Circuit Systems, Inc. v. Mescalero Sales, Inc.

925 F. Supp. 546, 35 Fed. R. Serv. 3d 303, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5452, 1996 WL 204320
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Illinois
DecidedApril 24, 1996
Docket95 C 2505
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 925 F. Supp. 546 (Circuit Systems, Inc. v. Mescalero Sales, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Circuit Systems, Inc. v. Mescalero Sales, Inc., 925 F. Supp. 546, 35 Fed. R. Serv. 3d 303, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5452, 1996 WL 204320 (N.D. Ill. 1996).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

NORGLE, District Judge:

Before the Court is Defendant Mescalero Sales Inc.’s (“Mescalero”) Motion to Strike PlaintifPs Fifth Affirmative Defense or for Judgment on the Pleadings pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(f) and 12(c). Mescalero’s counterclaim seeks payment allegedly owed under its contract with Plaintiff Circuit Systems, Inc. (“CSI”). For the following reasons, the motion to strike is denied and the alternative motion for judgment on the pleadings is granted in part.

I. Background

CSI is an Illinois corporation which manufactures printed circuit boards. Mescalero is an Arizona corporation which represents manufacturers and solicits orders on their behalf. In the summer of 1991, the parties entered into a contract whereby CSI would pay Mescalero a percentage of sales generated by Mescalero. Pursuant to this agreement, Mescalero initiated representations in August.

In early October, CSI sent Mescalero a written agreement. This document was not signed until after the present controversy arose. In its discovery answers, CSI stated that the submitted document accurately represented the parties’ agreement except to the *548 extent that it describes the commission due Mescalero upon sales. The document refers to a commission structure of 5% for all sales except sales to certain, identified, previous customers of CSI; sales to those customers would receive a commission of 2.5%.

In February 1995, Mescalero requested payment of 5% commissions for sales to the identified customers. On March 3,1995, CSI and its attorneys rejected this request. On March 23, 1995, CSI filed its complaint for declaratory judgment in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois. The case was subsequently removed to this court, and Mescalero filed its counterclaim and answer on May 3, 1995. Federal subject matter jurisdiction is based on diversity of citizenship. The counterclaim contains several counts and incorporates the written agreement document. Two of the counts (Counts I and III) are based on an Illinois statute. CSI filed its reply and affirmative defenses on May 30, 1995. In its Fifth Affirmative Defense, which is at issue, CSI argues that the Illinois statute is inapplicable to the case. In the instant motion, Mescalero argues that the court should strike CSI’s Fifth Affirmative defense to the statutory counts. Alternatively, Mescalero asks the court to enter judgment on the pleadings in its favor and to find Mescalero to be a “sales representative” within the definition of the Illinois statute.

II. Discussion

Rule 12(f) motions are not favored and will be denied unless the language in the pleading has no relation to the controversy and is unduly prejudicial. Simmons v. John F. Kennedy Medical Ctr., 727 F.Supp. 440, 442 (N.D.Ill.1989). In the instant ease, the court must take CSI’s allegations as true and draw all reasonable inferences in favor of CSI. See Coca-Cola Co. Foods Div. v. Olmarc Packaging Co., 620 F.Supp. 966, 970 (N.D.Ill.1985). Rule 12(f) reads, “[U]pon motion made by a party ... within 20 days after the service of the pleading upon the party or upon the court’s own initiative at any time, the court may order stricken from any pleading any insufficient defense_” Fed. R.Civ.P. 12(f). The time span between May 30 and December 29, 1995 is beyond the 20 day limitation of Rule 12(f). The parties have not argued that service was incomplete until after December 9 (20 days prior to filing of the motion to strike), and the affidavit of service for the affirmative defenses indicates service by mail deposited on May 23, 1995. Therefore, the motion to strike is denied as untimely.

However, the court considers Mes-calero’s timely alternative motion for judgment on the pleadings, and grants that motion in part. In its response, CSI erroneously argues that Rule 12(c) required Mescalero to file its motion within twenty days. CSI cites no authority for this proposition and its argument runs contrary to the language of the rule itself. Rule 12(c) states that a motion for judgment on the pleadings may be brought “[a]fter the pleadings are closed but within such time as not to delay the trial.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(c). The court does not address the disputed commission percentage term of the contract; rather, the Court addresses only the choice of law and applicability of the Illinois statute issues.

As a threshold inquiry, the court notes that Illinois substantive law applies in this case. Federal courts apply choice of law rules from their forum state. Gramercy Mills, Inc. v. Wolens, 63 F.3d 569, 572 (7th Cir.1995). Illinois law respects a contract’s choice of law provisions, providing that the contract is valid. Peter G. Kohler, Walter J. Kohler v. Leslie Hindman, Inc., 80 F.3d 1181, 1184-85 (7th Cir.1996) (citation omitted). In the instant case, the written agreement document contains a provision stating that Illinois law applies. Despite CSI’s attempt to deny that Illinois law applies, CSI already conceded this issue in its discovery responses by answering that the document accurately reflected their agreement with only one exception, the disputed commission percentage. Discovery answers are admissions for litigation purposes; thus, CSI’s admission that Illinois law applies is binding. See Bank of Ill. v. Allied Signal Safety Restraint Systems, 75 F.3d 1162 (7th Cir.1996). Parties may not create genuine issues of material fact by contradicting prior admissions. Id. See also, Buckner v. Sam’s Club, Inc., 75 F.3d 290, 292 (7th Cir.1996) (stating *549 that parties cannot create fact issues by contradicting prior sworn testimony). CSI offers no explanation for its attempted contradiction of its discovery admissions, such as newly discovered information or the need to clarify earlier discovery responses. See ibid. Accordingly, pursuant to the parties’ admitted agreement, the court applies Illinois law to the remainder of its discussion.

Still, CSI contends that the document does not reflect the parties’ agreement. Again, CSI admitted the accuracy of the document in its discovery response. See Id. Based upon CSI’s admission, the court finds that the document reflects the parties’ agreement except to the extent that the document refers to a commission term, and makes no finding about that term.

The remaining question is whether the Illinois Sales Representative Act, 820 ILCS 120/0.01-120/3

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925 F. Supp. 546, 35 Fed. R. Serv. 3d 303, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5452, 1996 WL 204320, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/circuit-systems-inc-v-mescalero-sales-inc-ilnd-1996.