Court Opinion

ID: 9457878
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 20:36:19.761864+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:35:33.071093
License: Public Domain

COLEMAN, Circuit Judge
(dissenting).
With deference, the opinion of the majority is not only in conflict with the cited decisions from other Circuits but is, in my opinion, in conflict with prior decisions of this Circuit which have not been overruled en banc and hence are controlling.
Moore v. Mead’s Fine Bread Company, discussed in the majority opinion, was decided by the Supreme Court in 1954. It is true that Mr. Justice Douglas, writing for the Court, did elaborate upon the use of interstate earnings, but Mead’s had sold part of its bread in interstate commerce.
In 1969 we decided Hiram Walker, Incorporated v. A & S Tropical, 407 F.2d 4, cert. denied 396 U.S. 901, 90 S.Ct. 212, 24 L.Ed.2d 177. We there said, 407 F.2d 8, that the “Robinson-Patman Act is applicable only where the allegedly discriminatory transactions took place in interstate commerce [footnote omitted].” That is “ * * * at least one of the two transactions which, when compared, generate a discrimination must cross a state line”.
This holding) was reaffirmed in A & M Stores, Inc. v. Hiram Walker, Inc., 5 Cir., 1970, 427 F.2d 167.
In Walker Oil Co. v. Hudson Oil Co. of Missouri, 5 Cir., 1969, 414 F.2d 588, 589, we again held that “under section 2(a) [of the Robinson-Patman Act] at least one or both of the sales alleged to be discriminatory must be ‘in commerce’,” citing Hiram Walker, Inc. v. A & S Tropical, supra.
In Cliff Food Stores, Inc. v. Kroger, Inc., 5 Cir., 1969, 417 F.2d 203, we reiterated that “at least one sale rule” and specifically rejected the argument that Mead’s Fine Bread supports jurisdiction if the price cutting is financed by profits from multi-state operations.
Thus, I am at a loss to understand how my Brethren of the majority may overrule a prior decision of this Court, three years old, without en banc action.
I do not understand that newly retained counsel for Mr. Littlejohn really contends otherwise.
What he does say in his brief is:
“Littlejohn seeks by this appeal only the opportunity to conduct limited discovery in order to show that the discriminatory sales ‘were in commerce’.”
The background for this contention (reiterating some of the language in the majority opinion) may be stated as follows:
The original complaint was filed September 29, 1970. It alleged that Shell and American did business in interstate commerce but did not allege that the gasoline delivered to the Shell and American stations in Dallas County, Texas, (which includes Garland) had moved in interstate commerce or had involved as much as one sale in interstate commerce.
On January 20, 1971, the District Judge held a pretrial conference. He indicated his doubts about subject matter jurisdiction. The result was that he gave Littlejohn until February 1 to file an amended complaint, briefs on subject matter jurisdiction to be filed by February 22, and it was indicated that the Court would try to rule on the issue by March 1.
It was further directed that American, Sooner, and Shell should complete their discovery during March and April, 1971, while Littlejohn was to propound written interrogatories during] March and April, and should take oral depositions in May and June.
Obviously, if the complaints came to dismissal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction (upon which a ruling was anticipated by March 1) that would end the case. Further discovery would be useless. The only reasonable interpretation to be put on the discovery portions of the Judge’s order is that he was outlining the steps to be taken if the plaintiff’s amended complaint should withstand dismissal.
*231The amended complaint was filed February 1, 1971. It failed to charge a sale made across a state line. It asserted that the defendant operated in interstate commerce but not that the gasoline in question had moved interstate.
On February 12, the defendants began filing motions for summary judgment on the ground that the allegedly discriminatory sales were not made in interstate commerce and thus, as a matter of law, were not covered by the Robinson-Patman Act. The motions were supported by affidavits. The plaintiff filed no counter-affidavit of any kind.
On March 1, plaintiff filed an unsworn “Response” to the motions for summary judgment. This response contended that summary disposition of anti-trust cases is not looked upon with favor, citing Cliff Food Stores v. Kroger, Inc., 5 Cir., 1969, 417 F.2d 203 at 205, that the motions for summary judgment were “premature”, that the facts were not before the Court in complete fashion, that plaintiff had just recently initiated discovery with reference to jurisdictional facts by requesting the defendants to produce documents, and that the defendants had no right to keep their records, personnel, and sources of information from the plaintiff when sought through reasonable discovery.
The motions for summary judgment were argued March 10, 1971.
On March 23, 1971, by copy of a letter the parties notified the Judge of their agreement that objections to production of documents would not be presented until such time as the motions for summary judgment had been decided. Paragraph 2 of this letter memorandum of agreement contained the following language:
“If the Court sustains any of the Defendants’ motions, thus dismissing Plaintiff’s claims against the same so that such Defendant is no longer before the Court after such ruling, then the Defendant or Defendants so situated shall be under no obligation or duty to comply with Plaintiff's Requests for Production of Documents in any manner.”
