In this diversity case, plaintiff Comprehensive Habilitation Services, Inc. ("CHS") brings suit against defendant Commerce Funding Corporation ("CFC") for breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, conversion, fraud, and unjust enrichment. CFC has moved for summary judgment, principally contending that there is no genuine issue of material fact regarding its entitlement to all funds collected from CHS, and that CHS's claims should be dismissed as a matter of law. For the reasons set forth below, CFC's motion for summary judgment is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.

Background

The following overview is derived from the statements of material facts, affidavits, and exhibits of the parties, and unless otherwise noted, shall constitute the facts not in dispute. The facts are construed in the light most favorable to plaintiff, the non-moving party. See, e.g., In re "Agent Orange" Prod. Liab. Litig., 517 F.3d 76, 87 (2d Cir. 2008). I. The Factoring Agreement

This litigation stems from CHS's agreement to factor accounts receivable with CFC. (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 1.) Specifically, on or about December 12, 1997, CHS and CFC entered into a Fee Agreement, and on or about December 19, 1997, CHS and CFC also entered into an Assignment and Transfer of Receivables Agreement, as amended on January 29, 1999 and August 13, 1999 (the "Assignment"). (Clarke Aff. ¶ 4; Def.'s Exs. 1-2; Pl.'s Exs. A-C.) Under these agreements, CFC, as lender, contracted to advance to CHS, as borrower, funding of up to 80% of the face value of certain accounts receivable owed to CHS in exchange for a security interest in and the assignment of those receivables. (See generally Def.'s Exs. 1-2; Pl.'s Exs. A-C.) CFC received direct payments from those factored accounts receivable (Clarke Aff. ¶ 4.), and was obligated to remit to CHS any surplus between the amount paid to CFC on account of the factored accounts receivable and monies advanced to CHS, less certain financing costs. (See Def.'s Ex. 2; Pl.'s Ex. B ("Upon receipt of payment from the [account debtor], [CFC] agrees to make payment by check to [CHS] for the difference between the payment received and the total of the [funds advanced] and the processing fees accrued. . . .").) In addition, CFC had full recourse against CHS and its guarantors for any deficiency in the amounts advanced, and retained "a security interest in all of [CHS's] assets[,] including products and proceeds thereof." (Def.'s Ex. 2; Pl.'s Ex. B.) CHS also entered into a General Continuing Guaranty Agreement with CFC on or about August 13, 1999 (the "Guaranty," and together with the Fee Agreement and Assignment, the "Factoring Agreement") (Def.'s Ex. 3; Pl.'s Ex. D), under which CHS guaranteed the obligations of a related entity, Better Medical Services P.C. ("BMS"). (Goodman Aff. ¶ 12; Def.'s Ex. 3 at Schedule A; Pl.'s Ex. D at Schedule A.)

Factoring is a type of accounts receivable financing. Typically, a factor purchases accounts receivable at a discount from the invoice amount, and advances funds or credit to the seller against the accounts receivable, which are assigned to the factor. 32 Am. Jur. 2d § 2. In return for the right to collect on the accounts receivable and for the discounted purchase price, the factor typically assumes the risk of loss in the event that the account debtors are unable to pay. Id. However, the factor may retain a security interest in the seller's other property, including nonfactored accounts receivable. See id. "As owner of the account, the factor is typically entitled to receive payment directly from the account debtor, and to undertake collection activities." Dessert Beauty, Inc. v. Platinum Funding Corp., 519 F. Supp. 2d 410, 414 (S.D.N.Y. 2007) (citing Woelfel, Charles J.,Encyclopedia of Banking Finance, at 370 (10th ed. 1994)).

For ease of reference, where facts are undisputed, the Court cites only to Defendant's Statement of Material Facts Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 56.1, hereafter referred to as "Def.'s 56.1." Citations to "Pl.'s 56.1" refer to Plaintiff's Response to Defendant's Statement of Material Facts Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 56.1. Citations to "Def.'s Reply 56.1" refer to Defendant's Response to Plaintiff's Statement of Material Facts Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 56.1. Citations to "Goodman Aff." refer to the Affidavit of Ronald B. Goodman, Esq., sworn to on April 20, 2007, while citations to "Goodman Reply Aff." refer to the Reply Affidavit of Ronald B. Goodman, Esq., sworn to on June 27, 2007. Citations to "Clarke Aff." refer to the Affidavit of John W. Clarke, Esq. in Opposition to Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment, sworn to on June 7, 2007. Citations to "Def.'s Mem." refer to the Memorandum of Law In Support of Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment. Citations to "Pl.'s Mem." refer to Plaintiff's Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment. Citations to "Def.'s Reply" refer to the Reply Memorandum of Law in further Support of Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment. Citations to "Def.'s Ex." refer to exhibits attached to Mr. Goodman's Affirmation. Citations to "Pl.'s Ex." refer to exhibits attached to Mr. Clarke's Declaration.

Pursuant to the Assignment, CHS agreed to appoint CFC or any of its agents as its "true and lawful attorney-in-fact" to act on behalf of CHS in the collection of factored accounts receivable. (Def.'s Ex. 2; Pl.'s Ex. B.) In addition, upon an account debtor's default, CHS agreed to "immediately pay to [CFC] . . . any and all accrued processing fees applicable plus reasonable attorneys' fees and costs of collection." (See Def.'s Ex. 2; Pl.'s Ex. B.) Similarly, the Guaranty provides that CHS is liable for "all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by CFC in attempting or effectuating collection hereunder, including reasonable attorneys' fees, if any claim hereunder is referred to an attorney or collection thereof is undertaken by an attorney." (Def.'s Ex. 3; Pl.'s Ex. D.) CFC also retained the right to "setoff any obligations owing to it by [CHS] against any funds or property held by [CFC] without notice to [CHS]." (Def.'s Ex. 2; Pl.'s Ex. B.)

The Assignment also provides that "all representations, warranties, covenants, powers and rights" therein are to be interpreted and construed under Virginia law. (Def.'s Ex. 2; Pl.'s Ex. B.) In addition, the Guaranty provides that it cannot be changed or terminated orally, and its terms and obligations are to be interpreted according to Virginia law. (Def.'s Ex. 3; Pl.'s Ex. D.) The terms of the Assignment and Guaranty are incorporated into the Fee Agreement and made a part of the Fee Agreement by reference. (Def.'s Ex. 1; Pl.'s Ex. A.)

II. Prior Litigation

After certain obligors of accounts receivable subject to the Factoring Agreement defaulted on their debts, CFC brought suit in this Court against CHS, BMS, and five obligors of the accounts receivable: St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center ("St. Vincent's"), Sisters of Charity Medical Center, Barnert Hospital ("Barnert"), Staten Island University Hospital, Inc. ("Staten Island"), and St. Francis Hospital ("St. Francis"). (Def.'s 56.1 ¶¶ 3, 4; Def.'s Ex. 4; Pl.'s Ex. E; Cooke Aff. ¶ 5.) See Commerce Funding Corp. v. Comprehensive Habilitation Servs., Inc. et al., No. 01 Civ. 3796 (PKL) (filed May 3, 2001) (the "First Action").

A. The Barnert Settlement

On or about October 19, 2001, CHS, CFC, and CHS's president, Peter Magaro, Ph.D, executed a settlement agreement with Barnert that extinguished a suit brought in 1999 by CHS against Barnert in the District of New Jersey for monies owed on services performed by CHS for Barnert, and also settled claims brought by CFC and CHS against Barnert in the First Action (the "Barnert Settlement"). (Def.'s 56.1 ¶¶ 6, 7; Def.'s Ex. 5; Pl.'s 56.1 ¶ 7; Pl.'s Ex. G; Clarke Aff. ¶ 6-7.) This Court so-ordered the Barnert Settlement on October 31, 2001. (Def.'s Ex. 5; Pl.'s Ex. G.) The Barnert Settlement stated that, pending the outcome of the First Action, the proceeds of the settlement would be placed in an escrow account with Barnert's counsel until CHS and CFC told Barnert where to remit the proceeds. (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 8.) Furthermore, the Barnert Settlement provided that all funds Barnert paid would remain in escrow throughout the pendency of the First Action. (Clarke Aff. ¶ 7; Def.'s Ex. 5; Pl.'s Ex. G.)

In August 2002, the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") served a Notice of Levy on Barnert with respect to the monies Barnert owed to CHS. (Clarke Aff. ¶ 8.) In September 2002, CFC advised the IRS that CFC held a lien on the settlement proceeds in escrow, which CFC believed superior to the IRS tax levy. (Id.; Pl.'s Ex. I.) On or about October 21, 2002, CFC, CHS, and the IRS entered into a stipulation before this Court that transferred the Barnert Settlement funds in escrow with Barnert's counsel to a new escrow account overseen by CFC's counsel under the same terms and conditions set forth in the Barnert Settlement, with the additional term that any disbursement of proceeds from the escrow account required seven business days' prior notice to the IRS. (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 10; Def.'s Ex. 7 at 7-8; Clarke Aff. ¶ 9; Pl.'s Ex. H at 7-8.)

On October 28, 2002, CHS's attorney, John W. Clarke, Esq., instructed CFC's counsel, Ronald B. Goodman, Esq., to release the escrowed Barnert Settlement funds, which amounted to $500,000, to CFC. (Def.'s 56.1 ¶¶ 9, 11; Pl.'s 56.1 ¶ 11.) At the time the Barnert Settlement funds were released to CFC, CFC's claim against CHS exceeded $500,000. (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 13.) The October 28 letter, which was set forth on the letterhead of CHS's attorneys and signed by Mr. Clarke, states in relevant part:

[O]ur client requests that your Firm as the new escrow agent release the funds held in escrow ($500,000) to Commerce Funding Corporation. Comprehensive Habilitation Services, Inc. recognizes that the claim of Commerce Funding Corporation is well in excess of $500,000 and wishes to apply the $500,000 against that claim.

(Def.'s Ex. 7; Pl.'s Ex. M.)

B. The CHS Settlement

On January 7, 2002, CFC, CHS, BMS, and Saint Vincent's stipulated and agreed that all causes of action pending between them in the First Action would be submitted to arbitration. (Clarke Aff. ¶ 9; Pl.'s Ex. H at 4:5-6.) Accordingly, this Court remanded CFC's, CHS's, and BMS's claims against Saint Vincent's to arbitration. (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 5.) By October 22, 2002, CFC had prepared a draft written settlement agreement setting forth the settlement terms of those claims open among and between CHS, CFC, and St. Vincent's (the "CHS Settlement"). (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 16; Pl.'s 56.1 ¶ 16; Clarke Aff. ¶ 10.) Under the CHS Settlement, St. Vincent's would have paid a total of $2.5 million as follows: $1.5 million to CFC, $615,000 to CHS, and $385,000 to be held in escrow pending the outcome of arbitration against BMS. (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 19; Def.'s Ex. 12 ¶ 9; Pl.'s 56.1 ¶ 19; Pl.'s Ex. J ¶ 9; Clarke Aff. ¶ 11.) The CHS Settlement was executed by CFC on November 5, 2002 and by CHS sometime in November 2002. (Clarke Aff. ¶ 20.)

Although a party to the arbitration, BMS did not participate in the CHS Settlement.

However, on November 7, 2002, St. Vincent's informed the other settling parties that the IRS had previously served St. Vincent's with a Notice of Levy, dated August 6, 2002, to collect federal taxes owed by CHS. (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 22; Clarke Aff. ¶ 20.) St. Vincent's would not execute the CHS Settlement until CHS resolved the tax levy. (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 23, 24; Pl.'s 56.1 ¶ 23.) CHS maintains that it then sought to work out its alleged tax liability with the IRS (Pl.'s 56.1 ¶ 23), and eventually did, purportedly informing CHS and St. Vincent's of its agreement with the IRS by telephone message on December 19, 2002 (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 36) and by letter dated December 27, 2002. (Id. ¶ 35; Def.'s Ex. 18; Pl.'s 56.1 ¶ 35.)

