Seawater Seafoods Company et al v. Dulcich et al
Filing
34
OPINION AND ORDER: Defendants' Motion to Dismiss 12 is denied. The Court will set a date for a Rule 16 Conference to set new case management deadlines and a trial date. Signed on 7/17/2017 by Judge Michael J. McShane. (cp)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF OREGON
SEAWATER SEAFOODS COMPANY,
et al,
Plaintiffs,
Case No. 6:16-cv-01607-MC
v.
FRANK DULCICH, et al,
OPINION & ORDER
Defendants.
MCSHANE, Judge:
Plaintiffs Seawater Seafoods Co., Front Street Marine LLC, and Bret Hamrick filed this
antitrust action on 8/9/2016 against defendants Frank Dukich, Pacific Seafood Group, Dukich
Realty Acquisition, LLC, Pacific Hooker, LLC, and Pacific Fishing, LLC (known collectively as
the Pacific Seafood Group). In their Complaint, the plaintiffs allege in their first and second
I-ORDER
/
claims that the defendants violated section 2 of the Sherman Act (15 USC§ 2) and sections 4 and
16 of the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 15 and 26), by illegally leveraging their market power to
interfere with the plaintiffs' business operations by blocking their access to fishing docks located
in Newport, Oregon (ECF No. 1 at pp.2; 16-17). Their third claim for relief is an Oregon state
law claim for Tortious Interference with Business Relations, based on allegations that the
defendants (1) violated the Lease and settled Oregon law by unreasonably obstructing Seawater's
commercial use of a public waterway; (2) threatened and intimidated fishermen and vessel
owners; (3) negligently allowed plaintiffs' property to be damaged by vermin and noxious gas;
and (4) engaged in exclusionary conduct in violation of the Sherman Act. (Id at p.18). The
plaintiffs' fourth and fifth claims are for state law Trespass and Negligence, stemming from a
February 2015 incident wherein the defendants are alleged to have "intentionally or recklessly
caused an ammonia leak ... to flow onto plaintiffs' facility, resulting in the loss of more than
2,500 pounds of live Dungeness crab." (Id at pp.19-20).
On 9/9/2016, the defendants filed a motion (ECF No. 12) to dismiss the plaintiffs' 1st and
2nd claims (the federal antitrust claims for "monopolization") pursuant to FRCP 12(b)(6), and
their 3rd, 4th, and 5th claims (the state law claims for Tortious Interference with Business
Relations, Trespass, and Negligence) pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3). They also moved to
dismiss or stay all of the plaintiffs' claims under the Abstention Doctrine established in Colorado
River Water Conservation District v. United States, 424 U.S. 800 (1976). Oral arguments were
heard on the defendants' motions on 1/31/2017 (ECF No. 24) and these matters are now before
this Court.
For the following reasons, the defendant's Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 12) is DENIED.
2-0RDER
STANDARD OF REVIEW
To survive a motion to dismiss under FRCP 12(b)(6), a complaint must contain sufficient
factual matter that "state[s] a claim to relief that is plausible on its face." Bell Atlantic Corp. v.
Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). A claim is plausible on its face when the factual allegations
allow the court to infer the defendant's liability based on the alleged conduct. Ashcroft v.
Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 663 (2009). The factual allegations must present more than "the mere
possibility of misconduct." Id. at 678. A complaint also does not suffice if it tenders "naked
assertions" without "further factual enhancement." Twombly, 550 U.S. at 557.
While considering a motion to dismiss, the court must accept all allegations of material
fact as true and construe in the light most favorable to the non-movant. Burget v. Lokelani
Bernice Pauahi Bishop Trust, 200 F.3d 661, 663 (9th Cir. 2000). But the court is "not bound to
accept as true a legal conclusion couched as a factual allegation." Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555. If
the complaint is dismissed, leave to amend should be granted unless the court "determines that
the pleading could not possibly be cured by the allegation of other facts." Doe v. United States,
58 F.3d 494, 497 (9th Cir. 1995).
DISCUSSION
Claims 1 & 2- Monopolization and Attempted Monopolization:
In the plaintiffs' first claim for relief, for monopolization, they allege that Pacific
Seafood's placement and "use of a hoist at the westernmost edge of tax lot 1700 will increase
Pacific Seafood's existing monopoly power position in the Monopolized Markets in violation of
Section 2 of the Sherman Act." (ECF No.
3-0RDER
1at~51).
