Off-Spec Solutions, LLC v. H.J. Heinz Company, L.P.
Filing
19
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER ON MOTION TO DISMISS granting in part and denying in part 8 MOTION TO DISMISS FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM OR STRIKE ALLEGATIONS. Counts Three, Four, Five, and Seven are DISMISSED, BUT WITH LEAVE TO AMEND. The Cou rt hereby strikes the claim for attorney fees. Plaintiff may file an amended complaint. Any such amended complaint must be filed within fourteen days of the date of this Order. Signed by Judge Ronald E. Bush. (caused to be mailed to non Registered Participants at the addresses listed on the Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) by (st)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF IDAHO
OFF SPEC SOLUTIONS, LLC,
Case No. 1:16-cv-00123-REB
Plaintiff,
vs.
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND
ORDER ON MOTION TO DISMISS
H.J. HEINZ COMPANY, L.P.,
Defendant.
Currently pending before the Court is a Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. 8) in which the
Defendant, H.J. Heinz Company (“Heinz”) asks the Court to dismiss or strike various
claims for relief from the Complaint filed by Plaintiff Off Spec Solutions, LLC (“Off
Spec”). The parties have consented to the jurisdiction of the undersigned United States
Magistrate Judge. Having reviewed the briefing related to the Motion to Dismiss, and
having determined that the case is suitable for decision without argument, the Court now
enters the following order.
I. BACKGROUND
This case is a contractual dispute arising from an agreement between the parties
regarding the sale of potato by-products. Off-Spec, located in Caldwell, Idaho, is in the
business of managing and distributing food waste products. (Complaint, Dkt. 1-2 at ¶ 4).
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER ON MOTION TO DISMISS - 1
The core of Off-Spec’s business is to obtain food waste that is not suitable for human
consumption and to market these waste products as animal feed. (Id.). Off-Spec
contracted with Heinz to purchase certain potato by-products from Heinz’s potato
processing facility in Oregon. According to the Complaint, Heinz originally solicited a
bid from Off-Spec for the purchase and hauling away of a single type of potato byproduct known as “press cake.” However, Off-Spec alleges that before the parties
finalized their agreement, Heinz proposed that Off-Spec purchase all of its potato byproducts, which included press cake and things such as potato peelings and cull potatoes.
Heinz, however, disputes that the contract was actually intended to cover all potato
by-products besides just the press cake. The Agreement defines potato “product” as “all
solid potato by-product such as cull potatoes, fries, etc., Press Cake, dry peel (hereinafter
collectively referred to as ‘plant by-products’)” (Agreement, Dkt. 1-2 p. 13.). Heinz, on
the other hand, asserts that the definition of plant by-products was a typographical error
and entirely inconsistent with the parties’ negotiations and true agreement. (Brief in
Support of Motion to Dismiss, Dkt. 8-1, p. 2). Heinz further asserts that the parties
mutually understood that Off-Spec intended to purchase only the press cake, not other
types of potato by-product, and that Off-Spec only attempted to assert that it was entitled
to purchase all by-products when grain prices fell, thereby diminishing the value of the
potato press cake as animal feed. Off-Spec, however, alleges that the contract, had it truly
covered only the press cake, would not have been profitable, and entering into the
contract made no sense from a business perspective unless it had the right to purchase all
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER ON MOTION TO DISMISS - 2
potato by-products. Off-Spec also alleges that Heinz withheld accurate information on
other matters, namely 1) the volume of press cake it intended to produce throughout the
year, and 2) the composition of the press cake, which, depending on the time of year it
was produced, sometimes contained harmful amounts of iron that rendered it useless as
animal feed.
Off-Spec alleges that soon after the agreement was signed, Heinz tried to
renegotiate its terms and refused to provide Off-Spec with any by-products besides just
the press cake. Because hauling only press cake was not economically viable for OffSpec, the parties agreed to modify the Agreement’s terms, at least until Heinz was in a
position to sell all its potato by-products to Off-Spec. According to Off-Spec, the parties
mutually agreed to a contract modification that called for Off-Spec to purchase only the
amount of press cake that it could resell to local feed lots and dairies, and for Heinz to
pay Off-Spec to haul away and dispose of the remaining, unsaleable press cake. (Id. ¶ 13).
