`
`In the Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit
`in and for Miami-Dade County, Florida
`
`General Jurisdiction Division
`
`Case No.
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`
`
`Plaintiff,
`
`
`Global Biologics, LLC,
`
`
`
`vs.
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`Health Medical Equipment, Inc., Crown
`Global Holdings, Inc. and Fernando Gonzalez,
`
` Defendants.
`
`__________________________________/
`
`
`Complaint
`The Plaintiff, Global Biologics, LLC (hereinafter referred to as “Plaintiff”), by and
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`
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`through the undersigned attorneys files this verified complaint against Defendants, Health
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`Medical Equipment, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as “Health Equip.”), Crown Global
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`Holdings, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as “Crown Global”) and Fernando Gonzalez
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`(hereinafter referred to as “Gonzalez”) and in support states as follows:
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`Common Allegations
`Parties, Jurisdiction and Venue
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`Plaintiff is a Florida limited liability company existing by virtue of the laws
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`1.
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`of the State of Florida.
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`2.
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`3.
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`4.
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`Defendant, Health Equip. is a Florida corporation.
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`Defendant, Crown Global is a Florida corporation.
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`At all times material hereto, Defendant, Gonzalez, was, and is, a Florida
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`resident residing in Miami-Dade County and is otherwise sui juris. Moreover at all times
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`relevant hereto Defendant Gonzalez, was the president of Crown Global.
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`
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`1
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`
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`5.
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`Venue is proper in Miami-Dade County, Florida because the Defendant
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`Gonzalez resides in Miami-Dade County, because Defendants Health Equip. and Crown
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`Global maintain their respective principal places of business in Miami-Dade County and
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`because the facts and occurrences giving rise to the causes of action occurred in Miami-
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`Dade County.
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`6.
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`Plaintiff has retained the undersigned counsel in order that his rights and
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`interests may be protected. Plaintiff has become obligated to pay the undersigned a
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`reasonable attorney's fee. Plaintiff shall seek prevailing party fees pursuant to Florida
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`Statutes and terms of the documents sought to be enforced herein as applicable.
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`7.
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`All conditions precedent to bringing this action have occurred, been
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`performed or excused.
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`
`
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`Factual Allegations
`
`A.
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`8.
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`Transaction Concerning Nutreceutics
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`On or about early 2020, Plaintiff secured the sale of fifty (50) Trilogy Evo
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`Life Support Respirators (the “Respirators”) (the “First Order”), to its client a Panamanian
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`company, Nutreceutics SA (“Nutreceutics”).
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`9.
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`On or about March of 2020, Plaintiff contracted with Health Equip. and
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`Crown Global to supply the Respirators.
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`10.
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`Plaintiff, Health Equip. and Crown Global agreed that Health Equip. and
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`Crown Global would order Respirators and have them shipped to Nutreceutics.
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`11.
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`The parties agreed that the profits generated from the sale of the Respirators
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`to Nutreceutics would be divided in equal parts, one half of profits distributed to Plaintiff,
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`and the other half of the profits distributed to Health Equip. and Crown Global.
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`
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`2
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`12.
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`Ultimately, fifty (50) Respirators were delivered to Nutreceutics in
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`fulfillment of the First Order and payment of the purchase price was made by Nutreceutics
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`directly to Health Equip. and Crown Global by Nutreceutics for the amount Nutreceutics
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`and Plaintiff agreed to, $649,750.00.
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`13.
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`Up to this point, the transaction occurred precisely as the parties agreed
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`upon.
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`14.
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`Nutreceutics thereafter ordered an additional fifty (50) Respirators from
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`Global (the “Second Order”).
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`15.
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`After receiving the funds from the sale of the First Order to Nutreceutics,
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`Plaintiff, Health Equip. and Crown Global agreed that instead of dividing the profits
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`associated with the First Order of the Respirators, the parties would use the funds towards
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`the order of an additional fifty (50) Respirators from the manufacturer, Phillips Respironics
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`(“Phillips”).
