Court Opinion

ID: 4254121
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-03-13 19:25:31.428109+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:43:32.392073
License: Public Domain

J-A28011-17

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

REZRO, INC., D/B/A AMERICAN ATM       :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                      :         PENNSYLVANIA
                 Appellant            :
                                      :
           v.                         :
                                      :
MAXIMO E. LANFRANCO,                  :
INDIVIDUALLY AND D/B/A MAXI           :
GROCERY                               :
                                      :
                 Appellee             :        No. 178 EDA 2017

              Appeal from the Order Dated November 16, 2016
           In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
         Civil Division at No(s): October Term, 2013, NO. 000297

REZRO, INC., D/B/A AMERICAN ATM       :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                      :         PENNSYLVANIA
                 Appellant            :
                                      :
           v.                         :
                                      :
MAXIMO E. LANFRANCO,                  :
INDIVIDUALLY AND D/B/A/ MAXI          :
GROCERY                               :
                                      :
                 Appellee             :        No. 633 EDA 2017

                  Appeal from the Order January 13, 2017
          In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
         Civil Division at No(s): October Term, 2013 No. 000297

BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., PANELLA, J., and DUBOW, J.

MEMORANDUM BY GANTMAN, P.J.:                    FILED MARCH 13, 2018

     Appellant, Rezro, Inc., d/b/a/ American ATM, appeals from the order

entered in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, which denied

Appellant’s post-trial motion and entered judgment on the verdict.   We
J-A28011-17

affirm.

      In its opinions, the trial court fully and correctly set forth the relevant

facts and procedural history of this case. Therefore, we have no reason to

restate them.    We add that Appellant filed a second notice of appeal at

docket number 633 EDA 2017 on February 10, 2017, from the entry of

judgment. The trial court did not order Appellant to file a concise statement

of errors pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b), and Appellant did not file one. On

March 8, 2017, the parties filed a stipulation to consolidate the appeals.

      Appellant raises the following issues for our review:

          DID THE [TRIAL] COURT ERR IN PLACING THE BURDEN OF
          PROOF REGARDING MITIGATION OF DAMAGES UPON
          [APPELLANT] RATHER THAN [APPELLEE]?

          DID THE [TRIAL] COURT ERR IN DETERMINING THAT
          [APPELLEE] CARRIED ITS BURDEN OF PROOF WHERE IT
          DID NOT PRESENT TESTIMONY OR EVIDENCE AT THE
          JUNE 15, 2016 HEARING, DID NOT SHOW HOW
          [APPELLANT] COULD HAVE AVOIDED ITS DAMAGES, AND
          DID NOT SHOW THE AMOUNT BY WHICH [APPELLANT’S]
          DAMAGES COULD HAVE BEEN REDUCED?

          DID THE [TRIAL] COURT ERR IN DISALLOWING ANY
          DAMAGES SUFFERED BY [APPELLANT] AFTER AUGUST 12,
          2013[,] RATHER THAN REDUCING THEM BY THE AMOUNT
          PROPERLY SHOWED BY [APPELLEE] THAT [APPELLANT]
          WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MITIGATE THROUGH
          REASONABLE EFFORTS?

(Appellant’s Brief at 3-4).

      After a thorough review of the record, the briefs of the parties, the

applicable law, and the well-reasoned opinions of the Honorable Idee C. Fox,

we conclude Appellant’s issues merit no relief.       The trial court opinions

                                      -2-
J-A28011-17

comprehensively discuss and properly dispose of the questions presented.

(See Trial Court Opinion, filed February 28, 2017, at 1-2 unpaginated;

Opinion in Support of Order, filed November 16, 2016, at 6-13 unpaginated)

(finding: (1-3) Appellee unplugged Appellant’s ATM on July 24, 2013, but

did not request removal until August 12, 2013; Appellant did not have

opportunity to mitigate damages during that timeframe and is entitled to lost

profits for that time period; nevertheless, Appellant waited five months after

Appellee’s request to remove ATM, which was unreasonable and insufficient;

