Palm v. Rock Bottom Restaurants, Inc.
Filing
36
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER granting in part and denying in part defendant's 15 Motion to Dismiss. Motion is granted as to Count II of the 13 Amended Complaint. The CCPA claims are dismissed with prejudice. Motion is denied as to Count I of the 13 Amended Complaint (Written Opinion). Signed by Judge John R. Tunheim on June 25, 2012. (DML)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA
DENNIS M. PALM, MICHAEL
WILLIAM LEX, KATIE KUGLER-LEX,
Civil No. 11-1749 (JRT/TNL)
Plaintiffs,
v.
ROCK BOTTOM RESTAURANTS, INC.
d/b/a Craftworks Restaurants & Breweries
Group, Inc. d/b/a Old Chicago, Inc.,
MEMORANDUM OPINION
AND ORDER ON DEFENDANT’S
MOTION TO DISMISS
Defendant.
Thomas J. Lyons, LYONS LAW FIRM, P.A., 367 Commerce Court,
Vadnais Heights, MN 55127, for plaintiffs.
Jennifer Y. Dukart, Aaron D. Van Oort, and Joseph A. Herriges, FAEGRE
BAKER DANIELS LLP, 90 South Seventh Street, Suite 2200,
Minneapolis, MN 55402, for defendant.
This is a putative consumer class action case alleging breach of contract and
violation of the Colorado Consumer Protection Act (CCPA). Members attaining “VIP”
status in Old Chicago’s World Beer Tour (WBT) received a 36-ounce beer stein, which
they were entitled to fill for the price of a pint at any Old Chicago restaurant. Following
a change in corporate ownership, Old Chicago replaced the 36-ounce steins with 22ounce steins, effectively reducing VIP members’ discount by depriving them of 14
ounces of beer with each fill. Plaintiffs allege that Old Chicago deliberately concealed
the fact of the size change from VIP members with a communication stating that VIP
25
members could fill up the forthcoming new mug “just as always.” Plaintiffs’ complaint
alleges that this omission amounted to breach of contract and a “false attempt to preserve
plaintiffs’ patronage and goodwill” in violation of various provisions of the CCPA. (Am.
Class Action Compl., ¶¶ 1, 68-72, 73-81, Sept. 30, 2011, Docket No. 13.) Old Chicago
now moves to dismiss the CCPA claims only. Because plaintiffs have failed to plausibly
plead reliance on Old Chicago’s alleged misrepresentation and Old Chicago’s intent to
induce such reliance, the Court will grant the motion and dismiss the CCPA claim with
prejudice.
BACKGROUND
Defendant Rock Bottom Restaurants, Inc. d/b/a Craftworks Restaurants &
Breweries Group, Inc. d/b/a Old Chicago, Inc. (“Old Chicago”) serves food and beer.
Old Chicago is headquartered in Colorado. (Am. Compl. ¶ 5.) Servers at the Old
Chicago restaurant in Blaine, MN told plaintiffs about the Old Chicago World Beer tour,
which consists of purchasing “all 110 beers that Old Chicago offers for sale.” (Id. ¶¶ 10,
12, 27, 29.) Patrons completing the WBT become “members” and receive rewards. (Id.
¶¶ 11, 28.)
Dennis Palm
An unnamed server at the Old Chicago restaurant in Blaine told Palm that the
mugs he noticed behind the bar were awarded to “VIP” WBT members, those who
completed ten tours of the 110 beers. (Id. ¶ 15.) The server told Palm that “if he
completed ten tours he would be entitled to have his 36-ounce mug filled for the price of
-2-
a pint anytime he visited an Old Chicago restaurant.” (Id. ¶ 16.) Palm completed the ten
tours around January 2007 – costing him over $5,000 – and received a membership card
and beer stein which held 36 ounces of beer. (Id. ¶¶ 17-18.) The membership card
nowhere mentions that the discount earned by VIPs is subject to change. (Id. ¶ 19.)
Palm interpreted the absence of a time limitation on the refilling of his stein to mean that
Old Chicago promised the discount for life. (Palm Aff. ¶¶ 4-5, Nov. 2, 2011, Docket
No. 21.)
In late fall of 2010, a bartender at the Blaine restaurant gave Palm a letter
informing him that Old Chicago was changing the steins. (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 21-22.)
