Court Opinion

ID: 9468523
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 02:16:50.822298+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:40:54.337331
License: Public Domain

TATE, Circuit Judge,
dissenting:
I am unable to concur in the majority opinion for the reason that certain allegations by Great Plains seem to present factual questions that are improperly disposed of by summary judgment.
Great Plains argues that the damage that it suffered as a result of not having its services advertised by Frontier occurred, not only because it was not a “concurring member” under the SATO agreement, but because Frontier was in a conspiracy with other SATO members to boycott Great Plains by acting in concert to actively disparage the quality of Great Plains service in a number of ways. If these allegations were true, there is a substantial issue of disputed material facts as to whether antitrust immunity existed.
In Hughes Tool Co. v. Trans World Airlines, Inc., 409 U.S. 363, 93 S.Ct. 647, 34 L.Ed.2d 577 (1973), the Supreme Court stated: “One of the most conspicuous exceptions [to antitrust immunity under the Federal Aviation Act] would be the combination or agreement between two air carriers involving trade restraints.” 409' U.S. at 387, 93 S.Ct. at 661. Even if the SATO agreement implicitly permitted Frontier to ignore Great Plains in its planning packages, and CAB approved the agreement, I doubt whether immunity would attach if such neglect and disparagement was the result of Frontier’s agreement (“combination”) with other SATO members to drive Frontier out of business.
In any event, this is not an issue for summary judgment disposition; the first prong of the immunity test set out in Hughes, supra, requires a finding that the CAB approved of the conduct complained of, if only indirectly by the conduct being within the contemplation of prior CAB orders. See Scroggins v. Air Cargo, Inc., 534 F.2d 1124, 1131 (5th Cir. 1976). It has not been shown that the concerted disparagement, if any existed, is immune. I would, therefore, reverse the summary judgment of the trial court dismissing Great Plains’ suit.