The settlement reached was that CHS agreed to pay all taxes owed to the IRS. (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 39; Def.'s Ex. 29.) However, as of December 2002, CHS lacked funds to satisfy this obligation and could not discharge the levy. (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 40.) In addition, whether a settlement was in fact reached is somewhat contradicted by an IRS telephone log included in the summary judgment materials as Plaintiff's Ex. FF. The log indicates that, as of December 20, 2002, Joseph A. Pantoja, Esq., the Assistant U.S. Attorney representing the IRS, was merely "optimistic" about a settlement and the "possible payment of most of [the] tax liability." (Pl.'s Ex. FF at 1.)

Although the parties curiously disagree as to whether the CHS Settlement was ever in effect (compare Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 17 with Pl.'s 56.1 ¶ 17 and Clarke Aff. ¶ 20), it is undisputed that St. Vincent's never signed the CHS Settlement. (Clarke Aff. ¶ 22 ("CFC, CHS and St. Vincent['s] never completed the [CHS Settlement] because St. Vincent['s] refused to execute it due to the existence of the IRS Notice of Levy.").) In addition, CHS's principal, Dr. Magaro, acknowledged in deposition testimony that the CHS Settlement was never fully executed. (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 18; Def.'s Ex. 13; Pl.'s Ex. K.) Moreover, in a December 5, 2002 letter, CFC's counsel requested that arbitrators hearing the dispute between CFC, CHS, St. Vincent's, and BMS reinstitute the arbitration proceeding and rule on CFC's motion for summary judgment. (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 26.) CFC contends its December 5 letter to the arbitrators constituted its formal withdrawal from the proposed CHS Settlement (id. ¶ 27), and that CHS's counsel acknowledged as much several days later in a letter to the IRS. (Id. ¶ 29.) However, CHS inexplicably disputes that CFC actually withdrew from the CHS Settlement, contending that CFC's December 5 letter failed to say so unequivocally. (Pl.'s 56.1 ¶ 27.)

In a December 10, 2002 letter from Edward C. Daniel III, Esq., attorney for CHS, to Mr. Pantoja, attorney for the IRS, CHS writes, in relevant part: "Commerce Funding Corporation has withdrawn from the proposed settlement with CHS Inc. and St. Vincent's Hospital, and is seeking reinstitution of arbitration proceedings and a decision on its motion for summary judgment against CHS Inc. and St. Vincent's Hospital." (Def.'s Ex. 22.)

C. The Second Settlement

CFC discussed and eventually entered into a settlement agreement on or about December 20, 2002 with St. Vincent's and BMS, but without CHS, under which St. Vincent's paid CFC $1,445,500 (the "Second Settlement"). (Def's 56.1 ¶¶ 32, 33, 76.) Pursuant to the Second Settlement, CFC received the full value of the defaulted accounts receivable, with no deficiency to be recovered from CHS. (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 77.) CHS asserts that CFC entered into the Second Settlement without notice to CHS. (Def.'s Ex. 21; Clarke Aff. ¶ 23.) As explained above, notwithstanding this Second Settlement, CHS claims that CFC never terminated, revoked, or withdrew the CHS Settlement. (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 43; Def.'s Ex. 21; Pl.'s 56.1 ¶ 43.)

After reviewing the terms of the Second Settlement, CHS sought return of the Barnert Settlement funds that were released to CFC. In a letter dated January 20, 2003, CHS demanded that CFC return the $500,000 previously remitted to CFC pursuant to Mr. Clarke's October 28, 2002 letter. (See Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 44; Def.'s Ex. 23; Pl.'s 56.1 ¶ 44; Clarke Aff. ¶ 25.) In the letter, Mr. Clarke referenced a "prior agreement" with Mr. Goodman as follows:

[W]hen the Barnert Hospital settlement funds were released to CFC, an amount equal to the proceeds of the Barnert settlement ($500,000.00) was to be escrowed from CFC's portion of the [CHS Settlement] pending the outcome of the hearing of the BMS claims against CFC and St. Vincent. Those escrowed funds were then to be released to CHS upon conclusion of the arbitration hearing. Since CFC has, through its purported settlement of December 20, 2002, been released from the BMS claims, please immediately remit to Harris Beach LLP, as attorneys for CHS, the total proceeds of the Barnert Hospital settlement.

(Def.'s Ex. 23; Pl.'s Ex. W.) However, CFC did not remit the Barnert Settlement funds to CHS, having applied the funds to partially satisfy CFC's claims against CHS in the First Action. (Clarke Aff. ¶ 25.)

D. The Surplus Funds

In a January 3, 2003 letter, CFC informed CHS that the combined funds from the Second Settlement and Barnert Settlement would likely result in a surplus due from CFC to CHS, which CFC would remit to CHS in exchange for general releases from CHS and Dr. Magaro. (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 41; Def.'s Ex. 20.) In a January 22, 2003 letter, CFC advised CHS that the surplus due from CFC to CHS was $156,746, exclusive of legal fees incurred in January 2003. (Def.'s Ex. 19.) However, CHS refused to provide a general release to CFC in exchange for the surplus funds (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 55), claiming that the Factoring Agreement did not require CHS to provide such release. (Pl.'s 56.1 ¶ 55.) On or about January 24, 2003, this Court instructed CHS to refer its concerns about the Second Settlement, including the surplus funds, to arbitration prior to seeking relief from this Court. (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 80.) However, the arbitrators declined to hear new issues between CHS and CFC. (Id. ¶ 81.)

CFC asserts that it requested a release because "[g]eneral releases are exchanged as a matter of course," and, anticipating that CHS would challenge the Second Settlement, found it "prudent that [CFC's] counsel retain [the] surplus [funds] and deduct all further collection-related expenses there from." (Def.'s Reply 56.1 ¶ 111.)

A lengthy exchange developed between the parties regarding the surplus funds. By letter dated March 31, 2003, CHS demanded that CFC remit the surplus due, plus interest, together with releases of the Factoring Agreement and all related documents that CHS executed. (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 56.) CFC informed CHS on April 1, 2003 that it could not provide a release of the Factoring Agreement due to the terms of the Second Settlement (id. ¶ 58), and again requested a general release from CHS in exchange for the surplus funds. (Id. ¶ 57.) CHS renewed its demand for the surplus on April 6, 2004 and April 28, 2004, stating that it would seek this Court's intervention in the First Action to recover the funds with costs. (Def.'s Exs. 26, 27.) CFC remained unwilling to remit the funds without obtaining the requested releases, citing CHS's "ongoing obligation" to pay for CFC's legal fees under the Factoring Agreement. (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 61.)

E. Denial of CHS's Request to Amend its Amended Answer to Assert Counterclaims in the First Action

CHS resolved its cross-claims in the First Action as follows: between CHS and St. Vincent's pursuant to arbitration; between CHS and St. Francis pursuant to a bench verdict; and between CHS and Staten Island pursuant to a jury verdict. See Commerce Funding Corp. v. Comprehensive Habilitation Servs., Inc., No. 01 Civ. 3796, 2005 WL 1765715, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. July 25, 2005) (Leisure, J.). CHS then sought leave of this Court to amend its Amended Answer to assert counterclaims against CFC involving the propriety of the Second Settlement. Id. In a July 25, 2005 Memorandum Order, the Court denied CHS's motion to amend its Amended Answer on the grounds that, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 16(b), CHS had failed to demonstrate good cause warranting a modification of its original scheduling order. (Def's 56.1 ¶ 84.) See Commerce Funding, 2005 WL 1765715, at *4-5. The Court held that CHS failed to explain adequately its almost twenty-five-month delay in bringing its motion. (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 85.) See Commerce Funding, 2005 WL 1765715, at *4. Further, the Court determined that CFC would be unduly prejudiced if the motion were granted because CFC would have to undertake additional discovery after CFC had previously settled with, or discontinued its action against, all defendants except CHS, and after all cross-claims had been resolved.Commerce Funding, 2005 WL 1765715, at *5.

The arbitrators found that, once the funded accounts receivable were settled and compromised under the Second Settlement, CHS's obligations to CFC with respect to the funded accounts was satisfied. (Pl.'s Ex. V at 14.) At that point, unfunded receivables that were security for funds advanced to CHS were effectively released back to CHS. (Id.) The arbitrators determined that St. Vincent's was never obligated to pay CFC for the unfunded receivables (id. at 23); instead, CHS could have anticipated collecting on those receivables. (Id.) The arbitrators awarded CHS damages, along with interest, attorneys' fees, and costs. (Id. at 24.)

The Court's July 25, 2005 Memorandum Order is included in the summary judgment record as Defendant's Exhibit 37.

This Court also denied CHS's motion for reconsideration of the Court's denial of leave to assert the proposed counterclaims. (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 91.) See Commerce Funding Corp. v. Comprehensive Habilitation Servs., Inc., 233 F.R.D. 355, 363 (S.D.N.Y. 2005). The Court subsequently dismissed the First Action, as there were no active claims pending. (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 88.) See Commerce, 233 F.R.D. at 363.

The Court's December 15, 2005 Opinion and Order are included in the summary judgment record as Defendant's Exhibit 11.

III. The Instant Action

While CHS's motion for leave to amend its Amended Answer was pending, CHS filed the instant action, which was once again assigned to this Court, alleging the claims embodied in its proposed counterclaims. (Def's 56.1 ¶ 83.)

A. Factual Disputes

At the crux of the current litigation is a disputed oral agreement that was purportedly formed over a series of telephone conversations between CHS's attorney John W. Clarke, Esq., and CFC's attorney Ronald B. Goodman, Esq., during October 2002. (Clarke Aff. ¶ 13.) CHS asserts that it released the Barnert Settlement funds to CFC because CFC orally agreed to return the funds to escrow and ultimately remit the funds to CHS after CFC compromised and settled its claims in the First Action pursuant to the terms of the CHS Settlement. (Pl.'s 56.1 ¶¶ 12, 14; Clarke Aff. ¶¶ 2, 13.) In addition, CHS asserts that it instructed CFC's counsel in writing to release the Barnert Settlement funds to CFC in order to trigger the seven-day IRS notice requirement so that the IRS could demonstrate its entitlement to the Barnert Settlement funds. (Pl.'s 56.1 ¶¶ 11, 101.)

CHS claims that the oral agreement is memorialized in paragraph 14 of the CHS Settlement (Clarke Aff. ¶ 14), which states in relevant part:

Upon final determination . . ., Commerce shall release . . . any remaining funds escrowed with regard to the Barnert Hospital Medical Center settlement . . . to Harris Beach LLP as attorneys for CHS. . . .

(Def.'s Ex. 12 ¶ 14; Pl.'s Ex. J ¶ 14.) CHS argues that there would be no reason to provide for the release of "any remaining funds escrowed" if the Barnert Settlement funds had been transferred outright to CFC. (Clarke Aff. ¶ 19.)

The Court notes that CHS makes contradictory assertions of fact, stating that the CHS Settlement "contains no agreement to re-escrow the Barnert Settlement funds, or funds equal thereto" (Pl.'s 56.1 ¶ 20), and yet that the CHS Settlement expressly "provides that any and all remaining funds held in escrow, including the Barnert [Settlement] Funds," which were released to CFC, would be paid to CHS at the conclusion of arbitration. (Id. ¶ 21.)

As further evidence of the oral agreement, CHS proffers Dr. Magaro's May 2006 deposition testimony, in which he testified that CHS released the Barnert Settlement funds to CFC based on assurances from CHS's counsel that CFC's counsel had represented the funds would be used in the contemplated CHS Settlement. (See Clarke Aff. ¶ 16; Pl.'s Ex. K at 52:14-17.) However, Dr. Magaro was not a party to the formation of the oral agreement, and only testified as to what his attorney told him. CHS also points to a fax that Dr. Magaro sent to his attorney, Jeff Ruggiero, Esq., on December 16, 2002, in which Dr. Magaro wrote that he planned to use $50,000 of the Barnert Settlement Funds to pay legal fees. (Clarke Aff. ¶ 16; Pl's Ex. L.) The Court disregards this evidence as inadmissible hearsay.

