From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

Newman Schwartz v. Asplundh Tree Expert Co.

United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
Dec 17, 1996
102 F.3d 660 (2d Cir. 1996)

Summary

holding that disputes over contracts outside the pleadings are "not appropriately resolved on a 12(b) motion"

Summary of this case from Clark v. City of N.Y.

Opinion

Docket Nos. 96-7405, 477.

Argued: October 10, 1996.

Decided: December 17, 1996.

Paul A. Batista, New York City, for Plaintiff-Appellant.

Walter P. Loughlin, New York City (Latham Watkins, of counsel), for Defendant-Appellee.

Plaintiff-Appellant Newman Schwartz appeals from an order of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (Batts, J.), dismissing its complaint on defendant Asplundh Tree Expert Co.'s Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) motion. This court holds that the district court improperly relied upon information outside of the four corners of the complaint and failed to read the allegations in Count One of the complaint in the light most favorable to plaintiff. Although the district court correctly consolidated Counts Two and Three, it erred in holding that plaintiff was not, as a matter of law, alternatively entitled to recovery as restitution, and therefore improperly dismissed those claims.

Reversed and remanded.

Before OAKES, CARDAMONE and MAHONEY, Circuit Judges.

The Honorable J. Daniel Mahoney, who was a member of the panel, died on October 23, 1996, and the appeal is being decided by the remaining two members of the panel, who are in agreement. See Local Rule Section(s) 0.14(b).


Plaintiff-Appellant Newman Schwartz appeals from dismissal of its complaint on defendant's Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) motion. The judgment, dated March 14, 1996, and entered in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Deborah A. Batts, Judge, found that plaintiff had failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted, and dismissed its complaint. See Newman Schwartz v. Asplundh Tree Expert Co., 917 F. Supp. 265 (S.D.N.Y. 1996). We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Section(s) 1291. We reverse and remand.

I. [2] Facts

Plaintiff-Appellant Newman Schwartz ("NS"), a New York law firm, filed this action against Defendant-Appellee Asplundh Tree Expert Co. ("Asplundh") on February 7, 1995. The complaint sought to recover legal fees which NS allegedly earned representing Robert E. Bates ("Bates"), a corporate executive of Vanguard Meters Service, Inc. ("Vanguard"), who was named as a defendant in a criminal indictment in the Supreme Court of the State of New York. NS contended that Asplundh had guaranteed the obligation of Vanguard, its wholly owned corporate subsidiary, to pay Bates's legal fees in the criminal litigation.

On April 24, 1995, Asplundh gave notice that it would move for an order under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) to dismiss NS's complaint for failure to state a claim on which relief could be granted. The motion was supported by an evidentiary affirmation ("Affirmation") of an Asplundh executive, Phillip E. Tatoian, Jr., and Asplundh's legal memorandum in support of the motion. The Affirmation was 16 paragraphs and attached several exhibits, including copies of correspondence to which no reference had been made in the complaint. The Affirmation detailed information including Asplundh's account of its purchase of Vanguard and Bates's alleged activities at Vanguard, and made mention of an attorney who allegedly represented Bates in the criminal investigation.

On or about June 8, 1995, NS opposed the motion to dismiss. Asplundh's reply papers were served and filed on or about June 29, 1995, and the dismissal motion was submitted on that day to the district court, without oral argument.

On March 12, 1996, Judge Batts dismissed NS's complaint in its entirety. Appellant filed timely notice of appeal on or about April 3, 1996. We review the district court's decision de novo. Citibank, N.A. v. K-H Corp., 968 F.2d 1489, 1494 (2d Cir. 1992).

II. [7] Discussion

Appellant asserts that the district court committed error in explicitly considering and relying upon affirmations and other evidentiary materials outside of the complaint when granting defendant's motion to dismiss. "In considering a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6), a district court must limit itself to facts stated in the complaint or in documents attached to the complaint as exhibits or incorporated in the complaint by reference." Kramer v. Time Warner, Inc., 937 F.2d 767, 773 (2d Cir. 1991). The court is further required to view all allegations raised in the complaint in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, here NS, Scheuer v. Rhodes, 416 U.S. 232, 236, 94 S.Ct. 1683, 1686, 40 L. Ed. 2d 90 (1974); Cosmas v. Hassett, 886 F.2d 8, 11 (2d Cir. 1989), and "must accept as true all the factual allegations in the complaint." Leatherman v. Tarrant County Narcotics Unit, 507 U.S. 163, 164, 113 S.Ct. 1160, 1161, 122 L. Ed. 2d 517 (1993).

Because we agree with this argument, we do not address Appellant's other two claims of error, namely, 1) that the court incorrectly held as a matter of law that defendant's guarantee of a corporate subsidiary's contractual obligation to pay a corporate executive's "related benefits" did not include the legal fees incurred in the defense of a criminal prosecution of the corporate executive; and 2) that the court improperly failed to address a decision of the Sixth Circuit which rejected defendant's interpretation of the contract. See Asplundh Tree Expert Co. v. Bates, 71 F.3d 592 (6th Cir. 1995).