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`16.
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`Upon fulfilling the Second Order, Plaintiff, Health Equip. and Crown
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`Global would split the profits in equal parts, one half of the profits unto Plaintiff and the
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`other half unto Health Equip. and Crown Global.
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`17.
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`In total, the profits to be divided among Plaintiff and Health Equip. and
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`Crown Global would correspond to the sale of one hundred (100) Respirators after the
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`fulfillment of the Second Order (the First and Second Order each being for fifty
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`respirators).
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`18.
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`Health Equip. and Crown Global placed an order with Phillips for fifty (50)
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`Respirators in connection with the Second Order, and informed Plaintiff that payment in
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`the amount of $324,750.00 was made to Phillips in connection with the order. The fact is
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`
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`3
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`
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`that Health Equip. and Crown Global only made payment to Phillips in the amount of
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`$65,000.00. This was confirmed by Phillips.
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`19.
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`Accordingly, Phillips shipped only the Respirators for which it received
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`payment, ten (10) Respirators at a cost of $6,500.00 each. Health Equip. and Crown Global
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`delivered these ten (10) Respirators to Nutreceutics and Nutreceutics currently has
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`possession of these ten (10) Respirators, which did not fulfill the Second Order for fifty
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`(50) respirators and as a consequence Nutreceutics seeks to return them unto Plaintiff
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`and/or Health Equip. and Crown Global.
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`20.
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`To date, the profits from the First Order have not been tendered to Plaintiff,
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`and additionally, Health Equip. and Crown Global did not reinvest the funds towards the
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`placement of the Second Order.
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`21.
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`Health Equip. and Crown Global acted in bad faith and made
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`misrepresentations, alleging that payment for the Second Order was made to Phillips, when
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`only $65,000.00 was paid.
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`
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`B.
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`22.
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`Transaction Concerning World Target
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`On or about late 2020, Plaintiff secured the sale of certain medical products
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`to its customer in Panama, World Target S.A. (“World Target”).
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`23.
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`In connection with the foregoing, Plaintiff contracted with Health Equip.
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`and Crown Global to supply the products in connection with the sale.
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`24.
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`As part of the arrangement, World Target made payment directly unto
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`Health Equip. and Crown Global in the amount of $12,369.00, half of the invoice amount,
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`as a deposit. The remaining half of the purchase payment would be made upon delivery of
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`the order to World Target.
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`
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`4
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`
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`25.
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`Health Equip. and Crown Global failed to uphold their portion of the
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`agreement - only a small delivery of product contracted for was ever made to World Target,
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`with a value of $339.00.
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`26.
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`The remainder of the $25,078.00 order went unfulfilled, notwithstanding
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`Health Equip. and Crown Global having received a $12,369.00 deposit towards the order.
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`27.
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`Due to the extended period elapsed since the order was placed, World
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`Target no longer requires the delivery of the remaining product, and instead requests a
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`refund from Plaintiff.
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`Count I – Breach of Contract
`(Health Equip. and Crown Global re: World Target)
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`28.
`
`Paragraphs 1 through 21 are repeated and realleged as if fully set forth
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`
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`herein.
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`29.
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`This is an action for damages that exceed $30,000.00, exclusive of costs and
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`interest.
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`30.
`
`In March 2020, Plaintiff and Defendants, Health Equip. and Crown Global
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`entered into a verbal agreement whereby Defendants, Health Equip. and Crown Global
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`would supply Respirators to Nutreceutics and the parties would share in profits generated
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`from the sale of the Respirators to Nutreceutics in equal parts - one half of profits
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`distributed to Plaintiff, and the other half of the profits distributed to Health Equip. and
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`Crown Global (hereinafter referred to as the “Nutreceutics Agreement”).
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`31.
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`32.
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`Plaintiff performed all his obligations under the Nutreceutics Agreement.
