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Forester, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky, sitting by", "paragraph_id": "para_1" }, { "text": "designation.", "paragraph_id": "para_2" }, { "text": "RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION", "paragraph_id": "para_3" }, { "text": "Pursuant to Sixth Circuit Rule 206", "paragraph_id": "para_4" }, { "text": "File Name: 07a0147p.06", "paragraph_id": "para_5" }, { "text": "UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS", "paragraph_id": "para_6" }, { "text": "FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT", "paragraph_id": "para_7" }, { "text": "_________________", "paragraph_id": "para_8" }, { "text": "FREIGHTLINER OF KNOXVILLE, INC.; CARROLL", "paragraph_id": "para_9" }, { "text": "PROPERTIES, L.P.; and BUDDIE E. CARROLL,", "paragraph_id": "para_10" }, { "text": "Plaintiffs-Appellants,", "paragraph_id": "para_11" }, { "text": "v.", "paragraph_id": "para_12" }, { "text": "DAIMLERCHRYSLER VANS, LLC,", "paragraph_id": "para_13" }, { "text": "Defendant-Appellee,", "paragraph_id": "para_14" }, { "text": "FREIGHTLINER, LLC,", "paragraph_id": "para_15" }, { "text": "Defendant.", "paragraph_id": "para_16" }, { "text": "X---->", "paragraph_id": "para_17" }, { "text": ",-------", "paragraph_id": "para_18" }, { "text": "N", "paragraph_id": "para_19" }, { "text": "No. 06-6054", "paragraph_id": "para_20" }, { "text": "Appeal from the United States District Court", "paragraph_id": "para_21" }, { "text": "for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville.", "paragraph_id": "para_22" }, { "text": "No. 05-00339—Thomas Varlan, District Judge.", "paragraph_id": "para_23" }, { "text": "Submitted: April 19, 2007", "paragraph_id": "para_24" }, { "text": "Decided and Filed: April 26, 2007", "paragraph_id": "para_25" }, { "text": "Before: MERRITT and MARTIN, Circuit Judges; FORESTER, District Judge.*", "paragraph_id": "para_26" }, { "text": "_________________", "paragraph_id": "para_27" }, { "text": "COUNSEL", "paragraph_id": "para_28" }, { "text": "ON BRIEF: Robert S. Stone, Jr., Katherine M. Hamilton, YOUNG, WILLIAMS, KIRK &", "paragraph_id": "para_29" }, { "text": "STONE, Knoxville, Tennessee, for Appellants. George W. Mykulak, Boston, Massachusetts, for", "paragraph_id": "para_30" }, { "text": "Appellee.", "paragraph_id": "para_31" }, { "text": "_________________", "paragraph_id": "para_32" }, { "text": "OPINION", "paragraph_id": "para_33" }, { "text": "_________________", "paragraph_id": "para_34" }, { "text": "BOYCE F. MARTIN, JR., Circuit Judge. Plaintiffs appeal from the district court’s dismissal", "paragraph_id": "para_35" }, { "text": "of their claims under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). For the reasons outlined below, we AFFIRM in part", "paragraph_id": "para_36" }, { "text": "and REVERSE in part.", "paragraph_id": "para_37" }, { "text": "1", "paragraph_id": "para_38" }, { "text": "No. 06-6054 Freightliner of Knoxville, Inc., et al. v.", "paragraph_id": "para_39", "court_paragraph": 1 }, { "text": "DaimlerChrysler Vans, LLC", "paragraph_id": "para_40" }, { "text": "Page 2", "paragraph_id": "para_41" }, { "text": "1Dodge is yet another subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler, AG.", "paragraph_id": "para_42" }, { "text": "I", "paragraph_id": "para_43" }, { "text": "Plaintiff-Appellant Freightliner of Knoxville, Inc. (“FOK”) is a Tennessee corporation", "paragraph_id": "para_44" }, { "text": "authorized to sell and service the Freightliner brand of medium- and heavy-duty trucks. Plaintiff-", "paragraph_id": "para_45" }, { "text": "Appellant Carroll Properties, L.P. is a Tennessee partnership that built and leased the FOK facility", "paragraph_id": "para_46" }, { "text": "to Plaintiff-Appellant Buddie E. Carroll. Carroll, a Tennessee resident who is the sole shareholder", "paragraph_id": "para_47" }, { "text": "of FOK and its president, then leased the facility to FOK.", "paragraph_id": "para_48" }, { "text": "Defendant-Appellee DaimlerChrysler Vans, LLC (“DC Vans”) is a Delaware company", "paragraph_id": "para_49" }, { "text": "wholly owned by DaimlerChrysler, AG. DC Vans distributes a line of commercial vans known as", "paragraph_id": "para_50" }, { "text": "the “Sprinter.” Defendant Freightliner, LLC (“FLLC”) is a Delaware company also wholly owned", "paragraph_id": "para_51" }, { "text": "by the parent DaimlerChrysler, AG. FLLC manufactures vehicles marketed under the Freightliner", "paragraph_id": "para_52" }, { "text": "brand.", "paragraph_id": "para_53" }, { "text": "FOK alleges that in February 2000, the president of FLLC presented it and a select group", "paragraph_id": "para_54" }, { "text": "of Freightliner dealers with the opportunity to sell what was to be called the “Freightliner Sprinter,”", "paragraph_id": "para_55" }, { "text": "a medium-size commercial van which could also be customized for passengers. Although it was to", "paragraph_id": "para_56" }, { "text": "be marketed in the United States under the Freightliner brand, the Sprinter was virtually identical", "paragraph_id": "para_57" }, { "text": "to a van that had been sold in Europe for many years, with tremendous success, under the Mercedes-", "paragraph_id": "para_58" }, { "text": "Benz brand. FOK believed that if it became a Freightliner Sprinter franchisee, “it would be able to", "paragraph_id": "para_59" }, { "text": "sell a great deal of product for a long time.”", "paragraph_id": "para_60" }, { "text": "The