In making its decision to grant Asplundh's 12(b)(6) motion, the district court explicitly relied upon material which was not in the pleadings, specifically the Affirmation and its attachments. For example, the opinion asserts that "[t]here is no evidence of an Asplundh reply to either communication," citing the Affirmation for that statement. Likewise, it cited the Affirmation for extra-complaint information when referring to Vanguard's 1992 bankruptcy filing and NS's alleged submission to Bankruptcy Court of a "claim for attorney's fees" from Vanguard. In short, the court improperly relied upon extra-complaint information in granting the motion to dismiss.

We find that Count One of NS's complaint, which alleges breach of contract, is sufficiently supported by factual allegations as to withstand defendant's Rule 12(b)(6) motion. The complaint asserts Asplundh's purchase of Vanguard in 1990. It asserts the subsequent 1991 contract between Asplundh, Vanguard, and Bates ("Employment Agreement"), binding Asplundh to pay legal fees arising from Bates's criminal litigation. Although Asplundh argues that it is not a party to that agreement, the complaint asserts that the Agreement facially binds Asplundh by virtue of Jill Asplundh's execution in her capacity as Vice President of both Asplundh and Vanguard. The question of Asplundh's liability under this contract is a disputed issue which is not appropriately resolved on a 12(b)(6) motion. NS has asserted facts which, when viewed in the light most favorable to it, could bind Asplundh to the contract.

Count One of the complaint further alleges NS's status as a third-party beneficiary to the August 20, 1991, Employment Agreement. The complaint asserts that Bates retained NS on November 6, 1991, to represent him in connection with the criminal indictment. It further asserts Bates's subsequent arraignment, and NS's representation of him in that proceeding. Finally, the complaint asserts that NS was due $494,419.97 in fees and disbursements for its criminal representation from December 4, 1991, through January 3, 1995.

Although Asplundh disputes that NS was intended as a third party beneficiary of the Agreement, it is reasonable to assume that a provider of legal services is a third-party beneficiary of an agreement to pay for those services. A party need not necessarily be specifically mentioned in a contract to be considered a third-party beneficiary. See Restatement (Second) of Contracts, Section(s) 302(1) (1981); In re Gulf Oil/Cities Service Tender Offer Litigation, 725 F. Supp. 712, 733 (S.D.N Y 1989). ("Although a third party need not be specifically mentioned in the contact before third-party beneficiary status is found, New York law requires that the parties' intent to benefit a third party must be shown on the face of the agreement.") (citing Hylte Bruks Aktiebolag v. Babcock Wilcox Co., 399 F.2d 289, 292 (2d Cir. 1968); New York State Energy Research Dev. Authority v. Nuclear Fuel Serv., 561 F. Supp. 954, 979 (W.D.N Y 1983); Port Chester Electrical Constr. Corp. v. Atlas, 40 N.Y.2d 652, 357 N.E.2d 983, 389 N.Y.S.2d 327 (1976)). The district court ought to have construed the facts and the law in favor of NS for purposes of the motion to dismiss, both because pleadings are to be liberally construed and because, under the principle of contra proferentum, courts are to construe ambiguous contract terms against the drafter. Semmes Motors, Inc. v. Ford Motor Co., 429 F.2d 1197, 1207 (2d Cir. 1970). Instead, they were read against NS. Although perhaps appropriate in the context of a Rule 56 motion for summary judgment, the court's actions constitute reversible error at the 12(b)(6) stage of litigation.

NS's complaint states two additional counts against Asplundh. Count Two claims that NS conferred upon Asplundh a benefit of favorable termination of criminal prosecution against Vanguard, Asplundh's wholly-owned subsidiary, and thus was entitled to compensation in quantum meruit. Count Three asserts that Asplundh was unjustly enriched by NS's provision of legal services on its behalf and, thus, should pay under principles of equity. The district court held that, "because it is well-established that the mere receipt of benefits from legal services does not create an obligation to pay the value of those legal services," and because an express contract covered payment of Bates's legal fees, the quantum meruit claim should be dismissed. The court further held that Counts Two and Three ought to be treated as one claim for restitution, and therefore dismissed the unjust enrichment claim as well by virtue of its bad company.

Counts Two and Three for quantum meruit and unjust enrichment were quite properly subsumed by the district court into a single count for restitution, Seiden Associates, Inc. v. ANC Holdings, Inc., 768 F. Supp. 89, 96 (S.D.N.Y. 1991), rev'd on other grounds, 959 F.2d 425 (2d Cir. 1992), and were properly pleaded as such in the alternative to the contractual claim of Count One, Knudsen v. Quebecor Printing (U.S.A.) Inc., 792 F. Supp. 234, 237 (S.D.N.Y. 1992). Although it is questionable whether NS would be entitled to the value of its services as opposed to the value of the benefit conferred in the absence of fraud, duress, or coercion, see Restatement of Restitution Section(s) 152 (1937), it would appear that under New York law as we recently examined it in Grappo v. Alitalia Linee Aeree Italiane, S.p.A., 56 F.3d 427, 433 (2d Cir. 1995), such an action may lie. We therefore reverse the 12(b)(6) dismissal of these counts as well.

