Court Opinion

ID: 812826
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2012-11-29 20:02:45+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:00:46.116326
License: Public Domain

Case: 12-135   Document: 21   Page: 1    Filed: 11/29/2012

         NOTE: This order is nonprecedential.

  miniteb ~tate~ 28
U.S.C. § 1292(d) from the United States Court of Federal
Claims in case no. 11-CV-0100, Senior Judge Robert H.
Hodges, Jr.

   COLONIAL CHEVROLET CO., INC., AND MIKE
           FINNIN MOTORS, INC.,
             Plaintiffs-Respondents,
                            v.
                   UNITED STATES,
                   Defendant-Petitioner.

               Miscellaneous Docket No. 135

    On Petition for Permission to Appeal pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 1292(d) from the United States Court of Federal
Claims in case no. 10-CV-0647, Senior Judge Robert H.
Hodges, Jr.

   ON PETITION FOR PERMISSION TO APPEAL
Case: 12-135      Document: 21     Page: 5    Filed: 11/29/2012

5                                ALLEY'S OF KINGPORT V. US

    Before RADER, Chief Judge, LOURIE and SCHALL, Circuit
                           Judges.
SCHALL, Circuit Judge.
                         ORDER
    The United States petitions for permission to appeal
from orders certified by the United States Court of
Federal Claims as ones involving a controlling issue of
law as to which there is substantial ground for difference
of opinion and for which an immediate appeal may
materially advance the ultimate termination of these
similar suits. Alley's of Kingport, Inc. et al. and Colonial
Chevrolet Co., Inc. oppose. Alley's of Kingsport also
moves without opposition to reform the caption in 2012-
M134.
    These petitions stem from complaints brought by
former owners of Chrysler and General Motors (GM)
automobile dealerships against the United States in the
Court of Federal Claims. The complaints allege that in
response to a global financial crisis, the United States
government invested billion of dollars in Chrysler and GM
as part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program and
Automotive Industry Financing Program. The complaints
further allege that as a condition of receiving funding, the
government forced Chrysler and GM to terminate
dealership franchise agreements through bankruptcy
proceedings. The thrust of the complaints is that the
forced termination of the franchise agreements amounted
to a taking for public use, and thus the government
should pay the plaintiffs just compensation.
    The United States moved to dismiss in both cases on
the ground that the complaints neither allege sufficient
facts nor a viable legal theory that would support a
takings claim against the government, but Federal
Claims disagreed. The court acknowledged that the
Case: 12-135         Document: 21   Page: 6   Filed: 11/29/2012

ALLEY'S OF KINGPORT V. US                                  6

plaintiffs' allegations were unusual and their takings
theory did not "fit neatly into a normal takings
framework."      Nonetheless, the court explained that
takings theories must be considered in accordance with
their surrounding events and circumstances, and that the
plaintiffs should have the opportunity to develop a case
that may turn out to be unique. Accordingly, Federal
Claims denied the government's motions to dismiss.
    The United States asked Federal Claims to certify, for
interlocutory appeal under 28 U.S.C. § 1292(d), the
question of the complaints' adequacy. Federal Claims
agreed, and we also agree that the criteria for
interlocutory appeal under that section are met and that
these petitions should be granted and heard on the merits
by this court.
      Accordingly,
      IT Is ORDERED THAT:

    (1) The petitions for permISSIOn to appeal are
granted.
     (2) The motion to reform the caption is granted. The
revised official caption is reflected above.
    (3) These cases shall be treated as companion cases
and be argued together before the same merits panel.

                                     FOR THE COURT

                                     /s/ Jan Horbaly
                                     Jan Horbaly
                                     Clerk
s19