Announcing “great news,” the letter stated that the new VIP mug would be better in a
number of ways, including that “Just as always, you can fill this mug with any draft beer
you wish for the price of a pint!” (Id.) The letter said nothing about a change in size.
(Id.) On February 6, 2011, Palm received the new stein; it holds about 22 fluid ounces.
(Id. ¶¶ 23, 24.) This smaller pint effectively reduces Palm’s discount. (Id. ¶ 25.)
The amended complaint roots Palm’s breach of contract action in a unilateral
contract theory. (Am. Compl. ¶ 69.) It drops the CCPA claim that Palm asserted in the
original complaint. (Id. ¶ 73; see also Compl., ¶¶ 37, 38, July 1, 2011, Docket No. 1.)
Michael Lex and Katie Kugler-Lex (“Lex Plaintiffs”)
As with Palm, an unnamed bartender at the Blaine, Minnesota Old Chicago
restaurant informed the Lex Plaintiffs, already WBT members, that they would receive
36-ounce mugs if they completed ten tours. (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 31-32.) The server told
-3-
them that “after receiving their 36 ounce mugs they would be entitled to fill the mugs for
the price of a pint anytime they visited an Old Chicago restaurant.” (Id. ¶ 32.) Michael
Lex completed his tenth tour “around 2004,” (Id. ¶ 33), while Katie Kugler Lex
completed her tenth tour “around 2007.” (Id. ¶ 37.) Michael completed an additional
twenty-eight tours (3,080 beers) at the Blaine restaurant using his stein between 2004 and
2010. (Id. ¶ 36.) Katie completed an additional twenty-four tours (2,640 beers) between
2007 and 2010. (Id. ¶ 40.)
The Lex Plaintiffs received an email on November 29, 2010 from Old Chicago
notifying them of the “great news” that the restaurant was changing its steins. (Id. ¶¶ 41,
42.) The email stated: “Just as always, you can fill this mug with any draft beer you wish
for the price of a pint!” (Id. ¶ 42.) The email did not state that the VIP mug would
change in size. (Id.) The Lex Plaintiffs continued to patronize Old Chicago in reliance
on the representation that VIP members would continue to receive their discounts “just as
always.” (Id. ¶ 43.) Had the email noted that the new mugs were smaller, the Lex
Plaintiffs “would not have patronized Old Chicago restaurants with the same frequency”
using the old 36-ounce steins during the two-and-one-half month period between the
email (November 19, 2010) and the day they received the new, smaller mug (February 5,
2011). (Id. ¶ 47.)
Like Palm, the Lex Plaintiffs allege breach of contract on the theory that Old
Chicago’s promotion was an offer for a unilateral contract. (Id. ¶ 69.) They also allege
violation of the CCPA based on Old Chicago’s 2010 email, which failed to note that the
new stein was smaller than the old stein. (Id. ¶ 75.)
-4-
In affidavits accompanying their opposition to Old Chicago’s motion to dismiss,
all plaintiffs state that they were “aware that Old Chicago stated in some of its
promotional materials that rewards were subject to change.” (Palm Aff. ¶ 6; Kugler-Lex
Aff. ¶ 5, Nov. 2, 2011, Docket No. 22; Lex Aff. ¶ 4, Nov. 2, 2011, Docket No. 23.) This
information was not included in Plaintiffs’ Amended Complaint.
ANALYSIS
This motion is limited in scope. While plaintiffs assert two causes of action –
breach of contract and violation of the CCPA – Old Chicago now requests dismissal of
the latter claim only. Moreover, only the Lex Plaintiffs have asserted CCPA claims.
I.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
Although a complaint need not contain “detailed factual allegations” to survive a
motion to dismiss, “a plaintiff'’s obligation to provide the grounds of his entitle[ment] to
relief requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the
elements of a cause of action will not do.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555
(2007) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). The complaint must plead facts
that render a defendant’s liability plausible – not merely possible. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129
S. Ct. 1937, 1949 (2009). In reviewing a complaint on a motion to dismiss the Court
takes as true all allegations in the complaint, which it construes in the light most
favorable to the nonmoving party. Carton v. Gen. Motors Acceptance Corp., 611 F.3d
451, 454 (8th Cir. 2010). It must not, however, give effect to conclusory allegations of
law. Stalley v. Catholic Health Initiatives, 509 F.3d 517, 521 (8th Cir. 2007).
