Central Cartage Co v. Fewless

591 N.W.2d 422, 232 Mich. App. 517

• Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
• Decided: February 16, 1999
• Docket: Docket 199433
• Status: Published

Opinions

Neff, J.

In this case involving allegations of a breach of fiduciary duty by an employee, plaintiffs, Central Cartage Co. (Central), CenTra, Inc., Central Transport, Inc., P.A.M. Transport, Inc. (P.A.M.), C.C. Eastern, Inc., and C.C. Southern, Inc., appeal from a judgment and order of no cause of action consistent with a jury verdict of no cause of action in favor of defendants Teriy L. and Susan A. Fewless, Susan A. Fewless doing business as SKAN Consulting (SKAN), and Total Quality, Inc. (tqi). Defendants cross appeal from the trial court’s directed verdict in favor of the plaintiffs regarding plaintiffs’ claim for $55,000 received by SKAN from a third party while Terry Fewless was an employee of Central. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand.

i

Central is one of several wholly owned transportation subsidiaries of CenTra. The majority of Central’s business is in the automotive industry, transporting parts from surrounding states to various automobile plants in Michigan. Because Michigan is considered an “inbound” state, one of Central’s goals is to produce business going out of Michigan so that its trucks do not travel outward empty.

Terry Fewless began working for Central in 1976, eventually becoming regional vice president of automotive sales. Fewless secured Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories (Wyeth) as a customer for Central. Wyeth produced baby formula and other nutritionals in a plant in Mason and needed to transport its products out of state; it was therefore an important account for Central. Various United States Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration regulations require that Wyeth’s infant formula stay within a certain temperature range. Because Central had only “dry vans,” rather than more costly steel-lined temperature-controlled trailers, Wyeth permitted Central to transport Wyeth freight only within a relatively small area. Central used cargo heaters on the trucks when needed in the winter months, with limited success.

In 1991, Fewless made a “single source” proposal to Wyeth on Central’s behalf, in an attempt to obtain brokerage fees.¹ Fewless advised Central’s owner/chief executive officer, Matty Moroun, of the potential for large revenues from Wyeth if Central were to obtain temperature-controlled trucks for more lengthy trips. According to Fewless, Moroun said that he was not interested, saying “That’s not our type of business.”²

In the spring of 1992, Wyeth became concerned about a potential nationwide railway strike. Representatives of Wyeth contacted Fewless for assistance in finding a temperature-controlled carrier who could handle Wyeth’s freight on long interstate trips. Fewless learned that Navajo Express, one of Central’s carriers for automotive parts, had a large fleet of temperature-controlled trailers and advised Navajo to contact Wyeth.³

Navajo offered Fewless a commission for sending the Wyeth business its way, but Fewless declined, apparently recognizing that it would be inappropriate because he was an employee of Central. Wyeth continued to use Navajo after the. railway strike ended, and Fewless’ wife, Susan, set up SKAN, which received a six to seven percent commission on the Wyeth freight transported by Navajo.⁴ Fewless never advised Moroun that Susan was going to be an agent for Navajo with regard to Wyeth freight or that she was receiving commission payments from Navajo.

Realizing that there was great potential for profit in the field of temperature-controlled trucking, Fewless incorporated tqi, applied for a property broker’s license, and signed a lease for office space in anticipation of establishing his own third-party logistics company. Fewless testified that he did not actually solicit any business for tqi while he was an employee of Central, and this assertion was confirmed by representatives of both Wyeth and Navajo.

In early December 1992, when confronted with rumors that he had started another company, Fewless admitted that his wife had formed a company that was receiving revenues from Navajo. Fewless tendered a resignation letter to Moroun, in which he stated his intention to start his own logistics company and his desire to maintain a close relationship with Central. On December 7, 1992, Central terminated Fewless’ employment. Within a few months after Fewless left Central, tqi entered into written agreements with both Wyeth and Navajo.