Appellee’s August 2013 letter demanded that Appellant remove its ATM as

soon as possible; Appellant failed to remove its ATM despite testimony from

Appellant’s representative, Mr. Mirzai, that he would ordinarily remove ATM

under those circumstances; Appellant failed to mitigate damages from

August 13, 2013 to January 2014, when Appellant finally removed its ATM;

regarding time period after Appellant removed ATM, Appellant did not use

reasonable diligence to mitigate damages; Mr. Mirzai provided only vague

testimony as to his efforts to place ATM in other locations, which lacked

sufficient details such as dates, stores, or customer names; Mr. Mirzai

presented no evidence to corroborate his efforts; picture of ATM shown to

potential customers was of ATM in unattractive condition with graffiti and

scratches; Appellant made no effort to clean machine or make it more

attractive before showing it for placement; Mr. Mirzai admitted he stopped

showing ATM at some point, but he failed to indicate when he started

                                    -3-
J-A28011-17

showing   it   or   for   how   long   he    showed   it;   Appellant   admitted   in

interrogatories that as of May 1, 2014, ATM was in storage and slated for

parts; any efforts to show ATM to potential customers occurred for only four

months,   between January 2014              and May   2014, which       court found

unreasonable, where approximately forty-two months remained on parties’

contract; court found incredible Mr. Mirzai’s testimony about showing

pictures of ATM to potential customers, where that testimony was

inconsistent with Appellant’s answers to interrogatories; Appellant also did

not make reasonable efforts to sell ATM parts and presented no evidence as

to efforts made to sell or rent parts, or even sell whole ATM; Mr. Mirzai

admitted ATM was unattractive, marked with graffiti and scratches, and

obsolete; Mr. Mirzai’s testimony established ATM was at end of its useful life

of five to seven years, and Appellant presented no evidence that ATM would

have lasted or continued to work; ATM no longer had value and was of no

use; therefore, Appellant was entitled to damages in form of lost profits only

from July 24, 2013 to August 12, 2013, in amount of $796.00). Accordingly,

we affirm based on the trial court opinions.

      Order affirmed.

                                        -4-
J-A28011-17

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 3/13/18

                          -5-
                                                                                       Received 3/8/2017 2:07:20 PM Superior Court Eastern District
                                                                                                                  Circulated 02/13/2018 03:54 PM

                                                                                             Filed 3/8/2017 2:07:20 PM Superior Court Eastern District
                                                                                                                                      633 EDA 2017

                            IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS PHILADELPHIA COUNTY
                                  FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
                                            CIVIL TRIAL DIVISION

              REZRO, INC., d/b/a AMERICAN                                              OCTOBER TERM, 2013
              ATM                                                                      NO. 0297
                           v.                                                                                                         -,
                                                                                                                                  ;. ,1 ..
                                                                                                                                  (.,      ._

              MAXIMO LANFRANCO d/b/a                                                   SUPERIOR COURT NO.
                                                                                                                                                   ...,
                                                                                                                                  c,
              MAXI GROCERY, ET AL                                                      633 EDA2017                               (
                                                                                                                                  (
                                                                                                                                                 ,.-11
                                                                                                                                 ,·             r.J
                                                                                                                                                I.)
                                                                                                                              r
                                                                            OPINION                                           t
                                                                                                                                                 C,;

                                                                                                                             �I                 �..� ..

                        Plaintiff, Rezro Inc., d/b/a American ATM, filed this action against Defenda�
                                                                                                                             (   ..
                                                                                                                                                :.11
              Maximo Lanfranco, d/b/a Maxi Grocery, for breach of contract relating to the remove: of

              an ATM machine. The matter originally proceeded to bench trial before the Honorable

              Gary F. Di Vito, who entered a decision in favor of Plaintiff in the amount of $50,148.50.

               Defendant's Post-Trial motions were denied and an appeal followed under 107 EDA

               2015. This court was assigned to write the opinion as Judge Di Vito had since retired

               from the bench. The opinion was filed on April 15, 2015 C'April 2015 Opinion''). The

               Superior Court vacated the judgment and remanded the matter to this court for a

               determination of whether Plaintiff mitigated its damages and provided competent proof

               of lost profits. After a hearing, this court entered a decision docketed November 17,

               2016, which addresses the issues on remand and found in favor of Plaintiff in the

               amount of $796 C'November 2016 Order").

