Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca11-15-12854/USCOURTS-ca11-15-12854-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Lotsa Helping Hands, Inc.
Appellant
Wounded Warrior Project, Inc.
Appellee

Document Text:

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT

________________________

Nos. 15-12195 & 15-12854

Non-Argument Calendar

________________________

D.C. Docket No. 3:14-cv-00145-HES-MCR

WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT, INC.,

a Virginia nonprofit corporation, 

 Plaintiff - Appellee,

versus

LOTSA HELPING HANDS, INC.,

a Delaware corporation, 

 Defendant - Appellant.

________________________

Appeals from the United States District Court

for the Middle District of Florida

________________________

(May 3, 2016)

Before JORDAN, ROSENBAUM, and JULIE CARNES, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

USCA11 Case: 15-12854 Date Filed: 05/03/2016 Page: 1 of 11
2

Lotsa Helping Hands, Inc. (“LHH”), appeals the district court’s grant of 

summary judgment in favor of Wounded Warrior Project, Inc. (“WWP”). WWP’s

initial complaint against LHH alleged a claim for breach of contract arising from 

LHH’s refusal to return a $250,000 contractual payment. In the alternative, 

WWP’s complaint asserted claims for promissory estoppel and failure to pay on an 

open account.1

We review de novo a district court’s order granting summary judgment. 

Craig v. Floyd Cty., Ga., 643 F.3d 1306, 1309 (11th Cir. 2011). Summary 

judgment is appropriate when, viewing all of the evidence and drawing all 

inferences in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, there is no genuine 

dispute as to any material fact, and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a 

matter of law. Id.; see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). “A genuine factual dispute exists 

if a jury could return a verdict for the non-moving party.” Wilson v. B/E 

Aerospace, Inc., 376 F.3d 1079, 1085 (11th Cir. 2004) (quotation omitted).

In June 2010, WWP hired LHH to create a web-based platform that could 

enable visitors to WWP’s website to form private communities of individuals 

providing assistance to military veterans. The “My Care Crew,” as it came to be 

called, was to focus on rallying individuals around one military veteran or family. 

 1 LHH’s notice of appeal also states that it intended to appeal the district court’s order 

granting WWP’s motion for costs. In its opening brief, however, LHH did not address the 

district court’s order awarding costs, so it has abandoned the issue on appeal. Ramirez v. Sec’y, 

U.S. Dep’t of Transp., 686 F.3d 1239, 1249 (11th Cir. 2012).

USCA11 Case: 15-12854 Date Filed: 05/03/2016 Page: 2 of 11
3

In March 2011, LLH approached WWP with a project proposal to expand the “My 

Care Crew” web-based tool to create public communities that would be able to 

provide support for multiple military veterans and families, while expanding the 

reach of the program throughout the United States. 

While talks and negotiations began in March 2011, the parties were not 

immediately able to finalize an agreement on the joint venture. In order that LHH 

could begin building the web-based tool without further delay, WWP and LHH 

executed a Memorandum of Understanding (the “MOU”) on September 30, 2011. 

The MOU was meant to memorialize certain terms and conditions that would 

eventually be incorporated into the anticipated agreement (the “Agreement”). The 

MOU required WWP to pay LHH $250,000 “for LHH’s provision of the [webbased tool].” The MOU cautioned that, “In the event the parties are unable to 

finalize an Agreement within the term specified . . . , LHH shall return to WPP any 

Payment made hereunder.” Under the terms of the MOU, it was to expire when 

the Agreement was finalized but in no case later than 90 days after the execution of 

the MOU, or on December 29, 2011. 

December 29, 2011, arrived and the parties had not yet finalized the 

Agreement. That same day, WWP and LHH mutually agreed, by email 

correspondence, to extend the term of the MOU to January 15, 2012. 

