Opinion
Civ. No. 19-1820 (MJD/BRT)
12-07-2020
Insignia Systems, Inc., Plaintiff, v. News Corporation, News America Marketing FSI LLC and News America Marketing In-Store Services, LLC, Defendants.
William Christopher Carmody, Arun S. Subramanian, Mark Musico, Y. Gloria Park, Alejandra Salinas and Rachel S. Black, Susman Godfrey LLP, Hunter J. Shkolnik, Napoli Shkolnik PLLC, and Jerry W. Blackwell and S. Jamal Faleel, Blackwell Burke PA, Counsel for Plaintiff. Todd A. Wind, Nicole M. Moen, Timothy M. O'Shea and Rachel L. Dougherty, Fredrikson & Byron, PA, William B. Michael, Kenneth A. Gallo, Jane B. O'Brien and Jeannie S. Rhee, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, Gerson A. Zweifach and Kimberly Broecker, Williams & Connolly LLP, Counsel for Defendants.
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
William Christopher Carmody, Arun S. Subramanian, Mark Musico, Y. Gloria Park, Alejandra Salinas and Rachel S. Black, Susman Godfrey LLP, Hunter J. Shkolnik, Napoli Shkolnik PLLC, and Jerry W. Blackwell and S. Jamal Faleel, Blackwell Burke PA, Counsel for Plaintiff. Todd A. Wind, Nicole M. Moen, Timothy M. O'Shea and Rachel L. Dougherty, Fredrikson & Byron, PA, William B. Michael, Kenneth A. Gallo, Jane B. O'Brien and Jeannie S. Rhee, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, Gerson A. Zweifach and Kimberly Broecker, Williams & Connolly LLP, Counsel for Defendants.
This matter is before the Court on Defendants News America Marketing FSI LLC, News America Marketing In-Store Services LLC and News Corporation's (hereinafter collectively referred to as "News") Motion for Summary Judgment on the Counterclaim [Doc. No. 193] and Plaintiff Insignia Systems, Inc.'s ("Insignia") Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on the Counterclaim [Doc. No. 201].
I. Background
News and Insignia are third-party providers of in-store promotion products and services that are sold to consumer-packaged-goods companies ("CPGs") for placement in retail stores including grocery stores, drugstores and dollar stores. (Comp. ¶ 1.) Insignia claims that News has acquired and maintained a monopoly in this market through exclusionary agreements with both retailers and CPGs. (Id. ¶ 2.) Insignia has asserted the following claims against News: Count I, Section Two of the Sherman Act, Monopolization; Count II, Section Two of the Sherman Act, Attempted Monopolization; Count III, Section One of the Sherman Act, Exclusive Dealing; Count IV, Section Two of the Sherman Act, Conspiracy to Monopolize; Count V, Tortious Interference with Business Relationships or Expectancies with Retailers; Count VI, Tortious Interference with Contracts with CPGs; Count VII, Violation of Minn. Stat. § 325D.52, Monopolization; Count VIII, Violation of Minn. Stat. § 325D.52, Attempted Monopolization; and Count IX, Violation of Minn. Stat. § 325D.52, Exclusive Dealing.
A. Prior Litigation
In 2004, Insignia filed an antitrust suit in this District against News. (Insignia I, Case No. 04-cv-4213.) In that action, Insignia also alleged that News had acquired and maintained dominance in the above markets through various wrongful acts, such as entering into exclusive contracts with retailers, and brought a number of antitrust claims against News under state and federal law. (Id.)
