Court Opinion

ID: 3032693
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:48:19.38689+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:40:43.160841
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                          FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
                                  ___________

                                  No. 02-3901
                                  ___________

Watkins Incorporated,                  *
                                       *
            Appellee,                  *
                                       * On Appeal from the United States
v.                                     * District Court for the District
                                       * of Minnesota
Lloyd M. Lewis and                     *
Sandra G. Lewis,                       *
                                       *
            Appellants.                *
                                  ___________

                            Submitted: June 13, 2003
                                Filed: October 21, 2003
                                ___________

Before RILEY, HEANEY, Circuit Judges, and ERICKSEN,1 District Judge.
                             ___________

ERICKSEN, District Judge.

      Sandra and Lloyd Lewis sought a preliminary injunction after Watkins
Incorporated ended the parties’ long-standing business relationship. The district

      1
      The Honorable Joan N. Ericksen, United States District Judge for the District
of Minnesota, sitting by designation.
court2 denied the injunction, finding that the Lewises had not met their burden on any
of the four Dataphase factors, and this appeal followed. We affirm.

       Watkins is a direct-selling organization that sells health care products, food
items, lotions, and various household products. In 1982 the Lewises signed a
Purchase Agreement with Watkins whereby they became self-employed dealers in
merchandise sold by Watkins. The Agreement provided that it could be terminated
at any time by giving written notice. After they signed the Agreement, the Lewises
began selling Watkins products in the southeastern United States. Unlike most self-
employed Watkins dealers, the Lewises targeted their sales efforts at small retail
establishments as opposed to individual consumers.

       Ten years later, in December 1992, Watkins changed its policy with respect to
sales to retail establishments. It issued a “Location Selling Policy” that provided as
follows:

      Do not sell Watkins products at self-service retail locations. Watkins
      products may be sold from locations such as trade shows, fairs, and mall
      kiosks provided the location is operated by and the sale is transacted by
      a registered Watkins Marketing Representative/Director.

      Watkins products may not be displayed or sold in self-service retail
      locations. (Note: Display and sales may continue at all retail locations
      which were in operation and have been registered with the company
      prior to 12/15/92. The accounts and locations are not transferable.)

      In 1997, the Lewises signed an “Agreement to Comply with All Watkins
Policies and Procedures,” in which they verified that they would “comply with and
follow all of Watkins’ policies and guidelines as set forth in the terms and conditions

      2
      The Honorable Richard H. Kyle, United States District Judge for the District
of Minnesota.

                                         -2-
of the International Marketing Representative Agreement and Watkins
Training/Reference Manual.” To resolve a dispute regarding the Location Selling
Policy, the parties entered into an agreement (Settlement Agreement) in 1998 to
“clarify their independent contractor relationship with one another.” The Lewises
furnished to Watkins a list of retail establishments that were grandfathered-in under
the Location Selling Policy. Watkins agreed that:

      The Lewises and their daughter Brittany and any spouse of Brittany are
      entitled to continue to distribute [specified Watkins products] through
      such Business Locations under said Location Selling Policy until the
      businesses located on [the list] no longer operate at the Business
      Location specified [on the list] or until they die or until further
      agreement of the parties.

Watkins and the Lewises further agreed “to communicate with each other on a
professional basis and . . . to work with each other in a manner consistent with the
Watkins’ Rules of Conduct in order to increase their respective businesses.”

       Difficulties in the business relationship between the parties became evident in
early 2002. A Watkins representative visited the Lewises, who perceived that the
representative was not impressed with their sales abilities. Watkins was slow to
respond to the Lewises’ complaint that other Watkins associates were selling to retail
establishments on the Lewises’ list. Watkins discovered that the Lewises were selling
to unauthorized retail store locations, and Watkins’ customer service representatives
received an increasing number of complaints about the Lewises. The complaints
related to overcharges, failure to deliver paid-for product, and concerns about
professionalism. In April 2002, a Watkins representative wrote to the Lewises,
warning them about their various perceived failings and cautioning that “any future
unprofessional behavior and violation of our policies and procedures will not be
tolerated and may result in the cancellation of your Watkins contract.” Matters did
not improve through the summer. Watkins’ Teleservices Manager continued to report

                                         -3-
complaints about overcharges and lack of delivery. In July, Watkins was notified of
an impending $300,000 lawsuit arising out of the Lewises’ dealings with a customer.

      On September 11, 2002, Watkins notified the Lewises that, effective
immediately, their contract and membership with Watkins were terminated: “The
basis for this termination is multiple and continuing breaches of the Purchase
Agreement you signed, as well as multiple and continuing breaches of the Agreement
you signed on December 12, 1998, and for continuing violation of our Rules of
Conduct as stated in our Policies and Procedures Manual.” A week later, Watkins
sent a letter to store managers and owners informing them that the only Watkins
representative authorized to sell or service stores in their area was FitzGibbon and
Company. Watkins also sent letters to its associates and managers notifying them that
Sandy and Mike Lewis were “no longer Watkins Independent Associates,” and that
they should contact Cecilia and Myron Smith in Clarksville, Georgia, for support.