CFC, however, asserts that the release of the Barnert Settlement funds to CFC was not conditioned on any transfer of funds back into escrow. (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 14.) Rather, CFC claims that the Barnert Settlement funds were released without condition or reservation. (Id. ¶ 12.) CFC points to language in Mr. Clarke's October 28, 2002 letter instructing Mr. Goodman's firm, as escrow agent, to release the Barnert Settlement funds to CFC in partial satisfaction of CFC's claims against CHS (Def.'s 56.1 ¶¶ 11, 101; Def.'s Ex. 7), which CFC asserts totaled approximately $1.8 million. (Goodman Reply Aff. ¶ 15.) CFC further asserts that the reference to "any remaining funds escrowed" in the draft CHS Settlement means the additional $800,000 in payments to escrow — in yearly installments of $80,000 commencing October 1, 2003 — that Barnert Hospital was obligated to make pursuant to the terms of the Barnert Settlement, and not the $500,000 transferred outright to CFC on October 28, 2002. (Id. ¶¶ 6, 19; Def.'s Ex. 5 at ¶ 1(c).) At most, Mr. Goodman swears under oath that he merely informed "Mr. Clark[e] that CHS would receive a credit for payment on account of what CHS owed [CFC] for escrowed Barnert Settlement [f]unds transferred to [CFC]. . . ." (Goodman Reply Aff. ¶ 14.) In disputing the existence of the oral agreement, CFC contends that there was no credible reason for CFC to re-escrow the Barnert Settlement Funds, and that any agreement to do so "would be tantamount to conspiring with CHS to defraud the IRS by subverting their levy for unpaid withholding taxes." (Id. ¶ 14.)

CHS further avers that, instead of re-escrowing the Barnert Settlement funds and remitting the funds to CHS pursuant to the CHS Settlement, CFC "secretly negotiated [the Second Settlement], an agreement which excluded CHS, and kept the $500,000 that had been transferred to it pursuant to the [alleged] oral agreement." (Clarke Aff. ¶ 2.) CFC asserts that it negotiated the Second Settlement "because the lien priority issue had yet to be resolved, and because of the constant threat that St. Vincent['s] might declare bankruptcy." (Goodman Reply Aff. ¶ 16.) In addition, CFC contends that it had withdrawn from the CHS Settlement, and provided express notice to all parties of its withdrawal, by the time the Second Settlement was negotiated. (Id. ¶ 24.)

B. The Instant Allegations

CHS alleges that when CFC retained the Barnert Settlement funds but did not execute the CHS Settlement, it wrongfully converted those funds. (Def.'s Ex. 8 ¶¶ 46-51; Pl.'s Mem. 6-9; Pl.'s Ex. EE ¶¶ 46-51.) In doing so, CHS further alleges that CFC intentionally and fraudulently misrepresented its intent to retain the Barnert Settlement funds and to enter into the CHS settlement, thus damaging CHS in the amount of those funds and unjustly enriching CFC. (Def.'s Ex. 8 ¶¶ 52-60; Pl.'s Mem. 19-25; Pl.'s Ex. EE ¶¶ 52-60.) Finally, CHS contends that CFC breached the covenant of good faith and fair dealing implied in the CHS Settlement when CFC negotiated the Second Settlement and converted funds. (Def.'s Ex. 8 ¶ 67; Pl.'s Ex. EE ¶ 67.) CFC counters that no oral agreement existed, and CFC was entitled to retain the Barnert Settlement funds transferred outright to CFC in express recognition of a lawful debt. (Def.'s Mem. 6, 11-13.)

The summons and complaint are included in the summary judgment record as Defendant's Exhibit 8 and Plaintiff's Exhibit EE.

CHS also alleges that, pursuant to the Second Settlement, CFC attempted to sell to St. Vincent's CFC's purported interest in unfunded accounts receivable owed by St. Vincent's to CHS, in order to deprive CHS of money CHS was owed and to "inequitably cut off CHS's right to recover the value of the accounts from St. Vincent['s]." (Clarke Aff. ¶ 23.) CHS contends that, at the time CFC negotiated the Second Settlement, CFC knew the accounts receivable were merely security for funds advanced to CHS, and that the unfunded receivables were returnable to CHS once CFC received all monies owed to it under the Factoring Agreement. (Id.) CHS cites the decision of the arbitration panel, subsequent to the Second Settlement, in which the arbitrators rejected CFC's attempted sale of the receivables to St. Vincent's on this ground. (Id. ¶ 24; Pl.'s Ex. V at 3, 11-13.) CHS claims that CFC's attempted sale of unfunded receivables breached the covenant of good faith and fair dealing implied in the Factoring Agreement. (Pl.'s Mem. 14-19.)

CFC contends that its sale of the receivables to St. Vincent's was commercially reasonable. (Def.'s Mem. 16-20.) In addition, because CHS recovered in full from St. Vincent's through its arbitration of this claim (see Pl.'s 56.1 ¶ 96), CFC contends that CHS has been fully compensated for any damages arising from CFC's sale of receivables back to St. Vincent's, including attorneys' fees and costs. (Def.'s Reply 16-17; Goodman Reply Aff. ¶ 30.)

In addition, CHS claims that when CFC failed to remit surplus funds to CHS and instead applied those surplus funds to CFC's costs and attorneys' fees, CFC (i) breached the Factoring Agreement and its implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing (Def.'s Ex. 8 ¶¶ 61-64, 67; Pl.'s Mem. 16-19; Pl.'s Ex. EE ¶¶ 61-64, 67), and (ii) was unjustly enriched. (Def.'s Ex. 8 ¶ 59; Pl.'s Mem. 21; Pl.'s Ex. EE ¶ 59). Both parties contend the plain language of the Factoring Agreement supports their position as to whether CFC was entitled to retain and use the surplus funds for legal fees in the instant action. CHS contends that CFC was not entitled to apply the surplus funds to legal costs because (i) any costs and legal fees incurred in this action are outside the scope of the Factoring Agreement's indemnification provisions, and (ii) since CFC wrongfully retained the Barnert Settlement Funds, the Factoring Agreement does not require CHS to indemnify CFC for wrongdoing. (Pl.'s Opp'n 12.) CFC disagrees and argues that the terms of the Factoring Agreement allow CFC to "deduct from surplus [funds] the cost, including attorney[s'] fees, incurred in defending CHS'[s] . . . challenge [to] the [Second] Settlement" (Def.'s Reply 56.1 ¶ 109) because such costs are "collection-related expenses under the Factoring Agreement[]." (Def.'s Reply 56.1 ¶ 110; see also Def.'s Mem. 10-11.) CFC claims that it has since used the entire surplus to defend against CHS's challenges to the Second Settlement. (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 62; Goodman Aff. ¶ 54.)

DISCUSSION

The Court begins by addressing the standards applicable to summary judgment motions, and determining which state law should apply to the claims in this case. The Court then assesses each of plaintiff's allegations premised on CFC's retention of surplus funds pursuant to indemnification provisions in the Factoring Agreement. The Court next evaluates those claims that are contingent on the existence of an alleged oral agreement regarding the Barnert Settlement funds. Finally, the Court turns to CHS's claim premised on CFC's transfer of receivables to St. Vincent's under the Second Settlement.

I. Standard of Review

Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure allows for the entry of summary judgment where "the pleadings, the discovery and disclosure materials on file, and any affidavits show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). The party moving for summary judgment bears the "heavy burden" of demonstrating that no genuine issue as to any material fact exists and that it is therefore entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Nationwide Life Ins. Co. v. Bankers Leasing Ass'n, Inc., 182 F.3d 157, 160 (2d Cir. 1999); accord Atl. Mut. Ins. Co. v. CSX Lines, L.L.C., 432 F.3d 428, 433 (2d Cir. 2005) ("`The burden of showing that no genuine factual dispute exists rests on the party seeking summary judgment. . . .'" (quoting Sec. Ins. Co. of Hartford v. Old Dominion Freight Line Inc., 391 F.3d 77, 83 (2d Cir. 2004))); Chambers v. TRM Copy Ctrs. Corp., 43 F.3d 29, 36 (2d Cir. 1994) (Kearse, J.). Nonetheless, summary judgment "is properly regarded not as a disfavored procedural shortcut, but rather as an integral part of the Federal Rules as a whole, which are designed to secure the just, speedy and inexpensive determination of every action." Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 327 (1986).

A district court "must resolve all ambiguities and draw all inferences in favor of the non-moving party," such that "[i]f there is any evidence in the record from which a reasonable inference could be drawn in favor of the non-moving party on a material issue of fact, summary judgment is improper."Westinghouse Credit Corp. v. D'Urso, 278 F.3d 138, 145 (2d Cir. 2002); accord Brown v. Cara, 420 F.3d 148, 152 (2d Cir. 2005) ("We will affirm the District Court's grant of summary judgment to defendants only if, based on facts not in genuine dispute and drawing all inferences in favor of plaintiffs, defendants are entitled to judgment on the merits as a matter of law."). Of course, "`the mere existence of some alleged factual dispute between the parties will not defeat an otherwise properly supported motion for summary judgment; the requirement is that there be no genuine issue of material fact.'" Lang v. Ret. Living Publ'g Co., 949 F.2d 576, 580 (2d Cir. 1991) (quoting Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247-48 (1986)). "A dispute as to a material fact is `genuine,' and hence summary judgment is not appropriate, under this standard, only `if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.'" Id. (quoting Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248); accord N.Y. Stock Exch., Inc. v. New York, N.Y. Hotel LLC, 293 F.3d 550, 554 (2d Cir. 2002). "[T]he law provides no magical talisman or compass that will serve as an unerring guide to determine when a material issue of fact is presented. As is so often true in the law, this is a matter of informed and properly reasoned judgment." Am. Mfrs. Mut. Ins. Co. v. Am. Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres, Inc., 388 F.2d 272, 279 (2d Cir. 1967).

II. Choice of Law

It should be noted that neither party has offered a choice-of-laws analysis to determine which state law should apply to the claims in this case. Thus, choice of law is the first issue the Court must address. Arkwright-Boston Mfrs. Ins. Co. v. Calvert Fire Ins. Co., 887 F.2d 437, 439 (2d Cir. 1989) (Winter, J.).

Although neither party has addressed choice-of-law issues, CFC has briefed both Virginia and New York law in their papers, while CHS addresses primarily Virginia law, except for its discussions of unjust enrichment and conversion, which also refer to New York law, and its discussions of fraud, which only refer to New York law.

As a general matter, a district court sitting in diversity jurisdiction applies the choice-of-law rules of the state in which it sits. See Klaxon Co. v. Stentor Elec. Mfg. Co., 313 U.S. 487, 496 (1941); Lee v. Bankers Trust Co., 166 F.3d 540, 545 (2d Cir. 1999) (McLaughlin, J.). Thus, New York law will apply for purposes of determining which state's substantive law will govern the claims in this case. Wall v. CSX Transp., Inc., 471 F.3d 410, 415 (2d Cir. 2006). Here, the Factoring Agreement contains a choice-of-law provision that looks to Virginia law, and "[a]s a general rule, choice of law provisions . . . are valid and enforceable in [New York]." Terwilliger v. Terwilliger, 206 F.3d 240, 245 (2d Cir. 2000) (quoting Marine Midland Bank, N.A. v. United Mo. Bank, N.A., 223 A.D.2d 119, 643 N.Y.S.2d 528, 530 (N.Y.App.Div. 1996)) (internal quotation marks removed);Village on Canon v. Bankers Trust Co., 920 F. Supp. 520, 526 (S.D.N.Y. 1996) ("Choice of law clauses in loan documents and contracts are generally honored in New York." (citations omitted)); Freedman v. Chem. Constr. Corp., 43 N.Y.2d 260, 265 n. *, 372 N.E.2d 12, 15 n. * (N.Y. 1977) ("As a general matter, the parties' manifested intentions to have an agreement governed by the law of a particular jurisdiction are honored." (citation omitted)).

Moreover, "New York law is clear in cases involving a contract with an express choice-of-law provision: Absent fraud or violation of public policy, a court is to apply the law selected in the contract as long as the state selected has sufficient contacts with the transaction." Hartford Fire Ins. Co. v. Orient Overseas Containers Lines, 230 F.3d 549, 556 (2d Cir. 2000) (citation omitted); accord MSF Holding Ltd. v. Fiduciary Trust Co. Int'l, 435 F. Supp. 2d 285, 293 (S.D.N.Y. 2006) (Leisure, J.) (same), aff'd 234 F. App'x 827 (2d Cir. 2007); see also Cap Gemini Ernst Young, U.S., L.L.C. v. Nackel, 346 F.3d 360, 365 (2d Cir. 2003) (per curiam) ("[A]lthough, New York courts generally defer to the choice of law made by the parties to a contract . . . New York law allows a court to disregard the parties' choice when the most significant contacts with the matter in dispute are in another state." (internal quotations and citations removed)).