On February 9, 2011, after the first day of trial, the parties entered into a Settlement Agreement. (Wind Decl. Ex. 1.) The terms of the Settlement Agreement include that News would pay Insignia $121 million, the parties would enter into an exclusive ten-year sales agreement by which News agreed to provide Insignia with the exclusive right to sell price signs into News's retail network, News would not seek to enforce any right of first refusal and/or right of last refusal contained in any of its then current agreements with retailers, and the parties mutually agreed to not do or say anything which falsely disparages the other party to others. (Id. ¶¶ 1-4.) The Settlement Agreement also provides that Insignia "releases, remises, acquits, and forever discharges [the other] . . . from any and all manner of actions and causes of action, suits, debts, obligations, contracts, torts, covenants, claims, rights of contribution and/or indemnification, rights of subrogation, sums of money, judgments, executions, liabilities, damages, interest, costs, expenses, attorneys' fees and legal costs, demands and rights whatsoever, contingent or noncontingent, in law or in equity, known or unknown, of any kind or character, from the beginning of time up to the date of this Agreement (collectively, the "Released Matters")." (Id. ¶ 9.) This provision also includes a covenant not to sue by which Insignia agreed "not to sue, attempt to introduce as evidence, or otherwise assert any of the Released Matters and/or the underlying facts or conduct supporting the Released Matters against the Defendant or the Defendant Released Parties in any court, government or regulatory body or other proceedings." (Id.)
B. Present Action
In response to the Complaint filed in this action, News filed an Answer and asserted a counterclaim of breach of contract against Insignia. (Doc. No. 19.) News claims that Insignia has materially breached the Settlement Agreement by asserting in its Complaint allegations that were released under the Settlement Agreement. (Id. at 38.)
News previously moved for judgment on the pleadings on its counterclaim of breach of contract, which motion was referred to the Magistrate Judge. In her Report and Recommendation, the Magistrate Judge recommended denial of the motion because to determine whether certain facts or conduct included in the Complaint were underlying facts or conduct released in the Settlement Agreement, "would take the Court well beyond the confines of the pleadings." ([Doc. No. 110] R&R at 7-8.) The Magistrate Judge recommended a period of expedited discovery on the contract dispute, followed by cross motions for partial summary judgment. (Id. at 11.) This Court adopted the R&R and expedited discovery followed. ([Doc. No. 120] Order dated April 6, 2020.)
At this time, News moves for summary judgment on its counterclaim of breach of contract. Insignia has filed a cross motion for partial summary judgment on the counterclaim.
II. Standard for Summary Judgment
Summary judgment is appropriate if, viewing all facts in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact, and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a); Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322-23 (1986). The party seeking summary judgment bears the burden of showing that there is no disputed issue of material fact. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323. "A dispute is genuine if the evidence is such that it could cause a reasonable jury to return a verdict for either party; a fact is material if its resolution affects the outcome of the case." Amini v. City of Minneapolis, 643 F.3d 1068, 1074 (8th Cir. 2011) (citing Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 252 (1986)). The party opposing summary judgment may not rest upon mere allegations or denials but must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. Krenik v. County of Le Sueur, 47 F.3d 953, 957 (8th Cir. 1995).
III. Discussion
A. Whether the Covenant Not to Sue Is Ambiguous
"The district court has the inherent power to enforce a settlement agreement when the terms are unambiguous." Barry v. Barry, 172 F.3d 1011, 1013 (8th Cir. 1999). As this is a diversity case, the Settlement Agreement must be construed pursuant to Minnesota law. Id. When construing a contract under Minnesota law, the Court is to determine and enforce the intent of the parties, and where the intent of the parties is unambiguously expressed, "[t]he language found in a contract is to be given its plain and ordinary meaning." In re ResCap Liquidating Trust Litigation, 428 F. Supp. 3d 53, 77 (D. Minn. 2019) (quoting Turner v. Alpha Phi Sorority House, 276 N.W.2d 63, 67 (Minn. 1979)). "A contract is ambiguous if, based on the language alone, it is reasonably susceptible of more than one interpretation." Art Goebel, Inc. v. North Suburban Agencies, Inc., 567 N.W.2d 511, 515 (Minn. 1997). Whether a contract is ambiguous is a question of law and "depends, not upon the words or phrases read in isolation, but rather upon the meaning assigned to the words or phrases in accordance with the apparent purpose of the contract as a whole." Id.
News asserts that Paragraph 9 of the Settlement Agreement unambiguously prohibits any attempt to assert or introduce into evidence pre-release underlying facts and conduct that supported those claims defined as "Released Matters" when asserting a new claim in this case.
