Court Opinion

ID: 9442591
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-03 18:52:30.771013+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:29:08.791879
License: Public Domain

*341MURRAH, Circuit Judge
(specially concurring) .
I concur in the affirmance of the trial court’s judgment solely on the ground that the harm, of which appellant complains, was brought about by his own illegal acts, or those to which he was privy. While I cannot agree that, strictly speaking, appellant was in pari delicto, I do not believe that the aims and purposes of the anti trust laws, and particularly Section 15, would be served by allowing him to benefit by his own wrong.
If the acts complained of constitute an actionable wrong under the anti trust laws, it is in the nature of a public wrong, private redress for which is granted under Section 15 only as an aid to the enforcement of the public policy embodied in the Act. The private remedy granted under Section 15 is not exclusive, it is only ancillary. The primary responsibility for the enforcement of the Act is committed to the Government, through its delegated agencies. The Federal Trade Commission is empowered to initiate appropriate proceedings under Section 11 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C.A. § 21, and expeditiously grant cease and desist orders enforceable in the courts; the United States Attorney, with jurisdiction where the wrong occurred, is empowered to invoke the injunctive processes of the courts for both temporary and permanent relief under Section 15 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C.A. § 25; or, he may invoke the criminal penalties under Section 3 of the Robinson-Patman Act, 49 Stat. 1528, 15 U.S.C.A. § 13a. See Corn Products Refining Co. v. Federal Trade Commission, 324 U.S. 726, 65 S.Ct. 961, 89 L.Ed. 1320. In all events, the redress is for the benefit of the public, which is wronged — not he who initiated it.
Having decided that this suit is not maintainable by the appellant, I deem it unnecessary and inappropriate to decide the question whether the acts complained of ma’y be said to be in the course of, and affect interstate commerce within the meaning of Section 13(a). On that question I reserve my judgment for another day.