Opinion ID: 47351
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Second Lawsuit Filed in Texas

Text: In February 2003, Tonnesen filed suit against the Defendants in Texas state court, alleging breach of contract and anticipatory breach of contract with respect to the Agreement. Tonnesen’s suit also contained claims of fraudulent inducement to enter a contract and conversion. In March 2003, the Defendants removed the action to federal court in Texas. In March 2004, Tonnesen filed a motion for summary judgment and several exhibits, including an affidavit and report from marine surveyor James McCrory. As detailed in his report and affidavit, McCrory had inspected the yacht on September 30, 2001, and found that the Defendants had failed to perform the required repairs, including the requirement of compression at 120 pounds. Tonnesen also filed the affidavit and report of marine surveyor Robert 3 Reinhold. As outlined in his affidavit, Reinhold went to Marlin Yacht, at Tonnesen’s request, to retrieve the yacht, but Gismondi refused to release the yacht without a written release, signed by Tonnesen, accepting the yacht “as is.” Reinhold’s affidavit also stated that he had inspected the yacht in July 2003. Reinhold’s report from that inspection did not address the condition of the engines but noted many other conditions still requiring repair. The Texas district court denied Tonnesen’s summary-judgment motion, determining that “[g]enuine issues of material fact exist with respect to all claims.”