Meanwhile, Central began losing more and more of Wyeth’s business, which virtually ceased by the end of 1993. A representative of Wyeth testified regarding several temperature-related service failures that required a quarantine of its product, as well as a marked deterioration in the cleanliness of Central’s trailers and poor driver attitudes. Wyeth instituted a new policy that required transportation in a temperature-controlled environment to prevent product freezing. Wyeth’s position was that it would have continued to use Central or P.A.M. if they had provided temperature-controlled trailers, competitive rates, and competitive service.* *⁵

Plaintiffs filed a multiple count complaint against defendants, alleging breach of contract, a common-law obligation not to compete, intentional misrepresentation, innocent misrepresentation, silent fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, interference with existing contractual relationships, interference with prospective business relations, interference with contractual relations, a right to an accounting, and breach of fiduciary duty.⁶ At the close of the evidence, the trial court granted defendants’ motion for a directed verdict with regard to several claims and granted plaintiffs’ motion for a directed verdict regarding their claim for $55,000 paid by Navajo to SKAN while Fewless remained employed by Central. The jury specifically found that Fewless did not breach his fiduciary duty to Central after his termination and returned a verdict of no cause of action on all remaining counts.

n

Plaintiffs first argue that the trial court erred in denying their motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict (jnov) or a new trial. We disagree.

In reviewing the denial of a motion for jnov, this Court views the evidence and all legitimate inferences that may be drawn from the evidence in a light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Jones v Powell, 227 Mich App 662, 676; 577 NW2d 130 (1998). “If reasonable jurors could honestly have reached different conclusions, the jury verdict must stand.” Severn v Sperry Corp, 212 Mich App 406, 412; 538 NW2d 50 (1995).

A

Plaintiffs insist that because the court held defendants liable for the $55,000 in commissions paid by Navajo while Fewless was employed by Central, defendants are also hable for all commissions paid by Navajo to SKAN, and later to TQI, after Fewless was terminated by Central. Specifically, plaintiffs argue that these subsequent commission payments were a mere continuation of Fewless’ breach of his fiduciary duties. We disagree.

A fiduciary owes a duty of good faith to his principal and is not permitted to act for himself at his principal’s expense during the course of his agency. Production Finishing Corp v Shields, 158 Mich App 479, 486-487; 405 NW2d 171 (1987). A corollary to this rule is that all profits made in the execution of a fiduciary’s agency belong to the principal Id. Accordingly, “[i]f an agent acquires any pecuniary advantage to himself from third parties by means of his fiduciary character, he is accountable to his employer for the profit made.” Id. at 487; see also Michigan Crown Fender Co v Welch, 211 Mich 148, 159-160; 178 NW 684 (1920).

Without question, Fewless breached his fiduciary duties to Central by failing to advise that Navajo was paying SKAN commissions for Wyeth freight. However, we disagree with plaintiffs’ assertion that, even after Fewless was terminated from his employment and had advised Central of the situation involving SKAN and Navajo, all future commissions also rightly belonged to Central ad infinitum. We find that, particularly in light of the fact that an agreement not to compete did not exist between Central and Fewless, reasonable minds could differ regarding the question whether, after Fewless was terminated and Central was armed with all relevant facts surrounding the SKAN/Navajo situation, Fewless and TQI were free to pursue these revenues. SCD Chemical Distributors, Inc v Medley, 203 Mich App 374, 382; 512 NW2d 86 (1994). Accordingly, the trial court properly denied plaintiffs’ motion for jnov.

B

Similarly, we find that reasonable minds could differ regarding the issue whether the temperature-controlled transportation brokerage company started by Fewless after his termination from Central represented a usurpation of a business opportunity rightly belonging to Central.