Here, relevant considerations weigh in favor of interpreting the provisions of the Factoring Agreement under Virginia law: defendant maintains its principal place of business in Virginia and the agreement specifies that Virginia is the forum of choice, which create sufficient contacts with Virginia; based on the record, there is no basis to conclude that application of Virginia law would perpetuate any fraud or violate public policy. Thus, Virginia substantive law will apply to those contract claims arising out of the use of the surplus funds pursuant to the terms of the Factoring Agreement.

Because breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing is a contractual cause of action, and the choice of law provision applies to the interpretation and enforcement of the contract, Virginia law applies to CHS's implied covenant claim arising out of the terms of the Factoring Agreement. See Commerce and Indus. Ins. Co. v. U.S. Bank Nat'l Ass'n, No. 07 Civ. 5731, 2008 WL 4178474, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 3, 2008) (finding that breach of duty to act in good faith, as controlled by the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, is treated as a breach of contract claim for purposes of applying choice-of-law provisions); Butvin v. Doubleclick, Inc., No. 99 Civ. 4727, 2001 WL 228121, at *7 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 7, 2001) (Keenan, J.) (holding that claim for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing was a contractual claim and fell within scope of choice-of-law provision indicating agreement would be governed and construed according to Delaware law).

However, under New York law, extra-contractual claims "are outside the scope of contractual choice-of-law provisions that specify what law governs construction of the terms of the contract . . ." Finance One Pub. Co. Ltd. v. Lehman Bros. Special Fin., Inc., 414 F.3d 325, 335 (2d Cir. 2005), cert. denied, 548 U.S. 904 (2006); Klock v. Lehman Bros. Kuhn Loeb, Inc., 584 F. Supp. 210, 215 (S.D.N.Y. 1984) (stating that, under New York law, "[a] contractual choice of law provision governs only a cause of action sounding in contract"). Thus, with respect to CHS's tort and quasi-contract claims, under New York law, the first step in a choice-of-law analysis is to determine whether an actual conflict of laws exists. Wall, 471 F.3d at 415; Curley v. AMR Corp., 153 F.3d 5, 12 (2d Cir. 1998); In reAllstate Ins. Co. (Stolarz), 81 N.Y.2d 219, 223, 613 N.E.2d 936, 937 (1993). An actual conflict of laws exists where there are "relevant substantive differences that could have a significant impact on the outcome of the case." Finance One, 414 F.3d at 332. "If no conflict is found between the law of the forum and any other jurisdiction whose law is invoked, then the Court should apply the law of the forum." Alitalia Linee Aeree Italiane, S.p.A. v. Airline Tariff Pub. Co., 580 F. Supp. 2d 285, 290 (S.D.N.Y. 2008) (citing Excess Ins. Co. v. Factory Mut. Ins. Co., 2 A.D.3d 150, 151, 769 N.Y.S.2d 487 (N.Y.App.Div. 2003), aff'd 3 N.Y.3d 577, 789 N.Y.S.2d 461 (N.Y. 2004)); see also Eagle Access, LLC v. BHA, Inc., No. 05 Civ. 2837, 2007 WL 193725, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 25, 2007) ("Under New York law, the first step in any case presenting a potential choice of law issue is to determine whether there is an actual conflict between the laws of the jurisdictions involved; if no conflict exists, then the inquiry ends." (citing Stolarz, 81 N.Y.2d at 223, 613 N.E.2d at 937)).

The Court looks to New York law to determine the scope of a contractual choice-of-law clause. Finance One, 414 F.3d at 333. Although the Second Circuit has noted New York courts' reluctance to construe choice-of-law clauses to encompass non-contractual causes of action, id. at 334, the clause here, which states the Factoring Agreement "shall be interpreted according to the law of the Commonwealth of Virginia," is clearly not "sufficiently broad" to reach claims "incident to the contract." See Krock v. Lipsay, 97 F.3d 640, 645 (2d Cir. 1996). Compare Capital Z Fin. Svcs. Fund II, L.P. v. Health Net, Inc., 43 A.D. 3d 100, 109, 840 N.Y.S.2d 16, 23 (N.Y.App.Div. July 5, 2007) (acknowledging that "a limited choice of law provisions may not determine claims of fraud," but finding that plaintiff's fraud claim fell squarely within broad terminology of choice-of-law provision that encompassed "`all issues' concerning `enforcement of the rights and duties of the parties'") (citation omitted), with Krock, 97 F.3d at 645 (finding choice-of-law clause stating document would "be governed by and construed in accordance with laws of Commonwealth of Massachusetts" was not sufficiently broad as to encompass tort claims), and Knieriemen v. Bache Halsey Stuart Shields, Inc. 74 A.D. 2d 290, 293, 427 N.Y.S.2d 10, 12-13 (N.Y.App.Div. 1980) (holding choice-of-law clause that "recited that `[t]his contract shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York" did not bind parties as to causes of action in tort),overruled on other grounds by Rescildo v. R.H. Macy's, 187 A.D.2d 112, 114, 594 N.Y.S.2d 139, 142 (N.Y.App.Div. 1993).

As discussed further below, there is no actual conflict with respect to New York and Virginia law on the extra-contractual claims. Accordingly, this Court will apply New York law to the tort and quasi-contract claims arising out of the use of the Barnert Settlement funds. In addition, since there is no discernable difference on the contract formation issues under the laws of New York or Virginia, the Court will assess CHS's allegation that an oral agreement existed between CFC and CHS under New York law. Similarly, the Court will also apply New York law to CHS's claims for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing arising out of CFC's alleged failure to complete the CHS Settlement and execution of the Second Settlement, as the laws of New York and Virginia are in accord on these implied covenant claims.

III. Claims Arising Out of the Use of the Surplus Funds

CFC argues that it is entitled to summary judgment dismissing CHS's claims for breach of the Factoring Agreement, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and unjust enrichment in connection with CFC's withholding of the surplus funds because the plain language of the Factoring Agreement permits CFC to retain the surplus in anticipation of legal fees and costs it would incur in defending the validity of the Second Settlement, and to offset the surplus otherwise due to CHS with attorneys' fees associated with the collection of factored accounts and with defending matters arising from the Factoring Agreement, including in this action. (See Def.'s Mem. 10-11.) CHS contends that the plain language of the Factoring Agreement does not permit CFC to retain and use the surplus money to pay attorneys' fees and costs incurred after CFC compromised and settled its claims in the Second Settlement. (See Pl.'s Mem. 12.)

A. Interpretation of Attorneys' Fees and Setoff Provisions

i. Applicable Law

In contract disputes, the Court may only grant summary judgment where the contract's language is unambiguous. See World-Wide Rights Ltd. P'ship v. Combe Inc., 955 F.2d 242, 245 (4th Cir. 1992). The first step is "to determine whether, as a matter of law, the contract is ambiguous or unambiguous on its face." Id. A contract is ambiguous if "`susceptible of two reasonable interpretations.'" Id. (quoting Am. Fidelity Cas. Co. v. London Edinburgh Ins. Co., 354 F.2d 214, 216 (4th Cir. 1965)); see also Atalla v. Abdul-Baki, 976 F.2d 189, 192 (4th Cir. 1992) ("`If there is more than one permissible inference as to intent to be drawn from the language employed, the question of the parties' actual intention is a triable issue of fact.'" (quotingBear Brand Hosiery Co. v. Tights, Inc., 605 F.2d 723, 726 (4th Cir. 1979))). However, "a document is not ambiguous merely because the parties disagree as to the meaning of the language employed by them in expressing their agreement." Amos v. Coffey, 228 Va. 88, 92, S.E.2d 335, 337 (Va. 1984) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).

If the Court properly concludes that the contract is "unambiguous on the dispositive issue, it may then properly interpret the contract as a matter of law and grant summary judgment because no interpretive facts are in genuine issue."World-Wide Rights, 955 F.2d at 245. Even where, as a matter of law, the Court finds the contract language ambiguous, the Court may still examine extrinsic evidence provided on the record "and, if that evidence is, as a matter of law, dispositive of the interpretive issue, grant summary judgment on that basis." Id. (citing Jaftex Corp. v. Aetna Cas. and Sur. Co., 617 F.2d 1062, 1063 (4th Cir. 1980)). Where extrinsic evidence provided on the record leaves genuine issues of material fact in interpreting the contract, summary judgment is inappropriate. Atalla, 976 F.2d at 195.

ii. Application

The first question this Court must answer is whether the attorneys' fees and setoff provisions in the Factoring Agreement are unambiguous. Pursuant to those provisions, CHS agreed to appoint CFC or any of its agents as its "true and lawful attorney-in-fact" to act on behalf of CHS in the collection of factored accounts receivable, and, in the event of an account debtor's default, if any claim under the Factoring Agreement were referred to an attorney or an attorney were to undertake collection of such a claim, CHS agreed to pay reasonable attorneys' fees "incurred by [CFC] in attempting or effectuating collection" under the Factoring Agreement. (Def.'s Exs. 2-3; Pl.'s Exs. B, D.) CFC also retained the right to "setoff any obligations owing to it by [CHS] against any funds or property held by [CFC] without notice to [CHS]." (Def.'s Ex. 2; Pl.'s Ex. B.)

The phrase "in attempting or effectuating collection hereunder" plainly includes the negotiation and execution of the Second Settlement, which resolved collection on factored accounts with St. Vincent's. However, it seems the issue is whether a trier of fact could reasonably conclude that the attorneys' fees and setoff provisions plainly encompass future legal costs CFC anticipated it would incur in defending the validity of the Second Settlement. This Court finds, as a matter of law, that the plain and unambiguous language of the Factoring Agreement does not support such a conclusion. See Centennial Broad., LLC v. Burns, 254 F. App'x 977, 981-82 (4th Cir. 2007) (per curiam) ("Under Virginia law, when the terms of a contract are clear and unambiguous, the interpretation of those terms presents a question of law." (citation omitted)).

First, CHS's liability for CFC's attorneys' fees is clearly limited to the specific instance of collecting on factored receivables. Second, CHS's obligation to pay attorneys' fees "incurred by [CFC] in attempting or effectuating collection" is written in the perfective. Once CFC executed the Second Settlement, thereby effectuating collection of factored receivables, it was obligated to calculate the difference between the amount paid to CFC on account of the factored receivables and monies advanced to CHS, less certain costs. At that point, CFC exercised its contractual rights by factoring into its calculations the reasonable legal fees that CFC had incurred effectuating collection of the receivables, and determined that it was obligated to remit surplus monies to CHS. (See Def.'s Ex. 19.) The attorneys' fees provisions are not written broadly enough to permit CFC to retain the surplus to apply against expenses CFC might incur after collecting on CHS's indebtedness. See also Bonnie Co. Fashions, Inc. v. Bankers Trust Co., 955 F. Supp. 203, 215-20 (S.D.N.Y. 1997) (holding merchandiser was liable for attorneys' fees incurred by bank as "expenses of collection" under Factoring Agreement's attorneys' fees indemnification clause, but clause was not so unmistakably clear as to encompass legal costs arising out of litigation between the parties on contract claims), reconsideration denied, 171 F.R.D. 79 (S.D.N.Y. 1997); cf. Lone Mountain Processing, Inc. v. Bowser-Morner, Inc., No. 2:00CV00093, 2005 WL 1894957, at *7 (W.D. Va. Aug. 10, 2005) (finding that express language of indemnification provision in contract governed by Virginia law, which encompassed "`all claims, demands, or lawsuits . . . aris[ing] from or . . . connected with'" contract, was broad enough to cover damages incurred after technical completion of contract itself).

Similarly, the only reasonable reading of CFC's contractual right to "setoff any obligations owing to it by [CHS]" is that the provision creates a right to setoff a sum certain for a debt already owing to CFC, not an unliquidated amount CFC might incur in the future. As such, CFC cannot rely on the setoff language for the proposition that it had unbridled discretion to retain the surplus monies to setoff against future attorneys' fees it might or might not incur defending the validity of the Second Settlement. Indeed, the surplus provision would have little meaning if CFC could indefinitely hold monies it identified as surplus.

