Court Opinion

ID: 9945163
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-27 15:07:06.828733+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:25:24.186536
License: Public Domain

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23-P-388                                             Appeals Court

           CUTTING EDGE HOMES, INC.    vs.   ALAN J. MAYER.

                            No. 23-P-388.

       Norfolk.        November 6, 2023. - February 27, 2024.

            Present:    Ditkoff, Englander, & Walsh, JJ.

Contract, Interference with contractual relations. Unlawful
     Interference. Practice, Civil, Summary judgment.

     Civil action commenced in the Superior Court Department on
March 4, 2020.

     The case was heard by Joseph F. Leighton, Jr., J., on a
motion for summary judgment.

     James W. Simpson, Jr., for the plaintiff.
     Jon C. Cowen for the defendant.

     ENGLANDER, J.     The plaintiff, Cutting Edge Homes, Inc.

(Cutting Edge) appeals from a summary judgment dismissing its

claim for intentional interference with contractual or

advantageous business relations against the defendant, Alan J.
                                                                   2

Mayer.1   The case requires us to consider the element that the

defendant (Mayer) must have acted with "improper motive or

means," Psy-Ed Corp. v. Klein, 459 Mass. 697, 716 (2011); United

Truck Leasing Corp. v. Geltman, 406 Mass. 811, 816-817 (1990),

in the context where Mayer was hired by one party to a contract

to advise regarding the performance of the other contracting

party.    Here, Cutting Edge, a general contractor, contracted

with residential homeowners, Rory and Sharon Shapiro, to perform

a multimillion-dollar renovation of their home.    The Shapiros

retained Mayer to perform architectural services, including

reviewing Cutting Edge’s work and Cutting Edge’s invoices.

Mayer regularly criticized Cutting Edge’s invoices, among other

things stating to the Shapiros that they were being "overbilled"

by hundreds of thousands of dollars.    Eventually, the Shapiros

terminated their contract and relationship with Cutting Edge

before the project was complete, and finished the project using

a different contractor suggested by Mayer.

     At summary judgment, the central question was whether

Cutting Edge had presented sufficient evidence to support a

genuine issue of material fact that Mayer’s conduct was

     1 The complaint also named Rony Shapiro and Sharon Shapiro,
individually and as trustees of the Roney G. Shapiro 2006
Revocable Trust U/D/T May 22, 2006 (collectively the Shapiros),
but the plaintiff and the Shapiros settled their dispute and the
Shapiros were dismissed with prejudice. The Shapiros are not
parties to this appeal.
                                                                   3

"improper in motive or means."   The judge ruled that the

evidence was not sufficient; he concluded that there was no

evidence that Mayer acted with improper motive, and with respect

to improper means, "at most, . . . Mayer carried out his review

of the [i]nvoices and conveyed his findings to the Shapiros

negligently."   We agree that negligent (or even grossly

negligent) conduct in this context is insufficient to meet the

"improper means" element; rather, the plaintiff is required to

show conduct amounting to deceit or dishonesty.   See Cavicchi v.

Koski, 67 Mass. App. Ct. 654, 658 (2006); Restatement (Second)

of Torts § 772 (1979).2   Here, after reviewing the summary

judgment record, we agree that Cutting Edge failed to adduce

evidence that could support a finding of deceit or dishonesty,

and we accordingly affirm.

     Background.3   The Shapiros engaged Cutting Edge in the

spring of 2018, and entered into a "Service Agreement" dated

April 27, 2018 (service agreement).   The scope of the project

included, among other things, rebuilding one half of the

Shapiros’ residence, replacing the heating, plumbing, and air

conditioning systems, and repairing the roof and the exterior of

     2 All references to the Restatement are to the Restatement
(Second) of Torts (1979).

     3 We review the facts in the summary judgment record in the
light most favorable to the non-moving party, Cutting Edge. See
DeWolfe v. Hingham Centre, Ltd., 464 Mass. 795, 799 (2013).
                                                                      4

the home.   The total initial contract price was $2,150,000 (it

was thereafter substantially increased, as was the scope of

work), to be paid in a series of installments.    Under the

service agreement, Cutting Edge was to provide the Shapiros with

an account summary every thirty days, indicating the amount

budgeted for and actual cost of specific aspects of the project.

Cutting Edge was to begin its work on May 1, 2018 and

substantially complete the same by December 31, 2018.      In fact,

Cutting Edge continued to work on the project until October

2019, when the Shapiros terminated the relationship.

