VIRGINIA M. HERNANDEZ COVINGTON, District Judge.
This matter comes before the Court in consideration of Plaintiff MB Reo-FL Church-2, LLC's Motion for Summary Judgment and Declaratory Relief (Doc. # 107), filed on September 16, 2016. After two interlocutory appeals by Defendant Frank M. Bafford and several extensions of time, Bafford's response in opposition was due by May 29, 2017. (Doc. # 150). Bafford did not file a response in opposition. For the reasons below, MB Reo's Motion is granted.
As noted on the undersigned's website, "[i]n deciding a motion for summary judgment, the Court will deem admitted any fact in the statement of material facts that the opposing party does not specifically controvert, provided the moving party's statement is supported by evidence in the record."
MB Reo owns the commercial property located at 9612 N. 26th Street and 9706 N. 26th Street, Tampa, Florida 33612. (Doc. # 107-1 at ¶¶ 5, 6). The property was listed for sale by MB Reo on October 12, 2015, with an asking price of $799,000. (
Over a span of five days, Bafford, on behalf of Defendant Tampa for Christ Church, Inc., submitted three offers. (
MB Reo responded to these offers on November 2, 2015, and indicated it could not accept an offer based on 98% financing. (
Then, on November 13, 2015, Bafford submitted a fourth offer for $803,000. (
Nevertheless, MB Reo deviated from its usual practice after it became clear Tampa for Christ Church would not provide the requested financial information. (Doc. # 107 at ¶ 17). On November 20, 2015, MB Reo indicated it would consider selling the property for, among other terms, $803,000, a due diligence period of 20 days, and no financing contingency. (Doc. # 107-6). Bafford neither accepted nor rejected the November 20, 2015, terms. Instead, on November 30, 2015, Bafford sent a series of emails that (1) reiterated his charge of discrimination, (2) asked for a copy of contracts from "the other buyers," and (3) indicated an attorney representing Bafford would be contacting MB Reo. (Doc. # 107-7). MB Reo followed up with a letter on December 1, 2015, which "emphatically den[ied] any claims of discrimination." (Doc. # 107-8 at 4-6). Counsel for MB Reo also sent an email on December 2, 2015, stating if MB Reo did not receive confirmation by December 4, 2015, that Tampa for Christ Church wished to proceed with the purchase, then MB Reo would consider Tampa for Christ Church to have withdrawn its interest in purchasing the property. (
On December 3, 2015, Bafford responded that Tampa for Christ Church "unequivocal[ly] . . . wish[ed] to proceed." (Doc. # 107-9). The next day, MB Reo sent Bafford a draft purchase and sale agreement; Bafford had until December 8, 2015, to execute and return the agreement. (Doc. # 107-10). But, Bafford did not execute the agreement. Rather, Bafford sent a series of emails between December 7 and December 8, 2015, wherein he made nonspecific objections to the terms of the agreement and reiterated his accusation of discrimination. (Doc. # 107-11). MB Reo responded by denying the charges of racial discrimination again and asking Tampa for Christ Church to provide its specific objections to the terms of the agreement by December 11, 2015. (Doc. # 107-12). Having received no specific objections, MB Reo ceased negotiations by letter dated December 11, 2015. (Doc. # 107-13).
Three days later, on December 14, 2015, Bafford filed a notice titled "Pending Housing Discrimination Complaint with Ownership Interests" in the Official Records of Hillsborough County, Florida. (Doc. # 107-14). This notice stated: Bafford "informs all interested parties that there's a pending housing discrimination complaint concerning the [property] .. . seeking a determination concerning his rights" thereto. (
On February 4, 2016, MB Reo instituted the pending action Sin this Court seeking to quiet title, damages for slander of title, and a declaratory judgment. (Doc. # 1). Bafford and Tampa for Christ Church were served on February 11, 2016. (Doc. ## 5, 6). About a month and a half later, on March 30, 2016, Bafford filed the administrative housing discrimination complaint he had been alluding to for several months. (Doc. # 107-17). This litigation proceeded and, upon MB Reo's motion, the Court dissolved the lis pendens Bafford had filed in the Official Records of Hillsborough County, Florida. (Doc. # 65).
