Palomo Palomov. Demaio

• Decision Date: 04 September 2019
• Docket Number: 5:15-CV-1536 (LEK/TWD)
• Citation: 403 F.Supp.3d 42
• Parties: Sergio Francisco PUEBLA PALOMO, Plaintiff, v. Joseph G. DEMAIO, et al., Defendants.
• Court: U.S. District Court — Northern District of New York

403 F.Supp.3d 42

Sergio Francisco PUEBLA PALOMO, Plaintiff,

v.Joseph G. DEMAIO, et al., Defendants.

5:15-CV-1536 (LEK/TWD)

United States District Court, N.D. New York.

Signed September 4, 2019

Matthew L. Craner, William Roll, J.F., III, Benjamin Klebanoff, Shearman, Sterling Law Firm - NY Office, Brian P. Calandra Pomerantz LLP New York, NY for Plaintiff.

Joseph A. Camardo, Jr., Justin T. Huffman Camardo Law Firm P.C., Auburn, NY, for Defendants.

MEMORANDUM-DECISION AND ORDER

Lawrence E. Kahn, U.S. District Judge

I. INTRODUCTION

Sergio Francisco Palomo—a Mexican musician, composer, and recording artist—brought this action against his former production company, Magic Circle Music,¹ and its owner, Joey DeMaio. Until around July 2012, Plaintiff's band and DeMaio's band, HolyHell and Manowar (respectively), worked together on various musical projects, including albums, live shows, and tours. Defendants allege that around December 2011, HolyHell struck a deal with Magic Circle to record an album called "Darkness Visible" at Magic Circle's studios. Magic Circle foot much of the bill for producing and promoting the album and expected to share the profits. During a summer 2012 tour, however, the bands had a falling-out, and Defendants began to suspect that HolyHell would not deliver the album as promised. As security, Defendants detained Plaintiff's music equipment (with a total value of around $60,000) in a shipping container and refused to return it. Plaintiff alleges conversion, replevin, and tortious interference with his various other business relationships for which the equipment was needed. Defendants have counterclaimed for breach of the album contract and unjust enrichment.

After protracted litigation, both sides moved for summary judgment. Dkt. Nos. 151 ("Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment"), 152 ("Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment").² For the reasons that follow, the Court grants the Motions in part; the record compels a finding that Defendants converted Plaintiff's equipment (entitling him to replevin). In addition, Plaintiff's claim for tortious interference with prospective economic relations must be dismissed. However, there are genuine disputes of material fact concerning: the quantum of damages Plaintiff suffered from Defendants' conversion; whether Plaintiff breached any contracts with Magic Circle; and whether Plaintiff was unjustly enriched. Accordingly, the motions are otherwise denied.

II. LEGAL STANDARD

The Court must grant summary judgment if "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 fact is "material" if it "might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law," and a dispute over a material fact is "genuine" if there is enough evidence to permit a verdict for the nonmoving party. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). Thus, summary judgment should be granted if and only if "no reasonable trier of fact could find in favor of the nonmoving party." Taggart v. Time, Inc., 924 F.2d 43, 46 (2d Cir. 1991).

The movant bears the burden of identifying those portions of the record that demonstrate that the nonmovant has failed "to establish the existence of an element essential to [his] case." Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). To rebut this showing, the non-movant "must do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts." Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986). He must set forth "specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial." Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505. And he must support those facts with citations to "particular parts of materials in the record, including depositions, documents, electronically stored information, affidavits or declarations, stipulations ... admissions, interrogatory answers, or other materials." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1)(A). The Court must nonetheless resolve all ambiguities and draw all reasonable inferences in favor of a trial. Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Prods., Inc., 530 U.S. 133, 150, 120 S.Ct. 2097, 147 L.Ed.2d 105 (2000). Its duty in reviewing a motion for summary judgment is "carefully limited" to finding genuine disputes of fact, "not to deciding them." Gallo v. Prudential Residential Servs., Ltd. P'ship, 22 F.3d 1219, 1224 (2d Cir. 1994).

III. BACKGROUND

A. Facts

The following facts are undisputed unless otherwise noted. The Court will provide more detail as necessary in its analysis.

From 2005 to April 2013, Plaintiff served as a music director and composer for Magic Circle. Defs.' SMF ¶ 3; Pl.'s RSMF ¶ 3. As Music Director, Plaintiff recorded, performed keyboards, and coordinated musical arrangements for various Magic Circle artists. Dkt. No. 1 ("Complaint") ¶ 22; Dkt. No. 39 ("Amended Answer) ¶ 22. He also played keyboards for HolyHell, a heavy metal band led by his wife, lead singer Mary Ellen Breon. Defs.' SMF ¶ 1; Pl.'s RSMF ¶ 1. DeMaio Dep. at 28.³ From 2007 until at least 2010, Plaintiff and HolyHell entered into a series of written agreements with Magic Circle to produce at least one album and perform on live tours, among other things. See Dkt. No. 39 at 36–41 ("2007 Artist Agreement"), 42–44 ("2007 Service and Nondisclosure Agreement"), 45–49 ("2009 Artist Agreement"), 50–54 ("2010 Artist Agreement"), 55–57 ("2010 Service and Nondisclosure Agreement") (collectively, the "2007–2010 NDA and Artist Agreements").⁴ The 2007–2010 NDA and Artist agreements addressed copyright ownerships, compensation, and other terms of the parties' collaboration on HolyHell's first album, concerts, and tours.