The Settlement Agreement defines in broad terms the matters that were being released, including "any and all manner of actions and causes of action, suits, debts, obligations, contracts, torts, covenants, claims" in "law or in equity, known or unknown, of any kind or character, from the beginning of time up to the date of this Agreement." (Wind Decl., Ex. 1 at ¶ 9.) Insignia further agreed to the following:
Each of Plaintiff and the Plaintiff Released parties further promises, covenants and agrees not to sue, attempt to introduce as evidence, or otherwise assert any of the Released Matters and/or the underlying facts or conduct supporting the Released Matters against the Defendant or the Defendant Released Parties in any court, governmental or regulatory body or other proceedings.(Id.)
News asserts this covenant has two parts. First, it reaffirms that Insignia cannot sue and pursue the claims that were the subject of Insignia I and other "Released Matters." Second, the provision bars Insignia in any post-settlement litigation or proceeding from "attempt[ing] to introduce into evidence, or otherwise assert[ing] any of the . . . underlying facts or conduct supporting the Released Matters . . ." (Id.) Insignia is therefore barred from proving its current claims on facts or conduct that supported the Released Matters.
Insignia offers a different interpretation of the covenant not to sue. It argues the covenant only prevents it from asserting facts or conduct "supporting the Released Matters." By using the present participle of "supporting"- a breach of the covenant would involve only those facts or conduct that "presently" support the Released Matter. Insignia argues that News's interpretation would effectively re-write this provision to preclude Insignia from asserting any facts or conduct that "concerned" or "related to" the Released Matters, even though the provision was written to address only those facts and conduct "supporting" and "underlying" Release Matters.
Further, Insignia argues that News's interpretation renders superfluous the provision's use of "underlying" and "supporting." To avoid rendering either term superfluous, any breach would require the assertion of facts both "underlying" and "supporting" the Released Matters. As applied here, the inclusion of pre-2011 facts and conduct might be said to underlie Released Matters, but the inclusion of such facts and conduct in the current Complaint seeking to remedy post-settlement antitrust violations do not also support the Released Matters.
The Court rejects Insignia's interpretation that by using the participle "supporting" the parties meant the covenant not to sue applied exclusively to the claims that had already been extinguished. Instead, the Court finds the language is clear that the phrase - "any of the . . . underlying facts or conduct supporting the Released Matters" - serves to identify the facts and conduct that could not be recycled in a future case, not to limit the covenant's application to a case that was already over. The covenant not to sue is forward-looking, which was made clear by the language that it applied in "any court." The Court finds Insignia's interpretation is not reasonable because it would render the covenant not to sue meaningless.
B. Whether the Covenant Not to Sue Is Enforceable
Insignia argues that as a matter of law, News has no actionable breach of contract claim to assert. It argues that courts have rejected breach of contract counterclaims similar to the claim News has asserted in this case. See Bukuras v. Mueller Group, LLC, 592 F.3d 255, 267 (1st Cir. 2010) (rejecting defendant's attempt to bring an independent claim for breach of release provision in severance agreement in order to recoup the costs of defending itself in litigation, because waivers and releases are usually affirmative defenses on which the employer bears the burden); see also, Karnes v. Quality Pork Processors, 532 N.W.2d 560, 563 (Minn. 1995) ("A release is an affirmative defense to a cause of action, and the validity of a release is a matter for the trial court.").
Insignia further argues that covenants not to sue primarily serve as a shield, rather than a sword, and that "sufficient effect is given the usual covenant not to sue if, in addition to its service as a defense, it is read as imposing liability only for suits brought in obvious breach or otherwise in bad faith." Artvale, Inc. v. Rugby Fabrics Corp., 363 F.2d 1002, 1008 (2d Cir. 1966); see also Growblox Scis., Inc. v. GCM Admin. Servs., LLC, 14-cv-2280, 2016 WL 1718388, at *5-7 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 29, 2016).
The Court finds that the cases Insignia relies on concern counterclaims founded on releases rather than covenants not to sue. See Bukuras, 592 F.3d at 266; Karnes, 532 N.W.2d at 562-63; Kunza v. St. Mary's Regional Health Cir., 747 N.W.2d 586, 591 (Minn. Ct. App. 2008). As explained in Kunza, "a release and a covenant not to sue are differing types of instruments with different legal consequences." 747 N.W.2d at 591.
