Court Opinion

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Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:51:22.04776+00
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Opinions of the United
2008 Decisions                                                                                                             States Court of Appeals
                                                                                                                              for the Third Circuit

10-10-2008

Otos Tech Co Ltd v. OGK Amer Inc
Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential

Docket No. 07-3627

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                                                      NOT PRECEDENTIAL

               UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                    FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                          __________

                        Nos. 07-3627 & 07-3775
                              __________

                        OTOS TECH CO., LTD.

                                   v.

                      OGK AMERICA, INC.;
                    YALE KIM a/k/a Youngil Kim,
                                    Third Party Plaintiffs

                                   v.

                     OTOS OPTICAL CO., LTD.;
                       MOON YOUNG HUH,
                                  Third Party Defendants

OTOS TECH CO., LTD.; OTOS OPTICAL CO., LTD; MOON YOUNG HUH,
                                             Appellants in 07-3627

                  OGK AMERICA, INC.; YALE KIM,
                                             Appellants in 07-3775
                          __________

             On Appeal from the United States District Court
                      For the District of New Jersey
                            (Civ. No. 03-1979)
            District Court Judge: Honorable William H. Walls
                              ___________

                     Argued on September 22, 2008
                             ___________

         Before: BARRY, AMBRO and GARTH, Circuit Judges,
                     (Filed: October 10, 2008)
Peter S. Pearlman (Argued)
Jessica V. Henry
Cohn Lifland Pearlman Herrmann & Knopf LLP
Park 80 Plaza West One
Saddle Brook, NJ 07663
       Attorneys for Plaintiff/Appellant

Marc D. Haefner (Argued)
Nicole B. Dory
Connell Foley LLP
85 Livingston Avenue
Roseland, NJ 07068
       Attorneys for Defendants/Appellees

                                       ___________

                                        OPINION
                                       ___________

GARTH, Circuit Judge:

       This appeal arises out of a jury verdict awarding the defendant OGK America, Inc.

(“OGK”) $910,000 on its counterclaim for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and

fair dealing. Although the parties raise numerous complaints regarding the trial proceedings,

the essence of the appeal is whether the verdict was supportable by the evidence in the

record. Plaintiff argues that the verdict was against the weight of the evidence, or in the

alternative, that the evidence was legally insufficient. We will affirm.

                                             I.

       In 1998, Mr. Moon Young Huh, president of Otos Tech Co., Ltd. (“Otos”), and Mr.

Yale Kim, president of OGK, entered into an oral agreement under which OGK would act

                                             -2-
as Otos’s exclusive agent for sales of welding helmets in the United States. In the following

years, OGK was instrumental in establishing Otos’s presence in the United States. OGK

increased Otos’s U.S. sales to $8.2 million, representing 88.7% of Otos’s worldwide

revenues. Kim received a commission for his services, initially 5% in 1998, then reduced

by mutual agreement to 4% in 1999 and again to 3% in 2001.

       In December 2002, Kevin Lee, an employee at Otos, proposed reducing Kim’s

commission further to 2.5%. Affronted, Kim confronted Huh in his office in Korea.

Nevertheless, after reconsideration, Kim faxed a letter to Otos the following month accepting

the reduced commission.

       Business continued as normal until February 3, 2003, when Kim sent Otos a proposed

written commission contract. In the text of the fax, Kim noted his desire to “clear any

mistrust between us,” and stated that the agreement was “merely a written document of what

we already agreed on.” J.A. 123.

       Lee responded on February 4, 2003, but did not directly address Kim’s request for a

formalized commission agreement. Instead, Lee asked for marketing projections and

customer information, and asked Kim “to promptly relay customers’ requests to [Otos]”

going forward. J.A. 124. Lee added that “the rate of commission is certainly not the most

pressing matter at hand. If we can establish mutual trust, the commission rate will not be an

issue.” Id.

       In response, Kim asked:

                                             -3-
              What does trust mean? Does trust mean to change everything as
              you want without notice? If you think commission rate is not so
              important, why are you continually trying to reduce it? . . . I
              need more than verbal statements of trust; for my own
              protection, I need written agreements. . . . Our relationship is
              meant to serve our mutual interests; otherwise we should go our
              separate ways. Therefore, I need a firm written statement from
              you regarding your intentions.

J.A. 125.

       On February 5, 2003, Otos declined to execute the contract, arguing that it reflected

Kim’s lack of trust. Otos further instructed that Kim was “not to be involved in the business

until we can get together to settle our relationship.” Appellant’s Br. 6-7; J.A. 119. But

Otos’s e-mail did not clearly terminate the relationship; rather, it stated that Otos would

“willingly accept the commission rate of 2.5%, but we reserve the right to consider other

options if the above matters are not improved.” J.A. 119.

