Medicare-Glaser Corp. v. Guardian Photo, Inc.

739 F. Supp. 469, 1990 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6891, 1990 WL 77295
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Missouri
DecidedMarch 29, 1990
DocketNo. 88-1177 C(3)
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 739 F. Supp. 469 (Medicare-Glaser Corp. v. Guardian Photo, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Missouri primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Medicare-Glaser Corp. v. Guardian Photo, Inc., 739 F. Supp. 469, 1990 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6891, 1990 WL 77295 (E.D. Mo. 1990).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

HUNGATE, District Judge.

This matter is before the Court to determine the merits of the parties’ claims after a two-day trial before the Court (the Honorable George F. Gunn, Jr., presiding) sitting without a jury.

Each party alleges the other party is liable for breach of contract (Count I of plaintiff’s complaint; Counts I — III of defendant’s counterclaim), and for fraud (Counts II and III of plaintiffs complaint; Count IV of defendant’s counterclaim). The parties’ relationship began in May 1985 when they agreed that defendant would provide plaintiff with photofinishing services for at least two years. Plaintiff’s breach of contract claim seeks the recovery of $175,000 allegedly due from defendant to induce plaintiff to switch from its then existing photofinisher to defendant. Plaintiff characterizes this outstanding amount as the amount defendant agreed to pay to obtain plaintiff’s photofinishing business, regardless of the volume of that business. Defendant characterizes that amount as due only upon plaintiff reaching a certain volume of photofinishing sales, a level plaintiff never attained during the parties’ relationship. Alternatively, defendant asserts the amount is not due because (a) the parties subsequently modified their agreement; or (b) through its conduct, plaintiff waived or is estopped from seeking the [471]*471disputed payment. By its breach of contract claim, which for the Court’s present purposes encompasses defendant’s quantum meruit and open account claims, defendant seeks recovery of $59,460 the parties agree plaintiff owes for unpaid photofinishing services provided by defendant. Each party additionally claims the other is liable in fraud for representations made during the discussions leading to the parties’ agreement. Plaintiff also asserts defendant is liable in fraud for misrepresenting an amount actually charged by defendant later in the parties’ relationship.

After the trial concluded and before an opinion was rendered, Judge Gunn recused himself because his son-in-law had become a partner in the law firm representing defendant. Although both parties have not executed a consent to this Judge’s entry of judgment without a retrial, plaintiff does not object thereto. The undersigned determines, upon a review of the record, that no credibility determinations are required. Accordingly, this Court considers the trial transcript “as akin to ‘supporting affidavits’ for summary judgment” purposes and determines it may render an opinion without another trial before this Judge. Emerson Electric Co. v. General Electric Co., 846 F.2d 1324, 1325-26 (11th Cir.1988) (per curiam).

Having considered the trial transcript, the exhibits, the parties’ stipulation, and the relevant materials filed of record, the Court makes and enters the following findings of fact and conclusions of law.

Findings of Fact

1. Plaintiff Medicare-Glaser Corporation (“Medicare”) is a citizen of Missouri, engaged in the business of operating retail pharmacies and drug stores which offer customers photograph developing and finishing services, among other products and services.

2. Defendant Guardian Photo, Inc. (“Guardian”) is a citizen of Pennsylvania and Michigan, engaged in the business of providing photograph developing and finishing services for retail businesses, such as plaintiff, among others.

3. During the relevant time period (from about March 1985 to June 1988), Ray Jeans was plaintiff’s vice-president and director of sales promotions; William F. Ga-bler was a sales representative and then plant manager for defendant in San Antonio, Texas; Bob Gregory was the manager for defendant’s western region; and Ron Schapp was the manager of defendant’s Harvey, Illinois, plant. Between July 1, 1984, and August 1, 1987, Jim Roberts was the district sales manager for defendant in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. These individuals were the witnesses during trial and were the persons most intimately involved in the transactions at issue here.

4. Before May 28, 1985, Medicare had an agreement with Colorcraft Corporation (“Colorcraft”) through which Colorcraft developed the film of and provided other photofinishing services for plaintiff and plaintiff’s customers. In May 1985, during the period of negotiations between plaintiff and defendant, Colorcraft made an offer to plaintiff so that plaintiff would continue to use Colorcraft’s photofinishing services. In relevant part Colorcraft offered to maintain from June 1, 1985, through May 31, 1987 the prices it charged plaintiff; to make available to plaintiff an “additional allowance of $60,000 to be used strictly to promote photofinishing for [plaintiff’s] stores” between June 1, 1985, to May 31, 1986; and to make available to plaintiff “an additional amount of $60,000 from June 1, 1986, through May 31, 1987 ... provided that [plaintiff] has a net photofinishing sales increase to Colorcraft between June 1, 1985, and May 31, 1986, of 30 percent.” Plaintiff did not accept this offer and terminated the relationship with Colorcraft upon accepting defendant’s offer to provide photofinishing business to plaintiff.

5. In the spring of 1985, defendant decided to try to enter the St. Louis, Missouri, area photofinishing market by approaching plaintiff for its photofinishing business. In an effort to obtain plaintiff’s business, Bill Gabler, Jim Roberts, and Bob Gregory had several discussions with Ray Jeans. Plaintiff rejected defendant’s initial offer(s) to provide photofinishing services in exchange [472]*472for, in part, a six percent advertising accrual payment (which would be six percent of the total wholesale price plaintiff paid defendant for defendant’s services) and a $50,000 cash payment. During these negotiations, defendant knew that Colorcraft was competing for plaintiffs photofinishing business.

6. Finally, during a meeting on May 28, 1985, in St. Louis, Missouri, Mr. Gregory offered and Mr. Jeans accepted defendant’s payment of $100,000 for the first year and $125,000 for the second year of the parties’ relationship, plus the six percent advertising accrual payment in order to have plaintiff use defendant’s photofinishing services for two years. This agreement was reduced to writing in a document dated May 28, 1985, that was signed by Mr. Jeans and Mr. Roberts and reviewed by Mr. Gregory prior to execution. The written agreement states in full:

Guardian Photo agrees to furnish Medicare-Glaser Corporation with an advertising allowance of $100,000.00 during the first year of business payable by check in monthly payments of $8,350.00 each. The second year Guardian Photo will furnish $125,000.00 for advertising. This money will be in addition to a 6% advertising accrual payable quarterly by check.
If Medicare-Glaser Corporation would like, Guardian Photo could advance up to $50,000.00 immediately and the remaining balance for the first year would be paid in monthly amounts of $8,350.00 each.

7. Defendant paid plaintiff the $50,000 payment in May 1985 or June 1985. The parties do not challenge this payment. The parties also do not dispute how plaintiff spent any of the money received from defendant.

8. Prior to entering into this agreement, Mr. Jeans had reported to defendant’s representatives. that plaintiff was doing approximately $500,000-$700,000 annually in photofinishing sales.

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Related

Bessier v. Precise Tool & Engineering Co., Inc.
778 F. Supp. 1509 (W.D. Missouri, 1991)
Medicare Glaser Corporation v. Guardian Photo, Inc.
936 F.2d 1016 (Eighth Circuit, 1991)

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Bluebook (online)
739 F. Supp. 469, 1990 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6891, 1990 WL 77295, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/medicare-glaser-corp-v-guardian-photo-inc-moed-1990.