A release has been defined as a relinquishment, concession, or giving up of a right, claim, or privilege, by the person in whom it exists, to the person against whom it might have been enforced. A release may, dependent upon its terms, have the effect of extinguishing a right of action, and if so, it may be pleaded as a defense to any suit on the action. However, it is a well-established rule that a covenant not to sue does not constitute a satisfaction but merely an agreement not to enforce an existing cause of action against the party to the agreement . . .Id. A covenant not to sue is an affirmative undertaking, that is capable of breach just as with any contract, therefore News's counterclaim is an actionable claim for breach of the Settlement Agreement. See e.g., Lansing v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 894 F.3d 967, 972 (8th Cir. 2018) (affirming district court's grant of judgment on the pleadings based on enforceable settlement agreement that contained a covenant not to sue); Pinnacle Pizza Co., Inc. v. Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc., 598 F.3d 970, 981-82 (8th Cir. 2010) (affirming the district court's grant of summary judgment on a counterclaim that asserted breach of a mutually agreed upon covenant not to sue in a franchise agreement).
Insignia further argues that if the Settlement Agreement is enforced, it will not be able to make basic foundational points, and the jury would then operate behind a veil of ignorance. The Court finds, however, that the covenant not to sue does not bar general background information, it only bars Insignia from asserting underlying facts or conduct that supported the Released Matters to prove its current claims.
Insignia further argues that News had previously attempted to exclude pre-settlement agreement conduct in other litigation and was unsuccessful. The Court finds, however, that cases cited for this argument, Insignia I and Valassis II, are distinguishable.
The 2002 Settlement Agreement at issue in Insignia I only involved a release from claims; it did not include a covenant not to sue. (Civil No. 04-4213 [Doc. No. 833] (Order dated February 4, 2011 at 2).)
Insignia further argues that in Insignia I, Judge Tunheim denied News's attempt to exclude all pre-2002 settlement conduct at trial. While Judge Tunheim did deny News's motion to exclude, he nonetheless held "to prevent abuse of this ruling, the Court may require the parties, when introducing evidence that came into existence prior to the date of the Release, to demonstrate how it is not related to the claims asserted in the prior litigation, but is related to the instant litigation." (Id. at 4.)
The 2010 Settlement Agreement at issue in the Valassis II did include a covenant not to sue which barred "Claims or allegations made, or which could have been made, by Plaintiff in the Litigation." ([Doc. No. 223] Moen Decl., Ex. 12 at ¶ 6.) By its terms, that covenant did not include language that barred the assertion of facts and conduct underlying the released claims in future proceedings, as does the covenant at issue here.
Insignia also cites to two decisions in the Valassis II litigation to argue any pre-settlement facts and conduct are admissible as background information. (Ex. 11 (2019 Order Denying News's Motion for Summary Judgment at 4 n.2); Ex. 13 (2019 Valassis Hearing Tr. at 41).) Contrary to Insignia's arguments, however, the court made clear there was room for pre-settlement evidence as background information only, not that the current claims could be based on pre-settlement conduct. (Id.)
Finally, the Court finds that public policy is not served by judicial override of the unambiguous language in the Settlement Agreement that ended seven years of litigation in Insignia I. Instead, public policy favors settlement and compromise of litigation. United States v. Pfizer Inc., 560 F.2d 319, 322-23 (8th Cir. 1977); Keller v. Wolf, 58 N.W.2d 891, 894 (Minn. 1953).
C. Allegations at Issue
News argues that the allegations in the Insignia I complaint are similar to those in the Complaint filed in this action. In addition to the same claims of monopolization and vertical restraints such as exclusivity, Insignia relied on the same testimony it had marshaled in the prior case, with one difference: except for the allegations dated 2018-19, the allegations in the Complaint are not dated at all. News argues that one familiar with the prior action would recognize that the Complaint here is rooted in facts and conduct that predated and were underlying the claims released in the Settlement Agreement. For example, in paragraph 3 of the Complaint, Insignia alleges "News frankly and repeatedly acknowledged that it has sought to build contractual barriers to make it unlawfully difficult for competitors to compete," and asserts various undated quotes and testimony to demonstrate these "frank" and "repeated acknowledgements." News asserts that this same "evidence" was quoted in the Complaint filed in Dial Corp. v. News Corp., Case No. 1:13-cv-6802 (S.D.N.Y.). The same counsel that represents Insignia in this case represented the Dial plaintiffs, and significantly, dates were not deleted in the Dial case because the Dial plaintiff was not bound by the 2011 Settlement Agreement.