       Kim responded via fax that his understanding was that, by declining to sign the

commission agreement, Otos was terminating the relationship. He claimed entitlement to

commissions on projected sales for the next five years under “international commercial law

and custom,” J.A. 120, but proposed that he was willing to accept just three years of

commissions to “settle” the dispute as promptly as possible. He noted that he would take this

amount out of account receivables in the possession of OGK. Otos did not respond to Kim,

but instead instructed its customers that OGK’s agency was terminated by “mutual

agreement.” J.A. 121.

       On February 19, 2003, Otos discovered that Kim had retained $587,755.05 in

                                             -4-
customer payments that he had failed to forward to Otos. Unable to recover the funds from

Kim, Otos filed suit alleging embezzlement, breach of contract, and conversion. OGK

asserted counterclaims against Otos for breach of contract, breach of compromise agreement,

and breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. OGK alleged that the parties

had an oral agreement for a term of 15 years, that Otos prematurely terminated the

agreement, and that Kim’s February 5, 2003 fax constituted a settlement offer to which Otos

assented.

       The jury found that: (1) OGK breached the contract, but that there were no damages

for the breach; (2) OGK converted $587,755.05 in customer payments and owed this amount

to Otos; and (3) Otos was liable for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair

dealing and owed $910,000 in damages to OGK.

       Otos filed a motion for a new trial, which the District Court denied on August 13,

2007. Otos filed a timely notice of appeal and OGK cross-appealed.

                                             II.

       We exercise jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. The District Court had subject

matter jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a). We review the District Court’s denial of a

motion for new trial for abuse of discretion. Montgomery County v. Microvote Corp., 320
F.3d 440, 445 (3d Cir. 2003). “Deferential review is appropriate when considering whether

a verdict is against the weight of the evidence because the district court was able to observe

the witnesses and follow the trial in a way that we cannot replicate by reviewing a cold

                                             -5-
record.” Greenleaf v. Garlock, Inc., 174 F.3d 352, 366 (3d Cir. 1999) (internal quotations

omitted). “[N]ew trials because the verdict is against the weight of the evidence are proper

only when the record shows that the jury’s verdict resulted in a miscarriage of justice or

where the verdict, on the record, cries out to be overturned or shocks our conscience.”

Williamson v. Consol. Rail Corp., 926 F.2d 1344, 1353 (3d Cir.1991). An internally

inconsistent verdict also can be a ground for ordering a new trial. Malley-Duff & Assocs.,

Inc. v. Crown Life Ins. Co., 734 F.2d 133, 145 (3d Cir. 1984).

       We review for plain error where a party failed to preserve its objections to a jury

charge or instruction, or to the failure to give a jury charge or instruction. Franklin

Prescriptions, Inc. v. N.Y. Times Co., 424 F.3d 336, 339-40 (3d Cir. 2005). For an appellate

court to correct a forfeited error, there must be an “error,” the error must be “plain,” and the

plain error must “affect substantial rights.” United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 732-34

(1993). Plain error review is discretionary and should only be invoked in the civil context

“‘where the error is so serious and flagrant that it goes to the very integrity of the trial.’”

Fashauer v. N.J. Transit Rail Operations, Inc., 57 F.3d 1269, 1289 (3d Cir. 1995) (quoting

United States v. Carson, 52 F.3d 1173, 1188 (2d Cir. 1995)).

                                              III.

       We are satisfied that the evidence presented at trial supports the jury’s verdict.1 The

       1
       Ordinarily, any claim based on insufficiency of the evidence is waived when the
movant failed to move for judgment as a matter of law under Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 50 before the jury retired to deliberate. Greenleaf v. Garlock, Inc., 174 F.3d

                                              -6-
jury could have accepted the evidence in the record that Otos intended all along to exclude

Kim from any significant profits from his sales efforts, yet willfully misled Kim as to the

longevity of the arrangement. Not only did Otos steadily reduce Kim’s commission rates

over a period of four years for reasons unrelated to performance, but it already had coopted

the first client Kim procured, providing prior precedent for such practices.

       Kim also testified that Huh told him he did not want Kim to earn too much money.

Otos confirmed that it thought it “natural” for Kim’s commission rates to decrease as the

sales volume increased—even though the reasons given at the time made no mention of sales

volume. Moreover, the last rate decrease was proffered by a lower-level employee rather

than the president of Otos, a change from prior practice that, culturally, could have been

viewed by the jury as a deliberate slight to someone whom Otos had no intention of retaining

as an agent.

       At the same time, the jury had more than enough evidence to conclude that Otos

avoided discussing the length of the contract every time Kim sought confirmation of his

commission rates, and then ceased dealing with him as soon as he attempted to secure his

352, 364-65 (3d Cir. 1999). However, Otos argues that this waiver was itself waived
because OGK did not raise it in its opposition to Otos’s motion for a new trial under Rule
59. See Williams v. Runyon, 130 F.3d 568, 571-72 (3d Cir. 1997) (finding a waiver of
waiver where a party failed to object to a movant’s Rule 50(b) motion specifically on the
grounds that the issue was waived by an inadequate Rule 50(a) motion). We find it
unnecessary to address or analyze this principle because, by any account, there was more
than sufficient evidence from which a jury could infer that Otos was liable for the
manner in which it performed the contract.

