# Petition — Olsen v. Progressive Music Supply, Inc.

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## Record

- **Collection:** Supreme Court brief
- **Document type:** Petition
- **Published:** January 1, 1983
- **Citation:** 464 U.S. 866

## Text

Office - Supreme Court, |

82-209” FILED

| PCED EIN © Pe JUN 6 1983

PSE
MEEAANDER L. STEVA

Inthe Supreme Court of the United States 7

OCTOBER TERM, 1982

CLAIR OLSEN and GUITAR CITY STUDIOS, INC.,
a Utah corporation,
Petitioners,
Vs.
PROGRESSIVE Music SUPPLY, INc., NORLIN MUSIC,
INc., formerly CHICAGO MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS,
and PEAVEY ELECTRONICS, INC.,

Respondents.

PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE
TENTH CIRCUIT

LOWELL V. SUMMERHAYS
EDWARD T. WELLS
Counsel of Record

W. ANDREW CLAWSON

SUMMERHAYS, RUNYAN
& MCCLELLAND

420 Continental Bank Bldg.
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101

Attorneys for Petitioners

Inthe Supreme Court of the United States

OCTOBER TERM, 1982

CLAIR OLSEN and GUITAR CITY STUDIOS, INC.,
a Utah corporation,
Petitioners,
VS.

PROGRESSIVE Music SuPPLY, INC., NORLIN MUSIC,
INc., formerly CHICAGO MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS,
and PEAVEY ELECTRONICS, INC.,
Respondents.

PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE
TENTH CIRCUIT

QUESTIONS PRESENTED

1. Is a plaintiff who has submitted substantial evi-
dence on the anti-competitive affect of the defendants
conduct as an exception to the manufacturer’s normal
distribution system coexisting with a proven illegal
conspiracy entitled to have the defendants answer his
evidence or should defendants be allowed to avoid re-
sponding by virture of a 41(b) Motion?

2. Is unfair competition actionable under the anti-
trust laws as an inseparable part of the federal ques-
tion of conspiracy when it was in furtherance of per se

i

illegal combination, and is the trial court required to
make findings of facts on the issues of unfair competi-
tion and award separate damages for the injuries suf-
fered or can such issues be dismissed in silence?

3. Is a plaintiff who has presented a reasonable
damage theory supported by expert testimony and
demonstratable economic evidence entitled to receive
that measure of his damages or can the damages be
reduced by admitted speculation?

4, Will a private litigants proof of a violation of
Section I of the Sherman Act merge with claims of
Section II violations, or is it proper to dismiss the Sec-
tion II claims by separating the evidence of the proven
Section I violations when considering Section II
claims?

DESIGATION OF CORPORATE RELATIONSHIPS

The Guitar City Studios, Inc. filing this petition for
Writ of Certiorari to the Tenth Circuit Court states
that:

1. This is its original designation of corporation;

2. Guitar City Studios, Inc. is not owned by any
present corporation;

3. Guitar City Studios, Inc. does not have an own-
ership interest in any subsidiaries;

4. Guitar City Studios, Inc. does not have any af-
filiates.

ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
GUMS LIONS PRESENTED .....ncec.cncccccccscccscsesoscscccsspesconcs i
DESIGNATION OF CORPORATE RELATIONSHIPS. © ii
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a So 0 aulbo ks eslaveesalsnbcabvniicbilewowisicbocnl 2
JURISDICTION .................. Ts ee Aeger at he tar ey A IN 2
CONSTITUTIONAL, STATUTES AND RULES ........... 2
ope eg 2) 4. i le So 4 oF || rr 3-6
REASON FOR GRANTING THE WRIT......................... 6
SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT .........0000.000000.. 7
ARGUMENT

PoINtTI THE CIRCUIT COURT ERRED IN AFF-

FIRMING THE DISMISSAL OF PEAVEY

ST TMEEIEIEEY, cxccccdetbatdtriicdtannditiens’ - satndmocas

A. Group Boycott Under Klors....................... 8

B. Petitioner Met His Burden Under

SRR etre alee NOE eine ae tees 11

C. Dismembering The Conspiracy ................. 12
PoIntTII UNFAIR COMPETITION AND THE

PS peg y ty gh | | Sa e eng enen Renee none 13

A. Are Acts of Unfair Competition Action-

able Under The Antitrust Laws’?.............
B. Are Trade Name Infringements And
Unfair Competition An Inseparable
Part Of The federal Question ?................. 17
Point III DAMAGES WERE REDUCED BY

EE I 0h. cel coacclta ends ioe) culate ecpialincticnse 19
PoINTIV THE LOWER COURTS ERRED IN DIS-

MISSING THE SHERMAN ACT SEC-

I Or SEMEN ons sacs cnccacessenstinaancocntsomciaantonns 22
co eee OEE ERL EP
APPENDIX A ......... clade baeevaita Sadeealsieladkenidieabistabbriia ecaaiie la
OM es te ak aantpenantataieteanianniale 2la

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
I TE iia ciate ctiptancdeianaacedsk-cumdehenienenanaeinaaneshctalianesLevsewden 43a
IR ID oc sthcsea inch tos sce dann cas vabdabasadensacammiverinnten 49a
I IF Uc ee I PS OG onic cescicvencnnovessesedecsevncvonssoes 5la
TABLE OF CASES
Albert Pick Barth v. Mitchel Woodbury Corp., 57 F.2d.

96 (1st Cir. cert denied, 286 U.S. 552) (1982)........... 15
Albrecht v. Herald, 452 F.2d 124 (8th Cir. 1971) ....00000...... 22
Atlantic Heel Co. v. Allied Heel Co., 284 F.2d 879

en UI a sass gunnnaloacdomanetie 15
Bigelow v. RKO Pictures, Inc., 327 U.S. 251 (1946) ....... 19
Big O Tires v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., 561 F.2d

EE MI ET io isi rc ic ncaa acclabiacetneneomabcaiinensahant 18
Bluebell Refining Co. v. Frontier Refining Co., 213 F.2d

a ros sass bobiiakabiniomiehes 18
Cadillac Overall Supply Co. v. United States, 568 F.2d

SI I I a asda a canta ioe 8,12
Cherokee Laboratories, Inc. v. Rotary Drilling Services,

BE ae WE COUN GRBs ROWED wivicesesccecsessncseucedercsecsnexens 15
ComTel v. Dukane Corp., 669 F.2d 404 (6th 1982) _......... 10

Continental T.V. v. GTE Sylvania, 433, U.S. 36 (1977)... 7
Continental Ore v. Union Carbide, 370 U.S. 690 (1962)... 7

Eastman Kodak Co. v. Southern Photo Materials Co.,
SE I A i cans iatcecgiehcncnatiiangeok Passim

os —e v. Lysfjord, 246 F.2d 368 (2nd Cir.

ARES RCo KT DRE TR pele Mons aed SPEC I EE 19

Hurn v. Oursler, 289 U.S. 288 (1982) .....0.eee eee 17
Klors v. Broadway Hale Stores, 359 U.S. 207 (1959)....... 7
Lessig v. Tidewater Oil Co., 327 F.2d 459

EIA TIE nestesadstactchoat oesonciehsecidendsisabiansatsvabimtronesixaiscaes 25
Moore v. New York Cotton Exchange, 270 U.S. 593

a ICERIESe Se sel ISS ERE Dv be iar IRS cet ny a 17
Morton Salt v. Royal Crystal Salt, 235 F.2d 573

IY a cauambabvusbibaccoupie 8

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Norville v. Globe Oil and Refining Co., 303 F.2d 281

PU I SUED acesnessnactukescdeenecpcciadcnae ade a aemementel
Northwest Power Products, Inc. v. Omark Industries, Inc.,

Ga: 726 BS. Ce Ca. STO ccd
Parmalee Transportation Co. v. Keeshin, 292 F.2d

WU CORE es BED ce eocecsnccdi cise emenin 15
Perrington Wholesale, Inc. v. Pioneer Dist. Co. of

Kansas, 353 F.2d 618 (10th Cir. 1965) 2000202... 15
Smith v. Dravo Corp., 208 F.2d 388 (7th Cir. 1953)......... 13
Smith Klein Corp. v. Eli Lily & Co., 575 F.2d 1056

CBee Cor. cart. Gimmie TOT) acess ec cescerciccccwecicionns
United States v. Griffiths, 334 U.S. 100 (1948) 2.00200... 24
United States v. International Salt, 332 U.S. 392 (1947). 25
United States v. Swift, 196 U.S. 375 (1905) 2.002 .. 23
Walker Process Equipment, Inc. v. Food Machinery and

Chemical Corp., 382 U.S. 172 (1965) ....................... 25

William Goldman Theaters, Inc. v. Lowe’s Inc., 164
F.2d 1021 (3rd Cir.) cert denied, 334 U.S. 811 (1946) 19
Zenith Radio Corp. v. Hazeltyne Research, 395 U.S.

DOD CID ehicicsncccecciaeniccnccseiacsnieescesecnbaienbeaiasyabestataansin 19
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES

United States Constitution, 5th Amendment ................... 19
United States Constitution, 14th Amendment ................... 19
Sherman Act, §§$ 1 and 2, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1 and 2........... 2
Lanham Trade Mark Act. § 43(a), 15 U.S.C. 1125 (a)..... 2, 18
FF A. ips vince inaniicnacnschentsinmniiicegentasaiianetapamamaiaae 2,17
Wr Te: Cae, GD CY ascitic eset 2,18
Baal Ti Gas Be RD csi si cases aviennicencieeaeia 12
NE Ts Fv GID cacercicnviccctenctce enn 2,18
Boston College Industrial and Commercial Law Review

0 le A MRT ett 16
Kintner Federal Antitrust Law (1980) ........20000000000022..2.-- 23
United States Attorney General’s National Committee

to Study the Antitrust Laws (1955) —.0000000... 23
Von Kalinowsky Anti Trust Laws and Regulations,

RD QHD escetiaeccbisecenceeoteenatennenneainns 20

I

In the Suprenw Court of the United States

OCTOBER TERM, 1982

CLAIR OLSEN and GUITAR CITY STUDIOS, INC.,
a Utah corporation,
Petitioners,
Us.
PROGRESSIVE Music SuPPLY, INC., NORLIN MUSIC,
INc., formerly CHICAGO MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS,
and PEAVEY ELECTRONICS, INC.,

Respondents.

PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE
TENTH CIRCUIT

To the Honorable Warrea Burger, Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court and the Honorable Justices of the
Supreme Court of the United States.

The above-named petitioners respectfully pray that
a Writ of Certiorari be issued to review the judgment
in the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth
Circuit entered in the ahove-entitled cause affirming
the judgment of the United States District Court for
the District of Utah, which was entered in said Court
of Appeals in Case No. 82-1357 and 82-1400 on March
8, 1983.

2

OPINIONS BELOW

The opinion of the Court of Appeals that was en-
tered on March 8, 1983, is unreported at the date of
the printing of this petition, but is reproduced in Ap-
pendix A. The opinion of the United States District
Court for the District of Utah is reported at 1982-2
Trade Cases 64,928 (D. Utah, 1981) and is repro-
duced in Appendix B.

JURISDICTION

The judgment of the Court of Appeals affirming
the judgment of the District Court was entered on
March 8, 1983, and has not been reported as of the
date of the printing of this petition. Jurisdiction of
this Court is invoked under 28 U.S.C. 1254 (1). On
June 3, 1983, time for filing was extended to June 29,
1983 (A-968).

CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS, STATUTES,
AND RULES INVOLVED

This petition involves the following constitutional
provisions, statutes and Federal Rules of Civil Pro-
cedure:

1. The 5th Amendment to the Constitution of the
United States.

2. The 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the
United States.

3. Sherman Act §§1 and 2 15 U.S.C. §$1 and 2.

4, Lanham Trade Mark Act §48(a) 15 U.S.C.
§1125 (a).

5. 15 U.S.C. §1338 (b).

ie

Rule 8(e) [2] Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

~~]
.

Rule 41(b) Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
8. Rule 52(a) Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

which are reproduced in Appendix C.

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

The petitioners sued the respondents and others un-
der $§1 and 2 of the Sherman Act 15 U.S.C. §§$1 and
2 (hereinafter the Sherman Act) seeking treble dam-
ages under $4 of the Clayton Act 15 U.S.C. 18(e).

This lawsuit arises out of factual situations includ-
ing price-fixing, boycott, refusals to deal to protect
the price-fix, and unfair competition.

The purpose of the conspiracy was to protect Pro-
gressive’s price-fix and to destroy competition in the
state of Utah in the line of musical equipment known
as Frets Electronics and Percussion (hereinafter
(FEP). This purpose was accomplished by Progres-
sive conspiring with the defendant manufacturers to
boycott Olsen and other dealers, refusing to deal with
Olsen and other dealers to protect the price-fix, engag-
ing in acts of territorialization trade name infringe-
ment and other acts of unfair competition driving all
other competitors out of the business in order to pro-
tect the price-fix specifically proven as to CBS Instru-
ments.

The acts of unfair competition included trade name
infringement, inducement of the petitioner’s employees
to work for the defendant Progressive in the price-fix,
the taking over of the petitioner’s store locations and

4

customers, the unauthorized use of petitioner’s trade
name secrets (copyrighted music), and the transfer of
franchises.

During the time the conspiracy was in effect, there
was little or no competition with the CBS complete
line of quality instruments.

Named as defendants in petitioner’s complaint and
amended complaint are Progressive Music Supply, Inc.
(hereinafter Progressive); Accoustic Control Corp.
(hereinafter Accoustic); Ovation Instruments, Inc.,
a/k/a Kaman Corp., Norlin Music Inc., formerly Chi-
cago Musical Instruments (hereinafter (Norlin) ; CBS
Musical Instruments (a division of CBS, Inc.), (here-
inafter CBS) ; ARP Instruments (hereinafter ARP) ;
and Peavey Electronics Corporation (hereinafter Pea-

vey).

The claims against ARP and CBS have been dis-
missed. Also, Judge Anderson, the trial judge, granted
several of the defendants’ motions to dismiss on behalf
of claims against Norlin, Ovation, and Peavey. Peti-
tioner’s Section 2 Sherman Act claims against Progres-
sive involving attempt and conspiracy to monopolize
were also dismissed. All claims against Accoustic and
Ovation were dismissed prior to appeal leaving de-
fendants, Norlin, Peavey and Progressive in the ap-

peal.