Thereafter, Off-Spec alleges that it tried to keep Heinz accurately apprised of the credit
balances between what Off-Spec owed for purchase of the saleable press cake and what
Heinz owed Off-Spec for hauling and disposal fees. (Id. ¶ 15). Off-Spec claims that Heinz
only disputed these obligations once Off-Spec demanded payment for its services in
hauling away the press cake.
Off-Spec now brings various claims for breach of contract, breach of the covenant
of good faith and fair dealing, equitable estoppel, quasi-estoppel, unjust enrichment and
fraud. Off-Spec also seeks a declaratory judgment pursuant to Idaho Code section 10MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER ON MOTION TO DISMISS - 3
1201 et seq. Heinz asks the Court to dismiss each of Off-Spec’s various causes of action.
As part of this motion, Heinz seeks a ruling that Oregon rather than Idaho law should
apply to govern the substantive dispute between the parties.
II. LEGAL STANDARDS
A.
Standard for Rule 12(b)(6) Motion
Though Heinz refers to its motion variously as a “Motion to Dismiss or Strike,” in
most of its arguments, it is essentially asking that the Court dismiss each individual cause
of action asserted by Off-Spec. Therefore, the relief that Heinz requests is more in the
nature of a motion to dismiss than a motion to strike, and the Court therefore analyzes the
parties’ arguments in the context of the legal standards applicable to motions to dismiss.1
A motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim challenges the legal sufficiency of
the claims stated in the complaint. Conservation Force v. Salazar, 646 F.3d 1240, 1242
(9th Cir.2011). To sufficiently state a claim to relief and survive a 12(b) (6) motion, the
pleading “does not need detailed factual allegations,” however, the “[f]actual allegations
must be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level.” Bell Atl. Corp. v.
Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007). To satisfy the notice pleading standards of Rule 8(a)
a complaint need not contain detailed factual allegations, but at the same time, mere
1
Heinz has a somewhat different characterization for Count II, the breach of contract
claim, in that it is asking the Court to strike paragraph 23 of the Complaint, which alleges that
Heinz “breached the Agreement by failing or refusing to provide Off-Spec all plant by-product
and in only providing it with the much less valuable Press Cake.” Though characterized as a
motion to strike, the Court nonetheless treats this request as a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss as
well, because it is focused on foreclosing an entire theory or avenue of relief.
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER ON MOTION TO DISMISS - 4
“labels and conclusions” or a “formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action
will not do.” Id. Rather, there must be “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is
plausible on its face.” Id. at 570. See also, Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009).
Apart from factual insufficiency, a complaint is also subject to dismissal under Rule
12(b)(6) where it lacks a cognizable legal theory, Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dept., 901
F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir.1990), or where the allegations on their face “show that relief is
barred for some legal reason.” Jones v. Bock, 549 U.S. 199, 215 (2007). In deciding
whether to grant a motion to dismiss, the court must accept as true all well-pleaded
factual allegations in the pleading under attack. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 663.
Finally, even if the Court concludes that any of Off-Spec’s claims are subject to
dismissal, it must still consider whether it is proper to grant Off-Spec leave to amend.
Even after Iqbal and Twombly, “a dismissal without leave to amend is [still] improper
unless it is beyond doubt that the complaint could not be saved by any amendment.”
Harris v. Amgen, Inc., 573 F.3d 728, 737 (9th Cir. 2009).
III. ANALYSIS
A.