catch, according to FOK, was that a dealer would only be selected to sell the Sprinter", "paragraph_id": "para_61" }, { "text": "if it were to upgrade its facility in a variety of ways, including (among other things): creation of a", "paragraph_id": "para_62" }, { "text": "separate showroom for Sprinter vans, so as to “segregate potential Sprinter corporate customers from", "paragraph_id": "para_63" }, { "text": "heavy-duty truck customers who frequent every Freightliner dealership for sales and service.” FOK", "paragraph_id": "para_64" }, { "text": "took the bait and accordingly changed the design plans for its planned Knoxville facility by adding", "paragraph_id": "para_65" }, { "text": "designated space for the Sprinter vans. FOK estimates that it paid $800,000 in “additional", "paragraph_id": "para_66" }, { "text": "construction costs” in order to build the new space. FOK was rewarded for its efforts: sometime", "paragraph_id": "para_67" }, { "text": "after May 2001 FLLC notified FOK that it had been approved for a Sprinter retail sales and service", "paragraph_id": "para_68" }, { "text": "agreement. At the same time, FLLC told FOK that DC Vans, and not FLLC, would be the", "paragraph_id": "para_69" }, { "text": "distributor of the Sprinter vans. This appears to have been a mere hiccup in the negotiations,", "paragraph_id": "para_70" }, { "text": "however, as on September 26, 2001, FOK entered into a dealer agreement with DC Vans for the sale", "paragraph_id": "para_71" }, { "text": "of Sprinters.", "paragraph_id": "para_72" }, { "text": "FOK alleges that regardless of who its distributor was (FLLC or DC Vans), it had always", "paragraph_id": "para_73" }, { "text": "operated under the unwritten assumption that the Sprinter vans would be distributed exclusively to", "paragraph_id": "para_74" }, { "text": "Freightliner dealers (such as FOK), and sold exclusively under the Freightliner brand. As FOK", "paragraph_id": "para_75" }, { "text": "states in its amended complaint, “DC Vans stepped seamlessly into the shoes of FLLC. It parroted", "paragraph_id": "para_76" }, { "text": "and confirmed the distinct impression of exclusivity fostered by FLLC’s representations.” This", "paragraph_id": "para_77" }, { "text": "assumption proved mistaken, however: sometime in 2002, FOK was informed that the Sprinter van", "paragraph_id": "para_78" }, { "text": "would also be sold through Dodge dealers under the Dodge brand, i.e., as a “Dodge Sprinter.”1 To", "paragraph_id": "para_79" }, { "text": "add insult to injury, on July 19, 2002, FOK was informed that not only would the Sprinter be", "paragraph_id": "para_80" }, { "text": "concomitantly sold as a Dodge product, but also that Freightliner dealers would only be permitted", "paragraph_id": "para_81" }, { "text": "to sell Sprinter vans until 2005, at which point the vans would be sold exclusively as a Dodge", "paragraph_id": "para_82" }, { "text": "product. DC Vans has since pulled back from this hard-line stance, and has in fact amended the", "paragraph_id": "para_83" }, { "text": "record to note that it will not terminate its Sprinter agreements with Freightliner dealers, and that", "paragraph_id": "para_84" }, { "text": "the Sprinter van will simply be “dual branded” for the foreseeable future. Indeed, despite the instant", "paragraph_id": "para_85" }, { "text": "litigation, FOK and DC Vans continue to do business in Freightliner Sprinter vans pursuant to their", "paragraph_id": "para_86" }, { "text": "No. 06-6054 Freightliner of Knoxville, Inc., et al. v.", "paragraph_id": "para_87" }, { "text": "DaimlerChrysler Vans, LLC", "paragraph_id": "para_88" }, { "text": "Page 3", "paragraph_id": "para_89" }, { "text": "2DC Vans strenuously maintains that it does not distribute, nor has it ever distributed, the Dodge Sprinter van.", "paragraph_id": "para_90" }, { "text": "Appellee’s Br. at 3 (“The only motor vehicle that DC Vans has ever distributed is the Freightliner Sprinter van.”)", "paragraph_id": "para_91" }, { "text": "(emphasis added). When reviewing a 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, however, we must accept the plaintiff’s allegations", "paragraph_id": "para_92" }, { "text": "as true even if the defendant vehemently denies such allegations. Here, FOK alleges that DC Vans distributed not just", "paragraph_id": "para_93" }, { "text": "the Freightliner Sprinter, but also the Dodge Sprinter. See Amended Compl. ¶¶ 53, 114-21.", "paragraph_id": "para_94" }, { "text": "dealer agreement, an agreement which has now been extended through the 2007 model of", "paragraph_id": "para_95" }, { "text": "Freightliner Sprinter. D. Ct. Op. at 4.", "paragraph_id": "para_96" }, { "text": "DC Vans’ concession notwithstanding, FOK claims that the damage was done by the mere", "paragraph_id": "para_97" }, { "text": "fact of having the rug pulled out from what it thought was an exclusive dealership agreement.", "paragraph_id": "para_98" }, { "text": "Essentially, FOK claims that it would never have entered into the dealer agreement in the first place,", "paragraph_id": "para_99" }, { "text": "nor invested $800,000 in its facility, had it known that DC Vans intended to distribute the Sprinter", "paragraph_id": "para_100" }, { "text": "under both the Dodge and Freightliner brands.2 Furthermore, FOK maintains that DC Vans has", "paragraph_id": "para_101" }, { "text": "engaged in discriminatory pricing by offering Dodge dealers “special incentives with