The trial Court found that Progressive had conspired
with CBS and others to restrain trade by fixing prices
in violation of the Sherman Act, but that Olsen as a
direct horizontal competitor suffered no injury as a
result of this conspiracy. The Court also found that
Progresive had violated Section 1 of the Sherman Act

by conspiring to boycott Olsen from receiving CBS pro-
ducts awarding damages of $4,303.00, before trebling,
plus attorney’s fees.

The Appeliate Court affirmed all of the trial courts
findings.

A new cause of action against CBS arising from con-
tinuation of the same claims awaits decision at the
10th Circuit Court, No. 82-2398.

In 1964, Petitioner Clair Olsen (hereinafter Olsen)
along with George Best and Earl Reed formed Gui-
tars, Inc., using the trade name Guitar City Studios.
The business was started by purchasing from Bud
Eastman his going profitable business including the
franchises of CBS, Chicago Music Instruments (now
Norlin, Inc.) and Gretch Musical Instruments.

Prior to purchasing the above-mentioned franchises,
Olsen had agreements that each of the manufacturers
would deal. However, after the purchase was com-
pleted CBS refused to deal with petitioner. Olsen
proved at the trial that tne CBS’s refusal to deal was
to protect the price-fix.

The three principals of Guitar, Inc., Olsen, Best and
Reed, operated separate stores on a part-time basis.
However, they had entered into a written contract that
when the gross sales reached $50,000.00 per year they
would all work full-time. The $50,000.00 condition was
never met because of the proven conspiracy.

In 1970, disagreements arose between the principals
of Guitars, Inc., because none could earn a living while
the conspiracy was in effect. This caused a separation

6

of the principals to operate independent stores, retain-
ing the corporate form for administrative purposes.

During the time the conspiracy was in effect, Pro-
gressive Music was the largest combo and electronic
instrument dealer in Utah dealing with all the inde-
pendent manufacturers, exclusively with ARP, Ac-
coustic, CBS, Peavey and on some products with Nor-
lin.

In 1974, Olsen began to operate his store full-time
when equipment to compete with the CBS complete
line came into the market. From 1974 to 1978, Olsen’s
business grew from seven percent (7%) of the size of
Progressive’s business to seventy percent (70% ). The
proven demonstratable economic affect of the consipr-
acy continued in effect until at least 1976. The Trial
Court refused to receive any evidence of damages past
1974 and adopted 1975 as the base year to calculate
damages.

REASONS FOR GRANTING THE WRIT

The most important reason for granting the writ is
that the decision of the Court of Appeals is contrary
to the letter and spirit of the antitrust laws, the Fed-
eral Rules of Civil Procedure, and the basic principles
of modern federal practice articulated by this Court,
and the majority of other Circuits. The area of dis-
pute involves basic questions of fundamental rights
guaranteed by the constitution, antitrust laws, and
federal civil procedure of which the Tenth Circuit is
in conflict with the decisions of the U. S. Supreme
Court and many of the Circuits. This subject has im-

portance to the antitrust practitioner and to this Court

T

in its capacity as overseer of the administration of jus-
tice in the federal court system.

SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT

Petitioners Argument will focus on the four ques-
tions presented. In the first part of the Argument Peti-
tioner will discuss the propriety of the lower court’s
dismissing the Defendant manufacturers Norlin and
Peavey, pursuant to Rule 41(b) in lieu of the evidence
showing the anticompetitive effects of the exception
to their normal distribution systems.

Next, Petitoner will focus on the impropriety of the
lower court’s dismissing in silence the unfair compe-
tition claims after commenting that they did impact
unfairly on the Petitioner.

Next, Petitioner will focus on the impropriety of the
lower court’s reducing the damages by mere specula-
tion. Petitioners will then conclude by discussing the
Trial Court dismissing the $2 claims.

ARGUMENT
POINT I

THE CIRCUIT COURT ERRED IN AFFIRMING
THE DISMISSAL OF PEAVEY AND NORLIN.

The Circuit Court’s decision in this case is in conflict
with this Court’s holding in Klors ». Broadway Hale
Stores, 359 U.S. 207 (1959) ; Continental T.V. v. GTE
Sylvania, 433 U.S. 36 (1977) and Continental Ore v.
Union Carbide and Carbon Corp., 370 U.S. 690 (1962).
Also, the decision is in conflict with the Fifth Cireuit

8

in Cadillac Overall Supply Co. v. United States, 568
F. 2d 1078 (5th Cir. 1978), as well as with its own
holding in Morton Salt Co. v. Royal Crystal Salt Co.,
235 F. 2nd 573 (10th Cir. 1956).

The decision in this case is at odds with the above-
mentioned cases in three areas. First, the petitioner
proved a group boycott under Klors, supra, and the
court erred in dismissing Norlin and Peavey pursuant
to a 41(b) Motion. Second, petitioner further proved
that the refusals to deal by Peavey and Norlin to grant
Progressive an exclusive dealing, had an anticompeti-
tive effect in the market as required under GTE Syl-
vania, supra, rule of reason analysis and therefore it
was improper to dismiss Norlin and Peavey on a 41 (b)
Motion. Third, the court’s dismissal of Norlin and Pea-
vey dismembered the conspiracy contrary to this
Court’s holding in Continental Ore, supra. Each of the
above-mentioned areas will be discussed separately.

A. GROUP BOYCOTT UNDER KLORS, SUPRA

In Klors, supra, that court held that an agreement
between a retailer and various manufacturers to ex-
clude a horizontal competitor from receiving certain
products constituted a group boycott that was a per se
violation of the antitrust laws. This court noted in
Klors that the alleged conduct was: “not a case of a
single trader refusing to deal with another, nor even
of a manufacturer and a dealer agreeing to an exclus-
ive distributorship. Alleged in this complaint is a wide
combination consisting of manufacturers distributors
and a retailer.” Id. at 210. The court goes on to state
that the combination took away Klors’ freedom to buy

products in ‘an open competitive market.” Id.

Like Klors, supra, the Petitioner alleged the same
type of conspiracy between a retailer and the various
manufacturers. At trial, the Petitioner submitted the
following evidence establishing the parallel conduct of
the conspitacy which should have precluded the grant-
ing of Norlin and Peavey’s 41(b) Motion.

The evidence showed that Progressive was the larg-
est retailer of FEP in the State of Utah. See, T. Ex.
P-103, Penman Depo. p. 29. Progressive’s business pol-
icy was to be protected from price competition. See,
undisputed testimony T. April 30, 1979, p. 22. The
protection from price competition was achieved by Pro-
gressive’s policy of seeking and obtaining exclusive
dealing agreements with manufacturers Penman Depo.
p. 85 and by cornering the best lines in the trade T.
May 21, 1979, pp. 111-114, to sell at noncompetitive
price. T. Vol. II, p. 249.

Norlin participated in the conspiracy in the follow-
ing manner: It created an exception to its normal dis-
tribution system by granting to Progressive an ex-
clusive on its synthesizeis, Pearl Drum products and
electronic keyboards, in the State of Utah T. Ex. P. 87,
88 and 89, allowing Progressive to sell them at non-
competitive prices above retail.

Norlin eliminated all the competitors on its Pearl
Drum products by refusing to sell to Petitioners and
other dealers, even though Norlin’s own business rec-
ords show that Petitioners were authorized to pur-
chase the drums. See T. Exp. p. 87, 88 and 89; A-12 and
T. Vol. V p. 1190.

As mentioned above, Norlin created an exception to
its normal distribution policy. The Sixth Circuit in

10

Com-Tel, Inc. v. DuKane Corporation, 669 F. 2d 404,
(6th Cir. 1982), based on GTE Sylvania, supra, held
that an exception to the normal distribution policy com-
bined with an anticompetitive effect created a per se
violation of the antitrust laws. Therefore, the fact that
Norlin’s exclusive with Progressive was an exception
and anticompetitive would require a holding that Nor-
lin had violated the antitrust laws.

Peavey participated in the conspiracy in the follow-
ing manner: Peavey granted Progressive an exclusive
to allow Progressive to fix high noncompetitive prices,
Penman Depo. pp. 67 and 109. Peavey would not make
independent decisions to deal but, gave the name to
Progressive to control the price-fixing, Penman Depo.
pp. 88-89.

Peavey agreed with Progressive to stop national ad-
vertising of lower prices so that Progressive could
maintain higher prices. See, T. April 30, 1979, p. 59,
The exclusive between Peavey and Progressive was an
exception to Peavey’s normal distribution system. See,
T. April 30, 1979, pp. 62-63. Like Norlin, this would re-

quire a per se violation pursuant to Com-Tel, Inc.,
supra.

The Petitioner proved that both Norlin and Peavey
participated in the conspiracy in order to protect Pro-
gressive’s price-fix. The Defendants have consistently
tried to characterize their conduct as vertical restric-
tion under GTE Sylvania, supra, requiring a rule of
reason analysis. However, the clear weight of the evi-
dence shows that the purpose of the restraints was to
protect the Progressive price-fix. Therefore, under this
Court’s reasoning in Klors, supra, a per se standard

1]

should have been applied requiring a finding that both
Peavey and Novlin’s parallel conduct established their
participation in the group boycott.

B. PETITIONER MET ITS BURDEN UNDER
GTE SYLVANIA, SUPRA.

Even if this Court rejects the per se argument stated
above, the Circuit Court’s decision is in conflict with
this Court in G7'E Sylvania, supra.

In GTE Sylvania, supra, this Court held that non-
price vertical restriction were to be evaluated under
the rule of reason standard. If the Court were to adopt
the rule of reason standard then the Petitioner would
have to prove the anticompetitive effect in the rele-
vant market, GTE Sylvania, supra.

The demonstrable economic effect showed that both
Peavey’s and Norlin’s exception to their normal distri-
bution system produce an anticompetitive effect in that
they eliminated competition in Utah while competition
flourished in surrounding states as to Peavey, T. April
30, 1979, p. 62-63, T. Exp. p. 87, 88 and 89 as to Norlin.
Progressive’s prices were higher than in surrounding
states, T. Exs. A-1, p. 96, and there was no business
reason for the higher prices, they just raised prices to
whatever they wanted, T. April 30, 1979, pp. 34-36.

As to proving the effect in a relevant market, the
petitioner established the relevant market was profes-
sional instrument as opposed to amateur instrument.
See, Fasiman Kodak Co. v. Southern Photo Material
Co., at 273 U.S. 576 (1927). However, the lower courts
rejected this classification implying that it was im-

12

proper. In this regard, the lower court is in conflict
with Eastman Kodak Co., supra, in which this Court
had no problem with such professional versus ama-
teur classification. For the Trial Court to grant Norlin
and Peavey’s 41(b) Motion in the face of the demon-
strable economic effect without requiring any evidence
as to the reasonableness of the exception to their nor-
mal distribution policy or to even allow inquiry into
what those policies were is to replace the rule of rea-
son analysis with an assumption of reasonableness
rule. Therefore, this Court should grant the Writ of
Certiorari to review this aspect alone.

Furthermore, to allow the dismissal of Norlin and
Peavey pursuant to a 41(b) Motion, the Court “must
consider the evidence in its strongest light in favor of
the party against whom the Motion for a directed ver-
dict is made and must give him the advantage of every
fair and reasonable intendment that the evidence can
justify.” Continental Ore, supra.

C. DISMEMBERING THE CONSPIRACY.

In this case, the Petitioner submitted evidence and
the Court found that Progressive Music conspired to
fix prices. Evidence was also submitted showing that
both Norlin and Peavey joined in that conspiracy by
refusing to deal with the Petitioners in order to protect
the price-fix. The law is clear that it only takes a small
amount of evidence to join a defendant to a proven con-
spiracy. Cadillac Overall Supply, supra; Morton Salt
Co., supra.

Furthermore, by affirming the dismissal of Peavey
and Norlin, the Circuit Court is in conflict with this
Court’s holding in Continental Ore, supra. In Conti-

13

nental Ove, supra, this Court held that the conspiracy
should not be dismembered, but should be viewed as a
whole. by dismissing Peavey and Norlin, the District
Court dismembered the conspiracy which dismember-
ing was arilimed by the Circuit Court in conflict with
Continental Ore, supra.

ARGUMENT
POINT Il

UNFAIR COMPETITION AND THE
ANTITRUST LAWS

At trial the Petitioners presented evidence on sev-
eral aspects of unfair competition in furtherance of a
conspiracy violating the antitrust laws. The unfair
competition consisted of infringement of exact trade
name, inducement of employees to work for Defen-
dants in the price-fixing conspiracy, the take-over of
Petitioner’s store locations, use of Petitioner’s trade
secrets (copyrighted music) and transfer of fran-
chises. While the trial court commented that the trade
name infringement impacted unfairly on the Petition-
ers’ it dismissed the trade name infringement, along
with other unfair competition issues in silence by fail-
ing to make any findings of fact on those issues.

The failure to make findings of fact is clearly erron-
eous pursuant to Rule 52(a) of the lederal Rules of
Civil Procedure and is reversible error. Smith v. Dravo
Corp., 208 F. 2d 388 (7th Cir, 1953). Citing controlling
Supreme Court precedent.

The trial court’s dismissal of the unfair competition
issue in silence leaves one with uncertainty as to what

14

the court’s intentions were concerning those aspects of
the litigation. For the Circuit Court to follow suit by
not addressing the issue only furthers the uncertainty.

The lower court’s failure to address the unfair com-
petition issue creates a strong impression that the
courts considered the unfair competition issues either
did not raise to the level of the federal question or they
are not actionable for damages under the antitrust
laws.

Like the District Court, the Circuit Court failed to
address the issue of unfair competition. The Circuit
Court’s failure to specifically address the issue places
it in conflict with the other circuits holding that a
failure to make finding is reversible error. Smith v.
Dravo Corp., supra.

Furthermore, the Circuit Court’s failure to address
the issue and in effect dismissing it again in silence,
raises the uncertainty issue. The Petitioners will ad-
dress the above mentioned uncertainty as follows:

A. ARE ACTS OF UNFAIR COMPETITION
ACTIONABLE UNDER THE ANTITRUST
LAWS?

If we are to assume that by dismissing in silence the
trade name infringement and unfair competition the
court was making a statement that those issues are
not actionable under §1 of the Sherman Act. The Tenth
Circuit Court has then stepped into the middle of the
significant raging conflict between the circuits which
then compels this Court to hear this case in order to
resolve the dispute.

