Opinion ID: 2330622
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: KRTA Provisions

Text: K.S.A. 50-101, one of the KRTA sections setting out elements of O'Brien's cause of action, provides in pertinent part: A trust is a combination of capital, skill, or acts, by two or more persons, for either, any or all of the following purposes: ....  Second. To increase or reduce the price of merchandise, produce or commodities, or to control the cost or rates of insurance. . . . .  Fourth. To fix any standard or figure, whereby such person's price to the public shall be, in any manner, controlled or established, any article or commodity of merchandise, produce or commerce intended for sale, use or consumption in this state.  Fifth. To make or enter into, or execute or carry out, any contract, obligation or agreement of any kind or description by which such person shall: (a) Bind or have to bind themselves not to sell, manufacture, dispose of or transport any article or commodity, or article of trade, use, merchandise, commerce or consumption below a common standard figure; (b) agree in any manner to keep the price of such article, commodity or transportation at a fixed or graded figure; (c) in any manner establish or settle the price of any article or commodity or transportation between them or themselves and others to preclude a free and unrestricted competition among themselves or others in transportation, sale or manufacture of any such article or commodity; or (d) agree to pool, combine or unite any interest they may have in connection with the manufacture, sale or transportation of any such article or commodity, that such person's price in any manner is affected. Any such combinations are hereby declared to be against public policy, unlawful and void. K.S.A. 50-102 denies [a]ll persons within this state the right to form or be in any manner interested, either directly or indirectly, as principal, agent, representative, consignee or otherwise, in any trust as defined in K.S.A. 50-101. K.S.A. 50-112, the KRTA section setting out elements of what appears to be O'Brien's alternative statutory cause of action, provides in pertinent part: All arrangements, contracts, agreements, trusts, or combinations between persons made with a view or which tend to prevent full and free competition in the importation, transportation or sale of articles imported into this state, or in the product, manufacture or sale of articles of domestic growth or product of domestic raw material, ..., and all arrangements, contracts, agreements, trusts or combinations between persons, designed or which tend to advance, reduce or control the price or the cost to the producer or to the consumer of any such products or articles,..., are hereby declared to be against public policy, unlawful and void. K.S.A. 50-108 provides for a private right of action against those who violate K.S.A. 50-101 and K.S.A. 50-102: [A]ny person that may be damaged by any such agreement, trusts or combinations described in K.S.A. 50-101 and 50-102, and amendments thereto, may sue for and recover in any court of competent jurisdiction in this state, of any person operating such trust or combination, such damages sustained, together with reasonable attorney fees. K.S.A. 50-115 does likewise but applies to K.S.A. 50-112: [A]ny person injured or damaged by any such arrangement, contract, agreement, trust or combination, described in K.S.A. 50-112 and 50-113, and amendments thereto, may sue for and recover in any court of competent jurisdiction in this state, of any person, the full consideration or sum paid by such person for any goods, wares, merchandise and articles included in or advanced or controlled in price by such combination.... K.S.A. 50-147 speaks to the cumulative nature of rights and remedies under the KRTA: The rights and remedies given by this act shall be construed as cumulative of all other laws in force in this state, and shall not affect, change or repeal any other remedies or rights now existing in this state for the enforcement, payment or collection of fines, penalties and forfeitures. K.S.A. 50-161 defines certain terms, again authorizes a private right of action, and discusses remedies: (a) As used in this section, the term `person' means any individual, corporation, partnership, firm, company or other association of persons.... (b) ... [A]ny person who may be damaged or injured by any agreement, monopoly, trust, conspiracy or combination which is declared unlawful by any of the acts contained in chapter 50 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, relating to unlawful acts, agreements, monopolies, trusts, conspiracies or combinations in restraint of trade, shall have a cause of action against any person causing such damage or injury. Such action may be brought by any person who is injured in such person's business or property by reason of anything forbidden or declared unlawful by this act, regardless of whether such injured person dealt directly or indirectly with the defendant. The plaintiff in any action commenced hereunder in the district court of the county wherein such plaintiff resides, or the district court of the county of the defendant's principal place of business, may sue for and recover treble the damages sustained. In addition, any person who is threatened with injury or additional injury by reason of any person's violation of such acts may commence an action in such district court to enjoin any such violation, and any damages suffered may be sued for and recovered in the same action in addition to injunctive relief.... (c) ... The remedies provided herein shall be alternative and in addition to any other remedies now provided by law.