On April 28, 1971, the District Court granted summary judgment, citing Walker Oil Company, Inc. v. Hudson Oil Company of Missouri, Inc., 5 Cir., 1969, 414 F.2d 588; Cliff Food Stores, Inc. v. Kroger, Inc., 5 Cir., 1969, 417 F.2d 203; Food Basket, Inc. v. Albertson’s, Inc., 10 Cir., 1967, 383 F.2d 785; and Hiram Walker, Inc. and South Florida Liquor Distributor, Inc. v. A & S Tropical, Inc., 5 Cir., 1969, 407 F.2d 4.
In Cliff Foods, supra, this Court held that to maintain an action under § 2(a), the plaintiff must do three things:
1. Allege and prove that the defendant is engaged in interstate commerce ;
2. Allege and prove that the challenged discrimination was committed in the course of the defendant’s interstate commerce; and
3. Allege and prove that at least one of the challenged discriminatory sales transactions occurred in interstate commerce.
The issue for decision, then, is whether the District Court erred in granting summary judgment before Littlejohn could complete the discovery procedures he now contends that he should have been permitted to complete.
In his reply brief, Littlejohn says that the agreement for the extension of time for the filing of objections to request for documents was a courtesy to an opposing attorney, who was ill. We observe, however, that such a courtesy would not have suggested a proviso that nothing would have to be produced at any time if summary judgments were granted for the defendants.
Littlejohn says that his pretrial deposition revealed that the required evidence as to the interstate character of the sales was solely within the private knowledge of the defendants and that he should have been allowed to complete discovery but concedes in his brief, “Littlejohn cannot, of course, advise the Court what evidence will be adduced”.
*232I think that if appellant really desired to insist on further discovery before action on the motions for summary judgment he should have looked to § 56(e) and § 56(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure:
“Section 56(e):
“When a motion for summary judgment is made and supported as provided in this rule, an adverse party may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of his pleading, but his response, by affidavits or as otherwise provided in this rule, must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. If he does not so respond, summary judgment, if appropriate, shall be entered against him.” [Emphasis added].
“Section 56(f):
“Should it appear from the affidavits of a party opposing the motion that he cannot for reasons stated present by affidavit facts essential to justify his opposition, the court may refuse the application for judgment or may order a continuance to permit affidavits to be obtained or depositions to be taken or discovery to be had or may make such other order as is just.” [Emphasis added],
Littlejohn did not take refuge in these rules. He did nothing but resist the motion for summary judgment in general terms. He filed no counter-affidavits. He thus failed to comply with Rule 56 (e) as to any genuine issue of fact. He now tells this Court that he does not know what evidence might be produced if the summary judgments were to be vacated and remanded for discovery procedures. The complaint failed to allege an indispensable jurisdictional prerequisite, that is, at least one sale in interstate commerce. May a litigant file a complaint which on its face is insufficient for subject matter jurisdiction and, despite un-eontroverted affidavits showing lack of jurisdiction, stall off summary judgment so as to pursue discovery which may or may not turn up jurisdictional facts, and that without following the procedure prescribed by Rule 56(e) and Rule 56(f) ?
Even in a Robinson-Patman suit I do not think he can, see White Motor Company v. United States, 372 U.S. 263, 83 S.Ct. 696, 9 L.Ed.2d 738 (1963); Lun-deen v. Cordner, 8 Cir., 1966, 356 F.2d 169; Robin Construction Company v. United States, 3 Cir., 1965, 345 F.2d 610; and Liberty Leasing Company v. Hillsum Sales Corp., 5 Cir., 1967, 380 F.2d 1013.
In Robin it was said:
“It is true that Rule 56(f) also authorizes the court in appropriate cases to refuse to enter summary judgment where the party opposing the motion shows a legitimate basis for his inability to present by affidavit the facts essential to justify his opposition; but to take advantage of this provision he must state by affidavit the reasons for his inability to do so and these reasons must be genuine and convincing to the court rather than merely colorable. It is not enough to rest upon the uncertainty which broods over all human affairs or to pose philosophic doubts regarding the conclusiveness of evi-dentiary facts.” 345 F.2d at p. 614.
In our case of Liberty Leasing Company v. Hillsum Sales, supra, we said that the least a party opposing a motion for summary judgment should do is to file an affidavit pursuant to Rule 56(f).
Under all the considerations herein recited I cannot agree that the District Court fell into error in granting summary judgment for the defendants.
I respectfully dissent.