MIMAROE, INC., A FLORIDA CORPORATION, APPELLANT,
v.
SANITARY SERVICE CO., A FLORIDA CORPORATION, APPELLEE

Fla. 3d DCA | 1966-04-19
No. 65-680
Before HENDRY, C. J., and CARROLL and BARKDULL, JJ.
185 So. 2d 177 Florida District Court of Appeal, Third District (1966) Positive Treatment
Cited by 4 cases

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Synopsis

Mimaroe, Inc., a beauty shop, appeals a summary judgment dismissing its contract dispute with Sanitary Service Co., a linen supplier. The court reversed, finding that whether the beauty shop's consent to price increases was voluntary or coerced under economic duress presented a genuine factual question unsuitable for summary judgment.


Holding

The court held that genuine factual questions existed regarding whether the consent was freely and voluntarily given or obtained through economic compulsion, making summary judgment improper. The case must be transferred to an appropriate court of law for trial, as the plaintiff has a potential breach of contract claim if consent was not voluntary.


Key Quotes

“Under these circumstances, it would appear that there is a genuine question as to whether or not there was 'consent' freely and voluntarily or 'consent' as a result of economic compulsion.”

Establishes that the court found a factual question regarding duress/coercion that precluded summary judgment.

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Facts & Procedural History

Mimaroe, a Miami Beach beauty shop, contracted with Sanitary Service for a three-year linen service agreement with a unit price guarantee for the firs…

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Opinion of the Court
BARKDULL, Judge.

BARKDULL, Judge.

By this appeal, the appellant [plaintiff in the trial court] seeks review of an adverse summary final decree. It appears from the record that the plaintiff is engaged in the beauty shop business in Miami Beach, and that the appellee is a linen supplier. That on October 22, 1964, the parties entered into a three-year contract providing for linen service with a unit price for the towels delivered. The contract reads in part as follows:

* * * * * *
“ * * * Company may, at its option, but with our/my consent, increase these prices if costs increase * * *
* * * * * *
“1 Yr. Free 2nd Yr. price Guarantee no rise in price for 3rd yr. * * * ”

*178That some time shortly after the first of the year in 1965, the linen supply company indicated that it proposed to raise its unit price, notwithstanding its agreement. This was orally communicated to the operator of the beauty shop. She had subsequent discussions with representatives of the linen supply company, and the service continued until approximately the beginning of February, 1965, when one Friday, upon a regular delivery being made, the representative of the linen company demanded C.O.D. payment and, when this was refused, took out the linens. Thereafter, following alleged efforts by the principal of the beauty shop to obtain other services, she permitted the linen supply service to continue to supply her and they demanded and collected the additional charges.

Many of these facts were in dispute, but upon the state of this record we are required to take them for the purpose of determining the propriety of the summary final decree in a light most favorable to the plaintiff. See: Weinstein v. General Accident Fire & Life Assurance Company, Limited, Fla.App.1962, 141 So.2d 318; Koplin v. Bennett, Fla.App.1963, 155 So.2d 568; Jaworski v. City of Opa Locka, Fla.App. 1964, 170 So.2d 484. The crucial question to be determined is whether or not, following the linen supply company exercising its option to raise prices, did the beauty shop voluntarily “consent” to this increase.

The court notes that the demand for payment was made at the end of a week in February, which is the height of the winter tourist season in Miami Beach and, undoubtedly, one of the busiest times of the year for the plaintiff’s type of business. Under these circumstances, it would appear that there is a genuine question as to whether or not there was “consent” freely and voluntarily or “consent” as a result of economic compulsion. See: 25 Am.Jur.2d, Duress and Undue Influence, § 6 and cases cited therein; Williston, Contracts (Rev. ed Vol. 5) § 1618. Immediately following the acceptance of the service at a higher rate, the plaintiff instituted the instant action as an equity matter seeking certain equitable relief, $3,000.00 compensatory damages, and $25,000.00 punitive damages. Before the case became at issue by the filing of an answer, the defendant took the deposition of the principal of the plaintiff corporation and moved for a summary judgment, which resulted in the order here under review.

We fail to find, from the record, any basis for equitable relief or claim for punitive damages. However, it does appear that the plaintiff has a claim for breach of contract if she did not voluntarily “consent” to the increase in the unit prices and, therefore, the summary final decree here under review is hereby reversed with directions to the chancellor to transfer this matter to an appropriate court of law for future proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Reversed with directions.

CARROLL, Judge

(concurring specially).

I concur in the judgment of reversal. In my opinion the provision of the contract that the linen service would be supplied “free” for the first year precluded any charge during that year. The separate provision, appearing earlier in the contract, that with consent of the customer the supplier could “increase these prices if costs increase,” could only be applicable to the second and third years of the contract, in which prices were specified to be charged.

Concurrence
CARROLL, Judge

CARROLL, Judge

(concurring specially).

I concur in the judgment of reversal. In my opinion the provision of the contract that the linen service would be supplied “free” for the first year precluded any charge during that year. The separate provision, appearing earlier in the contract, that with consent of the customer the supplier could “increase these prices if costs increase,” could only be applicable to the second and third years of the contract, in which prices were specified to be charged.


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Citator

Cited By

  • Lauck v. Publix Mkt., Inc., 335 So. 2d 589 (Fla. 3d DCA 1976)
    …acts must be viewed in the light most favorable to the party against whom the judgment was granted. See, e. g., McGahee v. Dade County Board of Public Instruction, Fla.App.1973, 279 So. 2d 87; and Mimaroe, Inc. v. Sanitary Service Co., Fla.App.1966, 185 So. 2d 177. In light of these two rules, we believe that, in the instant appeal, the basic question for us to decide is whether or not, based on the record at the time of the pre-trial conference, there existed any genuine issue as to any material fact. As s…
  • Galeano v. Jack Eckerd Corp., 330 So. 2d 66 (Fla. 3d DCA 1976)
    …de County Board of Public Instruction, Fla.App.1973, 279 So. 2d 87; Biscayne Constr., Inc. v. Wesley Constr. Co., Fla. App.1973, 276 So. 2d 524; Brandeis v. Felcher, Fla.App.1968, 211 So. 2d 606; Mimaroe, Inc. v. Sanitary Service Co., Fla. App.1966, 185 So. 2d 177; and see 2 Fla. Jur., Appeals § 307. We have considered the record, all points in the briefs, and arguments of’ counsel in the light of the controlling principles of law, and have concluded that no reversible error has been shown. Therefore, for th…

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