Clemente v. Greyhound Corp.

• Decision Date: 28 October 1959
• Citation: 52 Del. 223,155 A.2d 316,2 Storey 223
• Parties: , 52 Del. 223 Ariosto CLEMENTE et al., Plaintiffs, v. GREYHOUND CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, Defendant.
• Court: Delaware Superior Court

Page 316

155 A.2d 316

2 Storey 223, 52 Del. 223

Ariosto CLEMENTE et al., Plaintiffs, v. GREYHOUND CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, Defendant.

Superior Court of Delaware, New Castle County.

Oct. 28, 1959.

Ernest S. Wilson, Jr. (of Morford, Young & Conaway), Wilmington, and Joseph A. L. Errigo, Wilmington, for plaintiffs.

Henry R. Horsey (of Berl, Potter & Anderson), Wilmington, for defendant.

STIFTEL, Judge.

Motion to dismiss complaint pursuant to Superior Court Rule 12(b)(6), Del.C.Ann.

The ground for the motion is that the complaint fails to state a claim for declaratory judgment for the following reasons: (1) that the complaint fails to plead a controversy within the meaning of the declaratory judgment statute (10 Del.Code § 6501); (2) that an adequate remedy exists at law; (3) that the complaint seeks judgment upon an oral contract and raises serious disputes as to questions of fact; (4) that the statute's purpose will not be served by declaratory judgment. Defendant also asks the Court to dismiss the complaint as to both corporate plaintiffs, claiming they are improper party plaintiffs.

On April 7, 1952, individual plaintiffs, as copartners, entered into a written contract with the Pennsylvania Greyhound Lines, Inc., now known as the Greyhound Corporation. The contract recited that the individual plaintiffs (hereinafter called 'Clemente') were to purchase land and a building, were to alter and expand said building in accordance with plans which were to be approved by Greyhound, for the purpose of furnishing rest, eating and sanitary facilities for the accommodation of the passengers, patrons and employees of Greyhound.

The contract further recited that it was the desire of the parties that certain buses of Greyhound would stop at Clemente's station in order to permit the passengers, patrons and employees of Greyhound to use these facilities.

Clemente agreed that the alterations would start 30 days after the execution of the agreement and that the facilities would be completed 150 days thereafter; and agreed to operate a modern, attractive lunch service and to provide properly cooked food for the primary accommodation of the passengers, patrons and employees of Greyhound, the prices and quantity of these foods to meet the approval of Greyhound.

Clemente was to give Greyhound preferential treatment in the accommodation of its passengers, patrons and employees, so that the buses could leave on scheduled times. At the same time, Greyhound was not to unreasonably interfere with the efforts of Clemente to obtain revenue from other sources.

Clemente further agreed to provide and maintain suitable and adequate driveway and parking space in accordance with the plans to be approved by Greyhound so that the buses could have free access to the station. Clemente also agreed to maintain sufficient toilet facilities to be approved by Greyhound.

Paragraph 6 of said agreement provided as follows:

'6. Clemente will operate the said building and the business conducted therein in a manner in all respects satisfactory to Greyhound, and at its own cost and expense keep and maintain the exterior and interior of the building in constant good order, repair and condition, and paint and repaint the same from time to time as same becomes necessary. Also Clemente will at all times keep the restaurant, lunch room, kitchen and toilet rooms and all facilities and fixtures therein thoroughly clean and sanitary; that Clemente will furnish an ample supply of hot and cold water in the toilet rooms, also soap, towels and toilet tissue. Further, Clemente shall provide the necessary heat and ventilation when required to keep the said restaurant, lunch room and toilet rooms in a comfortable condition, and will furnish the necessary electric current and lamps and keep the said premises properly lighted, all to the entire satisfaction of Greyhound.'

In Paragraph 7, Clemente agreed not to permit said station to be used by any bus line or bus lines which competed with Greyhound without the written consent of Greyhound and that they would not operate or establish, or aid or assist in the operation or establishment of any station to be used by any bus line other than Greyhound within a distance of 5 miles in each direction from the Greyhound station. Clemente was to carry insurance for any liability and such insurance and insurance company were to be approved by Greyhound.