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`Notwithstanding Defendants, Health Equip. and Crown Global breached the
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`Nutreceutics Agreement by failing to (i) pay Plaintiff profits to which Plaintiff is entitled
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`
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`5
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`
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`in connection with the First order, the total being $162,250.00, and (ii) fulfill the Second
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`Order.
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`33.
`
`As a result of Defendants, Health Equip. and Crown Global’s breaches,
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`Plaintiff has been damaged in the sum of $162,250.00.
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`
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`Wherefore Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendants, Health Equip. and
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`Crown Global for damages, together with costs and interest pursuant to the Florida Statutes,
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`and such other relief as the Court may deem just and proper.
`
`Count II – Breach of Contract
`(Health Equip. and Crown Global re: Nutreceutics)
`
`34.
`
`Paragraphs 1 through 7 and 22 through 27 are repeated and realleged as if
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`
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`fully set forth herein.
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`35.
`
`This is an action for damages that exceed $30,000.00, exclusive of costs and
`
`interest.
`
`36.
`
`On or about late 2020, Plaintiff secured the sale of certain medical products
`
`to its customer in Panama, World Target.
`
`37.
`
`In connection with the foregoing, Plaintiff contracted with Health Equip.
`
`and Crown Global to supply the products in connection with the sale.
`
`38.
`
`As part of the arrangement, World Target made payment directly unto
`
`Health Equip. and Crown Global in the amount of $12,369.00, half of the invoice amount,
`
`as a deposit. The remaining half of the purchase payment would be made upon delivery of
`
`the order to World Target.
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`39.
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`The profits generated from the sale of medical products to World Target
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`would be split equally between the parties ((hereinafter referred to as the “the World Target
`
`Agreement”).
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`
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`6
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`40.
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`Notwithstanding Plaintiff’s performance of its obligations under the World
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`Target Agreement, Defendants, Health Equip. and Crown Global failed to uphold their
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`portion of the World Target Agreement - only a small delivery of product contracted for
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`was ever made to World Target, with a value of $339.00.
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`41.
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`The remainder of the $25,078.00 order went unfulfilled, notwithstanding
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`Defendants, Health Equip. and Crown Global having received a $12,369.00 deposit
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`towards the order.
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`42.
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`Due to the extended period elapsed since the order was placed, World
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`Target no longer requires the delivery of the remaining product, and instead requests a
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`refund from Plaintiff.
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`43.
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`As a result of Defendants, Health Equip. and Crown Global’s breaches,
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`Plaintiff has been damaged in the sum of $12,369.00, the amount Plaintiff is obligated to
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`pay back to World Target.
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`
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`Wherefore Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendants, Health Equip. and
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`Crown Global for damages, together with costs and interest pursuant to the Florida Statutes,
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`and such other relief as the Court may deem just and proper.
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`Count III – Conversion
`(Health Equip., Crown Global and Gonzalez)
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`Paragraphs 1 through 27 are repeated and realleged as if fully set forth
`
`44.
`
`herein.
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`45.
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`This is an action for damages that exceed $30,000.00, exclusive of costs and
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`interest.
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`46.
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`Plaintiff is entitled to share in the profits generated from the business
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`transacted with Nutreceutics.
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`
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`7
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`47.
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`Notwithstanding, Defendants Health Equip., Crown Global and Gonzalez,
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`knowingly and deliberately and without justification and intentionally converted Plaintiff’s
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`share, to wit: $162,250.00 for their own personal use.
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`48.
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`Additionally, Defendants, Health Equip., Crown Global and Gonzalez,
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`converted the sum of $12,369.00 which they received from World Target and now Plaintiff
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`is obligated to pay back to World Target.
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`49.
`
`As a result of the foregoing, Plaintiff has been damaged in the sum of
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`$174,619.00.
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`Wherefore, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendants, Health Equip., Crown
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`Global and Gonzalez for damages together with interest and costs pursuant to Florida
`
`Statutes and such other relief as the Court deems just and proper.