     At or near the inception of the project, the Shapiros

informed Cutting Edge that it must collaborate with Mayer, an

architect whom the Shapiros had hired to provide architectural,

interior design, and administration services.    Importantly, the

Shapiros requested that Mayer review the invoices provided by

Cutting Edge.   Cutting Edge began submitting itemized invoices

to the Shapiros in late 2018.    The invoices included a

spreadsheet that tracked progress, costs, and modifications to

the project.    Mayer began reviewing those invoices in December

2018, and after analyzing the first invoice, Mayer concluded

that Cutting Edge had overbilled the Shapiros by approximately

$250,000.   As of the time Mayer began reviewing invoices he had

not reviewed the service agreement, and it is inferable that

Mayer's conclusion was influenced, at least in part, by his view
                                                                       5

that the Shapiros should be paying Cutting Edge based upon a

percentage of work completed to date, and invoicing using a form

used by the American Institute of Architects.   In fact, the

service agreement provided for payment based on a set schedule

of monthly payments rather than a percentage of work completed.

     Mayer reached similar conclusions regarding overbilling

after analyzing each subsequent invoice, and he discussed his

conclusions with the Shapiros, providing his own comments and

conclusions in the margins of Cutting Edge's spreadsheets.       The

Shapiros discussed the alleged overbilling with Sean Cutting,

the president of Cutting Edge, on several occasions.     Despite

Mayer's advice, the Shapiros continued to pay Cutting Edge the

amounts Cutting Edge invoiced until at least August 2019.      The

Shapiros stated that they did so because they wished to have the

project completed as soon as possible.

     Mayer also regularly communicated with Cutting Edge.    In

July 2019, Mayer addressed his concerns regarding overbilling

with Cutting Edge directly; at that time Cutting Edge agreed to

update the invoices to reflect Mayer’s desired format.     Mayer

nevertheless continued to disagree with Cutting Edge’s estimate

of the percentage of work completed, and repeatedly asked

Cutting Edge to provide "backup" documentation detailing

expenses and work completed on specific line items.    Similar

disagreements between Mayer and Cutting Edge continued until
                                                                     6

October 2019.   In e-mails Mayer sent to Rory Shapiro in October

2019, Mayer commented that "[Cutting Edge]’s invoice is $680,000

more than what they currently are due," that as to certain

entries Cutting Edge was "just making this stuff up and [it] has

done [so] for every previous invoice," and that Mayer believed

"that [was] sufficient grounds for dismissal."

     On October 25, 2019 the Shapiros, through counsel, sent

Cutting Edge a "Notice of Termination of Service Agreement."

The notice cited several reasons for the termination, the very

first of which stated:   "[Cutting Edge] routinely overbilled

[the Shapiros] based on the claimed completion of work that was

not done or even properly invoiced."     After terminating Cutting

Edge and on Mayer’s recommendation, the Shapiros engaged a

different contractor to complete work on the remodeling project.

Mayer did not review any of the new contractor's invoices.

     In March of 2020 Cutting Edge brought suit in Superior

Court, alleging intentional interference with advantageous

business relations on the part of Mayer.4    After discovery, a

Superior Court judge entered summary judgment for Mayer,

reasoning that Cutting Edge had not adduced sufficient evidence

of either improper means or causation.    This appeal followed.

     4 Cutting Edge also brought a G. L. c. 93A claim against
Mayer, which was dismissed by stipulation in October 2022.
                                                                   7

     Discussion.   "We review a grant of summary judgment de

novo."   Blake v. Hometown Am. Communities, Inc., 486 Mass. 268,

272 (2020), quoting DeWolfe v. Hingham Centre, Ltd., 464 Mass.

795, 799 (2013).   To survive summary judgment on its claim of

intentional interference with contractual relations, Cutting

Edge needed to adduce sufficient evidence to meet four elements:

(1) it had a contract (or prospective business relations) with

the Shapiros, (2) Mayer knowingly induced the Shapiros to break

the contract (or prospective business relations), (3) Mayer's

interference was improper in motive or means, and (4) Cutting

Edge was harmed by the interference (causation and damages).

See Psy-Ed Corp., 459 Mass. at 715-716.5

     Here, it is undisputed that Cutting Edge and the Shapiros

were parties to a contract, that Mayer knew of the contract,

that Mayer acted intentionally in providing his advice with

respect to that contract, and that the Shapiros terminated their

relationship with Cutting Edge.   The next question is whether

     5 Mayer's conduct could be framed both as interfering with
Cutting Edge's existing contract, and as interfering with
prospective business relations given that the scope of Cutting
Edge's work for the Shapiros regularly expanded. See Chemawa
Country Golf, Inc. v. Wnuk, 9 Mass. App. Ct. 506, 509-510
(1980), quoting Restatement (Second) of Torts § 766B comment c
(describing the "recognized extension" of "field of potential
harm [to] 'any other relations leading to potentially profitable
contracts'"). The elements of the two claims are not materially
different for present purposes, so the distinction does not
matter to our analysis.
                                                                     8