15

A review of the case law shows that two views have
been adopted among the circuits that have decided the
issue of unfair competition being actionable under the
antitruct 'ev's. First, the so-called “narrow view” fol-
lowed in c.e Seventh Circuit that unfair competition
is not actionable under the antitrust laws, Norville v.
Globe Oil and Pefining Co., 308 F. 2d 281 (7th Cir.
1962) (affirming the dismissal of the complaint in
alleging unfair competition as violation of §1 of the
Sherman Act) and Parmelee Transportation Co. v.
Keeshin, 292 F. 24 794 (7th Cir. 1961) (finding no
antitrust violation whee various acts of unfair com-
petition were engaged in, including the bribing of pub-
lic officials). The second view, the so-called “broad
view” followed by the First, Third and Fifth Circuits,
and formerly the Tenth Circuit, that unfair competi-
tion is actionable for damages under the antitrust laws.
See Albert Pick Barth v. Mitchell Woodbury Corp., 57
F. 2d 96 (1st Cir.) cert. denied, 286 U.S. 552 (1932)
(holding that conspiracies involving unfair trade prac-
tices establish a per se violation). Atlantic Heel Co. v.
Allied Hecl Co., 284 F. 2d 879 (1st Cir. 1960); Per-
rington Wholesale, Inc. «. Pioneer Dist. Co. of Kansas,
353 F.2d 618 (10th Cir. 1965) ; Northwest Power Pro-
ducts, Inc. v. Omark Industries, Inc., 576 F. 2d 83
(5th Cir. 1978) and Cheiolee Laboratories, Inc. v. Ro-
tary Drilling Services, 383 F. 2d 97 (5th Cir. 1967).

All of the cases mentioned under the “broad view”
hold that there is a cause of action under §1 of the
Sherman Act for unfair competition. However, there
still is some uncertainty and conflict between whether
a per se standard is to be applied or rule of reason
approach is to be used. See Atlantic Heel Co. v. Allied

16

Heel Co., supra, a First Circuit case as opposed to
Northwest Power Products, Inc. v. Omark Industries,
Inc., supra, a Fifth Circuit case.

In any event, the one thing that is clear is that there
is a considerable amount of uncertainty and conflict
between the circuits with little guidance from this
Court as to whether or not unfair competition is ac-
tionable under the antitrust laws and as to what stan-
dards should be used. As pointed out in 18 Boston Col-
lege Industrial and Commercial Law Review, p. 239
at 274:

Pick Barth and its progeny, pro and con, have
been with us for more than four decades. The
courts have, however, failed to develop a sound
and uniform approach to the issues raised by the
cases, to the contrary in many instances they have
adopted rather arbitrary positions which are in-
consistent with federal antitrust policy.

(Emphasis added.) Also, as pointed out in Northwest
Power, supra: “Even if we were to adopt the law of
the forum state, the cases defining unfair competition
are likely to be in noticeable disarray.” (Emphasis add-
ed.)

The controversy whether unfair competition is ac-
tionable under the anti-trust laws has not been resolved
at the time of filing this appeal. See J. McCarthy,
Trade Marks and Unfair Competition, Vol. 1 Pocket
Supplement 1982 §§ 1-3, 1-9, and 1-14 and cases cited.

Due to the great uncertainty over the question whe-
ther unfair trade practices are actionable under the
antitrust laws, it is imperative that this Court exer-
cise its discretion and grant the Writ of Certiorari to

17

review the decision of the Circuit Court to solve the
controversy. The following questions require this Court
to render an answer:

1. Is uncair competition actionable in the Federal
Court under the antitrust laws? If so, which standard
should be applied?

2. Is there a federal law of unfair competition? If
so, what is the extent of its jurisdiction?

3. Specifically with regard to the case above, is the
infringement of a direct competitor’s trade name in
the furtherance of a proven per se illegal conspiracy
actionable for damage? If so, what are the measures
of damages and should the per se rule be applied to
that issue?

B. ARE TRADE NAME INFRINGEMENTS
AND UNFAIR COMPETITION AN
INSEPARABLE PART OF THE FEDERAL
QUESTION?

If we are to accept the Court’s dismissal of this
issue in silence, it leads to the conclusion that the lower
courts felt that the trade name infringement and other
unfair competition issues are not part of the federal
question. The decision of the Circuit Court is clearly
in conflict with this Court’s holding in Hurn v Ours-
ler, 289 U.S. 238 (1932) in 28 U.S.C. 13888(b) and
Moore v. New York Cotton Exchange, 270 U.S. 598
(1926) cited in Hurn, supra, as to antitrust (which
holds that the federal courts do have jurisdiction over
unfair competition claims even after the federal claim
has been dismissed), and also with the Circuit Court’s

18

own holding in Big “O” Tires v. Goodyear Tire & Rub-
ber Co., 561 F. 2d 1365 (10th Cir. 1977).

Therefore, this Court should grant the Writ of Cer-
tiorari because it is clear that our Circuit Court is out
of line with the rest of the federal courts.

C. DENIAL OF DUE PROCESS.

Furthermore, the Tenth Circuit’s dismissal in si-
lence of the unfair competition is a fundamental denial
of due process to the Petitioner in this case. Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure 8(e) (2) provides that Plain-
tiff is entitled to as many causes of action as he has.
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 52(a) provides that
in cases tried by the Court, it is required that the Court
make findings of facts and not dismiss the issues in
silence.

In this case, Petitioner put forth evidence that the
Respondent/Defendant Progressive Music infringed
Petitioner’s exact trade name as part of the conspiracy
to violate the antitrust laws and to drive Petitioner out
of business. It is well settled that infringement is ac-
tionable for damages even in cases of similarity of in-
fringement. Bluebell Refining Co. v. Frontier Refining
Co., 213 F. 2d 354 (10th Cir. 1954). More recently the
Tenth Circuit Court has also held that the Lanham
Trade-Mark Act §43 (a) 15 U.S.A. §1125(a) pro-
tects even trade name infringement where there is not
a registered trademark but only a common law trade-
mark. In Big “O” Tire Co. v. Goodyear Tire Co., 561
F. 2d 1365 (10th Cir. 1977), the law being clear that
the trade name infringement is an actionable cause of
damage. For the lower courts to dismiss the issue in
silence by failing to make findings of fact on the issue

19

presents a clear question of the Petitioner being de-
nied due process of law guaranteed by the Fifth and
Fourteenth Amendments. Such denial of due process
mandates that this Court should grant the Writ of
Certiora:i and reverse the Circuit and District Court’s
on that issue alone so that the substantial rights of
Petitioner ave protected. Otherwise, the rules, statutes
and constitution become meaningless.

POINT III

DAMAGES VW7ERE REDUCED BY
SPECULATION.

The Cireuit Court’s caleulation of damages is in con-
flict with this Court in Zenith Radio Corporation v.
Hazeltyne Rescarch, 895 U.S. 100 (1969) ; Bigelow v.
RKO Pictures, Inc., 327 U.S. 261 (1946), and East-
man Kodak Co. v. Southern Photo Material Co., 273
U.S. 359 (1927) as well as with other circuits in Flint-
kote Company v. Lysfjord, 246 F. 2d. 368 (2d Cir.
1957), and William Goldman Theaters, Inc. v. Lowe's,
Inc., 164 F. 2d 1021 (3:d Cir.) cer. denied, 334 U.S.
811 (1946).

At trial, the Court concluded the Petitioners proved
a reasonable damage theory based on market share,
T. Ex. p. 248. Defendants presented a damage theory
based on sales, T. Ex. A-30, unsupported by any expert
testimony. However, the Trial Court adopted defen-
dant’s damage theory then reduced damages by an ad-
ditional thirty percent (80° ) based on admitted specu-
lation. The speculation being the amount that Peti-
tioner damages should be reduced because of the effect
of Petitioner going to work full-time in 1974. The

20

Court stated that no direct evidence on this point was
introduced at trial. Amended Findings p. 39a.

In affirming the Trial Court’s reduction based on
admitted speculation, the Tenth Circuit in direct con-
flict with the above-mentioned cases, which hold that
Plaintiff is entitled to his reasonable, proven damages
and to the highest damage award that can be proved
at trial. As the Second Circuit held in Lowe’s, supra;
when two equally supported theories of damages are
introduced to the Court, the higher of the two must be
used. In this case, two reasonable theories were intro-
duced and the Court should have applied the higher
theory introduced by Petitioners. However, the Court
did not even accept the lower of the two reasonable
theories, but rather adopted its own theory admit-
tedly based on speculation.

The Court reasoned that because Olsen was working
full-time during the base year, part of his profits
should be used in determining damages and, accord-
ingly, reduced the amount of profits in that year by
thirty percent (30%). The Court admits that no direct
evidence was introduced supporting its arbitrary re-
duction, Therefore, the allocation of profit in reducing
damages could only be based on pure speculation.

The arbitrary reduction of damages without some
proof determining the amount of the allocation is in
direct conflict with this Court’s holdings in Bigelow,
supra, and Eastman Kodak, supra. These cases hold
that the burden of uncertainty is on the wrongdoer.
See also Von Kalinowski Antitrust Laws and Regula-
tions, §115.02(2).

The Circuit Court’s decision is also in conflict with
Zenith Radio Corp, supra. In that case, this Court held

21

that defendant has the burden to prove other causes
of the plaintiff’s injuries once the injury has been
proven. In effect, the Trial Court by the arbitrary
reduction in damages places the burden on the Peti-
tioners to clear up uncertainty and to prove no other
causes of their injuries.

In addition, the Trial Court’s reasoning overlooks
the evidence that argues against the reduction of the
damages. That evidence being that during the conspir-
acy, Guitars, Inc., had three people managing three
stores on a part-time basis and they could not pene-
trate the market because of the boycott and refusal to
deal to protect the price-fix. Even if some of the in-
crease in profit after the end of the boycott could be
attributable to the fact that Olsen was now working
full-time, no reduction should have been made because
the evidence clearly gives the inference that Olsen’s
failure to work full-time was due to the boycott. There-
fore, the amount of profits that he lost because of his
inability to penetrate the market and consequently be-
ing unable to work full-time and make a living, is sim-
ply a part of his damagvs. If there was any evidence
on the issues of the amount of his profits, that could
be attributed to his working full-time. That would be
simply one element of his damages which he should be
able to recover because of the conspiracy barring his
efforts to penetrate the market.

In effect, the Court is stating that Olsen was in con-
trol of the conspiracy and could have ended it at any
time by going to work full-time. Not only is the above
thought ludicrous, it is contrary to the evidence. The
demonstrable economic evidence shows that even if
Olsen was working seven (7) days a week 365 days a
vear, he still could not have penetrated the market. See

22

Plaintiff’s Exhibit 221 Appendix D, which shows that
during the time the conspiracy was in effect no one
could penetrate the CBS market in Utah.

The Trial Court also made an error by failing to
award multiple damages where separate multiple in-
juries were proven. Plaintiff is entitled to recover dam-
ages for injuries sustained by way of the boycott, re-
fusal to deal to protect the price-fix, and trade name
infringement. Failure of the Trial Court to award
damages for these multiple causes of injury is in con-
flict with Albrecht v. Herald, 452 F. 2d 124 (8th Cir.
1971). See also 16 ALR Fed. 14 and Zenith, supra,
holding that the plaintiff is entitled to recover mul-
tiple damages for multiple injuries. Consequently the
Court should grant a Writ of Certiorari in this case so
they can review the decisions on damages and resolve
the dispute.

POINT IV

THE LOWER COURTS ERRED IN DISMISSING
THE SHERMAN ACT SECTION 2 CLAIMS.

Petitioners § 2 claims consist of conspiracy and at-
tempt to monopolize. The lower courts dismissed the
§ 2 conspiracy to monopolize claims based on Petition-
ers failure to prove two of the four required elements
of proof in § 2 conspiracy to monopolize cases. Those
two elements are: 1) an appreciable amount of com-
merce; 2) specific intent.

With regard to the commerce issue, the lower courts
findings are clearly erroneous under the test of Fed-
eral Rules of Civil Procedure 52(a) or they will stand
as new precedent setting law as the single exception

bo
ie)

case in the entire judicial system where the effect on
commerce was satisfied for a § 1 violation of the Sher-
man Act, but not for a § 2 violation. See, Amended
Findinrs 2* Conclusion of Law No. 4, where the com-
merce requirements are met for a § 1 violation. See,
Tenth Circuit Opinion at p. lla, where the commerce
requirement is not met for § 2 claims. Also see, Kint-
ner, “Federal Aniitrust Law,” Vol. II, 1980 §14.4, n.
27. “Indeed there exists no reported case in which the
subject of a conspiracy to monopolize has been held to
be too small to constitute, ‘an appreciable part’ of com-
merce. See generally, 2 J. Von Kalinowski Antitrust
Laws and Trade Regulations. § 9.01 [4], (1976). (Em-
phasis added.)

The lower court rulings in our case separated the
proven § 1 conspiracy issues from the § 2 claims when
they should have allowed the § 1 evidence to merge with
the § 2 claims. United States Attorney General Na-
tional Committee to Study the Antitrust Laws, (1955),
p. 61 § «., citing United States v. Swift, 196 U.S. 375,
(1905) for the basic statement of the rule, in part:
“When a conspiracy or combination is involved proof
of this intent merges with proof of the conspiracy.”
(Emphasis added. )

Addressing the specific intent issue, this Circuit
Court’s opinion is in conflict with itself. This is evi-
denced where Petitioners meet the specific intent bur-
den of proof under attempt to monopolize. Tenth Cir-
cuit Opinion at p. 9a. Then, inexplicably, Petitioners
fail to meet the burden of specific intent in the same
conspiracy under conspiracy to monopolize. See, Tenth
Circuit Opinion at p. 12a.

The lower courts dismissed the § 2 attempt to mon-
opolize claims based on Petitioners failure to prove

24

two of the four required elements of proof in attempt
cases. Those elements are: 1) dangerous probability ;
and 2) relevant market.