                         Plaintiff filed a timely Motion for Post-Trial Relief and Defendant filed a Cross-

               Motion for Post-Trial Relief. Prior to the disposition of the motions, Plaintiff appealed

               the November 2016 Order under 178 EDA 2017. The court believes Plaintiff filed the

                                                          Rezro, Inc. Vs Lanfranco E1al-OPFLD

                                                           11111111111111111 11111\11111111
                                                                      1�1noo?9700120
nP1r=c:. �r=r-.lT Pl IR�l lllt\lT Tn P:o R   r.   P ?''.H'.;/h\   n   l.(�I rV7i?f?A/?r\17
appeal pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. 227.1(1). On February 13, 2017, this court filed its opinion

for the appeal under 178 EDA 2017.

        On January 13, 2017, this court denied Plaintiff's Motion for Post-Trial Relief. In

doing so, this court adopted Its decision set forth In the November 2016 Order. The

court further found Defendant's Cross-Motion raised issued beyond the scope of the

remand and no further response was required.

        Plaintiff now appeals the decision denying Plaintiff's Post-Trial Motion. The basis

for this court's decisions in this matter are set forth in the April 2015 Opinion and

November 2016 Order, copies of which are appended hereto.

Date:      },_.   L   lq
                                                                          Circulated 02/13/2018 03:54 PM

           IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS PHILADELPHIA COUNTY
                 FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
                           CIVIL TRIAL DIVISION

 REZRO, INC., d/b/a AMERICAN
ATM                                             OCTOBER TERM, 2013
                v.                              NO.    0297

MAXIMO LANFRANCO d/b/a
MAXI GROCERY

                              FINDINGS AND DECISION

      This is an action filed by Plaintiff, Rezro Inc., d/b/a American ATM, against

Defendant Maximo Lanfranco, d/b/a, Maxi Grocery, for breach of contract. The matter

lnltlally proceeded to bench trial before the Honorable Gary F. Di Vito who entered a

decision in favor of Plaintiff. Defendant's Post-Trial motions were denied and an appeal

followed. The Superior Court vacated the judgment and remanded the matter to this

Court for a determination of whether Plaintiff mitigated its damages and provided

competent proof of lost profits. After a hearing, this Court makes the following findings

and reaches various conclusions.

FACTUAL and PROCEDURAL HISTORY

      Plaintiff filed a Complaint against Defendant alleging breach of contract with

regards to an agreement titled "ATM Floor Space Lease" {"Agreement") to place
Plaintlff's ATM machine In Defendant's grocery store located at 6224 Lebanon Avenue In

Phlladelphia. Defendant purchased the store at the end of 2008. The previous owner

had Installed the ATM machine about a year prior to Defendant's ownership of the

store. After Plaintiff learned of the new ownership, Plalntlff's authorized representative

Christopher Mlrzal ['Mr. Mirza!") came to Defendant's store to enter Into the Agreement

with Defendant.   The Agreement was signed by both parties and commenced on

January 2, 2009 with an Initial term of 48 months. Under Paragraph IV (A) and (B), a

renewal lease term of 48 months would commence If no written notice was given at

least 120 days prior to the termination of the Initial term f'Renewal Provision"). The

Agreement also contained a "No-Competition" provision wherein Defendant agreed not

to place or operate another ATM or cash back device in the store throughout the term

of the Agreement ("No-Competition Provision"). The total surcharge for a customer's

ATM withdraw a I was $1. 75 ("Surcharge Fee"). Plaintiff paid Defendant fifty cents

($0.50) per surcharge. Plaintiff received the remaining $1.25. Plaintiff also collected an

Interchange fee directly from the networks that was not shared with Defendant

("Interchange Fee'1, Under Paragraph I of the Agreement, the sum paid to Defendant

constituted rent for the leased floor space within Defendant's store.

       Plaintiff did not receive written notice of termination during the initial term. The

Agreement therefore automatically renewed for another 48 month period starting

January 2, 2013. However, on July 24, 2013, Defendant unplugged Plaintiff's ATM and

placed another company's ATM In the store. Around August 12, 2013, Defendant sent a

letter to Plaintiff requesting removal of the ATM machine. Plaintiff commenced this
action In October 2013. In January 2014, Plalntlff removed the ATM machine and

placed It In storage.

