Filing 31978148 E-F?ed 09/11/2015 04:27:55 PM IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 17TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION CASE NO: CACE 13012973 (08) SUPERIOR MOVING 8: STORAGE, INC, 21 Flerida corporation, Plaintiff, v. ELYSSA SANDBRAND a/k/a ELYSSA KAPP and RICHARD KAPP, Defendants. DEFENDANTS ELYSSA SANDBRAND a/k/a ELYSSA KAPP and RICHARD MOTION TO DISMISS Defendants, ELYSSA SANDBRAND e/k/e ELYSSA KAPP amt RICHARD (COIIectively, ?iKappet?), by and thmegh madersigmed and pursuant t0 Re R. Civ. P. hereby requestg; this COm?t dismiss the COmpleint It?: Ite entirety fifed by Plaintiff SUPERIOR MOVING ti: STORAGE, INC, with prejudice, and in support thereof, states as fOI10ws: I. BACKGROUND FACTS 1. The Kappa contacted SMS fer an eetimate related tO moving their persenal property tO their newly built home 2. 0:1 or about April 2015, a of SMS provided a pattia?y typed and partielIy handwritten "Gearenteed/ Binding Estimate? attached and Incorporated hetetO as FILED: BROWARD COUNTY, FL HOWARD FORMAN, CLERK 9/11/2015 4:27:55 Exhibit 3. SMS thereafter, though its egeiits, employees or contractors, moved the personal ptoperty of the Kepps on or about June 13, 2015 to its new location. 4. During the move, the personal property was not adeqoately protected fiotii damage, and the agents, employees or coittraetots of SMS negligently caused damage. 5. After the Kapps began oopacking their persoital property, they discovered that many items had been substantially damaged and/ ot destroyed. See Attached photographs, Composite Exhibit 6. SMS was pot on ootlee of the damages by the Kapps on or about lose 15, 2015 whee they spoke with a representative named Luis. 7. Further, on or about June 26, 2015, the Kapps filed at Claim Form for Damages/Losses, attached and ineotpotated hereto as Exhibit in whieh they delineated the types of personal property damaged and the types of damages. 8. EMS avers that Defeitdant ELYSSA KAPP published statements about a mover being extremely disrespectful, Chauvinistic, arid attesting. Coosplw {l 10, Each of these statements, it proves, ate opinions. II. INCORPORATED MEMORANDUM OF LAW Sommary of Argumeot Complaint shoold be dismissed because 8M8 fails to state a eaose of aetioii for defamation, Under existing Florida law as set forth more fully below, a plaintiff most plead some? demoges in order to state a claim for defamation, SMS has failed to identify that even one cuetemee wee effecied by the Yelp peetieg the? ie the eubject mettey of the ineient ease and ehee has; failed t0 Slate ef aet?er?: fer defemetieng The alleged defemetery efatemeets ei in thle ere eimply eemectionable eml {willful etetements under basic Florida defamation law. This Court ehoeld put an immediefe halt te Plaintiffs attempts f0 nee expeesive litiget?ee to silence the free speech rights of the Keeps? es cememer advocates, axed sheuld readily diemies thie eciien. A. Applicable Standard am! Rele 0f the Cemt (m Metion to Dismiss Defamation Claim Truth is a eemplete to libel action, Art?ele I, 4 of the Florida Conetimtiee; Mme) v. Remlewi 1760 Se, 2d 378, ?180 (We. 3% DCA 2800}. li ie the pleiefgff Whe beere the burden of previeg that the Challez?xged etefement is both defemafory and false, eseemial elemeets ef any libel claim. Hemmend v, Times