In the plaintiffs' second claim for relief, for
attempted monopolization, they allege that Pacific Seafood "is attempting to monopolize the
Monopolized Markets and the Yaquina Bay market for Dungeness crab through the use of the
exclusionary practices." (Id at if 55). According to the plaintiffs, both of their claims "arise from
defendants' exercise of monopoly power in the West Coast seafood product input markets for
processed trawl-caught groundfish, Pacific onshore whiting, and Pacific coldwater shrimp
(collectively, the Monopolized Markets), coupled with a robust course of anticompetitive
conduct that PSG has successfully employed to stymie competition, erect unreasonable barriers
to entry, and suppress ex vessel prices in those markets. In addition, plaintiffs' attempted
monopolization claim arises from PSG's use of the same anticompetitive tactics to consolidate
market power in the central Oregon Coast market for Dungeness crab (the Newport Crab
Market)." (ECF No. 14 at p.24).
The defendants argue that "Once the repetitive and irrelevant allegations of the Antitrust
Claims are peeled away to their operative core, it is apparent that Plaintiffs' claims for
monopolization and attempted monopolization are based on a property rights dispute over
Plaintiffs' alleged right to use Pacific Seafood's dock to park fishing vessels delivering seafood
to Plaintiffs' inadequately sized docks." (ECF No. 12 at p.8). They argue that the
monopolization claims fail because Pacific Seafood's docks are not "essential facilities" and that
the "antitrust markets" the plaintiffs wish to define do not exist. (Id at pp. 14-15).
To state a monopolization claim under the Sherman Act (15 U.S.C. § 2), the plaintiffs
must plead facts alleging that: (1) the defendants possess monopoly power in the relevant
market(s); (2) willful acquisition or maintenance of that power; and (3) causal antitrust injury.
Somers v. Apple, Inc., 729 F.3d 953, 963 (9th Cir. 2013). To state a claim for attempted
Monopolization, they must allege: (1) specific intent to control prices or destroy
4-0RDER
competition; (2) predatory or anticompetitive conduct to accomplish the monopolization; (3)
dangerous probability of success; and (4) causal antitrust injury. Pac. Exp., Inc. v. United
Airlines, Inc., 959 F.2d 814, 817 (9th Cir. 1992). Determinations defining relevant antitrust
markets is a question of fact. United States v. Microsoft Corp., 253 F.3d 34, 52 (D.C. Cir. 2001)
(en bane, per curiam). Whether or not an entity is exercising monopoly power is a particular
market is also a question of fact. Olympia Equip. Leasing Co. v. W Union Tel. Co., 797 F.2d
370, 374 (7th Cir. 1986).
Here, the plaintiffs have alleged sufficient facts in their Complaint that antitrust markets
may exist. Specifically, in terms of defining the "Newport Crab Market" as a relevant antitrust
market, the plaintiffs have alleged the following in their Complaint (ECF No. 1):
Input markets for fresh seafood products, including Dungeness crab, are
geographically restricted by the perishable nature of the goods and the substantial
transportation costs associated with catch delivery, particularly fuel. Id at~ 13;
Due to these geographic restrictions, relevant geographic submarkets necessarily
cluster around ports, with West Coast fishermen having no practical alternative but to
deliver their catches to shoreside processors that are within a reasonable steaming
time (approximately 60 to 100 miles) from the point of harvest. Id.;
PSG is the single largest buyer of Dungeness crab within a 60 to 100-mile radius of
Yaquina Bay, accounting for more than 50% of all Dungeness crab purchases in that
zone in each of the past 10 years. Id at~ 17.;
Seafood product markets are subject to significant barriers to entry including inelastic
supply, uncertainty of future supply, and the limited availability of waterfront
locations zoned and suitable for industry participation. Id at~ 14.;
PSG achieved its substantial, sustained market share through a variety of illegal,
anticompetitive tactics, including fraudulent acquisitions, secret anticompetitive
dealings, aggressive consolidation of means of production, suppression of ex vessel
prices, and exclusive dealing and tying arrangements. Id at~ 15 (describing in detail
PSG' s anticompetitive tactics in furtherance of its control of the Monopolized
Markets), ~ 17 (PSG uses the same tactics to extinguish competition and accrue
market power in the Newport Crab Market);
5-0RDER
Through its predatory conduct, PSG has achieved vertical integration, economies of
scale, and absolute cost advantages that protect its ability to maintain and expand its
monopoly power. Id at if 16; and
PSG's goal is to extinguish competition in the Newport Crab Market through its
exclusionary conduct. Id at if 17.
The plaintiffs have also demonstrated sufficient intent and ability to enter the markets.
Specifically, they made a substantial investment in purchasing the three parcels of bayfront
property with the intent to grow their business and enter the markets (ECF No. 14 at p. 30; No. 1
at if 28), they have successfully entered new markets in the past (ECF No. 1 at iii! 27; 43-44).
The plaintiffs have also satisfied the requirement of pleading causal antitrust injury, which
according to the plaintiffs "includes, at minimum, Seawater's loss of business and threat to Mr.
