Summary
affirming 443 F. Supp. 639 (N.D.Fla. 1977)
Summary of this case from Assoc. Radio Serv. Co. v. Page Airways, Inc.Opinion
No. 78-1362.
April 27, 1979.
Levin, Warfield, Middlebrooks, Mabie, Rosenbloum Magie, David A. Reed, D.L. Middlebrooks, Jr., S. Jack Carrouth, Pensacola, Fla., for plaintiff-appellant.
George J. Roark, Jr., George J. Roark, III, Pensacola, Fla., Lyons, Pipes Cook, Mack B. Binion, III, G. Sage Lyons, Mobile, Ala., for McKenzie Tank Lines, Inc.
Warren L. Finch, Mobile, Ala., for John T. Russell.
Albritton, Sessums Didio, A. Dallas Albritton, Jr., William N. Graham, Tampa, Fla., for Mario R. Cabrera.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida.
Before GODBOLD, SIMPSON and RONEY, Circuit Judges.
We affirm on the basis of the district court's opinion, reported at 443 F. Supp. 639 (N.D.Fla., 1977), plus the following two points. This court's decision in Northwest Power Products, Inc. v. Omark Industries, 576 F.2d 83, 90 (CA5, 1978), confirms the district court's rejection of the Pick-Barth per se rule. Albert Pick-Barth Co. v. Mitchell Woodbury Corp., 57 F.2d 96 (CA1), cert. denied, 286 U.S. 552, 52 S.Ct. 503, 76 L.Ed. 1288 (1932). Second, at oral argument, appellant contended that it produced sufficient evidence of a rule of reason theory to withstand summary judgment. We disagree. At the time McKenzie Tank Lines began hauling molten sulphur in 1976, Redwing had 100% of the relevant market. The fact that McKenzie had ICC and state certificates to haul molten sulphur prior to 1976 does not change the fact that Redwing controlled 100% of the market. Assuming McKenzie was a competitor before the alleged conspiracy began, Redwing is still not able to prove an injury to competition. Prior to the alleged conspiracy there were two haulers with the necessary certificates, one with 100% of the business and the other with only the certificates. Assuming further that McKenzie succeeded in eliminating Redwing, the market structure would remain the same, one hauler with 100% of the business and the other with only the certificates.
AFFIRMED.