respect to", "paragraph_id": "para_102" }, { "text": "sales of the Sprinter product.” Due to these incentives and “discounts,” Dodge dealers were", "paragraph_id": "para_103" }, { "text": "allegedly “able to offer the vans to the public at a significantly lower price than FOK was able to", "paragraph_id": "para_104" }, { "text": "offer and still make a profit.”", "paragraph_id": "para_105" }, { "text": "FOK filed suit in federal court against FLLC and DC Vans on October 11, 2005, bringing", "paragraph_id": "para_106" }, { "text": "a total of eleven claims, some against both defendants and some only against DC Vans. Jurisdiction", "paragraph_id": "para_107" }, { "text": "was proper on the basis of diversity; additionally, because one of the claims arose under federal", "paragraph_id": "para_108" }, { "text": "antitrust law, federal question jurisdiction was properly invoked. All eleven claims were dismissed", "paragraph_id": "para_109" }, { "text": "on the pleadings by the district court. FOK now only requests that we review the following two", "paragraph_id": "para_110" }, { "text": "aspects of its original claims, both of which are directed solely at DC Vans, not at FLLC: (1)", "paragraph_id": "para_111" }, { "text": "whether it was proper for the district court to dismiss FOK’s claims under the Tennessee Trade", "paragraph_id": "para_112" }, { "text": "Practices Act, Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 47-25-1301 to 1314; and (2) whether it was proper for the district", "paragraph_id": "para_113" }, { "text": "court to dismiss FOK’s claims under the federal Robinson-Patman Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 13 (d) and (e).", "paragraph_id": "para_114" }, { "text": "II", "paragraph_id": "para_115" }, { "text": "We review de novo a district court’s decision to dismiss under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6).", "paragraph_id": "para_116" }, { "text": "Adika v. Smith, 466 F.3d 503, 505 (6th Cir. 2006). “[A] complaint should not be dismissed for", "paragraph_id": "para_117" }, { "text": "failure to state a claim unless it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in", "paragraph_id": "para_118" }, { "text": "support of his claim which would entitle him to relief.” Kottmyer v. Maas, 436 F.3d 684, 688 (6th", "paragraph_id": "para_119" }, { "text": "Cir. 2006) (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46 (1957)). This Court “must accept all facts", "paragraph_id": "para_120" }, { "text": "in the complaint as true and construe the complaint liberally in favor of the plaintiff.” Adika, 466", "paragraph_id": "para_121" }, { "text": "F.3d at 505.", "paragraph_id": "para_122" }, { "text": "A. Claims under the Tennessee Trade Practices Act", "paragraph_id": "para_123" }, { "text": "The Tennessee Trade Practices Act (“TTPA”) states that “[n]o supplier . . . may terminate,", "paragraph_id": "para_124" }, { "text": "cancel, fail to renew or substantially change the competitive circumstances of a retail agreement", "paragraph_id": "para_125" }, { "text": "without good cause.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-25-1302. FOK’s claims under the TTPA are twofold.", "paragraph_id": "para_126" }, { "text": "First, it alleges that by dual-branding the Sprinter van and by selling the van through Dodge", "paragraph_id": "para_127" }, { "text": "dealerships, DC Vans has effected a “substantial[] change in the competitive circumstances of a", "paragraph_id": "para_128" }, { "text": "retail agreement.” Second, it claims that DC Vans constructively terminated the retail agreement,", "paragraph_id": "para_129" }, { "text": "both by stating its intent to withdraw the van from Freightliner dealers and by providing competing", "paragraph_id": "para_130" }, { "text": "Dodge dealers with the same Sprinter product on better terms than those offered to FOK.", "paragraph_id": "para_131" }, { "text": "In dismissing FOK’s claims, the district court ruled that the TTPA does not apply to motor", "paragraph_id": "para_132" }, { "text": "vehicles. The TTPA defines a “retailer” as a “person, firm or corporation engaged in the business", "paragraph_id": "para_133" }, { "text": "No. 06-6054 Freightliner of Knoxville, Inc., et al. v.", "paragraph_id": "para_134" }, { "text": "DaimlerChrysler Vans, LLC", "paragraph_id": "para_135" }, { "text": "Page 4", "paragraph_id": "para_136" }, { "text": "3This is not to say that other forms of relief that are based on differences between the terms offered to respective", "paragraph_id": "para_137" }, { "text": "dealers and that find their source outside the contract, such as FOK’s Robinson-Patman Act claim, are necessarily", "paragraph_id": "para_138" }, { "text": "precluded by the retail agreement. Unlike other such forms of statutory relief, however, the TTPA incorporates the retail", "paragraph_id": "para_139" }, { "text": "agreement by reference, and by so doing would appear to render unavailable a claim based on changed competitive", "paragraph_id": "para_140" }, { "text": "circumstances to the agreement where the agreement itself provides such rights to the supplier.", "paragraph_id": "para_141" }, { "text": "of selling and retailing farm implements and machinery, construction, utility and industrial", "paragraph_id": "para_142" }, { "text": "equipment, outdoor power equipment, attachments or repair parts and shall not include retailers of", "paragraph_id": "para_143" }, { "text": "petroleum products.” T.C.A. § 47-25-1301. FOK