      The matter proceeded to a Non-Jury trial before Judge DI Vito on November 17,

2014. Mr. Mirzai appeared as Plaintiff's representative. Mr. Lanfranco appeared as well

and was provided a Spanish-speaking interpreter. At trial, Plaintiff presented Exhibits

P3 and P4 as proof of damages, described In more detail, Infra.

       Following trial, Judge Di Vito entered Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law.

Judge Di Vito found Mr. Mirzal credible and entered a verdict in favor of Plaintiff In the

amount of $50,148.50 for loss of future income based on Exhibits P3 and P4. Judge Di

Vito's Findings and Conclusions are attached hereto and incorporated herein. After

Defendant's Post-Trial Motions were denied, Defendant appealed to the Superior Court

under 107 EDA 2015. Defendant filed a 1925(b) statement uf Matters Complalned of

on Appeal which raised eleven (11) issues. One of the Issues on appeal contended

Plaintiff did not suffer cognizable damages. This Court was assigned to write the

Opinion, as Judge DI Vito had retired from the bench. A copy of the Opinion is attached

hereto and incorporated herein. As to the issue of damages, this Court did not offer an

opinion on Judge Di Vito's findings and therefore did not disturb them.

       In February 2016, the Superior Court vacated the judgment and remanded the

matter for this Court to make a determination as to whether Plaintiff mitigated its

damages and provided competent proof of lost profits.

       Thereafter this Court conducted a hearing and received testimony and evidence

pursuant to the Issues set forth by the Superior Court on remand. Mr. Mirzai once
 again testified on behalf of Plaintiff. Defendant did not offer any testimony. Based on

 Mr. Mirzai's testimony, Plaintiff waited untll this action was commenced to remove the

 ATM machine from Defendant's store. According to Mr. Mlrzai, Plaintiff hoped to settle

 and avoid lltlgatlon. NT 6/15/16 p. 13. Plaintiff ordinarlly waited In this fashion only if

 the owner did not demand the machine be taken out immediately. Id.

       As to the condition of the ATM machine, the ATM machine was five to seven

years old when unplugged the machine in July 2013. NT 6/15/16 p. 15. At that time,

there were approximately 42 months remaining under the Agreement. However, the

average useful life of the ATM machine is only 5 to 7 years. NT 6/15/16 p, 22. Mr.

Mlrzal testified that "[a]nythtng beyond that is fortunate" and "playing with the casino's

money." NT 6/15/16 p. 12, 30. Further, the ATM machine was covered in graffiti and

had deep scratches. NT 6/15/16 p. 16. Because of the ATM machine's age, each

transaction was slower as compared to newer machines In 2014. NT 6/15/16 p. 19.

The ATM machine was technologically obsolete and did not have the technologlcally

required for a chip reader. NT 6/15/16 p, 23

       As to Plaintiff's efforts to mitigate, Mr. Mlrzai testified that the ATM machine has

been in Plaintiff's warehouse since removal from Defendant's store. NT 6/15/16 p. 24.

Sometime alter the removal, Plaintlff showed prospective new customers photographs

of various machines in stock avaflable for use, one of which was the ATM machine at

Issue. NT 6/15/16 p, 18. No customer wanted the ATM machine because of its

physical condition and age. NT 6/15/16 p, 18·19, 35·36. At some point Plaintiff

determined the ATM machine could not be placed. NT 6/15/16         o, 24.   The ATM
machine remained In storage and was "slated to be used for parts but It has not be

touched." NT 6/15/16 p. 25. The parts could be used if need be. NT. 6/15/16 p. 26.

       On May 1, 2014, Plaintiff had submitted answers to Defendant's interrogatories

on the issue of mitigating damages. See Exhibits P7a and P7b. As of that date, the

ATM machine was In storage and slated to be used for parts. See Exhibit P7b No. 5.

Interrogatory No. 6 asked specifically about all efforts Plaintiff took to mitigate damages

and proof thereof. See Exhibit P7a No. 6. In response, Plaintiff stated that "(n]ew

locations want new machines." Exhibit P7b No. 6. However, there were times when

stores did accept older machines. Id. The response omitted any Information about

Plaintiff showing prospective customers photos of the ATM machine.

