Key Equipment Finance Inc. v. Pioneer Transportation, Ltd.

472 F. Supp. 2d 1131, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12565, 2007 WL 118007
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Wisconsin
DecidedJanuary 17, 2007
Docket06-C-297-S
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 472 F. Supp. 2d 1131 (Key Equipment Finance Inc. v. Pioneer Transportation, Ltd.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Wisconsin primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Key Equipment Finance Inc. v. Pioneer Transportation, Ltd., 472 F. Supp. 2d 1131, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12565, 2007 WL 118007 (W.D. Wis. 2007).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

SHABAZ, District Judge.

Plaintiff Key Equipment Finance Inc. commenced this action against defendant Pioneer Transportation, Ltd. alleging default of obligations owed under finance lease agreements pursuant to Article 2A of the Uniform Commercial Code and breach of contract. Plaintiff seeks monetary relief in this action. Jurisdiction is based on 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a)(1). The matter is presently before the Court on plaintiffs motion for summary judgment. Also presently before the Court is defendant’s motion for partial summary judgment. The following facts are either undisputed or those most favorable to the non-moving party.

BACKGROUND

Plaintiff Key Equipment Finance Inc. is a Michigan corporation with its principal place of business in Superior, Colorado. As is relevant to this action, plaintiff is engaged in the business of providing financing to customers for the purchase of equipment from third-party suppliers. Defendant Pioneer Transportation, Ltd. is a Wisconsin corporation with its principal place of business in Merrill, Wisconsin. Defendant is engaged in the trucking business. Accordingly, defendant contracts with businesses to transport their freight throughout the United States and Canada.

In 2003, defendant began exploring alternative ways of communicating with its truck drivers while they were in transit *1133 because traditional telephone communication was not efficient. As such, in either May or June of 2003 defendant’s General Manager Mr. Joseph Hildebrand received a telephone call from a representative of Global T-Fleet, Inc. (hereinafter Global) named Mr. Joe Joseph. Mr. Joseph informed Mr. Hildebrand that Global had developed a messaging system for trucking companies which used FM frequencies to transmit messages. Additionally, Mr. Joseph indicated that while Global’s system was less expensive than similar messaging systems using satellite technology its system worked just as well as those systems. Mr. Hildebrand expressed interest in learning more about Global’s system. Accordingly, on or about June 9, 2003 he received a brochure and demonstration disk from Global concerning its system.

Global’s brochure contained both general background information and information concerning how its system operated. Said information provided in relevant part as follows:

... Global ... now offers you a low-cost, high quality mobile communications and tracing alternative that makes it easy to keep up with your fleet....
... [W]e use the nation’s existing FM infrastructure for even greater cost efficiency. So you get the coverage of satellite for less than you may be paying for cellular.
Unlike satellite coverage, the Global ... signal does not deteriorate in large metro areas-where messaging is critical....
... Inbound messages from vehicle to dispatch transmit via DHF network to the Network Operations Center. Outbound messages from dispatch to vehicle transmit via FM sub-carrier frequencies leased to Global ... by FM stations across the country. Vehicle position reports are generated via GPS....
... Global[’s] ... patented digital high frequency (DHF) network and the existing FM infrastructure provides eoast-to-coast coverage for your entire fleet....
... Vehicle Hardware Intelligent Transceiver Unit [t]he ‘brains’ behind the on-board system. The ITU transmits DHF signals from the driver and receives FM sub-carrier data signals from dispatch ....

Mr. Hildebrand reviewed the statements contained in Global’s brochure. Additionally, Mr. Hildebrand was told that Global had access to a sufficient number of FM frequencies to ensure delivery of defendant’s messages regardless of a truck’s location. Accordingly, Mr. Hildebrand recommended that defendant purchase Global’s messaging system. 1

On June 18, 2003 defendant executed a Credit Application which provides in relevant part as follows: “[defendant] has requested that Global find a leasing company (‘lessor’) to lease finance the purchase of the equipment described on Global’s Product Purchase Form ...” On July 23, 2003 defendant executed the Product Purchase Form referenced in its Credit Application. Said Product Purchase form describes the products defendant was purchasing as follows: (1) eight T-Fleet Global Messenger Units, (2) a T-Fleet Global Tracker, (3) T-Fleet Software for Windows; and (4) a 60 month Message Service Plan. This Message Service Plan allowed each Global Messenger Unit to deliver and receive *1134 messages via FM frequencies leased by Global. To pay for its purchase, defendant agreed to submit monthly installment payments in the amount of $319.92 per month for a period of sixty months.

As such, on July 28, 2003 defendant entered into an agreement with American Express Business Finance Corporation (hereinafter American Express) entitled Master Lease Agreement to finance its acquisition of Global’s system. Additionally, on said date defendant executed an Equipment Schedule to the Master Lease Agreement for the eight T-Fleet Global Messenger Units. Accordingly, the transaction worked as follows: plaintiff acquired the T-Fleet Global Messenger Units from Global and defendant acquired said units from plaintiff. However, before defendant executed the Master Lease Agreement and Equipment Schedule it evaluated Global’s products for thirty days to confirm satisfactory performance.

Under the terms of the Master Lease Agreement and Equipment Schedule, defendant was not permitted to terminate its monthly payment obligation. Additionally, the Equipment Schedule contains a provision entitled “Purchase Obligation” which provides as follows:

Lessee [defendant] irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to purchase all (but not less than all) of the Equipment, “AS IS,” “WHERE IS,” without representation or warranty of any kind from Lessor, [plaintiff] for the Purchase Amount shown above ... upon the expiration of the Initial Term of this Schedule.

The Purchase Amount referenced in this “Purchase Obligation” provision is $1.00.

On July 25, 2003 (before defendant executed the Master Lease Agreement and Equipment Schedule) Global invoiced American Express in the amount of $14,715.76 for the eight T-Fleet Global Messenger Units and the T-Fleet Software. However, it is undisputed that defendant and not American Express selected Global as the supplier for the transaction.

The Master Lease Agreement contains numerous provisions governing plaintiff and defendant’s relationship under the contract. Said provisions provide as follows:

UCC Filings. Lessee [defendant] acknowledges that this Lease is intended to be a “finance lease” as defined in § 2A-103(l)(g) of the Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect in Utah (“UCC”). LESSEE WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OTHERWISE GRANTED TO LESSEE BY UCC §§ 2a-508 THROUGH 2A-522.

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Bluebook (online)
472 F. Supp. 2d 1131, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12565, 2007 WL 118007, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/key-equipment-finance-inc-v-pioneer-transportation-ltd-wiwd-2007.