately enter into an agreement with Tetra. Tetra, of course, disputes this
characterization of these statements.
Cell Tech and Tetra entered into a Letter of Intent (“LOI”) on May 16, 2008.1 The LOI
outlined the basic terms of the parties’ agreement whereby Tetra would finance the Software for
Cell Tech. The LOI provided: the total amount of the proposed funding was not to exceed
$400,000; a base lease term of 24 months; a base lease rate factor of .04275; a base monthly
rental of $17,100; and a deposit of 40% of the cost of the equipment.
On June 25, 2008, Tetra Financial sent Cell Tech a set of lease documents (the “Lease
Documents”). The parties disagree over the terms of the Lease Documents and dispute whether
the Lease Documents comport with the parties’ agreement under the LOI.
When executing the Lease Documents, Ms. Gleason, an employee of Cell Tech,
discovered a term of the agreement—the Progress Service Charge—which gave her concern.
Ms. Gleason wrote an email to Greg Emery with Tetra Financial in which she asked about any
hidden charges and stated her belief that the Progress Service Charge did not apply.2 Mr. Emery
1
Docket No. 97, Ex. K.
2
Docket No. 99, Ex. L.
3
responded that there were no hidden fees.3 The parties dispute whether this statement was true.
Cell Tech did sign the Lease Documents and returned them to Tetra.
The parties disagree over what happened after the Lease Documents were signed. Tetra
asserts that it acted in accordance with the terms of the Lease Documents and preformed as
required thereunder. Cell Tech, however, asserts that Tetra did not perform as required and
engaged in activity which constituted a breach of the agreement. The relationship of the parties
continued to deteriorate until the instant litigation ensued.
II. SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARD
Summary judgment is proper if the moving party can demonstrate that there is no genuine
dispute as to any material fact and it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.4 In considering
whether a genuine issue of material fact exists, the Court determines whether a reasonable jury
could return a verdict for the nonmoving party in the face of all the evidence presented.5 The
Court is required to construe all facts and reasonable inferences in the light most favorable to the
nonmoving party.6 Both movants and nonmovants of summary judgment motions must support
their assertions by “citing to particular parts of materials in the record” or “showing that the
3
Id.
4
FED . R. CIV . P. 56(a).
5
See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 249 (1986); Clifton v. Craig, 924
F.2d 182, 183 (10th Cir. 1991).
6
See Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587 (1986);
Wright v. Southwestern Bell Tel. Co., 925 F.2d 1288, 1292 (10th Cir. 1991).
4
materials cited do not establish the absence or presence of a genuine dispute, or that an adverse
party cannot produce admissible evidence to support the fact.”7
III. DISCUSSION
Tetra Financial brought this action against Defendants on December 3, 2008. A Second
Amended Complaint was filed on August 1, 2009. In the Second Amended Complaint, Plaintiff
brings claims for breach of contract against Cell Tech, breach of guaranty against Defendants
Kazi Management and Kubair Kazi, four defamation claims,8 and unjust enrichment against Cell
Tech. Defendants have filed an Answer and a Counterclaim. Additionally, Cell Tech has filed a
Third Party Complaint against Third Party Defendants Trenton Jelaco and Greg Emery.
Defendants/Counterclaimants seek declaratory judgment and bring claims for breach of contract,
breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, negligent misrepresentation,
intentional misrepresentation, and unjust enrichment. The Third Party Complaint brings claims
for fraudulent misrepresentation and negligent misrepresentation. The parties now move for
summary judgment on these various claims.
Though this case is complex, the resolution of these summary judgment motions is not.
There are so many genuine issues of material fact in relation to each of the parties’ claims that it
is impossible to grant either party summary judgment on any of their claims. Therefore,
summary judgment is inappropriate and must be denied.
7
FED . R. CIV . P. 56(c)(1).
8
The defamation-based claims are the subject of a separate Motion for Summary
Judgment.
5
IV. CONCLUSION
It is therefore
ORDERED that Tetra Financial’s Motion for Summary Judgment on Contract Claims
and on Cell Tech’s Counterclaim and Third Party Complaint and Cell Tech’s Motion for Partial
Summary Judgment Against Plaintiff’s Contract Claims and on Defendants’ Contract, Fraud,
Negligent Misrepresentation, and Unconscionability Claims, and on Third-Party Plaintiffs’ Fraud
and Negligent Misrepresentation Claims (Docket Nos. 90 and 96) are DENIED.
Pursuant to this Court’s standard practice, the Court will refer the parties to settlement by
separate order.
DATED May 6, 2011.
BY THE COURT:
_____________________________________
TED STEWART
United States District Judge
6
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