This agreement was to remain in full force and effect for 10 years from the 15th day of July, 1952. The agreement could be terminated by either of the parties prior to the 15th day of July, 1962, for specified reasons set out in the contract.

By Paragraph 11, Clemente was forbidden to sell, assign or transfer the agreement or any rights and privileges thereunder without the written consent of Greyhound.

The written language of the contract recites the obligations of Clemente. Little or nothing is mentioned of any obligations of Greyhound under the contract.

The complaint, which incorporates the contract, alleges that the Clementes, as copartners, transacted their business operations under the contract with the defendant, through two corporations, namely, Clemente Cafeteria, Inc. and Clemente, Inc., which were entirely controlled by the Clementes.

The complaint also alleges that the contract was entered into in consideration of 'and upon the carrying out of certain promises and undertakings by, and upon the giving of certain assurances by Greyhound', namely, that if plaintiffs performed and fulfilled the terms and conditions of the contract and so long as Greyhound continued to operate on Routes 13 and 40, Greyhound would cause Greyhound passenger buses passing the station, with the exception of certain chartered buses, to stop at the station for a sufficient length of time to permit bus passengers to disembark and to buy food and use the facilities and services provided for them by the station. It is alleged further in the complaint that the written contract could not have been carried out so as to give effect to the purpose and intent of the parties without legal recognition being given to the promises of Greyhound as dependent covenants to the written contract.

Plaintiffs also contend that the promises, undertakings and assurances of Greyhound constitute: (1) Greyhound's express contractual obligations to plaintiffs; (2) Greyhound's contractual obligations to plaintiffs which are implied in fact; and (3) Greyhound's contractual obligations to plaintiffs which are implied in law.

Plaintiffs contend that they have an action in law against Greyhound based on the doctrine of promissory estoppel growing out of the performances of Clemente in relation to the contract and operation of the station on the assurances of defendant.

Clemente indicates willingness to continue in the performance of the contract and the fact that they have efficiently operated the station under the contract. Plaintiffs claim they are dependent on the patronage and business of Greyhound and that the entire facilities were provided, designed and operated for the use and service of the Greyhound passengers. The complaint states that Greyhound has made it impossible for its passengers to use the restaurant or other facilities in keeping with the purpose and intent of the parties, and plaintiffs have refused to make their services available to any other bus company competing with Greyhound in accordance with the terms of the contract allegedly forbidding this.

The complaint further alleges that beginning in December, 1957, Greyhound, without first obtaining consent of Clemente, eliminated the station as a stop for a large number of its scheduled passenger buses which travel along Routes 13 and 40, and further that it has made it impossible for a large group of passengers on stopping to use the eating facilities because of the arbitrary short stops made by Greyhound buses at the station.

Plaintiffs brought this action for declaratory judgment to determine (1) What are the rights and obligations of Greyhound in its contractual relationship with Clemente as to stopping, curtailing or limiting the stopping, or discontinuance of the stopping of its buses at the Clemente station, during the term of the contract, and during such time as Greyhound continues to use U. S. Route 13 and/or U. S. Route 40 as routes for its passenger buses?

(2) Whether there has been a total breach by Greyhound of its contractual relationship with plaintiffs, in that Greyhound's acts, as stated in this complaint, amount to an anticipatory repudiation of said contract by Greyhound.

Plaintiffs also reserve their right to petition the Court for damages for breach of contract or for specific performance of the contract made with defendant.

Defendant first argues that this Court has no jurisdiction to entertain this declaratory judgment action because the complaint fails to state an 'actual controversy' within the meaning of 10 Del.Code § 6501. ¹ The complaint fails to state an 'actual controversy', defendant says, because the 'actual controversy' has developed into 'actual injury', for which there is full redress to the plaintiffs in an action at law for breach of contract. Defendant contends that the purpose of the Legislature in passing the declaratory judgment act was to provide a remedy where no previous remedy existed and nothing more, and that the statute was not intended to go beyond ameliorating that situation. It claims that implicit in the jurisdictional requirements of a declaratory judgment action is a pleaded state of facts which would, but for the availability of relief by declaratory judgment, fail to state a claim for relief at law or in equity. Consequently, defendant argues, the 'actual controversy' requirement of the Delaware declaratory judgment act is not met where the dispute between the parties does not relate to future rights and duties which are not yet possessory and which have...