On December 22, 2011, Plaintiff and Breon met with "Magic Circle management"—DeMaio, Operations Manager Susan Wagner, and head of business affairs Manoel Arruda—"to discuss the prospects of preparing HolyHell's second full-length album, which was later tentatively titled ‘Darkness Visible,’ along with associated touring and other marketing opportunities." Defs.' SMF ¶ 8; Pl.'s RSMF ¶ 8. During that meeting, the parties reviewed Magic Circle's proposed budget for the album and associated touring, which was a spreadsheet indicating the projected costs and revenues. Defs. SMF ¶ 11; Pl.'s RSMF ¶ 11; Dkt. No. 153-2 at 5–15 ("Palomo Affidavit") ¶ 12 ("During the meeting a written financial projection and other matters concerning the prospective album and tours was discussed."); see also Dec. 22, 2011 Tr. at 39–41.⁵ The spreadsheet noted that Magic Circle and HolyHell would split the profits from the project 50/50. Palomo Aff. Ex. 10 ("Budget Proposal").⁶ At the end of the meeting, Breon remarked that the detailed information on the spreadsheet was "overwhelming," and that she needed "to take a hot bath to think about it." Dec. 22, 2011 Tr. at 41.

Defendants assert that at that December 2011 meeting, Plaintiff and HolyHell "agreed to produce the new full-length studio album, with a minimum of 10 newly written, fully recorded songs, ready to mix and master, to be completed no later than May 2012." Am. Answer ¶ 187. Plaintiff disputes that the parties had any contract regarding Darkness Visible, let alone a settled number of songs or deadline.

Nevertheless, the parties agree that in early 2012, Breon, Plaintiff, and the rest of HolyHell "proceeded with the second HolyHell recording," whose "working title was ‘Darkness Visible.’ " Pl.'s RSMF ¶ 16; Defs.' SMF ¶ 16. "Various members of HolyHell came into Magic Circle's offices" in Auburn, New York "to record various pieces over the spring of 2012 in support of this project." Palomo Aff. ¶ 12. Magic Circle reimbursed HolyHell members for their travel expenses, including local hotel rooms. Defs.' SMF ¶ 19; Pl.'s RSMF ¶ 19. From January to May 2012, while HolyHell recorded songs for the album, Plaintiff, Breon, and Magic Circle management exchanged emails concerning the timeline, finances, pricing, and logistics for the album production and an upcoming tour in Europe scheduled for summer 2012. See Palomo Aff. ¶ 12; see also Dkt. No. 153-2 at 69 ("January 23, 2012 Wagner Email"); Feb. 5, 2012 Wagner Email; Dkt. No. 151-2 at 6–21 ("Spring 2012 Emails").⁷ Magic Circle also coordinated and paid for several photo shoots for HolyHell to promote Darkness Visible. Defs.' SMF ¶ 21; Pl.'s RSMF ¶ 21. Defendants submitted business records indicating that the company paid production expenses for the album, tour, and related merchandising. Dkt. No. 151-2 at 31 ("HolyHell - Darkness Visible Project Financial Summary"). They assert that "[i]n total, Magic Circle invested $160,300.28 in unrecouped capital towards the Darkness Visible project," though Plaintiff disputes this figure. Defs.' SMF ¶ 24; Pl.'s RSMF ¶ 24.

In May 2012, Plaintiff and Breon met with Magic Circle management, including DeMaio, Wagner, and Arruda, to discuss the album and upcoming tour. Pl.'s SMF ¶ 31, Defs.' RSMF ¶ 31. There was a consensus that the album production was behind schedule. May 2012 Tr. at 6–7, 13–15, 24–25.⁸ In February and March, 2012, Magic Circle's Manoel Arruda had sent a series of emails to HolyHell repeating that "ALL songs need[ed] to be uploaded" by May 1, 2012, Spring 2012 Emails at 8–12, but by May, the band had only recorded four songs, May 2012 Tr. at 33. DeMaio contends that HolyHell was at fault for the delay, and states that in the May 2012 meeting, he "offered various solutions to the problems created by HolyHell failing to complete the Darkness Visible album." Dkt. No. 167-1 ("July 2018 DeMaio Affidavit") ¶ 9. In any event, it is clear DeMaio suggested at that meeting that HolyHell release their three or four finished songs digitally, before the summer tour. May 2012 Tr. at 33–34. That said, the parties still contemplated that they would release a physical CD in fall 2012. Id. at 17, 36–38, 80. Magic Circle subsequently...