Addressing the dangerous probability issue, the low-
er courts opinions are clearly erroneous because proof
of dangerous probability merges with proof of the § 1
violation. United States v. Swift, supra. Specifically,
the lower courts found a legal monopoly coexistent with
an illegal conspiracy. Tenth Circuit Opinion at p. 11a.
The lower courts also made conflicting findings. See,
Amended Findings at p. 38a, where there was little com-
petition for CBS instruments until 1974-75. Such a
finding makes the CBS legal monopoly illegal. Sinith
Klein Corp v. Eli Lilly & Co., 575 F. 2d 1056, (8rd
Cir.) cert. denied, (1978), citing the narrow or intra-
brand rule for monopoly. The lower courts in our case
made no effort to explain the legal monopoly as it re-
lated to intrabrand competition, where little interbrand
competition existed as to the complete line of CBS in-
struments.

Addressing the relevant market issue, relevant mar-
ket is not required in per se cases; United States v.
Griffiths, 334 U.S. 100, 92 L. Ed. 1248, (1948). Our
case is a per se case. See, Tenth Circuit Opinion at
p. 13a. Petitioners attempted to use a professional in-
strument market as separated from an amateur instru-
ment market. That theory was rejected by the lower
courts, thereby inferring that amateurs and profes-
sionals play the same instruments. Petitioners market
theory was a classic viable theory. Hastman Kodak v.
Southern Photo Material Co., at 273 U.S. 376, 47 S. Ct.
404, Even so, the CBS market in Utah was totally ex-
clusionary, eliminating all competitors to protect anti-
competitive price-fixing. See, Trial Exhibit P-221 at-

bo
or

tached in Appendix D. If the lower court opinions are
allowed to stand in our case, this will be the first case
on record to find a legal monopoly where competitors
have been foreclosed from a substantial market to pro-
tect illegal price-fixing. See, United States v. Interna-
tional Salt, 382 U.S. 392, 68 S. Ct. 12 (1947), where
such foreclosures are per se illegal.

There also exists in the judiciary, a significant con-
troversy between the circuits as to what elements of
proof are required in § 2 attempt and conspiracy cases.
Lessig v. Tidewater Oi! Co., 327 F. 2d 459 (9th Cir.
1964). Dangerous probability and relevant market
were not required in Lessig, supra, to prove a viola-
tion. The Supreme Court has never directly confronted
the Lessiy case exception to guide the judiciary, leav-
ing only dicta to assure uniformity in the judicial pro-
cess. Walker Process Equip., Inc. v. Food Machinery
& Chenical Corp., 382 U.S. 172, 86S. Ct. 347, (1965).
Cited for that purpose in Kintner, supra, Vol. II § 13.

The lower courts holdings on the § 2 claims creates
confusion in interpreting the antitrust laws. This is so
because the lower courts held that Petitioner was ac-
tively and aggressively fi shting the conspiracy to mon-
opolize in his efforts travelling around the country
to gather product wherever he could and thereby pre-
cluding monopoly. See, Tenth Cireuit Opinion at p. 9a.
“The likelihood that monopolization would occur was
very remote because Olscn showed himself to be a very
aggressive competitor.” The Cireuit Opinion is saying
that if one competitor is vigorously defending the right
of free enterprise and competition in this country, then
those attempting to monopolize will never be held liable
for damages even though they may have driven all

other competitors in the geographical market from the

26

trade. Since that is exactly what happened in our case,
specifically as to the CBS line of goods for which there
was little competition until 1974-75, that holding alone
should spark this Court to grant a Writ of Certiorari
to the Opinion of the Circuit Court to see that justice
is done in the Court’s capacity as supervisor of the
antitrust laws.

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons Petition’s respectfully re-
quest this court to issue a Writ of Certiorari to the
United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
to review the decision of that Court.

JUN 15 1993
DATED this 20... day Of c..ccccsccccseseeeeee , 1983.

Respectfully submitted,

SUMMERHAYS, RUNYAN

&
Wl jas dcbabiveniivcageaen
LOWELL V. SUMMERHAYS

EDWARD T. WELLS

Counsel of Record

W. ANDREW CLAWSON

Attorneys for Petitioners

la

APPENDIX A

PUBLISH
UNIT!D STATES COURT OF APPEALS
TINT CIRCUIT
No. 82-1857 and 82-1400

CLAIR OLSEN and GUITAR CITY STUDIOS, INC.,
a Utah Corporation,
Plaintiffs-Appellants,

vs.

PROGRESSIVE MUsic SUPPLY, INC.;
NORLIN Music, INc., formerly
CHICAGO MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; and
PEAVEY ELECTRONICS, INC.,
Defendants-Appellees.

Appeal from the Un'ted States District Court
for the District of Utah
(D.C. No. C-75-158)

EDWARD T. WELLS and W. ANDREW CLAWSON of Summerhays,
Runyan and McClelland, Salt Lake City, Utah (LOWELL V.
SUMMERHAYS, of Summerhays, Runyan and McClelland, Salt

Lake City, Utah, on the brief), for Plaintiffs-Appellants.

STEPHEN G. CROCKETT, of Larsen, Kimball & Parr, Salt Lake
City, Utah, for Defendant-Appellee Progressive Music Sup-

ply, Inc.

2a

BRYCE E. ROE, of Roe and Fowler, Salt Lake City, Utah, for
Defendant-Appellee Norlin Music, Inc., formerly Chicago
Musical Instruments.

CURTIS L. FRISBIE, JR., of Gardere & Wynne, Dallas, Texas
(Mark W. Bayer, of Gardere & Wynne, Dallas, Texas, with
him on the brief), for Defendant-Appellee Peavey Electron-
ics, Inc.

Before MCWILLIAMS, DOYLE and SEYMOUR,
Circuit Judges

DOYLE, Circuit Judge

The plaintiff Olsen does business as Guitar City
Studios, Inc., and he brings this action pursuant to
Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. $$ 1
and 2, and Section 2(e) of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C.
13(e).

Named as defendants in Olsen’s complaint and
amended complaint are Progressive Music Supply, Inc. ;
Acoustic Control Corporation; Ovation Instruments,
Ine. (a/k/a Kaman Corporation) ; Norlin Music, Inc.
(formerly Chicago Musical Instrument Company) ;
CBS Musical Instruments (a division of CBS, Inc.) ;
ARP Instruments, Inc.; and Peavey Electronics Cor-
poration.

The claims against ARP and CBS have been dis-
missed. Also, Judge Anderson, the trial judge, granted
several of the defendants’ motions to dismiss on behalf
of claims against Norlin, Ovation, Acoustic and Pea-
vey. Olson’s Section 2 Sherman Act claims against Pro-
gressive involving an attempt to monopolize and con-
spiracy to monopolize were also dismissed.

3a

Finally, the court found that there were only two
counts on behalf of the appellants which had merit.
First, the court determined that Progressive had con-
spired to restrain trade in violation of Section 1 of the
Sherman Act. The court, however, found that Olsen
had suffered no injury as a result of this conspiracy,
and so the cour't concluded that Olsen was not entitled
to damages based on this conduct. Second, the court
held that Progressive had violated Section 1 of the
Sherman Act by conspiring to boyeott Olsen from re-
ceiving CBS products. Damages were found to total
$4,308, which, after tre»ling, amounted to $12,909.

I,
FACTUAL BACKGROUND

Olsen was and is engaged in the retail sale of mu-
sical instruments in the Salt Lake City, Utah area.
During the period commencing in 1964 and continu-
ing to 1975, Olsen’s business was conducted under the
name of “Guitars, Inc.,” a Utah corporation. One of
the several people associated with Olsen in this venture
was George Best. Until 1970, Olsen operated an out-
let at Kaysville, Utah, and Best operated an outlet at
Bountiful, Utah. Guitars, Inc. ordered instruments for
both stores, paid half of the telephone bills of each
store, and held the franchises in its name. The proceeds
from sales by the stores were forwarded to Guitars,
Inc. After the bills were paid, those proceeds were di-
vided among Olsen, Best and an associate named Ste-
ven Hight.

During the year 1970 there was a disagreement be-
tween Olsen and Best, and they executed a separation
agreement which essentially terminated all business
relations between them, and then each began conduct-

4a

ing his own business operation, essentially as sole pro-
prietors of each store. Guitars, Inc. still served as a
purchasing entity. Following this division, Best en-
tered into a brokerage agreement with the defendant
Progressive Music Supply, Inc., which is said to be one
of the largest retail music instrument dealers in Utah.

In February of 1975, Olsen formed a new corpora-
tion, Guitar City Studios, Inc., and during the time
leading up to that several changes were made in OI-
sen’s business. Prior to 1974, Olsen had operated his
Kaysville store on a part-time basis. In 1974 he moved
his location and commenced business full-time. Olsen
had also added a repair service to his business.

Following the changes made in his business opera-
tions, Olsen’s sales increased dramatically. Prior to
1974 he sold about 7% of the volume that was sold by
Progressive, the market leader in Utah. After chang-
ing his business to a full-time operation, Olsen’s sales
rose, until in 1977, they were approximately 70% of
Progressive’s sales.

After Best entered into the brokerage agreement
with Progressive in 1971, Olsen maintained that he
had difficulties in obtaining musical instruments from
various manufacturers. The defendant manufacturers
involved in the present litigation were willing to make
Olsen a dealer, but later refused to sell to Olsen, due
to commitments to Progressive. This is according to
Olsen’s allegations. Olsen maintains that he was thus
forced to obtain or bootleg instruments through other
dealers at higher costs, and that this caused actual fin-
ancial loss. As a result, in April of 1975, Olsen and
Guitar City Studies, Inc., brought suit against Pro-
gressive and six manufacturers.

oa

The case based upon Section 1 of the Sherman Act
alleges that Progressive conspired separately and joint-
ly with each manufacturer to fix prices, establish Pro-
gressive as ecch manufacturer’s exclusive dealer in the
state of Utah, terminate Olsen’s dealing in each manu-
facturer’s products (except as against Peavey), and
boycott Olsen’s business. A further complaint on be-
half of Olsen was that Progressive conspired with cer-
tain unnamed co-conspirators, for example, George
Best, CBS Musical Instruments (CBS) and Bobbie
Herger (owner and operator of Herger’s Music Store
in Provo, Utah), in violation of Section 1 of the Act.
Olsen asserts that Progressive conspired with Best to
cause Olsen to lose franchises, to destroy his credit and
business reputation, to take over his business location
and terminate his corporate charter, to fix prices, and
to cause manufacturers to boycott his business. Fur-
ther allegations by Olsen as against Progressive and
CBS were that, with the help of Herger, they conspired
to establish Progressive as CBS’s exclusive dealer for
the state of Utah, to fix prices, to terminate Olsen as
a CBS dealer, to boycott Olsen’s business and to cause
CBS to require other de»!ers not to sell CBS products
to Olsen. Olsen’s final allegation is that the defendants
conspired together to boycott Olsen and to attempt to
monopolize the Utah market in certain musical instru-
ments.

II.
THE CLAIMS AGAINST NORLIN,
OVATION AND PEAVEY
These named defendants are shown to be manufac-

turers of musical instruments. As to Norlin, there
were a total of sixteen charges of unfair practices and

6a

competition. As to Ovation, there were four such
charges, and as to Peavey, there were three such
charges. There was also a general allegation against
Norlin, Ovation, Peavey and others that they had con-
spired together to boycott Olsen and had conspired to
create a monopoly on behalf of Progressive. Following
the presentation of the evidence, the defendants moved
for dismissal based upon insufficiency of the evidence.
The court said that Norlin had refused to deal with
Olsen only as a business convenience, and not for any
anti-competitive purpose. Also the trial court deter-
mined that Norlin had not committed the anti-com-
petitive acts alleged by Olsen, and that Norlin treated
Olsen and Progressive similarly.

As to Ovation, the court, upon weighing the evidence,
concluded that Ovation had not violated any of the
sections of the Sherman Act.

Finally, with respect to Peavey, the trial court weigh-
ed the evidence and the inferences to be drawn there-
from and reached the conclusion that Peavey had not
conspired with any other defendant contrary to Section
1 of the Sherman Act. And, according to the court,
Peavey had not conspired to fix prices or to create a
monopoly on behalf of Progressive.

We conclude that the trial court was correct in mak-
ing these rulings.

ITI,
DISMISSAL OF OLSEN’S CLAIMS AGAINST
NORLIN, OVATION AND PEAVEY.

In reviewing the propriety of the rulings, we are
governed by the clearly erroneous test. Fed. R. Civ. P.

7a

41(b), 52(a). See Blankenship v. Herzfeld, 661 F. 2d
840, 845 (10th Cir. 1981); and see Woods v. North
American Rockwell Corp., 480 F. 2d 644, 645-46 (10th
Cir. 1973).

It is Olsen’s position that when a 41(b) motion is
imposed in an anti-trust case, the evidence must be
viewed in a light most favorable to the plaintiff. In
light, however, of Blankenship, which also involved
such a motion in a private anti-trust case, it would
appear that Olsen’s view is unfounded. See also Rut-
ledge v. Electric Hose & Rubber Co., 511 F. 2d 668,
676 (9th Cir. 1975), which said: “[t]he fact finding
process under a Rule 41(b) motion calls for an adjudi-
cation upon the merits of the plaintiff’s claims and
may involve a weighing of the evidence as it stands
at the close of the plaintiff’s case.”

The district court drew permissible inferences based
upon the record evidence. Moreover, as this court held
in Rasmussen Drilling v. Kerr-McGee Nuclear Corp.,
571 F. 2d 1144, 1148 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, 439 U.S.
862 (1978), “[a] choice between two permissible views
is not ‘clearly erroneous.’ ”

IV.

DID THE TRIAL COURT ERR IN DISMISSING
OLSEN’S SECTION 2 SHERMAN ACT
ATTEMPTED MONOPOLIZATION CLAIM
AGAINST PROGRESSIVE?

Olsen argues that Progressive attempted to mon-

opolize the Utah retail market in quality synthesizers,
quality amplifers and quality electronic and acoustic

8a

guitars. “Quality” was defined as guitars and a).pl.-
fiers retailing for over $800 and synthesizers .¢ ailing
for over $709.