Accordingly, defendant's proffered interpretation of the attorneys' fees provisions is rejected as a matter of law. Defendant's motion for summary judgment on the breach of contract claim arising out of CFC's retention of the surplus funds is denied.

Given the Court's reading of the indemnification and setoff provisions in the Factoring Agreement and defendant's undisputed use of the surplus funds to cover legal fees in the instant action, at trial, plaintiff will need to prove what damages, if any, it has actually incurred.

B. Breach of Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing

i. Applicable Law

"Under Virginia law, every [commercial] contract contains an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; however, a breach of those duties only gives rise to a breach of contract claim, not a separate cause of action." Frank Brunckhorst Co., L.L.C. v. Coastal Atl., Inc., 542 F. Supp. 2d 452, 462 (E.D. Va. 2008) (citation omitted); accord Charles E. Brauer Co. v. NationsBank of Va., N.A., 251 Va. 28, 33, 466 S.E.2d 382, 385 (Va. 1996) (holding that "the failure to act in good faith . . . does not amount to an independent tort" and "the breach of the implied duty . . . gives rise only to a cause of action for breach of contract" (citation omitted)); see also Va. Vermiculite, Ltd. v. W.R. Grace Co., 156 F.3d 535, 542 (4th Cir. 1998) ("[I]t is a basic principle of contract law in Virginia, as elsewhere, that although the duty of good faith does not prevent a party from exercising its explicit contractual rights, a party may not exercise contractual discretion in bad faith, even when such discretion is vested solely in that party." (citation omitted)); Richmond Metro. Auth. v. McDevitt St. Bovis, Inc., 256 Va. 553, 558, 507 S.E.2d 344, 347 (Va. 1998) ("[A] party can, in certain circumstances, show both a breach of contract and a tortious breach of duty. . . . However, "the duty tortiously or negligently breached must be . . . not one existing between the parties solely by virtue of the contract." (internal quotation marks and citations omitted)).

CFC erroneously interprets Ward's Equip., Inc. v. New Holland N. Am., 254 Va. 379, 385, 493 S.E.2d 516, 520 (Va. 1997), as standing for the proposition that Virginia law does not recognize a claim for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. The Virginia Supreme Court's statement in Ward's that "when parties to a contract create valid and binding rights, an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing is inapplicable to those rights," 254 Va. at 385, 493 S.E. 2d at 520, applies only insofar as the alleged breach concerns conduct premised on explicit contractual rights.

ii. Application

Here, plaintiff's implied covenant claim is premised on the same set of facts underlying CHS's claim for breach of contract. Because an allegation of breach of the contractual duty of good faith and fair dealing is considered a breach of the underlying contract, see Frank Brunckhorst Co., 542 F. Supp. 2d at 462;Charles E. Brauer Co., 251 Va. at 33, 466 S.E.2d at 385, CHS's claim is redundant as a matter of law. Accordingly, summary judgment is granted in favor of defendant on CHS's claim for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing predicated on CFC's retention and use of the surplus funds.

C. Unjust Enrichment

Since CHS's unjust enrichment claim is not within the scope of the contractual choice-of-law provision in the Factoring Agreement, the Court disposes of this claim under New York law, as Virginia and New York law are in accord with respect to this issue, and the claim would thus be dismissed as a matter of law in either jurisdiction. See, e.g., Schwam v. XO Commc'n, Inc., No. 05-1060, 2006 U.S. App. LEXIS 7428, *5 (4th Cir. Mar. 24, 2006) ("[U]nder Virginia law, an unjust enrichment claim will not lie when an express contract exists between the parties."); Frank Brunckhorst Co., 542 F. Supp. 2d at 465 ("[A] party may not recover for claims sounding in quasi-contract or unjust enrichment when an express or implied contract already governs its relationship with a defendant." (citations and internal quotation marks omitted)); Vollmar v. CSX Transp., Inc., 705 F. Supp. 1154, 1176 (E.D. Va. 1989) ("Unjust enrichment claims can arise only where . . . there is no express contract, whether written, oral or both."), aff'd 898 F.2d 413 (4^th Cir. 1990).

To the extent that CHS argues that CFC has been unjustly enriched by retaining the surplus funds and offsetting legal costs against those funds (see Pl.'s Mem. 19, 21), such claim must be dismissed as a matter of law. The undisputed existence of a valid, controlling contract — in this case, the Factoring Agreement — bars a claim for unjust enrichment. See, e.g., Beth Israel Med. Ctr. v. Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield of N.J., Inc., 448 F.3d 573, 587 (2d Cir. 2006) (dismissing unjust enrichment claim on account of contractual relationship between parties); Valley Juice Ltd. Inc. v. Evian Waters of Fr., Inc., 87 F.3d 604, 610 (2d Cir. 1996) ("`The existence of a valid and enforceable written contract governing a particular subject matter ordinarily precludes recovery in quasi contract for events arising out of the same subject matter.'" (quotingClark-Fitzpatrick, Inc. v. Long Island R.R. Co., 516 N.E.2d 190, 193, 521 N.Y.S.2d 633, 656 (N.Y. 1987))). Therefore, summary judgment is granted to defendant with respect to CHS's unjust enrichment claim premised on CFC's retention of the surplus funds.

IV. Claims Arising Out of the Use of the Barnert Settlement Funds

CHS's claims for conversion and unjust enrichment are premised on the idea that CFC unlawfully appropriated funds belonging to CHS when CFC failed to re-escrow the Barnert Settlement Funds for CHS's benefit and instead applied those funds to partially satisfy CFC's claims against CHS. In addition, CHS claims that CFC committed fraud by misrepresenting its intention to retain the Barnert Settlement Funds, rather than re-escrowing those funds for CHS's benefit. CHS also asserts that CFC breached the covenant of good faith and fair dealing when CFC secretly entered into the Second Settlement, which excluded CHS, and allegedly converted the Barnert Settlement funds.

A. Existence of Oral Agreement

At the outset, the Court turns to plaintiff's pivotal assertion that an oral agreement existed between CHS and CFC with regard to the Barnert Settlement funds because plaintiff's conversion, unjust enrichment, fraud, and breach of implied covenant claims arise out of the alleged breach of this purported oral contract. For the reasons discussed below, the Court finds that CHS has not raised a triable issue of fact regarding the existence of such an oral agreement.

The terms of the alleged oral agreement are somewhat unclear because the terms as characterized by CHS during the First Action are different from those described in CHS's briefing papers on summary judgment. In its briefing papers, CHS claims that CFC promised to re-escrow the Barnert Settlement funds for CHS's eventual benefit. However, in a January 20, 2003 letter to Mr. Goodman, Mr. Clarke characterizes the promise as one to escrow from CFC's portion of the contemplated CHS Settlement "an amount equal to the proceeds of the Barnert Settlement ($500,000)" pending the disposition of counterclaims BMS asserted against CFC. (Goodman Reply Aff. ¶ 20; Def.'s Ex. 23; Pl.'s Ex. W.)

i. Parol Evidence Rule

Defendant argues that the October 28, 2002 letter from CHS's counsel authorizing CFC's counsel to release and remit the escrowed Barnert Settlement funds to CFC in partial satisfaction of CFC's claims against CHS constitutes a fully integrated writing, and thus, defendant's alleged antecedent promise to re-escrow those funds is barred by the parol evidence rule. (See Def.'s Reply 9.)

Generally, this Circuit disfavors raising new issues or arguments on reply. See, e.g., Keefe v. Shalala, 71 F.3d 1060, 1066 n. 2 (2d Cir. 1995) (citation omitted); Knipe v. Skinner, 999 F.2d 708, 711 (2d Cir. 1993) (Winter, J.). However, here, defendant's argument responds to plaintiff's new theory in its opposition brief that the oral agreement is an oral modification of the Factoring Agreement (see Pl.'s Mem. 2-3), and thus the Court may properly consider defendant's arguments. See Scherer v. Equitable Life Assur. Soc'y of the U.S., No. 01 Civ. 10193, 2004 WL 2101932, at *5 n. 1 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 21, 2004) (deciding defendant's motion for partial summary judgment based on grounds asserted in moving brief and in reply brief, to extent reply papers addressed plaintiff's opposition arguments); Bonnie Co. Fashions, Inc. v. Bankers Trust Co., 945 F. Supp. 693, 708 (S.D.N.Y. 1996) (stating that "reply papers may properly address new issues raised in the opposition papers" (internal quotation marks and citation omitted)), abrogated on other grounds by TVT Records v. Island Def Jam Music Group, 412 F.3d 82 (2d Cir. 2005). The Court briefly notes that it finds no merit to CHS's argument that the alleged oral agreement modified the Factoring Agreement. (Pl.'s Mem. 2-3.) A written contract that is not required to be in writing by the Statute of Frauds may be modified by a new oral contract. See Lindsay v. McEnearney Assocs., Inc., 260 Va. 48, 53, 531 S.E.2d 573, 576 (Va. 2000);Reid v. Boyle, 259 Va. 356, 369, 527 S.E.2d 137, 144-45 (Va. 2000). If the Statute of Frauds requires a contract to be in writing, however, any modification to that contract must also be in writing. See Lindsay, 260 Va. at 52; 531 S.E.2d at 575-76. If subsequent oral modification is permitted, plaintiff must prove mutual assent to the oral modification by "clear, unequivocal and convincing evidence, direct or implied." Reid, 259 Va. at 370, 527 S.E.2d at 145. Plaintiff must also show the modification was supported by consideration. Id. Because the Statute of Frauds requires that "[a]ny agreement or promise to lend money or extend credit in an aggregate amount of $25,000 or more must be in writing to be enforceable," Charles E. Brauer Co., 251 Va. at 34, 466 S.E.2d at 385 (citing Va. Code Ann. § 11-2(9)), any subsequent modification of the Factoring Agreement must also be in writing and signed by the party to be charged. See Lindsay, 260 Va. at 52; 531 S.E.2d at 575-76. Notwithstanding that CHS has not provided clear, unequivocal, and convincing evidence that any oral agreement was reached, as explained infra, and it is entirely unclear from CHS's brief how the Factoring Agreement was purportedly modified, any alleged oral modification of the Factoring Agreement would not be enforceable.

a. Applicable Law

Generally, the parol evidence rule prohibits the use of prior or contemporaneous oral agreements to explain, modify, vary, or supplement "the meaning of a contract that the parties have reduced to an unambiguous integrated writing." Gualandi v. Adams, 385 F.3d 236, 241 (2d Cir. 2004) (citing 11 Richard A. Lord, Williston on Contracts § 33:1, at 541 (4th ed. 1999)); see FaceTime Commc'ns, Inc. v. Reuters Ltd., No. 08 Civ. 4730, 2008 WL 2853389, at *5 (S.D.N.Y. July 22, 2008) ("[P]arol evidence about a contract party's unexpressed intentions is inadmissible to vary the plain meaning of the contract's language; in determining the intention of the parties it is their objective manifestations of intent (found in the words of the agreement), not their unexpressed subjective intentions, that control." (citations omitted)); S. Road Assocs., LLC v. Int'l Bus. Machs. Corp., 4 N.Y.3d 272, 278, 826 N.E.2d 806, 809 (N.Y. 2005) ("[E]xtrinsic and parol evidence is not admissible to create an ambiguity in a written agreement which is complete and clear and unambiguous upon its face" (internal quotation marks and citation omitted)).

