Opinion ID: 21694
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Trial Court’s Rulings and Final Judgment

Text: Prior to trial, Chevron filed a Motion to Strike Kona as a plaintiff regarding Chevron’s contract claim against the Railroads. The Railroads filed a motion to dismiss Kona’s contract claim, and tortious interference of contract claim. The district court granted Chevron’s Motion to Strike and the Railroads’ motion to dismiss Kona’s contract claim, but denied the Railroads’ motion to dismiss Kona’s tortious interference with contract claim. The district court conducted an extensive document intensive bench trial. At the conclusion of trial, the district court issued 53-pages of findings of fact and conclusions of law. The district court ruled that Kona, pursuant to its contract with Chevron, was entitled to receive 50% of the actual amounts collected by Chevron from the Railroads, or alternatively, 50% in quantum meruit (with interest), due to Section 20 overcharges. The court also ruled that Chevron shall recover $13,409,387.00 against the Railroads minus the $282,959.00 it stipulated prior to trial that represented the amount the Railroads was entitled to recover for erroneous payment of overcharges. The court also ordered that all parties bear their own attorneys’ fees and costs. The parties timely filed notices of appeal challenging the district court’s rulings and final judgment.