Kellogg USA, Inc. v. B. Fernández Hermanos, Inc.

269 F.R.D. 95, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 128402, 2009 WL 6640617
CourtDistrict Court, D. Puerto Rico
DecidedApril 24, 2009
DocketCivil No. 07-1213 (GAG/BJM)
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 269 F.R.D. 95 (Kellogg USA, Inc. v. B. Fernández Hermanos, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Puerto Rico primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kellogg USA, Inc. v. B. Fernández Hermanos, Inc., 269 F.R.D. 95, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 128402, 2009 WL 6640617 (prd 2009).

Opinion

ORDER

BRUCE J. McGIVERIN, United States Magistrate Judge.

Defendant’s B. Fernández Hermanos, Inc. (“BFH”) and Caribbean Warehouse Logistics, Inc. (“CWL”)1 moved to compel the production of documents from plaintiffs Kellogg USA, Inc., and Kellogg Caribbean Services Co., Inc. (collectively “Kellogg”). (Docket No. 179). The court ordered the parties to meet in person to resolve as many disputes as possible, and following that meeting, for plaintiffs to submit to the court justification for the withholding of any documents still in dispute, as well as copies of the documents themselves for the court’s in camera inspection. (Docket No. 181). Kellogg responded, submitting a legal memorandum, supporting affidavits, a privilege log, and copies of 169 2 remaining disputed documents for in camera review (the “disputed documents”). (Docket No. 192). BFH replied. (Docket No. 204). This matter was referred to me by the presiding district judge for disposition. (Docket No. 80). After review of the parties’ submissions and in camera inspection of the disputed documents, BFH’s motion is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.

BACKGROUND

Plaintiffs Kellogg Caribbean Services Co., Inc. (“Kellogg Caribbean”) and Kellogg USA, Inc. (collectively “Kellogg”) bring this action against BFH, CWL, and others seeking to execute a bond posted by defendants in a separate litigation between the parties, styled as B. Fernandez & Hnos., Inc. v. Kellogg USA, 05-1030-JP (D.P.R.) (hereinafter, the “Law 75 action”). In that case, BFH complained that Kellogg had unjustly terminated its distribution contract in violation of Puerto Rico Law 75, 10 L.P.R.A. § 278. In the Law 75 action, BFH posted a bond to secure an injunction against Kellogg. The preliminary injunction was later vacated by the First Circuit in a published decision, B. Fernandez v. Kellogg USA, 440 F.3d 541, 548 (1st Cir.2006), on the grounds that Kellogg Caribbean, a non-party, satisfied the requirements under Rule 24(a)(2) for intervention as of right.3 Kellogg now seeks to execute the bond, and also seeks damages in excess of the bond and attorneys’ fees in connection with damages, costs, and fees in the Law 75 action.

The documents at issue on this motion concern the events underlying the dispute between the parties in the Law 75 action.' Accordingly, it is necessary to consider the facts giving rise to that litigation. Kellogg Caribbean is a Puerto Rico company that promotes, sells, and distributes Kellogg products in Puerto Rico, and a subsidiary of Kellogg Company. B. Fernandez & HNOS., Inc., 516 F.3d at 21. BFH was the Kellogg Company’s exclusive agent in Puerto Rico for a number of years until 1992, when BFH entered into a non-exclusive distribution agreement and one year later, when Kellogg Caribbean began to itself market certain Kellogg products in Puerto Rico. Id.

[97]*97In October 2000, Kellogg announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire Keebler Foods Company (“Keebler”). (Docket No. 192-4, ¶4). Around this time, Kellogg was evaluating its sales and distribution systems in Puerto Rico and its relationship with BFH in particular, believing that there may be potential opportunities for improvements in efficiency and effectiveness, particularly because Keebler already had its own extensive distribution network in Puerto Rico. (Id, ¶ 5).

In 2004, Kellogg again engaged in a process of reevaluating its relationship with BFH. (Docket No. 192-2, ¶7-8). Kellogg referred to this 2004 undertaking as “Project Harbor,” and in July 2004, Kellogg International President John Bryant delivered a presentation to Kellogg’s Board of Directors concerning Project Harbor. (Docket No.). Later that year, Kellogg Caribbean informed BFH that it planned to distribute Kellogg products “Cereal in a Cup” and “Fruit Snacks” directly to Puerto Rico retailers, but that BFH would remain the distributor of other Kellogg products. B. Fernandez & HNOS, Inc., 516 F.3d at 21. In response to that decision, BFH commenced the Law 75 proceeding against Kellogg USA. Id.

In the instant motion, BFH primarily seeks documents concerning Kellogg’s 2001 and 2004 evaluations of its relationship with BFH, including documents concerning the 2004 presentation to the Board of Directors. (Docket No. 179). In support of its opposition, Kellogg submitted affidavits and deposition testimony attesting to the role of counsel in providing legal advice throughout these processes. (Docket Nos. 192-2—192-6).

James Markey attested that from December 2000 through October 2006, he served as Vice President and Chief Counsel, Corporate Governance and International, for the Kellogg Company (Docket No. 192-3, ¶ 1), and Edward Gildea attested that from January 1990 through December 2000 he served as Vice President-Legal for the Kellogg Company, and in 2001 returned to the company to provide legal advice concerning proposed changes to Kellogg’s Puerto Rico distribution system. (Docket No. 192-4, ¶ 1). In that capacity, Markey and Gildea worked with Kellogg lawyers and management in 2001 to consider how Law 75 applied to the various options being considered to modify Kellogg’s relationship with BFH. (Id., ¶ 7-8; Docket No. 192-3, ¶ 5-6). In particular, Markey and Gildea evaluated potential settlement scenarios for the various options. (Docket Nos. 192-3, ¶ 6; 192-4, ¶ 8).

In 2004, Markey provided legal advice to management when it was again reevaluating the BFH relationship. (Docket No. 192-2, ¶ 7-8). At that time, Kellogg understood that several of the options it was considering “might be objectionable to BFH” and Mar-key worked with other lawyers and management to evaluate issues such as whether BFH was an exclusive distributor and whether Law 75 applied to the parties’ relationship. (Id., ¶ 9). Markey also worked with outside counsel on this matter, including Ricardo Casellas, Thomas Collier, and attorneys with the firm Steptoe and Johnson. (Id.). Based on the Law 75 analysis, Markey worked with Kellogg lawyers and management to determine the impact of Law 75 on the various business decisions being considered, as well as potential settlement values should Kellogg decide to pay BFH a fee to modify, restructure, or terminate its distribution rights. (Id., ¶ 10). In addition, Kellogg executive Juan Pablo Villalobos (President of Kellogg Latin America at relevant times) testified that when Kellogg executives evaluated the business models proposed for the modified relationship between Kellogg and BFH, Kellogg’s “attorneys were always there.” (Docket No. 192-5, p. 2). (See also id., p. 3 (concerning Project Harbor evaluation of business model alternatives, Villalobos “reviewed the results of some of those [evaluations] with the attorneys”)).

Markey explained that based on these analyses, he worked with management to prepare a presentation to the Board of Directors concerning their recommendations. (Docket No. 192-2, ¶ 11). Markey’s advice principally concerned the potential impact of Law 75 and any litigation that might ensue should BFH object to Kellogg’s actions. (Id.) Markey stated that Kellogg’s standard protocol is that an attorney generally reviews any legal advice contained in any document [98]*98or “speaker notes” presented to the Board of Directors. (Id., ¶ 12).

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Bluebook (online)
269 F.R.D. 95, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 128402, 2009 WL 6640617, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kellogg-usa-inc-v-b-fernandez-hermanos-inc-prd-2009.