For the parol evidence rule to apply, the parties must have intended the agreement "to constitute the complete and final expression of their agreement." Gualandi, 385 F.3d at 241 (citingStarter Corp. v. Converse, Inc., 170 F.3d 286, 295 (2d Cir. 1999)); see also Fogelson v. Rackfay Const. Co., 300 N.Y. 334, 338, 90 N.E.2d 881, 882 (N.Y. 1950) (stating that the parol evidence rule "does not, however, apply where the written contract was not intended to embody the entire agreement between the parties"). A written contract is considered integrated when the parties intend it to constitute the complete and final expression of their agreement. Fogelson, 300 N.Y. at 338, 90 N.E.2d at 882; see Mun. Capital Appreciation Partners, I, L.P. v. Page, 181 F. Supp. 2d 379, 392 (S.D.N.Y. 2002) ("If the written document `appears to contain the engagements of the parties, and to define the object and measure the extent of such engagement, [then] it constitutes the contract between them, and is presumed to contain the whole of that contract.'" (quoted reference omitted)); Stroll v. Epstein, 818 F. Supp. 640, 645 (S.D.N.Y. 1993) ("[A] contract which appears complete on its face is an integrated agreement as a matter of law." (internal quotation marks and citation omitted)), aff'd, 9 F.3d 1537 (2d Cir. 1993);Wilson-Gray v. Jay Feinberg Ltd., No. 90 Civ. 0001, 1990 WL 209635, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 17, 1990) (stating that where a writing "seems on its face to be a definite and complete statement of the parties' agreement, parol evidence of antecedent oral agreements, negotiations, or understanding is not admissible to vary or contradict the writing" (citation omitted)).

There is no discernable difference between New York and Virginia law on the parol evidence rule. See, e.g., Va. Elec. and Power Co. v. N. Va. Reg'l Park Auth., 270 Va. 309, 316, 618 S.E.2d 323, 326-27 (Va. 2005) ("`[I]n controversies between two parties to a contract, parol evidence of prior or contemporaneous oral negotiations or stipulations is inadmissible to vary, contradict, add to, or explain the terms of a complete, unambiguous, unconditional, written instrument.'" (quoting Godwin v. Kerns, 178 Va. 447, 451, 17 S.E.2d 410, 412 (Va. 1941)));Durham v. Nat'l Pool Equip. Co. of Va., 205 Va. 441, 446-47, 138 S.E.2d 55, 59 (Va. 1964) ("Under [the parol evidence] rule[,] when the parties set out the terms of their agreement in a clear and explicit writing then such writing is . . . the sole evidence of the agreement. . . . [W]here it is apparent that the written contract is not a complete integration of all prior and contemporaneous negotiations which have been agreed upon by the parties, then parol evidence is admissible to supply those things omitted if . . . not inconsistent with or contrary to the writing." (internal citations omitted)).

In the absence of an express integration clause, the Court reads the writing in light of the surrounding circumstances to determine whether the parties intended the writing to constitute the complete and final expression of their agreement. Starter Corp., 170 F.3d at 295 (citing Bourne v. Walt Disney Co., 68 F.3d 621, 627 (2d Cir. 1995)). Factors the Court considers when making such determination include:

whether the document in question refers to the oral agreement, or whether the alleged oral agreement between the parties is the sort of complex arrangement which is customarily reduced to writing; whether the parties were represented by experienced counsel when they entered into the agreement; whether the parties and their counsel negotiated during a lengthy period, resulting in a specially drawn out and executed agreement, and whether the condition at issue is fundamental; if the contract, which does not include the standard integration clause, nonetheless contains working like `in consideration of the mutual promises herein contained, it is agreed and covenanted as follows,' and ends by stating that `the foregoing correctly sets forth your understanding of your understanding of our Agreement.'

Morgan Stanley High Yield Secs., Inc. v. Seven Circle Gaming Corp., 269 F. Supp. 2d 206, 214 (S.D.N.Y. 2003) (citations omitted).

"[I]f a writing is not integrated, . . . parol evidence of additional contract terms may be admitted to complete the agreement, so long as the additional terms do not contradict the written terms." Joseph Victori Wines, Inc. v. Vina Santa Carolina S.A., 933 F. Supp. 347, 352 (S.D.N.Y. 1996) (citation omitted);see Jofen v. Epoch Biosciences, Inc., No. 01 Civ. 4129, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12189, at *17 (S.D.N.Y. July 8, 2002) (stating that even where writing is not fully integrated, parol evidence may not be admitted to vary or contradict writing's content (citations omitted)).

b. Application

Here, although the operative agreement for determining whether the parol evidence rule applies does not contain a formal integration clause, the writing is not necessarily incomplete.See Kempf v. Mitsui Plastics, Inc., No. 96 Civ. 1106, 1996 WL 673812, at *7 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 20, 1996). On the contrary, the letter signed by CHS's counsel, set forth on firm letterhead, addressed to CFC's counsel, and outlining the terms of the release of the escrowed Barnert Settlement funds appears complete on its face for several reasons. First, it identifies the amount of escrowed funds, the party receiving those funds, the purpose for which the funds were released, and how the funds should be used. In addition, the funds released were the subject of lengthy negotiations between the parties during the First Action, and were placed into escrow pursuant to a stipulation entered into before this Court on October 21, 2002; the funds were only to be released by joint consent of the parties or judgment of the Court. (See Def.'s Ex. 6 at 7:7-18; Pl.'s Ex. H at 7:7-18) Thus, the letter must confirm the parties' joint understanding for the disposition of the escrowed funds. Moreover, the letter includes no mention of the alleged promise to re-escrow the funds, and it is hard to understand why a term so central to the transaction would be omitted from the agreement. See Morgan Stanley, 269 F. Supp. 2d at 215 (finding agreement that lacked integration clause complete on its face where agreement specified contracting parties, the manner, place and price of item to be sold, and where alleged oral funding contingency crucial to contract's enforceability would normally be included in such agreement); Itar-Tass Russian News Agency v. Russian Kuner, No. 95 Civ. 2144, 1999 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1101, at *33-35 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 1, 1999) (Koeltl, J.) (barring parol evidence of alleged oral agreement to cap litigation expenses that contradicted terms of written retainer agreement, which addressed straightforward transaction, set forth payment terms and mutual promises, and where fee cap was central to agreement to pay expenses and would ordinarily be reduced to writing). Finally, the parties do not claim that the letter is unclear or ambiguous. Read in light of the surrounding circumstances, the writing therefore constitutes an integrated agreement between the parties superseding any prior alleged oral promises. As such, the integrated agreement cannot be contradicted or modified by parol evidence.

Even if the agreement were not fully integrated, the parol evidence rule would still bar evidence of the purported antecedent oral agreement because it contradicts the terms of a later writing between the two parties governing the same subject matter. See Petereit v. S.B. Thomas, Inc., 63 F.3d 1169, 1177 (2d Cir. 1995) (finding that even if letters confirming oral negotiations of distributorship agreements were "only partial articulations of the parties' agreements, the parol evidence rule would still operate to exclude oral testimony of contract terms inconsistent with those contained in the writings"). The essential purpose of the oral agreement — the disposition of the escrowed Barnert Settlement funds — was embodied in a subsequent writing: the October 28, 2002 letter, wherein the escrowed funds were released to CFC outright and in partial satisfaction of CFC's claims against CHS. (Def.'s Ex. 7; Pl.'s Ex. M.) Notwithstanding express language to the contrary, CHS asserts that CFC promised to re-escrow those funds for CHS's eventual benefit, rather than applying those funds to CFC's claims against CHS. However, such contractual term is both conspicuously absent from the letter and flatly inconsistent with CHS's instructions to apply the Barnert Settlement funds to partially satisfy CFC's claims against CHS. Therefore, the alleged oral agreement cannot be read compatibly with CHS's written agreement. Evidence of the alleged oral promise is effectively barred in accordance with the parol evidence rule.

Even if parol evidence were admissible, the record does not provide a basis of admissible corroborative evidence from which a reasonable jury could conclude that an oral agreement existed. Other than its attorney's affidavit, CHS relies on a January 2003 letter from CHS's attorney referencing the parties' "prior agreement" to escrow $500,000 from CFC's portion of the CHS Settlement (see Def.'s Ex. 23; Pl.'s Ex. W) and paragraph 14 of the draft CHS Settlement (Def.'s Ex. 12; Pl's Ex. J) to support its claim that an oral agreement existed. The January 2003 letter references terms allegedly part of the failed CHS Settlement, which was never completed due to CHS's unresolved tax liability, but such terms do not actually appear in the draft of the CHS Settlement. In fact, CHS's claim that the oral agreement is memorialized in paragraph 14 of the draft CHS Settlement is entirely unreasonable, as the paragraph clearly refers to funds that would be escrowed pursuant to the Barnert Settlement, which contemplated that Barnert Hospital would make additional payments to escrow in yearly installments of $80,000 commencing October 1, 2003. As a result, CHS has not succeeded in raising a genuine issue of fact regarding the existence of the oral agreement. Therefore, no reasonable juror could conclude that an oral agreement existed in the face of a contradictory integrated writing on the same subject matter between the same parties and entered into after the purported oral agreement was allegedly formed. Cf. Scherer v. Kane, 284 F. App'x 850, 853 (2d Cir. 2008) (holding that parol evidence rule did not bar plaintiffs from introducing evidence to prove existence of oral contract where (i) jury could have concluded that purpose of oral agreement was not inconsistent with written agreement, (ii) jury could have credited plaintiffs' corroborative evidence in form of letter from defendant stating a term of oral agreement, and (iii) where plaintiffs and defendant were not themselves parties to written agreement).

ii. Unlawful Purpose

CFC argues that even assuming, arguendo, an oral agreement between the parties existed, the agreement was made for an illegal purpose, thus rendering the contract unenforceable. (Def.'s Reply 4.)

Although only raised in defendant's reply, this argument is responsive to plaintiff's opposition brief. (See Pl.'s Mem. 5.)

a. Applicable Law

"Contracts for an illegal purpose or contrary to public policy are not enforceable." Beth Israel Med. Ctr., 448 F.3d at 580 (citing 64th Assocs., L.L.C. v. Manhattan Eye, Ear Throat Hosp., 2 N.Y.3d 585, 589-90, 813 N.E.2d 887 (N.Y. 2004) ("Ordinarily, courts are not involved in the oversight or approval of contracts and will enforce them unless illegal, against public policy or deficient in some other respect."));Dornberger v. Metro. Life Ins. Co., 961 F. Supp. 506, 532 (S.D.N.Y. 1997) ("Courts have long recognized that agreements made in violation of law are unenforceable." (citations omitted)); Hartman v. Harris, 810 F. Supp. 82, 84 (S.D.N.Y. 1992) ("It is well settled under New York law that a contract to perform illegal acts is void and unenforceable." (citations and footnote omitted)), aff'd 996 F.2d 301 (2d Cir. 1993). "[E]ven where a contract is not itself unlawful, the bargain may still be illegal under New York law if it is closely connected with an unlawful act." United States v. Bonanno Organized Crime Family of La Cosa Nostra, 879 F.2d 20, 28 (2d Cir. 1989) (citingContemporary Mission, Inc. v. Bonded Mailings, Inc., 671 F.2d 81 (2d Cir. 1982)).

Similarly, under Virginia law, an illegal contract — one with an unlawful object forbidden by statute, common law, or public policy — is void and unenforceable as a matter of law. See Colbert v. Ashland Constr. Co., 176 Va. 500, 11 S.E.2d 612 (1940); Massie v. Dudley, 173 Va. 42, 3 S.E.2d 176 (1939). "[W]hen a plaintiff cannot establish his cause of action without relying upon an illegal contract[,] he cannot recover." Colbert, 176 Va. at 506, 11 S.E.2d at 615; accord Am. Online, Inc. v. GreatDeals.Net, 49 F. Supp. 2d 851, 864 (E.D. Va. 1999) (finding that illegal contract could not form basis for tortious interference with contract claim).

b. Application

CHS admits in the course of briefing this motion that the sole purpose of the purported oral agreement was to evade plaintiff's tax liability to the IRS. CHS claims that it released the funds to CFC in order to trigger the seven-day IRS notice requirement and afford the IRS an opportunity to demonstrate its entitlement to the Barnert Settlement funds was superior to CFC's claim to the funds. (Pl.'s Mem. 5, 9.) Clearly, the objective was to conceal assets from the IRS by appearing to transfer the funds outright to CFC, which had a lien superior to the IRS levy (see Def.'s Reply 5), but in actuality agreeing that CFC would later re-escrow the funds for CHS's eventual benefit. (Pl.'s Mem. 9.) In doing so, CHS could avoid using those funds to pay its debt to the IRS. As a matter of law, such an agreement to conceal assets and evade tax liability would be void and unenforceable under New York law. See 26 U.S.C. § 7201 ("Any person who willfully attempts in any manner to evade or defeat any tax imposed by this title or the payment thereof shall, in addition to other penalties provided by law, be guilty of a felony. . . ."); Sabia v. Mattituck Inlet Marina and Shipyard, Inc., 24 A.D.3d 178, 179, 805 N.Y.S.2d 346, 347 (N.Y.App.Div. 2005) (holding unenforceable a contract for purchase of boat that was falsely documented to avoid sales tax); Parpal Rest., Inc. v. Robert Martin Co., 258 A.D.2d 572, 573, 685 N.Y.S.2d 481, 482 (N.Y.App.Div. 1999) (finding sublease was created for improper tax avoidance, precluding any right of action arising from the unlawful undertaking). The Court thus holds that CHS's claim that an oral agreement existed between the parties is not sufficient to withstand summary judgment.

