Jimmie Elsken, the administrator of the estate of her daughter Patricia Elsken, filed this diversity action against Network MultiFamily Security Corporation alleging breach of contract, breach of warranties, negligence, and deceptive trade practices. The district court dismissed the ease, and the plaintiff
Facts
Patricia Elsken rented an apartment from the Windsail Apartment Community in an attempt to find a safe place to live. Windsail Apartment Community offered a twenty-four hour alarm system from the Network MultiFamily Security Corporation (“Network”). Along with her rental lease, Patricia Elsken signed a Resident Alarm Services Agreement. The Services Agreement cоntained an indemnity clause and a limitation of Network’s liability. Although Patricia Elsken signed the contract, she did not initial the reverse side of the Services Agreement, and it is alleged that she failed to read the contract.
Patricia Elsken was found dead in her apartment on the morning of April 11, 1988, an apparent murder victim. Earlier that morning, at 10:33 a.m., her intrusion security alarm. was .activated. In response to the alarm, Network tried unsuccessfully to contact Patricia Elsken by telephone. Unable to reach Patricia Elsken by phone, Network contacted the apartment manager’s office and advised the manager of the alarm. The apartment manager did not immediately cheek Patricia Elsken’s aрartment, and by the time the apartment personnel went to investigate the apartment, police and emergency vehicles had already arrived.
When Patricia Elsken had failed to report to work as expected that morning, a coworker called her mother. Jimmie Elsken went to the apartment to check on her daughter. She arrived аt the apartment before the apartment personnel came to investigate. She found the apartment in disarray and her daughter lying facedown, dead. Patricia Elsken had'been stabbed repeatedly and died from a loss of blood.
Procedural History
Jimmie Elsken, a resident of Paris, Arkansas, acting as administrator of the estate of Patricia Elsken sued Network in federаl court in Oklahoma for breach of contract, negligence, and breach of warranties in its failure to respond properly to the alarm. She also claimed Network engaged in deceptive trade practices.
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma certified three questions to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. The three questions were (1) whether, under Oklahoma law, a contractual limitation of liability for personal injury is valid and enforceable, (2) whether, under Oklahoma 'law, the limitation of liability clause contained in the Residential Alarm Services Agreement is valid and enforceable, and (3) whether, under Oklahoma law, the indemnification and hold-harmless clause is valid and enforceable.
Elsken v. Network Multi-Family Sec. Corp.,
On the basis of the answers to these certified questions, the federal district сourt granted Network’s motion to dismiss the claims and denied Jimmie Elsken’s motion to reconsider.' Ms. Elsken appeals, alleging error in the district court’s conclusions that the Services Agreement was properly executed and that the parties made the agreement at arms length. Ms. Elsken also claims the district court erred in applying the limitation of liability provision to causes of action based upon theories other than negligence. Finally, Ms. Elsken challenges the district court’s denial of her motion to reconsider.
Discussion.
Although styled as a motion to dismiss, the motion was evaluated on materials outside of the pleadings and therefore was treated as a motion for summary judgment in accordance
I. Limitation of Liability Clause
The Resident Alarm Services Agreement between Patricia Elsken and Network contained a limitation of liability provision. The contract referred to Patricia Elsken as “Resident,” the apartment complex as “Client,” and Nеtwork as “Network.” Specifically the agreement stated
3.0 LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
3.1 It is understood and agreed that NEITHER CLIENT NOR NETWORK ARE INSURERS AND THAT INSURANCE, IF ANY, FOR ANY TYPE OF LOSS, SHALL BE OBTAINED BY RESIDENT....
3.4 Resident understands and agrees that if either Client or Network should be found liable for loss or damage due to the failure of the System in any respect whatsoever, including, but not limited to monitoring,' Client’s and Network’s collective liability shall not exceed a sum equal to Two Hundred аnd Fifty Dollars ($250.00) and this liability shall be exclusive. CLIENT AND NETWORK ARE NOT INSURERS AND RESIDENT ASSUMES ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR OBTAINING INSURANCE TO COVER LOSSES OF ALL TYPES. .The provisions of this section shall apply if death, loss or damage, irrespective of cause or-origin, results directly or indirectly, to persons or property, from performance or nonperformance of the obligations imposed by this Agreement, or from negligence, active or otherwise, of Client, Network, their agents, employees, legal representatives or assigns.