Publiehme 162 SO26 681, 682 (Fla, 2an DCA 1964), citing, McCormiek V. Miami Herald Publiehme 139 502:1 197,200 (Fle. 2d DCA 1962)? A defamatory etetemen?: is not if the plaintiff camel allege and prove it ie felee and thee net even ?eubetentielly true.? MeCermiek v" Miami Herald Publishing Ce? 139 50.2Cl et 200~20l (affirming dismissal 0f eemplaiei); Lieefelt V2 Beverlv lee?, 74:3 Se?d 386, 389 (Fla. 153i DCA 1999). Mli?lOE? leaceureelee if! repeete of publie receede <33" etetemeeie ere nei: actionable as defemetien. Jews: fee lee. v, Rape, 9927 50. 2d 1098, 110% 1108 (Flew 2008) (mieer ineceurecies that de net effeet the substance ef a efetemeni sheuld be dleregerded i1?; determining Whether a eteiement is; defemeiery}, Fur?eher, werde are ?defameteeyg only if ?they cheege will) e3?: infamous crime tend to Subjeet te haired, dietruet, yidieule, contempt er allegraee er {end injure one in enela bualnesa ea pmfesaiea? Serepiaa v. Ferman, 632 Saki 490,4?35 (Fla. amca 1995); Ceeger v. Miami Hemld Pub. Co. 31 $0.2;d 382, 384 (Fla. ?1947) The axial Ceal?l performs a ?prominent funetlaa? la determining whether or aet an allegedly falae atatemeat la defamateeyl V. Huatlez? Magazine, lac? 433 SeQd 593, 593:3 (Fla. athDCA 1983) The marl is {a cleaely aeview the allegedly false afalemeai la lhe eeatext in which it was pabliahed ta decide whelhex? a factfizader eeald reasonably delermime the alalemeal ie be defamatory, lg. The Statemeat ls to be Viewed in Context and ?not: by exteemea, but aa the eammea maid would naml?ally underaiand it.? lg. The tyial wart aheuld diamlaa the: libel claim if the challenged alatement ?la net susceptible la a defamatery meaning.? Smith V, Cuban American Nat. Feumdatieh, 731 702, 707 (Fla, 3?13 DCA 1999),: Keller at Miami Herald, 778 92d 711, 71445 (11th Cir. 1985). 8. Plaintiff Fails ta Slate a Cause af Actloa fer Defamation Because Plalntiff Failed to Plead Actual Damagee Proof 0f ?actual damage? la an essential element of a defamation action under Florida law. Edelsteia v. WFTV, 111e, 798 SO. 2d 3797, ?98 (Fla. 4th DCA 2001)(affirming dial cearila Of defamation action plalmiff failed ta plead aetual mjary); Anheuaer?asch, Inc. v. Philget: 317 F.3d 1264, 1266 (llth Cir. 2003)(eitlng Miami Herald Publ 3376, 388 (Fla. 3d DCA 1982). Kappa aetiens caused me actual damage to Plaintiff. Plaintiff simply mallet plead prove etherw?ae. Plaintiff has not Shawn and camel shew apeeiflc business that wag negatively impacted as; a resell of Kappa actions. In addition, Plaintiff caanai shew that it lost any apeelfle euaimaera as a reaalt 0f the alleged defamafery afatemeata Plaimiff did aei: Suffer any damage 01' lajury whalaeever feel)?: Kappa peaking; which 18 among other pestihge that ever eimilet imptoper behevtoe (m the part {3f 8M8. failure to plead aetael damages as: required by Florida law is; plainly {lee t0 the fact that no damage actually eceurt?ed. Therefete, the defamatieh claim cemet etahd as; a matte? at law af?td Ceunt at Plaintiffs Cemplatnt Emmet be diemlesed. C, Plaimiff Fails to State a Cease of Action fer Defamation Because Kepps? Statements Involve Truthful and Opinion Statements Truth its a eemplete defense t0 a libel action Article I, 4 of the Florida Cenetitetlen; Limit: at, Remlewi, 2760 Se. 2d Wt), 380 (Fla, 31kt 2088) of pure based on known