USCA11 Case: 15-12854 Date Filed: 05/03/2016 Page: 3 of 11
4

When January 15, 2012 arrived, however, the parties were once again unable 

to finalize the Agreement by the deadline. Neither WWP nor LHH sought an 

extension or raised the issue of the expired deadline. Despite the lapse, 

negotiations continued past the January 15, 2012, deadline until June 15, 2012, 

when WWP sent a letter to LHH terminating the negotiations and demanding 

return of the $250,000 payment pursuant to the MOU. LHH refused to return the 

payment.2

The MOU stated, and the parties agree, that the governing law for claims 

initiated by WWP is the law of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Our review 

is therefore governed by Massachusetts state law.

3

The plain contractual language of the MOU contemplates two outcomes: 

either (1) the parties reach an agreement within 90 days of the execution of the 

MOU and LHH keeps the $250,000 payment as consideration for producing the 

web-based tool, or (2) the parties fail to reach an agreement within 90 days, at 

which point LHH returns the $250,000 payment. Yet, notwithstanding the MOU’s 

language, both WWP and LHH agree that the December 29, 2012, email 

correspondence memorialized a mutual agreement to extend the MOU’s deadline 

until January 15, 2012. Under Massachusetts law, parties to a written contract may 

 2 LHH did return $11,389.00 to WWP, which accounts for the district court’s award of 

$238,611.00.

3 Neither party alleges that the contract is a contract for the sale of goods subject to the 

UCC as adopted by Massachusetts. 

USCA11 Case: 15-12854 Date Filed: 05/03/2016 Page: 4 of 11
5

modify that contract by written instrument, as WWP and LHH have done here. 

See Schinkel v. Maxi-Holding, Inc., 565 N.E.2d 1219, 1223 (Mass. App. Ct. 1991)

(explaining that “[t]here is authority for treating . . . a cover letter amendment, 

accepted by the other party, as effecting a modification of the written contract”). 

The parties’ dispute centers on whether the parties’ statements or actions after 

January 15, 2012 extended the deadline indefinitely, whether WWP waived the 

deadline and its right to recoup the payment, or whether WWP should be equitably 

estopped from relying on the January 15, 2012, deadline to recover payment.

In Massachusetts, the interpretation of a contract is a question of law for the 

court. Eigerman v. Putnam Invs., Inc., 877 N.E.2d 1258, 1263 (Mass. 2007). A

reviewing court construes the terms of a contract to give its plain language and 

terms their usual and ordinary meaning. S. Union Co. v. Dep’t of Pub. Utilities, 

941 N.E.2d 633, 640 (Mass. 2011). 

It is, however, “a settled principle of law that ‘[t]he mode of performance 

required by a written contract may be varied by a subsequent oral agreement based 

upon a valid consideration.’” Cambridgeport Sav. Bank v. Boersner, 597 N.E.2d 

1017, 1021 (Mass. 1992) (citation omitted). Such oral modifications “may be 

express or implied.” Cochran v. Quest Software, Inc., 328 F.3d 1, 9 (1st Cir. 2003) 

(citing Rogers v. Rogers & Brother, 1 N.E. 122, 122-23 (Mass. 1885)). 

USCA11 Case: 15-12854 Date Filed: 05/03/2016 Page: 5 of 11
6

Typically, the question of whether the parties have agreed to modify a 

written contract is one of fact. L.W. Severance & Sons, Inc. v. Angley, 125 N.E.2d 

415, 419 (Mass. 1955). But “[t]he evidence of a subsequent oral modification 

must be of sufficient force to overcome the presumption that the integrated and 

complete agreement . . . expresses the intent of the parties.” Boersner, 597 N.E.2d 

at 1022. If such evidence is not offered, summary judgment is appropriate. See

D’Attanasio v. Marini, 989 N.E.2d 934, 934 (Mass. App. Ct. 2013).

In the instant case, little evidence exists in the record that the parties 

explicitly agreed to extend the deadline indefinitely.

4

 Instead, LHH relies 

primarily on WWP’s implied acceptance of such a modification and points to two 

facts in support: (1) the continuation of negotiations after January 15, 2012, and (2) 

WWP’s positive comments about LHH’s work between January 15, 2012, and 

June 15, 2012, the date WWP sent notice of cancellation. 