To support a claim based on an attempt to monopo-
lize plaintiffs are required to establish several iteius.
First, they must demonstrate a dangerous probability
of success. Lorain Journal Co. v. United States, 32
U.S. 148, 158 (1951) ; American Tobacco Co. v. United
States, 328 U.S. 781, 809 (1946) ; Swift & Co. v. Unit-
ed States, 196 U.S. 375, 396 (1905). Second, plaintiffs
must prove acts in furtherance of the attempt, although
thes acts need not be successful. Lorain, supra, at 153.
Third, plaintiffs must demonstrate specific intent to
monopolize. Times Picayune Publishing Co. v. United
States, 345 U.S. 594, 626 (1953) ; E. J. Delaney Corp.
v. Bonne Bell, Inc., 525 F. 2d 296, 306 (10th Cir.
1975), cert. denied, 425 U.S. 907 (1976). Fourth, a
relevant market, within which the attempted mono-
polization occurred, must be established.*

The district court dismissed Olsen’s attempted mon-
opolization claim because of its failure to establish

Coleman Motor Co. v. Chrysler Corp., 525 F.2d 1338, 1348
(3d Cir. 1975); Bonne Bell, supra, at 305; George R. Whitten,
Jr., Inc. v. Paddock Pool Builders, 508 F.2d 547, 550 (1st Cir.
1974), cert denied, 421 U.S. 1004 (1975); Acme Precision
Prods., Inc. v. American Alloys Corp., 484 F.2d 1237, 1240
(8th Cir. 1973); Bernard Food Indus., Inc. v. Dietene Co.,
415 F.2d 1279, 1284 (7th Cir. 1969), cert denied, 397 U.S. 912

1970); United States v. Chas. Pfizer & Co., 245 F. Supp. 737,
739 (E.D.N.Y. 1965); Becker v. Safelite Corp., 244 F. Supp.
625, 637 (D. Kan. 1965). But see, Lessig v. Tidewater Oil Co.,
327 F.2d 459, 474 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 877 U.S. 993 (1964)
(“the relevant market is ‘not in issue’ in an attempt or con-
spiracy to monopolize case’”’).

9a

two of the aforementioned requisites, to-wit, danger-
ous probability of success and relevant market.

With regard to dangerous probability of suecess the
district courc said:

[P]laintiff’s own expert, Mr. Scott Lloyd, testi-
fied that the information submitted in this case
did not show Progressive’s percentage share of the
market. Without this, the court is unable to make
any finding as to the dangerous probability that
Progressive could monopolize the market.

A review of the record reveals that there was no
such dangerous probability of monopolization by Pro-
gressive. In fact, Progressive’s efforts to control mar-
ket share by causing manufacturers not to ship pro-
ducts to Olsen were consistently thwarted by Olsen’s
ready resort to an alternative source of supply: other
dealers. The likelihood that monopolization would oc-
cur was very remote because Olsen showed himself to
be a very aggressive competitors.

With regard to Olsen's failure to establish a rele-
vant market, the district court stated that Olsen had
failed to prove a relevant product market “composed
of a unique set of products, distinguishable from pro-
ducts selling for less money. In short, the plaintiffs
failed to show that the products included in the market
definition were not ‘resonably interchangeable’ and
competitive with less expensive products.” (Quoting
United States v. E. I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., 351
U.S. 377, 395 (1956). Due to the fact that a “suffi-
ciently discreet and separable product market” had not
been defined, the trial court concluded that it could not
“gauge the defendants’ potential for inflicting eco-
nomic harm.”

10a

Even if Olsen had adequately delineated a relevant
product market, he nevertheless failed to prove that
Progressive had a controlling position in that market.
Indeed, the absence of proof of market share was em-
phasized throughout the record.

Olsen contends, however, that evidence of market
share was introduced, namely, Utah sales of CBS Fen-
der and Rhodes products. This contention is mislead-
ing. It was introduced not to demonstrate market share,
but rather to show that Progressive was ‘“‘cherry-pick-
ing,” that is, picking a manufacturer’s type ‘“A”’ pro-
duct without having to pick and promote his full line.
Moreover, the exhibit offered by Olsen as proof of mar-
ket share concerns but a subset of the relevant pro-
duct market in issue. The relevant product market was
all quality guitars, amplifiers, and synthesizers. The
CBS sales study offered by Olsen encompasses, of ne-
cessity, only CBS products. Therefore, it cannot serve
as evidence of market share. To be sure, the study
could, after a few calculations, yield evidence of total
market share if CBS’s own share of the Utah market
had been established, which it was not. Olsen’s expert
witness responded “No” to the following questions:
“Can you give me an approximation that CBS had 30
percent of the market, 10 percent of the market in
1974 or 70 percent? Can you tell me that far?”

In light of the foregoing, we conclude that the trial
court’s findings were not clearly erroneous. Accord-
ingly, the dismissal of Olsen’s attempt to monopolize
claim should be affirmed.

Vs
DID THE TRIAL COURT ERR IN DISMISSING
OLSEN’S SECTION 2 SHERMAN ACT
CONSPIRACY TO MONOPOLIZE CLAIM
AGAINST PROGRESSIVE?

lla

The elements needed to establish conspiracy to mon-
opolize are as follows:

First, the existence of a combination or conspiracy
to monopolize. American Tobacco, supra, at 788.

Second, overt acts done in furtherance of the com-
bination or conspiracy. Cullum Elec. & Mechanical,
Inc. v. Mechanical Contractors Ass’n. of South Caro-
lina, 486 F. Supp. 418, 425 (D.S.C. 1976), aff'd, 569
F. 2d 821 (4th Cir. 1978).

Third, an effect upon an appreciable amount of in-
terstate commerce. United States v. Yellow Cab Co.,
Non

oo2 U.S. 218, 225 (1947); Times-Picayune, supra,
at 611.

Fourth, a specific intent to monopolize. American
Tobacco, supra, at 809.

A relevant market need not be established. Salco
Corp. v. General Motors Corp., 517 F. 2d 567, 576
(10th Cir. 1975) (“specific intent to monopolize is the
heart of a conspiracy charge, and a plaintiff is not re-
quired to prove what is the ‘relevant market’ ”’).

The district court based its dismissal of Olsen’s con-
spiracy to monopolize claim on two factors. First, Ol-
sen did not establish that the conspiracy of Progres-
sive involved an appreciable part of interstate com-
merce. The only part of commerce which could con-
ceivably be affected by such activity is the CBS Fender
line. Progressive already had a monopoly on that line
under an arrangement which the court had previously
found was not per se illegal under Section 1.

12a

The trial court also dismissed Olsen’s conspiracy
claim on the basis that Progressive did not harbor a
specific intent to obtain a complete monopoly in all
lines of musical instruments. The court observed that
the evidence indicated only that ‘Progressive held ex-
clusive franchises on certain product lines and may
have prevented others from obtaining business on those
lines.”

We conclude the trial court’s findings were not
clearly erroneous. The dismissal by the trial court of
the conspiracy to monopolize claim is affirmed.

VI.
DISCUSSION OF OLSEN’S BOYCOTT THEORY.

The trial court found that Progressive had conspired
with CBS and Bobbie Herger to boycott Olsen, whereby
he would not be able to obtain CBS products. This boy-
cott was an element of the price fixing conspiracy also
alleged engaged in by Progressive and Herger. The
trial court said, “it was necessary to boycott Olsen in
order that high prices set by Progressive and Herger
could be maintained and not be undercut by Olsen.”

The argument of Progressive on cross-appeal is that
the trial court improperly treated the group boycott
involved herein as a per se violation of the anti-trust
laws. United States v. Realty Multi-List, Inc., 629 F.
2d 1351, 1867 (5th Cir. 1980). Progressive contends
that a group boycott is not deemed a per se violation
if it is “at least potentially reasonably ancillary to
joint, efficiency-creating economic activities. (Quoting
Realty Multi-List, supra).

13a

In this case there is evidence that there was a boy-
cott which was “clearly exclusionary or coercive in
nature.” Gould v. Control Laser Corp., 462 F. Supp.
685, 691 (M.D. Fla. 1978), aff'd, 650 F 2d 617 (1981).
Thus, the case differs from those in which ‘“‘courts have
circumvented the rigidity of the per se rule by reason-
ing that the need for its application ‘depends not upon
a finding that * * * [a restraint] constitutes a boy-
cott’ but upon an analysis of its purpose and competi-
tive impact.’ ’’ Note, The Facial Unreasonableness The-
ory: Filling the Void Between Per Se and Rule of Rea-
son, 55 St. John’s L. Rev. 729, 750 n. 155 (1981)
(quoting Gould, supra, at 691). Pro-competitive im-
pacts or motives within the trial court’s findings are
difficult to see. For instance, Herger boycotted Olsen
because “she had an independent prejudice against
giving competitive dealers large discounts.” In addi-
tion, Progressive harbored a “‘predatory intent toward
competing dealers.”

From the findings it would appear that the boycott
engaged in by Progressive was per se violative of the
anti-trust laws. Klor’s, Ine. v. Broadway-Hale Stores,
Inc., 359 U.S. 207 (1959) (per se violation of Sher-
man Act exists when department store conspires with
appliance manufacturers and distributors to prevent
sales to small retail appliance stores).

Based upon the proposition that Progressive had vio-
lated Section 1 of the Sherman Act by conspiring to
boyeott Olsen from receiving CBS products, the trial
court assessed damages at $4,303 before trebling. In
calculating these damages, 1975 was used as a base
year but by that time the boycott had been terminated,
thus giving Olsen free access to CBS products. The
damage study employed by the court then projected

l4a

backwards from 1975 to estimate the amount of dam-
ages that the boycott had caused. Moye specifically,
the study reduced Olsen’s total retail CBS sales for
1975 (stipulated to be $27,000) to a wholesale price
figure, compared this figure with equivalent figures
for CBS dealers in the state to determine Olsen’s share
of the CBS market in Utah for 1975, and then calcu-
lated the amounts Olsen would have earned if he had
enjoyed the same market share in previous years. The
projections of market share were reduced by 30%,
however, to account for changes in Olsen’s business
operations, between 1971-1974 and 1975. The preced-
ing damage analysis as worked out by the court is ap-
pended to this opinion.

The court determined that Olsen had suffered net
lost profits of $4,303 from the years 1971 to 1974.
Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 15, this figure was trebled to
$12,909.

The calculations were derived, with one significant
exception, from a damage study introduced into evi-
dence by Olsen. The exception was that, unlike the dam-
age study, the court did not assume that Olsen’s in-
crease in market share in 1975 (the base year) was
due solely to the termination of the boycott. The court
noted that in 1975, “Olsen was operating in a substan-
tially different mode than during most of the damage
period.” Olsen had converted from a part-time to a
full-time business and had, by moving to a larger store,
doubled his floor space. Accordingly, the court dimin-
ished the 1975 sales base by 30% to reflect the role
of the extra hours and space.

On appeal, Olsen argues that the damages awarded
were too low, while Progressive asserts that the evi-
dence does not sustain any award for damages. Olsen’s

15a

first contention is that the 30% reduction is improper.
Olsen argues that he would have moved and switched
to full-time operations well before 1975 if the boycott
had not heen in effect. For that he maintains that it
was wrong for the trial court to reduce damages in an
arbitrary manner on account of Olsen’s very failure
to move.

The trial court considered as “‘too speculative” Ol-
sen’s contention that he would have altered his business
operations but for the boycott. The court is referring
to Olsen’s contention that he would have altered his
busipess operations but for the boycott. It is true that
a plaintiff in an anti-trust case should ‘“‘not be held to
a rigid standard of proof regarding the amount of
damages, since in such cses economic harm is frequent-
ly intangible and difficult to quantify.” King & King
Enterprises v. Champlin Petroleum Corp., 657 F. 2d
1147 (10th Cir. 1981), cert. denied, 454 U.S. 1164
(1982), citing Story Parchment Co. v. Paterson Parch-
ment Paper Co., 282 U.S. 555, 562-65 (19381). On the
other hand, ‘damages may not be merely speculative.”
King & King, supra.

Evidence in the record provided a reasonable basis
for the court’s determination. That is that Olsen’s fail-
ure to alter his business operations in 1971-1974 was
not due to his inability to obtain musical instruments.
Olsen testified that, except for several delays which
could well have been caused by order backlogs, he was
able to obtain instruments from other dealers, if not
from the manufacturers themselves. Also, Olsen was
employed during that period by the Federal govern-
ment. As this employment provided the bulk of Olsen’s
income, it is reasonable to conclude that the fear of
losing a secure source of income, as opposed to an in-

16a

ability to obtain musical instruments, prevented Olsen
from taking up his music store business on a full-time
basis.

Olsen also contends that the trial court was incor-
rect in applying a 30% reduction formula. According
to Olsen, the reduction should have been applied only
to estimated 1971-1974 sales, not to actual sales.

However, Olsen’s math is wrong. The 30% reduction
considers the fact of reduced floor space and selling
time in the years 1971-1974 (as opposed to the base
year of 1975). Floor space and selling time is essential
to sales of actual and hypothetical musical instruments.
Space and time devoted to hypothetical sales cannot be
devoted to actual sales. Accoidingly, the 50% reduc-
tion in both actual and estimated sales does not seem
unreasonable in order to deal with Olsen’s change in
business operations between 1971-74 and 1975.

Progressive argues on cross-appeal that the evidence
cannot sustain an award of damages to Olsen of any
amount. The trial court, however, gave careful scrutiny
to the entire picture and had no trouble finding that
Olsen had sustained his burden of proof as to injuries
suffered. The court said that “[i]nferences can be
drawn that the boycott conspiracy foreclosed at least
two avenues of supply, Herger and Browne [owner and
operator of California Musical Instruments], from
which injury occurred.” The trial court also concluded
that Progressive had not established that other sources
of supply fully compensated for the foreclosure of Her-
ger and Browne.

In view of these findings, this court should uphold
the award of damages. See King & King, supra, at

17a

1158 (“once there is found to be sufficient factual evi-
dence of damages, the plaintiffs are not obligated to
establish the quantum of damages ‘with mathematical
precision.’”’) (Quoting Cackling Acres, Inc. v. Olson
Farms, Inc., 541 F. 2d 242, 246 (10th Cir. 1976), cert.
denied, 429 U.S. 1122 (1977). See also Trabert &
Hoeffer, Inc. v. Piaget Watch Corp., 633 F. 2d 477,
484 (7th Cir. 1980) ; Woods Exploration & Producing
Co. v. Aluminum Co. of America, 509 F. 2d 784, 792-93
(5th Cir.), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 88 (1975); Volasco
Prods. Co. v. Lloyd A. Fry Roofing Co., 346 F. 2d 661,
666 (6th Cir.), cert. denied, 882 U.S. 904 (1965).