continues to assert that the Sprinter van qualifies", "paragraph_id": "para_144" }, { "text": "as “industrial equipment” under the TTPA, as it is designed ostensibly for industrial use. DC Vans", "paragraph_id": "para_145" }, { "text": "vigorously counters that the Sprinter is quite simply a motor vehicle, distinguishable from the", "paragraph_id": "para_146" }, { "text": "common understanding of “industrial equipment,” and that the presence of another Tennessee", "paragraph_id": "para_147" }, { "text": "statutory scheme which provides for the licensing and regulation of motor vehicle sales, T.C.A.", "paragraph_id": "para_148" }, { "text": "§ 55-17-101 et seq., suggests that the state legislature did not intend to include motor vehicles within", "paragraph_id": "para_149" }, { "text": "the ambit of the TTPA. There are apparently no Tennessee authorities that definitively address", "paragraph_id": "para_150" }, { "text": "whether “industrial equipment” includes motor vehicles used for industrial purposes under the", "paragraph_id": "para_151" }, { "text": "TTPA.", "paragraph_id": "para_152" }, { "text": "We frankly find the language of the TTPA to be rather vague and unhelpful, and are", "paragraph_id": "para_153" }, { "text": "disinclined to endorse the district court’s sweeping interpretation of this statute without more", "paragraph_id": "para_154" }, { "text": "guidance from the Tennessee legislature or courts. We find it unnecessary to resolve this dispute,", "paragraph_id": "para_155" }, { "text": "however, because even assuming that the TTPA governs the distribution and sale of the Sprinter van,", "paragraph_id": "para_156" }, { "text": "FOK has failed to allege facts that would amount to a violation of the statute.", "paragraph_id": "para_157" }, { "text": "First, FOK’s claim that DC Vans has “substantially change[d] . . . the competitive", "paragraph_id": "para_158" }, { "text": "circumstances of [the] retail agreement,” is undercut by the plain terms of the retail agreement itself,", "paragraph_id": "para_159" }, { "text": "which FOK quoted in relevant part in the Amended Complaint. In the retail agreement, DC Vans", "paragraph_id": "para_160" }, { "text": "“retains all rights and discretion with respect to the manufacture, distribution, sales and service of", "paragraph_id": "para_161" }, { "text": "motor vehicles, . . . including the rights (a) to sell and service Contract Goods in the Primary Market", "paragraph_id": "para_162" }, { "text": "Area . . . (b) to appoint other dealers in the Primary Market Area on terms and conditions deemed", "paragraph_id": "para_163" }, { "text": "appropriate . . . .” Amended Compl. ¶ 36 (emphasis added). This provision explicitly contemplates", "paragraph_id": "para_164" }, { "text": "the sale of Sprinter vans through other dealers. Consequently, DC Vans’s decision to sell the vans", "paragraph_id": "para_165" }, { "text": "through Dodge dealers was actually provided for in the retail agreement. Neither the Amended", "paragraph_id": "para_166" }, { "text": "Complaint nor FOK’s brief identifies any portion of the retail agreement that precludes DC Vans", "paragraph_id": "para_167" }, { "text": "from dual-branding the Sprinter van or from specifically selling it through Dodge. Nor does any", "paragraph_id": "para_168" }, { "text": "portion of the amended complaint indicate that the retail agreement speaks to how the terms of the", "paragraph_id": "para_169" }, { "text": "agreement between DC Vans and FOK should compare to the terms offered to any other dealers.3", "paragraph_id": "para_170" }, { "text": "A straightforward reading of the agreement belies FOK’s argument that DC Vans’s business", "paragraph_id": "para_171" }, { "text": "relationship with Dodge amounted to a change in the competitive circumstances of the retail", "paragraph_id": "para_172" }, { "text": "agreement under the TTPA, as this relationship is explicitly anticipated in the agreement itself.", "paragraph_id": "para_173" }, { "text": "FOK makes a number of factual allegations pertaining to representations made by DC Vans", "paragraph_id": "para_174" }, { "text": "prior to the execution of the retail agreement. The Amended Complaint alleges that based on these", "paragraph_id": "para_175" }, { "text": "representations FOK was led to believe that Freightliner would be the exclusive dealer of the", "paragraph_id": "para_176" }, { "text": "Sprinter van. See Amended Compl. ¶ 18. Even taken as true, the allegations of such representation", "paragraph_id": "para_177" }, { "text": "are not enough for FOK’s claim of changed competitive circumstances to survive, as they stand in", "paragraph_id": "para_178" }, { "text": "stark contrast to the terms that were eventually included in the retail agreement. See Staubach Retail", "paragraph_id": "para_179" }, { "text": "Services-Southeast, LLC v. H. G. Hill Realty Co., 160 S.W.3d 521, 525 (Tenn. 2005) (“The parol", "paragraph_id": "para_180" }, { "text": "evidence rule does not permit contracting parties to ‘use extraneous evidence to alter, vary, or", "paragraph_id": "para_181" }, { "text": "qualify the plain meaning of an unambiguous written contract.’ Furthermore, to allow a party to a", "paragraph_id": "para_182" }, { "text": "contract to admit that the party signed the contract but to deny that the terms of the contract express", "paragraph_id": "para_183" }, { "text": "the party’s agreement would destroy the value of contracts.” (internal citations omitted)). Moreover,", "paragraph_id": "para_184" }, { "text": "No. 06-6054 Freightliner of Knoxville, Inc., et al. v.", "paragraph_id": "para_185" }, { "text": "DaimlerChrysler Vans, LLC", "paragraph_id": "para_186" }, { "text": "Page 5", "paragraph_id": "para_187" }, { "text": "4Nowhere in FOK’s original or amended complaint is §13(a) even mentioned, and Count XI—which outlines", "paragraph_id": "para_188" }, { "text": "the RPA claims—refers exclusively to §§ 13(d) and (e). Thus, to the extent that FOK now argues that its complaint", "paragraph_id": "para_189" }, { "text": "should be construed so as to encompass alleged § 13(a) violations as well, Appellant’s Br. at 21-23, this argument comes", "paragraph_id": "para_190" }, { "text": "too late. See Clark v. National Travelers Life Ins. Co., 518 F.2d 1167, 1169 (6th Cir. 1975) (“[T]here is no duty on the", "paragraph_id": "para_191" }, { "text": "part of the trial court or the appellate court to create a claim which appellant has not spelled out in his pleading.”)", "paragraph_id": "para_192" }, { "text": "(internal quotation marks and parentheses omitted).", "paragraph_id": "para_193" }, { "text": "DC Vans cannot be said to have somehow pulled a fast one on FOK by memorializing different", "paragraph_id": "para_194" }, { "text": "terms than the parties discussed, as it had FOK sign a Release that discharged any prior obligations", "paragraph_id": "para_195" }, { "text": "owed to FOK by DC Vans, including claims based upon any prior “agreement” or “representation.”", "paragraph_id": "para_196" }, { "text": "The retail agreement itself also stated that it “constitute[s] the Parties’ entire agreement relating to", "paragraph_id": "para_197" }, { "text": "selling and servicing Contract Goods,” and “supercedes all prior negotiations, understandings and", "paragraph_id": "para_198" }, { "text": "agreements, written or oral, relating to its subject matter.” If FOK had any doubts about whether", "paragraph_id": "para_199" }, { "text": "it maintained an exclusive right to sell the Sprinter van based on prior discussions between the", "paragraph_id": "para_200" }, { "text": "parties, despite the contrary language in the retail agreement, the explicit provisions of the release", "paragraph_id": "para_201" }, { "text": "and the retail agreement should have cleared them up. Any such representations were clearly and", "paragraph_id": "para_202" }, { "text": "intentionally excluded from the retail agreement, and FOK cannot now rely on them to support its", "paragraph_id": "para_203" }, { "text": "claim that DC Vans changed the agreement’s competitive circumstances.", "paragraph_id": "para_204" }, { "text": "FOK also fails to allege facts to support its claim that DC Vans terminated the retail", "paragraph_id": "para_205" }, { "text": "agreement. Although the complaint alleges that DC Vans constructively terminated the agreement", "paragraph_id": "para_206" }, { "text": "by dual-branding the Sprinter vans and distributing them through Dodge, such distribution was", "paragraph_id": "para_207" }, { "text": "specifically contemplated in the agreement. We would be hard-pressed to read FOK’s factual", "paragraph_id": "para_208" }, { "text": "allegations to include a claim of constructive termination of the agreement based on actions taken", "paragraph_id": "para_209" }, { "text": "by DC Vans that were provided for by the very terms of the agreement itself.", "paragraph_id": "para_210" }, { "text": "Additionally, FOK contends that DC Vans terminated the agreement by advising FOK that", "paragraph_id": "para_211" }, { "text": "it would stop distributing Sprinter vans under the Freightliner brand after 2005. This allegation", "paragraph_id": "para_212" }, { "text": "could be read to present a claim for anticipatory breach, presenting us with the potentially interesting", "paragraph_id": "para_213" }, { "text": "legal question of whether anticipatory breach amounts to “termination” under the TTPA. Yet FOK", "paragraph_id": "para_214" }, { "text": "now concedes that DC Vans has decided not to withdraw the Freightliner Sprinter from the market", "paragraph_id": "para_215" }, { "text": "and to offer an extension of the dealer agreement, effectively terminating its termination claim. This", "paragraph_id": "para_216" }, { "text": "concession forces FOK to put all its eggs in the “changed competitive circumstances” basket based", "paragraph_id": "para_217" }, { "text": "on the dual-branding of the vans, an argument which we reject under the terms of the contract as", "paragraph_id": "para_218" }, { "text": "discussed above.", "paragraph_id": "para_219" }, { "text": "For these reasons, we affirm, albeit on different grounds, the district court’s dismissal of", "paragraph_id": "para_220" }, { "text": "FOK’s claims under the TTPA.", "paragraph_id": "para_221" }, { "text": "B. Claims under the Robinson-Patman Act", "paragraph_id": "para_222" }, { "text": "The Robinson-Patman Price Discrimination Act (“RPA”) amends portions of the Clayton", "paragraph_id": "para_223" }, { "text": "Antitrust Act and is codified at 15 U.S.C. §§ 13(a), (d), and (e). FOK’s amended complaint,", "paragraph_id": "para_224" }, { "text": "however, alleges violations of §§ 13(d) and (e) only.4 These two sections of the RPA “deal with", "paragraph_id": "para_225" }, { "text": "discrimination in the field of promotional services made available to purchasers who buy for resale.”", "paragraph_id": "para_226" }, { "text": "Lewis