While this evidence establishes an ongoing relationship between the parties, 

“there is no evidence that [LHH] proposed, or the parties negotiated, new terms or 

 4 Although LHH states that a question exists as to whether WWP explicitly agreed to 

extend the deadline indefinitely, the evidence LHH relies on for this contention does not support 

that position. LHH cites to the testimony of WWP’s outside counsel, Anthony Scioli, where he 

stated that “to [his] knowledge” the extension “may have just been done verbally.” LHH does 

not account for Scioli’s later testimony where he stated that he was unaware of the December 29, 

2012, emails extending the deadline to January 15, 2012. LHH then cites to WWP’s CEO

Steven Nardizzi’s testimony for the proposition that there was no certain date by which the 

Agreement had to be finalized. But again, LHH’s citation disregards Nardizzi’s later testimony 

that he was unaware of the initial written extension. When contextualized, neither piece of 

testimony supports a finding that the deadline had been explicitly extended.

USCA11 Case: 15-12854 Date Filed: 05/03/2016 Page: 6 of 11
7

the details of a modified agreement, [or] . . . that [WWP] agreed to release” LHH 

from its duty under the MOU to return the payment. Baynorth Realty Fund VI, LP

v. Wickline, 26 N.E.3d 752, *1 (Mass. App. Ct. 2015). While oral modifications

may be implied, Massachusetts law requires that mutuality or acceptance of such 

modifications be “unequivocal.” Baynorth Realty Fund VI, LP v. Wickline, 26 

N.E.3d 752, *1 (Mass. App. Ct. 2015) (citing First Pa. Mort. Trust v. Dorchester 

Sav. Bank, 481 N.E.2d 1132, 1139 (Mass. 1985)). None of the statements or 

actions attributed to WWP or LHH, individually or taken together, represent an 

unequivocal showing of negotiation between the parties, a valid offer for and 

acceptance of an oral modification, or mutual agreement extending the deadline 

indefinitely.

Further, whether or not the continued negotiations and positive feedback are 

evidence of WWP’s desire to modify the agreement, LHH does not state what 

consideration it gave WWP in exchange for agreeing to what would otherwise be 

an indefinite extension. See D’Attanasio, 989 N.E.2d at 934. Massachusetts law is 

clear that while an oral modification “may be express or implied[,] . . . [i]n either 

event . . . the modification must be supported by consideration.” Cochran v. Quest 

Software, Inc., 328 F.3d 1, 9 (1st Cir. 2003) (interpreting Massachusetts state law) 

(citing Rogers v. Rogers & Brother, 1 N.E. 122, 122-23 (Mass. 1885)). 

USCA11 Case: 15-12854 Date Filed: 05/03/2016 Page: 7 of 11
8

LHH’s argument that WWP waived its right under the MOU to receive 

repayment also suffers from both these critical defects.

5

 “Massachusetts common 

law defines waiver as the ‘intentional relinquishment of a known right.’” Dynamic

Mach. Works, Inc. v. Mach. & Elec. Consultants, Inc., 831 N.E.2d 875, 879 (Mass. 

2005) (citation omitted). And it requires “[a] waiver implied by a person’s 

conduct,” such as that suggested here, to “be unequivocal . . . allow[ing] room for 

no other explanation of the conduct of the person who allegedly is waiving a 

contractual right.” Boston Helicopter Charter, Inc. v. Agusta Aviation Corp., 767 

F. Supp. 363, 372 (D. Mass. 1991) (interpreting Massachusetts state law). LHH 

does not point to any facts suggesting as much. Nor does LHH identify what 

consideration it offered in return for WWP’s waiver of rights. See Berenson v. 

French, 159 N.E. 909, 911 (Mass. 1928) (identifying defendant’s burden to prove

“that the plaintiff had waived his right to demand and receive a release from the 

defendant and that the waiver was based on good consideration”); Boston 

Helicopter Charter, Inc., 767 F. Supp. at 372. 