And although counsel filed a notice of appearance on behalf of Bafford and Tampa for Christ Church, defense counsel withdrew. (Doc. ## 38, 76). Because Tampa for Christ Church is a corporation and, per Local Rule 2.03(e), a corporation may only be heard in this Court through counsel, the Court directed Tampa for Christ Church to retain counsel. (Doc. # 87). When Tampa for Christ Church failed to retain counsel, the Court struck its pleadings. (Doc. # 97). Thereafter, because Tampa for Christ Church was technically in default, MB Reo applied for entry of Clerk's default, which was entered on August 26, 2016. (Doc. ## 98, 99).
MB Reo filed its pending Motion on September 16, 2016. (Doc. # 107). Much delay then ensued because of Bafford's filing of interlocutory appeals and repeated requests for extensions of time. (Doc. ## 108, 111-113, 115-117, 119, 130, 133, 136, 141, 142, 149, 150). The deadline for Bafford to file a response in opposition to the Motion was May 29, 2017. (Doc. # 150).
On May 22, 2017, Bafford filed a motion seeking an extension of the discovery deadline, which the Court denied on May 25, 2017. (Doc. ## 149, 150). The Court's May 25, 2017, Order reminded Bafford of the due date for his response. (Doc. # 150). But Bafford failed to timely file a response. Instead, after the deadline for responding to the motion for summary judgment had passed, Bafford filed a motion on June 8, 2017, seeking reconsideration of the Court's Order that denied his requested extension of the discovery deadline. (Doc. # 152).
The next day, on June 9, 2017, the Court directed MB Reo to file a jurisdictional supplement. (Doc. # 151). MB Reo requested and received an extension of time. (Doc. ## 153, 154). Before the jurisdictional supplement became due, Bafford filed another interlocutory appeal on June 19, 2017. (Doc. # 155). The Court therefore deferred ruling on MB Reo's motion for summary judgment and Bafford's motion for reconsideration. (Doc. # 158). The Court also stayed and administratively closed the case pending resolution of the appeal. (
The Eleventh Circuit sua sponte dismissed the appeal for lack of jurisdiction on July 24, 2017. (Doc. # 162). Because the time for Bafford to respond to the motion for summary judgment has already passed and Bafford has not filed a response, nor sought an extension of time do so, the Court proceeds to disposition.
The Court "cannot base the entry of summary judgment on the mere fact that the motion was unopposed, but, rather, must consider the merits of the motion."
Summary judgment is appropriate "if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). A factual dispute alone is not enough to defeat a properly pled motion for summary judgment; only the existence of a genuine issue of material fact will preclude a grant of summary judgment.
An issue is genuine if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the non-moving party.
If there is a conflict between the parties' allegations or evidence, the non-moving party's evidence is presumed to be true and all reasonable inferences must be drawn in the non-moving party's favor.
"Federal courts operate under a continuing obligation to inquire into the existence of subject matter jurisdiction whenever it may be lacking."
In reviewing the pending Motion, a question arose as to the existence of jurisdiction because MB Reo's jurisdictional statement — "[t]his Court has both diversity jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1332 and federal question jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1331, 12 U.S.C. § 1819 and 28 U.S.C. § 2201-2202," (Doc. # 1 at ¶ 2) — suggested MB Reo was basing "the independent source of jurisdiction,"
MB Reo timely filed its jurisdictional supplement. (Doc. # 164). In its supplement, MB Reo states that it "declines to identify the partners of the limited partnerships in [its] ownership chain" and MB Reo elected not to substantiate the claim that the limited liability companies in its chain of ownership are diverse from Defendants. (Id. at ¶ 1). Given MB Reo's refusal to establish diversity of citizenship, the Court will not base the exercise of jurisdiction upon § 1332.
Further, this Court's "virtually unflagging obligation. . . to exercise the jurisdiction given [it],"
Although diversity jurisdiction has not been established, MB Reo clarifies via its jurisdictional supplement that the independent jurisdictional basis for its declaratory judgment count was asserted under the analytical framework of
Before taking his third interlocutory appeal, Bafford filed a motion requesting that the Court reconsider its May 25, 2017, Order. (Doc. # 152). Because the motion to reconsider was filed within 28 days of the Court's May 25, 2017, Order, Rule 59(e) governs.
"The only grounds for granting a Rule 59 motion are newly-discovered evidence or manifest errors of law or fact."