       Contemporaneous with its termination of the Lewises’ distributorship, Watkins
sued the Lewises in state court, alleging that they had breached two agreements. The
Lewises removed the lawsuit to federal district court on September 25, 2002, and on
October 2, 2002, they filed a counterclaim alleging that they, their daughter, and any
spouse she might acquire had a lifetime contract to sell Watkins products. On
October 3, 2002, they moved for a preliminary injunction. The order denying them
injunctive relief was issued on October 11, 2002.

      I.     Discussion

       In deciding a motion for a preliminary injunction, a district court balances four
factors: (1) the likelihood of the movant’s success on the merits; (2) the threat of
irreparable harm to the movant in the absence of relief; (3) the balance between that
harm and the harm that the relief would cause to the other litigants; and (4) the public
interest. Dataphase Sys., Inc. v. CL Sys., Inc., 640 F.2d 109, 114 (8th Cir. 1981). A

                                          -4-
preliminary injunction is an extraordinary remedy, see Calvin Klein Cosmetics Corp.
v. Lenox Labs, Inc., 815 F.2d 500, 503 (8th Cir. 1987), and the burden of establishing
the propriety of an injunction is on the movant, Geoff v. Harper, 60 F.3d 518, 520 (8th
Cir. 1995). We review for abuse of discretion. See Dataphase, 640 F.2d at 114.

      The party seeking injunctive relief bears the burden of proving all the
Dataphase factors. Gelco Corp. v. Coniston Partners, 811 F.2d 414, 418 (8th Cir.
1987). The parties hotly dispute whether the district court abused its discretion in
determining that the Lewises failed to demonstrate a probability of success on the
merits of their claim. We will assume, for purposes of this appeal, that this question
provides “fair ground for litigation,” see Loveridge v. Pendleton Woolen Mills, Inc.,
788 F.2d 914, 916 (2d Cir. 1986), and turn to the district court’s conclusion that the
Lewises failed to demonstrate a threat of irreparable harm.

       Failure to show irreparable harm is an independently sufficient ground upon
which to deny a preliminary injunction. See Adam-Mellang v. Apartment Search,
Inc., 96 F.3d 297, 299 (8th Cir. 1996); Gelco, 811 F.2d at 420. “The basis of
injunctive relief in the federal courts has always been irreparable harm and
inadequacy of legal remedies.” Bandag, Inc. v. Jack’s Tire & Oil, Inc., 190 F.3d 924,
926 (8th Cir. 1999) (quoting Beacon Theatres, Inc. v. Westover, 359 U.S. 500, 506-07
(1959)). When there is an adequate remedy at law, a preliminary injunction is not
appropriate. Modern Computer Sys., Inc. v. Modern Banking Sys., Inc., 871 F.2d
734, 738 (8th Cir. 1989).

      The Lewises assert that their situation is analogous to cases in which
preliminary injunctive relief has been granted. The Lewises direct our attention to
Iowa Utilities Board v. Federal Communications Commission, 109 F.3d 418 (8th Cir.
1996), Ryko Manufacturing Co. v. Eden Services, 759 F.2d 671 (8th Cir. 1985), and
Semmes Motors, Inc. v. Ford Motor Co., 429 F.2d 1197 (2d Cir. 1970). Watkins

                                         -5-
stresses factual distinctions from those cases and cites additional authority including
Loveridge.

       In Iowa Utilities Board, we granted a stay of local competition pricing rules
pending judicial review of the report and order of the Federal Communications
Commission implementing local telephone competition provisions of the
Telecommunications Act of 1996. 109 F.3d at 421. We found that the FCC had most
likely exceeded its authority in promulgating intrastate pricing regulations. Id. at
423-25. We also found that the regulations would have permanent effects on on-
going negotiations with local exchange carriers (LECs), id. at 425-26, and would give
rise to irreparable harm because “the incumbent LECs would not be able to bring a
lawsuit to recover their undue economic losses if the FCC’s rules are eventually
overturned, and we believe that the incumbent LECs would be unable to fully recover
such losses merely through their participation in the market,” id. at 426.

        Ryko concerned a dispute between a manufacturer of car wash equipment and
one of its exclusive distributors. 759 F.2d at 671. We held that the district court did
not abuse its discretion in enjoining the manufacturer from terminating the
distributorship contract. Id. at 673. The district court had found that the distributor
would be unable to finance the litigation without the injunction and that the public
had a possible interest in having the distributor, a small business, continue its
business and litigate its antitrust claims against the manufacturer. Id. The
manufacturer, by contrast, could be compensated by money damages for any losses
it suffered as a result of the distributor’s alleged promotions or sales of unauthorized
products. Id.

      In Semmes, the Second Circuit affirmed a temporary injunction prohibiting
Ford Motor Company from terminating Semmes Motors, Inc.’s automobile
dealership. 429 F.2d at 1199. The court observed that termination of a 20-year

                                          -6-
business could not be measured entirely in monetary terms. Id. at 1205. This was
balanced against the harm to Ford, which was relatively small:

      As against this, the hardship to Ford in continuing the Semmes
      dealership pendente lite was relatively small. Ford makes no claim that
      Semmes has not adequately represented it in the lucrative Scarsdale
      market, and the record indicates that the submission of false claims has
      been greatly reduced, if not eliminated.

