DeCicco v. Uniroyal, Inc.

293 F. Supp. 1190, 1968 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8488
CourtDistrict Court, D. Oregon
DecidedOctober 24, 1968
DocketCiv. Nos. 67-232, 67-355, 67-365
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 293 F. Supp. 1190 (DeCicco v. Uniroyal, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Oregon primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
DeCicco v. Uniroyal, Inc., 293 F. Supp. 1190, 1968 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8488 (D. Or. 1968).

Opinion

OPINION AND FINDINGS

KILKENNY, District Judge.

In this proceeding on the issues segregated for separate trial, DeCicco asserts [1192]*1192that Uniroyal breached its contract by selling him defective tires. DeCicco claims that he was unable to collect the purchase price or was required to make adjustments with his customers for the defective tires, and that many customers discontinued doing business with him, to his damage in the amount of $200,000.00.

Uniroyal has denied DeCicco’s contentions. In addition, Uniroyal asserts a counterclaim against DeCicco in the amount of $42,578.17, for goods sold on open account. Uniroyal asserts a second counterclaim against DeCicco and third party defendant, Margaret M. DeCicco, for the sum of $43,323.63 on a demand note secured by a mortgage, and seeks a decree foreclosing the mortgage.

AGREED FACTS

DeCicco is a citizen of the State of Oregon. For over forty years, DeCicco has been the proprietor of a business engaged in the sale of new tires and tubes, and in the recapping of used tires, and has properly filed his certificate of assumed business name. DeCicco’s principal place of business is in Portland, Oregon. DeCicco has also had a place of business in Seattle, Washington, and De-Cicco has serviced customers in the states of Oregon and Washington. After commencing business, DeCicco sold various brands of tires, including India, Mohawk, Federal, Kelly, Fisk, G&J, Gillette and Remington. In connection with his business, DeCicco has a warehouse in Portland, Oregon, as well as recapping facilities and a sales office.

Uniroyal, formerly United States Rubber Company, is a New Jersey corporation with its principal place of business in New York, New York. Uniroyal is a major manufacturer of tires, tubes and various rubber products. Its products are sold throughout the United States and in foreign countries.

“Gillette Tires” is a division of Uniroyal. Tires sold under the “Gillette” label are manufactured by Uniroyal.

Subsequent to 1942, DeCicco was a factory jobber for Gillette Tire Division, pursuant to various written “jobber” agreements. Under the terms of the jobber agreements, Uniroyal delivered tires, tubes and other goods to DeCicco’s warehouse in Portland on consignment. In addition to goods purchased on consignment, DeCicco also purchased from Uniroyal goods on “dating” terms (goods sold with accounts to be paid at prescribed future date). Also, some goods were purchased on open account. DeCicco was not required to pay for goods placed in his warehouse on consignment until the goods were sold by DeCicco to his own customers. In effect, Uniroyal furnished DeCicco an inventory without DeCicco putting up any money. The amount to be paid by DeCicco to Uniroyal for goods withdrawn from consignment by DeCicco was determined by subtracting the physical inventory of goods in the warehouse at the end of the month, as determined by an inventory taken by DeCicco, from the total of goods on hand at the beginning of the month, plus goods placed in inventory. After the amount of withdrawals by DeCicco had been determined by that process, DeCicco was billed at discount prices in effect at the time of shipment.

By reason of the method of construction, individual rubber tires may be stronger or weaker than others, or may develop individual defects. Tires vary widely in design, construction, materials, quality and strength, and such differences are reflected in selling prices. These factors are recognized by the industry as a whole, and tire manufacturers and resellers of tires have developed various programs for replacing or giving allowances for tires which develop defects.

Under the terms of the jobber agreements entered into between DeCicco and Uniroyal, it agreed to handle all claims for adjustment or replacements of Gillette brand tires and tubes in accordance with its then current established procedure. In accordance with a procedure which went into effect in 1959, DeCicco was given an additional discount from purchase price in lieu of adjustment of [1193]*1193individual tires or tubes, except for certain tubes and tires in sizes 14.00 or larger, and for certain tubeless truck tires. From 1959 to 1961, the discount in lieu of adjustment was at the rate of 21/2 % of purchase price. The discount was increased to 3% effective January, 1961. Under the “discount in lieu of adjustment” policy, DeCiceo was allowed to make adjustments or replacements with his own customers for tires or tubes determined by him to be defective. He made the decision whether to grant adjustment or make replacements and Uniroyal was not required to, and, in fact, did not inspect tires and tubes to determine whether they qualified for adjustment or replacements, except for some truck tires in sizes 14.00 or larger, and certain tubeless truck tires.

As of December 19, 1963, DeCicco was indebted to Uniroyal for goods purchased from Uniroyal. On that date, DeCicco and Margaret M. DeCicco, his wife, executed a demand note payable to Uniroyal in the sum of $85,000.00. On the same date, DeCicco and Margaret M. DeCiceo executed a mortgage covering property described as shown on Exhibit A,1 as security for their indebtedness to Uniroyal. On September 4, 1963, DeCicco executed a financing agreement, granting Uniroyal a security interest in his inventory and in his accounts receivable, among other properties. On June 28, 1963, De~ Cicco executed a franchise agreement to commence in effect as of May 1, 1963, and continue through December 31, 1967. Such agreement was terminable without cause by either party, upon 30 days’ written notice. At or about the same time the franchise agreement was entered into, DeCicco and Uniroyal executed a warehouse supplement to the franchise agreement. Such agreement provided in part:

“7. On all shipments by the Warehouse Jobber of stock warehoused under this agreement to the Company’s Jobbers and to others pursuant to paragraph 3 of this agreement, the Company will allow the Warehouse Jobber a commission of three percent (3%) of the Factory Jobber value of the merchandise so delivered. This commission will not apply to any withdrawals for delivery to customers of the Warehouse Jobber, or to occasional deliveries from said stock to the Company’s branches or to other warehouses on the Company’s request. The Company may upon mutual agreement ship Gillette merchandise directly to its customers within that territory in which the Warehouse Jobber may at any time be a franchised Gillette dealer without allowing to the Warehouse Jobber any commission on such shipments. The above mentioned commission shall be in full compensation and reimbursement to the Warehouse Jobber for its overhead and out-of-pocket expenses, paid in maintaining facilities and performing all functions under this agreement.”

During the following years, DeCicco made purchases from Uniroyal of Uniroyal products in the following amounts:

1961 .....................$324,045.00

1962 ..................... 454,200.00

1963 ..................... 209,200.00

1964 ..................... 388,600.00

1965 ..................... 15,400.00

DeCiceo’s sales, in terms of dollars and profits on sale for the years 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1965 were as follows:

Year Gross Sales Purchases Profit or Loss

1960 $712,473.14 $578,118.00 $ 1,924.82

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293 F. Supp. 1190, 1968 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8488, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/decicco-v-uniroyal-inc-ord-1968.