                                            -7-
legal rights in writing. Kim testified that any attempts to discuss the commission rate were

repeatedly downplayed. Instead, he was told that “[t]he important thing is whether the ADF

helmet can be sold or not,” J.A. 312, and that a close relationship based on “mutual trust”

was more important than the specific commission rate, J.A. 291, 342. Indeed, Otos actively

reassured Kim that they would work together until Kim reached his 70s.2 Yet, as soon as

Kim attempted to confirm this understanding in writing, Otos refused to sign any agreement

and advised him that this effort conveyed a “lack of trust.” Appellant’s Br. 6.

       In assessing the weight of the evidence, we do not find that the verdict of $910,000

in favor of OGK shocks the conscience, nor was it internally inconsistent. See Sons of

Thunder, Inc. v. Borden, Inc., 690 A.2d 575 (N.J. 1997); Bak-A-Lum Corp. of America v.

Alcoa Bldg. Prods., Inc., 351 A.2d 349 (N.J. 1976). Although different verdicts might have

been reached or imagined, a damages verdict will be affirmed if “there is any view of the

case which reconciles the [jury’s] various answers.” McAdam v. Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc.,

896 F.2d 750, 763 (3d Cir. 1990) (quoting Bradford-White Corp. v. Ernst & Whinney, 872
F.2d 1153, 1159 (3d Cir. 1989) (emphasis added)). Here, there was sufficient evidence of

OGK having established Otos’s product in the United States; OGK having represented Otos

for years; and OGK’s anticipation of commissions in future years. Accordingly, we do not

find that the District Court abused its discretion in denying Otos’s motion for a new trial.

       2
         In his testimony, Kim stated that he told Huh that the age of 60 would be
sufficient.

                                             -8-
          Otos also argues that the District Court erred in its charge to the jury. Otos contends

that the charge misled the jury to believe it could find both a breach of implied covenant and

a breach of contract based on the same conduct:               the termination of the contract.

Alternatively, Otos states that the charge failed to instruct the jury on the need to find “bad

faith.”

          The District Court did not err in its charge or rulings. Hence, we are satisfied that the

District Court Judge’s charge did not constitute plain error. Although the claims for breach

of implied covenant and breach of contract were closely related, the jury was instructed that

performance is distinct from termination, and it did not conflate the two concepts in

concluding that OGK breached the contract while Otos breached the implied covenant.

Moreover, although the District Court did not instruct the jury that it needed to find an

affirmative act of bad faith or unconscionable behavior, the District Court did give an

instruction that comported with the definition of “good faith” in the UCC. See Wade v.

Kessler Institute, 778 A.2d 580, 589 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2001).

          Otos raises a host of other complaints, including that the District Court erred in

denying summary judgment on OGK’s claim for breach of implied covenant; that the District

Court erred in delaying the dismissal of OGK’s claim that Kim’s February 5, 2003 fax was

a settlement offer, which allowed days of testimony that the jury could not ignore; that the

curative instruction was inadequate; and that OGK nevertheless used excluded evidence

regarding this settlement offer at closing argument. We find no merit in these claims.

                                                 -9-
       On cross-appeal, OGK requests that the District Court’s judgment be amended as a

matter of law to include post-judgment interest on the $910,000.3 Otos does not oppose this

claim but merely states that it also is entitled to post-judgment interest on its award of

$587,755.05. We agree that post-judgment interest is added as a matter of law. Dunn v.

HOVIC, 13 F.3d 58, 61-62 (3d Cir. 1993) (“[P]ost-judgment interest is awarded by statute

as a matter of law so it is automatically added, whether or not the district court orders it.”).

Accordingly, we will remand to the District Court to add an award of post-judgment interest

to OGK on the amount of $322,244.95—the difference between $910,000 and $587,755.05.4

                                              IV.

       For the foregoing reasons, we will affirm the District Court’s order filed August 13,

2007 as to the principal amounts, and remand to the District Court to add post-judgment

interest.

       3
         OGK also argues that the District Court erred in failing to dismiss Otos’s
conversion claim. We find no merit in this argument. We need not address OGK’s third
cross-claim as to whether its claim regarding the settlement offer should be allowed on
retrial because we do not remand for a new trial.
       4
          OGK argues that Otos already received post-judgment interest on a duplicate
judgment in Korea, and therefore should not receive post-judgment interest here.
Because the issue of duplicate judgment is not before us and is not reflected in the
record, we decline OGK’s invitation to address the issue of duplicate post-judgment
interest.

                                             -10-