Mayer's actions could be found to be "improper in motive or

means."     This element of a tortious interference with

contractual relations claim -- that is, that the conduct must be

"improper" -- has proved difficult to capture in a universal

standard.    The element is critical because it is not enough to

show that the defendant intentionally advised a party to breach

or forego a contract;6 rather, the defendant must have acted

improperly, with "improper" generally meaning "innately

wrongful, [and] predatory in character," Restatement (Second) of

Torts § 766B comment (d), deceitful, or involving "threats,

misrepresentation, or defamation."      Cavicchi, 67 Mass. App. Ct.

at 658.     See also Williamson v. Barlam, 103 Mass. App. Ct. 727,

733-735 (2024).

     As we discussed in Cavicchi, supra at 660-661 & n.10, the

Restatement (Second) of Torts addresses the "improper" element

at length, and dedicates an entire section to the circumstances

at issue here, where a defendant was specifically asked to

advise a contracting party regarding its contractual

relationship.    Section 772 of the Restatement states:

     "One who intentionally causes a third person not to
     perform a contract or not to enter into a prospective

     6 We note that the element of intent -- what the Psy-Ed case
defines as "knowingly induce" -- is a separate element from the
"improper" element. Psy-Ed, 459 Mass. at 715. The intent
element is satisfied here, where Mayer knew that his review of
Cutting Edge's billing and performance might lead the Shapiros
to terminate the contract.
                                                                     9

     contractual relation with another does not interfere
     improperly with the other's contractual relation, by
     giving the third person

     (a) truthful information, or

     (b) honest advice within the scope of a request for
     the advice."

     In its "comment[s]," the Restatement elaborates on what it

means by "honest" advice:   "It is sufficient for the application

of this rule that the actor gave honest advice within the scope

of the request made.   Whether the advice was based on reasonable

grounds and whether the actor exercised reasonable diligence in

ascertaining the facts are questions important only in

determining his good or bad faith.    But no more than good faith

is required."   Restatement (Second) of Torts § 772 comment e.

Further, as another comment notes, "[t]he rule as to honest

advice applies to protect the public and private interests in

freedom of communication and friendly intercourse.    In some

instances the rule protects the public and private interests in

certain professions or businesses.    Thus the lawyer, the doctor,

the clergyman, the banker, the investment, marriage or other

counselor, and the efficiency expert need this protection for

the performance of their tasks."     Restatement (Second) of Torts

§ 772 comment c.

     In Cavicchi, 67 Mass. App. Ct. 655-656, the plaintiff and

the defendant were both attorneys, who had shared a common
                                                                        10

client.   The plaintiff alleged that the defendant tortiously

interfered with the plaintiff's relationship with the client by

misrepresenting to the client facts regarding the plaintiff's

professional competence.    Id. at 658-659.   This court ruled that

a portion of the plaintiff's tortious interference claim could

proceed, in the process citing and quoting with approval from

the Restatement § 772.     Calvicchi, supra at 660.

     Cavicchi involved allegations that amounted to deceit --

that is, intentional misrepresentations that were intended to,

and did, cause the receiving party to rely on them.       Id. at 658.

The facts of Cavicchi thus do not answer the question of what

actions, short of deceit, can nevertheless qualify as "improper"

for purposes of a tortious interference claim.    The court's

citation to § 772, however, is instructive.    It is not

sufficient to show that the advisor was negligent, or made

negligent or even grossly negligent misrepresentations.        What is

required is at least a showing of dishonesty, which the

Restatement equates with a lack of good faith.        See Restatement

(Second) of Torts § 772 comment e.     As the Restatement comments

explain, this heightened standard for liability is appropriate

to "protect the public and private interests in freedom of

communication" -- in recognition that contracting parties seek

and receive advice regarding their contractual relationships

constantly.   Restatement (Second) of Torts § 772 comment c.
                                                                   11

     The rationale underlying § 772's heightened burden is

analogous to (although not as stringent as) the requirement

adopted by our courts for tortious interference claims in the

employment context -- there the plaintiff must show that the

employer acted with "actual malice."   See Blackstone v. Cashman,

448 Mass. 255, 270 (2007) (defining "actual malice" in the

employment context as "spiteful, malignant purpose unrelated to

a legitimate corporate interest").   This requirement "provides a

measure of protection to corporate supervisors, who must

necessarily make adverse employment decisions from time to time

and who otherwise would be unduly exposed to the tortious

interference claims of disgruntled former employees."     Kelleher

v. Lowell Gen. Hosp., 98 Mass. App. Ct. 49, 54-55 (2020), citing

Alba v. Sampson, 44 Mass. App. Ct. 311, 315 (1998).     See also

Gram v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 384 Mass. 659, 663-664 (1981),

S.C., 391 Mass. 333 (1984).

