ANTHONY VISCITO AND FRANCES VISCITO, D/B/A WAFFLE LAND U.S.A., APPELLANTS,
v.
FRED S. CARBON CO., INC., A FOREIGN CORPORATION, APPELLEE
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The Viscitos appealed summary judgment dismissing their claims against Carbon for tortious interference, conversion, and breach of contract arising from an oral distributorship agreement. The court affirmed dismissal of the breach of contract claim under the Statute of Frauds but reversed dismissal of the tortious interference and conversion claims, finding disputed factual issues.
The Statute of Frauds bars enforcement of the contract claim, so summary judgment on breach of contract was affirmed. However, summary judgment on tortious interference and conversion was reversed because the Viscitos may have independent business relationships with their customers that do not depend solely on the underlying unenforceable contract.
[1] An oral agreement for an indefinite duration, which either party may terminate at any time, is barred by the Statute of Frauds.
[2] A claim for tortious interference with a business relationship may proceed even if the underlying contract is unenforceable, provided the plaintiff can demonstrate that t…
Previewing 2 of 3 headnotes on this case. FLexlaw’s editorially structured points of law — every proposition, pinpointed — are reserved for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“Under the agreement, Carbon had the right to terminate the relationship at any time, and, in fact, did. As such, we believe the trial court correctly concluded that enforcement of the agreement was barred by the Statute of Frauds.”
Establishes the court's rationale for affirming dismissal of the breach of contract claim based on the Statute of Frauds.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceThe Viscitos and Carbon entered into an oral agreement whereby Carbon would provide exclusive distributorship rights to sell waffle mix in South Flori…
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BRYAN, BEN L., Associate Judge.
Anthony and Frances Viscito, d/b/a Waffle Land U.S.A. (“the Viseitos”) appeal from entry of final summary judgment on all three counts of their second amended complaint, alleging tortious interference, conversion, and breach of contract against Fred S. Carbon, Inc. (“Carbon”). We affirm in part and reverse in part.
This is the second appeal1 in this case stemming from an oral agreement between the Viscitos and Carbon. Pursuant to the agreement, Carbon agreed to provide the Viscitos with exclusive distributorship rights to sell and distribute its waffle mix in South Florida, and the Viscitos, in return, agreed to obtain customers for the product. In Counts I and II of their second amended complaint, the Viscitos alleged that Carbon tortiously interfered with their business relationships and wrongly utilized the Viscitos’ customer list for its own benefit. They claimed Carbon had converted their customers as its own by first wrongfully obtaining a list of customers from them under the guise of implementation of a new billing system, and then providing the list of names and addresses to another distributor. They also alleged breach of contract in Count III.
Thereafter, Carbon moved for summary judgment based on the Agreement being barred by the Statute of Frauds, and on there being no genuine issues of material facts as to their claims for tortious interference and conversion. The Viscitos filed an affidavit in opposition, but it was stricken as untimely. Based only on the record evidence timely presented, the court granted the motion. The Viscitos appealed.
The fact is undisputed that the parties’ oral agreement created a business relationship that lasted over an extended and indefinite period of time. Under the agreement, Carbon had the right to terminate the relationship at any time, and, in fact, did. As such, we believe the trial court correctly concluded that enforcement of the agreement was barred by the Statute of Frauds. See Chong v. Milano, 623 So. 2d 536, 537 (Fla. 4th DCA 1993).
However, we disagree as to summary judgment on Counts I and II for tortious interference and conversion. The Viscitos assert a relationship with their customers that was not absolutely dependent on their relationship with Carbon. Even though the contract cannot be enforced, the Viscitos may be able to prove that the business relationship with the customers did not depend in whole on the waffle mix furnished by Carbon. If the Viscitos can prove the wrongful acts against the business relationship with their customers, factual questions exist which prevent granting of summary judgment.2
We, therefore, reverse summary judgment as to Counts I and II, and affirm summary judgment as to Count III.
AFFIRMED in part; REVERSED in part and REMANDED.
WARNER and SHAHOOD, JJ., concur. . Viscito v. Fred S. Carbon Co., Inc., 636 So. 2d 194 (Fla. 4th DCA 1994) was the first appeal.
. At the hearing, there was extended discussion as to whether the Viscitos were employees and thereby excluded from the impact of the statute of frauds. This issue was raised by the Viscitos in an apparent effort to salvage the "contract”. Nowhere in the second amended complaint is an employment relationship asserted. The Viscitos were distributors under an unenforceable contract. Perhaps, because of the focus on the employment issue, the court determined that, after eliminating the contract claim, no basis remained for the other counts. This conclusion is error.
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Lynkus Commc'ns, Inc. v. Webmd Corp., 965 So. 2d 1161 (Fla. 2d DCA 2007)…inue indefinitely has been held to be within the purview of ” the statute of frauds. Khawly v. Reboul, 488 So. 2d 856, 858 (Fla. 3d DCA 1986) (quoting Weinsier v. Soffer, 358 So. 2d 61, 63 (Fla. 3d DCA 1978)); see also Viscito v. Fred S. Carbon Co., 717 So. 2d 586, 587 (Fla. 4th DCA 1998) (holding that where it was “undisputed that the parties’ oral agreement created a business relationship that lasted over an extended and indefinite period of time[,] ... the trial court correctly concluded that [*1166] enfor…
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Browning v. Poirier, 113 So. 3d 976 (Fla. 5th DCA 2013)…romantic relationship lasted many years after the date the agreement was allegedly made and that is a factor that can be considered in determining what the parties intended at the time the agreement was made. See Viscito v. Fred S. Carbon Co., Inc., 717 So. 2d 586, 587 (Fla. 4th DCA 1998) (“The fact is undisputed that the parties’ oral agreement created a business relationship that lasted over an extended and indefinite period of time. Under the agreement, Carbon had the right to terminate the relationship at…
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Centro Nautico Representacoes Nauticas v. Int'l Marine Co-Op, Ltd., 719 So. 2d 967 (Fla. 4th DCA 1998)…involved and that the parties intended the oral agreement to last for 5 or 7 years or forever. Except for goods already sold, as we have just seen, such an unwritten agreement is unenforceable. Viscito v. Fred S. Carbon Co., 23 Fla. L. Weekly D2034, 717 So. 2d 586 (Fla. 4th DCA 1998); Chong v. Milano, 623 So. 2d 536 (Fla. 4th DCA 1993). Because the parties had long since passed the $500 and 1 year benchmarks, as a matter of law there was no right to reasonable notice of termination because the agreement was u…
Previewing 3 of 6 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
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- Hancock v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 623 So. 2d 536 (Fla. 3d DCA 1993)
- Viscito v. Fred S. Carbon Co., Inc., 636 So. 2d 194 (Fla. 4th DCA 1994)