Following the completion of expedited discovery, News asserts it is clear that the allegations of an anticompetitive scheme asserted in this case rests on facts and conduct underlying the Released Matters.
1. Acknowledgements by News Executives
The Complaint pleads five acknowledgements by executives that its contracting practices were part of an anticompetitive scheme.
In paragraph 3, Insignia alleges that the unlawful scheme behind the contracting practices is visible in the undated assertion that "a former News America Marketing, Inc. chairman . . . vowed to 'destroy' News's competitors." Insignia now admits it relied on that statement in 2009 to support its claims in the prior action. (Wind Decl., Ex. 15 (Insignia's Amended Responses to Requests for Admission at 2-3).) In addition, Insignia's current lead counsel's firm represented the plaintiffs in Dial and relied on the Dial Complaint in drafting the Complaint at issue here. (Id. Ex. 15 (Plaintiff's First Amended Objections and Responses to Defendants' First Set of Requests for Admission at 2-4), Ex. 17 (Plaintiff's Responses and Objections to Defendants' First Set of Interrogatories at 6-7, 12, 17-22, 24, 26-29, 31, 33-34).) Insignia's lawyers now concede that in Dial they quoted the same alleged statement of anticompetitive purpose asserted in paragraph 3 and attributed the statement to a trade article published in 2004, which reported the statement was made in 1999. (Id. Ex. 6 (Glancy Dep. at 32-33); Ex. 15 (Plaintiff's First Amended Objections and Responses to Defendants' First Set of Requests for Admission at 2).)
In support of the claim that News developed an exclusive, national network of retail chains in order to control a large percentage of the ISP's and to forestall competition, Insignia cites to a statement by a former News account manager that "100 percent of his retail accounts in the southeast United States had exclusivity clauses." (Comp. ¶ 31.) As Insignia now admits, that account manager's testimony was cited on Insignia's trial exhibit list in the prior action. (Id. Ex. 15 (Plaintiff's First Amended Objections and Responses to Defendants' First Set of Requests for Admission at 3).) Insignia has also admitted that its counsel cited the source and 2009 date of the testimony in the Dial action. (Id. Ex. 15 (Plaintiff's First Amended Objections and Responses to Defendants' First Set of Requests for Admission at 3); Ex. 16 (Amended Complaint in The Dial Corporation v. News Corporation, et al., No. 1:1-cv-6802-WHP (E.D. Mich. April 8, 2014 at ¶ 76).) Insignia's corporate designee concedes that Insignia has no source for paragraph 31 other than the testimony from 2009, which was marshaled by Insignia in support of its claims in the prior action. (Id. Ex. 6 (Glancy Dep. at 89-90).)
To demonstrate that the broad language in News's exclusivity provisions is part of an anticompetitive scheme, Insignia attributes another undated statement to a former News COO: "the aggressive tactic" of broad exclusivity language should be deployed and "if there was any one who was a bed-wetting liberal [and] concerned about doing the right thing, they should exit the company." (Comp. ¶ 35.) Insignia now admits that same testimony was cited in Insignia's brief opposing summary judgment in the prior action. (Id. Ex. 18 (Insignia Memo. In Opp. To Summary Judgment at 33-34 (attributing "bed-wetting" statement to Mr. Carlucci from the spring of 2001)).) Further, in the Dial action, Insignia's counsel was specific about the sourcing of the statement. (Id. Ex. 16 (Dial Comp. at ¶¶ 82-83).) Finally, Insignia's corporate designee testified to no basis for this statement other than the one made in 2001. (Id. Ex. 6 (Glancy Dep. at 105-06).)
