GAF Corp. v. Eastman Kodak Co.

519 F. Supp. 1203, 213 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 356, 1981 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9757
District Court, S.D. New York·Decided August 3, 1981·No. 73 Civ. 1893 (LWP)·Published·Cited by 35 cases

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

PIERCE, District Judge.

This action arises in a context in which it is asserted that for years the defendant Eastman Kodak Company (“Kodak”) has *1209 dominated the amateur photographic industry, developing, manufacturing, and selling cameras, film, photofinishing equipment, supplies, and other related products, and providing photofinishing services. Until July 1977, when it ceased its production of film, chemicals, print paper, and slide and movie projectors, and ceased its sales of amateur still and movie cameras, and later, in April 1978, when it sold its photofinishing service organization, GAF Corporation (“GAF”) competed with Kodak in many markets within the amateur photographic industry.

By this lawsuit, commenced in 1973, GAF seeks treble damages and equitable relief for Kodak’s alleged violations of the federal antitrust laws. GAF presently alleges 1 that Kodak combined and conspired with two flash manufacturers, in violation of § 1 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1, to unlawfully restrain trade in the nationwide market for amateur conventional still cameras. Further, GAF alleges that Kodak monopolized and attempted to monopolize, in violation of § 2 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2, five nationwide markets or sub-markets, including the markets for amateur conventional still film, amateur movie film, amateur movie cameras, amateur photofinishing equipment and services, and photographic chemicals for the amateur photofinishing industry.

Now before the Court are five motions for partial summary judgment — one filed by the plaintiff and four filed by the defendant.

I. Collateral Estoppel Effect of Berkey

On January 29, 1973, Berkey Photo, Inc. (“Berkey”) instituted an antitrust action against Kodak — an action then Chief Judge Kaufman of the Second Circuit was later to describe as “one of the largest and most significant private antitrust suits in history.” Berkey Photo, Inc. v. Eastman Kodak Co., 603 F.2d 263, 267 (2d Cir. 1979), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 1093, 100 S.Ct. 1061, 62 L.Ed.2d 783 (1980). Approximately three months later, on April 30, 1973, GAF filed the present action against Kodak, an action apparently broader in its scope than Berkey. Identified as related cases, both were assigned to Judge Frankel. In 1976, after discovery and pretrial proceedings (which were jointly coordinated to some degree), Judge Frankel, over Kodak’s objection, ordered a prior and separate trial of the Berkey case. Berkey Photo, Inc. v. Eastman Kodak Co., 73 Civ. 424, Memorandum dated October 22, 1976 (appended as Exhibit 2 to Kodak’s Memorandum in Opposition to GAF’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment Based On Collateral Estoppel).

The jury trial of the Berkey action was bifurcated. A liability trial, commencing on July 13, 1977 and ending on January 21, 1978, consumed 109 trial days. A month later, trial was resumed for eight days on the issue of damages, and resulted in a jury verdict of over $37 million in favor of Berkey before trebling. After trial, Kodak’s motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict was granted on certain of Berkey’s claims, portions of the damage award were set aside, and certain equitable relief was granted. 457 F.Supp. 404 (S.D.N.Y.1978). On July 3, 1978, a final judgment in excess of $87 million was entered in Berkey’s favor.

Thereafter, both sides appealed and on June 25, 1979, a unanimous panel filed its opinion. 603 F.2d 263. Rather than attempt to summarize the Second Circuit’s detailed opinion, the disposition of the appeals will be discussed below. Berkey petitioned for certiorari, and Kodak filed a conditional cross-petition for certiorari, to be considered only in the event that Berkey’s petition was granted. On March 19, 1980, the Supreme Court denied certiorari, with three Justices dissenting. 444 U.S. 1093, 100 S.Ct. 1061, 62 L.Ed.2d 783 (1980).

*1210 GAF now seeks, by motion for partial summary judgment, an order based upon the doctrine of offensive collateral estoppel 2 precluding Kodak from relitigating or denying material facts which it contends were necessarily and conclusively determined in Berkey. 3 In essence, GAF claims that, with respect to its claims under § 2 of the Sherman Act, Kodak should be precluded from litigating or denying (1) the definition of three relevant product markets: conventional amateur cameras, amateur film, and color paper, and (2) that it had monopoly power in those three markets. 4 Similarly, with regard to its claims that Kodak violated § 1 of the Sherman Act, GAF contends that Kodak should be precluded from denying or litigating that it engaged in illegal conspiracies with both Sylvania and General Electric in connection with the development of flash devices. 5

The issues presented by GAF’s motion are (1) whether a private plaintiff in a treble damages action may, under the doctrine of offensive collateral estoppel, avail itself of the benefits of rulings adverse to the same defendant in a prior private antitrust action, and (2) if so, whether offensive collateral estoppel should be applied to the facts of this case. The first issue, and accordingly the second issue, are questions of first impression in this Circuit.

Before beginning its discussion, the Court notes that the Supreme Court has instructed that “the trial court [has] broad discretion to determine when [offensive collateral estoppel] should be applied.” Parklane Hosiery Co. v. Shore, 439 U.S. 322, 99 S.Ct. 645, 58 L.Ed.2d 552 (1979).

A. Offensive Collateral Estoppel in Antitrust Actions

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GAF Corp. v. Eastman Kodak Co., 519 F. Supp. 1203, 213 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 356, 1981 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9757 (S.D.N.Y. 1981).

519 F. Supp. 1203 (GAF Corp. v. Eastman Kodak Co.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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