VII.

DID THE TRIAL COURT ERR IN DENYING
OLSEN’S PRICE FIXING CLAIM?

The trial court found that Progressive and Herger
had agreed to divide territories and to fix high retail
prices on CBS products in violation of Section 1 of the
Sherman Act. The trial court, however, refused to
award damages on this conduct, based upon its conclus-
ion that the conspiracy had not damaged Olsen. The
court observed that ‘‘[l]ogically, the higher the prices
set by Herger and Progressive, the easier it was for
Olsen to compete in the Utah retail market for CBS
products.”

High fixed prices might facilitate the entrance of
new competitors into a relevant product market, or may
help the competitive position of sellers not participat-
ing in the price fixing conspiracy. Nevertheless, it is
clear that such beneficial features cannot render a
price fixing conspiracy immune from anti-trust attack.

18a

Catalano, Inc. v. Target Sales, Inc., 446 U.S. 643, 650
(1980). Indeed, price fixing agreements are per se vio-
lative of Section 1 of the Sherman Act. Catalano, su-
pra, at 648; United States v. Container Corp. of Amer-
ica, 398 U.S. 333, 337 (1969) ; United States v. Socony-
Vacuum Oil Co., 310 U.S. 150, 224 n. 59 (1940) ; King
& King, supra, 1151.

However, the violation should not give rise to “dou-
ble liability trebled.”” City and County of Denver v.
American Oil Co., 53 F.R.D. 620, 631 (D. Colo. 1971).
Olsen’s price fixing damage theory would do just that.
Olsen’s damage calculations are as follows:

Progressive’s CBS market 1971-1974 $297,709 1
from the business records of CBS and

Progressive

Guitar City 70° of Progressive’s CBS 208,396 2
market, but for the conspiracy

Wholesale of Guitar City CBS market 104,198 3
at benchmark, 509% of list cost

Guitar City retail sales CBS 177,137 4
70% market, at their normal
discount, or 85% of list

Guitar City gross profit CBS 72,939 5
70% market, line 4 minus line 3

Minus 10.65% variable overhead 22,194 6
expenses, of line 2

Minus awarded boycott damages 4,303

Net economic loss 46,442
Trebled damages 139,326

The weakness of this formula is that it compensates
for the same transactions that have already been ad-
dressed by the trial court’s award of boycott damages.

19a

Line 2 of the derivation assumes that Olsen would have
had 70° of Progressive’s CBS market but for the con-
spiracy. An identical assumption, although phrased in
terms of Olscn’s potential share of the entire Utah CBS
musical instrument maiket (as opposed to his share
of Progressive’s market) was made with respect to Ol-
sen’s boycott damages (see line 4 of trial court’s boy-
cott damage formula). So, therefore, the same injury
is being counted up twice. Accordingly, the trial court
properly declined to award both boycott and price fix-
ing damages where they stemmed from the same trans-
actions.

VIII.

WHAT ABOUT THE CONTENTION THAT SOME
OF THE MORE SIGNIFICANT TRIAL
TRANSCRIPTS WERE MISSING?

Olsen asserts on appeal that trial transcripts which
were favorable to his position were not before the trial
court during the decision making process. Thus, ac-
cording to Olsen, the couct failed to make certain find-
ings, made erroneous findings, failed to understand
Olsen’s economic theories, failed to award price fixing
damages, failed to award reasonably proved boycott
damages, and failed to draw inferences in favor of
Olsen.

Almost every page of the neglected transcripts con-
tains testimony which the trial court was privy to dur-
ing each and every day of the trial below. This ele-
ment, plus the fact that the court had available to it
the bulk of the trial transcripts, all of the pleadings
and all of the trial exhibits, certainly gave the court
the basis for reaching an accurate conclusion. A care-

20a

ful review of the neglected transcripts does not reveal
reversible error by the trial court. See United States v.
Lee, 622 F. 2d 787, 791 (5th Cir. 1980), cert. denied,
451 U. S. 918 (1981) (although the district court
failed to review the entire record, it had ‘‘adequately
informed itself of the record * * * to make the deter-
mination required”) ; Simpson Bros. v. District of Co-
lumbia, 179 F. 2d 430, 486 (D.C. Cir. 1949), cert. de-
nied, 338 U.S. 911 (1950) (although the district court
had not read all the pleadings in the case, “the record
* * * and the opinion of the district court show that by
the end of the hearing on the motions for summary
judgment the court was acquainted with the issues in
the case and that the conclusion reached by the coui't
was — in view of all the pleadings, deposition, affi-
davits and authorities — correct.’’).

Olsen maintains on appeal that certain evidence was
improperly excluded from the record. Progressive
claims that other testimony was improperly received
into evidence. The trial court’s rulings on these mat-
ters did not prejudicially affect the outcome of the liti-
gation. See Union Carbide and Carbon Corp. v. Nisley,
300 F. 2d 561, 586 (10th Cir. 1961), appeal dismissed,
371 U.S. 801 (1962) ; Fed. R. Civ. P. 61.

In light of what appears above, it is the conclusion
of this court that the judgment of the trial court should
be and it is hereby affirmed.

2la

APPENDIX B

[" 64,928] Clair Olsen and Guitar City Studios, Inc.
v. Progressive Musie Supply, Inc., Acoustic Control
Corp., Ovation Instruments, Inc., Norlin Music, Inc.,
formerly Chicago Musical Instruments,’ Columbia
Broadcasting Systems, Inc., and Peavey Electronics
Corp.

U.S. District Court, District of Utah, Central Divi-
sion. No. C 75-153. Filed June 26, 1981.

Sherman Act

Price Fixing—Division of Territories—Agreements
Between Competitors—Retail v. Wholesale Price Fix-
ing—Damages. — An agreement between two compet-
ing authorized musical instrument dealers to fix retail
prices and divide territories constituted a per se viola-
tion of Sec. 1 of the Sherman Act. However, a compet-
ing unauthorized dealer showed no evidence of a con-
spiracy to fix wholesale prices or to set a discount that
the unauthorized dealer should have been given. In
light of its other sources of supply that could be used
to purchase instruments at a discounted price, the un-
authorized dealer was not damaged by the price fixing
agreement. See { 3050.66, 4630.72.

Refusal to Deal—Denial of Dealership—Business
Reasons—Musical Instruments. — A musical instru-
ment distributor’s denial of a dealership to a retailer

1The original version incorrectly indicated Chicago Musical
Instruments as a division of Columbia Broadcasting System,
Inc. The Words ‘a division of” have been omitted in the
amended version.

22a

was premised on the distributor’s independent business
reasons and was not the result of a conspiracy between
the distributor and an existing dealer. The retailer did
not have any repair facilities, which the distributor
strongly favored, no evidence was shown that the deal-
er knew of a proposed dealer agreement with the re-
tailer, and the retailer began operating on a full-time
basis very late in the relevant time period. See * 2420.

Boycotts — Forcing or Inducing Adherence — En-
forcement of Restrictive Dealer Contracts — Com-
plaint by Dealers — Price Fixing. — Creation of credit
problems for dealers, temporary supply cutoffs, and
tracking of instrument serials numbers to enforce a
musical instrument distributor’s policy disfavoring
transshipment of its products to unauthorized dealers,
as a result of an agreement with a complaining au-
thorized dealer, evidenced a conspiracy to boycott an
unauthorized dealer. A price fixing agreement between
the complaining dealer and a competitor also estab-
lished the boycott, because, as a further step of the
agreement, it was necessary to boycott the unauthor-
ized dealer so that the high prices set by the competing
dealers could not be undersold. The second dealer was
in a different market area from the unauthorized
dealer and might have been amenable to dealing with
the unauthorized dealer, but it had previously had its
instrument supply temporarily terminated for noncom-
pliance with the price fixing agreement. Statements
by the distributor and the complaining dealer estab-
lishing predatory intent were also shown by the unau-
thorized dealer. See | 2460, 2480.

Private Suits — Damages — Market Share in Base
Year — Market Forces -—- Change in Operations —
Musical Instrument Industry. — Damages to an unau-
thorized musical instrument dealer, as a result of a con-

28a

spiracy between two competing dealers and their dis-
tributor were based upon the unauthorized dealer’s
market share of the distributor’s products in the rele-
vant market in 1975, when it had free access to the pro-
ducts. hat share was related back over the damage
period. Uncertainty arising from direct evidence of the
extent that the conspiracy prevented the unauthorized
dealer from buying all the products it otherwise would
have was a burden the conspirators had to clarify or
bear. I"luctuations in demand for the instruments, the
distributor’s difficulty in keeping up with demand,
emergence of competing brands, and market produc-
tivity in general were factors considered in determin-
ing the amount of damages. The facts that the unau-
thorized dealer switched from part-time to full-time
selling and moved to a new, larger store during the
relevant period also affected the award. See { 9302.

For plaintiffs: Lyle J. Barnes, Kaysville, Utah,
Lowell V. Summerhays, Salt Lake City, Utah. For de-
fendants: Stephen G. Crockett, Salt Lake City, Utah,
Richard W. Giauque, of Giauque & Williams, Salt Lake
City, Utah, Robert A. Mackey, Los Angeles, Cal., E.
Seott Savage, Salt Lake City, Utah, Bryce E. Roe, Salt
Lake City, Utah.

Amended*
Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law

ANDERSON, D. J.: After four years of discovery and
motions and a non-jury trial of twenty-seven days that
spanned one and one-half years, this case is now ready

*On April 13, 1981, the court held a hearing at which de-
fendant Progressive orally moved to amend the court’s Find-
ings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, which were entered
herein on April 3, 1981. The basis of the motion was that

24a

for final decision. During the pendency of this action
all of the defendants have been dismissed from the
case, either by stipulation or by order of the court, with
the exception of defendant Progressive Music Supply,
Inc. (Progressive). On November 3, 1975, the parties
stipulated to, and the court ordered, the dismissal of
defendant ARP Instruments, Inc. On December 11,
1975, the court ordered that defendant CBS Musical
Instruments be dismissed without prejudice. At the
close of plaintiffs’ case on June 12, 1979, the court dis-
missed Ovation Instruments, Inc., and Norlin Music,
Inc. And in the court’s order dated May 22, 1980,
[Order Granting in Part Defendants’ Motion to Dis-
miss Under Rule 41(b)], defendants Peavey Electron-
ics Corp. and Acoustic Control Corp. were dismissed.

The May 22, 1980, order also narrowed the issues
that remained for the presentation of defendant Pro-
gressive’s case. It dismissed all of plaintiffs’ Sherman

Act § 2 claims and dismissed plaintiffs’ § i claim, ex-
cept as against Progressive to the extent it involved
CBS Musical Instruments and Bobbie Herger. There-

certain factual errors appeared in the original version. The
court invited counsel to submit the motion in writing with
supporting and opposing memoranda relating to the impact,
if any, the corrections would have on the Conclusions of Law
and Judgment. Olsen filed a motion on April 24, 1981, entitled,
“Motion to Amend and for Additional Findings of Fact and
Conclusions of Law and for Entry of New Judgment Pursuant
to Rules 52 and 59, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.” Mem-
oranda on the motions have now been filed with the court.
Corrections have been incorporated into the amended version,
and are indicated by footnote, together with any effect the cor-
rection has on the court’s decision. Additional findings and
conclusions have also been made as indicated.

25a

fore, the basic issue remaining to be resolved was whe-
ther Progressive was liable to plaintiffs for illegally
conspiring to restrain trade or commerce in violation
of Section 1 of the Sherman Act and, if so, the extent
of the damages suffered by plaintiffs.

On November 12, 1980, the trial of these final mat-
ters began with the further presentation of plaintiffs’
evidence regarding damages. Progressive then present-
ed its case, concluding on November 18, 1980, on which
date final arguments of counsel were heard. Plaintiffs
were represented by Lowell V. Summerhays, and Pro-
gressive was represented by Stephen G. Crockett. The
court granted counsel leave to file final briefs, and the
same having been received, the matter is finally sub-
mitted.

Briefly summarzied, the parties’ claims are as fol-
lows: Plaintiffs claim that Progressive conspired with
CBS Musical Instruments and/or Bobbie Herger and
others to establish Progressive as the exclusive dealer
for CBS products in Utah, to fix prices, to terminate
plaintiffs as a CBS dealer, and to boycott plaintiffs
from receiving CBS products. Plantiffs further claim
that they were damaged in their business and property
primarily through the loss of sales they should have
had but for the conspiracy. Progressive denies any vio-
lation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, either by price
fixing or boycott, and denies that plaintiffs have been
damaged as a result of any conduct by Progressive.
Progressive also disagrees with plaintiffs’ method of

formulating damages.

Pursuant to rule 52(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure, the court enters the following Findings of
Fact and Conclusions of Law, reflecting the court’s

26a

determination that plaintiffs have established by a pre-
ponderance of the evidence that Progressive conspired
illegally to restrain trade or commerce in violation of
Section 1 of the Sherman Act.’

Findings of Fact

1. At all times relevant herein, plaintiff Clair Olsen
has been engaged in the retail sale of musical instru-
ments, amplifiers, public address systems, and acces-
sories in Kaysville, Utah until early 1975, when he
moved his place of business to a larger store in Kays-
ville. (Transcript, Vo. VIII, p. 1893-96). Prior to April
2, 1974, Olsen operated his business on a part-time
basis. (Transcript, Vol. VIII, p. 1890). After he went
full-time and after he moved to the larger store, the
business’s sales volume increased substantially.* Olsen
engaged in business as a sole proprietor to February
24, 1975, when he caused the organization and incor-
poration of plaintiff Guitar City Studios, Inc. Since
that time, he has been carrying on the same business
as principal officer and sole shareholder of Guitar City.
They interests of Olsen and Guitar City in this litiga-
tion are joint (and hereinafter plaintiffs will be col-
lectively referred to as “Olsen”’).

* The original version found no conspiracy to boycott. On
further reflection, the court has determined that the evidence
shows a conspiracy between Progressive, CBS, and Herger to
boycott Olsen from receiving CBS products from Progressive,
Herger, and Browne.

° The first two sentences of this paragraph in the original
version erroneously stated that Olsen moved his business to the
Centerville store in May of 1974, and that he began operating
his business on a full-time basis in February of 1975.