Paragraphs 42 and 43 refer to statements attributed to News executive Martin Garofalo, allegedly acknowledging the anticompetitive purpose and effect of staggering contract dates. The paragraphs do not contain dates, but the dates of these statements were included in its brief in opposition to summary judgment in the prior action. (Id. Ex. 18 at 12-13 (citing to Garofalo speaking notes from July 2002).) Insignia's corporate designee conceded that Insignia had no source for these statements other than those referred to in the prior action. (Id. Ex. 6 (Glancy Dep. at 125-26, 131, and 144).)
2. Market Power and Exclusionary Contracting Practices
a. Unlawful Acquisition of Market Power: Paragraphs 2, 5, 24-25.
In the Complaint, Insignia alleges that News acquired and maintained a monopoly for over a decade. The reference to "over a decade" necessarily includes pre-2011 conduct and Insignia similarly alleged in Insignia I that News's exclusionary contracts with retailers and CPGs created News's unlawful market dominance. (Id. Ex. 7 (Insignia I Complaint at ¶ 2).) Insignia's corporate designee confirmed that the allegations contained in paragraph 5 of the Complaint assert conduct that preceded the 2011 Settlement Agreement. (Id. Ex. 6 (Glancy Dep. at 34, 37-38).)
Paragraphs 24 and 25 allege that News has unlawfully acquired and maintained market power in the relevant market by virtue of exclusionary contracts and related uncompetitive conduct. In Insignia I, Insignia claimed that News had already acquired its monopoly position through exclusionary contracts. (Id. Ex. 7 (Insignia I, at ¶¶ 20-22, 56, 116).) Insignia's corporate designee confirmed that Insignia's position is that News unlawfully acquired market power before 2011. (Id. Ex. 6 (Glancy Dep. at 64).)
News asserts that while Insignia is free to plead claims that News unlawfully acquired or maintained a monopoly after 2011, that is not what Insignia has done.
b. Impact on Market Conditions: Paragraphs 9, 27-30.
News asserts it is undisputed that in-store marketers must negotiate with retailers and pay for the real estate for the ability to provide in-store services to CPGs, that potential competitors must make investments in developing ISP offerings and entering into retail distribution contracts before it can generate revenue and that News has built the largest retail network. Insignia does not allege that News's payments to build its retail network are illegal, or that it is illegal if Insignia is outbid. Insignia nevertheless alleges that News's network of retailers locks competitors out of a large share of the distribution they need to compete. News asserts this allegation is not new, as Insignia raised it in 2005. (Wind Decl., Ex. 7 (Insignia I at ¶ 53).) Insignia's claim that News has a stranglehold on the retailer distribution network is not new either, as the same allegation was made in 2005. (Id. at ¶ 20.) While Insignia may plead and prove unlawful acts based on facts and conduct after February 9, 2011 - the date of the Settlement Agreement - Insignia has not done so with respect to these allegations.
c. Broad Exclusivity Provisions: Paragraphs 6, 33-35.
Insignia further alleges in paragraphs 6, 33 and 34 that News's exclusionary contracts contain a number of anti-competitive provisions. The allegations involving exclusionary contracts are "explained" in paragraph 35, which includes reference to an undated quote from News's COO. Insignia's corporate designee confirmed this refers to a statement made in 2001. (Id. Ex. 6 (Glancy Dep. at 99-101).)
d. Staggered Renewal Dates for Retail Contracts: Paragraphs 41-44.
Insignia alleges that News staggered expiration terms of its retail contracts in order to erect barriers to entry for rivals. (Comp. ¶ 41.) This allegation and the facts upon which it was based were asserted in Insignia I in opposition to News's motion for summary judgment. (Wind Decl., Ex. 18 (Mem. of Law in Opp. To S.J. at 12-13, 47).) The allegations in paragraphs 41 and 44 are based on statements made in 2002. (See Comp ¶¶ 42-43; Wind Decl., Ex. 6 (Glancy Dep. at 135).)
e. Right of First Refusal Provisions: Paragraphs 7, 36 and 38.
