Empire Rayon Yarn Co. v. American Viscose Corp.

238 F. Supp. 556, 1965 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9478, 1965 Trade Cas. (CCH) 71,351
District Court, S.D. New York·Decided January 6, 1965·Published·Cited by 3 cases

Opinion

MURPHY, District Judge.

We have for resolution cross motions for summary judgment in an action for treble damages brought under the Robinson-Patman Act alleging violations of § 2(c), (d) and (e), 15 U.S.C. § 13(c)-(e).

Defendant American Viscose Corporation (American), a major producer, is one of several companies engaged in the manufacture of first quality viscose rayon yarn, the bulk of which it sells directly to the textile trade where it is converted or processed. Defendants Malina Company (Malina) and Shawmut Inc. (Shawmut), as is plaintiff (Empire), are processors.1 With respect to a small portion of its output American sells to what we may here call jobbers, who sell to and service smaller units of the textile trade. By separate written agreements with American, Malina (since 1949) and Shawmut (since 1953) also serve as jobbers, in return for which they receive a 5% discount upon the submission by them to American of proof that they have resold the yarn in its original condition at American’s list price, i. e., the same price at which they purchased it from American.2 American has the same agreement (since 1949) with Gutner Brothers (Gutner). Gutner is not a processor. It is a jobber only and only of American’s product, while Malina and Shawmut also function as jobbers for other manufacturers.3 Plaintiff Empire also performs the dual function of processor and jobber, although not for American, which is the root of the controversy.

Empire, apparently in 1956, sought to enter an agreement with American such as exists with Malina, Shawmut and Gutner, and American declined.4 Em[558] pire then brought this action against American, Malina, Shawmut and Gutner. Initially the plaintiff also alleged a violation of § 2(a), 15 U.S.C. § 13(a). In 1958 cross motions for summary judgment were denied, Judge Weinfeld holding that factual questions existed with regard to (1) whether Empire purchased the yam from American for processing or for resale in competition with the other jobber defendants; (2) whether the jobber defendants performed services different from those of Empire and were thus entitled to a discount; (3) whether American’s classification of its customers into jobbers and processors was reasonably based, and; (4) whether the jobber defendants had knowingly received discriminatory discounts. Empire Rayon Yarn Co. v. American Viscose Corp., 160 F.Supp. 334 (S.D.N.Y.1958).

In the ensuing five years there have been extensive discovery proceedings, a stipulation of facts and Empire has voluntarily abandoned all claims under § 2(a). The defendants now urge that A) § 2(c) is totally inapplicable to the factual situation here presented; B) plaintiff has failed to state any valid claims under §§ 2(c), 2(d) and 2(e); C) plaintiff has no standing to sue since it receives a like discount from another manufacturer and thus cannot recover a discount from American which it claims to be unlawful, and; D) in the alternative, plaintiff’s claims for damages must be confined solely to the first quality viscose rayon yarn which it purchased from American and resold in its original form. Plaintiff cross moves for summary judgment on each cause of action and seeks an injunction and damages allegedly sustained as a result of defendants’ discriminatory conduct, trebled, and not limited to its purchases from American.

I. Section 2(c).

As stated by the Supreme Court in FTC v. Henry Broch & Co., 363 U.S. 166, 168, 80 S.Ct. 1158, 1160, 4 L.Ed.2d 1124 (1960), “the Robinson-Patman Act was enacted in 1936 to curb and prohibit all devices by which large buyers gained discriminatory preferences over smaller ones.” The Act proscribes, along with direct price discriminations,5 and discriminatory allowances 6 and services 7 what is popularly termed “dummy brokerage” in the following language:

“It shall be unlawful for any person engaged in commei-ce, in the course of such commerce, to pay or grant, or to receive or accept, anything of value as a commission, brokerage, or other compensation, or any allowance or discount in lieu thereof, except for services rendered in connection with the sale or purchase of goods, wares, or merchandise, either to the other party to such transaction or to an agent, representative, or othe.r intermediary therein where such intermediary is acting in fact for or in behalf, or is subject to the direct or indirect control, of any party to such transaction other than the person by whom such compensation is so granted or paid.” 15 U.S.C. § 13 (c).

This section, 2(c) of the Act, was designed not to affect legitimate brokerage 8 but “to cover * * * all * * * means by which brokerage could be used to effect price discrimination.” FTC v. Broch, supra, at 169, 80 S.Ct. at 1161. Thus, a purchaser may not receive a price reduction by having the seller pay brokerage to the purchaser’s agent. Biddle Purchasing Co. v. FTC, 96 F.2d 687 (2d Cir. 1938), cert. denied, 305 U.S. 634, 59 S.Ct. 101, 83 L.Ed. 407 (1938); [559] Oliver Bros. v. FTC, 102 F.2d 763 (4th Cir. 1939). Nor may the purchaser receive a discount directly and claim it as an amount represented by saved broker’s fees, since it would then in effect represent a proscribed allowance or discount in lieu of brokerage. Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. v. FTC, 106 F.2d 667 (3d Cir. 1939), cert. denied, 308 U.S. 625, 60 S.Ct. 380, 84 L.Ed. 521 (1940).

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Empire Rayon Yarn Co. v. American Viscose Corp., 238 F. Supp. 556, 1965 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9478, 1965 Trade Cas. (CCH) 71,351 (S.D.N.Y. 1965).

238 F. Supp. 556 (Empire Rayon Yarn Co. v. American Viscose Corp.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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