Finally, LHH argues, in the alternative, that WWP should be equitably 

estopped from recovering the payment. LHH alleges that it relied on (1) the 

 5 WWP argues that LHH is precluded from raising the issue of waiver on appeal because 

it did not raise it before the district court. Although LHH did not sufficiently brief its waiver 

position before the district court, referencing waiver only in its “Relevant Factual Background” 

section and only once, it appears that the district court may have understood and considered

LHH’s waiver argument.

USCA11 Case: 15-12854 Date Filed: 05/03/2016 Page: 8 of 11
9

continued negotiations and (2) the lack of a firm deadline to “continue[] to develop 

and test the project for five (5) months after January 15, 2012.”

Under Massachusetts law, “[t]o establish estoppel, a party must show (1) a 

representation intended to induce reliance on the part of a person to whom the 

representation is made; (2) an act or omission by that person in reasonable reliance 

on the representation; and (3) detriment as a consequence of the act or omission.” 

Licata v. GGNSC Malden Dexter LLC, 2 N.E.3d 840, 848 (Mass. 2014). “All of 

the elements of estoppel must be present and the party asserting the estoppel theory 

has a heavy burden to prove that all three elements are present.” Clickner v. 

Lowell, 663 N.E.2d 852 (Mass. 1996) (alteration and citation omitted). 

Despite LHH’s argument that “the essence of the [equitable estoppel] 

argument is contained in [its] response,” LHH discernibly raises this argument for 

the first time on appeal. While LHH’s equitable estoppel argument fails for that 

reason alone, Ramirez v. Sec’y, U.S. Dep’t of Transp., 686 F.3d 1239, 1249 (11th 

Cir. 2012), its argument fails on the merits as well. To begin with, LHH does not 

point to “a representation” WWP made with the intent that it cause LHH to rely on 

that representation. Nor does LHH state how its reliance on continued negotiations 

and positive feedback was reasonable in light of LHH’s knowledge of the lapsed 

deadline and the repayment requirement it triggered, the parties’ initial two-week 

USCA11 Case: 15-12854 Date Filed: 05/03/2016 Page: 9 of 11
10

extension suggesting a desire to expediently finalize the Agreement, and the term 

making the $250,000 payment contingent on reaching a final Agreement. 

Further, although LHH argues before the Court that it worked for 5 months 

after the January 15, 2012, deadline, the evidence of detriment in the record is not 

so clear. For example, LHH states that “[b]y June 15, 2012, LHH had spent more 

than 300 hours over a time period of approximately 9 months finalizing the 

business opportunity” and that “[o]ver the same period of time, LHH’s legal 

counsel had also expended countless hours to finalize the definitive agreement.” 

But LHH does not specify what portion of that time and effort, and thus what 

detriment, is attributable to WWP’s alleged inducement after the January 15, 2012,

deadline. LHH assumed the risk that if the Agreement was not finalized by the 

deadline it ultimately might not be compensated for work done during the 

negotiation period. LHH could have easily put forth evidence, such as its 

employees’ timesheets or its attorney’s billing statements, that might have clarified

the harm caused by WWP’s alleged inducement after the deadline lapsed. It did 

not. Generally, “the law does not regard estoppels with favor, and estoppel is 

applied only to avoid injustice.” Barrow v. Dartmouth House Nursing Home, Inc., 

14 N.E.3d 318, 324 (Mass. App. Ct. 2014) (alteration and citations omitted). We 

cannot say that inequity would result by requiring LHH to abide by the plain terms 

USCA11 Case: 15-12854 Date Filed: 05/03/2016 Page: 10 of 11
11

of the MOU where it has failed to meet even one of the three required prongs 

proving equitable estoppel. 

Accordingly, we affirm the district court’s orders dated April 16, 2015, and 

June 11, 2015, granting summary judgment, costs, and pre- and post-judgment 

interest in favor of WWP.

AFFIRMED.

USCA11 Case: 15-12854 Date Filed: 05/03/2016 Page: 11 of 11