Plaintiffs insist that this question is governed by Production Finishing, supra. We find this reliance is misplaced. In Production Finishing, the defendant was the president of a steel polishing company that had long sought to purchase Ford Motor Company’s steel polishing business. Upon learning that Ford was considering selling its polishing business, the defendant notified his employer of the opportunity and made an offer to purchase on the employer’s behalf. Ford responded that it would not sell to the employer because it feared a monopoly in the area. The defendant then inquired into the possibility of purchasing the business for himself. Ford agreed, and the defendant made preparations to purchase the business without advising his employer that Ford had refused to sell to it and without stating his intention to purchase the business in his individual capacity. This Court held that the defendant breached his fiduciary duties and had diverted a business opportunity of the employer. In doing so, the Court stated that Ford’s refusal to deal with the employer did not reheve the defendant fiduciary from liability when he failed to disclose the refusal to his principal. Production Finishing, supra at 489-490.

The facts in the present case are significantly different. Fewless repeatedly asked Moroun to consider purchasing refrigerated trailers in order to obtain longer routes and more Wyeth business. Although the evidence is conflicting, reasonable minds could find that Moroun flatly rejected the business opportunity because the trailers were too expensive and because his primary freight, automobile parts, could easily damage the trailers. These facts distinguish this case from Production Finishing, supra, where the employer never wavered in its desire to obtain the business opportunity usurped by the employee.⁷ Absent an agreement not to compete, Fewless was free, upon the termination of his employment, to use his skill, experience, and general knowledge to compete against Central in both the refrigerated trucking industry and the third-party logistics business. SCD Chemical Distributors, supra at 381.⁸

c

Plaintiff's argue that after his termination, Fewless caused Wyeth to pull its business from Central and direct it to one of tqi’s customers. Our review of the record reveals ample evidence from which the jury could find that the reasons for Central’s loss of Wyeth’s business was a decline in service and a refusal to provide Wyeth with temperature-controlled trailers. Because reasonable minds could differ with regard to this issue as well, the trial court properly denied plaintiff’s motion for jnov.

H

Plaintiffs next challenge the jury instructions given by the trial court. Specifically, plaintiffs argue that certain special instructions tendered by them should have been given, certain special instructions tendered by defendants should not have been given, and the order in which the instructions were given caused undue confusion among the jurors. We disagree.

Generally, a trial court may give an instruction not covered by the standard instructions as long as the instruction accurately states the law and is understandable, concise, conversational, and nonargumentative. Bordeaux v Celotex Corp, 203 Mich App 158, 169; 511 NW2d 899 (1993). Supplemental instructions need not be given if they would add nothing to an otherwise balanced and fair jury charge nor enhance the ability of the jury to decide the case intelligently, fairly, and impartially. Mull v Equitable Life Assurance Society, 196 Mich App 411, 422-423; 493 NW2d 447 (1992), aff’d 444 Mich 508; 510 NW2d 184 (1994). Moreover, it is error to instruct a jury with regard to a matter not sustained by the evidence or the pleadings. Murdock v Higgins, 454 Mich 46, 60; 559 NW2d 639 (1997). Jury instructions are to be reviewed in their entirety, and there is no error requiring reversal if, on balance, the theories of the parties and the applicable law were fairly and adequately presented to the jury. Mull, supra at 423.

We agree with the trial court that many of plaintiffs’ special instructions were repetitious of other instructions given to the jury. The court incorporated portions of plaintiffs’ instructions regarding the duties of a fiduciary into the charge given to the jury, thus affording plaintiffs the favorable language they desired while lessening the danger of repetition. The challenged instructions tendered by defendants regarding an employee’s duty not to compete and Fewless’ status as an employee at will were appropriate in light of the evidence presented and the theories of the parties. Moreover, we find nothing in the order of the instructions that would have rendered them unduly confusing to the jurors.

After reviewing the jury instructions in their entirety, we conclude that the trial court presented the theories of the parties and the applicable law fairly and adequately. Accordingly, reversal is not warranted on this ground.