Choice of Law Issue
Because the case was filed in Idaho state court but also involves events that
occurred at least partially in Oregon, the parties disagree as to whether Oregon or Idaho
law should apply. Off-Spec argues that Idaho bears the most significant relationship to the
transactions giving rise to the lawsuit; Heinz makes the same argument in favor of
Oregon law. (The parties agree, however, that New York state bears no reasonable
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER ON MOTION TO DISMISS - 5
relationship to the case and that the choice of law clause in the written contract is
unenforceable). Although Plaintiff suggests that the choice of law analysis would be
better left to a later stage of the proceedings, when the Court would have the benefit of a
more developed record, the Court disagrees. “[C]ourts need not wait for discovery before
conducting choice of law analyses where the pleadings, construed in the plaintiff's favor,
contain all necessary facts.” Hamby v. Ohio Nat. Life Ins Corp., 2012 WL 2568149 at *2
(D. Hawaii 2012).
“[W]hen a federal court considers claims based on state law, the forum state’s
choice of law rules apply.” In re Sterba, 516 B.R. 579, 582 (9th Cir. 2014). Therefore, the
Court turns to Idaho cases on choice of law issues in deciding whether the substantive law
of Oregon or Idaho applies to this dispute. Idaho courts, as a general rule, follow the
approach of Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws when deciding choice of law
disputes. Grover v. Isom, 137 Idaho 770, 773 (Idaho 2002) (adopting the Restatement’s
approach in tort cases); Carrol v. MBNA America Bank, 220 P.3d 1080 (Idaho 2009)
(applying the Restatement in contract cases); Seubert Excavators, Inc. v. Anderson
Logging Co., 889 P.2d 82, 85 (Idaho 1995) (same). Though Idaho Courts typically first
decide what type of case is at issue and apply the Restatement’s guidelines applicable to
such cases, section 6 of the Restatement provides overarching factors that apply to all
choice of law questions. Those factors are: (a) the needs of the interstate and international
systems; (b) the relevant policies of the forum; (c) the relevant policies of other interested
states and the relative interests of those states in the determination of the particular issue;
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER ON MOTION TO DISMISS - 6
(d) the protection of justified expectations; (e) the basic policies underlying the particular
field of law; (f) certainty, predictability and uniformity of result; and (g) ease in the
determination and application of the law to be applied. RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF
CONFLICTS OF LAWS §
6. See also, Grover v. Isom, 137 Idaho 770, 773 (Idaho 2002).
Heinz asks the Court to adopt section 191 of the Restatement, pertaining to cases
arising from contracts for the sale of goods. It reads:
The validity of a contract for the sale of an interest in chattel and the rights
created thereby are determined . . . by the local law of the state where
delivery of the chattel occurs, unless with respect to the particular issue,
some other state has a more significant relationship under the principles
stated in section 6 to the transaction and the parties.
RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS § 191.
Because Idaho courts have not explicitly adopted this section of the Restatement,
this Court considers not just the prior adoption of other sections of the Restatement by
Idaho courts but also decisional law of other states in deciding whether Idaho’s Supreme
Court would apply section 191. “In the absence of controlling forum state law, a federal
court sitting in diversity must use its own best judgment in predicting how the state's
highest court would decide the case. . . . In so doing, a federal court may be aided by
looking to well-reasoned decisions from other jurisdictions.” Mangold v. California
Public Utilities Com’n., 67 F.3d 1470, 1479 (1995).
Here, the Court is easily persuaded that Idaho would adopt section 191 of the
Restatement, if the question of whether to do so were squarely raised. Idaho courts have
adopted the Restatement’s approach in a variety of other instances, and every other court
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER ON MOTION TO DISMISS - 7
to have considered the issue has adopted the approach set forth in section 191 of the
Restatement. See, e.g., Global Petromarine v. G.T. Sales & Mfg., Inc., 577 F.3d 839
(Eighth Circuit 2009); Gusse v. Damon Corp., 470 F.Supp.2d 1110 (C.D. California
2007); Bray v. Monaco Coach Corp., 371 F.Supp.2d 1135, 1138 (D. Arizona 2005);
Maine Surgical Supply Co v. Intermedics Orthopedics, Inc., 756 F.Supp. 597 (D. Maine
1991); Travenol Laboratories, Inc. v. Zotal, Ltd., 474 N.E.2d 1070, 1073 (Mass. 1985).