The Court next turns to CHS's claims arising out of CFC's retention and use of the Barnert Settlement funds. CFC contends that it is entitled to summary judgment on CHS's unjust enrichment and conversion claims because there was no oral agreement to re-escrow the Barnert Settlement funds (Def.'s Reply 5-8), and the funds were transferred outright to CFC to partially pay CHS's lawful debts. (Def.'s Mem. 6, 11-13; Def.'s Reply 10-14.) CFC also argues summary judgment should be granted in its favor on CHS's fraud claim because fraud has not been pled with sufficient particularity (id. 21), and CHS cannot show justifiable reliance on any alleged misrepresentation. (Def.'s Mem. 23.) Finally, CFC argues CHS's implied covenant claims should be dismissed as a matter of law because no contract can form the basis for these claims. (Def.'s Mem. 15.)

B. Conversion

i. Applicable Law

To establish a claim of conversion under New York law, a plaintiff must show the "defendant exercise[d] unauthorized dominion over personal property in interference with a plaintiff's legal title or superior right of possession."LoPresti v. Terwilliger, 126 F.3d 34, 41-42 (2d Cir. 1997) (finding that defendant converted funds by withholding union dues that were to be forwarded to the union pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement and instead paying company creditors with those monies, thus exercising control over the monies in a manner inconsistent with the employees' right to that property) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). "The tort of conversion does not require defendant's knowledge that he [or she] is acting wrongfully, but merely an intent to exercise dominion or control over property in a matter inconsistent with the rights of another." Id. at 42 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). "Money may be the subject of conversion if it is specifically identifiable and there is an obligation to return it or treat it in a particular manner." Capital Dist. Servs., Ltd. v. Ducor Exp. Airlines, Inc., 440 F. Supp. 2d 195, 208 (E.D.N.Y. 2006) (citing Hoffman v. Unterberg, 9 A.D.3d 386, 388, 780 N.Y.S.2d 617 (N.Y.App.Div. 2004), abrogated on other grounds by Tzolis v. Wolff, 10 N.Y.3d 100, 855 N.Y.S.2d 6 (N.Y. 2008)); see High View Fund, L.P. v. Hall, 27 F. Supp. 2d 420, 429 (S.D.N.Y. 1998) ("[U]nder New York law, an action for conversion of money will lie where `there is a specific, identifiable fund and an obligation to return or otherwise treat in a particular manner the specific fund in question.'" (quoting Manufs. Hanover Trust Co. v. Chem. Bank, 160 A.D.2d 113, 124, 559 N.Y.S.2d 704, 712 (N.Y.App. Div. 1990))).

There is no actual conflict between the laws of New York and Virginia on CHS's conversion claim. Virginia law defines conversion as any distinct act of dominion or control wrongfully exerted over the property of another, either inconsistent with, or in denial of, the owner's superior rights. Hairston Motor Co. v. Newsome, 253 Va. 129, 135, 480 S.E.2d 741, 744 (Va. 1997). A plaintiff who shows conversion is entitled to recover, irrespective of defendant's good or bad faith, care or negligence, knowledge or ignorance. Universal C.I.T. Credit Corp. v. Kaplan, 198 Va. 67, 76, 92 S.E.2d 359, 365 (Va. 1956) (citation omitted). "As a rule, a wronged party can recover money converted if the possessor did not receive it in good faith or for valuable consideration, even if the money has changed forms."Fed. Ins. Co. v. Smith, 63 F. App'x 630, 633 (4th Cir. 2003) (citing Bader v. Cent. Fid. Bank, 245 Va. 286, 427 S.E.2d 184 (Va. 1993)).

ii. Application

Here, the Court finds as a matter of law that CHS's conversion claim fails. CHS's conversion claim is predicated on the allegation that CFC is withholding money that rightfully belongs to CHS pursuant to an alleged oral agreement. Because CHS's assertion of an oral agreement cannot withstand summary judgment, CHS has introduced no evidence that it retained a possessory interest in the Barnert Settlement funds susceptible to conversion. See In re Chateaugay Corp., 10 F.3d 944, 957-58 (2d Cir. 1993) (affirming bankruptcy court's dismissal of conversion claim premised on debtors' unlawful appropriation of tax benefits associated with retired assets where claimant introduced no evidence of its possessory interest in any of the tax benefits);see also Fantozzi v. Axsys Techs., Inc., No. 07 Civ. 02667, 2008 WL 4866054, at *9-10 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 6, 2008) (holding that plaintiff's conversion claim failed as a matter of law because plaintiff never had ownership, possession, or control of money, and seeking to enforce an obligation to pay is not actionable as a conversion claim).

According to the October 28, 2002 letter from CHS's counsel to CFC's counsel authorizing CFC's counsel to release and remit the escrowed Barnert Settlement funds to CFC, CHS transferred the funds outright to CFC in partial satisfaction of CFC's claims against CHS. (Def.'s Ex. 7; Pl.'s Ex. M.) Pursuant to the letter, CHS imposed no obligation on CFC to escrow the funds or otherwise treat the funds in a particular manner. Ultimately, CFC applied the $500,000 as indicated in the letter: against amounts loaned to CHS. Thus, the Court finds that no reasonable trier of fact could conclude that CFC converted funds. Defendant's request for summary judgment with respect to the conversion claim is granted.

C. Unjust Enrichment

i. Applicable Law

"`Under New York law, a plaintiff seeking an equitable recovery based on unjust enrichment must first show that a benefit was conferred upon the defendant, and then show that as between the two parties enrichment of the defendant was unjust.'" MacDraw, Inc. v. The CIT Group Equip. Fin., Inc., 157 F.3d 956, 963 (2d Cir. 1998) (per curiam) (citation omitted);accord Kaye v. Grossman, 202 F.3d 611, 616 (2d Cir. 2000) (Sotomayor, J.) ("To prevail on a claim for unjust enrichment in New York, a plaintiff must establish 1) that the defendant benefited; 2) at the plaintiff's expense; and 3) that `equity and good conscience' require restitution." (citation omitted)). The quasi-contractual remedy of unjust enrichment is available where a contractual relationship has failed. Berman v. Sugo LLC, 580 F. Supp. 2d 191, 210 (S.D.N.Y. 2008); see U.S. E. Telecomms., Inc. v. U.S. W. Commc'ns Servs., 38 F.3d 1289, 1299 (2d Cir. 1994) (stating that "when two parties have bargained with each other on the terms of an express contract but have failed to create an enforceable contract, whether because of failure to reach a meeting of the minds on terms or because of noncompliance with some formal requisite of contract law," a party may seek recovery in quasi-contract for the reasonable value of the benefit that party conferred on the other party (citations omitted)); Capital Dist. Servs., 440 F. Supp. 2d at 208 ("Quasi-contract is an obligation imposed by law, in the absence of a valid and enforceable contract, because of the conduct of the parties or some special relationship between them, to prevent unjust enrichment."). Thus, the undisputed existence of a valid written agreement generally bars a party from seeking damages under an unjust enrichment theory. See, e.g., Beth Israel Med. Ctr., 448 F.3d at 586; Valley Juice, 87 F.3d at 610; Fantozzi, 2008 WL 4866054, at *10.

There is no actual conflict between the laws of New York and Virginia on CHS's conversion claim. Under Virginia law, unjust enrichment requires proof that plaintiff conferred a benefit on defendant, and that defendant was unjustly enriched at plaintiff's expense. See Brown v. Resolution Trust Corp., Nos. 93-2597, 94-1104, 1994 U.S. App. LEXIS 18730, at *11 (4th Cir. July 25, 1994); Kern v. Freed, Co., 224 Va. 678, 680-81, 299 S.E.2d 363, 364-65 (Va. 1983); see also Nossen v. Hoy, 750 F. Supp. 740, 744-45 (E.D. Va. 1990) ("To establish a quasi-contract a plaintiff generally must show three elements: (1) A benefit conferred on the defendant by the plaintiff; (2) Knowledge on the part of defendant of the conferring of the benefit; and (3) Acceptance or retention of the benefit by the defendant in circumstances that render it inequitable for the defendant to retain the benefit without paying for its value." (citations omitted)). The remedy is available where the facts indicate that the parties failed to establish any form of agreement. Nossen, 750 F. Supp. at 744.

ii. Application

Plaintiff contends that allowing defendant to retain the benefit of the $500,000 settlement funds without honoring the alleged oral agreement to re-escrow those funds for CHS's benefit would be unjust. (Pl.'s Mem. 21.) As a matter of law, this Court concludes that CFC was not unjustly enriched by its retention of the Barnert Settlement Funds. As discussed above, CHS's assertion of an oral agreement is insufficient to withstand summary judgment, and therefore cannot form the basis for its unjust enrichment claim. Furthermore, CHS recognized in writing "that the claim of Commerce Funding Corporation [was] well in excess of $500,000 and wishe[d] to apply the $500,000 against that claim." (Def.'s Ex. 7; Pl.'s Ex. M.) Not only can CHS not maintain an unjust enrichment claim in the face of an express written agreement clearly releasing the funds outright and unconditionally to CFC, but CHS's admission that the settlement funds were insufficient to cover CHS's outstanding debt to CFC squarely contradicts that CFC was enriched at CHS's expense. Thus, no reasonable trier of fact could find that CFC's retention of the funds was unjust. Defendant's request for summary judgment with respect to the unjust enrichment claim is granted.

D. Fraud

i. Applicable Law

Under New York law, the elements of a fraud claim are: "`(1) the defendant made a material false representation, (2) the defendant intended to defraud the plaintiff thereby, (3) the plaintiff reasonably relied upon the representation, and (4) the plaintiff suffered damage as a result of such reliance.'" Manning v. Utils. Mut. Ins. Co., 254 F.3d 387, 400 (2d Cir. 2001) (quoting Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. v. Recovery Credit Servs., 98 F.3d 13, 19 (2d Cir. 1996)); accord Lama Holding Co. v. Smith Barney, Inc., 88 N.Y.2d 413, 421, 668 N.E.2d 1370, 1373 (N.Y. 1996). Failure to fulfill a promise to perform a future act does not give rise to a cause of action for fraud "unless there existed an intent not to perform at the time the promise was made." Cohen v. Koenig, 25 F.3d 1168, 1172 (2d Cir. 1994) (Kearse, J.) (citations omitted).

The Court notes that there is no actual conflict between the elements of fraud under New York and Virginia law. "A party pursuing a cause of action for fraud in Virginia must prove by clear and convincing evidence all of the elements of fraud: (1) a false representation, (2) of material fact, (3) made intentionally and knowingly, (4) with intent to mislead, (5) reliance by the party misled, and (6) damages resulting from that reliance." Bank of Montreal v. Signet Bank, 193 F.3d 818, 826 (4th Cir. 1999) (citing Van Deusen v. Snead, 247 Va. 324, 441 S.E.2d 207, 209 (Va. 1994)); see A E Supply Co., Inc. v. Nationwide Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 798 F.2d 669, 672 (4th Cir. 1986) ("Virginia law defines actual fraud as the knowing misrepresentation of a material fact to another person, whose reasonable reliance on the misrepresentation results in damage." (citing Packard Norfolk, Inc. v. Miller, 198 Va. 557, 95 S.E.2d 207, 210 (Va. 1956))). "`[F]raud . . . cannot ordinarily be predicated on unfulfilled promises or statements as to future events.'" A E Supply, 798 F.2d at 672 (quoting Soble v. Herman, 175 Va. 489, 9 S.E.2d 459, 464 (Va. 1940)). However, where a person makes a promise that, when made, he does not intend to perform, that promise is a misrepresentation of present fact and is actionable as an actual fraud." Richmond Metro. Auth. v. McDevitt St. Bovis, Inc., 256 Va. 553, 559-60, 507 S.E.2d 344 (Va. 1998)).