IV

Plaintiffs next argue that the trial court committed error requiring reversal when, after directing a verdict in favor of plaintiffs regarding the $55,000 paid by Navajo to SKAN before December 7, 1992, it advised the jury as follows:

Earlier in this case I advised you that certain matters had been resolved and were no longer for you to consider. I will now advise you that the Defendant, Susan Fewless, has been resolved out of this case and you need not consider claims that relate to Susan Fewless.

Because plaintiffs cite no authority for their position, we deem this issue abandoned. Weiss v Hodge (After Remand), 223 Mich App 620, 637; 567 NW2d 468 (1997). We note, however, that the court’s advisement was neutral and in no way prejudiced plaintiffs.

v

Plaintiffs argue that the trial court erred in granting defendants’ motion for a directed verdict with regard to count VI, which alleged a conspiracy between Terry Fewless, Susan Fewless, SKAN, and tqi to obtain and use proprietary information in an attempt to usurp plaintiffs’ corporate opportunities regarding Navajo and Wyeth. We disagree, because no evidence was presented that would support the conclusion that Susan Fewless or SKAN ever received, or conspired to obtain, proprietary information from the other plaintiffs. Because reasonable jurors could not have honestly reached different conclusions regarding this issue, the trial court’s grant of a directed verdict with regard to this count was appropriate. Alar v Mercy Memorial Hosp, 208 Mich App 518, 524; 529 NW2d 318 (1995).

VI

Defendants raise the following issues on cross appeal.

Defendants first challenge the trial court’s denial of their motion for offer of judgment sanctions pursuant to MCR 2.405. We agree that the trial court erred in determining that because the proposed judgment was to be paid in installments, rather than in a lump sum, it was not for a “sum certain” as contemplated by the court rule.

MCR 2.405(B) provides that, until twenty-eight days before trial, a party may serve on his opponent a written offer to stipulate the entry of a judgment. If the opponent rejects the offer and the adjusted verdict is more favorable to the offeror than the average offer, the offering party may recover actual costs from the offeree. MCR 4.205(A).

On May 16, 1995, defendants served on plaintiffs an offer to stipulate entry of judgment of $90,000, payable in three annual installments of $30,000 at eight percent interest. Plaintiffs responded that they did not believe the offer to be valid for two reasons: it was untimely, and it was invalid because the judgment was to be paid in installments. On July 20, 1995, defendants filed a second offer, this time offering to stipulate entry of judgment in the amount of $250,000, payable in five annual installments of $50,000 at six percent interest. Plaintiffs filed a counteroffer of judgment dated August 7, 1995, offering to stipulate the entry of a judgment in the amount of $550,000.

At issue here is the definition of “offer” found in MCR 2.405(A)(1):

“Offer” means a written notification to an adverse party of the offeror’s willingness to stipulate to the entry of a judgment in a sum certain, which is deemed to include all costs and interest then accrued. If a party has made more than one offer, the most recent offer controls for the purposes of this rule.

Few cases have addressed the question of what constitutes a “sum certain” for purposes of MCR 2.405. In Hessel v Hessel, 168 Mich App 390, 395; 424 NW2d 59 (1988), this Court held that, in a divorce proceeding, a proposed property settlement did not constitute a “sum certain”:

The definition of an “offer” at MCR 2.405(A)(1), quoted above, refers to the offer of a sum certain. A proposed property settlement does not offer a sum certain; it offers a division of marital property. This case is illustrative: defendant “offered” plaintiff real estate, a car, household furnishings, and certificates of deposit which would presumably vary in worth depending on when they were withdrawn. In no sense of the phrase can these items be equated with a “sum certain.” Even if the worth of the property were considered a “sum” for purposes of MCR 2.405, such worth is by no means “certain,” as this case also demonstrates. Defendant valued the property he offered plaintiff at $143,200, while the trial court’s valuation of that same property was approximately $108,000.