Additionally, applying section 191 harmonizes with the goals of conflict of law analysis,
as embodied by the factors enumerated in section 6 of the Restatement – particularly
factors 6(d)-(f) which focus on the protection of justified expectations, certainty,
predictability, uniformity of result, and ease in determining the applicable law. The needs
of the interstate commerce systems are also well-served by applying the rule of section
191, because to do so helps achieve uniformity and predictability of results in transactions
of the type covered by the Uniform Commercial Code.2 Idaho has adopted a version of
the Uniform Commercial Code, so Idaho law or policy in that arena is similarly served by
applying section 191.
The next question is whether the transactions giving rise to this lawsuit are ones to
which section 191 and the Uniform Commercial Code would apply. The answer to this
The question whether a contract involves the “sale of an interest in chattel” under
section 191 is co-extensive with the question of whether it involves the sale of goods
under the Uniform Commercial Code. The terminology used by both section 191 and the
2
U.C.C. are intended to describe transactions that do not involve real property or the provision of
services.
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER ON MOTION TO DISMISS - 8
question is yes, because the relevant agreement or agreements involve the sale of an
interest in goods or chattel. Plaintiff, while appearing to concede that the original
agreement involved the sale of goods or chattel, argues that the modified contract was not
solely a contract for the sale of goods, but rather, a hybrid contract involving the sale of
goods and the provision of services. Thus, Plaintiff argues that the question of whether
the U.C.C. (and by extension, section 191) would apply cannot be resolved at this stage of
the proceedings, because the record lacks the development which would enable the Court
to determine which aspect of the modified contract predominated.
Such an argument stretches the record too far. The sole purpose of the original
agreement was for Off-Spec to purchase certain potato by-products from Heinz. It is true
that under the modified agreement Off-Spec agreed to temporarily haul away all the press
cake that Heinz produced, even if Off-Spec could not use it. However, the goods had to
be removed and transported from the Heinz facility in order for the good to change hands.
Heinz wanted the by-product out of its facility and Off-Spec wanted the by-products into
its hands, so that it could then resell those by-products. Off-Spec also eventually wanted
to put itself in a position where it could obtain all the potato by-product that Heinz
produced. Off-Spec would argue that modifications to the agreement transformed it from
the purchaser of goods into a garbage hauler, but the Court disagrees with this
characterization. Whatever accommodation it may have made to Heinz with respect to the
unusable press cake, at the heart of the agreement Off-Spec wanted to obtain potato by-
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER ON MOTION TO DISMISS - 9
products it could resell, even if along the way it had to haul away some by-products that
ultimately it would not be able to resell.
Hence, the sale of goods aspect of the transaction predominated, and both the
U.C.C. and section 191 of the Restatement apply. Considered in that framework, Oregon
law applies to all stages of the parties’ dispute. While Idaho does bear some relationship
to the parties’ transaction, that relationship is not weighty enough on these facts to
implicate the exception to section 191's usual rule that the law of the state where the
goods were delivered will control the case.
B.
Viability of Plaintiff’s Individual Claims
The Court now turns to Defendant’s arguments for dismissing certain of the claims
for relief, in light of the legal standards applicable to motions to dismiss discussed in
section II-A of this Order. The Court applies Oregon law, but will first address those
claims as to which there is no substantive difference between Idaho and Oregon law.
1. Breach of Contract (Count Two)
Heinz contends that the Court should dismiss (by “striking”) Off-Spec’s breach of
contract claim that Heinz failed to provide all potato by-products. As indicated
previously, there is no essential difference between Heinz’s request to strike Paragraph 23
of Count II and a motion to dismiss, because Heinz is essentially requesting that the Court
foreclose an entire avenue of relief.
Heinz argues that there is an inherent inconsistency between Off-Spec’s breach of
contract claim under the original, unmodified, agreement and its allegations that the
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER ON MOTION TO DISMISS - 10
original agreement was amended so that Off-Spec would purchase only that press cake
that it could resell and haul away the rest in exchange for reimbursement. Heinz argues
that Off-Spec cannot recover under both the original and the modified agreement.
