Wijesinha v. S. Fla. MGS, LLC
Wijesinha v. S. Fla. MGS, LLC
Opinion of the Court
THIS CAUSE comes before the Court upon Defendant's Renewed Motion to Dismiss, or in the Alternative, to Strike Plaintiff's Amended Class Action Complaint and Incorporated Memorandum of Law. D.E. 14.
THE COURT has considered the Motion, the pertinent portions of the record and is otherwise fully advised in the premises.
I. Background
Unless otherwise indicated, the following facts are taken from Plaintiff's amended complaint. D.E. 11. In this action, Plaintiff brings one count for violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act,
When Plaintiff received a service at Defendant's location on April 6, 2018, she completed an intake form that included her cellular telephone number.
On April 16, 2019, Defendant moved to dismiss or, alternatively, to strike portions of the amended complaint. D.E. 14. Defendant contends that Plaintiff has failed to *1414state a cause of action upon which relief can be granted because (i) Plaintiff has not sufficiently demonstrated that Defendant, or a third party on its behalf, utilized an ATDS, and (ii) Plaintiff expressly consented to receiving the messages. Alternatively, Defendant moves to strike the request for declaratory relief and the class allegations. On April 30, 2019, Plaintiff filed a response in opposition to the motion. D.E. 16.
II. Legal Standard
In order to state a claim, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2) requires only "a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief." While a court, at this stage of the litigation, must consider the allegations contained in the plaintiff's complaint as true, this rule "is inapplicable to legal conclusions." Ashcroft v. Iqbal ,
In practice, to survive a motion to dismiss, "a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to 'state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.' "
In addition, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(f) provides that "[t]he court may strike from a pleading an insufficient defense or any redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous matter." See also Brown v. Seebach ,
III. Analysis
A. Failure to State a Claim
To establish a prima facie case under the TCPA, a plaintiff must demonstrate the following: "(1) the defendant made a telephone call either originating in or received in the United States; (2) using an automatic telephone dialing system and/or an artificial or prerecorded voice;
*1415(3) to a telephone number assigned to, inter alia , a cellular telephone service." Wijesinha v. Bluegreen Vacations Unlimited, Inc. , No. 19-20073-CIV-ALTONAGA/Goodman,
In the motion, Defendant argues that Plaintiff has failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted because she has not sufficiently alleged that Defendant, or a third party on its behalf, used an ATDS. Defendant also contends that Plaintiff expressly consented to receiving messages, including from an ATDS, when she voluntarily gave her cellular telephone number to Defendant as part of their business relationship. In response, Plaintiff asserts that the allegations in the amended complaint are sufficient to survive a motion to dismiss. The Court agrees.
Federal courts have found "the bare allegation a defendant used an ATDS sufficiently states a claim under the TCPA." Wijesinha ,
Furthermore, telephone calls that otherwise violate the TCPA may nevertheless be lawful if they were made "with the prior express consent of the called party[.]" § 227(b)(1)(A). However, the existence of prior express consent is not an element of a prima facie case, but rather an affirmative defense for which the defendant bears the burden of proof. Gambon v. R & F Enters., Inc. , No. 6:14-cv-403,
B. Class Allegations and Declaratory Relief
Next, Defendant moves to strike Plaintiff's class allegations because the defined class is a fail-safe class which is not ascertainable. At this early stage in litigation, the Court finds a ruling on the merits of the putative class allegations premature. The Court will address arguments regarding the appropriateness of the class definition *1416at the class certification stage. See Eisenband v. Schumacher Auto., Inc. , No. 18-CV-80911,
In addition, Defendant argues that because Plaintiff has not alleged a likelihood of future injury, she does not have standing to pursue declaratory relief. As such, Defendant moves to strike Plaintiff's request for a declaration that Defendant's practices violate the TCPA. To have standing to obtain declaratory relief, "a plaintiff must allege facts from which it appears there is a substantial likelihood that he will suffer injury in the future." Walden v. Ctrs. for Disease Control and Prevention ,
Finally, the Court denies Defendant's request for attorney's fees and costs for defending the amended complaint. Defendant has not provided a statutory or contractual basis for an award.
IV. Conclusion
Because Plaintiff has stated a plausible claim for relief for a violation of the TCPA, the Court will not dismiss the amended complaint. In addition, the Court will address arguments regarding the class definition upon a formal motion for class certification. Further, the Court will strike the request for declaratory relief. Accordingly, it is hereby
ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the Motion (D.E. 14) is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART. The Motion is granted only to the extent it asks that the Court strike Plaintiff's request for declaratory relief. The request for declaratory relief in the amended complaint is hereby STRICKEN. The Motion is denied in all other respects. It is further
ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that Defendant SHALL an answer to the amended complaint no later than Friday, June 14, 2019. It is further
ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that Plaintiff shall file her motion for class certification within 30 days of this order, i.e. by no later than July 5, 2019.
DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Miami, Florida, this 4th day of June, 2019.
On May 14, 2019, Defendant filed a reply memorandum. D.E. 18. Under Local Rule 7(c)(1), Defendant was required to file the reply memorandum no later than May 7, 2019. Defendant did not seek leave and obtain prior permission of the Court before filing a reply memorandum one week after the deadline. The Court will, therefore, strike Defendant's untimely reply memorandum. D.E. 18. The Parties shall be advised that the Court expects the parties to follow the proper procedures under the federal and local rules for the remainder of this case.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Laura WIJESINHA, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated v. SOUTH FLORIDA MGS, LLC
- Status
- Published