Hamrick's livelihood, disruption of Seawater's entry into new markets, and waste of Front St's
property at tax lots 1800 and 2000." (ECF No. 14 at p.32; No. 1 at iii! 48-49).
Similarly, the issue of whether or not the docks (and access to them via the adjacent
waterways) are "essential facilities" is also a question of fact that has yet to be determined. This
issue is simple. According to the plaintiffs, adequate access to the docks to unload and process
seafood is not only "essential," it is "absolutely imperative" to their entry into the alleged
monopolized markets. (ECF No. 14 at pp. 35-37; No. 1 at if 14; Hamrick Deel. if 7; Webster
Deel. if 3). By definition, "absolutely imperative" demonstrates an "essential" need, especially in
terms of the standard for surviving a motion to dismiss, where the pleadings must be accepted as
true. See Wilson v. Hewlett-Packard Co., 668 F.3d 1136, 1140 (9th Cir. 2012).
Therefore, because whether or not antitrust market(s) exist and whether or not the docks
are "essential facilities" are both questions of fact which have yet to be determined, the
defendants' motion to dismiss the plaintiffs' antitrust claims is denied.
6-0RDER
Claims 3-5 - State Law Claims:
The plaintiffs' third, fourth, and fifth claims for relief are based on Oregon state law for
tortious interference, trespass, and negligence. Their tortious interference claim is based on the
alleged interference by the defendants with their ability to use tax lots 1800 and 2000 for their
"intended purpose" and with interference in their business relationships with fishermen and
vessel owners. (ECF No. 1 at iii! 61-62). Their trespass and negligence claims are both based on
an alleged "ammonia leak" on February 12, 2015, that they claim originated from Pacific
Seafood's cold storage facility located on tax lot 1700, which allegedly damaged live crab stored
by Seawater on tax lot 1800. (Id at iii! 71-72, 75-76).
The defendants argue that these state law claims should be dismissed only if the
plaintiffs' antitrust claims are also dismissed, by this court declining supplemental jurisdiction,
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1367(c)(3). (ECF No. 12 at p.29). Because the defendants' motion to
dismiss the plaintiffs' antitrust claims is denied for the reasons stated above, these claims have
not been addressed by a state court, and because these claims form part of the same case or
controversy at issue in this case, the defendants' motion to dismiss them is denied.
Colorado River Abstention Doctrine:
The defendants argue that even if the Court determines that the pleadings are sufficient to
survive a motion to dismiss, the Court should exercise use the Colorado River (424 U.S. 800
(1976)) abstention doctrine to dismiss or stay this action to allow the parties to litigate the
underlying state law property issues that are pending in state court.
As an initial matter, it should be noted that the plaintiffs filed notice to voluntarily
dismiss their state court action in Lincoln County (Lincoln County Circuit Court case number
7-0RDER
16cv25418) before filing this case in federal court. (ECF No. 17 Ex. F). However, after the
plaintiffs filed to dismiss their state case in order to file this case in federal court, the defendants
filed an objection to the plaintiffs' notice and the case continued, in essence with the defendants
(Pacific Seafoods) then seeking declaratory relief, asking the state court to find that their right of
access to the water in front of their docks was superior to Seawater' s rights, and that any
obstruction of Pacific Seafood's access would be a violation of their rights as a riparian owner.
(ECF No. 30 at pp. 2; 9-10).
On 5/30/2017, summary judgment was granted in Pacific Seafoods' favor by Lincoln
County Circuit Court Judge Paulette Sanders. (ECF No. 30 at p.49). Plaintiffs filed a notice of
appeal to the Oregon Court of Appeals and a motion for stay of the judgment (ECF No. 33-1).
As of today, neither the appeal nor the motion for stay have been ruled on by the state courts.
But this is irrelevant in terms ofthis case because Judge Sanders' two sentence decision in the
state court case (ECF No. 30 at p.49) does not address the claims in this case. Even if the
Oregon Public Trust Doctrine does not apply (as inferred but not specifically stated in Judge
Sanders' ruling), it does not address the plaintiffs' claims that the defendants violated the
antitrust laws of the Sherman and Clayton Acts, nor does it address the plaintiffs' state law
claims for tortious interference, trespass, and negligence.
According to the Ninth Circuit, the Colorado River abstention doctrine is never
appropriate if the state court proceeding will not resolve all issues in the concurrent federal
litigation. Holder v. Holder, 305 F.3d 854, 859 (9th Cir. 2002). Such is the case here.
Therefore, the Colorado River abstention doctrine does not apply.
8-0RDER
CONCLUSION
For these reasons and those stated on the record during oral arguments on 1/31/2017, the
defendants' Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 12) is DENIED. The Court will set a date for a Rule16 Conference to set new case management deadlines and a trial date.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED this 17th day of July, 2017.
\_
-
Michael J. McShane
United States District Judge
9-0RDER
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?