Court Opinion

ID: 9459004
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 21:07:55.615292+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:35:58.863291
License: Public Domain

HASTINGS, Senior Circuit Judge
(concurring in the result).
In our decision of the first interlocutory appeal in this case, Bendix Corporation v. Balax, Inc., 7 Cir., 421 F.2d 809 (1970), cert. denied, 399 U.S. 911, 90 S.Ct. 223, 26 L.Ed.2d 562, we made a final disposition of all issues therein *165raised, except the one question remaining on the remand. We noted that the trial court had rather summarily brushed aside the charge of antitrust violations by dismissing defendants’ antitrust. counterclaim against plaintiffs. Further, we observed that the parties did not address themselves to the relevance, if any, of Lear, Inc. v. Adkins, 395 U.S. 653, 668-671, 89 S.Ct. 1902, 23 L.Ed.2d 610 (June 16, 1969), to this issue in the prior appeal, and that it could not have been considered by the district court because Lear was subsequent to its prior judgment. Under those circumstances “we [felt] it should be first presented to the trial court for its consideration.” (Emphasis added.) We purposely withheld our views on the “relevance, if any,” of Lear and did not intend to indicate how the district court should resolve this matter. 421 F.2d at 820-821.
On remand, after further hearing, the district court obviously thought Lear was relevant and found Bendix and Sellew liable for damages to Balax and Van Vleet for its Sherman Act violations. In all other respects, the counterclaim was dismissed.
I find myself in agreement with that part of Part IV of the majority opinion which contains the conclusion “that Lear should not be applied retroactively to this case in its damage aspects.” If Lear is not to be applied retroactively, and I agree that it should not be, then, in my judgment, that effectively disposes of the present appeal. Under the express terms of our prior remand “the relevance, if any, of Lear" has been determined — it has none. That settles the issue before us and the original dismissal of the counterclaim should be reinstated.
I, therefore, join in that part of the majority opinion holding that Lear should not be applied retroactively and on this ground alone concur in the judgment of reversal.