It is correct, of course, that a party cannot obtain a double recovery on breach of
contract claims such as those asserted here, but the question of whether a double recovery
is prohibited is premature at this stage. At the pleading stage, “a party may state as many
separate claims or defenses as it has, regardless of consistency.” Fed.R.Civ.Pro 8(d)(3);
See also, Aholelei v. Dept. Of Public Safety, 488 F.3d 1144, 1149 (9th Cir. 2007). Heinz’s
request to strike the breach of contract claims on the basis that they are mutually
exclusive is therefore denied.
2. Unjust Enrichment (Count Six).
As to the unjust enrichment claim, Heinz first argues that it is too vague to satisfy
ordinary pleading standards. Second, it argues that an unjust enrichment claim is not
viable where there is a valid contract. The vagueness argument fails because Off-Spec
alleges that it provided Heinz with truck, trailer and labor services that Heinz needed
during times of plant breakdowns, and that these services were beyond the scope of
services contemplated in the modified agreement. (Complaint ¶ 39). Off-Spec further
alleges that it expected payment for these services and did not receive them, and that
Heinz benefitted from the work performed. (Id.). At a minimum, therefore, Off-Spec has
stated a viable unjust enrichment claim arising from services provided that were allegedly
beyond the scope of the modified agreement.
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER ON MOTION TO DISMISS - 11
The Complaint further alleges that Off-Spec intends to rely on unjust enrichment
as a theory of recovery if the Court should rule that there was no enforceable contract
between Off-Spec and Heinz. (Id. ¶ 40.) Although Heinz concedes that Oregon would
recognize claims for unjust enrichment, it argues that such a claim must be stricken
because Oregon law does not allow those claims where the parties agree there is an
enforceable contract. However, the principal cases upon which Heinz relies hold that “a
party may plead alternative claims for breach of both an express contract and an implied
contract. ” Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon v. Ambac Assur.
Corp., 2010 WL 4876557 at *6-7 (D. Oregon 2010). See also, Kashmir Corp. v.
Patterson, 602 P.2d 294, *49 (1979). These cases (which treat unjust enrichment claims
as a form of implied contract) further hold that such alternative pleading is permissible in
situations where, among other things, there is uncertainty whether the pleader can actually
prove the existence of the contract at trial. Though Heinz asserts that it does not dispute
the existence of an agreement between it and Off-Spec, (Defense Brief, Dkt. 8-1 at p. 15),
at this stage at least, there is an obvious dispute as to what was contained in any express
contract. Accordingly, dismissing the unjust enrichment claim at this early stage would
not be appropriate. As a matter of pleading practice, then, this claim satisfies both the
requirements of Oregon law and the requirements of federal law that a complaint state a
claim that is “plausible on its face” and also suggest an entitlement to relief that “is above
the speculative level.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555; Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678.
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER ON MOTION TO DISMISS - 12
3. Fraud (Count Seven)
Heinz argues that Off-Spec’s fraud claim should be dismissed for two reasons:
first, because the elements of fraud have not been pled with sufficient particularity to
satisfy the heightened pleading standards of Rule 9(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure, and second, because the disclaimer or “independent investigation” clause in
the original written agreement bars any claims for fraud.
The Court addresses the second argument first. The disclaimer provision upon
which Defendants rely provides:
INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION. It is understood and
acknowledged by Off-Spec Solutions that it is purchasing and using
the plant by products pursuant to its own investigation and that
Heinz had made no representations or warranties other than those
expressly contained herein. Except as set forth herein, HEINZ
HEREBY EXCLUDES ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AND EXPRESSLY EXCLUDES ANY
AND ALL WARRANTIES AS TO MERCHANTABILITY OR
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IT IS
UNDERSTOOD BY BOTH PARTIES THAT THE INTENDED
USE FOR PLANT BY-PRODUCTS IS FOR USE AS ANIMAL
FEED.