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`Count IV - Fraud/Constructive Fraud
`(Gonzalez)
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`Paragraphs 1 through 27 are repeated and realleged as if fully set forth
`
`50.
`
`herein.
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`51.
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`This is an action for damages that exceed $30,000.00, exclusive of costs and
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`interest.
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`52.
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`As partners in the Nutreceutics and World Target Agreements, Gonzalez
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`owed fiduciary duties to Plaintiff; however, Defendant Gonzalez abused the fiduciary
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`relationship with Plaintiff and took unconscionable advantage of the relationship at the
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`expense of Plaintiff.
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`53.
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`Defendant Gonzalez engaged in a scheme whereby he fraudulently
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`converted funds rightfully due onto Plaintiff and in an effort to divest Plaintiff of funds in
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`which he either beneficially owned or is entitled to (despite Plaintiff having performed his
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`
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`8
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`
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`end of the deals), Gonzalez misrepresented the status of payment to the supplier of the
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`products purchased by Nutreceutics from Defendants, Health Equip. and Crown Global.
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`54. More recently, Defendant Gonzalez has, and continues to, conceal profits
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`generated from the sale to Plaintiff’s customers by failing to respond to Plaintiff’s inquiries
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`regarding same and by failing to account to Plaintiff.
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`55.
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`Defendant Gonzalez achieved this by concealing and/or refusing to produce
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`financial documents related to profits generated for the purpose of converting Plaintiff’s
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`share of profits.
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`56.
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`All of the foregoing actions were taken by Defendant Gonzalez to defraud
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`Plaintiff.
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`57.
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`Plaintiff has been damaged by Defendant Rodriguez’s action in the sum of
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`$174,619.00.
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`
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`Wherefore Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendant Gonzalez for damages
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`(including punitive damages) together with costs and interest pursuant to Florida Statute
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`and such other relief as this Court deems just and proper.
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`Count V - Quantum Meruit
`(Health Equip., Crown Global and Gonzalez)
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`Paragraphs 1 through 27 are repeated and realleged as if fully set forth
`
`58.
`
`herein.
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`59.
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`This is an action for damages that exceed $30,000.00, exclusive of costs and
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`interest.
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`60.
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`Plaintiff performed all duties required of him by procuring customers for
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`Defendants, Health Equip. and Crown Global.
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`61.
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`At all times material hereto, Defendants, Health Equip., Crown Global and
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`9
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`Gonzalez were aware of the foregoing and Defendants, Health Equip., Crown Global and
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`Gonzalez acquiesced and benefitted from Plaintiff’s contributions to the transactions
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`involving Nutreceutics and World Target all of which were accepted by Defendants
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`Umbrella Holdings and Rodriguez.
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`62.
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`Under ordinary circumstances a reasonable person would reasonably expect
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`to pay for such benefits, notwithstanding, Defendants, Health Equip., Crown Global and
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`Gonzalez have failed to compensate Plaintiff.
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`63.
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`Defendants, Health Equip., Crown Global and Gonzalez have been unjustly
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`enriched by virtue of the foregoing.
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`64.
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`A reasonable sum for the contribution Plaintiff provided to Defendants,
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`Health Equip., Crown Global and Gonzalez is $174,619.00 or any part thereof.
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`
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`Wherefore Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendants, Health Equip., Crown
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`Global and Gonzalez for damages, together with costs and interest pursuant to the Florida
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`Statutes, and such other relief as the Court may deem just and proper.
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`Count VI - Unjust Enrichment
`(Health Equip., Crown Global and Gonzalez)
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`Paragraphs 1 through 27 are repeated and realleged as if fully set forth
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`65.
`
`herein.
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`66.
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`This is an action for damages that exceed $30,000.00, exclusive of costs and
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`interest.
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`67.
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`Plaintiff conferred a benefit upon Defendants, Health Equip., Crown Global
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`and Gonzalez by procuring customers for Defendants, Health Equip. and Crown Global.
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`68.
`
`Defendants, Health Equip., Crown Global and Gonzalez appreciated these
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`benefits and were thereby enriched.