v. Philip Morris Inc., 355 F.3d 515, 521-22 (6th Cir. 2004). The language of the sections", "paragraph_id": "para_227" }, { "text": "provides as follows:", "paragraph_id": "para_228" }, { "text": "(d) Payment for services or facilities for processing or sale", "paragraph_id": "para_229" }, { "text": "It shall be unlawful for any person engaged in commerce to pay or contract for the", "paragraph_id": "para_230" }, { "text": "payment of anything of value to or for the benefit of a customer of such person in the", "paragraph_id": "para_231" }, { "text": "No. 06-6054 Freightliner of Knoxville, Inc., et al. v.", "paragraph_id": "para_232" }, { "text": "DaimlerChrysler Vans, LLC", "paragraph_id": "para_233" }, { "text": "Page 6", "paragraph_id": "para_234" }, { "text": "course of such commerce as compensation or in consideration for any services or", "paragraph_id": "para_235" }, { "text": "facilities furnished by or through such customer in connection with the processing,", "paragraph_id": "para_236" }, { "text": "handling, sale, or offering for sale of any products or commodities manufactured,", "paragraph_id": "para_237" }, { "text": "sold, or offered for sale by such person, unless such payment or consideration is", "paragraph_id": "para_238" }, { "text": "available on proportionally equal terms to all other customers competing in the", "paragraph_id": "para_239" }, { "text": "distribution of such products or commodities.", "paragraph_id": "para_240" }, { "text": "(e) Furnishing services or facilities for processing, handling, etc.", "paragraph_id": "para_241" }, { "text": "It shall be unlawful for any person to discriminate in favor of one purchaser against", "paragraph_id": "para_242" }, { "text": "another purchaser or purchasers of a commodity bought for resale, with or without", "paragraph_id": "para_243" }, { "text": "processing, by contracting to furnish or furnishing, or by contributing to the", "paragraph_id": "para_244" }, { "text": "furnishing of, any services or facilities connected with the processing, handling, sale,", "paragraph_id": "para_245" }, { "text": "or offering for sale of such commodity so purchased upon terms not accorded to all", "paragraph_id": "para_246" }, { "text": "purchasers on proportionally equal terms.", "paragraph_id": "para_247" }, { "text": "15 U.S.C. § 13 (emphasis added). As this Court has said, if the seller (here, DC Vans) pays the", "paragraph_id": "para_248" }, { "text": "retailer (here, Dodge dealerships) to perform the promotional service, § 13(d) applies. Lewis, 355", "paragraph_id": "para_249" }, { "text": "F.3d at 522. Whereas if the seller itself provides the promotional service to the retailer, § 13(e)", "paragraph_id": "para_250" }, { "text": "applies. Id. This is often a fine distinction and thus the two sections “tend to be considered", "paragraph_id": "para_251" }, { "text": "together” as a “harmonious whole.” Id. At bottom, “[t]he aim of both sections is to eliminate", "paragraph_id": "para_252" }, { "text": "devices by which preferred buyers obtain discriminatory preferences under the guise of promotional", "paragraph_id": "para_253" }, { "text": "allowances.” Bouldis v. U.S. Suzuki Motor Corp., 711 F.2d 1319, 1327 (6th Cir. 1983) (citing", "paragraph_id": "para_254" }, { "text": "Federal Trade Comm. v. Fred Meyer, Inc., 390 U.S. 341, 349-50 (1968)).", "paragraph_id": "para_255" }, { "text": "The “services or facilities” envisioned by the RPA are not explicitly defined within the text", "paragraph_id": "para_256" }, { "text": "of the Act, but they have been construed to include “any kind of advertising, catalogs,", "paragraph_id": "para_257" }, { "text": "demonstrators, display and storage cabinets, display materials, hand bills, special packaging or", "paragraph_id": "para_258" }, { "text": "package sizes, warehouse facilities, accepting returns for credit, prizes or merchandise for", "paragraph_id": "para_259" }, { "text": "conducting promotional contests, and ‘monetary awards’ paid by the seller to clerks, salesmen, and", "paragraph_id": "para_260" }, { "text": "other employees of the customer for special sales or promotional efforts.” Lewis, 355 F.3d at 522", "paragraph_id": "para_261" }, { "text": "(quoting Cecil Corley Motor Co. v. General Motors Corp., 380 F. Supp. 819, 851 (M.D. Tenn.", "paragraph_id": "para_262" }, { "text": "1974)); see also Barbara O. Bruckman, Discounts, Discrimination, and Exclusive Dealing: Issues", "paragraph_id": "para_263" }, { "text": "under the Robinson-Patman Act, 68 ANTITRUST L.J. 253, 278 (2000) (“Section 2(d) has been applied", "paragraph_id": "para_264" }, { "text": "to a broad range of promotional payments, including cooperative advertising programs, rebates that", "paragraph_id": "para_265" }, { "text": "a retailer must pass to consumers, payments for customer mailings, payments for preferred shelf", "paragraph_id": "para_266" }, { "text": "space, payments for institutional advertising (i.e., advertising the buyer’s business generally), and", "paragraph_id": "para_267" }, { "text": "unjustified off-invoice deductions for promotional allowances. ‘Services’ and ‘facilities’ covered", "paragraph_id": "para_268" }, { "text": "by Section 2(e) have been held to include handbills, demonstrators, catalogues, cabinets, display", "paragraph_id": "para_269" }, { "text": "racks, prizes or merchandise for conducting promotional contests, point-of-sale materials,", "paragraph_id": "para_270" }, { "text": "advertising services, providing