(Complaint at Exhibit C) (emphasis in original).
Heinz relies on Wagner v. McNeely, 161 Or.App. 215 (Ct. App. 1999), in which
the Oregon Court of Appeals held, without significant discussion, that claims for fraud
and misrepresentation were defeated by the opposing party’s express disclaimers of
representations and guarantees. However, shortly after the holding in Wagner, the Oregon
Court of Appeals reached the opposite conclusion in a different case, holding that “the
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER ON MOTION TO DISMISS - 13
mere existence of a disclaimer does not, as a matter of law, compel a conclusion that a
person may not reasonably rely on a representation.” Knepper v. Brown, 182 Or.App.
597, 605 (Or. App. 2002). The Oregon court emphasized that although the existence of a
disclaimer was relevant to the element of justifiable reliance in a fraud claim, the question
of whether the disclaimer completely negated the element of justifiable reliance was for
the jury to decide. This same approach was followed in a recent Oregon federal court case
in a contract case arising under Oregon law. See REC Boats, LLC v. RP/PHL Marine
Leasing, Inc. 2012 WL 6725838 (D. Oregon 2012).
In the instant case, the disclaimer language of the original written agreement
references the fact that the potato by-products would be used as animal feed. Thus, even
if the disclaimer has some relevance to other aspects of Plaintiff’s fraud claim, it would
not appear to preclude any claim arising from Heinz’s alleged misrepresentation about the
iron content of the press cake and its suitability for use as animal feed. For these reasons,
the Court is not persuaded that the fraud claim should be dismissed at this juncture purely
because of the existence of the independent investigation clause.3
Conzelmann v. Northwest Poultry & Dairy Products Co. 225 P.2d 757 (Oregon
1950), also does not appear to have any applicability to the circumstances alleged here, at
least in the context of a motion to dismiss. In that case, the court held that a party who has
full knowledge of the circumstances giving rise to an alleged fraud, and yet nonetheless
proceeds to make a contract with an opposing party, will not later be allowed to pursue
such a claim for fraud if he or she entered into the contract with full knowledge of the
allegedly fraudulent conduct. Here, however, Plaintiff alleges that it did not later receive
the benefit of the renegotiated contract. Therefore, even if the Conzelmann case were still
good law, the circumstances in this case are not comparable.
3
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER ON MOTION TO DISMISS - 14
The Court does, however, agree that Off-Spec has not adequately pled the
elements of fraud with sufficient particularity to satisfy Rule 9(b) and the elements of a
fraud claim under Oregon law. “In Oregon, the elements of actionable fraud consist of:
(1) a representation; (2) its falsity; (3) its materiality; (4) the speaker's knowledge of its
falsity or ignorance of its truth; (5) his intent that it should be acted on by the person and
in the manner reasonably contemplated; (6) the hearer's ignorance of its falsity; (7) his
reliance on its truth; (8) his right to rely thereon; (9) and his consequent and proximate
injury.” Chaney v. Fields Chevrolet Co., 484 P.2d 824, 826-27 (Oregon 1971).
Because the Complaint does allege that Heinz made several misrepresentations
during the course of its dealings with Off-Spec, Off-Spec may well be able to state a
claim for fraud. However, the Complaint does not do so in its current form, and instead
pays scant attention to the task of setting forth the facts giving rise to an alleged fraud
claim and of tying these facts to each of the elements of such a claim. As currently
constituted, the Complaint does not satisfy the heightened pleading standards of Rule
9(b), which are applicable to fraud claims. The Court will therefore order that this claim
be dismissed, albeit with leave to amend.
4. Equitable Estoppel and Quasi Estoppel (Counts Four and Five)
As to these claims, there are potentially substantive differences between Idaho and
Oregon law, and for the reasons previously described the Court will apply Oregon law.