       As to the issue of lost profits, Plaintiff reintroduced Exhibits P3 and P4 which had

been admitted into evidence by Judge DI Vito at trial. Exhibit P3 ls a record of the ATM

machine's daily transactions beginning January 7, 2012 and ending July 24, 2013, the

date the machine was disconnected ("ATM Transaction Summary"). NT 11/27/14 p. 19.

The ATM Transaction Summary includes the total number of daily withdraws and

corresponding surcharges1• It also contains the store's address to show that the

transactions pertain to Defendant.

       Exhibit P4 Is a twenty-three (23) page compilation exhibit showing payments

made to Defendant and Interchange Fees paid to Plaintiff. Specifically, the second to

I Mr. Mirzal testified that the surcharge and withdrawal numbers generally match except for
instances when a customer's card did not charge a surcharge.
fourth pages of Exhibit P4 Is a hlstorlcal printout of checks Plalntlff paid to Defendant

from January 2009 to July 2013 ("Revenue Check Summary"). NT 11/27/14 p. 31-32.

The Revenue Check Summary lists the specific check numbers, banks from which the

funds were withdrawn and amounts paid to Defendant. Toe next five pages of Exhibit

P4 are copies of five negotiated checks dated January 2013 to June 2013. NT 11/27/14

p, 32�33. These checks were presented to Defendant and cashed. Id. Wh!le there are

copies of only five checks, physical checks were also provided to Defendant for the

months prior to January 2013. NT 11/27/14 p, 32. The remaining pages of Exhibit P4

show the total number of Interchange Fees paid to Plaintiff from June 2012 to June

2013. NT 11/27/14 p. 33. The first page of Exhibit P4 is a chart summarizing the

information collected from the above referenced pages of Exhibit P4 for the period June

2012 through June 2013. The chart shows Plaintiff's clalm for damages based on the

average amount of revenue Plaintiff received for that time period ($1,217.20/month),

multiplied by the number of months remaining on the Agreement after Defendant's

breach (41.2 months), which equals $50,148.51.

DECISION

      Mitigation of Damages

      As to the Issue of mitigation damages, the non-breaching party to a commercial

contract has a duty to mitigate damages. See Northeastern Vending Corp. v. P.D.O.

Inc; 414 Pa. Super. 200, 606 A.2d 936 (1992). "A party who suffers a loss has a duty
to make a reasonable attempt to mitigate damages, but the burden Is on the party who
              -
breaches the contract to show how further loss could have been avoided through the

reasonable efforts of the Injured party." Pont/ere v. James Olnert, Inc., 426 Pa. Super.

576, 587, 627 A.2d 1204, 1209 (1993) (citation omitted). If the course of conduct

chosen by the plaintiff was reasonable, the plaintiff can recover despite the existence of

another reasonable course of action that would have further lessened plaintiffs

damages. O'Sullivan v. Joy techs; Inc., 446 Pa. Super. 140, 153, 666 A.2d 664, 670-

71 (1995), citing Van Syckle v. C.L. King & Assoc., Inc.,_822 F.Supp. 98, 102

(N.O.N.Y.1993).

      In Northeastern Vending Corp., cited In the Superior Court's remand decision,

Northeastern Vending Corp. entered Into two exclusive vending machine contracts to

place Its vending machines In P.D.O.'s store. P.D.O. later replaced Northeastern's

machines with those of another company. The trial court found P.D.O. breached the

contracts and Northeastern had a duty to mitigate damages but failed to do so. On

appeal, the Superior Court affirmed the trial court:

         [W]e find that [Northeastern] did not fulfill Its duty to mitigate
         damages. [Northeastern] did not remove Its machines from
         [P.D.O.'s store] untll ... almost seven months after P.D.O. stopped
         using them. Once removed, they were placed In a warehouse.
         Accordingly, the trial court did not err when it found that
         Northeastern had a duty to mitigate Its damages which it dld not
         fulfill.

Northeastern Vending Corp at 938·39.

       Here, having evaluated the evidence presented by the parties, this Court finds

Defendant unplugged the ATM machine on July 24, 2013 but waited until August 12,
        2013 to request Plaintiff remove it from Defendant's store. Plaintlff did not have an

        opportunity to mitigate damages between July 24, 2013 and August 12, 2013 and is

        therefore awarded lost profits for this period, as detailed below.