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`10
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`69.
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`However, Defendants, Health Equip., Crown Global and Gonzalez have not
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`paid amounts due to Plaintiff specifically, the sum of $174,619.00 as required.
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`70.
`
`Defendants, Health Equip., Crown Global and Gonzalez accepted and has
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`retained the aforementioned benefit under circumstances that make it inequitable to do so
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`without repaying these benefits.
`
`
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`Wherefore Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendants, Health Equip., Crown
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`Global and Gonzalez for damages, together with costs and interest pursuant to the Florida
`
`Statutes, and such other relief as the Court may deem just and proper.
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`Count VII - Fraudulent Inducement
`(Gonzalez)
`
`Plaintiff reaffirms and realleges the allegations contained in paragraphs 1
`
`71.
`
`through 27 as if fully set forth herein.
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`72.
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`This is an action for damages that exceed $30,000.00, exclusive of costs and
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`interest.
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`73.
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`Prior to and during negotiations leading up to the Nutreceutics and World
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`Target Agreements and indeed at all times subsequent thereto, Defendant Gonzalez
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`represented to Plaintiff that profits would be split as agreed to by the parties.
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`74.
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`At all times relevant hereto, Defendant Gonzalez knew that the foregoing
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`representations was false.
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`75.
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`Instead, Defendant Gonzalez waited until Plaintiff procured clients and
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`when payment was made to Defendants Health Equip. and Crown Global, Defendants,
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`Health Equip., Crown Global and Gonzalez converted Plaintiff’s share of the profits.
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`76.
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`Accordingly, Defendant Gonzalez’s representations were false at the time
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`they were made and Defendant Gonzalez knew or should have known such representations
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`11
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`to be false at the time they were made.
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`77.
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`Defendant Gonzalez made such false representations for the purpose and
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`with the intent that Plaintiff would act in reliance thereof, and procure clients.
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`78.
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`Prior to, at the time the agreements referenced in counts I and II were
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`entered into and subsequent to the entry into same, Plaintiff was unaware of the falsity of
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`Defendant Gonzalez’s representations, and Plaintiff entered into the agreements and
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`performed in accordance to the terms of same in justifiable reliance on Defendant
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`Gonzalez’s false representations.
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`79.
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`Plaintiff was justified in his reliance on Defendant Gonzalez’s statements
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`and representations because Plaintiff lacked the knowledge necessary to discover the fraud.
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`80.
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`If Plaintiff had known Defendant Gonzalez would not have honored the
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`parties’ understanding, Plaintiff would not have entered into the agreements nor performed
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`work as obligated.
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`81.
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`Plaintiff has been damaged by acting in reliance on Defendant Gonzalez’s
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`false representations.
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`
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`Wherefore Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendant Gonzalez (Plaintiff
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`reserves the right to assert a claim for punitive damages in due course), together with costs
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`and interest, and such other relief as the Court may deem just and proper.
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`Count VIII - Fraudulent Misrepresentation
`(Gonzalez)
`
`Plaintiff reaffirms and realleges the allegations contained in paragraphs 1
`
`82.
`
`through 27 as if fully set forth herein.
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`83.
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`This is an action for damages that exceed $30,000.00, exclusive of costs and
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`interest.
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`
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`12
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`84.
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`Prior to and during negotiations leading up to the Nutreceutics and World
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`Target Agreements and indeed at all times subsequent thereto, Defendant Gonzalez
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`represented to Plaintiff that profits would be split as agreed to by the parties.
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`85.
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`At all times relevant hereto, Defendant Gonzalez knew that the foregoing
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`representations was false.
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`86.
`
`Instead, Defendant Gonzalez waited until Plaintiff procured clients and
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`when payment was made to Defendants Health Equip. and Crown Global, Defendants,
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`Health Equip., Crown Global and Gonzalez converted Plaintiff’s share of the profits.
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`87.