-5-
A.
Colorado Consumer Protection Act
“To state a claim under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, the Plaintiff must
allege: (i) that the Defendant engaged in an unfair or deceptive trade practice; (ii) the
practice occurred in the course of the Defendant’s business; (iii) the practice significantly
impacts the public as actual or potential consumers of the Defendant’s goods or services;
(iv) the Plaintiff suffered injury to a legally-protected interest; and (v) the challenged
practice caused the Plaintiff’s injury.” Tara Woods Ltd. P’ship v. Fannie Mae, 731
F. Supp. 2d 1103, 1123 (D. Colo. 2010); see also Brodeur v. Am. Home Assurance
Co., 169 P.3d 139, 155 (Colo. 2007).
The Lex Plaintiffs allege that Old Chicago’s email inviting them to fill up their
new mugs “just as always” constituted a deceptive trade practice in violation of five
provisions of the CCPA.1 (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 74-81.) Plaintiffs nominally allege each
1
“A person engages in a deceptive trade practice when, in the course of such
person’s business, vocation, or occupation, such person: . . .
(e) Knowingly makes a false representation as to the characteristics,
ingredients, uses, benefits, alterations, or quantities of goods, food,
services, or property or a false representation as to the sponsorship,
approval, status, affiliation, or connection of a person therewith; . . .
(g) Represents that goods, food, services, or property are of a particular
standard, quality, or grade, or that goods are of a particular style or model,
if he knows or should know that they are of another; . . .
(i) Advertises goods, services, or property with intent not to sell them as
advertised; . . .
(n) Employs “bait and switch” advertising, which is advertising accompanied
by an effort to sell goods, services, or property other than those advertised
(Footnote continued on next page.)
-6-
required element. (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 75-79.) Old Chicago challenges the sufficiency of the
Lex Plaintiffs’ reliance allegation: that they “frequented Defendant’s restaurants in
reliance on Defendant’s representation that the VIP discounts would not change.” (Id.
¶¶ 47, 79.) The Lex Plaintiffs’ allegation of reliance, in other words, is that they would
have used their 36-ounce mugs less in the months leading up to the mug switch had Old
Chicago been forthcoming about the new mug’s smaller size. As described below, the
Court finds that the CCPA claim fails to plausibly allege causation and intent to induce
reliance.
A.
Reliance (Causation)
The issue of reliance is bound up with the causation requirement: if Plaintiffs did
not plausibly rely on Old Chicago’s representation, causation is lacking. See Farmers
Ins. Exch. v. Benzing, 206 P.3d 812, 814 (Colo. 2009) (holding that fraud on the market
theory cannot be used to satisfy causation element where market price was not the
impetus for plaintiffs’ reliance). Moreover, “determining whether a complaint states a
____________________________________
(Footnote continued.)
or on terms other than those advertised and which is also accompanied by
one or more of the following practices:
(I) Refusal to show the goods or property advertised or to offer the services
advertised; . . .
(u) Fails to disclose material information concerning goods, services, or property
which information was known at the time of an advertisement or sale if such
failure to disclose such information was intended to induce the consumer to enter
into a transaction[.]”
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 6-1-105.
-7-
plausible claim is context-specific, requiring the reviewing court to draw on its
experience and common sense.” Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. at 1940.
The Court finds that the Lex Plaintiffs’ allegation of reliance is implausible.
Consumer fraud plaintiffs typically allege a fraudulent representation that occurs before
the purchase that induced them to make it. See, e.g., Rhino Linings USA, Inc. v. Rocky
Mountain Rhino Lining, Inc., 62 P.3d 142, 144, 148 (Colo. 2003). The 2010 email on
which the Lex Plaintiffs base the CCPA claim occurred after plaintiffs had become VIP
WBT members and used their VIP steins for years. They did not complete the ten WBTs
to obtain VIP status in reliance on the “just as always” promise.
Rather, the Lex
Plaintiffs root the CCPA claims in the theory that but for Old Chicago’s failure to inform
them of the new mug’s smaller size, they would have foregone use of the larger mugs in
the months leading up to the exchange. As to why the Lex Plaintiffs – who collectively
refilled their steins 5,720 times in the preceding years – would have deprived themselves
of several months of larger pours, ostensibly in protest: “From Plaintiffs’ perspective as
loyal customers, there is a difference between taking advantage of rights vindicated by a
court and taking advantage of rights you know you are about to be cheated out of.” (Pls.’