Id. The decision was strictly limited to the facts of the case: “We read the opinion
as strictly limited to the facts of this case; any dealer who regards it as a Magna Carta
for cheating Ford or any other manufacturer does so at his peril.” Id.

       In Loveridge, the Second Circuit held that the district court abused its
discretion in granting a preliminary injunction that prevented Pendleton Woolen
Mills, Inc. from terminating a sales representative’s contract. 788 F.2d at 916. The
court distinguished the contract from a dealership agreement:

      Unlike a dealership that builds up good will and a reputation for
      reliability, totally distinct from that of the manufacturer, [the sales
      representative’s] good will was tied exclusively to his ability to
      convince his customers of the quality of [Pendleton Woolen Mills’]
      woolen products. This is significantly different from the dealer whose
      customers will begin to “grumble” and go elsewhere if the dealer no
      longer carries a certain product because the manufacturer has terminated
      the dealership’s contract.

Id. at 917.

       We are convinced that the situation in Loveridge is most comparable. As with
that contract, the value of a Watkins membership depends significantly upon the
salesman’s ability to convince customers of the quality of the Watkins products. It
appears that Watkins controls whether retail establishments – in general – may sell

                                          -7-
its products, and if they may sell, which authorized Watkins associate they must deal
with. When, rightly or wrongly, it terminated the Lewises, Watkins “assigned”
FitzGibbon. Presumably it could reassign the Lewises (Lloyd, Sandra, Brittany, or
the as yet unknown spouse of Brittany) if necessary. In that event the Lewises would
be restored to their pre-termination status vis-à-vis the establishments on the “list.”
We do not assume that the transitions would have no effect on the profitability of
what might be termed the Lewises’ “territory.” However, “such a loss would be
compensable in money damages. Such loss is no different from the loss that any
commissioned salesman would sustain upon termination.” Id.

       In addition to the harm they allege they have suffered as a result of not being
able to sell to their retail customers, the Lewises allege more generally that their
customer relationships are being irreparably harmed and that their goodwill is being
permanently diminished. The district court found that their proof of harm in this
regard was insufficient. The court found that only one customer was identified. The
others were described in such general terms that the district court was unable to assess
whether the Lewises were being irreparably harmed in their ability to sell to these
businesses. For example, they complained that “they have been receiving many
telephone calls from customers asking what is going on and seeking to order product”
and “are not able to address the customer’s concerns because they do not know the
factual reasons supporting Watkins’ alleged ‘termination’ of them.” They also
asserted that “customers [neither identified nor quantified] have expressed shock and
raised questions about why [the Lewises] were terminated which is prejudicing the
Lewises whether they sell Watkins product or any other product,” and that “[c]ertain
customers who previously called the Lewises every day have not called since soon
after the Watkins’ letters were sent.” The Lewises argue that the court was mistaken
as to certain key facts. For example, they acknowledge that the quantity of customer
telephone calls was not definite in Sandy Lewis’s affidavit, but “it is undisputed that
the Lewises lost 2100 retail store purchasers of Watkins products.” Appellant Br. at
39. We are satisfied that the district court adequately apprehended the record.

                                          -8-
        Having reviewed the case law upon which the parties rely and considered the
record presented to the district court, we conclude that the district court did not abuse
its discretion in finding that the Lewises had failed to establish a threat of irreparable
harm.

       The Lewises sought injunctive relief on their two Minnesota statutory claims
as well. They have not raised the Minnesota Trade Secrets Act claim in this appeal.
With respect to the Minnesota Deceptive Trade Practices Act claim we note that the
Minnesota Court of Appeals has held that the Act does not permit private suits for
damages, but only injunctive relief. Dennis Simmons D.D.S., P.A. v. Modern Aero,
Inc., 603 N.W.2d 336, 339 (Minn. App. 1999). The Act is intended to protect persons
who are likely to be damaged by deceptive trade practices such as passing off goods
or services as those of another, misrepresenting the standard, quality, or grade of a
goods, or other conduct that similarly creates a likelihood of confusion or
misunderstanding. See Minn. Stat. § 325D.44, subd. 1; Simmons, 603 N.W.2d at
339. The statute does, as the Lewises point out, permit relief against deceptive trade
practices regardless of damages or other remedies available at law, Minn. Stat.
§ 325D.45, subd. 1, 3. Relief under the statute is to be granted a courts’ discretion
“under the principles of equity.” Id. § 325D.45, subd. 1. In this case, if Watkins
engaged in a deceptive trade practice by announcing to its customers that the Lewises
are no longer authorized dealers, it is the Lewises who are harmed. They, as we have
observed, have an adequate remedy at law. We are not persuaded that the existence
of the Minnesota Deceptive Trade Practices Act compels the granting of a preliminary
injunction in this private contract dispute, if it would not otherwise be required.

      The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying the preliminary
injunction.

      The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.
                     ______________________________

                                           -9-