Off-Spec concedes that Oregon law does not recognize a claim for equitable estoppel,
although the courts of that state allow estoppel-based theories as a means of proving other
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER ON MOTION TO DISMISS - 15
claims. Plaintiff’s Brief, Dkt. 13, p. 11; See also, Gilman v. Emel, 747 P.2d 390, 392
(1987); Howell v. Oregonian Pub. Co., 728 P.2d 106 (Oregon Ct. App. 1986). Off-Spec
may therefore not proceed with equitable estoppel as an independent claim for relief, and
that claim will be dismissed.
It is unsettled whether Oregon law would recognize a claim for quasi-estoppel, as
opposed to equitable estoppel. In the most recent pertinent case, Day v. Advanced M& D
Sales, Inc., 86 P.3d 678, 695 (Oregon 2004), the Oregon Supreme Court, sitting en banc,
assumed without deciding that Oregon courts would recognize such a claim. However,
the Court’s assumption in that case that Oregon would recognize a claim for quasiestoppel is dicta, because the Court ultimately concluded that the plaintiff could not
proceed with that claim for entirely unrelated reasons.
The parties have not cited a single case in which in which Oregon courts have
recognized any type of estoppel as an independent cause of action, as opposed to allowing
that theory as a defense, or as a means of proving facts necessary to establish other
claims. Nor can the Court locate such a case. In addition to the decisions in Gilman and
Howell, which concern equitable estoppel, Oregon courts have also declined to recognize
promissory estoppel as an independent cause of action. Natkin & Co. v. H.D. Fowler Co.,
876 P.2d 319, 321 (Or. App. 1994) (holding that promissory estoppel is not an
independent cause of action, but a substitute for consideration where a promisee has
relied on a promise to his detriment).
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER ON MOTION TO DISMISS - 16
Nor have the parties articulated a persuasive distinction between quasi-estoppel
and equitable estoppel such as might support the notion that Oregon would refuse to
recognize one but not the other. Therefore, despite the anomaly created by the dicta in the
Day decision, the Court concludes the Oregon Supreme Court would not treat quasiestoppel differently than any other type of estoppel claim. Therefore, while Oregon law
may provide for various estoppel-type evidence to be used as a means of proving other
claims or defenses, it stops there. There is no independent estoppel-based claim for relief
under Oregon law. Counts Four and Five will therefore be dismissed. Though Plaintiff
may not re-plead these counts as separate causes of action, if it so chooses, its amended
pleadings may address any estoppel-based evidentiary theory recognized by Oregon
courts in the context of any independently viable cause of action.
5. Breach of the Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing (Count Three)
The Court next addresses whether Off-Spec may proceed with its claims for breach
of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Heinz argues that no such claim
exists under the Uniform Commercial Code, pointing to UCC language which provides
that “every contract or duty within the Uniform Commercial Code imposes an obligation
of good faith in its performance and enforcement.” O.R.S. § 71.3040. Though this section
specifically references a duty of good faith, the official comments to this section clarify
that while the failure to act in good faith may support a claim for breach of the contract
itself, “this section does not support an independent cause of action for failure to perform
or enforce in good faith.”
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER ON MOTION TO DISMISS - 17
Oregon appellate courts have not interpreted this particular provision of the UCC
or the accompanying official comments. Other courts have ruled that this section does
indeed eliminate an independent claim for breach of the covenant of good faith and fair
dealing. See, e.g. Advancemed, LLC v. Pitney Bowes Credit Corp., 2006 WL 1007467 at
*3 (E.D. Kentucky 2006); Gilson v. Rainin Instrument LLC, 2005 WL 1899471 at *2
(W.D. Wisconsin 2005); Fifth Third Bank of Indiana v. The Morley Group, LLC, 2005
WL 4882768 at *1-2 (S.D. Indiana 2005); Lubbock Beverage Co., Inc. v. Miller Brewing
Co., (N.D. Texas 2002).
Off-Spec does not suggest that Oregon courts would reach a contrary result, but
instead argues that it is not clear whether the UCC will apply at every stage of the parties’
course of dealing. The Court has already rejected this argument and concludes that the
Oregon Supreme Court would hold, along with the courts referenced above, that no
independent claim exists for breach of the good faith covenant in contracts for a sale of
goods under the UCC.