Mem. in Opp’n, at 15, Nov. 2, 2011, Docket No. 19.) This distinction is too slender a
reed on which to rest a consumer fraud action.
plausibly plead reliance.
-8-
The Amended Complaint fails to
B.
Intent to Induce Reliance
Moreover, the only potentially applicable CCPA provision asserted in the
Amended Complaint requires intent to induce reliance on the omission. The Amended
Complaint alleges violations of five CCPA provisions, but four of these provisions are
patently inapplicable.
Two provisions require advertisements of a product with intent not to sell the
product as advertised. Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 6-1-105(1)(i) (“Advertises goods, services, or
property with intent not to sell them as advertised”); 6-1-105(1)(n) (“Employs ‘bait and
switch’ advertising, which is advertising accompanied by an effort to sell goods, services,
or property other than those advertised or on terms other than those advertised and which
is also accompanied by” practices including “refusal to show the goods or property
advertised or to offer the services advertised.”) The 2010 “just as always” email was not
selling anything; it was announcing a replacement mug in the rewards program that the
restaurant would provide for free. These provisions are therefore inapplicable to the Lex
Plaintiffs’ action.
Two additional provisions require that the challenged advertisement made an
affirmatively false statement. See Colo. Rev. Stat §§ 6-1-105(1)(e) (“Knowingly makes a
false representation as to the characteristics . . . of goods”); 6-1-105(1)(g) (“Represents
that goods . . . are of a particular standard, quality, or grade, or that goods are of a
particular style or model, if he knows or should know that they are of another”). The
Amended Complaint identifies no statements in the November 2010 email that were
affirmatively false. The only sentence of that email alleged to be fraudulent – “Just as
-9-
always, you can fill this mug with any draft beer you wish for the price of a pint!” (Am.
Compl. 42) – was accurate on its face. Plaintiffs could (and can) continue to fill their
steins for the price of a pint. The steins are simply smaller. These provisions are
therefore inapplicable to the Lex Plaintiffs’ action.
The remaining provision requires intent to induce reliance. Colo. Stat. § 6-1105(1)(u) (“Fails to disclose material information concerning goods, services, or property
which information was known at the time of an advertisement or sale if such failure to
disclose such information was intended to induce the consumer to enter into a
transaction.”) (emphasis added). The sole allegation in the Amended Complaint of
intent to induce reliance is that the “just as always” email was a “false attempt to preserve
Plaintiffs’ patronage and goodwill.” (Am. Compl. ¶ 1.) In other words, Old Chicago
omitted the size of the mug in the 2010 email in an effort to induce Plaintiffs to continue
to patronize the restaurant for the next few months. This assertion in the preamble of the
Amended Complaint is a “mere conclusory statement[]” meant to support a “threadbare
recital[] of a cause of action’s elements.” Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. at 1940. Because the
allegation pleads no real facts, the Court need not accept it as true. See id. In sum,
because the Complaint fails to plausibly plead reliance and intent to induce reliance,
which the only potentially applicable CCPA provision requires, the Court will dismiss the
CCPA claim.2
2
Though the Court will dismiss these claims with prejudice, the Lex Plaintiffs may
request permission to amend the Amended Complaint if they believe the pleading defect can be
remedied.
- 10 -
CONCLUSION
The Court concludes that plaintiffs have failed to plausibly plead reliance on Old
Chicago’s alleged misrepresentation and Old Chicago’s intent to induce such reliance.
The Court will therefore grant Old Chicago’s motion and dismiss with prejudice the
CCPA claims for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.
ORDER
Based upon the foregoing, the submissions of the parties, the arguments of counsel
and the entire file and proceedings herein, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that defendant
Rock Bottom Restaurants, Inc.’s motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ amended complaint
[Docket No. 15] is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part as follows:
a.
The motion is GRANTED as to Count II of the Amended Complaint
[Docket No. 13]. The CCPA claims are DISMISSED with prejudice.
b.
The motion is DENIED as to Count I of the Amended Complaint
[Docket No. 13].
DATED: June 25, 2012
at Minneapolis, Minnesota.
____s/
____
JOHN R. TUNHEIM
United States District Judge
- 11 -
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?