Concrete Washout Systems Incorporated v. Neaton

Filing 54

ORDER signed by Judge Garland E. Burrell, Jr on 1/12/09 ORDERING that Defendant shall show cause on February 2, 2009, in courtroom 10, commencing at 9:00 a.m., why Defendant and its agents should not be held in contempt and sanctioned for failing to comply with the PI. Defendant may file a supplemental opposition on or before January 20, 2009. Plaintiff may file a reply on or before 1/27/09. (Duong, D)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 10 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 CONCRETE WASHOUT SYSTEMS, INC., a California corpoation ) ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) ) NEATON COMPANIES, LLC, a limited ) liability company, and DOES 1-100, ) ) Defendants. ) ) 2:08-cv-02088-GEB-KJM ORDER

On January 12, 2009, a hearing was held on Plaintiff's application for an order requiring Defendant to show cause why Defendant should not be held in civil contempt and sanctioned for failing to comply with the October 22, 2008 preliminary injunction ("PI"). The PI enjoined Defendant from "using . . . the concrete

washout system boxes that [Defendant] obtained from [Plaintiff] or its authorized manufactures." (Dkt. No. 36, PI at 7:17-19.)

Defendant admits that 17 of the boxes it obtained from Plaintiff are currently "with [its] various construction contractors," but argues the word "use" in the PI is not "specific and definite" 1

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enough to be enforced in a contempt proceeding, citing FTC v. Affordable Media, 179 F.3d 1228, 1239 (9th Cir. 1999) (internal quotations and citation omitted). The Ninth Circuit states in FTC

that the movant for a civil contempt finding "has the burden of showing by clear and convincing evidence that the contemnors violated a specific and definite order of the court. The burden then shifts to Id.

the contemnors to demonstrate why they were unable to comply."

Defendant argues the word "using" in the PI is ambiguous when applied to the concrete washout systems boxes it had rented to customers before the PI issued, and that it would be factually impossible for it to comply with the PI, and/or could be forced to breach contracts and environmental laws. Defendant ultimately conceded at the hearing that

its impossibility of performance defense need not be decided at the hearing on whether Plaintiff's showing was sufficient for issuance of an order requiring Defendant to show cause why Defendant should not be held in civil contempt and sanctioned for failing to comply with the PI. FTC indicates Defendant's other defenses need not be addressed

until any scheduled contempt hearing. Defendant's argument that the term "use" lacks sufficient specificity and definiteness to be enforced in a contempt proceeding is unpersuasive. Since the PI does not "define the term [`use'] United The

differently than its common usage, we turn to the dictionary." States v. Pearson, 274 F.3d 1225, 1231 n. 6 (9th Cir. 2001).

dictionary definition of the term "use" includes "to . . . put into service or action." Webster's II New College Dictionary 1215 (1995).

It is clear that the scope of the PI includes the 17 concrete washout system boxes currently with Defendant's various construction contractors since findings in the PI include the following: Plaintiff 2

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"licenses entities to conduct rental businesses using [Plaintiff's] concrete washout systems boxes," and "[Defendant's] license to use [Plaintiff's] concrete washout systems boxes has ceased. Nonetheless,

[Defendant] continues to use [Plaintiff's] concrete washout systems boxes." (Dkt. No. 36, PI at 2:6-7 and 3:19-21.) Further, the Court

considered Defendant's argument that "an injunction prohibiting the use of Plaintiff's boxes would end Defendant's box rental business" and rejected that argument. (Dkt. No. 36, PI at 6:3-8.) Lastly, the

PI enjoined Defendant from "using . . . the concrete washout systems boxes that [Defendant] obtained from [Plaintiff] or its authorized manufactures." (Dkt. No. 36, PI at 7:15-19.)

Accordingly, Defendant shall show cause on February 2, 2009, in courtroom 10, commencing at 9:00 a.m., why Defendant and its agents should not be held in contempt and sanctioned for failing to comply with the PI. Defendant may file a supplemental opposition on or Plaintiff may file a reply on or before

before January 20, 2009. January 27, 2009. Dated: January 12, 2009

GARLAND E. BURRELL, JR. United States District Judge

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