Insignia further alleges that News's right of first refusal provisions have effectively afforded News exclusivity and have eliminated bargaining. (Comp. at ¶¶ 7, 36 and 38.) News argues that these allegations appear to be rooted in pre-2011 conduct. In 2005, Insignia alleged that News insisted on the contractual right of first refusal, and the Settlement Agreement expressly forbade the parties from enforcing rights of first refusal and provided a remedial scheme in the event of such a breach. (Wind Decl., Ex. 1 (Settlement Agreement at ¶¶ 3 and 7).) Insignia's corporate designee conceded that it never availed itself of the right to seek relief for any breach in the years after the Settlement Agreement was entered into. (Wind Decl., Ex. 6 (Glancy Dep. at 182).) When asked for post-2011 examples of such breaches, the designee could cite to only what was characterized as something similar to a right of first refusal. (Id. at 118-120.) The designee further testified that she has never seen a right of first refusal in one of News's contracts post-2011 and no one at Insignia informed her that News had enforced a right of first refusal. (Id. at 167-68.)
f. Long Term Contracts with Automatic Rollovers: Paragraph 40.
Insignia alleges that News employs automatic rollovers to make contracts effectively long term. (Comp. ¶ 40.) This allegation was made in 2005, and there is no mention of such conduct continuing after 2011, other than speculation. (See Wind Decl., Ex. 6 (Glancy Dep. at 122 (conceding that she had no information a particular contract was extended through an automatic rollover or whether the retailer simply chose to negotiate a series of extensions).)
D. Whether Allegations Breach Settlement Agreement
The primary claim against News in this action is that News violated the antitrust laws by monopolizing the in-store promotions market through pervasive anticompetitive strategies including exclusionary agreements as well as other illegal conduct. (Comp. ¶ at 1 and 2.) Vertical restraints such as exclusivity, right of first refusal and other non-price restraints between a service provider and a retailer are not prohibited by law; they are governed by the Rule of Reason. See Continental T.V., Inc. v. GTE Sylvania, Inc., 433 U.S. 36, 57-59 (1977); Business Electronics Corp. v. Sharp Electronics Corp., 485 U.S. 717, 735-36 (1988); see also Double D Spotting Serv., Inc v. Supervalu, Inc., 136 F.3d 554, 559 (8th Cir. 1998) ("Vertical nonprice restrictions are governed by the rule of reason and are not per se violations, because they 'promote interbrand competition by allowing the manufacturer to achieve certain efficiencies in the distribution of his products.'")
News argues that because the vertical restraints used by News are not per se illegal, Insignia must allege that News's contracting practices be viewed as part of an admitted anticompetitive scheme to injure competition itself and that News has already admitted the scheme as alleged in paragraph 3 of the Complaint.
The Court finds that News has demonstrated that Insignia had asserted the same contracting practices at issue in Insignia I and alleges in this case some of the same evidence that it marshaled in Insignia I and that its lawyers deployed, and dated, in the Dial case. In this case, however, Insignia has opted to exclude from those allegations the relevant dates. As the record demonstrates and Insignia has admitted, the "acknowledgements" of an anticompetitive scheme found in paragraphs 3, 31, 35, 42 and 43 of the Complaint all rest exclusively on pre-2011 facts and conduct. As a result, the inclusion of such allegations represent a breach of the Settlement Agreement.
Also, as Insignia admits, the pre-2011 allegations are crucial to proving the current claims. (Wind Decl., Ex. 3 (Tr. Jan. 14, 2020 Hr'g on cross motions for judgment on the pleadings at 73).) A case built on vertical restraints in retail contracts leading to lost business is not going to succeed without the critical pleading and proof that these contractual terms have been deployed as part of a scheme to injure competition. See Atlantic Richfield Co. v. USA Petroleum Co., 495 U.S. 328, 338 (1990) ("The antitrust laws were enacted for 'the protection of competition, not competitors.'"). News has demonstrated that the pre-2011 facts and conduct are not mere context; they serve a critical role in creating the appearance of an antitrust case arising out of lawful business practices.
Based on the record, files and proceedings herein, the submissions of the parties, and its review of the allegations set forth in the Complaint, the Court finds that News has demonstrated that Insignia has breached Paragraph 9 of the Settlement Agreement by alleging facts and conduct underlying and supporting the Released Matters as part of their claims of anticompetitive conduct for post-2011 claims.
Insignia argues that News has not demonstrated that it has suffered any harm as a result of the breach. The Court disagrees. News has sufficiently demonstrated that its litigation costs have increased as a result of the breach, and that the scope of this lawsuit will change significantly once the covenant not to sue is enforced.
