Transamerica Computer Co. v. International Business Machines Corp.

459 F. Supp. 626, 1978 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15141
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. California
DecidedOctober 3, 1978
DocketMBL No. 163-RM; No. C-73-1832 RHS
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 459 F. Supp. 626 (Transamerica Computer Co. v. International Business Machines Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Transamerica Computer Co. v. International Business Machines Corp., 459 F. Supp. 626, 1978 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15141 (N.D. Cal. 1978).

Opinion

ORDER

SCHNACKE, District Judge.

Defendant, contending that the issues involved in this complex antitrust case are beyond the capabilities of an ordinary jury, has moved to strike plaintiff’s jury demand. Defendant anticipates that because the trial is expected to be lengthy, it [629]*629would be impossible to impanel a fairly representative jury and argues that submission of these issues to a nonrepresentative, incompetent fact-finder would violate due process of law.

This Court recognizes the difficulties that a lengthy, complex jury trial entails, but despite these difficulties, the command of the Seventh Amendment is clear. A jury trial would not be constitutionally inappropriate. Defendant’s motion to strike the jury trial demand is denied.

ON MOTION TO CERTIFY APPEAL

In the event that any of its other motions heard on September 22, 1978 are denied, defendant has moved for an order pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b) certifying that the motion denied involved a controlling question of law, that there is a substantial ground for difference of opinion, and that an immediate appeal may materially advance the ultimate termination of this litigation. Even if a controlling issue of law were involved in any motion denied today, an appeal at this point would certainly not advance the termination of this litigation. The motion to certify for appeal is denied.

ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT-ANTITRUST VIOLATIONS

Plaintiff claims that certain actions taken by defendant in connection with the design of two of its products, System 370 Models 115 and 125, were anti-competitive and violated the antitrust laws. Defendant has moved for summary judgment with respect to these actions contending that plaintiff should be foreclosed from asserting their illegality by force of the finding in Memorex Corporation v. International Business Machines Corporation, 458 F.Supp. 423 at 442-444 (N.D.Cal., 1978), (hereinafter, Memorex), that these design decisions were not anti-competitive, were not predatory, and did not unnecessarily exclude competition. Defendant also argues that inclusion of these allegations at this late stage of the proceedings would severely prejudice its defense.

The finding in Memorex that defendant relies on was based upon the failure of the plaintiff there to adduce sufficient evidence to support a contrary finding [Memorex, at 444], and plaintiff here, neither party nor privy to that case, should not be bound by another’s failure of proof. Since defendant faced similar claims in the recent Memorex case, and since discovery has proceeded for some time on these issues, prejudice will not result.

Accordingly, summary judgment is denied.

ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT-RELEVANT MARKET

Plaintiff claims that defendant has violated the antitrust laws, specifically Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 1 and 1px solid var(--green-border)">2), by monopolizing and attempting to monopolize three relevant product markets: (1) general purpose electronic digital computer systems; (2) tape drives and controllers plug-compatible with IBM central processing units; and (3) disk drives and controllers plug-compatible with IBM central processing units. Defendant has moved for summary judgment with respect to the latter two markets contending that the substitutability of competing products from the consumer’s viewpoint and the ease with which other manufacturers could enter the markets indicate a cross-elasticity of both demand and supply of such a degree that these markets must be determined to be too narrowly drawn as a matter of law. Defendant cites Telex Corporation v. International Business Machines Corporation, 510 F.2d 894 (10th Cir. 1975), cert. dismissed, 423 U.S. 802, 96 S.Ct. 8, 46 L.Ed.2d 244, and Memorex Corporation v. International Business Machines Corporation, 458 F.Supp. 423 (N.D.Cal, 1978) in support of that proposition.

Relevant market is essentially a question of fact [Telex Corporation v. International Business Machines Corporation, 510 F.2d at 915]. Defendant does not contend otherwise. Prior cases are instructive on this factual question, but since plaintiff [630]*630was not a party to those actions, they are not binding.

Because resolution of this factual question will require a number of conclusions to be drawn from the evidence, summary judgment would be improper and is hereby denied.

ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT-DAMAGES ISSUES

Plaintiff TCC claims that defendant IBM’s violations of the antitrust laws (specifically 15 U.S.C. §§ 1 and 1px solid var(--green-border)">2) resulted in: lost revenue on computer equipment owned by TCC at the time of those alleged violations; lost profits on additional investments it would have made between 1972 and 1975 had IBM not violated the law; and the lost benefit of the investment tax credit that TCC would have realized on those planned investments. Defendant IBM has moved for summary judgment on the lost profit claim and on the investment tax credit claim. IBM contends that the lost profits are too speculative and that such damages would be tantamount to awarding prejudgment interest on the lost revenue claim since TCC planned to use revenue to finance the 1972-75 investments. And, IBM predicts that to entertain the lost investment tax credit claim would be to mire this litigation in a maze of collateral issues.

The lost profit claim is not so speculative that the trier of fact should be precluded from judging it on its merits. If, as IBM suggests, the foundation of the lost profit claim, the 1971-75 Profit Plan prepared by TCC management, was based on overly optimistic assumptions, then that factor can be taken into account by those charged with making factual determinations. The law does not require that lost profit claims be calculated with mathematical precision in antitrust cases [see Zenith Radio Corporation v. Hazeltine Research, Inc., 395 U.S. 100, 123, 89 S.Ct. 1562, 1576, 23 L.Ed.2d 129 (1969); Autowest, Inc. v. Peugeot, Inc., 434 F.2d 556, 566 (2d Cir. 1970)].

The fact that the source of some of the funds for the proposed investments was to be current revenues does not allow the novel characterization of anticipated profits as prejudgment interest. TCC is not asking for a fixed return on the lost revenue; the lost profits it seeks would have resulted from the investment of both capital and labor, and would have rewarded plaintiff’s entrepreneurial efforts. Accordingly, the motion for summary judgment on the lost profit claim is denied.

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Related

Lorentz v. Westinghouse Electric Corp.
472 F. Supp. 954 (W.D. Pennsylvania, 1979)
In Re IBM Peripheral EDP Devices, Etc.
459 F. Supp. 626 (N.D. California, 1978)

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