In a more recent case, Wilkins v Gagliardi, 219 Mich App 260, 274; 556 NW2d 171 (1996), the trial court held that a defense offer for $500 “plus costs attributable to those portions of the plaintiffs’ complaint that were not dismissed” was for a “sum certain” as required by MCR 2.405.

In Haberkorn v Chrysler Corp, 210 Mich App 354; 533 NW2d 373 (1995), this Court addressed another aspect of MCR 2.405(A) and distinguished an offer to settle and an offer of judgment. There, the defense offer, though including the amount of $500,000, merely expressed a willingness to settle, but did not express a willingness “to stipulate to the entry of a judgment in a sum certain,” as required by the court rule.

Turning to the present case, we find that defendants’ offer, which was for a specific amount ($250,000), and had a specific interest amount to be applied (six percent), constitutes a “sum certain” for purposes of MCR 2.405. Further, in contrast to the situation in Haberkorn, supra, defendants were not merely presenting an offer to settle. To the contrary, they unequivocally offered to enter into a stipulation of judgment.

Nor does the fact that the proposed judgment was to be payable in installments render it invalid for purposes of MCR 2.405. Nothing in the court rule prohibits a party from presenting an offer of judgment that is to be payable over time. Moreover, MCL 600.6201(1); MSA 27A.6201(1) provides that a judge may enter an order permitting a defendant to pay in installments any judgment previously rendered in the judge’s court. Thus, even if defendants’ offer of judgment did not so provide, defendants easily could have petitioned the trial court for permission to pay the judgment in installments.

Plaintiffs argue that there is no certainty that all the installments will ever be paid, or that assets of defendants wall be available in the case of bankruptcy proceedings. The risk of noncollection exists, however, for virtually every money judgment. Nothing in MCR 2.405 requires that the offer of judgment be “guaranteed collectible.” Further, plaintiffs remain free to pursue all legal means for the collection of an installment judgment, save garnishment. MCL 600.6245; MSA 27A.6245.

In light of the purpose of MCR 2.405, which encourages parties to seriously engage in the settlement process and avoid prolonged litigation, Freysinger v Taylor Supply Co, 197 Mich App 349, 354; 494 NW2d 870 (1992), we hold that the trial court erred in determining that the inclusion of installments rendered defendants’ offer of judgment invalid and not for a “sum certain.” Accordingly, the trial court’s order denying the motion for offer of judgment sanctions is reversed and the matter is remanded for consideration of the appropriate fees to be awarded pursuant to MCR 2.405.

Defendants challenge the trial court’s grant of plaintiffs’ motion for a directed verdict in the amount of $55,000, representing payments by Navajo to SKAN before Fewless’ termination from Central. We affirm the trial court’s ruling, but remand this case to the trial court for correction of its written judgment to accurately reflect the court’s judgment made on the record.

The trial court ruled that plaintiffs were entitled to the commission payments paid by Navajo to SKAN while Fewless was still employed by Central. Accordingly, the court orally granted plaintiffs’ motion for a directed verdict against all defendants except tqi, which, the court stated, was not in existence at the time. The court’s written order, however, states that the directed verdict is against all defendants.

Defendants argue that the court erred in granting a directed verdict against Susan Fewless and SKAN because, at that point in the trial, they were no longer parties to the lawsuit. Specifically, defendants note that, immediately before hearing plaintiffs’ motion for a directed verdict, the court had granted defendants’ motion for a directed verdict with regard to all counts involving Susan Fewless and SKAN.

We find defendants’ argument is without merit. The record reveals that some of the proofs at trial were taken slightly out of order to accommodate witnesses and avoid needless repetition. As a result, plaintiffs’ and defendants’ motions for a directed verdict were heard at the same hearing by agreement of counsel. However, it is abundantly clear that the court’s grant of a directed verdict in favor of defendants Susan Fewless and SKAN was for those claims regarding actions that occurred after December 7, 1992, when Fewless was terminated from his employment with Central. The trial court properly determined that Susan Fewless and SKAN remained parties regarding their conduct that occurred before December 7, 1992.