               However, similarly to the plaintiff in Northeastern Vending Corp., Plaintiff here

        failed to remove the ATM machine for·another five (5) months after Defendant's August

       2013 letter. While Plaintiff claims he waited to remove the machine in order to

       negotiate and avoid Htigatlon, the Court finds this to be unreasonable and insufficient.

       Defendant's August 2013 letter demanded the ATM machlne be removed as soon as

       possible. Plaintiff falled to do so despite Mr. Mirzal's admission that he would ordinary

       remove a machine under similar circumstances. NT 6/15/16 p. 13. Accordingly,

       Plaintiff failed to mitigate damages from August 13, 2013 to January 2014.

              As to the time period after January 2014, Plaintiff did not use reasonable

       diligence to mitigate damages and therefore failed to mitigate damage. Mr. Mirzai

       provided only vague testimony as to his efforts to place the ATM machine into other

       locatlons. He provided generalized scenarios of showing ATM machines without

       sufficient details of specific incidents relating to this particular ATM machine, such as

       dates, store or customer names. No evidence was submitted to corroborate his efforts,

      such as the picture of the machine he allegedly showed customers. It can be gleaned

      from Mr. Mirza l's testimony that the picture allegedly shown to customers was of the

      ATM machine in an unattractive condition with graffiti and scratches. Mr. Mirzal did not

      make any efforts to clean the machine or make it more attractive before showing It for
      placement.

---------···--·---···
      Mr. Mlrzal further admitted that he ceased showing the ATM machine at some

point, but there was no evidence as to when Plaintiff first started to show the ATM

machine for placement, or for how long. The Court can only guess that Plaintiff was no

longer showed the machine prior to May 1, 2014, the date Plaintiff admits in the

interrogatory responses that the machine was In storage and slated for parts.

Accordingly any alleged, unsoecmed efforts to show the ATM machine would have been

made for only a four month period, which this Court finds to be unreasonable in light of

the fact that there were approximately 42 months remaining under the Agreement.

      The testimony at the June 15, 2016 hearing was also inconsistent with Plaintiff's

answers to Defendant's Interrogatories. The Interrogatory asked about all efforts made

to mitigate damages. However, Plaintiff's answer did not state that Plaintiff tried to

show the ATM machine to customers, as claimed at the June 16, 2016 hearing.

Instead, the interrogatory answer admits that in the past, Plaintiff has been able place

older machines In new locations. To this extent, the Court finds Mr. Mirzai's testimony

at the hearing not credible.

      The evidence further shows that Plaintiff did not make reasonable efforts to sell

the ATM machine parts. Mr. Mirzal testified only that the machine was "slated to be

used for parts" and the parts are available for use If need be. However, the parts have

"not been touched." NT 6/15/16 p. 24, 25. No evidence was provided as to any efforts

Plaintiff made to sell the parts, rent the parts or even sell the ATM machine as a whole.

       Finally, Mr. Mirza! admitted that the machine was unattractive, beat up with

graffiti and scratches, and obsolete. His testimony established that the ATM machine
       was at the end of its useful life of 5 to 7 years and no evidence was submitted as to

       whether the ATM machine would have lasted or continued to work. The machine no

       longer had any value and was of no use.

              Accordingly, Plaintiff failed to mitigate damages after receiving Defendant's

      August 2013 letter. Plaintiff is not awarded damages for the remaining term of the

      Agreement from August 13, 2013 on. Instead, Plalntlff Is only awarded damages in the

      form of lost profits for the twenty (20) day period from July 24, 2013 and August 12,

      2013.

              Lost Profits

              Where there Is a breach, damages are awarded to place the injured party In the

      posltlon he would have been had the contract been fully carried out. See Northeastern

       Vending Corp., supra, at 938, citing Bellefonte Area School District v. Lipner, 81

      Pa.Cmwlth. 334, 339, 473 A.2d 741, 744 (1984). As explained In the Superior Court's

      remand decision, Pennsylvania does not recognize the theory of "lost volume seller".

      See id. at 938. · Instead, Pennsylvania law allows a non-breachlnq party to recover

      damages in the form of lost profits. Id. at 939. To recover lost profits:

                [T]here must be affirmative evidence that the loss resulted from the
                breach of contract. It is not necessary that the amount be shown
                with absolute or mathematical certainty, but only that It be
                approximated by competent proof.
      Id. ( citations omitted).