facts do not give rise to defamation claims. Miami Child?s World, Inc. V. Sunbeam Televieion Cart}, 669 2d 336, 336 (Fla, 3d DCA 1996). Plaintiff was put on notice of the damages that eecerred, by and thmegh the ectione end tnecttoes ef its agehte, empleyees er cemractete, when it was provided veybal and written notice of the damagee Any and ell factual etatemet?tts cet?ttathed within the Yelp were and pasted t0 provide the uneducated eoneumet with et?te vantage point te View an experience tram aeether consumer, the Kappe. Statemehts in Plaintiff?s {templaiht that related te time of employees, not clttected to SMS as 9: whole, were opinion Statements ehd met getter Florida law. WHEREFORE, Defendahts, RECHARD and ELYSSA KAPP, respectfelly requests this Henerehle Ceett t0 dtemiss the Complaint, with ptejudiee, and to award such other and further relief as tt may deem attd jeet. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I HEREBY CERTIFY that a tree and cerrect copy of the foregoing has been served to all partiee listed on the fellewing Service List in accordance with Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.080 (as amended effective September 1, 2012) and Florida Rule 0f judicial Administration 2.516 {as enacted effective September 1, 2012) on this day 9f September, 2015: SERVICE LIST Party Served Method of Service Michael B. Manes, Eeql mlehael?meneelegaleem By: if? MURPHY BROCATO Attorneys and Counselors at Law SPATRICK I. MURPHY, ESQ. 6810 North State Road ?7 Florida Bar No?: 562475 Coconut Creek, FL 330734304 Phone: (954) 617~8133 E. BROCATO, SR ESQ. Fax: (954) 69%0114 Florida Bar N0.: 110730 Primary Email Address: abroeate?vmurphvelewcc NICOLE M. LOUGHLIN, ESQ. Florida Bar No; 105337 nleughl?n?merphve~lewee Mm 75 FEET on LESS 75 FEET DI LIES Moving To: Extra PICK Up/ Dem/aw: "on: t'fua can mm navmo mu "Amman-mam>> ALL um:- um Won Ilavmo mu. ALDO mun-om ALL mum-sun A mulum mm mm In. Ya'aIEsflmated Boxes: 19 7 55 wmdcobe Soles: Opt/onaISarvIces: [ya My (Ar/i, mm: 7 cusmnsa T0 PACK ALL acxas 5117mm]: TD mm: mm mm ALL suanuxz. GAS LABOR "pawns AND ALL FEES nu: FLAT RATE. "one Drl'nl'cl amuu'rEEn rmc: mm: on smpyur. no on nun (M15 Diane-Assemble Fuvnnure -.-- Customer Dis/RerAssembla Furnflure :1 (Storage (air oondmoned) 5 pel month Guaranteed Price 1100.00 inm- RATE movn . 70.00 DOLLARS EXTRA 1? CUSTOMER mum's 9 ORDER 30x25. an up. "fly--LI. m- m. lulu". rum-l1 tumor-1' 'ellnuu wan-nu. Iv- amwwmummny.m nun-1mm!" EXHIBIT k9? . 433:9 ?4f3 a o? ?5 a Latin. a is. 3 3 339?s w? m" Jwawg nix 2 a; wan? m?xa, ?335 8mm: f2 3? :22 ?23909: 833*931 mm; ?99?de ma: 2&35 Biemf Roam, FL 3396*? 5?1wma~m20 ??2<345 ?ax Ream b?i Sure ma? camfuihf 333d :32: (mt if? prim type mam: mam afaii Ci aumd dangg??s b?fm?e sending back EXHIBIT CLAIM FORM FOR :gflElguann-u muggy" numq 1 ADA'rnorcLuugfiL we; impugn"! 7 1m 1 xx. 5 113'" NU UP AUHFJ, a. I: D'll'xflR'v ADDR Lin {1,1 PLEASE "if DAM mm lo>> Hl1ti run! nm mum>>, um mum nnmm.) um 77 um Kr uwum nhcuxrnm or mm mm p'sn' av :3"'av'r1 51mm Item aescriptlorr of Sewage Esttmated value Furniture ?amege AEE items Net wrapped anti padded in amordeece with the centred, was dragged on the pavemem and ripge? ?opera "the much was mt ants it was enly wrapped En tater: wag: {Jerk brown mach with was r?pped in the same exact spat es the couch rigs. Beige much Not wrepged or padded, Dirty from the moving truck, movers hands, etct Needs to be pmfesgionally White king size bed framefheedbeard Not wreeped or padr?ed, Barty team the mevtng truck, movers heads, etc. Needs to be profettiortelly clearzet? 