E. Whether Dismissal of Complaint Is Appropriate.
News asks that if the Court grants its motion for summary judgment on its counterclaim, the proper remedy is dismissal of the complaint that embodied the breach without prejudice to Insignia's ability to re-plead consistent with Rule 11.
The Court finds the appropriate remedy in this case is to strike those allegations that are clearly based on pre-2011 settlement conduct. In some instances, however, the record is not yet clear that all of the allegations identified by News in its current motion are based solely or substantially on pre-2011 settlement facts and conduct underlying the Released Matters. Whether or not Insignia is able to prove, for example, that News employed overly broad exclusivity language in their contracts as part of an anticompetitive scheme based on post-2011 facts and conduct is best addressed at summary judgment once discovery is closed. Accordingly, the Court will order Insignia to file an Amended Complaint within seven days from the date of this Order, striking those allegations identified below.
News also asks that the Court order Insignia to reimburse News for the fees they have already incurred in enforcing paragraph 9 of the Settlement Agreement. See 3M Innovative Props. Co. v. Barton Nelson, Inc., Civ. No. 02-3591, 2004 WL 1278672 (D. Minn. June 6, 2004) (finding attorneys' fees and costs were the measure of damages for breach of covenant not to sue, but that fact issues remained as to whether parties intended for attorneys' fees to be a recoverable measure of damages).
Pursuant to the American Rule "absent statute or enforceable contract, litigants pay their own attorneys' fees." Alyeska Pipeline Serv. Co. v. Wilderness Society, 421 U.S. 240, 257 (1975). Minnesota law similarly provides that attorneys' fees and costs are not recoverable in litigation unless there is a specific contract permitting them or a statute authorizing such recovery. Ly v. Nystrom, 615 N.W.2d 302, 314 (Minn. 2000) (citations omitted). Here, the Settlement Agreement does not explicitly provide for such damages in the event of a breach.
Minnesota does recognize exceptions to the American Rule, such as the third-party litigation exception. Kallok v. Medtronic, Inc., 573 N.W.2d 356, 363 (Minn. 1998). Other courts have taken different approaches to the issue of whether attorneys' fees are recoverable as damages in cases involving a breach of a covenant not to sue. See Pinnacle Pizza Co., Inc. v. Little Caesar Enters., 04-4170, 2008 WL 11505713 at *4 (D. S.D. Dec. 3, 2008). In one line of cases, courts have found attorneys' fees are recoverable for an action filed in a breach of a covenant not to sue. Id. (citing Anchor Motor Freight, Inc. v. Int'l Brotherhood of Teamsters Local Union No. 377, 700 F.2d 1067, 1072 (6th Cir. 1983)). Another line of cases recognizes an exception to the American Rule if the breach is obvious or made in bad faith, id. (citing Artvale, 363 F.2d 1002, 1008), while other courts have declined to award attorneys' fees as damages for a breach of covenant not to sue, id. (citing cases).
Regardless, the Court finds that News's request for attorneys' fees and costs is premature. As in the 3M Innovative Props. Co. case, News's claim for attorneys' fees and costs is the alleged measure of damages for Insignia's breach of the covenant not to sue, yet there are fact questions as to whether the parties contemplated the recovery of such damages when they entered into the Settlement Agreement and whether Insignia breached the covenant not to sue in bad faith.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:
1. Defendants Motion for Summary Judgment on the Counterclaim [Doc. No. 193] is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part as set forth in this Memorandum Opinion and Order. Within seven (7) days from the date of this Order, Plaintiff shall file an Amended Complaint with the following allegations stricken:
a. Paragraph 2, "For over a decade";
b. Paragraph 3, the last sentence;
c. Paragraph 5, "In the intervening decade since the antitrust litigation began";
d. Paragraph 31, the last sentence;
e. Paragraphs 35, 42, 43, in their entirety; and
f. Paragraph 40, the last sentence.
Date: December 7, 2020
2. Plaintiff's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment [Doc. No. 201] is DENIED.
s/ Michael J. Davis
Michael J. Davis
United States District Court