Retail Imaging Management Group, LLC v. Fujifilm North America Corp.

841 F. Supp. 2d 1189, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10456, 2012 WL 259487
CourtDistrict Court, D. Oregon
DecidedJanuary 30, 2012
DocketCase No. 3:11-cv-01242-SI
StatusPublished

This text of 841 F. Supp. 2d 1189 (Retail Imaging Management Group, LLC v. Fujifilm North America Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Oregon primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Retail Imaging Management Group, LLC v. Fujifilm North America Corp., 841 F. Supp. 2d 1189, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10456, 2012 WL 259487 (D. Or. 2012).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

MICHAEL H. SIMON, District Judge.

Retail Imaging Management Group, LLC (“RIMG”) brings a federal antitrust lawsuit against its competitor and supplier, Fujifilm North America Corporation (“FUJI”), alleging unlawful monopolization and attempted monopolization in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2. RIMG also asserts claims of negligence and intentional interference with economic relations and contract. Before the court is Plaintiffs Motion for Temporary Restraining Order Without Notice; Alternatively, Motion for Preliminary Injunction With Notice (Doc. 36). For the following reasons, Plaintiffs motion and alternative motion are DENIED.

I. MOTION FOR TRO WITHOUT NOTICE

On January 17, 2012, RIMG requested a Temporary Restraining Order Without Notice against FUJI. RIMG asked the court to enjoin FUJI from performing a [1191]*1191business contract that FUJI recently entered into with a third party, Rite Aid. RIMG alleges that it had been providing certain services to Rite Aid for several years, but will now lose substantial income, and may even go out of business, if FUJI, rather than RIMG, .is allowed to perform those services for Rite Aid.

A court may issue a temporary restraining order without notice to the adverse party only if “specific facts in an affidavit or a verified complaint clearly show that immediate and irreparable injury, loss, or damage will result to the movant before the adverse party can be heard in opposition.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 65(b)(1)(A) (emphasis added). A temporary restraining order without notice is generally granted only when providing notice to the adverse party would jeopardize the objective of the injunction. Plaintiffs declarations, testimony, and unverified complaint1 do not show that immediate and irreparable injury, loss, or damage would result to the movant “before the adverse party can be heard in opposition.” Accordingly, Plaintiffs motion for a temporary restraining order without notice is DENIED.

II. ALTERNATIVE MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION

A. Standard

A preliminary injunction is an “extraordinary remedy that may only be awarded upon a clear showing that the plaintiff is entitled to such relief.” Winter v. Natural Resources Defense Council, 555 U.S. 7, 22, 129 S.Ct. 365, 172 L.Ed.2d 249 (2008). A plaintiff seeking a preliminary injunction must show: (1) that he is likely to succeed on the merits; (2) that he is likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of preliminary relief; (3) that the balance of equities tips in his favor; and (4) that an injunction is in the public interest. Winter, 555 U.S. at 20, 129 S.Ct. 365 (rejecting the Ninth Circuit’s earlier rule that the mere “possibility” of irreparable harm, as opposed to its likelihood, was sufficient, in some circumstances, to justify a preliminary injunction).

The Supreme Court’s decision in Winter, however, did not disturb the Ninth Circuit’s alternative “serious questions” test. Alliance for the Wild Rockies v. Cottrell, 632 F.3d 1127, 1131-32 (9th Cir.2011) (“ ‘serious questions going to the merits’ and a hardship balance that tips sharply toward the plaintiff can support issuance of an injunction, assuming the other two elements of the Winter test are also met’”). Thus, a preliminary injunction may be granted (“if there is a likelihood of irreparable injury to the plaintiff; there are serious questions going to the merits; the balance of hardships tips sharply in favor of the plaintiff; and the injunction is in the public interest”) M.R. v. Dreyfus, 663 F.3d 1100, 1108 (9th Cir.2011) (citing Alliance).2

[1192]*1192B. Factual Background

Plaintiffs alternative motion for preliminary injunction was heard by the court with an evidentiary hearing held on January 19, 2012. The following factual background is derived from the evidence received and the allegations stated in the Second Amended Complaint.

A “minilab” is a self-contained machine that converts images, stored either digitally or on film, into finished photographs or other similar products. Defendant, FUJI, manufactures minilabs and sells or leases them in competition with minilabs made by other manufacturers. FUJI also offers minilab repair service to retail users who purchase or lease FUJI-brand minilabs. In addition, FUJI sells, or has sold, replacement parts to independent service organizations (“ISOs”) that provide repair service for FUJI-brand minilabs. FUJI also provides, or has provided, technical support to such ISOs. Thus, FUJI both competes with ISOs for the provision of repair service for FUJI-brand minilabs and also supplies, or has supplied, ISOs with replacement parts and other technical support used by ISOs in their repair service business.

Plaintiff, RIMG, began business in 2000. RIMG provides repair service for FUJI-brand minilabs to retail users throughout the U.S in competition with FUJI. RIMG also services minilabs made by other manufacturers. RIMG alleges that it is the only ISO that competes with FUJI on a nationwide basis for repair service of FUJI-brand minilabs. RIMG also alleges that FUJI maintains at least a 70 percent share in what RIMG alleges to be a relevant nationwide market of repair service for FUJI-brand minilabs.

From 2001 through 2010, RIMG developed a business relationship and course of conduct with FUJI under which FUJI provided RIMG with access to FUJI-brand minilab replacement parts and other resources necessary for RIMG to service FUJI-brand minilabs. The business relationship between RIMG and FUJI began with “a handshake.” Beginning in 2005 and ending in August 2010, RIMG and FUJI entered into several written contracts. Under these contracts, FUJI provided parts and other resources necessary for RIMG to service FUJI-brand minilabs.

RIMG alleges that in 2006, FUJI acquired a 30 percent ownership interest in CES. Before 2006, CES was not a competitor in the servicing of FUJI-brand minilabs. After the acquisition of this 30 percent interest, RIMG alleges, FUJI terminated its own field service personnel used to service minilabs and other FUJI-brand machines. CES hired many former-FUJI personnel, and FUJI then outsourced its retail user minilab service work to CES, according to RIMG. FUJI directed work to CES for FUJI customers on warranty and other service work.

According to RIMG, the FUJI-CES relationship initially had no effect on the FUJI-RIMG relationship. The FUJIRIMG service agreements were renewed for two successive two-year terms, then for a one-year term, and remained in effect until August 2010, when the then-current agreement expired. Under these written contracts, FUJI provided RIMG with parts and other resources that RIMG needed to service FUJI-brand minilab machines.

In 2006, Noritsu, a FUJI competitor in the manufacture of minilabs, worked with FUJI jointly to develop a digital mini dry lab.

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Bluebook (online)
841 F. Supp. 2d 1189, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10456, 2012 WL 259487, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/retail-imaging-management-group-llc-v-fujifilm-north-america-corp-ord-2012.