However, whether this ruling requires outright dismissal of Count III is a separate
question. As the cases identified above demonstrate, the concept of “good faith” is central
to the UCC, even though there is no independent claim for breach of the implied
covenant. Therefore, while the concept of “good faith” cannot be used to contradict an
express term of a contract or to expand the scope of available contractual damages, courts
still utilize the duty of good faith “as an interpretive tool to determine the parties'
justifiable expectations in the context of a breach of contract action.” Advancemed, 2006
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER ON MOTION TO DISMISS - 18
WL 1007467 at *3. “Good faith merely directs attention to the parties’ reasonable
expectations; it is not an independent source from which rights and duties evolve.”
Gilson, 2005 WL 1899471 at *2. See also Lubbock Beverage Co., Inc. v. Miller Brewing
Co., 2002 WL 3201126 at * 14-15 (N.D. Texas 2002) (holding that the U.C.C.’s
“contractual duty of good faith and fair dealing gives rise only to a cause of action for
breach of contract and does not give rise to an independent tort cause of action.). Heinz
implicitly acknowledges this distinction when it suggests that although Count III should
be dismissed so that it can “be pled within the breach of contract claim.” (Defense Brief,
Dkt. 8-1 p. 10). Accordingly, the Court dismisses Count III, but as is the case with the
estoppel-based claims, it does so while allowing Off-Spec an opportunity to re-plead its
breach of contract claims to incorporate an alleged breach of the good faith covenant, to
the extent such a covenant is consistent with Oregon law.
However, the Court declines Heinz’s invitation to constrain the parameters of the
duty of good faith applicable to this case. Heinz contends that Off-Spec’s allegations
regarding the good faith covenant do not arise from a specific contractual duty or
obligation or from “the performance and enforcement of the contract,” as Heinz contends
is required under the UCC. Off-Spec specifically alleges that Heinz breached its duty of
good faith, among other things, by “refusing to provide Off-Spec with the more valuable
other Plant by-products” identified in the original written agreement. Whether the concept
of good faith embodied in Oregon’s U.C.C. also extends to other actions by Heinz of
which Off-Spec complains are issues better left for decision at a later date.
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER ON MOTION TO DISMISS - 19
6.
Attorney Fees
Finally, the Court grant’s Heinz’s request to strike the Complaint’s claim for
attorneys fees and costs. Such a request is appropriate, given the Court’s conclusion that
Oregon rather than Idaho law applies to this dispute. State statutes on attorney fees are
substantive rather than procedural matters, and therefore, the state whose law applies to
the case in general would also govern any disputes concerning the availability of attorney
fees. In Re Larry’s Apartment, LLC., 249 F.2d 832, 838 (9th Circuit 2002). Here, that
state is Oregon and so the attorney fee provisions of Idaho Code 12-120(3) have no
bearing on this case. The request for attorney fees arising under that statute should be
removed from any amended complaint Off-Spec may choose to file. Off-Spec may
amend the claim or prayer for attorney fees and costs to include such other Oregon or
federal statutory or rule authority as Off-Spec may contend provides authority for an
award of costs, or an award of fees.
ORDER
1.
Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss/Motion to Strike (Dkt. 8) is GRANTED IN
PART AND DENIED IN PART, as follows:
(A).
Counts Three, Four, Five, and Seven are DISMISSED, BUT WITH
LEAVE TO AMEND, on the particulars described in this Decision
and Order.
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER ON MOTION TO DISMISS - 20
(B).
The Court hereby strikes the claim for attorney fees under Idaho Code
12-120(3). Plaintiff may amend its claim for attorneys fees and costs,
as described in this Decision and Order.
2.
Plaintiff may file an amended complaint consistent with this Decision
and Order. Any such amended complaint must be filed within
fourteen days of the date of this Order.
DATED: March 29, 2017
Honorable Ronald E. Bush
Chief U. S. Magistrate Judge
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER ON MOTION TO DISMISS - 21
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