PAUL G. BYRON, District Judge.
This matter comes before the Court without oral argument on Defendant James Avanzino's Motion to Dismiss (Docs. 21, 22). Plaintiff Opus Partners, LLC ("
In this breach of contract suit, Opus alleges that Avanzino breached a contract to pay Opus $200,000 for its performance under a consulting agreement. (Doc. 4).
On March 20, 2017, Opus entered into a non-exclusive consultation agreement with Charter Healthcare Group ("
Although Avanzino purportedly entered into the $200,000 side contract with Opus on behalf of Database, Database was a nonexistent entity, as it was administratively dissolved on September 1, 2009. (Id. ¶¶ 10-11). Opus fully performed by completing all efforts "necessary to consummate the sale from CHG to Pharos Capital." (Id. ¶ 12). Thereafter, Opus demanded Avanzino pay $200,000. (Id. ¶ 13). Avanzino refused to pay, and this suit follows. (Id.). Avanzino now moves to dismiss, and Opus opposes. (Docs. 21-22, 24). With briefing complete, the matter is ripe.
To survive a motion to dismiss made pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), the complaint "must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to `state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.'" Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). A claim is plausible on its face when the plaintiff "pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged." Id. Legal conclusions and recitation of a claim's elements are properly disregarded, and courts are "not bound to accept as true a legal conclusion couched as a factual allegation." Papasan v. Allain, 478 U.S. 265, 286 (1986). Courts must also view the complaint in the light most favorable to the plaintiff and must resolve any doubts as to the sufficiency of the complaint in the plaintiff's favor. Hunnings v. Texaco, Inc., 29 F.3d 1480, 1483 (11th Cir. 1994) (per curiam). In sum, courts must (1) ignore conclusory allegations, bald legal assertions, and formulaic recitations of the elements of a claim; (2) accept well-pled factual allegations as true; and (3) view well-pled allegations in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 67.
Defendant advances three arguments in favor of dismissal: (i) Avanzino is an improper defendant because the Amended Complaint does not allege that Avanzino agreed to pay Opus any funds; (ii) the email documenting the alleged contract states that payment would be made to "Daryl," who is not party to this action, and Opus is not mentioned; and (iii) the email lacks details essential to an enforceable contract. (Doc. 22). As to each argument, Plaintiff counters: (i) Avanzino is a proper Defendant because he contracted with Opus on behalf of a dissolved entity; (ii) setting aside the email, Avanzino and Sakol orally agreed that payment would be made to Opus; and (iii) the parties' oral agreement is enforceable regardless of whether the email constitutes a contract. (Doc. 24).
The Amended Complaint plausibly alleges that the parties entered into an enforceable oral agreement that Avanzino breached. "Florida law recognizes that contracts may be validly formed without an express written agreement." Koechli v. BIP Int'l, 870 So.2d 940, 943-44 (Fla.1st DCA 2004).
Accordingly, it is