personnel whose salaries are paid in whole or in part by the seller,", "paragraph_id": "para_271" }, { "text": "background music with periodic advertisements, letters announcing a new distributor but not", "paragraph_id": "para_272" }, { "text": "mentioning competing distributors, special packaging or package sizes, and marketing support.”)", "paragraph_id": "para_273" }, { "text": "(citations omitted). The list is not exhaustive, however, for many incentives have been held not to", "paragraph_id": "para_274" }, { "text": "be within the prohibitions of §§ 13(d) and (e), such as “a supplier’s offering favorable credit terms", "paragraph_id": "para_275" }, { "text": "or authorizing the extension of credit to select customers.” Cecil Corley Motor Co., 380 F. Supp.", "paragraph_id": "para_276" }, { "text": "at 851 (internal citations omitted).", "paragraph_id": "para_277" }, { "text": "In its amended complaint, FOK states that because the Sprinter vans distributed by DC Vans", "paragraph_id": "para_278" }, { "text": "to FOK and Dodge dealers were “of like grade and quality,” and because the relevant consumer", "paragraph_id": "para_279" }, { "text": "markets of the FOK and Dodge dealerships were geographically equivalent, DC Vans violated", "paragraph_id": "para_280" }, { "text": "§§ 13(d) and (e) of the RPA by offering “incentives” to the Dodge dealers that it did not make", "paragraph_id": "para_281" }, { "text": "available to FOK. Amended Compl. at ¶¶ 111-18. Specifically, FOK alleges that “DC Vans offers,", "paragraph_id": "para_282" }, { "text": "No. 06-6054 Freightliner of Knoxville, Inc., et al. v.", "paragraph_id": "para_283" }, { "text": "DaimlerChrysler Vans, LLC", "paragraph_id": "para_284" }, { "text": "Page 7", "paragraph_id": "para_285" }, { "text": "or has offered while FOK is a retailer of Freightliner Sprinter vans, the Dodge Sprinter van to Dodge", "paragraph_id": "para_286" }, { "text": "dealerships in FOK’s area of responsibility or market area with incentives that grant to Dodge", "paragraph_id": "para_287" }, { "text": "dealerships the right to receive greater allocation of high demand Dodge brand heavy duty trucks.”", "paragraph_id": "para_288" }, { "text": "Id. at ¶ 118. Paragraph 53 of the amended complaint, which is incorporated by reference into the", "paragraph_id": "para_289" }, { "text": "RPA count via paragraph 111, further states:", "paragraph_id": "para_290" }, { "text": "FOK has suffered the effects of unfair competition from Dodge dealers with", "paragraph_id": "para_291" }, { "text": "incentive packages not offered to FOK. Upon information and belief, DC Vans", "paragraph_id": "para_292" }, { "text": "commenced selling the Sprinter vans through the Dodge Business Link program", "paragraph_id": "para_293" }, { "text": "providing direct customer benefits such as first service bay priority and first service", "paragraph_id": "para_294" }, { "text": "technician priority. These sales benefits were not available to Freightliner Sprinter", "paragraph_id": "para_295" }, { "text": "customers. These benefits are valuable sales incentives and make a substantial", "paragraph_id": "para_296" }, { "text": "difference as to where or from whom a potential customer will purchase a Sprinter", "paragraph_id": "para_297" }, { "text": "product.", "paragraph_id": "para_298" }, { "text": "The “incentives” that FOK alleges were offered to Dodge dealers—and not to FOK—are thus", "paragraph_id": "para_299" }, { "text": "twofold: (1) the right to receive more Dodge heavy-duty trucks, and (2) incorporation of Dodge", "paragraph_id": "para_300" }, { "text": "Sprinters into the Dodge “Business Link” program, a service which apparently would give end users", "paragraph_id": "para_301" }, { "text": "of a Dodge Sprinter some form of priority when having their van serviced at Dodge dealerships.", "paragraph_id": "para_302" }, { "text": "As to the first alleged incentive, it is unclear how close a nexus exists between DC Vans and", "paragraph_id": "para_303" }, { "text": "the Dodge heavy-duty trucks — for while FOK alleges that DC Vans distributes the Dodge Sprinter,", "paragraph_id": "para_304" }, { "text": "it does not allege that DC Vans distributes Dodge vehicles generally. Thus it is unclear how DC", "paragraph_id": "para_305" }, { "text": "Vans would even have the power to provide those Dodge dealers that elected to market the Sprinter", "paragraph_id": "para_306" }, { "text": "van with a “greater allocation of high demand Dodge brand heavy duty trucks.” Appellee’s Br. at", "paragraph_id": "para_307" }, { "text": "25. Furthermore, the alleged allocation of Dodge heavy-duty trucks would not appear to be a", "paragraph_id": "para_308" }, { "text": "discriminatory practice under §§ 13(d) or (e). Even if true, it is a practice incident to the original", "paragraph_id": "para_309" }, { "text": "sale of the Sprinter (i.e., the sale of the Sprinter from DC Vans to Dodge dealers) rather than", "paragraph_id": "para_310" }, { "text": "incident to its subsequent resale (i.e., the resale of the Sprinter from a Dodge dealer to an end user).", "paragraph_id": "para_311" }, { "text": "See Bouldis, 711 F.2d at 1328 (noting that “the extension of credit is a practice incident to the", "paragraph_id": "para_312" }, { "text": "original sale rather than to the subsequent resale of the product, and, therefore, outside the coverage", "paragraph_id": "para_313" }, { "text": "of §§ 2(d) & 2(e)”). While Bouldis dealt with a