In addition, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b) provides that "[i]n alleging fraud or mistake, a party must state with particularity the circumstances constituting fraud or mistake. Malice, intent, knowledge, and other conditions of a person's mind may be alleged generally." Fed.R.Civ.P. 9(b). In accordance with Rule 9(b), a claim for fraud must allege "the time, place, speaker, and sometimes even the content of the alleged misrepresentation." Ouaknine v. MacFarlane, 897 F.2d 75, 79 (2d Cir. 1990).

ii. Application

Although it is arguable whether CHS has pled its fraud claim with sufficient particularity to satisfy Rule 9(b), the Court need not address this issue. Even if fraud has been pled with sufficient particularity, such claim must be dismissed as a matter of law.

First, CHS has failed to demonstrate its reliance on the alleged misrepresentation of CFC's intent to re-escrow and eventually return the Barnert Settlement funds to CHS. According to its October 28, 2002 letter, CHS clearly released the escrowed $500,000 to CFC outright and in partial satisfaction of amounts CHS owed to CFC. (Def.'s Ex. 7; Pl.'s Ex. M.) The letter acknowledges that CFC's claims against CHS were "well in excess" of the amount of escrowed funds. (Def.'s Ex. 7; Pl.'s Ex. M.) CFC's alleged material misrepresentation is thus directly contradicted by the terms of CHS's written authorization for release of the funds, which CHS itself drafted, and which fails to include any of CFC's alleged promises in enforceable terms.See Lazard Freres, 108 F.3d at 1543 (finding that, as a matter of law, a party's failure to insert appropriate language for his protection into a contract "by itself[]renders reliance on the misrepresentation unreasonable"); Robinson v. Deutsche Bank Trust Co. Ams., 572 F. Supp. 2d 319, 323 (S.D.N.Y. 2008) (Jones, J.) ("New York courts have determined as a matter of law that a party's reliance was unreasonable where the alleged misrepresentation is explicitly contradicted by the written agreement." (citing Alter v. Bogoricin, No. 97 Civ. 0662, 1997 WL 691332, at *9 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 6, 1997) (finding that plaintiff's claim that he was fraudulently induced by pre-contractual promises was "defeated by the stark fact that it was within his power to incorporate those promises — in enforceable terms — into the . . . Agreement"))). Although reasonable reliance is largely an issue of fact, see Spencer Trask Software and Info. Servs. LLC v. RPost Int'l Ltd., 383 F. Supp. 2d 428, 452 (S.D.N.Y. 2003) (Leisure, J.), based on the evidence in the record, no reasonable trier of fact could find that CHS reasonably relied on CFC's alleged misrepresentation.

Moreover, a fraud claim based on an unlawful oral agreement "must also be dismissed, since relief cannot be granted on a tort cause of action that requires proof of the plaintiff's knowing entry into an illegal contract." Sabia, 24 A.D.3d at 179-80, 805 N.Y.S.2d at 347 (citation omitted); see Stone v. Freeman, 298 N.Y. 268, 271, 82 N.E. 2d 571, 572 (N.Y. 1948) ("It is the settled law of this State . . . that a party to an illegal contract cannot . . . plead or prove in any court a case in which he, as a basis for his claim, must show forth his illegal purpose." (citations omitted)). Here, CFC's alleged misrepresentation of its intent to re-escrow the Barnert Settlement funds for CHS's benefit would be incidental to the illegal purpose of evading CHS's tax liability. Accordingly, CHS's cause of action alleging fraud must fail as a matter of law. Defendant's request for summary judgment with respect to the fraud claim is granted.

E. Breach of Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing

i. Applicable Law

Under New York law, a covenant of good faith and fair dealing is implied in all contracts. 511 W. 232nd Owners Corp. v. Jennifer Realty Co., 98 N.Y.2d 144, 153, 773 N.E.2d 496, 500 (N.Y. 2002). "This covenant embraces a pledge that neither party shall do anything which will have the effect of destroying or injuring the right of the other party to receive the fruits of the contract." Id.; see Aventine Inv. Mgmt., Inc. v. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, 265 A.D.2d 513, 514, 697 N.Y.S.2d 128, 130 (N.Y.App.Div. 1999) (stating that the covenant of good faith and fair dealing "is breached when a party to a contract acts in a manner that, although not expressly forbidden by any contractual provision, would deprive the other party of the right to receive the benefits under their agreement" (citation omitted)). "[T]o state a cause of action alleging breach of an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, the plaintiff must allege facts which tend to show that the defendant sought to prevent performance of the contract or to withhold its benefits from the plaintiff." Aventine, 265 A.D.2d at 514, 697 N.Y.S.2d at 128.

Generally, a breach of the implied duty of good faith and fair dealing is merely a breach of the underlying contract. Fasolino Foods Co., Inc. v. Banca Nazionale del Lavoro, 961 F.2d 1052, 1056 (2d Cir. 1992) (citation omitted). However, "in cases involving efforts by one party to a contract to subvert the contract itself," New York courts recognize a separate cause of action for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. MacPhee v. Verizon Commc'ns Inc., No. 06 Civ. 7870, 2008 WL 162899, at *6 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 15, 2008) (Jones, J.) (citation omitted); accord Butvin, 2001 WL 228121, at *8.

ii. Application

Here, CHS has not pointed to sufficient evidence for a reasonable trier of fact to conclude that CHS was denied the fruits of any valid contract. First, there is ample evidence in the summary judgment record that the CHS Settlement failed. CFC formally withdrew from the CHS Settlement, without objection from CHS, by the time it negotiated the Second Settlement. St. Vincent's never signed the CHS Settlement on account of the IRS tax levy, which CHS has not demonstrated was actually resolved by the time the Second Settlement was negotiated. CHS's attorney's affidavit and its principal's deposition testimony acknowledge that the CHS Settlement was never completed. (Clarke Aff. ¶ 22; Def.'s Ex. 13 at 31:7-23.) Therefore, "drawing all inferences in plaintiff's favor, a reasonable jury could conclude that the parties never came to the `objective meeting of the minds' required to create a binding settlement agreement, . . . or, alternatively, that even if there was a meeting of the minds, the agreement was subject to the execution of a formal agreement, which was never signed" by all parties. Larson v. Eney, No. 08 Civ. 3513, 2009 WL 321256, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 10, 2009) (quoting Tractebel Energy Mktg. v. AIP Power Mktg., 487 F.3d 89, 95 (2d Cir. 2007)). Furthermore, as discussed above, CHS's assertion that an oral agreement existed between CHS and CFC is rejected as a matter of law. Accordingly, CHS has not — and cannot — establish any breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing. See Village on Canon, 920 F. Supp. at 534 (finding that, in absence of contract, there was no implied covenant to breach). Summary judgment is therefore granted to CFC on CHS's claims for breach of this implied covenant with respect to CFC's negotiation of the Second Settlement and retention of the Barnert Settlement Funds.

The Court noted as much in the First Action, where this Court referred to the CHS Settlement as a "failed settlement agreement." (Def.'s 56.1 ¶ 94.)

V. Issue Adjudicated in Arbitration

CFC also argues that it is entitled to summary judgment on CHS's claim that CFC breached the covenant of good faith and fair dealing implied in the Factoring Agreement by attempting to assign back to St. Vincent's certain receivables in which CFC only had a security interest, under the terms of the Second Settlement. This issue was litigated in arbitration arising out of the First Action. There, the arbitrators determined that CFC's transfer back to St. Vincent's of receivables in which CFC merely possessed a security interest was void. (Pl.'s Ex. V at 3, 11-13.) It is undisputed that, as a result of the arbitration, CHS recovered in full from St. Vincent's, including attorneys' fees, penalties, and the invoices transferred. (See Pl.'s 56.1 ¶¶ 95-98.) CFC argues that CHS cannot recover again in this action what CHS has already collected in full from St. Vincent's. (Def.'s Reply 16-17.) This Court agrees.

This argument, although newly raised in defendant's reply, is responsive to plaitniff's opposition papers. (See Pl.'s 56.1 ¶ 98.) In addition, in granting summary judgment to defendant on this claim, the Court does not address defendant's arguments that the attempted sale of receivables to St. Vincent's was commercially reasonable.

A. Applicable Law

As discussed above, because this implied covenant claim is a contractual cause of action, it falls within the scope of the contractual choice-of-law provision, and the Court will apply Virginia law.

"It is a generally recognized principle that there can be only one recovery of damages for a single wrong or injury." Cox v. Geary, 271 Va. 141, 147, 624 S.E.2d 16, 19 (Va. 2006) (finding that elements of damage sought by wrongfully convicted and incarcerated plaintiff in legal malpractice action were same as those for which plaintiff received compensation from state legislature, effectively barring recovery against lawyers for those injuries and damages); accord Berman v. Johnson, No. 07-2154, 2009 WL 567323, at *2-3 (4th Cir. Mar. 6, 2009) (per curiam) (finding that, under Virginia law, to grant plaintiff exclusive promotion and distribution rights in film after plaintiff had recovered damages for defendant's complete breach of contract that gave plaintiff promotion rights in film would constitute double recovery because plaintiff was fully compensated for all losses flowing from breach); Nizan v. Wells Fargo Bank Minn. Nat'l Ass'n, 274 Va. 481, 492-94 650 S.E.2d 497, 502-04 (Va. 2007) (finding that, where plaintiff alleged that damages defendant recovered from assignor for inflated purchase price of defaulted note were of the same character as payment sought from plaintiff as guarantor of the note, such factual representations, if true, would present a prima facie claim of double recovery). This proposition is rooted in "basic principles of fairness and justice." Nizan, 274 Va. at 491, 650 S.E.2d at 502 (quoting Katzenberger v. Bryan, 206 Va. 78, 85, 141 S.E.2d 671, 676 (Va. 1965)) (internal quotation marks omitted).

B. Application

CHS attempts to recast in this action the same injuries and damages CHS sustained as results of the void transfer of receivables to St. Vincent's, and for which the arbitration award against St. Vincent's fully compensated CHS. Because CHS is only entitled to one recovery for those injuries and damages, see Cox, 271 Va. at 147-48, 624 S.E.2d at 19, CHS cannot recover again from CFC under the theory of breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Defendant's request for summary judgment on this implied covenant claim is granted.

Conclusion

For the foregoing reasons, defendant's motion for summary judgment is DENIED with respect to liability on plaintiff's breach of contract claim, and GRANTED with respect to all other claims. The parties shall appear for a pre-trial conference before this Court on May 7, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.

Comprehensive Habilitation Serv. v. Commerce Funding

Summary

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

Background

A. The Barnert Settlement

B. The CHS Settlement

C. The Second Settlement

D. The Surplus Funds

E. Denial of CHS's Request to Amend its Amended Answer to Assert Counterclaims in the First Action

A. Factual Disputes

B. The Instant Allegations

DISCUSSION

A. Interpretation of Attorneys' Fees and Setoff Provisions

B. Breach of Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing

A. Existence of Oral Agreement

B. Conversion

C. Unjust Enrichment

D. Fraud

E. Breach of Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing

B. Application

Conclusion

SO ORDERED.

Comprehensive Habilitation Serv. v. Commerce Funding

Comprehensive Habilitation Serv. v. Commerce Funding

Case Details

Citations

Citing Cases

Comprehensive Habilitation Serv. v. Commerce Funding

Summary

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

Background

A. The Barnert Settlement

B. The CHS Settlement

C. The Second Settlement

D. The Surplus Funds

E. Denial of CHS's Request to Amend its Amended Answer to Assert Counterclaims in the First Action

A. Factual Disputes

B. The Instant Allegations

DISCUSSION

A. Interpretation of Attorneys' Fees and Setoff Provisions

B. Breach of Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing

A. Existence of Oral Agreement

B. Conversion

C. Unjust Enrichment

D. Fraud

E. Breach of Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing

B. Application

Conclusion

SO ORDERED.

Comprehensive Habilitation Serv. v. Commerce Funding

Comprehensive Habilitation Serv. v. Commerce Funding

Case Details

CitationsCopy Citation

Citing Cases

Citations