The parties had more than enough time to conduct discovery in this case. And, Bafford was granted not one or two or three, but four extensions of time to respond to the pending Motion for summary judgment. (Doc. ## 113, 117, 131, 142). Despite all this time, Bafford did not file the motion for extension of time to conduct discovery (Doc. # 149) until well after the expiration of the discovery deadline. As noted by the Court's Case Management and Scheduling Order (Doc. # 146 at 3), the Court may deny discovery-related motions as untimely, if they are filed after the discovery deadline. Such is the case here. And, rather than pointing to newly discovered evidence or a manifest error of law or fact, Bafford simply attempts to reassert the argument he previously advanced. Bafford has failed to show the extraordinary relief provided by Rule 59(e) is warranted. The motion for reconsideration is denied.
"To state a cause of action to quiet title, the [plaintiff] need[s] to allege [and prove] that (1) they had title to the subject property; (2) a cloud on the title existed; and (3) that the cloud was invalid."
The undisputed facts show MB Reo owns the property (Doc. # 107-1 at ¶¶ 5, 6). In addition, it is undisputed a cloud on the title existed due to Bafford's notices in the Official Records of Hillsborough County, Florida, which indicated a housing discrimination complaint that sought a determination of Bafford's rights to the properties was pending (
"To establish the elements of slander of title, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant has communicated to a third party a false statement disparaging title which has caused the plaintiff actual damage."
The filing of a document in a county's official records satisfies the publication requirement.
Bafford's notices state that, as of December of 2015, a housing discrimination complaint was pending. (Doc. ## 107-14, 107-15). However, Bafford did not file his housing discrimination complaint until March 30, 2016. (Doc. # 107-17). Thus, the notices contained a material false statement.
Moreover, it is undisputed Bafford's notices prevented MB Reo from selling its property. (Doc. # 107-1 at ¶ 30). As a result, MB Reo has been forced to carry the costs of the property, e.g., taxes, property management, and insurance. (
Under § 2201, "any court of the United States . . . may declare the rights and other legal relations of any interested party seeking such declaration, whether or not further relief is or could be sought." 28 U.S.C. § 2201(a). Although Bafford filed an administrative housing complaint and there is no evidence as to the complaint's status, the Court may still proceed with this action because an action under 42 U.S.C. § 3613 may be commenced "whether or not a complaint has been filed under section 3610(a) of this title and without regard to the status of any such complaint." 42 U.S.C. § 3613(a)(2).
MB Reo seeks a declaratory judgment against Tampa for Christ Church and Bafford "finding that no contract has ever existed between the Parties and that Defendants have no claims against Plaintiff or the Property, together with an award of costs and such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper." (Doc. # 1 at 12). But, in its Motion, MB Reo states it "does not seek any monetary relief against [Tampa for Christ Church], only a declaration that MB REO did not discriminate against it and that [Tampa for Christ Church] has no interest in the Property." (Doc. # 107 at ¶ 25).
Given that Bafford filed a housing discrimination complaint under the Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 3600-3620, and filed two lis pendens, the issues before the Court are whether MB Reo racially discriminated against Bafford and whether a contract existed between Tampa for Christ Church and MB Reo. With respect to the discrimination charge,
As to whether a contract existed between Tampa for Christ Church and MB Reo, Florida law has three elements for breach of contract claim: a valid contract, a material breach, and damages.
MB Reo seeks a judgment against Bafford in the amount of $128,560.94, but it does not seek a money judgment against Tampa for Christ Church. (Doc. # 1; Doc. # 107 at ¶ 25). While MB Reo may recover damages and attorney's fees for slander of title,
MB Reo's requested judgment is comprised of $51,372.70 in carrying costs related to the property, $74,435.25 in attorney's fees to have the notices of lis pendens removed, and $2,752.99 in costs to have the notices of lis pendens removed. (Doc. # 107-1 at ¶¶ 30, 31). However, the damages in the form of carrying costs were only calculated through September of 2016, and it is now July of 2017. In addition, although MB Reo asserts
Accordingly, it is
(1) Plaintiff MB Reo-FL Church-2, LLC's Motion for Summary Judgment and Declaratory Relief (Doc. # 107)
(2) MB Reo is directed to file a supplement, supported by competent evidence, by August 14, 2017, wherein MB Reo calculates its current damages and costs.
(3) MB Reo is further directed to move without delay in filing a motion for default judgment against Tampa for Christ Church. The motion should be filed no later than August 14, 2017.