27a

2. Defendant Progressive Music Supply, Inc. (‘‘Pro-
gressive”) is a Utah corporation engaged in the retail
sale of musical instruments, amplifiers, public address
systems, accessories, and related items. It has retail
stores in Ogden, Provo, and Salt Lake City, Utah. Don
Penman is the primary owner and operator of Pro-
gressive.

3. CBS Musical Instruments (“CBS”) is an operat-
ing subdivision of Columbia Broadcasting Systems.
CBS manufactures and distributes musical instru-
ments that are sold throughout the United States in-
cluding the State of Utah. At all times relevant herein,
Robert P. Bull was a vice president for CBS; Margaret
Current was secretary to Robert Bull from approxi-
mately 1974 to 1975, and later worked for Doug
Browne.

4. Mrs. Bobbie Herger (‘‘Herger’’) is the owner and
operator of Herger’s Music Store in Provo, Utah.

5. Doug Browne, at times relevant herein, owned
and operated California Musical Instruments.

6. The businesses of CBS, Olsen, Progressive, Her-
ger, and Browne involved interstate commerce.

7. The Complaint in this action was filed on April
18, 1975.

[Price Fixing]

8. Commencing sometime in 1967, Penman and Her-
ger agreed to fix retail prices on CBS products at
prices higher than on the CBS price list. The agree-
ment included a division of territories. The agreement
continued until February of 1973. (Transcript, Vol. I,

28a

pp. 178-83; 189-92). Mrs. Herger testified that in late
1972 she contacted CBS about her price-fixing ar-
rangement, and that she was told she could sell the pro-
ducts at whatever price she desired. She testified that
she waited until February because CBS wanted to get
in touch with Penman and ‘“‘work it out” with him.
(Id. pp. 190-91). This leads to the inference that CBS
wanted to obtain Porgressive’s approval before allow-
ing Herger to break the price-fixing agreement. The
evidence shows that in the late 1960’s “pressure was
brought to bear” by CBS representative Bud Driver
to enforce compliance with the price-fixing arrange-
ment. (Id. pp. 169-71). In February of 1973, she then
lowered her prices, in some instances below the CBS
list price. She was not contacted thereafter by Penman
regarding prices. (Transcript, Vol. I, p. 192).

9. There is no believable evidence that Herger and
Penman ever discussed fixing wholesale prices, or more
specifically, whether Olsen should be given a discount
at any particular rate. Nor was there any evidence of
an agreement to that effect. Mrs. Herger testified that
she had a unilateral and independent prejudice against
giving competitive dealers large discounts. (Tran-
script, Vol. I, pp. 207; 223-26). On May 4, 1972, Olsen
purchased one Fender guitar from Herger for resale
to a customer of his. (Ex. A-4). The guitar was sold
at the Progressive retail list price and a 20% ‘“com-
mission” was paid to Olsen indirectly. (Transcript,
Vol I, pp. 207-209, 215). Mrs. Herger testified that the
transaction was handled in this way because CBS
“rowned on transshipping, and because of the pricing

*The preceding three sntences have been addd to demon-
strate CBS’s protectionistic role with Progressive.

29a

and territorial agreement with Progressive. (Jd. at
215; 220-21).° Olsen never tried to purchase CBS in-
struments from Progressive. He testified, however,
that Progressive always sold Olsen CBS parts when he
needed them. (Olsen Deposition, Vol. III, p. 84).

10. Olsen had various sources of supply available to
him through which he could purchase CBS instruments
at wholesale at 60% of the retail list price during most
of the relevant statutory period of April 18, 1971, to
April 18, 1975.° (Transcript, Nov. 18, 1980, p. 206).
It is unclear from any direct evidence the extent to
which CBS products were unavailable to Olsen as a
result of a boycott conspiracy in light of availability
through other dealers.

11. Olsen was not damaged by the Herger-Progres-
sive conspiracy to divide territories and to fix high
prices. Logically, the higher the prices set by Herger
and Progressive, the easier it was for Olsen to com-
pete in the Utah retail market for CBS products.

[Dealership Agreement]

12. Progressive did not conspire with others to pre-
vent Olsen from becoming a CBS dealer. There was evi-
dence produced at trial that CBS had a file on Olsen.
(Current Deposition, Vol. I, pp. 10-15). It was the
practice of CBS to set up a file on any person where
there were three or more pieces of correspondence re-

° The preceding three sentences were added to this amended
version.

° The finding originally stated that the wholesale purchases
could be made at a 60% discount; however, the court had in
mind and intended to state that the wholesale purchase price
was 60% of the retail list price or, in other words, a 40%
discount.

30a

lating to that person to justify a file. (Jd. pp. 9-10).
There is confusion in the Current deposition testimony
concerning whether or not a dealer agreement in the
name of Olsen was approved but not delivered. (Cur-
rent Deposition, Vol. I, pp. 69-72, 84). Regardless of
whether a dealer agreement was approved or not ap-
proved, Olsen has failed to produce evidence that pre-
ponderates in favor of believing that Progressive had
any knowledge of the proposed dealership agreement
or any involvement in Olsen’s being denied a CBS deal-
ership. The court finds that CBS had a policy during
the times relevant which strongly favored dealers of
CBS having their own repair facilities so that CBS cus-
tomers could be given proper service. (Current Depo-
sition, Vol. I, p. 35). During the period from 1971 to
May of 1974, Olsen had no service facilities. (Tran-
script, Vol. II, p. 1724). Furthermore, it was not until
April of 1974 that Olsen began operating his business
on a full-time basis.” No other authorized dealers were

appointed during the same period. It is reasonable to
infer from the above facts that the denial of a dealer-
ship to Olsen was premised on CBS’s independent busi-
ness reasons and not on any conspiracy between CBS
and Progressive, and the court so finds.*

*This sentence was changed from the original to reflect
correctly that Olsen went full-time in April of 1974, not in Feb-
ruary of -1975.

8 In the original version the last two sentences of this para-
graph incorrectly stated that Olsen became a CBS dealer in
1975. In fact, Olsen has never been an authorized CBS dealer.
The court mistakenly reached this conclusion because 1975 was
the first year in which Olsen was able to acquire freely CBS
products. This inadvertence by the court should in no way alter
its decision on this point because the court’s analysis, as based
on this assumption, went only to the idea that he was able to
more freely obtain products during and after 1975.

3la

13. Progressive did not conspire to terminate Olsen
as a dealer of CBS products. Olsen never became an
authorized CBS dealer.’

[Boycott]

14. During at least part of the relevant period here-
in (specifically in 1972), CBS had a policy that its
dealers were not to resell CBS products at wholesale
to dealers not authorized by CBS. Margaret Current
testified that Mr. Bull generally advised dealers that
while CBS could not control where merchandise went
after it was sold to authorized dealers, CBS would pre-
fer that it not be sold to unauthorized dealers. (Cur-
rent Deposition, Vol. I, pp. 47-48). However, the 1972-
19738 CBS Fender authorized dealer agreement states:
“9. Dealer agrees. ...g. to resell Fender products at
wholesale only to dealers who are authorized by Fen-
der to sell Fender products.” (Trial Exhibit P-186).
Current stated that on occasion, CBS had traced serial
numbers of CBS instruments from unauthorized deal-
ers back to the authorized dealer who had transshipped
the item. (/d. pp. 56-58). Mr. Bull testified similarly,
adding that the service center did most of the tracing.
(Bull Deposition, 46-47). The inference can be drawn
that CBS’s purpose in tracing serial numbers was to
exert pressure on those dealers who were violating CBS
policy.

There is also some evidence that CBS exerted pres-
sure on transshipping dealers by creating “nonexistent
credit problems” which had the effect of temporarily
cutting off their supply of CBS instruments. (Current

* The original version erroneously stated that Olsen became
an authorized CBS dealer in 1975. See footnote 8, supra.

82a

Deposition, Vol. I, pp. 61-64). However, Current testi-
fied that she was unaware of any dealer who had his
dealership terminated because of his willingness to
transship. (Current Deposition, Vol. 1, pp. 47-48). Fur-
thermore, Doug Browne testified that if CBS had cre-
ated any credit problems during the relevant period
herein, those problems arose from the sale of a piano
to a band in Wichita, Kansas. (Browne Deposition, Vol.
V, pp. 1248-53).

The court finds that during the relevant period here-
in CBS had a policy that disfavored transhipment of
CBS products to unauthorized dealers. The court fur-
ther finds from the evidence that this was a nationally
applied policy to protect individual CBS dealers such
as Progressive and which was aiso based in part on the
desire to minimize difficulties in handling warranty
claims and to ensure that purchasers of CBS products
had ready access to adequate repair service. (See Cur-
rent Deposition, Vol. I, p. 59; Bull Deposition).

15. Progressive conspired with CBS and Herger to
boycott Olsen from obtaining CBS products from Pro-
gressive, Browne, and Herger.’° The court has found
that an agreement existed between Progressive and
Herger to fix CBS prices at levels higher than on the
CBS price list, (see Finding No. 8). After careful re-
flection, the court finds that this agrement also ex-

©The original version found no conspiracy to boycott. A
further review of the evidence has compelled the court to the
conclusion that Olsen has presented sufficient evidence, when
viewed together in light of all the evidence presented at trial,
to establish the conspiracy. A substantial revision of the orig-
inal version Findings *15 and *16 has been made. New Find-
ing *16 deals with damages arising from the boycot conspiracy.

88a

tended to boycotting Olsen from obtaining CBS pro-
ducts. (Transcript, Vol. I, p. 215). As a further step
of the conspiracy it was necessary to boycott Olsen in
order that the high prices set by Progressive and Her-
ger could be maintained and not be undercut by Olsen,
who was selling CBS products at 85% of the suggested
retail price.

The involvement of CBS in the conspiracy is made
evident by Herger’s testimony. She stated that the pol-
icy directing that she not resell Fender (CBS) products
was “one and the same” with CBS and Progressive.
(Transscript, Vol. I, p. 215). She further explained
that the policy was one and the same “because I felt
that Mr. Penman was dictating to Mr. Driver [the
CBS representative for Utah] how things should run
in Utah.” (/d.) Herger stated that she handled the
sale of one instrument to Olsen in the way she did,
rather than in the traditional wholesale context, be-
cause of the price-fixing agreement. (Transcript, Vol.
I, p. 220). She had previously had her supply of CBS
instruments temporarily terminated for non-compli-
ance with the price-fixing agreement. (Jd. pp. 220-21).

Progressive has argued that Olsen never tried to buy
CBS products from Progressive and only tried once
with Herger. Nevertheless, the evidence has made clear
that Olsen realized that such a request would be futile
— as the one experience with Herger proved to be (in
the sense that the difficulty involved and the high price
charged by Herger made it unrealistic from a business

standpoint to deal on that basis).

Both Progressive and Herger may have had their
independent reasons for boycotting Olsen. Progressive
was a direct competitor of Olsen and had a different

34a

philosophy concerning pricing. Herger stated that she
had an independent prejudice against giving competi-
tive dealers large discounts. (Transcript, Vol. I, pp.
207 ; 223-26). Nevertheless, it is clear that Herger was
in a different market area from Olsen so that she
might have been amenable to deal with Olsen on oc-
casion, but for the agreement with Progressive.

Doug Browne testified at the trial regarding a
conversation with Robert Bull in early 1974 about
Browne’s shipment of CBS products to Olsen.

Mr. Bull told me that he did not have the right
to tell me who { could and could not sell to but
that it was the desire of CBS to control its distri-
bution through authorized dealers, at which time
I said I had no desire to interrupt their distribu-
tion policies.

So, he explained to me that based on dealings—
Very briefly let me relate that: He told me that

Clair Olsen was trouble. In fact, I believe the

quote was “This guy is trouble.”
* * *

Q. Did he elaborate on why he thought Clair
Olsen was trouble?

A. Not really. He just said that some of my mer-
chandise had appeared there, and we didn’t really
get into it why or how he determined that some
of my merchandise had appeared there, but the
way that Fender traces the flow of their mer-
chandise is known to most people, and they had
evidently found that a serial number sold to me
originally had appeared in Utah and that the log-
ical way that it got there was by me selling it to
Clair Olsen and that he would appreciate it if I
would not interfere with their distribution policy,

35a

although again relating to me that he had no right
to formally ask that, and at no time did he tell
me not to sell to Clair Olsen.

(Transcript, Vol. V, pp. 1241-42). Browne also testi-
fied a few minutes later as follows:

Well, as mentioned, in the discussion he advised
me that Clair Olsen was not an authorized dealer
and that he was trouble for authorized dealer or
dealers that he had in the territory, and it was
against his wishes that I sell them.

(Id. p. 1246). Browne also testified that the insinua-
tion was made that if he continued to sell to Olsen, his
supply would be cut off as before, so he stopped selling
to Olsen for a period of one to one and a half years.
(Transcript, Vol. V, pp. 1246-47). At that time, Her-
ger and Progressive were the only authorized CBS
dealers in Utah. After reivewing all the evidence to-
gether, the court is persuaded that Bull exerted pres-
sure on Browne as a result of an agreement with Pen-
man and as part of a broader policy to protect dealers
such as Progressive. CBS’s action toward Browne was
consistent with CBS’s actions toward him concerning
similar sales on other occasions to dealers in other
states. (See Daily Transcript, Vol. V, p. 1272, lines
1-3). This, however, does not significantly detract from
the court’s finding that CBS applied pressure to stop
Browne from transshipping to Olsen pursuant to the
wishes of Progressive.

[Predatory Intent]

As additional proof of the conspiracy, Olsen pro-
duced evidence at trial to prove that Progressive har-
bored a predatory intent toward competing dealers.

36a

The inference Olsen would have the court draw from
this evidence is that this predatory intent made it likely
that Progressive conspired with CBS and other dealers
to deprive Olsen of CBS products. The evidence in this
regard involves four incidents. Concerning the first,
Olsen testified that Penman telephoned him in 1972
and in effect threatened to put him out of business.
However, he also testified that Penman said he did not
intend to retaliate, but that Olsen should think things
through carefully before proceeding with the lawsuit
against Best. (Preliminary Injunction Transcript, pp.
40-41), Penman’s testimony presented a different ver-
sion — basically, that the conversation involved Pen-
man’s offer to help resolve a conflict between Olsen and
Best. Olsen urges the court to draw an adverse infer-
ence against Progressive for its failure to call Best,
who was present during the conversation and heard
Penman’s side of the conversation. Although Best’s tes-
timony may have cleared up some of the discrepancies,
he was available as a witness to both parties and the
court will not draw the adverse inference. On the whole,
the court finds Penman’s version to be more reliable.
Even so, it does leave the court with some degree of
evidence which might imply Penman had a predatory
intent toward Olsen.