(Emphasis in original.) Ms. Elsken asserts the district court erred in dismissing the case when there existed factual questions as to whether the Services Agreement was properly executed and whether the parties were in unequal bargaining positions.
A. Execution of the Agreement
Ms. Elsken argues the contract was not properly executed because the limitation of liability was on the reverse side of the Services Agreement and Patricia Elsken did not initial the bottom of the reverse side where there was a space for initials. Ms. Elsken also submitted, from the apartment complex manager, an .affidavit stating Patricia Elsken did not even read the Services Agreement. This affidavit wаs submitted with Ms. Elsken’s motion to reconsider. Jimmie Elsken relies on this allegation to support her claim that the document was not properly executed.
The district court noted Patricia Elsken signed the first page of the Services Agreement below a provision articulating a presumption that the agreement was properly executed, a fact Ms. Elsken does not contest. This provision stated:
RESIDENT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT RESIDENT HAS READ AND UNDERSTANDS ALL OF THIS RESIDENT AGREEMENT INCLUDING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS ON THIS SIDE AND THE REVERSE SIDE, PARTICULARLY PARAGRAPH 3.0 LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND AGREES TO THE AMOUNTS SET FORTH THEREIN.
(Emphasis in original.) Ms. Elsken contends the district court erred because the trier of fact should decide whether or not Patricia Elsken read the Services Agreement and whether' or not it was, in fact, properly executed. She avers it was inappropriate for the court to resolve the question of the еffect, if any, of the absence of evidence to rebut the textual presumption.
1. Failure to initial a provision in a contract.
It is undisputed that Patricia Elsken signed the front page of the Services Agreement. On the back of the page, there was a limitation of liability clause. Although the side of the paper displaying the limitation of liability clause contained a space for initials,
Based upon a plain reading of the contract, Patricia Elsken agreed to the contract in its entirety as written. She signed directly below a statement in conspicuous, bold capital letters declaring the signing party was agreeing to the entire Services Contract. This statement further emphasized the limitation of liability clause on the back of the page. Under Oklаhoma law, ‘[t]he language of a contract is to govern its interpretation, if the language is clear and explicit, and does not involve an absurdity.” Okla.Stat.Ann.tit. 15, § 154 (West 1993).
The district court found the language of the Services Agreement was clear and explicit: “Resident acknowledges that, resident has read and understands all of this resident agreement including the terms аnd conditions on this side and the reverse.side, particularly paragraph- 3.0 limitation of liability.” (Emphasis omitted.) Ms. Elsken cannot avoid the application of the limitation of liability when her daughter signed directly below a statement of acceptance of the contract that explicitly incorporates the provisions on the reverse side оf the page.
See Vails v. Southwestern Bell Tel.
Co.,
2. Failure to read the contract.
Ms. Elsken next argues the contract cannot be enforced because Patricia Elsken did not read it. However, Patricia Elsken did sign the contract, аnd under Oklahoma law, “ ‘[wjhere a party signs a written agreement, in the absence of false representation or fraud, he is bound by it, although ignorant of its contents.’ ”
Hicks v. State Farm, Mut. Auto Ins. Co.,
There is no evidence presented showing Patricia Elsken was not given the opportunity to examine and read the contract. The affidavit from the apartment manager states only that Patriсia Elsken “did not read her [Resident Alarm Services Agreement] and she did not sign the back of it either.”
Furthermore, Ms. Elsken has not claimed Patricia Elsken sighed the contract without reading it due to fraud, misrepresentation, or deceit. Under Oklahoma law, a party who signs a contract without reading it cannot avoid its legal effect on the ground that it did not read the contract or that the contents of the contract were not known to the party.
See Darby Petroleum Co. v. Bowers,
B. Bargaining Positions
In answering the certified questions, the Oklahoma Supreme Court noted, “We do not know whether the parties were in an unequal bargaining position.”
