Johnson v. Bobcat Co.

175 F. Supp. 3d 1130, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42678, 2016 WL 1258468
CourtDistrict Court, D. Minnesota
DecidedMarch 30, 2016
DocketCivil No. 15-2097 (JRT/HB)
StatusPublished
Cited by37 cases

This text of 175 F. Supp. 3d 1130 (Johnson v. Bobcat Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Minnesota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Johnson v. Bobcat Co., 175 F. Supp. 3d 1130, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42678, 2016 WL 1258468 (mnd 2016).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER ON DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS

JOHN R. TUNHEIM, Chief Judge United States District Court

Plaintiff Robert Johnson, owner of a snow removal business, brings this action against Defendant Bobcat Company (“Bobcat”), a skid-loader manufacturer, alleging breach of warranty, breach of contract, negligence, negligent misrepresentation, fraud by omission, fraudulent inducement, unjust enrichment, and violations of various statutory consumer protection laws. Johnson’s claims stem from allegations that Bobcat misrepresented the true fuel tank capacity of a skid-loader that he purchased. Johnson further alleges that the loader had a defective coating and failed to reach the advertised top speed. Johnson brings claims individually and on behalf of a putative nationwide class, seeking damages, costs and attorney fees, and injunc-tive relief to prevent Bobcat from continuing to disseminate misleading promotional materials. Bobcat now moves to dismiss the action in its entirety.

The Court will grant Bobcat’s motion with respect to Johnson’s claims for in-junctive relief because Johnson has not alleged irreparable injury or threat of future harm. The Court will also grant the motion with respect to Johnson’s negligence and negligent misrepresentation claims because those claims are barred by Minnesota’s economic loss doctrine. However, the Court will deny the motion in all other respects. Johnson’s other claims are plausible and Bobcat’s pre-litigation refund offer did not deprive him of Article III standing.

BACKGROUND1

Johnson is a Minnesota resident who owns and operates a snow removal business called Robert Gordon Homes, Inc. (Compl. ¶ 4, Apr. 23, 2015, Docket No. 1.) Johnson’s business serves over 100 customers. (Id. ¶22.) Bobcat is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in North Dakota. (Id. ¶ 5.) Bobcat manufactures and sells compact skid-steer loaders, a product that can be used for plowing and removing snow. (Id. ¶¶ 12, 20.)

' On October 13, 2014, Johnson purchased a new Bobcat S650 Compact Skid-Steer Loader from Lano Equipment, Inc., an [1135]*1135authorized Bobcat dealership, for use in his snow removal business. (Id. ¶22.) Johnson previously owned a 2003 Bobcat S250 Compact Skid-Steer Loader, which he traded in at the time of purchase. (Id.) The total price of the new loader, minus the trade-in value of his old loader, was approximately $25,000. (Id. ¶ 42.)

Johnson purchased the new loader because of Bobcat’s various advertisements, representations, and affirmations regarding its qualities, characteristics, and capabilities. (Id. ¶¶ 1-2.) Bobcat’s promotional materials — including its brochures, website, information packets, product specification sheets, and warranties — advertised that “the new loader had a fuel tank capacity of somewhere between 27.2 and 27.5 gallons. (Id. ¶ 15-16, 18-19.) Johnson’s old loader, by comparison, had an advertised fuel tank capacity of only 25 gallons. (Id. ¶24.) The larger fuel tank appealed to Johnson because it would allow him to travel further on a single tank of fuel and therefore serve more customers “in a timely fashion.” (Id. ¶ 23.) The new loader was also advertised as having a “2-speed option,” which allowed it to reach a top speed of 12.3 mph. (Id. ¶ 15-16, 18-19.) Johnson relied on these upgrades in deciding to purchase the new loader — by serving more customers, he would be able to grow his company and successfully compete with other snow removal businesses. (Id. ¶¶ 23, 42.)

After the purchase, however, Johnson discovered that his new loader had “three significant defects. First, he discovered that the fuel tank had a capacity of only 19.5 gallons rather than 27.2 to 27.5 gallons as advertised, a difference of approximately 8 gallons. (Id. ¶¶ 26-28.) The tank’s true capacity was 24 gallons, and because the fuel suction tube did not reach the bottom of the tank, the capacity was diminished by an additional 4.5 gallons. (Id.) Johnson contacted Lano Equipment immediately upon discovering this defect, and after several attempts, Lano was able to install a “piece together” suction tube that reached the bottom of the tank. (Id. ¶¶ 26-28.) Even with this repair, however, the fuel tank still held 3.2 to 3.5 less gallons than advertised. (Id. ¶ 28.)

Johnson next discovered that his new loader’s top speed was not 12.3 mph as advertised, but rather, approximately half of that. (Id. ¶ 37.) Because the loader moved slower than expected, Johnson found that it took him “upwards of twice the amount” of time to remove snow than it would have if the loader had “been able to reach the advertised top speed,” causing him to incur “increased fuel and labor costs.” (Id. ¶ 38.)

Third and finally, Johnson discovered that the new loader had “a defective coating that fail[ed] to cover exposed metal, leading to premature rusting.” (Id. ¶44.) Johnson noticed that the loader “displayed rust from the moment it was delivered to his business.” (Id. ¶ 45.) When he contacted Bobcat about the problem, the company told him “that rust should be expected because the Loader is construction equipment.” (Id.)

In March 2014, Johnson contacted Tim Krahn, a district sales manager for Bobcat, to complain about the fuel tank capacity defect. (Id. ¶ 41.) Krahn offered to refund the full cost of the loader, but Johnson rejected the offer. (Id. ¶ 42.) Johnson subsequently commenced this action against Bobcat on April 23, 2015. In the complaint, Johnson alleges the following Minnesota state law causes of action:

• Violations of the Minnesota Consumer Frauc] Act (“MCFA”), Minn. Stat. § 325F.69
• Breach of Express Warranty
[1136]*1136• Breach of Implied Warranties of Merchantability and Fitness for a Particular Purpose
• Violations of the Minnesota Unlawful Trade Practices Act (“MUTPA”), Minn. Stat, § 325D.13, and the Minnesota Deceptive Trade Practices Act (“MDTPA”), Minn. Stat. § 325D.44
• Violations of the Minnesota False Statement in Advertising Act (“MFSAA”), Minn. Stat. § 325F.67
• Negligence and Negligent Misrepresentation
• Unjust Enrichment
• Fraud by Omission
• Fraudulent Inducement
• Breach of Contract

Johnson asserts his claims individually and on behalf of a class of similarly situated individuals “who purchased a Bobcat S650 loader (or a model with the similar size and/or frame), through an authorized Bobcat dealership, from 2010 to the present.” (Id. ¶ 46.) Johnson contends that the three defects affecting his new loader are widespread. Johnson seeks damages, costs and attorney fees, and injunctive relief to prevent Bobcat continuing to disseminate misleading promotional materials.

Bobcat now moves to dismiss the action in its entirety based on two central arguments. First, Bobcat makes a facial attack on Johnson’s Article III standing under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1).

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
175 F. Supp. 3d 1130, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42678, 2016 WL 1258468, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/johnson-v-bobcat-co-mnd-2016.