     Here, we agree with the Superior Court judge that the

evidence fell short of generating a genuine issue of fact as to

Mayer's improper motive or means.7   To show an improper motive,

     7 As a second ground for summary judgment, the judge ruled
that Cutting Edge failed to adduce sufficient evidence of
causation -- that is, that Cutting Edge did not show that
Mayer’s communications caused the Shapiros to terminate Cutting
Edge. We disagree with the judge's conclusion as to this issue.
In particular, the very first ground listed in the termination
notice itself was "routine[] overbill[ing] [of the] [o]wner
based on the claimed completion of work that was not done or
                                                                  12

what is required is a showing of an intent specifically to harm

the plaintiff, unrelated to any legitimate business purpose.

See Cavicci, 67 Mass. App. Ct. at 658 (improper motive "'may

include ulterior motive [e.g., wishing to do injury],'" as well

as "evidence of retaliation or ill will" [citations omitted]).

Here, there is no evidence of Mayer harboring an improper

motive, and Cutting Edge does not so argue.8

     We also agree that there was insufficient evidence of

improper means.     It is true that the evidence, viewed in the

light most favorable to Cutting Edge, shows that Mayer initially

failed to heed the payment provisions of the service agreement

between Cutting Edge and the Shapiros, and that this failure

gave rise (at least in part) to criticism of Cutting Edge and to

an ongoing disagreement between Mayer and Cutting Edge over

amounts invoiced.    The evidence also shows that Mayer made

even properly invoiced." A fact finder would not be required to
credit Sharon Shapiro's deposition testimony that this was not a
cause of the termination, especially where Rory Shapiro's
deposition testimony suggested that Mayer's input contributed to
the decision to fire Cutting Edge. On this record, a reasonable
jury could certainly find that Mayer's communications caused the
termination. For the reasons discussed in this opinion,
however, Cutting Edge's claim fails over the improper means or
motive element.

     8 The formulation of "improper in motive or means" in our
case law differs slightly from the Restatement, which states
only that the interference must be "improper." Restatement
(Second) of Torts § 766. It is not clear from our cases how
important an improper motive is, if it is not accompanied by
improper conduct.
                                                                  13

mistakes from time to time in his reviews and calculations.     But

what the evidence does not show is conduct amounting to deceit

or intentional misrepresentation; nor does it show dishonesty.

     As indicated, Mayer was specifically hired by the Shapiros

to review Cutting Edge's spreadsheets and to provide his advice.

While Mayer was critical of Cutting Edge's billing practices in

e-mails to the Shapiros, the record does not support an

inference that Mayer communicated his concerns to the Shapiros

for a reason other than to fulfill his professional obligation

consistent with the Shapiros' wishes.   Indeed, a review of the

e-mail correspondence between Mayer, Cutting Edge, and the

Shapiros shows that Mayer repeatedly consulted with Cutting Edge

regarding the discrepancies he observed between the amounts

invoiced and the work completed, and that he sought to clear up

points of confusion.   In a July 2019 e-mail to Cutting Edge, for

example, Mayer explained his modifications to one of Cutting

Edge's spreadsheets and noted that despite his confusion over

discrepancies, he was "sure that there [were] some areas where

the [completion percentage] may be off, or where [Cutting Edge]

[had] backup for additional deposits that [had] been paid to

date."   In short, the parties' communications reflect honest

disagreement and efforts to work through issues, not bad faith.

     In sum, Cutting Edge at most has pointed to statements,

communications, and actions by Mayer that a jury could
                                                                14

reasonably find were negligent (or perhaps even grossly

negligent).   That evidence falls short of the legal standard for

improper means, and thus fails to demonstrate the existence of a

genuine issue of material fact.9   The Superior Court judge's

grant of summary judgment for Mayer is affirmed.

                                    So ordered.

     9 It is true that notwithstanding his efforts to work with
Cutting Edge, Mayer was skeptical of Cutting Edge's invoicing
and made his suspicions known to the Shapiros in multiple
communications. For example, in an October 2019 e-mail
concerning an alleged $35,000 overpayment for an elevator, Mayer
characterized Cutting Edge's billing practices as "creative
invoicing" and their requisitions as "accounting creations."
While such commentary certainly speaks of Mayer's frustrations
with Cutting Edge, when taken in the context of months of
communications showing a back and forth over amounts billed, no
reasonable fact finder could conclude that such rhetoric
amounted to intentional misrepresentation or dishonesty.