Defendants also challenge the entry of a directed verdict against Fewless and state that evidence was presented that supports the conclusion that he did not breach his fiduciary duty to Central. We disagree.

Fewless recommended that Navajo contact Wyeth regarding Wyeth’s refrigerated shipping needs in anticipation of the national railway strike. When Fewless declined compensation offered to him personally by Navajo, an alternate arrangement was set up whereby Susan Fewless and SKAN would receive commissions from Navajo for the Wyeth freight. The record establishes that the only reason Navajo chose Susan Fewless as its agent was because she could consult with Fewless.

As a fiduciary, Fewless owed Central a strict duty of good faith and was not permitted to engage in activities in the course of his duties for his own benefit. Production Finishing, supra at 486. In violation of these duties, Fewless diverted from Central $55,000 in commissions earned during the course of his employment. Reasonable minds could not find otherwise. Accordingly, the trial court’s grant of a directed verdict with regard to this issue was proper.

Defendant tqi seeks relief from judgment pursuant to MCR 2.612(A)(1), which provides as follows:

Clerical mistakes in judgments, orders, or other parts of the record and errors arising from oversight or omission may be corrected by the court at any time on its own initiative or on motion of a party and. after notice, if the court orders it.

Because this case is on appeal, the trial court may not amend the judgment except by order of this Court.

The purpose behind MCR 2.612(A)(1) is “ ‘to make the lower court record and judgment accurately reflect what was done and decided at the trial level.’ ” McDonald’s Corp v Canton Twp, 177 Mich App 153, 159; 441 NW2d 37 (1989) (citation omitted). Here the written judgment does not comport with the trial court’s intended and orally expressed ruling that the directed verdict was to be entered against all defendants except tqi. We thus remand this case to the trial court to correct the judgment to accurately reflect what was decided by the trial court.

vn

We reverse the trial court’s denial of defendants’ motion for offer of judgment sanctions and remand for consideration of the appropriate fees to be awarded pursuant to MCR 2.405. Also, pursuant to MCR 2.612(A)(2), we remand this case for correction of the trial court’s written order granting plaintiffs’ motion for a directed verdict. We affirm the judgment of the trial court in all other respects. We do not retain jurisdiction.

Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.

Wahls, J., concurred.

1 This concept, developed in the mid-1980s with the deregulation of the trucking industry, involves providing administrative/analytical expertise and brokerage services to customers. In implementing the single source concept, Central seeks to direct business to one of its affiliates, but uses other carriers when necessary.

2 It is generally understood that temperature-controlled trailers and dry vans constitute wholly different markets.

3 At trial, Fewless testified that he advised Moroun about the opportunity to haul additional Wyeth freight, and that Moroun knew that Fewless had recommended that Wyeth contact Navajo in this regard.

4 Conflicting evidence was presented regarding whether Navajo or Terry Fewless suggested that Susan set up SKAN. It is undisputed, however, that Susan had absolutely no prior experience in the trucking industry and that her sole duties for Navajo consisted of two to three hours a week of relatively simple paperwork. For her efforts, SKAN received over $63,000 from Navajo from April through December 1992.

5 Although Central owned a few temperature-controlled trailers, they were primarily used to transport automobile windshields, and were never offered to Wyeth.

6 Defendants filed a counterclaim, but all counts were either voluntarily withdrawn or were the subject of summary disposition in favor of plaintiffs.

7 Moreover, testimony was presented that although Fewless incorporated tqi and made other preparations to establish his new business, he did not solicit any customers before his termination from Central. Although some evidence presented at trial tends to refute this fact, this was a question of fact properly left for the jury’s consideration.

8 Although plaintiffs suggest that Fewless used proprietary information of Central in establishing tqi, the evidence presented at trial regarding this was conflicting. Accordingly, a grant of jnov would have been improper.