seller’s extension of credit to various dealers, we", "paragraph_id": "para_314" }, { "text": "see no reason why the same principles should not also apply to the seller’s extension, as here, of a", "paragraph_id": "para_315" }, { "text": "greater allocation of vehicles totally unrelated to the Sprinter.", "paragraph_id": "para_316" }, { "text": "As to the second alleged incentive, however, we cannot affirm the district court’s decision,", "paragraph_id": "para_317" }, { "text": "because our standard of review of a 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss requires that we “construe the", "paragraph_id": "para_318" }, { "text": "complaint liberally in favor of the plaintiff.” Adika, 466 F.3d at 505. In fact, the district court seems", "paragraph_id": "para_319" }, { "text": "to have entirely passed over FOK’s allegation that DC Vans violated the RPA by participating with", "paragraph_id": "para_320" }, { "text": "its Sprinter vans in the Dodge “Business Link” program. While DC Vans likely did not create the", "paragraph_id": "para_321" }, { "text": "Dodge “Business Link” program, a program which presumably predates by some time the", "paragraph_id": "para_322" }, { "text": "introduction of the Sprinter van to Dodge dealerships, we cannot exclude the possibility that DC", "paragraph_id": "para_323" }, { "text": "Vans somehow tied the distribution of the Sprinter van to this alleged incentive. And unlike the", "paragraph_id": "para_324" }, { "text": "greater-allocation-of-heavy-duty-trucks incentive, the Business Link incentive may well be incident", "paragraph_id": "para_325" }, { "text": "to resale of the Sprinter vans. See Bouldis, 711, F.2d at 1328. If end users who buy a Sprinter van", "paragraph_id": "para_326" }, { "text": "from a Dodge dealer are, for example, given priority at that dealership in getting their van serviced", "paragraph_id": "para_327" }, { "text": "(which is what “first service bay priority” and “first service technician priority” would seem to", "paragraph_id": "para_328" }, { "text": "indicate), this is a promotional service provided directly to the consumer.", "paragraph_id": "para_329" }, { "text": "The critical question is likely to be whether DC Vans payed for these extra services with", "paragraph_id": "para_330" }, { "text": "Dodge dealers and yet did not offer the same payments or equivalent incentives to FOK, or whether", "paragraph_id": "para_331" }, { "text": "Dodge dealers already had the “Business Link” program in place and simply offered, of their own", "paragraph_id": "para_332" }, { "text": "No. 06-6054 Freightliner of Knoxville, Inc., et al. v.", "paragraph_id": "para_333" }, { "text": "DaimlerChrysler Vans, LLC", "paragraph_id": "para_334" }, { "text": "Page 8", "paragraph_id": "para_335" }, { "text": "5We note that this Court’s Bouldis decision, on which both the district court and DC Vans so heavily rely in", "paragraph_id": "para_336" }, { "text": "rejecting FOK’s claims under the RPA, was decided at the summary judgment stage, not the 12(b)(6) stage. There, a", "paragraph_id": "para_337" }, { "text": "determination of which practices were “incident to the original sale” versus “incident to the subsequent resale” of a", "paragraph_id": "para_338" }, { "text": "product was only made after the parties had “engaged in extensive discovery, including interrogatories, requests for", "paragraph_id": "para_339" }, { "text": "documents and depositions.” 711 F.2d at 1323. Only after discovery was the district court in Bouldis able to discern", "paragraph_id": "para_340" }, { "text": "the true relationship between distributor, retailer, and consumer, and thus only after discovery was the court able to state", "paragraph_id": "para_341" }, { "text": "with confidence that the plaintiff’s §§ 13(d) and (e) claims were meritless. Id. at 1328-29.", "paragraph_id": "para_342" }, { "text": "accord, to provide these incentives to customers who purchased the Sprinter van. Without the", "paragraph_id": "para_343" }, { "text": "benefit of discovery, however, it would seem virtually impossible for FOK to answer this question;", "paragraph_id": "para_344" }, { "text": "for without discovery, we have no way of knowing exactly what the incentive structure was between", "paragraph_id": "para_345" }, { "text": "DC Vans and its Dodge dealers, or if in fact such an incentive structure existed at all. See also", "paragraph_id": "para_346" }, { "text": "Appellant’s Br. at 20 (“Count XI should not have been dismissed without an opportunity for FOK", "paragraph_id": "para_347" }, { "text": "to conduct discovery into the scope and manner in which the Dodge Business Link program benefits", "paragraph_id": "para_348" }, { "text": "were provided to the Dodge Sprinter dealers.”). FOK’s claims under the RPA may well be highly", "paragraph_id": "para_349" }, { "text": "speculative, and discovery may well reveal that they are futile, but we cannot—nor can the district", "paragraph_id": "para_350" }, { "text": "court—make such a determination based on the pleadings alone.5", "paragraph_id": "para_351" }, { "text": "III", "paragraph_id": "para_352" }, { "text": "Based on the above discussion, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED in full,", "paragraph_id": "para_353" }, { "text": "except as to FOK’s claims under the Robinson-Patman Act, which we REVERSE and REMAND", "paragraph_id": "para_354" }, { "text": "for further proceedings. 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