Chicago Seating Co. v. S. Karpen & Bros.
| Decision Date | 22 November 1949 |
| Docket Number | No. 9871.,9871. |
| Citation | 177 F.2d 863 |
| Parties | CHICAGO SEATING CO. v. S. KARPEN & BROS. |
| Court | U.S. Court of Appeals — Seventh Circuit |
Byron M. Getzoff, Chicago, Ill., for appellant.
Horace Dawson, George E. Frost, Chicago, Ill., for appellee.
Before KERNER, FINNEGAN and LINDLEY, Circuit Judges.
By this appeal it is sought to reverse an order of the District Court which dismissed, on defendant's motion, an amended complaint seeking treble damages for violation of section 2(e) of the Clayton Act as amended by the Robinson-Patman Act, 15 U.S.C.A. § 13(e). Both appellant, Chicago Seating Company, and defendant-appellee, S. Karpen and Bros., are Illinois corporations.
The amended complaint alleged in paragraph one that both plaintiff and defendant are engaged in interstate commerce and that jurisdiction arises under the provisions of section 4 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C.A. § 15. It is then averred that the defendant is engaged in the business of manufacturing upholstered furniture and that its products are nationally known and distributed.
Paragraph 3 charges that the defendant has engaged in a program of negotiating with certain public institutions in order that such institutions, in their building programs as well as in their solicitation of bids for furnishing their buildings, will specify that only certain specially designed items manufactured by it can be used in meeting the specifications of the said public bids; that such specially designed items are not included in defendant's regular price lists or catalogue, and that as a practical matter such conduct of the defendant excluded the substitution for "such specially designed items" of like items made by other manufacturers.
The complaint then alleges that the plaintiff has, since 1929, been engaged in interstate commerce in the business of furnishing hotels, schools, and other public institutions with furniture and similar accessories; that it has been and continues to be a purchaser of defendant's products. It charges that subsequently to acts of discrimination, alleged to be thereafter set forth in the complaint, it did, on December 15, 1948, order from defendant, and that on said date defendant did accept its orders for furniture manufactured by the defendant.
In paragraph 5 of the complaint section 2(e) of the Clayton Act is set out, and it is averred that since November 23, 1948 the defendant has been discriminating against the plaintiff and in favor of certain of its purchasers for certain of its products (Emphasis supplied throughout.)
In paragraph 6 of the complaint it is charged that on November 20, 1948, the defendant in collusion with the University of Oklahoma advertised and solicited bids for the furnishing of its buildings, and that said bids specified certain specially designed units that were to be manufactured by S. Karpen & Bros., that the defendant made prices available to certain of its purchasers; that on or before November 24, 1948, the plaintiff requested the same facilities offered to its competitors; that the defendant advised the plaintiff that, while it would continue to sell plaintiff its regular line of merchandise, it would refrain from furnishing the plaintiff with said prices in order to eliminate the plaintiff from competition; that it would not permit the plaintiff to purchase for resale special products designed for public institutions. It is alleged that as a direct result and consequence of the alleged discrimination against the plaintiff in refusing to furnish the same service and facilities, to-wit the "prices of the certain special items and privileges of purchasing the same to the plaintiff for the defendant's specially designed products specified in the said bid," the plaintiff was unable to compete with its competitors and was thereby deprived of large profits which it otherwise would have made.
The complaint in paragraph 7 alleges that on August 27, 1948, the University of Illinois solicited bids for the furnishing of its buildings; that Karpen specially designed products were specified. It is alleged that, at that time, the defendant did furnish the plaintiff with prices and the privilege of purchasing said items; that as a consequence the plaintiff was awarded the contract by the University of Illinois.
Paragraph 7 alleges that on about December 6, 1948, the University of Illinois solicited from plaintiff and its competitors bids on additional furnishings which included specially designed Karpen products; that on December 8, 1948 and again on December 10, 1948, plaintiff requested that the defendant furnish it price lists and the privilege of purchase on additional Karpen items; that the defendant refused to quote prices or sell the plaintiff; that as a result and consequence thereof the plaintiff was prevented from bidding and its competitors who received the benefit of such services from the defendant did bid and one of them secured the contract; that plaintiff was thereby deprived of large profits which it would otherwise have made; that plaintiff is in danger of losing future business and to have its standing in the field of public institutions contracts impaired.
Paragraph 9 alleged that plaintiff has suffered actual damages in the sum of $25,000 and claims that by virtue of section 4 of the Clayton Act, as amended, it is entitled to treble damages. Wherefore it asks judgment.
Defendant moved to dismiss the amended complaint on three...
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