Opinion ID: 1798341
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Relative Hardships

Text: Any hardship to Ford resulting from the issuance of the temporary injunction is due to the fact that it is forced to continue a business relationship with a dealer, which, in its judgment, has failed adequately to exploit the market potential in the area where located. If Ford does not have just cause for cancellation of the contract, this is a detriment which must be absorbed at least until such questions as the adequacy of damages for breach have been fully explored. If it does have just cause for cancellation, the situation is one where a dealer found to be satisfactory for 40 years is given such additional period of life as may be needed to reach a decision on the merits. It is doubtful that the overall success of Ford will be vitally affected during this period of time. Since terminations are rare, the precedent will have a limited impact. On the other hand, if Ford is not justified in cancelling the contract but is permitted to terminate it anyhow, Dahlberg will be left with an expensive plant designed to meet the needs of a Ford dealer but with no Ford products to sell. Its clerical, sales, and service department personnel will have nothing to do. Dahlberg will either pay unearned wages or lose the trained employees needed to operate a business of this kind. Liaison with the buying public will be interrupted. Those who have become accustomed to buying Ford products from it will be likely to establish a new pattern of buying. Viewed in this light, it seems reasonably clear to us that the balance of hardships weighs heavily in favor of the relief granted by the trial court.