              Here, the data presented in Exhibits P3 and P4 provides competent proof of lost

      profits. Again, Exhibit P3, the ATM Transaction Summary, Is proof of the ATM

      machine's total number of daily surchargeable wlthdraws from January 7, 2012 to July

----'--------··�--········
24, 2013. Pages two (2) through twenty-three (23) of Exhibit P4 Is competent evidence

of the fees Plaintiff paid to Defendant as rent of the leased floor space, and the

Interchange ·Fees Plaintiff collected from the networks. Pursuant to Mr. Mlrzai's

testimony at trial, Exhibits P3 and P4 are contemporaneously kept business and

accounuoq records. Judge Di Vito found Mr. Mlrzai's testimony to be credible. Further,

Defendant never challenged the accuracy or authenticity of these exhibits either at trial

or the remand hearing. While Defendant claims that Plaintiff requests a gross profit

amount and not a net profit amount, this Court disagrees. As explained above, Plaintiff

paid Defendant $0.05 per surchargeable withdraw as rent for the leased floor space.

This Is proven by pages 2 through 9 of Exhibit P4. Pages 11 through 23 of Exhibit P4

provide net Interchange Fees which take Into account fees paid to the networks.

Accordingly, any profit payable to Plaintiff Is a net lost profit.

       Next, as to the calculatlon of lost profits, the first page of Exhibit P4 shows the

average amount of net income Plaintiff received for the thirteen month period between

June 2012 through June 2013. Plaintiff then multlplled this number by the remaining

number of months under the Agreement for a total amount it claims as lost profits,

$50,148.50. However, as Plaintiff is to be awarded damages for only a twenty day

period, a per diem rate Is required. Accordingly, the Court calculates lost profits based

on a twelve month period as follows:
        Date              Surchargeable            Plalntiff's Portion   Net Interchange
                            Withdraws              of Surcharge Fee          Fee from
                                                   ($1,25 x Surcharg.        Networks
                                                      Withdraws)
                                  . --··
       June 2012                766                     $957.50               $277.95
       July 2012                 693                    $866.25               $255.99
      Auaust 2012                773                    $966.25               $274.76
    September 2012               687                    $858.75               $255.96
     October 2012                775                    $968.75               $266.09
    November 2012                757                    $946.25               $256.81
    December 2012                684                    $855.00               $255.21
                                           ·-·-·
     Januarv 2013                701                    $876.25               $239.63        I
     Februarv 2013               709                    $886.25               $245.352
      March 2013                 836                    $1045.00              $290.01
                                           -·
       April 2013                819                    $1023.75               $287.68
        May 2013                 856                    $1070.00               $304.98
       Totals:                  9056                  $11,320.00             $3,210.42

    $11,320.00
+ S 3.210,42
    $14,530.42 (total net profit from June 2012-May 2013)

    $14,530,42/365 days       = $39.80 (per day net profit from June 2012-May 2013)
    $39.80   x 20   days= $796 TOTAL LOST PROFITS DUE TO PLAINTIFF.

       Accordingly, Plaintiff is awarded $796.00 in lost profits from July 24, 2013 to

August 12, 2013. As to the remaining issues on appeal not addressed In the Superior

Court's remand decision, this Court relies on its April 14, 2015 Opinion and Incorporates

it herein. Platntiff's only monetary claim against Defendant ls for lost profits from the

lack of use of the ATM; Plaintiff is only paid based on the transactions. Therefore this

2 Plaintiff's chart in Exhibit P4 lists this number as $235.45. However, a review of page
nineteen (19) of Exhibit P4 reflects that the correct Interchange Fee for February 2013 is
$245.35.
Court finds that Plaintiff is entitled to recover only for the period July 24, 2013 to

August 12, 2013, and based upon prior usage should have recovered $796.00.

                                          ORDER

      AND NOW, this          It    day of November, 2016, for the reasons set forth

above, this Court finds In favor of Plaintiff and against Defendant, Maximo Lanfranco,

d/b/a Maxi Grocery, in the amount of $796.00

                                                  IDEE C. FOX, J,