The second and third incidents presented by Olsen
involved statements by Progressive to Jerrold McKean.
In one, Penman indicated he was trying to get Fender
guitars taken away from Mrs. Herger so that he could
be the only major dealer in the area. In the other, he
testified that Penman told him he was going to call the
factory because evidently some guitars had been “ship-
ped through by mistake” to Glenn Brothers Music. The
court observes that McKean’s testimony was impeach-

ed — revealing a prejudice against Penman arising

37a

out of two lawsuits with Penman. (Transcript of May
4, 1979, pp. 9-12, 49-51). The fourth incident involves
testimony of Michael Draper that he heard people at
Progressive say that Progressive should stop buying
products from ARP and Cerwin Vega because they
were supplying Olsen. (Transcript, Vol. I, p. 2, lines
5-10; Transcript of April 30, 1979, pp. 71, 114). This
last statement occurred after this suit was filed, how-
ever, and the record shows that during the relevant
period, Progressive carried many of the same lines as
Olsen. Furthermore, Olsen’s own damage study shows
that Progressive in fact continued to buy products from
both ARP and Cerwin Vega after this incident oc-
curred.

The above incidents do show a predatory intent on
the part of Progressive, which lends support to many
of the inferences drawn heretofore leading to the over-
all conclusion that a conspiracy to boycott Olsen existed
among Progressive, CBS, and Herger. The scope of
that conspiracy extended to prevent Olsen from obtain-
ing product from at least Progressive and Herger dur-
ing the damage period, and from Browne during a one
and one-half year period beginning approximately in
the spring of 1974.

[Damages]

16. Olsen has proposed a damage theory claiming
lost profits caused by the boycott conspiracy. It is based
upon Olsen’s market share of CBS products in the Utah
market during 1975, a base year in which Olsen had
free access to CBS products. This share is then related
back over the damage period years. The court finds
the basic approach to be a reasonable one; however,
several significant factors are not taken into account

38a

by the proposed damage study. The court therefore
adopts the study subject to the significant modifica-
tions described hereafter.

The court finds that Olsen has met his burden of
proving the ‘act of injury. inferences can be drawn
that the boycott conspiracy foreclosed at least two ave-
nues of supply, Herger and Browne, from which in-
jury occurred. It is true that Olsen was apparently able
to purchase CBS products from many sources at dis-
counts as large as 60% of the list price. Olsen bought
CBS instruments during the 1971-1975 period from
BGK Enterprises, California Music, Leo’s Musical In-
struments, Freeport Music, and Bobby Music. (Tran-
script, Vol. VII, p. 1778; Exhibits P-241 to P-244). It
is unclear from direct evidence the extent to which the
conspiracy prevented Olsen from buying all the CBS
products he otherwise would have bought — especially
in light of other avenues available to Olsen from which
he could obtain CBS products. The uncertainty arising
from this factor is a burden the defendants must either
clarify or bear. Bigelow v. RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
[1946-1947 TRADE CASEs {| 57-445], 327 U.S. 251, 265
(1946).

[Market Forces]

Several market forces were in effect during the times
relevant herein. During the early 1970’s CBS products
were in extremely high demand, and the evidence
showed that the manufacturer had a difficult time
keeping up with the demand. In about 1974-1975 the
demand began to slacken due to the emergence of sev-
eral other brands which began to compete effectively
with CBS products. The year 1975 was also a some-
what less productive year economically for the market-

39a

place in Utah. These observations would tend to make
Olsen’s damage study more conservative in the sense
that potential sales for the product were more likely
during the damage period. However, the periodical
shortness of supply would have made it more difficult
to obtain products from other dealers who would na-
turally prefer to sell the same item at full retail if
supply is limited. Since these factors have not been
quantified in the evidence and have the effect of can-
celling each other out, no adjustment is made for them.

Prior to April 2, 1974, Olsen operated his business
on a part-time basis, p:imarily during peak business
hours. (Transcript, Vol. VIII, p. 1890). In late 1974
or early 1975 he moved his business to a larger store
in Kaysville, Utah, which more than doubled his space.
(Transcript, Vo. VIII, pp. 1894-96). The move was in
the same general location, several doors down the
street. Thus, during the base year, 1975, Olsen was
operating in a substantialy different mode than during
most of the damage period. The damage study of Olsen
(Exhibit 248) does not adjust for this significant fac-
tor. The reason given is that Olsen would have made
such a move earlier if CBS products had been freely
available to him. The court rejects this assumption as
too speculative.

It is necessary, therefore, to assign a value to the
increase in Olsen’s business in 1975 which would be
attributable to the larger store and to his going full-
time. No direct evidence on this point was introduced
at trial. It is reasonable to infer, however, that these
changes in operation must have had significant impact
upon the business. In assessing the value of such im-

pact, the court gives weight to the following factors:
1) Olsen had a viable business in operation with a de-
veloping clientele before the move; 2) selling time and

40a

display space were basically doubled within the same
basic location, and 3) other factors, except the boycott
conspiracy, remained about the same. The court deems
it a conservative estimate that 30% of total sales in
the business in 1975 was attributable to the extra hours
worked and the larger space of the new location. Ac-
cordingly, the sales of the base year, 1975, are dimin-
ished by 30% to reflect the role of the extra hours and
space.

Another assumption of the damage study is that, but
for the conspiracy, Olsen could have obtained CBS pro-
ducts at the authorized dealer cost, which was 50%
of the retail list price (See Transcript, November 12,
1980, p. 102). This assumption is not supported by the
evidence. Accordingly, an adjustment is made in the
damage study to reflect that Olsen’s purchases during
the damage period would have been at 60% of list
rather than 50%. This is accomplished by omitting
lines 7 and 8 from Exhibit A-30.

The court finds that Progressive’s Exhibit A-30 is
the most accurate embodiment of Olsen’s damage the-
ory — as far as it goes — and therefore the court uses
this exhibit as a reference point to make the above
noted adjustments. This exhibit correctly employs 1975
sales of CBS products by Olsen (rather than purchas-
es), which the parties stipulated were $27,000 for that
year.

With the above adjustments in mind, the court finds
that the damages resulting from the boycott conspir-
acy are determined as follows:

4la

Line

liem

1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 No.
(Dollars) (Base Year)

Total Purchases of CBS Instru-
ments in the State of Utah other
than Plaintiffs’ at Whlse. Value. $ 97,234 $86,806 $88,410 $ 97,922 $68,348 1

Plaintiffs’ Sales of CBS Instru-
ments Adjusted to Whlse. Value $ 6,456 $ 4,489 $ 5,717 $ 10,612 $15,882 2

Total CBS Instrument Market at
Wholesale Value nik $103,690 $91,295 $94,127 $108,534 $84,230 3

Guitar City’s Estimated Share of
the CBS Instrument Market at
Wholesale Value (18.86%)... $ 19,556 $17,218 $17,752 $ 20,469 0

Less: Adjustment Factor of 30% .70 .70 .70 .70 0 4a
to Reduce Base Year to Equiv-
alent of Part-time Operation
and Half as much Selling Space.. $ 13,689 $12,052 $12,426 $ 14,328 0 4b

Less: Plaintiffs’ Sale of CBS In-
struments Adjusted to Whole-
sale Value (Same as Line Item

~

#2 Above) 6456 4,489 5,717 10,612 0 5
Wholesale Value of Sales Lost
Line 4b minus Line 5) ......... $ 7,233 $ 7,563 $ 6,909 $ 3,716 0 6

Plus: Guitar City’s Average Mark-

up on Transshipment Market 3665 3665 .4660 4478 5677 9

Instrument Purchase .0.......000 $ 2,651 $ 2,772 $ 3,220 $ 1,664 0 10
Retail Value of Lost Saleg................ $ 9,884 $10,335 $10,129 $ 5,380 0 11
Less: Purchases-Transshipment

Market Value (Cost) .....0...c00css $ 7,223 $ 7,563 $ 6,909 $ 3,716 0 12

Less: Additional Variable Expen-
ses (10.65%) (Reduced by 20%
from Exhibit A-30 in Accord-
ance with Adjustment in Lines

4a and 4b above) ooocccocccoonnmnnn $ 1,602 $ 1,556 $ 1,579 $ 1,277 0 13
Net Income L988... women $ 1,059 $ 1,216 $ 1641 $ 387 0 14

An explanation of the line item numbers can be found
in Plaintiffs’ Brief Regarding Damage Proof, filed
October 2, 1980.

The foregoing formula yields a net loss of profit for
the years of 1971 to 1974 of $4,303.

Conclusions of Law

1. The court has jurisdiction over the subject mat-
ter of this action pursuant to 15 U.S.C. §§ 1, 2, 15
(1976) (the monopoly claims have been dismissed pre-

42a

viously) ; 28 U.S.C. § 13831 (1976). The parties have
stipulated in the Pretrial Order that the court has jur-
isdiction over them.

2. Venue is properly laid in the Central Division of
this court pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 22; 28 U.S.C. § 1391
(1976).

3. The running of the statute of limitations was
tolled by the filing of this action on April 18, 1975,
and the relevant statutory period began on April 18,
1971. See 15 U.S.C. § 15b.

4. The interstate commerce requirement of 15 U.S.
C. §1 is met by the facts of this case because the busi-
ness of CBS, Olsen, Progressive, Herger and Browne
involve interstate commerce within the meaning of
that section. See Hospital Building Co. v. Trustees of
Rex Hospital [1976-1 TRADE CASEs {| 60,885], 425 U.S.
738, 743-46 (1976); U. S. v. Cadillac Overall Supply
Co. [1978-1 TRADE CASES {| 61,892], 568 F. 2d 1078,
1082 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 437 U.S. 903 (1978).

5. Based on its finding that Progressive and Herger
agreed to divide territories and to fix high retail prices
on CBS products, the court concludes that Progressive
thereby conspired to restrain trade or commerce in vio-
lation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. {1
(1976). This is a per se violation since it involves price
fixing. However, having found that Olsen suffered no
injury as a result of the Progressive-Herger price fix-
ing conspiracy, the court concludes that Olsen is not
entitled to any damages on this conduct. See Rea v.
Ford Motor Co. [1974-1 TRADE CASES { 75,029], 497
F. 2d 577, 589 (8rd Cir. 1974).

48a

6. In light of the court’s findings that Progressive
did not conspire with others to prevent Olsen from be-
coming a CBS dealer, or to terminate Olsen as a CBS
dealer, the court rules that as to these various grounds
Progressive has not violated Section 1 of the Sherman
Act, and therefore is not liable for damages on these
bases.

7. The court has found that Progressive conspired
with Herger and CBS to boycott Olsen from receiving
CBS products which caused Olsen to suffer a net loss
of profits in the amount of $4,303 for the years 1971
to 1974."" The court concludes that Progressive thereby
conspired to restrain trade or commerce, in violation
of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1. Under
15 U.S.C. § 15, Olsen is entitled to recover treble dam-
ages in the amount of $12,909 from Progressive, toge-
ther with costs and a reasonable attorney’s fee.

APPENDIX C
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT INVOLVED

The 5th Amendment provides: No person shall be
held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous
crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a
Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval
forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time
of War or public danger; nor shall any person be sub-
ject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy
of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal
case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived
of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;
nor shall private property be taken for public use, with-
out just compensation.

"This conclusion has been changed from the original to
reflect the court’s finding that Progressive is liable for damages
arising from a consniracy to boycott Olsen.

44a

The 14th Amendment provides: Section 1. All per-
sons born or naturalized in the United States, and
subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the
United States and of the State wherein they reside.
No State shall make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States ;nor shall any State deprive any person
of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;
nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection of the laws.

STATUTES INVOLVED

Section 1 of the Sherman Act 15 U.S.C. § 1, pro-
vides: Every contract, combination in the form of trust
or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or
commerce among the several States, or with foreign
nations, is declared to be illegal.

Section 2 of the Sherman Act 15 U.S.C. § 2 pro-
vides: Every person who shall monopolize, or attempt
to monopolize, or combine or conspire with any other
person or persons, to monopolize any part of the trade
or commerce among the several States, or with foreign
nations, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and,
on conviction thereof, shall be punished by fine of not
exceeding fifty thousand dollars, or by imprisonment
not exceeding one year, or by both said punishments,
in the discretion of the court. July 2, 1890, ¢. 647, § 2,
26 Stat. 209; July 7, 1955, ce. 281, 69 Stat. 282.

Section 43(a) of the Lanham Act 15 U.S.C. 1125 (a),
provides: (a) Any person who shall affix, apply, or
annex, or use in connection with any goods or services,
or any container or containers for goods, a false desig-
nation of origin, or any false description or represen-

45a

tation, including words or other symbols tending falsely
to describe or represent the same, and shall cause such
goods or services to enter into commerce, and any per-
son who sell with knowledge of the falsity of such
designation of origin or description or representation
cause or procure the same to be transported or used in
commerce or deliver the same to any carrier to be trans-
ported or used, shall be liable to a civil action by any
person doing business in the locality falsely indicated
as that of origin or in the region in which said locality
is situated, or by any person who believes that he is or
is likely to be damaged by the use of any such false
description or representation.

28 U.S.C. 1838 provides ‘“(b) The district courts
shall have original jurisdiction of any civil action as-
serting a claim of unfair competition when joined with
a substantial and related claim under the copyright,
patent, plant variety protection or trade-mark laws.”

RULES INVOLVED

Rule 8(e) provides: (2) A party may sev forth
two or more statements of a claim or defense alter-
nately or hypothetically, either in one count or defense
or in separate counts or defenses. When two or more
statements are made in the alternative and one of them
if made independently would be sufficient, the plead-
ing is not made insufficient by the insufficiency of one
or more of the alternative statements. A party may
also state as many separate claims or defenses as he
has regardless of consistency and whether based on

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/brief%3Amicro_IA40385010_1172%3A1. Public record. Not legal advice.
