Tango Transport L L C vs. Transport International Pool Inc
Filing
155
MEMORANDUM ORDER denying 149 Motion for Reconsideration. Signed by Judge S Maurice Hicks on 12/21/09. (crt,McDonnell, D)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA SHREVEPORT DIVISION
TANGO TRANSPORT, L.L.C. VERSUS TRANSPORT INTERNATIONAL POOL, L.L.C.
CIVIL ACTION NO. 08-559 JUDGE S. MAURICE HICKS, JR. MAGISTRATE JUDGE HORNSBY
MEMORANDUM ORDER Before this Court is a Motion for Partial Reconsideration of the Court's Memorandum Order Dated November 9, 2009 [Record Document 149], filed on behalf of Defendant and Counterclaim Plaintiff, Transport International Pool, Inc. Plaintiff and Counter-Defendant, Tango Transport, Inc., opposes this motion. [Record Document 152]. For the reasons stated herein, Transport International Pool, Inc.'s motion is DENIED.
BACKGROUND
In January of 2004 and July of 2004, Tango Transport, Inc. ("Tango") and Transport International Pool, Inc. ("TIP") entered into various sale-leaseback agreements whereby TIP purchased 384 dry van trailers from Tango and then leased the trailers back to Tango for continued use in Tango's business. See Record Document 109, Exs. A-4, A-S. Concerning the lease portion of the agreement, the parties entered into Vehicle Lease Agreement No.1-BN1E6 ("VLA"), along with Schedules AB-1, AB-2, and AB-1-18J9M for the lease of the trailers to Tango for a period of thirty-six (36) months. See Record Document 109, Exs. A-2, A-S. The parties also executed a maintenance addendum, "Addendum MIN-1," which is specifically referenced in the VLA and purports to replace Sections 4, 5(A) and 5(B) of the VLA. See Record Document 109, Ex. A-2 (Addendum
M/N-1). In addition, the parties executed "Additional Terms Addendum NT," which also purports to replace Sections 4, 5(A) and (B), as well as Section 11 of the VLA. See Record Document 109, Ex. A-3 (Addendum NT). The VLA provides that Tango shall return each trailer to TIP "in good condition, normal wear and tear excepted, with tires and brakes in accordance with Section 4 hereof or any maintenance addendum executed in connection herewith." See VLA, Section 21. Upon Tango's return of the trailers to TIP, TIP made a claim upon Tango for various lease charges and damages. See Record Document 1 (Complaint). Tango disagreed with TIP's interpretation of the terms and conditions of the VLA, including the various addendums/additions thereto, and filed the present action against TIP "seeking a declaration with respect to parties rights, liabilities and obligations as relates to the terms and conditions of the parties' agreements with respect to [TIP's] claim for various lease charges, damages and late fees under the terms of said agreements." ki. at
¶ 10. In
addition, Tango is seeking "to recover reasonable storage charges for storage of the leased vehicles when [TIP] failed to take possession of the leased vehicles in a timely and reasonable manner." ki. at
¶ 8. TIP filed a counterclaim against Tango alleging breach
of contract and breach of guaranty, seeking damages in addition to late fees, all future lease payments, charges, expenses and fees as set out in the lease agreements. See Record Document 62 (Third Amended Complaint). On September iS, 2009, Tango moved for an order of partial summary judgment against TIP. See Record Document 109. The Court granted Tango's motion and made the following findings of fact and law:
Page 2 of 5
1.
With respect to the first group of 12S lease trailers, the terms and conditions contained in the "Additional Terms Addendum NT" executed by Tango on February ii, 2004 replaced the terms and conditions set forth in "Maintenance Addendum MIN-i~; With respect to the second group of 2S9 lease trailers, the terms and conditions contained in the "Additional Terms Addendum NT" executed by Tango on July 22, 2004 replaced the terms and conditions set forth in "Maintenance Addendum MIN-i~; The plain language in the "Additional Terms Addendum AlT" stating Tango "agrees to reimburse [TIP] for the total of all repairs and replacements exceeding $250 per trailer calculated in the aggregate for all Vehicles listed on [the appropriate Schedule]" means: a. Tango is entitled to a deduction of the total (i.e. aggregate) of all 12S trailers times $250 (or $31,250.00) for repair and replacement costs for the first group of 12S trailers; Tango is entitled to a deduction of the total (i.e. aggregate) of all 2S9 trailers times $250 (or $64,750.00) for repair and replacement costs for the second group of 2S9 trailers; and Tango's responsibility for payment to TIP for the return condition of all Vehicles listed on Schedules AB-i, AB-2, and AB-i-18J9M is forthe total amount of costs actually incurred by TIP for repairs and replacements (less the appropriate deduction).
2.
3.
b.
c.
[Record Document 143]. TIP now asks the Court to reconsider it ruling with respect to findings 3(a), 3(b), and 3(c). [Record Document 149]. Although TIP maintains the Court's findings that the Maintenance Addendum MIN-i was replaced by both Addendums NT, it is not seeking reconsideration of these specific fact findings at this time.
LAW AND ANALYSIS
The Court has considerable discretion in granting a motion for reconsideration under Rule S9(e), which allows a motion to alter or amend a judgment. Motions to reconsider Page 3 of 5
serve the narrow purpose of allowing a party "to correct manifest errors of law or fact or present newly discovered evidence." Nationalist Movement v. Town of Jena, 321
Fed .Appx. 3S9, 364 (Sth Cir. 2009) (citing Waltman v. Int'l Paper Co., 87S F.2d 468, 473 (Sth Cir. 1989)). These motions cannot be used to raise arguments which could, and should, have been made before the judgment issued or to re-urge matters that have already been advanced by a party. See Simon v. United States, 891 F.3d 1154, 1159 (Sth Cir. 1990) (quoting Fed. Deposit Ins. Corp. v. Meyer, 781 F.2d 1260, 1268 (7th Cir. 1986)); see also, Nationalist, 321 Fed.Appx. at 364 (citing Waltman, 87S F.2d at 473-74). After a thorough review of TIP's motion for reconsideration, the Court finds that TIP has failed to present any new evidence, legal theories, or arguments for the Court's consideration. Rather, TIP merely argues matter which were previously presented in its opposition to Tango's motion for partial summary judgment and were carefully considered by the Court prior to making its ruling. TIP contends the Court's fundamental error is that it never considered the reasonableness of TIP's alternative interpretation of the phrases "calculated in the aggregate" and "reimburse for the total of all repairs and replacements." [Record Document 149]. However, the Court did specifically consider TIP's alternative interpretations but rejected its interpretations as contrary to the plain and ordinary meaning of the language chosen by the parties. See Record Document 143, pp. 13-17. In other words, the Court determined that TIP's alternative interpretations were unreasonable and, therefore, that the terms of the contract were not ambiguous. See Samuel Rappaport Family Partnership v. Meridian Bank, 441 Pa.Super. 194, 204, 6S7 A.2d 17, 21(1995) (a Page 4 of 5
contract is not ambiguous if the court can determine its meaning without any guide other than a knowledge of the simple facts on which its meaning depends; and a contract is not rendered ambiguous by the mere fact that the parties do not agree on the proper interpretation). Accordingly, having already exhaustively examined the arguments and evidence presented by the parties,
IT IS ORDERED that TIP's Motion for Partial Reconsideration of the Court's
Memorandum Order Dated November 9, 2009 [Record Document 149] be and is hereby
DENIED. THUS DONE AND SIGNED in Shreveport, Louisiana, on this 21st day of December,
2009. S. MAURICE HICKS, .1R UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Page 5 of 5
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?