Opinion ID: 1668833
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Intentional Tort Claims Asserted by Saia Food and Saia

Text: Saia Food and Saia also appeal from the trial court's summary judgment in favor of ADT and SecurityLink on Saia Food and Saia's claims alleging willful, wanton, and intentional failure to monitor Klub 280; willful, wanton, and intentional failure to supervise and train their employees; and promissory fraud. We review the trial court's entry of a summary judgment de novo, and our standard of review is well settled. `In reviewing the disposition of a motion for summary judgment, we utilize the same standard as the trial court in determining whether the evidence before [it] made out a genuine issue of material fact, Bussey v. John Deere Co., 531 So.2d 860, 862 (Ala.1988), and whether the movant was entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. Wright v. Wright, 654 So.2d 542 (Ala.1995); Rule 56(c), Ala. R. Civ. P. When the movant makes a prima facie showing that there is no genuine issue of material fact, the burden shifts to the nonmovant to present substantial evidence creating such an issue. Bass v. SouthTrust Bank of Baldwin County, 538 So.2d 794, 797-98 (Ala.1989). Evidence is substantial if it is of such weight and quality that fair-minded persons in the exercise of impartial judgment can reasonably infer the existence of the fact sought to be proved. Wright, 654 So.2d at 543 (quoting West v. Founders Life Assurance Co. of Florida, 547 So.2d 870, 871 (Ala.1989)). Our review is further subject to the caveat that this Court must review the record in a light most favorable to the nonmovant and must resolve all reasonable doubts against the movant. Wilma Corp. v. Fleming Foods of Alabama, Inc., 613 So.2d 359 (Ala.1993); Hanners v. Balfour Guthrie, Inc., 564 So.2d 412, 413 (Ala.1990).'  Hobson v. American Cast Iron Pipe Co., 690 So.2d 341, 344 (Ala.1997). Hollingsworth v. City of Rainbow City, 826 So.2d 787, 789 (Ala.2001). We address the claim of promissory fraud first. `The elements of fraud are (1) a false representation (2) of a material existing fact (3) reasonably relied upon by the plaintiff (4) who suffered damage as a proximate consequence of the misrepresentation. To prevail on a promissory fraud claim such as that at issue here, that is, based upon a promise to act or not to act in the future, two additional elements must be satisfied: (5) proof that at the time of the misrepresentation, the defendant had the intention not to perform the act promised, and (6) proof that the defendant had an intent to deceive.' Waddell & Reed, Inc. v. United Investors Life Ins. Co., 875 So.2d 1143, 1160 (Ala.2003) (quoting Padgett v. Hughes, 535 So.2d 140, 142 (Ala.1988)). Saia Food and Saia claim that SecurityLink represented to them that it would monitor Klub 280 but that it failed to do so. However, we find nothing in the record to suggest that, at the time the contract was signed, SecurityLink intended not to perform the promised monitoring services. At most, the evidence suggests that SecurityLink negligently failed to monitor Klub 280. Negligently failing to perform services does not rise to the level of promissory fraud. Saia Food and Saia also claim that SecurityLink represented that it would properly install the fire-alarm system at Klub 280 but that it failed to do so. However, Saia's own testimony established that the system operated properly, at least for a period. We find nothing in the record to suggest that, at the time it entered into the contract, SecurityLink intended not to install the system properly. The evidence in the record suggests at most that ADT and SecurityLink were negligent in repairing or locating the problem in the security system installed at Klub 280. Negligently repairing the system or failing to locate the problem in a system does not rise to the level of promissory fraud. The trial court properly entered a summary judgment for ADT and SecurityLink on the promissory-fraud claim. We next address Saia Food and Saia's appeal from the summary judgment in favor of ADT and SecurityLink on Saia Food and Saia's claims of willful, wanton, and intentional failure to monitor Klub 280, and willful, wanton, and intentional failure to supervise and train their employees. [10] However, after a review of the record, we find nothing to support the claims that ADT and SecurityLink willfully, wantonly, and intentionally failed to monitor Klub 280, or that they willfully, wantonly, and intentionally failed to supervise and train their employees. The record contains evidence supporting, at most, claims of negligence and breach of contract. We affirm the summary judgment entered in favor of ADT and SecurityLink on the claims asserting a willful, wanton, and intentional failure to monitor, supervise, and train.