Conclusion

The district court improperly relied upon information outside of the four corners of NS's complaint, and failed to read the allegations in Count One of the complaint in the light most favorable to NS when granting Asplundh's Rule 12(b)(6) motion. The court further erred in holding that NS was not, as a matter of law, entitled to recovery as restitution. It therefore improperly dismissed both Counts Two and Three, although it was correct to consolidate those claims. Because we find that the complaint states a claim upon which relief may be granted, we reverse the grant of Asplundh's motion to dismiss and remand for further proceedings.


Summaries of

Newman Schwartz v. Asplundh Tree Expert Co.

United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
Dec 17, 1996
102 F.3d 660 (2d Cir. 1996)

holding that disputes over contracts outside the pleadings are "not appropriately resolved on a 12(b) motion"

Summary of this case from Clark v. City of N.Y.

holding that on a Rule 12(b) motion to dismiss "a district court must limit itself to facts stated in the complaint or in documents attached to the complaint as exhibits or incorporated in the complaint by reference"

Summary of this case from Bachayeva v. Americare Certified Special Servs., Inc.

holding that a claim for unjust enrichment was "properly pleaded as such in the alternative to the contractual claim" where one defendant disputes being a party to the contract

Summary of this case from Space, Inc. v. Simowitz

finding that claims for quantum meruit and unjust enrichment were properly subsumed by the district court into a single claim for restitution

Summary of this case from Schafrann v. Karam

reversing the dismissal of an unjust enrichment claim and holding that the claim was properly pleaded in the alternative to a contractual claim

Summary of this case from Barnet v. Drawbridge Special Opportunities Fund LP

reversing order dismissing third-party beneficiary claim because "[t]he district court ought to have construed the facts and the law in favor of N S for purposes of the motion to dismiss"

Summary of this case from In re Pharm. Industry Average Wholesale Price

reversing grant of motion to dismiss where district court relied on allegations contained in movant's affirmation

Summary of this case from Perks v. Town of Huntington

stating that for purposes of a Rule 12(b) motion, a district court may consider "facts stated in the complaint or in documents attached to the complaint as exhibits or incorporated in the complaint by reference"

Summary of this case from United States v. Simmons

overturning grant of 12(b) motion because lower court "improperly relied upon information outside of the four corners of ... complaint," which information was not referenced in the complaint

Summary of this case from Brown v. Marriott Int'l, Inc.

noting that in considering a motion to dismiss, a “district court must limit itself to facts stated in the complaint”

Summary of this case from Richards v. Direct Energy Services, LLC

noting that in deciding a motion to dismiss, a district court must limit itself to facts alleged, attached or incorporated into the complaint

Summary of this case from Edwards v. North American Power & Gas, LLC

noting that the Court may only consider allegations in the Complaint and documents incorporated therein in evaluating a motion to dismiss

Summary of this case from Edwards v. North American Power & Gas, LLC

allowing unjust enrichment claim to be pled in the alternative to a breach of contract claim under New York law because the defendant disputed whether plaintiff, a non-party to the contract, was an intended third-party beneficiary of the contract

Summary of this case from In re Sony Gaming Networks and Customer Data Sec. Breach Litigation

interpreting New York law

Summary of this case from Realtime Data, LLC v. T-Mobile USA, Inc.

In Newman, the plaintiff went to an office of the Associated Press (the "AP") and sought to have the AP publish information about an alleged "racketeering and conspiracy scheme among the New York City Board of Education, the United Federation of Teachers, and the New York Corporation Counsel."

Summary of this case from Nowacki v. Town of New Canaan

In Newman, the plaintiff went to an office of the Associated Press (the "AP") and sought to have the AP publish information about an alleged "racketeering and conspiracy scheme among the New York City Board of Education, the United Federation of Teachers, and the New York Corporation Counsel."

Summary of this case from Nowacki v. Town of New Canaan

stating that unjust enrichment claim was properly pleaded in alternative to breach of contract claim where one defendant disputed being a party to the contract

Summary of this case from Raceredi Motorsports, LLC v. Dart Machinery, Ltd.

In Newman Schwartz, the law firm sued not an insurer, but its client's employer (or to be more precise, the employer's corporate parent), which had a contractual obligation to its employee to defend him.

Summary of this case from Litman, Asche Gioiella v. Chubb Custom Ins.

stating that unjust enrichment claim was properly pleaded in alternative to breach of contract claim where one defendant disputed being a party to the contract

Summary of this case from New Paradigm Software Corp. v. New Era of Networks
Case details for

Newman Schwartz v. Asplundh Tree Expert Co.

Case Details

Full title:NEWMAN SCHWARTZ, PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT, v. ASPLUNDH TREE EXPERT CO., INC…

Court:United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit

Date published: Dec 17, 1996

Citations

102 F.3d 660 (2d Cir. 1996)

Citing Cases

Edwards v. North American Power & Gas, LLC

In determining whether the plaintiff has met this standard, the Court must accept the allegations in the…

Richards v. Direct Energy Services, LLC

In determining whether the plaintiff has met this standard, the Court must accept the allegations in the…