Opinion ID: 705713
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Amount of Damage

Text: 2 Group W failed to meet its burden of providing a reasonable basis for the computation of the amount of damage resulting solely from the October 23 letter because the damage estimates were premised both on the October 23 letter and Omicron conspiring to drive Group W's distributor, Shannon Supply, out of business, an allegation rejected by the district court. 1 See Lindy Pen Co. v. Bic Pen Corp., 982 F.2d 1400, 1407 (9th Cir.1993). 3 Vinso offered two exhibits depicting the results of his lost profits analysis for Food Plus. Exhibit F estimates lost profits starting in April 1992, the date of Shannon Supply's dissolution. This exhibit was generated to aid in the determining of losses due to the dissolution of Shannon Supply. 4 Exhibit E estimates lost profits after Omicron sent the October 1991 letter, which might suggest the exhibit displays the estimated damages resulting from the letter. However, the estimated losses in Exhibit E starting from April 1992, when Shannon Supply dissolved, are exactly the same as those found in Exhibit F. This identical overlap indicates that Exhibit E depicts the estimated total damage from both the letter and the alleged conspiracy to dissolve Shannon Supply. This interpretation is buttressed by the fact that the estimated lost profits set forth in Exhibit E increase sharply (five- to six-fold) after April 1992. The obvious reason for this increase is that the exhibit takes into account damages due to the dissolution of Shannon Supply, and Group W offers no alternative explanation. 5 Thus, neither Exhibit E nor Exhibit F reflects the estimated lost profits due solely to the October letter. Hoffman's testimony did not offer an independent theory of damages but focused instead only on errors in Vinso's computational methodology. Accordingly, if on remand the district court determines that Omicron is liable under the Lanham Act, see supra note , the court must also determine the amount of damage due solely to Omicron's letter.