Elsken,
However, Ms. Elsken fails to highlight law and sufficient facts showing the existence of unequal bargaining power between Network and Patricia Elsken. She simply notes for the court that the contract was presented to
C. Non-negligence Claims
On appeal, Ms. Elsken also asserts the district court erred by applying the limitation of liability clause to causes of action other than negligence. In answering the certified questions, the Oklahoma Supreme Court stated the “limitation of liability would be binding and enforceable as to defendant’s actions constituting ordinary negligence.”
Elsken,
The Oklahoma Súpreme Court, in its analysis of the limitatiоn of liability clause, stated a contract may not exempt anyone from liability, but may limit their liability.
Id.
at 1008-09. The court also noted that other jurisdictions have held the limitation of liability is consistent with public policy as long as it does not limit liability where the defendant’s conduct constituted gross negligence.
Id.
at 1009. From this, Ms. Elsken asserts the district court erred in- dismissing her claims of breaсh of contract, breach of warranty, and deceptive trade practices. However, the Oklahoma Supreme Court also noted “ ‘[i]t reasonably follows that since the eontract established the duty, any lawful limitations in the- contract may also limit the liability of the tortfeasor.’”
Id.
(quoting
Fretwell v. Protection Alarm Co.,
The Oklahoma Supreme Court was not addressing' claims other than negligеnce in answering the certified questions; therefore, its language applied the limitation of liability clause only to negligence cases. There was no reason for the Oklahoma Supreme Court to rule on non-negligence.claims; therefore, we have no reason to assume the court restricted the application of the clause to negligence claims alone. The clause itself states the limitation applies “if death, loss or damage, irrespective of cause or origin, results directly or indirectly,.to persons or property, from performance or nonperformance of the obligations imposed by this Agreement, or from negligence, active or otherwise.” (Emрhasis added.) . From the plain language of the contract the limitation is not restricted to claims of negligence.
Ms. Elsken also ignores the indemnity clause of the Services Agreement, which states:
In the event any person not a party to this agreement shall make any claim or file any lawsuit against Client or Network for any reason relating to the duties and obligations of Client or Network pursuant to this agreement including, but not limited to, the design, installation, maintenance, operation or non-operation of the System, or the providing of monitoring, patrol or extended maintenance services, Resident agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Client and Network harmless from any and all such claims and lawsuits, including the payment of all damages, expenses, costs and attorney’s fees, whether such claims be based upon alleged intentional conduct, active, or passive negligence, or strict-or, product liability on the part of Client, Network, their agents, employees, legal representatives or assigns.'
The Oklahoma Supreme Court held the indemnification clаuse of the Services Agree
II. Denial of Motion to Reconsider
Ms. Elsken’s final argument on appeal' is the district court erred in denying'her motion to reconsider. She asserts her motion to reconsider presented the court with evidence to establish genuine issues of material fact as to whether or not.the Services Agreement was properly executed and whether or not the parties dealt from equal bargaining positions.
Although not formally addressed in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a motion to reconsider is often treated as. a Rule 60(b) motion.
See Van Skiver v. United States,
Even considering the additional evidence presented with the motion to reconsider, the apartment manager’s affidavit, we have already determined the district court did not err in dismissing the suit. Therefore,, the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion to reconsider.
Conclusion
Wé have found no error in the district court’s dismissal of this case. The contract was properly executed and there was insufficient evidence to show unequal bargaining positions. Conclusory allegations that are unsubstantiated do hot create an issue of fact and are insufficient to oppose summary judgment, and accordingly, we AFFIRM.
Notes
. The Services Agreement reveals that Patricia Elsken could have bargained' for a higher limit on liability. This undercuts Ms. Elsken’s argument that the contract was absolutely unnegotia-ble.
. The district court correctly dismissed the deceptive trade practices claim because Ms. Elsken sought only damages and made no claim for injunctive relief. The Oklahoma Deceptive Trade Practice Act provides for aggrieved parties to receive injunctive relief. Okla.Stat. tit. 78, § 54 (1991). If a party seeks an injunction and proves actual damages then the party can obtain damages. However, since Ms. Elsken was not seeking injunctive relief, the claim was not properly before the court.