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`Accordingly, Defendant Gonzalez’s representations were false at the time
`
`they were made and Defendant Gonzalez knew or should have known such representations
`
`to be false at the time they were made.
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`88.
`
`Defendant Gonzalez made such false representations for the purpose and
`
`with the intent that Plaintiff would act in reliance thereof, and procure clients.
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`89.
`
`Prior to, at the time the agreements referenced in counts I and II were
`
`entered into and subsequent to the entry into same, Plaintiff was unaware of the falsity of
`
`Defendant Gonzalez’s representations, and Plaintiff entered into the agreements and
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`performed in accordance to the terms of same in justifiable reliance on Defendant
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`Gonzalez’s false representations.
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`90.
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`Plaintiff was justified in his reliance on Defendant Gonzalez’s statements
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`and representations because Plaintiff lacked the knowledge necessary to discover the fraud.
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`91.
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`If Plaintiff had known Defendant Gonzalez would not have honored the
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`parties’ understanding, Plaintiff would not have entered into the agreements nor performed
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`work as obligated.
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`13
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`92.
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`Plaintiff has been damaged by acting in reliance on Defendant Gonzalez’s
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`false representations.
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`
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`Wherefore Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendant Gonzalez (Plaintiff
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`reserves the right to assert a claim for punitive damages in due course), together with costs
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`and interest, and such other relief as the Court may deem just and proper.
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`Count IX - Piercing the Corporate Veil based on Fraud, Conversion and Fraudulent
`Inducement
`(Crown Global and Gonzalez)
`
`Plaintiff reaffirms and realleges the allegations contained in paragraphs 1
`
`93.
`
`through 27 as if fully set forth herein
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`94.
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`At all times relevant hereto Defendant Crown Global was owned and
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`managed by Defendant Gonzalez.
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`95.
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`Upon information and belief, Defendant Gonzalez is actually the alter ego
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`of Defendant, Crown Global and as its manager and member, Defendant Gonzalez
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`dominates and controls Defendant Crown Global; and Defendant Crown Global was
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`organized, or after it was organized was employed, by the Defendant Gonzalez for
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`fraudulent or misleading purposes. Specifically, Defendant Crwon Global was organized
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`to divert and usurp profits and revenues from Plaintiff and to tortuously divest Plaintiff of
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`his interest in same. Moreover, Defendant Crown Global was set up to divest Plaintiff of
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`funds which he is entitled to via profits generated from sales to Plaintiff’s customers.
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`96.
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`Such conduct by Defendants, Crown Global and Gonzalez caused injury to
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`the Plaintiff.
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`97.
`
`Upon information and belief, Defendants, Crown Global and Gonzalez
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`commingled bank accounts and funds of one another and they converted monies received
`
`
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`14
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`from Defendant Crown Global for their own benefit and use.
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`98.
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`At all times material hereto, Defendant Crown Global disregarded its
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`corporate structure and operated for the benefit of Defendant, Gonzalez.
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`99.
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`Accordingly, Defendant, Gonzalez is personally liable for the debts of
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`Defendant Crown Global and vice versa.
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`100. Recognition of the corporate entity of Defendant, Crown Global by this
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`Court would permit the Defendant Gonzalez to commit fraud, evade personal responsibility
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`and perpetrate injustice.
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`
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`Wherefore, Plaintiff respectfully requests judgment against Crown Global and
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`Gonzalez for damages, including costs pursuant to the Florida Statutes and any other
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`further relief this court deems just and proper.
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`Demand For Jury Trial
`
`Plaintiff demands a trial by jury on all counts so triable.
`
`Garcia-Menocal Irias & Pastori LLP
`368 Minorca Avenue
`Coral Gables, FL 33134
`T: (305) 400-9652
`C: (305) 898-3577
`E-mail: jgm@gmilaw.com
`
`By: Jorge Garcia-Menocal
`Jorge A. Garcia-Menocal, Esq.
`
`Fla. Bar. # 17990
`
`Dated: July 13, 2021
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`15
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