Court Opinion

ID: 9456047
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 19:40:41.529496+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:34:50.039531
License: Public Domain

HAMLEY, Circuit Judge
(dissenting in part):
I concur in the majority opinion except insofar as it affirms the denial of the motion of Martin Marietta Corporation and Six Points Lumber & Supply Co., dba O’Malley-Gannaway Concrete Pipe Co.
The motion for dismissal of the action was made by these two defendants on the ground that plaintiff’s claims against them are barred by the four year statute of limitations provided by section 4B of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. § 15b. The district court rejected this ground for dismissal on the theory that, under the facts of this case, this statute of limitations was tolled by the provisions of section 5(b) of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. § 16(b), in view of certain prior federal government civil and criminal proceedings.
Neither of the above-named defendants were ever named or complained of as defendants or co-conspirators in the prior civil and criminal actions brought by the federal government. In my view, the pendency of federal government civil and criminal actions cannot toll the running of the statute of limitations as to persons or companies not named or complained of in such government actions.
The tolling statute, section 5(b) referred to above, limits tolling to private actions “based in whole or in part” on any matter complained of in the government criminal or civil proceeding. Insofar as these two defendants are concerned, the instant case is not, in my opinion, based in whole or in part on any matter complained of in the prior government actions.
I recognize that the decision in State of New Jersey v. Morton Salt Company, 387 F.2d 94 (3d Cir. 1967) supports the view of the majority. It is no doubt true, as held in Morton Salt, that the tolling provision was enacted for the benefit of private parties who were injured. But I am not persuaded that Congress intended that provision to override, as to persons and companies in no way involved in the prior government antitrust suits, the salutary policy behind section 4B, as a statute of repose.