12 Earge pieces at cities 80:: labeled freg?le, It was dmpped on one side, all pl8??5 are broken on the same exact side 1 ch?ee pietter Bax labeled fregtle, It was droppe? mt rme side; alt pieces are breaker: or: the same exec: side as the above item Kitehen table frame Not wrapped or padeertv Dragged or: something amt there'e a Eerge dent and the is eemgletely temoved Kttehen tabie gfass Scratched Entertetrtment emit Not peddedv tegs not Wtapeed or padeeri Scrage? tegs, Enterte?ement Emit glees shelves Many scratches on the shetves and one thelf is broken Mester bedreem ?ight tetales Eumimre net pe?dede Legs were not wratzpett 0r pe?ded. Setepe? tegr. Mastet bertreem dresser brawers breken En were; screws used t0 put minor on punched thru the {?lter stale (wrong screws esed??} Meater be?mom misc Randem screws Eettcmerm no extra acrews at the heg?eaing at the metre; Semeth?rzg not put tegether properly MA Brews: eeuehes Earnest: 0n pretty much every mmet of the couchesx 5 1,580 Bedfteme ?edroom 4 upsta?rs Bed mt put together in accet?ame with contract NM Seriftame ttedmom upstairs Bee net wt together in accet?erzce with NM Be?ireme sedrmm 2 upstairs Ber: am put together in aceetdarzce with tentract MA Of?ce booksheit Creek on of?ce beeksheff 5&0 Approximateiy 1&26} boxeefpteces of furniture was ?mgpe? in out timing roam ?nstead all tte?ttg mavett tr) the team Eistet? Boxes mt moved as: the bexifumiture 2,590' 3,090 2,090 460 160 1,5{30 500 21,580 380 $30 $30 New Muse ?amage We were trzid the entire stair case wauld be paddee, They? strayed an entire metre of femiture aleeg the Starr re?t Statr rail removing the finish and the corner at? the their raiit Where asked to pad amt Mags the stair tail 3 fight engee?t 1,3610 Door frame Wide door and they caretegsty damaged the {rent door, dam fame and weather stripping 5,060 Walls Handpr?mts or: walle, bumgs Erato weilg etc 3 SE30 Oatge'tng Muse damage Outge?mg - Watts {hunks taken out of the walls, spee?eus haliwaye and the mavers were carelewiy renn?mg Erato the wal Outgerng heme Front befireem deter {Damaged ricer eed frame Removed Gem {mm deer frame and tetased to replace 5 $30 LQST SECU Rtt?f 05983?!? $051 Outgeing house Want rigor Bameged (feet and frame usual aumu mum Sup-Elna" "mam: u: sgg-qusa 2055 IlOllNl' POMPANOA FL 33069 "and! (954) 978-9999 - (561) 740-7120 otaom 992-2978 333 Fax (954 917-2645 Is; Guaranteed finding Estimate mm us 3' mm." Customer: "my" A "Emma/am Magma am 7, "Whig Phone (home) - ., Phone (wnrk) Moving From Ema RCK Ln nemcw, . Estimgtg Guaranteed ba ed on gtlached (sz No "we cosy: swam>> noun-a mu mum ALL use: ummLernEn run-Mon "ovum mu "so musmw ALL MAvmasEs rum-mu mums un. aoxes Wuvomae Sexes fl 7 7 Renfcb' 0p riona/ Services: tom: Dunne: mains ans"; 11:":ch v, swam: an on"; mar; D'sflc Assay-mm. mm 'rumflule $01099 [av 5 77 Guaranteed Price 5'3 0mm 75.1" -, um: mu: rmnsuur mm. vaee 54mm am mu mwi mwva'e Mars 00V 10 m; mm um ind/u: mlscelarm new mmbe boxed a aqamec imam a mung wees versan'sd Mam use Ius ouvn A Immune cm 99mg Culwnepvesemmwe